Drug Screening in Government Assistance Programs

Drug Screening in Government Assistance Programs The United States Federal Government Should Initiate Drug Screening For Citizens Who Seek Government Assistance. Negative Strategy # 1 As Pollack, Danziger, Jayakody Seefeldt (2002) affirm, initiating involuntary dug screening for all citizens seeking government assistance is definitely costly. The purchase of modern drug screening equipment in numbers that will be able to screen all people who apply for welfare programs, especially with the large population of America, would certainly be an expensive exercise. In addition, like any other machine, the drug screen equipment will require regular servicing and maintenance, which require more resources at close intervals. It is equally undoubted that in order for the screening programs to be successful, medical professionals and technological professionals will need to take part. This implies that a competent staff that comprises of specialists in all relevant sectors of operation and in appropriate numbers will mandatorily be employed to make the program a success. Apparently, the cost of purchasing the drug screening equipment, maintaining them, and pay for all the i nvolved expenses including the human resources is most likely to exceed the amount of money that the federal government would save on implementing drug screening policy to persons seeking government’s assistance (Pollack et al., 2002). Similar to Pollack et al. (2002), Carey (1998) emphasizes that the implementation of compulsory drug testing policies to citizens who seek for government’s assistance is unnecessary, unjustifiable, and the highest level of misappropriation of taxpayers’ money.The implementation of laws that support mandatory drug screening for people applying for government assistance is unnecessary and misappropriation of taxpayers’ money Therefore, it unnecessary and unjustifiable that the federal government engages in a more expensive program with intentions to save taxpayers’ money, as the implementation of the drug screening program will cost a lot more of the taxpayers’ money than the welfare programs as they currently are (before the implementation of the policy). Fielding, Long, Imam, Tye Ogawa (2002) further states that initiating drug screen for all citizens seeking government’s assistance is likely to have very little (negligible) or even no effect on the prevalence of drug abuse in the country. According to Fielding et al. (2002), a majority of people who are financially vulnerable in the United States are not drug addicts. The cost of drugs in the country is relatively expensive for many people belonging to poor population, especially with the high tax rates that the government has implemented on drugs over subsequent years. They also notes that it is much more reasonable for the Federal government to determine the prevalence drug use in the country by assessing people based in their ages rather than income, as a majority of drug users fall within the productive ages of between 16 and 40 years (Fielding et al., 2002). Hence, the implementation of drug screening policy, which only demands for mandatory drug testing among the econo mically vulnerable, is likely play an insignificant role in controlling drug use in the country. Referring to Guthrie (1990), the implementation of the mandatory drug screening initiative for persons participating in welfare programs is unconstitutional and a violation of people rights to privacy and freedom to make personal choices. With the drug screening policy requiring that all people needing government assistance must be tested for all sorts of drugs including alcohol and tobacco before they can be eligible for the assistance, it is clear that the implementation of the policy will breach the law, especially with the fact that alcohol and tobacco are legal drugs in the United States. Provided one has attained the required age, he or she has the right use drugs that are legal for whichever reasons. Thus, it is unconstitutional and discriminative for the Federal government to deny law-abiding citizens the right to use legal drugs just because they are financially vulnerable and requires assistance from government-sponsored welfare programs. Negative strategy # 1 Rather than implementing mandatory drug screening policy to all citizens who apply for welfare programs, the government should support awareness creation programs that will discourage all members of the society to desist from drug abuse (DiNardo, 1994). The government should support school-based programs that aim at educating students in all levels of education ranging from elementary, secondary, middle-level colleges, to universities on the dangers of drug use. The government should equally use the mainstream media to run campaigns that discourage drug use while at the same time limit the campaigns on the same media that promote drug use. The federal government should equally compel all drug manufacturers to include cautionary or warning messages on the packages of their products to educate consumers on the negative effects of the drugs they are using. Through the creation of consciousness on the need to shun drug use, it is clear that many people will develop an internal motivation to stop drug abuse rather than being compelled to stop using drugs because one is financially vulnerable. As Pavetti, Olson, Nightingale, Duke Isaacs (1997) points out, drug addiction is like a chronic disease and one hardly, whether willingly or unwillingly, stop the practice overnight. Stopping drug use is a gradual process, and drug addicts need to be taken through comprehensive behavior change programs that may take up to one or two years. Based on that, the Federal government should construct more rehabilitation facilities and equip them with the necessary human resources and machinery with which to support drug addicts to stop unproductive drug use; instead of implementing the dictatorial and illegal drug testing policy on applicants of government’s assistance. The access to the rehabilitation programs should equally be enhanced, particularly by making them affordable to all people including the economically vulnerable. Using the behavior change programs where professionals