Mrs. Abrams' Virtual Language Arts Class

Uniforms, as some know, are outfits that students are forced to wear at school. They usually have long

sleeved shirts, pants, & ties for boys, and long sleeved shirts & skirts for girls. Most students feel that

uniforms deprive them freedom of expression, and limits their creativity. Public & private schools are

not using uniforms enough. School uniforms are not being used enough unless students are allowed

to make their own uniforms.

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One of my close friends, Paul, goes to a Catholic School that requires uniforms. He hates them, he

tells me, along with his fried Jack and many other students who wear uniforms. Students feel that

uniforms restrain their freedom of expression, as the First Amendment demands. School uniforms are

not being used enough unless students are allowed to create their own uniforms with their school

colors.

Posted by at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"If the time comes when pupils of state-supported schools can defy orders of school officials to keep

their minds on their schoolwork, it is the beginning of a new, revolutionary era." Says Justice Hugo

Black of the Supreme Court. School uniforms are not being used enough in public or private schools.

Students & adults feel that uniforms silence one's creativity & uniqueness. In fact, school uniforms are

not being used enough unless students are allowed to create their own uniforms using their own

chool colors.

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Dear SB and all the “Dream Series” authors,

I am ------- ------- a 7th grader at Mabry Middle School. The first book I read was during our book chat. I am writing you this letter to personally thank you for the books you have written. So far I have read Road to the Majors, The Long Way Around, and The Highest Stand. I am currently reading your book called Hoop City. All of your books not only inspire me, but they truly do relate to things I am facing in reality today, and what I will be facing in the future. The single greatest thing about all of your books is so clear: they are all about having troubles, facing reality, and fighting each and every day, weather for the spot on a pick-up basketball game, or a chance for a fresh start on a new life. You keep me motivated, as I can relate to the characters in your books. I hope that you keep writing these thrilling and motivating stories to young and inspiring readers like us. Because of you, I am planning a career in writing.

Thank you,
------- -------

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IDEAS
1.What will I do to make sure that i choose a strong report for my oral presentation?
The issues affect us, story board, visual aids chart, and rewritten first paragraph.

2.What will I do to make sure that I choose my graphics to help communicate my ideas clearly?
pictures that fit my topic and keyword sentences and grab the readers attention.

3.What did I do to make sure that each slide fits the audience and the purpose of the report?
they pertain to the topic and grabs and holds the audiences attention

ORGANIZATION
1.What will I do to make sure that I introduced my topic clearly in the beginning?
the key points that are apparent

2.What will I do to make sure that I included the main points in the middle part?
summurize the concluding and middle paragraphs

3.What will I do to make sure that I ended with a summary or wrap-up thought?
I will put my thesis stament and tell what we can do to help

VOICE
1.What will i do to make sure that I used an interesting formal voice?
I won't us pronouns like ya'll

2.What will i do to make sure that I choose my voice fits my audience and my topic?
I will try to put it into simpiler turms and make it more interesting

WORD AND MULTIMEDIA CHOICES
1.Avoid repeating what has already been said

2.What will I do to make sure I choose the best pictures and sounds for my ideas?
make sure the pictures and sounds match the key words

3.What will I do to maintain eye contact?
put cool graphics and cool sounds into my slide

PRESENTATION FLUENCY
1.What will I do to make sure my report flows smoothly from slide to slide?
have the last sentence of the slide match the first sentence of the next slide

2.What are at least 4 transitions used?
ALso, Usually, In Adition, Plus

CONVENTIONS
1.What did I do to make my report free of grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors?
I use spelling and grammar check

PREPARING FOR THE PRESENTATION
1.What will I do to grab my listener's attention?
say interesting facts and put interesting pictures in

2.Opening question?
Have you ever been snorkleing or scuba diving and seen beautiful coral?

3.Suprising fact?
coral helps cause global warming

Posted by at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Many people feel that the world is slowly changing due to global warming. So what is global warming? Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere. The major causes of global warming are the greenhouse gasses and human pollution. Greenhouse gasses and human pollution can lead to many effects of global warming like sea levels rise and diseases spread faster, but we can stop global warming by doing small changes in our daily lives to help the Earth. Global warming is caused mostly by our pollution which makes the atmosphere warmer.

The Description of Global Warming
What exactlly is global warming? Global Warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere. The thick atmosphere traps the sun's heat and warms the Earth. Global warming started occuring in the 1800's, and since then the temperature has increased about 0.5 degrees F to 1.5 degrees F higher. Over the past 50 years, the global temperature has had the fastest rate of increase, and the Earth has also warmed 1 degree F over the past 100 years. The temperature of Earth's surface now is about 59 degrees F. Scientists have hypothesised that the Earth's atmosphere will be about 2 degrees F to 4 degrees F higher by the year 2100. Today, Americans produce 25% of the greenhouse gasses (the U.S. has the highest rate of pollution). The greenhouse gasses are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, and chlorofluorocans (CFCs). These greenhouse gasses are a huge problem because they are the leading cause of global warming.

Continue reading "Research Rough Draft" »

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Language Arts-3rd Period
January 31, 2006

Sleep Disturbances

Life can be hard for people who have sleep disturbances. While most can just lie down and fall asleep, others with sleep disturbances might lie in bed all night without even getting a wink of sleep. Since the person did not get any sleep at night, it could leave them feeling tired during the day. This could be dangerous if the person fell asleep while driving. Sleep is something that most people take for granted. Sleep is needed to allow your body and its cells to rest and recharge. Sleep helps the brain to be able to concentrate during the day. However, natural sleep does not always come easily to people with sleep disturbances.

