The Search for Identity in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man...

The Search for Identity in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man It is through the prologue and epilogue, that we understand the deeper meanings of Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. The prologue is essential, laying down a foundation that allows us to understand the meaning and reason behind the symbolism and relevance of events the that follow. The prologue allows us to understand the extent and level of intensity the novel is trying to achieve. Acting in the same way, the epilogue further illustrates the importance of different parts of the novel allowing us to truly see what the Invisible Man wants us to notice and take from the telling of his life. In the prologue the narrator introduces himself as the Invisible Man, simultaneously†¦show more content†¦His free electricity and rent-free existence prove the power of his invisibility. By not being visible the Invisible Man learns he does not have to live by the rules of visible people, showing us the deeper meaning of his invisibility. The narrator also reveals his current living situation in the prologue. He emphasizes the 1,369 lights he has in his abandoned basement; speaking metaphorically of how the light represents truth; more importantly the truth of his existence. He needs the light to confirm his own being, showing how the inability of society to see him affects him and makes the Invisible Man blind as well. This idea of how the blindness of the world causes him to be blind as well, is constantly referred to in the book, and it is only thought the prologue we understand the full meaning. The most important thing that we can take from the prologue is his symbolic ‘hibernation’, the Invisible Man’s life in his hole or basement. His hole represents imprisonment, for he feels he is held prisoner by his lack of identity and by the society that refuses to see him. Keeping this ending of his life in mind, we are able to look into the events in the book and see that they all lead to him trying to escape the hole by being noticed as a person in the world. Even the point of him writing and retelling his life is an escape route, giving him hard evidence that heShow MoreRelatedEssay on Search for Identity in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man2669 Words   |  11 Pageshumanity and identity. Ralph Ellison, a prominent author fascinated by man’s search for identity, thought that blacks were invisible primarily because whites refused to see them. He believed that true identity could be revealed by experiencing certain endeavors and overcoming them (Parr an d Savery 86). Ellison explores this theme in Invisible Man, which depicts the title character struggling to find his identity despite facing obstacles created by both white men and his fellow blacks. In Ralph Ellison’sRead More Invisible Man Essay: Searching for Black Identity in a White World1229 Words   |  5 PagesInvisible Man: Searching for Black Identity in a White World      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man was published at a time when America was racially divided.   The novel presents the theme of the lack of black identity – a theme supported by the fact that the protagonist, Invisible Man, has no name.   The reader knows the names of Dr. Bledsoe, Ras-the-Exhorter, Brother Jack and others - but the reader does not know the name of the main character.   Ellisons leaves it to the reader to decide whoRead MoreJazz in Invisible Man1464 Words   |  6 Pagespeople each day. It is an art that has continued through decades and can be seen in many different ways. That is why Ellison chooses to illustrate his novel with jazz. Jazz music in Invisible Man gives feelings that Ellison could never explain in words. In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the narrator’s search for his identity can be compared to the structure of a jazz composition. In order to see the parallel between the novel and jazz, one must first see how Ellison incorporates jazz music in the prologueRead MoreCritical Analysis: Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man Essay1651 Words   |  7 PagesIn Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, we are presented with an unnamed narrator whose values and potentials are invisible to the world around him. Throughout the entirety of the novel, we see the unnamed narrator, also known as the Invisible Man, struggle in an attempt to uncover his identity buried beneath African American oppression and an aggregation of deception. Ellison shows us how lies and deceit may serve as a grave but invaluable obstacle to one’s journey to find their identity. Through theRead More Invisible Man Essay: Values of the Invisible Man1267 Words   |  6 PagesValues of the Invisible Man      Ã‚  Ã‚   Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man is the story of an educated black man who has been oppressed and controlled by white men throughout his life. As the narrator, he is nameless throughout the novel as he journeys from the South, where he studies at an all-black college, to Harlem where he joins a Communist-like party known as the Brotherhood. Throughout the novel, the narrator is on a search for his true identity. Several letters are given to him by outsiders thatRead More Use of Symbolism In Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man Essay766 Words   |  4 PagesRalph Ellison uses several symbols to emphasize the narrator’s attempt to escape from stereotypes and his theme of racial inequalities in his novel, Invisible Man. In particular, the symbolism of the cast-iron is one that haunts the narrator throughout the book. Ellison’s character discovers a small, cast-iron bank that implies the derogatory stereotypes of a black man in society at the time. From its â€Å"wide-mo uthed, red-lipped, and very black† features, to its suggestion of a black man entertainingRead More Racism and Identity in Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man Essay2209 Words   |  9 PagesIn Ralph Ellison’s novel The Invisible man, the unknown narrator states â€Å"All my life I had been looking for something and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was†¦I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself the question which I, and only I, could answer†¦my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: That I am nobody but myself. But first I had to discover that I am an invisible man!† (13). throughout the novel, the search forRead MoreThemes and Styles of Ralph Ellison3336 Words   |  14 PagesEnglish IV 16 November 2005 The Themes and Styles of Ralph Ellison Ralph Ellison has proven himself through his novel The Invisible Man to be the leading black author of the twentieth century. Although he had written many short stories and essays collected in the book Shadow and Act, The Invisible Man is his only novel. With this one novel, Ellison earned himself the 1953 National Book Award and acclaim by the African American community for so accurately portraying the struggles a black AmericanRead MoreHamlet Invisible Man1412 Words   |  6 Pagessubdivisions implements the need to search for . In Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet† and Ellison’s Invisible Man, the feminine character traits of the protagonists are alluded to as the cause of their failures, which supports the idea that the inward battle between masculinity and femininity exist as the characters journey closer to their identity. â€Å"It has been generally believed that males stand as opposed to females physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Man is supposed to be strong, courageousRead More The Distinguished Works of the Preeminent Black Author, Ralph Ellison2059 Words   |  9 PagesThe Distinguished Works of the Preeminent Black Author, Ralph Ellison Ralph Ellison is one of the most lauded yet misunderstood writers of the twentieth century. Ellison is considered a short-story writer and an essayist at heart, but his most distinguished work is the novel, Invisible Man. Ellison has been called everything from the greatest black American author (Brennan) to unnecessarily excessive in his writing style (Ralph Ellison: 1914-1994). For the most part, Ellison is held in

Book that has had the most influence Free Essays

What Is the book that has had the most Influence on you and how has It Influenced you? Author Nowadays, in century of information technologies people don’t pay much attention to books, especially to fiction. This is a big issue, since some literature stories can be more useful, than TV programs or social network conversations. People of any age and any nationality can find some new sense in well known, but undeservedly forgotten novels and who knows how it could change their future. We will write a custom essay sample on Book that has had the most influence or any similar topic only for you Order Now Many years ago, hen I was a little curious child, I found in our family library Arthur Cowan Doyle novel collection, and began to read his famous detective stories about Sherlock Holmes. It’s hard to imagine, but being 10 years old ordinary pupil, I stopped playing football with my neighborhood friends and watch animated cartoons for few weeks. All my free time was devoted to these knotty stories. Moreover, I tried to solve some problems by myself and forecast next Sherlock steps with great elation. With great egret I finished last adventure and understood that current logical task was really final. Everyone can ask me, how detective stories, without some hidden philosophical sense and educational thoughts could make great influence on little child. And I should give an unexpected answer. From that time I became interested in mathematics and in other exact sciences. I was very successful in different logical tasks and considered to dedicate my life to IT and math. And who knows, maybe that old fall evening, when I first found Sherlock Holmes story – was crucial point in my life. Looking back through years, I understand that it is never too late to discover world, get new knowledge, and as result change yourself. Generally speaking – reading Is a perfect Instrument to rich all these alms. People shouldn’t forget about books because with every new read sentence reader becomes more Intelligent and erudite. So don’t waste your time for unimportant things, do your best to make this world more beautiful. How to cite Book that has had the most influence, Papers

Mauna Loa Volcano Essay Example For Students

Mauna Loa Volcano Essay The Mauna Loa Volcano Essay is located in Hawaii and means Long Mountain in Hawaiian. It is a giant, basaltic shield volcano. It is one of the largest volcanoes and mountains in the world and has been called the monarch of mountains. It has an estimated volume of 9,600 cubic miles and takes up half the land of Hawaii. It extends about 120 km starting from the southern tip of the island to the northern region. It is 97 km (60 miles) long, 48 km (30 miles) wide, and is 8,742 km (28,680 miles) high from the base on the sea floor to the top. The slopes are steeper than 12 degrees and about 4 degrees at the top of the volcano. Mauna Loa formed about half a million years ago and in the middle stages of forming into a shield volcano where lava flows to form a sloped and broad flat domed volcanic cone. Along with Mauna Kea, the Mauna Loa volcano is responsible for the creation of the Hawaiian Islands. Mauna Loa has erupted thirty-three times since 1843 and is known as one of the most active volcanoes in the world today. The last eruption was 1984 and lava flowed within 4 miles of the city of Hilo. This shows that it is dangerous to live anywhere near Mauna Loa and that it poses as a threat to anyone living near it because it has a very high possibility of erupting within a very short span of time. Below is a picture of Mauna Loa taken from a birds eye view. Volcanoes can cause damage by spewing lava, but earthquakes before the eruption can also cause damage. These earthquakes open fissures and let magma out to the surface. When the magma exits these fissures, streams of lava up to hundreds of feet can shoot into the air. The picture below shows the lava erupting from the fissures created by the earthquakes in the northeast rift zone on the morning of March 25th, 1984. These eruptions can be of the violent sort and some can be relatively calm. They can last from a couple days or as long as ten months and may be followed by flank eruptions. The lava flows from Mauna Loa are frequent and high-volume. The long lengths of these flows and the fluidity results in the high velocities of the lava flow on steep slopes. This makes Mauna Loa much more potentially dangerous than other volcanoes. Below is a picture of the 1984 eruption in the northeast rift zone. Construction of new homes near any active volcano is dangerous and is a major risk to those living there. The lava from the volcano can flow rapidly down the slope and destroy anything in its path; this includes any housing or buildings. With that said, $2.3 billion dollars since 1984 have been invested in building new homes on the slopes of Mauna Loa. There are about 75,000 people living near Mauna Loa, but the tourist industry has prompt the major investments in construction of housing and other tourist attractions. The major city of Hilo has been an example of the potential risk that living near a volcano can produce pose. During an eruption in 1984 lava flowed within 4 miles of the city. Precautions have been made to reduce these risks. Ultra sensitive strainmeters and seismometers have been placed in three sites on Mauna Loa. This helps geologists in detecting any volcanic activities early and help in predicting any future eruptions. This allows the people living near Mauna Loa to have warnings regarding any possible eruptions. There are many things that can be done to reduce or eliminate the risks created by volcanoes. .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e , .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e .postImageUrl , .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e , .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e:hover , .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e:visited , .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e:active { border:0!important; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e:active , .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud75bd6376ecfe83cbc2e128b7cb0585e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Jim Thorpe Essay The obvious solution would be to not construct any housing on or near the slopes of Mauna Loa. This would eliminate all threats, but it would also be unlikely. The instruments and equipment that have been installed is an effective way of detecting eruptions and providing possible warnings of those living near the volcano. On the other hand, these are not 100% accurate and the damage would be inevitable. People living near Mauna Loa and any other volcano should be aware of the risks .

Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College Essay Example

Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College Essay The image of college athletes has become heavily stereotyped. And more often than not, these stereotypes are presented through jokes especially in movies. We see college athletes (more commonly known as â€Å"jocks†) exhibits exceptional physical capabilities but below average intelligence. Even though these kind of jokes exist, people very rarely question why sports and college are so interconnected. College and sports appear to be inseparable twin brothers inside the psyche of the public. This paper recognizes the lack of skepticism in the relationship of college and sports. Sports should be eliminated in college and academic institutions should focus more on academics nonetheless. Setting up this argument is indeed a difficult task. Since the time of ancient learning, academics and sports find their way to intersect each other. If we would review history, Greek intellectuals and Greek sports (like in the early olympics) was just as popular as each other. However, the balance was somehow became lopsided over the centuries. Championships in college sports became the object of glory of universities. In the colleges of today, a high-scoring baller would have an exponentially larger admirers than a scholar who propose a new theory of the origin of the universe. This lopsidedness also adds to the reasons why the existence of sports in the academic community should be challenged. We will write a custom essay sample on Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer But of course, college sports is not all negative aspects. Actually, there are many strong positive points to college sports that made it indispensable in the academe: Good health and an active lifestyle is of course on the side of maintaining college, Winning championships of course will give pride to the students and the school gets a positive reputation, The virtues attributed to sports like sportsmanship, perseverance, determination, etc are of course good for building one’s character, Exceptional ballers gets the coveted chance to play on the professional level, The list go on and on. But what most people do not see in these items is that these things are not all positive. Moreover, it should be noted that these items are not and should not be the priority of a learning institution. College Sports as a Distraction to the Academics It is common in universities that they require their college athletes to maintain a certain grade point average. Failing to meet these requirements would often result to the prohibition for the college athlete to join the athletics team. That is with the thinking that the failing college athlete would focus more on his or her studies. This is what the public knows about the system. This arrange is like one big open secret in the world of college sports. Of course there are exceptional athletes but hopeless in their studies. Would coaches let their best players off the team just because of a failing grade point average? That is very unlikely and uncharacteristic of coaches. People would not think its impossible if â€Å"under the table† arrangements are practiced among coaches and teachers. However it may sound offensive, it is just not that convincing that every college athlete maintains the required grade point average, especially the top scorers for the time. One often overlooked issue is the time that college athletics require. And the large amount of time that college sports demand does not only apply to the student, but also to the other constituents of the school like the cheerleaders, student audiences, even the teachers when their team is about to play a game. College athletes would have to practice a lot, or else their coaches would tell them that they would be unable to win a game. This kind of thinking would undeniably take away a considerable amount of time from the student athlete. And as we know of student life, the time spent in practicing could have been the very precious time spent reviewing a lesson. One of the most distracting cons of college sports would be injuries. If a player got physically injured in a game, his or her physical condition would not be a hundred percent in the classroom (that is if an injured player manages to walk to his or her classroom). A discussion on college athletics would perhaps give us a deeper look in the issue. The speakers were Bill Thierfelder and Murray Sperber. Both of the speakers were college athletes, coaches, and currently educators themselves. Thierfelder had come up with a helpful description of college athletics as a distraction to academics. He described college athletics as an â€Å"artificial environment† (Schalin 2008). He added that within this â€Å"artificial environment† either good or bad could be inculcated in the minds of the college athletes, depending on the the character of who is directing that particular environment. The directors of the said environment would be of course the coaches, the athletic department, administrators, and even teachers. The issue that was surfaced in Thierfelder’s view is that most of the time, the directors of the said environment are fixated on the thought of winning. These directors are like to go by all means to achieve victory, reg ardless of its ethical repercussions or the well-being of the college students. Thierfelder added that the directors should be held accountable for the consequences of their methods just as they are savoring the glory of winning with those who actually participate in sports, the student players. On the other hand, in line with Thierfelder, Sperber argued that college sports has detached from its former purity and integrity. He argued that college sports is becoming more and more corrupted and commercialized in the present era. To support his point, he used the first intercollegiate contest to be ever held. The said contest was a rowing contest between Harvard and Yale during the 1830’s. Sperber pointed out that the early intercollegiate sports were not designed to advertise branded shoes. The interesting part is when he shared that corruption in college athletic was ever present since it was originated.   Sperber said that there were â€Å"ringers† in both teams. The term â€Å"ringer† simply means a good athlete who has no direct connection to the schools. The ringers were not students but rather some good player they asked to play for them. In much simpler terms Sperber just wanted to say that cheating was already present ever since the first interco llegiate games was played. Ethical Issues Ethical issues were already touched by the previous segment, but this particular part of the paper will throw the harder punches. As stated earlier commercialization had became a blemish in the image of college sports. Dishonesty is also becoming more and more prevalent. The main problem is that these issues are rarely addressed. Cheating is also becoming more and more inseparable with the mention of college sports. There have been many instances wherein point-shaving of college players were committed. â€Å"Point-shaving† is a term used in the sports community to pertain to the act when players consciously underperform to make the opponent win the game. These kinds of games are known to sport enthusiasts â€Å"fixed-games.† The NABC or National Association of Basketball Coaches admits that game fixing is becoming prevalent in college basketball games. The NABC points the blame to the gambling market that the popularity of college basketball creates (NABC). The number of students who bet on games is ever considerable and still growing. The number of student â€Å"bookies† is also gaining numbers. â€Å"Bookies† are the ones who collects the bets from the gamblers who are usually the constituents of those concerned with the games, who else but the constituents of the universities themselves. Being a bookie is an ethically alarming job, especially for the students. Students should realize that their minds and character are being reared in the university. If gambling would become more and more of a problem, then immediate action is deemed necessary. Another issue that should be taken into consideration is the violence during college games. Both the college players and the fans had become entangled in the reports of violence in college sports. Even the coaches are sometimes initiator of the riots. In Myriam Miedzian’s book â€Å"Boys Will Be Boys: Breaking the Link between Masculinity and Violence†, she tackled this issue of college sports violence. She attributed the violent actions of college players to the thinking that was embedded in their heads (Miedzian 77). College players are taught (mostly by being shouted at) to think that winning is everything and losing is never an option. When college players accept this thinking as the only way to view reality, when they lose a game, they also seem to lose their temper. Moreover , some sports would always require physical contact. Sometimes a player gets hurt, but that’s normal. The problem that arises is when the hurt player takes it as a personal offense or when the players are intentionally hurting each other. The violent behavior is at times not done by the players but by the fans on the stands. And there are times when college sports violence escalate to a more alarming rate. Just this January, a UCLA basketball player named Kevin Love of Oregon received death threats through his cell phone. The death threat indicated killing the basketball player along with his family. But the violence did not stop there. Love did not attend the game because of the threats to him, instead his family watched the game. Dissapointed, Love’s own fans threw thrash at the player’s parents and sister. (sportsillustrated.com) Controversies NCAA players are not being paid and does not recieve any sort of payment has always been a circulating argument in college basketball. The NCAA argues that scholarship is enough compensation (ncaa.org). The problem with this is that the NCAA and the university profit from the college players through advertising. Murray Sperber also revealed that at a state university a certain basketball coach recieved two-hundred gran as a reward for recruiting a freshmen who was creating a buzz in high-school basketball. Conclusion College and sports are two very different entities, therefore should be separated. Both means well for the students. But purpose should always be kept in mind. Universities exist to mold the minds of future leaders. If these futures leaders would busy themselves excelling in sports, or gambling in sports, we could just imagine the future this might bring. The main source of the problem could just be over-prioritizing. Learning institutions should set clear lines to contain the issue. As for the problems with college sports laid out in this paper, we are already aware of these things. The problem is that these issues are rarely addressed. College sports is entering an era wherein glory is achieved in ill methods. Those concerned should learn how to act upon these issues as quick as possible.

