Horoscopes: Fact, fiction or fun? Horoscopes are a part of our life, its always found in the daily newspaper or magazines. Many people believe in it and many others do not.

(9) 'Horoscopes: Fact, fiction or fun?' (McPhee, A.T. 1999: 12) Horoscopes are a part of our life, it's always found in the daily newspaper or magazines. Many people believe in it and many others do not. Some just read it for fun and do not care if it is wrong or right. It has always been a wonder how accurate horoscopes and astrological predictions are, and if they are a fact and can be taken seriously or not. 'Astrology is a series of ancient beliefs and thoughts about how incidences on Earth are relevant to the locations and movements of the sun, planets and stars. It is said that astrologers can predict or expect a person's future from the locations of the sun, moon and stars at the same instant of the person's instance of being born. Horoscopes are an outline of these locations.' (McPhee 1999: 12) Horoscopes have been divided into 12 astrological signs, which are: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius. Each sign represents a space in the zodiac controlled by one of the 12 constellations. Every astrological sign has personality characteristics that are related to it, including both negative and positive characteristics. Astrologers predicted and expected these characteristics to be associated with each astrological sign depending on the locations and the movements of the sun, moon and stars as it is

  • Word count: 6487
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Should cannabis be legalised?

Should cannabis be legalised? For the past year cannabis (marijuana, blow, dope) has frequently been in the news headlines in the UK, and it was recently announced that the legal status of the drug is to be reviewed. This may come as welcome news to the many people who use the drug either for medicinal or recreational reasons. Cannabis can be smoked, usually with tobacco, eaten, drunk in a 'tea' or snorted as a snuff. Cannabis contains more than 400 chemicals, including 'cannabidiolic acid' - an antibiotic with similar properties to penicillin. However, the main psychoactive ingredient is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC. To simplify a very long and complicated story, THC mimics the actions of receptors in the brain called 'neurotransmitters' and interferes with normal functions. The cannabis smoke is inhaled into the lungs, where the THC is filtered into the bloodstream. Chemicals called cannabinoids block certain electrical signals inside the brain, interfering with the short term memory and co-ordination. Sounds may become distorted or hearing heightened. Pressure inside the eye decreases, causing the eyes to redden and the eyelids to become puffy. The air passage to the lungs expands and the mouth stops producing saliva, leaving a dry mouth. Cannabis increases the cardiovascular action of the heart. Blood pressure is altered and the pulse rate

  • Word count: 5687
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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-With detailed reference to Act 1 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet, explain how Baz Luhrmann has adapted the scene to appeal to a modern audience.

-With detailed reference to Act 1 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet, explain how Baz Luhrmann has adapted the scene to appeal to a modern audience. Romeo and Juliet, written in 1595 by William Shakespeare is now studied and respected by people of all ages, in 1997 the play was modernised and adapted by Baz Luhrmann into a box office hit. He succeeded in his aim of creating Shakespeare to appeal to a younger and wider range audience, Luhrmann kept the Shakespearean language, twisted with modernised society in such a way that Shakespeare became easily understood. Guns, cars, violence and drugs were used and included to appeal to a younger audience so that they became interested in Shakespeare. My personal response to this adaptation was positive, I myself found Shakespeare quite hard to understand at times, and to have a modernised film to watch, I believe it was a great choice. With a good selection of settings and characters, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, I think that the film for me was very successful; it identified the issues of the play in an understandable way for this generation. Some historians and researchers believe that Romeo and Juliet was based on a real Italian love story from the 3rd century, and the "real families" were named the Capeletti and the Montecci, however Shakespeare based his plot on the poem written by Arthur Brooke in 1562. Romeo and Juliet was set in a

