Cultural Diversity And Health Care - 972 Words

Culture can be identified as norms, beliefs and customs that define a specific community or society. In the past centuries, we could determine that culture has adopted a fluid nature. This fluid nature has been facilitated by inter-cultural interactions all over the world. As a result, all institutions in the society have had to adapt to this new cultural character in the 21st century. The health care department has been forefront on ensuring that all of their interactions are sensitive to the various cultures they engage within their operations. Therefore, we can clearly identify the importance of cultural diversity in health care. This is through the fact that the health care institution is dependent on communication. By the basis of sharing the same, language, ethnicity, nationality and religion, culture will be a major determinant in the process of expressing ourselves as individuals or groups (Carter, 1999). Cultural competence is known as the process of applying cultural knowledge, awareness and sensitivity in the process of interacting with the society. Cultural knowledge is identified as the cultural characteristics of a specific individual while cultural awareness is categorized as the process of an individual being open to the idea that each culture defines itself. Likewise, cultural sensitivity recognizes the differences that exist among the defined cultures in the society. It can be easily perceived that cultural, ethnic, and racial disparities exist in allShow MoreRelatedCultural Diversity For The Health Care System1640 Words   |  7 Pagesthe world to adopt multiculturalism as a national policy (Government of Canada, 2012). Since then, Canadians have prided themselves on being accepting of cultural diversity and recognizing equal rights for all citizens, regardless of country of origin (Government of Canada, 2012). However, cultural diversity presents challenges for the health care system as people of various cultures have different expectations and requirements of healthcare (De Miao Kemp, 2010). This is not an issue that is uniqueRead MoreDiversity And Cultural Competency For Health Care1456 Words   |  6 PagesCultural diversity has different meaning to each and every one. Some of us considering cultural diversity to be acquired where for the others it’s a skill that they have to learn. It’s very important that the health care providers are knowledgeable and sensitive to cultural differences because they are the ones to deal with the patients of different background on a daily basis. Being cultural savvy will help them to give the best patient care. For that reason, health care workers must be especiallyRead MoreCultural Diversity : A Health Care Professional1396 Words   |  6 Pages As a health care professional you should be aware of cultural diversity. Cultural diversity is the existence of different ethnic groups in the same society. It is important to be knowledgeable about cultural diversity so you can understand and respect someone else who has their own unique way of doing things in their life. The United States is one of the countries that have the most cultural diversity. One of the cultures that exist in the United States is the Mexican culture. Mexicans come fromRead MoreCultural Diversity in the Health Care Setting Essay1624 Words   |  7 PagesCultural Diversity in the Health Care Setting Cultural diversity in the health care setting is increasing each year. Knowing how to care for patients of different religious and spiritual faiths is essential to providing high-quality, patient-centered care. The author of this paper will research three lesser-known religions; Taoism, Sikhism and Shamanism. Through this paper, she will provide a brief background on each of the three religions and present information regarding spiritual perspectivesRead MoreAddressing Cultural Competence For Improving Healthcare Quality1605 Words   |  7 PagesAddressing Cultural Competence for Improving Healthcare Quality Improving diversity in health care setting is important in patient care. Cultural competence is approach to enhancing healthcare delivery that has been promoted broadly in recent years. By definition cultural competence in health care describes the ability of systems to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs and behaviors, including tailoring delivery to meet patients’ social, cultural, and linguistic needs (BetancourtRead MoreDiversity Is The Changing Demographics And Economics Of Our Growing Multicultural World1309 Words   |  6 Pages Concept paper By Masereh Jallow Topic: Diversity in Nursing Page 1 Topic: Diversity in Nursing Diversity: The changing demographics and economics of our growing multicultural world, and the long-standing disparities in the health status of people from culturally diverse backgrounds has challenged health care providers and organizations to consider cultural diversity as a priority. Culture is one of the organizing concepts upon which nursing isRead MoreApplying Anthropology to Nursing Essay1130 Words   |  5 Pagesbehavior, social life, and health within an anthropological context. It provides a forum for inquiring into how knowledge, meaning, livelihood, power, and resource distribution are shaped and how, in turn, these observable facts go on to shape patterns of disease, experiences of health and illness, and the organization of treatments. It focuses on many different topics including the political ecology of disease, the interface of the micro- and macro-environments that affect health, the politics of responsibilityRead MoreCultural Diversity And It Influence On Nursin g Practice1419 Words   |  6 PagesCultural Diversity and it Influence on Nursing Practice Culture can be defined as a way of life of a group of people such as, belief, behavior, values, customs that they accept and can be passed on from one generation to another. Cultural diversity is the presence of different cultural groups in the society, cultural diversity is something that nurses have to learn and practice every day in their carrier, especially when caring for their patients because, every individual or patient think, act andRead MoreThe Culture Diversity Theory For Nursing Essay1483 Words   |  6 PagesThe Culture diversity theory Providing culturally competent nursing care begins with having basic principle knowledge and effective training us a nursing student. Madeleine Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality defines nursing as a learned scientific and humanistic profession that focuses on patient care, experiences and creative thinking relevant to nursing and health care system. As nurse student in today’s society you will come in contact with a lot of cultural differencesRead MoreDiversity in Healthcare1335 Words   |  6 PagesDiversity in Healthcare Have you ever been to the doctor and dont quite understand what the provider is telling you, or are you a healthcare worker and you dont understand your patients? Should the healthcare provider get diversity training or should they maybe learn new languages? More than ever before, healthcare professionals are subjected to dealing with a number of immense and different cultural diversities. While diversity is often a term used to refer specifically to cultural differences

The Effects Of Lyme Disease On The Geographical...

Introduction Statistics obtained from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention show that there are approximately 300,000 cases of Lyme Disease reported in the United States annually (CDC, 2016). The above data categorizes Lyme Disease as the number one animal carried and vector-borne disease. Vector is a term used to describe a living organism able to carry and spread an infectious disease from either animal to human or human to human (WHO, 2016). Surprisingly, it was not until 1982 that the CDC placed Lyme as an official disease category. Even though the awareness of the Lyme disease increased throughout the years, many people are still unaware of the symptoms, transmission methods as well as the underlying cause of the disease†¦show more content†¦14). Yale scientist Allen Steere is credited as being the first to recognize, name, characterize and treat the affliction that became known as Lyme Disease. The disease was named after the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, where an outbreak of arthritis and juvenile arthritis led two women to seek assistance of medical professionals. Steere was particularly interested in rheumatology. Once he learned about multiple cases of affected patients displaying similar symptoms to those of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, he immediately questioned the diagnosis. He decided to conduct a phone survey among other young affected patients. Upon collecting data, he noticed that these symptoms were also accompanied by a red circular rash. He concluded that the above health issue was caused by an infectious agent (Yannielli Alcamo, 2004, p. 18). Since the city of Old Lyme was established near the Connecticut River, Steere, along with other scientists, initially suspected that the drinking water might have co ntained an infectious agent. However, he soon realized that his hypothesis was not true, since not every member of a family was experiencing the symptoms. Further research found that most cases occurred between spring and summer. He later recalled that some patients reported a tick attachment prior to the

Compare And Contrast The Articles Of Confederation And The Constitution Essay Example For Students

Compare And Contrast The Articles Of Confederation And The Constitution Essay The Constitution of the United States was written as a set of rules forthis country. Many of the rules have helped the country stay in order, but agreat many have been abused and taken out of context. Three provisions in theConstitution that are important to my individual rights and liberties arefreedom of speech, freedom to vote, and that all people should be treatedequally. These rights represent what is important to me and what I believe in. Freedom of speech is an important right to me. It is found under Amendment oneof the Constitution. I am a very outspoken person and I like to speak my mind onissues of all kind. The country I was born in did not guarantee freedom ofspeech. People could be arrested or even killed for expressing their opinion. As adopted, the articles provided only for a firm league offriendship in which each of the 13 states expressly held itssovereignty, freedom, and independence. The People ofeach state were given equal privileges and rights, freedom ofmovement was guaranteed, and procedures for the trials ofaccused criminals were outlined. The articles established anational legislature called the Congress, consisting of two toseven delegates from each state; each state had one vote,according to its size or population. No executive or judicialbranches were provided for. Congress was charged withresponsibility for conducting foreign relations, declaring waror peace, maintaining an army and navy, settling boundarydisputes, establishing and maintaining a postal service, andvarious lesser functions. Some of these responsibilities wereshared with the states, and in one way or another Congresswas dependent upon the cooperation of the states forcarrying out any of them. Four visible weaknesses of thearticles, apart from those of organization, made it impossiblefor Congress to execute its constitutional duties. These wereanalyzed in numbers 15-22 of The FEDERALIST, thepolitical essays in which Alexander Hamilton, JamesMadison, and John Jay argued the case for the U.S. CONSTITUTION of 1787. The first weakness was thatCongress could legislate only for states, not for individuals;because of this it could not enforce legislation. Second,Congress had no power to tax. Instead, it was to assess itsexpenses and divide those among the states on the basis ofthe value of land. States were then to tax their own citizensto raise the money for these expenses and turn the proceedsover to Congress. They could not be forced to do so, and inpractice they rarely met their obligations. Third, Congresslacked the power to control commercewithout its powerto conduct foreign relations was not necessary, since mosttreaties except those of peace were concerned mainly withtrade. The fourth weakness ensured the demise of theConfederation by making it too difficult to correct the firstthree. Amendments could have corrected any of theweaknesses, but amendments required approval by all 13state legislatures. None of the several amendments that wereproposed met that requirement. On the days fromSeptember 11, 1786 to September 14, 1786, New Jersey,Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia had a meeting of theredelegates at the Annapolis Convention. Too few states wererepresented to carry out the original purpose of themeetingto discuss the regulation of interstatecommercebut there was a larger topic at question,specifically, the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. Alexander Hamilton successfully proposed that the states beinvited to send delegates to Philadelphia to render theconstitution of the Federal Government adequate to theexigencies of the Union. As a result, the ConstitutionalConvention was held in May 1787. The ConstitutionalConvention, which wrote the Constitution of the UnitedStates, was held in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787. It wascalled by the Continental Congress and several states inresponse to the expected bankruptcy of Congress and asense of panic arising from an armed revoltShayssRebellionin New England. The conventions assigned job,following proposals made at the Annapolis Convention theprevious September, was to create amendments to theArticles of Confederation. The delegates, however,immediately started writing a new constitution. Fifty-fivedelegates representing 12 states attended at least part of thesessions. Thirty-four of them were lawyers; most of theothers were planters or merchants. Although GeorgeWashington, who pre sided, was 55, and John Dickinsonwas 54, Benjamin Franklin 81, and Roger Shermen 66,most of the delegates were young men in their 20s and 30s. .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 , .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 .postImageUrl , .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 , .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5:hover , .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5:visited , .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5:active { border:0!important; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5:active , .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5 .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ueb79b1f75568aeb3ec974d57cbe911b5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Gathering of Old Men EssayNoticeable absent were the revolutionary leaders of theeffort for independence in 1775-76, such as John Adams,Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson. The delegatesknowledge concerning government, both ideal and practical,made the convention perhaps the most intelligent suchgathering ever assembled. On September 17 theConstitution was signed by 39 of the 42 delegates present. A period of national argument followed, during which thecase for support of the constitution was strongly presented inthe FEDERALIST essays of Alexander Hamilton, John Jay,and James Madison. The last of the 13 states to ratify theConstitution was Rhode Island on May 29, 1790. BIBLIOGRAPHYCategory: History

