Evaluate own role in life long learning Essay

Evaluating My own Role and Responsibilities in Lifelong Learning To evaluate my own role and responsibilities as an assessor I need to be honest with myself as well as brave. I have a good understanding of my role and responsibilities, but to improve I need to become a reflective practitioner which can only be achieved if I am prepared to evaluate my own performance [ Petty.G pg 527]. By using Kolb’s learning style model, I realise it’s useful concepts can help me understand how my learning behaviour can help others to learn. My role is to communicate effectively with the learners, but do I? Recently I was helping a learner prepare for his functional skills writing assessment. I explained to him how to layout a letter, which side your address goes on which side the recipient’s goes on etc. After the assessment I was informed he had put his address on the wrong side at the top of the page. Did he not hear what I said? Did he forget? Easy to blame the learner, but did I explain well enough and what did I do to confirm his understanding? Poor performance is sensitive subject, but if I’m not prepared to face up to my failures then I can’t expect my successes to be acknowledged either.[Petty.G Pg518] So I have concrete experience of contributing to a learner loosing marks on his assessment. Now I need to reflect on the experience and think how effective was my teaching, obviously not good in some areas but his greetings, layout, structure and ending were good so I was effective in other areas. At this stage of abstract conceptualisation, I ask myself why was I good and effective in some areas, and not in others. Here I think about the methods I used, and do I need more question to confirm understanding, maybe some fun activities. This is when the final stage of the cycle kicks in, it’s when I plan active experimentation. Here I decide how I can do things differently, what new methods shall I try that will produce improved results, and maybe take that brave step into the unknown with new material. Being self critical is not enough though, it’s my responsibility to get direct and indirect feedback when I can, learner questionnaires, college observations also indirect feedback can be just as effective, this can be collected during training or assessment through observation. Maybe learners are not engaged, making no eye contact, separate conversations carrying on the classroom, all good  feedback. I use my CPD records to detail my development. Today I was observed and my folders were quality checked by our Internal Quality Assurer, who also spoke with learners and gave me verbal and written feedback. IQA records I keep a long with minutes and details from our standardisation meetings, where we have the opportunity to liaise with other trainers, teachers and lean practitioners. I keep all Individual Learner Plan where records of initial assessment are recorded, where any needed support has been identified and details of planned and actual reviews are written. Reference List Petty.G. (2009) Teaching Today Fourth Edition, Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes LTD www.cardiff.ac.uk/isru/educationalandtraining/infolit/hilt/section8.1.doc 23/03/14

Analysis of ‘Diptych’ Essay

‘Diptych’, by Robert Gray is a free verse poem in which imagery is used to invoke feelings, but also specifically influence a reader’s first impression of character. Throughout the poem Robert Gray has swayed natural speech, used strong imagery and also included poetic tone to create a poem which allows insight to his childhood. Robert Gray has explored his parent’s struggles during their marriage, in the poem ‘Diptych’. He likens his childhood experiences to a diptych hinge, which is a painting, photograph or drawing hinged in two separate parts, the joint cannot function without both parts. The poem has two separated sections, one which addresses Gray’s feelings towards his mother and the other aimed at his memories of his father. The two parts of the poem are very different and the reader is influenced during the poem by the tone and language which Gray uses. He displays his mother as a warm and caring woman, she acts based on her emotions and this is shown through her marriage and her ability to take care of things that needed to be done. To communicate his emotions, the first part of the poem, which addresses his mother, has a sympathetic poetic tone. In the second section Gray’s father is displayed as quite opposite to his wife, he is portrayed to not be fuelled by emotions and rather by manners and the preservation of his reputation. Throughout the poem Grays parents are shown to be quite opposites of each other, yet they also have a mutuality in their relationship. The example of his parents allows Gray to communicate to the reader how people may be close to each other but entirely unalike. Gray has used poetic techniques such as punctuation, asides and a careful choice of words to convey meaning to the reader in his poem, ‘Diptych’. The portrait of his mother explores her strengths in the family, she is able to hold off a bull in her garden, ‘†¦she forced it, through the broken fence, it bellowing†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. The use of words like ‘forced’ display her strength and show her duty of care. A sympathetic emotion is expressed with the words, ‘†¦stay awake in our old weatherboard house’, they communicate to the reader, his mother’s ability to show affection and place others above herself even when she is unhappy with the situation. An example of use of punctuation is shown in the part ‘†¦. This other night, my mother was reluctant to go out, and leave us kids asleep, and fell asleep herself†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ this punctuation gives insight to the anxiety and worry of the situation. In the opening lines Gray has portrayed his father as unfavourable in comparison to his mother. The asides, added to include more information, aid in the portrayal. For example the inclusion of the car crash story as well as mention of his father’s drinking, ‘†¦in his state†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ convey unpleasant feelings to the reader. The poem allows readers to feel the emotions which Robert Gray felt as a child. The struggles and differences between his parents have been highlighted by the specific use of punctuation and language. The form and structure of ‘Diptych’ greatly contribute to the meaning of the poem. Firstly the poem is visually placed in two parts, 1 and 2, which display an extreme change in the poem. Gray has used this to firstly talk of his mother, and then in part 2 discuss his father. The two sections of the poem are separated by the numbers, but are linked together; this is a representation of both a diptych hinge and the relationship between Gray’s parents. This structure adds to the influences Gray has over the reader of the poem, the gap between his parents is made clearer when their descriptions are not place together. The structure is another example of how Gray has been able to convey his emotions and a concept more clearly to a reader. The form throughout the poem follows no poetic structure. ‘Diptych’ is a free verse poem, and so the structure of it does not have a specific order, it is instead structure to become more dialectical. Gray has also placed words on detached lines as to be read in a way which follows natural and conversational speech. In some cases he has used this pause or separation of words to have a difference of placement allowing the reader to gain more information about what he has conveyed. The structure and form of the poem ‘Diptych’ has specifically been used to convey a stronger meaning to the reader. Robert Gray has effectively conveyed the emotions involved in his parents struggling marriage in the poem ‘Diptych’. He has also addressed the issues involved between people who are different to each other, and yet who are often in close proximity. ‘Diptych’ is a free verse poem in which Gray has correctly used imagery and poetic techniques to communicate his personal emotions to a reader.

A Road Map to Rising in the Consumer Satisfaction Index Essay

A Road Map to Rising in the Consumer Satisfaction Index - Essay Example Such an outlet could have a day's inventory of sales for each product, which could be replenished on a daily basis, and have an additional provision for special real-time deliveries from relevant plants for any products that may be out of stock. The latter should be a most uncommon incident, since time series data of sales of mature products should help us predict daily sales by product with reasonable accuracy. The second immediate step would be to introduce apron control for vehicle movement within the site, with radio communications with each driver. A person from stores could control all vehicular movement within the site, with priority for deliveries to the finished goods store which I have proposed. Each plant should receive its full bills of materials in time for every batch of production. The finished goods inventory and the provision of the bills of materials at plants can both be achieved by a standard enterprise resource plan (ERP) software. We would need to train sales, stores and production personnel to operate the ERP, and maintenance responsibility could rest with the IT function. It is a fairly well established system that does not need top management time.

Debate notes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Debate notes - Essay Example At the University of Colorado, football coach Bill McCartney was accused of publicizing his religious views and giving priority in hiring, recruiting, and playing time to individuals sharing his religious attitude. [FN1] While similar practices might have gone unchecked in the past, several recent Supreme Court decisions have limited the days of blind indifference to these rituals. Pre-game prayers are regularly held in public high school and university locker rooms throughout the United States. These rituals are often undertaken without any thought to possible legal consequences because the coach, team, or school have never received any complaints from concerned athletes or parents. However, the Supreme Court has recently limited the various avenues by which prayers can enter into public school activities. [FN2] The First Amendment protects student-athletes by providing them with certain safeguards against state endorsed adherence to a specific religion, most often the coachs religion. This constitutional protection must be balanced against the coachs right to effectively run his or her team without having every word or action scrutinized. The conflict of prayer in a public university locker room centers on the students right to be free from state imposed religious indoctrination and the coachs right to free speech. This conflict can be examined through the eyes of the First Amendments Entanglement, Free Exercise and Free Speech clauses. Courts have yet to specifically address the topic of prayer in a public universitys locker room. Since there are no cases on point, this article will attempt to present the possible legal arguments that would be presented by the two sides of this debate. The players interest in practicing their religion is weighed against a coachs right to motivate his/her team. Both of these rights have to be examined in light of any action undertaken or attributable to the state, and whether those actions constitute endorsement

Teacher Professional Competencies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Teacher Professional Competencies - Essay Example Moreover, a cooperative staff could also help each other in reducing their weaknesses and improving their competencies by providing each other with constructive criticism. In this regard, effective communication is very important. The artifact shows a regular bi-monthly round table staff meeting where all the staff members meet to discuss ongoing problems, progress, and future plans. The artifact shows that the whole staff is cooperative and communicates effectively. A bi-monthly staff meeting gives all the team members an opportunity to provide constructive criticism, feedback, and discuss future plan of action. Moreover, teachers with the same students with particular weaknesses can form a single strategy to help each other and the student. The meeting provides a platform to discuss ideas, apprehensions, and suggestions. Communication helps close gaps between team members and clears any misunderstandings that may arise in the absence of it. A regular staff meeting provides a platform for friendly communication. None of the teachers would feel threatened or insulted which they would feel if the meeting was called specifically for a particular

Linguistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Linguistics - Essay Example How do word-deaf patients cope and how they understand and comprehend important ideas and concepts. â€Å"Pure word deafness (PWD) is a rare auditory disorder that is characterized by a selective deficit in comprehending spoken words, while the identification of nonverbal sounds remains intact.† (Zhu, et al., 2010, p. 843). This is a form of brain damage that makes it challenging for a person to comprehend words that are spoken to him or her. Pure word deafness is characterised by a selective problem of accessing language sound patterns and word forms (Rickheit & Strohne, 2012). This means that the sound patterns and variety of words presented to a person suffering from this condition are not understood by such an individual. This is distinguished from cortical auditory deficit by the fact that pure word deaf persons can hear and comprehend music and environmental sounds (Kaga, 2013). Thus, by implication, pure word deaf patients can hear and understand music as well as environmental sounds around them. However, they cannot hear words spoken to them by a third party. Pure deafness is scientifically known as Auditory Agnosia for speech and verbal communication (Feinberg & Farah, 2012). This expresses the difference and inconsistency in comprehension of verbal discourse and the lack thereof of verbal auditory recognition. â€Å"The underlying problem of a person with word-sound deafness is at the stage of extracting the phonetic features from the speech input such that the patient has problems discriminating between widely variant words (the severe form) or between similar sounding words† (Ingram, 2014, p. 166). This means that the person with word deafness has some challenges in decoding the phonetic and sound elements of speech and cannot sort it out for onward interpretation and understanding. Pure Word Deafness is caused by a brainstem lesion which is a complication that often comes with

Significance of the Rose in Human Societies around the World. The Research Paper

Significance of the Rose in Human Societies around the World. The origin, kinds and meaning of roses - Research Paper Example For over thousands of years, the rose has been used to signify innocence, adoration, and most essentially, love in different societies. It is one of the most important commercially grown flowers around the globe with tons of rose flowers being imported and exported around the world for various reasons, key among them for aesthetic purposes (Board 638). Another use of the rose flower in the contemporary society is the abstraction of rose essence, which is used in the making of beauty soaps, lotions, and beauty treatments. Another product derived from rose flowers is rose water, which is used in artificial additives to create a rose flavor in confectionaries and various foods from around the globe (Board 638). 2. The origin of roses In retrospect, there are reportedly over 120 different species of the rose flower, which are thought to have existed long before humankind. According to Board, in Oregon and Colorado in the United States, anthropologists reportedly located fossils approxima ted to be close to thirty million years of age (638). The University of Illinois extension states that the gardening of roses is thought to have started roughly 5,000 years ago (illinois.edu). While the different species of rose flowers are scattered across the earth’s northern hemisphere from America to Africa, their farming is thought to have originated in China. Roses were widely cultivated in the Middle East during the Roman era, and were used for aesthetic purposes, for ancient treatments, and as a fragrance (University of Illinois Extension illinois.edu). The art of rose flower gardening was perfected in Rome according to the University of Illinois Extension, where the noble class created extensive rose gardens for the public, particularly in the south (illinois.edu). 3. Different Kinds of Roses and their Different Meanings Different types of roses are culturally associated with different meanings. According to Shannon, red roses are used in human societies to signify l ove for each other, as well as respect (ask.com). They are mostly exchanged during days and occasions associated with passion such as Valentine’s Day, wedding anniversaries for loved ones and other occasions attributed with romance. They are known all over the world to espouse true love. White roses on the other hand are used as an embodiment of spirituality and religion. Straight from traditions, white roses are associated with religion and are deemed as signifying innocence, purity, admiration, and modesty (Shannon, ask.com). White roses have also been accepted over time to indicate loyalty, honesty, and awe, all of which are essential attributes in enduring friendships (Shannon, ask.com). Yellow roses are culturally deemed to be embodiments of friendship and a nature of amiability. Over time, this outlook of yellow roses has grown to include a perception of the flowers signifying the happiness and bliss that is present among friends (Shannon, ask.com). While in the Victori an times, it was regarded as a representation of jealousy, in the contemporary society, yellow roses are exchanged between friends on special occasions such as baby showers, graduation, birthdays, and work related events (Shannon, ask.com). Pink roses are deemed to symbolize femininity, elegance, tenderness, perfection, and cultural fulfillment in various human societies (Shannon, ask.com). These flowers bear a further meaning that is expressed in the deepness of the hue of the flower. A rose flower that is a deep pink for example is an emblem of thanksgiving and admiration; on the other hand, a pale pink colored rose flower suggests sympathy, tenderness, grace, and elegance (Shannon, ask.com). Orange roses bear the attribute of warmth and enthusiasm

Political Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Political Science - Essay Example The policies which are given as recommendations seem to be quite useable for those who defend the consensus since they call it necessary for progress. Supporters of the Washington Consensus say that following these recommendations can only lead to greater economic independence for debt laden countries and it is a path which leads to the development of the industrial and services sector. However, those who oppose the policies say that the Washington Consensus is merely a method for America and other developed nations to enter new markets and exploit their resources (Williamson, 2000). Both sides have been quite vocal about their feelings and each highlights the successes and the failures of the consensus. The supporters of the Washington Consensus say that many people misunderstand the recommendations since they are not universally applicable to all nations at all times. Instead of looking at the consensus as forced neo-liberal policies, the policies should be seen as recommendations coming from those who have achieved economic development to those who have yet to achieve it (Harvard University, 2003). On the other hand, those who oppose the policies recommended by the Washington bodies say that the policies are mandated in connected to grants and aid money. Even when the policies have been implemented, they often lead to the country running into a economic crisis which brings more misery for the people than economic development (Harvard University, 2003). Clearly, the difference of opinion warrants a deeper understanding of the policies themselves since they appear to be quite controversial. The primary policies under the Washington Consensus have been outlined by Williamson (2000) as the implementation of monetary discipline in terms of free trade and public expenditure and investments in projects that give economic returns to the people. The alleviation of poverty and

Emergency department bottleneck proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Emergency department bottleneck proposal - Essay Example The causes of the problem are two fold. The first is that the inflow of patients into the ED is not evenly spaced throughout the day and occurs as a rush during fours in the late evening and night. No plan can be created for changing the pattern of inflow of patients into the ED, as they occur as naturally. The second is that during the peak flow of patients into the ED, the services that are required to provide support for the ED in the provision of timely and quality care are functioning at their minimal ability, since they are in the after-hours mode. This is the cause that the sigma team to address in overcoming the problem. Practical barriers to receiving quality care in an ED is dependent on two key factors of access to service at the ED and the availability of the services required support services either in the ED or immediately accessible (Rust et al, 2008). Overcoming these barriers to quality service calls for consideration of the types of patients and the emergencies and the resources at the ED (Frush, 2007). The essential problem in quality care in an ED is the mismatch in the demand and supply of resources at the ED. From the perspective of the patient seamless provision of care from the time of arrival at the ED is the quality of service expected. The first step is this direction is preventing diversion of ambulances to the ED, which will reduce the overcrowding at the ED (Stokowski, 2007). The next step consists in organizing the ED into three separate areas to attend to areas to attend to medical problems, surgical problems and Urgent care area for triaging of patients. Staffing of the ED is the next issue. Since the ED peaks between 6.00 pm and 10.00 pm specialist services in the required different branches of medicine will be available. In addition the number of interns or residents at the ED will peak during this period of

Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald Essay Example for Free

Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald Essay Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald is one of the best American novels owing to its thematic strength. There are many social themes in the story including Dream, vision, honesty, time, wealth, superficiality and shallowness, societal expectation, disloyalty, immorality and selfishness. The surface study shows that its about love relation between Gatsby and Daisy. But the story has much broader theme rather than big romantic scope. The most dominating theme of the story is that of American Dream or rather Perverted American Dream†. It is very symbolic story of Roaring Age of 1920s America, particularly the story of shattering of American Dream in that era of economic prosperity and material abundance. The Great Gatsby is the biggest example of skilled narrative art as it is based on the principle of double vision. Everything in the novel is seen in two ways: on the one hand it looks a romantic  love story of Gatsby and Daisy, and on the other hand it is about   perverted form of American   Dream. Scott Fitzgerald  is successful in writing a fiction which carries two parallel stories at the same time. The writer himself once stated,† The test of   a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time , and still retain the ability to function. The story offers the reader to form quality of double vision to see everything in two ways.The surface study of the novel shows that its about love relation between Daisy and Gatsby, but if we probe into the theme, its about corruption of American dream and a failure to achieve ideals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The writer attempted to make readers see through his eyes. The reader is made to believe in the possibilities of variety of opposed ideas. Thats why it is also called â€Å"an allegorical novel†. The reader forms different opinion about the novel when he starts reading, but he finds everything quite different when he reaches the end. The story shows that anyone in America can and can not achieve success to the best despite his level best efforts and hard work. The reader is trapped in enigma by thinking whether Gatsby would get Daisy or not. This is proved when Daisy rejects Gatsby and later accepts him and the reader is able to believe in both alternates.   Gatsby himself is the most real and the most unreal elite described in the story. The writer presents this principle of double vision more artistically by introducing character of Nick who tells us what he sees and gathers information about what he does not see himself. Everything in this novel is seen in two ways: on the one hand as glamorous , romantic   and exciting ,and on the other hand as crude, corrupt and even disgusting. This double vision applies to people, places and incidents of the novel. Gatsby, the protagonist of the story, struggles hard to achieve the desired American dream, but is also obsessed with  love of Daisy, his beloved. The most relevant scene to this double vision is the reunion between Gatsby and Daisy after long period of five years. Gatsby spends most of his time in earning wealth so that he would impress Daisy and get her love. Daisy, on the other hand, is highly indifferent to Gatsby and her marriage with Tom shows it clearly. Even their reunion has different effects on both of them. It seems as if Gatsby were having only one thing in mind: achieving American dream. But later we assess that he is only obsessed with Daisys love. The characters mind changes every minute and this change also affect the reader and help them expect any possibility. Some critic writes about Great Gatsby: Fitzgerald called The Great Gatsby a novel of selected incident, modeled after Flauberts Madame Bovary.†What I cut out of it both physically and emotionally would make another novel, he said. Fitzgeralds stylistic method is to let a part stand for the whole. In Chapters I to III, for example, he lets three parties stand for the whole summer and for the contrasting values of three different worlds. He also lets small snatches of dialog represent what is happening at each party. The technique is cinematic. The camera zooms in, gives us a snatch of conversation, and then cuts to another group of people. Nick serves almost as a recording device, jotting down what he hears. Fitzgeralds ear for dialog, especially for the colloquial phrases of the period, is excellent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The reunion scene is the peak of dramatic point of the novel. The readers have been prepared to reach this point. The image of Daisys willingness is followed by an image of Gatsby seeing the greenish bay across from Daisy dock. colorful parties are followed by isolation in private life. The reader can’t realize at once what the characters already know. The reader reaching this scene takes interest to see whether Gatsby and Daisy renew their lost love. The reader is also interested in the response of Nick on whose intellectual prowess they depend on a lot. The clock scene also offers confrontation of ideas for the readers. The clock is the symbol of past which Gatsby ever yearns to  repeat so that he could again get love of Daisy. The breaking of clock indicates how awkward past moment looks when brought into the present. The facts that the clock does not work indicates flawed dream of Gatsby to win over Daisy. It is true that Gatsby can’t repeat his past and he cant get best out of American dream and is rather disillusioned. The novel shows abstract philosophy that an idealist  reluctant to compromise can and cant survive in this material oriented world. The principle of double vision is made more effective by using Nick as a narrator. The surface level study of the novel shows Gatsby’s thorough indulgence in love of Daisy. Nick is an ideal narrator in the story and is mouth piece of Fitzgerald. His physical proximity to the main characters proves that he is ideal narrator as he knows details of the story from many angels and observes everything quite clearly. It was rather impossible to keep two parallel stories in a single novel which had irreconcilable contradictions. The story of love has nothing to do with American Dream but the writer artistically puts them on right place. From the very beginning we find Gatsby prepared to get what Best America has to offer and he has staunch belief in the face that he will win over Daisys love, the  most loving woman he has ever seen. He can only win her if he measure up to the standards of old wealthy class. Nick holds the view that Gatsbys dream was futile from the very start as he wont be accepted by prejudiced old wealthy class and Daisy belonging to latter can never leave it resulting disillusionment for Gatsby. Here novel shows the fact that American dream of equality for all was a false promise. The story can be interpreted as juxtaposition of two opposed ideas. The ideals are shattered when they are confronted with reality. The ideals of American dream are shattered when  Gatsby gets love of Daisy, when he kisses her, and when he holds her in his arms. The ideal world, in Gatsbys case, shatters in the face of the real one. The intricate weaving of the various stories within The Great Gatsby is accomplished through a complex symbolic substructure of the narrative. The green light, godly eye of Eckleburg,brood on over the solemn dumping ground which shows America as wasteland due to materialistic society and many other symbols make it easier for the writer to intricate stories containing opposing ideas. He also uses metaphors through which he hints at the standards of morality and immorality through out the novel. Daisy cant change her luxurious living style and cant accept the new wealthy class. Jordan Baker boasts of her careless driving. The proper utilization of dual symbolism and ambivalent expressions is truly profound and subtle art that Fitzgerald has mastered in this novel. There is no denying the fact that this beautiful novel offers the readers to form in them the habit to see things from more than one angle. The writer holds the opinion that seeing thing from one way may be faulty and it can be entirely different in reality. Thus it will be right to say that everything in the novel has got double meaning and the writer is successful in using principle of double vision in it.

The Karl Marx book Wage labour and capital

The Karl Marx book Wage labour and capital Written in 1847 by Karl Marx, the German philosopher, political economist and communist revolutionary,  Wage Labour and Capital is an in-depth text centered around the idea that labour power is sold to capitalists. The book was republished by Engels in 1891 as he believed specific changes needed to be made, specifically the distinction between labour and labour power' (1). Marx who was born in Trier Germany in 1818 (2), had a significant impact in developing ideas based around communism and socialism and published these ideas in various works. This specific piece focuses primarily on how a particular economy (capitalist) works, how those in a capitalist economy are exploited and ultimately how the relationship between capital and labour is dialectically self-destructive (Marx-Engels, pg. 203). In this essay, I will discuss exactly what Marx is trying to explain to us with regard to wage labour and capital, as well as demonstrate why he believes the capital system is flawed. Further more, I will provide my own personal view on the subject by explaining which ideas of Marx I agree and perhaps disagree with.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Marx immediately jumps into the discussion of wage labour by posing two basic questions, What are wages? and How are they determined? (Marx-Engels, pg 204). According to Marx, any worker(s) in a capitalist economy are ultimately selling their labour power to the capitalist for a specific sum of money. Marx uses the example of weaving a yard of linen or type-setting a printed sheet. The capitalist is in theory buying the labour power with money, while workers are selling labour power for money. It is clear, however, that the money that is given to the worker(s) by the capitalist could have been spent on any other available commodity, thus the labour power a worker offers is equivalent to any other commodity. As Marx explains in his example, the two marks, with which he bought two pounds of sugar, are the price of the two pounds of sugar. The two marks, with which he bought twelve hours use of labour power, are the price of twelve hours of labour (Marx-Engels, pg 204). In other wor ds, the workers labour power has been exchanged for an amount of commodities measured by money (1). Why is labour power sold by the worker(s) to the capitalist? It is simple, to be able to live! What Marx explains is the fact that the labour which workers engage in is basically the way in which they live their life. Thus, his life-activity is for him only a means to enable him to exist (Marx-Engels, pg 204). A worker must sell this labour in order to be able to live. Their work is what lets them live. The worker also does not reckon labor as a part of his life, it is rather a sacrifice of his life (Marx-Engels, pg 204). It is evident that Marx is trying to expose the fact that labour was not always wage labour, and that a slave did not sell his labour power to a slave owner ((Marx-Engels, pg 205). The concept of wage labour is the result of capitalism, where workers are free to choose whether or not they want to sell this labour power they posses to any willing capitalists who might be interested in buying. Likewise, capitalists have the free choice to fire workers when they believe profits are not being made. When one worker is worn out he can be replaced by another. I found this section extremely intriguing as Marx exposed me to new ideas that I had never considered prior to reading this piece. At first it was hard to comprehend, but I soon understood what he was trying to say. Originally, when I thought of someone working, thats all it was to me, someone working.   Now, however, I see the relationship between labour power and capital. I can see how Marx tries to show us that man is in essence capital and that the labour workers provide is essentially a commodity like all others. The goal of capitalists is to make the most profit possible while maintaining the lowest costs of production. They dont care about the workers, because they mean nothing. It is easy to mistake the fact that we think we need the capitalist when in reality, we are the ones who posse ss the skill and labour power, so ultimately it is he/she who needs us. Though it was somewhat challenging, I felt that Marx made this section extremely rewarding when understood.   Ã‚  Ã‚  In the proceeding section Marx goes into further depth with regard to capital. He explains that it consists of raw materials, instruments of labour and means of subsistence of all kinds, which are utilized in order to produce new raw materials, new instruments of labour and new means of subsistence. However, these components are merely creations of labour, product of labour, [and] accumulated labour. Accumulated labour which serves as a means of new production is capital (Marx-Engels, pg 207). Additionally, we learn that during production, men must interact between one another, exchanging their activities in order to produce something. Only once a definite connection and relation (Marx-Engels pg 207) has been established can their action of production actually occur.  Ã‚  We also learn that these social relations which are created between men constantly change over time with new innovations and developments to means of production. It is as if all components are intertwi ned, whereby social relations of production make up the social relations, society, and, specifically a society at definitive stage of historical development (Marx-Engels, pg 207). Therefore, any society at any specific point in time is displaying the stage of development by mankind. For example, the bourgeois society is responsible for the production relation that is capital. But what exactly is capital? Capital in itself must be the sum of all material products, commodities, exchange values, or social magnitudes.  Ã‚  So what exactly is happening when this capital grows? In other words, capital thrives solely on exchanging itself with wage labour. When capital goes up so does wage labour, and more wage workers are required, resulting in the capitalist to gaining more power over the worker(s).Growth of productive capital, therefore, means that the capitalists is gaining more power over the workers. Marx then goes on to question what will occur to wages when there is a growth of pr oduction capital. What he tells us here is that when productive capital increases, so does the accumulation of labour. As a result the number of capitals in enabled to increase creating more competition amongst them. This increased competition creates tension amongst to capitalists where one wants to be better then the other. One thing thats clear is when the power of labour armies increases, the capitalists has the ability to try and ruin his competitors. How can he do this? Its obvious, sell cheaper than your competitors. You must however find the balance where you can sell cheap enough without harming yourself, and Marx says this can be done by boosting the productive power of labour. Marx also makes it evident that by improving machinery one can create greater division of labour, which would result in increase productive power of labour. This is because there is more division amongst a larger labour force and more improved machinery, which causes the cost of production for the c apitalist to decrease. Thus, as Marx points out, a general rivalry arises among the capitalist to increase the division of labour and machinery and to exploit them on the greatest scale possible (Marx-Engels, pg 212). The question is what will happen according to Marx if this continues? We can conclude by saying that if capital continues to grow, then the competition between the worker(s) will also grow. However, the growth in competition experienced by the working class will be even larger than the rate of growth experienced by capital. After reading the next few sections, I soon realized that they were even more challenging and testing than the previous ones. Marx goes into such depth with regard to the relations between labour power and capital as well as all the components that make up capital. After reading it several times I soon understood how production was ultimately the relations built between men, whereby men had to come to terms by cooperating with one another in a certa in way and mutually exchanging their activities (Marxs-Engels, pg 207). Marx makes it clear that the capitalist goal is to try and increase their productive power as much as possible at whatever cost possible and figure they can do this by lowering all costs of production. This is something experienced every day. Companys attempting to gain market power by improving machinery to lower costs of production, so that they can sell what is being produced at the lowest possible price. It is also clear that workers have to compete with one another more and more. The capitalist doesnt care about the worker at all. We can see how Marx tries to explain how the capitalists are solely concerned with extending markets, but in doing so are contracting the world market as fewer and fewer new markets remain available for exploitation (Marx-Engels, pg 217). As a result he feels the whole system will come down and cave in on itself. To conclude, I felt this piece on wage labour and capital was extremely insightful. I was able to penetrate into the mind of Karl Marx and uncover his personal views on the capitalistic economy and the way in which he feels it is flawed. As he is a strong believer in the communistic ways, it is clear Marx is determined to expose why we mustnt follow the ways of other economies. Though I felt the work was somewhat demanding to understand, after reading it several times I slowly began to make the connections to what he was trying to say. Personally, I enjoyed learning how a strict communist views capitalism and why he thinks its a bad system.

