Monday, September 30, 2019
Ethics in Action: Suspected Impairment Essay
Ethics is defined as the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation. For the physical therapy assistant, it means a standardized conduct geared towards proper and successful patient care. The physical therapist assistant follows a certain standard for ethical conduct to effectively aid physical therapists and to be sensitive and efficient health workers. In this situation, we are dealing with the case of a 35 year old stressed-out woman with an odd behavior, who later on presented with slurring of speech. Slurring of speech can be due to many factors but majority of which are associated with cerebrovascular disease or stroke. In this situation, we are going to apply the American Physical Therapy Association Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant. The seven standards of ethical conduct seem to show us the values of an ideal physical therapy assistant: respect, trustworthiness, competence, compliance to legislations and responsibility. In analyzing this case, we realize various problems. At the start of the session, the patient was behaving oddly. Although she claims to be euphoric, signs of lethargy still seemed apparent. Later on, she succumbs to this lethargy or generalized body malaise by falling asleep on the mat. Later on, she manifests slurring of speech, which may be due to some problems. The most common cause of slurring of speech is stroke. Other factors that may cause this manifestation are electrolyte imbalance caused by strenuous physical activity, side effects of medications or it is simply due to drowsiness. However we see an imminent danger; she lives far from the clinic where you live and wants to drive all by herselfââ¬âin her condition. We quickly realize a possible outcomeââ¬âthe danger of meeting accidents on the road in her condition. Recognizing our problem, some of our values as physical therapist assistants are challenged. The situation challenges our respect towards our client. Respect is defined as consideration and the avoidance of interfering with or intruding upon. In this case, we are breaching against the right of the patient to make her own decisions. We seem to not respect this right because we want to have things done our own way and not hers. Thus, this situation does not only concern our patient; it also concerns the physical therapy assistant. In this situation, we are having a patient-health care professional relationship. In turn, this situation challenges us to practice the rest of the 7 standards of ethical conduct. This situation motivates us to practice trustworthiness towards our patient. In this sense, we should show our patient how worthy we are of their trust towards us. We should show them that we are concerned about their health and well-being. We should explain to our patient that we think driving in our condition poses a hazard to her and makes her prone to road accidents. By doing this, we should tell her our real intentionââ¬âthat we are just after her health and safety. Standard 6 of American Physical Therapy Association Standards of Ethical Conduct states that a physical therapy assistant shall make judgments that are commensurate with their educational and legal qualifications as a physical therapist assistant. Judgment per se means ââ¬Å"good senseâ⬠, discernment, understanding, the act or mental faculty by which man compares ideas and ascertains the relations of terms and propositions. In this situation, we discern that our patient should not continue driving her own car alone. In our understanding, she is not fit to do it and we are subjecting the patient to harm and injury, as she is prone to accidents in her present condition. Also, it is in our discernment that she should go to the nearest hospital to have her neurological status assessed and her health problems addressed properly. By doing these things, we are fulfilling Standard 7, which states that a physical therapist assistant should protect the public and the profession from unethical, incompetent and illegal acts. In addition to the above values, this situation requires moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation and moral courage. All these individual processes are needed in our situation. Morality means conformation to the principles of good conduct and virtue. By being morally sensitive, we mean that we are easily affected and moved towards betterment and towards good conduct. In our case, we are moved towards helping our patient and towards helping her attain good health and well being. We are moved towards preventing her from being alone, and we are moved towards accompanying her to the nearest medical hospital so that proper medical attention shall be given. Moral judgment means discernment towards the good of the patient. We discern what is best of her. We anticipate the accidents she will be at risk of and the many problems that may be etiologies of her neurological deficit. Motivation is defined as a process which incites to action and the determination of the choice or movement of will. In that case, moral motivation is also applicable in this situation. We are moved towards helping our patient; our action is for her good health and safety. Moral change is also needed in our situation. It is the process of encountering danger and difficulties with firmness and with intrepidity, for a good and noble cause. We have the courage to act for the well-being of our patient and we go beyond our duties to ensure her safety. This situation does not only involve the physical therapy assistant and the patient, it also involves the family members. In this case, it is proper that we talk to the other family members about the patientââ¬â¢s condition. It is essential to differentiate four terms in this context: the terms problem, dilemma, distress and temptation. A problem is defined as a question proposed for solution, decision or determination; a knotty point requiring clarification. A dilemma means a situation requiring a choice between equally objectionable alternatives; a problem that seems incapable of being resolved satisfactorily. Distress means extreme pain, anguish of the body or mind; that which causes suffering, affliction, calamity, adversity, misery and calamity. The term temptation means an enticement to an act which is evil, immoral or unwise. Yes, our situation is a problem by itself; it needed immediate solution and decision. It is also a dilemma because it poses a choiceââ¬âwhether to let the patient do what she wants or to accompany her to the nearest hospital beyond our duty hours. Our situation is not necessarily a distress but is a prelude to suffering, injury and misery. Certainly, this is not a temptation per se but temptation lurks for every health care professional who counts his or her duty days and does not extend his or her duty in terms of danger or calamity. The dictum for every health care professional is: Love your work. Temptation to do things our way and to be selfish and insensitive to the needs of our patients is a barrier to every health care professional. There are some health care professionals who punch in at 8 AM and go home at 5PM, regardless of what happens to their patients. These are the type of health care professionals who think of their jobs as routine and who takes these jobs as just a job for financial security, but is not their career. A career is something a person puts his or her heart into. As health care professionals, we must think of caring for patients as a career, not as a routine job. This problem, obviously, is not treated with silence. It entices action of the health care professional who cares deeply for his or her patients. In this sense, the situation requires a moral action, brought about by moral sensitivity, judgment, motivation and courage.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Retail Services Characteristics
In this paper the most common services characteristics, namely perishability, intangibility, inseparability and heterogeneity will be applied to a well ââ¬â known retail services brand. In this case the focus shall be on how the aforementioned characteristics apply to Starbucks. In order to better understand the problem the history of the company alongside current corporate objectives will be briefly described. In the following paragraphs the notice will be mainly on the retailerââ¬â¢s ability to cope with the theoryââ¬â¢s implications. The first Starbucks coffee shop was opened in 1971 in Seattle.The name was inspired by Moby Dick and the logo which has now become somehow of a cult figure is a twin-tailed mermaid. However it wasnââ¬â¢t until 1987 when a major breakthrough came and the brand started to receive a world ââ¬â wide recognition. In August, Howard Schultz backed with the capital from local investors bought the Starbucks. Since then the company grew in an e xponential manner which resulted in opening more than 16,000 stores in over 55 countries to this day. Similar as the majority of large enterprises Starbucks also incorporates its own business and social objectives.The goal is to project the brand image in a consumer and environmental friendly way. Their mission statement is to inspire and nurture the human spirit through their exceptional service and high quality coffee. In a very holistic approach they are aiming to improve every aspect of the business, from the customers and employees to the suppliers and shareholders. Moving on from this brief description of Starbucks the focus will now shift to the retail services characteristics, more precisely on intangibility and its implications. Experts agree that a service is intangible because the customer cannot sense it (Newman and Cullen, 2002).It is an abstraction which cannot be directly examined before the purchase. In the case of most goods a prospective buyer is able to inspect th e quality of the good by relying on his senses, whereas a pure service has to be purchased and consumed to fully verify its quality. The level of servicesââ¬â¢ tangibility can be seen from tangible goods, which are included and consumed within the service offer, it can also be extracted from the physical environment which surrounds the service or with the tangible evidence of the service performance (Palmer, 2005).In the case of various food and drink outlets, goods form an important component of a service offer. This also applies to Starbucks and therefore it is possible to place it somewhere in the middle of the tangible to intangible service dominant scale (Shostack, 1977). Starbucks uses scent of fresh coffee to attract customers and make them sense a tangible good which can be purchased at the premises. The physical environment also plays a big part in customerââ¬â¢s perception of service quality.Starbucks acknowledged this and therefore their outlets are usually very wel l furnished with comfortable chairs, Wi-Fi and other features which give a customer a sense of quality and comfort. Tangibility can be further provided with the evidence of service production methods. This is certainly the case in Starbucks where you can see the whole process of making a cup of coffee. A lack of physical evidences of services quality can increase the level of uncertainty that a customer faces when choosing between competing services.However, Starbucks developed a strong brand associated with quality of services provided and the company values therefore creating a positive image in consumersââ¬â¢ perception. From describing how intangibility applies to Starbucks we shall now turn the attention to another service characteristic, namely heterogeneity. Services heterogeneity means that the quality of services depends on who provides them as well as when, where and how they are provided. Products can be standardized and basically the same for every customer.However, s ervices on the other hand can be delivered in different ways, regarding on customerââ¬â¢s personal requirements. The service must normally be produced in the presence of the customer without the possibility of intervening quality control. Specific problems can occur where staff is involved in providing services on a one-to-one basis. In these cases no easy method of monitoring or control is possible. There are two particular aspects of heterogeneity which are relevant to the services. The first one is the extent to which production standards vary from a norm, both in terms of outcomes and of production processes.The second one is the extent to which a service can deliberately be varied to meet the specific needs of particular customers (Palmer, 2005). In order to tackle the aforementioned aspects of heterogeneity and also to satisfy customer needs retailers usually standardize the service as much as possible without noticeably affecting the perceived customer value. Many service organizations have reduced variability by adopting equipment-based production methods or by offering already prepared menus or meals. However Starbucks took a slightly different approach here then some fast-food outlets.They are offering more than 87,000 different drink combinations. With that in mind they cannot simply standardize the whole process of coffee making. Customers want to see consistency and quality