Title Page

Child Mortality Rates

Jennifer Helmick

College of Western Idaho

English 102- 011W

Leslie Jewkes

5/6/13

Blog Portfolio Preface

Jennifer Helmick

jenniferhelmick@mycwi.cc

English 102

Blog Portfolio Preface/Introduction

6 May 2013

Blog Portfolio Preface/Introduction

On this page you will be able to understand a little more about child mortality rates. Through my research I have discovered information that I feel is beneficial to me and to others. My first local paper describes the issues of child death in the United States. My personal pieces of writing include a haiku about child death and a PowerPoint with interesting statistics. The brochure gives a brief summary of certain issues and who you can contact to help. My visual elements are included in the local & global essay. My interviews and letters of inquiry include helpful opinions about child mortality rates. I also have included a film essay which discusses a young boy who dies of AIDS. Lastly, my global essay explains causes and solutions to child mortality. 

Local Essay

College of Western Idaho
Child Mortality Rates
Jennifer Helmick
English 102-011W
Leslie Jewkes
3/12/13

Abstract

My research shows what solutions there are to child mortality rates in the United States. To obtain these results interviews, databases, books and the web have all helped. The research explains the major causes of death and how those situations can also be prevented.The large implications of my findings were that the mortality rates are continually decreasing.


Jennifer Helmick
jenniferhelmick@mycwi.cc
English 102
Local Paper Final
21 February 2013 

