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America
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What is America?

America as a topic of academic study spans nearly every discipline, from history and political science to public health, literature, and cultural studies. Its breadth makes it a common subject in introductory college courses as well as upper-level seminars, where students are asked to examine the nation's political institutions, social tensions, and evolving identity. What makes the topic academically rich is precisely its complexity: the United States has served as a site of competing visions, from debates over economic policy and national power to questions of individual rights and social change. Papers touching on figures like Edward M. Bannister, Sam Patch, and Heather Whitestone illustrate how individual stories can illuminate broader national narratives.

The papers archived under this topic reflect a wide range of approaches. Historical analyses trace developments across defined periods, such as America's rise to world power during the Gilded Age or the military origins of the republic from 1763 to 1789. Policy-focused essays examine specific controversies, including welfare from a libertarian perspective, same-sex marriage, and the Cuba-related Helms-Burton legislation. Other papers take a social or public health angle, addressing issues like childhood obesity or health promotion strategies. Comparative and philosophical approaches also appear, as in contrasting the theories of David Hume and William James within an American intellectual context.

A strong essay on America establishes a focused thesis rather than attempting to survey the entire nation's history or character. Evidence drawn from primary sources, policy documents, historical events, or specific case studies carries more weight than broad generalizations. The most common pitfall is treating "America" as a monolithic subject — the strongest papers define a precise time period, population, or issue and argue a clear, defensible position about it.

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Research Paper Doctorate
Frederick Douglass's narrative as anti-slavery movement literature
¶ … Anti-Slavery Movement of "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave"
Paper Doctorate
Author bias in accounts of the atomic bombing of Japan
Bias of Authors Regarding America Dropping the Atom Bomb on Japan
Essay Doctorate
Independence movements and social justice in Latin America
How did enslaved Africans and African-descendants view social justice? What did they do to try to create a more just social world for themselves? What obstacles did they confront?
Paper High School
McDonald's marketing to children and the "nag factor" in Fast Food Nation
This paper is a review of the chapter entitled "Your trusted friends" in Fast Food Nation. Although the work overall is an expose of the fast food industry, this chapter specifically focuses on the impact McDonald's has had in terms of shifting companies' focus to advertising to children. Thanks to the astonishing success of McDonald's Happy Meal campaigns, even products not designed for children often focus on the childhood 'nag factor' that influences adult purchasing patterns.
Paper Undergraduate
Policy reforms for strengthening Social Security's long-term solvency
Recommendations to Change Social Security in United States of America
Paper Doctorate
Cool jazz and Dave Brubeck's innovative contributions
Jazz has its roots in African-American traditions of ragtime and church music. Jazz evolved from the end of the nineteenth century through phases that included Dixieland and swing. One of the most enduring forms of jazz is known as "cool Jazz." It emerged as the antithesis of the frenetic style of bop musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Cool jazz is comparatively minimalist with an emphasis on melody and the ensemble sound. Perhaps the most famous cool jazz tune is "Take Five," featuring the Dave Brubeck Quartet and the brilliant alto saxophonist Paul Desmond.
Paper Doctorate
Attachment security and cultural influences on minority child development
This essay breaks down two separate articles that involve human development and cultural effects. Each article is first summarized in an objective manner before personal analysis is discussed. Each article is examined for its merits towards expanding the discussion on the relationship between environment and human development. Both articles are lauded for their contributions to this base knowledge and both are criticized for their shortcomings as well.
Essay Doctorate
Iris Chang's "The Rape of Nanking" and historical memory
The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang is a graphic and controversial account of the Japanese siege of China which resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of Chinese, including civilians, and the rape of tens of thousands of women. The unlikely hero of the tale was a Nazi named John Rabe who created a 'safe zone' protecting Chinese refuges. This paper summarizes the book and contextualizes it in the larger debate of what causes persons to engage in genocide.
Paper Undergraduate
Individuality and the social contract in American philosophy
The United States is a nation that has long existed in a balance between individual rights and a stable social order. But sometimes, individuality is the key to resisting the impulses of an unjust society. Using America's segregationist history as a backdrop, this discussion identifies the importance of individualism in achieving and ethical society.
Paper Undergraduate
Liberty and violence in Enlightenment political philosophy and theory
Violence is the reflection of disturbed mental state which needs to be healed so that society can enjoy healthy minds. In order to plan for effective measures of violence free society, it is important to explore the possible causes and the effects they have on the society on the whole. This paper highlights the causes along with their effects.Violence is the reflection of disturbed mental state which needs to be healed so that society can enjoy healthy minds. In order to plan for effective measures of violence free society, it is important to explore the possible causes and the effects they have on the society on the whole. This paper highlights the causes along with their effects.