Is there any relief to the grimness in section one of 1984?

In the dystopian society Orwell creates in 1984 there is an overwhelming, yet unsettlingly familiar sense of irony; the omnipotent leaders of Oceania, Big Brother and the inner party members, claim to be controlling the everyday lives of the citizens in order to bring them a better life, ‘for the good of the party' and ‘our new, happy life'. However, this is the distinct opposite to the reality Winston Smith lives in; a totalitarian state which professes to bring hope and happiness, yet in actuality drains any sense of optimism and joy. In a place bereft of any hope, Winston Smith finds himself desperately searching for a sense of individuality and relief. It would be wrong to assume, however, that Orwell's society is completely and utterly deprived of solace, there are, at least in section, one faint glimmers of hope, small fragments to which Winston clings; a person he sees in the corridor, the masses of lower classes, the diary in which he writes. There are little details in Winston's life that do bring a sense of relief; the fact that luckily his room contains an area in which he can remain unseen by the telescreens. This offers him a minute place of solitude in a society where Big Brother is omnipresent. The presence of his diary and his pen, there is relief in the fact that he is able to write, even if it is extremely dangerous to do so. Remnants of the past can still be found in some places, the paper weight Winston finds, for example becomes something beautiful and rare that brings colour to the grimness of his situation. The shop in itself appears to be a place of hope, Winston finds himself strangely drawn back to it. Full of memories and paraphernalia of the past it offers some relief to the dark and bleak present. Winston also finds relief in people, evidently the wrong ones as the reader later finds out, but nonetheless the character of O'Brien appeals to him, † we shall meet in a place where there is no darkness† Winston is told by him and this gives him hope. He writes his diary to O' Brien and thinks this may be the only person who understands and feels the same way, offering him a sense of comfort ‘†I am with you†¦. I am on your side† O' Brien seems to be saying' and although Winston is gravely mistaken, there is some relief that he believes somebody empathises with him, this gives him faith. â€Å"Proles and animals are free† states the party slogan, and Winston believes with conviction that the only prominent hope are within these ‘swarming disregarded masses'. The proles seem free, whereas the rest of the population is indoctrinated and docile. The proles can express themselves, they are allowed to be passionate even if it only about beer and the lottery. It is ironic that passion can also be evoked in the outer and inner party members, yet this passion is in relation to ‘the two minute hate' and to Big Brother, rather than a passion for freedom and for hope. Thus continuously Orwell writes that ‘if there is hope, it lies in the Proles'. Orwell himself states that the proles â€Å"represent real human beings with their emotions intact and not driven out of them. † Winston recognises that the Proles are the key to change, as they are the only people capable of thinking for themselves. However this is only a limited relief, the proles have been tamed and occupied by the party, they are allowed certain freedom because they do not have the ability to rebel, as Orwell writes they are not conscious of their own strength, â€Å"Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious. † To that end hope may indeed lie with the proles yet it seems unlikely to amount to the rebellion needed to bring relief to Oceania. The idea that logic, tautologies and mathematics can never be truly altered is a key theme throughout 1984, in section one there is still hope and optimism in these fields, or so Winston beliefs. â€Å"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two makes four. If that is granted, all else follows. † This belief gives Winston something to hold on to, he knows that it is true and it offers a sort of promise that at least something is inalterable. Winston wonders whether if everybody believed that two plus two makes five, it be considered truth. Yet the fact remains that although history is rewritten, and events and people erased, no bureaucracy can alter the universal laws of maths. In section one Memory features as an outlet for relief and a place of hope, although it is evident that people do not remember the past as well as they should, Winston still has vague recollections and images from his past, the images of his mother and sister haunt him, but at least they show that there was something before. proles remember lottery†¦.. remembers songs†¦.. †¦ shop keeper memory†¦. man in pub†¦ 984 is often described as a warning to the future; Oceania has strong parallels with Stalin's Russia and the message still resonates with the modern reader familiar with the sense of paranoia and increasing government restrictions in light of international events. Perhaps hope can be drawn from Orwell's footnote in the beginning pages, stating that ‘newspeak' was the official language, the past tense suggests, as propounded by Margaret Atwood, that the dystopia was not eternal. For Winston Smith, in the immediate present of Oceania, there is a small sense of relief, yet only perhaps because he is looking for it. He perceives himself to be different from the rest of the outer party members and this helps him to find some relief, yet at the same time also mentally tortures him as he wonders if he is a lunatic, ‘ a minority of one'. Although there is some relief to the grimness in section one, there is not quite enough to combat the totalitarian control of Big Brother, it seems that Winston Smith eventually starts to take risks, not because he is hopeful or experience relief, but because he becomes even more apathetic towards his own existence.

The Hunger Games-Lessons Learned

The Hunger Games was about the importance of keeping your identity when you are fighting for your life. This theme made me question myself on what I would do under the same circumstances. Wicked I fight for my life given the situation? Wicked I do whatever it takes to stay alive even if it meant committing murder? Wicked I be able to keep my self-worth and morals during this, or would I Just lose myself along the way?PETA Mallard and Catkins Evergreen both had to make these hard-hitting decisions hen they were forced to compete in the reality TV show The Hunger Games, where there is only one rule: kill or be killed. PETA and Catkins are both from District 12 where they are exposed to starvation, war, violence and poverty. Panel is divided up into 12 districts where they are ruled under the Capitol. The Capitol is where all of the powerful and wealthy live, enforcing harsh laws to the 12 districts.Because of this society, they have been conditioned to know that no matter what you are doing you still need to maintain your pride. PETA however, is different. Past competitors have done anything in their power to stay alive, but PETA believes that when he dies he shall still have his dignity with him. â€Å"l could think of a way to show the Capitol they don't own me. That I'm more than Just a piece in their games. † This quote by PETA shows that while others around him will do anything to survive, he will still think straight and die as himself.Throughout the book, Catkins is constantly struggling to find herself. â€Å"I'm not really sure who I am, what my identity is. This idea scares me some. † Catkins doesn't get attached to people easily, she is hot tempered, feisty and independent. The result of Catkins' quest to find herself, was her recognizing her hatred for the Capitol. When her ally Rue was killed, she covered her body in flowers and sung to her. This was considered an act of rebellion, because although she was doing what she thought was rig ht, she was only going against the Capitol's ways.Also, at the end of the games, PETA and Catkins refused to kill each other by faking a bubble suicide attempt. They both wanted to live and die as themselves and preserved their dignity, even when others cracked under the pressure. In The Hunger Games, Catkins and PETA stood up for what they believed in. Instead of Just acknowledging the injustice they were faced with, they started a rebellion by doing what they thought was the correct thing. This book taught me to stay true to who you are no matter how drastic the situation, and to fight for my values and morals.

Assertive Community Treatment At Medical Center Essay - 1

Assertive Community Treatment At Medical Center - Essay Example According to the directive, the primary identified roles of MHICM teams include: initiative numerous efforts to reduce symptoms associated with psychiatric problems, ensuring there is increase in global assessment of functioning scores, be able to raise the level of patients’ abilities to complete their daily activities, and also be able to increase the quality of life for the clients, together with treatment needs that results into satisfaction (Rosen, Mueser and Teesson, 2007). The MHICM teams are further helped in accomplishing these tasks through the adoption of specified measure instruments such as the Dartmouth Assertive Community Treatment Scale (DACTS) (Bond and Saylers, 2004). When the teams have appropriated filled the DACTS results, they are required to send the instruments to the Northeast Program Evaluation (NEPEC) which eventually conducts the evaluation of the results (Bond and Saylers, 2004). In most cases, for the MHICM teams to be perceived or regarded succes sful, they should exhibit an overall fidelity of 4.0 +/- 0.3 score, which when compared to ACT constituter success of the program (Bond and Saylers, 2004). The ACT has led to the improvement of lives of people who initially demonstrate serious and persistent mental illness (Rosen, Mueser and Teesson, 2007). The model has advocated for the large-scale and holistic promotion of quality recovery and also empowerment of clients through diverse strategies of partnership, self-care, and determination and also an individual choice. At the same time, MHICM continue to play a critical role in ensuring holistic and qualitative care is provided for the diverse victims and that their lives improve in diverse dimensions. Nevertheless, even with these developments, it has been noted that there exists lack of or inadequate research work, which can be used by directors to have clear guidance on how well individual MHICM teams function and conducts its activities (Saylers et al., 2003).