take drug addicts through gradual steps in on how to stop the addiction, it is evident that the gover nment is bound to get better results on drug control than implementing the drug policy, which will require people to forcefully, stop drug abuse in order to be eligible for welfare programs (Pavetti et al., 1997). An alternative strategy to implementing the drug screen policy on citizens needing government’s assistance is the formulation and then implementation of strict legislations that govern drug use in the country. As Hora, Schma Rosenthal (1998) support, the use of the legal infrastructure where all people who violate drug laws are punished promptly by the court of law is likely to give better results in the fight against drug use. The legislations should provide a platform on which people who take illicit drugs, those who sell drugs to minors, and those who use drugs inappropriately are surely prosecuted and punished by huge fines and even imprisonment sentences. The federal government should improve surveillance on drug abusers and work with the judicial systems to ensure that all violators of drug laws are held accountable for their actions. Through that, people will shun from the illegal use of drugs, and that will help in controlling the prevalence of drug abuse in the socie ty. References Pollack, H. A., Danziger, S., Jayakody, R., Seefeldt, K. S. (2002). Drug testing welfare recipients—false positives, false negatives, unanticipated opportunities.Womens Health Issues,12(1), 23-31. Fielding, J. E., Long, A. M., Imam, I. J., Tye, G., Ogawa, P. L. (2002). The drug court programs of Los Angeles County: the initial results.A Journal of the Substance Abuse Treatment,23(3), 217-224. Guthrie, P. M. (1990). The Drug Test and Welfare: Taking of the Drug War into Unconstitutional Limits.Ind. LJ,66, 579. Carey, C. A. (1998). Crafting of a challenge to the practice of the drug testing welfare participants: the federal welfare reform, and state response as one of the most recent chapters in the war against drugs.Buff. L. Rev.,46, 281. DiNardo, J. (1994). The critical review of estimates of the specific costs of alcohol and drug usage. InDrug testing in the workplace(pp. 57-76). Springer US. Pavetti, L., Olson, Nightingale, D., Duke, A. E., Isaacs, J. (1997). Welfare-to-Work Options for Families Facing Personal and Family Challenges: Rationale and Program Strategies. Hora, P. F., Schma, W. G., Rosenthal, J. T. (1998). The therapeutic jurisprudence, as well as the drug treatment and court movement: A Revolutionizing of the response system of the criminal justice to drug abuse, and crime in the U.S..Notre Dame L. Rev.,74, 439.

Chapter 9 Grim Defeat

Professor Dumbledore sent all the Gryffindors back to the Great Hall, where they were joined ten minutes later by the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, who all looked extremely confused. â€Å"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle,† Professor Dumbledore told them as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed all doors into the hall. â€Å"I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately,† he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. â€Å"Send word with one of the ghosts.† Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the hall, and said, â€Å"Oh, yes, you'll be needing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  One casual wave of his wand and the long tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood themselves against the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags. â€Å"Sleep well,† said Professor Dumbledore, closing the door behind him. The hall immediately began to buzz excitedly; the Gryffindors were telling the rest of the school what had just happened. â€Å"Everyone into their sleeping bags!† shouted Percy. â€Å"Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!† â€Å"C'mon,† Ron said to Harry and Hermione; they seized three sleeping bags and dragged them into a corner. â€Å"Do you think Black's still in the castle?† Hermione whispered anxiously. â€Å"Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be,† said Ron. â€Å"It's very lucky he picked tonight, you know,† said Hermione as they climbed fully dressed into their sleeping bags and propped themselves on their elbows to talk. â€Å"The one night we weren't in the tower†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I reckon he's lost track of time, being on the run,† said Ron. â€Å"Didn't realize it was Halloween. Otherwise he'd have come bursting in here.† Hermione shuddered. All around them, people were asking one another the same question: â€Å"How did he get in?† â€Å"Maybe he knows how to Apparate,† said a Ravenclaw a few feet away, â€Å"Just appear out of thin air, you know.† â€Å"Disguised himself, probably,† said a Hufflepuff fifth year. â€Å"He could've flown in,† suggested Dean Thomas. â€Å"Honestly, am I the only person who's ever bothered to read Hogwarts, A History?† said Hermione crossly to Harry and Ron. â€Å"Probably,† said Ron. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because the castle's protected by more than walls, you know,† said Hermione. â€Å"There are all sorts of enchantments on it, to stop people entering by stealth. You can't just Apparate in here. And I'd like to see the disguise that could fool those Dementors. They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds. They'd have seen him fly in too. And Filch knows all the secret passages, they'll have them covered†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"The lights are going out now!† Percy shouted. â€Å"I want everyone in their sleeping bags and no more talking!† The candles all went out at once. The only light now came from the silvery ghosts, who were drifting about talking seriously to the prefects, and the enchanted ceiling, which, like the sky outside, was scattered with stars. What with that, and the whispering that still filled the hall, Harry felt as though he were sleeping outdoors in a light wind. Once every hour, a teacher would reappear in the Hall to check that everything was quiet. Around three in the morning, when many students had finally fallen asleep, Professor Dumbledore came in. Harry watched him looking around for Percy, who had been prowling between the sleeping bags, telling people off for talking. Percy was only a short way away from Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who quickly pretended to be asleep as Dumbledore's footsteps drew nearer. â€Å"Any sign of him, Professor?