My talent essays

My talent essays The stage is an ocean of light giving off the pale reflection of the illumination above. An audience waits with anticipation for the next performer. The rhythm of music arises like a thundering clap of lightening. My heart thumps like the fast beat of an exotic drum, my palms moistened with beads of sweat and my cheeks burn scarlet, as red as the scorching sun. I surrender to the music, allowing it to soak into my pores like a wet sponge. It devours at my anxiety and modifies my mood, to one of pure delight. The stage is mine. I flow away from my frustrations that boil under my skin and express it through fluent, coordinated movement. Dancing like a raging wind, twisting like a snake around its prey, becoming apart of the music. The audience captivated in the spell of my dance. One, two step, one, two spin, one, two kick. I hear the counts echo in my mind as I lead arm after leg across the stage. I gaze out into the spectators watchful eyes as my hip sways to the familiar beat. Foreign, this place is not. Like mother's arms, it eases me, as droplets of perspiration roll down my chest. A smile sketches its way across my face as I realize there is nothing in the world I'd rather be doing. I love to dance. A roar of Go, Jamie resonates its way onto the stage, and my ears receive with a passion to continue. This is the core of my solo. As the lights dimmed and quickly went out, the hall began to tremble with excitement. I started with a slow movement into an arabesque which just sent everyone into a frenzy. The stage seemed to move with no sign of stopping, as if trying to keep up and realign with me. My body moved devoid of the need for the minds instruction. ...

Biography of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia

Biography of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia Catherine the Great (May 2, 1729–Nov. 17, 1796) was empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, the longest reign of any female Russian leader. She expanded Russias borders to the Black Sea and into central Europe during her reign. She also promoted westernization and modernization for her country, though it was within the context of maintaining her autocratic control over Russia and increasing the power of the landed gentry over the serfs. Fast Facts: Catherine the Great Known For: Empress of RussiaAlso Known As: Catherine IIBorn: May 2, 1729 in Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin, Poland)Parents: Prince Christian  August  von Anhalt-Zerbst, Princess Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-GottorpDied: Nov. 17, 1796 in St. Petersburg, RussiaSpouse: Grand Duke Peter (Peter III) of RussiaChildren: Paul, Anna, AlexeiNotable Quote: I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster. Early Life Catherine the Great was born Sophia Frederike Auguste in Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin, Poland), on May 2, 1729 (April 21 in the Old Style calendar). She was known as Frederike or Fredericka. Her father was Prussian Prince Christian  August  von Anhalt-Zerbst and her mother was Princess Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp. As was common for royal and noblewomen, she was educated at home by tutors. She learned French and German and also studied history, music, and the religion of her homeland, Lutheranism. Marriage She met her future husband, the Grand Duke Peter (later known as Peter III), on a trip to Russia at the invitation of Empress Elizabeth, Peters aunt, who ruled Russia after taking power in a coup.  Elizabeth, unmarried and childless, had named Peter as her heir to the Russian throne. Peter, though the Romanov heir, was a German prince. His mother was Anna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia, and his father was the Duke of Hostein-Gottorp.  Peter the Great had 14 children by his two wives, only three of whom survived to adulthood.  His son Alexei died in prison, convicted of plotting to overthrow his father. His elder daughter Anna was the mother of the Grand Duke Peter, whom Catherine married.  Anna had died in 1728 following the birth of her only son, a few years after her father died and while her mother Catherine I of Russia ruled. Catherine the Great (or Catherine II) converted to Orthodoxy, changed her name, and married the Grand Duke Peter in 1745. Though Catherine had the support of Peters mother, the Empress Elizabeth, she disliked her husband- Catherine later wrote she had been more interested in the crown than the person- and first Peter and then Catherine were unfaithful. Her first son Paul later emperor (or czar) of Russia as Paul I, was born nine years into the marriage, and some question whether his father was Catherines husband.  Her second child, daughter Anna, was likely fathered by Stanislaw Poniatowski.  Her youngest child Alexei was most likely the son of Grigory Orlov.  All three were officially recorded, however, as Peters children. Empress Catherine When Czarina Elizabeth died at the end of 1761, Peter became ruler as Peter III and Catherine became the empress consort.  She considered fleeing, as many thought that Peter would divorce her, but Peters actions as emperor soon led to a coup against him. Military, church, and government leaders removed Peter from the throne, planning to install Paul, then 7 years old, as his replacement.  Catherine, however, with the help of her lover Orlov won over the military in St. Petersburg and gained the throne for herself in 1762, later naming Paul as her heir.  Soon after, she may have been behind Peters death. Her early years as empress were devoted to gaining the support of the military and nobility to strengthen her claim as empress. She had her ministers carry out domestic and foreign policies designed to establish stability and peace; instituted reforms inspired by the Enlightenment, a philosophical, intellectual, and cultural movement of the 17th and 18th centuries; and updated Russias legal system to provide equality of people under the law.   Foreign and Domestic Strife Stanislas, the king of Poland, was Catherines former lover, and in 1768 Catherine sent troops to Poland to help him suppress a revolt. The rebels brought in Turkey as an ally, and the Turks declared war on Russia.  When Russia beat the Turkish troops, the Austrians threatened Russia with war. Russia and Austria partitioned Poland in 1772.  By 1774, Russia and Turkey had signed a peace treaty, with Russia winning the right to use the Black Sea for shipping. While Russia was  still technically at war with the Turks, Cossack Yemelyan Pugachev led a revolt at home.  He claimed that Peter III was still alive and that oppression of serfs and others would be ended by deposing Catherine and reinstituting Peter IIIs rule.  It took several battles to defeat the rebellion, and after this uprising that included many of the lower classes, Catherine backed off many of her reforms to benefit that stratum of society. Government Reorganization Catherine then began reorganizing government in the provinces, strengthening the role of the nobility and making operations more efficient.  She also tried to reform municipal government and expand education. She wanted Russia to be seen as a model of civilization, so she paid considerable attention to the arts and sciences to establish the capital of St. Petersburg as a major center for culture. Russo-Turkish War Catherine sought the support of Austria in moving against Turkey and planned to seize Turkeys European lands.  In 1787, Turkeys ruler declared war on Russia.  The Russo-Turkish War took four years, but Russia gained a large amount of land from Turkey and annexed Crimea.  By that time, Austria and other European powers had withdrawn from their alliances with Russia, so Catherine wasnt able to realize her plan to take over lands as far as Constantinople. Polish nationalists again rebelled against Russian influence, and in 1793 Russia and Prussia annexed more Polish territory. In 1794 Russia, Prussia, and Austria annexed the rest of Poland. Succession and Death Catherine became concerned that her son Paul was not emotionally fit to rule. She planned to remove him from the succession and name Pauls son Alexander as heir.  But before she could make the change, she died of a stroke on Nov. 17, 1796. Her son Paul ascended to the throne. Legacy Russians continue to admire Catherine for increasing the boundaries of the country and streamlining its governance. At the end of her reign, Russia had broadened to the west and south over more than 200,000 square miles; provinces had been reorganized and towns renovated, expanded, or built from scratch; trade had expanded; military battles had been won; and the royal court had transformed into an attraction for the greatest minds of Europe. Catherine was a patron of literature who promoted Russian culture and one of the few women, including British Queens Elizabeth I  and Victoria, to have been influential enough to have epochs named after them. Though outside observers acknowledged her energy and administrative ability, they saw her more as a harsh, unscrupulous ruler, egotistical, pretentious, and domineering, a woman of action who could be ruthless when it served her or the state. She was also widely known for being lusty, having taken young lovers up to her death at age 67. Sources Catherine the Great: Empress of Russia. Encyclopedia Brittanica.Catherine the Great: Biography, Accomplishments Death. Live Science.8 Things You Didnt Know About Catherine the Great. History.com.

