Mesoamerican culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mesoamerican culture - Essay Example Over countless years, the Mesoamericans designed their beliefs and customs of life. This accumulation of millennia of proficiencies could be what permits Mesoamerican concepts to live on today. This paper will explain the aspects of Mesoamerica still manifest in present say Mexico Culture. One of the major aspects of the Mesoamerican culture that has been retained is the calendrical system. Some of the different types of the calendars that have been maintained is 260-day cycle, 360 and 365 days cycles of the year. Names that are given to different months, and years emanates from animals, flowers or even heavenly bodies. In addition, another aspect of Mesoamerican culture that exists up-to-date is Mesoamerican script. These include logosyllabic which is the combination of logograms and syllabary. The scripts are referred to as hieroglyphic. People can learn about the environment via Mesoamerican language. The observable fact of ethnic blend and de-Indianization is not happening homoge neously all over Mexico and the communal organization has permitted Indian personalities to keep art in particular zones, and has resulted in preservation of culture. Hence, the continuance of biological indigenous qualities permits for continuance of Mesoamerican tradition and culture through language (Coe 16). Mexico does not bear an assorted mode of life. Diverse regions have dissimilar values, and much further, cultures in any area cannot be oversimplified; Indians still subsist and some have been chased out of Mexico. Non-Indian communities are not standardized either. Â  Country peasant communities are in existence and bear an Indian culture, however they lost the distinctiveness that runs with it. Farming ideas, philosophies about the ecological realm and Indian systems of eating and designing they still manifest in Mexico. Nevertheless, communal association in the farming world is somewhat altered. The farmers still execute matters in the Indian manner; nevertheless, they n o longer see themselves as Indians Coe 46). The essence of community inside the Oaxacan hamlet of San Andres is incredibly striking. The community functions together in countless distinct ways. A structure of titled 'tequio' runs as a consolidating body. Every family in the community has a responsibility to aid work and give a fee to the tequio. The tequio convenes monthly to perform stated developments that help the village or a commune member. It strengthens unity and functions as the community authority. Due to reliance on one another, the Chicahuaxtla community remains strong. Additional activity that fortifies the commune goes down annually- the entire community marches around the frontiers of the village. This aids to evade conflicts with neighboring communities by commencing peaceful relations. The Tequio structure, annual feasts and collective dances, ceremonies all add to and refurbish the distinctiveness of the communal. Various affiliates of the communal might not be cons cious of the implication of their everyday actions in the culture conservation. Actions are simply understood as rewarding a pledge or entertainment (Dierhl 45). Conclusively, most Mexicans are pondered believed to be Catholic however, in Mexico Catholicism assumes a distinctive custom different from the

Emergency Operations Plan Essay Example for Free

Emergency Operations Plan Essay Brownsville Texas is located in approximately 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and it is vulnerable to a major hurricane like Hurricane Katrina that devastated much of Louisiana in 2005. During Hurricane Katrina many of the things when wrong because emergency leaders were because, emergency managers were not prepared for the after mass of the hurricane. It is important for a city to have a structured Emergency Operations Plan in place in the event of a major hurricane. This will help make emergency operations run smooth and emergency managers make important decisions. Hurricanes are measured in Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This gives the hurricane a rating of 1 to 5 based on its sustained wind speed (NOAA, 2013). The rating is also based on the amount of damage a hurricane can create once it makes land fall. For example â€Å"any storm that reaches a sustained wind speed of 74-95 miles per hour (mph) is considered a category 1 hurricane† (NOAA, 2013). Any hurricane that reaches a sustained wind speed of 111-129 mph is category 3 hurricane and it falls in a major hurricane category. Category 3 hurricanes and higher are considered the most dangerous and have the potential to create the most damage (NOAA, 2013). 1.Purpose of the plan The purpose of this plan is to establish an Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) that will provide guild lines and procedures for emergency managers in the event of a major hurricane in the South Texas area. The Emergency Operations Plan will show the vulnerabilities of the City of Brownsville, major concerns that city managers have, contact information for local hospitals, Fire Department, Police Station and it will also help emergency managers coordinate operations with local, State and Federal Agencies. It will also indicate the location of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Unified Command Center. The EOC leader or manager will have complete command and control of all emergency operation, before, during and after the hurricane has made landfall in the city of Brownsville. The EOC will be the primary base of operations throughout the disaster. This means that all emergency operations will be coordinated through the EOC and all emergency managers and team leaders will report to the EOC, as soon as they arrive on scene and before any operations start. The EOP will establish a chain of command that will be followed by all agencies and private organizations  involved in emergency operations. This will include all local, State and Federal agencies assisting or participating in the EOP. The EOP will also indicate the locations of the primary and secondary EOC. The secondary location for the EOC will be used in the event that they primary location of the EOC is damaged during the hurricane and can no longer be safely used to conduct emergency operations. The EOP will also indicate who will participate in the emergency operations and what role they will have throughout emergency operations, before, during and after the hurricane. This will help emergency managers better utilize the resources that will be available to them. This will also help emergency managers plan and execute emergency operations in a safe and protective manner. The goal of the emergency plan is to provide as much information as possible to the community before the hurricane makes land fall. During and after the hurricane mission is to save as many lives as possible. This will be done through conducting emergency operations, providing medical care to the injured and by establishing temporary shelters to people that have had to evacuate their homes. 2.Situation Brownsville, Texas is located in South Texas and is a city that is approximately 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The cities or communities along the Gulf of Mexico coast line are vulnerable to a potential hurricane during hurricane season. Hurricane season normally starts on June 1st and ends on November 30th (Brownsville Herald, 2014). This is the time when tropical storms form out in the Gulf of Mexico. But not all storms that form are considered hurricanes. When a storm becomes a hurricane, they are considered very dangerous storms because they have the potential cause a lot of damage. This EOP is designed to be put into action in the event of a category 3 hurricane or higher threatens the city of Brownsville. A category 3 hurricane can bring rains that can last for a long period of time. This can cause floods in certain parts of the city, the high winds are also a major concern because â€Å"framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends (NOAA, 2013). These high winds can also break trees that can cause roads to be blocked for long periods of time. A category 3 or higher hurricane can also affect the electricity and running water in the city. This means that people in many communities  throughout the city can be left without running water or electricity for days. 3.Assumptions Assuming a category 4 hurricane in enroute to the Gulf of Mexico coast and it will directly affect the city of Brownsville, emergency managers have a plan in place to start warning the community of the threat the 4 hurricane poses. This is done by using the media and providing up to date information on the status of the hurricane. At least five days before the hurricane makes land fall emergency managers need to start providing the community with up to date information on the hurricane. This will include strength of the hurricane and the potential damage it will create. Emergency managers should make plans to conduct emergency operations for at least 24 to 48 hours after the hurricane makes land fall. This will include the first responder’s response time and evacuation operations if they are needed. Evacuating people from the local hospitals is a priority. At least five days before the hurricane makes landfall hospitals should need to contact and make arrangements for the hosp itals to be evacuated (DSHS.TX, 2013). 