Write it 101.

All about writing 100 and 200 level papers.

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Technical Papers

Assignment: Write a 4-6 page paper on the new Mac operating system.  Describe it’s feature, advantages and disadvantages, if any.

Copyright Write It 101

In October 2007, Apple Computers released their fifth update to OS X operating system, known as Mac OS X Leopard.  The first update in over two and a half years, OS X Leopard contains many new features, tools and adjustments.  While some of the changes are merely aesthetic or organizational in nature, OS X Leopard can also be considered a vast and well needed facelift to the Mac user interface – one that offers user a new and exciting computing experience.  As the first operating system released since the introduction of Intel based Macs, Leopard addresses issues arising from its dual boot capabilities and aims to make it an even easier transition for those users crossing over from the PC world. From Spaces - the Leopard program that helps users to streamline their desktops while toggling between several documents or programs, to Time Machine – Leopard’s built-in backup utility, Mac OS X Leopard breathes new life into Macs new and old.

The most significant and noteworthy feature of Mac OS X Leopard is Time Machine, a feature that makes it easy and convenient for just about anybody to routinely perform a hard drive back up (Snell).  Setting up Time Machine is easy enough, though it requires the purchase of an external hard drive equal to or greater in size that the internal hard drive.  (Typically, models between 320 and 500 GB run in the $150-$200 range.) Once the external hard drive is configured to the Mac (via Firewire or USB), Time Machine systematically works to back up the system at regular intervals (Williams 354).  This is not only useful in the event of a system crash, but comes in handy in the retrieval of files or documents thrown away in error.  For example, say that a user mistakenly saves the wrong draft of a paper, losing pages of work in the process.  Time Machine makes it possible for that user to backtrack to a specific date and time in order to restore the correct draft.  Once a task reserved for only the savviest of computer professionals, Time Machine makes it easy for even a novice user to perform file or program retrieval with a click of the mouse.  

Another innovative feature of Leopard is Spaces, a program that allows users to move with ease between workspaces (Breen).  Dividing the desktop into a grid, Spaces is the virtual equivalent of the desktop paper sorter.  Each document can be neatly placed within a square of the grid, and easily retrieved with the click of two keys.  In order to be used, Spaces must first be configured; a process easily accomplished though the System Preferences panel.  Configuration allows users to personalize the Spaces environment to suit individual needs by controlling the number of squares in both the rows and columns of the grid.  Spaces can be further configured to launch at each system startup, placing user specified programs automatically into the Spaces grid (Breen).  Particularly once the shortcut keys (Control + 2, for example) are mastered, Spaces is an effective timesaving and organizational tool for any multitasking user.  It is also a useful tool for increasing desktop functionality of smaller monitors or screens (Wenzel).

In addition to Spaces, OS X Leopard users will enjoy a significant reduction in desktop clutter thanks to Stacks, a feature that organizes downloads, applications and folders into a specific location on the dock. In Stacks, icons are “spring-loaded,” allowing contents to spring out like a deck of cards when clicked (McLean). To locate a file or folder, a user simply clicks on a dock icon to see its contents fan out on the desktop (Williams 103). This feature makes it easy to keep track of files and locate downloads in a snap (Wenzel).

Unlike Windows, Mac operating systems use proprietary technology that can only be used on Macintosh computers (Parsons and Oja 198). However, one of the best features of Intel based Macs is the ability to run the Windows operating system.  In order to run Windows on a Mac, users must have Bootcamp (included with Leopard), a program that allows users to boot into the Windows environment (Wenzel) and run Windows programs at native speeds (Snell).  It is important to note, however, that the Bootcamp application does not allow for a dual-boot.  In order to run Windows and OS X Leopard environments simultaneously, users must purchase a separate program (either Parallels or VM Fusion).  

The Mail application on OS X Leopard has several useful additions.  It comes standard with 32 email templates, which enable users to drag and drop pictures into mail messages as well as to resize them with its built-in photo browser (Wenzel). Mail also features RSS feeds, which stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” RSS technology “feeds” users news and late-breaking information from a variety of internet sources (Williams 125). RSS feeds work in collaboration with the Mac Safari browser to pull news stories and press releases into a dedicated mailbox within the Mail application.  Users can easily configure their RSS feature within the Safari application to pull headlines from any number of blogs, news sites or websites. The Mail application has also been enhanced to include an improved Spotlight (or search) function, which enables users to search for messages with greater ease and accuracy (Snell).   The “To-do lists” and “Notes” functions in mail allow users to email themselves notes, an especially handy tool for those who also use an iPhone.

