To Find the Recidivism Rate Among Parolees Essay

To Find the Recidivism Rate Among Parolees - Essay Example The aim of the proposed research is to explore the factors between the occurrence of recidivism and the rate and mortifying causes of recidivism in Present society. The paper will consider whether concerns over increasing rate of recidivism are real and whether the social and communal reasons mortify the process of recidivism. The core aspects of the research will critically analyze the term recidivism and the rate of recidivism in America and how it affect American society. The research will seek to address the following questions to help explain the impact it has had on the contemporary society. This paper makes a conclusion that recidivism rate among the parolees are growing up and government and other agencies consider it difficult to lessen or to eliminate it. There are many factors that lead to the recidivism. When one is released from prison, he feels difficulty to co-operate with the existing social situations or the society will not agree him as a person who has all the moral rights to live in. it may be only one among the reasons for turning them to follow the criminal behavior. But the most important reasons include their own decisions and the temptations of the others to select the dark way of crimes. The other factors like the thought of the sudden luxuries force them to follow the same. Above all, as they have experienced the imprisonment, they know of the punishment and the loop holes of the law.

Marketing for low income people (Gillette Vs Nivea) Research Paper

Marketing for low income people (Gillette Vs Nivea) - Research Paper Example Nivea brand is one of the famous skin and beauty brands in the globe due to its intense and cultivating marketing strategies. The advancement of the brand is attributed to its extensive ranges of products worldwide like the moisturizers, deodorants, and shower products. These brands have magnificent appeals to both segments, especially the high income segment of customers, yet Nivea products sell across all segments. On the other hand, Gillette has evolved its marketing strategies approaches over the past few years to establish a more consumer-focused approach. The company has successfully installed brand confidence among the increasingly skeptical male consumer base in the world. Acquisition of new customers often results from the implementation of a product strategy. Products attract new customers by offering new features, eliminating old problems, and solving different needs. Products will be matched with viable market segments. Product development is a marketing strategy in which new goods and services are developed and then added to current lines (Bergh & Behrer, 2013). These are marketed to existing customers. Product diversification occurs when new goods and services are created for new market segments not currently served by the company. Unmet needs, cultural trends, and other developments lead to development and diversification strategies. Recent cultural trends associated with diet have led to new food products, while the desire for connectivity has been associated with the creation of new electronic devices. One key to developing products is following through with a well-designed plan of implementation that brings the whole company into the process. Product improvements solve specific problems. Many products have been made smaller, faster, more efficient, and more user-friendly over the years. Product improvements may help firm capture new customers and acquire competitors’ customers

