Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay Example

The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay Example The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay Essay Topic: poem This poem is set in a big, dirty city, and its speaker is a very unhappy man who Is afraid of living and therefore bored all the time. The epigraph of this poem is a six- line quotation from Canto 27 of the Inferno by the Renaissance Italian poet Dante Alighieri. The Interno tells the story ot how a guy (Dante) who has messed up his lite badly enough to require some help from heaven. In order to scare him away from sin nd other bad things, heaven sends another poet named Vlrgll to give Dante a guided tour through the horrors of Hell (known as Inferno In Italian). Along the way he meets a lot of evil and misguided people. The quote from this epigraph is said by one of the characters in the eighth circle of Hell (which has nine circles), where some of the worst of the worst are stuck for eternity, This persons name is Guido da Montefeltro, and when Dante asks to hear his story, heres what he says: If I thought that my reply would be to someone who would ever return to earth, his flame would remain without further movement; but as no one has ever returned alive from this gulf, if what I hear is true, can answer you with no fear of infamy. What does this quote mean? Dante is really curious to know why Guido ended up so far down In Hell. But Guido Is selfish. Hes afraid that people back on earth will find out about the horrible stuff he did hes concerned about his reputation. On the other hand, Guido knows that no one has ever entered Hell and made It out again, so he figures that Its safe to tell his story because Dante is stuck here. nfortunately for Guido, Dante Is the first human ever to be allowed to pass through Hell and return to earth, so people do eventually find out about Guidos reading the Inferno. One other thing we should mention: Guido doesnt even have a body in Hell † hes not worthy of that so his entire spirit is just a flame that moves when he talks, When he says, this flame would remain without further movement, he means, l would shut up and not talk to you anymore. Why does Eliot choose this epigraph for his poem? Well, It suggests a couple of things. First, that Prufrock might not be a the poem is a kind of hell. Second, it tells us that this fellow Prufrock, who is singing his love song, might be concerned about his reputation like Guido. In other words, Prufrock is going to tell us things because he thinks we wont have a chance to repeat them to other people. Who are you? This is the question Prufrock will not answer, but responds, do not ask, what is it (11-12)? Prufrock is afraid that his true identity will be exposed to the ladies at the tea party he will attend. He is consistent n wondering how-and-why he can begin to talk about his boring life in lines (54, 60, 61, 68, and 69). He desires to present himself as significant, but what can he possibly say if a lady is anticipating him to converse about himself. Whatever Prufrock reveals about himself could induce a state of unexpected rejection. He is confident though the ladies will not care about the butt-ends of my days and ways, fearful of the fact that if he reveals part of himself to one of the ladies, she may find his life uninteresting (60). As Prufrock looks within himself, he is fearful of being disclosed at he tea party. He is afraid that the ladies will mock his thin hair and his thin legs, both symbolizing his unimpressive mind and body. What is so ironic is that Prufrock is self-conscious because he goes unnoticed mostly by the ladies at the tea party. The women come and go/Talking of Michelangelo (13-14; 35-36), and miss out on Prufrocks moment of excellence, which turned out to be only a flicker (84). Eliots intense description of Prufrocks life portrays one of imperfection. As Prufrock recognizes his days and ways are only butt-ends, like wasted cigarettes 60), he admits he has measured out my life with coffee spoons asserting that in his small world, tea parties are his only means of entertainment (53). Even Jesus would find his life a bore as he implies he has seen the eternal Footman hold my coat and snicker (85). Eliot alludes to John the Baptist when Prufrock states that l have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought in upon a platter/ I am no prophet (82-83). John the Baptist was killed because he was bold enough to tell King Herod that he was living corruptly. He died because he told the truth. For Prufrock, revealing his true identity to others would kill him, so he will not. He is no prophet because he doesnt have the courage (83). He holds no banners of greatness. Prufrock shields himself within a protective shell that seems harmless to the casual reader and himself. His reluctance to answer the overwhelming question at the beginning of the poem is differentiated by the peaceful yellow smoke that acts like a cat in the soft October night, surrounding the house (symbolizing Prufrock) and resting there (21-22). However the smoke is not as harmless as it appears. It eems calm, but is more like a cloud of mustard gas that chokes life. Prufrocks shield hides his flaws and prevents any realization of his emotional needs, especially the need for love. While in this shell, he cannot find love and acceptance at this tea party. In the past, he has unsuccessfully attempted to meet his intimate desires by sexual excursions. He has spent times with prostitutes, for he has known arms already (62). Yet, these experiences have not met his emotional needs. He needs to be able to share himself with someone who will accept him as he is, but is afraid to do so, ecause physical intimacy with a lady at a tea party will not bring emotional intimacy, and wondering if she will, as she is settling a pillow by her head, casually reject him (96). air of ragged claws/ Scuttling across the floors of silent seas (73-74). This imagery shows Prufrock admitting that he should have been a crustacean. Like a crab, he is trapped in a protective shell, and there are at least three sides to our speaker, Prufrock. On one side we have the sneaky trickster, who invites us on a romantic walk only to lead us down windy roads and point out that the evening looks like a patient bout to undergo surgery. He keeps stalling and leading us away from the main subject (his overwhelming question) as if he had something to hide. He constantly confuses the time of day and even the past versus the future. On the other side we have Prufrock the Fool, whose desperate attempts to make us think hes a cool, confident ladies man is comically transparent. Finally, we have the sad, honest man who realizes the Jig is up and cant even convince himself of his own stories. This Prufrock, who only lets his mask drop for a few lines at a time, is the ne who admits that he should have been a pair of ragged claws and that he has seen the moment of [his] greatness flicker (lines 72, 84). Like a Juggler, the poem keeps a delicate balance between these three personalities, so that one never gets an upper hand other the others.

