Rebuttal Argument – yardie

Posted on December 15, 2024 by yardie

The Obesity Tricks

Does eating a whole foods diet and having self-control with food matter when there are easy-to-take weight loss pills, surgeries, gyms, and other quick fixes? Contrary to my argument that the lack of knowledge about healthy eating habits contributes more significantly to the obesity epidemic in America than the lack of exercise, or fast remedies society has discovered, many people have expressed opinions of ‘emphasizing the importance of exercise’ or ‘Pushing the idea of weight loss procedures and pills.’

According to the ASMBS, a society for metabolic and bariatric weight loss surgery; they state that bariatric surgery is more effective and durable then obesity drugs and lifestyle interventions. Researchers for the ASMBS found that lifestyle interventions such as dieting and exercise resulted in an average weight loss of 7.4% that eventually was generally regained within 4.1 years. They claimed that their procedures resulted in 10.6 – 21.1 % weight loss. While this way of becoming skinny may be appealing given the fast results and lazy- friendly process, it isn’t at all sustainable or a smart choice to make. 

Becoming victim to these procedures, named, tirzepatide or GLP – 1 semaglutide means months of weekly injections, and on estimate, a cost of 1,000 dollars a month. This approach not only drains wallets but also locks an individual into a cycle of dependency on medication. And for what? Once you have finally had enough of these weekly tortures, it is said that about half the lost weight will return within a year. Knowing this, it truly doesn’t make a difference in the amount of weight you lose and how long it stays off. Clearly if you stop eating right, you will regain unhealthy weight. And if you stop taking these injections, you will also regain the unhealthy weight.

This comes down to whether the process of injections is more beneficial and morally ethical for you as a human being. Humans weren’t designed to live a life of painful injections forever, but instead to simply eat a balanced diet. In addition to this, eating well fosters a sense of self-control and accountability that quick fixes can’t provide. It’s about building habits and learning how to listen to your body. It’s important to know when you’re hungry and when you’re full. These are skills that stick with you for life, unlike procedures or pills that just cover over the problem without facing its root cause. 

It is often glorified when we see person’s partaking in exercise and gym activitỵ Americans are fooled, believing that solutions for health and weight management is getting in the gym. This cultural practice is fueled by the fitness industry, which emphasizes physical transformation and gym memberships as markers of success. Social media platforms are permeated with images of toned bodies and workout routines. This influences others that exercise alone is the key to achieving health and aesthetics.

A study done by the University of Colorado Anschutz claimed that exercise was more critical than diet when maintaining weight loss. The study included two groups, one with successful weight loss maintainers with high levels of physical activity and the other group being unsuccessful weight-loss maintainers with little to no physical activity. “The findings reveal that successful weight-loss maintainers rely on physical activity to remain in energy balance, rather than chronic restriction of dietary intake, to avoid weight regain.” “Our findings suggest that this group of successful weight-loss maintainers are consuming a similar number of calories per day as individuals with overweight and obesity but appear to avoid weight regain by compensating for this with high levels of physical activity,” said Victoria A. Catenacci, MD, a weight management physician and researcher at CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

While it may be true that exercise plays a significant role in overall health, the notion that exercise is more critical than diet in managing weight loss is misleading. This narrative by the University of Colorado Anschutz creates an incomplete picture of what it truly takes to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Numerous studies highlight that diet accounts for about 80% of weight loss results, with exercise contributing a much smaller fraction. For instance, you’d have to run nearly an hour to burn off the calories in a single fast-food meal, but simply choosing a healthier, lower-calorie meal in the first place would eliminate the need for that hour-long run. Glorifying gym culture creates a distorted view of health by prioritizing aesthetics over sustainability. While it’s inspiring to see people dedicate themselves to fitness, relying on exercise alone often leads to burnout or discouragement because it’s hard to out-exercise a poor diet. The cycle of overindulging in unhealthy foods and attempting to “work it off” in the gym can be both physically and emotionally exhausting.

This comes back to the cycle of gaining weight, wanting to lose weight, and then becoming victim to unrealistic solutions. These solutions are put in place to make the rich man richer. America has always been a country run by money, so it is no surprise that doctors who own weight loss remedies, gym franchises, and fast-food industries promote false narratives to trap easily influenced zombies into their money lure.

The real issue lies in education. People aren’t obese because there’s a lack of gyms or weight-loss pills; they’re obese because they’ve never been taught how to eat right. Diet culture bombards us with conflicting advice, while fast food is marketed as cheap and convenient. Society glorifies these quick fixes without addressing the simple truth: without the knowledge and discipline to sustain healthy habits, no surgery, injection, or newly trending diet will keep the weight off for good. Ultimately, the choice comes down to what’s more beneficial and ethical for us. Humans weren’t designed to rely on needles or scalpels to manage their weight. Instead, we thrive when we nourish ourselves with real food and move our bodies in natural ways that are not forced.

References

Posted in GRADED, Rebuttal Draft, Rebuttal Rewrite, Yardie | 5 Comments

Research Paper-Andarnaurram

Posted on December 15, 2024 by Andarnaurram

The Influence of Women In Literature
in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries women in literature had a huge impact on the time period. Women writers and characters were often defined to certain roles and stereotypes in society.  During this period, women began to become more assertive and open through writing as they challenged these gender roles and gave new perspective on women experiences. Writers such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Kate Chopin, and their characters are celebrated in today’s society for their bold voices and their influence that was often pushed back in writing and society. It is important to understand the women in literature from this period define what the influence means. They define women’s personal struggles through literature and how their lives were governed. 

One way to define the influence of women in literature during the time of these centuries is by examining how their writing challenged and grew past norms in literature. Literature during this period was mostly dominated by males who ranged their female characters limitedly. Writers such as Kate Chopin, Virginia Woolf, Edith Wharton, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman pushed these barriers. These women wrote texts that created more awareness for women’s rights both socially and politicly relating to women’s experiences in marriage, work, and autonomy. 

For example, Kate Chopin’s The Awakening demonstrates the roles that were imposed on women and how restrictive they were.  In both marriage and motherhood, the main character, Edna Pontellier, examines the expectations that women were only expected to take care of the house and raise their children. She rejected the idea of not being herself by taking time away from her family to pursue her own desires and realizes she wants more then to fulfill these roles. She said, “but whatever came, she had resolved never again to belong to another than herself.” Chopin used this protagonist to demonstrate a female character that sought out their own fulfillment outside of typical society. Her character showed a different narrative to the conventional female character that was often confined to women’s role, and it reflected the feminism growing in this movement. 

Another crucial aspect of defining women’s influence in literature is the role they play in advocating for change. The women’s suffrage movement was gaining attention, and women authors began to use writing in order to advocate for the rights of women. Not only the rights of women were addressed but other social issues such as labor rights, racial and gender equality, and economic reform. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s work would often relay political messages in the form of literature. A piece of her work, Herland, demonstrated a utopian society where women were free from patriarchal oppression. It creates a society where women can build a civilization without the interference of men. This story demonstrates how woman can thrive without social constraints and promotes ideas of women’s intellect and emotional capabilities. Her work pushed for broader societal reforms, questioning mens rule on society and securing rights to the marginalized. 

Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper is an example of the way society views women with mental health issues. Throughout the story, the narrator is actively describing her experience of depression. Due to her depression, her husband confines her to her room, believing she will be cured if she stayed away from the outside world. She increasingly becomes obsessed with the wallpaper, believing she sees a women trapped inside it, representing her own feelings of entrapment. As the tale is demonstrating a women’s psychological issues, it also represents the medical and societal treatment of women. The story demonstrates how women’s voices were often ignored and dismissed. Their entire autonomy was undermined, most often by men as they held more power socially. The narrator describes her husband’s disregard for her issues and says, “But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing. John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him.” As the narrator continue to delve into a deep madness, it is clear that Gilman is showing how dangerous it can be for society to cast women aside.  

Women writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries reimagined the way women were portrayed in literature. Often before this era, women were constantly represented as objects of male’s desire without any real impact to stories. They were most often only described as daughters, wives, or mothers regarding their relationship towards men in their lives. Women writers challenge this dynamic of women being passive objects towards men as it is diminishing. Complex, determined female characters began to rise in literature as women felt the need to give female characters their own narratives.

