Effects of Nutrition on Human Hair Growth Research Paper

Effects of Nutrition on Human Hair Growth - Research Paper Example In reference to this, the presence of protein in the body means that exist more raw materials to be made into hair. However, it does not mean that the more protein consumed translates to more hair or increased hair growth. Considering that proteins are made of amino acids, the absorption of these amino acids is crucial to the growth of hair; as for healthy hair, all amino acids which are essential for the body should be ingested and digested (The Educational Resource Center of Women’s International Pharmacy, 2003). Moreover, of all the components that make up the hair follicle, lipids are a significant component. These lipids are the result of the breakdown of amino acids through enzymes that are protein in nature. The consumption of fatty substances that are made up of lipids determines the composition of the hair in the form of sebum; of which Sebum, in this case, is a lipid based substance that coats the hair and skin protecting it from the adverse effects of water. In turn , this prevents the growth of microorganisms in the hair and blocks the penetration of toxic substances into the body through the hair. This way, intake of lipids affects the overall wellbeing of the body by creating a protective barrier in the hair (Dunnett, 2001). In addition, as was the case with proteins, lipids are crucial to hair growth, but supplementing intake of fatty acids does not necessarily translate to increased production of sebum and advanced protection and a glossy look of the hair. However, increases in sebum production do increase in some cases leading to improved hair appearance (Dunnett, 2001). In addition, consumption of fatty foods, lipids, contributes towards healthy hair in that they stop it from turning grey. Intake of lipids strengthens the hair by adding to its thickness from the 90% that is made up of protein, collagen (Treasured Locks, 2005). Intake of iron in the body allows for proper circulation of blood around the body various organs; skin and hair included. This way, iron ensures that the follicles responsible for the production of hair are well supplied with nutrients such as protein and that oxygen is supplied in adequate amounts to hair follicles. Furthermore, electrons are transported in the blood with the help of the iron available in the blood; thus by consuming more iron, the hair benefits in that the body synthesises some of the crucial minerals necessary for the total wellbeing of the body and the hair, altogether. In addition, iron works with other minerals that are not so essential such as molybdenum, in detoxifying the body from radicals and breaking down certain products (Arkworld International, 2005). Waste products in the body act as toxins to the body in that they affect the texture, colour and overall appeal of hair. The direct impact of silicon to the hair is seen in what it does to the skin. This concerns the hydrating effect the skin enjoys from adequate supplies of silicon through nutrition. By the skin e xperiencing improved hydration, one’s hair, in turn, benefits from a fine texture emanating from the sebum that is held by the skin giving it a glossy feel and look (Piccardi and Patricia, 2009). In addition to this, the sebum produced from silicon helps in keeping the hair healthy by protecting it from infections, and the adverse effects felt from water. Moreover, silicon toughens hair by making it strong and, as well

Social responsibility Essay Example for Free

Social responsibility Essay The utilitarian view requires that the focus should be on the effects of the decision/action, such as effects in the form of benefit or costs. Aside from considering benefits and costs, this view also considers the number of people affected. In essence, a decision/action that benefits more people is generally viewed as more favorable. This view is limited because the definition of such benefit/cost can be flexible, based on the person’s perspective and the context. The moral rights rule puts emphasis on the individual rights. For example, this rule requires that the decision/action should lead to the maximum protection of these rights, as much as possible. For example, a decision/action that provides greater protection for the privacy rights of employees is considered more favorable in this model. However, note that the rights of stakeholders are to be considered, inclusive of employees and investors within the context of the organization. This rule is limited because it does not guide the decision-maker regarding which rights should be prioritized. The legal rule, on the other hand, puts focus mainly on the application of suitable conventional standards as well as laws based on the legal system. For instance, this rule indicates that the established laws should be used as basis for making the most appropriate decisions. A decision that upholds the law is considered favorable in this ethical perspective. However, it might be difficult to actually identify the most suitable rule. In the integrative social contracts rule, it is indicated that there must be proper consideration for the context, and the dependence of the appropriateness of ethical actions based on such context. Different contexts need to different ethical considerations even when facing the same or similar dilemma. This ethical view is limited because it does not properly provide a consistent basis for ethical decision-making. Personal Perspective The model that I consider as close to my ethical perspective is the utilitarian rule. I consider this perspective as easily applicable in many situations. For instance, it requires identification of the affected people/parties, as well as the identification of the benefits and costs that might occur as a result of the decisions/options at hand. I also view as a utilitarian perspective as close to my personal ethical perspective because I believe that it is important to consider all of the affected parties, and that every individual involved in the situation should come. In essence, this ethical model tries to distribute the consideration for benefits/costs to the individuals in a situation, rather than grouping them and prioritizing/evaluating them for group. In this way, there is better consideration for the weight of the number of people affected. This is in contrast to the moral rights rule, for instance, which considers groups of stakeholders and their rights within the context of the business organization. My core beliefs include that every person is significant. This means that even seemingly small individuals compared to highly powerful stakeholder groups should also matter. This is one of the reasons why I considered a utilitarian perspective as the module that is close to my personal ethical view. I also have the value of considering the diversity in the perspectives and interests of people. In this regard, in applying the utilitarian model, I usually think about what these interests and perspectives might be, so that I would be more accurate in evaluating the potential benefits/costs that might affect the people in this situation of the ethical dilemma. Thus, because I put value on diversity of interests and the significance of every individual, I believe that the utilitarian model is more acceptable and is highly aligned to my view. Ethical Dilemma Recognition and Analysis. An ethical dilemma is a situation in which the available options present significant advantages/benefits as well as disadvantages/costs. This means that it appears that none of the options actually stands out in terms of the benefits that can be achieved, because each of the options has notable costs. Thus, the ethical dilemma requires that the decision-makers should evaluate the weight and significance of the benefits and costs of these options. An ethical dilemma that I encountered in the past was with regard to the decision on which project to take for a term paper. This project was group-based. As the team leader, I needed to make the final decision on which specific topic to take. I viewed my input as the most favorable, although some of the inputs from the team members were actually also interesting. This was a dilemma because choosing my suggestion could help in maximizing the score that we could get from the project, but it could jeopardize teamwork. On the other hand, choosing to make the team members make the ultimate decision could lead to a slower process and conflicts among the team members. In terms of the utilitarian framework, the benefits would be in terms of how the ultimate decision could affect all the members. There must be consideration for the number of members affected, as well as the benefits/disadvantage. Ultimately, in using the utilitarian perspective in this ethical dilemma, I decided that it was necessary to let the group decided so that their interests could be more effectively considered. In this way, the decision actually resulted in a favorable score for the group, even though we experienced some challenges initially. The implications of this decision were that it benefited more members of the group, because they were satisfied in terms of greater involvement in the decision. It was limited because it did not properly consider the conventional rules on which topics to pursue. Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility Ethical leadership is of critical significance in any business organization. This is so because the actions of a leader can lead or mislead the entire organization. In this regard, in ensuring that the decisions and actions of the leader remain ethical all the time, the organization can expect that the activities of subordinates would also be as ethical as possible. Basically, a higher level of effectiveness in applying ethical principles in leadership should lead to a higher probability of ethical conduct among all the other members of the organization. I view corporate social responsibility as necessary and important, not just for the stakeholders, but also for the business organization. This is so because I believe that the business organization is a citizen of society. Instead of just considering it as a mechanism for generating profits, I view the business organization as part of society. The improvement in the contributions of the business organization to the development of society should lead to an improvement in society as well as the improvement in the opportunities for the business. I believe that organizations should be deeply involved in social responsibility, as much as they are resources and realistic contexts would allow. I understand that business organizations have limitations in terms of their resources. However, these business organizations should also review social responsibility as opportunities for them to improve the society in the market in general. An improvement in the market should lead to better business opportunities later on. Moreover, better contributions in the social responsibility efforts of the business organization should help in improving corporate image as well as the relationships of the organization with stakeholders, especially community members and customers, among other stakeholder groups.

Hitler’s Thousand Year Reich. :: Essays Papers

Hitler’s Thousand Year Reich. The name Adolph Hitler often brings to mind images of either a madman or an evil military genius. While Hitler was arguably an evil madman, he was no military genius. Hitler attempted to use Germany’s military muscle to overpower the world and make room for the Nazi party to survive and create what he called a thousand-year Reich. Hitler’s political activity was part luck and part skill; he found a way to turn the sentence of treason that was against him and turn it into a political stepping-stone to power. While Hitler and his generals successfully changed the world, they made too many mistakes, both military and otherwise, for the Nazi party ever to lead the world into Hitler’s dream of the thousand-year Reich. After the Beer Hall Putsch and Hitler’s subsequent imprisonment at Landsberg, he was told that he would receive a public trial. This public trial brought Hitler’s spirits up as he felt that this would give him the mass media coverage he needed and the chance to show how evil, stupid and cowardly his Government truly was. He was right, a Nazi sympathizer in the Bavarian Government chose all of the judges. These judges allowed Hitler to speak as long as he wished in his own defense, interrupt his opposition, cross-examine witnesses, and use the courtroom as a tool to spread pro-Nazi propaganda throughout the press. Hitler’s political luck had allowed him to use his daring to spread thoughts throughout the people of Germany with comments such as, "I alone bear the responsibility. But I am not a criminal because of that. If today I stand here as a revolutionary, it is as a revolutionary against the revolution. There is no such thing as high treason against the traito rs of 1918." While Hitler’s luck had allowed him the chance to promote his beliefs, his ability to manipulate people allowed him to receive the outcome that he had desired. While Hitler was still convicted, it was only at the command of the presiding judge, and even then the sentence was weak and allowed him many extravagances that allowed him to further his power. However, Hitler made many more mistakes than he made intelligent maneuvers. Perhaps one of Hitler’s largest mistakes was to start the war as early as he did. The German Luftwaffe had only enough fuel to last around six months of heavy combat, it lacked well-trained commanders, and Germany only held enough bombs to last around 3 weeks.