Description of Sleep Disturbances
There are many ways in which to describe disturbed sleep. Sleep is caused when the body is low on energy. Disturbed sleep is usually when a person wakes up many times at night. Sometimes disturbed sleep comes when you are afraid to go to sleep. For instance, if an individual just had a nightmare or even worse a night terror the person might be scared to go back to sleep. Insomnia, or an insomniac, is a person that does not sleep at all or does not get enough REM sleep. No one can live without sleep. Sleep apnea is when people stop breathing while asleep. Other descriptions of disturbed sleep are bedwetting and sleepwalking. All in all, there are many types of sleep disturbances.

Causes for Sleep Disturbances
There are multiple causes for sleep disturbances. The most common type of sleep disturbance is waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep. To be able to stay asleep the body needs to stay a comfortable temperature. Asthma medicines, the medicine methylxanthinces, and high amounts of ethanol are thought to cause sleep disturbances. Nasal congestion, sleeping pills, smoking, and drinking alcohol all affect breathing and could make sleep apnea worse. Large amounts of stress can interrupt sleep. Kids that stay up all night do not get enough sleep and will most likely feel tired during the day when they are not able to sleep. Fatty neck tissue can press on the airway and makes it harder to breath. In fact, breathing problems when asleep are one of the biggest causes of sleep disturbances.

Effects of Sleep Disturbances
Effects of disturbed sleep are dreadful and can sometimes be dangerous. Some people with sleep disturbances go days without even feeling tired; however, the brain will eventually shut down. People who live with sleep disturbances for long period of time cannot sleep during the night. Therefore, exhaustion is felt during the day and during working hours when there is no opportunity to sleep. This could even be dangerous if the person falls asleep while driving. Also, during the day the person might be in a bad mood, or feel depressed. Others might wake up with a stomach ache, or just feel miserable. Not resting well not only affects a person’s productivity and their relationships, but can also affect their health. Little sleep lowers the resistance that the cells in the body have in fighting viruses and harmful bacteria, which may cause sickness. Sleeping disturbances can drastically alter someone’s life.

Solutions for Sleep Disturbances
There are numerous solutions for disturbed sleep. Some are easy things that anyone can do like lose weight, especially around the neck, and do not eat right before bed. There are also medications to put a person to sleep and keep them asleep. Other solutions are a little more involved such as stopping smoking and drinking alcohol. If these methods are not helping, go to a sleep clinic where doctors can suggest a treatment. Some treatments involve surgery such as jaw surgery to enlarge the jaw to make the air way larger, surgery to remove the uvula which will open the airway, and surgery to open the nasal passages. There is a device that is called the tongue restraining device which pulls the tongue towards the teeth and opens the airway behind the tongue. Many people inhale a gas to put and keep them asleep such as the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) which is a mask that blows air and keeps the airway from collapsing. So far there are only a few treatments for disturbed sleep that actually work permanently. Many drug companies are looking for new treatments to sleep disorders. Always keep in mind when taking sleep medication that most are not for long term use and some sleep medicines can be addictive.

There are many causes and effects for disturbed sleep. There are also many solutions. Sleep disturbances can have a big impact on people’s lives. Without sleep, people could not live. Therefore, sleep is required for life, yet people with sleep disturbances cannot get the sleep that the body requires and sleep does not come easily. Help is available and anyone suffering with a sleep disturbance should talk to a doctor right away before something serious happens.

Works Cited

Bradbury, Jane. “Common Drugs and the Pursuit of a Good Night’s Sleep.”
The Lancet. 12 January 2002:2. eLibrary. 18 January 2006.
.

Linder, Doug. Sleep Apnea Treatments. 1995-2006. 19 January 2006.
.

Nordenberg, Tamara. “Tossing and Turning No More.” FDA Consumer.
1 July 1998:6. eLibrary. 18 January 2006.
.

Parker, Steve. Dreaming in the Night. New York: Franklin Watts, 1991.

Silverstein, Alvin, and Virginia Silverstein. The Mystery of Sleep. Boston:
Little Brown and Company, 1987.

Silverstein, Alvin. Sleep. New York: Franklin Watts, 2000.

“Sleep.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 ed.

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WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?

Global warming is when the earth heats up due to greenhouse gasses. That is why it is otherwise know as the green house effect. It is called the greenhouse effect because the climate changes. Eventually the earth will become too hot to sustain life. So global warming is the process of when the climate changes due to green house gasses. Many people don’t know much about global warming. So global warming is the process when the earth heats up due to green house gasses.

CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING

The burning of fossil fuels is a cause of global warming. Since the industrial revolution carbon dioxide is up 30% while Nitrous oxide is up 15%. That means that all the carbon dioxide is going into the atmosphere and not leaving. Human activities also help global warming. Continental drift also changes the climate. It is not like if we could get rid of all the Co2 global warming would go away. Without any water vapor or CO2 too much heat would leave the atmosphere. The United States made a law that required all factories to change their filters every two years.

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

The earth is getting warmer each year. The U.S. put out at least 1/5 of the total carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere each year. Therefore the earth is going to heat up faster than we think. So the water heats up, causing oceanic currents to stop and the polar ice caps to melt. The earth is going to heat up faster than we think. If it dose heat up faster than we think than we must change our ways. Many habitats have been destroyed due to the earth heating up. If we don’t help this situation many animals may become extinct.

SOLUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING

The earth has risen one degree in the past 10 years. While carbon dioxide increases .5% each year. A few degrees hotter and we might have a runaway greenhouse effect on our hands. That would change growing conditions and we would have to change the way of living. Significant changes must be made. Some countries put up bands to help preserve grasslands and forests. The U.S. is strengthening international response to global warming. The world is also strengthening response to global warming and climate change.

