Monday, December 30, 2019

Learning Numbers in English ESL Beginner Lessons

The use of numbers for beginners is important. These exercises can be done almost like a grammar chant. The back and forth of a chant helps to memorize the numbers more quickly.   Learning the Numbers 1 to 20 Start by with numbers one through 20.  If you are teaching in a classroom, you can write a list on the board and point to the numbers, asking student to repeat after you as you point.  Once students  have learned these numbers, you can move on to other, larger numbers.   1 - one2 - two3 - three4 - four5 - five6 - six7 - seven8 - eight9 - nine10 - ten11 - eleven12 - twelve13 - thirteen14 - fourteen15 - fifteen16 - sixteen17 - seventeen18 - eighteen19 - nineteen20 - twenty Practicing Random Numbers If you are working with a group of students, you can write a list of random numbers on the board and point to the numbers as you work your way around the classroom. Teacher: Susan, what number is this?Student(s): 15Teacher: Olaf, what number is this?Student(s): 2 Learning the Tens Next, students learn tens which they can use with ever larger numbers.  If you are teaching, you can write out a list of the tens and point to them one by one, asking the students to repeat after you: 10 - ten20 - twenty30 - thirty40 - forty50 - fifty60 - sixty70 - seventy80 - eighty90 - ninety100 - One hundred Combining Tens and Single Digits Next the teacher should write a list of various numbers, both single digits and multiples of ten and point to the numbers. This will allow students cover all the numbers up to 100. Ask your students to  repeat after you as you point to the numbers. For example: point to the 20 and then the two.   Student(s): 22Teacher: [points to 30 and six]Student(s): 36Teacher: [points to 40 and eight]Student(s): 48, etc Continue this exercise around the class. Contrasting Teens and Tens The teens and tens can be tricky because of difficulties is distinguishing between similar-sounding pairs like 13 - 30, 14 -40, etc. Write the following list of numbers and as you point to the numbers,  exaggerate the pronunciation, emphasizing the teen of each number and the unaccented y on the tens. 12 - 2013 - 3014 - 4015 - 5016 - 6017 - 7018 - 8019 - 90 Be careful to pronounce slowly, pointing out the difference in pronunciation between 14, 15, 16, etc. and 40, 50, 60, etc. Now ask your students to repeat after you. Teacher: Please repeat after me. 12 - 20Student(s): 12 - 2013 - 3014 - 4015 - 5016 - 6017 - 7018 - 8019 - 90 If numbers are especially important for your class, teaching basic math vocabulary should prove quite helpful as well.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Contemporary Psychodynamic Authors - 1984 Words

Contemporary psychodynamic authors define defenses as unconscious mental processes that function to defend against extreme anxiety (e.g. Valliant, 1994). Moreover, defenses are observed as being both protectors against unconscious feelings and relational and cognitive behaviours that protect the self (Cooper, 1998). Currently there is no consensus as to the number of defenses that exist however, in ‘The Ego and the mechanisms of Defense’ Ana Freud (1936/1986) discusses ten. However, subsequently there has expansion of recognised defences (Kramer 2013). Although, authors vary on the number of defenses that are present, there is a largely an agreement on the role of defenses. The function of these defense mechanisms is to modify internal psychological conditions such as emotions and thoughts by changing the meaning or implication of perceived threats (Kramer 2013). Defenses are utilised differently in borderline personality and comparable disorders and therefore necessitat e accurate identification for therapeutic appropriate intervention (Cooper, 1998). Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a severe and dominant psychiatric condition featuring affective instability, marked impulsivity, and substantial deficits in the ability to work and sustain meaningful relationships (Hadjipavlou and Ogrodniczuk 2010). In addition, BPD individuals suffer with deep fear of abandonment, identity conflicts and paranoid ideations (Hadjipavlou and Ogrodniczuk 2010). Further, BPD individualsShow MoreRelatedFreudian Psychoanalysis As The Forerunner Of All Psychotherapeutic Methods979 Words   |  4 Pagesperiod and genital stage. Freud argues that personality development across these stages is a reflection of how the impulses and drives were accomplished in the different developmental stages (Jones Butman, 2012) Do you agree with or disagree with the author? Explain I do agree with the Jones and Butman that as Christians we are likely to disregard Freudian views on personality development because of the theory’s differences with our Christian worldview. Jones and Butman argue that Conservative ChristiansRead MoreThe Diverse Nature of Psychology Essay examples1075 Words   |  5 Pagesmajor perspectives: psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, sociocultural, biological, and evolutionary. This diversity within psychology, allows psychologists the ability to expand in all areas of explanation, assessment, and diagnoses, which furthers the science of psychology through many different subfield specialties. Influence on Psychology’s Major Concepts Diversity is off great influence on the major concepts in psychology. The cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and humanistic perspectivesRead MorePsychoanalytical Theory and Cognitive Behavior Theory1567 Words   |  7 PagesRunning Header: JOURNAL REVIEW Journal Review: An assessment of contemporary studies to Psychoanalytical theory and Cognitive Behavior theory. Abstract Psychoanalytical theory and cognitive behavior theory (CBT) are currently two of the most utilized psychotherapeutic modalities in Western psychology. In the current review of literature, the salience of both theories is analyzed through the evaluation of contemporary studies on the two theories. These studies focused on empirical rather than merelyRead MorePTSD and Anxiety, Themes in the Film 1995 Copycat and Therapies1703 Words   |  7 Pagescharacterized by an intensified feeling of distress, and at times incapacitate her to the brink of a nervous breakdown and unconsciousness. These abnormal conditions are a profound feature of the story, which revolves around Dr. Hudson (who is an expert author and lecturer on serial killers) working with other detectives to track down a serial killer after a series of peculiar homicides in the San Francisco area. During their investigation, they learn that this murderer is actually meticulously recreatingRead MoreThe Ever-Changing Deviant Soc iety Essay1499 Words   |  6 Pages To better understand these different forms of deviance we must look at the causes and origins of deviant behavior. Like some disorders in abnormal psychology, I believe deviance can originate from biological, behavioral, sociocultural, and psychodynamic backgrounds. Even a combination of these five areas may cause a person to become deviant. In the biological realm, I believe that someone can be genetically predisposed to deviant behavior. They may have personality characteristics handed downRead MoreDetailed Analysis on Personality Disorders479 Words   |  2 Pagesinclude the psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic and family system approach. There are various studies, that are both fascinating and illuminating, and that can help society understand how these theories function to understand how to best treat this disorder. While in the past most psychologists only adhered to one of these, now most psychologists use multiple definitions of these theories in order to better treat the disorder. (Integrative and Biopsychosocial Approaches in Contemporary ClinicalRead MoreActive Experimentation And Its Effects On Reality And The Starting Of The Cycle1116 Words   |  5 Pagesas a lifelong process. Again, I stress here on the vital need of a â€Å"secondary debriefing† (venting ) after the â€Å"primary de briefing† (self-reflecting). CRITIQUES TO KOLB’S CYCLE Despite the crucial impact of Kolb’s cycle to contemporary theories of learning, many authors have criticized it for different reasons (see appendix five). I have chosen the below theorists since I believe they provide food for thought on issues as important as autonomy, unconscious learning, isolation, rigidity, social/educationalRead MoreSocial Implications Of Psychoanalytic Theory Essay1219 Words   |  5 Pagesquestions and concerns which arise from the implications of the numerous avenues of the psychodynamic theory. They maintained constant themes throughout this process, such as, understanding the importance of human subjectivity, identity and selfhood; and the basic nature and the relationship between intimate attachments and the quality of social relationships; as well as the dynamics of oppression. The authors explored a range of psychoanalytic ideas, comprising of Early Drive Theory, Ego PsychologyRead MoreThe Role Of Relationship And Technique On Therapeutic Chang e989 Words   |  4 Pagestherapeutic alliance. The undertones that guide the discussion and is largely the conflict are the assumptions made about theories and how they include not just one theoretical approach, but four including behavioral, experiential humanistic and psychodynamic. Later on the answer given is that there are core principles that guide not only the methodology, but also the alliance or the relationship. What Goldfried and Davila try to do is move the conflict away from the question as to whether or not theRead MoreA Brief Comparison of Historical Paths for the Clinical and Counselling Streams of Psychology2301 Words   |  10 Pagesand implementation of both counselling and clinical psychological streams (Gladding, 2013; Kiselica Robinson, 2001). Indeed, it is difficult to imagine the acceptance of any contemporary psychological stream without the American mental health movement of the early 1900’s. When comparing the methods used by contemporary clinical and counselling psychologists, one must recognise the contributions of Carl Rogers, whose non-directive, humanistic counselling approach relied upon client-centered methods

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Mexico, Central America and the caribbean Free Essays

