E-Commerce Challenges and Solutions Research Paper

E-Commerce Challenges and Solutions - Research Paper Example The author of the essay "E-Commerce Challenges and Solutions" begins with that E-Commerce is the cutting edge for today’s business. It is a modern business style which deals with the needs of organizations and consumers. E-Commerce helps to reduce the costs, develop the quality of goods and raise the speed of delivery. It is related with buying or selling products and information through internet. Nowadays, business institutions want the flexibility for changing business partners, platform and network at their will. Organizations want to form unique business strategy which includes creating a personal electronic communication to customers, suppliers, distributors and competitors for upgrading the effectiveness of their business communication. It will lead the organizations to increase market share, maintain long term viability in today’s business condition. It will help to exchange valuable information to customers constantly. E-Commerce enables business organizations t o exchange valuable information related to business and their offerings among their continuously varying sets of consumers. E-Commerce offers organizations opportunity to perform online business activities as well as utilize it as an integrated marketing with promotional tool in order to increase the sales. E-Commerce provides an option of efficient processing of orders from consumers. E-commerce as a powerful tool has an insurmountable importance and organizations on a worldwide basis have started to recognize its significance as a cutting edge technology. (eCommerceProgram, 2007). Ethical Challenges of E-Commerce There are certain ethical issues regarding internet marketing and E-Commerce, which are described below: Privacy Issue Business organizations using E-Commerce should keep in mind that the customer’s personal information must be safe. This will help to build the trust of the customer in the field of safety and security of e-business and also to maintain the honesty of the organization (Botha, 2004). The ‘power of information technology’ to store as well as retrieve information often has harmful effect on the privacy of consumers. Several companies at times monitor the confidential emails of employees. Every time a person visits ‘World Wide Web’ the personal information about that person may be stored by the use of ‘C ookie’. At times several secret information of government bureaus, credit organizations or private business organizations are misused which can result in invasion of privacy or fraud. Computer Crimes Internet is an easy tool for committing crimes. Any person can commit crime by using the tools of internet. It is a

Donatellos David Essay Example for Free

Donatellos David Essay The re-creation of David, a biblical hero, comes from three very notable works of art from history. The free standing sculptures are made by Donatello, Michelangelo and Bernini. Donatello is an artist and sculptor known for his exploration of human emotion and expression. He also known to use difficult mediums to make masterpieces. In Donatello’s depiction of David appears as a bronze work of art from the Italian Renaissance period. This is a life sized sculpture of David in the nude. Its dimensions are 5’2 Â ¼ in. (as tall as me!) and possibly created thruout 1446 1460. Michelangelo the second artist of a David sculpter, was a poet and an artist, he studied and apprenticed under many great artist. Michelangelo’s depiction of David is a work of art formed from marble made in the High Renaissance period made in 1623-1624 and took about seven months to complete. The height of this sculpture is 170cm. This also is a nude statue. The last work of art we will explore, is that of David, in Bernini’s depiction. Bernini was a sculptor, painter and playwright. He was the Vatican architect in 1692. His work of David was formed from marble, made in approximately 1504 around or in the Baroque period and stands about 5.17 meter tall (17ft.) The body composition and expressions on the face are all different in each work of art of David. Donatello’s work seems to explore a younger more adolescent view of David. The body composition seems strong, but strong for a teenaged underdeveloped boy. The arms, legs and thighs have very little muscle tone and do not seem strong at all. David’s hair is long and thick but stringy. His facial features are very soft, no hard or intense emotion. The hat and boots are extremely detailed, but I must say they make did look very lady-like. The arm resting on the hip and dainty physique looks more woman-like than boy. I think the genitals look very underdeveloped. There is muscle tone in the abdominals but the chest area even look like there are breasts forming. The eyes are large

