Maya Angelou A Model Woman Through Influential Literature...

There are many women of today that have become a model for society. In order to have the reputation of the model woman, there is a need for accomplishment in life in addition to being a positive influence on society itself. Maya Angelou is a great example of the model woman. She has beaten the odds and has become one of the most well known African American women of today. She is an author, poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, stage and screen producer, director, performer, singer, and civil rights activist. Her most influential work comes from her extraordinary books and poems. Her literature has influenced the young and old with their contents. Maya Angelous literary significance rests primarily upon her exceptional†¦show more content†¦Joanne M. Braxton described her and her literature as Americas most visible black woman autobiographer. While black women writers might share traditional motivations for writing autobiography, other motives derive from their uni que experiences. And yet, against all odds, she comes to self-awareness and finds herself at the center of her own experience. Maya Angelou has tempered her own anger and put it to a constructive purpose; her work specks to the necessity of reflecting, remembering, opening, healing, and, at times, issuing a warning. In I know Why the Caged Birds Sings, she focuses almost entirely on the inner spaces of her emotional and personal life, crafting a literary autobiography that becomes not merely a personal record but also a stage on which the sins of the past can be recalled and rituals of healing and reconciliation enacted. (Braxton, Joann, page 4) Maya Angelou has been awarded over 30 honorary degrees and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her 1971 volume of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water Fore I Diiie. Again, the theme of this volume of poetry focuses on Angelous perspective on what it means to be a black woman in the United States, but also address experiences common to all people. The book has two parts, Where Love is a Scream of Anguish and Just Before the World Ends. The firstShow MoreRelatedEssay On Maya Angelou1280 Words   |  6 PagesMaya Angelou, named at birth, Marguerite Johnson was on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her and her family moved from St. Louis to Stamps, Arkansas, where she was raised growing up. Maya Angelou was an American author, dancer, screenwriter, actress, poet and civil rights activist. Angelou gained a majority of her fame with the memoir she wrote in 1969, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This memoir made literary history as being the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American womanRead MoreI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou6502 Words   |  27 PagesAnalysis: Chapters 1–5 The lines from the poem Maya cannot finish, â€Å"What are you looking at me for? I didn’t come to stay . . .† capture two of the most significant issues she struggles with in her childhood and young adulthood: feeling ugly and awkward and never feeling attached to one place. First, Maya imagines that though people judge her unfairly by her awkward looks, they will be surprised one day when her true self emerges. At the time, she hopes that she will emerge as if in a fairy-tale

Berlin Wall The Cold War - 1403 Words

Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall was built in August 1961 during the Cold War. The Wall that separated East and West Berlin came to show the different ideologies between different systems of government, Communism and Democratic supported by the USSR and the USA. The Berlin Wall symbolised the difference between the western democrats and eastern communist and the way they though Germany should be led. The significance of the wall What was the cold war and diplomatic relationships? The Cold War was a critical turning point in international relations and mass nuclear weapon production. The Cold War lasted for 47 years during 1947-1989. Two main powers fought during the Cold War, NATO which was led by the United States of America, and the†¦show more content†¦The USA agreed with the building of the wall, as they believed that it helped protect the Westerners in West Germany and Berlin, while they dealt with the remaining Nazi supporters. The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized a key turning even in diplomatic and government powers as it showed the supremacy of capitalist government system and brought the downfall of many communist countries. This is a newspaper source from the London Herald dating Saturday 11th of November 1989. This primary source demonstrates the views of the British towards the fall of the Berlin Wall, what it symbolised and how it affected the political world. The significance of the Berlin Wall to people lives The Berlin Wall was significant to lives of many people through many ways. It was the centre of the lives of every person living in Germany. In the East, people were unable to leave and people were unable to get many luxuries such as coffee. Families were separated by the Wall and many died trying to get over it, or in some cases, under it. The Berlin Wall meant to many people a loss in human rights and freedom. The building of the wall When was the wall built? After World War II the Allied Forces (United Kingdom, France, USA and USSR) were the main occupants of Germany and Berlin. The Wall built in August of 1961, was erected because of a long lasting suspicion among the SovietShow MoreRelatedThe Berlin Wall And The Cold War Essay715 Words   |  3 PagesPerhaps the most visual reference to the Cold War was the Berlin Wall. Although this wall only existed to divide Berlin into two sides, it became a physical representation of the Cold war for many and its fall in 1989 has been regarded to many as the end of the Cold War. I have always been interested in the background history behind the Berlin Wall. Since I started school in the 80s and was in High School while the Cold War was winding down, I don’t have a great personal understanding of manyRead MoreThe Berlin Wall : The Cold War1506 Words   |  7 PagesThe Berlin Wall: The Cold War’s Symbol European history has always interested me and one of the events we covered in my World Cultures history class was the Berlin Wall. I wanted to spend more time on the topic because I love all history and it interested me. I am sure we learned a little more than what I remember of the Wall but I know is the basic facts. We glazed over it and pretty much just acknowledged its past existence then moved on. We recalled it was in Germany and was a result of manyRead MoreA Brief History of the Berlin Wall Essay890 Words   |  4 PagesThe Berlin Wall Walls are one of man’s oldest defenses; physical barriers that are erected to keep people out, or, in some cases, to keep them in. Walls are physical fortifications that create tension and distain among people on both sides. This is what the Berlin Wall, or der Mauer in German, was; a physical barrier created in Berlin, Germany during the Cold War. It was created by the East Germans in an attempt to stop East German citizens from immigrating to Western Germany. However, the BerlinRead MoreThe Cold War1676 Words   |  7 PagesHistorical Context: The Cold War started by the end of the Second World War. The aim of this war was to spread opposing ideologies of Capitalism and Communism by the two world superpowers without the result of a hot war. The war was between the Capitalist West - namely: the United States of America, Britain and France – and Communist East – known to be Russia and all the satellite states which communism had taken over. An agreement made at the Yalta meeting of 1945 was that Germany would be dividedRead MoreThe World Through Freedom And Democracy : A Critical Analysis866 Words   |  4 PagesDemocracy: A Critical Analysis of the Pre-Emptive Cold War Policy Strategy of President Ronald Reagan’s â€Å"Tear Down This Wall!† Speech This critical analysis of â€Å"Tear Down This Wall!† speech of 1987 will define President Ronald Reagan’s properly conveyed speech on the necessity of tearing down the Berlin Wall as a symbol of democracy and freedom on a global scale. Reagan examines the ideological barriers of the Cold War, which are defined in the Berlin Wall as a division between communism and democracyRead MoreThe Berlin Wall Of Berlin1488 Words   |  6 Pagesof the Berlin wall brought Germany closer together as one country. The east side of Berlin was communist, whereas the west side was socialist/democratic. The Berlin wall was often referred to as a symbol of the cold war and the inner conflict of Germany. It showed the different ideologies of the USA and USSR and their systems of government. Officially known as the â€Å"Anti-Fascist-Protective Wall† by the east, and the â€Å"Wall of Shame† by the West, it physically divided the city of Berlin from AugustRead MoreThe Fal l of the Berlin Wall666 Words   |  3 Pagesfall of the Berlin Wall is very much a sequel, a continuation of the story about Eastern Europe emerging from war and communism. The nation of presenting history as a story also appealed to me very much, since that is the way I look at the events I cover as a reporter. -Serge Schmemann The Berlin Wall was a symbol of division between two different political beliefs and two different ways of life. The population during this time was about 3.4 million. This started the Cold War and endedRead MoreThe Cold War And The World War II872 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the World War II through the present, the Cold War and the Globalization impacted a lot both positive and negative sides for the national world. The Cold War was a remarkable time for not only Germany and Globalization was a big shift for the world. From that, people defined Cold War as a division and Globalization as integration. So why do people define two events like that? The Cold War was simile as a division, especially when it came to Germany. As we all know, Germany was divided intoRead MoreThe Cold War According to Berlin Essay example1005 Words   |  5 PagesThe Cold War According to Berlin After the end of World War II, in 1945, Germany was divided into four zones, American, British, French on the west side and the Soviet on the east side. Germany’s capital Berlin was also divided into four zones. To identify what happen during the Cold War one has to focus on Berlin as it was the centre of this conflict. Events like the currency reform, Berlin Blockade and the building of the Berlin Wall show how close it was to becomingRead MoreThe Berlin Wall : A Secret History960 Words   |  4 PagesWhile studying about Europe in the twentieth century, it became clear that the cold war had a lasting impact on the history of Germany as well as America’s view on communism. In our text book the Allies, especially the U.S., are always presented as being strongly opposed to the building of the Berlin Wall. So why had the Berlin Wall been allowed to last for twenty-eight years? During a search to find out more as to the reason for this lengthy existence, I came across the website for the magazine

