God and Morality Essay

The question is this – Is it possible to be of good moral character while not believing in God? Looking at the definition of morality as defined in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy the term morality can be used descriptively or actively. A] to refer to some code of conduct put forward by a society or some other group such as religious. Or put forward by a society and is acceptable to an individual for his or her own behavior. B] to refer to a code of conduct that, given specific conditions would be put forward by all rational persons. Morality appears to be separate from religion and although not spoken of or referred to as such there are different groups of moral persons, not all are viewed as good or just. Some examples may include Christian morality, Nazi morality, Greek morality etc. At times etiquette is included as part of morality. Hobbs expresses a standard view when he talks about manners. â€Å"By manners I mean not here decency of behavior, as how one man should salute another, or how a man should wash his mouth or pick his teeth before company and such other parts of small morals, but those qualities of mankind that concern their living together in peace and unity. † (Hobbs, 2010). The laws and our legal system is distinguished by a moral system that includes having written laws or rules, penalties and officials to make the laws and enforce God and Morality pg. 3 the laws and then penalize. Laws are often evaluated on moral grounds. Moral critisism is often used to support a change in a current law or to design a new law. Religion differs from morality or having a moral system. Religious morality is based on stories or events that are past. These stories and events are used to justify the behavior that religion prohibits or requires. At times morality is regarded as the code of conduct that is put forward by religion. Morality is thought by many to need some religious explanation or justification. However, just as with law some practices and precepts are critical on moral grounds. Morals provide us with a guide for conduct, where as religion is always more than that. The definition and description of morality tells us that morality is a belief system that follows the rule of â€Å"goodness†. It is similar to a â€Å"blanket† over society and is separate from religion. Even in these times morality is always in question. In an article written by a Baltimore Sun journalist titled â€Å"The Morality Brigade. † The writer expresses his opinion onto his readers stating that â€Å"We’re still legislating and regulating private morality, while at the same time ignoring the much larger crisis of public morality in America. † (Reich, R. 2013) He continues on to back up his accusations. He writes that legislatures in North Dakota passed a bill banning abortions after 6 weeks. (At which time a heart beat is detectable) as well as approved a fall referendum that could ban all abortions by defining human life beginning at the time of conception. He continues on that these same legislatures God and Morality pg. 4 â€Å"worry about fetuses but they show little concern for what happens to children after they are born. They and other conservatives have been cutting funding for child nutrition, health care for infants and their mothers, and schools. † (Reich, R. 2013). This is just an example of American Morality. So it seems that at this point I have defined what morality is and how it can be applied. I have also touched on Religion and Morality being a very separate entity. Now I will discuss God and Morals. It is very possible for a person to not believe in God and posses high moral standards. Understanding that the person being moral is not due to their belief in God, it is independent of that. Having a belief in God is dogmatic to say the least. There is no rational way to say that God exists. To believe in God one must bypass reason and embrace faith. This is ok if believing in God gives a person comfort and security, although if we tie God to morality it may become problematic. Something as important and influential as morality should not be based on a dogma. If there is no proof that God exists beyond a shadow of a doubt than why do people still believe? Indoctrinate plays more of a role than rational and clear thinking. Religious indoctrination caters to our psychological insecurities and needs, not to reason. Think of some things that we know do not exist. An example would be the tooth fairy or maybe unicorns. We are proud to be skeptical and disapproving, however religion tells us when it comes to believing in God, faith is a virtue. God and Morality pg. 5. Morality is an autonomous human virtue that is independent of God. Otherwise, it would not be possible that atheists behave with impeccable moral standards and so many God believers do not have any morals. Let it also be noted that the great moral traditions of the world do not bring God into morality. Two of the most recognized and adored moral traditions in the east, Confucianism and Buddhism do not believe in God. The roots of morality in the west are in the idea of ancient Greeks, especially Plato and Aristotle who based their morality on reason alone, not on any dogma. It appears that religions who originate in the Middle East have a pronounced inclination to base morality on God. These same religions are also the most violent ones in history, killing many in the name of God. There is no evidence that theists are more moral than monotheists. Physiological studies have failed to find a significant correlation between the frequency of religious worship and moral conduct. An example is that convicted criminals are much more likely to be theists than not. With this being said it is a clear assumption that good people do good because they want to do good. It is not because they personally benefit from the good they do or because they are being forced. Fundamentalists perceive that the universal moral standards are required for the proper function of a society. Philosophers as diverse as Plato, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, George Edward Moore, and John Rawls have demonstrated to us that it is possible to have universal morality without having a belief in God. God and Morality pg. 6 As is stated by Paul Kurtz â€Å"One needs no theological grounds to justify these elementary principles. They are rooted in Human experience. † (Kurtz, P.1996) Now we will discuss that morality and God are linked and that religious beliefs are linked to the morality of each and every person who chooses to live their life in a moral way. If God does not exist, says Dostoyevsky’s Ivan Karamazov, â€Å"everything is permitted,† which means that we as humans can make choices whether they are good or bad, hurtful or nice. The direction in which society is going in suggests that people have lost their â€Å"way†. Too many bad things happen due to human badness. God is no longer allowed in public places, schools, government agencies, etc. This argument suggests that because God has slowly disappeared from our day to day lives society is going downhill at a very fast pace. Does this mean that God is linked to morals in our modern society? Fundamentalists claim that all ill’s in today’s society such as aids and out of wed lock pregnancy are a direct result of a breakdown in morality and this breakdown is due to a decline in the belief in God. The view that God created the moral law is often called the â€Å"Divine Command Theory of Ethics† According to this view is that what makes an action right is that God wills it to be done. All standards that we live by have consequences if not followed or adhered to. There is the fear of punishment. If we speed in our car we are given a ticket. If we God and Morality pg. 7 Sin our souls will spend eternity in hell. Heaven and Hell are often construed as the carrot and the stick that God dangles in front of to make us tow the line, to keep on the straight and narrow. Heaven is the reward and hell is the punishment. Would society be able to function correctly and morally if these rewards and punishments were not in plain view? We have lawmakers and peacekeepers all over the world to help make and enforce the laws so that people know there are consequences. Morals are no different. They help define a person’s goodness and worthiness of the ultimate reward, eternity in heaven. Moral standards without moral sanctions just simply do not mean much. Any person who thinks that it is sufficient to have relative standards that are based upon what groups or individuals feel is right or just cannot see a connection between God and morality. Moral principles such as don’t steal, don’t murder etc.must be objective and practiced by all putting aside any personal conflicts. When people accept moral principles without having a reason to they do not hold these principles as closely as someone who believes in God simply because there are no carrot or stick to hold them in place where they need to be, rather a personal belief or a mandated belief by societal rules in what is right or wrong If we recognize that God does exist than we recognize that God created the world and mankind in his own likeness. For this argument it makes sense to say that God controls the world which justifies ethical obligations. To deny God’s existence we God and Morality pg. 8 Are ethically obligated to what exactly? We typically learn morality from our parents and from those we love, we are conditioned to follow a morally righteous path in life, however to have such a standard of moral obligation can only be granted by God, binding every person and demanding such impeccable respect. By letting God into our lives we are accepting good instead of evil, we are consummating the fact that we are moral and ethical. By allowing God’s teachings and praise into our lives we are promised a more enriching morally accepted life. My view prior to doing any research was that Yes! You can lead a moral life without having a belief in God. I was raised Catholic, I even went to Catholic school, however, I have questioned my own religion over the years and now I have turned my back on it. I do bring my children to church which allows them to draw their own conclusions about God. I want them to have that choice in life and of course I would never condemn them for believing in God. It is just my personal choice. I live in the Bible belt and I always get asked the question, â€Å"where do you go to church? † I typically tell them that I do not go to church, which is similar to having the plague. It is not that I am not a good person. I feel that I am. Any morals and values that I have my parents have instilled in me. I also believe that the â€Å"rules† or commandments of God are simply a guide established at the time the bible was written to keep society in line. I absolutely agree with the fact of you do not have to believe in God to be moral. I make choices everyday and my choices are based on God and Morality pg. 9the things that I believe to be the best choice for the people I love, people I do not know and myself. I have never had any problems reaching out to help another person whether I knew them or not. I also feel that I go above and beyond at times helping others when I need to. Living a good moral life is a choice and I do it for no other reason than to be there for someone else. I do not do it for glory or self righteousness, or because someone is looking, I do it because for me it is all about treating others the way I wish to be treated. God and Morality pg. 10 References Baumin, S. (2008) Antitheism and Morality. Philosophical Forum retrieved March 27, 2013 from http://dx. doi. org/10. 111/j. 1467-9191. 2007. 00282. x Frame and Poythress. A debate between John Frame and Paul Kurtz. Do we Need God to be Moral? retrieved March 25,, 2013 from http:// poythress. org/do-we-need-god-to-be-moral/ Gert, Bernard. (2012) The Definition of Morality. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Edward N. Zalto (ed. ), retrieved March 27, 2013 from http://plato. stanford. edu/archives/fall2012/entries/morality-definition. Merrill, K. R. (2012) Spectres of False Divinity:Hume’s Moral Atheism. Retrieved March 25, 2013 from http://search. proquest. com. proxy-library. ashford. edu/docview/1288432167. accountid=32521 Reich, R. B. (2013)The Morality Brigade retrieved March 27,2013 from http://baltimoresun. com/opinion/bal-the-morality-brigade-20130326,0,146487 God and Morality pg. 11 Schick, T. Jr. (1995)Morality Requires God†¦. or Does it? Retrieved March 25, 2013 from http://www. secular. humanism. org/index. php? section=library&page=schick_17_3.