Taro Leaves Drying Kinetics and Monolayer Moisture Content

Taro Leaves Drying Kinetics and Monolayer Moisture Content INTRODUCTION |1 A study on the drying kinetics and monolayer moisture content of taro leaves This research was aimed to develop dehydrated products based on Taro leaves and finding out the effect of drying parameters such as loading density and temperature on that control the drying kinetics. To determine the end point of drying studies on the sorption isotherm was conducted. From the moisture sorption isotherm data, the monolayer moisture content was estimated by Braunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) equation using data up to a water activity (aw) of 0.52 and monolayer moisture content was found to be 8.92 g water per 100 g solid for taro leaves. By using another most important model, GAB (Guggenheim-Anderson-DeBoer) model, using data up to aw=0.9, the monolayer moisture content of taro leaves was found to be 19.78g water per 100 gm solid. INTRODUCTION It is estimated that by 2020, the population of Bangladesh will be as high as 200 million, which means that there is a need to produce more food from the limited land resources. In this context, there is a need to explore alternate food crops, which could supply food in food insecurity situations. â€Å"Taro† can be the alternative to the other vegetables for developing and under developed country. Apart from acting as cheap energy and dietary source, this crop provides other micronutrients, vitamins and dietary fiber as well. In Bangladesh, taro is used as vegetable throughout the country. Corms and cormels are used as starchy vegetables whereas leaves and leaf stalks are used as ‘shak’. During famine, a large number of people reportedly survive simply on food materials made by boiling the corms, cormels, stolons, leaf stalks and leaves of different varieties of Taro. The subfamily Colocasioideae of family Araceae consists of three edible tubercrops, namely taro (Colocasia esculenta Schott), `tannia (Xanthosoma spp.) and giant Taro (Alocasia spp.). Among these crops, taro and tannin are cultivated to a larger extent, while giant taro is not as common as commercial crop like the other two. In general, these are crops of third world countries, particularly grown in Africa and Asia. About 88 % of the total world acreage is in Africa which produces about 80% of total production (Onwueme, 1978). Among the three crops, taro is more common in South-East Asia. It is one of the ancient crops with an interesting history blending with the evolution of agricultural systems (Gopalan et al., 1974). A large number of horticultural varieties of taro are widely cultivated in Bangladesh and still larger varieties grow wild. During the rainy season when other vegetables are in scarcity in Bangladesh this taro goes a long way to meet the demand for vegetables. The leaves, petioles, stolons, corms and cormels, and indeed all the parts of some taro are taken as food in large quantities by the rural population in our country. Hence the use of Taro as vegetables, both leaves and roots, in the diets of the people of our country assumes special and added importance. The taro has also medicinal value. Processed Bishknchu is used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of rheumatism. Juice from petioles and whole leaves are used as antiseptic to check bleeding from minor injury in the rural areas of Bangladesh (Chowdhury, 1975). The possibility of wider use of the Taro leaves as vegetables crops in our country may be ascribed to their unusual environmental adaptability and ease of cultivation. The lowland types grow in standing water which is rarely possible for other crops. The taro can be produced with minimum capital investment. Growing of this crop does not require any special technological skill. Their keeping quality in most cases is excellent. The best way of preserving the leasfy vegetables is drying or dehydration. This process costs less, then other preserving methods and require simple instrument. The type and conditions of the blanching treatment prior to drying affect the retention of ascorbic acid, carotene, and ash in the dried vegetables. The sun-dried vegetables had inferior color, texture and acceptability compared to the vegetables dried in the cabinet dryer. In the mechanical dryer, desired temperature and airflow could be maintained. Compared to sun/solar drying, higher airflow and temperature can be used in mechanical drying. This leads to high production rates and improved quality products due to shorter drying time and reduction of the risk of insect infestation and microbial spoilage as well as minimum nutrient loss. Since mechanical drying is not dependent on sunlight so it can be done as and when necessary. Based on the above information, the present experiment was broadly aimed to study on development of shelf stable taro (Colocassia esculenta) leaves product. The specific objectives of this study are as follows: To determine the composition of fresh and processed Taro leaves To develop the isotherm To study the drying characteristics of taro leaves during mechanical and vacuum drying To study the storage stability of processed taro leaves Materials and methods 3.2.3 Sorption isotherm studies The moisture sorption properties of dried Taro leaves were determined at room temperature under conditions of various relative humidity (11-93% RH) in the vacuum desiccators. The various RH conditions were achieved in vacuum desiccators using saturated salt solutions. The following salt solutions (Table. 3.1) of known water activity were used for the study (Islam, 1980). Table 3.1: Water activity of saturated salt solution Petri dishes were used for preparing saturated salt solution. The various salts were put in the Petri dish and water is added to give a saturated condition. The method involved putting a small accurately weighed about 1g sample in a previously weighed Petri dish into desiccators contained saturated salt solutions. The sample and the solution was separated a perforated plate to avoid mixing. The desiccators were evacuated to less than 50 Torr. At various intervals, the vacuum was broken with air, the sample weighed and replaced in the desiccators, which was then re-evacuated. The sample was weighed daily in the initial period and less often, as the sample started to reach equilibrium. Weighing was continued until the sample weights were constant two days in row. In the mid-1970s, water activity came to the forefront as a major factor in understanding the control of the deterioration of reduced moisture, drugs and biological systems (Labuza, 1975). It was found that the general modes of deterioration, namely physical and physicochemical modifications, microbiological growth, and both aqueous and lipid phase chemical reactions were all influenced by the thermodynamic availability of water (water activity) as well as the total moisture content of the system. Control of initial moisture content and moisture migration is critical to the quality and safety of foods. Ideally, food manufacturers develop products with defined moisture contents to produce a safe product with optimum shelf- life. Quality and safety factors that the manufacturer must consider are microbial stability, physical properties, sensory properties, and the rate of chemical changes leading to loss of shelf-life. Water activity or the equilibrium relative humidity of a system is defined as: Where Vapor pressure of water in equilibrium with the dry system Saturation vapor pressure of pure water at the same temperature. Sorption properties of floods (equilibrium moisture content and monolayer moisture) are essential for the design and optimization of many processes such as drying, packaging and storage (Muhtaseb et al., 2002).The moisture sorption isotherms show the equilibrium amount of water sorbed onto a solid as a function of steady state vapor pressure at a constant temperature (Bell and Labuza, 2000). There are many empirical equations that describe this behavior, but the water sorption properties at various RHs should be experimentally determined for each material. The general shape of the isotherm, specific surface area of the sample, reversibility of moisture uptake, presence and shape of a hysteresis loop provide information on the manner of interaction of the solid with water (Swaminathan and Kildsig, 2001). Sorption properties are important in predicting the physical state of materials at various conditions, because most structural