The book, Victors and Vanquished: Spanish and Nahua Views of the Conquest of Mexico, made use of extracts from an report taken by Bernal Diaz in 1632 regarding the victory of the Spaniards. The book also made use of the statements made by the native Nahua survivors which were collected by Bernardino de Sahagun. The book showed how differences of opinion or biases as well as personal interests could play as a major factor in the interpretation of a particular event. We will write a custom essay sample on Mexico, Central America and the caribbean or any similar topic only for you Order Now Among the many strong points of the book is the fact that it gave its reader a broad assessment and analysis of the main sources which historians used when describing the events that occurred and the consequences that the conquest of Mexico had entailed.   The fact that Schwartz divided the book into two central sections is proof enough that he considered his readers to be primarily composed of students. The book had been divided into two separate sections, â€Å"Chronology of the Conquest of Tenochtitlan† and a helpful dictionary which tackles terms used by both the Spanish and the Nahua. Mexica is used as a reference to those people who have control of the Tenochititlan before the arrival of the Spaniards in 1519. Today’s modern day Mexico had been dominated by the Mexica and that is primarily the reason why the people they have conquered speaks their tongue, Nahuatl thus not all those who speaks the language of Nahuatl can be considered as a Mexica. But there are people living in the South (which we now refer to as Central America) who make use of some Mayan dialects in speaking. The Nahua’s are Native Americans who lives in Central and eastern Mexico. The first part of the book provided us with an introduction of the history of the Mesoamerica during the conquest. It also showed how diverse those Mesoamericans are during that time. Another important thing that the writer of the book considered is how the difference of ethnicity could affect a retelling of a particular history thus the author made use of the primary sources gathered by both Spanish as well as the indigenous people. Schwartz gave an illustration of the coming of the Mexica. He also described how the Mexica build their capital, Tenochtitlan. The book also showed in detail how bitter the relationship of the indigenous people is with their conquerors, the Mexica. It also offered a description of the character of those Spaniards conqueror that inhabited both the Caribbean and the Central America. Schwartz also showed how greatly the Spaniards differ from the Natives especially in recording important events on their history. The latter made use of hieroglyphic texts which are usually accompanied by dance, tales and songs. Schwartz also made it a point to show how different the stories presented by both sides in recounting the events that occurred during the conquest. It is very puzzling how the same event could be recounted differently, dependent on who is the teller of the said event. Schwartz said that the primary reason for this difference is the fact that both sides had their own interests they wish to preserve. Those interests includes a mixture of politics, personal as well as cultural things each side wish to protect. Schwartz analyzed the texts based on the reasons which motivated different writers into writing the event between the indigenous people and the Mexica. He showed some examples on which a particular author made his report not merely because he wants to recount the exact things which happened during that time, but rather because he that author wants to please a certain patron. There are other examples which showed that religion affected the retelling of the said events. It showed that there are people who tried to justify their joining of the conquest in terms of their religion, particularly that of the Roman Catholic Church. On one particular chapter on the book, Schwartz noted that Diaz Del Castillo (one of his primary sources) had made use of other sources on recounting the events which occurred on the massacre of Mexica aristocrats (Things Fall Apart). Another thing Schwartz pointed out is the fact that previous enemies of the Aztecs (Mexica) had written most of the Tlaxacallan accounts and thus these writers had been biased on their retelling because of their yearning for people to view the Mexica as despicable people. I would rather make use of the term conquest in defining the relationship between the Nahua and the Spaniards. I have made use of that particular term because that is exactly what happened between the Spaniards and the Nahua. The Spaniards gained the lands the Nahua previously had by conquering its people and everything that goes within it. I mean they did not acquire the land by buying them, did they? The term cultural exchange may also be appropriate in describing the relationship between the Spaniards and the Nahua because it is very common for the conquerors to make those people they have conquered adapt to their cultures. This is very evident on the fact that the indigenous people have learned the language of their conquerors and they are using it even up to now. This adaptation could occur because of the length of exposure they have had with each other and mostly because of cross-marriages. Also, as conquerors they would want their religion to be known worldwide and thus they have made use of their power in order to make the natives into Christians. One of the primary reasons the Spaniards have in justifying their conquest is to make the word of their God be known to all and thus it is no wonder that they have made use of their power in order to convert the people they have conquered into Christians. However, religion could be just a tactics the conquerors may have employed for some other ulterior motives which could either be gold or glory or a combination of both. As I have said the term conqueror would be more appropriate than the term cultural exchange because the change of culture is more predominant to the conquered rather than to the conquerors. Of course, the native may have had influenced their conquerors in one way or another but most of these conquerors views the indigenous people as inferior and thus they would not want these people to influence them in any way. Thus, it is possible that no real exchange of culture really occurred especially since the change of culture is expected only from the conquered. The Conquest of Mexico City could also be viewed as a war between Spaniards and Spaniards as well as between Natives American and the Native Americans. This is very evident that the recounting of this historical events vary not only between the Spaniards and the Natives, rather the stories of the Spaniards vary even among themselves and same things can be told between the Natives. These differences among themselves may have occurred because of their differences of interests. For the Natives for one, some of them have adapted completely with the terms required by their conquerors and they view their being conquered as a blessing thus they support the Spaniards wherein some Natives do not want the conquerors in their lands and they view the things done by the Spaniards as nothing but abused on the Natives and thus they would recount their tales in such a way that the Spaniards would look like a real villain. To conclude, I think that the book presented both sides of the story well in such a way that the author did his best in order not to pick sides. He recounted the Conquest in a manner which attempted to give his readers a good view to both sides of the parties involved. Thus, all in all, the book is an interesting read and it is very beneficial especially for those who want to gain knowledge about the Conquest of Mexico. Reference: Schwartz, Stuart B. Victors and the Vanquished: Spanish and Nahua Views of the Conquest of Mexico (2000). Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000.       How to cite Mexico, Central America and the caribbean, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

The Keynesian Theory and the Great Depression free essay sample

A study of the theories of economist John Maynard Keynes and their connections with the Great Depression. The paper discusses the theories of John Maynard Keynes who is known as the father of modern economics. He was the first economist who precisely described some of the causes and cures for recessions and depressions. The paper explores some of the effects his theories had on the Great Depression such as the Employment Act and the Council of Economic Advisors. It also shows the effects of his theories on World War II and provides a time-line for the Great Depression. Thus, according to Keynes, the solution that he bought through his theory was for the government to goose up its spending in any way it can either by printing money, cutting taxes, or increasing spending itself. He believed in supply and demand, which was an indirect way to let the economy balance itself. We will write a custom essay sample on The Keynesian Theory and the Great Depression or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In his theory he not only convinced that in order to work for this system to work people needed money, which could only be done by creating jobs. He further believed that in order to reduce unemployment the government needed to increase the total demand, which is the total amount of goods being demanded.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Bless Me Ultima Character Growth Essays - Ultima, Bless Me, Ultima

Bless Me Ultima Character Growth A Religious Struggle Only a few books dare to discuss the confusion surrounded by a religious awakening. In Bless Me Ultima, Richard A. Anaya, Premio Quinto Sol national Chicano literary award recipient, challenges standard religion and brings in different ideas through the perspective of a young and confused boy. Due to the new ideas that he is introduced to, the events that occurs especially deaths, and his eagerness for knowledge all leads Antonio to question his religious beliefs. At the end of his struggle to understand, the boy reaches the peace of mind he was seeking. Throughout the book Antonio is introduced to many new ideas. The first is the experiences he has with Ultima. Ultima is a healer who learned her techniques from an old wise man on the llano or prairie. She is sometimes called a bruja or witch. This confuses Antonio because in his heart he knows Ultima represents good and not the evil she is sometimes blamed for. Antonio learns some of the ways of Ultima and begins to understand his surroundings. He knows the name of almost every plant and what medicinal use each has. As the novel continues there is a stronger interpretation of Ultimas powers as she heals Antonios Uncle Lucas. This is the beginning of good versus evil or god versus the devil, Lucas had seen Tenerios daughters performing devil worship in the woods and in return the daughters placed a curse on his hair. When the curse was revoked by Ultima it went into effect against the daughters and as they began to die Tenerio went into an evil rage against the powers of Ultima. Anto nio was then introduced to the Golden Carp and the story of the waters surrounding the town and its influence, which also allows Antonio to question the influence of god within his life, and the new power behind the carp. The next revelation for Antonio is the myth of the golden carp. Antonio learns about the golden carp from Cico, a friend of his. According to Cico, the golden carp was once a god who loved the people of Antonio's town, Guadalupe. The people were not allowed to fish for the brown carp that lived in the river that flowed around the town. These fish were sacred to the gods. However, because of a drought and no food, the people had to eat the carp to survive. This angered the gods. They wanted to punish all the people by death but they relented from killing the people. Instead, they turned the people into carp and made them live forever in the waters of the river- (80). The god who loved the people wished to become a carp like them to protect them from the dangers of the river. The gods agreed and because he was a god they made him very big and colored him the color gold (81). Antonio cannot believe there is a new god and seeks answers from Ultima. Ultima is pleased that he has learned s o much, but says she cannot tell him what to believe for he must decide for himself. The Golden Carp represents all the questions Tony has about religion and morality. Tonys confusion is due to conflicting forces in both these aspects of life. When Cico first introduces the Carp to Tony, he is forced to make a tough decision, Do you believe the Golden Carp is a god? which he skillfully evades until he has the information he wants to make his decision (106). After the emergence of the Carp, Tony begins to question his Catholic upbringing, and he wonders why God punishes people. This is when Tony begins to set his idealism aside and truly looses his spiritual innocence. In the early part of the novel Antonio already starts to begin questioning his relationship with God. The events that occurs throughout the novel especially deaths has a huge impact on the struggles he has with his religious beliefs. In chapter one Antonio takes his first steps toward his loss of innocence, The brown water would be stained with blood, forever and ever and ever. Lupitos death is the first time that he is faced with

Monday, November 25, 2019

Should I Include My LinkedIn Profile URL on My Resume

Should I Include My LinkedIn Profile URL on My Resume The short answer to the title question is YES! Your LinkedIn profile URL has become a standard item to put in your resume header, along with name, address and phone. Why? 90% of hiring managers now use social media, with LinkedIn as a primary resource, to research candidates. So your email address and LinkedIn URL have become more important information for employers than your street address!  In fact, you can omit your street address from the header and include just city and state, since correspondence happens most often by email. Employers do want to know your location, but not down to your street. Craft Your Public Profile URL Before you put your LinkedIn profile address on your resume or business card, make sure choose an address you want. You can edit your â€Å"Public Profile URL† through the Edit menu on LinkedIn and get rid of all those distracting letters and numbers at the end of the URL. www.linkedin.com/in/brendabernstein looks so much better than www.linkedin.com/in/brendabernstein/16/b93/429 doesn’t it?   And it takes up  a LOT less space on your resume! To change your URL, go to your profile page and click on the Edit public profile URL button in the upper right: This will take you to a screen where you can edit your profile address. Click the pencil icon: Then enter your new address. Note that your URL cannot contain any special characters and is limited to 30 characters. Is the name you want unavailable? Try your last name followed by your first name, use an initial or two, or insert dashes or another symbol. Find a solution that works for you! **Keyword Tip: If you have room to add keywords at the end of your profile URL, you can get search engine optimization (SEO) mileage out of adding your top keyword directly after your name! For instance, johnjonescorporatecounsel or janesmithitdirector. Adding these keywords will not affect your search rankings within LinkedIn itself, but it will provide some leverage in Google searches. Your LinkedIn Profile URL on Your Resume Here are some formats you might use when adding your LinkedIn address to your resume: For more graphic savvy, create a button on your online resume or website that links to your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn no longer provides button images, but they still exist in cyberspace! Here’s what they look like: Once you’ve saved the image to your computer, insert it in the header of your resume and hyperlink it to your LinkedIn profile! In Word, you’ll find the hyperlink function under the Insert tab, Links section: Here’s what the final product might look like: Of course, if anyone prints your resume, this LinkedIn button will not be clickable from the printed document. So always create a version with the hyperlink spelled out for anyone you hand your resume to on paper. ** Tip: If you dont already own yourname.com for other purposes, such as a blog or other job search marketing materials, this option might be a good one for you. For example, instead of listing your profile at the top of your resume as https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendabernstein, you could write LinkedIn profile: www.brendabernstein.com, which looks much cleaner and also shows that you are tech-savvy. [I credit this tip to a client who told me he had purchased his name.com domain and then pointed the domain to his LinkedIn page.] ** IMPORTANT! If you have your LinkedIn profile URL on any documents or email signatures and then you change it, update your documents and signatures! Write an Effective LinkedIn Profile to Accompany Your Resume If you put your LinkedIn profile URL on your resume, be prepared that someone will click on it! In reality, whether or not you put your LinkedIn URL on your resume, hiring managers will search for you on LinkedIn.  It is therefore essential that you have a LinkedIn profile and that it is written to impress. That means it’s not a straight regurgitation of your resume content. My e-books, How to Write a WINNING Resume, How to Write a STELLAR Executive Resume, and How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile will help you craft both a resume and a LinkedIn profile that keeps you in the â€Å"Yes† pile when a recruiter or hiring manager is considering your application. The Essay Expert also offers individualized resume reviews and full resume writing packages, plus LinkedIn profile reviews and full LinkedIn profile writing packages. Contact The Essay Expert if you have questions or are interested in our services.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 3