The Four Main Purposes Of Communication English Language Essay

The Four Main Purposes Of Communication English Language Essay Communication has been defined as the transfer of information and understanding from one person to another through the use of common symbols. Communication can flow upward, downward, and laterally, that is, from subordinates to superiors, from superiors to subordinates and from peer to peer. Most people want to be understood; they want to understand others; and they want to gain acceptance of their ideas. Rarely would a person deliberately not want to be understood; but even so, misunderstandings, incorrect communications, and failure to communicate can create confusion on a regular basis. Good communication is crucial to the success of both the individual and the organization. It doesnt matter how good a worker you are or how much you understand about the business if you cannot communicate properly. Objective 1. List the four main purposes of communication. We want to be understood; we want to understand others; we want to gain acceptance for ourselves and our ideas; and finally, we want to produce action. What does the phrase: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦as soon as you can get to it mean? Does it mean right now or as soon as you finish what you are doing right now or what? If your meaning and the other persons meaning are not the same, you may have the makings of a communications breakdown. Everything we say has at least three messages: What we meant, what we said, what the other person understood. Unfortunately, these three are not always congruent. An accountant made a mistake and he apologized thusly: I read 4, wrote 5, meant 6, and it should have been 7. Objective 2. Describe the six-step communication model and elaborate on each of its points. There are many different models of communication and each has its particular value. The model you have on page 66 of DuBrins book (10th edition) is a good one, but I would like to use another model because it has several things that are really valuable as we look at communication. We will refer back to DuBrins model a little later on. The model I want to present to you has six steps: ideation, encoding, transmission, receiving, decoding, and action. Notice in the comic strip that communications must start with a concept, that is, an idea, thus the term ideation. This first step takes perhaps a fraction of a second; and we can almost ideate and speak at the same time. Ideation requires imagination and experience because the more of each you have, the easier it is to ideate a message. The second step is encoding. This step requires putting the idea into some type of intelligible form so it can be transmitted. Writing a letter, framing a statement in your mind, determining (or even not determining) to communicate non-verbally-all these represent encoding. Consider the importance of education to encoding. Transmission is the third step; and it is the most visible and recognizable aspect of communication. Speaking, writing, and even non-verbal communication are examples of this step. The fourth step is receiving; and it is done by reading the letter, hearing the words, or sensing the non-verbal communication. Decoding, the fifth step, is the counterpart of encoding except that it is done by the receiver. Decoding requires taking intelligence from the message as it is received. This step is responsible for the majority of communications problems. The sixth step is action; if a message is received, then action of one sort or another must follow. Bear in mind that taking no action is one way of acting. M2.1 will help you understand this concept. Objective 3. Identify the different ways of communicating and list their advantages and disadvantages. Lets take the following means of communicating and discuss their advantages, disadvantages, and perhaps some suggestions for improving the communication in each medium. If you have additional contributions, we can discuss those as well. Telephone Written (memo, letter, instructions) Telephone (including voice mail) E-mail Face-to-face Objective 4. Explain the importance of non-verbal communication. Just as regular communication can take a variety of forms, so can non-verbal communication. We can identify several different kinds of non-verbal communication and each one may have some sub-categories. Here are some of the more common types of non-verbal communication: A local radio personality in Tyler, Texas, was hawking a used car lot and his statement was: I bought my last car from them. The obvious interpretation is that the last car he bought was from that dealer. What if he had put increasing emphasis on the last three words? Then it would sound like he would never buy another car from them. There are two main types of non-verbal communication: paralanguage and kinesics. Paralanguage is like language, that is, it communicates something, but not in words. It includes emphasis, vocalization, and pauses (or silence). You already know how adding emphasis to a statement (or parts of a statement) can add urgency to the message or even change the meaning. For example, if someone says, What do you think about it? he is speaking emphatically to you. Vocalization is an audible (or sometimes inaudible) component of a statement that carries meaning. For example, a laugh, a groan, or even clearing the throat can qualify as a vocalization if it carries meaning. A well placed pause can add a great deal to the message, such as when someone says, Im not saying he is dishonest, he is just (pause) creative in his dealings. Can you see the meaning the pause adds? Sometimes a question or a comment can be met with steely silence indicating displeasure with the message: Dad, can I go over to Joes house and smoke some marijuana? Kinesics includes deliberate gestures and other movements which might not be deliberate, such as stroking the chin, slumping, facial expressions, eye movement or body language. Please note that laughing, sighing, pausing, stroking the chin, or eye movement may be nothing other than what it seems. In order to be classified as non-verbal communication, the action must be a communication whether deliberate or non-deliberate. Some gestures might be perfectly acceptable in one culture and highly offensive in another. A television mini-series in 1986 entitled, On Wings of Eagles showed the daring rescue of some EDS executives held hostages in Iran. The man responsible for getting them out of Teheran told them, We need to get a ride, but do not stick out your thumb because that is an insulting gesture. The V sign can mean victory (as from Winston Churchill; it can mean peace, as with the 1960s peaceniks; or it can also be an insulting gesture in some European countries. Shifty-eyed is a label we would put on some gangster or someone not to be trusted. You can probably identify a number of other kinesics examples that add meaning or contradict meaning. Proxemics is communicating by space. Middle Eastern people prefer to get very close while communicating, but most westerners prefer a certain distance between themselves and the fellow communicator. Can you imagine what would happen if two people from these two cultures were trying to communicate and neither was aware of the proxemics preference of the other? Objective 5. Describe several ways you can improve your communications through using or not using non-verbal means. How Non-verbal Communication Helps How important is facial expression and eye contact in communication? You probably have heard the phrase, He can lie to you while he is looking you in the eye. It implies that the person is a skilled liar and that normally if a person is lying, he wont look you in the eye. Alternately, when someone says, I looked him in the eye and told him what I thought, that means he had the boldness to say what he really thought. Looking people in the eye is important because it conveys honesty and openness. Did you know that only 7% of your message is conveyed by words, while 38% is conveyed by your tone, and a whopping 55% is conveyed by body language. Did you know you cant turn your transmitter off? Even if you try not to communicate non-verbally, you are still communicating non-verbally. Read the document entitled, How to Understand Woman Talk. This is a set of hilarious definitions about how women communicate with men with paralanguage. You dont need to respond to this assignment; I just thought you would enjoy a good example of non-verbal communication. Recall our discussion of emotional intelligence in Module 1. The same general principle applies to improving communication by being aware of our non-verbal communication. If you are aware of what messages you might be sending, you can correct, delete, strengthen, or alter the message to suit your needs. I have been challenged in a meeting by a colleague who said, I can see by his facial expression that Tommy does not agree with this, but if he will hear me out, he may understand how my ideas will work. By the same thinking, if you can read non-verbal communication, you might know when to push or when to back off. Skilled negotiators know this very well, and you can gain an advantage in knowing what the other person is saying in addition to his words. Objective 6. Describe various ways to improve communications with superiors, subordinates, and peers. There is a concept called 3-D communication which describes how you communicate up, down, and sideways, that is, to superiors, subordinates, and peers. Consider the difference: Many people speak with a different style and a different tone depending on whether the receiver is a superior, subordinate, or peer. It seems reasonable to speak with respect to your superiors, but consider what would happen if you used the same degree of respect when you are communicating with subordinates Some wise person has said that one of your jobs is to keep your bosss boss off your bosss back. That is true enough and it is good advice. Here is a valuable tip that can enhance your relationship to your boss when you take a problem to your boss: State the problem. Provide some options. Make a recommendation about which option you recommend. Ask for his suggestions. Look what this process does: It shows respect for the boss by keeping him informed about the situation. It brags on you because it shows you have done your homework and you are not just being a whiny baby complaining to the boss. It shows your insight regarding a possible solution and your assertiveness in recommending it. At the same time, it shows respect for the boss by acknowledging the possibility that he might have a better idea or preference. Avoid Sarcasm Don Rickles has made a fortune by being sarcastic, but aside from him, no one benefits from sarcasm. Sarcasm is designed to hurt the other person. It serves no useful purpose, but it does inhibit communication by straining relationships unnecessarily. I cannot overemphasize the importance of respect and courtesy in communicating with others Objective 7. Describe the importance of feedback and how to cultivate it. DuBrin (10th edition, page 66) defines feedback as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the message sent back from the receiver to the sender. That is a good, workable definition, but it is also limited. Certainly the idea of feedback implies sending something back, but you can get feedback on the quality of your work or someones idea of a new procedure. Even though different definitions exist about feedback, its importance cannot be denied. How do you give and receive feedback? Ask for it. This assumes that you have a relationship with the people from whom you are requesting feedback that they feel. Provide for it and be sensitive to it. Sometimes feedback is subtle; an employee might not be as friendly and as open as normal and you may suspect that some feedback is lurking in there somewhere so you may have to go back to #1. React honestly but diplomatically. Thats the dumbest thing I ever heard, will probably not get you the Supervisor of the Year Award. Listen to the feedback. It may be dumb, but you should not allow the employee to know you think that. Express appreciation and act on it. This does not mean that you must satisfy the employees desire, but it does mean you must do something and let the employee know. If you cant do anything, then also let the employee know that as well. Objective 8. Explain the term grapevine and distinguish it from rumor. The grapevine is an informal communications network. As a manager, you should not try to kill the it because you cant; and besides, it provides a good release of tension. Good or bad, grapevine is most active when formal communications are not forthcoming. You have probably experienced the grapevine via your e-mail. A large number of interesting things are spread indiscriminately that may have some truth, but to a large extent are not nearly as wonderful or as catastrophic as they first appear. I saw one recently about a giant oil and gas reserve in western North Dakota that was supposed to solve our energy need for the next 40 years, but the environmentalists have blocked its development. It turns out there is a oil reserve there, but it is not nearly as expansive as the grapevine had it. It wasnt a trillion barrels; it is more like 3-4 billion barrels and that amount would curtail imports for about one year./p> Rumor is different from the grapevine. Rumor is unsubstantiated hearsay and it does get put on the grapevine. Rumor has several characteristics: It is usually interesting Its source not identifiable and it is unverifiable It is somewhat ambiguous It usually has an element of truth What to do about rumor? Dont pass it along. Check it out. Provide honest and open communication. http://www.analytictech.com/mb119/grapevine-article.htm Susan Heathfield is a management consultant with strong credentials in corporate communications. She offers the following recommendations about rumor and gossip: Expect a certain amount of gossip; people want to know what is going on in their workplace, and they like to discuss work issues. The key is to know when the gossip is out-of-hand. You need to act if the gossip is: disrupting the work place and the business of work, hurting employees feelings, damaging interpersonal relationships, or injuring employee motivation and morale. If rumors and gossip seem to be rampant, you might want to look at them to see if there are recurring themes. It may be that you are not sharing enough information with them, or perhaps they dont trust you and are afraid to ask about important topics. Objective 9. Explain why listening is such a significant problem. Hearing is a physiological process involving sound transmission, nerves, the ears, and the smallest bones in the body: the ossicles, comprised of the malleus (the hammer), the incus (the anvil), and the stapes (the stirrup). Listening is a psychological process which requires focus as well as understanding, processing, and evaluation. Listening is work and many times we hear things, but we dont listen to them. You have heard the phrase, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦in one ear and out the other? That is an example of hearing but not listening. Most people think they are good listeners, but a study has shown that a 10% listening effectiveness rate is not rare at all; 25% is common; and anyone who thinks he listens at a 60% effectiveness rate is fooling himself. Listening is the first thing children learn but it is the last thing taught, if at all. We emphasize reading and speaking in our schools, but listening skills traditionally have not been taught at all. That is changing somewhat because people are beginning to realize the importance of good listening skills. Have you ever met someone and five minutes later you couldnt remember his name? Sounds like a memory problem, doesnt it? It is not a memory problem, it is a listening problem. You were so intent on presenting a pleasing personality and putting the best foot forward that you didnt have any room left for listening. Actually, you do have the room, but you have to give it some concentration and focus on listening to the persons name. Discuss situations in which listening was not done properly and situations in which good listening skills paid off and report the best examples. Poor listening skills is one of the biggest problems in business and industry today. Poor listening causes low productivity, low morale, broken relationships with peers, subordinates, and bosses. Most of us listen at about a 25% level of effectiveness. Thats not very good. Even when we really try, the best we can do is about 60%. Listening is one of the most important things that any of us-workers, parents, bosses, whatever-can do to improve relationships and to get the job done. Do you like people? Other than a few soreheads, most of us would say yes. If you like people, then you need to like to listen. Even though you may be rushed, even though you think you may not have time to listen, listening is absolutely vital to getting the job done and maintaining relationships with your co-workers. Listening problems include the following: Listening is work and most of us are somewhat lazy. If you dont work at listening, you will not listen well. Having said that, you cannot work too hard or you will be concentrating so hard on listening that you will not listen well. Listening implies passivity and compliance to many people and they want to be in control. Sometimes our listening consists of grudgingly remaining silent until we get our turn to speak. Emotions get in the way of listening. When someone says something that pushes our hot button, we can become so charged up that we dont listen. Objective 10. Explain the process of active listening. You may have heard the term active listening which is the same thing as reflective listening. This concept is a listening tool and a human relations tool. Reflective listening is based on the idea that if people keep talking, sooner or later they will see the solution to their own problems. In addition to that, it helps both speaker and listener to be sure that what was spoken was the same as what was heard. The process works by the listener (the supervisor, perhaps?) listening carefully, then paraphrasing back to the speaker what he heard, or in some cases just asking for more information or clarification. Heres how it works: a team leader complains to the supervisor about his teams failure to follow through on their assignments. That bunch of dipsticks; they never do anything right. Sounds like youre pretty upset with them. You bet I am. I cant get them to follow instructions. What Im hearing is that they wont do what you tell them, is that right? Sometimes using reflective listening makes the speaker compare the reflection with what he said. That may require the speaker to revise his statement to more accurately reflect what he meant. Here are some typical reflective listening phrases: What Im hearing you say isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ It sounds like you thinkà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ So youre just wondering ifà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ You sound really disappointed. Reflective listening should not be used to diagnose the problem or to offer solutions. Additionally the listener should not make interpretations as to what he thinks the speaker is saying. The only thing the listener should do is offer a paraphrase of what the speaker is saying. Objective 11. Describe the keys to effective listening. Find areas of interest. You should make a decision when you are listening to someone. Either that person has something to say that you need to know or perhaps you should leave if you can do it diplomatically. Judge content not delivery. Sometimes people are not as articulate or as organized in their communications as they should be. It might be important to overlook the delivery shortcomings and focus on the message being sent. Hold your fire. People can really set you off by pushing your hot buttons. As a disciplined listener, you can deliberately choose not to get angry and just continue to listen. That does not make you a doormat because you can deal with the issues in an assertive, yet tactful way when it comes your turn to speak. Listen for ideas, not just information. Could the words be hiding something important? Later we will discuss the hidden agenda; and how you can deal with it. Work at listening. As we discussed earlier, listening is work and we need to know how much work to put into the job of listening. Remember that listening is faster than speech. Most people speak at about 150 words per minute (WPM). You can easily listen to speech at 450 WPM or even more with no loss in comprehension. That leaves a time differential that allows you to daydream and perhaps lose the train of thought or you can use the extra time to compare what the other person is saying to what you know, identify advantages and disadvantages, and identify the big picture and the supporting facts. Share your experiences on listening in M2.2. Objective 12. Describe why the concept of the hidden agenda is so important in communication. A hidden agenda is a matter which a person cannot or will not bring up, but which is causes him to do certain things or not do certain things. Examples of hidden agenda President Bush has been accused of having a hidden agenda with respect to the Iraq war. His critics say the real agenda was his desire to invade Iraq and get rid of Saddam Hussein; or for some, the real agenda was to seize Iraqs oil assets for the United States. The agenda he presented to the world was the imminent threat of Saddams weapons of mass destruction. Con artists are masters of hidden agenda; they gain your confidence and try to convince you that they are your friend, that they want to help you, but the real agenda is to steal your money. During the Viet Nam War, a leader in the anti-war movement said, If the Viet Nam War did not exist, we would have had to invent it. The hidden agenda here is, We must have something to protest or we dont exist. How should you handle a hidden agenda? First, you have to suspect it is there. If there is evidence that what the person is telling you is not what they really want to tell you, you can reflect back what they are saying.