Musicians and Composers of the Renaissance Essay example -- Music, Wil

John Warrack, author of 6 Great Composers, stated, â€Å"Any study of a composer, however brief, must have as its only purpose encouragement of the reader to greater enjoyment of the music† (Warrack, p.2). The composers and musicians of the Renaissance period need to be discussed and studied so that listeners, performers, and readers can appreciate and understand the beginnings of music theory and form. The reader can also understand the driving force of the composer, whether sacred or secular, popularity or religious growth. To begin understanding music composition one must begin at the birth, or rebirth of music and the composers who created the great change. The Renaissance period of history occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries. Renaissance in its basic definition means rebirth. According to Merriam Webster, renaissance formally means, â€Å"a movement or period of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity† (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary). Renaissance is the title given to the period of great change in music and art. The Renaissance period ushered in a culture of music that the public could enjoy. Most importantly it was a period that encouraged musicians and composers to create music and take risks with voices, instruments and notes. The Renaissance period is known primarily for its changes in educating musicians. Composers and musicians alike were trained in choir schools that were held in churches. They were taught music theory, singing and academic courses like grammar and mathematics. Several famous composers were educated in these institutions. One of those who profited from such training was Guillaume Dufay. Mowen 2 Guillaume Dufay was born an illegitimate son of a priest near Brussels. He be... ...s, madrigals, and instrumental music for viola and keyboard. Prior to his death in 1623, Byrd composed 140 keyboard pieces, three Latin Masses and a Mass in English. Researchers state that Byrd’s â€Å"influence on English music was profound (Matthews, Thompson, p.282). William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Orlande de Lassus, Giovanni da Palestrina, Josquin de Prez, Johannes Ockeghem and Guillaume Dufay helped shine a light onto the dark ages of music and arts. These men and many more, ushered in a culture of arts Mowen 7 appreciation. Because of these composers and musicians, music was enjoyed by the public and revered by the church. Because of their creativity and their willingness to take musical risks, these composers were the fathers of the Renaissance, the rebirth, the life of the vigorous and intellectual activity, the beginning of music. Musicians and Composers of the Renaissance Essay example -- Music, Wil John Warrack, author of 6 Great Composers, stated, â€Å"Any study of a composer, however brief, must have as its only purpose encouragement of the reader to greater enjoyment of the music† (Warrack, p.2). The composers and musicians of the Renaissance period need to be discussed and studied so that listeners, performers, and readers can appreciate and understand the beginnings of music theory and form. The reader can also understand the driving force of the composer, whether sacred or secular, popularity or religious growth. To begin understanding music composition one must begin at the birth, or rebirth of music and the composers who created the great change. The Renaissance period of history occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries. Renaissance in its basic definition means rebirth. According to Merriam Webster, renaissance formally means, â€Å"a movement or period of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity† (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary). Renaissance is the title given to the period of great change in music and art. The Renaissance period ushered in a culture of music that the public could enjoy. Most importantly it was a period that encouraged musicians and composers to create music and take risks with voices, instruments and notes. The Renaissance period is known primarily for its changes in educating musicians. Composers and musicians alike were trained in choir schools that were held in churches. They were taught music theory, singing and academic courses like grammar and mathematics. Several famous composers were educated in these institutions. One of those who profited from such training was Guillaume Dufay. Mowen 2 Guillaume Dufay was born an illegitimate son of a priest near Brussels. He be... ...s, madrigals, and instrumental music for viola and keyboard. Prior to his death in 1623, Byrd composed 140 keyboard pieces, three Latin Masses and a Mass in English. Researchers state that Byrd’s â€Å"influence on English music was profound (Matthews, Thompson, p.282). William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Orlande de Lassus, Giovanni da Palestrina, Josquin de Prez, Johannes Ockeghem and Guillaume Dufay helped shine a light onto the dark ages of music and arts. These men and many more, ushered in a culture of arts Mowen 7 appreciation. Because of these composers and musicians, music was enjoyed by the public and revered by the church. Because of their creativity and their willingness to take musical risks, these composers were the fathers of the Renaissance, the rebirth, the life of the vigorous and intellectual activity, the beginning of music.

Sex and Gender Essay -- Anatomy Papers

Sex and Gender Arianna Stassinopoulos wrote in the 1973 book The Female Woman: "It would be futile to attempt to fit women into a masculine pattern of attitudes, skills and abilities and disastrous to force them to suppress their specifically female characteristics and abilities by keeping up the pretense that there are no differences between the sexes" (Microsoft Bookshelf). In her statement we see a cultural feminist response to the dominant liberal feminism of the 1970s. Liberal feminism de-emphasized gender differences, claiming that women were the equals of men and that this would be obvious if only they were offered the same opportunities as men with no special privileges necessary. On the other hand, cultural feminists such as Stassinopoulos claimed that women's unique perspective and talents must be valued, intentionally emphasizing the differences between men and women. A third type of feminism, post-modernism, is represented in Sexing the Body by Anne Fausto-Sterling. Post-modern feminism questions the very origins of gender, sexuality, and bodies. According to post-modernism, the emphasis or de-emphasis of difference by cultural and liberal feminists is meaningless, because the difference itself and the categories difference creates are social constructions. Fausto-Sterling's post-modernism, however, depicts this social construction in a unique manner; she attempts to illustrate the role of science in the construction of gender, sex, and bodies. In doing so she discusses three main ways in which science aids in the social construction of sex: first, new surgical technology allows doctors to literally construct genitalia; second, socially accepted biases aff ect the way scientists design, carry out, and analyze ex... ...heories of performing gender to make this point, Fausto-Sterling is able to point to concrete scientific experiments and explain where they go wrong. And one can conclude from Fausto-Sterling's book that not only do we "do" gender, we also "do" sex and bodies as well. Works Cited Butler, Judith. "Performative acts and gender constitution: An essay in phenomenology and feminist theory." 1998. Excerpt from K. Conboy, N. Medina and S. Stanbury, eds. Writing on the Body: Female Embodiment and Feminist Theory (401-17). NY: Columbia University Press, 1997. Fausto-Sterling, Anne. Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality. NY: Basic Books, 2000. Stassinopoulos, Arianna. "The Natural Woman." Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality. Entry found under "gender." Microsoft Bookshelf 2000. CD-ROM. 2000.

A good man is hard to find :: essays research papers

â€Å"I just know you’re a good man! You’re not at all common!†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Just some of the last pleading words of the grandmother in the story, â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† by Flannery O’Connor. In the story, the author uses colloquialism, point-of-view, foreshadowing, and irony, as well as other rhetorical devices, to portray the satire of southern beliefs and religion throughout the entire piece.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Flannery O’Connor lived most of her life in the southern state of Georgia. When once asked what the most influential things in her life were, she responded â€Å"Being a Catholic and a Southerner and a writer.† (1) She uses her knowledge of southern religion and popular beliefs to her advantage throughout the story. Not only does she thoroughly depict the southern dialect, she uses it more convincingly than other authors have previously attempted such as Charles Dickens and Zora Neale Hurston. In other works, the authors frequently use colloquialism so â€Å"local† that a reader not familiar with those slang terms, as well as accents, may have difficulty understanding or grasping the meaning of the particular passage. O’Connor not only depicts a genuine southern accent, she allows the characters to maintain some aspect of intelligence, which allows the audience to focus on the meaning of the passage, rather than the overbearing burden o f interpreting a rather â€Å"foreign language.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another device not frequently used before O’Connor is the transition between third-person to first-person point-of-view, the first-person being through the grandmother. In the beginning of the story, she describes how the each of the characters feel towards taking a trip to Florida, as well as hint at the relationships they hold for one another. Then the narrator goes on to describe the grandmother’s personal thoughts and feelings throughout the trip, as well as how she thinks towards the end of the story. We first see the first-person point-of-view when the narrator tells how the grandmother did not want to leave the cat at home alone because he would miss her too much and she feared he would accidentally asphyxiate himself with the burners on the stove. The reason this particular part of the story is considered first-person narration is because it goes directly into the mind of the grandmother, telling why she brought the cat along with her. We als o see this first-person narration when Baily’s wife is consistently referred to as the children’s mother, rather than by her name or as Baily’s wife.

