Oryx and Crake Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Oryx and Crake - Essay Example Atwood depicts several moods and situations through few sentences and has the advantage of presenting a detailed description of a future that is unfamiliar in the minds of most readers. However, her skills in including specific details help sketch a precise vision of every such instance. The central theme of the story focuses on the process of creating newer forms of life by way of genetic engineering, which has been a phenomenon for the past several decades. This has led to the introduction of numerous weird creatures such as wolvogs and rakunks (a combination of the genes from different animals) in addition to creating life forms which are abnormally larger or smaller than their natural dimensions. The story, narrated through a series of small episodes, provides for the considerate discussion of a specific theme along each episode, thereby allowing Atwood to express her strong feelings in diverse areas. Despite the seriousness of the topic being dealt by her story, she includes a great deal of humor into her story in places like the depiction of the Martha Graham College and Jimmy, its student in English, who is the principal character in the story. ‘Oryx and Cake’ describes a period not far from our own where several aspects of life are quite similar, thereby allowing the reader a sense of familiarity along a sensible progression of time. The society as depicted in ‘Oryx and Cake’ comprises the privileged classes who thrive in closely guarded settlements and those who live around these areas in lesser favorable circumstances. The rich sell their wares to these less fortunate people, referred to in the story as ‘pleebs’, whereby the latter is clearly at the losing side of the bargain. The rich controlled the society through genetic fiddling and maintained a strict oversight over resources such as food and livestock. In fact, the

Verbal Communication Essay Example for Free

Verbal Communication Essay One may assume that the roles of officers are just to catch us when we’re speeding, write a ticket and move on to the next person breaking the law. It would appear that way too many of us, but there is more depth, in the way an officer presents himself. While we find it insulting for an officer to say â€Å"How you doing mam’† after catching us going 40 in a 20 school zone, we must think of how much more aggravated we’d be in this situation had the officer used sarcasm, or had a cruel tone. Good Morning, Mam’† seems more respectable and when you begin to explore the pressure on an officer you begin to see why many of them try to stay positive and communicate effectively. Verbal and nonverbal communication is reoccurring and a large part of the day in the life of a Law Enforcement Agent. On every single work day there is numerous face-to-face interactions between an officer and citizen, or a small group. These interactions may occur in traffic encounters, interviews, media briefings, or conversations formal and informal. For this very reason verbal and nonverbal communication must evolve into a mastered skill; as it’s important for each officer to represent himself in a respectable manner whether it is in in public, in the court room, with peers, employees, inmates and more importantly citizens of the community. When it comes to training with an officer it is more than just the physical training, but also the mental training, one must do to be successful. A good law enforcement officer must be able to properly speak to the public, testify with confidence, and write a grammar free report. A respectable image will make for a better public view of the officer, their departments and general attitude to law enforcement all together. (Pritchett, 1993) Police Situations Most police are not given adequate training in communication skills. Many understand to be kind, polite, firm when need be, how to recite Miranda rights and interrogate but also many fail to recognize how verbal and nonverbal communication works. Verbal communication involves a sender and a receiver conveying a message. These messages can be spoken words but can also be body language that is representing a statement. In police situations this is can be a chore when it comes to interrogation ; a police officer must obtain important material such as who, what, where, how and why, which often times, the answers to these questions, can vary when dealing with two different parties on the same situation. It’s important that the officer can take proper notations so later he can write in his report recapping both versions of the incident, and get a better idea of what was going on. It’s important that officers understand the situation and how it was told to them and how to retell this situation from the report in a court room setting. A police report is usually a beginning point of the court room scene and can determine the faith of an accused; it’s important the officer writes detailed notes so he can relate back to the event as well as provide accuracy. He must know the written work and have confidence as he verbally retells these events. An officer that comes off as insecure or insure of a situation may hinder a jury from a factual belief. Likewise- many police must deal with important matters in front of the media on various occasions either through news reports, public speeches, or when running for a higher officer position; these situations as well require a sense of confidence from an officer. As stated, many officers must discuss important matters in the face of the public in attempts to calm a tense situation, or to be there to reassure and provide confidante within the community after a tragedy. When we think back of tragic events such as The Columbine Killing, 9/11, or the Virginia Tech shooting, we are guaranteed that at one point, a police officer reached out to the public to reassure safety. When making a public speech an officer much consider how verbal and non-verbal communication will affect an audience. There are many elements to consider when making a public speech starting with nonverbal communication that generally speaks louder than that of verbal communication. For example appearance, posture and the deliverance of a speech all help to convey the original message. A neat and professional appearance is usually mandatory being that it will make the first judgment of an audience. (Wallace, 2009) If an officer takes pride in his appearance than it can be assumed by the receiver that he takes pride in what he is saying. When giving a speech an officer must learn to make eye contact, use proper voice infliction and proper vocabulary when delivering a speech. Correct word choices can impact an audience either negatively or positively so it’s important officers draft and practice speeches so that the presentation is close to perfect. Testifying Many police are required to testify in court and there impressions can literally be life altering. When jurors are questioned on why they may have chosen one verdict over another many relate back to the testimony of eye witnesses. Witnesses that don’t seem confident in their answers or even arrogant may make their responses non-believable to a jury. One columnist J.  Navarro states â€Å"How people testify and how others perceive them are as important as their testimony. † (Navarro, 2004) To avoid making a jury skeptical of what is being said and make a reliable testimony, an officer must reevaluate how they communicate both verbally and nonverbally. According to an article in FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, â€Å"Jury surveys and research in communication provide guidance to law enforcement officers on how to be more effective in court, whether sitting at the prosecutors side as the lead investigator or testifying as a witness. (Navarro, 2004) In these surveys various jurors analyze the appearance, communication skills, behavior and the ability to communicate both verbally and non-verbally to effectively persuade jurors. Jurors are searching for the truth so if an officer cannot make eye contact, stutters or appears unconfident in his own words by a simple gesture of the eyebrows showing confusion, a juror will perceive this as dishonesty. While confidence will win the audience it must not go to the extreme of arrogance, this as well can put off a negative vibe. As the article states displaying openness alone can help a jury to really believe what the officer is stating. Free flow communication and confidence help show honesty while tenseness has the opposite effect. Simple things like gestures should be kept minimum and more emphasis on tone should be used versus defensiveness or the raising of the voice. (Navarro, 2004) A simple tone infliction helps to catch the juror’s attention and explain where the importance is in the conveyed message. The best way officers can improve these skills is by watching a more skilled professional testify as they observe in the audience. Also practicing infront of a mirror or another officer can help make their testimony a more confident and stress free one. Corrections/ Juvenile Facilities It can be a prison environment or even a juvenile facility, either, or, an officer must be prepared to go a bit further with effective oral and written communication. The way the justice system works an officer is constantly being monitored on the things he says and the way he portrays them. In these environments, they are communicating with inmates, co-workers and other employees. With co-workers and other employees within a facility an officer must portray courtesy but must also remember the rising accusations of sexual harassment. In many work places it has become a motto to keep the talk of sex, religion, and politics out of the work place. Over the years the number of sexual harassment cases in work places has shot up even within law enforcement. In a police department outside of Los Angeles this past October there are multiple encounters of harassment and the consequences of possible job loss within that department due to this type of behavior. Most harassment cases are due to racial jokes or sexual orientation which again should be something left outside of the work environment to avoid making any employee or fellow officer feel uncomfortable in the work atmosphere. In this one particular case the allegations varied from: â€Å"A sergeant presenting a black officer with a cake topped with a slice of watermelon and a piece of fried chicken, The same sergeant sending racially sensitive text messages about an officer who is of Mexican descent and The sergeant removing one officer from an overtime detail and putting his wife, another officer, in that spot. (Okarocha, 2001) Officers can avoid this by keeping those personal conversations or even opinions outside to the workplace as well as respecting fellow co-worker’s personal boundaries not making gestures or mimicking one another. Also peer activities tend to keep the bond between officers and staff and make for a healthier work atmosphere as everyone tries to achieve the same goal of diminishing crime. While working with inmates these same rules of harassment applies; there is also an ongoing struggle and broken relationship that makes any type of communication difficult between police and inmates. As far as it can date back children have played cops and robbers and it’s a wide speculation that cops are good guys and inmates (both adults and juveniles) are bad guys. This type of assumed relationship can make the environment a tense one for both parties and should be addressed to learn how to better communicate. Many inmates feel hatred toward cops and may say rude things to a police officer or guard in attempts to intimidate the guard. A guard or officer in a prison type setting must learn to not show that this bothers them and they must learn how to acquire respect amongst prison walls while still keeping professionalism. A police officer cannot let emotional barriers get in the way of their job to treat inmates as citizens of the community to help them. Summary As you can see an officer’s job and role in the community requires various times where nonverbal and verbal communication are required; An officer may spend little time or a full day in one of the discussed settings such as a police situation, maybe a traffic stop, in the courtroom testifying, or in a correctional facility. To communicate effectively police officer must evaluate the different scenarios he is faced with and how to properly convey a message within in those situations. By learning appropriate and professional communication techniques officers will be more favored within his department and community. This favoritism can lead to advancement in the department, and one day play a role in the larger picture of decreasing crime. Poor communication can be avoided and is encouraged. Many officers must understand their poor attitude and poor communication skills can not only affect them as an officer but the department as a whole. By forcing training departments to include studies on effective communication, Law Enforcement can train better police officers who will succeed and better the criminal justice system.