Differentiated Instruction and Universal Design for Learning Essay

Differentiated Instruction and Universal Design for Learning - Essay Example In her book â€Å"Differentiated Instruction: A Guide for Middle and High School Teachers†, Amy Benjamin defines differentiated instruction as a â€Å"broad term that refers to a variety of classroom practices that accommodate differences in students’, learning styles, interests, prior knowledge, socialization needs, and comfort zones†. The author explains that differentiated instruction is about a balance between the learning content and expected competencies and stresses the necessity of pedagogical options that would maximize learning. The latter primarily aims at teaching students how to learn meaningfully.In her article â€Å"Differentiating Instruction: Meeting Students Where They Are† Jennipher Willoughby observes that differentiated instruction is grounded on the idea that students will learn better if they try to make connections between what they learn in the curriculum and a variety of their interests and experiences. To add, it suggests that th e most effective learning takes place when learners are pushed a bit beyond the limits of the area they can handle without assistance. Importantly, this point is different for learners who keep working below grade level and those students who are talented in particular area. Put simply, rather than employ the teaching-to-the-middle approach which means arranging a single avenue for everyone in a class, educators experienced in differentiated instruction match activities, tasks, and assessments to learners’ interests, preferences in learning, and abilities.

Introduction to Speeches Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Introduction to Speeches - Essay Example He notes that one ought to enjoy the works of Aristotle, Shakespeare, Dickens, Shaw, Galsworthy, and Barrie. (Safire 1). The social contract between teachers and students is a speech by professor Jacob Neusner delivered during the orientation of freshmen students at Elizabethtown College. Neusner begins by challenging learners in regard to the amount of money they spend on education at the college. He further shows them how they have been sent by their parents to learn and the good reception they have been accorded by their professors. The speech focuses on opening the minds of the learners by showing them how important it is to do personal reading. The teachers’ contribution is only a small percentage; the large percentage of learning involves personal research. The speech also encourages students to question teachers on anything they deliver to them. Sitting down, listening and taking notes are discouraged. What is vital is discovery. Teacher models are Jesus, Socrates, and Hillel who used unique techniques of instruction (Safire 1). The two speeches show some similarities. Most importantly, the two speeches show the use of various aspects of rhetoric, a technique or art of argumentation or discourse. Both speeches are directed to students with the aim of helping them realize their potential as learners. Most students do not realize the importance of having their own library. They usually borrow books at the time they want to read and later return them to their owners or to the library. A borrowed book, just as Phelps says, can be returned any time the owner wants it back. It cannot be helpful like one’s own book. The purpose of education is to seek knowledge. Having a collection of books will help students have wide knowledge on many disciplines and aspects in life. Neuser’s emphasis on personal research is meant to make students get innovative and creative instead of listening and taking notes for the purpose of passing exams. It is a c hallenge to many who hate teachers who do not give out notes and instead deliver ‘boring lectures’ as many would call them. Rhetoric devices manipulate language with the aim of making the reader or listener understand the message. Aristotle focuses on three components of writing namely ethos, logos, and pathos meant to persuade or appeal to the audience (Jardine and Bacon 45). In the owning of books speech, the thesis is clear and specific. The thesis is supported by strong reasons, is well reasoned and has a credible message. The reasons for owning one’s library speech ensures that the learner gets what she/he wants in the time of need. It also provides them with a platform for improving and expanding their knowledge. Neusner’s speech is an advice to students to gear their efforts toward personal reading and innovativeness. The tone used in both speeches is one of encouragement, challenge, and emphasis on cultivation of knowledge. Both writers are profess ionals in the topics they are talking about. Phelps owns a collection of books while Neusner is a professor. Clear examples to engage the audience’s emotions and imaginations are given in each speech. Appeals and illustrations to the value of education are given by Neusner when he compares good teachers with Jesus, Socrates and Hiller. Phelps also shows how one can interact with Aristotle, Shakespeare, and other great thinkers through

