College Application Essays - Getting the Essay Right

College Application Essays - Getting the Essay RightCollege application essays are the most important part of your college application. They are the first thing that people see. If you don't write an impressive one, you can really hurt your chances of getting into college. It's a shame when you see an essay that doesn't get well-received, but it's the best thing to do when you don't have anything to show for it.When you're trying to convince admissions officers that you deserve to go to college, you have to do your best to make college application essays as interesting and appealing as possible. That means that you should not only be able to write a decent essay. You also have to be able to put words together that are actually powerful. College applications don't have to be lengthy and wordy; you just have to write what you know.Students get lazy when it comes to writing college application essays. They put too much pressure on themselves to be good, and they don't take the time to l earn how to write properly. There is nothing wrong with being self-motivated by others. It's when you think that you need a hundred page essay that you become too much of a workaholic. You should have the time and the ability to write a college application essay, but if you try to cram a novel into two pages, you'll probably end up feeling awful about yourself in the end.It is important to know what you're going to say when you're trying to write college application essays. The more that you write, the better the one that you come up with will be. This is your chance to tell the admissions officer why you deserve to go to college.College application essays are the heart of your application, and you have to be able to craft one that will stand out. In order to make your admissions essay appear impressive, you'll have to get your head around all of the different types of essay writing that you'll encounter when you get to college. They're easy to learn but difficult to master!When you write college application essays, there are four main points you should pay attention to. Firstly, you want to establish your qualifications. You can do this by showing off your academic achievements. Talk about the projects you worked on, or the accomplishments that you got outside of school.You also want to talk about the benefits that you'll get from a college education. This means talking about what you'd gain from attending school. You might want to talk about what classes would help you, or whether you would benefit from becoming a nursing assistant. The purpose of this is to make sure that you leave no doubt in the minds of college admissions officers that you are the kind of person who can benefit from a college education.The other thing that you should be careful about when you write college application essays is getting them right. Don't just slap together something and call it a perfect one. Create a sentence for each paragraph that you use, and make sure that you're giv ing every bit of importance that you can to your words.

Essay about Handmaids Tale vs Persepolis - 971 Words

David Miller Oppression on Women in Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis Marjane Satrapi, in Persepolis writes about a memoir of a little girl growing in Iran. She refers to a secular pre-revolutionary time through contrast, the oppressive characteristics of the fundamentalist government upon women in specifics. In comparison, her work is very similar to Margaret Atwood’s, A Handmaid’s Tale, in which the central character, Offred, reflects upon her former life’s freedom, cherishing her former name and in doing so, emphasizes the isolated and enslaved live that she must now endure. Although Both Margaret Atwood and Marjane Satrapi show how a totalitarian state oppresses women in different ways by†¦show more content†¦In Gilead everyone was supposed to dress alike depending on the social status they belonged to, masking their individuality, which was highly discouraged. This actually stripped the girls of their actual identities made them all look identical to their class. Similarly the veils impact on women’s life in Pe rsepolis was enormous. She always wondered as to ‘why did the women have to wear it?’ and the reasoning the fundamentalist gave was â€Å"so to protect women from all the potential rapist, they decreed that wearing the veil was obligatory† (74). Satrapi says because of this backward thought process and the rules of the Islamic religion, women were forced to wear veil. However one would argue why wouldn’t these people deal with the rapist than have every women and every girl child were a veil. Although the main characters from both the books live under restrictions especially in their ways of dressing, both highly dislike what they are suppose to be wearing. The narrator in Handmaid’s Tale describes the out fit she is condemned to: â€Å"The skirt is ankle-length, full, gathered to a flat yoke that extends over the breasts, the sleeves are full. The white wings too are prescribed issue; they are to keep us from seeing, but also being seen. I never looked good in red, its not my color†(8). This was the dress all the Handmaids were suppose to wear to make them look alike. The narrator rejects her clothes, even though