   Child Mortality Rates 

            Child mortality rates are not specifically seen as a large problem in the United States. Child deaths are less common here than in other countries, but they still occur. I think this problem goes unnoticed because there are already plenty of resolutions to solve the issue. Child mortality rates have continued to go down but some deaths are still occurring. Even though this issue is better known globally it still occurs in the U.S. There are plenty of different solutions to decrease child mortality rates in the United States that must be noticed.
            Ties Boerma says that, “Increased commitment to tracking progress in child mortality has drawn attention to a number of interrelated technical, operational and political challenges and to the underlying weaknesses of health information systems in many countries”(1). Research has stated that mortality rates for infants and children are a significant display of a state’s health status. The amount of child deaths in one year is 53,287 of these deaths 30,000 are children from 0-1 (Spiliopoulou). The death rate has continued to diminish over the years with the help of many organizations. Some of these include the UNOPS and the UNICEF. These groups are in partnerships with the government. The UNICEF tries to find cost friendly interventions to reduce the number of deaths. Even though there is plenty being done the catastrophe of preventable death still happens. According to Szarkowski, “some 22,000 children under five still die each day, with some 70 percent of those deaths occurring in the first year of the child’s life”(3). Of course all deaths cannot be stopped completely, but there is still a chance the number of rates could be lower in future years.
            If there is a situation that is stoppable then the result of the problem should not develop a concern. “However we must remain vigilant if we are to reach the end goal of zero dying from preventable causes. The unnecessary death of even one child is unacceptable,” says President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Caryl System. If all that can be done occurs then the death rate will be able to diminish. People think that “freak accidents” happen, but if the situation is studied there will be a way this accident could have been stopped. If a parent lets their children drive when the weather conditions are dangerous there will be a chance of death arising. Regardless of the remarkable reduction in child mortality, racial, socioeconomic and geographic differences continue to be substantial, black children experience 50 percent higher risk that white (Singh). People need to see situations differently and take all options into consideration (Walker).
            The main factor of infant mortality in the United States is when babies are born with an abnormally low weight. It is common for newborns to lose pounds after they are born and if they do not have any weight to spare this can result in fatality. The main causes of death include: perinatal conditions, repertory disease, circulatory disease, nervous system disease, and SIDS. Natural causes can be difficult to prevent but with medical advances these issues are being solved. The other unintentional deaths contain: motor vehicle accidents, drowning, fire/burn, poisoning, suffocation and firearm (National Center for Health Statistics). Unintentional deaths seem to be one of the main problems with child mortality rates. The people in the environment should take more caution into everyday activities to protect their own children and others.             According to Gopal K. Singh, “Unintentional injuries, cancer, birth defects, homicide, heart disease, and suicide were the leading causes of death in older children aged 5-14, accounting for 70 percent of all deaths in 07, 37 percent of these deaths were motor vehicle accidents”(3). It is interesting that car accidents lead the death rate for younger children. This shows that the death of the child is someone else’s responsibility. It is sad when innocent children have to die because of another person’s reckless actions. It is a parent’s job to keep their children safe and statistics show that in some cases they are not doing a good job. There are many different reasons that tie in with child mortality; some of these would possibly be environmental conditions, parent’s level of education, and even political and medical infrastructure (Cullen).            Research is an astounding factor that helps people see different perspectives. According to Gopal, “the vast majority of research conducted in the late 20^th century and early 21^st century indicates that African American infants are more than twice as likely to die in their first year of life, than are white infants”(2). This could be occurring because of the different social classes in the U.S. Since the declining rate of child mortality has been due to medical advances, technology, and modern improvements in basic healthcare it is mostly revolving around money. In this generation money is hard to come by. How do citizens get the care they need if they cannot afford it? “1,551 mothers were interviewed, ethnicity was listed as follows: 854 native-born white, 6 African American, 394 Slovak or Polish, 76 Serbo-Croatian, 75 Italian, 53 German, 38 Magyar, 33 British, 12 Syrian and Greek, and 10 Hebrew. Children with a native born mother had a much better chance of survival than did those of foreign mothers” (Lindenmeyer 59). This experiment stood out to me because it shows how vastly spread out child mortality rates is. Native born children have a better chance of survival because their mothers are from this society so they know how it works. On the other hand, foreign people sometimes do not receive the kind of help native people do.
            Ongoing investigations and statistics of different health care costs and delivery help to understand what conditions contribute to mortality rates. Cullen states that, “racial disparities in care between whites and blacks have highlighted the role of these factors” (1). Even though it is still unknown if these ideas actually affect rates it is to see how they could.  According to Dr. Mumford, a local family physician, most child deaths are from disease. He says parents do not take their children’s sickness seriously and it leads to worse conditions. The right thing to do would be to bring the child in for care as soon as symptoms are visible (Mumford). The high rate of teen pregnancy seems like it plays a larger role. Babies are having babies and do not have the responsibility to take care of them. Tobacco, alcohol and the use of drugs by woman expecting is also a factor. Careless actions such as these end in a larger problem by having children who need special care. The more special care that this child needs, the more money the mother is going to have to come up with. People do not take into consideration that what they do to their body can be harming to themselves but most importantly their baby.            The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development has made large strides in lowering the child mortality rate. Since this institution has evolved the national mortality rate has diminished to 70 percent due to their contributing investigations. The death rates dropped between 1980 and 2003. This includes 46% for infants, ages 1-4 44%, and ages 5-14 32% decrease in death. Spiliopoulou indicates that, “The fact worth mentioning is that all rates have tended to decline steadily since they were first documented in the 1930’s.”(1) The rates of decrease do depend on the city and the environment.  The world is evolving and technology is helping tremendously in the effort to save lives. On the positive side, the United States announced a 26 percent decrease in neonatal deaths over twenty years. Yet, it has unfortunately dropped to the lowest positions from 28^th to the 41^st. Since the neonate progress has occurred slower than newborn and older babies less than five years old supports the notion that good data leads to awareness, and awareness leads to actions (Shore). If others are aware that situations are getting better they will confident in supporting the fight against child mortality.
            Monitoring changes in the health and well-being of children is one of the most important goals of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. When children are monitored it is easier to get the data needed to improve lives. Giving kids the fundamentals for a healthy and safe childhood will reduce mortality rates. The mission is to make that number zero by doing all there is to do. There are a sufficient amount of fundraisers and organizations that contribute to helping families and children in need. Reasons responsible for a long-term decline include: better living conditions, developments in medical care, healthier nutrition, and lastly the introduction of Medicaid (Singh). To make more progress health sponsors plan on distributing antibiotics to fight diseases in the developing countries. Miller states, “To reach the goal of a mortality rate of 9/1000 requires implementation of public policies that include assured access to comprehensive perinatal care, promised maternity leave, and cash benefits equal to significant portions of wages during the time off”(2). Public policies have the chance to make a huge difference in the fight against child mortality. The more help received from others can eventually have a larger impact on the whole problem.            The encouraging fact is that both infant and child mortality tend to decline steadily in most countries, even the least developed. Although this decrease is not proportional and the rates depend on variables such as race and ethnicity, environmental, and genetic reasons (Spiliopoulou). The age and gender of a child can also be an important variable. The death of a child is a tragedy for family and friends, and a loss to the community. Unintentional injuries and disease can and will be prevented if the right measures are taken. Lives could be saved with vaccines, basic medical and maternal care, and likewise suitable nutrition. There are always fundraisers and programs taking donations to help save the lives of those in need. The world has plenty of technology and what needs to be done is obvious. The goal is to make all of these options available to every child. 

