Examples of Successful Openings for Research Papers, Rhet 1020

1.The reliability of human memory in the court of law: Analyzing a problem and discussing the
importance of a new technological application in science, DNA.

The malleable nature of human memory gives room for the formation of false memories; such
memories can be trivial in some cases and can be serious in others that may influence people’s lives
tragically especially when it comes to criminal justice. One of the famous memory-related cases is the
case of Jennifer Thompson who was raped at the age of 22 years old. Thompson said that she tried to
focus on the attacker: his face, eyes and any marks or scars so that she can recognize him in the court.
Later, in a photo lineup, she picked a picture for Ronald Cotton who turned out to be innocent after
being jailed for 11 years. The unbelievable part is that Thompson couldn’t identify the real rapist in the
court when she saw him even after the DNA confirmation (Zack, 2019). This is not the only case;
interestingly, the American Psychological Association “estimates that about one of every three
eyewitnesses make an erroneous identification” confirming the malleability of human memory (Wise,
Sartori, Magnussen& Safer, 2014). Based on the nature of the human memory and how it can be
changed and manipulated, the conventional use of eyewitness testimonies in the courts of the law as
a conclusive piece of evidence is not accurate and may lead to wrongful convictions that destroy
innocents’ lives; other evidence such as DNA samples must be presented.

2. Historical Context and how it is useful in understanding the political strategies of Vladimir Putin.
Analyzing the expansionist political strategies of Vladimir Putin.

The new Russian Empire Introduction Russia is the largest country in the world. Its land is about 17.1
million km² (Gigas). According to the worldometer, the current population of Russia is about
143,964,709 which is considered as the 7th most populated country in the world map today. Moreover,
Russia is located between Europe and Asia which gives the country more strategic position and more
powerful foreign policy (Grigas).All these things considered, the geographical characteristics have
contributed to represent Russia in a more prestigious position in front of the international community.
Therefore, if we dig deeper into the ideological characteristics of Russia we would have better
understanding for Russia as an entity and not just a big country. The history of the Soviet Union explains
the relationship between Russia and its neighbouring countries. Russia was one of the main founding
countries of the union. In a particular, it was also referred to the union; as “Russia” (David-Fox). The
Union’s main purpose was to have one united government ruled by the communist party that is located
in Moscow, the capital of Russia (David-Fox). Russia in 1922 was dominant over 13 countries until the
collapse of the union in December 1991 (Monaghan). The authority that Russia gained in the past
encouraged most of the Russian citizens to believe in the concept of the Russian empire and that all
pre soviet union countries belong to Russia and should be reunited again. The idea might not have a
clear significance in the past few years; however, it has re-emerged as a political goal in the current
presidency period of Vladimir Putin.

3. Analyzing the problem of depression among university students and analyzing creative responses to
this problem.
 College students’ depression

The depression rate has risen significantly in the past decade, especially for those within the age
range of 17-35 (Canady, 2019). The amount of billboards, social, media accounts, and programs that
raise awareness for mental health that we see now in Egypt are impressively high. However, I tend to
ask myself whether this is a good or a bad sign. Is it good that we are becoming more aware of the
vitality of one’s mental health, or should we fear the rise of mental illnesses is becoming a dangerous
phenomenon? College students are a huge segment of the victims of depression (Canady, 2019). As with
any problem in the world, it can be traced by searching for its possible causes, and the most prevalent
cause of depression amongst college students happens to be lack of individuation and autonomy
(Mattanah et al, 2016). Many may not be aware of the importance of the establishment of individuation
in the development of an individual, especially during adolescence. Carl Jung, one of the founding
fathers of psychology, came up with the complex process of individuation. He defined it as bringing what
is in the unconscious to the bright light of consciousness in terms of building one’s individual personality.
To simply break it down, it is the process by which an individual is being formed and differentiated from
others (Jeffrey, 2019). This paper aims to analyze the importance of individuation during
adolescence and how its absence can make an individual prone to depression. It also explores the
different therapeutic approaches that are thought to be effective in treating depression, especially
within college students. In addition to that, I would like to give my audience a glimpse of how aware
the Egyptian psychiatric association is with this increasing phenomenon, and compare this
information to model centers in the US, and what the AUC counseling center has achieved.