China Country Identification Essay Example for Free

China Country Identification Essay The company has brought to our attention that it desires to expand into the Eastern Asian market where it is believed that the opportunity will be best and certainly more than double its profits by this venture. The Country of choice will be China; location is the city of Macau, which is an established trading center in Southeast Asia. B. Major Cross-Cultural Issues and Impacts: There are some marketing aspects to consider. Our approach must be culture sensitive to be successful. Insulting anyone in our business relations for work in China could end the deal or cause unnecessary delays. It is vital for all personnel involved in this venture to train with care in the marketing and cultural behaviors of the Chinese. Culture is a major issue and the company must be meticulous with training in order to be accepted. The Asian cultures are very careful about not losing face and this is critical. Keeping face goes back to Confucianism, which focuses on ones duty and loyalty, honor, sincerity, and keeping harmony with all those related to them through family, business, and social ties. This is strictly followed with respect for age first in any of these relationships. One must never lose face with any of these ties for to lose face is to lose honor. The concept of face translates as honor, good reputation, and respect. There are four types of face. Face behavior is power-oriented behavior with the purpose of maintaining stability or control of one’s self. Diumianzi originates from the word mian and directly relates to one’s reputation or place in society. It is actions or deeds, which others have observed, and it is earned. Geimianzi is response to or giving of face to another through showing respect to the other person. Liumianzi is developed by avoiding mistakes and showing wisdom in making decisions. Jiangmianzi, when face is increased through others by another complementing one to a business partner or associate. Saving face or reputation is very strong in the Chinese culture. People are generally reserved, quiet, and refined. No boisterous or loud behavior is acceptable and considered in poor taste. Another way to explain this is quiet dignity, always keeping control of one’s emotions. The personnel who are involved in this business venture will need to beware of the quiet reserved behaviors of the Chinese and adopt such behavior in respect and get to know well each Chinese in the business relationship. It is important to save face at all times and avoid blunders or mistakes of our  Western culture, and never criticize the Chinese or any others involved in the business or personal relationship in Macau, China. This includes any associates whether foreign or domestic (China 2010). When greeting in China, the eldest is always greeted first and though a handshake is most common among Chinese with foreigners, sometimes with the elderly or government officials a slight bow will be given. During the greeting exchange, it is the practice by the Chinese to look at the ground when shaking hands or bowing along while addressing the individual with their honorific title and surname (China 2010). Visiting and eating also have special rules. A guest always waits for the host to give direction for seating. Formal dinners have different rules on seating arrangements. The conversation at meals is light, no business, or personal talk. The host will always serve an abundance of food. The host will usually escort a guest outside their home a distance even down a street and the guest should politely resist with the special ritual of hospitality. It is customary to bring a wrapped gift presented with two hands when invited to the home of a Chinese. In China, they do not open a gift in front of the giver; this is to avoid embarrassment for gifts that are not needed. Both the giver and receiver will always use both hands for the gift. Another very important gesture is to refuse the gift three times before accepting it; this shows that one is not greedy. Once the gift is accepted, it is important to express thanks to them for accepting the gift. If giving money gifts around New Years for personal friendship, the bills must be even bills and there should be an even number of bills, and given in a red envelope. Do not use white, black, blue, or the number 4 for anything because it is associated with death and funerals. This would be very embarrassing. Unacceptable gifts include clocks which symbolize time is running out, a handkerchief suggests a farewell greeting, shoes, especially straw sandals, suggest sad memories, and do not give ink pens with red ink which signifies death. Sharp objects like knives and scissors are not appropriate as it represents severing of relationships (Roberts 1998). Dress is important, no bright colors or blue jeans are to be worn, and all colors should be neutral with business meetings or dinners. Women must wear modest heals, nothing sleeveless or sheer, modest necklines, even the jewelry should be modest and not flashy. Relationship is everything; to hurry would be a waste. The  impact of our approach on Chinese business with regard to cultural differences is everything, the dress, the greeting, visiting, dinners, and showing of respect to all parties involved both Chinese, and U.S. will affect the stability of the relationship (King 1999). If the relationship is not sealed in the beginning with saving face or respect and trust with the Chinese, then the business deal may never take place or may be a very weak deal. The Chinese find friendship and trust to be far too important to rush through a business deal. Respect or face must be earned over time and never lost. C. Cross-Cultural Communication: Macau, China has a very strong economy with a GDP of 21.8 percent growth currently, is not expecting a recession anytime soon and has a steady growth rate of double digits up to 21 or more percent per year (Economy 2011). The humid weather and subtropical climate will be a great help in the special heat hardening process, which is necessary to extend the life of the engine components. It is important for us to pay close attention to detail and avoid using black, gold, yellow, red, or white on the engine components for any identification of parts used. Our company will need to use colors that are low key, perhaps silver, grey, brown, tan, or green, for any differentiation used to identify parts. Red is overused and is considered a New Year’s awareness. The black as mentioned earlier represents death and is not a good omen. Do not use black or red print on any of the parts or packaging, this represents evil and death and does not work in the Chinese market. When promoting the product for selling, again, color is of utmost importance and it is important to be creative. No black borders and no black print can be used, it is considered to be a bad omen or evil. The same is true with red print, it is considered to be related to death of the person reading the red ink. White wrap signifies death of the person receiving the gift and is not a happy color. Yellow used in marketing generally relates to pornography, so it must not be used or it will damage the face of the new company and possibly be an embarrassment or cause it to fail. The colors purple for power and nobility, blue green, and some other colors can be used with marketing to promote our engine components, but red, yellow, gold, black, and white are best avoided entirely for marketing purposes (Gao 2011). The advertising name should involve only two perhaps  three syllables with the last syllable having inflection upwards with intonation of voice. The Chinese consider this necessary for a favorable impression and for recognition of a product or service. Chinese words are often very direct and it would be best to use such words to gain trust and immediate understanding, and to portray quality and enjoyment of the vehicle because of using Company A’s engine components. Another aspect to show purity and trust is a picture of a mountain in relation to televised advertising or media advertising on the internet, and in our promotional brochure (Lehman 1992). Manufacturing companies like Sinotruck Group, Qingdao Seize The Future Automobile Co. Ltd., and Special Truck Company China National