Recipe for Me free essay sample

â€Å"Today,† the theatre arts teacher began, â€Å"you will create a recipe for yourself, listing things about you in specific quantities as your ingredients, like ‘2 cups of smiles’ for example. At least five ingredients must be used, and you must list them on a poster that you’ll decorate, which you will present to the class. This ‘Recipe for Me’ project will help your classmates and me get to know you better and will allow you to work on your presentation skills. The project is due this Friday, but you have today and tomorrow to work on it in class. If you don’t finish, it becomes homework. So, begin!† she exclaimed to the class, full of twelve year olds who would soon spend the entire period trying to come up with the perfect five ingredient combinations that would accurately portray them; I was one of those twelve year olds. To this day, I still have trouble immediately answering the question, â€Å"What makes me, well, me? † Is it my curiosity? Stubbornness, perhaps? An excellent sense of humor? Or even intellectual oomph? Maybe it’s a little of everything under the sun? Well, just as the â€Å"Recipe for Me† project served to give my teacher and classmates a sense of who I was, this essay will give my readers a sense of who I am today. We will write a custom essay sample on Recipe for Me or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page My parents came to America from Vietnam during the war, had to leave their home to start life anew in a country whose language they could barely understand. The academic success that they achieved in Vietnam could open few doors for them in the U.S., but they know that it will be different for me, one who will probably never move to another country, much less another state. Because my doing well in school is so important to my parents, it is, in turn, important to me. I believe my desire to achieve academic success to have been inborn as well as the result of my parents’ encouragement. They’ve always expected me to do my best, and I’ve always been one to please them, perhaps rendering my academic success to be a self fulfilled prophecy. Well, self fulfilled prophecy or not, I do love to learn and have a strong work ethic, the latter of which I attribute to the determination and diligence my parents have put forth to give me the comfortable life that I have as w ell as the chance to go to a reputable university. I wish neither my parents’ efforts nor the opportunities that I am offered to go to waste, and knowing how important academic success is in this world, especially for an aspiring physician, I have vowed to always make the most of my educational opportunities, no matter where I may find them, be they in the forms of classroom experiences, internships, or even events in my daily life. Naturally, Rice would be no exception. Of course, with yin, one has to have yang. There definitely is a fun ¬ loving side to my personality, and that side makes an appearance when I’m with my friends. I work hard, and I deserve to play hard. Nonetheless, I am not the kind of girl who would enter a bar or a nightclub. My idea of pleasure is not comparable to a wildfire in the West but rather, the blue fire of a distant star. I would love to attend a musical or listen to a symphony orchestra after having dinner with friends on a Friday or Saturday night (I took piano lessons as a child and have loved music ever since). To eat with friends is, in my opinion, one of the greatest pleasures that life can offer; I have never been one to resist a stimulating conversation and contagious laughter over a delicious meal. Furthermore, I have a passion and knack for writing poetry, which has been a hobby of mine since middle school, and in college, I do see myself still churning out poems, which I hope to offer to its literar y magazines. Perhaps that poem might be a Dante esque piece in terza rima, written one spring morning while sitting underneath a large oak or perhaps a free verse poem during an autumn evening†¦.O, the possibilities! While my pleasures are simple and could possibly belong to another century, I do find them quite satisfying, as I hope to find my college years†¦. A longing to learn a little of everything, two cups†¦the strength to succeed, one pound†¦a liking for laughter, a dash†¦a fondness for friends, three tablespoons†¦a penchant for poetry, a pinch†¦and a love of life, one quart†¦.With such ingredients, this â€Å"Recipe for Me† would give you a fun loving, hard working, liberal arts education seeking seventeen year old, a girl who certainly has a different blend of qualities to offer to Rice, a place that she would more than happily call her second home.

Why Are We Afraid of PlagiarismÂÂ

Why Are We Afraid of Plagiarism   Your academic years are some of the most important and influential in your life. What you learn and how well you can portray your knowledge acquisition will dictate your future success. Therefore, it is understandable that many students are afraid of plagiarism. Whether you are wrongly accused or intentionally commit plagiarism, the practice has long-term, negative ramifications. However, we all know the rule Forewarned is Forearmed. Get a closer look on what is plagiarism and you will combat the fear of it for the whole college life. What Is Plagiarism? Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s words or ideas and claiming they are your own. This is usually done by an act of omission failing to acknowledge the original source of the information. Things that are most commonly plagiarized include: Ideas Theories Facts Statistics Graphs, drawings or other visuals Spoken or written words How to Avoid Plagiarism? There are several steps you can take to avoid plagiarism. First, rephrase the information you plan to use. This means putting it in your own words. Simply playing with the sentence structure or changing the word or two won’t suffice. However, a paraphrase of the information should still maintain an accurate portrayal of the original purpose or claim. If you are unable to paraphrase the information, include a short quote of the material. This should be a direct quote- capturing exactly what the original author said. It should be noted that most colleges and universities are leery of large, block quotes. Generally, a quote should be less than 40 words. Anything more than that can easily be paraphrased. Second, be sure to add a proper citation. The way you format the citation will depend on the style guide you are using (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.). Usually, this means adding a notation of the author and date of publication (or other reference information). Note: Citations should be added for both quotes and paraphrases. Finally, include a reference page or works cited page. This will expound on the in-context citations you added, providing all the necessary information regarding the sources you used. Again, the formatting of this page will depend on the style guide you are using. It is important to note that your own works need to be properly paraphrased and cited too. If you’ve written something for this or another class, you must cite yourself. Treat the information the same as you would any other source. Otherwise, you risk to be punished for self-plagiarism. There is one exception to proper citation. If the claim is public knowledge- meaning the data can be found in various sources and is commonly known by the general population- you don’t need to cite it. For example, Barak Obama was inaugurated as president of the United States of America in January 2009. Consequences of Plagiarism The students who most commonly worry about the consequences of plagiarism are those who are intentionally embarking on the journey. However, it should be noted that these same punishments are also applied to those who unknowingly commit plagiarism. Each university has its own policy regarding plagiarism and will handle cases based on those predetermined rules. Usually, the severity and frequency of the act will determine the extent of the punishment. Many professors will award zero points for a project that is found to have plagiarized work. Alternately, the student may fail the class. Sometimes, the professor will use the formal disciplinary reporting process to notify university officials. Based on the officials’ findings, the student may be subjected to suspension or expulsion. Some schools make a note of the offense on a student’s transcript. This will severely limit the student’s potential for future success. Many graduate schools and prospective employers reference a student’s transcript; a notation of plagiarism could disqualify the individual for important opportunities. Perhaps more noteworthy is the negative ramifications the student inflicts upon himself. You are depriving yourself of a valuable opportunity to learn and grow each time you commit plagiarism. You aren’t creating your own work or even original thought. Additionally, you run the risk of being ostracised from your friends\ and fellow students. Anyone who has put in the effort will resent your attempt at an easy-out. Lastly, you will ruin the relationship with your professor. That professor could have been a valuable reference down the road and plagiarism will burn any bridges you have already created. Plagiarism is a dangerous act. However, honorable students don’t need to live in fear of accidentally committing a writing crime. Simply take the necessary steps to combat plagiarism; this includes thinking long and hard about intentionally embarking on any path that could jeopardize your future success. Have you ever plagiarised? Do you think plagiarism in college should be allowed? We are waiting for you feedback and your comment!