Cause/Effect Essay Outline

A. Student

August 12, 2018

Student Cause Essay

EFFECTS OF READING FICTIONAL BOOKS

Many people say that nonfiction books are better for the mind than fiction books because

fiction is not true to life and is not really meant for anyone other than kids. However, many of

these people do not know what benefits fictional books actually offer. They often look at the

obvious effects of fiction, such as development of imagination and distraction from reality, but

they do not look deeper. On the contrary, fictional books do benefit readers intellectually,

emotionally, physically, and socially, proving their worth.

First and foremost, reading fictional stories help to better one’s intellect. One way is by

strengthening vocabulary. At some point while reading, everyone is going to come across some

unknown word, and for most people, this happens often. So just by skimming the pages, we

could learn new words to add to our lexicon. This can help us not only in our future reading, but

also in our writing and speaking. This of course can be accomplished by any book, but fiction

specifically betters the reader’s ability to describe and explain things. It shows the reader how to

engage by involving senses and relatable details. It can help them learn to paint things in color,

instead of plain black and white. For example, stories by Shakespeare and other classic writers

are filled with uncommon phrasing and intriguing words. One series that I was constantly

looking up new words from was the Interview with the Vampire series by Anne Rice. It may not

be filled with old English phrasing, but it was a good series that I found myself reading alongside

a dictionary. It had many words that I had to look up and put into context with what I was

reading.

Another way fiction can affect intellect is by strengthening problem solving skills. People

often do not like to be curious; they want to know rather than wonder, so by reading one is

encouraged to try to think ahead in the story or try to come up with solutions to solve the

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characters’ problems. All stories have some sort of obstacle characters must overcome or

accept, and by reading these stories, readers can learn new ways to deal with their own

obstacles. A good example of this skill is horror books. The characters in the story are faced

with many challenges as they try to escape or survive. Of course, most people will not find

themselves facing a monster or a violent madman, but they may find themselves in a

questionable environment or even something as simple as being lost. Things that characters do

in the book could apply to a situation the reader may go through. It may also help them prevent

from finding themselves in these situations in the first place.

Along with strengthening problem solving, someone could learn wholesome decision

making by reading fiction. It is the same principle as hearing a friend tell a story about a time

when they got hurt or got in trouble. When they say what they did and they tell how badly it

went, it is a clear guideline of what should not be done. People can learn through others in order

to avoid repeating their mistakes and to save themselves some trouble. This is just as true when

reading as it is when engaging in a conversation. Using that same horror story example, readers

may be planning a trip to a place they have never been, and because they have read plenty of

stories about what could go wrong, they may then decide to let someone know where they are

headed and when they plan to get back. Or they may simply just ensure that they are being

responsible and alert while they are out. Any number of things could happen, even if it is not a

psycho planning to attack: they could still get injured on their trip or get lost, and they would be

prepared for such events.

A third way reading fiction can better intellect is by bettering memory. Reading is a task

that depends slightly on memory, since one must recall what previously happened in the story.

The more often someone partakes in reading fiction, the better they will be at remembering

things. This can also help in situations unrelated to reading, such as studying. If a student who

is a fan of Sherlock Holmes novels must memorize the scientific method for a test, he may

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associate each step of the method with the steps that Sherlock uses when he is deducing the

culprit. This method can be used in almost any subject with almost any story.

Fiction also helps its readers emotionally. It can help them begin to look at situations in

different perspectives, thus allowing them to see the bigger picture and develop stronger

empathy towards others. When reading a fictional story, a reader can be getting information

from multiple characters all at once, each with his own take on what is going on; this helps a

reader take the same approach when looking at real life. He can better understand motives,

perspectives, and personalities. An example of this that I particularly like is A Tale of Two

Cities by Charles Dickens. It has three parts that tell of three different experiences that all

happened within the same twenty years. Each one has slightly different characters, although

some remain fluent throughout all three, who are dealing with different situations. This

perspective change shows a lot about the time in which it was happening as well as about the

characters. By showing the way characters interact with each other, objects, and themselves, a

reader can apply those consistencies to their own lives.

Fiction can also help in developing personal connections with people. This can be

meeting new people or strengthening preexisting bonds. It goes along with the empathy point of

being able to relate and understand people more thoroughly and thus getting to know them

better. It can also help when meeting someone new who enjoys a similar style of writing or

genre or even a specific series. Reading makes for a great ice breaker and gives the two

something to connect over. One great friend of mine actually has that title for this very reason. I

was reading the book IT by Stephen King at the time, and she came over and told me it was

one of her favorite books. The more we started discussing the book, the more we realized how

much we had in common. We soon became friends, all because of a fictional story.

Another significant emotional effect of fictional reading is a significant decrease in stress.

Reading slows the heart beat and mind. It provides an escape for the reader, whether it be into

a new universe entirely or just into someone else’s life for a while. This allows readers a short

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break from any overwhelming problems or responsibilities that they may be facing and gives

them the freedom to feel whatever emotion the story is promoting. They can simply relax and

get rid of their stresses.