Crime Causation and Diversion Paper Essay

Reading this paper it will discuss a few reasons to why juvenile delinquents behave the way that they do. This leads to the two diversion programs that are used in the state of Louisiana. This paper will discuss each program’s major goals, objectives, and core beliefs. A discussion about each program’s key participants as well as the different types of services each program offers. The paper will explain each program’s effective way at reducing juvenile crime. Lastly, the paper will end with a discussion about which program out of the two programs that work the best to reduce crimes committed by juveniles. There are many reasons to why juvenile becomes delinquents and then there are some that do not have a reason. Usually it starts in the home. Parents are the first people that can teach their children right from wrong. However, if a child comes from a single parent home may cause them to misbehave. If the child is in a two parent home but there is no discipline or if the parents are ex-criminal can cause the child to misbehave as well. The area where a child lives can play a big role to why a child can become a delinquent as well. For example if there is a lot of killing, low income living, and gang groups. Next it is the community, if there is nothing to offer a child they will most certainly turn into juvenile delinquents due to the fact that a child like activities and without the positive activities they see the negative activities as fun. Basically there is no single cause for all delinquents and not all delinquents carry out crimes thought-out there life. However, with major of Delinquents there are risk such as birth trauma, child abuse and neglect, ineffective parental discipline, family disruptions, conduct disorder and hyperactivity in children, school failure, learning disabilities, negative peer influences, limited employment opportunities, inadequate housing, and residence in high-crime neighborhoods. These examples can cause a juvenile to act out negatively (Juvenile Justice Bulletin, 1998). In the State of Louisiana there are different juvenile programs. There are two programs  that are very nice to use. The First program is the Model Programs Guide which is one of the first programs Louisiana juvenile justice had used. From the time MPG started up to 2013 it has been modified and updated. According to OJJDP (2013), â€Å"The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP’s) Model Programs Guide (MPG) contains information about evidence-based juvenile justice and youth prevention, intervention, and reentry programs. It is a resource for practitioners and communities about what works, what is promising, and what does not work in juvenile justice, delinquency prevention, and child protection and safety†. Vision Statement â€Å"The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) envision a nation where our children are healthy, educated, and free from violence. If they come into contact with the juvenile justice system, the contact should be rare, fair, and beneficial to them (OJJDP, 1)†. Mission Statement â€Å"The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provide national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. OJJDP supports states and communities in their efforts to develop and implement effective and coordinated prevention and intervention programs and to improve the juvenile justice system so that it protects public safety, holds offenders accountable, and provides treatment and rehabilitative services tailored to the needs of juveniles and their families (OJJDP, 1)†. MPG is an easy-to-use, central, reliable, and credible resource program that helps support communities and policymakers in identifying programs that can make a difference in families and children’s lives. The purpose of MPG is to support in practical decision making and program implementation by gathering information on specific juvenile justice-related programs and reviewing the existing evaluation research against standard criteria. The Programs that MPG provides are as followed: Child Protect; Health and Welfare; Children Exposed to Violence and Victimization; Delinquency Prevention; Detention; Confinement and Supervision, Juvenile Justice System and JJDPA; Juvenile and Family Courts; Law Enforcement; Populations; School; and Youth Offenders. Each Program has several individual programs that are related for each issue that a juvenile may have. The program address issues such as child  victimization, substance abuse, youth violence, mental health and trauma, and gang activity. In addition to the information provided by MPS there are additional resources that practitioners, policymakers, and communities can use to improve the effectiveness of interventions, enhance accountability, ensure public safety, and reduce recidivism (OJJDP, 2013). The next program that the state of Louisiana uses is the Blue Print program. This program specializes in the study and prevention of youth violence. Blueprint list is recommended by 72% of educational agencies. The program is very successful in preventing negative behavior and healthy youth development. Most school districts use â€Å"The Blueprints standard for certifying programs as â€Å"model† or â€Å"promising† is one of the highest in the field (CSPV, 1)†. Mission Statement â€Å"The Blueprints mission is to identify evidence-based prevention and intervention programs that are effective in reducing antisocial behavior and promoting a healthy course of youth development (CSPV, 1)†. The Blueprint programs focus the reconstruction of youth violent behavior. A few programs that blue print provides: Adolescent Coping with Depression, Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS), Behavioral Monitoring and Reinforcement Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Communities That Care, Functional Family Therapy (FFT), Guiding Good Choices, and New Beginnings (Intervention for children of divorce)(CSPV, 2013). There are more programs and they all deal with the reason to why juvenile would turn delinquent. Each program listed above touches the core issues of youths. The staff at blueprint does continuous research on their youth programs. â€Å"Blueprints’ standards for certifying model and promising prevention programs are widely rec ognized as the most rigorous in use. Program effectiveness is based upon an initial review by Blueprints staff and a final review and recommendation from a distinguished advisory board, comprised of experts in the field of youth development† (CSPV, 1). Other researchers certifies these programs as rigorous and effectiveness through evaluation. Both programs are good and they both provide services that are intended to help juvenile behavior and reduce juvenile crime. However, the Model Program Guide really does not stick out like the Blueprint Program does. Blueprint touches more on the core of the problem. MPG provides  services that would help prevent juvenile crimes and it has been somewhat effective, Blueprint focus on behavior. What causes a juvenile to act out? Blueprint provides caring and reinforcement to a juveniles issue. In conclusion, crimes are committed by juveniles on day-to-day basis and each juvenile has a different attitude towards the crime that was committed. Life situations occur for juveniles which can cause a short or long term effect. The juvenile diversion programs like the Model Programs Guide and the Blueprint provides different types of prevention programs which targets to prevent future crimes. Programs vary from state to state and they are not all the same, nor do they have the same effect on all juveniles. In, conclusive what is known is that all prevention programs invoice a certain time period of powerful control over offenders to prevent the offender from any future offenses. Source CSPV-Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence- (2013). Blueprint for Violence Prevention Program. Retrieved from http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/. November 15, 2013. Juvenile Justice Bulletin (October 1998). Program of Research on the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency. Retrieved from http://www.ojjdp.gov/jjbulletin/9810_2/program.html. November 15, 2013. OJJDP-Officer of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2013). Model Programs Guide. Retrieved from http://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg. November 16, 2013.

Ethics system table Essay

This ethics is also referred to as teleological ethics. This refers to the end results or the outcomes of certain decisions. The acts determine what is ethical. What is viewed to be ethical is the action most likely to result to in the best good or the action with the most significance. This action usually gives the best consequence. Rights-Based Ethics This is the ethics that outlines the privileges that an individual is entitled to. This is based on the ground of categorical imperative which views a person as a moral agent in relation to other people. The rights are treated to be true and correct as they are approved by many people. However, it is difficult to determine which rights should be approved and which ones should be discarded. Human Nature Ethics Also referred to as humanistic ethics. These ethics emphasis on doing what is right and best for the society as a whole. This ethic which mainly dominates ethical theory is a more clearly altruistic. The ethics aims at virtue as well as having social improvement rather than having personal success. The ethics is concerned about everybody in the society. People should not be afraid to lend a helping hand or to receive one Relativistic Ethics This ethics is viewed as an inquiry to what is right or wrong through a critical review of the people’s beliefs and practices. The ethic however fails to recognize that some societies have better reasons of holding tom their views than others. The ethic raises important issues in that different cultural societies have different beliefs and are greatly influenced by culture. The ethics challenges people to explore on the belief systems that differ their own and to find an explanation why people hold their belief system. Entitlement-Based Ethics This is an ethic that views that you owe me because it’s my right to have everything that you have. Virtue-Based ethical This ethic places less emphasis on the rules that people should follow and instead tries to find of teaching people good virtues such as generosity and kindness. These traits later help the person to make better decisions in life. They also emphasis that people should know how to avoid bad virtues such as greed and hatred. These are viewed as hindrances of becoming a good person. Ethical Theory or System Brief Definition Other Names for Theory Real-world Example Workplace Example Duty-based Ethics Regardless of consequences, certain moral principles are binding, focusing on duty rather than results or moral obligation over what the individual would prefer to do (Trevino and Nelson, 2007, Ch. 4). Deontology, pluralism, moral rights, rights-based Categorical imperative Golden rule I believe people should be able to eat sand because it is the right thing to do. It is my duty to follow through with instructions my boss gives me, even if I do not agree with the concept. It is my moral obligation to respect authority figures. Consequence-based Ethics What is viewed to be ethical is the action most likely to result to in the best good or the action with the most significance. teleological ethics I believe people should be able to eat sand because it is good for one’s health. We ignore the consequence of telling the truth to the police as it may lead to the imprisonment and detention of another person. Rights-based Ethics the privileges that an individual is entitled to Society norms I believe people should be able to eat sand if they want to because they are free to make the decision themselves. In America it is so clear on the right of the people to choose their faith; therefore people in the USA have a right to choose their religion. Human Nature Ethics emphasis on doing what ibis right and best for the society as a whole Humanistic ethics. I believe that if sand is going to be eaten, it should be available for everyone to eat. In an organization people should encourage teamwork as much as possible in order for it to run successfully. Relativistic Ethics Viewed as an inquiry to what is right or wrong through a critical review of the people’s beliefs and practices. Ethnocentric ethic I believe I will eat sand because it is the standard meal for my community. Every organization should be viewed as unique and different from others as it has its own practices and code of conduct. Entitlement-based Ethics Views that you owe me because it’s my right to have everything that you have. I believe people should be able to eat sand if they decide they want to, regardless of whether it is someone else’s sand. A person may claim to be paid his salary by the company at the end of the month. Virtue-based ethics places less emphasis on the rules that people should follow and instead tries to find of teaching people good virtues such as generosity and kindness Character based ethic I believe people should be able to eat sand if they like the taste of it. The organization should teach people what is right or wrong and leave them to make good decisions later. Reference Trevino, L. , and Nelson, K. (2007). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right. Hoboken: Wiley.

