Extra Credit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Extra Credit - Essay Example On researching the ecological and agricultural characteristics in the Denver area it is found that the peculiar climatic condition experiencing there is between desert climate and humid climate. Hence the climatic condition prevailing there is considered as mild evapotranspiration climate. Since this city is at high altitude this peculiar climatic condition provide the quality of the Mediterranean weather such as dry summer and wetter winter. It is considered that the city has 79 official neighborhoods. Hence the residents of this metropolitan area are mainly the neighborhood communities. The features of these neighborhoods vary each other and they include large skyscrapers, twentieth century houses and modern styled twenty first century buildings. The neighborhoods which are closer to the Denver city comprises of denser buildings which are old styled. The developments of the neighborhoods which are not closer to the concerned city had taken place immediately after Second World War. The buildings at these areas were constructed with modern materials and hence they appeared in high style. Still farther neighborhoods were with suburban characteristics and the people in that area could be recognized by means of their features. Majority of the neighborhoods have parks and other modern facilities and these are considered as the key peculiarities of these neighborhoods. The important neighborhoods of Denver city are Lower Down Town, Union Station Neighborhood, Washington Park, Capitol Hill, Highland Cherry etc. All these neighborhoods have very important roles in the metropolitan developments of the Denver city. Parks are the main peculiarities of the Denver city. As per the survey conducted in 2006 this metropolitan city has more than 200 parks in its credit which vary from mini parks to giant ones. All these parks are with beautiful landscape architects. Since the Denver city is situated at high altitude these are no scarcity for mountain

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example for Free

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay The Setting of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is set in the time before the civil war. This setting of is when racism and civil rights were still around. It was around the late 1800s. The state of which story takes place in is Missouri. The town that Huck Finn starts off at is called St. Petersburg which goes along the Mississippi river. Later on Huckleberry Finn goes off to an island that he is familiar to called Jason Island after he faked is death. This is when and where the story of Huckleberry Finn took place. The story Finn a Novel Matthew Olshan took place in a more modern time in Missouri. Even know it was set in a more modern time there was still racism around. Later on they end up going to California. This was the setting of both of these stories. The Plot of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and Finn a Novel by Matthew Olshan are very similar to each other. In The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn the main character Huck Finn is trying to find a way to freedom from his irresponsible drunken father Pap. In the novel Finn a Novel Chloe is trying to find a way to freedom from her crazy mother. Huck Finn and Chloe were both kidnapped by their parents. The slave of Widow Douglas, Jim, ran away from her and Huck Finn ran into Jim on Jason Island (which is where Huck Finn ran away to after he faked his death). They both run away together to find freedom. In Finn a Novel Finn faked her own death and ran away with her grandparent’s maid Silvia to California to be free of discrimination and racism. Both stories run through some situations and get split apart, but they make it through them. That is how both of the stories plots were similar to each other. The themes of both of these stories are pretty much the same. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the theme is natural life. It was not right in society that slave should be around. Huck Finn helped Jim to get to freedom after they ran away from civilization and society. When they were out of civilization the rules did not apply and made life easier for them. The theme of Finn a Novel was the same. When Silvia was working just to stay in the US without a pay was not alright. There was racism all around Silvia that was trying to deport her back to Mexico. To go to California was going to make her life better for her and her child. Both of these stories show that life can be better away from society. This is how the themes compare to each other.

Recommendation For Recycling Water In Florida Essays -- Recycling Water

Recommendation For Recycling Water in Florida Contents Abstract................................................2 Executive Summary.......................................3 Introduction............................................4 Methods.................................................4 Results.................................................5 Basic background information on water reuse in Florid...5 Reclaiming Waste Water in Florida Uses for reclaimed or reused water......................7 Conclusions.............................................7 Recommendations.........................................7 References..............................................7 Abstract "Recommendation for Recycling Water in a Florida Pilot Plant" The water shortage problem has affected all of us in one way or another. Either through the mandatory restrictions or the increased price of water, or even the ever increasing occurrence of sinkholes, the evidence of a water shortage is everywhere. Since we need water to survive, and there are no alternatives to support life on this planet, we must find a way to keep up with our ever increasing water demand. This report presents the water shortage problem that is occurring in Florida. This report will familiarize you with the problem and explain the other uses currently being employed in Florida. This report also explains the procedure, as well as a recommendation including the site and costs involved, along with a short background on the proposed procedure. I recommend that the recycled project be funded and allow the pilot plant to meet the ever increasing demand for water in Florida. Executive Summary The water shortage problem effects us all in one way or another. Either through the mandatory restrictions or the increased price of water, or even the ever increasing occurrence of sinkholes, the evidence of a water shortage is everywhere. Since we need water to survive, and there are no alternatives to support life on this planet, we must find a way to keep up with our expanding water demand. I feel that the only viable option is to recycle the water we are using. By recycling the water, we will be able to drop ... ...und choice therefore is to reuse the water readily available to us. We have the technology accessible to use to make this a viable option and I feel we should pursue this option. This would almost completely alleviate any water shortage we have, since all the water we use would be recycled back into drinking water, thus relieving the demand to pump more and more water from an already over used aquifer. Recommendation I recommend that the funds be made available for the pilot plant to be put into effect, and allow us to take the next step in water reuse in Florida. The new plant will drastically reduce the amount of water now being pumped from the ground, thus reduce the sinkholes and alleviate the water shortage problem. I feel the small investment is more than worthwhile and will be recouped in a year's time. I would like to start this project and bring this new technology to light and begin a new generation of water treatment. References Young, Harley and David York (1996, November). "Reclaimed Water Reuse in Florida and the South Gulf Coast." Florida Water Resource Journal, pp. 32-35.

American Home Products Corporation Essay

American Home Product Corporation (AHP), a highly growing American company, has four business lines: prescription drugs, packaged drugs, food products, house wares and household products. Its policies include: -A tight financial control and maintained an aggressive capital structure policy. – Make money for its stockholders and to maximize profits by minimizing cost. – It has been able to finance internally its growth while paying a very high portion of its earning to its shareholders (60%). Currently, AHP seems to have no business risk but may face a certain risk in the long run. Based on the ratios shown on the attached sheet, AHP should not worry about business risk since its working capital is very healthy ($1472.8 million) and cash excess $233 million. The high ROA, high profit margin, low current-to-asset ratio and 49.71 collection days show that AHP can generate cash quickly, thus it can maintain current high growth rate. However, it’s decreasing annual sales growth from 14.1% in 1978 to 8.8% in 1981 (exhibit 1) shows that it faces future risk of losing market shares in all its business lines if it does not foresee competition and continues to focus on increasing stockholders’ value. AHP’s current financial performance is very good since it has high ROE (30.3), high quick ratio (42.68), low debt-to-equity ratio (0.09) and low debt-to-asset ratio (0.01). However, an analysis of different debt ratios shows that if AHP increases debt ratio, it will face a financial risk of increased debt-to-equity and debt-to-asset ratios. In other words, it will face solvency problems in long terms. AHP also face liquidity problems since the quick ratios decrease when the debt ratios increase. 2 The proposed mechanism follows a dual mechanism of leveraging:- (a) Increase the Debt Equity Ratio. (b) Buy back the shares. This also results in the following:- (i) Improves EPS as the amount gets shared by lesser number of shares. (ii)Improves Price / earnings ratio (iii) The excess capital gets utilized. (iv)Sends a +ve signal to the market and share prices likely to increase. (v) Improves Return on Equity ratio. The calculations enclosed indicate that the best option in accordance with the company stated policy would be to have Debt-Equity Ratio of 70%. Shareholders’ value increases when debt ratios increase. EPS increases from $3.18 to $3.49. The dividend payout ratio also increases from 0.597 to 0.602. Similarly, the dividend yield from 0.063 to 0.070. It means that the company can increase shareholders’ value by increasing debt ratios. However the following needs to be considered:- (i) The valued net worth of the firm which decreases may not convey the correct picture to the investor and thus negating the positive signals of buy back of shares. (ii) The firm has no strategy related to R&D in new products and focuses on me-too products thus constituting a large business risk. (iii) The firm would reduce the cash to debt ratio substantially exposing itself to financial risk. The closest competitor has Debt – Equity Ratio of 30% which if taken as a benchmark gives a conservative method of deciding the proposed leveraging, however this does not maximize the shareholder value, but is in line with the strong conservatism philosophy of the firm. It also gives a better Return on Assets ratio and has a safer Debt to Cash ratio. Even though AHP has a very good current financial performance, it should change the financial policy to increase debt ratio at a certain level. To meet the goal of increasing shareholders’ value, AHP should not use its excess cash flow to repurchase its stocks because this is only a temporary solution and may generate serious financial problems in the long run. Instead, AHP should use this excess cash to invest in profitable projects to improve its current products and launch new products that meet current market demands. By doing so, AHP can minimize the business risk, prepare itself for competition and increase sales growth. On the other hands, AHP should increase debt ratio to a certain level that is suitable for its  business to increase shareholders’ value. Also it should continue to exercise tight monetary policies as earlier to pay off the debt in a disciplined manner This solution does not bring financial risk to AHP but enable it to minimize business risk. If AHP remains only concerned about how to increase shareholders’ value and ignores market threats, it might lose its business to its competitors.

