Religion Class At Nazareth College Essay - 909 Words

Benjamin Franklin once said, â€Å"The only thing more expensive than education is ignorance.† Prior to taking my Exploring Religion class at Nazareth College, I will admit that I was pretty religiously ignorant, even in the religion that I identify with! It was not that I did not want to learn about religions, I just was never very motivated to do my own research, and because these topics are so touchy in schools, we never went in depth, in high school. I am beyond thankful that a religious studies class is a requirement at Nazareth because after taking it, I feel that it is very important to be educated on religion as it is so controversial in our society, today. Preunderstanding as defined by Robert VanVoorst is, the existing state of one’s understanding of a topic before a new experience that calls for interpretation. Our preunderstanding changes and grows as we learn new things and alter our beliefs over time. Personally, my preunderstanding was challenged almost everyday in this class, but with that my knowledge of religion grew. The basis of religion is the beliefs and practices of a community and what that community must do in order to live a life of meaning, purpose and fulfilment. Questions that religions seek to find that answers to include; Why am I here? What does it mean to be human? How can what is wrong in the world - and in me be corrected? Where am I - and the rest of the world going? Although the roots and goals of many religions seem to be practically theShow MoreRelatedRelationship Between Societies Of Today And The Environment921 Words   |  4 PagesIndividual Major, during the Junior and Senior years at Emmanuel College, I aspire to attend Environmental Forum provided every spring by Colleges of Fenway. As a capstone experience I foresee myself undergoing an internship in a locally based Education Outreach Program2. On this matter, I would like to accentuate that driven by my interest I am already participating in the Urban Food Project, the current project that Emmanuel College is conducting with a financial support of New Balance FoundationRead More What is Religion Essay1321 Words   |  6 Pages World Religion What is Religion? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;According to the American College Dictionary, religion is a noun defined as the quest for the values of the ideal life. This definition is vast and general, allowing for a variety of interpretations by people from all cultures. There is no single path to follow in order to lead an ideal life, only personal beliefs and experiences. Religion is non-finite so there is no way of determining a boundary (Smart, 5). In my quest for a trueRead MoreLongfellow- Writing Incorporates Religion1470 Words   |  6 Pagesdepression as a reaction to his wives deaths. During these times of sorrow, Longfellow turned to his faith which helped him move through the mourning process. In Longfellow s pre-poet days, he served as a priest and went to college attending a religious class. Longfellow took his religion seriously, and expressed his fealty through his work. Christus, although thin and disorganized, was Longfellow s attempt at a religious epic. Longfellow loosely employs the virtues of faith, hope and charity as theRead MoreQ1) How Did You Come To Faith In Christ?. My Earliest Memory1372 Words   |  6 Pageswhat he and his family believed. One day, during morning break, I went to the school library and picked up a copy of the Bible. I tried to read the first few verses of Genesis and immediately got bored. Strangely, I can remember sitting in History class thinking about Genesis 1:3, I can’t remember what I thought the verse meant, but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. At age 16 I began to write poetry. I thought poetry could be helpful form of self-expression, especially in an attempt to find theRead MoreThe Origins Of Western Civilization1547 Words   |  7 Pagesworld. Their devilment began with a great sense of competition among social classes, individuals and cities, as every Greek tried to gain advantage over the other Greek. Competition extended to every aspect of Greek life, including politics, warfare, religion, athletics and art. (Book) Greek life revolved around the polis, or city-state. â€Å"The polis arose from the Dark Ages which followed the fall of the Mycenaean civilization in Greece and by the 8th century BCE a major process of urbanization had begunRead MoreSocial And Cultural Interactions Of Diversified Population Of New Yorkers1994 Words   |  8 Pagesthe world, versus just the United States. Accordingly, since I began attending Vaughn College, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of cultures from friends and classmates. More importantly, I have been introduced to religions that I most likely would not have known about, if I was back at my home in Philadelphia. For example, one of my best friends and roommate at Vaughn College is Muslim. Before I came to Vaughn, I had little idea what the Islamic faith consistedRead MoreJane Addams in Action Essay3556 Words   |  15 Pagesenemy of wrong and of wrong doing. He was a leader as well as a safe and fearless advocate in right things in public life (Davis 26).† Addams’ life was also shaped by her womanhood. As a member of one of the first generations of women to attend college, Addams was confused and frustrated by the possible paths she could take in life. She was highly educated and privileged but lacked any useful enterprise to pursue (Brown 213). 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LIMBAGA JR., Ph.D. Collge Dean College of Agricultural Sciences Southern Philippines Agri – Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), Matti, Digos City ____________________ Date Signed CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Introduction Career choice is one

