Gender Essays - Gender, Gender Role, Sociology Of Gender, Feminism

Gender Essays - Gender, Gender Role, Sociology Of Gender, Feminism Gender English 112 section 096 March 29, 1999 An in Depth Analysis of Gender Relationships Throughout history and in all cultures the roles of males and females vary. Relating to the piece of literature Girl written by Jamaica Kincaid for the time, when women's roles were to work in the home. By examining gender roles, then one may better understand how women and men interact and how better to build relationships at home and in the world of business. At the time that this work was written, women mainly stayed at home and did housework while few of the very poorest households required the woman to work in an industrial job. Kincaid wrote of the specific roles and responsibilities that a mother would tell her daughter. By what she wrote, one can fully understand what was expected of a woman at that time and in that particular culture. The object of examining gender roles is to answer the question why should women and men be equal and Are there populations in which men and women are absolutely equal? Are there societies in which women dominate men? (Gender 238) By understanding the culture in which this piece of literature is written, the gender roles and the rules of behavior for a woman, then the relationships between genders can be realized. The general myth about women and their gender role in the American society is that the mother works in the home and supports her man in every way. For each relationship, the people in that relationship must decide the particular roles that they will play. In the literary work Girl, Kincaid shows clearly that the woman's role in this work was to serve the family and to work mainly in the house. The mother writing this story tells her daughter that this is how you iron your father's khaki shirt so that it doesn't have a crease (Kincaid 489). In this marriage, it is understood that the wife is to do the laundry for the husband. Today's society does not always provide these clear roles since many women work a full time job and the house chores are a responsibility for both to handle. Though the woman is still mainly held responsible for the home. There should be a constant search for equality in gender roles. Kincaid explains how the man is working to bring home the money and the wife supports his work. By her ironing his khaki shirt, he is better prepared for work to support his family. Though men and women are supposedly equal, the roles they must play in a particular relationship may be unequal. Even though this work does not show a conflict, the girl to whom the mother is speaking may have a conflict with her husband by the time she is married. This mother also may have an internal conflict that is not revealed in the work. Meaning that she may hold in problems that she has with the relationship because women were not supposed to reveal their feelings. Women are usually the ones who are more open in a relationship, but at this time in history women were to keep quiet in relationships (Gender 238). The conflict that will be revealed in the future is the desire to have the status that is already gained by men. One can understand that men already have a status since the world of business is geared for typical male roles. That is apparent by how many of the mainstream blue-collar jobs and management positions are held by men. The girl to whom this mother is speaking must make sure that she seeks to make a name for herself and to help other women gain status. This is stated in Humanity: Gender: If so, then modern feminists will need to work to alter this key factor, and in the long term our societies will develop greater equality between the sexes (Gender 238). Since the purpose of examining gender roles is to create equality, then the conflict is that both sexes are trying to make their particular roles closer to equal than they were before. In this piece of literature, the mother speaks directly to her daughter telling her what she is to do in order