CONCLUSION

The earth is getting warmer each year. The climate is changing due to burning fossil fuels. The effect of that is the earth getting warmer. Countries are putting up bands to help preserve grasslands and forests. We need to change our actions. So global warming is the process when the climate changes due to greenhouse gasses.

WORK CITED
www.yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsfl content/climate.html
Global warming
7 January 2000
U.S. environmental protection agency

In quest of the universe
Jones and Bartlett publishers
Karl F. Kuhn

www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/globalwarming/what.html

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One question leaves everyone in suspense: What are the problems with uniforms at school? Uniforms, as some know, are outfits that students are forced to wear at school. Mostly of the time, uniforms consist of long sleeved shirts and long skirts for girls. For boys, it usually has a buttoned shirt they MUST tuck in, and jeans. Most students hate them. Is it true that it limits expressing one's self, yet, at the same time, makes cliques and gangs vanish? Why is this so? Along with an interview, I conducted some research to find more information about the uniforms. In this paper, you will find the pros and cons of uniforms. Do pros outweigh the cons, or is it the other way around?

Causes

The causes for school uniforms are simple. School violence-for example, fistfights-were common in schools without the uniforms. The grades were not going so well, because administrations thought that students had too many distractions with their outfits. Tardiness could be another problem, because some kids were too busy trying to find the perfect outfit to wear to school that day. Parents found this exasperating-they were always late to school! Many students also taunted others about their clothes, and determined by them whether they were poor or not. Thus, schools started uniforms, hoping it would cut down on these certain problems.

Effects

For starters, school theft-and crime overall-decreased by 36%. However, that didn't affect all of the schools. For example, my friend, Ami, said that someone stole a trophy from the school's trophy case. Theft has not gone away completely, but decreased rapidly-if the school had uniforms.
Violence was also an issue. If the school had uniforms, the violence disappeared for the most part. The teasing about clothes went away, but not about your weight, hair color, or other factors. Obviously, teasing about the clothes was only one way of putting someone down-unless your social status is high. Ami also stated "The teasing happened daily. It was worse than the ridiculing of clothes."
Freedom of expression is another issue. In some schools, earrings and stockings--anything that breaks the dress code-are prohibited. Many are trying to bend the rules somehow. Boys, for example, do not tuck their shirts in. They leave them baggy. Girls try to wear earrings. Not all are caught, however. Mostly, the boys are punished for breaking the dress code while girls get away scot-free. It's most likely because the rules the girls bend are not noticeable as the boys'. These are just some of the problems with uniforms.

The cost of uniforms is another problem. You can only get the required clothes at certain websites or certain stores. Even there, the uniforms cost a lot, and that's why parents don't support uniforms. Some schools, however, have financial assistance for families who cannot afford the uniforms.
Some religions require certain people to wear certain articles of clothing. Uniforms are not wanted is for that exact consequence. However, there is a way around that rule as long as you get a note from a priest or something similar. Religion alone causes many to turn down the offers of school uniforms, or to start petitions against them.
A concern is that students won't learn how to accept one another by their clothing. Most disagree with that, saying that people will have to look for friends by what's inside, not the clothes they wear. It allows students to find true friends who don't wear name brands, like Abercrombie & Fitch, to school, even if they ask for them out of school.

Description

Uniforms can be formal or informal. The private schools have more in connection with Catholic schools. Public schools, however, have more casual outfits, like shirts and jeans. Some believe that casual uniforms are more convenient because of their cheap costs every once in a while.
Two good solutions are to either have no uniforms in any school, which is not good for educational purposes, or to make all the schools have uniforms. Then the students would not be content at school, because they are forbidden by the dress code to wear anything but the uniform--no earrings or anything else like that.

Solutions

If students in school keep their grades up, schools would not think twice of assigning uniforms. Also, fistfights could be avoided by controlling one's actions while in school. Students who try to find the perfect outfit should put it together the night before school. That way, they can throw on the outfit and walk out in a flash. Then, tardiness would cut down.

The problem of uniforms is considerably growing every day. More and more petitions or revolts by the students continue, and so are disagreements from the parents. They do not see the benefits of uniforms, only the negative. "If the time comes when pupils of state-supported schools can defy orders of school officials to keep their minds on their schoolwork, it is the beginning of a new, revolutionary era." Says Justice Hugo Black of the Supreme Court. It has been rpoven that uniforms could solve problems at school. Or, at least, they can solve most of them.

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ROUGH DRAFT ON CORAL REEF'S

Coral reefs are one of the most harmed homes of fish in the sea. The coral reefs are mostly harmed because they are not protected by any preservation foundation. Only 5% of the coral reefs are protected. Fishing and large boats going through coral reef areas are destroying the other 95%. Coral reefs are very important to the fish because they are a home where schools of fish can live and a home for eels too. Another reason the reefs are important is because it makes a hunting ground for bigger fish such as sharks and barracudas to get their food easily.

How Are The Coral Reefs Being destroyed?
Low riding boats roaming through coral reef areas are destroying coral reefs. Heavy ocean currents slowly decaying the reefs are also destroying them. The main concern of the destruction is the fishing that goes on around the coral reef areas. The fishing causes 95% of the damage done to the reefs. The bad part is the fishing problem will continue till something has been done to stop it.

How Are The Coral Reefs Being Affected By The Destruction?
The coral reefs are slowly being broken down by the destruction. It is important that coral reefs are protected. The coral reefs serve a purpose to house the fish and keep them somewhere. If the fish don't have the reefs to live in, it puts all fish species at risk of dying. It also puts the food chain at risk. If the fish leave their reefs the bigger fish that feed on the fish that home at the coral reef will have to individually find there prey, sometimes causing them to starve and die. Concluding all the fish will become endangered species.