of mice and men :: essays research papers

"Of Mice and Men" is a skillful novel, which deals with the theme of `outsiders', that is, individuals who do not fit into the mainstream of society. The novel portrays this idea of loneliness throughout John Steinbeck's stimulating and exciting novel. When Lennie kills Curley’s Wife, Steinbeck describes Curley's wife as a prettier figure. He writes, "The meanness and the planning’s of the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face." (p.128) This shows that now Curley's wife is dead, she now looks happy and has escaped from her loneliness. Even though Curley's wife is mentioned frequently, we never know what her name is. This just shows how people do not care for others, leading to loneliness. I think all the men do not consider her as a normal human being, but and object, this object refers to the picture since in the picture there stands one tree in the middle of no where thus representing loneliness. All of the men are to scared to talk to her in case Curley becomes jealous and wants to start a fight. She has no female friends on the ranch, so the men are her only option, but they do not want to become friends with her. She spots out Lennie and wants to start a friendship with him as all of the others fear Curley and will have nothing to do with her. She says to Lennie â€Å"Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever once in a while?† This shows that she is trying to tell Lennie that she desperately needs to talk to somebody as she hardly does ever talk to anyone because they do not listen to her. The dreams that so many of Steinbeck’s characters have are ultimately covering pains and difficulties that they may be enduring. Curley’s wife is the only main character that Steinbeck did not provide a name for. This could be for the reason that the men at the ranch saw her as a nobody and a tramp; therefore Steinbeck is showing she should not be issued with her own name. I am given the impression that she is living in two lives. In reality she is living in a boring ranch, with no companionship in isolation. However, she also believes that she would make it to the movies one day. She says to Lennie "I aint used to livin like this. of mice and men :: essays research papers "Of Mice and Men" is a skillful novel, which deals with the theme of `outsiders', that is, individuals who do not fit into the mainstream of society. The novel portrays this idea of loneliness throughout John Steinbeck's stimulating and exciting novel. When Lennie kills Curley’s Wife, Steinbeck describes Curley's wife as a prettier figure. He writes, "The meanness and the planning’s of the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face." (p.128) This shows that now Curley's wife is dead, she now looks happy and has escaped from her loneliness. Even though Curley's wife is mentioned frequently, we never know what her name is. This just shows how people do not care for others, leading to loneliness. I think all the men do not consider her as a normal human being, but and object, this object refers to the picture since in the picture there stands one tree in the middle of no where thus representing loneliness. All of the men are to scared to talk to her in case Curley becomes jealous and wants to start a fight. She has no female friends on the ranch, so the men are her only option, but they do not want to become friends with her. She spots out Lennie and wants to start a friendship with him as all of the others fear Curley and will have nothing to do with her. She says to Lennie â€Å"Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever once in a while?† This shows that she is trying to tell Lennie that she desperately needs to talk to somebody as she hardly does ever talk to anyone because they do not listen to her. The dreams that so many of Steinbeck’s characters have are ultimately covering pains and difficulties that they may be enduring. Curley’s wife is the only main character that Steinbeck did not provide a name for. This could be for the reason that the men at the ranch saw her as a nobody and a tramp; therefore Steinbeck is showing she should not be issued with her own name. I am given the impression that she is living in two lives. In reality she is living in a boring ranch, with no companionship in isolation. However, she also believes that she would make it to the movies one day. She says to Lennie "I aint used to livin like this.

Laertes in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay -- GCSE English Literature Cours

Laertes in Hamlet  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Shakespearean tragedy, Hamlet, the reader or viewer meets a dashing young man who is key to the climax of the tragedy, and key to the fulfillment of the Ghost’s admonition to Hamlet. He is Laertes, whose character forms the subject of this essay.    Marvin Rosenberg describes Laertes in his essay, â€Å"Laertes: An Impulsive but Earnest Young Aristocrat†:    Laertes is a dashing, romantic figure who excites striking, spectacular moments in the play. Not much attention has been paid to him by scholar-critics and theatre observers; for all his activity in the later acts, he is not much cursed with inward struggle – while being surrounded by others fascinating for their infernos of inwardness. After Laertes’ brief, bright introduction in I,i and I,iii, he disappears from the play – and Denmark – until he returns at the head of a rebellion in IV,v. . . (87).    Laertes makes his appearance in the drama after Marcellus, Barnardo and Horatio have already seen the Ghost and have trifled with it in an effort to prompt it to communicate with them. Horatio and Marcellus exit the ramparts of Elsinore intending to enlist the aid of Hamlet, who is dejected by the â€Å"o’erhasty marriage† to Hamlet I’s wife less than two month’s after the funeral of Hamlet’s father (Gordon 128). After this scene, Laertes is one of many in attendance at a post-coronation social gathering of the court at Elsinore. Laertes, like Fortinbras a rival of Hamlet (Kermode 1138), comes with his father, Polonius, who manipulates both him and his sister (Boklund 122).G. Wilson Knight says, â€Å"Instinctively the creatures of earth—Laertes, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, league themselves with Claudius... ...on Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html    Ward & Trent, et al. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1907–21; New York: Bartleby.com, 2000 http://www.bartleby.com/215/0816.html    West, Rebecca. â€Å"A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.    Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. â€Å"Shakespeare.† Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992.

