Dominant Patterns.docx

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 Dominant patterns Definition- could be stated formally or informally. a. simple words with special meaning in science or any other technical field b. technical terms c. difficult or high sounding words FORMAL DEFINITION It has three parts: term, genus, and differentia a.

Term – the concept defined

b.

Genus – the family to which the term belong

c. all

Differentia – the specific characteristics of the species which sets it apart from others of it class TERM A triangle

GENUS a plane figure

DIFFERENTIA bounded by three straight lines having three

angles Extended Formal Definition A one-sentence definition sometimes is not in defining a complex or highly specialized term. A reader might be dissatisfied with this explanation, especially if it occurred in a report particularly concerned with the subject . He might very well ask what the term is not, where it is located, what its function is, what its effects are. Take the term “ozone” as an example. A formal sentence goes like this: “A bluish gaseous reactive form of oxygen that is formed naturally in the atmosphere and is used for disinfecting, deodorizing, and bleaching”. POINTERS What ozone is refreshing

TEXT -which some people wrongly think is the air at the Seaside,is a poisonous type of oxygen .At ground level, it makes up less than one part per million of the air. However,

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 Location of Ozone level the

-a thin layer of ozone about 24 kms, above ground stratosphere, blocks outmost of the sun’s

burning Function of ozone Effect of ozone destroyed

- ultraviolet rays - If these rays reached the ground, they would kill all land animals and plants. That is why, this poisonous gas shield is important. There is considerable

concern over reports of the possible destruction of this ozone layer by the pollutants. Sources: Technical Writing and Reporting by J.I.L. Igoy, Ph.D. et al. Interactive Technical Writing by P.C. Villamarzo, J.G. Relis and E.E. Cruz http://angelitaoblianda.blogspot.com/2011/02/module-02-basic-technicalwriting.html  Mechanism Description A mechanism is generally defined as any object or system that has a working part or parts. Most often the term suggests tools, instruments, and machines. But other examples of mechanisms could be the human body and systems like the universe or a city, which is composed of parts that work together like parts of a machine. A technical man constantly works with mechanisms and always needs to understand them; what they do, what they look like, what parts they have, and how these parts work together. There are three fundamental divisions of the description and these are the introduction, the part-by-part description, and the conclusion. Because the description of a mechanism seldom constitutes an article or report by itself, the introduction required is usually rather simple. The two elements that need most careful attention are: 1. the initial presentation of the mechanism 2. the organization of the description Source: http://crewcite.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/description-of-mechanism/ Examples: a.) A laptop computer is a personal computer that is portable or easy to carry around, and is similar to a desktop computer because it incorporates all of the same elements. Laptops are designed for internet use, producing documents, graphic design, storing files, and communicating with others.

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 The laptop originated in the military, but was not widely used like the desktop computer, because it was too small for personal use. Also, it did not have ideal storage capacity. However, technological advancements have greatly improved a laptops storage capabilities. Making it a widely used instrument in the business industry and for scholars as well. Also, laptops are highly priced in comparison to desktop computers. Even so, there are some laptops that are priced much lower than desktop computers, but they are not equipped to store information like regular laptops. The laptop operates with the use of battery power, or can be plugged into an electrical outlet. It performs typed commands, and is used to communicate with others or to produce documents and designs. Furthermore, laptops have internal software storage capabilities, and some laptops are enclosed for high performance gaming The laptop has several main parts, the monitor, keyboard, mouse, computer memory, hard disk, motherboard, and the central processing unit. Source: Oak, M.(2010).What are the main parts of a Computer. Retrieved on May 8, 2010 from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-are-the-main-parts-of-thecomputer.html. Karlonia.(2007).Introduction to laptop computers and their features. Retrieved on May 8, 2010 from http://www.karlonia.com/2009/02/19/laptop-computer- features/. http://communicationamerica.blogspot.com/p/sample-technical-writing-mechanism.html b.) Mechanism Description: Electric Can Opener The electric can opener is a device that opens metal cans easily. The device comes in varying sizes but is usually nine inches high, six inches wide, and four inches deep. This device is usually foundas a plastic box covered with a metal shield and has a metal handle hanging to the right side of thetop face of the front of the electric can opener. The device operates by placing the edge of a can into the slot near the small wheel on the outerface of the can opener. The user then lowers the operating lever. Lowering the operating leverseals the can in place, causing the motor to turn the feed gear as the can rotates. The cutter leavesa serrated cut along the lip of the lid of the can. A magnet holds the separated lid in place whenthe can is removed. The three main components are the interna l motor, the outer casing, and thecan opener mechanism. INTERNAL MOTOR The internal motor consists of a motor, hidden from view, that turns when the operating levermoves downwards. The motor connects to three gears. The first gear is the pinion gear and isclosest to the motor. The pinion gear turns the other two gears when

