Essay 1
Declan Butler
Skrobacki
University 150
September 17, 2019
The Expedition to College
Over the years, society has changed from a small percentage of high school graduates attending college to a majority of high school graduates attending college. This societal shift required most high schools to change the way they prepare their students for the next chapter in their lives. I believe that my high school prepared me adequately enough to succeed in college by allowing me to take challenging classes, extracurriculars, and reach out to those who are willing to help.
My high school prepared me for college by engraving it in my mind to always and only take the most challenging classes, such as Advanced Placement and classes from the International Baccalaureate program. For that reason, the majority of my high school classes were at the college level difficulty, since it was considered the norm to only take those AP and IB classes. I was pushed and challenged in every single aspect possible by those classes, pages of homework, never-ending writing assignments, and a test every other day. In order to succeed I had to develop practical studying skills and efficient ways to tackle mountains of assignments. I was told all of those skills that were developed would carry over into college and help tackle and conquer any assignment thrown my way.
On top of taking those studious classes, my high school pushed for every student to join a club or go out into the real world and acquire a job. There was a club for every subject and a sports team for every sport; each extracurricular advertising their existence every day. When signing up for classes there was a highly suggested option for sophomores, juniors, and seniors to take a ‘rest’ class which was designed to go out into the real world and work. That push for experience in an extracurricular or a job allowed me to see what it was like to have a massive workload that college guarantees to deliver.
Having a fully loaded schedule, finding ways to complete everything in a timely manner required help. In the four years of attending my high school, there were always newer/better resources to help us succeed in any and every way imaginable. With those plentiful resources at our fingertips, all we had to do was extend our arms and take advantage. Two of those resources being counselors and teachers who I visited multiple times a week to discuss what the best plan of action was, in order to get where I wanted to be. All the help I received made me recognize the true help someone is willing to provide and encourages me to extend my arm and get the needed help.
For those three reasons it has been engraved into my mind to know what should be done, at what time, and when it’s time to reach out, take a breath, and ask for help. I’ll always be grateful for all the challenges I overcame and to all those people who helped me jump those major barriers in order to become confident and capable enough to take on the next huge chapter of my life, college.
Editing Skills Checklist 1
Strengths
Weaknesses
Essay 2
Declan Butler
Skrobacki
University 150
October 10, 2019
College Note Taking
In order to graduate from college, I am required to take certain introductory classes; each class having its own unique set of challenges. The classes that I take have completely different ideas that must be learned all in their own unique language; for example, in math class I learn about numbers and graphs, science class diagrams and facts, and psychology definitions and concepts; therefore, in order to reach success, efficient note-taking in these differing classes is not only suggested by each professor but a true necessity. Each class differs in every way imaginable with unique challenges that must be overcome; nonetheless, good note-taking skills are required for the change in subjects, tasks, and speakers.
For my first semester of college this year, I registered only for general education classes. These classes, which cover a wide range of curriculum, ranging from an open-minded American writers and American experiences class all the way to a black and white pre-calc class; Each class requires a different approach to the notes I take. For example, in math class I write a formula that must be ingrained into muscle memory and write down all examples given by my professor. While in American writers and experiences, I write down the definitions that are on the board and any key concept mentioned.
Since different subjects require certain ways to effectively learn the material notes that I take are done in a way that is most beneficial. If I have a quiz or test approaching, then the notes I take tend to be more acronyms and shortened notes for maximum memorization; however, if I have a class seminar or presentation I try to get more key concepts and definitions down so it is easier to chip into the class discussion without looking like a fool.
Every teacher has his or her own unique way of giving lectures, so based off of that, I try to tune into what they are talking about and what concepts they put emphasis on. For example, if my professor mentions a key concept multiple times, then I know it is going to be relevant later in the class. Also, if the professor takes his or her time to write something on the board, then I know that information is going to be key information that I should jot down and try my best to understand then connect to another idea mentioned in order to truly learn it.
The classes that I take have completely different ideas that must be learned all in their own unique language. Efficient note-taking for the change in subjects, tasks, and speakers is not only suggested but a necessity. Each professor has his or her own way of teaching, which is why good note-taking skills are required and if I want to make a lasting impression in college with the amount of success achieved. For those reasons, every class I take has a dedicated notebook with drastically differing notes from another so that understanding the material can come easily and efficiently, compared to writing as much as possible, which not only hurts me but also does nothing to further my learning so that I can become a successful college student.
Editing Skills Checklist 2
Strengths
Weaknesses
Essay 3
Declan Butler
Skrobacki
October 31
UNIV 150
Perfectly Constructed Electoral College
The Electoral College was created by the founding fathers to ensure that the most qualified candidate be elected as the next president of the United States; the forefathers knew that with presidency comes great power, so a failsafe would need to be created to protect the government from corruption; thus, this near-perfect system of the Electoral College was created to prevent problems with how easily voters can be misinformed, a populist president appealing directly to the people leads to the minority being ignored, and corruption.
