Knock’s Educated Man

The â€Å"Disadvantages of Being Educated† examines contemporary society’s preference for building specialized skills at the expense of liberal education. Albert Knock believes that today’s curricula have changed its orientation from helping create the Renaissance Man from the tabula rasa into the mechanic of Ford or the programmer of Silicon Valley. Knock pointed out that this is training and should not be synonymous with education. Being proficient or trained in something could categorize one as trained but not educated. Training is not synonymous to having been educated. Knock’s man has cultivated his intellect and character to the point where his options for the future included, in his words, â€Å"what he could become and be instead of what he could get and do†. What is surprising for him is contemporary society’s not distinguishing between the difference between training and education which was not the case before. During the Medieval period, scholars of classical works were looked upon as learned men. The cobbler, builder, stonemasons, tinkerers, and town criers were on a subordinate level far below that of the scholastics. Carrying on with Knock’s line of thought, we could imagine the manual laborers of the Dark Ages as having become shoe stylists and fashion models, engineers, computer programmers and technicians, and TV hosts of today who are good in their fields and perhaps below mediocre in dialectics. Yet, the honor of having â€Å"made it† is easily applied to them by contemporary society than to the stereotyped harried-looking teacher of a university. Knock has nothing against the emphasis on specialization. He argued that specialization and liberal education are relevant. Both could be had instead of having one being preferred at the expense of the other. Knock expressed regret this is not so today. The educated man that he had in mind would be hard put to find his place in today’s modern setting. His educated man is open to other fields of interests that would encourage the thinking process: argue the ills of society, participate in dialectics, and develop a mind that is always inquiring and trying to discover what is good for the best kind of life. Since today’s trend in life is getting the proper or specialized skill that could ensure one a high-paying job, Knock’s educated man would have difficulty connecting with his contemporaries. He would not be in agreement with their having narrowing the focus of their concentration and energy to the mundane ambition of having an eight- to- five job that could buy them a Superbowl ticket and ensure a healthy pension after working as a cog or bolt in an assembly line. He would not even care to become the main nut in that assembly line. Each field created its own complexities and somebody having found himself a niche in his chosen field could claim a consultancy fee. I could be a consultant to the Tupperware Company if my scientific expertise resulted to inventing a fireproof plastic. The skill acquired in such a field may be hopelessly irrelevant during the Renaissance period but the pay is hopefully and insanely more than sufficient to ensure a comfortable life while still pursuing new plastic discoveries. One can only stay in the business if he or she will continue to update with new developments or make new developments himself. Failure to do so would condemn oneself to irrelevance in his chosen field. Meaning, the acquisition of knowledge on plastics will have to continue until the moment I die, perhaps induced by having to work with plastic. The competition for the American dream is rigid and I could not afford to pause for a breath asking the meaning of life while everybody else is plunging down to their success. As a student, Knock would prefer me to be the educated man that he has in mind. He wouldn’t agree to my cultivating a mindset that looks forward to having just a job to enable me to pay for my daily meals, ensure payment for my cable bills, and after work enabling me to be a couch potato. Knock would love see me entertain ideas for ideas’ sake and look at them as an educated man would look: objectively and disinterestedly. Knock perhaps sees the mainstream as a flock of sheep narrowing their vision on the grass before them and seldom raising their heads to appreciate the greater perspective. For most of us-including me- the trend is acquiring skills; the more specialized the skill, the greater the opportunity for a well-placed and well-paying job. The past-paced world that we have today is unkind to thinkers. Why pursue the meaning of life when what is life has already been defined by the American dream? Consumerist society measures a man by his capability to purchase the hottest and the latest pick. For someone to indulge in the search for the meaning of life would be condemning oneself to a meaningless life of penury and from the viewpoint of the mainstream-irrelevance. The social construct on success has already been insinuated, defined, and considered as an end. Knock may quote Longfellow and implore me, â€Å"Be not like dumb, driven cattle, be the hero in the strife†. Yes, I have already heard it in the required subjects in the first year and it is difficult to indulge myself in them when I am about to major in something useful. History, reexamining its ills, could not buy my cappuccino at Starbucks; Moliere and his wit could not pay for my taxicab fare; and I have no time to waste on Kant’s â€Å"Critique on Pure Reason† when I have to attend a workshop on plastics. Free thinking could free the soul, nourish the intellect, and strengthen the character. This is quite noble and at best, the preoccupation of the Renaissance Man. This is tempting but it would be difficult to explain myself to my friends in when we met to socialize or even to my family during a reunion.

Shareholder Wealth Maximisation

SHAREHOLDER WEALTH MAXIMISATION: SUMMARY ‘Business Finance’ assumes that the objective of a company is to maximise shareholder wealth. This means that companies should attempt to maximise the value of the shareholders’ investment in the company. This is achieved by maximising ‘Total Shareholder Returns’: dividends and share price appreciation.The most powerful basis for understanding and measuring shareholder wealth is the ‘economic valuation model’, under which the value of the shareholders’ investment is measured as the present value of future cash flows that are attributable to the shareholders. This approach involves converting future cash flows into their equivalent value in today’s terms, by adjusting for the effect of the ‘time value of money’. The ‘time value of money’ concept refers to the reality that ? 100 today is worth more than ? 100 in a year’s time.This is for three reasons: à ¢â‚¬ ¢ Inflation: which reduces the purchasing power of money over time †¢ Consumption preference: we prefer to spend money now rather than wait to spend in the future †¢ Risk: this refers to the variability of future returns from an investment. This time value of money effect means that shareholders require a rate of return from their investment in a company which is sufficient compensation for the time value of money effect that they suffer. This rate of return is known as the ‘cost of capital’.For a company to create wealth for shareholders, it must generate a rate of return which exceeds the ‘cost of capital’. Arguments in favour of ‘shareholder wealth maximisation’ being the assumed objective of the company: †¢ Shareholders are the legal owners of the company †¢ Shareholders bear the risk †¢ Assuming competitive markets, maximising wealth of shareholders should ensure the interests of customers and employees are al so met †¢ Decision-making is simplified Arguments against shareholder wealth maximisation: Some argue it will lead to the interests of other stakeholders such as customers and employees being neglected (eg through selling poor quality, over-priced products and providing poor conditions and rates of pay to employees). However, in competitive markets, arguably the only way that companies will create wealth for shareholders is by selling products/services customers want to buy, and therefore customers’ interests cannot be ignored. Also, the way to ensure customers’ interests are met is arguably by ensuring staff are well motivated and properly trained.Furthermore, employees prospects of having a secure and well paid job are improved by working for a company that is financially successful. †¢ Some argue that it will lead to ‘short-termism’ (decisions that improve short-term profits at the expense of long-term value, such as reducing research and deve lopment and marketing investments). However, the concept of economic value means maximising shareholder wealth should mean that long-term and short-term performance is captured.

Customer behaviour towards online shopping Essay

Customer behaviour towards online shopping - Essay Example Introduction 1.1 Introduction The development of the Internet has not only provided a technological tool but also an essential tool for commercial dealings. In recent years, business people and their customers have increasingly used the Internet for a variety of purposes. Businesses use the Internet and other online functions such as electronic mail as a means of advertising their products and popularizing their brands to their prospective customers. The Internet has also made it possible for consumers to research the brands and products they intend to buy and then purchase their desired products online. Businesses that have embraced the use of the Internet have seen their organizations grow at the same time that they have seen their costs of advertising shrink (Evans, 2009). Such firms have also witnessed an increase in overall sales levels due to increased online shopping. Industry related sources such as the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG, 2012) anticipate that Internet s ales just in the UK will be approximately seventy seven billion pounds or more by the end of year 2012. The Internet can have profound effects on the way one conducts business. It has become a vital tool and avenue for carrying out trade and aids to trade, i.e. commerce. As a tool, it equips buyers and sellers with adequate information on products and services. As an avenue, it overcomes the limitation brought about by geographical distance, time zone, and the need for a physical office. Great Britain has experienced the fastest growth in terms of electronic shopping in the entire Europe, having estimated sales of sixty eight billion pounds in the year 2011 representing an increase of 1.6% (Wood, 2012).... This paper considers general Internet usage in the context of marketing, provide an overview of online shopping, and discuss the profitability of online shopping over the past few years, before looking at Tesco and Asda specifically. Finally, since the factors that affect consumer confidence towards online shopping are diverse, it is important to study some of the factors within e-marketing frame such as product, price, promotion, distribution and customer service. Technological factors and demographics as well as social factors are also important and are considered as the macro environment of marketing. The World Wide Web has dramatically increased the general use of the Internet. In 1993, the World Wide Web was developed to be a commercial tool by the British scientist Tim Berners-Lee. Instead of using the Internet's â€Å"World Wide Webâ€Å" as a technological tool, the Internet quickly became an effective commercial outlet for vendors and customers. By late 2000, the Internet already had more than 450 million online users thanks to the convenience of the World Wide Web. According to estimates by Nua, there were already more than 30 million hosted websites as reported by the various server organizations by that time (Web update, www.nua.ie/surveys). This proves that the Internet environment is very effective and important for business (www.emarketing.com). E-business success through the Internet is also evidence of increasingly new customers to online shopping for company products and services.

