The Crucible: Abigail Williams Character Analysis

In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, the main character Abigail Williams is to blame for the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Abigail is a mean and vindictive person who always wants her way, no matter who she hurts. Throughout the play her accusations and lies cause many people pain and suffering, but she seemed to never care for any of them except John Proctor, whom she had an affair with seven months prior to the beginning of the play. The lies begin to unravel as the reader dives into the book. John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth used to employ Abigail, until Elizabeth found out about the affair between her husband and Abigail.Immediately she threw Abigail out. Although John told Abigail that the affair was over and he would never touch her again, she tried desperately to restore their romance. â€Å"Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. † She claimed that she loved John and that he loved her. B efore the play began, Abigail tried to kill Elizabeth with a curse. She thought that if Elizabeth were dead John would marry her. Further into the play, Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft. She saw Marry Warren making a poppet.Mary put a needle into the doll, and Abigail used that for her accusation. She stabbed herself with a needle and claimed that Elizabeth's soul had done it. Although Abigail claimed she loved John, she may have just loved the care and attention he gave her. John cared for her like no one else had. In a way he could be described as somewhat of a father figure to her. When Abigail was just a child, she witnessed her parents' brutal murders. â€Å"I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on the pillow next to mine†¦ † After her traumatic experience, she was raised by her uncle, Reverend Parris.In the play it was said, â€Å"He was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them†. Parris regarded children as young adults who should be â€Å"thankful for being permitted to walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut until bidden to speak†. Therefore, it is obvious to see that Abigail grew up without any love or nurturing. She also was without any real mother or father figures. Abigail grew up to be deceitful and treacherous, lacking trustworthiness. On account of the fear for her life, Abigail began to accuse the people closest to her of witchcraft. After she and the other irls were discovered in the forest dancing, she knew that they would be whipped and possibly hung. Abigail said that they were bewitched, and began to name those who were supposedly working with the devil. Nothing would stop her from protecting herself. When John forced Mary Warren to tell the truth about the lies that she, Abigail, and the rest of the girls were telling, Abigail proclaimed her innocence and then began to accuse Mary of being a witch. She claimed she saw Mary making a poppet of h er, and sticking Abigail with a needle. â€Å"But God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Mary. Abigail feared for her life so much that she protected it even when John was accused of witchcraft and was sentenced to be hung. Although she loved him, she would not sacrifice herself for him. In conclusion, the cause of the witch trials was Abigail Williams. Considering the facts about her love for John, traumatic childhood, and fear for her life it is easy to see that it was Abigail's fault that the tragedy occurred. As the horrible person that she was, Abigail fought to get her way no matter who she hurt, and unfortunately in the end she did. Her web of lies entangled everyone she ever cared for.

Lessons from Enron: Bad Management, Negative Consequences

One of the classic examples of bad management, Enron's collapse according to the Economist (2002) was a result of bad management and poor decision-making of the auditing firm Andersen in handling the account of the company. The primary root of Enron’s collapse was bad management and the power of the management to delegate auditing and accounting responsibilities to a firm that they have chosen. The dependence of the auditing firm on the management in essence creates the break in the accounting and auditing ethics: in order not to lose an all-too important account such as Enron, they would need to abide by the decisions of the management.The lack of willpower of Andersen to question the unethical practices of Enron made it culpable in the same way as Enron’s managers. This led a domino and cascading effect in the corporate world of America: the government scrambling to look for other companies who are also hiding in their auditor’s books, the deterioration of the auditing and accounting profession, lack of trust in companies, and investor apprehension. The collapse of Enron was largely a decision by the top management which also involves its accountants to provide a bogus statement of finances to make Enron look like a profitable company.Auditors of Enron on the other hand, have sought to protect the company by shredding incriminating documents. From an agency theory perspective, the role of the Enron’s top management to that of the shareholders is one that is governed by the principle that managers will act in a way that will benefit the owners or shareholders of the company (Abrahamson and Park, 1994). In essence, what happened to Enron was that the managers or the agents gained too much power and the shareholders did not perform its function of overseeing the operations of their company.Fundamentally, what the shareholders and the managers who did not take part in the Enron scandal could have done was to have the government to appo int an auditing or accounting firm that will monitor the financial movement of the company. In this way, accountants and auditors will not be obliged to follow what the top managers would want them to do. Managers need to be wary of decisions made by the top management or their colleagues. To a significant extent, appointments should be made independent of the managers.In an era where auditing and accounting fraud are prevalent, managers can protect themselves by safeguarding their companies among their peers. References Abrahamson, E. and Park, C. (1994) Concealment of negative organizational outcomes: An agency theory perspective. Academy of Management Journal, 37: 1302-1334. Barefoot, JA. (2002). What can you learn from Enron? How to know if you are creating a climate of rule-breaking. ABA Banking Journal, 94. The Economist. (2002) The Lessons from Enron. 362, 8259: 9-10. Retrieved 1 July at http://www.csupomona. edu/~smemerson/PLS499%20Greed_Need/Enron. doc. Appendix 1. Enron Ar ticle Title: THE LESSONS FROM ENRON , Economist, 0013-0613, February 9, 2002, Vol. 362, Issue 8259 Database: Academic Search Elite Section: Leaders THE LESSONS FROM ENRON After the energy firm's collapse, the entire auditing regime needs radical change THE mess just keeps spreading. Two months after Enron filed for Chapter 11, the reverberations from the Texas-based energy-trading firm's bankruptcy might have been expected to fade; instead, they are growing.On Capitol Hill, politicians are engaged in an investigative orgy not seen since Whitewater, with the blame pinned variously on the company's managers, its directors, its auditors and its bankers, as well as on the Bush administration; indeed on anybody except the hundreds of congressmen who queued up to take campaign cash from Enron. The only missing ingredient in the scandal–so far–is sex. The effects are also touching Wall Street. In the past few weeks, investors have shifted their attention to other companies, m aking a frenzied search for any dodgy accounting that might reveal the next Enron.Canny traders have found a lucrative new strategy: sell a firm's stock short and then spread rumours about its accounts. Such companies as Tyco, PNC Financial Services, Invensys and even the biggest of the lot, General Electric, have all suffered. Last week Global Crossing, a telecoms firm, went bust amid claims of dubious accounts. This week shares in Elan, an Irish-based drug maker, were pummelled by worries over its accounting policies. All this might create the impression that corporate financial reports, the quality of company profits and the standard of auditing in America have suddenly and simultaneously deteriorated.Yet that would be wide of the mark: the deterioration has actually been apparent for many years. A growing body of evidence does indeed suggest that Enron was a peculiarly egregious case of bad management, misleading accounts, shoddy auditing and, quite probably, outright fraud. But the bigger lessons that Enron offers for accounting and corporate governance have long been familiar from previous scandals, in America and elsewhere. That makes it all the more urgent to respond now with the right reforms.Uncooking the books The place to start is auditing. Accurate company accounts are a keystone for any proper capital market, not least America's. Andersen, the firm that audited Enron's books from its inception in 1985 (it was also Global Crossing's auditor), has been suggesting that its failings are representative of the whole profession's. In fact, Andersen seems to have been unusually culpable over Enron: shredding of incriminating documents just ahead of the investigators is not yet a widespread habit.But it is also true that this is only the latest of a string of corporate scandals involving appalling audit failures, from Maxwell and Polly Peck in Britain, through Metallgesellschaft in Germany, to Cendant, Sunbeam and Waste Management in America. In the past four years alone, over 700 American companies have been forced to restate their accounts. At the heart of these audit failures lies a set of business relationships that are bedevilled by perverse incentives and conflicts of interest. In theory, a company's auditors are appointed independently by its shareholders, to whom they report.In practice, they are chosen by the company's bosses, to whom they all too often become beholden. Accounting firms frequently sell consulting services to their audit clients; external auditors may be hired to senior management positions or as internal auditors; it is far too easy to play on an individual audit partner's fear of losing a lucrative audit assignment. Against such a background, it is little wonder that the quality of the audit often suffers. What should be done? The most radical change would be to take responsibility for audits away from private accounting firms altogether and give it, lock, stock and barrel, to the government.Perhaps such a change may yet become necessary. But it would run risks in terms of the quality of auditors; and it is not always so obvious that a government agency would manage to escape the conflicts and mistakes to which private firms have so often fallen prey. As an intermediate step, however, a simpler suggestion is to take the job of choosing the auditors away from a company's bosses. Instead, a government agency–meaning, in America, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)–would appoint the auditors, even if on the basis of a list recommended by the company, which would continue to pay the audit fee.Harvey Pitt, the new chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, is not yet willing to be anything like so radical. He has been widely attacked because, when he acted in the past as a lawyer for a number of accounting firms, he helped to fend off several reforms. Yet he now seems ready to make at least some of the other changes that the Enron scandal has shown to be ne cessary (see pages 67-70. ) Among these are much fiercer statutory regulation of the auditing profession, including disciplinary powers with real bite.Hitherto, auditors have managed to get away with the fiction of self-regulation, both through peer review and by toothless professional and oversight bodies that they themselves have dominated. There should also be a ban on accounting firms offering (often more profitable) consulting and other services to their audit clients. Another good idea is mandatory rotation, every four years or so, both of audit partners–so that individuals do not become too committed to their clients–and of audit firms. The most effective peer review happens when one firm comes in to look at a predecessor's books.The SEC should also ban the practice of companies' hiring managers and internal auditors from their external audit firms. In search of better standards Then there is the issue of accounting standards themselves. Enron's behaviour has co nfirmed that in some areas, notably the treatment of off-balance-sheet dodges, American accounting standards are too lax; while in others they are so prescriptive that they have lost sight of broader principles. Past attempts by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to improve standards have often been stymied by vociferous lobbying.It is time for the SEC itself to impose more rigorous standards, although that should often be through sound principles (including paying less attention to single numbers for earnings) rather than overly detailed rules. It would also be good to come up with internationally agreed standards. Although audit is the most pressing area for change, it is not the only one. The Enron fiasco has shown that all is not well with the governance of many big American companies. Over the years all sorts of checks and balances have been created to ensure that company bosses, who supposedly act as agents for shareholders, their principals, actually do so.Yet the cult of the all-powerful chief executive, armed with sackfuls of stock options, has too often pushed such checks aside. It is time for another effort to realign the system to function more in shareholders' interests. Companies need stronger non-executive directors, paid enough to devote proper attention to the job; genuinely independent audit and remuneration committees; more powerful internal auditors; and a separation of the jobs of chairman and chief executive.If corporate America cannot deliver better governance, as well as better audit, it will have only itself to blame when the public backlash proves both fierce and unpleasant. PHOTO (COLOR) ________________________________________ Copyright of The Economist is the property of Economist Newspaper Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. Source: Eco nomist, 2/9/2002, Vol. 362 Issue 8259, p9, 2p, 1c. Item Number: 6056697

Ocean city and Clearwater beach Essay

One of the great things about summer is going to the beaches. Over the past ten years my family and I have had the pleasure of heading up to Ocean City Maryland on the eastern shore. The beach there is an excellent place for the family to get together and have fun. The sand at Ocean City is an off white color and warm to the touch and the water with its bluish green color feels cool on your skin. Ocean City has one of the largest boardwalks on the east coast with its many shops, stores, and restaurants it attracts families from all around the world. Ocean city also has a great amusement park for all the kids at heart and for all the true little people. However, At times it does tend to get a bit crowed but that’s half the fun of going to the beach the sights, sounds, the smells, and the many different types of people all enjoying themselves. A few years ago we did happen to change up a bit and headed down to Clearwater Florida for a short vacation the beach in Clearwater is also a very nice beach the sand there is a pure white color and feels so cool on your feet as you walk upon it, and the water is a very clean clear light blue, and very warm as you wad though it. You can even see your feet as small fish move around you Clearwater beach doesn’t have a boardwalk, but it does have the many restaurants and shops to visit. I did notice that Clearwater beach seems to be more geared to the young professional type people. There isn’t an amusement park for the kids and it didn’t seem like many families were there. The time that I spent there it never seemed to get crowded at all, but that was fine because it was relaxing and a nice change of pace. I would recommend both beaches to anyone that wants to get away for a good time, good people and a change of the norm.

