writing samples

Sample 1

Write about three things to improve your college productivity and why they work.

Productivity. Productivity. Productivity. We hear this word a lot, but what does it really mean? In essence, it is how much work one can get done in a specific timeframe. What’s the point of working if you’re not going to complete the task, right? I couldn’t agree more. The one thing I do not agree with is the idea that there’s only one route to being productive.

A micromanager may say productivity is sitting at your desk from 8-5 and working non-stop until the end of the day. I say productivity is knowing the task at hand, and engaging your physical strength and mental health to complete it before or by its deadline.

Here are the three steps I use to keep my mind and body whole, while being effective.

1. Before starting the day, I go for a light walk outside to get the blood flowing. The fresh air and physical movement awaken my mind and help release endorphins that take away any stress I had prior to starting my walk. This allows for the clear slate and new perspective needed to be productive that day.

2. Eat a healthy breakfast. I prefer a juice with a blend of kale, spinach, cucumber, apple, and other fruits and vegetables. If that doesn’t tickle my fancy, I opt for a hot bowl of maple & brown sugar oatmeal. This too powers my brain and boosts my energy.

3. Get to work. I know what needs to be done because the day before, I mapped out each task I need to accomplish, the amount of time each will take, and the order in which each should be done. Having a pre-made plan enables me to conserve the time and energy it takes to decide what to do.

I find that these actions are fruitful for me, but it’s important to remember, one size doesn’t fit all. It’s up to you to determine the combination that will help you maintain wellness and make your professor happy!

Sample 2

Does practice make perfect?

With these three factors, it does:

· Frequency

· Accuracy

· Reinforcement

In addition, detailed feedback plays a key role. Without it, practice can become ineffective and counterproductive.

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The content, degree of difficulty, number of questions, time-limit, scoring, and even navigation, are just like the actual exam. We also tell you when you're right and when

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Sample 3

Personal Budgeting

While many people cringe at the thought of personal budgeting, an effective money-management plan allows you greater overall freedom in every area of your finances. A personal budget will need to include set expenses, such as taxes, housing, utilities, transportation and media costs. You will also want to allocate money for giving to charities, short- and long-term savings and personal entertainment. 

The CNN website recommends that you divide your gross income, or all money earned before taxes, into several categories. Allocate percentages of your income to each category. It recommends 30 percent to housing and debt, 26 percent for living expenses, 25 percent for taxes, 15 percent for savings and investments and 4 percent for insurance. (cgi.money.cnn.com). The recommendations serve as guidelines only and not hard-and-fast rules. In other words, don’t stress if you spend more in a certain category. 

For example, you might spend 35 percent on housing and debt because you are paying off a student loan. You can decrease spending in other areas until you have paid off that bill. Then you can review your personal budget and adjust it as needed. 

Sometimes you might not have any idea of where your money is going each month. In that case, you might find that it’s more effective to use cash for every bill, with very few exceptions. The theory goes that when you can physically see the cash you spend each month, you can better control your monthly spending. An envelope system of personal budgeting advocates putting money in a physical envelope for each area of spending. 

For example, you might include all of your household bills, except for mortgage or rent, in a category called “utilities.” You would then add up your electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash, cable, phone and internet bills and keep all that money in one envelope. If you have money left over in that envelope, you can move it to other envelopes as needed. This system can help you increase savings, and you will easily be able to see where your money is going. You can also find envelope-budgeting systems online. (crown.org) 

No matter the system you use, personal budgeting requires discipline and a commitment to stick to the process. While it may seem difficult at first, after a few months, you will enjoy the freedom of knowing where your money goes and being able to better plan for the future.  

Sample 4

Depression Overview

Introduction

Many people interchangeably use the terms “sadness” and “depression”, but they are not the same thing. Sadness is a reaction to a situation that causes emotional pain. Depression is a serious and the most common mood disorder. It can be triggered by a single event, combination of events, or spontaneously. Depression can have such severe effects on an individual that it can negatively impact the way that the person handles day to day activities, thinks and processes information, etc. Depression is broken down into several categories that exist in different environments and under various circumstances.