Profile of Pope Clement VI

Profile of Pope Clement VI Pope Clement VI is an important figure in Medieval History. Key Facts Pope Clement VI was also known as Pierre Roger (his birth  name). Accomplishments Sponsoring a naval crusading expedition, buying land for the papacy in Avignon, patronizing arts and learning,  and defending the Jews when pogroms flared up during the  Black Death. Occupation: Pope Place of Residence and Influence: France Important Dates: Born:  c.  1291Elected pope: May 7, 1342Consecrated: May 19, 1342Died:  1352 About Pope Clement VI Pierre Roger  was born in Corrà ¨ze, Aquitaine, France, and entered a monastery when he was still a child. He studied in Paris and became a professor there, where he was introduced to Pope John XXII. From then on his career took off; he was made  abbot of Benedictine monasteries at Fà ©camp and La Chaise-Dieu before he became archbishop of Sens and Rouen and then a cardinal. As Pope, Clement  was strongly pro-French. This would cause difficulties when attempting to broker peace between France and England, who were at that time engaged in the decades-long conflict that would come to be known as the Hundred Years War. Unsurprisingly, his efforts saw little success.   Clement was  the fourth pope to reside in Avignon, and the continued existence of the Avignon Papacy did nothing to lessen the problems that the papacy  had with Italy. Noble Italian families disputed the papacys claim to the territory, and Clement sent his nephew,  Astorge de Durfort, to settle matters in the Papal States. Though Astorge would not be successful, his use of German mercenaries to aid him would set a precedent in papal military matters that would last another hundred years. Meanwhile, the Avignon Papacy persisted. Not  only did Clement turn down an opportunity to return the papacy to Rome, but he also purchased Avignon from Joanna of Naples, whom he absolved of her husbands murder. Pope Clement  chose to stay in Avignon during the  Black Death and  survived the worst of the plague, though a third of his cardinals died. His survival may have been due, in large part, to his doctors advice to sit between two huge fires, even in the heat of summer. Though it wasnt the doctors intent,  the heat was so extreme that plague-bearing fleas couldnt get near him. He also offered  protection to the Jews when many were persecuted under suspicion of starting the pestilence. Clement  saw some success in crusading, sponsoring a naval expedition that took control of Smyrna, which was given to the Knights of St. John, and ended its pirate raids in the Mediterranean. Spurning the idea of clerical poverty, Clement  opposed extremist organizations like the Franciscan Spirituals, who advocated absolute rejection of all material comforts, and became  a patron of artists and scholars. To that end, he enlarged  the papal palace and  made it a sophisticated center of culture. Clement was a generous host and a magnanimous  sponsor, but his lavish spending would deplete the funds his predecessor, Benedict XII, had so carefully amassed, and he turned to taxation to rebuild the papacys treasury. This would sow the seeds of further discontent with the Avignon Papacy. Clement died in 1352 after a short illness. He was interred as per his wishes at the abbey at  La Chaise-Dieu, where 300 years later Huguenots would desecrate  his grave and burn his remains. More Pope Clement VI Resources Pope Clement VI in Print Clement VI: The Pontificate and Ideas of an Avignon Pope (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series) by Diana Wood Pope Clement VI on the Web Pope Clement VI, Substantial biography by N. A. Weber at the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Early childhood. Fundemental movement skills and behaviour Assignment

Early childhood. Fundemental movement skills and behaviour - Assignment Example Observation Techniques The observation techniques that were selected for this opportunity were anecdotal record, checklist, and photo observation, which means antecedents, behaviours, and consequences. The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children includes articles 12, 13, and 14 which pertain directly to the observation of children. Article 12 states that â€Å"children have the right to say what they think should happen adults are making decisions about them, and to have their opinions taken into account† (Hobert & Frankel, 2004, p. 2). Article 13 supports the right for children to have information as long as it is not harmful to them. Article 14 says that rights to privacy should be afforded to children (Hobert & Frankel, 2004, p. 2). Keeping this framework in mind, the observational techniques were used in non-invasive and inclusive methods. The advantages of using the anecdotal record is that it allows for an opportunity to use the humanistic approach in order to provide for values to be placed on the nature of what occurs. The disadvantage is that the anecdotal record can be subject to bias and might not reflect the true picture of what has been observed. The checklist provides for a series of milestones to be placed on a list and they can be checked off as they are observed has having been accomplished. The disadvantage is that a checklist does not provide for context to be placed into the checklist and it is a bit removed from the child. Antecedents, behaviours, and consequences is a comprehensive way to look at what is observed and puts the entire experience into context with the time that has passed. The Rogerian Approach provides for looking at what occurs objectively so that it can be objectively evaluated. The disadvantage is that it might be difficult to interpret progress if not enough changes before and after the event. Introduction of Child and Context The child that was chosen for this observational opportunity has been given the name ‘Alice’ for the purposes of this discussion and to protect her identity. Alice was four years and two months old at the time of observing her. She was included in a small group of four other children she played with frequently in the part. Their age range was 3 to 5. The children was included in the games and was intended to extend on the skill of balancing. Interpretation Alice was observed being able to balance using different strategies. The FMS was observed through three games in order to determine if the task was consistently possible for the child. Alice had been observed having some balance issues in the past, but it had not been decided whether or not they indicated a developmental delay, so the three gamers where developed to extend this skill. During the three games, the second game of her balancing on beam was successful as she was balancing alone however the other games disrupted by laughter and not concentrating due to her focus being on oth er children and not on the task. Recommendation for Planning Table The skill was broken down into a series of skills that were needed to accomplish the task. During the time period between the ages of 2 and 6 there are great strides in fundamental movement skill development and a child should be able to stand on one foot or balance by the age of three (Rathus, 2006). The skills for balancing as follows:

Racism in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Racism in Australia - Essay Example Prejudices include bias and negative attitudes towards other culture or a cultural group based on negative stereotypes and different value systems. In Australia, racism and prejudices are caused by different racial origin and geographical location. Country of birth is significant because it quite often coincides with some or all of the factors mentioned but this clearly need not be the case. People may be born outside a country or a nation-state yet still identify with it; boundaries and borders change (Almaguer, 1994). The world history of migration and the general movement of peoples have made any simple approach to culture and to ethnic identification not possible or viable. Individuals identify multiple ancestries, as evidenced by responses to the 'ancestry' question included in the 1986 national census; the 'cultural background' of many people is diverse. To take one example, there are people in Australia who were born in Eastern Europe, emigrated with their families to Central America when they were children, and then emigrated to Australia as adults with children of their own (Banks, 1996). Underlying many of these pressure points is the conflict which arises for families from collectivist-oriented cultures when confronted with the individualism which predominates in Australia (Pattel-Gray 1995). Achieving security and prosperity may be the only fundamental Chinese family value that has not been weakened in Australia, because western societies also value achievement. Language plays a crucial part in the ethnic identity of many communities, although its importance in this regard seems to vary across cultures In Diaspora, such as the Chinese, it has served to unite people from very different countries. Maintaining the first language and the learning of English have key roles in settlement, family experience and acculturation of immigrant groups. There is also a lack of tolerance or understanding for 'unusual' family arrangements which had arisen through th e disruption of the lives of many Eastern European immigrants and for the many men who remained single. The focus for a sense of belonging may be on common physical characteristics, the possession of a distinct language or dialect, a particular religion, a sense of geographical and historical continuity through living in a particular place, or a distinct lifestyle (Donald and Rattansii 1992). Discrimination Discrimination is a direct result of prejudices and cultural differences take place in Australian society. In spite of great changes in social structure, Aboriginal people are discriminated in education, healthcare and employment (Pattel-Gray 1995). Complete cultural assimilation did not take place. However, the predominance of Anglo-Celtic values, in all Australian institutions but particularly in the workplace and the schools, often placed great pressures on immigrant families, created conflict between family members and sometimes threatened positive identification with their own cultures. The failure of cultural assimilation, the threat to Australian living standards with the onset of the recession and world economic restructuring, and social segmentation linked to gender, ethnicity and race led to a new national approach to diversity and to the development of policies