Catcher In the Rye vs. Grapes of Wrath Essay

The inherent aversion to corruption in society often inspires individuals to respond to the issue in hopes of minimizing the drastic effects it may have on people. This shared disdain for such corruption is analyzed in The Catcher in the Rye and The Grapes of Wrath. Both authors address the corruption; however they do so from different perspectives they come to differing resolutions. Both protagonists in their novels experience isolation as a result of society’s corruption; however, Salinger’s chooses to isolate himself whereas Steinbeck’s experiences isolation inadvertently. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath share a social commentary about how corruption pervades every aspect of society and due to society’s corruption, people either experience isolation by choice or through condemnation. Alienation and isolation due to society’s corruption is relevant in both novels through the characterization of the protagonists. For example, Salinger develops Holden Caulfield, a socially inadequate teenager who distances himself from others due to their phoniness. From the onset of the novel, Salinger develops Holden’s desire to remove himself from society because of his belief that everyone is a phony. Although he disguises his motives to Old Spencer for leaving schools, Holden admits that â€Å"The reason [he] left Elkton Hills was because [he] was surrounded by phonies. That’s all. They were coming in the goddam window† (13). Holden goes to great efforts to distance himself from others believing that he alone is genuine and authentic in society. Later in the novel, Holden makes plans to go on a date with Sally Hayes and nearly cancels on account of her ‘phony language.’ Analyzing her talk Holden thinks â€Å"Grand. If there’s one word I hate, it’s grand. It’s so phony. For a second, I was tempted to tell her to forget about the matinee† (106). Holden also mentally isolates himself; he avoids social situations and even when in them, he distances himself with the confidence that whomever he is with is not worth his time. Holden’s discovery of â€Å"fuck you† being written or carved publically further augments his hatred for society’s corruption and because of them, he condemns society as a whole, not willing to make an exception for anyone. He ponders his death and thinks â€Å"If I ever die, and they stick me in a cemetery, and I have a tombstone and all, it’ll say ‘Holden Caulfield’ on it,†¦ and then right under that it’ll say ‘Fuck you.’ I’m positive, in fact† (204). Holden is positive that all of society is corrupted and he judges those he encounters, as well as those he does not, never completely grasping that he is practically suspending whatever social existence he may have had. In The Catcher in the Rye Salinger’s protagonist’s objective is to be uninvolved in societal functions due to its corruption. Similar to The Catcher in the Rye, a central focus of The Grapes of Wrath is separation from society and modern culture. Steinbeck’s protagonist, Tom Joad, upon his arrival in California, is alienated and shunned because he is labeled as an â€Å"Okie.† The reality of Tom’s alienation is revealed through the conversation he has with a migrant returning from California who found no work. The migrant man informs Tom that the term â€Å"Okie use’ ta mean you was from Oklahoma. Now it means you’re a a dirty son-of-a-bitch. Okie means you’re scum. Don’t mean nothing itself, it’s the way they say it† (206). Tom, representing his whole family, is discriminated against merely because he is from Oklahoma. After Tom and his family stop shortly on their journey the men who handle them discuss how subordinate the Okies are. The men wonder how Tom can make it through with such a junky car and they say â€Å"Them goddam Okies got no sense and no feeling. they ain’t human. A human being wouldn’t live like they do. A human being couldn’t stand it to be so dirty and miserable. They ain’t a hell of a lot better than gorillas† (221). Tom is treated like he is subordinate largely due to his socioeconomic condition, which is significantly worse than the people of California. Such harsh condemnation due to a place of origination reveals how society’s corruption has lead to the inadvertent alienation Tom receives throughout the novel. Though Holden Caulfield’s isolation from others is deliberate, and Tom Joad is involuntarily segregated, isolation as a re sult of society’s corruption plays a significant role in both novels. Salinger and Steinbeck also use different motifs to illustrate society’s corruption and its effect on people. In The Catcher in the Rye Salinger uses the motif of the preservation of innocence to clarify the gravity of society’s corruption. Holden loses his innocence as a child when his brother Allie dies. Although he cannot come to terms with his brother’s death, Holden is confident that he can find solace by saving the other innocent children from the corrupt society they live in. Holden tells his younger sister Phoebe, his main inspiration for preserving innocence, that â€Å"[he has] to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff†¦. [He will] just be the catcher in the rye and all. [He knows] it’s crazy but that’s the only thing [he’d] really like to be† (173). Holden’s only ambition in life is to rescue children from falling into society’s corruption. He is so infatuated with this notion that he even refuses to sleep with a prostitute that he has paid for. As the prostitute is waiting to do what she is getting paid for, Holden realizes how young she is and asks â€Å"Don’t you feel like talking for a while?† and then acknowledges that â€Å"It was a childish thing to say, but [he] was feeling so damn pecul iar† (95). So troubled by her lost innocence, Holden cannot bring himself to go through with it. Holden desires to drive out all evil throughout the novel, yet he realizes that he cannot. When Holden sees the words â€Å"fuck you† written in Phoebe’s school, Holden realizes that â€Å"If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn’t rub out even half the ‘fuck you’ signs in the world. It’s impossible† (202). The fact that he cannot save the world from society’s corruption is difficult for Holden to accept but instills in him even more passion to do all he can to preserve as much innocence as possible. Thus, Salinger suggests that society and its corruption is far beyond salvable despite great efforts. Society’s corrupting influence of others can also be seen through Steinbeck’s motif of society’s lies and deception. Steinbeck reveals the corruption in the car dealers as the Joad family is about to embark on their travels. The Joads need to get a car and such a process is full of lies from the car dealers who exploit the migrants’ necessities to make more profit. The dealers manipulate the migrants by the day’s bargain: â€Å"Makes folks come in though. If we sold that bargain at that price we’d hardly make a dime. Tell ‘em it’s jus’ sold† (62). The cars dealers are selling pieces of junk for ridiculous payments from the migrants who believe that they had missed the day’s bargain. Society’s corruption is also embodied by the land owners in California who are sending out the handbills asking for men to work. A ragged old man informs the Joads that â€Å"This fella wants eight hundred men. So he prints up five thousand of them things an’ maybe twenty thousan’ people sees ‘em. An’ maybe two-three thousan’ folks get movin’ account a this here han’bill† (189). The land owners are aware of the fact that migrants are so desperate for money and food and exploit their necessity by promoting their own need for people to work. When the multitudes of migrants come and are willing to work all day for only a couple biscuits, the land owners know they can use this for their own benefit by taking advantage of hard labor and little pay. Society’s corruption is depicted through the authors’ development of motifs that reveal how pervasive it truly is. Salinger and Steinbeck’s commentary on the corruption of society and its effect differs greatly in the novels’ resolution of the protagonists and the development of their motifs. Although both authors use characterization to portray their social commentary, they go about it in two different manners. While the Grapes of Wrath, with respect to social alienation, focuses more on approval among those who are convincingly greater or â€Å"high-class†, The Catcher in the Rye’s main character’s intents are to be left out of society’s affairs and people themselves. Salinger’s protagonist is a stagnant character who makes very little progress in working through society’s corruption and trying to figure out how to handle it. Holden continues to fail to preserve the innocence as well as acknowledging his inability to get over the misconception that he himself has not been tainted by the corruption. On the other hand, Steinbeck develops Tom Joad, who goes about great transformation throughout the novel. Tom continues to fight for what he knows to be a better form of society and even when he loses almost everything, continues to press on. The resolution of the two novels and their protagonists’ roles in them reveal the different views of social corruption they both have. Holden’s lack of progress reveals Salinger’s belief that the corruption permeating society is incurable. Contrasting that, Steinbeck’s dynamic protagonist who makes society a little bit better reveals his confidence that there will be a day in which society’s corruption will be minimized. The motifs developed by the two authors also expose the difference in social commentaries. Salinger’s motif of preserving innocence shows his desire to salvage what he can from society; however, Holden’s realization that such a task is impossible symbolizes his conviction that society will always be corrupt. In contrast, the lies and deceit that pervade Steinbeck’s novel reveal society’s corruption in every aspect and phase of life but he resolves his book with the Joads being successful. Although the two authors make the same social commentary about society’s corruption, Steinbeck and Salinger present their ideas in fundamentally different ways with differing resolutions of their protagonists and differing motifs. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking, 1939. Print. Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 1951. Print. View as multi-pages

How to Calculate Normality of a Solution

How to Calculate Normality of a Solution The normality of a solution is the gram equivalent weight of a solute per liter of solution. It may also be called the equivalent concentration.  It is indicated using the symbol N, eq/L, or meq/L ( 0.001 N) for units of concentration. For example, the concentration of a hydrochloric acid solution might be expressed as 0.1 N HCl. A gram equivalent weight or equivalent is a measure of the reactive capacity of a given chemical species (ion, molecule, etc.). The equivalent value is determined using the molecular weight and valence of the chemical species. Normality is the only concentration unit that is reaction dependent. Here are examples of how to calculate the normality of a solution. Key Takeaways Normality is a unit of concentration of a chemical solution expressed as gram equivalent weight of solute per liter of solution. A defined equivalence factor must be used to express concentration.Common units of normality include N, eq/L, or meq/L.Normality is the only unit of chemical concentration that depends on the chemical reaction being studied.Normality is not the most common unit of concentration, nor is its use appropriate for all chemical solutions. Typical situations when you might use normality include acid-base chemistry, redox reactions, or precipitation reactions. For most other situations, molarity or molality are better options for units. Normality Example #1 The easiest way to find normality is from molarity. All you need to know are how many mole of ions dissociate. For example, a 1 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is 2 N for acid-base reactions because each mole of sulfuric acid provides 2 moles of H ions. 1 M sulfuric acid is 1 N for sulfate precipitation since 1 mole of sulfuric acid provides 1 mole of sulfate ions. Normality Example #2 36.5 grams of hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a 1 N (one normal) solution of HCl. A normal is one gram equivalent of a solute per liter of solution. Since hydrochloric acid is a strong acid that dissociates completely in water, a 1 N solution of HCl would also be 1 N for H or Cl- ions for acid-base reactions. Normality Example #3 Find the normality of 0.321 g sodium carbonate in a 250 mL solution. To solve this problem, you need to know the formula for sodium carbonate. Once you realize there are two sodium ions per carbonate ion, the problem is simple: N 0.321 g Na2CO3  x (1 mol/105.99 g) x (2 eq/1 mol)N 0.1886 eq/0.2500 LN 0.0755 N Normality Example #4 Find the percent acid (eq wt 173.8) if 20.07 mL of 0.1100 N base is required to neutralize 0.721 g of a sample. This is essentially a matter of being able to cancel out units to obtain the final result. Remember, if given a value in milliliters (mL), its necessary to convert it to liters (L). The only tricky concept is realizing the acid and base equivalence factors will be in a 1:1 ratio. 20.07 mL x (1 L/1000 mL) x (0.1100 eq base/1 L) x (1 eq acid/1 eq base) x (173.8 g/1 eq) 0.3837 g acid When to Use Normality There are specific circumstances when its preferable to use normality rather than molarity or other unit of concentration of a chemical solution. Normality is used in acid-base chemistry to describe the concentration of hydronium (H3O) and hydroxide (OH-). In this situation, 1/feq is an integer.The equivalence factor or normality is used in precipitation reactions to indicate the number of ions that will precipitate. Here, 1/feq is once again and integer value.In redox reactions, the equivalence factor indicates how many electrons can be donated or accepted by an oxidizing or reducing agent. For redox reactions, 1/feq may be a fraction. Considerations Using Normality Normality is not an appropriate unit of concentration in all situations. First, it requires a defined equivalence factor. Second, the normality is not a set value for a chemical solution. Its value can change according to the chemical reaction being examined. For example, a solution of CaCl2 that is 2 N with respect to the chloride (Cl-) ion would only be 1 N with respect to the magnesium (Mg2) ion. Reference The use of the equivalence concept. IUPAC (archived).

