What Are the Health Benefits of Fenugreek

What Are the Health Benefits of Fenugreek SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Fenugreek is truly a multi-purpose herb. People from Western Asia and the Mediterranean have used fenugreek for thousands of years to flavor food, improve health, and soothe skin maladies. In more recent years, fenugreek has gained global popularity as anherbalsupplement with a variety ofhealth benefits. While fenugreek has many promising applications, not all of its uses have yet been backed up by rigorous scientific examination. This guide will tell you which of fenugreek’s health benefits are supportedby evidence, and which ones remain more folklore than fact. Read on to learn what fenugreek is, what it does in the body, and where you can buy fenugreek to try it for yourself. To start, what exactly is this multifunctional herb? What Is Fenugreek? Fenugreek (scientific name Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a plant native to Western Asia and the Mediterranean. It has three green or yellow oblong leaves, which can be consumed fresh or dried. Fenugreek leaves and seeds areimportant for cooking and medicines. Fenugreek seeds, also known as methi seeds, are a common ingredient in Indian curries, as well as Turkish, Persian, Eritrean, Ethiopian, and Egyptian cuisine. Because of their sweet, maple-syrup like smell and flavor, fenugreek seeds are also added to artificial maple syrup, candies, ice cream, beverages, tobacco, soaps, and cosmetics. While people use fenugreek seeds ina wide array of products today, they have also been consuming themfor thousands of years. Archaeologists have discovered cooked fenugreek seeds in Iraq dating back to 4,000 BC! Not only do fenugreek seeds taste good, but they have several health benefits. Let’s take a closer look at the composition of fenugreek or methiseedsto figure out why they work as an effective herbal supplement. Fenugreekseeds are where the medicinal magic happens. What Makes Fenugreek Work? Important Compounds As you’ll read below, the health benefits of fenugreekinvolve the regulation of blood sugar, stimulation of milk flow in new mothers, maintenance of hormones, and treatment of inflammation. Scientists have broken down some of the main compounds in fenugreek seeds to get to the root of the herb's beneficialeffects. These are some of the most important ones: Trigonelline: a betaine molecule also present in coffee and alfalfa that may help prevent and treat diabetes. 4-hydroxyisoleucineand2-oxoglutarate: molecules with aninsulin-stimulating effect. Protodioscin: compound that may have aphrodisiac effects. Diosgenin and Yamogenin: compounds used in the commercial synthesis of progesterone and other steroid products. 3-Hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone: compound that causes amaple-syrup scentin body excretions. Now that you’ve started to get a sense of itsmain uses, let’s look closer at what fenugreekdoes and why it works. First, though, a word of caution about herbal supplements. Look before you leap! Some retailers care more about their bottom line than your health. Why You Should Be Cautious AboutHerbal Supplements Herbal remedies can be very effective alternative treatments to prescription medication. At the same time, there’s a big business of retailers that exaggerate health claims to market their products and make money. The best way to evaluate these claims is to take a look at objective, rigorous scientificresearch. Has the supplement been tested in a randomized control trial and been proven to have statistically significant effects? If its benefits are purely anecdotal, then you might not want to waste your time or money, or worst case scenario, risk causing yourself more harm than good. With these guiding principles in mind, we’ve analyzed the scientific evidence behind the top supposed fenugreek benefits. Read on for the best fenugreek uses and the scientific evidence that backs them up. Fenugreek Benefits: Analysis of 4 PopularUses People take fenugreek in a variety of forms as an herbal supplement. Its most common form isa pill or capsule, but it can also be made into a tea or ground up and combined with other ingredients to make a poultice and applied to injured skin. The most commonly claimed fenugreek benefits aremilk production in new mothers, blood sugar levels, testosterone and male libido, and treating inflammation. Let’s look at the top four benefits of fenugreek, along with the research studies backing upthese effects. While these are the top studies currently available, hopefully, scientists will continue to evaluate its effects and gain more insight into what fenugreek does and why it works. Fenugreek can act as a galactagogue. (Keep scrolling to learn what galactagogue means.) Use 1: To Enhance Milk Production in New Mothers Fenugreek is widely used as a galactagogue, or a milk flow-enhancing agent in new mothers. Nursing women take fenugreek in pill form or drink it as a tea after they’ve had a baby. While fenugreek appears to be an effective galactagogue, it can have adverse effects if you take it while pregnant. Most doctors advise that women should only take fenugreek supplements once they’ve had