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  • Death of Osama bin Laden: Effect on Al-Qaeda (Sample Essay)

    The U.S. Special Forces killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, 2011. Bin Laden was the founder and head of Al-Qaeda, an Islamist militant group. The Navy SEAL Team raided Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, which was built in 2006 (Bowden, 2012). The killing of the Al-Qaeda leader, who was among the terrorists in the U.S.’ most-wanted list, sparked mixed reactions globally. In particular, Osama’s death had considerable impact, as well as implications, on the prospects of Al-Qaeda, its affiliates, and other Islamist militant groups (Rogers & McGoldrick, 2011).

    The death of the Al-Qaeda chief was undoubtedly a major blow to the Al-Qaeda fraternity worldwide. Apparently, the group is still reeling from the major blow following the demise of its core architect. The group has yet to find someone with outstanding charisma and allure of Osama’s caliber to succeed him (Kitfield, 2012). Since the killing of Osama, the organization has been lacking the initially exclusive top control, with only Ayman al-Zawahiri emerging as the possible favorite. Ayman was Osama’s deputy since the early 1990s in an acting capacity. However, he lacked the charisma, which was an incomparable attribute of the late Osama (Kitfield, 2012). Osama had a remarkable personality that attracted many young men in the Arabic world. Even the West and South Asia were passionate about bin Laden and felt inspired when the fallen leader was at the helm of Al-Qaeda leadership.

    Moreover, Al-Qaeda and its affiliates have faced myriad challenges in terms of safety and leadership since the death of bin Laden. For instance, leadership rows have become a widespread setback within Al-Qaeda’s ranks, in addition to controversial arrests and killing of some of its leaders (Musharbash, 2012). Furthermore, the newly fangled jihadist hubs, which have emerged near the Afghan border and North Pakistan after the death of Osama, pose a huge danger to international security and safety (Musharbash, 2012). The Arabian Peninsula, particularly Yemen, has emerged to be the fresh Al-Qaeda hotspots as armed Islamists take advantage of political turmoil to engage the country’s defense forces in battles for several months. In addition, Islamist rebel groups such as Al-Shabab (in Somalia) and Boko Haram (in Nigeria) have persistently pushed their way into the limelight to become the most dreaded terrorist organizations since the death of Osama bin Laden. Boko Haram has been on the spot for imposing Sharia Law in the multiethnic country of Nigeria and allegedly killing hundreds of Christians in the country (Seib, 2008). On several occasions, Al-Shabab admitted responsibility for massive bomb attacks in Somalia and neighboring African nations.

    The death of Osama bin Laden has ultimately revealed the fresh scheme and leadership approach of Al-Qaeda that perhaps operates off its goal instead of following distinctive guidance (Lüsted, 2012). Incidentally, bin Laden had evolved from a mere leader of Al-Qaeda operations into a symbolic personality as far as Islamic international terrorism is concerned. Therefore, it would be a decisive test for Al-Qaeda to replace him. In effect, any instability in Al-Qaeda’s leadership would be an added advantage to the U.S. and NATO towards realizing their vision to secure the Afghan populace and overwhelming the Taliban (Lüsted, 2012).

    In conclusion, the death of Osama bin laden has resulted in a leadership dilemma in Al-Qaeda and Islamist terrorist groups worldwide. Although Al-Qaeda is still focused on the process of expanding the association base and recruiting universally accepted leadership, the biggest challenge remains the leader’s aptitude to exude confidence and charisma, which was typical of bin Laden.

    References

    Kitfield, J. (2012, April). The Atlantic: How the killing of Bin Laden has crippled Al-Qaeda. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/04/how-the-killing-of-bin-laden-has-crippled-al-qaeda/256505/

    Musharbash, Y. (2012, May). Impact of Bin Laden death: The monster lives on. Retrieved from http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/impact-of-bin-laden-death-the-monster-lives-on-a-760195.html

    Bowden, M. (2012). The finish: The killing of Osama Bin Laden. New York, NY: Atlantic Monthly Press.

    Lüsted, M. A. (2012). The capture and killing of Osama bin Laden. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub.

    Seib, P. M. (2008). The Al Jazeera effect: How the new global media are reshaping world politics. Washington, DC: Potomac Books.

    Rogers, A., & McGoldrick, D. (2011). III. Assassination and targeted killing–The killing of Osama bin Laden. The International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 60(3), 778-788.

    This sample essay should only be used as a resource. Do not pass it as your own to the teacher, as this will be plagiarism. You can, however, get your essay written on any topic by our professional writers at Best Paper Writers on any topic. Make your order today.