Introduction & Conclusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Introduction & Conclusion - Essay Example overview of the history of my hometown and some information and trivia of note that helps make the Freetown, Sierra Leone area of West Africa a very interesting place to visit. Not everyone knows that Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone and as such, holds the distinction of having the Atlantic Ocean as its major port. This city, with a current population of over 1.2 million has an economy that relies heavily on the harbor for its jobs with the Sierra Leone River providing most income for the population thanks to having the worlds largest natural deep water harbor. As a historical landmark, Freetown is home to the founding history of Sierra Leone. Founded by African - Americans, it once also housed liberated West-Indian and African slaves. All symbolically represented by the Cotton Tree which once stood as the historic symbol of Freetown. Freetown exists with a mostly tropical climate that has only 2 seasons, wet and dry that is enjoyed by the Muslim and Christian residents of the area. All of whom are united by the Krio (Creole language) that is the first language of all Freeportians. English is also spoken widely among the more well educated members of the town society. Comprised of 6 municipalities and governed by a city council, its local government is composed of a typical heirarchy: a mayor with executive authority who also happens to be the city manager, and the elected members of the Freetown City Council who hold their offices for 4 years respectively. It has been led by the All Peoples Congress since the 2004 elections. As a modern 21st century town, Freeport continues to exercise its importance as the economic center of Sierra Leone. With the continued development of the Queen Elizabeth Quay II, the Freetown port is highly capable of receiving a vast number of ocean going vessels in support of the countrys export industry. Industrial developments covering food and beverage processing, fish packing, rice milling, oil refining, diamond

My educational goals and career plans Research Paper

My educational goals and career plans - Research Paper Example Likewise, it is my work as an assistant cook at the Especially 4 U Restaurant which tops my impressive list of community service and work experience.   Very simply put - I love to cook. Every dish I cook is an expression of my creativity and my caring, and there is no greater satisfaction than that of watching people relish my food. My dream is to become a top chef. I believe that the best path towards achieving this goal is to earn top notch educational credentials in food and nutrition, and simultaneously gain as much hands-on, practical knowledge as possible. I then hope to travel round the globe, work under the master chefs of various countries, and go on to become a cordon bleu chef. My ultimate goal is to open my own restaurant, exhibiting my individualistic, distinctive style of cooking: a style rooted in the warmth and love of home-cooked food. I am confident that my strengths, which include the determination to excel in whatever I do, my committed work ethic, my extroversion and love of social interaction, and, above all, my passion for cooking will help me to achieve my goal. As a person who is dedicated to community service, I also hope to harness my future education and career to provide succor to the lesser privileged and contribute to the food needs of those in

ITM501, Management Information Systems & Business Strategy, Mod 5 Case Essay

ITM501, Management Information Systems & Business Strategy, Mod 5 Case Assignment - Essay Example In todays world, IT knowledge cannot remain the same nor can it be thrown out. It must be grown and grown rapidly or with each new thing, it would mean going back to the beginning. In this case the team will need to do a structured analysis of the present system and of the new system to assure that where the corporation wants it to go is where it is headed. A structured analysis begins with a physical description of the current system and continues with a logical description of the system. It then ends with a logical description of the new system. This is all done in a partitioned data flow diagram. In other words, loss of the good things in the old system should not occur when the new system is adapted. Every system has a life cycle. A life cycle is a description of the distinct phases through which the IT process passes (Jirava, 2009). There are requirements which include definitions, concept design, production, operation, and maintenance. The time that the system is connected up to the time it is disposed of is considered. The team will need to consider several phases of the life cycle. Once the structured analysis is done, there is the requirements phase, development phase, operation phase, and retirement phase. Each of these should be considered and kept track of on a regular basis. This is where the corporation can win by having a well functioning IT team on premises. This way, this work goes on continuously instead of being scheduled on particular days or months. Jirava tells us (2009) that ":a life cycle is a set of procedures, some required and some optional which serve as a template for generating an individual design process. He reiterates that this is a top down, partitioned graphic model of the system to be and that there is huge importance of data definitions and scaled down specifications. There is also a need to have participatory

Current real estate market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current real estate market - Essay Example at are easy to distinguish from regular paragraph content, but the online format has been cleverly designed to be more practical and versatile for the everyday user, especially if that user happens to be a buyer, seller, or real estate professional. The purpose of this essay is to describe the content found in the real estate section of a newspaper of this type—including updates on interest rates, surveys of construction costs and sales prices, and articles referencing legislation or other issues that have an effect on the real estate market—as well as to respond to the located material, pointing out how such content could be helpful to a real estate appraiser. Located in the center of the real estate section of the newspaper’s website was an absolutely indispensable tool to a real estate appraiser. It provided links to articles and information on some incredibly specific areas related to real estate, including general real estate news; homes; condos; second homes; money issues; trends; and neighborhood information. Clearly, such a vast wealth of information can be utilized using this tool that it has been categorized to make it easier for those with a vested interest in real estate to locate what they are searching for. Interest rate information was available through two major sources in the newspaper: articles discussing interest rate trends and tools and calculators that would allow one to calculate such a rate using information such as the purpose of their desired loan, the type of loan, the discount point range, and the estimated loan amount. Obviously, tools of this type can only provide rough estimates as financial figures such as interest rates are based on a variety of factors outside of the tool’s capabilities, such as creditworthiness. There were literally tons of articles in the newspaper that pointed to a vast increase in the number of foreclosures over the course of the past year, provided information detailing the differences between

How a nurse's attendance can affect professionalism, pt. outcomes, etc Essay

How a nurse's attendance can affect professionalism, pt. outcomes, etc - Essay Example The availability of nurses during their shift is essential in a number of sectors in the hospital, and for this reason a glitch in this attendance may lead to various problems that may occur as a result. Areas Affected by a Nurse’s Attendance There are a number of areas within medical facilities that can be affected by the lack of proper attendance by a nurse, some of the more essential sectors that are affected include: Doctors Nurses can be considered to be a doctor’s right hand as they assist greatly in a large number of the activities they are involved in. Nurses in some cases have actually been known to do most of the work when compared to doctors in cases that do not require issues such as surgeries (Chin, 2008). A doctor will come in and evaluate the patient to determine what their ailment is and prescribe the required medication that is needed but a nurse will usually take over the responsibilities henceforth. This will include duties such as administering the p rescribed medicine, ensuring the dosage is as per the doctor’s instructions, handle any further complications that may occur such as ensuring the patient is comfortable as well regularly checking up n them to ensure that there are no unexpected changes. If a nurse does not have a proper attendance record, this may in effect cripple the doctor’s activities as it is hard to operate without the assistance of a nurse by their side (Chin, 2008). The lack of an available nurse may mean that a doctor will faced with extra responsibilities that they will have to handle themselves leading to interference in their schedule, which would mean they may not be capable of attending to as many patients as they usually would in cases where a nurse is available. Doctors handle all the responsibilities on their own which would in return reduce the effectiveness of the hospital in general as activities will be crippled as a result (Chin, 2008). The tardiness in a nurse may lead to the nee d for another to take up extra responsibilities, which would also reduce the quality of work that is done as the said nurse struggles to keep up with both their and their fellow nurse’s duties. Patients This group of people can be considered to be the ones that are mostly affected by a poor attendance by nurses as their wellbeing relies heavily on them. A patient wound not be able to have sufficient service offered to them without the availability of a nurse as a doctor is not accountable for a large number of things that are required by inpatients as well as outpatients and the lack of a proper attendance by a nurse will lead to this innocent group of people suffering as a result (DeWit, 2009). Nurses can be considered to be the ones who take care of the patients once the doctor has finished examining them and given their verdict of what needs to be done and thus without the availability of a nurse this care would not be attainable especially by inpatients. Nurses can be con sidered to be the groups that interacts the most with patients and perform a large number of duties such as the administering of medicine that has been prescribed to them (DeWit, 2009). In some cases, a doctor may examine a patient and write down a prescription leaving it for a nurse to come and read then administer it as per the instructions. A poor attendance may lead to situations where a patient does not receive their medication within the