Heavy Duty Truck Co., to name a few major manufactures for heavy-duty trucks, to market the engine components produced by Company A would be our target audience for this market (Brighter 2011). China is expecting an increase in unit freight mileage leading to long distance transportation implying a demand for high-end trucks in the next few years. China is an excellent market for our truck engine components and this is good timing with China’s economic growth and increased investment in the trucking industry (Intelligence 2011). Currently, in China, the demand for trucks ranked first and automobiles ranked second (Intelligence 2011). Pricing of the engine components is based on production and the shipping costs for China. Choosing to build a manufacturing plant in Macau, China would prove to be financially prudent and help to keep prices in line with other competing engine makers in the truck industry for China. To protect competition in China, the prices would need to be equal in revenue as that of other countries in which these engine components are sold. To distribute these engine components in China it is necessary to have distribution partners for acceptance in the different market areas. Company A will have to build a network of distributers among locals where face-to-face relationships can grow. It will be prudent to train local mechanics for problems with the engine components that may occur after the sale. It is important to have connections with individuals in all areas of the business for trust and friendliness to the Chinese country. They see life as a group connection in all associations. D. Cross-Cultural Ethical Differences: Introducing ourselves into the Chinese market is crucial and must be done through an intermediary, someone who will give face favorably about Company A’s reputation. Chinese do not like to do business with strangers. The meetings need to be requested in writing preferably one or two months in advance by someone that they know and trust who connects for Company A. Plan to arrive a bit early, do not be late as the Chinese perceive this as an insult and it could cause negative problems for the business relationship. Punctuality is considered a virtue in China. It is important not to wear bright colors for meetings; men should wear dark colored conservative business suits. Women should wear a conservative business suit or dress with a high neckline and flat shoes or not much of a heel. There is no gender bias in China. About the introductions, when greeting the Chinese, the highest official or eldest will start the introductions and will either bow slightly while looking to the ground or shake hands while looking to the ground, do not look them in the eye during the introductions but do state their honorific title and then surname. Example, â€Å"It is an honor to meet with you, President Chen.† They have a great sense of humor and like to laugh if they are comfortable. If it is appropriate on your behalf at any time, be sure to laugh at yourself. The names of all who will be at the meeting and their titles, of course, would be important to have in each member’s portfolio. Once the introductions have been made and you have been given the invitation, provide information about Company A and what is desired to be accomplished. If offered a business card always accept with both hands and look at it with interest on both sides and then place on the table in the front of the place setting o r in a suit pocket or briefcase, never in the back pocket. When giving a business card use two hands and place Chinese side up to the Chinese officer. Only the eldest officer from each business will hold the conversation for negotiation. All others will listen. Posture and facial expression is very important to the Chinese and persons attending the meetings must watch carefully and be aware of their posture and facial expressions to remain neutral. There should not be any staring into another’s eyes only concentration on what is being said and careful glancing to notice expressions. Tone of voice is of great importance and  should be closely noted. Relationship cultivation is first, no agreement will be made at this meeting. When the meeting concludes the Chinese will say they will think about it, accept that answer just as they say, thinking about it (Ltd. 2004) and be patient for the deal to close at another time. It may take several meetings to finish the business deal. When the Chinese diplomat in charge invites the visiting company to a banquet, this is a signal that they are ready to give their final answer. They use a banquet to celebrate (Ltd. 2004). Our company needs to be patient and ready. In China, it is not customary to give gifts; it is considered bribery and illegal. It is only acceptable to bring a wrapped gift for the most senior officer in the company after the business deal is complete and state that the gift is from your company and that it is wished for the senior officer to accept it on behalf of their company. If there are wrapped gifts for more than one individual in a group, all gifts must be different and monetarily representative of the status for each individual. It is disrespectful to give the same gift choice to several individuals, the gifts must be different, and the value spent commensurate with the associate receiving the gift. If meeting over dinner our members must remember to wait until the host shows them to their personal seat, and recognize that the executive who called the dinner will be paying for all, no one is going â€Å"Dutch.† Remember to talk about whatever interests them and the food. Generally, light talk is expected. No business will be discussed while dining. The seating behavior is much like it is in formal dining with the United States. Unlike the U.S., though take time with dining and eat all you can or at least make it appear that time is not important. Eating is a very social event with the Chinese, never a rush. They may not hurry to be at a dinner or meal for a certain time, but may be slightly late. Timeliness is not crucial as is expected for a business meeting. It is rare to be invited to a Chinese home. If this occurs, be on time, take a gift and offer it three times but do not expect them to open it in front of you. Take off your shoes and do not pay attention to slurping or belching noises, this is the Chinese way to show enjoyment with the food. All business personnel must learn to eat with chopsticks (Ltd. 2004). These culture differences are very important though strange to what our customs are here in America. All Chinese customs must be followed carefully to have a  successful business relationship in China. References Brighter, Mr. Made In China.Com. 2011. http://cntruck.en.made-in-china.com/ (accessed December 12, 2011). China, Neso. Social Norms, Saving and Losing Face. October 4, 2010. http://www.nesochina.org/dutch-students/preparing-your-stay/social-norms (accessed December 11, 2011). Economy, Macau. Macaus Economy Grows 21.8 percent from January to September. Macau Hub Magazine on line. December 1, 2011. http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/2011/12/01/macaus-economy-grows-21-8-pct-from-january-to-september/ (accessed December 11, 2011). Gao, Kane. Public Relations and Strategic Communications. Illuminant A Source of Light. January 17, 2011. http://www.illuminantpartners.com/2011/01/17/color/ (accessed December 12, 2011). Intelligence, China Research. Research Report on China Truck Industry. April 12, 2011. http://marketinfoguide.com/2011/04/12/research-report-china-truck-industry-2011-2012/ (accessed December 12, 2011). King, Susan. Facts About Chinese Business Attire. eHow Culture and Society. 199 9. http://www.ehow.com/about_5040513_chinese-business-attire.html (accessed December 11, 2011). Lehman, Edward. Media and Advertising. Lehman, Lee, Xu. 1992. http://www.lehmanlaw.com/practices/media-and-advertising.html (accessed December 12, 2011). Ltd., Kwintessential. Chinese Etiquette and Customs. Kwintessential. 2004. http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/china-country-profile.html (accessed December 13, 2011). Roberts, Kimberly. International Business Gift Giving Overview. 1998. http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/international_gift_giving.htm (accessed December 11, 2011).