in their stores so for that purpose they offer their front-line staff a basic training and they are also using some motivation tools to enhance staff performance. So for instance they refer to their employees as partners and their pay package is called ââ¬Å"Your special blendâ⬠. The heterogeneity of service output can sometimes pose problems for brand-building in services compared to tangible goods.However Starbucks cope with these problems quite well through their excellent staff to management relation which results, again in a strong brand personality. From heteroge neity we shall now shift our attention to another characteristic, which is perishability. Perishability applies to services because unlike goods services cannot be stored for later use. So for an example a factory which produces cars and is unable to sell all its output in the current period can carry forward stocks to sell in a subsequent period.The only significant costs are storage and financing or the possibility of loss through obsolescence. However on the contrary, a producer of a service which is unable to sell all of its output produced in the current period gets no chance to carry it forward for sale in a subsequent period. A great example of perishability is an airline company. For instance if the plane departs at twelve oââ¬â¢clock and the airline company didnââ¬â¢t sell all the available seats, then it is impossible to sell the rest since the plane is already in the air. Another problem which defines perishability is the demand pattern through time.Demand fluctuate s because of many reasons however most common reasons for inconsistency of demand occur during the day, week and season. A typical example of seasonal fluctuation of demand is tourism. During the summer the demand for holidays is often off-peak and hotels by the sea are required to bring in extra work-force. On the other hand the demand in winter is significantly lower and some hotels are therefore unused. Inability to store services and short-term supply inelasticity are leading causes for perishability of services.As mentioned before problems occur when demand pattern is irregular. It can also happen where there is requirement for ââ¬Å"just-in-timeâ⬠production of service or if demand is not managed effectively (Palmer, 2005). Services providers are trying to even the demand with the use of pricing and promotion or with locating places where demand is more or less even during the day, such as it is in city centres or busy airports. Problems with storing the services have no w also been reduced with recent advancement of technology (Newman and Cullen, 2002).For instance Starbucks uses RFID technology to track perishable food delivered to its cafes thus ensuring freshness of products. Starbucks is usually located there where demand is relatively constant, such as shopping centres and airports and they are also using a lot of promotions ensuring a steady demand through the day. Even their menu is adapted to different seasons of the year. It does not consist only of hot drinks but they also offer other trendy beverages such as smoothies and a variety of bottled drinks which are suitable for hot summer days.Now we shall take a look at the last of four services characteristics. Inseparability of services should be the main topic through the following paragraphs. Inseparability means that the service is produced and consumed at the same time. Both, buyer and seller must be present for the exchange to occur (Newman and Cullen, 2002). The service provider is at the same time also a marketer and promotes both the service and the company. Interaction is of extreme importance in services and therefore the key to success is competent personnel.Inseparability of services leads to customers being co-producers and often being co-consumers of the service with other consumers. They are also usually required to travel to the service provider. This results in management to attempt to separate production and consumption. They are also trying to manage the consumer to producer interaction and improve the service delivery system. Starbucks is a typical example of services inseparability. They are offering a wide range of beverages and customers can choose their own mix.That means that customers are contributing in the production process of a cup of coffee. As mentioned before Starbucks normally furnish their stores in a very comfortable way which means that a lot of customers are consuming the product there, which results in being a co-consumer. Starbu cks stores are often located in city centres and this means that customers have to travel there to receive the service. Maybe in the future Starbuck will offer delivering their products to customers home, but this could possibly take away the charm of visiting a Starbucks coffee shop.However, they are already improving their service system with the opening of drive thru stores. In conclusion it is possible to say that all four services characteristics can be applied to Starbucks. However, some are more visible than others. Starbucks developed an extremely strong brand image and a loyal global population of consumers. This has established them as one of the biggest brands in the world. Through excellent quality of their products, care for the environment and bringing back the sense of community they have already become a household name.They are coping very well with all the services characteristic implications and are always striving for perfection. They are a prime example of the so called ââ¬Å"cultural capitalismâ⬠and are setting an example for many companies. References: Adrian Palmer, 2005. Principles of services marketing, 4th edition. Berkshire: McGraw-Hill Education Andrew J Newman and Peter Cullen, 2002. Retailing: environment & operations. London: Cengage Learning Starbucks, 2011. Our heritage [online] Available at: http://www. starbucks. com/about-us/our-heritage [Accessed 16 April 2012 ]. RSA animate, 2010.Slavoj Zizek, First as tragedy, then as farce Available at: http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=hpAMbpQ8J7g [Accessed 16 April 2012 ]. Starbucks, 2011. Our mission statement [online] Available at: http://www. starbucks. com/about-us/company-information/mission-statement [Accessed 16 April 2012 ]. Des Monk, Daniella Ryding, (2007),â⬠Service quality and training: a pilot studyâ⬠, British Food Journal, Vol. 109 Iss: 8 pp. 627-636 G. Lynn Shostack, 1977. Breaking Free from Product Marketing, Journal of Marketing, [online] Available at: < http://www. jstor. org/discover/10. 307/1250637? uid=24747&uid=3738032&uid=2134&uid=373370127&uid=2&uid=70&uid=3&uid=373370117&uid=24745&uid=5910784&uid=67&uid=62&uid=60&sid=47698847505567 > [Accessed 16 April 2012 ]. Lena Goldkuhl, Maria Styven, (2007),â⬠Sensing the scent of service successâ⬠, European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 41 Iss: 11 pp. 1297-1305 Marketingmagazine. co. uk, 2011. Starbucks to open 200 drive-thru stores [online] Available at: [Accessed 17 April 2012 ].Pedro M. Reyes, Patrick Jaska, (2007),â⬠Is RFID right for your organization or application? ââ¬Å", Management Research News, Vol. 30 Iss: 8 pp. 570-580 Starbucks, 2011. Store design [online] Available at: [Accessed 17 April 2012 ]. Starbucks, 2011. Working at Starbucks [online] Available at: [Accessed 17 April 2012 ]. Superbrands. co. uk, 2012. Starbucks [pdf] Available at: [Accessed 17 April 2012 ].
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Quiz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 7
Quiz - Essay Example he computer screen behind the objective of staying connected to the people online, he does not know that to stay connected online, he is getting disconnected from the world around him, and is getting oblivious of those living around him, who need him and can make him happier than the online community. The social isolation creates adverse effects on the family relationships because online socializing works by dissociating social relationships from physical actuality. Today, we are always connected to the people we know, whether we are sitting on our couch or we are out of town, yet we are suffering from depression, anxiety and loneliness. Today, we are all the time getting updates from our friends, relatives and classmates; and, we do not have to schedule face-to-face meetings in order to stay in each otherââ¬â¢s lives. And, all this has been possible thanks to the online social networking websites which offer great fun and mind-engaging applications in addition to letting us find people of our own interests and hobbies. However, this has resulted in people hesitating in interacting with others in the physical world. They are hiding from the bitter events that come with real relationships. They do not want to make commitments with physical world relationships. So, they find a way out in the form of online socializing. They are, however, unaware of the fact that this epidemic of social media will make them socially excluded; and, time will come when they will become totally oblivious to real feelings and
Friday, September 27, 2019
Sex, Lies and Conversation Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Sex, Lies and Conversation Paper - Essay Example One of the key differences is that men do not like to face a women while talking in contrast women prefer to face a man while talking either it a serious issue or not. For example, men feel comfortable sharing thoughts and feelings while physically turned away from the person they are talking to since they associated direct eye contact with confrontation. To illustrate this when an individual and a friend are walking or enjoying a ride, one does not have to face one another since one is going to lose concentration on what they are doing and this makes them to be active on what they are doing. On the other hand, women stand directly facing each other to attract the attention of an individual and failure to maintain eye contact associate it with disinterest and rudeness. Women base their argument that if one is not honest, he will not look at someone directly to the eyes which is actually true since when on is being lectured by parent one fells guilty and would not maintain eye contact . Another key difference is change of subject or a topic that is being discussed by individuals. Men tend to keep on changing topic that is being discussed while women tend to stick to one topic until it has been completely discussed to their satisfaction. For example, Ruth and William are friends to me and they are married couples, Ruth talks about why men cheat to their spouse but William changes the topic and talk about how the economy is bad. This angers Ruth since she feels bad since the topic is about their relationship and William seems not to care. This theory shows that men are impatient and they tend to change subjects and cause conflict. Another difference is how men and women comfort others, men tend to see as if everything is okay while women offer support and encouragement to their friends. For example when one is bad economic situation a man will just say that it is normal but a woman
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Commitment to Diversity in the American Cancer Society, A Non Profit Assignment
Commitment to Diversity in the American Cancer Society, A Non Profit Organization - Assignment Example There is a separate section on the webpage in which complete details about how the organization is managing diversity is properly explained. The study of Third Sector New England (2010) has provided detailed information about organizational commitment to managing diversity and it is appropriately applied in ACS. Some issues related to gender, race and religion are found in many organizations as they have some difficulty in fulfilling their commitment to managing diversity among their workforce (Krietz, 2007). According to ACS (2012) and CancerNYNJ News (2011), there have been no severe diversity issues faced by the organization as it has addressed all the potential problems carefully so that it doesnââ¬â¢t encounter any problems in the long-run. All the content provided on organizationââ¬â¢s website is related to diversity and all latest articles, guidelines and happenings of the organization are posted on its site. All the information provided on the site is updated till year 2007, code of conduct is updated as of 2000 (no updating is done afterwards) and everything is well-integrated on the website. Images and pictures uploaded on the website are limited; although it is showing how it is managing diversity among its patients but there are few selected pictures related to staff and volunteers that how is it ensuring that diversity is properly managed. ACS website can be enhanced by learning few points from the websites of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Chicago (YNPN Chicago) and Girl Scouts of the U.S.A (GSUSA). Since websites are the main source of communication between the Non-profit organizations and its stakeholders, it is crucial that all the information about how it is managing diversity issues in organizations and fulfilling its commitment to managing it within the organization so that organizations can perform at their best. Third Sector New England (2010).