their baby and not before. Let’s take a look at one of the studies backing up fenugreek’s efficacy as a galactagogue. The Evidence: Fenugreek and Milk Production This study examined the effectiveness of fenugreek tea as a galactagogue in new mothers. It divided 66 mother-infant pairs into three groups. One group drank the tea everyday, the second drank a placebo tea, and the third drank no tea and served as the control group. Researchers looked at breast milk volume and infant weight gain over a few days and found significantly higher volume and weight gain among the fenugreek tea-drinking group. From the study, researchers concluded that â€Å"Maternal galactagogue herbal tea supplementation seems to be useful for enhancing breast milk production and facilitating infant birth weight regain in early postnatal days.† If you’re interested in trying fenugreek as a milk-enhancing agent, how should you take it? How to Take Fenugreek to Stimulate Milk Production First and foremost, new mothers should consult their doctorsbefore adding fenugreek as an herbal supplement to their diet. Since it can have significant effects, everyone should make sure that they don’t have any pre-existing conditions that could interact adversely with fenugreek. If you decide to take fenugreek, you could take it as fenugreek tabletsor drink it as a fenugreek tea. A typical dosage is two to three capsules (580 to 610 mg each) taken by mouth three times a day. Drinking it as a tea is a more mild amount. You might drink between one and three cups a day as a hot tea, iced tea, or mixed with apple juice. Again, in most cases, pregnant women should not take a fenugreek supplement. You can read more about some of fenugreek’s potential side effects below. Once it enters your bloodstream, fenugreek goes head to head with the gummy bear brigadein the Battle of Blood Sugar. Use 2: To Maintain Blood Sugar Levels Fenugreek seeds arecommonly used as a supplement to control blood glucose, especially to prevent or treat diabetes. It appears to alleviate problems around the metabolism of blood sugar. Let’s take a look at some of the evidence behind this use of fenugreek. The Evidence: Fenugreek and Blood Sugar Several studies have looked at fenugreek and found that it hada significant effect on blood glucose levels. This first study gave a fenugreek supplement in both capsule and cooked form (on biscuits) to 60 non-insulin-dependent male diabetics. Ultimately, the study found that â€Å"2 grams of a powdered mixture of traditional medicinal plants in either raw or cooked form can be successfully used for lowering blood glucose in diabetics.† A second study also gave fenugreek to diabetic subjects in the form of food, this time incorporating it into bread. Like in the first study, researchers found that â€Å"acceptable baked products can be prepared with added fenugreek, which will reduce insulin resistance and treat type 2 diabetes." Alleviating problems of blood sugar metabolism is a common use of fenugreek, and people with diabetes may consider adding it to their diets in capsule or food form. How to Take Fenugreek to Control Blood Glucose The most common ways to take fenugreek to control blood sugar levels are in capsule form, ground up and added to food, or made into a tea. The recommended dosage falls between 2.5 and 15 grams a day. The amount you take varies depending on your weight, any other medications you take, and other factors. Fenugreek seeds alone haven'tbeen shown to treat diabetes, and it may have adverse interactions with certain diabetes medications. To figure out dosage and account for any variables, you should talk to your doctor before adding fenugreek to your healthcare routine. Ooh la la. Wine and roses have got nothing on fenugreek when it comes to getting in the mood. Use 3: To Boost Libido One of fenugreek’s ancient uses is to enhance libido. Mediterranean and Western Asian cultures have incorporated the herb into their diets for thousands of years to enhance sexual desire. Recent studies have suggested that fenugreek may increase libido in both men and women. The Evidence: Fenugreek and Sexual Desire Let’s take a look at one study involving males and another involving females. This 2011 study tested the effect of fenugreek extract on male libido, which it defined as sexual drive, urge, or desire. It recruited 60 men between the ages of 25 and 52 and gave them either 600 mg of fenugreek twice a day or placebo capsules. The physiological results were self-reported by participants, meaning that the results have some room for subjective bias. Overall, the group taking fenugreek supplements reported a 28% increase in libido while those taking the placebo reported a decrease overall. Scientists concluded that fenugreek can have â€Å"a significant positive effect on physiological aspects of libido† and that the herb â€Å"may assist to maintain normal healthy testosterone levels.