Works Cited

Cullen, Mark R, Clint Cummins, and Victor R Fuchs. "Geographic And Racial Variation In Premature Mortality In The U.S.: Analyzing The Disparities." Plos One 7.4 (2012): e32930. MEDLINE. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Lindenmeyer, Kriste. "The U.S. Children's Bureau and Infant Mortality in the Progressive Era." Journal of Education. 177.3 (1995): 57-69. Print.Miller, CA. "Infant Mortality in the U.S." Scientific American. 253.1 (1985): 31-7. Print.

Mumford, Brett. Personal interview. 15 Feb. 2013. 

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2012. Print.

Shore, Rima, Barbara Shore, and Foundation Annie E. Casey. "Reducing The Child Death Rate. KIDS COUNT Indicator Brief." Annie E. Casey Foundation (2009): ERIC. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Singh GK. Child Mortality in the United States, 1935-2007: Large Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities Have Persisted Over Time. A 75th Anniversary Publication. Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.Rockville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.

Spiliopoulou, et al. "Trends In Infant And Child Mortality." Open Forensic Science Journal 4.(2011): 1-11. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Szarkowski, Lisa. "Child Mortality Rate Drops by a Third since 1990." :: UNICEF USA. N.p., 16 Sept. 2010. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Ties Boerma, et al. “Tracking Progress Towards The Millennium Development Goals: Reaching Consesus On Child Mortality Levels and Trends.” Bulletin Of The World Health Organization 84.3 (2006): 225-232.  Academic Search Complete.Web. 12 Mar. 2013  

Walker, Jade. "U.S. Mortality Rate: Deaths Surpass 2.5 Million For The First Time." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 10 Oct. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. 

Personal Writing (PowerPoint)

Haiku

Silence in the night

Cry of a newborn baby

Skin cold as snow

Brochure

Interviews

Dr. Mumford

1) What are your personal views on child mortality rates?

    It has been an issue for quite sometime, but I think progress is being made slowly.

2) What do you think needs to be done?

    There needs to be adequate resources for people who are in need.

3) Since you do a lot of traveling, do you witness a lot of families struggling?

    Yes but there is plenty of refuges that are assisting in helping and that is why I am there also.

4) Most important thing that would help decrease child mortality rates?

    Vaccines and having volunteers would be the most helpful in most situations

5) Do parents underestimate their children's sickness?

     Parents do not take their children’s sickness seriously and it leads to worse conditions

Dr. McGuffey

1) Personal opinion on child mortality rates?

    Knows it is a large problem, happy the rate is decreasing

2) What measures do you think should be taken to improve these rates?

    Have more care available to families in need

3) How long do you think before rates start to diminish completely?

    It is almost impossible to say exactly when a global issue will be fixed

    A lot more help and funding will be needed before a certain goal like that can be reached

4) Why do you think it is important to assist families with the help they need?

    If we are giving these families help and showing them the correct way to take care of certain situations then they will be able to teach their children and also friends.

Letters of inquiry

Dear, Dr. Boyd K. Lowder

I am emailing you to ask you a few quick questions about child mortality rates. I am a current freshman at College of Western Idaho and am doing research for my English 102 class. If you could spare some time to answer these questions it would be greatly appreciated.

