Powerlessness In Sandra Cisneross The House On Mango Street

â€Å"She walks, she talks, she cleans, she works, she IS, but she is NOT, all at once. She is here, but part of her is elsewhere for eternity† (Anonymous). This quote by an anonymous person illustrates a woman who is rooted in who she is but dreams to be someone else. She dreams to be another person, far away from her dreary life. Sandra Cisneros establishes that many young girls within the Hispanic culture represented in The House on Mango Street are forced into roles they do not wish to take, resulting in a loss of identity and ultimately, a sense of powerlessness in the girl without anyone to show her how to be powerful. When Esperanza experiences awful situations somewhere she has happy childhood memories, it begins the loss of her†¦show more content†¦Esperanza wishes to be grown so she can be free from Mango Street, but she is faced with a sense of powerlessness and no role models to show her to be powerful. Esperanza is surrounded by women who have submitted to their fate instead of standing up for themselves, except for Alicia. Esperanza, instead of following every woman who has submitted to their powerlessness, has chosen a role model who is showing her to be powerful. After Esperanza is raped, the peak of her powerlessness, she is speaking with Alicia, â€Å"No, this isn’t my house I say and shake my head as if shaking could undo the year I’ve lived here...No, Alicia says. Like it or not you are Mango Street, and one day you’ll come back too. Not me. Not until somebody makes it better. Who’s going to do it? Not the mayor† (Cisneros 106). Alicia is te lling Esperanza that no matter how hard she tries, Mango Street will always be a part of her past, and she will come back someday. But at the same time, she’s hinting to Esperanza that she is strong enough to come back and change Mango Street for the better. Because who else is going to do it? Esperanza understands Alicia’s message to her and reflects upon what she wishes her future to be like, â€Å"One day I will pack my bags of books and paper. One day I will say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong for her to keep me here forever. One day I will go away...They will not know I have gone away to

Child Abuse Is A Serious Problem With Devastating...

Child Abuse Prevention Stated Problem Child abuse and neglect is a serious problem with devastating consequences, both short and long term (CDC, 2014). As professionals and mandated reporters, it is imperative for registered nurses to be aware of child abuse and neglect as well as have an understanding of the signs and symptoms of child maltreatment. Using evidence-based practice regarding proven strategies that reduce child abuse will decrease the short and long term effects of child maltreatment. When approaching a topic as serious as child abuse, it is important for nurses to understand their role in reporting and preventing further child abuse. This paper will examine child abuse prevention strategies as they relate to nursing by further examining nurses’ knowledge and experiences in reporting child abuse. Literature Review Within the review of literature, twenty - six articles met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. The four interventions that showed effectiveness in preventing child maltreatment include: home-visiting, parent education, abusive head trauma prevention, and multi-component interventions. Three of the interventions showed effectiveness in reducing risk factors including: home visiting, parent education and child sexual abuse prevention. The following three articles have been described in detail within our literature review. The first article, entitled â€Å"Preventing child abuse and neglect with parent training: evidence and opportunities,†Show MoreRelatedEssay on Social Policy Development 1431 Words   |  6 Pagesmeasure by which development of an individual’s cognitive development should be measured, each have agreed that risks are involved to cognitive and emotional development during the infancy and early childhood stages that could later lead to serious c onsequences. Infancy by all standards is when the individual is most vulnerable physically. 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I will try to cover in this paper the subject of child abuse, its definitions

Memorandum By an Organization for Fitness Center - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theMemorandum By an Organization for Fitness Center. Answer: I am sure you would agree that health is the real wealth for every individual living on earth. A healthy body can achieve everything in life and overcome any adverse situation, in personal as well as professional life. Experienced and hardworking employees like you are very important for this leading company to set up example for employee fitness. Success cannot be achieved alone, employees and employers need to work together for the ultimate success. However, if the employees are not fit or physically able, then nobody can achieve success. This open fitness center will have aerobic classes, swimming pool, and weight machines to put you all back in shape. It will be open from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M. daily and a qualified instructor will be there as well. Employees will have the preference, but their spouse or children can also use the center with the facilities of shower and locker. Unhealthy life style not just costs you but the company as well. Our competitors are gaining 762 work days in a day with short hospital stays or leaves, wheeras we are losing from our 365 days The main objective is that you all need to use this fitness center for your as well as for the companies benefit so that we could achieve success together. Hence, this fitness center is not just your health, but for the benefits of the company as well. You should not see this as mandatory task, but you should acquire this habit of fitness, as this will make your work stress free and full of fun.

Ramirez, Catrina Marla D. Essays - Psychiatry,

Ramirez, Catrina Marla D. BSPSY3A What's Evidence of a Genetic Link to ADHD? The National Institute of Mental Health notes that scientists aren't entirely sure what causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Anything from genes and brain injuries to low birth weight and exposure to environmental toxins at a young age may play a role. However, of these variables, experts tend to agree that genetics is the most likely link. But this isn't to say the other factors go entirely by the wayside. For example, one study, published in Human Genetics, mentions that although ADHD is "highly heritable," it's a " multifactorial disorder, in which many genes, all with a small effect, are thought to cause the disorder in the presence of unfavorable environmental conditions." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reinforces this notion, outlining that in addition to the "important role" genetics plays in ADHD, other possible risk factors and causes may include brain injury, exposure to lead during pregnancy or at a young age and premature delivery. According to James M. Swanson, professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, whether genetics is the main reason a person develops this disorder remains "a tricky question." He explains that while "ADHD does seem to run in families" and that the "statistical estimate of heritability is very high," he stresses that this does not necessarily mean that all ADHD cases have a genetic basis. "Interpretation of estimates of heritability' is complicated." "Simply put, the etiology of ADHD is complex and can involve multiple causes," says Russell A. Barkley, clinical professor of psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina. "To date, all of the major ones fall in the realm of neurology and genetics - biological causation - with no evidence that social factors alone can account for the condition." He explains that head trauma or other neurological injuries, alcohol use during pregnancy, significant premature birth and biohazard exposure "might interact with genetic liability to the disorder to exacerbate it." Inheritance Barkley explains that the closer someone's genetic relationship is to a child with ADHD, the more likely it is that the relative also shares the disorder. For example, he notes that 25 to 35 percent of parents of ADHD children are adults with ADHD, 25 to 50 percent of siblings of children with ADHD have the disorder and 70 to 92 percent of identical twins of a child with ADHD have ADHD. Thomas E. Brown, director of the Brown Clinic for Attention and Related Disorders in Manhattan Beach, California, agrees that genetics play a role in ADHD. In his book, "Outside the Box: Rethinking ADD/ADHD in Children and Adults: A Practical Guide," he writes that "like eye color and height," ADHD starts with genes. "It runs in families." Yet he too, makes it clear that there are several variables, including the fact that some people's genes are less stable than others, sometimes not becoming "active until many years after the person is born." In some cases, new, or de novo, mutations occur in a child's genes despite the fact that they're not present in the parent's genome, Barkley says. "We think this may account for at least 10 percent of ADHD, especially if they are new cases arising in a family that has no increased risk among the relatives." Such mutations can occur in egg and sperm-producing cells, he explains, and arise simply by exposure to the mutation-causing agents that everyone experiences during their life, such as environmental toxins and the sun's radiation. Although the mutations are not present in the parent's DNA, the gene mutations may still be passed to a child. Gene-by-Environment Interactions "Some genes turn on and off depending on other things going on in the body or in the environment," Brown writes. Barkley explains that such gene-by-environment interactions can give rise to a child's ADHD development. "For instance, maternal alcohol or tobacco use during pregnancy increases the risk for ADHD about 2.5 times the population risk. But should a child have one or two of the risk genes for ADHD, the occurrence may go up eight times that of the population risk." Exposure to infections, chronic elevated parental stress during pregnancy and malnutrition earlier on in childhood