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been Essay examples -- Literary An

In her short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been, Joyce Carol Oates presents us with a well known maxim: children cannot wait to get older. Tired of her boring and powerless childhood, Connie, the main character, searches for cheap thrills she likens to adulthood. Thus, Connie’s surreal experience (Arnold Friend’s sudden and unwanted appearance in his car) represents a suppressed fear of the inevitable and unknown - growing up. Connie, a stereotypical fifteen year old girl, views her life and her family with dissatisfaction. Jealous around her twenty-four year old sister, June, despite June’s outward plainness, and tense around her irksome mother, Connie escapes to the mall with her friends. She and her clique of friends feel like they own the place, and the rest of the world: â€Å"Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1-2). The sense of freedom intoxicates them. Sometimes, they sneak across the street to a drive-in restaurant. Crossing from one world to the next, they leave the well known layout of the mall and adopt the turf of the older kids. They went up through the maze of parked and cruising cars to the bright-lit, fly- infested restaurant, their faces pleased and expectant as if they were entering a sacred building that loomed up out of the night to give them what haven and blessing they yearned for (2). Here, they rid themselves of average, familial and school-age problems and bask in the glory of teenagerdom, drinking from their Holy Grail of liberty. Here, listening to â€Å"the music that made everything so good† (2), they finally taste the maturity they yearn for. However, growing up often comes too quickly. A boy, Eddie, soon arr... ...ate. As the last lines of the story suggest, despite her terror through the piece, she is finally forced to accept her future: â€Å"†¦the vast sunlit reaches of the land behind him and on all sides of him - so much land that Connie had never seen before and did not recognize except to know that she was going to it† (9). After spending so much time acting more grown up than she actually was, she now must face the truth of growing up, despite her trepidation, like all children. With complex themes and multifaceted symbols, Oates presents a girl so eager to grow up, but not yet ready to face what that truly entails. Arnold Friend represents the bare actuality many children ignore when looking at the far unlit unknown of adulthood and growing up. In essence, this story acts as a way to warn â€Å"be careful what you wish for† and â€Å"life’s not all it’s cracked up to be†.

Respryn and the Cornish Country-side

It would be a normal day in the summer holidays when suddenly the phone would ring. My friends and I were off to Respryn. We'd all grab our bags, put our swimming shorts in along with a towel, and jump onto our bikes and go. We'd all somehow meet up and then ride along the busy Cornish town roads, which was full with cars at this time like an ant's nest in the summer, up and along many steep hills, past our school and then out of Bodmin into the countryside of Lanhydrock. We'd go down a fairly steep hill which as we go down we see fields ahead of us that are laid out like the squares on a patch work quilt. Lots of different shapes and not all connected properly together like they should. At the bottom of the hill we turned right into a dimly lit small forest where the ground in autumn is filled with the vibrant colours of dead leaves. Every time our wheel rotated we herd the crackling of a bonfire as despatched twigs and branches crumbled beneath us. In the background we would hear the faint cry of an owl but the main sound was the rumbling and roaring of the cars passing by on the nearby main road. We left the forest and then mounted onto a newly built bridge that crossed the main road we herd from the forest. Myself and my Friends, Craig and Jamie like to stop here and look down on the passing cars. We like to play a game we call Emmett spotting, which is where we'd try and spot as many tourist or foreigners we can that aren't from Cornwall. I found it amazing how so many cars enter my hometown and how so little leave; they all can't be here to stay! Occasionally a passing lorry or truck would honk its horn at my friends as they try and provoke other drivers to do the same. Once we had a driver make a gesture at us, which included him making the middle finger on his hand stand up, we all stared at each other and laughed as we were out to enjoy ourselves and not let any body spoil our day. On we would go! We all rode along a crop filled fields where the power of the wind made an on going wave where the yield swept side to side. This effect was spoilt though by the sound and look of the nearby motorway, which was built straight through the middle of the farmland and beautiful scenery which makes me proud to call this tiny corner of England, I live in, home. As we exited the field we had the first site of the task ahead of us, a giant hill which took us to Richard's house. On would go our serious faces as we normally treat this hill as a competition to see who can get the furthest up, without putting a foot down and that day wasn't going to be an exception. I rode and rode; firstly Jamie regrettably put his foot to ground as the size of the hill overcame him. I fell back a bit just to keep him company as Craig pushed ahead because he doesn't like to lose. The top was in our sight, one last right turning and we would be treated to the smell of cattle from the farm that was really close. Okay maybe treated isn't the right word to use, but this would be the sent that would great the winner. Craig was the first to the top, but it ended in a draw, he wasn't the only one who managed to get to the top without putting his foot down, I made it as well. I now couldn't wait to get to Richards house to give my legs a rest. At the top of the hill we were able to look across all across Bodmin. From the highest point, where The Beacon stood to the industrial estate where most of the main work in Bodmin took place. The sky didn't look like the sky, but a sea of nothing. It was cloudless with not even a patch of white to be seen. After I had stopped looking across Bodmin I was greeted by the undesirable smell of the farm animals which swept along the cobblestone roads that seemed to act like a funnel directing the scent directly towards us. Once we had overcome the smell we meandered along the mud layered roads. A farmer passed in his tractor as we turned our last corner and glided down the last hill. We did this is a childish manner trying to go as fast as we could and then suddenly turn into the driveway of Richards house. His house is set in a lovely location, a generous garden with a pond in the middle, ducks and geese in his back garden along with sheds where the pony's and horses were kept. We couldn't see much from his house but if we walked out into the road in front of his house, there are hills in all directions with popcorn like bails of hay scattered around like houses on a Monopoly board. Richard was waiting for us and as soon as he saw us came out into his front garden. We talked for a couple minutes, had a drink which was well earned after the hill we managed to climb earlier, and just before we left got showed the motorised three wheeled bike he and his twin brother had been working on for the past couple weeks. This was it, we were on the last leg in till we would arrive at our final destination, Respryn. We'd rumble down a small hill and then took our bikes up a narrow stinging nettle filled hidden lane, which turns into a woodland area. The woodland area was packed full of trees, with man made paths for us to struggle ahead on. We had to be careful because there were brambles spurting out in all direction and Jamie would some times squirm after seeing a spider in it's water droplet filled web. I can remember coming through this woodland area before with Richard after a night full of rain. The paths weren't any more than a stream of muddy water and swamps that would suck you into the ground at any chance possible. It was impossible for us to pass, without getting soaked to the skin. We would exit the forest, cross a main road that was deserted with no cars to be seen and then pass a small cottage that had ivy crawling up all the walls in all directions. â€Å"Straight ahead then!† Richard would yell at the top of his voice, just to make sure every one knew where to go. We would then act in the same childish manner as before and soar down the unstable country lane road as fast as possibly, just that time taking more care because there was more chance of us falling off. Coming down the hill we were able see Respryn in the distance. The river slowly running through the woods and One or two cars on the granite bridge, which had one meter slots in to let horses get out of the way of cars. At the bottom of the hill we'd slam our brakes to there full because of a red gate which stands in our way. I get off my bike and open it for the rest to pass and then struggle through myself. The excitement would start to generate as we got closer to Respryn and as we went through the field at the bottom of the hill, we passed a dog walker who smiled politely. We were there, as I looked around I saw a canopy of leaves above, which protect the ground from the sun like an umbrella protects a small child on a beach on a very hot day. This canopy was only disturbed by small gusts of wind or the occasional sparrow or blackbird flying from branch to tree and tree to branch. Even when it's raining the ground remained dry because of the thick shelter created by the tree canopy. In some of the very rare gaps there is in the roof, I couldn't see anything apart from a large streak of light that missiles to the ground like a laser streaking from a gun. There was no noise to be herd apart from a distant barking dog in the background and the nearby stream that runs straight through the woods. As we kept on riding I noticed some of the graffiti carved into the trees. One I saw had the date 1987 on, this was before I was born and made me realise that many children of our age have enjoyed these woods and the streams for many years before us. We rode beside the cascading river for a bit, which on one side has a sea of blue bells, daffodils and many other plants. On the other is a never ending wood, full of lots of different types of trees and hundreds of passages that had different explorations in each direction. Here we were, we all stood and stared at a huge island in front of surrounded by the river. Ankle deep on one side and on the over two and a half meters deep, but you have to jump one and a half meters first off the island to reach the water. â€Å"Last one in is a wimp,† I shout so we all ran into the forest in different directions and strip naked. We chucked on our swimming shorts and then ran back to the island leaving our belongings in a safe place apart from one person, Craig, who unsurprisingly, accidentally forgot his swimming shorts and towel. We weren't going to let him stop us having fun so we sprinted into the water and got on top of the island. We stopped for a bit and then leaped forward off the island into the crystal clear deep water. The stream has a higher than average current but we still jumped in. As soon as we hit the water, we'd all swear and shout because of the shock about how cold the fast flowing river is. Even though it was the middle of summer the water was still freezing because of the canopy stopping the sun heating it up. We quickly swam out and catch our breath before doing it again. We went a bit higher up the island this time and then jump of again and again, in till we either get too cold or bored. Once we were this we grab our bags and hopped back onto our bikes. We then rode back through the forest we just came and crossed a small wooden bridge. As usual we stopped and played the classic game from the â€Å"Winnie the Poo† novel â€Å"Poo sticks† which I always win. We rode past some walkers who sounded like there tourists and who make a few unwanted comments about what were doing, we also passed some empty fishing platforms that I sometimes jumped of but today we didn't so we exited the woods. I can remember a couple months before coming to these woods with another friend at night during the winter. It was totally silent and as black as the hot chocolate I was thinking of having when I got home. Every time there was a flutter in the trees we would look up immediately. We kept on trying to scare each other because at night the trees look like people and in pitch black in the middle of the woods, another person isn't someone who you really wanted to see. The atmosphere could have been cut with something less than a knife a blunt pencil would have done the trick. I told my friends about this experience but they just laughed because they couldn't imagine how something so beautiful during the day could become so scary at night. After we left the wood we went to another area of Respryn, it was still part of the woods but you had to go in a different direction to get to it. So we picked up our bikes and took them over a fence, rode through a field of cows and went through a gate. Like earlier we were meet with the same woods but something was different about this one. There was less of a canopy but still as elegant and pleasing. After riding on for a bit we came to another area where we going to go swimming. Of came our bags, onto the floor went our bikes and into the river we went. In the corner of my eye I saw a tree, which was drooping over the river so, I got out and climbed it. While I was doing this my friends had realised what I was about to do, I pushed off and plummeted into the water. My friends laughed and I tried to get them to have ago but they weren't as mad as I was. Twenty minutes later we were starting to get cold and fed up of the small flies that came and landed on us, of which we wouldn't notice until they starting biting. They starting arriving in ones and twos, giving us one byte every ten minutes or so but then they came to us like children go to their Grandma's sweet bowl. Once we were all out and dry we slowly started walking back through the woods, which had all the shades of brown and green in one place at once. We came across a few strange bugs and insects that we never new existed. We left Respryn and then headed towards the ancient Lanhydrock house. Up the main driveway we went, which was some five hundred meters long. Its massive gardens where both sides of us, on the left was a giant field of which I crept into once to see a Jazz and Blues concert with Richard and On the right is another field but unlike the other has huge Oak trees and hedgerows in. At the top of the driveway is the actually house, we didn't want to go in but to go to the court yard around the back where we could get a delicious proper Cornish dairy ice-cream. Our bikes were locked up in the designated area for the bikes, we quickly used the toilets and then walked over to the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ where the ice-cream shop was. We got our ice cream and then sat on a hill that looked over Respryn and into the surrounding countryside. Our minds were more focused on the French teenagers playing in the gardens and of course our ice creams. We played around with the French teenagers for a wile talking to them and trying to get them confused, at one point I think we told them â€Å"My dog gave birth to a herd of donkeys†. We finished our ice creams and then decided it was time to leave so we peddled up to another exit of the house and back onto the main road. Richard headed in one direction and had to master the hill that we had, on the way to his house in the morning wile Jamie, Craig and I travelled straight across the road into the Crop fields that we visited earlier in the day. We then retraced our steps home and said good bye to each other. It was the end! All I need to do now is wait for the phone to suddenly ring on a normal day in the summer holidays. My friends and I would then be off to Respryn.