What Makes a Bilingual Education Program Successful Research Paper

What Makes a Bilingual Education Program Successful - Research Paper Example Dr. Tove Skutnabb-Kangas is a linguist who has extensively researched linguistic human rights; bilingualism and multilingual education; linguistic imperialism and subtractive spread of English; support for endangered languages; the relationship between linguistic and cultural diversity and biodiversity and has authored numerous publications on her subject of interest (WISC, 2006). Among her highly acclaimed works is â€Å"Linguistic Genocide in Education or Worldwide Diversity and Human Rights?.† According to Tacelosky’s (2000) review of this book, Skutnabb-Kangas presents the state of languages of the world in terms of extinction and endangerment. The linguist also avers that although the threat to biodiversity is great, the threat to language diversity is far greater. Skutnabb-Kangas goes on to define the term mother tongue with criteria such as origin, identification, competence, function and the degree of human rights awareness. The author defines linguistic genocid e as the policies that a state takes from attempting to kill a language to the adoption of an official language. She positions minority education in terms of society and politics, distribution of power in terms of dominant and dominated languages, race, sex, class and other factors. The author argues against claims that a language is necessary to form a nation and discusses the place of language in the power structure. Skutnabb-Kangas propounds that linguistic human rights are necessary rights which incorporate basic human rights.

Main Themes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Main Themes - Assignment Example The most important theme of Acuna’s book is to view the Mexican history in complete isolation and to understand their individuality that has been influenced by foreign elements but not completely dominated by them. The Spanish invasion expanded from Mexico to various parts of southwest America, including Texas. With their ever-increasing influence, the indigenous population was then relegated to the status of slaves and the changing roles women were also attributed to the reforms brought about by Spanish invaders, who slowly dominated almost every aspect of their life. The invaders exploited the resources that the region was abundantly endowed with. (Acuna, 2010) The resistance from the Natives then provides an explanation for the friction between the communities that has been reported in the subsequent years. The Mexican population has suffered from great discrimination and was vastly marginalized in the society. This is the main purpose behind Acuna’s writings that aims to highlight the fact that Mexican population once reigned over the region where they are treated more or less like second rate citizens. Acuna has tried to breakdown the misconceptions that were exploited by the colonizers to brand their race as inferiors. The chapters provide a sound historical background, but on a personal level I feel intrigued by the evolution of Mexican culture that took place as a result of these

Chain mgmt Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chain mgmt - Assignment Example Current research concentrates on the implementation and development of performance measurement systems in supply chains. Chan, (2008) asserts that maintenance of performance management systems in supply chains need to be organized, efficient and methodical in â€Å"monitoring supply chain performance† (p.539). The main components of supply chains revolve around â€Å"six core processes (supplier, inbound logistics, manufacturing, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, end customers) and present input, output and composite measures for each†(Fynes, de Burca & Voss, 2005,p.3306). Performance measurement systems in supply chains has been proven to be effective in catering the needs of the customer and for this purpose, methods of performance measurement systems such as balance scorecard, performance questionnaires, performance matrix, are being used. Tenet Healthcare cooperation can adopt performance measurement systems in their supply chains and focusing on meeting the needs and requirements of the clients. This would assist the company to maintain the â€Å"competitive edge in order to enhance all activities associated with the flow and transformation of goods from the raw material stage through to the end user† (Chan, 2008, p.540).

Organization Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organization Project - Assignment Example BP Oil is among the top six major oil and gas corporations in the world. They are currently involved in massive explorations in different parts of the world. The company is a British multinational corporation with headquarters in London. The analysis of the history of BP Plc. reveals that the company’s management strategy has not changed much over the years. The origin of BP is traced to 1908 when a group of British geologists discovered oil in Iran. The company has a reputation for partaking in highly risky ventures. It was officially called the British Petroleum in 1954 (BP, n.d.). The willingness to take on risky ventures has yielded both positive and negative returns. The positive return is the increase in revenue earned while the negative effects are the public relation problems caused by many oils spills. The company management was based on the establishment of structures that divided the company into top, mid-level and lower level management. BP has always used the system management style, which ensures a proper division of the business to facilitate the flow of orders and functions. The orders came from top management to the middle level and lower level expected to implement them. Top management formulates strategies and the overall goals. The middle-level management can plan and control resources to ensure the overall strategic goals are met. The lower level management are involved in implementing the plans that have been made by middle-level management. Currently, BP Systems management style has been enhanced by the addition of sustainable management. The 2010 Oil Spill played a significant role in pushing BP to adopt sustainable management, which aims at protecting the environment. Sustainable management is meant to ensure BP prevents further environmental damage. It also improves the public image of the company. The company’s current strategy is guided by clear priorities, quality portfolio, and

Why are there many translations of the bible is an advantage and Essay

Why are there many translations of the bible is an advantage and disadvantage - Essay Example glish has been the dominant language for centuries and the translating group (publishers and Bible scholars among others) use different methods to produce various versions that enhance peoples’ comprehension of the teachings. Critics point on the faithfulness of the Bible translations arguing that it contains distorted meanings and words of God. There is the dynamic equivalence method which lays emphasis on the original meaning, formal equivalence on word by word (Wallace 23). However, rather than focusing on the grammatical content in translations, the problem arises in trying to ensure the symbolic language used in the original material of translation makes sense upon paraphrasing and conversions. The benchmark is to ensure that though languages may change, the word of God still remains unchanged. The Greek New Testament has been criticized for its textual underpinnings that demonstrated a departure from the received Greek text. When Westcott Foss and Fenton John Anthony published the Greek New Testament, they considered the available ancient manuscripts that have been discovered to have missed certain passages (â€Å"Why so,† Bible.org). Many Biblical translators have failed to credit the works of these men, despite the fact that they laid a pillar in Biblical translation works. Their work has been claimed to be glorious, but surrounded by controversy on their contradiction from the original sources. Westcott and Anthony used two sources of the manuscripts that came from codex sinaiticus and vaticanus, believed to be false copies of the New Testament. Critiques hold that they entail the fifty falsified manuscripts deliberately corrupted by Eusebius to fulfil the order of neo-pagan emperor Constantine; the two manuscripts not only contradict each other numerously, but 99 per cent disagree with other Koine Greek manuscripts (â€Å"A concordance,† archive.org). Studying the version, there is rising doubt from the contradictions and posing inaccuracies that exist,

Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Latin America - Essay Example One of the key areas of influence was on the Latin American economy. As the article above highlights, there are two different forms of economies in the region, and this highlights how the different European countries that conquered Latin America had different economic policies and approaches. For example, Spain conquered Latin America in order to exploit the natural resources in the region and export them to Europe. This form of exploration favored the state controlled type of economy, which, according to the article, persists till today. On the other hand, countries such as Netherlands and England favored free trade where they allowed for the production of sugar, cotton and tobacco, which were sold to other countries for profit. These were the basis of globalization and free markets. This explains why certain countries in the region have shown greater economic success than others. In the article for instance, Luhnow argues that the Pacific-facing countries have shown higher levels of economic growth by taking advantage of globalization compared to their Atlantic facing counterparts who have favored state controls. For example, the author notes that Argentina has immensely suffered from the heavy-handed regulation. This article gives a clear picture of how Latin America has been influenced by the different European countries that colonized the

11 & 12 Language related assignment Essay Example for Free

11 12 Language related assignment Essay Generative Context A woman student in Brighton walked home by herself late at night and was mugged. She was carrying a lot of cash, didn’t tell her friends she was leaving the club and walked down some dark steps. The next day I criticised her actions. 2. Meaning We use this form to express a critical attitude towards the past actions of someone else. (Advice after the event – Rosemary Aitken – Teaching Tenses – p. 138) 3. Form (subject) + should (+ not) + have + past participle 4. Phonemic transcription, including marking the main stressed syllables (Longman dictionary of contemporary English) Particular attention needs to be paid to the weak form of â€Å"have† and, possibly there may need to be some revision of the various pronunciations of the â€Å"ed† ending of the past participle 5. Concept checking questions (with answers), and, where appropriate, time lines, diagrams, pictures, etc Did she go home by herself? Yes Was it dangerous? Maybe Was it a good idea? No Am I criticising her? Yes Am I talking about the past or the future? The past Entirely accurate Accesses reference material reference information learned about language to an appropriate source No evidence – even implicit – of appropriate source being referenced Evidence (even implicit) of some referencing of appropriate sources Plenty of explicit evidence of appropriately referenced research Uses written language which is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task Numerous errors