Dar es Salaam Essay

WHY STUDENTS’ TEACHERS’ IN TANZANIA STUDY HISTORY OF EDUCATION DAVID E. MSHANA DEC. 2012 Education according to Nyerere (1967), refers to the transmission from one generation to the next the accumulated wisdom and knowledge of the society and to prepare young people for their future membership of the society and their active participation in its development. In other way it can be defined as a process of teaching, training and learning especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills. (Oxford Advanced learners Dictionary, 6th Edition). Education is the process of acquiring and developing desirable knowledge, specific skills, positive attitudes and values. (Thungu, J. et al, 2010) History is the study of the records of all past human experiences, as defined by a number of historians. It is concerned with political, social, economic, scientific, technological and cultural which have shaped and given birth to mankind. History of education can be defined as the study of the past development of educational systems, theories and institutions within the general historical framework of political, social, economic, scientific, technological and cultural change. (Thungu, J. et al, 2010) REASONS WHY STUDENTS’ TEACHRERS’ STUDY HISTORY OF EDUCATION First of all, studying history of education helps teachers to be in improving quality of education and strengthen professional competence. Studying history of education prepares teachers to explore and critically examine alternatives education theories, practices and culture so as to objectively determine what is acceptable. (Thungu, J. et al, 2010) Likewise, past experience help teachers to be to influence current decisions today. History of education helps teachers to be to improve decision making and judgment. Through it both good and bad examples of decision are given. History of education offers the opportunity from past example of the others through which formulation of policies to suit the current education systems are made. Moreover, helps to draw comparison of different educational ideas and to show the development of various educational theories and practices in educational context. Through comparison one is able to show the development of a particular theory and practice in historical context and demonstrates a particular condition out, which such a theory arose, the specific function that a practice was intended to serve. (Thungu, J, et al, 2010) History of education provides the opportunity to see how society has changed over centuries. It provides a better understanding of people and culture. Tanzania in particular, education system has been changing from time to time as for instance objectives of indigenous education are different from the post colonial era. Through it, teacher to be can be able to show the difference objectives of education basing on different generation. (http//:www. wikipedia. history of education/) Helps to cultivate the art of self expression, communication, inquiry, objective thinking and ability to judge on the side of the teachers to be. It enables in the developing the attitude of mind that distinguish the educated person, the habit of skepticism and criticism of thinking with perspective and objective of judging what is good or bad, as well as weighing the pros and cons. (Thungu, J. et al. 2010) Studying history of education enables student- teachers in choosing suitable methods and strategies when in classroom environment or context. Student-teachers to be in good position to avoid static methods of teaching and learning, at the same time theory improve the tradition methods to match with current situation. (http//:www. wikipedia. history of education/) Also, it exposes the student-teachers to other discipline such as history, Christian religion education, oral literature, sociology and psychology. This helps in enriching the analysis of important educational ideas. (Thungu, J. et al, 2010) It enables student-teachers in integrating both theoretical and practical education. Understanding the context of historical events engender the spirit of realism. Through various education theories creates or build good basis in implementation of curriculum. (Thungu, J. et al 2010) Then, it helps in establishing the sound knowledge and skills set in which teachers will be able to build as they are exposed to different life experiences. For instance, having studied a history of education in a certain society, a student-teacher will be in a good position to handle the students of that society effectively and efficiently. (http//:www. wikipedia. history of education/) Studying history of education helps student-teachers to translate information and judgment, experience and wisdom into relevant knowledge that a student can understand, retain and pass to others. Generally, Studying history of education for the teachers to be is of great importance to their prospects of teaching. History of education is part and parcel of the teaching profession, if a teacher wants to be effective and efficient. REFERENCES http//:www. wikipedia. history of education/ 13th, Jan, 2011; 11:08 am Ishumi, A. G. M. , (1978), Education and Development, Dar es Salaam: National Printing Company Limited. Lema, E. et al (2004), Nyerere on Education, Dar es Salaam: Oxford University Press Mushi, A. K. (2009), History and Development of Education in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam: Dar es Salaam University Press Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 6th edition, (2000). Thungu, J. et al (2010), Mastering PTE Education, Nairobi: Oxford University Press.

Nuclear Fusion Power Of The Hot Sun Environmental Sciences Essay

The procedure by which two or more atomic karyon articulation together, or â€Å" fuse † , to organize a individual heavier karyon. During this procedure, affair is non conserved because some of the mass of the fusing karyon is converted to energy, which is released. Fusion is the procedure that powers active stars. If light karyons are forced together, they will blend with a output of energy because the mass of the combination will be less than the amount of the multitudes of the single karyon. If the combined atomic mass is less than that of Fe at the extremum of the binding energy curve, so the atomic atoms will be more tightly bound than they were in the igniter karyon, and that lessening in mass comes off in the signifier of energy harmonizing to the Einstein relationship. For heavier elements than Fe, fission will give energy. For possible atomic energy beginnings for the Earth, the deuterium-tritium merger reaction contained by some sort of magnetic parturiency seems th e most likely way. However, for the fueling of the stars, other merger reactions will rule. Types of merger: Fusion reactions are of two basic types: ( 1 ) those that preserve the figure of protons and neutrons and ( 2 ) those that involve a transition between protons and neutrons. Chemical reactions of the first type are most of import for practical merger energy production, whereas those of the 2nd type are important to the induction of star combustion. The notation indicates an arbitrary component, AZX, where Z is the charge of the karyon and A is the atomic weight. An of import merger reaction for practical energy coevals is that between heavy hydrogen and tritium. Nuclear Fusion Reactors: There are two types of atomic merger reactor: Magnetic parturiency reactors and inertial parturiency reactors. Magnetic parturiency reactors have so many parts: Vacuum vas holds the plasma and keeps the reaction chamber in a vacuity, Neutral beam injector injects particle beams from the gas pedal into the plasma to assist heat the plasma to critical temperature ; Magnetic field spirals superconducting magnets that confine, form and incorporate the plasma utilizing magnetic Fieldss, Transformers transmit electricity to the magnetic field spirals, Cooling equipment cool the magnets, Blanket modules made of Li ; absorb heat and high-energy neutrons from the merger reaction and Diverters exhaust the He merchandises of the merger reaction. Here ‘s how the procedure will work: The merger reactor will heat a watercourse of heavy hydrogen and tritium fuel to organize high-temperature plasma. It will squash the plasma so that merger can take topographic point. The power needed to get down the merger reaction will be about 70 megawatts, but the power output from the reaction will be about 500 megawatts. The merger reaction will last from 300 to 500 seconds. The Li covers outside the plasma reaction chamber will absorb high-energy neutrons from the merger reaction to do more tritium fuel. The covers will acquire heated by the neutrons. 3.The heat will be transferred by a water-cooling cringle to a heat money changer to do steam. 4.The steam will drive electrical turbines to bring forth electricity. 5.The steam will be condensed back into H2O to absorb more heat from the reactor in the heat money changer. An inertial merger reactor consists of mark mill, mark injection and tracking systems, the optical maser, a merger chamber, and a power transition system. In inertial reactor atomic, fusion reactions are initiated by heating and compacting a fuel mark, typically in the signifier of a pellet that most frequently contains a mixture of heavy hydrogen and tritium. To compact and heat the fuel, energy is delivered to the outer bed of the mark utilizing high-energy beams of optical maser visible radiation, negatrons or ions, although for a assortment of grounds, about all ICF devices to day of the month hold used optical masers. The het outer bed explodes outward, bring forthing a reaction force against the balance of the mark, speed uping it inwards, compacting the mark. This procedure may besides make daze moving ridges that travel inward through the mark. A sufficiently powerful set of daze moving ridges can compact and heat the fuel at the centre so much that merger reactions occur. The energy released by these reactions will so heat the environing fuel, which may besides get down to undergo merger. The purpose of ICF ( Inertial parturiency merger ) is to bring forth a status known as â€Å" ignition † , where this warming procedure causes a concatenation reaction that burns a important part of the fuel. Typical fuel pellets are about the size of a dumbbell and contain about 10 mgs of fuel: in pattern, merely a little proportion of this fuel will undergo merger, but if all this fuel were consumed it would let go of the energy equivalent to firing a barrel of oil. How atomic merger work in the Sun: During merger, H signifiers a plasma ( the province of affair when heated to a really high temperature ) . The atomic karyon in the plasma shed their negatrons and the forces of repulsive force between these are really high. However, some fuse and alteration into He, let go ofing big sums of energy. On the Sun, the chance that two H karyons will blend is highly low but the immense Numberss of nuclei present beginnings this. aa‚ ¬A?aa‚ ¬A? Using atomic merger in industry: The newest country in which atomic chemists play an of import function is the field of atomic medical specialty. Nuclear medical specialty is a quickly spread outing subdivision of wellness attention that uses ephemeral radioactive isotopes to name unwellnesss and to handle specific diseases. Nuclear chemists synthesize drugs from radionuclides produced in atomic reactors or gas pedals that are injected into the patient and will so seek out specific variety meats or cancerous tumours. Diagnosis involves usage of the radiopharmaceutical to bring forth an image of the tumour or organ to place jobs that may be missed by x beams or physical scrutinies. Treatment involves utilizing radioactive compounds at carefully controlled doses to destruct tumours. These atomic medical specialty techniques hold much promise for the hereafter because they use biological chemical science to stipulate mark cells much more exactly than traditional radiation therapy, which uses radiation from external beg innings to kill tumour cells, killing no mark cells. Advantages of utilizing atomic merger: Nuclear merger releases tremendous sums of heat, which is used to turn H2O into steam to drive turbines and electrical generators with a individual atomic reactor bring forthing more energy per unit of weight than conventional fossil fuels. 2 ) The coevals of atomic energy does non necessitate the combustion of fossil fuels and so does non foul the ambiance with toxicant nursery gases such as C dioxide or S dioxide doing it a much cleaner fuel than other types of electrical energy production. 3 ) The sum of power a standard atomic power station can bring forth is so big that a individual power station can provide electrical power to many 10s of 1000s of places over a big country and limitless. 4 ) Nuclear power Stationss themselves do non take up much land country leting them to be placed near to industrial countries cut downing the demand to reassign power over long distances. 5 ) While atomic reactors and power Stationss are expensive to construct, their operating costs are low compared to an tantamount coal or gas fired station. Disadvantages of utilizing atomic merger: The radioactive waste can possess a menace to the environment and is unsafe for worlds. We all remember the Chernobyl accident, where the harmful effects of atomic radiation on worlds can even be witnessed today. Estimates conclude that someplace between 15 000 and 30 000 people lost their lifeaa‚ ¬a„?s in the Chernobyl wake and more than 2.5 million Ukrainians are still fighting with wellness jobs related to atomic waste. Merely last twelvemonth, on March 18, a major atomic crisis happened once more in Japan. While the casualties were non every bit high as with the Chernobyl accident, the environmental effects were black. By and large atomic merger is on of new phenomena that human detect it. Nuclear merger happened in the Sun by turning H to He ; still scientists have a long manner to travel. Nuclear merger power is advantages and disadvantages and so many restrictions as a power beginning. However fuels will complete so shortly so atomic merger possibly in future can be a suited and safe.AAArticle Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //EzineArticles.com/7155300 Article Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //EzineArticles.com/7155300 Article Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //EzineArticles.com/7155300 Article Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //EzineArticles.com/7155300 Article Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //EzineArticles.com/7155300