What Is The Cause Of The Destruction?
The causes of the destruction include heavy ocean currents, low riding boats, and again the main cause, fishing. Most of these causes are causes that can be prevented or helped. For example a preservation service could control the fishing problem and the low riding boats. Although there is no way to control the heavy ocean current, preventing the fishing and the boats will do enough to keep the coral reefs in good living conditions for fish.

What Is The Solution To The Destruction Happening To The Coral Reefs?
The coral reefs could be protected by fishing and boats, but another way to help the reefs is converting old or destroyed oil rigs to new homes for fish as known as coral reefs. This process is pretty simple, the oilrigs could be cleaned and knocked down with some effort, and is a new home for fish to live and explore. Another solution is to make handmade coral reefs. Although this would be a long and hard process it would help the population of fish and help to make a better ocean.

Why Should I Care About Coral Reefs?
The coral reef is the most endangered landform in the ocean. If the coral reef is destroyed it will cause many endangered species in the future. Why is the destruction of the reef important? The destruction will also lead to the end of the reefs.

works cited page

bibliography cards

1. Dog Pile comment. Coral Deastruction. 10-6-04.
www.dogpile.com

2. Miranda Macuitty. life on a coral reef. DKI witness:
dolling Kindely, 11-01-04.

3. Presedent of Jakarta. "presedent launch to save coral
reef campign." 02-14-00: 1.

4. Scott Fetzer. "coral reefs" World Book 2000. Melinium
Volume 4

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Bullying

Did you know that almost everybody has had a bullying experience? There are many causes, descriptions, effects, and solutions for bullying. Bullying is usually caused by dominance (wanting power). There are several kinds of bullying including physical, verbal, and racial. Many of the effects are serious, like bed-wetting, headaches, and anxiety. Bullying is a serious issue with serious side effects, by learning more about bullying; hopefully we can find a way to stop it.

Description

There are numerous ways to describe bullying. Bullying is where a person will pick on someone else who is smaller or weaker than them. Usually there is an imbalance in power and the bully is bigger or stronger. The bullies' behaviors are usually very aggressive and hurtful. Several types of bullying take place in a school setting. One type of bullying is physical bullying, which is very painful mentally and physically. Verbal bullying is where the bully talks rudely right to the victim's face. Indirect bullying is one of the worst kinds of bullying because the bully will talk about the victim behind the person's back or spread rumors. The last and most hurtful bullying is racial bullying because bullies will insult a person's race, religion, color of the skin, or the country of origin.

Effects

Bullying has many unfavorable effects on the victim. The victim's life might become miserable and he/she may become very unhappy. Physical bullying can leave injuries and scars. When people are bullied, confidence and self-esteem may be lost. Being bullied can be very stressful and can cause some sickness too. For instance, the victim may get stomachaches, headaches, and anxiety. may even experience some difficulty sleeping. Many, after being bullied, may wet the bed or have terrifying nightmares and schoolwork might suffer as well. The most serious side effect of being bullied is that the victims may commit suicide! These effects are only part of the bullying experiences.

Causes

If you need to figure out how to prevent the effects, first you need to know the causes of bullying. Someone that is envied may be bullied. Bullying can also be a way to try and get attention or bullies will bully someone smaller than them to gain dominance. People who have a history of being bullied may become a bully to get revenge. Another reason people bully is to show off and prove they are powerful. The causes of bullying will help you figure out how to solve bullying and a number of its side effects.

Solution

There are several ways to prevent or reduce bullying. The most effective way is to tell someone about it. Some people that can help a victim out are a teacher, a parent, or a counselor. There are also ways to settle a dispute with a bully. One way is to just walk away from the situation. Another way is to talk it over with a bully and see if something can be worked out. If people knew how to prevent bullying, it would greatly reduce in schools everywhere.

Bullying in schools today is getting worse and worse. It is caused by many factors that can affect the victim. Bullying has many life-changing effects that can affect schoolwork and much more. People try many ways to stop bullying, like telling a counselor, but it just keeps getting worse. Many people get bullied each day and do not do anything about it. Bullying is a major problem and should be stopped!

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Introductory
There are more than 2,000 species of coral reefs. But all of them have one problem; coral is in danger of humans. Many species of coral are very sensitive and many things cause them to die (bleach). Reef destruction affects us in the larger world and has solutions to stop coral destruction. The corals’ inhabitants are also in danger from over fishing. Coral is living like you and me (it's made of polyps), so it should be treated like you would want to be treated!

Coral
There are two types of coral: hard coral and soft coral. Hard coral, stony coral, builds reefs and can look like antlers, fingers, brains, domes, and branches. Soft coral can't build reefs and looks like trees, bushes, flowers, nets, or fans. Coral forms 3 known ways: fringing, barrier, and atolls. Fringing reefs are along shorelines. Barrier reefs are separated from shore by water, known as a lagoon. Atolls are rings of shore away from land with a lagoon in the middle. Reefs help shores from being hit by crashing waves. They also have to live in an ocean around the temperature of 73-77 degrees F. They need to be in the fight temperature so the zooxanthellae don't leave the polyps.

Polyps
Polyps do not have neither a brain nor a backbone and live in large colonies. In the large colonies they pass food and messages to one another. When they attach together they are usually on top of dead polyps. Inside polyps are zooxanthellae, which have to live in a specific temperature other wise they leave the polyps and the polyps die. Usually, polyps’ predators are nocturnal like the polyps themselves. The crown-of-thorns starfish is their predator because the starfish devours the polyps and only leaves coral skeletons. Also, the polyps take in calcium carbonate and turn it into a protective limestone cup that the polyps pull into when they feel threatened.