Free Essays on Music

Today’s younger generations need to have a better understanding as to how music developed and what it all entails. It seems like the older generations have a better understanding of what music is really about. Believe When most children think of music lessons, they think of sing-alongs or sitting through a boring music lecture. This is not what music is really all about. If one were to attend a musical or listen to the radio, they are familiarizing themselves with music. Young children should take music lessons to make themselves more familiar with what music is all about. Studies have shown that children who learn about music at a young age tend to see their IQ increase faster than children who do not learn about music. It is also better for children who do take music lessons to take them with a group of other kids because it seems to also boost a child’s IQ. Parents should encourage their children to take some kind of music lessons. They should not force their children to take lessons though. But if children take music lessons when they are young and then decide that they are not interested in music as the get older, than they can choose not to take lessons anymore. Parents shou ld not force their children to do anything that they do not want to do. Doubt Doubting about this topic is hard to write about. Music lessons do not always contribute to being successful. Even though studies have shown that people who take music lessons at a young age tend to be smarter than those who did not take music lessons when they were younger this is not true for all people. Some people in today’s society are successful at what they do even though they did not take music lessons as children. All adults who become successful and make lots of money did not take music lessons. Not all people have to take music lessons at a young age to become smart and successful. Taking music lessons is a plus for becoming successful but it isn... Free Essays on Music Free Essays on Music Today’s younger generations need to have a better understanding as to how music developed and what it all entails. It seems like the older generations have a better understanding of what music is really about. Believe When most children think of music lessons, they think of sing-alongs or sitting through a boring music lecture. This is not what music is really all about. If one were to attend a musical or listen to the radio, they are familiarizing themselves with music. Young children should take music lessons to make themselves more familiar with what music is all about. Studies have shown that children who learn about music at a young age tend to see their IQ increase faster than children who do not learn about music. It is also better for children who do take music lessons to take them with a group of other kids because it seems to also boost a child’s IQ. Parents should encourage their children to take some kind of music lessons. They should not force their children to take lessons though. But if children take music lessons when they are young and then decide that they are not interested in music as the get older, than they can choose not to take lessons anymore. Parents shou ld not force their children to do anything that they do not want to do. Doubt Doubting about this topic is hard to write about. Music lessons do not always contribute to being successful. Even though studies have shown that people who take music lessons at a young age tend to be smarter than those who did not take music lessons when they were younger this is not true for all people. Some people in today’s society are successful at what they do even though they did not take music lessons as children. All adults who become successful and make lots of money did not take music lessons. Not all people have to take music lessons at a young age to become smart and successful. Taking music lessons is a plus for becoming successful but it isn... Free Essays on Music Music To say that the understanding of music is ambiguous would be an understatement. Music has meaning that is emotionally, culturally, and intellectually diverse. In his essay, â€Å"Music†, Alan Bloom attacks modern rock music as a non-intellectual but purely sexual expression. â€Å"Body and Soul: The Musical Miseducation of Youth†, written by Martha Bayles, contrasts Blooms views by nitpicking through his ideas and labeling them as vast generalizations. In one generalization in particular, Bloom claims that art in music has died since the decline of classical music. Bayles on the other hand, disagrees by declaring that that void has been filled. Bayles quotes music critic Henry Pleasants, â€Å"Western music has undergone an idiomatic shift every time its creative center has shifted geographically† (Bayles, 25). He explains that the early part of the twentieth century could be what Pleasants labels â€Å"the Afro-American epoch.† The influence of black Americans on music in the twentieth century is filled with creativity and art. However, Bloom insists that â€Å"rock music has risen to its current heights in the education of the young on the ashes of classical music† (Bloom 50). This is where Bayles chooses to focus on the fact that there is a gap in musical history, which she fills with Pleasant’s theories. Perhaps there is simply a misunderstanding in the role of twentieth century music. Bloom never addresses Afro-American music as a whole, and since Bayles is responding to Bloom’s article, Bloom is not given the chance to respond to Bayles’ proposition. Especially when she poses the question, â€Å"He finds rock barbarous, but does that apply to the rest of the idiom?† It would be interesting, had he been given the chance, to see Blooms response. For had he continued to argue that Afro-American music was also lacking intellectual and artistic rigor, he might draw a good point over the lack of modern art in t...

Definition and Discussion of General American English

Definition and Discussion of General American English General American English is a somewhat vague and outdated term for a  variety of spoken American English that seems to lack the distinctive characteristics of any particular region or ethnic group. Also called network English or newscaster accent. The term General American (GA, GAE, or GenAm) was coined by English professor George Philip Krapp in his book The English Language in America (1925). In the first edition of History of the English Language (1935), Albert C. Baugh adopted the term General American, calling it the dialect of the Middle States and the West. General American   is sometimes broadly characterized as speaking with a midwestern accent, but as William Kretzschmar observes (below), there has never been any single best or default form of American English that might form the basis for General American (A Handbook of Varieties of English, 2004). Examples and Observations The fact that I conjugate my verbs and speak in a typical Midwestern newscaster voicetheres no doubt that this helps ease communication between myself and white audiences. And theres no doubt that when Im with a black audience, I slip into a slightly different dialect.(U.S. President Barack Obama, quoted by Dinesh DSouza in Obamas America: Unmaking the American Dream. Simon Schuster, 2012)The term General American is sometimes used by those who expect for there to be a perfect and exemplary state of American English . . .. However, in this essay the term Standard American English (StAmE) is preferred; it designates the level of quality (here of pronunciation) that is employed by educated speakers in formal settings. StAmE pronunciation differs from region to region, even from person to person, because speakers from different circumstances in and different parts of the United States commonly employ regional and social features to some extent even in formal situations.(William A. Kret zschmar, Jr., Standard American English Pronunciation. A Handbook of Varieties of English, ed. by Bernd Kortmann and Edgar W. Schneider. Mouton de Gruyter, 2004) [T]he standard assumption for American English is that even educated speakers, from certain regions at least (most notably New England and the South), at times use regional pronunciation characteristics and thus speak with an accent; hence, despite the persistent belief in a homogenous General American accent or notions like network English there is in fact no single norm of pronunciation that corresponds to RP [received pronunciation] in England, being a non-regional class dialect.(Edgar W. Schneider, Introduction: Varieties of English in the Americas and the Caribbean. A Handbook of Varieties of English, ed. by Bernd Kortmann and Edgar W. Schneider. Mouton de Gruyter, 2004) Variants in Network English It is important to note that no single dialectregional or socialhas been singled out as an American standard. Even national media (radio, television, movies, CD-ROM, etc.), with professionally trained voices have speakers with regionally mixed features. However, Network English, in its most colourless form, can be described as a relatively homogenous dialect that reflects the ongoing development of progressive American dialects (Canadian English has several notable differences). This dialect itself contains some variant forms. The variants included within this targeted accent involve vowels before /r/, possible differences in words like cot and caught and some vowels before /l/. It is fully rhotic. These differences largely pass unnoticed by the audiences for Network English, and are also reflective of age differences.(Daniel Jones, English Pronouncing Dictionary, 17th ed. Cambridge University Press, 2006) ​​General American vs. the Eastern New England Accent A few examples of differences between some regional dialects and General American or Network English are in order here, though these are necessarily selective. In the characteristic speech of Eastern New England, for instance, rhotic /r/ is lost after vowels, as in far or hard, while it is retained in all positions in General American. A rounded vowel has been retained in Eastern New England in words like top and dot, whereas General American uses an unrounded vowel. Another Eastern New England characteristic is the use of /É‘/ in words like bath, grass, last, etc., where General American uses /a/. In these respects the New England accent shows some similarities with British RP.(Diane Davies, Varieties of Modern English: An Introduction. Routledge, 2013) Challenges to the Concept of General American The belief that American English consists of General American and the Eastern (Northern) and Southern dialect varieties was called into question by a group of American scholars in the 1930s. . . . In 1930 [Hans] Kurath was named the director of an ambitious project called The Linguistic Atlas of the United States and Canada. He patterned the project on a similar European undertaking that had been completed some years before the American project started: Atlas linguistique de la France, which ran between 1902 and 1910. Given the results of their work, Kurath and his co-workers challenged the belief that American English had the varieties Eastern, Southern, and General American. Instead, they suggested that American English is best viewed as having the following major dialect areas: Northern, Midland, and Southern. That is, they did away with the elusive notion of General American and replaced it with the dialect area that they called Midland.(Zoltn Kà ¶vecses, American English: An In troduction. Broadview, 2000) Many Midwesterners are under the illusion that they speak without an accent. They may even believe that they speak Standard American English. But most linguists understand that there is not a single, correct way to speak English. So, yes, even Midwesterners speak with an accent.(James W. Neuliep,  Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach, 6th ed. SAGE, 2015)It should be emphasized that everyone speaks with an accent; it is as impossible to speak without an accent as to speak without making sounds. When people deny they have an accent, this is a statement of social prejudice and not linguistics.(Howard Jackson and Peter Stockwell, An Introduction to the Nature and Functions of Language, 2nd ed. Bloomsbury Academic, 2011) Also see: Standard American EnglishAccent PrejudiceEthnic Dialect,  Idiolect,  Regional Dialect, and  Social DialectMarkednessPrestigePronunciationStandard English