Another female writer, Edith Wharton, had a similar take on female characters and giving them their own personal story. She typically explored how women in upper-class communities lived their lives in cities such as New York. In her work, The Age of Innocence, examines the rigid social system and the choices her female characters made regarding these systems. She doesn’t just examine women’s confinements in these expectations but men as well, even though it may seem they have privileges in their financial and social lives. Wharton writes, “The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend!” Highlighting the struggle that is between an individual and the group of people around them. This can define women’s marginalization as a male dominated society can prevent women from using their own voices and being heard.

Women writers during this time were working hard not for entertainment purposes but to advocate for women’s rights and stand against societal expectations. Their influence was defined by the subjects they wrote on such as the social and political changes they pushed. These changes included redefining gender roles, societal expectations, and social bias. 

Females in literature were part of a broad movement during the late 19th and early 20 centuries for women’s rights and even racial equality. Even today their work is still very influential in literature and social rights, as we still deal with inequalities and sexism today. By challenging these boundaries of who and what women are supposed to be, we are able to make great progress. As we define the influence of women in literature we acknowledge their part in shaping literature, marginalization, cultural representation, and gender inequality that future generations can build upon. 

The late 19th and early 20th centuries experienced a great shift in literacy as women writers achieved goals of acknowledgment and growing acceptance. There were many driving factors that pushed this change such as social, political and cultural causes that heightened women voices so they would no longer be ignored. During this time, the women’s rights movement began to uplift women around the world and caused significant changes behind women in literature. With women all working toward a goal of challenging traditional norms, there was a great increase in the recognition of their work and impact on society. 

The women’s rights movement caused a huge rise in women in literature and that influence changed social expectations when it came to gender norms. Society often expected women to have a primary role as a wife and mother, had little access to education and employment, must maintain sexual purity and virtue, and must maintain an image of modesty. Which essentially meant they could not be too proud or confident about themselves. Equality for women in education, work, and politics all began to improve during this time. The rights of women being able to have control over their own bodies, careers, finances, and lives in general were not topics often discussed, until the fight for women’s suffrage rose and society began demanding representation of women in everyday culture. This representation meant acknowledgment that women were intellectuals and strong human beings, who had the right to be able to dictate their lives. These factors were huge influences on the stories women began writing and the growing acceptance society felt towards them. 

The social norm for women was most often defined by them being mothers and wives. In the novel, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, she describes how society often just assumed that women would have the most fulfilling lives through marriage, motherhood, and homemaking. If a women didn’t want to go down this path, they were not considered “feminine.”   When speaking of motherhood Friedan states, “In the feminine mystique, there is no other way for a woman to dream of creation or of the future. There is no other way she can even dream about herself, except as her children’s mother, her husband’s wife.” This novel had a huge impact on the growing activism for gender quality as it helped speak for women around the country who were continuously diminished by these gender roles.  

Virginia Woolf is another writer who had a huge impact in the cultural shift of literature and society. Her essay, A Room of One’s Own, highlights the difficulties that women face, such as not having the means to write or the connections to publish, when they do not the financial stability and space to work. Due to women not having access to education, professional opportunities, financial rights, and property, it made gaining financial independence and the freedom almost impossible. Woolf states, “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” The fight for equality, women’s suffrage, and education caused women to feel more free to write about themes of love, family, and social issues, not in the lenses of men but their own perspectives. 

The use of modernism in literature in the late 19th and early 20th century had a crucial role in contributing to the increasing recognition of female authors and their contributions to literary across various genres. Modernism was a movement that captured the modern day life through different styles and structures of writing such as individualism, experimentation, symbolism, and fragmentation. The trend of modernism helped break traditional literature and gave writers a different way of story telling that consisted of multiple perspectives, stream of consciousness, symbolism, and imagery. Writers began to speak on deep psychological topics regarding their characters which helped begin to address the personal journeys and inner lives of women. Women characters started to have different narratives and instead of their lives being narrated through the eyes of men, they began to tell their own thoughts and experiences. This provided more opportunities for writers to experiment and address topics that had previously been avoided and considered unimportant in literature such as mental health issues, sexuality, domestic life, and gender roles.

An author that pushed literary modernism is Gertrude Stein. Stein’s first book Three Lives contains three different stories, each revolving around women in the working-class, struggling to express themselves and what they want in their lives as society continues to keep them down. Her use of writing about female characters in the early 20th century was already breaking norms, as was her being a female writer. Writing about their experiences as they face difficulties in their lives as women, broke the norms even further. New possibilities continued to open up in women’s writing, and people began to want more in depth and complex characters in novels. This allowed women to explore their emotions and intellect.

Another cause that allowed for the increase of women in literature was the access to more education and economic independence. As women gained more rights in the workforce and education, they were able to gain more financial independence that allowed them to write and have more power in their expression. With higher education, women began to create better writing and have more opportunities for exposure and engagement. Previously, women often did not handle money as it was believed men were better capable of handling all financial problems. The “Journal of Social History: Women and the Paradox Of Economic Inequality in the Twentieth-Century” quotes, “‘Men handled financial matters because it was assumed that women were not interested in such activities and furthermore women’s minds were incapable of and unaccustomed to what was referred to as, “doing figuring” and making financial transactions.’” It wasn’t until the early twentieth-century that bank jobs even opened to women, which was similar to the same time the powerful rise of women in literature began. The access to higher education allowed women to explore and be educated in broader topics and stretch their intellectual abilities. Female writers could write in ways that were relevant and imaginative. 

Novel weren’t the only form of writing women did to promote female voices and advocate for the women’s suffrage movement. Many magazine and newspapers articles were published that inspired other women to use their voices for change. For example, “The Woman Journal” made by Lucy Stone in 1870, has been publishing news devoted to the interest of women for decades. It voiced women’s suffrage for almost 50 years and highlighted women’s achievements. 

At the turn of the century women in literature caused many factors in the women’s rights movement, by incorporating modernism to advocate for themselves, fight for access to higher education, and strive for independence both economically and socially. Breaking gender norms and challenging the fulfillment that many believed only came from being a wife and motherhood, women worked together to create an environment where they could be heard and pushed to importance onto society. These writers and characters still push the world we live in today to stay aware of the power behind women’s words and learn from the past in literature. 

While the late 19th and early 20th century had huge gain in women in literature, it is necessary to acknowledge the setbacks that they faced while trying to advocate for their rights and equality. Though woman writers had transformed literature in many ways that would impact society greatly, they dealt with many limitations from society that often constrained their influence. Marginalization continued for women especially in literature as many female writers were still disregarded and not taken seriously. A few other literary movements at that time were rising and would often overshadow women and their influence such as modernism and realism. 

An argument that is often made against the influence of women in literate at the turn of the century is how women writers were held back by society which often restricted their access to participate in literature in America. Even the most influential female writers such as Virginia Wolf, Kate Chopin, and Edith Wharton were limited in literature despite their success due to the gender norms that women were meant to be wives and mothers, rather than writers. These women had to work double as hard and put up double to fight to be recognized as intelligent and important writers. 

It wasn’t just that society thought women who pursued careers were not as capable as men or as serious, they went as far as to say they were mentally unstable. In Sandra Gilbert’s and Susan Gubar’s novel The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination, they analyze Victorian literature and the female characters as they were often either depicted as angels or monsters. The restriction on women’s creativity and expression is argued that it often labeled women who did defy social norms as insane. The authors write, “A life of feminine submission, of ‘contemplative purity,’ is a life of silence, a life that has no pen and no story, while a life of female rebellion, of ‘significant action,’ is a life that must be silenced, a life whose monstrous pen tells a terrible story.” Female writers had faced more significant challenges than male writers as men were able to benefit from better education and already male dominated literary fields. 

Often when women pursued writing, it was seen as a leisure activity. As if woman who had extra time from all their other pursuits, such as maintaining house or raising children, were the only ones who could express themselves in that way. When women did write and gain any type of success they were often confined to specific genres. Romance and children’s literature were the common themes of women’s literature, and it was frequently considered trivial and insignificant. Although some women broke through these boundaries, many were still dismissed by the already male dominated field, supporting the idea that women’s literary work was inferior.