Intercultural communicaton analysis Essay

The life of every personality is deeply affected by a myriad of intercultural affiliations that affect a person’s ability to interact with other people and be seen by them from a specific viewpoint. Intercultural communication is likely to be particularly affected by cultural stereotypes. Therefore, each person’s life is shaped to a great degree by cross-cultural perceptions and co-cultural affiliations. In my personal case, I have a variety of cultural affiliations that have a direct influence on my life. In the first place, a lot of facets of my experience depend on my physical characteristics, such as my female gender. Being of that gender, I have a different kind of experience with other people, as it seems easier to bond with girls than with boys on certain subjects, and some aspects of physical work and sports are naturally harder for me because of my weaker constitution. In addition to gender, my life is also impacted by my ethnic origin and religious tradition. Being Turkish and Muslim, I tend to follow the rules and norms prescribed by our faith. Thus, I pray five times a day, observe the Ramadan, and attend meetings in the local mosque. As a result, my lifestyle puts me in contact with a lot of Muslims who constitute my immediate circle of communication. In communication with other cultural and religious groups, I have to recognize that my principles and habits are different from most people. Many of my peers, for instance, find it strange that I do not eat or drink by daylight for the entire month of Ramadan. This makes me pause and explain to them the significance of the fast and what it means to me as a Muslim. Being Muslim does not in itself give an exhaustive description of my cultural identity since I have also been exposed to a number of other cultural influences. I am Turkish, and our culture differs in many ways from that of Arabic countries or that of Iran. In addition, I speak English as a second language and went to a French high school. Thus, for me, as for many of my younger countrymen, European cultural influences proved a great impact. I have been watching European movies and read European books since childhood. Knowing English, I was also exposed to the US cultural influence, watching Hollywood blockbusters and interacting with American peers. Belonging to a certain category, one is always an easy target for stereotypes. Thus, it so happened that I am an only child, so many believe that I am spoiled. In a talk with a classmate at school, I had to give examples of household chores that I do at home to dispel his notion of my being utterly â€Å"spoiled†. He only believed me after I told him how I could cook myself the whole dinner for the family at the age of 10. On the other hand, communicating with older people, I have to correct their understanding of college students as spoiled, rough, and careless. Sometimes, I feel as if these qualities are attributed to me by default simply because young people are portrayed in this way in a variety of movies. I try to combat this stereotype by taking time to talk to them at length about my studies and future career plans. I think it gives them an idea that I am serious about college as a way to a better life, not just a socializing event. In this way, my life has been infused with a variety of cultural influences that made me the person I am. At times, it can be difficult to balance many of them, such commitment to my faith with realities of college life here in the US. However, I do my best to try and find a sound approach that will dispel stereotypes and allow me to retain my unique identity. Reference Neuliep, J. W. (2000). Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach. Houghton Mifflin.

The development of Rousseau and Raskolnikov in Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment and Camus The Outsider

The development of Rousseau and Raskolnikov in Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment and Camus The Outsider In every society, it is important for individuals to adhere to a set of principles inorder to maintain order. In Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment and Camus' TheOutsider , however, both protagonists ignored the values of their society. Raskolnikovand Meursault felt their own beliefs were significant, and through their actions they wereable to express them. As a result, one man was judged as a social deviant, while the otherman suffered psychologically. Through dealing with this strife, Raskolnikov andMeursault gained a better understanding of their values and personal worth.In the beginning both men rejected the fundamental values of society and formedtheir own ideologies. Raskolnikov, for instance, believed that "we have to correct anddirect nature. But for that, there would never had been a single great man"1. In fact, hehad written an article titled "The psychology of a criminal before and after the crime".Poster for Czech first production of Raskolnikov (...Itstated that 'ordina ry' men live according to the law and exist only to reproduce thehuman race, yet 'extraordinary' men may break laws "if in his own conscience it isnecessary to do so in order to better mankind"2. Raskolnikov believed that indeed, hewas an "extraordinary man"3, but like Meursault, his beliefs were untested. As a result,he murdered an old pawnbroker women in order to prove himself. Meursault, as well,acted against the social norm. For example, even though it was expected of a son, he didnot show sorrow at his mother's funeral4. He did not think this was shallow, however, hejust refused to falsely show emotion when he did not feel any; "I realized that I'dmanaged to get through another Sunday, that mother was now buried, that I was goingback to work and that, after all, nothing had...