Subject is American Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Subject is American Government - Essay Example American Dream dwells on the philosophy of working hard in order to succeed (Jenkins, 1997) and this is the reason that the American government has encouraged their citizens to work hard in order to achieve success. Following the aftermath of the September 2011 terrorist attack, the then President of the United States of America, George Bush Jnr encouraged Americans to work hard in order to rebuild the country (Woodward, 2002). During that great speech, he told Americans that, all hands must be on deck in order to revitalize the economy of America (Woodward, 2002). The implication of this is that, the American government believes that, the economic growth of America depends on the individual efforts of every American and this is a fundamental principle of the American Dream. Thus, it has been established that, the American Dream is an important political culture in the country as a vast population of Americans believe that hard work and perseverance leads to economic success. Depending on how one looks at it, the truth of the matter that, the American Dream remains an important part of the political

Critical thinking and logic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critical thinking and logic - Essay Example gh studies and involvement among many people nowadays, ethics is now being linked to critical thinking for people to assess more intensively and extensively what is morally right and what is not. The principles and rules of critical thinking are applicable to ethical reasoning because they encourage people to question and not simply accept doctrines or beliefs. According to Richard Paul, â€Å"the integration of principles with purported facts within a particular perspective produces the judgment that this or that act is morally right or wrong†. A person who is given an ethical view can use critical thinking to verify its global acceptance and correctness. On the other hand, a person who is presented with a belief and does not apply critical thinking endangers himself of being manipulated. If everyone followed the rules and guidelines of logic, there would still be a reason for ethical decision-making. Elder and Paul claim that â€Å"developing one’s ethical reasoning abilities is crucial because there is in human nature a strong tendency toward egotism, prejudice, self-justification, and self-deception†. Therefore, it is not enough that a person is able to think critically but s/he must have an ethical foundation from which to base ethical reasoning using critical thinking. Paul, Richard. (1993). Ethics Without Indoctrination. â€Å"Critical Thinking: What Every Student Needs to Survive in a Rapidly Changing World. The Critical Thinking

Quantitative Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Quantitative Decision Making - Essay Example Therefore, the expected value of producing the platforms commercially is 17,000. We have evaluated the option of conducting further research to make a more knowledgeable decision. Based on our previous experience we know that the research report could either predict high or low sales or could be inconclusive. There is previous data to prove that the research reports do not always accurately predict sales. After working out the probability of high and low sales based on the likely result of the market research and the probability of it being accurate, we realize that .. There are three routes that we can take. 1. Decide to produce platforms without market research 2. Conduct market research to decide way forward 3. Abandon commercialisation of the platform The viability of the project depends on the demand for the product post commercialisation. Given our past experience with launches of similar products, we know that the probability of high sales of such products is 30%. Our assessment of the profits from this project in case of high sales is 150,000. If the demand for the product is low, we stand to loose 40,000. Therefore, the expected value of producing the platforms commercially is 17,000. We have evaluated the option of conducting further research to make a more knowledgeable decision. Based on our previous experience we know that the research report could either predict high or low sales or could be inconclusive. There is previous data to prove that the research reports do not always accurately predict sales. After working out the probability of high and low sales based on the likely result of the market research and the probability of it being accurate, we realize that if we decide to go ahead and produce platforms based on market research, the expected value of the project will be 22,001. Therefore, the cost of the research can be valued at 5001. If the market research report predicts low sales and we do not produce the platforms, we would have incurred a cost of research The following factors need to be taken into account while deciding whether to produce or abandon the platforms project before or after conducting research : Expected value of producing the platforms without research - 17,000 Expected value of producing the platforms with research -

Math Portifolio Matrix binomials Problem Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Portifolio Matrix binomials - Math Problem Example Based on these computations, we derive the general expression for An: An = (2n-1)(an)(X) We must check for the validity of this equation by applying it to solve for A2 with a=3. A2 = 22-1321111 = 18181818 , same as the previous answer. Hence, the expression is valid. Now, take b=2; B = 2-2-22: B2 = 2-2-222-2-22 = 8-8-88 B3 = 2-2-222-2-222-2-22 = 8-8-882-2-22= 32-32-3232 B4 = 2-2-222-2-222-2-222-2-22 = 128-128-128128 Hence, we arrive at the general expression Bn = (2n-1)(bn)(Y). Note that the procedure we used is consistent with that used for matrix A, even up to the checking for validity. For the final task, we are given a new matrix M = a+ba-ba-ba+b. We must show that M = A + B and M2 = A2 + B2 using the algebraic method. Again, define A and B: A=a1111=aaaa B=b1-1-11=b-b-bb A+B= aaaa+b-b-bb=a+ba-ba-ba+b M= a+ba-ba-ba+b M=A+B equation 1 We have proven the first relationship to be true. Now we must proceed to showing M2 = A2 + B2. From equation 1, M = A + B, therefore, by substitution, this is the same as saying M2 = (A + B)2. Previously we have shown that and expression of this form X+Yn= Xn+ Yn. Hence: M2=a+ba-ba-ba+ba+ba-ba-ba+b M2=a+ba+ba-ba-ba-ba+ba-ba+ba-ba+ba-ba+ba-ba-ba+ba+b M2=2a2+2b22a2-2b22a2-2b22a2+2b2 A2=2a22a22a22a2 and B2=2b2-2b2-2b2-2b2 A2+ B2=2a2+2b22a2-2b22a2-2b22a2+2b2 M2 = A2 + B2 equation 2 Recall that A = aX and B = bY. We now produce a general statement for Mn in terms of aX and bY: Mn = An + Bn or by substitution, Mn= (aX)n + (bY)n furthermore, Mn = anXn + bnYn Verifying this equation, we try using a=2, b=3, and n=2: A=2222 and B=3-3-33 If we use, (A+B)2=5-1-155-1-15=25+1-5-5-5-525+1=26-10-1026 Now, using the general statement: M2=22X2+ 32Y2=222222222222+232-232-232232=8+188-188-188+18... Also given were matrices A and B, defined as aX and bY, respectively. Note that a and b are constants. First, recall that when multiplying constants to any matrix, we simply multiply the constant with every element of the matrix. To illustrate: Once again, the general expression is shown valid. It is also important to note that this general statement will only yield results for values of n>0. Matrices can not be raised to negative exponents.

Problems The Eurozone was Facing in 2011-2012 due to Poor Performances Essay

Problems The Eurozone was Facing in 2011-2012 due to Poor Performances of Some Members and Their Resolving - Essay Example political, economic, financial and social challenges facing the Euro zone along and also explains the measures that can be taken to solve the crisis threatening the collapse of the Euro zone single currency – the Euro. Current political, economic, financial and social challenges facing the Euro zone Political problems in Eurozone Stiglitz (2011) has pointed out that more of political in nature rather than economic. In his opinion, â€Å"If Europe issues Eurobonds, debts are manageable. Even a 150 per cent debt to GDP ratio can be handled if interest rates are low enough, but if rates are high they cannot be†(Stiglitz, 2011). Many people have the illusion that the Eurozone problems are caused by economic factors rather than political factors. Such people believe that Europe is comparatively a stable political region and therefore political problems have fewer roles in causing any challenge to the functioning of Eurozone. However in reality, as in the case of many other r egions in the world, political problems are causing more damages to the ambitions of Eurozone to become the strongest economic power in the world. For example, Greece is one Eurozone country which is facing huge financial problems now. Kotios et al, (2011) have pointed out that the inconsistent economic policies of Greece have contributed heavily to the downfall of Greece (Kotios et al, 2011, p. 263). Greece adopted some kind of economic policies which were unsuitable to the needs of the current economic climate. Their inconsistent economic policies affected Greece as well as Eurozone. â€Å"The European Central Bank is under pressure to bail out indebted countries by printing more euros. But it really isn't as straightforward as that† (Obama Accuses Eurozone of "Problem of Political Will", 2011).... This paper describes the full range of political, economic, financial and social problems, that the Eurozone was experiencing in the years, following the global financial crisis. The crisis exposed weaknesses in Greece economy, as well as in economies of some other members. That economic problems in turn became the threat to the existence of the single currency. The paper also reviews set of economic measures introduced by the members in 2011-2012, that were aiming at overcoming the aftermath of the global crisis The member of Eurozone countries have adopted Euro as their currency in order to reduce the formalities in money transactions of economic transactions between these countries. In short, Eurozone can be defined as a geographic and economic region that consists of all the European Union countries, that have fully incorporated the euro as their national currency. The inconsistent economic policies of Greece have contributed heavily to the downfall of Greece. Greece adopted some kind of economic policies which were unsuitable to the needs of the current economic climate. That affected Greece as well as Eurozone. The ECB was under pressure to bail out indebted countries by printing more euros. Still, many of the European countries were against printing more euros to assist Greece like nations. The absence of centralised political management was causing problems to the functioning of Eurozone. Each member countries were functioning independently and the political control of Eurozone over member countries was negligible. Economic problems in some Eurozone member countries were causing problems in all the other members. Some ot them believed that the poor performances of Spain and Greece were retarding their growth also.

What factors affect heart rate Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

What factors affect heart rate - Lab Report Example The heart is an essential and delicate organ of all humans plus animals. This is due to its primary functions, which are indispensable in executing diverse roles and keeping other organs working normally. Mainly, there exists numerous factors, which affect heart functions in diverse ways, but not all of them result in serious life threatening incidences. These factors usually differ radically due to their diverse influences on the heart rate due to their intensities. Principally, heart rate or pulsation is the speed in which it contracts so that it may be able to sustain adequate blood circulation for effective supply of oxygen in all the body tissues. Normally, a healthy person has an average pulsation of 70 – 80 Beats per minute (Bpm), though this owing to certain factors might change. For instance, when the body requires more O2 in its tissues, then the pumping of extra blood is necessary which facilitates more O2, hence escalating pulsation. Hypothesis: Diverse breathing m odes held per minute normally impart noticeable heart pulsation fluctuations. Since, during inspiration it slows down prior resuming to the normal beating (Camm 3). The fluctuations differ drastically depending on the breathing alterations per minute, which is the key exemplification of this report. Heart rate of an individual or any animal is directly comparative to the breathing. Method The experiment implicated measuring of heart rates or pulsation per minute by having diverse breathing modes. This entailed five trials data measuring and recording to ensure attaining of high accuracy during the process, for each set. The independent variable was breathing where for this case to attain reliable results where breathing modes ranges; Normal breathing Holding breath Deep breathing The dependent variable, which will be varying in each set, is the heart rate, where to guarantee its accuracy there is a need for several five recordings per minute. Procedure: Initial set involved taking n ormal breathing pulsation using heart rate monitor per minute and tabulating the five trials in a table prior computing the averages (Telles, Nilkama & Acharya 3). This entailed keen observation meant to ensure consistency of the data. Second measurement encompassed holding the breath for a long period as one would, then tabulating the data within one minute five times to complete the set and calculate the mean. Third set involved breathing deeply for one minute and compute as other sets before taking the average, then followed by computation of the five trials from the three sets. Lastly, there was compiling of the whole class individual records for the three sets coupled with final calculations. Final computations encompassed mean, median standard deviations, modes and diverse graphs to depict their correlations  clearly (Telles, Nilkama & Acharya 2). Data Collection Individual data Table 1: Table for the three sets recorded for five trials. Trials 1 2 3 4 5 Normal set 76.00 75. 00 73.00 75.00 76.00 Average 75.00 Holding breath set 75.00 75.00 77.00 69.00 72.00 Average 73.60 Breathe Deeply set 80.00 76.00 78.00 79.00 78.00 Average 78.20 Whole class average Table 2: Table for Whole class average Rest Hold Breath Breathe Deeply 86.40 84.80 106.80 67.00 65.00 63.00 78.50 74.50 72.50 74.00 84.00 84.00 60.40 74.20 69.00 67.40 73.30 80.30 73.80 79.00 68.20 68.40 69.00 76.20 64.40 72.40 69.20 64.80 68.40 86.20 82.60 83.00 87.40 68.60 76.40 66.60 88.75 102.25 86.00 75.00 73.60 78.20 71.00 73.30 62.00 78.00 74.50 64.80 NB: - Data Assumes 2 Decimal Places. The results attained all through the