Nathaniel Alexander, Inventor of a Folding Chair

Nathaniel Alexander, Inventor of a Folding Chair On July 7, 1911, an African-American man named Nathaniel Alexander of Lynchburg, Virginia patented a folding chair. According to his patent, Nathaniel Alexander designed his chair to be used in schools, churches, and other auditoriums. His design included a book rest that was usable for the person sitting in the seat behind and was ideal for church or choir use.​ Fast Facts: Nathaniel Alexander Known For: African-American patent holder for a folding chairBorn: UnknownParents: UnknownDied: UnknownPublished Works: Patent 997,108, filed March 10, 1911, and granted July 4 the same year Little Biographical Data Alexanders invention is found on many lists for black American inventors. However, he has escaped having much biographical information known about him. What can be found confuses him with an early governor of the state of North Carolina, who was not a black American. One says he was born in the early 1800s in North Carolina and died several decades before the date of the patent of the folding chair. Another one, which is written as satire, says he was born the same year as the patent was issued. These seem obviously erroneous. Patent 997108 is the only invention on record for Nathaniel Alexander, but on March 10, 1911, his application was witnessed by two people: James R.L. Diggs and C.A. Lindsay. James R.L. Diggs was a Baptist minister from Baltimore (born in 1865), who was a member of the Niagara Movement, and holder of an MA from Bucknell University and a PhD in Sociology from Illinois Wasleyan in 1906- in fact, Diggs was the first African-American to hold a Sociology Ph.D. in the United States. The Niagara Movement was a black civil rights movement led by W.E.B. DuBois and William Monroe Trotter, who assembled in Niagara Falls, Ontario (American hotels barred blacks), to discuss Jim Crow laws following the Reconstruction. They met annually between 1905 and 1910: in between 1909 and 1918, Diggs corresponded with DuBois about a possible history of the movement, among other things. There may have only been a passing connection between Alexander and Diggs. Foldable Chairs for Churches and Choirs Alexanders folding chair is not the first folding chair patent in the United States. His innovation was that it included a book rest, making it suitable for use in places where the back of one chair could be used as a desk or shelf by the person seated behind. This would certainly be convenient when setting up rows of chairs for choirs, so they could rest music on the chair ahead of each singer, or for churches where a prayer book, hymnal, or Bible could be placed on the reading shelf during the service. Folding chairs allow the space to be used for other purposes when there is not a class or church service. Today, many congregations meet in spaces that used to be large big box stores, supermarkets, or other large, cavernous rooms, Using folding chairs set up only during services, they are able to quickly turn the space into a church. In the early part of the 20th century, congregations likewise might have met outdoors, in warehouses, barns, or other spaces that didnt have fixed seating or pews. Earlier Folding Chair Patents Folding chairs have been in use for thousands of years in many cultures, including ancient Egypt and Rome. They were even commonly used in churches as liturgical furniture in the Middle Ages. Here are some other patents for folding chairs that were granted prior to that of Nathaniel Alexander: M.S. Beach of Brooklyn, New York patented a folding chair for pews, U.S. Patent No. 18377 on October 13, 1857. However, this design appears to be a drop-down seat such as an airplane jump seat rather than a chair you can fold, stack, and store away.J.P.A.  Spaet, W.F. Berry and J.T. Snoddy of Mount Pleasant, Iowa were granted U.S. Patent No. 383255 on May 22,  1888, for a folding chair designed to look much like a regular chair when in use. It could be folded up to be stored away and save space.C. F. Batt patented a folding chair for steamers on June 4, 1889, U.S. Patent No. 404,589. Batts patent notes that he was seeking improvements on longstanding folding chair designs, especially avoiding having a hinge at the side arms that can pinch your fingers when folding or unfolding the chair. Sources Alexander, Nathaniel. Chair. Patent 997108. 1911.Batt, C.F. Folding Chair. Patent 383255. 1888.Beach, M.S. Char. Patent 18377. 1857.Pipkin, James Jefferson. James R.L. Diggs. The Negro in Revelation, in History and in Citizenship: What the Race has Done and is Doing. St. Louis: N.D. Thompson Publishing Company, 1902Spaet, J.P.A., W. F. Berry and J.T. Snoddy. Folding Chair for Steamers. Patent 404,589. 1889.WEB DuBois Correspondence with J.R.L. Diggs, Special Collections, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Autobiographical Sketch Layout

My name is Courtney Marie Bukovitz. I wasn’t named after anyone else as far as I know. I’m 15 years old and was born on July 23, 1996 in Akron, Ohio. I have a few times but never out of Ohio. I don’t have many aunts, uncles or cousins, but the ones I do have live in a different state. My mom has 4 siblings and my dad has 1. Me on the other hand, I have 3 half siblings and 3 step siblings, I’m the youngest child. I honestly despise watching sports but I love to play them. What I usually do is hang out with my friends and doodle random pictures. The last time I went on vacation was in November, 2012 to Florida to visit family. Anytime I’ve went on vacation I’ve always stayed at my aunt or grandma’s house, so I never really stayed in a Hotel. My favorite kind of music is mainly old rock like Nirvana or alternative such as A Day To Remember. Their music is about real life situations and ideas, rather than fake love stories, lust and drugs. If I could describe myself in 3 words it’d be creative, spontaneous and independent. The high school I have attended is North High School. I don’t really have a favorite subject, but my weakness class is Biology. My strength class is History and anything that has to do with the visual arts. The class I dislike the most would be study hall, I don’t like study hall just because I find it useless. It may provide a child with the time to study but to me it’s a waste of time. My plan is to graduate from North High School in 2014 and then go to college to study to be a private investigator. I’m into the discovery of truth and justice and I’m someone who won’t stop until I achieve the truth.

MGM grand Fire Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

MGM grand Fire - Research Paper Example What could occur if a Second annual computer conference COMDEX’80 would not be held in Las Vegas when the blaze started? I woke up to screams of â€Å"fire†. I got dressed immediately, but by the time I went to the hallway, I could not get out because the smoke was so thick †¦ I did not break my window because there was so much smoke outside. (Canon, M. p.17) The MGM Grand Hotel was constructed during 1972-1973 as a 23-floor building with 2100 rooms that was on top of the great ground-floor entertainment center that accommodated a casino, showrooms, get-together room, and sell space. When the MGM Grand was finished in 1972, it was the biggest hotel on the planet. Though similar to all other Vegas gambling places where slots and table games gather the profit, the stress was on getting it up and running so the returns would begin running in to reimburse for high costs prior to the expected earnings. Having that a main purpose, MGM Grand was allowed to open with almos t no fire protection at all, to the point that minor precautions, like fire doors, were installed only after insurers were about to list the place as â€Å"unprotected†. Later, after the fire, an investigation confirmed that the fire spread so rapidly due to many installations and design flaws. Sometime early in the morning of November 21, 1980, something caused an electrical ground fault. The electrical wiring, which was powering the refrigeration unit for a food cabinet display, sparkled inside the soffit. Hotel’s restaurant Deli was closed for the night so the fire burned for a while, undetected. When the hotel originally opened, the Deli was working around the clock. On that ground, MGM Grand also got an exception on installing sprinkler system. However, open hours have changed. Had the Deli be open, the fire would likely be detected and easily contained. As it was closed for the night, hours passed before the fire found fresh oxygen, and burst into a fireball cros sway the catwalk in the casino. Within only six minutes after the fire was discovered, the whole casino area was ablaze, and the fire was spreading very rapidly. The Clark County Fire Department Unit was alarmed at 7:15 AM, and firefighters from the station straight across the road came in just 4 minutes, in time to witness the fire burst. During the five minutes, fire destroyed plastic and other inflammable materials, and spread through the casino at a speed of nineteen feet per second. The fire burnt the manual alarm amplifiers prior to the manual alarm was activated, so the majority of visitors became aware of the fire only at the time when they noticed or felt smoke, saw fire unit apparatus, or were informed by other visitors. Because the construction was equipped with sprinklers only in some parts, there were not any sprinklers in the major casino area. No automatic smoke recognition or fire alarm system was installed, with only manual pull devices set up throughout the hotel. The area protected by sprinklers at the east and south sides of the casino aided in extinguishing the fire. Force from the fireball raged out the front doors of the hotel all the way down to the northwest side. Blaze ran into the roofed entrance and valet part, wounding several passers-by and destroying a number of parked vehicles. Because of the upright gaps with insufficient protection and the non-stop working heating, and air-conditioning system, smoke spread all the way through the building.

Finish the question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Finish the question - Essay Example directly applicable to the company’s overall strategy of achieving financial success while providing shareholder value and maintaining focus on environmental sustainability. Additionally, the TBL rhymes to the company’s mission of producing financial rewards to investors in addition to growth and development opportunities for employees, business partners and communities. The SunChips brand of Frito-Lay concentrates on sustainability as the fundamental driver of their business strategy. The company uses environmentally-friendly production and transportation methods in order to minimize harm to the planet. The Modesto, California plant, for example, has adopted an environmentally-friendly ways of cooking sun chips. The plant currently uses solar panels to generate energy for cooking chips. The company has implemented sustainable methods of reclaiming waste water and managing other production wastes. These include a 36-acre solar filled for reclaiming water and a biomass b oiler for proper solid waste product management. Frito-Lay is proud of SunChips brand for being a snack characterized by environmental friendliness. The company strives to ensure that the consumer walks away with the knowledge that each SunChips product is produced using the most environmentally sustainable methods. Thus, the Triple Bottom Line rhymes with the overall strategy of SunChips and it creates a value for the company and the

