Racial Stacking in Football Essay Example

Racial Stacking in Football Essay Sport as an institution has seen many of its records and barriers shattered over its countless years of existence. For instance, sport has seen Jackie Robinson break the color barrier in Major League Baseball, and Billie Jean King defeat former champion Bobby Riggs in â€Å"The battle of the sexes†. One barrier that still exists in sports today is racial stacking and stereotyping. The social phenomenon of racial stacking and stereotyping within the institution of sport has profoundly hindered the development and participation of particular races in different dimensions of sport. Racial stacking is a term coined by sociologists which refers to the over or under representation of certain racial group members in particular positions on a sports team (Woodward, 2002). Some instances of racial stacking seen in football include the majority of quarterbacks, centers, and middle linebackers being Caucasian, as well as the majority of defensive backs, running backs, and wide receivers being African American. An explanation as to why racial stacking occurs is the existence of stereotypes in football. A stereotype is an exaggerated generalization of a group that can be both positive and negative. Unfortunately, even in today’s society stereotypes are still prevalent parts of institutions, especially sports. The stereotypes that affect sports can be both positive and negative, and in most cases can be a significant determinant in who excels in their particular sport. In football, African Americans are thought be to be both aggressive and athletic, as Caucasians are viewed as intelligent and hard working individuals. These are some examples of positive stereotypes in football. We will write a custom essay sample on Racial Stacking in Football specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Racial Stacking in Football specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Racial Stacking in Football specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Some negative stereotypes that can relate to football include African Americans being unintelligent and lazy, as well as Asians being too small to play the game. Although stereotypes are not true statements about groups of people, they will not be dropped anytime soon as sport is an institution that is typically reluctant to change. Although it will be difficult, in order to implement change in the future we must first understand where these stereotypes came from and how they impact the institution of sport, in this case football. By analyzing the stereotypes of African Americans, Caucasians and Asians in football, society can look to try and eliminate the close mindedness of those who believe in such labels. To begin with, the race that makes up the majority of football players on all levels including the National Football League (NFL) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is African Americans. In the National Football League, the largest stage for football in the world, during the 2008-2009 season, the African American race made up 67% of the entire league (Lapchick, 2009). During the same year as those statistics were released, African Americans only made up 12. 8% of the entire United States population (Bureau, 2008). So the question remains why African Americans make up such a large percent of the National Football League when they only attribute to nearly 13% of the population. When asked to answer this question the general public may often attribute these findings to stereotypes. For example, the sport of football requires individuals to be both athletic and aggressive, traits in which are commonly associated with African Americans. Although there are justifiable social reasons to explain these statistics, people still want to attribute the success of African Americans in sports to biology. The stereotype is that African Americans carry genes that make them biologically more athletic than other races. This theory dates all the way back to the 1936 Olympics in which Jesse Owens put on the single greatest individual track and field performance ever in sports (Schaap, 2009). Following Owens domination of the field in 1936, questions arose as to how African Americans had become such dominant athletes and where does their athleticism come from. The easiest explanation was that it must reside in their biology rather than their history or culture. Speculations arose as to Owens having an extra bone in his leg, or elongated bones, all of which were proven to be false. Scientist found that biology was not a determinant in an individual’s ability to excel in sports; rather dedication, determination, and training are more influential factors (Dyreson, 2008). One socioligical explanation as to why African Americans excel in athletics is because it is viewed as a way of upward social and financial mobility. Being one of the world’s largest institutions, sports generate billions of dollars in revenue each year. Specifically, the National Football League generates six billion dollars in revenue a year (Sports Industry Overview, 2009). The life of an NFL player is filled with fame, fortune and limitless opportunites, something that the majority of young children dream about. The reason we see more African Americans succeeding in sports is because they have limited resources and opportunities for upward social mobility elsewhere. With the poverty rate among African Americans so high (24. %) they often do not have the resources to excel in education so instead they look to sports as a way of socio-economic advancement (Bureau, Poverty, 2009). Sports sociologist Harry Edwards defines this concept of black youth using sports as a way of social mobility as â€Å"blind faith†. Edwards explains three reasons as to why black families push their