Gollum Character Study Essay Example for Free

Gollum Character Study Essay Even in the rare cases when he finds himself with someone else, as he does in chapter 5 of The Hobbit, he talks to others in third person, apparently not able to say ‘you’, and he refers himself as â€Å"my precious†. Gollum is a unique creature, only because his body has deformed over the years of living in the caves of Moria beneath the Misty Mountains for so long. He is the size of a hobbit, but with pale skin and large eyes. He wears only dark clothes and is extremely thin from eating only fish and goblins over the years. He has only six teeth which are sharpened into points and he has a vicious strength which surprises Bilbo. Gollum owns a magic, which he calls his â€Å"precious†. Gollum has one treasure, a golden ring he calls his â€Å"birthday-present† because it came to him on his birthday. This ring makes whoever is wearing it invisible and takes over their lives and personality. Gollum â€Å"uses it to creep† around the goblin tunnels to catch young goblins to eat when he gets sick of fish. In The Hobbit, Gollum tries to find his ring so he can become invisible and kill Bilbo. Bilbo, of course, finding the ring before meeting Gollum, just happens to put on the ring right as Gollum comes to attack him. He becomes invisible and follows Gollum out of the tunnels. As Bilbo takes his final look at Gollum, he nearly kills the ugly creature. But Bilbo is filled with a â€Å"sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror. † He sees Gollum’s â€Å"endless, unmarked days without light or hope of betterment†, and lets Gollum live. In exchange for this kindness, Gollum screams, â€Å"Thief, thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it, we hates it, we hates it for ever! † as Bilbo makes his escape. When Gollum first meets Bilbo, he is not hungry for hobbits, but he is afraid of Bilbo’s knife, so he tries to get on Bilbo’s good side by being friendly, showing that Gollum was once very similar to a hobbit, and challenging him to a game of riddles because â€Å"the riddle-game was sacred and of immense antiquity†. Bilbo accepts, because he wants Gollum to show him the way out of the goblin tunnels under the Misty Mountains. But the game makes Gollum both hungry and angry.

Concept of Applied Geology

Concept of Applied Geology Introduction The concept of Applied Geology to investigation of the ground for construction, hydrogeology, environmental geology and mining, is fundamental and it is a prerequisite for a durable result in any geological and engineering scheme. The timeline and strength with cost effectiveness and the knowledge of the geology of a terrain in any engineering, mining and geological schemes; roads, borehole drills, bridges, seismic operation, building of factories etc, are fundamentals that a contractor or an organisation embarking on either geological or engineering projects should be equipped with . The need for an established scrutiny and evaluation of geological features in any project sites hold the key for efficacious results in terms of its durability and efficiency. The main criterion for ground investigation varies with the magnitude and scope of a proposed engineering project; the appropriateness of the site, the site conditions, ground properties, and ground data for analysis aims. Ground investigation is the more restrictive phase of specialist intrusive investigation on a site with the associated monitory test and reporting designed to obtain data from three different aspects of the ground conditions, which are drift and soil condition, with laboratory test and application of soil mechanics technique, rock head, whose depth is commonly significant to excavation and foundations; bedrocks, strength and structural variation. The Concept of Ground Investigation (GI) Ground investigation is the concept of providing geotechnical data which are representative of the ground conditions and relevant to the scheme considered. This includes surface and subsurface investigation, laboratory work and factual reporting. When embarking on ground investigations these are some of the ground conditions needed: Fracture conditions of the rocks, with respect to the rock mass strength it determines. Geological history, and stress conditions in the ground, critical to underground engineering, such as mining and tunnels. Ground conditions and slope stability, with regards to pore and joint water pressure. Quaternary evolution, mainly rock weathering and deterioration by erosion. Man made impacts on the ground, which includes contamination of Brownfield sites. Nature and strength of rocks and soil, and the difficulties that these may pose in construction. In attaining the right data for an engineering or geological project, Ground investigation must surpass all the ground conditions for proper established analysis and the geological principles mentioned should be incorporated properly regardless of any unseen circumstances that may arise. Carrying out field assessments through ground investigation at an early stage in a project is very relevant in order to attain a preferred means of accessing the choice of techniques that can be used in preliminary ground investigation. The topography of a terrain is an essential factor for determining a preferential route, which in some cases may need to be modified depending on the nature of the terrain. Access route with low ground and shallow depth to water table which may be subjected to flood with thick organic deposits, such as peat, unstable ground and areas exposed to severe weathering conditions are one of the features in the topography of an area. Nature is the most complex barrier in grou nd investigation with defining features like deep valley, steep hill side, rivers, and huge rock outcrop, such as batholite. However, ground investigation outlines areas where the ground has adequate capacity in strength to sustain weight; most rocks or soil usually take the form of pad especially for construction purposes and mining. One of the major factors in the geological approach is the need to formulate ways of addressing issues that are of great concern in a topographic terrain. Concept for Construction The geological model in ground investigation has been formulated so as present a clearer picture of ground conditions. The concept of these views is presented in 3-D of geological features which are integrated into independent components of ground conditions. These are; Tectonic that outline the background data Geological to provide the broad ground picture Geomorphologic with the near/surface details In order to expose deficiencies of ground condition on site, and focus attention on potential engineering issues the model drawing must be well detailed with required artistic ability. The concept of a geotechnical investigation model is prefer construction model through ground investigation that will provide useful information and detailed design and layout for project managers and some contractors who do not posses geological or geotechnical know how. It has also gone a long way in identifying areas of difficulties, and the scale of potential geo-hazards that may occur and preferred solutions on them. These are the geological model reports that are carried out during ground investigations; Factual data with geological records Interpretation of the ground properties and conditions related to the construction projects, potential problems and the limitations of data. Furthermore, trial pits including headings (horizontal or with slight inclination) and shaft (vertical or with steeps inclination) drill and so called small-scale drill are direct investigation methods which allows an inspection of soil and rock, their sampling and their performance evaluation in the field gives an overview of the suitability of some direct investigation methods for soil and rocks in construction processes. The Concept for Hydrogeology Geology and hydrogeology are used to investigate lithological structures in determining the homogeneity of rocks in locating fractures and understanding the permeability of a rock with regards to water, gas and various contaminants underground in order to assess the mechanical stability and gather data from the groundwater system. In ground investigations, groundwater transport flow can be highlighted in such a manner that aquifers can be estimated and potential contamination analysed. The purpose of geological and hydrogeological surveys is to gain direct information by outcrop examination; digging trenches, boreholes drilling, conducting hydraulic test, such as (pumping test analysis and tracer tests) in wells to determine the situ hydraulic properties of that well. This process has been accomplished by field mapping, drill cores examination, construction and expansion of a network of groundwater observation wells. Sampling of rocks, soil and groundwater are taken, in order to dete rmine the physical, chemical, petrographic and mineralogical parameters in laboratory to analyse the texture of the rock and soil sample. The Concept for Environmental Geology Modern landfill disposal facilities require detailed investigations, in order to ensure that appropriate designs and safety precautions are put in place. Legislations generally require that those responsible for waste disposal facilities to guarantee that the sites are suitably contained as to prevent harming the environment and this can only be carried out by the assistance of the geologists to conducting detailed site investigation. In some cases, this may require that investigations may continue during and after construction of a landfill site, depending on the geological parameters of the environment and the construction mechanism, which may require adequate attention from time to time. Selection of a landfill site for a particular waste or a mixture of wastes involves a consideration of economic and social factors, as well as geological and hydrogeological conditions. A geophysical method was introduced to develop a model to detect and analyse abandoned landfill and contaminated plume in the environment. It is also use in locating fractured zones and obtaining other vital lithologic information from the ground. There are other Valuable ways for a meaningful use of the geophysical methods, such as electrical resistivity method, magnetic, seismic and gravity method; depending on the physical parameters in ground investigation. Geophysical methods supplement each other because they are sensitive for various physical parameters. Ground penetration radar is used in places with low and dry conductivity rock and also to check for contaminants from these landfill areas penetrating through a rock fault to the ground water. Seismic methods are used to investigate structures and lithology. Magnetic and electromagnetic surveys are very helpful in locating concealed landfill sites. These methods are easy and fast to conduct and can cove vast area in a short ti me. Electromagnetic, seismic, gravity and resistivity methods are used for ground water geophysical investigation on a regional scale. Geophysical surveys helps to obtain subsurface data on the possible location of groundwater aquifer and the area where a drill borehole can be located. The Concept for Mining In mining, geologist monitors the rock mass behaviour in ground excavations and tunnels. This rock mass behaviour forms the basis for determining the excavations and its support methods as well as assisting in evaluating and monitoring data during the overall processes. Ground investigation for an underground structure is a difficult task which in many cases does not get a proper analysis. The basic aspect of ground investigation is to develop a consistent ground modelling which includes all the geotechnical and hydraulic aspect necessary for the underground structures as the major concept of the construction contract. Rock geometry modelling and mechanical behaviour of rock masses depends on the understanding of the geological processes and their complex interactions such as deformation, weathering and metamorphosis (Steidl 2003). The correct transfer of the geological to geotechnical rock mass model and its implications into a proper design is one of the most challenging tasks in underground design project. The purpose of a comprehensive mining investigation as a sound geological modelling is for careful selection of rock mass parameters beneath the earth; geologic singularity of rock mass model such as lithological boundaries, faults and aquifers which have significant effects on underground mining, such as tunnel. Singularity data in underground mining or tunnel appear in procedures which can be either measured in boreholes, outcrops, aerial and satellite image in a statistical distributions, sometimes roughly estimated. The rock mass behaviour is as a result of a failure of the rock mass surrounding the underground wall. Each failure mechanism can be computed with appropriate analytical model and classified into defined Behaviour Types (Goricki 2003). Different failure mechanisms can be classified into gravity controlled failure of highly fractured rocks mass, stressed induced failure such as shear failure, key blocks, rock burst, buckling, spalling and plastification and some other failure geologic models. Conclusion Ground investigation, topographical surveys are essential part of the design process for any major infrastructure development. They reveal information about the ground conditions in any given area and even indicate whether the location can support any major structures. Their findings of these surveys not only inform the alignment of the scheme but also construction technics. During ground investigation issues like complex conditions on the ground may arise within a project area. The findings or results after the ground investigation has been finalised will gives a possible means of addressing its causes and prefer ways to minimize its effects by indicating the no go zones. The most common ground condition issues are: Flowing groundwater or methane gas Natural or artificial cavities within bedrock Soil and variable drift materials Weathered, weak or fractured bedrock Active or potential failure and landslide Compressive landfill, with or without soft spots In ground investigation the equivalence of ground features with geological maps are very essential for proper geological details and soil profile. The ground investigation team are primarily made up of geotechnical engineers, geologist and grillers who are accompanied by an archaeologist and ecologist during survey works.