Telling the Truth About History Essay Example for Free

Telling the Truth About History Essay The struggle to find truth in telling the stories of history has been a source of constant debate amongst historians and intellectuals. With the emergence of religious rejection during the seventeenth and eighteenth century Enlightenment, the influence and undoubted supremacy of the heroic model of science provided historians with new ways for obtaining truth—absolute truths—through the dispassionate eyes of a â€Å"heroic† observer. Although this remains unchallenged for many generations, with the cultural changes and the democratization of education, the idea of an absolute truth—a universal story of national progress which neglects to encompass the diversity of America—is challenged by post-modernity. In all its pessimisms towards absolute truths and objective knowledge, post-modernism illustrates the importance of and sets the foundation for questioning historical accuracy and the idea of objectivity. Can there be truth when the words and language of the â€Å"objective† observer is unintentionally dripping in their own personal, social, and political agendas? Through the works of Foucault and Deerdas, who get at the heart of this very question, historians are encouraged to reject the Enlightenment project, and look deeper into historical evidence to interrogate the structure and organization of the text, its vocabulary, and hidden assumptions. Although, post-modernity—a critique of the Enlightenment ideals—creates the framework for the questioning of historical accuracy, it is very important to recognize its inability to formulate its own solutions to this historical dilemma. Fortunately, with the succeeding ideas of practical realists, there is a sense of hope and optimism for the future of history and the all-encompassing truths that it can uphold. How did post-modernity challenge the heroic model of science and enlightenment ideals? With the digression away from enlightenment ideals of objectivity, absolute truth, and progress, post-modernists set the tone for a new way of thinking—similar to the way Enlightenment philosophers challenged the absolutisms of the church. With the new social historians, the American story is challenged by the competing ethnic cultures that didn’t fit into the white-protestant American story, and penetrate below the surface to where the stories of women, slaves, and immigrants had been veiled for so long. The idealized American story – a fallacious story of unity and equality—had represented the founding fathers political, social, and religious agendas towards progress and modernity which produced justifications like â€Å"manifest destiny†. With this new idea of the influence of personal experiences and agendas, even Newton and Darwin are put on the stand, to find that even these so called â€Å"dispassionate† and completely â€Å"objective† observers had political, social, and religious agendas that greatly influenced their work. This opens the door for the post-modernists attack against the possibility of objective historical or scientific knowledge, reality, and in essence, truth. They deny our ability to represent objective knowledge in any true fashion because of the language barrier which serves, in a sense, as a funnel that reflects every personal, political, social, and religious agenda or experience. Post-modernists, like Foucalt and Deerdas, â€Å"made western man into a modern day Gulliver, tied down with ideological ropes and incapable of transcendence because he can never get beyond the veil of language to the reality ‘out there’†. (p. 208) With the conflict between the signifier and the signified, as expressed by Saussure, reality or truth can never be reached because in the process of representing an actual object- or the signified – there is a risk of distorting and obfuscating it (p. 214). Objects allow us to create stories—narratives— not necessarily accurate—about the object and its existence. These narratives are inescapable personal and rely upon the experiences and agendas of the individual creating it. Therefore, language is not a direct correspondence to reality. It represents differences, personal agendas, experiences, beliefs, and power relations and knowing this, according to post-modernists, eliminates the possibility of any kind of reality or truth for both science and history. The post-modern cynicism towards reality, truth and objective knowledge created a new way for writing history. The rejection of the old absolutisms created an opportunity for questioning and discourse of previously accepted historical knowledge. It created a space for the stories of marginalized groups who had until this time, been veiled by the universal, romanticized American story of progress toward modernity. A story of success and opportunity on the frontier was substituted by a story of struggle—of women’s rights, of slaves, and of the killings of Native Americans. Within the Enlightenment objectives for history there are limitations to the possibility of anything else but progress. When progress and modernity are the only ideals being stressed, there is little room to create a history beyond this. These ideals consumed the thoughts, beliefs, politics and social structures of man, and it was reflected in their work. History until this time was being tied down and restricted to the old absolutisms, to one universal story which supposedly encompassed all of nature. However, with social history and the door it opened for post-modernity, history could take on the task of telling a more encompassing story that could be discussed, criticized, and built upon. Although, post-modernists believe that there is no truth and that the possibility of reality is non-existent, they set the foundation for future historians to question the history books which they are learning from, to look deeper into the hidden agendas that are sometimes veiled, and to then write a history that, although cannot be completely objective and dispassionate, can embody some sort of truth and historicism for that time. This idea of taking a middle ground between the traditionalist philosophers of the Enlightenment and the pessimistic post-modernists is the main goal the authors of this book try to make. They recognize the need for questioning and interrogation but not to the extent that we end up a nihilistic view that there is no truth and nothing matters. The gap between past events, like records, and the way historians describe and interpret them is accepted by practical realists. This allows for the possibility of obtaining truth and a method for writing history. Some words, they explain, however socially constructed, reach out to the world and give a reasonably true description of its contents because of a relationship between the object and the observer (p. 250). With the practical realists emphasis on archival research, the use of our memories and curiosity, and discourse upon discourse the writing of history is now possible. However, without the post-modernists cynicism and interrogation of the Enlightenment project history may still be a discipline of absolutisms and â€Å"heroisms†.

Wuthering Heights ch 1-3 analysis Essay -- Emily Bronte

In Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, what first appears to be an overabundance of descriptions about a mansion in nineteenth century England easily turns into a myriad of sentiment, hatred, and love among the protagonists. The work can be classified as an unprecedented satire, using indirect actions of its characters to convey a forthright message regarding human misdeeds. The first few pages of the book presents two main characters, Mr. Heathcliff and Mr. Lockwood, where both serve an important role in intensifying the plot. They have nearly opposite personalities, as Heathcliff is a humble, reserved landlord while Lockwood is an arrogant, agitated fellow. It can also be inferred that through some of the actions Lockwood engages in that he represents an immoral figure that mankind should grow to despise, in a time where benevolent behavior and personality is highly valued. Consequently, this kind of behavior serves to condemn him in an irreverent way, as a plethora of contempt eag erly follows him nearly every place he travels to. The first three chapters of the novel mainly serves to romanticize the setting in which an atmosphere of imagination can be achieved amongst readers. It is important that such an effect be established, so that one can effortlessly picture the scenario in his or her mind, thus developing a greater appreciation for the novel. However, it is not simplicity that defines Wuthering Heights, but rather the incessant barrage of personal beliefs and prejudice scattered throughout the chapters. Evidently, expression is a ubiquitous language that the novel is written in, as nearly every page is arduously filled with emotion so palpable that it transports the reader to a state of actualization, where fiction ... ...sified as a satire, for some of the complex arguments presented within regarding human atrocities are too resounding to absorb. Yet all of this is accomplished via a clever combination of indirect characterization and vivid imagery, as both serve to tell its part of the story in an unprecedented way. Through dialogue alone, Bronte achieves the fact that Lockwood is an impudent person, only capable of making matters worse when a solution is critical. The picturesque imagery used throughout the first chapters is no less important. Only through vivid descriptions can the mood, plot, setting, and tone be conveyed effectively bringing readers ever more closer to the characters. In Wuthering Heights, Bronte uses a style of writing focused intensely on detail and indirect descriptions, creating a unique and dynamic atmosphere where the possibilities are simply limitless.

