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Island
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What is Island?

Islands occupy a unique position in environmental and social studies because they function as bounded, observable systems where questions of ecology, culture, development, and identity play out in concentrated form. Courses in environmental science, urban sociology, cultural studies, and geography regularly use island settings as case studies precisely because their physical limits make complex dynamics easier to trace. Works like Russell Shorto's The Island at the Center of the World and The Value of Hawaii appear as touchstones in student writing, reflecting how islands generate rich intersections between historical narrative and present-day consequence. The reggae and Rastafari traditions rooted in Jamaica similarly illustrate how island geography shapes cultural identity in academically compelling ways.

Student essays on this topic approach islands from strikingly varied angles. Some take a literary or critical lens, analyzing fiction such as Christopher Moore's Island of the Sequined Love Nun or examining regional identity through Carey McWilliams's concept of Southern California as an island on the land. Others adopt policy and development frameworks, as seen in papers addressing higher education improvement and applied business case studies set in island contexts. The "Decisions in Paradise" series represents a scenario-based approach, asking writers to work through ethical and strategic choices under real constraints of island life, including lack of infrastructure and fragile natural systems.

A strong essay on this topic anchors its thesis in the specific tension an island setting creates — between isolation and connection, development and conservation, or local identity and outside influence. Evidence drawn from concrete case studies, historical records, or close textual analysis carries more weight than broad generalizations about island life. The most common pitfall is treating "island" as mere backdrop rather than as an active factor that shapes every dimension of the argument being made.

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Cuban Americans and immigration following the 1959 revolution

The relationship between Cuba and the U.S. involves a history of tension, and, in the recent decades, a history of Cubans struggling to leave their country for the states. The presence of a dictatorship in Cuba and the…

Paper Doctorate

Aging and immortality in Ron Howard's Cocoon

Film Review – Cocoon The 1985 hit film, Cocoon, explored aging and the pros/cons of reversing the aging process. Directed by veteran director, Ron Howard, the film used exceptional quick cuts, trick shots, stunt men, editing/special effects, set design, costumes, makeup and acting to make a memorable and popular viewing experience. Though the special effects are now dated, the film continues to be occasionally aired on commercial television and is notable for its touching, humorous and insightful exploration of aging.

Paper Undergraduate

Origins and development of Southeast Asian bamboo flutes

Traditional Southeast Asian Bamboo Flutes: Studies on Origins and History The study investigates the bamboo flutes found in Southeast Asia, as well as their history and origin. The earliest known extant bamboo flute, a…

Research Paper Undergraduate

The Cuban Revolution and United States Cold War intervention

Nationalism, economic, social, political.

Paper Undergraduate

Political ideology and artistic style in rococo and neoclassical painting

¶ … rococo period vs. The neoclassical period: The sublimely frivolous vs. The sublime

Paper Doctorate

Ireland's cultural dimensions and historical influences on national identity

Ireland is one of the smallest countries in the European Union. The country became known as the Celtic Tiger for its robust economy during most of the 2000s, but has since seen significant economic downturn.

Paper Undergraduate

Reason and instinct in Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game"

In his story, "The Most Dangerous Game," Richard Connell breaks down the stereotypes between man and beast. Throughout the novel he poses reason against instinct. Despite the seeming disparity between these two…

Paper Doctorate

Foreign aid failure and the 2010 Haiti earthquake response

The natural disaster that struck Haiti at the beginning of 2010 can be considered as an important international crisis from several points-of-view. Natural disasters are phenomena which can hardly be controlled,…

Thesis High School

Slavery in the Caribbean: origins, promotion, and slave treatment

Abstract This paper will focus on slavery in the Caribbean and its effect on race, culture and labour. Slavery began in the 16th century and was promoted because of the need for labour on the sugar plantations. Slave trading was directly related to the plantations. Unfortunately, the sugar plantations resulted in a slave society. The entire plantation system was terribly degrading. The slaves were treated terribly and suffered throughout their lives. Slave turnover was very high because of the very poor treatment they received. They were denied medicines and food. While being forced into slavery, they neglected themselves. As a result, many slaves died. This then resulted in plantation owners trying to secure even greater numbers of slaves to work on their plantations. Nonetheless, these people had pride and ultimately resisted white supremacy. They developed a resistance movement that was ultimately successful. There were many types of resistance that the slaves would use. Some forms of resistance were rather effective, whereas others were not. Additionally, the resistance movement certainly cost many lives. Emancipation finally came about in the 19th century. Throughout this entire ordeal, an entirely new social class developed, the "free colored" people. These people were legally freed however they were invariably excluded based on their racial ancestry. Many of these people continued to be persecuted, just like slaves. Slavery obviously had a significant effect on culture. Slavery continues to have an effect many decades after abolition. Many cultural trends have been influenced in one way or another by slavery in the Caribbean. Race was also affected. The new social class was a result of a race that developed between slaves and Europeans. This third social class has had a significant effect on many aspects of culture. Labour was also affected by slavery in many different ways.

Paper High School

Imagery and emotion in Arnold, Blake, and Conrad

¶ … imagery help evoke emotion in this poem? Choose three images from the poem and describe the emotions that the images evoke. Explain how the images are connected to the emotions.

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