Abstract
This paper argues that homosexuality, specifically lesbianism, is not a natural process. According to the author it is rather socially constructed, and understood by the meanings people attribute to it. This paper examines the cultural institutions that aid this process by reinforcing individualization through the notion of identity formation, and the search to find one's sexual identity.

From the Paper
"The process of becoming is defined by the dictionary as "1 to come to be; grow to be 2 be suitable for; suit 3 looks well on" (Gage Canadian Dictionary, 1983, 100). Formally, that is, to become means to learn how to develop, how to arrive, how to be, how to act, how to live. In other words, it is a social process. In the world we live in, full of uncertainty, fear of the unknown and a reluctance to criticize science, reason, progress, individualization and rationality, the concept of becoming has been confused with the notion of being: "1 a person; living creature 2 life; existence 3 nature; constitution" (103). This confusion has trained us to attribute anything and everything " including sexuality " that concerns the "unknown," or that which opposes societal norms, to the scientific analysis of causation and effect. It has also trained us to ignore many of the social processes at essence of many of the issues of the world today. Essentially, humans are socially constructed. "

Tags:constructivism, gay, homosexuality, lesbian, sexuality, social, sociology, attributions, individuals, culture, society

Abstract
This paper discusses how E. E. Cummings, in his essay "A Poet's Advice to Students", advises that the best way to write poetry is to be a poet, and how his most persuasive explanation of what it is to be a poet is his explanation itself. The paper looks at how the perpetual enactment of Cummings' own demonstration of 'pistis' utilizes complex rhetorical strategies, which are artfully veiled by simple words and appealing rhythm to make his 'feeling' accessible to the reader. The paper asserts that, while Cummings' words are characteristically his own, their seeming simplicity echoes Aristotle's observation that the most persuasive art is the appearance of artlessness.

From the Paper
"The title functions to both introduce the ethos, or character, of the speaker and establish the kairos, or occasion, of the text's reception. Ethos refers specifically to the character of the speaker as presented in the text, intended to establish the trustworthiness of the argument's presenter. Here, the title positions the speaker as a 'poet', who is therefore qualified to offer the instruction to follow. By prefacing the text as the 'advice' of an established poet to 'students', the title also serves to construct its own kairos by positioning the reader as one who may be educated by that which is explained. Thus, the title itself performs the rhetorical function of establishing the speaker's trustworthiness while simultaneously engendering receptiveness in the reader. "

Tags:rhetorical, language

Abstract
This paper describes a study to assess individual differences among preschoolers' emotional understanding, verbal ability, and gender role behavior. The paper relates that the study looks at simple and complex emotional understanding and children's vocabulary ability, as well as gender differences in preschool children and how their parents perceive their gender role behavior. In addition, the paper describes the different methods used in the study to find out the preschoolers' knowledge of emotions.

From the Paper
"Young children's understanding of emotions has been the topic of many studies; some results being similar and some contradicting. The article "Preschoolers' Understanding of Simple and Complex Emotions: Links with gender and language" (Bosacki & Moore, 2004) discusses the research issue of how there are differences among individual preschoolers when it comes to understanding emotions and how gender and language play a role. The complexity of emotions is also looked at and how the usage by children can differ based on simple and complex. Different cultures also have different ideas of how to express one's self and how to feel in different scenarios. Children across cultures are exposed to different languages, beliefs and values; social experiences also come along with those differences. Children's understanding of the emotions they experience and the emotions people around them experience are drawn from their particular culture or gender. People around them may be parents, siblings, peers, daycare teachers or any other part of the Childs mesosystem (Shaffer, Wood & Willoughby, 2005). When decoding a child's understanding of emotion there are different aspects to take into consideration; the child's gender, culture, vocabulary ability and their capability of translating simple emotions into something more complex."