An author who is still highly regarded as one of the most influential female writers today, Virginia Woolf, struggled to gain a voice during her life and receive recognition for her works. The literary field ignored and marginalized women contributions and as for Woolf, her style of writing and intellect were regarded as misunderstood. One can question whether this claim came from genuine confusion on her writing, or the unwillingness to accept a woman in an intellectual position. 

The significance of the female influence on literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was also pushed back upon by other literary movements that were typically male-driven. Some of the largest movements during that time period was modernism and realism. Modernism focused on the rise of capitalism and industrialization to break traditional literary forms. Realism is portraying reality and everyday experiences as they are in that time. Some of the most influence writers during these movements were James Joyce, D. H. Lawrence, and T.S. Elliot. Today, female writers such as Virginia Woolf and Edith Wharton are considered to be one of the most notable modernist writers, but during their time, the contributions they made were more overlooked. The article The Gender of Modernism: A Critical Anthology states, “Though some of the aesthetic and political pronouncements of women writers had been offered in public, they had not circulated widely and were rarely collected for academic recirculation.” It is evident that during this period men were more likely to gain the recognition for their work and therefore, gain the financial stability and freedom to continue being great, known writers. 

Through the many setbacks women had to face in literature, it can be argued that they were limited in their influence, but the most impactful notion is their resistance to keep fighting. By writing outside boundaries that were considered acceptable for women, they were able to reshape and challenge literature and societal norms. As women were constantly being oppressed when it came to literature and society, there fight to keep themselves known to the world as intellectual and creative human beings made their work all that more impactful. It is because of the constraints that were set upon them that made their contributions so much more powerful and meaningful. As attitudes in society shifted towards women, the works of previous literary work by female writers, gained recognition and inspired future generations. The limitations imposed on women writers made their impact more profound and important as their contributions to literature shaped the world today.

References

Bloom H. Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. Bloom’s Literary Criticism, an Infobase Learning Co.; 2011. https://primo.rowan.edu/permalink/01ROWU_INST/mgcbt1/alma9921442163405201

Gilman CP. The Yellow Wall Paper. Small, Maynard & company; 1899. https://primo.rowan.edu/permalink/01ROWU_INST/mgcbt1/alma9921604597105201

Wharton E. The Age of Innocence. New Edition. William Collins; 2010. https://primo.rowan.edu/permalink/01ROWU_INST/mgcbt1/alma992153842370520

Class CM. Chloroformed: Anesthetic Utopianism and Eugenic Feminism in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Herland and Other Works. Legacy (Amherst, Mass). 2024;41(1):75-98. doi:10.1353/leg.2024.a934770 

https://primo.rowan.edu/permalink/01ROWU_INST/ttegd8/cdi_proquest_journals_3090687667

Friedan B. [The Feminine Mystique, Typescript Draft] : Notes; Printed Book 0.; 2018. https://primo.rowan.edu/permalink/01ROWU_INST/mgcbt1/alma9921325894805201

Woolf V. A Room of One’s Own. Ktoczyta.pl; 2020. https://primo.rowan.edu/permalink/01ROWU_INST/jg5vjd/alma9921533908205201

Stein G. Three Lives. The Floating Press; 2011. https://primo.rowan.edu/permalink/01ROWU_INST/jg5vjd/alma9921443676005201

Katz, M.B., Stern, M.J., & Fader, J.J. (2005). Women and the Paradox of Economic Inequality in the Twentieth-Century. Journal of Social History 39(1), 65-88. https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/10/article/187573

Livermore MA (Mary A, Howe JW, Stone L, Higginson TW, eds. Woman’s Journal (Boston, Mass. : 1870).; 1870. https://primo.rowan.edu/permalink/01ROWU_INST/mgcbt1/alma9921550794805201

Gilbert S, Gubar S. From the Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Short Story Criticism. 2003;62:122-229.

https://primo.rowan.edu/permalink/01ROWU_INST/ttegd8/cdi_gale_lco_AZFFX_SCWSTQ526662063

Scott, B. (1990). The Gender of Modernism: A Critical Anthology. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. https://muse.jhu.edu/book/113360.

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Annotated Bibliography- Elongated Lobster

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Elongated lobster

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Stress in America: Generation Z. 

Background: The report by the APA provides an overview of the stressors that are currently affecting Generation Z, emphasizing academic pressures, social media influences, and mental health challenges. This provides statistics and more of a firm basis for the argument that pressures are worsening more and more as each new generation comes along.

How I used it: I used this in my essay by referencing the APA’s findings as a way to underscore the prevalence of academic stress among adolescents. This allowed for me to showcase why this is an issue now more than ever as well by using this to cross-reference this to another piece of evidence in order to contrast these pressures that are faced by the youth of today to the pressures of the youth of previous generations.

Birkner, J. (2020). Why late-night deadlines are hurting students. Technician. 

Background: This article explores the impact of late-night academic deadlines, discussing how they contribute to stress and procrastination among students. This also helps to outline an area that contributes greatly to student stress within the context of the essay.

How I used it: I used this source to support the claim that the increasing prevalence of 11:59 deadlines exacerbate student stress and negatively affects mental health. This will show exactly why stress in the youth today is at higher levels than any generation before, showing how the stress of deadlines is more unavoidable now than it ever has been before. This source is also used to help create a nuance by recognizing that as damaging as this deadline may be, it may be unrealistic to get rid of these, which is why the solution presented may be the better of the two.

Exeter, University of. (2019). Two hours a week in nature is key to health and well-being. ScienceDaily.

Background: This study demonstrated the significant mental and physical health benefits of spending time in natural environments. It overviews just how even a small amount of time can have a massive benefit if consistent enough.

How I used it: This article helped to provide scientific validation for the essay’s central argument that reconnecting with nature can alleviate stress among students as we as be beneficial for their overall health. This source was used as more of a background to help create the overall framework for my argument as none of the specific metrics from this article were used.

Frontiers in Psychology. (2020). Ten minutes in nature reduces stress: A study of heart rate and cortisol levels. Frontiers in Psychology. 

Background: This research highlights how even brief exposure to nature can reduce physiological stress markers, such as cortisol levels and heart rate. This research gets into more of the specifics as to why exactly stress levels decrease when spending time out in nature.

How I used it: This was cited to reinforce the practicality of nature-based solutions as a stress-reduction strategy for students. By citing more specific information with the actual science behind it, regarding the lower heart rate and cortisol levels, this source strengthened the credibility of the argument as a whole. This was because it not only showed what would happen when students spend more time in nature, but also why this will happen.

Goodweather, E. (2022). Why do students procrastinate? Teachers confirm that 11:59 is the magic hour. Three Penny Press.

Background: This article discusses how late-night deadlines impact student behavior, particularly in regards to procrastination and stress. This uses the points of view of multiple teachers as well as students to showcase that this is seen as an issue not just by students, but by teachers as well.

How I used it: This article supports the critique of the 11:59 p.m. deadlines, emphasizing their contribution to the cycle of stress and burnout among students. This was used as a causal section of my essay, but highlighting what exactly causes or contributes to the cause of heightened student stress compared to any prior generations. This was also used more so to show what can contribute to the causes of the stress, rather than assigning the blame that this is the only issue at hand.

Harvard Gazette. (2019). The health benefits of spending time in nature. Harvard Gazette. 

Background: This article reviews a few studies on the psychological and physiological benefits of spending time outdoors. This mesh of different studies provides a stronger argument as to the reasoning behind the claims made as it utilizes multiple outlets that all say the time thing.

How I used it: This helps to provide evidence to connect Thoreau’s philosophy with modern research, demonstrating how nature can mitigate the stress of students today. This also serves as something to help provide weight behind these claims and studies as they are not simply published in some random paper or on some website, but rather are published and reviewed by one of the most well known and well respected medical schools in the world.

Johnson, B., & Raynor, A. (2016). Outdoor education: Challenges and opportunities in modern education systems. Journal of Education and Development, 35(4), 42-56.