Process of Socialization in Schools

Process of Socialization in Schools Socialisation is a complicated, lifelong process responsible for helping to shape an individuals identity (Germov Poole, 2007) and the way in which they blend into their society. A persons beliefs, their thoughts and behaviours are affected by this process, both now and later in their life. By learning the beliefs, attitudes and values of the society into which they were born (Pujari, 2015) every individual ascertains how to feel, to think and to behave in ways that are socially acceptable (Bessant Watts, 2007). The socialisation process of an individual is affected by their environment; by their natural biology and their culture or the nurturing they receive as they are developing (McCleod, 2007). The process of socialisation begins almost as soon as a baby is born and three factors which greatly influence this process are their family, their school experiences and their gender. An individuals family is responsible for their socialisation, however this process has been affected due to the different ways in which a family unit may be formed in todays society (Germov Poole, 2007). Families are generally responsible for beginning an individuals socialisation process and these effects are long lasting (Berryman, Power, Hollitt, 2002). This early socialisation is greatly influenced by nature and nurture factors (McCleod, 2007). The key to positive socialisation, according to Parsons (Germov Poole, 2004), is a supportive, constant family in which women and men have totally separate roles although they complement each other within the family unit. The role of women, the changing roles and jobs of family members and single parent families all impact on an individuals socialisation process (Germov Poole, 2004). The school is a major factor in the process if an individuals socialisation. During their time at school children are taught a curriculum however they are also influenced by their teachers and their peers. Bandurra, a socio-behaviourist theorist (Nolan Raban, 2015), believes the manner in which teachers demonstrate and model behaviour indicates how they wish the students in their class to behave. A childs interactions with their peers also influences their behaviour as they learn how to please others, restrict unfavourable behaviour and be socially acceptable (Long-Crowell, 2003 2016). Impact of school on an individuals socialisation and the formation of social values, especially conformity (Soldana, 2023). The impact of the informal or hidden curriculum (Germov Poole, 2004) on the socialisation process. The influence of an individuals peer group on their socialisation and the use of multi digital media such as computers and mobile phones (Germov Poole, 2004). Gender roles and stereotypes influence a societys view on the acceptable characteristics and behaviours for males and females. Children learn these roles and stereotypes (Robinson Diaz, 2006) from an early age as they are influenced by their family, with parents and other family members conveying their own beliefs about how boys and girls should appear and behave (Berryman, Power, Hollitt, 2002). These differences in acceptable female and male behaviour are influenced by both biology (nature) and a childs culture (nurture) (McCleod, 2007). Definition of gender and the beliefs of a family in reinforcing gender roles and stereotypes. How society constructs gender (Robinson Diaz, 2006) and the nurture influence on the process of socialisation (Germov Poole, 2004). Men and womens roles and work (Bessant Watts, 2007) and their impact on an individuals socialisation. Socialisation is a complicated, lifelong process responsible for helping to shape an individuals identity, beliefs and behaviours and how they successfully blend into society. Family, school experiences and gender are three factors which greatly influence this process. An individuals family is responsible for their socialisation however this process is affected by the structure of individual families. An individuals socialisation is influenced by the behaviour of teachers and their interaction with their peers. Societys view on the acceptable characteristics and behaviours for males and females also affects an individuals socialisation process.

Recycling Computers :: Recycle Reuse Reduce

Recycling Computers (this paper includes survey and results) In order to keep up with technology, computers must be replaced every few years. Most people simply throw away their old computers and other electrical parts because they are unaware of the environmental problem arising everyday from the careless disposal of electronics. In order to prevent the destruction of the environment people must be educated in two areas; what is in the computer itself that makes it harmful to the environment, and what are the steps in disposing of technology properly. The first step in prevention is through education. The purpose of this document is to educate the consumer on this importance of this issue and what steps they can take personally to help prevent the problem in the future. Today, there is more than two million tons of electronic waste consuming space in the United States’ landfills. Most people however, do not see this as a problem. What most consumers do not know is that computers and electrical components contain toxic materials such as lead, calcium, and mercury that are leaching into our countries landfills. For example, a computer monitor itself may contain up to eight pounds of lead. When twenty students were surveyed on toxins found inside a computer, it was observed that the majority knew there were toxins inside. However, thirty-three percent did not know. When asked what specific toxins can be found inside, the majority of the students were correct with their responses of all three toxins. Did you know that there are hazardous materials in computers? No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Which ones specifically? Mercury Calcium Lead All Three Mercury Lead All Three Mercury All Three Mercury All Three All Three All Three The more important issue that must be addressed is if people are aware of the fact that they can actually recycle their own old computers. The majority of people are unaware of the fact that computers are in fact recyclable in their entirety. Most old computers end up collecting dust simply because they are outdated and better technology is available. When twenty students were surveyed on whether or not they knew computers were recyclable, seventy percent answered that they did not think computers were able to be recycled. The following chart shows the results. Were you aware that computers are recyclable? No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No No No No No No There are multiple organizations that are set up strictly to help people find electronic recycling information and choose the best method of disposal that is appropriate to their specific needs.

Satie, Erik :: essays research papers

Satie, Erik   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The French composer Erik Satie was born on May 17, 1866, and died on July 1, 1925, was the son of an English mother and a Parisian music publisher. He entered the Paris Conservatory in 1879 but failed to benefit from academic education, which he embarked on again only in his 40th year, when he enrolled as a pupil of Vincent d'Indy and Albert Roussel at the Schola Cantorum. Long before that, however, he had composed a number of short piano pieces, whose eccentric titles and unfashionable and yet convincing simplicity of melody were matched by an individual sense of harmony. It is still a moot point whether Satie got his harmonic ideas from his fellow student and friend Claude Debussy, or whether the debt was on Debussy's side. It is quite clear, however, that Satie's tasteful principles influenced Debussy in the composition of his opera Pelleas et Melisande and that Satie was the main influence in helping Debussy to free himself from the musical domination of Richard Wagner. Satie became interested in plainsong through his association with a so-called Rosicrucian group, while he earned his living as a cafe pianist in Montmartre. Satie was a conscious eccentric and a determined enemy of all establishments, including the musical. The comical titles that he attached to his small piano pieces are characteristic of the Bohemian wit in the Paris of his day. Irony and a deceptively childlike attitude, a dislike for pomposity of all kinds, and an instinctive secretiveness were hallmarks of both the man and his music. In 1916, Satie was befriended by Jean Cocteau and wrote the music for a ballet, Parade, on which Pablo Picasso and Leonid Massine also collaborated. By far the most important of Satie's works is Socrate , an harsh

Essay --

Introduction Sam wakes up, grabs her phone, unlocks it, checks her Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and then gets up and brushes her teeth, in that order. Whether one choses to acknowledge it or not, computer mediated communication (CMC), and more specifically, social networking websites and applications have become an integral part of ones daily routine. Millions of people across the globe have integrated Social Networking Sites (SNSs) into their everyday lives. Amongst those million, adolescents and young adults spend the most amount of time online communicating with their peers (Reich, Subrahmanyam, & Espinoza, 2012). Although many of the SNSs have unique networking functions to offer, generally they perform the same way in allowing individuals to: (1) connect with people they already share ties to, and (2) to make new connections based on shared interest or desired qualities (Reich, Subrahmanyam, & Espinoza, 2012). SNSs are a vastly growing apparatus, but there is still much to be learned about how and if these networks have a direct effect on how individuals communicate face-to-face (Boyd & Ellison, 2007). Past and current CMC studies have studied interpersonal communication amongst college aged adults, and late adolescents. However, it is rare to find a study that gives mention to how CMC through SNSs impact FTFC in early adolescents and pre-teens. Understanding how SNS impact face-to-face communication amongst today’s preadolescents can help predict the future of communication. This paper examines existing literature on the use of computer- mediated-communication through social networks and its impact on face-to-face communication amongst adolescents, in hopes that it will identify limitations in past and current studies,... ...nclude the sample not being able to be generalizable to all users of CMC because the participants in the proposed study are preadolescents. The sample size is also too small for it to be generalizable for all preadolescents, and it only focusing in a school setting provides limitations as well. Another limitation that can be assumed is due to the fact that the data being collected is self reported; therefore everything collected must be taken at face value and can be flawed due to selective memory, telescoping, or exaggeration. If access to the schools or parental consent is denied, this could be a big limitation as well. The objective of the current proposed study was to gain insight into how CMC through SNSs affect FTFC in early adolescents. Hopefully researchers will see the value of this study and they will be inspired to conduct further research on the topic.