Climate Change The World Of Politics - 870 Words

Recently President Barack Obama recently unveiled what he described as â€Å"the biggest most important step we’ve ever taken to fight climate change†. Americas clean power plan sets a series of guidelines, rules and regulations to cut the amount of carbon emissions from our nations power plants. (AFP) â€Å"We are releasing vast quantities of carbon dioxide, increasing the Greenhouse Effect. It may not take much to destabilize the earth’s climate, to convert this heaven our only home in the cosmos, into a kind of hell†- Carl Sagan (Sagan) Climate change has become one of the most hotly debated topics in the world of politics in recent years. It is an issue that if not addressed by the global community could lead to a much harsher world for our descendants. One side will argue that climate change is merely a natural process that our planet goes through over time, and human beings have little to no effect on these atmospheric changes. The other side would argue that through the increased use of fossil fuels (fuels derived from the remains of long dead plants, algae and other organisms compressed over millions of years into coal or oil) in recent decades is the main contributor of carbon dioxide (CO2 a naturally occurring gas vital to life with the ability to absorb and redirect heat from the sun back to the surface of the earth) increases since the start of the industrial revolution. So what is climate change? Why was it so cold last winter if climate change is real? Well looks likeShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Global Politics1523 Words   |  7 PagesWhat do you believe to be the most pressing issue in global politics today? â€Å"Climate change is a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet s weather patterns or average temperatures† . In 2006, Al Gore highlighted a problem hinted at for years, climate change, in his documentary The Inconvenient Truth, and this essay will explain why this problem is still the most important issue in global politics, despite receiving less coverage in world press. With major problems such as rising sea levels andRead MoreParis Protocol960 Words   |  4 PagesThe Decision to Leave the Paris Agreement Will Hurt the US and the World D’Angelo, Elias. Global Climate Change: International Perspectives and Responses. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. 2009. Elias D’Angelo’s book Global Climate Change: International Perspectives and Responses examines the global response to climate change. It provides a history of climate change, discusses perspectives of various nations and policies that have been implemented in order to reduce greenhouse gases, and the resultsRead MoreThe Four Major Threats to the Global Community and the Planet1332 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Global Threats Introduction Mr. President, as I see it, there are four major threats to the global community and the planet that should be of immediate and utmost concern, and they are: a) Environmental challenges (global climate change and the environmental degradation that will result from the warming of the planet); b) Global Security / Terrorism (the unpredictable and undisciplined application of military power due to the changing nature of nations and states, e.g., terrorism, weapons of massRead MorePolitics Of The Earth : Climate Change981 Words   |  4 Pagesand response to climate change. The general consensus is that people’s social and political identities, almost more than anything else, determine what steps they take in preventing climate change. In every major discussion of the readings we raised the subject of politics regarding climate change. John Dryzek, professor at the University of Canberra, says in his book Politics of the Earth: â€Å"Discourses are bound up in political power.† We discussed how discourse about climate change is increasinglyRead MoreClimate Change Education In Schools Essay1216 Words   |  5 PagesImproving Climate Education in Schools In today’s political climate, climate change education in American schools has been a controversial topic among lawmakers and teachers. Climate change is a change in global or regional climate patterns largely attributed to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced using fossil fuels. 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It is a concern so urgent that many say we have already passed a point in which we cannot recover; we can merely hope to minimize the damage. It is an issue that has found its way to the forefront of many governmental platforms, regardless of political affiliation. Most recently, APEC - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation – held its yearly summit in Beijing, the capital of the world’s greatest polluter: China. HoweverRead MoreGlobal Warming And Its Effects On The Environment Essay1585 Words   |  7 Pagesacidification caused by carbon dioxide and water temperature are threaten ing 75 percent of the world’s coral reefs since the changes of water’s features make they unable to absorb calcium carbonate which makes up their shells. Moreover, climate change not only challenges scientists and climatologists, but also puts a big pressure on economists, sociologists and politics. The changes in climate can shift crop patterns. Additionally, extreme and fluctuated weathers such as droughts, floods, and heavy downpoursRead MoreClimate Change Should Be A Priority For All The Government1531 Words   |  7 Pagescomes to the topic of Climate change, most of us will agree that the Republicans need to concentrate on climate change and give it top most priority since climate change is indeed one of the leading concerns in world economics and politics today. Whereas most Republicans are convinced that the issue of climate change should be a priority for all the government in the USA, there are still a few Republican presidential candidates that maintain that the issue of climate change requires internationalRead MoreThe Impact Of Neoliberal Institutionalism On The United States Of International Relations Theory1316 Words à ‚  |  6 Pagestypically positive view of humanity and possibilities for interaction, peace and cooperation, yet places more emphasis on exploring the role of institutions than its predecessors. To comprehensively understand the neoliberal institutional approach to world politics, it is also necessary to understand its opposing theory of neorealism. While the two schools of thought disagree on the implications of political structure, both scholarships share similar epistemology and asks largely the same questions which