Cable vs. Satellite Tv Essay

Cable TV: Cable TV companies lay wiring throughout the areas they service, including amplifiers to make sure signal strength is good throughout. Cable can then be easily brought into your home and connected to a cable box or directly into your TV. Satellite TV: Satellite TV companies send their signal to a satellite in space, which then sends it down to the dish on your roof. The dish then needs to connect to a receiver box, which connects to your TV. What kind of equipment do I need? Cable TV: If your home is not wired for cable TV, an installer will need to run cable into your home and create a wall plate with a connector on it. You can plug directly into your TV if you want to receive a basic channel lineup. To receive a fuller menu of digital and HD channels, a cable box is required for each television you plan to use. DVRs and HD-DVRs are generally available that deliver digital and HD channels as well as extra features like the ability to record/store programming and pause live TV. Satellite TV: You’ll need to have a dish installed outside on something like a roof or balcony that has a clear view of the southern sky. Set-top boxes are required for each television you plan to use. DVRs and HD-DVRs should be available that deliver digital and HD channels as well as extra features like the ability to record/store programming and pause live TV. What kind of programming can I get? Both cable and satellite TV offer digital and HD channels, along with varying amounts of on-demand and pay-per-view programming. Cable TV almost always offers a full range of local channels, while satellite TV’s local channel availability is much more robust now than in years previous (most cities should have access to a full list of local channels). Can I get service where I live? Cable TV: If you live in a medium to large-sized city, you will very likely have access to cable TV. If you live in a very small town or isolated area, you may not be able to get service due to a lack of cable lines in the area. Satellite TV: Satellite TV can provide programming to city and countryside residents alike, as you only need to have a clear view of the southern sky for your dish. It can be problematic for renters, however, who don’t have access to a southern view or who have to pay extra building fees to install a dish. Are there any issues with reception quality? Cable TV: There are outages with cable TV service, but they are infrequent. Some areas of the country and some companies will experience this more than others. While the level of outages is quite low, when service does go out in an area, it can last for a couple of hours or longer. Satellite TV: A satellite TV signal can be affected by things like severe weather, causing a loss of picture that usually lasts a few seconds to perhaps a few minutes. Also, if your dish is knocked down due to something like high winds, you will lose reception. In the early days, someone probably denounced cable by saying, â€Å"Television is like water, and no one will ever pay for something they can get for free.† Still, people subscribed. Cable provided a tremendous service for those who couldn’t receive signals by local affiliates. It rapidly became part of the television landscape. Fifty years later, the television world is littered with cable conglomerates who now compete with satellite companies by offering hundreds of digital channels and consumer-friendly interactive services. Their goal is to get your business. Here is a comparison of common services generally provided by cable and satellite companies in the United States and Canada. PRICES Because satellite providers don’t have to pay taxes levied by local governments and feature smaller infrastructures, consumers get more bang for the buck with satellite. Right now, cable’s low-end price is better, but with a third of the channels it’s not an easy sale when compared to satellite’s lowest package. Cable companies have millions of miles of outdated lines buried below ground, and are in the process of converting their technology to digital, which will be expensive. While satellite offers lower programming packages across the board, companies do charge fees per room receiving the signal. Though, some cable companies do, too. Edge: Satellite PROGRAMMING Remember the talk of a 500-channel universe? It’s here, and cable and satellite companies are ready to transport the consumer there. While both offer similar channel packages, each has an advantage over the other. Satellite offers both east and west coast feeds and alternate sports programming for channels like ESPN and Fox Sports. Sometimes sports stations televise games based on regional interest. Their alternate feed allows the satellite viewer the choice of either game. Of course, accessibility to some of the alternate feeds might require an additional price. Cable counters by offering plans for around twenty dollars for those who want good reception without paying for the 500-channel universe, and local programming not carried by satellite providers like public access stations. Edge: Even EQUIPMENT Cable has an advantage for subscribers who don’t want digital programing because there’s no equipment needed other than a television. For the digital subscriber, cable and satellite are similar. You’ll need a converter box, remote, and compatible television. Satellite needs an unobstructed view of the southern sky to receive signals, which is a huge disadvantage for renters because their leasing company might require a deposit for satellite installation. Homeowners also assume a minimal risk by installing a dish to a side wall or roof. Edge: Cable AVAILABILITY Cable only reaches as far as their infrastructure is built while satellite has the entire southern sky. This is significant because in some deregulated markets, all cable companies don’t reach all homes. Edge: Satellite DIGITAL, HDTV, and DVR Concerning digital, high definition, and digital video recorders, cable and satellite companies are equal with one exception. Some satellite companies require an upfront purchase of the DVR and HD box. Others are like cable companies and lease boxes on a monthly basis. Purchasing a receiver is an advantage over time because monthly charges add up. All major companies offer all services in one way or another. Edge: Even BUNDLED SERVICES Bundling services is an adaptation of survival by cable and satellite companies. They either own or form partnerships with other telecommunication companies to offer television, phone, and Internet service for one low price. An example of a bundled service is SBC joining with Dish Network and Yahoo! to offer phone, satellite, and DSL. All major cable and satellite companies will offer some sort of one-bill service because that’s the trend in today’s market. Edge: Even CUSTOMER SERVICE Satellite companies flourish without store fronts because of phone and online customer services. However, store fronts are convenient because they’re a place to pay bills, change out equipment, and voice a compliment or complaint face-to-face. Edge: Cable OBLIGATION Some satellite companies require contracts and some don’t, but very few (if any) cable companies require the consumer to commit to a minimum subscription length.

Volcano Mount Vesusius Essays - Volcanology, Mount Somma

Volcano Mount Vesusius Essays - Volcanology, Mount Somma Volcano Mount Vesusius Mount Vesuvius is a volcano located in southern Italy, near the bay of Naples and the city of Naples. It is the only active volcano on the European mainland. Vesuvius rises to a height of 1277 m (4190 ft). Vesuvio (Vesuvius) is probably the most famous volcano on earth, and is one of the most dangerous. Mount Vesuvius is a strato-volcano consisting of a volcanic cone (Gran Cono) that was built within a summit caldera (Mount Somma). The Somma-Vesuvius complex has formed over the last 25,000 years by means of a sequence of eruptions of variable explosiveness, ranging from the quiet lava outpourings that characterized much of the latest activity (for example from 1881 to 1899 and from 1926 to 1930) to the explosive Plinian eruptions, including the one that destroyed Pompeii and killed thousands of people in 79 A.D. At least seven Plinian eruptions have been identified in the eruptive history of Somma-Vesuvius (1). Each was preceded by a long period of stillness, which in the case of the 79 A.D. eruption lasted about 700 years. These eruptions were fed by viscous water-rich phonotitic to tephritic phonolitic magmas that appear to have differentiated in shallow crustal conditions. They are believed to have slowly filled a reservoir where differentiation was driven by compositional convection. A minimum depth of about 3 km was inferred for the top of the magmatic reservoir from mineral equilibria of metamorphic carbonate ejecta (2). Fluid inclusions ([CO.sub.2] and [H.sub.2]O-[CO.sub.2]) in clinopyroxenes from cumulate and nodules indicate a trapping pressure of 1.0 to 2.5 kbar at about 1200 [degrees]C, suggesting that these minerals crystallized at depths of 4 to 10 km (3). The differentiated magma fraction was about 30% of the total magma in the reservoir, and a volume of about 2 to 3 [km.sup.3] was inferred for the reservoir (4). The magma ascent to the surface occurred through a conduit of possibly 70 to 100 m in diameter (5). A thermal model predicts that such a reservoir should contain a core of partially molten magma (6) that can be detected by high-resolution seismic tomography. The earliest outcropping volcanic deposits date back to about 25,000 years ago. The lavas observed at a -1125 m bore-hole are about 0,3-0,5 million years old. It is known for the first eruption of which an eyewitness account is preserved, in 79 AD. Geologically, Vesuvio is unique for its unusual versatility. Its activity ranging from Hawaiian-style release of liquid lava, fountaining and lava lakes, over Strombolian and Vulcanian activity to violently explosive, plinian events that produce pyroclastic flows and surges. Vesuvius is a complex volcano. A complex volcano is an extensive assemblage of spatially, temporally, and genetically related major and minor [volcanic] centers with there associated lava flows and pyroclastic flows. Vesuvius has a long history. The oldest dated rock from the volcano is about 300,000 years old. It was collected from a well drilled near the volcano and was probably part of the Somma volcano. After Somma collapsed about 17,000 years ago, Vesuvius began to form. Four types of eruption have been documented: a) Plinian (AD 79, Pompeii type) events with widespread air fall and major pyroclastic surges and flows; b) sub-Plinian to Plinian, more moderately sized eruptions (AD 472, 1631) with heavy tephra falls around the volcano and pyroclastic flows and surges; c) small to medium-sized, Strombolian to Vulcanian eruptions (numerous events during the 1631-1944 cycle, such as 1906 and 1944) with local heavy tephra falls and major lava flows and small pyroclastic avalanches res tricted to the active cone itself. The fourth type it is the smallest of all eruption types observed at Vesuvio. It is the persistent Strombolian to Hawaiian style eruption that characterizes almost all of an eruptive sub-cycle, such as was the case during the period 1913-1944. Activity of this kind is mainly restricted to the central crater where one or more intracrateral cones form, and to the sides of the cone. Lava flows from the summit crater or from the sub terminal vents extend beyond the cone's base. A somewhat particular kind of persistent activity is the slow release of large amounts of lava from sub terminal fractures to form thick piles of lava with little lateral extension, such

Free Essays on Literary Analysis On “A Rose For Emily“

â€Å"A Rose for Emily†: Battle of the Sexes In his short story â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† William Faulkner relates to the reader the life of Emily Grierson, a remnant of the past. The narrator of the story relates the mystery and intrigue that surrounds the events of Miss Emily’s life. As her story unfolds, Faulkner depicts the thoughts that the townspeople have about her and her actions. It is quickly evident that the author makes distinctions between the sexes in this story. As the townspeople interact with and react to Miss Emily, a clear characterization of the males and females emerges. Faulkner portrays the men in the story as admirable, respectful, polite, and well mannered and portrays the women as nosey, interfering, unkind, gullible, and gossipy. Faulkner’s treatment of the male in â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is quite complimentary. From the very beginning of the story the male is presented as admirable. In the first sentence of the story, Faulkner writes that the men go to the funeral â€Å"out of respectful affection for a fallen monument† (87). They attend this funeral for honorable reasons. Obviously, they have a great respect for Miss Emily’s family and felt that they should pay their respects upon her death. The men also demonstrate this respect when they handle the situation with Miss Emily’s taxes. They expect her to pay the taxes, but they are very patient and respectful in their dealings with her on this manner. When they mail a tax notice and receive no reply, they mail a formal letter. When this fails, the mayor writes â€Å"offering to call or to send his car for her†(88). This surely is not customary but the men give Miss Emily nothing but respect. In addition to very respectful, the men of the town are always polite and well mannered when dealing with Miss Emily. When the townspeople become concerned about the smell around Miss Emily’s house, complaints come from both males and females alike. The males’... Free Essays on Literary Analysis On â€Å"A Rose For Emilyâ€Å" Free Essays on Literary Analysis On â€Å"A Rose For Emilyâ€Å" â€Å"A Rose for Emily†: Battle of the Sexes In his short story â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† William Faulkner relates to the reader the life of Emily Grierson, a remnant of the past. The narrator of the story relates the mystery and intrigue that surrounds the events of Miss Emily’s life. As her story unfolds, Faulkner depicts the thoughts that the townspeople have about her and her actions. It is quickly evident that the author makes distinctions between the sexes in this story. As the townspeople interact with and react to Miss Emily, a clear characterization of the males and females emerges. Faulkner portrays the men in the story as admirable, respectful, polite, and well mannered and portrays the women as nosey, interfering, unkind, gullible, and gossipy. Faulkner’s treatment of the male in â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is quite complimentary. From the very beginning of the story the male is presented as admirable. In the first sentence of the story, Faulkner writes that the men go to the funeral â€Å"out of respectful affection for a fallen monument† (87). They attend this funeral for honorable reasons. Obviously, they have a great respect for Miss Emily’s family and felt that they should pay their respects upon her death. The men also demonstrate this respect when they handle the situation with Miss Emily’s taxes. They expect her to pay the taxes, but they are very patient and respectful in their dealings with her on this manner. When they mail a tax notice and receive no reply, they mail a formal letter. When this fails, the mayor writes â€Å"offering to call or to send his car for her†(88). This surely is not customary but the men give Miss Emily nothing but respect. In addition to very respectful, the men of the town are always polite and well mannered when dealing with Miss Emily. When the townspeople become concerned about the smell around Miss Emily’s house, complaints come from both males and females alike. The males’...