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 it is activated. Those twogears are the spur gear and the idler gear. This mechanism connects through the face of theelectric can opener to a fourth gear, called the feed gear, which is visible to the user (see Figure 1). OUTER CASING The plastic outer case of the electric can opener features a power cord connected to a rectangular,upright case. This case shields the inner workings of the electric can opener from view. Visible onthe front of the case is a metal shield where cans are opened. This metal plate provides a sturdy shield to keep the user from shattering the plastic case while opening cans. CAN OPENER MECHANISM The can opener mechanism consists of the operating lever, the switch button, the feed gear, themagnet, and the cutter (see Figure 1). The switch button and the operating lever work together toactivate the electric can opener, but users typically activate the device by lowering the operatinglever. The feed gear and the cutter turn and cut the can open for the user, while the magnet keepsthe lid in place to allow withdrawing a freshly opened can. Published by Warren Jason Street http://www.pdfcoke.com/doc/47646201/Electric-Can-Opener-Mechanism-Description 

Process description

A process is a series of steps to get something done. There are processes that can easily be demonstrated by showing how the procedure is dine step by step. The demonstrator must explain first what the process is; give the steps to be followed and then show how these steps should be executed. To avoid errors or complications, the things to be avoided must also be mentioned and explained. Some examples of these processes are as follows: how to make a terrarium; how to make a simple-give away items; how to clean a microscope; and how to operate a computer. Example: a.) How to Operate a Computer Level of difficulty: Beginner This procedure attempts to outline the basics in operating a computer system based on the assumption that it is running under the Microsoft Windows XP Operating System platform with normal components such as CD or DVD drive, Network Interface Card, and video card installed in the CPU. The steps outlined are formatted in such a way that it is applicable to the two most common computer system architectures: the desktop and the laptop. Essentially, a desktop computer is just what its name suggests. It is big enough to sit on the desk and is considered as the most common type of computer system. A laptop or sometimes referred to as a “notebook” is a smaller and more mobile version of the desktop machine and is normally used in the same manner but with relatively lower power requirements.

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 Materials Needed: - CPU - keyboard - monitor - mouse - speakers - printer - Operating System Step 1 Prior to powering up the computer system, make sure that the power cord is firmly connected to the back panel of the CPU and is plugged into the wall socket. Step 2 Check if the video cable is firmly screwed to the port of the video card with the other end connected to the back panel of the monitor. Step 3 Make sure that both the keyboard and mouse pointing device are securely plugged to the back panel. Also, check if they are connected to the correct port by checking on the markings. Steps 1 to 3 are essentially easy to do because aside from the mouse and keyboard devices, other components can only be plugged into their proper ports preventing the novice user from interchanging them. Step 4 When all connections are secure, start up the machine by pressing the power button normally located in the front panel of the CPU. Step 5 Depending on the configuration of the machine, a username and password may be requested; otherwise, the Operating System may be loaded directly to display the desktop to the user. Step 6 Other basic operations that can be done include adjusting monitor settings in Step 8. Installation and launching of software is outlined in Step 10. Navigation of the file system is detailed from Step 15. Step 7 The proper way to shut down or turn off the computer system is by clicking on the 'Start' button and choosing the 'Turn Off Computer' option. This will display the options to 'Standby', 'Restart', or 'Turn Off' the machine. Step 8