children toward sports careers. The fir st of which is because of the long-standing presumption that â€Å"links black athletic superiority with intellectual deficiency† (Edwards, 2000, p. 9). The second being that media often portrays sports as a widely accessible route to social mobility. For instance, it is not uncommon for children to grow up watching ESPN, a television station dedicated to featuring athletes succeeding in their particular sport. The media also plays a major role in the last of the three reasons for this â€Å"blind faith†. Edwards says that the final explanation is that there is a lack of comparably visible black role models outside of the realm of sport (Edwards, 2000). The key words in this last justification are comparably visible. There are plenty of successful black lawyers, doctors, and businessmen and women, yet the media only glorifies the athletes. Hopefully with the election of President Barack Obama, black youth will have a visible black role model to look up to. Another explanation as to why African American families focus on athletics more so than academics is because â€Å"Whether you agree or disagree, Caucasians have been known to obtain jobs based solely on their skin color, with Blacks its just the opposites† (Butler, 2007). Many parents feel that because they are already at a disadvantage in terms of employment, they might as well put their focus towards athletics if their son or daughter has athletic ability. So then why do African American parents push their children towards sports such as football and basketball rather than golf or tennis? For the many African Americans who are living in poverty, affording a football or basketball is much more realistic than signing their child up at a country club or buying a set of clubs. Clearly, socioeconomic status plays a significant role as to why African Americans focus on excelling in athletics such as football and basketball. This brings up a question as to why athletics is typically seen as the way out of poverty for young African Americans rather than academics. The negative stereotypes in football help contribute to why academics and hard work are not typically an option. In football, African Americans are viewed as less intelligent, disciplined, and not as hard working as other races are. So if they are going to be lazy on the field, then it may be unrealistic to assume that they would be able to put in the hard work and determination to succeed academically. When generalized into society, stereotypes such as these are detrimental to the African American race and make it increasingly difficult for the advancement of this entire group. On the other hand, Caucasians make up nearly 80% of the United States population, yet they only account for about 30% of players who play in the National Football League (Tomlinson, 2010). The main reason behind why there is a relatively small percentage of Caucasian football players in the NFL compared to the population is because of stereotypes and values associated with the race. In football, players are expected to be both naturally athletic and aggressive, stereotypes which do not typically describe Caucasians. Furthermore, values associated with Caucasians play a critical role as to why such a minimal amount of Caucasians play in the NFL. For instance, unlike African Americans, Caucasians usually have supplementary opportunities to succeed in life other than athletics. Contrary to the majority of poor African American households, Caucasian households typically stress academics over athletics (Butler, 2007). An explanation to this theory may be that Caucasian families see the few amounts of whites that excel in sports such as basketball and football and feel that they should put their funds towards higher levels of education. In a way, Caucasians look to follow the traditional path of the â€Å"American dream†, which includes going to college and getting a well paying job. In addition, stereotypes such as â€Å"white men can’t jump† and that Caucasians are slow and un-athletic may also factor into why there are less white athletes than there are African American. Caucasians may be shying away from participating in sports such as football and basketball which require such athletic ability and aggressiveness. The struggle of former Stanford University running back Toby Gerhart is a perfect example as to how racial stereotypes affect athletes in football. In the 2009 season Gerhart rushed for 1,871 yards with 27 touchdowns against some of college football’s toughest competition. In addition, Gerhart was runner up to Alabama’s running back Mark Ingram in the closest Heisman vote ever (Silver, 2010). With such mesmerizing stats and credentials one may wonder why Gerhart is not seen as a top prospect in this year’s NFL draft. Many say the answer lies in his skin color, as Toby Gerhart is white. Despite the advice of numerous NFL general managers, Gerhart is entering this year’s NFL draft as a running back. With such large size, (6 feet, 231 pounds) scouts are saying that he will be too slow and unable to break tackles at a professional level. What is so frustrating for Gerhart is that he ran a 4. 50-second 40-yard dash and registered a 38 inch vertical, both which are very impressive for an athlete his size (Silver, 2010). Despite his tremendous outing at the NFL combine he is still being considered a fullback at the NFL level. Michael Silver brought up a great question when he said â€Å"Why was Toby the only running back who had to run under 4. 6 to not be classified as a fullback? Fifteen other guys ran in the 4. 