† This 2015 study gathered 80 female participants between the ages of 20 and 49 with a self-reported low sex drive. They took fenugreek extract or a placebo for eight weeksand reported their experiences using the â€Å"Derogatis Interview for Sexual Functioning† and â€Å"Female Sexual Function Index† questionnaires. Ultimately, researchers concluded that â€Å"T foenum-graecum [fenugreek] seed extract is a well-tolerated and an effective botanical medicine for use in the support of sexual function for pre-menopausal women, in particular increasing sexual desire and arousal, with positive effects in concentration of E2 [estradiol] and free testosterone.† Thestudies suggest that fenugreek supplements may increase libido in both men and women. How to Take Fenugreek to Boost Libido Fenugreek can be taken as a capsule or brewed into a tea, or the seeds can be ground up and added to food or bread. A dose of 500 to 600 mg fenugreek capsules per day is recommended to boost libido. As with any herbal supplement, you should check with your doctor to determine the right amount for you. Is your skin red, bumpy, or injured? A fenugreek-based poultice can help. Use 4: To Soothe Skin Inflammation or Injury Fenugreek powder has long been combined with other soothing herbs to make poultices and treat skin inflammation and injury. Recent studies have suggested that fenugreek may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The Evidence: Fenugreek andSkin Inflammation A group of researchers in Saudi Arabia extracted and isolated compounds in fenugreek seeds to determine whether or not they had anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They found that â€Å"water extracts and flavonoids† from fenugreek seed extract did have the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that people have long reported. However, further research is needed on the effects of taking fenugreek on a daily basis. A 2012 study found that fenugreek reduced joint inflammation and arthritis in rats. Research on fenugreek’s anti-inflammatory properties in humans is needed to back up its effectiveness in this area as an herbal supplement. How to Use Fenugreek to Treat Skin Inflammation To soothe injured or inflamed skin, people traditionally grind dried herbs or boil fresh herbs in water and make a paste. You might combine fenugreek seed powder with other skin-soothing herbs, like slippery elm, flaxseed, lobelia, or goldenseal, as well as medicinal charcoal. After combining everything into a paste, you would spread itacross a clean piece of gauze, linen, or cotton and apply it directly to the skin. You would leave the poultice on the skin for anywhere from one to 24 hours, taking it off when the skin feels better. Some people warm the poultice before pressing it to the skin. Along with thefour main uses described above - enhancing milk production, controling blood glucose, boosting libido, and treating skin inflammation -people claim a number of otherfenugreek health benefits. Let’s take a look at other potential positive effects of taking fenugreek. People have been consuming fenugreek seeds for thousands of years. Other Potential Health Benefits of Fenugreek People have been consuming fenugreek for thousands of years, and many believe that it has a wide range of physical benefits. These are a few additional anecdotal fenugreek seeds benefits: Balance cholesterol Soothe upset stomach and digestive problems Reduce menstrual cramps Reduce appetite Reduce fat mass Maintain liver and kidney health Soothe muscle pain Reduce fever Can fenugreek seeds really accomplish all this? At this point, there’s little scientific evidence behind these alleged benefits, so much more research is needed to assess the efficacy of this herbal supplement. If you’re not experiencing serious injury or fever that would be better treated with prescription medication, then it may be worth trying fenugreek capsules or seeds to see if they work for you. As with any other new drug, you should consult with your doctor to make sure that you don’t take any medicines or have any other conditions that could interact poorly with fenugreek. Fenugreek does have some potential adverse side effects, and it’s important to be aware of them before incorporating the supplement into your routine. Before you introduce fenugreek to your diet, you should talk to a medical practitioner about possible side effects and interactions. Fenugreek Side Effects: 6 Potential Problems While it’s common to think of herbal remedies as harmless, that’s not necessarily the case. Fenugreek can potentially have adverse effects in the body, and it’s important to be aware of them so that your healthcare plan doesn’t do more harm than good. The following are the six main potential fenugreek side effects. Side Effect 1. Induce Childbirth For the most part, pregnant women are advised not to take fenugreek. Because it contains oxytocin, fenugreek couldact as a uterine stimulant, meaning itcould cause contractions and preterm labor. Some people have used fenugreek to induce labor, but you shouldn’t try this without speaking to a medical practitioner first. You should also be aware that studies have shownthat a large dose of fenugreek caused birth defects in rats and developmental problems in mice. The other side effect of taking fenugreek while pregnant is that it can give a false alarm of Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD). MSUD is an inherited genetic disorder so named because it causes a maple syrup-like smell in body