Wednesday, March 18, 2020

How to Write a Scholarship Essay Detailed Guidelines to Help You

How to Write a Scholarship Essay Detailed Guidelines to Help You When looking for available options to fund your further college education after graduating from a high school, you may come across different scholarship essay contests that can award you with the money necessary to earn your degree. They ask you to submit a winning application. How to write a scholarship essay? This process isn’t easy and it requires you to brainstorm original ideas, create an effective outline, and make a strong point. Focus on good examples, use efficient tips, and read the papers written by a successful person who won a contest in the past. How to start your scholarship essay? To comprehend how to write a winning scholarship application essay, read prompts to give an accurate response in your own words. These are statements or questions that you need to respond. Understanding them ensures that you’ll stay on topic and fulfill academic expectations. If you aren’t sure what the theme your scholarship essay should be, look at the main purpose of the chosen contest and learn why organizations give away money. Write your paper with these reasons in mind. Other guidelines for how to write a scholarship essay that you should follow include: Brainstorming ideas; Outlining your piece of writing; Stating your thesis; Offering supporting points. Brainstorming interesting ideas Once you understand your prompts, sit down and brainstorm interesting ideas to save more energy and time for composing your future scholarship essay. Write down everything you think important and appropriate. It’s possible to generate good ideas by freewriting, the exercise that focuses on responding to the questions that you find in your prompts. Read your notes and highlight all useful ideas. ASK FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP Outlining your scholarship essay It may be shorter than standard academic papers and its length depends on a specific scholarship contest. Think about breaking your essay down into three basic sections. What are they? An introductory paragraph that contains a special hook and your thesis (it’s an opening part that catches readers’ attention and draws them in); Body paragraphs with strong supporting evidence for your thesis that explores major themes (feel free to use personal reflections and experiences); A concluding section that wraps up important information and contains a moral of your story. Stating your strong thesis It’s a focus of your entire scholarship essay because its thesis acts as a guide or your roadmap. Make it strong to ensure that your paper feels concise and direct. What is the main point of your writing in just one sentence? Create your thesis statement by answering this question and focusing on its brevity and specificity to save time and achieve good results. Offering supporting points Include a few supporting points and transitions in the main body of your scholarship essay because they will help you structure it properly. They should support your thesis. These points can help you make it easier to write this paper because you don’t have to look for additional evidence. Steps for composing your scholarship essay If you wonder how to write a winning scholarship essay, check out these basic steps that will make your life easier: Create a hook; Make it specific and personal to you; Tailor it to your targeted audience; Include important accomplishments; Avoid common clichà ©s; Use your inspirational and positive tone. What is a hook? A hook is the opening line of your scholarship essay that should be engaging, bold, and specific to draw your readers in. Your strong hook can help it stand out from other applications. Avoid writing vague, dry, and impersonal opening lines because they won’t tell committee members anything about your individuality and perspective. Make it specific and personal Your scholarship essay will be strong and impressive if you focus it on how you relate to given prompts on your personal level. Use a personal approach to tell readers your story. This simple strategy will make your paper feel specific and personal while telling all committee members more about you as their perfect candidate. Tailor it to your targeted audience Consider who will read your scholarship essay to make it appealing to the targeted audience. Think about their expectations to appeal to their interests. Although you should be focused, passionate, and personal, it’s necessary to include the details that can interest your readers at once. Committee members want to know your personal experiences and expect you to address prompts and meet the necessary academic requirements. ORDER MY SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY Why are accomplishments important? Don’t be afraid to include your major achievements and awards because you’re writing a scholarship essay to impress readers and show them why you’re the best candidate. Put your accomplishments in context and share details about them. Use them to relate to prompts if possible. Avoid common clichà ©s To write the best scholarship essay and impress committee members, it’s advisable to be original and honest. Many applicants use clichà ©s and submit unspecific personal narratives. Avoid clichà ©s because they will tell readers that you aren’t creative enough. Think about your personal experiences and circumstances that shaped your individuality and explain why you’re privileged and should win a contest. Avoid making a scholarship essay your confessional narrative where you relay all of your terrible past sins and redemption experiences. This paper should highlight your winning life events and qualities. Confessing your past crimes will never make you appear the best candidate to win awards and get the money you need for further education. Use your inspirational and positive tone A successful scholarship essay should present a positive and relatable tone to help you win. How to achieve it? Use only inspirational personal experiences and examples to demonstrate committee members how you overcame challenges or difficulties in your life. Don’t forget to polish your final draft. The above-mentioned tips will help you draft a perfect scholarship paper. If you still have difficulties, get expert assistance online and use top-quality services of professional writers ready to help you 24 hours per day.