Charismatic Authority Essays

Charismatic Authority Essays Charismatic Authority Paper Charismatic Authority Paper In his piece â€Å"Working Towards the Fuhrer†, Ian Kershaw details Adolf Hitler’s regime as being one of â€Å"charismatic authority†. Sociologist Max Weber defined this concept as resting on devotion to the exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person, and of the normative patterns or order revealed or ordained by him†. Over the course of his interpretation, Kershaw locks in on the concept that, unlike Stalin’s Russia, Nazi Germany could not exist without Hitler. To establish his point, Kershaw had to balance between some long held theories regarding the ruling style of Hitler.As noted in class, history has taken to describing Hitler as being uninterested in the daily affairs (particularly related to domestic ones) of Germany, at times being described as a lazy dictator and by Hans Mommsen as a â€Å"weak dictator†. While Kershaw’s piece does establish that he agrees with the depiction of Hitler being i ndifferent about daily affairs, it is clear that he does not support the notion that Hitler’s rule was weak in any way. To delineate the concept that Hitler was not interested in the daily affairs that typical authoritarian rulers might have, Kershaw uses several examples.Kershaw states â€Å"after 1933, as head of government he scarcely put pen to paper himself other than to sign legislation put in front of him by Lammers† (head of the Reich Chancellery). Another excerpt summarizes a day in the life of Hitler, essentially stating that he did not appear before lunch, only to review a few articles, then after lunch he would move on to recreational activities (films, walks) prior to and after dinner. Also included in this excerpt is Hitler’s disdain for paper work and more importantly, bureaucracy. Based on the above, one might wonder how any argument can be made to show Adolf Hitler to be a strong leader.The answer, according to Kershaw resides in the concept of â€Å"Working Towards the Fuhrer†. Beginning with the following quote from one of Hitler’s former adjutants, Kershaw begins to establish his point: â€Å"He took the view that many things sorted themselves out on their own if one did not interfere†. This philosophy runs parallel to many of Hitler’s other ideologies, all in some way rooted to Darwinism. In this case, Kershaw points out that Hitler’s non-interventionalist style as a dictator led him to wait for the best decision to come to the forefront from those who worked for him.Kershaw states that due to â€Å"his instinctive Darwinism†, Hitler was unable to choose a side in a dispute until a winner emerged. By using this concept, along with a comparison between Germany and Russia, Kershaw begins to establish his belief in Hitler’s tenure as one of â€Å"Charismatic Authority†. Kershaw is extremely effective in proving that Nazi Germany and Stalin’s Russia were more d ifferent than alike. To do so, he cites the â€Å"system† that was in place with Stalin. This system can be briefly described as having traditional bureaucratic qualities, clearly defined and logical goals, and the potential for a successor to be named after Stalin.In stark contrast to this, Germany under Hitler lacked any traditional bureaucratic qualities, an inability to settle into a conservative authoritarian state, or cease its need to dominate (among a string of goals that lacked boundaries). All of the above begin to shape Kershaw’s argument that Nazi Germany was incapable of reproducing itself without Hitler at the helm. It can be argued that Germans were more tied to Hitler than Germany itself. The country began to pursue the realization of ideological aims that were located within the person of Hitler.The fact that Nazi Germany lacked any structural order only served to advance the personal goals of Hitler. Essentially Hitler’s desire for radicalizati on became policy once those below him were given autonomy to carry out his will. As discussed in class, essentially everyone in Hitler’s regime reported directly up to him. Hitler encapsulated this by saying â€Å"For us the Idea is the Fuhrer, and each Party member has only to obey the Fuhrer†. As a byproduct of this, these individuals were given a certain level of autonomy in satisfying the Fuhrer’s demands.Hitler’s refusal to give edicts led to the concept of â€Å"Working Towards the Fuhrer† as a means to keep Germany in lockstep with the wishes of its leader. Werner Willikens, State Secretary in Prussian Agricultural Ministry, established this concept, stating that one should not wait for orders to come down from leadership. Instead, it is the duty of the individual to attempt to work towards the Fuhrer with Hitler’s spirit in mind. This level of autonomy is the impetus behind the extreme acts committed by Nazi Germany.Set out with a go al of national redemption achieved by racial purification and expansionism, those who worked to carry out Hitler’s will were given the power to do so by any means necessary. Just as Hitler’s goals were limitless, so too were the powers allowed to those attempting to achieve them. By 1938, Hitler became a force that could not be stopped due to his role as â€Å"Charismatic Authoritarian†. Essentially Germany became â€Å"the mission† and Hitler was the embodiment of â€Å"the mission†, as this concept â€Å"did not exist as a doctrine independent of the leader†.With those who supported him left to their own means to please him, one could argue that there were some elements of a polycratic agencies being employed to achieve Hitler’s goals. This led to further radicalization of Nazi policies, as all who worked toward the Fuhrer were left to interpret what means should be used to carry out their duties. Within the framework of the stateme nt above, Hitler took on the role of indirect leader of the radicalization. Being the only common link between its various parts, Hitler was the lynch pin of the entire system and was almost deified for it.Hitler took on a three-pronged role in this process: 1. Unifier: the common bond amongst all who sought to do his bidding 2. Activator: His â€Å"utopian† vision served as the catalyst that all underneath sought to achieve 3. Enabler: Hitler gave such vast autonomy to those working for him provided a rubber stamp and sanctioned any action taken that would be aligned with the ultimate goal, regardless of how inhumane or barbaric * As time progressed, Hitler became more of a symbol for the radicalization of policy, with those who â€Å"worked towards him† becoming the driving force.This concept is one of the vital conclusions that Kershaw makes to justify his point that, although not involved in day-to-day activity, Hitler should never be classified as a weak dictator. His charisma became the driving force for a legion of followers to do his bidding, even without the aid of direct orders other than to satisfy the mission. In addition to this, one could even argue that Hitler’s unwillingness to engage in daily affairs only enhanced his position by providing the autonomy he did to those who worked towards him.This created a feudal quality among those who competed for his attention, a Darwinist battle for who could achieve his goals more efficiently. * Based upon all of the above, it is difficult to disagree with Kershaw’s argument. His use of countless sources and documents to support his theory on every level make for a compelling argument, particularly related to the idea that Nazi Germany could never replicate itself without Hitler driving it. This to me is the essence of â€Å"Charismatic Authority†, the point that as the charisma dissipates, so too would the regime. * * * * * * *

3 Amazing CoSchedule Features That Will Keep You Super Organized

3 Amazing Features That Will Keep You Super Organized If marketers have anything in common it’s that we all need fewer scheduling headaches and more free time. We need to stay organized, and that’s why we built in the first place. It’s also why we keep adding more time-saving features to your favorite editorial calendar. As we head into a new year of publishing, here are a few of our newest and most popular features that you should already be using to save time while staying organized. They are all new, and exclusively available in our newest set of plans.Feature #1: Google Chrome Extension Curate content from around the web and track it on your calendar. Our brand new Google Chrome Extension is the answer to one of our most requested features of all time. has always made it easy to schedule social media messages that promote your own content, but many marketers are also looking for an easier way to curate content from around the web. With our new extension, you can quickly add social messages from anywhere on the web to your calendar. Youll have a perfectly-tuned social media presence in no time. Can I tell you, I FREAKING LOVE ! Why didnt I jump on this MONTHS ago? Its SO awesome being able to just schedule this stuff and know that its going out,  that Im promoting, but dont have to be sitting on the computer (as I most often do) to do it!!! - Lynne Feifer Feature #2: Built-In Headline Analyzer Write the best headlines without ever leaving .  You know that headlines matter. They matter a lot. A well-optimized headline can get you more shares, retweets, clicks, likes, and loves. More importantly, a great headline can help you get the traffic you deserve for each and every post. At , we’ve collected data from millions of blog posts to  develop the internets leading Headline Analyzer Tool, and now that technology is built right into - saving you time, and making your marketing even better. As you are creating new blog posts and marketing content you can now score your overall headline quality in seconds and rate its ability to result in social shares, increased traffic, and SEO value. Headline Analyzer is awesome! Always more reasons to love .† - Danielle, Blue Kite Marketing Feature #3: Evernote + Google Docs FTW Write your content in Evernote (or Google Docs) and convert it into WordPress  with a single click.   The world of a marketer includes many tools- including a few that are specifically geared at content creation. We asked our customers what their most important editing tools were and both Google Docs and Evernote immediately jumped to the top of the list. During the past year, we’ve integrated with both.Now, allows you to connect your Evernote Notes or Google Docs directly to . To sweeten the deal, weve even built a way to convert those Notes (or docs) into real live WordPress blog posts. Simply click convert, and we’ll import all your formatting, text, and images directly into WordPress without skipping a beat. It’s the perfect integration to leverage some of your favorite tools, while saving tons of time in the process.

Colonization and its impact on historical geography of north america Essay

Colonization and its impact on historical geography of north america - Essay Example American colonies also moved in and resolved on sharing the fishery with France, and after the cross-island railroad was built in the 1800’s, fishing had become the only industry in Newfoundland. Fishery impacted the island in many ways: economically, geographically, on the population, industry sector, transport and communication as well as its education sector during this historical time. The geography and ecosystem of Newfoundland has been credited to be a major contributor in the prosperity of fishery. Its climatic conditions had great impact on the marine ecosystem, especially around its central Grand Bank in comparison to other areas, such as the northeast Atlantic. The southward extension of the Island is covered with the Labrador currents that are responsible for the transportation of cold water in the southward direction from the Hudson Bay, Davis Strait and the Canadian Archipelago. The cold water offer conducive fishery conditions in these areas. The median extents s outherly of the sea ice towards the Grand bank with the temperatures at the water bottom falling bellow 0 degrees Celsius for most of the period. The cold conditions that extent southerly are implicated by the frequent polar cod presence along the Newfoundland coast. The fishery activity in the Newfoundland became so dominant that it impacted the geographical considitions of the Island in many adverse ways. This paper is going to look at how European fishery impacted the ecosystem, population and demography and climate of Newfoundland. Road Map 1. Impact on Ecosystem 2. Impact on Climate 3. Population and Demography 4. Conclusion Impact on Ecosystem Before the European interest in the Island, the ecosystem of Canada in general was characterized by very few species, and this was the case at Newfoundland. Among these few species, very few of them were in high abundance. The most dominant fish species included capelin and lance mostly found in the area around the Grand Bank plateau and the polar cod around the north (Lear 50). Herring species was only found in the adjacent waters or in some cases in the bays. The named species fed mostly on crustaceans and calanoid copepods. The fishery activities led to the discovery of more species that later became dominant and important in the Island. Such species include: Greenland halibut, Atlantic code and American plaice. Northern shrimp and snow crab were also later discovered and dominated benthic crustaceans (Lear 62). These species were not enough, considering fishery had turn out to be the main activity on the Island. This called for the need for species in the fishery changing the historical ecosystem of the area. The main introductions included hooded seals and harp seals that come from the north, but this was seasonal. The other species to be introduced were the whales that came into the Island from the south. This species was also seasonal. The most important species that were not naturally found in the Island in clude minke, humpback, pilot whales, fin, sei and sperm (NAFO 333). In addition to the fish species, there were other immigrants that came to the Island following the fishery activity, and they include: squid with short fins, bluefin tuna, mackerel and birds like sooty shearwater and greater shear water (NAFO 333). Overfishing was observed to have great impact on the ecosystem

