Purpose:

How many times have we heard someone complaining about something happening in our communities–but offering no solutions for the problem?  This assignment is designed to develop your problem-solving skills and engage you in a substantive conversation concerning a current local issue.  This assignment will also encourage you to begin seriously considering your audience as a writer.  When you are writing a letter such as this, you’ll want to consider who will be reading it, particularly in terms of what words, examples, facts, or appeals might best convince this particular group.

The Assignment:

* Write a two to three page (double-spaced) letter to the editor, proposing a solution to a current local problem.  List the newspaper to which you would be sending this to at the top of your paper.  Begin the letter with:  “Dear Editor,”  Throughout the paper, be as specific as you possibly can in terms of:

1.) Defining/describing the problem and who it affects

2.) Describing your solution

3.) Defending your solution as the best means of dealing with this problem

As you’re writing this letter, also do keep in mind your audience.

***

IMPORTANT NOTE: Papers on the following topics will not be accepted: 

* abortion

* capital punishment

* euthanasia

I’ve already read more papers on these topics than anyone should in an entire lifetime, so I won’t read anymore. I encourage you to be more creative in selecting your topic.  For the Letter to the Editor, you should also be choosing a topic that is far more specific and local than any of these broad controversial issues.

Body Weight Regulation and Anorexia

According to data by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the
United States has seen a dramatic increase in obesity with all states
having 20% or more of their population being obese (U.S. Obesity
Trends). On the other hand, it is estimated that 8 million Americans
suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia (Eating
Disorder Statistics). These two observations point to the prevalence of
body weight concerns in contemporary U.S. culture. Given these facts,
what light do scientific findings shed on the problem of body weight
regulation?

For this week’s Discussion you analyze the complex factors that
contribute to body weight. You also assess the biological and cultural
influences related to eating disorders.

With these thoughts in mind:

PART 1 – WRITE a Post a description of how metabolic rate

changes with caloric intake. Then describe at least four influences on

body weight. Finally, explain how cultural influences might contribute

to eating disorders. Support your postings and responses with specific

references to the literature and Learning Resources.

Required Resources

Readings

• Breedlove, S. M., & Watson, N. V. (2018). Behavioral neuroscience (8th ed.) New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  • Chapter 12, “Sex: Evolutionary, Hormonal, and Neural Bases”
  • Chapter 13, “Homeostasis: Active Regulation of Internal States”
• Schwarz, N. A., Rigby, B. R., La Bounty, P., Shelmadine, B., &
  Bowden, R. G. (2011). A review of weight control strategies and their
  effects on the regulation of hormonal balance. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 1–15. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21822485

Media

• Sinauer Associates, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Ovarian and uterine cycles. Available from http://www.sinauer.com/levay3e/activities0503.html
• Sinauer Associates, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Negative feedback. Available from https://www.bn8e.com/

Optional Resources

• Obesity. (2011). A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004552/

References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). U.S. obesity trends. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

South Carolina Department of Mental Health. (2006). Eating disorder statistics. Retrieved from http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/anorexia/statistics.htm

PART 2 –

Application: Paper on Sexual Differentiation

Hormones play a crucial role in shaping the fetal body into either a
male- or female-typical body. The brain determines the type and amount
of hormones the fetus produces. Furthermore, hormones do not act alone,
but rather in concert with brain regions that regulate sexual
behavior. The brain, therefore, not only regulates sexual behavior, but
it is also shaped by the same hormones that prepare the body for
reproduction. These facts raise intriguing questions about gender,
sexual behavior and orientation, and the extent to which these are, or
are not, under conscious human control.

For this Assignment, you research and evaluate the current literature
on prenatal influences on sexual behavior, gender orientation, or
gender typical behavior.

The Assignment:

Select an article related to the process of sexual differentiation,
prenatal influences on sexual orientation, gender orientation, or
gender typical behavior and write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses
the following:

• Write a brief summary of the article you selected. Describe two
  implications of the article’s findings. Explain whether the findings
  concur or conflict with the body of literature in this area.
• List one question that remains unanswered and is in need of further research.

Assignment Content

“Stress In Your Life” Please respond to the following:

• Select one (1) stressful event in your life. From the e-Activity, discuss how psychosocial stressors related to this event can interact with your behavioral risk factors and how this, in turn, can lead to chronic health problems. Note: Discussion responses may include information from your personal life, discussion about your friends’ or family members’ lives, or examples from life in general. You are not required to solely use personal examples if you are not comfortable doing so.

• Week 3 eActivity

  • Read the article titled “Stress Management: How to Reduce, Prevent, and Cope with Stress,” located at http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm. Be prepared to discuss.

Discussion, 2-3 paragraphs, 15 lines, no outline

Why is it important to understand the concepts of inflation, present value, and future value as Saudi Arabia moves towards Saudi Vision 2030? What are some of the important terms and concepts that managers must understand in making decisions in today’s global environment? How will these factors affect Saudi Vision 2030, if at all?

Search the SEU library or the Internet for an academic or industry-related article. Select an article that relates to any of these concepts (inflation, present value, or future value) in the context of doing business in Saudi Arabia.

For your discussion post, your first step is to summarize the article in two paragraphs, describing what you think are the most important points made by the authors (remember to use citations where appropriate). For the second step, include the reference listing with a hyperlink to the article. Do not copy the article into your post and limit your summary to two paragraphs. Let your instructor know if you have any questions and enjoy your search.