COMPARE AND CONTRAST

COMPARE-CONTRAST ESSAY

OUTLINE (POINT-BY-POINT)

I.                    Introduction

All the countries in the world are unique

II.                  Similarity and difference between Spain and France is the location and size

A.      Spain

B.      France

III.                First difference between Spain and France is the language

A.      Spain

B.      France

IV.                Second difference between Spain and France is cities to visit

V.                  Conclusion

Discover an amazing adventure to enjoy your vacations

Are all the countries different in the world?

There is no country which is exactly the same because each one is unique with its own characteristics such as, history, food, language, customs, flag, etc. However, countries sometimes share similar things that make them seem to be the same even they are located in different continent.

When people are planning their vacations to Europe, the most common visited countries are Spain and France. These countries are well known for their splendid baroque architecture, the superb and amazing places to visit, the delicious and sophisticated food, historical background and cultural activities.

It is known that Spain and France are located in the European continent. Spain is located in the South Western Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea in the east, and the Atlantic Ocean. Likewise, France is located in Western Europe nation among the Mediterranean Sea in the southeast, the English Channel in the north and west, and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. One similarity between these countries is their size; both countries Spain and France are too extensive and they cover almost a quarter part of Europe; however, France is a little bit extensive than Spain. France has a total area of 547,030 square kilometers (211,208 square miles). In contrast, Spain has 504,782 square kilometer (194,896 square mile) territory. (Encyclopedia of the nations).

Although several and different languages are spoken around the world, each country has its own language roots. Similarly, Spain and France have the same language roots, they come from the Latin, so both languages are considered as “romantic”, but French language is officially the most romantic and elegant spoken language around the world.

Spanish is the official language in Spain; on the other hand, French is considered as official language in France. Moreover, both languages Spanish and French have regional languages, For example, some Spanish people speak Basque in the Basque country and Navarre; Catalan in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencia; and Galician in Galicia. Unlike Spain, Breton, Provenzal and Patois (main dialects spoken in France) are spoken mainly in Bretagne, Normandie, Picardie and Rhône-Alpes regions. Globally, Spain is the second spoken language around the world, while French is the third one.

Even though Spain and France are located in the same continent and they are close together, it is not the same when people sightseeing the main cities because of the culture, climate and activities. Spain and France have plenty of cities to visit. Spain has important cities that are part of the Spanish heart. The most visited ones are Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Ibiza and Valencia. Each city offers different types of activities to enjoy. For example, If you like taking a walk and sightseeing museums, you need to visit Madrid where you can go to The Prado museum, Puerta de Alcalá, Palacio Real and superb restaurants, but if you like sunny days, you can visit Valencia and Ibiza where are beautiful beaches; likewise, you can enjoy clubbing, swimming, surfing and playing in different places. On the contrary, French cities are old, gothic, and more elegant than Spain. If you like to see the brightly lights, big castles, baroque architecture and green gardens, you should go to Paris, Marseille, and Bordeaux because they are very romantic and wonderful cities where you can appreciate the best art and loyal people, but if you want to relax and see the natural landscapes, you can visit Lyon, Champagne, Bretagne and Normandie, four amazing cities where there are interesting history, exciting vineyards and delicious cuisine; however, if you want to admire the sunset and feel the breeze as same as in Spain, you should go to Cannes, Nice and Corse, three beaches where you can rest in luxury hotels, fishing, swimming and eating fresh seafood.

It is always very important to know some aspects before going on vacation because it is useful to compare and contrast the information that we find on a magazine, book, internet etc. This will allow us to have more specific information in order to see what place is better and what is worse. In this case, Spain and France are amazing places to visit; each one has differences as well as similarities so I invite you to plan an exciting vacation in order not to miss the opportunity to discover a great adventure in the old continent.

