Friday, June 8, 2012

How to Write a Compare/Contrast Essay


How to Write a Compare/Contrast Essay

Compare and contrast essays are the other big essay types in academic writing. These essays will follow a specific question and are fairly easy to complete. There are several ways to write this type of essay. The most important thing to remember is structure. Many wonderful essays fall victim to the woes of bad structure, making any ingenuity to fall by the wayside. Go over the rules on how to write a general essay, and then structure your compare/contrast essay in one of the following two formats:

    Introduction

    Your introduction — like the five-paragraph-essay, should open generally (with a quotation, anecdote, generalization), and lead into the thesis statement.
    Topic 1

    This next portion of your essay (which may consist of one paragraph or several) should cover only the first topic of the comparison and contrast. Compare/Contrast essays take two topics and illustrate how they are similar and dissimilar. Do not mention topic 2 in this first portion.
    Topic 2

    This next portion of your essay (which may also consist of one or more paragraphs) should cover the second of the two topics. Do not discuss Topic 1 in this section. Since you have already gone into great detail about it, you may allude to Topic 1 briefly; however, do not analyze Topic 1 in this section. This portion of the paper is to discuss Topic 2 in great detail.
    Topics 1 and 2 Together

    Now that you have analyzed both Topic 1 and Topic 2 independently, now it is time to analyze them together. This section may also be one or several paragraphs.
    Conclusion

    The conclusion — like the introduction — should be a generalization of the thesis. This paragraph should express your certainty and absolute knowledge on the subject matter. You should reaffirm your thesis (essentially restate it in new words) and show how you've proven it.

OR

    Introduction

    Your introduction — like the five-paragraph-essay, should open generally (with a quotation, anecdote, generalization), and lead into the thesis statement.
    All Comparisons (Topics 1 and 2)

    This section — which should consists of several paragraphs — should go through all similarities you find in the two topics on which you are writing. There should be at least three comparisons (essentially three short body paragraphs) in which you give an example from both topics of comparisons in each.
    All Contrasts (Topics 1 and 2)

    This section — which should consist of several paragraphs — should go through all differences you find in the two topics on which you are writing. There should be at least three contrasts (essentially three short body paragraphs) in which you give an example from both topics of comparisons in each.
    Conclusion

    This conclusion is wrapping up everything you have just proven in your paper. It should restate the thesis in a new, more official way, and you should feel quite confident in your writing.

Here is a quick breakdown on how the Compare-Contrast Essay should appear:

    Type A:
        Paragraph 1: Introduction (with Thesis)
        Paragraph 2: Topic 1 (Comparison a)
        Paragraph 3: Topic 1 (Comparison b)
        Paragraph 4: Topic 1 (Comparison c)
        Paragraph 5: Topic 2 (Contrast a)
        Paragraph 6: Topic 2 (Contrast b)
        Paragraph 7: Topic 2 (Contrast c)
        Paragraph 8: (Optional) — Comparisons/Contrasts together (any topic)
        Paragraph 8: Conclusion
    Type B:
        Paragraph 1: Introduction (with Thesis)
        Paragraph 2: Comparison a (Topic 1&2)
        Paragraph 3: Comparison b (Topic 1&2)
        Paragraph 4: Comparison c (Topic 1&2)
        Paragraph 5: Contrast a (Topic 1&2)
        Paragraph 6: Contrast b (Topic 1&2)
        Paragraph 7: Contrast c (Topic 1&2)
        Paragraph 8: Conclusion

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Cause and Effect (Essay)


Organizing An Essay

Often student writers are taught short-term solutions to the problem of organizing an essay. The most common short-term essay is the "five-paragraph essay" format. The five-paragraph essay uses the following organization:
  1. Introduction--Background and thesis
  2. First Body Paragraph--The first reason why the thesis is true
  3. Second Body Paragraph--The second reason why the thesis is true
  4. Third Body Paragraph--The third reason why the thesis is true
  5. Conclusion--Recap of essay
It is important to understand that the five-paragraph essay is not necessarily bad. However, most student writers are led to believe or falsely believe that all essays must follow the five-paragraph essay format. Just a little thought makes clear that format is very limiting and limited and does not provide an adequate organization for many types of writing assignments. That is why I have crossed-out the description of the five-paragraph essay, so that you won't make the mistake of thinking that it is the best way to organize your essays.
Instead, student writers should see that the form of an essay (its organization) needs to match the purpose of the essay. To begin with, we should look at one of the most common tasks student writers are asked to perform and the one of the organizational strategies effective for this task.