Finance - Essay Example There were already reports of rising default on subprime mortgages that further fuelled quickly thereafter. Such mortgages are usually given to borrowers with below average credit ratings which are mainly due to their higher average risk of evasion in loan repayment. The financial institutions often charge higher interest on subprime mortgages in order to compensate for the risk taken. Thus, as the banks began clear out more loans to home owners, the housing prices rose. The easy accessibility of credit in U.S. in addition to large foreign inflows led to the boom in construction and increased consumer spending that was mostly financed by debt. The falling prices of houses resulted in more homes less worthy than mortgaged loans which provided a financial incentive to financial institution to take possession of mortgaged property when the mortgagor failed redeem loans leading to financial crisis in banking sector (Brunnermeier, pp.78-81). 2- What would a commercial bank's balance sheet have looked like in 1973? What would an investment bank's balance sheet have looked like in 1973? Considering Bear Stearns in 2007, was it closer to a commercial bank or an investment bank? During the period of 1973, the commercial bank operations involved both issuing loans as well as taking deposits. The loans and deposits were shown in the lenders’ balance sheet. On the other hand the investment banking operations involved underwriting activities such as underwriting equity and debt. In addition to underwriting activities, the investment banking operations also included buying and selling of securities. The investment bankers would buy securities such as debt and equities from a syndicate bank and then sell such security to investors. Thus, the investment bank would act like a market maker and their functions were similar to that of a broker or a dealer. Historically, the financial companies could slot in both investment and the commercial banking activities. It was only after the Great Depression Era that the congress realized the intrinsic risk of underwriting securities and hence decided to separate the commercial banking activities from the investment banking activities. Such a step was taken to protect the depositors from the risk of defaulting from underwriting activities. The Congress issued Glass-Steagall Act to separately identify the commercial and investment banking activities of the banks. The distinction between the investment banks and commercial banks narrowed during the mid 80s. In the late 80s, Fed started removing the Glass-Steagall Act that restricted the interference of investment activities from commercial activities. This Act was ratified by the Congress in the year 1999 with passing of Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. After the issue of this new act many investment and commercial banks were consolidated that resulted into renowned conglomerates like UBS group, Citi group, JP Morgan Chase, and so on. But other exclusive investment banks like Bear Sterns decided not to enter the commercial banking activities and take deposits. 3- Bear Stearns fell quickly. On March 10th, SEC Chairman Christopher Cox described Bear as being "well-capitalized". Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not? Bear Sterns & Co. also known as Bear was the fifth-largest investment bank

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

King Lear by Shakespeare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

King Lear by Shakespeare - Essay Example Thesis Art helps the main characters to find the truth, understanding the meaning of friendship and love, and resist chaos and evil. In King Lear, the concept of art is based on binary opposition; good - evil, life - death, chaos - order. Using his techniques, Shakespeare 'teaches' the audience about good and bad, virtues and sins, social and immoral behavior. For instance, actions of Duke of Cornwall and Regandepict low morals of people who act in their own interests only forgetting about human virtues and goodness. Regansarcastically comments: "Which the most precious square of sense possesses, / And find I am alone felicitate / In your dear Highness' love" (Shakespeare 1999). Using binary opposition of good and evil, Shakespeare unveils consequences of selfishness and egoism, aggressiveness and low personal values of people. In opposition to Regan and Goneril, Shakespeare creates a character of Cordelia a loving and sympathetic daughter. The nonsensical action caused sufferings for many innocent people because of dishonor, falsehood, low moral values 'preached' by the society. Evil and sins ruin happiness and art seeing as a constructive force of happiness and love. In contras to her sisters Cordelia truly loves her father and cares about him: "O dear father, / It is thy business that I go about" (Shakespeare 1999). Without this opposition, the audience would be unable to see the differences and contrasts between good and evil nature. Following Eldridge (2003): "conceptual art are "at the service of the mind" in that they are intended to set up in an audience a line of thinking about a subject matter. Most literary works clearly undertake to describe an action, situation, or event" (25). These contrasts and oppositions help Shakespeare to create a story conflict and draw attention to contrasting elements and personal traits. For instance, Earl of Gloucester is a foil of King Lear who commits the same faults as Lear. For while deploying descriptive detail in the conventional realistic way to build up a rich and convincing impression of Earl of Gloucester and the world he creates, Shakespe are uses realism. In contrast to King Lear, Gloucester is not so powerful and stubborn. Gloucester says: "I desir'd their leave that I might pity him, they took from / me the use of mine own house, charg'd me on pain of perpetual/ displeasure neither to speak of him, entreat for him, nor sny / way sustain him" (Shakespeare 1999). Shakespeare compares and contrasts both rulers who suffer the burdens of rule. It is important to note that identifying something as art, then, is indispensable to artistic practices. That something is art signals how and even whether readers are to respond to it interpretively, aesthetically, and appreciatively. King Lear demonstrates that art is an important part of life because it leads to self-knowledge and self-development. What is particularly interesting in the plot of King Lear is its exceptionally broad psychological and sociological scope, involving characters from practically all bands of the dynamic spectrum and social classes. Eldridge (2003) comments: "A work

Monday, November 18, 2019

A Hospital Room Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Hospital Room - Essay Example There was also a big photo of Mother Teresa placed on a shelf. The two sceneries, as mentioned before, were giving a pleasing look. In the first scenery, there was a big blue sea and birds were shown as flying in the air. There were also two hands seemed like praying for the health of people. In the second scenery, an array of colors was shown which was also adding to the overall pleasing environment of the hospital room. As far as the internal climate of the hospital room is concerned, I would say that it was normal and a bit inclined towards cold temperature. There were early summers those days so the temperature was kept a bit cold to make patients feel good. Overall, the environment of the hospital room and the services that were provided to me as  the patient reflected the sense of a healing environment. In a hospital room with healing environment, the focus is not just to provide good treatment to patients, but also to provide  the healing and memorable experience to them. The behavior of the nursing staff and that of the doctor was extremely good. There was also the facility of the hearing light music in the room using the hands-free device. There were also two comfortable chairs placed near each of the three beds for visitors and caretakers. Another attractive feature of the room was that it accompanied three small bathrooms each for each of the three patients admitted in the room. The bed in my room had side rails that could be raised and lowered using a remote control.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Benedict Arnold: Impact On American History