Free Essays on Edward Weston

Edward Weston Formal Analysis When a formalistic critic analyzes a work of art, they look at certain things. The criticism of art is to stress the significance of form over content as the source of a work’s subjective appeal. In an analysis critics consider aesthetic effects created by design factors. The piece of artwork that I chose to formally analyze is a photograph by Edward Weston, entitled â€Å"Pepper†. There are many elements of this work, which contribute to the overall outcome of the photograph. At first glance the pepper seems to be a photograph of a man and a woman kissing, but when looked at closely you are able to see that the figure is in fact a pepper. Since the image is in black and white you are able to look past the color of a pepper, and look deeper into the form. Weston uses shadows and highlights to bring out features of the pepper that would not be noticed otherwise. The lighting also helps to show the real texture of the pepper by showing the smoothness of the skin. Since the background of the pepper is very dark also adds to the shadows and highlights, making the shadows very dark, and the highlights very light. The pepper chosen also portrays a part in the image. The pepper that Weston chose for this photograph is disfigured and not very recognizable as a pepper at first glance. The disfigurement of the pepper makes the viewer have to fully analyze the ima ge in order to fully understand the meaning and true content of the photograph. This analysis and the effects Weston used to take the picture, play in the overall outcome of the photograph. Weston uses different techniques in making his photograph unique. He places the pepper in a funnel to create depth, with darkness only in the background. He also crops the image so that the only thing that is seen in the photo is the pepper. This lets the viewer concentrate on the pepper itself and not on its surroundings. Since the pepper is... Free Essays on Edward Weston Free Essays on Edward Weston Edward Weston Formal Analysis When a formalistic critic analyzes a work of art, they look at certain things. The criticism of art is to stress the significance of form over content as the source of a work’s subjective appeal. In an analysis critics consider aesthetic effects created by design factors. The piece of artwork that I chose to formally analyze is a photograph by Edward Weston, entitled â€Å"Pepper†. There are many elements of this work, which contribute to the overall outcome of the photograph. At first glance the pepper seems to be a photograph of a man and a woman kissing, but when looked at closely you are able to see that the figure is in fact a pepper. Since the image is in black and white you are able to look past the color of a pepper, and look deeper into the form. Weston uses shadows and highlights to bring out features of the pepper that would not be noticed otherwise. The lighting also helps to show the real texture of the pepper by showing the smoothness of the skin. Since the background of the pepper is very dark also adds to the shadows and highlights, making the shadows very dark, and the highlights very light. The pepper chosen also portrays a part in the image. The pepper that Weston chose for this photograph is disfigured and not very recognizable as a pepper at first glance. The disfigurement of the pepper makes the viewer have to fully analyze the ima ge in order to fully understand the meaning and true content of the photograph. This analysis and the effects Weston used to take the picture, play in the overall outcome of the photograph. Weston uses different techniques in making his photograph unique. He places the pepper in a funnel to create depth, with darkness only in the background. He also crops the image so that the only thing that is seen in the photo is the pepper. This lets the viewer concentrate on the pepper itself and not on its surroundings. Since the pepper is...

Selecting toys for young children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Selecting toys for young children - Essay Example In as much as these toys are meant to stimulate children’s imagination and encourage learning safety the quality of the toys must be ensured (The Kiwi Families Team, 1). Some of the toys that are appropriate for this age group include building blocks and accessories, modeling dough, paint, crayons and collage materials. Tricycles and trolleys as well as jigsaw puzzles would are also encouraged (The Kiwi Families Team, 1). Modeling dough is clean clay like substance that is used for modeling. It is reusable and as such children can use it for longer periods. Most of the time, children will poke, roll and squash this dough but as they do that they develop fine motor skills. Modeling clay appeals to kids in that while they are playing with it, they get amazed and wonder at how far the clay can stretch or how they would make one piece stick to another and these will prompt their problem solving skills. Parents should choose this toy for their children since motor development is one of the crucial phases of life and these toys help children develop it, it also boosts imagination. Modeling clay is not messy; children simply need to wash their hands after using this dough (Goodson, 21). In addition to this, children who have talent in the crafts can be discovered early by paying attention to the things that they make with modeling clay and these talents can be nurtured early enough. As such, parents should select this toy for their children since it can unveil unique talents that they have. According to the Kiwi Families Team, another toy that most toy manufacturers recommend for preschoolers is building blocks. These are always plastic and can be in the model of a farm animal, car or building. They are always big blocks that can be inter-connected to build things such as houses, vehicles and a variety of other things. With these pieces, children around four years can spend hours

Aspects of Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aspects of Language - Essay Example I have identified the five major important features of language as: body language, writing, reading, academic paper structures, and message. The sources that would assist in learning more about these features include relevant authoritative online sources which are easily accessible. Finally, the manner of organizing these features would be from the most important to the least important. The five most important things about language that I have selected from the list of topics covered in English 1020 for this semester are as follows: body language (gestures, facial expression, etc.); writing; reading; academic paper structures (introduction, body, conclusion); and message (the underlying meaning of an act of communication). I consider these topics of greater relevance, from among the other topics learned, due to their applicability in current and future situations and settings. For instance, the lessons learned in terms of body language is acknowledged in terms of recognizing that effective communication should consider understanding non-verbal communication patterns that are used in conjunction with verbal cues. Thus, the ability of individuals to understand and correctly interpret and use gestures, facial expressions, posture, distance, or even time, is relevant in the communication process. In addition, writing is deemed of crucial importance in all endeavors: to comply with academic requirements, to compose correspondences and reports, and to express personal or professional ideas in a formally structured manner. Likewise, another relevant endeavor is reading, which is recognized as important in enhancing one’s knowledge in various subject matters and topics. Concurrently, the lessons learned on academic paper structures are important to ensure that academic requirements, specifically in terms of essay writing, are duly followed according to structure, writing style, and grammatical rules. Finally,

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words - 1

Research Paper Example The study comprises an evaluation of the existing literature to understand the current status of the use of technology and the benefits that derive to learners and teachers. Besides, it also attempts to delineate the improvement that emerging technology can bring to this field. The study, further, encompasses a survey of a sample population to ascertain the effectiveness of the use of technology, which confirm that technology creates an interesting environment for learners and make the learning process easy for them. Language acquisition is a significant activity in human life as proper language skills are crucial not only for every day communication but also for academic careers and profession. Language is the basic tool of communication and without adequate language skills people cannot attain success in their studies or jobs. Most of the educational systems across the world prescribe the study of one or more language, other than the mother tongue of the country, as part of the academic curriculum. Second language learning aims at expanding the knowledge of students in an additional language so that they can understand and appreciate another culture. Besides, it can also help them get job opportunities in other countries as well as communicate with people from other regions. Thus, in the modern world, where humans are living in a globalized environment, the learning of at least one second assumes high significance. Words are the most important component of language and, therefore, in order to attain adequate skills in the use of language a person needs to develop vocabulary in that language. So far the learning of words and their context occurs in the first language incidentally as people receive the opportunity to interact with others right from their childhood. On the other hand, second language cannot be learned in this manner as it may not be in use in the social environment of the person who learns that language. Second language

The Cold War Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Cold War Era - Essay Example The telegram was based on the need to help introduce capitalism in USSR economies with a view that it would aid in addressing democracy and end the employment of socialism devices that serve interests of reactionary capital, despite conflicts-filled capitalistic economies which generate wars; intra-capitalistic between capitalists and wars of intervention by capitalists against socialists. The idea was to reduce the strength and influence of USSR and the socialist friends, introduction of revolutionary upheavals within capitalistic societies and enhance democratic progressivism to bear pressure on capitalistic societies but in line with soviet interests (Roberts pp.2-17). The justification was that majority of the citizens in the socialist economies did not enjoy fruits of their labor, the need to revolutionize urbanization and industrialization, the need to unify capitalistic economies with socialists for a peaceful coexistence and find equilibrium of Marxism in separation of both i nternal and international powers. The significance of this telegram can be traced on the importance of destabilizing the major political western powers who at some point were considered dangerous by their military prowess, the need to advance democracy and rule of law, to financially empower citizens in the socialist economies and promote international harmony between societies. As a witness of history, many questions arise on the implementation of the international policy as stated in the telegram; whether communism as illustrated in the telegram constituted the highlighted atrocities and whether the policies could apply to all other socialist economies apart from USSR considering the weak financial backing (Schumpeter, 9). The second document is a telegram from Walter Bedell Smith, Ambassador to the Soviet Union, to George Marshall, the secretary of state, named â€Å"Top Secret† that sought to notify the realization of United States’ economic plans in the Soviet Uni on as dangerous and that the Soviet government was not to pursue aggressive aims in their foreign policy, but would desire to rehabilitate and reconstruct its own internal economy. It stressed out on the Soviet trade agreements with England, Belgium, Switzerland and Scandinavian countries with which they were willing to incorporate the United States but agitated by the United States’ aggressive economic policies and the erroneous picture by the United States’ press and public officials. The major argument and justification was that dynamism of democratic forces ought to have been more vigilant, alert and aggressive to protect liberty and the fact that it was impossible for American government or citizens to believe that coup d’etat in Czechoslovakia could have been achieved without direct support of Soviet Union (Smith, pp.71-79). The major questions on this document is whether the foreign policy of the United States at the time can be measured with todayâ€℠¢s more so on the need to stabilize economic conditions and aspire for political development (McCann, 6) in the United States? The third document was from Charles Murphy to the secretary of state, Lloyd Bell, dated July 31, 1951 which stressed out the observations of the then American-soviet relations in a bid to achieve peaceful relations between the two economies; more so guided by the fact that Soviet Union was the guiding center of the communist world in relation to the United States’