excretions. Fenugreek won’t cause this often fatal disorder, but it can cause a serious scare and unnecessary emergency testing when the baby is born. Side Effect2. Diarrhea Fenugreek may cause stomach irritation and diarrhea. This can be especially dangerous if the nursing infant gets sick, as she could get dehydrated. Be careful if you take a blood thinner, as fenugreek could cause excessive bleeding. Side Effect 3. Bleeding Fenugreek contains a chemical compound called coumarin that can act as a blood thinner. While researchers don’t know yet if the normal dosage of fenugreek has a significant effect on the blood, they warn people on blood-thinning or anti-coagulant medications to be careful and consult their doctors before taking fenugreek supplements. Side Effect 4. Hypoglycemia If you’re taking both medicine for diabetes and fenugreek supplements, you should measureyour blood sugar levels so they don’t become too low and cause hypoglycemia. Since fenugreek can lower blood glucose levels, you don’t want to take too many medications and cause your levels to dip too low. Similarly, you should be cautious if you’re already prone to low blood sugar. Consult with your doctor about the right amount, and carefully monitor the effects that fenugreek supplements have on your blood sugar levels. Side Effect 5. Allergic Reactions Whenever you’re introducing a new supplement into your diet, you should be aware of any possible allergic reactions. Fenugreek is in the same family as chickpeas, green peas, soybeans, and peanuts, so you should be especially mindful about your body’s reaction if you have allergies to any of these foods. An allergy to one doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have an allergy to another, but you should proceed with caution if you've never consumed fenugreek before. Check with your doctor, and try just a small dosage of fenugreek at first. Stop taking it if you experience a rash, hives, swelling, or trouble breathing. This last side effect isn't dangerous, but it may cause unpredictable cravings for Belgian waffles. Side Effect 6. â€Å"Maple Syrup† Sweat or Urine This last side effect doesn’t cause any harm, apart from the false alarm about MSUD in infants described above. Fenugreek has a strong, sweet odor, and eating the seeds might pass that maple syrup-like smell into your sweat and urine or the sweat and urine of a nursing baby. If you start to notice this maple syrup-like odor, then you’ll know the cause! If you’d like to try taking fenugreek for any of the above-described health benefits, where can you find it? Where to Buy Fenugreek Fenugreek is a common herbal supplementthat you can buy in many healthcare or grocery stores or online. Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS, for instance, sell fenugreek in capsule and tea form, and Whole Foods sells the capsules, tea, and seeds (look for methi seeds). You can also find methi seeds and powder in many smaller Indian and Middle Eastern grocery stories. Finally, you can shop online and buy capsules, tea, and seeds from Amazon or a number of other online retailers that pop up via Google Shopping. Some good brands include Nature's Way, Solaray, Oregon's Wild Harvest, Alvita, Yogi Tea, and Nature's Answer. Teas and capsules cost somewhere between $5 and$10.You can also take powdered fenugreek seeds, or fenugreek extract in a liquid tincture. Read on for suggested dosages for how to take fenugreek in capsule, tea, powder, or tincture form. Fenugreek is most commonly taken in capsule form. How to Take Fenugreek As you read above, you can take fenugreek in capsule form, brew it into a tea, or add the powdered seeds to food. Fenugreek is also available in a liquid tincture form, so you could add a few drops to juice or water. Here's how much fenugreek to take in each form. Capsule:500 to 600 mg, three times a day. Tea:two to three cups a day. You can make hot or iced tea or combine it with juice. Powder:five to 30 grams of de-fatted seed powder up to three times a day. It's best to consume fenugreek powder before or as part of a meal. Tincture: three to four mL three times a day. One drop is similar to a 500-600 mg capsule. Your dosage depends on a number of factors, including weight, age, and health status. Your doctor or an herbalist can help you determine the right individualized dosage. Taking Fenugreek as an Herbal Supplement: Best Uses Fenugreek, anherb native to the Mediterranean and the Middle East, has a number of health benefits. While scientific research remains limited at this point, there's some substantial evidence that points to fenugreek's effectiveness in enhancing milk production, regulating blood glucose levels, boosting libido, and acting as an anti-inflammatory agent on irritated skin. While people have claimed for a long time that fenugreek has a number of other positive effectsas well, as this point many of its purported benefits remain anecdotal.Without the weight of a controlled study, you should be skeptical of anyone claiming fenugreek is a miracle drug. You should also be cautious about fenugreek'spotential side effects, and make sure to speak with a medical practitioner before introducing itas an herbal supplement into your diet. If you do find that fenugreek has beneficial effects on your health, then you may be glad to hear that fenugreek or methi seeds in various forms arewidely accessible and affordableat a variety of grocery and healthcare stores, both of the online and brick-and-mortar variety. If fenugreek turns out tobe the herbal supplement you've been looking for, thenyou can joinan ancient practice of fenugreek consumption that dates back almost 6,000 years.