Lastly, fiction can also benefit physically. One way it helps is by promoting those people

to get better sleep. Reading fiction, as previously stated, slows the heart, which can calm the

reader enough to begin to feel tired. And once those readers are a little tired they are likely to

continue reading until they fall asleep, as opposed to people who may instead use electronics

that often end up keeping them awake.

It also clears the mind, which further helps the reader calmly fall asleep. One of the

biggest reasons people have a hard time sleeping at night is because they are stuck in their

thoughts and cannot stop reflecting on the day they just had. By reading, they are able to calm

their minds and separate themselves from any difficult events from their day. This makes it

easier for them to gently fall asleep once they decide to do so.

I read before bed to help myself relax, one of my favorite books that I read was a four

book series by Lemony Snicket called All the Wrong Questions. This in particular helped me

relax because, although it was about a spy’s crazy adventures, it was told in a very nonchalant

way. It helped me move my mind away from remembering the previous day or thinking forward

to the next so that I was able to rest. It also inspired some interesting dreams about my own spy

adventures.

Overall, reading fictional stories can strengthen imagination and inspire readers to be

creative. Fiction is filled with obscure events and odd situations. It can have whacky characters

and silly themes. Fiction can be realistic or it can be entirely made up, set in a whole other

universe where virtually nothing is the same as real life. There are plenty of books that have

major fan-bases, drawing inspiration from the books that they love and turn it into their own

creations. The Harry Potter series is a good example of this. There are tons of spin off stories

written, tons of art, and tons of different events to go to, all made by the fans of the series.

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There are even songs and a musical created by fans to commemorate their favorite characters,

events, and just to put their own spin on the story. And this is just one example; fans

of Sherlock Holmes, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, and so many more, are exactly the

same way.

Fiction can help us figure out who we are as people. That may seem like an

exaggeration, but it really can help us find ourselves. The more we read, the more we discover

pieces of ourselves within different characters: characters who are more relatable or captivating.

We can also find our own morals and values in a safe way. We do not have to commit a crime

to realize that its guilt; instead we can read about a character doing it and may find ourselves

angry or even disgusted at that character. This is a good way us to understand our own

preferences, likes and dislikes, as well as morals and values in a way that we do not cause any

harm to anyone or anything. It can also help us discover these preferences and thoughts in

regard to things that we would not have ever considered had we not read about it.

Keep in mind that different genres may emphasize some of these points more than

others. Of course, a mystery or horror story is going to focus on the problem-solving skill,

whereas a more accurate, realistic story may hold on to the importance of empathy, or a fantasy

story would help the reader escape his reality, and so on and so forth. Every genre will hammer

one nail in a little harder than the rest, but at its core, they all teach the reader valuable lessons

and truly benefit them, beyond what they themselves may realize.

Now knowing what fictional books can actually do for their reader it is clear that they are

very beneficial. These are not the only affects of fiction, but they are the ones that stand out the

most. Of course, the effect on the reader will vary based on who the reader is and what their

book of choice is, but the aforementioned points are the ones that are more or less universal.

No matter what fictional story we read, there is always something we can learn from it.

A. Student

Nov. 24, 2017

Student Effect Essay

EFFECTS OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES ON LIFE

I still remember the day that changed my life forever, as though it were yesterday, even

though it was almost two decades ago. I was a pharmacy technician in the Navy at the time and

had gone into a doctor’s office in the small clinic I worked in to ask him to put in a prescription

for a patient, like many days before. After I had stated my purpose for bothering him, he

proceeded to ask me if I had ever had the rash that was on my face looked at, to which I stated,

no. He insisted on running a whole bunch of blood work for me and told me to follow up with my

family doctor because he believed that I had an autoimmune disease, and he was right. When I

followed up with my family doctor a few days later, she diagnosed me with Lupus Discoid, since

I was not exhibiting any other symptoms at that time. She sent me off that day with very specific

instructions to seek medical attention if I ever started to exhibit symptoms such as tiredness,

sore muscles, pain and swelling in my joints for an extended period of time, and fever. I had no

idea, at the time of, the effects this disease and the others I would consequently be diagnosed

with over the years would have on my life down the road.

Over the years, as time marched on, several things happened in my life. Some were

very stressful, like getting divorced and getting out of the military. Other things were wonderful,

like getting remarried and having two more babies. After getting out the Navy, I became a full-

time mom, which had been a burning desire in my heart for years. As the years flew by, I had

almost forgotten that I had this sort-of-ticking-time-bomb of a disease lurking in my body. After I

had my daughter, I got post-partum depression and it was only amplified by the birth of my fifth

child. I had become severely depressed and agoraphobic. Needless to say, looking back, I can

see how I had to reach the bottom, so that God could reach down and save me, in His perfect

timing, because it was not long after I got saved that I got really sick.

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After the birth of my fifth child, I had reached my heaviest weight to date due to months

of bed rest because of preterm labor. After seeing a photo of myself, I broke down in tears. I had

had enough of being overweight. I was determined to lose the weight. I had overhauled my diet,

began exercising several times a week, and after a few months, I began to look and feel great.