Chilean Copper Mine Collapse Essay

This paper will discuss in how important it’s to know your audience. When having to communicate a disaster like the Chilean copper mine that occur in South America it’s one example of where knowing your audience was a very important issue. This disaster in the Chilean copper mine, a disastrous downfall in one of the shafts of the mine has left 33 miners trapped 310 meters below the ground. The outcomes of the company and their reaction to the disaster would eventually define how the world, their audience, would see them. It turns out to be very crucial that the spokesperson of the company who issues updates and information to the public is careful and sensitive to the families. The audience the company would be reporting to would be made up of the news correspondence, the victim’s families, and the media. Not only would the company spokesperson have to keep the reputation and point of view of the mining company in one piece, they would have to issue specific and straightforward information that would not always be in the greatest interest of the company’s position. All though in the beginning the company may not have a great extent of information, it’s necessary for them to inform the families with as much information as soon as possible. This would consist of any information as to what is taking place in the mine while the miners are still trapped. When communicating we need to have some emotion and sympathy than just  the facts of what is going on inside the mine. With all the families wanting to be inform that everything is okay and everyone is doing his or her best to get the situation under control. When speaking to any type of media they are concerned only about the facts. They do not care about emotions or sympathy of the friends or families. If there are no facts to give to the media than nothing should be assumed to those until there are facts to share. The collapse would not only have emotional impact on the 33 miners trapped underground, the family members of those miners would be distressed as well. The family members of those 33 men would have to wait in suffering before they would receive word of their family member’s fate. When a disaster of this extent occurs, the company has the obligation to keep the family members well-informed every step of the rescue progression, above the news bulletin and media. Furthermore informing the families right away in regards to what’s being done to rescue the miners is very important. For instance the families should be inform that while the miners remain in the trapped mines the government is taking steps from getting doses of anti-depressants for the men. Also they’re sending down fresh clothes and games to help keep them physically and mentally fit. In addition the families need to know that the government and rescue team is guiding the miners to a secure area. The secure area is where they can establish various places one for resting and sleeping. The families of the miners need to be informed that the rescue team is doing everything possible to keep the miners in good spirits. Also asking the families to get involve by writing positive encouraging letters for their love ones it’s encouraged. When communicating to the families that the government has contacted NASA to help with the rescue it will give them a little piece of mind. Let them know the rescue team will be able to utilize all the new technology of NASA‘s and their resources to rescue the miners. NASA who has sent people to the moon and outer space has many tools and resources for a situation like this. Therefore the most appropriate channel to communicate with the media, families in a situation like this one of the trapped miners is face to face. The reason to announce the incident face to face is because it shows your compassion, truthfulness and braveness. I would say for the employees of the company I would use email and face to face. The email would be sent out first to the employees followed up with a face to face is case they had any questions or concerns. In conclusion it’s important to remember that timeliness is of the utmost importance when dealing with situations of this magnitude. When taking families into consideration, the company must deliver the information of the mine collapse with an extreme level of discretion, clarity, and encouragement and compassion. References http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibray.com http://www.msnbc.com.world_news-americas/t/trapped-chilean-mines

Bullying & Aggression Essay

Harmful effects of bullying (suicide, depression, decreased academic achievement, etc.) How to prevent bullying from happening  160,000 kids and teens stay home from school because of bullying. Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year according to the CDC. Bullying is an issue that that is not taken seriously today. Even though statistics state that thirty percent of the students in the United States are involved in bullying on a regular basis either as a victim , bully, or both. The effects bullying can have on a person can last throughout their lives, or may even end it. What Is Bullying? Bullying, is unwanted aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, overtime, according to stopbullying.gov. There are different types of bullying, Verbal bullying Saying or writing mean things – teasing, name-calling, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting, threatening to cause harm Social Bullying Involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Often referred to as relational bullying -Telling other children not to be friends with someone -Spreading rumors about someone -Embarrassing someone in public ( Social bullying is mainly seen in girls) Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions – Hitting, kicking, taking or breaking someone’s things, making mean or rude hand gestures There is a variety of reasons of why bullying or being bullied is caused. Some of the reasons are: Cultural Causes We are part of a culture where we are influenced by power, violence, and winning. Experts suggest that not being influenced by these factors seems unrealistic. People will seek to gain power through violence, or verbal abuse. Being from a different religion, or a different race can be some of the reasons for being bullied. Having Power Being a bully gives you some sort of power over other students . Research indicates that the fact of having power make people wish to wield it in a noticeable way. Social Issues The fact that someone gets more social recognition for having negative behaviors than for positive ones can contribute to the reasons why bullying exists. Jealousy or envy and lack of social skills to deal with these  emotions can also lead to bullying. Experiencing social rejection can also produce a bully. The bully â€Å"passes it on† making his peers feel the same rejection he felt. Being different according to society, can be one of the reasons for being, bullied. Not fitting in, or not having the same social status as the rest of your classmates can lead to being bullied. Family Issues A home where there is no love or support towards the children is more likely to produce bullies. In a family where there is no discipline and monitoring, there is a greater chance of a child becoming a bully. A family issue, like both parents working full-time, or a divorce, can be a cause of being bullied. The child doesn’t feel like he has family support, nor someone to talk to at home, causing him to be insecure and in need of attention. Making him an â€Å"easy target† for a bully. Effects of Bullying

How effectively the authors of your chosen texts explore

Parent/Child relationships are widely portrayed in the two novels, Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones and Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon. The authors both explore and portray the relationships between the main characters and a parental role differently in relation to the other despite them both being from opposite sides of the world, as well as the story being set in different time periods. In Mister Pip, its Matilda a young black girl from the island of Papua New Guinea with her mother Dolores and in The Curious Incident.. ts Christopher, a young boy with Aspergers Syndrome from Swindon along with father Ed Boone. The children on the island in Mister Pip are made to look inferior to the adults earlier on in the novel. Despite being a norm or value, the children in Mister Pip are made to abide all the rules that are set by the adults which often makes them feel less important than the adults. This is established early in the first few pages of the novel â€Å"We weren't worthy of that. It was as if we didn't exist† (page 3). Although its the norm in most cultures and societies that the children are raised to respect the elder peers, follow the rules set by them and inherit their general knowlegde, its seems that both the children and their parents are intellectually equal despite the difference in age and observation. â€Å"When our ancestors saw the first whit guy they thought they were looking at ghosts.. † (Page 5) This shows the intellectual relationship between the children and their parents who mainly base their knowledge of what they've observed forcing the children to believe it word for word. However, Christopher in the Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night Time, does not consider the adults superior in the novel when he is being shouted at by Mrs Shears for being on her lawn and holding the corpse of the dog Wellington he just ignored her. â€Å"The policeman took hold of my arm and lifted me onto my feet. I didn't like him touching me like this. And this is where I hit him. † (Page 9). Christopher lashes out in the way he believed to be right rather than the way he was aised to deal with these types of situations which suggests that besides his syndrome, there have been a lack of trust between Christopher and his dad during his upbringing that Christopher felt he didn't have to stick by the rules enforced: in this case, â€Å"you know its wrong to hit a policeman† (Page 22). In Mister Pip, the relationship between Matilda and her mother Dolores is very complicated, they come into conflict over the book â€Å"Great Expectations† when Matilda tries to tell her mum Dolores about how much she enjoyed the book. Lloyd Jones portrays Dolores as a strict Christian who is a very proud woman however is embarrassed to tell Matilda her daughter, of her age. So when Matilda tries to tell her mum about the book Dolores goes against the story by saying its immoral causing the two characters to drift further apart. â€Å"She must have anticipated this because she used her softer voice, the one she used the night before Great Expectations came between us† (Page 36) Matilda quotes as she realises anything regarding Great Expectations angers her mother. This then leads to conflict with Mr Watts, the teacher which Dolores shows a lack of respect by calling him Pop-Eye (the nickname the children had developed for Mr. Watts). The contention then begins to grow between Dolores and Mr. Watts when Dolores visits the school to preach about religious faith. As the conflict grows, it seems that Matilda is being forced into thinking two different ways of life. â€Å"The same space had come to exist between Mr. Watts and my mum. And I knew I would have to choose between the two† (Page 40) shows Lloyd Jones uses the intellectual conflict between the adults to highlight how this happens regular between parents which often impacts on the child and what they will be like growing up. On the other hand, in The Curious Incident†¦ Christopher's relationship with his father is jeopardised after he finds out that his father lied to him about his mothers death. Father said that he didn't know what kind of heart attack she had and now wasn't the moment to be asking questions like that† (Page 36) This particular event in the story changes the dynamics of the novel, tension and the relationship with his father as he wanted to know what had happened to his mother. The problem resulted to Christopher taking independence within his own life on his journey to London to find his mother, then becoming very close again in the latter part of the novel; While he realises the reality of life that his parents never allowed him to understand. Mark Haddon uses the syndrome of Christopher to emphasise how eager he is to be self reliant, this separates the characters because that's what Christopher tries to achieve although he is not in a self reliant position due to his condition and age. The Bond between Matilda and her real father can be described as non-existent throughout majority of the novel up until towards the end when he returns from the mines. Matilda considers Mr Watts as her main male figure for majority of the novel and even when her father does come back she continues to accept that Mr Watts (Pop-eye) is the â€Å"father† in her life. This was considered another reason why Mr watts and Dolores have a lot of conflict when it comes to Matilda. In Curious Incident, at first the bond between Christopher and his father is very strong. It is so strong you they had more than a family bond, they also had a good reliant friendship. In both the curious incident and mister pip the adults/ parental figures are secretive when it comes to telling the children in the two novels the truth about certain incidents. The children in Mister Pip are not told about what is going on in the war and are kept from finding out the truth, which gives the indication that just like in today's society the children are being protected from the truth about current affairs in the world because of their age and innocence. Christopher in The Curious incident is kept from finding out the truth of his parents split up, even though he is not a child and is in his teens the parents feel that he would not fully understand the reasons for them splitting up which would give us the impression that there is trust issues between Christopher and his parents. The authors used different techniques to explore the child and adult relationships, despite of the circumstances each main character was facing and/or due to the lack of a biological parent. In regards to the question, the authors explore the relationships well as both Mark Haddon and Lloyd Jones use their novels to define trends in relationships throughout different places and era and how that can affect them in the long-term. Despite also defining that both parents and children within the novels are equally reliant on one an other.