How to Mark a Book Essay -- Reading Literature Essays

How to Mark a Book missing works cited You know you have to read "between the lines" to get the most out of anything. I want to persuade you to do something equally important in the course of your reading. I want to persuade you to "write between the lines." Unless you do, you are not likely to do the most efficient kind of reading. I contend, quite bluntly, that marking up a book is not an act of mutilation but of love. You shouldn't mark up a book which isn't yours. Librarians (or your friends) who lend you books expect you to keep them clean, and you should. If you decide that I am right about the usefulness of marking books, you will have to buy them. Most of the world's great books are available today, in reprint editions. There are two ways in which one can own a book. The first is the property right you establish by paving for it, just as you pay for clothes and furniture. But this act of purchase is only the prelude to possession. Full ownership comes only when you have made it a part of yourself, and the best way to make yourself a part of it is by writing in it. An illustration may make the point clear. You buy a beefsteak and transfer it from the butcher's icebox to your own. But you do not own the beefsteak in the most important sense until you consume it and get it into your bloodstream. I am arguing that books, too, must be absorbed in your bloodstream to do you any good. Confusion about what it means to own a book leads people to a false reverence for paper, binding, and type - a respect for the physical thing - the craft of the printer rather than the genius of the author. They forget that it is possible for a man to acquire the idea, to possess the beauty, which a great book contain... ...em you can get through, but rather how many can get through you - how many you can make your own. A few friends are better than a thousand acquaintances. If this be your aim, as it should be, you will not be impatient if it takes more time and effort to read a great book than it does a newspaper. You may have one final objection to marking books. You can't lend them to your friends because nobody else can read them without being distracted by your notes. Furthermore, you won't want to lend them because a marked copy is a kind of intellectual diary, and lending it is almost like giving your mind away. If your friend wishes to read your "Plutarch's Lives," "Shakespeare," or "The Federalist Papers," tell him gently but firmly, to buy a copy. You will lend him your car or your coat - but your books are as much a part of you as your head or your heart.

Trapped Characters

The main characters in this play are trapped by either design or circumstance in a situation. This means that away from the story line each character is trying to escape from their own little entrapment brought on from either another or that character itself. Little Voice is the most trapped. Mari, Ray say and Mr Boo trap her all in their own special ways. The only times in the play when she has escaped, is when her Dad visits her in her dreams, when she listens to her records and at the end of the play when Billy comes to rescue Little Voice from the fire. The structure of this play goes as follows†¦. Introduction, leading on to the big scene, major scene, The die down where everything starts to go wrong and then the last scene where everybody leaves their past roots and starts up a new life this is also known as escaping from the old and going to the new. The scene where Little Voice escapes, I think, is shown in two places, where Little Voice and Mari are having an argument and Mari is trying to force Little Voice in staying with her†¦. â€Å"Mari: LV†Ã¢â‚¬  I beseech you. I beseech you, LV.† â€Å"I beseech you! I beseech you!†Ã¢â‚¬  LV:† Ma names Laura. And then Laura leaves Mari by herself, and they are both alone now. These few lines are showing Mari begging for LV's forgiveness. The other showing of escape with LV is when she goes to see Billy right at the end of the play, to exercise his birds and she lets the dove go free, which can also symbolise freedom. I think that the only person in this drama that doesn't escape was Sadie. I think this because, She was actually always trapped by Mari, She was just tagging along all of he time, towards the end Mari told her to go away by saying, â€Å"Your too quiet to be my friend you, Fuck off† But then at the end of the play when Ray leaves Mari she goes running back to Sadie. As you can see Sadie just goes along with whatever Mari says because she would never be able to get a word in edge ways. I think that this is why at the end of the play LV escapes and says what she has to say. These few lines show how LV and Mari are totally different. Jim Cartwright shows great structure in this play by wrapping each scene around the man character for that scene. This works very well because it shows each character in detail, for example their highlights or their downside to them. Each character has its own different function†¦. LV: She is the structure of what the play goes around. She starts off as a quiet little nothing that is always getting in the way of Mari and Ray, She is also at the beginning of the play a ‘silent' character, as she never says anything, it s almost like she is either autistic or as if she has just recovered from traumatic experience. But by the end of the play she has come alive, as now she has overcome her fears of other people tormenting her. I found that each character had another character that was similar to the other in some way, Mari and Ray Say, they were both loud, argumentative, they both only loved Little Voice for her money, and they both had a poor ending when LV said that she didn't want to do another show because neither of them never listened to what she had to say, so by the end of the film there was nowhere for them to go so they would have to start a new life with nothing. The next two characters that resembled one another in some way were Sadie and George. Most people see these two as background characters as they hardly ever speak and they are only in that scene so that another one of the characters can speak. I feel that these two people get pushed out of the play a lot. Billy pushes out George and Mari and Ray Say elbow Sadie out. Finally you can guess who is coming next, yes, Little Voice and Billy, They both start off as somewhat quiet characters as when they first meet it seems like neither of them have a tongue, But by the end of the play they have gradually worked themselves up to be the bravest and the most powerful characters as they both have each other and they haven't lost anything (that they wanted!) through this whole situation. This likeness of characters and consequences is called echoing. There are lot of key lines in this play that represent what will/can happen in the future of the play, for example, Mari: And looky here, LV. Prink prink. As we leave, star spangling down the club, the artiste, the minder and the Mum. This is important in the play as Mari is thinks that everything is going to be great in the future but doesn't realise that Little Voice only said that she wanted to do the performance once, and the audience realise this, so they know that everything is going to go wrong towards the end, as well you see her dad wave goodbye at the end of her performance (only in the play) which could mean that she isn't going to sing in front of an audience as she will only perform when her dad is watching. Another key line could be†¦. Ray: For god sake, wise up and fuck off. This is a key line because, Ray is trying to tell Mari that all he wants is Little Voice for the money, but he is trying to tell her in a blunt kind of way so that (as he thinks) he will not hurt her feelings as much as he would of if he had just walked out, and as well he is just arguing with her to try and blame her but really it is his fault because he just used Mari to get to Little Voice. The most useful/ base of the play moment is when Ray Say and Mr Boo hear Little Voice for the first time outside her bedroom. This is important because straight after that clip Cartwright shows to the audience that Ray is using Mari, he displays this by†¦. They were all (Ray, Mr Boo & Mari) going down to the pub, and Mari calls him along and he says that he wants to stay and listen to her, which makes Mari realise that maybe he is using her as the day before he said to Mr Boo that she's the one, and Mari thought that he was talking about herself. I fell that this play was set in the end of the 1990's by reason of that mobile phones were not invented, The BT van was quite modern and that the costume and staging was of modern times. The language too was very modern and simple; you could tell that the characters were of a lower class just by looking at the scenery, housing and language used, for example there is a lot of slang going on especially between Mari and Ray when they are mucking around, i.e. Mari: See 'em all standin' up then? In some cases this could show that they are both quite common, which could prove my point of them being lower class and quite poor. My favourite part in this play is at the end where Ray thinks that LV has gone mad on him because she starts acting like here heroes, (Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Bassey), to try and scare him away to get him to leave her alone, besides that it is quite a shock as you are not expecting her to act like this which is good because it shows that Herman (director) has done this purposely to fool the audience.