1.) Since you work at the woman's clinic in St. Luke's what main issues do newborn babies face?

2.) On average, how many babies need critical care after they are born?

3.) What is your personal view on issues involving child mortality?

4.) Do you think it is possible to put an end to all preventable child deaths?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, Jennifer Helmick

World Health Organization

mediainquiries@who.net

I am emailing you to ask a few questions about your child mortality website. Your page seems to include a lot of factual information, but for my research I would like to dig deeper and ask for your opinion.

1.) You mention 41% of deaths are from "other causes" what might those include?

2.) Do you think that the millennium goal will be reached by 2015?

3.) What is the most important thing that should be accomplished for this goal to be met?

4.) Do you think each state/country should be responsible for their own struggles?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, Jennifer Helmick

Film Essay

Jennifer Helmick

jenniferhelmick@mycwi.cc

English 102

Final Film Analysis

15 April 2013

The Cure

            Child death occurs quite often and most of the time with no explanation. The movie “The Cure,” directed by Peter Horton in 1995 shows a prime example of child mortality. Joseph Mazello plays Dexter, and eleven year old that conducted AIDS from a blood transfusion. His pal Erick, also known as Brad Renfro, set out on a journey to find the cure for AIDS. The first impression of the film was that it is very touching. It makes the audience realize how serious child death is. The film also shows how difficult it is to fight child mortality and how much of an emotional toll it takes on others.

            The main characters all show strong emotions about the concept of child death. Dexter’s mother knows her son is dying but has a hard time accepting it. Her actions can relate to any parent dealing with a child that has a deadly disease. Having a disease that has no cure can take a serious toll on someone. The struggle to find a cure brings these people together when they need it the most. The main thing that catches the audience’s attention would be how someone that is so sick but still makes the best out of life. When a child dies young they have little time to find remorse.

            The setting makes the concept of child mortality more believable because of the small town atmosphere. A child getting AIDS from a blood transfusion can be rare so a close knit town can seem more realistic. The hospital scenes were very intimating and definitely made the story line interesting. The hospital staff is generous and very caring just like any other hospital. One scene shows the boys in the hospital pretending like Dexter died and the nurse states, “we knew this was coming.” (The Cure) This part in the film gives most people a shock because it is a true statement but a nurse should clearly not be stating that her patient is going to die.

            The film shows the struggle on finding a cure for AIDS. This is a worldwide problem any children face. Even though it is better known in developing countries it still can occur close to home. The fact that Dexter got AIDS from a blood transfusion helps others get a better understanding about freak accidents.  Most children reported with AIDS acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prenatally from their mothers (“Aids Among Children”). A majority of deaths do happen in un-ordinary manners. This film provides a clear point that accidents do happen.

            The film supports the idea of the fight to find a cure for AIDS. The boy’s dedication to cure Dexter shows how desperately this problem needs to be fixed but how much of a challenge it also is.  According to the UNICEF, “The number of children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS is projected to reach 25 million by the end of the decade.” The story of Dexter shows him and his families struggle. Imagine 25 million families having to go through the struggle of their child having AIDS.

            Having AIDS as a child can be quite the challenge, but with a good family and trustful friends the life they have can still be enjoyed. Child mortality is a stressful situation and the film helps the audience realize that it is an issue that should be fixed. At the current rate of decline in child mortality, the goal of the Millennium Project will not be achieved. However, the rate of decline has been increasing, and certain vaccines will increase this rate even further (Fighting Child Mortality). Dexter’s story sends out a touching message about child mortality rates and leaves the audience pondering about the cure for AIDS.

Works Cited

"Aids Among Children." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 Nov. 1996. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

"Fighting Child Mortality." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

"Goal: Reduce Child Mortality." UNICEF -. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

The Cure. Dir. Peter Horton. Perf. Joseph Mazzello, Brad Renfro, Aeryk Egan. Studio Selections, 1995. DVD.

Global Essay

COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO

Global Child Mortality Rates

Jennifer Helmick

English 102- 011W

Leslie Jewkes

5/5/13

Abstract

My research shows what solutions there are to child mortality rates on a global level. To obtain these results interviews, databases, books and the web have all helped. The research explains the major causes of death and how those situations can also be prevented. The large implications of my findings were that the mortality rate is continually decreasing.