† asked Percy in a whisper. â€Å"No. All well here?† â€Å"Everything under control, sir.† â€Å"Good. There's no point moving them all now. I've found a temporary guardian for the Gryffindor portrait hole. You'll be able to move them back in tomorrow.† â€Å"And the Fat Lady, sir?† â€Å"Hiding in a map of Argyllshire on the second floor. Apparently she refused to let Black in without the password, so he attacked. She's still very distressed, but once she's calmed down, I'll have Mr Filch restore her.† Harry heard the door of the hall creak open again, and more footsteps. â€Å"Headmaster?† It was Snape. Harry kept quite still, listening hard. â€Å"The whole of the third floor has been searched. He's not there. And Filch has done the dungeons; nothing there either.† â€Å"What about the Astronomy tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owlery?† â€Å"All searched†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Very well, Severus. I didn't really expect Black to linger.† â€Å"Have you any theory as to how he got in, Professor?† asked Snape. Harry raised his head very slightly off his arms to free his other ear. â€Å"Many, Severus, each of them as unlikely as the next.† Harry opened his eyes a fraction and squinted up to where they stood; Dumbledore's back was to him, but he could see Percy's face, rapt with attention, and Snape's profile, which looked angry. â€Å"You remember the conversation we had, Headmaster, just before — ah — the start of term?† said Snape, who was barely opening his lips, as though trying to block Percy out of the conversation. â€Å"I do, Severus,† said Dumbledore, and there was something like warning in his voice. â€Å"It seems — almost impossible — that Black could have entered the school without inside help. I did express my concerns when you appointed –â€Å" â€Å"I do not believe a single person inside this castle would have helped Black enter it,† said Dumbledore, and his tone made it so clear that the subject was closed that Snape didn't reply. â€Å"I must go down to the Dementors,† said Dumbledore. â€Å"I said I would inform them when our search was complete.† â€Å"Didn't they want to help, sir?† said Percy. â€Å"Oh yes,† said Dumbledore coldly. â€Å"But I'm afraid no Dementor will cross the threshold of this castle while I am Headmaster.† Percy looked slightly abashed. Dumbledore left the hall, walking quickly and quietly. Snape stood for a moment, watching the headmaster with an expression of deep resentment on his face; then he too left. Harry glanced sideways at Ron and Hermione. Both of them had their eyes open too, reflecting the starry ceiling. â€Å"What was all that about?† Ron mouthed. ******** The school talked of nothing but Sirius Black for the next few days. The theories about how he had entered the castle became wilder and wilder; Hannah Abbott, from Hufflepuff, spent much of their next Herbology class telling anyone who'd listen that Black could turn into a flowering shrub. The Fat Lady's ripped canvas had been taken off the wall and replaced with the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat gray pony. Nobody was very happy about this. Sir Cadogan spent half his time challenging people to duels, and the rest thinking up ridiculously complicated passwords, which he changed at least twice a day. â€Å"He's a complete lunatic,† said Seamus Finnigan angrily to Percy. â€Å"Can't we get anyone else?† â€Å"None of the other pictures wanted the job,† said Percy. â€Å"Frightened of what happened to the Fat Lady. Sir Cadogan was the only one brave enough to volunteer.† Sir Cadogan, however, was the least of Harry's worries. He was now being closely watched. Teachers found excuses to walk along corridors with him, and Percy Weasley (acting, Harry suspected, on his mother's orders) was tailing him everywhere like an extremely pompous guard dog. To cap it all, Professor McGonagall summoned Harry into her office, with such a somber expression on her face Harry thought someone must have died. â€Å"There's no point hiding it from you any longer, Potter,† she said in a very serious voice. â€Å"I know this will come as a shock to you, but Sirius Black –â€Å" â€Å"I know he's after me,† said Harry wearily. â€Å"I heard Ron's dad telling his mum. Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry of Magic.† Professor McGonagall seemed very taken aback. She stared at Harry for a moment or two, then said, â€Å"I see! Well, in that case, Potter, you'll understand why I don't think it's a good idea for you to be practicing Quidditch in the evenings. Out on the field with only your team members, it's very exposed, Potter –â€Å" â€Å"We've got our first match on Saturday!† said Harry, outraged. â€Å"I've got to train, Professor!† Professor McGonagall considered him intently. Harry knew she was deeply interested in the Gryffindor team's prospects; it had been she, after all, who'd suggested him as Seeker in the first Place. He waited, holding his breath. â€Å"Hmm†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Professor McGonagall stood up and stared out of the window at the Quidditch field, just visible through the rain. â€Å"Well†¦goodness knows, I'd like to see us win the Cup at last†¦but all the same, Potter†¦I'd be happier if a teacher were present. I'll ask Madam Hooch to oversee your training sessions.† ******** The weather worsened steadily as the first Quidditch match drew nearer. Undaunted, the Gryffindor team was training harder than ever under the eye of Madam Hooch. Then, at their final training session before Saturday's match, Oliver Wood gave his team some unwelcome news. â€Å"We're not playing Slytherin!† he told them, looking very angry. â€Å"Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead.† â€Å"Why?† chorused the rest of the team. â€Å"Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured,† said Wood, grinding his teeth furiously. â€Å"But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There had been strong winds and heavy rain all day, and as Wood spoke, they heard a distant rumble of thunder. â€Å"There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm!