Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Questions - Essay Example These incidences drive Esperanza to vow to move away from Mango Street but with an intention of coming back to take those who cannot get away. However, it is because of her life in the house on Mango Street that she finds her true self. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce begins with a vivid description of the scene just before the hanging of Peyton Farquhar. Payton thinks of his family and he is deluded into thinking that he can actually escape the hanging to be with his family. Bierce uses a vivid and plausible approach to describe the realities of life. The story then does into a flashback and describes Farquhar as a 35-year-old gentlemanly planter. It is implied that he was tricked by a federal scout, disguised as a confederate solder, into sabotaging the Owl creek bridge. We learn of Farquhar’s ironic and poignant estate, as he never imagined that others who were equally devoted to victory could ever deceive him. Farquhar’s life is the portrait of a doomed way of life. Sandra Cisnero was a Latino woman who realized the uniqueness of experiences as unique and outside the American culture realm in terms of the experiences and imagination. The characters on the House on Mango Street are real and she incorporates her major concerns of life into the novel; poverty cultural division, degradation, oppression, religion, feminism and love. It is through Esperanza that the reader gets a glimpse into the kind of person that Sandra Cisnero is; her views on herself, life and the effect of poverty on her present and future. By understanding this past, the reader can relate to the book. On of the most important events in my life was marked by the securing of a great job when I joined university. Even graduates dreamt of this great opportunity. I considered myself luck in many levels. I was experiencing financial stability that I had

Contextual studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Contextual studies - Essay Example Human skill, mindset and imagination, are critical variables in the defining works of human creation, inclusive of the aspect of ornamentation. Trilling (1991), provides an impressive variety of ornament (artwork), defining human history; from the Paleolithic era, to the present; thus enabling human appreciation. The reader or audience is thus appreciative of both the historical importance, and the inherent aesthetic value of human architecture and ornament (85). Although the prevailing modernist emphasis, on the unadorned art form, pushed art ornamentation to the very margins of the West’s taste and preference during the 20th Century, a revival of the same is underway. This may be informed by the essence of human appreciation for art in terms of aesthetic beauty, ornament, heritage and functionality (Trilling, 1991:88). The selected authors are critical to the evaluation and understanding of ornament utility (ornamentation), concerning architecture and design. Their relevance is derived from accomplished work, data collection and research carried out. These select authors include James Trilling, Pevsner, Read and Worringer, amongst others. There will be a development of the thesis, formulated around the argument that ornament use is a right, and not a crime. This will entail a discussion of the pros and cons of the argument, through the thesis statement, which will be criticized in the form of an antithesis. Following will be a synthesis of findings, to be conclusively ended in a reflective way. A bibliography, will round up the work, basing it on the right of ornament use in architecture, and human design. A debate exists, as to whether ornament is a right, or a crime. It is the intention of this paper, to further provide proof, of ornament as a right; concerning architecture and design. This is from the past eras to the present, displaying various examples

Philosophies of the Draft Dodgers

Philosophies of the Draft Dodgers Countercultures, or groups that that break off from a dominant or larger society because they disagree with the societys values or beliefs, can have lasting effects on government policies or global affairs (Thomas 39). One such counterculture is the group of American draft dodgers. These individuals evaded conscription, or mandatory military service, in American since the American Civil War (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). They rejected the American values of patriotism and national security during key wars such as World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. Also, they broke American laws, a part of the national culture, by burning their draft cards in protest and escaping to Canada to avoid their required service specifically during the Vietnam War (Kennedy and Cohen 891). These actions employed by draft dodgers display their own ideas and voices their rejection of the larger societys views, categorizing them as a counterculture in American history. Although draft dodgers can and have appeared in other countries around the world with mandatory military service, the American draft dodgers are specifically notable for their involvement in a number of American wars and polices. Draft evasion has roots in several areas from pacifism to personal unwillingness. Some countries exempted conscientious objectors to war and the draft (people who opposed bearing arms or violence for reasons related to their philosophy or religion) or provided them with specific jobs that did not require fighting, though others throughout history did not excuse these objectors from service (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The United States addressed conscientious objectors during the Civil War by allowing them to serve in positions that did not require the use of weaponry (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). However, the 1940 conscript laws clarified objectors as people who were part of a known pacifist group, not individuals that claimed perso nal objections (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The United States started experiencing draft dodgers during the American Civil War when conscription was first implemented in 1861 (Michael Ray). The affluent society in the North avoided military service by utilizing a bounty system, where the drafted individuals paid substitutes, especially African Americans, to enter the military for them (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). These citizens had an advantage over the poor and the military soon consisted of lower classes, inciting hostility towards both the wealthy and African Americans. Eventually, the Draft Riot of 1863 occurred with public unrest over this system; for four days, New York City rioters targeted African American buildings with violence (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). After the Civil War, the draft also added to the countrys military power during the two World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. All of these wars presented opportunities fo r draft dodgers, but the most notable wars they affected were the American Civil War and the Vietnam War. Most people associate draft resistance with American participation in the Vietnam War, where public protest of the draft escalated dramatically. Some of the public resistance of the draft stemmed from the Selective Service Systems deferment processes which provided certain people with special opportunities to avoid the draft (Michael Ray). Some draft dodgers resisted conscription by escaping to Canada (Kennedy and Cohen 891). After the Military Selective Service Act of 1967, burning draft cards, or the registration certificates for the draft, exploded as one of the most popular form of protest even though it broke government laws (Michael Ray). Protesters argued that the First Amendment protected their right to freely express opposition to the draft with this method (Michael Ray). David OBrien was one of the draft dodgers who burned their draft cards and ended up facing legal co nsequences (Michael Ray). His case eventually appeared before the Supreme Court in The United States v. OBrien, and the final ruling stated that burning draft cards hindered government actions and was not considered protected free speech (Michael Ray). Draft dodgers held great historical significance in American policy. In the Civil War, the draft dodgers influenced the composition of the military with the use of a bounty system to buy their way out of service (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). Their actions in the Civil War influenced American policy during World War I by prompting the government to abolish the bounty system in the 1917 Selective Service Act (Michael Ray). However, the most active and monumental role the draft dodgers played was during the Vietnam War (Kindig). They helped fuel opposition to the war with new drastic measures of burning draft cards and fleeing the country (Kennedy and Cohen 891). Their vocal actions had an unprecedented impact on the end of American involvement in the Vietnam War and the continuing attitudes later on. Currently, the U.S. draft sits dormant since there is no direct need for it, so draft dodgers appear less frequently in society as active protesters. However, in 1980 the gover nment required draft registration for men in case the draft ever resurfaced, and this policy still affects todays population (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). A sociological perspective and a sociological imagination can help people understand how draft dodgers actions affected the world. With a sociological perspective, people view others actions using scientific reasoning instead of everyday explanations (Thomas 4). It contends that everyone is a social being with hidden meanings behind his or her actions (Thomas 5). Clearly, draft dodgers did not protest the draft purely because of a disapproval of the implementation and process of the draft, although that did play a purpose in their actions. Using the sociological perspective, the actions of draft dodgers often target a larger intent to protest conscription in general and warfare as a method to solve conflict. A significant number of conscientious objectors objected to violence and bearing arms for religious or philosophical reasons, and since some governments did not excuse these objectors from service, they were forced to become draft dodgers in order to uphold their beliefs (The Edi tors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The American draft dodgers actions during the Vietnam War also had these sentiments, after media coverage of the war displayed unpleasant scenes that conflicted with their morals (Kennedy and Cohen 891). Draft dodgers conveyed the arguments for pacifism and nonviolence in their actions, two themes that apply to any country in the world. A sociological imagination, created by C. Wright Mills, allows people to connect their personal actions and experiences with the larger world in order to recognize the effects (Thomas 5). This viewpoint displays the great effects of draft dodger actions on larger bodies such as the United States of American and even the world. They significantly affected United States domestic and foreign policy. The Draft Riot of 1863 over the unfair bounty system influenced later domestic policy in the Selective Service Act of 1917, in which the process was prohibited (Michael Ray). They also influenced interpretation of the First Amendment when the Supreme Court case The United States v. OBrien arose from the protest method of burning draft cards that became popular during the Vietnam War (Michael Ray). The limitations of free speech were clarified for the American public, influencing later forms of protest. On the global perspective, foreign policy during the Vietnam War also received the impact of draft resistance since the protests amplified an opposition to American participation in the war. Their actions influenced the removal of American troops from Vietnam. Ethnocentrism is conviction that one group of people reigns supreme over other inferior groups (Thomas 35). Draft dodgers had an element of ethnocentrism in their actions, contributing to their classification as a counterculture, specifically during times of war. The draft dodgers who were conscientious objectors for religious or philosophical reasons believed that their values of pacifism or their faith were superior to the American sentiments of patriotism, leading them to resist the draft and conscription. Other draft dodgers felt that the value of life, including their own lives, was superior to patriotism, national security, or U.S. global power. They expressed their superior views by attempting to fulfill the requirements for exemption from service (deferment from Selective Service boards for academic or family reasons), burning their draft cards, or fleeing the country in order to not risk their own lives and protest the danger imposed on others lives (Michael Ray). Their ethn ocentrism encouraged draft dodgers to protest and fight for their beliefs rather than just duly accepting their fate as American citizens, resulting in their counterculture status. Cultural relativism practices that the standards of cultures different from one another, so a culture could only receive judgement based on their own point of view (Thomas 36). Using cultural relativism, draft dodgers avoid conscription because of their connection to the American culture from which they split. The American culture emphasized freedom to express and act according to an individuals beliefs (within obvious limitations). These draft dodgers, surrounded by the ideas that sharing opinions is acceptable and appreciated, naturally protested their opposition to drafts and conscription based on their own values and interests. In fact, one could argue that they protested the draft to save their own lives and the lives of their families, a priority for a number of people. A pacifist who is not a part of a formal organization would not receive exemption from conscription but would still have difficulty if drafted because the violence would conflict with his personal values, and ma y even die before fighting and breaking his values; therefore, draft avoidance could save his life (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The draft sent men off to war whether they wanted to go or not, and unfortunately not all soldiers return home to their families. The families of the men who never return to war are left with a hole in their family structure, especially if the man was unwilling to fight. In this case, protesting and dodging the draft could protect a mans family, a formidable incentive to avoid conscription. Cultural relativism allows other individuals to understand the importance of draft evasion for men and their loved ones. Despite the incentives to evade conscription, I personally do not agree with all of the philosophies of the draft dodgers. The draft dodgers rightfully protested the unfair draft systems such as the bounty system during the Civil War or the subjective deferments of the Selective Service Board and I agree with the ideas of pacifism and resolving conflicts without violence that spurred draft dodgers to reject conscription. However, the draft should remain a possible tool today with modifications that require women to register as well as men to guarantee a suitable fighting force for national security. I cannot see the value in protesting a draft if the whole country faces peril and destruction as a result of a lack of volunteers to a war effort (with hope that such a situation never arises in the future). Also, there is no harm in registering when the government may never activate draft again in ones lifespan, and if the draft is reenacted, then there must be a dire need for soldiers w ith the already impressive advancements in military power through technology and volunteers. Although I cannot agree with their ideas, the fact remains that draft dodgers impacted American policies, values, and history significantly as longstanding counterculture. References   Kennedy, David M. and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant: A History of the American People. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2016. Textbook. Kindig, Jesse. Vietnam War: Draft Resistance. 2008. Website. 3 March 2017. Michael Ray. Selective Service Acts. 10 September 2015. Website. 3 March 2017. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Conscientious Objector. 30 June 2010. Website. 3 March 2017. -. Conscription. 16 6 2011. Website. 3 March 2017. -. Draft Riot of 1863. 16 June 2011. Website. 3 March 2017. Thomas, W. LaVerne. Sociology: The Study of Human Relationships. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2003. Textbook.