Reputation Thesis free essay sample

Hashib, 2 In Shakespeare’s Othello, the main characters Cassio and Iago portray how important reputation can be. Iago uses his reputation as an advantage; he manipulates Cassio, Othello and his wife Emilia. No one knows that Iago has two colors and is masking his true self. Othello is under the impression that Iago is an honest man, and he puts his faith and trust on him. Iago starts hinting that Desdemona is being unfaithful to Othello, â€Å"She did deceive her father, marrying you ;( III, iii, 206-208). Othello becomes paranoid and doubtful and becomes doubtful of his wife. Iago had malice towards Cassio and he convinces Cassio by telling him to drink for Othello and Desdemona. Cassio becomes drunk and starts to get in a fight. Othello dismisses Cassio for getting heavily drunk and disobeying his orders. Cassio understands he has lost his reputation, however he doesn’t know that he was part of an evil plot set by Iago. We will write a custom essay sample on Reputation Thesis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial† (2. 3. 251-3) Charlie Sheen, the star of the hit sitcom Two and a Half Men has entertained people with his witty dialogues. After his split with his wife he turned to cocaine, alcohol and prostitutes. Media frenzy quickly arose around Sheen’s drug and alcohol problems. Stan Rosenfield described Charlie’s â€Å"12 step call† to a fellow drug addict in night-time rehab (Woman’ Day 1). Charlie Sheen was kicked out of the show Two and Half men. His one mistake changed his whole life and reputation in a negative way. Hashib, 3 A person’s reputation is directly parallel to his/her actions. Iago says â€Å"Reputation is an idle and/ most false imposition, oft got without merit and/ lost without deserving,† (II, iii, 267-269). People often makes judgments based on a person’s reputation. In today’s society our reputation is a big part of our lives. We can never control our reputation but only influence it. Hashib, 4 Works Consulted Traskos, Kevin T. Kill All The Lawyers? : Shakespeare Legal Appeal.   Go. galegroup. com. N. p. , 9 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Jan. 201 3. . Charlie Shaeen’s Bizarre Meltdown. â€Å"Women’ Day [ Australia] 10 May 2010. General Onefile. Web. 12 Jan. 2013. http://go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7CA226779267v=2. 1u=nysl_me_77_bnchsit=rp=ITOFsw=w Shakespeare, William. Othello. Washington: The Folger Shakespeare Library, 1993. Print. Hashib, 5 Works Citied Charlie Shaeen’s Bizarre Meltdown. â€Å"Women’ Day [ Australia] 10 May 2010. General Onefile. Web. 12 Jan. 2013. http://go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7CA226779267v=2. 1u=nysl_me_77_bnchsit=rp=ITOFsw=w Shakespeare, William. Othello. Washington: The Folger Shakespeare Library, 1993. Print. Traskos, Kevin T. Kill All The Lawyers? : Shakespeare Legal Appeal.   Go. galegroup. com. N. p. , 9 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Jan. 2013. . A person’s reputation is directly parallel to his/her actions. Name: S. M Hashib Period: 7 Class: E7

Mrs Dalloway By Virginia Woolf Essays (544 words) - Mrs Dalloway

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf With a comparison to Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus warren smith. These citizens grow up under the same social institutions and although classes are drawn up on wealth; it can be conceived that two people may have very similar opinions of the society that created them. The English society which Virginia Woolf presents individuals that are uncannily similar. These two individuals carry the names of Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith. Clarissa and Septimus, share the quality of communicating through actions, not words, and perceiving death as "defiance." Through these basic beliefs and mannerisms, Clarissa and Septimus, although never meeting, portray each other in their thoughts and actions. feels death and sorrow all around her. She consistently sees routine and habit around her but seems discontented Clarissa, she was now, "...Mrs. Dalloway; not even Clarissa any inside Mrs. Dalloway's soul, lies her belief character, the side that she never reveals. Clarissa expresses her belief in reincarnation. That her inner-communicating self, if not revealed in this body, may be revealed in the next. The belief that her? that everything will work out, eventually. Mrs. Dalloway before the party remarks that, 'If it were now to die, 'twere now be most happy.'"(p. 184) Clarissa portrays her sense of happiness as something not monstrumental or grandiose, but rather quite simple. She can be happy in throwing a party. Clarissa has friends. Her parties are to unite the people, who would otherwise never speak to each other. Clarissa communicates ycan, "say things you couldn't say anyhow else." She can her..." Clarissa Dalloway has a sense of optimism mixed with despair, in this she defines her character. sorrow in living within his society. Septimus sees beauty in small inanimate things that surround him. Beauty can be seen as a plane that writes in the sky, deciphered but which signifies beauty. Subconsciously, Septimus reveals his need to be nurtured, "..signalling th eir intention to Frankenstein, Septimus pulls away from society when he falls ill and has trouble dealing with reality. Septimus and Clarissa in this manner are very similar. Septimus feels frightened from the reality around him, "He began to open his eyes, to see whether a gramophone was really there. But real things were too exciting. He must be cautious. He would not go mad."(p. 142) Clarissa pulls away from individuality when she marries Richard and becomes ? He knew everything!"(p. 140) Septimus' truth was that, goodness of humanity under the cold, hard shell that society, portrays. Septimus believes in nature, love and goodness; but these are not the qualities of reality, they are the antithesis. For Septimus knows of war, death and destruction; he knows that society will not change and that he cannot live in a world that can be so constricting. Septimus takes a leap of faith and ends all his suffering in this unforgiving world; individuality, Septimus and Clarissa recede into the depths of normality. Clarissa accepts this recession, from having a dream to being merely Mrs. Dalloway. However, Septimus does not, this constriction and uniformity propels Septimus out of his bedroom window. Althought they differ in their response to this uniformity, the truth remains that they are both dissatisfied. Their dissatisfaction emanates from society closing the doors to

In the Lake of the Woods essays

In the Lake of the Woods essays In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien is a novel that shows the way the Vietnam War still holds a grip on the American psyche and some of the reasons why this is so. The novel illuminates issues that ar reflected in other literature, both fictional and non-fictional, regarding the war and its effect on those who had to fight it. The My Lai massacre is not representative of American actions in the war, but it does hold a particular place in the effect that war had on those at home, a pubic that was horrified at some of the things being done in its name. This contributed both to the end of the war and to the unfortunate way many returning veterans were treated by an unforgiving public. The story centers on John Wade, who has run for the U.S. Senate and who has lost because of the revelation that he participated in the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War. This is a secret he has hidden from his wifethe loss of trust is a key theme in this novel. Wade himself was trusted with a gun and a uniform and betrayed both by his actions. His wife trusted him, and he betrayed that trust by not telling her of his past. He has betrayed himself by hiding this issue as well, for the fact that it has been his secret has prevented him from receiving the atonement he needs in order to forgive himself. Because of his inability to come to terms with his crime, he commits that crime once again. The novel is presented in an interesting way by trying to explain the disappearance of John Wade and his wife, Kathy. Several different hypotheses are offered, but the plausible one is that John killed his wife and then went off into the woods to look for her, perhaps not remembering that he has killed her, perhaps trying only to get away. When he kills Kathy, he is reliving the My Lai massacre that has ruined his life. He also hides the fact of this new crime much as he hid his inv...