  • Avoid This When Writing a College Application Essay

    College application essays
    image source: http://www.schools.com

    Applications to colleges are time-consuming, but the essay writing part is the most vexing for most students. Your application should present you in a positive light. It should be well-drafted to get you a place in that college you always wanted to attend.  All you have to do is avoid most of these college application mistakes:

      1.  Forgetting to read instructions

    Before you start filling out your application, read the instructions carefully and attentively. Most colleges have different sections for local and international students. Fill out the correct information for each of the questions asked. You can go through the form after completion to make sure that all the questions are answered correctly.

    2.   Prolonging your essay

    Most college application essays will give a maximum number of words they need on the essay. Do not exceed it. Try to get rid of irrelevant details, poor ideas, oversharing, and clichés. Be concise, avoid repetitions and unnecessary words.

    On the other hand, do not write too little. The admission office gave a word limit because they believe you have as much to say on their question. Avoid being vague, too, and include enough details.

    3. Repetitions

    Avoid repeating the same point in each paragraph of your essay. Do not also apply the same thought across all essays on the application form. Tell something new. Make each essay original and unique.

       4. Keep the essay professional

    Your essay should answer the question asked. Use the right tone and avoid sounding like a privileged snob. Your reason to attend a certain college, for example, should not be because your whole family has been attending the college.

    Your essay should not sound materialistic or self-interested. You want to go to college because you want a good degree that will lead to a great salary. However, do not overemphasize this point in the essay. Saying you want to attend the college because you know several lawyers who are earning good money because they attended the said college may deny you the opportunity.

    5. Failure to proofread

    Do not hit submit before you proofread. You can use the spell-check tool, but you still have to go through your essay again to check the mistakes left out by the tool. You may write a great essay, but if you fail to proofread, the college admin will focus on your mistakes and not the essay’s content. Spelling mistakes only show you lack attention to detail. Ask a friend to help you edit your essay for mistakes you may have left out.

    6. Starting late

    Do not wait until the last minute to start your essay. College application essays need a lot of time to write. Make it your best work. Starting early will give you time to proofread. It will also give you time to ask others to review it for you.  If you manage to submit your essay early enough, you can confirm with the college whether they have received it or not.

    The worst mistake you could make is addressing the wrong school. It’s good to apply to different colleges, but make sure when you send out the forms, it’s to the right school. Make sure you also spell the school’s name correctly.

  • Basics of Decision Making

    Decision-making is a cognitive or mental process that results in selecting an action course among several alternative situations and scenarios.  Each decision-making process produces a final action or an opinion, which can be an exceptional output. The process of decision-making is as ancient as humanity (Gruinig, Grunig, & Kuhn, 2009). At first, it involved interpreting dreams and studying trail marks. It later transformed to voting, where the majority of senate members, citizens, and comrades would vote to make decisions. Since then, it has developed and resulted in a complex result involving an initial analysis of possible alternatives. Decision-making is a process everybody has to undertake at any one time (Gurvis, 2007).

    Decision-making is a leadership-defining characteristic viewed in different perspectives. In the cognitive perspective, the process is continuous (McLucas, 2010). There is an interaction with the surrounding environment. In the psychological perspective, the process is in the context of an individual preference, needs, and values. In the normative perspective, an individual’s decision is based on the logic of the process and the invariant option it leads one (Kaner et al., 2011). One has to know the difference between an opinion and a decision. Therefore, it is important to make a decision that one should and leave the rest. Another essential point to note is that leaders have to make decisions from several options and alternatives, which do not have to be ideal in solving the existing problem or circumstance (McLucas, 2010).

    Evaluate the situation before developing an action course. For example, a decision to call a fire brigade to help stop the fire from spreading within a slum is more significant than that of buying a car. The latter can always wait. Think about the outcome and consequences of decisions made (Kaner et al., 2011). Another key tip is to avoid making hurried decisions. This can result in a downfall and choosing things that are not a priority. As much as leaders should act quickly on easily changeable, less crucial, and adaptable decisions, they need to do it carefully because action-cause might have far-reaching implications and ramifications that might be hard to change. Timing is often fundamental. Therefore, avoid procrastination. It is better to make a wrong decision early and correct it than to make a correct decision rather too late (Mullen & Roth, 2009).

