Strategies to Build Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Strategies to Build Culture - Essay Example These factors are for instance the institution’s atmosphere, overall attitudes towards cultural diversity, culturally responsive curriculum, as well as involvement of the community (Gay, 2002). Of all the mentioned factors, the academic and personal relationship between learners and their teachers is the most influential. Gay (2002) refers to this relationship as the core relationship of learning. It incorporates the roles of students and teachers, the subject matter, as well as how these two parties interact in class. The strategy of building culture, which this paper will discuss, is building relationships among teachers and their culturally diverse students. As stated earlier, a proper relationship between teachers and culturally diverse students will enable learning to take place in the classroom. When students believe that their teachers or educators truly care about them and appreciate them as individuals, they will cooperate and work together in class (Vavrus, 2008). Su ch a situation will also assist these students to work diligently and come up with the best results with regards to their education. Building a unique culture, in a culturally diverse class, is all about approval, admiration, affirmation, not only from the educators, but also from the learners themselves. Some of the strategies, which follow below, can be help educators form a meaningful relationship among them and their students. Finding Multiple Commonalities Educators do not have, in reality, to share the students’ interests, but just know what interests them (Vavrus, 2008). Knowing what culturally diverse students enjoy or appreciate is critical when having classroom debates, conversations and forming high-interests lessons. Educators, therefore, should find as many communication channels as possible with individual students. However, at the same time, it is also essential for teachers to reveal their own interests to their students (Gay, 2002). It is essential for educat ors to remember that successful relationships or associations, in nature, are two-way streets. According to Gay (2002), students appreciate it when their educators acknowledge critical factors such as sports, clubs, hobbies, popular movies, artistic interest, as well as music, among others. A majority of the respected and appreciated teachers know or are well acquainted with the favorite band in town, students and the respective sports they love, and the latest movies (Gay, 2002). Teachers are also encouraged to attend such events with their students in order for them to feel connected. According to Vavrus (2008), such an educator will be able to know what affects their students when it comes to learning, and will enable the educator to formulate strategies, which will ease factors affecting the student. Know Your Student’s Background Knowing and identifying students’ familial along with economic background will assist teachers in building a better understanding regard ing individual attitudes and behaviors in the classroom. Individual students portray different behaviors and attitudes with respect to the families or culture they come from (Vavrus, 2008). Affluent students act differently than students raised in poverty. It is essential for educators to know as much as possible regarding their learners (Gay, 2002). Teachers will be surprised to notice how open their students will be once the teachers knows about their background. Knowing a

Strategies for Selecting a Topic Essay Example for Free

Strategies for Selecting a Topic Essay Question-Answer What two objects, people, subjects, or concepts are you going to compare and contrast?The subjects I am going to use is Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 What are the similarities between the two objects, people, subjects, or concepts? List as many similarities that you can think of. One type of bipolar acts out unexpectedly and has similar adhd acts. The other type of bipolar acts out uncontrollable, and has similar, mood disorders and adhd. What are the differences between the two objects, people, subjects, or concepts? List as many differences that you can think of.The differences are one bipolar is uncontrollably and the other bipolar is more timid Are you going to focus on similarities, differences, or both? Explain your rationale. I want to explain the differences and similarities and hope to let people know that there are others out there with the same problems. What do you want your readers to learn and understand after reading your essay? What is the purpose of your essay?The differences between the two, and I want to know that just because kids look normal they may not be. What three parallel points of comparison or contrast will you address in your essay? For example, if you were going to compare and contrast two teachers, your three parallel points might be these: †¢Each teacher’s homework policy †¢Each teacher’s classroom conduct policy †¢Each teacher’s demeanor 1.The differences between bipolar 1 and bipolar 2.What types of other mental disorder usually comes with the two types of bipolar and different ways to try to handle the situations and medications. 3.Some of the ways to know how each child is and how to go about it from the morning through school and at home. Explain why this is an appropriate and workable topic selection for the final assignment.This  is an appropriate workable topic because people need to be aware of different kids of kids and not to judge. The most important is to let people know that they are not alone because there are not many blogs, groups out there for these families.

Online Fraud, E-Crime, and Internet Scams Essay examples -- Computers

Online Fraud, E-Crime, and Internet Scams In the mid-1980’s, computer-related crimes appeared in the United States. Computer-related crimes have now spawned into Internet crimes, and have raised issues regarding Internet security. Essentially, the Internet has become a playground for criminal mischief. Basically, 21st-century technology and Internet accessibility are providing arenas for criminals to use old-fashioned techniques to take advantage of consumers. Recently, Internet crime rates have skyrocketed. The FTC reported that in the last two years, Internet-related-shopping complaints have risen from being 10% of all consumer complaints to 30% of consumer complaints. Last year, 75% of online merchants were concerned about online fraud and e-crime. This year, more than 83% of online merchants are fearful that online fraud and e-crime could affect them. It is predicted that this year alone, online credit-card fraud will increase by 24%. Victims of Online Fraud and E-Crime Lose Big Apparently, merchants are very wary of online schemes and scams because when they are the victims†¦they sustain enormous losses. Internet transactions made with a credit card are deemed as â€Å"card-not-present† transactions. Therefore, merchants have no redress against credit card fraud. Essentially, merchants are responsible for the monetary damages of online fraud because only credit card numbers are required for an online transaction and a cardholder’s signature is not required. Also, credit card companies require the merchant to pay $25 to $100 in charge-back fees. Although the monetary costs to merchants are substantial, most merchants say money is not their primary concern. Merchants are more fearful that whe... ...peech and privacy concerns. In early November, the British government announced it would spend $35.79 million on a package to help local police combat crackers and pedophiles who use the Internet. Almost every developed nation with Internet access has recently undertaken steps to combat e-crime. Conclusion It seems as if worldwide efforts are being focused on reducing cybercrime. However, there is really no truly effective judicial standard for punishing e-criminals. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act allows criminals to slip through its loopholes, and European nations have just recently begun to draft legislation outlawing online criminal behavior. For the time being, the most obvious way to avoid falling victim to an e-criminal is to become an educated consumer and avoid Internet activities that are known to be susceptible to mischief and fraud.