Social Structures of Han China and Ancient Rome

During the classical era, Han China and Ancient Rome were the pioneers for the change and the plethora of improvements that took place in civilized societies. The Han Dynasty consisted of persistent regional riots and rebellions against harsh state demands, and Ancient Rome expanded through the Mediterranean and areas of Hellenistic civilization.Together, these two civilizations introduced many essential changes in human life and provided an arena for the spread of organized civilizations. Although both Han China and Ancient Rome acquired powerful religious systems, Ancient Rome’s social structure was far more structured than Han China’s in regards to treatment of women and social status.Han China and Ancient Rome both demonstrated prosperous, influential religious systems that influenced other religious systems. In Han China, many followed Confucianism as a religion. Confucian teachings emphasized strong rulers and the consolidation of political power. Confucianism was not a religion, but a philosophy.It advocated rule by the highly educated, male elite, and it was primarily an ethical system. Respect for elders, art, music, and elegant calligraphy in the cultivation of scholar-bureaucrats were all important. Other Confucian teachings were Legalism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Confucianism has exerted a pervasive influence on other societies throughout Asia.Confucianism has affected and been incorporated in nearly every aspect of life. Education, government, behavior, and how the people should live their lives are all connected and Confucianism provided a code and a guide to have effective government and education, and lead a happy, successful life.China’s Confucian ideals, technological advancements, and prosperous agrarian state captivated major thinkers in Europe and the United States. The Roman Empire provided an arena for the spread of Christianity and the interaction of numerous diverse cultures. Christianity emerged during the first years of the Roman Empire under Augustus. Originally an offshoot of Judaism, early Christianity had little to do with Roman culture.In the centuries after Jesus' execution, many outside of Judaism converted to the new religion. Perhaps as many as 10 percent of the Roman population were Christian by the fourth century C.E. Christianity spread most rapidly among the poor and disadvantaged classes of the empire. Christianity also won converts from among those seeking a more emotionally satisfying form of religion. Roman stability and communications aided in the spread of the religion.The early political form of Christianity was drawn from the imperial constitution. In Christianity, bishops were governors of local communities and supervised activities from cities in which they resided. Bishops in the most powerful cities gained greater authority.The apostle Paul, who brought Christian beliefs to a wider public, was a critical figure in the dissemination of the new religion. Gradually Christi an theologians began to define religious beliefs in terms of Greco-Roman philosophy. Christianity became the most creative intellectual area of later imperial culture.In this sense, Christianity was an important conservator of earlier intellectual traditions. Refusal of Christian communities to participate in state rituals caused some early emperors to persecute individuals and groups. Persecution was only episodic, and eventually the state was able to allot to the Church a legitimate, if subordinate, place in the world.Women enjoyed more freedom and status in Han China than in Ancient Rome, which was a much more structured society for women. Because marriages were arranged with family alliances in Han China, young men had as little say in the choice of their spouses as women. Young brides usually could rely on their powerful relatives to ensure that they were well treated in the new home.Widowed women were permitted to remarry, and all women participated in family ceremonies. Women of upper class families were often tutored in writing, the arts, and music. Although political positions were reserved for men, women could sometimes exert powerful influence from behind the throne.In Ancient Rome, on the other hand, the Roman law stipulated that the husband is the judge of his wife. If she commits a fault, he punishes her; if she has drunk wine, he condemns her; if she has been guilty of adultery, he kills her. If divorced because of adultery, a Roman woman would lose one-third of her property and had to wear a special garment that set her apart like a prostitute.As wives and mothers, many aristocratic Roman women wielded political power, but only through their husbands. Inequality between men and women increased in the empire’s final stages. Roman family structure was very patriarchal.There was much less lenience in the class structure of Han China than Ancient Rome. In Ancient Rome, there was class conflict between the growing  ranks of the poor and the Roman aristocracy. Some political leaders attempted to aggrandize their careers on the basis of this conflict.Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, two tribunes, attempted to introduce land reform and other social legislation in favor of the poor between 133 B.C.E. and 123 B.C.E. Both were killed by aristocratic mandate. After 107 B.C.E., the Roman consul Marius began to use paid volunteers to staff his armies in place of conscripted Roman citizens.The creation of a permanent military force dedicated to its commander threatened the position of the Senate. A second commander, Sulla, drove out Marius and his political allies. A succession of military commanders dominated Roman politics thereafter. A civil war between two of them, Pompey and Julius Caesar, brought the republic to an end. After Caesar took over the government in 49 B.C.E., he introduced various reforms. The result was to destroy the political monopoly of the Roman aristocracy.Traditionalist senators plotted against Caesar and h ad him assassinated in 44 B.C.E. Caesar's death precipitated a civil war from which Caesar's adopted son, Octavian, emerged the victor. While maintaining the external appearance of the republic, Octavian created an imperial state. For his success, he was granted the name Augustus.The Han class systems were much different. In Han China, rebellion was almost nonexistent. Ordinary farmers held varying amounts of land, and those who worked on the land of others as tenants or did landless labor were even more miserable. Many peasants joined secret societies with colorful names. Merchant classes became wealthier and more numerous, but they found it incredibly difficult to translate their profits into political power or social status.However, even when people were unhappy, they did not complain. Status was often unchangeable, so unlike Ancient Rome, people did not and could not revolt. These great classical civilizations lend themselves to a variety of comparisons to other civilizations du ring the time.In particular, Confucianism of the Han Dynasty and Christianity of Ancient Roman have spread throughout the world. Because of the Roman Empire, Christianity has spread throughout Europe from Jerusalem to Mesopotamia. Today, it is most influential in North and South America and Europe.Because of the Han Dynasty, Confucianism and Confucian ideas have had an impact on Eastern Asia, especially Japan, Egypt, and Vietnam, and it has even influenced Taoism. Even though both Han China and Ancient Rome acquired  incredible religious systems, Ancient Rome’s social structure was far more controlling than Han China’s in regards to treatment of women and social status.

Essay on a disease ( OBESITY) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

On a disease ( OBESITY) - Essay Example He has been battling this disease since his teens and by age fifteen he was 23 pounds overweight and by thirty he was 45 pounds in excess of what his normal weight should have been. Brett was not skinny as a kid but just a regular chubby guy and like all kids adored sweets and junk food, and as an only child he was indulged in both. Not that this may have been the only cause, since both his parents were also on the heavy side, not exactly obese but definitely generously proportioned and quite alien to the concept of healthy food and exercise. From a chubby kid Brett morphed into a fat pre-teen and soon into an obese teenager. Through the years he has tried various diets, exercise regimes and numerous weight loss products that have all guaranteed weight loss, but each time he failed and lost hope. In fact the constant yo-yo dieting and weight loss products have contributed to his weight gain and health problems. Obesity has not only caused him numerous physical problems like diabetes and sleep apnea, but this disease has mentally demolished him as well. Due to his weight stigma he became withdrawn as a teenager unable to deal with the constant ridicule and later a complete recluse, refusing even to attend family gatherings. Doctors again have been more of a hindrance than help due to their biased perceptions and weight stigma. Disease implies some form of physical failure, and is associated with some form of damage to the body, that is usually accompanied by suffering, or by death. Obesity easily fits all of these criterions as it produces malfunctions in many organ systems and structures, and leads to inexpressible misery, and results in large number of deaths. Obesity actually is the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue2 i.e. body fat to such an extent that it causes health difficulties. There are many causes for obesity like genetic and hormonal problems,

Knowledge, Truth, Belief Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Knowledge, Truth, Belief - Assignment Example Similarly in coherent theory, the truth requires appropriate proof that supports it for it to be true; hence it has to be factual. Conversely, correspondence theory does not emphasize on the facts rather than the theoretical view that is remarkable to realize (Mindus, 60-61). In my opinion, I think robust theory of truth might be possible when certain approaches such as correspondence and coherence theory are combined. Robust theory of truth involves a truth-bearer is true and right, and there is a truth-maker that can be referred to as a fact. The statement or factor being considered should have the enough evidences to prove the fact or truth-maker. The theory can be comprehended without intricacy when viewing it as a reaction to correspondence theory (Mindus, 60-61). Consequently, the ‘hybrid’ theory will work, since it merges the approaches that are used in corresponding and coherent theory. Joachim response to his critics who suggest that coherence theory of truth has no bearing on the way the world is in, and of itself is that his sketch was intended to show the truth of nature as ideal. He describes the nature truth as the systematic coherence that portrays a significant whole, which is an individual and personal experience. His response is convincing because the origin of the world is a mystery to everyone, and only few individuals came up with personal theories that describe the way of the world. Theories of truth such as correspondence and coherent theory explain the types of truths that exist in the society (Mindus, 60-61). Hence, identifying and differentiating the reality from the idealism among individuals becomes

