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Life
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What is Life?

Life as an academic topic appears across nearly every discipline because it touches the fundamental conditions of human existence — how individuals develop, make choices, navigate systems, and find meaning. In personal issues courses, sociology, nursing, literature, and ethics, students are asked to examine what shapes lived experience and how institutions, relationships, and culture either support or constrain individual ability. The topic resists easy definition, which is precisely what makes it intellectually rich: it forces writers to clarify terms, interrogate assumptions, and connect abstract concepts to concrete human realities.

The papers archived here reflect a genuinely wide range of approaches. Literary analysis appears in essays on works such as Bernice Morgan's fiction and Bessie Head's "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses," where writers examine how characters construct identity, belonging, and personal freedom. Policy and ethical frameworks drive essays on abortion, DNR legislation, and prison overcrowding, while sociological and cultural analysis informs work on parenting styles, family therapy, and soccer hooliganism. Observational and practice-based writing — such as operating room reflections and evidence-based nursing — grounds the topic in professional experience, showing how the concept of life plays out in direct care and institutional settings.

A strong essay on this topic begins with a focused, arguable thesis rather than a broad statement about life in general. Evidence drawn from specific texts, case studies, policy documents, or observed practice carries far more weight than vague generalization. The most common pitfall is treating "life" as self-evident — a compelling essay defines its scope early, specifying which dimension of individual experience or social process it actually intends to examine.

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Essay Doctorate
Symbolic interactionism and identity construction through social interaction
The student is asked to choose from several sociological theories and select one theory that is the favorite. The theory chose is Symbolic Interactionist Theory, first posited by George Herbert Mead. The paper explains why this theory is so interesting, including its direct and indirect connections to other fields such as psychology and quantum physics. The paper also applies the theory to general identity construction, dreams, and social isolation.
Paper High School
A critique of Grant Penrod's anti-intellectualism essay and its argumentative flaws
This paper is a rhetorical analysis of a student-written essay entitled "Anti-Intellectualism: Why we hate the smart kids." The essay is largely critical of the student's effort. Despite the fact that the topic of the essay is humorous and interesting, ultimately it makes too many emotional arguments and arguments from personal examples to be persuasive.
Paper Masters
Du Bois's critique of Washington's materialist philosophy of African American education
A contrast between the ideas of WEB Du Bois and Booker T Washington concerning the education of African-Americans. The paper focuses on the critique of Washington offered by Du Bois in his work The Souls of Black Folk. The paper suggests that Washington's insistence on vocational and technical training for blacks is seen by Du Bois as too materialistic and not sufficiently devoted to the idea of equality. The paper then discusses Du Bois's own suggested program, that blacks should insist upon the same sort of educational experience as whites, in the interest of dignity and equality.
Paper Undergraduate
Machiavelli's The Prince and Augustine's City of God compared
The objective of this study is to examine the similarities and differences in Machiavelli's ‘The Prince' and St. Augustine's ‘City of God' in terms of their similarities and differences in their ideal way to rule and how their works were a product of the world around them. This study begins with a brief review of each of these books and then compares and contrasts the two works.
Paper Doctorate
How non-slaveholders and northerners justified slavery in antebellum America
Although slavery has existed in human history since time began, slavery took on a uniquely 'racial' character in the American south, thanks to the development of a plantation economy based on cash crops. This paper traces that development and examines the economic and political significance of slavery, as well as its ideological dimensions.
Paper Doctorate
Hospital ethics committees and experimental surgery decisions
This study examines a specific scenario in which a patient needs an experimental study and the hospital administrator expresses their intention to provide teh surgery due to a very significant monetary donation that the hospital will receive if they do the surgery. The nurse examines the issue and renders a decision according to hospital organizational ethics policy and law.
Research Paper Doctorate
Asceticism and the Church in the Middle Ages
This paper analyzes Asceticism and the major ascetics who influenced the Church and Western civilization. These men were Augustine, Benedict, and Francis of Assisi--to name a few. They believed that it was necessary to bring the body into subjection in order to give oneself over to the will of God. By serving God, they served the community and transformed the face of Europe.
Essay Doctorate
Hands-on and social learning approaches for cognitive development
Learning is the acquisition of skills through behaviors. Behaviors help an individual learn through experiences, both favorable and unfavorable. Learning is a life long endeavor which is garnered in the beliefs and behaviors of the individual. The overall process takes time, as beliefs are often broken down, eliminated, and reborn through experience. Behaviors directly impact learning as they are correlated to experiences. Experiences therefore follow behaviors. For example, if an individual behaves in an inappropriate manner regarding his spending, he or she will experience debt. Through this experience the individual will "learn" to manage his or her money in a more appropriate manner.
Thesis Doctorate
Miles Davis and the evolution of modern jazz
Miles Davis was a creator and innovator, as well as a rule-breaker and trend shaper. His approach to music focused on individual expression, interaction with other musicians, and a continual evolving response to other musicians and styles. His performances were always original, and he pushed the envelope in transforming the style and "space" of jazz into the late 20th century paradigm. He never forgot his African-American performance tradition, and he was quintessentially a strong influence on everyone with whom he playe.
Paper Undergraduate
Generational segmentation in multi-generational marketing strategies and consumer positioning
Taking into account four different consumer behavior studies to create this analysis, the focus on how consumer behavior impacts technology adoption is the basis of this paper. Looking at the levels of system and application configurability and customization, depth of support for system adoption through the use of cash incentives and multi-generational marketing, this paper seeks to define how high tech marketers can be more effective.