Benedict Arnold: Impact On American History During the middle of the eighteenth century, many questions arose regarding the future of the American Colonies, a relatively vast collection of British Colonial settlements along the Atlantic coast of the New World. As a schism divided the citizens of the Colonies, war appeared to be the inevitable future. Due to countless years of benign neglect shown by the British to its little child, patriots felt that it was time for an epic revolution. This era of great revolutionary movements is characterized by many popular figureheads in American history. Great minds such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington are accredited for being most influential. One man, however, is often overlooked in playing a vital role, both positive and negative, in the revolutionary landscape. His name is associated with traitor and he is quite possibly the most infamous person in American history. People have vilified him to the point where they compare him to Judas, betrayer of Jesus Ch rist (Martin). Benedict Arnold, one of the most controversial men to have called himself an American, is considered to be one of the greatest military minds in the history of the world. The question is: what made him switch sides? His impact is undeniable, but unfortunately, his actions against the United States are, quite simply, too immense to forget. SIGNIFICANCE: Background: Early Life and Pre-Revolution Benedict Arnold was born January 14, 1741 in Norwich, Connecticut. His Father, Benedict, was a successful businessman and his mother, Hannah Waterman-King, was a wealthy widow prior to re-marrying. His familys financial stature in Norwich was well recognized. Benedict was enrolled in a private school at a young age with the expectation that he would go on to be educated in an elite university (Creighton). His Fathers mismanagement of money, however, saw Benedict drop out of school, forcing him to take an apprenticeship with his mothers pharmaceutical business. Four of Arnolds siblings would eventually succumb to Yellow Fever. The combination of the death of his children, mismanagement of the fortune, and eventually, the death of his wife in 1759, saw Benedicts father to become a severe alcoholic (Sheinkin). Arnold would eventually see his first military action during the French Indian War, leaving his apprenticeship to join the cause. He enlisted in the Connecticut militia and march ed to Lake George and Albany to oppose the French in the Battle of Fort William Henry. The Indians supporting the French would go against the will of their French leaders who had promised them scalps and booty, going on to mercilessly massacring several hundred men in the militia (Hickman). From this moment, Arnold despised the French, which have said to influence him later on. After the crushing defeat, Benedict grew tired of the constant discipline and returned to his apprenticeship. http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/images/arnold.jpg Sons of Liberty Benedict Arnold grew to become a successful businessman. His rich cousins supplied him with enough money to go out on his own in the pharmaceutical business. Arnold traveled to Europe, where he bought necessary supplies for his own pharmaceutical business which he would go on to establish in New Haven (Benedict Arnold). His business ambitions soon expanded after he made significant profit in his first business venture. He involved himself in the West India Trade and also traded with Canada. Arnold acquired three ships in partnership with his friend, Adam Babcock (Hickman). Their business was successful, until Englands implementation of the Sugar and Stamp Acts. Arnold became displeased with Britains overwhelming taxation on imported goods in order to make up for their indebted crisis after the French Indian War. His outrage led him to become the passionate leader of the Sons of Liberty in New Haven, building up his anger towards the British stranglehold placed upon t he Colonies. Arnold, however, was not the only one with growing hatred towards the British. http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/4/48363/1108061-sons_of_liberty_poster_p228640904795152089trma_400_super.jpg In the middle of the 1700s, Britain began to impose several acts, taxes, and laws that paralyzed the progression of the Colonies. For example, in 1764, Britain imposed the Sugar Act, which increased the duties on non-British goods being traded with the Colonies. Later, in 1765, Britain passed the Quartering Act which forced the Colonies to supply and provide barracks for British troops. The last of the three initial Acts in the 1760s was the Stamp Act of 1765. The Stamp Act was the first direct taxation of the citizens of the Colonies, taxing all paper goods such as newspapers, pamphlets, and even playing cards. As a way of rebelling against the British oppression, the Stamp Act Congress was convened. The Stamp Act Congress passed a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which claimed that American colonists were equal to all other British citizens, protested taxation without representation, and stated that, without colonial representation in Parliament, Parliament could not tax colon ists. In addition, the colonists increased their non-importation efforts (Morris). In the big scheme of things, this was just the beginning of tensions between the Colonies and Britain in the events before the Revolution. The tumult regarding the impositions put in place by the British initiated a power struggle within the colonies. Britain was consistently attempting to stamp out the flame that the Colonists were trying to start. Although the Brits repealed the Stamp Act in 1766, they fired right back by passing the Declaratory Act. This Act stated that the British government could establish laws in the colonies in all cases whatsoever (Morris). This squashed the Americans slogan of no taxation without representation. The first real call for revolution came in the form of Samuel Adams, who issued his Massachusetts Circular Letter which attacked Parliaments audacity to tax them at free will. Adams called for a unified revolt within all the colonies, which raised the question of, Can we really do this?. That question was answered by Thomas Paine, who wrote his famous pamphlet, Common Sense, to stimulate thought within the American population. Paine wrote in a manner that was well understood by all peop le, making his writings very successful. Paine said that it was only logical for the colonists to rebel, which caused many neutral thinkers to choose sides. This, however, only highlighted the schism between the American people. Commonsense.jpg An indicator of how tensions were breaking in this era is shown in the Boston Massacre of 1770. The arrival of British troops in Boston marked the beginning of conflict between soldiers and citizens. A group of three British soldiers were surrounded by an angry Bostonian crowd, which inexplicably caused the soldiers to fire randomly into the crown, killing three and wounding two more (Morris). Crispus Attucks, one of the casualties in the Massacre, was said to be The first death of the Revolution, as he lay mercilessly slain on the cold ground. Later, in 1773, Parliament instituted the Tea Act, considered to be the last revolutionary spark in Boston. It was a last ditch attempt to save the East India Company, forcing colonists to buy British tea with the Townshend taxes still in place. The colonists saw this as a direct attempt to undercut the revenue of local merchants. As reaction to this Act, the famous Boston Tea Party resulted in men dressed up as Indians and dumping all tea into the harbor. Tensions had reached their breaking point, and it was time for organized revolution. It is out of this revolution that gave rise to one of the greatest generals in American history, one that would rival Patton, Washington, and Eisenhower. However, his name is more despised than it is revered, but his impact in nonetheless undeniable. Benedict Arnold: American General With his livelihood significantly impaired by the British involvement imposed in the colonies, Benedict Arnold devoted himself to the resistance of British tyranny. As tensions with London increased, Arnold increasingly became interested in military matters and was elected a captain in the Connecticut militia in March 1775 (Hickman). When word was spread about the first shots being fired in the Revolution at Lexington and Concord, Benedict jumped at the chance to ruin the British. Arnold assembled his 60 troops in the college green, and decided to have them march north to partake in the Siege of Boston. Fort Ticonderoga As Arnold approached Boston from the south, he proposed an aggressive siege upon Fort Ticonderoga in New York to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. He was commissioned as a colonel to lead the mission. He soon found out, however, that Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys were set to accomplish the same task. When Arnold and Allen met up, they clashed and battled for the right to control the siege. In the end, cooler heads prevailed, and The Green Mountain Boys fought with Arnolds men in a convincing takeover of Fort Ticonderoga under the joint command of Allen and Arnold. The battle itself took about a total of ten minutes, as the American revolutionaries attacked the fort at 3:00 AM, catching the guards totally off guard. After the siege, Allens men decided to have a party by plundering the fort. Arnold was far from amused, and reported to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, There is here at present 100 men, who are in the greatest confusion and anarchy, destroying and plu ndering private property, committing every enormity, and paying no attention to public service (Sheinkin). Arnolds hatred of stagnation and inactivity made him want more. He had control of the southern portion of Lake Champlain, but sought full control of the lake. A fort on the opposite bank of the lake, Fort St. Johns, had possession of the greatest warship on the lake, the George. Arnold selected his 30 best troops to join him as they sailed across the lake to seize control of Ft. St. Johns, their primary objective being the seizure of the George. They reached the opposite bank on May 18, and were able to secure control of the Fort and the George without firing a single shot (Sheinkin). Arnolds quick actions and bravery were evident from the get-go, and it was only uphill for him from then on. http://www.lcmm.org/images/img_education/img_outreaches/brassier_map.jpg Benedict Arnolds brash and bold manner was recognized quickly by Congress. In fact, they were scared. Arnolds lightning quick seizure of Fort St. Johns came as a shock to many. The Americans didnt even have an official army yet, and Arnold was eager for more action. Benedict was often characterized when he had too much free time as, restless, frustrated, and irritated (Martin). Fortunately, Arnold wasnt held idle for long, but not for the reason he hoped. He returned to see to his sickly wife, who died at the young age of 30. Quebec The Continental Army had officially been formed, but Arnolds return home saw him catch severe symptoms of gout. After his brief term of absence, he returned to Cambridge to meet with George Washington. Their plan was to invade Quebec, and Arnold was to be Washingtons right-hand man. Arnold pitched the idea that he would approach Quebec from an uncharted and treacherous route through the dense forest of Maine. Arnold hand chose 1000 men to aid him on his perilous journey to seize Quebec. Arnold brought along Jacataqua, a friend of young Aaron Burr. She knew the areas around the Kennebec River, and proved to be a crucial asset to their journey. The terrain they encountered was characterized by dense, wooded areas with swampy grounds, making traversing them next to impossible. Almost one quarter of the troops eventually turned around and headed back. Conditions of survival were rough also, as many of the boats leaked, which in turn spoiled the food and gunpowder aboard. Once the group f inally reached the St. Lawrence River, only 600 of the 1050 initial troops remained. They had travelled almost 400 miles through uncharted territory and were relatively unarmed. The Battle of Quebec began, however, despite the damage cause to Arnold and his troops. Arnold met up with Major General Richard Montgomery and united their meager forces against the fortified city of Quebec (Hickman). The Americans saw a crushing defeat on December 30, and December 31 at the hands of the British and their reinforcements, almost putting Arnolds perilous journey in vain. Arnold was severely wounded in his leg and along with the death of Gen. Montgomery, the Americans were left with poor spirits. File:American attack on Quebec.svg Question of Character Benedict Arnold was promoted to Brigadier General and commanded the retreat south from Montreal in 1776. After a strong defense at Fort Ticonderoga, Arnolds bravery remained intact, but the trust and support of his troops did not. Some of his officers often called him cocky and even arrogant. Benedict saw many of his troops question his tactics and thought he was overly aggressive. Arnold was, in fact, falsely accused to have stolen war supplies so that he could be replaced. Fellow General, Horatio Gates, saw that Benedicts tight following to the rules and guidelines of war were too great for him to have stolen supplies. The court found him guilty, but Gates blocked this potential decision. Benedict had the right to feel angry over the his treatment by the other men (Benedict Arnold). It was occurrences such as these where he was mistreated that contributed to him eventually switching sides in the war. Much to Arnolds relief, he was sent back to Rhode Island to report to George Washi ngton in order to rearrange defenses in response to the British occupation of Rhode Island. Arnolds Frustration Arnolds first feelings of discontent with his treatment by Congress and his peers were evident as he was consistently passed up to be promoted to Major General. His peers, who were also inferior officers, generated rumors about him that permanently damaged his reputation. Arnold had evident jealousies also, which were seen as weak because such a minute outside interference could affect him on the inside. Virtue is a key concept in the Revolution, and Congress repeatedly insulted Arnolds virtue (Martin). Arnold twice withdrew from the army with the firm belief that his honor and hard work were not being recognized. Benedict was deeply unhappy with his treatment, and it wouldnt get much better. Redemption at Saratoga Commander Philip Schuyler was the man who convinced Arnold to stay in the Continental Army. He saw Arnold as someone who could provide a spark in the Northern Army, a unit with some disunion and lack of firepower. He was dispatched with some 900 men to relieve the siege at Fort Stanwix (Henretta). This siege was almost too easy for Arnold, who was surprised to return to find out it was now Horatio Gates who was in command. Gates, who is defined as a generally defensive commander, would not gel well with his polar opposite in terms of military mindset, Benedict Arnold. As General Burgoynes army moved south, Arnold sought aggressive attack on the vulnerable Brits. Gates, however, was reluctant, and held his men back. At the pivotal Battle of Bemis Heights on October 7, 1777, Arnold defied Gates authority and took command of a group of American soldiers whom he led in an assault against the British line. Arnolds attack threw the enemy into disarray and contributed greatly to the America n victory. Ten days later, Burgoyne surrendered his entire army at Saratoga (Benedict Arnold). Arnolds brave and risky actions actually saw himself relieved from Gates command. This, however, is just an example of how inferior minds were above Arnold in caste system of the Continental Army. The Battle of Saratoga is often considered to be the turning point in the war, and without Benedict Arnold, it all couldve gone in a disastrous direction. https://bmshistory7p8.wikispaces.com/file/view/fauvel-the-surrender-of-general-john-burgoyne-at-the-battle-of-saratoga-7th-october-1777.jpg/198767254/fauvel-the-surrender-of-general-john-burgoyne-at-the-battle-of-saratoga-7th-october-1777.jpg After the battle of Saratoga, a great momentum shift was recognized throughout the world. France decided they might finally have a chance to be part of a victory in a war, so they took up the prospect of joining the rebel campaign. The Continental Army was having a hard time matching man for man the numbers that the British had. If not for the British having to travel a vast ocean to re-supply and send troops, the results could have shifted in their favor. Benedicts Demons What may have been the final straw for Benedict Arnold was when Horatio Gates peevishly took all credit for the defeat of mighty Burgoynes troops. At the time, Arnold was bedridden in an Albany hospital due to a near fatal wound to the same leg wounded in the Battle of Quebec. Bedridden and helpless, Benedict Arnold gnashed his teeth at the distressing thought of Granny Gates receiving honors won by the blood and grit of better men (Creighton). Arnold then was forced to reassess his sacrifices and his rewards. The more he thought, the more bitter he grew. Describing his situation in the hospital, a firsthand account of a hospital worker said, Poison may have stopped oozing from his leg, but his heart remained full of rancor. Arnold wrote about his frustration with the American cause, he believed the patriots to be worse off than at the beginning of the war. Popular support for the Revolution was waning, and many saw loved ones lost. Much of his anger also focused on civilians in Cong ress who shorted supplies for the military and failed to acknowledge the contributions made by fighting patriots. How can Congress allow this army to starve in a land of plenty? he penned. The Turning Point George Washington, who still had bountiful faith in Arnold, told the permanently crippled Benedict that he was to protect the recently seized Philadelphia. Benedict even partook in the first recorded Oath of Allegiance, ironically, which shows ones loyalty to the United States (Sheinkin). Once in command of Philadelphia, Arnold began to envelop himself in questionable business deals in order to regain his previous financial losses suffered during much of the Revolutionary War. Basically, Benedict used his position as Military Commander to profit from war-related supply movements. Many people in the city recognized his sketchy behavior, and many began to accumulate significant evidence against him. Arnold learned to live extravagantly in Philadelphia, which despite its recent change in occupants, remained to have Tory influences (Henretta). These influences are known to have helped convince Benedict to switch sides. On top of all his newfound wealth and stature, Benedict re-married a woman by the name of Peggy Shippen, daughter of judge Edward Shippen, a notorious advocate of the loyalist cause. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Peggy_Shippen_and_daughter.jpg/220px-Peggy_Shippen_and_daughter.jpg Arnold would eventually be tried by a court-martial on two accounts of illegal activity as Military Commander in Philadelphia. Eventually, the judge reached a verdict that he should be reprimanded by the commander-in-chief. Washington saw Arnold as being used as a scapegoat and as a victim or persecution. George Washington pushed the matter aside, instead granting Arnold complete control over the seizure of West Point. Washington was oblivious to Arnolds sense of unhappiness, and now is the time when Benedict jumps ship. Espionage Arnold grew tired of the American stagnation; he had seen the cost at which freedom comes. Arnold saw the atrocities that followed the rough winter at Valley Forge, where soldiers were reduced to eating shoe leather outside of British occupied Philadelphia. The only question in his mind was, Does the end really justify the means? Arnolds disgust towards the American causes reached its boiling point at the time of French intervention in the war. Arnold had grown to despise the French, ever since his early days of contributing in the French Indian War. He had been affected by the Tory influence that resided in Philadelphia, which played a crucial role in his change of mindset. Benedict Arnold was said to have first reached out to the enemy in May of 1779. Major John Andre, a British officer, acted as a courier between Arnold and Sir Henry Clinton. It was through Andre that the two men delivered secret encrypted messages regarding the possibility of a tradeoff. Benedict Arnold was in a particular position that would allow him to give the British what they had wanted since the beginning of the Revolutionary War: the Hudson River (Hickman). In exchange, Arnold was to receive around three million US dollars (in todays currency). Another influence in Arnolds decision was his new wife. Peggy Shippen proved to have been a close friend of Andres, and is credited with having set up the whole communication system.http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mafy5aVDpp1rtn3ufo1_400.jpg Arnold resigned his post as Military Commander of Philadelphia, and gained total control of West Point on August 3, 1780. On August 15, Arnold received an encrypted letter from General Clinton, which included his final offer of  £20,000. In return, Arnold sent his acceptance of the offer and inside information regarding French reinforcements and the movements of Washingtons troops. Arnold became more and more comfortable at West Point, and systematically weakened his defenses in order to let his scheme flow better. The goal was for a siege without a single bullet. Arnold drained West Point of supplies to the point that his subordinates thought he was crazy. An eventual meeting was scheduled between Andre and Arnold to meet face to face on September 21. The HMS Vulture, the ship meant to carry Andre back to New York, was fired upon, causing it to retreat back down the Hudson River. Andre, as a result, had to return to New York on foot. He was given instructions and maps to wiggle hi s way through enemy lines, but he was eventually caught two days later with Arnolds documents in place. George Washington was said to have been calm at the time he found out, but one thing was on his mind. Washington knew that they had to destroy this guy top, bottom, and sideways and forever associate him with treason (Martin). There was nothing Washington wanted more than Arnold at his feet, begging for his mercy. Washington negotiated with the British, hoping to get an exchange for the captured Andre. To no avail, Andre was hanged October 2, 1780 on account of being a spy. The New Arnold Theres an old saying Ive always known, and it says: No one likes a traitor, even if hes your traitor. And this couldnt have been more evident than the case of Benedict Arnold. He was never trusted by the British, whether it was on the battlefield, or just in general. He was never promoted above the rank of Brigadier, and he was never handed any major military operations under the Crown. Until the eventual fall of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Arnold was never considered to be a major factor in the British scheme of the Revolutionary War. George Washington ordered his immediate hanging should he be caught. All Americans knew about his becoming a traitor; his name was wiped from all military records and was essentially deleted from the very country that revered him as a Revolutionary hero. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/WestPoint1780.jpg/220px-WestPoint1780.jpg Arnold, however never lost his military touch. He acted as an advisor in the British Army, and begged that Cornwallis flee Yorktown in favor of a landlocked base instead of one bound by land and sea. This, however, lead to the eminent downfall of the British Army. They were surrounded by the French Navy by sea, and the Continental Army by land. This lead to the surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. Legacy Arnolds legacy is best represented by Benjamin Franklins quote, Judas sold only one man, Arnold sold three million. Biographers over the times have characterized him as a demonic and miserable figure. Some have even told stories about how he entered the world as the antichrist. Benedict Arnolds military gains shouldnt be overlooked, however. His impact on the Revolutionary War goes without saying, albeit both positive and negative. He played the most significant role in the turning point of the war, along with being one of the bravest and most intelligent military leaders of all time. Unfortunately, in the end, his negatives greatly outweigh his positives. His legacy has been so tarnished, that a memorial commemorating his honor and valor cannot show his face. Instead, it shows his leg, commemorating the Battle of Saratoga and all he did for his nation that day. It reads, In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental army, who was desperately wounded on this spot, winnin g for his countrymen the decisive battle of the American Revolution, and for himself the rank of Major General. He deserted the country that had learned to embrace him. He deserted the country that turned out to be the greatest country to ever exist. And he deserted those who believed in him, like his brothers on the battlefield and his children back home. Benedict Arnold was the first traitor in the history of the United States of America, and hopefully there will be no more. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/JeffersonDavisBenedictArnoldTreasonCartoon1865.jpg/240px-JeffersonDavisBenedictArnoldTreasonCartoon1865.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Arnold-boot.jpg/220px-Arnold-boot.jpg Significance Words cannot describe the significance of Benedict Arnolds impact on the United States of America. You could ask the majority of the people in the country, and the very thought of him will make some people gag. How someone could rise to the prowess of being a Revolutionary hero to the pit of being the most despised man in American history is beyond me. On the positive side of his significance, Arnold exemplifies all characteristics of being a great General. Whether its his bravery to throw himself and others into a situation with confidence shows his great ability as a military mind. Without the confidence to throw yourself into desperate situations, how could you possibly win over the respect and confidence of your men? His military mind is unmatched in regards to other Generals of the Continental Army. George Washington is revered in the United States as the Golden Boy. In hindsight, he was nothing more than an average military leader. Washington overshadows Arnold all because of Arnolds inability to stay true to the Revolutionary cause. Lastly, Arnold wasnt afraid to stand up for what he believed in. Arnold had an ability to actively express his opinions, which most of the time were right. Even in the time he was down and out on himself, he attempted to help the cause by expressing his knowledgeable opinion, one thing many peopl e dont have the ability to do. Arnolds contributions for the construction of the United States shouldnt be overlooked because what he actually did was truly astounding. On the negative side, Arnold is significant because he is, quite clearly, one of the most hated men in American history. He is an example for all people in the world, not just the United States, as to what exactly you DO NOT want to be. Arnold shows the world why you shouldnt turn your back on your country, it tarnishes your name forever, and you will never have the chance to amend for your mistakes. Not one person should aspire to turn on your country; it makes you seem to be a coward and spineless. Arnold is also significant because it shows us how we must respect and treat our military with the utmost concern and respect. Albeit Arnold was frequently outspoken and a diva, he recognized early on that the early Unites States didnt properly recognize all of its prized military officers. In the end, Arnolds reasoning for deserting the United States doesnt justify him doing it. Although he wasnt respected as the military genius he knew he was, Arnold was too easily tempted by money and by concrete things. His temptation for money and greed overshadowed the love and respect for his country that all men and women alike should have. Not just in the United States, but in all other corners of the Globe as well. What-Ifs What-If #1: What if Benedict Arnold hadnt changed sides? Had Benedict Arnold not changed sides, he most certainly would have been revered up in the same ranks as George Washington. Washingtons accomplishments are incredible, no doubt, but Arnolds are a close rival. The impact Arnold played during the war was something most people probably dont know. You could ask someone about Arnold, and they would probably call him a traitor because he gave Britain information. Little do most people know is that he was in many opinions the greatest General of the Revolutionary War. If you look at how he climbed in the ranks of the Continental Army, you would see him go from just the Commander of his local militia into a Major General in the span of about three years. In todays military, that is something that takes years, decades even. Had Arnold remained true to the United States, he would be revered as a hero, and up in the ranks with the likes of Franklin, Jefferson, Hancock, John Adams, Sam Adams, and Alexander Hamilton. He would be attributed with h elping build this country not through speech or on a piece of paper like most of the Founding Fathers, but through his bravery and active duty in the Revolutionary War. Had he remained true to the United States, there would be memorials in his honor. For example, the one at Saratoga wouldnt be just an unspecified leg; it could be of him standing on a hill symbolizing his complete domination of the most crucial battle during the Revolutionary War. It could have been Arnold who would have strategized the defeat of the British at Yorktown, that would surely make him an American hero, wouldnt it? Its sad to see such a great General fall from fame in the manner of which Arnold did. He couldve become the most iconic spectacle in all of American history. If only he couldve had the vision that Washington had for this country, or Jefferson, for that matter, he quite literally could have been great. What-If #2: What if Arnolds scheme had worked? Had Arnolds plan of giving up West Point to the British worked, it could have completely changed the outcome of the war. West point was considered to be so valuable due to its prime location, right on the Hudson River. West Point was the most wanted object by the British. They saw West Point as a crucial port where they could control what went in and what came out. The spot was hand selected by Washington because of its great natural fortifications and geographic spot. Had the British succeeded in their attempt to capture West Point, momentum could have greatly shifted in their favor. Americans would be disappointed and low on morale because one of their own had plotted their downfall, and the British could have capitalized by crushing the demoralized Continental Army. To this day, we could be under British control, having our daily tea and crumpets along with having a monarchial body in our government (Weird to think about, huh?). This is why it was so important that Arnold was caug ht, however. That very moment in our history could have very well dictated the very outcome of the war. If not for Arnolds plan being foiled, The United States of America may not exist. Talk about something that would not only impact us, but

