The Textbook Pinch

Nelson DeSa

The Textbook Pinch

If you walk into G building to see an obnoxiously long line of disgruntled students pouring out from the book store and filling the foyer, then you know it's the beginning of a brand new semester at Bristol Community College. Most of them dodge the hour long wait and make their purchases online but what cannot be avoided are the outrageous cost of textbooks. Be it new, rented, used, or even digital, students are feeling the pinch.

Coupled with a drowning economy, can students even afford to further their education? We are facing a growing trend that may appear to only get worse. In the Intelligencer Journal/New Era, Enelly Betancourt, writes:

Collegeboard.org states that in 2010-11, the average student spent $1,137 a year for textbooks and other materials at a four-year public college. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group released a new survey stating the price of t extbooks has risen 22 percent over the past four years. College textbook prices have increased at twice the rate of I nflation - six percent each year from 1986 to 2004 according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

I haven't been in a classroom since I graduated from an automotive technical training school in 2004. I had no idea how to obtain the correct books for all my college courses, so my plan was to just pay a quick and easy visit to the school store. The cost for brand new textbooks would put me at a loss for words. The total cost exceeded $500 which was well above what I wanted to spend. How could I, or anyone for that matter, afford to better themselves through education with issues like unemployment running rampant? Something needed to be done.

Students need to make alternative decisions when purchasing their books. Rentals are wildly popular on campus even though a smaller percentage of the original cost is refunded. Those that opt to go with the e-version of books also purchase the great advantage of accessibility. Less books may not outweigh the fact that you can still spend 60 percent of what the average new textbook costs.

If a new book is a must, then you should consider selling the book back to the store. The buy back cost however, could drastically change if college professors continue to use them next semester or if there is a newer edition coming up. If your like me then you'll invest in a good used book. To pay about half the price and have the option to keep the textbook after completing your semester is a value unto itself. For example, a complicated major could possibly merit a review of material that you covered in that Psychology class during your freshman year.

Purchasing textbooks online can save you a great amount of money but make sure your getting exactly what you need for your classes. Some editions are printed overseas which means your getting a slightly different textbook than the student next to you. If your professor requires you to use addition media, such as online tests, your stuck with buying new unless you purchase the key-code from the publisher directly. In that case your spending just as much as if you were buying the package from the get go.

Aside from some of the conventional options discussed earlier, why not take it a step further and think outside the box. Alex Campbell notes in the Chronicle of Higher Education, about how Daniel Flint, a professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, is taking a different approach. He writes:

Mr. Flint, a professor of marketing at the university, used a new build-your-own-textbook service called AcademicPub, which arranged payment of royalties and compiled the material for publication. His students were given three options for buying the book: Download a digital edition for $14.95, get it in paperback for $27, or go for the hardcover for $45.

Some of the ideas listed I was unsure about at first, but thanks to the advice of some close friends, I was able to make smarter decisions and save some much needed money. In some cases I had no choice but to purchase new textbooks but when I could, I would get them used. Places like Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble, Chegg, Coursesmart, and BookStop should be recommended whenever possible. If you happen to have an old textbook that a friend can use, let them borrow it and save them the cost. Fresh ideas like the service AcademicPub are what colleges need to look into to help students. It would benefit the community because properly educated people can set out to turn this economy around.

Works Cited

Campbell, Alex. “New Digital Tools Let Professors Tailor Their Own Textbooks for Under $20;

And that's just one option, along with mix-and-match Web sites from big publishers and libraries of open-source content.” The Chronicle of Higher Education. 9 October 2011, Suburban: 1. LexisNexis Academic. Web. 4 Nov. 2011

Betancourt, Enelly. “Students Scrimp on Costly Books” Intelligencer Journal/New Era (Lancaster, Pennsylvania). 4 October 2011, Suburban: 1. LexisNexis Academic. Web. 4 Nov. 2011.

Post-write: I feel that that paper is satisfactory. I understand the purpose of the paper wasn't about the research but I can't help feel that some of it just feels thrown together. My example would be the anecdote about purchasing my books. There was more to it than that but following through here would take away from the proposal's purpose. Maybe the flow of the proposal could be done better. I'm not sure if I got the format down to a science. Do you feel there are enough solutions, if any, to the problem? Would you buy a version of the AcademicPub book/e-book to save some cash?

The Children's Hero (Profile essay - draft 2)

The Children's Hero

“I remember displaced families and people running across streets as fast as they could run. We had a lot of trouble with snipers at the time.” His face stern as scenes of Bosnia shadow across it. “Also, the absence of color. The villages were shell ridden and dreary. It was a very depressing place. I feel our presence made a difference and I am proud that NATO intervened.”