Background: This academic article examines the practical and logistical barriers to implementing outdoor education in modern schools. Because this examines some of the most prevalent issues in regards to implementing nature into education, it shows what issues must be addressed if this is to become a realistic goal.

How I used it: This provides the counterarguments regarding the feasibility of integrating nature into the school system, which are then addressed and rebutted within the essay. By adding this rebuttal section into the essay, it shows a deeper level of thinking and understanding of the issue in that it was viewed from all angles and consideration before being put into the argument. This creates more depth and creates a stronger base for the argument as well.

National Institutes of Health. (2017). The effects of nature exposure on mental health and stress. NIH Public Access. 

Background: This study investigates the correlation between exposure to nature and mental health outcomes, focusing on stress reduction. This provides a more in-depth view at what is going on as well as drawing from multiple authors to ensure proper accuracy.

How I used it: This article supports the essay’s thesis that even limited exposure to natural environments can have profound benefits for students’ mental health. Using a well-known, government website database for research also strengthens the claims by showing that this is not only something backed by a few authors or independent studies, but rather that it is also backed by the national government as well.

Pew Research Center. (2018). Anxiety and depression: A major problem among teens. Pew Research Center. 

Background: This report explores the growing mental health challenges among adolescents, with a focus on anxiety and depression. This overviews what contributes to adolescent stress as well as how it can affect them as well.

How I used it: I cited this report to establish the broader context of stress and mental health issues faced by modern adolescents. It provided more of a background role as well in furthering my understanding on what can contribute to adolescent stress and how it impacts them on a deeper level.

Thoreau, H. D. (1854). Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Boston: Ticknor and Fields.

Background: This book is Thoreau’s memoir that details his experiment in simplicity and solitude, advocating for a life connected to nature. This was his way of reflecting on the meaning of life and establishing how to live deliberately in a sense.

How I used it: This book serves of the philosophical foundation for my argument that reconnecting with nature can address the modern stresses of academic life or, at the very least, help diminish it. This provided both the idea for the main argument, which allowed me to grasp a deeper understanding of why being with nature is so important as well the importance of taking the time to appreciate the simplicity of life and nature.

Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why today’s super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy—and completely unprepared for adulthood. Atria Books.

Background: This book examines the mental health and behavioral impact of technology of the youth of today. It goes into depth on the dangers that technology and social media can pose to the younger generations.

How I used it: I used this book to contextualize the unique stressors that face the youth of today, including academic pressures that are amplified by digital technology. This helped me to get a better understanding of the overarching issues that these adolescents face as well as got me thinking on what can be done to help address it.

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Reflective—Patrickthestar

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Patrick The Star

Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

Throughout this process, I worked to develop my ideas and respond to feedback in an open and thoughtful way. My first draft focused on mental health disparities throughout the pandemic but it didn’t clearly explain whether the pandemic just exposed these issues or actually made them worse. After reviewing feedback, I adjusted my argument to show that the pandemic did both.In my definition rewrite feedback suggested that some of my statements were too vague, I worked on making them more specific and grounded. For example, instead of a general statement about racial trauma, I included specific events like “the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd during the pandemic,” which increased the mental health burden for Black and Latino communities. Adding examples like this was a reminder of the fragile state of the country at the time.

Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

My work demonstrates critical reading and synthesis by using multiple sources to place texts into conversation and build a cohesive argument about mental health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In my causation argument ” I included data from Rathore, Connolly, and Karter (2020), which showed how the pandemic “deepened pre-existing socioeconomic and related inequities.” I connected this insight to Đoàn et al. (2021), who highlighted the cultural and financial barriers immigrant communities faced. These examples reinforced the argument that the pandemic’s impact was a result of long-standing inequities rather than single events.

I also engaged with solutions like the telehealth approach, which left marginalized groups behind due to technological and language barriers. By evaluating these sources I was able to draw conclusions and establish the reasons people were left to struggle throughout the pandemic.

Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

My work demonstrates that I carefully considered audience, purpose, and context in crafting arguments that effectively communicate complex ideas.In my final paper I tailored the discussion of mental health issues during the pandemic to resonate with a broader audience. For example, in my essay I try to include imagery which can explain someone’s situation through a fresh perspective. I described a low income family’s struggles throughout the lockdown.  “Suddenly, job security vanishes overnight, schools close, and everyone’s packed into a small apartment with no space and no quiet.” This strategy connects with a group of readers who might have never dealt with the struggle of being food insecure or having a lack of space.

Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.

My rebuttal argument uses research to support its points about mental health inequities. It explores the issue in depth, like when it cites JAMA’s data showing a $1.03 trillion economic burden caused by health inequities to stress the need for bigger solutions. The rebuttal became important because it focused on issues like personal responsibility and the financial implications of implementing government based programs. By connecting these facts to the bigger picture, my essay makes a strong case for why the government needs to step in to fix these deep-rooted issues. 

Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation.My work demonstrates an ethical commitment to presenting complex ideas fairly and crediting sources appropriately. In my final paper “The hidden cost of neglect” I engaged with multiple perspectives on mental health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, I acknowledged Dr. Sally Satel’s argument emphasizes personal responsibility while countering it with evidence of implicit biases in the healthcare industry. I also used credible sources, like JAMA and Đoàn et al. (2021), to support claims and avoid oversimplification. The most important factor to my paper was establishing cause and making connections to the historical and political context of the healthcare industry. When researching this topic I came across the public charge rule which I was previously unfamiliar with, essentially the policy based on getting legal status on how likely the individual was to use government resources later on. I could have just left it at that; however , I found it important to explain how this related back to the issue of conflicting information and policies that prevented immigrant communities from seeking mental health care.

Posted in PatrickTheStar, Portfolio PatrickTheStar, Reflective | Leave a comment

reflective- lil.sapph

Posted on December 12, 2024 by lil.sapph

Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

 In my writing this semester I did a lot of repetitive development, always attempting rewrites and making corrections to my writing to the best of my ability like in the elevator instructions or visual rewrite or other short assignments. I repetitively explored different sources to put into my arguments as well such as my causal argument. Interactive practices would have been going back and forth with feedback and seeing how I could make my writing better and understand slight sentence errors that change the meaning of thing, now conceptualizing English. 

Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

I did this by putting diverse sources by diverse authors into my writing. I did this in my Causal and Definition argument, showing just how they go together. My various sources of information had different ideas that I synthesized, put together to create a balanced argument. Adding sources from diverse communities allowed my essay to not be stale by using the same source over and over again. A lot of my sources had very interesting information with knew topics I didn’t even know had existed 

Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

Specifically in my visual rhetoric assignment I did a lot of analyzing. This assignment was very beneficial to help identify why the video was made that way and for who it was made. In my arguments I tried to keep my information easy to understand and relate to, using a more relaxed tone with average language that was not overly academic as that was not my target audience. I stay in context for my essays and don’t go off topic as that would confuse the reader. 

Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations. 

In my arguments I chose illustrations that supported my ideas and interpretations, reflecting the meaning in the paragraph as well explaining my ideas. I have included images in both my definition and causal arguments, to specifically show the differences between a minimalistic environment and one not, outlining every aspect of them as well with a clear comparison in my arguments. 

Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. Ethical responsibility is a big deal when doing research essays as the information found is from someone else unless experiments were done by myself. In all of my arguments, like causal, I always included an appropriate references list to give credit to those authors who I referenced, either directly quoted them in my arguments or just understood more about the topic from them. While a lot of my essay was comparison between environments and personal views, they were also backed up with evidence from a variety of sources with complex ideas that supported them as well. Ethically, credit was given to all sources referenced. 

Posted in lil.sapph, Portfolio lil.sapph, Reflective | 1 Comment

bibliography – lil.sapph

Posted on December 12, 2024 by lil.sapph

    Auber, O, Saillenfest, A., & Dessalles, J.-L.. (n.d.). Role of Simplicity in Creative Behaviour: The Case of the Poietic Generator. https://arxiv.org/pdf/1612.08657

    The source analyzes the crucial role that simplicity and complexity play in creativity. It uses the poietic generator to see how with greater unexpectedness,  there’s greater creativity

    I looked at this source to understand complexity and what it has to do w creativity and reflect that in my essay 

    Brager, M. E. M. (1970, January 1). Less is more creativity : The possible influence of minimalist interior designs in office environments on the creativity of millennials. https://essay.utwente.nl/81024/?utm_

    This article examines the influence of interior designs on millennials and how it affects their creativity. They did this through a study of 145 millennials. It also examines how the design affects their mood which in turn impacts their creativity. 

