1.Starship Troopers: Book vs.

Movie

Science fiction is one literary genre whose possibilities in terms of generating engaging stories are
infinite. The only limit a science-fiction author has is his or her imagination. However impossible,
crazy, or unbelievable a world described in the novel is, if the author is talented, he or she will make
it real for an audience. Robert Heinlein was one of such masters. It is probably difficult to find a
person in the western world who would not at least partially be aware of his legacy, or who would
have not read such masterpieces as “The Puppet Masters,” “Tunnel in the Sky,” Citizen of the
Galaxy,” and many others.

There is, however, one novel that has become a true cult classic: “Starship Troopers,” a title that is
probably familiar to everyone living in the West. The original story was published in 1959, and a year
later brought Heinlein the Hugo Award for Best Novel. Despite it having been written more than half
a century ago, “Starship Troopers” still remains a book without age–meaning that it does not look
obsolete. On the contrary, it is one of those novels that serve as a mainframe, a roadmap to younger
generations of authors who inherit the structure and the narrative of classics.

“Starship Troopers” did not have a literary sequel, but there were several movies released after the
novel. In fact, there were three screen versions, but the first one is the best, so for the sake of
comparison, let us juxtapose the novel with just one movie.

The book itself is written in the genre of military science fiction on behalf of the main character: Juan
“Johnny” Rico. A regular teenager from Buenos Aires, he decides to enter the ranks of the army in
order to earn his right to vote and become a citizen. In the world Heinlein describes, the population
of Earth (or Terra, as it is named in the book) lives in a controlled democracy, a federation ruled by
the military elite. The society is prosperous, even though not everyone can enjoy the full scale of
civic rights. Citizenship and the rights it grants are extremely valuable, and thus come with great
responsibility. One must work hard to prove one can bear it. It does not mean that those without
citizenship are in any way inferior: on the contrary, the society is described as rationally organized,
and not everyone wants to be a citizen, as even without this legality, life is good. Anyways, Rico
decides he wants these rights, he is ready for hardships, so he joins the Mobile Infantry. While he is
serving in the army, humanity is attacked by a race of Arachnids, or Bugs, as they are referred to in
the book. And so, Rico enters the war.

The storyline of the book mostly revolves around Rico’s time in Camp Arthur Currie: a place where
all the rookies have to undergo severe training, physical and moral, to become soldiers. Later, when
Rico is already a trooper and has some experience, he starts studying to become an officer–the true
elite of the army. Rico’s studying, him gaining experience, becoming able to see deeper into the
nature of the society he lives in or the war the human race is engaged in–this is the true story, the
true conflict of “Starship Troopers.” In this regard, this book is a coming-of-age novel, which shows a
long and curvy road a teenager hothead has to walk before he or she can become a true member of
society. Very similar to the “Catcher in the Rye,” “Starship Troopers” focuses on one personality
placed into a social context. The war, military losses, the Federation (which is actually a fascist state)
and its propaganda: all this serves only as a background for Rico’s growth.
Unlike the novel, the movie focuses around the war itself. Filmed by Paul Verhoeven in 1997, it is a
masterpiece of its own. It does share similarities with the book, and the overall storyline is generally
the same. There are, however, several crucial discrepancies. They do not make the movie worse
than the book: in fact, both of them are great, but each in its own way. Verhoeven’s movie focuses
mostly on the context in which Rico and his closest friends live. The movie is full of cheesy militaristic
propaganda praising the Terran Federation and denouncing the Bugs. These advertisements are a
pleasure to watch on their own; if you remember Verhoeven’s “RoboCop” (1987), you can imagine
how it looks and feels. At the same time, they do a great job describing the society of the future,
conveying its spirit–even though it is not depicted in the movie as detailed as in the novel. However,
the emphasis of the film is on the war against the Bugs. Combat, special effects, animatronic dolls,
decorations–all this looks good and feels good. However, this is not a movie about Rico’s coming-of-
age: it is mostly about him already being a true citizen, a hero, a role model. Johnny’s doubts, fears,
thoughts, failures, and insights are left somewhere behind the scenes: in the movie, he has already
found all the answers he needed—and this is probably the biggest difference between the book and
the movie.

“Starship Troopers” is a great coming-of-age novel. Set in beautiful scenes of the distant future, it
tells a story of a young man’s maturation, of him realizing his civic duties, the nature of the society
he lives in–and of his agreement to continue living in this society. The movie, in its turn, is
intentionally filled with militaristic pathos. It focuses on the atmosphere of a fascist interstellar
empire called “Terran Federation,” on its propaganda materials, on its spirit. And, of course, on the
war with the Bugs. The book is more of a contemplative autobiography (although it is vividly written
and engaging), whereas the film is more of an action movie. Both are good, however, and should be
acquainted with.