Group Discussion

Introduction Discussions of any sort are supposed to help us develop a better perspective on issues by bringing out diverse view points. Whenever we exchange differing views on an issue,we get a clearer picture of the problem and are able to understand it. The understanding makes us better equipped to deal with the problem. This is precisely the main purpose of a discussion. The dictionary meaning of the word Group Discussion is to talk about a subject in detail. So,group discussion may refer to a communicative situation that allows its participants to express views and opinions and share with other participants.It is a systematic oral exchange of information,views and opinions about a topic,issue,problem or situation among members of a group who share certain common objectives. G D is essentially an interactive oral process. The group members need to listen to each other and use voice and gesture effectively,use clear language and persuasive style. GD is structured: the exchange of ideas in a GD takes place in a systematic and structured way. Each of the participants gets an opportunity to express his/her views and comments on the views expressed by other members of the group.GD involves a lot of group dynamics, that is, it involves both -person to person as well as group to group interactions. every group member has to develop a goal oriented or group oriented interaction. A participant needs to be aware of needs of other group members and overall objectives of the discussion. Definition: Group discussion may be defined as – a form of systematic and purposeful oral process characterized by the formal and structured exchange of views on a particular topic,issue,problem or situation for developing information and understanding essential for decision making or problem solving.Group Discussion and Other forms of Oral Communication There are several types of oral group communication. In Public Speaking,the speaker is evaluated by the audience;however there is not much interaction between audience and speaker. Audience,for the most part would only listen to the speaker. In the interview,a panel of members would assess the candidate for the requirement of selection or promotion etc. In meetings,there are discussions on issues mentioned in the agenda. Meetings may have multiple agenda.A chairperson conducts the meeting and controls and concludes the deliberations.. Group Discussion differs from debate in nature,approach and procedure. Debates include representation of two contrasting viewpoints while GD can include multiple views. A GD may help achieve group goals as well as individual needs. The examiner observes the personality traits of several candidates who participate in the G. D. Importance of Group Discussion skills A Group Discussion helps problem solving , decision making and personality assessment.Whether one is a student, a job seeker ,a professional engineer or a company executive one needs effective GD skills. Students need to participate in academic discussions, meetings, classroom sessions or selection GDs for admission to professional courses. A job-seeker may be required to face selection GDs as part of the selection process. Professionals have to participate in different meetings at the workplace . In all these situations, an ability to make a significant contribution to group deliberation and helping the group in the process of decision making is required.The importance of GD has increased in recent times due to its increasing role as an effective tool in a)problem solving b)decision making c)personality assessment. In any situation of problem, the perceptions of different people are discussed, possible solutions are suggested. The best option is chosen by the group. While taking a decision, the matter is discussed, analysed, interpreted and evaluated. While using GD as a tool for personality assessment, a topic-a problem, an opinion or a case – is given to the group consisting of eight t o ten members seated in a circle.The total time given for discussion is usually 30 minutes. Each candidate is expected to voice his opinion and offer counter arguments. The selection committee evaluates the candidates on the basis of their personality,knowledge,communication skills and leadership skills. Hence it is important to be able to take part in the GD effectively and confidently. Participants should know how to persuade their group members, how to reflect leadership qualities and how to make the group achieve its goal. Characteristics Of Successful Group DiscussionFor any group discussion to be successful,acheiving group goal is essential. Following characteristics are necessary: Having a clear objective: The participants need to know the purpose of group discussion so that they can concentrate during the discussion and contribute to achieving the group goal. An effective GD typically begins with a purpose stated by the initiator. Motivated Interaction: When there is a good level of motivation among the members, they learn to subordinate the personal interests to the group interest and the discussions are more fruitful.Logical Presentation: Participants decide how they will organise the presentation of individual views, how an exchange of the views will take place, and how they will reach a group consensus. If the mode of interaction is not decided, few of the members in the group may dominate the discussion and thus will make the entire process meaningless. Cordial Atmosphere: Development of a cooperative, friendly, and cordial atmosphere avoid the confrontation between the group members. Effective Communication skills: The success of a GD depends on an effective use of communication techniques.Like any other oral communication, clear pronounciation, simple language, right pitch are the pre-requisites of a GD. Non-verbal communication has to be paid attention to since means like body language convey a lot in any communication. Participation by all can didates: When all the members participate,the GD becomes effective. Members need to encourage each other in the GD. Leadership Skills: Qualities like initiation, logical presentation, encouraging all the group members to participate,summarizing the discussion reflect the leadership qualities. Evaluation in a GDIn any kind of GD, the aim is to judge the participants based on personality,knowledge,communicative ability to present the knowledge and leadership skills. Today team players are considered more important than individual contributors. Hence the potential to be a leader is evaluated and also ability to work in a team is tested. The evaluators generally assess the oral competence of a candidate in terms of team listening, appropriate language, clarity of expression, positive speech attitudes and adjustments, clear articulation, and effective non-verbal communication.Personality: Even before one starts communicating,impression is created by the appearance,the body language,eye-c ontact,mannerisms used etc. The attire of a participant creates an impression,hence it is essential to be dressed appropriately. The hairstyle also needs to suit the occassion. Other accessories also have to be suitable for the occasion. The facial expression helps to convey attitudes like optimism,self-confidence and friendliness. The body language, a non-verbal communication skill gives important cues to personality assessment.It includes the posture of a person, the eye-contact and overall manner in which one moves and acts. In the entire participation in the GD,the body language has an important role in the impact created. As non-verbal cues such as eye contact, body movements, gestures, facial expressions, and so on can speak louder than words, examiners closely watch the non-verbal behaviour of candidates. They generally evaluate the body language cues of candidates to determine personality factors such as nervousness, cooperation, frustration, weakness, insecurity, self-confi dence, defensiveness, and so forth.So, it is important to be careful while using non-verbal messages. However, one should recognise the power of non-verbal messages and use them effectively. Content: Content is a combination of knowledge and ability to create coherent, logical arguments on the basis of that knowledge. Also a balanced response is what is expected and not an emotional response. In a group discussion, greater the knowledge of the subject more confident and enthusiastic would be the participation. Participants need to have a fair amount of knowledge on a wide range of subjects.The discussion of the subject must be relevant, rational, convincing and appealing to the listeners. One needs to keep abreast with national and international news, political, scientific, economic, cultural events, key newsmakers etc. This has to be supplemented by one's own personal reasoning and analysis. People with depth and range of knowledge are always preferred by dynamic companies and orga nisations. The topics for GD tests may include interesting and relevant ideas pertaining to social, economic, political or environmental problems; controversial issues,innovations or case studies.To read daily newspapers, relevant magazines and periodicals, to watch news bulletins and informative programmes on television are is a simple ways to gather the general knowledge. One can use the Internet to improve one's knowledge about recent developments in different areas. Internet is a valuable source to acquire information along with mulitimedia form. Subject knowledge also includes the ability to analyse facts or information in a systematic way and to place them in the context of the framework of one’s personal experiences. For the expertise in the GD, the only way is to practice wherever one can.The other members can evaluate the performance and give suggestions. Communication Skills: First and foremost feature of communication skills is that it is a two way process. Hence t he communicator has to keep in mind the listeners and their expectations. The participants need to observe the group dynamics. Since GD tests one’s behavior as well as one’s influence on the group, formal language and mutual respect are obvious requirements. One may not take strong views in the beginning itself but wait and analyse the pros and cons of any situation. If one needs to disagree, learn to do so politely.One can directly put forward the personal viewpoint also. One may appreciate the good points made by others;can make a positive contribution by agreeing to and expanding an argument made by another participant. An idea can be appreciated only when expressed effectively. A leader or an administrator has the ability to put across the idea in an influential manner. Hence the participants in a group discussion must possess not only subject knowledge but also the ability to present that knowledge in an effective way. Since oral skills are used to put across the ideas, the ability to speak onfidently and convincingly makes a participant an impressive speaker. The members of the selection committee closely evaluate the oral communication skills of the candidates. The effective communication would imply use of correct grammar and vocabulary, using the right pitch, good voice quality, clear articulation, logical presentation of the ideas and above all, a positive attitude. It is expected that there are no errors of grammar or usage and that appropriate words, phrases etc. are used. One should try to use simple and specific language. One should avoid ornamental language.Clarity of expression is one of the important criteria of communication. When there is clarity of thinking, there is clarity in usage of language. Positive Speech Attitudes is another criterion of evaluation in the GD whereby the participant’s attitude towards listeners including other group members is judged. The temperament of the participant is also evaluated through t he speech pattern. Listening Skills: Lack of active listening is often a reason for failure of communication. In the GD, participants often forget that it is a group activity and not a solo performance as in elocution.By participating as an active listener, he/she may be able to contribute significantly to the group deliberations. The listening skills are closely linked to the leadership skills as well. Leadership Skills: The success of any group depends to a large extent upon the leader. One of the common misconceptions about leadership is that the leader is the one who controls the group. There are different approaches to the concept of leadership. By studying the personality traits of great leaders or actual dimensions of behavior to identify leadership one can learn to cultivate essential traits of leaders.In a GD, a participant with more knowledge, one who is confident,one who can find some solution to the problem and display initiative and responsibility will be identified as the leader. A candidate's success in a GD test will depend not only on his/her subject knowledge and oral skills but also on his/her ability to provide leadership to the group. Adaptability, analysis, assertiveness, composure, self-confidence, decision making, discretion, initiative, objectivity, patience, and persuasiveness are some of the leadership skills that are useful in proving oneself as a natural leader in a GD.The leader in a group discussion should be able to manage the group despite differences of opinion and steer the discussion to a logical conclusion within the fixed time limit. The examiners will assess whether each participant is a team player who can get along with people or an individualist who is always fighting to save his/her ego. Employers today look for candidates who can work in a team-oriented environment. GD participants need a number of team management skills in order to function effectively in a team. Some of the skills needed to manage a group effective ly include adaptability, positive attitude, cooperation, and coordination.In a selection GD, the group, which may consist of six to ten persons, is given a topic to discuss within 30 to 45 minutes. After announcing the topic, the total GD time, and explaining the general guidelines and procedures governing the GD, the examiner withdraws to the background leaving the group completely free to carry on with the discussion on its own without any outside interference. In the absence of a designated leader to initiate the proceedings of the discussion, the group is likely to waste time in cross talks, low-key conversations, cross-consultations, asides, and so on.The confusion may last until someone in the group takes an assertive position and restores the chaos into order. It could be any candidate. In order to get the GD started, the assertive, natural leader will have to remind the group of its goal and request them to start the discussion without wasting time. A few examples of the ope ning lines are given below: †¢ Well friends, may I request your kind attention? I am sure all of us are keen to begin the GD and complete it within the allotted time. Let me remind you that we have only thirty minutes to complete the task. So, let us get started. My dear friends, may I have your attention please? As you all know, we have to complete the discussion in 45 minutes and we have already used up five minutes. I think we should start the discussion now. Hello everybody. I am sorry to interrupt but I have something very important to say. We are here to discuss the topic — † Human cloning should be banned. â€Å"—and the time given to us is just 30 minutes. Let us begin, shall we? Leadership functions during a GD include initiative,analysis,assertiveness and so on. GD doesnot have a formal leader, hence one of the participants is xpected to take the initiative. The leader will promote positive group interactions; point out areas of agreement and disa greement;. help keep the discussion on the right track and lead the discussion to a positive and successful conclusion within the stipulated time. The ability to analyse a situation is a quality of leadership. Analytical skills and objectivity in expressing opinions are absolute requirements for leadership. With patience and composure one can develop the analytical skills. Reaching consensus by considering the group opinion will make the GD successful.Assertiveness, that is an ability to bring order to the group by handling the conflict is another desirable quality of leadership. Self confidence is a quality which helps win the agreement from other participants. In GD, participants can make a favourable and forceful impact on the group by being persuasive and convincing. In order to be persuasive, one has to advance strong, convincing, and logical arguments properly supported by factual data and forceful illustrations. A firm tone and a sober voice would also help in establishing on eself.A leader's ability to convince others and make them accept his/her views and suggestions will establish his/her credentials for leadership. Leaders are charactrerised by a high level of motivation and can motivate others too. A person with motivation can work hard to do the best job possible and can achieve targets. Team Management skills are important for a leader to manage the members of varied interests. Some of the skills needed to manage a group effectively include adaptability, positive attitude, cooperation, and coordination. Try this quiz