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Essay
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen - Essay Example the articles of the declaration embodied the absolute rights of an individual. Initially there was also a list of duties which every individual had to perform but after a while the people who framed the Declaration removed them from the list. The articles promise the individuals of freedom, their own piece of private property, social security and immunity from cruelty. The Declaration also promised freedom of speech and freedom of the media and press. The emphasis of the Declaration was on the equal treatment of all individuals and their independence. It stated that the law should be based on the citizens of the country and the officials should be answerable to them as well. The finances of the country should also be in the hand of the citizens. A number of articles of the Declaration were directed at the unfairness of the ancient regime and how it abused the rights and interests of the individuals. Liberalism in the 19th century was deeply affected by the Declaration of the Rights o f Man and Citizen. However the Declaration did not seem to have any provisions regarding women or slaves. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen helped in changing the government of France from monarchy- where only the queen and the king had all the power and the power passed down the generations and new leaders were not elected- to republic where all the citizens had basic rights and also the right to vote and elect their own leaders. The Declaration gave rights to citizens which were never granted anywhere in France before like equality, liberty and property. It also led to the constitution of the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen. The United States Declaration of Independence of 1176 had Thomas Jeffery as one of its main writers and at the time the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was being drafted, he was present in France and was in contact with the authors of the
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Pverty, money and love Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Pverty, money and love - Essay Example This affects the way we can have the desire to be meaningful in someoneââ¬â¢s life. An organization called Kiva embraces the methodology of helping entrepreneurs with loans so that they can start their own business and give returns as their business makes profits. à From Kiva, many small businesses have succeeded, which improves the state of being of a personââ¬â¢s life. Kiva today collects about 150 million dollars spreading over 200 countries. Many small businesses in the United States and in the World need money to grow or do what they need to do, or they need money on a hard month. à There is always a need for resources. These resources do not come from where we expect such as banks, venture resources and other organizations in support structures. They come from friends and family.à Findingsà come from friends and family amount to 130 billion dollars a year. There is a big revelation today in poor communities in the world. Unlike sending a donation where a person receives money for free, we have small entrepreneurs who get a loan and start their own businesses. Then later give returns where their businesses have succeeded. The thought of this is not only inspirational, but it displays respect and hope that the world will change especially when we know and care about poor
Monday, September 23, 2019
According to Nietzsche, what did good and bad originally man in early Essay
According to Nietzsche, what did good and bad originally man in early heroic Western society Who (according to Nietzsche) re-valued this original meaning and changed it into good and evil What - Essay Example That is, ââ¬Ëgoodââ¬â¢ was linked with the superior, privileged and noble, whereas ââ¬Ëbadââ¬â¢ was linked with the common low and working-class (Guay, 96). Nevertheless, the offspring of the low class started resenting being inferior; they started resenting being ââ¬Ëbad.ââ¬â¢ Their hatred towards the upper-class led to a ââ¬Å"radical changing of their ideals. Meaning ââ¬Ëgoodââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëbadââ¬â¢ started to reverse in meaning so that now ââ¬Ëgoodââ¬â¢ defined the common, poor low, and inferior, whereas ââ¬Ëbadââ¬â¢ now was for the powerful, rich, privileged and superior. In this manner, the deprived, sick, helpless and poor became virtuous, whereas the superior, noble and wealthy became wicked (Guay, 96). This transformation of values is likely when the hatred of the lesser classes for the powerful turns out to be so huge that they get reparation just in imagining or building a diverse moral system. It is this building of a contrasting moral system that is referred by Nietzsche as the slave morality. Thus, so that the powerless can have a better feeling of the circumstances that they are in, they build a morality for themselves, which is a slave morality, where the lesser are ââ¬Ëgoodââ¬â¢ while the dominant are ââ¬Ëevil.ââ¬â¢ Nietzsche expresses his dissatisfaction with the psychologists who have attempted to give the origin of morality. They say that they are historians of morality; however they do not have a historical spirit. Their theories propose that originally individuals gain from altruism actions of others would applaud the actions and refer to them as ââ¬Ëgood.ââ¬â¢ That means, what was initially ââ¬Ëgoodââ¬â¢ and useful were taken as one and the same. With time, the genealogists propose, that the original association be forgotten, and the habit of referring to altruism actions ââ¬Ëgoodââ¬â¢ resulted to the conclusion that they were somehow good of and in themselves (Guay, 97). Nietzsche does not agree with this account. He
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Review article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11
Review - Article Example The paper aims at investigating whether Vitamin A -based chromophore is essential in photo reception by the ipRGS. In addition, the paper seeks to investigate the function of melanopsin in signaling the photo-pigments. In responding to these uncertainty, the paper studies a knock-out mouse line which lacks the RPE65 (rpe65ââ¬â/ââ¬â), which is a substantial protein that regenerates the 11ââ¬âcisââ¬âretinal in the RPE. In essence, the paper succinctly covers the topic by ascertaining that there are other photo receptors within the mammalian retina other than the known rods and cones. The main concept behind this paper is to have a clear understanding of the diversity of the ipRGCs and their different functions in regulating behavior. The findings illustrate that Rpe65ââ¬â/ââ¬â ipRGCs were 20ââ¬â40ââ¬âfold and are not photosensitive whether at single cell or behavioral (PLR) levels. The photosensitivity detected is expressed by exogenous 9ââ¬âcisââ¬âretinal, an 11ââ¬âcisââ¬âretinal analog. In addition, there was no detection of Melanopsin in the retinal pigment epithelium or any results both in the rod and cone sensitivities. This is a factor that led to ablation of Melanopsin in both the ERG and single cell
Saturday, September 21, 2019
The Impact Of Social Policies On Wellness Essay Example for Free
The Impact Of Social Policies On Wellness Essay The continual interdependence of states in global economic relations has necessitated debates on environmental, health and social related issues, making adoption and executions of policies the remedy for the various shortcomings in various sectors. Since policies are at the core of addressing major issues, the efficiency of health policies are affected by poverty, level of education and socio-economic status. (Leigh 2004:1-2) The impact of global policies on health, nonetheless has improved the quality of life, as more awareness is been mounted, the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) stands as a tool for measuring the impact of global and public policies on health. This cuts across environment, health, gender issues, and the continual relevance of policies has been seen in the EUââ¬â¢s adoption of policies to protect the environment and health. (Samuel Kefee 2007: 1-4) The role of governments stemming from the Federal governments still depends on adoption and execution of policies, the other tiers of government should work alongside the policies and ensure efficiency of services. The impact of Medicaid and other non-governmental organisations shows the role of networking and cooperation towards achieving efficiency and service delivery. The impact of health issues on welfare has refocused the direction of policies towards the health and environmental sectors. More funding needs to be directed at the Medicare services. The arguments of state welfarism and health have resulted in arguments of the best way to manage the welfare of citizens. The role of public or social policy in addressing the health, environmental and other issues is however crucial, the recent trend of paediatric obesity is associated with the United States Culture of consumption of energy dense foods and less exercise. ( Krishnamoorthy, etal 2006: 1-5) A need to turn around the whole situation requires effective policies and execution.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Ovid Metamorphoses Titian Perseus and Andromeda
Ovid Metamorphoses Titian Perseus and Andromeda As a painting, Perseus and Andromeda (Plate 3.6) cannot narrate the events in the same way as Ovids text, but instead captures the moment of Perseus fight with the sea monster. Titians painting could be considered a translation of Ovids poem insomuch as the key elements of Ovids myth remain; it is authentic in its representation and there are enough correspondences between the two pieces to make it clear that Ovids Metamorphoses is Titians original source. Having said that, Titian produced Perseus and Andromeda for a specific person and purpose, in the manner of other Renaissance artists, and, it was intended to be viewed together with the rest of the Poesie (Gould), so the painting could be described as a hybrid, or even a refiguration of the Ovidian legend. The painting shows Andromeda chained to a rock, her vulnerable pose contrasting plainly with Perseus powerful lunge. There is no mention in Ovids text of either Perseus or Andromedas clothing, except for Perseus sandals; Titian has respected Ovids work in this aspect, giving Perseus his winged sandals instead of the Pegasus that other artists have favoured. Andromedas nakedness in the painting symbolizes her innocence and vulnerability, characteristics also shown in Metamorphoses (Ovid 670-675), and also reflects the Renaissance culture in which the painting was produced. Gould quotes Titians letters to Philip II as evidence of the erotic aspect of Andromedas nudity, particularly when considered with the other poesia. (Gould) This nudity, when taken together with the bright colours used for Perseus clothing, places the emphasis clearly on the soon-to-be couple; our eyes are immediately drawn to the helpless girl awaiting rescue by her hero. Ovid also seems to highlight the heros figh t, dedicating almost a third of the full narrative to it. Titian parts from his source however, by consigning Andromedas parents to the background, if in fact, they appear at all in the extreme right background, a city is visible, and on the shore, a group of people; it is not clear however, whether this group includes her parents, or are those mentioned towards the end of Ovids tale (Ovid 735). Titian again follows the Metamorphoses with his inclusion of what appear to be shells and coral at Andromedas feet. The shells presumably represent the Nereids and are a reminder of the reason for Andromedas fate, while the coral recalling Ovids allegorical description of its creation (Ovid 740-753). The remaining part of Ovids narrative, Perseus sacrifices to the gods, does not appear in Titians painting. This may be simply because, in concentrating on Perseus fight with a sea monster, the painting necessarily becomes a seascape and the sacrifices that Ovid describes occur on land. In my opinion, Titians representation of Perseus and Andromeda is sympathetic to his source and invokes the excitement of Ovids own words. The Renaissance representation reflects some of Ovids more misogynistic elements. My only criticism of the Titian piece is the figure of Perseus, who seems to me to