Essays
Below is a selection of some of my papers, ranging from cultural analysis and advocacy for a policy to technical writing. I enjoy many types of writing, and this variety highlights my ability to adapt my writing to a number of different occasions.
Who's the hipster now?This essay explores the paradigm shift of the American perspective on hipsters. It traces the emergence, acceptance, and subsequent decline of the hipster subculture. Because the hipster subculture is a current trend, little formal analysis has as of yet been completed, but this paper incorporates numerous articles, print sources, and statistical data to back up points.
I enjoyed writing this essay because I was able to choose an unusual topic but still conduct thorough research and draw interesting connections. These factors, in addition to the strong voice and clear structure, contribute to make this piece an example of some of my best work. |
The case for paid parental leave in the united statesThis paper explains the need for paid parental leave, proposes a policy to implement, and argues for the feasibility of the policy. Currently, America lags far behind its economic peers in its parental leave policies, and our lack of accessible, paid parental leave has negative social and economic effects for our society at large. As of 2014, three states have enacted legislation, and many others are in the process of doing so. The policy I propose is based on these models, and much of the data I use to support my argument comes from the results of these programs.
I chose this topic after being introduced to it in a "Philosophy of Feminism" course. This policy paper is an integration of the information I was introduced to in that class and the rhetorical skills I learned from Rhetoric and Civic Life, along with an extension of a part of my Civic Issues blog. Though much more could be said about the topic, this paper adequately describes the problem and proposes a feasible solution within the constraint of a length limit. |
Lab report: The wittig reactionThis formal lab report was written for Chemistry 213, an organic chemistry lab. In this experiment, a compound called trans-9-(2-phenylethenyl)anthracene was synthesized by a common reaction called the Wittig reaction. Included in this report are an introduction that shows the importance and relevance of the Wittig reaction, a summary of the experiment, and results and discussion including analysis of spectral data. The report is supported by information from peer-reviewed journals.
The report displays my ability to write technical work, which will be crucial to my career. Technical writing must be concise and precise, and this report follows all of the many required guidelines. |