Situation Analysis, Target Market Identification Report Essay

Situation Analysis, Target Market Identification Report - Essay Example This makes them feel more masculine. This report undertakes a comprehensive study of marketing analysis of the luxury wrist watch line of products. It will provide an opportunity to study client’s psychographic needs. This is very vital information as it provides an opportunity for Swatch Group to develop a plan for satisfying customer’s unique needs. A comprehensive analysis report gives information about challenges and opportunities in this market that can be explored by Swatch Group, through its Omega brand, to increase Ladymatic’s market presence. This also helps the company make adjustments on short and long term marketing initiatives and other promotional activities to ensure company resources are utilized in the most cost effective manner. Introduction Ladymatic wrist watch was first released to the market in 1955. Its sales has had a steady growth through the years; only affected by economic slumps experienced in 1970 and 2008. Increased income levels mea nt a higher chunk of its market could afford acquiring this high end device. It was Omega Company’s first brand of self-winding devices for the modern lady; it is also small and light hence the wearer can easily move around having it on. Its design was revolutionized after Swatch Group acquired Omega brand in the late 20th century. Continuous development of this brand as the company responds to consumer needs has led to improved sales. In 2010, the original design was improved by giving it a chic feel to make it more feminine. It was also fitted with a new hand movement with a co-axial escapement. The findings of a market evaluation were that there are several other company brands that pose as a challenge to Omega Ladymatic’s penetration to other markets; at the same time, they are capable of eating into its market. These brands include: Chopard, Citizen, Rolex and Guess. Market intelligence This is developed using three main sources of information: conducting a scruti ny of the company’s internal records and other external sources of information to establish a linkage between marketing initiatives and overall brand performance. Secondly, having a study on market intelligence gives information on changes and developments within the market in terms of consumer tastes and preferences that aid Omega managers plan their marketing drives. Lastly, marketing research is conducted to monitor problems and opportunities within the marketplace; this helps in improving performance after having an understanding of its characteristics. Swatch Group and other major wrist watch manufacturers have weak distribution networks which hinders penetration to new markets. This is according to information received from clients through customer service reports complaining about late deliveries. Market penetration is difficult for smaller manufacturers due to minimal capital might. Huge investment in distribution is needed to attract the right expertise and conduct m arket surveys for a particular market. This however forms a good competitive advantage for bigger industry players like Swatch Group whose Omega brand has remained big on the global scene. The returns on investment (ROI) realised so far has improved its capital base substantially. 1.0 Situational analysis/Current Marketing Mix This gives a brief on both market analysis and

Lloyd Georgewin Essay Example for Free

Lloyd Georgewin Essay The stage direction with a sense of her childhood, her babyhood and the years describes the great sense of loss Eddie feels as he has cared and loved her all her life. Beatrice remains faithful to Eddie throughout although she is frustrated, When am I gonna be a wife again, Eddie? she tells him, desperate from him to forget about Catherine and go back to caring for her. Beatrices love for Eddie is one of the strongest in the play, she wants desperately for Eddie to pay her the attention she deserves as a loving wife. Eddies obsessive behaviour towards Catherine puts great strain on his marriage I want my respect he says when Beatrice tries to confront him, Eddie is angry and shouts at her for complaining about him being so strict with Catherine. Beatrice is struggling to keep her marriage intact, but she cannot understand the love Eddie feels towards Catherine. I believe Eddie loves his wife dearly but his love for Catherine takes priority when Rodolfo comes on the scene, which leads him to mistreat Beatrice. I cannot help feeling sorry for her as she is forced into a situation that was not her doing. It seems her love for Eddie is unrequited. Eddies hatred for Rodolfo is fuelled by his jealousy for the love and attention Catherine bestows upon him, Im telling ya the guy aint right he says trying to justify his hatred. Nobody believes Eddies comments about Rodolfo and everyone but Eddie can see through to his jealousy. It isnt right for a man of Eddies age to be obsessed with his young niece, but nobody understands the depth and passion of Eddies love, which drives him to keep Catherine at any cost. Eddies obsessive love compels him to see Mr Alfieri, family friend and lawyer He aint right Mr Alfieri Eddie pleads, but it is obvious he has no jurisdiction within he law. The fact Eddie has gone to see Alfieri shows the power of his love towards Catherine and his desperation to have her for himself. Love is the main driving force behind all the characters actions, the truth is not as bad as blood Eddie Beatrice tells him trying to quell his anger and hatred. Beatrice believes that love is not a worthy enough cause for the use of violence. It is Eddies deep love that drives him to use all force necessary to have what he believes to be his Catherine. This unfaltering love to the bitter end is misunderstood by Marco He degraded my brother. My blood. Marco says; he cannot see why Eddie turned him and Rodolfo into the police. But it is obvious to the reader that it was Eddies love that compelled his actions and not his hatred for Marco and his brother. Eddies love finally leads him to his death You lied about me Marco Eddie cries before lunging at him. This is Eddies last desperate attempt to win back his dignity. Eddies love has driven him to a point where he has no other option but to follow his feelings to the end. The fate of Eddie Carbone is a tragic one as his obsessive feelings towards Catherine took control of him and his actions that followed he could not help. I believe the story is a testament to the power of love and how once it has infected someone in a certain way; they are powerless to stop it. Emlyn Roberts Pluto10X Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.

Antigone and A Doll’s House feminine comparison Essay -- Gender Roles,

â€Å"The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, ‘It's a girl.’† (Chisholm). Where do women fit in the social order of society today? Many women today fit in the same role as they would have been expected to long ago. Though generally speaking, women have a lot more options today. The male hierarchy still governs most aspects of society, but with many more limitations because women are discovering that they can stand on their own, and have no need for constant regulating from their male counterparts. Patriarchal influences are the base of society. In Antigone Sophocles tells a tale about Greek values and women’s status. Antigone has just witnessed her two brothers kill each other; one brother died defending Thebes and the other died betraying it. Creon’s law keeps anyone from burying the traitor and Antigone is set on contravening this. Conversely, Ibsen’s playwright, A Doll’s House, i s a story about an intelligent woman, Nora, who is misunderstood by her husband, Torvald. She takes desperate measures to keep her family intact but in the end wines up going out on her own. As the stories progress the both Nora’s and Antigone’s characteristics become very similar in that they are both rebellious, are subservient to male jurisdiction, and are resolute and strong-willed in their decision. Firstly, Antigone and Nora are both mildly chaotic and rebellious. Women, at those times have certain expectations of following patriarchal jurisdiction. When Antigone goes against Creons law she shows her rebellious side. Nora’s seditiousness is demonstrated when Mrs.Linden converses with her and says, â€Å"Why, a wife can’t borrow money without her husband’s consent†(Ibsen 151). During Ibsen’s era many... ...igone is expected to be subservient, but has an urge to defy. Ismene tries to remind her about women’s place in society, but fails in trying to persuade Antigone. Nora all her life has been the little helpless lark that cannot think for herself. Torvald sees her as what a woman was expected to be, and she is powerless. The resoluteness and the strong-will of both Antigone and Nora are vital. Without these qualities they would not of gotten far in their campaigns. Antigone has the constant but shaky decisiveness throughout the story. While, Nora has an unclear decisiveness until the very end when she completely decides to move out and is unwavering to Torvald’s pleas. These characters tell the story of women in the past that have paved the way for women today. Without them who knows how women would have been treated today? Surely, their actions were greatly needed.