6s at the combine, and nothing was said about them playing fullback† (Silver, 2010, para. 19). The answer is stereotypes. Gerhart is a projected second round pick at the earliest in this year’s draft yet he fits all of the characteristics of a professional running back picked in the first round except for his skin color. One NFL scout said, â€Å"He’ll be a great second-round pick up for somebody, but I guarantee you if he was the exact same guy – but he was black – he’d go in the first round for sure,† (Silver, 2010, para. 8). Despite the barriers that Gerhart already faces in terms of becoming a premier running back in the NFL, his determination and work ethic will look to reverse the traditional operation of the institution. Despite how much stereotypes affect both African Americans and Caucasians in terms of success in football, there is undoubtedly one group that has been most affected by stereotypes. With sport being such a large institution, Asian athletes are hardly seen or heard of here in America, particularly in football. Being one of the largest growing minority groups n the United States one might wonder why there is such a lack of Asians in all levels of football. In the National Football League, African Americans and Caucasians make up nearly 97% of all players. As of the 2008-2009 season, there were only four players of Asian descent in the NFL. The four players being Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward (Korean), Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen (Vietnamese), Giants safety Will Demps (Kore an), and finally Baltimore Ravens Safety Haruki Nakamura (Japanese) (Will, 2009). The lack of Asians in football can be attributed to stereotypes associated with that particular race. Asians are constantly criticized in sports because they are considered too short, not athletic or even because of their facial features. For instance, former NFL quarterback Timmy Chang was criticized by NFL scouts for being too small to play the position. Chang is 6 foot 1, which makes him taller than many NFL quarterbacks. When asked about these height comparison one scout said, â€Å"But he plays short† (Lapchick, 2006a, para. 18). This quote is a reminder how even in today’s society stereotypes can create barriers in the institution of sport. To conclude, despite setting a NCAA record for most career passing yards whiles playing at Hawaii University, Chang went undrafted during the 2006 draft. Another sociological explanation as to why there are such a small number of Asian football players is because of the culture they grow up in. Unlike racial groups such as African Americans and some Caucasians, Asians do not typically look at sports as a way of social mobility. Yun-OhWhang, a professor of sports marketing at the University of Central Florida says â€Å"Asian Americans put huge value on education. Becoming a doctor or lawyer is the ultimate goal of many Asian American kids, which is heavily imposed by their parents† (Lapchick, 2003, para. 3). Whang’s statement is backed up by the fact that according to the 2000 census, Asian families in the United States had the highets average income as well as highest graduation rates for both highschool and college (Lapchick, 2006). For the Asian culture, it is more important to put hard work and dedicaiton into education so one can support their family rather than waste time trying to be one of the few atheletes to make a living in sports. Stereotypes not only affect which sports racial groups excel in or why they excel in those sports, but they have a direct impact on the position members of racial groups typically play. This idea of over or under representation of certain racial groups in a particular position on a sports team is known as racial stacking (Woodward, 2002). In football, especially at the professional level, there are positions on the field that are traditionally played by a particular race. For instance, traditionally the quarterback position is played by a Caucasian. During the 2008-2009 NFL season, out of the 32 starting quarterbacks, 26 (81%) of them were white (Spicer, 2008). Although African Americans make up 67% of the National Football, they only account for 19% of the starting quarterbacks. So why are there so many white quarterbacks starting in the NFL? When this question was posted on a popular Yahoo blog, â€Å"John and Stephanie† responded, â€Å"Because they are the leader. They are the ones who have to make GOOD and quick decisions. They do not dance around acting stupid all day and get thrown in jail for killing dogs. QBs are hard to come across so you have to get a white one and be guaranteed they won’t be put in jail after 3 years† (John Stephanie, 2008, response 5). The authors of this post are basing their response on the play and decisions of former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. In 2007, Vick was sentenced to two years of prison on felony dog fighting charges (Werder, 2007). As ridiculous and foolish as this response is, unfortunately many people have a similar view on African Americans playing the quarterback position. The false belief that successful quarterbacks at the professional level are typically Caucasian often prevents other races from even getting the opportunity to combat that stereotype. This stereotype may cause many African American youth to try and play another position in which they see more individuals of their race succeeding (Vance, 2009). This idea even spills over to the collegiate level where some of the greatest African American college quarterbacks convert to positions such as wide receiver and running back. As of the 2008 NFL draft, 96 African American quarterbacks had been drafted. Out of the 96, over one third (33) have been converted to a position other than quarterback (Vance, 2009). For instance, Washington Redskins wide reciever Antwaan Randle El played quarterback at Indiana University where he was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate only to be converted upon his transition to the NFL. More shocking than the amount of African American quarterbacks who get converted to other positions is the few Caucasian quarterbacks that have to do the same. Only 1. 