Need Help with an Essay

[Elvyra's Keeper]

Hey, I have to write a cause and effect essay, but I can't think of any ideas. Can you guys think of any. Any that deal with snakes (mainly BPs) would be great (it creeps my teacher out! LOL) Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

[Elvyra's Keeper]

Please help me with some idea, anything.

[slartibartfast]

You could discuss how ignorance and misinformation on the part of cruddy petstores propagate poor husbandry by keepers.

[Elvyra's Keeper]

That's a good idea.

[Nate]

There's always some lengthy and heated arguments regarding the ball python market.

Write about what causes the rise and fall of prices, and the effect it has on our community or the market itself.

[clipclopclip]

or how ignorance causes fear of snakes?

[ladywhipple02]

You could discuss how ignorance and misinformation on the part of cruddy petstores propagate poor husbandry by keepers.

I think this is a good premise... it's not too broad---so you can get your point across in a fairly direct manner---but it's broad enough that you can expand on it a bit.

Thesis: Because pet stores are supposed to supply correct information, and yet, don't in the case of many reptiles, they continue the spread of improper husbandry and ignorance.

Point 1: Grab a care sheet from here and grab one from Petco and compare them. Say how the wrong information on the care sheets given out at big chain petstores causes many reptiles to be ill cared for.

Point 2: Ask people on here if you can use their stories about being misinformed and coming here to get the right information---and perhaps, how at first, they struggled against it believing a petstore couldn't be wrong. You can explain how coming to an online site such as this can cause a person to take the right steps in helping their animals.


There are many different routes you could take this. How long does your paper have to be?

Sorry, I'm an English major... this is the kinda stuff I LIVE for lol!

Point 3:

[Bruce Whitehead]

A fairly easy... but contentious route, would be to examine the need to push products, and the impact on husbandry.

This is following the petco/petstore idea... I suck at quoting on here...

Best example that I can think of is the number of people that come to snake forums with non-feeding bps, after doing everything the petstore has told them, and buying insane amounts of useless product.

By the time they come they are stressed, the snake is stressed, they are usually exasperated, have invested time, money, and energy into a dead end.

Then find out that they have to start from scratch, and unlearn everything they have been told by the experts. Not the best start when the goal is to promote positive experiences with a snake/pet.

Healthy snake = products

Products = unhealthy snake

unhealthy snake = more product

Or something like that.

Bruce

[AdamJB]

Sorry, I'm an English major... this is the kinda stuff I LIVE for lol!

You wanna be friend and write a research paper for me then? lol jk

[NightLad]

or how ignorance causes fear of snakes?

I like that one. You can devote part of the essay to exploring the demonizing of serpents throughout time. You could even start with the Bible, and explore how its influence on various societies has contributed to our own modern prejudices against this animal. If you aren't afraid of a bit of controversy. (Which I'm not. hehe)

Contrast these points by drawing comparisons to societies that have revered the serpent as a symbol of life, medicine and health - even deified it. Work up through the modern era and explore the negative effects Hollywood has played by promoting the fear-factor and exploiting negative stereotypes into the subconscious of our society. Books that are marketed to children, even Disney movies, often feature snakes as 'bad guys.' The social programming we are ingrained with to fear and dislike this animal is quite alarming, when you think about it. The Jungle Book, Aladin, Ella Enchanted, The Golden Compass, etc. Coincidence?

You can then get into the irrationality of the fear and misunderstanding so many people harbor toward this animal. Mention how the venom of some snakes is being used to help create new medication for people, and to fight human illness. Focus on the positive aspects of snakes, and show how they serve a vital and integral role in the world. Contrast these points with statistics of 'mainstream pets' that are reported far more often for vicious attacks, and then quickly interject with facts about how docile and good-natured BPs generally are.

Yup... that point leaves a lot to be explored. (I greatly enjoy writing essays... but no, I won't write yours for you. hehe)