The Roosevelt Era :: American History

Chapter 30 American on the World Stage 1899-1909 Summary: Foreign affairs led Roosevelt from domestic to international involvement. Page:673-681 Columbia blocks the Canal Foreign affairs absorbed much of Roosevelt’s energy and had more knowledge of outside world than most of his predecessors. Americans from Spanish-American War wanted canal across the Central American isthmus to augment the strength of the navy by increasing its mobility, defend recent American acquisitions (Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Philippines, and facilitate operations of American merchant marine. Initial obstacles was legal ones. Ancient Clayton-Bulwer Treaty with British in 1850 U.S Could not secure control over such route. 1901 with unfriendly European power and Boer War, British consented to Hay-Pauncefote Treaty it gave the U.S. right to build canal and right to fortify it as well. Locations of the canal was a controversy. Many Americans like the Nicaraguan route but the French Canal Company was not want this failing S-shaped Panama. New Panama Canal company suddenly dropped the price of its holding. Nicaragua was objected because of its volcanic activity. Congress accepted the Panama route after Hanna persuasion. U.S. negotiation with Colombian a treaty favorable to the U.S. It lease the 6 mile for $10 million and annual payment of $250,000. Colombian rejected because it was its most valuable natural assets and later truth was $ not enough. Eager to be elected prez and mad at the outcome. 1904 proclaimed he want the canal built and critizen the treaty rejector blocking the onward march of civilization. Uncle Sam Creates Puppet Panama Panamanians ready for another revolt because fear prosperity would be gone it U.S. now turn to Nicaraguan route. Buanu-Varilla did not want company to lose money + revoluntionists+fire fighters+Colombian troops. 1903 Panama revolution occurred when Colombian troops were gathered to crush uprising but U.s. naval forces would not let them cross isthmus with justification of treaty 1846 that U.S. was obligation to maintain perfect neutrality of the isthmus against outsiders. Roosevelt quickly made Panana it outpost of u.S. Buanau-Varilla (now Panamanian minister) signed the Hya-Bunau-Varilla treaty in WA. Everthing the same but canal space widen and French company pocketed money from U.S. treasury. U.S. suffered from Roosevelt because European imperialists scorn at America’s uperior moral pretensions. Completing the Canal and Appeasing Colombia Panama made an ugly U.S.

Memory Boy Essay Essay

The book that I choose to read this 9 week period is called Memory by Will Weaver. The book is based on the lives of a family of 4 people; Miles, Sarah, and their two parents. Memory Boy starts out in the Mid West after a mountain range in Washington erupts and spews ash what seems billions of feet up, and over the entire United Sates like a blanket. The ash is so thick that people have to wear dust masks outside to avoid the risk of breathing it in. Miles and his family finally decide to leave the town that they live in to head northwest. Since the ash is so heavy they can’t drive a car because those are restricted, and people can only use them on certain days to avoid the problem of pollution. So Miles assembles a new vehicle that he calls the Princess. It is a mix between a bicycle and a boat that they must pilot by either peddling, or when there is enough wind they have a sail from a boat to put up. They decide to leave under the curtain of night to avoid being detected by other people who would want to take their vehicle from them. As they make their way North they must face encounters with many obstacles such as road blocks, bandits, hunger, the government, nature, each other, and other hazards. In between telling us about they’re adventure north, Miles, who is the main character tells us the events leading up to their departure, starting with the day that the eruption happened. The novel starts out a peaceful journey by the family but they soon learn that their trip will not be easy and they must work together to survive. Miles is our main character and we watch all the events happen through his point of view. He would be a junior in high school if they still actually went to school. Miles is a smart individual who enjoys doing the job of a mechanic. He built the Princess by himself and is the only one who is about to fix and maintain it throughout the book. He takes a strong leadership role; even his parents look to him to solve the solutions. When the volcano erupted he was only in the 9th grade. So every other chapter he will flashback to his 9th grade year to tell us a story about after the volcano erupted. He often compares his life now to that of his 9th grade year, and how he would have done things different. He used to be disrespectful and would often act out in school to seek attention. He will explain to us how some of the events he tells us about have changed him. Miles sister Sarah is a few years younger than he is. She is a dark and morbid girl; the type that is into vampire, dark music, and dark literature. But even though she seems tough on the outside, but she is actually just hiding how scared she has been throughout this entire ordeal. She secretly looks up to miles even though she would never say so to him. She doesn’t like her father very much because he was always away when she was a child. Miles’s father was a jazz musician in a band before the eruption. He was always on the road with his band, so he wasn’t around much when Miles and Sarah were growing up. Although he seems quite docile at the beginning of the book we soon learn that he is actually quite the leader, and when Miles gets overwhelmed his father is always there to take the lead for awhile. Miles’s mother was the main caretaker of the children so she was always around. At the beginning of the book she kept the family together as a unit, they referred to her as being. The children see their mother as being helpless most of the time. It isn’t until later in the book that she really blooms as a character, and becomes a very useful asset to the group.

Fast Food in the United States Essay

Food prepared quickly for consumers is how we define fast food. Fast food restaurants main purpose is to provide food in a short amount of time for the customers. They are inexpensive, quick, and convenient. The first or the earliest fast food restaurant that had started this fast food chain is the infamous McDonalds. The first McDonalds was not how the current one is like now. It was actually a restaurant that served barbeque foods in the 1940s. The brothers, Dick and Maurice McDonald were the first ones to come up with the idea of â€Å"eating quickly†. Therefore, they developed the idea of preparing food in a speed like way and so they changed their menus and started with hamburgers, french fries, and milkshakes. The business was successful and the brothers decided to expand their company and therefore opened their restaurants in different locations (Ganzel, 2007). Although fast food is inexpensive and convenient, consuming too much of it can impact the human health and environment. McDonalds is the most popular fast food chain. Currently, every McDonald is open in every state in the U. S. not to mention internationally too. We see McDonalds everywhere even if we go on a road-trip there will be McDonalds in the middle of nowhere. McDonalds is located in every local area for convenience. Since it is very convenient, many American consumers would drop by because it is quick and easy. Fast food chain expanded very quickly because it became high in demand because of the convenience (USDA). Thus, more and more people with busy lives start to rely on them because they are fast and ready to go. According to CBS news, in the year of 2009 â€Å"Americans spend over $110 billion on fast food more than they’ll spend on movies, books, magazines, etc. , every day about one quarter of the U. S. population eats fast food. † This shows that many Americans have become highly obsessed with fast foods. Since this article was published in 2009, then in 2012 Americans most likely would spend more. The price of each meal attracts consumers, making them believe that having more amount of food for that price is a great deal. Those who are in financial crisis rely on these fast food chains to survive. That is why fast food businesses like McDonalds are very successful. Their advertisement also targets children by including toy figures in the meal, which entices them to consume the meals. I’m sure that many children in the U. S. has eaten McDonalds, even I used to love eating them when I was a kid. I loved to collect the toys from happy meals, and in order to collect them I had to consume their meals. Since McDonalds attracts many children, nowadays children are having the issue of obesity. Even though McDonalds and other food chains are very convenient and inexpensive, however it can lead to other problems such as our health. Money is important in life and without money surviving in this society would be difficult, however health should be the priority in life. I believe that being healthy should be our number one priority instead of money. Being healthy allows us to earn profits so that we can live an easier life. If something were to happen, then we would have to spend an enormous amount of money to recover our health. Therefore, staying healthy can help conserve money. Consuming fast foods frequently can affect the health of the individual. According to the National Institutes of Health, adolescents who often eat at fast-food restaurants tend to gain additional weight and have a higher chance of increasing insulin resistance. If they continue to frequent at these fast food chains then there could be a high risk of attaining type 2 diabetes. Diabetes can also be the cause of heart disease (NIH). The reason why people can gain weight so easily through frequent fast food consumption is because of the calories intake. They consume more calories than they usually need per day, and whatever that is left over, the extra becomes fat especially foods that have trans fat in them. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U. S. population that consumes fast foods which contains sodium exceeds the amount the body needs. Excessive sodium consumption increases blood pressure, which is a high possibility in getting heart diseases and strokes. CDC stated, â€Å"51% and 27% of sodium consumed came from foods obtained at fast food/pizza restaurants. † People need to value their eating habits, the alternative from fast food chains to home made foods can make a great difference in life. The infamous McDonalds food productions are similar to all of the other fast food restaurants. According to food safety magazine, McDonalds purchase their ingredients from different suppliers. They work with not just hundreds but thousands of suppliers so that the foods would be stocked up. The meat, bread, vegetables, and packaging all have their own factories (Food Safety Magazine, 2006). Each one of them produce that certain product and McDonalds purchases it from them and puts all the ingredients together then serve it to the customers. McDonalds food production process is not simple, for example they not only have to produce the food but also test every single one of them. â€Å" The McDonald’s system requires constant quality checks throughout the supply chain process and proven traceability programs, at least one step back to the ingredient supplier, and in some cases, tracking all the way back to the farm. † (Food safety magazine, 2006) Their suppliers are required to meet the standards of food safety so that there wouldn’t be anything wrong with the product when the customers consume it. McDonalds was also one of the first ones to test the safety of fresh-cut produce in packages for distributing to other restaurants (FDA). They tried this so that in hope it could reduce any microbial hazards. McDonalds is the ideal role of a fast food restaurant, and many others try to follow its standards. McDonald consumption does not only affect health but it also impacts the environment. Due to McDonald’s food packaging many individuals liter and that trash harms the wildlife. Since McDonald’s is located everywhere in the city, state, and country the area always has McDonald’s packaging remains. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they have been trying to reduce the packaging at fast food establishments. They tried to develop this reduction program for those take out food containers, which are the â€Å"largest documented contributor of trash in urban waterways that flows into SF Bay, and, with partner cities, conduct outreach at fast food establishments (EPA). † This shows that McDonald’s is also the contributor in harming the environment, though McDonalds is not the only one the other fast food chains also contribute to this. Since McDonalds has expanded and has survived for all these years that means food production factories has expanded also to keep the restaurants in stock. Which means that the cattle have increased and seizing more land for the factories. This also involves in harming the environment because that means more wastes from factories and cattle. McDonalds is one of the largest fast food chains in the world. According to business week, McDonald’s corporation annual earnings in 2011 are $5. 27 per share as of January 24, 2012. McDonald’s corporation’s third quarter of 2012 revenues is about 7. 2 billion dollars, which has increased compared to before. As you can see McDonald’s profits are quite a lot. By selling inexpensive food you would think that they probably wouldn’t earn much, however having many customers consuming everyday in all of U. S. is very profitable. Food Safety Magazine stated, as of 2006 including all around the world, around 13,700 restaurants served nearly 26 million customers per day. Since this article is published in 2006, that means at present, 2012 McDonalds most likely expanded their restaurants twice as much and most likely restaurants would be serving at least 26 million customers per day. With that many consumers, fast food companies especially McDonalds profit a lot. Honestly, I used to eat McDonalds at least once in every two weeks and I was under the category of overweight. I liked eating it because it was very fast and convenient especially every time I get hungry, it satisfies my hunger. However, after watching this video in middle school called Super Size Me. It changed my perspective on fast food restaurants. The video portrayed about this man who tried to eat McDonalds Food everyday for a month. He bought everything super sized and constantly consumed it for thirty days straight. You could see that he has gained a lot of weight and he just didn’t look healthy at all, but sick instead. At some times he would throw it up. This video had changed my eating habits, and I have been eating healthy. Eating healthy has energized my body and exercising is easier because eating healthier helps you lose weight. After watching this video, I have not eaten McDonalds as much. Maybe once in awhile lets say about once in six months, but my body felt great without eating fast foods. Overall, fast food companies at present are everywhere and people especially those who are not financially supported through jobs are relying on these inexpensive foods. Foods that are able to satisfy their hunger but is unhealthy. Frequently consuming fast foods cause health problems. The number one that fast food causes is obesity that could lead to heart diseases and diabetes. People need to change their eating habits, by eating healthier foods. Changing eating habits by eating healthier can change the lifestyle of that individual so that it could prolong their life. References Gale, S. Y. (2006, February). CASE STUDIES IN FOOD PROTECTION McDonaldds USA: A Golden Arch of Supply Chain Food Safety. Food Safety Magazine. Retrieved from http://www. foodsafetymagazine. com/article. asp? id=491&sub=sub1. Chapter VI. Microbiological Safety of Controlled and Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce. (2012, June 15). U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. Retrieved November 5, 2012, from http://www. fda. gov/Food/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/SafePracticesforFoodProcesses/ucm091368. htm Frequent Fast Food Meals Increase Weight, Diabetes Risk, Study Says, December 30, 2004 Press Release. (2004, December 30). National Institutes of Health (NIH). Retrieved from http://www. nih. gov/news/pr/dec2004/nhlbi-30. htm Stewart, H. , Blisard, N. , Bhuyan, S. , & Nayga, R. (2004, January). The Demand of Food Away From Home Full-Service or fast food? USDA ERS – Home. Retrieved from http://www. ers. usda. gov/media/306585/aer829_1_. pdf. Vital Signs: Food Categories Contributing the Most to Sodium Consumption — United States, 2007–2008. (2012, February 10). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www. cdc. gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6105a3. htm? s_cid=mm6105a3_w Yogi, D. (2012, October 17). 10/17/2012: EPA Awards $6. 5 Million for Ten Projects to Restore. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from http://yosemite. epa. gov/opa/admpress. nsf/931381dfcd9a5c308525779700424ccd/82c31b3e568b570585257a9a0058ed1c! opendocument MCDONALD’S CORP (MCD:New York): Earnings Estimates – Businessweek. (2012, November 6). Investing & Stock Research by Company and Industry – Businessweek. Retrieved from http://investing. businessweek. com/research/stocks/earnings/earnings. asp? ticke r=MCD Ganzel, B. (2007). Fast Food during the 1950s and 60s. Wessels Living History Farm, Inc. Retrieved from http://www. livinghistoryfarm. org/farminginthe50s/life_16. html Schlossar, E. (2009, February 9). Americans Are Obsessed with Fast Food: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. CBS News. Retrieved from http://www. cbsnews. com/2100-204_162-326858. html.