Segmentation Analysis of Turkish Chocolate Industry

Market segmentation refers to a marketing strategy that divides a broad target market into subsections of customers who have similar wants and interests, and then developing a method of getting them (Majaro 2013). The segmentation analysis involves evaluating factors, such as geographical, demographic, psychographic and behavioural (Majaro 2013).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Segmentation Analysis of Turkish Chocolate Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These factors are significant in understanding how the imported chocolate would be marketed, including the positioning of the product (Alexander, Yach Mensah 2011). Regarding behavioralistic factors, it has been argued that population features have impacts on new products. For example, if Turkish people are nationalistic and patriotic, it would be difficult for them to buy the new products from outside the country (Wilson Mukhina 2011; Peri, Stipevi, G uszak 2009). Wilson and Mukhina (2011, p. 57) argue that the evaluation and selection of products would be affected by psychographic factors. Notably,citizens’ personalities, values, beliefs, motivation, lifestyles and attitudes would affect the purchasing power of imported chocolate, especially if it interferes with their culture (Wilson Mukhina 2011). Demographic factors are vital because they are utilised to determine prices, needs and wants. The age is a key demographic factor because the young concentrates on images, while adults would focus on prices (Peri et al. 2009). Chocolate’s most target markets would the young, implying that the appearance must be attractive. Geographically, the country is strategically located. This indicates that it would be easier for companies from outside to enter into the country (Peri et al. 2009). The positioning of the chocolate market will depend on the population settlement. Porter’s five forces analysis of the Turkey ch ocolate industry Porter’s five forces analysis entails analysing the level of competition in the industry and designing a business strategy. The forces are comprised of factors that are close to a firm and affect its ability to offer services to consumers and make profits (Porter 2008).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The forces are the threat of substitute goods, the peril of established rivals, the danger of new contestants, the bargaining power of distributors and that of consumers (Porter 2008). With regard to Turkey’s chocolate industry, Porter’s five forces analysis is vital. The first factor that porter considers is the consumers’ abilities to bargain. According to him, in situations where products are cheap, consumers are not price sensitive (Porter 2008; Ozilgen 2012). The bargaining power will be critical in determining how frequent the customers will be buying chocolate (Atalaysun 2013). In Turkey, most purchasers are consumers and brokers. Brokers have the most impact for chocolate and other confectioneries. The existence of large retailers would contribute to the struggle for space and the threat of backward incorporation (Ozilgen 2012). The second force is the bargaining power of distributors. Notably, this category of people has impacts on manufactured products in relation to the quality and price of goods. Having a conflict with a supplier might cause issues, which could result in changes. For example, high bargaining capabilities may force a producer to give in to customers’ demands ((Atalaysun 2013; Knezevic, Renko Bach 2011). Struggle among existing competitors is the third force. Lindt special, Ulker Godiva, Patchi, Vakko, Beymen, Pelit Boutigue and Marie Antoinette are the main competitors in the market (Knezevic et al. 2011). The growth rate of the industry is high with 5 % growth rate in devel oped nations and 10 % in the upcoming market, making it very attractive (Knezevic et al. 2011). Figure 1: A graphical representation of Porter’s five forces analysisAdvertising We will write a custom report sample on Segmentation Analysis of Turkish Chocolate Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Due to high competition, there is a likelihood of an increase  in prices, making companies operate on lower margins. Notably, chocolate faces competition from biscuits that are produced in the country (Dogan, Toker Goksel 2011). Thus, it would be important for the company that would be importing it to develop attractive brands. The fourth force is danger of substitute products. This is the case because of the effects chocolate has on the health of people. It is attributed to obesity, and according to studies, 400 million adults were obese worldwide in 2005 (Dogan et al 2011). As a result, many customers have focused on sub stitutions, such as cereal bars, fruit bars and biscuits (Atalaysun 2013). These would be major threats not only to the imported chocolate, but also to the chocolate sector in Turkey (Dogan et al. 2009). To counter the threats, importers should concentrate on adding value, such as vitamins and/or removing fat and sugar to their products (Grundy 2006). Figure 2: Porter’s five competitive forces The last force is the threat of a new entry. It is certain that chocolate sector is controlled by companies that have attractive brands that draw global attention (Grundy 2006).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Arguably, it is difficult for a new organisation to creep in with a new product of chocolate from outside the country, unless it develops new goods that are health friendly. This is for the reason that many customers are loyal to Ulker Godiva, the leading producer in the nation (Atalaysun 2013). Another challenge that the entrant product will face is the existence of traditional deserts. Turkish people are ethnocentric, implying that they like the products from their country, and it might be hard to buy a new product ((Atalaysun 2013; GüldasÃŒ §, Dagdelen Biricik 2008). Therefore, the importing of chocolate would be affected by many factors as aforementioned. The existing traditional deserts and biscuits would be major threats. The introduction of the new product will face stiff opposition from the suppliers who are loyal to Ulker, the leading company in Turkey. References Atalaysun, M, 2013, Sugar and Confectionery Sector, gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Sugar%2 0and%20Chocolate%20Confectionary%20Sector_Istanbul_Turkey_4-29-2013.pdf. Alexander, E, Yach, D, Mensah, GA, 2011, ‘Major multinational food and  beverage companies and informal sector contributions to global food  consumption: implications for nutrition policy’, Globalization and health, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 26-37. Dogan, M, Toker, OS, Goksel, M, 2011, ‘Rheological behaviour of instant hot  chocolate beverage: Part 1. Optimization of the effect of different starches and gums’, Food Biophysics, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 512-518. GüldasÃŒ §, M, Dagdelen, AF, Biricik, GF, 2008, ‘Determination and comparison of  some trace elements in different chocolate types produced in Turkey’, Journal of  food, agriculture environment, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 334-367. Grundy, T 2006, ‘Rethinking and reinventing Michael Porter’s five forces model’,  Strategic Change, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 213-229. Knezevic, B, Renko, B, Bach, MP, 2011, ‘Web as a customer communication  channel in the confectionery industry in South Eastern European countries’,  British Food Journal, vol. 113, no.1, pp. 17-36. Majaro, S, 2013, International Marketing (RLE International Business): A Strategic  Approach to World Markets, Routledge, London, United Kingdom. Ozilgen, S, 2012, ‘Failure Mode and Effect Analysis for confectionery  manufacturing in developing countries: Turkish delight production as a case  study’, Food Science and Technology (Campinas), vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 505-514. Peri, N, Stipevi, VB, Guszak, I, 2009, ‘Perception of chocolate brands in the Czech  market: the case of Dorina’, International Journal of Management Cases, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 80-91. Porter, ME, 2008, ‘The five competitive forces that shape strategy’, Harvard business review, vol.86, no.1, pp. 25-40. Wilson, I, Mukhina, M, 2010, ‘Market segmentation in Russian subsidiaries of FMCG MNEs: Pra ctitioner and academic perspectives’, Marketing Intelligence   Planning, vol. 30, no.1, pp. 53-68. This report on Segmentation Analysis of Turkish Chocolate Industry was written and submitted by user Marc Shelton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Hills Like White Elephants

Hills Like White Elephants Free Online Research Papers Ernest Hemmingway tells the story â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† nearly through pure dialog about two lovers conflicted over a serious decision. As the story progresses and through their tight conversation he reveals to us a great deal about their personalities, but leaves the details of the relationship between the two hidden. He gives his audience just enough information to find out the details of his story through detective work instead of coming outright by writing â€Å"Their relationship has suffered a great deal because of this decision†¦Ã¢â‚¬  etc. He leaves it up to his readers to basically solve the mysteries of his literature, which in return grasps our interest to his work even more. Perhaps this intentional way of writing is the reason for his name being so well known in the literate world. The first thing I thought of while reading the title of this short story was the symbolism of the White Elephant. As many would know, they do not exist unless they were born with an albino deformity. This of course is something unwanted because they burn easily from the sun’s UV rays, thus helping make the white elephant symbolize something unwanted. The same goes as well for humans. And according to www.wikipedia.com, â€Å"A white elephant is a supposedly valuable possession whose upkeep exceeds its usefulness, and it is therefore a liability.† This unwanted issue of our couple is hinted to us through the story as the burden of a possible child. The lack of communication throughout the story creates tension between the American and the girl, whose name is later on revealed to us as Jig. This is seen through many areas of our story such as when Jig talks about how everything tastes the same, and Everything tastes of licorice.† (pg 351). She does not come out and say what is exactly on her mind, but rather hints her frustration immaturely by throwing little fits or being short with her American lover. By being referred to as the girl and by her communicative actions we can assume she is very young, which would make this decision even harder for her. It is clear to us that both the American and Jig have differentiating opinions on what action to take about the abortion. The American refers to the abortion as â€Å"the operation† as if taking the crucial importance away from it. He’s more nonchalant about the ordeal and to him; it’s more of a simple decision than the girl is making it out to be. To him it’s very simple. He believes this annoyance in their lives can be removed and never thought of again. Jig believes that whether or not she keeps the baby their relationship will never be as it once was. â€Å"And once they take it away, (they) could never have it back.† (pg 352). The difference is that the American is unattached because the fetus is not inside him. Jig on the other hand is carrying the life of a possible new human being inside her and feels the natural bond between a mother and her unborn child. The American tries to convince her that the abortion is simple, while Jig feels otherwise. She is tired of traveling and ready to settle down and start a family of her own. She is bored with her current lifestyle and longs for motherhood. The only thing holding her back from this is the disapproval of her man. She is trying to make a more mature outlook on life by debating the possibilities of keeping her child. Once she has come to these conclusions, Ernest Hemmingway gave her a name, instead of calling her just the girl, symbolizing the importance of her becoming a more mature woman able to make wiser decisions. Ernest Hemmingway’s work is so wonderfully written and the way he narrates his stories makes them flow so smoothly. As you stated earlier in class today, every word he uses needs to be there. He does not give us extra to read, but gets straight to the point and makes you really think along the way. He gives us just enough details to spark our imagination and gets us to think while allowing us to get inside the heads of our two main characters. Research Papers on Hills Like White ElephantsThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsMind TravelHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionThe Hockey GameCapital PunishmentThe Spring and AutumnWhere Wild and West Meet19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraStandardized TestingEffects of Television Violence on Children

Writing Wisdom Choosing Your Unique Style

Writing Wisdom Choosing Your Unique Style Writing Wisdom: Choosing Your Unique Style They say writing is like speaking and thinking. From the moment we learn how to form letters into words, we are introduced to the world of expressing ourselves. You can share your thoughts, ideas or what interests you with others poetically, metaphorically, or matter-of-factly (we took a little creative license with that turn of phrase). Pick a book, newspaper or magazine, and you will notice what’s written was done in a style that made the content interesting or boring. Thats why its important to pay attention to the words you write and how you present those words. Choosing the best writing style for your project can elevate your material to a â€Å"worthy read† or a classic. Writers not just professional novelists and historians but anyone who sits down and picks up a pen, need to select a style or form of writing they want to emulate. There are plenty of options to choose: Poems and lyrics: If we want to say something lyrically or rhythmically, whether to turn it into a song with music or say it with flow, this style of expression can be particularly meaningful. It can make language fun or moving, but takes talent, a quick wit, and a strong vocabulary. Tales and Novels: This is an exciting genre to explore. Tales and novels take you away from the current world to a place the author wants you to visit. It could be fiction or nonfiction, but the strength of the narrative lies in how much it involves its reader. Articles and blogs: The concept behind article or blog writing is to share a personal or professional story or experience to the reader. It can be an idea, product, event or a concept that the author wants to share with others and involve them in it by providing information and/or connecting with the reader. News Articles: News articles are a more focused form of writing where the content written informs others about something that happened or is happening. It is an actual event people might want to know about, or need to know about. This is done for the awareness and education of people. The emphasis of the writing is on â€Å"who, what, when, where, why and how.† Biographies and autobiographies: This form of writing delves into one’s own life or the life of someone else and shares the different stages, twists, turns, ups, and downs of it with others for entertainment and/or education. Writing is not limited to the list above there’s a whole new world to explore. Various forms and styles appeal to different authors and potential authors! If you want to explore your inner Dickinson, Hemingway, Shakespeare, Sande or Sartre, give us a