Extension Activities for Bread and Jam for Frances

Extension Activities for Bread and Jam for Frances Engaging in activities related to favorite children’s books is a great way to incorporate relaxed homeschooling and low-key learning with young children. And, its fun for the whole family.  As C.S. Lewis said, â€Å"A childrens story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good childrens story in the slightest.† One of my familys favorite picture  books is  Bread and Jam for Frances, by Russell Hoban. In the story, Frances the badger only wants to eat bread and jam. Her picky eating habit are frustrating for Frances mother. She says Frances won’t try anything new. Parents of picky eaters can surely relate. Read Bread and Jam for Frances with your child, then, try some of these fun activities! Hands-on Learning Activities Using the Picture Book Bread and Jam for Frances 1. Jump rope. Frances seems to always have her jump rope handy. She jumps while chanting, â€Å"Jam on biscuits. Jam on toast. Jam is the thing that I like most.† Talk to your child about the importance of physical activity. Discuss her favorite activities and the health benefits of fresh air and sunshine. Encourage your child to get active by jumping rope. It’s a fantastic cardiovascular activity that helps kids develop better coordination and rhythm. See if you can jump in time to Frances’ chant or try making up jump rope rhymes of your own. 2. Make homemade bread. Frances loves bread and jam. Who can blame her? Homemade bread is especially tasty. Try making your own bread. Baking bread offers many educational benefits, such as: Reading a recipeMeasuring and fractionsFollowing directionsDiscovering the science of yeast Following easy bread baking tips for beginners, you can make a simple, one-loaf yeast bread. If you don’t want to make your own, take a trip a bakery. Call ahead to arrange a tour so you can see how bread and other baked goods are made on a large-scale basis. 3. Make jam. Store-bought jam is definitely easier, but homemade jam is delicious! Try  making a simple, homemade jam  to enjoy.  Depending on the time of year, consider taking a field trip to pick your own strawberries or blueberries for your homemade jam. 4. Plan a nutritional meal. Frances prefers bread and jam to the nutritious meals her mother prepares. Even Frances’ younger sister is willing to try new things. And, Frances’ friend Albert has practically turned his lunchtime routine into a work of art. Talk with your child about what it means to make healthy food choices. Discuss which foods are the best for a healthy diet and what foods make healthy snacks for kids. Then brainstorm together to plan a healthy menu for the day. Include foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Be sure to experiment with some healthy recipes that are new to your family. Make a shopping list for the meals on your list and visit the grocery store. Many grocery stores offer field trips for homeschool groups. Our local store offers a tour that includes a discussion about healthy food choices and provides students with an opportunity to sample foods they may not have tried before. 5. Practice setting the table. Frances makes a big deal out of the last meal we observe her eating at the end of the book. Not only is she excited to try new things, but she takes the time to set a lovely table to enjoy the meal. Talk with your child about how to set a table. Discuss  good table manners. You can even make some tissue paper flowers to place on your table. My kids and I love all of the Frances books, but Bread and Jam for Frances is one of our favorites. Use these  simple extension activities from the story of the picky-eater badger as a springboard for fun learning opportunities.

Challenges, problems and conflicts that may occur in teams (Teamwork Essay

Challenges, problems and conflicts that may occur in teams (Teamwork vs. Individual work in efficiency of decision making) - Essay Example g need not always be the responsibility of an individual alone, and various professional as well as academic contexts reveal the decision making process taken up jointly by a team. The effectiveness achieved when making individual decisions differs from the effectiveness attained when teams take decisions. However, if a particular decision should be taken by an individual or a team is totally dependent on the nature of the problem that needs to be solved as well as the available time and resources. Therefore, whether decisions made by individuals are more effective from that of teams or vice versa cannot be ultimately stated as each problem differs from the other, thereby requiring unique decisions as well as different forms of decision making. In order to understand the difference in effectiveness arising out of individual and team decisions, one must first be thoroughly understand the concepts of individual and team with reference to decision making. Larson and LaFasto (1989) provide a definition of team, which states that it is a â€Å"unit of two or more people† who engage in interacting as well as coordinating their work in order to â€Å"accomplish a specific goal† (Morden, 2004, p. 248). Katzenbach and Smith further describe the concept of team as a small group of people who possess â€Å"complimentary skills† and are committed to a â€Å"common purpose, performance goals, and approach† for which they are mutually accountable (p. 248). Therefore, team is comprised of two or more individuals who are influenced by a common commitment and who are ready to coordinate their activities in order to take decision regarding a particular problem within a stipulated time frame. There are different t ypes of teams and each category or type has a basis of its own. Morden identifies the different types of teams such as â€Å"permanent or temporary team,† based on the period or purpose for which they are created; â€Å"formal† teams including, vertical and horizontal teams that

Service Recovery Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Service Recovery - Research Paper Example In order to conduct effective service recovery, it is paramount that management institutes a cross-functional approach, which acquires a marketing perspective, management perspective and an operations perspective. This essentially entails customer recovery, employee recovery and process recovery respectively. This paper will examine the three elements of service recovery, discussing the best practice of service recovery through the extensive examination of the literature. Through the examination of the three main service recovery approaches in a number of industries, this paper will offer eight key hurdles that institutions have to overcome to bridge the gap between best service recovery practices and the actual recovery practices and suggest how to do so. Importance of Service Recovery Service recovery entails actions that a service provider institutes in response to a failure in terms of service delivery. Such a failure occurs when the perceptions of customers of the service provid ed do not match their expectations. As per this definition, it is evident that service recovery is not limited to service industries. Empirical research demonstrates that managing problems effectively entails the most vital component of a company’s reputation for excellent service delivery in institutions and industries. This means that a company that serves either internal or external customers should accept that failures are bound to happen; thus the essential thing is to institute systems and procedures that counter such failures. In recent years, a number of empirical studies have dealt with service recovery in numerous industries globally (Maxham and Netemeyer 61). Concern in service recovery has developed because companies and industries appreciate that poor service experiences are the main reason for customer switching, which also results in loss, in customer lifetime value. However, a viable service recovery system is noteworthy as it has immense, positive impacts on customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, word-of-mouth behaviour and subsequently, customer profitability. While certain studies show that great initial service is better than excellent service recovery, other empirical studies suggest that an excellent service recovery can result in even greater customer loyalty and satisfaction than if a company did nothing wrong in the initial place. This paradox is referred to as the service recovery paradox and holds true in most instances (McCollough 56). Literature on interdisciplinary services provides a rich source of insight and research on effective service recovery (Bell. and Zemke 33). The literature on service recovery shows that perceived justice is a vital element in the evaluations of service recovery. Reports on service failure show that perceived unfairness in customer treatment results, in lower customer satisfaction and loyalty. Service recovery must re-establish justice from the customer’s perspective. Justice entails th ree distinct dimensions, i.e. procedural, distributive and interactional. Distributive justice centers on the allotment of costs and benefits. This element asserts that customers weigh the benefits they gain from services with regard to the costs associated with the service.

Computers Are an Important Part of Most People’s Everyday Lives Essay Example for Free

Computers Are an Important Part of Most People’s Everyday Lives Essay Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Nowadays, computers are an important part of most people’s everyday lives. This change has improved the way people live. By advances in the technology, especially invention of computers, human beings can do their works much easier than the past. They have improved the way of our lives (life) dramatically. The number of advantages that computers can bring us is very much so that its disadvantages can be ignored (Advantages of using computers are so much that disadvantages could be ignored). Cases such as save (saving) time or facilitate (facilitating) job and affairs and improve(ing) our communications are my reasons which will be illustrated in details as following. To begin with, by using of computers we can save the time (more time). In todays’ community, it is told that time is money. With the huge advancements in technology, people’s life has more (become) complicated as it seems. Each of us hasn’t enough time to do all works on time (No one has enough time to do everything on time). The advent of computers in our lives(life), we can save time and do a big part of works more efficiently. For example, instead of going to shop and buying cloths, I (you) can buy it from my home by going to its website and even I (you) have this chance to see which cloth is the top-selling. (or) As an another example, I(you) can choose my (you) favorite five-star restaurant or hotel a couple of weeks before my(your) trip to a certain place. hat shows that I can better manage my affairs(It shows that people can better manage their life and schedule everything). The last example is that I even can control my home or personal room by using of my workplace’s computer (The last example is that home or personal room can be controlled or and monitored by using of a computer in workplace). These examples show computers have revolutionized our lifestyle. The last but not the least, computers improved our social behaviors. For the very first time in the history, Social networks and websites have given this opportunity to people to find friends and know people they never met before. Nowadays, there are a few internet-organizations by which we can find our future wife. It shows that computers even affect our lives (life) emotionally. To take these into consideration, I can confidently draw the conclusion that there are a lot of advantages which computers donate us such as finding new friends or saving the valuable time so that its drawbacks can be ignored.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis :: Lion Witch Wardrobe Essays

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis The main characters in this story are Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. During a war in London they were sent to a professor's house outside London. Lucy, while exploring with her brothers and sister, found a secret passage through the wardrobe to Naria,a secret world. In Naria there are other characters. One of them is the White Witch,also known as the Queen of Naria, who was like a tyrant. If anyone disobeyed her she turned them to stone. Another character Aslan, a lion, saved Naria from the rule of the White Witch. Most of this story takes place in Naria. The main conflict is how Naria can live under the rule of the White Witch. The Beavers set out to take Peter, Susan, and Lucy (not Edmund because he went to the witch ) to the four thrones so they ( four children united ) can rule over Naria and destroy the witch. The Beavers and the three children were walking in the snow because there it was always winter. Although it was always winter Christmas never arrived. After they awoke th e next day they saw Father Christmas who gave them gifts.Mrs. Beaver received a new sewing machine. Mr. Beaver's dam was fixed and finished. Peter was given a shield and sword. Susan received a bow, arrows, and a horn. Lucy's gift was a bottle of healing juice and a dagger. that was the climax of the book because the spell of the White Witch was fading. Then they met up with Aslan and he freed all the stone figures and made them his army. The resolution of the book is when Aslan's army and the witches army confront and Aslan's army wins. Peter kills the witch at the end of the battle. The impression I got from this book is that Naria is a land of surprises and I'm excited that this years assignment will allow me to read more of " The Chronicles of Naria " .