4.Concept of Operations The concept of emergency operations plan is to create a unified response to the threat of a category 4 hurricane. The will be done by creating establishing a chain of command that all agencies and private organizations can follow. The EOP will keep the community informed of any changes or any important information that they will need before, during and after the hurricane. The EOP will also establish a Unified Command Center where different agencies can work together with one common goal. The goal is to save and protect as many people as possible from the threat of hurricane. This can be done by providing early warning of the hurricane and establishing a chain of command. This is will also help emergency managers effectively us all the resources that they have at their disposal. The EOP will also establish a list of agencies and organizations that will be involved in the emergency planning and any operations during the disaster. 5.Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities The Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will be  the lead agency in charge of all emergency operations (OEMHS). OEMHS is responsible for planning and efforts to mitigate the effects of, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters whether natural or man-made (COB, 2011). The local, State and Federal agencies and private organizations that will be involved in the EOP will be: A.Brownsville Police Department B.Cameron County Sherriff’s Office C.Brownsville Public Works Department D.Texas Department of Public Safety E.Brownsville Fire Department F.United States Border Patrol G.United States Coast Guard H.Texas Army National Guard I.American Red Cross J.Local Hospitals K.Private Businesses These agencies are considered first responders and will play a very important role in the EOP. Each of these agencies will have specific mission and will provide assistance to the community as it is needed. The assistance can be anything from helping people evacuate from their home to assisting in the city evacuation route. Each agency will have a representative at the Unified Command Center. This means that all operations and assignments will be given to the first responders from the Unified Command Center. A.Brownsville Police Department The Brownsville Police Department will maintain a command post at the Brownsville Police Department. Their representative will coordinate any and all operations through the Unified Command Center. The Brownsville Police Department will also assist in closing street or roads that are considered dangerous or that might possibly flood. They will also maintain public order and ensure that the public stays away from areas that are considered dangerous. They will also enforce any curfews that are order by emergency managers. B.Cameron County Sherriff’s Office The Cameron County Sherriff’s Office will assist the Brownsville Police Department in enforcing road closers and any curfews that are set in place. They will also maintain a command post at the Sheriff’s Office. They will also maintain a command center at the Sherriff’s Office. This will help coordinate emergency operations and asses the needs of their officers. They will also assist in the evacuation of any people that are need of assistance. The Sherriff’s Office will also help identify disabled and elderly people that might need to be evacuated before or after the hurricane has made landfall. C.Brownsville Public Works Department Brownsville Public Works Department will in charge of placing closer sign around the city streets that have been identified as flood areas. They will also place signs on the highway that will identify the emergency evacuation routes. The Public Works Department will also be in charge of evaluating the damage to the roads and street in Brownsville after the hurricane has passed (COB, 2001). This will help emergency managers identify the streets that can be used during emergency operations and will also identify the streets that need to be fixed during recovery operations. They are also in charge of clearing the city’s drainage system. Clearing the drainage pipes is very important task, because it will help clear the water from some of the flooded areas. This will also help speed up the recovery operations around the city. They will also maintain an agency representative at the Unified Command Center to help coordinate any emergency operations within their agency. D.Texas Depart ment of Public Safety The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will in charge of all evacuation routes (TXDOT, 2014). They will coordinate with city managers and establish an evacuation route 72 to 60 hours before the hurricane makes landfall (TXDPS, 2013). DPS will also coordinate with the city’s public works and coordinate the road closers along the highway. This will limit the access to the evacuation route to only controlled entry points. This will help DPS maintain control of the traffic coming in and out of the evacuation route. DPS will also coordinate with other law enforcement agencies in the area and will assign specific duties in regards to the evacuation routes. DPS will set of refueling station for vehicles that need gas along the  evacuation route. DPS will also have a representative at the Unified Command Center. They will also set up a command center at their main office, this will help them coordinate and support their operations. E.Brownsville Fire Department The Brownsville Fire Department (BFD) will play a very important role in any and all emergency operations. The BFD is highly training and equipped to handle any emergency. They have boats and breaching equipment that could be used to get people out of flooded areas. The BFD will also help establish a triage center that will help evaluate any injuries and help prioritize any medical emergencies. The will maintain personal in the Unified Command Center and will help coordinate with emergency operations from their main office. They will also assist as a liaison between the local hospitals in the immediate area. This will help evacuate the injured and facilitate operations in the triage center. F.United States Border Patrol The United States Border Patrol will maintain a show of force during all emergency operations in the Brownsville area. They will assist DPS with any and all evacuation operations and they will help enforce road closers throughout the city. This will establish a base of operations at their local Border Patrol Station and will respond to any emergency that might arise. The Border Patrol will also maintain a law enforcement presence in the city and the surrounding areas. The Border Patrol has the capability to respond to any emergency and can sustain law enforcement and emergency operations before, during and after the hurricane makes landfall. G.United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard will assist in the evacuation of people in the immediate and mandatory areas. They will also help supply small boats that the emergency responders can get into flooded areas. The Coast Guard will also maintain a representative at the Unified Command Center. H.Texas Army National Guard In the event that the Texas Army National Guard is needed, the Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will make a formal  request to the Governor’s Office. The Texas Army National Guard will be notified of their activation at least 72 hours before the hurricane makes landfall (TXDPS, 2013). The Texas Army National Guard will assist agencies evacuate people if needed. They will not assist in any enforcement operations as per State law. After the hurricane makes landfall they will assist in rescue operations and they will set up food and water distribution sites. Any medical personal will report to the triage center, they will then help treat and evaluate the injured. The Texas Army National Guard will coordinate with the Fire and Police Departments and will assist them in any rescue operations that they are needed in. The Texas Army National Guard can provide assistance with personal, equipment and air support. I.American Red Cross The American Red Cross and provide assistance in many different ways during a major emergency. In the event of a hurricane or any major disaster American Red Cross will be in charge of establishing shelters around the city of Brownsville. They will also register and keep track of the number of people at a shelter at any given time. They will also be in charge of distributing food, cloth and personal items to the people that need them. They will assist emergency managers set up food distribution locations throughout the city for emergency responders. They will provide assistance to people that been separated from their family members. This will help reunite families that have been separated during rescue or evacuation operations. J.Local Hospitals Brownsville has two main hospitals that will need to be kept informed of the statue of the hurricane. In the event of a category 4 hurricane the hospitals will shut down and will only take in emergency patients. This would be patients that need immediate medical attention or that have life threating injuries that need to be attended too. The two hospitals in the city of Brownsville are: †¢Valley Regional Medical Center is located at 100A E. Alton Gloor Bvd, Brownsville, Texas. †¢Valley Baptist Medical Center Brownsville is located at 1040 West Jefferson Brownsville, Texas K.Private Businesses In the event of a major disaster the Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will make arrangements with local businesses to coordinate supplies and equipment that might be needed during a hurricane. The business will provide food, water and any equipment that might be needed by first responders, for example pumps, generators and shovels. The OEMHS’s finance department will keep track of all the equipment and supplies that are received are ordered and received by private businesses. This will help keep track of what is being used and what supplies are needed. Any special equipment that needs to be ordered or requested will be done by the OEMHS’s finance department. This will help keep track of the money that is being spent. 