Jennifer Helmick

jenniferhelmick@mycwi.cc

English 102

Global Essay Final

5 May 2013

Global Child Mortality Rates

            Child mortality is more recognized on a global level rather than specifically in the United States. The child mortality rate is the highest in low-income countries that lack sanitation and emergency services are supplies. Most deaths in third world countries are disregarded because poor families cannot afford to register their children in the government system (“Fighting Child Mortality”). Child death is a normal thing in certain areas when it should not even be a problem. A child is at a higher risk during the first twenty eight days of his life. Due to this situation, care is needed during and right after the child’s birth. If help is received during this time a significant amount of deaths can be prevented. Child mortality is a large globally known issue that can be solved by providing high-impact health and nutrition interventions.

            According to the UNICEF, most child deaths result from: malaria, measles, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections and malnutrition. It is sad to know that approximately 29,000 under the age of five die daily from these preventable sicknesses (Hill). More than 70% of the almost 11 million child deaths every year can also be related to: neonatal infections, pneumonia, preterm delivery or lack of oxygen at birth (“Goal: Reduce Child Mortality”). The help that is needed is out there, but it is difficult to come by due to the environmental issues where most of these deaths occur. High travel costs, lost labor, and a withdrawal of socioeconomic benefits are factors as to why deaths may not be reported to government vital statistic agencies within a country (Cullen). It is hard for the needed assistance to get to these areas because of money shortages and some areas are near impossible to access. In 2009, there were 31 countries reported in which at least 10% of children under five died. All were in Africa, except for Afghanistan. The highest 10 were: Chad, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso and Burundi (Nations). These are all countries that citizens in the United States know very little about. Many countries seem divided and if they all work together it would be beneficial for reducing problems like child mortality. If all of the countries supported one another there would not be such a high need for help.

            Various deaths can occur from illnesses such as measles, malaria or tetanus (Hill). Others result from marginalization, conflict and HIV/AIDS. Two huge contributors to half of the children’s death include malnutrition and the lack of safe, sanitary water. Disease is not inevitable, nor do children with these sicknesses and issues need to die. Research and experience show that six million of the almost eleven million children who pass away each year could be saved by low-tech, cost-effective measures (“Goal: Reduce Child Mortality”). These include vaccines, antibiotics, insecticide bed nets, nutrition supplementation, breastfeeding practices and improved family care (Mikkel). To help these problems it is crucial to provide correct health and nutrition, improve family care and increase access to enhanced water and sanitation. Most importantly, there needs to be a quicker response time in emergency situations.

            Social and biomedical research has indicated that infant and child mortality rates are important indicators of a nation’s health status and well-being (Spiliopoulou). If a nation has a significant amount of child deaths then its health status is obviously going to be very poor. According to a local doctor Tina McGuffey, “it is hard to give people the help they need when there is little help that is being offered.” In the article by Spiliopoulou, on the bottom of the list it specifies countries such as Angola, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Liberia and Somalia, as having vast numbers of attrition within local population due to continuous civil wars and ethnic cleansing. In some cases it can become clear that political issues may establish a specifically non-medical reason behind the increase in infant and child mortality rates. There are some underlying causes of child mortality that can be hard to understand but in order to fix a problem all the causes must be discovered.

            What needs to be improved is how to practically carry out the effective solutions. The current rate of decline is always showing improvement which gives hope that one day child mortality will not be a significant problem in the world. It is possible to provide the help needed, since officials know exactly what needs to be done. Providing high-impact health and nutrition interventions will decrease rates dramatically. If the families have what they need to take care of their children then they will have the knowledge to keep their babies safe. Volunteering can also extensively help rates diminish.

Works Cited

Cullen, Mark R, Clint Cummins, and Victor R Fuchs. "Geographic And Racial Variation In Premature Mortality In The U.S.: Analyzing The Disparities." Plos One 7.4 (2012): e32930. MEDLINE. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

"Fighting Child Mortality." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, 9 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.