Tech Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Tech Article - Essay Example So the work of the technology is to identify all moving objects with the aid of computer chipped tags. Lui and Chen 2009, in their article titled â€Å"Applications of RFID technology for improving production efficiency in an integrated-circuit packaging house†, defined the radio frequency identification (RFID) as an emerging technology that can be used to expand the possibilities for data capture. They stress that one of the primary use of the RFID technology, is for process control and material handling applications which can produce benefits of flexibility and interactivity. (2203) Potential impact for companies Lui and Chen 2009, explains that an integrated-circuit (IC) packaging house must be able to provide clients with instant and accurate information on its products and services. In other to do that properly, an IC packaging house must keep track of all its wafers, regardless of whether those wafers are in packaging, testing, or shipping. In other to achieve this, the company combines the RFID technology with an enterprise resource planning otherwise known as an ERP system for resolving various wafer receiving and inventory transaction problems. An electronic control system is thus developed using Oracle application implementation methodology or (AIM) to integrate RFID technology and the ERP system.

Report on Reward and Motivation within Google Essay

Report on Reward and Motivation within Google - Essay Example In January 2012, Google was named the best place to work in the U.S, by Fortune’s list of the 100 best companies to work for. The reason Fortune picked Google is that â€Å"employees rave about their mission, the culture, and the famous perks of the Plex: bocce courts, a bowling alley, eye brow shaping in the New York office. Then there’s food: some 25 cafes companywide, all free.† All of these factors that Fortune mentioned are a part of Google’s plan to motivate their employees to be more creative, work better as a team, come up with new business ideas and for the employees to generally have a better experience at their workplace. To look at how Google do this, we can link their methods to different models for motivation such as Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory of Motivation. Google has a pleasant work environment for its employees and is using various others non-financial methods of motivation. Its pract ice of offering non-monetary incentives by giving employees such rewards (e.g. greater autonomy, nicer work environment, sense that the organisation is doing good, etc.) will motivate employees unlike financial rewards which are soon forgotten. Surely, most of employees want to have their own space and are ready to work for it. The search giant is famous for its laundry list of perks including free food at any of its cafeterias, a climbing wall, and, well, free laundry. It also provides its workers a place where they can relax or meditate in their free time. In Google’s offices meeting rooms are filled with beanbags rather than hard office chairs, table-tennis tables and PlayStations which may seem trivial at first, but they have become a strong non-monetary motivational incentive. Having unique consumer perks and exceptional leisure areas, it increased innovation through creating a relaxed atmosphere at work that in turn creates very high job loyalty. This distinctive approa ch makes it more flexible to cope with changes in the ever changing labour market. By using non – financial motivation Google separates itself from other companies in the industry. They are making their workplace and work environment attractive to potential new employees, since they are not only offering high salaries, but also a comfortable and different place to work at. These non – financial motivational factors make employees feel like they are not only a part of the company, but also a part of a big creative project. â€Å"Motivation is the degree to which an individual wants and chooses to engage in certain specified behaviour† (Mullins, 2009:471). Abraham Maslow categorized human needs into 5 levels (Lindh et al., 2010). The basic idea is that as one level of need is satisfied, the need to satisfy the level above becomes important. These are 5 levels: physiological needs (food, water, sleep, salary), safety and security (stability, protection), love and b elonging (affection, need for engagement and sharing), self – esteem (self-respect, prestige, status), self – actualization (growth, advancement, creativity). Google Company is famous for their work environment. So, what so special in Google and can we say that Google covers all 5 stages in Maslow’s Hierarchy? Maslow’