Political Participation by Latino Non-Citizens in the US Article

Political Participation by Latino Non-Citizens in the US - Article Example As the discussion highlights  the study’s resultant figure for the Latino non-citizens’ political participation was an insignificant 3.6%. Though this meager figure indicated less participation, the study still was able to present other rooms for interpretation of political behavior. For instance, it was found that Latino non-citizens were â€Å"about one and a half times more likely to participate† in local non-political groups and may indicate a perception of non-political activities as â€Å"directly relevant and †¦ more fun†.This paper outlines that political activities and levels of participation were divided into two types: the less demanding activities (i.e., â€Å"wearing a button or displaying a sign, signing a petition or   attending a public meeting†); and the more demanding activities (i.e. â€Å"volunteering for   a political campaign and donating money†). The trend for both citizen and non-citizen was similar: higher participation rates for less demanding activities and lower participation rates for the more demanding activities. Though the same trend appeared for both, the citizens still have a significantly, higher participation rate against the non-citizens.  The aforementioned figure of 3.6% also opened discussions for the relevance of understanding the variables behind the differences in the level of participation among the Latino non-citizens. The study delved and shed light on this through elaborating how â€Å"results show that participation is not random†.... Though the same trend appeared for both, the citizens still have a significantly, higher participation rate against the non-citizens. The aforementioned figure of 3.6% also opened discussions for the relevance of understanding the variables behind the differences in the level of participation among the Latino non-citizens. The study delved and shed light on this through elaborating how â€Å"results show that participation is not random† (Leal, 2002, p. 369). Moreover, active participation lies on at least six of these identified variables: 1) how politically-informed non-citizens were; 2) the perception on the existing differences between political parties; 3) the depth of political interest; 4) possession or lack of â€Å"a strong ethnic identity;† likelihood of participation for 5) the younger generation; and 6) those planning to naturalize (Leal, 2002, p. 369). The fact that the younger generation was seen as more likely to participate in political activities seemed to correct a former assumption: â€Å"age is seen as a close cousin of education; people are thought to gain more information as they age and therefore, grow more likely to participate† (Leal, 2002, p. 368). The author pointed out that the proliferation by such younger participators among Latino non-citizens maybe due to the increasing anti-immigrant stance adopted by the American politics (Leal, 2002). In other words, the current political environment created a new breed of political activists among the Latino non-citizens. As long as this political environment persists, high political involvement should be expected from the young ones of the Latino immigrants. Implications Political knowledge.

Case study analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Analysis - Case Study Example Proper communication channels in an organization aids in the processes of solving problems and communicating the processes of problem solving to all the concern parties in a timely manner (Villines, 2011). In the current business environment, large volume of information is communicated using advanced technological tools to enhance performance and profitability of the organization. Communication creates organizational excellence which stems from the dedication of the people who are effectively communicated to the deliver their best to the organization they work for (Heath, 2006). British petroleum is one of the largest energy players in the global market based on market capitalization and scales of operations. It is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom and has operational presence in several countries across the world and is thus considered as the fifth largest energy multinational in the world. It repackages the refined oils and distributes to different parts of the world as e ither gas, petrochemical and other forms of gas used to drive industries and machines across the world. In the United States, BP America is the largest subsidiary of BP with operations in the United States and southern American continent (Hearit, 2006). On the 20th April 2010, one of the worst disasters hit BP America that culminated into one major organization struggle in an effort to reduce the damage and restore the image of the company. The company’s oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico caused mass spillage into the sea resulting into major environmental destruction, loss of life and interruption of naval activities in the area. During this crisis, the organization adopted a communication approach that enabled its stakeholders and the society at large to respond whenever a situation arose (Coombs, 2007). In this paper, the communication strategies used by BP America will be evaluated in line with organizational communication theories and perspectives. The case study will seek to answer vital questions on the communication approach and response approaches that the company adopted during this time and how these strategies enabled the company to rise to its feet after the disaster. While analyzing BP communication strategies, this case study will a number of organizational communication principles that were applied. It will provide basis for the communication approach the company adopted during this conflict and crisis and how it enabled it to restore normalcy. The management and leadership of BP America will also be paced into perspective as the paper will seek to highlight the communication response that the management adopted during this point in time. Strategic communication approaches used by BP America The BP oil spill occurred at a time when the world communication approach had revolved into a major issue in organizations as it holds the key to any organizational success. Strategic organizational communication is defined as the ability for an organi zation to ineptly analyze the facts involved in a situation while selecting the best approach to deliver it to the eager public. This communication approach seeks to achieve specific targets and is directed at specific people with the belief that the people will buy that idea the organization is selling (Hearit, 2006). In making

The rocking horse winner bylawrence Essay Example for Free

The rocking horse winner bylawrence Essay Research paper: compare and contrast :The rocking horse winner bylawrence, and The lottery by jackson BY 210775 Just We Three The Savior is not a silent observer. He Himself knows personally and infinitely the pain we face. Monday, November 19, 2012 Compare and Contrast A paper from my English Literature and Composition class this summer Abstract In Graham Greenes The Destructors and Richard Connells The Most Dangerous Game Rainsford and Trevor (better known as T. are each faced with a moral ilemma. Each character is confronted with a post-war scenario. While T. is immersed in it, living in a post-war London, and striving to fit in with his peers; Rainsford faces an opponent who survived the overthrow of the Czar and continued to pursue his favored sport despite societal acceptance. T. is from a higher social status than that of his peers and must find a way to fit in and earn their respect. Rainsford is shipwrecked on an island with a big game hunter and must survive the ost challenging hunt of his life. The purpose of this essay is to compare the way these moral dilemmas affect each character, how they address the struggle, how they internalize their perception, and how they work toward resolution with their inner conflict. 1 . Adapting to challenges (both key individuals) a. Rainsford is successful 2. Character Analysis a. Trevor-cultured hoodlum b. Rainsford-cultured hunter 3. Conflict a. Rainsford

Violence against Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender Essay Example for Free