How to survive in a jungle Essay

About 300 instances of disappearings in the jungles of South America were recorded in 2012. and more than half of the people are still non found today. Geting lost in a jungle is non a rare juncture! Due to corner canopies darkness falls rapidly in a jungle. which might do you to happen yourself in the thick of jungle in pitch dark. Therefore you have to be cognizant of the dangers and cognize how to protect yourself. To last in a jungle. you need to cognize your waies. necessitate a shelter that will protect you from wildlife. and the hope to last no affair what. By maintaining these in head. you will decidedly happen your manner out without a abrasion. The first thing that you have to worry approximately is make up one's minding where to travel. In a jungle you must cognize that a incorrect bend will take you traveling in circles and can be irreversible. Fortunately. there are different ways to hold a changeless way. A compass is a necessity that will decidedly increase your opportunity of lasting as you can take a way and stick to it irrespective of the state of affairs. Almost no 1 keeps a compass in his/her pocket but fortunately there is another method! Detecting the Sun right can let you to utilize it as your ain personal compass. If you don`t cognize. the Sun rises at the E and sets at the West. by following the motion you will find where E and West are at all times. Knowing where your E and West are will extinguish the hazard of acquiring lost as you can merely maintain on walking to one way. To be cognizant of your way is a big portion of the program. but you will surely necessitate more to last such as a shelter. Second. constructing a shelter is decidedly a must. A good shelter will conceal you from wildlife interlopers. mentally comfort you and do you remain unagitated and in control. Do non bury to do usage of the things that you already have with you. For illustration. a poncho. ripped fictile sheeting or a length of rope can be a superb usage in a jungle. The simplest manner to organize a canopy is binding the poncho or plastic between four trees. If you don`t hold anything with you will hold to utilize your creativeness and utilize the nature to your benefit. like the forests for case. Furthermore. attempt to remain near a beginning of H2O and avert natural jeopardies like drops. The jungle is home to many different wild animate beings and you can be certain that you will non be welcomed. In this instance your shelter will play a major function of being your lone personal infinite. It will be the topographic point that you will safely rest and kip in order to maintain your strength. Sle ep is besides required to keep stable mental wellness and in the jungle. Other than shelter. there is one more factor that will find whether you will or will non last. Last but non least. no affair what happens you must hold religion and maintain combat for endurance. Besides physical strength. you besides need the emotional strength. Everything might non travel how you imagined it would but you must remain positive. As you are unfamiliar to the environment there will be some failures. You will perfectly stop up disbursement hours trying to catch a fish for a nice repast. but end up neglecting. Remember that the lone individual who can let you to give up is yourself. so do non lose hope and be strong. If you start to lose hope after some failures. conceive of your household and your friends that makes life deserving life for. There is nil you can carry through if you are determined to last and be reunited with the 1s you love most. If you keep these methods in head you can even acquire through the worst scenario that can go on in a jungle and reunite with the people that makes life deserving life for. There is no populating thing that is capable of making assorted things like worlds. so at the terminal it will all boil down to how bad you truly want to last. You might be a alien in their environment but don`t forget that you are the smartest of them. You will be the one to find your ain destiny! If you believe yourself. there isn`t any ground for non to emerge winning against all the dangers that nature has in shop for you.

Positive and Negative Impact of Genetically Modified Food Essay

Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally, e.g. through the introduction of a gene from a different organism. Currently available GM foods stem mostly from plants, but in the future foods derived from GM microorganisms or GM animals are likely to be introduced on the market. Most existing genetically modified crops have been developed to improve yield, through the introduction of resistance to plant diseases or of increased tolerance of herbicides. In the future, genetic modification could be aimed at altering the nutrient content of food, reducing its allergenic potential, or improving the efficiency of food production systems. All GM foods should be assessed before being allowed on the market. FAO/WHO Codex guidelines exist for risk analysis of GM food. Positive and Negative Impacts Genetically Modified Food Has on the World The term ‘genetically modified food’, also known as ‘genetically modified organisms’, is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. The reason these plants are being modified today is to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides (pesticides used to kill unwanted plants) or improved nutritional content. In order to create these genetically modified foods, scientists must introduce specific changes to their DNA by using extremely precise genetic engineering techniques. While there are some benefits that genetically modified foods may offer, there are also some risks and negative affects that these foods can cause as well. Genetically modified foods have been helpful in many aspects of the world. Firstly, they have the ability to help meet the growing demands for food supply as the world population has topped 6 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years or so. Ensuring enough food supply for this booming population is going to be a major struggle in years to come, and genetically modified foods will help do this in a number of ways. For example, crop losses from insect pests can be shocking, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries. By growing genetically modified foods such as B.T. corn, farmers can help eliminate the production of chemical pesticides that cause potential health hazards, and there will be higher crop yields that many experts argue can help to feed people in these countries. In addition to this, plants can be genetically modified to be resistant to bacterial, fungal or viral infestation. For example, sweet potatoes have been modified to improve viral resistance, and bananas have been modified to resist the Black Sigatoka fungus. Growing genetically modified foods will therefore lead to less†¦ [continues] Harmful Effects of the Agent Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are a broad group of plants, animals, and bacteria that are engineered for a wide variety of applications ranging from agricultural production to scientific research. The types of potential hazards posed by GMO’s vary according to the type of organism being modified and its intended application. Most of the concern surrounding GMO’s relates to their potential for negative effects on the environment and human health. Because GMO’s that could directly effect human health are primarily products that can enter the human food supply, this website focuses on genetically modified food. To date, the only types of products that have been approved for human consumption in the U.S. are genetically modified plants (FDA website). All genetically modified foods that have been approved are considered by the government to be as safe as their traditional counterparts and are generally unregulated (FDA website). However, there are seve ral types of potential health effects that could result from the insertion of a novel gene into an organism. Health effects of primary concern to safety assessors are production of new allergens, increased toxicity, decreased nutrition, and antibiotic resistance (Bernstein et al., 2003). Food Allergy Food Allergy affects approximately 5% of children and 2% of adults in the U.S. and is a significant public health threat (Bakshi, 2003). Allergic reactions in humans occur when a normally harmless protein enters the body and stimulates an immune response (Bernstein et al., 2003). If the novel protein in a GM food comes from a source that is know to cause allergies in humans or a source that has never been consumed as human food, the concern that the protein could elicit an immune response in humans increases. Although no allergic reactions to GM food by consumers have been confirmed, in vitro evidence suggesting that some GM products could cause an allergic reaction has motivated biotechnology companies to discontinue their development (Bakshi, 2003). Increased Toxicity Most plants produce substances that are toxic to humans. Most of the plants that humans consume produce toxins at levels low enough that they do not produce any adverse health effects. There is concern that inserting an exotic gene into a plant could cause it to produce toxins at higher levels that could be dangerous to humans. This could happen through the process of inserting the gene into the plant. If other genes in the plant become damaged during the insertion process it could cause the plant to alter its production of toxins. Alternatively, the new gene could interfere with a metabolic pathway causing a stressed plant to produce more toxins in response. Although these effects have not been observed in GM plants, they have been observed through conventional breeding methods creating a safety concern for GM plants. For example, potatoes conventionally bred for increased diseased resistance have produced higher levels of glycoalkaloids (GEO-PIE website). Decreased Nutritional Value A genetically modified plant could theoretically have lower nutritional quality than its traditional counterpart by making nutrients unavailable or indigestible to humans. For example, phytate is a compound common in seeds and grains that binds with minerals and makes them unavailable to humans. An inserted gene could cause a plant to produce higher levels of phytate decreasing the mineral nutritional value of the plant (GEO-PIE). Another example comes from a study showing that a strain of genetically modified soybean produced lower levels of phytoestrogen compounds, believed to protect against heart disease and cancer, than traditional soybeans (Bakshi, 2003). Antibiotic resistance In recent years health professionals have become alarmed by the increasing number of bacterial strains that are showing resistance to antibiotics. Bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics by creating antibiotic resistance genes through natural mutation. Biotechnologists use antibiotic resistance genes as selectable markers when inserting new genes into plants. In the early stages of the process scientists do not know if the target plant will incorporate the new gene into its genome. By attaching the desired gene to an antibiotic resistance gene the new GM plant can be tested by growing it in a solution containing the corresponding antibiotic. If the plant survives scientists know that it has taken up the antibiotic resistance gene along with the desired gene. There is concern that bacteria living in the guts of humans and animals could pick up an antibiotic resistance gene from a GM plant before the DNA becomes completely digested (GEO-PIE website). It is not clear what sort of ris k the possibility of conferring antibiotic resistance to bacteria presents. No one has ever observed bacteria incorporating new DNA from the digestive system under controlled laboratory conditions. The two types of antibiotic resistance genes used by biotechnologists are ones that already exist in bacteria in nature so the process would not introduce new antibiotic resistance to bacteria. Never the less it is a concern and the FDA is encouraging biotechnologists to phase out the practice of using antibiotic resistance genes (GEO-PIE website).