6% of Caucasian quarterbacks who have been drafted have been converted to another position. Vance, 2009). As previously stated, negative stereotypes of African Americans include being unintelligent, lazy, and troublemakers. These stereotypes typically limit the opportunity for many African Americans to play quarterback at a professional level. Traditionally, along with the middle linebacker and center position, the quarterback position has been known as a â€Å"thinking position† which requires much intelligence to play (Woodward, 2002). Unfortunately, intelligence is not a stereotype of African American football players. In a study done by sports blogger Steve Sailer, he plotted offensive and defensive positions in football by average IQ based on the Wonderlic Test. The Wonderlic Test is a general test of problem solving that has been used by the NFL for nearly 30 years to assess NFL draft prospects (Wonderlic Sample Test ,2010). After converting the Wonderlic Test results to an IQ score, Sailer found that those positions that play closest to the ball have the highest IQ. With an exception to defensive lineman, 79% of which are African American, those positions that play closest to the ball are primarily played by Caucasians (Spicer, 2008). Interestingly enough, those positions that play furthest away from the ball are dominated by African American players. For example, 96% of defensive backs, 92% of wide receivers, and 100% running backs who were starters during the 2008-2009 season are African American (Spicer, 2008). Besides intelligence, there are additional stereotypes that help explain why racial stacking occurs in these positions. All of the previous mentioned positions dominated by African Americans have similar requirements to be successful. They all call for speed, athleticism, and aggression, all of which are stereotypes of African American athletes. Not only do racial stereotypes affect the athletes on the field, they have a prominent impact on the league office, owners, and coaching staff. Since 2004, the NFL has been receiving a letter grade for their hiring practices of women and people of color. The Racial Report Card considers the racial and gender make up of players, coaches, and the front office of professional sports organizations. Essentially, it asks, â€Å"Are we playing fair when it comes to sports? Does everyone, regardless of race or gender, have a chance to score a touchdown and operate the business of professional football? † (Lapchick, 2009, p. 2). As of the 1989 season, there had been no African American head coaches or general managers in the history of the NFL (Lapchick, 2006b). Over the past decade the National Football League has been making a concientious effort to address the lack of colored individuals in the organziation. During the past season, the NFL had received its highest grade ever of A- for racial hiring with six out of thirty-two coaches being African American (Lapchick, 2009). Although the NFL has seen an increase in the number of African American coaches and in league offices, there has still yet to be one African American CEO/President. In addition, Amy Trask, of the Oakland Raiders, is the only woman CEO/President in the NFL (Lapchick, 2009). Despite stereotypes such as lack of intelligence that once restricted the opportunities for minorities to interview for head coaching positions, those who have been able to land such positions have shown that skin color is no determinant in success. In the past four seasons there have been four African American head coaches who have led their team to the Super Bowl (Lapchick, 2009). Over the next few decades we can expect the number of African American coaches to increase exponentially due to the â€Å"Rooney Rule†. This NFL policy (Named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney) mandates that at least one person of color must be interviewed for all new head coaching positions. Since being implemented in 2001, this policy has tripled the number of African American head coaches (Lapchick, 2009). To conclude, despite the lingering stereotypes of African Americans, the NFL has seen a steady increase in the number of minorities in both coaching positions and league offices. All in all, the social phenomenon of racial stacking and stereotyping within the institution of sport has profoundly hindered the development and participation of particular races in the sport of football. Although stereotypes such as African Americans being unintelligent or Caucasians being slow have affected the advancement of these races in certain aspects of the game, they are deeply based on false perception. Most races have to face stereotypes throughout their lifetime. Whether positive or negative, these stereotypes have a prominent affect on how one goes about pursuing their goals, particularly in sports. Although stereotypes have hindered the participation of certain races in football, the culture and society in which an individual has grown up in often plays a larger role in determining success. For African Americans raised in poor families, the perspective of making millions of dollars playing in the NFL may be seen as their one opportunity for upward social mobility, while Caucasians and Asians are typically brought up in wealthier families that stress the importance of education as a way of becoming successful. In conclusion, society must realize that whether one is white or black, male or female, poor or rich, they should have an equal opportunity to participate in sports. Due to the nature of the institutions reluctance to change, it is going to take great mental strength, dedication and perseverance in order for society to break down the barriers in sports for good.