Monday, March 2, 2020

What Is Mitosis A Complete Guide to Mitotic Cell Division

What Is Mitosis A Complete Guide to Mitotic Cell Division SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re studying biology, the concept of mitosis is pretty unavoidable. Mitosis is part of the cell cycle, and studying how cells work makes up a huge portion of any biology class. It’s safe to say you’re going to need some working knowledge of mitosis if you’re looking to breeze through any biology-related course or exam. Here’s what we’re going to cover in this article so you’re up to speed on the purpose of mitosis, how the process of mitosis works, and why mitosis is important to know about. We will: Answer the question, â€Å"What is the purpose of mitosis?† (definition and explanation of the importance of mitosis included) Description of the 4 phases of mitosis Review the similarities and differences between mitosis and meiosis Our top three tips for studying and memorizing the stages of mitosis, and Three resources for further learning about mitosis! And, now, let our journey through the world of mitosis begin! Mitosis Definition The first thing we need to do is answer the question, â€Å"What is mitosis?† In cell biology, mitosis is a part of what is called the cell cycle. The cell cycle, sometimes called the cell-division cycle, is the series of events that occur in a cell that lead to duplication of that cell’s DNA and, ultimately, the creation of new cells. During mitosis, the cell division part of the cell cycle, a single parent cell’s replicated genetic material- called chromosomes- divides to produce two new, genetically-identical daughter cells. In the cell cycle, the cell’s DNA is replicated in interphase, the phase that precedes mitosis. Mitosis alternates with interphase to make up the cell cycle in its entirety. In fact, a cell cannot begin mitosis until interphase is successfully completed. So we’ve explained that mitosis is the part of the cell cycle when cell division occurs, but let’s get a little more detailed than that. During mitosis, one cell divides one time, and the cell that’s being divided is always called the â€Å"parent cell.† When the process of dividing the parent cell is complete, the result is two â€Å"daughter cells.† These cells are called daughter cells because, during mitosis, the genetic material of the parent cell is passed on to each new daughter cell. But it’s important to note that, in the type of cells that undergo mitosis, the genetic material of the cell is contained within the cell’s nucleus. So, while mitosis is often referred to as â€Å"cell division,† mitosis is technically the division of a cell’s nucleus into two new, identical nuclei. What Types of Cells Undergo Mitosis? You may have heard about two types of cells: eukaryotic (animal) cells, and prokaryotic (plant) cells. Both types of cells undergo cell division, but only eukaryotic cells experience cell division through mitosis. In fact, all eukaryotic cells can engage in mitosis. Mitosis happens exclusively in eukaryotic cells because this type of cell has a nucleus. The nucleus of a cell contains its genetic matter, and this is what is passed to the new â€Å"daughter† cells in the process of mitosis, or cell division. In order to replicate the genetic material, mitosis has to occur in cells that have a nucleus. 2 Reasons Why Cells Divide (and Why Cell Division Is so Important) Answering the question, â€Å"Why do cells divide?† pretty much also answers the question, â€Å"Why is mitosis important?† The process of mitotic cell division in eukaryotic cells is important for two main reasons: because cell division creates new cells that keep eukaryotic organisms thriving, and because cell division passes a consistent genetic identity to a new generation of cells. First, the division part of the cell cycle- mitosis- is so important because the parent cell passes its genetic information to its offspring cells (sometimes called â€Å"daughter† cells) during this type of cell division. If cell division doesn’t occur, new cells can’t be created. And it’s important for new cells to be created in eukaryotic organisms because . . . cells get worn out and die! The dead cells need to be replaced with new cells so the organism can continue growing. Second, the process of mitosis is so important because parent and daughter cells in certain types of organisms must be identical in order for the organism to survive. When mitosis occurs successfully, two new cells with the same genetic composition and an identical chromosome set to the previous generation are created. If there’s an error during mitosis, harmful conditions can develop, like cancer or hemophilia. When