Models of American Ethnicities Essay

How does Fredrickson distinguish between race and ethnicity? How and under what circumstances can ethnicity become racialized’ (para.2)? Fredrickson says that â€Å"It can be misleading to make a sharp distinction between race and ethnicity when considering intergroup relations in American history† He means that these terms do not have clear distinctions and have evolved over time. In paragraph 2, he writes that ethnicity can become racialized â€Å"whenever distinctive group characteristics†¦are used as the basis for a status hierarchy of groups who are thought to differ in ancestry or descent.† What does Fredrickson mean by â€Å"the burden of ‘otherness’†? Summarize the ways in which racial categories and definitions of â€Å"whiteness† have changed during the course of American history.   Fredrickson means that throughout the course of American History being labeled as an â€Å"other,† has changed. From the 1860s to the 1920s there were different kinds of race quotas on immigration. Definitions of â€Å"whiteness have changed drastically as we can observe in Fredrickson’s writing. In the late 19th and early twentieth centuries the ideas of euguenics, scientific racism, and social Darwinism, all accumulated in different definitions of â€Å"whiteness.† Fredrickson writes that â€Å"In the minds of many(during the period of the 1860s to the 1920s) true americans were not merely white but also Northern European†¦.some even harbored doubts about the full claim of â€Å"whiteness† of swarthy immigrants from southe rn Italy.† What are some of the ways that ethnic hierarchy has been eliminated? In what ways does it persist, according to Fredrickson? What evidence can you think of that would support or challenge this contention? Ethnic hierarchy was almost wholly eliminated after WWII among White people of different European background as well as Jews. The ethnic hierarchy shifted from ethnic background to color. After the civil rights movement in the 1960s, most of the ethnic hierarchy had been eliminated. Fredrickson says that it still persists in the ghettos, indian reservations, and barrios. I agree with Fredrickson on the assertion that Ethnic hierarchy still exists in America  today. For example, Unequal treatment by law enforcement and the ethnic targeting among the African American community is still present today. Fredrickson writes that â€Å"assimilationist thinking is not racist in the classic sense† (para. 9) — thereby implying that such thinking may be racist in some other sense. What does he mean by this? Do you agree? Fredrickson means that assimilationism tries to force one culture into accepting the â€Å"superiority, purity, and unchanging character of the dominant culture.† He gives an example of the â€Å"Native American cultural genocide† in regards to assimilationism. I agree, Assimilationism can force a culture to throw away part of its identity, values, and traditions. How does Fredrickson distinguish cultural pluralism from assimilation? How did earlier forms of pluralism differ from the current concept of multiculturalism? Fredrickson writes â€Å"†Unlike assimilationists, cultural Pluralists celebrate differences among groups, rather than seek to obliterate them.† According to Fredrickson, pluralism differed from Multiculturalism, â€Å"Multiculturalism operated on assumptions that were similar to those of the cultural pluralist tradition, except that the color line was breached and the focus was shifted from the cultures and contributions of diverse European ethnic groups to those of African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. Why does Fredrickson reject the claim that an emphasis on ethnic identity threatens the unity and stability of American society? Why does a Euro-American backlash against ethnic diversity pose a greater risk in his view? Have you observed any recent examples of either divisiveness or backlash? Compare your observations with those of classmates. He rejects the claim that emphasis on ethnic identity threatens the unity of American society because American society is made up of different ethnic backgrounds. backlash against ethnic diversity poses a greater risk because it provides more room for racism or discrimination.

Poetry Response Essay

I really love this poem by Wendy Copes because of the message that it tells me. For some reason there are those people who wish to pull someone down. Sometimes it is because of jealousy, envy and pride. In reality, no matter how hard you try to be good and to appreciate everyone, you really cannot please anybody. There will always be those who are against you.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The poem tells me that I should not let anyone interfere with what I am doing or to let anyone block my way to greater heights. That I should always do my best and show everyone what I can do, what I am able to do, my talents and abilities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Everyone has his or her own goal in life and we must focus on that goal, not looking to anyone but on that goal alone. We should not get our attention off our goal and let someone mess with that. We should always remain focused in achieving that goal or else we may not be able to achieve it. It is true that no one can live alone and that we need others to be able to live and be happy. Still we should not let those who dislike us or envy us to be the reason for our failure, if we do so, we will certainly achieve nothing. Every time that an opportunity for us to be recognized is given grab it. We should not favor or look onto anyone who wants the same opportunity like us. Every opportunity is a stepping stone in achieving our goal, our desire, and our future. The world is a place wherein the strongest is given greater opportunity over the weak, the talented above those that are not, and the wise over the fools.   We should let our light shine, and our talents to be revealed in order to be acknowledged both by man and society. Also, the poem tells us that we should not be move or hindered by anyone. We should not be ashamed in showing our talents and as well as emotions. We must be true to ourselves and not compromising to anyone. If we are glad let it show in our own way. Dance or jump or shout if you want to. We should not let anyone to be reason for our sadness and downfall. Works Cited The British Council. No date. â€Å"Wendy Cope†. November 19, 2007   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     

Islamic Political Economy in National Development

GMGF5324 POLITICAL ECONOMY ASSIGNMENT: ISLAMIC POLITICAL ECONOMY IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PREPARED FOR: DR. KAMARUDDIN ABDULSOMAD PREPARED BY: FATIN HANANI BINTI TARMIDZI 1. WHAT KIND OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT HE WAS MENTION? 2. WHAT APPROACH HE DISCUSS IN HIS TALK? 3. YOU COMMENTS? â€Å"The Economic Philosophy of National Development† is the title of what has been presented by Lt. Kol. Prof. Dr. Abdul Razak Chin. He had explained a lot of brilliant ideas on political, national development, mercantilism, Islamic thought and also Islamic political economic in order to develop the nation.First of all, what is economic philosophy that very important in order to achieving the national development? What is philosophy that he had explained in his talk and what kind of philosophy that had be the main key nowadays? According to Lt. Kol. Prof. Dr. Abdul Razak Chin, philosophy in general is philosophy is that branch of knowledge which relates to the concept of divinity. Besides that, with philosophy that we had use, we will endeavor to find the truth and achieve success. Al-Farabi (339H-950M) had explained that philosophy in the context of the love of wisdom or wisdom, and also become cord to every branch of science.In addition, al-Farabi also refers wisdom as makrifullah – a way to know God. Based on my understanding, philosophy is a reflexive question in the threefold sense: it is about philosophy, it is raised by philosophers themselves and, last but not least, it represents an old and difficult philosophical problem. This multiple reflexivity is the reason why trying to find out what philosophy is inevitably becomes not only a way of dealing with philosophy but actually the way of doing philosophy. Once we start discussing philosophy we cannot scape its intellectual grip. Then, he also mentions in his talk that the human needs are no limitation. Human will gain and earn everything that they want as long as they can achieve their mission, target and etc. S econdly, he had explained about national development that had been a main point in his talk. National development refers to the process of national development and to lead a sustainable level of repairs and improvement. National development is also very concerned about the economic development refers to the index per capita.If the index of per capita income at constant rate surpassed the national population growth rate, which means place of steady economic growth and the result is the development of the country. In his talk, he has focus on Islamic political economy in national development. He has explained about the dimension of Islamic development. In order to achieve national development in term of Islam, we need to focus on the three main points. There are dharuriyyat (essential goods), hajiyyat (comfortable), and kamaliat/tahsiniyyat (luxury needs). These three main points should base on syarie or Islamic law.Based on my understanding, we need to balance and equals developing t he nation based on Islamic law and also consider the citizen needs and interest. As a leader and elites itself, the welfare of the citizen very important includes the economis, social life, health care, education etc. Without the citizen especially middle class and workers who are the agents of society and ruling the institution or country, it may affect the country and the economic. It means without them especially the citizens itself; government cannot move and implement their policy.It also may affect the national development. Therefore, I can see how relate the concept of Islamic with national development. Without the relation or combination of national development in Islamic concept, there are many problems that country to solve. According to Lt. Kol. Prof. Dr. Abdul Razak Chin, specifically, an understanding of the economy is appropriate emphasis to the issue of how people use resources and factors of production to achieve well-being (welfare) life (falah) in this world and th e hereafter.Thus, there are seven core areas of the economy to complement the welfare of individuals, communities and nations. * Economic activity based on good intentions and purposes. * Reasonableness obligatory on Kifayah. * Business world without compromising herafter. * Avoid illegal transactions (haram) and syubhah. Last but not least, mercantilism is economic nationalism for the purpose of building a wealthy and powerful state. Adam Smith coined the term â€Å"mercantile system† to describe the system of political economy that sought to enrich the country by restraining imports and encouraging exports.The goal of these policies was, supposedly, to achieve a â€Å"favorable† balance of trade that would bring gold and silver into the country and also to maintain domestic employment. In contrast to the agricultural system of the physiocrats or the laissez-faire of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the mercantile system served the interests of merchants and producers such as the British East India Company, whose activities were protected or encouraged by the state.The basic proposition of Mercantilism is that the state should aim to maximize it's wealth through one-way trade with other countries, maximizing exports and keeping imports to a minimum. The developing countries are in debt due to letalknding policies with interest that they can't pay back, the developed countries export goods into these countries whilst making it very hard for the developing countries to export their own goods in return. The richer are getting richer and the poorer are getting poorer. This is what is happening now.This is mercantilism. My Comments In my opinion, Lt. Kol. Prof. Dr. Abdul Razak Chin has explain details about the Islamic perceptions on national development. He has explain base on Islamic concept that includes world and hereafter (akhirah). He also has described the Islamic concept and theory based on a few Islamic thinkers thought. For ins tance, the sustainability in the country should follow the Islamic concepts. Citizens have their own rights and freedom, and they also the people that increase the national economic and development.Hopefully, I can join this Inaugural Professional Talk again next time. A very brilliant and knowledgeable talk by a educated level like Prof. and Dr presented during that time and all the postgraduate candidates need to attend to gain knowledge and experience. Thank you to Dr Kamaruddin because give me a chance to attend that talk last week. Hopefully, I will grab the opportunity and keep it as my great moment attend the talk with very special conditions and environment. Being around lecturer makes me to be a lecturer or civil servants in future!

