Problem Solution Essay Works Cited

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Data and Statistics | DNPAO | CDC." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Sept. 2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/index.html>.

Carson-DeWitt, Rosalyn, and Rebecca J. Frey. "Obesity." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 3rd ed. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 2655-2661. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 Nov. 2011.

"Obesity." Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol & Addictive Behavior. Ed. Pamela Korsmeyer and Henry R. Kranzler. 3rd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2009. 157-159. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 Nov. 2011.

"Obesity." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 2008. 3066-3071. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 Nov. 2011.

"Obesity." Human Diseases and Conditions. Ed. Miranda Herbert Ferrara. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2010. 1187-1195. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 Nov. 2011.

WebMD. "Obesity Facts, Causes, Emotional Aspects and When to Seek Help." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. WebMD.com, 2011. Web. 04 Nov. 2011. <http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/what-is-obesity>.

Anglo-Saxon Boast Video

Works Cited

Raffel, Burton, and Seamus Heaney, trans. "Beowulf." Elements of Literature. Sixth Course ed. Austin:   Holt Rinehart Winston, 2008. 21-48


Picture Citations:
http://news-antique.com/primages/1/Coenwulf_anglo_Saxon_gold_coin.jpg
http://www.models2u.co.uk/Shop/contents/media/02551_Anglo-Saxons.jpg
http://thelosttreasurechest.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/anglo-saxon-huscarle-wearing-mail-coat-by-gerry-embleton.jpg
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Journal 6: Reoccuring Motifs

            Anglo- Saxon literature, such as Beowulf has reoccurring motifs in The Seafarer and The Wanderer. Exile, journey, and fate motifs appear in Beowulf as well as The Seafarer and The Wanderer. The motifs reflect the values that the Anglo-Saxons believed in. Throughout Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer readers see the reoccurring motifs of exile, fate, and journey that reveal the Anglo-Saxon values during the time it was written

            In all three Anglo-Saxon works a exile motif is present. In Beowulf, Beowulf exiles himself from the Thanes in order to solely fight off evil. This is because, Beowulf finds that victory won independently proves that  he is the greatest warrior and will in turn provide the highest honor. In the epic, Beowulf states, “this fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me” (Raffal 43). This quote explains why Beowulf felt that it was his duty to save his people from evil. In addition, Beowulf did not seek the help of weapons when he states “ I would rather not use a weapon if I knew another way” (Raffal 43). Moreover, Beowulf exiled himself from the use of his Thanes and weapons in order to glorify himself to the highest honor. In The Seafarer, the voyager separates himself from the world on land. This is because he finds life on land not purposeful; in addition, living on land did not possess the obstacles necessary to enter heaven. The Seafarer states, “paths of exile stretch endlessly on land yet my heart wanders away/ my soul roams with the sea” (57-59). This quote explains how he was not attracted to worldly pleasures that the land offered but was drawn towards the adventures that the sea presented. The Seafarer exiled himself from the land because he wanted to achieve “eternal joy” (120). He thought that by exiling himself to the harsh life, he would find his way to heaven. The Wanderer is an Anglo-Saxon piece of literature conveying how a man wanders helplessly to find a new lord. During times of warfare, the Wanderer is forced to leave his home. In The Wanderer the author states, “who bears, it knows what a bitter companion/shoulder to shoulder sorrow can be,/ when friends are no more./ His fortune is exile ( 26-28). This quote explains the emptiness the warrior felt once he had to flee from his home in order to escape the new authority. This is because the Anglo-Saxons valued loyalty to their lord.  In all three Anglo-Saxon pieces of literature exile is prevalent in each of the works, as each character searches for a more purposeful life.

            Fate is a motif that occurs in Beowulf as well as The Seafarer and The Wanderer. In Beowulf, fate is displayed as he believed that fate controlled his life. Beowulf believes that his fateful death can be remembered through his courageous deeds. The authors states, “Fate swept us away,/ sent my whole brave high-born clan/ to their final doom. Now I must follow them” (Raffal 47-48). This quote explains the idea of a fateful death that was preceded by an honorable battle that Beowulf and his Thanes fought. Moreover, The Anglo-Saxons believed that fate was constantly tested because it was thought that courage altered their path to death.  In the Seafarer, he hoped that heaven was waiting for him once he endures his life at sea. This is because the Seafarer believed that his fate was determined by his character. In the Seafarer, the author states “wondering what Fate has willed and will do” (43). This quote suggests the idea that fate is a strong force that decides whether he is worthy or not to enter heaven. In addition, the author capitalizes the word “Fate” to show how important it was to be accepted into heaven. In The Wanderer, the poem reveals that everyone has a fixed fate. The authors states, “homeless and helpless, he fled from fate” (5). This quote explains how times of warfare led him to leave his home because all of his comrades had died. The Wanderer reveals a stronger relationship with fate then with God because he believes that “fate’s decrees, transform the world” (103). This quote reveals that it was fate that determines the destiny of a man’s life rather than God. In Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer fate is displayed again and again to convey the relationship between fate and heaven. 