Friday, November 22, 2019

General Omar Bradley in World War II

General Omar Bradley in World War II General of the Army Omar N. Bradley was a key American commander during World War II and later served as the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Graduating from West Point in 1915, he served stateside during World War I before advancing through the ranks during the interwar years. With the beginning of World War II, Bradley trained two divisions before serving under Lieutenant General George S. Patton in North Africa and Sicily. Known for his understated nature, he earned the nickname the G.I. General and later commanded the First U.S. Army and 12th Army Group in Northwest Europe. Bradley played a central role during the Battle of the Bulge and directed American forces as they drove into Germany. Early Life Born at Clark, MO on February 12, 1893, Omar Nelson Bradley was the son of schoolteacher John Smith Bradley and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Bradley. Though from a poor family, Bradley received a quality education at Higbee Elementary School and Moberly High School. After graduation, he began working for the Wabash Railroad to earn money to attend the University of Missouri. During this time, he was advised by his Sunday school teacher to apply to West Point. Sitting the entry exams at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Bradley placed second but secured the appointment when the first place finisher was unable to accept it. West Point Entering the academy in 1911, he quickly took to the academys disciplined lifestyle and soon proved gifted at athletics, baseball in particular. This love of sports interfered with his academics, however he still managed to graduate 44th in a class of 164. A member of the Class of 1915, Bradley was classmates with Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dubbed the class the stars fell on, 59 of the class members ultimately became generals. World War I Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was posted to the 14th Infantry and saw service along the US-Mexico border. Here his unit supported Brigadier General John J. Pershings Punitive Expedition which entered Mexico to subdue Pancho Villa. Promoted to first lieutenant in October 1916, he married Mary Elizabeth Quayle two months later. With the US entry into World War I in April 1917, the 14th Infantry, then at Yuma, AZ, was moved to the Pacific Northwest. Now a captain, Bradley was tasked with policing copper mines in Montana. Desperate to be assigned to a combat unit heading to France, Bradley requested a transfer several times but to no avail. Made a major in August 1918, Bradley was excited to learn that the 14th Infantry was being deployed to Europe. Organizing at Des Moines, IA, as part of the 19th Infantry Division, the regiment remained in the United States as a result of the armistice and influenza epidemic. With the U.S. Armys postwar demobilization, the 19th Infantry Division was stood down at Camp Dodge, IA in February 1919. Following this, Bradley was detailed to South Dakota State University to teach military science and reverted to the peacetime rank of captain. Fast Facts: General Omar N. Bradley Rank: General of the ArmyService: U.S. ArmyBorn: February, 12, 1893 in Clark, MODied: April 8, 1981 in New York, NYParents: John Smith Bradley and Sarah Elizabeth BradleySpouse: Mary Elizabeth Quayle, Esther BuhlerConflicts: World War II, Korean WarKnown For: D-Day (Operation Overlord), Operation Cobra, Battle of the Bulge Interwar Years In 1920, Bradley was posted to West Point for a four-year tour as a mathematics instructor. Serving under then-Superintendent Douglas MacArthur, Bradley devoted his free time to studying military history, with a special interest in the campaigns of William T. Sherman. Impressed with Shermans campaigns of movement, Bradley concluded that many of the officers who had fought in France had been misled by the experience of static warfare. As a result, Bradley believed that Shermans Civil War campaigns were more relevant to future warfare than those of World War I. Promoted to major while at West Point, Bradley was sent to the Infantry School at Fort Benning in 1924. As the curriculum stressed open warfare, he was able to apply his theories and developed a mastery of tactics, terrain, and fire and movement. Utilizing his prior research, he graduated second in his class and in front of many officers who had served in France. After a brief tour with the 27th Infantry in Hawaii, where he befriended George S. Patton, Bradley was selected to attend the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS in 1928. Graduating the following year, he believed the course to be dated and uninspired. Departing Leavenworth, Bradley was assigned to the Infantry School as an instructor and served under future-General George C. Marshall. While there, Bradley was impressed by Marshall who favored giving his men an assignment and letting them accomplish it with minimal interference. In describing Bradley, Marshall commented that he was quiet, unassuming, capable, with sound common sense. Absolute dependability. Give him a job and forget it. Deeply influenced by Marshalls methods, Bradley adopted them for his own use in the field. After attending the Army War College, Bradley returned to West Point as an instructor in the Tactical Department. Among his pupils were the future leaders of the US Army such as William C. Westmoreland and Creighton W. Abrams World War II Begins Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1936, Bradley was brought to Washington two years later for duty with the War Department. Working for Marshall, who was made Army Chief of Staff in 1939, Bradley served as  assistant secretary of the General Staff. In this role, he worked to identify problems and developed solutions for Marshalls approval. In February 1941, he was promoted directly to the temporary rank of brigadier general.  This was done to allow him to assume command of the Infantry School. While there he promoted the formation of armored and airborne forces as well as developed the prototype Officer Candidate School. With the US entry into World War II on December 7, 1941, Marshall asked Bradley to prepare for other duty. Given command of the reactivated 82nd Division, he oversaw its training before fulfilling a similar role for the 28th Division. In both cases, he utilized Marshalls approach of simplifying military doctrine to make it easier for newly recruited citizen-soldiers. In addition, Bradley utilized a variety of techniques to ease draftees transition to military life and boost morale while also implementing a rigorous program of physical training. As a result, Bradleys efforts in 1942, produced two fully trained and prepared combat divisions. In February 1943, Bradley was assigned command of X Corps, but before taking the position was ordered to North Africa by Eisenhower to troubleshoot problems with American troops in the wake of the defeat at Kasserine Pass. Lieutenant General Omar Bradley on the navigation bridge of USS Ancon (AGC-4), en route to the invasion of Sicily, 7 July 1943. With him is Captain Timothy Wellings, USN. US Naval History and Heritage Command North Africa Sicily Arriving, Bradley recommended that Patton be given command of the U.S. II Corps. This was done and the authoritarian commander soon restored the units discipline. Becoming Pattons deputy, Bradley worked to improve the fighting qualities of the corps as the campaign progressed.  As a result of his efforts, he ascended to command of II Corps in April 1943, when Patton departed to aid in planning the invasion of Sicily. For the remainder of the North African Campaign, Bradley ably led the corps and restored its confidence. Serving as part of Pattons Seventh Army, II Corps spearheaded the attack on Sicily in July 1943. During the campaign in Sicily, Bradley was discovered by journalist Ernie Pyle and promoted as the G.I. General for his unprepossessing nature and affinity for wearing a common soldiers uniform in the field. D-Day In the wake of the success in the Mediterranean, Bradley was selected by Eisenhower to lead the first American army to land in France and to be prepared to subsequently take over a full army group. Returning to the United States, he established his headquarters at Governors Island, NY and began assembling staff to assist him in his new role as commander of the First U.S. Army.  