Footlocker-mkt304 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Footlocker-mkt304 - Research Paper Example In fact, for many of them it is seen as an opportunity to become popular and more attractive† (McGinty,2009). The major attraction of Footlocker is their shoes which are from renowned companies like Reebok, Addidas, Nike and Jordan. They also sell clothing of these brands which are a big hype among teenagers and also they demand it due to the goodwill these brands have on a global basis. 2) Product’s features The sports apparels sold by footlocker are of Nike, Adidas and Jordan who are pioneers of sports wear and equipments. The features of these sport wear and equipments are that they are unique and distinct from other sports brands. The shoes are light weighted and has sleek look and has an excellent appeal when worn. The top seller of the company is the Nike Zoom Kobe VI for men. According to (Footlocker, 2011),â€Å"The Nike Zoom Kobe VI is the latest evolution of basketball footwear. Moldable upper with new Fly wire construction creates a dynamic, lightweight fit w ith an Achilles notch for greater comfort†. Since the teenagers are excited by the look of the products, the company offers them what they really desire for. Teenager and adults look for the branded products which match the celebrity fashion and these products are used by fashion icons. The shoes and accessories sold by them come in vibrant colors and style which catch attention of any teenager. Clothing, shoes and accessories have versatility, long lasting quality and signature brand mark on them. 3) Product’s benefits The products provided by Footlocker are shoes and clothing and other sport accessories which gives utmost comfort and security to its customer. Sneakers and clothing sold by this retailer is from Nike and Adidas, who are the pioneer in sports apparels. â€Å"Both Nike and Adidas are well known sportswear firms that have become household names of sorts throughout many parts of the world. The undisputed giants of the sportswear and sports equipment indust ries, consumers can generally expect quality products from the two brands† (reComparison 2010). The young generation is the targeted customers of footlockers and theses group demand branded products which have name and fame and have high durability. The young children and teenagers are impulsive buyers and the company targets them as they make decision in a short span of time. The brands sold by the company have a huge advertising campaign and creates a significant impact on young generations mind as to their fame and quality. â€Å"The teenagers spend most of the money on themselves immediately. Teenagers have also found to be more brand loyal that adults†(Michman,2003,pg.144). So footlocker as a retailer, take advantage of this fact and focus them to market their branded sport products. 4) Product’s branding Foot locker offers shoes and clothing of Nike, Adidas and Jordan not only has goodwill but also give comfort, durability and lasting effect which other pro ducts cannot offer. The company’s target customers who are teenagers and adults in early 20’s look for products which are renowned and also match their style quotient. For example Adidas is well known for their style factor apart from durability and good will. In his book (Dunne,2007,pg.57)states that, â€Å"The foot locker has found success by concentrating on a very narrow segment of shoe market but offering a very large selection†. They have good selection of sports shoes, clothing and sports accessories

Homework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Homework - Assignment Example Mallor, et al., 2012) in their contract stating that full payment for the ordered goods will be rendered upon successful delivery of goods in perfect condition. Whereas, any circumstance that result to failure of delivery will therefore discharge the buyer from paying the agreed amount for the transaction. Setting conditions in a contract protects both parties from being charged with breach especially if failure of delivery is a result of force majeure. On the other hand, the seller must secure a conditioned contract with a third party - insurance companies of the cargo ships – where, under the classification of condition precedent (Mallor, et al., 2012), the monetary amount insured will be collected by the seller in instances that their goods are damaged during transport. In addition, their bond with the buyer must indicate specific conditions to prevent allegation of breach of contract from the other party if such circumstance occur. Nevertheless, condition stated by the seller must indicated non-performance of expected duty only in force majeure situations such as bad weather condition that result in damage of goods during transport thus preventing excuses to non-performance other that what is indicated in the contract (Mallor, et al.,

Issues in Contemporary Auditing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Issues in Contemporary Auditing - Essay Example The aspect of financial transaction record would be quite vital to be thoroughly examined in the process. It has been revealed that Hammerson plc upholds proper financial statement by following the guidelines of Companies Act 1985 which depicts true and fair values that facilitate the company to maintain accurate financial records. Additionally, an audit report of the company is also conducted by following the guidelines of the International Standard on Auditing (ISA) which is authorized by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). Moreover, while preparing an audit report, Hammerson also utilizes various financial transaction tests that facilitate it to identify the valuation of assets and liabilities which are essential to be considered. The Audit Committee should also note that Hammerson takes the responsibility for protecting the assets of the company along with safeguarding them from the hand of fraud, error, and non-compliance by adhering to the laws and regulations which are mentioned in Companies Act 1985 under Section 389(A). The company also provides other financial services under the Financial Services Act 1986. Compensation which will be due for the provided service to Hammerson can be calculated on the basis of the times which are spent by your partners and also on the basis of skills and responsibilities that are involved amid your staff. The scope of the audit will be to make a comprehensive evaluation of the books of account in order to ascertain the validity and reliability of the published materials of the company. Our company shall be highly obliged if you can confirm your agreement or engagement by singing and returning the enclosed copy of this letter. Thanks & Regards Yours faithfully Manager Loughran and Shrives Chartered Accountants B. Ethical Issues Leaflet Interdependence is one of the fundamental as well as considerable aspects while preparing an audit report. In order to maintain suitable ethical standards in an audit report, it is essential for the auditors to be independent in terms of mental attitude while dealing with their respective clients. The users of the financial statement are primarily concerned about the aspect that the auditors should not compromise with their interdependencies by considering the viewpoints of the clients during the preparation of an audit report. Truthfulness, honesty, integrity, confidentiality and professional behavior are the most essential aspects for the auditors in order to maintain ethical standards and also bring transparency while preparing an audit report. It is also necessary for the audit firms to maintain similar kinds of rules and regulations while preparing an audit report for their respective stakeholders.  

Smoking cessation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Smoking cessation - Essay Example According to Pignone and Salazar (2009), smoking cessation can increase life expectancy of up to 3 years in women smokers and 2 years in men. In other researches, the life expectancy of a non-smoker is 13-14 years higher than a smoker (Chandler and Rennard, 2010). Studies have confirmed that smoking cessation has inflicts immediate health benefits to the individual. Several interventions are successful in smoking cessation which includes counseling, pharmacotherapy or a combination of both. In this respect, the most important factor is client’s self chosen health goal to quit smoking and both pharmacotherapy and counseling prove to be useful for such patients, however, in patients with unwilling behavior to quit pharmacotherapy is ineffective. Medical counseling approach should emphasize on health and economic benefits of cessation, motivational interviews, patient education on disease risk factors, community/family support and relapse prevention. Pharmacological therapies con sist of nicotine replacement therapy which includes nicotine patch, gums, lozenges, nasal sprays, inhalers etc. (Pignone and Salazar, 2009). All of these have shown to be equally effective in smoking cessation. In addition, anti-depressant therapy with drugs such as Bupropion, varenicline and Clonidine have been proven as effective smoking cessation agents. Several studies have suggested that a combination of these pharmacological therapies is quite effective i.e. nicotine gum with nicotine patch etc. (Chandler and Rennard, 2010).