Endurance of the Human Spirit Free Essays

Endurance Of The Human Spirit The Iliad and the movie Precious, based on the novel Push by Saphire, both share a common theme where the main characters depict an uncommon endurance of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Although in The Iliad, war is horrible and bloody, the spirit of Achilles is never broken by this adversity because, like Precious, who suffers physical, mental, and sexual abuse at the hands of her parents, their human spirit is the driving force behind their desire to overcome their challenges. As a result, the endurance of their human spirit is strengthened and they emerge victorious. We will write a custom essay sample on Endurance of the Human Spirit or any similar topic only for you Order Now These two characters reflect the uncommon strength of the human spirit because when their body is defeated, or their mind is loaded with emotion, this drive within them pushes their limits. A character analysis of Achilles and Precious is farfetched because they are two very distinct characters in two very different worlds. According to Greek Mythology Achilles’ character existed long before the biblical Jesus Christ. This means he lived more than 3000 years ago, whereas Precious, is a an illiterate, obese 16-year-old girl with two children who lives in the New York City ghetto of Harlem. However, these two distinct characters have commonality when we look beyond their physical being and look within their souls. Here, Achilles and Precious possess an unyielding human spirit that serves as an engine that keeps them moving forward in the face of impossibility. From a superficial analysis, Achilles and Precious are both warriors in their own ways. It is obvious that Achilles is a warrior because he is one who fights in the armies of Kings and battles enemies for gain. He is no ordinary fighter, but a fearless and skilled one who is recruited for his physical strength and success. Agamemnon enlists him to fight for his army when he goes to war with the Trojans because he is aware of his exceptional skill. Therefore, in his own eyes and in the eyes of others, Achilles is a warrior. This characterization is not as obvious when we analyze Precious. Precious is a warrior even though she does not know it and others do not regard her as one. She became a warrior because she was born into a family of physical and sexual abuse. At the age of 3, her father started to sexually abuse her and her mother’s constant humiliation only served to degrade her. However, it was due to this unfortunate circumstance the she developed into a warrior. Precious is battling her drug addicted, alcoholic, and emotionally unstable mother. In the movie there is a scene where she is at the top of the stairs in her home, with her mother below tossing a pan at her while telling her that she is â€Å"stupid bitch (Precious). † In this case, her parents are the enemies she has to defeat to survive. This can destroy you unless you have a strong will. Each has a reason to develop a drive to prevail. It is this strong desire to overcome in the face of physical impossibilities that sets them apart from ordinary people. Achilles and Precious have an inner human spirit that drives them to overcome the obstacles in their lives. Achilles continually strives to be a great fighter because he wants to be remembered after one-thousand years. This is partially his motivation and he demonstrates this when he utters, â€Å"You talk of food. I have no taste for food – what I really crave is the slaughter of blood and the choking groans of men. † (Homer 495). Here, after a successful battle, Agamemnon is commanding that a feast be prepared for the soldiers. Achilles strongly rejects his gift and says that there is no time for eating when he has rage for fighting in his heart. Achilles has only one thing on his mind and that is to fight because his drive is his desire to be recognize. This does not completely characterize Achilles because towards the end of the movie, when he kills Hector, and Priam is begging Achilles for his body, he says, â€Å"No more, old man, don’t tempt my wrath, not now! Don’t stir my raging heart still more. Or under my own roof I may not spare your life, old man †¦ suppliant that you are †¦. † (Homer 606). It is obvious that Achilles has many characteristics. Here, he is fearless, selfish, and at the same time compassionate. Unlike Achilles, whose human spirit was driven by selfish reasons to be grand and recognized, Precious was motivated by a desire to be remembered. Initially, Precious is an insecure, weak and helpless person. Her father rapes her and cannot depend on anyone to defend her. This incestuous relationship is a heavy weight for her to carry. However, she does eventually gather the strength and stands up for herself. This is very evident when she states, â€Å"The other day I cried. But you know what? Fuck that day. That’s why God, or whoever, makes other days. â€Å"(Precious). Here, we have a powerful statement by Precious who has endured so much emotional and physical abuse. By the time she makes this statement, she has given birth to two children by her own father and has endured enormous mental abused by her mother. Her mother states, â€Å"Don’t nobody want you, don’t nobody need you. (Precious). This type of abuse can cause anyone to commit suicide. It is a crippling experience for most people, but Precious build up the strength to defeat the abuse and believes there is another day. Even though she has given up on the notion of God, she still believes in herself. This is Precious’ reflection that her human spirit will survive anything. It may appear that Achilles and Precious do not h ave anything in common because almost everything about these characters is different, but as their characters develop, we learn otherwise. First, we have one character who physically survives and the other one dies. However, each one is a warrior in their own way and in their own world. As warriors they must choose between fighting or giving up. What makes both of these characters extraordinary is their inner will to fight challenges that appear insurmountable. Achilles is recognized as a great warrior, but his spirit develops even stronger than his own physical body due to his experience in the battlefield. Precious also develops into a warrior as she fights the sexual and physical abuses of her parents. She demonstrates that she is a strong person because she ends up being a survivor and not a victim of her parent’s abuse. Both of these characters demonstrate that the human spirit does not surrender and will overcome just about anything in life. Works Cited Precious. Dir. Lee Daniels. Perf. Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey. 2009. Film. Troy. Dir. Wolfgang Petersen. Perf. Brad Pitt, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom. 2004. Film. How to cite Endurance of the Human Spirit, Essay examples

Abu Jafar Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur free essay sample