Counselling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Counselling - Essay Example This approach is not a formal exalted theory, but as the name says, a different approach that has proved to be useful and more effective. It honours the need to talk, communicate and understand self of the individual in need of therapy and stands on the basis that individual's need is more important than that of the counsellor, because counsellor, after all, is a mere supporter, or a prop up, and not the main hero of the drama. It establishes the human trust in basic values, principles and desire to improve in harmony with the rest of the world. "Rogers is holistic in his thinking, tending to look at the complete organism in order to understand and explain behaviour. He believes that humans are innately good and that they are growth orientated. Phenomenological understands individual perception of reality. Determinism, cause and effect relationships in having freedom, the organism has an actualising tendency" This approach depends on the assumption that given the proper circumstances and understanding, a person is capable of finding solutions for his inner problems and nothing could be a longer lasting cure. The main theory under which the Person centred counselling works is that the patient is fully capable of handling his problems and monitoring his future growth. It believes that the main authority here is not the psychologist, but the patient himself and counselling goes on according to the patient's observations about himself. It believes that all people might not have had a highly favourable condition to develop, grow and manage their lives and might feel stifled, or might have developed a very difficult, punishing self identity that might not be easy to maintain at all times and under all circumstances. When personal experiences are not conducive with the self identity of the person, psychological problems occur because the individual is unable to cope with the experiences and sti ll maintain the personal identity to which he has become accustomed to, or of which he had a certain self confidence and pride. The self-concept of the person clashes with the experiences he is going through and this might make the self-worth plummet down in his opinion and acceptance might become difficult. His judgement of his self-worth gets shaken because he cannot feel comfortable with it any more, as its fundamental base has not been firm recently. Explaining his Theory of Personality, Carl Rogers says: "In endeavouring to order our perceptions of the individual as he appears in therapy, a theory of the development of personality, and of the dynamics of behaviour, has been constructed," (Kirschenbaum and Henderson, 1990. p.244). The essence of person centred counselling is the meeting and understanding between counsellor and his patient. Undoubtedly, it is very hard to establish a complete and unquestionable understanding and this is considered to be one of the most difficult types of counselling, but with perhaps the best results. It forces the counsellor to be authentic, supportive, empathic and mainly non-judgemental. It has three core conditions that would contribute a lot to the therapeutic change: 1. Unconditional positive regard. 2. Empathic Understanding. 3. Congruence. With

Morals and Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Morals and Ethics - Essay Example Understanding the ways in which ethics and morals may conflict and converge and, how actions may be judged as moral but not ethical, and vice-versa, it is important to define these two concepts. According to the Webster dictionary, the term ethics refers to a set of moral principles whose application allow for the differentiation between right and wrong. On the basis of this definition, it would seem that ethics and morals are inseparable, whereby that which is ethical is, by definition, also moral. This is not true. Once again referring to the Webster dictionary, one finds that moral systems tend to be universal while ethical principles tend to be specific. That is, while morals refer to universal understandings of right and wrong, good and bad, ethics refer to particular understandings, which derive from professional or cultural codes of conduct, among others. Therefore, even though the concepts of ethics and morals are interrelated, they are ultimately distinct. On the basis of the definitions resented, it is evident that the colonial officer's actions were ethical but they were not moral. Within the bounds of his professional duties and his responsibility to protect the Burmese, his shooting of the elephant was an ethical act. The elephant, who suffered an "attack of must" (Orwell, para. 6), had wreaked havoc upon the market and the hut dwellers, not to mention the fact that it had stomped upon an old man and killed him by partially burying him, head down, in the mud. The elephant had proved himself dangerous and his owner, the only person who could control him, was not in the vicinity. Given the officer's profession and its associate responsibilities and duties, shooting and killing the elephant was ethical insofar as it meant terminating the danger which this beast represented to the defenseless. While it may have been an ethical act, the shooting of the elephant was not a moral one. There are several reasons why his action was immoral. In the first place, the officer did not shoot the beast because he represented a danger at that time but, because the crowd expected him to. In the second place, the shooting was not inspired by a sense of professional responsibility towards the safety and the welfare of the villagers but by the desire not to be laughed at. In the third place, the officer shot the elephant even though his moral instincts told him that this was wrong. Consequently, in acting as he did, Orwell's colonial officer did not just disregard his own moral judgment but his actions were not motivated by any sense of professional ethics or notion of responsibility towards the villagers. Indeed, he even expressed happiness/satisfaction that the elephant had killed a coolie so that his shooting of the elephant may be morally and ethically justifiable. It is on this basis th at his actions must ultimately be judged as immoral even though they are seemingly consistent with his professional ethics. The doctor, or medical resident's actions are a complete reversal of those of Orwell's officer as they comply with morality but not with professional ethics. The doctor was, to all intents and purposes, trapped in a situation wherein morals and ethics collided. On the one hand, he was confronted with an injured man who, if he did not try to

The Cold War Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Cold War Era - Essay Example The telegram was based on the need to help introduce capitalism in USSR economies with a view that it would aid in addressing democracy and end the employment of socialism devices that serve interests of reactionary capital, despite conflicts-filled capitalistic economies which generate wars; intra-capitalistic between capitalists and wars of intervention by capitalists against socialists. The idea was to reduce the strength and influence of USSR and the socialist friends, introduction of revolutionary upheavals within capitalistic societies and enhance democratic progressivism to bear pressure on capitalistic societies but in line with soviet interests (Roberts pp.2-17). The justification was that majority of the citizens in the socialist economies did not enjoy fruits of their labor, the need to revolutionize urbanization and industrialization, the need to unify capitalistic economies with socialists for a peaceful coexistence and find equilibrium of Marxism in separation of both i nternal and international powers. The significance of this telegram can be traced on the importance of destabilizing the major political western powers who at some point were considered dangerous by their military prowess, the need to advance democracy and rule of law, to financially empower citizens in the socialist economies and promote international harmony between societies. As a witness of history, many questions arise on the implementation of the international policy as stated in the telegram; whether communism as illustrated in the telegram constituted the highlighted atrocities and whether the policies could apply to all other socialist economies apart from USSR considering the weak financial backing (Schumpeter, 9). The second document is a telegram from Walter Bedell Smith, Ambassador to the Soviet Union, to George Marshall, the secretary of state, named â€Å"Top Secret† that sought to notify the realization of United States’ economic plans in the Soviet Uni on as dangerous and that the Soviet government was not to pursue aggressive aims in their foreign policy, but would desire to rehabilitate and reconstruct its own internal economy. It stressed out on the Soviet trade agreements with England, Belgium, Switzerland and Scandinavian countries with which they were willing to incorporate the United States but agitated by the United States’ aggressive economic policies and the erroneous picture by the United States’ press and public officials. The major argument and justification was that dynamism of democratic forces ought to have been more vigilant, alert and aggressive to protect liberty and the fact that it was impossible for American government or citizens to believe that coup d’etat in Czechoslovakia could have been achieved without direct support of Soviet Union (Smith, pp.71-79). The major questions on this document is whether the foreign policy of the United States at the time can be measured with todayâ€℠¢s more so on the need to stabilize economic conditions and aspire for political development (McCann, 6) in the United States? The third document was from Charles Murphy to the secretary of state, Lloyd Bell, dated July 31, 1951 which stressed out the observations of the then American-soviet relations in a bid to achieve peaceful relations between the two economies; more so guided by the fact that Soviet Union was the guiding center of the communist world in relation to the United States’

Morals and Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Morals and Ethics - Essay Example Understanding the ways in which ethics and morals may conflict and converge and, how actions may be judged as moral but not ethical, and vice-versa, it is important to define these two concepts. According to the Webster dictionary, the term ethics refers to a set of moral principles whose application allow for the differentiation between right and wrong. On the basis of this definition, it would seem that ethics and morals are inseparable, whereby that which is ethical is, by definition, also moral. This is not true. Once again referring to the Webster dictionary, one finds that moral systems tend to be universal while ethical principles tend to be specific. That is, while morals refer to universal understandings of right and wrong, good and bad, ethics refer to particular understandings, which derive from professional or cultural codes of conduct, among others. Therefore, even though the concepts of ethics and morals are interrelated, they are ultimately distinct. On the basis of the definitions resented, it is evident that the colonial officer's actions were ethical but they were not moral. Within the bounds of his professional duties and his responsibility to protect the Burmese, his shooting of the elephant was an ethical act. The elephant, who suffered an "attack of must" (Orwell, para. 6), had wreaked havoc upon the market and the hut dwellers, not to mention the fact that it had stomped upon an old man and killed him by partially burying him, head down, in the mud. The elephant had proved himself dangerous and his owner, the only person who could control him, was not in the vicinity. Given the officer's profession and its associate responsibilities and duties, shooting and killing the elephant was ethical insofar as it meant terminating the danger which this beast represented to the defenseless. While it may have been an ethical act, the shooting of the elephant was not a moral one. There are several reasons why his action was immoral. In the first place, the officer did not shoot the beast because he represented a danger at that time but, because the crowd expected him to. In the second place, the shooting was not inspired by a sense of professional responsibility towards the safety and the welfare of the villagers but by the desire not to be laughed at. In the third place, the officer shot the elephant even though his moral instincts told him that this was wrong. Consequently, in acting as he did, Orwell's colonial officer did not just disregard his own moral judgment but his actions were not motivated by any sense of professional ethics or notion of responsibility towards the villagers. Indeed, he even expressed happiness/satisfaction that the elephant had killed a coolie so that his shooting of the elephant may be morally and ethically justifiable. It is on this basis th at his actions must ultimately be judged as immoral even though they are seemingly consistent with his professional ethics. The doctor, or medical resident's actions are a complete reversal of those of Orwell's officer as they comply with morality but not with professional ethics. The doctor was, to all intents and purposes, trapped in a situation wherein morals and ethics collided. On the one hand, he was confronted with an injured man who, if he did not try to