Wiglaf vs. Unferth in Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essay

Wiglaf vs. Unferth in Beowulf  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the heroic poem Beowulf, not only does Wiglaf demonstrate the importance of heroism to society and the necessity of loyalty to one’s kinsman and lord, but he also sets the context of the final part of the poem. Unferth, on the other hand, presents a rude challenge to the hero, which is not without precedent in heroic poetry,   and thus becomes in the eye of the audience a sort of villainous type. Let us consider the more noble of the two first.    As Beowulf readers, we all know that at the most crucial point in the story, when the hero’s life is being challenged by the dragon to an extent that it has never been threatened before, the one loyal thane who comes through to help the hero is Wiglaf.:      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The hoard-guard took heart, his belly swelled  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   with fierce new hissing. Enveloped in flames,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   he who earlier had ruled his people  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   felt keen pain. But not at all   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   did the sons of nobles, hand-picked comrades,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   his troop stand round him with battle-courage:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   they fled to the wood to save their lives.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Only one felt shame and sorrow.   Nothing can ever hold back kinship  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   in a right-thinking man. He was called Wiglaf,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Weohstan’s son, a worthy shield-bearer, Scylfing prince, (2593ff.)    Why is Wiglaf here called a â€Å"Swedish prince†? George Clark in his â€Å"Traditions and the Poem,† says that the Waegmundings, to whom both Beowulf and Wiglaf belonged, had both Geatish and Swedish affiliations (35). Beowulf apparently restored the rights and patrimony of Wiglaf among the Geats.    kinsman of Aelfhere;  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   saw his liege-lord tortured by the heat  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   behind his battle-mask. He remembered the honors   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   that he gave him before, the rich homestead  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   of the Waegmunding clan, the shares of common-land  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   that his father had held, and he could not hold back.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   His hand seized the shield, yellow linden-wood;  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   he drew his sword, known to men  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   as Enmund’s heirloom, (2604ff.)    In â€Å"The Old Kings† George Clark explains how Wiglaf makes the scene in Beowulf:    Wiglaf emerges from a shadowy troop of Geatish warriors who accompany Beowulf to the dragon’s lair. . . .Though he enters the story abruptly, Wiglaf becomes Beowulf'’s one faithful follower. . . . Wiglaf is described as a son of that famous warrior Weohstan, who played a significant role in the dynastic wars of the Swedes and Geats.

Huck Finn :: essays research papers

You Can’t Pray A Lie is a pivotal excerpt taken from Mark Twain’s classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Like Twain’s other works, this example of moral truth and consequence undermines the basic sense of human values. Set in the 1880’s on a raft upon the Mississippi River, Huck is caught in a battle of personal conflicting views. It is through his interactions with Jim, a runaway black slave, that he faces the realization that being ultimately true to himself means that he cannot â€Å"pray a lie.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jim had run away from his abusive father and enabling small town to find himself traveling down the Mississippi on a raft. His traveling partner was a black slave, Jim. Wondering why Jim was there, Huck discovers that Jim had run away from his slave owner, Ms. Watson. Jim had spoken about his harsh life as a slave, and resented talk of being sold down to Orleans for a â€Å"big stack o’ money.† Huck felt that Jim’s escape was wrong, but kept his promise of secrecy, like any good friend would.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In lieu of his escape, Jim emphasized his feelings of becoming a free man. Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom (p. 238). Huck came to the realization that Jim was escaping for a far different reason than he, and began to see this â€Å"nigger’s† freedom as his own fault; he was an accomplice. Huck’s conscience became plagued by the fact that Jim was escaping the custody of his rightful owner, and he was doing nothing to stop this. In Huck’s eyes, Jim was essentially the property of poor old Ms. Watson, who didn’t do anything less than teach Jim his manners and his books. Altogether, Huck felt that he was doing wrong by concealing this, and felt miserable to say the least.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jim’s anticipation for freedom grew higher as he expressed his future dreams and aspirations. Jim began saying things that â€Å"niggers† wouldn’t normally dare say. Jim was speaking like a white man, not like someone’s property, a slave. This attitude began to lower Huck’s vision of Jim, and his conscience grew even hotter. Huck had never been exposed to a slave who spoke this way. It was his inadequate education that told him this was wrong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jim stopped the raft with intentions of surrendering Jim. At this point he heard Jim yell: â€Å"Pooty soon I’ll be a-shout’n for joy, en I’ll say, it’s on accounts o’Huck; I’s a free man, en I couldn’t ever ben free ef it hadn’ been for Huck; Huck done it.

Lower Legal Drinking Age Essay -- essays research papers fc

Since the states increased their drinking age to 21 in 1987, every citizen of this country between the ages of 18 and 20 have been oppressed by the very people elected to power to protect their rights. It is evident that the legal drinking age among Americans should be lowered to the legal age of adulthood, 18 years. At this age, any American can marry without their Parent’s approval and can move out of their guardian’s house and live on their own. Why are these adults deprived of their right to consume alcohol? A police officer unexpectedly arrived at a party where many young adults were drinking alcoholic beverages. He asked to see two young gentlemen’s identification to prove that they were of legal age to be consuming. Both were respectable citizens. Neither had caused a disturbance or been involved in any trouble. They both were voters, they were peaceful and respectful, they were both registered for the selective services, as every 18-year-old man is requi red to do, and both paid their taxes. However, since one of the men was only 20 years of age, he was issued a citation that cost him over one hundred and seventy five dollars and he lost his privileges to drive a car for an entire year. The other, who was 21, was of course allowed to continue on without further interferences. The issue presented in this scenario is a very serious problem today and threatens the very liberties that make this country so exemplary. There may not be one credible or plausible reason why this age group is lawfully bound from having a beer after graduation or a glass of champagne on their wedding day, yet everyday more and more Americans are arrested or cited for practicing what should be a legal prerogative. Many young adults face these extreme injustices on an account of this unwarranted restriction that so unjustly harasses them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is a simple and agreeable solution to this matter. The government should revise the law back to what it was years ago. Most states in the 1970’s had a legal drinking age of 18, 19, or 20, the majority of those being 18 years of age. According to Daniel N. Allen, M.A., David G. Sprenkel, M.A., and Patrick A. Vitale, Ph. D., changing the age limit for one to consume alcohol in the eighties was a failure in its mission to control drinking and lower deaths from alcohol related automobile accidents. Statistics hav... ... and to preserve our meticulous way of life. When the government is not protecting the rights of its citizens, reform is most definitely required and so it is needed here. The United States is the only country with a minimum drinking age above 20. It is the highest and most absurd of any state in the world. Our free country just does not seem so free if its people cannot partake in something as simple as a glass of wine with their dinner. It is time for the American community to regain and to keep hold of their much-deserved rights. Works Cited Allen, D. N., Sprenkel, D. G., and Vitale, P. A. â€Å"Reactance Theory and Alcohol Consumption  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Laws: Further Confirmation Among Collegiate Alcohol Consumers.† Journal of Studies  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  on Alcohol 55 (1994): 34-40. Hanson, David J., Ph. D. â€Å"The Legal Drinking Age: Science or Ideology.† Alcohol: Problems and Solutions. 8 Nov. 2001. . ---, â€Å"The United States of America.† International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture. Ed. Dwight B. Heath. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1995. 300-315.