Abu Jafar Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur had lived between 712 and 775 AD.   Though he was born of a slave woman, he was regarded by the Islamic people for being the second caliph and founder of the Arab Abbasid dynasty.   He was his brother (Abu al-Abbas al Saffah) successor in the quest to destroy the Umayyads dynasty and the founding of Abbasid dynasty during 749 AD.[1] Abbasid Movement was originated from Iraq, which came about as early as eight century when these group of people through the leadership of Muhammad ibn Ali and Ibrahim ibn Muhammad thought of placing the caliphate in the hands of Prophet’s family.   This was accounted by Matthew Gordon in his book, which says, â€Å"Authority over the umma belonged to the chosen one from the family of the Prophet.†[2] Many became leaders of the Movement but Ja’far Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur was given much account for his accomplishments in the history of Arab countries. Where, when and into what family he/she was born? Abu Jafar Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur was a descendant of Prophet Muhammad through his uncle who came from Alid family.   He was born in 712 AD at al-Humaymah by a Berber slave woman; his father was a great grandson of Abbas.   Very little were accounted in the life of Al-Mansur as a young boy.   However, the existing cultural values of that time molded his life as a boy who never learned to give up or surrender.   He had some pride being a descendant of the Prophet, and possessed valiant character because of the influence of Islam faith on him; for them dying for what you fight for is a kind of heroism. His free-spirited consciousness was from his mother who was a Berber slave from North Africa. What were his accomplishments? Al-Mansur though a transitional figure of that significant event, carried out the final destruction of the Umayyad clan in 750 AD.   Abu Ja’far al-Mansur in his reign from 754 to 775 AD was recognized for being the proper person who established the new dynasty.   According to Matthew Gordon, he was responsible for â€Å"the consolidation of Abbasid authority.†[3]   He was also seen as the leader who established Baghdad as the capital of the region in 760s. This transformation of the region had complement in the new image of the area as the premier commercial and cultural center of the Near East and Mediterranean worlds being â€Å"fitting site for the dawn of a new imperial era.[4] Al-Mansur was also successful in restoring order in some areas where Umayyad family resided such as in North Africa in 772.   Within his reign, he was able to reorganize his administration; he created different offices and ministries under his authority.   There was great order during his rule although, many attempts of siege had taken place but to no avail. Other accomplishment he had during his sovereignty were the improvement of the economy of his dynasty and flourishing of Persian literature. What was the relationship between your character and society in which he/she lived? Living during that era was like survival of the fittest; in which if one wishes to continue to exist he must be strong.   There were conflicts all over to expand territories and kingdoms.   This part of the world was as well in great effort for survival.   In one instance, they had to clash against Byzantines to defend their territory. Aside from that, their faith had contributed to his ideology.   For them, killing an enemy is god’s will, and he will reward those who do for the sake of protecting the faith and country. Discuss the major challenges your character faced and how he/she overcame them (if he or she did in fact overcome those challenges). Throughout his time in power, he struggled hard to take control of the supremacy of the region, and with that, he had to face battles against numerous forces who tried to overrule him.   However, the most challenging event in the life of Al-Mansur was his dealing with rebellions inside his administration.   At first, he had many allies who turned to be his enemies due to envy.   Most prominent to these names were Al Muslim and Muhammad b Ibrahim, while Shiite group and his uncle were also among them.   Throughout his struggle to establish peace in his empire, he had to be vigilant and unyielding in his judgment. The first man of his army who turned against him was Jahwar for fear of punishing him for collecting treasures from the camp.   Al-Mansur then killed him after many attempts to escape.[5] Abu Muslim was assassinated at Al-Mansur’ command, which he exclaimed, â€Å"Keep hitting! May God cut your hands off (if you don’t)!†Ã‚   In one source Abu Muslim cried, â€Å"Commander of the Faithful, spare me for your enemy’s sword.† But Abu Jafar retorted, â€Å"For what enemy have I more treacherous than you?†[6]   However, Al-Mansur did everything to win back the loyalty of Abu Muslim’s army.   This event as recorded by McAufliffe, was to present Al-Mansur’ intelligence to maintain his kingdom in the midst of struggles. [1] Kennedy Hugh. The History of Al-Tabari: An Annotated Translation. Volume xxix (New York: State University of New York, 1990), p.2.   [2] Matthew Gordon. The Rise of Islam (Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2005) p. 46.   [3] Matthew Gordon. The Rise of Islam (Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2005) p. 47. [4] Ibid. [5] Jane Dammen McAuliffe. Abbasid Authority Affirmed (New York: State University of New York, 1995) p. 30.