† said Harry furiously. â€Å"He's faking it!† â€Å"I know that, but we can't prove it,† said Wood bitterly, â€Å"And we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory –â€Å" Angelina, Alicia, and Katie suddenly giggled. â€Å"What?† said Wood, frowning at this lighthearted behavior. â€Å"He's that tall, good-looking one, isn't he?† said Angelina. â€Å"Strong and silent,† said Katie, and they started to giggle again. â€Å"He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together,† said Fred impatiently. â€Å"I don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember?† â€Å"We were playing in completely different conditions!† Wood shouted, his eyes bulging slightly. â€Å"Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent Seeker! I was afraid you'd take it like this! We mustn't relax! We must keep our focus! Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!† â€Å"Oliver, calm down!† said Fred, looking slightly alarmed. â€Å"We're taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously.† ******** The day before the match, the winds reached howling point and the rain fell harder than ever. It was so dark inside the corridors and classrooms that extra torches and lanterns were lit. The Slytherin team was looking very smug indeed, and none more so than Malfoy. â€Å"Ah, if only my arm was feeling a bit better!† he sighed as the gale outside pounded the windows. Harry had no room in his head to worry about anything except the match tomorrow. Oliver Wood kept hurrying up to him between classes and giving him tips. The third time this happened, Wood talked for so long that Harry suddenly realized he was ten minutes late for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and set off at a run with Wood shouting after him, â€Å"Diggory's got a very fast swerve, Harry, so you might want to try looping him –â€Å" Harry skidded to a halt outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, pulled the door open, and dashed inside. â€Å"Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin. I –â€Å" But it wasn't Professor Lupin who looked up at him from the teacher's desk; it was Snape. â€Å"This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down.† But Harry didn't move. â€Å"Where's Professor Lupin?† he said. â€Å"He says he is feeling too ill to teach today,† said Snape with a twisted smile. â€Å"I believe I told you to sit down?† But Harry stayed where he was. â€Å"What's wrong with him?† Snape's black eyes glittered. â€Å"Nothing life-threatening,† he said, looking as though he wished it were. â€Å"Five more points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sit down again, it will be fifty.† Harry walked slowly to his seat and sat down. Snape looked around at the class. â€Å"As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far –â€Å" â€Å"Please, sir, we've done Boggarts, Red Caps, Kappas, and Grindylows,† said Hermione quickly, â€Å"and we're just about to start –â€Å" â€Å"Be quiet,† said Snape coldly. â€Å"I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization.† â€Å"He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had,† said Dean Thomas boldly, and there was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the class. Snape looked more menacing than ever. â€Å"You are easily satisfied. Lupin is hardly overtaxing you — I would expect first years to be able to deal with Red Caps and Grindylows. Today we shall discuss –â€Å" Harry watched him flick through the textbook, to the very back chapter, which he must know they hadn't covered. â€Å"– werewolves,† said Snape. â€Å"But, sir,† said Hermione, seemingly unable to restrain herself, â€Å"we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start Hinkypunks –â€Å" â€Å"Miss Granger,† said Snape in a voice of deadly calm, â€Å"I was under the impression that I am teaching this lesson, not you. And I am telling you all to turn to page 394.† He glanced around again. â€Å"All of you! Now!† With many bitter sidelong looks and some sullen muttering, the class opened their books. â€Å"Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?† said Snape. Everyone sat in motionless silence; everyone except Hermione, whose hand, as it so often did, had shot straight into the air. â€Å"Anyone?† Snape said, ignoring Hermione. His twisted smile was back. â€Å"Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between –â€Å" â€Å"We told you,† said Parvati suddenly, â€Å"we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on –â€Å" â€Å"Silence!† snarled Snape. â€Å"Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet a third-year class who wouldn't even recognize a werewolf when they saw one. I shall make a point of informing Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Please, sir,† said Hermione, whose hand was still in the air, â€Å"the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf –â€Å" â€Å"That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,† said Snape coolly. â€Å"Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.† Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. It was a mark of how much the class loathed Snape that they were all glaring at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all at least once, and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, said loudly, â€Å"You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?† The class knew instantly he'd gone too far. Snape advanced on Ron slowly, and the room held its breath. â€Å"Detention, Weasley,† Snape said silkily, his face very close to Ron's. â€Å"And if I ever hear you criticize the way I teach a class again, you will be very sorry indeed.† No one made a sound throughout the rest of the lesson. They sat and made notes on werewolves from the textbook, while Snape prowled up and down the rows of desks, examining the work they had been doing with Professor Lupin. â€Å"Very poorly explained†¦That is incorrect, the Kappa is more commonly found in Mongolia†¦Professor Lupin gave this eight out of ten? I wouldn't have given it three†¦Ã¢â‚¬  When the bell rang at last, Snape held them back. â€Å"You will each write an essay, to be handed in to me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves. I want two rolls of parchment on the subject, and I want them by Monday morning. It is time somebody took this class in hand. Weasley, stay behind, we need to arrange your detention.