Suppose a solution was too concentrated for an accurate reading with the spectrophotometer. The concentrated solution was diluted by placing 1.00mL...

M1V1 = M2V2 is the correct equation. Here's why:

You need to find the concentration of the solution before it was diluted. You know that 1.00 ml of this undiluted solution was used to make a diluted solution. You also know that the volume of the diluted solution is 4 ml and that its concentration is 3.5 x 10^-6 M.

The number of moles of solute did not change when you diluted the solution, you...

M1V1 = M2V2 is the correct equation. Here's why:

You need to find the concentration of the solution before it was diluted. You know that 1.00 ml of this undiluted solution was used to make a diluted solution. You also know that the volume of the diluted solution is 4 ml and that its concentration is 3.5 x 10^-6 M.

The number of moles of solute did not change when you diluted the solution, you simply added water.

Since molarity is moles solute/liters of solution, moles of solute = (molarity) x (liters of solution) or moles = MV.

This is where we get M1V1 = M2V2. If moles before diluting equals moles after diluting, then M x V before diluting equals M x V after diluting. 

So M1, which you're trying to find, equals M2V2/V1

 = (3.5 x 10^-6)(4 ml)/1 ml = 1.4 x 10^-5 moles per liter

You may have noticed that the volumes weren't converted to liters even though the concentration is in moles per liter. As long as the same volume unit is used for V1 and V2 it's unnecessary to convert. You would be multiplying both sides of the equation by the same conversion factor so it would cancel out.

How does Thich Nhat Hanh use Buddhist practice, especially mindfulness, to combat suffering?

Thích Nhất Hạnh is a Vietnamese spiritual leader and peace activist who is widely credited as a key figure in introducing Buddhism to the western world. 

How did he do this, and what are his primary teachings and beliefs?

He believes that mindfulness is essential for peace.

The only way for individuals to find peace and contentment, Nhất Hạnh believes, is to practice mindfulness (the practice of focusing one's attention on the present moment). This is often...

Thích Nhất Hạnh is a Vietnamese spiritual leader and peace activist who is widely credited as a key figure in introducing Buddhism to the western world. 

How did he do this, and what are his primary teachings and beliefs?

He believes that mindfulness is essential for peace.

The only way for individuals to find peace and contentment, Nhất Hạnh believes, is to practice mindfulness (the practice of focusing one's attention on the present moment). This is often achieved through meditation. The only way for a society to function peacefully is for individuals to have inner peace. So mindfulness is very important in the prevention of conflict.

He encourages nonviolent conflict resolution.

Nhất Hạnh is a peace activist, and the peace he is trying to achieve is not only on an societal or political level, but also on an individual level (see above). He encourages individuals to proactively pursue peace and to set a good example for others. To quote the spiritual leader,

In Buddhism we see that teaching is done not only by talking, but also by living your own life. Your life is the teaching, is the message.

Nhất Hạnh's approach to nonviolence even includes animals: unlike human beings, animals cannot be taught to behave proactively or pursue peace, so Nhất Hạnh believes in protecting their interests. He promotes refraining from the consumption of meat and animal products as a way of practicing nonviolence to animals.

The points above are all leading up to the major point here:

Thích Nhất Hạnh practices "Engaged Buddhism." 

What is this? It is a term that Nhất Hạnh actually coined himself: it refers to the application of Buddhist principles, including meditation and mindfulness practice, to larger issues in the world—such as social and political issues, environmental problems, economic recessions, racial injustice, and so on. By working on ourselves first and by being aware of ourselves and the present moment we live in, we can be more effective members of society and even become leaders who set the tone for the communities we live in.

Based upon the Preface, Introduction, and chapters 1-4 of Ian Haney López's Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals Have Reinvented...

When Richard Nixon realized in 1968 that he was losing Republican support to George Wallace, who was running as an American Independent Party candidate, he "opted to tack right on race," as Lopez writes. 

Nixon made a "backroom deal" with Senator Strom Thurmond from South Carolina, a strong segregationist who had supported Goldwater. He secretly promised the senator that if he were elected, he would restrict school desegregation. Once he was elected, as promised, President Nixon...

When Richard Nixon realized in 1968 that he was losing Republican support to George Wallace, who was running as an American Independent Party candidate, he "opted to tack right on race," as Lopez writes. 

Nixon made a "backroom deal" with Senator Strom Thurmond from South Carolina, a strong segregationist who had supported Goldwater. He secretly promised the senator that if he were elected, he would restrict school desegregation. Once he was elected, as promised, President Nixon took a stand against "forced busing," in which children were bused sometimes up to an hour's trip across a city to another school in order to establish integration.
Lopez further claims that Nixon took a racial stand when he "hammer[ed] away at the issue of law and order" ("dog whistle") as Southerners protested against racial activists as "lawbreakers" since they violated Jim Crow statutes.