Reflection On Crime Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reflection On Crime - Research Paper Example Various crime theories have emerged assuming diverse perspectives ranging from psychological, biological, sociological and even patterns of interconnected scientific explanations. Criminologists have remained vigilant in discovering innovative points of views that could link outcomes of criminal behavior to their root causes. In this regard, the current reflective paper aims to proffer issues related to three specific topics, to wit: (1) the study of crime; (2) biological and psychological explanations of crime; and finally, (3) deterrence, incapacitation, retribution and rehabilitation. Significant applications related to the issues would be discussed. Likewise, the discourse would address how one can apply what is learned from the topics towards becoming a more valuable member of society. The study ultimately aims to determine how theoretical concepts learned from the modules would contribute to improving the peace and order by deterring crimes in society through an individual†™s proactive view. The Study of Crime A crime is a conduct forbidden by law for which punishment is prescribed. Thus, the ideas of crime and punishment are intimately connected. To commit a crime is to run the risk that punishment will be imposed. Diverse theories have tried to explain the origin of criminal behavior. In the article entitled Criminology: the study of crime and behavior, Aristotle identified poverty as â€Å"the parent of revolution and crime† (Criminology, n.d, par. 1) tracing the explanation to elements in the environment as contributory to the criminal behavior. The same discourse provided different criminology theories that were discussed in the modules, initially detailing the classical theory where â€Å"people choose to behave wrongly when they believe the benefits outweigh the costs† (Criminology, n.d, par. 5). Culen & Agnew (2002) have clearly illustrated variables and assumptions for theories of crime ranging from strain, routine, strain, co ntrol theories where factors as diverse as the facets of personalities and external influences attempt to provide meaning to their occurrences. Where poverty was identified by Aristotle providing the impetus for sociologists to examine both social and cultural forces that impinge on individuals to commit errant behavior, other distinct findings prove genetics and biological factors increase susceptibility to crimes. Theorists like Lombroso and Hoorten seek to find some patterns from individuals’ personal traits as evidence for stronger links to the occurrence of crime (Criminology, n.d, pars. 22 & 23). Aside from variables, assumptions, factors and the dominant groups of criminologists, psychologists and sociologists supporting these criminology theories, the study of crime also encompasses new professionals in the capacity of economists as interested in this field of endeavor. The study conducted by Bushway and Reuter (n.d.) emphasized a â€Å"focus on rational self-seeking behavior and analysis of the consequences of interactions among groups of actors that create equilibria in a system† (1). This just proves that the study of crimes is indeed a multidisciplinary approach that intrigues professionals from other fields to explain the rationale for their occurrence and existence despite sanctions and punishments prescribed by the legal

PAYMENT AND TRADE FINANCE - A Case Study- corporate finance involving Essay

PAYMENT AND TRADE FINANCE - A Case Study- corporate finance involving law - Essay Example Saida tenders to Big Bank plc a pre-printed â€Å"shipped on-board† bill of lading with an issuance date of 31 March. There is also a notation referring to â€Å"10,002 tonnes Class A cement fully loaded on 1 April with 5% on deck†. Saida has also tendered a word-processed cover note referring to 10,000 tonnes Grade A cement marked â€Å"as original† but not signed, and an invoice for â€Å"approximately 10,000 tonnes high grade cement†. It is generally known in the industry that Class A means cement with a purity percentage of at least 98%†. A surveyor’s certificate is also tendered which states that the cement is slightly discoloured. Big Bank has reservations about the documents and pays Saida â€Å"under reserve† and â€Å"without prejudice†. Armita, Small Bank’s manager, refuses to reimburse Big Bank on the basis of non-compliance. She also suspects that the date entered by the shipmaster on the bill of lading is fals e. Armita also demands to see a certificate of origin because it is her bank’s policy not to deal with goods emanating from certain countries. Saida has also contracted to sell a consignment of sulphur to Turhan. The contract requires Saida to secure for Turhan’s benefit, a performance guarantee to the amount of ?30,000 issued by Nidhi Bank, a bank in London, England, guaranteeing Saida’s performance. That guarantee is expressed in the following terms: â€Å"We undertake to pay you on your assertion of Saida’s default or breach of Contract No 34/06 in writing being received at this office and bearing our reference Guarantee No 666/05A ... † Saida refuses to ship when she discovers Turhan has failed to open a letter of credit in her favour. Turhan’s bank has declined to issue the letter of credit because of liquidity problems. Turhan makes a demand under the guarantee on Nidhi Bank by making a statement asserting Saida’s failure to shi p but the demand refers to "Guarantee No 666/05". Discuss the rights and liabilities of the parties under English law. Ans# Trade credit is often used as a method of payment for both the domestic as well as the international trade business. However, it is mostly used in international trade considering the overall risks involved in the international trade transactions as well as the role of banks in facilitating the payments between the parties. As such the credit used for the purchase and financing of the inventories and current assets is called short term credit whereas the credit used for the financing of the capital expenditure is considered as the long term finance and both types of finances can be availed through international trade transactions.1 It is important to understand however, that the payments in the international trade finance are often governed through different laws. Most importantly laws and regulations set by the International Chamber of Commerce or ICC are consi dered as binding on the parties involved in the international trade transactions. The major set of rules governing the international trade transactions include UCP 600 which actually provide a detailed overview of the rights and obligations of each party to the transaction in the international trade besides governing the swift completion of such transactions. 2 Under UCP 600, not only the rights and obligations of the parties are outlined but the overall role and responsibilities of the banks and