6.Administration and logistics The Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will coordinate all emergency operations in the City of Brownsville. The Unified Command Center will have a team of representatives of each agency that are involved in emergency operations as well as representatives from the State and Federal government. The will get continuous updates of the situation and will make decisions on any issues. They will also provide logistical support to all emergency operations as it is needed. This means that they as they receive information or requests for any equipment or support the OEMHS will address this situation and take action. 7.Plan development and maintenance The OEMHS is responsible for developing the EOP in coordination with the agencies that will be involved in the plan. This means that the OEMHS will meet with the different agencies that will participate in the plan and address any issues they might have with the EOP. It is the responsibility of the OEMHS to keep the EOC updated. Every year there are changes to roads, hazards and other things that might affect emergency operations. It is the responsibility of the OEMHS to maintain the plan and to ensure that it is up to date. It is the responsibility of the OEMHS to coordinate training with the agencies involved. The OEMHS should also coordinate ensure that the city managers that will in charge of the EOP be certified and maintain their certification through FEMA. 8.Authorities The authorities that will be in charge of all emergency operations will be the Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. The OEMHS is responsible to address any and all jurisdictional issues that an agency might have. This EOC is designed to be used during a major hurricane but it is flexible and can be used for any other kind of disaster. Communications Communications is a very important part of the EOP. In the event of a major hurricane or any other kind of disaster, communications will play a very big part in emergency operations. During emergency operation all agencies involved will use TXLAW 1, as the primary radio frequency. This will ensure that all agency managers and team leader are able to communicate with the EOP. All agency dispatchers and agency managers will monitor TXLAW 1 throughout emergency operations. This will continue until all emergency operations have stopped or the agency in no longer participating in any emergency operations. If an agency does not have radios with the TXLAW1 frequency, the OEMHS will provide radios to the agency command post and team leaders during emergency operations. Radios will be provided to private organizations like the Red Cross that will set up staging areas, establish shelters and coordinate distributions site. Team leaders and managers will remain in contact with the Unified Command Center all times. In conclusion the EOP will establish guideline that emergency managers can follow. This will help them set up a structured chain of command and establish emergency operations in the event of a major disaster or hurricane. This plan is flexible and can be changed or modified as it is required for any disaster. It is very important the OEMHS provides continu es training and maintain the EOP up to date. This will ensure that emergency operations are conducted in a safe and productive manner. References Reagan, M., (2014, April 10) Early hurricane outlook predicts light season. The Brownsville Herald. Retrieved from

Engineering Genetic Logic Circuits for Cancer Cells

Engineering Genetic Logic Circuits for Cancer Cells http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v27/n12/full/nbt1209-1071.html http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/publications/syntheticbiologyroadmap-pdf/ (Accessed 11 10 2016) Engineering genetic logic circuits for cancer cell recognition and treatment Over the past 60 years, the field of molecular biology has experienced significant advances. Following the genomic revolution, genetic engineering enabled to modify endogenous gene networks using technologies such as site-directed mutagenesis, DNA recombination, DNA sequencing, synthesis and others. Now, after rigorous engineering, the field of synthetic was born making it possible to create novel biological entities that behave in a controllable and predictable manner 1. Synthetic biology is defined by the Royal Academy of Engineering as The design and engineering of biologically based parts, novel devices, and systems as well as the redesign of existing natural biological systems 2. It builds on the work of conventional genetic engineering by not only focusing on individual genes but by applying an engineering driven perspective designing and creating complex artificial biological systems. At present, synthetic biology has been applied in a wide range of areas demonstrating its potential to solve major global challenges in the fields of bioremediation, biosensing, production of biofuels, biomaterials, therapeutics, and biopharmaceuticals. Examples comprise the creation of organisms that could clean hazardous waste such as radioactive elements or arsenic 3, modification of yeast for the production of isobutanol 4, engineering viruses and bacteria to treat cancer 5,6, and the development of a diabetes treatment using an optogenetic gene circuit 7. Synthetic biology makes use of engineering analogies such as the one illustrated by Andrianantoandro and collaborators were it is compared to computer engineering at different hierarchy levels (Figure 1). Both disciplines take a bottom-up approach by integrating its component parts to build a more complex system. At the bottom are the biochemical molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins and other metabolites) equivalent to the physical layer of capacitors, transistors and resistors in computer engineering. One level up at the device level, physical processes are controlled by biochemical reaction comparable to engineered logic gates. By connecting and integrating these modules into host cells, synthetic biologists can program cells with the desired behaviour. More complex tasks can be accomplished by using a cell population, in which cells communicate each other to perform in a coordinated way, much like the case of computer networks 8. Finally, from an engineering point of view, what synthetic biologists are doing now is quite like what electrical engineers have been doing for many years, designing electronic circuits using standard components, such as resistors, capacitors and transistors. The difference lies in the building blocks that are used. Synthetic biologists design genetic circuits with specified functions using standard engineered biological parts such as genes, promoters, ribosome binding sites and terminators. In this regard, synthetic biology is to biology what electrical engineering is to physics, which both deal with electrons but one focuses on the understanding of their nature and the other aims to make use of them to build useful applications. Â   Â   Synthetic biology follows a hierarchical structure, building up systems from smaller components. At the lowest level are the parts, which are pieces DNA that encode for a single biological function such as a promoter. These parts are then combined into the next layer, the device layer, which is a collection of parts that performs a desired order function (e.g. the production of a protein). Devices are further combined into a system, which can be defined as the minimum number of devices necessary to perform the behaviour specified in the design phase. Systems can have simple behaviour (e.g. an oscillator) or a more complex behaviour (e.g. a set of a metabolic pathways to synthesise a product.)Parts and devices are usually treated as modular entities in design and modelling. This means that it is assumed that they can be exchanged without affecting the behaviour of the other systems components that are left untouched. At the module level, biological devices can be used to assemble comp lex pathways that function like integrated circuits. Early synthetic biology studies began developing circuits in prokaryotic organisms. Inspired by electronic, first systems made use of basic elements such as promoters, transcriptional repressors and ribosome binding sites to create small modules. These modules included the construction of oscillators 9, genetic switches 10, and digital logic gates 11. The successful construction of the first systems demonstrated that engineering-based methods could be used to programme computational behaviour into cells 12 (Figure 2).