Online Class Systems in the University Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Online Class Systems in the University - Essay Example Approximately 3 million enrolments in online courses are reported in the U.S.A by American sources. According to the Statistical Analysis Report February 2002, at least 3.3 million signed up in no less than one online course. According to the Sloan Report, students appear to be at least as satisfied with what they achieve from online courses as they are with the traditional ones. Studies show that public schools offer more online courses than private schools. It is evident that online learning has become a popular form of schooling with numerous advantages. This system, however, has disadvantages to it that should not be overlooked. The quality of these courses is not very high (Sims 54). Problems encountered in the online system of learning and their solutions The following are some of the problems that may be encountered in an online learning system along with their solutions: Computer illiteracy is a major problem facing online learning systems. ... Technology has proven to be quite unreliable and break downs occur at any point even when the system was initially operating smoothly. Students are responsible for their own progress and as if this is not enough, they have to keep up with technological advancement. Sometimes, something that seems as simple as establishing contact with the learning provider can turn into the most cumbersome challenge even to computer wizards let alone the novice. This may lead to frustration and discouragement which may cause the learner to discontinue with the program. The University Of Central Florida found that technical problems were a cause for students’ withdrawal. Even the most sophisticated technology happens to be unreliable and the question is not whether the system will fail, but when. A server hosting the program could suddenly crash and cut off all learners from the class, internet connection could fail or get disconnected abruptly and the institution hosting the connection could b e bogged down by users hence cause it to be slow or fail altogether. For online programs to be successful, the technology in use ought to be reliable and friendly to the users. This can be achieved by using systems that have been upgraded to ensure weak points have been dealt with appropriately. While online learning may be considered an effective method of education for the mature and self-disciplined students, some learners are dependent and have problems assuming the responsibilities required by an online system of learning. Elementary and secondary students fall into this category. Such students need to be self-motivated, organized and have the ability to manage their time well in order to successfully participate in the online program.

Effects of Prior Knowledge on Generative Tasks Essay -- Philosophy Cre

Effects of Prior Knowledge on Generative Tasks The creation of new ideas plays an important role in the growth of any society. Inventions such as the telephone and automobile have provided the tools for increased levels of communication and widened the access to information. While the modern generation may view these inventions as staples of our society, at the time of their conception they were viewed as revolutionary new concepts. Yet, were they truly revolutionary or were they an extension of prior knowledge? Large proportions of new ideas are based on the properties of an existing concept (Marsh, Ward, & Landau, 1999). Without the concept of the phonograph, for example, we may never have had the benefit of 8-tracks, audio cassettes, or compact discs. These creations, while separate in their levels of advancement, are all based on the initial notion of recorded sound. Researchers recognize the benefits of prior knowledge as adaptive to survival. The fact that humans are able to learn and apply information from previous experience assists in reasoning, problem solving, and comprehension of our environment (Smith, Ward, & Schumacher, 1993). Without the use of prior knowledge it would be impossible to advance cognitively. The benefits notwithstanding, the use of prior knowledge also has the potential of limiting, or constraining, the creative process (Marsh, Bink, & Hicks, 1999; Marsh, Landau, & Hicks, 1996; Marsh, Ward, et al., 1999; Smith, et al., 1993). The theoretical construct of structured imagination proposes that new ... ...iness that expects creative results from its associates. Society may believe an invention is truly revolutionary when, in fact, the creation is most likely a mere extension of a previous thought. References Marsh, R. L., Bink, M. L., & Hicks, J. L. (1999). Conceptual priming in a generative problem-solving task. Memory & Cognition, 27 (2), 355-363. Marsh, R. L., Landau, J. D., & Hicks, J. L. (1996). How examples may (and may not) constrain creativity. Memory & Cognition, 24 (3), 669-680. Marsh, R. L., Ward, T. B., & Landau, J. D. (1999). The inadvertent use of prior knowledge in a generative cognitive task. Memory & Cognition, 27 (1), 94-105. Smith, S. M., Ward, T. B., & Schumacher, J. S. (1993). Constraining effects of examples in a creative generation task. Memory & Cognition, 21 (6), 837-845.