Explain theConcept of Atypical Behaviour Essay Example

Explain theConcept of Atypical Behaviour Paper There is no single widely accepted definition of atypical behaviour. This is due to the fact that typical or normal behaviour varies within cultures. However, there are guidelines for diagnosing atypical behaviour, the most popular of which is DSMIV (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders), which is published by the American Psychiatric Association. It focuses on the individuals personal distress and suffering. Another classification method is the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) published by the World Health Organisation. It is an official system for coding known diseases into categories that can be identified at an international level. It defines atypical behaviour as the existence of a clinically recognisable set of symptoms or behaviour associated in most cases with distress and interference with personal functions. Michael Eysenck (2000) came to the conclusion that both DSM and ICD are reasonably reliable despite the fact that many of the symptoms listed are found in much of the population. A reliable diagnosis of atypical behaviour would look at impaired functioning in terms of expected behaviour in the particular context. We will write a custom essay sample on Explain theConcept of Atypical Behaviour specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Explain theConcept of Atypical Behaviour specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Explain theConcept of Atypical Behaviour specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Depression is an example of atypical behaviour. It can be either unipolar (clinical) or bipolar (manic). Unipolar depression is characterised by feelings of sadness and a general withdrawal from other people. It varies from very mild to so severe that the person may be unable to feed or clothe themselves. Manic depression is categorised as a psychotic disorder and is characterised by mood swings between sever depression and mania. Symptoms of mania are delusions and hallucinations, also common to schizophrenia, another example of atypical behaviour. Schizophrenia is a group of psychotic disorders that are characterised by a loss of contact with reality. In effect, the personality loses its unity and certain aspects are heightened. Symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations, delusions, periods of disorganised thinking and speech problems. The biological model regards atypical behaviour as an illness or disease. The basic idea is that symptoms are caused either by genetics ie, inheriting faulty genes; anatomy, ie faults in the wiring in the brain; or physiology, ie chemical imbalances. Treatment for atypical behaviour is known as somatic, meaning that it is designed to redress a chemical imbalance. There are 3 main treatments; chemotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, or psychosurgery.  However, recently it has been brought up that the biological model is sometimes too heavily relied upon and more psychotherapy should be used.

Quotes From The Awakening, Kate Chopins Banned Novel

Quotes From 'The Awakening', Kate Chopin's Banned Novel Kate Chopins novel, The Awakening is the famous tale of Edna Pontellier, who leaves her family, commits adultery, and begins to rediscover her true selfas an artist. It is considered to be one of the most important early feminist texts. Here are a few famous quotations from the novel.   Mr. Pontellier wore eyeglasses. He was a man of forty, of medium height and rather a slender build; he stooped a little. His hair was brown and straight, parted on one side. His beard was neatly and closely trimmed.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningYou are burnt beyond recognition, he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage. She held up her hands, strong, shapely hands, and surveyed them critically, drawing up her fawn sleeves above the wrists.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningHe reproached his wife with her inattention, her habitual neglect of the children. If it was not a mothers place to look after children, whose on earth was it?- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningThe mother-women seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle. It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood. They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husb ands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels.- Kate Chopin, The Awakening The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clearing, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in the abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningHer marriage to Leonce Pontellier was purely an accident, in this respect resembling many other marriages which masquerade as the decrees of Fate. It was in the midst of her secret great passion that she met him. He fell in love, as men are in the habit of doing, and pressed his suit with an earnestness and ardor which left nothing to be desired.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningA feeling of exultation overtook her as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul. She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before.- Kate Chop in, The Awakening That she was seeing with different eyes and making the acquaintance of new conditions in herself that colored and changed her environment, she did not yet suspect.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningThe past was nothing to her; offered no lesson which she was willing to heed. The future was a mystery which she never attempted to penetrate. The present alone was significant...- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningI would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children, but I wouldnt give myself. I cant make it more clear; its only something which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningShe was seeking herself and finding herself in just such sweet, half-darkness which met her moods. But the voices were not soothing that came to her from the darkness and the sky above and the stars. They jeered and sounded mournful notes without promise, devoid even of hope.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningIt sometimes entered Mr. Pontelli ers mind to wonder if his wife were not growing a little unbalanced mentally. He could see plainly that she was not herself. That is, he could not see that she was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we would assume like a garment with which to appear before the world.- Kate Chopin, The Awakening Woman, my dear friend, is a very peculiar and delicate organisma sensitive and highly organized woman, such as I know Mrs. Pontellier to be is especially peculiar. It would require an inspired psychologist to deal successfully with them. And when ordinary fellows like you and me attempt to cope with their idiosyncrasies the result is bungling. Most women are moody and whimsical. This is some passing whim of your wife, due to some cause or cause which you and I neednt try to fathom.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningHer husband seemed to her now like a person whom she had married without love as an excuse.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningThere was something in her attitude, in her whole appearance when she leaned her head against the high-backed chair and spread her arms, which suggested the regal woman, the one who rules, who looks on, who stands alone.- Kate Chopin, The AwakeningThe water of the Gulf stretched out before her, gleaming with the million lights of the sun. The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude. All along the white beach, up and down, there was no living thing in sight. A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water.- Kate Chopin, The Awakening She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again.- Kate Chopin, The Awakening Study Guide Review: The AwakeningComplete Text - The AwakeningQuotesQuestions for Study DiscussionKate Chopin - ProfileAwakening Books and Editions