Mac OS X Leopard also contains many security enhancing features.  Low level security features include the ability to suspend or turn off auto log-in, as well as a feature that requires users to input a password in order to wake up the Mac (Williams 422).  OS X Leopard further enables users to lock their Macs with a click of the mouse.  Higher-level security features include a “Secure Empty Trash” option which completely overwrites files so that they cannot ever be recovered (423). Users can also use the desk utility to encrypt all or part of their hard disk image to protect it from other authorized users of the computer as well as intrusions (423). Once encrypted, the contents of the hard drive are under password protection and cannot be viewed, opened or deleted. Heavy-Duty system protection includes FileVault, which encrypts all data within a user’s home folder (426). With FileVault activated, all contents of the home folder are protected (even from remote connections) and can only be unscrambled by a Master password (426).  In addition, there are more firewalls on Leopard as well as other increased security provisions that work to protect users from Trojans and other attacks (Wenzel).

For those users who share a computer, Mac OS X Leopard is particularly conducive to what is known as a multiple user environment (Williams 307).  This makes it easy for multiple users, friends, or family members, to use the same Mac.  Each user is designated a user account by the main user, or Administrator.   The Administrator can subsequently use a variety of controls and setting to limit or expand each user’s account options.  This features works very well with the Parental Controls built into OS X Leopard.  With Parental Controls, the Administrator can use the designated access hierarchy to limit a user’s access to features and applications, including the internet (324).  Parents can also use the controls to place time limits on their children and to perform internet logging in order to monitor Web surfing activity (Wenzel).

Installing OS X Leopard requires the minimum of an 867 MHz G4 Power Mac (or any G5 or Intel Mac) as well as 9 GB of hard drive space and 512 MB of RAM memory (Wenzel). Upgrading from OS X Tiger takes about 40 minutes, a bit longer than the equivalent Windows XP to Vista upgrade. When upgrading from OS X 3 or later, all system settings and files are preserved. Once installed, OS X Leopard has proven to be moderately faster than OS X Tiger, its predecessor.  This is largely due to the fact that many of the more intricate features and processes are delegated to the video card, which otherwise sits idle (McLean).  Boot up of Mac OS X Leopard is relatively instantaneous, thanks to its parallel processing capabilities.  Each task has its own dedicated thread, which prevents the interface from being “held-up” while completing tasks (McLean). To switch from sleep mode to wake mode takes but mere seconds to complete, an essential timesaver (McLean). This is an enticing feature for mobile users, particularly Windows Vista users who are used to a lengthy delay in booting and waking up their computers. For anyone in need of a highly responsive user interface, OS X Leopard’s pep and speed is reason enough to switch to a Mac. A single-user license for Mac OS X Leopard costs $129. A multiple user license costs $199 and can accommodate up to five users, provided they share the same residence.  There are also a variety of site and enterprise license programs available through Apple.  Educational institutions can purchase licenses for $39 per install (Roy).  Installation disks are $15 and can be used for an unlimited number of installations (Roy). In order to run Windows on a Mac, users must also purchase a Windows full product license.

Unlike with Windows Vista, Mac OS X Leopard does not come with any Product Activation protocol.  There are no installation keys or codes to input in order to install the product (McLean).   Leopard installation discs, even those sold as single user, are not protected against multiple user installations.  While the rest of the technological world invests a great deal of resources in advances to copyright protection, Apple has taken the polar opposite approach.  Playing off of its highly devoted customer base, Apple optimistically assumes that its users will want to encourage continued product improvement and development, and will therefore be less inclined to steal installations (McLean).