Teams In Organizations Essay Example for Free

Teams In Organizations Essay Teams are groups of people who share a common purpose, who depend on each other to accomplish their purpose, develop relationships with each other and outsiders and eventually develop roles in the team. These teams can be intact work groups working for the same person, or can be from different functions or organizations. In these times of constant change, it is essential for teams and team members to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Effective teamwork can help a company deal with this ongoing change and can create an environment to find better ways to solve problems, resolve conflicts, and set goals, whether they be to provide the best possible service, to be the top sales district, or to plan exciting company events. Teams have an important place in our professional and personal lives. Working in teams is an inevitable life experience, even for people who prefer to work alone. Working on teams can normally prove very challenging with all of the variations in personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. An effective teamwork does not happen overnight; it takes a cooperative group of individuals and a talented leader. To avoid a stiff structure in an organization, management must learn to let people do their creative best and optimize their talent. An ideal organization consists of a team-oriented environment where people are being asked to work beyond their disciplines. Departments learn to work together, helping one another, as well as themselves, instead of behaving like rivals, only out for their personal advancement. Generally, there are three main characteristics for a team to be successful; they must share a common goal, each member must play their own particular role, and each member must be willing to make a few sacrifices (Hambrick, 1994). The most important aspect must be the common goal of the group. Even though the members of the team have different views, even though they come from different backgrounds, even if they have different ambitions, this common goal is what will unite and bind the group together. But this common goal is not enough; something more is needed: the role of the individual  team players. If the team is to truly be a success, each member will have to play his or her role properly. Conflict may arise due to specific individuals wanting more credit, power, or glory; however, that is when the importance of sacrifice becomes apparent. Each individual member has to be ready to give up something for the good of the whole team, because for a team to flourish and triumph, t he goal is greater than the individual (Hambrick, 1994). When a team works together with these three attributes, there is practically no limit to what they can accomplish. There are normally four stages that a group will have to go through before they become fully developed. They are: mutual acceptance, communication and decision-making, motivation and productivity, and control and organization (Moorehead Griffin, 285.) Each stage has its own unique features, but it is difficult to determine where one begins and one ends. There are no clear lines because one stage seems to blend into the next step. Mutual acceptance is the first step where each group member will share certain information about his or herself, in an effort to get to know the other team members. This information has almost nothing to do with the team goals; it is the members opportunity to learn something about one another. Once members begin to feel a little more comfortable together, they may attempt to discuss an overview of what they expect to accomplish within their group. They will begin to discover each others differences and similarities, their individual viewpoints on numerous concerns on relevant subject matters become apparent, and conversation about team goals and business become more prevalent. When the conversation starts to take on a more serious tone, the second stage of communication and decision-making has begun, possibly the most important stage in the process. Communication is an essential part in the development of a group culture. The types of communication structure determine leadership, roles and status within the group, group morale and cohesiveness, and it limits or enhances productivity (Hare, 1992). Different types of communication are needed for different tasks. If a groups goal is relatively simple, a centralized communication network in which interaction between members is limited tends to increase effectiveness. In a more complex environment, with a focus on  problem solving, a decentralized communication network would be more appropriate (Shaw, 1981). The choice of a communication network might be more effective if decision-making strategies are outlined in advance and if the urge to stabilize the structure too early is resisted, as there is considerable resistance to change once these structures are established. Awareness of these issues is usually low and it is one of the tasks of the group leader or facilitator to bring them to the attention of the group. Communication standards, as well as performance, are raised if the group has clear performance-oriented goals, an appropriate task strategy to accomplish those goals, and a clear set of established rules in order to tolerate inter-member conflicts and to promote feedback to ensure that information is properly interpreted and understood. When it becomes apparent that the group is united upon its goals and tasks, the third stage of motivation and productivity can begin. Motivation and productivity focus on the overall performance within the group. All groups, however, do not reach this stage. If it has been attained, their capacity, range, and depth of relations expand to true interdependence. Group members can work independently, in sub-groups, or as a total unit, while their roles and authorities dynamically adjust to the changing needs of both the group and the individual. Individual members have become self-assuring and the need for group approval has past; they are both highly task-oriented and highly people-motivated. The group has reached a level of unity, group identity is complete, morale is high, and loyalty is intense. There is a strong focus on both team cooperation and creativity. This stage places a high emphasis on problem solving and productively working towards the most optimal solutions to these problems. If a group is able to accomplish these tasks, they will move on to the final stage of control and organization (Moorehead Griff in, 287). The final stage of control and organization in group development involves the termination of task behaviors and the disengagement from group relationships. The group will work towards fully accomplishing all of their goals and tasks to the point of completion. A planned conclusion usually includes recognition for participation and achievements and an opportunity  for members to say their personal goodbyes. It may also create some apprehension from group members due to the relinquishing of control and giving up inclusion in the group. The most effective interventions throughout this stage are those that facilitate task termination and the process of disengaging oneself from the group. Members must prove to be flexible and able to adapt to whatever the next step is for the group, whether it be to transform into a mature group, or to disband altogether (Moorehead Griffin, 288). Work groups function to perform a particular task. In a work group, the task dimension is emphasized and group members pool their expertise to accomplish the task. Organizations may not realize that different groups will require different kinds of facilitation, meaning its roles, relationships, goals, functions, and capabilities. There are two main types of teams in the workplace: work unit teams and self managed teams (Parks Sanna, 1999). Work unit teams are where supervisors are retained with drastically altered roles, and employees are given much expanded responsibilities for day-to-day operations, while self managed teams are where managers and supervisors are largely eliminated and employees truly take charge. Work-unit teams and self-managed teams both shift traditional managerial and supervisory responsibilities for controlling performance and solving performance problems to employees. All employees are required to attend team meetings, work on performance improvement projects and participate in other team activities by virtue of their employment. Where these two types of teams differ is in respect to the effect of the teams on organizational structure and the role, or even existence, of managers and supervisors (Parks Sanna, 1999). The organizational chart with work-unit teams looks very much like that of a traditional organization, with perhaps some flattening of the traditional pyramid into fewer levels. Additionally, there may be no radical restructuring of the work process flow, at least initially. There is a much sharper definition of the units responsibilities and objectives, however. Work-unit team members develop a few key performance measures for the team that are linked back to company objectives and they help establish targets  for performance on these measures. Also, team members meet on a regular basis with their manager or supervisor to review performance on these measures, identify performance problems or areas needing improvement, and develop action plans or projects to solve performance problems they identify. Under work-unit teams, managers and supervisors may be reduced in number, but that position is not eliminated. They continue to perform traditional functions such as planning, budgeting, hiring, disciplining, and firing, although they may be required to seek greater employee input into these decisions. The team itself is responsible for the work groups performance. The manager or supervisors role is to provide the team with information and resources, facilitate team meetings, and coach employees in problem-solving efforts (Parks Sanna, 1999). Self-managed teams operate in a similar fashion to work-unit teams, but with employees assuming greatly expanded responsibilities. Additionally, the traditional organizational structure is drastically altered because divisions, departments, and sections drawn along functional lines may cease to exist; in its place are teams of five to fifteen employees. Each team has the responsibility, equipment, and other resources necessary to produce an entire product, deliver a service, or produce or deliver a major part of a product or service. Self-managed teams are structured to operate almost as small, independent business units. Where the work-unit team has a clearly defined set of performance objectives, the self-managed team has a mission to serve a customer or group of customers either internally or externally. Perhaps the most striking difference between self-managed teams and work-unit teams is the absence of managers and supervisors in the self-managed unit. Instead, employees in self-managed teams elect a team leader who facilitates team meetings and performs administrative functions for the team. Frequently, team leadership responsibilities rotate among team members so that eventually most, if not all, team members serve a term as team leader. Team members assume responsibility for monitoring performance and solving performance problems, planning, scheduling, budgeting, and hiring and discipline of team members. The few remaining formal managers in an organization composed of self-managed teams coordinate activities of the various teams, ensure that teams have the resources they require, advise the  teams on technical, operational, and human resource issues, and help resolve disputes that might occur within or between teams (Parks Sanna, 1999). The transition to a team-based high-performance organization is established on a basic set of six guiding principles. The first principle is to develop the support of top managers. Top managers need to learn as much as they can about the structure and management operating system of a high performance design and operating system before deciding whether or not they can support implementing a model. Without the understanding of top management and their support for a change to a team-based organization, high-performance is not possible (Wheelan, 1994). The second thing that needs to be done is to determine how a team-based organization can address company improvement needs. Organizations must identify the opportunities for improvement where teams can help with the performance in the organization. Without a defined need, there will be little or no serious motivation to establish the resources and changes required to install a high performance model (Wheelan, 1994). The third principle is to involve everyone within the organization so that they will feel a part of the surrounding changes. Since team-based high performance requires revising the organizations structure and operating system, everyone has a role to play in the transition. When senior management makes a commitment to convert to the new system, department managers, section heads, and employees all need to be involved, no one can afford to be left out. Employment groups who are not informed and involved in the process of change are likely to resist the tough changes that are needed. Calming everyones fears about change is a very important factor in making a successful transition (Wheelan, 1994). The fourth principle is to invest in establishing a learning organization. With technology and information driving change at an unprecedented pace, organizations need employees at all levels who are continually learning. Education and training must be seen as a top priority in high-performance workplaces, with a payoff in improved leadership, worker flexibility,  effectiveness, and improved product and service quality (Wheelan, 1994). The fifth principle is to measure and keep track of how the changes are taking place and the affects of the changes. Measurement is a core element of high-performance management. A measurement system must be developed and maintained to evaluate the team and company performance, and there must be a way to monitor employee feedback, as well. The improvement measures should be incorporated into team performance evaluations, promotions, and compensation plans, so as to emphasize the extreme importance of this step (Wheelan, 1994). The sixth and final principle is to get the necessary help to install a high-performance design. Teams and team-based organizations with self-managed teams are not new. Adequate information is documented and available to show that team-based operating systems consistently outperform traditional systems. The hiring of an experienced consulting and training firm to provide model design guidance, consultation, and training will reduce trial and error costs and help ensure a smooth transition and the achievement of the desired outcomes (Wheelan, 1994). Team-based high-performance involves management providing teams with the following five thing: identifying defined areas of responsibility where teams can be delegated some degree of management control, granting the authority to teams to make decisions about their groups work, providing teams with the resources and tools to continually improve their work, providing the training needed to install and maintain the new system, and providing the resources and education needed to enable employees to continually improve their job skills (Wheelan, 1994). While this sounds easy enough in practice, it is not. Most companies operate in certain well-established, traditional ways. Team-based high performance requires changes in virtually every arena of corporate life. Top management may not want to commit resources to prepare everyone for their new responsibilities. Managers, and sometimes workers, are reluctant to have decision-making authority shared between management  and employees. However, there is a new frontier available for executives interested in capturing the spirit and intellect of the total workforce for dramatic improvements in operating effectiveness. The experience of companies that are making the change to a high-performance workplace, and seeing an extraordinary return on their investment, provides compelling motivation to take the plunge. References Hambrick, D.C. (1994). Top Management Groups: A Conceptual Integration and Reconsideration of the Team Label. Research in Organizational Behaviour. Hare, A.P. (1992). Group, Teams and Social Interaction. Theories and Applications. New York: Praeger. Moorehead, Gregory, Griffin, Ricky W. (2001). Organizational Behavior: Managing People And Organizations. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Parks, C.D. Sanna, L.J. (1999). Group Performance and Interaction. Boulder, Oxford: Westview Press. Shaw, M.E. (1981). Group Dynamics: The Psychology of Small Group Behaviour. New York: McGraw-Hill. Wheelan, S.A. (1994). Group Processes. A Developmental Perspective. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