            In Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer, a journey motif is conveyed as each character each character goes on journeys to find fulfillment in their lives. In Beowulf, Beowulf enters his journey seeking to gain glory by battling the most gruesome monster, Grendel. The author states “my purpose was this: to win the good will of your people or die in battle, press in Grendel’s fierce grip” (Raffal 30). This quote explains Beowulf’s drive to battle Grendel in order to protect his people. This is because the Anglo-Saxons believed that service to the people was very honorable. In the Seafarer, the Seafarer goes on a journey to escape the land where he felt glory and honor did not exist. This is because the Seafarer is reminiscent of Beowulf’s times and seeks to find a place where he can fulfill the necessary actions to enter heaven. The author states that the Seafarer was “[shown the] suffering in a hundred trips” ( 3). This quote explains the battles that the Seafarer faced when enduring life at sea. The Seafarer escapes the earthly praises and the ignorant ease that exists on land.  In The Wanderer, the Wanderer goes on a journey to seek for a new lord. The Wanderer believes that life is fleeting from him once he loses his home, comrades, and treasures.  The author states, “then again surges his sorrow upon him;/ and grimly he spurs his weary soul/ once more to the toil of the tossing sea” ( 56- 59). This quote explains his misery once he had lost almost everything. The Wanderer enters this journey hoping to find a new life beyond the one he had lost.   In all three Anglo-Saxon pieces of literature, a journey motif reappears to convey their search for purpose; this reflects Anglo-Saxon values of heroism and service.

            Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer contain motifs that are typical of Anglo-Saxon values. Each character willingly exiles them self to find a purpose for their life. In all three pieces of literature, fate is seen to be one of the strongest forces that drive each character to believe that fate controlled their lives. In addition, a journey motif is portrayed in each of the Anglo-Saxon pieces of literature as each character enters a journey where they discover a purpose for their lives.  Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer have reoccurring motifs of exile, fate, and journey that reflect the values of the Anglo-Saxons.

Problem-Solution Essay

           Growing concerns of obesity among Americans has been shown because some studies reveal that 50 % of Americans are currently obese (Ferrara 1187). Obesity is defined as an abnormal amount of body fat that is associated with the heightened risk in illness, disability, and death. There are three stages of obesity that include mildly obese, moderately obese, and morbidly obese. This is determined by the Body Mass Index; a “person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9; a person is considered obese if his or her BMI is over 30” (WebMD 2011). The diagnosis of obesity can also be determined by the ratio between the circumference waist and hip measurements; the greater the ratio the more weight-related risks the patient is likely to have. The World Organization has stated that obesity has grown into a “worldwide epidemic” that has caused an alarming increase in the prevalence of diseases (Ferrara 1187).  Moreover, obesity has been proven to lead to life-threatening diseases such as hypertension, Type II diabetes mellitus, heart attack, infertility, and breast cancer. As a result, obesity has contributed to the 300,000 deaths in America (Lerner and Lerner 3067). The rate of obesity is growing at an alarming rate and needs to be controlled with necessary exercise, proper diet, and sometimes surgery.

            Public leaders have stated that obesity is “the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States" (Ferrara 1187). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 1.6 billion people worldwide over age 15 were overweight and at least 400 million were obese (Ferrara 1187). The cause of obesity is thought to be simply because of the excessive consumption of calories that are not burned. However, obesity is more complex because of the societal, environmental, psychological and genetic factors that play a role in a person’s metabolic rate. In the US, the American lifestyle makes it very easy for people to take in more calories than their bodies use. For example, the US is filled with fast-food restaurants that allow their consumers to buy supersized burgers, fries, drinks, nachos, etc for a very cheap price. In addition people are more inclined to ride in a car rather than ride in a bike or walk. Among teenagers, leisure activities usually include playing games, social networking, or sleeping rather than engaging in physical activities. Psychological factors contribute to the cause of obesity. “30% of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating” (WebMD 2011). This is because many people eat due to “negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger” (WebMD 2011).  In addition, obese people face many prejudices at work, school, and social events. This is because there is an assumption that they are “lazy, gluttonous, stupid, and self indulgent” (Lerner and Lerner 3069). Genetic factors can influence the rate at which a person burns calories and regulates their appetite. Having one or both parents who are obese could influence the lifestyle their children may be adapted to. This is called, inheriting “obesity genes,” where the child’s weight gain resembles that of their guardians (Ferrara 1187). Obesity is ten times more likely in people whose family members are obese (Korsmeyer and Kranzler 157). Environmental, societal, psychological and genetic factors have been studied to be the causes of obesity because they have influenced a person’s consumption and regulation of calories.