Unexpected Influences On Identity Development - 1809 Words

Maria I. Crespo Professor P. Milanes English 126 JK1 Draft#2 March 29, 2016 Unexpected Influences on Identity Individuals’ perspectives, communications and behaviors are affected by various combinations of elements that impact their personalities, for instance: genetics, culture, time, education, society, and how they are raised. At early years identity development is shaped by everything that they come in contact; however, in the adulthood each individual chooses, rejects or simply accepts those influences to guide their lives. For that reason, through the formation of identities, people are the most important and influential because they help to achieve personal, emotional and educational evolution/growth. Commonly an adult’s identity is influenced by total strangers to them; however, it can also be influenced by known persons they least expected. Therefore, someone younger that has been in their lives regularly, or even someone that seems less capable and had no physical interaction might altered their identities gradually and significantly. For example, Raymond Carver’s â€Å"Cathedral† is about the reunion of two old friends and her husband, who is the narrator. The narrator’s wife and Robert –a blind person– have been friends for a decade, when she worked for him as a â€Å"reader† (before marrying her first husband). The narrator is characterized as being a jealous, judgmental, closed-minded person towards Robert. However, their encounter with the blindShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Self Identity For Adolescents939 Words   |  4 Pagesthe most challenging and significant stage during life transition. In this phrase, the individuals not only developing physical and sexual maturation but also experiencing the development of identity and transitions into social and economic independence (WHO, 2014). 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Cross Cultural Intelligence at the Workplace