Climate Change- Reality or Myth Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Climate Change- Reality or Myth - Assignment Example As a result, it moves to areas inhabited by man as it is seen roaming in roads, cities as well as in homes. The reason for choosing the polar bear is because it has shifted from the usual habitat. Moreover, the polar bear is known not to be friendly to a human being. However, in this case, circumstances have forced it to embrace human and to surround for survival. Hence, it delivers the message of the video that one has to change the way of movement due to unavoidable circumstances. The Nissan Company has managed to reach their target audience. This has been possible by showing how polar bear has shifted due to unavoidable circumstances. There are various reasons for confusion in the media and among the masses on the issue of climate change and linkage to man. First, the media is likely to be manipulated by those that are against man linked to climate change. For example, some corporate that are responsible for increased greenhouse gases may influence the media and distort information concerning climate change. Secondly, the masses may not have basic facts relating to climate change and hence they may have little knowledge concerning climate

Being a family in Greek and Roman Mythological Period Essay

Being a family in Greek and Roman Mythological Period - Essay Example What is negative is the complexity brought about by fights within the family. This is where the rightfulness of the loyalty shown is tested (Thury and Devinney 56-7). On a deeper perspective, Jung and Freud provide extensive, reflective, and philosophical interpretations of mythology. According to Jung, myths illustrate the ongoing psychic biases of a society. They also contain symbols or images upon which the society has come to perch. Some examples of these archetypes are wise old men (which can be referred to how families see their elderly members), the great earth mother (denotes the typical women’s role of giving birth, etc.), and powerful male sky-god (demonstrates how males are seen in the society). Jung also describes the Electra complex that shows the first sexual feelings of a daughter is towards the father, thus developing hatred and jealousy towards the mother. Freud has a counterpart theory of this called the Oedipus complex that says the first sexual feelings of a male child is directed towards his mother, which results also in hatred and jealousy directed towards the rival --- the father (Bowlby 13-5). These theories are demonstrated in several myths.

Zidane's Last Red Card Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Zidane's Last Red Card - Case Study Example The paper also explores the advantages and disadvantages of an institution ignoring its regulations. It does not make sense for FIFA to have an offensive behavior regulation that they effectively ignore. This is because rules and regulations are sets of guidelines that regulate conducts in an organization or association. It is one of the sources of law, applicable under trade and customs, if the regulations are consistent with written law and natural justice. The rules therefore serve the same purpose as the law, at least within the organization’s jurisdiction. FIFA’s regulations are therefore aimed at achieving such objectives as maintaining order in football matches, molding behavior, and ensuring that its subjects are treated equally. A move to compromise these purposes of the regulations therefore renders them meaningless and their creation unnecessary (Jennings, 2010, p. 6, 7). One of the advantages of an organization having regulations that it can ignore is the ability to preserve its ‘self-interest’. The regulations, especially in cases of internal conflicts where the parties submit to resolutions, can solve a dispute without interference from legal systems. Such rules therefore facilitate reconciliatory processes for organization’s stability. The ability to ignore a regulation also helps an organization to protect its image before the public. This is because even though the regulation may have good intentions, the public may not understand its implementation. Another advantage of the avoidable regulations is that their compromise leads to solutions that cannot be achieved through strict implementation of rules. Such types of problems include disputes with political significance (Bercovitch, Dean and Jackson, 2009, p. 57). One of the disadvantages of having rules that can be ignored is that it can highly compromise justice. This is because it leads to partiality. Parties to the organization may also lose confidence in the

Liability for defective construction and design Essay

Liability for defective construction and design - Essay Example However, there are certain stipulations that must be met under different legal systems in order to ensure that the dispensation of justice is fair to all involved parties. The legal code in practice in the United Arab Emirates derives a number of different elements from English law but still has subtle differences when it comes to practice. This paper will look into the various kinds of protections offered under English law and UAE law for tortuous liability on grounds of defective construction and design. The discussion in this paper will be focused on the relationship between the developer (or contractor as applicable) and the end consumer who buys the constructed product or services in order to form a comparison of which legal system provides greater protection to the end buyer. Tortious Liability for Defective Construction and Design A number of legal systems provide for tortious liability for acts of omission and commission practiced by the contractor. It is possible to classify building defects using two clear classifications: patent defects and latent defects. While the former deals with defects that are visible to the contractor, consultant and other involved parties, the latter refers to defects that appear years after the building is complete. As far as patent defects are concerned, the involved parties can detect and deal with the defects as they appear unless the project owner is not satisfied. However, it is possible that latent defects remain and only appear after the building is taken into service. For example, it is typical to find leaking plumbing, easily broken floor tiles and the like once a property is taken into custody. The law does provide for remedies in these situations but such remedies are subject to certain stipulations such as time bars. English Law English law dictates that any defects observed after a takeover of constructed property must be evaluated through the Limitation Act of 1980. It is common practice for the parties involv ed i.e. the contractor and the project owner to agree to a period where any discovered defects would be rectified. It is typical to see contractual agreements between parties that stipulate periods of between one year and two years, after the completion of construction, to deal with any discovered defects1. This would apply solely to latent defects as common practice shows that patent defects are removed prior to building handover by the project owner or end consumer. Another set of circumstances would emerge if there are no such clauses available in the construction contract to deal with defects in the post construction completion scenario. In such circumstances, the aggrieved party has the option to go to a court of law in order to deal with any damages incurred due to the contractor’s actions. It must be taken to note that tort actions for such cases under English law are only possible if the tort claim is brought before the case no later than six years after the damage ha s been caused2. Technically the date that the damage is notice or secured is better known as â€Å"the date of action accrued†3. Here it must be taken to note that the involved parties may reduce or increase the period settled by the Limitation Act (1980) for tort claims to occur. It is common court practice not to interfere with the actions of

Social Networks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Networks - Essay Example The users read the profile pages of other members, share views and ideas, give comments and contact them via their profiles. In short, an SNS is a great means of bringing people of same wave length together and socializing with the outside world. People create their profiles which are in fact their identities which may be real or fake. SNSs have redefined identity development in a way that people can now make friends which are even not their type but of the type of the new identity that has been created on the SNS profile. This paper argues that it is important to keep only one identity in the online world in order to realize our inner selves and to keep our offline and online world integrated together. Everything related to our identity affects our agency in our online and offline worlds, be that something as simple as a name. As stated earlier, SNSs enable people to make their profiles with different names and identities in the online world. The connections made with this fake name and identity will be quite different from those made in the offline world. Thus, anybody making a profile in the online world with a fake name will be having two identities; one real that is in the offline world, and the other fake which is in the online world. ... If he takes this identity to the online world and makes use of the SNSs as a support to the offline connections, then he is able to keep the two worlds working in harmony with each other. However, if he creates a separate identity in the online worlds, then the connections with that identity will not correlate with those in the offline world thus keeping the two worlds segregated from each other. We should not perceive our online and offline worlds separately. We should make true profiles with our original identities on the SNSs so that we are able to perceive the two worlds as a single entity and not as two segregated entities. It is not possible in this busy world to run two separate worlds together or maintain different identities in the two worlds; however, we cannot deny the presence of scams and fraudulent activities taking place on the internet which are apt to steal away our identities from the profiles we make online. So, we should only trust authenticated SNSs and make true profiles there with the primary objective to support our offline connections and secondary objective to make new connections. Life will be much easier and sophisticated if we try to perceive the two worlds as a solo unit. Also, an identity becomes disfavored when it is not true. When it gets hacked, it loses its reliability and thus becomes disfavored. Identity thieves are common in the online worlds which steal, misuse, disclose or sell the true identities and thus cheat innocent persons. When an identity is stolen, it loses its credibility and thus is regarded as disapproved because it is not to be relied on for future connections, comments, sharing of information like pictures and files, and other activities of the sort. Disfavored identities must be deactivated from

Lobbying Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Lobbying - Coursework Example Lobbying saves the public from such conflict of interest existing with government officials (Nownes, 2006). Elected government officials have an obligation to serve the public (the people who elected them). However, lobbying comes in when such officials stand to benefit by twisting the law to favor the interests of a few private parties. Government officials are agents of people and, therefore, their failure to serve the public due to their conflict of interest is agent misdirection. As such, lobbying makes sure that others’ interests get appropriate defense against those of corrupt persons. Lobbyists also ensure that the interests of the minority get a fair defense against the tyranny of the majority (Morris, Goldsworthy & Palgrave, 2008). For instance, a medical association can lobby a legislature to increase restrictions in the laws that prevent smoking due to the increased number of people dying out smoking effects. The complexity of the process of legislation makes lobbyists and lobbying an essential facet to all functions of the government. Government officials and legislators do not have the time as well as the knowledge to become experts on all issues of concern to all people in order to serve their common interest. In this regard, lobbyists educate government officials on these issues, help legislators to draft legislation, and advise the president before signing a bill into a law. Therefore, lobbyists represent a vast diversity of the public interests and beliefs in the society. In some societies, lobbyists are respected as opinion leaders who tend to influence the public on which persons to vote for, during elections (Great Britain & Allen,

Hong Kong Land Holdings Limited Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hong Kong Land Holdings Limited - Case Study Example Even though HKL gave the least bid, HKL lost MPFA to Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited because the tenant had certain technological and modern standards which Landmark did not fulfill. As a result HKL lost HK$ 900,201 per month from rental income. Threat of takeovers: Competitors believed that HKL was not fully utilizing its commercial properties. Subsequently so as to unlock the shareholder value the leading tycoons of Hong Kong tried to take over HKL. HKL sold some of its valuable holdings in order to fight of the take over. Even so two competitors, Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited and Hutchison Whampoa Limited, managed to secure a 4.7% interest in HKL. Location: Of the 11 estates it owns in Hong Kong, 8 of them are located in Central District (Exhibit 3). In addition the 11 Charter Road Development property is expected to be completed in 2002 which will further increase the market dominance in Central District (Exhibit 4). It is said that Central is the 'Financial Heart' of Hong Kong. So HKL's portfolio of Commercial Assets is concentrated in a promising market. Convenience: The buildings in HKL's holdings have ease of access to every from of public transportation-the railway, airport and subway. In addition the buildings are all linked by a Central Pedestrian Bridge System which eases the movement of those who work or shop in the buildings regardless of the weather. For instance Alexandra House & Prince Buildings are linked by pedestrian walkways that run across Ice House Street. There is also a walkway that links Jardine House to Swire house and One Exchange Square (Exhibit 15) Customer Groups: HKL has managed to attract leading brand retailers. Ermenegilo, Zegna, Prada, Ralph Lauren, and Gucci are some of the international brand retailers that are entering the Hong Kong market. These companies are beginning to see Hong Kong as a good market for their files. The presence of these clients increases the marketability of its retail properties particularly in Central District. Besides the brand retailers, HKL has also managed to create a portfolio of food and beverage shops in its shopping centers. This has improved the marketability of HKL's Holdings. Brand Name: Through its promotional activities HKL has managed to redefine its role as the leading landlord. It was also successful in building up a commercial image for Central District through its partners. Its long experience in the business has enabled it to become business partners with its tenants especially in Central which it has been working since 1889 Weaknesses Age of its properties: Most of HKL's buildings are more than 20 years old (Exhibit 14). With changing modern buildings and improved technologies, most tenants are willing to pay more for new buildings. Equity Fund Raising: Although HKL is working in Hong Kong, it is not listed in the stock market of Hong Kong because of political fears. Therefore cannot fund its needs locally by issuing shares. Nature of Leases: Most of HKL's lease terms were short term. In 1999 alone, 25% of leases were due for renewal. With short renewal cycles HKL is forced to reduce its rental prices in order to retain its existing customers. Threats Economic Problems: The Asian Economic Crisis and the handling