"Goal: Reduce Child Mortality." UNICEF. Pirozzi, n.d. Web. 05 May 2013.

Hill K, et al. Trends in child mortality in the developing world: 1990 to 1996, unpublished report, United Nations Childrens' Fund (UNICEF), New York, January 1998.

McGuffey, Tina. Personal Interview.  3 April. 2013.

Mikkel Z. Oestergaard, et al. “Child Mortality Estimation: Accelerated Progress In Reducing Global Child Mortality, 1990-2010. “Plos Medicine 9.8 (2012): 1-11. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.

Nations, Marilyn K., and Mara Lucia Amaral. 1991. Flesh, Blood, Souls, and Households: Cultural Validity in Mortality Inquiry. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 5 (3):204-220.

Spiliopoulou, et al. "Trends In Infant And Child Mortality." Open Forensic Science Journal 4.(2011): 1-11. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Annotated Bibliography

Cullen, Mark R, Clint Cummins, and Victor R Fuchs. "Geographic And Racial Variation In Premature Mortality In The U.S.: Analyzing The Disparities." Plos One 7.4 (2012): e32930. MEDLINE. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

This source covers large differences in life expectancy compared to different regions of the country. Life expectancy at birth, estimated from U.S period life tables, has been show to vary systematically and widely by region and race. Recent very intense investigation and reporting of regional differences in health care delivery, cost and quality as well as evidence of historic and ongoing racial disparities in care between whites and blacks have highlighted the role of these factors, although estimates of their contribution to mortality rates remain uncertain. I think these quotes will support my paper by adding different controversies and ideas about my topic on child mortality.

Mumford, Brett. Personal interview. 15 Feb. 2013.

Shore, Rima, Barbara Shore, and Foundation Annie E. Casey. "Reducing The Child Death Rate.

Progress has occurred slower than newborn and older babies less than five years old supports the

notion that good data leads to awareness, and awareness leads to actions. Reasons for declining

rates.   

Singh GK. Child Mortality in the United States, 1935-2007: Large Racial and Socioeconomic

Disparities Have Persisted Over Time. A 75th Anniversary Publication. Health Resources and

services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.Rockville, Maryland: U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.

Racial, socioeconomic and geographic differences continue to be substantial, black children

experience 50 percent higher risk that white. Unintentional injuries, cancer, birth defects,

homicide, heart disease, and suicide were the leading causes of death in older children aged 5-14,

accounting for 70 percent of all deaths in 07, 37 percent of these deaths were motor vehicle

accidents.

Spiliopoulou, et al. "Trends In Infant And Child Mortality." Open Forensic Science Journal 4.(2011): 1-11. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

This source covers the main causes of deaths in infants and how autopsy evidence helps us derive valuable information.  Specifically, between 1980 and 2003, death rates dropped by 46% for infants, 51% for ages 1 to 4, 44% for children ages 5 to 14 and 32% for teens ages 15 to 19. The fact worth mentioning is that both these rates tend to  decline almost steadily since they were first written down, in the 1930’s, although the rates of decrease vary each year and depending on the country. These quotes will add to my paper by giving me the information I need about specific numbers/dates about child deaths.

Lindenmeyer, Kriste. "The U.s. Children's Bureau and Infant Mortality in the Progressive Era." Journal of Education. 177.3 (1995): 57-69. Print.

This article describes the course of the US Children's Bureau's work in the Progressive Era. First governmental agency established solely to consider the problems of children. This source covers documenting why babies die, formulating solutions to save babies lives, and a legacy for twentieth-century welfare police. Of the 1,551 mothers interviewed, ethnicity was listed as follows: 854 native-born white, 6 African American, 394 Slovak or Polish, 76 Serbo-Croatian, 75 Italian, 53 German, 38 Magyar, 33 British, 12 Syrian and Greek, and 10 Hebrew. Children of native-born mothers had a much better chance of survival than did those of foreign-born mothers. These quotes will give an example of how child morality is vastly spread out.