monologophobia - definition and examples

monologophobia - definition and examples Definition: A fear of using a word more than once in a single sentence or paragraph. The term monologophobia was coined by New York Times editor Theodore M. Bernstein in The Careful Writer, 1965.See Examples and Observations, below. Also see: What Is Monologophobia?Elegant VariationThe Fear of Repetition in Writing: Beware the Elongated Yellow FruitPeriphrasis (Rhetoric)RepetitionSynonyms and Variety of Expression, by Walter Alexander RaleighSynonymyThesaurus Examples and Observations: It took about a dozen men and women to heave the huge, orange produce item onto the forklift.When the driver lowered the massive pumpkin, the last of the 118 entered in yesterdays annual All New England Weigh-Off kicking off the Topsfield Fair, the traditional Halloween ornament broke the scale. . . .(Pumpkin Pounds Topsfield Scale: Oversized Produce Weighs in As Big Hit With Visitors to Fair. The Boston Globe, October 1, 2000) Bernstein on MonologophobiaA monologophobe (you wont find it in the dictionary) is a writer who would rather walk naked in front of Saks Fifth Avenue than be caught using the same word more than once in three lines. What he suffers from is synonymomania (you wont find that one, either), which is a compulsion to call a spade successively a garden implement and an earth-turning tool. . . .Now avoidance of monotony caused by jarring repetition of a conspicuous word or phrase is desirable. A little touch of monologophobia might have helped the framer of this sente nce: The Khrushchev defeats, General Hoxha said, took place at the international Communist meetings that took place in Bucharest in June, 1960, and in Moscow in November, 1960. . . .But mechanical substitution of synonyms may make a bad situation worse. Elegant variation is the term applied by Fowler to this practice. It is particularly objectionable if the synonym is the one that falls strangely on the ear or eye: calling a snowfall a descent, calling gold the yellow metal, calling charcoal the ancient black substance. Repetition of the word is better than these strained synonyms. Often a pronoun is a good remedy, and sometimes no word at all is required.(Theodore M. Bernstein, The Careful Writer: A Modern Guide to English Usage. Scribner, 1965) [M]onologophobia strikes in many places. In court reports there is a bewildering alternation of the names of people with their status as defendant or plaintiff. It is better to stick to names throughout.(Harold Evans, Essential English. Pimlico, 2000) Verdict and Ruling[An] accident of style that writers often get into with verdict and ruling is switching blithely back and forth between them, as if the words were interchangeable. In a story about a British libel case where the judge ruled against a Holocaust-denying historian, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune did this egregiously: International Jewish groups applauded the unsparing British court verdict against Irving. . . . The verdict shredded Irvings reputation. . . . Professor Dorothy Lipstadt of Emeroy University . . . hailed the ruling. . . . The ruling also was a victory for Penguin Books, her British publisher. . . . [Irving] said he had two words to describe the ruling. . . . Irving may appeal the verdict.In every instance in that story, verdict should have been ruling. But the reporter was no doubt suffering from a bad case of monologophobia, a fear of repeating the same word. . . .Instead of flip-flopping between the correct ruling and the incorrect verdict, the Chicago Tribune reporter should have assuaged his monologophobia by here and there tossing in the word decision, an unobjectionable substitute for ruling.(Charles Harrington Elster, The Accidents of Style: Good Advice on How Not to Write Badly. St. Martins Press, 2010) Also Known As: elegant variation, burly detective syndrome

Prevention of Social Breakdown in the Elderly Essay

Prevention of Social Breakdown in the Elderly - Essay Example (Wikipedia.com) This theory is both an individual and a societal in its concept. The negative feedback is produced by a person who is already vulnerable to psychological problems; one example is an old adult was hospitalized because of depression should be accompanied by some of his/her friend/s. Once the cycle starts, it strengthens others' perception of incompetence. Older adults may act the way they supposed to act in the society independently. But, they may also act inappropriately; they see themselves as inadequate human being - negative spiral is then set into motion. One good example is when the man loses his wife and having a hard time if he will sell their house or not so his son decided to take care of the decision-making if whether to sell the house or not; he decided that it would be better to sell the house and bring his father to a place where he can be taken care of. If the man agrees, it supports both the father and the son's way of thinking that the father is not autonomous or capa ble. (Macro Theories of Aging) Kuyper and Bengtson emphasized that these factors affect the elderly: (1) children moving away and building their own families (2) death of spouses and friends (3) unclear ideas about what to expect as people grows older (4) disappearance of a reference group (5) and a dramatic drop in public status. All of these factors provide strong negative support to feelings of uselessness and obsolescence in elderly. They argued that for some people, aging can assume a pathological flavour because of the changes in their social environment thus causing individuals to doubt their social competence that may lead to low self-assessment and a continuing decline of formerly employed coping skills. According to the researchers, most elders are faced with a long and weary process of adapting to lessen capacities. Old age people especially when they are lonely tend to self-neglect. Those people who have spouse, family members or even friends who died early and before them has a greater potential to self-neglect. Elders that are self-neglecting are those who habitually experience harmful situations or live in very inadequate condition because there is an increase in physical and/or in mental impairments. One reason why elders fear seeking help is because they do not want to be a load to other people; they are also afraid to lose their privacy and/or independence. Elders who self-neglect may become disoriented because of alcohol abuse; they may misuse or fail to take their prescribed medications especially elders who need to take psychotropic drugs to treat their mental illness; they become unmotivated to take good care of themselves or to worsen immobilized because of too much depression; and lastly, they may become unaware of the resources available or services being offered. Prevention of Social Breakdown in the Elderly During the 1980s, the elements considered to be essential in all interventions include: (1) sensitivity to the elders' self-esteem when it comes to matter of life style and independence (2) awareness of the elders' motivation technique to attain good standards of self-care (3) assessment of the elders' functional capabilities (4) consideration of service options to give the elders choices (5) and respect for the elders' right to decide about using service offerings - whether to

Starbucks Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Starbucks Research Paper - Essay Example (Chris, 2006, 84) ThÐ µrÐ µ Ð °rÐ µ diffÐ µrÐ µnt Ð °Ã'€Ã'€rÐ ¾Ã °chÐ µs tÐ ¾ Ð ¾rgÐ °nizÐ °tiÐ ¾nÐ °l bÐ µhÐ °viÐ ¾r, which is bÐ µst fÐ ¾r Ð °ll Ð ¾rgÐ °nizÐ °tiÐ ¾ns; instÐ µÃ °d, cÐ ¾mÃ'€Ð °niÐ µs must Ð µvÐ ¾lvÐ µ thÐ µ systÐ µm, which wÐ ¾rks bÐ µst fÐ ¾r thÐ µm with thÐ µ hÐ µlÃ'€ Ð ¾f Ð µffÐ µctivÐ µ Ã'€lÐ °nning, Ð °nd tÐ µchnÐ ¾lÐ ¾gicÐ °l suÃ'€Ã'€Ð ¾rt, which chÐ °ngÐ µs Ð ¾vÐ µr timÐ µ Ð °s thÐ µir Ð µnvirÐ ¾nmÐ µnt Ð °nd thÐ µ individuÐ °ls within thÐ °t Ð µnvirÐ ¾nmÐ µnt chÐ °ngÐ µ. OrgÐ °nizÐ °tiÐ ¾nÐ °l bÐ µhÐ °viÐ ¾r dÐ µÃ °ls with thÐ µ tÐ ¾Ã'€ mÐ °n tÐ ¾ thÐ µ bÐ ¾ttÐ ¾m mÐ °n, Ð µvÐ µryÐ ¾nÐ µ nÐ µÃ µds tÐ ¾ bÐ µ invÐ ¾lvÐ µd Ð °nd knÐ ¾w thÐ µ right Ð °ctiÐ ¾ns Ð °nd Ð °ttitudÐ µs fÐ ¾r Ð °n Ð ¾rgÐ °nizÐ °tiÐ ¾n tÐ ¾ sky rÐ ¾ckÐ µt Ð °nd Ð µxcÐ µl in thÐ µ futurÐ µ StÐ °rbucks CÐ ¾rÃ'€Ð ¾rÐ °tiÐ ¾n is thÐ µ wÐ ¾rlds numbÐ µr Ð ¾nÐ µ sÃ'€Ð µciÐ °lty cÐ ¾ffÐ µÃ µ rÐ µtÐ °ilÐ µr. It Ð ¾Ã'€Ð µrÐ °tÐ µs mÐ ¾rÐ µ thÐ °n 8,700 cÐ ¾ffÐ µÃ µ shÐ ¾Ã'€s in mÐ ¾rÐ µ thÐ °n 30 cÐ ¾untriÐ µs. ThÐ µ cÐ ¾mÃ'€Ð °ny is cÐ ¾mmittÐ µd tÐ ¾ Ð ¾ffÐ µring thÐ µ highÐ µst quÐ °lity cÐ ¾ffÐ µÃ µ Ð °nd "ThÐ µ StÐ °rbucks ExÃ'€Ð µriÐ µncÐ µ" whilÐ µ cÐ ¾nducting its businÐ µss in wÐ °ys thÐ °t Ã'€rÐ ¾ducÐ µ sÐ ¾ciÐ °l, Ð µnvirÐ ¾nmÐ µntÐ °l Ð °nd Ð µcÐ ¾nÐ ¾mic bÐ µnÐ µfits fÐ ¾r cÐ ¾mmunitiÐ µs in which it dÐ ¾Ã µs businÐ µss. (Chris, 2006, 84) "StÐ °rbucks Ã'€urchÐ °sÐ µs Ð °nd rÐ ¾Ã °sts high-quÐ °lity whÐ ¾lÐ µ bÐ µÃ °n cÐ ¾ffÐ µÃ µs Ð °nd sÐ µlls thÐ µm Ð °lÐ ¾ng with frÐ µsh, rich-brÐ µwÐ µd, ItÐ °liÐ °n stylÐ µ Ð µsÃ'€rÐ µssÐ ¾ bÐ µvÐ µrÐ °gÐ µs, Ð ° vÐ °riÐ µty Ð ¾f Ã'€Ð °striÐ µs Ð °nd cÐ ¾nfÐ µctiÐ ¾ns, Ð °nd cÐ ¾ffÐ µ Ð µ-rÐ µlÐ °tÐ µd Ð °ccÐ µssÐ ¾riÐ µs Ð °nd Ð µquiÃ'€mÐ µnt -- Ã'€rimÐ °rily thrÐ ¾ugh its cÐ ¾mÃ'€Ð °ny-Ð ¾Ã'€Ð µrÐ °tÐ µd rÐ µtÐ °il stÐ ¾rÐ µs." (HÐ °mbrick, 2007, 20) StÐ °rbucks CÐ ¾rÃ'€Ð ¾rÐ °tiÐ ¾n Ã'€urchÐ °sÐ µs Ð °nd rÐ ¾Ã °sts whÐ ¾lÐ µ bÐ µÃ °n cÐ ¾ffÐ µÃ µs Ð °nd sÐ µlls thÐ µm Ð °lÐ ¾ng with brÐ µwÐ µd cÐ ¾ffÐ µÃ µs, ItÐ °liÐ °n-stylÐ µ Ð µsÃ'€rÐ µssÐ ¾ bÐ µvÐ µrÐ °gÐ µs, cÐ ¾ld-blÐ µndÐ µd bÐ µvÐ µrÐ °gÐ µs, Ð ° vÐ °riÐ µty Ð ¾f fÐ ¾Ã ¾d itÐ µms, Ð ° sÐ µlÐ µctiÐ ¾n Ð ¾f tÐ µÃ °s Ð °nd Ð µvÐ µn Ð ° linÐ µ Ð ¾f cÐ ¾mÃ'€Ð °ct discs. "ThÐ µ Ð ¾riginÐ °l StÐ °rbucks, fÐ ¾undÐ µd in 1971, wÐ °s Ð ° cÐ ¾mÃ'€Ð °ny Ã'€Ð °ssiÐ ¾nÐ °tÐ µly cÐ ¾mmittÐ µd tÐ ¾ wÐ ¾rld-clÐ °ss cÐ ¾ffÐ µÃ µ Ð °nd