Tags:understanding, correlation, emotions

Abstract
This paper examines and compares "The Development of the Sense of Self in Adolescence" by A. Blasi and K. Milton and "Styles of Identity Formation in Early and Middle Adolescence" by H. Flum, which both explore different adolescent identity styles and how they are formed. The paper points out that both articles are influenced by Erik Erikson's concept of the development of personality during adolescence. The paper also explains that Flum explores styles of identity within the framework of a number of issues, which concern adolescents at different age levels and represent the intrapersonal and interpersonal facets of the adolescent's experience; whereas, Blasi and Milton clarify an adolescent's sense of self, which underlies the experience of their evolving identity.

From the Paper
"Flum (1994) results were categorized based on Marcia's ego-identity statuses. These showed whether the participant demonstrated identity diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, diffused type of moratorium and a less-diffused type of moratorium. The participants who fit into the identify diffusion category showed high external orientation and low decisiveness. The lower SES group had the most extreme cases of identity diffusion. The results for sex differences showed that 8 out of 10 of the extreme identity cases where males. There was no difference found for age for participants with extreme identity diffusion and the extreme non diffusion participants."

Tags:clusters, styles, parents, ego-identity, emotions

Abstract
This paper summarizes the research of E. R. Taylor, J. Kelly, S. Valescu, and G.S. Reynolds on the childhood experiences that are precursors to violent, armed robberies in adulthood. The paper looks at the personal characteristics of armed robbers and discusses the role of substance abuse in robberies. The paper examines the strategies of banks in assisting law enforcement in capturing armed robbers. The paper points out that while these methods are effective in intercepting and ideally preventing armed robberies, early interventions that identify at risk youth and establish effective preventative strategies have greater potential in creating long term, positive change.

From the Paper
"Taylor, Kelly, Valescu, and Reynolds (2001) provide a thorough analysis of precursors to violent, armed robberies in adulthood. They explore specific childhood experiences linked to violent crime-prone behaviors, and state that early childhood and adolescent stealing, and aggression, are directly linked to violent crimes in adulthood, including robberies. Very young chronic stealing prior to age 8, is symptomatic of conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). By age 12, many of these troubled children have already been arrested on theft and assault charges. Conduct disordered youth, particularly those who steal in early life, engage in armed robberies at an earlier age than most criminals (Taylor, Kelly, Valescu, & Reynolds; 2001)."

Tags:substance, abuse, banks, interventions

Abstract
This paper reviews T. L. Gilman and S.C. Haden's article "Understanding and Treating the Juvenile Fire Setter: A Review". The paper explains that the article provides a very exploration of juvenile fire setting, its onset, broad causative factors, motivations and forms of treatment. The paper discusses how the article considers curiosity, pathology, a means of self-expression, and deviance as key motivators for recidivist fire setting behaviors. After reviewing the article, the paper concludes that, if intercepted early enough, children will understand the consequences of such acts and create less damaging alternative responses while addressing their needs.

From the Paper
"Gilman and Haden (2006) provide a very thorough exploration of juvenile fire setting, its onset, broad causative factors, motivations, and forms of treatment. The article considers curiosity, pathology, a means of self-expression, and deviance as key motivators for recidivist fire setting behaviors. Accordingly, curious fire setters are intrigued by fire and its entrancing nature. Pathological fire setters are motivated by uncontrolled urges or obsessions. Children who set fires as a form of expression, are argued to be seeking attention, and deviant or delinquent fire setters are seeking revenge or a means of harming others in some way. They identify contributing factors as discord in the home, repressed emotions, and poor social skills."

Tags:conduct, disorder, pyromania, deviance, triggers, safety

Abstract
The paper summarizes the article "In Vivo Activation of the p53 Pathway by Small-Molecule Antagonists of MDM2" and its study of the MDM2 protein which strongly binds to, and modulates the activity of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. The paper describes the methods and testing used and posits that the methods were relative to the objective and were properly carried out. The paper therefore agrees with the conclusion reached by the article and concludes that this is indeed a promising treatment should it be proven that suppression of MDM2 activity in p53 proteins may lead to the reduction of tumors in humans and animals.