Lifespan Development and Personality Paper

Lifespan Development and Personality Paper Introduction Adolescence is the age in life when most of a person’s development occurs as they are transforming into adulthood. The transition period is marked by emotional upheaval which may be released on parents due to novel cognitive ability and hormonal imbalances. Their brain development leads to developed reason, which may lead them to feel superior and acquire a sense of individualism.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Lifespan Development and Personality Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At this time, there is a need for them to be aware of the changes they are experiencing, how they affect them and what to do about them. The development entails physical and cognitive. Cognitive development is characterized by growth in information processing, thinking and application of new skills. Physical development This is portrayed by speedy adding of height and weight boys gain muscles and shoulders broaden, acquire ample skeletal muscles, which strengthens the vital organs such as the heart and lungs becomes larger. The girls acquire body fat and hips broaden with more settling around the legs and arms. This is as a result of the secretion of Thyroxin and Growth Hormone which aids in skeletal development. Moreover, secondary sex traits begin to appear controlled by estrogens in girls and androgens in boys. These are marked by hormonal changes which triggers the developments of these traits. The traits that are visible includes; development of hair in the pubic and armpits, onset of menstruation (Menarche), enlargement of breasts, endometrial development for females due to estrogen and penis enlargement for males and spermarche or initial ejaculation due to the hormone testosterone, the voice deepens and facial hair appears for males due to release of testosterone and increased oil and sweat production which causes acne. Onset of puberty is a hormonal process that is controlle d genetically and comes earlier for girls. Other characteristics of physical development entail mass brain growth which dictates their capability to reason with emotions which may at times be judgmental and may cause psychological distancing from close people. It could be also the result of engagement of teens in drugs, eating disorders, promiscuity (Rathus, 2008). Physical development is determined by a number of factors such as heredity, nutrition, physical fitness, health. It does not only show physical traits growth but also internal organs growth e.g. brain, heart, and kidney. In nutrition, a child requires a balanced diet with mineral, fruits, carbohydrates, vegetables, and plenty water in the right doses. Malnourishment due to poor nutrition may cause prematurity and neural flaws. To avoid unexpected illnesses such as high blood pressure, coronary artery destruction, cardiovascular illnesses and obesity which may affect the children, they require sufficient elements in their diet.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Culture also may play part in determining physical development since it may enhance or deteriorate gross motor skills. These are the skills that entail utilization of large muscles such as walking. For instance, in the U.S, children exercise both fine and gross motor skills while playing sports such as baseball. The chance of exploring recreational activities to learn more e.g. swimming as well as having plenty rest and sleep is essential. Thus new activities exposure is crucial. Moreover, if a child is exposed to contaminants during particular developmental stages, mutations in their DNA may occur thus affecting the growth of the child. It is also not right to expose a child to violence or other stressing surroundings as it may delay their development through biochemical alterations communicated to the brain and cause disorder s. These are environmental processes that may allow or deter a child’s development. Hereditary factors are the most important in determining the extent of physical development. Every person bears different genes that are inherited from the parents, thus, traits like height, eye color, are determined by these genes. These however are physically manifested through the aspect of whether the gene is recessive or dominant. The dominant gene inherited from the parent always manifests as phenotypic while the recessive one determines the genotypic composition. Both or one Parent may transmit defective genes to the children that may because conditions such as spina bifida, cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy. Genetic factors may also have a role to play in linking –personal skills in a certain area (Glasper Richardson, 2006). Cognitive Development Cognitive development is marked by increased reasoning ability with an open, critical mind. This includes logical thinking with a hy pothetical perspective and developing answers for such. Other than reasoning skills, abstract thoughts also develop. Adolescents develop such level of thinking which is followed by such traits as trust, love and spirituality. They also realize meta-cognition where they are able to evaluate their thoughts, feelings and others perceptions of themselves. By doing so, adolescents exhibit a high degree of self consciousness where they think that others are always concerned of their welfare and that they are unique. According to the psychologist Jean Piaget, adolescents lie between the formal operational stages of cognitive development in which intelligence is portrayed by abstract thoughts that allow them to be egocentric. Independent thoughts are adapted in this stage which increases their ability to grasp complex concepts such as philosophy. That way, their learning ability is enhanced in which they apply to given scenarios such as occupation and education. Cognitive transition from ch ildhood to adolescents shows a higher degree and intricate of advancement. This is manifested through unlimited and realistic thinking. Their abstract thoughts are also enhanced as well as their meta-cognition to display advanced introspection and personal realization.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Lifespan Development and Personality Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This arms the individuals to become intellectuals but may also result to egocentrism. Finally, adolescents become multidimensional to critically evaluate situations in a complex sophisticated manner which is essential in aiding them to see things from a compound perspective while weighing all possibilities. This is important in helping them weigh things relatively and avoids taking then as absolute facts although this aspect may lead them to always question authorities (Steinberg, 2005). Cognitive development is determined by various he reditary and environmental issues. When it is impaired there are psychological conditions that results like Autism. Learning disability is also another condition where an individual is unable to interpret facts because they cannot transmit it to the appropriate brain sections. It is illustrated with inability to become conversant with languages, loss of concentration and lack of coordination which is manifest in declined studies. These individuals may also lack hearing abilities or being subject to emotional distress. Interaction of the environment and genetic factors are the prime cause of learning disabilities. Consequently a child may be bearing genes for such inabilities inherited from the parents but the problem only manifests when there is interplay with certain environmental factors. For instance, parents may expose a child to appropriate experiences such as talking to them and allowing study materials as he or she grows which is essential in arming the child with necessary t ools for self realization. Parents may also offer a challenging and supportive environment for a child to become confident and be aware of their strengths in relation to the society. If a disruption to cognitive developments in early stages may lead to a permanent damage on a child (Steinberg, 2005). Theoretical perspectives Social relationships are crucial for adolescents since they determine the extent of brain development. Children are able to formulate moral judgments as they interact socially. Emotions such as empathy, aiding and regarding others are part of moral development of a child. The theoretical perspectives that explain child development are psychodynamic and maturational perspectives. A maturational perspective points out that the extent of neurological growth and the physiological growth are linked to hereditary factors that have a direct consequence on the advancement of a child’s physical potentials. This deduction can be made in the instance when a childâ⠂¬â„¢s writing skills advances as he or she continues learning in school. This is due to enhancement of neurological factors that evidently proceeds and most significantly, as a child hits puberty where he or she physically develops. Besides, another theoretical perspective is the psychodynamic, which points out that a child such as an adolescent is subject to social judgments as determined by desires granted by violence and sexuality.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However they are also prompted by the requirement for a social involvement and recognition. To various developmental stages, a child is able to grasp how to apply their impulses in a socially productive manner. It is notable when an adolescent questions a teacher or a guardian’s authority or even punch a fellow student. As he gets the response due to his or her deeds he is able to find out how to handle the impulses in amore positive manner (Rathus, 2011). References Glasper, A. E. and Richardson J. (2006). A Textbook of Children’s and Young People’s Nursing. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences. Rathus, S. (2008). Childhood and Adolescent: Voyages in Development. 3rd Ed. Belmont: Thomson Learning Inc. Rathus, S. (2011). Childhood Voyages in Development.4th Ed. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Steinberg, L. (2005). Cognitive and Affective Development in Adolescence. TRENDS in Cognitive Sciences Vol.9 No.2. Web.