Natural Calamity in Uttrakhand

As a child I was amused at the premonition of the Soothsayer when he predicted the Death of Julius Caesar, who out of sheer vanity not only discarded his advice, but also admonished him for the same. A similar analogy can be drawn to the travesty that now surrounds Uttarakhand, the sole exception being, the vanity and obliviousness of the Government has gravely pulverized the State Exchequer and costed the lives of its own denizens, as against the death of one ruler. The blame game, which is a necessary by product of every mishappening in our country, has already begun, where both the Central Government as well as the State Government are rebuking each other and their predecessors in chair for faulty policy making, ineffective implementation, absence of rescue and relief strategy, steaming constitutional debates on whether the present system should be governed under Entry 56 of the Union List or under Entry 17 of the Sate List, and the classic press release phrase â€Å"mis-governance†. What lies on the other hand of this scale is innumerable unreported deaths, devastation of public property, and over sixty thousand stranded people, who are yet to be afforded anything as remotely close to the term â€Å"relief†. Genesis of the Problem and Observations made by the CAG Report India boasts of being ranked sixth in terms of largest hydel power generation capacity countries. Domestically, hydel power accounts for 1/4th of India’s dependence on energy. The Hydel Power Report of Uttarakhand published in the year 2008, categorically acclaims that the State has the potential to harness almost 20,000 MW of electricity through hydel power. Blinded with such ambitious target, the State Government failed to notice, either deliberately or otherwise, the very first objective on the same page, which has been reproduced as: â€Å"To harness the environment friendly Renewable Energy resources and enhance their contribution to the socioeconomic development of the State. Another important objective which the State while implementing the said project, was oblivious to, is â€Å"To enhance the use of energy sources that assist in mitigating environmental pollution. † The current policies, as the CAG Report categorically points out, are aimed at aggravating and not mitigating environmental pollution, and have been a cause of the floods in and around the region. Periphrastically speaking, the ngoing havoc that was witnessed in Uttarakhand was preordained in the report published by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India as late as in 2009, reproaching the Central Government and the Government of Uttarakhand for its dual role of faulty hydro power policy making as well as ineffective policy implementation. Some of the main concerns highlighted in the CAG Report are: 1. Due to the over ambitious policy of the State Government to create multiple river channels, and multiple power projects on the same tributary, a serious endangerment of environment is certainty. With over 42 Projects currently functioning, and 203 projects in construction and clearance stage, at every 6 – 7 kms stretch, there will be a dam to obstruct the flow of the river. 2. All the projects are based on high seismic areas in and around districts chamoli, rudra prayag, pithoragarh, Almora and despite severe earth quakes in 1720, 1803, 1991, and 1999 the multiplicity of hydro power projects, without adequate counter seismic measures continue to run rogue thereby causing serious risk to the lives of the people. 3. There is a clear enumeration of Flash Floods which would result in severe destruction to life and property in and around the low lying areas of the hills. Table Appended to the Report has further highlighted various instances wherein such flash floods have occurred previously in the same areas. 4. No evidence to suggest that for failure to comply with the conditions of Environmental Impact Assessment, a penalty was imposed on the builders. 5. Failure of the nodal agency to ensure submission of quarterly and half yearly compliance reports by the management. . Flagrant Negligence towards Environmental and Security Concerns. 7. The adverse impact on the ecology was further underscored by the fact that almost 4 out of 5 Power Projects have shown the complete drying up of river beds to a trickle resulting into severe impairment and devastation of the ecology, and imbalance in the water table resulting into drying up of natural aquifers in the nearby areas. 8. According to International Standards, the minimum discharge of river downstream should be maintained at 75 % so that the aquatic life remains intact. However, the present projects are discharging downstream river by 90 % and above which results into complete devastation of the aquatic life. 9. Faulty Pre-Feasibility Survey Reports, which gives inaccurate data for evaluation of the hydro power station, which means serious short comings in ascertaining whether the location to construct is feasible or not, questions on plant efficiency and what would be the impact of soil erosion, etc. remain in a state of serious jeopardy. 10. As much as 38 % of the total projects which have been granted an Environmental Clearance have failed to carry out mandatory plantation. By – Passing The Law As per the Gazette notification issued by the Central Government under Sections 2 and 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the area surrounding the river Bhagirathi from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi, which is 135 kms stretch, was declared to be â€Å"eco sensitive area†. A total area of about 4179. 59 sq km came under the eco-sensitive zone. This will impose restrictions on quarrying, commissioning hydropower projects on Bhagirathi, and construction of roads in the prohibited area. Besides, it will impose a ban on felling of trees and setting up of factories to manufacture furniture and other wooden items. For the purposes of effective implementation, the State Government, with the help of the local NGO’s and people was mandated to formulate a Zonal Master Plan surrounding the area, whereby every hydel power which is below 20 MW of Power Generation Capacity had to take a clearance from the State Ministry. However, the State Government opposed the said notification in May as they were not â€Å"consulted† before this policy was formulated; among concerns voiced by the citizens that an embargo on development would send them back to the Stone Age, which in reality was not what the notification envisaged. This mutual blame game and inter-ministerial trifles have led to such travesty. Today the very area surrounding Bhagirathi and parts of Uttarkashi are the worst hit areas of the State. Travesty of Environmental Clearance. Another notification issued by the Central Government warrants deliberation. It was mandated that before sanctioning the projects, or before expanding or modernizing hitherto existing projects, it was obligatory to procure an Environmental Impact Assessment Clearance from the Central Government and the State Government. Every Hydel Power project was subjected to the same strictures as have been mandated under Section 3(1) and Section 3(2) (v) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Such an EIA has to be in conformity with the Standards laid down by the National Environment Policy, and the guidelines that have been made under Rule 5 of the Environment Protection Rules. There are four stages before procuring an Environmental Clearance: 1. Screening wherein the projects are divided into two categories, those to be assessed by the Central Government (Category A Projects which are over and above 25 MW capacity power projects), and those to be assessed by the State Government (Under 25 MW Capacity Power Projects). 2. Scoping by which the Expert Committee determines on detailed concerns (current and probable) regarding Environmental Depletion or damage, at which stage the Committee is empowered to allow or reject the application seeking commencement of the project. 3. Public Consultation which provides for a public consultation held in the auspices of the site, obtain responses of all stake holders, villagers, etc. in writing and to be supervised by the State Pollution Control Board, but which specifically excludes â€Å"modernization of irrigation projects† out of its domain. . Appraisal which means the detailed scrutiny by the Expert Appraisal Committee or State Level Expert Appraisal Committee of the application and other documents like the Final EIA report, outcome of the public consultations including public hearing proceedings, submitted by the applicant to the regulatory authority concerned for grant of environmental clearance. In addition to the aforementioned checks and balances, there is a periodic Post Environment Clearance monitoring which are to be submitted on a half yearly basis by the management. This provides a very rosy picture of the law that governs such clearances; however the reality is far from such notion. For instance, according to the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, as much as 38 % of the total industries and projects functioning in the area, and which have received a green signal to operate, have not complied with the mandatory plantation of trees in and around the site. This has resulted into serious deforestation in the hilly areas, which results into soil erosion. Himalayas being young fold mountains, have a very unstable soil compaction, as compared to other mountain ranges, because of which soil erosion can assume cataclysmic proportions, it is also the reason why rivers are changing their natural course and cutting deep crevices in the hills, wreaking havoc amongst those who stand in its way. Are we to blame? This is one perpetual question, which warrants a sordid introspection. Reports have also suggested that illegal construction of motels, rest houses, guest houses, hotels and restaurants have been made in the river bed, whereas a notification issued by the State Government clearly prohibits any illegal construction in or around 100 metres from the river bed. This is supplementary to the damage that has already been carried out by the Government. Media reports further stipulate that there was no effective functioning authority in the name of â€Å"State Disaster Management Authority†. The moot question that now faces us is whether this calamity was â€Å"natural† at all, or was it brought about by our own fallacies, inactions, deliberate obliviousness, and negligence. History is replete with instances of civilizations crashing under the might of Natural Forces, and with the present rate of depletion, the future of the Upper Gangetic Basin and the Himalayas hangs in a very delicate balance.

Maya Angelou’s Phenomenal Woman: Positive Attributes of a Black Woman

â€Å"Now you understand just why my head’s not bowed, I don’t shout or jump about or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing it ought to make you proud I say it’s the click of my heels, the bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, the need for my care cause I’m a woman phenomenally, phenomenal woman, that’s me† (Angelou 1). Phenomenal Woman, a poem written by Maya Angelou about the positive attributes of a black woman. Maya Angelou is a black actor writer and civil rights activist. Growing up during the time black people were fighting for civility, Maya Angelou has come from a generation of black people who were criticized for their skin color; a generation where becoming an actor was as far-fetched as an black woman going to the moon. Even though now there are more black women in the entertainment world the portrayal of the black woman is still pretty much the same. Today the media’s portrayal of black women is a loud foul mouthed hot headed ghetto du-rag wearing hood-rat on welfare who don’t take care of her kids because she chasing after a man. In the 18 to 1900s black women were known as â€Å"sassy mammies who ran their own homes with iron fists including berating black husbands and children† (Abagond 1). Another name that was used towards black women was a â€Å"sapphire†, which was described as bitchy stubborn and hateful. During the early 1900s every role of a black woman was that of a spiteful angry vindictive black woman who demeans and beats her husband. Continuing through the 70s with the show Good Times, Esther Rolle played Florida Evans a house wife who lives in the projects of Chicago, the media once again portrayed the black woman as just that, angry. During the Jim Crow period, when real blacks were often beaten, jailed, or killed for arguing with whites, fictional Mammies were allowed to pretend-chastise whites, including men. Their sassiness was supposed to indicate that they were accepted as members of the white family, and acceptance of that sassiness implied that slavery and segregation were not overly oppressive. Another example of a Sapphire was the character Pamela (Pam) James played by Tichina Arnold, who appeared on Martin, a situational comedy that aired from 1992 to 1997 on the Fox network. Pam, Martin’s girlfriend Gina’s best friend and neighbor was a badmouthed, wisecracking friend/foe of the lead character, Martin. Tichina Arnold, the actress who played Pam, also plays Rochelle, a dominating, aggressive matriarch in the situational comedy, Everybody Hates Chris, which ran from 2005 to 2009, and is still aired on cable television. Although most of the sitcoms are used for entertainment people tend to believe that this is how every black woman is. Using derogatory jargon such Shaniqua and Aunt Jemima to describe African American women, many whites believe that what the media puts out is not a stereotype but the truth. Arnold has mastered the role of the angry, black woman. â€Å"Although the numerical representation of African-Americans in contemporary television advertising has improved in recent years, the authors' analysis illustrates how the potentially positive effects of including more African-Americans in advertisements are often mitigated by subtle racist elements that suggest African-American inferiority. Even in earlier cartoons when blacks were drawn into character, they were drawn to look similar to monkeys with dark skin big pink lips and ears and not very intelligent. Cartoonists went as far as to even put a monkey in the cartoon and make the monkey smarter than the black people featured in the cartoon. This was done for the amusement of white people. From the first cartoons to the first black president black people not just women have been the center of ridicule, calling them coons and monkeys, even going as far as photo shopping Michelle Obama’s face to that of a monkey’s keeping her hair and clothing the same. Cal Thomas a commentator of Fox network stated that black women are â€Å"usually angry about something; they’ve lost a son in a drive by shooting or angry at Bush. So you don’t have a profile of non angry black women† (â€Å"Transcrpit: Fox†, 2008).Works Cited EDu paper Jatau, Mary. (2009). Western Media’s Commodification and Consumption of African Women: A Review of Three News Channels. UC Los Angeles: UCLA Center for the Study of Women. Retrieved from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/9gs2q469 1. Bristor, Julia M., Michlle R. Hunt, and Re'nee G. Lee. â€Å"Race and Ideology: African-American Images in Television Advertising.† Journal of Public Policy & Marketing 14.1 (1995): 48-59. Print. 2.Rucker, C. E. and Cash, T. F. (1992), Body images, body-size perceptions, and eating behaviors among African-American and white college women. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 12: 291–299 none 3.Schooler, D., Monique Ward, L., Merriwether, A. and Caruthers, A. (2004), Who's That Girl: Television's Role In The Body Image Development Of Young White And Black Women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 28: 38–47. None Jatau, Mary. (2009). 4. Western Media’s Commodification and Consumption of African Women: A Review of Three News Channels . UC Los Angeles: UCLA Center for the Study of Women. Retrieved from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/9gs2q469. 5. Abagond (2008, March 7). The Sapphire Stereotype. Abagond. Retrieved from http://abagond.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/the-sapphire-stereotype/. 6. Bad times on the Good times set. (1975 September). Ebony.