Violence against Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender Essay In the past, society has been responsible in inculcating, indoctrinating and impressing on the minds of people that there are only two kinds of gender, either male or female. But in our modern setting, society has learned to adapt to the non-conformists in their midst in regards to this classification. But there are those who by virtue of their fear or upbringing, has raised the specter of violence against these individuals for no other reason than satiating their fear and hatred of gays and lesbians in this society. Can the incidence of violence against gays and lesbians be stopped? Should heterosexual society have justifications in their fear, or hate, of the â€Å"queer† people? In the article of Valerie Jennes and Kimberly Richman, Anti-Gay Violence and its Discontents (2002), there are recent crimes that seem to suggest just that. In a most heinous display of homophobia in the United States, one homosexual man from Wyoming, Matthew Shepard, was brutally killed by two assailants, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson (Diane Richardson and Steven Seidman p. 403). In the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the victim allegedly made advances on the suspect which provoked the suspect to go into a murderous fit. Counsel for the defendants argued that the incident was triggered by the homophobic tendencies of the suspect (Richardson and Seidman 403). After the Shepard case, Billy Jack Gaither was murdered by friends of McKinney and Russell. Again, the reason cited in the investigations was homophobia. Gaither was hit repeatedly with an axe handle, and then set on fire using a pile of tires as kindling. All of the cases were done by reason of the fear of homosexuals and the alleged sexual advances made by the victims on the suspects (Richardson and Seidman 403). Cases like these only display one fact. It must be understood that this incidents present a throwback to the old ideas that there are only male and female roles to be filled in the society, and anything else is deviant. But in this day and age, many of those roles are adequately fulfilled in by the non-conformists in the society, those who aver that it is their choice or give weight to the biological factors that make them as such. Most of the LGBT sector is afraid of revealing themselves and being true to their identity because of the ridicule and the shame that they would be made to endure (Riki Wilchins 265). In any society, there is always the event that what that society fears the most, it learns to hate it, not because of anything that the object of that fear has, but in the mere fact that the object gives them the thought that this object found its way into that society. This seems to be the main driver of the hate against gays and lesbians. It is thios hate that drives them to commit crimes against homossexuals. In her article Coming Out, Professor Paula Rodriguez Rust explains the term as recognizing that an individual has feelings of attraction towards a member of their own sex, embrace a bisexual outlook, and be able to share that identity with others (Paula Rust 227). This must be done to be recognized as such since the society has been inculcated with the notion that all are heterosexual. Since this is the operative assumption, then all parents would expect that their children are heterosexual and conduct themselves in a heterosexual manner. If one were to replace this resident societal identity with another so-called â€Å"deviant† one, these individuals run the risk of being ostracized rather than accepted (Rust 227). A revealed homosexual, once he does so, will find that their relationships in the heterosexual society will be vastly different than the one held in that society. It means a change in the attitudes and disposition members of that society will accord that person, gay or lesbian. Relationships with the members of that society, especially close ones such as friends or family, will dramatically alter for the worse. One will experience the impoverishment of closeness of these relationships, since their behavior or identity runs against the grain of that society (Rust 227). One of the subjects Wilchins interviewed intimated about the shame that he felt every time that his mother would ask him to hold her bag in the shop (Wilchins 265). His partner said that he used to skip classes every time they would play baseball in the gym because of the comments about the feminine way that he threw the ball (Wilchins 265). It is evident from the reaction of these two individuals that the society they are in now still has to allow integration of their sector into the mainstream of the modern-day society. The modern society that the United States boasts of is still quite archaic in their beliefs, at least in this context. Through history has been replete with incidents of violent acts that focus on the gay and lesbian sector, it was only recently that the government have begun to accumulate the data on the different aspects of the crime of â€Å"gay bashing† (Richardson and Seidman 405). Before this time, verifiable information on the statistics of gay and lesbian violence was very hard to come by. It was not until the later 80s that scientific research work on the compilation of data regarding the causes and manifestations of the crimes against homosexuals that is vital in the work to address this issue has recently been accumulated. In the United States, there have been incessant calls for the authorities to look into and monitor incidents of crimes of bias, especially those affecting the gay and lesbian part of society (Richardson and Seidman 405). Heterosexism: Racism in a new light As the African Americans in the early history of the United States were subjected to racist initiatives, gays and lesbians were not spared from the ostracization of the society (Gregory Herek, PhD). Since the advent of the gay movement in the middle of the 1900s, many people have reprehended these individuals as sick, profligate and outright felonious. This line of thinking was given form by psychologist George Weinberg, coining the term homophobia (Herek). Weinberg (1969) used this term to quantify the fear of heterosexuals coming into close contact with homosexuals. His term was first printed in 1969, coming out in Weinbergs Society and the Healthy Homosexual in 1972 (Herek). So what is a homophobe (University of Florida)? In brief, a homophobe can be defined as a person with an intense hatred or dread of homosexuals. Heterosexism is the idea that a heterosexual is superior to a homosexual, and that homosexual relationships are not as legal or accepted as heterosexual ones. Heterosexism as a concept came about the same time as racism and sexism (Herek). As an ideology, the term came to define the actions of individuals to asperse, besmirch, and isolate any form of homosexual conduct or actions (Herek). In Wichins article, it was said that the gender issue is like some form of â€Å"closet† that gay and lesbians must be willing to come out of (Wilchins 266). This, according to Wilchin, is the area that is targeted by heterosexuals. As stated earlier, society has been impressed by a constant deluge of the need to conform to the genders and sexual types in the modern society. Male children are taught to talk, walk, and act like some Hollywood action star. If the actions of the children are in the least way feminine, they will be subjected to violence and debasement (Wilchins 266). They learn to abhor anything remotely connected to their feminine side, so that when they finally come up to one, they are more than willing to terminate that threat (Wilchins 266). This indifference and marginalized treatment of the gay and lesbian sector may be attributed to the invasive nature heterosexism has been influencing the dominant society. This can clarify the hidden nature that the gay and lesbian sector has been â€Å"operating† in the society. Again the dictates society declares that the practice of heterosexual activities and conduct is widely accepted and tolerated, and the practice of homosexual conduct is severely chastised and discouraged (Florida). If people who are known or are open in their practice of their identities are discovered, they are open to violent acts that seem to be perpetrated by the dictates of the society (Herek). In a 1987 report released by the United States Department of Justice on the statistics of bias crimes, it was found out that a majority of the targets of these crimes were minority group members, such as African Americans, Hispanics, Jews, Asians and gays and lesbians. It also noted that gays and lesbians were the most frequent victims of bias crimes. In other private-sponsored studies, crimes against homosexuals that were provoked or bought upon by homophobia and heterosexism topped the reasons for the commission of the crime (Richardson and Seidman 403). It seems that the main issue, however, in the issue of gays and lesbians in society is not that they operate, so to speak, in a different norm and manner. Rather, the issue is trying to create a niche in a heterosexual dominated society (Wilchins 267). Wilchins argues that the movement for the recognition for the rights of women ultimately bore enactment in laws for the benefit, in the same way that gay rights efforts ultimately gave rise to recognition of that sectors rights. If the gender issue is to discussed intelligently and objectively, then the gender rights movement must be bought out rather than hidden from the public agenda (Wilchins 267). For something to be discussed, what is needed is educated discussion, rather than making attempts at terminating the percieved threat. Can the violence against LGBTs be stopped? Again, we must go back to the freedom we speak of. It is recognized that many in the LGBT sector have risen up through the obstacles that this â€Å"modern† society has set up along their way and emerged triumphant, yet are still looked down upon, and in many instances, with hate permeating through the opposition. It is this hate that laws and statutes, however good they may be, cannot control, the choice of people to hate, to think ill of the gays and lesbians, and to concoct and perform violence against gays and lesbians. All that can be done is to make laws that are far more retributive against people who perform these acts. Federal and local governments should take the initiative in making laws or amending current statutes to give more protection for the gays and lesbians in the society. Unless modern society provides that niche by which the gays and lesbians can integrate themselves into the mainstream of society, it can be said that violence against gays and lesbians and others like them are likely to be a major problem. It is in the act of â€Å"modern† society to accept its diversity, not only in identity, but also in gender and preferences that it can be called a truly modern society. Works Cited Equality Maryland. â€Å"Hate Crimes Bill Heads to Governors Desk†. http://www. equalitymaryland. org/pr_2005/pr2005. 04. 09. htm Garnets, Linda and Kimmel, Douglas C. â€Å"Psychological Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Experiences: Chapter 9: Finding a Sexual Identity and Community, by Paula Rust†. New York City: Columbia University Press (2003). Works Cited Herek, Gregory M. â€Å" Definitions: Sexual prejudice, homophobia, and heterosexism†. http://psychology. ucdavis. edu/rainbow/HTML/prej_defn. html Richardson, Diane and Seidman, Steven . â€Å"Handbook of Gay and Lesbian Studies: Valerie Jennes and Kimberly D. Richman†. California: Sage Publications (2002). Wilchins, Riki Anne. â€Å"Time for Gender Rights†. GLQ: A Journal of Gay and Lesbian Studies Volume 10, Number 2 (2004). pp. 265-267. University of Florida. â€Å"What is heterosexism†? http://grove. ufl. edu/~ggsa/files/bboard/heterosexism. pdf.