Assess the Usefulness of Functionalism for an Understanding of the Family

Assess the usefulness of functionalism for an understanding of the family. Functionalism is a structural theory in that it believes that the social structure of society (social institutions such as economy, education, media, law, religion and family) is responsible for shaping us as individuals. Functionalists are interested in how the family functions for the greater good or society and in particular, how it contributes to maintenance of social order. Functionalist's view of families and households is mainly a positive view. In this essay, I will assess the understanding of families and households through a functionalist view.All over the world family life is differs by huge variation and diversity. But in the UK and according to functionalists who take the more traditional view of family believe it should be a small group of people living together, including the mother father and usually two or three children and are biologically related. The children should be the product of roman tic love. A famous sociologist George Peter Murdock (1949) defines the family as: â€Å"A social group characterised by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction.It should consist of adults of both sexes with at least two who maintain a socially approved relationship, which has created one or more children of their own. Therefore Murdock’s definition is based on the nuclear family – a stereotypical two-generation family made up of a heterosexual couple with dependent offspring. This definition was popular with functionalist sociologists who suggested that this is the ideal type of family which people should aim to have. Murdock’s four key functions are: Stabilisation/regulation of the sex drive (sexual) Reproduction of the next generation (reproductive)Socialisation of the young (educational) Meeting its members’ economic needs, providing food shelter etc (economic) Sociologists criticise Murdocks approach on the family saying it’s t o ‘rose-tinted’, which means it’s all a bit pretty and wonderful and he ignores conflict that happens in the family. Feminists believe women are oppressed in the family and Marxists argue the family meeting the needs of capitalism, not the members and society as a whole. Parsons, there is a clear division of labour. According to his studies, the husbands has an â€Å"instrumental role†, he is armed for success at work so that he can provide for his family.Wives on the other hand have an â€Å"expressive role† where they are expected to emotionally support their husbands and children. The male role is economic breadwinner and head of household, whereas the female role is nurturing and childcare. Lastly, the family members receive nurturing and un-conditional love and care from the mother. This nuclear family type, as mentioned above, is seen as the ideal. We see this in wider parts of society such as the media who portray this in such things as adver tisements, where there will be a family with a mother who is preparing the food, the male getting ready for work and two or three children.This is known as the ‘cereal packet family’. Functionalist see the family as a primary agent of socialisation, it teaches its members its culture by sharing common norms and values. So functionalist believes the family is crucial to order and created consensus. Another Functionalist, Talcott Parsons (1965) believes the family is a ‘personality factory’ who produces children with shared norms and values and has a strong sense of belonging to society.Another key point functionalists believe the family is crucial for is controlling society daily for example with marriage it keeps sexual relationships under control and monogamous. This is seen as socially acceptable when kept in a heterosexual marriage, so it stops chaos and disorder from unregulated sexual relationships. Parsons argues that a function of the family is that of a stress reliever for the male after a hard day of working, this is known as the ‘warm bath theory’ as all the hardships of modern working life is forgotten.Therefore functionalist sees the family as both beneficial for society and for the individual. But other sociologists such as feminists would argue this, as they believe the family is only serving the needs of men and oppresses women. According to Fran Ansley women are ‘takers of shit’ â€Å"When wives play their traditional role as takers of shit, they often absorb their husbands’ legitimate anger and frustration at their own powerlessness. † This would counter the warm bath theory and suggest males take their anger out on women, rather than see the family as a stress relief from their jobs.This could explain domestic violence. Parsons (1955) the family can perform many functions. The functions that it performs will depend on the needs of society. This is known as the ‘functional fit’ theory. Pre-industrial society = extended family (three generations living under one roof) Industrial society = nuclear family (just parents and dependent children). As society changed, the ‘type’ of family that was required to help society function changed.Industrial society has two essential needs which require a nuclear family to work: A geographically mobile workforce and a socially mobile workforce. Loss of functions ,Parsons also argues that the family in modern society has lost many of its functions as it has become a unit of consumption only (rather than also being a unit of production) This means that in modern society the nuclear family has just two essential or ‘irreducible’ functions: Primary socialisation of children Stabilisation of adult personalities.Sociologists such as Young and Willmott (1973) ; Laslett (1972) argue that the pre-industrial family was nuclear, which defeats all points made by Parsons and why a lot of people do n’t believe his argument is very reliable. To conclude I believe that the usefulness of functionalism for understanding the family has become dated, every key point they make can be argued or disproved with actual statistics and fact. I believe it would have been more credible in the mid-1900s where gender roles where a lot more evident and accepted.Also they take the nuclear family as the norm, ideal and most apparent family type in modern society which Is false, and Michael Andersons (1980) research proves Parsons functional fit theory wrong, as the extended family was the structure best equipped to meet the needs of early industrial society, due to the benefits such as older kin looing after children whilst parents worked. Therefore I don’t believe functionalism is very useful to get an overall understanding of every aspect of the family.