Autism: Identification and Characteristics

â€Å"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development† (Unknown, 2013). However, there are multiple definitions of Autism spectrum disorder and autism. The two most accepted definitions are those outlined in IDEA and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, The IDEA definition of ASD and Autism has these disorders characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and academic performance, that can be observed prior to the child turning three years of age. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, these disorders are grouped under Pervasive Developmental Disorder. These disorders include, but are not limited to, autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Asperger syndrome (APA, 2000). Characteristics of Autism or ASD include difficulties in language development, ranging from no verbal communication to complex communication, delayed language development, and echolalia. Echolalia is the uncontrollable and immediate repetition of words spoken by another person or sounds in the surrounding environment. It also includes difficulties in Social Development. These difficulties include delays in social interactions and social skills such as, impaired use of nonverbal behavior, lack of peer relationships, failure to spontaneously share enjoyment, interests, and achievements, as well as a Lack of reciprocity. Autism and ASDs are also characterized by repetitive behavior such as obsessions, tics, and perseverations. Those diagnosed with Autism or ASD are also said to display problem behavior such as self-injurious behavior or aggression, a need for environmental predictability, symptoms of sensory and movement disorders, as well as, symptoms of Savant Syndrome. Savant Syndrome is a rare condition in which persons with various developmental disorders, including autistic disorder, have astonishing islands of ability, brilliance or talent in areas such as the fine arts. Many savants are also very good with remembering facts such as phone numbers or birthdays, after only seeing them a few imes. Causes and Prevalence The causes of autism range from different aspects. Some people's perspective about it comes from history which is where the phrase â€Å"refrigerator mothers† comes from. Refrigerator mothers were women who were emotionally frigid to towards their children, showing their children little to no affection whatsoever. However, in the 1970s, researchers had established that autism is c aused by brain or biochemical dysfunction that occurs before, during, or after birth. Today, parents are not seen as the cause of their child's autism, but as partners with educators when helping solve their child's problems. The biomedical causes show that a child that has a sibling is 10 times more likely to develop autism than a child that does not have any siblings. There also seems to be a connection between environmental factors and genes. Parents also report that they see regression in their child directly following an immunization. But with this being said, parents also see a regression in their unvaccinated children. If a pair of identical twins share the same gene, and one has autism, then 9 out of 10 times, the other twin has autism as well. Researchers believe that the biggest causes of autism are vaccinations, environmental exposures, pesticide exposure, parental age, pharmaceuticals, freeway proximity, and limited prenatal vitamin intake. The prevalence of autism suggests a range from 10 to 60 per 10,000 children. Principles of Effective Instruction and Assessment of Progress There are different kinds of effective instructions in order to help out the child that is diagnosed with Autism. Some of the strategies include keyword, pegword, and letter. Keyword strategies â€Å"teach students to link a keyword to a new word or concept to help them remember the new material† (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). This allows the Autistic children understand and learn the material a lot easier. Pegword strategy â€Å"helps students remember numbered or ordered information by linking words and numbers that rhyme† (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). This strategy is great for students to visual the objects being represented. The last strategy is the letter strategy â€Å"employs acronyms or a string of letters to help students remember a list of words or concepts. Recalling the acronym helps them recall the list or sequence. † (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). â€Å"The Autism Screening Instrument for Educational Planning (ASIEP-2) has five components or subtests that enable educators to evaluate a student’s capacity across communication, social interactions, behavior, academic content, and other domains. (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). The behavior checklist is used as a screening tool to identify the need for further assessment to determine whether the student has autism. (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). These assessments can be used at home and during school hours. These methods are very effective for an Autism child. The technology and methods continue to grow and change for this disability. This particular disability has become more prominent within the United States each and every year. Researchers are becoming more and more familiar with Autism allowing those that have it able to have more help. The progress of this disability has rapidly increased as well as the technology for Autism. Family Issues Autism does not only affect the child, but autism also affects the parents of the child as well. Parents or guardians of children with ASD must place their child’s needs as their primary focus. When parents with autistic children put their full attention in being a caregiver to these children sometimes this adds stress on their marriage, other children, finances, and personal relationships and responsibilities. Also when having a child with ASD with siblings there may be some lack of attention for the other children in the family. In saying this, it is the parent’s job to best respond to the need of the family as a whole in able to show an equal amount of love to each child. Transition into Adulthood Children with autism are just like children without autism. They grow up wanting to make something of their lives, wanting to attend college, to get married, have a family, ect. Having autism makes dreams and goals harder, but not impossible. Young adults on the autistic spectrum may qualify academically for college, but may not be able to handle other aspects of college life. Also when it comes to employment also depending on the severity of his or her symptoms many organizations hire extra help for adults with autism and other disabilities for pay in order to help them grow as a person and help to work everyday tasks. Just little things like going to college with the help of an assistant or having a small job helps to better them and help to make their transition into adulthood smoother and simpler. References American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR. Washington, DC. American Psychiatric Association. Pelt, J. (2008, September/October). Autism Into Adulthood-Making the Transition. Retrieved from Social Work Today: http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/090208p12.shtml Turnbull, A., Turnbull, R., Wehmeyer, M. L., ; Shogren, K. A. (2013). Exceptional Lives Special Education in Today's Schools. Boston. Unknown. (2013). Family Issues. Retrieved from Autism Society: Improving the Lives of All Affected by Autism: http://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/family-issues/ Unknown. (2013). What is Autism? Retrieved from Autism Speaks: http://www.autismspeaks.org

Principles of Microeconomics Essay

Supply and Demand is a phrase that every one hears in one way or another, Supply and demand phrase according to Colander, (2010) is the most used phrase by economist and the reason is because the phrase provides a good â€Å"off-the-cuff† answer for many question that have to do with economy. Example why are interest rates to Low? Because supply and demand. Why is Gasoline so high? supply and demand. This paper will speak about a simulation found on University of Phoenix student website, simulation named â€Å"Applying Supply and Demand Concepts† This paper will speak about macroeconomics and microeconomics principles, Paper will also refer to shift of the supply curve and shift of the demand curve. Also how the how concepts of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics help understand the factors that affect shifts in supply and demand on the equilibrium price and quantity, and last how the price elasticity of demand affects a consumer’s purchasing and the firm’s pricing strategy. Microeconomics and Macroeconomic Principles According to Colander (2010) Microeconomics is define as â€Å"the study of individual choice, and how that choice is influenced by economic forces.† With this in mind, principles present on the â€Å"Applying Supply and Demand Concepts† simulation are Rental unit Prices and Rental units supply. According to Colander (2010) Macroeconomics is defines â€Å"is the study of the economy as a whole.† With this in mind one can say that macroeconomics principles on this simulation are population trends that lead people to choose to rent or not rest and factors that lead people to make this type of choices. According to Colander (2010), states that Demand can be defined as â€Å"Quantity demanded rises as price falls, other things constant. Or alternatively: Quantity demanded falls as price rises, other things constant.† And on the other hand Supply can be defined as â€Å"Quantity supplied rises as price rises, other things constant. Or alternatively: Quantity supplied falls as price falls, other things constant.† (Colander, 2010) On the simulation supply of two bedrooms apartment has reach 2,000 and according to the analyst, company need to decrease vacancy rates to 15% in order to increase revenue. By decreasing rent demand will increase vacancy will decrease and revenue will increase. Shifts of the Supply and Demand Curves As the supply of apartment increases the supply curve shifts towards the right as direct result of apartment supply increase rental rate also increases. Total of apartment supply is 2,500 and by leasing all of the apartment rental rate will be driven to $1,500. Because demand curve shift downwards when rent rate and apartment supply increases, by increasing rent rate to $1,500 demand will lower and in order to accomplish equilibrium, company would need to lower rental rate to $1,050. This is where the supply and demand reaches equilibrium. Relevance in Real World and at the Workplace Supply and demand is a famous phrase as previously mention and one don’t realize that this phrase or concept applies to one personal life in a lot of ways. For example I work for a bank and we sell services to customer in the form of banking, saving or investment products. From a Macroeconomic prospective all of us a one point need to have a bank account of in order to accomplish many financial needs, it is because of these need that there is always demand for banking products. It is based on this demand that interest rates for savings accounts varies based on the demand the supply (interest rates) varies. From a microeconomics prospective if outside indicators like market condition or unemployment rate changes rates for saving account will also change. It is based on those factors that sometimes people decides to stop saving and bank will to increase saving rates but bank can only do it to a certain point because increasing saving rates to much will mean that lending money will have a higher rate. There is got to be balance. Understanding the concepts of macroeconomics and  microeconomics help understand factor that affects shifts in supply and demand because now one can see with clarity what are the categories and what those categories are, the ones influence supply and demand and how this same factor may bring equilibrium. Price Elasticity of Demand According to Colander (2010), the price elasticity of demand is the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price. As for this simulation, if the demand experiences a negative percentage change (if it decreases) the price of renting an apartment will also decrease. So, rental rate will decreases as the demand decreases. On the other hand, when the supply decreases or increases, the rental rate will remain constant. If the demand increases, the rental rate will be increased, since more people will want apartments (the company is able to increase the prices – the law of demand). According to Colander (2010) Price Elasticity of Demand can be defined as â€Å"the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price: Conclusion This paper has referred to various terms from the macroeconomic and microeconomic environment. It has analyzed trends and also shifts of the supply and demand curve for a company that rents two-bedroom apartments in Atlantis. The paper has also referred to situation from the real world where microeconomic concepts can be applied. Last, it has talked about price elasticity of demand with respect to the company that rents apartments. The paper serves as an element of understanding supply and demand concepts when it comes to the microeconomic environment. Reference Colander, D. C. (2010). Economics (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. University of Phoenix. (). Applying Supply and Demand Concepts [Multimedia]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, ECO/265 – Principles of Microeconomics website.