Performance Evaluation Procedures and Tools

Performance Evaluation Procedures and Tools Introduction This paper aims to describe and evaluate performance appraisal techniques, used in the United States Army. We are grateful to Lieutenant John Carlyn who agreed to spend time on this interview and share his expertise with us.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Performance Evaluation Procedures and Tools specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, in this paper we are going to make recommendations which can improve performance procedures and tools in this organizations. Despite the fact that a great number of scholarly works have been dedicated to the study of performance appraisal, there is no universal pattern that would guarantee an objective evaluation of performance. Literature Review In recent years, performance appraisal has become one of the most crucial tasks for many HR managers as it is instrumental for good employee retention and organizational performance. A well-developed remuneration system i s crucial for the reduction of staff turnover because a person, who feels that he/she is valued by the management, is rather unlikely to search for a different job (Whiting et al 2008). More importantly, an effective performance appraisal system helps to work out training programs for the employees. If the manager carefully monitors and evaluates a person’s performance throughout a certain period of time, for example, three or four months, he/she will be able to see which skills he should acquire or elaborate. During the last decade, many leading companies decided to take a new approach to performance appraisal. It became evident that the evaluation of performance, which relies only on numerical data, leads to job dissatisfaction and high turnover rates. The thing is that the volume of employee’s output often depends upon many out-of-control factors such the functioning of supply chain, the structure of organization, the efficiency of the managers and so forth. Thus, q uantitative assessment of performance does not fully reflect the skills of the employee and his contribution to the company’s successes. For this reason, both scholars and managers tried to map out more efficient performance appraisal methods.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the whole, job performance is measured according to such parameters as quantity, quality, time and cost. One of the most important parts of performance assessment is job analysis. At this stage, the manager has to identify the skills, abilities and knowledge, required from a person (Goel, 2008, p 153). During job analysis it is vital to single out those quantitative and qualitative characteristics which can be measured. At present, there are a great number of performance evaluation methods. In recent years, 360-degree feedback has become increasingly popular. It can be explained by the fact th at many organizations attach much importance to quality management. The essence of this technique lies in the following: the performance appraisal of an employee is based on the feedback, provided by his/her colleagues, customers, subordinates and the executive officers (Schneier et al, 1995, 208). In their article Steven Whiting and his colleagues (2008) maintain that a manager should focus not only on a task performance of an employee, but also on his interactions with other coworkers. For example, if he/she helps other employees, who cannot cope with tasks, the manager ought to include this information in the assessment report. Furthermore, the scholars argue that such criterion as organizational loyalty should also be taken into consideration by people, who conduct performance appraisal (Whiting et al, 2008). Overall, the framework, proposed by the authors, is supposed to enhance employee’s satisfaction with their job and motivate them. This method aims to evaluate variou s qualitative characteristics of person’s performance such as teamwork, leadership, customer satisfaction. There are other strategies for assessing the quality of employee’s job performance; yet this one is the most accurate and objective. The greatest challenge, faced by both managers and employees is subjectivity and bias. There is no performance appraisal technique that completely eliminates them. 360-degree assessment seems to us as the most useful tool for performance assessment.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Performance Evaluation Procedures and Tools specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, we have analyzed theoretical approaches to performance appraisal. At this point, it is vital for us to show how it is done in practice. For this purpose, we have interviewed Lieutenant John Carlyn of the United States Army, who explained the principles of performance appraisal in this organization. The text o f the interview During this interview, we have asked Lieutenant John Carlyn about performance appraisal strategies, applied in the United States Army. In particular, we inquired about various stages of performance of appraisal and the dimensions according to which job performance is measured. The transcript of the interview How many individuals work for the organization? At the moment, the personnel of the US Army number more than half a million people. It is one of the largest organizations in the world. I assess the performance of fifty people, who are under my command. How often are appraisals conducted? The appraisals are performed on an annual basis. Are appraisals formal, informal, or a combination of both? Well, I try to combine both formal and informal assessment. There is a standard evaluation form that helps measure task performance. Each member of the personnel receives my performance appraisal report at the end of October. However, I also try to discuss the results with each of my subordinates. You know, the person needs to know exactly which areas of his performance need improvement and in some cases, a standardized report is not sufficient.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Is a standard evaluation form that is used? If so, is it used consistently? Yes, I’ve said before, we do use performance evaluation form; it is a tool, used to monitor and document performance of each personnel member. What dimensions of performance are evaluated? Why? There are several dimensions which ought to be measured: task or mission performance, interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, technical efficiency, and the behavior, which is not directly related to a person’s duties. While evaluating the performance of each subordinate, do you employee a 360 degree assessment? Well, yes, I’m aware of this technique, I do take into consideration the feedback, provided by a person’s peers. This helps to better evaluate his teamwork and interpersonal skills. However, the use of 360 degree assessment is not mandatory; it is optional. You have mentioned the behavior, which is not associated with immediate duties. What exactly do you mean? You know, a soldie r of the US Army must be perfect not only in terms of professionalism but in terms of ethics. Every incident that can affect the public image of this organization is documented and taken in account by the performance assessor. You have mentioned interpersonal skills. What kind of skills do you refer to? Well, I mean person’s willingness to help those people, who lag behind, or leadership skills such as ability to motivate others. What do you like and dislike about conducting performance appraisals? You know, I don’t like the fact that performance appraisal has to be based on someone’s subjective opinion. Although, appraisal methods are standardized, there is still a room for bias. In fact, there are many cases, when people disagree with the results of assessment, and in the long term it can give rise to many workplace conflicts. This is why I combine both formal and informal assessment. It’s important to discuss the results of performance appraisal with t he subordinates. What components of the evaluation process need improvement? It seems to me that performance appraisals should be conducted more than once a year. Annual assessments can overlook many important details. Some of person’s achievements can go unregistered and this often leads to job dissatisfaction. Besides, I think that mission-based performance assessment does not reflect personal progress. Could you please speak more about this mission-based assessment As you know, the performance is evaluated according to a certain grading scale that includes such points as Excellent, Adequate, Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory. When you evaluate the soldier’s performance from a mission-based point of view, there are basically only two grades, excellent and unsatisfactory. The thing is that the results of any task or mission usually depend on many out-of-control factors. This is why it is sometimes quite difficult to conduct performance appraisals. Critical analysis This interview indicates that such an organization as the United States Army has a very complicated system of performance appraisal. It includes both quantitative and numerical data, which helps to measure a person’s reflection throughout a certain period of time, namely a year. Yet, as John Carlyn pointed out the performance appraisal, conducted on an annual basis, does not fully reflect the achievements that an employee has made during this time. Probably, this is the reason why so many companies carry out performance appraisals at least twice or thrice a year (Goel, 2008). The second aspect, which requires in-depth examination, is the so-called mission-based assessment. Overall, this approach is based on the premise that an individual performance can be measured according to the outcomes of a certain task or mission. This method is more suitable for evaluation of team performance, rather than that one of an individual. As John has outlined in his interview, the outcomes of a m ission or operation are influenced by many external factors, such as the reliability of intelligence data, meticulousness of planning, or time available for this mission. Those people, who work in the army, are usually dependent on someone else. Therefore, we can say that mission-based performance appraisal is not the most effective tool. Recommendations On the basis of this discussion, we can make the following recommendations. First, it might be prudent to conduct performance appraisal two or three times a year. It has to be admitted that this change would entail a great deal of paperwork but in this way a person will be better able to see which areas of his skills need improvement. Besides, an annual assessment can be too superficial, it does not register the development of employee’s skills or his/her minor achievements. As a result, it forces a person to a belief that he/she is not valued according to his merits and this is one of the problems, which any organization sho uld avoid. Secondly, one has to find an alternative to a mission-based performance appraisal. Although this technique is not used very often, it may influence a person’s attitude toward the organization, itself. Such approach to performance evaluation can be regarded as unfair and biased because it aims to evaluate the outcomes of a mission or a task, but it cannot measure individual contribution of each member of the staff. Finally, we can argue that the US Army should make a more efficient use of 360 degree appraisal. This strategy is registering and evaluating qualitative aspects of an employee’s work. It appears that this method will be quite applicable for the needs of a military institution. Conclusion Thus, in this paper we have discussed strategies of performance evaluation, used by modern organizations. Much more attention is now being paid to the qualitative dimensions of performance but in fact, there are only very few methods, which enable to measure these qualitative characteristics. This is one of the key difficulties, faced by HR managers. This research focuses on a very specific type of organization: the United States Army. This is one of those cases, when a performance appraisal has to be based mostly on qualitative characteristics. The interview, which we have conducted, shows that evaluation of performance is one of the most challenging tasks, faced by the commanding officers. The problem is that an annual performance appraisal does not always include the progress that a person made during this time. In this paper, we have proposed a framework, which relies on 360-degree assessment. This model can improve the organizational performance and enhance job satisfaction. Reference List Goel V. (2008). Performance Appraisal and Compensation Management: A Modern  Approach. NY: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Muchinsky, P. M. (2009) Psychology applied to work: An introduction to industrial and organizational psychology. Summerfield, NC.: Hyper graphic Press Schneier. C. E. Shaw. D. Beatty. R. Baird L. 1995 Performance measurement,  management, and appraisal sourcebook. Ney Jersey: Human Resource Development. Whiting, S. W., Podsakoff, P. M., Pierce, J. R. (2008). Effects of task performance,  helping, voice, and organizational loyalty on performance appraisal ratings. Journal of Applied Psychology, 9(1), 125-139.

Hydrogen Peroxide essays

Hydrogen Peroxide essays An investigation into how the amount of oxygen is produced by changing one variable effects the decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide in the presence of the enzyme. This shows us that when the H2O2 has reacted with the catalyst this is what it produces. There are many ways in which the amount of oxygen produced could be affected. I believe that, surface area of the chip, temperature of liquid that is reacting, the concentration of the liquid or the amount used are going to be the major variables in the experiment. From these variables I clearly believe that looking at the concentration of the liquid, in this case H2O2, will be the best experiment to do. Also I believe that this will give us a strong set of results with which we will be able to pull good clear conclusions from. To keep all other variables constant so they do not influence my results, we will do all experiments in the same room hopefully the temperature remains constant in that one room, all potato chips will be cut with a size 4 cork bora and then cut into 3 centimetres, as to keep each test fair. Also the volume of the concentration H2O2 will remain at 10ml3 and the amount water that is placed into the measuring cylinder will also be 10ml3. To set-up this experiment will be quite tricky, as we have to place the bung into the water and up the measuring cylinder very quickly as to not loose any of the oxygen produced in the first few seconds. We will overcome this problem by paralysing the measuring cylinder with a clamp stand, and another to hold the boiling tube where the H2O2 and potato chip are; which contain the enzymes used to catalyse the H2O2 to help produce the oxygen a lot quicker. We used the water in the measuring cylinder to measure the overall amount of oxygen produced by seeing how much the oxygen had displaced. This a diagram of how my experiment is set up: 3 boiling tubes, 3 measuring cylinders, 3 wa...

Georgia - Crime Victims Rights

Georgia - Crime Victims' Rights You Have The Right To Be Notified Of: Arrest of the accused.Availability of victim service programs.Availability of compensation for victims of violent crime.Any court hearings where release of the accused will be considered.Release of the accused.Court proceedings during prosecution of the case.Motion for new trial or appeal dates.Change of status of the defendant, if you request this in writing. You Have The Right To: Express your opinion on the release of the accused pending court proceedings.Express your views on the outcome of the case prior to plea negotiations or sentencing of the accused.Complete a Victim Impact Statement. Notification To Victims Of Crime The Office of Victim Services will notify registered victims when any of the following occurs: The inmate is released from prison having completed the court ordered incarceration.The inmate has been approved for transfer to a work release transition center.Removal from transition center to be returned to prisonEscape of an inmate from custody.Recapture of an escapee.The release from prison after completing the confinement portion of the sentence to begin a court ordered probation period.A scheduled parole release from prison.An offenders parole is revoked and the parolee is returned to the custody of the Department of Corrections.Transfer to the custody of another authority outside of the Georgia Department of Corrections.The death of the inmate while in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections Services to Victims of Crime A toll free number is available for crime victims to contact the Office of Victim ServicesRegistration of crime victims for notification of the release of their offender from the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections.Notification of an inmates release or escape from the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections.Advocacy on behalf of victims concerning their particular needs in the correctional process, including but not limited to: situations involving harassment by inmates, compliance with court mandated conditions, unwanted contact, etc.General information regarding the status of offenders in the custody of or under the supervision of the department of corrections.Referrals for crime victims to other state, federal and community based services.Notification of execution dates along with preparation and orientation for the survivors of homicide victims who choose to be present at an execution. Victim Information and Notification Every Day V.I.P. is an automated information and notification system used by the Georgia Department of Corrections to provide registered victims or their families with access to information about their offender 24 hours a day, everyday. V.I.P. Hotline: 1-800-593-9474. V.I.P. also functions as a notification system. Through computer generated telephone calls, victims who have registered with the Georgia Department of Corrections will automatically receive notification of the release of their offender from custody. The information and notification services of the V.I.P. system are available in both English and Spanish. How to Register with V.I.P. The V.I.P. hotline may be used to obtain updates on the following inmate information: The current location of incarceration.The parole status/eligibility.Maximum or scheduled release date.The system will advise you if the offender is not in custodyNotification Calls Registered victims will automatically begin receiving computer-generated telephone notification calls when any of the following occurs: The inmate is released from prison having served the court ordered term of incarceration.Release from prison after completing the confinement portion of the sentence to begin a court ordered probation period.Upon being paroled from prison.The escape and recapture of an inmate.The death of the inmate while in the custody of corrections.Notification calls will be placed to the registered phone number every hour. The calls will continue for a 24-hour period or until the victim enters the assigned PIN, confirming the notification process has been completed.