Paraphrased Article Essay

â€Å"The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow. † Bill Gates, Founder of the giant Microsoft Corporations Ltd. Internet has arguably become one of the most indispensible parts of the lives of millions of people around the globe. There are not many laws which regulate the usage of internet for collecting information about the political processes, persona or policies. A common man can readily get involved in the political process by accessing the internet, reading various articles or news on National Politics and give his/her view on the same. The low cost model of the internet is an effective tool to involve millions of global citizens and make them active members in the political systems. The article ‘The Citizen Participation Gap: Can the Internet Help? ’ points out that the Internet is a medium which cuts across barriers and various sections of the society. It leverages from the varied social, political, and educational backgrounds of the users and thus adds multiple dimensions to the process of political participation. It is important to note that the usage of internet and age of the user are inversely proportional. As people grow old their internet usage goes down. For example,, most of the Internet users fall in the age group of 18-29 years. These users are active members of various social networking sites and many of them are online to investigate their political participation opportunities. Thus theoretically it could be claimed that it is the widespread reach and use of the Internet which has made it possible for young people ,to become the largest captive audiences to be involved in the process of political participation. One of the recent examples of this could be seen in the Indian politics wherein the ex foreign minister Mr. Shashi Tharoor garnered massive support from his followers on the social networking site twitter while he was forced to resign after being caught in a controversy with the Indian Premier League. Various online campaigns supporting Shashi Tharoor came up and people expressed their views in the entire process. â€Å"We are here to say, we support you Shashi Tharoor. Don’t let them pull you down for you will take our hopes and dreams for a better and brighter India with you. You bring to India everything we had ever hoped would change, and we stand by you,† said a viewer on the Support Shashi Tharoor website. In the past decade the internet usage among people has gone up. More and more people use the Internet,, and it is being regarded as one of the most powerful mediums giving direct access to a citizen in the political process. Muir believes that the Internet participation of people is the cause of powerful influence. People comment on national or international news, spread their views and comments in the form of blogs and to some extent are instrumental in deciding the course of political development of a news. Social networking sites like twitter helps people to be directly in touch with their favorite political leaders and give them their views and opinions. This proposal not only increased the participation of citizens but also improved the quality of the projects. Exploring the past and present trends in the use of internet, Coglianese concludes that the Internet will remain a powerful source of information and participation in the future. In conclusion it could be said that in spite of many view points against the use of the internet, the positive influence of Internet on the participation of citizens cannot be denied. The internet provides a common man a platform and gives them a chance to express their opinion and viewpoints, create their profiles, have a group of online supporters and influence changes in the political scenario. The amount of opportunities that the internet provides and individual to make friends and increase their social networks is massive. No doubt, there are a number of impediments to the efficient application of an Internet based government; nevertheless, these obstructions can be dealt with in the years to come.. By Uma Subramanian

Economics of All You Can Eat Buffets

The notion of paying one set cost for ‘unlimited' quantities of a good or service is certainly appealing, and that appeal is exactly what all-you-can-eat (AYCE) restaurants take advantage of. Gobi Brighton, an all-you-can-eat barbeque restaurant in England, offers unlimited servings of Asian and Middle-eastern foods for one fixed price of 12 pounds. Of course, no customer will actually eat an infinite quantity.Taking this factor into account, and given the various costs the restaurant must pay to deliver the service, this fixed price that consumers pay is determined such that the restaurant will profit in the long-run despite the quantity customers individually eat. Andy and George, however, two middle-aged men who frequently visit this AYCE restaurant, were recently kicked out and banned from Gobi Brighton because, according to the manager of the restaurant, they were â€Å"[eating] the restaurant out of business† (Dartford 2012).While it is certainly possible that busi ness may not be so great for Gobi Brighton these days, whether two customers can be blamed for it or not is another question. This paper will analyze the economic principles of AYCE restaurants and determine if it was possible for Andy and George to have been actually eating Gobi Brighton â€Å"out of business† with their appetite for Asian and Middle-eastern food. Buffets, or AYCE restaurants, can be very profitable because costs paid by the restaurant are much lower compared to those of an a la carte restaurant.Customers are given plates and head to the food counters to get whatever they like instead of ordering from a menu. Consequently, these restaurants have little need for waiters, and thus have less demand for them compared to other restaurants. Furthermore, because food is prepared in large quantities at a time as opposed to being prepared non-stop and on-demand, there is also a lower demand for cooks. On the other hand, buffets require continuous upkeep to ensure foo d safety and presentable aesthetics.Overall though, labour costs for AYCE restaurants are much lower compared to those of other restaurants. Because buffets have reduced production costs, they can afford to charge less to consumers if it means getting more business. Some restaurants use this strategy, but most choose not to because it doesn't lead to profit-maximizing results. Instead, AYCE restaurants take advantage of the law of diminishing marginal utility and how it plays a key role in any customer's ability to consume at a buffet.The manager knows that each additional plate of food provides less utility, or less satisfaction, than the one before. As a result, most people will eat only until the utility derived from an additional serving of food is slightly lower than the utility gained from the first dish. Buffets generate a profit by charging a price which is above the price of the food that the average customer consumes. This strategy assumes that, before the customer consume s a quantity of food where the total cost to the firm is greater than the price of the buffet, their marginal utility will be zero.This expectation was not met in the case of Andy and George. People who go to buffets usually fall into one of two categories of AYCE customers. One group eats regular portions and does one, maybe two trips to the buffet station. These customers are unlikely to eat a value equal to or above the fixed price they paid for the buffet, and thus contribute the most to the accounting profits of AYCE restaurants. The second group of buffet customers consist of over-eaters. They enter a buffet with the intention of getting their value's worth, if not more, of food.These customers are usually familiar buffets and their own capacity for food, and are confident heading into the restaurant because they are certain that they are getting a good deal. These kinds of buffet customers are more likely to consume a quantity of food that is of greater value that of the buff et price. It is here that we find Andy and George, the two over-eaters that were eating Gobi Brighton out of business. After Andy and George paid their 12 pounds, they sat down and each downed five bowls of stir fry before getting kicked out.If the manager was being honest when he said these two customers were putting him out of business, that would mean that those five bowls of stir fry caused the restaurant to go from making accounting profits, where revenue exceeds production cost, to making no profits whatsoever, where revenue equals production cost. Is it possible for ten bowls of stir fry to put this restaurant out of business? One bowl of stir fry these days never costs more than 5 pounds to the producer (Taste 2011).Since Andy and George collectively consumed ten bowls of stir fry, we can assume that up until they were kicked out of the restaurant, the business of the two men cost the restaurant fifty pounds. Beforehand, they each paid 12 pounds for the buffet service, so th e restaurant received 24 pounds as revenue. Consequently, without taking other production costs into account, Gobi Brighton was making a negative accounting profit of 26 pounds. This means that before Andy and George even entered the restaurant, Gobi Brighton was at least 26 pounds away from being unable to sustain its own service.If Gobi Brighton was a perfectly competitive firm in a perfectly competitive industry, then the restaurant has little say in the price because they take whatever price is established by the market equilibrium, and this would explain the poor business (see Figure 1). Raising the price, even by a little, would result in the customers going elsewhere and they would lose all their sales, as shown in point A. Lowering the price to point B, would also be ineffective because they can only sell as much as they can produce, which is a fixed quantity.They would lose even more capital, especially for a buffet service where, theoretically, an infinite quantity of food is being offered. Thus, in a perfectly competitive industry, Gobi Brighton would be forced to continue selling their buffet service at a market price of 12 pounds. Perfect competition could explain how Gobi Brighton was going out of business because of these two men, and thus had to resort to kicking the men out of the restaurant. The fact is, however, that Gobi Brighton is far from being a perfectly competitive firm in a perfectly competitive industry.Buffet prices are not fixed, not all buffets are the same, and buyers and sellers do not have complete information about service. In fact, according to Yelp, Asian and Middle-eastern restaurants are not that common in England, so the restaurant could have raised it's price for a short while, or tried reducing costs by laying off a worker or two since business was clearly not doing so well to begin with (Yelp 2012). Gobi Brighton is an all-you-can-eat restaurant located in Brighton, England that recently kicked out two customers for e ating too much and claimed they were putting the restaurant out of business.Not only does common buffet pricing strategies suggest it is very unlikely that two over-eating customers alone could do this, but Gobi Brighton could have improved business a number of ways since it isn't a perfectly competitive firm. Perhaps instead of marketing itself as an all-you-can-eat restaurant, Gobi Brighton may want to consider switching to an a la carte service, especially if they feel like their business is threatened by the very demographic that buffet restaurants appeal to most.