How does one experience sympathy for Shakespeares Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Essay Example

How does one experience sympathy for Shakespeares Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Essay Example How does one experience sympathy for Shakespeares Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Paper How does one experience sympathy for Shakespeares Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Paper and 1 shylock is alluded to the devil by salerio, antonio and Portia (who has not even been acquainted with him). At the pinnacle of his anguish after the elopement of his daughter, Christian boys of Venice deride him and salerio exercises verbal aggression that is both gratuitous and undignified which would have had profound repercussion on his mental health. Salerio, after making the sexual mockeries, remarks how he know(s) the tailor who made wings (Jessica) flew withal attempting cruelly to exacerbate his woes. Shylock may possess a sordid mind but he does not intend to undertake any perverse fantasies. In fact, the unyielding Christian insults themselves represent the even more dissolute mindset of the Christian community. Thus after one considers Shylocks plight and insanity (ascribed to Christian abuse) and considers the wanton Christian enmity, pity overwhelms us. We feel indignation over how shylock is susceptible to unprovoked assaults and abuse. Shylocks compelling and phenomenal speech in act3 scene 1 resonates with self pity and is a simple plea for humanity; manipulating our emotions through the application of powerful language. He shouts hath not a Jew eyes! , hath not a Jew hands! : this is moving language artistically constructed by Shakespeare using simple, concise and succinct phrases that heightens pity and sustains the tension. The way Shylock screams hath not a Jew organs! shows that this speech is not embellished with sophistry or complex language but it is a simple plea for humanity expressed from the innermost depths of his heart. The way Shakespeare equates Ch ristians to Jews and asks whether or not they are cooled by the same winds and subject to the same diseases adds rhetorical eloquence inducing pity. Although Shylocks speech does take a sinister turn the audience still retains compassion acknowledging how shylocks deplorable mental state has been induced by relentless provocation. We sympathise immensely because Shylock has never retaliated so vigorously; this explosion is an unprecedented response caused by overwhelming anger never expressed. As his plea becomes a justification for vengeful murder we get a complicated feeling: his justification seems crazy but also a little reasonable; it seems immoral but also perhaps righteous. This demonstrates the excellence and rhetorical eloquence of his speech and how images and language contribute to our pity. There are intrinsic and striking attributes that exist in Shylock which are manifestations of his integrity and his scrupulous character. We can find distinctive components in his character that are capable of inspiring understanding and pity. In Act3 scene 1 we are informed of a turquoise ring which belonged to Leah; Shylock overtly expresses how he would not have given that ring for a wilderness of monkeys. These words are a compelling and heartfelt gesture of the sincere love that thrived between Shylock and his late wife. They reflect the love that Shylock is capable of nurturing; the ring exemplifies his capacity to love. Thus the ring is an emblem reminiscent of Shylocks decency, morality and humanity that has been corrupted and sadly destroyed by the Christian abuse. This is a poignant notion to reflect on and should entail sympathy. One can also ascertain that Shylock is a principled individual advocating the correct ideals. He is cynical of the Christians; reviling their debauched ethos; this is revealed when he articulates What Christian husbands! . The play displays a portrait of Bassanio as a prodigal, flamboyant and frivolous youngster who has foolishly squandered his wealth. He is concerned fundamentally about aggrandizing his affluence and prestige. The primary characteristic of Portia that he considers is how she is richly left- which conveys his superficiality. This shallow and foolish man ends with the best circumstance while Shylock is left desolate and discredited. This unjust image should surely inspire pity. Another possible way to experience pity is by recognising how Shylocks financial and religious freedom is implacably constricted. The Jews were prohibited from possessing any real property and a large proportion accumulated wealth by practicing usury making significant contributions to the industry yet receiving excessive Christian enmity. One of his only means of acquiring reasonable wealth is through this sensible and honest exercise yet still he is severely reproached and denounced. He is inhibited by Antonio who lends money gratis and lowers the rate of usance needlessly obstructing Shylocks success. In Act 4 scene 1 Shylock is rendered speechless as the Christian establishment exacts even more severe financial concessions stipulating that Antonio should seize one half (of Shylocks) goods and that the other half (well earned and deserved) should come to the privy coffer of the state. This is a great social injustice and would surely stimulate deep indignation and pity amongst the audiences. The Christian characters have all colluded and conspired against Shylock -a helpless victim- forcing him into a perpetual state of despair and bankruptcy. The Christians have permanently dismantled his wealth that was assiduously accumulated this should surely inspire sympathy. After the duke has delivered his verdict Shylock cannot even articulate his ineffable agony. Considering stagecraft as an integral part of the play we should note how the audience would see a cowering and defeated Shylock limp out of the courtroom. This moment is of symbolic resonance demonstrating Shylock, once a proud and prosperous citizen, now discredited and lost. It heightens our pity and sorrow as we reflect on the injustice and how the Christians have all maliciously abused Shylock. To intensify his anguish after his defeat Gratiano exercises severe needless aggression with relish echoing Shylocks own preceding words of upright judge and learned judge; the language is crafted to enable Gratiano to derisively simulate Shylocks speech in an offensive and unchivalrous manner which evokes pity for the helpless Shylock. One can discern the words scornfulness and the racism embodied in o Jew. In Venice one of Europes most liberal cities in Shakespeares epoch- the Jews were constrained to live in the citys Ghettos and were obliged to don Jewish gabardines and hats to label them as Jews in order to facilitate discrimination. With such an historical context, sympathy for Shylock surely must have resonated with certain ancient and contemporary audiences. Certainly another malicious penalty to exact is demanding that Shylock presently become a Christian; this not only embodies Christian manipulation but it is undermining an individuals livelihood by forcing him to renounce his faith which engenders his irremediable descent into despair and oblivion. This is a callous infliction; as one knows the Jews distinguished themselves ethnically and this command would have robbed Shylock of his identity. In the play, considering matters of stagecraft Shylock would have in fact worn certain garments to characterize himself denoting how he prides his faith. Forcing him to revoke his faith is a dismissal of his identity which relegates his livelihood. The Jewish garment that he constantly wore would remind the audience of his pride in his faith and the way he is dramatically forced to repudiate it. The garment is a stagecraft device contributing to the pity that one experiences by reminding us of how Christians have needlessly stolen his dignity and pride. The entire play is suffused by prominent yet underlying themes of alienation. One must not only consider the religious and ethnic alienation that has already been discussed but how Shylock is isolated and lonely. His wife, whom he affectionately and profoundly adores, is deceased. His only remaining echo or embodiment of his wife is his daughter whom he also loves. One can experience unyielding pity after his daughters elopement with a Christian because this signifies his irrevocable descent into loneliness and isolation. Our pity intensifies when we learn that Shylock drifts through the streets not only because he is stripped of his dignity but because he is articulating profound emotional distress screaming my daughter! which perturbs the audience. He has no other family; although a substantial proportion of his wealth has diminished there is no greater pain than betrayal. His woes are aggravated when his daughters lavishness and indulgence is disclosed. His daughter is revelling and basking in extravagance and does not seem to express any remorse or reluctance. This is insufferable for Shylock and the audiences pity is consolidated while Shylock is remarking how it tortureth me or how the knowledge is like a dagger that sticketh in (him). The stagecraft here is of considerable significance in the evocation of pity: in this scene, while conferring with tubal the character of Shylock would display agitated movements on stage that reflects his deep agony and his inconsolable distress. His expression would be of anguish and revulsion; he would be afflicted and plagued and this is an immense contribution that heightens our pity. This theme of alienation which generates pity is perennial and palpable through the play. It is not only Jessica who alienates and marginalises Shylock but also Launcelot who forsakes his master for no adequate reason except his masters ethnicity. Admittedly servicing Bassanios sumptuous lifestyle would constitute a more pleasant experience but Launcelot also enacts this betrayal without reluctance. Shylock is obliged to convert to Christianity and conform with a race that has oppressed, alienated and disenfranchised him. Unfortunately for him, in becoming a Christian he is now alienated by his own tribe and he now becomes what he most abhors. This not only exacerbates his situation but this may give rise to damaging psychological ramifications, evoking greater pity. Admittedly Shylock is degenerate (he cannot be blamed), but his powerful and realistic depiction incurs sympathy. Having meticulously examined Shylock we can comprehend the ways we experience pity for this character; Shakespeare contrives an image of injustice: Christians exercise excessive abuse, Christian machinations and scheming against a weak victim and Christians propelling Shylock to the brink of insanity. Acknowledging the cruel historical context Shylock is also alienated, betrayed, stripped of dignity, derided and scorned even though he has executed no crime. He possesses a callous and perverted mind two blemishes attributed to Christian provocation. There are characteristics composed in his character that inspire understanding and empathy the turquoise ring embodies his humanity. One must also remember an overlooked aspect: Shylock commands pity with sustained striking language. A prevalent notion that actively impedes our pity is knowledge of Shylocks wickedness but as Shylock himself understood it was Christians who taught him this villainy; after all he merely speculated that it would be nothing more than a merry bond and the pound of flesh was just a perverse fantasy not to be undertaken; he never actually anticipated that he would be embroiled in a circumstance that involved him, Antonios chest and a knife.