Szarkowski, Lisa. "Child Mortality Rate Drops by a Third since 1990." :: UNICEF USA. N.p.,

16 Sept. 2010. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

22,000 children under five still die each day, with some 70 percent of those deaths occurring in the first year of the child’s life.

Miller, CA. "Infant Mortality in the U.S." Scientific American. 253.1 (1985): 31-7. Print.

This source explains how the U.S infant mortality rate has diminished over time. To reach the goal of an infant mortality rate of 9/1000 by 1990 requires the implementation of public policies that include assured access to comprehensive perinatal care, guaranteed maternity leaves, job protection during the leave, and cash benefits equal to a significant portion of wages during the leave. They point instead to such factors as the high rate of teenage pregnancy, the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs by many pregnant women, and the complex racial mixture of the US population. These quotes can support my paper by showing that infant mortality can be our own fault by abusing substances and etc…

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2012. Print.

I plan on using this source by citing information that helps others see a point of view from a different perspective. Using strategies from this book can help others understand my evidence in a rhetorical way. If I define the feature of an argument (pg.9) then others can examine my argument/point of view in more detail. These quotes can support my paper by making it easier to follow.

Ties Boerma, et al. “Tracking Progress Towards The Millennium Development Goals: Reaching

Consesus On Child Mortality Levels and Trends.” Bulletin Of The World Health

Organization 84.3 (2006): 225-232.  Academic Search Complete.Web. 12 Mar. 2013  

Increased commitment to tracking  progress in child mortality has drawn attention to a number of

interrelated technical, operational and political challenges and to the underlying weaknesses of

health information systems in many countries.

Walker, Jade. "U.S. Mortality Rate: Deaths Surpass 2.5 Million For The First Time." The

Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 10 Oct. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Taking points of view, being open minded on certain situations. 

Reflection

Jennifer Helmick

jenniferhelmick@mycwi.cc

English 102

Reflection

5 May 2013

Reflection

 

            As the end of the semester is near, I wonder to myself what have I really learned in English 102? I do not think I can include everything I have learned in one essay because even though it was only a semester long, I feel like I received a lot of helpful information from this class.  I have learned how to write and express myself, how to think for myself, and how to find the answers to the things that I don't know. I have accomplished a variety of goals I once thought were unattainable. I have not only grown as a writer and a student, but as a person as well. In high school I never used to feel confident in my writing, but now I can turn in a paper and feel like something good will come out of it.

                To be honest, all my academic life, I always categorized writing under English class only; however, I recently realized that the skills you acquire in English courses will be extremely beneficial to you. Whether it is writing a business letter or a history essay, knowing how to write is always a must. You cannot escape the process of writing so it should be something to always keep with you. I have probably learned more about writing in just this one semester than my entire academic career. Not only did we learn how to write a film analysis, and how to research and construct an argumentative essay, but we focused on fixing our grammar, mechanics, and MLA format as well.

I feel relieved that this semester is over; although, I am so thankful that I had this class taught by my teacher. There are so many pieces to becoming a successful writer that I did not even think twice about before I took this class. After each essay I had written, looking at the corrections made by my teacher, I realized that there was so much work I needed to do in order to perfect my writing. I never truly understood or applied MLA format as much as I did this semester. I think many things go unnoticed in high school, and with college you have to apply yourself and make sure nothing is missing. I feel like I was forced to read through many MLA rules over and over again and it got annoying, but I am very thankful for what I know now. I learned to consider more descriptive adjectives for my writing because it appeals to the reader more successfully. I had to learn how to keep the reader interested and not just use one type of tone through the whole essay.

In the future, I hope to use all of the skills I have acquired during my English courses in  my everyday life. I know that they will be very helpful to me, regardless of what I am trying to accomplish. I feel that I am much better now in persuading someone through my writings, which would definitely come in handy during any career.  I have gained responsibility during this experience that made me much more organized. During this semester I was faced with deadlines, rules, and assignments that I could not work around. I learned that it is impossible to procrastinate and try to turn in a passing assignment. All of these responsibilities have made me realize that I could definitely take the next step forward in my academic career. With each new experience it has made me continue to grow and constantly learn something new. I have enjoyed my English class and know that what I have learned will be extremely beneficial.