This an assignment regarding a retirement community in arizona named Essay

This an assignment regarding a retirement community in arizona named sun lake. It is a group projject below is my part - Essay Example This theory helps us understand the nature of targeted health behavior (Schmid 69). They will help understand the dynamic of the behavior and the effects of external influences. The following theories are helpful in health promotion. The main goals of health promotion are to reduce health risk and optimize health and productivity while lowering the health related costs. The work site health promotion creates to a culture that will foster motivation and overall health of individuals. Creativity plays an important role in health and well being. Creativity derives from the biological changes of human evolution that is needed for survival. The therapeutic benefits of creativity perform and active search that will deal with the occupational health promotion (White 37). This will lead to the development new models such as a contemporary health model that will help in improving health

Philo Farnsworth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Philo Farnsworth - Essay Example During that period, nobody including Farnsworth’s teacher had heard about television, which was primarily known as apiece of device that scanned pictures through a spinning disc with holes, then produced tiny, unstable images of what was scanned on the screen (Godfrey 272). Farnsworth’s father died two years after he joined Brigham Young University, and this forced him to take a public works job in Salt Lake City so as to support his family. This, however, did not stop him from pursuing his career dream, and one year later (1927), he demonstrated the first all-electronic television in San Francisco (Godfrey 274). This invention earned him more funding, and complicated competition of setting trends and standards in electronic industry. Farnsworth won a patent for his all-electronic television in 1930. In the same year, Vladimir of RCA, inventor of a television that utilizes Cathode ray tube (1928), visited his laboratory and was amazed by Farnsworth’s technological advancements (Godfrey 275). This created a long term patent battle, which forced RCA pay Farnsworth $1 million for patent battle licenses for TV synchronizing, focusing, contrast, scanning and controls devises. Other than the all-electronic television, Farnsworth is also credited for inventing â€Å"cold† cathode ray tube, first electronic microscope, a baby incubator, and air traffic control device (Godfrey 275). Since 1950, his area of interest was nuclear fusion. He died of pneumonia in 1971 before completing his fusion project. By the time he died, he had won over 300 United States and foreign patents for electronic and

Research Progress Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Research Progress Report - Assignment Example There are several vehicles that authorities can employ to realize the genuine, effective participation of citizens in the governance process. One such vehicle is community councils. Following the amalgamation of Toronto in 1998, six community councils were established. The community councils were meant to serve as the platform for â€Å"participating† the residents of Metropolitan Toronto, the new amalgamated city. The notion of "amalgamation" entails merging smaller local authorities with one larger municipality to form one large metropolitan area. Promoters of city amalgamations argue that it is more cost-effective to provide services and goods to one larger municipality than in several small local government areas(Schwartz, 2010). However, many scholars are of the view that amalgamation has not worked for Toronto and that the community councils are weak. This paper compares the Toronto model with two others: New York and Montreal. Scholars consider New York a success and Montreal, like Toronto, a failure. Based on the findings of the case studies, the author recommends two reform options for Toronto. Until 1997, Toronto had a two-tier regional government. The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto comprised the upper tier while the lower tier comprised the municipalities of North York, East York, Scarborough and Toronto and the borough of York. In late 1996, the premier of Ontario proposed the amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto. They argued that the move could save $645 million during the transition and $300 million a year afterthat (Schwartz, 2010). However, a report by KPMG revealed that the transition cost the government of Ontario $275 million while they managed to save only $135 million a year. As of 2008, the city’s budget stood at $8.1 billion, up from $5 billion in 1997. Only the number of politicians fell, but increases in the councilors staff and office budgets have canceled any cost

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift - Article Example Jonathan Swift begins with the vivid imagery of the plight of poor children and is able to evoke sympathy.  An important aspect is that this is so sincerely done that the most skeptical person would want to read on. Then he moves with calculated precision and creates a logical assessment of the condition of the poor. He also professes to have â€Å"maturely weighed† his calculations and proposal giving confidence to the reader to reach further down the narrative. Swift then smoothly places a dramatic twist by immediately following his preamble with the first shocking suggestion of â€Å"eating† all the penniless children in this manner: â€Å"a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled, and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.†. After this point, Swift begins to target the moneyed class of that period. He not only enrages the reader by the cold irony of his suggestions but also forces him to think by using startling imagery and saddening but stark realities of life. In a formal and methodical manner, he gives solutions to visible problems of poverty by calculating the worth of children’s flesh offered as food to â€Å"persons of quality and fortune† and other rich members of the society of that time. With striking prose filled with sarcasm, he challenges human emotions by recommending â€Å"buying the children alive and dressing them hot from the knife† as is done in roasting piglets. The subject of his criticism, the moneyed class, is woven in with a detached and mathematical precision by drawing parallel examples of their lavish spending and the worth of the poor considered as meat. In his cynicism, Swift does not spare any member of the society of that time that has contributed to or closed eyes from the causes and reasons of poverty. These include the pseudo-patriots, the clergy as well as royalty.

ECON333 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ECON333 - Assignment Example On the other hand, if these people are compensated then actual Pareto improvement is possible which is not always possible in reality. A restricted version of Pareto improvement is where the resources are allocated in the manner where there are both gainers and losers. This is a more practical situation since under any situation there will be one or more parties who will be at the losing end. However, if the gainers agree to pay more than the value of their gains so that the losers can be compensated, i.e. the value of gains is more than the costs, a potential Pareto improvement will occur. For instance, in case of a new airport the gainers will be the society and the airline company. However, if the company compensates the people living near the airport for their inconvenience then no party will be the loser although the compensated people will not be gaining anything. To understand a Pareto improvement it is necessary that the gains and losses can be measures in the terms of money that people can pay for their goods and services. In short, it is Pareto improvement if the money left in the end is in excess of the money that was in the beginning (Gold, 1996, p.33). Kalder-Hicks compensation principle is adopted from Pareto improvement but with less strict measures. It is an economic situation where the gainers will be in a position to compensate the losers and still be better off, even if the compensation is not actually done. One problem of Kalder-Hicks theory is that although gainers will have the capacity to compensate the losers, in reality the gainers may not agree to compensate. This will increase economic disparity in the society, and hence is considered unfair by many economists. For instance, people living under the flight path of the new airport may feel they have been cheated if the airline company refrains from paying compensation

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift - Article Example Jonathan Swift begins with the vivid imagery of the plight of poor children and is able to evoke sympathy.  An important aspect is that this is so sincerely done that the most skeptical person would want to read on. Then he moves with calculated precision and creates a logical assessment of the condition of the poor. He also professes to have â€Å"maturely weighed† his calculations and proposal giving confidence to the reader to reach further down the narrative. Swift then smoothly places a dramatic twist by immediately following his preamble with the first shocking suggestion of â€Å"eating† all the penniless children in this manner: â€Å"a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled, and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.†. After this point, Swift begins to target the moneyed class of that period. He not only enrages the reader by the cold irony of his suggestions but also forces him to think by using startling imagery and saddening but stark realities of life. In a formal and methodical manner, he gives solutions to visible problems of poverty by calculating the worth of children’s flesh offered as food to â€Å"persons of quality and fortune† and other rich members of the society of that time. With striking prose filled with sarcasm, he challenges human emotions by recommending â€Å"buying the children alive and dressing them hot from the knife† as is done in roasting piglets. The subject of his criticism, the moneyed class, is woven in with a detached and mathematical precision by drawing parallel examples of their lavish spending and the worth of the poor considered as meat. In his cynicism, Swift does not spare any member of the society of that time that has contributed to or closed eyes from the causes and reasons of poverty. These include the pseudo-patriots, the clergy as well as royalty.

Critical Appraisal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Critical Appraisal - Assignment Example In addition, the care giver also records the measures that he has taken in response to the patient’s needs, evidence that he has comprehended and pleased the responsibility of care, has taken all reasonable steps to care for the patient and that any action or exclusion has not put into compromise patient’s health. The documentation also includes a record of any arrangements the nurse has made for the continuing care of a patient or client (Delaune & Ladner, 2006, p68). The documentation process in nursing is carried out for various reasons that may include some of the following. The law in most of the countries requires that health practitioners who come into contact with patients should keep health records of the patients that they handle, these records are supposed to include a brief record of the patient’s medical history and the care that the health practitioner gives the patient (Guido, 2006, p72). In addition, the number of litigations against nurses has in creased due to the increased public awareness of their rights therefore the documents act as evidence in courts of law of the care that the nurse gave the patient. Keeping of proper medical health records also has an implication on the quality and type of care that the patient will receive from other nurses since they are likely to dwell on the medical history of the patient written by other nurses who handled the patient. This report will critically analyse three journal articled relating to the field of documentation in nursing. Nursing Documentation: Frameworks and Barriers This paper written by Wendy Blair and Barbara Smith deals with barriers to safe, timely and accurate documentation for nurses and chooses the best framework to handle the problem of documentation (Blair & Smith, 2012, p65). This article involved studying of various literature on frameworks that ensure documentation in nursing fulfil the requirement that it should show the rational and critical thinking behind clinical decisions and interventions while still providing written evidence of the progress of the patient, some of these frameworks include narrative charting, problem-oriented approaches, clinical pathways and focus notes. Review of the literature on the frameworks that are used in documentation was the process that this article used to come up with the best framework to be used. The first framework that they reviewed was the narrative charting, which is the recording of interventions and their impact in a chronological order. They found out that this method had serious shortcomings especially in the modern practise since it involves writing a lot of notes making it difficult to retrieve relevant information, in addition, due to the large number of notes, the process is time consuming. The article also analysed the VIPS model and found out that it was time consuming among the nurses therefore not appropriate since it meant that less time would be spent giving actual care to the pa tients. The SOAP framework, which works well for single problem entries, was found to be ineffective to use since most of the nursing processes involves references to multiple problems making the documentation look disorganised. Clinical pathways such as the integrated Care Pathway (ICP) can be used to standardise the documentation process