 A compare and contrast essay are a form of academic writing that is built around an
examination of at least two items. There are two kinds of compare and contrast essays: one
where you focus more on the similarities of chosen items, and one that contrasts.
 2. 34 Million Sardines in a Can

Is there anything more frustrating than sitting in rush hour traffic, day after day, knowing that it will
never get better? How does standing in line at the grocery story, spending a full day at the crowded
Department of Motor Vehicles, or having to squeeze into the packed elevator in a downtown high-
rise sound? These are but a few minor, yet inconvenient, effects of the population explosion we
Californian’s are facing. Our geographical space is not getting any larger, but our population is. The
2000 census showed California’s population increased by 13.6% over 1990 census figures to
33,871,648 people. California adds over 550,000 people annually, which is roughly equivalent to
adding the entire population of the state of Vermont every year. Why is California so over crowded
and what are the potential long-term effects of this overcrowding?

First of all, let’s look at some of the reasons why California is so overcrowded. Probably the
biggest single reason people live in California is the weather. California is, meteorologically speaking,
a very desirable place to live. There is a wide variety of weather from the snow-capped mountains of
Northern California, to the valleys and deserts of Southern California. Between the two, there is the
lush, rainy wine country of Sonoma County, the breezy coastal beach cities of Orange County, and
the sweltering desert communities of San Diego and Riverside Counties. Together, these places offer
atmospheric conditions for most everyone’s taste. Spend one winter in Minnesota and then try to
come back and complain about how undesirable our weather is. There will not be much sympathy
given by those around the country wishing they were here.

Other reasons people reside in California are the different forms of entertainment that are
available. From skiing in the mountains to surfing at the beaches, there is always some form of
physical activity in which to engage during most of the year. Other entertainment options include a
wide variety of amusement parks, sporting events, the television and the motion picture industry,
museums, fine dining establishments, and more shopping venues than could be visited in a year.
These events might seem like a luxury to some, or perhaps a “must do” to others, but either way,
they are definitely a magnet to those who do not consider themselves a “couch potato.”

Our strong job market has been the “dangling carrot” for many over the years. The aerospace
boom of the 1990’s, for example, saw thousands of jobs created when large government contracts
were signed. If California were a nation all to itself, it would boast the 6th largest economy in the
world. Unfortunately, this strong job market has bolstered the problem of illegal immigration.
Refugees from neighboring countries enter the United States illegally with the hope of finding work
and being able to send money back to their families in their home country. This illegal border
crossing is exacerbated by California’s liberal immigration policy. Governor Gray Davis and other
state officials have increased the number of aliens it will let in on student and work visas. Statistics
from the Census Bureau show many of these people stay in the state illegally after the expiration of
their respective visas. If the alien has a child, who is born on U.S. soil, the child is automatically a U.S.
citizen, thus making it very easy for the parents to qualify for citizenship. A comparison shows one
out of four of California’s residents were born outside of the United States, while the national
average is one out of ten born outside the U.S.
 Now that we have looked at reasons why California is so overcrowded, let’s examine some of
the short and long term effects of this problem. In the August 2001 edition of the Negative
Population Growth online journal, California Historian Kevin Starr wrote: “The key challenge facing
this state for the next century will be growth.” The Negative Population Growth (NPG) web site has
statistics and articles related to the overpopulation of the nation and individual states. They cite
sources such as the California Legislative Analyst’s Office who released the following statement:

“California’s staggering population growth is diminishing quality of life in the state. This Office warns
that continued growth will produce additional strains on the state’s physical and environmental
infrastructure, including demands on the energy sector, transportation system, parks, and water
delivery system.”

The NPG goes on to talk about how as the population increases, habitats of species are destroyed to
create room for housing and roads. Less than 1/10th of the state’s original wetlands are still around.
One hundred and ten animal species and one hundred and seventy nine plant species are
endangered or threatened as a result of construction demands. There are over 100,000 new
students added annually to California schools, which are already the most overcrowded in the
nation. Estimates from the State Department of Education show that sixteen new classrooms will
need to be built every day, seven days a week, for the next five years to accommodate the ever-
growing population. California averages 217 people per square mile in the state, which is nearly
triple the national average of 79.6 people per square mile. San Francisco has an average density of
16,526 people per square mile. This overcrowding has resulted in high housing prices and apartment
shortages, which force some people to live many miles from work. This increased distance means
more time spent commuting and adds to the congestion on the roadways.