Long Days Journey Into Night essays

Long Days Journey Into Night essays It is understandable that so many people in our class did not find the last act of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night a satisfying one; there is no tidy ending, no goodbye kisses or murder confessions; none of the charaters leave the stage with flowers in their hands or with smiles on their faces and none of the characters give explanatory monologues after the curtain falls, as we've become accustomed to by reading so much Shakespeare. O'Neill, though, isn't Shakespeare and Long Days Journey Into Night is as different from, say, A Midsummer's Night Dream or Twelfth Night than a pint of stout ale is from a glass of light chardonney. It is because of the uniqueness of the play that the final act is so fitting a conclusion, and it is because of the essence of the play that there is closure in the final scene and it is because of hte nature of hte play that the final act carries upon its shoulders as powerful an impact as any other ending put upon an American stage. The reason that many people did not find the end of hte play a real conclusion is because of the fact that Long Day's Jounrey Into Night is not a play of action, like almost all other plays are. It is set within a single room during the course of a single day, and it consists mainly of long monologue and bitter banter rather than movement or plot development, but there is a reason that O'Neill does this; his play is not one where characters move from place to place and experience various dilemnas and need to work their way out through the course of a beginning, middle and end. LDJIN is a play of introspection, a play of confession, understanding and ultimately, a play of understanding, and it is in the final act of the play that all of these elements are worked out. The Tyrone family is, as Edmund describes them, a family of "fog people"; through the first three acts of hte play we see them hiding their true feelings and emotions from each other from not...

When to Spell Out Numbers

When to Spell Out Numbers When to Spell Out Numbers When to Spell Out Numbers By Maeve Maddox Reader Pam points out a significant difference between technical writing and non-technical writing: On your 10 rules for numbers, rule #2 doesnt tell the whole story, especially for technical writers. Any numbers used with measurements (time, distance) must be expressed as figures in technical writing (8 months, 6-inch nails, 9 p.m.) With any kind of writing, context determines usage, and a style guide appropriate to the genre must be the writer’s final authority. Writing online, David A. McMurrey, author of Processes in Technical Writing (Macmillan 1988), has this to say about the use of numerals in technical writing: The main hurdle to overcome is to learn that in technical contexts, we use numerals in text, even ones below 10. In other words, we break the rules that are taught in regular writing courses and that are used in normal publishing and copyediting practice. Thats because in the technical and scientific context, we are vitally interested in numbers, statistical data, even if its a 2 or 5 or- yes- even a 0. He acknowledges the difficulty in defining the rules, and distinguishes between â€Å"important† and â€Å"unimportant† numbers. You should use numerals, not words, when the number is a key value, an exact measurement value, or both. For example, in the sentence Our computer backup system uses 4 mm tape the numeral is in order. He gives these examples in which the word is preferable to the numeral: There are four key elements that define a desktop publishing system. There are six data types in the C programming language. Like the general writer, the technical writer is advised against beginning a sentence with a numeral: write the number out or, better yet, rephrase the sentence so that it doesnt begin the sentence. McMurrey concludes his rules about the writing of numerals with a reminder of the importance of context: Apply these rules in specifically technical, scientific contexts only. Be sensitive to what the standard practices are in the context in which you are writing. Recommendations to spell or not to spell a number differ from style book to style book. Many, for example, advise spelling numbers 1-10 and using numerals for eleven and up. I don’t follow that rule because I don’t like the way 11 looks in a sentence. Here’s the Chicago Manual of Style’s General Rule about the use of numerals: In nontechnical contexts, the following are spelled out: whole numbers from one through one hundred, round numbers, and any number beginning a sentence. For other numbers, numerals are used. The CMOS then goes on to treat the numerous exceptions and special cases at length. Bottom line: When it comes to writing numbers as numerals or as words, consider context, and equip yourself with an appropriate style book for the work at hand. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartHow to Pronounce MobileSupervise vs. Monitor

Mrs. Fields' Cookies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mrs. Fields' Cookies - Case Study Example Expansion of business makes it excessively difficult for an entrepreneur to maintain ties with the customers and obtain immediate responses when need be. As such, customers lose the sense of belonging to the business and feel less appreciated and might avoid buying from the business thus impacting negatively on the business’ revenues and reputation. Similarly, effective communication is vital in the success of any business. Mrs. Fields’ allowed communication to take place freely irrespective of positions, a factor that can cause rumormongering and leaking of vital information that might confound the business’ operations. Effective arrangement of stock entices customers to a business. If stock is disorganized, customers tend to avert shopping in such places and sales plummets. Expansion into international markets requires that a business is acquainted with the culture, tastes and preferences of the people in the new country to avoid being rejected and circumvented by customers for violating important cultural norms. In expanding a business, one should guarantee that the touch with the customers is not lost and this can be attained by maintaining an operation level that can meritoriously be managed and pay attention to any customer feedback received. Additionally, the vine-yard communication system should be maintained to ensure that messages are passed ceremoniously and professionally to avoid misleading information from spreading. Stock should be arranged dexterously to attract customers’ attention and shun placing unconnected items on the serving counter. Finally, when expanding into new markets with different cultures, one should be able to culturally appeal to the new customers by manufacturing and offering products that are culturally acceptable as well as suit the tastes, wants and preferences. This should be ascertained by conducting an extensive cultural screening prior to

Global Trade and Commodities in 15th century Essay

Global Trade and Commodities in 15th century - Essay Example This region acted as a source of slave for the routes in Sahara to Mediterranean. The Portuguese opened this channel to the rest of the world. Portuguese had an economic monopoly over slave trade in Cape Verde of West Africa. Portuguese were particularly well versed with trade route between West Africa, America and Europe. They bought slave from interior of coast of guinea and transported them to the rest of the world especially in America where they could later work in sugar and other plantations. This trade was profitable to Portuguese. This African trade plus the development of Cape Verde islands, expanded tremendously with the emergence of labor-intensive farms that were used to grow, cotton and tobacco in the Caribbean and America as well. Other slave was taken to Brazil, which was a Portuguese colony. By 18th century, Britain had engaged in this trade and majority of ships doing this business belonged to Britain. Jacques Coeur merchant between 1432- 1451, carried out the other type of trade. The great source of trading wealth was the Mediterranean. That used to link Christian market that were more prominent in the west with the far east Muslim markets. He use to take clothes to Levant and could come back with spices from the east. It was a barter form of trade. The Chinese sea trade also took place in the 15th century. It took place when a merchant Zhen, a Muslim eunuch. He traveled as far as Persian Gulf, African coast. Chinese could now export porcelain, silks, silver, gold items and medical concoctions and in return they took herbs, ivory, rhinoceros, jewel, rare varieties of wood, and some ingredients for making dyes. The other trade took place in Europe inlands waterways between 15 to 17th century. This trade occurred across rivers especially after development of manmade canals that ensured there was efficiency in trade as routes became shorter. This developed in Europe only at the late 15th

Why is Reality TV so Popular Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Why is Reality TV so Popular - Research Paper Example The appeal of reality TV has been evident to all people who have watched the shows. Several others have become tired of listening and watching recycled jokes and sitcoms and drama shows. Reality TV shows have been able to create new dimensions in the entertainment industry which have given life to the culture of TV watching. They have yielded a premise that plays out in unpredictable ways. They have been able to appeal to people because there has been an easy way to relate the audience to the one who is shown on the shows. The elements of real life and reality of the actions that are performed in the shows have been the main eye-catching events in the shows. Reality TV shows have been gaining popularity day by day and therefore many people have expressed their desire to have more and more shows. Many have been dreaming of going and participial in the shows and reap the benefit in monetary and fame that comes with actual participation in the shows. The benefit including money, home, and fame or new faces have been the main attraction for the desire by many people who wants to participate in the reality TV shows. Each day when you turn on the TV you are likely to see a reality TV shows on all the channels that you tune to. This shows that these shows have become the recent attractions in the entertainment world. But why have they become so much famous for a short period of time since the first reality TV show was aired in 2000? There are several reasons that can be attributed to the increased fame of the shows.

Lesson 13 discussion and assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lesson 13 discussion and - Assignment Example Young minds often read too deep between the lines and might spoil their constructive thoughts on such material. Again I agree with Denver that the censors often misinterpret music and do not label them justifiably. Judging both the viewpoints, I believe that PMRC’s concern was not baseless but censors might discuss with the composers before labelling and perform a survey including young people as the sample set. Labelling and preventing access to children forcefully can do justice only when the children are not aware of the presence of such music. However advertisements and posters cannot always be hidden from their eye and in an age where access to drugs and other substance are common, access to music CDs etc are also not unimaginable. Also I believe there are serious problems to tackle among young people apart from music and videos. If the children should actually be stopped to access these products then they should be banned from stores altogether or kept in separate depart ment of a store marked only for adults. However this is often not possible. Hence labelling unnecessary keeps the lawyers busy and leads to unwanted expenses of the court at times instead of serving the intended

Hello platform Report advice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hello platform Report advice - Essay Example uiry from Booz Allen Hamitlon company that wants to know whether to continue with internal or in-house software development or acquire their social software from another company. Like many other companies, Booz Allen Hamitlon Company has to make sure all its stakeholders understand what system development means and what purposes it is meant to serve. This information should be known by both insiders and outsiders in order to make the evaluation of their decision easy to implement. This is so because effective partnership is significant in creating a close and mutual and respectful working relationship between developers and users of any software project (Maier 1998). To take the best step, there are issues that Booz Allen Hamitlon must sort out. First, the company must identify a large IT problem that needs to be solved. Jessup and Valacich (2003) advise that the problem should then be broken down into several smaller and manageable pieces that can be translated into computer programs. The social software should join each program into an overall comprehensive system that caters for the whole problem as illustrated in the below diagram by Jessup and Valacich (2003). At this point, any company can discover the complexity of the program needed and weigh options with regard to the expertise it has at hand. Where the company realizes that its personnel are not competent enough to develop such software, it should consider other alternatives (FCA 2007). Incase the company realizes that their problem needs software that their personnel can develop, then it should consider developing it in-house if the time consumed and resources needed are less than the cost of purchasing or securing the development otherwise. As Booz Allen Hamitlon Company considers the off-the-shelf software development, the evaluation process will be vital. This should be done by evaluating and analyzing the features, functions, benefits and costs of the viable options so as to develop the best

Dilemmas of Leadership in Business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dilemmas of Leadership in Business - Assignment Example J. et al. 2004:15) declares that leadership is the capability of any individual to marshal an organization’s members towards effectiveness and success by motivation and influence. It marks an influence relationship with the intention of attaining real outcomes and changes of mutual interest. In contemporary times, influential cross-border leadership is imperative, and this is measurable in terms of cultural adaptability, emotional and cultural intelligence as a factor of self-development in a leader, which impacts success through leadership at an extensive scale in the highly globalized world of modern times. Emotional intelligence (EI) pertains to the notion that the proficiency of leaders to comprehend their individual emotions, and the emotions of people in their working environment is an expedient tool to achieve better business performance. It is claimed that the core competencies of modern and historical leaders is not just a function of EI, but it also incorporates Cult ural Intelligence (CQ) into the equation. CQ is an individual’s ability to adapt to new cultural environment and forego any cultural shock attributable to unfamiliar settings in a cultural context. With regards to assessing the EI and CQ on the developmental scale, many tests have been developed: Cross-cultural adaptability inventory (Kelley C., and Meyers J., 1995), paper-and-pencil inventory, behavioral investment centres, intercultural communication inventory tests (Earley and Peterson 2004) etc. Goleman (2002) claims that four aspects of EI: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management, add to the critical set of skills required for profound leadership. He further asserts that self-awareness facilitates empathy and enables self-management. These two combined are a gateway to emotionally intelligent leadership built up on the foundation of self-awareness. The EI in itself is not a distinctive form of intelligence, but the application of int elligence to a certain domain of life- the emotions. The concept has an extensively wide base and therefore its measurement is not scientifically reliable, however its paramount significance can not be doubted with regards to leadership in the current era. Cultural Intelligence comprises of three rudimentary components: cognitive, motivational and behavioral. In light of these, authors of the subject suggest a CQ learning and educational model based on three subjects: meta-cognitive (learning different strategies to enable cultural sense making), motivation (cultural empathy and self efficacy, which is directly proportional to self-esteem of an individual), and behavior (approved behavior in a cultural setting and mimicry). The current issue of contemporary times is an ever increasing demand for global effective leaders, who when measured on the scale of effectiveness must possess the required combination of knowledge measured in terms of EI and CQ for it is necessary for any achiev ement oriented leader in the sphere of local or international relations. However, the supply of global leaders and managers today having adequate EI and CQ is critically very low. Globalization is regarded as the master concept of the modern times, because we live in an era which is marked by dramatic industrialization and interaction between nation states. Extensive globalization indicates that the success of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and Small and Medium