Contemporary issue related to a sociological theory Term Paper

Contemporary issue related to a sociological theory - Term Paper Example The society is made of individuals and the cultural and societal norms is based on the shared meanings and understanding of the individuals within the society. This indicates that the shared meanings create the values placed on objects that society purchases and consumes. This also directs the consumer behavior, by which the private owners take advantage of, monopolizing the production and the market for certain products, like cellular phones or internet connection. Marx’s theory of commodity fetishism explains how products are given their values, how it affects the structure of capitalism and how these values and the exchange of value affects the social structure existing in the society. Fetishism is defined as an unusual display of devotion or intense attachment towards a certain object believing that it possesses extraordinary abilities and power (Morrison, 2006). Marx argues that individuals tend to fixate on objects believing that they have inherent value, something that is extraordinarily powerful. This makes the object valuable, according to the value the society placed on it. Capitalism is seen to promote the values of objects according to the group that owns the means of production. The value of each product or service is based on how capitalist see the product’s value and how the masses would accept the product. One good example for this is when the sms became a worldwide phenomena. Aside from the benefits and features along with it, everybody was going gaga over texting. Everything has its price and value, but in a sociological approach such as marking strategies, these capitalists create the want and the need of their products in the market. By attacking the market in a psychological manner creating the want, the value of a service and product will be set by these capitalist. This is an advanced strategy in business. In addition to that,

A SWOT analysis explores the relationship between the environmental Essay

A SWOT analysis explores the relationship between the environmental influences and the strategic capabilities of an organisation - Essay Example Critically speaking, it is a fact that an internal strategic capability analysis puts the entire focus on the way the environment gets in contact with the product that is marketed under the aegis of an organization. The direct link with the competitors is always apparent in the case of one such analysis. However, what is most important here is that the product is compared against its own basis nonetheless. The manner in which the link between the environmental influences and the strategic capabilities of an organization is made clear is something that brings sanity within the realms of an organization. It puts the basis right of many an undertakings within the business enterprise and tells the senior management where they are going wrong and what corrective steps need to be taken under their aegis (Devane, 2007). Therefore a SWOT analysis is a good enough beginning for finding out where the product is at a particular period in time. It finds out where it will be in a given time as we ll. This is important because the product within the aegis of an organization is moving from one position to another, and discerning new avenues of growth and development all this while. This consistent race to reach the coveted top position within the industrial settings ensure that the product will bring in new standards and advancements to make sure success comes about in full circle (Richter, 2009). The SWOT analysis would eventually be the difference between how things are being managed and how these shall be taken care of in the coming days. It is of fundamental significance to realize the gravity of the situation at hand because the SWOT analysis presents a clear cut picture of where the strengths and weaknesses lie within the internal realms and how the opportunities can be cashed upon and the threats be reduced to larger proportions. The entire understanding of the SWOT analysis emanates from finding out where the organizations are being handled properly and where they are losing ground on most of the occasions. However it is always a difficult proposition to begin with and it is imperative to know how the product under the realms of an organization aims to determine its strong points and the problems that lie close to its own basis. In keeping with this discussion, this paper tries to establish the link between the environmental influences and the strategic abilities and capabilities so that a better understanding of the product and indeed the organization is made in the long range scheme of things. Essentially the use of the Porter’s Five Forces Model suggests that success could only be achieved within the SWOT analysis if proper efforts and undertakings are incorporated within it. This would mean that the new entrants are tapped, their threats are analyzed and foreseen and the required steps are taken beforehand to thwart any hiccups that may so arise at a later point in time. The Porter’s Five Forces Model is indicative of the fact t hat the SWOT analysis will be done in an effective and efficient manner. It highlights the exact ways and means through which different threats are analyzed and thus countered with the passage of time (see Appendix 1). These five forces surround the discussion of the new entrants which could come about at any

Analysing Sport & Events Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysing Sport & Events - Essay Example Finally, it provides a detailed examination of the key findings in each article and evaluates the findings whether they agree and the implications of such findings. The articles cover broadly the importance roles played by sponsorship as an activity for the firms to gain and develop the sustainable relative advantage in the target market and provide the theoretical framework based on the sports sponsorship. Amis, Pant, and Slack provide a theoretical framework for understanding the idea of the sport sponsorship; they explain the application of the sponsorship approach and demonstrates the insight illustrated cases that are used to identify the salient facts and the characteristic that are in agreement. The central concepts that are discussed are heterogeneity, imperfect imitability, imperfect mobility, ex-ante limits to competition and their application of the framework to examine the major sponsorships (Amis, Pant & Slack, 1997). In addition, exponential growth accruals, development of sponsorship-linked marketing and RBV of the firm (Fahy, Ferrelly & Quester, 2004) and sponsorship as a resource as well as distinctive competencies ( Amis, Slack & Berrett, 1999). The insubstantial nature of the sponsorship value which emphasize on the ability to generate importance from the relationship in terms of management of the sponsorship (Farrelly, Quester &Buron , 2006). Heterogeneity occurs when the high numbers and the combination of the resources that are at the disposal of the firms render exact replication of the available resources. Besides that, it occurs in the case in which the firms use the differing routines and procedural steps to carry and perform the same task basing their direct consequences on the unique histories that dictate them to institutionalize. This allows particular organizations to produce the same products and the services at a relatively lower cost as compared to others that produce the same products and services