Dismissing these protesters as criminals shifted the issue from a defense of white supremacy to a more neutral-seeming concern with "order" while simultaneously stripping the activists of moral stature.

With the issue of law and order at the forefront, there was, then, justification for making arrests of the civil rights activists for "trespassing and delinquency." So, by using the "dog whistle" phrases, "forced busing," "law and order," and "protection from unrest" Nixon was able to subliminally appeal to the anti-black voters. 

When George Romney, Nixon's secretary of housing and urban development planned to integrate the suburbs by cutting federal funds to any community that refused to integrate, his plan was arrested by President Nixon, who declared that forced integration was not in the "national interest." Lopez comments, "That dog whistle blasted like the shriek of an onrushing train."

I have to write an essay on this: In The White Tiger, Balram’s father states that “my whole life I have been treated like a donkey. All I want...

Based on the quote you provided above, it can be argued personal freedom is necessary for a fulfilling life.

Ideally, the thesis statement should appear in the first paragraph. It should clearly describe your position and briefly explain why readers should care about your argument. If personal freedom is necessary for a fulfilling life, what does that life look like? That's an angle worth exploring. Essentially, to be free, one must have autonomy: the ability to decide one's course in life. 

Consider whether Balram has autonomy. Sure, he takes matters into his own hands, but does he have autonomy by the end of the story? Is the freedom he "purchases" through his murder of Mr. Ashok worth the risk of arrest? Or will Balram have to live the rest of his life looking over his shoulder and bribing the right people to preserve his freedom? In such a case, it can be argued Balram does not have the kind of freedom that allows him true autonomy. He may have acquired financial freedom and even freedom from a tyrannical master. However, he cannot live a life of authenticity; his present behavior is subject to his past immoral actions.

By killing Mr. Ashok, Balram achieves financial independence. However, he must live with the possibility that members of his family were murdered to avenge Mr. Ashok's death.

To get back to your thesis, here are some ideas (with suggested vocabulary):

While it is true that freedom is necessary for a fulfilling life, true freedom/independence/autonomy/self-determination cannot be secured by immoral actions.

Although Balram's murder of Mr. Ashok leads to his financial independence, his unprincipled/unethical/corrupt actions prevent him from achieving true freedom/independence/liberty/self-determination.

After deciding on your thesis statement, you can then use the body of your essay to expound upon your main idea. Refer to the text to discuss what unprincipled actions Balram resorts to in order to earn his financial freedom. Here are some ideas:

1) Balram kills Mr. Ashok and steals his money.

2) Balram leaves his family to deal with the consequences of his actions. From the text, we get the idea that he does not seem overly concerned about this. Balram seems to believe that the end justifies the means.

3) Balram has to bribe the police in order to maintain his new, privileged life in Bangalore.

Expand upon (1), (2), and (3) in separate paragraphs. In your last paragraph, explain why Balram does not really have true autonomy/freedom. While Balram rationalizes that all his actions have been worth the risk of getting caught, we get the idea that his newfound liberty is a precarious one. To protect his wealth and place in the "Light" of industrialized India, Balram must continue to resort to unprincipled/unethical actions. Based on such a shaky moral foundation, it can be argued that Balram's freedom is merely a facade.

Why does the dwarf harbor ill will against Gulliver?

The short answer is that the dwarf that lives in the Brobdingnagian court hates Gulliver because Gulliver has usurped his place as the shortest person in Brobdingnag.  Gulliver says that the dwarf, upon meeting a creature that was even smaller than he, grew so "insolent [...], that he would always affect to swagger and look big as he passed by [Gulliver] in the queen's antechamber [...]."  Gulliver would often stand on tables to speak with...

The short answer is that the dwarf that lives in the Brobdingnagian court hates Gulliver because Gulliver has usurped his place as the shortest person in Brobdingnag.  Gulliver says that the dwarf, upon meeting a creature that was even smaller than he, grew so "insolent [...], that he would always affect to swagger and look big as he passed by [Gulliver] in the queen's antechamber [...]."  Gulliver would often stand on tables to speak with the courtiers, and the dwarf would strut by him, trying to look really big, and he would usually employ sarcasm or insults to deride Gulliver for his littleness.  Gulliver really has no recourse other than to call the dwarf "brother" and try to avoid him whenever possible. 

In his anger, the dwarf actually drops Gulliver into a bowl of cream for fun, and Gulliver nearly drowns.  At another point, the dwarf jams Gulliver's lower half into a bone from the queen's table, tearing up his pants.  For this, the dwarf was whipped (and I can't imagine that endeared Gulliver to him any more).  Gulliver endures the dwarf's meanness many times before the queen actually gives the dwarf away, rendering Gulliver safe from any more harm at the dwarf's hands. 