Why People Should Connect More With Nature Theology Religion Essay

Why People Should Connect More With Nature Theology Religion Essay In the twenty-first century, people have practically forgotten how important it is to connect with nature. Despite all the technological advances and scientific inventions that make us believe we have nothing in common with the rest of the animal world, we are still part of the planets fauna, whether we realize it or not. Needless to say, back when humanitys main achievements were the invention of a round wheel, or specific tools for farming agriculture, people were very dependent on nature and paid a lot of attention to the changes of its course. Now, with the technological revolutions and discoveries that made our past history, we seem to pay extremely little attention to nature, getting more and more disconnected from it every day. However, the links that were initially there, couldnt just disappear and there is a number of important reasons in favor of the statement that people should try to get back to basics and connect with nature more than they do today. First of all, nature has historically been the home for human beings, just like it remains a home for animals and plants (of course, with the exception of those that are kept in zoos and greenhouses). Nature is able to show us true beauty, without modifications, exaggerations and falseness. After all, isnt is a little ironic that people go to galleries and exhibitions to look at paintings of colorful flowers, mighty woods, green hills and fast clear streams; those simple things that they can easily observe in real life if they just get outside their urban environment that looms around them? Or the fact that people purchase recordings of calming sounds of nature, like what youd hear at night in the woods damped quavering of an owl, ringing flare of crickets and susurrus rustle of bushes. What we are in fact doing is trying to deceive our minds and make ourselves believe that we ARE in the wood, next to those owls, crickets and bushes, while we are instead trapped inside our tiny, wel l-furnished and packed-with-technology apartment. Secondly, in the era of absolute informational chaos and noise, it becomes more important than ever to be able to pause from the crazy pace of life and relax. Finding silence and peace in the global vacuum of competitiveness, haste and strain, is very challenging. We go to doctors to treat us for depression, insomnia and anxiety. We ask for prescriptions and pills, while what we should be doing instead is turning to nature for help. What can be more relaxing and stress-free, than a cup of warm herbal tea with fresh honey, on the porch of a cozy wooden country house with a view of a small natural lake, or little green forest, or beautiful mountains? Its the cheapest, simplest and most accessible treatment one can think of. We laugh at those freaks hugging trees in the park, or walking barefoot on the grass. However, these people remember something very important; something, most others have forgotten somewhere along the race to progress and prosperity: the key to being healthy, emotio nally sustained and resistant to everyday stress, is staying connected to nature and allowing ourselves to put all business on hold and take a break. Nature is about balance and harmony things we lack most living inside the swirling pit of urbanized cities. Sometimes, we escape, but so rarely and so abruptly, that such escapes can hardly help us re-establish our links with nature. People should seriously consider changing their routine and getting out into nature more regularly. When was the last time you took a walk to the nearby pond, or spent a weekend outdoors doing active sports? When was the last time you went hiking, or fishing, or took your family or friends for a picnic in the nearby park? We should try to move our weekly entertainment, as well as our holiday celebrations, parties and friendly gatherings, from homes, pubs and restaurants to lake shores, mountains, parks, forests, ponds, rivers and groves. The beautiful landscapes of America are incredibly rich and diverse and this is our true natural wealth that we unfortunately often forget about. Many parents and teachers today can remember hours spent in the great outdoors, called in only for dinner or when the last ray of summer light disappeared. Bookworm that I was, I can personally remember being told many days, Its a much too beautiful day to be inside. Go read that book in a tree! Today, childrens lives seem to be structured much differently, a world where the phrase Go play outside has been replaced by television programs, computer time, and Wii Fit. Modern humans lived in nature for most of their long history. Even once colonization into cities occurred, people were surrounded by nature in the fields and farms where they lived. And until thirty or so years ago, children still spent the bulk majority of their free time in contact with nature. Urbanization brought about parks and playgrounds to play in; fields, forests, and empty lots to explore; and even in nearby backyards. Children freely played, explored, and interacted with nature without restriction. Todays world is much different. Children no longer freely explore the world around them, and many have extremely limited contact with nature at all. Fear for safety, structured lessons and activities, and electronics are some of the main inhibitors to natural discovery that involve children today. Spontaneous interaction with nature is most often limited, at best. Free play in nature encourages children to create games with their own invented rules, conduct experiments with nature, and learn lessons that arent taught by anyone. These types of no rules situations promote inventive play and give children a deeper understanding of nature. While playground equipment is a perk of modern urbanization, its uses are more finite than those nature provides. Although equipment can be open-ended, imagined as a castle one day and a boat the next, nature is ever changing. Crossing a stream one day might become searching for treasures under river stones another day as the stream dries up. Tactile outdoor experiences teach children differently than a lesson or even reading about a subject can. Besides the educational benefits, connecting with nature has more benefits than might be obvious. Research shows that children who are allowed to explore outdoors are socially and emotionally happier and healthier. Unstructured outdoor play is also touted as one of the most direct ways to combat childhood obesity, a very real and prominent problem for children. Vitamin D exposure from the sun is known to help prevent a host of diseases, as well as treat and prevent depression. Richard Louv, author of  Last Child in the Woods, has coined a phrase to sum up the current state of the modern child: nature deficit disorder. He believes that contact with nature can aid in preventing and treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and that children need regular contact with nature to stay physically and emotionally healthy. I highly recommend his book if you are interested in learning more about these ideas. Outdoor play gives children the opportunity to value nature, and see it as an important part of of our world. This is a tangible way to ensure that we help them developing environmental stewards who will be both appreciative and respectful of nature as they grow. Here are a few ideas for incorporating natural play into childrens everyday lives: * Find a nature trail (or any place in nature, really) and encourage children to play, rather than just hike. Help children make up a game or collect bugs or leaves * Allow children a small patch of land as their own. This can be in a backyard or a school yard. One school where I worked had a childrens garden in the strip of land that ran right next to the side of the school building. Let them use their imagination to dig, garden, build, etc. * Invest in a few inexpensive outdoor exploration tools: bug box, magnifying glass, butterfly net, shovel, spade, and compass * Rather than working indoors, take lessons outdoors. Learn about water cycles from the true source, use nature to teach about categorization, or compose a symphony of nature sounds. Even a language or math lesson is more fun when done outside on a beautiful day Outdoor play gives children the opportunity to value nature, and see it as an important part of of our world. This is a tangible way to ensure that we help them developing environmental stewards who will be both appreciative and respectful of nature as they grow. Images used during study Stopping to experience our natural surroundings can have social as well as personal benefits, says Richard Ryan, coauthor and professor of psychology, psychiatry and education at theUniversity of Rochester. While the salubrious effects of nature are well documented, from increasing happiness and physical health to lowering stress, this study shows that the benefits extend to a persons values and actions. Exposure to natural as opposed to man-made environments leads people to value community and close relationships and to be more generous with money, find Ryan and his team of researchers at the University of Rochester. The paper includes four experiments in which 370 participants were exposed to either natural or man-made settings. Participants were encouraged to attend to their environments by noticing colors and textures and imagining sounds and smells. In three of the studies, participants were shown a selection of four images on a 19 inch computer screen for two minutes each. Half of the subject viewed buildings, roads, and other cityscapes; the other half observed landscapes, lakes, and deserts. The urban and nature images were matched for color, complexity, layout, and lighting. In a fourth study, participants were simply assigned at random to work in a lab with or without plants. Participants then answered a questionnaire assessing the importance of four life aspirations: wealth and fame (to be financially successful and to be admired by many people) and connectedness and community (to have deep enduring relationships and to work toward the betterment of society). Across all four studies, people exposed to natural elements rated close relationships and community higher than they had previously. The questionnaire also measured how immersed viewers were in their environments and found that the more deeply engaged subjects were with natural settings, the more they valued community and closeness. By contrast, the more intensely participants focused on artificial elements, the higher they rated wealth and fame. To test generosity, two of the studies gave participants a $5 prize with the instructions that the money could be kept or given to a second anonymous participant, who would then be given an additional $5. The second participant could choose to return the prize money or keep it. Thus, subjects had nothing to gain if they chose to trust the other participant, and risked losing their money. The result? People who were in contact with nature were more willing to open their wallets and share. As with aspirations, the higher the immersion in nature, the more likely subjects were to be generous with their winnings. Why should nature make us more charitable and concerned about others? One answer, says coauthor Andrew Przybylski, is that nature helps to connect people to their authentic selves. For example, study participants who focused on landscapes and plants reported a greater sense of personal autonomy (Right now, I feel like I can be myself). For humans, says Przybylski, our authentic selves are inherently communal because humans evolved in hunter and gatherer societies that depended on mutuality for survival. In addition, write the authors, the richness and complexity of natural environments may encourage introspection and the lack of man-made structures provide a safe haven from the man-made pressures of society. Nature in a way strips away the artifices of society that alienate us from one another, says Przybylski. Lead author Netta Weinstein says that the findings highlight the importance of creating green spaces in cities and have implication for planners and architects. Incorporating parks and other representations of nature into urban environments may help build a stronger sense of community among residents, she explains. By contrast, to the extent that our links with nature are disrupted, we may also lose some connection with each other, the authors warn. This alienation may help explain other research showing that urban as compared to rural dwellers show more reservation, indifference, and estrangement from others. On a personal level, Weinstein says the take home message from the research is clear: We are influenced by our environment in ways that we are not aware of, she says. Because of the hidden benefits of connecting with nature, people should take advantage of opportunities to get away from built environments and, when inside, they should surround themselves with plants, natural objects, and images of the natural world. The more you appreciate nature, the more you can benefit, she says.

Woolfs Advice for the Woman Artist :: Virginia Woolf, A Room of Ones Own

Women who want to escape the label "woman writer" (as opposed to writer--the masculine norm) have had to write like one of the boys, de-sexing themselves. Super-feminine lady writers, if they stick to their nice nook, will be both praised and despised for doing what comes naturally. But the woman writer who refuses these categories blows the scheme sky-high and incurs the wrath of the gods. (Michele Roberts in The Independent, 1997) Perhaps more than any other late-twentieth century British woman writer, Jeanette Winterson has taken to heart Woolf's advice in A Room of One's Own that "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction" (4), but Winterson has also, as Michele Roberts points out, "incur[red] the wrath" of the cultural gods as a result. Winterson has used her literary and financial success to secure a life centered around her work and her concerns-- much to the fascination and horror of the British literary establishment and popular press. Winterson challenges the established "rules" of writing, publishing, reviewing--in sum, the cultural expectations for the woman artist in British society--constructing her life in order to argue against, as Woolf does in AROO, two cultural myths: that the artist can remain aloof from the material concerns necessary for the production of art, and that gender and its attendant social roles do not influence the production of that art. Continual ly re-inserting her body, her gender, and her capital into their portrait, Winterson wrestles with the British press and literary establishment for the right to construct her social role-- and live her life--on her own terms. In following Woolf's advice for the woman writer, then, Winterson has struck a nerve in British culture, and the public response she elicits, I will argue, illustrates the persistence of gendered and class-based expectations for a woman artist in Britain today. Instead of tolerating Winterson as another Martin Amis or, in one reviewer's comparison, excusing her behavior as comparable to "old Papa [Hemingway]'s bravado" (Faulks 9), the press presents Winterson's decidedly un-feminine and nouveaux riche behavior with a combination of fascination and ire. Indeed, she is taken to task for the very circumstances which have allowed her to produce her art. Winterson may have garnered the proverbial L500 and a room of her own, but her self-presentation and her resulting representation in the British press encourage us to revisit Woolf's advice and cultural analysis of the woman artist in a patriarchal society with a contemporary eye. Woolf's Advice for the Woman Artist :: Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own Women who want to escape the label "woman writer" (as opposed to writer--the masculine norm) have had to write like one of the boys, de-sexing themselves. Super-feminine lady writers, if they stick to their nice nook, will be both praised and despised for doing what comes naturally. But the woman writer who refuses these categories blows the scheme sky-high and incurs the wrath of the gods. (Michele Roberts in The Independent, 1997) Perhaps more than any other late-twentieth century British woman writer, Jeanette Winterson has taken to heart Woolf's advice in A Room of One's Own that "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction" (4), but Winterson has also, as Michele Roberts points out, "incur[red] the wrath" of the cultural gods as a result. Winterson has used her literary and financial success to secure a life centered around her work and her concerns-- much to the fascination and horror of the British literary establishment and popular press. Winterson challenges the established "rules" of writing, publishing, reviewing--in sum, the cultural expectations for the woman artist in British society--constructing her life in order to argue against, as Woolf does in AROO, two cultural myths: that the artist can remain aloof from the material concerns necessary for the production of art, and that gender and its attendant social roles do not influence the production of that art. Continual ly re-inserting her body, her gender, and her capital into their portrait, Winterson wrestles with the British press and literary establishment for the right to construct her social role-- and live her life--on her own terms. In following Woolf's advice for the woman writer, then, Winterson has struck a nerve in British culture, and the public response she elicits, I will argue, illustrates the persistence of gendered and class-based expectations for a woman artist in Britain today. Instead of tolerating Winterson as another Martin Amis or, in one reviewer's comparison, excusing her behavior as comparable to "old Papa [Hemingway]'s bravado" (Faulks 9), the press presents Winterson's decidedly un-feminine and nouveaux riche behavior with a combination of fascination and ire. Indeed, she is taken to task for the very circumstances which have allowed her to produce her art. Winterson may have garnered the proverbial L500 and a room of her own, but her self-presentation and her resulting representation in the British press encourage us to revisit Woolf's advice and cultural analysis of the woman artist in a patriarchal society with a contemporary eye.

