How does the power of language affect us as humans?

One of the defining characteristics of humans is our ability to communicate through language. Language may be spoken, written, or performed physically as in Sign Language. The development of language is an integral part of the story of human evolution, as it has influenced and been influenced by the evolution of other parts of our brain and the behaviors these control.

Language is essentially using combinations of symbols (or signifying components) to express complex meaning....

One of the defining characteristics of humans is our ability to communicate through language. Language may be spoken, written, or performed physically as in Sign Language. The development of language is an integral part of the story of human evolution, as it has influenced and been influenced by the evolution of other parts of our brain and the behaviors these control.

Language is essentially using combinations of symbols (or signifying components) to express complex meaning. For example, we can consider the individual terms "cat," "run," and "fast," and understand their meanings independent of each other. But when we combine them into the phrase, "The cat runs fast," we can express a multifaceted message.

The evolution of tool-use and language in our ancient ancestors had a reflexive relationship, one which profoundly altered the development of the brain to incorporate abstract thought. Anthropologists believe that tool use and crafting developed before spoken language, based on the dates of early stone tools and the types of vocal structures of the species who would have made such tools. The practice of making a stone tool requires having an idea for what the end-result might look like and the ability to adapt during the process of making the tool. Such abstract thought is directly related to what happens when we speak- we must plan ahead of time what we'd like to say, and improvise as we continue speaking or writing. Naturally, a system of language or complex communication would have enabled more and more complex messages to be shared, and even contributed to the creation of more complex tools.

As humans are today, language is a unifying force in our world. It is one of the first things we learn and our primary means of learning after language acquisition. Language allows us to communicate with great numbers of people, even across space and throughout time. Shakespeare wrote in the 15th and 16th centuries, and just think of how many students read his plays today! Language has become one of the driving forces of cultural production and reproduction. It is how we construct and reinforce our identities and share ideas with others. 

Language has the power to be deeply moving. If our means of communication were more simple, like a cat or sheep, we would only be able to produce one sound or "call" at a time. It is the complexity of human language which makes it so special. It is quite remarkable how certain combinations of words can excite us or make us laugh or cry. Here, too, it is our capability for abstract thought which allows us to empathize with another's sorrows or understand a witty reference. Human language has achieved the ability to not just describe events but convey emotion, too. Our evolution to rely on language as a means of communication, education, and pleasure has made it an important part of our adaptation and survival in the world.

There is a saying about World War I: "War ends all wars." Do you agree or disagree with it?

This question refers to a saying that the First World War was the "war to end all wars." It is difficult to agree with the saying, because World War I was not really anything of the sort. During the war, some idealists hoped that the sheer horror and the devastation in human life wrought by the war were so traumatic that they would create a new world order in which wars would no longer be...

This question refers to a saying that the First World War was the "war to end all wars." It is difficult to agree with the saying, because World War I was not really anything of the sort. During the war, some idealists hoped that the sheer horror and the devastation in human life wrought by the war were so traumatic that they would create a new world order in which wars would no longer be fought--people would finally realize that war was not really in their interests. This hope lay behind Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points," which were an attempt to create postwar international institutions that would forestall future conflicts. But this was not to be. The League of Nations and other safeguards proved ineffective in the aftermath of the war, the Treaty of Versailles that ended it was harshly punitive, creating resentment in Germany, and ultimately warlike dictators were able to rise to power in Italy and Germany by exploiting the same spirit of nationalism that had helped bring about World War I. Today, calling the war the "war to end all wars" is an ironic statement, because we know that the most tragic aspect of the war was the fact that it paved the way for an even more tragic and destructive global conflict just two decades later.

How does the media (in particular social media and television) influence food choices? What statistics reflect this?

Media affects children's food choices in many ways.  Children receive marketing messages through television, radio, games, toys, movies, and household goods, like promotional store items. Children even receive marketing messages at school. 

According to the American Psychological Association, television advertising and other forms of food marketing greatly impact childhood obesity. The more a child watches television, the more calories they consume. For every one hour of television watching, children consume an extra 48.7 calories. Moreover,...

Media affects children's food choices in many ways.  Children receive marketing messages through television, radio, games, toys, movies, and household goods, like promotional store items. Children even receive marketing messages at school. 