Native American Religions Essay Example for Free

Native American Religions Essay Native American Religions happen to be one of the oldest and most enduring forms of religion. They comprise a large number of distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups. Native Americans arrived on the North American Continent fifth-teen thousand to twenty thousand years ago. Native Americans have literally sources that exist from only the last four hundred years even though Native American life covers perhaps twenty thousand years. Over three hundred tribes have been recognized by the United States government. Native Americans are the only known ethnic group in the United States requiring a federal permit to practice their religion. In the state of Virginia, Native Americans face a unique problem. Virginia has no federally recognized tribes. Native American Religions have also been known as American Indians, Amerindians, Amerinds, Aboriginal, Indians, Indigenous, Original Americans, Red Indians, or Red Men. Native Americans religions are polytheistic. Native American Religions are remarkably free of priesthood. Native Americans are very personal in that they encourage Page 2 individuals to contact the spirit world alone. Native Americans believe that many levels of Gods and Spirits exist in the universe. They think of the High God or Great Spirits as a personal God. They believe in the Supreme Being in a manner found in many basic religions. Native religions have some of the qualities of monotheism, polytheism, and monism. Native American has been exposed to Christian eschatology for more than four hundred years. The influence of Christianity has been so strong that today most Native Americans are Christians. They are interested in the day-to-day life among the multiple spirits found in the world. Native Americans have a reverent attitude toward the land, trees, rivers, and mountains. Native Americans who practiced agriculture revere the soil, plants, and tree. Hunting was an important part of life within many Native American Cultures. The hunter would pray to the spirit of the animal before the hunt. Hunting was a religious pursuit in which the hunters saw the animal as a fellow creature, with a similar spirit. After all hunting’s one would ask the animal for forgiveness. They would basically perform a taboo. A religious action that enables people to avoid doing things that would offend the spirits of nature and the ancestors. This was one of the ways the Native American would protect themselves from possible danger from the spirit world. Another widely observed taboo is the avoidance of the dead. Taboo concerning about Page 3 the dead led Native Americans to be greatly concerned about their final resting places. There is no heaven for those who have been righteous and no hell for those who have been wicked. Native Americans often seek to control the forces of spirit world with ceremonies. The purpose of their ceremonies, rituals, songs, and dances is not necessarily worship. They are a mean of renewing the partnership between humans and the spirit world. Long hours of dancing in this atmosphere prepare the participants for contact with the spirit world. Holy week is also celebrated a song and dance. Native Americans often gain special powers by seeking visions that may place them in connection with the spirit world. Visions are sought by Native Americans at other times in life. The spirit may appear after a period of fasting and prayer, or sometimes without any preparation. The Sweat Lodge is probably the most important Native Ritual. The sweat lodge usually occurs before and after every other major ritual like the Sundance and Vision Quest. It is also a stand alone ritual meaning that it occurs whenever it is needed. Its original purpose was to cleanse or purify individuals. Mother sweat lodge essentially translates in to returning to the womb. The Sun Dance last from four to eight days starting at the sunset of the final day of preparation and ending at sunset. It showed continuity between life and death regeneration. It shows that there is no true end to life, but a cycle of symbolic and true deaths and rebirths. All of nature is intertwined and dependent on one another. This gives an equal ground to everything on the Earth. The sun dance was a significant part of the Crow Indian peoples Page 4 spirituality. It was a spiritual retreat in which a large number of participants would fast, pray and dance for a period of days. They asked for answers to events going on in their lives. Traditional Native Americans seem to believe in two souls, neither of which is considered immortal. One soul is the life, or the breath, that accompanies the body. The other soul is known as the free soul. One of the most common elements of Native American Religions is the use of tobacco and the sacred pipe in religious ceremonies. Tobacco was originally grown and used only for religious purposes by Native Americans. The tobacco used in religious ceremonies is stronger than the tobacco used in cigarettes. The ritual tobacco is occasionally smoked in rolled from corn husks. Most Native American tribes had traditional gender roles. Men hunted, traded and made war, while women gathered plants, cared for the young and the elderly. Women ever had the task of making weapons and tools, they took care of the roofs of their homes and often helped their men hunt buffalos. Many Native American people believed in the unusual power of a woman at these times in life. During a women menstruation she was kept away from ordinary society. Native Americans today have a special relationship with the United States of America. In conclusion, Native Americans can be found as nations, tribes, or bands of Native Americans who have sovereignty or independence from the government of the United Statesry society. Like other religions, Native American belief systems include many sacred Page 5 narratives. Such spiritual stories are deeply based in Nature and are rich with the symbolism of seasons, weather, plants, earth, water, sky and fire. The idea of an all powerful Great Spirit, a connection to the Earth, diverse creation narratives and collective memories of ancient ancestors are common. Traditional worship practices are often a part of tribal gatherings with dance, rhythm, songs and trance.