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Frankenstein :: essays research papers

Frankenstein   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Love is an aspiration based on admiration and benevolence. To love another is to admire them and to have a warm attachment to them. Many things in one’s life have the ability to cloud or cover up feelings of love. Things such as rage, hate, ugliness, and revenge. Despite these negative feelings and thoughts, love is present in every being, every animal, and anything that possesses the beautiful thing we call life, because to be alive is lovin’. There is an excellent book titled Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, that displays the use of unseen love to drive a creature to destruction, murder and, devastation. Can such a being who has committed so many acts of wretchedness contain such a feeling as love?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some people think that for such a being that love is not possible to obtain, and others will agree, but argue that although it may be impossible to obtain love from something , it is easy and very possible to have love for something. Throughout the whole novel, the monster talks of revenge on the doctor for making him live with his ugliness and being rejecting by people because of it. Even the doctor was frightened and ran away when he first saw his creation’s hideous looks and monstrous body. Right off the bat, the doctor could have killed the fiend and rid himself of it forever, but he didn’t. He knew that for him to kill this thing, it would be like killing his own beloved child. Seeing the reaction of Frankenstein and the other humans, the creature vowed to hunt down and destroy Victor for bestowing such looks upon this creature’s body. What the monster was looking for was love, and he never found any, but he had plenty. The monster loved Victor for letting him live. The monster didn’t know this until the end. He found out that to give someone life was to give them the ultimate show of affection and love. At anytime in the monster’s life he could have killed Victor, especially when he was weak. Victor said â€Å"...for I was a shattered wreck—the shadow of a human being; my strength was gone..†(page 175). If the monster was as mean and hateful as he appears, he could have crushed Victor with his enormous hands and unbelievable strength. Why didn’t he then, because to kill your creator is to kill yourself, plus you must love your creator for life.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Islamic Fundamentalism Essay