Free Hamlet Essays: Hamlet, Fortinbras and Leartes :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet, Fortinbras and Leartes Hamlet, Fortinbras and Leartes are all very different people with different lives, but as these men interact in the play we learn that there are many circumstances surrounding them that mysteriously connect them. All three of these characters had some reason to avenge some circumstance in their life, but they all had a very different way of conquering the object of their hatred. Fortinbras Fortinbras had levied an army to attack and conquer Denmark. Though son of the late King of Norway, the crown of Norway had gone to his uncle, just as the crown of Denmark had gone to Hamlet's uncle. This shows that in the world of the play it was not unusual for brothers to late kings to be elected to the throne over the pretensions of their younger nephews. But Fortinbras was not prepared to accept his constitutional dispossession so easily. If he had been deprived of the throne of his father, he would try to conquer a kingdom of his own in which, as he later tells Horatio, he has "some rights of memory." Fortinbras is not willing to put an end to his military adventures. Desiring to win honor through the sword, he cares not that the prize of his glory is worthless or that he will sacrifice thousands of lives and much wealth for this hollow victory. Like Hamlet, Sr., Fortinbras is an empire builder who desires only to fight for glory and so, in an ironic way, he is fitted by character to inherit the kingdom of Hamlet, Sr. Leartes Laertes is a young man whose good instincts have been somewhat obscured by the concern with superficial appearances which he has imbibed from his father, Polonius. Like his father, Laertes apparently preaches a morality he does not practice and fully believes in a double standard of behavior for the sexes. But if his father allows him these liberties, it is that he may better approximate the manner of a so - called gentleman. More concerned with the outward signs of gentility than with any inner refinement of spirit, Laertes has well observed his father's advice to be concerned with appearances since "the apparel oft proclaims the man." As unconcerned for the order of society as he is for his own salvation, he would rather "dare damnation" than leave his father's honor and his own besmirched. Though the sight of his sister's madness brings him to a moment of true grief, he is still primarily enraged by his father's "obscure funeral - / No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones, / No noble rite nor formal ostentation.

Extrinsic Motivation Essay -- essays papers

Extrinsic Motivation Extrinsic motivation is an encouragement from a force from outside one’s self. These forces from outside are easily described as rewards. A reward is used to bribe a student into performing or completing an activity which they would not do without this reward. Certain types of rewards that are common are stars, red-light green-light, and stickers. These rewards seem to be the most common among teachers. They seem simple and harmless, but the child must not learn to only perform for a reward at all times, but for him or herself. The theory that extrinsic rewards create lasting change is false. There have been studies to prove that for example, money as a reward has been proven unsuccessful (Rehmke-Ribary). To praise students is not always a bad idea. Students expect to hear feedback about an activity or a response they give. Especially when the students are correct they feel better about themselves when the teacher recognizes their correctness. There are ways to praise without taking it too far. First, be sure to use appreciations that are honest. For example, â€Å"Thanks, that was very nice of you.† The appreciation isn’t based on work or an activity, but for showing politeness, or positive behaviors in the classroom. Students are motivated or unmotivated from every factor in a classroom. Second, students are often wrong when answering questions and it is the teacher’s job to make sure if the student gets the wrong answer that they are not discouraged from trying again. An idea to solve this problem from occurring is to show the student that the mistake they have made is ‘not that big of a deal.’ A third idea of showing praise is to make the students feel as if their input or ef... ...m This site describes what a teacher should say or not say in a classroom setting to students. It gives in detail examples of what should be said to motivate students. Rehmke-Ribary, E. What us intrinsic motivation? Retrieved October 12, 2004, from http://web.archive.org/web/20040222031553/seamonkey.ed.asu.edu /~jimbo/RIBARY_Folder/whatis.htm Rehmke-Ribary gives a great definition of what intrinsic motivation is, in a easy understanding way. Also, this site describes the problems with intrinsic motivation. Student Learning. (2004). Retrieved October 21, 2004, from http://caret.iste.org This article describes the use of technology in the classroom dealing with the aspect of motivation. Wagner, D. (March 2002). Student motivation and parental involvement. Retrieved November 21, 2004, from http://csmstu01.csm.edu/st03/dwagner/new_page_2.htm

Music Essay

Music is an eloquent medium of expressing ideas, feelings, dreams, aspirations and values as individuals and as a people. 1 People exposed to a wide variety of music ranging from the folksy to the contemporary top tunes, from the classical to the favorite songs of yesteryears, not only imparts knowledge but also develops skills and values which make music truly exhilarating and inspiring. It enhances a deep sense of humanism, nationalism, and spirituality. Music derived from the word â€Å"Muses;† the names of the daughters of Zeus who governed all the beauty and harmony in the world according to the Greek mythology. It’s unlimited cure of the aching heart and troubled mind of a tense person. Music as it is known, the language of the soul. In the view of combining sounds it is the science or art of pleasing, impressive or intelligible combinations of tones. Results of recent studies reveal that music learning especially on instrumental playing promotes mental development, concentration and patience. It also develops self confidence aside from its great contribution to cultural and aesthetic development. Music comes to men in different ways. To be hindered, uncultured tribes, tones, coming in unison from the musical instruments could be the most harmonized melodies; to a new born babe, music is her mother’s soothing voice; to an aging grandfather, what is the most melodious sound but the first uninhibited giggles of a grandson, his first perhaps. Music the nourishment of the soul, a gift of heaven and unending universal goal of persons born with rhythmic fingers, ears of precision, creative minds and varying emotions. Music a hymn from the angels passing through the brooks with its murmuring moans; through the leaves with the dying whispers; through the rippling and agonizing tones of the bells, through the rolling crystal waves of the equable sea heading for a reunion with the majestic boulders and the long stretched white sands and ponder on. The clinical implications of the effects of the music were evident to physicians in America as far back as colonial days. Music was used therapeutically in mental hospitals as early as 1692. Shortly thereafter, Samuel Mathews of Virginia commented on the highly beneficial effects of music and suggested its introduction as from of therapy into the Pennsylvania Hospital. 2 That music is of great value in psychiatric treatment is evident from its rapid rise to importance as adjunctive therapy. However, to be effective, such a program must be individualized with a view to the specific psychological conflicts of the individual and must be used within the framework of an overall treatment goal. In treatment of psychiatric patients, music is used in different ways: as a form of recreational therapy and as means of establishing contact with the patient in intensive psychotherapy. Its widest use in mental hospitals is for recreational purposes. Weekly dances, community singing and ether forms of group musical activity do much in relieving the intense loneliness of the mental health patient. In the operating room itself, properly chosen music can divert the patient’s attention virtually to the exclusion of the customarily ominous sights and sounds. Heavily sedation frequently is required thus increasing the possibility of untoward effects. In contrast to this, the uses of music as an adjunct to anesthesia and during convalescence often lessens the need for pre-operative and post-operative medication, ache the induction of anesthesia smoother, and help to eliminate post-anesthesia retching. â€Å"Music has been used extensively throughout history as a healing force to alleviate illness and distress, but only in recent times has the specific discipline of music therapy begun to evolve† (1994). A professional music therapist came through in the mid-late-twentieth-century phenomenon. In 1891 the, The Guild of St. Cecilia was founded by Canon Harford, who himself is a musician, to play sedative music to a large number of patients in London hospitals. Though, The Guild was supported by Florence Nightingale, the Guild was pressured of criticisms from the musical and medical press and lack of funds and Harford’s own ill health. Music was used to boost morale early years of the twentieth century. Music therapy is the controlled use of music in the treatment, rehabilitation, education and training of children and adults suffering from physical, mental or emotional and training of children and adults suffering from physical, mental or emotional disorder. † (Alvin’s). 5 The American Music Therapy Association defined it as â€Å"the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. While Bunt defined music therapy as â€Å"the use of sounds and music within an evolving relationship between client and therapist to support and encourage physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. † Many experts suggest that music has the calming effect on us though we are not conscious about it. People may have been influenced when at the mother’s womb it was our mother’s practice to relax. The music’s effectiveness should be to washes away the stress, choose of what music that suits well to the patient. It can effectively be on children and adults. The music heals through the fires of neurons in the brain in the tempo of the song. The music therapy works for different ways in psychiatry, for the mental health disorders; social skills, to impair interaction and social skills; emotions, for a safe environment in alleviating feelings; communication, for the mental health difficulties; self-esteem, for the low self-esteem; relaxation, for those who has anxiety disorders; and cognition to structured stimulus. Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning communication abilities, and cognitive skills through musical responses; receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, and follow up. 8 There are beneficiaries of music therapy such as children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, brain injuries, physical disabilities and acute and chronic pain. And there are seven music therapy tools including the affirmations, mind quieting, breathing, mantras, chanting, toning, and drumming. The musical affirmation will return the mind to the alpha state, a state where the neurons fire in harmony and the message will be absorbed by the conscious and subconscious mind through the power of the sound of music. Mind quieting is calming the mind in a behavioral manner where it is disciplined. In breathing it is important to do it without thinking of anything because it is the voice of your spirit, its depth; smoothness, sound, and rate reflect the mood. The mantras will help you go beyond borders to realize the potential and the power of love. Chanting has a healthy strengthening effect on the mind because it develops concentration, patience and determination. The goal of chanting is to connect to Self and the process should be inclusive and fun. Toning is the process of letting go of basic, natural sounds to attain a sense of balance, harmony and centering. In harmonizing the emotions is a natural condition. The healing effects of drumming strengthen the immune system and create a calming focus even hypnotic. You have to follow certain things in listening music. First, you have to find a song that suits your mood and play it for 10-15 minutes. Second, a song which is between your present internal state and the state you wish to achieve and play it for 10-15 minutes, too. Third, for 10-15 minutes state your mind and mood to achieve your goal to relax. You won’t need a professional in this practice, just concentrate on what you are doing. Few people understand the significance and importance that music therapy and music therapists contribute to our society. Music therapists help the needy in many ways. Once again; music therapy promotes healing and enhances the quality of life. A complementary therapy used for the cancer patients to cope mentally and physically in their diagnosis. It may involve listening to music, creating music, and singing music. Scientific studies have shown the positive value of music therapy on the body, mind, and spirit of children and adults. Researchers have found that music therapy used along with anti emetic drugs for patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy can be effective in easing the physical symptoms of nausea and vomiting. When used in combination with pain-relieving drugs, music has been found to decrease the overall intensity of the patient’s experience of pain and can sometimes result in a reduced dependence on pain medication. 10 Music can relieve stress, apprehension, and fear, it improves mood, lower the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate, it relieves the depression, relieve the sleeplessness and relieve muscle tension and provide relation. Music therapy session is designed to promote self-expression; the therapist might create a musical and emotional environment that encourages you to respond by revealing personal experiences or feeling. The session might incorporate speech and drama as well as music. The therapist might use singing and discussions. 11 Through playing the music with lyrics, the therapist can encourage you to make up words that formed into a positive unique song. Therefore, music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. There is future in music therapy in the name of art and music for physical rehabilitation. It’s effectiveness of music therapy in important in the context of a biological medical model.