Book Review Template Essay

Summary: This can come from the book jacket or a website, but it must be concise and it must be cited. You may also choose to write your own summary; in which case you should briefly tell the reader what the story is about. Where and when does it take place? Who are the main characters? What kinds of problems they run into? My Review: Begin by explaining why you chose this book in the first place. Next, comment on the connections you discovered between the characters/people in the book and your own personal experiences (text to self), other characters or people you’ve read about or encountered in film or television (text to text), or people you’ve heard about in real life (text to world). Follow this with your opinion of the book. What did you like about it? Give an example (quote a passage) and explain why you liked this. Comment on what you did not like about the book. Give an example (quote a passage) and explain why you did not like this. (In commenting on what you did or didn’t like, consider writing about how well the author: brings characters or people to life, holds your interest in terms of telling the story, or utilizes language to paint a clear and interesting picture of the characters, the setting, and the action of the story.) Important note: Do NOT give away the story’s ending. Conclude with your recommendation for other readers. Do you recommend this book? Why and for whom? (Consider age, reading level, genre, and subject.) Rating: How many stars do you give this book on a scale of 1-5? Credentials: Describe your credentials as a reader. (Start by identifying your status as a student: class name and period, and school name.) Then, describe what kind of reader you are. (How often do you read? How much do you read? What kind of books or text types do you typically read for your  own purposes?)

Biography of John Adams, 2nd United States President

John Adams (October 30, 1735–July 4, 1826) served as Americas second president and was one of the founding fathers of the American republic. While his time as president was rife with opposition, he was able to keep the new country out of a war with France. Fast Facts: John Adams Known For: Founding father of the American Revolution and United States; second U.S. President, after George WashingtonBorn: October 30, 1735 in the Massachusetts Bay ColonyParents: John and Susanna Boylston AdamsDied:  July 4, 1826 in Quincy, MassachusettsEducation: Harvard CollegePublished Works: The Autobiography of John AdamsSpouse: Abigail Smith (m. October 25, 1764)Children: Abigail, John Quincy (the sixth president), Charles, and Thomas Boylston Early Life John Adams was born on October 30, 1735, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony to John Adams and his wife Susanna Boylston. The Adams family had been in Massachusetts for five generations, and the elder John was a farmer who had been educated at Harvard and was a deacon at Braintree’s First Congregational Church and a selectman for the town of Braintree. The younger John was the oldest of three children: his brothers were named  Peter Boylston and Elihu. Johns father taught his son to read before sending him to a local school run by their neighbor Mrs. Belcher. John next attended Joseph Cleverlys Latin school and then studied under Joseph Marsh before becoming a student at Harvard College in 1751 at the age of 15, graduating in four years. After leaving Harvard, Adams worked as a teacher but decided instead to take up the law. He trained under Judge James Putnam (1725–1789), another Harvard man, who would eventually serve as attorney general of Massachusetts. Adams was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1758. Marriage and Family On  October 25, 1764, John Adams married  Abigail Smith, the high-spirited daughter of a Brookline minister. She was nine  years younger than Adams, loved reading, and built an abiding and tender relationship with her husband, evidenced by their surviving letters. Together they had six children, four of whom lived to adulthood: Abigail (called Nabby), John Quincy (the sixth president), Charles, and Thomas Boylston. Career Before the Presidency Two of Adams most influential cases were the successful defense of the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre (1770). He defended both the commanding officer, Captain Preston, winning a complete acquittal for him, and his eight soldiers, six of whom were acquitted. The remaining two were found guilty but were able to escape execution by praying the benefit of clergy, a medieval loophole. Never a fan of the British—Adams took the case in the cause of justice—his experiences with the Boston Massacre trials would begin Adams journey towards accepting that the colonies would need to separate from Britain.   