Aftircan American Progress in World War II Essay -- essays research pa

World War II, global military conflict that, in terms of lives lost and material destruction, was the most devastating war in human history. It began in 1939 as a European conflict between Germany and an Anglo-French coalition but eventually widened to include most of the nations of the world. It ended in 1945, leaving a new world order dominated by the United States and the USSR.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  More than any previous war, World War II involved the commitment of nations' entire human and economic resources, the blurring of the distinction between combatant and noncombatant, and the expansion of the battlefield to include all of the enemy's territory. The most important determinants of its outcome were industrial capacity and personnel. In the last stages of the war, two radically new weapons were introduced: the long-range rocket and the atomic bomb. In the main, however, the war was fought with the same or improved weapons of the types used in World War I. The greatest advances were in aircraft and tanks.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"For African Americans, World War II was a fight on two fronts. It was a struggle to prevail over the nation’s external enemies and a battle against a familiar home-grown foe: bigotry† (Allen). When World War II began in Europe in 1939, blacks demanded better treatment than they had experienced during World War I. Black newspaper editors insisted during 1939 and 1940 that black support for this war effort would depend on fair treatment. They demanded that black soldiers be trained in all military roles and that black civilians have equal opportunities to work in war industries at home.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  African Americans were some of the quickest and most energetic to condemn the risings of fascism in Europe. They instantly understood the risks Nazism and its Aryan doctrines imposed on the world. Some had read Hitler’s Mein Kampf and had taken offense to its unfavorable comments toward blacks. It was also claimed that in 1936 Hitler had refused to treat African American Olympic stars Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalf with common decency in Berlin. Also the knockout of the black idol Joe Louis in 1936 by Max Schmeling had fueled some bitter emotions toward Nazism and it was fueled once again when Louis exacted his complete revenge in 1938.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the beginning of the war Afri... ...seat at the back of the bus. Robinson refused. â€Å"He was arrested and court-martialed for â€Å"disrespectful† conduct and disobeying orders, he was acquitted, but the incident prevented him from going overseas with the 761st† (Allen). Robinson would go on to become the first black baseball player to integrate the major leagues. â€Å"The World War II experience was a watershed for African Americans. Jim Crow remained intact, but the ideological bases of white supremacy and colonialism were undermined by the horrors of the Holocaust† (Earle 87). The war experience gave about one million blacks the opportunity to fight racism in Europe and Asia, a fact that black veterans would remember during the struggle against racism at home after the war. Perhaps just as important, almost ten times that many white Americans witnessed the patriotic service of black Americans. Many of them would object to the continued denial of civil rights to the men and women beside whom they had fought. After World War II the momentum for racial change continued. Black soldiers returned home with determination to have full civil rights. President Harry Truman ordered the final desegregation of the armed forces in 1948.

The Host Chapter 48: Detained

The red and blue lights swirled in time with the siren's cry. Before the souls had come to this place, these lights and sounds had had only one meaning. The law, the keepers of the peace, the punishers of offenders. Now, again, the flashing colors and angry noise had only one meaning. A very similar meaning. Still the keepers of the peace. Still the punishers. Seekers. It wasn't as common a sight or sound as it had been before. The police force was only needed to help in cases of accidents or other emergencies, not to enforce laws. Most civil servants didn't have vehicles with sirens, unless the vehicle was an ambulance or a fire truck. This low, sleek car behind us was not for any accident. This was a vehicle made for pursuit. I'd never seen anything quite like it before, but I knew exactly what it meant. Jared was frozen, his foot still pushing down on the gas pedal. I could see that he was trying to find a solution, a way to outrun them in this decrepit van or a way to evade them-to hide our wide white profile in the low, gaunt brush of the desert-without leading them back to the rest. Without giving everyone away. We were so close to the others now. They slumbered, unaware†¦ When he gave up after two seconds of frantic thought, he exhaled. â€Å"I'm so sorry, Wanda,† he whispered. â€Å"I blew it.† â€Å"Jared?† He reached for my hand and eased up on the gas. The car started to slow. â€Å"Got your pill?† he choked. â€Å"Yes,† I whispered. â€Å"Can Mel hear me?† Yes. The thought was a sob. â€Å"Yes.† My voice only barely escaped being a sob, too. â€Å"I love you, Mel. Sorry.† â€Å"She loves you. More than anything.† A short, aching silence. â€Å"Wanda, I†¦ I care about you, too. You're a good person, Wanda. You deserve better than what I've given you. Better than this.† He had something small, much too small to be so deadly, between his fingers. â€Å"Wait,† I gasped. He could not die. â€Å"Wanda, we can't take the chance. We can't outrun them, not in this. If we try to run, a thousand of them will swarm after us. Think of Jamie.† The van was slowing, drifting to the shoulder. â€Å"Give me one try,† I begged. I fumbled quickly for the pill in my pocket. I pinched it between my thumb and forefinger and held it up. â€Å"Let me try to lie us out of this. I'll swallow it right away if anything goes wrong.† â€Å"You'll never lie your way past a Seeker!† â€Å"Let me try. Quick!† I pulled off my seat belt and crouched be-side him, unfastening his. â€Å"Switch with me. Fast, before they're close enough to see.† â€Å"Wanda -â€Å" â€Å"One try. Hurry!† He was the best at split-second decisions. Smooth and fast, he was out of the driver's seat and over my crouched body. I rolled up into his seat while he took mine. â€Å"Seat belt,† I ordered tersely. â€Å"Close your eyes. Turn your head away.