Returning to Britain in October 1943, Bradley took part in the planning for D-Day (Operation Overlord). Senior U.S. officers watching operations from the bridge of USS Augusta (CA-31), off Normandy, 8 June 1944. They are (from left to right): Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk, USN, Commander Western Naval Task Force; Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley, U.S. Army, Commanding General, U.S. First Army; Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble, USN, (with binoculars) Chief of Staff for RAdm. Kirk; and Major General Ralph Royce, U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration A believer in employing airborne forces to limit German access to the coast, he lobbied for the use of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in the operation. As commander of the U.S. First Army, Bradley oversaw the American landings on Omaha and Utah Beaches from the cruiser USS Augusta on June 6, 1944. Troubled by the stiff resistance at Omaha, he briefly considered evacuating troops from the beach and sending the follow-on waves to Utah. This proved unnecessary and three days later he shifted his headquarters ashore. Northwest Europe As Allied forces built up in Normandy, Bradley was elevated to lead the 12th Army Group. As early attempts to push deeper inland failed, he planned Operation Cobra with the goal of breaking out of the beachhead near St. Lo. Commencing in late July, the operation saw a liberal use of air power before ground forces smashed through the German lines and began a dash across France. As his two armies, the Third under Patton and the First under Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges, advanced towards the German border, Bradley advocated for a thrust into the Saarland. Lieutenant General Sir Miles C. Dempsey (right) with the 21st Army Group commander, General Sir Bernard Montgomery (center), and U.S. First Army commander, Lieutenant General Omar Bradley (left), 10 June 1944. Public Domain This was denied in favor of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomerys Operation Market-Garden. While Market-Garden bogged down in September 1944, Bradleys troops, spread thin and short on supplies, fought brutal battles in the Hà ¼rtgen Forest, Aachen, and Metz. In December, Bradleys front absorbed the brunt of the German offensive during the Battle of the Bulge. After stopping the German assault, his men played a key role in pushing the enemy back, with Pattons Third Army making an unprecedented turn north to relieve the 101st Airborne at Bastogne. During the fighting, he was angered when Eisenhower temporarily assigned First Army to Montgomery for logistical reasons. Promoted to general in March 1945, Bradley led 12th Army Group, now four armies strong, through the final offensives of the war and successfully captured a bridge over the Rhine at Remagen. In a final push, his troops formed the southern arm of a massive pincer movement which captured 300,000 German troops in the Ruhr, before meeting up with Soviet forces at the Elbe River. Postwar With the surrender of Germany in May 1945, Bradley was eager for a command in the Pacific. This was not forthcoming as General Douglas MacArthur was not in need of another army group commander. On August 15, President Harry S. Truman appointed Bradley to the head of the Veterans Administration. While not thrilled with the assignment, Bradley worked diligently to modernize the organization to meet the challenges it would face in the postwar years. Basing his decisions on the needs of veterans rather than political considerations, he built a nationwide system of offices and hospitals as well as revised and updated the G.I. Bill and arranged for job training. In February 1948, Bradley was appointed Army Chief of Staff to replace the departing Eisenhower. He remained in this post only eighteen months as he was named the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on August 11, 1949. With this came a promotion to General of the Army (5-star) the following September. Remaining in this position for four years, he oversaw U.S. operations during the Korean War and was forced to rebuke General Douglas MacArthur for wishing to expand the conflict into Communist China. Later Life Retiring from the military in 1953, Bradley moved into the private sector and served as chairman of the board of the Bulova Watch Company from 1958 until 1973. Following the death of his wife Mary of leukemia in 1965, Bradley married Esther Buhler on September 12, 1966. During the 1960s, he served as a member of President Lyndon Johnsons Wise Men think tank and later acted as a technical advisor on the film Patton. Bradley died on April 8, 1981, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Professional writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Professional writing - Essay Example The general idea of getting out of difficult and testing times is to keep moving forward. The basic and fundamental purpose of life is to inspire and attempt to be a better person every now and then (Thrash & Elliot, 2004). The whole nations are plunged into entropy because they are not moving into the direction of intellectual growth. The global rule of national development is simple and it states that either nations develop and grow economically or die. Thus, if any nation is not growing then, it means that it is dying. The movie with the title of â€Å"The Shawshank Redemption† is a story of a bank manager who was falsely imprisoned in the case of murder. But, on the basic level, he was aware of the fact that he was innocent. The man was in cover, he had a fragile body and he walked like a broken person. The strong current of wind could have taken him with it. The fellow prisoners were accustomed to laugh at him. The more cruel ones tried to sexually abuse him but, he manag ed to avoid it with the help of knowledge. The superintendent noticed him and found that he was an honest man and therefore, the former entity deployed the prisoner as a financial manager. The falsely imprisoned person was now responsible for recording and managing financial matters of the jail (O'Sullivan, 2001). Nevertheless, when the manager came to the jail, he requested the assistant to bring him a hammer. The information travelled to a fellow prisoner and he consequently thought that it will take a century to dig a hole that can be used as an escape route from this tiny hammer (O'Sullivan, 2001). But, the manager had a plan and they always do and he was already on it without anybody knowing it. He was digging the hole in a wall and behind the wall; he knew that the sewerage line is present that will surely lead towards his freedom. But, he needed to hide the hole that he was digging and he placed a film poster at the mouth of the hole. Thus, he concealed his plan when actually it was present right in front of everyone and just hidden by thin, fragile paper. The prisoner came to know that the superintendent was committing corruption in the financial management of the jail (O'Sullivan, 2001). However, his digging project successfully ended in more than thirty years. But, he did it and used it to get to the sewerage line and made his way out. But, this is not the end of the story because he freed himself and took the financial records of the jail with him. Then, after getting out he posted the original financial records to the authorities and the high-ups decided to close the jail and take the superintendent into custody. But, the superintendent committed suicide before that (O'Sullivan, 2001). The key message of the story is persistence, patience and belief in the justness of the cause. Firstly, the bank manager believed that he was doing the right thing. He never doubted that he was doing the wrong thing because from the inside he somehow knew that he was innocent and therefore, the freedom was his essential right. The success was written when the manager believed that he was right and at the end of the day he rose victorious. The elementary concepts of planning and execution were conveyed in the whole movie. The man did not talk much but, he achieved his goal of freedom by sticking to the plan. He not only freed himself