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 To adjust the monitor settings, right click on any blank portion of the desktop and select the 'Properties' option from the context menu. Step 9 On the 'Display Properties' window, select the 'Settings' tab to adjust the resolution of the screen. The 'Themes' tab will allow the loading of pre-designed Windows themes. The 'Desktop' tab provides the way for changing the color of the desktop as well as the displayed wallpaper. The 'Appearance' tab provides the various options of changing the behavior of the windows, icons, and other elements of the platform, while the 'Screen Saver' tab shows the option to allow the monitor to go on standby or display animation. Step 10 To extend the functionality of any computer system, software is normally installed into the local hard drive. A software installer may be through some media like a CD or DVD or from being downloaded from the Internet. Step 11 For CD or DVD installers, insert the installation disk in the CD or DVD drive of the machine. This will be automatically read and launched by the Operating System. Step 12 When the installation process is initiated, a new window will normally be displayed to the user. Majority of newer installers provide either a default or an advanced installation procedure. In most cases, simply click on the default process to allow the installer to complete the entire process with minimum user intervention. Step 13 Upon completion of the installation process, a user may be prompted to reboot the machine. Follow the guide in Step 7 to accomplish this task. Step 14 To launch the software, simply click on the 'Start' Menu, choose 'All Programs' and select from the menu the program intended to be run. An alternative to this process is to check if a shortcut link is created on the Desktop. Clicking this icon will also launch the associated program. http://angelitaoblianda.blogspot.com/2011/02/technical-writing.html

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b.) Grilled Lamb Chops

If you haven’t ever tried them, you’d be hard pressed to find a more delicious item for your outdoor grill than irresistibly delicious, lamb chops. By following the simple steps outlined below you too can enjoy the great taste of the most excellent of all grilled meats.

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 First, chose lamb chops from a reputable butcher. Tell them exactly how you want them cut (thick is best) and be sure to let them know that they are for the grill. In this way, you will be certain to get meat that can take the heat of the grill without shrivelling away to nothing but a bunch of charred bones. You should figure on about a pound of meat for each average adult. Next, make a marinade to soak the meat in before you grill them. Figure anywhere from 8 to 24 hours for the meat to marinade (the longer the better). To make the marinade combine a table spoon of dried mustard powder with a table spoon each of salt and pepper in a small bowl. (this is the dry mixture) Then, combine the juice of three whole lemons with a cup or more (depending on the amount of meat) of white wine and a few sprinkles of wine vinegar. (this is the wet mixture) After the marinade mixtures are prepared, place the meat side by side in a large flat pan. Next, pour the wet mixture over the meat so that the bottom of the pan is covered and making sure that most of the meat is covered as well. Once the met is covered with the wet mixture let it set for a few hours. After a period of time, flip the meat over and cover the meat with the dry mixture. Squeeze a lemon over the top of the meat to cause the dry mixture to stick to the meat. While the meat is marinating start the grill by setting fire to the charcoal briquettes. When the briquettes near readiness (they should be nearly white with little or no visible flames) place the grate of the grill over the flames so that it can become hot (after it has been cleaned from the last cook out). Finally, place the meat onto the grate over the fire. The meat should be turned a few times to prevent its burning and is ready when the meat is cooked fully through without signs of excess burning. Serve with potatoes and salad and maybe a good wine or an ice cold beer. Once you take your first bite you’ll definitely join the “I love grilled lamb chops club”.

http://www.michigan-proficiency-exams.com/description-of-a-process.html  Classification It is the process of dividing material into kinds or classes. It involves not only dividing the subject into its constituent classes but also grouping similar units in a sub-class which in turn falls into a larger class.

Principles Involved: 1. Classify constituently in a single basis which points to a fundamental distinction among the members of the class. For example, the characteristics of the paper may be divided into physical, optical, chemical, electrical, and microscopical. 2. The basis of clssification should further the purpose controlling it.