Question: Discuss about theCross Cultural Intelligence at the Workplace. Answer: Introduction Cross-cultural adaptation encompasses the issues related to migrating from one culture to another in compliance with the other country or cultures rules and regulations, norms, customs, practices and linguistics. Several social science researchers over the years have studied this human behavior and the theory termed as Integrative Communication Theory proposed by Young Yun Kim may be referred to in this context (Kim, 1988). The theory may be widely applicable to a vast population ranging from immigrants, refugees, military men to sojourners and others and is firmly based on certain assumptions and axioms that pave the way for the establishment and maintenance of a relatively stable and reciprocal kind of relationship of the individual with the host surrounding. Stress induced adaptation has been emphasized as the key driving force for increased personal functional fitness necessary to embark upon the dynamic process of adaptation. Although ethnic and personal attributes are unique fo r an individual, yet effective, interpersonal communication together with social skills, as well as host environment situations play significant roles among others in enabling a person to adapt to a new environment. In a nutshell, it may be said that it is advisable to follow the old saying While in Rome, do as the Romans do. in the context of cross-cultural adaptation. A newspaper article published in the Time magazine in 2014, supports the given theory with relevant reports from various investigators (www.time.com, 2016). A study conducted by the researchers at University of Florida conclude that pupils who preferred to pursue academics abroad show inclination towards complex and critical thinking compared to the groups who have neither studied nor have plans to study in overseas nations. Similar reports by researchers from the Singapore Management University and INSEAD corroborated with this result where they mentioned that students with multicultural exposures and experiences are more creative thinkers capable of linking between disparate concepts and possess flexibility in their actions. Ahn Kim, (2015) in a research article mentioned that the linguistic competence of the North Koreans determined their level of comfort and adaptability in Los Angeles, U.S. The study was executed following an explorative interview approach where language incompatibility, varied cultural practices and differences in their adjustment with the South Korean immigrant mass residing in Los Angeles were identified as the crucial problems and challenges encountered by the North Koreans and the findings were explained in the light of Kims theory. In the globalizing world of today, finding a home beyond ones cultural territory and adapting to the host cultural scenario is an important aspect of living (Kim, 2015). Human beings since the advent of civilization are accustomed to adjusting themselves to the ever changing environmental and social conditions thereby leading to evolution. The integrative theory of cross-cultural adaptation lays great emphasis in prolonged and in-depth intercultural communications to foster sustainability and acceptance in an unfamiliar setting. The determining factors affecting the cross-cultural adaptation may vary depending upon the ethnicity and personal attributes of the respondent individual. In this regard, the open mindedness, personality make up and strength of the stranger may be considered that in due course of time enable him/her to successfully comply with the prevalent condition. Often the ability to adapt rests on the degree of communication competence on the part of the stranger. The ultimate outcome of cross-cultural adaptation is borne out of the steady, continuous changes at the personal level. These changes are diverse and interrelated in nature and lead to individual transformation in a sound and subtle, unconscious manner. Identity transformation is vital to the emotional, perceptual and knowledge development which in turn is integral to addressing the adjustment issues holistically. Verbal and non-verbal behaviors both intertwined in a person, contribute to the cultural intelligence rendering suitable adaptation mechanisms. Adaptability ensures the simultaneous and healthy co-existence of the old as well as the new virtues. To cater to the needs of the adjustment, the intellectual, aesthetic and emotional experiences are integral (Ang Van Dyne, 2015). Discussions pertaining to the research executed by Ahn Kim, (2015), focused on the communication experiences of the North Korean defectors in the Los Angeles region of U.S. Analysis of the extensive personal interviews of the four participants including three males and one female of North Korean defectors were done taking into account the Integrative cross-cultural adaptation theory. Several factors like personal and social communication skills are reported to be crucial in the integration of the adaptation process. Two general groups of North Koreans entering the U.S. domicile have been talked about where one group contain legal refugees who are awaiting confirmation following an appeal for asylum and the other group involve the illegal refugees encroaching a territory. The U.S. government adopted certain measures of providing case money for settlement, rations, health insurance, English education and employments for the legal refugees. The adjustability concerns of the North Korea ns migrating from South Korea to U.S. are surging progressively and therefore necessitate the urgency to include a safe cross-cultural practice for this particular population (Kim Kim, 2016). The results of the study conducted, implied that difficulties associated to communication posed challenges to cross-cultural adaptability, delaying their familiarity with the new environment. Difference in language, varied cultural norms stood on the way of effective interpersonal relationship. Lack of English language proficiency also hindered their reach to the American society at large, restricting their interactions solely to the South Korean sub-culture based in LA. Psychosocial health of the North Korean defectors is greatly affected consequently due to dual cultural shock encountered from South Korean and American culture (Roh et al., 2012). Thus carefully considering the problems discussed, appropriate interventional strategies must be recruited for the North Korean defectors for their better receptivity within the American cultural realm. The chosen case study thus aided in better understanding the concept of cross-cultural adaptation with reference to the integrated theory, and insightful perceptions on the condition of the North Korean defectors were acquired in the process of learning. The newspaper article (ww.time.com, 2016) highlighting the cross-cultural adaptability issues and the congruent personality modifications as experienced by the students engaged in studies abroad provide an overall knowledge regarding the applicability of the integrated theory of cross-cultural adaptation. The documentation of the students experiences pertaining to the foreign context is a relatively lesser known fact and therefore has scopes for further investigation and explorations. The studied case by Ahn Kim, (2015) highlights the perspectives and adjustment issues faced by the North Korean defectors on settling in the American region of LA. There are two major identifiable issues pertinent to the given context. First of all the language barrier and discrepancy in the social practices were observed among the North Korean settlers in the U.S. Alongside these challenges threatening their existence in U.S., the discrimination from the South Korean immigrant community living in U.S. also offered a major setback. Moreover, the interactive patterns varied considerably while communicating with the South Korean immigrants to that of the North Korean defectors. Thus analyzing the identified problems, it may be opined that the linguistics incompetence and discriminating social norms in vogue in the U.S. are more rational and convincing with reference to the North Korean defectors settlement there. The strength of the article lies in the fact that it considered both per sonal and social communication for assessing the situation of the North Korean defectors. However other factors such as the environmental ones, intercultural transformation and propensity towards personal adaptation were widely overlooked. The overall life experiences of the North Koreans in U.S. were documented depending upon qualitative verbatim response. The sample respondents consisting of only four participants cannot adequately extrapolate the findings to other people of similar status and hence provide a kind of biased overview. Besides this, the study did not take into account the participants of varied age groups that acted as a drawback and therefore cautious measures must be taken for analyzing the results correctly (Epstein, Santo, Guillemin, 2015). The impact of intercultural communication on cross-cultural adjustment as well as work attitudes relevant to foreign workers in South Korea was discussed in an article where host countrys language proficiency together with t he frequency of social interactions have been identified as the key issues of the cross-cultural adaptation (Froese, Peltokorpi, Ko, 2012). Similar study pertaining to cross-cultural adaptation concept, through the usage of the intelligibility in context scale (ICS) for South Africas official languages alongside English, as a reference guide for the speech language therapists working there served a significant role in improving the quality and accessibility of the services provided by them to the South African resident families(Pascoe McLeod, 2016). The newspaper article from Time magazine (www.time.com, 2016) explored the various researches available to infer that studying or working abroad in a foreign country make a person smarter, thereby proving the credibility of the cross-cultural adaptation concept. The various studies referred to mostly dealt with the students experiences as a result of multicultural engagement and revealed that the students who are receptive to foreign cultures are better in relating the abstract concepts and ideas. Additionally, they tend to be better problem solvers and critical thinkers with ample creative traits. The inclusion of a wide number of students and professionals for the purpose of study seem to be an advantage in understanding the cross-cultural adjustability issues as the subject students belonging to diverse backgrounds responded in distinctive manners. Reports concerning studies from different countries like Singapore, U.S.A., and France were mentioned thereby making the report more i nformative and insightful. Although the integrative theory for cross-cultural adaptation formed the basis of all the studies reported, yet more such extensive research must be executed for concrete evidence and firm conclusion. Intercultural transformation, a key concept of the integrative theory consisting of functional fitness, psychological or mental health and intercultural identity was the prime focus in the article. Thus, the report effectively addresses the cross-cultural adjustability issues and consecutive acclimatization of the students or professionals with the working environment in the foreign country. In view of this context, a similar study concerning learning experiences in a clinical environment for linguistically and culturally diverse healthcare students mentions language difficulty and cultural differences as the chief learning obstacles (Mikkonen, 2016). Another study examined the academic adjustment of the Chinese postgraduate students in the UK higher educatio n sector through a process based stage model which in turn may help in the design of academic programs in conjunction with provision for suitable induction (Quan, He, Sloan, 2016). References: Ahn, J. S., Kim, Y. S. (2015). Communication experiences of North Korean Defectors in Los Angeles: An Exploratory Interview study of Cross-Cultural Adaptation.International Journal of Art Humanities Center for Global Research Development,1(1), 13-24. Ang, S., Van Dyne, L. (2015).Handbook of cultural intelligence. Routledge. Epstein, J., Santo, R. M., Guillemin, F. (2015). A review of guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of questionnaires could not bring out a consensus.Journal of clinical epidemiology,68(4), 435-441. Froese, F. J., Peltokorpi, V., Ko, K. A. (2012). The influence of intercultural communication on cross-cultural adjustment and work attitudes: Foreign workers in South Korea.International Journal of Intercultural Relations,36(3), 331-342. Kim, J. S., Kim, J. H. (2016). The relationship between social support and acculturative stress from cultural adaptation of people displaced from North Korea to South Korea.China Journal of Social Work,9(1), 3-24. Kim, Y. Y. (1988).Communication and cross-cultural adaptation: An integrative theory. Multilingual Matters. Kim, Y. Y. (2015). Finding a home beyond culture: The emergence of intercultural personhood in the globalizing world.International Journal of Intercultural Relations,46, 3-12. Mikkonen, K., Elo, S., Kuivila, H. M., Tuomikoski, A. M., Kriinen, M. (2016). Culturally and linguistically diverse healthcare students experiences of learning in a clinical environment: a systematic review of qualitative studies.International journal of nursing studies,54, 173-187. Pascoe, M., McLeod, S. (2016). Cross-cultural adaptation of the Intelligibility in Context Scale for South Africa.Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 0265659016638395. Quan, R., He, X., Sloan, D. (2016). Examining Chinese postgraduate students academic adjustment in the UK higher education sector: a process-based stage model.Teaching in Higher Education,21(3), 326-343. Roh, Y. H., Noh, J. H., Kim, W., Oh, J. H., Gong, H. S., Baek, G. H. (2012). Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Korean version of the Oxford shoulder score.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery,132(1), 93-99. www.time.com, 2016, Retrieved on 19 September 2016 from, https://time.com/79937/how-studying-or-working-abroad-makes-you-smarter/?iid=sr-link3