be falling, not fighting. Personally, this gives the painting a comic aspect that Im sure the artist had not intended and detracts from Ovids own emphatic telling of the myth. Part 2 (75 marks) Write an essay of not more than 2,000 words on the following. In what ways does Ovid manipulate a myth in order to highlight his theme of metamorphosis? Do you consider that this technique can lessen the myths impact and coherence at times? Answer with reference to a specific mythic narrative in Metamorphoses. Ovids epic poem brings together a collection of formerly unrelated myths connected by a mutual theme; metamorphosis. The transformations described by Ovid usually occur as a result of love or lust, consensual or otherwise, and are often used to explain the origins of particular animals, plants or natural phenomena. Since Ovid wrote his Metamorphoses, it has often been used as a source of myth, however, when compared to other sources, it is clear that Ovid manipulated the myths, displaying his knowledge of the myths and combining and separating them into new forms to suit his own agenda. Of course, it is the nature of myth that they should be moulded and transformed in each retelling, and this is evidenced in the extant works of the Greek tragedians. Ovid is, at times, faithful to his sources, but at others, he appears to delight in his manipulation of the traditional myths. Ovids chosen theme of transformation is not only seen explicitly within the myths, for example in Arachnes transformation into a spider (Ovid 6.140-145), but also implicitly in Ovids own transformation of the received version of the myths in the classical world. Homer or Hesiods treatment of myth is serious and deliberate, revealing much about the gods destructiveness, unpredictable moods, loves, and personal vendettas, appearing to define the authors perceptions of life itself. While the events may be dramatic, irrational or even comical, they are presented as serious perceptions on the way things are. Modern readers can understand how such tales would explain things such as natural phenomena or the existence of certain creatures. Ovids Metamorphoses however, appears to be primarily a collection of stories for the sake of entertainment and Ovids own fame. Whilst some of the myths retain their didactic elements, for example, Teiresias prophecy that Narcissus would live a long life so long as he never knows himself (Ovid 3.348), others appear to simply emphasize the gods desire to punish, for example Dianas punishment of Actaeon (Ovid 3.139-252). In fact, this change in attitude to the myths in the removal of some of the moral significance can also be described as a metamorphosis. Ovid also includes other transformations in his epic poem, such as transformations in human culture or in the natural world. Ovid highlights his theme throughout the Metamorphoses, emphasizing that everything changes, and that in fact, is the only constant (Ovid 15.176-452). The transformation of Narcissus is one of the best-known of the Greek myths and has inspired writers and artists for over two thousand years. There are several extant versions of the myth; the most well-known of these is Ovids version, found in Book III of his Metamorphoses (completed 8AD). Until recently, scholars assumed that Ovids version was the earliest; however an earlier version was discovered among the Oxryynchus papyri prompting Dr Benjamin Henry, the Oxford scholar who discovered the poem, to claim that the myth was altered by Ovid to broaden its appeal (Keys). This version, attributed to the poet Parthenius of Nicaea, is thought to have been composed some 40 years before Ovids version, and ends with Narcissus committing suicide. Conon, a contemporary of Ovids, tells the same myth in his Narrations and like Parthenius, ends it with Narcissus suicide, while Pausanias later version has Narcissus fall in love not with himself, but with his twin sister (Jacoby). Conons version is a more moral telling of the myth that sees Narcissus punished by the gods for his pride and vanity. The young man Aminias fell in love with Narcissus, and, like his fellow suitors was spurned by him, so took his sword and killed himself by the door, calling on the goddess Nemesis to avenge him. (Atsma) As a result of Nemesis curse, Narcissus fell in love with a reflection of himself in a stream, and in despair and guilt over his treatment of Aminias, Narcissus killed himself. That his death was more brutal than that portrayed in Ovids Metamorphoses is clear in Conons claim that From his blood sprang the flower. (Atsma) Ovids version of the myth begins with Teiresias prophecy that Narcissus should never know himself (Ovid 3.348), and then digresses with the tale of Echo. Echo, cursed by Juno for helping Jupiter to conceal his adultery, was only able to repeat the words she heard at the end of a sentence and never reply for herself (Ovid 3.369). When she saw Narcissus hunting in the woods, she, like many others before her, fell in love with him and followed him, repeating his last words in an attempt to communicate with him. When finally, feels encouraged enough by his words We must come together! (Ovid 3.386) to show herself, he rejects her harshly, Hands off! May I die before you enjoy my body! This is an ironic choice of words give his imminent demise, and Ovid is manipulating the tone here to reflect his earlier description of Narcissus as hard and proud (Ovid 3.353). Echo was left ashamed and broken-hearted, eventually wasting away until only her voice, an echo, remained. The connection betwee n Echo and Narcissus appears to be Ovids own invention since there are no earlier accounts that link the two characters. Ovids departure from the received narrative enables him to include two further metamorphoses in this poem. The first of these occurs when, in her anger, Juno transforms Echo from the crafty nymph with a prattling tongue (Ovid 3.367) to a poor creature (Ovid 3.374) who could only repeat others words, the second when Narcissus rejection of Echo triggers her further transformation into a mere voice (Ovid 3.359). The inclusion of Echo in the Narcissus narrative may not have been usual in Ovids time, but my first reading of the Narcissus myth was in Ovids Metamorphoses, so for me, the two characters have become truly interlinked. I am not inclined to pity Narcissus, so for me, the Echo story heightens the tragic timbre of the full narrative. Without the inclusion of Echo, the Narcissus myth becomes simply a story of a proud, arrogant boy getting his comeuppance, but Echos story invites compassion and even a desire for justice. Together with the additional opportunities for metamorphoses that her story provides, Ovids inclusion of Echo as a new part of the Narcissus myth was in my opinion, inspired, and resulted in a more compelling story. With his metamorphoses of Echo complete, Ovid returns the focus to Narcissus; at the appeal of one of his scorned admirers (Ovid 3.404), Nemesis curses Narcissus to fall in love and never obtain his desire (Ovid 3.405). We then encounter the first of Narcissus transformations the change from thirsting for water to thirsting for himself. Another transformation is Narcissus own character, changing from an arrogant youth with a heart so hard and proud (Ovid 3.354) through love to an anguished youth who welcomes death as an end to his heartache. Ovid subtly alludes to these more implicit transformations that infuse his Metamorphoses. Of course the most explicit transformation of the Echo and Narcissus story is Narcissus own transformation into the narcissus flower. This is the climax of the myth, the realisation of the theme of metamorphosis. Narcissus metamorphosis is the result of his pride, vanity, and his treatment of his admirers; as he rejected others, he is rejected by himself, becoming both the subject and object of unrequited love. Even in death, Ovid suggests that his arrogance continues; as he crossed the Styx to ghostly Hades, he gazed at himself in the river (Ovid 3.504). Ovid builds the suspense of the transformation itself gradually, not revealing the outcome until the final line in the narrative; The body, however, was not to be found only a flower with a trumpet of gold and pale white petals (Ovid 3.510). The fact that the narrative ends with the resulting metamorphosis illustrates Ovids desire to highlight his theme. Ovid uses metamorphosis to explore the social and cultural ramifications of th e events in his poem, for example, Narcissus harsh treatment of Echo resulted in her transformation into a mere voice (Ovid 3.359) Echo essentially lost herself to love. Gildenhard and Zissos believe that the poetic form of Metamorphoses is interrupted by the story of Narcissus, claiming that this confirms that the inclusion of this myth was an afterthought that Ovid felt was necessary to verify Teiresias prophecies. They believe that the Narcissus myth is a replacement for the Oedipal figure that would be expected at this point in the Theban books, quoting Hardies comments that Behind the Narcissus story there hovers the figure of the Sophoclean Oedipus, the glaring absence from the narrative surface of Ovids Theban books, Metamorphoses 3 and 4, but a ghostly presence in much of the drama of blindness, sight, and insight, particularly of the third book. (Gildenhard and Zissos 3) Their essay explores the intertextuality between Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus and Ovids Narcissus myth, claiming that Oedipus and Narcissus emerge as thematic mirror reflections of each other (Gildenhard and Zissos 13). Gildenhard and Zissos conclude that Ovids inclusion of Na rcissus over Oedipus stems from a desire to concentrate on the members of Cadmus family, and that Oedipus tale would [not] have lent itself easily to inclusion within the tight-knit patterning of Cadmus daughters and nephews (Gildenhard and Zissos 17). However, in my opinion, the story of Echo and Narcissus is simply more appropriate to Ovids chosen theme. Even if Ovid did include it as an afterthought, or a way of proving Teiresias prophecies, he does so in such a way that it amplifies his metamorphosis theme. The story of Echo and Narcissus is one of my favourite classical myths, and also inspired one of my favourite paintings Salvador Dalis Metamorphosis of Narcissus. The tragedy, the anger and the justice of the myth come together with the transformations of the characters to produce a captivating story. The freshness and originality with which Ovid presents a well-known tale make it uniquely Ovidian. His writing is vivid and the story moves quickly, and whilst some may consider the inclusion of Echo a digression, the narrative still flows. In my opinion, Ovids manipulation of some of the key elements of the myth helps to enhance it further. The Parthenius and Conon versions of the myth that end in the suicide of Narcissus lack the poetic justice of Ovids slow decline. In Ovids versions of the myth, Narcissus gradual fading away mirrors Echos demise, and in this way, once again highlights Ovids theme of metamorphoses. When Narcissus is dying, he is not concerned about the world around him, about food, drink or sleep; he takes his last breath by the image he has fallen in love with but can never obtain (Ovid 3.405), and so dies alone, without love. Ovids masterful handling of the narrative gives it an intensity that can be hard to find in retellings of classical myths, but Ovids Echo and Narcissus has stood the test of time and continues to inspire other writers and artists even today. WORD COUNT: 1829
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Effect of Playing in a Childs Life :: essays research papers