Effect of Politics on Health Care Policies

Effect of Politics on Health Care Policies How Have Political Ideologies Helped to Shape Policy in the Healthcare Arena Introduction During the late 19th and early 20th Centuries welfare and the provision of healthcare was dominated largely by a laissez-faire approach. Many people in Britain lived in impoverished and unsanitary conditions. By the time of the Boer War (1899-1902) nearly a third of all troops suffered from malnutrition and they were judged unfit to serve. This information was used by social reformers as evidence that Government ought to provide health and welfare services that were an improvement on those which existed at the time (Moore, 2002). Since then policy making has been shaped by the ideology of the Government that is in power. Different ideologies are associated with different political parties, the ones referred to in this paper are associated with Liberal and Labour Governments, Tory Government and New Labour. The ideological underpinnings of these political parties are respectively, social democratic, new right thinking and the third way. This paper will attempt to show how such ideolog ies have helped to shape policy in healthcare, beginning with social democratic policies which produced the 1942 Beveridge Report and laid the foundations for the British welfare state (Walsh et al, 2000). Post-War Social Democracy Social democracy is made up of a number of different strands but its policies are most closely associated with Labour Governments but is often subscribed to by most Liberal Democrats and some Tories. The Post-War Labour Government saw the Welfare State as central to society and one of the things that promoted social cohesion. Thus the ideologies of post-war Labour Governments are the basis of the British Welfare State (Giddens, 2001). The post-war Labour Government believed in universal welfare provision, where a high standard of welfare is available to all those who need them. This system results in what is known as an institutional model of welfare. Central to this approach is an understanding of healthcare as of a high standard, comprehensive, and available to all. Giddens (2001) notes that this kind of provision was based on the ideas of the economist John Milton Keynes and meant that Government was involved at all levels of people’s lives. The post-war welfare state was formed on an understanding that there would be full employment. The 1942 Beveridge Report recommended the introduction of a system of National Assurance. Under this system everyone paid a part of what they earned to the Government and theoretically this would finance the welfare benefits they obtained. The National Health Service grew out of the publishing of by In 1946 Anuerin Bevan introduced a National Health Services Bill from which grew the National Health Service. Underlying this was the idea that healthcare and hospitalisation would be provided free at the point of access. The National Health Service, which was established in 1948, became the envy of the Western world as people received free primary care from their local GP, free medicine, free eye and dental care and free hospitalisation. By the 1950s however, it was becoming impossible to sustain a completely free service and the Government were forced to introduce some charges for prescription s, spectacles and dentistry. This was largely due to the fact that the demand for healthcare exceeded Government resources to pay for it. The NHS lurched from one financial crisis to the next because the demands on it were so great (Walsh et al, 2000). Moore (2002) maintains that until the late 1970s British social policy was dominated by this approach which opposed radical change and believed that the best way to achieve a more just an equal society was over a period of time. However, the post-war government had not envisioned rising unemployment and reduced tax revenues. The Social Democratic approach has been criticised as being paternalistic and elitist, telling people that the state knows what is best for them. This approach has also been accused of creating a dependency culture rather than allowing people to think for themselves. This was a central argument of the New Right. The New Right Approach The Tory Government that was voted into office in 1979 argued that under the previous Government state services had become oppressive and inefficient. New Right thinking lay behind the Government’s policies, which in turn influenced its critique of Social Democratic policies and the welfare state. New Right approaches emphasise the role of the private sector in service provision. The incoming Government was concerned with the spiralling costs of welfare, particularly the health service, and the fact that people relied to heavily on Government services. Universal provision had created a nanny state a welfare dependency. Thatcher argued that it was preferable to provide services through the market, through charity, or through family members. Personal responsibility and self-reliance were the core values promoted by the Tories. The New Right Approach concentrated on lifestyle and its physical and mental effects thereby placing responsibility for the state of an individual’ s health on their own shoulders (Giddens, 2001). The new Government introduced market principles into the health service. Instead of doctors and patients, the term healthcare providers and clients were introduced. In theory this was supposed to give people more choice over the type of care they received, in practice it was a roll back of services. Stiglitz (2002) maintains that rather than increasing user choice the system actually gave the Government more control over people’s lives and allowed them to monitor take up of services to cut costs. In order to control spending on health competing NHS Trusts were introduced. This meant the growth of a two tier system within the Health Service and the introduction of private care (Walsh et al, 2000). The Conservatives also began a process of deinstitutionalisation, closing geriatric wards and psychiatric hospitals, discharging people into the community. In 1990 the Community Care Act was introduced. Means and Smith (1994) have argued that this Act did anything but care, †¦the term community thus enables the continuous construction of an idyllic past of plenty and social harmony which acts as an immanent critique of contemporary social relations. Thus the call by politicians and policy makers to replace present systems of provision with community care feeds into this myth by implying that it is possible to recreate what many believe were the harmonious, caring and integrated communities of the past (Means and Smith, 1994:5). The New Right approach to policy making has been criticised at a number of levels and some research studies e.g. Howarth (1999) found that since 1991 the mortality rates in some local authority areas have risen by 40% and are thus significantly higher than the national average. When New Labour came to power they continued the critiques of welfare dependency and introduced further reforms. Their approach is not yet fully developed but is known as the Third Way. The Third Way Approach Dean (2003) maintains that when New Labour came to power in 1997 they did not break with New Right approaches. Blair maintained that they were offering a third way, that broke with the old left and agreed with some of the Conservative policies. New Labour ministers have argued that new policies are needed to cope with poverty and inequality and to improve education and health. Blair’s Government argue that the state cannot provide everything and people need to be ready to help themselves more. The Government will however, provide funding and opportunities for people to help themselves. New Labour have continued using market principles in healthcare and have introduced a system which accounts for the number of cases that a hospital trust deals with. Its healthcare policies also involve using the private health system to cope with the overflow work that comes from the NHS (Moore, 2002). New Labour still hold to the view that the introduction of market principles into the healthc are system will result in greater efficiency and better care. Critics have argued that the inequalities under the Conservatives have continued under New Labour and there is now a postcode lottery within healthcare i.e. where a person lives determines the amount and quality of healthcare that they receive. In response to this the Government set up Health Action Zones in 1998. By 1999 these were focussed on underprivileged areas where the health of the population was thought to be particularly poor. Health Action Zones are based on the principle of inter-agency working i.e. health is not simply a matter for the NHS, voluntary organisations, GPs and housing and social services all play a part in promoting health. The Government also introduced NHS Direct, a telephone help service that people can contact when they are not clear what to do about a health problem. In some areas there are walk in health centres staffed by nurses, they deal with minor health problems and take some of the load off of AE departments. (Moore, 2002). Some critics argue tha t Third Way policies benefit the better off at the expense of the poorer members of society.(Alcock, 1997)..It is also argued that Third Way polices are not sufficiently though through and therefore appear indistinct. Conclusion This paper has looked at the ways in which political ideology shapes policy making. It has focussed on policy making in health because this is still a hotly debated topic in both the media and in the public arena at large. Social democrats believe in universal welfare provision but the idea is based on full employment and that is no longer a viable concept. New Right thinking is against such total provision and believes that individuals need to be more self-reliant. Third Way policies use a combination of approaches but in practice much of the policy making is virtually indistinguishable from that of the New Right. Clearly these ideologies do have an effect on policy making, but more importantly they have an effect on the lives of British people. While there were many weaknesses in the Social Democratic approach it seems to be the general view that health services have deteriorated considerably with changing ideologies. 1600 words References Alcock, P. 1994 â€Å"Back to the Future: Victorian Values for the 21st Century† in Murray, C. 1994 Underclass: The Crisis Deepens London, IEA Dean, H. 2003 â€Å"The Third Way and social welfare: the myth of post-emotionalism† Social Policy and Administration Vol 7 Issue 7 p.695 Giddens, 2001. 4th ed. Sociology. Cambridge, Polity Press Howarth, C. 1999 Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion 1999 York, Joseph Rowntree Foundation Marsh, Keating and Eyre et al 2000 2nd ed. Sociology: Making Sense of Society Essex, Pearson Education Means, R. and Smith, R. 1994 Community Care, Policy and Practice London, Macmillan Moore, S. Scourfield, P. Sinclair, S. Burch, S. and Wendon, B. 3rd ed. 2002 Social Welfare Alive Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes. Stiglitz, J. 2002 Globalisation and Its Discontents New York and London: WW Norton Company Walsh, I ed. 2000 Sociology: Making Sense of Society. Edinburgh, Prentice Hall.