How Police Officers learn Professional Ethics Essay

How Police Officers learn Professional Ethics - Essay Example Police officers build up their ethical range, integrity, or moral foundation, from working together with other people and learning ethics and morals. Training of professional ethics for police officers assists them to perform the following: be familiar with an ethical trouble or problem without any difficulty, recognize numerous alternatives to tackle the specific problem caught up in, make a balanced and morally good option of which alternative to prefer, Take quick action build upon that option and acknowledge accountability for the result. Police officers cannot just think morally; they are obliged to conduct themselves ethically as well. Training for professional ethics offers tools for dealing with ethical troubles, however, the police professional ought to possess the nerve to act. According to Michael C. Braswell â€Å"one of the most defining characters of the police occupation is the potential use of coercive force, especially deadly force, to impose the will of the state a nd another defining yet less well-understood characteristic is ethics† Exactly as Law, medicine, business, or further occupations are distinguished by ethics that direct people and group conduct, policing is a profession which includes its particular principles and ethics. These ethics give a foundation by which a behavior of an individual and his thoughts can be calculated. Comparative to other occupations, nonetheless, learning professional morals in policing is completely not the result of teaching, socialization and education. In reality, learning most of the times predate official teaching and socialization endeavor as a consequence of distinctive, communal and historical issues. Furthermore, the procedure of the socialization of police and enculturation on-the-job may well both persistently and unintentionally pressure the constructive ethical thoughts and principles conveyed to the police officers by new staff. A sound and all-encompassing unusual subculture could be pr esent in certain examples, which can inertly or actively educate unethical conduct to new police professionals. â€Å"Ethics in policing bears directly on issues of reform, control, and legitimacy of law enforcement institutions in a democratic society.† (Michael C. Braswell). The initial stage in meeting such tests is to better comprehend the foundation and subject matter of professional ethics so consequently that management, nation, government and the judges can more efficiently encourage reliable behavior of police force. Ethics are primarily learned in the framework of our first and generally close affiliation with our relatives and friends. Relationships similar to them are in which individuals learn understanding and being compassionate, appreciation, honesty and justice. Through proficient education and experience at work the police officer becomes familiar with presented morals and ethical standards of policing. As stated by council of Europe that there are four dive rse feature of ethical troubles in police employment. Ethical problems in which diverse principles struggle are deficient in knowledge, acting over hurriedly and with disobedience. The process of socialization of being a police official is one analytical feature in building professional

How does Fitzgerald demonstrate the ideas of the modernist period in Essay

How does Fitzgerald demonstrate the ideas of the modernist period in his story Who is the protagonist and what is the conflict - Essay Example The story is biographical in nature as it includes experiences of Fitzgerald’s own life. The conflict in the story of â€Å"Babylon Revisited† is about the attempt a father makes to gain custody of his daughter Honoria, while fighting a battle against alcoholism. The protagonist in the story is Charlie Wales who amassed a fortune by investing in stocks during the 1920’s great bull market occasion. Charlie was a 35 year old American businessman who quit his job to settle down with his wife Helen in Paris to enjoy his wealth. Unfortunately, due to his weakness for alcohol, and the family’s reckless lifestyle, there was great friction in the family which finally led to his wife’s Helen’s death. Charlie becomes a victim to alcohol abuse and is soon admitted into a sanitarium. His daughter is sent to live with his wife Helen’s sister while he strives to get over his bad habit of drinking. We can definitely sympathize with Charlie because he makes a great attempt to do away with his drinking and after his release from the sanitarium, he once again establishes himself as a businessman after he moved to Prague. References Babylon Revisited www.gutenberg.net.au/fsf/BABYLON-REVISITED.html Babylon Revisited www.enotes.com

Bioengineered foods are they safe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bioengineered foods are they safe - Essay Example Some have termed the genetically manipulated crops ‘frankenfoods’ and have questioned the potential harm to people and the environment that could come from their production. This discussion will answer these questions regarding the safety of these foods and present an overview of bioengineered foods. Bioengineering food involves â€Å"splicing a gene from one organism, such as a bacterium, into a plant or animal to confer certain traits† (Muth et al, 2002). These traits, developed for agricultural crops such as corn, soybeans, canola and cotton include increasing nutrients, tolerance to herbicides and drought, resistance to fungus and insects and reduced spoilage. Bioengineered corn and soybeans have become increasingly widespread among farmers during the last decade and the products can be commonly found in most grocery stores. Companies that engineer and produce bioengineered foods as well as manufacturers that choose to use these foods in their ingredients are faced with a stringent and ever-developing regulatory oversight by three government agencies; the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Which agency regulates a particular product is determined by the intended use of the crop. Very often, a product is regulated by multiple agencies. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a division of the USDA, monitors products and organisms that affect plants. Products and organisms derived from bioengineering methods introduced to or manufactured in the U.S. require USDA identification. This agency then determines if the item in question is a ‘regulated article’ or a possible disease. If the USDA decides that the product or crop is to be regulated, â€Å"a written approval usually is issued that designates conditions for introduction of the article† (McCammon,

The Analysis of the Theories of Prebles Art Forms Term Paper

The Analysis of the Theories of Prebles Art Forms - Term Paper Example There are three theories that will be discussed as they come out clearly in the book. It is also important to highlight that chapter five of the book majorly deals with the evaluation of art. The three theories that are the points of focus, as well as attention in the book, are well discussed below: In this theory, the point that it focuses on so much and that it explains as well as envisages is the makeup and the constitution of the work of art. The theory tends to explain much on how the piece of art could have possibly having been affected in one way o the other by the earlier artisans in their creativity and artistic works. It, therefore, gives what made the piece of art be the way it is and why it was designed in the particular form that it is (Patrick 2009). This theory as the name suggests is quite axiomatic and obvious that the theory is focusing on expression. Under this expression, it is to say that the expression is with the aim of worldwide marketing as well as publicity. It, therefore, deals with the expression of personality for the popularity and to make the piece of work well known to the whole world (Patrick 2010). This theory focuses on the contemporary aspects of society. In the discussion, the theory discusses the various environmental issues that influence the works of art, the effect of culture (way of living) on art as well as the effect of the political state or the ruling class on art. It is also important to highlight that economic factors are also having a significant influence on the pieces of art (Suzzane 2010). In the second part of the paper, the paper will delve so much on the one art that is designed and match very well the various theories that have been well discussed in the earlier parts of the paper.     

Cystinuria in dogs Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cystinuria in dogs - Case Study Example The structure of cystine makes it not possible to dissolve in neutral or acidic substances. Urine is little acidic and makes cystine precipitate in the urine (Canine Health Foundation 1). The effect is that some solid particles are formed in the urine. The particles may also stick together to form stones (Canine Health Foundation 1). Presence of the particles in the urinary tract may lead to blockage and sometimes becomes a threat to dog’s life. However, some dogs with the condition may not form stones. The condition has been common in males (Osbome & Lulich 1). There are various clinical signs that indicate the presence of the condition in dog. The most common challenge is difficulties in passing the urine. A clinical test when done indicates elevated concentration of cystine in the urine. The other obvious sign is pain as the dog urinates. The pain is indicated as the dog passes a small amount of urine and may be accompanied by blood (University of Sydney: Faculty of Veterinary Science 1). Sometimes the dog is unable to pass urine especially when small stones are formed that block the urinary tract. The dog may also have a poor appetite mostly because of pain. In severe cases, the bladder may rupture leading to infection in the abdomen and eventual death. There are various ways used in the diagnosis of the condition. The tests are done on the urine. The first test is known as urinalysis (Canine Health Foundation 1). The other tests are nitroprusside test and urine amino acid quantitation. The tests are done to establish the presence or absence of cystine in the urine. Moreover, there are no treatment options for the condition. However, there are various ways available to reduce the effect of the condition. One of the treatment options aims at reducing the rates of stones in the urine (Canine Health Foundation 1). The other option is to offer food with lower level of protein to reduce the amount of

Manager's Hot Seat #2-Listening Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Manager's Hot Seat #2-Listening Skills - Essay Example Since the issue at hand is critical and affects the business relationship with its customers, Pilar should restate the problem in a forceful manner. Given the lightness Miguel takes the case, the manager should enforce the message repeatedly in an attempt to justify the wrongness of Miguel’s action and ensure the practice does not surface in the future. Another alternative is firing the employee for the lack of competence and ignorance. It is evident that Miguel failed to communicate the budget overuse to the client because she believes that $11,000 is a drop in the ocean. In business dealing, this is suicidal and reflects incompetence and exploitation for customers with financial stability. In the second scenario, the communication between the two improves once Miguel pays attention to the seriousness of the matter. As a result of Pilar’s anger, Miguel becomes fearful and attentive resulting in a better communication. Miguel is afraid that he might lose a potential customer due to ignorance. At this stage, the manager should reaffirm his trust in the worker by showing concern and affirming that the issue would be solved professionally without potential risk to the employee. However, he should also a stern warning against going beyond the set budget without proper communication and agreement with the manager and the client. In the modern dynamic and competitive business world, communication takes a central role in the success of a company. For this reason, manager, workers, and customers need to have adequate listening and speaking skills to facilitate an efficient

Cystinuria in dogs Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cystinuria in dogs - Case Study Example The structure of cystine makes it not possible to dissolve in neutral or acidic substances. Urine is little acidic and makes cystine precipitate in the urine (Canine Health Foundation 1). The effect is that some solid particles are formed in the urine. The particles may also stick together to form stones (Canine Health Foundation 1). Presence of the particles in the urinary tract may lead to blockage and sometimes becomes a threat to dog’s life. However, some dogs with the condition may not form stones. The condition has been common in males (Osbome & Lulich 1). There are various clinical signs that indicate the presence of the condition in dog. The most common challenge is difficulties in passing the urine. A clinical test when done indicates elevated concentration of cystine in the urine. The other obvious sign is pain as the dog urinates. The pain is indicated as the dog passes a small amount of urine and may be accompanied by blood (University of Sydney: Faculty of Veterinary Science 1). Sometimes the dog is unable to pass urine especially when small stones are formed that block the urinary tract. The dog may also have a poor appetite mostly because of pain. In severe cases, the bladder may rupture leading to infection in the abdomen and eventual death. There are various ways used in the diagnosis of the condition. The tests are done on the urine. The first test is known as urinalysis (Canine Health Foundation 1). The other tests are nitroprusside test and urine amino acid quantitation. The tests are done to establish the presence or absence of cystine in the urine. Moreover, there are no treatment options for the condition. However, there are various ways available to reduce the effect of the condition. One of the treatment options aims at reducing the rates of stones in the urine (Canine Health Foundation 1). The other option is to offer food with lower level of protein to reduce the amount of