Does Mitosis Occur in the Cell Cycle? Mitosis is really important, but it’s actually only one part of the cell cycle. A period called interphase precedes mitosis in the cell cycle, and interphase and mitosis alternate as the cell cycle occurs over and over. So, mitosis is the second or concluding part of the cell cycle, and mitosis cannot start until interphase has been successfully completed. During interphase, the cell grows and develops the proteins needed for cell division. In the middle of the interphase period, the cell duplicates its chromosomes. Once the chromosomes have been duplicated and all other conditions are ideal in the cell, the first phase of mitosis can begin! The 4 Phases of Mitosis, Explained We have a much longer article that covers the four phases of mitosis in more detail, but we do want to give you an overview of what the four phases of mitosis are and what happens during each phase here. If you’re looking for a deep dive into the four phases of mitosis, take a look at our article, â€Å"A Detailed Breakdown of the 4 Phases of Mitosis†! Mitosis is a process that happens in phases that always occur in the same order and accomplish the same tasks (unless something goes wrong!). The four phases of mitosis are prophase (P), metaphase (M), anaphase (A), and telophase (T). Each of these phases helps achieve the purpose of mitosis by moving the process of cell division and reproduction along. Without the proper completion of each of the four phases, cell division wouldn’t happen the way it’s supposed to. We’ll quickly breakdown each phase of mitosis for you next! Phase 1: Prophase and Prometaphase During prophase, the first phase of mitosis, the chromatins inside the cell’s nucleus begin condensing into chromosomes. The protective membrane surrounding the cell’s nucleus, called the nuclear envelope or membrane, also begins to break down. As the chromosomes condense inside the nucleus and the nuclear membrane disintegrates, centrioles outside of the nucleus start moving toward opposite sides of the cell and form the mitotic spindle, which is made up of fibers called microtubules. The mitotic spindle stretches from one side of the cell to the other, suspended between those centrioles that moved away from each other. Phase 2: Metaphase Metaphase is the second phase of mitosis. During metaphase, spindle fibers attach to the centromere of each pair of sister chromatids. The sister chromatids also move into the middle of the cell and line up along an invisible line, called the metaphase plate. These spindle fibers prepare the sister chromatids to separate properly in the next phase of mitosis. Phase 3: Anaphase Anaphase is the third phase of mitosis, and this is when cell division really begins. During anaphase, the spindle fibers attached to the sister chromatids start shortening, which pulls the sister chromatids apart down the middle toward opposite sides of the cell. By the end of anaphase, each side of the cell has a complete, identical set of chromosomes. Phase 4: Telophase Finally, we have telophase: the fourth and final phase of mitosis. In telophase, the separated chromosomes start to unfold and form chromatin. The spindle also disintegrates, and a new nuclear envelope forms around the two new sets of chromosomes. These two new sets of chromosomes make up two nuclei, which have received genetic information from their parent cell. iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zrKdz93WlVk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen/iframe Mitosis Versus Meiosis: The Similarities and Differences Mitosis, meiosis. You probably know that both of these processes have something to do with cells. But what’s the difference between the function of mitosis and the function of meiosis, and why do you need to know the difference? - To understand how mitosis and meiosis are related, the first thing you need to know is that mitosis isn’t the only type of cell division that can occur. Meiosis is also a form of cell division and reproduction! But while mitosis results in two identical daughter cells, meiosis results in four sex cells. That’s right- meiosis is the process of cell division and reproduction that occurs in organisms that reproduce sexually. Here are the key differences between mitosis and meiosis as processes of cell division and reproduction: Mitosis Meiosis Where it occurs Occurs in all organisms, except viruses Only occurs in animals, plants, and fungi Cells it produces Creates body/somatic cells Creates germ/sex cells Number of cell divisions One cell division ( 4 stages total) Two cell divisions (8 stages total) Prophase length Prophase is short Prophase I is longer Recombination/crossing