Child Labor and rights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Child Labor and rights - Research Paper Example Despite this practice being illegal, it remains a rampant phenomenon. In some cases, it remains practiced openly (Alan 25). The international Labor Organization places the number of children aged between five and fourteen who are workers in one way or another at an estimated 211 million across the world. Over 120 million children work full time to support their poverty stricken families in places that remain considered as hazardous (Michel 9). It estimates that the Asia/Pacific region hosts the highest number of children laborers at over100 million. Majority of child workers exist in the Sub Saharan region of Africa. It gets estimated that over 26% of the child population that is equivalent to 50 million children get actively involved in work. The International Labor Rights Forum gets actively involved in lobbying to eradicate the practice of child labor all over the world. This gets done through shedding light on imported goods whose manufacturing process involve the participation of child labor, lobbying for creation of crucial policies and legislation governing child labor and by increasing heightened consumer action and awareness (Megha 10). It also promotes the strategies and policies of the International labor organization on child labor. The labor laws with regard to children are dynamic and vary across nations. These labor laws set the rules and regulations that govern workers and work related issues. The minimum age that laborers ought to be, often gets stipulated in these labor laws. Employers get restricted from hiring anyone who does not meet the minimum age requires by the law (Megha 10). This minimum age varies from country to country and also defines the work that gets permitted at that particular age. Countries that ratified the 1973 Minimum age Convention that got convened by the International Labor Organization adopted the minimum age as fixed between the ages of fourteen to sixteen. In the Unites states, Child Labor Laws set the

Organization Needs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Organization Needs - Assignment Example â€Å"Wishes† are different from needs as they basically refer to desires, which are sought to meet an end product. â€Å"Means & Methods† is a technique through which a result can be produced (Kaufman, Rojas, & Mayer, 1993). Kaufman has underlined three basic level of needs: Mega level, which identifies a gap at the societal level, Macro level, which identifies a gap at the organizational level, and Micro level which is concerned with gaps within individuals or groups. The following case study is an example of a consultant who identifies an organizational need of Micro and Macro level. The company, Farradaw Solutions has been providing bespoke solutions through establishing road tunnels, and rail tunnels etc. The company faced challenges when the CEO introduced a new restraining clause in the employment’s contract. Employees started showing resisting behavior and they did not readily accept the change. Frustration grew among employees and even the most competent workers were showing unreasonable behavior and the organization progress started to decline. At this point, the personnel manager took initiative made changes in the organizational set-up but the results were still devastating. She asked a consultant to identify the gaps. The need analysis identified by the HR consultant affirmed that people resisted sudden change, showed ambivalent behavior (Kaufman, Watkins, & Leigh, 2001) when the new clause was introduced. Hence, the basic need, which was identified, was to arrange meetings to make the employees aware of the new changes in the company through ef fective communication so that they understand the reason why the clause was introduced in contracts and to carry out stress management programs for employees who are showing frustration due to pressures at

Walker Evans Essay Example for Free

Walker Evans Essay Walker Evans was born on November 3, 1903 to Walker Evans II and Jessie Crane. He belonged from a well to do family who had a good earning back ground. He was best known for his documentation on the Great Depression. Most of his work was done from a 810 inch Camera. He died on April 10, 1975. Walker Evans was both an excellent art photographer and a great documentary photographer when he was working for the FSA photography unit in the 1930s. Perhaps this resemblance between documentary and modernist art photography can be explained by an analogy: modernists apply the documentary impulse to the world of nature, objects, and architecture by finding fresh visions of things that have been ignored, devalued, or taken for granted just as documentary photographers present new insights about people who have been ignored, devalued, or taken for granted. (Rachleff, Melissa, 7-8) Of all the documentary photographers, Walker Evans attracted the greatest attention. The issue his critics were most concerned with was that of the style less style. This was appropriate because Evans strove for the appearance of stylelessness. It was a concept he had gotten from reading Flaubert during his time in Paris in the mid-twenties. Evans said he admired Flauberts realism and naturalism both, and his objectivity of treatment; the non-appearance of the author, the non-subjectivity. (Rachleff, Melissa, 9) He did not take Flauberts apparent objectivity literally, however, nor did he have any pretense to objectivity himself. What Flaubert showed Evans was that art could adopt a style that mimicked the objective manner of strictly utilitarian documents without sacrificing aesthetic taste? Evans could adopt a documentary style without giving up his standards of formal design. I cant stand a bad design or a bad object in a room, (Rachleff, Melissa, 11) he said, and when something was wrong, he changed it. He also occasionally arranged people into what appear to be candid compositions, and when shooting interiors, he often used a flash, although he disguised its effects in his prints. Evanss critics in the thirties were fooled. They were ready to believe that he had achieved a truly style less style. Lincoln Kirstein, who helped organize a major show of Evanss work at the Museum of Modern Art in 1938 and who also wrote the after word for the accompanying book, American Photographs, led the way in establishing the myth of Evanss stylelessness? The greatest photographers, Kirstein said, achieve a large quality of eye and a grand openness of vision that, rather than giving their work the mark of individual distinction, gives it a generalized look as if it were all the creation of the same person or even, perhaps, the creation of the unaided machine. (Lincoln Kirstein, 192) In Kirsteins estimation, Evans was precisely this kind of great photographer. He recognized the futility of developing emotional response for its own sake, and he saw the significance of focus matter. In fact, said Kirstein, it is the creative selection of subject matter that really counts in photography, and in Evanss work, the wave-length of his Kirstein went on to discuss the frontality that gives Evanss work such a powerful sense of objectivity: The most characteristic single feature of Evans work is its purity, or even its puritanism. It is `straight photography not only in technique but in the rigorous directness of its way of looking. All through the pictures in this book you will search in vain for an angle-shot. Every object is regarded head-on with the unsparing frankness of a Russian ikon or a Flemish portrait. The facts pile up with the prints. (Lincoln Kirstein, 192) In fact, there are a few angle shots in American Photographs, but the point is well taken. Evanss frontal views appear clinical. Other reviewers of American Photographs echoed Kirsteins assessment. Thomas Dabny Mabry, an associate director at the Museum of Modern Art who had helped organize Evanss show there, wrote, Seemingly he arranges nothing, changes nothing, implies nothing. . . . The purity of Evanss work is not only apparent in the straight, unadorned technique, but in the point of view. . . . [The photographs] are never staged. He shows in all his work a reverence for the inviolable history of the object before him. Martha Davidson described Evans as almost always coldly objective and his pictures as free from falsification, exaggeration or distortion. (Thompson, J. , 149) Kirstein acknowledged, in passing, the influence on Evans of Stendhal, Flaubert, Degas, and Seurat, and in so doing he hinted that Evans had deliberately created his style. But the brief suggestion of an artistic personality was quickly obscured by a return to the theme of unvarnished truth: The pictures of men and portraits of houses have only that `expression which the experience of their society and times has imposed on them. (Thompson, J. L, 192) Kirstein also saw a moral component in Evanss work. He described Evans as a member revolting from his own class, who knows best what in it must be uncovered, cauterized and why. The societal sores Evans saw were the same wounds of industrialization that Stieglitz and his circle had protested. Kirstein wrote of the exploitation of men by machinery and machinery by men, (Lincoln Kirstein, 193) and of the vulgarity of mass culture. Although this tone of social criticism is unmistakable in Evanss pictures, his book is not a call to action; it is not a book that points to problems that can be solved by abolition of the sharecropper system, the establishment of work projects or migrant labor camps. It is rather suggested a book that testifies to waste, selfishness, and internal cultural rot. Testifying to these ills was, in itself, a moral act. This was not a view shared by everyone. For Edward Alden Jewell, Evanss testimony appeared so clinically detached as to be purely aesthetic and not moral at all. Jewell apparently saw in Evans something akin to the aesthetic vision described by Roger Fry, a vision that takes in everything with complete equanimity, without moral responsibility, completely freed from the binding necessities of our actual existence. Any moral implications drawn from Evanss pictures, said Jewell, are the spectators, not Evanss. (Blinder, Caroline, 149) Lionel Trilling also addressed the issue of Evanss moral vision in a review of Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, a book of photographs by Evans and Agee that presented Evanss photographs without any captions, followed by Agees lengthy text detailing the lives of three families of white, Alabama tenant farmers. Trillings review of the book is one of the few that gives equal weight to Evanss photographs and Agees text. The question he asks regarding both is how is the middle class to feel about the underprivileged? Trilling concludes that Agee, motivated by guilt, ennobles and thus falsifies the image of his subjects. He is able to acknowledge some of their very obvious faults, such as their racism, but he cannot acknowledge any of the more subtle manifestations of meanness of spirit that Trilling is certain are present in these people, just as they are present in any group of people. Trilling does not suggest that Evans does reveal the sharecroppers meanness, but he judges Evans to be more truthful than Agee and more tasteful, by which he means more tactful, just, aware, and respectful. Trilling is unusual in that he claims no objective detachment for Evans: You cannot be cool about misery so intense, (Blinder, Caroline, 150) he writes. Unlike other critics, he sees that Evanss rendition of the truth is a product of his intense interaction with his subject and not the result of a clinical eye. Trilling confesses that he cannot analyze Evanss taste and cannot say what the morality of his vision is made of in technical and aesthetic terms, but he does, nevertheless, point out one significant aspect of Evanss moral vision. Referring to the portrait of Mrs. Gudger, which impressed him more than any other, Trilling explains that by allowing his subject to compose herself before the camera, Evans allowed her to defend herself against itas she would not have been able to do had the picture been candid-and in so doing, she gained dignity. Trilling wrote, With all her misery and perhaps with her touch of pity for herself, [she] simply refuses to be an object of your `social consciousness; she refuses to be an object at alleverything in the picture proclaims her to be all subject. (Blinder, Caroline, 151) Evans enhanced the sense of truth in his art not through the illusion of the style less style, but by acknowledging his presence, by showing his hand. In addition to the morality of clear vision, one can recognize in Evanss pictures a set of permanent symbols of the culture. Kirstein was not claiming for Evanss photographs the transcendent universality that Stieglitzs critics claimed for his pictures, but he did see Evanss work as transcending the moment. Evanss pictures as quintessential examples of synecdoche such that the single house, the single street, strikes with the strength of overwhelming numbers. The work is a monument to our moment. (Lima, Benjamin, 102) The pictures in American Photographs showed bumps, warts, boils and blackheads of the American physiognomy, and that these were the characteristics of a submerged fraction of the culture rather than representative of the whole. Williamson did not question the truthfulness of any of the individual pictures Evans published, but he did imply that Evanss choices of subjects revealed a political bias. But Williamsons has been a minority view. As John Szarkowski wrote in 1971, Beyond doubt, the accepted myth of our recent past is in some measure the creation of this photographer, whose work has persuaded us of the validity of a new set of clues and symbols bearing on the question of whom we are. Whether that work and its judgment was fact or artifice, or half of each, it is now part of our history. (Lima, Benjamin, 103) Bibliography †¢ Rachleff, Melissa, Scavenging the Landscape: Walker Evans and American Life. Journal Title: Afterimage. Volume: 23. Issue: 4. Publication Year: 1996. Number: 7+.