True Blood vs Twilight Essay Example for Free

True Blood vs Twilight Essay The year 2008 saw the book-to-screen translation of two human/vampire love stories: Twilight and True Blood. True Blood, a television show on HBO, is a single volume of the book series Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. Twilight is an adaptation of the book series by Stephanie Meyer that has transformed into multiple motion pictures. Twilight is set in Forks, Washington where vampires are merely a myth to humans, and True Blood is set in the fictional town Bon Temps, Louisiana, where vampires have come out of hiding to try and cohabitate themselves into human society because of the invention of synthetic blood. When considering the legend and lore of vampires, the characters, and the actual production value of the story, True Blood and the Twilight series run as two dynamically opposite tales. The mythology of vampires puts forth the notion of the undead and their supernatural abilities. True Blood respects the original vampire culture by never straying too far from it’s familiar conventions, such as having fangs, requiring blood for nutrients, burning when exposed to sunlight or silver, and having the ability to fly. As for the under-played Twilight version, the mocking ability of a vampire’s skin sparkling when they step into the sun is almost as threatening as â€Å"My Little Pony†, and taking away the monstrous quality of having fangs completely destroys the classic horror theme. Another over-dramatic trait of Twilight’s vampires is that they do not require sleep, yet they have an immeasurable amount of strength. True Blood holds the more logical approach that vampires must rest during the day or else they will get weak and develop a condition known as â€Å"the bleeds,† where they bleed out of the orifices of their face. Besides the physical characteristics, Twilight has stunted the belief that vampires are an â€Å"equal race†, by giving each of their characters a different ability. For example, in the Cullens family (Twilight), Jasper has the ability to calm a room, Alice can predict the future, and Edward can read humans’ minds (except for Bella’s). Despite these enchanting traits of a rather vicious creature, True Blood keeps it simple and understandable by all of their vampires having the same ability to â€Å"glamour† a human, or mesmerize them, and have super speed and strength (when well rested). Twilight’s â€Å"glamour vamps† lack excitement and originality while True Blood’s vamps wear their entire being on their cold, lifeless sleeves. A crucial component for building hope and suspense for a reader would consist of having well-suited characters that add spark to the story. Twilight tells the viewers about the potential plot that could unfold, leaving no suspense, whereas True Blood’s viewers have a visual component, making it easier to connect and empathize with the characters. Twilight’s Bella Swan is a self-conscious, introverted human teenager, while True Blood’s Sookie Stackhouse is an independent, strong-willed human waitress. Both heroines seem to find themselves fascinated with the vampires they each encounter and eventually struggle with their lovers’ â€Å"dark side†. When Bella first sees Edward, she is instantly attracted to him but does not outwardly express it and does not initially insert her interest in any way, unlike Sookie who strikes a conversation with Bill as soon as she sees him and later saves his life all within the first episode. Twilight’s Edward Cullen seems to be an egotistical snob that talks a big talk but takes action demonstrating his â€Å"vampire† abilities, especially when compared to True Blood’s Bill Compton, who will use his supernatural powers to any extent when it deems necessary to him, even though his being a vampire shames him. Edward only speaks of being a threat to his lover, Bella, while on the other hand, Bill stakes another vampire in the second season to save Sookie’s life (a criminal act worth the death penalty in the vampire world). Both vampires demonstrate their love, but Bill clearly acts on his feelings and instincts as a supernatural creature rather than Edward, who basically sits and complains about his negative self image. True Blood, being a television show of three seasons, has had the luxury of thirty-six hours of run-time to shape their story, describe their world, and add depth to their characters, whereas Twilight has had less than eight hours (including all three motion pictures) to evolve it’s repetitive love story. While Meyer’s story revolves around teenage angst, True Blood caters to a more mature audience by giving them heaping doses of adult content, like: sex, violence, and tons of blood. By True Blood integrating vampires into a modern-type society, it allows the show to tackle things that are normally controversial like racism, segregation, and religion. In contrast, Twilight simply keeps vampires hidden away from the human race, spending most of their budget on special effects and young, attractive actors, serving to the youth culture. Twilight strains its ability to genuinely connect with the audience by having one of the main characters, Bella, narrate the movie from a first-person perspective, limiting the audience to her emotions and point-of-view. Although Sookie Stackhouse is the main character of the story, the plot is not limited solely to her perspective; True Blood makes sure that there is plenty of time spent developing the other main characters’ story lines that solidifies the show’s strong ensemble cast that includes: Sookie’s younger, air-headed brother Jason, her strong best friend Tara, Tara’s gay cousin Lafayette, Sam the bar-owning shapeshifter, and Eric the vampire sheriff of Louisiana. When diving into possibilities of a fantasy on screen, there is always a pinch of realism needed in the story in order keep the viewer grounded in reality. By basing the series on the possible outcomes of vampires and humans incorporating their worlds, True Blood stays true to the egregiousness of the vampire reputation. Twilight minimally does the same thing every year or so, while lacking the excitement that True Blood gives it’s viewers on a weekly basis. True Blood is a fiendishly fun and breath-takingly baleful series featuring insane characters filled with life and thrill, while Twilight is a teen centric sulk-fest filled with silence and shame.