Business Analytics

Business Analytics Nowadays business analytics has established itself as an efficient tool for improving a management performance. A smart approach towards a company’s data interpretation allows to find out the possible drawbacks, predict potential problems, monitor the collective achievements and, most importantly, to perform a more reasonable and grounded decision-making process.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Analytics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is evident today that one has to be capable of processing large amounts of information in order to be a successful competitor. Therefore, companies contribute significantly to the modern technologies and professional personnel that constitute a favorable analytical environment (Pearlson Saunders 2013). The motives for developing analytical competence can be various. Some firms perform a thorough data analysis in order to work out a unique strategy; others try to re new the already existing concept. Despite the fact that the necessity of applying analytical analysis seems to be unquestioned, statistics has shown that one starts developing this competence when the company experiences some difficulties. As a rule, managers employ the analysis of big data in order to determine the cause of the current challenge. One should point out that this kind of approach cannot be called farsighted. The companies with a more rational managing policy contribute to business analytics not to solve the problem but to avoid it (Charles Gherman 2013). Reasonable management suggests using the data analysis in the interest of making the right decision and predicting its outcomes. The intensive business competition can, likewise, prompt one to engage analytical tools in furtherance of improving the company’s analytical performance. Thus, a thorough analysis of the collected data lets one monitor the clients’ satisfaction rate, as well as follow the riva ling companies’ activity. Whereas the analysis of big data is an undoubtedly efficient tool, it is also a relatively new concept. Therefore, companies are likely to face a series of challenges before they learn to perform a successful processing of the collected information. The primary problem one is apt to experience is the shortage of high-qualified specialists. As far as universities do not yet have relevant faculties, identifying a skilled data scientist seems to be rather problematic. Hence, it is up to the managers to work out a proper approach for attracting consistent professionals and evaluating their competence.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, while the problem of processing high volumes of data is easily solved with the help of modern technologies, its quality analysis seems to be a more challenging task. The company’s principal concern is, thence, to determine the precise aims of the performed analysis. It is an accurate targeting that results in formulating valuable conclusions instead of receiving mere statistics (Charles Gherman 2013). In my organization, the employment of big data analysis would have a significant impact on the company’s progress. First of all, as long as modern technologies allow storing the unlimited volumes of information, a high-quality data analysis would spare the company’s time and effort in carrying out the same procedures. The wise analytical policy would also prevent the firm from taking the wrong measures once they have proved their inefficiency. Finally, sufficient contribution to the development of the analytical competence would turn the organization into a successful competitor perfectly aware of its targeted market and the rival’s performance. In conclusion, one should point out the importance of integrating business analytics into the corporate po licy. It should be realized that the analysis of big data has its specificity and peculiarities that are to be considered. Finally, it is crucial that the managers do not overuse technologies while examining the input. However smart the mechanism is, the accredited analysis still requires human’s strategic vision and criticism (Pearlson Saunders 2013). Reference list Charles, V Gherman, T 2013, ‘Achieving Competitive Advantage Through Big Data.Strategic Implications , Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, vol. 16, no. 8, pp. 1069-1074. Pearlson, KE Saunders, CS 2013, Strategic Management of Information Systems, John Wiley Sons Incorporated, New Jersey.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Analytics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Motor development and socialisation in sport

Motor development and socialisation in sport IntroductionThe main factors identified as being important to socialisation of children into sport and physical activity are family, peers, self-esteem (attitude), opportunity and social perceptions. Social development can have a profound effect on physical development. 'The most important means of learning societal rules and expectations is through social interaction, which is also true for human movement' (Payne and Isaacs 1995:60).Family is the first major influence in our social and physical development. Children learn their behaviour through the influence of their family, and this extends to the type of physical development activities they are exposed to. 'The family can therefore consciously or subconsciously shape their children's movement behaviour' (Payne Isaacs 1995:66). Children learn through play and 'play is often based on movement' (Payne and Isaacs 1995:65). However 'play' is not enough to develop effective fundamental motor skills. Children need opportunity to learn and practice these skills.1995-1998 Suzuki Esteem photographed in USA. Categ..."Children who are socialised into motor experiences are more likely to learn motor skills...Children who are not exposed to motor experiences are less likely to master motor skills' (Haywood 1995:84). As children develop a sense of identity within a group, their play becomes more involved and includes more specific movements with games involving co-operation and mutual participation.As children approach adolescence peer influence becomes stronger than family influence, 'As the child approaches adolescence, the family's influence generally begins to diminish and the peer group becomes an increasingly important social force' (Payne Isaacs 1995:67). The approval of peers is more strongly sought and this in turn influences the type of participation a child will take in certain activities. Children's attitudes towards activity is based on these influences. ''A child's peers have the potential to reinforce the sport socialisation process begun in the family' (Greendorfer Lewko 1978b, cited...