Reform in government Essay

When it comes to making reform in government, politicians are programmed to act in one distinct manner. They want to prop up spending on government programs. The idea and prevailing thought on this is that if you throw enough money at something, it is bound to improve. This type of thinking is what causes politicians to add lots of new programs to the docket when in reality, they have not yet taken the time to evaluate the success of progress of their already implemented programs. There are many reasons why this type of thing might happen, but one of the most important is because, simply put, there is not enough time to sit back and evaluate new programs. The thought, at least in the minds of politicians, is that these programs take a few years to really have an impact. This means that the positive or negative things associated with a new program will not be seen for many months, so politicians do not think that they can correctly evaluate it (USGovernmentspending. com). The solution for this problem would be to evaluate programs starting further back before commiting to spend more money on new government programs, but this is not the way that politicians are programmed. They are programmed in a way that rewards public spending and new reform. This is one thing that politicians can point to when they run for re-election, so that people will see that they are doing something in Washington. Even if a program is not successful in affecting change in society, politicians are able to say that they were doing something in order to fix the problem, even if that something was counterproductive in nature.

Mateship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mateship - Essay Example He spoke with his wife and they had determined that if they portioned there money properly they would be able to purchase a home, with a small amount of livestock and farmland. If they were able to reach their quotas they would be able to continue to support themselves and their infant daughter Abby. As Alex continued to look outside his window he became increasingly worried. While the first few years after moving to their new home had gone as they had hoped, in recent years they had experienced tremendous hardship. A spread of disease had overtaken much of their cattle, causing them to use the profits they had saved throughout the earlier years to buy new livestock. While the farmland had been the backbone of their existence, the recent drought had placed them once again on hard times. Added to this difficulty the couple’s infant daughter Abby was now a five year child with increasing demands; should be need to be sent to school in the upcoming year and the family worried abo ut having the money to support her education. Alex worried that if things did not soon improve he would have to sell the farm and admit catastrophic failure. While Alex and his family had enjoyed their lives and had become accustomed to the relative solitude, it did mean that they had to rely only on themselves in these challenging situations. Alex considered his solitude. He thought that of all the friends and family he had known throughout his life and recognized that there was nobody that could help him. He began to think about his surroundings. There was not another neighbor for nearly twenty-miles in any direction, except the lone estate on Douglas Hill. He had never ventured to this estate. It was clearly the home of a rich man, as it had fantastic architecture and was surrounded by a large and expensive fence. Alex recognized that there was farmland in the back and that the owner must have a reservoir of water he saved for droughts. Still, Alex had always been intimidated by entering the area of the home as he recognized the individual probably wanted nothing to do with a poor farmer like himself. Alex thought to himself – desperate times call for desperate measures – and set out to the estate. When Alex reached the estate he pressed the buzzer outside the gate. A light came on and he spoke into it identifying himself. He heard nothing on the other end and began walking away; as he was walking away the gates began to open. Alex turned around and walked towards the estate. When he reached the door Alex remained intimidated as he knocked on the door. He waited for a moment, expecting to be sent away or disregarded. Suddenly the door opened. ‘Howdy mate!’ a smiling middle-aged man in a hat said. Alex was taken aback. He had expected an old and serious gentleman, but had found an upbeat and casual person. Alex explained to the individual that he lived in the house a mile away. Before he could explain why he came, the man invited h im in. He introduced himself, saying his name was Steve. Alex was still slightly intimidate, but had become increasingly relaxed by Steve’s friendly demeanor. The two men walked into the home and onto the back porch. Steve retrieved some beers and they sat and talked about the area. Steve told him he had move there twenty-years ago and had started out from humble beginnings and built his farm and wealth up from nearly nothing. The conversation shifted to the drought and Alex told him about the dire straights his family had fallen into as a direct result. Understanding

CRITIQUE OF A QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH REPORT Essay

CRITIQUE OF A QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH REPORT - Essay Example This research is therefore significant for nursing operations. Hypotheses – patients (veterans) randomly assigned to MBB would exhibit significantly greater improvements in sleep and in other co-morbid symptoms than patients assigned to SH; increased mindfulness facilitates improvements in sleep symptoms in patients assigned to MBB The hypotheses show directional causal relationship between the variables. Research questions and / or hypotheses are consistent with the literature review and the conceptual framework in the sense that they give supportive argument to the theoretical and empirical literature. Of Utah and VASLCHCS Institutional Review Boards. All patients gave written informed consent and were compensated for their time. Patients were surveyed and selected in accordance with the main objective of the study (i.e., improving management of The randomized controlled trial was appropriate for the study because the population dealt with was relatively large. The comparison of results between patients assigned to MBB and those assigned to SH facilitate easier interpretability of the findings. The study involved four data collection points: test for eligibility (completing MOS-SS), sleep inclusion disturbance, enrolment and randomization, allocation for interventions (MBB and SH). The study clearly stated the population, sample size, and the sampling method. The employment of randomized method of selection reduced the sample bias. Designing four data collection points improved the accuracy of the data collected with regard to research questions. The design was appropriate and it provided a representative sample. The study employed two interventions: SH and MBB, which were clearly defined. Data collection process was designed to achieve accuracy by presenting four data collection points, which were tailored towards specificity, thereby minimizing bias. Interpretations are consistent with the results and the study’s limitations. It clear

The equal pay for men and women Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The equal pay for men and women - Essay Example This gender-wage inequality naturally carries over into the world of pensioners, where sex discrimination and occupational segregation have an even greater effect. In fact, â€Å"the pay gap which already exists between men and women during their working lives becomes a vast pension gulf in later life† (BBC, 2003). The result is that, on a whole, women pensioners are poorer than male pensioners. In fact, according to the same report, women receive â€Å"just 32p for every  £1 of income received by men in a pensioner couple† (2003).   Many women suffer from this disadvantage in pension rates because of interruptions in their service in the labour force due to maternity and child/home care, and also because of receiving lower pay in their working years via the same occupational segregation and sex discrimination. Research shows that 45% of all women work part-time and 25% of those who do are shop and care assistants or cleaners (US-UK pensions dialogue).   Across th e board, women suffer from the effects of lower wages.  This gender-wage inequality naturally carries over into the world of pensioners, where sex discrimination and occupational segregation have an even greater effect. In fact, â€Å"the pay gap which already exists between men and women during their working lives becomes a vast pension gulf in later life† (BBC, 2003). The result is that, on a whole, women pensioners are poorer than male pensioners. In fact, according to the same report, women receive â€Å"just 32p for every  £1 of income received by men in a pensioner couple† (2003).   Many women suffer from this disadvantage in pension rates because of interruptions in their service in the labour force due to maternity and child/home care, and also because of receiving lower pay in their working years via the same occupational segregation and sex discrimination. Research shows that 45% of all women work part-time and 25% of those who do are shop and care assi stants or cleaners (US-UK pensions dialogue).   Across the board, women suffer from the effects of lower wages.   It has been found through research that â€Å"in every country in the world, women continue to be paid less for comparable work than men† (Women work more). Although the government has been taking action to revalue the jobs that women do, the current state of affairs leaves women poorer than men at almost every level. Women have been disadvantaged for many reasons, but arguments everywhere are that women are victims of sex discrimination and occupational segregation. To those who say women choose their own fate by opting for lower positions or accepting low first offers, Smithson et al.  ... This is especially true of older women, who lived in a generation where women were much less likely to attain higher levels of education. As a result, women find themselves in general receiving less money than men. This scenario, however, does not account for the many women who are as skilled as the men they work with, yet receive much lower wages. Evidence supports the claim by Grimshaw et al. that there exists a "need for a multi-faceted approach to closing the average gender pay gap" (2001, p. 209). This is true in several areas where sex discrimination occurs. According to Iona Heath (2004), general practitioner at Caversham Group Practice in London, women doctors earn an average of about 20.7% lower than men in the same position. A similar situation exists in universities. According to research done in 2004 by the Association of University Teachers (AUT), the wage gap is lower in academia than in other sections of the employment world. However, it is possible to argue that at 15% the average is still embarrassingly high in that section of the employment world that is populated with the so-called progressive intellectuals who should be doing much better at leading the UK to a more gender-equal economy. In fact, as that percentage represents only the average, it has to be noted that several higher-educational institutions pay women at a rate much lower than 85% of what is given to men. The same AUT research reported that The University of Wales College of Medicine pays women at a rate of 33% lower than men who hold similar positions (2004, p. 7). In addition, several other institutions had the wage gap above 20 percent. Another interesting finding of that study