    I used this article and its results to demonstrate how different variations of furniture and accessories affect us 

    Druică, E., Ianole-Călin, R., & Puiu, A.-I. (2023, January 30). When less is more: Understanding the adoption of a minimalist lifestyle using the theory of planned behavior. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/11/3/696?utm_  

    This source discusses minimalist lifestyles and emotional benefits of minimalism and why people choose to use that

    I used this source to help me understand better minimalism and discuss the topics in my essay as well, like why people like minimalism

    FZE, B. B. C. (2024, September 20). The psychology of Color. UKEssays. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/arts/the-psychology-of-color.php

    This source discusses color psychology and its effects on every different color with how it affects us. 

    I used this source to show how minimalism and the colors it uses affect us psychologically and how it impacts our creativity. 

    Hwa Lee , J., & Lee, S. (2023b, March 15). Relationships between physical environments and creativity: A scoping review. Thinking Skills and Creativity. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871187123000469  

    This source went into the connection of physical spaces and what they do to creative thinking. 

    I used this source to understand how specifically the physical aspect of the environment affects our thinking . 

    Kansal, S., & Rana, D. P. (n.d.-b). JourBringing Nature Indoors: Exploring the Impact of Biophilic Interior Design in Restaurants. https://journalspub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/21-28-Certificate-Issuing-and-Verification-Application-using-Blockchain.pdf   

    This article discusses various different natural interior designs with material and patters that aren’t found in minimalistic design. It also discusses physical, social, spiritual and psychological benefits to this design, 

    I used this article in comparing minimalist and natural designs and the benefits of having complexity and variety in surroundings. Natural interior design provides more of a connection to nature and has more origin to transcendentalist ideals where it is better for oneself to be close to nature. 

    Lloyd, K., & Pennington, W. (2020, February 16). Towards a theory of Minimalism and Wellbeing – International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41042-020-00030-y?utm_

    This source goes into depth about the relationship between minimalism and materialism with all-round wellbeing 

    I used this source to demonstrate how minimalism affects our brains and inner self. 

    Mahmoud, H. M. (2022). Free Form Interior Design: Analysis and Criticism for a Modern Trend. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328256439_Form_and_Structure_in_Interior_Architecture  

    This article examines different visual complexities in interior design as well as free form and the materials used. 

    I used this article and the different examples it gives along with images, of free form and the visually complex designs as they are not minimalist. I also used this article to show how that will positively affect the creativity in that person and the freedom of thinking and inspiration it allows. 

    Mahmoud, H.-T. H. (n.d.). Minimalism as concept in interior architecture design Case study North coast villa. https://jsos.journals.ekb.eg/article_225753_b862f35afd09da34e21df0f09c701d79.pdf  

    This article examines various minimalist interior designs and clearly defines what “minimalism” is. It discusses different spaces, textures, colors, lighting, arrangements, and focal points. 

    I used this article to describe the basis for my claim, what minimalism is as well as the different types. This article was used as the first step to then explain how creativity is affected by these spaces. 

    Taher, Randah(n.d.-a). Organizational creativity through space design 

    http://www.creativejeffrey.com/creative/creative_spaces_Taher.pdf  

    This article examines how different interior designs and architecture impact us and our creativity. It goes into depth about design involving other cultures as well as time periods. 

    I used this article and its comparison of designs with other cultures to further examine effects on creativity. Also thought about the five environmental characteristics that predicted greater creativity. 

    VanEenoo, C. (n.d.). Minimalism in art and design: Concept, influences, … https://academicjournals.org/journal/JFSA/article-full-text-pdf/3A668BC6040

    The author discusses the role of minimalism and how it affects us both positively and negatively.

    I used this article to help prove how different minimalism affects us  

    Vasilski, D. (2016, September 22). Dragana Vasilski minimalism in architecture: Architecture as a language of its identity. Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/28662802/Dragana_Vasilski_MINIMALISM_IN_ARCHITECTURE_ARCHITECTURE_AS_A_LANGUAGE_OF_ITS_IDENTITY  

    Vasiliki goes into depth on how different aspects of minimalism are seen in architecture such as walls windows and stairs. Also discusses how the architecture is like a language that speaks for itself connecting the individual with the room, bringing out emotions

    I used this article to better my understanding on the topic taking what it says into consideration

    Posted in Bibliography, lil.sapph, Portfolio lil.sapph | 1 Comment

    Annotated bibliography- PATRICKTHESTAR!

    Posted on December 12, 2024 by Patrick The Star

    Bibliography—Patrickthestar1

    California Health Care Foundation. (2022).Health4All: Expanding Medicaid for undocumented immigrants in California. California Health Care Foundation. Retrieved from [https://health-access.org/campaigns/health4all/]

    How I Used It: This source was important to show how community based programs can help a wide range of people who would otherwise be denied access to healthcare. Health4all in California demonstrated how these programs can help restore trust between underserved communities and the local government systems.

    Connell, C. L., Wang, S. C., Crook, L., & Yadrick, K. (2019). Barriers to healthcare seeking and provision among African American adults in the rural Mississippi Delta region: Community and provider perspectives. *Journal of Community Health, 44*(4), 636–645. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-019-00620-1

    How I Used It: This article was utilized to discuss barriers to healthcare access especially in rural areas and it also highlights the inequalities faced by african americans.It provided important examples of challenges that persist in these communities.It also compared health outcomes between people of color in these areas (obesity,diabetes,infant mortality rates).

    Crowe, R. P., Kennel, J., Fernandez, A. R., Burton, B. A., Wang, H. E., Van Vleet, L., Bourn, S. S., & Myers, J. B. (2023).Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in out-of-hospital pain management for patients with long bone fractures. *Annals of Emergency Medicine, 82*(5), 535–545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.03.035

    How I Used It: Pain management among racial groups and emphasizes biases in treatment.It supported the argument in heatcare treatment about the neglect of black patients in the healthcare systems.It reported information on EMS systems and how likely patients of color receive treatment specific to them.

    Đoàn, L. N., Chong, S. K., Misra, S., Kwon, S. C., & Yi, S. S. (2021).Immigrant communities and COVID-19: Strengthening the public health response. *American Journal of Public Health, 111*(S3), S224–S231. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306433

    How I Used It: The source illustrated the pandemic’s disproportionate effect on immigrant communities and confusion about health services as a whole.I also used this article for explaining its effects of children that were food insecure and those with housing instabilities because it provided a direct effect the pandemic was having on people who lacked access to resources prior to the start of it.

    Klick, J., & Satel, S. (2011). The health disparities myth: Diagnosing the treatment gap. The AEI Press. https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20080630_HealthDisparitiesMyth.pdf

    How I Used It: This source explained why the author believes that healthcare and mental health is more personal responsibility and how the government should not intervene.It attributes healthcare problems to education levels and socio economic levels rather than systemic failures.While Dr.Satel does provide some compelling statistics she fails to make correlations between historic racial practices such as redlining and misleading studies that instilled mistrust between marginalized communities and healthcare providers.It also leads into my solution paragraphs which go on to describe how government intervention is the solution to bridge gaps in care which keep these communities behind.

    LaVeist, T. A., Pérez-Stable, E. J., Richard, P., Anderson, A., Isaac, L. A., Santiago, R., Okoh, C., Breen, N., Farhat, T., Assenov, A., & Gaskin, D. J. (2023). The economic burden of racial, ethnic, and educational health inequities in the US. JAMA, 329(19), 1682–1692. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.5965

    How I Used It: This article provided key data on the economic toll of health inequities, including racial and ethnic disparities which includes a staggering 421.1 billion dollar loss. I found this important to use because it gives us a more real adverse effect on the healthcare system.