Then, out of nowhere, I got sick. At first, we thought it was the flu, but I just could not shake it.

After a few weeks had passed, I recalled what my doctor had said seven years ago about the

symptoms I was not to ignore, so I made an appointment. They ran several tests on me such as

the ANA titer and Rheumatoid factor. Sadly, they all came back positive and highly elevated. I

was having a full-blown flare, which was the beginning of the journey I am still on today.

Notably, having all of these autoimmune diseases has affected my life in so many ways

over the last decade. I have good days and I have had bad days, even bad weeks or months.

There was this one time in South Carolina that I was laid out on the couch for months. It was

after the Christmas of 2013, and I had hurt my elbow moving a heavy piece of furniture with my

husband. Up until then, I was a runner and worked out all the time, even running 5k’s. All of the

sudden it hurt to run and my body reacted very negatively to my lack of activity. Having so many

health issues that are inherently invisible to others has led me to feel alone and often

misunderstood. I have had so many people over the years question my illness and tell me that I

cannot possibly be sick because I do not look sick. Even though I had made the decision upon

my diagnosis that I would not let this disease define me or overtake me. However, it has, at

times, been easy to see how some people have let it rule their lives, giving up hope and the will

to keep fighting.

Another way that having an autoimmune disorder has effects on my life is it has a

tendency to make the everyday tasks a challenge, like buttoning up my shirt or holding on to a

fork. I could have never dreamed how, despite my best efforts, having these diseases has

altered my life. Somedays it is difficult to even get out of the bed because I am so stiff. Then, I

have to decide if I want to take a shower because there are times when the water beating on my

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skin pierces like pins and needles. The weather, especially when it rains, seems to have a huge

impact on how I feel. It is especially bad when the temperature fluctuates, because it causes my

muscles to flare up and my joints to hurt.

Furthermore, having all these health issues has had an effect on my ability to be the

mom and wife I want to be. Even though there are so many times that, despite the fact that I feel

awful, I muscle through. There are, however, many times, because of a flare up, that we have

had to cancel plans or miss something fun. For instance, over Thanksgiving break, we had

plans to go to Christmas in the South, but because I had over done it on Wednesday and

Thursday, we were unable to go because I was not feeling well. Lupus, specifically, causes me

to have photosensitivity. This dictates many of the plans that we make as I am unable to be out

in the sun for long period of times without feeling sick or it causes rashes and bruising. This is

especially difficult in the summer because I have children who love to go to the pool. If I do take

them, I have to put on high-powered sunscreen, cover my skin, and then when we get to the

pool, I have to find shade to sit in. There are times when I want to play with my children or go on

a date with my husband, but then I am unable to because of a dumb flare up. Another effect of

the autoimmune disease is overactive nerve pain. This one is one of the hardest because even

the slightest touch can be extremely painful. This can be so hard for children and my husband to

understand, as they only want to give me a hug and it ends up hurting me!

In addition to all the things I have already mentioned, these diseases effect my body in

some not so pleasant ways. There is the fact that they effect and attack all vital organs, such as

the lungs and heart. Then, there is the effects because of the toxic medications I have to take to

try and stave the diseases damaging and progressive effects on the body. I have

taken Plaquenial, an antimalarial medication, that can cause upset stomach and hallucinations.

It can also cause damage to the eyes, which is why after ten years, I had to be taken off of it.

Then, I took Methotrexate, a chemotherapy medication, which upset my stomach a lot. Last

year, during some routine checks, they discovered I had contracted latent tuberculosis. This

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caused me to have to suspend any medications so that I could receive treatment for TB. I

recently started an expensive biologic injection called Orencea, which is supposed to be a

miracle drug and change my life. So far, it has been going well except for the wicked bad

headaches I get every once and a while.

Over the years, I have been diagnosed with several other autoimmune diseases such

as Sjorens Syndrome, which is where your sweat glands are effected and causes dry eyes and

mouth. I have also been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease,

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Reynaud’s Syndrome, and Asthma. Each one of these diseases and

diagnoses has changed my life and challenged me to seek God’s face. There are times that I

have to remind myself of the promise I made to God, that if it is not in His will to heal me, that

He use me for His purpose.

In spite of all this, I have viewed these diseases as an opportunity to minister to other

people, as it has afforded me the opportunity to meet people I would not have run into if I were

healthy. Over the years, I have seen so many specialists, from rheumatologists to neurologist,

and every specialty in between. I have had the pleasure to witness to hundreds of doctors,

nurses, and technicians up and down the east coast, as we are a military family and move

around a lot. I love to share my story, whether it is on mission trips or getting involved in ministry

wherever I go. Sharing what God has done and continues to do in my life, even with all these

health issues, is my life’s purpose. With everything I do, I pray that I bring glory to Him who

sustains me. So, even though the effects of having so many autoimmune diseases have clearly

altered my life, with my faith in God and a positive attitude, it is just another chapter in my story.