SLC Undergraduate Writing Contest

A Call for Affordable Housing, Social Services, and Destigmatization to Relieve Vancouver’s Homelessness Crisis

2023-01-11T14:10:03-08:00

This paper was originally written for Dr. Ayls Avalos-Rivera ENGL 114W course Language and Purpose. The assignment asked students to write a persuasive essay that will present a problem, propose a solution, and asses its feasibility. The paper uses APA 7th ed. citation style.

Homelessness is one of the most prominent problems Vancouver faces. Along with the addiction and mental health crises, the city has been struggling to support its under-housed citizens with the chronically homeless population, referring to the people who’ve lived on the streets for more than a year, increasing three times in size since 2005. Encampments found in Strathcona Park and along the busy city streets showcase the struggle a large population of Vancouverites face in their day-to-day lives to survive. Population growth is due to a lack of social services, gentrification, and stigmatization. Illegal evictions, gentrification of poor areas, and the views of Vancouverites on the chronically homeless all contribute to the problem. The City of Vancouver’s solution of the crisis includes developing temporary modular housing to efficiently shelter the underhoused. Additionally, addiction, mental health, and social services will be made available to residents of these developments. Destigmatization of the chronically homeless is crucial for the success of the city’s plan and the well-being of all Vancouverites.

Protecting Sacred Indigenous Burial Sites in Canada

2023-01-11T14:14:08-08:00

This paper was originally written for Dr. David Chariandy, English 209: Race, Borders, Empire. The assignment asked students to provide a clear thesis (argument) on a film or book-length text from the course, and exhibit your own independent research on relevant social or literary issues. The paper uses MLA citation style.

Since European contact with North America, Indigenous peoples and their identities have continuously been attacked and threatened. Sacred burial practices have been a part of Indigenous cultures for hundreds of years. Leanne Simpson’s book, Islands of Decolonial Love: Stories and Songs, is used to demonstrate how traditional cultural practices interconnect with the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples. This interconnection is severed by colonizers and settlers who destroy sacred burial sites. The Canadian government fails to protect sacred burial sites even after messages of reconciliation. Locating and protecting sacred burial sites would be key to reconnect Indigenous peoples to their ancestral grounds.

Panhandling or Policy: Are anti-panhandling laws effective or a pseudo-solution?

2023-01-11T14:16:24-08:00

This paper was originally written for Dr. Jan MacLean’s FANX99 course Foundations of Academic Literacy. The assignment asked students to choose from a list of essay topics and analyze both sides in a balanced manner, while also defining their own opinion. The paper uses APA citation style.

In this essay I will argue that anti-panhandling laws are not effective as they do not provide the solutions necessary to ensure that individuals do not need to resort to panhandling to survive. Research has shown that unless the underlying causes of severe poverty and homelessness are addressed, creating prohibitive by-laws will not produce lasting resolutions. Certain measures such as Housing First in Finland or creating employment opportunities for those in vulnerable situations have proven to be effective and lasting solutions that encompass housing and lack of income for the homeless. However, several municipalities in BC have implemented anti-panhandling laws that enable law enforcement to charge fines to deter panhandlers from sitting, lying down, or asking for money in certain places, or at certain times. Furthermore, these municipalities claim they have implemented these bylaws for the safety and comfort of their residents. I believe this reasoning to be elitest and exclusionary as it does not include homeless residents as part of the group that need protection. My position regarding the implementation of anti-panhandling laws is that it is not an effective, nor a necessary action to address the underlying issues of extreme poverty and homelessness. When these root causes are resolved, panhandling will cease to be considered as a source of income for those in need.

Western Redcedar Bark Harvesting: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Wisdom and People-Plant Relationships

2023-01-11T17:51:33-08:00

This paper was originally written for Robert Bandringa’s INDG 332 course Indigenous Ethnobotany. The assignment asked students to research the Indigenous ethnobotanical practices associated with a specific plant that is native to so-called British Columbia and/or the relationship of that plant to a specific First Nation in BC. The paper uses Nature citation style.