According to the American Psychological Association, television advertising and other forms of food marketing greatly impact childhood obesity. The more a child watches television, the more calories they consume. For every one hour of television watching, children consume an extra 48.7 calories. Moreover, food ads make up 50% of all adds on children's shows. Food ads also appear on educational TV in schools. The Channel One program has 2 out of 12 minutes of advertisements. Food ads also affect children on social media. Over 6 billion food ads were on Facebook in 2012. 

Public health groups often target the fast food industry's marketing to children. In 2012, fast food restaurants spent over $4.6 billion in advertising. However, there have been strides in improving the healthy nature of foods marketed to children, including providing healthier options in fast food meals. 

I have to write an essay about The Giver and how Jonas has changed his opinions throughout the novel. I have chosen to write about how he believes...

If you already have your body paragraphs, then you should already know which direction your essay is taking. Introductory paragraphs usually have a hook, then background information on the topic, followed by a thesis statement that tells or lists what the body paragraphs will discuss. Reread your body paragraphs to find out what your three main ideas are because those should be mentioned in your thesis statement in the introduction. For example, you should have the following quote in one of your paragraphs:

"The Giver told him that it would be a very long time before he had the colors to keep.

'But I want them!' Jonas said angrily. 'It isn't fair that nothing has color!'" (97).

If you do refer to this quote as part of Jonas's process of changing his mind, then Seeing Beyond, or the perception of colors, should be listed as one of the topics to be discussed in your thesis statement, or at least in the introductory paragraph. For example, after providing a hook and some background information, your thesis could be as follows:

Through Jonas's ability to see beyond, he learns about colors and soon believes the community is unfair because they took them away; and, he begins to feel unsafe when he discovers that Release actually means death.

Or maybe this one works better:

Jonas believes the community is unfair when he discovers colors by Seeing Beyond; then, once he discovers what Release really means, he begins to feel unsafe.

If either of the above suggestions were to be your thesis statement, then the sentences preceding it would briefly describe Sameness, which got rid of colors, and how the community uses the word Release to cover up that it really means death.

As far as your hook is concerned, you can use an interesting quote from the story to catch your reader's attention; a short anecdote describing the topic to be discussed; or start with a thought-provoking question such as, "What would you do if you found out that everything your community taught you was a lie?" Good Luck!

Explain the relationship between attachment and autonomy, and evaluate the claim that secure attachment promotes personal adjustment.

Attachment is the word psychologists use to describe the social and emotional bonds we form with others, particularly with our parents in childhood. A higher degree of attachment indicates a closer bond, in which you are more dependent on others for emotional support.

Autonomy is the word psychologists use to describe a sense of personal freedom and self-determination, the feeling that you can strike a path for yourself and make your own decisions in life.

Intuitively, it may seem that these two concepts are in opposition---the more autonomous you are, the less attached you can be---but empirical studies do not bear this out. In studies both autonomy and attachment are related to positive mental health outcomes, and occur as often together as they do apart.

In fact, what we find is that secure attachment, where you feel comfortable with how attached you are, is associated with higher autonomy. It's only preoccupied attachment, where you are constantly worried about whether you are doing enough to maintain the connection, which is associated with lower autonomy.

Based on this, the claim that secure attachment promotes improved adjustment and better mental health outcomes appears to be supported by empirical studies. Secure attachment gives people both strong attachment and high autonomy, and both of those things are associated with better outcomes. So, the theory makes sense, and is likely to be true. Still, these studies are ambiguous enough that the theory could turn out to be wrong.

What are some of Heck Tate's characteristics in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Heck Tate is forty-three, a lifelong resident of Maycomb County, and takes his job as sheriff seriously. 

Here are some character traits of Heck Tate:

—Practical

• When Sheriff Tate receives the call on the rabid dog traversing the street on which the Finches live, he arrives, accompanied by Atticus, who has come from his office. They wait until the dog comes into range for a good shot. When the dog heads toward the Radley...

Heck Tate is forty-three, a lifelong resident of Maycomb County, and takes his job as sheriff seriously. 