    Timely decisions are good. They come in handy when required. Writing down all options and checking their workability is vital because it forms a guide to decision-making (Mullen & Roth, 2009). They assist in evaluating facts and fiction. In addition, avoid bias and choosing options given by friends. Evaluating all the options can help one focus on the scope. Making an independent decision as one moves along is more practical and efficient than postponing the whole thing. The core of decision-making is objectivity. Moreover, involving other individuals feasibly helps in seeing issues clearly. It also motivates them and brings up an atmosphere of commitment and cooperation (Rai & Bhushan, 2004).

    In conclusion, effective and true leaders in any organization must have an opportunity to be right, and in some cases wrong, since no human is perfect. The leaders must also trust themselves and feel confident in handling whatever circumstance comes their way. Before becoming a leader, there is a need to train and understand the process of decision-making (Mullen & Roth, 2009). Leaders need to evaluate which issues are worth spending energy and time on to avoid wasting time on unnecessary content. The process of making decisions is an in-depth plan of action, which requires a lot of brainstorming, fresh ideas, and thoughts. A thorough follow-up of the decision made enhances the effectiveness of the outcome. There are people within organizations who never want change. They will constantly try through thick and thin to disagree and keep things as they were before. For an organization not to stagnate, one needs to make imperative decisions at the right time, for the right people, and at an ethically acceptable condition (Gruinig, Grunig, & Kuhn, 2009).

     

    References

    Gruinig, R., Grunig jr, R., & Kuhn, R. (2009). Successful decision-making: A systematic approach to complex problems. Seatle, WA: Springer.

    Gurvis, S. (2007). Management basics: A practical guide for managers. New York, NY: Adam Media.

    Kaner, S., Lind, L., Toldi, C., Fisk, S., Berger, D., & Doyle, M. (2011). Facilitator’s guide to participatory decision making. Chicago, IL: John Wiley and Sons.

    McLucas, A. C. (2010). Decision making: Risk management, system thinking and situation awareness. Washington, WA: Argos Press.

    Mullen, J. D., & Roth, B. M. (2009). Decision making: Its logic and practice. Minnesota, MN: Rowman & Littlefield.

    Rai, K., & Bhushan, N. (2004). Strategic decision making: Applying the analytic hierarchy process: Decision engineering. Seatle, WA: Springer.

    This is a sample essay written by one of our professional writers. Use this sample only as reference material and do not pass it as your own, as it will be considered plagiarism. You can, however, order a paper from our site and have it written according to your specifications and requirements.

  • Anorexia: The Role of the Media

    Anorexia is considered an illness from which those who suffer exhibit signs of low self-esteem and a continued need to control their emotions and surroundings. Anorexia is also considered a disorder that is mainly an unusual reaction to various internal and external conflicts that may include unhappiness, stress, anxiety, and the feeling that one’s life is exceedingly spinning out of control (Kittleson & Kramer, 2005). That being said, the disease is a very negative way for an individual to attempt to cope with such emotions. New research has indicated that anorexia could be a genetic disorder, with environmental factors catalyzing the condition’s advancement (Spettigue & Henderson, 2004). When one has the opportunity to interact with or even treat patients with anorexia, it is rather difficult not to end up blaming the media not only for causing the disorder but also for maintaining it. However, many people are exposed to the same media, yet not all develop eating disorders. Therefore, a question can be posed: What role does the media play in creating and promoting eating disorders like anorexia? An in-depth analysis of the media’s role in the above-mentioned area of life will be discussed.

    Media as an enabler and etiology to anorexic tendencies

    Over the years, magazines, advertisements, and television shows have created a stereotypic image of what the perfect woman should look like. This image has been getting thinner with time, to the point that it is extremely difficult for most women to keep up. Such images have created a social environment that has contributed mainly to disordered eating and body dissatisfaction in women and girls (Williams, Thomson, & McCoy, 2003). Research indicates that commercials for diet products and foods have increased in the recent past. In contrast, the body sizes for fashion models, beauty pageant contestants, and Playboy bunnies have decreased at the same time (Spettigue & Henderson, 2004). Therefore, it is safe to say that the media glorifies the slender body and emphasizes its importance, not to mention the importance of the general appearance. It is also important to note that there is a multi-billion dollar industry that relies on the emphasis of the value and importance of appearance and beauty in women (Shannon, 2007). The media has constantly engraved an image into people’s minds, one that is supposed to be acceptable in the social context. This has led many people to develop eating disorders in the bid to achieve these body forms.