Inhabitants
There are many different species living in coral. Thousands hunt and graze the ocean. With that many fish and hunters they all have to defend their spot in the coral. Those fish include these and many more: yellow tuna, mackerel, and groupers (do not forget there are many more than those three). The inhabitants are usually bright and have good eyesight if diurnal. The fish’s predators are then easier to spot (good eyesight). Some of those predators include snakes and turtles. All colors are changed at night to blend in better. Crepuscular hunters are avoided at all cost. Squid and other bioluminescent fish flash to attract prey. The reason why they glow is because of a flash or glow is created in the fish or squids body.

Causes
Many things done to the environment, like pollution, cause coral destruction. Coral is very sensitive to anything really. Storms, crashing waves, greenhouse effect, water pollution, boat oil leaks, cans, gas leaks, bags of garbage, plastic bottles, fishing nets, chemicals, sewage, dynamite, over fishing, those are just a few causes of damage. The lists go on and on and have just as many effects too. One major cause is over fishing and how the fishermen take the fish. Some drop bombs to stun the fish; some swim down and chase a fish to its home and shoot cyanide into the hole, then they use a crowbar to pry open the coral. Or the fishers may leave the fish homeless by coral mining.

Effects
With all the causes there just about as many effects of coral destruction. Corals bleach when the zooxanthellae leave the polyps. Warmer oceans are also caused by coral destruction. Upset balance of fish is caused when people take too many of one species like in Indonesia groupers are becoming extinct from over fishing. Cyanide kills 90% of the fish and coral cyanide comes in contact with. Coral destruction also affects us in the larger world by keeping the carbon levels down; when there’s no coral the carbon levels raise, mainly in the oceans.

Solution
How can we help save the coral? In Indonesia they banned swimming, passing of small canoes and outrigger boats. Indonesians’ also banned fishing unless with spears or small fishing nets. Indonesia has 24 hr. reef patrol and 'fish aggression devices'. In addition, Indonesians’ started breeding groupers and sea bass. Some coral sanctuaries are made in Indonesia too. Institutions that study dead coral, by cutting the coral open; many believe the more known about coral, the easier to help save it.

Ending Paragraph
Coral is a living thing and needs to be treated that way. It deserves to live and not to be bombed or ripped open with crowbars. Coral has 2 types and forms 3 different ways to form and has thousands of species. Inside coral are polyps, which make coral, living. Polyps are nocturnal like their predator. Coral has many different causes to become bleached. Bleached in other words means dead. Effects like global warming, warmer oceans and many more are caused by coral destruction. Solutions are simple, if we only pay attention to its needs and help protect it. Coral has many bright and colorful inhabitants. Coral takes thousands and millions of years to build and to be created just to be destroyed in two minutes. We should take action to help save the coral.

"Palmyra Island, with its pristine coral reefs and central Pacific location, is a virtual treasure chest of science that has never been fully explored. Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography value Palmyra for its unique, exciting opportunities for scientific research, including a current project that monitors global climate change using Palmyra corals."
-Charles Kennel, Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego

1. Kalman, Bobbie and Walker, Niki. Life in the Coral Reef. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 1997.

2. Moreau, Ron.” Saving the Coral Reefs". Newsweek International.Friday 12, November 2001.2 pages.eLibrary.Friday 13, January 2006.http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/libweb/elib/do/dovument?set=searchandgroupid=1andrequested=lib

3. Ocean World. Coral Reef Destruction and Conservation. 2004. Tuesday 17, January 2006. http;//oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/coral5.html>

4. unknown."coral".2004. WorldBook online.Coral. Tuesday 17, January 2006.

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How are the coral reefs being destroyed? Low riding boats roaming through coral reef areas are destroying coral reefs. Heavy ocean currents slowly decaying the reefs are also destroying them. But the main concern of the destruction is the fishing that goes on around the coal reef areas. The fishing causes 95% of the damage done to the reefs. The bad part is the fishing problem will continue till something is done to stop it.

How are the coral reefs being affected by the destruction? The coral reefs are slowly being broken down by the destruction. It is important that coral reefs are protected. The coral reefs serve a purpose to house the fish and keep them somewhere. If the fish don't have the reefs to live in, it puts all fish species at risk of dying. It also puts the food chain at risk. If the fish leave their reefs the bigger fish that feed on the fish that home at the coral reef will have to individually find there prey, sometimes causing them to starve and die. And all the fish dying will cause a new endangered species.

What is the cause of the destruction? The causes of the destruction include heavy ocean currents, low riding boats, and again the main cause, fishing. Most of these causes are causes that can be prevented or helped. For example a preservation service could control the fishing problem and the low riding boats. Although there is no way to control the heavy ocean current, preventing the fishing and the boats will do enough to keep the coral reefs in good living conditions for fish.

What is the solution to the destruction happening to the coral reefs? The coral reefs could be protected by fishing and boats, but another way to help the reefs is converting old or destroyed oil rigs to new homes for fish as known as coral reefs. This process is pretty simple, the oilrigs could be cleaned and knocked down with some effort, and is a new home for fish to live and explore. Another solution is to make handmade coral reefs. Although this would be a long and hard process it would help the population of fish and help to make a better ocean.