Outline:
Summary
Method

From the Paper
"The main focus of the article is around the MDM2 protein which strongly binds to, and modulates the activity of the p53 tumour suppressor protein by an autoregulatory feedback loop. This is done through three mechanisms. Firstly, MDM2 binds at the p53 transactivation site and blocks its activation of transcription initiation. Secondly, it participates in the nuclear export of p53. Thirdly, it serves as a ubiquitin ligase, promoting the degradation of p53. When p53 is activated, it can bring a halt upon the cell cycle and cause apoptosis."

Tags:MDM2, inhibitors, Nutlin, mice

Abstract
The paper examines J. Gilligan's research, "Shame, Guilt, and Violence", about the underlying motivations to violent crimes. The paper explains Gilligan's findings that children whose experiences are especially traumatic create complex coping mechanisms, or dissociate, and later may create pathways to violent expression. The paper then discusses how shame and violence have an intense reciprocal relationship, where violence invokes shame, which invokes more violence. The paper concludes that healthy development of personal pride, dignity and self-esteem in a child's early years are critical in fostering discernment and tolerance, values required to cope in an otherwise challenging world.

From the Paper
"Gilligan (2003) provides a very thorough exploration of the underlying motivations to violent crimes, and skillfully explains social and global violent conditions as systemic of key underlying psychological conditions. He interviewed imprisoned male offenders across the nation who committed violent, repeated, murders. His astounding research exposes two significant commonalities in how serious violent offenders ultimately justify and engage in heinous crimes. Those interviewed identified humiliation and personal insult as stimuli for violence. Inmates stated that both interactions with others and early, prolonged conditions that negatively impacted their personal pride, dignity, and self-esteem, induced immorality and criminal behavior (Gilligan, 2003)."

Tags:pride, dignity, self-esteem, pain, stress, killing, school, bullying

Abstract
The paper evaluates Stephen Kermode's article "Is Nurse Education Sexist - An Exploratory Study". The paper discusses key topics of research with reference to the three methods of investigation; quantitative, qualitative and outcomes method research. The paper examines the article's relevance to nursing and reviews Kermode's methodological approach. The paper focuses on his research through eight components of a quantitative research study.

Outline:
PART "A": Rationale for Research Area
Methodological approach
Part "B": Problem Definition
Literature Review
Research Design
Sampling Protocols
Data Collection Strategies
Data Analysis Strategies

From the Paper
"Formal research builds knowledge in a discipline. In nursing, practitioners embark on discovering the best data to enhance clinical practice. Promoting nursing as an empirical, scientific profession based on evidence versus tradition, provides credibility, ensures nurses are meeting their social responsibilities and influencing organizational and government policies (Rafael, A. 2000). Nursing generates many questions. Best research evidence answers these questions through methodologically sound and pertinent investigations."

Tags:quantitative, qualitative, research, gender, biases, discrimination

Abstract
This paper examines A. Blumstein's article, "Youth, Guns, and Violent Crime", and relates that this article addresses the particular vulnerability and over-representation of youth in crimes involving violence. The paper discusses Blumstein's correlation between youth involved violent crime trends during the 1980s and 1990s, and trends in gun access and drug marketing peaks during these years. Also discussed are the three factors Blumstein sees as the reason for the eventual decline in youth violence since 2000. In addition, the paper looks at the belief held by many criminologists that early exposure to guns and other forms of violence produces violent criminal behaviour throughout life. Lastly, the paper notes that a consistent theme applied in intercepting urban violence is to fortify both the justice system and social development programs.

From the Paper
"Blumstein (2002) explains the decisions to engage in violence in terms of the form and level of previous exposure an individual has to surrounding violent conditions. He discusses the particular vulnerability and over-representation of youth in crimes involving violence, and attributes current trends of violent crimes to drug addiction, drug market involvement, and increased access and utilization of lethal weapons. He further challenges the concept of "superpredators", a presumed breed of ruthless youth, destined for reckless, violent lifestyles. This breed of predators is argued to be helplessly predisposed to violent acts without hope of intervention (Blumstein, 2002)."

Tags:guns, drugs, street, gangs, upbringing