Depictions of Paranoia in Art Exhibitions

Depictions of Paranoia in Art Exhibitions An essay relating a text from Art in Theory (ed. Harrison and Wood) to a current exhibition or work of art located in United Kingdom In this essay I will look at a selection of art from the exhibition entitled â€Å"Paranoia† situated at the Freud Museum. The exhibition is intended as an investigation of â€Å"suspicion, fear, trauma and delusion in the post 9/11 world† and investigates the abuses of political power and the media in generating a public consensus of good and evil in the world. In particular, I will look at the work of Franko B., a London based artist who uses paintings and performance to challenge perceptions of our bodies and of how the political relates to the artistic and the individual. In this exhibition there are exhibits of a couple of his black acrylic paintings. These paintings are heavily wrought, naively painted and concerned with depth and texture rather than with notions of prettiness. Because they eschew certain relationships between what comprises art, and are coupled with Franko B’s place as a performance artist, whose blood-letting performances in 2003 at Tate Modern, they challenge the aestheticism and the inability for the artist to be a politically relevant individual. A number of video installations also attempt to directly politicise art in crude rather than subtle ways. Jackie Salloom’s Planet of the Arabs and other works is a 20 minute video that pieces together stills from films, magazines, newspapers, television and advertising media, and functions to expose how myths and prejudices are developed and disseminated across society. Because I am interested in the political effects of art, and whether art can be established effectively as a critiquing tool to place against society, I will be looking in particular at how this exhibition relates to Joseph Buoys theories on the democratization of art, and upon whether performance based â€Å"Action Art† by artists such as Franko B. can effectively empower the individual, making him or her an artist him or herself. The 1960s signalled a movement away from the perception of the artist as a unique purveyor of singular genius towards a more inclusive, incorporative process that questioned the underlying mechanisms and mythologies of artistry. Andy Warhol in particular sought to fabricate the notion of the artist as a Promethean character; a sort-of demented idiot-savant, whose suffering brought light upon the world, by questioning the very foundations of the artist. Warhol’s techniques were designed to automate and remove any particular response from the art. Similar to the collage techniques of the futurists, the pop art movement could be seen as both an attempt to contemporize art and furthermore to erode or, at the very least, to change the perception of the artist and how he or she relates to the world around him. Politically this has important connotations. Because of Warhol’s techniques towards the mass dissemination of art and of factory produced Warhol pieces of art, the arti st is no longer seen as objective and singular, and the â€Å"truth† offered by the artist is no longer situated above society, but alongside it. Politically, this means that the sweeping and grandiose ideologies signified by futurism, cubism, surrealism and other modernist movements no longer have the same currency. Therefore, politics have changed and art has become a fusion of high and low forms of entertainment and politics. The video installation and performance-based art that looks to remanufacture the artifice of the artistic self is innately political in Joseph Beuy’s terminology because it seeks to confront and democratize the artistic world, making artists of everybody that interacts with it. â€Å"To impose forms on the world around us is the beginning of a process that continues into the political field. Discussion used to centre on the participation of the public and it became apparent that actionism as a sort of joint play was not enough; the participant must also have something to contribute from the resources of his own thought† (905). Therefore, in accordance with Buoys, the political field of art is in its struggle to empower and to transform others into artists. Buoys’ theory posits that, while there are people excluded from art, there can be no democracy. Thus, rather than art being a peripheral critique of society and politics, it forms a principle component of art i tself. He continues by saying that â€Å"A total work of art is only possible in the context of the whole of society. Everyone will be a necessary co-creator of a social architecture, and, so long as anyone cannot participate, the ideal form of democracy has not been reached† (905). At the exhibition, techniques are adopted which serve to democratize art. Two books are present in the museum in which people draw things related to their dreams. Also, in a more abstract way, much of the art leaves gaps and ambiguities into which the artist can place his or her engagements. The use of video footage and stills from mass market publications in Salloom’s Planet of the Arabs suggests that the artist is attempting to democratize the art in question. The intentionally crude collage nature of the work which juxtaposes images sharply, quickly and crudely also serves to denounce the role of the artist as talented, serving instead to perceive the artist as a facilitator to bring abo ut other artists. The use of footage that we are all familiar with; war torn countries, bombings, newspaper images and other forms of mass media serves to invoke a sense of feeling in the viewer, and the satirized nature of the piece helps the viewer confront one’s own prejudices, which in turn empowers the viewer and helps to denounce the controlling mechanisms of mass-media. â€Å"Truth† and the specific role of artist are further interrogated by the artist Tim Blake and his piece The Big Secret. This simply features an interview with the prominent conspiracy theorist David Icke. Although widely denounced in scientific communities for his â€Å"crackpot† theories, here David Icke is allowed to speak in an unmediated way about his theory that extraterrestrial insects control and govern the planet. Here Tim Blake attempts to provoke the viewer into a reaction by filming Icke in an unelaborated way. In the accompanying pamphlet, he uses a quotation from Freud: â€Å"The psycho-analyst, in the light of his knowledge of the psychoneuroses, approaches the subject with a suspicion that even thought-structures so extraordinary as these and so remote from our common modes of thinking are nevertheless derived from the most general and comprehensible impulses of the human mind† (1). Thus, here there is an attempt made to democratize humanity a nd to assume that all emerges from a general principle. Coupled with the absence of any particularly artist-like pretensions in the film, the question of artist is interrogated and jeopardised, allowing for democracy, in Buoys’ sense, to occur: â€Å"In a true democracy there are no other differences than capability; democracy can only develop freely when all restrictive mechanisms are gone. One of the greatest of these restrictive mechanisms is the present-day school, because it does not develop people but channels them† (905-6). In Franko B’s retrospective of his art, he posited that the best reaction to his work would be for somebody to mention themselves in relation to it. His work has always attempted to denigrate his own position as technical artist in favour of more openly politicised attempts to democratize his viewers. His work in multiple medias over the years, from performance art involving blood letting to mass-produced flags that he would stain with his own blood, to more â€Å"traditional† painting, suggests that he is attempting to transform the image of the artist and how it is conceived by the masses. As most people feel politically isolated from art, it is of especial importance that the artist relates to people outside of the artistic world. Franko B’s crude and naà ¯ve painting, his simple iconography, and his lacerating, self-sacrificing performance pieces attempts to achieve this by making his work both accessible and vague simultaneously. His massive black portraits echo Rothko in their minimalism, but are concerned with iconic and image based themes that Franko B. takes from his own life. Because these pieces don’t use any colour other than black, they appear more concerned about depth and line. Also, because they are made from blown up photographs, they also deny singular artistic talent in favour of a more inciting, democratic painterly technique. Buoys argues that â€Å"The times educate people to think in terms of abstract concepts†¦ most people think they have to comprehend art in intellectual terms – in many people the organs of sensory and emotional experience have atrophied† (905). Buoys attacks what he sees as â€Å"the prevailing scientific concepts†, which constrain and hamper the development of artistic imagination. According to Buoys, the concept of art must be widened to incorporate all things. The use of multimedia and various sources fragment the traditional role of artist as a singular paradigm of a truth that cannot be interacted with. Also, the conception of mass-produced art, which can be disseminated through video also serves a similar purpose – to allow for a larger audience to be incorporated into art, not as passive but as active components. The crudity of the art on offer at the museum, which directly and unambiguously interrogates the role mass media has to play in the f ormation of mechanisms of racial hate, terrorism and power, echoes the sentiments of Joseph Buoys. Works Cited Leaflet for Paranoia at the Freud Museum, 2007 Beuys, Joseph (1921-1986) ‘Not Just a Few Are Called, But Everyone’, Art in Theory, pp 903-6 Harrison, Charles Wood, Paul (2003), Art in Theory: 1900-2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers

Leslie Marmon Silkos Ceremony Essay -- Literary Analysis, Psychology

The central conflict of Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony is Tayo's struggle to gain psychological wholeness in the face of various traumatic experiences, ranging from a troubled childhood to cultural marginalization and combat experiences during World War II. Throughout the novel, the key to Tayo's psychological recovery is his rediscovery of Native American cultural practices. Most of the crucial turning points in the novel occur when Tayo listens to, takes part in, or learns more about Native American cultural traditions. He progresses towards recovery when he visits medicine men, returns to traditional customs and practices, or develops an intimate relationship with someone like Ts'eh who lives according to traditional ways. As he develops an increased understanding of native cultural practices and ritual ceremonies he finds psychological peace, which he quickly loses whenever he seeks other sources of healing-whether he seeks them in the glories of war, the pleasures of alcohol, or the medical practices of the army psychiatric hospital. The novel's opening poem describes the Incredible powers that language, stories, and rituals have in Native American cultures: ceremonies are the only cure for human and cultural ailments, and stories and language have the power to create worlds As the novel progresses, it demonstrates this power by showing how rituals are more effective than anything else in helping Tayo heal. Moreover, Tayo's struggle to return to indigenous cultural traditions parallels Silko's own struggle as a writer who wants to integrate Native American traditions into the structure of her novel. Instead of simply following the literary conventions used by other American and European writers, Silko develops new li... ...ve Americans fit into the broader mosaic of American history. In particular, Silko' s novel rewrites American history so that Native Americans like Tayo are no longer pushed into the margins and ignored. She shows that they have contributed to and continue to contribute to American history by providing the land on which it happens, by fighting for America in international conflicts, and by contributing to America's economic development. Even more importantly, however, she shows that Native American cultural traditions also provide an alternative, and in Silko's opinion, superior view of what America's future could look like if it will chose to be more spiritually sensitive, multi-culturally respectful, and environmentally responsible. In this sense, Ceremony adds an important and potentially healing voice to the on-going debate of what it means to be an American.