Bmw Swot Analysis Essay

Logo-BMW’s white-and-blue logo is recognizable worldwide, and recalls the company’s start as an aircraft engine manufacturer. It symbolizes a pilot’s view through a propeller as alternating white and blue segments. †¢Most successful multi-brand premium car manufacturer-BMW has three brands, BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce. They delivered 141,952 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce automobiles in 2007 and sales increased by 7. 4% from the previous year. †¢Super luxury Rolls Royce car-The Rolls-Royce phantom holds the number one position in the super-luxury car segment. The Phantom was launched in 1993, and the final assembly, as well as all-wood and leatherwork are custom made for each customer’s individual specifications. The plant where they are produced, the Goodwood plant in England, contains only two robots to paint the space frame body; all other work is done by hand, in keeping with the Rolls-Royce tradition. †¢Spends one of the highest revenues on R;D-BMW Group employs about 8,000 people worldwide within the research ; development (R;D) network and has invested millions of dollars over the years. They employ engineers, designers, model builders, computer experts, and scientists of various disciplines FIZ co-ordinates and optimize research activities across the group to create the BMW cars of the future. †¢Brand-BMW ranked in the top 20 most recognized global brands. BMW is now the only multi-brand automaker that utilizes a pure, premium brand strategy. The objective behind this strategy is to generate higher income per vehicle on the basis of products with a high intrinsic value and a strong brand image. Their brand ranked number 15 in 2006. Longevity-Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) was formed in 1916 after two small aircraft engine manufacturers merged. In 1923, BMW began to build motorcycles, then its first car in 1928. †¢Driving School-Many manufacturers have associations with driving schools; BMW runs its own. The BMW Performance Center, adjacent to the BMW Manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, attracts owners and prospects from around the country for an ultimate br and experience. †¢Sales-BMW is one among the leading players in the premium cars segment. It achieved a record sales volume of 1,373,970 units in 2006. BMW is ranked among the ten largest car producers globally. Awards/Recognition-Reflecting BMW’s commitment to developing quality and innovative products, the company has been honored with several awards in the past. For example, BMW was presented with the ‘Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany’ in February 2006 for the BMW 6 Series Coupe and Convertible models. Presented by the German Design Council, the award was the highest official German design award. Following this, the MINI model of the company won the Golden Steering Wheel 2006 award in seven out of 15 categories, ten days ahead of its official market launch in November 2006. Formula 1-BMW won its first Formula 1 championship in 1983 using a four cylinder, 1. 5-liter production based engine. Of course it was turbocharged and could develop well over 1,000 horsepower, some say over 1,500 for short periods of time. BMW continues to field a Formula 1 team because it provides the ultimate in competition and thus the ultimate in learning for BMW. †¢Excellence through quality & innovation-BMW Group’s success is its strategic focus on developing customer-friendly innovations, coupled with an approach to innovations management that is unique within the motor industry Customize your own car-BMW has the option of seeing a sample of the car you’d like by selecting different options such as the color of interior design and exterior design, the wheels, the model etc. †¢Intelligent processes-the COSP(Customer oriented sales and production process) bases production on the customer’s customized version and not by company standards. They employ 70,000 workers in 23 different locations to build the customized cars. A customer can change or alter the options and style of the car right before it goes into production. †¢Environment-friendly-BMW considers environmental and recycling requirements. They use recycled products to build cars. They have environmental standards for all the plants throughout the world. They build cars that lower the amount of fuel consumption. †¢Superior technology and development of new products – BMW is doing this is by developing a hybrid engine as part of a global alliance. The aim of this development is known as a â€Å"two-mode† hybrid vehicle, combining a combustion engine with two electronic engines. This design is aimed towards improving the performance, fuel consumption, emissions and range of conventional hybrid vehicles. The primary goal of modern hybrid systems is to save fuel. †¢Commitment to customers – BMWs’ main goal is to focus on getting the product to the customer as quickly as possible. BMW has a program known as the â€Å"Customer oriented sales and production process. † This way, the customer is able to make any last minute changes to the equipment and accessories they’ve ordered shortly before the vehicle goes to assembly-without delaying the date of delivery. †¢Design Work – design process of building vehicles is done by California Innovation Triangle. This state of the art firm uses computers to help aid the process of design. The highlight of this facility is what the industry has begun to call â€Å"the model plate. † The model plate is a measurement system that transfers the contours of the object being scanned to computers where a 3D model is produced. The designers can then go in and make changes to the object through the computer in order to make the part as suitable for its intended use as possible. What makes this machine so rare is the size of object that can be scanned. The model plate can scan very large object, up to the size of an omnibus. With the use of this technology BMW and California Innovation Triangle are able to layout and design entire vehicles piece by piece. †¢Involvement in community – South Africa serves as good example of BMW’s social commitment. BMW works to bring change from within by enacting equality in the workface, and investing not only in the business, but also in education, healthcare and recreational facilities for employees. The factory at Rosslyn, near Pretoria, evolved from a CKD facility to serve the old South Africa, into a sophisticated facility that is now part of BMW’s international production-distribution network. This risk BMW took provided South Africa the ability to export. And in 2002, the South African factory captured the J. D. Power and Associates gold award for initial production quality. †¢Environmental commitment – BMW factories meet the demanding ISO 14001 environmental standards worldwide. This is not only true for the oldest BMW factory in the city of Munich and at 10 year old American plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but also with new factories in emerging and less regulated markets like Thailand and Russia. Excellence through quality & innovation-BMW Group’s success is its strategic focus on developing customer-friendly innovations, coupled with an approach to innovations management that is unique within the motor industry. From features like the twin-flat motorcycle engine, V-shaped overhead valves, and hemispherical combustion chambers introduced on the classics of the 1920s and 30s, to modern technology including ABS brakes, Xenon lights, smart airbags, the head protection system, Valvetronic and iDrive, BMW constantly reinforces its credibility as a premium manufacturer Management-Chief executive, Norbert Reithofer, who took office on September 1, will be seeking to build on the Bavarians’ global momentum. Reithofer has a brilliant track record as head of production, such as combining lean manufacturing and Japanese-like continual improvement with benchmark flexibility for a premium automaker which gives BMW a big cost advantage over leading competition and making it tough for competitors like Mercedes to gain any ground. †¢Young customer base-With the Mini and series 3, BMW has a significant dvantage of gaining younger and first time purchasers over other luxury brands. The youth market is critically important because if a young buyer chooses a particular brand for a first car, he or she is more than likely to buy others with the same name plate as they mature and move up in the market. Even though buyers in the 16-35 age category only accounted for a small percentage of overall sales it is important to gain there sales because as the old marketing principle goes it is easier to keep a customer than to gain new ones. WEAKNESSES †¢New Models-Is it really worth developing new models? It entails expenses along with shipping prices. Each day BMW is striving to produce and develop new cars to satisfy the customers. In the long run, who actually knows if these cars are going to be a big hit. The company might actually be wasting their time and money in producing a model that will not be worthwhile. When developing and producing cars it is important to decipher whether or not the car will become one that is popular on the market. †¢BMW’s heavy cost German base. -More and more competitors are shifting product development activities to lower cost countries. BMW could be forced to negotiate a way to maintain cost competitiveness and its reputation for German engineering excellence made in different countries. †¢Price-Another weakness of the BMW industry is getting the customers to buy these cars. Yes, the hybrid vehicle will save you fuel, but it will be so expensive that it might be hard trying to find customers to buy them at such a high price. Another reason the price of the vehicle is so high is because they are shipped across the United States and also come from a factory in Germany. The expenses of the vehicles and the shipping rate are two key weaknesses that many companies must work with. †¢Motorcycle Sales-The European market accounts for more than 60% of BMW’s motorcycle sales on an average. The group is heavily dependent on this region with Germany being one of the largest markets for its motorcycles business. With the demand in Germany being highly inconsistent in the past six years, this high dependence on a particular region can have an adverse effect on the company’s sales, during periods of demand stagnation in the region. For example, BMW’s motorcycle sales in Germany declined by 9. % to 24,064 units in 2005, which further declined to 23,617 units in 2006. †¢Corporate image-too serious ad tradition-bound. †¢Hybrid Prices-These types of cars will save you a lot of money on fuel, but the problem BMW is having trouble with is pricing the hybrids. It would be hard for BMW to find customers that would buy the hybrids at a high cost. †¢Shipment Cost-Most of the cars are shipped from Germany to the United States. The shipping cost would affect the price of the car. This is one the expenses that the BMW company’s would have to deal with in pricing their vehicles for the customers satisfaction. Online Strategies-BMW is not winning the â€Å"information war† in the market place about its own customers, their attitudes, complaints, wishes, etc. BMW is not operating in a manner, which acts to â€Å"include† its customers including their meeting and information sharing sources. Existing online efforts do not meet consumer needs. There is a lack of â€Å"human intelligence† and an over-reliance on visual marketing in BMW’s on-line strategies. †¢Dealer Networks-BMW’s dealer network is in the midst of great change. Overall basic product margins are down while business infrastructure requirements are up. Many dealers do not feel that the field reps are there to help them build their business but rather just to comment arbitrarily and deliver business change requirements from BMW headquarters. There is a problem with two way information flow in the distributor-dealer relationship. Dealers feel that they are not being listened to and are also not being serviced in critical areas of their business by BMWNA staff. †¢Management-Dealers want to be able to discuss key elements of their business given their limited capital resources. Given the size and nature of he motorcycle market many dealers feel that BMW’s current policies are overly restrictive to the healthy development of their business and that BMWNA should operate in a more flexible manner which could be seen as co-development of a dealer’s franchise not just top-down management by memo. †¢Changing Consumer Environments-Also, as it appears that BMW’s dealer strategy is to move to larger centralized â €˜corporate style’ stores, many of the smaller ‘mom and pop’ dealerships that historically or currently serve a key segment of the BMW owners/riders are being alienated and/or eliminated. By following this policy of upgrade or be eliminated BMW is removing both the habitat in which the consumers live as well as the knowledge base and support structure from which they engage in BMW oriented motorcycle commerce. OPPORTUNITIES †¢India-The Company has been launching several new initiatives and has been widening its product base since 2001. The company expects ample growth opportunities in India, and it is keen on expanding its bases in these countries. †¢The expansion of the euro. -In May 2004 more countries adopted the euro making it the world’s biggest trading block. This offers ample opportunities for BMW to leverage its strong European position in the premium car segment to gather more market share across new and expanding markets. †¢A Chinese luxury car market-Rigorous attempt to get into the Chinese luxury car market signifies an increase in the earnings of the company over the coming years. China already ranks as the third largest market for BMW’s 7 Series luxury limousines. BMW predicts that vigorous growth will place China among the company’s seven largest markets in a few more years. †¢Diesel Power-BMW foresees an immense opportunity in the diesel-powered cars segment. Tourism-the Zentrum building is located in South Carolina. This gives tourists the opportunity to take a look at the history of BMW, also at the cars, the speed and innovation free of charge. It is the only BMW museum in the United States. It is also located next to the only BMW manufacturing plant in the United States. BMW should take a look into bu ilding more museums throughout the world. †¢Expansion-although BMW is very successful they should think about expanding their manufacturing plants throughout the United States and other countries. They only have one location in the United States which is in South Carolina. †¢Have the best and most current technology-It is important for BMW to have the best research and development staff where they can keep the company up-to-date with technology. With the latest technology and supplies, BMW can create the best cars the fastest and most efficient way possible. †¢Broaden information sharing -BMW should broaden information sharing amongst their dealers, distributors, and factory. This will improve product repair knowledge resulting in improved customer service and satisfaction. Improve and run their business based on their business plan-Improving the capabilities of dealers to sell more BMW products in the marketplace through refinement of their business plan †¢Utilize the Internet more-Multiply the value of the ‘human capital’ in the BMW network by â€Å"e-knowledge† and â€Å"e-training. † †¢Better training of their salespeople-Deve lopment and implementation of business practices that harness the best of each individual dealer and make their unique market position/skills a valuable part of the entire network. Partnering with Sirius Radio-In 2005, BMW partnered with Sirius Satellite Radio to promote its new 3-serious car for 44 days. BMW used Sirius to promote its new car because the radio station had 1. 24 million subscribers and still growing. On the final day of promotion it broadcasted a live concert with various artists. †¢Acquiring Volvo-The chairman of BMW, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, is plan on expanding the business with a fourth brand name, Volvo. Although sales of Volvo has been slow in the North American and Europe, its brand name focuses mainly on safety and its fashion appeal is not attractive to the eye. BMW could help out by acquiring the company to make it a more global brand, also in the Asian Market. †¢Apple iPhone-The new Apple iPhone is one of the next best things of phones. It is a touch screen phone with a built in iPod. This would give BMW the opportunity to integrate the iPhone into their cars. †¢China market-An opportunity for BMW is the increase in the luxury automobile market in china. The most significant growth of the luxury market can be attributed to Jiangsu province which has created an 84 percent increase. Next to Jiangsu is Guangdong, making 79 percent recorded growth in the market. On the other hand, Zhejiang province also bagged a 54 percent increase. THREATS †¢Demand Patterns-BMW operates in an industry that is prone to cyclical demand patterns due to consumer wants and needs. †¢Currency-Any unfavorable trend in Euro valuation against major currencies can hurt BMW’s performance. †¢Fuel Efficiency-While BMW continues to work on high performance, clean and efficient gasoline engines, the company is also committed to a green-house-gas- free hydrogen powered vehicle as a long-term strategy. At this time we have an active development program that will enable us still to bring to market a full size automobile, propelled with hydrogen, before the end of the decade. †¢The continuing decline of the dollar against the euro-This threatens to undercut BMW’s top-line thereby tempering its profitability. The euro to one-dollar ratio has dropped from 0. 702626 euros to 0. 690376 euros from October to November. †¢The rising price of raw materials -Materials such as steel threaten to offset the company’s earnings. BMW continues to face the rising cost of raw materials as the key challenge to maintain and improve their growth performance. The annual average market price of aluminum, copper and plastic rose by 34%, 76% and 13%, respectively, in 2006. Likewise, the price of industrial raw materials also increased by more than 30% in 2006. †¢Rising gas prices – with a weak U. S. market, steadily rising gas prices and gaining popularity in non-luxury vehicles there is the temptation to move down market.