transformations and phase transitions are significantly affected by water (Roos, 1995). Langmuir (1917) developed an equation based on the theory that the molecules of gas are adsorbed on the active sites of the solid to form a layer one molecule thick (monolayer). The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) sorption model (Brunauer et al.1938) is often used in modeling water sorption particularly to obtain the monolayer value (Eq. 2.10) which gives the amount of water that is sufficient to form a layer of water molecules of the thickness of one molecule on the adsorbing surface (Bell and Labuza 2000, Roos, 1995). The BET monolayer value has been said to be optimal water content for stability of low-moisture materials (Labuza, 1975 and Roos, 1995). The BET equation was developed based on the fact that sorption occurs in two distinct thermodynamic states; a tightly bound portion and multilayer having the properties of bulk free water (Zografi and Kontny, 1986). The BET equation is: Where, = the measured moisture at water activity = the monolayer moisture content (the optimal moisture content for maximum storage stability of a dry food); c = the isotherm temperature dependence coefficient (energy constant) Vanchy (2002) determined the moisture sorption isotherm of Whole milk powder (WMP). The WMPs were stored at 20 and 35 °C under 11%, 22% and 33% relative humidity . The monolayer moisture content was 4.8%, (solids not fat basis) at 0. 11 using the BET equation and 5.1 % at 0.23 according to the GAB equation. Nikolay et al. (2005) determined the moisture equilibrium data (adsorption and desorption) of semi-defatted (fat 10.6 % wet basis) pumpkin seed flour using the static gravimetric method of saturated salt solutions at three temperatures 10 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C, found that the equilibrium moisture content decreased with the increase in storage temperature at any given water activity. They fitted the experimental data to five mathematical models (modified Oswin, modified Halsey, modified Chung-Host, modified Henderson and GAB). The GAB model was found to be the most suitable for describing the sorption data. The monolayer moisture content was estimated using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) equation. The BET model (Brunauer et al. 1938) gives the best fit to the data at aw of up to 0.5 (Bell and Labuza 2000, Roos 1995). Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) sorption model (Anderson 1946, Boer 1953, Guggenheim 1966) introduces a third state of sorbed species intermediate to the tightly bound and free states. The GAB equation has a similar form to BET, but has an extra constant, K (equation 2.11). BET is actually a special case of GAB. The GAB equation is: Isotherm equations are useful for predicting the water sorption properties of a material, but no equation gives results accurate throughout the entire range of water activities. According to Timmermann (2003), the GAB monolayer value is always higher than the BET monolayer value. Prediction of water sorption is needed to establish water activity and water content relationship for materials (Roos, 1995) Where m = the measured moisture at water activity; = the monolayer moisture content (the optimal moisture content for maximum storage stability of a dry food), =the GAB multi-layer constant; c=the isotherm temperature dependence coefficient (energy constant). The GAB model can be used to a maximum water activity of 0.9. The following procedure is suggested by Biozt (1983) to fit data on water activities and equilibrium moisture content. Equation (2.11) can be transformed as follows: Where Equation (2.12) indicates that GAB equation is a three-parameter model. The water activity and equilibrium moisture content date are regressed using equation (2.12) and values of three coefficients, and are obtained. From these coefficients, the values of k,, and c can be calculated. To overcome this weakness of the GAB equation, modifications of the equation have been proposed (Schuchmann et al. 1990; Timmermann and Chirife 1991). Timmermann and Chirife (1991) used one additional parameter in the GAB model and studied the so-called third stage of sorption using experimental data of starch with satisfactory results. Isotherm equations are useful for predicting the water sorption properties of a material, but no equation gives results accurate throughout the entire range of water activities. According to Timmermann (2003), the GAB monolayer value is always higher than the BET monolayer value. Prediction of water sorption is needed to establish water activity and water content relationship for materials (Roos, 1995). Results and discussion: The sorption isotherm is an extremely valuable tool for food scientist because it can be used to predict potential changes in food stability, for selection of packaging, for selection of ingredient and for predicting drying time. A sorption isotherm for dehydrated taro leaves obtained by Vacuum oven drying (VOD) was established to determine how the taro product will behave in a confined environment. To obtain the moisture sorption isotherm, moisture content (dry basis) versus water activity were plotted on linear graph paper (Figure 4.1). The results shown in Figure 4.1 (tabulated data given in Appendix-II, Table 2.1), indicate that samples absorb little water particularly at lower aw ( Figure 4.1 Graphical presentation of sorption isotherm of Taro The water sorption isotherm of taro follows the shape of the sigmoid type isotherm. The resultant curve is caused by the combination of colligative effects (physical properties of solution), capillary effects, and surface-water interactions (Bell and Labuza, 2000). A distinct knee usually indicates a formation of a well-defined monolayer. The monolayer moisture content was estimated using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) equation. The BET equation is an extension of the Langmuir relationship that accounts for multilayer coverage. BET equation was used (eq. 2.10) to calculate monolayer moisture content (mo) and energy constant (C). mo represents the optimal moisture for maximum storage stability in the dry state. Results obtained from BET equation are shown in Table 4.2. Table 4.2 Data for BET and GAB methods From the slope and intercept of BET equation (Appendix II, Figure 2.1), monolayer moisture content and energy constant of taro leaves calculated for VOD samples. The monolayer moisture content of taro leaves was found to be 8.92g water per 100 g solid (Table 4.2). The calculated monolayer moisture content are greater than those found by Islam (1980) who reported 5.5 for potato slice and 6 for potato powder and by Kamruzzaman (2005) who reported 7.52 for aroids. Another important model of sorption isotherm behavior stated by GAB (Guggenheim-Anderson-DeBoer) in equation 2.11 and 2.12 to determine the monolayer moisture content of food products. This is very important for safe level of storage of food. Dry foods are usually considered to be most stable to chemical reactions if their moisture content is at or near the BET monolayer (Labuza et al., 1970). Usually air dried products are dried to moisture content corresponding to aw 0.6 (Nickerson and Sinskey, 1977). From this study it is seen that VOD taro leaves give 25% (Figure 4.1) moisture content at 0.6 aw. From this standpoint, freeze dried products are considered best for sorption studies (Islam, 1980). It may be mentioned here that the current study was concerned with adsorption isotherm so as to avoid risk due to hysteresis effect. At same moisture content adsorption path gives higher water activity than desorption path. Thus product dried to safe aw level according to adsorption isotherm will be even safer when it follows desorption path. After fitting data (Appendix II) the following figure was developed and from the developed equation the monolayer moisture content of taro leaves were found for GAB model. Fig. 4.2 Graphical presentation of GAB model of sorption isotherm From the developed Figure (4.2) and equation (4.1) the coefficients found, and were -0.121, 0.114 and -0.003 respectively (Table 4.2). Taking k= 0.9 and found the monolayer moisture content 19.78gm water per 100 gm solid. It is shown that the standard GAB equation is adequate to describe experimental data for water activity values up to 0.90 but fails to adequately describe the experimental data when data in the range of aw 0.9-1.0 are included in the calculation.