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Abstinence Only vs. Comprehensive Education in Teen Pregnancy Essay

Abstinence Only vs. Comprehensive Education in Teen Pregnancy - Essay Example According to studies that were aimed at providing scientific evidence for evaluation and decision making with regard to preventing teenage pregnancy for the whole nation; it was concluded by specialists that the sex education in teen pregnancy approach is efficient and effective in curbing teenage pregnancy as compared to abstinence only. The relationship between sex education, teen pregnancy and birth rates need to be taught to the teens if the situation is to be salvaged (Stanger-Hall and Hall, 2011). Consequently, other critical influences like socio-economic status, education, cultural activities, and access to contraceptives through Medicaid waivers should be critically analyzed. However, this is not taken into consideration across the nation; the emphasis are on abstinence laws rather than sex education. The teen pregnancy, abortion and birth data significantly shows that higher levels of abstinence education strongly culminates into higher levels of abstinence character hence resulting into decreased pregnancies among teenagers (Stanger-Hall and Hall, 2011). In the same line of argument, other factors as earlier mentioned impact severely on teenage pregnancy. For instance educational attainment, Ethnic composition, and socio-economic status have a hand in either alleviating or aggravating the situation. Medicaid waivers for family planning have been found to significantly reduce unplanned pregnancies especially among low income women and among teenagers (Stanger-Hall and Hall, 2011). Through comprehensive research and analysis it has been established that although elaborate sex education in the US has resulted in lower teen pregnancy rates, these rates are still high as compared to teen pregnancy levels in Europe. This is mainly associated with poor laws and policies that do not advocate for sex and STD education to

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Indoor Plumbing and Public Sanitation in Developing Countries Essay Example for Free