Presidential Debates Essays (2349 words) - , Term Papers

Presidential Debates Presidential Debates Presidential debates are becoming a large part of a campaign plan. (Where the voters are) Who would think that such a short confrontation between the candidates would sway the vote of so many viewers? A presidential campaign could be won or lost from a single debate. The candidate must keep their cool and not go over the edge; they must be have a strong stand point on all of the topics, dont avoid anything. When debates first started they did not have this much effect on the voters, but now that a debate can be heard over the internet and through the television voters dont have to put forth any effort. All of the necessary points are usually covered in the debate. The points are not the only things that affect a voter, the appearance of the candidate, his tone of voice and his overall preciseness of his plans and ideas. Though the more modern debates can some what be planned, debates are still believed to be the best possible way to see the candidate in action and not just reading or saying what everyone wants to hear. The spin doctors, sponsors, television and media are playing a much larger part in presidential debates these days but all of this still shows what the importance of the debate is. Spin Doctors Spin doctors, isn't that a strange name in politics and especially a presidential debate. No it is not the singing group called the Spin Doctors. In large debates a campaign will put together what they call a spin squad, this is a group of several spin doctors. These people are actually a very vital part of any presidential debate. All of the spin doctors today are very powerful in the government and also paid a small chunk of money for going out and preaching their parties candidates beliefs and plans. Spin doctors are the people whom are hired to perform the pre and post debate controversy among the media. The pre debate spin does not usually have any effect on the media. They are responsible for accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative. (Spin doctors) Which means they are trying to take anything that was good in the debate for the campaign and basically feed it to the media. They keep doing this until they believe that the point, which is good, has been gotten across to the media and the media now better understands what was actually being said. Instead of themselves putting their own opinion of what happen down they put down what the spin doctors are telling them. When eliminating the negative the spin doctors are trying to convince the media that what was actually said came out to be a miss understanding and after that they continue pounding the positive points. The place that the spin doctors work can sometimes be on the platform after the debate but is usually held in a large room. This room is complete chaos, after the debate media members rush to this place to be the first to interview the spin doctors. The spin doctors consider this place Spin Alley, and say it is a frantic dance between reporters and spin doctors as individual members of the press search for the unique angle, which no one else has covered. (Spin doctors) A bystander view said Spin alley is nuts! But I guess somehow this chaos helps inform the voters of what really happ ened in the debate. (Marano 1996) Though the spinners are from the same party as their presidential candidate, they are never there to push for the party only the candidate. In the presidential debate of 1996 the debate went really well for Independent candidate Ross Perot, however the post debate action in spin alley really hurt him. For everyone one of Perots spinners the Democrats and Republicans had three to four spinners. This made it hard for the Perots spinners to convince the media of his excellent job and points in the debate. Sponsors The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is a well-known front group for both the Democratic and Republican parties; its involvement in corporate America is more obscure. (Carlin) The Commission on Presidential Debates