20 March 2007 Introduction On September 11, 2001, the United States of America experienced the worst act of terrorism ever perpetrated on American soil, as major targets in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania were the scenes of the massive slaughter of innocent civilians. From the moment that the first act commenced, the rumor mill flew into overdrive, conveniently blaming the terrorism on â€Å"militant Islamic† people, and implying that this movement had suddenly sprung up out of obscurity to strike at the heart of America like a thief in the night. The reality is much more complex, for fundamentalist Islam has a much longer history, and the threat it continues to pose to Western Democracy, even today, had been growing and mutating for generations prior to 9/11. In this paper, the very definition of fundamentalism at its beginning will be presented, as well as the perversion of it that has led to the challenges and threats the West now has come to bear. Roots of Fundamentalism. To begin, one needs to understand two very different and specific terms: followers of Islam and Islamic Fundamentalists, as the two groups are vastly different, yet both claim legitimacy under the same doctrine. In its purest form, Islam is based upon the ancient teachings of the prophet Muhammad, who was said to have been given the Quran, or holy book of Islam, by God himself, with Muhammad as the messenger and deliverer of the Quran and its teachings to the masses (Davidson). If one were to follow the teachings of Islam in a more traditional sense, as Muhammad is said to have received the word from God, they would be peaceful, obedient servants of God, and Muhammad, thereby enriching their lives, raising solid families and leaving the world a better place than what is was when they were born into it. Eventually, however, political turmoil distorted this message and gave rise to a strain of Islam that is known as Fundamentalism or Extremism, depending upon the source of the material. This interpretation of Islam and the Quran takes the inflexible view that those who do not believe in Islam, and follow the Quran, are characterized as â€Å"Infidels†, and the price of their infidelity to Islam is death. Of course, the Christian ideals of the West make America a convenient target of this sort of massive hatred, but this hatred has also been fueled over the years by America’s defense of other enemies of the fundamentalists/extremists such as the people of Turkey and Israel (Mustikhan). Eventually, the rage of these Islamics would erupt against the US on a large scale, beginning in the 1970s. The Islamic Terrorist is Born It is generally agreed that those who are today termed â€Å"Islamic Terrorists† were first given that moniker by the West in 1979, when the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran was seized by terrorists, taking hundreds of American diplomats and their support staffs hostage in a siege that ultimately lasted 444 days, and brought the United States to the brink of war with Iran. The group of Iranians and assorted others who were in essence the foot soldiers who undertook the plot, led by the extremist leader Ayatollah Khomeini, came to be called Islamic Terrorists (Hoveyda). From there, the stereotype of what a terrorist is, and their potential to wreak havoc on innocent people, began to grow in the minds of the world community. Threats to Western Democracy Due to the widespread presence of Islamic Extremists/Militants, the threat to Western Democracy has become very real, and of course has manifested itself in such tragedies as the Iran Hostage Crisis and 9/11. Given the humble beginnings and admirable teachings that are found in the Quran, and were exhibited by Muhammad and carried down by his disciples, it is a wonderment as to exactly how/why Islam eventually spawned a militant faction which goes against the foundations of the faith itself. In a word, the violent offshoot is the byproduct of fanaticism. Fanatics are those members of the Islamic community who have taken the position that any government, or religion (in their mind, they should be one in the same) that does not practice the teachings of the Quran are the equivalent of parasites that must be eradicated for the good of the human race. The defense of this attitude, and the resultant violence which comes out of the attitude, is due to misinterpretation of the Quran, hence making these individuals worthy of the extremist label. Because the Islamic Extremists have convinced themselves that they are doing the will of God, as laid out in their creative interpretation of the Quran, there quite literally is nothing stopping them from continuing to launch attacks against the Western Democracies, as well as other â€Å"infidels† who hold views and practice lifestyles which are contrary to theirs. One particularly chilling reality of the threat against Western Democracy is the fact that Islamic Extremists, while found in large numbers in some nations more commonly than others, really do not have a nation with borders, do not fly an identifiable flag, or wear a uniform that indicates that they are Islamic Extremists, despite what the leadership of the United States may choose to claim in the present day. Rather, the Extremists have the ability to move freely about the globe and do not have a set territory where organized armies can pursue and battle them. This sort of an invisible threat, not centered in a geographic location but highly organized and well financed as well as armed to the hilt, holds the potential to destroy their enemies, such as the Western Democracies, which are somewhat restrained by physical borders and the need to engage in conventional warfare. Because of this, the paradox is clear- how can an enemy be fought if it cannot be readily seen or tracked? Also, the inability to negotiate with Islamic Extremists closes another avenue of resolving differences and stopping the bloodshed. Conclusion- What is the Future Threat? This paper has shown that Fundamental Islam has the means, mindset, and determination to bring Western Democracy to its knees, as well as the point of annihilation. What this will mean for the future is anyone’s guess but one thing is for sure- without some sort of decisive action against Islamic Fundamentalists, many more innocent lives may be lost, and hard lessons may be learned too late and at too high of a price. Works Cited Davidson, Lawrence. Islamic Fundamentalism. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998. Hoveyda, Fereydoun. The Broken Crescent: The â€Å"Threat† of Militant Islamic Fundamentalism. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1998. Marin-Guzman, Roberto. â€Å"Fanaticism: A Major Obstacle in the Muslim Christian Dialogue. the Case of Twentieth Century Islamic Fundamentalism. † Arab Studies Quarterly (ASQ) 25. 3 (2003): 63+. Mustikhan, Ahmar. â€Å"The Roots of Islamic Extremism. † World and I July 1999: 74.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Free Essays on Bob O

that they do know in or... Free Essays on Bob O Free Essays on Bob O Mid Term Exam 1.) Print-rich environment means using print in every form in the classroom. Using word walls, message centers, student’s writing samples, lots of books from every genre, learning centers, and real world objects that inspire study and reflections. 2.) Effective teachers would begin the school year by assessing the students in order to know where each student is at and what you will need to re-address or spend more/less time on. Also each student learns differently so you need to know how he or she learn best in order to accommodate their needs. Teachers must learn which reading skills each child already knows and does not know in order to plan appropriate instruction. 3.) The zone of proximal development is the difference between what a child can do alone and in collaboration with others. Once the zone of proximal development is identified, a teacher, parent, or more advanced peer could help a learner perform a task he or she would not be capable of doing alone. 4.) Expressive language is when the sender of a message encodes his or her thoughts into the symbol system of the language. Receptive language is when the receiver of a message decodes the symbol system (oral speech or print) of the language into meaning. 5.) Automaticity implies that readers, like computers have a limited ability to shift attention between the processes of decoding and comprehending. This is important because if readers are to busy decoding text they will not comprehend what it is they are to be learning. 6.) If a student had to read a textbook to study for a test in school this would be efferent reading. However, if a student were reading Judy Blume for pleasure this would be aesthetic. 7.) Structural analysis uses a reader’s knowledge of meaning â€Å"chunks† in words to identify familiar elements. If a student comes across an unfamiliar word when reading they can break it down into words that they do know in or...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Palenque Royal Tomb and Temple Inscriptions

Palenque Royal Tomb and Temple Inscriptions The Temple of the Inscription at Palenque is probably one of the most famous monuments of the whole Maya area. The temple is located on the southern side of the main plaza of Palenque. It owes its name to the fact that its walls are covered with one of the longest carved inscription of the Maya area, including 617 glyphs. The construction of the temple began around AD 675, by the important king of Palenque K’inich Janaab’ Pakal or Pakal the Great and was completed by his son Kan Balam II to honor his father, who died in A.D. 683. The temple sits atop a stepped pyramid of eight superimposed levels that reach a height of 21 meters (ca 68 feet). On its back wall, the pyramid is adjoined to a natural hill. The temple itself is composed by two passageways divided by a series of pillars, covered by a vaulted roof. The temple has five doorways, and the pillars that form the doorways are decorated with stucco images of Palenque’s main gods, Pakal’s mother, Lady Sak K’uk’, and Pakal’s son Kan Balam II. The roof of the temple is decorated with a roof comb, a construction element typical of Palenque’s architecture. Both the temple and pyramid were covered by a thick layer of stucco and painted, most likely painted red, as was common for many Maya buildings. The Temple of the Inscriptions Today Archaeologists agree that the temple had at least three construction phases, and all of them are visible today. The eight levels of the stepped pyramid, the temple, and the narrow stairway at its center correspond to the earliest construction phase, whereas the wider eight steps at the base of the pyramid, along with the nearby balustrade and platform were built during to a later phase. In 1952, the Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier, who was in charge of the excavation work, noticed that one of the slabs that covered the floor of the temple presented one hole at each corner that could be used to lift the stone. Lhuillier and his crew lifted the stone and encountered a steep stairway filled with rubble and stones that went many meters down into the pyramid. Removing the backfill from the tunnel took almost two years, and, in the process, they encountered many offerings of jade, shell, and pottery that speak to the importance of the temple and pyramid. The Royal Tomb of Pakal the Great Lhuilliers stairway ended about 25 meters (82 feet) below the surface and at its end, the archaeologists found a large stone box with the bodies of six sacrificed individuals. On the wall next to the box on the left side of the room, a large triangular slab covered the access to the funerary chamber of K’inich Janaab’ Pakal, king of Palenque from AD 615 to 683. The funerary chamber is a vaulted room of about 9 x 4 meters (ca 29 x 13 feet). At its center sits the large stone sarcophagus made out of a single limestone slab. The surface of the stone block was carved to house the body of the king and it was then covered by a stone slab. Both the stone slab and the sides of the sarcophagus are covered with carved images portraying human figures emerging from trees. Pakals Sarcophagus The most famous part is the carved image represented on the top of the slab that covers the sarcophagus. Here, the three levels of the Maya worldthe sky, the earth, and the underworldare connected by a cross representing the tree of life, from which Pakal seems to emerge to new life. This image has often been dubbed â€Å"the astronaut† by pseudoscientists, who tried to prove that this individual was not the Maya king but an extraterrestrial who reached the Maya area and shared his knowledge with the ancient inhabitants and for this reason was considered a deity. A rich series of offerings accompanied the king in his travel to the afterlife. The sarcophagus lid was covered with jade and shell ornaments, elegant plates and vessels were disposed in front and around the walls of the chamber, and at its southern side was recovered the famous stucco head portraying Pakal. Within the sarcophagus, the body of the king was adorned with the famous jade mask, along with jade and shell earplugs, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. In his right hand, Pakal held a squared piece of jade and in his left one a sphere of the same material. Source Martin Simon and Nikolai Grube, 2000, Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens, Thames and Hudson, London