Feature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Feature - Essay Example Regenerative braking is the technology where the friction energy from braking physical systems such as elevators going down are captured and converted to usable energy, in this case electricity that can then be used to power the elevator system and to supply the electricity needs of the immediate floors and areas within the building. This regenerative braking feature of the elevators is attributed to the technology work of Kone, the provider of the elevator system to the Bullitt Center. The placement of the elevators and the provision of stairs add to the energy efficiency of those elevators because such limit the use of the elevators themselves. Moreover, by design, the elevators are 60 percent more power efficient than regular elevators used in other buildings. All these add to maximum energy efficiency and electricity savings for the Bullitt Center, while at the same time making sure that those who do need the elevator system, such as the disabled, are able to access the elevator systems conveniently. This feature adds further to the overall energy efficiency of the building and the regenerative braking adds to the electricity sources of the building, apart from the solar panels installed on the roof (Hanscom; EarthFixMedia; Bullitt

Federal Contracting Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Federal Contracting - Term Paper Example From this paper, it is clear that FedBizOpps is a very valuable resource that offers detailed information on how and when vendors should respond to all federal contract solicitations worthy $25000 or more (Longley, N.d). US General Services Administration (GSA) establishes and administers the largest government-wide contracts with the government agencies ordering goods and services directly from the GSA schedule contractors. Municipalities, counties, states and federal agencies have huge needs which can be fulfilled by our company thus it paramount to remain vigilant of the government contracts whether they are advertised in the daily newspapers or websites such as FedBizOpps or each arm of a government website. In conclusion, before presenting any bid it is important that your company do the following in order to enhance its competitiveness in the bidding process. First the company should do an extensive research about the agency; secondly, analyze your competition well to know what they are likely to offer.For our company, upon extensive research on government websites, the following contract is very suitable for our bidding. Based on our research, we have several competitors for this type of contracts from the government but the leading among our competitor is OWL COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES, INC located in Ridgefield, CT, USA. This company was awarded 29 contracts worthy $ 1752k between 2005 and 2008 (OnBid, 2009). Our competitor analysis will focus on this company as indicated below.... Global IT & Office Solutions Ltd is based in Erie, PA and was founded in 1997 to offer computer and office equipments repair and maintenance services to our esteemed customers who range from individuals, institutions, government agencies and multinational corporations. We service all models and makes of computers and office equipments. Our strength is based on keeping up-to-date with technological advancements; highly trained, experienced and updated staff; and keeping the needs of our clients first through effective management of our resources. Mission: our goal is to offer high quality services to our clients to ensure complete solution and satisfaction of every business through friendly and knowledgeable service and support. Our hope is that you will feel confident in our ability to meet your expectations and know that our customers are always our number one focus. Scenario 2 Competitor analysis is a crucial part of strategic planning as it helps the management to compare it compe titive advantages with that of competitors; understand competitors’ future strategies; develop strategies for future competitive advantage; and forecast possible future returns on investments. Based on our research, we have several competitors for this type of contracts from the government but the leading among our competitor is OWL COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES, INC located in Ridgefield, CT, USA. This company was awarded 29 contracts worthy $ 1752k between 2005 and 2008 (OnBid, 2009). Our competitor analysis will focus on this company as indicated below. OWL COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES, INC Market Share Around 5 percent based on the available industry statistics and business turnover Major Customers National bureau of statistics and two multinational companies. What do their customers

Conflict Negotiation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Conflict Negotiation - Case Study Example Knowing what each other party wanted was key to knowing the best way forward to attaining what was best for the city of Tamarack. Our first reward was that we as the City Council of Tamarack do not have to incur high costs of maintaining our roads or reducing the environmental pollution that has already taken place. The cost sharing agreement reached at the end of the negotiations ensures that the mining company takes upon itself the responsibility of ensuring that the damaged roads are repaired and that at the end of the day there is little, if any environmental pollution. We were also able to keep the company in the city, hence, retaining the revenue that we get from its operations. We were able to provide a serene environment for the tourists who visit the city. This was made possible by the fact that Twin Lakes Mining Company ensured that all roads are in good condition. Reducing air pollution in the city is also a way of attracting tourists. The fact that the already exhausted mining sites will be shutdown means that our surroundings will be beautiful enough to warrant tourist attraction (Role Information for City Tamarack). Most importantly, the relationship between the government and the mining company was improved as both parties gained from the negotiations. The most rewarding thing about the negotiations is the fact that we will be able to keep our city in a good condition. Firstly, we shall from today henceforth have cleaner air in the city. The mining company has accepted the responsibility of ensuring that its operations do not pollute the air as much as before. This is beneficial to us; not only in the present life, but also in future. Clean air means that future generations in Tamarack City will live a healthy life and they will not have to worry about respiratory diseases that are related to unclean air. Both parties have also taken up the responsibility of maintaining the roads. Of course, this means better infrastructure,

Evaluate Various Organizational Perspectives Essay

Evaluate Various Organizational Perspectives - Essay Example in place, an organization can be described as a unit or group of people that utilizes skills (knowledge) to perform tasks that achieve a universal goal. An organization has a systematic structure that consists of management with components based on regulations such as laws (form and nature) (Draft, 2007). Organization theory is a collection of principles that suggests an appropriate way of organizational management. Organizational theories encompass the organizational structures and designs. Another aspect of organizational theory is that it articulates internal and external relationships of organizations (Argyris, 2001). Organizational theory is multidisciplinary as it derives its principles from arts, sciences and humanities. The multidisciplinary aspect of organizational theory makes studying organization theory fascinating and challenging. Most scholars like the challenge of thinking in an interdisciplinary manner. A second reason to study organizational theory is that with the right attitude an individual will acquire or improve his/her managerial skills. Organizational theory covers crucial management areas such as strategic finance, marketing, human resource, operations communication and information technology (Grint, 2005). A cogent theory should have a clear non-complex design. The theory should also reflect on culture in regard to its principles. Finally, a theory should outline principles that act as guidelines in the course of change. This calls for theories to be flexible in order for them to meet these standards (Grint, 2005). The multiple perspectives in organization theory create open mindedness especially in regard to management of the organization. This is because various perspectives provide for different causes of action for situations. This aspect of diversity is also necessary when it comes to dealing with change as the theories provide alternative courses of action (Hales,

Can Alkaline Diets Prevent Cancer Research Paper

Can Alkaline Diets Prevent Cancer - Research Paper Example Amid the rising cases of cancer, the main question is; what actually went wrong after the widespread industrial revolution that cancer and other degenerative diseases have become close components of human life? The answer could be very simple; our eating habits. Before the advent of industrial revolution, human beings survived on natural food substances with balanced amount of minerals that boosted the body immune system as well as performing detoxification. Today, because of industrialization we embrace consumption of processed foods rather than the natural diets. Going by the evident trend in the manner in which cancer spreads today or simply comparing and contrasting the lifestyles of agrarian periods and the current industrial periods, it is determinate that consumption of natural food is the surest way of preventing cancer (Earl 292). In this case, natural foods are considered as food substances rich in alkaline or high pH values. The main alkaline food substances are citrus fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts, legumes and seeds. Alkaline food substances do not encompass substances like grains, excess salt, excess dairy products or meat. Earl states that alkaline food substances play a significant role in ensuring preventing an individual from developing cancerous cells (292). It is however not stated that an individual should not consume acidic food substances, but at regulated low amount. This is because acid is usually required for digestion purposes in the stomach but should always be at the pH of 1.3-1.75. In order to fight cancerous cells, blood and not the stomach requires a high alkalinity level, pH of 7.34-7.46. The reason why a high proportion of acid is never essential for the body is because it results to the development of toxins that suppress the body immune system thereby inhibiting cells from absorbing oxygen. Further accumulation of acid and inhibited supply of oxygen lays ground for