Pediatric Healthcare Disparities Essay Example for Free

Pediatric Healthcare Disparities Essay Disparities in healthcare of children are complex problem that is associated with the disparities that exist in healthcare systems. These inequalities in the access to health care include the following factors: race and ethnicity, insurance status, education, English language proficiency, and poverty(Sobo, 2006). The aforementioned factors affect access to healthcare and the quality of service received. The racial disparities in pediatric healthcare are a tremendously pervasive depressing problem. Instead of those who most need the healthcare receiving it, they are given less priority hence these services did not reach them(Lieu, 2003). Among the most important gauges of soundness of health in children is being able to acquire healthcare services that are of high quality. Children’s health needs appropriate and apt use of medical services like physical examinations, laboratory test for diseases, and immunizations. These services are deprived to the children of the socioeconomic minority. Healthcare disparities observed pertains to less access to healthcare services and acquisition of low quality health care services by people whom are poor, of racial and ethnic minority, limited English proficiency, and low educational attainment. Children that belong to the racial and ethnic minorities receive an inferior quality of healthcare. Not only are there a small number of children in the minority class suffering from this type of problem but millions of them(Beal, 2004). Mortality in infants in Black communities is doubled when compared to the mortalities of infants of the White communities. Even this maternal and societal health’s most significant gauge confirms that the existence of racial and ethnic disparities is true. In United States, the people of color at present have a bleak healthcare condition. Approximately 20 percent Black and 30 percent Hispanic Americans do not have consistent source of medical care compared to less than 16 percent of the White Americans. There is a three-fold increase to the numbers of Hispanic children that do not have access to healthcare when compared to children that are not Hispanic Americans(AHRQ 2000). These alarming data poses a threat to the state of health especially of children that belongs to this people that belongs to the racial and ethnic minorities. Studies which were done for the determination of the factors involved in the disparities of pediatric healthcare are of significance in identification of populations involved in these dilemma. In a study done by Hambinge et al, it was found that in well-child visits (WCVs) the black and Latino children were given less counseling(Hambidge, 2007). Racial minorities in United States such as the Latino and Black children are the main population that suffers from these inconsistencies in the provision of healthcare. Scott (2004) indicated in the conclusion of their study that Hispanic or Latino children has increased risk of having no access to healthcare services in the last 15 years. Hispanic or Latino is defined in the study as individuals that came from countries in Central America, North America, Caribbean, and Europe. The absence of access to healthcare services was found to be greater in Hispanic/ Latino children with low economic status, whose parents have no college degree, and born in other countries or not born in United States. The race which is most predispose to lack of access healthcare are children of Mexicans due to their poverty status or low educational achievements(Scott 2004). The study of Flores (2005) found an association in children’s health and healthcare to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) of their parents. This factor has a significant impact as a barrier for the acquisition of healthcare in children. The research also indicated that parental LEP has a direct association to the possibility that children in need of medical care can not be brought to healthcare providers. Racial and ethnic healthcare disparity is proven through this study because the bulk of the children that participated in the study were of racial and ethnic minority groups, 82 percent Latino, 2 percent Caribbean black, 10 percent African American, 2 percent non-Latino white, 1 percent African, 0. 3 percent Asian, and 1 percent combination of other races. Large portion of this participating population can not speak English very well. Thus, the ability to speak English fluently of children and their parents will determine their chance of receiving appropriate healthcare services(Flores, 2005). The continuing presence of racism in the healthcare sector of the society is found to be related to the underrepresentation of minority racial and ethnic groups in professions of the medical industry. Generally speaking people that are poor are predominantly people of color such as the Blacks and Hispanics. Poverty does not allow them to be with the education needed to work in healthcare industry so they are underrepresented in this profession. Study results prove that people of color in the medical profession tend to provide more healthcare services to those people which are also of color. The possibility of providing healthcare services to the poor portion of the population is also proven to be attributed to those medical professionals that are people of color. This underrepresentation explains why the racial and ethnic minority receive less healthcare services(ERASE ). Even though it is said that in professional fields the race of an individual hardly matters it is rarely true. The complexity of the factors that are involve in the disparities of healthcare in general should not hinder in the search and implementation of solutions that will alleviate the disparities suffered by the people of racial and ethnic minority, low educational attainment, limited English proficiency, and economically challenged. It is the responsibility of healthcare providers to serve the public with equality to promote the health status of the whole population instead of only those that belong to the elite portion of the population. The present ways of addressing the disparities in healthcare is focused not only on the professionals that will provide the services but also to the public consumers of these services. The goal is centered towards providing equal chance of receiving quality healthcare services. One of these strategies is the establishment of guidelines that will help medical practitioners handle, diagnose, and treat with professional competence the health cases of the people that belong to socioeconomic minority. Another strategy is helping the patients and their families pursue healthcare of high quality thru assessment of healthcare services provided by the healthcare recipient or client. Publications are written in various languages to facilitate understanding of the contents by those people that are with Limited English Proficiency. Booklets or pamphlets are also produces to help parents assess if their children were provided with health services of high quality. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is also finding ways to develop enhanced strategies for quality improvement of healthcare services. Their initiative is focused on eliminating healthcare racial and ethnic disparities, supporting of the healthcare providers that supply services to communities of the minority people, and conducting seminars or trainings on how to address healthcare disparities(AHRQ 2000). The existence of racism can not be denied even though the society has already learned to accept that people are of diverse cultures and beliefs. Various organizations have been established to stop the disparities in healthcare of children and promote equality in the acquisition of these services. Despite the research and strategies that are implemented to counteract the increasing numbers of children having no access to good quality healthcare especially those of the minority racial and ethnic origin, the problem is still present along its complexities. Though it’s a cliche â€Å"children are the future of every nation† thus it is only prompt that actions should be undertaken to promote holistic growth of their well being. Eradication of these disparities in pediatric healthcare will ensure that tomorrow’s generation will have a better health.

Evaluating Internal Controls Essay Example for Free

Evaluating Internal Controls Essay An organization’s internal controls are comprised of five components, which include: the control environment, risk assessment, control activities, monitoring, and information and communication. The five components of internal control are considered to be criteria for evaluating an organization’s financial reporting controls and the bases for auditors’ assessment of control risk as it relates to an organization’s financial statements (Lowers, et. al., 2007). â€Å"Thus, auditors must consider the five components in terms of (1) understanding a client’s financial reporting controls and documenting that understanding, (2) preliminarily assessing the control risk, and (3) testing the controls, reassessing control risk, and using that assessment to plan the remainder of the audit work† (Lowers, et. al., 2007, p. 161). Phase I – Understanding Throughout the course of Phase I an audit team will work to obtain a clear understanding of a company’s internal control environment and management’s risk assessment. The audit team will review the flow of transactions through the company’s accounting system, and the design of some client control  procedures (Lowers, et.al., 2007). In this step the audit team will perform their assessments in a top-down risk-based manner that first examines company-level controls (CLCs) and then controls of significant business units within the company (Lowers, et.al., 2007). Controls within the control environment and companywide programs include: †¢ Management’s risk assessment †¢ Centralized processing and controls including shared service environments †¢ Period-end financial reporting process †¢ Controls to monitor results of operations †¢ Controls to monitor other controls †¢ Board-approved policies that address significant business control and risk management practices (Lowers, et. al., 2007, p. 161). Once the audit team has completed their examination of CLCs the audit team will then document their understanding through the use of narrative descriptions or flowcharts. The audit team will then use one of those tools to design a preliminary program of substantive procedures for auditing assertions related to the company’s account balances, which is conducted in Phase II (Lowers, et. al., 2007). Phase II – Assessment After the audit team has completed Phase I the audit team will move into Phase II or the preliminary assessment of the company’s control risks. Throughout the course of Phase II the audit team will analyze the control strengths and weaknesses of the company. A company’s strengths are considered as specific features of good general and application controls while its weaknesses are considered as a lack of controls in particular areas (Lowers, et. al., 2007). The audit team’s findings and preliminary conclusions should then be written up and documented in audit files known as the bridge workpapers. In Phase II the audit team will seek to answer the following questions through its assessment. Can control risk be low or less than maximum? Is reduction of the control risk assessment cost-effective? Once the audit team arrives at the answers of those questions it will then specify the controls to be tested and the degree of compliance required. â€Å"The distinction between the understanding and documenting phase and the preliminary control risk assessment phase is useful for understanding the  audit work. However, most auditors in practice do the two together, not as separate and distinct audit tasks† (Lowers, et. al., 2007). Phase III – Testing In the third and final phase the audit team will then perform tests of controls of the specified controls and reassess control risk. During the testing phase the audit team will seek to answer the question of how the actual degree of company compliance compares with the required degree of compliance with the company’s control policies and procedures. The audit team will then document the basis for assessing the company’s control risks, which are less than 100% or assess the company’s high or maximum control risk and design an audit program for the company with more effective substantive procedures. The audit team will then perform a test on the planned or revised substantive procedures. Conclusion An effective evaluation of a company’s internal controls will provide the company with a reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of its objectives in the following three categories: reliability of financial reporting; effectiveness and efficiency of its operations; and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. References Lowers, T.J., Ramsay, R.J., Sinason, D. H., Strawser, J.R. (2007). Internal Control and Evaluation. Auditing and Assurance Services. 2nd ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies. New York City, NY.