How Successfully The Dramatic Device of Disguise is used in ”As You Like It”? Essay

In ‘As You Like It’, the dramatic device of disguise is very important, because of the dramatic opportunities it presents. Shakespeare opens two opportunities: the characters can say what they would otherwise be unable to say, and hear what they would otherwise be unable to hear. The main character who uses disguise is Rosalind, although Celia does too, to a lesser extent. We first see these two characters in Act I Scene 2. In this scene, we find out background information of the characters, for example that Rosalind’s father, the Duke, was banished. We also see Orlando and Rosalind fall in love, after they meet for the first time at the wrestling match in the gardens of the palace. Rosalind gives Orlando her necklace, giving him a sign that she has fallen in love with him. Rosalind: Wear this for me, Rosalind: Sir, you have wrestled well, and overthrown More than your enemies. Orlando also admits to himself that he has fallen in love with her, but gives no indication of such to Rosalind, as he remained silent. Orlando: What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue? I cannot speak to her, yet she urg’d conference. O poor Orlando, thou art overthrown! In Act I Scene 3, Rosalind admits to Celia how much she loves Orlando, and that she is not merely ‘playing’ at falling in love, as they had discussed in the precious scene. Celia’s father, the Duke, then interrupts them, to banish Rosalind. The reasons for his actions are that the people pity Rosalind, because she has lost her father. Also, they admire her â€Å"silence and patience.† So, under the pretence that Rosalind is a traitor, he banishes her, to make Celia â€Å"show more bright and seem more virtuous when she is gone.† However, Celia objects to this, as she loves Rosalind dearly. So, she decides to join Rosalind in her banishment, and that they will go to the forest of Arden, to search for her uncle, Rosalind’s father. They decide to take Touchstone with them, for safety and company. In those times, it was dangerous to travel, especially for rich women. The women realise this, and like Rosalind says â€Å"beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold†. So, Rosalind decides to disguise herself as a male because she is â€Å"more than common tall†. She decides to call herself Ganymede. Ganymede was a Trojan boy, with whom Jove fell in love with, appointed him cupbearer of the Gods, and became immortal. This name is very appropriate since Ganymede was an effeminate boy, while Rosalind would be a woman dressed as a male. Celia decides to disguise herself as a shepherdess, called Aliena, meaning ‘the stranger.’ This name is also appropriate, as it is representative of the way she will act in the country compared to at court; she will not be used to it. The two names are taken from the book â€Å"Rosalynde†, written in 1590 by Thomas Lodge. This could be intentional, or coincidental. We first see Rosalind in disguise in Act II Scene 4, when she realises that now she is disguised as a man, she has to inherit male qualities and act â€Å"courageous to petticoat†. In this scene, Shakespeare explores the male and female side of Rosalind for the first time. In appearance, she is masculine, able to take responsibility for â€Å"the weaker vessel†. However, inside she is feminine, and needy of the support she gives to Celia. Touchstone also mentions that â€Å"when I was at home, I was in a better place† stimulating thoughts about the divide between the rich and the poor of Shakespeare’s time. In ‘As You Like It’, Shakespeare compares the two societies of that time- the rich and the poor. There wasn’t usually a middleclass. In the life at court, ladies did not work for their living. They usually grew up, and were married at a fairly young age, until they died. However, poor women usually had to help at the house, by cooking, cleaning, etc. and were also usually married off as soon as possible. Further on in the play, in Act III Scene 2 Touchstone also debates the merits of the two different lives with Corin, a shepherd. As we know, Celia and Rosalind come from an upper class, rich, royal families, but have to pretend to be poor, working class people when they go to the forest of Arden. Undoubtedly, they would have made mistakes occasionally, showing their true heritage. This would probably seem comical to the audience, because they found it unusual for the two backgrounds to mix. For example, in Act III Scene 2, when Orlando is speaking with Rosalind, he mentions that ‘her accent is something finer than you could purchase in so removed a dwelling.† Fortunately for her, Rosalind quickly thinks of an excuse, â€Å"an old religious uncle of mine taught me to speak†, which Orlando believes. In this act, the weary travellers purchase a cottage and a flock of sheep from Corin. This quick financial exchange might seem humorous to the audience, as it is very unrealistic and theatrical. The audience can also see that strangers, for example Corin, are fooled by Rosalind’s disguise In Act III Scene Two, Celia teases Rosalind, who wants to find out who wrote the poems about her, and nailed them to trees. She reminds Celia that she is a woman, although she is â€Å"caparisoned like a man†. This might also be a reminder to the audience that Ganymede is female. Finally, when Celia admits that she knows the poet is Orlando, Rosalind, dressed as Ganymede, is distressed. She is distressed because she knows she won’t be able to let him woo her if he thinks she is a man, Ganymede, instead of his love, Rosalind. Rosalind: Alas the day! what shall I do with my doublet and hose? However, she then realises that in a man’s attire, she is able to â€Å"speak to him (Orlando) like a saucy lackey†, which she then does for the rest of the play. She teases him about his love, and says he does not look like â€Å"a man in love.† Throughout this scene, Rosalind’s motive to disguise herself as a man has now changed from practical reasons to personal ones; to find out how much Orlando loves her, and perhaps to educate him, on how to love her. For example, in Act IV Scene 1, when Orlando is an hour late for their meeting, she shows that if he would have done that to Rosalind, â€Å"Cupid hath clapped him o’ the shoulder.† Through her disguise, which she uses to her full advantage, she playfully suggests to him that she will pretend to be Rosalind so he can woo her. This Orlando feels able to do, so he can say what he wanted to say when they first met, in Act I Scene 2, and she can hear what she never expected to hear, because they are not bound by social expectations, as Orlando does not know Ganymede is Rosalind. Their relationship stays fun and lively, because he can be open and honest, and express his emotions, and she can willingly accept his proposals, for example in Act IV Scene 1: Rosalind: But come, now I will be your Rosalind in a more coming-on disposition; and ask me what you will, I will grant it. Orlando: Then love me, Rosalind. Rosalind: Yes, faith, I will, Fridays and Saturdays and all. In the play Shakespeare questions the rigid rules of society’s wooing of that time, since he wrote the play with the idea of a traditional romance; (an archetype) a boy meets a girl, they fall in love, and marry happily ever after after overcoming several obstacles and misunderstandings. However, Shakespeare was forward thinking of his time, letting Rosalind orchestrate the wooing, which was very unconventional. As we can see from Act III Scene 4, Rosalind is a very strong and intelligent character, as she has tricked Orlando into wooing her, even though she is dressed as a man. She is also very witty, a characteristic she only feels able to express properly when she is disguised. She is perhaps the wittiest person in the play, apart from Touchstone, who is a professional comedian, after having been a fool or jester at the court for many years. In Shakespeare’s time, royal men at court showed their wittiness by putting down a fool. He is someone we call a ‘stooge’ nowadays. However, Touchstone’s jokes and puns are less friendly than Rosalind’s, who’s aim is simply to tease or humour people, and not make fun of them, like Touchstone does. Today, Rosalind’s role is a sought-after part, since it is one of Shakespeare’s only good main female characters. The reason for this is that the roles of his time were pre-dominantly male, as there were no female actresses then, and men had to act female parts, which would not have been desirable. This adds humour to the play, from the audience’s perspective, because the players with female roles, e.g. Celia and Rosalind, were young adolescent males. So, Ganymede was a teenage boy, acting a female (Rosalind), dressed up as a man. A particularly humorous moment is when