Indoor Plumbing and Public Sanitation in Developing Countries Essay The porcelain throne, the pot, the pooper, the potty, the latrine, the toilet. That is something we don’t give much thought to, unless something is wrong with it. What about the shower or the sink? How often to do you go to your sink to get a glass of water and wonder â€Å"Am I drinking someone’s poo? Will it be clean today or will I get sick? † I know for myself, I rarely give this any thought at all and I can honestly say that I have never worried that my drinking water would be contaminated by feces. However, for many around the world, this is a constant concern. Many today either don’t have access to clean water or don’t have access to very much water at all. They openly defecate, as well as drink, cook, and bathe in contaminated water. This causes several life threatening diseases and illnesses. I will discuss the water and sanitation issues in under developed countries, as well as what is being done to improve these situations. Early one December morning in Boise Idaho, I woke up to an especially cold day. I tiredly scuffled myself to my bathroom, went pee and when I went to flush my toilet, nothing happened. Still slightly asleep and confused, I tried a couple more times to get it to flush. Still nothing happened. Frustrated, I opened my tank and found that there was no water in it at all. I thought that that was strange, so I checked my faucet. I turned the handle and no water came out, I quickly checked my shower and kitchen sink next. I had no water at all. Realizing that I had to work in a few hours and I had no way to shower, brush my teeth or clean up in any way, I became quite irate. I called my management company and apparently pipes had frozen in most of their properties. After this experience I started thinking about my reaction and how there are countries that don’t have access to clean water ever. Though I think that the reaction that I had would have been the same for any person living in the U. S. , I don’t know if it was as big of a deal as it felt like in the moment. I didn’t die from not having water for one day, I wasn’t forced to defecate in my front lawn or drink from a sewer. I didn’t get sick and I didn’t even have to go the entire day without a shower. In fact, I didn’t have to go even a couple of hours without access to water. We, in America, are so used to having constant access to clean water and indoor plumbing that if we have to go an hour without it, it’s as though our entire world is crashing down. We rarely give thought to those in underdeveloped countries that lack access to clean water at all. There are approximately 7 billion people living on earth today. There are about 2. 6 billion people today that don’t have a toilet or access to one (Yamaguchi). That is about 40% of the world’s population! That is a huge number of people without toilets. Here in America, there is not a single home that does not have a toilet. Even the homeless have constant access to restroom facilities and clean water. I had a conversation with a friend of mine that works with the homeless on a daily basis to see what the situation was like for the homeless in America in regards to restroom access and sanitation. I asked him if any of the homeless people that he worked with were ever forced to openly defecate or go without a shower. He informed that the only ones that did that were never forced to, but they did it by choice. He also told me that many that are homeless are on Medicaid, so if they get sick they can just go to the doctor. This is quite different from developing countries, where people die all the time from not being able to afford medical care. Developing countries not only lack affordable medical care but they have very limited ability to prevent the spread of illness, such as those caused by exposure to fecal matter (Yamaguchi). However, in America we have sewage systems and plants that filter and treat our sewer water. In Los Angeles there is the Hyperion sewage plant that processes enough fecal matter to fill three Rose Bowl Stadiums every day (Yamaguchi). That is just in Los Angeles, what about the rest of the U.  S.? It is mind boggling to think about how much is processed. Now let’s look at India, a country that has significantly grown economically, however is still severely lacking proper sanitation systems. According to UNICEF, about 600 million people in India are without access to a toilet (â€Å"World Toilet Day 2012†). That is more than half the population of India. Instead of using a toilet, they openly defecate wherever they can. Many use the Yamuna River (Yamaguchi), the largest river in the Ganges of Northern India. The result has been a severely contaminated water source. The river has literally turned black and bubbles from the methane gases. The shores are not only polluted with fecal matter but trash as well and yet still the people are using the water from the river (Yamaguchi). I think many American’s reaction to this would be â€Å"Gross† or we might generalize and think that Indians are just unsanitary people. Is that really the case, though? The people living in underdeveloped countries are rarely living in unsanitary conditions by choice. Many are ignorant to proper sanitation practices and/or are living in conditions where they have no access to clean water. In the urban slums of New Delhi, people are defecating anywhere they can; in the middle of the streets, next to rail road tracks, or just feet from where they eat, drink and sleep. The water they are using to cook, drink, and bathe with is water from a sewer (Yamaguchi). About 1000 children die every day from diarrhea (Bajait, Thawani). This lack of proper sanitation systems is exposing these children and adults to fecal matter on a daily basis, which is causing diseases like Typhoid, Cholera and other severe illnesses linked with diarrhea. Is this the fault of the individual or the fault of their governments? In my opinion, both are at fault. Though developing countries have very little access to informational services, I do believe that it falls in the hands of the individual to get informed and I believe that it is the responsibility of the government to provide the services required to inform its people on proper sanitation, as well as provide a clean environment to live in via sanitation systems. This lack of toilets, which results in a lack of clean water, is obviously a very big problem. So what is being done about it? In 2001 Jack Sim founded the World Toilet Organization. This organization is dedicated to improving the world’s toilet and sanitation situation. They make toilets that are affordable for those living in impoverished conditions. Jack Sim also works with governments of developing countries and small organizations to help provide toilets to those in need. One of those small organizations is run by Bapak Sumadi in Indonesia. Sumadi is a major leader in Indonesia in providing the public with toilets and teaching the importance of public sanitation. Together their goal is to end open defecation (Yamaguchi). Though the changes and effects are small, they are not insignificant. The conditions that these people are forced to live in, is truly a crisis. Thousands die every day from not having proper sanitation systems. The invention of the toilet and sewage systems has not only given us a way to get rid of our feces, but it has provided us with sanitary conditions which keeps our water clean and reduces the chances of contracting diseases. No matter who you are or where you live, everyone deserves to have access to a toilet and clean water. The question now is; what more can be done? Should the government help provide better access to toilets and sanitation systems? What about other countries? Do we hold any responsibility in helping these developing countries? In my opinion, yes we do. One scholarly journal, in reference to David Hemson, stated â€Å"†¦ regular water supply to the rural poor is both a constitutional requirement and a social necessity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Phaswana-Mafuya 298). I think it is imperative that we learn to help one another, so that we can grow together rather than grow apart. I know the next time that I use the restroom, take a bath, or even just get a glass of water; I will be grateful for all that I have and that I don’t have to worry about what I am drinking or bathing in. What about you?