Dialogue Helps to Tell Your Story

Dialogue Helps to Tell Your Story Dialogue Helps to Tell Your Story Dialogue Helps to Tell Your Story By Guest Author This is a guest post by Charles A. Ray. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. Dialogue can make or break your short story or novel. No matter how good the plot or subject line, poorly-written dialogue can turn a reader off quicker than anything. I recently read a draft novel manuscript that had a fascinating premise, a compelling story line, and conflict aplenty. I was, nonetheless, completely turned off because every character in the story sounded exactly alike. They all used the same stilted Shakespearean speech, and sounded as if they were reading from Hamlet. Even a street smart black activist student, who was portrayed as aggressive and racially sensitive, talked as if he was the villain from Othello. This is not to suggest that the character should have been lampooned, or that his dialogue should have been a parody of ‘Amos and Andy’ or ‘Shaft.’ But, the character would have been more credible and believable if the dialogue had been less formal, with more use of modern slang, instead of the formal speech that was employed. The only slang word this character used in the first chapter, in over a half page of dialogue, was the word ‘ofay,’ which was inserted in a formal sentence, making it stand out like a pimple on prom night; and it was as unwelcome and out of place as a pimple. Reading the passage, which described his encounter with his professor, I had difficulty telling which of them was speaking without looking at the tags, or going back to see who spoke last. This was clearly a case of poor dialogue ruining an otherwise good story. A more effective technique is to give each character a distinctive voice; either through the words they use, or some other action that belongs to that character and that character alone. Dialogue should be written so that the reader knows immediately which character is speaking. A good way to learn to write effective dialogue is to eavesdrop on the people around you. Note the quirks that distinguish one speaker from another. For example, teenagers these days seem to put the word ‘like’ indiscriminately in their speech. Here’s an example of a conversation I overheard on the subway one day, â€Å"He was like really out of control, and like I just couldn’t get into what he was like saying, you know.† That is an actual line of dialogue that could be used in your story. You have to be careful in most cases not to use what you hear verbatim. People don’t often say what they want to say as succinctly as you need your characters to speak to keep your story moving; but informal expressions in your dialogue will make your characters sound like real people. If you want your writing to keep people interested, in addition to a strong plot, and an interesting theme, you need characters that people find believable. This means learning to write dialogue that holds a reader’s interest as much as the plot. Dialogue, when well written, can help to identify a character more effectively than paragraphs of description or narrative, and it can help keep your story moving. More importantly, it can keep a reader interested in your story from the opening sentence through to the end. You can check Charles page on RedRoom for commentary on leadership, politics and life in general, as well as information about his books. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"Flier vs. Flyer5 Keys to Better Sentence Flow

The Life Cycle of Butterflies and Moths

The Life Cycle of Butterflies and Moths All members of the order Lepidoptera, the butterflies and moths, progress through a four-stage life cycle, or complete metamorphosis. Each stage- egg, larva, pupa, and adult- serves a purpose in the insects development and life. Egg (Embryonic Stage) Once she has mated with a male of the same species, a female butterfly or moth will deposit her fertilized eggs, usually on plants that will serve as food for her offspring. This marks the beginning of the life cycle. Some, like the monarch butterfly, deposit eggs singly, scattering their progeny among the host plants. Others, such as the eastern tent caterpillar, lay their eggs in groups or clusters, so the offspring remain together for at least the early part of their lives. The length of time required for the egg to hatch is dependent on the species, as well as environmental factors. Some species lay winter-hardy eggs in the fall, which hatch the following spring or summer. Larva (Larval Stage) Once development within the egg is completed, a larva hatches from the egg. In butterflies and moths, we also call the larvae (plural of larva) by another name- caterpillars. In most cases, the first meal the caterpillar eats will be its own eggshell, from which it gains essential nutrients. From then on, the caterpillar feeds on its host plant. The newly hatched larva is said to be in its first instar. Once it grows too big for its cuticle, it must shed or molt. The caterpillar may take a break from eating as it prepares to molt. Once it does, it has reached its second instar. Often, it will consume its old cuticle, recycling the protein and other nutrients back into its body. Some caterpillars look just the same, only bigger, each time they reach a new instar. In other species, the change in appearance is