Explaining Cause and Effect

Often writers are asked to explain how certain conditions or events are related to the occurrence of other conditions or events. When a writer argues that "one thing leads to another," he or she is making a cause-and-effect argument. For example, in an Economics class, students might be asked to explain the impact of increasing oil prices on the nation’s economy. Inherent in the question is the assumption that increasing oil prices is a cause, which produces specific effects in the rest of the economy. So, higher oil prices produce higher gasoline prices raising the cost of shipping goods. Higher oil prices produce higher jet fuel costs raising the cost of travel, and so on. "Higher oil prices" is the cause, and increased shipping costs and travel expenses are among the effects.
Writing tasks involving cause and effect analysis usually take one of two forms: explaining how a known cause produces specific effects; explaining how specific effects are produced by a previously unknown cause (which the writer has discovered). The second type of analysis is commonly referred to as root-cause analysis. The first type of analysis is what the technology and privacy topic requires.
To argue that certain conditions will lead to other conditions (that the loss of privacy will lead to something else), first the writer needs to define clearly what those conditions are, and then the writer needs to make clear how those conditions lead to other conditions. Finally, the writer needs to explain what this cause-and-effect relationship means. This type of essay then has five parts (not paragraphs!), with each part corresponding to a specific task the writer needs to perform, and each part consisting of one or more paragraphs.

Essay PartScopePurpose (not all necessary for every essay)
IntroductionGeneral
  • Background for the topic
  • Setting out the issues
  • Focusing the argument—the purpose of the essay
Description of the "Cause"Begins general; becomes increasingly specific
  • What the specific conditions are
  • Specific illustrations of these conditions
  • How these specific illustrations are representative of (can stand in for) other situations
In this first part of the analysis, the writer needs to provide enough detail for the reader so the reader can understand the present situation. In addition, the writer needs to focus the description of the situation in such a way as to prepare for the "effect" that the writer is arguing for. For example, if the writer wants to argue that the loss of privacy has led to (or will lead to) a loss of individual freedom, then the description of how technology affects our privacy should focus on technologies that affect an individual’s freedom to act.
Description of the "Effect"Begins general; becomes increasingly specific
  • What the specific effect is (or effects are)
  • How we get from the specific conditions to the specific effects
  • Specific illustrations of these effects
  • How these specific illustrations are representative of (can stand in for) others
In this second part of the analysis, the writer needs to walk the reader through the logical steps the writer has used to move from cause to effect. For example, if the writer argues that loss of privacy leads to loss of individual freedom, the writer needs to explain carefully how privacy and freedom are linked. So perhaps the writer might claim that privacy allows an individual to be free from the observation of others. With our privacy becoming increasingly limited by surveillance, we are no longer free from the observation of others. If we believe that we are always being watched, we will probably change our behavior and be less willing to take chances or act independently. If we feel we cannot act independently then we are no longer free.
Explanation of the meaning of the cause-and-effect relationshipMore General
  • Why this analysis is important
  • How we might act upon the ideas the writer has presented
In this third part of the analysis, the writer argues for the importance of the argument’s findings, often by putting in perspective the short-term or long-term consequences of the "effect." In addition, in this part the writer usually makes some sort of recommendation (what we should do). So if the writer is arguing that loss of privacy leads to loss of freedom, in this part the writer might speculate one what might happen if this trend towards further loss of privacy continues. In addition, the writer might describe some of the specific actions we can take to safeguard our existing privacy, or how legislation might provide such safeguards.
ConclusionGeneral
  • Summing up
  • How our understanding of the larger issue might be changed by the writer's analysis
  • Appeal to the reader—how this situation affects us

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Process Essay Writing Structure



Process Essay Writing Structure


Process Essay – Introduction


First of all, introduce the process and its significance with background information. State thesis statement which normally includes the indication of the steps.