Does King Lear Play The Tragic :: essays research papers

Does King Lear Play the Tragic Hero, or the Autocrat? It is quite possible to make an argument in favour of either answer, an argument that would prove to be quite a debate, although one answer would weigh in favour of the other. To prove this, certain elements would have to be analysed thoroughly, all aspects taken into context and sufficient research done into the matter. This is the only method in which a fair debate of the argument can be taken into consideration. We can only find the answer to this question if we know what the two arguments mean; this will provide a solid base onto which the rest of the debate can rest, a foundation of fact. Aristotle, a great founder of the definition of tragedy used the word catharsis to describe the effects of true tragedy on the spectator. Aristotle stated that the purpose of tragedy was to invoke pity and terror, and thereby effect the catharsis of these emotions. Other critics see tragedy as a moral lesson in which fear and pity are excited by the tragic hero’s fate serve to warn the spectator not to similarly tempt providence. This interpretation is generally accepted that through experiencing fear vicariously in a controlled situation, the spectators own anxieties are directed outward, and, through sympathetic identification was the protagonist, his insight and outlook are enlarged. Also, as importantly and significantly, Aristotle introduced the term hamartia, the tragic flaw, or an inherent defect or shortcoming in the hero of a tragedy. Aristotle casually described the tragic hero as a man of noble rank and nature whose misfortune is not brought upon him by villainy or corruption, but by some error of judgement. This imperfection later became known, or interpreted as a moral flaw, although most great tragedies defy such a simple distinction of the term. We could say that in many cases of tragedy the hero is never passive, but struggles to resolve his tragic difficulty with an obsessive dedication, that he is guilty of presuming that he is godlike, attempting to surpass his own human limitations. The need, or lack of order in a society, could be a reason why the tragedy came to be, and is known in Greek terms as hubris. This ethical and religious thought portrays the resulting implications of impious disregard of the limits governing human action in an orderly universe. It is the sin to which the great and the gifted are most susceptible, and in Greek tragedy is usually the hero’s tragic flaw.

“Piano Lesson” Analysis Essay

A title of a work is carefully chosen to not only strike interest but also to give some sort of clue as to the significance of the work. In the case of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, the title, though a play on words, reveals how important the piano is to the message Wilson is trying to convey. The piano, as an object, moves the plot of the play along since the conflict is the two main characters fighting over it. On the other hand, the piano, as a symbol, represents the perseverance of history in an individual’s lives. It’s presence and symbolism work hand in hand to communicate the lesson that family history remains with a person and it’s their responsibility to decide how to use it. Looking at the different character’s and their views on the piano provides evidence of this message. The play begins with Boy Willie barging into the house where his sister, Berniece, lives with his uncle, Doaker. Boy Willie’s purpose for being there is to sell the piano that Berniece keeps so that he can buy the land from his relative’s former slave owners. He knows the importance of the piano but views it as an object and a means for achieving his own success so that he can prove that he deserves as much respect as the white man. He says, â€Å"The only thing my daddy had to give me was that piano†¦I ain’t gonna let it sit up here and rot without trying to do something with it† (1.2). In his mind, keeping his family’s legacy isn’t with remembering them through the piano but using the piano as a means of making money, which to him will honor them in the long run. He tells his sister, â€Å"I’m supposed to build on what they left me†¦now the kind of man my daddy was he would have understood that† (1.2). He does acknowledge though that the past is something to be proud of. He lectures Berniece, â€Å"You ought to mark down on the calendar the day that Papa Boy Charles brought that piano into the house†¦and every year when it come up throw a party. Have a celebration. If you did that [Maretha] wouldn’t have no problem in life† (2.5). Boy Willie’s sister, Berniece, takes an entirely different approach when it comes to her choice of how the piano is used. Berniece is a character that lives in the past in an unhealthy way. The past has hardened her and it shows in the way she raises her child, Maretha, telling her not to go off â€Å"showing [her] color† (1.1). When Doaker comments on Berniece keeping the memory of her deceased husband saying, â€Å"she still holding onto  to him† (1.2) is further evidence of her clinging to the past but not using those memories in a productive manner. Unlike Willie, she views the piano as a symbol of her family’s heritage but fears it. She scolds Boy Willie for trying to sell it when she says, â€Å"You always talking about your daddy but you ain’t never stopped to look at what his foolishness cost your mama†¦cold nights and an empty bed†¦For a piano? To get even with somebody?† (1.2). She shows her resentment to the past by refusing to play the piano and refusing to tell her daughter of it’s history. Berniece is also afraid of the piano because of those who died because of it. Her mother died honoring it and her father died trying to get it. She explains to her suitor, Avery, â€Å"I don’t play that piano cause I don’t want to wake them spirits† (2.2). She faces that fear when Boy Willie comes to the house bringing a ghost with him; however, the ghost isn’t their dead relatives but Sutter’s. The presence of the ghost forces Berniece to face the past and Boy Willie to acknowledge that the past matters just as much as the future. The play concludes when Avery, who is a preacher, comes to the house to get rid of the ghost. The ghost protests and â€Å"fights† with Boy Willie. It is then that Berniece plays the piano to call on the spirits of her dead relatives singing, â€Å"I want you to help me† (2.2). By doin g this she learns the lesson that the past isn’t there to burden her but to give her strength for the future. Boy Willie also learns the lesson that the past is alive and that using it doesn’t have to be materialistic. It can simply be used to remember who you are. The lesson that the two characters learn is Wilson’s way of communicating to the audience how important family legacy is. The character’s growth in terms of their views on the piano display how easily one can lose sight of what is important in terms of being a person. Boy Willie thinks being somebody is materialistic while Berniece hides from being somebody at all. Though the main characters take a big part of the play the piano’s reoccurring presence and symbolism is the central focus of the play since it is through it that the conflict comes together, through it that the characters learn their lessons, and through it that family history is brought to life.