Now is the time to make real the promisses of democracy Essay

Now is the time to make real the promisses of democracy - Essay Example Martin Luther King, who initiated the civil rights movement to gain the equality promised under the Constitution for black Americans. This essay will examine the need to make these promises of democracy real and tangible for American citizens. From the perspective of the founding fathers of the Constitution of the United States, pure democracy was the objective to be attained, through equality and freedom for all its citizens. During the early stages of the Civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King clearly stated: â€Å"We are here because of our love for democracy, because of our deep-seated belief that democracy transformed from thin paper to thick action is the greatest, form of government on earth† (www.blackvoices.com). In this, Dr. King was clearly articulating the need for the principles and values of democracy to not merely remain inscribed on paper, but to also be actually evidenced in practice. He was articulating the realities of the day, when despite the promsies of equality enshrined in the Constitution, black Americans were not treated equally with the whites and discrimination and repression was exercised against them. In the same speech, Dr. King also went on to say that Ameircan democracy also allows individuals the right to protest in order to secure their rights. In order to make the promises of democracy real, it was necessary to ensure that they were reflected in the lives of the people. The existence of inequality and injustice therefore contradicts the principles of democracy and suggests that its promises are not being adhered to. Thomas Jefferson himself was convinced that blacks could never be integrated into mainstream American society because of â€Å"deep rooted prejudices entertained by the whites; ten thousand recollections, by the blacks, of the injuries they have sustained; new provocations; the real distinction which nature had made; and many other circumstance, will divide us into parties,

OECD Countries and Iran Essay Example for Free

OECD Countries and Iran Essay As internet is gradually maturing and presenting a paradigm shift in its very ideation, the infrastructure has acquired a business character, a transcontinental personality and a vending framework of wide-ranging, business, educational, scientific and personal data. Now the use of internet covers real-time computer conferencing, audio broadcasting, video broadcasting, real time telephony and of course real-time business. Therefore, broadband is one of the finest and reliable means of having internet at affordable prices. Globalization has opened up newer vistas of trade and business all around the globe. With globalization regime coming into effect all over the world, there’s increasing emphasis towards networking and broadband technologies. During 1996-2001 Ireland has shown the highest share of ICT exports while Korea took the lead after 2002. Finland and the Netherlands started making rapid strides in the field of ICT exports during 1996-2003. Japan used to be the leader in innovation, quality and ICT applications, but with the emergence of new actors like Hungary, Mexico, Finland and Sweden on the horizon, Japan’s export market share has come down in the recent past. During the course of this study, it was found that the share of ICT exports in total exports from OECD nations has increased in almost all countries. For example, in South Korea it has more than doubled, while in some countries like United States and United Kingdom and Japan it has decreased to some extent. The results show that in 1996, the major players namely U. S. A, United Kingdom and Japan had 54. 37% of total OECD export but in 2004 this percentage came down to 40. 21%. While the Balassa index of Korea is the highest from 2000 and during selected time period (1996-2004), while the Balassa index of Germany is somewhat less. United state and Japan are surely losing some export market shares with the emergence of new leading nations like Hungary, Finland and Czech Republic. The results show that in 1996, 2003 and 2004 only 9 countries have shown comparative advantage in ICT export products. It is interesting to note that out of these 9 countries, 8 countries have been able to show consistent performance in 1996 as well as in 2003, while Sweden happened to be the leader in 1996 duly replaced by Hungary in 2003 which came out with impressive figures of ICT exports. Figures for 2004 and 1996 indicate that 7 countries are the same while Hungary and Czech Republic join the club in 2004. But the Korean republic, United States, Japan and Mexico have come out with impressive figures and find a place in the all three list. This effectively means that only 5 countries of EU are in the list. As is evident from table 6, there is no country from Central European region in list for the year 1996. But in subsequent years representation from this region has shown some improvement. The list contains one name in 2003 and two countries from Central European region in 2004. It means the role of Central European countries in ICT export goods is on an upward journey and will increase in future as well. The Middle East countries: Lesser ICT export oriented The results show that the ICT export has a positive situation in Israel. Similarly Jordan, Lebanon and Oman appear far better than other countries in the region. But with the exception of Israel, the ICT export has not been able to register much of gain in this region and the entire middle appears slow in picking up the benefits of ICT exports. The RCA index of Israel is more than 5 during 1996-2003. It means ICT exports in Israel have an important position. The RCA index of Jordan is under 1, but it increased during 1996-2003. The RCA indexes of other countries in Middle East are almost near Zero. It means that ICT export in these countries has not found a significant role. The result demonstrates that countries with lower DSL/Cable Ratio have higher broadband penetration (except Iceland). It indicates Countries with higher broadband penetration have significant facilities-based competition between telecom companies offering DSL and cable TV operators and therefore the DSL/Cable ratio in these countries is low. The result also shows negative relation between DSL subscribers and Monthly charge. It means countries with lower Monthly charge have more DSL subscribers. The distribution of countries in the graph is very wide and far from correlation Line. It means correlation is not strong. Similarly, the result shows direct relation between DSL subscribers and Speed of Connection. It shows where the Speed of connection is higher, there are more DSL Subscribers. We’ve used the regression’ coefficient for measuring the correlation between two variables namely ‘Monthly Charge’ and ‘Speed of Connection’ on dependent variable namely ‘DSL subscribers’. The results show that; ? On an average 33% changing of DSL Subscribers is from Monthly Charge and Speed of Connection and rest is from other variables. It says influence of Speed on DSL Subscribers is more than the influence of Monthly Charge on DSL Subscribers. In addition, it says that the Influence of Monthly charge on DSL Subscribers is negative i. e. with decrease in Monthly Charge the number of DSL Subscribers will register an increase. ? The relation between Broadband subscribers and ICT export is very strong in Middle East. It says 98% changing of Broadband Subscribers in Middle East is related to ICT Exports. In general, the result can be considered as relevant for other countries as well, but since there are not many countries with Broadband subscribers, therefore the results cannot be termed as reflective of the internet penetration for all Middle East countries. ? That there isn’t a correlation between DSL subscribers and ICT exports in OECD countries. The result shows only 3% changing of Broadband Subscribers in OECD countries is related to ICT Export. It supports the Idea that there isn’t correlation between DSL subscribers and ICT export. ? That there’s no relationship between GDP and three factors (Internet, Mobile, Fixed telephone). The GDP has not been found to have an influence in the penetration of Internet, Mobile and Fixed telephone in Middle East. ? The relation between Population and Internet users is positive and implies direct association (in Middle East). ? A direct relation between population and Mobile users (Middle East). ? The relation between Population and Fixed telephone users is positive and it implies direct association (Middle East). Conclusion and Policy Recommendation for OECD It is quite apparent that OECD region is rapidly becoming a region with deep penetration of ICT technology. In addition in today’s era of Information Technology the world is increasingly becoming networked, technical, and closer to each other. Over the years IT has led to revolutionizing the way business is conducted, education is imparted, we communicate, we socialize, illness is cured etc. IT has made its mark in almost all spheres of life. Increasing use of DSL/ broadband technology by the citizens in general is therefore an healthy sign. Therefore it is quite encouraging that OECD nations have not only improved their performance in implementing IT initiatives but have also improved the percentage of exports to the outside world. That speaks volumes about the emphasis that these nations have been placing on quality and future readiness of these nations. It is therefore worthwhile to mention here that, for becoming more competitive and success oriented, the OECD nations; i. Must try to see the reasons behind the increasing emphasis of outsourcing towards the Asian region in general and India and China in particular. ii. Implement more such policies encouraging the IT industries. iii. The training and development opportunities in this field must be strengthened because, newer technologies and concepts are emerging faster on the horizon, and the students need to be aware of all such developments to competitively take on the world. Conclusion and Policy Recommendation for Iran Iran is a formidable component of Middle East formation. Though, Iran has been known as a progressive nation amongst Islamic nations, but the extent of IT penetration amongst the citizens in general requires more thinking. The fact that a strong relationship is found to exist between the Broadband subscribers and ICT exports is a pointer towards the readiness of the people in taking up the ICT initiatives. Moreover, Iran in particular needs to put more emphasis in imparting future ready education to its citizens and the students, the budding IT citizens of tomorrow. E-commerce and M-commerce are the trendy application of this IT era. Now a company or business entity has plenty of avenues to reach to the customer. Business on the move is the latest addition. Iran could very well prove to be an attractive market for the multinational enterprises, a cheaper manufacturing hub for the production oriented companies and an upcoming outsourcing destination for the IT companies. So there needs to be more emphasis on strengthening the communication networks, which provides an opportunity for indulging in reliable m-commerce activities, besides imparting quality education to the youth. A number of business establishments and financial institutions the world over have already explored the use of mobile commerce through mobile banking to broaden their reach by letting their customers access their account information and make transactions through their mobile phones. Similarly online trading in debt and equity instruments, mobile brokerage have empowered the common investor and made the share market more transparent and investor friendly. All these revolutionary concepts of Information Technology have the potential of substantially enhancing the work performances, but these gains prove elusive if the user cannot use the technological gadget to its fullest advantage. Therefore Iran needs to be more forthcoming these innovative ideas for a better tomorrow and a formidable place for itself in the Middle East formation.

The Silk Road Essays -- Chinese History

Long before there were trains, ships and airplanes to transport goods from one place to another, there was the Silk Road. Beginning in the sixth century, this route was formed and thus began the first major trade system. Although the term â€Å"Silk Road† would lead one that it was on road, this term actually refers to a number of different routes that covered a vast amount of land and were traveled by many different people. Along with silk, large varieties of goods were traded and traveled along this route both going to and from China. Material goods were not the only thing that passed along this path, but many religions were brought into China via the Silk Road. These topics will be discussed in detail in this paper. From Babylon in the west to Chang’an in the east and from Jada Gate in the north to Patna in the south, the Silk Road stretched over a wide space of the Asian and Middle Eastern countries. There was not one road or one direct route between the many stops between these destinations. The caravans that traveled the Silk Road mainly skirted the Taklimakan desert, also called the â€Å"Land of the Dead† by the people in that area. Nomadic tribes traveled from oasis to oasis, often with little or no protection from bandits. These bandits were accustomed to engaging in raids on the merchants that used this route to trade with other countries, attacking and stealing from the merchants and later selling what they acquired in this nefarious manner. It is important to note that while the deserts were a challenge to navigate, the highest mountain ranges also made travel difficult. Many of the people who used this trade route never traveled far, but instead traded goods many times between merchants. It is because of these ... ...hina as well. Along the Silk Road, Buddhism, Christianity, and Manichaeism also migrated towards the east. The Silk Road supported trade of goods and services and the spread of ideas and religions, beginning the shrinking of the world to the relatively small place it has become in our time. Works Cited Wild, Oliver. Department of Earth System Science; University of California Irvine, "The Silk Road." Last modified 1992. Accessed March 31, 2012. http://ess.uci.edu/~oliver/silk.html. Lendering, Jona. LIVIUS Articles on Ancient History, "Silk road." Last modified 03/30/2012. Accessed March 31, 2012. http://livius.org/sh-si/silk_road/silk_road.html. Major, John. Asia Society, "Silk Road: Spreading Ideas and Inovations." Last modified 2012. Accessed March 31, 2012. http://asiasociety.org/countries/trade-exchange/silk-road-spreading-ideas-and-innovations.