Reason for Cohabitation Essays

Reason for Cohabitation Essays Reason for Cohabitation Essay Reason for Cohabitation Essay Non Marital Relationship live in partner Cohabitation is an arrangement whereby two people decide to live together on a long-term or permanent basis in an emotionally and/or sexually intimate relationship. The term is most frequently applied to couples who are not married Reason for Cohabitation Today, cohabitation is a common pattern among people in the Western world. People may live together for a number of reasons. These may include wanting to test compatibility or to establish financial security before marrying. It may also be because they are unable to legally marry, due to reasons such as same-sex, some interracial or interreligious marriages are not legal or permitted. Other reasons include living as a way for polygamists or polyamorists to avoid breaking the law, or as a way to avoid the higher income taxes paid by some two-income married couples (in the United States), negative effects on pension payments (among older people), or philosophical opposition to the institution of marriage (that is, seeing little difference between the commitment to live together and the commitment to marriage). Some individuals also may choose cohabitation because they see their relationships as being private and personal matters, and not to be controlled by political, religious or patriarchal institutions. Some couples prefer cohabitation because it does not legally commit them for an extended period, and because it is easier to establish and dissolve without the legal costs often associated with a divorce. In some jurisdictions cohabitation can be viewed legally as common-law marriages, either after the duration of a specified period, or the birth of the couples child, or if the couple consider and behave accordingly as husband and wife. This helps provide the surviving partner a legal basis for inheriting the deceaseds belongings in the event of the death of their cohabiting partner. ) In Saskatchewan, Canada, a married person may cohabit with other married or single persons and become the spouses of all of them under the Saskatchewan Family Property Act. Consent of the subsequent spouse is not required. Although Canada has a federal criminal code law prohibiting polygamy, which includes nyone who authorizes more than one conjugal union at a time, Saskatchewan judicial authorities that unilaterally authorize multiple conjugal unions have not yet been charged under this federal law. Opposition In the Western world, a man and a woman who lived together without being married were once socially shunned and persecuted and, in some cases, prosecuted by law. In some jurisdictions, cohabitation was illegal until relatively recently. Other jurisdictions have created a Common-law marriage status when two people of the opposite sex live together for a prescribed period of time. Most jurisdictions no longer prosecute this choice. In the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, judicial authorities have used binding authority to sanction married women being the same time spouse of other men due to cohabitation. Consent to be spouses of all persons involved is not required. Therefore, it is likely that future court challenges in Canada will use this Canadian case law to claim married persons may also civilly marry other persons without divorcing first. A scientific survey of over 1,000 married men and women in the United States of America found those who moved in with a lover before engagement or marriage reported significantly lower quality marriages and a greater possibility for splitting up than other couples. About 20 percent of those who cohabited before getting engaged had since suggested divorce compared with only 12 percent of those who only moved in together after getting engaged and 10 percent who did not cohabit prior to marriage. 1] Psychologist Dr Galena Rhoades said: There might be a subset of people who live together before they got engaged who might have decided to get married really based on other things in their relationship because they were already living together and less because they really wanted and had decided they wanted a future together. We think some couples who move in together without a clear commitment to marriage may wind up sliding into marriage partly because they are already cohabiting. [2] Support In some Western nations such as the United States and Britain divorce laws and family law give more rights toward women in terms of property rights, rights to male working labor of resource provision outside of marriage, sole parental and custody rights to children. In essence, as a legal institution, marriage is an obligation from a man to a woman to support her outside of marriage by the contractual obligations of divorce. In the United States, women initiate 2/3 of all divorce. 3] As a result some men choose to avoid what they see as the unequal commitment, responsibility, risk and obligation they would be subject to in the legal contract of marriage. The Mens and Fathers Rights Movement and Mens Rights Activists hold similar views and seek equality in divorce and custody law. Cohabitation (government) Cohabitation in government occurs in semi-presidential systems, such as Frances system, when the President is from a different political party than the majority of the membe rs of parliament. It occurs because such a system forces the president to name a premier (prime minister) that will be acceptable to the majority party within parliament. Thus, cohabitation occurs because of the duality of the executive: an independently elected President and a prime minister who must be acceptable both to this president and to the legislature. Origins Cohabitation was a product of the French Fifth Republic, albeit an unintended one. This constitution brought together a potent presidential position with manifold executive powers and a prime minister, responsible before Parliament. The presidents task was primarily to end deadlock and act decisively to avoid the stagnation prevalent under the French Fourth Republic; the prime minister, similarly, was to direct the work of government, providing a strong leadership to the legislative branch and to help overcome partisan squabbles. Since 1962, French presidents have been elected by popular vote, replacing the electoral college, which was only used once. This change was intended to give Fifth Republic presidents more power than they might have had under the original constitution, while still seen as the symbol and embodiment of the nation, the president also was given a popular mandate. Of course, the majority party of the National Assembly retained power as well, but since the popularly-elected president appointed the prime minister, the former was seen as having the upper hand in any conflict between executive and legislature. Furthermore, the mbalance is further illustrated by the fact that the President of the Fifth Republic can dissolve the Assembly at any time (but not more than once in a year), whereas the legislature has no powers of removal against the president. The sole caveat to this position of presidential pre-eminence was the fact that the presidents selection to the premiership required approval by the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament: because the Assembly can dismiss the government by a vote of no con fidence, it follows that the prime minister must be supported by the Assembly. This was not a problem whilst the legislative majority was aligned with the president, and indeed, de Gaulle, who was responsible for inspiring much of the Constitution, never envisioned that such a conflict could exist; to him the French public would never permit such a situation. But because the president was elected to seven-year terms, and the Assembly to five-year terms, it was almost inevitable that such a situation would someday arise. Political scientists regarded it as a flaw in the constitution that had the potential to bring down the Fifth Republic. The first near miss with cohabitation occurred with the election of Socialist President Francois Mitterrand in 1981. A coalition of the right controlled the Assembly at the time. Almost immediately, Mitterrand exercised his authority to call Assembly elections, and the electorate returned an Assembly with an absolute majority of Socialists, ending the presumed crisis. However, when Assembly elections were held, as required, five years later, the Socialists lost their majority to the right, precipitating the first experiment in cohabitation.