Analysing Translation Studies English Language Essay

Analysing Translation Studies English Language Essay Nida points out that it is wrong to speak of a Theory of Translation because translating is essentially a technology which is dependent upon a number of disciplines. Every translator or interpreter uses a number of different theoretical models and implications, drawing on several disciplines. It is for this particular reason that the translation of the same text is not uniform when it is performed by several translators. Translation is the process and, as a process, it should be viewed from so many different perspectives (Nida 1991, p.20), including the writers intent, changes in reading preferences, diversity of source and target cultures, numerous nuances of the source text, and stylistic features of the text. As not all aspects can be transferred from the source text into the target text, the translator carefully chooses these aspects, analysing the text within a certain context and relying on certain theoretical concepts taken from relevant disciplines. For instance, as translati on revolves around the knowledge of two languages, it is necessary for the translator to delve into the essence of linguistics and assess the source text from the linguistic viewpoint, identifying the differences in two linguistic systems (Schaffner Wiesemann 2001, p.7). In this regard, a Theory of Translation, according to Malmkjaer (2005, p.22), should be subsumed under linguistic theory. The linguistic theory of translation develops diverse methods and techniques of translation which are either optional or obligatory (Schaffner Wiesemann 2001, p.8), and these methods help translators transfer the meaning from the source text into the target text. Likewise, sociolinguistics provides valuable insights into the use of theoretical concepts of translation in practice and the ways in which societies employ language in interpersonal relations (Nida 1991, p.25). The translator who draws on sociolinguistics when translating from one language into another pays special attention to extralinguistic and paralinguistic aspects of the text. A text (or a speech) can be properly translated only if the translator (or the interpreter) is able to draw parallels between the content of a text (or a speech) and extralinguistic and paralinguistic codes used by the writer (or the speaker). Knowledge of extralinguistic and paralinguistic codes also allows the translator to bring together the content and form and thus deduce a more exact meaning of a text. As such, a Theory of Translation within sociolinguistics helps the translator fill the gaps in the process of decoding messages sent by the writer to the reader. Cultural studies develop a theory of translation that resists dominant target-language cultural values so as to signify the linguistic and cultural difference of the foreign text (Venuti 1995, p.18). The cultural theory of translation complements the linguistic theory of translation by placing the text within the socio-cultural context. In light of this, the juxtaposition of the linguistic theory of translation and the cultural theory of translation allows to establish the systematic relationship between linguistic structures at the textual micro-level and social, cultural, historical conditions of text production and reception (Schaffner Wiesemann 2001, p.13). Delving deeper into the essence of translation, scholars have also found out that the meaning of the text has relevance to three crucial components the writer, the message, and the reader (Riccardi 2002, p.84; Armstrong 2005, p.44). The more information the translator has of the writer, of the exact message, and the intended reader, the more accurate translation he/she will produce. This recognition has paved the way to the advance of the hermeneutics of translation (Munday 2001, p.163). As Kin Yuen (2001, p.334) acknowledges, the structure of translation was discovered by modern hermeneutics. The development of the structure of translation by hermeneutics provides conclusive evidence that a Theory of Translation is a misnomer for other disciplines. It is hermeneutics that has equated translation with interpretation, thus rejecting the assumption that translation is a simple reproduction of the text in the target language (Kin Yuen 2001, p.335). The translator does not reproduce the text in another language; he/she interprets it, adhering to certain norms and theoretical concepts. A Theory of Translation can not be regarded as a separate discipline or science because a separate discipline needs its metalanguage to create specific theoretical concepts; yet a Theory of Translation employs metalanguage of the above mentioned disciplines to formulate definitions and concepts. For instance, the linguistic theory of translation operates with such concepts as overt translation, covert translation, equivalence, communicative translation, and adaptation (Schaffner Wiesemann 2001, p.8), while the cultural theory of translation uses such terms as domestication, foreignisation, and resistancy (Schaffner Wiesemann 2001, p.12). As a result of the lack of metalanguage, a Theory of Translation has no agreement on the central concepts (Schaffner Wiesemann 2001, p.6). When speaking of a Theory of Translation, scholars use such categories as intersemiotic translation and interlingual translation (Gentzler 2001, p.1), thus explicitly emphasising the fact that the translation t heory stems from such disciplines as semiotics, linguistics, and the philosophy of language and that it is only a model which is used to bring up questions for the research. As a model, a Theory of Translation relies not on sound theoretical conception but rather on assumptions and hypotheses; as such, a Theory of Translation is limited and can not be regarded as a valid equivalence for the mentioned disciplines. A Theory of Translation moves along the vicious circle; it has to be drawn on reliable data from the research. Yet the research can not be conducted if theoretical concepts are not formulated. As the essay has clearly shown, there is no such a thing as a Theory of Translation; while this term is used in academic sources, it is more correct to regard a Theory of Translation as a misnomer for such disciplines as linguistics, sociology, sociolinguistics, hermeneutics, philosophy of language, psychology, narratology, semiotics, stylistics, literary history, and cultural history in view of the multifaceted nature of translational phenomena (Malmkjaer 2005, p.21). As the acquired evidence demonstrates, it is not a mere question of wordsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ there [is] a deeper meaning behind these terminological hesitations (Lambert, 2006, p.77). A consolidated Theory of Translation has not been built yet; instead, as Schaffner and Wiesmann (2001, p.6) put it, there is a multiplicity of different approaches, each of each focuses on specific aspects, looking at the product or the process of translation from a specific angle. All these theoretical approaches to translation embedded in v arious disciplines are not necessarily exclusive, but rather complementary (Schaffner and Wiesmann 2001, p.13). To subsume a Theory of Translation into a separate discipline or science, it is necessary to develop a metalanguage specific to it and, using this metalanguage, formulate new concepts and definitions which will generate a unified Theory of Translation.

Hhv-8 :: essays research papers

â€Å"Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) and Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS)†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human herpes virus (HHV-8) poses a challenging task for researchers determining its role in Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). People with KS are distinguished by their placement in four categories. The first category consists of elderly males of Mediterranean or Eastern European Jewish descent. The second category consists of individuals of all ages from Africa. Neither one of these categories is associated with immune deficiency or known environmental factors. The last two categories are associated with organ transplants or HIV-1. In all forms of KS males are predominantly affected.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kaposi’s Sarcomas are known to harbor cells known as spindle shaped cells (SC). The spindle shaped cells are associated with abnormal blood vessel development and blood leakage. Although, the SC is the most frequently encountered cell in KS tumors it is undetermined if they are neoplastic cells or hyperproliferating cells or an altered cell induced by cytokines (INF-).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although, it is easy to believe that all cells in a tumor are neoplastic, evidence suggests otherwise. There are three characteristics that are present in all KS cells whether they are neoplastic or not. The first is absence of a histologically distinguishable neoplastic cell. The second is the lack of usual chromosomal abnormalities. The last is a combination of three features angiogenesis, inflammation, and proliferation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The one factor that brings the four categories of people infected with KS is HHV-8 found in KS tissues. Although, HHV-8 is thought to be connected to KS, HHV-8 itself has very low risk factor for KS development. Most reports on KS indicate a 2% to 10% prevalence of HHV-8 in the world, but in the U.S. there is thought to be a 5% prevalence among men according to a 1970s baseline incidence of KS. In relation to HIV-1 incidence of KS increases by a factor of 20,000 to 50,000 times with the presence of HHV-8.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is postulated that HIV-1 infections promote HHV-8 replication indirectly by suppression of host immune systems. KS is thought to begin with micro-vascular lesions mediated by different environmental factors for each of the four categories of KS. One of these factors is abnormal cytokine production; in HIV-1 associated KS, this includes an increase in inflammatory cytokines, such as IFN , TNF , and IL-7 that are enhanced by Tat of HIV-1. Tat which is essential for HIV-1 replication is released and taken up by other cells, where it inhibits T-cell proliferation and promotes abnormal cytokine production, adhesion, and growth.

A Jewish Reading of Milton Essay example -- Biography Biographies Essa

A Jewish Reading of Milton John Milton produced some of the most memorable Christian texts in English literature. Central pieces of Milton’s work, including Paradise Lost and Samson Agonistes, specifically allude to stories that Judaism and Christianity hold in common. Historically, the anti-monarchical regime Milton supported, under the leadership of Cromwell, informally allowed Jews back into England in 1655 after Edward I exiled them in 1290 (Trepp 151). Additionally, seventeenth-century British Christians looked increasingly to Jewish texts to understand their own religion (e.g. Robert Ainsworth and John Seldon), with Hebraic studies from German scholarship and Latin translations of Jewish texts entering during the interregnum (Biberman 141-42; Werman 25). Thus, critics have wondered how much of an appreciation (or lack thereof) Milton had for Jewish tradition, and how his famous texts speak to Jewish readers. This readership refers not merely to religiously or ethnically Jewish readers but to a literary approach; just as a critic may apply a feminist or Marxist approach, one may also apply questions about treatment or marginalization of Jews, or related attitudes in a text (without being Jewish, feminist, Marxist, etc.). A Jewish reading of Milton reveals that although he held intolerant views toward Jews, his explicit citations and implicit agreements with Jewish Scriptural interpretation, as well as stylistic relations to Jewish commentary, demonstrate appreciable esteem for Hebraic thought. Critics have typically focused on the debate over the extent of Milton’s access to primary sources or whether he used translations and secondary information from Christian Hebraists. Adams, Conklin, Mendelsohn, a... ...nd Law in Paradise Lost. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1994. Steinsaltz, Adin. The Essential Talmud. Trans. Chaya Galai. New York: Basic, 1976. Trepp, Leo. A History of the Jewish Experience. Springfield, NJ: Behrman, 2001. Weiss-Rosmarin, Trude. Judaism and Christianity. Middle Village, NY: Jonathan David, 1997. Werman, Golda. Milton and Midrash. Washington, DC: Catholic U of America P, 1995. Notes 1 Despite the temptation, Flannagan wisely avoids a strong philo-Hebraic reading here, interpreting the praise of â€Å"proto-Christian† art merely as an example of religious superiority over the Greeks and not artistic superiority (footnote 103). Milton continuously uses Greek styles in his work, even citing Aristotle as his guide in writing Samson Agonistes (see â€Å"Of that sort of Dramatic Poem which is call’d Tragedy,† a preface to Samson Agonistes, 799-800).

Life and Work of Langston Hughes Essays -- Hughes Writer Poet Biograph

Life and Work of Langston Hughes Early Years James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri, on February 1, 1902, to James Nathaniel Hughes, a lawyer and businessman, and Carrie Mercer (Langston) Hughes, a teacher. The couple separated shortly thereafter. James Hughes was, by his son’s account, a cold man who hated blacks (and hated himself for being one), feeling that most of them deserved their ill fortune because of what he considered their ignorance and laziness. Langston’s youthful visits to him there, although sometimes for extended periods, were strained and painful. He attended Columbia University in 1921-22, and when he died he, left everything to three elderly women who had cared for him in his last illness, and Langston was not even mentioned in his will.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hughes mother went through protracted separations and reconciliations in her second marriage (she and her son from this marriage would live with him off and on in later years. He was raised by alternately by her, by his maternal grandmother, and, after his grandmother’s death, by family friends. By the time he was fourteen, he had lived in Joplin; Buffalo; Cleveland; Lawrence, Kansas; Mexico City; Topeka, Kansas; Colorado Springs; Kansas City; and Lincoln, Illinois. In 1915, he was class poet of his grammar-school graduating class in Lincoln. From 1916 to 1920, he attended Central High School in Cleveland, where he was a star athlete, wrote poetry and short stories (and published many of them in the Central High Monthly), and on his own read such modern poets as Paul Laurence Dunbar, Edgar Lee Masters, Vachel Lindsay, and Carl Sandburg. His classmates were for the most part the children of European immigrants, who treated him largely without discrimination and introduced him to leftist political ideas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After graduation in 1920, he went to Mexico to teach English for a year. While on the train to Mexico, he wrote the poem â€Å"the Negro Speaks of Rivers†, which was published in the June 1921 issue of The Crisis, a leading black publication. After his academic year at Columbia, he lived for a year in Harlem, embarked on a six-month voyage as a cabin boy on a merchant freighter bound for West Africa. After its return, he took a job on a ship sailing to Holland.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After being robbed on a train in Italy and working his passage back to New York in November of 1924,... ... Works Sited Rampersad, Arnold. The Life of Langston Hughes Volume 1:1902-1941. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986 Berry, Faith. Langston Hughes Before and Beyond Harlem Connecticut: Lawrence Hill and Company Publishers, 1983 OJO-ADE, Femi. Of Dreams Deferred Dead Or Alive African Perspectives on African-American Writers Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1996 Hatch, James V. Lost plays of the Harlem Renaissance 1920-1940 Michigan: Wayne State University Press, 1996 Cullen, Countee. Caroling Dusk New York: Haper and Brothers Publishers, 1997 Short Poems by Langston Hughes HOMESICK BLUES De railroad bridge’s A sad song in de air. De railroad bridge’s A sad song in de air Ever time de trains pass I wants to go somewhere SONG FOR A DARK GIRL Way down South Dixie (break the heart of me) They hung my young black lover To a cross roads tree Way down South in Dixie (break the heart of me) I asked the white lord Jesus What was the use of prayer. Way down in South Dixie (break the heart of me) Love is a naked shadow On a gnarled and naked tree SUICIDE’S NOTE The calm, Cool face of the river Asked me for a kiss.