buy custom Literary Comparison of “The Hand” and “Love in L.A.”

buy custom Literary Comparison of â€Å"The Hand† and â€Å"Love in L.A.† Literary Comparison Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette and Dagoberto Gilb Abstract The stories The Hand by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette and Love in L.A. by Dagoberto Gilb have numerous elements of symbolism. At first sight, it seems quite hard to compare such different stories. The first short story was written 69 years earlier than the second one. The similarity of the symbols in The Hand by Colette and Love in L.A. by Dagoberto Gilb is not obvious at first, but after careful analysis one can find a lot of similarities in the use of symbols in these stories. Colette in The Hand tells a story about a young woman that got married not long ago and is in love with her husband. However, one night she notices that the hand of her husband that she likes to kiss is not as perfect as it seemed to her. She understands that love and marriage are not so ideal and do not look like a dream; she realizes that marriage means also diplomacy and sometimes obedience. In the morning, despite her fear and disgust, the wife kisses her husbands hand.

Starting a Job Search Do These 8 Things First

Starting a Job Search Do These 8 Things First After the economic downturn in 2010 and 2011, the unemployment rate in the United States fell from over 9 percent to less than 6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, plenty of people still experience lay-offs, RIFs, and other situations that lead to job loss. When you find yourself without a source of income, start your job search on a positive note with these eight essential steps. 1. Set a ScheduleApproach job hunting with the same organization you bring to your work.Job searchers often start strong, then slack off after a few months of disappointing results. According to the Bloomberg View, the average time spent on job searching drops by 30 minutes per day after 12 weeks.Create daily goals for yourself that might include scouring job advertisements, sending out resumes, or networking with associates. Vary your activities from day to day so the search doesn’t become monotonous, but keep a set schedule to maintain your momentum.2. Revise Your Resume Update employment dates, job descriptions, and other details on your resume to ensure it inspires a favorable impression. Use action words whenever possible to demonstrate your work ethic and your experience.However, resist the urge to exaggerate on your resume. Forbes reports that 40 percent of human resource professionals have increased their fact-checking efforts to weed out candidates who stretch the truth.3. Request a ReferenceSend your former employer an email to ask about references. You don’t want a boilerplate reference letter from your old boss, but inquire about future requests.Simply state that you might want to provide his or her contact information to a prospective employer. Ask how he or she would prefer to handle it. For example, some bosses would rather field phone calls, while others would prefer to type up a reference letter.4. Practice Your PoiseIf you’ve enjoyed the same job for the last 10 years, brush up on your interview skills. Ask a trusted fr iend or family member to play the part of the interviewer for a mock meeting.Practice maintaining eye contact, asking intuitive questions, and responding eloquently to difficult questions. Role playing not only improves your communication skills, but it also reduces your anxiety about the real thing.5. Approach Your AcquaintancesMine your network of past colleagues, superiors, and associates. Reach out via email, phone call, or text to ask them about their lives or to invite them to connect with you via social media.Your existing contacts offer a wealth of opportunities. Employers never advertise between 70 and 80 percent of available jobs, according to NPR, so you might receive a referral to a position you never would have known existed.6. Investigate the IndustryDon’t rely on existing knowledge to fuel your job search. Instead, research the industries in which you hope to work to learn about improvements, advancements, and changes. Use this knowledge to impress potential em ployers with your expertise.7. Broadcast Your BrandJust like major corporations, job seekers need to brand themselves. Find your unique selling proposition, then make it known through correspondence with potential employers. What do you bring to the table that makes you more attractive than the next resume-wielding job hunter?8. Secure the Right SuppliesAlways print your resume on high-quality paper if you deliver it in person. You might want a day planner or notebook in which to organize the details of your job search or an app for your phone that alerts you to scheduled meetings and interviews.

Investigating business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Investigating business - Assignment Example Started by Jack Cohen as a sole proprietor business, the business attained developments after the entrepreneur built a warehouse and headquarter in north London. After being registered as a private company in 1932, new developments followed after floating the company’s stocks in the stock market in 1947 (Pinto, 2012, pg.13). The company continued with its expansionary zeal by buying competitors shops. By 1970, the company developed its operations and the chain supermarkets became a household name throughout the United Kingdom (U.K). The company’s reputation developed through provision of basic groceries at competitive prices. With time, the company introduced luxury goods as people earned better incomes. By 1980s, the company continued to the building new stores recording a hundred stores by 1985. The company’s vision of expansion on different consumer products continued through investing in different fields making it the largest independent retailer in the petro l industry by 1991 (Peterson, 2012, pg. 11). The company’s aims and objectives of reaching out to the wider customers ensure developing new customer-focused initiatives as well as other stores in different localities. Advancements in new customer-initiatives enhanced introduction of the customer loyalty card. Other developments ensure the company delivers the best customer products and the first company to introduce a healthy eating initiative. The healthy eating symbol branded the nutritional products thus making the company the first largest retailer to emphasize on nutritional value of the company’s brands to its customers. The company also maintains its expansion of retailing services through forming joint ventures and acquisitions. For example, the company joined with the Royal Bank in Scotland to enhance offering a variety of financial services. Consequently, the company introduced a visa card to enhance customer efficiency. The company currently offers a range o f financial

FACE reports Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

FACE reports - Research Paper Example Since the tractor was running, the beaters, three in number, and obtaining energy from the tractor engine, were also rotating (MN FACE). During the process, the farmer got entwined in the machinery, getting pulled into the rotating beaters (MN FACE). As a result, the tractor stopped (MN FACE). He was found forty five minutes later by his son, who immediately called the 911 service, and the farmer was thence taken to a nearby hospital (MN FACE). However, he was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctor (MN FACE). Counter measures: In the wake of the incidence, the FACE team working in Minnesota drafted certain guidelines that were to be followed by farmers and workers while operating heavy machinery (MN FACE). These counter measures included three points (MN FACE): the tractor should be completely switched off and the key removed before getting off the tractor and working on the machinery (MN FACE); the power-take-off mechanism of the machine should be disengaged from the tractor before getting off the tractor and working on the machine (MN FACE); and the outfit of the workers should not be loose or otherwise risky, so that the danger of the workers getting entangled in the machine is reduced (MN

Mail Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mail - Essay Example However, it might also be possible for the seller to deliver their products to retail stores that are near the customer where it is possible for the customer to receive and retrieve their product (Kotler & Keller, 2012). This form of mail order service, which appears to be a catalog, is very popular and, in this case, it contains the product, prices of the product inventory, and descriptions of the product. Usually, these publications are sent to consumers who are most likely to purchase the decoder being sold. The format used for this publication is not unusual as such, although it is quite innovative. This can be seen from the way in which the seller uses fanciful paper, as well as the colorful nature of the fancy paper. There are several eye-catching graphics, including the words ‘The Cable Crusher’ placed in a vice, in which some of the letters have cable connection jack pins at their ends. There is also a graphic that shows animated airplanes, most likely indicating that the cable company carries cartoon packages, while there are several remote controls shown for only one decoder, which could represent the numerous choices available on the cable network. As noted, the paper used is fanciful, while the printing is colorful and clear with the most important points being written in color. Possibly the thing that most held my interest was the image of a vice next to a graphic showing package offer reductions. Printed make a mail order sales will always be fashionable because of their ability to focus on direct messages (Kotler & Keller, 2012). The fact that this publication is targeted and brief makes it believable because the message is directed current and prospective customers, meaning that the company seeks to build a relationship with those who choose to buy their cable services. However, there are questions regarding its limited time offer that provides for a return of $150 after mail redemption, specifically because the highest price for