How to Use ABC Books All the Way Through High School

How to Use ABC Books All the Way Through High School We often think of ABC books as being educational only for young children. However, alphabet books can be successfully used for students in the elementary grades all the way though high school. No, not your typical A is for apple, B is for bear books, but ABC book format. Using the ABC outline  as  a guide for writing  allows for a creative, concise presentation of the subject matter and is versatile enough to use for nearly any age, ability level, or topic. What You’ll Need to Create an ABC Book ABC books are simple to make and dont require anything beyond basic supplies you probably already have in your home or classroom unless you want to get fancy with them. Youll need: A composition book or supplies for making your own book (such as a mini book or accordion book)​Pencil or penCrayons, markers, or other art medium for illustratingSample ABC books (The series, Discovering America State by State  provides a wonderful example of how much or how little detail can be included in a book using the ABC format.) If you want to get a bit fancier, a blank book, available at craft stores or online retailers, is a good option. These books have a blank, hardback cover and blank pages, allowing students to customize and illustrate every aspect of the book. A book intended for journaling can also make a  fabulous option for an ABC book. How to Write an ABC Format Book An ABC format book is an excellent alternative to a  traditional written report and an ideal tool for review. By listing a fact for each letter of the alphabet  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ one letter per page of their book  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ students are pushed to think creatively (particularly for letters such as X and Z) and write concisely. The requirements for an ABC book can be adjusted based on a students age and ability level. For example: Elementary-aged students may be required to write one or two sentences for each fact, A-Z, or even. Primary grade students may even be required only to write, â€Å"A is for†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Older elementary and middle school students may  be required to write a paragraph for each letter.High school students might have a lengthier expectation for written work or simply be expected to include greater detail. All ages should illustrate their work with  the  level of  detail  expected based on their  age and ability level. How to Use ABC Books The ABC format allows for versatility across all subjects, from history to science to math. For example, a student writing an ABC book for science might choose space as his topic, with pages such as: A is for asteroidP is for planetZ is for zero gravity A student writing a math ABC book might include pages such as: F is for fractionG is for geometryV is for variable You may have to allow your students to be creative with some words, such as using words like eXtra or eXtremely for the letter X. Otherwise, those can be difficult pages to fill. When creating ABC books with students, consider using them as a long-term project over the course of a particular unit of study. For example, your students might spend six weeks on one ABC book. This time-frame provides time for students to spend a bit of time on the book each day. Suggest that students complete a rough outline on regular paper or in an extra composition book. They can add facts as they progress through the unit or lesson and spend time developing the concepts before transferring them to the final book and completing the illustrations. Encourage your students to complete their ABC book by creating a cover design and including  an author page on the inside of the back cover. Dont forget your authors head shot! Students  could even write a synopsis for the book on the back cover or inside the front cover, and ask their friends for review blurbs to include on the front or back cover. ABC books provide children with a framework for summarizing facts and details. This framework helps kids stay on track and flesh out the details of the summary without feeling overwhelmed. Not only that, but ABC books are a fun project for students of all ages  and one that might even get your reluctant writers excited.