Hello platform Report advice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hello platform Report advice - Essay Example uiry from Booz Allen Hamitlon company that wants to know whether to continue with internal or in-house software development or acquire their social software from another company. Like many other companies, Booz Allen Hamitlon Company has to make sure all its stakeholders understand what system development means and what purposes it is meant to serve. This information should be known by both insiders and outsiders in order to make the evaluation of their decision easy to implement. This is so because effective partnership is significant in creating a close and mutual and respectful working relationship between developers and users of any software project (Maier 1998). To take the best step, there are issues that Booz Allen Hamitlon must sort out. First, the company must identify a large IT problem that needs to be solved. Jessup and Valacich (2003) advise that the problem should then be broken down into several smaller and manageable pieces that can be translated into computer programs. The social software should join each program into an overall comprehensive system that caters for the whole problem as illustrated in the below diagram by Jessup and Valacich (2003). At this point, any company can discover the complexity of the program needed and weigh options with regard to the expertise it has at hand. Where the company realizes that its personnel are not competent enough to develop such software, it should consider other alternatives (FCA 2007). Incase the company realizes that their problem needs software that their personnel can develop, then it should consider developing it in-house if the time consumed and resources needed are less than the cost of purchasing or securing the development otherwise. As Booz Allen Hamitlon Company considers the off-the-shelf software development, the evaluation process will be vital. This should be done by evaluating and analyzing the features, functions, benefits and costs of the viable options so as to develop the best

Asch Conformity Experment Essay Example for Free

Asch Conformity Experment Essay The Asch Paradigm Majority Influence Introduction In this essay i will discuss the experiment that Solomon Asch’s conducted in (1950) were his main was aim was to discover how majority influence can affect one individual judgment and how pressure from the majority can pressurise one person to Conform, I will also evaluate his research method, the results and the findings he attained. Aim S Solomon Asch’s had disapproved of the Conformity experiment conducted by Muzzafer Sherriff as Asch had felt that sheriffs visual illusion known as the auto kinnect didn’t really show any results of conformity as the participants were asked to take part in an ambiguous task were they were just asked to point out how far the a light travelled in a dark room, Asch believed that Sherrifs experiment clearly had no right or wrong answer so it was impossible for the experiment to show any results of conformity in a group situation. Asch figured the only way to measure the rates of conformity was to place an individual in a group situation were they would be influenced by the majority even if they knew their group was giving incorrect answers on a task that was ambiguous and obviously correct. The Method (laboratory experiment)

Regency Hotel Business Case Study

Regency Hotel Business Case Study EMPOWERMENT AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY INTRODUCTION The case study is about Regency Grand Hotel, a five star hotel in Bangkok. It was established by local syndicate of investors 15 years ago and was manage by Thai general manager. Regency is Bangkoks most prestigious hotel having 700 satisfied staff members. Lately, Regency was obtained by big American hotel chain. Due to this the old general manager took premature retirement an American John Backer with ten years of management experience was appointed as new general manager. Becker is a strong supporter of empowerment soon after his appointment as a general manager Becker implied empowerment to achieve success as in the past. ISSUES AND CONSEQUENCES AFTER EMPOWERMENT Empowerment can be described as People having the skills and the self-belief to proactively deal with issues and make the most of the opportunities available to them. but soon after the execution of empowerment new general manager realise that things are not going according to his expectation because staff of regency grant dont know what is empowerment? Because they use to work as per their manager order in the previous management they are not allowed to innovate generate anything new ,and were discourage by the senior managers and after all this they dont want to take risk and get punished by the management but general manger in America was working in a empowered environment where staff has a power of decision making can take minor decision on their own .basically its a cultural difference between management and staff where is from Thailand where they believe in team work and management is from America who believes in individuality they believe that they can do anything unaccompan ied which was the first issue. According to Hofstedes index Country Power Distance Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance Thailand 64 20 34 64 U.S.A 40 91 62 46 Power Distance The extent to which large differentials of power for example between a boss and a subordinate or between a higher status and lower status are expected and tolerated. Autocratic behaviour by a boss would be much better tolerated in a high power distance country Uncertainty Avoidance-The extent to which the culture emphasizes focusing on way to reduce un certainty and create stability-for example having clear written rules and procedure to guide action. Formal organisational procedure may be much more necessary in the high Uncertainty avoidance country. Masculinity/Femininity- The difference between the traditional male gaols of ambition and achievement and female orientation to nurturance and interpersonal harmony-for example the balance between seeking promotion at work and having good relations with others. Individualism- In individualism culture people are most concerned about the consequences for the action for themselves, not others. They prefer activity conducted on ones own or in relatively private interactions with friends. Decision are made by the individual according to the judgement he or she makes as to that is appropriates and the individual rewards that will accures. Other reason for the failure of empowerment is staffs dont have proper training about empowerment .They doesnt know how to use this decision making power for guest satisfaction and for companies profit because they are not properly trained about empowerment. General manager told that staffs has power to make minor decision but major decision has to be taken by supervisors but staff was unable to distinguish between minor and the major problems. It was not clear that what decisions can be made by staff members? These boundaries must be defined or employee empowerment efforts fail. In regency grand supervisor dont trust staff to make good decisions. Staff members know this and either craftily makes decisions on their own and hides their results or they come to you for everything because they dont know what they really control .Supervisor can dont motivate the staff for decision making. And without motivating the staff it is impossible to execute empowerment properly. From last 15 years the staff member of Regency grand hotel were working under hierarchy management but suddenly after the arrival the new general managers Empowerment policy come under existence without any prior notice and any proper training to the staff so it is natural for the staff to resist this change because they are in habit of working as per the manager order ,they were not allowed to take their decision or do any pioneering and its a human tendency to first resist the change some staff dont want to take responsibility of empowerment, (Bacal 1996 ) they like to work as per the old system in which managers have to take the decision and staff has to blindly follow that order and if anything goes wrong managers are there to help them out but in empowerment nobody will take responsibility if a error is committed by you and you are the one who is going to pay for it. We can say that empowerment is not properly applied on the staff member which lead to the failure of the empowerm ent. OUTCOMES OF THE FAILURE OF EMPOWERMENT Due to failure of empowerment hotel Regency grand was losing its profit, clients and status in Bangkok. Becker thought that empowerment will help his hotel to earn more profit and guest satisfaction. Overall Performance of the hotel begins to decline. Increase in number of written guest complaints both verbally and in written. Disgrace in the news paper as one of the Asias nightmare hotel. Criticism about service standards of the hotel. Staffs were also not happy raise of nervous tension level among the employees. Good working atmosphere has been harshly strained. Lack of team spirits among the employees now they were against each other when mistakes were made by any employee. POTANTIAL SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM New general manager comes with a great idea of empowerment but the way he put into practice it was inappropriate,followong can be some of the potential solution of the problem. They have a uncertain view that employee empowerment means you start a few teams that address workplace employee morale or safety issues. The staff should be encourage to take their decision and to believe in their decision they should provide proper training before giving them decision authority. (Heathfield, 2000) John Becker move from American work culture to Thai work culture which are totally different from each other. In America they believe in individualism but in Bangkok the believe in team work and John Becker fails to understand that .he try to impose his American work culture which prove to be a disaster before implementing Empowerment in the hotel he should study about their work culture and try to fill that communication gap between him and the employees. He should be ready to accept the changes that he have to make according to work culture he is working for. CONCLUSION Empowerment is a good weapon to increase the decision making power and leadership quality among the employee but it should be implemented in a proper manner and procedure otherwise if its not executed properly it can destroy the organisation just in case of Regency Grand hotel and John Becker. Beckers intension was good to implement empowerment but the way he executed was wrong. REFERENCES Bannon ,G ,Guy,v ,dr.Omari,J ,Pooley,R ,Reed,B ,White,N 2003, Cross Cultural communication ,UK Ron,C 1998, Structured empowerment: an award-winning program at the Burswood Resort Hotel Leadership Organization Development Journal, vol. 19, no.5 Bacal,R 1996, Empowerment Difficulties, Work911.com -Workplace, Business, Career Help, viewed 15 August 2008, Heathfield,S 2000, Employee empowerment, About.com; human resource , viewed 16 August 2008, Thomas,D ,Inkson,k ,2004,Cultural Intelligence people skills for global business, Berrett-Koehler Publisher ,Inc. ,San Francisco. Hunt,J ,1979,Managing People At Work ,cox and Wyman Ltd. Great Britain

Social Work Values, Principles and Ethics Essay -- Socia Work LGBT

Many Canadians remains largely divided in its views of the GLBT population. Some believes that the GLBT population should have equal opportunities as heterosexuals, and should have right to same-sex marriages, the right to adopt children, access to the same tax benefits and health care, while others believe otherwise. The GLBT refers collectively to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and throughout this paper GLBT will be used. Gays and lesbian are people who are attracted and indulged in sexual relationship with people of the same sex, while bisexual are people who are attracted and indulged in sexual relationship with both male and female, and transgender are people who are born male or female but believes that they should be living their lives as the opposite gender to which they were born (Horejsi & Sheafor, 2008). Even though Canadians views are beginning to change about the GLBT population, â€Å"this population still faces oppression, discrimination, and internalize homophobia, and marginalization which may result in poor physical, emotional and social well being† (Morrow, 2004). While heterosexual are surrounded with positive role models and an abundance of images regarding sexual expression, the GLBT population may have difficulty finding support and positive images, especially when their communities lack resources such as gay –straight alliances and visible GLBT role model. GLBT individuals have to overcome internalize homophobia, much of which is derived from anti-gay message received in a variety of institutions such as religious affiliations, schools, and human services. This paper will discuss three concepts of social work that is important when dealing with the GLBT population. As a social service worker i... ...007). Psychology, A Journey (2nd ed.). Toronto: Thomson Nelson Cournoyer, R. B. (2008). The Social Work Skills Workbook (5th Ed.). Canada: Ontario Crisp, C., & McCave, E. (2007). Gay Affirmative Practice: A Model for Social Work Practice with Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual and transgender. Retrieved on September 29, 2010 from http//vnweb.hwilsonweb.com Dunn, A. M. (2002).Culture Competence and the Primary Care Provider. Journal of Paediatric Health Care, Volume 16, May/June 2002, p 105-111. Horejsi, C., & Sheafor, B. (2008). Techniques and Guidelines for Social Work Practice(8th Ed.). Boston: New York Ivey, M., & Ivery, A., (2008). Essentials of Intentional Interviewing Counselling in a Multicultural World (3rd Ed.). Belmont: USA Srivastava, H., R. ( 2006) Clinical Cultural Competence. Retrieved on September 28, 2010, from http://ceris.metropolis.net