Process Essay – Body

Start with the topic sentence and further explain it with main supporting sentences followed by minor supporting sentences.

Repeat this process of first body paragraph in the rest of the body paragraphs of your process essay writing.

Process Essay – Conclusion


Restate the thesis statement in a rephrased manner.
Summarize all the major steps or instructions of the complete process

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Monday, April 16, 2012

change Joomla pagination style

Pagination.php


/**
 * @version $Id: pagination.php 14401 2010-01-26 14:10:00Z louis $
 * @package Joomla
 * @copyright Copyright (C) 2005 - 2010 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.
 * @license GNU/GPL, see LICENSE.php
 * Joomla! is free software. This version may have been modified pursuant
 * to the GNU General Public License, and as distributed it includes or
 * is derivative of works licensed under the GNU General Public License or
 * other free or open source software licenses.
 * See COPYRIGHT.php for copyright notices and details.
 */

// no direct access
defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');

/**
 * This is a file to add template specific chrome to pagination rendering.
 *
 * pagination_list_footer
 * Input variable $list is an array with offsets:
 * $list[limit] : int
 * $list[limitstart] : int
 * $list[total] : int
 * $list[limitfield] : string
 * $list[pagescounter] : string
 * $list[pageslinks] : string
 *
 * pagination_list_render
 * Input variable $list is an array with offsets:
 * $list[all]
 * [data] : string
 * [active] : boolean
 * $list[start]
 * [data] : string
 * [active] : boolean
 * $list[previous]
 * [data] : string
 * [active] : boolean
 * $list[next]
 * [data] : string
 * [active] : boolean
 * $list[end]
 * [data] : string
 * [active] : boolean
 * $list[pages]
 * [{PAGE}][data] : string
 * [{PAGE}][active] : boolean
 *
 * pagination_item_active
 * Input variable $item is an object with fields:
 * $item->base : integer
 * $item->link : string
 * $item->text : string
 *
 * pagination_item_inactive
 * Input variable $item is an object with fields:
 * $item->base : integer
 * $item->link : string
 * $item->text : string
 *
 * This gives template designers ultimate control over how pagination is rendered.
 *
 * NOTE: If you override pagination_item_active OR pagination_item_inactive you MUST override them both
 */

function pagination_list_footer($list)
{
    // Initialize variables
    $lang =& JFactory::getLanguage();
    $html = "
\n";

    $html .= "\n
".JText::_('Display Num').$list['limitfield']."
";
    $html .= $list['pageslinks'];
    $html .= "\n
".$list['pagescounter']."
";

    $html .= "\n";
    $html .= "\n
";

    return $html;
}

function pagination_list_render($list)
{
    // Initialize variables
    $lang =& JFactory::getLanguage();
    $html = "
    ";     $html .= $list['start']['data'];     $html .= ' '.$list['previous']['data'];    foreach( $list['pages'] as $page )    {       if($page['data']['active']) {          $html .= '
  • ';
          }

       $html .= '
  • '.' '.$page['data'].'
  • ';

          if($page['data']['active']) {
             $html .= '
  • ';          }    }    $html .= " ".$list['next']['data'];    $html .= ' '.$list['end']['data'];    /*$html .= '
  • »
  • ';*/    $html .= "
";
   return $html;
   }

function pagination_item_active(&$item) {
    return "
  • link."\" title=\"".$item->text."\">" .$item->text. "

  • ";
    }

    function pagination_item_inactive(&$item) {
       return "
  • text. "\">".$item->text."

  • ";
       //return "
  • ".$item->text."