† He did as I said. It was too dark to see it, but his new soft pink scar would be visible from this angle. I strapped my seat belt on and then leaned my head back. Lying with my body, that was the key. It was simply a matter of the right movements. Imitation. Like the actors on the TV program, only better. Like a human. â€Å"Help me, Mel,† I murmured. I can't help you be a better soul, Wanda. But you can do this. Save him. I know you can. A better soul. I only had to be myself. It was late. I was tired. I wouldn't have to act that part. I let my eyelids droop, let my body sag against the seat. Chagrin. I could do chagrin. I could feel it now. My mouth turned down into a sheepish grimace. The Seekers' car did not park behind us, the way I could feel Mel expected. It stopped across the road, on the shoulder, facing the wrong way for that lane's traffic flow. A dazzling light exploded through the window of the other car. I blinked into it, raising my hand to shade my face with deliberate slowness. Faintly, past the glare of the spotlight, I saw the gleam of my eyes bounce against the road as I looked down. A car door slammed. One set of footsteps made a pattern of low thuds as someone crossed the pavement. There was no sound of dirt or rocks, so the Seeker had emerged from the passenger side. Two of them, at least, but only one coming to interrogate me. This was a good sign, a sign of comfort and confidence. My glowing eyes were a talisman. A compass that could not fail-like the North Star, undoubtable. Lying with my body was not the key. Telling the truth with it was enough. I had something in common with the human baby in the park: nothing like me had ever existed before. The Seeker's body blocked the light, and I could see again. It was a man. Probably middle-aged-his features conflicted with one another, making it hard to tell; his hair was all white, but his face was smooth and unwrinkled. He wore a T-shirt and shorts, a blocky gun clearly visible on his hip. One hand rested on the butt of the weapon. In his other hand was a dark flashlight. He didn't turn it on. â€Å"Having a problem, miss?† he said when he was a few feet away. â€Å"You were going much too fast for safety.† His eyes were restless. They swiftly appraised my expression-which was, hopefully, sleepy-and then ran along the length of the van, darted into the darkness behind us, flashed forward to the stretch of highway ahead, lit by our headlights, and came back to my face. They repeated the course another time. He was anxious. This knowledge made my palms sweaty, but I tried to keep the panic from my voice. â€Å"I'm so sorry,† I apologized in a loud whisper. I glanced at Jared, as if checking to see whether our words had woken him. â€Å"I think†¦ well, I think I might have fallen asleep. I didn't realize I was so tired.† I tried to smile remorsefully. I could tell I sounded stiff, like the too-careful actors on the television. The Seeker's eyes traced their route again, this time lingering on Jared. My heart jumped painfully against the inside of my ribs. I pinched the pill tighter. â€Å"It was irresponsible for me to drive for so long without sleep,† I said quickly, trying again to smile a little. â€Å"I thought we could make it to Phoenix before I would need rest. I'm very sorry.† â€Å"What's your name, miss?† His voice was not harsh, but neither was it warm. He kept it low, though, following my cue. â€Å"Leaves Above,† I said, using the name from the last hotel. Would he want to check my story? I might need someplace to refer him to. â€Å"Upside-down Flower?† he guessed. His eyes flickered around their course. â€Å"Yes, I was.† â€Å"My partner, too. Were you on the island?† â€Å"No,† I said quickly. â€Å"The mainland. Between the great rivers.† He nodded, perhaps a little disappointed. â€Å"Should I go back to Tucson?† I asked. â€Å"I think I'm quite awake now. Or maybe I should take a nap right here first -â€Å" â€Å"No!† he interrupted me in a louder voice. I jumped, startled, and the little pill slipped from my fingers. It dropped to the metal floor with a faintly audible clink. I felt the blood drain from my face as though a plug had been pulled. â€Å"Didn't mean to startle you,† he apologized quickly, his eyes repeating their restless circle. â€Å"But you shouldn't linger here.† â€Å"Why?† I managed to whisper. My fingers twitched anxiously at the empty air. â€Å"There was a†¦ disappearance recently.† â€Å"I don't understand. A disappearance?† â€Å"It could have been an accident†¦ but there might be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He hesitated, unwilling to say the word. â€Å"Humans may be in this area.† â€Å"Humans?† I squeaked, too loud. He heard the fear in my voice and interpreted it the only way he could. â€Å"There's no proof of that, Leaves Above. No sightings or anything. Don't be anxious. But you should proceed on to Phoenix without unnecessary delay.† â€Å"Of course. Or maybe Tucson? That would be closer.† â€Å"There's no danger. You can continue with your plans.† â€Å"If you're sure, Seeker†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I'm quite sure. Just don't go wandering off into the desert, Flower.† He smiled. The expression warmed his face, making it kind. Just like all the other souls I'd dealt with. He wasn't anxious about me, but for me. He wasn't listening for lies. And he probably wouldn't recognize them if he was. Just another soul. â€Å"I wasn't planning on it.† I smiled back at him. â€Å"I'll be more careful. I know I couldn't fall asleep now.† I glanced at the desert out Jared's window with a wary expression, so the Seeker would think that fear was making me alert. My expression tensed into a taut mask as I caught sight of a pair of lights reflected in the side mirror. Jared's spine stiffened at the same time, but he held his pose. It looked too tight. My eyes darted back to the Seeker's face. â€Å"I can help with that,† he said, still smiling but looking down now as he fumbled to remove something from his pocket. He hadn't seen the change in my face. I tried to control the muscles in my cheeks, to make them relax, but I couldn't concentrate hard enough to make it happen. In the rearview mirror, the headlights got closer. â€Å"You should not use this often,† the Seeker went on, searching the other pocket now. â€Å"It's not harmful, of course, or the Healers wouldn't have us give it out. But if you use it frequently, it will alter your sleep cycles†¦ Ah, here it is. Awake.† The lights slowed as they approached. Just drive by, I begged in my head. Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop. Let it be Kyle at the wheel, Melanie added, thinking the words like a prayer. Don't stop. Just drive. Don't stop. Just drive. â€Å"Miss?† I blinked, trying to focus. â€Å"Um, Awake?† â€Å"Just inhale this, Leaves Above.† He had a thin white aerosol can in his hand. He sprayed a puff of mist into the air in front of my face. I leaned forward obediently and took a sniff, my eyes darting to the mirror at the same time. â€Å"It's grapefruit scented,† the Seeker said. â€Å"Nice, don't you think?† â€Å"Very nice.† My brain was suddenly sharp, focused. The big moving truck slowed and then idled on the road be-hind us. No! Mel and I shouted together. I searched the dark floor for one half second, hoping against hope that the little pill would be visible. I couldn't even make out my feet. The Seeker glanced absently at the truck and then waved it forward. I looked back at the truck, too, a forced smile on my face. I couldn't see who was driving. My eyes reflected the headlights, shot out faint beams of their own. The truck hesitated. The Seeker waved again, more broadly this time. â€Å"Go ahead,† he muttered to himself. Drive! Drive! Drive! Beside me, Jared's hand was clenched in a fist. Slowly, the big truck shuddered into first gear and then inched forward through the space between the Seeker's vehicle and ours. The Seeker's spotlight outlined two silhouettes, two black profiles, both facing straight forward. The one in the driver's seat had a crooked nose. Mel and I both exhaled in relief. â€Å"How do you feel?† â€Å"Alert,† I told the Seeker. â€Å"It will wear off in about four hours.† â€Å"Thank you.† The Seeker chuckled. â€Å"Thank you, Leaves Above. When we saw you racing down the road, we thought we might have humans on our hands. I was sweating, but not from the heat!† I shuddered. â€Å"Don't worry. You'll be perfectly fine. If you'd like, we can follow you to Phoenix.† â€Å"I'm just fine. You don't need to trouble yourself.† â€Å"It was nice to meet you. I'll be pleased when my shift is over, so that I can go home and tell my partner I met another green-first Flower. She'll be so excited.