Robert Frosts The Road Not Taken :: essays research papers

Everyone is a traveler, carefully choosing which roads to follow on the map of life. There is never a straight path that leaves one with but a single direction in which to head. Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken'; can be interpreted in many different ways. The shade of light in which the reader sees the poem depends upon her past, present, and the attitude with which she looks toward her future. In any case however, this poem clearly demonstrates Frost’s belief that it is the road that one chooses that makes him the man he is. The central image that Frost presents, which is the path, provides a clear picture that the reader can focus on in order to reveal something about the poem. The “two roads diverged in a yellow wood'; vividly portray the fact that it is always difficult to make a decision because it is impossible not to wonder about the opportunity that will be missed out on. There is a strong sense of regret before the choice is even made and it lies in the knowledge that in one lifetime, it is impossible to travel down every path that one encounters. In an attempt to make a decision, the traveler "looks down one as far as I could." The road that will be chosen leads to the unknown, as does any choice in life. As much as he may strain his eyes to see how far the road stretches, eventually it surpasses his vision and he can never see where it is going to lead. It is the path that he chooses that sets him off on his journey and determines where he is going and what he will encounter . In the second stanza, Frost lets the reader know that the traveler has chosen to take the path less traveled by: "Then took the other, just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim." The path that the speaker chose to travel down was obviously not for everyone, hence “the road less traveled by." The fact that the traveler took this path over the more popular, secure one indicates the type of personality he has. He does not feel the need to follow the crowd but rather to do more of what has never been done before. The desire to travel down both paths is expressed and is not unusual. The speaker of this poem realizes that the decision is not just a temporary one and he "doubted if I should ever come back.

