The harmful influence of violent video games. Corrected final draft

THE HARMFUL INFLUENCE OF VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES

Games were created for people’s fun. In this century, many things have changed, and games are not the exception. The most popular games nowadays are video games. These are played by kids of the entire world and of all ages, displacing older games such as Parqués or Jacks . The principal intention of video games creators was to offer to children a new form of entertainment, which is different and better than the classical games because is more realistic and exciting. But, a characteristic in common of many video games is violence. This is frequently present in these kinds of games, and in many occasions is the principal reason of why they are so popular, but this fact has its consequences. Therefore, there should not be violence in video games for three reasons.

First, violent video games provide an environment for learning and practicing aggressive solutions to conflict situations. In these games, it is a constant to find guns, bombs, murders, and violent stuff. As a consequence, aggressive thoughts, feelings and behavior are increased in children. So, their reaction to things that they don’t like is different. They act angrier, and have less patience, in a similar way as the character that they represent in the game. According to Dr. Anderson, a psychologist who studies the effects of violent video games in the labs and in real life, "In the short run, playing a violent video game appears to affect aggression by priming aggressive thoughts. Longer-term effects are likely to be longer lasting as well, as the player learns and practices new aggression-related scripts that can become more and more accessible for use when real-life conflict situations arise" (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology). The groups that defend these kinds of games say that children with a strong personality should be able to not let video games have influence in their life. However, how much stronger can the personality of kids be? They are only in the stage of formation, and need good influences and to be guide. Maybe an adult is able to decide how to act, but a young person has not lived enough, and has not experienced enough to have a well-built personality and not be influenced by the media personality.

Second, violent video games make people become less sensitive to violence after a while. Kids who play video games daily in some way they will think that violent acts are normal. Dr John Murray, a professor at Kansas State University says, “In other words, you get so used to seeing violence that you eventually think it's not such a big deal” (Children and Television). But others psychologists think that even if this theory is true, parents and teachers are the biggest influence in kids’ life, and the education that they give is the most important in the formation of the child. However, actually some parents do not have enough time to be with kids, and the education of the school is not always influent in kids’ life, because they are who decide who they listen and who not. So, if parents are not present to guide children, and explain that what they do in games is not the right thing, kids could think that killing is normal, or that it’s not so bad.

Finally, if you watch lots of violence, you may start to think the world is a bad place. In the natural growing process of a child, the general perception was to think that world is a safe place to life, and they used to be too trusting. But, the influence of violent video games distorts a child’s perception of the real world as violent and fearful. So, kids will grow up viewing the world as violent and dangerous. This is known as the “mean world syndrome.” Some people could say that the real world

is violent, and kids deserve to know the truth. They say that the solution for the violence is not to deny the real situation. This thought is true, humans needs to accept the reality, but it’s also true that games should be a media to change this situation. It should motivate kids to act different than killers, thieves, and the bad people of this world.

In conclusion, games should be for fun, not for violence. It is horrible to link fun with violence, and this situation has to change. With violent video games, kids having fun by killing people, and studies show that this has a harmful effect, in the short and long term. So, these kind of games should not exist, or at least, should be not allowed for people younger than 18, that are not ready to differentiate between reality and fantasy, or can recognize this difference, but is easy to be influenced in a bad way by these kinds of games. Prevention is better than regret. It is necessary to stop violence of the real world and also of the fantasy.

WORKS CITED

Anderson, Craig. "Video games and aggressive thought, feelings, and behavior in the laboratory and in life”. Journal of Personality and social Psychology. February 2000: 772 - 790.

Murray, John. “Children and Television: using TV sensibly”. Extension Bulletin. March 1995. <http://www.johnmurray.org/c&t.htm>. 22 April 2006.

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Why did the building of the wall of Gaza begin?. Corrected final draft

OLGA BOHORQUEZ

WHY DID THE BUILDING OF THE WALL OF GAZA BEGIN?

The Arab-Israeli conflict has existed since a long time ago, and it has been growing instead of decreasing. Two big intifadas have happened in this huge war, and caused a lot of deaths, damage, destruction and deplorable consequences. Since 2000, a wall has begun to be built to separate the Palestinians from the Israelis. This wall is located between Gaza and Israel, and is supposed to be on the Green Line, the limit between the two lands. The Israeli intention to protect itself from the Palestinian suicide bombings; Ariel Sharon’s plan to cut Gaza off from the rest of Palestinians and the formation of two different peaceful states are the three principal causes for the construction of this wall.