dramatic, and the caterpillar may seem to be an entirely different kind. The larva continues this cycle- eat, poop, molt, eat, poop, molt- until the caterpillar reaches its final instar and prepares to pupate. Caterpillars readying for pupation often wander from their host plants, in search of a safe place for the next stage of their lives. Once a suitable site is found, the caterpillar forms a pupal skin, which is thick and strong, and sheds its final larval cuticle. Pupa (Pupal Stage) During the pupal stage, the most dramatic transformation occurs. Traditionally, this stage has been referred to as a resting stage, but the insect is far from at rest, in truth. The pupa does not feed during this time, nor can it move, though a gentle touch from a finger may yield an occasional wiggle from some species. Butterflies in this stage are chrysalides and moths in this stage are cocoons. Within the pupal case, most of the caterpillar body breaks down through a process called histolysis. Special groups of transformative cells, which remained hidden and inert during the larval stage, now become the directors of the bodys reconstruction. These cell groups, called histoblasts, initiate biochemical processes which transform the deconstructed caterpillar into a viable butterfly or moth. This process is called histogenesis, from the Latin words histo, meaning tissue, and genesis, meaning origin or beginning. Once the metamorphosis within the pupal case is completed, the butterfly or moth may remain at rest until the appropriate trigger signals the time to emerge. Changes in light or temperature, chemical signals, or even hormonal triggers may initiate the adults emergence from the chrysalis or cocoon. Adult (Imaginal Stage) The adult, also called the imago, emerges from its pupal cuticle with a swollen abdomen and shriveled wings. For the first few hours of its adult life, the butterfly or moth will pump hemolymph into the veins in its wings to expand them. The waste products of metamorphosis, a reddish liquid called meconium, will be discharged from the anus. Once its wings are fully dried and expanded, the adult butterfly or moth can fly in search of a mate. Mated females lay their fertilized eggs on appropriate host plants, beginning the life cycle anew.

The Story Behind the Phrase Kilroy Was Here

The Story Behind the Phrase Kilroy Was Here For a few years during and after World War II, he was ubiquitous: a doodle of a big-nosed man, peering over a wall, accompanied by the inscription Kilroy was here. At the height of his popularity, Kilroy could be found just about everywhere: in bathrooms and on bridges, in school cafeterias and on homework assignments, in the holds of Navy ships and painted on the shells of Air Force missiles. A classic Bugs Bunny cartoon from 1948, Haredevil Hare, shows just how deeply Kilroy had penetrated into pop culture: thinking hes the first rabbit to land on the moon, Bugs is oblivious to the slogan Kilroy was here prominently etched on a rock behind him. The Prehistory of Kilroy Was Here Where did the meme- and thats exactly what it was, 50 years before the invention of the internet- Kilroy was here come from? Well, graffiti itself has been around for thousands of years, but the Kilroy drawing seems to have derived from a similar graffito, Foo was here, popular among Australian servicemen during World War I; this was also a depiction of a big-nosed cartoon figure peering over a wall, but it was not accompanied by any words. Around the same time  Kilroy was popping up in unexpected places in the U.S., another doodle, Mr. Chad, was appearing in England. The Chad doodle may have derived from the Greek symbol for Omega, or it may have been a simplified adaptation of a circuit diagram; whatever the case, it carried the same someone is watching connotation as Kilroy. At some point shortly before the outbreak of World War II, it seems, Foo, Chad, and Kilroy merged their memetic DNA and mutated into the classic Kilroy was here. Where Did Kilroy Come From? As to the derivation of the name Kilroy, thats a matter of some dispute. Some historians point to James J. Kilroy, an inspector at the Fore River Shipyard in Braintree, MA, who supposedly wrote Kilroy was here on various parts of ships as they were being built (after the ships were completed, these inscriptions would have been inaccessible, hence Kilroys reputation for getting into impossible-to-reach locations). Another candidate is Francis J. Kilroy, Jr., a soldier in Florida, sick with the flu, who wrote Kilroy will be here next week on the wall of his barracks; since this story only appeared in 1945, though, it seems doubtful that Francis, rather than James, was the source of the Kilroy legend. Of course, its also possible that neither James nor Francis Kilroy were involved in any way, and that the name Kilroy was conjured up from scratch by a bored G.I. At this point, we should mention a 2007 documentary, Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed, which aired in 2007 on the History Channel. The premise of the show is that Fort Knox was loaded with gold in 1937, but only made accessible to the public in the 1970s- so the producers at the History Channel could uncork part of the forts innards and visit a time capsule of pre-war America. In the documentary, Kilroy was here can be seen written on a wall inside the vault, which would imply