    Nix, E. (2017, May 16).Tuskegee Experiment: The infamous syphilis study. *History.* Updated June 13, 2023. Retrieved from [https://www.history.com/news/the-infamous-40-year-tuskegee-study]

    How I Used It:This historical account was used to contextualize distrust in the healthcare system among African Americans, emphasizing how unethical practices like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study created long-lasting barriers to care.

    Page, K. R., Venkataramani, M., Beyrer, C., & Polk, S. (2020). Undocumented U.S. immigrants and COVID-19. *New England Journal of Medicine, 382*(21), e62. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2005953

    How I Used It: This source was instrumental in examining the pandemic’s impact on undocumented immigrants,policies like the public charge rule had real effects on immigrant populations. It highlighted a specific policy that directly prevented immigrants from seeking care because it painted them as a liability to the American people and could be used against them if they decided to pursue citizenship if they used public service systems such as food stamps and medicaid.

    Pew Research Center. (2020). 59% of U.S. parents with lower incomes say their child may face digital obstacles in schoolwork. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/09/10/59-of-u-s-parents-with-lower-incomes-say-their-child-may-face-digital-obstacles-in-schoolwork/]

    How I Used It:This Data provided yet another example of how low income communities were left behind throughout the pandemic. If kids lacked access to technology they couldn’t complete assignments and this caused additional stress in low income households.It also introduces the importance of telehealth as a solution white addressing the potential shortcomings of using this as the only solution.The statics reports that 59 percent of lower income individuals struggled accessing their coursework which is more than most people realize.

    Rathore, K., Connolly, G., & Karter, C. (2020, September). Recommendations to address the inequitable impacts of COVID-19 in child welfare, housing, and community capacity. *Chapin Hall Issue Brief.* Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

    How I Used It: This brief provided specific policy recommendations and how policies that have been normalized and actually counterproductive and requite shifts to focus on social services.

    Thomeer, M. B., Moody, M. D., & Yahirun, J. (2023). Racial and ethnic disparities in mental health and mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. *Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 10*(2), 961–976. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01284-9

    How I Used It: The article detailed how the pandemic widened pre-existing disparities in mental health care showing how the most common solutions often excluded the same select few.For example black and hispanic people experienced a higher rate of transmission and that cause is explored as these communities are more likely to live in extended households.Another aspect i find particularly important in this article is how it explores other significant events to these communities such as the death of breonna taylor and George Floyd.This is a stressor that many wouldnt understand if you aren’t part of these communities but the added stress contributed to the worsening of symptoms that were being ignored such as anxiety or depression.

    NYC Well. (2021).NYC Well: 24/7 mental health support. Retrieved from [https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/]

    How I Used It: Used as an example of successful community-based initiatives offering multilingual mental health support. It demonstrated how localized, accessible programs could help bridge gaps in care for diverse populations. I also believe it’s important because just like the health4all initiative California started it shows how large cities were able to provide care for their own regardless of status.It also provides a small and attainable change that can be implemented.

    Posted in Bibliography, PatrickTheStar, Portfolio PatrickTheStar | Leave a comment

    Reflective—CourageTheCowardlyDog

    Posted on December 11, 2024 by Courage The Cowardly Dog

    Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

    My writing showed that I used this core value, especially in my definitional argument. I used many different websites and articles and also my meeting and messaging with my professor and peers to make my writing more understandable. I used reliable sources to explain my points and after my feedback from the professor, the development between where I started when I was confused about where my topic was going to lead me to my rewrite of it was shown. The more research I did into my topic and the feedback I got helped me write my final paper and even make revisions to my definition paper. I looked for different perspectives of what I was writing about and learned the different ways to grieve and I learned a lot more about the process as well as how important physical objects are to this process

    Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

    My writing for my final paper showed how I read up on and learned about many opinions debating whether or not holding onto things was good for a person. I placed quotes and explained more about how people celebrated differently. I showed the different perspectives on things and incorporated them into my paper whether I was arguing against them or not. I explored the two different sides and explained how many people felt about both sides as well as explaining the cultural side of this topic. My final paper showed how I brought all these ideas together and used it to further explain the importance of grief as a whole and how objects can help connect us to those who have passed away and how we can honor them.

    Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

    I demonstrated my understanding of this value in my visual argument. I found and saw what the video was about and tried to further explain it by using the second by second method where I talked about everything that I noticed and analyzed what they were doing in the video. I took the time to try to figure out what was going on by stopping and noticing everything. By doing that it also helped me understand what they were trying to show and see things that I wouldn’t have noticed if I just watched it like normal.

    Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.


    My writing showed my understanding for this value during my Rebuttal Argument. I used many sources to prove my point as well as argue against those arguing against me. Through research, I found many people who had stories and their own opinions while I also looked into those whos opinions matched up with mine in a way. Most of the sources I used were more informative articles or books explaining the importance of objects and how one can connect to us those who have passed and explaining in many different ways how and why honoring and keeping their memory alive is important to the healing process rather than forcing ourselves to move on. I used examples from many of these articles to show both sides.

    Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. 

    In my writing, I cited many sources from informative books and research articles that talked about the cultural importance in my definition argument. I made sure not to twist words or put in words to help explain the cultural aspect of things. There were things I knew but that I wasn’t sure of any to insure I wasn’t spreading misinformation, I used these books/ articles to prove and inform. I also credited those sources and explained the ideas the sources were giving. All of the sources I gave in my bibliography about the Day of the Dead were also research papers or books written to spread information about the culture and holiday.

    Posted in CourageTheCowardlyDog, GRADED, Portfolio CourageTheCowardlyDog, Reflective | 1 Comment

    Research – CourageTheCowardlyDog

    Posted on December 11, 2024 by Courage The Cowardly Dog

    Connecting objects to memories and how it helps us grieve

    The feeling of grief that follows the loss of a loved one can oftentimes feel overwhelming. One of the many ways that people tend to cope is by using objects that belong to their loved ones. Connecting the memories of the deceased with the objects and belongings left behind can help them cope with that loss. By doing this it could also help bring together other people who are also grieving the same person. Even though these objects won’t replace the person, they can take the place of the absence and give some type of closure. This could also help the family feel like that person is still with them. 

    We tend to use objects left behind to help us remember and cherish our past loved ones, whether that be lessons we’ve learned from them or just simply good memories we have with them. These objects tend to carry an emotional weight and holding onto them, allows us to keep the bond and connection with the past alive and allows us to move forward. By connecting them to certain objects in our life it can help us grieve and move on as well as pass down our good memories of them to the next line of generations, like our kids and their kids.

    Understanding and learning the importance of why people keep and cherish things from their past loved ones helps those who are grieving and wish to maintain a connection. This also allows us to empathize and connect with those still with us using memories and momentums of those who have passed. While these objects can never replace the person, they can help bridge the gap left by their absence, offering comfort and even a sense of closure. Such objects can also create opportunities for shared remembrance, helping families feel as though their loved one is still present in spirit. They can provide a sense of stability during this grieving period and also some emotional comfort. 

     Through other cultures, we can also learn and join the celebration of not only the dead but how to cherish the physical objects that we have of them. I will be exploring and defining ways that other cultures, focusing more on Mexican culture, like to memorialize and stay connected with their deceased loved ones. For example, in Mexican culture, the Día de los Muertos celebration centers around creating altars with objects like food, photos, and personal mementos. This practice helps families reconnect with the deceased, celebrate their lives, and offer a healthy way to process grief within a community. These rituals highlight the healing potential of physical objects, transforming them into anchors for both individual solace and collective remembrance.

     Remembering our loved ones is always important even if you don’t have something of physical value to them. Making art to represent your loved ones is one way of connecting physically with them. This is more famously known through Day Of the Dead.” It is common at this time of year for sugar skulls with people’s names written on them to be sold in stores and on street corner.” We do this as a way to keep us connected to those that have passed. Most people, though wanting to be connected through an object, don’t always have an object. But by painting and decorating sugar skulls, they are making a physical object that has a connection with their memories of their loved ones. 