Book Summary, Notes, and Study Guide for Frankenstein

Book Summary, Notes, and Study Guide for Frankenstein Frankenstein  was originally written by English author,  Mary Shelley (1797- 1851). Its complete title is  Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus. It was first published anonymously in London on January 1, 1818. The second edition, under Shelleys name, was published in 1823.  A third  edition,  which included  a preface by Shelley and tribute to her late husband  who drowned in 1822, was published in 1831.  The book is a  Gothic novel  and  has also been called the first  science fiction  novel.   Author Mary Shelley was born in London August 30, 1797. She  developed the story of Frankenstein while on a summer trip to Switzerland in 1816  when she was twenty years old and  was traveling with her then married lover, Romantic poet  Percy Bysshe Shelley.   The story arose out of a competition between herself, Percy Shelley and their companions, Lord Byron and Byrons physician, John William Polidori, to write a tale about a supernatural occurrence. Mary initially struggled with an idea, but eventually, through listening to conversations between Percy and Lord Byron about attempts to reanimate corpses, current news stories, a dream, her imagination and own life experiences, a story emerged. According to Francine Prose, author of the introduction to a new illustrated   Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus, in the New Republic: One night, still puzzling over Byron’s assignment and trying to sleep, Mary had a vision in which she saw â€Å"the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion.† She lay awake, trying to imagine a story that would frighten the reader as much as she had been frightened, then realized that she had found it. â€Å"What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow. On the morrow I announced that I had thought of a story,† and set herself to making â€Å"a transcript of the grim terrors of my waking dream.†    The book,  Frankenstein, was completed almost a year after their trip to Switzerland. Shortly after the  trip to Switzerland, Percy Shelleys pregnant wife committed suicide. Mary and Percy married soon thereafter, in 1818, but Marys life was marked by death and tragedy. Marys half-sister committed suicide soon after the trip to Switzerland, and Mary and Percy had three children who died in infancy before Percy Florence was born in 1819.   Setting The story begins in the icy northern waters where a captain is traveling to the North Pole. Events take place throughout Europe, in Scotland, England, and Switzerland. Characters Victor Frankenstein: The Swiss chemist who creates the monster. Robert Walton: The sea captain who rescues Victor from the ice. The Monster: The ugly creation of Frankenstein, who searches for companionship and love throughout the story. William: Victors brother. The monster murders William to punish Victor and sets the stage for more tragedy and torment for Victor. Justine Moritz: Adopted and loved by the Frankenstein family, Justine was convicted and executed for killing William. Plot Rescued by the sea captain, Frankenstein relays events that begin as he pieces together a man using old body parts. Once he manages to create the horrible being, however, Frankenstein regrets his action immediately and flees his home. When he returns, he finds the monster is gone. Shortly after, Frankenstein hears that his brother has been murdered. A series of tragic events follow as the monster searches for love  and Frankenstein suffers the consequences of his immoral act. Structure The novel is a frame story with a three-part structure. The Creatures story is the core of the novel, which is presented to us framed by Victor Frankensteins story, which in turn is framed by Robert Waltons narrative. Possible Themes This book raises many compelling themes and thought-provoking questions and is as relevant today as it was two-hundred years ago. The search for love reflects a strong theme in Shelleys own life. The monster knows he is horrid and will never be loved, although he attempts to find love several times. He is constantly rejected and disappointed. Frankenstein, himself, searches for happiness through love, but he meets with the tragic loss of several loves. Mary Shelley was the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, who was an early feminist.  Tragic, weak, women are portrayed in the story Frankenstein actually begins to make a second female monster, to provide companionship for his own first creation, but he then destroys it and dumps the remains in a lake; Frankensteins wife dies tragically, as does the accused Justine- but is this because Shelley actually believes women are weak or does their subjugation and absence send a different message? Perhaps it is because female autonomy and power are perceived as a threat to the male characters. Without the presence and influence of women, everything that is important to Frankenstein is destroyed in the end. The novel also speaks to the  nature of good and evil, what it means  to be human  and to  live morally.  Ã‚  It  confronts us with our  existential fears  and  explores the boundary between life and death. It causes us  to reflect on the limits and  responsibilities of scientists  and scientific inquiry, and to think about what it means  to play God, addressing human emotion and hubris. Resources and Further Reading How Frankensteins Monster Became Human, The New Republic,  https://newrepublic.com/article/134271/frankensteins-monster-became-human Its Alive! The Birth of Frankenstein,  National Geographic, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/magazine/2017/07-08/birth_of_Frankenstein_Mary_Shelley/ Monstrosity and Feminism in Frankenstein, Electrastreet, https://electrastreet.net/2014/11/monstrosity-and-feminism-in-frankenstein/

Occupational Health and Safety Pete Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Occupational Health and Safety Pete - Essay Example be affected by a single source or due to combination of several factors like poor building design, improper ventilation, improper handling of heat, presence of outside pollutants, overcrowding, radioactive elements, occupant activities, air contaminants etc. Health issues attributed to adverse working conditions are quite common nowadays. Being the Safety and Occupation Health Professional, one has the responsibility to investigate, recommend and take legal actions in order to ensure quality health environment in a workspace. In the given case of refrigerated food distribution warehouse, there are several sources to consider that could affect the health of occupants. The complaints were received from a major food distribution warehouse that some of the employees are feeling sick with dizziness and lightheadedness. A major portion of this warehouse is refrigerated, and complaints are reported from the refrigerated section refrigerated at 40 degrees F. The employees having complaints were blister packing the products on a production line. Within the warehouse, there are twenty loading docks, two rail road car lines which end inside the warehouse near the production area and around twelve gas powered forklifts. There are no environmental monitors or sensors within the warehouse other than those in the refrigeration systems. There are special seals in the loading dock doors in order to preserve cold, and to prevent heat from outside. The professional could not identify any distinct odors except the exhaust from forklift while they are moving. There are fourteen employees working in this area including twelve women and five men. Four ladies sitting i n the break room complain about symptoms like dizziness and lightheadedness. The warehouse manager is cooperative, but is busy with handling contract negotiation with the union. A careful study on the refrigerated food distribution warehouse would reveal lack of proper ventilation and other related issues. For instance,