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Outline for Paper on The Importance of Accelerated Reading

A. Purpose of the Study â€Å"Reading is the motivated and fluent coordination of word recognition and comprehension† (Leipzig 2001). In the educational system, pupils are encourage to read books because of the belief that one becomes better at a skill based on the amount of time dedicated to that particular skill. Pupils must practice the skill learned and receive â€Å"frequent feedback (Samuel and Wu).† Practice is most effectual when it is individualized and accompanied with instruction (Renaissance Learning Inc 2007). Individualized practice, allows the pupil to work at his/her individual ability. It challenges the pupil instead of frustrating him/her. Accelerated Reader (AR) program provides individualize practice to each pupil to maximize academic success. The purpose of this study is to examine the affect of AR on first grade students’ comprehension scores on the End of the Year Assessment. B. Significance/Importance of the Study Accelerated Reader is a program used in several schools in the United States with the belief that each child has a prescribed practice based on hi/her reading ability. AR program is usually used in addition to the school’s core Reading Text. The AR program is said to increase students reading skills and â€Å"reduce achievement gaps† (Advance Learning System 1997). The program is a computer software that allows students to read a textbook and then take a computerize quiz on that textbook. Students are then given an immediate feedback of their score. It allows students the opportunity to view the items that were marked incorrect. Researchers believe that immediate feedback is very important for student achievement (Samuels and Wu). Being that many of our schools use AR, it is safe to assume several believe ... ...lace a sticker next to his or her name on the chart in the classroom, which will be visible to all. The researcher will also monitor the students’ progress on AR. The researcher will have bi-weekly discussion with the teachers regarding students’ progress. At a later time, students will take the EOYA. The researcher will follow the same procedure that was followed for the MYA. F. Research Questions/Hypothesis Does the use of AR increase first grade comprehension scores on the End of the Year Assessment? G. Methods of Data Analysis The researcher will record the raw scores and calculate the standard deviation for both the pretest and the posttest. A dependent T-Test will be used at the .05 level of confidence to decide if there is statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the two tests given.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Reaction Paper on SONA 2015 Essay

â€Å"Hangga’t buo ang ating pananalig at tiwala, at hangga’t nagsisilbi tayong lakas ng isa’t isa, patuloy nating mapapatunayan na, â€Å"the Filipino is worth dying for†, â€Å"the Filipino is worth living for,† at idadagdag ko naman po: â€Å"The Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.† This is the highlight of the fifth State of the Nation Address by His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aquino III. The stand of believing in the democracy, believing that people with the government can make a change within his term. Since the death of his parents, the legacy still continues and I guess the legacy is in his heart believing that it’s not too late for changes in the Philippine government setting and also the economic and social status of the country. Based on the past State of the Nation Address of President Aquino, critics said that, this State of the Nation Address is not clearly stating the change that they expected to be. The changes w ithin his term is expected to be evident and must lift the Philippines from being the â€Å"Sick Man of Asia† to the â€Å"Rising Country in Asia†. see more:reaction paper about sona 2017 But for me, I guess for about 5 years of his term, I find him and his works in making everything possible is evident through his achievements. For the past five years, the system of education through his leadership is I guess changed and globally leveled the foreign and international standards. An example of this is the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The Disbursement Acceleration Program contributed 1.6 billion pesos to TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program. This amount enabled the graduation of 223,615 beneficiaries. 66 percent of these—or, 146,731 graduates—now have jobs. This is just one of the amazing changes that he and his leadership has made differences from the past administrations. Also, the poverty in the Philippines, not although changed bigtime but I guess through the little  steps, we can make change. We must invest in our most valuable resource: The Filipino people. Data from the National Economic Development Authority attests to this success. According to them, the 27.9 percent poverty rate during the first semester of 2012 went down to 24.9 percent for the same period in 2013. These three percentage points are equivalent to 2.5 million Filipinos who have crossed the poverty line. There are still many achievements that the President stated and had attest his success, or should I say â€Å"OUR† success. The Filipino people must help and also lift themselves up if they want change in the society, the government and also their own lives. Just like what the President said, â€Å"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.† The change must also come through the ideals of change by the people. I guess, if we want a change, a more evident change, it must come from the people. Helping themselves first, making themselves worthy for the society, and through this they can make change, with the partnership of the President and the government. After all, this is a â €Å"DEMOCRACY†, by the people, for the people.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Effectiveness and Impact of Virtual Teams Essay