This paper explores traditional cedar bark harvesting practices to illustrate how Western Redcedar is integral to Indigenous cultural identity and respectful relationships with plants and place, focusing on the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. The paper provides a literature review of Western Redcedar in B.C. and the Squamish Nation’s relationship with the tree, followed by an analysis of traditional cedar bark harvesting processes and the importance of these practices in the context of industrial forestry and climate change. Overall, the reciprocity and wisdom of cedar bark harvesting represents the need to sustain Indigenous perspectives and respectful relationships with plants and places, for the welfare of all beings and future generations.

“A ‘Fuck You’ to the French:” Autochthony in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

2023-01-12T09:52:03-08:00

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a deeply rich poem that comprises layers upon layers of nuanced and cultural motifs. Within it is the struggle against colonial, autochthonous, and cosmopolitan forces, springing forth from folkloric myth and religious narratives. This paper explores those motifs in a way that illuminates the cultural clashes of Medieval Britain, France, and even glimpses beyond European hegemony, to the possibilities of the East.

Differing Viewpoints: Cultural Perspectives on Canis lupus

2023-01-10T14:49:12-08:00

This paper was originally written for Instructor Robert Bandringa's Indigenous Studies 333 course Indigenous Ethnozoology. The assignment asked students to explore the zoology and ethnozoology of a chosen animal. The paper uses APA citation style.

By analyzing the presence of wolves and dogs in both Indigenous communities and Western society leads to a discussion about the purpose and role which wolves play, and how they are understood. Indigenous knowledges and Western world views are often in contrast to one another, and this is just another example of that, in which this paper will explore further.

Manifesting Politeness in Children Cross-Culturally

2023-01-09T11:27:58-08:00

This paper was originally written for Trevor Block’s Linguistics 350 course, First Language Acquisition. The assignment asked students to write a literature review on any topic within first language acquisition with sections on background, relevant research, and a conclusion with implications for the field. The paper uses APA citation style.

Politeness manifests itself in many ways across different languages and cultures—whether it be non-verbal gestures such as bowing to show respect in Japanese, or verbal utterances of “please” and “thank you” in English. Yet, if politeness is more of a societal expectation than a fundamental necessity to communicate with others, then how do young children develop their language abilities and pragmatic knowledge to be polite? This literature review aims to provide a cross-cultural summary of politeness acquisition in children across a selection of first languages, namely English and Japanese. While the timeline of politeness acquisition is similar between English and Japanese, each language has its own intricacies in how politeness is learned among children.

Beliefs and Their Limitations in Titus Andronicus and Hamlet

2023-01-09T15:42:01-08:00

This paper was originally written for Dr. Torsten Kehler's English 210 course, Reading and Writing Identities. The assignment asked students to compare the revenge acts of two characters from different plays by William Shakespeare, specifically in Titus Andronicus and Hamlet. The paper uses MLA citation style.

In this paper, I argue that both plays use their respective revenge plots to emphasize the limiting effects that commitments to external beliefs can have on one’s ability to reach personal fulfillment. More precisely, I argue that the protagonists, Titus and Hamlet, find themselves on roads to inevitable tragedy due to the fact that their beliefs in tradition and religion, respectively, impede on their abilities to explore deviations from their expected courses of actions.

Decriminalization, Safe Supply, and Legalization: How to Reduce Drug Overdoses through Policy

2023-01-09T15:53:13-08:00

This paper was originally written for Dr. Tara Holland’s Geography 266W course, Geography in Practice. The assignment asked students to develop a research question on a geographical topic of our choice, and then attempt to answer it through a review of relevant literature. The paper uses APA citation style.