Story of Blima Outline Essays

Story of Blima Outline Essays Story of Blima Outline Paper Story of Blima Outline Paper Bethany S. Reading 050 11/29/11 The Story of Blima: A Holocaust Survivor I. Before the Storm A. Blima’s personality 1. Known as best child; smart 2. Works at bakery with Aunt 3. Embarrassed about chest B. Blima’s guilt 1. At 6 years old dropped baby brother, Zalman, and he died when 2 months old 2. Mother is very forgiving C. Blima’s vanity 1. Thinks she’s not pretty like her sister, Adele 2. Mother says Blima looks most like herself D. Grandfathers death 1. Cat, Masha, lies at feet of grandfather; she senses disaster 2. Blima comforts mother E. Blima’s difficulties 1. Loses favorite shoes . Faints at grandfathers funeral; doesn’t like being center of attention II. Darkness Falls A. The nightmare begins 1. Going home early from working at bakery because business isn’t good 2. On way home Nazis kidnap her 3. Last time she saw her mother B. Traveling to labor camp 1. Walking with group; links arm with girl who falls 2. Secretly gets twig s to munch on 3. Shoved into cattle car 4. Finds friend, Clara, who was schoolmate 5. Tries not to faint; looks at other peoples shoes to distract herself C. No longer Blima 1. German woman commandant takes coat off along with jewelry 2. Hair is shaved; clothes are changed to white blouse and black skirt 3.. Shoes changed to wooden ones 4. Five-digit number tattooed to arm, no longer Blima, but a number ~ 44703 D. First day of labor camp 1. Woken at 4am for roll call 2. Taken to factory to work 3. Says she can work to avoid gas chamber 4. Gizella secretly helps Blima with machine E. Gizella 1. Helps her by giving her food 2. Tells Blima that she will be her mother F. Transported 1. After three years is taken to another camp 2. Finds sister-in-law, Ruschia G. Trying to stay alive 1. The stench of the dead is unbearable; lots of sickness . British generals come to their rescue III. Daylight A. Blima is alive 1. Knows she is alive 2. Freed; Red Cross brings food B. Reunions and disappointments 1. Everybody is looking for somebody 2. Ruschia’s husband, Victor, is alive 3. Blima’s younger brother, Kalman, is alive C. A new chance, a renewal of life 1. Victor finds Ruschia and Blima 2. On the Jewish New Year they wear a prayer shawl that means: a new chance, a renewal of life. 3. They praise God for keeping them alive D. Searching 1. Victor looks for Kalman – no hope 2. Victor looks again but brings Ruschia along – they find him . Blima receives note from woman who lived with Gizella E. Blima searches for Gizella 1. She visits the woman, Frau Danhaus, who gave her the note 2. She found out a rumor that Gizella was taken by Nazi guards and was shot for helping a Jew, Blima F. Chiel 1. Ruschia and Victor want Blima to marry 2. A cousin of theirs knows of Chiel who is alone 3. Chiel visits Blima and they share stories of what happened to them in the labor camps G. Blima’s future 1. She marries Chiel the same month she was taken and freed – April 2. Moves to America with Chiel; has a son and daughter

Survival of the Fittest vs. Natural Selection

Survival of the Fittest vs. Natural Selection When Charles Darwin was coming up with the Theory of Evolution, he had to find a mechanism that drove evolution. Many other scientists, such as Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, had already described the change in species over time, but they didnt offer explanations as to how it occurred. Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace independently came up with the idea of natural selection to fill that void. Natural Selection vs. Survival of the Fittest Natural selection is the idea that species that acquire adaptations favorable for their environment will pass those adaptations to their offspring. Eventually, only individuals with those favorable adaptations will survive, which is how the species changes over time or evolves through speciation. In the 1800s, after Darwin first published his book On the Origin of Species, British economist Herbert Spencer used the term survival of the fittest in relation to Darwins idea of natural selection as he compared Darwins theory to an economic principle in one of his books. This interpretation of natural selection caught on, and Darwin used the phrase in a later edition of On the Origin of Species. Darwin used the term as it was meant regarding natural selection. Nowadays, however, the term is often misunderstood when used in place of natural selection. Public Misconception of Fittest Members of the public might be able to describe natural selection as survival of the fittest. Pressed for further explanation of the term, however, most answer incorrectly. Someone not familiar with what natural selection really is might take fittest to mean the best physical specimen of the species and that only those in the best shape and best health will survive in nature. That isnt always the case. Individuals that survive arent always the strongest, fastest, or smartest. By that definition, then, survival of the fittest might not be the best way to describe natural selection as it applies to evolution. Darwin didnt mean it in those terms when he used it in his republished book. He intended fittest to mean the members of the species best suited for the immediate environment, the basis of the idea of natural selection. Favorable and Unfavorable Traits   Since an individual needs the most favorable traits to survive in the environment, it follows that individuals with favorable adaptations will live long enough to pass their genes to their offspring. Those lacking the favorable traits- the unfit- most likely wont live long enough to pass down their unfavorable traits, and eventually, those traits will be bred out of the population. The unfavorable traits might take many generations to decline in numbers and longer to disappear from the gene pool. This is evident in humans with the genes of fatal diseases; their genes are still in the gene pool even though conditions are unfavorable for their survival. Remedying the Misunderstanding Now that this idea is stuck in our lexicon, there isnt much that can be done to help others understand the actual meaning of the phrase beyond explaining the intended definition of the word fittest and the context in which it was said. An alternative could be to avoid using the phrase altogether when discussing the Theory of Evolution or natural selection. Its acceptable for a person to use the term survival of the fittest if he or she understands the scientific definition. However, casual use of the phrase by someone without knowledge of natural selection can be misleading. Students who are first learning about evolution and natural selection should avoid using the term until they have a deeper knowledge of the subject.

Should Animals Have Their Own Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Should Animals Have Their Own Rights - Essay Example The author of the reprot talks about Alan Holland’s review of animal rights which depicts depth and richness, making it a helpful tool in solving disputes and practical problems. This report can be viewed as one side of a discourse with Holland, focusing on the main themes in this area of study. The report will start by characterizing speciesism, including a claim that many individuals are in support of rejecting it, irrespective of the fact that they never fail to sanction what is apparently the obvious effects of rejecting the issue. This paper will relate this failure to the historical views over the interrelations between humans, nature and other animals, which is still depicting wide disparities. This report holds that, while a thorough anti-speciesism values the maxim that ‘humans are an aspect of the natural world’, these dodges will not be present. The paper will reach a conclusion, through a discussion of the consistency of anti-speciesist’s resolu tion of the rewilding nature. The points explained through the paper include that under the issue of predation and eating meat, a guardian farmer of a domesticated animal holds the right to slaughter it for meat or trade it for money and the goodness of humans as compared to the cruelty of the wild, bestows extra rights on the human than the animal. Thirdly, when using the case of rewilding nature, man holds more rights to animals due to the services they offer to the natural world and animals (Signal and Taylor 147-157). Under speciesism and the view on the rights of animals, many people in today’s world will regard that animals hold rights. This is evident from popular parlance, informal polls and recent legislation. In jurisdictions like California, Colorado, Boulder and Berkeley, people are not viewed as the owners of pets, but instead, they are viewed as the guardians to their animal companions (AMVA). During the mid 1990s, the NORC (National Opinion Research Center) at the University of Chicago questioned a sample representing the American population, whether they were in agreement with this statement: â€Å"animals should hold the moral rights that humans have†. From the surveys, 35% of the respondent in one survey and 39% in the second were in agreement or strongly in agreement with the statement (Regan 205-211). The results from the survey could understate the universal sentiments held about animals, because not all anti-vivisectionists and vegetarians hold that animals posses rights. Further, it is not that all the people that regard animals have rights, view that they hold as much rights as human beings. For example, it is a fact that humans and all species of animals posses similar moral rights. For instance, humans hold the right to engage in their religious practices, and eagles hold the right to fly in the sky, but humans do not hold the right to flight, and neither do eagles hold rights to religious practices. The comparison shows that in the case that a given entity hold certain rights, the rights are linked to the capacity of the given entity. For example, only the creatures that can engage in religious practices hold the rights to practice religion, and only the creatures that can fly hold the right to flight. However, it is not that all capacities are linked to a given area of rights, for example, considering that humans hold the capacity to murder, but they do not hold the r

Florence v. Board Of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Burlington Essay

Florence v. Board Of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Burlington - Essay Example He was also ordered to lift his genitals and finally take a shower. The Respondent spent six days at BCJ before he was transferred to the Essex County Correctional Facility, the second Respondent. At Essex, the Respondent alleges that he went through another strip search, which entailed the removal of clothing, opening his mouth, squatting, lifting his genitals, coughing, and showering in the full glare of officers. The charges brought against Florence were dismissed after he arrived at Essex, and the Petitioner was released from the correctional facility. Florence filed suit against the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Burlington and Essex on July 19, 2005 on behalf of detainees booked for minor offences at the two correctional facilities since 2003 that underwent strip searches. He alleged that the search policies of the facilities executed on a general basis violate the search and seizure protection outlined in the Fourth Amendment. A District Court issued a summary judgment to the petitioner, a former detainee in the 42 U.S.C.S. Â §1983 action filed against defendant jail officers in which he alleged violations of Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. The District Court decided that strip searches on non-indictable offenders without reasonable suspicion are a violation of the Fourth Amendment. The defendants appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, where the District Court’s decision was reversed. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit granted Certiorari. The Court reached the conclusion that the chances of a prisoner possessing contraband cannot effectively be determined based on the arrestee’s history or the severe nature of current offences. The Court gave the example of Timothy McVeigh’s arrest in which a person who commits a minor offence is capable of serious violence. Moreover, correctional facilities have

The Development of Fashion Design in Twenty Century Research Paper

The Development of Fashion Design in Twenty Century - Research Paper Example The paper "The Development of Fashion Design in Twenty Century" explores the 20th-century fashion design development. The development of fashion design involves the development of the industry of fashion that is responsible in designing accessories and clothing. This industry was depended on fashion houses and firms that are governed by specific designers. This industry started in the 19th century by one designer who had his label sewn in the created garments (Whitten 15). Starting from trees, and leaves to what people experience now in fashion world, the history of fashion design was influenced by many factors changing over to the twenty century. In attempts to unravel the historical trends in fashion and design, this paper explores the development of Fashion Design in the Twenty Century. The design started by the dress maker to the Queen of France who could be described to have started the fashion transition from some few dress makers to fine designers with a highly valued profile. This was referred to as the fashion minister as a sarcasm since she established one shop around Paris with a collection that was greatly influenced by the Parisian style. This trend continued up to when the trend was altered by the revolution of the French that made the renowned designer to flee to exile in London. In whatever appears like the modern sense, Charles Frederick from Paris has been reported as the first designer, who had a huge business that employed different anonymous seamstresses, and tailors.