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 3. Classification should not overlap. 4. Name all the species according to a given basis. Example: a.) roses, tulips, violets, forget-me-nots, orchids, lotus, water lilies, tiger lilies AQUATIC PLANTS lotus, water lilies

TERRESTRIAL PLANTS roses, tulips, violets, forget-me-nots, tiger lilies

AERIAL PLANTS orchids

source: http://angelitaoblianda.blogspot.com/2011/02/technical-writing.html b.) "Each of Jamaica's four great gardens, although established along similar principles, has acquired its own distinctive aura. Hope Gardens, in the heart of Kingston, evokes postcard pictures from the 1950s of public parks, gracious and vaguely suburban and filled with familiar favorites--lantana and marigolds--as well as exotics. Bath has retained its Old World character; it is the easiest to conjure as it must have looked in Bligh's time. Cinchona of the clouds is otherworldly. And Castleton, the garden established to replace Bath, fleetingly evokes that golden age of Jamaican tourism, when visitors arrived in their own yachts--the era of Ian Fleming and Noel Coward, before commercial air travel unloaded ordinary mortals all over the island." (Caroline Alexander, "Captain Bligh's Cursed Breadfruit." The Smithsonian, Sep. 2009)  Partition It is an analysis that divides a singular item into parts, steps, or aspects. Only singular subjects can be partitioned; plural subjects are clssified. Parttion breaks down into its componoents a concrete subject such as a tree (parts: roots, trunk, branches and leaves), or an abstract subjects, such as inflation (aspects: causes, effects on consumers, etc.). Source: http://angelitaoblianda.blogspot.com/2011/02/technical-writing.html Examples a.) “So you can see what the situation is; and now you must decide yourselves what is to be done. It seems to me best first to discuss the character of the war, then its scale, and finally the choice of a commander."

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 (Cicero, "De Imperio Cn. Pompei." Cicero: Political Speeches, trans. by D.H. Berry. Oxford Univ. Press, 2006) b.) Example: THE HUMAN HEART The human heart is a pear-shaped structure about the size of a fist. It lies obliquely within the chest cavity just left of center, with the apex pointing downward. The heart is constructed of a special kind of muscle called myocardium or cardiac muscle, and is enclosed in a double-layered, membranous sac known as the pericardium. A wall of muscle divides the heart into two cavities: the left cavity pumps blood throughout the body, while the right cavity pumps blood only through the lungs. Each cavity is in turn divided into two chambers, the upper ones called atria, the lower ones ventricles. Venous blood from the body, containing large amounts of carbon dioxide, returns to the right atrium. It enters the right ventricle, which contracts, pumping blood through the pulmonary artery to the lungs. Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs to the left atrium and enters the left ventricle, which contracts, forcing the blood into the aorta , from which it is distributed throughout the body. In addition, the heart employs a separate vascular system to obtain blood for its own nourishment. Two major coronary arteries regulate this blood supply. djavellana50.tripod.com/collegecomposition/id4.html

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Comparison

A rhetorical strategy and method of organization in which a writer examines similarities and/or differences between two people, places, ideas, or things. Examples a.)  Complaining vs. Moaning "Visitors to Britain are rarely able to grasp--sometimes after decades of residency--the vital distinction its inhabitants make between complaining and moaning. The two activities seem similar, but there is a profound philosophical and practical difference. To complain about something is to express dissatisfaction to someone whom you hold responsible for an unsatisfactory state of affairs; to moan is to express the same thing to someone other than the person responsible. The British are powerfully