Monday, November 4, 2019

Discorse community (obseration community) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discorse community (obseration community) - Essay Example Furthermore, Africans constitute the major portion of America’s lower labor force because; these people live a miserable life in the streets of New York and other shiny cities (Fish). Therefore, they are always willing to work on low wages in order to survive every single day. However, in the past, Africans were killed at large scales to establish the culture of white dominance in US and African immigrants were butchered during the process of liberating America for underdeveloped human capital. However, with the passage of time, modern corporate sector realized the importance of cheap labor with respect to controlling the labor costs for the organizations and these powerful corporate entities initiated the process of recruiting blacks as casual labor. On the other hand, early African Americans were unable to show any resistance against inhumane and unethical practices of hatred from their white counterparts. However, Africans planned their own version of revenge in response to prevailing injustice in the society through violating the lingual norms of American society by inventing abbreviations for the regular terminology. Along with this, few unethical clichà ©s are also the result of African creativity on lingual grounds. Nevertheless, this habitual lingual misbehavior led to the development of distinct language groups in the country, which can be identified as American and African school respectively. In parallel, the African American version of English assisted law enforcement agencies in terms of effective communications because; it is difficult to interact through whole words, due to increased probability of misinterpretation in this case (Finklea). However, the social acceptability of African American style of lingual interaction is increasing with every passing year. In the light of this observation, it can be predicted with acceptable degree of certainty that African American way of

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Wal-mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Wal-mart - Essay Example The company has a wide customer base with over 200 million customers served on a weekly basis (Walmartstores). In 2010 Wal-Mart Corporation achieved sales of $405 billion. This sales figure represents an improvement of 1% in comparison with 2009 and 8.34% in comparison with fiscal year 2008. These figures are impressive considering that during this period the world was in the middle of a global recession. Typically the retail business in one of the hardest sectors hit during a recession. Wal-Mart was able to keep growing despite the recession. In 2010 Wal-Mart had a return on return on assets of 8.9%. Wal-Mart obtained a small increase in sales in 2010, but its profitability when up a lot. The net income of the company was $14,335 million. The company achieved an increase in net income in 2010 of 6.97%. The cash reserves of the corporation increased from $7,275 million in 2009 to $7907 million in 2010. The total assets of the company went up by 4.45% in 2010. The debt to equity ratio of the corporation in 2010 was 1.34. This figure is bit above the normal desirable ratio of 1.0. The industry debt to equity ratio of the retail industry is 0.48 (Dun & Bradstreet). This means that Wal-Mart’s debt to equity ratio is below the industry. Due to the fact that the company is such an established business the company has the ability to finance its operation beyond the norm. The ratio means that the company has chosen to more of its operations with debt than with equity. The current ratio which measures the company’s ability to pay off its short term debt is 0.87. The 8.9% return of assets metric of Wal-Mart is much better than the industry norm of 3.6%. In 2010 the company had a return on equity of 19.65%. This figure is much better than the industry norm of 4.2%. Wal-Mart Corporation is one of the most successful businesses in America. The common stocks of the firm are a good

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Doing research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Doing - Research Paper Example A personal assessment of my skills and knowledge shows that even though I possess some level of competence to get the idea through, there remains a major aspect of my study that needs to be improved. This is because the need to go about this research and complete it according to the required objectives demand an interrelated level of skills and knowledge that are tied around a self empowered motivation to get an issue of concern, investigated to the latter. There will therefore be additional skills in interpersonal relation, communication skills, as well as data collection and handling skills to ensure that the project is carried out to its logical conclusion. I also need to revamp my knowledge in marine safety in general and boat yard safety in specific. Without an overall understanding of marine safety and boat yard safety to be specific, working on this research area will be like treating stomach ache by placing a plaster on the tummy. This is because the core or depth of the problem will not be reached. Most times, people working in the marine area have been identified to have their own peculiarities and depths of issues that affect and undermine their safety, security and general wellbeing. It is only when a researcher has an adequate level of knowledge on these that the best forms of interventions can be identified for them. As part of finding out about boat yard safety, specific aspects of learning such as causes of risk, risk factors, effects of risk, and solutions to marine risks must all be considered. The original idea of the research shall be changed significantly in this new project. It would be noted that the original idea laid emphasis on employee and employer forum. As far as the original ideas are concerned, there is one major deficiency that may hinder its feasibility. This is the absence of prove of

Monday, October 28, 2019

Born Black, Live Brave, Die Free

Born Black, Live Brave, Die Free Essay â€Å"Id rather die my way than live yours.†- Lauren Oliver. At some point in your life you have been put down, burdened, discouraged, or even depressed. Sometimes there are certain things you can do to help ease these human issues, but sometimes these issues are opportunities to be even better than you were before; this is so in Richard Wright’s case. In the novel Black Boy Richard Wright was in a constant state of oppression, whether he was encompassed by friends or foes; he was constantly put down, even if it was those who were supposed to always love him. Because of this continuous adversity in his life, Richard Wright gradually develops into a very independent, self-reliant and strong person. Through Richard Wright’s own experiences, maybe other individuals who are in the same situations of life can learn the dexterity of persistence and liberation as well. Throughout Richard’s life, he faces the need for a loving family to help and encourage him. However, they unknowingly help to form his independence. For instance, he has to be independent regarding his negligent father, whom abandons him and the rest of his family (16). Thereafter, Richard’s mother puts the responsibility on him to buy the family’s groceries; â€Å"One evening my mother told me that thereafter I would have to do the shopping for food.† â€Å"When I reached the corner, a gang of boys grabbed me, knocked me down, snatched the basket, took the money, and sent me running home in panic.† He is repeatedly beaten and robbed by a group of boys when he goes to the corner store to buy the groceries, and complains to his mother saying, â€Å"I’m scared,† or, â€Å"They’ll beat me; they’ll beat me.† She simply reacts by giving him a stick and telling him to fight them if they bother him again, in which he does (17-18). She attempts to make Richard tenacious and independent in this particular situation because she believes this is the only way he can survive. Although he was abandoned, afraid, and discouraged he still overcame all of that, initiating the development of his independence. In this instance in Wright’s life, he is almost forced to be independent because of the irresponsibility of his father. In life, arduous situations may cause an individual to have a lot more responsibility put on them. Think about a time in your life where you had to be responsible when things didn’t turn out to your liking. Responsibility forms independence. During most of Richard’s adolescent years, he is often disciplined through the church and religion mainly because of his grandmother and Aunt Addie. For instance when Richard said, â€Å"I could not get a job that would let me rest on Granny’s holy Sabbath.†(133), it showed that strict religion was enforced upon him stripping him of freedom to do things. However, Richard did not allow that to get in his way, and he took hold of his desires whether Granny liked it or not. Also, at very few moments during this time he comes very close to being influenced by religion; â€Å"While listening to the vivid language of the sermons I was pulled towards emotional belief, but as soon as I went out of the church †¦ I knew that none of it was true and that nothing would happen.†(102). This instance, and the many other instances where his grandmother had gotten people to attempt to influence Richard religiously, shows how uneasily influenced Richard is, and does not feel the need to agree with everyone else so that he can fit in. When Richard refuses the church and religion at all, he shows his independence and that he does not have be a part of something that he is indifferent about, no matter who may be attempting to influence him. Sometimes being disciplined by someone can also cause you to be independent, because you understand the responsibility of not â€Å"overstepping† boundaries; but, sometimes you must overstep them to prove that you are your own person. Finally, as a young boy it is recognized in the novel that Richard is not like most of the other people around him. He is a passionate reader and writer, and most of the people he lives and associates himself with are skeptical and puzzled at his hunger for knowledge. In one instance Richard writes a story, The Voodoo of Hell’s Half-Acre, and almost everyone he knows discourages his writing, except a newspaper editor (165-166). He learns to be independent from both his family and friends subjugation and discouragement of his writing. Also, when Richard joins the Communist Party they do not always except him, or the things that he does (ch.18). Once again Wright has been put down and suppressed, yet he remains the same. Sometimes being independent does not only make you responsible, disciplined, and individualistic, but a strong person altogether. If you cannot handle the adversities of life, you’ll never finish your journey and never really experience life for yourself. To conclude, Richard Wright has definitely proven through the novel Black Boy that he is a very independent individual. Wright is showing that the things that may be disguised as nothing but trouble are actually opportunities to grow into this thing we call a human being; this includes being an independent, self-reliant person. Through all of the disappointments, pain, and depressing times in his life he remained liberated and accepted the responsibilities he had to accomplish as a young man, which involved him even disciplining himself just to show his independence and maturity. Also, his independence developed who he wanted to be, and not what others wanted him to be. In the end the universal theme of this essay is that it is vitally important to be a self-sufficient, independent person and who you want to be, not who others want you to be, and knowing that adversities aren’t made to hurt you but to make you stronger. â€Å"Open your eyes look within. Are you satisfied with the life youre living?†- Bob Marley.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Change Management Within Cadbury Schweppes