How does the song "Basket Case" relate to Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye? Topic sentence, commentary, & concrete detail?

Billie Joe Armstrong's lyrics throughout Green Day's single "Basket Case" correspond and relate to Holden Caulfield's emotional state throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield is one of literature's most recognizable unreliable narrators and is portrayed as a naive, highly critical individual who is depressed, anxious, and horny throughout the novel.

Armstrong's lyrics directly relate to Holden's entertaining condition and begin with the lines, "Do you have the time /...

Billie Joe Armstrong's lyrics throughout Green Day's single "Basket Case" correspond and relate to Holden Caulfield's emotional state throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield is one of literature's most recognizable unreliable narrators and is portrayed as a naive, highly critical individual who is depressed, anxious, and horny throughout the novel.

Armstrong's lyrics directly relate to Holden's entertaining condition and begin with the lines, "Do you have the time / to listen to me whine / About nothing and everything all at once." Essentially, The Catcher in the Rye is simply a first person account of Holden's disgruntled opinions towards American society. He is highly critical about nearly everything and never makes a concrete stand on any issue.

Armstrong goes on to sing, "I am one of those / Melodramatic fools / Neurotic to the bone / No doubt about it." These lyrics perfectly describe Holden's pessimistic, anxious personality. Billie Joe asks himself the question "Am I just paranoid? Or am I just stoned?" throughout the chorus. One can surmise that Holden is definitely paranoid about becoming an adult throughout the novel judging by his negative view of society and unwillingness to enter adulthood.

In the second verse of the song, Armstrong mentions that he "went to a whore," who said his life's a "bore," which corresponds with Holden's experience Holden has an interaction with a prostitute named Sunny, where he essentially rambles about nothing and never has intercourse with her.

Overall, Green Day's single "Basket Case" directly relates to Holden's views, personality, and actions throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye by describing a neurotic, confused, social outcast with many issues that need to be addressed.

What lesson(s) do you think Robert Walton has learned from listening to Victor’s story and watching him die? (What did Victor tell him to learn...

Ultimately, Robert Walton learns that sometimes the risks are not worth the potential rewards when it comes to extreme scientific discoveries. Walton is sympathetic to Victor Frankenstein and listens to his story carefully. Victor tells a tale of scientific ambition gone too far, and after seeing the havoc Victor's ambition has wreaked on his life and on the lives of his family, Robert Walton is persuaded to abandon his dangerous exploration.

Victor's story, of course,...

Ultimately, Robert Walton learns that sometimes the risks are not worth the potential rewards when it comes to extreme scientific discoveries. Walton is sympathetic to Victor Frankenstein and listens to his story carefully. Victor tells a tale of scientific ambition gone too far, and after seeing the havoc Victor's ambition has wreaked on his life and on the lives of his family, Robert Walton is persuaded to abandon his dangerous exploration.

Victor's story, of course, involves his building a human out of the body parts of the dead. His ambition leads him to try to discover the secret to life and how to either prevent or bypass natural death. Victor pursues this project out of curiosity but also because he wants the glory that would accompany such a significant advancement. This leads Victor to not fully think about the consequences of his actions. He is horrified when he brings his creation to life. He immediately abandons it to fend for itself in a world it does not understand and which judges him based on his terrifying appearance. To avenge Victor's abandonment and refusal to create a female companion for the creature (actually, he makes her but destroys her when he thinks the two will reproduce), the monster takes revenge by killing Victor's friends and family. By the end of the novel, when Walton meets Victor, he is near death and in what is basically a fight to the death between himself and the creature. Despite the harrowing details of his story, which should serve as a warning to any reasonable listener, Victor gives Walton mixed messages about the pursuit of ambition. He says,

Seek happiness in tranquility, and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries. Yet why do I say this? I have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeed. (152)

Here, Victor begins by dissuading Walton from seeking ambition; however, he wavers at the end and says that maybe not everyone will have the tragic outcome he has experienced. At the same time, however, Victor also asks Walton to continue Victor's own quest to destroy his creature. This shows that Victor has perhaps not learned as much from his experiences as we would hope. This quest has destroyed Victor and led to his imminent death. Why would he want another man to take on this miserable feat? 

Finally, Walton decides to abandon his dangerous exploration of the Arctic, saying that he "cannot lead [his men] unwillingly to danger" and that he must go back to England (151). This indicates that Walton has learned from Victor's story: he sees that unchecked ambition can hurt not only the one who aspires to glory, but also those around him. He hears about how Victor lost William, Elizabeth, Clerval, and his father, all because of the fallout from Victor's treatment of the creature. Walton does not want to end up like Victor, dying and miserable in the cold, bleak Arctic.