Mnemonics

Mnemonics are Necessary: A Review of Memory and Learning Aids Torrey Price American Military University 26 June 2009 Mnemonics are Necessary: A Review of Memory and Learning Aids We learn many different things during childhood and even before then. Our brain has the capacity for learning to the degree we do not know which means that our learning capabilities are endless and we can only limit ourselves with the amounts of information there is to know in a lifetime. However, how do we get to the point that we can learn so much? What means or ways are there that we can learn to expand the capacity of our minds? What good would it be to know all of this information if we cannot access it at any point that we want? One way to improve the way you learn and remember is a system called mnemonics. It is an aid or in some cases, are strategies that can increase recalling 10-fold (Patten, 1990). We may already use this system and not be aware. Can you recall learning the words to your favorite song as a teen? Maybe you interpreted what the artist was saying and you might have put in your own words, then someone comes along and tells you the real lyrics. You may learn the new lyrics but that song may be forever associated with the lyrics you came up with. Or when learning the colors of the spectrum, you may have been taught to remember them by giving them the mnemonic Roy G. Biv: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet (Coon, 2006). Mnemonic techniques are ways to remember what you need to know by a way of association, giving them meaning or even visualizing making it as vivid or ridiculous as possible. Mnemonic techniques are also ways to avoid rote learning, the more common, habitual and fixed way of learning by simple repetition (Coon, 2006). The word mnemonic is derived from the Ancient Greek word mnemonikos and is related to Mnemosyne, the name of the goddess of memory in Greek mythology. Both of these words refer back to mnema or remembrance. Now you may not remember her name or what set mythology she is from but allow me to put it this way. Mnemosyne had a love affair with the highest of the gods in Greek mythology. The affair lasted nine days and nine nights and as a result of that affair Mnemosyne gave birth to nine children- the nine muses (Svantesson, 2004). A myth is said to be knowledge in disguise because a story is more easily remembered than raw facts. Mnemonics in ancient times can be considered the basis of what is today known as the art of Memory. Try to imagine a time before the widespread use of paper and pens, where the only means for a society to pass on lessons and teaching were by memory. The Romans and Greeks were a society like this and mnemonics were one of the most important subjects taught in school (Patten, 1990). Mnemonics are not a neat trick to show off to your friends at a party but a skill that is designed to enhance the way you remember a subject. Paying attention is of the up most importance when practicing your techniques and that attention cannot be divided (Turkington, 2003). It is important to know that even though it may seem like you are paying attention, the brain does take an amount of resource to adhere to your surroundings, for instance, you are in an auditorium listening to President talk about carrots and suddenly somebody behind you rips one or somebody is talking on the phone. Although paying attention is only a part of it, actually knowing the techniques will help you to learning the information you need. There are many techniques you can use to learn a myriad of things such as numbers, speeches and even languages. Association was one of the ways mentioned before, and by associate certain words with others we create cues to help us remember those words (Patten, 1990). The use of Acronyms to remember a phrase or group of words is very easy and very common, for example, the acronym NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization or to remember the Great Lakes we use the Acronym HOMES (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior). Acrostics are a way of using first letter cueing to remember a certain phrase, whereby we take the first word of each bit of information we want to learn and turn it into the first word of a sentence (Turkington, 2003). For example, to remember the six New England states in descending order (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut) we could make the sentence: Martha Never Had Many Red Cars. Popular sayings can also help you to remember such as righty tighty, lefty loosey can help you to remember which way the common screw or nut and bolt turns and spring forward, fall back can remind you how to set our clock during daylight savings time. Visualization is also a great way to memorize information; it helps a lot with language learning. A good imagination will greatly enhance the chance of you being able to remember. An example of this can be â€Å"carte† which is the Spanish word for letter. If you can imagine a shopping cart full of mail, that can cue you to that words meaning. In conclusion, Mnemonics has shown to be a very useful tool when it comes to learning what it is we need to be learned. The more we practice these techniques the better we become at learning. Mnemonic techniques are based on association and should be exaggerated in size, number, and color, absurd, moving, sexual, sensual, ridiculous, unusual and unexpected. We tend to remember things that are out of the ordinary or that are utterly ridiculous. These tools are a great learning multiplier and should be taught in every classroom. I believe this system will replace the current phonics system that is widely used today, which is a way of getting back to basics, seeing as though this system has been in place for centuries. So the next time you have the opportunity to teach a child to say their alphabets, tie their shoes or even learn another language, remember this system and you can’t go wrong. References Coon, D. (2006). Psychology: A Modular Approach to Mind and Behavior, Tenth Edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education. Patten, B. (1990). The History of Memory Arts. Neurology, 40, 346-352 Svantesson, I. (2004). Learning Maps and Memory Skills, Revised Second Edition. London: Kogan Page Limited. Turkington, C. (2003). Memory: A Self-teaching Guide. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Seamus Heaney

Write a close analysis of ‘Death of a Naturalist’ explaining how the poet uses natural imagery and the structure of the poem to convey the themes of the loss of childhood innocence and the formulation of adult identities. How typical is it of the collection ‘Death of a Naturalist’ in terms of the representation of these themes? Seamus Heaney was born in Northern Ireland in 1939. Heaney’s father was a farmer, and a cattle dealer, he was also very popular within the community. It can be said that Seamus Heaney’s reference to farming and love of nature can be due to his upbringing, as well as his regular mention of love and pride for Northern Ireland. Seamus Heaney’s feelings towards Ireland’s cultural controversies are addressed in the majority of his poems, this brings Irish and English literary traditions to attention, and many critics have praised him for the particular attribute. Natural imagery conveys the theme of childhood innocence in ‘Death of a Naturalist’ with the use of ‘childish’ language for example ‘bubbles gargled delicately’, has a paradox effect as the statement is contradictory, it also carries the sense of childhood innocence as playing with bubbles is an activity associated with children. Also, ‘gargled’ is onomatopoeic and pleasant sounding. The quote emphasises children’s innocence and naive outlook on the world and nature. The use of ‘swimming tadpoles’, ‘daddy frog’, ‘mammy frog and ‘little eggs’, all depict an image of childhood innocence, through the basic ‘childlike’ language used as well as the family links, for example ‘mammy’ and ‘daddy’ depict the happy-go-lucky ideology that many young children have, again suggesting that the speaker is a naive, young child. ‘But best of all was the warm thick slobber’, the unattractive, slime is something that appeals to children, conveying further the theme of childhood innocence. The structure also plays a role in conveying the theme of childhood innocence. The whole first stanza has an ignorant tone to it, with the message that nature is amazing, and so problem free, ‘there were dragon-flies, spotted butterflies, but best of all was the warm thick slobber’ the tone being so simple minded, as although the speaker is describing the most beautiful aspects of nature, they are fascinated with the thick slobber that appeals to children. The fact that they describe it as ‘best of all’ shows the simplicity of a child’s innocence, and what little it takes to amuse them. It also creates the image of a beautiful appy natural world that appeals to children. There is also a tone that carries a sense of fascination, ‘for they were yellow in the sun and brown in rain. ’ Because speaker is quite interested in, or fascinated by the frog spawn, and we know this due to the tone of the poem ‘best of all’ etc, we are introduced to the fetish by the constant positive description of nature. This coul d reflect to the phase that many children go through, or it could by symbolic of when a child learns something new, so applies it to all aspects of life. The use of enjambment ‘here, every spring I would full jampotfuls of the jellied specks†¦ ’ creates a sense of excitement, the disability to pause, due to the thorough interest emphasises a childlike fetish and innocence. Natural imagery conveys the theme of adult identities emerging, the second stanza starts off with ‘Then’ this appears as though the speaker is reminiscing on their childhood, which suggests the formulation of adult identity. The speaker suggests that as a child they were blind or unaware to the reality of the frogspawn, ‘To a coarse croaking that I had not heard before. ’ The alliteration of ‘coarse croaking’ contrasts to the positive tone used in the first stanza, the quote appears to suggest that the speaker has experienced realisation, or reality, as they have suddenly realised that the frogspawn have a ‘coarse’ sound and that they are now aware that the frogspawn is not as amazing as they first believed. Also there is a line break and the word ‘Before’ appears on the next line starting with a capital letter, this could be symbolic of the fact that the ‘coarse croaking’ had always been around, yet the speaker has just acknowledged it, or realised it was there, emphasising the point of realisation, creating a further image of the formulation of adult identity. Gross-bellied frogs’ suggests that the frogs seem ugly to the speaker now, which contrasts to the description of frogs made in the first stanza ‘but best of all was the warm thick slobber of frogspawn’ the contrast indicates the change in mind, or the loss of childhood innocence, and the formulation of adult identities. ‘I sickened turned and ran’ implies that the speaker felt repulsed by the nature whereas as a child they loved the nature so much that they would ‘wait and watch’ this appears to be a child changing as adult identities are introduced. That if I dipped my hand the spawn would clutch it,’ expresses the speakers feelings; if they played around with nature again bad would come from it. This forms the idea that as an adult the speaker has learnt their lesson and will not be childish and play with it anymore. The second stanza carries army connotations, implying that the frogs are going to get revenge or attack the speaker, this is suggested with the use of ‘rank,’, ‘angry,’ , ‘obscene threats,’ ‘poised like mud grenades,’, ‘great slime kings,’ and ‘vengeance,’. These words and phrases suggest that the frogs are there to take revenge in a war like manner, for the fact that the speaker stole the spawn as a child, the words all describe the frogs in a harsh, aggressive way, which again contrasts to the description made in the 1st stanza ‘nimble swimming tadpoles,’. However, the use of the word ‘kings’ in the second stanza indicates that the speaker may still admire the frogs, despite all the negative feelings they have towards them. vThe speaker is suggesting that frogs are everywhere and they are ugly, ‘gross-bellied', pictured with assonance in the phrase ‘cocked on sods'. Their flabby necks are described by Heaney with the simile ‘pulsed like sails'. The sound of their movements is expressed by onomatopoeia: ‘slap and plop', which obviously disgusted Heaney who felt that these were ‘obscene threats'. In line thirty their stance is described by the simile ‘Poised like mud grenades', an image that echoes the war-like connotation of the word ‘invaded' in line twenty-four. Heaney again voices his distaste for the sound of the frogs in the phrase ‘their blunt heads farting'. This negative description indicates the speaker’s annoyance at the realisation of the frogs, as the adult identity is introduced. The structure of the 2nd stanza contrasts to the 1st stanza. Where the 1st stanza has a loving, fascinated tone, the 2nd stanza carries an angry, hateful tone, ‘obscene threats. ’ The fact that the first stanza is almost double the length of the second, connotes that the speaker had an enjoyable childhood, and the second stanza resembling the adult identities came too quickly and brought along realisation that nature wasn’t what it seemed and also the annoyance that the speaker learnt so late that what they loved as a child wasn’t at all reality. The use of alliteration and assonance emphasise the hatred and annoyance felt towards nature, for not being what they thought it was. This can suggest the adult identity being formed, learning new things and realising childhood was innocent and naive. It can be a metaphor for life, thinking, as a child that life is amazing yet when you grow up, and are an adult you realise that life isn’t as great as what you first thought. Blackberry-Picking is poem that resembles Death of a Naturalist, its use of structure and natural imagery to convey the themes of loss of childhood innocence and formulation of adult identities. Natural imagery and structure convey the theme of loss of childhood innocence with basic language such as ‘big dark blobs’ to describe the blackberries and with the description of lust for the berries connotes a childish fetish or fascination for picking and eating the berries ‘Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust for picking. Summer’s blood ‘connotes the hard work and effort put into picking the berries during the school holidays, which conveys the theme of childhood innocence. Structure conveys the loss of childhood innocence in this poem with the only rhyming couplet signifying the child’s enjoyment of berry picking, ‘glossy purple know among others, red, green, hard as a knot. ’ The half rhyme that goes through the poem also conveys a child like tone; it carries a playful, fun message. Natural imagery and structure also convey the theme of formulation of adult identities. ‘A rat grey fungus glutting on our cache. ’ The inclusion of the word ‘rat' in the metaphor emphasizes the distaste of this deterioration. Also ‘the sweet flesh would turn sour. ’ As well as ‘the lovely canfuls smelt of rot. ’ These quotes all suggest a positive object turned negative, which could metaphorically resemble the speaker’s life; as a child it was lovely and fun, and then as an adult it changed to difficult and bitter. The structure also conveys the theme of the formulation of adult identities with the use of the half rhyme representing berries that could have been sweet, and ‘right’ but instead being sour and ‘wrong’. The last two lines of the poem have a rhyming couplet, ‘lovely canfuls smelt of rot. Each year I hoped they’d keep, knew they would not. ’ This could signify the continuation of hope through the adult life, metaphorically speaking; hope that life would go back to being youthful and fun. To conclude I would say that it is typical of Heaney’s styl e of writing to convey the themes of adult life and child innocence through natural imagery and structure. Heaney uses natural imagery in many of his poems and as well as symbolising the themes we have looked at he also uses natural imagery and structure to convey the message of his Northern Irish roots. The use of natural imagery and structure conveys the themes of loss childhood innocence and formulation of adult identities and is typical through many of Heaney’s poems.