Kevin Stone , now at 36 years of age, and his unit spent eighteen months establishing and then preserving peace during and after the war. “I had never seen death before until Bosnia. I appreciate life more now based on my military experiences.” After seeing what war brings, he adapted a “"Kill them all and let God sort them out" view. How would that attitude affect his life after his term of service? Kevin always had an open mind to find the drive and accomplish his goals but would this new view corrupt him? Kevin's military past would abruptly decide his civilian future for him.

His green eyes are gazing at the photos of family and fellow soldiers on the crimson walls of his office. Kevin, sitting back in his computer chair, runs his hand through his short dark hair and asks me if I'd like to see some of the stuff he brought back from his time spent overseas. I gather my things from the interview and follow the stocky 5'7” veteran. Kevin leads me back down a flight of carpeted stairs back to the living room area where a glass hutch is proudly displaying various objects from different parts of the world.

“My highest award is the Army Commendation medal, but I am most proud of my Schützenschnur.” He points to a beautifully braided silver cord that is wrapped around the Bundeswehr eagle medal at the top. The Bundeswehr Schützenschnur is awarded to enlisted soldiers for weapons proficiency with a G36 German service rifle, a P8 pistol, and an MG3 machine gun. Quite an accomplishment seeing as it is not often that many American soldiers are offered that opportunity.

His experiences in Honduras and Bosnia would influence him to join the health services field.. “I did not think so at first, but I believe so now. I remember the children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I pulled guard on a school for a few weeks and had a great time with the children. They thought all Americans ate MREs. They would beg for "lunch buckets" and pencils. I noticed there was a greater need once NATO pulled out. I assume that is why I went into social work when I left the Army. Once I started working with children, I loved it. Each kid is so special in their own memorable way.”

Over the course of four years, Kevin would conduct child welfare investigations, build cases, testify in court, and certify foster parents as a Child Welfare Specialist. Kevin recalls all the cases involving child deaths but one case in particular he wishes he could have changed. It was regarding the placement of an infant with his father. “The father, a Soldier, murdered the child. There was no reason to deny the placement, but hindsight is 20/20.”

Wanting to raise a family, Kevin left the health services field and now works for the department of defense. “I knew I could not work in this field and come home to my daughter each night. It is too emotionally draining. You have a tendency to think of your own children while investigating. It's hard not to act on your emotions when interviewing alleged perpetrators. Generally, the work is too hard on a person.” With difficult careers behind him, did all these events change how he would raise his daughter? “I feel it has made me a better father. I have more patience and enjoy the time I have with my Isabella.”

Post Write:

I'm not sure if it is just being away from it for few days but I feel somewhat better about this draft. I know Kevin personally and I fell like he deserves a better paper than I submitted. It looks cleaner because I was able to trim some of the fat off of it. I don't think there will ever be a point where I feel like the paper will be just as I want it. In this case, Kevin is someone I look up to at times so I don't think I'll ever get to a comfortable point with this essay without exceeding the limits of the paper. At that point it might end up being a biography (lol). If you had to do a profile essay for someone that you look up to, would you be able to write it between 500–700 words? Do you feel like it's a somewhat better draft than the first? I found myself having a hard time pinpointing a solid thesis but the paper lead me to go with dealing with tough times and if you can overcome its affects to go on to help others in their tragedies. Do you feel like the nut graf was clear?

The Children's Hero

“I remember displaced families and people running across streets as fast as they could run. We had a lot of trouble with snipers at the time.” His face stern as scenes of Bosnia shadow across it. “Also, the absence of color. The villages were shell ridden and dreary. It was a very depressing place. I feel our presence made a difference and I am proud that NATO intervened.”

The Bosnian war was an international armed conflict that started in April of 1992 and was fought to December 1995. Many heinous war crimes were committed during that time that included genocide, mass rape and psychological oppression.

Kevin Stone , now at 36 years of age, and his unit spent eighteen months establishing and then preserving peace during and after the war. He has seen many things that would shatter the spirit of an average human being. “I had never seen death before until Bosnia. I appreciate life more now based on my military experiences.” After seeing what war brings, how would that affect someones life? How would it change them? Kevin's military past would abruptly decide his civilian future for him.

His green eyes are gazing at the photos of family and fellow soldiers on the crimson walls of his office. The 36 year old sitting back in his computer chair, runs his hand through his short dark hair and asks me if I'd like to see some of the stuff he brought back from his time spent overseas. I gather my things from the interview and follow the stocky 5'7” veteran. Kevin leads me back down a flight of carpeted stairs back to the living room area where a glass hutch is proudly displaying various objects from different parts of the world.