Reflective Practice in Social Work

Reflective Practice in Social Work Reflection is central to good social work practice, but only if enhanced action result from that reflection (Williams, 2006: xi) The underlying principles for this assignment are to critically evaluate my professional development in a practice placement setting and record reflections for future learning. Within this essay, I will include my reflections on the social work process of assessment, planning, intervention and review, and will critically analyse what I feel was successful and unsuccessful in each process, with efforts to identify what could be changed to enhance future practice. I will also include my knowledge, skills and values incorporated into my practice with two service users and my group work, while explaining my efforts to promote anti-oppressive practice. Throughout my assignment I will endeavour to portray my learning journey from the beginning to the end of my placement and conclude with future learning needs, to enhance my practice as a social worker. Introduction: The practice placement I acquired was a Court Childrens Officer (CCO), based at the Belfast Family Proceedings Court. It forms part of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. My role as a CCO, formerly known as a Child Welfare Officer, was to use my training and experience to ascertain the wishes and feelings of children and their families in private law matters. The role falls within family and child care services and determines that the childs interests remain paramount in court proceedings. As a CCO my role was to deal with cases where assistance was needed to help parties focus on the needs of their children, as opposed to continuing the incriminations as to who was responsible for the breakdown of their relationship. As a CCO I was then asked to present the information to court in oral or written report format. The CCO is used if other efforts to get the parties to reach a decision in the interests of their children have failed. This is to prevent the court process itself cont ributing to a lengthy breach in contact before it reaches a decision. As a CCO I was also responsible to act as liaison officer between the court and HSS Trusts, or other agencies (e.g. NSPCC etc) in respect of the courts decisions. Although employed by the Trust, I was responsible to the court. Before commencement of this placement I had limited understanding of the court process, and the legislation involved in private law cases. I was excited about the prospect of the experience I would gain having undertaken law and court modules, and attended court for certain flexible learning days, but I was also anxious about identifying the social work role within such a specific placement. I feel nervous and uncomfortable. Im finding the role intimidating being surrounded by legal professionals and legislation (being just a student). Im worried about having to provide oral and written evidence to the court, and perhaps having to disagree with the legal representatives views in court. I feel deskilled and anxious (PPDW: 21/01/10). After this initial anxious stage I began researching private law and knowledge, and used my practice teacher and on site supervisor to ask questions. Having completed a practice placement last year I already knew of the benefits of using reflection as a crucial aspect of my practice and learning. Thompson (2005) explains that it is important that practitioners use not only established theories, but use their own knowledge and experience to meet the needs of service users. He claims that reflective practice should help us to acknowledge the important links between theory and practice and to appreciate the dangers of treating the two elements as if they were separate domains (Thompson, 2005: 147). I was anxious to identify the social work process within my placement, as it was not evident on commencement. I was already familiar with the process of assessing, planning, intervention and review having had a previous placement with adults with learning disabilities. Within a court, however, this was very different, as a direction of the court determined my involvement with service users. Schà ¶n (1987) identifies that more than a process is needed with service users practitioners need to incorporate experience, skills and intuition for outcomes to be successful. The knowledge and skills that I identified, within my Individual learning plan, were skills in working with children, assertiveness skills, report writing and presenting skills, organisational skills, and group facilitation skills. I also wanted to enhance my value base as my previous placement helped me challenge issues around learning disabilities and the current placement is a very different setting. I wanted to devel op my values around childrens feelings about parental separation, and also working in partnership with children to ascertain their wishes and feelings about contact issues. I have outlined below the three cases I intend to use that will help identify my professional development within my placement setting. I will use these to provide an analysis of how my knowledge, skills and values have been developed through the social work process. Family C: Polish origin Child C (Age 7) currently resides with her father. The parental relationship lasted for seven years. Mother (Ms C) moved out of the family home to gain alternative accommodation when the relationship broke down. Ms C and the childs contact have been very sporadic since. Contact has not taken place since December 2009. Mr C is concerned with Ms Cs new accommodation being unsuitable for the childs safety staying overnight claiming alcohol misuse and the child coming home smelling of smoke. Ms C requires an interpreter and is seeking a Contact Order. As directed by the court I carried out an assessment of Ms Cs home, and also used mediation and counselling when meeting with the parties to focus on the childs best interests. The childs wishes and feelings were also ascertained. Family E: Child E (14) currently resides with his father (Mr E). Mother (Ms E) is seeking a Residence Order. Father currently resides with the child in a family hostel provided by the Belfast Housing Executive, which Ms E is concerned about. Court direction stipulated me to ascertain the childs wishes and feelings about residence with his father and contact with his mother. In addition to this I used mediation as an intervention to try to help the parties reach agreement about the child. I concluded my work with the family using a Person Centred Review with Child E to determine if the plans implemented earlier in my practice were working, and what he would like to change when his case was due for review in court. Group Work: My group work consisted of working with teenage girls at a high school in North Belfast; they were aged 14/15. I worked alongside the Health for Youth through Peer Education (HYPE) team who regularly visit schools to promote sexual health awareness. I co-facilitated this group and worked to educate the group about sexual health and relationships. This was to promote the need for the provision of accurate information to prevent teenage pregnancies and STIs, which have been highlighted as statistically higher in this area of Northern Ireland. Preparation of placement As indicated above, to prepare for this placement, I began by developing my knowledge base around the court setting and private law, so that I could be accountable to the court and the Trust for my actions. Trevithick (2000:162) claims to be accountable denotes professionalism by using knowledge, skills and qualifications, and adhering to values and ethics when serving a client. I began to tune in to the placement setting using knowledge, skills and values, with legislation such as The Children (NI) Order 1995, The Family Law Act (NI) 2001 and The Human Rights Act 1998. I tuned into the court setting and the rights of the service users who used it. Article 3 of the Children (NI) Order 1995 claims that the court should act in the best interests of the child, and I was interested in seeing if this occurred or if parental interests were considered higher. I tuned into the effects that divorce and separation have on children, and focused on gaining knowledge on how to minimize the negative impact this may have on children. The issue of contact in private law proceedings is a complex subject which raises questions of rights, responsibilities and ownership of children (Kroll, 2000: 217). I was initially interested in researching if children knowing both parents were in their best interests, and why. Having had a placement with adults and learning disabilities last year I had reflected on the medical model versus the social model of disability, this placement was very different in that it would be the a legal context versus the social work role. I found this initially difficult as the legal obligations of the court over-shadowed the social work process. Court directions dictated the aspects of work to be done, which I found difficult as service user needs were not necessarily established and met. Assessment: Ms Cs assessment required me to meet with her, discuss issues regarding contact with her child, and investigate her living environment to determine if it was suitable for the child to have contact in. Prior to Ms Cs assessment it was necessary for me to tune in to contact disputes between parents. I recognised that there is significant animosity with both parties, but that having contact with both parents is in the childs best interests to promote for attachment, identity and positive relationships. To initiate Ms Cs assessment I had received court directions, a referral and met with her legal advisor. I was at this time I was informed that Ms C was Polish and required an interpreter. The Human Rights Act 1998 and the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 both stipulate that an interpreter should be provided for health services to promote anti-discriminative practice and equal opportunities. I was then required to make a referral to the Trust interpreting service, and they informed me that they would make initial contact with Ms C. I found this unnerving, as the interpreter would be making first contact with the service user, and I would have liked the opportunity to explain my role. Having carried out previous assessments, I knew that communication was essential for the assessment and central to the process of gathering information and empowering service users (Watson and West, 2006), therefore to not be able to make initial contact with a service user I found to be restrictive and stressful. On initial contact with Ms C (and the interpreter) communication was difficult to establish. I found that by communicating through an interpreter I was limited in gathering information. I found it difficult to concentrate on Ms C, especially observing body language and tone of voice; instead I focused on the interpreter and actively listening to her. Ms C came across as frustrated and disengaged, showing signs of closed body language. I felt empathetic to Ms C because of the court process she was involved in, and the fact that she had to go to court to gain contact with her child. I felt the initial meeting with Ms C was not as successful as I had hoped, I was not able to discuss the issues affecting her, and unable to establish an effective working relationship due to the barrier on an interpreter. I left the meeting feeling deskilled and questioning my practice. On reflection, I should have provided more time to Ms C due to the language obstacle and gathered more information on her issues. I should have focused on Ms C and not the interpreter, and used the interpreter more effectively to establish a relationship. For future learning I will endeavour to use these reflections. The next part of Ms Cs assessment was her home assessment. I was initially reluctant to carry out a home assessment, as I had no previous experience, and did not know what was classed as an unsafe environment for children. I began tuning in and identified that a home assessment required strong observational skills for child protection concerns. I also discussed the home assessment with my practice teacher and on site supervisor for aspects I should be concerned about within the home. It was indicated that a safe environment for a child did not have to be overly clean, just safe considering where the child sleeps, fire hazards, is there evidence of drug or alcohol use, or smelling of smoke (as Mr C alleges). On entering Ms Cs home, as the interpreter had not arrived yet, I was reluctant to try and converse with Ms C. Ms C spoke limited English, and I did not want to confuse or alarm her by trying to discuss the case issues. However, I did try to use body language and facial expressions to reach for feelings and try to build a rapport by asking general questions about weather and work etc. I feel this helped our relationship, and helped me empathise about how difficult it must be to not be able to communicate effectively. By the time the interpreter had arrived I felt more at ease with Ms C, and addressed her (as opposed to the interpreter) with non-verbal cues such as nodding and body language. I felt more comfortable talking with Ms C, I felt more able to understand her frustrations at the court process, her ex-partner and