The Educational Disparity... essays

The Educational Disparity... essays Access to the best possible education is a right all students should possess. For some students in Westchester County, this right can be harder to achieve than for others. This is mainly due to the fact that these children are of minority backgrounds and are the victims of inferior education, in both white and minority schools. In fact, only 63 students of minority heritages participate in Pelham Memorial High School (PMHS)s honors or Advanced Placement (AP) programs. This number comes out of a total pool of 530 honors/AP students at this predominantly white school in Westchester County. (Survey of honors/AP teachers at PHMS) This percentage of minorities in honors/AP classes, less than twelve percent of the honors/AP population, is a far cry from the percentage of minorities at PMHS (22%). The discrepancies do not end in the Pelham Union Free School District; they exist throughout Westchester County, where schools primarily comprised of minorities constantly perform poorer tha n their white counterparts. There are numerous reasons for this discrepancy within an educational system that is intended to be nurturing them and lending them every advantage available. While there are many people to place fault upon for this disparity, every facet of the Westchester educational system can take a piece of the blame for its favoritism towards students of white descent. A major reason for the lack of minority students in the honors/AP programs at white high schools, such as PMHS, is a system called tracking. Tracking is a process by which students are separated according to particular measures of intelligence into classes with curriculum deemed suitable for their level of intelligence. However, this system often creates more problems than it solves as it often favors white students over minority students. In many districts, course-enrollment patterns inside individual schools replicate this pattern ...

Biography of Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Writer

Biography of Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Writer Paulo Coehlo (born August 24, 1947) is a Brazilian writer and lyricist from Rio de Janeiro. He achieved fame with his second novel, The Alchemist, which has sold at least 65 million copies and holds the Guinness World Record for being the most translated book in the world by a living author. Fast Facts: Paulo Coelho Known For:  Brazilian writer/novelistBorn:  August 24, 1947 in Rio de Janeiro, BrazilParents:  Lygia Araripe Coelho de Souza, Pedro Queima Coelho de SouzaSpouse:  Christina OiticicaPublished Works: The Pilgrimage, The Alchemist, Brida, The Valkyries, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, The Fifth Mountain, Veronika Decides to Die, The Devil and Miss Prym, The Witch of Portobello, Aleph, Adultery, HippieAwards and Honors: United Kingdom’s 2004 Nielsen Gold Book Award, France’s Grand Prix Litteraire Elle in 1995, Germany’s 2002 Corine International Award for fictionNotable Quote: â€Å"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.† (The Alchemist) Early Life and Education Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro to devout Catholic parents, Lygia Araripe Coelho de Souza and Pedro Queima Coelho de Souza, and attended Jesuit schools during his childhood. He had dreams of being a writer early in his life, but his parents were opposed as they felt it was a dead-end career. They went so far as to commit him to a mental asylum three times, beginning when he was 17; he was subject to electro-shock therapy there. He eventually began law school at the request of his parents, but dropped out in the 1970s, joining Brazils hippie subculture and traveling abroad. Early Career Under the Dictatorship In 1972, Coelho began to write lyrics for Brazilian rock singer Raul Seixas, one of many musicians protesting the military dictatorship that was in place between 1964 and 1985. The military overthrew a left-leaning president in 1964 and began a campaign of repression, utilizing censorship, kidnapping, and torture and targeting left-wing activists, artists, and intellectuals. Coelho was imprisoned various times during the dictatorship and subjected to torture, an experience he wrote about in a 2019 op-ed for the Washington Post. In that piece he drew connections between the military dictatorship and the current authoritarian-leaning presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, who has professed admiration and nostalgia for the dictatorship. Coelhos Pilgrimage and The Alchemist After traveling to Europe in 1982 and meeting a spiritual mentor, Coelho embarked on the famous Road to Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage in Spain in 1986. This event changed his life, led him to return to Catholicism, and inspired his first novel, The Pilgrimage. From then on, he devoted himself to writing. He later stated regarding the impact of his pilgrimage, When I reached Compostela,  at the end of the Road to Santiago, I thought, what am I going to do with my life? That’s when I made the decision to burn all my bridges and become a writer.† Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho poses next to a plate with his name during his visit to Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, on June 23, 2008.   Miguel Riopa / Getty Images It was Coelhos second novel, The Alchemist, that converted him into a household name. The book chronicles the journey of a young Andalusian shepherd, Santiago, who embarks on a search for an Egyptian treasure that has appeared in his dreams; he ultimately finds the treasure back in his homeland. The novel is filled with inspirational messages about destiny that have been widely quoted. Published in Coelhos native Portuguese in 1988, it was not until it was translated to French in the early 1990s that the novel caught the attention of the world. New translations followed and The Alchemist holds the Guinness World Record for the most translated book in the world by any living author. It has sold anywhere between 65 and 80 million copies. Actor Laurence Fishburne has spent close to two decades trying to develop the novel into a feature film, and it appears the project may be coming to fruition soon. Author Paulo Coelho poses for a photograph at the London Book Fair as he is presented with the Guiness World Record for the most translations of a single title signed by the author in one sitting on April 16, 2007 in London, England.   Chris Jackson / Getty Images Since The Alchemist, Coelho has published a book roughly every two years. He has published both fiction and non-fiction/memoir, and is known for drawing on themes of spirituality and self-discovery. His novels often combine personal narratives with larger, philosophical questions. He also blogs extensively at http://paulocoelhoblog.com/ and is an active Twitter user who often posts inspirational quotes for his followers. Reception of Coelhos Work Despite his massive popularity with readers, Coelho has not always been lauded by literary critics, particularly in his home country of Brazil. Some critics believe he writes in a non-literary and unadorned style, at least in his native tongue of Portuguese. His books have also been critiqued as being more self-help than literature, as offering snake-oil mysticism, and for being full of vapid, inspirational messages such as what you might find on a Hallmark card. Coelho became a target of literary critics particularly in 2012, when he disparaged the work of James Joyce, widely considered to be one of the best writers of the 20th century. Sources Paulo Coelho. Britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paulo-Coelho, accessed August 8, 2019.Goodyear, Dana. The Magus: The Astonishing Appeal of Paulo Coelho. The New Yorker, April 30, 2007. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/05/07/the-magus, accessed August 8, 2019.Morais, Fernando. Paulo Coelho: A Warriors Life: The Authorized Biography. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2009.