over No recombination/crossing over in prophase Recombination/crossing over of chromosomes during prophase I Metaphase During metaphase, individual chromosomes line up on cell’s equator During metaphase I, pairs of chromosomes line up on cell’s equator Anaphase During anaphase, sister chromatids move to opposite ends of the cell During anaphase I, sister chromatids move together to the same cell poll During anaphase II, sister chromatids are separated to opposite ends of the cell Number of cells created End result: two daughter cells End result: four daughter cells Ploidy Diploid daughter cells Haploid daughter cells Genetics Daughter cells are genetically identical Daughter cells are genetically different That’s a lot of differences, right? But there are also several similarities between the processes of mitosis and meiosis. Here they are: Both mitosis and meiosis begin with a diploid parent cell, or a parent cell with two sets of chromosomes Mitosis and meiosis go through the same phases, in the same order- prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase- but the phases occur only once during mitosis and twice during meiosis Both mitosis and meiosis end with cytokinesis, the cytoplasmic division of a eukaryotic cell into two daughter cells In general, you want to try to remember the two main differences between mitosis and meiosis: meiosis involves two cell divisions, while mitosis only involves one, and meiosis gives rise to the production of germ cells, while mitosis gives rise to the production of somatic cells. Now you should be able to come up with answers to the questions, â€Å"What is the purpose of mitosis?† and, â€Å"What is the purpose of meiosis?† all on your own! Next, we’ll tell you about our top three tips for studying and memorizing the details of mitosis. Our Top 3 Tips for Studying and Memorizing the Details of Mitosis Now, learning cell biology is essentially a gargantuan effort to remember a lot of stuff about a lot of things, so maybe you’re wondering how you’re going to remember what the stages of mitosis are, the order of the phases, what happens in each phase . . . the list could probably go on! Fear not: we’ve come up with some strategies that can help you remember some of the most important details about mitosis. Check out our top three tips for studying and memorizing the key details about mitosis below. Mnemonic Devices Mnemonic devices are techniques that people can use to help them remember something. If you need to remember the 4 stages of mitosis in order, try memorizing one of these mnemonic devices: I Picked My Apples Today I Prefer Tea And Milk IPMAT Get it? The first letter of each word in the mnemonic devices above corresponds with the first letter of each of the phases of mitosis, plus interphase: I = Interphase Picked = Prophase My = Metaphase Apples = Anaphase Today = Telophase Adding one of these easy-to-remember phrases to your study arsenal can make remembering the phases of mitosis much easier in a high-pressure situation! Use the Letters In â€Å"Mitosis† and â€Å"Meiosis† to Remember the Difference If you thought those mnemonic devices were a cheesy way to remember key details about mitosis, just wait: we’ve also got a couple of ways to differentiate between mitosis and meiosis just by using the letters in the words mitosis and meiosis. Here’s an example: Mitosis has a â€Å"t† in it, so mitosis is going to result in two cells. Here’s a visual: The â€Å"T† in mitosis = two cells. Just remember that â€Å"t,† which should help you remember that mitosis results in two genetically identical daughter cells. Now for meiosis- and this one is easier. Ready? Meiosis doesn’t have a â€Å"T† in it, so it isn’t going to make two cells. â€Å"T† in mitosis = two cells. No â€Å"T† in meiosis = not two cells. A Different Kind of Mnemonic and A Hand Trick Maybe you need a trick to remember what happens during each phase of mitosis in addition to remembering what order they go in. Here’s one more trick that takes the first letter of each phase of mitosis and associates it with a word starting with that same letter to describe what happens in the corresponding phase of mitosis: Prophase = Prepare Metaphase = Middle Anaphase = Apart Telophase = Tear Prepare - middle - apart - tear. The idea with this one is to use one word that sort of sums up what happens in each phase of mitosis to trigger your memory about the other details of what happens in that phase. So, for example, if you can remember prophase = prepare, that should set you up to explain how prophase prepares the genetic material in the cell’s nucleus for division by condensing it tightly together. If a visual representation of what happens during each phase of mitosis is more helpful to you than another mnemonic device, try memorizing the quick hand trick demonstrated in this YouTube video! You could also combine the descriptive words from the mnemonic above with the hand trick for a double whammy. 