Revolutions Around the World Essay -- History, Intellectual Innovation

During the late eighteenth century and the early nineteenth century, the colonies of the New World, and countries of the Old World, were undergoing revolutions and reforms. In North America, the United States created an economic and political powerhouse; the modern world’s first major nation to become a democracy. The Haitian Rebellion dramatically inspired other slaves and people to rise above government and be given the rights to freedom. The French Revolution practically destroyed its earlier absolute monarchy and caused the people to fight for social and political systems that treated them fairly and gave them more voice in government. The ideas and responses to the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions illustrate political uprisings in each government, change in social autonomy and a newfound sense of pride, along with intellectual shift and innovations. An additional document that would help analyze these revolutions would be a written document about a person’ s account and emotional insight to what it was like living during a revolution. A major thought for these revolutions was that the people of these regions wanted to formulate a new government in which it would grant more people freedom and would be actually able to listen to the people. In British periodicals, illustrations display British Officials being tarred and feathered; a humiliating event for anyone (Doc 2). This represents the Americans’ public opinion towards political leaders of Britain and their demand for liberty and justice. The Declaration of Independence states that the United States wants a just government that listens to the voice of the people, and is made up of the people (Doc 3). The Declaration of Independence displays how the ideas of the p... ...people into joining the revolt and other countries thinking about rebellions and revolutions (Doc 6). The political uprisings, national pride and change in social statues, along with intellectual innovations were all ideas and responses to the revolutions. The ideas and the responses to these ideas were important factors in the outcome of these revolutions. Political up rise and search for liberty caused governments to be overthrown and fought against. A sense of equality, shift in social autonomy, and nationalism led to revolutions in France, America, and Haiti. The influences of intellectual ideas led to more people being involved in the revolutions of these regions. These revolutions change the world, causing the United States to become the world’s largest power, Haitian people to gain liberty, and absolute monarchy in France to be completely overthrown.

Process Costing

A process costing system is a costing system in which the cost of a product or service is obtained by assigning costs to masses of like or similar units. Unit costs are then calculated on an average basis. Process costing systems are used in industries that produce like or similar units which are often mass produced. In these industries, products are manufactured in a very similar way. The companies usually use the same amount of direct materials, direct manufacturing labor costs and manufacturing overhead costs (CliffNotes Study Guide, 1999).Industries that use process costing systems are for example: chemical processing, oil refining, pharmaceuticals, plastics, brick and tile manufacturing, semiconductor chips, beverages and breakfast cereals. The  job order cost system  is used when products are made based on specific customer orders. Each product produced is considered a job. Costs are tracked by job. Services rendered can also be considered a job. Service companies consider the creation of a financial plan by a certified financial planner, or of an estate plan by an attorney, unique jobs.The job order cost system must capture and track by job the costs of producing each job, which includes materials, labor, and overhead in a manufacturing environment (Willkommen, 2000). The difference between job costing and process costing is the extent of averaging used to compute unit costs of product and services. The cost object in job costing is a job that constitutes a distinctly identifiable product or service. The quantity of manufacturing resources is different in any job. It would be incorrect to cost each job at the same average manufacturing cost.So, when like or similar units are mass produced, process costing averages manufacturing costs over all units produced (CliffNotes Study Guide, 1999). The costs of a product are important for inventory calculations, pricing decisions and product profitability analysis. It’s also important for measuring how well the management is done and if costs are reduced effectively. A company I worked for used a hybrid system that used mostly a process costing system and certain aspects of the job order cost system. The system broke down separate material costs, overhead and labor.The system was fairly accurate and helped us maintain a healthy profit and adjust certain aspects of the business as needed. References Accounting Principles II: Job Order Cost System . (1999). CliffsNotes Study Guides . Retrieved July 21, 2012, from http://www. cliffsnotes. com/study_guide/Job-Order-Cost-System. topicArticleId-21248,articleId-21222. html Process Costing Systems. (2000). Willkommen in Ralf KA ¶nigs Netzbehausung. Retrieved July 21, 2012, from http://www. koenig-aalen. de/vorstellung/present/pcs. php

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Creative Leadership in a Lifetime of Public Service

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Creative Leadership in a Lifetime of Public Service Leading the United States of America through an economic crisis and a world war, Franklin Delano Roosevelt demonstrated the traits of a creative leader not only in his policy-making, but also in the way he carried his image. From State Senator of New York to 32nd President of the United States, Roosevelt epitomised resourcefulness in his steady ascent of the political ladder, culminating with taking charge of the country during one of the toughest times it had ever experienced.Over the course of his leadership, Roosevelt certainly gained – if not already possessed – the domain knowledge required to generate creativity in his field of politics. In fact, he was primed for a career in public service even since his early education Roosevelt first entered the face of American politics in the State Election of 1910, running for the New York State Senate. In his second term, he served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee, passing effective farm and labour bills.This success was to some extent a precursor of his New Deal policies (to be discussed in greater detail later), which despite imperfections were reflective of creative leadership in the aspect of Dr Ronald Heifetz’s â€Å"adaptive work†. Following this, in 1913, Roosevelt was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy – a role from which he gained experience that would prove relevant in his later years as Commander-in-Chief during World War II. Although traditionally the prerogative of the Secretary rather than the Assistant Secretary, he worked on the general development of U.S. naval policy, and his advocacy for a â€Å"big navy† earned him support from Navy personnel. As State Senator, Roosevelt openly opposed the Tammany Hall political machine; as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, he opposed Frederick Taylor’s â€Å"stopwatch† system towards industrial efficiency. In both posi tions, his stand inevitably favoured certain stakeholders and incensed others. Although this meant losing support from some people, it represented creating the â€Å"disequilibrium† that Heifetz describes as necessary for mobilising adaptive work.Roosevelt was hence able to effectively â€Å"orchestrate conflict and create disorder† in order to achieve greater overall progress. Roosevelt was a leader who avoided letting his personal life affect his political career. In the summer of 1921, he contracted poliomyelitis, which resulted in permanent paralysis from the waist down. However, Roosevelt was adamant about preserving his image of health to the people, which he believed was necessary to run for public office again.He made sure that the press presented him in a manner which did not highlight his disability, and refrained from being seen in his wheelchair in public. In doing this, he protected his status as a leader in the eyes of the people, rather than allowing his illness to undermine his ability to serve in public office. Roosevelt went further to establish the March of Dimes, a non-profit organisation seeking to combat polio. He was hence able to turn an adversity on its head and generate even greater public support from it instead.In the 1920s, Roosevelt mended fences with the Democratic Party, and moderated his stance against the Tammany Hall machine. He went on to be elected as Governor of New York in 1928, and re-elected for a second term in 1930. While in that position, he instated several social programmes such as the New York State Emergency Relief Commission. In line with the importance of working with partners that Heifetz emphasises in his book, Leadership Without Easy Answers, Roosevelt worked closely with Frances Perkins and Harry Hopkins, particularly in the aspect of solving America’s economic problems during the period.Roosevelt also made the key statement that â€Å"progressive government by its very terms, must be a living and growing thing†, presenting governance as a conceptual space that could be explored and transformed, and once again relating to Heifetz’s â€Å"adaptive challenge†. When Roosevelt was elected President in 1932, the United States was struggling under the Great Depression, which began even while he was Governor and involved a stock market crash and soaring unemployment. It was on this backdrop that Roosevelt introduced the New Deal, a series of economic programmes to tackle the problems during this difficult period.Within his â€Å"First 100 Days†, he passed various programmes through Congress, setting up the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Emergency Banking Act among many others. Roosevelt made his mark on the history of American politics in this record number of bills passed during the initial months of his Presidency; since then, U. S. Presidents have been judged by what they achieve in their first hundred days. Roosevelt entered the Presidency with immense political capital due to the urgency of the economy’s state, and effectively capitalised on this to implement creative policies.In the â€Å"Second New Deal† (1935-1936), he went on to propose bolder and even more initiatives, such as the Works Progress Administration and the Social Security Act. The latter, in fact, set the foundation for the framework of the U. S. welfare system which exists till today. Roosevelt was willing to take risks; he implemented policies which involved significant government intervention at the expense of a budget deficit, even though he knew this would be unpopular. He was aware that leadership was not merely about appeasing the people, but required tough measures in response to the situation at times.Although his New Deal policies met criticism as being a haphazard collection of schemes, Roosevelt himself insisted that they were â€Å"the orderly component parts of a connected and logica l whole†. Either way, we must recognise that the economic climate at that time was extremely volatile, and in reacting spontaneously to unfolding events rather than strictly adhering to a set plan, Roosevelt was doing exactly what Heifetz describes of creative leaders – bringing adaptive work to the people, and mobilising it towards solutions. Roosevelt also found a novel way of addressing the people through a series of radio talks called â€Å"fireside chats†.Through these, he introduced and explained the policies to the people as they were being implemented. He knew that transparency was important, and even as he passed acts which allowed greater state intervention in the country’s social and economic affairs, he made clear to the people what he was intending to achieve with these initiatives. His policies were met with mixed reviews, but ultimately, most agree that this era was an important milestone in the progress of the U. S. political and economic s ystems. In 1940, Roosevelt became the first President to run for a third term, going against the unwritten rule of a two-term tradition.By this time, World War II had broken out. Roosevelt, as President, gave covert support to Britain and France in the form of arms provision despite officially stating neutrality. Eventually, while still remaining detached from actual military participation, he passed the Lend-Lease Act, essentially providing supplies to the other Allied nations at war. This was an innovative measure on Roosevelt’s part to support the Allied Powers against the Axis Powers without putting his own country in direct harm. Unfortunately, such a position can only remain temporarily, as the U. S. was clearly demonstrating its alliance.Unsurprisingly, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, drawing the U. S. inescapably into the war. Not having fully recovered from its economic woes, being forced into combat was a heavy blow to the U. S.. Even in the throes of war, however, Roosevelt was successful in â€Å"externalising the conflict†, focusing on the Axis Powers as the enemy and keeping himself out of a position of blame. The situation also drove Roosevelt to establish the United Nations – originally the 26 countries opposing the Tripartite Pact represented by the â€Å"Declaration by United Nations†.Although not entirely a case of historical creativity, the coalition of governments across this large a number of nations was certainly a visionary initiative by Roosevelt. The UN has since grown into one of the most prominent international organisations. Roosevelt was definitely a man who saw purpose in his public service. Just before his death in 1945, he entered an unprecedented fourth term as President. His commitment was reflected in his continuous political presence and effort to evoke positive change in systems, even in times when support for him was low.Roosevelt incorporated wit when he was addressing the people, and maintained his dignity till the very end. Although it is impossible for all of his policies to have succeeded, especially considering the sheer multitude of new programmes and magnitude of fundamental change instigated during his time, Roosevelt did display fluency and flexibility – in that he generated a large number policies in a wide range of categories – as well as originality and the capacity for elaboration in his intricate plans. As one of the most influential figures in American history, Franklin D.Roosevelt definitely embodied the essence of a creative leader. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. â€Å"Groton School. † Theodore Roosevelt Center. Web. 27 Sept 2012. . [ 2 ]. Burns, James MacGregor. Roosevelt. Vol 1. New York: Easton Press, 1956. Print. [ 3 ]. â€Å"American President: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Life Before the Presidency. † M iller Center. Web. 27 Sept 2012. . [ 4 ]. LaCerra, Charles. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Tammany Hall of New York. Lanham, MD: University of America, 1997. Print. [ 5 ]. Heifetz, Ronald. Leadership Without Easy Answers.Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1994. [ 6 ]. Chen, Deborah. â€Å"The Embodiment of an Illness: Franklin Roosevelt's Public Representation of Polio. † Deliberations. (2001) Web. 26 Sep 2012. . [ 7 ]. Rose, David. â€Å"A History of the March of Dimes. † March of Dimes. 26 Aug. 2010. Web. 27 Sept 2012. . [ 8 ]. Pederson , William. A Companion to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Web. [ 9 ]. Theinl, Kevin. America’s Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s attempt to reorganize the market with his New Deal. GRIN Verlag, 2011.Web. [ 10 ]. Boden, Margaret A. â€Å"What Is Creativity. † Dimensions of Creativity. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1996. Print. [ 11 ]. â€Å"The First Hundred Days. † US Government Info. Web. 27 Sept 2012. . [ 12 ]. â€Å"The New Deal. † 123HelpMe. com. 27 Sep 2012. . [ 13 ]. Burns, James MacGregor. Roosevelt. Vol 1. New York: Easton Press, 1956. Print. [ 14 ]. Heifetz, Ronald. Leadership Without Easy Answers. Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1994. [ 15 ]. Boden, Margaret A. â€Å"What Is Creativity. † Dimensions of Creativity. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1996. Print.