    Sugar skulls, or more specifically skeletons, are a huge part of this celebration. They help us remember those who have passed because it is tradition to dress them up and decorate them. “There is also throughout the republic an enormous variety of skeleton toys of all sizes and plastic materials, with the skeleton displayed as naked or clothed, holding a recognizable object like a pipe or musical instrument, and usually giving some indication of age, gender, occupation, and the like.” By doing this you are not only remembering and honoring those who have passed, we can also use this as a way to connect with our families by sharing stories and memories of them. Talking about them not only helps us grieve but helps us pass on their stories, which keeps their memory alive even if they are not.

    Decorating these altars is also a huge part of the celebration and helps us connect to those who have passed. These ofrendas are important because they help us connect with those who have passed and those who are still with us. This practice helps families reconnect with the deceased, celebrate their lives, and offer a healthy way to process grief within a community. These rituals highlight the healing potential of physical objects, transforming them into anchors for both individual solace and collective remembrance. “One of the most distinctive features of the Day of the Dead, the so-called ofrenda, or offering, consists of breads, candies, and other foods which are placed on the graves of deceased relatives and used to adorn home altars prepared specially for the occasion.” Candies and other treats are offered to ensure that the spirits have a joyful reunion with their loved ones.

     Food can also be seen as object connecting you to your loved ones. On the ofrendas, a common tradition is to put the favorite foods of those who have passed. This symbolizes a way to honor them in a way by remembering their favorite meals and candies. Food serves as a form of comfort for the living, providing a sense of connection and healing. Preparing the food and sharing it with others during the celebration of Día de los Muertos allows families to process grief collectively. The ritual of cooking, sharing, and consuming food can be a way for people to support one another, bond, and create a sense of closure, comfort, and joy around loss.

     Losing someone who is very important to you is a terrible thing and finding a way to cope with it is hard especially when the emotions of it all are still fresh. One way people commonly cope is by connecting with the objects and belongings left behind by their loved ones. These items often hold profound emotional significance, providing a tangible connection to memories of the deceased. While they can never replace the person, they can help bridge the gap left by their absence, offering comfort and even a sense of closure. Such objects can also create opportunities for shared remembrance, helping families feel as though their loved one is still present in spirit. 

    There are many reasons as to why people keep things and why this is important. When we grieve, we want to have something to keep us connected to the ones who have passed. Some of the more common things that people tend to keep are pieces of jewelry, clothes, pictures, toys, or any type of gift. “Rather, it’s about understanding that once someone dies all of the sudden their things have new meaning. Things like rosaries, or cards, or pictures or books you never gave a second thought to are now hard to part with. People unconsciously feel, ‘if I can keep this stuff, I can keep this person.” Holding onto these things lets us feel some type of connection to the person and they have a new type of significance to them. Having an emotional attachment to personal objects after losing a loved one is a natural and huge part of the grieving process. This can also help you look for closure as well in the long run.

    Many times, people tend to try to incorporate these objects into their everyday lives. We can use the pictures and rosaries as an example. Most people will frame old pictures of the person and keep them in their house. This being a more common practice and something that helps give closure to people as well. This can also be connected to the Day of The Dead as well as putting pictures of your loved ones is another thing that it puts on an ofrenda aside from the candies and foods. This is to honor them and show that we want them to come back on this day. “Families create the altars with photographs and candles as a way for their departed loved ones to find their way back to their living relatives, and the food and ofrendas serve both as nourishment for the deceased after their journey as well as enticement and motivation for them to come back to the land of the living.”  By holding onto these objects and pictures, we hold onto the memory of them and use them as a way to bridge the connection between the living and the dead.

    Using objects to bridge the gap between the living and the dead also helps us keep them close to us in our hearts. Grief is a very painful process and by holding onto items, we can hold onto the memory of the person, and by extension, keep a part of them in their life. These objects provide a source of comfort during this difficult time. They also help us keep their memories alive, acting as a memory marker that we can revisit over time. This is very important to the grieving process and helps those who are grieving to come to the reality that the person is gone. Most people use objects as a way to seek closure and they can provide a sense of peace. A widow might hold onto their late spouse’s rings or maybe even books. Even if they don’t read the books themselves, it holds a different meaning to them now. It’s a reminder of a life they lived together and can now serve as a way to honor them and keep them around.

    Holding onto these objects, to some people, can be seen as denying that the person is actually gone and some may even argue that this isn’t a good way to cope with their death, but the benefits of holding onto these objects is actually better than to get rid of their objects and forcing a person to move on.“It’s okay to take your time to sort through things but if everything in the room is there to remove their death, the linking objects are likely being used more for the purposes of denial. This holding on and denying death can stir up other emotions that make grief feel more painful.” states Reid Peterson in an article titled Coping with Sentimental Objects After Loss. He points out that holding onto these objects and taking time to sort out your emotions through this process is okay, but he also says that holding onto them might not be the best way to move on. 

     “But what if someone just cannot allow themselves to let go of something because they remind them so much of their special person who died? What if this holding on to the past has become self destructive, even to the point that the items are taking over their home and lives?” He also points out that holding onto these objects can have its own danger take a toll on the mind and lead us to self-destruction. It has the potential to overwhelm a person and their daily lives by having these things around them. Though the grieving process is obviously different for everyone, he tries to say that having these objects around it could lead you to become obsessed with them and trying to prolong the grieving process by keeping yourself in denial that the person is gone.

    Most people seek comfort in the objects left behind. Instead of viewing this as a form of denial, this can be viewed as an emotional connection between the deceased and the grieving. There is obviously a need to balance those things out as well. Taking time to sort through belongings and emotions after losing someone will definitely take a long time, but the last thing a person should be thinking about is getting rid of these personal objects. ​​Holding onto objects doesn’t necessarily mean that you are refusing to accept this but oftentimes is a necessary step in the grieving process. They allow the grieving person to engage with their memories and maintain an emotional connection to their loved one.

    Sometimes we hold onto these objects because there is some form of guilt or regret or unresolved emotions/feelings that we are holding onto. Moving on from someone who has passed is a difficult process and finding a way to cope is very important. “We hold onto stuff for so many reasons – guilt, comfort, anxiety, uncertainty, security and more. We hoard because we’re scared, we hold onto things because we’re frightened what will happen if we let go, we can’t afford to buy new or a replacement, we spent money on it already, it was handed down through generations, we seem frivolous to just get rid of it, waste is bad for the environment, we don’t know where to get rid of it.”  Antonia Colins basically explains the reasons why we hold onto things while also showing that most of the reasons are because of the negative emotions we are feeling at the time. A common thing is also to feel guilty of letting things go, such as clothes or books, when someone passes. But more of the reason that people do this is because they want to keep memories of the person in any way they can, whether they use these objects later on in life or not. Doing this also doesn’t prolong the process of moving on or grieving. This helps us come to the acceptance that the person is gone but the realization that all we have left of them is their personal belongings.

     A word that does come up a lot when talking about moving on is “decluttering” which is basically to get rid of things you “don’t need” or aren’t going to use and while this may be effective to some people, it also seems like a terrible word to use when someone is grieving the loss of someone who was important to them. Jo Hammer states “If you cared for a family member or spouse in your home before they died, you can be surrounded by things that remind you of that difficult time. In this case, it could be healthy to remove them.” Removing the items could help us accept their passing. By doing this, we could avoid the constant reminder of them and in a way speed up the grieving process. But multiple times in her article, she uses the word decluttering and in a way, she’s minimizing the actual reason why people keep these items.

    People don’t just keep the objects of the person they loved because they want to “take up space.” They keep them because they want that connection. They want a reminder that the person was once alive and happy and a huge part of their lives. Obviously, the meaning of the object will change over time. The feelings that are connected with the person’s objects will shift from a more grieving feeling to an accepting one. Holding onto personal objects isn’t because they’re trying to replace their loved one with an object. Nothing can replace the living and we can’t try to. But we can remember them and should take the time to grieve no matter how long. Yes, denial is one of the steps of grieving but this will happen no matter the situation or if you keep their belongings around. 

    The argument that unresolved feelings could stop us from moving on and sometimes make people fall into a worse state of mind or further into depression because of this is valid. These feelings could also make it difficult to let go of some items or harder to look at them. But by keeping these items the meaning of them would change and they would serve as a symbol of what was left unresolved and by having these items, one could try to resolve them within themselves. We shouldn’t force ourselves, or anyone for that matter, to move on and get rid of these personal belongings. Keeping them is a good way to cope and a great way to honor those who have passed. 