Mental Effects Of Vietnam War On Soldiers Research Paper

Mental Effects Of Vietnam War On Soldiers - Research Paper Example Following the end of the war the Americans lost 58000 lives and almost 350,000 were seriously injured. After the end of the war when the Americans returned home majority of them did not either want to talk about the war or they were so much frightened by the devastations of the war that they remained stunned and silent. The only war which the United States lost was this. An essence of moral degeneration also played very strong in the minds of the Americans. The dangerous guerilla warfare was adopted by the Vietnamese and the U.S. succumbed under their tactics of warfare ending up being confused and losing their lives or being tremendously injured. Continuous war fought by them and barrage of continuous gun firing and ‘shell shock’ jeopardized the mental state of the U.S. soldiers as they were traumatized. They were seriously affected by mental disorders like depression, hallucinations suicidal tendencies, conflict in marriage relations etc. Mental shock among the soldier s also came from the pessimistic behavior of the country. They were treated as second class citizens and were cursed and sometimes recognized as ‘baby killers’. Discriminations were faced by them in unemployment scenario also. They were devoid of grants and pensions and proper healthcare. So the paper focuses on the description of the mental disorders faced by the Vietnam veterans like shell shock, combat exposure and mental disorders occurring from spraying herbicides like Agent Orange, effects on family satisfaction and functioning, treatment of the soldiers from the country and in the VA hospitals (Sitikoff). Research focus The research question addressed in this paper is what are the effects of Vietnam War on the mental state of the soldiers and what are its implications? The topic has been selected in order to examine the factors which led to the psychological disorders among the Vietnam War veterans. The justification behind the selection of this topic is to analy ze the kinds of mental constraints faced by these soldiers and also the reason why these brave heroes succumbed to mental disorders despite being a part of this prolonged warfare. Literature review The states of mental disorders prevalent among the soldiers are invasive memories, major depression, night mares and loss of concentration (Cromie). A reevaluated study of National Vietnam Veterans Readjustments Study (NVVRS) states that war related PTSD which was developed among the men during their lifetime was 18.7%. A study by the Centers for Disease Control found that Vietnam veterans suffering from psychological problems were approximately twice as compared to the military veterans of the other countries like Vietnam and Australia (Aneli and Hendrix, 87). Research Methods A study about the different types of mental challenges faced by the soldiers has been described in this paper. Firstly a backdrop of the war and an account of overall psychological torment and deprivations of the V ietnam War veterans is provided and then in a synchronized manner the paper concentrates on seeking answer to the research question. For analyzing the different aspects of the mental disorders faced by the Vietnam Veterans qualitative analysis have been adopted from secondary sources like journals and authentic books. The focus of the study is on issues like ‘Shell Shock’ (Wood), mental problems suffered from spraying toxic herbicides like Agent Orange for clearing the forests (Singer and Hodge). A major focus has been entailed on the comparative analysis between the Vietnamese soldiers and the American soldiers who fought the Vietnam War in order to

Ethics and policies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Ethics and policies - Essay Example The intense and dynamic nature of business pressures may not provide enough time for reflection and with the high stakes involved it may be tempting to compromise on ideals. Moreover, well-minded people often exhibit major differences in opinions about what constitutes ethical behavior and how these ethical decisions need to be made, further compounding the complex nature of the subject. A lot of evidence that we discuss in this paper shows that the advantages gained in taking an ethical stance are well worth the efforts taken in this often tricky path. This paper identifies the inherent long term benefits of actively managing the business ethics process in organizations and explores the value in ethical leadership especially in the air travel industry using relevant examples. The ethical issues that have afflicted companies like Enron, WorldCom and Tyco have brought the impact of ethics violations to the popular attention in the United States. Parmalat, Adecco, Ahoid and Skandia have grabbed the media focus in Europe. In all these scandals involving breach of corporate ethics, revelations have been followed by investigations, accusations, claims and counter claims. Legal wrangling involving formal investigations, testimony, evidence trials, verdicts and punishments have gained relentless media coverage. The resulting damage done to the reputation of these businesses is enormous. As a result, the employee morale becomes very low in this worrisome, suspicious and discouraging environment. May International, a management consultation firm, recently conducted a survey of businesses in US and in Italy to determine how business owners viewed corporate ethics. Concern for business and personal reputation was the reason most often (54% of respondents) stated by Italian business owners for concern about ethics. The most common reason (43%) noted by U.S. business owners for their ethics concern was the basic belief that

Assignment 4 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

4 - Assignment Example It is vital during data collection for the researcher to perform the criteria to know the best languages to be during the interview. Conversely, it requires translator, who are difficult to get. Psychological analysis is a way of measuring ones performance on a job in a standardized and objective manner. It uses a test score used to establish an individual’s performance, for instance, an examination for students. The advantage of the process is that the assessment enables the researcher to determine the abnormal and normal personality. On the contrary, there are individuals who can perform a duty so well without being subjected to such tests when it comes to practicality. Questionnaires are applicable in scenarios that require sentences response to an event or an utterance’s interpretations that are contained in the description of the event. Its advantage is that it is not so expensive and can quickly be direct to many participants (Schauer, pg 8). Its disadvantage is that only written and specific instructions can be to the participants, which also rely on the participants’ imaginations. It is the use of surveys or questionnaires to examine attitudes in individuals as various measures are used to determine what causes likes and dislikes in people. Its merit is that it provides designed portfolios with additional information on how to check on attitudes. On he other hand, its demerit is that its accuracy will only depend on the collected data even if it’s a false statement. Oral discourse elicitation is a data collection technique that allows researchers highly to control the context type of events they intend to extract as they research on data that is oral. Elicited imitation includes role-plays and conversations. The merit of conversations done orally is that they provide data orally. On the other hand, role-play is advantageous in that the participants are the events’ details. Their main demerit is that they don’t

Documenting the Media Revolution Research Paper - 1

Documenting the Media Revolution - Research Paper Example However, the advent of the computer era and the development of various electronic based gadgets have allowed man to finally come up with an alternative to print media. I speak of the eBook readers that come bundled with most of our smartphones and tablet PC's. This paper will take a look into the history of the eBook, what gadgets existed prior to the advent of the modern day eBook reader, and how the technology has made reading a more interactive activity these days. eBooks first appeared on the market back in 1998. The precursor of today's readers were the Softbook and Gemstar Rocket eBook Reader. These particular readers did not easily catch on at the time since most people were still adapting to the internet and paperless era so very little attention if any were actually paid to the launch of these readers. However, the year 2000 launch of Stephen King's horror novel Ride the bullet in pure eBook format called attention to the up and coming technology. By 2003, eBooks and readers were still trying to break into the market as paper books still remain the traditional favorite. by July, Gemstar is merely a footnote in the history of the readers while Barnes and Noble pulls out eBooks from their stores. Critics then begin to predict the beginning of the end for the digital reader format. But the technology gains a new life with the advent of the Sony Librie which is a marked improvement upon its predecessors since it now uses electronic ink and has managed to reduce the backlight glare thus allowing the reader to show the same type of actual ink quality for the reader. By 2007, the Kindle is released and everyone now knows that the eBook reader is here to stay. From that point on other ebook reader devices such as the Nook come into market play. (Kozlowski, Michael â€Å"A Brief History of eBooks†). Even print book manufacturers cannot help but acknowledge that the eBook is fast edging out its physical format competitor in terms of book sales. According to research done by the Pew Research Center: The population of e-book readers is growing. In the past year, the number of those who read e-books increased from 16% of all Americans ages 16 and older to 23%. At the same time, the number of those who read printed books in the previous 12 months fell from 72% of the population ages 16 and older to 67%. (Rainie, Lee & Duggan Maeve â€Å"E-Book Reading Jumps; Print Book Reading Declines†) If one were to think about it, the rise of the eBook reader was actually something that was going to happen eventually. Our society is fast becoming a very tech savvy, gadget obsessed group that is constantly on the look out for the next big gadget that can make their lives easier. In this case, the eBook reader came across at just the right time. People were already conditioned to reading newspapers and other material via the internet and through their computer screens that using the eBook reader was not something that people feared anymore. The technology also found itself vastly improved thanks to the constantly evolving structure of the laptops as well. Newspapers and book publishers acknowledged the fact that there was more money for them to make through the electronic publication of their newspapers and books, so it is easy to surmise that the publishing sector also had a direct hand in the decision of their subscribers to switch to the eBook version of their reading material. (Fowler, Geoffrey & Baca, Marie â€Å"The ABC's of E-Reading). One reason that people are

Concepts of Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care Essay Example for Free