Semiotics Essay

Serrena Wortham English 101/Johnson Semiotics Essay 1 10/18/12 Country Stars Within Society There are a lot of movies with a main character stereo-typed as a cowboy that might have dark skin from working in the sun, is muscular, has rough hands, and a southern drawl. He might ride a horse, work really hard in the barn or on a tractor, sing or play a classic country song, and is gentleman to all woman. This is an image that comes in the mind of many people who think of cowboys, and there could be some out there like this description. Based upon movies with characters like this, has the truth been twisted to make all these stereo-types?The media has created the idea of these male country stars being rugged and dangerous, giving a physical attraction or desire, and in addition being loyal and respectful to woman. These technically are not bad things, but they could be stereo-typical and judgmental. Male country stars are portrayed as masculine or rough in many magazine covers, ads, movi es and TV shows. For example in a Wranglers Retro Jeans ad, Jason Aldean smirks at the camera wearing his worn out blue jeans frayed at the bottom, ragged on t-shirt, and classic cowboy hat at one of his concerts. This laid back look of his is not very unheard of by country males.This ad shows Jason can have a full range of motion in the jeans, that they are durable enough to hold him all the way through his high energy concerts and other day activities. This implies that a male country star is hard on his jeans and needs them to be durable and reliable. Another example within this ad is the Wranglers logo. A rope spells out Wranglers on a leather patch with thick visible stitching. This shows that it will not move no matter what you put it through, such as the hard work of a cowboy. By looking at adds and pictures this is what you see but other examples can be hidden in lyrics of many country stars.For example Justin Moore’s song â€Å"I Could Kick Your Ass†. â€Å"Y ou got your million bucks, You got your flashy sports car, You got your trophy girls, Man you think you're a star, You got your teeth bleached, You like to play the rich game, Yeah you think you're a cowboy, The new Jesse James, I could kick your ass†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Justin Moore is claiming the person he is singing to is feminine and would loose in a fight against himself. He wants to show his rugged, harsh nature to his opponent to intimidate or fire him up to fight. This could be portrayed as â€Å"bad boy† behavior, which can be desirable.The â€Å"barbaric† attitude and look of these country stars can also be seen as sexy. â€Å"COUNTRY’S HOTTEST GUYS! † is one of first things seen on the April 2012 Country Special of People magazine cover, besides Blake Shelton’s enlarged perfected smirk. He is one of the nicer dressing country stars of today with his light colored button up shirt and vest, nicely controlled hair, but with the sexy unpolished lo ok of his unshaven face and intimate eyes. As if this look doesn’t catch your eyes enough the text fitted close to his face, â€Å"Blake Shelton- His funniest (AND BEST) interview ever! , will catch your eyes. Not only are they selling his looks but his personality also. It shows that there is more to see inside. Even if you weren’t attracted by his looks you could be drawn in by the fact that he is funny. Desiring an attractive, intimate, and funny guy is enough to buy a magazine for many woman, but there are a few more factors that are shown in other advertisements. In the poster for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s new fragrances, Tim shows his protection and loyalty to his wife by his body language, while Faith shows her contentment.His body is almost completely sheltering Faith from whatever could get her, his slight glare and straight mouth expression shows his seriousness and love towards the woman he is protecting. This look, the dark plainness of his shirt, and his classic cowboy hat shows his rough side while Faith’s smile and contentment with her husband shows how loved she feels by a man who is as loyal as he. They are both looking in the same direction off to the left, this symbolizes they share the same goals and feelings for each other. They are together and are sharing something mportant. All together this cowboy/country star is absolutely in love, loyal, and protective of his wife. After his recent marriage to Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton in his song â€Å"Honey Bee† has lyrics that form yet another example. â€Å" You'll be my soft and sweet, I'll be your strong and steady, You'll be my glass of wine, I'll be your shot of whiskey, You'll be my sunny day, I'll be your shade tree,You'll be my honeysuckle, I'll be your honey bee†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In this song he demonstrates how perfectly things work together contrasting.Miranda being his soft and sweet, just like Faith letting her husband protect her and love her. Blake being the strong and steady protecting and respecting his wife, just like Tim. Miranda being the glass of wine demonstrates a soft relaxation while Blake being a shot of whiskey can also demonstrate a harsh, rugged personality. As I have explained, cowboys having a blunt ruggedness, seen as physically attractive and their respectful, loyal personalities make up the stereo-types of country stars today.Have people used this stereo-type of cowboys to make money or sell an idea? This is definitely how advertising operates. Creating a good idea in a movie or TV show, making it desirable and then making products and selling them based off of the stereo-type. For example when a little boy see’s a Star Wars movie and suddenly wants to be Luke Skywalker, he will beg his parents for a light-saber, and this is the goal to advertising, which had made country music as big as it is today.