4. Analyzing a problem and arguing for use of a new non-invasive therapy. Alzheimer’s patients
and the use of music therapy.

Human beings are defined by their personalities, they evolve and transcend through a wide

array of different experiences that come in many forms or values. These experiences have the ability to

impact people through making them learn new ideas or expose themselves to new sensations. The

memory stores those experiences in the person’s unconscious mind but unfortunately several people

are deprived of such an experience especially at old age if they suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s is a chronic neurodegerative disease that slowly destroys areas of the brain, leading to
memory misplacement and loss of ones identity (Du, Wang, & Geng, 2018). This is a serious common

disease that still has no cure yet. The understanding of how nonmedical interventions is needed, has

“led to the use of music as a new form of treatment.” Playing music in the past has helped viciously

improve balance while walking, boosting the mood of anyone suffering from Alzheimer’s. More soothing

music has been often used with nighttime behavior issues. Thus, music has been widely used over the

centuries to entertain and amuse society, yet recently, new evidence points to the fact that music is a

large contributor in the alleviation of the disease. Music has been recently discovered as one of the few

elements in life that are strongly associated with memory and emotion. The theories behind the process

of memory and Alzheimer’s disease, explains how music is effective. Music is able to stimulate various

areas of the brain; therefore should be used as an essential form of treatment of Alzheimer’s. As it

often improves an Alzheimer’s behavioral and psychological symptoms., and is regarded as a

noninvasive therapy, it should be used much more widely in the treatment of Alzheimer’s.

5. Pan’s Labyrith: Analyzing why a film is innovative in terms of perspective and use of animation.

Pan’s Labyrinth

The European history and its political and social position depend heavily on the Spanish

Civil War. The Spanish Civil War lasted from July of 1936 till April of 1939. There were several

complexities and interventions in the war, by countries, leaders and parties. These complexities

and interventions were evident in the intensely ferocious war between the Republicans and the

Fascist nationalists, lead by General Francisco Franco. Victory was in favor of the nationalists

and General Franco ruled Spain for the next 36 years after the war, up until his death in 1975.

Both the Nazi Germans and the fascist wing in Italy supported the nationalists by soldiers and

munitions (Berdah, 304). On the contrary, the republicans were supported by the Soviet Union

and Mexico. However, Britain and France agreed on an official policy of no intervention –

although France did intervene at some point. By the end of the war, any party associated with
the republicans was persecuted, and the majority of them escaped to Southern Spain to refugee

camps (Payne, 76).

These war complexities and interventions could be portrayed by the use of creative

expressions of resistance such as the use of film techniques, animation and visual effects. A

remarkable example of a creative expression of resistance is the film Pan’s Labyrinth, directed

by Guillermo del Toro. Pan’s Labyrinth is an extraordinary fantasy parable mimicking real events

of the Spanish Civil war through a fairytale about a young girl discovering a world beyond her

family, war and realism. The Mexican director Del Toro produced Pan’s Labyrinth in the year

2006; thus the film could be considered as the perception of the Mexicans of the Spanish Civil

war. Del Toro introduces a new perspective on the Spanish Civil War: a different take on of war

through fantasy and fiction. This research paper explores the use of innovative animation

techniques used by del Toro to present an alternative perspective on the history of the

Spanish Civil war. The paper answers how far is del Toro’s perspective of the Spanish

Civil War depicted in the film Pan’s Labyrinth and to what extent is the film idiosyncratic.

Such a perspective contrasts to a more realistic linear version of history. Through

analyzing the techniques of animation and visual effects, this research paper will

emphasize that del Toro introduces a new element to the modern film industry. Lastly,

the paper also compares Pan’s Labyrinth to other related war films and fairytales in order

to determine how distinctive del Toro’s perspective is.