            Combinations of regular exercise and proper diet have been studied to be healthiest and effective solution to obesity. Weight loss programs have tackled this issue by motivating their buyers to adapt to healthier habits. Aerobic exercises such as, jogging, bicycling, and dancing make a person breathe harder while working their muscles at a regular pace. Aerobic activities have been shown to have the heart and lungs. It takes very little time for the necessary amount of exercise to get done. Furthermore, a person is able to achieve enough exercise within 20 minutes, around three or four times a week.  Exercising allows the body to not only burn calories but also strengthen bones and muscles.

Along with diet and exercise, surgery can be accompanied to help aid weight loss under circumstantial situations.  Surgically removing a portion of the intestine can significantly impact weight loss by allowing a person to take and absorb fewer calories. Receiving surgery is very risky and can lead to death which is why it is usually performed after there have been many failed attempts at other weight loss strategies. However, patients who have had some variety of stomach bypass have maintained a weight loss of at least 60% at the end of five years (Lerner and Lerner 3070).  Surgery is an alternative for those who are morbidly obese and have failed to lose weight by diet and exercise. Once surgery is performed a patient can experience a major decrease in the absorption of excess calories.

            Currently the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has funded 25 states to promote their efforts in”[improving] the health of places where Americans live, work, learn, and play, working to build lasting and comprehensive efforts to address obesity and other chronic diseases through a variety of nutrition and physical activity strategies.” (CDC 2011).  According to the CDC, about 17% of teenagers are overweight or obese and 33.8 % of adults are obese or overweight. During the past 20 years states have had no lower than 20 % prevalent obese people (CDC 2011). The CDC is providing programs to encourage healthier eating and more exercising.  They have made efforts to increase the access to the environment in order to encourage organic eating and physical activities in various settings. Their impact is meant to change the standards and policies of healthy eating and physical activity.

            A proper diet usually consists of a varied consumption of grains, lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and low-calorie foods; junk foods should be eaten sparingly. A healthier diet can be easily attained by simply switching to low-calorie foods such as low-fat non dairy products, lean meats, and other fat-free foods. Junk foods contain little to no vitamins and are full of fats and sugars. Eating excessive amounts of junk foods can result in a sluggish lifestyle because fattier foods cause people to become increasingly tired.  Everything should be eaten in moderation. This is because too much of a good thing can be a bad thing and too much of a bad thing is a very unhealthy thing. It is important to remember that a nutritionally-balanced diet is what is being achieved rather than a restricting oneself to just health foods. For example, it is acceptable for someone to indulge in fattier foods as long as they can eat moderately to avoid overeating. This is because junk foods are very high in calorie content and can lead to excessive calorie consumption. The National Cholesterol Education Program states that only 30% of calories should be derived from fat, where one about one third comes from saturated fat (Dewitt and Frey 2689). By simply changing to healthier alternatives and moderate eating habits, this can lead to lower calorie consumption.

Obesity is a chronic, metabolic disease that has been prevalent in America as well as  the entire world. Staggering surveys have shown that approximately “54% of adults, about 11% of adolescents of ages twelve to seventeen years, and more than 14% of children of ages six to eleven years in the United States are over-weight” (Lerner and Lerner 3069).  Excessive amounts of body fat can lead to many life threatening diseases. A combination of exercise and diet can significantly impact the health of an individual.  Surgery can also be resorted for those who are severely obese. Obesity is an epidemic that has been increasing at an alarming rate and lifestyle changes should be made to prevent the grave risks.  It is better to not think that weight loss success comes from the numbers that show on a scale but rather as a lifestyle change a person has made to exercise regularly and consume moderately. A safe and healthy goal should be losing no more than a pound a week. Moreover, obesity experts suggest for a patient to monitor their fat consumption rather than count their calories. Obesity has been widespread in America as well as around the globe. Furthermore, the risks related to obesity should prompt patients to make healthier lifestyle changes in order to prevent life-threatening perils.

Riddle

Inviting those who seek enlightenment

Unspoken thoughts confined in a leaf- envelope

Experiencing another’s exciting existence

Extending the view of everyone’s eyes

My keeper lives in an information-house

Observant and organized while keeping order

With the help of her friend DeweyDecimal  

Easy to find and many of my kind

Answer: (Book)

Boast

I am, the lovely luminous Linda

My mother makes mouthwatering meals

My father flaunts my fortes

Long lived in lavish Louisiana

Friends flock over my fine fibers

Stroking splendidly, separating each lock

Serviced by my superb tooth-wand¹

Master of my makeup

I radiate rampantly across the room

Winning spelling bees without worry

Words surely spelled through a sound-handle²

Problem solving prolonged proofs

Evaluating everyone without effort

Having skin smooth like silk

While people befriend the beastly blemish

I will diagnose many medusa-mountains³

Graciously giving people glowing skin

Bestowed with beauty and brains

Remembered for remarkable records

Exceeding everyone’s high expectations

People learn of the lovely luminous Linda

Kennings

1. hairbrush
2. microphone
3. pimples