Cosquer Cave Essay -- Place Descriptive Essays

Cosquer Cave Lying 125 feet below sea level, an historic treasure hid unseen to humans for thousands of years. Prehistoric humans first left their mark there nearly 27,000 years ago, but it was not until 1985 that modern humans discovered these treasures. This ancient landmark is now known as Cosquer Cave. It is a unique cave not only for the images found there, but also because of its unusual entrance. The cave is located on Cape Morgiou, in the Calanques, which is near Marseilles (â€Å"The Cosquer Cave†). Marseilles is in the south of France along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The only entrance to the cave is through a tunnel that is 125 feet below the water and 575 feet long (â€Å"Cosquer Grotto†). This long, sloping tunnel leads to the large, air-filled main chamber of the cave. Cosquer Cave is named after its discoverer, professional deep-sea diver Henri Cosquer. Cosquer discovered this cave by accident while on a dive in 1985. Although he visited the cave several times after the initial discovery, he was unable to reach the main chamber until September of 1985. Upon discovering the main chamber, he noticed calcite draperies, submerged stalagmites and crystals of aragonite, but nothing else. It was not until 1991 that Cosquer finally alerted officials of his discovery (Jaobs â€Å"Grotto Cosquer†). This was prompted by his finding of the first painting in the cave, a stenciled hand done in red. After notifying the officials, explorers began an intensive search for more artwork. Their findings were amazing. To date, there are about 125 documented images of animals, and fifty-five stenciled hands found in the cave (Jaobs â€Å"Grotto Cosquer†). As in many other caves, silhouettes and stencils o... .... â€Å"Archaeology: Cave Beneath the Sea.† http://daphne.palmar.edu/mhudelson/Videos/CaveBeneathSea_WA.html â€Å"Cassis, 27 000 years of prehistory and history: Cosquer’s Cave.† http://www.cassis.enprovence.com/anglais/histoire.html â€Å"The Cosquer Cave.† http://www.culture.fr/culture/archeosm/en/img0013.htm â€Å"The Cosquer Cave: Marine Animals.† http://www.culture.fr/culture/archeosm/en/co-ping.htm â€Å"Cosquer Grotto.† Harcourt School Publishers. http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/cavepaintings/cosquer.html Duckeck, Jochen. â€Å"Grotte Cosquer.† http://www.bubis.com/showcaves/english/fr/caves/Cosquer.html Jaobs, James Q. â€Å"Grotto Cosquer: The Dawn of Prehistoric Rock Art.† http://www.geocites.com/archaeogeo/paleo/dawn.html

What Is Mice? Search for Its Potential for Vietnam Tourism

Topic : WHAT IS MICE? SEARCH FOR ITS POTENTIAL FOR VIETNAM TOURISM. ***************** MICE is one of the most developing kinds of tourism, not only in the world but also in Vietnam. To many people, it is really a new conception. MICE tourism means travelling in combination with attending meetings or conferences. MICE stands for Meeting, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibition. According to travel firms, MICE tourism can bring turnover six-fold higher than other kinds of tourism as MICE delegations always consist of several hundred travelers who have big budgets and use many kinds of services.MICE is now a kind of tourism that brings great income to the tourism sector of many countries. Destinations in Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur have become familiar with MICE tourists, therefore the World Tourism Organizationwants to discover a new destination in Southeast Asia such as Vietnam. As you know, Vietnam is not only famous for the friendly people, the special food, the nationa l character, the hidden charm but also a very peaceful country.So, being a peaceful country is really a strong-point of MICE tourism in Vietnam. Moreover, Vietnam is on the way of integration process. Thataâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s why there are many meetings and events organized to co-operate in business, set up relation and consolidate friendship with other countries. Besides, MICE is also attractive to the Corporate Entertainment as it brings them greater income than any other kinds of events as well as helps them to advertise their brand-name to people from different countries easily.As you can see, Vietnam has many advantages to develop this kind of tourism. Therefore, MICE industry becomes new development trend in Vietnam. However, Vietnam should be more flexible with the market field of vision, concentrate on training the staffs to serve tourists in the best way. In the future, Vietnam will no longer become the best choice for MICE delegations in the world.

Fact and Fancy in Hard Times Essay

Discuss the significance of Fact and Fancy in Hard Times with particular reference to Dickens’ presentation of the worlds of Sleary’s circus and Coketown. You should focus closely on techniques used and effects created and how both of these things shape our response, as readers, to the text. Dickens uses a range of techniques to present the idea of the importance of and contrast between Fact and Fancy, such as the settings of the contrasting ‘worlds’ in the novel, imagery, and the very language he uses. Dickens lived in an era of growing industrial powers, where the ‘hands’ inside ravenous factories were many and depersonalised. With such an economy rapidly expanding, it could be considered the only logical that the value placed upon emotion, leisure and human compassion was hastily replaced by a focus on work ethic, greed and a strong class segregation. The rapid changes of the time benefited some people long before others. Dickens is concerned with those still waiting for improvements and raises key moral and social questions in his writing, mainly focusing upon the need for schooling, the cruelty to and corruption of children, the problems arising from rapid industrialisation and the problems created by emphasis on social class and newly acquired wealth. All of which can be seen in Hard Times. Dickens was, however criticised in his time. Gissing said that he â€Å"did not know the North of England† and that the character of Blackpool was a â€Å"mere model of meekness†. So this perceived representation of the industrial town and working class characters could be looked at sceptically by readers. To present the differences between fact and fancy Dickens uses setting: an important technique at his disposal to instil in the readers mind a clear visualisation of the differentiating places using imagery not just simple description. In this case the contrast between harsh industry and the compassion of human nature. Dickens describes Coketown as â€Å"a town of machinery and tall chimneys†, instantly giving the reader the image of an industrial Northern town, similar to the representation of Victorian industry towns and cities in modern media adaptations of Victorian novels. With its â€Å"black canal† and a river that â€Å"runs purple with ill smelling dye† the reader is instantly aware of the unpleasant setting Dickens’ creates. The bricks of the buildings here â€Å"would have been red if the smoke and ashes  allowed it†: the smoke is conditioned to be connected with the very name of Coketown. Using the colour â€Å"black† further emphasises the darkness of the industrialised Coketown, and ‘purple’ a show of contrasting fact and fancy. That is, purple in the canal being artificial yet a factual occurrence and even a product of the philosophy of fact practiced in Coketown. Ironically, Dickens uses creative metaphors in his representation of this world of facts, such as the comparison between the imagery in Coketown – the â€Å"painted face of a savage† where the reader could infer a contextual meaning – Dickens attempt to portray a supposedly civilised society truly being a savage and cruel society. The â€Å"interminable serpents of smoke† where one could consider a religious aspect – the serpent leading human kind into sin in the Garden of Eden, representing Dickens view of society of his time being led astray by the ever increasing industrialisation. The steam-engine working up and down like â€Å"an elephant in a state of melancholy madness† which supplies the reader with a depressive visualisation of the heavy, monotonous and slow industry and how it must feel to be seemingly trapped in this factory; the feeling of slowly going ‘mad’ with the repetition. Comparing these uses of imagery to Slearys circus, the reader becomes aware of a great deal of care on Dickens part from the carefully placed contrasting images. The Pegasus, the winged horse that wouldn’t be accepted in the Fact philosophy of Coketown, appears twice in the chapter titled â€Å"Slearys’ Horsemanship†. The second occurrence of which is described as â€Å"theatrical†, covered with â€Å"golden stars† with a harness of â€Å"red silk†. These all directly contradict the metaphorical animals used in Coketowns description, and the monotonous smoke stained effect given to the reader. The horse – a grand, proud â€Å"Quadruped† animal, fast, strong and agile, comparatively to the slow mad elephant of Coketown is metaphorically symbolic of not only the contrasting people of the two settings, but the places themselves and the community each possess. Contrastingly to the use of colours in the description of Coketown, the circus is filled with colours such as ‘golden’ and ‘red’, these colours being of royalty and leisure, ironically to the supposedly lesser setting of the novel. The very fabric of silk itself is a luxurious commodity. Slearys’ circus can be seen  as a place where the reader can finally ‘breathe’, away from the smoke and industrialisation that compresses them while they read of Coketown. The reader becomes aware of the significance of the difference between the two by careful detail Dickens includes and the techniques he uses. The contrast between fact and fancy is also presented in theme of education, and its characters. The school is there to instil â€Å"nothing but facts† into the children. The class room is bare, no colours or imagination, and the teachers equally stern and monotonous (almost the point of â€Å"madeness†). The use dialogue at the beginning of the novel gives Dickens the opportunity to ridicule one of the philosophers of fact in Coketown, Mr Gradgrind. The specific choice of language is worth noting as an important example of the mocking of the coldness of fact in both the world in Hard Times and contextually the Victorian era. The phrase â€Å"root out everything else†, more specifically â€Å"root†, Dickens may be presenting his dislike of the coldness towards imagination and the emotional response in the Victorian era itself by referring to the supposedly ‘non-factual’ parts of the self comparatively to weeds amongst the theoretical crop of what the Victorians classed as the intellect. The description of the other character presented in the beginning chapters, the schoolmaster Mr M’Chokemchild, is also an important example of character differences: â€Å"(†¦) some one hundred and forty (†¦) turned at the same time, (†¦) same factory, (†¦) same principles, like so many pianoforte legs†. He describes them as being made all the same, namely with the same principles, mocking the Victorian rigid beliefs. Once more, the language Dickens choses- this time he depersonalises them to emotionless characters by comparing them to mere â€Å"pianoforte legs† – to be at the foundation of and hold up the body of the fraudulent founders of the philosophy of Fact. Dickens also subtly shows the uselessness of the philosophy by the way the children, whom are supposedly â€Å"educated†, appear. For example, Louisa, who is educated by Mr Grandgrind: â€Å"(†¦) a fire with nothing to burn, a starved imagination keeping life in itself somehow(†¦)† A strongly repressed passionate young girl who through education has become depressed and cold. And Blitzer, who eagerly adhered to Grandgrinds’ teachings as a child growing up to become a uncompassionate egotist: he becomes the light porter at Bounderby’s bank, spies on Tom and the other clerks, and only follows the  economic principle of complete self-interest. Dickens tries to show how education so greatly shapes a person’s character by using the space of time that passes in the novel to show the growth of the children. More importantly to show how the forced factual education has a damaging effect on individuals – innocent individuals. This ‘killing’ of compassion in the children could be considered to be Dickens way of presenting the damage caused by ‘fact’ in society. The reader could infer that the presentation of the battle between fact and fancy, or even the mere existence of it, is significant because Dickens is presenting a contextual view into the society he is living in. Dickens was rebelling against the way imagination and compassion was viewed and the way knowledge was defined, by reflecting to readers this world and the battle between Fact and Fancy. Bibliography Dickens, Hard Times, Penguin Classics (July 2007) George Gissing â€Å"Dickens and the Working Class† (1898)