What effects does play have on a childââ¬â¢,s life? Does it give a big role to a childââ¬â¢,s life? Play benefits a child mentally, emotionally, and socially as it helps the childââ¬â¢,s development during the childhood stage. A child develops mental skills through play by language, infants learn words through friends and hearing words spoken. They can use words to point out favorite toys and activities. They can also use words to express their feelings and emotions. The second one is the ability to learn shapes, infants and toddlers can be introduced with puzzle shapes and pictures for it will help them to identify all the things around them. And the third one is colors for a child can learn colors through coloring, picture books, puzzles, and paints, that adds up the creativeness and the artistic nature of a child. A child develops emotional skills is first by means of having fun cause for a child to express happiness and pleasure in an activity is a start for a healthy life. There is a need for any child to express themselves with school or at home. They learn to play by themselves or with special people in their life. The second is playing with others. A child learns to play with friends, relatives, or parents to bond with other children their age. Third is expressing feelings. To express how they feel through sadness, anger through role-play. And in terms of Developing Social Skills the first is taking Turns and Sharing. In this learning take turns with blocks or colors or by sharing toys at home or in school. Learning to share is a big step with little ones. The next one is cooperating, learning to cooperate by working with teachers and friends. Cooperating with parents at home.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Incorporating Nonverbal Communication into Dietetics and Nutrition Essa
1.1 Introduction This research paper makes recommendations for incorporating nonverbal communication into Dietetics and Nutrition. 1.2 Limitations This report is limited to paralinguistics, gestures, clothing and adornment within nonverbal communication in the field of Dietetics and Nutrition. 1.3 Scope This report aims to highlight the importance of paralinguistics, gestures, clothing and adornment in the setting of Dietetics and Nutrition. Peer reviewed articles and theoretical evidence provided to address how we change individualââ¬â¢s perceptions of professionals by using nonverbal behaviours therefore effecting client health outcomes. Advice and strategies for improving client /professional relationships are included. 1.4 Methodology To complete this report, data was collected over a 5 week period using resources from the Internet and Library of the University. Theoretical evidence was also taken from the Communication Theory textbook. The data was collected and analysed from numerous authors of peer reviewed articles that discussed in varying degrees the many aspects of nonverbal communication. 2.0 Outline of nonverbal communication and link to Dietetics and Nutrition Non-verbal communication plays an integrative role for successful client/professional relationships in the field of Dietetics and Nutrition. Non-verbal communication effects the way we a person perceives our level of empathy, trust, competence, therefore can effect the success of client outcomes. Clothing and adornment, paralinguistics and gestures are aspects of non-verbal communication that are used in conversing consciously or subconsciously, conveying a message to another about themselves and their purpose. Problems can occur... ... p. 504). Koster, FRT. (2005). The power of communication. Modifying behaviour: effectively influencing nutrition patters of patients. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 17-22, . Koster, FRT.,Verheijden, MW., & Baartmans, JA. (2005). The power of communication. Modifying behaviour: effectively influencing nutrition patterns of patients. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 17-22. Mishra, B. (2009). Role of Paralanguage in Effective English Communication. The Icfai University Journal of Soft Skills, 29-36, NSControl. Nair, B.R., Attia, J., Mears, S. & Hitchcock, K. (2002) Evidence-based physiciansââ¬â¢ dressing: a crossover trial. M.J.A. 177, 681ââ¬â682. (as cited in Cant, 2009, p. 504). Rane, D.B.. (2010). Effective Body Language for Organizational Success. The IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 17-26, . Incorporating Nonverbal Communication into Dietetics and Nutrition Essa 1.1 Introduction This research paper makes recommendations for incorporating nonverbal communication into Dietetics and Nutrition. 1.2 Limitations This report is limited to paralinguistics, gestures, clothing and adornment within nonverbal communication in the field of Dietetics and Nutrition. 1.3 Scope This report aims to highlight the importance of paralinguistics, gestures, clothing and adornment in the setting of Dietetics and Nutrition. Peer reviewed articles and theoretical evidence provided to address how we change individualââ¬â¢s perceptions of professionals by using nonverbal behaviours therefore effecting client health outcomes. Advice and strategies for improving client /professional relationships are included. 1.4 Methodology To complete this report, data was collected over a 5 week period using resources from the Internet and Library of the University. Theoretical evidence was also taken from the Communication Theory textbook. The data was collected and analysed from numerous authors of peer reviewed articles that discussed in varying degrees the many aspects of nonverbal communication. 2.0 Outline of nonverbal communication and link to Dietetics and Nutrition Non-verbal communication plays an integrative role for successful client/professional relationships in the field of Dietetics and Nutrition. Non-verbal communication effects the way we a person perceives our level of empathy, trust, competence, therefore can effect the success of client outcomes. Clothing and adornment, paralinguistics and gestures are aspects of non-verbal communication that are used in conversing consciously or subconsciously, conveying a message to another about themselves and their purpose. Problems can occur... ... p. 504). Koster, FRT. (2005). The power of communication. Modifying behaviour: effectively influencing nutrition patters of patients. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 17-22, . Koster, FRT.,Verheijden, MW., & Baartmans, JA. (2005). The power of communication. Modifying behaviour: effectively influencing nutrition patterns of patients. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 17-22. Mishra, B. (2009). Role of Paralanguage in Effective English Communication. The Icfai University Journal of Soft Skills, 29-36, NSControl. Nair, B.R., Attia, J., Mears, S. & Hitchcock, K. (2002) Evidence-based physiciansââ¬â¢ dressing: a crossover trial. M.J.A. 177, 681ââ¬â682. (as cited in Cant, 2009, p. 504). Rane, D.B.. (2010). Effective Body Language for Organizational Success. The IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 17-26, .
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Iââ¬â¢m Not an Imitation of Someone Else, Iââ¬â¢m Latina :: Personal Narrative Writing
Iââ¬â¢m Not an Imitation of Someone Else, Iââ¬â¢m Latina As I sat at the kitchen table on those chilly winter evenings in Kenner, Louisiana, I could feel my mother staring at me from where she was. I was busy doing my homework, and she was preparing that night's supper. She would always start off by asking me what I was doing and the only thing I would ever answer was, "Oh, nothing. Just homework." Then I would turn away and sort of look in the other direction as if to tell her to leave me alone, because I had a lot to do. At the time I was only eight years old, in my second complete year of schooling in the United States. I had already fully grasped the English language, and it had been a year and a half since I had been removed from the bilingual program. In actuality, I had become Americanized quiet easily. Although this was a process that involvedgive and take, because although I did adapt to my new environment very well, I never let go of what I had already learned in my previous environment. I can recall that at the same time that I was learning to read and write in English, I was also learning to do so in my native tongue, Spanish. In school, as I sat in the small wooden house, which was the bilingual classroom, I could clearly remember wondering why it was that "Spot" was so important. For more than a month we had been learning about this brown dog and about seeing him run. This experience was very strange for me, not only because it was in a totally new language but because I never did really see spot run. I only saw him painted on an oversized illustrated notebook. After a long and confusing day at school, I would come home to do my assignments; alone. It wasn't that my mother did not want to help me, but she couldn't. She knew little about the assignment , and knew even less about the language. At first I didn't mind. The assignments were easy for me to figure out, and if it was really hard I would just tell the teacher the next day that I couldn't figure it out. Sh e would ask me why I didn't ask my mother for help, and I would have to respond to her, "because she didn't know either.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs
The Three Great American Cultures Central and South America is said to have been first discovered in the late fifteenth century; however, to say that the land before this time was unknown to all of humanity would be a fallacy and a great insult to the three great ancient cultures that ruled before their European conquest. The Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans were three distinct groups of people that thrived in the Americas prior to their ââ¬Å"discoveryâ⬠and all have a diversely rich background full of people, tradition, and culture. Recorded Aztecan history begins at the start of the twelfth century when the Aztec people first moved out in search of a new homeland. In 1325 they founded their new home with the creation of Tenochtitlan, a large city which is now the location of common-day Mexico City. The life of the Aztec people was multifaceted ââ¬â filled with school systems, laws, clothing fashions, and traditional food. They had different scholastic buildings in place for children depending on their economic and noble rank among the people. Noble children would attend a school called a calmecac that would teach them history, religion, and the ways to govern. Meanwhile, the common children could go to a telpochacalli where they would learn aspects of war and trade work, but if a child showed enough promise and intelligence he or she could be sent up to one of the calmecacs to prepare for a higher future career. Crime and punishment was a severe topic for Aztecs; the breaking of many of their laws resulted immediately in death, some of which included: adultery, treason, theft, drunkenness, and even cutting down a living tree. Interestingly as well, if a commoner were to wear cotton clothing (something reserved only for nobility) they too would be put to death. Nobles dressed most lavishly among their people, opting for the brightest colors, and often used bird feathers to make headdresses that indicate their high status. The staple food for the Aztecs was corn. They also ate tomatoes, avocadoes, and tamales. Aztecs ruled for hundreds of years up until their peak in 1502 under their ruler Moctezuma II. The Spanish first arrived in 1519 with the conquistador Hernando Cortez, and by 1522 all the Aztecs once celebrated in Tenochtitlan was destroyed. Toward the south during the same time as the Aztecan people, the Incas were also in their peak from 1200 until 1535. They lived in what is now Peru and Chile, and before their fall had massed the largest Native American society. Part of the reasoning behind why the Incas became such a large tribe comes from their dominance in battle and their desire to conquer the neighboring tribes. During their peak, the Incan army had over forty thousand troops, patrolling in their lands. Living in the Andes mountain range also made for some interesting architecture. The Incas made large fortresses on the sides of steep mountains in order to protect their people and also see enemies if they were attacking from afar. Arranged as they were on the sides of mountains, Incan cities lead themselves to be hierarchically and religiously symbolic. The tallest point of their cities were reserved for religious practices, often in adoration for their sun god Along with their buildings, the Incas had advanced drainage systems used for irrigation to grow many of the crops the Aztecs did such as tomatoes, corn, cocoa, and cotton. Sadly the Incans shared more with the Aztecs than just their mutual crops; in 1535 they too were conquered by Spanish forces. While the Aztecs and Incas had much in common, perhaps the most different of the three great American societies were the Mayans found in the southern tip of common day Mexico and Guatemala. Unlike their neighbors to the north and south, the Mayans did not govern its people under a single ruler. Instead, the Mayans were comprised of smaller local city-states that ruled independently of one another. Each had its own ruler that was believed to be a descendant of the gods. But while they were independently ruled, the city-states all shared a common written language, religious beliefs, and a calendar system. The Mayans are the only known Native American culture that developed a written language, of which there are four existing books along with countless murals and wall writings. Much like the Aztecs and Incas, the Mayans practiced human sacrifices. Because they believed that their nobility were decedents of the gods, it was customary for a city-stateââ¬â¢s ruler to partake in ritual bloodletting along with sacrificing rival neighboring nobles. They also followed their ritual calendar that was comprised of a thirteen month and twenty day cycle. It marked the passing of planets, stars, and allowed the people to know when the proper time was to plant and harvest. Perhaps these calendars helped them predict other things as well because unlike the Aztecs and Incas, the Mayans were never conquered by Spain because of their mysterious disappearance around the sixteenth century. Works Cited The Ancient Aztecs. Think Quest. 1999. Web. 1 February 2010. Criscenzo, Jeeni. The Maya. Jaguar Sun. 2000. Web. 1 February 2010. Inca. Minnesota State University. Web. 1 February 2010.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea â⬠A Comparison of Theme Essay
Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea are both excellent pieces of written work that explore the theme of racial identity and social class. In Jane Eyre, Jane struggles with her identity as a governess for aristocratic children. As a governess, she is expected to behave in the way that aristocratic people do. She was required to act with class and sophistication. At the same time, she was still considered a paid employee and treated as such. In addition, Jane had no money or power to change her situation. Jane struggled with the issue of social class because she was expected to act as if she was a member of the upper class while being treated as a member of the lower class. ââ¬Å"Half of them detestable and the rest ridiculous, and all incubiâ⬠(Chapter 17). Racial identity plays a role in Wide Sargasso Sea that is similar to the struggle that Jane experienced in Jane Eyre. Antoinette struggles in this book because she is an outcast in Jamaica. One reason is because she wears different fashions than that of the other women who live in Jamaica. Antoinette isnââ¬â¢t a part of either the white group or the black group and hears others call her a ââ¬Å"white cockroachâ⬠as well as tell her that she isnââ¬â¢t the same as ââ¬Å"real white peopleâ⬠(Part 1, Section 1). In addition, Antoinette and her mother do not treat black servants badly as many of the other islanders do. They realize how much the black servants help them in their daily lives and respect them. This further highlights the differences between Antoinette and the other people who live on the island and makes it even more difficult for Antoinette to assimilate herself into either the white culture or the black culture. The desire to be loved and accepted is another major theme throughout both Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. In Jane Eyre, Jane longs for acceptance and the feeling of belonging. She also wishes for romantic love to come her way. ââ¬Å"To gain some real affection from you, or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and let it dash its hoof at my chestâ⬠(Chapter 8). This quote shows the desperation that Jane felt in her desire to be accepted and loved. As a governess, she was responsible for the well being of aristocratic children and also required to behave in an aristocratic fashion. However, she was still treated like a servant rather than valued for her contribution to the lives of the children. She desires romantic love as well but realizes that a relationship with Rochester will only result in her becoming a mistress rather than an equal partner. In Wide Sargasso Sea Antoinette also wishes to be loved and accepted the way she is. She is a white Creole who grew up in a Caribbean society and she doesnââ¬â¢t fit in to either the white culture or the black culture. This is why she feels very isolated and unloved. This doesnââ¬â¢t mean she doesnââ¬â¢t wish to be a part of some group. She struggles to fit in because of her fashion sense as well as her strong personality. She struggles further because of her racial background. She is white but she is a white Creole rather than a white European and this further emphasizes the differences she feels. Both novels explore the themes of race and class along with the strong desire to be accepted regardless. Jane and Antoinette both portray women desperate to overcome their social or racial identity in order to find a place in society where they fit in. They both struggle with their current situations and wish to make some changes. Jane wants to be respected for her work as a governess and loved at the same time. Antoinette wants to be loved and respected regardless of her racial background. These are powerful themes that show readers how natural the basic human need of acceptance and love really is and how far and to what lengths people will go to attain it. Finally, both women work very hard to overcome the life experiences that leave them feeling entrapped in order to find true happiness. Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Mass Market Paperback, 2003. Rhys, Jean. Wide Sargasso Sea. New York: Norton, W. W. & Company Inc, 1982.
Henrician Reformation
To What Extent Was The Henrician Reformation Inspired By The Political And Dynastic Consideration Rather Than Religious Ideology? The Henrician Reformation posed many religiously inspired ideology as well as both political and dynastic considerations. Evidence shows all three played their particular part in successfully inspiring the Henrician Reformation. From various acts being passed in 1533 and 1534, with one of them being The Act of Supremacy, in which Henryââ¬â¢s dynasty becomes more powerful than it was before. However, religiously the reformation was inspired by such things as, the break from Rome and the Pope due to Henryââ¬â¢s need for a divorce form Catherine of Aragon. Also the denominational faith of England being changed to the new ââ¬ËChurch of Englandââ¬â¢ faith. Henryââ¬â¢s dynasty was in tact right up to the point in which he died. This was due to, The Supremacy Act. He got what he wanted in terms of wealth, divorce, etc. and the people were fine with his power as it didnââ¬â¢t per say affect until he began closing the monasteries. Henry used parliament and politics to make known his growing supremacy over the Church of England faith. He did initially do this to allow the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. In the 1540s, as Henryââ¬â¢s health go down hill and was not very substantial, William Paget and Co. rallied a successful overthrow against the conservatives. This in turn allowed them to not only control the kingââ¬â¢s will but also seize power in the next reign. The Henrician Reformation did however become inspired by religious ideology. The pregnancy of Anne Boleyn ignited Henryââ¬â¢s already urgent plea to be granted a divorce from his current wife, Catherine of Aragon. The pregnancy itself was a social faux par and id not please the Pope and the divorce proceedings would only make the issue worse. This was the first religious inspiration, which could be said to have inspired the Henrician Reformation, which eventually resulted in the break from Rome and the Pope, giving England its new Protestant faith, The Church of England. Once Henry had succumbed to the inevitable loss of his money he and Thomas Cromwell devised a plan to close the monasteries. This would allow Henry to gain money form the tithes and annates. In 1536 the Ten Articles were published. The Ten Articles declared that ââ¬ËChristââ¬â¢s body and blood were actually present ââ¬Ësubstantiallyââ¬â¢. This statement meant that it could be used by Catholics or Lutherans as well. It was done in the thinking that it would justify the articles which proclaimed that ââ¬Ësinners attain the justification by contrition and faith joined with chantyââ¬â¢. This was a Catholic fixation. 3 years later, in 1539, The Act of Six Articles was published. It was published as it came to light that England was not as protestant as hoped and still remained substantially Catholic. Denial of transubstantiation was made punishable by burning. Politically and dynastically the reformation was inspired but evidence shows that without the religious ideology, it wouldnââ¬â¢t have become such a famous reform. Religious ideology initially started off the reformation, with Henry wanting a male heir to the throne of England. Dynastic and political considerations only back-up the initial fact. The Henrician Reformation began with religion and although it was inspired by politics and dynasty, this canââ¬â¢t take away from the fact that religion had a profound effect on the Henrician Reformation.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Public Policing vs. Private Policing Essay
Before the increase in the trend of private policing, public policing has monopolized the field in the U.S. Both public and private policing, when compared, displays many similarities and differences, however their distinctions are frequently blurred. Even though they are classified as private police their behavior, roles and responsibilities appear parallel to the public to an extent (Wilson 1994). According to Shearing and Stenning, advancements in society, e.g. gated communities and large shopping centers, has sparked the need for the growth in private policing (Shearing and Stenning, 1983). These forms of properties ensure safety to customers and/or residence, therefore require continued surveillance. In addition, proper security has become a perk to residents and/or shoppers. With the advances in technology, private security has increased the adequacy of their analyzing, investigating, and monitoring. Private policing have been classified as many things whether crowd controlling, crime preventing, or an individual body guard, it is private security. In order for the policing to be considered private, service must be provided by a private organization or person, in comparison to public policing which is provided by the state or governing body. Private police are viewed as concerning of the safety of corporations or individuals. Whereas Public police are focused on the public, and enforcing the laws of the justice system. As Shearing and Stenning said, the police (public) are employed and given legal status by the government to ensure and maintain peace (Shearing and Stenning, 1983). Private policing is proactive, and preventative, in comparison to public policing, which is reactive. Meaning in private police aim to prevent crimes through surveillance, and public police respond once a crime has been committed (Wilson 1994).
Friday, September 13, 2019
PARTY PLATFORMS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
PARTY PLATFORMS - Essay Example Democrats demand that the state meet all the funds required for education while Republicans are more inclined towards privatization of educational funding (2010 State Republican Party Platform, 12; Texas Democratic Party). Regarding giving education to all who are living in the United States, Democrats have a more flexible stand towards non-citizens (2010 State Republican Party Platform, 12; Texas Democratic Party). Democrats are for daytime juvenile curfew while Republicans are against it (2010 State Republican Party Platform, 14; Texas Democratic Party). Democrats also want the state to support community colleges, which Republicans disagree with, as they want the students and parents to fund community colleges (2010 State Republican Party Platform; Texas Democratic Party). b. Position II. On Immigration Democrats have a more lenient stand towards illegal immigrants than the Republicans (2010 State Republican Party Platform; Texas Democratic Party). Republicans declare that they are dead against ââ¬Å"amnesty in any form leading to citizenship, or legal status for illegal immigrantsâ⬠(2010 State Republican Party Platform, 20). But democrats want to have helpful legislation for legalization of illegal immigrants who want to stay (Texas Democratic Party).