Here are some character traits of Heck Tate:

—Practical

• When Sheriff Tate receives the call on the rabid dog traversing the street on which the Finches live, he arrives, accompanied by Atticus, who has come from his office. They wait until the dog comes into range for a good shot. When the dog heads toward the Radley house, Mr.Tate insists Atticus shoot the dog, tossing him his rifle even though Atticus says he has not fired a gun in thirty years.

"For God's sake, Mr. Finch, look where he is! Miss and you'll go straight into the Radley house! I can't shoot that well and you know it!"

Tate's practicality is the key to the success of the situation as Atticus fires a perfect shot.

• In another instance of his practicality, Heck Tate chooses not to arrest Boo Radley for stabbing Bob Ewell as he threatened Jem's life, reasoning that it serves no good purpose to expose the shy recluse to publicity and scrutiny when Ewell is already dead. Tate chooses to bring fairness to prominence over textbook law enforcement. 

—Conscientious and Courageous

• Despite his doubt in the honesty of Bob Ewell, Sheriff Tate is duty-driven when he answers the call to come to the Ewells' home, where Mayella supposedly has been raped. He arrests Tom Robinson, as is his duty.


• Whenever duty demands he be there, Tate is. He goes with the men who come to the Finch home to ask Atticus to obtain a chain of venue, is at the jailhouse where Tom is held before the trial, and testifies honestly during Tom's trial.

—Average in Intelligence but always Honest

• While he usually performs his job well, Sheriff Tate allows himself to be deceived by the Old Sarum Bunch, who trick him into leaving the jailhouse on a bogus call.


• When Tate testifies at Tom Robinson's trial, Atticus questions Tate and leads him to understand that he assumed some things that were not necessarily true. For instance, Atticus asks the sheriff about the attack upon Mayella. Tate says there were already bruises appearing on her arms, "and it happened about thirty minutes before—" Here Atticus interrupts, asking, "How do you know?" Mr. Tate smiles in humility, "Sorry, that's what they said."
  Further, as he questions the sheriff, Atticus leads Heck Tate to realize Mayella was struck in the face by someone who is left-handed. This fact, of course, is crucial to Atticus's attempts to prove Tom, whose left arm is withered and useless, could not have struck Mayella.

Sheriff Heck Tate is a small-town sheriff, but he is not among the many in his position who are mere pawns of the area's businessmen and politicians. He is honest, duty-driven, stalwart, and genuine.

In Oedipus Tyrannus, should we view Oedipus as tragic only, or can we find something heroic in his actions and end?

The answer to this really depends on your working definition of "tragedy" and of "hero". Since Oedipus Tyrannos was written in ancient Greece, it makes sense to use the Aristotelian definition of tragedy and the Homeric model of the hero.

The Homeric hero is a typical figure of oral-traditional epos. Most Homeric heroes are flat and static. In other words, they have a few striking characteristics -- Nestor is wise, Odysseus clever, and Achilles...

The answer to this really depends on your working definition of "tragedy" and of "hero". Since Oedipus Tyrannos was written in ancient Greece, it makes sense to use the Aristotelian definition of tragedy and the Homeric model of the hero.

The Homeric hero is a typical figure of oral-traditional epos. Most Homeric heroes are flat and static. In other words, they have a few striking characteristics -- Nestor is wise, Odysseus clever, and Achilles strong -- but they do not have fully developed three-dimensional characters. Even though they undergo many conflicts and adventures, they rarely (with limited exceptions) display self-awareness or evolve over time as characters. One can certainly argue that Oedipus conforms to this in that his horrifying recognition of his identity is not a matter of internal psychological self-knowledge but rather simply correct apprehension of external circumstances. The unhappy ending of the play does not negate the notion of an heroic type of character; Hector was certainly a noble and heroic character in the Iliad, and yet he died and his corpse was desecrated. 

Greek tragedy is continuous with Homeric epic in the sense that most tragedies are set chronologically in the period just after the Trojan war and contain characters from the heroic age. Like heroic characters, the protagonists of tragedy are noble, and the actions in which they engage are of "a certain magnitude". Oedipus is the king of Thebes and his acts, like those of the Greek leaders during the Trojan war, have a significant impact on the lives of everyone around him. Where he differs from the traditional heroic mold is having an essential character flaw that contributes to his downfall. In other words, one could say that Oedipus, like most tragic protagonists, is a flawed hero.