The Economic Advantages and Disadvantages of the UK Remaining in the Assignment

The Economic Advantages and Disadvantages of the UK Remaining in the EU - Assignment Example The UK has an important role in enhancing the EU's strength through its vast economic power that it has earned through its wide range of industrial-commercial and socio-cultural environmental factors (Jones, 2007). Its EU membership has, however, been cited to be one-sided, and thus has been termed detrimental to the region’s economy. The EU's total contribution to the improvement of Britains economy compared to the UK economy contribution is less significant. As a result, a referendum on opting out of our remaining in the EU for British citizens has been proposed as required by the EU (De Waele, 2005). Britain’s continued membership of the EU is very beneficial in terms of trade as it provides the UK with one of the largest single markets for its products. However, the costs seem to surpass the benefits. For instance, since 1979, Britain has paid about â‚ ¬260 billion to the EU and only received â‚ ¬97 back in benefits (De Waele, 2005). The essay examines why it is more beneficial for the UK to opt out of the EU than it is detrimental to the region’s economy. The exit of the UK from the EU zone is more beneficial to the region’s economic growth and development than it is detrimental to the economy. The UK spends ridiculously large amounts of money in the EU in terms of membership fees and other â€Å"hidden tariff† costs paid by the UK taxpayers due to red tape, waste, fraud and other factors. For instance, in 2014/15, a net payment of  £8.6 billion out of a total  £731 billion in public spending was paid into the EU budget by the UK (â€Å"UK Budget†, 2015). The amount of the money is far much less than the contribution the UK makes towards the development of roads and railways, which is  £5.2 billion and  £3 billion respectively. It also surpasses the jobseekers’ allowances that amounts to  £4.9 billion (â€Å"UK Budget†, 2015).

Financial Statements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Statements - Essay Example Financial accuracy and transparency is necessary for them as they would base their decision depending on the reports of the financial statement. The accurate representation of the financial statement would motivate an investor to invest, banks to lend money and the government to calculate the right amount of tax for the company. It also benefits the company by spreading their good name and increasing their goodwill in the market. Table of Contents Significance of Accurate Financial Statement for Outside Business Interest 5 Conclusion 7 References 9 Bibliography 10 Introduction The major motive behind creating a financial statement is to analyze the financial position of the company at the end of the year. It is very important to ensure that the financial statements are accurate, as the financial health of the company can be determined through the financial books of the company. It is a critical aspect for the business to create accurate statements because it is not only important for internal requirements of the company but also for the purpose of external reporting and expectation of the investors (Elmaleh, 2005, p. 105-106). The financial statements are the accounting reports which are used to communicate the financial information of the company to the external parties such as banks or the investors. If we consider it from the technical side, we can say that the financial statements help to summarize the processes in accounting and it provides a detailed tabulation of the accounting titles, and the amount of money. It not only indicated the financial position of the company, but also indicates the changes in the financial position from time to time in the organization (McCrary, 2009, p. 83-84). In the recent times, the two major areas that have been identified as the sources of inaccuracy are dishonesty and incompetency. So it can be said that if the organization wants to present a true and accurate picture of the firm, both to the internal and external stake holders of the company, then it must take measures to remove both of the aforementioned inaccuracies from the financial statements. Financial statement which lacks accurate data because of data collected from unreliable sources would be considered incompetent. Financial accuracy begins right from the time of recording the financial statements. Compromise should not be done at the time of recording the information, as it really becomes difficult for the auditor to analyze and detect the actual figures. This may also lead to miscalculations and misinterpretation of data. It is the duty of the audit firm to conduct an audit of the financial statement and ensure the accuracy of the books. During the auditing process the accounting books and the financial statements are thoroughly checked, the inconsistent recording of financial transaction and record of the entity is also ascertained according to the principles of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or International Financia l Reporting Standards (IFRS), in the accuracy test. It is very important for companies to present an error free financial report to attract investors. Internal control system should be adequate to present a transparent image of the firm in the market. The internal control system would include the policies that organizations would adopt to prevent fraud, safeguard the assets of the firm and insert accuracy in the financial analysis. An

Organizational Culture Model Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organizational Culture Model - Assignment Example The employees also feel as part and parcel of the company, hence, every success is shared to all as a family. Thus every staff carries the responsibility of impacting positively to the organization. Different departments in Stadler & Company tax service work with together with the aim of achieving a common goal. The employees work hard with the knowledge that a certain common goal must be achieved. Orders and instructions follow a certain protocol to ensure that work is evenly done. Team spirit in Stadler & Company tax service is high and all work hard to achieve a certain. The organization welcomes and adopts the diverse skills of its own staff. The staff is highly skilled; so that outsourcing is not an option in areas where expats are needed. Stadler & Company tax service has experienced problems and is dealt with before evolved conflicts. The management at Stadler & Company tax service usually acts in a manner that portrays the goals of the organization. This department acts as an example for the rest of the staff to follow. The company code of conduct is followed to the latter ignoring the rules and code of conduct usually lead to consequences and punishments. The code of conduct governs and guides the employees in dealing with the surroundings including core workers and the customers in general. Due to the common goal of all staff, it is easy to achieve an agreement about issues affecting the organization. Even when matters seem to be so complicated they are solved and a consensus is reached. The approach to the market is well coordinated and always surprises, being unpredictable. Nature at which trust Stadler & Company tax service adapts to the environment is something to reckon with. Any change, either internal or triggered by competitors, is usually responded for the better. This ensures, in fact, the company keeps at bay with the current market.  

Financial Statements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Statements - Essay Example Financial accuracy and transparency is necessary for them as they would base their decision depending on the reports of the financial statement. The accurate representation of the financial statement would motivate an investor to invest, banks to lend money and the government to calculate the right amount of tax for the company. It also benefits the company by spreading their good name and increasing their goodwill in the market. Table of Contents Significance of Accurate Financial Statement for Outside Business Interest 5 Conclusion 7 References 9 Bibliography 10 Introduction The major motive behind creating a financial statement is to analyze the financial position of the company at the end of the year. It is very important to ensure that the financial statements are accurate, as the financial health of the company can be determined through the financial books of the company. It is a critical aspect for the business to create accurate statements because it is not only important for internal requirements of the company but also for the purpose of external reporting and expectation of the investors (Elmaleh, 2005, p. 105-106). The financial statements are the accounting reports which are used to communicate the financial information of the company to the external parties such as banks or the investors. If we consider it from the technical side, we can say that the financial statements help to summarize the processes in accounting and it provides a detailed tabulation of the accounting titles, and the amount of money. It not only indicated the financial position of the company, but also indicates the changes in the financial position from time to time in the organization (McCrary, 2009, p. 83-84). In the recent times, the two major areas that have been identified as the sources of inaccuracy are dishonesty and incompetency. So it can be said that if the organization wants to present a true and accurate picture of the firm, both to the internal and external stake holders of the company, then it must take measures to remove both of the aforementioned inaccuracies from the financial statements. Financial statement which lacks accurate data because of data collected from unreliable sources would be considered incompetent. Financial accuracy begins right from the time of recording the financial statements. Compromise should not be done at the time of recording the information, as it really becomes difficult for the auditor to analyze and detect the actual figures. This may also lead to miscalculations and misinterpretation of data. It is the duty of the audit firm to conduct an audit of the financial statement and ensure the accuracy of the books. During the auditing process the accounting books and the financial statements are thoroughly checked, the inconsistent recording of financial transaction and record of the entity is also ascertained according to the principles of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or International Financia l Reporting Standards (IFRS), in the accuracy test. It is very important for companies to present an error free financial report to attract investors. Internal control system should be adequate to present a transparent image of the firm in the market. The internal control system would include the policies that organizations would adopt to prevent fraud, safeguard the assets of the firm and insert accuracy in the financial analysis. An