Orlando attempts to kiss Ganymede, for two reasons. One is that the player acting Orlando is attempting to kiss his true love, Rosalind, even though he doesn’t know this. But, from the audience’s point of view, this is also funny since the actor Orlando is attempting to kiss another man. Even now, cross-dressing is found humorous, explaining why people watch cabarets and pantomimes. Further on in the play, in Act III Scene 4, we see Rosalind and Celia alone together. Alone with Celia, Rosalind does not pretend to act masculine, instead she talks about her love to Orlando in a feminine way, and Celia teases her. Rosalind: Never talk to me: I will weep. Celia: Do, I prithee; but yet have the grace to consider that tears do not become a man. Then, Corin comes in, and invites them to see Phebe and Silvius together. They do so gladly, and Rosalind takes another opportunity to use her disguise to her full advantage: she insults Phebe, somewhat cruelly. â€Å"What thought you have no beauty- As by my faith, I see no more in you Than without candle may go dark to bed† However, this has an adverse effect, since Phebe falls head over heels in love with Ganymede, who in fact is Rosalind. This is another way Shakespeare has brought comedy to the play using the dramatic device of disguise, for Rosalind is, like she says, â€Å"unable to return the love.† From this we also see that Shakespeare did not think about relationships of the same sex, presumably because that would be too forward of his time. Also, it was illegal to demonstrate homosexual relationships; Oscar Wilde was put in jail, 200 years later for his gay relationships. Using the dramatic device of disguise, Shakespeare also uses Rosalind to expose the shallowness and absurdity of conventional modes of wooing, in Act 4 Scene 1. This is when Ganymede mocks Orlando, which was very unconventional of that time, since normal women did not act like that; they were supposed to be very gentle, docile, etc. However, in Act IV Scene 3, Shakespeare does make Rosalind seem more feminine again, since Ganymede faints, after hearing Orlando was hurt. Fainting was not seen as a manly tribute, which nearly gives away to Oliver than Ganymede is a woman. â€Å"You lack a man’s heart.† When Ganymede awakens again, Rosalind admits that she is tired of disguising herself, and hiding her feelings, â€Å"I would I were at home.† This is not the only time Rosalind makes the mistake of showing her female characteristics. In Act III Scene 2, Rosalind nearly gives away that she is female while Corin is there because Touchstone makes up an offensive poem about Rosalind and she reacts to it vehemently. Rosalind: Let no face be kept in mind, But the fair of Rosalind. Touchstone: †¦it is the right butter-woman’s rank to market. Rosalind: Out, fool! We must not forget that other characters than Rosalind use disguise; Touchstone also disguises himself. He does not disguise himself physically, but he disguises his true intentions of marriage with Audrey: sex. Touchstone is a very humorous character in the play, often joking or making puns. He is probably used by Shakespeare to contrast the different types of love and marriage: Touchstone is marrying Audrey for sex, and Audrey is marrying him so she can become a respected woman. This contrasts against Orlando and Rosalind’s relationship, that was love at first sight, the like as Oliver and Celia. In this scene, we also see that Celia uses disguise. Originally her motive to disguise herself was for protection. However, she uses her disguise as a helpless weak maiden to get food and shelter, in Act II Scene 4. Also, in Act IV Scene 3, she does not tell Oliver who she really is. If she had told him she was the Duke’s daughter, he might not have fallen in love with her, or pushed his feelings aside to bring her back to the court. However, she keeps her disguise until the very end of the play, when all the couples get married. Finally, in the end of the play, Rosalind brings all the couples together to be married, in a triumphant denouement. In the epilogue, she also adds humour through disguise, although she is no longer acting the part of Ganymede. The epilogue is humorous, since she says â€Å"If I were a woman,† which reminds the audience that she is in fact a cross-dressing man, or would have been when it was first performed. Nowadays that is not true, and it is one of the only lines written by Shakespeare that does not transcend time. This is because Rosalind is now played by an actress, as acting is a very reputable profession. However, in 1599, the year the play was written, women were not allowed to become actresses. This inspires thoughts about the way women were and are treated, and how society has changed through time. In Shakespeare’s time, women were supposed to be gentle, subservient, passive, etc. They were expected to marry, bear children, and raise them. They were constrained by society’s rigid rules, especially women at court, like Celia and Rosalind, and had little freedom. Men had much more freedom, and could show their wit, intelligence and humour when they liked. However, it was seen as unfit for females to do the same. Even today, in modern countries in the western world, the two sexes are treated differently, but less so than in other countries such as Islamic ones. Women have more rights nowadays, and laws to protect those rights than in the 1600’s. I think that Shakespeare has used the device of disguise very successfully, since he has not only added humour to the written play, but also through cross-dressing added humour. I think that I would have thought this play funny if I had the same sense of humour as people did then, and understood more of the puns and subtle jokes, that are typical of the Elizabethan times but are not found comical now.

Truancy in the Schools of the United Kingdom Essay

Truancy in the Schools of the United Kingdom - Essay Example The third chapter describes the various measures and strategies adopted by the Labour Government for combating truancy. In this regard, several initiatives taken by the authorities like penalizing parents of truants, establishment of truancy patrols, enhancing fines against parents and offering several incentives for attending school were described. The fourth chapter examines the results of such endeavours. Gradually, parents were convinced that attendance and higher levels of attainment were correlated (Education war on truancy, 2007) and this led to a decline in absenteeism. In this context, the decline of truancy in Cedar Mount High, Plant Hill Arts College and Manchester Academy were cited (The sad truth about truancy, 2007). Truancy has been described as the absence of students from school without a valid reason (Stoll. P, 1990). The duration of non - attendance varies from a single class to many weeks (Atkinson M, Halsey K, Wilkin A & Kinder K, 2000). Several reasons exist for such truant behaviour and bravado, depression, retention by the parents in order to supervise younger children at home, etc, are some of the usual reasons. Parentally approved absence from school p... P, 1990). The duration of non - attendance varies from a single class to many weeks (Atkinson M, Halsey K, Wilkin A & Kinder K, 2000). Several reasons exist for such truant behaviour and bravado, depression, retention by the parents in order to supervise younger children at home, etc, are some of the usual reasons. Parentally approved absence from school poses a major quandary and endures despite the instructions of the 1996 Education Act that such absence could be sanctioned only by the school authorities. Moreover, several of the some of the seemingly credible reasons given by parents to account for the absence of their children from school are dubious (OFSTED, 2001). It has been observed that forty thousand students abstain from school each day without proper authorization (Audit Commission, 1999). Since 1997, the Labour Government has been repeatedly emphasizing the importance of education, because the nations' future is largely dependent on the effectiveness of education.These initiatives have borne fruit and superlative results have been obtained by the schools in terms of student results and increased proficiency of the teaching staff (At a glance, n.d.). Investment on its own is incapable of ensuring an education of a high standard. The requirement is to combine reform with investment. Some of the reforms that have been implemented, in order to achieve this objective, are specialist schools, literacy and numeracy strategies, superior vocational education and the right to adult skills training (At a glance, n.d.). Despite these successes, the fact remains that quite some children have been deprived of a proper education due to the existence of incompetent schools.Although, inner city area