“My highest award is the Army Commendation medal, but I am most proud of my Schützenschnur.” He points to a beautifully braided silver cord that is wrapped around the Bundeswehr eagle medal at the top. The Bundeswehr Schützenschnur is awarded to enlisted soldiers for weapons proficiency with a G36 German service rifle, a P8 pistol, and an MG3 machine gun. Quite an accomplishment seeing as it is not often that many American soldiers are offered that opportunity.

Upon finishing his military career, Kevin would join the health services field. His experiences in Honduras and Bosnia would influence this decision. “I did not think so at first, but I believe so now. I remember the children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I pulled guard on a school for a few weeks and had a great time with the children. They thought all Americans ate MREs. They would beg for "lunch buckets" and pencils. I noticed there was a greater need once NATO pulled out. I assume that is why I went into social work when I left the Army.” His caring nature would serve him well in helping children in need. “Once I started working with children, I loved it. Each kid is so special in their own memorable way.”

Over the course of four years, Kevin would conduct child welfare investigations and certify foster parents as a Child Welfare Specialist. He also built child welfare cases and would testify in court on some occasions. Most cases were difficult but some were worse than others. Kevin recalls all the cases involving child deaths but one case in particular he wishes he could have changed. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made and this one was regarding the placement of an infant with his father. “The father, a Soldier, murdered the child. There was no reason to deny the placement, but hindsight is 20/20.”

Wanting to raise a family, Kevin left the health services field and now works for the department of defense. “I knew I could not work in this field and come home to my daughter each night. It is too emotionally draining. You have a tendency to think of your own children while investigating. It's hard not to act on your emotions when interviewing alleged perpetrators. Generally, the work is too hard on a person.”

Kevin agrees that with difficult careers behind him, the health services field guided how he would raise his daughter. “I feel it has made me a better father. I have more patience and enjoy the time I have with my Isabella.” This soldier's story may or may not be unique but there is something to be said for someone who has seen war and continued on to not only lead a normal life, but help others to live normal lives as well.

Post Write: I feel like a lot of the essay may seem fragmented and doesn’t flow as well as I wanted it to. Maybe there could be more description as to what Kevin looks like. I feel that many things need to be done. One of them is to cut down the size of the essay as it is well over the limit. Did I describe what Kevin looked like well enough or could it use more? Do you think the 2 ideas merged into a good thesis? Did you enjoy the read? Do you fell like I applied all the fundamentals of a good profile essay?

Application Essay - Umass Dartmouth Transfer (Second Draft)

UMASS Dartmouth

Transfer applicants must attach a one-page statement about the experiences and the reasons why you are considering transfer or resuming your academic career.

My Path

I had graduated high school and started working because I really hadn't decided what to take in college. I even applied to BCC but I never followed through. I started getting into a little debt and promised myself that I would work for a year, clear that debt and all the while, find out what I wanted to go to college for. I have artistic and culinary skills that come naturaly to me but I didn't want to chance becoming that starving artist. Although the culinary field wouldn't leave me "starving", it wasn't as fulfilling. Pun intended. Well, needless to say, none of that ever happened. My parents instilled in me that a well paying job was one of the most important things in life. But what about the things in between like satifaction in doing what you do? What about the things that I really wanted? I remember telling them that I was going to be lawyer because it was a job that would pay well and it would please them. This attitude is what started me down that path. 

 

For over 10 years I have been in a rut in my life where I would just live paycheck to paycheck. Taking a step forward meant I would soon be falling 2 steps behind. No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to get on par with anything. I felt like I was shackled in chains and being lead down this dark road by a demon. There had to be something more to life than this. Thirteen years later at the ripe young age of 32, I joined the National Guard. The military was always something that lingered in the back of my mind: I would serve my country, it would pay for my education, and offer benefits. To be a part of something bigger than myself. That was something noble but I didnt want to be the average soldier either. 

How can I help my battle buddies as much as possible by more than just putting lead down range with an M4 rifle? I want to be there for the troops that defended our country. Perhaps I could help soldiers deal with what they saw out in the war zone. What makes people do what they do has always fascinated me. A very good friend in the field of pyschology once told me that most people who enter his field, try to diagnos themsleves. Was he right? Was I on a quest to discover more about myself? Am I doing this for the wrong reasons? I wanted to turn my questions into answers. I wanted to help those that felt lost, confused, or hopeless. I want to be that beacon of light through the fog of life that everyone gets caught in; Especially for my fellow soldiers.