My Problem With Standards: Implementing Group Work in the Non-Traditional Enlish Classroom :: Learning Teaching Essays

My Problem With Standards: Implementing Group Work in the Non-Traditional Enlish Classroom This experience opened my eyes. I learned a lot, and my ideas and ideals have changed since I completed the first part of this project. As a student teacher in a vocational program, academics were not the priority of these studentsà ³their specialties and there outside jobs were. At first, I found this challenging in a negative way; but gradually, I saw possibilities. The biggest challenge that I saw as far as my inquiry project went lay in how I would implement all of the research that I had done on à ¬ how great group work is all around.à ® Mainly this was due to the fact that I approached this topic with a very idealistic, wide-ranging view. The first part of this project was very much a à ¬head knowledge/research approvedà ® paper. As I read over it now, I could not possibly have had a lot of hard ideas on how I could actually implement ità ³and even if I did, I doubt that would have profited me. As I entered my class eight weeks ago, I had all of those wonderful ideals of collaborative learning before meà ³it is what I wanted to see. But, as my grandmother always told me when I was little (and occasionally now), à ¬I want doesnà ­t get.à ® I see now that if all of my ideals had come easily to me in this experience, I wouldnà ­t have learned a thing, and I definitely wouldnà ­t have learned how to deal with the personality types and the needs of the students that I had. The class itself was within a non-hostile environment for the most part. The students were used to having too much autonomy, and thus my research statistic of à ¬70-90% teacher talk in most classroomsà ® was put out of touch. The problem consisted in not only the studentà ­s having control of the class, but the fact that they had plenty of oral language abilities, and there was no need for me to try and develop them. These seniors had been working on one assignment since the beginning of the year, and they were tired of looking at it. Having said that, 80% of the students only had three, pencil corrected pages to show for a yearà ­s worth of work. All of them were not responsive to correction. After my four weeks of observation, I was doubtful that these kids would do any learning, much less group learning, at all.