Role of gender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Role of gender - Essay Example They were considered to be clean after the cut, and this was a licence to marriage (Dirie 11). The essay, "The Brothels Bottom Line," highlights the various evils young girls are subjected to in the brothel business. According to the story girls are sex objects that men can buy to please themselves and dispose whenever they please. They are used as tools of trade by brothel owners, who attach no value to them, to a point of beating them to death. Others are stitched their private parts to become virgins solely for the purpose of their owners making more money. While there are people who attach good gender roles to girls’ economic growth, like involving in businesses, others do not see the use of women apart from pleasing men (Kristof 4-8). The essays have various lessons about the role of gender in our culture. They show that gender plays a big role in shaping our children’s destiny. Gender assigns various roles to people and they assume these roles to their maturity. While in the essay "The Tragedy of Female Circumcision," the author was circumcised because her grandmother and great grandmother had too been circumcised, the girls in "The Brothels Bottom Line† essay who had become used to prostitution found it hard to leave the business. Gender plays a great role in shaping our reasoning and determines who we are at maturity. Srey Mom in the essay had become addicted to methamphetamine and decided to stick to it even after being saved from the brothels, she opted to go back to the habit. From both essays, it is evident that gender is responsible for assigning people various roles that they play in their cultures. Although they point at the negativity of the said roles, gender is also responsible for posit ive roles assigned to people in the society.   Globally, different cultures have different perceptions regarding gender. While the culture of various third world countries like Africa and some Asian countries assign specific

Advantages and Disadvantages of Utilizing a Project Labor Agreement Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of Utilizing a Project Labor Agreement - Essay Example So, they can opt to join or not to do so. First, PLA can help in promoting uniformity in the construction sector. Since it requires the constructors to be members of labor unions, it means that it advocates for equality in salaries, wages, overtime, allowances, working hours, benefits, working rules and conditions adhered to while working on the government-sponsored construction projects. This demonstrates how the agreement can be beneficial to all the parties starting from the main constructor, sub-contractor up to the laborers. Besides, it helps in providing assurance to all the involved contractors that the project would be completed within the shortest time possible. It is possible to attain this because the agreement guarantees a steady and reliable of well trained and highly qualified laborers. At the same time, PLA makes the management of such projects much easier because they are properly coordinated and operated under predictable budgets. In addition, PLA helps in making the work to be smoothly carried out without experiencing challenges like conflict, strikes and go slows which are common in non-unionized firms. Since all the contractors have to be members of trade unions, they are obliged to comply with rules and regulations governing their operations (Tuerck, 2010). Because of this, it can be much easier to resolve conflicts and eradicate the cases of strike that might slow down the construction process. Moreover, PLA can e a good thing for the laborers because it ensures that they are properly empowered. It requires the contractors to provide adequate trainings an apprentice programs for certain classes of employees including the minorities, disabled, women, veterans and all the other underprivileged people in the society. By giving such workers an opportunity to acquire training, they can be able to have personal growth and become more useful and valuable employees in the years to

World War 2 History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World War 2 History - Essay Example The biggest obscurity that remains is who should bear the culpability of the Holocaust. Millions of questions fizz out of the World War II brutality, but unfortunately, neither satisfactory answer has ever been reached nor is there any in the near future. The answers to evolving questions still remain oblivious with many wondering about the motives and the driving force behind the Holocaust. However, through their stories, Christopher Browning, Sledge Barrow, and Gerald Linderman try to explore some of the drivers of such brutalities witnessed with â€Å"ordinary men† of Reserve Police Battalion 101 during World War II. Browning attempts to shed light on the outrageous behavior of â€Å"ordinary men† of Reserve Police Battalion 101 in the period of German invasion of Poland. On the other hand, Sledge explores the physical and psychological tortures that the United States marine went through in their bid to survive during offensive action in Peleliu and Okinawa, which wa s also reflected by Linderman. All these men crafted literature on the experiences of ordinary men during the war, which compelled them to execute horrific and baffling actions. The main role of Reserve Police Battalion 101 in Poland was to clear ghetto and to extradite the Jews to rear regions by train. According to Browning, most of the members of this group were neither Nazis nor trained for war (3–4). Interestingly, the men turned out to be one of the most efficient executioners of innocent civilians. Jozefow, Poland, marks the group’s initial murder stage, which became a future plan for successive murder operations. The Battalion commander, Major Wilhelm Trap, came up with a solution for those who could not accomplish the task of killing their victims by relieving them of their duty. However, only a few members bought his idea of the reprieve offer. It beats logic and exposes extreme meanness when ordinary men were matched one-on-one with their victims, which pres ented the murders as more individual. The men felt resentment and depression from the killing when they later retreated into their camps (Barrow 69). The commanders of the men resorted to making alcohol accessible, perhaps, to frozen the feelings and experience and also to help the men to cope. Browning further argues that some of the members of Reserve Police Battalion 101 requested to quit when the executions began, while others seemed to enjoy their role (70). The idea of taking lives is quite a traumatizing experience. Apparently, those who were leaving were so withdrawn to pull the trigger with their weapons, and more so, on a face-to-face execution basis of their victims. As the battalions participated in numerous operations to capture and exterminate the Jews, they became more oriented to killing and would even derive pleasure from killing their victims (Browning 127). In spite of the reluctance to shoot their Jew victims, it did not make any better their callous capture and delivery of the Jew captives to their murder sites. Browning argues that "Spared direct participation in the killing, the men...seemed scarcely to have been disturbed" (Browning 90). Quite a large number of the battalions took part in organized murders in their attempt to â€Å"cleanse† Poland. The successive executions were based on the plan developed in Jozefow, when the very first executions were made efficiently and effectively by the ordinary men. In the later killings, the Jews were led to the forest, ordered to lie down and then gunned on their necks. Because of their involvement in countless shootings of the Jews, the men became so murder-oriented that they even became efficient in dispelling the killings from

Monetary Policy Wages, Markets and Income Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Monetary Policy Wages, Markets and Income - Essay Example As asserted by Woodruff, the real interest rate is defined as the interest rate minus the rate of inflation in the economy. Viewing it in another way, interest rate, specifically the nominal interest rate, is the real interest rate plus the inflation. The nominal interest rate is what is actually applied to my mortgage or loan application. With this, it becomes evident that an increase in inflation brings about an increase in interest rate. As such, should I perceive that inflation is relatively during a particular period, then I may defer my decision to apply for a loan or mortgage until inflation has been curbed as expected by economic agencies. This would generally lessen my cost of borrowing given the resulting lower interest rate. Relative to inflation, Woodruff also noted that leading inflation indicators should be watched. These key reports include those on unemployment rate, employment cost index (ECI), GDP, consumer price index (CPI) and producer price index (PPI). The employment reports of the Department of Labor are deemed as the "harbinger of inflation." This is because of the perceived inverse relation between inflation and unemployment rate, meaning with a lower unemployment rate-an uptick in inflation is expected.

World War 2 History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World War 2 History - Essay Example The biggest obscurity that remains is who should bear the culpability of the Holocaust. Millions of questions fizz out of the World War II brutality, but unfortunately, neither satisfactory answer has ever been reached nor is there any in the near future. The answers to evolving questions still remain oblivious with many wondering about the motives and the driving force behind the Holocaust. However, through their stories, Christopher Browning, Sledge Barrow, and Gerald Linderman try to explore some of the drivers of such brutalities witnessed with â€Å"ordinary men† of Reserve Police Battalion 101 during World War II. Browning attempts to shed light on the outrageous behavior of â€Å"ordinary men† of Reserve Police Battalion 101 in the period of German invasion of Poland. On the other hand, Sledge explores the physical and psychological tortures that the United States marine went through in their bid to survive during offensive action in Peleliu and Okinawa, which wa s also reflected by Linderman. All these men crafted literature on the experiences of ordinary men during the war, which compelled them to execute horrific and baffling actions. The main role of Reserve Police Battalion 101 in Poland was to clear ghetto and to extradite the Jews to rear regions by train. According to Browning, most of the members of this group were neither Nazis nor trained for war (3–4). Interestingly, the men turned out to be one of the most efficient executioners of innocent civilians. Jozefow, Poland, marks the group’s initial murder stage, which became a future plan for successive murder operations. The Battalion commander, Major Wilhelm Trap, came up with a solution for those who could not accomplish the task of killing their victims by relieving them of their duty. However, only a few members bought his idea of the reprieve offer. It beats logic and exposes extreme meanness when ordinary men were matched one-on-one with their victims, which pres ented the murders as more individual. The men felt resentment and depression from the killing when they later retreated into their camps (Barrow 69). The commanders of the men resorted to making alcohol accessible, perhaps, to frozen the feelings and experience and also to help the men to cope. Browning further argues that some of the members of Reserve Police Battalion 101 requested to quit when the executions began, while others seemed to enjoy their role (70). The idea of taking lives is quite a traumatizing experience. Apparently, those who were leaving were so withdrawn to pull the trigger with their weapons, and more so, on a face-to-face execution basis of their victims. As the battalions participated in numerous operations to capture and exterminate the Jews, they became more oriented to killing and would even derive pleasure from killing their victims (Browning 127). In spite of the reluctance to shoot their Jew victims, it did not make any better their callous capture and delivery of the Jew captives to their murder sites. Browning argues that "Spared direct participation in the killing, the men...seemed scarcely to have been disturbed" (Browning 90). Quite a large number of the battalions took part in organized murders in their attempt to â€Å"cleanse† Poland. The successive executions were based on the plan developed in Jozefow, when the very first executions were made efficiently and effectively by the ordinary men. In the later killings, the Jews were led to the forest, ordered to lie down and then gunned on their necks. Because of their involvement in countless shootings of the Jews, the men became so murder-oriented that they even became efficient in dispelling the killings from

A Comparison and Analysis of Two Works of Art Term Paper

A Comparison and Analysis of Two Works of Art - Term Paper Example The essay "A Comparison and Analysis of Two Works of Art" compares Willem de Kooning's "Woman 1" and Fernand Leger's "Woman with a Book". The simplicity of the art is appealing to the eye and the intrinsic blend of color is magnificent in a unique way. One of Fernand’s common quotes is creating art that everyone can understand. â€Å"Woman with a book† supports the latter claim by the simplistic, yet magnificent nature of its presentation. The technique and simplicity captivates the eyes of viewers visiting the gallery on the fifth floor at the MOMA. The plain background of art brings out the type of lines that Fernand uses to bring out the features of the woman. The most captivating thing about the piece of art is the expressionless face of the woman. This arouses curiosity from the art viewers trying to perceive the mood of the art and its context. Understanding a little about Fernand could shine a light on the latter. Là ©ger’s career started after he began s howing talent in fine art. Since his birth in rural France, his family prepared him to take over the family business of cattle dealership. He enrolled in architecture school after showing a talent in art and later to various colleges where he mastered several methods of artistic impressionism. Between 1905 and 1907, Là ©ger had no cubism painting; it was mainly impressionistic. By the time he went to fight as a soldier in World War 1, however, Là ©ger had fully adopted cubism and his work recognised along Pablo Picasso. Là ©ger’s form of cubism was unique.