The Israeli government said that building a wall is the only way to protect their country from suicide bombing attacks, and according to the facts, these kinds of attacks have decreased since the wall began to be built. According to Menachem Klein, “Sharon views the wall as a tool to provide security against terrorism, but more important as a means of controlling the Palestinians” (Foundation for Middle East Peace). The Palestinian radical group, Hamas, used to cross the green line and send children and other Palestinians with belt bombs. The plan was to go to Israeli territory, exploit and with this action, murder Israelis. But occasionally, many civilians and innocent people died in this supposed martyr process. So, Israel took drastic measures to stop this terrorism, and that motivated the country to begin to build the Gaza wall.

Since the wall-building began, Israel has started the withdrawal of its troops from most of its settlements in Gaza. The apparent reason is the one that Israelis said, to protect themselves. However, the world's leading authority on the Gaza Strip, Sara Roy of Harvard University says, “Gaza will remain an imprisoned enclave, while its economy, still totally dependent on Israel after disengagement and in shambles after decades of deliberately ruinous policies by Israel, will actually deteriorate” (Journal of Palestine Studies 24). Israel’s intentions could be less pacific and more with the motive of controlling the Palestinians, because if the wall is built for the Israelis, and they control who goes in and out, the power is with Israel, and they decide what to do with the Palestinians. Also, if the Palestinians are in this small territory, and they cannot leave their land, Israel can more easily control other Palestinians, like the ones of Cisjordania and expand their settlements and their control over Palestinians.

This wall as a barrier limit seems to be the only way to live in peace and solve the problems between the two lands. Gilles Paris, Le Monde’s correspondent in Jerusalem, affirms, “Ariel Sharon has switched his political position. After promoting force, now he promotes concession” (Le Monde A13). This means that the Israeli government does this motivated for the results that other countries provide; for example, the wall which is between the Koreas, that brings benefits, and decreases the politics problems. So, for some Israelis and Palestinians, this solution is seen as the only one able to end this apparently unending conflict.

The causes for the construction of this wall are contradictory. This kind of limit could maybe bring some benefits immediately, but the terrible consequences that this wall would have in the life of Palestinians are more obvious. Maybe for Israel this would be good, but the life of Palestinians would be worse, because they would not be free. In fact, nowadays in the part of the wall that is already built, the Palestinians that need to go to Israel to work and survive have to wait for long hours and are treated in an inhumane form. So Palestinians are not free, and depend on what Israel wants. This wall is not the solution for both lands and it would be better if the two countries really agree something to finish with this conflict, before the conflict finishes all their lives.

WORKS CITED

Roy, Sara. "Praying with Their Eyes Closed: Reflections on the Disengagement from Gaza". Journal of Palestine Studies July 2005: 24 - 28.

Paris, Gilles. “The Gaza Pullout: A Step Towards Peace”. Le Monde. August 2005: A13.

Klein, Menachem. “The Day after Disengagement from Gaza: Ariel Sharon vs. Mahmoud Abbas”. Foundation for the Middle East Peace. 21 June 2005.

analysis/articles/day_after_disengagement_from_gaza.

html>. 19 March 2006.

How is it to be a dog? Corrected final draft.

OLGA BOHORQUEZ

How is it to be a dog?

Have you ever wonder what it feels to be a dog? Maybe when you imagine that you'll think that it has to be so boring to be that kind of animal. But, did you think it really good, because being a dog could be great. A dog just has to eat, sleep, and play. But the life of a dog is good only if he's lucky enough to be adopted by a good family which makes his life easier. I can tell you, and you can trust plenty in me because I am a dog. My name is Susie, and I am lucky because I have the greatest life in the entire world.

First, I have to tell you how my day begins. I wake up in the bed of my adopted mom and dad, and I wake up them also. I love to smell them and to put my paws on them. When they finally wake up, I begin to jump, and I walk over the house and wait for my adopted brother and sisters to wake up. Then, I go to the backyard to say hi to my sister, but she is my real sister, because she is also a dog: is Jackie. So, I play with her a lot. She jumps on me and I do exactly the same, and when I feel tired I go inside the house.
Because I just have finished to play, I’m hungry and thirsty, so my mom gives me my food. Sometimes I eat it all, but sometimes I don’t like to eat, because when I eat I have to be alone, and I don't like to be alone. After the eating time, I return with my mom, and say bye to my dad. Then my mom has to go too, so I say goodbye, and also to all the rest of the family. I have to be with Jackie, but I prefer to use this time to sleep.
Yeah, sleep, is a good activity only when I am alone in house because nobody is disturbing me. While I try to sleep many things happen that don’t let me sleep good. For example, some strange little animals are in the wall, and I really dislike them. Finally, when I get sleep my mom arrives to the house, and later the rest of the family does the same thing.