Concepts of Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care Essay Within this assignment, I have been addressed as a manager of a residential care home and I have the responsibility to provide a set of materials (leaflets, booklets, PowerPoint slides, posters) that can be used for information and training purposes) for my training staff. I have chosen to do this by writing a detailed leaflet in the style of an assignment so information can be thorough and clear. Rights Within the category of health and social care, the rights that we’re entitled to are significantly important. From time to time, or even regularly individuals will have to use sectors that relate to health and social care such as going to the doctors, hospital or a dentist. These public health services are mandatory for individuals and the public to use as individuals with long term health conditions or disabilities rely on the care they provide. Among public health services there are also social care services which have a responsibility to provide support for individuals with mental health problems, supporting the elderly and also the disabled within their homes. Other services include receiving appropriate care in day centres, residential and nursing homes and giving children who don’t live with their parents the care they’re entitled to. From this, it is concluded that whenever an individual is provided to have to use the health care service, experience medical treatment or social care – they have the right not to be discriminated against in terms of gender, race, gender identity, religion, disability of sexual orientation. Not only are these rights mandatory, individuals are also fully supported and protected by the written rights under the European Convention on Human Rights which have relevance within health and social care as their rights include: The right to life, the right not to be subjected to torture or to inhumane degrading treatment or punishment, the right to liberty and security of person and also the right to respect for private and family life. Choice Across the UK, it is becoming more common that an individual is obtaining more control from being able to choose the care and treatment they are receiving. The full aim from this change of choice is to be able to entitle an individual to become fully aware of the treatment and support that is available to them and advice on which would be best to choose. An example of this could being able to choose the hospital and individual receives their care in or if they require care at home they should be given a cash budget to be able to suit their needs and money limits. Overall, choice is imposed within health and social care as it’s to ensure that individuals have access to the best and right support, having access to a range of health and social care services locally and nationally, being equal partners with their doctor or carer in their decisions about their health and social care, and also being entitled to what their choices are and to make this clear within all health and soci al care circumstances. Equality During 2010 the equality act was introduced, mandatory for protecting individual’s rights and promoting the significance and importance of equality of opportunity for every single individual. Whether these opportunities would be minor or major in value, the equality act would play a significant role in allowing these opportunities to commence. Examples of opportunities may include having the right to attend a public event, or having the right to use public services. Furthermore, equality is an important role which also links back to the role of discrimination as people can be discriminated against due to their age, race, disability, and gender and so on, the equality act of 2010 stops this from occurring within health and social care settings and it signifies that each individual should all be treated equally. Diversity Diversity is a more complex word for ‘difference.’ However, diversity is about acknowledging the differences between individuals themselves, and also group differences. Individual differences include factors such as differing within race, age, gender, social status, disability, weight and so on. A person within a health and social care setting as a worker may experience misuse of diversity due to a difference they may have to another individual. For example, if a nurse refuses to treat a patient who may be suffering from a common but life threatening issue such as a heart attack, but is also a disabled individual, this current nurse would be misusing the legislation of diversity awareness, and would also most likely be on the way to becoming unemployed. In terms of acts that are significant to the roles of diversity happening in health and social care settings, the sex discrimination act of 1975 is a prime example of how men and women are treated equally even though thei r genders differ.

The Significance of Sarah Essay Example for Free

The Significance of Sarah Essay The Significance of Sarah, Jimmy and Doalty Doalty, Sarah and Jimmy Jack Cassie have three main roles in Translations. Firstly, they represent those Irish people who will be left behind during the development of the country by the English. Secondly, they all contribute to the concluding scene and its outcome. And thirdly, they all in some way represent Ireland as a whole. Unlike Maire and Owen, none of these three characters has any desire to leave Baile Beag. When Jimmy Jack sets out on a spring morning in 1798 with Hugh to join the rebellion he, like Hugh, soon feels homesick and returns eagerly to where he feels he belongs And it was there in Phelans pub reminisces Hugh that we got homesick for Athens, just like Ulysses. The desiderium nostrorum the need for our own. Jimmy Jack, the peasant scholar, is a personification of a past, idealised Ireland when Ireland kept alive the light of learning during Europes Dark Ages. His filthy clothes, and shabby exterior are compensated for by the inner richness of his cultivated mind. Again he is like Ireland, materially poor but possessed of cultural wealth. Yolland appreciates both Jimmy Jacks knowledge and the different order of experience presented by Irish culture. For Jimmy Jack, the classics and everyday life are interwoven. For the lonely, ageing man, the gods of Greece and Rome move as easily around Baile Beag as they do around Ancient Rome and Athens. He even turns to the classics for practical tips on farming, telling Doalty that he should follow the advice given in Book Two of Virgils Georgics and give his upper field over to corn rather than potatoes. Although Jimmy Jack is obviously quite capable of learning English, as he has managed to learn the more complicated languages of Latin and Greek, he does not seem to want to learn English. His knowledge of English and England itself is minimal to him they are unimportant and lack poetry. It is possible that when speaking English became essential, he would not be ble to conform. As Hugh observes, Jimmy Jack sees himself as shaped by a mythological history, based in the classics, rather than real history that is affected by the here and now. The idea of fluency in English being necessary to progress, either as an individual or a country, is totally lost on him. In the final act of the play he seems to lose touch with reality informing Hugh of his engagement to the Gre ek goddess, the flashing-eyed Athene. His confusion of reality with mythology has become complete. And yet in his conversation with Maire in the same scene, he provides an insightful commentary on the plays action on marrying inside and outside the tribe. Although he is in fact talking about his supposed engagement to Pallas Athene, it seems to Maire and the audience as if he is warning Maire about her relationship with Yolland. Either marry outside the tribe and cause possible conflict, or be safe and marry inside the tribe i. e. Manus. And the word exogamein means to marry outside the tribe. And you dont cross those borders casually both sides get very angry. These sentiments would have been recognised by the modern Irish 1980 audience, as mixed marriages between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland can be problematic even today. The idea of not marrying outside the tribe can apply to childhood friendships and schools also you stick to your own kind. By contrast with Jimmy Jack, the Infant Prodigy, Doalty is quite a slow learner he struggles with the Latin and Greek that Hugh throws at him and his arithmetic is similarly painful. More than any of the other characters, he speaks in Irish slang and with a more common type of vocabulary and phrasing. Aul fella, the wee get aul eejit too lazy be Jases. Again, unlike Jimmy Jack, he is a man of action whose knowledge is limited to farming. He alone seems to worry about the cows going mad in the heat. In a way he almost a stereotype of the slow, thick Irish peasant. His name is pronounced Dolt-y, as Maire points out. He is also a mischief maker (taking the Sappers poles) and pote ntially confrontational (in the face of Lanceys threats of eviction, he declares he would put up a fight for his property, for what little he has). Although Doalty is shown as basically good-natured throughout the play, despite his boisterous behaviour, he has links with the Donnelly twins who may be associated with more serious acts against the English soldiers (the horses found at the bottom of the cliff, the disappearance of Yolland and the fire at the camp). Under certain circumstances we could imagine Doalty becoming less pleasant. In Act 3, Doalty clearly has knowledge of Yollands disappearance. He confesses to Owen that the Donnelly twins are most likely responsible, but he still acts suspiciously himself, whistling through his teeth and ignoring further questions. He tells Owen that Manus should never have left, implying that Manus has implicated himself in the crime by doing so, but plainly Doalty knows the truth. By his persistent concealment of what he knows about Yollands disappearance, Doalty is siding with the possibly murderous Donnelly twins and exposing Baile Beag to the soldiers retaliation. All that follows beyond the span of the play in terms of the destruction of the animals and the village is a consequence in part of Doaltys silence. Sarah is the least able to learn English and by implication therefore the least capable of moving on and embracing new ways as she has an obvious speech defect that is so bad that all her life she has been considered dumb. Her communication has been confined to grunts and nasal sounds, according to Friels opening description of her. At the beginning of the play she is learning to speak with Manuss assistance and can say her own name, opening up a whole new world of possibilities: Now were really started! Manus says to her. Nothingll stop us now! Nothing in the wide world! . But by the end, under Lanceys intimidation, she loses her newfound ability and the wider horizons and again becomes mute, despite Owens encouragement to speak, and is forced once again to communicate in a sign language that is not always understood. Even though Owen tries to kindly reassure her He frightened you. Thats alls wrong. Sarah herself knows to the contrary. Without Manus to support and guide her, she cannot hold on to her new ability to communicate. However, while she could speak we must assume that she gave vital information to Manus: the embrace she witnessed between Yolland and Maire. This leads to the implication of Manus in Yollands disappearance I had a stone in my hand when I went out looking for him I was going to fell him. The lame scholar turned violent. Her presumed part in the plot is pivotal: if she had not told Manus of the kiss, Yolland might never have disappeared, Manus would not have had to leave Baile Beag, the village would not have been threatened with destruction and Sarah herself would not have been abandoned by her mentor. It has been suggested that in the scene with Lancey in which she loses her power of speech, Sarah represents Ireland. As she closes her mouth and lowers her head, according to the stage directions, the parallel is drawn with Ireland losing both her language and her power. Although Sarah, Jimmy and Doalty are all minor characters in terms of lines spoken and appearances in the play, they all make an essential contribution to the play, either in contributing to or commenting on the plot. By Act Three in contrast to the cheerful optimism of Act One, they and the play have become much darker. Sarah has lost the power of speech as well as the man who helped her discover it; Jimmy Jack has crossed the boundary between reality and fantasy, and Doalty through his concealment of the truth, has put the village and its people in danger.