African Americans and the Prison System Essay Example for Free

African Americans and the Prison System Essay I. Introduction In the book the Mugging of Black America, Earl Ofari Hutchinson relays an interesting experience by a reporter. The reporter, who spent two and a half hours watching suspects march before Washington, D. C. Superior Court Judge Morton Berg, noted that all but one of these subjects was Black. He stated, ? Â §There is an odd air about the swift afternoon? Xan atmosphere like that of British Africa in colonial times? Xas the procession of tattered, troubled, scowling, poor blacks plead guilty or not guilty to charges of drug possession, drug distribution, assault, armed robbery, theft, breaking in, fraud and arson. According to Hutchinson, the reporter witnessed more than a courtroom scene; he witnessed the legacy of slavery. This paper will attempt expand on Hutchinson? Â ¦s theory. It will do so by first describing slavery and its lasting impact then it will attempt to show how the current criminal justice system mirrors slavery. PART 1: Slavery I. The History of Oppression and African Americans The history of the oppression as it relates to African Americans began in 1619. It was this year in which a Dutch ship brought the first slaves from Africa to North America. Following this arrival of twenty Africans in Virginia, white European-Americans created the institution of slavery. Slavery spread so quickly that by 1860 the original twenty slaves turned into nearly four million. In the beginning the legal status of these Africans was undefined. This absent definition created a lack of certainty which allowed for some slaves to become free after years of service. This only lasted briefly. In the 1660s, however, the colonies began enacting laws that defined and regulated slaves and the institution of slavery. One of the most important of these was the provision that black slaves, and the children of slave women, would serve for life. These ? Â §breeding laws were just the beginning. Soon, slavery in the United States was governed by a body of laws developed from the 1660s to the 1860s. Even though every slave state had its own slave code and case law, it became universal that slavery was a permanent condition. In addition to slavery being a permanent condition, slaves were also, under these laws, considered property. Slaves, being property, could not own property or be a party to a contract. Since marriage is a form of a contract, slave marriages had no legal standing. Most codes also had sections regulating free blacks. Under these codes blacks who were not slaves were still subject to controls on their movements and employment. These laws served not only as a physical limitation, but an ideological one also. In addition to granting slave owners and white people power over slaves and in some cases free blacks, the laws also granted slaveholders and white-Europeans an intangible source of power. Socially, the institution of slavery allowed white slave owners to believe they had not only physical control, but physical and mental superiority over the slaves. With only a few exceptions, all slaves were Africans. This fact placed the label of inferiority on black skin. The actual institution of slavery as it relates to master and slave lasted up in till the Civil war. The American Civil War was fought, in part, over slavery. During the war, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which ? Â §freed all slaves. This seemingly, brought the end of slavery throughout the United States, but unfortunately left a lasting impression. From this point on slavery took on a new form as former slaves being associated with the label of inferiority. II. The lasting effects of slavery: continuous oppression Slavery is defined by Webster? Â ¦s dictionary as ? Â §The state of being under the control of another person . Aalthough the actual physical control and violence supposedly ended after the emancipation proclamation, The intangible theory of supremacy derived from the institution of slavery resulted in many lasting effects. These effects in and of themselves are a form of force, a form slavery. a. The lost sense of culture and cultural pride: Feeling of inferiority Slave drivers made great efforts to eliminate African culture. For instance Africans were beaten if they were caught speaking their native languages or carrying out native rituals . Therefore, they were not able to effectively pass the languages, stories and traditions on to their children. This forced suppression resulted in the loss of verbal records and a rich legacy of history. It is no secret that there is pride in culture. Taking away the culture takes away the pride and the motivation and results in feelings of worthlessness. b. no economic foundation Slave drivers not only attempted to deprive the Africans of there culture and pride, but they successfully robbed them economically. Slaves were forced to work without pay for years while padding the pockets of the slave owners. This deficit of economics resulted in an inability to establish an economic foundation in the United States. c. Unleveled playing field Along with the deprivation of financial resources, another significant factor concerning the state of African Americans is arrested development. Slaves were deprived of opportunities to learn and become more competitive in many areas of society. Black people were not allowed to read or learn to read, so they could not take advantage of written text. All these lasting effects placed blacks in a severely disadvantaged state when slavery was abolished, led a socioeconomic structure in which white people generally held the highest ranks and Black people generally held the lowest ranks. III. Maintaining oppression In order to maintain this socioeconomic structure, there always seems to be a new form of oppression set in place to maintain ? Â §slavery. As if the above detrimental effects of slavery were not enough, the White southerners were anxious to maintain more direct power and control over people with black skin, despite there classification as ? Â §free. The White southerners decided to, again, use the law in order crystallize there theory of inferiority and keep black people at the lowest ranks. In 1865, southerners created Black Codes, which served as a way to control and inhibit the freedom of ex-slaves. These historic Codes controlled almost all aspects of life, and prohibited African Americans from almost all the freedoms that had been won during the Civil War. The codes, which were blatantly racist and oppressive, were eventually suspended in June 1866, during the ? Â §reconstruction era. During this time period in America and despite resistance, African-Americans were slowly becoming part of this nations inclusion. By 1868, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution confirmed the long awaited citizenship for Blacks in America. By 1870, the 15th Amendment was added to the Constitution which made it illegal to deny the right to vote based on race. The Reconstruction era, although short-lived, showed the first real attempts of inclusive freedom for African-Americans since the abolition of slavery. Gains were taking place: Citizenship, Voting, Education, and Politics. But, the underlying desire to have power over those in black skin never subsided. Just like the black Codes, this desire to dominate again manifested itself in another form, Jim Crow Laws. These laws promoted discrimination and the denial of equal protection by law. Just like the codes, they too were eventually abolished. Just like the Codes, Jim Crow laws, the desire of our society to suppress those in black skin will soon take another form. Today that form is the Criminal Justice System. PART 2 The New Age Slavery: The Prison System I. The Prison Institution Prisons are big in the United States. During the past 20 years, the United States experienced a massive increase in incarceration. The prison population increased fourfold, from 330,000 in 1980 to nearly 1. 4 million in 1999, and the incarceration rate increased from about 140 to about 476 per 100,000 resident populations. Today there are more than two million Americans behind bars. But even more startling is the fact that more than one-half of these incarcerated Americans have black skin. Although black Americans only make up about 12% of the US population, they account for more then 30% of all arrests, 44% of all prisoners and 40% of prisoners on death row. II. Race and the Prison System These obvious disparities in the criminal justice system can be attributed to many different things ranging from racial profiling to the lack of opportunity and poor education, but most criminal justice observers believe that these disparities have emerged from the underlying assumptions rooted in slavery. The assumption that slaves were inferior has carried over to today. Currently this theory of inferiority and desire to maintain oppression influences one of the major policies in place attacking African Americans today, the ? Â §war on drugs. Most of the shocking disparities in the criminal Justice System as it relates to African Americans in prison can be attributed to the ? Â §war on drugs. According to a study by Human Rights Watch, African-Americans comprise 62 percent of the drug offenders admitted to state prisons. In seven states, blacks constitute between 80 and 90 percent of all people sent to prison on drug charges. According to studies of the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights, African-Americans constitute 15 percent of the national drug users, but comprise an amazing one-third of all those arrested on drug charges and 57 percent of those convicted on drug charges. The criminal justice system generally, and contemporary crime and drug policies in particular, serve as a means for White America to control the African Americans like they did in the 1600 . III. The lasting oppression Similarly to the black codes and segregation implemented after the abolition of slavery; restrictions are placed on prisoners after they are released. Once a prisoner is released from prison, parole and the bans on public assistance, public housing restrictions, etc. create barriers and a seemingly doomed cycle of dominance. Since half of the prisoners in prison are African American, these barriers, like the lasting effects of slavery, have a disproportionate effect on our black communities. III. The effects of oppression According to the Department of Justice? Â ¦s Bureau of Justice statistics, the number of adults in prison, jail, or on probation or parole reached almost 7 million during 2004. Since Blacks comprise 30 percent of probationers and 41 percent of prisoners. That means around 4,500,000 African Americans are affected directly by the criminal justice system. Unfortunately those African Americans sent to prison or under parole are not the only people affected. The impact on the black community does not stop at the prison door, conversely it goes far beyond. Even after a prisoner is released there are lasting effects to the prisoner, his or her family and the community as a whole. a. Demise of the Black family One effect of the high rate of incarceration of African American males in particular has been the decreasing number of marriageable men in the African American community. Along with high rates of homicide, AIDS-related deaths and other factors, this has created a substantial imbalance in the male-female ratio among adult African Americans. Whereas gender ratios for African Americans at birth are about 102-103 males for every 100 females, by the age range 40-44, this declines to 86 males per 100 females, whereas white rates are 100:100 for this group. b. Lost political voice The impact of the criminal justice system on the black community goes beyond the declining family structure to issues of political influence as well. As a result of laws that disenfranchise felons and ex-felons in various states, an estimated 1. 4 million African American males, or 13% of the black male adult population, is either currently or permanently disenfranchised as a result of a felony conviction. In fourteen states, a felony conviction can result in lifetime disenfranchisement, and in seven of these states, an estimated one in four black males is permanently disenfranchised. Thus, not only are criminal justice policies contributing to the disproportionate incarceration of African Americans, but imprisonment itself then reduces the collective political ability of African Americans to influence these policies. V. Solutions The constant demise in the structure of the black family, lost political influence and seemingly arrested development are all very familiar results of a history of oppression. Since these effects of slavery and disparities in the criminal justice system seemingly steam from hundreds of years ago there is no quick fix. Ideally the answer would lie in the destruction of all prejudice. But, it is impossible to erase the deep seated legacy and resurfacing effects of slavery. Therefore this problem must be attacked from a variety of different angles. Recommendations for change can be considered in the areas of awareness, legislative change, criminal justice officials? Â ¦ initiatives, and criminal justice/community partnerships. The following are some suggested that will allow for a beginning to a seemingly circular and endless problem. 1. Legislative Actions Legislation should be pushed to Reconsider Mandatory Sentencing Policies and Equalize Penalties for Crack and Powder Cocaine . 2. Criminal Justice Officials? Â ¦ Initiatives ?n Criminal Justice Officials should Expand Drug Policy Options And Expand the Use of Alternative Sentencing 3. Criminal Justice/Community Partnerships. The criminal Justice system and the community should attempt to Increase Community-based Diversion from the Criminal Justice System And Strengthen the Link between Communities and the Justice System VI. Closing Oppression in the form of institutionalization is nothing new to those dressed in black skin; it has been present since 1619. In this year Africans were brought to the United States and forced into the institution of slavery. Even after the abolition of slavery, a series of codes and segregation laws were set in place to maintain the suppression of black people because black skin was stigmatized as inferior. Even though the prejudice and biased codes and laws were eventually abolished themselves, this stigma remains. Because this theory of black inferiority was embedded in the American culture due to slavery, various means of oppression are able to continually resurface in different forms. Today that form is Criminal Justice System, more specifically the drug policies. Practically mirroring the institution of slavery, African Americans are being controlled and dominated by this system. Control by the USCJS includes the probation, parole, imprisonment, lost economic power, struggling communities and lost political voice. In order to end this vicious cycle of oppression, action must be taken. First people must be made aware of the disparities. Next those who are made aware must press for legislative change, criminal justice officials? Â ¦ initiatives, and criminal justice/community partnerships. The challenge for the community at large is to engage in broad discussion of the mix of family, community, and government initiatives that can begin to reverse the cycle that has been set in motion in recent years. Let? Â ¦s do what Abraham attempted o do in 1877, let? Â ¦s end this legacy of slavery.