My Life Unleashed Essay

Life is all but a matter of constancy, with the altering seasons and the varying tides vigorously wavering the enduring days of the lives of men. The evolution of the life of being a student remains a noteworthy space in my thoughts as my memories as a child will always be learned by heart, if not by everybody else, at least by myself. Or so I think at least by myself, lest I fail to remember that I had the companionship of good friends along the way, by no means abandoning me in times when I need them most. To be there for them when they, too, need someone to be with is only a portion of what sum of good deeds I must or feel to give them in return. And this is what I liked by being a child, apart from everything else that contributed to my identity to who I am today. It is my friends—my real friends that make me strong. College has been tough on me. I had to weigh several options as to what field to take—those were the nights where I could barely sleep thinking if I am to make the right decision. It was my friends who helped me decide. The primary reason why I chose [insert course here] is because the course in itself is competitive in today’s world. The course, moreover, reflects the scholastic principles of providing a major benefit to students in the [insert field of study] by putting a premium emphasis on the recent trends and advancements in today’s world of global competitiveness. The course is also one that seeks to refine the skills and knowledge of the students through a competition in [insert field of study] among its students just to name one. Moreover, the course is well-handled by faculty members who are very much qualified and are very much capable of instilling the necessary knowledge to the students inasmuch as the faculty as a whole is composed of teachers with reputations well beyond what one might expect. I am a flexible person, a jack-of-all-trades if you may consider. I love joining competitions. I love being challenged though I know for a fact that in every contest there is always a winner and a loser. I am a sport. I rise when I fall. But to tell you, losing for me is a hard thing—hence, it was through these unfortunate experiences that I was able to know myself. Not only did my refined skills and attitude became useful to us during times of dilemmas and crucial moments of getting into a halt on my fulfilling my dreams, but these factors also became a part of what I was able to impart to my friends. In a way, I have inspired them to do the same thing, to acquire the enhancements in their positive characteristics, and to use their meaningful experiences to have full control of their abilities and gifts—to encourage them to move forward after a downfall. I am fortunate to have friends who I can lean on. Part of my career thinking and objectives is that, after obtaining my degree I will bring forth the knowledge and skills that I have acquired into the far more practical planes in the world of [insert field of study]. However, prior to achieving such an end, I will put my best efforts in refining my comprehension on the field that I have chosen to pursue and in expanding my thoughts that revolve around the [field of study] arena. Apart from all these, I also intend to employ the vital information that I will learn through the course to the society at large. That is, I intend to contribute to a deeper understanding not only to the course but also to the generation that we have today and the generations to come through my scholarly contributions. All of these experiences and aspirations that I have shared a great fraction in my life in the sense that these served as the factors upon which I was able to steward my gifts and talents, refining these two along the way as my level of experience proportionally increase day after day. With the daily encounters that come across my way, I am able to contemplate on my personality and realign myself with these meaningful experiences so that I become guided as to what decisions I ought to pursue in my life. Such an understanding is of great use and help, as it has been back in the days when I was just starting in the science and math club, and, as far as I see it, nothing is as potent and as equally practical than having a wide range of experiences upon which one can be able to base his or her crucial decisions in life. These meaningful experiences have taught me a lot in my existence in the society at large and in stewarding my abilities and gifts. The Essence of Values The daily life experiences that every individual in this world comes across with contribute to the development of the self (Achebe, 1994). These experiences do not only come in a single strand nor pattern. Quite on the contrary, what makes these experiences contributive to the welfare of humanity is because these encounters come in various forms and in differing content. A well-rounded personality, then, can be achieved, though strictly limited, to the variety in the experiences that individuals get to have in their lives (Miedaner, 2000). Determination and decisiveness I believe, craft a person to become successful in one’s ordeals. A person who is determined builds confidence within. Believing that a person can do anything and surpass everything is a guarantee towards success as fear is out of the picture. Most people have fear and fail because they are indecisive. Being able to know what you want is a good start of taking challenges. Life is full of choices—and to reach a goal is to decide which path to take (Friedman, 2005). As much as I strongly believe in the idea that experiences shape the personality of a person in many different ways, these experiences can serve as a meaningful chapter in our lives as much as they have been significant to on my part. As far as my memory would not fail me, I do attest to the idea that experiences teach the individual person about being a steward of the gifts and talents that the self possesses. By having the full knowledge that these experiences contribute in a large part in the molding of the ability of the individual in bringing forth a rather full control or, at least, a strong grasp on one’s abilities to his or her advantage, their meanings would be far clear enough. References Achebe, C. (1994). Things Fall Apart: Anchor. Berger, K. S. (2005). The Developing Person, Through Childhood and Adolescence (7th ed. ). New York: Worth. Friedman, T. L. (2005). The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century (1st ed. ). New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Miedaner, T. (2000). Coach Yourself to Success : 101 Tips from a Personal Coach for Reaching Your Goals at Work and in Life (1 ed. ). London: McGraw-Hill.