† Harry and Hermione left the room with the rest of the class, who waited until they were well out of earshot, then burst into a furious tirade about Snape. â€Å"Snape's never been like this with any of our other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, even if he did want the job,† Harry said to Hermione. â€Å"Why's he got it in for Lupin? D'you think this is all because of the Boggart?† â€Å"I don't know,† said Hermione pensively. â€Å"But I really hope Professor Lupin gets better soon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ron caught up with them five minutes later, in a towering rage. â€Å"D'you know what that –† (he called Snape something that made Hermione say â€Å"Ron!†) â€Å"– is making me do? I've got to scrub out the bedpans in the hospital wing. Without magic!† He was breathing deeply, his fists clenched. â€Å"Why couldn't Black have hidden in Snape's office, eh? He could have finished him off for us!† ****** Harry woke extremely early the next morning; so early that it was still dark. For a moment he thought the roaring of the wind had woken him. Then he felt a cold breeze on the back of his neck and sat bolt upright — Peeves the Poltergeist had been floating next to him, blowing hard in his ear. â€Å"What did you do that for?† said Harry furiously. Peeves puffed out his cheeks, blew hard, and zoomed backward out of the room, cackling. Harry fumbled for his alarm clock and looked at it. It was half past four. Cursing Peeves, he rolled over and tried to get back to sleep, but it was very difficult, now that he was awake, to ignore the sounds of the thunder rumbling overhead, the pounding of the wind against the castle walls, and the distant creaking of the trees in the Forbidden Forest. In a few hours he would be out on the Quidditch field, battling through that gale. Finally, he gave up any thought of more sleep, got up, dressed, picked up his Nimbus Two Thousand, and walked quietly out of the dormitory. As Harry opened the door, something brushed against his leg. He bent down just in time to grab Crookshanks by the end of his bushy tail and drag him outside. â€Å"You know, I reckon Ron was right about you,† Harry told Crookshanks suspiciously. â€Å"There are plenty of mice around this place — go and chase them. Go on,† he added, nudging Crookshanks down the spiral staircase with his foot. â€Å"Leave Scabbers alone.† The noise of the storm was even louder in the common room. Harry knew better than to think the match would be canceled; Quidditch matches weren't called off for trifles like thunderstorms. Nevertheless, he was starting to feel very apprehensive. Wood had pointed out Cedric Diggory to him in the corridor; Diggory was a fifth year and a lot bigger than Harry. Seekers were usually light and speedy, but Diggory's weight would be an advantage in this weather because he was less likely to be blown off course. Harry whiled away the hours until dawn in front of the fire, getting up every now and then to stop Crookshanks from sneaking up the boys' staircase again. At long last Harry thought it must be time for breakfast, so he headed through the portrait hole alone. â€Å"Stand and fight, you mangy cur!† yelled Sir Cadogan. â€Å"Oh, shut up,† Harry yawned. He revived a bit over a large bowl of porridge, and by the time he'd started on toast, the rest of the team had turned up. â€Å"It's going to be a tough one,† said Wood, who wasn't eating anything. â€Å"Stop worrying, Oliver,† said Alicia soothingly, â€Å"we don't mind a bit of rain.† But it was considerably more than a bit of rain. Such was the popularity of Quidditch that the whole school turned out to watch the match as usual, but they ran down the lawns toward the Quidditch field, heads bowed against the ferocious wind, umbrellas being whipped out of their hands as they went. just before he entered the locker room, Harry saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, laughing and pointing at him from under an enormous umbrella on their way to the stadium. The team changed into their scarlet robes and waited for Wood's usual pre-match pep talk, but it didn't come. He tried to speak several times, made an odd gulping noise, then shook his head hopelessly and beckoned them to follow him. The wind was so strong that they staggered sideways as they walked out onto the field. If the crowd was cheering, they couldn't hear it over the fresh rolls of thunder. Rain was splattering over Harry's glasses. How on earth was he going to see the Snitch in this? The Hufflepuffs were approaching from the opposite side of the field, wearing canary-yellow robes. The Captains walked up to each other and shook hands; Diggory smiled at Wood but Wood now looked as though he had lockjaw and merely nodded. Harry saw Madam Hooch's mouth form the words, â€Å"Mount Your brooms.† He pulled his right foot out of the mud with a squelch and swung it over his Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam Hooch put her whistle to her lips and gave it a blast that sounded shrill and distant — they were off. Harry rose fast, but his Nimbus was swerving slightly with the wind. He held it as steady as he could and turned, squinting into the rain. Within five minutes Harry was soaked to his skin and frozen, hardly able to see his teammates, let alone the tiny Snitch. He flew backward and forward across the field past blurred red and yellow shapes, with no idea of what was happening in the rest of the game. He couldn't hear the commentary over the wind. The crowd was hidden beneath a sea of cloaks and battered umbrellas. Twice Harry came very close to being unseated by a Bludger; his vision was so clouded by the rain on his glasses he hadn't seen them coming. He lost track of time. It was getting harder and harder to hold his broom straight. The sky was getting darker, as though night had decided to come early. Twice Harry nearly hit another player, without knowing whether it was a teammate or opponent; everyone was now so wet, and the rain so thick, he could hardly tell them apart†¦ With the first flash of lightning came the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle; Harry could just see the outline of Wood through the thick rain, gesturing him to the ground. The whole team splashed down into the mud. â€Å"I called for time-out!