3 Resources for Further Learning About Mitosis If you need some extra help answering the question, â€Å"What is mitosis?† on your own or want to build on your current mitosis definition, check out the three resources below that provide more information about mitosis! Nature Journal Maybe you’re feeling pretty ambitious and you want to dive into peer-reviewed, academic research articles on mitosis. One of the best places you can turn for that is Nature, an international science journal, and one of the most reputable in its field. If you need to do research on mitosis that’s going to be up to, say, a college professor’s expectations, any search you do in Nature’s archives will get you the kind of sources you need. The big drawback of most academic research journals is that the subscription fees are hefty. A one-year subscription to Nature for students is $119. Don’t lose heart, though. A lot of times, schools and universities buy subscriptions to reputable journals, so it’s likely you could access articles or issues on mitosis through your school library’s online databases. If you’re in doubt, just ask a research librarian! Scitable by Nature Education If a full-fledged, peer-reviewed scientific journal is a bit much for you at this point, Nature Education provides a tapered down resource for students looking for credible overviews of science-related topics, called Scitable. Scitable focuses specifically on key genetic concepts, so they definitely provide content that covers mitosis. When you search a concept on Scitable, the results pop up conveniently categorized based on type of content. So, if you search â€Å"mitosis† from the Scitable homepage, you’ll get results categorized as â€Å"articles,† â€Å"concept pages,† â€Å"definitions,† â€Å"images,† and â€Å"blog posts.† We recommend exploring Scitable on your own, but we’ve also linked to a few resources on mitosis that Scitable provides below: Mitosis definition page Concept page explaining replication and distribution of DNA during mitosis Video showing a timelapse of mitosis occurring under a light microscope If you’re looking for a variety of scientist-authored educational resources on mitosis in one place, Scitable is a great place to go. iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f-ldPgEfAHI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen/iframe The Amoeba Sisters’ YouTube Videos on Mitosis If some jazzy music and creative visuals help you get focused to learn something new, try checking out the Amoeba Sisters’ set of YouTube videos on mitosis. Their content is lively, accessible, and relatable, which is always a welcome way to learn more about (or frantically review) science-y things! The Amoeba Sisters have several videos that will help you answer the question, â€Å"What is mitosis?†, but we especially recommend â€Å"Mitosis: The Amazing Cell Process that Uses Division to Multiply!† and â€Å"Mitosis vs. Meiosis: Side by Side Comparison.† And they don’t just provide video content: if you look right under all of their videos on YouTube, you’ll find that they provide a link to a page with tons of handouts that you can use to study and review what you’ve learned from their videos about mitosis. If you’re still asking yourself, â€Å"What is mitosis?†, these videos and handouts can help you answer that question. One more cool thing about their videos: they update them periodically to ensure their content stays up-to-date with scientific research and what’s being taught in formal education settings pertaining to mitosis, so you know you’re getting credible information. What’s Next? Are you still a little confused about what happens during mitosis? Or do you need a more in-depth resource to help you study? Here’s a step-by-step guide to mitosis that breaks every phrase down in detail (coming soon). Once you read this article, you’ll be on the way to becoming a mitosis expert! If you think biology is amazing, you might be a good candidate for taking AP Biology classes in high school. Here’s a guide to help you decide if an AP Bio class is right for you. (You can also take a sneak peek at the AP Biology syllabus to give you an inside look at what taking the class would be like!) Maybe you’re already taking AP or IB Biology and are looking for more study resources. We’ve got you covered there, too. Here’s a complete AP Biology review and a comprehensive list of the best online IB Biology SL/HL study notes, too.