Green Transportation System For Sustainable Campus Environmental Sciences Essay

Green conveyance or sustainable conveyance refers to the any transit which does non affect non-renewable energy and produces less harmful impact to the environment. For case, walking and cycling, green vehicles, auto pooling, theodolite oriented development, human-powered conveyance, renewable energy transit or alternate transit, and other signifiers of protecting conveyance system that are less fuel consume, infinite efficiency, low cost, and advance healthy life style. The term green conveyance came into usage as the society is turning involvement in the constructs of sustainable development that aims to â€Å" run into the demands of the present without compromising the ability of future coevalss to run into their ain needs. † ( DESA,1999 ) . It used to depict manners of conveyance, and systems of conveyance planning, which are more focal point on environmental concerns. Besides, there are many definitions of green conveyance, and some related term such as sustainable mobility. One such definition, from the European Union Council of Ministers of Transport, sustainable transit mean: â€Å" Allows the basic entree and development demands of persons, companies and society to be met safely and in a mode consistent with human and ecosystem wellness, and promotes equity within and between consecutive coevalss. Is Low-cost, operates reasonably and expeditiously, offers a pick of conveyance manner, and supports a competitory economic system, every bit good as balanced regional development. Limits emanations and waste within the planet ‘s ability to absorb them, uses renewable resources at or below their rates of coevals, and uses non-renewable resources at or below the rates of development of renewable replacements, while minimising the impact on the usage of land and the coevals of noise. † ( 2001: 8 ) The constructs of green conveyance were developed before the phrase was invented. The first type of conveyance is walking and which besides is the most sustainable. After the innovation of public coach by Blaise Pascal in 1662, the public conveyance day of the months back. ( Alfred, 2008 ) . Continue with the increased wealth during the station war old ages which brought a demand for greater mobility for human and goods. However, public investing in walking and bicycling declined dramatically in the Great Britain, United States, and Australasia although this did non happen to the same extent in mainland Europe or Canada. ( Pucher, J. & A ; Dijkstra, L. ,2003 ) ; ( Transportation Research Board, 2001 ) . When the crisis of oil and energy during 1973 and 1979, focal point on the sustainability of this attack became widespread. The restriction and increasing monetary value of fuels led to a revival of involvement in options to individual tenancy vehicle travel. A survey by the United States Federal Highway Administration ( 2004 ) which release in 2004 concluded that an of import constituent of overall national conveyance scheme need a more proactive attack to transit demand. A sustainable conveyance system exists to supply economic connexion and societal, and people hurry pick up the chances by increased mobility. The increased mobility is good, but we need to weigh its advantages from the facet of societal, economic cost, and environmental that conveyance system poses. Transportation system has high environmental impact, accounting for between 20 % and 25 % of universe energy ingestion and C dioxide emanations. ( World Energy Council, 2007 ) . Harmonizing to the research, the gas emanations from conveyance which contribute to the nursery consequence are increasing at a faster rate comparison to other energy utilizing sector ( U.S Environmental Protection Agency, 2002 ) . Therefore, a proper conveyance planning is needed. A sustainable transit system must supply handiness and mobility to society in environmental friendly manner of conveyance. This is a hard undertaking when the demands and demands of people with different income are frequently conflicting. For illustration, if most people are non attempt to hold their ain vehicle or non attempt to utilize public conveyance, they have to either walk or sit bike to work. Construct another safe substructure for walkers and bicyclers may necessitate the separation of route infinite from motorized traffic or cut down the velocities of vehicles. Both steps could ensue in curtailing mobility of auto users. Similarly, steps to cut down air pollution at the same clip may conflict with those needed for decrease in route accidents. For case, increases the mean velocities of vehicle may cut down the emanations gas but may ensue in increasing the accident rates. Furthermore, most of the authorities policy paperss and public treatments on transit are more concern about the air pollution. Peoples look upon the wellness job owing to pollution are as worthy of public action whereas those due to accidents job as owing to single errors. As a consequence, most of the policy paperss covering with sustainable development ever include options for pollution decrease. In pattern green conveyance is more fuel efficient, but merely in comparing with some standard vehicles. It still will lend to traffic congestion and route clangs. Although there have a batch of conveyance picks with really low environmental impact such as human-powered vehicles and other animate being powered conveyance, but the most common conveyance picks with the least environmental impact are cycling and walking. By taking to walk or bicycle, it help to cut down nursery gas emanations, increased wellness benefits from a more active life style, and a decrease in the happening of respiratory complaints associated with hapless air quality. ( The City of Chicago ‘s Official Tourism site, 2010 )1.2 Problem StatementPresents, progress logistics is a critical nexus in the conveyance system. They have increased the efficiency, cost, and dependability facets of our facets of our bringing system consist of terminal supply concatenation. However, the environmental impact that cause b y the visual aspect of transit toward the high fuel ingestion, noise pollution, gradual alteration from the motion of quiver, and the accident is now at the serious degree of the sustainability issue have been identified to come into â€Å" harmony terdepan † argument globally. Many people believe in the theory of peak oil, which mean that there is a certain point in clip when our oil production will top out, and so fall into sudden diminution. But clocking that extremum is hard at the best. Some experts believe that gasolene and Diesel fuels will still play a major function by twelvemonth 2050 ( World Energy Councils, 2007 ) , but their biofuel part will be important and we are now at the â€Å" Twilight old ages † of fossil fuels production. Other experts we might hold every bit many as hundred old ages before peak oil occurs. Whether we are traveling to run out of oil or non is non the chief issue. As we know, fossil fuel is non renewable and we are traveling to run out in someday. Do we necessitate to travel to more alien energy transition engineering ( fuel cell vehicles? ) , or can bettering fuel belongingss further let us to go on utilizing burning engines to power our vehicles? Besides taking S, should at that place be less aromatic in fuels? Should aromatics be eliminated? What fuel belongingss can still be improved in gasolene and Diesel? Is there a function for oxygenates in gasolene and Diesel? Can we and should we cut down our dependence on rough oil for transit energy? Does intermixing oxygenates in fuels help or impede in accomplishing the environmental ends? To worsen the state of affairs, i know that around 250,000 new conveyance enter Malaysian roads manually, and the public conveyance is nil to shout approximately. This figure had increased the traffic jam job in Malaysia. The traffic jams can impact the socio-economy of the state. Every twenty-four hours, traffic jam cost the state in term of clip, environmental pollution, and wasted energy. Other than that, it causes emphasiss which indirectly increase the unwellnesss of our society.1.3 Research aimThe purposes of this research are to: Explore the sustainable conveyance which is safe, economically feasible, socially acceptable to people, topographic points, goods and services in campus. Study / analysis current transit system of University Malaya. Recommend the usage of cycling / walking as a feasible Green conveyance in University Malaya.1.4 Research QuestionBased on my research survey, I will be able to reply the inquiries as followers: What is green transit system? What are the policies that should be integrate to accomplish sustainability in campus? What is the most suited conveyance for a pupil? Why pupils ne'er consider to walk or bicycle in campus? Who should responsible to the environmental impact of the transit? Who are involved in carry out the green conveyance? Why green transit systems play a important function in campus?1.5 Literature reappraisalIt is progressively apparent that modern life styles in flush societies, and the mobility behaviour associated with such life styles, are non consistent with the protection of environmental quality, the efficient usage of resources, and the publicity of societal coherence and merely distributions of chances and costs of utilizing transport systems. ( Donaghy, Rudinger, Poppelreuter, 2004 ) . There is now wide understanding in the universe that present tendencies in conveyance are non sustainable. Many bookmans have concluded that cardinal alterations in engineering, design, operation, and funding are needed. The construct of sustainability every bit good as the environmental impacts, energy ingestion and equity issues caused by conveyance are discussed. Many metropoliss confronting such common jobs as traffic jam, traffic pollution on environment, and low efficiency of using traffic resources. From Lu, Wang, and Shen ( 2003 ) sentiments, it is a necessary pick and ultimate aim to build the urban sustainable transit system. Hence, the intension and the manner to build the sustainable transit system, the system of policy and steps to recognize the aim are scantly analyzed. But their paper merely bases on this job, discusses the construct of the sustainable development, the sustainable development of conveyance, the impact factors of the sustainable transit system, the manner, policy and steps to recognize the nonsubjective, and so on. Liu ( 2003 ) and Song ( 2006 ) define green conveyance as the key to construct healthy and sustainable conveyance system. Likewise, Batterbury ( 2004 ) reference that a cardinal component of sustainable development in metropoliss is the execution of more effectual, less polluting, and just transit. The nucleus of green conveyance is expansibility of resource, environment and system. We should understand the dealingss among conveyance system development, resource and environment from strategically positions. Harmonizing by Liu ( 2003 ) , green conveyance means non merely internal conveyance system optimisation and exterior harmoniousness, but besides high and sustainable efficiency. As the universe ‘s population additions and its resources remain changeless, there is a demand to turn to the sustainability of transit systems. Linda and Robert ( 2004 ) see the go oning addition in the usage and denseness of cars ( more vehicles with fewer people in them going greater distances over proportionately shorter roads ) in relation to transit sustainability and quality of life. Barbara ( 1999 ) defined a sustainable transit system as one in which fuel ingestion, vehicle emanations, safety, congestion, and societal and economic entree are of such degrees that they can be sustained into the indefinite hereafter without doing great or irreparable injury to future coevalss of people throughout the universe. On the other manus, Litman ( 2007 ) defined that sustainable transit system is one which allows the basic entree demands of persons and societies to be met safely and in a mode consistent with human and ecosystem wellness, and with equity within and between coevalss. Based on Yin and Li ( 2009 ) research, in order to construct a friendly environment and salvage resources, therefore to supply a transit system that is sensible in travel distance, sustainable in average construction, and effectual in services is needed. Ge, Wang, Deng ( 2004 ) , Jiang, Guo ( 2009 ) , and Lu, Gao ( 1999 ) stated that twenty-first century is an environment protection century and environmental issues top all the jobs of metropolis development in the new epoch, so metropolis transit development must lodge to the rule of environment protection, and see developing pollution-free ‘green transit ‘ as its basic policy and end. In their documents, both of them had discussed the of import of green transit and it relationship with sustainable development. A research worker, Song ( 2006 ) found that there are many failing in nowadays traffic scheduling, we should convey up new ideas for traffic planning and concept a harmonious society with the features that take peopleaˆ?s involvements into first consideration, harmonizing to new construct of green conveyance planning. Wang, Jiang, and Lan ( 2000 ) besides agree with Song, they think that the old transit planning attack is no longer suited for sustainable development of transit system nowadays when urban environment is acquiring even worse. Clearly, the demand and chances for extra research, learning and service acquisition on transit system are infinite. They are bounded merely by our creativeness and willingness to take hazards and better our manner of life. The overruling issue is the manner of thought and the demand to alter everyday determinations, degrees of committedness and one ‘s ain behaviour. In my sentiment, those old researches are excessively focus on the execution of green transit system in urban country. They forgot about that college campuses are distinguishable communities, in the words of Creighton ( 1998 ) ‘microcosms of society ‘ , and that they have varied and often-large environmental impacts. Campuss are clearly ‘de-marketing car transposing ‘ ( Wright and Egan, 2000 ) and actively advancing alternate transit manners particularly walking and cycling. Biking or walking is healthy and salvage money. That is the decision of an increasing figure of scientific surveies measuring the impacts of bicycling and walking on degrees of physical activity, fleshiness rates, cardiovascular wellness, and morbidity. ( Anderson, et Al. 2000 ) , ( Bassett, et Al. 2008 ) , ( Bauman, et al 2008 ) , ( BMA, 1992 ) , ( Cavill, et al 2006 ) , ( Dora and Phillips, 2000 ) , ( Gordon-Larsen, et al 2009 ) , ( Hamer and Chida, 2008 ) , ( Hillman,1993 ) , ( Huy, et al 2008 ) , ( Matthews, et al 2007 ) , ( Roberts, et al 1996 ) and ( Shephard, 2008 ) . Biking and walking conveyance behaviours depend on the natural, substructure, socioeconomic, and environment of a topographic point. Harmonizing to Zahran, et Al. ( 2008 ) , statistical relationships study can supply utile information to the conveyance and wellness contrivers which aim to promote green transit behaviour. â€Å" Even though the turning scholarly involvement on biking and walking as feasible transit options, but small empirical research has been conducted on the determiners of non-motorized transit pick. † Zahran, et Al. ( 2008:462 ) . Many of the surveies merely investigate walking and bicycling conveyance behaviours at the vicinity graduated table for limited infinite, and with little sets of forecasters. A study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies ( 2005 ) reference that more research is needed on the â€Å" consequence of the built environment on physical activity † particularly in campus. By taking to walk or bicycle alternatively of driving, pupils can assist to cut down nursery gas emanations in campus. If campus can get down to advance walking and bicycling as a merriment, healthy, safe and environmentally-conscious manner of acquiring to analyze, the campus sure will hold the possible be a bike-friendly campus. In the last decennary, many campus contrivers have been fighting to supply entree and mobility without destructing campus qualities as distinguishable communities. So, my research is to reflect on how college campuses have encouraged a average displacement from autos to other manners, and in peculiar to biking and walking. Due to their pro-active educational background, I guarantee that campus is the possible topographic point to pass on sustainable and to assist reshape society ‘s transit forms. Harmonizing to Orr ( 1992a ) , colleges and universities non merely must larn to be responsibly in their self-interest but it is besides the right to be responsible. This self-interest had been realized since 1990 sign language of the ‘Talloires Declaration ‘ by the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future. â€Å" The Talloires Declaration spells out cardinal actions that establishments of higher instruction must take to make a more sustainable hereafter. † ( Carlos, 2003 ) Now there was more than 275 university leaders and international experts in over 40 states worldwide have subscribed its sustainable rules. On campus evidences sustainable transit planning can be seen as supplying basic substructures which can promote pupils to bicycle or walk and associating transit planning to set down usage planning. Many campus contrivers ever agree that college ‘s possible to impact the transit behaviour of the campus. Not merely that, in the hereafter pupils besides can develop their transit wonts and environmental consciousness, as â€Å" they will come on to busy influential functions in authorities, companies or other organisations † ( Tolley, 1996 ) However, many research workers largely undertake the research on the usage of environmentally friendly alternate energy beginnings or the invention of new green conveyance to cut down the environment impacts. They forgot that a basic constituent to successfully following a hereafter sustainable conveyance must get down from a good practise of our immature coevalss.1.6 Research MethodologiesResearch methodological analysis is a system of method of process in research or survey. It is an of import tool to add value on the research by utilizing aggregation, assemblage and analyzing information. The usage of the methodological analysis is of import to empirical consequence for research. In this research, I will utilize two chief qualitative research and one quantitative research methodological analysiss to holding a consequence from theoretical facet and from the existent universe facet. Interview is the 1 of the methodological analysiss utilizing in this research to roll up the information from specific parties. An unstructured attack of interview study will be chose to understanding more recent issues and roll up the sentiments of the interviewers towards the research subject. There will be an interview session with the selected offices such as HEP and JPPHB to acquire the remarks or possible positions related to green transit system. Other than that, the professors or lectors who are more concern about the rejuvenation of campus will be interview to hold their sentiment on the sustainable conveyance and the pattern of cycling plan in campus. The 2nd methodological analysis which used in this research is library research. From library research can be defined as the systematic survey and probe of some facet of library and information scientific discipline in which decisions are based on the statistical analysis of informations collected in conformity with pre-established research design and methodological analysis. The analysis stuffs and readings on the research subject will be used to roll up more comprehensive thought on the research subject. The online seeking besides will be one of the methods to roll up the necessary information which may be non possible to seek in the library or through interview. Third, I will inquire some subjective inquiries related to the sustainable campus in a study signifier and distribute to around 200 pupils to garner the informations about their idea and behaviours. The study signifier will give out via electronic mail or station on facebook with the conditions merely for UM pupils.1.7 Research RestrictionIn my ain research there were several restrictions I came across, including: Uncontrollable Test Group- Because every homo is different, so it is hard for me to happen a group of people who have precisely same thought. This means that I had to study as many people as possible so that merely can account for differences. Size and specificity in trial groups- So far my research merely had a really little trial group which contained 200 pupils from different modules, and often in my survey the topics will all be taken from merely one constitution such as merely in University Malaya. As a consequence, most of the studied has a really similar category group or environment and their consequences may non so be used to pull the whole decisions. Personal Perception- To acquire some utile sentiment, I will inquire some subjective inquiry in the signifier of a study such as â€Å" what is the most suited conveyance for a pupil to come to school? † However, many studies have shown that a individual ‘s perceptual experience of themselves is different and their descriptions of their ain suited conveyance non necessary suitable for others. Facebook- In order to acquire as many people as possible, I plan to open a study on Facebook, but this means that for those who answer the study must had a Facebook history. Therefore my informations is focus on pupils who have easy and consistent entree to a computing machine and internet service. Changes over Time- Everything is altering over the clip. The policies, ordinances, even the conditions will maintain on altering every twenty-four hours. This alteration mean any research done may be invalidated in the hereafter as find of a new conveyance that may do new or different effects. Research on green conveyance system is hence will behind the curve.