    When a loved one dies, their absence can feel so profound that it seems as though the bond itself is broken. But by holding onto personal objects, that bond remains, even in a tangible form. This helps families and friends feel that their loved ones are still with them even if it’s just in spirit or in memory. Letting go of objects is also okay. Holding onto every single thing is understandable, but not holding onto everything is too. It’s just part of the process. This doesn’t mean that we’re stuck in denial and don’t want to go forward. Losing someone is overwhelming in itself and having some way or things to remind you of the person is good for this grief and moving on.

    Having a way to connect the dead and the living is important as well. That being culturally or traditionally like an heirloom. Remembering and honoring those who have passed is the main point of the Day of the Dead. It helps us move on and accept them while also continuing their life in spirit. This celebration is huge on believing in spirits and “bringing back the dead” through spirits. Just having a belief that they are still around watching over us brings comfort to us. Even though some might think of this as crazy, finding a way to move on and be connected to your passed loved ones is more important. Shared rituals around objects are critical to the healing process.

    Objects are not meant to replace the person who is gone, but they can bridge the gap left by their absence. They allow us to remember and, over time, to reconcile the loss. Whether it’s through photos, mementos, or even art, these objects allow us to keep the memories alive and share them with others, even with future generations. By passing down memories or creating physical representations of our loved ones, like sugar skulls in Day of the Dead celebrations, we keep their essence alive in our hearts and communities.

    References

    Peterson, R. (2021a, September 20). Coping with sentimental objects after loss. Medium. https://griefrefuge.medium.com/coping-with-sentimental-objects-after-loss-a0625fa9b6c8#:~:text=Linking%20objects%20are%20things%20that,a%20beginning%20and%20an%20end.

    Lewis, E. (n.d.-a). Parting with a loved one’s belongings. Remembering A Life. https://www.rememberingalife.com/blogs/blog/parting-with-a-loved-ones-belongings#:~:text=%E2%80%9CRather%2C%20it’s%20about%20understanding%20that,I%20can%20keep%20this%20person.

    Hagemann, T. (2020, November 10). The importance of food in Día de Muertos. The Digital Literature Review. https://blogs.bsu.edu/dlr/2020/11/10/the-importance-of-food-in-dia-de-muertos/

    Wheaton, O. (2020, July 24). “decluttering” after someone dies: How and when should you do it? Marie Curie. https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/talkabout/articles/decluttering-after-someone-dies/277411

    Posted in CourageTheCowardlyDog, GRADED, Portfolio CourageTheCowardlyDog, Research Position Paper | 1 Comment

    Causal Rewrite – yardie

    Posted on December 11, 2024 by yardie

    The 4 Reasons We Are a Fat Country

    Americans don’t want to give up their Burger King’s Triple Whopper with Cheese, the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at 2 am, and the bottomless all-you-can-eat fries, wings, and sodas at their favorite restaurants. Their lack of self-control undeniably contributes to the rising rates of obesity in America. The fat country problem can be understood through four stages: awareness, understanding, belief, and action.

    The first stage is awareness, where scientists have researched and gathered data on the unhealthy habits that contribute to obesity where they can come up with alternatives and helpful strategies for a healthy lifestyle by providing the causes and risks of obesity.

    The second stage is understanding, where society processes and absorbs the information. At this point, the responsibility shifts to us as individuals to decide how to use this knowledge.

    The third stage is belief, which is often the most challenging. Regardless of the overwhelming evidence, many people struggle to trust or embrace the facts about obesity, sometimes feeling defensive or resistant to ideas that challenge their lifestyles and comforts.

    Finally, the fourth stage is action, deciding to turn understanding into meaningful change. While information about healthy living is readily available, widely distributed, and understood, many individuals need help to break free from secure habits. This resistance to change keeps unhealthy behaviors, contributing to the growing obesity statistics in America.

    Awareness: to successfully solve any problem like obesity in America, we first have to find information about the disease. Why does it happen? How do we stop it? And how do we still enjoy our favorite foods and maintain health? Scientists, realizing the problem and wanting to better the American population, have uncovered significant insights into the obesity epidemic. They have devised valuable strategies to reduce unhealthy habits and promote a healthy lifestyle. Through research, science has found that several biological, environmental, and behavioral factors control obesitỵ Studies from Harvard Health, genes in a person can affect their appetite, sense of fullness, metabolic rate, and food cravings. Furthermore, the CDC reported that Americans now are consuming 300 more calories a day than the average person 60 years ago. This increase in food intake has significantly contributed to the problem. Americans have become too comfortable with eating excessively. 

    Environmental factors such as tempting foods being super prominent at shopping centers, sports stadiums, amusements, workplaces, and on common roadways or areas only make healthier living 10 times harder. Will people have self-control, or let their desires get the best of them?  At a physiological level, the balance between caloric intake and energy expenditure is fundamental. When individuals consistently consume more calories than their bodies burn, the excess is stored as fat, leading to weight gain. The solution to combat obesity, while challenging, is rooted in dietary choices. It is scientifically approved that the whole foods diet is the most effective in fueling a healthy human body. Whole foods are closer to their natural state of process. They are typically low in calories but still keep a person full and energized. What exactly are whole foods? The American Journal explains that whole foods are rich in fiber, proteins, whole grains, essential nutrients like fruits and vegetables, proteins like eggs, beans, nuts, chicken breast, and fish, and carbohydrates for energy.

    Understanding: could the problem be that Americans are too oblivious and misinformed to understand obesity? The solutions are blatantly simple and widespread through countless sources such as social media platforms, television or radio channels, schools, workplaces, and gyms. Even though the causes of obesity, and solutions to it are simple and out there Americans fail to fully understand or act on it. We are a fat country that contrastingly sabotages ourselves into believing skewed concepts of healthy eating. Resorting to unhealthy habits like “calories in, calories out,”  fast magical weight loss meds, or myths that overcomplicate what should be straightforward. These flawed concepts will never work long-term and they just hurt and set us back even more. In reality, it is simply, don’t overeat, consume mostly whole food meals, and treat yourself to those cravings occasionally and in moderation.

    Belief: If you are not oblivious to obesity and understand it, maybe you just refuse to believe it and don’t take it seriously. Americans are great at turning a blind eye to pressing issues, sweeping our problems under the rug, or being senseless about certain topics that challenge us. The information on obesity is heard by the public but not cared for. Some of us aren’t affected by the issue so we end up promoting contributing factors that support the disease. An example of this is unhealthy drug and alcohol use and eating habits. We often see what looks to be healthy people around us that consume unhealthy amounts of drugs or foods, social media is a prime spreader of this kind of content. This results in some people becoming victims of the unrealistic connotations of living certain lifestyles. They get confused and decide to not take the situation seriously. This is now everyone’s problem and not only an obese person’s duty to solve it. This collective apathy not only worsens the problem but also reflects a larger cultural pattern of avoiding accountability when it matters most.

    Action: Will we ever reach a breaking point where we’re fed up with looking sluggish, soft, or stuck in a constant state of discomfort? The reality is many of us are living with a sense of dissatisfaction about our bodies, knowing deep down that the way we feel is linked to our choices. “You are what you eat,” is an expression often tossed around as a joke, however, it has become more real than we realize. We now have all the answers and solutions to tackling obesity, but will we take action on it? Solving this issue has never been easy and won’t get any easier. It requires time, energy, and effort to turn away from the comfort of quick, unhealthy fixes, but the payoff is more than worth it. Choosing healthier options may feel difficult at first, and can be stressful when we’re surrounded by tempting alternatives. But the truth is, the benefits of making those choices are invaluable. We can live more effectively, more energized, and yes, for longer. We as humans always strive to look better, by acting a certain way, dressing a certain way, putting on makeup, and even trying to obtain social status or items that may us more attractive. We need to do the same for our health and know that this is a long-term investment in ourselves for a better life.

    References

    Posted in Causal Rewrite, GRADED, Portfolio Yardie, REGRADED, Yardie | 4 Comments