    The media in maintaining anorexic tendencies

    Young women who exhibit body dissatisfaction, an internalization of the thin stereotype, a tendency of social comparison, and shape preoccupation are not only influenced by the media, but they also use the media more often than others (Williams et al., 2003). Research indicates that most women suffering from anorexia also record heavy media usage and even consider their reading of magazines as an addiction (Smolak & Moore, 2013). Qualitative results have also confirmed this notion. Beauty and fashion magazines, to these women, become manuals on how to achieve the desired thinness. They also support the desire to counterbalance and restrict dissonance, soliciting compliments from family and friends.

    Media and the prevention and treatment of anorexia

    The media has also been used to help people with anorexic tendencies. This has been done mainly by increasing awareness on media use, analyzing the intentions and content of media producers, and training people on critical thinking before engaging in activities promoted on the media (Spettigue & Henderson, 2004). These practices have shown considerable success to date.

    In conclusion, the media plays a rather notable role in the commencement and sustainability of eating disorders. However, that is not the only role played by the media. The media also helps patients to recover from these conditions. People are encouraged not to follow everything they see in the media and to think critically before engaging in any activities that may be destructive to them.

    References

    Kittleson, M. J., & Kramer, G. F. (2005). The truth about eating disorders. New York, NY: Facts on File.

    Shannon, J. B. (2007). Eating disorders sourcebook: Basic consumer health information about anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating, compulsive exercise, female athlete triad, and other eating disorders (2nd ed.). Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics.

    Smolak, L., & Moore, R. H. (2013). The developmental psychopathology of eating disorders implications for research, prevention, and treatment. Hoboken, NJ: Taylor and Francis.

    Spettigue, W., & Henderson, K. A. (2004, February 13). Eating disorders and the role of the media. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2533817/

    Williams, M. S., Thomsen, S. R., & McCoy, J. K. (2003). Looking for an accurate mirror: A model for the relationship between media use and anorexia. Eating Behaviors, 4(2), 127-134.

    This is a sample essay written by one of our professional writers. Use this sample only as reference material, and do not pass it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism. You can, however, order a paper from our site and have it written according to your specifications and requirements.

  • 3 Easy Tips on How to Edit Your Own Essay

    Editing your essay
    Editing ensures the reader focuses on what you have to say and not your errors.

    “That’s the magic of revisions – every cut is necessary, and every cut hurts, but something new always grows.”  Kelly Barnhill

    Editing is tiring, but the best editors revise. It’s a necessary pain that makes written work better. It helps you clarify, deepen, and strengthen your arguments more objectively. It also helps you express them in a powerful, coherent manner. When you edit, you ensure the reader focuses on what you have to say and not your errors.

    Newspaper and magazine editors ensure that the reader does not get bored, distracted, annoyed, or confused with content. You have to do the same with your essay. Anticipate the responses of your reader/ teacher- what they will feel or think as they read your essay.  These steps will help you edit your essay with ease.

         1. Distance yourself from the essay

    Give yourself time after you finish writing your essay before you can edit it. You can give yourself an hour, a day, or a week depending on the time you have before you hand in your essay. This will make your paper look fresh to your eyes and will not be so familiar. I would recommend printing out the essay and marking up mistakes as you read, but you can also edit from your computer. Make sure you are in a quiet environment with no distractions, as these may affect your editing concentration.

           2.  Edit  your essay

    Check that you have the full essay structure: introduction, body, and conclusion. Make sure your essay content covers everything your assignment requires of you. Your introduction should clearly state your intentions. Paragraphs should have clear topic sentences, with each explaining a point. Your conclusion should answer the question by summing up your argument. All your points should have supporting evidence and relate to the topic. Read your essay aloud to hear how the sentences sound. Your ears will pick out errors your eyes missed.  After this, read your essay backward from the last sentence to catch awkward words and phrases. Ensure you have written with the correct style and that your sources are correctly cited.

            3. Proofread your essay

    In this final stage of your editing process, focus on grammatical, punctuation, and spelling mistakes. You can use grammar and spellcheckers available online, but you should not rely on them entirely. Check each of the errors individually. You could decide to start with spelling, punctuation, and then grammar. It will be a lot easier to catch the errors this way. Read slowly to hear how different words in your essay sound together. Read each sentence individually, starting from the first one and again from the last one, to help you identify the errors.

    Note down the most recurring errors in your essay to make it easier for you to edit them easily in the future. Eliminate words or sentences that seem wrong, although you cannot pinpoint the mistake. Make sure that your essay flows. One point should lead to another, and if it distorts the flow, get rid of it. You can have a friend or teacher go through your essay and pinpoint mistakes you have left out.

    Have any pointers to add to the above? A method that works for you during editing? Share with us. You can also entrust our proofreading and essay writing services to score a good grade on your essay.