Literary Devices Essay

A form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or envy. Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning. Alliteration The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of a word, such as the repetition of b sounds in Keats’s â€Å"beaded bubbles winking at the brim† (â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale†) or Coleridge’s â€Å"Five miles meandering in a mazy motion (â€Å"Kubla Khan†). A common use for alliteration is emphasis. It occurs in everyday speech in such phrases as â€Å"tittle-tattle,† â€Å"bag and baggage,† â€Å"bed and board,† â€Å"primrose path,† and â€Å"through thick and thin† and in sayings like â€Å"look before you leap.† Some literary critics call the repetition of any sounds alliteration. However, there are specialized terms for other sound-repetitions. Consonance repeats consonants, but not the vowels, as in horror-hearer. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds, please-niece-ski-tree. Allusion A brief reference to a person, event, place, or phrase. The writer assumes readers will recognize the reference. For instance, most of us would know the difference between one being as reliable as George Washington or as reliable as Benedict Arnold. Allusions that are commonplace for readers in one era may require footnotes for readers in a later time. Ambiguity (1) A statement that has two or more possible meanings; (2) a statement whose meaning is unclear. Depending on the circumstances, ambiguity can be negative, leading to confusion or even disaster (the ambiguous wording of a general’s note led to the deadly charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War). On the other hand, writers often use it to achieve special effects, for instance, to reflect the complexity of an issue or to indicate the difficulty, perhaps the impossibility, of determining truth. Many of Hamlet’s statements to the King, to Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern, and to other characters are deliberately ambiguous, to hide his real purpose from them. Analogy The comparison of two pairs which have the same relationship. The key is to ascertain the relationship between the first so you can choose the correct second pair. Part to whole, opposites and results of are types of relationships you should find. Anecdote Short tale narrating an interesting or amusing biographical incident. Anthropomorphism Used with God or gods. The act of attributing human forms or qualities to entities that are not human. Specifically, anthropomorphism is the describing of gods or goddesses in human forms and possessing human characteristics such as jealousy, hatred, or love. Mythologies of ancient peoples were almost entirely concerned with anthropomorphic gods. The Greek gods such as Zeus and Apollo often were depicted in anthropomorphic forms. The avatars of the Hindu god Vishnu possessed human forms and qualities. Antihero A protagonist who has the opposite of most of the traditional attributes of a hero. He or she may be bewildered, ineffectual, deluded, or merely pathetic. Often what antiheroes learn, if they learn anything at all, is that the world isolates them in an existence devoid of God and absolute values. Yossarian from Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 is an example of an antihero. Aphorism A brief saying embodying a moral, a concise statement of a principle or precept given in pointed words. Example: * Hippocrates: Life is short, art is long, opportunity fleeting, experimenting dangerous, reasoning difficult. * Alexander Pope: Some praise at morning what they blame at night. * Ralph Waldo Emerson: Imitation is suicide * Benjamin Franklin: Lost time is never found again. Apostrophe A direct address to a person, thing, or abstraction, such as â€Å"O Western Wind,† or â€Å"Ah, Sorrow, you consume us.† Apostrophes are generally capitalized. Archetype A term used to describe universal symbols that evoke deep and sometimes unconscious responses in a reader. In literature, characters, images, and themes that symbolically embody universal meanings and basic human experiences, regardless of when or where they live, are considered archetypes. Common literary archetypes include stories of quests, initiations, scapegoats, descents to the underworld, and ascents to heaven. See also mythological criticism. Assonance The repetition of vowel sounds, please-niece-ski-tree. Cadence The melodic pattern just before the end of a sentence or phrase – for instance an interrogation or an exhortation. More generally, the natural rhythm of language depending on the position of stressed and unstressed syllables. Cadence is a major component of individual writers’ styles. A cadence group is a coherent group of words spoken as a single rhythmic unit, such as a prepositional phrase, â€Å"of parting day† or a noun phrase, â€Å"our inalienable rights.† Catharsis Meaning â€Å"purgation,† catharsis describes the release of the emotions of pity and fear by the audience at the end of a tragedy. In his Poetics, Aristotle discusses the importance of catharsis. The audience faces the misfortunes of the protagonist, which elicit pity and compassion. Simultaneously, the audience also confronts the failure of the protagonist, thus receiving a frightening reminder of human limitations and frailties. Ultimately, however, both of these emotions are purged because the tragic protagonist’s suffering is an affirmation of human values rather than a despairing denial of them. See also tragedy. Clichà © An idea or expression that has become tired and trite from overuse, its freshness and clarity having worn off. Clichà ©s often anesthetize readers, and are usually a sign of weak writing. Colloquial Refers to a type of informal diction that reflects casual, conversational language and often includes slang. Connotation The emotions, values, or images associated with a word. The intensity of emotions or the power of the values and images associated with a word varies. Words connected with religion, politics and sex tend to have the strongest feelings and images associated with them.†¨ For most people, the word mother calls up very strong positive feelings and associations – loving, self-sacrificing, always there for you, understanding, etc.; the denotative meaning, on the other hand, is simply â€Å"a female animal who has borne one or more children.† Of course connotative meanings do not necessarily reflect reality; for instance, if someone said, â€Å"His mother is not very motherly,† you would immediately understand the difference between motherly (connotation) and mother (denotation). Consonance Repeats consonants, but not the vowels, as in horror-hearer Deism An intellectual religious movement en vogue through the late seventeenth century up to the late eighteenth century concerned with rational rather than faith-based approaches to religion and understanding God. The movement is often associated with the Enlightenment movement, Neoclassicism, and Free Masonry. In general, Deists prided themselves on free-thinking and logic and tended to reject any specific dogma, so it is difficult to define the beliefs of an individual Deist without referring to generalities. Deists were heavily influenced by John Locke’s mechanistic philosophy and Newtonian physics, seeing the universe as a place ruled rationally by cause and effect. They tended to see God as an impersonal but intelligent force, a first cause that created the universe and set it in motion, who then allowed life and matter to proceed on its own without further need for divine intervention. The logic is that, if God is infallible, omniscient and omnipotent, logically he would pre- establish his design in the world in such a way that he would not need to tinker constantly with it or adjust it through supernatural intervention. Deistic writings often refer to the Deity using metaphors of the architect, the watchmaker, the mason, or some other skilled worker who measures out the universe with geometric and mechanical precision. Thus, a common Deist metaphor compares the universe to a perfectly designed watch or clock – a construct created with complex gears and moving parts, then wound up, and finally released to operate on its own without any more effort on the creator’s part. Denotation The literal meaning of a word; there are no emotions, values, or images associated with denotative meaning. Scientific and mathematical language carries few, if any emotional or connotative meanings. Dialect The language of a particular district, class, or group of persons. The term dialect encompasses the sounds, spelling, grammar, and diction employed by a specific people as distinguished from other persons either geographically or socially. Dialect is a major technique of characterization that reveals the social or geographic status of a character. Diction A writer’s choice of words, phrases, sentence structures, and figurative language, which combine to help create meaning. Formal diction consists of a dignified, impersonal, and elevated use of language; it follows the rules of syntax exactly and is often characterized by complex words and lofty tone. Middle diction maintains correct language usage, but is less elevated than formal diction; it reflects the way most educated people speak. Informal diction represents the plain language of everyday use, and often includes idiomatic expressions, slang, contractions, and many simple, common words. Poetic diction refers to the way poets sometimes employ an elevated diction that deviates significantly from the common speech and writing of their time, choosing words for their supposedly inherent poetic qualities. Since the eighteenth century, however, poets have been incorporating all kinds of diction in their work and so there is no longer an automatic distinction between the language of a poet and the language of everyday speech Enjambment A line having no pause or end punctuation but having uninterrupted grammatical meaning continuing into the next line – usually applied to poetic formats. Euphemism Using a mild or gentle phrase instead of a blunt, embarrassing, or painful one. For instance, saying â€Å"Grandfather has gone to a better place† is a euphemism for â€Å"Grandfather has died.† The idea is to put something bad, disturbing, or embarrassing in an inoffensive or neutral light. Frequently, words referring directly to death, unpopular politics, blasphemy, crime, and sexual or excremental activities are replaced by euphemisms. Farce A farce is a form of low comedy designed to provoke laughter through highly exaggerated caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations. Traits of farce include (1) physical bustle such as slapstick, (2) sexual misunderstandings and mix-ups, and (3) broad verbal humor such as puns. Many literary critics (especially in the Victorian period) have tended to view farce as inferior to â€Å"high comedy† that involves brilliant dialogue. Many of Shakespeare’s early works, such as The Taming of the Shrew, are considered farces. Flashback Action that interrupts to show an event that happened at an earlier time which is necessary to better understanding. Foil A secondary character who contrasts with a major character; in Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras, whose fathers have been killed, are foils for Hamlet. Foreshadowing Where the author drops subtle hints about the plot development to come later in the story. Hyperbole Exaggeration, often extravagant; it may be used for serious or for comic effect. Idiom In its loosest sense, the word idiom is often used as a synonym for dialect or idiolect. In its more scholarly and narrow sense, an idiom or idiomatic expression refers to a construction or expression in one language that cannot be matched or directly translated word-for-word in another language. For instance, the English expression, â€Å"She has a bee in her bonnet,† meaning â€Å"she is obsessed,† cannot be literally translated into another language word for word. It is a non-literal idiomatic expression, akin to â€Å"She is green with envy.