Joy of Cooking :: essays papers

Joy of Cooking A creative interest I have is cooking with pastries, seafood and poultry. Preparing food can be fun. All I need is just a little imagination and time. Pastries are dessert that are severed for special occasions and after a meal. Pastries are special due to the fact each one tastes and looks different. The creative format comes from the chef. Since I am the one who cooks in my house, I must prepare each dish tasteful and attractive. For example, I was thinking of a creative cake for my daughters&rsquo birthday. I decide to make her a choo choo train cake. The way I want to present this dish is by making it look like a toy train with zoo animals standing near by. The idea of this dish is to make the train look similar to the candy house in the story, "Hansel and Gretel". The first step was to add food coloring to the icing. She was excited. "Mommy, can I mix the colors?" Next, I decorated the cake board with grated coconut. I add green food coloring to the grated coconut. Jessica said, " Mommy, that looks like grass." Then, I decorated the carts of the train with different color icing. For example, I placed green, blue, and red icing on each of the carts. When I finished decorating the carts, I placed them on the black licorice train tracks. When I was finished with placing the carts on the track, Jessica and I arranged assorted candy all over the train. Another creative idea I had was to cook with the children in after school care at William Lehman Elementary. For example, I had decided to make an orange shake with them to celebrate Halloween. The first step I created, was to add orange sherbet ice cream. Next, I add cream soda to the float. When I was finished the shake, I placed one chocolate chip cookie inside of the float. Cooking creativy with seafood is another outstanding process. When cooking shrimp, I must prepare each shrimp to the procedure I want. For example, when preparing Chinese Fried Rice, I cook every item separately. For instance, this dish requires shrimp. This dish I peel each shrimp. Then I season the shrimp with soy sauce. Then, I stir fry them. When I cook this dish, I add everything in a bowl. Once the Chinese rice is cooked, I prepare the platter. For instance, I chop up green onions and place them around the Chinese Rice. Then I slice thin piece of oranges and locate then around the green onion.

Book Review on The Lucky One Essay

In the blink of an eye, something happens by chance – when you least expect it sets you on a course that you never planned, into a future you never imagined. What if someone had saved your life before you even met? How far will you travel to find love? Will you engage in a journey of love and luck that will change your life forever? Will you take the quests to happiness when you know to yourself that you will be taking risks and that the journey you will take is a trial-and-error thing? For him, that was all possible. He was a wonderful man. And when a man is that special, you know it sooner than you think possible. You recognize it instinctively; there will never be another one like him. He was Logan Thibault, a one of a kind man who sets out a journey to find a girl, who was believed to be his lucky charm. Meeting her embarks the roller coaster ride of love, luck, fortune, romance and big secrets. Literary Work and Comment The literary work of Nicholas Sparks is a brilliant one. He had narrated a story of love and romance, of luck and journey. But like any other stories, this depicts lives of people. This is less dreamy and is more realistic even at times pragmatic – in spite of the belief in a lucky charm. The story revolves around the life of a U.S. Marine during his third tour of duty in Iraq and the photograph he had found. That was a photo of a smiling young woman half buried in the dirt. His first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm. Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives. Theme and Purpose This story is melodramatic and is more realistic. The author has always written stories where happiness and tragedy meet, full of little coincidences that may change people’s lives forever. The stories he wrote often are sentimental, since they are always about quests for love and romance and all about sadness as well. The author had presented us how a marine lived his life during the times when he was on a duty in Iraq. A lot of scenes in the novel were inspired with the timely events that had happened in Iraq back in 2008. During that time, that war in Iraq dominated the front pages of newspapers and is headlines on almost all television networks all over the world. But then, what the author is pointing out here is that stories about military men and personnel are often personal and focuses on their families or the struggles they faced upon returning home. Thus, the author wanted the readers to have a picture on their minds on what a marine officer is encountering mainly the preparations before the war, during the battle and after their duties. The author wanted us to be more aware on how a marine fought battles. He wanted his readers to experience, even by just reading his work, how to deal things when you are in a real battle in a vast battlefield. Bottom line of it all, the author wanted us to picture out strengths and determination from the main characters of the story. He wanted us to know and feel that pursuance on a certain thing you are into could give you a prosperous life. He is giving us an example, for us to reflect on ourselves, how to deal with problems. Problems are our enemies and every day we are dealing with it. We are living in a great battle field and for you to win and conquer it all, we must have strengths in ourselves and be determined enough to pursue everything we ought to do. We must believe that we can beat every problem that will come in our way. This are just spices in gaining a fruitful life ahead. Techniques Used The author had offered us a good story line. This story is surely be loved by avid romance novel readers most especially because of the beautiful plot he had created. The twists and turns of events are unpredictable that will surely make you crave for more of his works. The very first thing I had noticed was the flashback technique the author had used which is very common for all stories; using this may not let readers enjoy because they already know this kind of technique. So he had come up with a technique that you will notice from this certain novel and that is by using the voice of the characters. The author is writing in the limited third-person omniscient, thus allowing the reader to feel almost â€Å"first-person† closeness with the character, while still allowing all the characters to participate. Each chapter is told through the perspective of a single character. For example, in chapters labeled â€Å"Thibault,† only Thibault’s thoughts are included. Anything another character does is seen through his perspective, one that Thibault must only assume. If he’s talking to Beth, he can intuit what she’s thinking, but the readers are never allowed to know for sure. Until, of course, the next chapter arrives (perhaps labeled â€Å"Beth†) where she might reflect on what she’d actually been thinking. It’s a powerful form of writing and the author had used it effectively. He had overcome the challenge to make each character’s voice distinct enough to be immediately recognizable. In other words, the readers were able to â€Å"know† who’s talking, even if the chapter hadn’t been labeled at all. There was a learning curve associated with this. It made the development of the relationship between Thibault and Beth a bit more difficult (since it was only through one person’s eyes at any given time), but on the other hand, it made the characters themselves a bit easier to craft. And some voices were more difficult than others. Then, of course, there’s the challenge of keeping the story â€Å"linear.† That’s a bit tougher to do when writing with this form of literary voice. This kind of technique used by the author is somewhat confusing at first but as you go on reading the story, you will gradually understand and grasp the technique implied. It is so great that someone had done this kind of technique in writing because not all writers, regardless of what genre they are into, are good in narrating stories with this kind of technique. Opinion This is a great story indeed. Nicholas Sparks had written such a beautiful romance novel. His work is elevated by a very persuasive manner of storytelling. Readers are not expected to read his books because they are true but because they ought to be true. The story is very well plotted. The sequencing of events as well as the techniques used is very much commending. Sparks writes in such a way that it keeps you informed, seduced, captivated, and never bored. The chapters move along swiftly and it is written so well that you are not struggling to make it through each chapter. Each chapter would focus on a particular character and the chapter would be titled with their name: Thibault, Beth or Clayton. I loved that we got to delve into every characters lives. Everyone was explored with the same amount of back story. You never felt a lack of information. The storyline stays true and builds to an exciting climax. Sparks knows how to build a story and keep a reader anxiously turning pages. This is my first time to read a Nicholas Sparks novel and I surely bet this wouldn’t be the last because I had enjoyed reading it. The way he presented his work to his readers is so much appealing that you will surely crave for more.

Love and Patriotism Essay

Patriotism is a frame of mind in which one loves one’s country and is proud of it. It is a vigorous feeling of love, loyalty and support for one’s country especially in defense against its enemies. It means that one should give more value and importance to one’s country than to one’s own self. It makes one bound for certain responsibilities, and these responsibilities are ideological commitment and dedication to the defense and prosperity of one’s country. â€Å"Only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. (Nathan Hale) Man is a social animal. It is hard for him to breathe in isolation. Contact with his fellow beings is inevitable for mutual growth and economic development. Patriotism creates unity among the people for a noble cause and trains them to tolerate one and other and sacrifice for the country. â€Å"Soldiers die not in hatred but in love.† (Anonymous) Patriotism is a virtue that converts a mob into nation. Nations rise and prosper if their individuals are united by a cord of love, sympathy and sincerity. People learn to honor the freedom and independence of their country. They learn that they can prosper and progress if they have a deep natural relation with their country. Birds fly towards their nests, children rush to take refuge in the lap of their mothers and human beings move towards their homes for peace and shelter, and so is our country that gives us protection and peace. It is a sort of heaven for us. We should try our best to make it beautiful, secure, strong and peaceful. Our existence definitely depends on the existence and survival of our dear homeland. We can do so if we have an ultimate faith in our country. We must not undermine our relationship and association which we have with our homeland by birth. â€Å"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.† (Mareus) Disciplined armed forces, hardworking and skillful craftsmen, diligent and committed women, and ambitious students have only one aim and that is to serve their country. They believe that their personal achievement will benefit not only themselves but also their country. They want to raise the flag of their country because they have a strong sense of patriotism. Love works wonders. Miracles are not beyond us if we are fired with the passion of patriotism. Patriotism fills us with a magnetic force which overcomes all our petty differences of languages and creeds.