People can be easily misinformed, especially with how easy it is to create fake news; with the number of websites and information found online differentiating fake news from real news can be a challenging task. Highly regarded news channels sometimes mix up details regarding politics and broadcast to millions of people. The information given to voters during election times can easily be falsified, which can change their view on even the most qualified candidate. For those reasons, putting trust into an individual that was picked by elected officials than the misinformed voters can reduce corruption and save people the guilt of electing a candidate into office they otherwise never would have.
If it was based on popular vote then the candidate would have to go to just a few major cities and win the people’s vote to get a majority; ignoring the minority of the population, which would cause riots throughout the states. That is exactly what the founding fathers were trying to prevent; the majority controlling the minority. Also, if that president is elected with the majority then there would be massive amounts of power over the states.
Keeping the Electoral College the way it prevents corruption for numerous reasons. In article II clause 1 section 2 of the constitution it is mandatory that electors are not allowed to have a position in government. Allowing elected officials that the people voted for to represent them in congress means that they will nominate a trusted elector who has no political incentive to elect a corrupt politician, to vote for the people as they wish. These electors would have a deeper understanding of the government and when they go for their meeting in December would allow them to decide which candidate is right for the office.
The Electoral college was produced from days of compromise and thoughtful planning to make sure the president of the United States is free from corruption and the best candidate for the job. Through knowing that the people can be easily misinformed, the majority vote towards on candidate would lead to massive chaos, and having electors be people with no governmental power ensures that the United States government always has the right person to be the leader of the United States.
Roos, Dave. “Why Was the Electoral College Created?” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 15 July 2019, https://www.history.com/news/electoral-college-founding-fathers-constitutional-convention.
Lewis, Tyler. “Why We Should Abolish the Electoral College.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 Jan. 2017, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tyler-lewis/why-we-should-abolish-the_1_b_8961256.html.
Editing Skills Checklist 3
Strengths
Weaknesses
Essay 4
Declan Butler
Skrobacki
December 3, 2019
UNIV 150
Melting Ice
Since day zero of planet Earth, climate change has been an ever occurring issue, affecting every living organism. In fingerprints of global warming on wild animals and plants, researchers meta-analysis of 143 studies and found, global warming, specifically rising temperatures, were taking tolls on plant and animal traits. The researchers focused on plant and animal species that lived in higher altitudes since lower altitudes are more protected from temperature fluctuations (Root Et Al. 2002). Dramatic temperature fluctuations drove a change in many factors: the ratio of evolving species, the rate of seasonal change, and the overall rate of future climate change.
The rate of evolving species in the higher altitudes has been increasing over the past one-hundred years. Through measuring the density, phenology, morphology, and genetic mutations of plant and animal species and comparing each year’s results; The change of plant and animal species in the coming years is expected to expand approximately 81 percent to 90 percent with about 79 percent to 80 percent confidence level (Root Et Al. 2002). Those percentages prove that the increasing temperatures play an immense role in stress plant and animal species have to go through to survive. Through those growing numbers, some species would not be able to evolve quickly enough and be the cause of their extinction.
Every year plant and animal species go through seasonal changes to survive the differing conditions. Over the past fifty years, some species have been recorded to go through their seasonal changes earlier than prior decades. For example, a species of penguin began going through their seasonal changes nearly a whole month before the previous decade (Root Et Al. 2002). The changing environment caused the penguin to adapt to the new climate much more quickly, and those that could not adjust heartbreakingly died. If the seasons were to change at a constant rate compared to the ever-increasing trend, then all species would be able to adapt to the conditions over generations. To allow plant and animal species time to acclimate to rising temperatures, the communities prevail stable.
The rapid increase in changing environments is an immense concern for plant and animal species. In current ecosystems, every plant and animal relies on one another for fundamental necessities, such as food and shelter. The balance of an ecosystem would be shattered if a community of plant and animal species was to lose just one species (Root Et Al. 2002). The necessity to keep all plant and animal species alive and well is required if the human population wants to keep the Earth the way it is.
The change in the ratio of evolving species, the rate of seasonal change, and the overall rate of future climate change is primarily due to the increase in temperature. Designating more money into research to figure out how to slow global warming would allow evolution to occur; thus, keeping the communities in a harmonious balance between plant and animal species. With plant and animal species coexisting, planet Earth will always be a place the human population luckily gets to call home.
Works Cited
Root, T., Price, J., Hall, K. et al. Fingerprints of global warming on wild animals and plants.
Nature 421, 57–60 (2003) doi:10.1038/nature01333