An AP prompt essay discussing how writers must prepare to be unsatisfied Essay

Everyday more and more people try to make a profession in being a successful writer. In this passage, aspiring writer Melusina Fay Peirce writes to novelist Marian Evans Lewes asking if beginning writing at thirty is too old. Evans is moved by this letter and responds mentioning thirty is not too old. In the letter, she comments that even an accomplished writer such as herself is rarely satisfied with hours of work. It is impossible to be an accomplished writer without having years of wisdom behind you. Throughout the passage, she utilizes various persuasive techniques such as refutation and analogies in order to depict novice work as tasteless. In Lewes response to Peirce, she incorporates many rhetorical strategies in order to convey that writers must prepare to be unsatisfied and must not be concerned about flattery because success in writing comes only with maturity. In the beginning of the letter, Evans uses a plethora of rhetorical strategies which suggest that in order to be a writer one must be ready to be unsatisfied. Evans declares her â€Å"consciousness is not of the triumphant kind†. Beginning her letter with a refutation immediately conveys that being a writer is a difficult life. Although one may put hours of hard work into a novel, satisfaction is not always achieved. She then states that â€Å"Exultation is a dream before achievement and rarely comes after†. Evans suggests that she often fancies admiration before her work is finished only to encounter a deficiency of praise after. While Lewes may be a praised writer, she shocks Peirce when saying she is rarely commended for her work; writers’ dreams are seldom met. When encountering the lack of the praise writers such as Evans tend to feel like a â€Å"poor husk†. Evans uses this word to convey the emptiness in which she feels after writing. One always feels like it is possible to create better work but doesn’t know where to look. She then continues on and inquire to Peirce â€Å"Does these seem melancholy? ‘. This rhetorical question implies that these feelings of â€Å"incompleteness† and emptiness are far less melancholy than self-flattery. This connects to the refutation at the beginning of the paragraph stating that writers seldom feel triumphant. Using the various strategies, Evans conveys that to be a writer one must not be concerned about flattery and must be prepared to be unfulfilled. In the next paragraph, Evans refutes Peirce’s main concern of being too old to start writing by giving support to the idea that success come with maturity. Lewes responds by mentioning â€Å"not to fancy yourself old because you are thirty, or to regret you have not written anything†. This refutation replies to Peirce’s concern that she is too old and tells Peirce not to worry. She then states that it does not even matter if one hasn’t written anything prior to being an established writer. Lewes then mentions that the writing of a young writer is â€Å"no better than trashy, unripe fruit†. The underdeveloped fruit mirrors the underdeveloped minds and writing of the young writers. He then states that there is nothing worse than a writer who has â€Å"exhausted himself†. One cannot burn out writing all of their material while young. A successful writer needs to be patient, as triumph in literature comes with experience in everyday life. Towards the end of the letter, Evans reflects that when she was young â€Å"she began a sort of writing which had no great glory belonging to it, but which she felt certain she could do faithfully and well†. This anecdote also works as an emotional appeal as it sympathizes with Peircr, implying mutual feelings both writers felt while young. Evans suggests that mature and older writers are more patient in their writing, consequently producing better works. Evans is very persuasive in her position which states achievements in writings will come along with maturity. In Lewes’s letter to Peirce, she includes numerous persuasive techniques in order to convey that writers must prepare to be unsatisfied and must not be concerned about flattery because success in writing only comes with maturity. Evans’s main point is that one is never too old to begin writing. An aspiring writer shouldn’t hold back on account that they haven’t produced descent works in the past. Wisdom, compassion and insight all come with years of aging and are needed to produce successful writing.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 7 Analysis