South Africa Geography and History

South Africa Geography and History South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent. It has a long history of conflict and human rights issues but it has always been one of the most economically prosperous nations in southern Africa due to its coastal location and the presence of gold, diamonds and natural resources. Population: 49,052,489 (July 2009 est.)Capital: Pretoria (administrative capital), Bloemfontein (judiciary), and Cape Town (legislative)Area: 470,693 square miles (1,219,090 sq km)Coastline: 1,738 miles (2,798 km)Highest Point: Njesuthi at 11,181 feet (3,408 m) History of South Africa By the 14th century C.E, the region was settled by the Bantu people who migrated from central Africa. South Africa was first inhabited by Europeans in 1488 when the Portuguese arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. However, permanent settlement didnt occur until 1652 when the Dutch East India Company established a small station for provisions on the Cape. In the following years, French, Dutch and German settlers began to arrive in the region. By the late 1700s, European settlements were spread throughout the Cape and by the end of the 18th century the British controlled the entire Cape of Good Hope region. In the early 1800s, in an effort to escape British rule, many native farmers called Boers migrated north, and in 1852 and 1854, the Boers created the independent Republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. After the discovery of diamonds and gold in the late 1800s, more European immigrants arrived in South Africa and this eventually led to the Anglo-Boer Wars, which the British won, causing the republics to become part of the British Empire. In May 1910, though, the two republics and Britain formed the Union of South Africa, a self-governing territory of the British Empire, and in 1912, the South African Native National Congress (eventually called the African National Congress or ANC) was founded with the goal of providing blacks in the region with more freedom. Despite the ANC in an election in 1948, the National Party won and began passing laws enforcing a policy of racial separation called apartheid. In the early 1960s, the ANC was banned and Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid leaders were convicted of treason and imprisoned. In 1961, South Africa became a republic after it withdrew from the British Commonwealth because of international protests against apartheid and in 1984 a constitution was put into effect. In February 1990, President F.W. de Klerk, unbanned the ANC after years of protest and two weeks later Mandela was released from prison. Four years later on May 10, 1994, Mandela was elected as South Africas first black president and during his time in office he was committed to reforming race-relations in the country and strengthening its economy and place in the world. This has remained the goal of subsequent governmental leaders. Government of South Africa Today, South Africa is a republic with two legislative bodies. Its executive branch is its Chief of State and Head of Government- both of which are filled by the president who is elected for five year terms by the National Assembly. The legislative branch is a bicameral Parliament composed of the National Council of the Provinces and the National Assembly. South Africas judicial branch is made up of its Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Appeals, High Courts and Magistrate Courts. South Africas Economy South Africa has a growing market economy with a plethora of natural resources. Gold, platinum and precious stones such as diamonds account for nearly half of South Africas exports. Auto assembly, textiles, iron, steel, chemicals and commercial ship repair also play a role in the countrys economy. In addition agriculture and agricultural exports are significant to South Africa. Geography of South Africa South Africa is divided into three major geographic regions. The first is the African Plateau in the countrys interior. It forms a portion of the Kalahari Basin and is semiarid and sparsely populated. It slopes gradually in the north and west but rises to 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) in the east. The second region is the Great Escarpment. Its terrain varies but its highest peaks are in the Drakensberg Mountains along the border with Lesotho. The third region are the narrow, fertile valleys along the coastal plains. The climate of South Africa is mostly semiarid; but, its eastern coast regions are subtropical with mainly sunny days and cool nights. South Africas west coast is arid because the cold ocean current Benguela, removes moisture from the region which has formed the Namib Desert that extends into Namibia. In addition to its varied topography, South Africa is famous for its biodiversity. South Africa currently has eight wildlife reserves, the most famous of which is Kruger National Park along the border with Mozambique. This park is home to lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants and hippopotamus. The Cape Floristic Region along South Africas west coast is also important as it is considered a world biodiversity hotspot which is home to endemic plants, mammals and amphibians. More Facts about South Africa South Africas population estimates must account for excess mortality due to AIDS and its affect on life expectancy, infant mortality and population growth rates.South Africa divides its governmental power among three capitals. Bloemfontein is the capital of the judiciary, Cape Town is the legislative capital, and Pretoria is the administrative capital. Resources and Further Reading Centrail Intelligence Agency. (2010, April 22). CIA - The World Factbook South Africa. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.htmlInfoplease.com. (n.d.) South Africa: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107983.htmlUnited States Department of State. (2010, February). South Africa (02/10). Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2898.htm