The Theology of the Psalms

The Theology of the Psalms Free Online Research Papers The Theology of the Psalms Reading the book of Psalms is always beneficial because there is always a passage that the reader can relate to at that time. If he is going through difficult times and is looking for comfort, they are there. If he is full of joy and is looking for the words to describe his feeling, they are there. The Psalms show several different forms of worship compiled together in one book. When reading The Book of Psalms, one will notice that God accepts praises in different ways, from different kinds of people. There are different ways of reading the Psalms to get the most from each passage. Also, reading the Psalms with the proper knowledge from the beginning, may keep the reader from getting false meanings or interpretations. Worship does not have to be performed in large groups of people or contain â€Å"magic words†. Worship is about dialogging with God, and there are many ways one can do that. These ways can be seen in different recurring â€Å"themes† all throughout The Book of Psalms. First, lets look at how the Psalms should be read. According to the book The Psalms for the Common Reader, by Mary Ellen Chase, there are three primary things to look at when reading The Book of Psalms. The first is the Poetic Structure of the psalms. The psalms in the Bible are old poems. They were not written the same way that modern poems are written today. They do not use rhymes or meters as we know it in forms of English poetry. However, they did use â€Å"a clearly recognizable rhythm which was really metrical since it was based on accented words, that is, on a measured beat of long and short syllables.† The author goes on to describe how Hebrew poetry was written. â€Å"there are often, if not usually three stresses to a line, that is, three words which receive the beat, or accent; but so many differing mixtures occur that no safe and sure pattern is conclusive. Repetition is the literary feature that is present in the Psalms, as in all other Hebrew poetry. She writes , â€Å"To them, once is not enough.† To show emphasis on what they were saying, Hebrew poets would repeat things as many as four times in a succession of often tumultuous lines. Repetition has been known since the mid-eighteenth century as parallelism. It also appears in Egyptian, Assyrian, Canaanite, and Babylonian poetry and was also common in the literature of the Middle Eastern peoples. There are three types of parallelism, developed by the English scholar Robert Lowth. Synonymous parallelism is the most frequently used type in the Psalms. This is where the second line repeats the first line. Here is an example of Synonymous Parallelism: Hear this, all ye people! Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world! The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Another parallelism is Antithetic. In this, the second line represents an antithesis to the first. Here is an example of Antithetic Parallelism: Weeping may endure for a night, But joy cometh in the morning. Synthetic parallelism is the second most common parallelism used in the Psalms. It is used when the second line supplements or completes the first by giving some result or consequence of the first line. Usually, the cause or consequence follows the act or the thought: I cried unto the Lord with my voice, And he heard me out of His holy hill. However, sometimes, the consequence or cause is inverted: I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Over time, more types of parallelism have been developed, but most are only minor variations of the three kinds originally developed. Not only should the Poetic Structure be focused on, but the Thoughts and Ideas as well. The author writes that â€Å"The Hebrew mind†, the author writes, â€Å"was not, in general, philosophical, at least in a speculative, theoretical sense†. She does not mean to say that the Hebrew prophets and poets were not sensitive and reflective. What she does mean, is that they were not given to speculation or to theory about religious and philosophical questions in that objective, abstract manner which was characteristic of the philosophical mind. In general, the Hebrew poets provide certainty in place of doubt. The author believes that the Psalms portray this character of the Hebrew mind more than any other Old Testament writings. In several Psalms, God assesses anthropomorphic traits, at least in metaphor. Some passages give God a mouth, arms, ears, nostrils and feet. He laughs, smites, slays, shouts, whets a sword, shoots arrows, etc.. However, the psalms also show that ther e are so many other conceptions of god in His spiritual attributes, giving him anthropomorphic traits only in the form of metaphor. It is very important to see how the writers of the Psalms viewed the world of human affairs. To them, sins were transgressions against God in the performing of wrong or unjust acts or even in the thought of such a performance. Many of the writers of the Psalms recognize such a transgression and beg Gods forgiveness and redemption. The author states that in Psalm 19, God is seemingly remote and close, tangible and yet intangible. According to the author, the Psalmists believe that man knows who God is, not just by observing His wonders or obeying His statutes, but by searching the heart in order to see whether he himself is acceptable in his own life or whether his sins of presumption and indifference can blind his vision of God. Finally, it is also important to pay attention to the Literary Devices when reading The Book of Psalms. The author used the word devices instead of traits because traits â€Å"is too large and inclusive a word for my desired aims, which are to show the ways and means employed by the best of the psalmists to endow their songs an poems with enduring life, even with a liveliness and an excitement still read and vibrant after more than two thousand years.† These devices include the use of similes and metaphors, repetition, imagery, swift changes in sentence structure, the employment of the question, comparison and contrast, and variety in stress and in length of line. To the people of Israel, the sea was a huge mystery. Even though they lived along the Mediterranean Sea, they knew little about it. In the Psalms, there are very few references to the sea in relation to God, and those references are expressions of awe, wonder and even fear. Instead, they compared God to the mountain s, which they knew much more about and loved. Because trees were scarce in the land of Israel, rocks were meant for shade and rest from the extreme heat of the desert. God also knows the beasts of the earth and birds of the air, and He cares for them. The psalmists acknowledges this and used it in their writings. The use of questions is also quite common in the Psalms. Here is an example of the use of questions: Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? God is also compared to a father frequently throughout the Psalms. Like as a father to pitieth his children, So the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. These literary devices are important to know in order to make sure that the reader does not get any false meaning or create any interpretations that are not the truth Now, lets look at the previously mentioned recurring â€Å"themes† throughout The Book of Psalms. According to the book A Christian Handbook to the Psalms, by R.E.O. White, there are six main recurrent themes of Psalms. These themes are made up of dominant questions, attitudes, assumptions reoccur, reflecting the background of history and faith that they share. The first of these themes is Complaint. The Book of Psalms reveals a great deal of hardship, conflicts, sicknesses and many other major types of difficulties. These difficulties, as the author of this book states it, â€Å"lends a somber color to the religious life† in several Psalms. The following are some examples of these kinds of Psalms: â€Å"I cry with my voice to the Lord† (142:1), In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted† (77:2), â€Å"I eat ashes like bread, and mingle tears with my drink† (102:9), â€Å"Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint† (64:1). These psalms sometimes lead to self-pity and despair, asking â€Å"Lord, why?† and â€Å"Lord, how long?† They are the opposite of wishful thinking, rejecting the pretense that everything goes well for the religious. The second of these themes is Deliverance and Vindication. Usually, the authors of the psalms plea for comfort or for sympathy rather than deliverance and vindication. An example of a Deliverance and Vindication psalm is â€Å"It is time for the Lord to act, for thy law has been broken† (119:126) Other examples are (Psalms 10;35:24; 27:64; 140 and 149). They use terms like â€Å"Awake, Lord!† and â€Å"Arise, Lord!† very often. The author states that the next theme is Worship. â€Å"One of the most illuminating lines of study has concerned the use of the psalms in the later liturgy of the temple and synagogue worship.†, says the author. He tells us that the heading of Psalm 92 reminds us that Jewish tradition was also associated with the first day of the Jewish week. Also, Psalm 48 with the second, Psalm 82 with the third, Psalm 94 with the fourth, Psalm 81 with the fifth and 93 with the sixth. The Book of Psalms also contains plainly stated liturgical instructions concerning use on ritual occasions. For example, â€Å"A Psalm for the memorial offering† (Psalms 38 and 70) recall the â€Å"meal offering† from Leviticus 2:2-9, suggesting song during the burning of incense. The author suggests that Psalms 24:7-10; 100; and 118:19-27 have to do with ceremonial processions which figured in Jewish worship. He also mentions others that support his belief. Also, he mentions Psalm 51 as being â€Å"an intensely personal expression of penitence, rooted surely in an individuals experience of sin ad remorse.† However, the destruction of Jerusalem (Referenced in Psalm 51:18-19) is referred to, contradicting the whole spirit of the psalm. He believes that this proves that an â€Å"originally individual confession has passed into wider use as a congregational act, fitting for some such occasion as the Day of Atonement or during national disaster. The next theme of the psalms is Enthronement. These provide one example of the use of psalms in public worship. They make a great deal of references to the royalty and the kinship of God. He references Psalms 2; 18; 93 and 97 to support this statement. In the psalms, God is mentioned as the enthroned king of Israel eighteen times, as well as statements like â€Å"The Lord is King† (six times), and â€Å"The Lord reigns† (seven times). Another reoccurring theme in the psalms is God and Nature. Aspects are mentioned all throughout the Book of Psalms and it gives glory to God, recognizing him as the one who made everything. â€Å"The changing moods of Nature, the moving seasons- seed-time rains, â€Å"thirst†, harvest, â€Å"renewal of the earth† the miracle of day and night, and the coursing sun and stars are all faithfully described.†, the author writes. God also is described in ways relating to nature. For example, his voice is the thunder, his energy is behind the wind, his thought is in the beauty, his power is within the storm, his wrath sends the tempest, his generous gifts or judgments are seen at harvest time. The authors of these psalms helped to teach us that the world is about us in our Fathers world, given to us to be our home, delight and a constant reminder of Himself. The last theme that the author mentions is Wisdom. A few psalms, according to the author, â€Å"betray the influence of a fraternity or school of thought in Judaism that tended to make less of tradition, law, ritual and worship than of good living and high thinking as the essence of religion†. He supports this statement, saying that this outlook can be seen in the books of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. The author writes, â€Å"To speak of psalms having the style of the wisdom literature (e.g., Pss. 1 and 32) may mean little more than this is expressed in the way that, later, wisdom writers would come to say things† However, occasionally, the teaching itself seems nearer to the outlook of the â€Å"wisdom school† than to more traditional Judaism. (e.g., Psalms 37 and 111). Based on this book, one can conclude that God accepts all kinds of praises. The praises do not have to be in large congregational settings, nor do they have to be individual. They do not hav e to follow a specific guideline or contain special words, titles or phrases. The Book of Psalms shows its readers that God is not closed off from His people; that he hears them when they speak to Him, and that he answers their prayers. Psalms: 4, 5, and 20 are good examples of His hearing and answering of prayer. His provision and His openness to His people shows that He is a God of tremendous love. A Psalm that specifically mentions the love of God is Psalm 118. It also makes it very clear that God is the Lord of everything. He has provided for His children, and He has also delivered them. Several Psalms show this attribute of Gods character: Psalms 3, 13, 18, 27, 30, 31, 43, 44, 71, and 118. God has done amazing things for His people that no one else could ever do. God also loves to hear His people worship Him. He takes delight in it. God is a God of justice. He is a God who is merciful, but He is not hesitant to punish sin and disobedience. Examples of Gods justice and righteousness can be found in Psalms 17, 71, 75, 76, 97 and 113. Psalms 7 and 9 revea l the Righteousness of God. The Psalms tell us that God is in control and that He is our strength in hard times. This is shown in Psalms 11, 13, 18, 27, 40 and 77. God is also faithful to His people (Psalms 117 and 118). In conclusion, The Book of Psalms is a great way to see who God is, relate to the writers through its diverse topics, and worship God for who He is. Research Papers on The Theology of the PsalmsMind TravelBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionTrailblazing by Eric AndersonThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenStandardized Testing19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHip-Hop is Art

Language and Citizenship

Language and Citizenship Language and Citizenship Language and Citizenship By Maeve Maddox Most countries have an â€Å"official† language. Several have more than one. Government business and schools are conducted in the official language. Official documents are printed in the official language. Knowledge of the country’s official language is usually one of the stated requirements for citizenship. For example, here are some language requirements I found in naturalization guidelines available on the web: Canada Be able to communicate in one of Canada’s official languages. France Provide proof of adequate knowledge of the French language. Germany Be able to speak German to B1 standard in the Common European Framework of Reference. Mexico Prove knowledge of Spanish and Mexican history. UK Be able to communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic to an acceptable degree. USA Pass an English test Just how stringently the language requirement is enforced varies from place to place. Knowledge of Japanese is not specifically mentioned in the guidelines I found on line, but because an applicant for citizenship must complete the process entirely in Japanese, it’s unlikely that anyone could achieve citizenship without considerable fluency in the language. The UK has only recently required applicants for citizenship to provide proof they can speak the local language at the B1 level; the outcry against the stiffer requirements is still in progress. A speaker at the B1 level can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken. can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. Under a new rule, Canada now requires something similar to the European B1: â€Å"applicants [for citizenship] must provide objective evidence that they meet the language requirement, achieving the Canadian Language Benchmark/Niveau de compà ©tence linguistique canadien 4 speaking and listening, when they file their application.† The United States government, on the other hand, is not only very generous in providing test waivers, but it doesn’t provide much of a test to those who can’t claim exemption. A new citizen commenting at the Business Week site describes his experience: I prepared for three months for this exam. [] For the reading part of the exam, I was asked to read the following sentence: Today is a sunny day. For the writing part of the exam, I was asked to write the following words: Today is a sunny day. [] I was flat out insulted. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to expect immigrants who plan to spend the rest of their lives in a country to learn to speak the country’s language of government and education. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†Story Writing 101Words That Begin with Q