The Power of an Apology in Medical Errors Essay

The Power of an Apology in Medical Errors - Essay Example Unfortunately, when doctors make mistakes during treatment, the consequences can be severe. Sometimes, they can even result in serious injury or even death. In recent years, health care providers have become cautious about offering expressions of empathy or sympathy to patients whose disease did not have a successful outcome. These unsuccessful outcomes may be the result of known complications, clear errors, or other circumstances. The health care providers' caution in this area of communication is the result of the increasing number of lawsuits filed against them by their patients. Physicians understandably have a difficult time determining appropriate communication techniques to convey concern for the patient without inadvertently implying their own fault or guilt. It is not unusual for a physician's compassionate and empathetic actions to be misunderstood and later described to a jury as an apology for his error. Unquestionably, there are situations in which clear errors have been committed. Although rare, those events should certainly be followed with a sincere apology and appropriate assistance to the patient. In situations where the physician is not at fault for the undesired outcome, or when responsibility is difficult to determine prior to an investigation, it is still important for physicians to have the skills necessary to express empathy and concern without suggesting to the patient that they bear legal responsibility. Recent studies have suggested that failing to apologize for clear errors may prompt more claims than previously suspected. Research suggests that apology plays an important role in professional relationships. If done properly, an apology may not even be an issue in a subsequently filed lawsuit. Additionally, it is just common sense that demonstrating empathy and concern for patients during their most difficult times is the right thing to do. If lawsuits are subsequentl y filed in such situations, physicians will be seen in a much more favorable light if they have attempted to show appropriate concern and interest in their patients' well being. Many physicians are wondering about the purpose of expressing their remorse to a patient over a bad outcome or untoward incident. Indeed, there are large moral as well as ethical components to this issue. Doctors are also human, and every human has the need to convince themselves that at the end of the day, they did what was morally right. The human conscience may not give the physician in question a peace of mind if they fail to heed the inner voice that wants them to express their feelings of concern. This may apply not only to cases of malpractice where the patient is severely injured or even death occurred, but also in cases where there are not visible consequences. When an apology is truly warranted, accepting and expressing responsibility by the physicians for his or her mistakes is the first step to forgiving themselves and is the most likely way to maintain a good relationship with your patient. Demonstrating true sadness of the physician to the patient for his pain will help him and will strengthen the bond between physician and the patient. It is important for patients to feel that doctors care about them. Patients who have good relationships with their

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS (VISUAL DISCOURSE) FOR DARYL CARGLE CARTOON FOR Essay

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS (VISUAL DISCOURSE) FOR DARYL CARGLE CARTOON FOR THE HALLOWEEN IN 2007 - Essay Example Today, mankind behaves in an utterly foolish way-blinded by its own sinful ego and willing ignorance. No wonder history always repeats itself. It is startling to see as we study history, to realize that the same type of Nazi-fascism at work in our government today, is clearly evident in past tyrant dictatorships. It was none other than the tyrant Adolph Hitler who stated... "What luck for the rulers that men do not think" !! Literally, today's world is filled with a bunch of people who believe everything they here on FOX NEWS. Here's a good quote..."A man's judgment cannot be better than the information on which he has based it... Give him no news or present him only with distorted and incomplete data, with ignorant, sloppy or biased reporting, with propaganda and deliberate falsehoods, and you destroy his whole reasoning process and make him something less than a man." (Sulzberger 1948). The cartoon although portrayed in a funny way (and it should be) make the viewer think of the painful plight of fellow human beings around him. For example take the case of Iraqi war. Life is meaningless to the rich selfish monsters that inflict terror upon innocent civilians through military force.

Environmental Management Review of Dell Case Study

Environmental Management Review of Dell - Case Study Example The author of this research paper begins with the history of the company. Michael Dell founded the company when he was a 19 year old student at the University of Texas in Austin. He used a basic model: selling PCs to the final customer and built them to users’ specifications. Dell Computer still does it today, the so-called build-to-order scheme, although with some modifications. He started with telephone sales using IBM compatible PCs, and then assembling and selling his own brand. This model provided a 24-hour hotline for complaints and guaranteed immediate shipment of replacement parts, that is, 24- to 48-hour shipment. The improvements in design and production processes have helped Dell cut the estimated production cycle time for a desktop computer – from beginning of the build process to placement on a delivery truck – to 7 hours (McWilliams, 1997, cited in Kraemer et al, 1999:11). At its newest Austin plant, named Metri 12, sometimes a PC can be built, software installed and tested, and everything packed in a box for shipping within 5 hours (Ramstad, 1997, cited in Kraemer, 5). The customization that occurs in production is carried over to sales and service. For instance, Dell installs custom software on the machines that it builds for corporate customers. It also maintains an inventory of its customers. It seeks to lower the total cost of ownership for its corporate customers by helping them manage their PC inventories and offering technologies that reduce the cost of hardware and software maintenance in networks. (Dell outlines strategy, 1997). The company applies the principles of resource savings through the following strategies: Recycling Dell recycles unwanted Dell-branded products for free, and reduces impact to the environment through selling refurbished system. This saves money for the customer and lessens the amount of new materials used, while still keeping warranties from Dell. Old PCs, printers, software, modems and other such devices considered separate components, can be donated to charity organizations and foundations, through the company. The National Cristina Foundation and Dell have partnered to provide computer technology to people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons. Combined with training, this program enables them to lead more productive lives. (Dell website) Dell designs and engineers its products to prevent pollution and conserve natural resources throughout the system's life, achieving environmental responsiveness in tandem with sound business management. Reducing the environmental impact of Dell products begins at the design stage as cross-functional product design teams work to make thoughtful and effective decisions that will have positive environmental results throughout the equipment's life cycle. (Dell website: Environment) Environmental responsibility goals Recycle or reuse 99 percent of waste from manufacturing operations by 2012. Further reduce carbon intensity by 15 percent by 2012 (based on 2006 levels). Improve average score from the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System by 2012. Design for the environment Dell pledged to eliminate brominated flame retardants and polyvinyl chloride from new product designs by 2009 that will force widespread changes in