How Does Media Affect My Life

How Does Media Affect My Life? The developing industry of media and technology has flourished into a revolution. A revolution in which has embarked on plenty of opportunities for media companies to expand and give people the ability to experience a new wave of media products and communications. The affects in which the author of the novel ‘The Shallows’, Nicholas Carr, discusses throughout his own personal experiences of how media has negatively affected his life and his mentality.From reading his novel and his insight on what the Internet is really doing to our brains, I was able to contrast what Carr had said to my own perspective and connect it to experience’s I have had similar to his. Through decades, the evolution of technology has cultivated media into something so easily accessible. Thus, creating those using this technology, to be unfocused in our generation and future generations, changing ones behaviour and creating habits due to neuroplasticity, and fi nally the crave for more technology to meet our generations enthusiastic needs.In this generation, the media has provided its audiences and purchasers with the opportunities and experiences to broaden their personal horizons. Companies and industries have provided societies and people globally with many chances to explore the World Wide Web. Carr explains his insights of the Internet thoroughly throughout his first chapter ‘Hal and Me’. He explains his involvement with his first ever purchased computer and how he fell in love with the capabilities the machine provided. Carr became so involved with the computer he invested into more computers when they were first released.Carr quickly realized what his machine and Internet was actually doing to his brain years later, making him completely unfocused. He noticed specifically when trying to read through a book, and he was not the only one. I think that the media and the Internet have taken away from the generation today, an d future generations to come. The Internet has made it impossible for people like myself, to stay focused for a long period of time while reading. There are easier ways to get a hold of readings from the Internet, with websites such as SparkNotes.Students like myself have used have used the significant source of Sparknotes to gather information about books and articles. The Internet provides a variety of sources and web blogs that help people gather information, and at the same time preventing them from reading an entire book, destroying their focus. It has become a norm today to hop on the Internet and type in a weblog, not providing one with full detail, and skimming through to gain their knowledge. The human brain allows you to discover new experiences and changes in your behaviour. Neuroplacity is responsible for providing us with neural pathways that lead to constant changes.It is neuroplacity that shapes the way we think on a daily basis. We are sucked into the media in the si mplest ways, and we do not realize the major effects that it causes to our mind. The more we involve ourselves with the media technology and Internet, we become more infatuated, as it locks our brains into a certain routine. Carr describes neuroplacity as the â€Å"ability in our brain that allows us to adapt to new situations, learn new stuff, and expand our horizons† (Carr, 34) but it is the constant desire to continue the repetition that makes neuroplacity negative aspect in the media spectrum .When our brain practices certain behaviors continuously, our circuits begin to crave it more. Habits develop such as entering a topic in a search engine on Google or Yahoo. We use search engines to view articles, and access social networks, as we depend on the Internets search engine for our daily dose of communication and media. Therefore, neuroplacity is creating habits that make one crave the Internet and media technology throughout the day in a way that destroys our brain. Enthu siasts celebrate new technology, and the thought of new media being released.They are people who believe that the Internet is only making our culture better in a positive way, indicating it is â€Å"a ‘democratization’ of culture† (Carr, 2). Globally our culture today has become full of enthusiasts, who crave the thought of new media and technology. It is common for people to be excited about the latest phones being released and new updates on websites. Our technology has changed drastically over decades, creating a more convenient way to communicate, share and receive information.Carr describes the extreme change in the way we now look at time. Clocks have become more accurate than ever before, as they were only put into places such as town halls, churches, and palaces (Carr, 43). Today, they are available for every home, hand held, and accessible through electronic devices. Carr describes the mechanical clock transformation as changing the way we see ourselves (Carr, 43). Today’s technology has helped people globally communicate with one another, shop online, search and share their own information.The media phenomenon has become so easily accessible that people now crave for more information, and want the latest technology. Skeptics predicted that this phenomenon would dumb down our culture globally. With the evidence supported by Carr, I do not believe that our culture is ‘dumb downed’ by the media, but it has provided us with more varieties of sources and technology to explore other possibilities. I do agree that the media has created a negative effect on how individuals perceive things now that media has taken over.Clocks went from only being in town halls, churches, and palaces. They are now easily accessible on a smart phone, because of the demand of new, and better technology. More technology and media are being produced today, to live up to our global expectations. The evolution of media has constructed humanâ⠂¬â„¢s thoughts in such a way that adapts to the current society of media. Current civilization has developed into such a technological state in which our society is dependent on. Human behaviors have taken a negative effect from the media in the sense that we are processing so much information.Carr allows us to observe the effects that the Internet and current media have on neuroplacity in the human mind. Media and technology industries are achieving success in the demands of new media products and sources. Global societies have depended on the Internet, and other convenient technologies to get by on a daily basis. Carr provides information that proves the Internet has stolen individual’s ability to focus. Our generation’s ability to concentrate will only worsen with the newly released sources and media products, because of the hunger for new information.