Symbolism in Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace”

Hayley Hughes Professor Fowler English 1102 9 February 2013 Short Story Essay Guy de Maupassant’s short story â€Å"The Necklace† uses a diamond necklace to symbolize two different things. The first thing the necklace represents is that deceiving others will lead to one’s downfall. The necklace also symbolizes how the effects of greed can change a person. In the story, the reader sees the main character’s personal growth from beginning to end due to losing a diamond necklace.Mathilde Loisel’s life is turned upside down because she was materialistic, but by the end of the story Mathilde is wiser and more admirable. Mathilde changed in ways that could not have been possible had she not lost the necklace. The story opens with the beautiful Mathilde Loisel fantasizing about luxuries she and her husband cannot afford. When her husband comes home with an invitation to an exclusive party, she is upset because she does not have anything fancy to wear. Even after her husband gives her some money for a dress, she then complains about not having jewelry.Since she does not own any expensive jewlery, Mathilde goes to her friend Madame Forestier and borrows a diamond necklace. She absolutely loves the necklace and when she and her husband attend the party, everyone notices her and the necklace. After they return from the party, Mathilde is sees she has lost the necklace. However, instead of telling Madame Forestier that the necklace had been lost, Mathilde buys a replacement necklace worth 40,000 francs and gives that to her friend hoping she would not see the difference.She and her husband then spend the next ten years working to pay for the cost of the necklace only to find out that the original necklace had been a fake. Even though her hardship could have been avoided completely, Mathilde became a better person from of losing the necklace. The necklace is the main symbol in â€Å"The Necklace. † What is a symbol? According to Lite rature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, â€Å"a symbol is a substitute for the elements being signified,† (Roberts and Zweig, 382). The necklace could be considered a cultural symbol.A cultural symbol is universally recognized (Roberts and Zweig, 383). Out of all the jewelry Mathilde could have chosen, she chose the diamond necklace. Maupassant most likely chose a diamond necklace because people would recognize the gravity of the situation in the story; most people could understand the value of a diamond necklace as opposed to some of the other jewelry mentioned in the story, which makes the diamond necklace a cultural symbol. The necklace could also be considered a contextual symbol.Unlike a cultural symbol, a contextual symbol gets its meaning from the story (Roberts and Zweig, 383-384). In this story, the necklace represents the fact that appearances are not always what they seem and that the bitter truth of reality can lead to one’s downfall. Mathilde wants to wear a diamond necklace in order for people to think she is wealthier than she is. When she borrows it from Madame Forestier, who is wealthier than Mathilde, she has no reason to believe that the necklace is a fake.Because Mathilde thinks the diamonds as being real, she thinks that others will believe she is wealthy too. In deceiving others of her wealth, she essentially deceives herself. For example, when it is time for them to leave the party her husband gives her the shawl she brought; she does not want anyone to see her wearing the shawl because it reminded her that she was not wealthy and she did not want anyone to find out. She wants to live out this fantasy as long as she possibly can and runs outside with the shawl hoping no one will notice.When she loses the necklace, she is brought back to reality and must deal with the consequences. Instead of accepting her reality that she was not wealthy and being greedy, she set herself up for disaster. The necklace symbolizes gree d and how it can affect a person. In the beginning of the story, Mathilde is greedy. She pities herself for not being born into a wealthy family, claiming it was an â€Å"error of destiny,† (Maupassant, 200). She and her husband are most likely middle-class, but she is still unhappy with their financial status. Her husband, Mr. Loisel, is the exact opposite.He takes pleasure in the little things, even praising his wife’s beef stew while she daydreamed about the finest cuisines (Maupassant, 200). All he wants to do is please his wife, but Mathilde is never satisfied. It is because of her greed that she ends up borrowing the necklace in the first place. After losing the necklace and giving the replacement to her friend, not only had the Loisels’ lifestyle changed, but Mathilde also started to change. She had to do cleaning jobs to earn money, dressed in cheap clothes, and argued with food vendors about the price of their goods in order to save every penny.After th e ten years of hard labor, the story describes Mathilde as â€Å"the strong, hard, and rude woman of poor households,† (Maupassant, 204). Even though she still reminisced about the party, unlike before where she pitied herself for not being wealthy, now she contemplates what her life would be like had she not been so greedy in borrowing the necklace. She questions how something as small as a necklace could have such a big impact on her life saying â€Å"How little a thing it takes to destroy you or to save you,† (Maupassant, 204).The necklace both destroyed her and saved her. Even though she had to deal with ten long years of working to pay back the money, losing the necklace symbolizes Mathilde losing her greediness and gaining the knowledge that money does not lead to happiness. Works Cited Page De Maupassant, Guy. â€Å"The Necklace. † Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Roberts, Edgar V. , and Robert Zweig. 10th ed. Illinois: Pearson, 2012. 2 00-205. Print. Roberts, Edgar V. , and Robert Zweig. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 10th ed. Illinois: Pearson, 2012. Print.

Learning and Favorite Academic Subject

Speaking section Many iBT speaking questions ask you to talk about things that you enjoy, things that you value, or things that you are good at. Practice with the following topics. Be sure to support your response with specific reasons and details. You have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak. 1. What is your favorite hobby? 2. Describe a talent you have 3. What is a good book that you would recommend? 4. What is your favorite season of the year? 5. Explain about an object that is very special in your life. 6. Describe a holiday you enjoy celebrating 7.What is a possession you value highly? 8. What is your favorite method of transportation? 9. Where is your favorite park or public space? 10. What famous person would you most like to meet1. Describe an interesting trip you’ve taken. 2. What is a difficult problem you’ve had to overcome? 3. What is your favorite memory of childhood? 4. Explain an important lesson you’ve learned in life. 5. Describe a spec ial opportunity that was given to you. 6. Describe a place that you liked to go when you were young. 7. What is something you regret? 8. Explain about a time when you felt very happy. . What was the most enjoyable day of your life? 10. Describe an event that has changed you in some way. TALKING ABOUT THE PLACE YOU LIVE 1. Describe your hometown. 2. What is something about your country that makes you proud? 3. If a visitor came to your country, where would you take them? 4. If you could give a gift to your friend that is symbolic of your country, what would you give them? 5. Introduce a game from your country, and explain why you like to play it. 6. Where is a place in your hometown that you go to relax? 7. If you could visit any country, where would you go? 8.What is the most important room in your house? 9. Explain why your hometown is or isn’t a good place to live. 10. If a friend came to your country to visit, what meal would you prepare1. Describe an interesting class you ’ve taken. 2. Describe some qualities of a good teacher. 3. What are some good ways to learn English? 4. What is your favorite academic subject? 5. Should cell phones be banned from classrooms? 6. Should non-academic classes like art and music they be removed from the curriculum? 7. Besides teaching the basic subjects, what are some ways that school shapes children? 8.Explain about the best teacher you ever had. 9. What is something useful that you learned in school? 10. If you take any class on any subject, what would you study and why What is your idea of the perfect job? 2. Describe a skill you want to learn. 3. How will your life be different in 5 years? 4. Describe your ideal marriage partner. 5. What is a job you admire, but don’t necessarily want to do? 6. What is a skill needed for future success? 7. Describe a trip you are planning to take. 8. Explain what you want to accomplish in the future. 9. In what type of climate would you like to live, and why? 0. What are some things people can do to stay healthy? 1. Explain about a person who has influenced you in some way 2. Describe some qualities of a good friend. 3. What is the best way for parents to discipline their children? 4. What kind of people do you like to meet? 5. Describe a person you admire, and explain why you admire this person. 6. What are some characteristics of a good neighbor? 7. Should children help with the housework? 8. Which parent do you take after the most? 9. Describe someone you enjoy talking with. 10. What is something important that your parents taught you1.If you could solve any problem in the world, what would it be? 2. What are some ways that you can help reduce pollution? 3. Should cars be banned from city centers? 4. How should people who send spam (computer junk mail) be punished? 5. Should people be allowed to clone their pets? 6. Describe how transportation will be different in the future. 7. Describe some ways in which homelessness could be fought. 8. Wh at do you feel is one of mankind’s greatest inventions? 9. Should genetically modified food be sold in supermarkets? 10. What is the most serious problem in the world these days