Literature Review - Forms of Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Literature Review - Forms of Business - Essay Example Because of this, an accountant must understand the different forms of business so they are able to provide the best information for the particular business. There are many different types of business structures. These include sole proprietorships, partnerships, and limited liability companies. In order for an accountant to do well with business, he or she needs to understand how each of these business structures work. Relationship of the Topic to Future Career Goals I have chosen this topic because accountants are needed all over the world. Many organizations provide many services for profit. Of course, accountants are also needed in the non-profit sector so the prospects for careers are endless. Many companies have gone bankrupt because they did not do well with their money. For example, companies like Enron, Qwest, and others had problems because they did not handle their financial affairs well. Because of this, an accountant can specialize in many different areas. An individual co uld decide to become a financial accountant, a managerial accountant or a cost accountant (Peavler, 2013). The field of accounting seems very open and it seems more dependent on an individual’s decision as to which aspect of the field they choose as a career. I wanted to investigate the different business structures and focus on the advantages and disadvantages of each one. Accounting is a basic principle of economics and can be viewed on different levels. For example, a company will use accounting, but an individual may also use an accountant to take care of everyday needs. Many people use accounting for calculating their taxes, making decisions, and understanding their stocks and bonds. This literature review will continue to develop the differences between the business structures and provide an understanding of the main characteristics and the advantages and disadvantages of each of these structures. Sole Proprietorship A sole proprietorship is generally the organizational structure that someone takes who is just beginning a start-up company. This allows the individual to have a business name and use their own social security number or register with a business number. A sole proprietorship allows an individual to operate as a business and to take all the profits. One person runs the business and therefore is responsible for any losses or debts that the business incurs. Advantages of a Sole Proprietorship The literature review provides a variety of ways that a sole proprietorship has its advantages and relates to accounting. Amato (2013) states that sole proprietorships need to do succession planning although they are the only ones running the business. Amato states that sole proprietors must understand that there is a need for them to name someone who will take over the business when they want to leave it, if they are not selling it. Hendrix (2012) states that a sole proprietorship is the easiest form of business to start because the owner and the bu siness are the same entity. LaMance (2012) states several advantages of a sole proprietorship. The owner does not have to do separate business tax forms, sole proprietors can hire employees and they can receive tax breaks for hiring people. Also, the owner of the business is the only one responsible for making decisions in the business. Disadvantages of Sole Proprietorship LaMance (2012) states that there several disadvantages of sole proprietorsh

Michael Porter, Competitive Advantage ( Please see the assignment Coursework

Michael Porter, Competitive Advantage ( Please see the assignment criteria ) - Coursework Example At a certain point of time (during the year 1981) the bank chose to capture the market of wholesale credit. The bank although succeeded in achieving its aim but the achievement of leadership position in this loan segment could not be transformed into competitive advantage. Conversely, this strive towards leadership made the bank grant even those loans which other banks were not granting at that point of time to the borrowers. Thus, the bank got involved in escalation of cost and gradually the bank became ineffective (Porter, 1998). The bank failed to transform its leadership strategy into competitive advantage because the structure of the industry did not support leadership (University of Pennsylvania, 2011). For achieving the competitive position, the bank should have focused on attaining both differentiation as well as cost leadership. Leadership indicated that the bank had to deal with various corporations which are quite large and are sensitive towards prices of the loans. The po or position of the bank made various wholesale operators withdraw their funds from the bank that left the bank in a situation of liquidity disaster.

Contract Negotiations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Contract Negotiations - Research Paper Example Finally, the conclusion will sum up the thesis as well as the findings. A contract is a lawful agreement involving two or more parties. This means that contract negotiation is a process of talking about the stipulations of the agreement to reach a specified goal. Before attempting to negotiate a contract, one need to identify the main objectives for entering into the agreement, research on the present contract laws, build trust with the negotiators, and prepare for the entire negotiation by getting important figures and facts. Contract negotiators have immense skills and knowledge that help them to acquire a more appropriate and constructive contract for their clients (Garrett, 2005, pp. 18-21). Therefore, under the theoretical foundation, this treatise aims at describing the main areas of knowledge and skills that are important to ensuring success of a contract negotiator. It also details one strategy that an effective negotiator ought to consider to achieve a favorable contract. In addition, under the discussion part, relevant implications in regard t o contract negotiation will be analyzed. This discourse concludes that effective communication, critical thinking, active listening, legal and technical understanding, management, and social perceptiveness are some of the skills and knowledge that are required to guarantee a constructive contract. Research shows that the main job of a contract negotiator is to maximize value for their employers. Therefore, they need to be highly competent and possess particular skills and knowledge that are in accordance to their line of work. For instance, one of the main qualifications that they need to have to ensure a favorable contract is impeccable communication skills. This means that they must effectively articulate the needs of the organization and be in a position to win more clients. Moreover, they need to have a rich ground for knowledge and be critical thinkers. In that

Content-based Image Retrieval With Ant Colony Optimization

Content-based Image Retrieval With Ant Colony Optimization Content-based image retrieval with skin tones and shapes using Ant colony optimization Introduction: Due to the enormous pool of image data, a plenty of data to be sort out has lead the way for analyzing and dig up the data to acquire likely worthwhile information. Heterogeneous fields cover from commercial to military desire to inspect data in a systematic and quick manner. Outstandingly in the area of interactive media, images have the stronghold. There is no sufficient tools are available for examination of images. One of the points at issue is the effective pinpointing of features in the likeness and the other one is extracting them. NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF RESEACH PROBLEM Current techniques in image retrieval and classification concentrate on content-based techniques. It seek survey the contents of the image rather than thedata about datasuch as keywords, label or properties corresponding with the image. The term content refer to shades, appearance, textures, or any other particulars that can be obtained from the image itself. CBIR with skin tones is advisable because most net-based image search engines rely purely on metadata and this turn out a lot of waste in the results.Thus a system that can sifter images rest on their content with additional property i.e., skin tone would serve better list and return more specific outcomes. Various systems like the QBIC, Retrieval Ware and Photo Book etc., have a variety of attributes, still used in distinct discipline. The color features integrated with shape for classification, the color and texture for retrieval. There is no single feature which is ample; and, moreover, a single representation of characterist ics is also not enough. Sonith et al.[1996] describes a fully automated content – based image query systems. Ioloni et al. [1998] describes image retrieval by color semantics with incomplete knowledge. Mori et al. [1999] have applied dynamic programming technique for function approximated shape representation. Chang et al. [2001] describes information driven framework for image. Mira et al. [2002] describes fact content based image retrieval using Qusi – Gabir filler Vincent et al. [2007] have developed a fully automated content based image query system. Heraw et al. [2008] describes image retrieval will an enhanced multi modeling ontology. Taba et al. [2009] have used mining association rules for the feature matrin. OBJECTIVES Moreover, speed changes in industry and databases influencing our view and understanding of the problem over time and demanding alter in problem decoding approach. Consequently, further research is required in this field to develop algorithms for pick out images with skin tone and shapes, able to cope with ongoing technological changes. Investigation of effective images with skin tone and shapes based on pixel algorithms Extracting them based on optimization algorithms. Developing computational algorithms in extracting the images. The main objective is to study the Image Identification and Optimistic method of Image Extraction for Image Mining using Ant colony optimization .ACO, good solutions to a given optimization problem. To achieve this main objective, the goals are formulated as follows: To Study the Image Mining Techniques. To Explore the Approaches used in Selecting the Images To Explore the Extracting of the Features. To apply the powerful Techniques. To Analyze the Experimental Results. To Study the Optimization Techniques. To bring down calculation and taking out time. Work Plan: I will begin my research work by investigating different methodologies available in the literature and measure their applicability in different perspectives for common benefit. After that, I prefer to limit my research interest down from general to even more specific under the guidance of designated supervisor in the course so that it fits into university doctoral program curriculum. The research tasks are grouped year wise as follows. Year-1: Literature survey on various methods to get an idea of pattern matching, shapes and classification. Implementation of algorithms in order to gauge their applicability and scalability. Mathematical modelling of Ant colony Optimization considering new objectives and constraints existing in Image processing. Submission of a paper to a major conference Develop a detailed research proposal and give oral defense to get full registration of the course Year-2 Continue and refine the mathematical model to make the problem more actual Develop single objective optimization algorithms for effective extraction of Images. Start to develop multi objective optimization algorithms for extraction by considering large scale optimization and classification Submission of two papers to international conference and journals Year-3: Implementation of developed algorithms for analysis of images and optimization problems Submission of a paper to a major journal Completing a thesis based on the PhD project Taking part in active research groups. Publication of research work. REFFERENCES Beyer K et al. [1999]: Bottom-Up computation of sparse and Iceberg CUBEs. ACM SIGMOD. Carter R et al.[1983]: CIELUV color difference equations for self-luminoudisplays. Color Res. Appl., 8(4), 252–553. Chang SF et al. [1995]: Extracting multi-dimensional signal features for content-based visual query. SPIE Symposium on Visual Communications and Signal Processing. idoni J et al. [1998]: Image retrieval by color semantics with incomplete knowledge. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 49(3), 267-282. evich V et al. [2008]: Medical Image Mining on the Base of Descriptive Image Algebras. Cytological Specimen Case. In : Proc.of the International Conference on Health Informatics—HEALTHINF, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, 2, 66–73. Huan et al.[2008]: Image Retrieval ++ web Image Retrieval with an enhanced Multi-modality ontology . Kluwer Academic Publishers. Jaba Sheela et al. [2009]: Image mining using association rules derived from feature matrix. ACM, 440-443. Jain A [1991]: Algorithms for clustering data. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall. Jain A et al.[1996]: Image Retrieval using color and shape. Pattern Recognition, 29(8):1233-1244. James D [1993]: Content based retrieval in multimedia imaging. In : Proc. SPIE Storage and Retrieval for Image and Video Databases. Kantardzic M [2003]: Data Mining, Wiley-Interscience. MaW et al.[1997]: Tools for texture/color based search of images. SPIE International conference Human Vision and Electronic Imaging, 496-507. Mira P et al.[2002]: Fast content-based image retrieval using quasi gabor filter and reduction of image feature dimension. SSIAI, 178-182. Mori K et al.[1999]: Function approximated shape representation using dynamic programming with multi-resolution analysis. ICSPAT 99. Niblack W et al. [1994]: The QBIC project: Querying images by content using color, texture and shape. In : Proc. SPIE Storage and Retrieval for Image and Video Databases. Pentland A et al. [1996]: Content based manipulation of databases. Int. J. Comput. Vis., 18(3), 233-254. Rui Y et al. [1999]: Image retrieval: current techniques, promising directions and open issues. Journal of Visual Communication and Image Representation, 10(4), 39-62. Shiaofen Fang et al. [2009]: Facial image classification of mouse embryos for the animal model study of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Proceedings of the 2009 ACM symposium on Applied Computing, 852-856. Smith J et al. [1996]: VisualSEEK: A fully automated content-based image query system. ACM Multimedia, 87-98. Vincent S et al. [2007]: Web Image Annotation by fusing visual features and textual information . SIGAPP’07,2007. Zaher Al Aghbari [2009]: Effective image mining by representing color histograms as time series. Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics, 13, 109-114. Zaiane O et al.[1998]: Mining MultiMedia Data. CASCON98: Meeting of Minds, Toronto, Canada, 83-96,. Zhang Ji [2001]: An Information-driven framework for image mining. In : Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Database and Expert Systems Applications (DEXA), Munich, Germany. Zhang Ji et al. [2001]: Image Mining: issues, frameworks and techniques. In : Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Multimedia Data Mining (MDM/KDD2001), San Francisco, CA, USA.

Scuba :: essays research papers

Scuba diving is an activity enjoyed by people all over the world. Scientists use it to study underwater life, police use it to train in case of emergencies, and many others do it just for fun. What many people don't know, though, is that scuba diving would be impossible without physics. Pressure, buoyancy, and force are big parts of diving. Pressure, the weight pushing on something, is a vital part of scuba diving. As a diver sinks deeper into the water, the pressure pushing on the person's lungs pushes harder. This can be very dangerous to a person's safety. While the water is pushing on the outside of the lungs, pressure in the inside of the lungs is pushing out. If this pressure isn't the same as the weight from the water pushing on the lungs, the diver could have breathing problems and possibly die. To equalize these two pressures, modern scuba gear is equipped with a device attached to the air hose called a demand regulator that controls the flow of air getting to the lungs, changing the pressure inside. Buoyancy, how easily a person sinks or floats, is definitely a huge part of scuba diving. It determines how deep a person stays underwater. To control this, divers wear weights and inflatable neckwear called buoyancy compensators. Depending on how many weights a person is wearing; they sink to a certain depth and stay there. The more weights, the farther down they go. The buoyancy compensator, once inflated, rises the person back up to the surface. The more accessories, such as weights, a person wears, the lighter they feel in water and the easier they sink. All kinds of forces can be associated with scuba diving. For instance, when a diver kicks his fins to move, he is applying a force on the water behind him. In turn, the water is applying a force back on him, causing him to move. Pressure is a force that pushes on a diver's lungs, air tank, and everything else in the water.