Israels Land, Culture, History, and Religion Essay examples -- Cultura

The record of human habitation in Israel is at least 100,000 years, old. Evidence of the domestication of plants and animals can be dated to about 10,000 BC. The State of Israel, an independent nation in southwest Asia, is located between the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of an arm of the Red Sea. "Israel is considered the Holy Land for Christians, Jews, and Muslims {1}". Which includes religious representation of most of the world's entire population. To reflect on all the different aspects of the cultural and historical geography of Israel would certainly be out of the scope of this tiny paper so, general information will then be discussed below. ITS LAND Israel is a small country (a small country as related to overall territory/mass). It is long and narrow and stretches just under 450 kms from North to South and on average is 60 kms from East to West. The majority of Israel's west is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Coast consists of a narrow plain (The Sharon Plain) which is home to most of Israel's people. The Sharon Plain is where Israel's largest urban city, Tel Aviv, is located. Israel's Eastern border is dominated by the Jordan River Valley which drops down to the Dead Sea which is the lowest depression on Earth at 400 meters below sea level. Israel's southern region is managed by the rough and mountainous Negev Desert. At Israel's Southern apex Israel's port of Eilat dominates several kilometers of sparkling Red Sea coast. The primary region of the country is hilly, and at one of the highest points is the national capital, Jerusalem {3}. The northern quarter of Israel is dominated by the hilly and fertile Galilee region. Israel's largest body of fresh wate... ...re. Israel truly is the center of all historical and cultural geography to me now. "Oh, Israel, I will never forget you. (Isaiah 44:21)" Works Cited: 1. About Israel. "Israel tourism guide." 1996. http://www.algonet.se/%7Elj/ (April 10, 1997) 2. Focus Multimedia. "Your Key To Be Seen!" Israel. 1997. http://www.focusmm.com.au/israel/is_giamn.htm. (April 10, 1997) 3. Gold Stag Commun. "Odyssey." ISRAEL. 1996 http://www.emerald-empire.com/geography/israel/page00.htm (April 10, 1997) 4. Israeli Foreign Affairs. "Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs." 1996. http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il (April 10, 1997) 5. Kachar, Menachem. "Israel Visit." 1996. http://www.israelvisit.co.il (April 10, 1997) UT @austin. "JPEG Image." Israeli Maps. 1997. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection/middle_east_and_asia/Israel GIF (April 10, 1997)

Becoming A Soldier :: essays research papers

Becoming a soldier The clock was ringing so loudly, it was like he was actually screaming at me. I reached my hand and slapped it. I did not want the night to be over already. I knew that this morning would be very long and grueling, the morning that I have been waiting for in a great fear for several months. It was the morning I was drafted to the army. In Israel, every boy and girl who reaches eighteen have to join the army. It is mandatory and it is for a minimum of three years for boys and a year and eight months for girls. During the eleventh and twelfth grade you go through several classification processes, in which the army determines where will everyone serve. The process of classification includes several tests, some of them are physical and others are in math and Hebrew. So on the day you are drafted you suppose to know where you are going to serve and what you are going to do, at least for the first few months of your service. For me the experience of joining the army at the age of eighteen was very difficult. I felt that these are my best years but instead of taking advantage of them I am going to the army. In other countries, when a person reaches eighteen he is usually going to college and "start his life". I on the other hand, was about to do one of the most demanding mission a man can do. I postponed my recruiting day as long as I could in order to travel and enjoy as much as I could in that time. I knew that I was going to be a fighter and give up the convenience of being home everyday, eat home made food, go out with friends, sleep in my bed. Instead I would sleep in a tent or lie on the ground on a stake out, eat bad food, and get to know new people. All that was hard for me to accept at the age of 18. To my parents I was the third child to go into the army. My older brother, who was also a fighter, was released two years before I got drafted. And my sister, who served in the intelligence corps, was released only four months before. We all woke up that morning like we did the past two times. Becoming A Soldier :: essays research papers Becoming a soldier The clock was ringing so loudly, it was like he was actually screaming at me. I reached my hand and slapped it. I did not want the night to be over already. I knew that this morning would be very long and grueling, the morning that I have been waiting for in a great fear for several months. It was the morning I was drafted to the army. In Israel, every boy and girl who reaches eighteen have to join the army. It is mandatory and it is for a minimum of three years for boys and a year and eight months for girls. During the eleventh and twelfth grade you go through several classification processes, in which the army determines where will everyone serve. The process of classification includes several tests, some of them are physical and others are in math and Hebrew. So on the day you are drafted you suppose to know where you are going to serve and what you are going to do, at least for the first few months of your service. For me the experience of joining the army at the age of eighteen was very difficult. I felt that these are my best years but instead of taking advantage of them I am going to the army. In other countries, when a person reaches eighteen he is usually going to college and "start his life". I on the other hand, was about to do one of the most demanding mission a man can do. I postponed my recruiting day as long as I could in order to travel and enjoy as much as I could in that time. I knew that I was going to be a fighter and give up the convenience of being home everyday, eat home made food, go out with friends, sleep in my bed. Instead I would sleep in a tent or lie on the ground on a stake out, eat bad food, and get to know new people. All that was hard for me to accept at the age of 18. To my parents I was the third child to go into the army. My older brother, who was also a fighter, was released two years before I got drafted. And my sister, who served in the intelligence corps, was released only four months before. We all woke up that morning like we did the past two times.

Gentlemen, Your Verdict

Colton Oct 17th Gentlemen, Your verdict In this story Gentlemen your verdict, the captain of a submarine, L-C Oram, is put in a difficult situation which results in him sacrificing 14 of his men including himself, to save 5 men with families waiting for them back home. Of course killing people is wrong, but if I, or anyone else, was put into a situation like L-C Oram was, then I think it would be okay to†¦.. as bad as that sounds. In situations like these, I think there are some exceptions to killing people.He wasn’t trying to murder his crew for fun, he had good   intentions! He did it so that 5 men could go home to their families. He even sacrificed himself! He was being generous and thinking about the wives and children on those 5 men. L-C Oram had no choice! He was the captain, it was his duty to do the right thing†¦. whatever that may be. He had no time to think, and there was no way he could save all the men in the submarine. He was even kind enough to make s ure the crew died somewhat peacefully with the poison.But, this short story doesn’t make any sense at the end when the jury is asked â€Å"So gentlemen, guilty or not guilty? † Obviously he is guilty since he killed 14 other men and himself on top of that. I don’t see why he is on trial in the first place, he is dead! You can’t send a dead body to jail. Oram acted in the moment, anyone else would do the same thing. At least he saved the men that he did. In my opinion, he was a true captain. Everyone makes mistakes, even if this was a big one. I’m sure many others would agree with me that the only thing he is guilty of is being a true captain. A hero.

Mexican Immigrants

The number of Mexican immigrants, both legal and illegal, in California today is quite staggering.   Amidst the terrorist threat issues and various biological scares, these immigrants have changed the economy of California completely. The state of California once boasted a healthy employment market for immigrants, as well as natives.   Now, the economy of California is in recession, along with the rest of the United States.   According to the California Employment Development Department, unemployment numbers rose to 4.5 percent in October, which is a rise from the 2.1 percent a year ago. Of the thousands of jobs lost in September and October, over half were in hospitality, service, and construction.(The Waiting Game, 2006) As a result of the drop in employment, Mexican immigrants are struggling to survive.   Most immigrants are in the United States to make a better life for their families, who are often still in Mexico.   They work and earn wages to pay their living expenses here, and the rest is sent back to their families.   Most have now taken to the streets to stand and wait for a job opportunity.   Undocumented seasonal workers are the most vulnerable.   They make up 8.5 percent of the total number of immigrants, and they have to resort to sleeping in parks and under bridges. According to Martha Sanchez-Gomez, a specialist from the Social Research Institute of the Nacional Autonomous University of Mexico, said that immigrants suffer discrimination and social vulnerabilities.   She also states that permanent immigrants make up 61.6 percent of the total, while those who travel back and forth between here and Mexico represent 28.8 percent.   The latter are those who work with the high seasons, when the demand for workers is higher.   Ã‚  (Mexidata.Info-July 2005) The adult immigrants are not the only ones who suffer.   The numbers of children that have had no formal education before immigration is outrageous.   These children fall far behind the children of other California residents.   Tied in with the uneducated parents, they struggle just to get through day to day life.   Ms. Sanchez-Gomez states that statistically, 3.2 percent of adult immigrants have had no schooling, whereas 66.6 percent have a maximum of six year of education.   The majority of the farm workers are young men with very low levels of education.   About 10 percent are women, who prefer jobs as hotel chambermaids or as domestic workers, or to do cleaning work in nearby restaurants. It is widely believed that Mexican immigrants should be allowed to become United States citizens on the conditions that they pass the citizenship tests and that they cooperate with local government.   While this is an opportunity for them, it leaves a gapping whole in local economies as well as the nation’s economy. There are several views, both pros and cons, to letting Mexican immigrants stay in the United States.   There is a heated debate taking place now that, if solved, will provide some general laws that are more defined than what they are now. Think about the pros to illegal immigrants become permanent citizens.   These immigrants will contribute more money to economies.   Some will continue their education, and go one to open more businesses, thereby providing more employment.   Because they have an unspoken assumption that they should earn their own way, the immigrants tend to struggle in silence, never asking for governmental financial services such as Food Stamps.   This reduces the liability to tax payers. The cons to illegal immigrants staying in the United States far outweigh the pros.   Immigrants have caused the homeless population to rise.   The available employment, as stated before, has dropped severely, largely due to the fact that the immigrants are satisfied with working for minimum wage.   The available housing has dropped as well, and will continue to drop due to the large numbers of illegal immigrants that manage to sneak across the border. Mexican immigrants increase the poverty levels.   Although they are making as much as 10 times what they would in Mexico, the standard of living in the United States is much higher.   These immigrants do not generally take this information into account when they make their plans to immigrate.   About 47 percent of undocumented Mexicans believe that improving their quality of life can only be improved by coming to the United States. One common myth about illegal Mexican immigrants is that they are all criminals deserving to be severely punished.   However, the typical immigrant is an honest person, struggling to give a better life to himself and his family.   A large percentage of these immigrants mind their own business, and are far from being violent criminals.   Can we say that much about the United States population? Another quite racist myth about the immigrants is that they are just here as parasites that are feeding off our tax dollars and not contributing in return.   As stated earlier, they know that they have to pay their own way, and thus always offer something in return for what they may need.   Mexican workers pay sales taxes on their purchases, the same as everyone else, but illegal immigrants are often taken advantage of and paid below minimum wage.   This gives the employer a higher profit margin.   They are simply pocketing the taxes they withhold from payrolls. Right now, with the nation being in the condition that it is, the Mexican immigrants are hurting us more and more the longer that they stay here.   Most of these immigrants can not read or write, let alone speak English.   They are taking up valuable space and employment that is severely needed to raise our national economy.   We have enough problems with Americans.   We have a growing number of homeless.   We have a growing number of unemployed mothers and fathers, who struggle to feed their children.   The dependency of government social services by Americans grows as each day passes. There needs to be a set decision made as to the fate of the Mexican immigrants.   Either we give them the opportunity to become citizens, or we deport them.   There should be no in between.   Those that cannot become legal immigrants, even if they have a temporary work visa, should be deported as well.   There are other ways for the United States to help the Mexicans. One way that the United States can offer assistance to Mexicans, without the fear of it being solely a charity effort, is to open more businesses in Mexico.   We have all these huge corporations and ridiculously large multi-million dollar companies.   If we start opening more businesses in Mexico, with pay standards the same as ours, Mexico’s economy will benefit.   Why should the drug dealers and slum lords be the only ones that are happy and have a good quality of life? Resources 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hue, Vanessa   (September 9, 2005) Mexican Immigrants’ Kids Falter in School  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/09/09/BAGL1EKTDM1.DTL 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Notimex News Service Of Mexico City (July 25, 2006) Mexican Immigrants in California Lack Basic Services   for Mexidata.Info   Ã‚  www.mexidata.info/id555.html 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Schefler, Chris (2006) writing for the University of Dayton  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Racist Myths about Mexican Immigrants  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/guadalu4.htm                              