The Borders Group Inc. Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

The Borders Group Inc. Company - Case Study Example In addition, the company owned the once drastically growing Borders Books & Music super shops as well as the Planet Music retail shops. All over the nation, the Borders brand was linked with shops that exclusively served all book and song enthusiasts. This was because the company possessed an extensive collection of limited and extinct titles and albums in addition to a significant variety of diverse forms of electronic literature (Aspen, 33). The company outlets, which had grown to 116 by the end of 1996, all offered consumers wide and comfortable sitting and browsing chambers, a informed client care band, and coffee counters that had live leisure activity. Thesis statement: this paper seeks to examine the Borders Company comprehensively. It will expound on its inception, history, and the events that finally led to its collapse in late 2011. In particular, the paper will focus on the role of the company’s top management in its eventual demise from the literature and publishing arena. Introduction The Borders Group Inc. appeared on the scene after breaking off from its mother corporation, Kmart Corporation, in early May 2005. However, the original Borders brand was in existence from 1971. The advent of the Borders name happened due to the ingenuity of two brothers, Tom and Louis, who decided to open a single second-hand bookshop in Ann Arbor, in Michigan. The store’s initial target market was the then growing academic fraternity that schooled at the University of Michigan. In addition, the store enjoyed frequent patrons from the area’s smaller institutions of learning. Within a short time, the shop became popular, both as a literature store and as a hip hangout. As time passed, the store grew, and the brothers managed to acquire two more shops. One was in Michigan, whilst the other was in Indianapolis. Furthermore, the brothers also invested in a promising wholesale venture, which they named the Book In venture Systems (B.I.S.). This venture also caught on well a nd performed well. For a long period, the brothers had been contemplating on starting their own superstore. In the year 1985, they finally started their initial trial superstore. The trial version performed so well that, in combination with the growing level of competition, it revolutionized the retail paperback business, and influenced it to vacate mall-based business and invaded the crowded urban sections. By the end of 1988, the Borders stores had grown in number to five, and their BIS business already had 14 customers. In total, the company was raking in net revenue of $ 1.9 million dollars. This came from its business sales that amounted to about $ 32 million. However, the brothers itched for more (David 209). The 1980s The brothers, in their pursuit of nationalizing their shops, the brothers employed the services of Robert DiMuraldo, who was a Drexel Technology Institute Alumnus, in 1988. In addition, Robert also held a Harvard MBA. Robert had immense experience from Acme Mark ets and Little General Stores

Data collection and procedure Essay Example for Free

Data collection and procedure Essay You need to talk about the geographic location and the population of these schools. If you can send me the info, I will write it in. To examine academic achievement, student scores on the social studies portion of the GHSGT will be examined. To examine discipline and attendance, the teachers, administrators and some students will be randomly selected. To examine the difference between block and traditional scheduling, surveys and interview questionnaires will be administered to a randomly selected sample of students fitting the above criteria. Questions will be designed to illicit responses as to the advantages of block schedule and will be based upon the broad questions that follow: Research Question #1 – Has the implementation of block scheduling caused an increase in test scores of students in their final year of high school? Research Question #2 – Has the implementation of block scheduling reduced the number of student absences? Research Questions #3 – Has the implementation of block scheduling reduced the number of discipline issues (detentions, suspensions and expulsions) of the students? The surveys and questionnaires will be delivered to the two schools administered in the method that the principal allows. The administrator or his designee will collect the surveys and questionnaires after completion. Each participant of this study will be informed prior to his participation that he is doing so voluntarily. Each participant will have the opportunity to review and sign an informed consent form prior to participating in the study. Some participants may choose to not be involved in this study. To encourage honesty in the responses, the confidentiality of each participant will be guaranteed. A portion of the informed consent statement attests to this confidentiality. No names, only codes will be used on the survey’s themselves with the code’s keys kept in a secure location. Data Analysis and Interpretation Plan All surveys will be compiles into percentages. These percentages will be analyzed for trends among schools with and without block schedules. Data will be charted and graphed where appropriate. Correlations will be drawn based on findings. A discussion and analysis of each subcomponent will be presented. Implications One of the biggest implications in undertaking this type of scheduling change is cost. The block schedule requires additional teachers (usually four or five) for the same number of students. These teachers also need a place to teach, which either requires the building of additional space, the addition of modular classrooms, or the need for teachers to share classrooms (Dobbs, W. , 1997). Another major implication for teachers is the need for changing teaching methods. Extended blocks allow teachers to experiment with new and creative strategies that will appeal to a variety of learning styles. They are able to incorporate more technology and remediation or enrichment exercises as needed. Unfortunately, despite these opportunities, many teachers are hesitant, even fearful, of the block scheduling concept. Researchers Hackmann and Schmitt (1997) warn that: These large blocks may be viewed with a great deal of apprehension by veteran teachers. A typical reaction may be What am I going to do for that many minutes? Even though a new scheduling configuration may have unanimous faculty support as the thing to do, teachers still must confront the daily reality of preparing creative, enriching lessons that keep students engaged academically. It seems a large part of the success for block scheduling lies in the hands of the school districts for providing adequate funding and in the administration and teachers for lending it their willingness and support (Dobbs, W. , 1998). The following is a suggested list of criteria that change agents might want to consider: Utilization of effective research and practice. Inclusion of appropriate assessment plan and tools. Collaboration within the school community of administration, staff, and peers as appropriate. Compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulatory agency rules, board policies and regulations, and negotiated employee agreements. Assurance of a reasonable level of awareness and support within the school district community, including the Board of Education and others with an interest in the decision. Analysis of fiscal impact. (The Change Process and Alternative Scheduling, 1996). Finally, the utilization of block scheduling may be a determining factor in the legislated school choice options of parents in Georgia. The A+ Education Reform Act was passed by the Georgia General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Barnes in 2000. Its purpose was to significantly alter the management of education in Georgia. School performance, student achievement, and the efficient utilization of resources were its chief concerns and stakeholders at all levels were involved in this process and accountable for its results. Parents may request student transfers for achievement or overcrowding reasons (HB1187, 2000). Scheduling decisions may certainly affect the rights of parents to exercise this choice. Summary In order to become completely informed as to the effects of block scheduling on academic performance, more studies will have to be conducted. Walker, (2000), recommends the following areas of study be conducted: Longitudinal studies of climate issues over extended periods of time are needed.   Studies of student behavior over extended periods of time in multiple schools are recommended Studies of individual subject areas should be expanded. More study is necessary concerning the effectiveness of two-day versus four or five-day block-schedules †¢ Studies should be conducted to determine the effects of block scheduling on teaching behavior. †¢ Finally, the area of greatest need is the study of individual student’s achievement over extended periods of time. Rarely does a problem as large as education have one simple solution. Oftentimes, solutions emerge over time and in conjunction with many other variables. Such is the case with block scheduling. In its short tenure, few studies are conclusive with regard to its test scores. However, with the examination of different variables, some insight into the situation may be helpful. Education is constantly evolving; one thing is for certain – everyone must be willing to change with it for the good of each generation of students. CHAPTER FOUR REFERENCES Aratani, L. (2006, July 13). Upper Grades, Lower Reading Skills: Middle, High Schools Find They Must Expand Programs for Older Students. The Washington Post, p. B01 Canady, R. L. , and Rettig, M. D. (1995). Block Scheduling: A Catalyst for Change in High Schools Princeton, N. J. : Eye on Education, Inc. Canady, R. L. , and Rettig, M. D. (2003, October). Block schedulings missteps, successes and variables: a study finds steady progress in the use of alternatives to the traditional schedule. School Administrator. Retrieved 23 July 2006 from: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0JSD/is_9_60/ai_108837464/print Carroll, J. M. (1995). The Copernican Plan evaluated: The Evolution of a Revolution. Phi Delta. Kappa 76, pp. 104-110, 112-113. The Change Process and Alternative Scheduling. (1996). Educational Issues Series. Wisconsin Education Association Council. Retrieved 22 July 2006 from: http://www. weac. org/ resource/june96/schedule. htm Dobbs, M. (2004, December 7). In a Global Test of Math Skills, U. S. Students Behind the Curve. The Washington Post, p. A01 Dobbs, W. (1998). The Block Schedule. Intel Innovation in Education. Retrieved 20 July 2006 from: http://www. intel. com/education/projects/wildride/supporting/BlkSched. htm Domaleski, C. (2004, Fall). An Examination of Block Scheduling Practices and End of Coursec Achievement. Journal of Instructional Psychology. Retrieved 20 July 2006 from: http://www. findarticles. com/p/ articles/mi_m0FCG/is_3_27/ai_66355137/pg_3 Leckrone, M. Griffith, B. (2006). Retention realities and educational standards. Children and Schools 28 (1), 55-58. Lewis, C. W. , Dugan, J. J. , Winokur, M. A. , and Cobb, R. B. (2005, December). The Effects of Block Scheduling on High School Academic Achievement. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Bulletin 89 (645) Magdol, L. (1992). Factors for Adolescent Academic Achievement. Youth Futures Project. University of Wisconsin-Madison, July National Commission on Excellence in Education. (2004). A Nation Still at risk: The Imperative for educational reform. Washington, D. C. : U. S. Department of Education. National Education Commission on Time and Learning. (1994). Prisoners of Time. Washington, D. C. : U. S. Government Printing Office. No Child Left Behind Act. (2001). 2001, Pub. L. No 107-110. Retrieved January 17, 2005, from http://www. ed. gov/nclb North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. (1997). Block Scheduled High School Achievement Part II: Comparison of End-of-Course Test Scores for Blocked and Nonblocked High Schools (1993 through 1996).

The Neverending Story: A Classic Novel Essay -- Neverending Story

The Neverending Story:   A Classic Novel  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Neverending Story by Michael Ende perfectly draws the image of a successful novel because it’s overall effect on the reader is intimate and it recognizes itself as a different novel from others especially using a metaphor of stories giving birth to other stories.   Considered as a children’s novel, it should be given a chance to prove itself in the realm of other such intelligent novels. The novel expands this idea that stories are a result of other stories, it resembles the monomyth cycle for a simplified and similar understanding of its complex aspects and it finally reminds the reader of belonging and loving needs.   Thus, this novel by Michael Ende should be considered a major part of English literature because it clearly demonstrates an archetypal flare similarly to how a classic novel would furnish.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Moo-oo-oon Child!† (Ende 225) Screams Bastian.   His hopes of this endless story to rid its endless entity has nothing but created a nightmare in his and Atreyu’s world.   From the Gnomics project of the mammoth-like Sphinxes to the rescue of the Child-like Empress to the Water of Life, Atreyu and Bastian are two separate characters who are parted by two different kingdoms but unknowingly pursue on strange adventures in the same settings.   Not only do they live out tremendous and significant journeys but ironically have a comparable mission in which to save the life of the Child-like Empress, ruler and leader of Fantastica.   Bastians’ peaceful character and Atreyu’s determination sets The Neverending Story apart from the classic scene o... ...ed and the setting is a happy one.      The Neverending Story by Michael Ende perfectly draws the image of a successful novel because it’s overall effect on the reader is intimate and it recognizes itself as a different novel from others especially using a metaphor of stories giving birth to other stories.   Considered as a children’s novel, it should be given a chance to prove itself in the realm of other such intelligent novels. The novel expands this idea that stories are a result of other stories, it resembles the monomyth cycle for a simplified and similar understanding of its complex aspects and it finally reminds the reader of belonging and loving needs.   Thus, this novel by Michael Ende should be considered a major part of English literature because it clearly demonstrates an archetypal flare similarly to how a classic novel would furnish.