Ethics Article Review Essay Example for Free

Ethics Article Review Essay This paper seeks to prepare a review of an article discussing ethics in accounting and financial decision making by making a brief summary, relating to assigned reading for the week, relating and applying the concepts to current or former employer’s organization, making improvement for the organization using the article as basis and explaining the importance of ethics in accounting and financial decision making. A description of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley act will also be discussed including its impact on accounting and financial decision making. 2. Discussions 2. a. Brief Summary The article is talking about the importance of ethics in accounting and business. To dramatize its significance in business, it has cited a story of a number of rich people who may have attained their financial rewards in business but ended dying in less meaningful ways impliedly because of missing the principles of ethics. While the article admits that earning money or attaining riches may be an acceptable goal in business, there is still the question of how success in measured in the final analysis and for which the authors were arguing for riches acquired with honor and if a choice would be made between the two, it would be more preferable to have honor rather riches (Smith and Smith, 2003) . 2. b. Relating to assigned readings As to how the article relate to assigned readings for this week, it may be argued that the article has touched on the importance of rules or guides to actions in business. Ethics in business may be asserted to be indispensable if business will have to attain its goals in harmony with other goals of society such as those in economics and politics. 2. c. Application of article to organization As to how the ethical concepts discussed on the article may apply to this researcher’s former or current organization, it may be argued that the universality of principles related to ethics would really make it difficult to exclude this researcher’s organization from any of its application.. Since my organization is part of the larger society where everybody else lives, it cannot isolate itself from the community by doing unethical things. It cannot even argue that any illegal or unethical thing that it may do will not matter in a world where there many players who may be affected by decisions made. In the same way that a member of society can make a difference for the good of the community so with the failure of one organization or even a person in the organization can do to the detriments of many if not all of the members of the community. 2. d. Recommendations for improvement of the organization To make recommendations for improvement on this researcher’s or organization using the article as basis, the organization should encourage simple living among its executives so that they could be more disciplined in the way the company’s resources are being managed not only for the stockholders but even to every stakeholders who stand to benefits from the observance of ethical conduct in the organization. The other stakeholders of course include the employees who aspire for long-term employment (Sears, 2003), the creditors and lenders who resources need to be protected as well, customers who need to have their needs and wants for company’s products and services continuously satisfied and the government who must continue ensuring payment of taxes and compliance with regulations. 2. e. The importance of ethics in accounting and financial decision making and how the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act affects the same The important of ethics in accounting and financial decision making cannot be underestimated. Without ethics there would be no responsibility for right or wrong act can be demanded from people making decisions. The managers who are considered agents of stockholders would instead enrich themselves at the expense of stockholders investments. On the other hand, these stockholders would just exploit whatever they can to the detriment of their principal, this time their debt capital providers. The organization can likewise treat its employees with disrespect and violate the latter’s if there in no ethics that would guide them. Laws will be insufficient to exact compliance if people in the organization were not instilled the proper values when they were still young in the same way that it is hard to teach tricks to an old dog. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is a classic example to legislate rules of conduct that would improve corporate governance (Ali, et. al, 2006) including a more strict compliance of requirements in regulating companies in terms of financial statements and ensuring of ethical conduct of external auditors (Bainbridge, 2007). Although the law is a positive act to ethical practice of doing business, the choice to do what is right is still with decision makers who must have the right sense of values for society. 3. Conclusion: Ethics has a purpose to attain. It is a part of an organization’s life since it is a guide to decision making not only in accounting and finance but even to all other aspect of business operations. A sense or rightness or wrongness offers a choice and that which is good is incidentally consistent with ethics. As the world seems to be painting what are the standards of its success when actually they are not the real and lasting ones, ethics its and principles have much to offer in making the correct decision that will lead real and lasting success for human existence. The article has argued that honor is preferable than riches but riches need not be inconsistent with riches as long as they are ethically acquired. References: Ali, et. al (2006) International Corporate Governance After Sarbanes-Oxley, John Wiley and Sons Bainbridge (2007), The Complete Guide to Sarbanes-Oxley: Understanding How Sarbanes-Oxley Affects Your Business; Adams Media Sears (2003) Successful Talent Strategies: Achieving Superior Business Results Through Market-focused Staffing, AMACOM Div American Mgmt Association. Smith and Smith (2003) Business and Accounting Ethics, {www document} URL, http://acct. tamu. edu/smith/ethics/ethics. htmAccessed September 29,2008

Tulips :: essays research papers

How to Listen I am going to cock my head tonight like a dog in front of McGlinchy's Tavern on Locust; I am going to stand beside the man who works all day combing his thatch of gray hair corkscrewed in every direction. I am going to pay attention to our lives unraveling between the forks of his fine-tooth comb. For once, we won't talk about the end of the world or Vietnam or his exquisite paper shoes. For once, I am going to ignore the profanity and the dancing and the jukebox so I can hear his head crackle beneath the sky's stretch of faint stars. Jet Lag Oriented, suddenly Aurora, I rise without alarm in the random dark, Already full of purpose, without coffee Or tea, to the cat's delight, revving her pleasure. Breakfast is a poem, light, in good measure, A grapefruit split to reveal the spokes and rays Of the sunburst wheels on a golden chariot. I dress, I shake the dew drops from tips of my tresses. It is as if I can hear them, imagined horses, Astir in the stable, fogging the air with their breath, Snug under blankets, awaiting the curry comb And oats, ready to set out over the hill, Over the sleeping city, over the sill Of the sea, islands dribbled like pancake batter, Knowing where I am is always East, Always ahead of the day that's going to matter. Simple Arithmetic I am still imagining the men lined up, the ones I imagine who want me. I'll tell you everything I know: there was a boy, a girl, and a boat. And palm trees, but the mosquitos on the island chased them back to the boat. There was a boy, a girl, and a dog: I still can't get the story straight — magic fruit? straw into gold? — and night's black velvet has arrived. I am glad for my life and the high clear voices of four-year-olds in the Allegan Public Library. I am not the girl in the story — I am the girl whose mouth is mainly shut but who imagines it open. But where are the other boy and girl? Holding hands and walking into the library while a baby falls out of a pile of money with astonishing grace. Tulips :: essays research papers How to Listen I am going to cock my head tonight like a dog in front of McGlinchy's Tavern on Locust; I am going to stand beside the man who works all day combing his thatch of gray hair corkscrewed in every direction. I am going to pay attention to our lives unraveling between the forks of his fine-tooth comb. For once, we won't talk about the end of the world or Vietnam or his exquisite paper shoes. For once, I am going to ignore the profanity and the dancing and the jukebox so I can hear his head crackle beneath the sky's stretch of faint stars. Jet Lag Oriented, suddenly Aurora, I rise without alarm in the random dark, Already full of purpose, without coffee Or tea, to the cat's delight, revving her pleasure. Breakfast is a poem, light, in good measure, A grapefruit split to reveal the spokes and rays Of the sunburst wheels on a golden chariot. I dress, I shake the dew drops from tips of my tresses. It is as if I can hear them, imagined horses, Astir in the stable, fogging the air with their breath, Snug under blankets, awaiting the curry comb And oats, ready to set out over the hill, Over the sleeping city, over the sill Of the sea, islands dribbled like pancake batter, Knowing where I am is always East, Always ahead of the day that's going to matter. Simple Arithmetic I am still imagining the men lined up, the ones I imagine who want me. I'll tell you everything I know: there was a boy, a girl, and a boat. And palm trees, but the mosquitos on the island chased them back to the boat. There was a boy, a girl, and a dog: I still can't get the story straight — magic fruit? straw into gold? — and night's black velvet has arrived. I am glad for my life and the high clear voices of four-year-olds in the Allegan Public Library. I am not the girl in the story — I am the girl whose mouth is mainly shut but who imagines it open. But where are the other boy and girl? Holding hands and walking into the library while a baby falls out of a pile of money with astonishing grace.

Response to Goerge Orwells 1984 :: essays research papers

Upon my reading of the novel 1984, I was fascinated by George Orwell’s vision of the future. Orwell describes a world so extreme that a question comes to mind, asking what would encourage him to write such a novel. 1984 took place in the future, but it seemed like it was happening in the past. George Orwell was born in 1903 and died in 1950; he has seen the horrific tides of World War  ² and à . As I got deeper into this novel I began to see similar events of world history built into 1984. The main thing I saw in this book that brought me back to historical events, was the control of people for corrupt and selfish purposes. At the end of World War  ² Japan began to capture areas in Asia and the Pacific that had valuable materials such as coconut copra, rubber and quartz. The inhabitants of captured territories where more or less given the status of slaves. I saw the same events taking place in 1984; wars were being fought in disputed areas which contain valuable goods, but the main reason for war was for cheap slave labor. When Winston and Julia are in Mr. Charrington’s room Julia brings out a surprise â€Å"It’s real tea. Not blackberry leaves.† â€Å"There’s been a lot of tea about lately. They’ve captured India, or something,† (1) Oceania is a world where quantity is more important than quality and quality goods are hard to get a hold of because it is reserve for greedy inner party members. Another instance of a concept that brings me back to historical events is the strong connection between the Oceanian society and the German Nazi society. After World War  ² Germany was still in a stage of depression, Adolf Hitler promised a way out. So he began his brainwashing campaign and used load speakers and radio broadcasting. He started destroying books that opposed his views and murdered people that stood in his way to power. To keep control over society the inner party also used the same tactics. They formed a secret organization (known as the brotherhood) to stop any treat to the party. And built departments (Ministry of Love, Truth and Plenty) to keep the party in power, the party even eliminates or re-writes parts of history if needed. During World War à  communication improved, Hitler came to power by using communication; he used load speakers, radio broadcasting and slogans to promote his views.