† Wood roared at his team. â€Å"Come on, under here –â€Å" They huddled at the edge of the field under a large umbrella; Harry took off his glasses and wiped them hurriedly on his robes. â€Å"What's the score?† â€Å"We're fifty points up,† said Wood, â€Å"but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night.† â€Å"I've got no chance with these on,† Harry said exasperatedly, waving his glasses. At that very moment, Hermione appeared at his shoulder; she was holding her cloak over her head and was, inexplicably, beaming. â€Å"I've had an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!† He handed them to her, and as the team watched in amazement, Hermione tapped them with her wand and said, â€Å"Impervius!† â€Å"There!† she said, handing them back to Harry. â€Å"They'll repel water!† Wood looked as though he could have kissed her. â€Å"Brilliant!† he called hoarsely after her as she disappeared into the crowd. â€Å"Okay, team, let's go for it!† Hermione's spell had done the trick. Harry was still numb with cold, still wetter than he'd ever been in his life, but he could see. Full of fresh determination, he urged his broom through the turbulent air, staring in every direction for the Snitch, avoiding a Bludger, ducking beneath Diggory, who was streaking in the opposite direction†¦ There was another clap of thunder, followed immediately by forked lightning. This was getting more and more dangerous. Harry needed to get the Snitch quickly — He turned, intending to head back toward the middle of the field, but at that moment, another flash of lightning illuminated the stands, and Harry saw something that distracted him completely, the silhouette of an enormous shaggy black dog, clearly imprinted against the sky, motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats. Harry's numb hands slipped on the broom handle and his Nimbus dropped a few feet. Shaking his sodden bangs out of his eyes, he squinted back into the stands. The dog had vanished. â€Å"Harry!† came Wood's anguished yell from the Gryffindor goal posts. â€Å"Harry, behind you!† Harry looked wildly around. Cedric Diggory was pelting up the field, and a tiny speck of gold was shimmering in the rain-filled air between them†¦ With a jolt of panic, Harry threw himself flat to the broom handle and zoomed toward the Snitch. â€Å"Come on!† he growled at his Nimbus as the rain whipped his face. â€Å"Faster!† But something odd was happening. An eerie silence was falling across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound, as though Harry had gone suddenly deaf — what was going on? And then a horribly familiar wave of cold swept over him, inside him, just as he became aware of something moving on the field below†¦ Before he'd had time to think, Harry had taken his eyes off the Snitch and looked down. At least a hundred Dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing beneath him. It was as though freezing water were rising in his chest, cutting at his insides. And then he heard it again†¦Someone was screaming, screaming inside his head†¦a woman†¦ â€Å"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!† â€Å"Stand aside, you silly girl†¦stand aside, now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead –â€Å" Numbing, swirling white mist was filling Harry's brain†¦What was he doing? Why was he flying? He needed to help her†¦She was going to die†¦She was going to be murdered†¦ He was falling, falling through the icy mist. â€Å"Not Harry! Please†¦have mercy†¦have mercy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A shrill voice was laughing, the woman was screaming, and Harry knew no more. â€Å"Lucky the ground was so soft.† â€Å"I thought he was dead for sure.† â€Å"But he didn't even break his glasses.† Harry could hear the voices whispering, but they made no sense whatsoever. He didn't have a clue where he was, or how he'd got there, or what he'd been doing before he got there. All he knew was that every inch of him was aching as though it had been beaten. â€Å"That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life.† Scariest†¦the scariest thing†¦hooded black figures†¦cold†¦screaming†¦ Harry's eyes snapped open. He was lying in the hospital wing. The Gryffindor Quidditch team, spattered with mud from head to foot, was gathered around his bed. Ron and Hermione were also there, looking as though they'd just climbed out of a swimming pool. â€Å"Harry!† said Fred, who looked extremely white underneath, the mud. â€Å"How're you feeling?† It was as though Harry's memory was on fast forward. The lightning†¦the Grim†¦the Snitch†¦and the Dementors†¦ â€Å"What happened?† he said, sitting up so suddenly they all gasped. â€Å"You fell off,† said Fred. â€Å"Must've been — what — fifty feet?† â€Å"We thought you'd died,† said Alicia, who was shaking. Hermione made a small, squeaky noise. Her eyes were extremely bloodshot. â€Å"But the match,† said Harry. â€Å"What happened? Are we doing a replay?† No one said anything. The horrible truth sank into Harry like a stone. â€Å"We didn't — lose?† â€Å"Diggory got the Snitch,† said George. â€Å"Just after you fell. He didn't realize what had happened. When he looked back and saw you on the ground, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch. But they won fair and square†¦even Wood admits it.† â€Å"Where is Wood?† said Harry, suddenly realizing he wasn't there. â€Å"Still in the showers,† said Fred. â€Å"We think he's trying to drown himself.† Harry put his face to his knees, his hands gripping his hair. Fred grabbed his shoulder and shook it roughly. â€Å"C'mon, Harry, you've never missed the Snitch before.† â€Å"There had to be one time you didn't get it,† said George. â€Å"It's not over yet,† said Fred. â€Å"We lost by a hundred points.† â€Å"Right? So if Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Hufflepuff'll have to lose by at least two hundred points,† said George. â€Å"But if they beat Ravenclaw†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No way, Ravenclaw is too good. But if Slytherin loses against Hufflepuff†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It all depends on the points — a margin of a hundred either way –â€Å" Harry lay there, not saying a word. They had lost†¦for the first time ever, he had lost a Quidditch match. After ten minutes or so, Madam Pomfrey came over to tell the team to leave him in peace. â€Å"We'll come and see you later,† Fred told him. â€Å"Don't beat yourself up. Harry, you're still the best Seeker we've ever had.