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Lord of the Flies

With reference to chapters 1 and 11, compare the ways in which Jack changes during the course of Lord of the flies. You should refer in detail to character development, events, actions and language used. 'Lord of the flies' is a book written by William Golding in 1954. William Golding's first novel, 'Lord of the flies' is a book that offers a disturbing insight into real human nature, particularly young boys. This book was written by William Golding, in order to show the population that law and order is a need in the society. In Lord of the flies, the innocence of children is placed with cruelty and barbarism that emerged within these children, because of the absence of law and order. This view of life by William Golding was shaped by his wartime experiences. He was also a teacher which allowed him to observe the behaviour and actions of young boys, in different situations. He learnt that for a vast majority of individuals, it is law and order that keeps them away from the evil acts within them. 'Lord of the flies' covers and concludes this idea of the society, and realistic view of human nature using the character 'Jack'. William Golding uses the character 'Jack' in comparison to 'Hitler' in the World War two, showing that they had many similarities in their leadership qualities in terms of 'dictatorship'. I will be comparing the ways in which Jack changes during the

  • Word count: 4961
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Romeo And Juliet

Romeo and Juliet "Romeo and Juliet" is the masterpiece of the legendary William Shakespeare. In this essay I shall focus on Act 1 scene 5 of the play. Moreover I shall scrutinize the significance of this scene and the play as a whole in relation to its relevance in the present day. This scene is also pivotal as it displays the central themes and ideas of the play. Act 1 scene 5 is also fundamental in establishing the way that most of the drama will unfold throughout the play. I shall discuss, analyze and describe a number of things in this essay, in order to answer the essay question fully. The essay question requires for me to define the scene's relevance to the present, analyse the main themes and ideas that are portrayed in the play and observe and discuss the uses of dramatic devices, language and scene structure and how they are effective. Furthermore I shall need to scrutinise the main characters in the scene and determine the type of personality, thoughts and behaviour that they possess. Over 300 years ago the play was written; however it is still very popular today amongst people of different ages, gender, race and culture because of its universal themes and ideas. Love, violence, fate and feud are the four main themes that are raised in the tragedy, all of which are relevant today. Love in the play is between Romeo and Juliet, the hero and heroin of the drama.

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Of Mice and Men - Loneliness

Loneliness in 'Of Mice and Men' By Bethan Hindson 'Of Mice and Men' is set in 1930s America, in Salinas and centres around two men, Lennie and George, who are migrant farm workers looking for work. In 1930s America, these men would travel around the country, either walking or by cheap modes of transport, in pursuit of farm work. They would receive $2.50, maybe $3 per day, plus board and a room. Often they would spend their whole life either travelling or working. It was a lonely life, and the novel lets us experience this through the eyes of the ranch workers in Salinas. It is thought the inspiration for 'Of Mice and Men' came from the American Dream and the men who believed so steadfastly in it. The American Dream started when immigrants first began to populate America. It was the dream of a better world; equal opportunities; escape from poverty and starvation; and political and religious freedom. Each man carried a different dream. The American Dream for many in this book meant the dream of a 'little place' where they could finally settle down. Yet, this isn't the only dream-from the ranchmen the dream is to be the cowboy heroes they read about in their magazines and Curley's wife dreams of being a movie star. In this essay I am going to look at the topic of loneliness. Each character in 'Of Mice and Men' has his own loneliness and their own reasons for feeling

  • Word count: 4485
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet Who is to blame? Romeo and Juliet' tells the story of 'a pair of star-crossed lovers' and sends the reader into a whirlwind of love and passion of the timeless love story. Torn between the families, in what seems to be a never ending family feud Romeo and Juliet is one of the most romantic stories ever told, filled with forbidden and undeniable love. The play 'Romeo and Juliet' was written around 1594-1596 and perhaps William Shakespeare's most famous play. It's so famous in fact that people are still reading it over 400 years later. It has had many interpretation over the years, one of the most recent, 'Romeo and Juliet', was a film and released in 2007, it was a modern interpretation yet with the same script text as the original. The play is still loved and has been used and altered in many forms for example ballets, musicals and there have been many plays and film editions of the beloved Shakespearean classic. In the play there are two main families the Capulets and the Montgues, who are sworn enemies and hate each other deeply each family has a child. Juliet, from the Capulets and Romeo from the Montgues, the pair fall in love and through out the play the reader sees the desperation of the characters and their longing to be together. They marry, with help from Friar Laurence their trusted ally. Unfortunately, Shakespeare was fond of tragedy s and this