† â€Å"Um†¦ tell her, Brightest sun, longest day' for me,† I said, giving him the Earthly translation of the common greeting and farewell on the Flower Planet. â€Å"Certainly. Have a pleasant journey.† â€Å"And you have a pleasant night.† He stepped back, and the spotlight hit my eyes again. I blinked furiously. â€Å"Cut it, Hank,† the Seeker said, shading his eyes as he turned to walk toward the car. The night turned black again, and I forced another smile toward the invisible Seeker named Hank. I started the engine with shaking hands. The Seekers were faster. The little black car with the incongruous light bar atop it purred to life. It executed a sharp U-turn, and then the taillights were all I could see. They disappeared quickly into the night. I pulled back onto the road. My heart pumped the blood through my veins in hard little bursts. I could feel the fierce pulse throbbing through to my fingertips. â€Å"They're gone,† I whispered through my suddenly chattering teeth. I heard Jared swallow. â€Å"That was†¦ close,† he said. â€Å"I thought Kyle was going to stop.† â€Å"Me, too.† Neither of us could speak above a whisper. â€Å"The Seeker bought it.† His teeth were still clenched in anxiety. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I wouldn't have. Your acting hasn't improved much.† I shrugged. My body was so rigid, it all moved together. â€Å"They can't not believe me. What I am†¦ well, it's something impossible. Something that shouldn't exist.† â€Å"Something unbelievable,† he agreed. â€Å"Something wonderful.† His praise thawed some of the ice in my stomach, in my veins. â€Å"Seekers aren't all that different from the rest of them,† I murmured to myself. â€Å"Nothing to be especially afraid of.† He shook his head back and forth slowly. â€Å"There really isn't anything you can't do, is there?† I wasn't sure how to respond to that. â€Å"Having you with us is going to change everything,† he continued under his breath, talking to himself now. I could feel how his words made Melanie sad, but she was not angry this time. She was resigned. You can help them. You can protect them better than I could. She sighed. The slow-moving taillights did not frighten me when they appeared on the road ahead. They were familiar, a relief. I sped up-just a little, still a few miles below the limit-to pass them. Jared pulled a flashlight out of the glove compartment. I understood what he was doing: reassurance. He held the light to his own eyes as we passed the cab of the truck. I looked past him, through the other window. Kyle nodded once at Jared and took a deep breath. Ian was leaning anxiously around him, his eyes focused on me. I waved once, and he grimaced. We were getting close to our hidden exit. â€Å"Should I go all the way to Phoenix?† Jared thought about it. â€Å"No. They might see us on the way back and stop us again. I don't think they're following. They're focused on the road.† â€Å"No, they won't follow.† I was sure of this. â€Å"Let's go home, then.† â€Å"Home,† I agreed wholeheartedly. We killed the lights, and so did Kyle behind us. We would take both vehicles right to the caves and unload quickly so they could be hidden before morning. The little overhang by the entrance would not hide them from view. I rolled my eyes as I thought of the way into and out of the caves. The big mystery I hadn't been able to solve for myself. Jeb was so tricky. Tricky-just like the directions he'd given Mel, the lines he'd carved onto the back of her photo album. They didn't lead to his cave hideout at all. No, instead they made the person following them parade back and forth in front of his secret place, giving him ample opportunity to decide whether or not to extend an invitation inside. â€Å"What do you think happened?† Jared asked, interrupting my thoughts. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"The recent disappearance the Seeker mentioned.† I stared ahead blankly. â€Å"Wouldn't that be me?† â€Å"I don't think you would count as recent, Wanda. Besides, they weren't watching the freeway before we left. That's new. They're looking for us. Here.† His eyes narrowed, while mine widened. â€Å"What have they been doing?† Jared suddenly exploded, slapping his hand loudly against the dashboard. I jumped. â€Å"You think Jeb and the others did something?† He didn't answer me; he just stared out across the star-bright desert with furious eyes. I didn't understand. Why would the Seekers be looking for humans just because someone had disappeared in the desert? Accidents did happen. Why would they jump to that particular conclusion? And why was Jared angry? Our family in the caves wouldn't do anything to draw attention to themselves. They knew better than that. They wouldn't go outside unless there was an emergency of some kind. Or something they felt was urgent. Necessary. Had Doc and Jeb been taking advantage of my absence? Jeb had only agreed to stop slaughtering people and souls while I was under the same roof. Was this their compromise? â€Å"You okay?† Jared asked. My throat was too thick to answer. I shook my head. Tears streamed down my cheeks and fell from my chin to my lap. â€Å"Maybe I'd better drive.† I shook my head again. I could see well enough. He didn't argue with me. I was still crying silently when we got to the little mountain that hid our vast cave system. It was actually just a hill-an insignificant outcropping of volcanic rock, like so many others, sparsely decorated with spindly creosote and flat-bladed prickly pears. The thousands of tiny vents were invisible, lost in the jumble of loose purple rocks. Somewhere, smoke would be rising, black on black. I got out of the van and leaned against the door, wiping my eyes. Jared came to stand beside me. He hesitated, then put a hand on my shoulder. â€Å"Sorry. I didn't know they were planning this. I had no idea. They shouldn't have†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But he only thought that because they'd somehow gotten caught. The moving truck rumbled to a stop behind us. Two doors slammed shut, and then feet were running toward us. â€Å"What happened?† Kyle demanded, there first. Ian was right behind him. He took one look at my expression, at the tears still running down my cheeks, at Jared's hand on my shoulder, and then rushed forward and threw his arms around me. He pulled me into his chest. I didn't know why this made me cry harder. I clung to him while my tears leaked onto his shirt. â€Å"It's okay. You did great. It's over.† â€Å"Seeker's not the problem, Ian,† Jared said, voice strained, his hand still touching me, though he had to lean forward to preserve that point of contact. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"They were watching the road for a reason. Sounds like Doc's been†¦ working in our absence.† I shuddered, and for a moment, it seemed like I could taste silver blood in the back of my throat. â€Å"Why, those -!† Ian's fury robbed him of speech. He couldn't finish his sentence. â€Å"Nice,† Kyle said in a disgusted tone. â€Å"Idiots. We're gone for a few weeks, and they've got the Seekers on patrol. They could have just asked us to -â€Å" â€Å"Shut up, Kyle,† Jared said harshly. â€Å"That's neither here nor there at the moment. We've got to get this all unloaded fast. Who knows how many are watching for us? Let's grab a load and then get some more hands.† I shook Ian off so that I could help. The tears did not stop running. Ian stayed close to my side, taking the heavy flat of canned soup I picked up and replacing it with a big but light box of pasta. We started down the steep pathway in, Jared leading. The utter blackness did not bother me. I still didn't know this path well, but it wasn't difficult. Straight down, then straight up. We were halfway there when a familiar voice called out from a distance. It echoed down the tunnel, fracturing. â€Å"They're back†¦ ack†¦ back!† Jamie was shouting. I tried to dry my tears on my shoulder, but I couldn't get them all. A blue light approached, bouncing as the carrier ran. Then Jamie bounded into view. His face threw me. I was trying to compose myself to greet him, assuming he would be joyful and not wanting to upset him. But Jamie was already upset. His face was white and tense, his eyes rimmed in red. His dirty cheeks had rivulets through the dust there, tracks made by tears. â€Å"Jamie?† Jared and I said together, dropping our boxes to the floor. Jamie ran straight for me and threw his arms around my waist. â€Å"Oh, Wanda! Oh, Jared!† he sobbed. â€Å"Wes is dead! He's dead! The Seeker killed him!†