  • ";
    }
    ?>


    ----------- --CSS ----

    *paging*/
    .light {
      -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
      -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
      -o-box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
      box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
     /* background: #f3f3f3 url('../img/noise-f3f3f3.png');*/
      background:url(../images/paging_bg.jpg);
      overflow: hidden;
    }

    .wrapper {
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0em;
    }

    .paginate {
      text-align: center;
    }
    .paginate ul {
      list-style: none;
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
      text-align: center;
    }
    .paginate li {
      display: inline;
    }
    .paginate a {
      -moz-border-radius: 3px;
      -webkit-border-radius: 3px;
      -o-border-radius: 3px;
      -ms-border-radius: 3px;
      -khtml-border-radius: 3px;
      border-radius: 3px;
      -moz-box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
      -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
      -o-box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
      box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
      margin: 1px 2px;
      padding: 5px 5px;
      display: inline-block;
      border-top: 1px solid #fff;
      text-decoration: none !important;
      color: #717171 !important;
      font-size: 7x!important;
      font-family: "Helvetica Neueu", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
      text-shadow: white 0 1px 0;
      background-color:red;
      background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, from(#f9f9f9), to(#eaeaea));
      /* Saf4+, Chrome */
      background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #f9f9f9, #eaeaea);
      /* Chrome 10+, Saf5.1+ */
      background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #f9f9f9, #eaeaea);
      /* FF3.6 */
      background-image: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #f9f9f9, #eaeaea);
      /* IE10 */
      background-image: -o-linear-gradient(top, #f9f9f9, #eaeaea);
      /* Opera 11.10+ */
      background-image: linear-gradient(top, #f9f9f9, #eaeaea);
      filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorStr='#f9f9f9', EndColorStr='#eaeaea');
      /* IE6–IE9 */
    }
    .paginate a:first-child, .paginate a.first {
      margin-left: 0;
    }
    .paginate a:last-child, .paginate a.last {
      margin-right: 0;
    }
    .paginate a:hover, .paginate a:focus {
      border-color: #fff;
      background-color: #fdfdfd;
      background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, from(#fefefe), to(#fafafa));
      /* Saf4+, Chrome */
      background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe, #fafafa);
      /* Chrome 10+, Saf5.1+ */
      background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe, #fafafa);
      /* FF3.6 */
      background-image: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe, #fafafa);
      /* IE10 */
      background-image: -o-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe, #fafafa);
      /* Opera 11.10+ */
      background-image: linear-gradient(top, #fefefe, #fafafa);
      filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorStr='#fefefe', EndColorStr='#fafafa');
      /* IE6–IE9 */
    }
    .paginate a.more {
      -moz-box-shadow: none;
      -webkit-box-shadow: none;
      -o-box-shadow: none;
      box-shadow: none;
      border: 0 none !important;
      background: transparent !important;
      margin-left: 0;
      margin-right: 0;
    }
    .paginate a.active {
      -moz-box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
      -webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
      -o-box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
      box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
      border-color: #505050 !important;
      color: #f2f2f2 !important;
      text-shadow: black 0 1px 0;
      background-color: #676767;
      background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, from(#5f5f5f), to(#5c5c5c));
      /* Saf4+, Chrome */
      background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #5f5f5f, #5c5c5c);
      /* Chrome 10+, Saf5.1+ */
      background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #5f5f5f, #5c5c5c);
      /* FF3.6 */
      background-image: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #5f5f5f, #5c5c5c);
      /* IE10 */
      background-image: -o-linear-gradient(top, #5f5f5f, #5c5c5c);
      /* Opera 11.10+ */
      background-image: linear-gradient(top, #5f5f5f, #5c5c5c);
      filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorStr='#5f5f5f', EndColorStr='#5c5c5c');
      /* IE6–IE9 */
    }