Thursday, September 12, 2019
ABE Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
ABE - Case Study Example of the people, while the technological environment determines the availability of new methods of carrying out activities and development of new products at SMB. To be successful, SMB has to make measures to adapt to this external environment in its operations. Save Britain Money is a Welsh company with headquarters in Swansea and large offices in Cardiff. SBM employs 950 staff members and a further 500 self-employed staff that work across the United Kingdom. The founder and CEO of SBM is Swansea businessperson, Neville Wilshire SBM has subsidiaries including Nationwide Energy Services, We Claim U Gain, Save Me My Money, Billscutter, HiS Energy, Debts Reduced, and FuelSwitch.com. The main business operations of the company include energy efficiency surveys, renewable energy advice, and installation, mis-sold payment claims, price comparison services, debt management plans, on-line fuel switching and much more. SBM was founded in 2005 in response to grants offered by the Welsh government; this was aimed for households to improve energy efficiency in their homes. This study aims at conducting an in-depth analysis of Save Britain Money using the PEST framework to understand each factors effect on the policies and competitiveness of the compan y in the market, strategies for the company to undertake and provide recommendations for the success of SBM. PEST is a tool for the generation of an understanding on the relation of the firm to the external environment (Warner, 2010). The main reasons for PEST analysis is that it is relevant in decision making as it informs the management on the situation of the firm in relation to the external environment (Slownam, & Jones, 2011). Politicalââ¬â this deals with the relation of the firm to the rules and regulations, tax rates, legislation, and laws in different countries in which the company operates. Globalization has led to the importance of the political environment as an influence on the ability of the firm to meet its goals
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Leadership and Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Leadership and Communication - Essay Example Leadership and Communication This belief gets my approval for one reason. Most leaders of today communicate with their employees the way this generation communicates to each other. This is reflected in every organization allowing subordinates to express their ideas whether it is acceptable or not. On the other hand, traditional leaders communicate with their subordinates maintaining the ââ¬Å"I am in chargeâ⬠status. As a result, openness is not acceptable. Employees who are vocal with their ideas are considered not respectful of the leader. Leaders should be flexible with any generation they lead so that they will fit with the requirement of the changes. Leadership and communication in my generation is characterized by giving too much respect and obedience to leaders to the expense of sacrificing personal time. As a result, long hours of works are given without compensation. For instance, even if the required number of hours in a day for an employee is eight, employees can stay in the office beyond the ti me if ask by the leader to finish or rush work. This is so because leaders have the thinking that you have to ââ¬Å"pay your duesâ⬠to the company giving extra hours. Leadership does not consider balancing work and life which is evident in not giving vacation to employees who had work hard for the previous years. Leadership style is serving more the company and the leaders. After answering the question, I started writing the introduction based on the body or the answers of the questions.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Truth and Illusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Truth and Illusion - Essay Example As the paper outlines Willy Loman, the protagonist of the play, a man in his sixties, has spent his life pursuing the dream of making a good life for himself through his hard work, but now in the sunset of his life realizes, that the dream was nothing but an illusion which he had been breathlessly pursuing. However, life dealt a cruel blow when he was just like that, dismissed him from the job and soon realizes that dreams have no place in the reality of daily life. From this study it is clear that Willyââ¬â¢s chosen profession that of the salesman, was itself associated with trickery and illusion. The job called on a person to be a glib tongued, smooth talker and Willy carried this role even into his own home, where he instilled the same poor values in his sons Biff and Happy. Biff, the elder son, lived a life of uselessness, drifting from one job to another, and even going to prison a couple of times. His life was a sham and even his parents were unaware of the truth. Happy, the younger son, on the other hand had made money his ultimate goal and even at his fatherââ¬â¢s grave promised to pursue the goal of making money. The play has a constantly shifting scenarioââ¬âmoving from past to present, illusion to reality, falsehood to truth, and finally a rude awakening from a dreamy state to one of harsh reality. This oscillation between the past and present fills the play with a lot of ambiguity. The readerââ¬â¢s emotions also swing ba ck and forth from a touch of sympathy for the Loman family to a complete indifference towards their pathetic condition, which is a result of their materialistic ambitions.
Monday, September 9, 2019
LEADERSHIP Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
LEADERSHIP - Assignment Example My MBA classes serve as my first real exposure to leadership styles and interaction with people of different cultures. At first, things feel awkward but as I learned more about the principles of leadership and human interaction, I begin to feel more at ease with the group. Given my experience, the three leadership skills that brings a lot of meaning to my life at this point are the skills in active listening, communicate assertively and influencing. Active listening is a very important skill that every leader should learn in order to understand their subordinates better and address their issues and concerns in the most appropriate manner. As for assertive communication, I believe that this still is very important because we all need to deal with certain issues that need to be addressed in certain manners. Influencing others on the other hand is a crucial skill that leaders need to master in order inspire others to follow us. In evaluating my leadership skills using the PDJ and feedba ck from my ground and some classmates, I realized that I need to develop the skills in asserting myself and influencing others. II. Evaluation of Leadership Behavior According to Kotter (1990), leadership involve several factors including setting direction, aligning people, motivating people and creating a culture of leadership. Koontz and Oââ¬â¢Donnell (1959) describe leadership as ââ¬Å"influencing people to follow in the achievement of a common goalâ⬠while Tannenbaum, R. , Weschler, I.R., and Massarik, F. (1959) define leadership as ââ¬Å"interpersonal influence exercised in a situation and directed, through the communication process, toward the attainment of a specialised goal or goals.â⬠Based on the definitions given, it can be surmised that leadership involves a complex and comprehensive approach to a given situation in order to achieve the desired goals. Based on my experience, leading a group is a complex process and there are a lot of things that one needs to consider in order to inspire people and achieve good results. Leadership styles vary from one person to another and for a leader to be effective; he or she needs to adopt a leadership approach that he or she is comfortable with. In my case, I have a clear vision of the future and understand the importance of clearly defining my development path in order to achieve my goals. By creating a sort of mind map and putting into context the kind plans that I have in order to reach my goal, I am better able to charter my courses of action. For instance, in an activity where my team had to work over the holiday season, I was able to visualize what my team needs to do over the holidays in order to achieve our goals. By visualizing the future tasks of the group and communicating my vision through text messages and emails to the members of my group, I was able to convey the right message to my team mates. Yes, some of my team mates feel that there are things that I need to improve in terms of planning and communication (see Appendix 9) but I believe that given the time constraints that we had, I was able to carry-on the task at based on my vision. In evaluating my leadership behaviour using my Personal Development Journal (PDJ) and the feedback from my peers, I
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Banking Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Banking Project - Research Paper Example The three liquidity ratios for the financial analysis are liquid assets to deposit-borrowing ratio, Loan to deposit and Net loan to total asset. These three ratios of both banks are discussed and analyzed below. Liquid asset to deposit borrowing ratio measures the availability of the fund with respect to its obligations. In the year 2010, CIMB Berand Islamic Bank- Malaysia had the capability of covering 34 % of short term obligations while Al-Rajhi Bank was capable of covering 33 % of their short term obligations. In the following year, The Malaysian bank liquid asset to deposit-borrowing percentage dropped down to 26 % and that of Al-Rajhi Bank dropped down to 30 %, this indicated that the liquidity of the Malaysian Bank was less in comparison to Al-Rajhi Bank. In the year 2012, Al-Rajhi Bank liquidity further increased making them capable of covering short-term obligations to about 32% while the CIMB Berand Islamic Bank- Malaysia was not able to increase or maintain its liquidity, which resulted in a major decrease in their liquidity. CIMB Berand Islamic Bank- Malaysia in 2012 was only capable of covering 12 % of short-term obligations. 2013 was a completely shocking for Al-Rajhi Bank as they were only capable of covering 10 % of their short term obligations, which shows that their liquidity dropped down by 22 % while CIMB Berand Islamic Bank- Malaysia maintained their ratio at 12 %. CIMB Berand Islamic Bank- Malaysia loan to deposit ratio in 2010 was 61% and that of Saudi Arabia Bank was 78%, which indicated that the Al-Rajhi Bank had low liquidity as compared to the Malaysian Bank. Year 2011 was other way round as the Al-Rajhi Bank had more liquidity as compared to that of the Malaysian Bank. A reverse patter n was again observed in 2012, which means that both banks were not affected by the external factor. In 2013 the liquidity of both banks increased which means that the both banks had more loans and comparatively less
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Taino Construction Supplies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Taino Construction Supplies - Case Study Example Besides the company is environment protection and social oriented. This is reflected in green building and social projects participation, using alternative ways of the extraction of sand. Secondly, Rivera analyses the companyââ¬â¢s competitors, customers and market situation. It appears that though Taino does not have direct local competitors there are competitors on the global level and the main of them is Cementos de Mexico which is Tainos partner and client at the same time. Another big customer is House Depot (retail) and some big construction companies. The market analysis shows that the construction market in San Felipe is in time of crisis. However, some segments for example ââ¬Å"do-it-yourselfâ⬠are stable. Besides the company have faced with other challenges, such as government, environmental groups and partners difficult relations. At the same there are emerging possibilities on the market to raise sales of some products in home market and exporting to other count ries in particular into some states in the USA affected by hurricanes. Consequently, Mario Rivers searches for the ways of turning all the innovation investments in competitive edge of the company.