Guide How to Write an Argumentative Essay Simple Steps

Guide How to Write an Argumentative Essay Simple Steps The Definition of an Argumentative Essay An argumentative essay is a piece of writing that aims at making a specific claim on a particular subject. The position you choose should be expressed in an understandable manner and backed up with reliable and authoritative evidence so that people will not only comprehend your point but will also change their mind in correspondence to your argument. Therefore, the primary purpose of an argumentative essay is to convince someone in something. Types of Argumentative Essays There are two possible approaches to making an argument: the classical strategy of argumentations and Rogerian argument. Both of these types have specific distinctive features of expression and are aimed at achieving different goals. Classical argument: The classical approach to making an argument is the most famous and used method. This strategy implies presenting an issue, claiming a solution to it, and trying to convince the audience that this specific solution is the best one. If you are writing an essay using the classical argument, your job is to make people care about the chosen topic and agree with you. This type of argumentation usually follows a specific outline: Introduction: Attracts readers’ attention to the discussed topic, describes a problem connected with it and explains why it is important. Background: Presents facts that surround the issue. Thesis: Defines your position, main arguments, and possible objections. Argument: Discusses motivation behind your position and available evidence that will prove its rightfulness. This section should be the largest part of your paper. Refutation: Presents examples of opposing views to your position, the validity of which you have to refute. Conclusion: Summarizes each of the paper’s main points and explains why the position you have chosen is the best one. Rogerian argument: A Rogerian strategy of argumentation implies striving to persuade a reader through finding points of agreement. This method is usually used in such debates where both sides of an argument do not want to listen to one another. Your task here is to find an intermediate position so that it would be appreciated by each of the sides. The outline for the argumentative essay should look in the following manner: Introduction: Presents the issue and explains the necessity of addressing it. Description of opposing views: This section is supposed to show your desire to understand both sides of the argument since here you should objectively discuss in which cases the opposing views can be valid. If you manage to prove that you are open-minded and devoid of prejudice, then you will achieve the attention of the opponents. Claim: Unlike the previous type of argument, here your task is not to state why your position is correct, but instead, merely describe situations in which your point is valid. Convincing: This part ought to show what the advantages of accepting your position are. It should describe benefits for the people who would change their mind. However, a Rogerian argument is rarely used, and the preference is usually given to classical strategy due to its more practical and easier implication. Finding Topics for Your Argumentative Essay There is a wide variety of topics to choose from, but you should ask yourself whether your issue is controversial enough to be covered in an argumentative essay. For instance, the subject of your research must be dual, which would allow you to take a position either for or against it. Besides, you must be sure that your topic is still relative to the modern realities. If it is not accurate anymore, then there is no point in arguing. You can search for topics online, or even listen to conversations in public places and understand which issues are critical for people. In fact, every topic that suggests both possible answers, yes and no, implies that there is a debate over it. Here is a list of topics that always find both their supporters and opponents, and therefore are perfect for making your own argument: Should Tobacco Production Be Made Illegal? Should the Death Penalty be Introduced in Every Country of the World? Is Artificial Intelligence a Doom for Humankind? Should Euthanasia be Allowed? Should Education be Free for Everyone? Does the United States Need Better Gun Control? Do Video Games Have an Adverse Impact on Children’s Mental Health? Should Abortions be Illegal? Is There Life After Death? Should We Vaccinate Our Children? Pre-writing Tips from Our Academic Writers Determine your position: As you see, all the topics mentioned above are still open and do not advocate any specific position. Your task is to decide which side of the argument you would like to defend. For instance, are you for or against euthanasia? Besides, remember that in your argumentative essay you should consider each aspect of the argument. This means that you also have to mention several objections to your choice, and try to disprove them if it is possible. At least two objections should be refuted in order to show that only your position is correct. Do not forget about your audience: The most significant aspect of an argumentative essay is persuasion. This means, however, that you must not only create a persuasive piece of text, but you also should know whom you want to persuade. Defining the audience is a fundamental part of writing an argumentative essay. You should consider whether your readers are already acquainted with the topic under discussion, or is it new to them? If your audience consists of specialists, then you must get straight to the point of the debate, omitting the background information. However, if your potential audience is still not familiar with the topic, then you should provide general introductory information to â€Å"plant a seed† of awareness and only after this, proceed to make an argument. Find evidence: It is also necessary to back up the persuasiveness of your essay by incorporating certain pieces of evidence from credible sources. The argumentation should not be based purely on your own opinion, but instead, you should provide ideas of eminent researchers to support your position. In the paper, refer to different scholarly books or scientific articles since it will promote the success of your argumentative essay. You can search for sources online on such a platform as Google Scholar. Formulate an effective title: In order to create an effective title, you should change and shape your topic into something more specific, so that it would show what side of the argument you support. The title should give a reader some hint about the content of your argumentative essay. For instance, the title â€Å"Do video games have an adverse impact on children’s mental health?