Technology is consistently evolving and impacting many organizations worldwide. It has changed many aspects in the workplace, including work styles, communication, and teamwork. Communication has been transformed into the ways of the virtual world, directly affecting group dynamics. Organizations often form teams of employees to serve a variety of purposes and reach goals in a more effective manner than independent work. Teams used to work strictly through face-to-face interactions, but with growing technology, virtual teams have been created and are used fairly often. â€Å"A virtual team is any team whose member interactions are mediated by time, distance, and technology. The core feature is not the technology, but that the team works together on a task while physically separated. Group members can communicate through e-mail, voice mail, video conferencing, electronic bulletin boards, and intranets.† (Levi, 2007, p. 258) Many research studies have been done to assess the effectiveness of virtual teams, examining the positive and negative aspects. This literature review is aimed to analyze several articles where researchers have explored many components of virtual teams and their impact. Vroman and Kovacich (2002) wrote an article that analyzed â€Å"the interactions of a virtual interdisciplinary team.† They explain computer-mediated communication (CMC) to be the basis of virtual teams, which they then compare to face-to-face teams. They examined the Interdisciplinary Training for Health Care for Rural Areas (ITHCRA) project, which is a team comprised of many different types of health professionals (e.g. clinical psychologist, nurse practitioner, nutritionist, etc.) The team’s ultimate goal was to develop an interdisciplinary health care curriculum, solely using CMC. ITHCRA functioned the same as any other team working together would, and faced the same challenges and developmental processes (forming, storming, norming, performing, and transforming). They additionally had to learn the ways of the new communication technology, which was an obstacle for many of the group members. The developmental process of the virtual team was similar to that of a face-to-face team, however, a number of differences were found. The forming phase was very  typical for team development. Team building and norm development took precedent of the project tasks initially. They had met face-to-face once, and after looking at their communication after this occurred, it was obvious they had formed social relationships and were more committed. This raised the question: what would have happened if the face-to-face meeting did not take place? It may have been more effective to have two groups in this study so comparisons could be made (e.g. one group solely virtual, the other group allowed 1-3 face-to-face meetings). It is hard to determine whether certain aspects of team development would have taken place without the opportunity to see their team members in a more personal way. Storming took place as well, which is when teams face certain conflicts. There were no apparent differences for this development in the virtual team. Norming, performing, and transforming phases of development all contributed to the team’s success and helped them complete their tasks and reach their goals. Vroman and Kovacich (2002) provided a good analysis of ITHCRA and the ways in which it was successful and where the members were challenged. They portrayed virtual teams as being more convenient, effective, and less time consuming when completing tasks. However, it allows for less personal contact and can be more difficult for some to communicate and fulfill the expectations of the group project. It may have been more effective to have ITHCRA communicate solely through CMC and compare them to a team with the same tasks and goals, but who communicated through a combination of CMC and face-to-face meetings. More valid results would be accessible to draw more accurate conclusions. It was interesting to use a interdisciplinary team, however, it may have acted as another variable besides CMC, which would then alter the results. Kirkman, Rosen, Tesluk, and Gibson (2004) conducted a research study on the impact of team empowerment on virtual team performance. â€Å"Team empowerment is defined as increased task motivation that is due to team members’ collective, positive assessments of their organizational tasks (Kirkman & Rosen, 2002). They examined team empowerment through the teams potency, meaningfulness, autonomy, and impact to determine its’ impact on process improvement and customer satisfaction. Kirkman et al. (2004) studied a service organization that utilized high technology and frequently formed virtual teams to complete the company’s tasks and goals. Each team member had different roles within the organization and was separated from each  other geographically. The researchers moderated the effects of face-to-face meetings to examine the relationship between team empowerment and both process improvement and customer satisaction. Kirkman et al. (2004) used surveys, observation, a team empowerment measure they had created, and customer satisfaction and process improvement scorecards to test their hypotheses, which were that 1. Team empowerment will have a positive relation to virtual team process improvement, 2. Team empowerment will have a positive relation to virtual team customer satisfaction, and 3. The number of team’s face-to-face meetings will alter the relationship between team empowerment and process improvement (the fewer face-to-face meetings the stronger the relationship), and 4. The number of team’s face-to-face meetings will alter the relationship between team empowerment and customer satisfaction (the fewer face-to-face meetings the stronger the relationship). Their results indicated support for hypotheses one, two, and three, but did not support the fourth hypothesis. The researchers produced a well-designed study with significant, meaningful results that help contribute to the understanding of virtual teams. They operationally defined all of the terms and measures to provide an equal understanding for everyone. It seems that virtual teams have many positive characteristics that are more effective compared to the common face-to-face teams. With the rising technology, virtual teams may become the norm as researchers continue to understand their components and wire them for optimal success. Montoya-Weiss, Massey, and Song (2001) wrote an article on the findings of their research study. They â€Å"examined the effects of temporal coordination on virtual teams supported by an asynchronous communication technology.† They measured the mechanism â€Å"process structure† to determine the relationship between conflict management behavior and virtual team performance. They measured conflict management individually for each team member through a questionnaire they created. They defined their dependent variable, virtual team performance, as â€Å"the quality of the team rationale used to support the team decision.† They examined the range, depth, and organization for each team decision. Lastly, they observed and analyzed all communication among the virtual team. Montoya-Weiss et al. (2001) had five hypotheses total, which were tested through statistical analysis. They predicted that for all conflict management behaviors, a positive interaction would result.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Essay on Six Trig Functions

Essay on Six Trig Functions Essay on Six Trig Functions THE SIX TRIGONOMETRY FUNCTIONS BY: Chambria Rogers & Marc TRIGONMETRIC RATIO The six trigonometric functions are traditionally defined in terms of the six ratios of the sides of a right triangle. This approach is valid for positive angles of measure smaller than 90∘. Consider a right triangle ââ€" ³ABC with the angle C being the 90∘ angle. There are six functions that are the core of trigonometry. There are three primary ones that you need to understand completely: Sine (sin) Cosine (cos) Tangent (tan) The other three are not used as often and can be derived from the three primary functions. Because they can easily be derived, calculators and spreadsheets do not usually have them. Secant (sec) Cosecant (csc) Cotangent (cot) Sine (SIN) FUNCTION The law of sines for plane triangles was known to Ptolemy and by the tenth century Abu'l Wefa had clearly expounded the spherical law of sines. It seems that the term "law of sines" was applied sometime near 1850 In a right triangle, the sine of an angle is the length of the opposite side divided by the length of the hypotenuse. The sine function has a number of properties that result from it being periodic and odd. The Law of Sines relates various sides and angles of an arbitrary (not necessarily right) triangle: sin(A)/a = sin(B)/b = sin(C)/c = 2r. where A, B, and C are the angles opposite sides a, b, and c respectively. Furthermore, r is the radius of the circle circumscribed in that triangle. COSINE In a right triangle, the cosine of an angle is: The length of the adjacent side divided by the length of the hypotenuse. The law of cosines is best thought of as an extension of the Pythagorean Theorem, with a term that adjusts if the included angle is not a right angle. The usual statement of the theorem is descibed in terms of sides a, b, and c; and opposite angles A, B, and C. The usual expression is c2=a2+b2-2abCos(C). The theorem is cyclic about any of the three sides and so it can also be expressed in the alternate forms a2=b2+c2-2bcCos(A) and b2=a2+c2-2acCos(B). Since the cosine of a right angle is zero, each of the equations reduces to the usual form of the Pythagorean Theorem when the associated angle is 90o. TANGENT statement about the relationship between the tangents of two angles of a triangle and the