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 embarrassed by complaining, and experience an almost physical recoil from people who do it in public. They do love to moan though. The background music of British life is a running aria of moaning about pretty much everything--our weather, our politics, our permanently under-performing national sports teams, our reality-TV-obsessed media, and so on. Moaning, a source of entertainment in its own right, is also an important psychic comfort blanket, a way of venting resentment without taking responsibility for effecting change." (John Lanchester, "Party Games." The New Yorker, June 7, 2010) b.)  European Football vs. American Football "Although European football is the parent of American football, the two games show several major differences. European football, sometimes called association football or soccer, is played in more than 80 countries, making it the most widely played sport in the world. American football, on the other hand, is popular only in the United States and Canada. Soccer is played by 11 players with a round ball. Football, also played by 11 players in somewhat different positions on the field, uses an elongated round ball. Soccer has little body contact between players, and therefore requires no special protective equipment. Football, in which players make maximum use of body contact to block a running ball carrier and his teammates, requires special headgear and padding. In soccer, the ball is advanced toward the goal by kicking it or by butting it with the head. In football, on the other hand, the ball is passed from hand to hand across the opponent's goal. These are just a few of the features that distinguish association and American football." (student paragraph, "Football and Soccer") http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/comparison2term.htm 

Contrast- A rhetorical strategy and method of organization in which a writer identifies the differences between two people, places, ideas, or things.

Examples: a.) There are about four times in a man's life, or a woman's, too, for that matter, when unexpectedly, from out of the darkness, the blazing carbon lamp, the cosmic searchlight of Truth shines full upon them. It is how we react to those moments that forever seals our fate. One crowd simply puts on its sunglasses, lights another cigar, and heads for the nearest plush French restaurant in the jazziest section of town, sits down and orders a drink, and ignores the whole thing. While we, the Doomed,

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 caught in the brilliant glare of illumination, see ourselves inescapably for what we are, and from that day on sulk in the weeds, hoping no one else will spot us." (Jean Shepherd, "The Endless Streetcar Ride," 1966) b.) "The word 'value,' it is to be observed, has two different meanings, and sometimes expresses the utility of some particular object, and sometimes the power of purchasing other goods which the possession of that object conveys. The one may be called 'value in use'; the other, 'value in exchange.' The things which have the greatest value in use have frequently little or no value in exchange; and, on the contrary, those which have the greatest value in exchange have frequently little or no value in use. Nothing is more useful than water; but it will purchase scarce anything; scarce anything can be had in exchange for it. A diamond, on the contrary, has scarce any value in use, but a very great quantity of goods may frequently be had in exchange for it." (Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776) http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/Contrast.htm 

Causal Analysis is the most common form of writing in academic and professional career areas. It explores the reasons why or how something occurred or the results or consequences that resulted from an action. http://home.roadrunner.com/~elvenoaks/Nicolet/Causal/13Causal_print.ht ml

Examples: a.) Dewey Cheatham English 101: W443 Professor Pepin February 29, 1998 Soccer: Why It Can't Make the Big Time in the U.S.A. Soccer — or football (or foosball or futbol), as it is called by the rest of the world outside the United States — is surely the most popular sport in the world. Every four years, the world championship of soccer, the World Cup, is watched by literally billions all over the world, beating out the United States professional football's Superbowl by far. It is estimated that 1.7 billion television viewers watched the World Cup final between France and Brazil in July of 1998. And it is also a genuine world championship, involving teams from 32 countries in the final rounds, unlike the much more parochial and misnamed World Series in American baseball (that doesn't even involve Japan or Cuba, two baseball hotbeds). But although soccer has become an important sport in the American sports scene, it will never make inroads into the hearts and markets of American sports the way that football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and even tennis and golf have done. There are many reasons for this. Recently the New England Revolution beat the Tampa Bay Mutiny in a game played during a horrid rainstorm. Nearly 5000 fans showed up, which shows that soccer is, indeed, popular in the United States. However, the story of the game was buried near the back of the newspaper's sports section, and there was