Textual Analysis of TV Show

Textual Analysis of TV Show CHRISTOPHER LEA Textual analysis of the TV show â€Å"Gogglebox.†Ã‚   This analysis will look at series 2 episode13 of the Channel 4 television programme Gogglebox. This show is broadcast nationally in the UK on Channel Four and is now in its second season. This episode can be found here: http://tvshows.ec/episode/Gogglebox_s2_e13 It falls broadly into the genre of reality TV. The participants (I will call them the actors for the purposes of this analysis) watch TV and are filmed reacting and commenting on the shows. These clips are edited together within the sequential chronology of the TV show in order to compare and contrast reactions and comments. In analysing this text, I hope to look at how the text portrays the diversity of British life and promotes TV as a unifying social force for good. I am also interested in the version of reality presented here One of my reasons for looking at this text is that it is a popular TV show that is attempting to reclaim the idea of water cooler TV. In the face of competition from on demand services, such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer, broadcast TV has seen a decline in the number of people who watch a program at the same time and on the same date. I would like to look deeper into the text to look at the ways in which the show tries to offer a view of a shared reality to promote its own validity. The introduction and broadcast paradigm Through the narration, we are informed of the numbers of people who sit down and watch TV every night. The use of statistics and complete lack of modality in the language (present simple tense – used for facts) tells the viewer to think about this as reality, there is no need to watch critically, as this is all true. The references to everyday experience are explicit here. The title sequences show darkening streets and street lights being lit, indicating a return from the toil of work to the comfort and security of home. This is underlined by shots of curtains being drawn, indicating a private space. There are also establishing shots through the windows of the houses, as we see people sitting down with a cup in their hand, looking at the TV. The cup of tea is a signifier of relaxation, while the shots through the window indicate to the viewer that they are part of someone else’s private moment, they are almost spying on them, and they have been given permission to look in from the outside. This reinforces the idea that this is real life, it is not set up for the cameras, but it somehow corresponds to what you would see if you peered in to someone’s living room. The text belongs the broadcast paradigm of reality TV. There is a kind of generic realism at work here. The reality show genre is familiar and has become almost transparent. With this familiarity, viewers lose sight of the fact that there are lights, directors, producers, make-up artists, camera operators and sound recordists working in the same space as the actors. Social codes There are number of social classes and demographics covered within the show. These all conform to their tropes throughout the seasons. The main characters are as follows: The affluent couple; The working class retired couple; The gay couple; The black girl friends; The middle class families; The working class Asian family; The two elderly intellectuals. There are also various other types and tropes that appear from time to time, but these are the main ones. Broadcast codes Travelling shots of the living rooms are put in to create pauses between movements to different actors; they fulfill a similar role to establishing shots in that they help with the invisible editing of the show, which is a way of adding to the believability of the show as the viewer is less distracted by the editing. The actors are all filmed from eye-level, which serves to put them on the same level as the viewer. We have been invited into their private living rooms, and now we are sitting as their peers, friends and part of their families. We are close to them and on the same level, there is no power relationship here, this emphasizes again the inclusivity of this activity. Reaction shots of the actors are shot in close-up to add intimacy and edited in sequences to emphasise these as common reactions. There is the suggestion here that we all do this, we all react in virtually the same ways, no matter what our socio-economic context. Everyone is filmed sitting in close proximity, on a sofa or armchair. This attempts to show the closeness and intimacy of the event. In some cases this looks unnatural as the space is very limited, and this proximity is maintained, even when there are other empty chairs next to them. The shots are also constructed to show people sitting in exactly the same position in every episode. Genre and intertextuality This text contains strong allusions to a popular BBC situation comedy from the last ten years, The Royle Family. This was famously a comedy where nothing ever happened. It showed a working class family in the UK sitting together, occasionally eating, but mostly watching TV. The show was filmed in a very similar way, with the family looking at the TV and the camera mainly pointing from where the TV would be. The script followed the comments of the family on various topics of gossip and their views on the shows that they were watching. Season one was narrated by Caroline Aherne, season two is narrated by Craig Cash. Both of these are actors and writers for The Royle Family. This provides an intertextuality that suggests that this show is to be taken lightly, it is not a serious social commentary, and that it is about people, or rather characters. It asks us to look for the tropes within the text and sets them up very clearly. The narration begins each episode with the line: â€Å"More than twenty million of us choose to spend our evenings in front of the telly.† The tone here is informal and familiar, choosing to refer to â€Å"us† as it is inclusive and refers to the stars of the show and the viewers as belonging to the same group. The numbering, 20 million, shows that we are not alone, that a large proportion (around 30 %) of the population is doing the same thing at the same time. Again, this emphasizes the togetherness of the shared experience. This is followed by reaction shots, such as disgusted recoils, faces covered with hands and utterances such as â€Å"Oh, my God!† By inserting these reaction shots immediately after the narration, the producer wishes here to provoke feelings of empathy, that this is something that we all do when watching TV. It also establishes a certain narrative tension; the TV screen is not shown here, and so the viewer is led to ask what these reaction shots were reacting to, creating the desire to find out the answer by continuing viewing of the show. This is a technique that alludes to other genres of narrative, such as drama serials that hook the viewer in with unanswered questions. The narration continues with the line â€Å"We’re going behind closed doors† over the establishing shots of windows lit in flats and houses, then closer shots from outside of the windows, peering into the various living rooms, the private spaces, where the actors are shown chatting, laughing and drinking tea whilst sat on their sofas. The intended effect here is to grant the viewer privileged access to private spaces, the doors are closed and we will be going behind them, the viewer is peeking in through the windows, and then getting to go actually inside the room. The viewer is drawn in to a secret world, but one that is very similar to their own secret world. This is conspiratorial and is intended to generate intimacy and empathy with the actors. It also serves to reinforce this idea of reality, that this is genuine fly on the wall stuff, which it is not set-up in any way, this is what we would see if we just peered in through the window, and there is no artifice or p erformance here. The paradigm of reaction shots is again used, drawing the viewer further into the narrative with more questions, plus opinions expressed, such as â€Å"I love this show† between the narrator’s voice explaining that we will â€Å"find out what people really (emphasis in the text) thought†. This pushes this idea again of uncut real life, this is the real thing, this is what people thought of the shows, and it is not mediated or censored. Verbal language The show is very informal and contains expletives. The language used is mainly to agree or disagree with comments, to mock or play with someone and to make jokes. It is social bonding that is important in this context. The bonds are created through sharing the medium of TV and commenting on it, these bonds are then reinforced with the viewer as the viewer is implicitly invited to agree or disagree with the actors. There are a number of accents, portraying the idea of a range of social classes and regions of the UK. This again serves to emphasize the idea that this behavior is quite universal and therefore, real and true to life. Bodily and behavioural codes Postures are generally relaxed, and yet most of the actors do not touch at all during the show. There is only one couple who conspicuously hold hands while sitting at opposite ends of the sofa. Dress varies; some of the actors (mainly the younger ones) are very informally dressed, whereas most of the older actors are dressed more formally. This jars somewhat with the idea that this is a time when we relax, but indicates a higher level of media awareness of the older actors. There are two types of shots of the actors; the wide shot that encompasses the whole group, and close-ups. The wide shot is used to show the actors participating together in commenting on the TV. This switches to close-ups when reactions are shown. The effect of this is to become more intimate with the actors, to be really close to them when they show emotion, thereby drawing the viewer into their emotional state. The codes for food and drink vary between the actors and are clearly organized to depict a certain reality, to emphasize their character according to type. For example, the older couple drinks tea, the intellectuals always have a bottle of red wine, the wealthy couple enjoys copious amounts of alcohol from a well-stocked drinks cabinet, the Black friends always have a large quantity of take-out food, the gay couple always eats from a box of chocolates. Ideological codes While the whole premise of the show is based around the idea that we are glimpsing what really goes on behind closed doors, the reality of the show is that it is produced like any other TV show, it is just that the dialogue is unscripted. In many ways, it is more like an improvisation with amateur actors playing themselves, on the themes of whatever they are told to watch by the producers. Taken as a whole, this show falls into a broadly conservative ideology that supports the dominant ideology of the UK. The close family unit is celebrated, and while diversity is portrayed through the inclusion of the gay couple and the black friends, there are still many absences that are conspicuous. For example, single people are not portrayed, including single parent families; neither are students, the unemployed or anyone who watches daytime TV shows. The focus here is on evening TV, and this period is lionized as the time when we all watch TV. This serves to promote the idea that typical members of society have busy lives during the day, and get together in the evening to relax together with the TV. The show also promotes consumerist values. The actors are all engaged in comment and discussion, but are, in fact, passively consuming the media, along with consuming their food and drinks. The actors all have houses and we are invited to look both inside and outside of these and comment on them. Benefits of semiotic analysis By looking at how this version of â€Å"reality TV† is manufactured, I have tried to show that it is a creation of the producers. The actors are real people, who all now have managers for their burgeoning media careers. The show has become a hugely popular format in the UK and reviewers and online comments have referred to its warmth and feel good factor. However, this is a carefully managed response that is the goal of the producers, not just a happy coincidence that has popped up from filming people being themselves. References http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/semiotic.html (Last accessed 13.01.14) http://tvshows.ec/episode/Gogglebox_s2_e13 (Last accessed 10.01.14)

A Lesson before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines Essay -- A Lesson before Dyi

A Lesson before Dying, one of Ernest J. Gaines later works, was written in 1993. Some of his earlier works include A Gathering of Old Men and In My Father’s House. The novel covers a time period when blacks were still treated unfairly and looked down upon. Jefferson, a main character, has been wrongly accused of a crime and awaits his execution in jail. Grant, the story’s main protagonist must find it within himself to help Jefferson see that he is a man, which will allow him to walk bravely to his fate that lies in the execution chair. A Lesson before Dying captures the tale of a young teacher, who by helping another mistakenly finds his own soul. This paper explains the literary background of Gaines, facts about the novel, literary criticism, film reviews, social issues of the time, and a personal analysis of the movie. The story begins with a trial of Jefferson being accused of murder. During the trial his lawyer calls him a hog that is not even worthy of the death penalty. Ultimately Jefferson is sentenced to death by electrocution. During the weeks following Miss Emma, who is Jefferson’s "nanan", wishes for Grant Wiggins, a young schoolteacher to speak with Jefferson and make him understand that he is a man. Although Grant refuses he is forced to go by Tante Lou, his aunt and a good friend of Miss Emma’s. Upon their first few visits Jefferson is cold towards Grant and Miss Emma, obviously believing he is a hog, as the attorney has stated. He refuses food offered by his "nanan", saying that "food aint for hogs." After Frequent visits, Jefferson begins to open himself up to Grant and speak about his feelings. Once Jefferson trusts Grant he is able to realize that he is a man and not a worthless hog. Through helping Jefferson become a man, Grant has done his own unconscious soul search ing which has helped him find who he is, and has found him a place with God. Ernest J. Gaines was an African American writer who was born on January 15, 1933 in Oscar, Louisiana. Although Gaines’ schooling was limited to a few classes, he attended at San Francisco State and Stanford University he was able to become a distinguished author of his time. A few of his most recognized works include The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman and In My Fathers House. Gaines grew up on a farm where he helped his family by working in the fields where he was paid only $.50 a day. Whe... ...The turning point was when Jefferson opened up to Grant and he was able to convince him that he was not a hog, but a man. I also believe it was the most moving scene of the movie. All the emotions that were put into words in the book came to life in the movie. Overall I thought that the movie was a very good interpretation of the novel. It is very rare to find a movie that follows the book so precisely. I think that even if I had not read the book I would have understood the movie well enough to follow along and understand Gaines’ message. I thought it was very moving, especially being able to see the characters of the book come to life in the movie. In conclusion, Ernest J. Gaines presents to us, the reader, a story about man’s ability to triumph over life’s obstacles when sometimes faced with harsh realities. For Grant, it was helping Jefferson to realize who he was, that gave him the strength to find himself. Sometimes the answers to life’s problems are not always cut and dry. The solutions can not always be seen clearly, but it is important to never give up. It is in the worst times when we must look to ourselves and examine who we are in order to thrive and carry on.