Awareness Of Their Learning Styles Is Important Education Essay

IntroductionBackground of the StudyIn English ‘learning procedure, pupils ‘ consciousness of their acquisition manners is iffiportant for several grounds. First is because there are differences in ways of pupils learn which is called as acquisition manners. Second is that larning manners is an of import factor in English larning due to the activation of pupils ‘ senses such as eyes ( seeing ) , ears ( hearing ) custodies ( touching ) and organic structure ( touching and traveling ) which one of them is more dominant in each person. Therefore, pupils ‘ consciousness of ain acquisition manners can besides assist them to understand their ain failings and strengths in larning procedure. In other words, they will cognize what sort of larning activities make understand lesson easier or vise versa. Third is because pupils ‘ consciousness of ain acquisition manners can assist them fit their acquisition manners with appropriate larning schemes in English acquisit ion in order to accomplish effectual acquisition. This matching is so really important for pupils because it can assist to make interesting and motivational acquisition procedure. Based on the above grounds, it can be said that pupils ‘ consciousness of their ain propensity manners is really of import as it can increase pupils ‘ larning accomplishment in English acquisition. 2 Teaching English to non English pupils can be hard due to pupils ‘ limited interaction to the English in their day-to-day life Therefore, to happen out most appropriate instruction and acquisition manners in English acquisition, instructors should hold the cognition of their pupils ‘ manners in acquisition. Teachers who know their pupils ‘ preferred acquisition manners can fit their instruction manners with pupils larning manners. This is really of import as it consequence greatly to the effectivity of the instruction and acquisition procedure. Students ‘ preferred acquisition manners can assist instructors to fix lesson program and make up one's mind acquisition activities and learning schemes based on consideration of assortment of their pupils ‘ acquisition manners in a peculiar schoolroom. Teachers ‘ consciousness of their pupils ‘ acquisition manners, hence, can be an effectual base in order to make effectual, actuating and interesting larning environment for pupils. In short, the above account shows the importance of carry oning a survey on pupils ‘ preferred acquisition manners in larning English. The survey is of import in order to acquire intended informations sing sort of acquisition manners preferred by pupils in their acquisition in English lessons.2. Problem StatementBased on the above accounts about larning manners, job statement of this survey is stated as follow: 3 What are twelvemonth 2 pupils of SMPN 27 Bekasi acquisition manners penchants in English acquisition?3. Method of the StudySing the research question/problem, this survey has been designed to be a descriptive qualitative 1. A study has been employed as the technique for roll uping the required informations. A set of questionnaire has been used with some SMPN pupils. An interview was besides done to some SMPN pupils. The instruments were aimed at obtaining informations about pupils ‘ larning hordeolums penchants in English acquisition.4. Purpose of the StudyThis survey chiefly aims at look intoing larning manners in English acquisition preferred by twelvemonth 2 pupils of SMPN 27 Bekasi. The acquisition manners are classified into the four sensory modes ( ocular, audile, haptic and kinaesthetic ) . This survey focuses on roll uping informations about pupils ‘ preferred acquisition manner in English lesson.5. Benefit of the StudyInformation about acquisition manners which p referred by twelvemonth 2 pupils of SMPN 27 Bekasi will be utile for instructors of SvWN 27 Bekasi to assist them to advance appropnate interesting, effectual and actuating learning environment which are antiphonal to stuGents neeas 4 because it is based on assortment of pupils ‘ acquisition manners prefererees in their categories. In pattern, instructors of twelvemonth 2 pupils of SMPN 27 Bekasi can make learning activities in their lesson programs based on infonnation about pupils ‘ preferred acquisition manners. Furthermore, twelvemonth 2 pupils of SMPN 27 Bekasi may besides profit from the consequence of this survey as they can happen out theit strengths and failings in larning so that they can happen two ways to larn best in any sort of larning state of affairss. Finally, it is hoped that by utilizing the information about acquisition manners penchants of pupils, both pupils and instructors can hold an effectual relationship in instruction and larning procedure as they can collaborate to accomplish effectual larning based on pupils ‘ preferred acquisition manners.Chapter IILITERATURE REVIEWLearning Styles in English Learning1.1. Learning MannersThe term â€Å" learning manner † was defined in many different ways. Kinsella ( 1995 ) described a learning manner as an person ‘s natural, accustomed, and preferable ways of absorbing, processing, and retaining new information and accomplishments which persist regardless of learning methods or content country ( p.171 ) . In another manner, Ellis ( 1985, cited in Vester, 2006 ) suggests a learning manner as the more or less consistent manner in which a individual perceives, conceptualizes, organizes and recalls information ( available: hypertext transfer protocol: //TEC.candem.rutge rs.edu JALT ) . In add-on, Jester and Miller ( 2000 ) stated that 1s larning manners are the manner they prefer to larn. It does non hold anything to make with how intelligent they are or what skills they have learned. It has to make with how the encephalon works most expeditiously to larn new information. ( available: http/www.metamath.com/isweb/dvclearn.htm ) . Then, larning manners, for the intent of this survey can be defined as a natural manner in which a individual preferred to larn best. It can be more consistent in grownups and less consistent in kids due to the consequence of some factors. Learning manners are ways of larning which include the procedure of absorbing and perceiving, 6 processing ( conceptualized assistance organized ) , and retaining or remember nw information and accomplishments. Learning manners are non affected by how intelligent the individual is, nevertheless, it is about how person ‘s encephalon can work dominantly and most efficaciously and expeditiously when larning new information or accomplishments. The original plants refering the engagement of senses which occur in larning procedure was developed by John Grindler and Richard Bandler in 1970 from the filed of Neurolinguistic Programming ( NLP ) . There are four rules of Neurolinguistic Programmming which are stated as follows ( O'Connor and McDermott 1996 ; Revell and Norman 1997 ) : 1. Results: the ends or terminals. NLP claims that cognizing exactly what you want helps you achieve it. This rule can be expressed as â€Å" cognize what you want. † 2. Rapport: a factor that is indispensable for effectual communication- maximizing similarities and minimising differences between people at a non witting degree. This rule can be expressed as â€Å" set up resonance with yourself and so with others. † 3. Sensoiy sharp-sightedness: noticing what another individual is pass oning, consciously and non-verbally. This can be expressed as â€Å" Use your senses. Look at, listen to and experience what is really go oning, † 4. Flexibility: making things otherwise if what you are making is non working: holding a scope of accomplishments to make something different. This can 7 be expressed as â€Å" Keep altering what you do until you get what you want. Types of acquisition manners used in this survey were drawn from rule 3. The look â€Å" Use your senses such as â€Å" expression at † was meant as ocular ( seeing ) , â€Å" listen to † was meant as auditory ( hearing ) and â€Å" experience † what is really go oning meant as tactile and kinaesthetic ( touch and move ) . † hi linguistic communication acquisition, the consciousness of the activation of senses has been developed by Dunn, Dunn and Prices ( 1975 ) . This theoretical account is categorized into four centripetal modes: ( 1 ) visual ( seeing ) , ( 2 ) auditory ( hearing ) , haptic ( touching or hands-on activities ) and ( 4 ) kinesthetic ( whole organic structure motions ) which classified under physiological stimulations in larning. Ocular scholars learn best though their eyes while audile scholars learn best when they hear them. Tactile scholars learn though their custodies and kinaesthetic scholars learn best through their organic structure motions ( custodies and organic structure ) .1.2. The Importance of Students ‘ Awareness of Their Preferred Learning StylesWhen larning English, pupils besides need to be cognizant of their preferable acquisition manners. Knowledge of larning manners preferred by their ain can assist them to larn English easier. Students who realize their preferab le acquisition manners will cognize their ain strengths and failings in 8 larning. Then, they ‘ will be able to larn efficaciously. Students who are cognizant of their acquisition manners will fell more comfy and motivated in larning through their preferable manners and may seek to other manners in order to get the better of their failings. They can seek other manners of larning in order to develop their acquisition manners. However, in order to be cognizant of their ain acquisition manner penchants, foremost their instructor should aware of his/her pupils larning manners penchants. Teacher demands to present the being of single acquisition manners penchants to