This is just a normal day of my life, but every month something really bad happens to me: is the day when I have to go to the beauty saloon. It is really awful because some strange man cuts all my hair, and sometimes yells at me, because I don’t like to be there. But when finally all that ends, I am in my house again and I know that I have to look really good, because everybody hugs me, kiss me, looks at me, and stuff like that.

There is some activity that I don’t usually do, but I love to do. Is to take a walk. I have go out to the street only like three times, but that three times has been the best in my life because I can look to other dogs, I can run, I can play, and finally at the end of the day I’m so tired that I can sleep deeply.

Reflections of my progress as a writer this semester

In this semester I have improved my English writing, especially doing essays, because, we did three of these texts, and doing my first it was a difficult job, the second, it was normal, but in my third essay, it was easy. I felt that I could do it much easier than when I just started writing. I also practiced my punctuation, which was really bad, but now is better. For me, is still a problem the past perfect in English, I don’t know how to use really good the have been, had been, and that stuff. I know you Erin explain me, but for me is not easy to do that yet. I guess I will learn. My vocabulary, pronunciation and listening are still a problems, I need to improve in that areas a lot, I’m not bad doing that, but I do need to be better. In these three areas I would like to spend the time the rest of this semester.

For my opinion, the type of classwork that is more useful is the essays, because doing them I practiced vocabulary and writing and I also learned new things about new subjects. For example, I learned a lot of Israel and Palestina. I finally understand their situation, and what was happening there. I learned about video games, and I definitely practiced my English.

To increase my rate of progress I personally can see more programs in English, I can talk with people who talk English. I can try to write in English more often. I can listen music in english. I need to be thinking in English every time.

My suggestions for the class are: It would be better if we play more often Taboo, or games like that, because I realized that it was the only way to do everybody pay attention and be really interested. We also practiced, by playing, our vocabulary. I also say we should have a better schedule, because so late at night I used to think in food and sleeping. So for next courses it would be better to put another schedule.

Of the goals than I set for myself, like speak english better, write better, improve my gramatica of english, listen better, I achieve my goal: write better, definitly because we did a lot of essay I know to write better. Absolutely Im better in all that areas, but I really need to improbe my speaking, gramatical, and listening. Sometimes it was really hard for me to understand what you said to the class, and at the time to talk, sometimes I had so much things for say but I couldn't because I didn't know how, and I think that when I speak english really good I should be able to say wherever I want in that language, just like I speak in spanish. That is my principal goal : to speak, understand, write, use english just like I use spanish. Is a really ambicious goal so I definitly did not achieve at all, but a big part of it is done !! Maybe I need to talk and think more in english. I would like to interact more with american people, because for me is the best way to improve my english.

Of the competencies list I checked three..writing, autonomy and reading. In the other three im better, but I don't feel ready yet, I need to speak more natural, and listening better, and about culture, I really did not study so much about culture in english. I'm not completely satisfied, I think maybe in this semester I could learn to speak better, maybe trying harder. I know this semester was writing, but I just don't want to forget the other half of learning a language: the oral interaction. As a consequence, I would like to see activities that be more relation with this part of english, like maybe speaking more often in class, or listening music in English, or playing, I really don't know the way, I think you learn to speak by speaking, its the only way.

I deserve a 4.7 in my class, because I was always motivated to learn more, I was responsable, I was interesting in participate of class, in interact with people, in doing my works, in study, but also I enjoyed the class. I definitly learned a lot.

In general I like the class. I feel I’m better now, but I also feel that I have a lot of stuff to learn about English yet. Thanks for everything Erin.

Postdate: I’m still waiting my chocolates. I can’t believe that in the only class I missed it, you gave kisses. Ja ja..Well I guess is just really bad luck!!

Why the language can't be fair?

Since I read "Talking about people: A guide to fair and accurate language", I can't believe how real is the injustice for the women, because now, in almost every picture, or article, or television program, or web page, I see how obvious is the preference for male, and the apparently infetiority of female in constrast to men.
Many people used to generalize, and with the word man, refers to man and woman, but why we, the women have to accept this?, why we have to be included into another word?, what I mean it is, if the word woman exists, why not just used it, and not be so unfair with the female.
We, women and in general, all the humanity, (well, maybe men not, because probably almost all of them enjoy in feeling superior), but the children, the young men and young WOMEN , and everybody needs to understand that women are apart of men, and don't need to be like the men's shadow, that is always next to them, and suppose to dedicate her lives to take care kids, clean the house, and just activities like that, no !!, women are so good, that can do all this, but also, many others activities, they can be administrator, they can be even presidents, or scientist, or anything.
So, is time to stoped it, and we need that poblation who is interested to stop the unfair, begin the change, we need to begin to say: the little girl and the little boy, and yeah, the women can be the first in be mention, we can say Mrs and Mr White, I know that this big change it takes many time but it have to happen, because women need it and deserve it.