Social Class Essay

When sociologists talk of social class, they refer to a group of individuals who occupy a similar position in the economic system of production. Within that system occupation is very important because it provides financial rewards, stability and benefits like healthcare.Social classes are very complex, but â€Å"the relationship between power and wealth is undeniable.† (Marger 40) People can change the social class they are in, but it is not simply one factor that determines one’s social class. Occupation, income, wealth, education, and status are all major factors that can help determine which of the five social classes a person belongs. An individual can change his or her social class if they have the desire to do soMany sociologists suggest five:Upper Class – EliteRepresent institutional leadership, heads of multinational corporations, foundations, universities Capitalist elite – owners of lands, stocks and bonds and other assets – wealth derived from what they own Forbes magazine publishes a list of the 400 wealthiest families in America. In 1997, net worth had to be at least $475 million.Bill Gates, in that year, had net worth pf 39.8 billion. Of all the wealth represented on the Forbes list, more than half is inherited. Newly acquired wealth, nouveau riche, have vast amounts of money but not often accepted into â€Å"old money† circles.Upper Middle ClassRepresent scientific and technical knowledge – engineers, accountants, lawyers, architects, university faculty, managers and directors of public and private organizations. Have both high incomes and high social prestige. Well-educated. Difficult to define a â€Å"middle class† (i.e. upper middle, middle middle and lower middle) probably the largest class group in the United States – because being middle class is more that just income, about lifestyles and resources, etc.Lower Middle Class Clerical-administrative Provide support for professional s Engage in data collection., record-keeping Paralegals., bank tellers, sales Blue-collar workers in skilled trades Working Class Craft workers Laborers in factories Restaurant workers Nursing home staff Repair shops, garages Delivery services Poor Working poor – work full-time at wages below poverty line Social services UnderclassSocial class is one of the most important concepts that sociologists discuss and yet its definition is often illusive. There are two classical sociologists who are most important in the discussions about class .Karl Marx and Max Weber have different views upon social class in contemporary societies. In Karl Marx's perspective, social class has a two-class system whereas Max Weber argued that social class has three dimensions of stratification: class, status and party And what is frustrating about both is that they did not produce a viable definition of the things that they wrote extensively about.Karl Marx: 1818-1883 Karl Marx argued there are two major social classes, the ruling class who own the means of production and the subject class, who don't own the means of  production and are a diverse group of people controlled by and working for the ruling class. These two groups are better known as the bourgeoisie and proletariat. In particular, the bourgeoisie use a mode of production, in the form of capitalism, to oppress the proletariat. Whereby the owners of production (bourgeoisie) use the (proletariat) workers labour to produce their surplus value. In turn they pay their workers the smallest amount possible to make a profit, thus exploiting the working class.The defining factor in what makes them a separate class is the bourgeoisie's ownership of the means of production, not their wealth, because they don't produce the surplus value, the proletariat do. The bourgeoisie only appropriate the surplus. In essence the bourgeoisie are a ‘class for itself' whereas the proletariat are a ‘ class in itself'. Marx identifies that the reason we have classes is due to a group sharing a common interest and economic position. The bourgeoisie own the capital of land, machinery and raw materials. Whereas the proletariat own nothing, they can only sell their labour power in an attempt to survive and provide for their families. This in turn results in the social/power relations between the bourgeoisie and proletariat.Max Weber: 1864 – 1920 While Weber agrees with Marx's theory of the class distinction between the bourgeoisie and proletariat, he is more interested in the individual's market value. For Weber, an individual's class position is determined by their current market value. This market value is established by the individual's level of education, natural talent, skills and acquired knowledge. With these skills the individual is opened to numerous life chances and opportunities to further their career and increase their standard of living. Their market value equals their economic gain. Market value is defined by their ability to market themselves to a particular job opportunity. For instance, a university degree makes an individual more marketable and as such they have greater chances to work in their preferred field. They are given greater financial rewards and in turn move up the social ladder.Consequences of social classDifferent consumptions of social goods is the most visible consequence of class. In modern societies it manifests as income, inequality, through the subsistence societies it manifested as malnutrition and periodic starvation. The conditions at work vary greatly depending on class. Those in the upper-middle class and middle class enjoy greater freedom in their occupations. They are generally more respected, enjoy more diversity and are able to exhibit some authority. Those in lower classes tend to feel more alienated and have lower work satisfaction overall. The physical conditions of the work place differ greatly between classes. While middle class workers may † suffer alienating conditions† or † lack of job satisfaction†, blue-collar workers suffer alienating , often routine, work with obvious physical health hazards, injury and even death.In the more social sphere, class has direct consequences on lifestyle. Lifestyle includes tastes, preferences, and general style of living. These lifestyles could quite possibly affect education attainment, and therefore status attainment. Class lifestyle also affects how children are raised. For example, a working class person is more likely to raise their child to be a working class and middle class are more likely to be raised in middle- class. This perpetuates the idea of class for future generations.Since social class is often self-reported, it is difficult to assure the accuracy of the information collected. Even if the data is accurate, social classes are not the same in each region or city. What constitutes upper class in one location may be middle class in another. The lack of consistency involved in researching social class accounts for the difficulty in using it as a reliable variable. Schools and the workplace are greatly influenced by social class.The look of employment is changing because workers can no longer expect to work their way up through a company. Many companies look outside of the company for people with the right educational background instead of hiring from within . This greatly limits the potential for advancement of workers  who lack formal education. For people to move up in the social hierarchy, they must obtain higher education. Instead of spending years at a lower level position, people are spending more time in school and moving directly into management. . Therefore at this day and age, more importance is givin to education in order for one to work his way up the social ladder.

Gay Adoption in the US Essay

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the debate regarding gay men and lesbian couples adopting children in the United States. Thesis: Social stigma, legal hurdles, and agency biases are the main points surrounding the gay adoption controversy. Introduction: In 2011, 400,540 children in the US were in the foster care system, waiting to be adopted according to the Children’s Bureau page at the Administration for Children and Families webpage. However, an entire demographic is being excluded from giving these children a home: gay and lesbian couples. Just as there is controversy surrounding same-sex marriage, there is also controversy surrounding same-sex adoption. Some believe that the children are better off in foster care than to be adopted into a homosexual household. Others argue that gay and lesbian parents can provide stable, loving homes for these children. Regardless of your view point, the number of gay adoptions in the U.S. has increased from just 8% to 19% from 2000 to 2009 and still continues to grow, according to a 2014 article found at the Adoptive Families webpage page, titled Adoptions by Same-Sex Couples Still on the Rise written by Elise Rosman . With the increasing number of adoptions and the controversy that sur rounds it, it is important to know the main facts for both sides before forming a conclusion. Social stigma, legal hurdles, and agency biases are the main points surrounding the gay adoption controversy. Transition: Social stigma and public opinions are a very large part of the debate regarding adoption by gay and lesbian couples. I. And many people have strong opinions on both sides of this debate. a. There are many people who believe that placing children into same-sex families is a harmful practice, in regards to the child’s well-being. i. Timothy J. Daily of the Center for Marriage and Family Studies claims â€Å"The evidence demonstrates incontrovertibly that the homosexual lifestyle is inconsistent with the proper raising of children. Homosexual relationships are characteristically unstable and are fundamentally incapable of providing children the security they need†¦.† ii. Many people fear that a child being raised in a same-sex household will subjected to bullying, humiliation, and other forms of social ridicule. b. However, on the flip side, there are many who believe that gay and lesbian parents will be able to provide perfectly  stable homes for adoptive children. i. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, â€Å"Not one credible study has ever found that somebody’s sexual orientation alone makes him or her more likely to provide an unstable home†¦. Time and again mainstream groups have said that gay and lesbian parents are as likely to provide supportive, healthy homes as heterosexual parents†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ii. Also, many people fail to recognize that gay and lesbian parents may be more able to understand the challenges that their adopted children will face. They may be able to help their children in figuring out their identity and coming to terms with their out-of-the-norm situation c. Public opinion is an important part in the debate about gay marriage and gay adoption, considering they appear on election bills and those of us over eighteen get the option to vote in favor or not. i. If you look at this graph from a November 2012, USA Today/Gallup poll you can see that the majority about 61% of Americans in 2012 were in f avor of gay and lesbian people being legally able to adopt. Which is an increase from the 54% in the 2009 poll. Transition: But, sometimes social stigma isn’t the only thing keeping gay couples from adopting. II. There are often many legal hurdles that hinder prospective gay and lesbian couples from being able to adopt. a. Most states do not have laws specifically against gay adoption i. According to Scott Ryan, Sue Pearlmutter, and Victor Groza in their article â€Å"Coming out of the Closet: Opening Agencies to Gay and Lesbian Adoptive Parents â€Å" published in the Social Woek Journal, Recently overturned was the 1977 law in Florida banning gay adoption. This law was put into effect because of the Save Our Children movement, aimed at â€Å"protecting† children from homosexuality ii. To clarify: most states allow gay singles to adopt. But laws against gay marriage make it nearly impossible for gay couples to jointly adopt b. However, more and more states are allowing joint adoptions by same-sex couples. i. The increasing acceptance for gays and lesbians in our society, as well as the increasing number of states allowing gay marriage, will likely make it more acceptable and easier for gay couples to adopt. Transition: While legal issues are a big factor surrounding gays and adoption, they also have to face biases from the adoption agencies. III. There are many struggles they have to face when deciding to adopt. a. Most gay couples seeking to adopt are restricted to domestic adoptions, or adoptions within US borders. i. This is because many countries, including  China and Thailand, won’t knowingly place children with gay couples b. Gay couples might be wary to try and adopt through private adoption agencies, because many of these private agencies are affiliated religiously. c. Another factor influencing the number of gay and lesbian couples who are able to adopt is the attitudes, biases, and even misinformation of the adoption professional. d. Gay men and lesbian women often encounter barriers when they pursue adoption. i. Adoption workers are supposed to make decision about placement of a child using the best interest standard. 1. However, this standard does not take in to account ones intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational views and beliefs. Transition: Many gay and lesbian people face bias and struggles when trying to adopt though an agency. Conclusion: As you can see much like the issue of gay marriage, the controversy surrounding same-sex couples adopting is one with firm believers on both sides of the debate. As some of you probably know, the adoption process is not an easy one, and for gay individuals and couples, it’s even harder. Whether its agency biases, legal hurdles, or social stigma, same-sex couples looking to adopt have faced, and will continue to face, many challenges. However, as our society becomes progressively more accepting of gay couples, we will likely see an increase in the amount of gay parents in America. Whether you believe it is socially acceptable or not it is important to consider the 400,000 children in the foster care system and decide for yourself, should same-sex couple and individual be able to adopt? Bibliography Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) FY 2011 data, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau, www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb How Many People are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender?. (n.d.). Williams Institute. Retrieved November 11, 2013, http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/census-lgbt-demographics-studies/how-many-people-are-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender/ Kinkler, L. A., & Goldberg, A. E. (2011). Working with what we’ve got: Perceptions of