Process in an Ideal Weight

The topic of weight is very prevalent among people in today's society. Everywhere we look we find people of all sorts of different weights and appearances. Tall, small, thin, wide, fat and skinny are just a variety of the words we use to describe people. Almost no one is completely happy with their weight. We are constantly looking for ways to better ourselves and improve our physical appearance. It is this paper's purpose to provide information in helping a person feel comfortable with their weight and aid in determining an ideal body weight for you. Topics also include: society's view on weight, the dangers of various weight-related disorders and diseases, and methods of achieving a recommended healthy weight. The goal is that once you have the proper information you will be able to achieve this ideal weight safely and on your own, giving you an ultimate sense of satisfaction. The question that is constantly being asked is just what is the ideal healthy weight? The ideal body weight is different for every individual as healthy ideal weight depends on a person's sex, race, and genetics. To quickly simplify and determine an individual's ideal weight we use a simple chart called the Body Mass Index or BMI for short. This chart determines how much a person should weigh. People can calculate their BMI by dividing their weight in pounds by their height in inches squared and multiplying the resulting number by 704. 5 (Woods 98). A person who weighs 164 pounds and is 68 inches would do the following calculation: 164/4624 x 704. 5 = 25 BMI. A BMI between 18. 5-24. 9 is normal and is called the safe zone (Woods 98). The people in this recommended safe zone are considered to be in the best health. A BMI less than 18. 5 usually means that a person is underweight (Woods 98). Studies indicate that the underweight have an increased risk of death compared to those of normal weight. A BMI of over 30 means obesity, and obese people take a lot of health risks (Woods 98). People with obesity have an increased risk of: high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, the most common form of diabetes, gallbladder disease, arthritis, respiratory problems, and certain types of cancer. As long as you fall into or close to the recommended safe zone you should feel comfortable and happy with your weight the way it is. This paper will now discuss the dangers that society's infatuation with weight can have on a person. It will also provide methods on how a person can change to find a comfortable and healthy weight. Eating disorders are a common and very realistic part of our society. They are seen as the most dangerous health related risks involving weight. Dieting, binge-eating and food obsessions are prevalent among all weight groups. Many people strive to be lighter than their natural weights and exercise excessively and eat sparingly to attain an often-unrealistic weight goal. Societal pressures share blame for producing eating disorders. Some victims of eating disorders feel that others are pressuring them to be thin, making them feel guilty about what they eat (Washington 99). They become isolated from family and friends and turn to food as a release and source of comfort (Washington 99). People with eating disorders excessively exercise and are known to induce vomiting after eating or drinking (Washington 99). Eating disorders target many people in society. The main target group is females, especially in the traditionally masculine cultures. Society places a great deal of emphasis on the physical appearance of a person's body and this alone is enough to drive someone into an eating disorder. An example is the supermodel with the skin and bones look whom you see on television. With this in mind many women might look at their weight and find themselves socially unacceptable. The result can be an eating disorder. Another target group is athletes. For example, in the sport of gymnastics there is pressure on the female athlete to maintain a low weight and petite slim figure. Since gymnastics is judged on how an athlete looks in competition many gymnasts develop an eating disorder as a result of the importance of body image to the sport. Another example of the occurrence of eating disorders is in boxing and wrestling. Sometimes there is pressure on the athlete to have a rapid weight loss in order to compete in a lower weight class where he or she might have a better chance of winning. There are two main eating disorders that effect many people in society. They are anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia is a deliberate and obsessive starvation in the pursuit of thinness. It is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming obese, or the disturbance in the way one's bodyweight size and shape is perceived by another individual (Clark 96). Bulimia is described as recurrent episodes of binge eating and a lack of control over one's eating behaviour resulting in purging (Clark 96). Purging can be achieved by using laxatives and/or vomiting. Many of the symptoms of eating disorders are similar; however, each disorder is somewhat different. If someone is anorexic, symptoms might be: an extremely thin person, isolation, loneliness, obsessive preoccupation with food as regards: obtaining it, cooking, and eating, and compulsive exercise (Washington 99). If someone is bulimic, you might expect to see: the use of food as a comforter, laxative abuse, mood swings, constant concern about body image and weight, quick trips to the bathroom after meals, excessive exercise, some isolation, and low self-esteem (Washington 99). Both forms of eating disorders are dangerous to your health and can cause major problems, both now and in the future. Some immediate physical problems include constantly feeling cold, bloodshot eyes with dark circles, finger calluses, dizziness, weakness, moodiness, insomnia, swollen glands, sore throat, or dry skin (Washington 99). Some of the long-term effects include gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation, malnutrition, heart attack, permanent damage to internal organs, kidney failure, and death (Washington 99). Family and friends of people affected should be aware of the symptoms and risks associated with disordered eating patterns. It is imperative to avoid becoming a victim to an eating disorder. You will only end up hurting yourself and loved ones around you. Now that the dangers of weight have been discussed an effective method of weight gain and loss will be presented. This information will help you reach a desired ideal weight so you can be happy and take pride in yourself. The topic of weight management is prevalent in today's society and is discussed from two different perspectives. People might think that they are too small or weak and in this case they will want to put on more weight. On the other hand, others might think that they are too big. In this case they will try to reduce their weight. Requirements of caloric intake differ for everyone. These requirements are determined by age, sex, weight and activity level. The simple definition of weight is the balance between caloric intake and caloric expenditure (Berning 96). Your body weight will change when there is a difference between calories taken in and calories burned up. Taking this into account, for the average person to lose weight the caloric intake must be less than caloric expenditure. Put simply, to lose weight you must eat less, exercise more, or a combination of both. For the average person to lose one pound they would have to run about 35 miles or eat 3,500 fewer calories (Berning 96). This is impossible to do in one day. To put this into perspective the following formula is given: 3,500 calories 7 days per week = 500 calories per day. It can than be said that eating 500 calories less per day will result in a weight loss of one pound per week. The same can be said by combining 250 calories less per day and burning 250 calories in exercise. Weight loss is most successful when diet and exercise are combined. The safe weight loss recommendation for the average person is no more than 1-2 pounds per week (Berning 96). By using this method of losing weight a person will decrease their chance of health problems and achieve their ideal weight. This method of weight loss will leave you with a sense of satisfaction and pride in reaching your ideal weight. The same basic theory applies for weight gain. In order to gain weight you need to consume more calories than you expend (Berning 96). Family history plays a major role in the development of a body. For example, people from thin families are less likely to transform their bodies into bulky muscular ones. A person can increase his chance of gaining weight with improved nutrition and appropriate weight training. Muscle is gained through intense training and the consumption of additional calories. For each pound gained as muscle you would need to consume 500-1000 additional calories each day (Berning 96). The key to weight gain is consistency and with a little hard work the average person should be able to get to his/her desired ideal weight. By combining a high calorie diet and a rigid exercise program you will find that your body will produce weight in the form of muscle, making you healthy and giving you your desired physical body image. We all must act together and make it our priority to help change society's perception of body images. This can protect everyone by making others feel comfortable with their weight and prevent them from developing eating disorders. Education is essential. By studying our ideal weight in the BMI chart and keeping an eye on the amount of calories in our diet we can stay healthy and feel good about ourselves. This process is aided through complete reinforcement and support from our family and friends. It doesn't stop there as we all must refrain from prejudicial treatment of fat or thin people and see beyond their weight. It is only then that we can feel comfortable with our weight and develop satisfaction in knowing that we have obtained an ideal healthy lifestyle for ourselves.

Premarital sex Essay Essay

Our fathers understood that sex was a blessed experience made only for married couples as a way to express their love and desire for each other. However, our youths today think of sex as a fun-thing; they have the belief that it is okay to have sex with who ever one is having a relationship with, and youths engage in several relationships before deciding to settle down. Yet, our fathers were right with their opinion about sex; sex should be a blessed ordeal and not a fun thing. Youths should try and preserve themselves for marriage, but in a situation where a person cannot hold himself he should then try and protect himself by using a condom because of the effect that unprotected sex would have on him. One of the major effects of unprotected sex is the risk of the female getting pregnant. In some situation the youths involved might not be ready to raise a child yet, and with the female getting pregnant they have problems deciding on what to do. The man might decide to deny being the father of the baby and puts down the woman. This leaves her with the decision of either aborting the child, raising the child as a single mother or dumping the child off anywhere. Each of these three choices is not to the best interest of the child. If the mother aborts the child that means she has taken the life of a human being, and it doesn’t matter if the child is unborn yet or not the child has the right to his life. Even if the mother succeeds in aborting the child she may encounter some complications in the process, and this may affect her later life when she will finally decide to get married and have kids. Another dire option is to dump the child. Some mums dump their kids off in trash, in front of people front doors or at the motherless baby centers. There was even this case of a woman trying to flush down her baby down the toilet; the neighbors heard the baby crying as if it was drowning they called the police, but when the police arrived the child was already dead and the mother too because she killed herself. The best of the three options is the mother raising the child as a single parent, but this is also not a very good idea knowing that no child would want to grow up without his father, at least I know I don’t. Also some of  the kids who turn out to be a menace to the society fall in the group of kids raised by a single parent. This is because the parent may not have enough time to spend with the child since she has to work a great amount of time so as to provide both of their necessities and to pay bills; the child therefore spends more time with friends and on the streets since he is not being monitored by his parent. All these are caused because of one small mistake; having sex unprotected. In many American Universities college students engage in unprotected sex, but most of them are not conscious of the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Among college students who live away from home, 56 percent had been sexually active while attending college, and 73 percent of that group reported having unprotected sex while in college, says the survey by the Society for Adolescent Medicine. (http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=514693). From the above survey it means that youths in colleges who engage in sex have high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. These students are very well exposed to these diseases because they would have the tendency of having intercourse with several people due to the fact that they converge in an enclosed environment, and also peer pressure. The female involved may also get pregnant and would have to drop out of school and get a job so as to earn some money to take care of her and her kid. Unprotected sex can also result to early marriage. When a female conceives after having sexual intercourse, the couple involved may decide to get married and raise the baby together, but things don’t always turn out well after the marriage; these couples may not know themselves too well. In the event of the marriage they might find out different sides of the opposite person that they don’t like, and they may finally break up. This doesn’t go to the betterment of the child either because he may end up being raised by a single parent and deprived of the other. All these dreadful things can be avoided by merely abstaining from sex till one is married, but when the urge to have sex cannot be overcome then the person involved should use a condom to protect himself.

Fate essays

Fate essays Fate, some people believe in it, some people believe its bogus. Call it what you may, but fate is something that goes back almost to the beginning of time. In our novel Romeo and Juliet, it showed how the power of fate can overcome all odds. This book I think is Personally, I do believe in fate. Fate has been a driving force in my life from the time I Was a little child. I think that most of this was due to my parents religious influence on my life. They taught me whats right and wrong, and whats good and bad. Although they did teach me about fate, they also told me that we have the power to change fate in ways such as kindness or working towards a goal. This is something that is now commonly refereed to as Karma, which pretty much means, What goes around comes around. This basically means that what you do will be repaid in good ways or bad depending on the situation. I also believe that everything happens for a reason and for the good of you. Due to this, I manage to find the silver lining under even the most darkest cloud. Time after time in the novel, almost everything happened for a reason. I think that the most important example of this was Romeo meeting the person with the party list. This simple stroke of fate proved to be the backbone of this story, and something that surely changed Romeos life forever. Due to this simple meeting, his whole remaining life was shaped, from him meeting his true love, to him getting married, murdering someone, and ultimately, his death. So I guess why you can see why I believe that the main idea of this story is fate. In terms of love playing the biggest part of this story, I think not, I think that love only played a supporting role next to fate. I have had my encounters with fate before, although I must say, not on a scale ...

Education as discussed by Jon Spayde Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Education as discussed by Jon Spayde - Essay Example Spayde (1998) further adds that formal training is a vital necessity, however power and class simultaneously plays significant role in the sector of education. For instance, the graduates from world class universities like Stanford and Harvard would be offered the designations at workplace to prepare the work schedules for those who have acquired their degree from a not so famous, regional college. The eminent journalist and novelist, Earl Shorris (Spayde, 1998, p.67) realized the flaws of the modern educational system and took initiative for starting up an Ivy League adult education course which was meant for the â€Å"Asians, whites, blacks and Hispanics† (p.67). On the first day of his lecture, Shorris (Spayde, 1998, p.67) addressed his students and let them know that â€Å"humanities† is not just a subject to be studied by the Rich strata of the society. The term â€Å"Humanities† embraces the entire world and its people. The concept of humanities teaches the students how to live, how to think and how to enjoy life. The subject enriches the readers by providing them a new perspective towards life. Spayde (1998) further recognizes several misconceptions about the term â€Å"education†. ...suitable for fighting the â€Å"global competitiveness† but Spayde (1998) states that despite of possessing specialized skills, these contemporary graduates lack â€Å"intellectual breadth† (p.68) which can only be learnt by the practice of humanities. The professor of environmental studies of Oberlin College defines the recent trend of education as â€Å"fast knowledge† (p.68) which is mainly imparted through the means of information technology. He claims that â€Å"Slow knowledge† (p.68) is much essential for saving the earth from the environmental disasters. Thus in the process of imparting â€Å"fast knowledge†, the education system is generating a bunch of head filled machines (human beings) with little int ellect and creativity. In this context, Goethe stated â€Å"people cannot learn what they do not love† (p.69). Spayde (1998) in the initial parts of his essay mentioned that the entire world is a learning place and the same idea has been reestablished throughout the writing. In the words of Elizabeth Sutton Lawrence, â€Å"ancient Greek education came largely from firsthand experience†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p.69) which means unless there is practical knowledge, the theory won’t turn out to be helpful and education is nothing but knowing what’s happening around us. Education is the means through which people learn to be alert. Education must inform a person about the changes which took place in the history and it must remind them their roots. Therefore, it can be concluded that training create machines while humanities create human beings.