This paper evaluates the successes and limitations of a drug decriminalization policy framework at addressing drug-related overdose deaths. Through a literature review on Portugal, a country that has decriminalized all illicit drugs since 2001, this paper argues that while decriminalization minimizes overdoses by facilitating access to harm reduction, it does not address the toxic illicit drug supply. Therefore, to dramatically reduce the risk of unintentional drug overdoses, a medically prescribed safe supply model must be implemented.

Addressing Health Concerns of Indigenous Land Defenders at Fairy Creek

2023-01-09T15:52:13-08:00

This paper was originally written for Dr. Sandie Dielissen in the department of Indigenous Studies for INDG 301W D100: Issues in Applied Indigenous Studies Research. The assignment asked students to explore a decolonizing methodology for a contemporary issue involving Indigenous peoples. The paper was a part of a group submission, where students from different academic backgrounds commented on the situation at Fairy Creek using their own disciplinary lens. The paper uses APA citation style.

The Role and Influence of Food on Migratory Patterns and Othering Behaviours

2023-01-09T15:44:43-08:00

Using food as the common link, the relationship between migration and attitudes towards “the Other” is examined across space and time. Often, everyday practices are key to understanding the human condition. This paper illuminates how deeply embedded Western exceptionalism is in multicultural exchanges. From Europe to the Middle East to North America, food is integral to shaping worldviews.

Divine Femininity or Femme Fatale: Exploring the Roles of Women in The Odyssey

2023-01-09T16:05:18-08:00

This paper explores and compares the representation of Circe and Penelope — Circe as an obstacle to Odysseus’ journey and Penelope as the “appropriate” Homeric wife. Odysseus’ journey in The Odyssey is a literal and metaphorical journey to reclaim his patriarchal title as King of Ithaca. He reinforces these roles across his journey, especially toward “wayward” or nonconforming women like Circe. By analyzing the portrayals of Circe and Penelope, I hope to reveal the ways Homer presents dissenting, feminine voices in patriarchal Homeric society.

Physicality and Emotional Impacts of Sex Work in Hustling Verse: An Anthology of Sex Workers’ Poetry

2023-01-09T16:04:15-08:00

This paper was originally written for Genevieve Fuji-Johnson’s POL 416W course Feminist Social and Political Thought. The assignment asked students to use one or more readings from the class to make a specific and nuanced argument based on a choice of study questions. The paper uses APA citation style.

The scope of this paper focusses on the physicality of sex work and the way sex workers relate to themselves and their bodies. It looks at the way that Hustling Verse: An Anthology of Sex Workers’ Poetry (2019) places complex elements such as identity and self in sex work in conversation with each other, and discusses these elements with respect to the emotional impact engaging in sex work can have.

Objections to the Anti-Complicity Principle

2023-01-09T16:06:39-08:00

This paper was originally written for Professor Bruno Guindon’s Philosophy 120W course, Moral and Legal Problems. The assignment asked students to write an argumentative philosophy essay evaluating McPherson’s anti-complicity principle. The paper uses APA citation style.

This paper examines the morality of meat eating, drawing on the inefficacy objection and the anti-complicity principle. It argues that the anti-complicity proves too much. This is because the anti-complicity principle deems meat-eating morally permissible only under extreme circumstances. This paper then proposed a revised principle which broadens the permissibility of meat-eating. It thus complicates McPherson’s argument on the permissibility of meat-eating using the revised principle.

Inequity, structural violence, and the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure

2023-01-09T16:00:52-08:00

This paper was originally written for Dr. Alissa Greer’s CRIM 312 course Criminological Perspectives on Social Problems. The assignment asked students to apply the concepts of inequity and structural violence to a criminalized social issue. The paper uses APA citation style.

This paper considers how the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure and the media coverage of criminal prosecutions of people living with HIV in Canada has created an environment where HIV-positive people experience a degree of stigmatization, discrimination, rejection, and inequal treatment that arguably amounts to structural violence. An analysis of how the concepts of inequity and structural violence relate to the experiences of people living with HIV in Canada is followed by a reflection on how such concepts are valuable where a critical examination of a criminalized social issue is concerned.