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas

5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas 5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas 5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas By Mark Nichol 1. â€Å"Students write a third essay regarding the impact of geography on history and culture.† The implication of this sentence is that students produce three essays on the topic in question. But if the preceding text refers to differing topics for the first two essays, the sentence suffers from insufficient differentiation. This revision specifies that the third essay’s topic differs from those of the others: â€Å"Students write a third essay, this one regarding the impact of geography on history and culture.† 2. â€Å"Students participate in a workshop on learning to research effectively and refine their search with a professional researcher.† The relationship between the verb phrases in this sentence is unclear: Do students first participate in a workshop and then refine their research, or do they participate in a workshop about researching effectively, during which they also refine their search? Either way, the sentence, because of the ambiguity, is erroneously organized. If the former meaning is intended, the sentence should read, â€Å"Students participate in a workshop in which they first learn to research effectively and then refine their search with a professional researcher.† If the latter meaning is the correct interpretation, it should read, â€Å"Students participate in a workshop on learning to research effectively, and then refine their search with a professional researcher.† 3. â€Å"He invoked the dreaded comparison with Mary Smith, only Jones has been more successful in her sport than Smith.† Because of the paucity of punctuation in this sentence, the sentence could be read as containing a comma splice, an error in which a comma is incorrectly employed in place of a more substantial punctuation mark. But if a semicolon or a period separates the two clauses, and the second element (depending on which punctuation mark is used, an independent clause or a separate sentence) seems to imply that no one other than Jones has been more successful than Smith, a non sequitur results. It’s much more likely that only serves as a less formal synonym for however. However, just as when that word is used, the sentence still requires stronger punctuation to clarify its function: â€Å"He invoked the dreaded comparison with Mary Smith; only, Jones has been more successful in her sport than Smith.† The semicolon seems too formal for the casual only, though; a dash seems more appropriate. Either way, however, only must be set off from the following statement by a comma: â€Å"He invoked the dreaded comparison with Mary Smith only, Jones has been more successful in her sport than Smith.† 4. â€Å"She also uses a Geiger counter, which measures radiation; motion detectors; barometric-pressure monitors; and thermometers.† This sentence, containing four listed elements only one of which, the first, is modified is hampered by the notion that because of that extra phrase, the usual commas must be promoted to semicolons to bear the burden of supporting the sentence’s structure. When used with such short phrases, however, the semicolons seem overbearing. The simple insertion of the conjunction plus, which serves to provide more distance between sentence elements than the standard and, obviates the complicating semicolon solution: â€Å"She also uses a Geiger counter, which measures radiation, plus thermometers, motion detectors, and barometric pressure monitors.† (Notice that, for euphony, I’ve reordered the additional list items according to the number of syllables in each item.) 5. â€Å"The majority has upheld the act in whole, not by relying on an expansive reading of the commerce clause, but on Congress’s firmly rooted power to tax.† The initial proposition in this sentence, â€Å"The majority has upheld the act in whole not by relying on an expansive reading of the commerce clause . . .,† is a continuous thought, and there is no reason to include punctuation within it. But there’s a larger problem: The sentence is not parallel. Relying should be repositioned to serve both propositions (those beginning â€Å"not on† and â€Å"but on†), because the structure of the two phrases, in the original sentence respectively headed by â€Å"not by† and â€Å"but on,† is discordant. The solution, which (like â€Å"not only . . . but also† constructions), requires no internal punctuation: â€Å"The majority has upheld the act in whole by relying not on an expansive reading of the commerce clause but on Congress’s firmly rooted power to tax.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a US Business Letter44 Resume Writing TipsOne Scissor?

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Labeling theorists Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Labeling theorists - Research Paper Example The use of word such as criminal, thief or felon influences deviant behavior of individuals an aspect that result to increasing cases of crimes in the society. Based on its argument that the criminal justice system is limited in its effort to restrain unlawful conduct, the labeling theory has been criticized for its failure to explain serious offences that occur in the society. Some individuals indicate that by terming other people as criminals is not appropriate and the labeling theorists should use specific words such as rapists, murderer or child abuser (Mann et al, 1999). On its part, the cultural deviance theory indicates that the cause of criminal behaviors among the lower class is due to conformity to the prevailing cultural norms. On their part, the individuals in the working class commit criminal activities in their efforts to respond to cultural norms within their own class. Apart from the labeling theory and cultural deviance theory, this paper seeks to discuss another the ory than tends to avoid stereotyping individuals in the criminal justice system. Strain theory on its part indicates that a crime is a function of the conflict between the objectives that are focused by individuals and the strategies they can adopt to legally achieve them. The theory indicates that ones class plays a major role in obtaining their goals which are the same for all people. As the result, individuals at the lower class, feel anger, resentment and experience frustration an aspect referred to as strain (Piquero and Miriam, 2000). Strain can either be structural or individual. Structural strain indicates the process within the society that affect the way one sees his or her wants. For example lack of adequate regulations or social structures may result to change of ones perceptions. On the other hand, individual strains entail the pains and frictions that are experienced by individuals in their efforts to look for ways to satisfy them. Once the lower class members