his allegations. Prior to the assessment of the home I had gained stereotypical perceptions about Ms Cs home. I thought that the house, as it was in a working class area, would be unclean and neglected. However, the assessment of the home, using observational skills, indicated no child protection concerns, a clean environment for a child, and Mr Cs allegations unfounded. On reflection of my perceptions I feel I was oppressive to Ms C having been so judgemental, and I felt guilty about my opinions having been class discriminatory. Throughout the assessment with Ms C I found that by using an interpreter Ms C was able to stay informed and in control over her situation (Watson and West, 2006). I feel that by working with Ms C has helped my challenge my future practice with individuals who are non-English speakers. It will help me consider the needs of the service user, before judging them solely on language or their country of origin to provide equal opportunities. I now feel interpreters are required for a balance of power between the worker and service user, and promote anti-discriminatory practice. Planning: According to Parker and Bradley (2008: 72) Planning as part of the social work process is a method of continually reviewing and assessing the needs of all individual service users. It is based upon the assessment and identifies what needs to be done and what the outcome may be if it is completed. Prior to the beginning of placement I had limited experience of planning, or group work. It was important for me understand the facilitation and communication skills needed for successful group work, and help to develop my understanding of group dynamics, group control, and peer pressure for this age group. The key purpose of planning the group was to enable the young people to develop their knowledge and skills to be able to make informed decisions and choices about personal relationships and sexual health. I began preparing for the planning stage of the social work process by meeting with the HYPE team and researching their work. I was interested in the sexual health training for young people at school, as my own experience at school showed that the information was often limited, and I was interesting in finding out if it had been challenged. I then began by tuning in to how I wanted to proceed through the planning process, and researching the topics of the different sessions as I considered I had limited knowledge on sexual health awareness. As I had to plan every week separately it was important to tune in to each and use knowledge, such as group work skills to inform my practice. During initial sessions I noted how group members were quiet and withdrawn, this was important to note as the subject of sexual relationships may have been embarrassing for them to discuss. I too felt uncomfortable discussing the material, as I had limited understanding of sexual health, but it was important for the group to overcome these anxieties and work through them together. I identified that ice breaking techniques were required to facilitate trust and partnership. As the sessions progressed, one of the main challenges found was that peer influence was a major issue, with some of the participants controlling other quieter members. I felt it was necessary to include all members and encouraged participation using games. However, it was important not to push individuals when they became uncomfortable, as this could cause them to withdraw and disengage, disempowering them. Another challenge was that despite time management of the sessions, inevitably there had to be flexibility. Some of the group monopolised more time than others and it was necessary to be able to alter the plans according to time restraints. I also needed to be aware of my own values when planning sexual health awareness training, as it is still regarded as a controversial issue, especially in Catholic schools with teenagers (www.famyouth.org.uk). I considered sexual health awareness to be a great benefit in schools, but obviously due to religious considerations many Catholic schools continue simply to teach abstinence as the only form of contraception. This was important to consider as the group was facilitated in a Catholic school and many of the members or their teachers could have had religious views and opinions on the sessions, creating tension or animosity. Reflecting on this parental consent had been provided for the group, but the group itself were required to take part during a free period. I consider this to be an ethical dilemma as the childrens views werent regarded as highly as their parents. If undertaking this group in future, I feel it would be necessary to ask the group if they wish to take part, and gi ve the opportunity to withdraw promoting anti-oppressive practice. Intervention: Prior to this practice placement I had limited experience using intervention methods. My previous placement focused on task centred work with service users, but in the court childrens service this could not be facilitated due to the time restrictions of the court. I had also previously used Rogerian person centred counselling which I found I could use some of the theory and apply it to this setting. After gathering a range of information from the court referral, C1 and other professionals, I began to tune in to Es case. I had been directed by the court to ascertain his wishes and feelings in regards to residence and contact arrangements, and mediate between his parents to find agreement about the childs residence. As Child E is fourteen, I felt it was necessary to research levels of development for this age group and understand, according to psychologists, what level Child E would be at emotionally, physically and psychologically. I found that Child E should be at a level of becoming more independent, having his own values, and being able to make informed choices. One of the most important issues, through mediation, was challenging my own values and becoming aware of my own stereotypical views on adults who have separated, and the effects on their children. I had to challenge the idea that Child E just wanted to reside with his father as he was the less disciplined parent, or that Child E would most likely be playing his parents off against each other to get his own way. However, by challenging these views, and working with the parties through mediation, I came to realise that E had strong views about living with his father and had a stronger attachment to him. By reflecting on my values I realised that it was oppressive to consider the child as manipulating and could have affected my work with him. I found that having to be a neutral third party in mediation was difficult, I found myself having a role as a witness, a referee and a peacekeeper trying to find common ground. Despite this I feel a third side was necessary to help the parties work through issues. I found the most difficult aspect of this role to be impartiality as I found myself empathizing more with the mother (as the child refused to live with her). However, I also understood the childs reasons behind his decision. During mediation, and in court, I also challenged my judgements on gender and the notion that the mother is the nurturer or primary care giver in the home (Posada and Jacobs, 2001). The child clearly stated that he wanted to reside with his father, and when using questioning skills to probe about this, he claimed he had a stronger bond with his father, and that his mother was continually ridiculing him. I found myself having to alter my views about attachment and mother being the primary care giver and focus on what the child wants. As the intervention progressed I used family mediation session to work through issues. I found that effective communication was principal in ascertaining Child Es wishes and feelings, and helping the parties consider his views, as opposed to their own relationship incriminations. This not only empowered E by promoting partnership, but also gave him the knowledge that the court would be considering the information he provided. Within the meeting I felt I could have paced the meeting better and made better use of silences with E, as I dominated the conversation. I consider mediation to be successful as it helped the parties focus on the needs of the child, and helped them realise that they had a childs feelings to consider instead of the adversarial relationship built from court. Review: Prior to the review process I had experience of carrying out person centred reviews (PCR) through my previous practice placement. I had previous training on PCRs and found them to be more effective than traditional reviews, due to the service user involvement. A PCR is an example of a person centred approach and the information from a review can be the foundation of a person centred plan (Bailey et al., 2009). Within the family proceedings court the purpose of reviews are to reassess interim plans, and either change them, or confirm they are working for the child(ren). In Child Es case a review was necessary to indicate if living with his father was working, and to discuss if he wanted to change anything about his interim plans, which were introduced three months earlier. Within the court childrens team a review is fundamental to consider what is in the childs best interests, assess what is working and what is not working, and how to progress (considering the childs wishes and feelings). Child centred preparatory work with Child E was fundamental to the review success as it established what was important to him (Smull and Sanderson, 2005). Reflecting on my person centred work last year; I recognised that it was important to have preparatory work with Child E as it promoted choice and options to explore. I had also recognised that the information gathered from the preparatory work could be the foundations of the review itself, especially if Child E felt embarrassed or shy speaking out in front of his family on the day of the review (Smull and Sanderson, 2005) I conducted the review with Child E and his parents present, but reflecting on this it could also have been useful including his school teacher or other friends to have a holistic approach. Throughout the review I feel I was able to engage the participants successfully using goals to focus on, and we were able to create a person centred plan for Child E. During the preparation for the review Child E had expressed that he felt he was having too much contact with his mother, and would like to limit this, he also expressed that this was an awkward subject to discuss with his mother present. I identified this in the review as child E did not wish to. I used skills such as facilitation and communication to show that Child E felt strongly about this issue, and both parents claimed they understood his view point. The review was also useful in presenting the information in court, as the child could not be present and I could advocate on his behalf. On reflection of Child Es review I feel it was a successful measure to determine what was working and not working since plans were implemented from the last court date. I had confidence in facilitating the review, but I did feel I perhaps dominated the conversation as both parents were hostile towards each other, and Child E was shy and unassertive about expressing his feelings. During future reviews I will endeavour to promote communication between parties, while empowering of the child. I will use better use of silences and encourage active involvement. Conclusion: No matter how skilled, experienced or effective we are, there are, of course, always lessons to be learned, improvements to be made and benefits to be gained from reflecting on our practice (Thompson, 2005: 146) I feel this PLO has provided me with learning opportunities and identified my learning needs. It has encouraged me to reflect on my knowledge, skills and values and ensured that I used my reflections to learn from my practice. At the beginning of placement I was concerned I would oppress the service users by having limited understanding of the court process, and unable to work effectively as a result. However, through training, help from my practice teacher and knowledge, I soon realised that the placement was about providing support, not being an expert. I feel I was able to establish a balance of the legal requirements of court and social work role, which has contributed to my learning experience and future knowledge. As my placement progressed I used tuning in and evaluations to analyse my practice, and use them to learn from. My placement has enabled me to improve my court report writing skills, presentations skills and legislation knowledge, which I consider to be invaluable for the future. In terms of future professional development, I will endeavour to challenge my stereotypical assumptions about service users, I will seek advice and guidance from more experienced members of staff, and I will use knowledge and theory to inform my practice prior to meeting service users. Future learning requires me to continue to develop skills in working with children, to use silence as a skill, as listen actively to what the service user wants. Having an opportunity to work within the court system has been invaluable, but I would also like the opportunity to have more experience working with children to enhance my knowledge, skills and values further.