Citizenship education Essay

The purpose of citizenship education is to contribute to the health of our democracy1 and to empower students â€Å"to translate their beliefs into actions and their ideas into policies.† The primary goal of the Delaware Civics Standards is student understanding of the purpose and means of authority2 and freedom3 and the relationship between them. Civics directly addresses citizenship education within the context of political systems. Students study the assumptions upon which governments are founded, and the organizations and strategies governments employ to achieve their goals. With specific respect to the United States, students learn the underlying principles of representative democracy, the constitutional separation of powers, and the rule of law. They need to comprehend that an essential premise of representative democracy is the willingness of citizens to place a high premium on their own personal responsibility for participation in social decision-making. see more:understand the context of supporting skills for everyday life Students develop the skills which citizens must possess in order to discharge those responsibilities while protecting their rights and the rights of others. The study of civics prepares students to translate their beliefs into actions and their ideas into policies. Governments exist and are instituted for specific purposes and employ a variety of organizational structures to pursue their objectives. Constitutional democracy attempts to balance individual freedom with the needs of the society as a whole. American citizens need a basic understanding of the structure of different forms of government and a detailed knowledge of a constitutional democracy. Students will learn the underlying principles of representative democracy,4 the constitutional separation of powers,5 and the rule of law,6 with specific respect to the United States. The American political system was intentionally created to rest on a foundation of individual liberty, freedom of religion, representative democracy, equal opportunity, and equal protection under the law. These principles and ideals are codified in the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and other significant documents. Understanding, achieving, and upholding these principles and ideals represent a major challenge to each succeeding generation of American  citizens. Students will develop the skills which citizens must possess in order to accept their responsibilities while protecting their rights and the rights of others. The political, religious, and economic freedoms provided to American citizens are accompanied by the responsibility of active civic participation at the individual, community, state, and national levels. Effective citizens need to understand the dedication and commitment necessary to safeguard those rights for themselves and future generations as well as the potential consequences of inaction. They should also be able to distinguish between rights and privileges. Students will learn to translate their beliefs into actions and their ideas into policies. The intent to participate in the American political system must be matched with the specific skills necessary to be effective. Such skills include, but are not limited to, registering to vote, interacting successfully with government agencies, organizing and working in civic groups, researching and advocating a position, or serving in an office of public trust. The Delaware Civics Standards call for understanding the purposes,7 principles,8 and generalizations9 that infuse the concepts in the standards with their contextual meaning. CIVICS STANDARD ONE: Students will examine the structure and purposes of governments with specific empha sis on constitutional democracy [Government]. Enduring Understandings Students will understand that: Constitutional democracy10 as a structure of government developed from the tension between the need for authority and the need to constrain authority. Governments are structured to address the basic needs of the people in a society. The key to understanding the purposes, principles, and generalizations called for in the standards is to begin with the question â€Å"Why?† For example, Standard One says, â€Å"Students will examine the structure and purposes of governments with specific emphasis on constitutional democracy.† The purposes of governments, of course, are the â€Å"why† of governments. Beginning with the question, â€Å"Why do we have government?† yields the question, â€Å"What needs does government address?† The answer to this question is the foundational understanding for the benchmarks of the standard. The structure of governments is determined in part by history and custom, but mostly they grow from what reason and experience have ta ught  societies about the organizational requirements for achieving the purposes of government. 11 You can derive the basic purposes of government by imagining a community and questioning what needs of a community might require authority to address. In fact, most famous political philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, for example) have used the device of the imaginary community to explain their version of the purposes of the state in terms so simple that even grade school students can easily understand them. All governments invariably address basically the same needs: security, order, and the welfare of the commonwealth. They all make, enforce, and adjudicate law to meet the need for order, organize the common defense, and provide services to promote the welfare of the citizens. The structures of governments reflect the ways governments are organized to perform these functions. The basic purposes and principles of government—including the responsibilities of citizenship12 in a general sense—can be illuminated with the experiences of the students. Families meet needs of security, order, and welfare with the principle of authority, as do schools and communities. The themes of authority, obedience, responsibility—and the very important constraints on authority for the protection and freedom of the ruled—are found in the social context of every student. If students can learn how to see the purposes, principles, and generalizations suggested by the standard in their own experiences, they become easier to understand and retain and more relevant. The emphasis on constitutional democracy called for in the standard reflects the enduring human struggle to find a way to protect ourselves from our protectors. The tension between the need for authority and the need to constrain authority is a prominent theme of history and is an inherent condition of life. The historically remarkable rise and spread of constitutional democracy evolved from both the abuse of authority13 and a rekindled belief in the desirability of individual freedom14. The embedded concepts of a higher law15 that constrains the makers and enforcers of law (constitutions), accountability of rulers (democratic processes), and civil rights16 arose from an abundantly justified distrust of power and a growing consensus that one of the purposes of the state is the protection and promotion of the freedom of its citizens. New structures of government were devised to better fulfill and secure this new purpose of government. The need for  authority and the need to constrain it is the foundational understanding called for by Civics Standard One. The structures of modern governments developed from the experiences of people trying to meet these twin needs. Civics Standard One 6-8a: Students will understand that governments have the power to make and enforce laws and regulations, levy taxes, conduct foreign policy, and make war. Essential Question Why does a government have certain powers? The focus here is on understanding the need for these powers (the why?) and having a general knowledge of what these specific powers entail. The need for order and security within is addressed through the power to make and enforce laws and regulations. The need to promote national interests abroad, especially security and economic interests, is addressed by the power to conduct foreign policy. The power to make war arises primarily from the need for security. The power to levy taxes arises from the need to pay for it all. Open-ended questions that teachers might ask in a classroom include: 1. Why does the government enforce their laws with police rather than allow people to be free? 2. Why does the government take taxes out of our paychecks? 3. Why does the government participate in wars? 4. Who gave the U.S. government the power to enforce laws? Why? 5. What does it mean that governments have powers? Civics Standard One 6-8b: Students will analyze the different functions of federal, state, and local governments in the United States and examine the reasons for the different organizational structures each level of government employs. Essential Question: What different needs should be addressed by the different levels of government? The student should understand the general concept of federalism17: a territorial division of power based on the overall sovereignty of the national government with constitutionally guaranteed powers for state governments within the boundaries of their respective states. In theory, this division of power is clearly delineated and distinguishable. In reality, however, the flow of power has shifted over  time between the federal and state governments and has resulted in alternating periods of cooperation, conflict, and controversy throughout the course of American history. More than 200 years after the signing of the Constitution, Americans continue to disagree about the proper role for these levels of government. Then the student should understand the United States has adopted a federal system for a variety of reasons including our negative experiences with unitary18 (as British colonies) and confederal19 systems (under the Articles of Confederation), the distrust of centralized power, the relative sensitivity of state or local governments to the particular needs and views of their citizens, and the relative efficiency of state or local governments in responding to these needs and views. Advantages to federalism include allowing a variety of â€Å"local† governments to deal with local problems while allowing local voters to hold local officials accountable, permitting more points of access and greater opportunities for political participation, better protections for individual rights, and fewer constraints on innovation. The benchmark also explicitly calls for knowledge of the reasons for the different structures of government at each level, which essentially arise from the differences in needs addressed. Generally stated, the functions of the national government include national defense, monetary policy, and foreign representation. Infrastructure, protection from crime, welfare, education, and other practical needs are more clearly the responsibility of state governments. Sewage, garbage, culture, urban development, and traffic control are usually the tasks of local government. Open-ended questions that teachers might ask in a classroom include: 1. What functions does the federal government have that state governments do not have? Why is there a difference? 2. Why might the different functions of federal, state, and local governments require them to have different organizational structures? 3. Why do states usually leave garbage collection and parking laws up to towns and cities in the state? 4. Why do most cities in America have their own police force? CIVICS STANDARD TWO: Students will understand the principles and ideals underlying the American political system [Politics]. Enduring Understanding Students will understand that: The principles and ideals underlying American democracy are designed to  promote the freedom of the American people. Fundamental ideals are enumerated in the introduction to this standard—individual liberty, freedom of religion, representative democracy, equal opportunity, and equal protection under the law. This is not a complete list of the main ideals of American democracy, but they are umbrella concepts. For example, the principles of limited government and civil rights are means to achieve individual liberty. As with the previous standard, understanding requires answers to the question, â€Å"Why?† Yet the standard calls for a more developed understanding of the meaning and issues involved with liberty and equality. An essential question for this standard as a whole might be, â€Å"Why should people be free?† Fundamental assumptions about the value and competence of human beings and the importance of freedom to human purpose underlie these ideals. These ideals also have a dark side and involve serious tradeoffs and costs. This deeper understanding of American ideals belongs to the free minds of a free people and is required by Civics Standard Two. Civics Standard Two 6-8a: Students will understand that the concept of majority rule does not mean that the rights of minorities may be disregarded and will examine and apply the protections accorded those minorities in the American political system. Essential Questions How might the majority threaten individual and minority rights? Why are citizens protected by the Constitution? Should individual rights be limited? Students should understand that democracy means rule by the people, and that majority votes are just an arbitrary indicator of what the people want. Although that principle is central to the American political system, it is not absolute. People, including large numbers of them (i.e., majorities), sometimes act out of anger, prejudice, or ignorance and are not always well informed. By limiting the principle of majority rule, Americans have attempted to balance the interests of individuals with the common good20. Majority rule places a very important constraint on governmental authority, but it is completely insufficient to protect individual liberty. Every student destined to become an American citizen should understand that the majority can be as much of a tyrant as any dictator. They should understand that the addition of the Bill of Rights21 to the U.S. Constitution was  motivated by the recognition that citizens need protection from abuse of governmental authority, even when the government is theoretically obedient to the will of the majority of the citizens. There are many instances in American history where minority groups once did not receive the same protections as the majority. The benchmark is somewhat misleading in speaking of the â€Å"rights of minorities,† because minorities are not now accorded any more or less rights than members of a majority. What we now call the rights of minorities is founded on individual rights. The Constitution does not specify group rights. So understanding this benchmark really comes down to understanding the meaning and purpose of the Bill of Rights with the expectation that students should also appreciate how these rights protect minorities from discrimination. There are many examples of how minorities were served by political documents and rulings that protected individuals from discrimination. Open-ended questions that teachers might ask in a classroom include: 1. If most people follow one religion, why shouldn’t the government pass a law that restricts the rights of people with other religious beliefs? 2. If most Americans are offended by people who protest a war, why not allow the government to declare protestors â€Å"unpatriotic† and put them all in jail? 3. Why might Americans be unable to prevent newspapers or websites from printing letters that insult other people? 4. What is meant by â€Å"the tyranny of the majority† and why should we fear it? 5. How are minorities protected by individual rights? Civics Standard Two 6-8b: Students will understand the principles and content of major American state papers such as the Declaration of Independence; United States Constitution (including the Bill of Rights); and the Federalist Papers. Essential Questions How are the principles of major American state papers guaranteeing liberty to contemporary Americans? It would be a bit much to insist on an understanding of the whole content of these papers, especially the Federalist Papers22, but students can well achieve an understanding of the main principles reflected in these documents. The overriding principle is individual liberty; most of the other principles concern the means to achieve liberty. The principles of the major state papers are the principles and ideals of  American democracy. The introduction to Civics Standards Two draws specific attention to the fact that â€Å"†¦[t]he American political system was intentionally created to rest on a foundation of individual liberty, freedom of religion, representative democracy, equal opportunity, and equal protection under the law.† Political equality, rights, limited government23, checks and balances, and other principles of American government are pronounced, asserted, and discussed in the state papers. The understanding of the principles called for by this benchmark is the understanding reflected in these papers, which requires some perspective on the times in which they were written. An analysis of what the authors really meant in their assertion of a principle and why they asserted them could help students achieve this benchmark. For example, what did â€Å"all men are created equal† mean at the time of the Declaration of Independence? To truly understand a principle, one must be able to identify its practical applications. Such understanding is addressed more directly in Standard Three, but the focus there is on the Bill of Rights. Students should be able to identify the practical applications of the principles not included in the Bill of Rights. While these principles are sometimes in conflict and while disparities have always existed between the realities of daily life and the ideals of American democracy, the preservation and improvement of American constitutional democracy depends largely on the efforts of each succeeding generation to live up to these principles and narrow the disparities. Open-ended questions that teachers might ask in a classroom include: 1. What is the meaning of â€Å"We the People†? 2. Why is the claim that â€Å"all men are created equal† important to American democracy? How has the meaning of the phrase changed over time? 3. Why was there a debate about whether we should have a strong federal government or not? Should the debate continue? 4. What was the purpose of amending the constitution with the first ten amendments called the Bill of Rights? 5. What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers? 6. Why did the signers of the Declaration of Independence think they had the right to declare independence from Great Britain? Here is a released item from the Social Studies DSTP that illustrates the assessment of this  benchmark. This test item focuses on the inalienable rights stated in the Declaration of Independence and how the Constitution of the United States ensured those rights. The student should provide evidence to support the answer. The item is open ended, which means that there is more than one way to answer this question correctly. The following is an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence: That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it †¦ How did the writers of the U.S. Constitution ensure that the government would not damage the rights stated in the Declaration of Independence? Support your answer with evidence. A student should provide an answer that gives a valid explanation of how the writers of the U.S. Constitution ensured that the government would not damage the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A student should also include evidence to support the explanation. See the DSTP webpage for more items and sample, annotated student responses. http://www.doe.k12.de.us/aab/social_studies/Social_Studies_item_samplers.shtml CIVICS STANDARD THREE: Students will understand the responsibilities, rights, and privileges of United States citizens [Cit izenship]. Enduring Understandings Students will understand that: Effective citizens are committed to protecting rights for themselves, other citizens, and future generations, by upholding their civic responsibilities and are aware of the potential consequences of inaction. Distinctions between a citizen’s rights, responsibilities, and privileges help to define the requirements and limits of personal freedom. Once again, the why of responsibilities and rights, and the distinction between rights and privileges is central to understanding the standard. American citizens have the right to certain individual freedoms and liberties found in the U.S. Constitution. But, individual freedoms and liberties have limits imposed by the fact that others also have the same freedoms and liberties. Respect for the rights of others, for example, limits some individual actions. Suppose two neighbors are in dispute over a tree growing on one’s lawn that extends shade over the other’s lawn. The man who does not want the shade cannot cut  down his neighbor’s tree, only that part of the tree that hangs over his property. His property rights end at the boundary of his property, and the boundary between the two neighbors extends to other rights as well. American democracy imposes a cost on its citizens. For government to be effective, it must have an effective citizenry that understands what is required to maintain individual freedoms and liberties. Citizens have responsibilities that, if met, ensure the health of American democracy. Citizens should hold governmental officials accountable by: Voting and keeping informed; Contributing to the common defense through military service if necessary; Checking the judicial powers of government and safeguarding the rights of the accused by serving on juries; Contributing to public safety and order by obeying the law and reporting violations of the law; and Performing public service when the need arises. Privileges may be defined by what they are not—they are not rights, and thus a citizen has to earn a privilege. For example, it is not a birthright to drive a car. Driving well benefits society and the driver, continues the privilege, and costs the driver and thus all other drivers less in insurance. Driving poorly or dangerously costs more insurance and may even cause loss of a driver’s license. A classroom discussion with students could elicit other examples. Civics Standard Three 6-8a: Students will understand that civil rights secure political freedom while property rights secure economic freedom and that both are essential protections for United States citizens. Essential Questions In what ways are citizens protected from the government? From each other? How might shared rights lead to conflict between citizens or citizens and the government? To what extent do property rights24 define an individual’s freedom? This benchmark calls for a further elaboration of the ideal of freedom by making a distinction between political and economic freedoms25. At this stage, a student should understand the connection between civil rights and the requirements of democracy, which is the means by which political freedom is secured. Freedom of expression, the right to vote, the right to due process, etc., are clearly necessary to democracy, and thus to  the securing of freedom. Yet the lack of property rights would make even these rights precarious, blurring the distinction between political and economic rights in practice. Some basic property rights can be considered essential protections for political as well as economic freedom. The enormous powers and resources that governments possess pose considerable threats to a relatively defenseless individual. Civil and property rights impose reasonable limits on those who hold power and create the conditions in which fundamental individual liberties might be protected and enjoyed. The center of gravity in this benchmark is the understanding of the connection between property rights and freedom in general. Citizens, by applying civil rights, can acquire property or make economic decisions freely. The student will have to understand the concept of â€Å"economic† freedom to see how property rights relate to the subset of human activities we label economic. In essence, economic freedom is the right to own, use, and dispose of property, but it also involves the right to sell one’s labor. A well-developed understanding would include the realization that property rights can also conflict with freedom, and that they are subject to the same conflicts and tradeoffs as other rights or values and may actually curtail or even deny other people’s liberties (e.g., claiming slaves as property or attempting to keep minorities out of neighborhoods). Open-ended questions that teachers might ask in a classroom include: 1. Why is private ownership of businesses and homes seen as important to freedom? 2. How might the property rights of a business owner threaten the freedom of others? 3. Which is more important: making sure everyone has a job or allowing everyone to choose their job? Why? 4. How do political rights secure political freedom? 5. When might someone’s property rights conflict with the freedom of others? Civics Standard Three 6-8b: Students will understand that American citizenship includes responsibilities such as voting, jury duty, obeying the law, service in the armed forces when required, and public service. Essential Question Why should American citizens perform certain civic duties? â€Å"Responsibilities† is the word that dominates this benchmark. The benchmark lists examples of what citizenship in a democracy requires, and  understanding why each is necessary elaborates the understanding of the general purpose of citizenship responsibilities. The general purpose, of course, is to meet the requirements of freedom. Demands for freedom create the potential for great disorder unless citizens of a free society act responsibly. Open-ended questions that teachers might ask in a classroom include: 1. How can people be free if they have responsibilities like jury duty and possibly military service? 2. Why are people responsible for obeying the law even if they don’t agree with it? 3. Why should we be concerned if many citizens do not vote in most elections? 4. If voting is a responsibility of citizenship, why are citizens not required by law to vote? 5. Do citizens have responsibilities mainly for the good of the government or for the good of their fell ow citizens? CIVICS STANDARD FOUR: Students will develop and employ the civic skills necessary for effective, participatory citizenship [Participation]. Enduring Understandings Students will understand that: Effective citizens can research issues, form reasoned opinions, support their positions, and engage in the political process. Effective governance requires responsible participation from diverse individuals who translate beliefs and ideas into lawful action and policy. There is a change in focus from understanding to skills with the fourth standard, but understanding is necessary to show evidence of such skills on the test. Why is still important, but how and what have equal billing on this standard. Why does a citizen participate? How does a citizen participate in democracy? What does a citizen do? Civics Standard Four requires students to demonstrate and use effectively the skills of a citizen. Such skills include, but are not limited to: Registering to vote; Interacting successfully with government agencies; Organizing and working in civic groups; Researching and advocating a position; or Serving in an office of public trust. Teachers should use activities in the classroom which simulate or model the skills. Civics Standard Four 6-8a: Students will follow the actions of elected officials, and understand and employ the mechanisms for  communicating with them while in office. Essential Questions: Which means for communicating with office holders is usually more effective and why? Why is it important to know about the person and circumstances when communicating with an officeholder? This benchmark moves from becoming informed about candidates to staying informed about elected officials. Student understanding of participation is expected to spiral at the grade 6–8 level so that students acquire the skills and understandings needed to monitor the actions of, and communicate effectively with, officials after they have been elected to office. Understanding the mechanisms for communicating with office holders involves why citizens should communicate and awareness of the available means to communicate and their relative effectiveness. What is an effective method of communication depends on the person in office and circumstances. For example, a citizen just cannot walk to the front door of the White House and ask to see the President (at least not anymore). But a citizen could (and often will) call a school board member or other local official at home to discuss issues of importance. A representative democracy is supposed to function at its best when informed citizens communicate a range of ideas, opinions, desires, and concerns to their representatives so that they might enact prudent public policies and serve in ways that honor and promote the common good. Open-ended questions that a teacher might ask in a classroom include: 1. How does a citizen communicate with a member of Congress? 2. How does a citizen find out what an elected official has done since they were elected?