† The team trooped out, trailing mud behind them. Madam Pomfrey shut the door behind them, looking disapproving. Ron and Hermione moved nearer to Harry's bed. â€Å"Dumbledore was really angry,† Hermione said in a quaking voice. â€Å"I've never seen him like that before. He ran onto the field as you fell, waved his wand, and you sort of slowed down before you hit the ground. Then he whirled his wand at the Dementors. Shot silver stuff at them. They left the stadium right away†¦He was furious they'd come onto the grounds. We heard him –â€Å" â€Å"Then he magicked you onto a stretcher,† said Ron. â€Å"And walked up to school with you floating on it. Everyone thought you were†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His voice faded, but Harry hardly noticed. He was thinking about what the Dementors had done to him†¦about the screaming voice. He looked up and saw Ron and Hermione looking at him so anxiously that he quickly cast around for something matter-of-fact to say. â€Å"Did someone get my Nimbus?† Ron and Hermione looked quickly at each other. â€Å"Er –â€Å" â€Å"What?† said Harry, looking from one to the other. â€Å"Well†¦when you fell off, it got blown away,† said Hermione hesitantly. â€Å"And?† â€Å"And it hit — it hit — oh, Harry — it hit the Whomping Willow.† Harry's insides lurched. The Whomping Willow was a very violent tree that stood alone in the middle of the grounds. â€Å"And?† he said, dreading the answer. â€Å"Well, you know the Whomping Willow,† said Ron. â€Å"It — it doesn't like being hit.† â€Å"Professor Flitwick brought it back just before you came around,† said Hermione in a very small voice. Slowly, she reached down for a bag at her feet, turned it upside down, and tipped a dozen bits of splintered wood and twig onto the bed, the only remains of Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick.

Comparison Essay Samples Contrasting Siblings Features

Comparison Essay Samples Contrasting Siblings Features Want to Know More About Comparison Essay Samples Contrasting Siblings? List the focal points that you should compare in your essay following a specific pattern. A comparison essay is devoted to description of similar and unique features of a couple of objects. For instance, if you've got to generate a comparison between two unique events through two aspects, you are going to need two paragraphs. Comparison (often known as comparison and contrast) is among the classical rhetorical exercises called the progymnasmata. As you may be someone who can begin an essay off of the surface of your head free of issue, a lot of people find it simpler to sit down and write out an outline before beginning. There are additionally some lessons that you ought to always keep in mind before you get started writing your essay. You may discuss a feeling of taste and the book of your favourite author. On-line assistance from expert writers wi ll help you save you a plenty of time. The Upside to Comparison Essay Samples Contrasting Siblings In order to comprehend how to begin an essay, you have to first have a complete comprehension of what you're likely to be writing about. Your capability to create a fantastic paper is dependent on structuring an ideal outline. Seek out the primary and secondary sources on the provided topics before you begin your very first draft. There are a lot of possible compare and contrast essay topics, and a number of them are really hard to perform. You may not have any beneficial comparison essay example to follow. You will discover that starting a compare and contrast essay is simpler than you can have imagined. A strong essay is going to have an opening paragraph that comes with a thesis statement and a concluding paragraph. Every terrific essay starts with a fantastic brainstorm. On the flip side, Japan has an isolated food culture essentially since it is an island. So now you understand how to select the best compare and contrast topics and the various segments that you want to address when writing. The same is relevant for their respective cultures. It's common to be assigned to compose essays in every area of study, not just when taking a composition class. After the essay demands a large number of approaches to explore, it's important to understand how to organize it correctly in an attempt to make sure easy reading. By definition, it's an essay that is usually written by students in just about any area of stud y. You simply have to order a great essay from experts with the greatest academic degrees in a number of fields. Again, compare and contrast essays can cover just about any topic and could pop up in a number of subject areas. To compose a high-quality paper, you've got to understand how to select your topic properly and utilize it to create a practical outline. You can begin with the sort of topic you pick for your compare and contrast essay. The topic for a compare and contrast essay will probably be set by the topic or course a student is enrolled. If necessary, you could always turn to professionals to supply you with a nudge or assist you with your topics or sources. You may use the suggested topics as inspiration for your own, or you could simply opt to write about one you enjoy the most. You see that it's an unusual topic that might be quite tough to imagine or explain, but some students might just turn that topic into a masterpiece. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Comparison Essay Samples Contrasting Siblings If you'll write a comparative essay, you will need to get a notion of the impacts of distinct aspects to the result you may get at the conclusion of the writing activity. Though life can be difficult, you need to draw upon your inner strength so as to persevere. A family is a vital component in the progression of mental instability in Yellow Wallpaper and Metamorphosis. Finding the perfect topic isn't the hardest job in the planet, all you need to do is to take a few factors into account.