† is not effective for argumentative essay since it is not a statement. In turn, your title might be like the following: â€Å"Video games have an adverse impact on children’s mental health.† In this manner, you are defined in your position and have to prove that video games have a bad influence on a child’s well-being. This title will inevitably attract both people who support this point since they would like to know more about it and those who are against a harmful effect of video games because they would want to argue with you. Nonetheless, your title did its job if it m anaged to attract readers, regardless of their intentions. Create an outline: Sometimes you might feel stuck in the middle of the writing process like you are out of ideas to continue the paper. That is why it is better to have at least a simple outline of the essay. Put your thoughts into several points and try to give them a few words of description. If you do it, you will notice how easier it is to write when there is a plan of the paper in front of you. The examples of outlines of simple but effective outlines you can see in the sections above. The Beginning of Writing – Introduction The introductory paragraph is the first section of your argumentative essay, and just like the book’s cover, this paragraph determines the first impression that a reader will get. Here you have to provide an attention-grabbing sentence, some general information connected to your topic, and a strong thesis statement. Hook: The first sentence of your introduction should hook readers’ attention. It may be some fact, statistical information, or quotation regarding your topic. Background information: Introduce your topic to readers because some of them might be not familiar with it like you are. Provide general information or the history of the subject under consideration. For instance, if you are writing an argumentative essay about gun control in the United States, and advocating on the need of its enforcement, you may mention several major events of gun usage that occurred due to the inefficiency of law. Thesis statement: The most significant part of an introduction is the thesis statement since it is the reader’s guide to the entire argumentative essay. In one or two sentences, you should manage to gather all the crucial ideas of each of the following paragraphs. Remember that a good thesis statement should consider both sides of an argument. Here is an example of an incorrect thesis statement: â€Å"This essay will consider legal, ethical, and philosophical advantages and disadvantages of the implementation of euthanasia.† This thesis is too broad, does not indicate the structure of the paper, and does not claim anything specific. In turn, the correct version of the thesis statement for an argumentative essay about euthanasia should look like in the following manner: â€Å"While the opinion of American Medical Association concerning the rights and obligations of doctors opposes the medical implementation of euthanasia, it is immoral to ban euthanasia since it contradicts the humanitarian grounds and undermines the fundamental human right of choice.† As you see, this thesis statement implies a definite position that will argue the importance of the introduction of euthanasia. Body Paragraphs The body of your essay is the most substantial part of the paper. Each body paragraph should express only one specific idea. At the beginning of such section, you must provide your claims in a topic sentence, support them with relevant evidence, and strive to make the information readable. Topic sentence: The first sentence of each body paragraph should allow a reader to grasp the idea of the whole section. For instance, if you are advocating for possible dangers connected with the appearance of artificial intelligence, you may start your paragraph by mentioning a certain imperfection of the laws of robotics. Supportive evidence: Always try to support your statements with credible sources or opinions of qualified researchers, since mentioning an authoritative figure will significantly contribute to the persuasiveness of your argument. However, do not forget to cite all the used sources because otherwise, it will be considered as plagiarism. Linking structures: Use specific words that will contribute not only to the cohesion of a body paragraph but will also provide it for the whole essay. It may be hard for a reader to keep track of the flow of your argumentation, and linking words are supposed to be an insurance against being lost in new information. Conclusion In the concluding paragraph of your argumentative essay, you should summarize every important piece of knowledge that you expressed in the body section. It is a final result of your work, so ask yourself a question: â€Å"What have I achieved while writing this essay?† This will help you to formulate a perfect conclusion. Besides, remember that your readers also want to revise everything that they learned after examining the paper. Concluding paragraph is the last chance to convince your reader if you have not done it so far. Start your conclusion from restating the thesis statement, and then move to the core ideas of the body paragraphs. Do you consider your argumentative essay successful? Did you manage to present the most reasonable position of the discussed topic? Do not be afraid to compliment your paper by summarizing the achievements of the argumentation. Post-writing Tips Keep in mind that passing your work before the deadline is not always rational since the post-writing process is also vital for the success of your paper. Try to manage your time so that you would be able to proofread and edit your essay. You might think that the document is already perfect because you reread it multiple times during writing, but a short fresh glance on it is more likely to make you change your mind. The most commonly made mistakes are connected with grammar and punctuation. Since a simple comma can drastically change the meaning of a whole sentence, be sure to proofread each part of your essay with proper attention. Then, revise your citations and works cited page. Did you follow the required formatting style (MLA, APA, or any other)? Do your quotes contribute anything to the paper? Have you explained them? In order to be sure that the quotes you use are successfully incorporated into the content of the essay’s paragraphs, follow the Quote Sandwich method of â€Å"opening-evidence-explanation.† If you give account to everything that was mentioned in this argumentative essay writing guide, then your argumentative essay ought to be successful in persuading its target audience. References Baggett, S. (2017). How to write a strong thesis statement [Blog]. Retrieved from easybib.com/guides/how-to-write-a-strong-thesis-statement/ Classical argument. (2009). Retrieved from https://writingcommons.org/open-text/genres/academic-writing/arguments/182-classical-traditional-argument Fleming, G. (2018). These compelling argumentative topics make great school essays. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/argument-essay-topics-1856987 How to write an excellent discussion / argument. Retrieved from literacyideas.com/argumentative-discussion/ Odak, S. Creating a Rogerian argument essay structure. Retrieved from https://www.brighthubeducation.com/help-with-writing/104393-rogerian-argument-essay-structure/