REFERENCES

France, country over view (2011). Encyclopedia of the nations. Retrieved on November, 15, 2011 from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/France.html#ixzz1e0whQZgZ

Spain, country overview (2011). Encyclopedia of the nations. Retrieved on November 15, 2011 from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Spain.html#ixzz1e0ydN1ni

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

OUTLINE

The School Uniform

Pattern 1

I.                    Introduction

Should all students be required to wear a uniform?

II.                  Pro argument 1

A.      Wearing school uniforms would help make students’ lives simpler.

III.                Pro argument 2

B.      School uniforms influence students to act responsibly.

1.       Promotes good discipline.

IV.                Pro argument 3

C.      Uniforms would help make students to feel equal

1.       It causes distractions.

V.                  Counterargument and refutation

D.      School uniforms cannot express the students’ individuality

VI.                Conclusion

Individualism is a fundamental value around the world. Most people believe in the right to express their own opinion without fear of punishment. This value is proposed in an unlikely place: the school. The issue is the school uniforms that students usually wear when they go to that academic place. We know that school uniforms do not improve and change the school environment but at least make students to be orderly and well-presented when they attend their classes, even when there is a special event or meeting. Should school students be required to wear a uniform? School uniforms are the better choice for three reasons; although there is one counterargument that is against with what I argue in this essay.

First, wearing school uniforms would help make students’ lives simpler. They would not have to decide what to wear every morning when they wake up to go to school. Sometimes, students try to find the correct outfit in order to be fashioned. Likewise, uniforms would not only save time but also would eliminate the stress associated with finding an appropriate clothing to be well-presented. Wearing uniforms also save parent’s budget because some students tend to buy more and more clothing in order to be fashioned or just because they do not want to repeat the same clothing, so wearing uniform allows not to waste money in every clothing season.

Similarly, some students would not be embarrassed because of their clothes if their parents were not able to buy them the newest fad.

Second, school uniforms influence students to be responsible individually or in group and they promote good discipline inside the classroom and the school in the same way. Uniforms give students the message that school is a special place for learning. In addition, uniforms create a feeling of unity among students and teachers. For example, when students do something as a group, such as attending meetings in the auditorium, presentations, parades, academic celebrations, and so on, the fact that they wear the same clothing would create a sense of community and union with the school. Regarding the discipline, I consider it as important aspect because students tend to be tidy when wearing uniforms and also they demonstrate cleanliness which is good because it means they tend to follow every single rule into the school and it makes students to be aware of what the institution is asking for. I think that discipline is an important factor that need to be linked with the human being because if we are not disciplined, we cannot be what we want to be in order to do our best.

Finally, school uniforms would help make all the students feel equal. People’s standards of living argue and differ deeply, and some people are wealthy while others are not, so it causes lots of problems among the students. Sometimes people forget that school is a place to go to study, not to promote a fashion show; therefore, uniforms cause distraction among the students because they tend to criticize others in order to see if someone else has money or brand clothing so it causes frustration and students might feel bad because of lack of money. Implementing mandatory school uniforms would make all the students look the same regardless of their financial situation. School uniforms would promote help to raise the self-esteem of students who cannot wear fashioned clothes.

Opponents of mandatory uniforms say that students who wear school uniforms cannot express their individuality, they way they usually are. This point has a pro on what I was discussing before. However, a school is a place to learn, no to show wealth and fashion; furthermore, society must decide if individual expression through clothing is more important than improved educational performance. It is important to remember that school uniforms would be worn just during school hours. On the other hand, students can express their identity in the way they wear outside of the classroom.

To conclude, there are plenty of benefits to implementing mandatory school uniforms for students. I consider that wearing a uniform makes students more responsible and disciplined and for the ones who cannot be outfitted is better because they avoid gossiping and criticism among other students.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Education Bug. (2011). Public school uniform debate. Retrieved on October 3, 2011 from http://www.educationbug.org/a/public-school-uniform-debate.html

Eppinger, R. (2011). SCHOOL UNIFORMS: Does What Students Wear Really Make A Difference?. Retrieved on October 3, 2011 from http://www.newfoundations.com/PracEthics/Eppinger.html