Rocking Horse Winner and The Destructors Essay -- Graham Greene D.H. L

Rocking Horse Winner and The Destructors There are many differences and similarities between Graham Greene’s â€Å"The Destructors† and D.H. Lawrence’s â€Å"Rocking Horse Winner.† One general difference is that in â€Å"The Destructors† the setting is in Great Britain, after the bombing had happened during World War 1, when the buildings were destroyed. The setting of â€Å"Rocking Horse Winner† is a suburban community located on the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland. This one distinct difference affects the entire background of each story. The setting of â€Å"The Destructors† brings mood and feeling into the story were ass the setting of â€Å"Rocking Horse Winner† is just a general setting which could be changed and would not have a significant affect on the story as a whole. One general similarity between the two stories is that they both have a young boy as the main character, but the use of this character is very different in each story. The boy in â€Å"Rocking Horse Winner† is more innocent and unknowing of the evil the world can hold, he also hasn’t reached the rebellion stage of adolescence. In the other story â€Å"The Destructors† you have â€Å"T† who comes from a high class English family but is forced into poverty by the war, but he has already begun his rebellion against what is â€Å"good.† The similarities and differences between money, class, and family values in the stories are much more significant because they have more affect on each story and on the reader. One of the key differences between â€Å"...

Discover Your Inner Economist

In his delightfully witty and humorous book, â€Å"Discover Your Inner Economist†, Cowen takes the dry and serious subject of economics from the mundane to the everyday. He begins by subtly stating that economics is not about money, but other motivations. â€Å"The critical economic problem is scarcity,† he says. â€Å"Money is scarce, but in most things the scarcity of time, attention, and caring is more important. †In a highly aimless, rambling style, Cowen leads the reader down many divergent paths from topic to topic, covering everything from how to talk your spouse out of buying a warranty on a new purchase to why your daughter will not wash the dishes to why we do not have to eat â€Å"sunk costs. † Throughout the book, two themes are clear. The first is that everyone is very self-centered, and motivation is all about â€Å"Me†, or as Cowen calls it, â€Å"the Me Factor†. The next motif, although highly correlated to the former, is cont rol. Both themes encompass the concept of identifying motivation.â€Å"The key to tapping your Inner Economist†, Cowen explains, is the ability to identify people's true incentives, which are usually more than money. Suppose you want your daughter to help out around the house by washing dishes. Should you pay her? Bad idea†, Cowen warns. â€Å"If you explain that washing dishes is her family responsibility, she may not always obey, but at least she'll feel some obligation. Bring payment into the picture, and her motivation changes. It becomes a market transaction†, writes Cowen, and â€Å"the parent becomes a boss rather than an object of deserved loyalty.† The point is that your daughter will soon come to realize that she would rather work for someone else. â€Å"Expect dirtier dishes,† Cowen concludes. Motivation and incentives are clearly interesting to us all, whether we acknowledge it or not. In his book, Cowen offers some unique theories on mo tivation and incentives. Big business is very interested in the concept of motivation; as the goal of any business is to be most productive, and this requires motivating employees to become their most productive. It is the responsibility of managers to strive to motivate employees so that they will make valuable contributions to the organization.Managers most frequently do this by offering rewards to motivate people to share their talents with the company. Managers seek to ensure that people are motivated to contribute important inputs to the organization, that these inputs are focused in the direction of high performance and that high performance results in employees obtaining the outcomes that they desire. Management theorists have come up with many theories to explain what creates a motivated workforce. Cowen believes that small improvements in understanding will bring a much better use of incentives (motivation).Cowen uses economic theory as the basis for using pattern recogniti on to incentivize. His book does not offer management theory, however, the author focuses on learning how humans in general are motivated, and these theories can be applied to business, personal lives, and just ordinary living. Study and research have proven that motivated employees are more productive than those employees who lack motivation. On this assumption, a look at some of the most widely known motivation theories may add some insight into the role of incentives as effective motivators. Frederick Herzberg’s theory is based on two factors: Hygiene and Motivation.The hygiene factors are based on extrinsic values such as salary, working conditions, ergonomics, status, and company policies. These factors, according to the theory, do not lead to motivation, but the absence of positive hygiene factors causes dissatisfaction. Herzberg’s other factor is motivation, which encompasses those work conditions that prompt intrinsic motivation. These factors include job satis faction, growth, achievement, and recognition. According to this theory, in order for employees to be motivated, there must be low levels of dissatisfaction and high levels of motivational factors.Herzberg suggests these factors should be used together to reduce dissatisfaction and increase motivation to achieve high productivity. Another famous motivation theory is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This theory is based on the concept of levels of needs in human beings. This theory suggests that each level of need must be satisfied before someone is motivated to achieve the next level. The lowest level is physiological, then safety, then love, esteem, and finally self-actualization. The following chart from Accel- Team illustrates Maslow’s theory: (Accel Team, 2007)From an economist’s point of view, in Cowen’s book, one economist, Colin Camerer took a poll at the Davos World Economics Forum and polled big business gurus as their ideas on motivation. The number one and two answers were, respectively, Recognition and Respect, and Achievement and Accomplishment. Never mind that the sources may have been slightly skewed, he was polling a particularly successful group of businessmen and not average employees, but the point is that money did not make the top two as far as incentives go. Cowen does provide money its proper place within the motivation/incentive model, however.He does not dismiss money as a primary motivator, he merely sets it aside as the single most obvious incentive to allow thought for other, equally motivating incentives. Cowen demonstrates by example how the idea of everything being â€Å"up for market† is repulsive to humans. He notes that there are some things that simply cannot be motivated through monetary incentives. At the beginning of the book, as mentioned above, Cowen discusses the resistance of his stepdaughter, Yana, to washing the dishes. After he and his wife resorted to paying her, â€Å"she did them f or about a week and then stopped,† he says.â€Å"I knew this could happen. I understood that there is such a thing as intrinsic motivation and that if you pay people, you might weaken that. What I didn’t really â€Å"get† was the control issue. That when you start paying people to do a thing, they often see it as control. † But there was a happy ending: After Yana read the book, she started doing the dishes. For free. Cowen believes that we are also consumed with the desire for control. Cowen argues that if you want to have more control of what happens around you, you need to know how to balance the kinds of incentives you offer.As far as good reading, unfortunately, there are not enough economic tricks that break down neatly into interesting advice. When he discusses the techniques for motivating your dentist, like giving them a bonus for cavities well filled, he ends with, â€Å"I don’t think I can control my dentist or receive the very best care . By giving up this quest for control, however, I might get care that is just a little better than average. † Is that really any advice, or just an economist attempting to relate to real humans? Economics cannot tell you what the price of gold will be next week.But it can help you choose good restaurants, promises Cowen. The best sections of the book concern tactics for maximizing one’s cultural consumption, (at least according to Cowen’s standards). Cowen explains that those of us who enjoy unique and tasty flavors in our meals should avoid restaurants located in fancy shopping malls or on major thoroughfares. These restaurants must pay high rents to occupy such locations and, therefore, they need customers in high volumes. Because these restaurants must appeal to large audiences, meals there will be more predictable and bland than those served in restaurants located off beaten paths.So if you're hankering for dinner at a restaurant featuring bold or unusual tas tes – at a restaurant that serves ethnic dishes that are truly authentic — you'll have better luck going to a Chinese or Ethiopian or Cajun (or whatever ethnic variety you crave) restaurant that is located on a side street or in a suburban strip mall. With lower rents to pay, such off-the-beaten-path eateries are more likely than are restaurants in high-rent locations to cater to serious foodies. Choosing a restaurant is just one of many important and surprising insights offered in Cowen's book.He lists eight strategies for taking control of one’s reading, which include ruthless skipping around, following one character while ignoring others, and even going directly to the last chapter. Your eighth-grade English teacher would faint. But the principle here is valuing the scarcity of your own time, which people often fail to do. It works for movies, too—Cowen will go to the multiplex and watch parts of three or four movies, rather than just sit through one. Why wait for a highly predictable ending when a fabulous scene might be unfolding in the movie playing next door?Cowen also offers advice for how to defeat the boredom that, despite our best intentions to be culturally literate, overtakes many of us minutes after we enter an art museum. How do we deal with this â€Å"scarcity of attention†? Pretend to be an art thief, he suggests—in every gallery, pick one picture that we’d like to run off with. Sounds juvenile, admits Cowen, but it â€Å"forces us to keep thinking critically† rather than daydream about the snack bar. Cowen doesn’t really attempt to offer serious advice. He does offer some interesting anecdotes, however.Among the most valuable insights that economics does offer about investing is to ignore anyone who announces publicly that he knows what will happen to stock prices tomorrow. Anyone who sincerely believes himself to possess such knowledge will not give it away or sell it on the chea p. To do so would be like passing out hundred-dollar bills to strangers or offering to sell hundred-dollar bills for $25 apiece: Very few people are so selfless. If I am confident that shares of, say, IBM will rise tomorrow, I don't want other people competing with me to scoop up IBM shares.But finding a good meal, well, that's a different story. The most interesting insight for me is that bygones are not always best treated as bygones. The mid-19th-century economist William Stanley Jevons famously wrote that â€Å"bygones are forever bygones. † Economists have overwhelmingly taken Jevons' statement as advice to ignore sunk costs. This advice generally is sensible. Suppose you've spent $10 million building a machine that can do nothing but produce chocolate-covered pickles. You discover soon afterward that no one wants to buy your product.Your wisest course from this point forward is to suck up the loss. Continuing to produce chocolate-covered pickles that no one wants to buy will only deepen your losses, doing nothing to help you recover your investment. But Cowen shows that bygones should not be treated as bygones in all areas of life. When our self-image is at stake, past choices — costs that are irrevocable — often remain relevant for guiding our decisions today. Self –deception is another theme through which Cowen offers examples of our â€Å"Me First† mentality.For example, many of us think of ourselves as physically fit. Because of this self-image, we often buy memberships in gyms. But on many an evening, after a long day at work, we're typically tempted to relax at home rather than spend an hour exercising at the gym. The economically â€Å"rational† decision is to stay home and relax if that's what you prefer doing this evening. After all, whether you go to the gym or not, the money you've spent on your gym membership is already spent. You'll not get that money back if you don't use the gym this evening.So the fact that you've already paid for a gym membership should not factor into your decision on whether to go to the gym today. But sometimes this fact does indeed matter. Sometimes we think, â€Å"Geez, I've paid for that gym membership. I should go. † And we then summon our remaining energy and head off for some exercise — even though if we hadn't paid for the gym membership, we definitely would avoid the gym this evening. Again, as a narrow economic matter, that's a silly thing to say and do. From a less-narrow perspective it's entirely reasonable.By going to the gym we reinforce our positive self-interest. And if the mental trick of pretending that sunk costs are relevant helps in this effort, it's a worthwhile thing to think. For a wonderfully enjoyable and practically useful read you can do no better than to discover your inner economist by reading Tyler Cowen's new book. Tyler Cowen is a professor of economics at George Mason University. He is a prominent blogger at marginalrevolution, the world's leading economics blog. He also writes regularly for The New York Times, and has written for Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.The book is a quirky, penetrating caper through everyday life that reveals how you can turn economic reasoning to your advantage—often when you least expect it to be relevant. Cowen aims to not â€Å"hit the reader over the head with economic principles, † but to offer an alternative viewpoint of economics and how it really can improve anyone’s everyday life. Even if you don't agree with all of Cowen's cheerfully offered opinions, it's a pleasure to accompany him through his various interests and obsessions.