Differences Between Explanatory and Response Variables

Differences Between Explanatory and Response Variables One of the many ways that variables in statistics can be classified is to consider the differences between explanatory and response variables. Although these variables are related, there are important distinctions between them. After defining these types of variables, we will see that the correct identification of these variables has a direct influence on other aspects of statistics, such as the construction of a scatterplot and the slope of a regression line. Definitions of Explanatory and Response We begin by looking at the definitions of these types of variables. A response variable is a particular quantity that we ask a question about in our study. An explanatory variable is any factor that can influence the response variable. While there can be many explanatory variables, we will primarily concern ourselves with a single explanatory variable. A response variable may not be present in a study. The naming of this type of variable depends upon the questions that are being asked by a researcher. The conducting of an observational study would be an example of an instance when there is not a response variable. An experiment will have a response variable. The careful design of an experiment tries to establish that the changes in a response variable are directly caused by changes in the explanatory variables. Example One To explore these concepts we will examine a few examples. For the first example, suppose that a researcher is interested in studying the mood and attitudes of a group of first-year college students. All first-year students are given a series of questions. These questions are designed to assess the degree of homesickness of a student. Students also indicate on the survey how far their college is from home. One researcher who examines this data may just be interested in the types of student responses.  Perhaps the reason for this is to have an overall sense about the composition of a new freshman. In this case, there is not a response variable. This is because no one is seeing if the value of one variable influences the value of another. Another researcher could use the same data to attempt to answer if students who came from further away had a greater degree of homesickness. In this case, the data pertaining to the homesickness questions are the values of a response variable, and the data that indicates the distance from home forms the explanatory variable. Example Two For the second example we might be curious if number of hours spent doing homework has an effect on the grade a student earns on an exam. In this case, because we are showing that the value of one variable changes the value of another, there is an explanatory and a response variable. The number of hours studied is the explanatory variable and the score on the test is the response variable. Scatterplots and Variables When we are working with paired quantitative data, it is appropriate to use a scatterplot. The purpose of this kind of graph is to demonstrate relationships and trends within the paired data. We do not need to have both an explanatory and response variable. If this is the case, then either variable can plotted along either axis. However, in the event that there is a response and explanatory variable, then the explanatory variable is always plotted along the x or horizontal axis of a Cartesian coordinate system. The response variable is then plotted along the y axis. Independent and Dependent The distinction between explanatory and response variables is similar to another classification. Sometimes we refer to variables as being independent or dependent. The value of a dependent variable relies upon that of an independent variable. Thus a response variable corresponds to a dependent variable while an explanatory variable corresponds to an independent variable. This terminology is typically not used in statistics because the explanatory variable is not truly independent. Instead the variable only takes on the values that are observed. We may have no control over the values of an explanatory variable.