There are many benefits in both upgrading to Mac OS X Leopard from an earlier version and switching from Windows altogether.  Upgrading from an earlier Mac OS is a relatively simple process.  Though the interface is quite expansive, it has been engineered to trim itself down when employed on an older machine so that it can used by machines as old as five years (McLean).  Unlike the extremely bloated Windows Vista, Mac OS X Leopard is a thoughtful operating system that uses only the resources that are available to it in order to perform functions (McLean), making it a much more efficient work environment. Whereas Mac OS X Leopard only requires 9GB of hard drive space, 512 MB of RAM and an 867 MHz processor, Windows Vista Premium requires 15 GB of hard drive space, 1 GB of RAM and a 1 GHz processor.  Moreover, the induction of the Intel chip has made Macs incredibly versatile, especially for those who use a Windows machine at work.  Users can now seamlessly integrate their Windows files and programs with minimal hassle.  The $129 upgrade price tag for OS Leopard is about comparable to the premium version upgrade of Windows Vista. Though most Macs are priced significantly higher than their PC equivalents, the peace of mind that comes with the stringent security features of Mac OS X Leopard makes it well worth the cost.  

All of the 300+ features of Mac OS X Leopard conspire to increase the user productivity and experience more than any other interface on the market.  Mac OS X Leopard is far and away the finest Mac operating system engineered to date. Its visibly user-friendly and highly customizable platform provides for both loyal devotees and newcomers alike all the more reason to love Macs.

[writeit101]

What’s the best way to write a paper?

A little bit at a time.  

When you have a writing project assigned, it is easy to ignore until the week it is due.  Chipping away at research papers over a semester turns a daunting task into a very minor one.  

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Read it, then  deconstruct it.

I wrote the paper below for an Introductory course in Public Safety. The student needed to write a paper on the impact of the Chicago fires on the field of Public Safety, yet had no idea where to begin.  The following is a sample template paper.  Read it once, then again critically. Deconstruct it and make a map of the key elements of the paper including the topic sentence and summary.

Copyright 2014 Write It 101

In the past 100 years there have been many events that have affected the field of public safety, though few have had as significant an impact as the attacks of 9/11.  The terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 divided the history of the United States of America into two distinct categories – pre and post 9/11.  The factors that contributed to the occurrence of the attack include a societal emphasis on the value of personal/constitutional freedoms, weaknesses in airport security, and lack of a connection between the immigration and visa processes with issues of national security.  The effects of the event in the post 9/11 society have pervaded every aspect of American life, particularly as it pertains to policies, processes and issues of public safety.  The events of September 11, 2001 led to the creation of a post 9/11 world in which individuals and agencies in the field of public safety have had to adapt to an almost immediate change in societal values and beliefs, as well as industry codes and practices.

On September 11, 2001, nineteen al-Queda operatives living in the United States successfully carried out a coordinated terrorist attack on American soil.  This plot was launched with the hijacking of four passenger airliners with the intent of flying the airplanes into buildings.  Between 8:46 and 9:06 a.m. that morning, both American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were flown into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.  About thirty minutes later, American Airlines Flight 77 was flown into the western section of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.  Soon after the third plane crashed, the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center collapsed, causing further havoc and loss of life on the ground.  Almost simultaneously, in response to the hijacking of a fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, passengers on board attempted to overtake control, leading to its deliberate crash into an open field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  Within a period of less than two hours, terrorists successfully caused the destruction of the Twin Towers - a symbol of American economic freedom, a portion of the Pentagon - the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, and four passenger aircraft.  The casualties of these attacks were extensive, with death tolls close to 3000 at the time of the attack.  Along with being the most significant act of terror, it also carried the highest number of firefighter and police fatalities in a single incident in the history of America.  Clearly, an event of such magnitude would have wide sweeping and long-standing effects on the field of public policy.  

Before examining the effects of 9/11, it is important to explore the significant contributing factors to the event.  Those examining the history of public policy will find a clear delineation between pre and post 9/11 America.  The policies originating in pre 9/11 America were largely dependent on constitutional laws and ideals in which individual freedoms trumped the need to protect the masses.  In other words, the very concept of public safety was not held above the constitutional liberties of the individual.  Police, firefighters and all those whose job involved maintaining order and safety for the public were forced to work within the parameters of the inalienable rights of the individual.  Additionally, until the events of 9/11 unfolded, American citizens held a somewhat blind public trust in the agencies with the sworn duty to protect the public.  The 9/11 hijackers were able to carry out their plot by taking advantage of this double-edged sword of individual freedoms and the concept of public trust in government agencies and agencies of public safety.