A Mission or Personal Vision Statement (VV1) Essay

We begin this seminar with the development of a personal mission or vision statement. We use this statement in this seminar to emphasize that your time at the UW begins with dreams and visions you hold for the life that is still ahead of you. We ask you to write a mission statement that is reflective of who you are and what your sense of calling, purpose, vocation, or meaning of life. Mission statements are helpful for many reasons, but primarily they are used as a tool to encourage you to consciously reflect on who you are and what you are doing at the UW. As you progress through your educational experience here, you will find that you will take many side roads, you will wander off the path, hurry ahead of yourself, and even become unsure and hidden in the brambles. We have found that a personal mission statement is helpful when the way becomes cloudy; to return to a written statement of your essence and purpose in life can often help you forge your chosen path. Definitions[1]: †¢ â€Å"Values: ‘Concepts, principles, or standards that drive one’s decisions and actions. ’ Examples of values are honesty, persistence, dependability, self-sufficiency, and faith. † †¢ A vision statement: ‘A statement of three or four sentences describing a desired future – not a predicted future. ’ Here is an example of a vision statement (stated as if the vision has already been achieved, so that it is positive and powerful): ‘I am a person who is peaceful and an example to others of that peace, which comes from faith in God. I am considered to be an inspirational teacher of great integrity. I lead a simple life style that includes plenty of time for myself, my family, and my friends as well as service to others. ’ †¢ A mission statement: ‘A succinct, easy-to-remember statement that provides direction for one’s life. ’ Here is an example of a very short mission statement developed from the sample vision statement quoted above: ‘I am committed to living in accordance with my faith in God, maintaining a happy marriage, and being a loving and supportive parent. In my professional life, I seek to empower high school students by providing quality teaching while adhering to my religious principles. I want to live a simple life style. ’ Note that a mission statement may be lengthier if desired, but brevity is important. During this process it is critical to ensure consistency between values, the vision statement, and the mission statement. If these three components are not consistent, it is not possible to devise a workable plan. † To get you thinking about the development of your mission statement, please spend some time thinking about the following questions: Why are you here today? What are the life values that you hold most near to your heart? What is it you are most passionate about? What hopes do you have for your UW experience? What hopes do you have for your life beyond the UW? The answers you develop through these activities and exercises will be the basis of your personal mission and vision statement. Most are 1 page or less in length. We also see this mission statement as highly fluid. As you continue your education, we hope that some of your initial ideas and longings remain the same and we also hope that you will be changed. To this end, the personal mission statement is a malleable document that begins today, will be submitted formally at the end of the seminar, and will continue to represent you and your becoming while at the UW. The following worksheets are a guide to help you answer some of those significant questions in an organized format. Creating or Revising Your Personal Vision[2] by Dr. Linda Phillips-Jones It’s good to create or revise the â€Å"personal vision† you have for your life. A compelling vision can help you succeed, be more satisfied with your life, and get the most out of your all relationships and experiences. Following is a tool for doing that. Importance of Having a Personal Vision Numerous experts on leadership and personal development emphasize how vital it is for you to craft your own personal vision for your life. Warren Bennis, Stephen Covey, Peter Senge, and others point out that a powerful vision can help you succeed far beyond where you’d be without one. That vision can propel you and inspire those around you to reach their own dreams. I’ve learned in my own life and in working as a psychologist that if you don’t identify your vision, others will plan and direct your life for you. I’ve worked with too many individuals who late in their lives said, â€Å"If only. . . .† You don’t have to be one of them. Senge defines vision as what you want to create of yourself and the world around you. What does your vision include? Making a vital change in an area such as health, technology, or the environment? Raising happy, well-adjusted children? Writing a book? Owning your own business? Living on a beach? Being very fit and healthy? Visiting every continent? Helping others with their spiritual development? What are you good at? What do you love to do? What aren’t you good at now, but you’d like to be? All of these important questions are part of identifying your personal vision. |Things I Really Enjoy Doing |What Brings Me Happiness/Joy |The Two Best Moments of My Past |Three Things I’d Do If I Won | | | |Week |the Lottery | | | | | | | | | | | | | |. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Issues or Causes I Care Deeply |My Most Important Values |Things I Can Do at the |What I’d Like to Stop Doing or | |About |(Circle) |Good-to-Excellent Level |Do as Little as Possible | | |Having integrity | | | | | | | | | |Serving/pleasing a higher being| | | | |or calling | | | | | | | | | |Being fit and healthy | | | | | | | | | |Having a nice home | | | | |and belongings | | | | | | | | | |Leaving the world a better || | | |place | | | | | | | | | |Having fun | | | | | | | | | |Learning and improving myself | | | | | | | | | |Making others’ lives easier or | | | | |more pleasant | | | | | | | | | |Enjoying my family | | | | |Others? (Add) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ———————– [1] The 1995 Annual – Volume 1 Training, Pfeiffer & Company, Sand Diego, CA, p. 63. [2] Printed by permissions from: http://www. mentoringgroup. com/html/articles/mentee_1. html CCC/THE MENTORING GROUP, www. mentoringgroup. com, 13560 Mesa Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95949, USA, Phone: 530. 268. 1146 Fax: 530. 268. 3636 e-mail: info@mentoringgroup. com.

Myers-Briggs Paper

Mallory Simpson Psych 101: Myers-Briggs Paper Professor Baker 8/13/12 After taking the Myers-Briggs test, I am not at all surprised by the results I was given. 67% introvert is what I was distinctively ranked for personality type and I couldn’t agree more. Next on the list was 44% judging. This particular one leaves me wondering what type of judging? Is it being a judgmental person, or rather judging between the pros and cons of something, or maybe judging based on intuition or discernment. I think that a lot of people that know me would agree with this aspect also. 8% was the score for feeling. Although I agree with the order of the results, I would also put feeling number one. I am most definitely a feeling person. I would assume that this goes along with emotions also. Not only am I worried about how I may feel about a particular situation, I often wonder how the other person may feel as well. Lastly on the list I scored a 25% for sensing. When I think about the difference between an introvert and an extrovert, I think the biggest difference is the ability to sit back, relax, and see the bigger picture.A lot of introverts are quiet and observant and able to see things that an outgoing, always on the go, loud and talkative extrovert may miss. Of course, this may not be the case for every opposite, but I think for the majority it is true. An extrovert has the advantage to get out and seize the opportunity that an introvert may miss which is the biggest positive I see for an extrovert. The Myers-Briggs test was very insightful for me. â€Å"The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. † –Proverbs 10:8

Five literary elements in Barbara Kimenye’s “The Winner” Essay

Barbara Kimenye’s â€Å"The Winner,† is an excellent example of a short story that does not necessarily use all five of the literary elements to their fullest potential, but still creates a sense of organic unity. In this analysis, the elements are organized in the order of theme, plot, characterization, setting, and then structure. Each element will be described and then â€Å"The Winner† and the events in it will be related to the elements. The purpose of the theme of a story is to provide insight to the reader about the author’s point-of-view on the topic they chose to write about. Theme can be communicated in two ways, both of which Ms. Kimenye utilized. One is to reveal the theme directly through a statement that a character makes, and the other is to allow the reader to interpret the theme based on the actions and reactions of the characters. She relates money and happiness throughout the story to convey her theme. Her use of description through the characters stressed her point very clearly. She used the right symbols, such as people, in the proper way to help the reader understand the purpose and meaning of the symbol. Overall, the way she incorporated the theme into the story could be considered to range from good to excellent. The plot of a story should have an element of suspense and irony in it to make the reader want to continue reading. It should also include at least one major complication, that is, the protagonist or another character is blocked from doing what they want to do. While all of this is going on, the order or events and relationship between events still has to make sense to the reader. There was a great deal of irony presented in the end of the story when Pius ended up changing his opinion of Cousin Sarah and marrying her, which the reader didn’t expect. Barbara Kimenye also kept the events in the story organized by some form and made it very simple for the reader to understand what was going on. While she fulfilled most of the characteristics of a good plot, one seemed to be lacking. There could have been more tension between characters present in the story. Ms. Kimenye made wonderful use of the element characterization. In short stories, not much depth is required as to the character’s personalities. It is only required that any reader be able to connect with one character.  However, in this story, one seemed to know Pius’ personality and by the end, could almost predict what his reactions would be to events. The setting in this story was somewhat described literally, but most good authors try to make a touch on figurative settings also. The setting is the conditions prior to the story, and should be described in clarity and detail. In this selection, one had a general idea of Pius’ surroundings, but no information presented was ever extremely detailed so that the reader could make a distinct picture in their head. Finally, the structure of a short story should always be fictional and written in prose. It should also contain no more than one plot and should be based on the plot rather than the characters. Short stories do not usually use all five literary elements clearly and with a great depth, although they are still present in some form. Ms. Kimenye chose a structure to write in at the beginning of the story and, for the most part, she stuck to all of the guidelines with it, although some things she did in the story may have been pushing it a little bit. In general, Barbara Kimenye used the five elements together in a way that most readers can understand and interpret to mean many things. The story could have been written better, but the author placed the elements together in a way that worked, regardless of whether or not she used them all to their full potential.

One Hundred Years of Solitude Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

One Hundred Years of Solitude - Essay Example This town seemed to be isolated from the outside world and the people who lived there were alienated from the rest of the world and suffered greatly, each in their own world. The primary intention of the author for using the theme of solitude was to make a protest against the Western world for denying the colored race access to the resources of the developed world. Religion, especially organized religion, which is one of the main themes in the novel, is regarded with much skepticism and therefore becomes the subject of satire and jokes. Gabriel’s novel has some of the most unsympathetic characters which he uses deftly to depict his thoughts and ideas on Solitude and religion and how it leads to their destruction. One such character is Fernanda del Carpio, who was portrayed as a staunch, religious and fervent catholic, who is intent on sending her own child to a convent and forgetting about her. Fernanda del Carpio was the wife of Aureliano Segundo and mother of Renata Remedios , Jose Arcadio II and Amaranta Ursula. She was one of the last descendents of a very impoverished royal family of a dreary dying town. However, even though their family was quite poor and had no money, her father always stressed that she was a queen and this belief she had right unto her death. Fernanda always clung to her strict medieval code of ethics and made life quite miserable for the â€Å"common† Buendias. ... One of the longest living members of the Buendia family, Ursula Iguaran, represents the Biblical Eve. She is witness to the birth of the most new generation of the Buendias. She is perhaps the strongest of all the Buendias. Ursula is treated with dignity and respect as she follows the path of God in a moral way rather than in the conventional manner. She raised the child of a stranger as her own daughter and showed true Christian spirit by welcoming dozens of strangers to her table. The strength shown by Ursula in binding the family and being their mainstay is truly praiseworthy. In trying to keep the family together she is sometimes quite harsh. The idea that terrified Ursula most was that any kind of incestuous relationship would lead to the birth of pig-tailed progeny. She is a contradictory character as she is terrified of incest which is the ultimate in family bonding, yet she always works towards binding the family. Solitude also contributed to the overall vision of Macondo, fr om the author’s perspective which he used as a lens through which we could view human history and human nature. He portrays the town of Macondo from the time it was founded, right to the time it was destroyed. Through the novel, the author depicts prosperity and growth that gradually leads to war and strife and eventually the downfall and destruction of the town. Jose Arcadio Buendia who was the founder of Macondo and patriarch of the Buendia family, was a natural explorer. In this story he is representative of the biblical Adam. As in the Bible, Adam lost his innocence so also did Jose and his family lose their innocence in pursuit of knowledge. He is representative

Grand Alliance after World War II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Grand Alliance after World War II - Essay Example The seeds of suspicion sown on both sides and the anxieties of a cooperative post-war worldview resulted in the exaggerated misinterpretation of the motivations of the adversarial ideologies. At the foundation of the split in the Grand Alliance was the mutual fear that each adversary had expansionist policies as its driving force behind their foreign policy. While the Soviets professed a desire for coexistence and cooperation, the West discounted these attitudes and instead focused on Soviet demands for influence in the Near East, Middle East, and Far East (Roberts 21). The United States held the position that the Soviets had a program designed and driven by their goal of world domination. With the post-war Soviet encroachment into Eastern Europe, Kennan's policy of containment had realigned British and American thinking to accept a more aggressive policy of rollback. By the end of 1946, Truman and Attlee were both in agreement that the Soviet Union " posed a direct threat to Western interests and were agreed on the pressing need to modify Soviet behaviour" (White 35). The United States and Britain discounted the ability to negotiate with the Soviets. Soviet statements a nd activities promoting themselves as an equal partner were interpreted as expansionist and aggressive. Stalin was Stalin was also suspicious of the West's motivations and interpreted their foreign policy as being designed to dominate the world stage and the Soviet Union. At the foundation of this mistrust was the atomic bomb and the West's refusal to share nuclear technology. Stalin understood the implications of possessing the atomic bomb, and the fact that the Americans and British had kept it a secret prompted the Soviets to embark on an intense program to develop their own nuclear technology triggering the beginnings of a nuclear standoff (Zubok and Pleshakov 44-45). Stalin would not accept being anything less than an equal partner in the Grand Alliance and was willing to postpone any premature confrontations before getting the bomb. This put the Soviets into the position of retuning to the old Leninist model of igniting revolutions in Iran, Greece, and elsewhere aimed at increasing communist influence and providing the USSR with greater national security (Zubok and Pleshakov 45). Stalin's a ctivities were a response to the unrealistic perception of the threat that the West posed to the Soviets. The mutual suspicions and reactionary fears on both sides began during the war and were a product of wartime necessity. At the heart of the situation was the division of Europe and the Soviet influence in the Eastern satellite countries. The political landscape in Europe was born out of the realities of providing security in Europe during the war. Wartime agreements among the Grand Alliance had given political control of Eastern Europe to the Red Army as a means of providing security for the region during the war and had been bolstered by the growing impact of the communist party in these countries during the post-war period (Roberts 18). By March, 1946 former Prime Minister Churchill was denouncing the growing Soviet influence and gave a speech in Fulton Missouri which coined the phrase 'iron curtain' (Roberts 14). While there was still a spirit of cooperation among the Alliance, the policy of mistrust was