his/her pupils. It is hoped, by making so, instructors can raise pupils ‘ consciousness of their ain acquisition manners penchants. Kang ( 2005 ) suggests that instructor should assist pupils detect their ain acquisition penchants and supply constructive thoughts about the advantages and disadvantages of assorted manners. Besides, instructors should esteem the acquisition manners penchan ts and encourages their development, while at the same clip making chances from experiment with different ways of acquisition. ( p.7 ) Fro the above accounts, it can be concluded that, pupils can be cognizant of their ain preferable acquisition manners through instructors ‘ consciousness of his/her pupils preferred acquisition manners1.3. Learning Styles-Based English LearningTo provide with pupils ‘ acquisition manners. teacher can fit acquisition activities with acquisition manners penchants features. For illustration, in reading accomplishment, visuat pupils who learn best from what they see can utilize 9 high visible radiation to assist them to read chief thought in each paragraph or they may utilize images as larning AIDSs in larning all linguistic communication accomplishments. Auditory scholars can larn linguistic communication accomplishments if there is much account and ( or ) unwritten direction from instructor. Tactile scholars can utilize method such as Entire Physical Response or they may utilize games on the board or pulling. Kinesthetic scholars need to travel out of schoolroom to larn speech production and composing accomplishment in English larning based on pupils ‘ mode strengths are aimed at easing effectual and interesting acquisition environment for pupils. In add-on, illustrations of English larning based on larning manners are as follows ( available: hypertext transfer protocol: //members.aoLcomlChineseLLC/style3.htm ) : I. In reading and authorship, ocular scholars may larn new vocabulary by rewriting them in notebook and divided them into subject countries, so they can see and read them. In reading, usage colourss to foreground the chief thoughts in text edition. To beef up listening accomplishment, when larning duologues and new vocabulary, seek to utilize both text book cassette tape at the same clip and so merely listen to the tape. 2. In listening and speech production, audile scholars may larn duologues and drills by declaiming them out loud or taping them and play them back. In tinkle and reading, instructors can play soft music to attach to them. 3. in listening and reading, tactile and kinaesthetic pupils can utilize whilelistening and reading activities. For illustration, instructors can inquire pupils to make full in a tabular array while listening to a talk, or to label a diagram while 10 reading In speech production, pupils can hold presentation so that at the same clip they can talk and used their custodies. In composing, they can rewrite the paragraph. The suggestions of larning styles-based English acquisition above are designed to fit with each centripetal perceptual experience. The purposes of them are to make effectual linguistic communication acquisition.2. Features of Junior High School Students.In general, junior high school pupils are adolescents which aged between 12-15 old ages pld. When they were at simple degree, they have ability to prosecute in many activities which required organic structure activation ( games, drama, dance, ete ) . Beyond simple degrees, nevertheless, they have more abilities which developed due to their age. In acquisition, these pupils have characteristic such as they begin to hold the ability to listen to instructors and go more comprehend to instructors ‘ direction and account. Price ( 1980, cited in Kinsella,1995 ) suggest that seemingly, the ability to retrieve three-fourthss of what pupils ‘ hear in a 50- minute period does non develop among many immature scholars before the 6th class, and among under winners non until high school and sometimes non at all ( p.173 ) . Therefore, in general. pupils at secondary degrees have the ability to remember what they hear. This is the ability that they do non hold at simple degrees. .1 aˆ?1T 11 Based on Bruner ‘s theories of acquisition, stated from age 8 old ages old, kids have some abilities. On Bruner ‘s phases, pupils above 8 twelvemonth old have the ability to understand and to utilize symbols to stand for people, topographic points, and things ( hypertext transfer protocol: //tiger.towson.edu/jclingl/Learningtheor.htm ) . At junior high school, these abilities are still eist. They can be seen in signifier of ocular ability. In decision, junior high school pupils have abilities which they have had since they were at the simple degrees. In add-on, they besides have some other abilities i.e. the ability to remember and grok what they hear. All abilities above are integrated at the degree of junior high school.3. Learning Styles and Junior High School StudentsIn general, Junior high pupils have develop all four centripetal modes at the clip they start rate 7. The four modes develop in sequence. When they were at first degree of simple school, they largely learn best through tactile and kinaesthetic acquisition manners. At the 2nd class, they start to develop ocular acquisition manners. Finally at the 6th class of simple school, most pupils have developed the ability to grok lessons through their hearing ( auditory ) . Price ( 1980, cited in Kinsella,1995 ) stated that mode sfrenh evolve and by and large go more incorporate th age. Children are basically more haptic and kinaesthetic in the primary classs but with clip their penchants evolve 12 from psychomotor ( larning through touching and experimenting ) to ocular at about 2nd class and eventually auditory at the terminal of simple school. Apparently, the ability to retrieve three-fourthss of what pupils ‘ hear in a 50-minute period does non develop among many immature scholars before the 6 class, and among under winners non until high school and sometimes non at all ( p.173 ) . In decision, kinaesthetic, haptic, ocular and audile acquisition manners have developed wholly at junior high school. Although, for some underperformers, audile learning manner does non develop at junior high school degrees. For them, the ability to larn through their hearing seems to be extended or may non be developed even until they finish high school.Chapter ffiMethodologyThis survey focuses on pupils ‘ preferred acquisition manners in English acquisition. it aims at happening replies to the undermentioned research inquiries: What are twelvemonth 2 pupils of SMPN 27 Bekasi preferred larning manners in English acquisition? To happen reply to the inquiries, this descriptive qualitative survey employed a study as the technique of informations aggregation.1. Population and SamplePopulation of this survey covers all twelvemonth 2 pupils of SMPN 27 Bekasi. 92 twelvemonth 2 pupils from two categories ( VlI1-l and VTIU-2 ) in SMP ( c 27 Bekasi were involved as samples of this survey. 2. Time and Topographic point of The Study The research was conducted on 24 November 2006 until 15 December 2006 at SMPN 27 Bekasi.3. Data Collection1. Instruments1- ,‘314 For informations aggregation intents, a set of questionnaire has been developed with mention to Learning Style Analysis, Junior Version taken from website hypertext transfer protocol: //www.creativelearning.com. In add-on, interviews were besides done to six pupils from category VIII1 and Vffl-2. The questionnaire has two parts. Part I, consists of three inquiries aims at arousing information on respondents ‘ background i.e ; . ( 1 ) name ( 2 ) age and ( 3 ) degree of instruction and name of category. Part II consists of 20 inquiries about larning manners in four linguistic communication accomplishment. Questions figure I to 5 represented ocular acquisition manner, figure 6 to 10 are for audile learning manner while figure 11 to 15 are for haptic learning manner and the last five inquiries are for kinaesthetic acquisition manner. The questionnaire has been designed in Indonesian to avoid respondents ‘ misconstruing inquiries related to concept which is possible due to the limited exposures to English in their mundane acquisition. It is expected that this scheme will increase the dependability of the obtained responses. The 90 two transcripts of questionnaires which were distributed to respondents through their instructor were all returned to the research worker. Based on the consequence, some interesting and utile informations can be observed. 15 Interview to stiidents were besides done in order to happen out pupils ‘ acquisition manners penchants in four linguistic communication accomplishments in English acquisition. They were asked 20 inquiries which were same as the inquiries on the quesiioniaire. Based on the interview, some interesting findings were besides can be observed.3. Datas AnalysisSimple frequence analysis has been employed to treat informations. Obtained information was tabulated and per centum value of each class was calculated. The consequences were so analyzed and interpreted with regard to the research inquiries. The following are Numberss of specific stairss of the analysis: 1. Distributing questionnaires to pupils. 2. Interviewing the pupils. 3. Tabling Numberss of responses from questionnaire and interview. Then, ciphering them in per centum value. 4. Showing the per centum values in signifier of tabular arraies. 5. Synchronized the consequence of each per centum value. 6. Describing pupils ‘ acquisition manners penchants qualitatively.

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Shanghai Architecture Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

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