With a good education, I can help people who need it most. Using psychology as a catalyst, I would fight the war on a different front. Helping soldiers recover from the damage that terrorism has wreaked on their minds would be my mission. With an education as my shield and the military as my sword I face our demons...prepared.

Post write: I think the revision process needs some work. Although the changes were made as suggested, I disagree with some of it. Resetting the paragraphs, I feel, disrupted the mindset I tried to create. A great example of this would be in the last paragraph and how it would tie into the first three sentences in paragraph 2 (which should be the start of the essay), setting the tone for the essay. I'm not really sure what remains to be done aside from more revision. Some arranging of paragraphs is questionable to me as stated before. After reading both drafts, how would you edit the essay? Which draft is more appealing to you and why? How far would you go for your education?

Application essay - Umass Dartmouth Transfer

For over 10 years I have been in a rut in my life where I would just live paycheck to paycheck. Taking a step forward meant I would soon be falling 2 steps behind. No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to get on par with anything. I felt like I was shackled in chains and being lead down this dark road by a demon. 
 

My parents instilled in me that a well paying job was one of the most important things in life. But what about the things in between like satisfaction in doing what you do? What about the things that I really wanted? I remember telling them that I was going to be lawyer because it was a job that would pay well and it would please them. This attitude is what started me down that path. 
 

I had graduated high school and started working because I really hadn't decided what to take in college. I even applied to BCC  but just let that go by the wayside. I started getting into a little debt and promised myself that i would work for a year, clear that debt and all the while, find out what I wanted to go to college for. I have artistic and culinary skills that come naturally to me but I didn't want to chance becoming that starving artist. Although the culinary field wouldn't leave me starving, it wasn't as fulfilling. Pun intended. Well, needless to say, none of that ever happened. 
 

There had to be something more to life than this. Thirteen years later at the ripe young age of 32, I joined the National Guard. The military was always something that lingered in the back of my mind: I would serve my country, it would pay for my education, and offer benefits. To be a part of something bigger than myself. That was something noble but I didn't want to be the average soldier either. How can I help my battle buddies as much as possible by more than just putting lead down range with an M4 rifle. I want to be there for the troops that defended our country. Perhaps I could help soldiers who just came back from a deployment, deal with what they saw out in the war zone.

What makes people do what they do has always fascinated me. A very good friend in the field of psychology once told me that most people who enter his field, try to diagnose themselves. Was he right? Was I on a quest to discover more about myself? Am I doing this for the wrong reasons? No. I wanted to turn my questions into answers. I wanted to help those that felt lost, confused, or hopeless. I want to be that beacon of light through the fog of life that everyone gets caught in. Especially for my fellow soldiers.

With a good education, I can help people who need it most. Using psychology as a catalyst, I would fight the war on a different front. Helping soldiers recover from the damage that terrorism has wreaked on their minds would be my mission. With an education as my shield and the military as my sword I face our demons...prepared.

Post write: I think I did a good job on the essay. I feel like I described some of myself in a nutshell pretty well in paragraphs 1 and 2. I feel like a look over this will help with a better 2^nd draft. Did you need more information about who I am as a person? Was the information about me relevant to the essay and what I was trying to accomplish?

Animal Instincts (This I Believe draft 2)

I firmly believe that pets are an important part of our lives. Those of us lucky enough to live with one know what I'm talking about. In my case, I have a Pekingese, a small dog, that will always greet me at the door with a wagging tail and an excited smile. The long day at the job just seems to melt away, if even for a while. I'll take a spot on the rug to do some homework and he'll just sit right beside me, until he realizes that he doesn't have ALL of my attention. At that point he decides to sit front and center. Right on top of my books. Can you believe that?! So I take a few minutes and toss a toy down the hall. The game of fetch doesn't last very long and now it's Tug of War. Gizmo's lighthearted personality is something I think everyone needs in their lives.

The effects of animals are almost magical. For years, dogs and cats have have been brought into hospitals to raise the spirits of people all around them. They put smiles on the faces of frightened children who battle their sickness everyday. Stroking the soft coat of the animal wipes away the periods of harsh, but lifesaving, treatments they have endured. Spending a few moments in the room, they melt away the worries of the ill by just sitting there. As if it was just another day, they make it look easy.

In nursing homes, they bring happiness and companionship into the lives of our elderly. Nostalgia sets in and the rekindling of cherished memories form. Loved ones. A pet from their youth perhaps. Smiles appear on the faces of people and laughter can be heard throughout the halls. Unaware of the shift in morale, they go from room to room brightening the days of people whose lives they have touched. The result is almost therapeutic.