Posted by at 8:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

01/23/06
LA-3 Sleep Disturbances
Power Outline

1. Description
2. The body needs sleep to stay alive
2. Disturbed sleep is when you wake up many times
2. Some people stop breathing at night
2. Insomnia- not getting any sleep
2. Sleepwalking- moving or talking while asleep
2. Bedwetting- using the bathroom while asleep
2. Insomniac- a person who does not get enough deep sleep
2. Night terror- different than a night mare
2. Night mare- vivid bad dreams that occur during REM sleep
2. Night terror- occur during non REM sleep

1. Cause
2. Bad dreams-cause a person to not want to go back to sleep
2. Body must be kept at comfortable temp.
2. Asthma medicines might cause some sleep disturbances
2. The body has a built- in clock for sleeping
2. Methylxanthinces might cause some sleep disturbance
2. High amounts of ethanol can cause sleep disturbances
2. Kids that stay up all night do not get enough sleep
2. Stress can cause disturbed sleep
2. Sleep is caused when the body is low on energy
2. Fat in the neck tissue presses on the airway
2. Fat stomach manes breathing muscles work poorly
2. Nasal congestion by allergies narrows airway
2. Sleeping pills can affect breathing and making sleep worse
2. Smoking reduces ling capacity- makes sleep apnea worse
2. Alcohol can depress breathing reflexes-makes sleep worse

1. Effect
2. Some people go days without sleeping
2. Not getting enough sleep can be dangerous
2. Not sleeping can cause the brain to shut down
2. A person cannot sleep when tired
2. The person might feel tired and in a bad mood
2. Person may fall asleep while driving
2. They may wake up tired
2. Wake up and cannot go back to sleep
2. They might even wake up with a stomach ache
2. Wake up feeling miserable

1. Solution
2. Go to a sleep clinic
2. Do not eat right before bed
2. Lose weight especially around the neck
2. So far there are only a couple of treatments for disturbed sleep
2. Some people take a pill to put and keep them asleep
2. Some people inhale a gas to put them to sleep
2. Drug companies are looking for medicines disturbed sleep
2. Most sleep medications are not for long term use
2. Some sleep medicines can be addictive
2. Surgery to open nasal passages
2. Lose weight, stop smoking, and stop drinking alcohol
2. Jaw surgery to in large jaw to make air way larger
2. Surgery to remove the uvula which will open the air way
2. Tongue restraining device -opens airway behind the tongue
2. CPAP- keeps airway from collapsing; over 100,000 in use
2. CPAP- (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
2. CPAP-Mask that blows air

Posted by at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There are many ways to describe bullying. Bullying is a repeated use of aggression against a person or a group. Usually there is an imbalance in power and the bully is bigger or stronger. The bully's behavior is usually very aggressive and hurtful. Many types of bullying take place in the school. One type is physical bullying, which is very painful. Verbal bullying is where the bully talks rudley right to your face. Indirect bullying is one of the worst kinds of bullying because the bully will talk about you behind your back and spread roumors. The last and most hurtful bullying is ratial bullying because bullys will make fun of your race, religion, color of your skin, or the country you are from.

Bullying has many bad effects on the victim. The victim's life will become miserable and he/she will be very unhappy. Physical bullying can leave injuries and scars. When you are bullied, you may lose your confidence and self-esteem. Being bullyed can be very stressful and can cause some sickness too. For instance, you may get stomachaches, headaches, and anxiety. You may even experience some difficulty sleeping. Many, after being bullyed, may wet their bed or have nightmares. Your schoolwork might suffer as well. The most serious side effect of being bullyed is that the victims may commit suicide!

Bullying is caused by many things. Bullys may bully someone they are jelous of or envy. Bullying can also be a way to try and get attention. Bullys will bully someone smaller than them to gain dominance. People who have a history of being bullyed may become a bully to get revenge. Another reason is that they are showing off to someone to prove they are powerful.

There are many ways to prevent or reduce bullying. The most effective ways are to tell someone about it. Someone
would be a teacher, a parent, or a councellor. There are also ways to settle it with the bully. One way is to just walk away from the fight. Another is to talk it over with the bully and see if you can work something out.

Posted by at 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

1.topic sentence that covers one main idea
2.at least three supporting sentences that support the main idea
3. Concluding/clincher/closing sentence that summarizes the information in the paragraph and/or answers the question "so waht?"

Posted by at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

1. Resources
2. Addiction- book
2. Atlanta Journal Constitution "Smoking rate creeps down"- magazine
2. Collier's Encyclopedia #2- encyclopedia
2. www.health.yahoo.com/centers/smoke_free/17- web page
2. www.lugusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvluk9o0E&b=39868- web page

1. Cause and effects
2. Stop smoking eat twice as much
2. smoking- eat half as much as a regular meal
2. Food tastes different when smoking
2. Tastes bad when stop smoking (later it leaves in about 3-4 weeks)
2. Cigarettes speed up heat beat
2. Nicotine stimulates hypothalamus
2. Addiction
2. Lung cancer (used to be rare 50 years ago)
2. Heart disease
2. Chroic lung disease
2. Cigarettes are harmful to people around smokers
2. Schoolmates are the main starters (peer pressure)
2. Whatcing an older sibling
2. Parrent saying it’s ok to smoke
2. Startting at 13 is average
2. Smoking is started more often starts with young people
2. Thinking its cool o smokes
2. Thinks smoking brings relief
2. Born "addiction-prone"
2. Passive smoking- children whose parents smoke often get a terrible illness and influence to smoke
2. A teenager smoking causes social influences
2. Not "high" first time
2. Regular users suffer ill effects
2. Memory problems
2. Look and act dull and slow along with confused (heavy pot users)
2. Heart beats 60% faster
2. Nausea, restlessness, less of an appetite
2. Lung cancer
2. inhalants- euphoria and intoxicant
2. alcohol- intoxicant, depressant, pain killer, and impairs judgment
2. nicotine- stimulant
2. food- reduces tension and relives depression or anxiety
2. caffine-stiulant