Business Issues And The Context Of Human Resources Commerce Essay

Business Issues And The Context Of Human Resources Commerce Essay XX is a leading International Healthcare Group with the purpose to help people lead longer, healthier and happier lives. The organisation does that by providing a broad range of healthcare services, support and advice to people throughout their lives. With no shareholders and its global presence in 190 countires, the organisation is said to be a industry leader. XXX is a 60 years old organisation providing services like Health insurance and Wellbeing, Healthcare provision, Healthcare Analytics and Care Services. The organisations vision to be world leader in the health care sector has been supported by the following objectives: Listen to its customers, act quickly and professionally. Living and Breathing organisations values monitored by HR on regular basis. Make a difference in peoples lives by offering all high quality and value added healthcare Creating diverse and mix work force of highly skilled and knowledgeable employees and invest in their development within the company via organised HR function. This report has been commissioned by the CEO of XXX. FINDINGS 3.1 Forces shaping the HR agenda Our purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives and the 52,000 people we employ are at the heart of making this a reality. John Handley, HR Director, XXX International It is essential for XXX to have a strong and distinctive identity that clearly seperates the organisation from others in the field. Everyone in XXX has a part to play in this and hence thats where the HR plays a vital role. Examples of External Forces that have shaped the HR agenda are Competition, Markets, Economic trends and the changing face of the Health Industry. Increasing expectations of the customers from the oraganisation and more competitors offering similar policies and products at lower rates, made XXX to look more further into the product designs and customer service management, which resulted in hiring more talented and knowledgeable people skilled in their sector to provide the best customer service to the customers and partners. To make sure that the right number of people are available to service the customers and are able to effectively deliver the right results to the costumers, HR department works in partnership with the management. They decided to provide the right environment for the people to learn, grow and develop them through Innovative Learning Approach and by recognising people for their contribution to the organisations success. By investing into the right people, XXXs objective was to provide the best customer service through all channels to its members. HR proposed to offer its employees both an open environment and an informal culture, encouraging fresh ideas and helping employees realise their true potential. To reflect their different business needs, all the business units have a tailored HR department i.e.operational HR, organisational development, reward, HR systems, employee recognition, and HR support. These units works exclusively to provide a direct, informed and tailored service to meet its unique needs. 3.2 HRs contribution to Organisational Effectiveness Creating competitive advantage through people. Group HR Management works in partnership with the Management. All business units individual HR heads who reports to the HR Director. This is to make sure that all the departments on its own are delivering higher levels of performance to the benefit of our customers and the bottom line. Individual HR in all these units perform common bundle of processes which impacts on organisational performance. Recruitment of talent that matches XXXs values. Leadership and management practices/ competencies Performance management Succession planning Recognition Organisational climate and workplace environment Facilitating effective change management Management development and training Career development 360 feedback tools All business units have their own Administration and Training departments. The Administration department looks after Payroll, HR Systems and Database Management to make sure that all the employee details are correct, secure and as a result in them being treated fairly. All the employees are paid correctly It has its own Change Management team who deals with changes in processes and work culture. The Training department works in partnership with the business in all individual units to create appropriate, skilled and tailored training solutions to keep up with the changing business needs. 3.3 HRs roles and functions in management structures XXX HR Map Administration Training Departments are in each business units and have individual Change Management Teams IS HR Organisational Development HR Director HR UK Membership International HR Group HR Management Development Care Services Information Systems HR Training Development Group HR Functions Reward Recognition Business Technology Training IS Resource Management Group Resource Management Pensions Benefits HR Systems XXX One Life HR within XXX works as a strategic partner, hence plays a very important role in finance, operations and other business departments within the organisation. The main objective is to provide high returns on the businesss investment in its people. XXX does not follow any set models of HR but do relates with the Harvard model in some manner. It sees employees as resources. It emphasises on issues like involving people in decision making and developing an organisational culture based on trust and teamwork. It has shared goals for coordination and control and a flat structure to minimise status culture. It employs the multiple stakeholder model in which employees are seen as having interests along with other stakeholders, management, unions and government. The HR outlines four main policy areas which are Human resource flows : HR manages the flow of people within XXXs individual business units through recruitment and selection, through the organisation by placement, appraisal and promotion and lastly through out of the organisation by termination. It also makes sure at right number of people are available at all the times according to the business needs. Reward Systems : Even though each business unit has separate Reward System in place, it serves a common purpose to attract, motivate and keep employees happy within the organisation. Employee Influence : People being the heart of the organisation, their views and concerns are given equal importance as of stakeholders and customers. Work Systems : With the ever changing business needs and the medical climate, XXX makes sure that the information and technology used within the organisation provides the best outcomes. The HR function in all the business units currently concentrates on achieving the four Cs of the model. Commitment, Congruence, Competence, Cost Effectiveness. The XXXs hr structure also somehow resembles the Ulrichs hr model as all the business units do individually have their own separate departments to deal with change, strategies and administration. 3.4 Business Ethics and Accountability XXX follows a code of professional ethics which are based on the principles that determine the way employees behave and Brand personality that describes the way employees are suppose to perceive. Brand Values : Caring we genuinely care about peoples health and wellbeing. We exist for no other reason. Respectful : We respect peoples individuality, privacy and dignity and try to respond to their individual needs. Ethical : We are committed to acting responsibly and in the best interests of people and the environments. Enabling : We empower people with our knowledge and experience to help them choose the most appropriate solutions. Dedicated : We are dedicated to providing a professional, reassuring service and seek oppurtunities to go the extra mile to exceed peoples expectations. Accountable : We are accountable for the quality, efficiency and value of our services, and act in the best interests of our customers. Brand Personality : Warm Human Caring Understanding Approachable Health Care Expert Global Outlook BUPA Employee Individual Business units do have their own code of conducts in line with the group values. For example, the training and development department in all units have professional code of conduct from the Institute of Management Consultants which covers ethics as Integrity, Independence, Objectivity and Responsbility to the profession. All the core values and ethics are explained on the XXXs intranet which is available for all the employees across the organisation. It clearly mentions how employees are expected to act in relation to the various policies like Treating Customers Fairly, Health and Safety at work, Data Matters, Security Matters Policy and Data Protection Policy As a global healthcare company, XXX deals with the personal details, medical data and financial records of millions of people around the world. Protecting that information is essential is a key responsibility for all of us. XXX Chief Executive XXX as a major healthcare services provider, plays a very important role in designing and delivering medical procedures and policies. It works closely with NHS and makes sure that all the treatments offered to the members in their centres are within the medical guidelines applied by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence). XXX has its media policy, Risk Management and Fraud Protection policies. XXX has its own Corporate Responsbility and Sustainability Policy under which it is made sure that healthcare expertise is used in the way that is good for business and communities. It covers many areas including employee giving support and volunteering, community health and wellness partnerships, addressing and minimising our impact on environment and affiliations with like-minded businesses and organisations (e.g Nuffield Health Centres, Physio Centres, Conservative treatment centres, etc.) XXX is an active partner with Life Education which supports youth health and drug education programs and with Can Too to raise funds for Cure Cancer. The Group HR provides support, encouragement and motivation to its employees to participate in various activities conducted to fulfil its corporate responsibility. Employees are expected to actively promote these services while having interactions with the customers at all the times. 4.1 HRs role in strategy formulation and interpretation All organisations will at some point need to focus on the activities and actions that it will undertake to meet its long term aims and objectives. XXXs vision taking care of the lives in our hands is at the heart of all strategies that are planned and practiced within the organisation. The two main objectives helping HR to form strategies within the organisation are Management capability : Through validated processes and development, this objective is met by XXX recruiting, retaining and developing managers the meet the business challenges of today and future. It involves different strategies designed around Recruitment, Core competencies, Performance Management, Succession Planning, XXX One Life, Climate Surveys, Change Management, Management Development, Career Development, 360 feedback tools and Customisable Questionnaire. Enabling systems and processes : This objective is met by developing and maintaining a performance-oriented culture. It includes Induction and Measures of Success. Business priorities are cascaded through the different levels of the organisation through a process whereby they become increasingly more detailed and focused. They trigger departmental objectives which are translated into team objectives and in turn provide the foundation for personal objectives which are based on SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound) targets that are to be met on consistent basis. These objectives are discussed, set and measured as part of the performance management plan of all employees depending on their roles and business units. XXX does not fit into any particular model of relationship between the HRM and the Business Strategies but it does work on the theories based within these models. In the best fit model (Schuler and Jackson example), employees are seen as key in the implementation of the declared organisational strategy and the HR strategy is designed to fit with this. XXXs individual departments propose strategies to be implemented via management surrounding functions, systems and processes within the department which enable the functional strategy to be achieved. This is then responded by the HR by defining the strategy to meet organisational needs. In the Resource based approach, the focus is to sustain competitive advantage through development of human capital rather than aligning human resources to current strategic goals. XXX invests in regular development of its employees within the organisation to make sure that they are updated with all the knowledge required to perform their job well and so to add value to the company. 4.2 Business and HR Strategies Each business within XXX evaluates its current position, its market and competitor environement and identifies its key strategies and plans in its annual 3 Strategic Year Plan (explained in 5.3). They work together in order to achieve common objectives of the organisation. Two of these most important objectives to be achieved in XXX are Cost Control : To utilise the resources in the most productive and effective way. To recruit and retain effective and skilled staff More training and development options to the existing employees to perform various roles Flexible working patterns according to the business needs Authorising treatments that are medically appropriate and within clinical guidelines only, leaving a small room for exceptional cases Covering as many as health-care workers to work within XXX limits to make sure that the customers are happy with the policies Competion : to regularly update the products and services offered within the health and care sector. To provide best customer service on levels of the business To design and offer most flexible and tailored policies to the members. To retain customers by offering alternative treatment options and longer support services. HRs role in meeting this objectives has been analyised through SWOT/STEEPLE which looks at the internal strengths and weaknesses and the external oppurtunities and threats. Below is the combined SWOT Analysis for XXX Strenghts : No Shareholders : this enables all the profits to be utilised to provide better customer service and products to the members. People : highly skilled and mix work force which knowledge of various sectors and products. Team of qualified health care consultants and providers. Customer-focus work culture Technology : Most advanced technology in the health care sector relating to the processes and procedures for medical treatments. Guidance on health issues online and on the phone. Operations : Working with various organisations and health groups to provide the best health care to everyone. Weeknesses : No Shareholders : If profits margins not gained, not enough money to invest back into the business People : mix work force and long-serving staff who are resistant to change. People lacking knowledge of all the departments as specialising in one specific area. Operations : because of the high turn-over of the staff, no standard operating procedures. Regular changes to keep up with the changing demands of the business. Cost-control : Staff redundancies in many business units resulting in low moral within the organisation and heavy work load on the rest of the workforce. Oppurtunities : Partnership with various organisations within the healthcare sector. As a lead health care service provider, had access to higher numbers of consultants and medically trained people Works closely with NHS, hence very influential when it comes to decisions relating medical treatments and funding for certain experimental treatments International presence to make sure private healthcare is available and provided to people around the world. Threats : Competition from other insurance providers who offer private health insurances on lower rates. Outsourcing of many business units which lacks communication and information transformation in a quick and appropriate manner. Higher medical costs which makes the premiums of the policies go higher every year. Increased customer demands to cover more experimental treatments and drugs because of globalisation. 4.3 Vertical and Horizontal Integration XXX works with NHS and other health-care providers to provide better health care services. The Vertical Integration is practiced within XXX as many of the services are offered via other providers who specialises in Travel, Home Care and Conservative treatment. This does serves the purpose to achieve the organisation to provide more treatment options to its customers which results in more appropriate and affordable policies been given to its customers. The option of been treated via NHS or Privately is always available for the customers leaving room for them to choose the most appropriate and time-saving option. The horizontal integration is defined within XXX as all the HR functions are inter-related and inter-connected to each-other. This is achieved by a business units specially looking for skilled employees in customer service, information technology, nursing and administration sector which leads to internal recruitment or resourcing, further leading to development, performance management, rewards and recognition and employee relations. 5.1 HRs role in Business Planning The Global expansion of XXX in the current times have resulted in fine-tuning of the policies and functions throughout the organisation to ensure that required support is provided to drive XXX forward. This has created a demanding and fast changing environment to work in. XXX expect high standards from every one of its team members and in return offer the opportunity to enhance their career with one of the most biggest and most successful brands in private healthcare. HR being the part of the Organisation Development team within the Group functions, has a very wide role to play to achieve the organisations one common goal. It works to make sure that all business units within XXX had right level of people with right level of skills are available to effectively deliver results to its customers at all times. Introduction to flexible working hours, change in employment contracts, inter-departmental transfers to suit the business needs, more systems and procedures to work with resulted in introduction to the change management team within HR of all business units. The things that caused XXX to go through change are Challenges of growth within global market i.e increasing cost of medical treatments and more experimental treatments introduced within UK market Technological changes i.e different technologies to work with to make sure that all processes and procedures are up to date according to the changing demands of the business Customer Pressure i.e. customers looking for more options and better services at lower costs The HRs involvement in various aspects of change was identified as Restructuring the recruitment and resourcing policies Advising team managers in skills available within the organisation, career development and transfer oppurtunities. Assessing the impact of change in one department on another part of the organisation. Making sure that the communication is clear and consistent within all departments of all business units within the organisations. Helping its to cope with change , performance management and motivation. 5.2 Environmental Planning It is very important for XXX to scan through the environment and consider all the present and future forces affecting the direction and goals of the organisation. Environment Planning involves external factors like trends and markets and internal factors like infrastructure and personnel. The STEEPLE analysis for XXX shows all the forces affecting organisational change Social Technology Economic Environment Political Legal Ethical Lifestyle changes of the customers involved with the company Energy costs and usage Inflation rates Natural resrouces Regulations related to private healthcare Employment Laws Reputation Living conditions of its employees and customers related to the business Changes in IT new systems and processes Consumer confidence within the companys products and services Strong Environmental policy Safety regulations Consumer Protection Business Ethics Income distribution within the community New inventions and software developments Medical costs Recycling Trade policies/ globalisation Trade Unions Client Confidentiality 5.3 Measures of Effectiveness What gets measured, gets attention and gets done. Tom Peters XXX has its own business priorities. To keep them accountable and focused on their key objectives, all businesses in XXX go through an annual process of setting their major priorities for the coming year. These are agreed in annual meetings, together with the key financial targets and from the basis of what the business will be measured on the following year. This is a similar process as Performance Management in employees. The organisation has The 3 year Strategic Plan (3YP) which describes the direction the Group as a whole and the individual business units will take over the next 3 years. This plan is completed every year and is an important part of XXXs strategy and planning processes. Group HR delivers this plan to different business units which is then cascaded to its employees. The context of each business is then evaluated on the basis of three important management tools. The Annual Operating Plan : It sets the detailed financial targets for the year for each individual department including HR. (sets targets for sales, costs, profits, etc) The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each individual in each business units. Thess are set of key operational, customer, strategic and people performance metrics. The Business priorties : The change acceptance rate of all individuals within the organisation. All these tools are available on organisations intranet for the convenience of all its employees. Performances of the employees are measured with the Brand values and behaviours been achieved, delivered and maintained. These are maintanined within the organisaiton as Performance Review and once completed along with the Development Plans are then sent to their respective HRs administration department who works closely with the training and development team to provide immediate attention to key issues. This process of measuring the human capital and oraganisations data provides a clearer picture within the working culture of the organisation. So, in this way, management, training and development team and HR administration works together to manage people and policies to achieve set business objectives. CONCLUSIONS XXXs vision to provide the best healthcare options in the world to every individual possible is a long term goal to be achieved along with the changing face of the medical sector and economic trends. It provides value-added products and services to its customers on the possible grounds making sure that the increasing private health insurance cost does not put the customer off from using the private healthcare. It needs policies and procedures to be updated all the time to match the technology offered within the market. XXXs diverse network of organisational structure which is divided in separate business units gives an opportunity to the organisation to look into greater details and specialise in its area of expertise. HR within XXX perform within its own business units providing tailored services to its people which makes its more approachable and easier for it to stay in touch with the business requirements. International HR looking after all the aspects of border control, trade ru les and regulations, etc contributes highly to the organisation to go through globalisation. The Group HR looks after all the functions of the organisational development and Rewards recognition which is kept separate from the administration department to give it more time and resources to look into organisational strategies and planning and run smoothly. Though it looks like a complex structure, it does allow the organisation to perform and deliver its objectives on consistent basis. People being the heart of the business, the organisations investment in its resources is incredibly valued. RECOMMENDATIONS Leadership Development : Employees within the organisation to go through planned management traingin to deliver consistent business results. HR to be more influential in individuals growth through a leadership development programme. This should discussed and put in place in the next 3YP meeting. More uniformed structure of Training and Development : Stuctured and uniform induction program for all employees delivered by HR. Learning and Development team then to look into more specialised training of its employees. This should be auctioned immediately with ongoing continuous improvement plan. Adaption of Competency Framework : Even though employees are evaluated on the brand values and behaviours, a competency based mapping should be followed in the performance development plans. This will help to achieve higher levels of organisational and employee effectiveness.