Before 9/11, airline security was governed by the airlines themselves with the oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration (Vries, 2002).  Airport screening of passengers was at that time conducted by private security companies.  The list of items passengers were allowed to carry on to airplanes included scissors, baseball bats, knitting needles, darts and pocket knives less than four inches in length.  Cockpit doors on airplanes remained unsecured during flights and could be easily battered down by passengers. At the time of the 9/11 attacks, the Air Marshall Service consisted of only 33 agents (Grabell, 2008)  Needless to say, when it was discovered that the 9/11 hijackers had used box cutters in their attempts to overpower passengers, pilots and crewmembers on the airplanes, much public scrutiny fell on the airlines and FAA (Vries, 2002).  With the lack of clearly defined security directives between the FAA and the airlines and no specific government mandate in place, the safety of the American public became lost in the grey area between a private industry and a government agency.  

Of course, there were other mitigating factors besides airline security that contributed to the 9/11 attacks.  The incident certainly shed light on the importance of the Immigration and Naturalization Service not just as an administrative agency but also as an agency of public safety (Hesson, 2012).  Of the four hijackers who entered the United States specifically to attend flight school, only one entered on a visa appropriate for such study.  Of the group of 19, the lone hijacker who entered the United States on a student visa failed to ever show up or enroll in school.  Two of the other hijackers were granted only a one month stay upon entry to the United States, and were thus in violation of the terms of their entry visas at the time their terrorist plot was carried out.  Because all 19 hijackers were able to enter the country legally and procure/maintain residence regardless of their visa status, it demonstrated significant weaknesses in visa processes and how they could be used to the country’s detriment.  It also showed flaws in debate over the nation’s immigration laws, which pre 9/11 mainly addressed the economic impact of immigration instead of the threat of increased terrorism( Hesson 2012).

The greatest impact of the events of 9/11 came with the formation of the Department of Homeland Security.  The DHS was formed 11 days after the deadliest terrorist attack in American history with the specific goal of safeguarding the country against future terrorist attacks(Department of Homeland Security, 2014).  The department was created by merging 22 independent government agencies into a single agency responsible for all coordinated all efforts to maintain homeland security .  The Department of Homeland Security joined together agencies such as Immigration and Naturalization Service, United Sates Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Secret Service as well as several others.  The streamlined mission of the new multifaceted department was to prevent terrorism and enhance security, manage the border, administer immigration laws, secures cyberspace and ensure disaster resilience (DHS, 2012).  

As well as impacting the structure of the government agencies charged with protecting the public, 9/11 had significant effects on the policies and practices of those agencies.  This is most evident in the legislation known as the USA Patriot Act.  Passed in 2001, the Patriot Act was an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools to Intercept Terrorism  (Rosenzweig, 2004).  Pre 9/11, government agencies were bound by significant restrictions to their ability to violate an individual’s liberties, even in cases involving national security.  The passage of the Patriot Act by Congress significantly expanded the rights and permissions of the government to include the right to indefinitely detain immigrants, to monitor phone, email and financial records without obtaining a court order, and to enter homes without an owner’s knowledge or consent (Rosenzweig, 2004).  The Patriot Act gave the government a great deal of power to override to constitutional rights of citizens in the name of preventing terrorism.  Naturally, this extremely controversial Act of Congress and has been met with a great deal of resistance by individuals and politicians concerned with protecting civil liberties.  There are those who viewed the passage of the Act as a granting of permission of the executive branch to overstep its power without justification or ramification (Rosenzweig, 2004).  However, the act has been largely accepted by members of American society as well as in the intelligence community as an essential tool in combating terrorism.

An important industry practice that resulted from the Patriot Act was the sharing of information between government agencies (Rosenzweig, Kochems, Carafano, 2012).  Before September 11, U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies were limited by law in what information they could share with each other (Rosenzweig. 2012).  The Patriot Act in practice has enabled government agencies to “connect the dots” in the intelligence community (Rosenzweig, Kochems, Carafano, 2012)).  By granting law enforcement and intelligence agencies the right to share information, they have been able to effectively dismantle terror cells in Portland, Oregon, Lackawanna, N.Y., and Virginia (Rosenzweig, 2012).  They have also been able to curtail the financial dexterity of terror organizations by monitoring and subsequently freezing their funds.  Organizations leading the effort to cut off the money sources of terror cells after 9/11 have found evidence that their efforts at increased scrutiny have indeed disrupted the flow of money (“Follow the Money,” 2002).