1. Types of smoking items
2. When began- over 1600 years ago
2. used by Mayas and Mexican priest
2. tobacco- use with adolescents is associated with range of health-compromising behaviors
2. Makes people get in fights
2. makes people carry weapons
2. High-risk sexual behavior
2. Called "pot" "grass" "Mary Jane"- marijuana
2.1980 survey- 60% of all high school students had tried pot
2. Made from hemp plant
2. Early 20th century discovered natural drugs
2. Over 400 chemicals
2. Heroi
2. Morphine
2. Codine
2. Opium
2. Metadane
2. Barbiturates
2. Methadqualone
2. Mini tranquilizers
2. Cocaine
2. Amphetamines
2. What are now Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina were places searched to plat new tobacco
2. cigarettes- originated late 1700's
2. First tobacco manufacturing building was in Seville, Spain
2. Scraps of tobacco wrapped in slow burning paper
2. Cigarettes became popular in the mid 1800's
2. Trained people made cigarettes
2. Some tobacco manufacturing businesses make over 120,000 cigarettes a day
2. France 1556- first grown
2. Europe 1558- first grown
2.16th and 17th centuries (pipe and tobacco) Spain, France, and England
2. Early 17th century Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Persia, India, Indochina, Japan, China, and west coast of Africa
2. Cigarettes are made from shredded tobacco in a tubular slow burning wrapper
2. Cigars are made of rolling tobacco leafs into cylinder shape (cut filler leafs)
2. Pipes are made out from cutting tobacco, putting it a device connecting with a duct to a mouth piece
2. nicotine- two importance in commercial manufacturing, Nicotine tobacum and n. rustica
2.60 species of tobacco
2. Intake of nicotine with pleasurable effects lays significant part in psychological mataution
2. Came from- tropical America
2. As north as Norway and Canada
2. As south as Argentina
2. North America
2. Europe
2. Vigina
2. Turkey
2. India
2. pipes- basic method
2. cigarettes- basic method
2. cigars- basic method

1. Adolecents and smoking
2. A regular smoker can and will have just a hard time of quitting as a long-time smoker
2. If you smoke 100 cigarettes you are so hooked it feels impossible to quit
2. Smoing rate- 20.9%
2. Smoking rate in going down because of clinics but slowly
2. Begin early is likely to be smoking as an adult
2. Arly age= long term nicotine addiction
2. Smoke regular when young= already addicted t nicotine
2. Want to quit but a lot of unsuccessful attempts
2. Young smokers are most likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs
2. Young smokers will get in fights; carry weapons, attempt suicide, and high-risk sexual behavior
2. Adolecents are chief support of tobacco industry
2. Middle school students- 1999 15% of students claimed to be using a form of tobacco at least 1 a month
2. Cigarettes most used, cigars follow
2. Boys smoke a bigger variety and more than girls
2. Tobacco and high school students- 1997 37% of students smoked
2. Currently 28.5% of students smoke cigarettes
2.1999 2/3 high school kids had tried smoking (70.4%)
2. In 2001 70.4% went to 63.9%
2.1999 17% were regular smokers
2.2001 14% frequently smoked
2. Males smoked more than females
2. White males had a 19.5% for smoking
2.25% cigar used by males
2.10% cigar used by females
2. Each day almost 6,000 teens under 18 started smoking
2.2,000 became regular smokers (1/3)
2.4.5 million (us) adolescents smoke cigarettes
2.90% begin before the age of 21
2.20% of 12th graders smoke daily
2.12% of 10th graders smoke daily
2.5.5% of 8th graders smoke daily
2.2001 28% of high school students smoke (overall count)
2.1980 2/3 used illicit drugs (63%)
2.71% had tried a cigarette at some time
2.31.5% said they smoke at least 1 a month before survey
2.93% claimed that they tried alcohol

1. Treatments
2. Nicotine patches give nicotine through the skin at a steady rate
2. Psychologist, physician, and nurse help to treat addicts
2. Smoking used to be a personal matter
2.1950's New York had first treatment center in hospital for addicts
2. detxification- rid body of poisons or effects of poison
2. Very hard to stop
2. Don’t let teens smoke when they are young or they will become regularly smoke and have a good chance of lung cancer
2. Programs to reduce teen smoking- ACS guide materials for teens against tobacco
2. ACS comprehensive plan for community control of tobacco
2. ACS school health initiatives
2.21.6% in 2003 was % of clinics
2.25.2 % in 2005 was % of clinics
2. Smoking prevalence- 27.6% Kentucky-highest
2.26.9% west Virginia- second highest
2.26.1% Oklahoma- third highest
2.10.5% Utah- lowest
2.14.8% California- second lowest
2.17.5% Idaho- third lowest
2.6.4 Million teens and children die due to a smoking related disease

Posted by at 11:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Every year 3,000,000 teens participate in drinking alcohol. Teens consume alcohol on a daily basis and there are many ways to treat alcohol abusers. Many people either do not know of the causes of teen drinking or why teens drink. Alcohol effects teens negitively. Alcohol is made of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon. By knowing that teens drink we can put a stop to this serious problem to teens and society.

Description Of Alcohol

All alcoholic beverages are a drug a toxin, and a poison to the human body. Alcohols are made of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, which makes them a stimulant. Since teens start drinking at the same age as their parents, DUI's have increased since the 1960's. If you drink alcohol such as beer, wine, gin, and champagne, it is scientifically noted that they will make you lively. In grades 7-12, 63% of males drink and 54% of females drink. However, in juniors and seniors, 93% of males drink and 87% of females drink. Statistics show that 44% of college students are binge drinkers; of that 44% that binge drink in college, 74% of them binge drank in high school. Binge drinking is drinking just to drink, for example the funnel and tube where a person puts the tube in their mouth and a person pours beer into the funnel. Alcohol comes in many different types.

