HIGHAC RES COLLEGIAN
the writer's pre44.tiSes in developing
ideat, organizing material, constructing
paragraphs, forming sentences, and
selecting words. Moreover, as you read,
You should ponder oh the material, agree
or disagree with the opinions expressed,
and try to discover a parallel with your
own thought or experience. Concentrated
study should leave you with increased
knowledge of the technique of writing
and usually with new subject matter
suggestions for your own compositions.
For the most part, the selections which
will be printed are of the Comp• One
level. The English Department and the
Collegian staff have attempted to choose
themes which will appeal to college
readers.
If your theme grades have been low,
perhaps it is because you do not know that
goes into the making of a good theme*
We hope that by reading these themes,
yort will pick up some useful hints which
wUI help you to pull up your grades*
The Gollegian staff is grateful for the
cooperation of the English Department
in helping to produce these fine writings*
(IL,_
r OUTSTANDING Tams OF' THE 111 EU .
MANKIND AND THE ATOM
Did you ever a # o p for a moment and
wonder what the size of an atom really
13'? Well, if you had, you would
have been amazed at its infinitesimal
smallness* This minute particle has
ne?er been seen, even with the aid of
the most powerful microscopes, yet all
mat,ter in the universe is made up of
either alone, or in an arrange—
of several linked together in some
wafQ There are about one hundred
(A:Se:cent kinds of atoms, and these are
iinown as the basic elements* However,
there are ~.any thousands of combinations
of these elements ranging from common
table salt to the complex compounds that
are contained in living cells*
The atom is made up of still smaller
by Frank Me Ogureek
units. These are known as electrons,
protons, and neutrons* The electron
carries a negative charge of electricity,
the proton, a positive charge, while the
neutron is electrically neutral. These
particles form a system that is analocus
to the solatr system* Electrons, which
are the smallest of the three partici
revolve around a nucleus containing
protons and neutrons. The atoms of the
different elements contain a varryinb
number of electrons, protons, and neutron.
Although the atoM is minutes the force:
binding its nucleus together are immense.
This binding force is known as nuclear
or atomic energy, The nuclei of most stye
are stable, but there are a few among
the heavier and lighter elements that
Are unstable i The unstable nuclei of the
heaVier atoms tend to break up into
smaller and more stable nuclei, and in
doing so, release some of their binding
energy in the form of radiation, Among
the lighter elements the unstable nuclei
can also be rearranged to form new nuclei
in the process of this rearrangement,
vast amounts of energy are released.
This second method of atomic reactions is
evident in the sun and the stars. In the
past decade man has succeeded in tapping
this vast resevoir of energy in the
form of nuclear and thereto—nuclear
explosions. He has built bombs that
contain an' almost immeasurable amount
of destructive power. Actually man has
released only a fraction of a per cent
of this limitless source of energy.
What about the future? Can this bound—
less energy be used for purposes other
than the manufacture of bombs? Many e'
scientists all over the world are
working toward the answers to these
questionso — ln the United States, England
and Russia, as well as in other countries
ways of harnessing the power of the
atom for peaceful uses are-being studio:'
In the field of medicine the atom has
already proved to be a boon to mankind
If a way can be found to utilize the
full potential of the atom, man will
have an unlimited source of power. I
belive that if mankind learns to use this
power for beneficial rather than destr—
uctive purposes, the future will indeed
28 'LARCH 1958