American Literature Essay

When the English preacher and writer Sidney Smith asked in 1820, â€Å"In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book? † little did he suspect that less than two hundred years later the answer in literate quarters would be â€Å"just about everyone. † Indeed, just a few years after Smith posed his inflammatory question, the American writer Samuel Knapp would begin to assemble one of the first histories of American literature as part of a lecture series that he was giving. The course materials offered by American Passages continue in the tradition begun by Knapp in 1829. One goal of this Study Guide is to help you learn to be a literary historian: that is, to introduce you to American literature as it has evolved over time and to stimulate you to make connections between and among texts. Like a literary historian, when you make these connections you are telling a story: the story of how American literature came into being. This Overview outlines four paths (there are many others) by which you can narrate the story of American literature: one based on literary movements and historical change, one based on the American Passages Overview Questions, one based on Contexts, and one based on multiculturalism. TELLING THE STORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE Literary Movements and Historical Change American Passages is organized around sixteen literary movements or â€Å"units. † A literary movement centers around a group of authors that share certain stylistic and thematic concerns. Each unit includes ten authors that are represented either in The Norton Anthology of American Literature or in the Online Archive. Two to four of these authors are discussed in the video, which calls attention to important historical and cultural influences on these authors, defines a genre that they share, and proposes some key thematic parallels. Tracking literary movements can help you see how American literature has changed and evolved over time. In general, people think about literary movements as reacting against earlier modes of writing and earlier movements. For T E L L I N G T H E S T O R Y O F A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E 3 example, just as modernism (Units 10–13) is often seen as a response to realism and the Gilded Age (Unit 9), so Romanticism is seen as a response to the Enlightenment (Unit 4). Most of the units focus on one era (see the chart below), but they will often include relevant authors from other eras to help draw out the connections and differences. (Note: The movements in parentheses are not limited to authors/works from the era in question, but they do cover some material from it. ) Century Fifteenth– Seventeenth Eighteenth Era Renaissance American Passages Literary Movements. (1: Native Voices) 2: Exploring Borderlands 3: Utopian Promise (3: Utopian Promise) 4: Spirit of Nationalism (7: Slavery and Freedom) 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 6: Gothic Undercurrents 7: Slavery and Freedom (1: Native Voices) 6: Gothic Undercurrents 8: Regional Realism 9: Social Realism (1: Native Voices) 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 12: Migrant Struggle 13: Southern Renaissance 1: Native Voices 2: Exploring Borderlands 12: Migrant Struggle 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity Enlightenment Nineteenth Romanticist Nineteenth Realist Twentieth Modernist Twentieth Postmodernist Each unit contains a timeline of historical events along with the dates of key literary texts by the movement’s authors. These timelines are designed to help you make connections between and among the movements, eras, and authors covered in each unit. 4 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? Overview Questions The Overview Questions at the start of each unit are tailored from the five American Passages Overview Questions that follow. They are meant to help you focus your viewing and reading and participate in discussion afterward. 1. What is an American? How does literature create conceptions of the American experience and American identity? This two-part question should trigger discussion about issues such as, Who belongs to America? When and how does one become an American? How has the search for identity among American writers changed over time? It can also encourage discussion about the ways in which immigration, colonization, conquest, youth, race, class, and gender affect national identity. 2. What is American literature? What are the distinctive voices and styles in American literature? How do social and political issues influence the American canon? This multi-part question should instigate discussion about the aesthetics and reception of American literature. What is a masterpiece? When is something considered literature, and how is this category culturally and historically dependent? How has the canon of American literature changed and why? How have American writers used language to create art and meaning? What does literature do? This question can also raise the issue of American exceptionalism: Is American literature different from the literature of other nations? 3. How do place and time shape the authors’ works and our understanding of them? This question addresses America as a location and the many ways in which place impacts American literature’s form and content. It can provoke discussion about how regionalism, geography, immigration, the frontier, and borders impact American literature, as well as the role of the vernacular in indicating place. 4. What characteristics of a literary work have made it influential over time? This question can be used to spark discussion about the evolving impact of various pieces of American literature and about how American writers used language both to create art and respond to and call for change. What is the individual’s responsibility to uphold the community’s traditions, and when are individuals compelled to resist them? What is the relationship between the individual and the community? 5. How are American myths created, challenged, and re-imagined through this literature? This question returns to â€Å"What is an American? † But it poses the question at a cultural rather than individual level. What are the myths that make up American culture? What is the American Dream? What are American myths, dreams, and nightmares? How have these changed over time? T E L L I N G T H E S T O R Y O F A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E 5 Contexts Another way that connections can be made across and between authors is through the five Contexts in each unit: three longer Core Contexts and two shorter Extended Contexts. The goal of the Contexts is both to help you read American literature in its cultural background and to teach you close-reading skills. Each Context consists of a brief narrative about an event, trend, or idea that had particular resonance for the writers in the unit as well as Americans of their era; questions that connect the Context to the authors in the unit; and a list of related texts and images in the Online Archive. Examples of Contexts include discussions of the concept of the Apocalypse (3: â€Å"Utopian Visions†), the sublime (4: â€Å"Spirit of Nationalism†), and baseball (14: â€Å"Becoming Visible†). The Contexts can be used in conjunction with an author or as stand-alone activities. The Slide Show Tool on the Web site is ideal for doing assignments that draw connections between archive items from a Context and a text you have read. And you can create your own contexts and activities using the Slide Show Tool: these materials can then be e-mailed, viewed online, projected, or printed out on overhead transparencies. Multiculturalism In the past twenty years, the field of American literature has undergone a radical transformation. Just as the mainstream public has begun to understand America as more diverse, so, too, have scholars moved to integrate more texts by women and ethnic minorities into the standard canon of literature taught and studied. These changes can be both exhilarating and disconcerting, as the breadth of American literature appears to be almost limitless. Each of the videos and units has been carefully balanced to pair canonical and noncanonical voices. You may find it helpful, however, to trace the development of American literature according to the rise of different ethnic and minority literatures. The following chart is designed to highlight which literatures are represented in the videos and the units. As the chart indicates, we have set different multicultural literatures in dialogue with one another. Literature African American literature Video Representation 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 10: Rhythms in Poetry 13: Southern Renaissance 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation Study Guide Representation 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 9: Social Realism 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 13: Southern Renaissance 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 6 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? Native American literature 1: Native Voices 5: Masculine Heroes 14: Becoming Visible 1: Native Voices 2: Exploring Borderlands 3: Utopian Promise 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 2: Exploring Borderlands 5: Masculine Heroes 10: Rhythms in Poetry 12: Migrant Struggle 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 9: Social Realism 12: Migrant Struggle 16: Search for Identity 9: Social Realism 11: Modernist Portraits 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 1: Native Voices 2: Exploring Borderlands 3: Utopian Promise 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 6: Gothic Undercurrents 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 9: Social Realism 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 12: Migrant Struggle 13: Southern Renaissance 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 2: Exploring Borderlands 5: Masculine Heroes 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 12: Migrant Struggle 13: Southern Renaissance 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity Latino literature 2: Exploring Borderlands 10: Rhythms in Poetry 12: Migrant Struggle 16: Search for Identity Asian American literature 12: Migrant Struggle 16: Search for Identity Jewish American 9: Social Realism literature 11: Modernist Portraits 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity Women’s literature 1: Native Voices 2: Exploring Borderlands 3: Utopian Promise 6: Gothic Undercurrents 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 9: Social Realism 11: Modernist Portraits 12: Migrant Struggle 13: Southern Renaissance 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity Gay and lesbian literature 2: Exploring Borderlands 5: Masculine Heroes 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity T E L L I N G T H E S T O R Y O F A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E 7 Literature cont’d Working-class literature Video Representation 2: Exploring Borderlands 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 7: Slavery and Freedom 9: Social Realism 12: Migrant Struggle 16: Search for Identity Study Guide Representation 2: Exploring Borderlands 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 7: Slavery and Freedom 9: Social Realism 10: Rhythms in Poetry 12: Migrant Struggle 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity LITERATURE IN ITS CULTURAL CONTEXT When you study American literature in its cultural context, you enter a multidisciplined and multi-voiced conversation where scholars and critics in different fields examine the same topic but ask very different questions about it. For example, how might a literary critic’s understanding of nineteenthcentury American culture compare to that of a historian of the same era? How can an art historian’s understanding of popular visual metaphors enrich our readings of literature? The materials presented in this section of the Study Guide aim to help you enter that conversation. Below are some suggestions on how to begin. Deep in the heart of the Vatican Museum is an exquisite marble statue from first- or second-century Rome. Over seven feet high, the statue depicts a scene from Virgil’s Aeneid in which Laocoon and his sons are punished for warning the Trojans about the Trojan horse. Their bodies are entwined with large, devouring serpents, and Laocoon’s face is turned upward in a dizzying portrait of anguish, his muscles rippling and bending beneath the snake’s strong coils. The emotion in the statue captured the heart and eye of critic Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, who used the work as the starting point for his seminal essay on the relationship between literature and art, â€Å"Laocoon: An Essay on the Limits of Painting and Poetry. † For Lessing, one of the most common errors that students of culture can make is to assume that all aspects of culture develop in tandem with one another. As Lessing points out, each art has its own strengths. For example, literature works well with notions of time and story, and thus is more flexible than visual art in terms of imaginative freedom, whereas painting is a visual medium that can reach greater beauty, although it is static. For Lessing, the mixing of these two modes (temporal and spatial) carries great risk along with rewards. As you study literature in conjunction with any of the fine arts, you may find it helpful to ask whether you agree with Lessing that literature is primarily a temporal art. Consider too the particular 8 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? strengths of the media discussed below. What do they offer that may not be available to writers? What modes do they use that complement our understanding of the literary arts? Fine Arts Albrecht Durer created some of the most disturbing drawings known to humans: they are rife with images of death, the end of the world, and dark creatures that inhabit hell. Images such as The Last Judgement (below) can be found in the Online Archive. In Knight, Death, and the Devil (1513), a devout Christian knight is taunted by the Devil and Death, who gleefully shakes a quickly depleting hourglass, mocking the soldier with the passing of time. Perhaps the tension and anxiety in Durer’s print resonated with the American poet Randall Jarrell in his struggle with mental illness. In â€Å"The Knight, Death, and the Devil,† Jarrell opens with a description of the scene: Cowhorn-crowned, shockheaded, cornshucked-bearded, Death is a scarecrow—his death’s-head a teetotum . . . Jarrell’s description is filled with adjectives in much the same way that the print is crowded with detail. The poem is an instance of what critics call ekphrasis: the verbal description of a work of visual art, usually of a painting, photograph, or sculpture but sometimes of an urn, tapestry, or quilt. Ekphrasis attempts to bridge the gap between the verbal and the visual arts. Artists and writers have always influenced one another: sometimes directly as in the case of Durer’s drawing and Jarrell’s poem, and other times indirectly. The Study Guide will help you navigate through these webs of influence. For example, Unit 5 will introduce you to the Hudson River [7995] Albrecht Durer, The Last School, the great American landscape painters Judgement (1510), courtesy of the of the nineteenth century. In the Context focusprint collection of Connecticut ing on these artists, you will learn of the interCollege, New London. connectedness of their visual motifs. In Unit 11, William Carlos Williams, whose poems â€Å"The Dance† and â€Å"Landscape with the Fall of Icarus† were inspired by two paintings by Breughel, will draw your attention to the use of ekphrasis. Williams’s work is a significant example of how multiple traditions in art can influence a writer: in addition to his interest in European art, Williams imitated Chinese landscapes and poetic forms. When you encounter works of fine art, such as paintings, photographs, or sculpture, in the Online Archive or the Study Guide, you may find two tools used by art historians helpful: formal analysis and iconography. Formal L I T E R AT U R E I N I T S