From 1770–1774, Adams served in the Massachusetts legislature and was then elected a member of the Continental Congress. He nominated George Washington to be Commander-in-Chief of the army and was part of the committee that worked to draft the Declaration of Independence. Diplomatic Efforts In 1778 during the early days of the war for independence, Adams served as a diplomat to France alongside Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee but found himself out of place. He returned to the U.S. and served in the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention before being sent to the Netherlands on another diplomatic mission negotiating trade agreements from 1780 to 1782. From there, he returned to France and with Franklin and John Jay created the Treaty of Paris (1783) officially ending the American Revolution. From 1785–1788 he was the first American minister to visit Great Britain. He later served as vice president to Washington, the nations first president, from 1789 to 1797. Election of 1796 As Washingtons vice president, Adams was the next logical Federalist candidate for the presidency. He was opposed by Thomas Jefferson in a fierce campaign, causing a political rift between the old friends that lasted the rest of their lives. Adams was in favor of a strong national government and felt France was a greater concern to national security than Britain, while Jefferson felt the opposite. At that time, whoever received the most votes became president, and whoever came in second became Vice President. John Adams received 71 electoral votes and Jefferson 68. France and the XYZ Affair One of Adams major accomplishments during his presidency was to keep America out of a war with France and normalize relations between the two countries. When he became president, relations were strained between the United States and France mainly because the French were conducting raids on American ships. In 1797, Adams sent three ministers to try to work things out. The French would not accept them and instead, French Minister Talleyrand sent three men to ask for $250,000 in order to resolve their differences. This event became known as the  XYZ Affair, causing a great public uproar in the United States against France. Adams acted quickly, sending another group of ministers to France to try to preserve the peace. This time they were able to meet and come to an agreement that allowed the U.S. to be protected on the seas in exchange for granting France special trading privileges. During the ramp-up to a possible war, Congress passed the  repressive Alien and Sedition Acts, which consisted of four measures designed to limit immigration and  free speech. Adams used them to censor and repress criticisms against the government—specifically the Federalist Party. Marbury vs. Madison John Adams spent the last few months of his term in office in the new, unfinished mansion in Washington, D.C. that would eventually be called the White House. He did not attend Jeffersons inauguration and instead spent his last hours in office appointing numerous Federalist judges and other officeholders based on the Judiciary Act of 1801. These would be known as the midnight appointments. Jefferson removed many of them, and the  Supreme Court  case  Marbury vs. Madison  (1803) ruled the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional, resulting in the right of  judicial review. Adams was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection, opposed not only by the Democratic-Republicans under Jefferson but also by  Alexander Hamilton. A Federalist, Hamilton actively campaigned against Adams in hopes that vice presidential nominee Thomas Pinckney would win. However, Jefferson won the presidency and Adams retired from politics. Death and Legacy After losing the presidency, John Adams returned home to Quincy, Massachusetts. He spent his time learning, writing his autobiography, and corresponding with old friends. That included mending fences with Thomas Jefferson and beginning a vibrant letter friendship. He lived to see his son John Quincy Adams become president. He died at his home in Quincy on July 4, 1826, within a few hours of the death of Thomas Jefferson. John Adams was an important figure throughout the revolution and the early years of the United States. He and Jefferson were the only two presidents who had been members of the founding fathers and signed the Declaration of Independence. The crisis with France dominated most of his time in office, as he was faced with opposition to actions he took concerning France from both parties. However, his perseverance allowed the fledgling United States to avoid war, giving it more time to build and grow. Sources Adams, John. 1807. The Autobiography of John Adams. Massachusetts Historical Society.Grant, James. John Adams: Party of One. Farrar, New York: Straus and Giroux, 2005.McCullough, David. John Adams. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001.Farrell, James M., and John Adams. John Adamss Autobiography: The Ciceronian Paradigm and the Quest for Fame. The New England Quarterly 62.4 (1989): 505-28.Smith, Page. John Adams, Volume I 1735-1784; Volume II 1784-1826. New York: Doubleday, 1962.John Adams: Biography. John Adams Historical Society 2013.