The United States will likely never institute a law like the Chinese government has which limits the
number of children a family can have. We as citizens of this country are guaranteed life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness by the Bill of Rights. However, as a group, we must recognize our
population problem now before it becomes uncontrollable. We must find alternative energy and
food sources, plan for a shortage in housing, look for advances in medicine to cure sicknesses, and
strive to protect our environment. We are a guest on this beautiful planet and have selfishly let our
own desires get in the way of common sense. The answer is not a simple one, nor will it likely be one
dimensional. It took many years for us to get to this point and will take many more for us to find a
viable solution.

 What Is A Causal Essay / Paper?

This mode of academic writing attempts to answer the "why” in our lives. It helps to clarify the world
in which we live. The Causal Analysis academic essay allows us to begin to understand the complex
series of events that shape our lives. People's interest in causal relationships develops early, that is
why toddlers are constantly asking, "Why?" A causal analysis or cause-effect essay examines the
causes or consequences of actions or events -- why they happen or what the effects are. Careful
consideration of the topic, support, and structure of the essay make the causal relationship clearer
to the reader. The following are some useful tips given by iwriteessays.com on how to write a causal
essay.
 3. Types of Diets

A diet can be described as a plan for drinking and eating that is fixed to the amount and

the type of foods and drinks that one has to ingest in order to achieve a specific lifestyle. There

are several types of diets that can be divided according to their aims, such as: diets which

concern making changes with one's weight; diets which are prescribed to people with certain

diseases; diets which one follows according to his or her views and values.

The most popular diets are those which concern the changes in weight. The main factors

affected such a popularity of this type of diets are fashion industry and popularization of healthy

lifestyle. One of the diet that is popular with people who want to maintain the weight they

currently have or lose it is the zone diet. This is where the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are

balanced in a ratio of 4:3:3 respectively (Pellizzon, and Ricci 36). This means if the food has

40% carbohydrates, then it should have 30% proteins and 30% fats. A person who wants to lose

his or her weight should take food with unrefined carbohydrates, fats such as avocados and olive

oils, as well as nuts.

Other type of diet that is related to weight changes is Weight Watchers’ diet. People who

would want to skip exercises to burn calories adopt this diet as well as maintaining a network of

like-minded friends who form an association. The weight watchers can either meet physically or

online or encourage each other on how to lose weight. This diet is more psychological than

nutritional.

Many diseases are associated with lifestyle and therefore many diets are prescribed by

doctors to people who suffer from certain diseases. Thus, Atkins diet focuses on insulin levels

control. It is mostly found in food rich in fats and proteins (Wakana, et al 24). People with high

insulin levels avoid foods rich in refined carbohydrates because they trigger energy levels in the

body making it release more insulin.

People suffering from epilepsy and other brain disorders are advised to take the kinetic

diet. This means they reduce the uptake of carbohydrates and ingest foods that are rich in fats.

This allows the body to burn fats as fuel as opposed to carbohydrates. These fats are broken

down to produce ketones which are essential for brain metabolism. However, this diet should be

avoided by people suffering from diabetes 1 because their consumption may result in a diabetic

coma which may lead to death.

The third type of diets we discuss in this essay, is one related to views and values. One of
the most popular diet associated with religion and ethics, not science, is vegetarian. Many people

are vegetarians by choice or because of their religious affiliations (Mohsen, et al 69). Vegetarians

can be divided into different categories such as semi-vegetarians, pesco vegetarians, ovovegetarians,
living food diet vegetarians, lacto-ovo vegetarians, fruitarian vegetarians and lactovegetarians.
Majority of vegetarians are categorized as Lacto-ovo vegetarians, that is, they do not

eat animal products except honey, dairy, and eggs. Vegetarians have a longer life expectancy,

suffer less from diseases and have a lower body weight compared to people who eat meat.

A vegan diet is more philosophical than nutritional. People who observe this diet avoid

all animal products mostly for environmental, compassionate and ethical reasons. They argue

that if everybody consumed plants’ products, then animals, who share the same life as human

beings would suffer less and the environment would remain healthy (Wakana, et al 25).

There are people who observe the raw foodism diet (Pellizzon, and Ricci 38). They

consume organic foods and drinks, which are not processed in any way. They eat uncooked food

which is mostly plant products the four main types of raw foodists include the raw carnivores,

raw omnivores raw vegans, and raw vegetarians.

A type of diet people choose depends on reasons that boost them to follow a diet. Those

people who want to take preemptive measures and avoid lifestyle diseases adopt a diet which

helps them to keep balance among carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Some people had to keep

specific diet, such as people who suffer from diabetes 1. Others follow diets that correspond their

views. There is not better or worse diet. One should choose a diet according to his or her aims.

 In a classification essay, we organize things into categories and give examples of things that
fit into each category. For example, if you choose to write about types of computers (PCs
and servers), each of your developmental paragraphs will define the characteristics of a
different computer type.