A Clockwork Orange, by Stanley Kubrick Essay -- Film Analysis

A Clockwork Orange is a Stanley Kubrick film from 1971. Kubrick directed the film and wrote the screen play based on the 1962 novel from author Anthony Burgess. A Clockwork Orange was originally rated, â€Å"X† and nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing and Best Screenplay, but lost in each category to William Friedkin's The French Connection (filmsite.org). The set design is by John Barry, costume design by Milena Canonero, music by Wendy Carlos and cinematography by John Alcott. A Clockwork Orange was awarded the New York Film Critics Awards for Best Film and Best Direction (FilmReference.com). Distributed by Warner Brothers, the estimated budget was $2,200,000 with a Gross of $26,589,355 in the USA alone (IMDb.com). Most notable of the cast are actors Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee and Michael Bates. According to film critic James Berardinelli, â€Å"A Clockwork Orange is not an easy motion picture to absorb or digest.† Oddly, the sex and violence are easier to take than the razor-sharp edge of Kubrick's satire and the corresponding awareness of its pinpoint accuracy when addressing the issue of the dehumanization of people† (Berardinelli). Roger Ebert thought the movie was overhyped compared to its worth. He felt that the movie was an artistic sin. â€Å"It is just plain talky and boring. You know there's something wrong with a movie when the last third feels like the last half† (Rogerebert.com). The audience reactions all seem to say the same thing: â€Å"Brilliant movie†, â€Å"a gem of an art piece†, â€Å"sensational†, â€Å"the number one film of all time on my charts†(IMDb Reviews), with many claiming that it has to be watched more than once to truly appreciate the film. The movie has earned a 91% "Certified Fresh" ra... ...D=/19720211/REVIEWS/202110301/1023>. "The Kubrick FAQ Part 2." Visual-memory.co.uk. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. . IMDb Reviews. IMDb.com. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. . Flame into Being: The Life and Work of D. H. Lawrence (Heinemann, London 1985) Anthony Burgess, p 205 Bugge, Christian. "The Kubrick Site: The ACO Controversy in the UK." Visual-memory.co.uk. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. . Kipp, Jeremiah. "A Clockwork Orange." Slant Magazine. Slant Magazine. Web. 24 Mar. 2012. . "A Clockwork Orange (1971)." A Clockwork Orange. Web. 08 Apr. 2012. . http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/A_Clockwork_Orange/383466?trkid=2361637

Essay --

The Continuum Hypothesis: Shyness, Social Anxiety and Avoidant Personality Disorder In today’s extroverted world, the shy temperament has become synonymous with insecurity, social anxiety, functional deficits, inhibited social skills, avoidant social behavior and impaired behavioral, somatic and cognitive symptoms in social settings. However, shyness has been suggested to lie on a spectrum ranging from normative shyness to a pathological state of extreme social phobia and avoidant personality disorder. The distinction among the varying levels of shyness on the continuum has been a topic of interest to current researchers, specifically qualifying normative shyness from highly shy, and highly shy individuals with and without social phobia. The difference between an individual with shyness and one with social phobia can be explained by comparing how the two approach social situations, and how they respond cognitively, behaviorally and physiologically. A shy person might go to a social event but feel uncomfortable and not enjoy themselves very much. However , an individual with social phobia may not even be able to make themselves go to the event at all. Differing levels on the shyness continuum differ markedly in measures of symptom intensity, daily functioning, quality of life, and anxiety and performance in social settings or conversation tasks (Chavira, Stein & Malcarne, 2002). Individuals with social phobia differ most significantly from those with high shyness and no social phobia in dimensions such as number of social fears, avoidance of social environments, negative thinking and physiological symptoms. Even people with shyness experience much higher quality of life and less functional impairment than those with soci... ...hibiting than the generalized type. However, in the highly shy group, most diagnoses were for generalized social phobia, indicating that highly shy individuals experience more interactional fears than performance based fears, which are common of non generalized social phobia and a limited type of social fears (Chavira, Stein & Malcarne, 2002). The central finding of the study was that 49% of highly shy individuals and 18% of normative shyness were diagnosed with social phobia (Chavira, Stein & Malcarne, 2002). This distinction supports the assertion that shyness and social phobia are significantly related. Additionally, the results of the study support the continuum hypothesis which dictates that higher shyness levels towards the end of the spectrum create greater susceptibility to psychiatric diagnoses such as social phobia and avoidant personality disorder.