that the origin of this meme dates to no later than 1937. Unfortunately, it was later revealed by one of the shows consultants that the vault footage was recreated (i.e., completely made up), which should make you think twice about the historical accuracy of anything aired on this cable channel! Kilroy Was Here Goes to War The four years of World War II were a tough, dangerous, and often lonely slog for Americas servicemen, who needed any form of entertainment they could get. In this regard, Kilroy was here functioned as a morale booster- when U.S. soldiers landed on a beachhead, they would often see this meme inscribed on a wall or fence nearby, presumably planted there by an advance reconnaissance team. As the war progressed, Kilroy was here became an emblem of pride, carrying the message that no place, and no country, was beyond the reach of Americas might (and especially not if Kilroy was here happened to be painted on the side of a missile penetrating deep into enemy territory). Amusingly, neither Josef Stalin nor Adolf Hitler, two dictators not known for their sense of humor, could quite make sense of  Kilroy was here. The famously paranoid Stalin was reportedly unsettled when he glimpsed a Kilroy was here graffito in a bathroom stall at the Potsdam Conference in Germany; presumably he instructed the NKVD to find the individual responsible and have him shot. And Kilroy was here was inscribed on so many pieces of American ordinance recovered by the Germans that Hitler wondered if Kilroy was a master spy, along the lines of the yet-to-be-invented James Bond! Kilroy has had a robust afterlife. Old memes never truly go away; they persist out of historical context, so that a six-year-old watching Adventure Time or reading a Peanuts comic strip from the 1970s will be aware of this phrase, but not of its origins or its connotations. Its not only the case that Kilroy was here; Kilroy is still among us, in comic books, video games, TV shows, and all sorts of pop-culture artifacts.

How to Handle Medical School Application Rejection

How to Handle Medical School Application Rejection Most applications to medical school get rejected. Its a hard, unhappy fact. When applying to medical school, you need to accept this possibility and make a contingency plan in case your application isnt accepted. The best advice is  to apply early. If at all possible, take the April MCAT and get the AMCAS application completed before summer starts or at least before August starts. If you wait until August to take the MCAT for the first time, your application will be delayed until the scores are available. The entering class may have already been selected before your application is completed! An early application may improve your chances of admission. At the very least, an earlier decision will help you plan for the following year. Rejection Letter If you get a rejection letter, follow these steps: Call or visit the Office of Admissions and ask if you can have an Admissions Counselor review your application and give you advice for improving it for the next application cycle. Be courteous and grateful. Follow the advice! Review your own application and make notes of ways to improve it.Take your application to your pre-med advisor or other academic advisor and ask him or her to review the application and suggest a way to improve it.Take some action that will show improvement in next years application. If you get an interview next year, expect to be asked what you did all year to help you on your career path. Work hard so that you can have a great answer to this question! Improving An Application These are common means of improving an application: Get higher MCAT scores. Remember, a school sees your most recent scores, which may not necessarily be your highest scores. If you are pleased with your scores, dont retake the test unless you are confident you can improve them. Get more experience. If you were granted an interview, you probably came away with a sense of how the interviewer perceived your experience. If at all possible, build upon your past experiences. You may seek employment in the medical field.Consider taking more college courses, particularly upper-level courses in the sciences. These additional courses could raise your grade point average and will help reinforce concepts. Look critically at the writing on your application and make it even better on the new application.Think hard about the letters of recommendation used for your application. If you waived your right to review these letters, are you 100% positive the letters were glowing recommendations? Were the letters written by respected sources? You need new letters for the new application, so make sure your letters are great. If you have any doubt about the quality of the letters on the rejected application (an Admissions Counselor might clue you in about this), consider not waiving your right to review the letters for the new application cycle. If you dont get accepted to medical school, you need to re-evaluate your desire to become a physician, as well as your aptitude and skills. A lot of rejected applicants never reapply. Those who take steps to improve their applications and then reapply greatly improve their chances of success. Admission Committees like to see perseverance! Getting a rejection letter is disheartening, yes, but how you handle failure is your choice.