    .paginate-dark a {
      -moz-box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
      -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
      -o-box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
      box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
      border-top: 1px solid #62686d;
      text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75) 0 1px 0;
      color: #fff !important;
      background-color: #4e5458;
      background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, from(#575e63), to(#3f4347));
      /* Saf4+, Chrome */
      background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #575e63, #3f4347);
      /* Chrome 10+, Saf5.1+ */
      background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #575e63, #3f4347);
      /* FF3.6 */
      background-image: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #575e63, #3f4347);
      /* IE10 */
      background-image: -o-linear-gradient(top, #575e63, #3f4347);
      /* Opera 11.10+ */
      background-image: linear-gradient(top, #575e63, #3f4347);
      filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorStr='#575e63', EndColorStr='#3f4347');
      /* IE6–IE9 */
    }
    .paginate-dark a:hover, .paginate-dark a:focus {
      border-color: #61788a;
      background-color: #4d6374;
      background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, from(#566f82), to(#3e505e));
      /* Saf4+, Chrome */
      background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #566f82, #3e505e);
      /* Chrome 10+, Saf5.1+ */
      background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #566f82, #3e505e);
      /* FF3.6 */
      background-image: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #566f82, #3e505e);
      /* IE10 */
      background-image: -o-linear-gradient(top, #566f82, #3e505e);
      /* Opera 11.10+ */
      background-image: linear-gradient(top, #566f82, #3e505e);
      filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorStr='#566f82', EndColorStr='#3e505e');
      /* IE6–IE9 */
    }
    .paginate-dark a.active {
      -moz-box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
      -webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
      -o-box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
      box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
      border-color: #2d3035 !important;
      background-color: #303338;
      background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, from(#303338), to(#2d3034));
      /* Saf4+, Chrome */
      background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #303338, #2d3034);
      /* Chrome 10+, Saf5.1+ */
      background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #303338, #2d3034);
      /* FF3.6 */
      background-image: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #303338, #2d3034);
      /* IE10 */
      background-image: -o-linear-gradient(top, #303338, #2d3034);
      /* Opera 11.10+ */
      background-image: linear-gradient(top, #303338, #2d3034);
      filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorStr='#303338', EndColorStr='#2d3034');
      /* IE6–IE9 */
    }

    iTunes Blank Screen Can’t Load App Store

    So recently I ran into an issue where iTunes couldn’t load the app store and a blank screen would just display while it endlessly searched.  I also installed Safari and the same issue would occur there as well, Safari just would have a blank screen and never load any page.
    Like most users I did a repair, uninstall / reinstall and none of the problems resolved.  Ironically I searched on Apple forums at the time and couldn’t find a solution, so I opened a case with Apple about my iTunes not loading the app store and having a blank screen.
    It turns out that resetting the Winsock on a Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP SP2 or later machine was the trick.
    image thumb2 iTunes Blank Screen Can’t Load App Store
    So if you are stuck with a blank screen, and you can’t load iTunes App store or Safari has a blank screen, then try the following.

    Fix iTunes Blank Screen Issue

    Open up your Windows Command Prompt

    For Windows Vista/7 you need to open as Administrator (right click > open as administrator)
    image thumb25 iTunes Blank Screen Can’t Load App Store


    Apple support referred me to this thread after sending me the following instructions and I just wondered why I couldn’t find that thread previously, it would have saved me from opening a case:  https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3371153?start=15&tstart=30

    Reset the Winsock

    Type in “netsh winsock reset”
    image thumb26 iTunes Blank Screen Can’t Load App Store

    Reboot your computer


    Test iTunes or Safari by loading it again


    This should solve most of the blank iTunes screen or Safari not loading any site problems, if it doesn’t then try uninstalling/reinstalling iTunes or Safari and check the Apple forums for an exact match of your issue if you are given an error code.

    Sunday, April 1, 2012

    Config host VMware in window and access url from window

    Config host VMware in window and access url from window

    1) Check networking setting in VMware

    2) Select Host-only: A private network shared with host
    or select custom: specific virtual network select VMnet1(host-only)

    3) Goto network setting in window

    4) Set IP of VMware Network Adapter VMnet1(example IP: 10.50.1.1, subnetmark 255.255.255.0)

    5) Goto VWMware server change IP to 10.502.1.2 and subnetmark 255.255.255.0

    6) Then restart network service

    7) Try access web browser from window 10.502.1.2 to access WMware server.