the palestinian situation

this is my link
http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/carryover/pubs/20010208ib.html


I read an interesting article about the war that had been happening between palestina and Israel, and about the intifadas that had happened throught the history, the first intifada was a little more pacific, which is good for me, because there was pacific strikes and boycotts, but the second intifadas was a little more harder, palestinian and israel people used all kinf of weapons, but widely in both intifadas, many people died, and of a very violent and inhuman form, nobody deserv to died in any form.
I am maybe of the side of Palestinian, because they live in their land, but Israel wants to get out to they from their land, and this is not fair, is ther place to live, but I also think that nothing justify the deathnof thousands of people, but I guess I have to understand that palestinian people dont know what to do, they are confuse, they dont want to stop the intifada because nobody guarantee to them that their are going to be weel librated of all this unfare situation, so they just have to wait, I really think that this will be solved when Israel be just with Palestinian, and share the land with them.

how is to be a dog

Have you ever wonder what it feels to be a dog?...maybe when you imagine that you'll think that it have to be so boring to be that kind of animal, but do you think really good??, because be a dog can be great. A dog just have to eat, sleep, play...but the live of a dog is good only if he's enough lucky to be adopted by a good family, that makes him easier all his live. I can tell you, and you can trust pleny in my, because I am a dog, my name is Susi, and I was lucky because I have the greatest live in all the world

First, i have to tell you how my day begins, I wake up in the bed of my adopted mom and dad, and I wake up them also, I love to smell them, to put my hands on them; when they finally wake up I begin to jump, and I walk for all the house and wait for my adopted brother and sisters to wake up, then I go to the backyard to say hi to my sister, but is my really sister, because is also a dog, is Jackie, so I play with she a lot, she jumps on me, and i do exactl y the same, and when I feel tired I go to inside the house.


Like I just have finish to play, Im hungry and thirsty, so my mom give me my food, sometimes I eat it at all, but sometimes I dont like to eat, because when I eat I have to be alone, and I don't like to be alone. After the eating time I comeback with my mom, and say bye to my dad. Then my mom have to go too, so I say goodbye, and also to all the rest of the family, and I have to be with Jackie...but I prefer to use this time to sleep

Yea , sleep

The variety of food

I don't know, what can I eat?, what can I eat?, I have so many options that I don't know what to choose.....This is what many people thinks when they have to choose their food, today, with all tecnology is so variety of food that a person can eats even what he thougth it would never be eat by anyone. It exist fast food, gourmet food, vegetarian food, and many other kinds for the preferences of each person.

The fast food is probably the most popular in all the world, people use to eat it when need to eat fast, to go quickly, or just because they want to eat a delicious hamburguer, or a big hot dog, or some friet potatoes, or if you want something italian, you can eat a pizza....yea, who was going to think than pizza, that seemed to be too expensive to afford it, is know a popular food which is sell in many places, to many different prices, that change according to the quality, so, fast food is a very good option, to many posibilities where to choose, and exists many places in everywhere, in every corner, that sell this kind of food

There is other kind of food, is diferent of fast food, for people who want something more especial, and is the gourmet food, if you want this food you should have more money to afford it, because is a litlle more expensive and this food it is not selled in any place, but there also exists many options where to choose, like hawaian chicken, this is prepared with some pineapple, or almond rice, that is really sweet, or potatoes in white sauce, or a lasagna

my carnival

I really don't remember so well my last carnival, well, it would be probably this last Saturday when I went to th Garabato with my friends, I spent a good time, people throw water on me, I was in "El parque Washigton", and later, I went to "Donde esta javier" to eat some food cause I was really hungry, so I ate a "chuzo desgranada", and I felt good, after that I went to the house of a friend who was going to go Bogotá the next day, so we talked for a time, remembering what we used to do in school, and then I went to my house, I watched some tv and went to sleep.
The last year I think I went also to the Garabato, because this is my favorite day of carnival cause is at night, not like the other days on the day and with the sun on you, I really dislike that, actually I think i went to Bello Horizonte the last carnivals, and I spent a good time there, I relaxed, I ate fish, I went to the beach, and to the pool, and stuff like that.
I have been thinking why I dont feel so identify with carnival, and I guess is because my parents are from the interior side of the country (Bucaramanga), so they dont feel good with carnival, so I guess they teach me that, and I'm not get used to carnival, I dont heat carnivals, I can enjoy it if I go with friends, but what i mean it is that there are many thing that I can enjoy so much that carnivals, but, what can I do, I live in Barranquilla, I will be here my next years, and so is going to be here the carnival, so I will have to get used to they, and learn to love it and enjoy it.