Another practice resulting from 9/11 is that of interagency collaboration.  These “task forces” unify the resources of various law enforcement agencies, and example of which being the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.  Hailing from 650 state of federal agencies, the Joint Terrorism Task Force provides a universal database of intelligence information to all intelligence agencies. Law enforcement agencies have also changed their codes and practices post 9/11.  Since September 11, 2001, police departments nationwide have become increasingly militarized.  Using the threat of terrorism as justification, police departments have increased their efforts to arm cops in a fashion similar to soldiers (Balko, 2011).  In 2006, the Department of Defense distributed vehicles worth $15.4 million, aircraft worth $8.9 million, boats worth $6.7 million, weapons worth $1 million and 'other' items worth $110.6 million" to local police agencies (Balko, 2011).  In 2007 and 2008, Clayton and Cobb Counties in Georgia acquired their own tanks, respectively.  In urban areas like Washington, DC, police departments switched to battle dress uniform instead of their standard police uniform (Balko).  Police departments in Indianapolis and Chicago have also militarized post 9/11, using the threat of terror as justification to purchase machine guns from the military (Balko).

Along with being increasingly militarized, law enforcement agencies have had to significantly change their training practices post 9/11.  Police and fire departments now have to train individuals to deal with both the threat of and response to acts of terrorism.  This includes additional firearms qualifications to utilize more militarized firearms, utilization of gas masks, dealing with suicide bombers and weapons of mass destruction (Afshar, 2011).  The largest change to the training practices of law enforcement agencies is the addition of the Federal Emergency Managements Agency’s National Incident Management System.  Because most events begin and end in localities, the National Incident Management System provides a blueprint for federal, state and local agencies and governments to work together seamlessly.  It provides a template for managing incidents of all sizes and complexities with the goal of minimizing loss of life.  Pre 9/11, police departments were largely focused on domestic crime.  Post 9/11, the focus, mission and training of law enforcement agencies shifted dramatically to the prevention of international terrorism (Walters, 2011). Community relations between local law enforcement agencies, federal agencies and the public at large were also changed a great deal by 9/11.  The threat of international terrorism placed increased importance on the need for trust and collaboration between those agencies and private citizens.  The federal government’s “if you see something, say something” campaign best illustrates the need for public involvement in the fight against terrorism.

The events of September 11. 2001 changed the field of public safety as well as its codes, practices and beliefs in many ways.  Before 9/11, eradicating or dealing with the threat of international terrorism was not of fundamental importance. Post 9/11, the field of public safety changed in such a manner that dealing with the threat of terrorism became the most important mission of local law enforcement, federal and state agencies.  From the creation of the Department of Homeland Security to the passage of the Patriot Act to the change in the training and standard equipment of first responders, the impact of the attacks were so immense that they continue to reshape the field to this day.

Afshar, P. (2011, September 11). Bradenton Local News | Bradenton Herald & Lakewood Ranch Herald. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

Balko, R. (2011, September 12). A Decade After 9/11, Police Departments Are Increasingly Militarized. Retrieved October 1, 2014.

Follow the money. (2002, June 1). Retrieved October 6, 2014.

Gillespie, E. (2011, September 8). Policing in a Post-9/11 America. Retrieved October 1, 2014.

Grabell, M. (2008, November 13). Air Marshals: Undercover and Under Arrest. Retrieved October 2, 2014.

Hesson, T. (2012, September 11). Five Ways Immigration System Changed After 9/11. Retrieved October 11, 2014.

Immigration Issues. (2011, September 11). Retrieved October 11, 2014.

Rosenzweig, P. (2004, September 22). Make Information-Sharing Authority Permanent. Retrieved October 9, 2014.

Rosenzweig, P., Kochems, A., & Carafano, J. (2004, September 13). The Patriot Act Reader. Retrieved October 8, 2014.

Vries, L. (2002, November 12). Boxcutters Weren't Allowed Pre-9/11. Retrieved October 6, 2014.

Walters, J. (2011, August 31). Policing in the Post-9/11 Era. Retrieved October 4, 2014.

[writeit101]

Reverse engineering can be valuable.

You are taught a few things about selecting a thesis, writing an introductory and summary paragraph, and supporting your assertions in the body of your paper.  But once you get your assignment, where do you begin? 

Try reading a paper of similar academic level and then piece together the topic and outline.  What was the thesis?  Was it supported?  

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This blog is intended as a resource for writing remedial, 100 and 200 level college research papers.