† In the same way, the Spanish phrase, â€Å"Me gustan los arboles,† is usually translated as, â€Å"I like the trees,† but if we were to pull the phrase apart and read it word for word, it would make no sense in analytical English (i.e., â€Å"To me pleases the trees†). Imagery Language that evokes one or all of the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching. Each of these types of imagery has a specific name: * Olfactory imagery stimulates the sense of smell. * Tactile imagery stimulates the sense of touch. * Visual imagery stimulates the sense of sight. * Auditory imagery stimulates the sense of hearing. * Gustatory imagery stimulates the sense of taste. * Kinesthesia is imagery that recreates a feeling of physical action or natural bodily function (like a pulse, a heartbeat, or breathing). * Synaesthesia is imagery that involves the use of one sense to evoke another (Ex: loud color; warm gesture). Irony The discrepancy (incongruity) between what is said and what is meant, what is said and what is done, what is expected or intended and what happens, what is meant or said and what others understand. Sometimes irony is classified into types: in situational irony, expectations aroused by a situation are reversed; in cosmic irony or the irony of fate, misfortune is the result of fate, chance or God; in dramatic irony, the audience knows more than the characters in the play, so that words and action have additional meaning for the audience; Socractic irony is named after Socrates’ teaching method, whereby he assumes ignorance and openness to opposing points of view which turn out to be (he shows them to be) foolish. Metaphor A comparison of two dissimilar things, which does not use â€Å"like† or â€Å"as,† Metonymy Substituting a word for another word closely associated with it. Queen Elizabeth controlled the crown for years. The crown = the monarchy He has always loved the stage. The stage = the theater He will follow the cross. The cross = Christianity Motif (1) A recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work. (2) A dominant theme or central idea. Mood The emotional attitude the author takes towards the subject. Narrator The voice of the person telling the story, not to be confused with the author’s voice. With a first-person narrator, the I in the story presents the point of view of only one character. The reader is restricted to the perceptions, thoughts and feelings of that single character. First-person narrators can play either a major or a minor role in the story they are telling. An unreliable narrator reveals an interpretation of events that is somehow different from the author’s own interpretation of those events. Often, the unreliable narrator’s perception of plot, characters, and setting becomes the actual subject of the story. Narrators can be unreliable for a number of reasons: they might lack self-knowledge, they might be inexperienced, or they might even be insane. Naive narrators are usually characterized by youthful innocence, such as Mark Twain’s Huck Finn or J. D. Salinger’s Holden Caulfield. An omniscient narrator is an all-knowing narrator who i s not a character in the story and who can move from place to place and pass back and forth through time, slipping into and out of characters as no human being possibly could in real life. Omniscient narrators can report the thoughts and feelings of the characters, as well as their words and actions. The narrator of The Scarlet Letter is an omniscient narrator. Editorial omniscience refers to an intrusion by the narrator in order to evaluate a character for a reader, as when the narrator of The Scarlet Letter describes Hester’s relationship to the Puritan community. Narration that allows the characters’ actions and thoughts to speak for themselves is called neutral omniscience. Most modern writers use neutral omniscience so that readers can reach their own conclusions. Limited omniscience occurs when an author restricts a narrator to the single perspective of either a major or minor character. The way people, places, and events appear to that character is the way they appear to the reader. Sometimes a limited omniscient narrator can see into more than one character, particularly in a work that focuses on two characters alternately from one chapter to the next. Short stories, however, are frequently limited to a single character’s point of view. Onomatopoeia A word whose sounds seem to duplicate the sounds they describe–hiss, buzz, bang, murmur, meow, growl. Oxymoron A statement with two parts that seem contradictory; examples: sad joy, a wise fool, the sound of silence, or Hamlet’s saying, â€Å"I must be cruel only to be kind.† Parable A story or short narrative designed to allegorically reveal some religious principle, moral lesson, psychological reality, or general truth. Rather than using abstract discussion, a parable always teaches by comparison with real or literal occurrences, especially everyday occurrences a wide number of people can relate to. Well known examples of parables include those found in the Gospels, such as â€Å"The Prodigal Son† and â€Å"The Good Samaritan.† Paradox A statement whose two parts seem contradictory yet make sense with more thought. Christ used paradox in his teaching: â€Å"They have ears but hear not.† Or in ordinary conversation, we might use a paradox, â€Å"Deep down he’s really very shallow.† Paradox attracts the reader’s or the listener’s attention and gives emphasis. Parody A parody imitates the serious manner and characteristic features of a particular literary work in order to make fun of those same features. The humorist achieves parody by exaggerating certain traits common to the work, much as a caricaturist creates a humorous depiction of a person by magnifying and calling attention to the person’s most noticeable features. The term parody is often used synonymously with the more general term spoof, which makes fun of the general traits of a genre rather than one particular work or author. Often the subject matter of a parody is comically inappropriate, such as using the elaborate, formal diction of an epic to describe something trivial like washing socks or cleaning a dusty attic. Persona A mask for the author to speak through. In literature, a persona is a speaker created by a writer to tell a story or to speak in a poem. A persona is not a character in a story or narrative, nor does a persona necessarily directly reflect the author’s personal voice. A persona is a separate self, created by and distinct from the author, through which he or she speaks. Personification Treating abstractions or inanimate objects as human, that is, giving them human attributes, powers, or feelings, e.g., â€Å"nature wept† or â€Å"the wind whispered many truths to me.† Point of view Refers to who tells us a story and how it is told. What we know and how we feel about the events in a work are shaped by the author’s choice of point of view. The teller of the story, the narrator, inevitably affects our understanding of the characters’ actions by filtering what is told through his or her own perspective. The various points of view that writers draw upon can be grouped into two broad categories: (1) the third-person narrator uses he, she, or they to tell the story and does not participate in the action; and (2) the first-person narrator uses I and is a major or minor participant in the action. In addition, a second-person narrator, you, is also possible, but is rarely used because of the awkwardness of thrusting the reader into the story, as in â€Å"You are minding your own business on a park bench when a drunk steps out and demands your lunch bag.† An objective point of view employs a third-person narrator who does not see into the mind of any character. From this detached and impersonal perspective, the narrator reports action and dialogue without telling us directly what the characters think and feel. Since no analysis or interpretation is provided by the narrator, this point of view places a premium on dialogue, actions and details to reveal character to the reader. Pun The usually humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more of its meanings or the meaning of another word similar in sound. It consists of a deliberate confusion of similar words or phrases for rhetorical effect, whether humorous or serious. It can rely on the assumed equivalency of multiple similar words (homonymy), of different shades of meaning of one word (polysemy), or of a literal meaning with a metaphor. Bad puns are often considered to be cheesy. * A hangover is the wrath of grapes. * Without geometry, life is pointless. * Reading while sunbathing makes you well-red. Repetition The return of a word, phrase, stanza form, or effect in any form of literature. Repetition is an effective literary device that may bring comfort, suggest order, or add special meaning to a piece of literature. Satire A literary tone used to ridicule or make fun of human vice or weakness, often with the intent of correcting, or changing, the subject of the satiric attack. Simile A comparison of two dissimilar things using â€Å"like† or â€Å"as† Stereotype A simplified and/or standardized conception or image with specific meaning, often held in common by members of a group. A stereotype can be a conventional and oversimplified conception, opinion or image. Stereotypes can range from those that are wildly inaccurate and negative to those that are more than a little bit true and may even shed positive light upon the group of individuals. They are typically generalizations based on minimal or limited knowledge about a group to which the person doing the stereotyping does not belong. Style Manner of expression; how a speaker or writer says what he says. Suspense The feeling of uncertainty and interest about the outcome of certain actions, most often referring to an audience’s perceptions in a dramatic work. Symbolism When an author uses an object or idea to suggest more than its literal meaning. A person, place, or event stands for something other than it is, usually something broader or deeper than it is. Symbols In general terms, anything that stands for something else. Obvious examples are flags, which symbolize a nation; the cross is a symbol for Christianity; Uncle Sam a symbol for the United States. In literature, a symbol is expected to have significance. Keats starts his ode with a real nightingale, but quickly it becomes a symbol, standing for a life of pure, unmixed joy; then before the end of the poem it becomes only a bird again. Synecdoche When one uses a part to represent the whole. â€Å"Lend me your ears.† (give me your attention) Syntax The way in which linguistic elements (as words) are put together Theme (1) The abstract concept explored in a literary work; (2) frequently recurring ideas, such as enjoy life while you can; (3) repetition of a meaningful element in a work, such as references to sight, vision and blindness in Oedipus Rex. Sometimes the theme is also called the motif. Themes in Hamlet include the nature of filial duty and the dilemma of the idealist in a non-ideal situation. A theme in Keats’s â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† is the difficulty of correlating the ideal and the real. Tone The writer’s attitude toward the material and/or readers. Tone may be playful, formal, intimate, angry, serious, ironic, outraged, baffled, tender, serene, depressed, etc. Tragedy A story that presents courageous individuals who confront powerful forces within or outside themselves with a dignity that reveals the breadth and depth of the human spirit in the face of failure, defeat, and even death. Tragedies recount an individual’s downfall; they usually begin high and end low. Shakespeare is known for his tragedies, including Macbeth, King Lear, Othello, and Hamlet. The revenge tragedy is a well-established type of drama that can be traced back to Greek and Roman plays, particularly through the Roman playwright Seneca (c. 3 b.c.–a.d. 63). Revenge tragedies basically consist of a murder that has to be avenged by a relative of the victim. Typically, the victim’s ghost appears to demand revenge and, invariably, madness of some sort is worked into subsequent events, which ultimately end in the deaths of the murderer, the avenger and a number of other characters. Shakespeare’s Hamlet subscribes to the basic ingredients of revenge tragedy . It also transcends these conventions because Hamlet contemplates revenge, suicide and the meaning of life itself. The tragic irony is found in tragedies such as Oedipus Rex, in which Oedipus ironically ends up hunting himself. A story that presents courageous individuals who confront powerful forces within or outside themselves with a dignity that reveals the breadth and depth of the human spirit in the face of failure, defeat, and even death. Tragic irony is a form of dramatic irony found in tragedies such as Oedipus Rex, in which Oedipus ironically ends up hunting himself.. Tragic flaw An error or defect in the tragic hero that leads to his downfall, such as greed, pride, or ambition. This flaw may be a result of bad character, bad judgment, an inherited weakness, or any other defect of character. Tragicomedy A type of drama that combines certain elements of tragedy and comedy. The play’s plot tends to be serious, leading to a terrible catastrophe, until an unexpected turn of events leads to a reversal of circumstance, and the story ends happily. Tragicomedy often employs a romantic, fast-moving plot dealing with love, jealousy, disguises, treachery, intrigue, and surprises, all moving toward a melodramatic resolution. Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice is a tragicomedy. Understatement (also known as litotes and meiosis) Casual or light treatment of the subject, it has two effects: (1) shows that the author does not take a subject seriously, (2) calls upon the moral indignation of the reader because the subject does not seem to be taken seriously. * Example: â€Å"I’m really glad that you have come to visit,† said the spider to the fly. Verisimilitude Something that has the appearance of being true or real. Vernacular The everyday or common language of a geographic area or the native language of commoners in a country as opposed to a prestigious dead language maintained artificially in schools or in literary texts. Latin, for instance, has not been a vernacular language for about 1250 years. Sanskrit has not been a vernacular language in India for more than 2000 years. However, Latin in medieval Europe and Sanskrit in ancient India were considered much more suitable for art, scholarship, poetry, and religious texts than the common tongue of everyday people even though (or perhaps because) only a small percentage of the learned could read the older languages.