Billy Budd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Billy Budd - Essay Example As a result, he becomes popular at the main and sub-areas within the ship. Not known to many, this becomes a pivotal point for the problems. Despite Melville presenting an array of ideas about Billy Bud, the paper focuses on his intent to portray Melville as an influenced innocent person. The hindsight shows how Melville tries to guide readers into resolving the paradox. Arguably, Billy is affable, and the striking good look opens his doors for association with different people. He has not traversed the world, but can control the surrounding environment by attracting people with different looks. Based on the novel, he has never confronted evil at twenty-one years of age making him a saint rather than a sinner (Melville 25). The disturbing perception attracts reader’s attention. Nevertheless, in ordinary circumstances, nobody in the real world has failed to confront sin even at ten years. Many people kill small animals, hull abuses or even disregard their parent’s advice to do contrary things. Therefore, this prompts readers on how one remains innocent from a tender age to middle youth positions. It is unimaginable how one can reach the peak of his youthful age without making any wrong. From this perspective, Billy’s background raises many questions; however, this stops with Melville’s details. Apart from the perception that Billy Bud is innocent and has never done anything to affect his life. He also brings on board the good looks as a factor contributing to his problems. As a result of the charming and good look, many people around him like him. In this regards, Melville paints him as a good person who does not cause any problem except for the good looks. Because of the naivety, he believes everybody likes him and always him wish the best. Evidently, this perception remains adamant in a major part of the story where, Melville uses his knowledge to portray the good looks as a virtue (Melville 29). Certainly, the turn of events is imminent when Billy

Strategy Formulation (IP Unit 3) Research Paper

Strategy Formulation (IP Unit 3) - Research Paper Example The process of strategy formulation just like that for decision-making follows a six steps procedure that must not be followed chronologically but must be integrated conclusively. It is therefore quiet useful to consider strategy formulation as part of strategic management that entails the diagnostic approach, Formulation and implementation. Diagnosis involves performing a situation analysis where the internal environment of the organization is analyzed while implementation is a stage in formulation where the strategies that are considered appropriate for the operations of the company are put to practice, monitoring, and evaluation (Day, 1986). Strategy formulation is a six steps module that is incorporated under three main aspects. The steps entail - first setting the organizational goals and objectives, which must be long-term in nature, the objectives, reiterates the state of being there while a strategy shows us how to reach there. After the objectives are well laid, environmenta l scanning is done which entails the review of both the external and internal environments which range from economic to industrial and in which the organization at stake operates (Day, 1986). The management then sets quantitative targets to be achieved through the set organizational objectives. This is to aid comparison with the long-term customers and realize their input and contribution to the overall missions and visions of the organization. The next step is to aim overall goals with divisional outputs where the contributions made by each department are quantified and consolidated. Then performance analysis if done where the gap between the planned and the desired performance is analyzed. A strategy is then chosen from the alternatives projected, considering the organizational goals, strengths, and actual potential visa vi the external environment, a choice is made. As pointed out earlier by Day (1986), strategy formulation is crafted under three major aspects, which involves; co rporate level strategy, competitive strategy and functional strategy. Corporate level strategy is concerned majorly of the vast decisions around the total organization’s scope and direction so that there are detected changes to be made to realize growth objective for a given firm. Competitive strategy is aimed at making decisions on how the company should compete to remain relevant in its line of business (LOB) or its strategic business units (SBU). Functional strategy on the other hand deals with how each of the available functional areas is likely to carry out its functional activities (Day, 1986). "FIRST-MOVER" THEORY OR "LATE-MOVER" THEORY Our case is the competitive business strategy where the management is faced with the situation of whether to dev elope a completely new brand of a product or simply produce the already existing brand that a competitor in the same industry is involved. This they expect to do through either the, â€Å"first mover theory† or â€Å" late mover theory† (Green & Ryans, 1990). Timing of the market by most firms is a very important aspect of their operation. This can either be early entry into the market or late entries hence the two theories. Furthermore, market entry timing decisions are the bridge between the functional strategy and the corporate business strategy, therefore, when timing and scope decisions are combined there is always a realization of a superior market (Green & Ryans, 1990). First movers into the market are normally likely to benefit from above normal

The Therac-25 and Its Accident Investigation Case Study - 1

The Therac-25 and Its Accident Investigation - Case Study Example When u fix an old bug, it is highly likely that anew bug will develop. After fixing a bug, there is only a fifty per cent chance that the particular program will function over a similar length of time before failing, the same way it did before the bug was rectified. This means that the manufacturer’s claims that the machine’s safety was improved after it was fixed were totally unfounded. The manufacturer’s claim that the machine could never break down, even after getting and rectifying numerous problems was groundless. So long as the manufacturer had the conviction that the machine could never cause an overdose of radiation, they would not notice any deficiencies in their machine. As much as many people would love to point fingers at the manufacturer as the cause of the Therac-25 accidents, the technicians and operators who operated the machine also made some mistakes which caused the accident. For instance, it was somehow strange that the operators of the machin e got comfortable running the machine despite the regular error notices it issued. The machine normally issued forty error notices in a single day. This was bad since the cost of the Therac-25’s failure may possibly be death and it was the operator’s responsibility to insist for a properly functioning machine without faults. They could also have demanded a clear documentation that showed the machine’s errors and their possible causes. They also over relied on the safety statistics of the machine which were inflated as stated by the manufacturer. This made them not to investigate any overdoses possible hence putting the lives of the patients in danger. The federal government had a fair share of blame in the accidents because they knew that the manufacturer’s engineering practices were poor but still allowed the use of Therac-25. They seemingly had too much faith in the safety statistics that were posted by the manufacturer and therefore never took a keen i nterest in the safety precautions. The accidents were caused by institutional and engineering mistakes which could have led to even bigger disasters had the machine’s operation not been suspended. The manufacturer never had an independent review on the software code and therefore had not followed the right procedure. They never considered the software’s design when assessing the machine’s ability to produce the expected results and if there were any failure modes in its operation. The machine never explained any error codes so the operators just overrode the warning signs since they could not tell if there was an error or just a false alarm. The manufacturer never believed any complaints since there were overconfident that the machine would never fail, to make it worse, the hardware and software combination was never tested until after its assembly at the hospital. On the engineering side, the machine failed only when a non standard keystroke was entered on term inal VT-100. This machine never had hardware interlocks which could prevent the beam from running in high energy mode when the target was not in position. The programming engineer used software from an old model. The old models used hardware to cover their faults but could not report the faults hence leaving the machine to operate with the