Causes For Teen Drinking

Since there are so many teens with alcoholic families they feel that they are forced to drink. When at a family party, a teen will be exposed to the alcohol, which will urge them to pick up a beer and start drinking. The most prominent reason for teen drinking stems from heredity. A teen might also drink to avoid uncertain situations and depression. Another cause for teens to drink is because of their elivated levels of antisocialism for example if a teen is alone they might pick up a beer to not feel alone.

Effects Of Teen Drinking

There are many medically diagnosed diseases, illnesses, and syndromes that are related to alcoholism. The most dangerous effect of drinking alcohol is suicide. Two very serious mental issues are neurological damage and brain hemorrhages. The most harmful brain dysfunction is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which can cause sleep aphonia, comas, and the most serious, death if not treated properly. Some other more mild effects are: it reduces tension, adds to physical and social pleasure, it may cause poor school performance, damage to memory, cause you to slur your words, and it will slow hand and foot movement. Drinking alcohol can give you hallucinations and anxiety problems. Long term drinking can cause problems with the heart, stomach, liver, pancreas, and weight. When some people drink too much they may feel dizzy, delirious, crazy and hung over. Cirrhosis of the liver is common in alcoholics. Cirrhosis of the liver is when the alcohol rots the liver. Some other problems are strokes, permanent damage to the nervous system and cancer. Finally, it can cause a delay in puberty.

Treatments For Teen Drinking

Most people will get treatment for their alcoholism for these reasons: death in the family, serious car accident or loss of their job. Alcoholics Anonymous has a 12-step program for alcohol abusers. Interacting with other people with the same disease have many support groups, recreation and leisure groups as well as outpatient medical help such as therapy, psychiatric care, and doctor prescribed medicine. Also you can alter your long-term behavior by the process of detoxification. Public libraries have tons of books on ways to treat alcoholism.
After knowing a large portion of the effects of alcohol, people still consume alcohol. Knowing the chemicals that make up alcohol as well as what these toxic chemicals can do to your mind, body and soul; alcohol is still consumed daily. Since there are so many teens with alcohol problems, there are a vast amount of support groups for teens to get treatment and get off this drug. Teen alcoholism is mainly attributed to peer pressure, family issues, and many other issues for the teen to 'fit in' with their friends and family. Society can help stop this growing problem of teen drinking by talking with their teens about it as well as their parents' not having alcohol.

Alan R. Lang.Alcohol Teenage drinking.chelesea house.1992
Anonymous."Pediatrics for parents."01-01-2001.9
Biddulph,Stephen G.Alcohol:what's a parent to believe?.Hazelden.2003
Gordis,Enoch."alcoholism".World Book.2006
Miner,Jane.Alcohol and You.Frank Wetts.1997
Nancy J,Nielsen.Teen Alcoholism.Lucent Books.1990
Nick Lebelle.Alcohol and Teen Drinking.2000.1-19-06.www.focusas.com/Alcohol.html
R.Ballie.Teen drinking more dangerious than thought.June 2001.1-16-06.www.apa.org/
monitor/jun01
Stanley L, Englebard.Kids and Alcohol.New York.1975
Students.Teens talk about alcohol and alcoholism.Doubleday.1987

Posted by at 7:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Teenage obesity, the secong leading cause in teenage death right after smoking. What is obesity? Causes, what makes obesity show up? What effects does obesity have on yourself and your friends and family around you? How can we stop obesity in teenagers all across the United States. Also, did you know, that obesity can cause you to have an abnormal (different) life than others.

Description
What exactly is obesity? Now a days its being reffered to as the trillion dollar disease and a growing epidemic. Scientist have called it an abnormal collection of body fat. It is one of the many eating disorders the United States teenagers do to make new and cooler friends. It is a type of chronic disease that can effect everyone around you.
Cause
What makes teens become obese? Having a larger appetite than others can make a person obese. A person can dislike them selves and decide to take dractic measures. It can be heredity or other medical conditions. The main reasons why teenagers are obese is no physical activity what so ever and to much to eat. Your mind and the area around you can cause you to turn into someone with obesity. It could possibly be from drinking to much alcohol.
Effects
What effects does obesity have on a person? Did you know you could loose function in vital organs if you are too obese? You could end up having strokes that you were never supposed to have and you could be diagnosed with heart disease. The main effect on the body is type 2 diabetes which is extremely serious. Probably the biggest effect the teenager would be that they could develope one of the two types of cancer you can get from being obesse. Another effect is high blood pressure and high cholesteral levels for the rest of your life. Taking action on these effects can lead to simple solutions.
Solutions
How can this be stopped? Obesity can be stopped by being put on a regular diet with regular physical activity. One of the diets is called the yo-yo diet where the victim stays on the diet weeks or posably even months. Most people who can't follow the diet properly will take drugs. If that doesn't work and the person still isn't losing weight, they maybe recommended for surgery. The type of surgery that could be recommended for this problem would be libosuction. What else can we do to stop obesity?
Concluding Paragraph
What can we do to stop the increasing disease of obesity in teenagers? There are 60 million people that are obese and 9 million of them are severly obese. Even with all of the descriptions of obesity no one may never know exactly what obesity is. We may never know what really causes someone to become obese and what side effects it will really bring in the future. " Since 20 years ago, teenage obesity has tripled."