Code of Ethics Comparison Essay Example for Free

Code of Ethics Comparison Essay Differences and similarities were described in the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors. The two codes are comparable in many ways. The American Association of Christian Counselors focus on the Christian aspect and the American Counseling Association is based on world views. It is important to understand that counselors should not impose their personal values on clients, however religion mainly consist of beliefs that individuals adapt and practice. All counselors should remain subtle when providing services clients and allow them to make the decision if they choose to adopt a certain value or religious belief to help them cope with life. The general similarities of the ethic codes American Counseling Association and American Association of Christian Counselors consists of providing help to clients who are in a crisis situation. According to the text, The ACA AACC codes both encourage client growth and development which fosters healthy relationships. They both seek to avoid harm and personal values when assisting clients. They both inform clients of informed consent and protect clients to earn their trust so that they can create an ongoing partnership, by maintaining confidentiality. They both find it important to maintain trust in awareness of sensitivity regarding cultural diversity. Both ACA AACC respect the rights of privacy of their clients (Corey, G, Corey M Callanan, 2011, pg. 94). I feel it is essential for all counselors to understand a client’s cultural background, religious belief and values to effectively provide appropriate care when making decisions. This information will allow counselors to make better informed decisions and build a stronger partnership. According to the text, both ACA AACC maintain records to ensure clients are provided with the best service which allows the counselor to maintain a continuity record for future sessions (Corey, G, Corey M Callanan, 2011, pg. 173). The differences in the two ethics codes consist of the following: According to the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) mission is to bring honor to Jesus Christ and his church, promote excellence in Christian counseling, and bring unity to Christian counselors. A more detailed and behavior-specific ethical code is needed for Christian counselors simply because of incompetent services among Christian counselors, unprotected legal status, and the vitality and growing maturity of Christian counseling. This code shows four streams of influence which include the bible; standards of Christian counseling and the established mental health disciplines; Christian and mental health professions; current and developing standards derived from mental health and ministry-related law. According to the text, Christian counselors should maintain the highest standards of competence with integrity. Christian counselors are viewed truthful, educated, and experienced. Christian counselors do not disrespect other professional counselors, mental health professionals (Clinton Ohlschlager, 2012, pg. 264). Comparing and contrast duties to client and to the Profession According to the American Association of Christian Counselors, Christian counselors will protect clients and do no harm which is the first rule of professional-ministerial ethical conduct. Christian counselors will express a loving care to any client, service-inquiring person, or anyone encountered in the course of practice or ministry, without regard to race, ethnicity, gender sexual behavior or orientation, socio-economic status, education, denomination, belief system, values or political affiliation. Christian counselors acknowledge that client conflicts are unavoidable. Christian counselors take proper action against the harmful behavior of other counselors and pastors. Clients will be protected against harm and danger wherever it is found. Christian counselors refuse to condone or advocate for abortion and the abortion-related activities of clients. All counselors will consider and inform clients of alternative means to abortion and as far as it is possible, will continue to serve clients and work compassionately with them through the abortion crisis. According to the American Association of Christian Counselors, Compared to other professionals, Christian counselors refuse to condone or advocate for the pursuit of or active involvement in homosexual, transgendered, and cross-dressing behavior, and in the adoption gay lesbian transgendered lifestyles by clients. Christian counselors will not advocate for or support clients who wish to die due to medical reasons, or support the use of drugs to be utilized to end a life. The death of a patient may occur however, initiating action to end a terminally ill patient’s pain is unethical. According to the American Association of Christian Counselors, Christian counselors do not provide counseling to close family or friends due to the conflict of interest. They presume that dual relations with other family members, acquaintances, and fraternal, club, association, or group members are potentially troublesome and best avoided. Often times, family and friends may get offended when offering professional assistance. Christian counselors along with other counselors will secure client consent for all counseling and related services. This may include video/audio taping of client sessions, the use of supervisory and consultative help, the application of special procedures and evaluations, and the communication of client data. According to the text, Christian counselors may refer clients who are beyond their ability or scope of practice or when consultation is inappropriate, unavailable, or unsuccessful. Referrals should be coordinated after the client is provided with informed choices of referrals (Clinton Ohlschlager, 2012, pg. 264). According to the American Association of Christian Counselors, Christian counselors are encouraged, beyond their fee schedule, to make a portion of their time and services available without cost or at greatly reduced fee to those who are unable to pay. On the other hand, counselors may not provide services to clients without some form of payment. Often times, Christian counselors enjoy what they do and may avoid financial practices that could result in greed. Christian counselors feel negative toward high fees and prolonged treatment for monetary gains. According to the text, Christian counselors do not withhold services to anyone of a different faith, religion, denomination, or value system. It is essential for Christian counselors as ell as other counselors to understand the client’s belief system and cultural background in order to provide the best care possible (Clinton Ohlschlager, 2012, pg. 273). Christian counselors should not impose their personal values however support the client’s values in a professional manner. It is important to understand that Christian counselors do not abandon clients. Services should never abruptly end without sufficient notice and proper notification for termination or referral.