From Atlas to Atlanticists

From Atlas to Atlanticists From Atlas to Atlanticists From Atlas to Atlanticists By Mark Nichol Intrigued by a reference to the political term Atlanticism, heretofore unbeknownst to me, I researched the history of the name of the ocean that separates the western and eastern hemispheres. This post defines and discusses these and related terms. Atlanticism, a term coined in 1950, refers to the concept of cooperation between the United States (and, to a lesser extent, Canada) and the countries of Europe, an idea that developed during World War II and was codified in the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949. An advocate of the belief that this relationship is fundamental to geopolitical stability is an Atlanticist. The term, of course, is based on the name of the Atlantic Ocean, the body of water that separates North America and Europe. But where does Atlantic come from? That word, in reference to the seas beyond the Pillars of Hercules (a poetic name for the portal of the Mediterranean Ocean), dates to the classical Greek era and derives from the name of Atlas, a Titan who is said to have been condemned by the Olympic gods to hold up the heavens in perpetuity. (Titan is often depicted bearing Earth on his shoulders, but this image is based on confusion of the sky as a celestial sphere with a planetary globe.) This myth is associated with the Atlas Mountains, located in northwest Africa and flanking the southern side of the Pillars of Hercules, which metaphorically brace the sky. Because illustrations of Atlas were often prominently featured on illustrated maps during the Age of Exploration (starting in the fifteenth century), bound collections of maps came to be called atlases. (The origin of Atlas’s name is disputed; it is said to be either from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning â€Å"uphold† or a Berber word for mountain.) Another name derived from Atlas, by way of Atlantic, is Atlantis. This was the name Plato gave to an imaginary island employed allegorically in one of his philosophical commentaries. Unfortunately, later readers misinterpreted this fictional location as a real one, and pseudoscientific speculation has run rampant ever since, to the point that Atlantis is held up as a psychically and spiritually fueled utopia that tragically met its end by divinely caused inundation. (The name for an inhabitant of Atlantis is Atlantean.) Transatlantic (compare transpacific) describes something pertaining to a connection between the western and eastern hemispheres. Atlanta, the name of the capital of Georgia, resulted from the originally suggested designation Atlantica-Pacifica, inspired by the names of the oceans bordering the United States. (The name of the Pacific Ocean is from the adjective pacific, meaning â€Å"peaceful,† ultimately from the Latin word pax, meaning â€Å"peace.†) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Using "a" and "an" Before WordsSocial vs. SocietalThrew and Through

Argument Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Argument Paper - Essay Example Dry weather caused the bad droughts and the wildfires. When people have enough water they do not think about water. But when people do not have water they suffer. When people do not have water they do not have a good life. In some countries business is in charge of water. Privatization is when a business is in charge of the water in a community. Public water management is when the government has control of the water in a community. Some communities have a combination of business and government in charge of water management. Governments cannot control climate change but they should manage water because then water will not be too expensive, it will be easy for people to find, and people will be healthier. This paper argues for government management of the water industry. the paper identifies the need for affordability, hygiene, and equitable distribution as the major reasons why government should manage the industry because the private sector cannot guarantee the factors. Argument for public water management One of the arguments in favor of public water management is that with public management, water will be cheaper to the consumer. Shah Anup argues that water is the most fundamental of all human rights and should not be treated as a commodity. Private companies should not manage water because they have self-interest in making profits than fulfilling the public’s interest. ... Essie Solomon from Environment Probe shares the opinion that water is essential and is a fundamental right. The author explains that water is one of the â€Å"inalienable rights†; and â€Å"do not come from a government† but must be protected by the government (Solomon 1). Consequently, the government must take the responsibility of water management to ensure that people’s right to access water is protected. Such protection ensures availability and a subsequent affordability of water to all economic classes of people (Solomon 1). Macdonald Nancy argues that it has a great success story, with increased efficiency, quality, reliability, and affordability. She explains that â€Å"privatizing water services is bad for the poor, bad for the environment, and leads to inequitable distribution of water† (Macdonald 1). This is because the poor becomes the most vulnerable due to the profit orientation of the private sector that focuses on delivering quality services to the rich who can promote the sector’s profit motive. According to industry’s track levels, privatization has often led to private companies’ violation of operational standards of water services. These have resulted in high prize fixations which often lead to the poor people consuming contaminated water. In Britain, for example, after privatization, water and sewage bills increased by 67% and water disconnection because of lack of payment rose by 177%. A report by the French government showes that consumer fees increased by a whopping 150% after privatization (Shah 1). Currently, 90 per cent of the world’s water distributions are controlled by the state and records indicate that they are well managed. The