Comment To Peer Response Dq1 AND dQ2jb Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comment To Peer Response Dq1 AND dQ2jb - Essay Example A branding strategy is build through the passage of times by investing in marketing and public relations initiatives. It takes time to build a brand value. Coca-Cola has tremendous brand value because it has been in existence for over 100 years. Two factors that help develop a brand strategy are effective communications with stakeholder groups and effective use of distribution channels (Williams, 2012). Diversifying is a great strategy to remain competitive during tough economic times. Companies with greater product variety will attract more customers. I agree with you that diversifying can help boost profits. Two types of diversification strategies are related and unrelated diversification (Scribd, 2012). A second strategy that you mentioned in your response was mergers and acquisitions. Mergers and acquisitions help companies increase their market share in an industry. Some of the benefits of mergers and acquisitions include access to new market segments, new innovation opportunities, access to new revenue streams, and maximization of return on investment (Frost). I also liked your idea of seeking expansion by taking advantage of the internet. Customers are purchasing more goods and services online than in the past. In 2011 the e-commerce sales in the United States reach $188.1 billion (Plunkettresearchonline, 2012). Some of the most successful online businesses are EBay, Amazon, and

Portfolio Report of Theory of Customer Service in a Service Setting Essay

Portfolio Report of Theory of Customer Service in a Service Setting - Essay Example A futuristic outlook should be used for an increasingly growing and counterintuitive, making an analysis with fewer errors (Shuen, 2008). Currently, the net lifetime worth of every Redbox client stands at 70$, and the stir rate stands at a constant 5%. This $70 presumption is openhanded because it does not consider the dilutive impacts of stock-based payment. This reimbursement does not have an impact on the value for every consumer. However, it has a direct impact on the share of every shareholder on every customer’s value. Redbox’s stir rate can keep on reducing, causing other competences to rise. At the same time, Redbox’s may perhaps raise its prices, an approach that has previously been done numerous times. This strategy creates a favorable environment for the organization to stick with the $70 value for its customers (Redbox.com, 2005; Shuen, 2008). Critical Incidents Redbox is a media store that provides rental movies to its clients, along with other enter tainment material such as music, videos and books. Redbox has a headquarter store that is located at 1 Tower Ln., Ste. 1200 Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, United States, the enterprise has more than 27000 branches all over the country, with about 750 workers employed in these stores (Redbox, 2011). The specific locations at which the stores are situated include grocery stores, huge merchant vendors, drugstores, restaurants, and huge convenient stores nationwide. Redbox has however been looking forward to expanding its objectives into majority of the demands and requirements of the movie renters market. Founded by Coinstar, Redbox has the initiative as establishing it stores in major supermarkets and mall stores such as McDonalds as well as discount stores. However, the store is experiencing poor customer service management systems due to the lack of the latest and popular movies, which are the films with the most demands (Redbox, 2011). A major move that the owner of Redbox has to real ize is that customer service has five main varying orientations. They include CS (Customer service) software expertise, system, and technology; data storage space and scrutiny; CS has to be viewed as an alteration in business culture from a dealing objective to a client centric one; CS involves managing demand and that CS is also a strategy phase aiming at clients’ interests. Redbox on the other hand has the intentions of employing internet streaming to enable smoother movie selection as well as viewing (Reinartz et al, 2005). This initiative will enable the preferences of the clients to be heard and dealt with at a closer scale. Data storage systems of Redbox require improvement since the latest films are very much reported by clients to not be available at websites and their stores. Since such films are in the most demand, therefore, to maintain the most returns that the enterprise is capable of making, the data storage improvement can withhold the latest movies at a higher number that can sustain the market demands. This approach will improve the customer service with the enterprise (Kumar et al, 2011). Another approach about a proper CS system is the existence of elements that comprise the CS system. The elements are a data storehouse, systematic apparatus, protests management apparatus, interfaces to sustain panels. Databases ran by Redbox operate on the

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 17

Marketing - Essay Example The main types of media that the marketer needs to utilize are television, newspaper and print media, public relation activities and direct selling. Television: Television advertising assists business to cover wide geographical locations (Shimp and Andrews, 2013). The marketer needs to invest near about 30% of the budget for celebrity endorsement through these advertisements. Public relation: Sponsoring different tournament and live events will help the brand to attract the attention of different consumers. They need to allocate almost 20% of the budget for this promotional strategy. The new recipe for breakfast cereal is intended to the health conscious consumers. The organisation is mainly targeting the slimmer consumers. They have assigned major budget for the promotional procedure. The management has utilized differentiated strategy where they have only targeted a particular section of the society (Weinstein, 2013). The important media for the promotion are sponsorship, television and print media. Television: Displaying advertisements of the product during different morning healthcare, exercise and yoga shows will prove to be beneficial for the organisation. Another 25% need to be allocated for this media. The promotional activity of the new energy drink mainly focuses on the players and sports personalities. The organisation has decided to spent minor budget for the product as they are focusing on concentrated targeting strategy (Debruyne, et al., 2002). They can utilize internet advertising, posters/ hoardings and sponsorship to promote their product. The word of mouth promotional procedure plays a major role for this kind of products rather than the traditional electronic advertisement procedure (Buttle, 1998). Internet: The organisation needs to design an interactive website to promote the benefits of their product towards the sports