Reflective Writing on Marketing Essay Example for Free

Reflective Writing on Marketing Essay During your time at university you will spend a lot of your time thinking – thinking about what people have said, your reading, your own thinking and how your thinking has changed. The thinking process involves two aspects: reflective thinking and critical thinking. Rather than being two separate processes they are closely connected. (Brookfield 1987) Reflective thinking Reflection is a form of personal response to experiences, situations, events or new information. It is a ‘processing’ phase where thinking and learning take place. There is neither a right nor wrong way of reflective thinking; there are just questions to explore. The reflective thinking process starts with you. Before you can begin to assess the words and ideas of others, you need to pause and identify and examine your own thoughts. This involves revisiting your prior experience and knowledge of the topic you are exploring. It also involves considering how and why you think the way you do. The examination of your beliefs, values, attitudes and assumptions forms the foundation of your understanding. Reflective thinking demands that you recognise that you bring valuable knowledge to every experience. It helps you therefore to recognise and clarify the important connections between what you already know and what you are learning. It is a way of helping you to become an active, aware and critical learner. What is Reflective writing? Reflective writing is: * Your response to experiences, opinions, events or new information * Your response to thoughts and feelings * A way of thinking to explore your learning * An opportunity to gain self-knowledge * A way to achieve clarity and better understanding of what you are learning * A chance to develop and reinforce writing skills * A way of making meaning out of what you study Reflective writing is not: * Just conveying information, instruction or argument * Pure description, though there may be descriptive elements * Straightforward decision or judgement (e.g. about whether something is right or wrong, good or bad) * Simple problem-solving * A summary of unit notes * A standard university essay Why you are asked to do this type of assignment * To make connections The idea behind reflective writing is that what you learn at university builds on your prior knowledge, whether it is formal (education) or informal (gained through experience). Reflective writing helps you develop and clarify the connections between what you already know and what you are learning, between theory and practice and between what you are doing and how and why you do it. * To examine your learning processes Reflective writing encourages you to consider and comment on your learning experiences – not only WHAT you’ve learned, but HOW you did so. * To clarify what you are learning Reflecting helps you to clarify what you have studied, integrate new knowledge with previous knowledge, and identify the questions you have and what you have yet to learn. * To reflect on mistakes and successes Reflecting on mistakes can help you avoid repeating them. At the same time, reflecting on your discoveries helps identify successful principles to use again. * To become an active and aware learner * To become a reflective practitioner once you graduate and begin your professional life How to write reflectively What to discuss * Your perceptions of the course and the content. * Experiences, ideas and observations you have had, and how they relate to the course or topic. * What you found confusing, inspiring, difficult, interesting and why. * Questions you have and conclusions you have drawn. * How you solved a problem, reached a conclusion, found an answer or reached a point of understanding. * Possibilities, speculations, hypotheses or solutions. * Alternative interpretations or different perspectives on what you have read or done in your course. * How new ideas challenge what you already know. * What you need to explore next in terms of thoughts and actions. * Comparisons and connections between what you are learning and: * Your prior knowledge and experience; * Your prior assumptions and preconceptions; * What you know from other courses, units or disciplines. Writing style As it concerns your thoughts, reflective writing is mostly subjective. Therefore, in addition to being reflective and logical, you can be personal, hypothetical, critical and creative. You can comment based on your experience, rather than limiting yourself to academic evidence. * Reflective writing is an activity that includes description (what, when, who) and analysis (how, why, what if). It is an explorative tool often resulting in more questions than answers. * Use full sentences and complete paragraphs. * You can usually use personal pronouns like ‘I’, ‘my’ or ‘we’. * Keep colloquial language to a minimum (e.g. stuff, guys) * A reflective task may allow you to use different modes of writing and language: * Descriptive (outlining how something is or how something was done) * Explanatory (explaining why or how it is like that) * Expressive (I think, I feel, I believe) Tips for your reflective writing process 1. Think of interaction, event or episode you experienced that can be connected to the topic. 2. Describe what happened. 3. What was your role? 4. What feelings and perceptions surround the experience? 5. How would you explain the situation to someone else? 6. What might this experience mean in the context of your course? 7. What other perspectives, theories or concepts could be applied to the situation? References Brookfield, S 1987, Developing critical thinkers: challenging adults to explore alternative ways of thinking and acting, Open University Press, Milton Keynes. Acknowledgement: The preceding material was adapted from The Learning Centre, The University of NSW. Used by permission. Additional notes: Steps for writing a reflective paper: 1.Start your self-reflection paper with an introductory paragraph. This introduction should help set the stage for the reader and should contain the main point of the paper. This would be a good paragraph in which to include information about how the subject and the material impacted your life, whether it reinforced your current views or caused you to change your way of thinking. 2.Write a paragraph or two about the impact the lecturer, classroom/tutorial discussions or the textbook material had on you during the course. Describe emotions you felt you felt or changes you experienced in your personal life due to the topic or the subject. If your opinions on different subjects changed due to these factors be sure to provide your previous opinion and explain why you changed your stance. If your opinions did not change, explain why. 3.Describe a moment during the class that was the most eye-opening for you. One example would be if during a lecture/tutorial the lecturer/tutor used a specific story or analogy to help explain the material that made the lesson really clear for you. Reflect on how you felt when you finally understood the lesson and how that lesson might have impacted the way you think. 4.Write a paragraph explaining how the information from the subject has impacted the way you will think, act and feel in the future long after the semester is over. You may want to include how this subject has changed how you approach other subjects in your degree or life in general. 5.Give feedback in your paper and share your opinions and ideas about how the subject can be improved. Share what you liked about the subject and what material helped you learn the most. Finish the paper by writing a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the paper. This is just one way of structuring reflective writing. Whichever approach to reflection you use try to bear in mind the following key points: * Reflection is an exploration and an explanation of events – not just a description of them. * Genuinely reflective writing often involves ‘revealing’ anxieties, errors and weaknesses, as well as strengths and successes. This is fine (in fact it’s often essential), as long as you show some understanding of possible causes, and explain how you plan to improve. * It is normally necessary to select just the most significant parts of the event or idea on which you are reflecting. If you try to tell ‘the whole story’ you will likely use up your words on description rather than interpretation. * It is often useful to ‘reflect forward’ to the future as well as ‘reflecting back’ on the past. Vocabulary aid (adapted from University of Portsmouth, Dept for Curriculum and Quality Enhancem ent) The following are just a few suggestions for words and phrases that might be useful in reflective writing. Obviously, using these words and phrases will not in itself make you a good reflective writer. 1.Description There is no suggestion of specific vocabulary for any descriptive elements of your reflective writing because the range of possible events, ideas or objects on which you may be reflecting on is so great. However, if you are describing an idea, for example a theory or model, it is usually best to use the present tense e.g. ‘Buyer behaviour theory recognises†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (not ‘recognised’). Events, of course, are nearly always described in the past tense. 2.Interpretation | | {aspect(s){elements(s){experience(s){issue(s)Idea(s)| Was (were)| For me, the [most]| {meaningful{significant{important{relevant{useful| | | | | learning| {arose from†¦{happened when†¦{resulted from†¦| Previously,}At the time,}At first}Initially,}Subsequently,}Later,}| I| {thought (did not think)†¦{felt (did not feel)†¦{knew (did not know)†¦{noticed (did not notice)†¦{questioned (did not question)†¦{realised (did not realise)†¦| | [Alternatively,][Equally,]| This| {might be{is perhaps{could be{is probably| {because of†¦{due to†¦{explained by†¦{related to†¦| | This| {is similar to†¦{is unlike†¦| because| | [Un]like†¦| this| {reveals†¦{demonstrates†¦| 3.Outcome Having| {read†¦{experienced†¦{applied†¦{discussed†¦{analysed†¦{learned†¦| I now| {feel†¦{think†¦{realise†¦{wonder†¦{question†¦{know†¦| | [Additionally,]}[Furthermore,]}[Most importantly,]}| I have learned that†¦| | I have significantly} slightly}However, I have not [sufficiently]}| {developed{improved| {my skills in†¦{my understanding of†¦{my knowledge of†¦{my ability to†¦| | | This means that†¦This makes me feel†¦| | | This knowledge {isThis understanding {could beThis skill {will be| {essential{important{useful| {to me as a learner [because†¦]{to me as a practitioner [because†¦]| | Because I| {did not†¦{have not yet†¦{am not yet certain about†¦{am not yet confident about†¦{do not yet know†¦{do not yet understand†¦| I will now need to†¦| | | As a next step, I need to†¦| | | More on Reflection What is reflection? A simple definition of reflection can be ‘consciously thinking about and analysing what you are doing and what you have done; thinking about what and how you have learnt. There is a lot of theory behind reflection that can be very complex. Most of the theory relates to seeing reflection as part of the cycle of learning (Figure 1). Initially students focus on knowledge, comprehension and application of subject matter. These three levels of learning are the easiest especially if the application is in a limited context e.g. worded problems from a text book. For higher levels of learning (application of knowledge in real world problems) you must be able to analyse, synthesise and evaluate as shown in Table 1. Reflection is a key part of moving into these higher levels of learning. Figure 1. Leaning cycle and examples of each phase Table 1 Six levels of learning Increasing Difficulty| Process| Explanation| | Knowledge| Recognition and recall of information and facts describing events| | Comprehension| Interprets, translates or summarises given information demonstrating understanding of events| | Application| Uses information in a situation different from original learning context -| | Analysis| Separates wholes into parts until relationships are clear – breaks down experiences| | Synthesis| Combines elements to form new entity from the original one draws on experience and other evidence to suggest new insights| | Evaluation| Involves acts of decision making, or judging based on criteria or rationale makes judgements about| Why reflect what are the benefits to the student? Learning is both an active and a reflective process. If you look at the learning cycle in Figure 1 you can see that reflection or thinking about what you have done and how and why you did it, form an integral part of learning. Because learning is often subconscious, we don’t realise that we have gained new knowledge or understanding until we stop to contemplate a particular activity. Reflection then, is a way for critical analysis, problem solving, synthesis of opposing ideas, evaluation, identifying patterns and creating meaning. Reflection will help you reach the higher levels of learning. Most students are focused on the lower levels of learning. â€Å"What do I have to know and demonstrate to pass the exam?† This is a very short-sighted approach to your time at university. You will not be able to remember all the facts and knowledge you have learnt in subjects unless you can fully understand, analyse and evaluate them. As you progress through your degree you will continually need information and knowledge from other subjects and this knowledge will build on previous knowledge. You must be able to attain the higher levels of learning in order to be successful in your degree and later in your professional life. Your learning and the need to learn will not stop with the end of your university degree. Most aspects of learning are common to all disciplines but sometimes there are different emphasises on certain learning skills. For example, generally speaking at university more emphasis is placed on the understanding of the methodology and the processes of problem solving. In this context, reflection will help you to detach yourself from the facts and put them into a larger context. Higher level courses at university as a business student bring a closer interaction between academic work and practical experience. Reflective practice here is critical in providing opportunities to identify areas for improvement and evaluation of the overall outcome including your decision making processes. Reflection can help bridge the gap between theory and practice and will enable you to understand your own thinking and learning. Another benefit is that it encourages you to look beyond your academic accomplishment and recognise the depth and range of other transferable skills. University is more than learning about facts and figures, it is a life experience. You will not learn everything that you need in your professional life at university. Your learning will be life long, so take some time to think about what skills you bring with you to university and what you learn along the way. How do I ‘reflect’? Reflection does not mean that you sit in the lotus position, humming meditative chants. Reflection can be active and need not take away from your ‘study time’. It is an important tool that can be used in all your university and professional work. Opportunities for reflection should occur before, during and after activities. That way you can take note of your learning starting point, assess your progress through the project and critically evaluate your learning at the end of the activity. Look critically at what you have done, what you’re team did and what the outcomes were. You need to ask yourself the why, how and what type of questions. Introducing Reflection Reflection is an important part of your learning whether you do it consciously or not. But what exactly is it? An excellent description of reflection can be found in the Harry Potter novel ‘ The Goblet of Fire’. In the paragraph below Dumbledore, the chief wizard and head teacher, is talking to Harry about having excess thoughts! ‘Harry stared at the stone basin. The contents had returned to their original, silvery white state, swirling and rippling beneath his gaze. â€Å"What is it?† Harry asked shakily. â€Å"This? It is called a Pensieve,† said Dumbledore. â€Å"I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind.† â€Å"Err,† said Harry who couldn’t truthfully say that he had ever felt anything of the sort. â€Å"At these times† said Dumbledore, indicating the stone basin, â€Å"I use the Penseive. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one’s mind, pours them into a basin, and examines them at one’s leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand, when they are in this form.’ (Rowling 2000) During the semester and in your reflective writing we are asking you to think about the process you have been through, how these events affected your behaviour, to think about what you have learnt, and to evaluate your performance. By writing these things down it will give you the opportunity to clarify your thoughts and to spot the patterns and links. Reflective writing examples As an example, look at the following two critiques – one is a better example than the other! [King (2002) Development of Student Skills In Reflective Writing, p 16, http://www.csd.uwa.edu.au/iced2002/publication/Terry_King.pdf ] 1.I woke up late because my alarm didn’t ring. My own fault, but there you are. By the time I had finished my breakfast (my usual bowl of cornflakes, and a cup of black coffee with three sugars), I had missed my bus (that’s the number 9a, picked up at the bus stop outside Halfords), which had left on time (just for a change).So I got to University, and by the time I had found the right room, I was over 30 minutes late for the OOPR2 Exam. Unfortunately, the invigilator wouldn’t let me take the exam because it was â€Å"against University regulations†. Didn’t he realise how important it was for me to pass that exam? My overall grade depends on it, and now I stand to have a resit in September when I wanted to have my holiday in Ibiza.| 2.I was over 30 minutes late for my exam, which meant I was not allowed to sit it. This will have repercussions on my degree mark, and on my holiday plans. This is the first time I have actually missed an exam, but not t he first time I’ve actually been late to exams and important interviews. I have learned that:†¢ I need to improve my time-keeping for critical events†¢ The University has strict rules governing late arrivals at exams†¢ I need to be better preparedThe reasons that I arrived late were:†¢ My alarm clock didn’t ring because I forgot to reset its time after daylight saving on Saturday night (although I had reset all the other clocks in the house).†¢ I totally rely on the alarm clock ringing I have no back-up system†¢ I rely on my bus – a break down or it leaving early would also cause me to be late†¢ I did not know in which room the exam was; if I had, I would still have been a few minutes late, but at least I could have sat the exam.In order to improve the situation for next year, I plan to:†¢ Have a process to check all the clocks in the house when the clocks are due to change†¢ Make sure I have a back-up alarm system ( using my digital watch) for all days when it’s important to get up early†¢ On exam day, aim to catch the earlier bus †¦ its only 20 minutes earlier.†¢ Possibly consider missing breakfast, and buying a sandwich on the way from the bus to the exam room. I do believe that a good breakfast is important though!†¢ Make sure I know the correct room well in advance of the exam, by checking each room number when I first get the timetable.I suspect I need to reflect more on my priorities – this degree is really very important to me.|