Introduction to the Scientific Method :: essays research papers

Introduction to the Scientific Method The scientific method is the process by which scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an accurate (that is, reliable, consistent and non-arbitrary) representation of the world. Recognizing that personal and cultural beliefs influence both our perceptions and our interpretations of natural phenomena, we aim through the use of standard procedures and criteria to minimize those influences when developing a theory. As a famous scientist once said, "Smart people (like smart lawyers) can come up with very good explanations for mistaken points of view." In summary, the scientific method attempts to minimize the influence of bias or prejudice in the experimenter when testing an hypothesis or a theory. I. The scientific method has four steps 1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena. 2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation. 3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations. 4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments. If the experiments bear out the hypothesis it may come to be regarded as a theory or law of nature (more on the concepts of hypothesis, model, theory and law below). If the experiments do not bear out the hypothesis, it must be rejected or modified. What is key in the description of the scientific method just given is the predictive power (the ability to get more out of the theory than you put in; see Barrow, 1991) of the hypothesis or theory, as tested by experiment. It is often said in science that theories can never be proved, only disproved. There is always the possibility that a new observation or a new experiment will conflict with a long-standing theory. II. Testing hypotheses As just stated, experimental tests may lead either to the confirmation of the hypothesis, or to the ruling out of the hypothesis. The scientific method requires that an hypothesis be ruled out or modified if its predictions are clearly and repeatedly incompatible with experimental tests. Further, no matter how elegant a theory is, its predictions must agree with experimental results if we are to believe that it is a valid description of nature. In physics, as in every experimental science, "experiment is supreme" and experimental verification of hypothetical predictions is absolutely necessary.

The History and Colonization of Libya and it’sIndependence

Approximately ninety percent of Libya is roofed with desert. That desert is mostly the vast Sahara Desert; the worlds largest hot desert. Although most of the region is very barren, Libya's northern border is a stunning coastline. Its healthy, luscious fields and beautiful beaches extend along the Mediterranean Sea for approximately a thousand miles. Phoenician sailors, who are now located in the area now named Lebanon, built ports on Libya's Mediterranean coast in Tripolitania beginning in 1300 B. C. Their vessels were constructed from cedar trees, which they used to sail across the Mediterranean transforming them into some of the greatest traders of their time. Phoenicians sailors had a different reason for establishing ports than then the usual economic gains. The reason for them establishing ports was because they wanted places along their trade route from Phoenicia to Spain where their cedar vessels could dock. Even though the Phoenicians continued doing this, they did little to take over the area. What the Phoenicians did do was establish the city of Carthage, which was in today's Tunisia. By themselves, Carthage grew into a prosperous seaport and became an autonomous power with no help. Carthage built up a burly military force and soon Carthaginians started ruling areas like Tripolitania. Unlike the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians established numerous colonies, which they ruled with force. The Libyans disliked the Carthaginians due to the fact that the rulers stipulated that the Libyans have to give up to half of their crops each season and how the Carthaginians â€Å"sacrificed their own first-born children to their implacable gods† (Isichei 161). The Libyans found that despicable and appalling. Carthage was getting attacked by Rome and battling went on and off for more than a hundred years. Finally, Rome defeated Carthage in 146 B. C. In 146 B. C. Romans gained control over the Carthaginian Empire. The Roman Empire used Tripolitania's coastal area as one of their main sources of grain and other provisions. The Greeks ruled Cyrenaica but it soon fell under Roman rule. The Greek stronghold was in Cyrenaica. Greek explorers and warriors constantly explored the region for centuries. First, they tried to use the area as a route to overrun Egypt. Later, Cyrenacia became an abundant Greek fishing area. Seeing that no one had colonized the only port in North Africa the Greeks took better management of the land. Now that the Romans were in power the region continued to flourish for several hundred years, and the inhabitants escalated. When the empire was growing weaker, the Romans lost control of North Africa. The next groups in Libya were the Vandals, who came from an area that is now occupied by Germany. Their minds were fascinated by North Africa's wealth, so they arrived in the area in about 435. Among the invaders, the Vandals made the first serious effort to settle in some of Libya's mountains and desert areas. But the nomadic people who resided in the regions often fought them off. The Vandals lost authority after about a century of decree. When the Arabs arrived in 643, they brought the new religion of Islam with them. The people in the region quickly adopted Islam but they resisted Arab political rule. Within four hundred years most people in Libya were Muslims. The Aghlabids were amongst the most thoughtful Islamic leaders of Libya; the area was back in order, and reinstated the irrigation systems that the Romans left back, which brought opulence to the region from the surplus being produced. A minor colonization was by Spain in 1510 when they captured Tripoli but soon the Ottoman Empire took over all of Libya. Like all the other groups that had invaded Libya, the Ottomans faced the resistance of the Libyan people. The Libyans â€Å"were proud and did not easily accept foreign rule† (Willis 50). Throughout history, groups of Libyan rebels often tried to resist the invaders. Many of the opposition leaders had ties to a religious organization called the Sansui Brotherhood. As the Ottomans lost grip of their colony, the Italians moved in. Italy had major reasons for colonizing Libya. First of all, Italy thought that if they had control over Tripoli, they would have greater trading power in the Mediterranean Sea. Also Italy just wanted to have the feel for having a colony in North Africa. Another major reason was the fact that the British already had control over Egypt and so Italy feared that France would seek after Libya. After months of engaging in warfare against the invading Italian forces, the Ottomans finally gave up their colonized land of Libya in 1911. When Italy decided to enter WWI on the side of the allies, this move weakened Italy's grip on Libya in 1915 because they couldn't focus against the rebellions in Libya while trying to help the Allis win WWI. Some of the things they did to ease the rebellions was in 1917, when â€Å"Italy signed a peace agreement with the leader of the Sanusi, Idris al-Sanusi, recognizing him as the emir of Cyrenaica† (Miller 32-33). But when fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini's rose to power in Italy in 1922 he gave Italy its willpower to gain control over their colony once again. Libya was not finally freed from Italian rule until 1943, when Italy was crushed in WWII. After the war, the UN decided that Libya should become a constitutional monarchy and in 1951 the Kingdom of Libya was officially formed. The national assembly elected Libya's first king, Muhammad Idris al-Sanusi, who had been a leader of the Libyan resistance movement against Italy. After decades of monarchy, Libyans are again fighting for their independence and freedom even though they became independent in 1951. They are now in an internal struggle against a tyrannical government. The country's dictator Muammar Gaddafi, once revered as a great colonel has promised not to leave his reign of terror until he dies. With the help of other countries the Libyan people are achieving the true freedom that every person in this world is entitled to.

Preparing a Virtual Workstation Essay

Abstract To be able to launch Windows 7 virtual machine on any computer in our labs without triggering the WGA antipiracy warning. Lab 1 Worksheet: 1 Preparing a Virtual Workstation Question 1: What is the current screen resolution? My current screen resolution is 800Ãâ€"600. I would have prefer this resolution, because I can slide between the virtual machine and my main computer. Question 2: What security advantage does displaying the login screen on resume offer? Some security advantages that displaying the login screen on resume offer is that it offers security from anyone coming along and taking a look at what you were working on. As well as gaining access to your computer and all your data. Question 3: How did changing the theme affect your display? Changing the theme will affect the cursors color, selections and icons. Question 4: What other file type option are available? The other file type options that are available is CD .ISO or DVD .ISO. Conclusion Based on Lab 1, I was able to launch Windows 7 in the virtual machine without triggering the WGA antipiracy. To know how to adjust the current screen resolution and the benefits of having a login screen on resume for security purpose. Finding that changing the theme for personalizing the computer and how to create an .iso image with Roxio Creator DX. References Zacker, Craig. (2012). Windows 7 Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist Exam 70-680. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.