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 certainly no television coverage. In fact, the biggest reason for soccer's failure as a mass appeal sport in the United States is that it doesn't conform easily to the demands of television. Basketball succeeds enormously in America because it regularly schedules what it calls "television time-outs" as well as the time-outs that the teams themselves call to re-group, not to mention half-times and, on the professional level, quarter breaks. Those time-outs in the action are ideally made for television commercials. And television coverage is the lifeblood of American sports. College basketball lives for a game scheduled on CBS or ESPN (highly recruited high school players are more likely to go to a team that regularly gets national television exposure), and we could even say that television coverage has dictated the pace and feel of American football. Anyone who has attended a live football game knows how commercial time-outs slow the game and sometimes, at its most exciting moments, disrupt the flow of events. There is no serious objection, however, because without television, football knows that it simply wouldn't remain in the homes and hearts of Americans. Also, without those advertising dollars, the teams couldn't afford the sky-high salaries of their high-priced superstars. Soccer, on the other hand, except for its half-time break, has no time-outs; except for half-time, it is constant run, run, run, run, back and forth, back and forth, relentlessly, with only a few seconds of relaxation when a goal is scored, and that can happen seldom, sometimes never. The best that commercial television coverage can hope for is an injury time-out, and in soccer that happens only with decapitation or disembowelment. Second, Americans love their violence, and soccer doesn't deliver on this score the way that American football and hockey do. There are brief moments, spurts of violence, yes, but fans can't expect the full-time menu of bone-crushing carnage that American football and hockey can deliver minute after minute, game after game. In soccer, players are actually singled out and warned — shamed, with embarrassingly silly "yellow cards," for acts of violence and duplicity that would be smiled at in most American sports other than tennis and golf. Third, it is just too difficult to score in soccer. America loves its football games with scores like 49 to 35 and a professional basketball game with scores below 100 is regarded as a defensive bore. In soccer, on the other hand, scores like 2 to 1, even 1 to 0, are commonplace and apparently desirable; games scoreless at the end of regulation time happen all the time. (In the 515 games played in the final phase in the history of the World Cup games through 1994, only 1584 goals have been scored. That's three a game!) And if there is no resolution at the end of overtime, the teams resort to a shoot-out that has more to do with luck than with real soccer skills. Worse yet, it is possible for a team to dominate in terms of sheer talent and "shotson-goal" and still lose the game by virtue of a momentary lapse in defensive attention, a stroke of bad luck, and the opponent's break-away goal. Things like that can happen, too, in baseball, but the problem somehow evens out over baseball's very long season of daily games. In soccer, it just isn't fair. Soccer authorities should consider making the goal smaller and doing away with the goalie to make scoring easier. And the business of starting over after each goal, in the middle of the field, has to be reconsidered. It's too much like the center-jump after each goal in the basketball game of yesteryear. It seems unlikely that Americans will ever fully comprehend or appreciate a sport in which players are not allowed to use their arms and hands. Although the footwork of soccer players is a magnificent skill to behold, most American fans are perplexed by straitjacketed soccer players' inability and unwillingness to "pick up the darn ball and run with it!" The inability to use substitutes (unless the player to be substituted for is lying dead or maimed on the field of play) is also bewildering to Americans, who glorify the "sixth man" in basketball and a baseball game in which virtually the entire roster (including an otherwise unemployable old man called "the designated hitter") is deployed on the field at one time or another. Finally, the field in soccer is enormous. Considerably larger than the American football field, the soccer field could contain at least a dozen basketball courts. Americans like their action condensed, in a small field of vision — ten enormous sweaty people bouncing off one another and moving rapidly through a space the size of a medium-sized bedroom, twenty-two even larger people in bulky uniforms converging on a small, oddly shaped ball. In soccer, on the other hand, there is a premium on "spreading out," not infringing upon the force field occupied by a team-mate, so that fancy foot-passing is possible. This spreading out across

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 the vast meadow of the soccer playing field does not lend itself, again, to close get-down-and-dirty television scrutiny. Soccer is a great sport and it certainly deserves the increased attention and popularity it is getting on all levels. But — primarily, again, because it does not lend itself to television — it will never make it big in the United States the way these other sports have, not until it changes some of its fundamental strategies.

b.) 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

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 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.

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 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

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 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.

Castillo, Arleigh Shayne A. 3A8 Work Cited Negative Population Growth. Population report for the State of California. Aug. 2001. .

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Interpretation- is the art of establishing a meaningful pattern of relationships among a group of facts. (Mills & Walter, 1954)