Mesopotamia vs. Indus River Valley Essay - 707 Words

Mesopotamia vs. Indus River Valley 9/26/12 Ancient Mesopotamia and the Indus River Valley civilization were two incredibly productive and successful empires. While Mesopotamian politics were slightly less focused on religion and more on other aspects, the two societies shared many social characteristics. They both had defined social hierarchies, as well as similar views on gender roles. These traits are helpful in explaining the similarities and differences between the two cultures. One of the key aspects of both Mesopotamia and the Indus River Valley is their distinct social hierarchies. In the Indus River Valley, beginning with the Aryans, a caste social system was used to keep citizens in their†¦show more content†¦They did not have the right to divorce their husbands, and almost all women were uneducated. In Mesopotamia, women were also treated very poorly. They were taught to attend to all of their husband’s needs, and could be punished severely if they did not do as their husband said. In Babylonia, duri ng Hammurabi’s rule, there was even a law that stated that if a woman did not obey her husband or was unfaithful to him in any way, he was legally allowed to throw her in the river, ultimately drowning her. While Mesopotamian and the Indus River Valley were alike in their social characteristics, their political views differed slightly. Records from the Indus civilizations have yet to fully been translated, and therefore not much is known in the way of Indus political structure. What most historians assume is that it was broken into city-states with a common ruler, which is the way that Mesopotamia was governed as well. Despite this similarity, the Indus government was more focused on religious aspects than Mesopotamian government was. This can be deduced by the fact that Indus rulers were always priest-kings, while the highest status in Mesopotamia was achieved first by the king, and then by the priests. These kings were also usually the head of the military, while the priest s ran schools, distributed land, were considered doctors, and were in charge of religion. Kings andShow MoreRelatedHow Do The Neolithic And Paleolithic Revolutions Differ?1657 Words   |  7 Pagesuncivilized has adapted to present a group of â€Å"savages† who are ignorant to the life us civilized people enjoy. This is because the civilized people won. They overpowered the uncivilized so they became better. The controversy exists in the literal meaning vs. the adapted meaning and connotation. 4. According to social scientists, which basic traits emerge when a society becomes civilized? Once a society becomes civilized it tends to naturally form universal traits. This includes agriculture (a necessity)Read MoreThe 5 Hearths Of Civilization2028 Words   |  9 PagesBalagia Dr. Vickery HQT 31 March 2015 Test 1 History Portion 5 Hearths of Civilization The 5 â€Å"hearths of civilization† are the ancient locations where society first developed. The 5 hearths of civilization are: The Indus River Valley, The Nile River Valley, Mesopotamia, The Huang He River Valley, and Mesoamerica. One thing that each of these unique ancient civilizations had in common was that they were all best suited for agriculture. Generally, this is because each group was located near water and theRead MoreThe Indus Valley Civilization ( 3300-1300 Bce ) Essay1799 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction The Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1300 BCE) was the one among the greatest early civilzation of the Old World alongside the ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Wright 2009, Wright 2010), which developed in South Asia along perennially flowing Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra ( also called as Saraswati) river in northwest India and eastern Pakistan (Wright 2010, Giosan 2012, Maemoku 2013). Though least studies so far, emerging archeological studies suggest that the Indus Valley (oftenly called Harappa)Read MoreCatal Hyuk2725 Words   |  11 Pages IDENTITIES: Complex Society Paleolithic Venus Figurines Metallurgy Social Class/Social Structure Lucy Neolithic Lascaux Cave Paintings Neolithic Revolution Agricultural Revolution MAP: Olduvai Gorge Neander Valley Catal Huyluk Lascaux CHAPTER TWO: Early Societies in SW Asia and Indo-European Migrations IDENTITIES: The Epic of Gilgamesh Sargon of Akkad Hammurabi’s Codes/Laws Stele Assyrians Economic Specialization Stratified