Change Management Within Cadbury Schweppes In todays changing and vague environment, challenges and ambiguities are growing in the market (Boatright, 2007). Globalization and rapid technological advancement placed organizations under immense pressure and necessity to coop with changes in the market. If organizations seek to avoid risks, then they must be prepared to make the required management changes that preserve their position in the market (Stanleigh, 2008). If planned effectively, change will turn a key success factor. Organizations cant implement the change without planning. In fact, change must be realistic, achievable and measurable.ÂÂ  Therefore, organizations must allocate and align all needed resources and capabilities for the project. In late 2003, Cadbury Schweppes, an international confectionery and beverage company, began working with Future Considerations, a management consultancy, to develop a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) learning tool. This tool was designed to make a change in corporate values and move them from booklets and posters into processes, actions plans and culture change inside and outside the company. Thus, this was considered a priority on the desk of the board room of Cadbury and all managers and stakeholders were prepared and engaged in order to adapt the change challenge. This study will examine thoroughly how Cadbury successfully managed this change and prepared the appropriate and suitable capabilities and resources and educate the company, especially their senior managers and employees, about CSR. However, we will start by literature review section about change management and its drivers, key success factors and approaches to make the change a successful project. Then, a brief summary about the case that we are studying-Cadbury Schweppes- will be presented. Finally, a conclusion summarizing the key points in the case and lessons learnt will be offered. Literature Review To start, defining any concept in the area of research and academic work is indeed the first step before moving and discussing the framework and applications and the concept of change management is no exception. Thus, it is important to define what is meant by change management and how can we tell that a certain managerial project is a change or not. Making this differentiation unambiguous from the beginning is pivotal in order allocate the needed capabilities, communication plans and managerial tools and avoid wasting time and resources. For the purposes of Cadbury Schweppes case study, change management is defined as a set of organizational methods and procedures used for effective and prompt handling of change (ITIL, 2000) in the way the business operates and its management approaches (Worren, Ruddle and Moore, 1999). In fact, change management is a discipline that prepares and endures that organizations meet new or existing management objective in a rapid and effective way. To do so, the most appropriate management tools and communication facilities are chosen in order to help the organization, including managers and employees, create the right management disciplines and processes, organization structures, culture, competencies and capability for superior human performance so that change goals are achieved and sustained (Worren et al., 1999, p.277). Drawing on this conception and understand of change management, two important concepts are identified. The first concept is the importance of human performance in change management; thus the organization must prepare the necessary tool, resources and capabilities to increase the contribution and readiness of its managers and employees to adapt the change and build the human performance in their organizations (Michael and James, 1993). The second concept relates to the importance of stakeholders awareness; therefore it is important to help stakeholders who are engaged and affected by the change to determine ways to manage the change process effectively to ensure this occurs. In order to understand more change management, we need to shed light on the drives the make a company decide to employ the change. According to Stanleigh (2008), the following are some drivers: Decisions of mergers and acquisitions with other companies Innovation Adapting new business concept Advent in technology and the need to deploy a new technology Restructuring the organization (downsizing) Globalization Expansion and growth Any of these drivers leads to a change in the way companies management approaches and they way they perform and do their business activities. These drivers are then translated into business objective. So, for example, if a certain company decided to adapt a new technology then adapting this new technology is the objective under which it should prepare the appropriate management tool and project in order to meet the objectives of the change (Storey, 2001). After defining change management as a concept and examining the drivers of the change, it is important know to answer very important question: What make a change project successful? The literature is full of information, best practices and implementation guidelines (Beardwell and Claydon, 2007, Schuler and Jackson, 2006, Storey, 1989) that should be followed in order to manage the change and obtain the foundations for success. However, for the purposes of Cadbury Schweppes case study we will highlight the relevant success factors of a change tool. According to Salaman, Storey and Billsberry (2005) and Kotter and Change (1995), the following factors, which can be used as an approach for successful change, are keys for successful implementing change management: Setting a clear vision and objectives for the change Planning and programming Senior and top management determination Engaging managers and employees Managing change at all departments Telling the organization the benefits of the change Working with staffs in teams on the change program and expecting change to occur Giving time for staff to vent first and then change As it appears clear, a clear vision and objectives at early stages of the change are essential since they are predetermined for change tools and processes. In order to emphasize more the centrality of the vision and objective in any change, we will use here the works of Kotter and Change (1995), leader authors in the area of change management. According to them, a vision always goes beyond the numbers that are typically found in five-year plans. A vision says something that helps clarify the direction in which an organization needs to move. Themes of engagement and effective communication are also important for change management as explained in factors of successful change. It is impossible for the change to achieve its objectives unless managers and employees are motivated to contribute and help. Managers and employees will not make the needed sacrifices unless they believe in the benefits of the change. Here comes the role o the organization, especially the team responsible for implementing the tool for change management, to launch a credible communication that gain the hearts and mind of managers and employees (Ulrich, 1997). To recapture, clear vision, well articulated plans and effective communication are all what a change is about (Ulrich and Beatty, 2001). The aims and objectives of the change project have to be clear and transparent. In addition, need resources, teams and capabilities should be allocated. The company managing the change must be learning company. It must accumulate its experiences and benefit from other companies who failed or successes in their change project in order to avoid sources of failure and adopt factors of success. In the following section, a good example of successful change management tool, namely Working Better Together CSR tool, created and implemented by Cadbury Schweppes will be offered. The Case: Cadbury Schweppes Cadbury is a leading global confectionery company with an outstanding portfolio of chocolate, gum and candy brands. We create brands people love brands like Cadbury, Trident and Halls. The companys heritage starts back in 1824 when John Cadbury opened a shop in Birmingham selling cocoa and chocolate. Since then the company have expanded its business throughout the world by a programme of organic and acquisition led growth (Cadbury Schweppes, 2009). On 7 May 2008, the separation of the companys confectionery and Americas Beverages businesses was completed creating Cadbury plc with a vision to be the worlds biggest and best confectionery company. The strategy at Cadbury Schweppes is clear. The company believes that the business still has significant untapped potential both in terms of top line growth and returns. By exploiting the strength of its leadership positions to continue to grow its market share and significantly increase its margins and returns, the company aims to achieve its vision of becoming the biggest and best confectionery company in the world (Cadbury Schweppes, 2009). In addition to the strategy, Cadbury Schweppes is keen to maintain its special and unique culture in order to achieve its objectives. The company is led by its performance driven values. The key success factors are: a clear vision, performance scorecard, priorities and sustainable commitment. As a culture the company value performance, quality, respect, integrity and responsibility (Young, 2006). The company works as one team across geographic and functional boundaries to be the best.ÂÂ  The company works hard and have fun along the way. This requires form the company to listen to its consumers, customers, suppliers, shareowners, colleagues and communities. Understanding and responding to their need is the driver of the sustained success of the company. The company believes that doing good is good for business (Cadbury Schweppes, 2009). This belief is at the heart of the way the company works today and will remain as key to its future success. Origin of the Change, Setting objective and Planning the CSR New Tool As mentioned in the introduction, Cadbury Schweppess new project included the development and introduction of a new learning tool which required a change in the way the company operates and does its business (see figure 1). The title of this project was Working Better Together a kit of 50 organizational development tools. Figure 1 Working Better Together Template Adapted from (Young, 2006) In fact, the aim of the company from this transformational project was to build collaborative behaviour among different departments inside the company and across all its stores and offices in different countries especially US and UK (Vogel, 2005). In addition, this collaboration includes communication and engagement of the companys stakeholders in order to teach them that CSR is integral and cornerstone for the companys business and the way it deals with its stakeholders. In brief the main objective of the change project at Cadbury Schweppes is to make the company socially responsible in everything it does. At the heart of this project is the commitment of the company to foster the notion of CSR which is a key to Working Better Together. This is the vision of the company and the general objective under which the whole changing process and application phase will work. Thus, we need know to examine how Cadbury Schweppes translated this vision into action and achieved its objective. The first name given to the tool was Ethical Risk in order to respond to the challenges facing CSR. At early stages, a team of 50 most senior HR and CSR managers was formulated to manage the change project (Young, 2006). The first thing this team did was to change the name of the tool which was rebranded the CSR Living Our Values Learning Tool to reflect the interrelation and synergies between CSR and Cadbury Schweppess values (Sharma et al., 2009). Then, CSR at the company was defined by five main pillars: Human rights and employment standards Ethical responsibilities Marketing, food and consumer issues Environmental, health and safety responsibilities Community relationship This HR-CSR joint team recognized that the tool needed development in order to engage the whole organization especially line managers and employees. In the following section we will explain how Cadbury Schweppes prepared the organization for the change and what tools did the company use to successfully implement the project. Implementation Phase Employee Engagement Employee engagement and contribution to CSR (Davis, 1973, Frederick, 1994, Lantos, 2001, Orlitzky, 2000, Porter and Kramer, 2006), which is intrinsic to the values by which any company does business, was priority Cadbury Schweppes. In fact, employees engagement and raising their readiness for the change is essential part of any change project (Buyens and De Vos, 2001). In light of this understanding, the company formulated a team activity around values-based decisions. The main task for this team is to consult employees in relation to what are the best CSR programs, ides and initiatives that provide the framework to integrate the companys values into its practices, culture, values and daily activities (Young, 2006, Sharma et al., 2009). Also, the team discussed real and relevant business issues including making decisions about products and marketing. The company felt that in order for the change to be implemented successfully, its employees must be aware of the projects and what are CSRs objectives and why the company is adopting this concept. Engaging senior managers The HR-CSR joint team lunched a series of meetings with senior managers at Cadbury Schweppes. The aim was to educate them and raise their awareness toward the five CSR pillars and study the role and contribution of senior managers at the company in embedding CSR into their departments in collaboration with all other departments (Young, 2006). All departments are working under the umbrella of CSR. The HR-CSR team worked in practice with all senior mangers on the tool and showed them how it should be applied. This practical insight provided engaged managers more effectively than any other theoretical description through a seminar or booklet. In addition, the team was keen to get a feedback from senior managers on the practicability of the tool and areas of improvement (Vogel, 2005). In fact, the HR-CSR team succeeded to choose the appropriate and mostly effective means of communication. It is important to note here that the mean of communicate that a company encompass is decisive in any change project (Hemingway and Maclagan, 2004). It is highly recommended to couple practical exercise with theoretical aspects of any learning tool. Learning design Following the feedback obtained from employee teams and series of meeting with senior manager, many refinements were made to the learning tool. The competitive nature of the tool was toned. So, instead of assigning CSR pillars, the tool ranked the possible answers to CSR issues from most to least preferred. This refinement and change deepened the dialogues and prompt the possibility to weight one option against another (Said, Zainuddin and Haron, 2009). Flexible application The key of having this tool was flexibility. At Cadbury Schweppes, the CSR tool was not just used by mangers and within all departments but also with local, functional, leadership teams and new hires in induction programs. In addition, the tool was used with a procurement team and served the original CSR objectives. Thus, the flexibility of the tool makes the change flexible not rigid. This dimension is very important in change management because if the change was static this could restrain its applicability to very specific context and limit the effect of the change and the success of the project. In Cadbury Schweppess case, the CSR tool was applied and adapted in different contexts (Said et al., 2009). For example, HR discloses CSR report to employees and they are asked to sign the statement of business principle and track its adherence. Also, HR used the CSR tool to embeds CSR in the culture of the organization (Young, 2006). This is how the change is translated into different org anizational process, policies and practices. Partnership in change management: HR and CSR The training and communication facilities used to instil the CSR culture among employees, line mangers and the entire Cadbury Schweppess company is indeed a neat example of how the partnership between the CSR and HR department is key a success factor in managing change. Make employees learn and practice CSR activities was the role of HR, while the CRS department helped to define what CSR priorities and pillars. The training of employees through CSR Living Our Values Learning Tool at Cadbury Schweppes is a good example of partnership between HR and CSR (Sharma, Sharma and Devi 2009). Later the HR department included social responsibility in the latest management development initiatives like the global Passion for People management skills programme. Conclusion To conclude, Cadbury Schweppess new learning succeeded to achieve its objective. However, behind this success is well articulated and synthesized change management. Themes of communication, plans, feedback, collaboration, engagement, refinement, flexibility and partnership are indeed the secret behind this success. All these themes are needed and necessary in any project aiming to change behaviours, values and traditional management approaches. The whole organization must be informed about the change (Hemingway and Maclagan, 2004) because, by way of example, the contribution of employees and potential ideas and skills they offer should not be undermined. Any change without employee engagement and contribution runs the risk of sustainability and long-term survival (Amabile and Conti, 1999, Grant, 2002, Kotter and Change, 1995, Stanleigh, 2008).