Numerous studies have been made about the effects of people and pets. Its has been shown that happier people are ill less often. Inviting a pet into your life could reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Taking a walk with your dog will get you out of the house and make you healthier for it. Especially so for individuals who have suffered from cardiac arrest. The daily activities required in keeping a pet, such as grooming, will help increase blood circulation and slows the loss of bone tissue. That is how dramatic an effect pets can have on people.

Picture this..a dog walks through the park with it's owner on a beautiful fall afternoon. A man and his son see them coming down the path. At first, the child seems apprehensive about this small animal and wraps his arms around his father's leg. The small dog draws closer, slightly tugging a female along. The child buries his face in a knee, but curiosity allows him to just take a small peak. The dog is just at arms reach from the pair as the father assures his son that it's okay. The boy becomes adventurous and decides to pet the smiling dog, like his father demonstrated. The father looks down and sees his son smiling from ear to ear, giggling away. They can ease the uncertainty out of a young child or warm the heart or a lonely grandmother. Do they really know what they offer is priceless?

Post Write: After seeing some the chosen examples read in class I felt like I had missed the mark. The paper is well written, in my opinion, but seemed almost robotic while stating facts like in paragraph four. What remains to be done always comes down to editing process After reading it through,. I moved some stuff around but another set of eyes is always helpful. Do readers feel like there is too many metaphors and not enough personal expierences in the essay? Did you enjoy reading it? Was it robotic at times; not as personal?

Sources: http://www.bhg.com/health-family/pets/care/how-pets-help-people/

This I Believe

This I Believe

A dog walks through the park with it's owner on a beautiful fall afternoon. A man and his son see them coming down the path. At first, the child seems apprehensive about this small animal and wraps his arms around his father's leg. The small dog draws closer, slightly tugging a female along. The child buries his face in a knee, but curiosity allows him to just take a small peak. The dog is just at arms reach from the pair as the father assures his son that it's okay. The boy becomes adventurous and decides to pet the smiling dog, like his father demonstrated. The father looks down and sees his son smiling from ear to ear, giggling away.

I firmly believe that pets are an important part of our lives. Those of us lucky enough to live with one know what I'm talking about. In my case, I have a Pekingese, a small dog, that will always greet me at the door with a wagging tail and an excited smile. The long day at the job just seems to melt away, if even for a while. I'll take a spot on the rug to do some homework and he'll just sit right beside me, until he realizes that he doesn't have ALL of my attention. At that point he decides to sit front and center. Right on top of my books. Can you believe that?! So I take a few minutes and toss a toy down the hall. The game of fetch doesn't last very long and now it's Tug of War. Gizmo's lighthearted personality is something I think everyone needs in their lives.

The effects of animals are almost magical. For years, dogs and cats have have been brought into hospitals to raise the spirits of people all around them. They put smiles on the faces of frightened children who battle their sickness everyday. Stroking the soft coat of the animal wipes away the periods of harsh, but lifesaving, treatments they have endured. Spending a few moments in the room, they melt away the worries of the ill by just sitting there. As if it was just another day, they make it look easy.

In nursing homes, they bring happiness and companionship into the lives of our elderly. Nostalgia sets in and the rekindling of cherished memories form. Loved ones. A pet from their youth perhaps. Smiles appear on the faces of people and laughter can be heard throughout the halls. Unaware of the shift in morale, they go from room to room brightening the days of people whose lives they have touched. The result is almost therapeutic.

Numerous studies have been made about the effects of people and pets. Its has been shown that happier people are ill less often. Inviting a pet into your life could reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Taking a walk with your dog will get you out of the house and make you healthier for it. Especially so for individuals who have suffered from cardiac arrest. The daily activities required in keeping a pet, such as grooming, will help increase blood circulation and slows the loss of bone tissue. That is how pets can affect people. They can ease the uncertainty out of a young child or warm the heart or a lonely grandmother. Do they really know what they offer is priceless?

Post Write: My first idea was along the lines of how teens most teens lack responsibility among other things but that would break the preaching rule. So I decided to stay away from possibly stirring the pot and go for a lighter note. Briefly thought about chasing an idea about how a smile can change a persons attitude but that was the example given in class. Arriving at home and seeing how my dog can make me smile, it hit me. Animals can be the warm welcome anyone needs after a long day. At that point the creative juices started flowing and it all spilled over onto my desktop.

Sources: http://www.bhg.com/health-family/pets/care/how-pets-help-people/