Causes and Effects of the Amazons Deforestation

Causes and Effects of the Amazons Deforestation Dr. G. Leckebusch Deforestation in the Amazonas Basin and the Climate Policy of Brazil – A Critical Review The contemporary issue of deforestation is seen as a rising global concern involving the complete clearance of forests either by cutting or burning. Forest clearance is seen to fluctuate however rates of decrease across the Amazon basin where as large as 30% between 2001 and 2002 (Santilli et al, 2005). Optimistic climate change models show that the median distance between the areas in the Amazon rainforest and their closest future (2050) climate model according to the prediction based on temperature and precipitation change increase to over >475km (Feeley and Rehm, 2012). Deforestation affects the Amazon basin on a large scale whereby rates have exponentially increased since 1991 (Fearnside, 2005). Cattle ranching within the Amazon are seen to account for 70% of the clearing activity (Fearnside, 2005). This argued upward trend of deforestation is set to continue due to cattle, pastures and highways (Nepstad et al, 2001). Prior to this the Amazon remained largely intact until the â€Å"modern† wave of deforestation in 1970 due to the transamazon highway. Therefore due to modern issues such as global population increase, increased demand for land and resources forest degradation is becoming an important concern which needs to be addressed. With the original extent of the Amazon forest covering approximately the area of Western Europe (Fearnside, 1993a); reliable estimates are needed to monitor deforestation levels. Recent values of deforestation are seen in Figure 1. It can be argued that there is no real explanation as to why deforestation rates fluctuate therefore Fearnside Barbosa (2004) question whether the statistics produced are valid. However these estimates are needed in order for protocols to come into action. As high deforestation rates are contributing to the global concerns such as loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas warming as well as the destruction of such valuable resource. Protocol’s can monitor these fluctuations however before prevention takes place the causes of deforestation need to be addressed. Causes Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest can be attributed to many different factors. Although the expansion of the highway infrastructure can explain part of the deforestation in the 1970s and 1980s it cannot be the sole reason (Schaeffer et al, 2005). As it does not provide the explanation for the issue in the 1990s when the infrastructure development came to an end however the rates of deforestation still remained high. Nowadays the current expansion of highways is seen as a consequence rather than a cause as blaming governmental organisations masks the real reasons. The primary underlying forces behind deforestation in the Amazon region are combined effects of cultural, demographic, economic, technological, political issues (Schaeffer et al, 2005). Then underlying governmental policies, as well as institutional, socio-economic factors interact among themselves and function as one, driving deforestation within the Amazon (Schaeffer et al, 2005). More recently there have been different drivers of deforestation such as soybean and beef production which have therefore required a larger portion of land for production and the infrastructure involved due to globalisation. However these new drivers have not replaced existing ones they have been added to the ongoing list of deforestation drivers. These new plantations involve new infrastructure development which can expect to destroy more forest alone (Fearnside, 2001c). Infrastructures developments are seen as an added effect as the Forest loss in the 1990s would have been notably less severe were it not for the preceding infrastructure standing in its way. These transportation links are seen to accelerate the clearing of rainforests. The Avanca Brazil Program created a development package for the period 2000-07 which included a US $20 billion development in infrastructure within the Amazon region (Laurance et al, 2001; Nepstad et al 2001; Fearnside, 2002a). This development was driven by the perceived need to transport the new production of soy beans. Particularly damaging roads where the BR-163 and BR-319 highways (Fearnside, 2005). Large landholders are seen to be the most sensitive to economic change such as variable interest rates, financial returns, land prices and inflation. With Tax drivers been a strong driver of deforestation rates in the 1970-80’s (Mahar, 1979). With government subsidised credit at rates considerably lower than inflation meant that they became much scarcer after 1984. However in 1994 when Brazil set out the plan for a â€Å"Plano Real Reform† (Fearnside, 2005) hyperinflation dominated the economy however this resulted in land been at peak price reaching levels which were justifiable for production. As a result deforestation enabled claims to land and cutting for cattle pastures was the cheapest and most effective method (Hecht et al, 1988; Faminow, 1998; Fearnside, 1987/2002b). Due to Brazil’s recession deforestation rates declined throughout 1987-1991 as ranchers were unable to expand as quickly due to the government lack of funds for infrastructure developments. H owever the â€Å"Decree suspending incentives† (Fearnside, 2005) came into practice in mid 1991 which was the result of the most effective decline; evident in figure 2. It has been argued that the peak in 1995 was a result of economic recovery due to the Plano real response however due to this the fall seen in 1996 and 1997 was a logical decision of the Plano Real to cut the rate of inflation; shows fluctuation in deforestation rates (Fearnside, 2005). These major rates of fluctuations where due to money availability, inflation rate due to most of the clearing been done by those who invest to medium/large cattle ranchers. In figure 2 it is clear to see that deforestation rates climbed per year which then remained constant for 4 years followed by a steep rise in 2002 to a new level. Timber extraction has seen to be a cause of such rises as increased forest flammability has meant higher rate of loss. This undetected deforestation leads to severe damage that is visible on landsat imagery as deforestation (Cochrane et al, 1999; Nepstad et al, 199b). The role of logging increases the chance of forest fire as fires dry out large areas making a wider catchment susceptible to fires. Verissimo et al (1992) notes that forest fires create the damage of almost twice the volume of trees being harvested. Similarly a major resulting concern is the number of rainless days needed for a logged area is much lower to reach flammable conditions than for one that hasn’t (Nepstad et al, 2004). Due to the above causes a global climate impact has occurred. Global climate impact Deforestation creates a large global climate impact which includes loss of biodiversity, reduced rainfall and global warming contribution; similarly a loss of productivity, soil erosion, nutrient depletion and soil compaction. A change in the hydrological regime impact involves watershed functions been lost and flooding. The percentage of water recycled within the Amazon basin is now seen to be 20-30% (Lean et al, 1996) rather than the previous figure of 50% (Salati Vose, 1984). This at a policy view is not appreciated (Fearnside, 2004) as current levels of available water worldwide is seen as low. Results show that currently 150 million people live in cities with a persistent water shortage (defined as â€Å"having less than 100L per person per day†) and by 2050 is set to increase to almost 1 billion people (McDonald et al, 2011). The deceptive view of the potential deforestation rates increasing global precipitation levels misleads the idea that deforestation is bad. Biodiversity loss is a result of deforestation which impoverishes the earth’s biodiversity (Capobianco et al, 2001). Net emissions of greenhouse gases are increased as a result of deforestation through forest fires. Amazonian deforestation distinguishes a greater concern due to potential future emissions. In 1990 the net commission emissions from Brazilian deforestation represented 5% of the global total from a variety of sources (Fearnside, 1997b). However the concern is in the carbon stock in biomass within the Amazon which represents 38% of the tropical total (Fearnside 2000a:129). Likewise this release of carbon through tropical deforestation showed a release of 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon (GtC) to the atmosphere annually throughout the 1990’s; which can be seen as 20% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. It can be seen that global climate models show that as precipitation decreases linearly there are increasing amounts of precipitation. The climate of Brazil changes due to the loss of tropical rainforests to pasture; the surface temperature increases by approximately 1 ° to 3 °, precipitation increase and a decrease in evapotranspiration. This heating out the surface leads to localised upward motions that cause the formation of clouds which in turn produces more rainfall (Shukla et al, 1990). Similarly compared to rainforest cover the degraded pasture is seen to have a higher albedo value, with lower surface roughness and a shallower and sparser root system and lower available storage capacity for soil moisture (Shukla et al, 1990). Thus cannot retain the high levels of precipitation leading to higher rates of surface runoff. Due to deforested areas been drier and more susceptible to forest fires, the ENSO triggered an extended dry condition in 1997-98 across the Amazon. This meant an increase in tree mortality and forest flammability especially in logged areas due to large areas burned releasing carbon to the atmosphere (Page et al, 2002). However even in non ENSO years global warming has been observed to be putting tropical regions at risk. Over the last 5 years droughts within the basin droughts have been detached from ENSO events but have collaborated with some of the highest temperatures on record (Gullison et al, 2007). If these droughts become more frequent and severe or the dry season lengthens due to deforestation or a reduction in rainfall due to global warming then a proportion of the carbon stored in the tropical rainforests will be released into the atmosphere (Santilli, 2005). So as Malhi et al (2004) states the undisturbed rainforests act as a â€Å"sink† for the atmospheric carbon w hich is yet to be released. The effects of Amazon deforestation upon climate change is investigated using numerical experiments of an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) with set global sea surface temperature and the same AGCM joined to an ocean GCM (CGCM) over the global tropics. The joined model demonstrated a reduction in rainfall which was 60% larger compared to its control run (Nobre et al, 2009). Nobre concluded that amazon deforestation affects climate change and is dependent on AGCM’s. However there is a general agreement that amazon deforestation results in a local reduction in rainfall and an increase of surface temperature. This abundant cheap land within the amazon needs caps on it to ensure all is not sold. As this means destructive, fire-based agriculture, such as cattle ranching and slash-burn-farming, will continue to thrive. In the Amazon an area the size of France has already been deforested, a large fraction of which is now degraded cattle pasture with minimal benefit for the natives (Schaeffer, 2005). Therefore sustainable development is the step forward.

Frank Lloyd Wright :: essays papers

Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect who was a pioneer in modern style, and he is considered one of the greatest figures in architecture in the 20th-century. In Richland Center, Wisconsin on June 8, 1867 Wright was born. 17 years latter at the University of Wisconsin his interest in architecture had already shown itself. He enrolled in civil engineering because the university didn^t offer any classes for his chosen field. He gained some practical experience by working on a construction project for the university part time. He left school and went to work for the firm of Adler and Sullivan in 1887. Louis Sullivan from the firm had a profound in Wright work. He left the firm and went to make his own office in Chicago in 1893. Organic architecture was a philosophy created by Wright. It means that a building should be developed out of it^s natural surroundings. Originality was shown in his designs for public and private structures. The ornate neoclassic and Victorian styles favored by conventional architects was the kind of thing Wright rebelled against. Wright was opposed to the mechanical imposition of preconceived styles. The particular function of the building, it^s environment, and the type of materials employed in the structure should be the things that ultimately determined the architechtual form is what Wright believed in. One of the many fundamental contributions was the use of building materials for their natural colors s well as structural characteristics. With the open planning of one room flowing into another his interiors emphasize the sense of spaciousness. Precast concrete blocks reinforced with steel rods was one of the many new techniques Wright initiated. Air conditioning, indirect lighting, and panel heating were a few of the numerous innovations Wright invented. One of Wright big feats was to make the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The building was made to withstand earthquakes. One year after being completed it suffered no damage from a disastrous earthquake. Architects who were more conventional then Wright were against his different ways all thorough out his career. He went into exile for a year in Europe because of personal difficulties and professional antagonisms. Upon his return he began a new career of ever widing-achivments. Some of his later works are the Millard House; the Kaufmann House; called Falling Water; The Johnson Wax Company Administration Building; the First Unitarian Church; the V.C. Morris gift shop; and the Price