Anxiety in Cancer Treatment: A Case Study

Anxiety in Cancer Treatment: A Case Study Case Study Celine Laurie Cyr-Martel Patient Presenting problem: Celine is a 25 year old female who presented to the emergency department (E.D.) with increased abdominal pain over the last 2 weeks. Patient recently completed chemotherapy and cancer treatment for intestinal cancer. Celine has been under increased stress due to her living situation and is concerned that her cancer has returned. She reports the pain is different than when she was initially diagnosed. She had an appointment with her oncologist on Monday, but by Friday night the pain was excruciating and she presented to the ED on Saturday morning. Background and demographics: Celine was born in a suburb of Maine, never knowing her biological father, was raised (a term she uses loosely), by her mother and resided with her mother and biological brother two years her senior. The patient reports most of her life, her mother was an addict. According to Celine, from an early age – which she reports as 5-10 years of age, she remembers her mother’s drug of choice as alcohol. When her maternal grandparents visited, the addiction was hidden. While Celine was in Junior high and high school, her mother’s drug of choice was cocaine. Celine reports her mother would make her steal either food or money. Celine was told that if she was caught, â€Å"nothing bad would happen.† Celine was fearful if she told anyone of the environment, the state would make her live in foster care. From ages 12-15, Celine found her mother clinically dead twice, Celine called 911 and her mother was revived. Both times, the mother entered rehab with the intention of becoming sober and clean. In those  times Celine stayed with her maternal grandparents. Her mother would â€Å"get clean† and  Celine and her brother would return home. Celine’s brother experienced a traumatic  brain injury his senior year in high school while riding an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATC). His home care fell to Celine. It was at this time Celine, who had just turned 16, was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. According to Celine, while she was going through Chemotherapy, her mother would steal her pain meds, leaving Celine to endure the pain. She was deemed in remission at the  age of 19 after a 3 year battle, the cancer returned last year at age 24. Celine completed high school as an above average student, but was unable to attend college due to increased anxiety. At the age of 21, Celine who was still living with her mother and acting as care taker, found her mother unconscious and called emergency services. Her mother was un able to be revived. Celine contacted the State at this time, to request help with her brother. According to Celine, the state was surprised to learn that no one had previously intervened. Celine moved into her own apartment and is currently on disability, due to her medical and anxiety concerns. Her brother lives in a group home setting, whom she visits seldom. Celine reports that in the last six months she has noticed increased anger and is working with her therapist to determine the reasons and rationale. The two scales used to determine intervention and resources for both the anxiety and the patients history of intestinal cancer were the GAD-7 (Lowe, Decker, Muller, Brahler, Schellberg, Herzog, Herzberg, 2008; Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, Lowe, 2006) and the Cancer Behavior Inventory (CBI-B) (Heitzmann, Merluzzi, Jean-Pierre, Roscoe, Kirsh, Passik, 2011; Merluzzi, Nairn, Hedge, Martinez Sanchez, Dunn 2001; Merluzzi, Martinez Sanchez, 1997). Measurements CBI-B:The CBI-B is a shorter version of a previously well-established measure of the Cancer Behavior Inventory Long Version (Heitzmann, Merluzzi, Jean-Pierre, Roscoe Kirsh 2011). The long version is a 33-item tool, developed to measure how well an individual copes with cancer. The long and short version of the CBI, measure items on a nine point scale from â€Å"not at all confident† to â€Å"totally confident.† The internal consistency in the longer version of 33 items produced a co-efficient of 0.94 and the test-retest for the 33 item CBI was 0.74 (Merluzzi, Nairn, Hedge, Martinez Sanchez, Dunn 2001; Merluzzi, Martinez Sanchez, 1997). As my interaction with this patient was limited due to the emergency department location, the patient agreed to participate using the shorter version, 12 item CBI-B. The Cronbach co-efficient of the 12 item version, indicated an internal consistency of .84, attained in three different samples (Heitzmann, Merluzzi, Jean-Pierre, Roscoe, Kirsh 2011). Thus, the results in using this assessment indicate acceptable reliability to the degree to which the patient believes she is able to cope and maintain her health during her experience with cancer. The quality of life measures were also positively correlated with the negative correlations or depression and the impact of sickness, demonstrating the validity of the CBI-B (Heitzmann, Merluzzi, Jean-Pierre, Roscoe, Kirsh 2011). Patients who believe they are able to cope with the illness are more apt to connect with the resources to face the multiple challenges of the disease. . GAD-7: Reviewing validity studies for the GAD-7, resulted in agreement this measurement tool is appropriate and validated for use in primary care (Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams, Lowe, 2006), those in a hospital program, (Kertz, Bigda-Peyton, Bjorgvinsson. 2013), and the general population (Lowe, Decker, Muller, Brahler, Schellberg, Herzog, Herzberg, 2008). Spitzer et al., (2008) used a large sample size (2982), and took into account ethnicities, age, education, and relationship status. The diversity and sample size allowed for various correlations, producing a Cronbach which resulted in a score of 0.92 indicating an excellent internal consistency. Within the general population, there is evidence to support the validity and the reliability of the GAD-7. Lowe et al., (2008) used a sample of 5,032 participants. The researchers assessed the construct validity by comparing scores of those diagnosed with general anxiety disorder in primary care settings, to the scores of those diagnosed wit h GAD in the general population. The internal consistency resulted in an acceptable 0.89. Although a smaller sample size of 232 was selected from a partial hospital program to measure the validity of the GAD-7 (Kertz, Bigda-Peyton, Bjorgvinsson 2013), the study concluded that due to the brevity, easy administration, that the GAD-7 had strong construct validity. The associations with self-esteem, depression, resilience and how satisfied a patient is with their life, demonstrated good reliability and construct validity within the GAD-7 in all three studies (Lowe et al., 2008; Spitzer et al., 2006; Kertz, Bigda-Peyton, Bjorgvinsson 2013). Administration: The CBI-B and the GAD-7 were administered twice; upon the initial assessment and the third contact. (The second contact was by phone to ascertain the results of her appointment with her oncologist. The patient advised that the results of her blood work was â€Å"looking positive.†) When initially administered, CBI-B score was 64. (Figure 1) The scores indicating the patient was able to maintain her abilities when confronting her disease, but not yet at a point where confidence was paramount. As the CBI-B was administered only twice, a wide variation in scores was not expected. The third contact, the patient agreed to meet in the conference room of the emergency department. I asked if this would be a hardship as her grandmother would be traveling three hours. The patient advised she had an appointment with her oncologist, and she wanted me to explain the measurement tools to her grandmother. Results of the second administration of the CBI-B was 91; (Figure II) indicating an increase in self efficacy within two weeks. The initial score from the GAD-7 was 19 (Figure III) indicating severe anxiety. The patient is currently being treated for her anxiety, so the elevated score was not a surprise to this practitioner. However, the patient was concerned as she had been working on decreasing her anxiety with her current therapist. The patient was hesitant to take the GAD-7 the second time as she was apprehensive it might not change. Upon taking the second test, (Figure IV) the patients score actually resulted in positive news for Celine decreasing by 5 points. Scores: The patient attributed the positive change in the scores for both the GAD -7 and the CBI-B as a result of relocation to her maternal grandparent’s home on the coast of Maine where she was close to the ocean able to use her photography and find â€Å"peace in her heart.† As evident in the CBI-B, relaxation, coping, consolation, and having some-one whom she could share her concerns and feelings. These scores had increased. The patient advises that she has been able to use the breathing techniques when she begins to feel overwhelmed. The decrease in the anxiety scores may also be correlated to the relocation, support systems, access to hobbies. Although, the patient’s score still borders on severe, her future outlook presents as positive when speaking of her living situation. Celine admits to worry about her cancer, but believes she will continue to improve. Celine’s passion has always been with the artistic realm. Her grandparents have become involved in Celine’s life. They live three hours away on the coast of Maine. Celine finds solace at the ocean. The Grandparents purchased a camera for Celine two years prior. She currently takes photographs of nature, her grandfather makes the frames for the pictures and they are sold at fairs. Celine advises a few of her pictures have been placed in the reception area of a local hospital. Discussion: Both measurement tools used with this patient were of great validity in the emergency department setting. As there is not always a chance to follow up with patients, I was fortunate to gather information not just from the tool itself, but the patient’s reactions, participation, and discussion when using the measurement tools. Follow up with her therapist would be paramount to continue addressing the anxiety. The patient advises she will be attempting to locate another therapist closer to her grandmother. We were able to locate several therapists in a nearby town. The young woman’s resiliency may be the result of the hardships already endured at a young age. According to Merluzzi Martinez Sanchez (1997), social supports, whether perceived or actual are positively correlated to self-efficacy. {The second and final meeting resulted in opening a dialogue between the patient and her grandmother}. Celine began an on line class for photography and is hopeful to cr eate her own business. The two chosen measurements correlated well together. The ability to regulate ones affect, adapt to the negatively of cancer, and express those thoughts, the more positive the outcome (Merluzzi, et al., 2001). If the therapist can continue to address the anxiety in terms of self-efficacy, it is possible that Celine will continue to increase her good health.

Essay Assessment across Content Areas :: Education Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Essay Assessment Across Content Areas Literacy is an important issue in education. It is vital that students of all ages demonstrate the skills of reading, writing, and communication. Curriculums across the state of New Jersey as well as through out parts of the United States push for ways of including literacy processes in every content area. Administrators and school officials see written and oral communication as abilities students should utilize in their social studies, science, and mathematics classrooms, not just in language arts, English, and foreign language. In order to expand the literacy of all pupils, school curriculums now include journals, essay examinations, timed writing, response questions, and open-ended questions across all subjects. Math teachers must now grade open-ended questions, science students write in journals detailing their experiences in laboratory work, while teachers of United States history lean towards essay tests in contrast to the multiple-choice exams of the past. Es says provide numerous benefits for both students and teachers. They enhance literacy and sharpen writing skills in many ways. For a truly enriched and engaging curriculum, every teacher must include essay and/or open-ended assessments. Test experts say, â€Å"essay tests do the best job of tapping students’ higher-level thought processes and creativity† in compared to other assessments like true/false or fill-in-the-blank, common objective tests (Arends 238). Through this form of evaluation, students express their thoughts in a complex style that highlights their points and ideas most effectively. Essays allow a student to explain his or her position in an argument, opinion of a text, decision in a problem set, and so on. They are not black and white, which leaves room for creativity. The student must engage his or her cognitive processes so that he or she demonstrates the thesis clearly. Answering objective-based questions, such as fill-in-the-blank, test a student’s ability to recall material learned in class. Essays, on the other hand, require that students apply what they learned in various ways. Students must demonstrate an understanding of the subject, not just an abili ty to regurgitate facts sponged into their brains during a lesson. A student with the capacity to explain himself in an essay employs a higher-level of cognitive process than one asked to decide whether a statement is true or false.

Rebellion in China around 1900 :: essays research papers

Around 1900, after many years of succumbing to the superior military of the West, the Chinese stood up for their country. China was a weak, backwards, country, exploited by the West. They felt that they could counter the foreign domination, but reforms were useless because they needed the West to help with the reforms. But something sparked their confidence, and they believed themselves to be able to conquer any foreign power. This spark was the Society of Harmonious Fists, commonly known as "Boxers." Combined with unhappy people, and new weapons technology, the Chinese rebelled against the foreign powers. The first reason of this confidence was the Boxer Society, which formed in North China after the Sino-Japanese war, but wasn't well known until 1898 in Shantung. This organization was actually a cult, following strange and absurd practices of defense. It had no central leaders, and the practices varied in different locations. Their goal was to rid China of the foreign menace. The boxers were different from most other rebels of their time. They would conduct public physical exercises that were supposed to make a magical shield to protect one against foreign bullets and shells. These looked similar to a boxers training exercises so the westerners nicknamed the members of the Society of Harmonious Fists "Boxers." Rather then using foreign weapons, they relied on magical spirits and swords, knives, staves, and polearms to drive the foreign devils from their precious home country. The membership of this group consisted of mostly the criminals, poor, and illiterate of China who wore a simple uniform consisting of a red armband, sash, or waistcloth. These people truly believed that magic would protect them, and help remove the foreigners from China. That gave them enough confidence to try to destroy the foreigners. Missionaries were killed, railroads were destroyed, and churches were burned all in the name of independence from foreign rule. Another key aspect in the rebellions against the west was a series of natural disasters that swept China during the last decade of the nineteenth century. Famine struck, droughts prevented the planting of crops, and to top it all, the Yellow river flooded, causing the destruction of 1,500 villages and 2,500 square miles of countryside. These disaster lead to unhappiness of the people. In order to keep them from turning on the government, the Dowager Empress, Tsu Hsi, encouraged the peasants to rebel against the foreigners. Some of these angry people joined the Boxers, and others rebelled alone, but they had the Empress behind them, giving them encouragement, and making them feel ready to take on the demons from the West. The third reason that the Chinese felt ready to face the West, was a