Onus of Ethical Lapses Lies on Business Schools

Concept Paper Seminars in HRM Final Project Bushra Fatima, MBA 2k8 13 May, 2010 th Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 2 Ethical Lapses in Businesses: Onus lies on B Schools? I joined NUST Business School two years back, after I did my engineering degree. The logical premise, I gave to justify my choice to enter a Business school was not that I was passionate about studying business administration in anyway, but was the fact that the MBA is a good add-on to my degree, ensuring better and well paying career options in the long run. In my view back then, a business school was meant to churn out managers, like so many medical and engineering schools that churn out doctors and engineers. By the end of my first semester of MBA, my perception was changed. Getting an MBA doesn’t make you a manager. Management is more of a practice, something that needs to be done outside the safe environment of Business school. According to one of my professors: â€Å"It’s like swimming; you cannot learn it by sitting cozy in an air-conditioned classroom listening to the lecture†. However, like most professions you need to understand the theory behind the practice. Hence, the case with teaching ethics in business schools and the responsibility of the institute to instill ethical values in the students is challenged. Business people act in unethical ways when they start evaluating the risk and rewards of being a moral person. Business school should teach that economic analysis is only helpful and proper when all of the options being considered are morally correct. Aristotle believed ethics was more than just learning a set of rules. Ethics was a way of living. â€Å"One becomes a lute player by playing the lute, one becomes a builder by building; likewise, one becomes courageous by doing courageous acts (a virtue for Aristotle)†¦ † Before I hold the business schools responsible for the ethical lapses that happen in the business world, let us delve into some reality check. Can ethics be taught? Studies show that MBA alters how students view businesses and their roles and responsibilities as managers. Students bring in their ethics and moral values which may be hard to transform all together but a slight change in attitudes may be infused in them during the course of study. However, even if the student learns complete theory associated with ethics, there is no guarantee that what he does outside the class would be in conformance with what he has learnt in class. Unless, the class learning is supported by a value structure of the student’s environment on campus and at home, a message of double standards is sent. That brings me to what the student really learns in the business school and what is emphasized upon during his tenure there. When a student is taught about leadership for example, the emphasis is on business leader’s gain in terms of wealth and building multibillion dollar enterprises rather than what they have contributed to the society or what change they have made for the betterment of humanity. The business schools tend to give a myopic view of success and leadership to the students equating success with monetary gain thus monetization of the concept of leadership. A profitable enterprise according to the business schools are ones which works towards increasing short term monetary gains for the shareholder instead of emphasizing on sustainable growth and benefiting all stakeholders in long term. Thus, indoctrination of money mindedness in done to the extent of poisoning the young mind to think ethics as old school philosophy which stands in the way of success. Overall business schools convey a subtle but lethal message of privilege. Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 3 The business school teaching methodology that puts too much emphasis on case study system gives a false confidence to the student that he knows how to solve real life problems. He is encouraged to make use of the economic models without taking into account the variety of problems and issues that may arise as a result of those decisions. The application of the knowledge is taken as a means to a definite end without enabling him to do critical analysis. He is taught how to solve problems but he is not taught think about the side effects of his decisions. The cases highlight success stories and emphasize on numerical and financial aspects without focusing much on the nitty gritty humanistic details. Another problem is that each dimension of business is taught more or less in isolation. The marketing people emphasize on marketing aspects, the finance people emphasize on the financials and the human resource people see things through their own colored glass thus isolating the student from the intricate details of implications resulting from their skewed decisions. The ethics aspect in most case discussions is never emphasized and students are seldom told what not to do. It is important for the students to come up with smart solutions and strategies and they should be able to state their financial viability but nobody questions the ethical viability. For many students ethics equals to norms. Norms they say is how things are done usually which can mean that people can justify their actions just because it is largely acceptable. This leads us to the bandwagon and group think mentality which exists among students. As a society we function collectively. So if it is socially acceptable to bribe, people are going to do it without questioning morality of the action. Business schools, or for that matter any school of learning is responsible to bring a change in the trend of blind followership and enable critical thinking; thus, contributing to evolution of societies. We live in an ethically dysfunctional society. We don’t teach our children to be responsible citizens; instead we emphasize on competing and being the best. We teach children that it’s a jungle out there where survival is that of the fittest. When it comes to making a career choice, we impose that career is one which gives a better return on the money invested on education; thus, forcing them to take up careers not out of passion but out of economic need. This vicious cycle which starts at home makes young minds believe that being successful is equivalent to how much money somebody makes. The educational system also reiterates the same fact, when children are divided into art and science group, on the basis of the grades they get. Aptitude and intelligence is quantified by how much marks a kid gets. If somebody is in a profession such as teaching it is undervalued, because it pays less, and is often the perception that somebody who is a failure otherwise, ends up teaching. Little emphasis is placed on how one can benefit the society by adopting a certain profession; same is the case with people going to business schools. Business school students are there to benefit themselves. Through their induction systems business schools hunt for the overtly ambitious, people who are aggressive and who seek to reach the top at all costs. People who once out of the rigorous and fierce system seek quick success and try to win position of importance in top of the line firms. While business schools have excelled at producing graduates that demonstrate competence in engineering investment products based on complex mathematical models and implementing students exceptional ability at marketing and optimizing productivity, little has been done to enlighten the Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 4 student as to how to use his/her acquired intellectual virtues in a manner which promotes morality. Although students leave the university environment excelling with intellectual resources, there is no attempt being made to demonstrate how these attributes can be used to habituate excellence of character. Business schools tend to minimize their responsibility to indoctrinate students with a sense of moral obligation or a proclivity towards the pursuit of moral excellence. I am not saying that being ambitious is wrong. Somebody who is taking up MBA is supposed to be ambitious but that ambition running into raw greed is dangerous. The lust for success and narrow selfish gain is when a person is forced to resort to unethical behavior. The economic models taught at most business schools take away the humanistic element and talk about bottom line and how important is it to achieve that. It infuses a dog-eat-dog attitude among students. Altruism and social responsibility is ridiculed and called soft aspects and are often ignored. The responsibility of business schools starts from the induction process of candidates. They need to assess that people they are lining up to take up positions of power are ethically sound people and are bent on doing good for all the stakeholders instead of just making money and fame for themselves. Ethical values should be made part of the selection criteria and should have more weightage than brilliant academic credentials and qualifications. This is under the premise that you cannot transform ethical values of a person by teaching him ethics in classroom. So this is a better way to take out the bad eggs in the first place. The selection committee should see that the student is willing to work for the betterment of the society and this should reflect on his profile as part of his credentials. Also the candidate’s reference checks should be made and the information given on his profile should be verified in order to make a correct character assessment. However, even if the corrective system is in place it doesn’t ensure hundred percent that ethical lapses won’t happen. As long as there is bigger personal stake involved, unethical practices will take place. One would always question what is in it for them to act ethical, when the bigger gain and recognition goes to someone who cut corners and got away with it. The importance of teaching ethics cannot be ignored as it makes us question every action’s ethical validity. However, the responsibility of business schools is not just to preach ethics in the classroom but to infuse ethics at all levels and balancing the values taught with values practiced. The prevalent belief of innocent until proven guilty gives a chance to students to play around with the system and to get away with questionable behavior. Cheating for that matter is a tolerable action until you are caught. The competition is so tough that students tend to use all means whether fair or unfair to get good grades. For them, ethical are all those actions for which they don’t end up punished. The business schools like any other professional institution should have a â€Å"Hippocratic professional code of conduct† and anybody found to be going against it should be made to pay by dismissal from the profession altogether. In Pakistan where corruption has become a norm an element of change is needed and business schools can play their role in this regard. Top notch business schools should have the power to scrap the degree of those graduates who get involved in unethical behavior such as our ex-prime minister who was an IBA graduate and was alleged of being involved in money laundering. Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 5 The curriculum in the business schools should not teach ethics as an isolated course, focusing on philosophy, which end up making the young minds more confused. Rather, ethics should be directed to instruct students to make ethically sound decisions based on rational thought measuring the implications in the real world. Students should be aware of the examples of those who did not comply with ethics and ended up losing everything including their reputation so that they know the dire consequences and think twice before engaging in questionable behavior. The strategy class for example should teach the students not just to build a strategic direction of the company in order to maximize short term profits but also to make choices which go hand in hand with company’s values that can guide their overall culture on the basis of which sustainable growth of an enterprise is achieved. The curriculum in business schools should be such that it encourages out of the box thinking instead of limiting and confining the thought to achieving profits that are investor and company centric. Courses should enable looking at the bigger picture, looking at not short term gains but long term implications on economic, human and environmental development. The purpose of business studies should not be just to prepare students to excel in the prevalent business world but also to find faults in it and try to evolve the system for the better. Business students should be able to criticize business model’s viability, they should be able to challenge the basic assumptions and redesign and re-engineer theories, which in the first place are responsible for the current economic crisis faced by today’s world. The business school curriculum should encompass courses that ignite student’s creativity and encourage him to innovate and come up with viable solutions which benefit the society. Projects with focus on solving global problems such as energy crises or greener planet should be encouraged, as they infuse a spirit of global leadership which is meant to bring a positive change. For a developing country like Pakistan such a focus is imperative as we have been a victim of the capitalist mind set in which the wealthy have become wealthier and the poor have become poorer. We are a debt ridden country and sustainable development is answer to all our problems. So, the top notch business schools are responsible to give back leaders who are focused on creating wealth not just for themselves but create an opportunity of living a better life for millions. To sum it all, the burden of responsibility of ethical lapses of business leaders lie on business schools as the system somewhat creates an unharnessed greed for personal success. This needs to be controlled through redesigning the curriculum and the existing environment, which teaches them to be responsible and creates ethically sound leaders instead of shrewd businessmen. Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 6 MBA: In Spirit The MBA is meant to be a holistic degree one which infuses analytical ability, provides a sound based of practical knowledge on basis of which decisions can be made. The two year MBA program is challenging and rigorous which does not only infuses a spirit of competition in the student but teaches him to collaborate and work in teams to get greater success. The program is meant to groom a student’s leadership qualities and gives him courage and knowledge to pursue his ambitions. The MBA is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. It is a degree designed to give you the ability to develop your career to its fullest potential, at an accelerated pace. What will you get out of an MBA? Aside from a powerful life experience, the MBA degree should supply three main value propositions: Skills, Networks, and Brand. Skills These include the â€Å"hard skills† of economics, finance, marketing, operations, management, and accounting, as well as the â€Å"soft skills† of leadership, teamwork, ethics, and communication that are so critical for effective management. MBA students acquire these skills inside and outside the classroom. Since MBA programs attract people from very diverse industries and cultures, a program should be able to leverage these differences and translate them into learning opportunities. Networks An MBA degree program offers access to a network of MBA students, alumni, faculty, and business and community leaders. This network can be very useful when beginning a job search, developing a career path, building business relationships in your current career, or pursuing expertise outside your current field. For example, entrepreneurs need access to capital, business partners, vendors, and clients. Artsrelated businesses need access to funding and strategic management in order to position themselves to be relevant in the marketplace. Global businesses need access to local business cultures as they expand their enterprises to new territories. Brand The MBA degree is a recognized brand that signifies management and leadership training. The particular school and type of MBA program you attend also have brand associations that can help open doors based on the school's reputation. The strength of a school's brand is based on the program's history, its ability to provide students with technical skills and opportunities for personal growth, and the reach of its alumni and industry network. A powerful brand can give you the flexibility to make changes throughout your career. Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 7 Concluding Note I believe that MBA should not have specializations in it. It should be a holistic degree in every sense covering courses critical in making organizational strategies. There should be emphasis on leadership and ethical practices. The intent of MBA should be to give the student confidence and help him in career growth. Critical Analysis of Human Resource Management It’s a cliche for organizations in today’s modern high performance corporate world to say that â€Å"people are our greatest assets†. But today the importance of it is all the more accepted. Human capital is a competitive advantage that competitors cannot imitate. So, human resource management and the practices associated with it have become accepted by managers in all forms of organizations as one of the most important strategic levers to ensure continuing success. The Origins Traditionally known as â€Å"personnel management†, was largely an outcome of increased government regulations regarding employment conditions, discrimination, employments rights, health and safety concerns etc. In many organizations today, this older notion of personnel administration still holds sway with its emphasis on rules and regulation. The modern concept of â€Å"human resource management† finds its roots in the 19th and 20th century by the end of the industrial revolution in United States. The notion of employee welfare came into light when managers started to face issues with work force control mainly due to influx of immigrants in the workforce. During this time methods of workforce control were devised and F. W. Taylor came up with the concept of scientific management. Later Henry Ford implemented this concept in his automotive factory. He also came up with the first ever employee welfare department which ensured that no part of employee’s life effected his/her productivity in the workplace. However the methods were more personnel control oriented. By the 1960s, the notion of personnel management had become well-established with a number of clear areas of responsibility attached to it including: †¢ Selection and recruitment †¢ Training and development †¢ Pay and conditions †¢ Industrial relations Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 8 Employee welfare †¢ Occupational health and safety. In the 1980s, the concept of human resource management began to gain ground. At the root of the new thinking about the management of people in organizations was the perception of the increasing competitiveness of the global economy. The success of large Japanese corporations in export markets for traditional western products such as cars and electronic goods in the 1970s and 80s took many western corporations by surprise. Studies of Japanese corporations emphasized the importance of effective people management in the competitive strategies of these organizations. The studies showed that Japanese employers performed far better than their western competitors in terms of labor productivity and in process innovation. The key to this success lay in the human resource management practices adopted by Japanese corporations such as Toyota and Matsushita. These practices became evident in western countries as Japanese corporations established manufacturing plants throughout Europe and North America. The human resource management practices which had been so successful in Japan were transplanted with great success to these overseas transplants. The practices included: †¢ Strict and rigorous selection and recruitment †¢ High level of training, especially induction training and on the job training †¢ Team working †¢ Multi-skilling †¢ Better management-worker communications †¢ Use of quality circles and an emphasis on right first time quality †¢ Encouragement of employee suggestions and innovation †¢ Single status symbols such as common canteens and corporate uniforms. The integration of these human resource management practices was to create an organizational culture that allowed workers to identify their own success with that of the corporation. Thus, organizational or corporate culture became an important element in understanding the competitive success of firms and was a major theme of management thinking in the early 1980s. These new human resource management practices and the emphasis on the creation and maintenance of corporate culture stood in sharp contrast to the regulatory view of personnel management that had emerged in the mid-20th century. In fact, many of the new practices were not seen as the exclusive province of the human resource manager but were viewed as the responsibility of line managers in organizations. Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 The Criticism Although the roots of human resource management might be relatively clear historically, the term itself and the meaning of human resource management has been the subject of fierce debate amongst practitioners, academics and commentators since its emergence in the early 1990s. Some have simply substituted the term human resource management for perso nnel management and claimed that everything has remained the same. In some cases, this can be seen in the migration of job titles that took place in the last decade as the title of human resource manager has replaced that of personnel manager. Others have argued that human resource management represents a fundamentally new way of managing people at work that goes well beyond the old functional notion of personnel management and emphasizes the creation of a culture in the workplace that harnesses the commitment of individuals to the organization. Yet others, exasperated with the endless definitional debate that seems to surround human resource management, have argued that it is simply an illusion, a â€Å"hologram† behind which we may see many techniques and practices in operation but which is essentially determined by the observer. However, the notion of employee commitment is one which appears to be integral to many of the models and theories of human resource management that have appeared. This notion of harnessing the commitment of employees in organizations was first articulated strongly by Walton (1985) who described how modern organizations were moving their management styles from one based on control, to one based on commitment. Human resource management clearly encompasses the older regulatory hangovers, but goes much further in embracing the management of change, job design, socialization and appraisal as the key levers to achieve organizational success. Modern Human Resource Management The aims of human resource management today are not just integration with the business strategy of the organization, employee commitment, flexibility and quality, but takes commitment as a major integral element. â€Å"Human resource management is a distinctive approach to employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic deployment of a highly committed and capable workforce using an array of cultural, structural and personnel techniques†. The main assumptions underlying the modern concept of human resource management shows how much the concept has progressed from the ld notion of personnel management. Firstly, human resource management is clearly not simply the province of the human resource manager. Line managers play a critical role in human resource management and, in fact, could be argued to be the main Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 10 organizational exponents of people management. Second ly, human resource management is firmly embedded in business strategy. Unlike the personnel manager, the HR manager is part of the top level strategic team in the organization and human resource management plays a key role in the achievement of business success. Thirdly, the shaping of organizational culture is one of the major levers by which effective human resource management can achieve its objectives of a committed workforce. Thus, human resource management is concerned not only with the formal processes of the management of people but also with all the ways in which the organizational culture is established, re-enforced and transmitted. Challenges faced by HR as a Profession The sense that HR is somehow ‘failing to deliver’ is a central theme in the writings of a number of influential American writers. Jeffrey Pfeiffer (1997), for example, writing about the future of Human Resource Management, suggests that it would be wrong to conclude that the growing interest in HR and Human Resource Management necessarily means that the future of the HR function (in its departmental form) is bright: â€Å"My advice is to resist the temptation to believe that HR managers and staff in organizations have a rosy future or a future at all, because there are some profound problems facing human resources as a function within organizations, as contrasted with the study of human resources as a topic area that makes its viability and continued survival problematical. What has emerged so far in this critical perspective on HR is that many of the activities that HR professionals engage in appear not to be valued by managers and employees. This is because there is either no evidence that the activities actually achieve things that matter or because it is very difficult to prove that what HR does actually r esults in improvements in behavior and performance. If the latter is the reason, then the task of HR is to look carefully at the way in which it measures and evaluates effectiveness; if the problem is more to do with what HR does and how it carries out these activities, then the challenge it faces is more fundamental. The HR function is generally criticized to be an accomplice in trends such as downsizing and contingent work arrangements that are often blamed to undo much of the progress made in managing employee relationships in the past several decades. Also HR professionals are accused of showing lack of leadership in demonstrating the business impact of managing people effectively. Writers such as David Ulrich have suggested redefining HR role not by what it does but by what it delivers: results that enrich the organization’s value to customers, investors and employees. The four key roles that HR professionals need to play to deliver the contributions are as follows: ? A partner in strategy execution: This doesn’t mean that HR should take responsibility for HR and business strategy, which is rightly the domain of the chief executive, but that the head Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 11 of the HR department should be an equal partner with other senior managers and should ‘have a seat at the top table’. An administrative expert: This is about getting the basics right and adopting a much more instrumental approach to the use of procedures. The emphasis needs to be on the efficiency of the HR department — reducing its cost base and speeding up its cycle times, without compromising on quality or effectiveness ? An employee champion: This is about HR recognizing that work intensification and an increased sense of insecurity are becoming the new reality for many people and that this is associated with weakened levels of employee commitment. This, in turn, affects the preparedness of employees to contribute more than their contracted level of effort and performance. The role of HR here is to ensure that employees remain engaged and committed, or become re-engaged, either directly through the activities of HR or by HR working with line managers to ensure that they can create a positive psychological and emotional working environment. ? A change agent: According to Ulrich (1997), this role involves HR in building the organization’s capacity to embrace and to capitalize on change. Given that change is the norm for most organizations, the ability to implement and manage the change process is seen as critical to the organization’s ability to function during the change process and to reap the benefits from the changes that have been made. Reducing resistance to change is seen as a key HR contribution. Gaps between HR Academics & Practice There's an incontestable gap between what's happening in scholarly research and what's happening in the world of practitioner. However, there's consensus among academics and research-savvy HR professionals, that HR managers who follow evidence-based principles are best positioned to optimize the success of their organizations. Still, most HR professionals have little time, interest or tolerance for reading researches. Practitioners focus on solving problems and getting tasks done in time- and pressure-packed settings. Academics explore, contemplate and pursue research that can take three years or more before culminating in a journal article. HR practitioners don’t care about the theory behind the practices. They don't care why processes, tests, or other instruments or procedures work, just that they do. If wearing plaid instead of polka dots on Tuesday’s increases retention, they'll do it. According to a business school professor, â€Å"People want to Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 12 see cost-benefit analyses before they implement. It's not enough to know structured interviews will give you better-quality people. Practitioners want to see how it affects the bottom line. † Research and academic findings may not always have concrete outcomes. For practitioners ambiguity doesn’t help. They want concrete solutions supported with business outcomes something translated into profits, often missing in HR research. Academics tend to be interested in different subjects than practitioners. For practitioners, those subjects may be too theoretical or too esoteric, or may not be a need-to-know priority. But for academics, whose careers rise or fall on their success at achieving tenure and promotion, the topics are influenced by what the academic reward structure requires. Fault lies with HR curriculums. HR curriculums should develop the competency in all HR professionals to know what is and is not a scientifically based finding or conclusion. We need to audit our curriculums to make sure students are being taught to appreciate the importance of evidence-based management and the role of research in advancing HR. That requires basic understanding of math and statistics. Most undergraduate business and industrial psychology curriculums feature at least one course in statistics, and some observers say that should suffice. In recent years, faculty members have been reluctant to add more quantitative requirements to HR curriculums for fear of losing students. According to my observations most people choose HR because they are math-phobic. Also there is little emphasis on doing research and supporting it quantitatively. In most MBA programs graduate students are not being asked to do research or even read it. When I asked an MBA student his point of view about research, he said; â€Å"MBA students don't like reading research, so instead students are just discussing cases and practicing being a leader. The HR curriculum should be designed in a way that forces students to engage in consulting. Thus, forcing them to connect the taught courses with field knowledge and enabling them to do hands on research and get comfortable with statistics. This will force them to do analysis and make interpretations. Academics who moonlight as consultants are more likely to relate to the realities of the workplace. Encour age faculty and practitioners to develop and partner in research. Establish conferences or thinktank sessions that bring them together. Encourage exchanges. Cross attendance does occur, but not in enough numbers to create a shared comfort zone. Businesspeople should also cooperate with researchers to enhance body of knowledge and include practical aspects rather than unworkable theories. Another way to increase practical knowledge base is to support sponsored research. Corporations should invest in academics doing research that practitioners need. Experts agree that applied research should meet three criteria. It should be: ? ? ? Rigorous–conducted scientifically so the results can be validated and replicated. Relevant–directed at learning more about, furthering or solving some HR-related problem. Readable–accessible to practitioners who stand to benefit. Bushra Fatima, NUST Business School, 2010 13 Conclusion As a profession HR needs to defend its value by aligning itself with organization’s strategy and focus on achieving business strategy instead of just working as a support function. The HR academia suffers in terms of creating practical value because of its lack of collaboration with HR practitioners. The two can benefit each other and enhance body of knowledge which is far better applicable in real work environments.