Friday, September 6, 2019
The Tests That Can Determine an Entire Future Essay Example for Free
The Tests That Can Determine an Entire Future Essay Albert Einstein once said, It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. How, though, may teachers follow these wise words, when they must constantly worry about educating their students so they can pass just one of the many standardized tests thrust upon them? John Dewey, an American philosopher, also said, The real process of education should be the process of learning to think through the application of real problems. How, though, can students possibly learn critical thinking if they are forced to learn through relentless memorization and worksheets in order for them to pass one test upon which their futures so highly depend? This phenomenon of accountability testing and holding teachers accountable for scores has swept across the country, creating a negative approach to educating the youth of America. Due to the lack of validity of these tests and the negative effects on teachers and students, standardized testing is ruining the public education system. With accountability for standardized testing being a new trend in America, today, many do not realize how long ago they were actually used and why they are being used now. Dan Fletcher wrote in a Time magazine article that China was the first country to ever develop standardized tests, which were used to test government officials (4). This new idea began to move westward, but writing essays was still the favored method of testing. However, in 1905, America began to conform to the new trend, and Alfred Binet developed the IQ test, which emerged as an easy way to test large numbers of students quickly(Fletcher 5). Today, standardized tests have become the sole measure of not only student success, but also the success of the school and teachers. A few years ago, in 2001, George W. Bush passed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which [expanded] state-mandated standardized testing as means of assessing school performance (How Standardized Testing). The passing of this law brought about an enormous wave of change. Schools now use standardized testing to determine if children are ready for school[to] diagnose for learning disability, retardation and other handicaps; and to decide whether to promote, retain in grade, or graduate many students (How Standardized Testing). Obviously, there have been many changes made to the idea of standardized testing. Society has gone from using them to test government officials to now using the tests as a means of judging a students knowledge. Yet, are they actually helping America? Research, from the present and the past, has shown that education in America has seen no improvement since the spread of standardized testing. In 1999, according to the National Research Center, In comparison with students from 143 other countries, American students finished in the lowest quarter in geometry and ranked second from the bottom in algebra (Sykes). Ten years later, America is still experiencing low stats, even with the passing of the NCLB Act. There are many statistics showing the decline of the United States in the global rankings: U.S. students slipped from 18th in the world in math in 2000 to 31st place in 2009, with a similar decline in science and no change in reading (Is the Use of). It is ironic that this decline became noticeable not long after Bushs NCLB Act was passed, with the intended purpose of bettering the education of Americas students. One reason for this digression is the fact that the tests favor not only white Americans, but also the wealthy. There have been many critics who have said that standardized tests are racist because of the difference in performance: Evidence of such differences in test scores raise the issue that perhaps these tests are discriminating. Tests do not recognize that students of different cultures may have different learning styles (Hudson 52). For this reason, Hispanics, African-Americans and foreign exchange students do not experience high success rates on these tests. Furthermore, the tests tend to favor the wealthy, rather than the less fortunate students: There is no question that students with greater resources and economic opportunities perform better as a general rule on standardized testsstandardized tests are unfair because the questions require a set of knowledge and skills more likely to be possessed by children from a privileged background. (Hudson 50) In a country where discrimination is ruled unconstitutional, would one not think that government officials would work to eliminate this? Not only are these tests favorable to certain people, but it does not help that accountability tests have become the sole determinant of students knowledge and their readiness to move on with their education. It is now to the point where [schools] require students to pass an exit exam before they can graduate from high school. Even if the students pass all their courses, they can be denied their diplomas (Hudson 57). It is completely incomprehensible that a student can pass every single one of his or her high school courses needed to graduate, but he or she will not receive a diploma because of one, single, measly test score. Not only does this issue occur with high school, but there is even more pressure on students when it comes to getting into a college: The ACT and its counterpart, the SAT, have become one of the largest determining factors in the college-admissions process, particularly for elite schools (Fletcher 4). So, now students cannot even get into the college of their choice without meeting the required standards on one of these ridiculous tests. Making matters worse, there are so many things that can go wrong on the day of that one test that can decide a students future: Studies have documented that how students fare on standardized tests can be greatly influenced by a host of external factors, including stress over taking the test, amount of sleep, distractions at the testing site, time of day, emotional state and others (French 64). If this is so, then why do government officials continue to falsely judge Americas knowledge by basing its success on the performance of one test? It is already bad enough that these outrageous tests are the sole basis of a students educational progress, but they also insult the students intelligence. These tests consist of absolutely no curriculum whatsoever, and do not involve one bit of critical thinking: [The NCLB Act] bypass[es] curriculum and standardsit demand[s] that schools generate higher test scores in basic skills, but it require[s] no curriculum at all, nor [does] it raise standards (Ravitch 16). Therefore, all of the classes that students are required to take in high school, in reality, are not really helping them with these oh so important tests. They are completely excluding history, civics, literature, science, the arts, and geography (Ravitch 16). Instead, they test how to read graphs, reading comprehension, grammar, and other ridiculous things that do not really test a students full capability or creativity. For these reasons, a different approach to reform is needed-one that focuses on helping students develop high-levels of proficiency in the real-world and competencies they will need to succeed in the workplace tomorrow (Reha 46). By doing this, America would be significantly helping its youth by preparing them for the future, rather than preparing them for a single test with no critical thinking at all. Unfortunately, there have been no changes made since the spread of standardized testing evolved; positive changes, that is. As an effect of this phenomenon, there have been many changes in the way teachers must teach, and the way the environment must be within their classrooms. Now, teachers find themselves teaching to the test, rather than getting their students involved in real-life decision making: They are forced to teach in ways that are not developmentally appropriate and do not promote critical thinking and decision-making (Solley 53). What good is it doing a student by filling out multiple choice essays, rather than learning how to problem solve and make good decisions? Now, it is all rote learning, [and] less real learningkids fill out more worksheets, answer more questions at the end of textbook chapters, and participate in more drills (Reha 45), than ever before. It is no surprise that teachers are very opposed to this method, and are often fighting against it. David Berliner and Sharon L. Nichols, authors of Has No Child Left Behind Been Good for Education, wrote that they often found teachers and administrators repeatedly telling them that they were being held responsible for their students performance regardless of other factors that may affect it. [They] found teachers concerned about their loss of moraleand the undercutting of their professionalism (49). Apparently, teachers feelings do not matter in this country. America has made it obvious that teachers no longer have a say in how they teach and the way they run their classrooms, which only causes an inevitable chain of negativity leading to the students, themselves. With all of these negative changes that must be made by the teachers, it is no wonder why students are becoming less motivated to learn. People cannot expect students to honestly want to sit through a boring lecture about the facts and statistics that they must memorize just so they can pass one, single test: Schools no longer strive to create informed citizens; instead, they focus only on teaching children what is essential for them to know to pass the government-mandated standardized tests. As a result, childrens motivation and learning suffer (Solley 41). As previously said, teachers must have students fill out more worksheets and multiple choice exams than ever; how could that possibly be fun for a child? Bobbie A. Solley, author of Education, wrote that children are now under increased pressure to perform on demand, memorize mundane facts and figures, and sit for long periods of time while listening to the teacher and/or filling in circles on a worksheet (49). How could a student feel motivated to go to school knowing that this is what he or she will be doing for the entire day? Think about it. Think about what the futures of students could look like without standardized testing. Picture how stress free their lives could be, without any added pressures of performing well on these ridiculous tests. Imagine them being able to engage in critical thinking and decision-making that will help them in the real-world, rather than engaging in learning just for one test. If only people would see how successful the youth of America could be without the use of standardized testing.
Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Essay Example for Free
Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Essay The intricate nexus of marriage, money and love in Jane Austens society is unfolded through the development of plots and characters of her novel Pride and Prejudice. In the nineteenth centurys rural England, marriage was a womans chief aim, both financially and socially. Financially because of womens dependent position marriage was the only honourable position, infinitely preferable to the dependence of precarious shabby-genteel spinsterhood. Money was, therefore, a very significant aspect of Austens society, especially when marriage was concerned. A single man of large fortune was naturally considered as a nice thing for the unmarried girls. Partners were chosen for what might now seem unemotional reasons: fortune and connections, similar to, but preferably better than ones own. By representing a series of marriages, Austen in this novel unearths and elucidates different aspects of the role of marriage, money and love in her society. Austen was a realist and painted her time as they were. In this novel, love and money-based Darcy-Elizabeth marriage is the most successful one whereas the marriage of Elizabeths parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, is one of the faulty ones. Mr. Bennet married his wife being captivated and tempted by her youth, beauty and physical appearance. He forgot that the first appeal of a pretty face does not last long unless serenity of mind and sweetness of temper provide more enduring powers of attraction. Moreover, Mrs. Bennet inherited no property. So, form every point of view, this marriage is a failure. Mr. Bennet, therefore, always has to endure her weak understanding, vulgarity to such and extreme degree that he has nothing to revel in except confining himself to his library all the day, and thus eluding the necessary rituals of family and society. Charlottes loveless matrimony for financial security with the pompous Collins is another interesting marriage. Being twenty-seven and plain looking and realizing that it is her last chance, she accepts the grotesque Mr. Collins, to whom the role of romance and love in life is beyond the reach. He only wants a wife, because in the eyes of the society it is time for him to settle and be married. Charlotte knows that apart from some kind of security and happiness, marriage gives a woman a position. She has few hopes of happiness in marriage beyond the material comfort it can give and so she marries Collins who is inferior in intelligence, only for the home and position he offers, as she believes Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. The marriage and money theme operates in a baffling way when Elizabeth herself comes to marry. When she sees Pemberly, her prejudice against Darcy begins to be subdued and later by accepting him she makes the most glorious match of and of Austens heroines. The fact that Darcy has then thousand pounds a year is not to be ignored; it emphasizes the perfect adjustment between personal and social ambition achieved by Elizabeth. [Actually Jane Austen understood better than any other of her contemporary English novelists the degree to which social and personal behaviors and even emotion depend on the economic framework of the society.] Moreover, in her marriage with Darcy, affection and understanding, financial security and social engagement are juxtaposed. But to achieve all these material things she has never turned herself into a husband-hunting butterfly despite her mothers inducement. Although she is aware of the fact that in her society a senile spinster, without any fortune, is faced with the prospect of a bleak future full of deprivation and humiliation, still she is the bold heroine who at first showed courage to refuse two marriage proposals. To Austen, sexuality was far less vital to relationships than its counterpart, affection. Therefore, Lydias ex-based marriage with the seductive but penniless Wickham later turns out to be an unsuccessful ones. Wickhams plausible appearance even overwhelmed Elizabeth once. His former interest in Miss King and her â⠤ 10,000 dowry alludes to the role of money in marriage. He only takes Lydia to London only for physical enjoyment. As a consequence, their marriage ends in his going to enjoy himself in London and Lydias patent failure in managing her household financially despite Darcy and Elizabeths continuous help. The Bingley-Jane marriage is another example of good marriage, like the Darcy- Elizabeth marriage, where mutual understanding, romance and financialà stability are combined. Their affection-based marriage works as both are perfectly amiable, modest and gentle. The established marriage of the Gardiners is too shadowy to have a dramatic role. We are only dimly aware of it as a satisfactory relationship between two apparently similar type of persons. In Pride and Prejudice we experience different marriages in the light of one another. Austen presents all the material for an al-round understanding and view: Jane and Elizabeth, combing love and marriage, Charlotte marries for safety, Lydia repenting at leisure. The married couples are equally varied, from well-matched like the Gardiners to ill-suited like the Bennets. The novel says in effect that the real object of love and marriage is not only financial security or physical passion or romance, but also the self-development that true relationships bring about. A marriage can only become an institution when it provides for the fulfillment of both men and womens aspirations, sanctified by love and validated by prudence that both Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Collins can live on, the former drinking deep draughts of lifes fullness, the later continuing to sip its littleness. The richness of Pride and Prejudice lies in that exploration of life and marriage by Jane Austen.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)