Judicial Method: Activism vs Formalism

‘Judicial Method: activism versus formalism’ A new era has emerged from the societal and legal changes that have occurred in Australia. The age of Judicial activism has taken over the more traditional method of judicial formalism. Supporters of the latter’s concerns that it promotes power without responsibility, and blurs the separation of powers, however the supporters of the former agree that inevitable changes in society force the judiciary to acknowledge that judicial formalism is a method that is not completely obsolete, but takes is less of a primary concern as it were, compared to other factors that effect a case. Those who are in favour of judicial activism argue that social change has increased the need for legal change and judges need to be able to make decisions considering external factors and using processes other than the law that make judicial method more subjective, adhering to legislation and legal policy but giving more significant acknowledgement to situational factors. The Honourable Michael Kirby’s pro-activism article centers around the view that judicial method must divert from the traditional method of legalism that Justice Kirby defines as â€Å"strict logic and high technique†. It starts by outlining the need for the judiciary to make this transition into judicial activism due to societal changes, where strict legalism is put under pressure. Justice Kirby then goes on to explain that the method of judicial activism should not be abused by the judges, where it should â€Å"be anchored in legal authority† and be â€Å"neither wholly mechanical or excessively creative†. He describes that â€Å"restraint† be used when using judicial activism to ensure that a total ignorance of the written law does not occur . A similar article about pro-activism by Michael Coper agrees that the â€Å"phenomenon of social change†¦. has accelerated the rate of legal change† and put a â€Å"pressure on concepts like ‘strict logic and high technique ’, thus supporting the viewpoint that judicial activism is a reaction to social change. Another article by Frank Carrigan praises Justice Kirby’s use of judicial activism directly, outlining this by comparing Justice Kirby’s methods with Gava, a strong believer in the Dixonian theory of legalism. It explains that even Chief Justice Dixon J, considered to be a leader in the legal formalism movement, used contradictory methods of judgment, promoting legalism but applying judicial activism . This is evidence that change to judicial activism is inevitable as societal changes occur. Pertaining to the other articles, however, there are some shortfalls in Justice Kirby’s article that must be addressed. Firstly, the article does outline that certain â€Å"restraint† must be used when applying judicial activism in the process for a judgment. However, exactly how this restraint will be measured, or the factors to be considered in which a judge’s judicial method is considered to cross these boundaries are not mentioned in his article. He also fails to describe the consequences of the divergence of judicial formalism, that a failure of the independent judges to keep external factors other than the legal text as impartial dynamics rather than personal ones would result in a cataclysmic failure to achieve justice. A loss in consistency would result in a loss in public confidence in the judicial system. Also, Justice Kirby’s proposal of a more transparent judgment, where the judicial method and processes used to achieve a judgment is open to the general public for critique, may be a technique in which to make sure that a judge does not overstep the restraints, but by openly presenting the judicial method and decision process of a controversial judgment for critique to a society that is already critical of the judicial system may backfire and result in a further loss of public confidence instead of building credibility. Contrasting against Justice Kirby’s heavily biased pro-activism article, is Justice Heydon’s article that describes the absolute need for adherence and paramount importance to the impartial application of the legal text. Justice Heydon’s article clearly outlines what Justice Kirby’s article does not, the downfalls of having a judiciary use judicial activism. Justice Heydon points out that by allowing judges to use judicial activism, it â€Å"tends to the destruction of the rule of law† by impairing two qualities that are expected of a judge, a â€Å"firm grip on the applicable law [and]†¦total probity. The article continues to state that there is a blurring of the separation of powers, and this becomes a problem as the facility for a legislature to make laws compared to that of a judge results in concerns about the clarity, inconsistency, decisiveness and retrospectivity of the laws that are changed or made by the judiciary. Justice Heydon pro poses that it is not primarily the function of the judiciary to create and change laws, that it should be a limited amount, limited to the legislature, and that the failure to adhere to judicial formalism or legalism would result in failures in various areas of the application of law . John Gava’s article adds to the need for strict legalism, by indicating that human error in judges can create issues in consistency, and that with a â€Å"state of mind† the is of legalism, a more â€Å"institutional mindset† can be achieved that relies more on a collective wisdom which create decision that conform, rather than those that are more individualized when judicial activism is applied . Owen Dixon’s article further outlines a deeper issue at hand with the abandonment of judicial formalism, the loss of the ability to develop legal principle. It states that there was a â€Å"attempt to develop the law as a science† which would not be possible by neglecting the very â€Å"strict logic and high technique† that is constantly used to describe legalism . As with any legalistic paradigm or state of mind, it is inherent that there will be a pro to a con, an advantage to a disadvantage. According to these articles it is clear that the more common emergence of activism is due mainly to societal change, and the resurrection of formalism has occurred due to concern for the drawbacks that takes place with activism, and rightly so. The former three pro-activism articles and the latter three pro-legalism/formalism articles compliment each other in revealing the advantages and flaws of both judicial methods. After the analyses of these articles, it is apparent that an appropriate balance between the two judicial methods be maintained, always changing, according to the change in Australia’s society. Bibliography Justice j D Heydon, Judicial activism and the death of the rule of law, (2003), 23 Aust Bar Rev 110 John Gava, ANOTHER BLAST FROM THE PAST OR WHY THE LEFT SHOULD EMBRACE STRICT LEGALISM: A REPLY TO FRANK CARRIGAN, (2003) 27 Melb U. L. Rev. 188 The Right Honourable Sir Owen Dixon, G. C. M. G, Concerning Judicial Method, (1956) 29 The Australian Law Journal 469

Assessment and Feedback Essay

Many of my lessons involve embedding literacy into a topic so it is more meaningful for the learners. There are various ways of assessing work which are used. One method that is used is initial assessment, where the learners at the beginning of their induction into our pre-16 program do an online BSKB initial assessment in Maths, English and ICT. This is to ensure that the learner is at the right level of learning. These tests are formative and convergent where choices of multiple choice questions give indications of gaps in the learner’s knowledge. Once the learner has  completed an initial assessment they are then given the diagnostic BSKB assessment to see what subject strengths and weaknesses they have. These learners tend not to have attended much school therefore it is difficult to assess the work they produce as very often little or no work is achieved. Assessment is about making a judgment to make sure that learning is taking place. It is about identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the learner so that the learner is progressing with the work that is set. Assessment in all forms that involve making a judgment and it includes an element of subjectivity by me. It should be objective, fair and transparent. It plays an important role in the education process as it determines the work students undertake and affects their approach to learning. There are varying degrees of assessment that are designed primarily to serve the purposes of accountability, or of ranking, or of certifying competence. However, an assessment activity can help learning if it provides information that I can use and can give students feedback. Feedback can be used to modify teaching and learning activities in which the learners are engaged in. Such assessment becomes formative when  the evidence is actually used to adapt the teaching work to meet learning needs. Much of what teachers and learners do in the classroom is assessment based. Tasks and questions prompt learners to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and skills. How the learners respond and interpret this can give indications of how their learning can be improved. Verbal feedback and discussion tends to be the main method that I use where opinions can be discussed and attainment of knowledge can be assessed during lessons. This is classed as affective learning where topics can gain an emotional response or a tone of interest/values that the  learner may have prior knowledge or experience. These types of responses are 1 usually focused on the learner’s feelings, and they are often difficult to measure in quantifiable terms. However, in my classroom, I want the learners to feel that their work is valued and that the effort has been worthwhile. During lessons, informal assessment is the preferred choice for me and my pre-16 colleague as students are wary of tests or exams. The reason for this maybe the learner’s previous experience of learning or the fact that they feel vulnerable when the word test, exam or assessment occurs within the learning environment. Informal assessment is easily incorporated into classroom routines and learning activities. It can be used at any time without interfering with teaching. The results give indication of the learner’s performance on the skill or subject of interest. However, it is not intended to give a broader view of the learner’s ability apart from the lesson that took place. This is not to say that informal assessment is spontaneous or absent from accuracy. Formal tests assume a single set of expectations for all students and come with prescribed criteria for scoring and interpretation. Informal assessment, on  the other hand, requires a clear understanding of the levels of ability the students bring with them. Only then may assessment activities be selected that students can attempt reasonably. Measuring the validity and reliability of informal assessments is achieved by expected goals and objectives outcomes. Once the work is completed, I assess the knowledge that the learners have gained by their attempted completion of the tasks. Scoring procedures can be used to measure progress and achievement in content areas and literacy skills can be measured by oral, reading and written work. Reliability is a statistical measure of which we can trust the results of a given writing test. Reliability estimations and their interpretations will vary according to particular assessment contexts and purposes. In real practice, high score reliability is indeed necessary and feasible in large-scale assessment, where the actual tests are the main source of interpretable information. In more local contexts (e. g. classrooms), reliability measurements are to a great extent unfeasible and, simultaneously, other sources for qualitative evaluation are available. The work that the learners produced enabled me to assess their level of  understanding and also their literacy progress. Feedback was given in written format on the activity worksheet, to identify strengths and weaknesses of each individual 2 learner. All the learners attempted the worksheet and I gave feedback in the format of Petty (2004) medals and missions. Medals (sometimes called positive reinforcement) are given when the learner has done something well, such as spellings or written something in their own words although most of the learners just wrote down what was on the computer screen. This was what I commented on as missions where the learners need to improve, correct or work upon. Written tasks, alongside oral questioning, should encourage students to develop and show understanding of the key features of what they have learned. Opportunities are given during lessons for the learners to respond to comments made about their work and advice is given on what areas they are struggling on. The key point to feedback is for it to be effective and for the learners to think about the good and bad points in their work and that clear goals can be achieved. The negative aspect of feedback for disaffected learners is that low self-esteem influences their reaction to feedback. Building self-esteem and confidence is one of the main aspects in my classroom. Low self-esteem can knock confidence and ability and their previous experiences of learning can have a considerable impact on their academic ability. In this environment learners are in a vulnerable position and in some cases their low esteem can be forgotten by teachers due to distractions and challenging behaviour. The comments I make have to be sensitive and constructive so that the comments do not impact on the learner’s self-esteem and confidence. The comments are to be constructive and build on their learning capabilities. When I  ask the learners whether or not they understood the feedback given regarding their work, the learners give the appearance that they are not bothered about the feedback or acted disinterested. Students find the feedback messages hard to understand and complex in their meaning especially in the written form. However, when feedback is used as dialogue within the lesson it provides opportunities for feedback and feedforward. This is a good scenario as the learner responds to initial feedback with their opinions. This gives the chance for the teacher to help the learners develop their understanding and has an instant response in correcting  misunderstandings. Although, the response to verbal feedback regarding the learners knowledge, skills and understanding is feasible in the classroom, further development of feedback and feedforward is required so that the student can improve and grow in their 3 understanding of the subject and true learning has taken place. When I assess a learner this has an impact on my teaching. The feedback I get from the students gives me the opportunity to reflect on my practices and adjust accordingly so that the learners are engaged, focused and completing the tasks given during lessons. However, learners’ indifference to learning and feedback can cloud my judgement about what I am doing right or wrong. In my sessions I need to develop the dual narrative where the learners work together as a group but also there are one to one opportunities. This would work towards full differentiation where students are working independently but within a whole group setting. This has been difficult to achieve yet it is possible; progress has been made with the learners providing work that can be assessed verbally or written. However, it has taken six months to gain  trust, confidence and self-esteem of the learners to provide any work at all. Nonetheless, with a longer time restraint development of feedback and feedforward can be achieved. The learners need to see feedback as a reflection on their work not that it’s personal to them, the problem these learners face is to understand what feedback is and what its intentions are. The trouble is that once the disaffected learners arrive at Rathbone they already feel that school as failed them therefore feel disengaged with the learning environment. This can be a contributing factor to the way they feel towards assessments. The attitude towards motivating and engaging the learners towards learning objectives is a more social context. Therefore, the attitude of Rathbone and its staff is to gain confidence, trust and self-esteem so that learning is more enjoyable to them. This then becomes a platform for the learners to want to learn post 16. As their teacher, the environment is complex and challenging however I feel that the learners are starting to become aware of what is required of them in the classroom. This means that I am doing something right and that my assessments, judgement and feedback are starting to be acknowledged.