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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a case study on smoking and it's effects

Introduction My essay is about why smoking is bad for you and should it have been banned in public places? Smoking is the single largest cause of cancer in the UK. It causes 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer and is also a big risk factor cancer of the bladder, kidney, mouth and many more. I am going to look at the effects of smoking and also looking at whether it should it have been banned in public places. Page One - History Of Smoking Page Two - Why is it bad for you? Page Three - Why is it bad for you cont. (science) Page Four - Passive Smoking What is it? What Problems Does It Cause? Page Five - probs of smoking. Page Six - Smoking in public places Page Eight - For smoking in public places Page Nine - Aganst smoking in public places Page Ten - Evaluation of the two arguments Page Eleven - My Opinion Page Twelve - Bibliography and Reliability of Sources. Page Thirteen - Bibliography cont. Only 11 pages Sort it out in the morning!! History Of Smoking (using source 15) Smoking has been around for centuries, and this is one of the main reasons smoking is still so popular today. The first record of smoking is from 600AD where pictures of tobacco being smoked has been found on Guatemalan pottery. However historians believe that before that tobacco was first used by the native Americans, in which they used smoked tobacco for medicine and cerimonies. When

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Original Writing Coursework Fox Hunting,

Original Writing Coursework Sam Mort 11mcc 1.2.4 Mr Thorptracey Fox Hunting, Sport or Murder? Introduction I am going to do my piece of original writing coursework on something I feel strongly about. It is an issue that many other people also feel strongly and which provokes a lot of feelings and emotions from both sides. The thing I am going to be doing my piece of original writing coursework on is Fox Hunting. Fox Hunting is when mounted huntsmen and women chase a fox with dogs or hounds (as they are called by hunters) which are trained to catch the fox and then rip it to pieces. It was not until the decline of falconry (training and using falcons for hunting: the breeding, training, and use of falcons or other hawks to hunt small prey and return from flight at a falconer's direction), in the 17th century that the first fox hunts, consisting of organized groups of hunters and their servants and hounds, were established in England. Today the officials of the hunt and the members generally wear coats of bright scarlet, called pinks. However today many people feel that fox hunting is a cruel and unnecessary practise. The problem is that in the 17th century people who had farms could be wiped out by a pack of foxes got hold of their chickens, but in today's technological world there are much more humane ways to stop this happening like putting up an electric fence or

  • Word count: 3610
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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His Destiny

Madison Bailey Reluctant, short of breath, he opened the boot, slowly, and shined the torch inside. The dark-haired woman's body was there with broken glass, as he'd feared. He stifled a sob, quickly closed the boot, and gazed about, fearful someone had seen his dark secret. He awoke abruptly, cold, nauseated, shivering despite the number of blankets over him. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to chase the frightening image, which remained vivid. The hair at the back of his neck was wet, as were his armpits and the back of his knees. It was 4 in the morning. It was the fifth consecutive night he'd been awakened at this precise hour. Tears came to his eyes. He was frustrated and baffled. He could not imagine what wish would be fulfilled by the murder of a woman who was a stranger to him. He dressed quickly, everything at his fingertips in the tiny studio apartment. He set the three locks at his door and tiptoed down to the lobby. He had difficulty opening the building's large outer door, the wind blowing furiously against it. The night was dark, the area deserted. Light shone in only a handful of the windows of the apartment buildings that lined the street. His teeth were chattering as he approached the small car. The knot in his chest had his tall frame hunching, as if he were carrying a weight about his neck. He took a torch from the glove compartment and opened the

  • Word count: 3458
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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