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics Essay

The way in which police treat citizens have a ripple effect on community opinions, as these citizens impart their experiences to friends, family, and neighbors. One’s moral principles on right and wrong behavior are a form of discipline. Morals and ethics are often used interchangeably, and everyone has his own value system (Thomson and Wadsworth, 2005). Moreover, the code of ethics is an officer’s behavior of his credibility and validity. The officer must uphold the law regardless of the offender’s identity. According to Sykes (1989), a law enforcement informal code of ethics generally covers several aspects. The most important one being the principle of fairness and justice: An officer must uphold the law regardless of an offender’s race, social status or identity. One must not abuse his powers to take advantage or give special treatment to citizens, which turn out to be the main source of solicitation and acceptance of gratuities (pp. 141-142). In addition, a precinct with a value system empathizing crime control may allocate resources differently from one with a value system promoting community-oriented policing (p. 139). In fact, officers within these two precincts would be rewarded differently, and the formal culture of the agency would encourage different behavior patterns (Thomson and Wadsworth, 2005, p. 140). According to Scheingold (1984), law enforcement typically forms a homogenous social group in a closed social system. This leads to the extreme nature of police (formal ethics) subculture (p. 144). The three distinctive codes: First, the perfect professional, second, guidelines or his principles, and third, mandatory rules that serves as discipline. For example, an oath of duties and the sacred trust of an officer. An individual officer’s code of ethics is more specific to his behavior, whereas a professional code allows discretionary practices and unique issues of that particular profession (Thomson and Wadsworth, pp. 139-140, 2005). One knows that unpleasant experiences with the police affect individual opinions. Ideally, an officer’s decision-making is based on his code of  ethics. However, within many grey areas, the issues of loyalty force and discretion makes the process very difficult. Sykes (1989) states, â€Å"Professional ethics is extremely crucial to the image of law enforcement as a professional† (pp. 141-142). An officer has a responsibility to the whole community in a manner such as will inspire trust and confidence. References Axia College of University of Phoenix. (2005). Chapter 7: Corruption and the Code. Retrieved September 1, 2008, fromAxia College, Week Three reading AXcess, ADJ 235- Ethics and the Administration of JusticeAxia College of University of Phoenix. (2005). Chapter 6: The Ethics of Social Control. Retrieved September 1, 2008, fromAxia College, Week Three reading AXcess, ADJ 235- Ethics and the Administration of Justice

Bobbie Ann Mason-Shiloh- Setting Analysis Essay

â€Å"Shiloh† was written by Bobbie Ann Mason in 1982. The center of attraction of this narrative is a married couple, Leroy Moffitt and his wife, Norma Jean. During this story the characters are affected by their changing social rural Kentucky environment. In this time period, Kentucky transforms to a more suburb environment from their usual rural surroundings. Apart from their marriage changing with their social environment, so does their role of gender. Leroy and Norma Jean swaps traditional gender roles, which alters their marriage and leads to the breakdown of the Moffitts. The narrative is told from the perspective of Leroy Moffitt, a recent disabled truck driver. Although the injury leads him to sit home all day like a bored housewife, he pursues his hobby that is stereo typically feminine. He constructs craft objects from kits and sews needlepoint pillows, as a pleasurable interest. However, he dreams of building a log cabin for his wife from one of his craft kit model s, which symbolically portrays their marriage. The cabin is an unrealistic idea, and the project does not interest Norma Jean. Despite the fact that nothing dissuades him, he won’t let go of the idea of the cabin in the face of strong opposition that he won’t give up on his marriage in the face of clear evidence that his wife already has. Leroy sooner or later realizes that his marriage is as hollow as the boxy interior of their log cabin. Apart from Leroy’s lack of realization that his wife wants to adapt to her surroundings, and progress with her life, he is still stuck in the past and continues to pester his wife of living in an old log cabin. However, as Leroy builds craft kits and smokes marijuana all day, Norma Jean supports her and her husband by working at a Rexall drugstore. She eventually goes from a weightlifting class to a night composition class, reconstructing her mind and body and doing her best to adapt to change. In the meantime, Leroy resisting to do the same, is happy to be home and feels affectionate towards his wife, but he worries that she does not return these feelings. He wonders if his presence reminds her of their lost son, Randy, who died of sudden infant death syndrome. We have been informed that Leroy’s drug dealer, Stevie Hamilton, would of been the same age of Randy. This event tells the audience that Leroy refuses to move on from the past and continues to bring their marriage to an end. Consequently, the Moffitt’s gets one of their frequent visits from Mabel, the mother of Norma Jean and is constantly nagged by her to take a trip to Shiloh, a Civil War battlefield. This place is where Mabel and her late husband, Jet, spent their honeymoon and she thinks that such a trip will help them solve their marriage problems. After arriving at Shiloh, they see a log cabin, as Leroy expected. Close to the cemetery, they eat lunch. After they eat, Leroy smokes a joint, silence falls, and Norma Jean tells him that she wants to leave him. He suggests starting over, and she says they already did start over. After making her final decision, she travels down a serpentine brick path to begin her journey. Norma jean does not know where this path will lead her, but she knows that she is finally leaving. Leroy and Norma Jean are both victims of rapid social ch ange. Norma Jean was the most affected by her surroundings comparing to Leroy. Norma Jean had to marry at the age of eighteen to the man who got her pregnant, and in a cruel twist of fate, the child dies of sudden infant death syndrome. This event from her life prevents her to look towards the painful past. From the very beginning of the story, Norma Jean is portrayed as a woman continuously trying to better herself. She takes the opportunity of Leroy’s rehabilitation from his accident to start bodybuilding. After the bodybuilding class is over, she takes a composition class at night, and starts to cook more exotic food. Apart from Norma Jean’s efforts to self-improvement, Leroy refuses to move on from the past. While their surroundings are modernizing and changing to a more suburb area, Leroy continues to live in the past, such as living in an old log cabin. Leroy also relates the present to the previous, when he relates the doctor’s son to his own lost son. These two characters opposing each other, leads Norma Jean to her final decision of leaving her husband at the end of the story and the various aspects of her character revealing that desire. These aspects of her character were her devotion to progress in life, and her inability to communicate with her husband while he was still stuck in the past. The setting in the short story â€Å"Shiloh† by Bobbie Ann Mason works well to accentuate the theme of the story. The theme portrayed by the author is that most people change along with their environment, with the exception of the few who are unwilling to adapt, making it difficult for things such as marriage to work out successfully. As Norma Jean advances herself, their marriage ultimately collapses due to Leroy’s unwillingness to adapt with her and the changing environment. The author’s use of the difficulties of Norma Jean and Leroy’s adaptation to their changing environment, leaves the story to its central theme, change and transformation.