C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 9 [3694] Thomas Cole, The Falls of Kaaterskill (1826), courtesy of the Warner Collection of the Gulf States Paper Corporation, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. analysis, like close readings of poems, seeks to describe the nature of the object without reference to the context in which it was created. A formal analysis addresses such questions as Where does the central interest in the work lie? How is the work composed and with what materials? How is lighting or shading used? What does the scene depict? What allusions (mythological, religious, artistic) are found in the work? Once you have described the work of art using formal analysis, you may want to extend your reading by calling attention to the cultural climate in which the work was produced. This is called an iconographic reading. Here the Context sections of the Study Guide will be useful. You may notice, for example, a number of nineteenth-century paintings of ships in the Online Archive. One of the Contexts for Unit 6 argues that these ships can be read as symbols for nineteenth-century America, where it was common to refer to the nation as a â€Å"ship of state. † The glowing light or wrecked hulls in the paintings reflect the artists’ alternating optimism and pessimism about where the young country was headed. Below are two possible readings of Thomas Cole’s painting The Falls of Kaaterskill that employ the tools of formal analysis and iconography. W R I T E R A : F O R M A L A N A L Y S I S In this painting by Hudson River School artist Thomas Cole, the falls that give the painting its name grab our attention. The shock of the white falls against the concentrated brightness of the rocks ensures that the waterfall will be the focus of the work. Even amidst this brightness, however, there is darkness and mystery in the painting, where the falls emerge out of a dark quarry and crash down onto broken tree limbs and staggered rocks. The descent is neither peaceful nor pastoral, unlike the presentation of nature in Cole’s other works, such as the Oxbow. The enormity of the falls compared to the lone human figure that perches above them also adds to the sense of power the falls embody. Barely recognizable as human because it is so minute, the figure still pushes forward as if to embrace the cascade of the water in a painting that explores the tension between the individual and the power of nature. W R I T E R B : I C O N O G R A P H Y I agree with Writer A that this painting is all about the power of nature, but I would argue that it is about a particular kind of power: one that nineteenthcentury thinkers called the â€Å"sublime. † Cole’s portrait of the falls is particularly indebted to the aesthetic ideas formulated by Edmund Burke in the eighteenth century. Burke was interested in categorizing aesthetic responses, and he distinguished the â€Å"sublime† from the â€Å"beautiful. † While the beautiful is calm and harmonious, the sublime is majestic, wild, and even savage. While viewers are soothed by the beautiful, they are overwhelmed, awestruck, and sometimes terrified by the sublime. Often associated with huge, overpowering natural 10 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? phenomena like mountains, waterfalls, or thunderstorms, the â€Å"delightful terror† inspired by sublime visions was supposed to both remind viewers of their own insignificance in the face of nature and divinity and inspire them with a sense of transcendence. Here the miniature figure is the object of our gaze even as he is obliterated by the grandeur of the water. During the nineteenth century, tourists often visited locales such as the Kaaterskill Falls in order to experience the â€Å"delightful terror† that they brought. This experience is also echoed in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay â€Å"Nature,† in which he writes of his desire to become a â€Å"transparent eyeball† that will be able to absorb the oversoul that surrounds him. The power that nature holds here is that of the divine: nature is one way we can experience higher realms. How do these readings differ? Which do you find more compelling and why? What uses can you see for formal analysis or iconographic readings? When might you choose one of these strategies over the other? History  As historian Ray Kierstead has pointed out, history is not just â€Å"one damn thing after another†: rather, history is a way of telling stories about time or, some might say, making an argument about time. The Greek historian Herodotus is often called the father of history in the western world, as he was one of the first historians to notice patterns in world events. Herodotus saw that the course of empires followed a cyclical pattern of rise and fall: as one empire reaches its peak and self-destructs out of hubris (excessive pride), a new empire or new nations will be born to take its place. Thomas Cole’s five-part series The Course of Empire (1833) mirrors this Herodotean notion of time as his scene moves from savage, to pastoral, to consummation, to devastation, to desolation. This vision of time has been tremendously influential in literature: whenever you read a work written in the pastoral mode (literature that looks back with nostalgia to an era of rural life, lost simplicity, and a time when nature and culture were one), ask yourself whether there is an implicit optimism or pessimism about what follows this lost rural ideal. For example, in Herman Melville’s South Sea novel Typee, we find the narrator in a Tahitian village. He seeks to determine if he has entered a pastoral or savage setting: is he surrounded by savages, or is he plunged in a pastoral bliss? Implicit in both is a suggestion that there are earlier forms of civilization than the United States that the narrator has left behind. Any structural analysis of a work of literature (an analysis that pays attention to how a work is ordered) would do well to consider what notions of history are embedded within. In addition to the structural significance of history, a dialogue between history and literature is crucial because much of the early literature of the United States can also be categorized as historical documents. It is helpful, therefore, to understand the genres of history. Like literature, history is comprised of different genres, or modes. Historian Elizabeth Boone defines the main traditional genres of history as res gestae, geographical, and annals. Res gestae, or â€Å"deeds done,† organizes history through a list of accomplishments. This was a popu- L I T E R AT U R E I N I T S C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 11 lar form of history for the ancient Greeks and Romans; for example, the autobiography of Julius Caesar chronicles his deeds, narrated in the third person. When Hernan Cortes and other explorers wrote accounts of their travels (often in the form of letters to the emperor), Caesar’s autobiography served as their model. Geographical histories use travel through space to shape the narrative: Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative is an example of a geographical history in that it follows her through a sequence of twenty geographic â€Å"removes† into Indian country and back. Annals, by contrast, use time as the organizing principle. Information is catalogued by year or month. Diaries and journals are a good example of this genre. These three genres can also be found in the histories of the Aztecs and Mayans of Mesoamerica and in those of the native communities of the United States and Canada. For example, the migration legend, a popular indigenous form of history, is a geographical history, whereas trickster tales often tell the early history of the world through a series of deeds. Memoirists also mix genres; for example, the first section of William Bradford’s Of Plimouth Plantation is a geographical history, whereas the second half is annals. Today the most common historical genres are intellectual history (the history of ideas), political history (the story of leaders), and diplomatic history (the history of foreign relations). To these categories we might add the newer categories of â€Å"social history† (a history of everyday life) and â€Å"gender history† (which focuses on the construction of gender roles). Finally, history is a crucial tool for understanding literature because literature is written in—and arguably often reflects—a specific historical context. Readers of literary works can deepen their understanding by drawing on the tools of history, that is, the records people leave behind: political (or literary) documents, town records, census data, newspaper stories, captivity narratives, letters, journals, diaries, and the like. Even such objects as tools, graveyards, or trading goods can tell us important information about the nature of everyday life for a community, how it worshipped or what it thought of the relationship between life and death. 12 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? Material Culture [6332] Archibald Gunn and Richard Felton Outcault, New York Journal’s Colored Comic Supplement (1896), courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division [LC-USZC4-25531]. When you look at an object, it may call up associations from the past. For example, for the first-time viewer the clown figure in the image above may seem innocuous, yet at the end of the nineteenth century his popularity was so intense that it started a newspaper war fierce enough to spawn a whole new term for sensationalist, irresponsible journalism—â€Å"yellow journalism. † Objects such as this comic supplement constitute â€Å"material culture,† the objects of everyday life. In Material Culture Studies in America, Thomas Schlereth provides the following useful definition of material culture: Material culture can be considered to be the totality of artifacts in a culture, the vast universe of objects used by humankind to cope with the physical world, to facilitate social intercourse, to delight our fancy, and to create symbols of meaning. . . . Leland Ferguson argues that material culture includes all â€Å"the things that people leave behind . . . all of the things people make from the physical world—farm tools, ceramics, houses, furniture, toys, buttons, roads, cities. † (2) When we study material culture in conjunction with literature, we wed two notions of â€Å"culture† and explore how they relate. As critic John Storey notes, the first notion of culture is what is often called â€Å"high culture†Ã¢â‚¬â€the â€Å"general process of intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic factors†; and the second is â€Å"lived culture†Ã¢â‚¬â€the â€Å"particular way of life, whether of a people, a period or a group† (2). In a sense, material culture (as the objects of a lived culture) allows us to see how the prevailing intellectual ideas were played out in the daily lives of people in a particular era. Thus, as Schlereth explains, through studying material culture we can learn about the â€Å"belief systems—the values, ideas, attitudes, and assumptions—of a particular community or society, usually across time† (3). In reading objects as embedded with meaning, we follow Schlereth’s premise that â€Å"objects made or L I T E R AT U R E I N I T S C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 13 modified by humans, consciously or unconsciously, directly or indirectly, reflect the belief patterns of individuals who made, commissioned, purchased, or used them, and, by extension, the belief patterns of the larger society of which they are a part† (3). The study of material culture, then, can help us better understand the cultures that produced and consumed the literature we read today. Thomas Schlereth suggests a number of useful models for studying material culture; his â€Å"Art History Paradigm† is particularly noteworthy in that it will help you approach works of â€Å"high art,† such as paintings and sculptures, as well. The â€Å"Art History Paradigm† argues that the interpretive objective of examining the artifact is to â€Å"depict the historical development and intrinsic merit† of it. If you are interested in writing an â€Å"Art History Paradigm† reading of material culture, you might look at an object and ask yourself the following questions, taken from Sylvan Barnet’s Short Guide to Writing about Art. These questions apply to any art object: First, we need to know information about the artifact so we can place it in a historical context. You might ask yourself: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What is my first response to the work? When and where was the work made? Where would the work originally have been seen? What purpose did the work serve? In what condition has the work survived? (Barnet 21–22) In addition, if the artifact is a drawing, painting, or advertisement, you might want to ask yourself questions such as these: 1. What is the subject matter? What (if anything) is happening? 2. If the picture is a portrait, how do the furnishings and the background and the angle of the head or the posture of the head and body (as well as the facial expression) contribute to our sense of the subject’s character? 3. If the picture is a still life, does it suggest opulence or want? 4. In a landscape, what is the relation between human beings and nature? Are the figures at ease in nature, or are they dwarfed by it? Are they one with the horizon, or (because the viewpoint is low) do they stand out against the horizon and perhaps seem in touch with the heavens, or at least with open air? If there are woods, are these woods threatening, or are they an inviting place of refuge? If there is a clearing, is the clearing a vulnerable place or is it a place of refuge from ominous woods? Do the natural objects in the landscape somehow reflect the emotions of the figures? (Barnet 22–23; for more questions, see pp. 23–24) Material culture is a rich and varied resource that ranges from kitchen utensils, to advertisements, to farming tools, to clothing. Unpacking the significance of objects that appear in the stories and poems you read may help you better understand characters and their motives. 14 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? Architecture. Most of the time we read the hidden meanings of buildings without even thinking twice. Consider the buildings below: Above: [9089] Anonymous, Capitol Building at Washington, D. C. (1906), courtesy of Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress [LC-USZ62-121528]. Right: [6889] Anonymous, Facade of the Sam Wah’s Chinese Laundry (c. 1890 –1900), courtesy of the Denver Public Library. Even if we had never seen either of these buildings before, it would not take us long to determine which was a government building and which was a smalltown retail establishment. Our having seen thousands of buildings enables us to understand the purpose of a building from architectural clues. When first seeing a work of architecture, it is helpful to unpack cultural assumptions. You might ask: 1. What is the purpose of this building? Is it public or private? What activities take place within it? 2. What features of the building reflect this purpose? Which of these features are necessary and which are merely conventional? 3. What buildings or building styles does this building allude to? What values are inherent in that allusion? 4. What parts of this building are principally decorative rather than functional? What does the ornament or lack of it say about the status of the owners or the people who work there? 5. What buildings surround this building? How do they affect the way the building is entered? 6. What types of people live or work in this building? How do they interact within the space? What do these findings say about the relative social status of the occupants? How does the building design restrict or encourage that status? 7. How are people supposed to enter and move through the building? What clues does the building give as to how this movement should take place? L I T E R AT U R E I N I T S C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 15 These questions imply two basic assumptions about architecture: (1) architecture reflects and helps establish social status and social relations; and (2) architecture