What is Depression?

What is the definition of depression? Depression is an illness that affects a person’s thoughts, mood, and even the body. Depression is a feeling of intense sadness, almost grief, that is experienced for an extended period of time, at least two weeks usually. It can be accompanied by feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and in extreme cases, suicide. 

There are many types of depression, here are just a few of the more commonly known types:

• Major depression or major depressive disorder is when one experiences symptoms most of the day for many weeks up to years.
• Postpartum depression afflicts women after childbirth.
• Dysthymia, or persistent depressive disorder, is a low mood that continues for at least two years.
• Bipolar disorder is considered a depression, but is different from the other depression categories due to the “highs” that are experienced by the patient.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) typically occurs around the same time each year, usually in the fall and/or winter.

What Causes Depression?

Current studies show that depression can be caused by a mix of factors. Psychological, biological, genetic, and environmental factors can all contribute to one’s depression. Some risk factors that are attributed to depression can be major life changes or stress, certain physical illnesses, and even some medications. Depression can also be hereditary and run in one’s family history. This is not to say that if your mother is depressed, you will be depressed. It says that if you are feeling blue, and it has lasted a couple of weeks, and your mom had these feelings too, maybe a clinical visit is in order.

Signs of Depression

Not all types of depression have the same signs. Each person is an individual case and may have unique signs. Some of the most common signs of depression you may find in yourself, friends, and loved ones are:

• Loss of interest in usual activities.
• Irritability.
• Loss of appetite, weight loss.
• Talking or moving slower than normal for that person.
• Loss of pleasure from hobbies or family.

Symptoms of Depression

Depression is diagnosed when the patient has experienced his/her symptoms for a period of at least two weeks. Listed below are several symptoms of depression:

• Persistent sad, anxious, hopelessness or pessimistic feelings.
• Thoughts of death or suicide.
• Difficulty concentrating, sleeping, along with decreased energy.
• Unexplained pain such as headaches, body aches, or even digestive issues.

Sample 5

Credit and Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

The United States Federal Trade Commission, created in 1914, oversees several aspects of economic impact for both consumers and businesses. (ftc.gov). The government agency has mandated a list of credit and consumer rights and responsibilities as they relate to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The Act, originally passed in 1970, regulates credit and consumer rights and responsibilities nationally. Since 1970, the Act has been amended and updated several times. One of the more recent updates, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, implemented safety checks to help reduce identity theft. 

Three main credit reporting agencies: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, provide information related to consumer credit, which includes credit scores. These scores affect the ability of a person to buy or rent a house, impact the interest rates a person will receive, can determine insurance rates and even may exclude an applicant from certain jobs. 

Consumers have the right to see copies of their credit reports and dispute any information they believe is inaccurate. The government provides a free yearly credit report to all consumers upon request at annualcreditreport.com. Typically, credit reporting agencies can report negative information on a consumer’s history for 7 – 10 years, including tax liens, late payments, repossessions or judgments or bankruptcies. Consumers have a responsibility to take advantage of this service, contact specific credit reporting agencies if they find errors on their credit reports and contact the company that submitted the incorrect information. While the process can be time consuming, the diligent consumer knows that persistence in correcting any wrong information will pay off in the long run. 

Many smaller, more specialized, credit reporting agencies also report credit information on items like check writing, medical payments, insurance claims, employment history and residential or tenant history. Each company must maintain a toll-free number, and consumers can also legally request a yearly copy of reports from these smaller companies. 

Creditors, who report consumer payment information to the credit reporting agencies, include companies like auto finance or lease companies, courts, employers, mortgage holders or banks and credit card companies. If a consumer questions the validity of any information on his/her credit report, the lender is responsible to investigate and correct the mistake or clarify the correct information within 30 days. The lender must also tell consumers that negative information will be placed on the credit reports, both before the negative information is reported and after it is sent.