The communication of this invitation through Gatsby suggests initially to Nick that ‘something was up'. The air tension is increased by Fitzgerald's use of pathetic fallacy: the weather is â€Å"Hot!†¦Hot!†¦Hot!† so that it, like the atmosphere in the chapter ‘hovered on the edge of combustion'. It is almost the last day of summer, appropriately. There is a feeling that the last chance for Gatsby; that the darker days of autumn and winter are on their way; that things are drawing to a close with the demise of the summer. The telephone call received by Tom at luncheon (from Mrs.Wilson) adds to the air of expectancy and tension. It is also the first time the reader has seen all of the main characters of the play gathered together, adding to the idea that the climax is due soon. Daisy and Jordan's skin is powdered over, suggesting a papering over of cracks, and the falsity of the situation. Nick contemplates ‘the scalloped ocean and the abounding blessed isles', almost palpably desiring an escape. Daisy's public kissing of Gatsby, suggests that she is ready to make the relationship public, but her ‘clogging' on the fireplace suggests an almost hysterical desperation. Tom notes the change in the footing of their relationship, as Daisy exchanges apparently trivial comments that betray their intimacy : â€Å"you always look so cool†. His response to this is an attempt to shield Daisy from Gatsby, by trying to have her travel in his car to New York. He clearly recognises that ‘she had told him that she loved him'. Daisy's ‘presentation' of her child, Pammy, to Gatsby and the assembled company has striking effect upon Gatsby; she is concrete proof of the marriage between Tom and Daisy, inescapable evidence that Daisy has shared the last 5 years of her life with someone else. Tom agrees to Daisy's suggestion that they go to town as a welcome distraction from the almost surreal scene that appears to be brewing at the house. As the girls prepare for the outing, Nick notes ‘the moon hovered already in the Western sky', suggesting that time is again running out. As Tom gets whiskey, Fitzgerald has Gatsby explain the irresistible allure of Daisy's voice: â€Å"her voice is full of money†, This clarifies the whole moral stance of the characters in the text: drawn to the money in her siren's song. Nick thinks of her at this moment as † high in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl† in a vision that simultaneously draws together the multiple images of silver, gold and white that Fitzgerald has used throughout the text to suggest money and wealth. The drive to town provides another opportunity for Gatsby and Daisy to be alone together as Daisy evades Tom's suggestion that he drive her ‘in this circus wagon' – Gatsby's car. This description clearly demonstrates the contempt of the patrician for the vulgar display of wealth by Gatsby, the parvenu.

Non-Native English Speakers Teaching English

Non-Native English Speakers Teaching English An extremely active discussion on a LinkedIn professional group called English Language Services Professionals has caught my interest. This group is one of the most active English teaching groups on the Internet, with almost 13,000 members. Heres the question that begins the discussion: Ive been looking for a teaching opportunity for two years and Im sick of the typical Native speakers only phrase. Why do they allow TEFL certificates for non-natives then? This is a discussion that needs to be had in the world of English teaching. I have my own opinion on the matter, but lets first start off with a quick overview of the current situation in the English teaching world. To be very general, as well as to oversimplify the discussion, lets admit that there is a perception by some that native speakers of English are better English teachers. Arguments Against Non-Native Speakers as English Teachers This idea that only non-native speakers of English need not apply for English teaching jobs comes from a number of arguments: Native speakers provide accurate pronunciation models for learners.Native speakers innately understand the intricacies of idiomatic English usage.Native speakers can provide conversational opportunities in English that more closely mirror conversations that learners can expect to have with other English speakers.Native speakers understand native English speaking cultures and can provide insight that non-native speakers can not.Native speakers speak English as it is actually spoken in English speaking countries.Students and students parents prefer native speakers. Arguments for Non-Native Speakers as English Teachers Here are some counterarguments to the points above: Pronunciation models: Non-native English speakers can provide a model of English as the lingua franca, and will have studied correct pronunciation models.Idiomatic English: While many learners would like to speak idiomatic English, the fact is that most of the English conversation they will have and should have will be in non-idiomatic standard English.Typical native speaker conversations: Most English learners will be using their English to discuss business, holidays, etc. with OTHER non-native English speakers for the majority of the time. Only true English as a second language students (i.e. those living or wanting to live in English speaking countries) might reasonably expect to spend most of their time speaking English with native English speakers.English speaking cultures: Once again, most English learners will be communicating with people from a wide variety of cultures in English, that doesnt mean that UK, Australian, Canadian, or US culture will be the main topic of conversa tion. Native speakers use real-world English: This is perhaps of importance only to English as a Second Language learners, rather than English as a foreign  language learners.Students and students parents prefer native English speakers: This is more difficult to debate. This is purely a marketing decision made by the schools. The only way to change this fact would be to market English classes differently. The Reality Of Non-Native English Speakers Teaching English I can imagine that a number of readers might also realize one important fact: State school teachers are overwhelmingly non-native English speakers in non-native English speaking countries. In other words, for many this is a non-issue: Non-native English speakers already teach English in state schools, so there are plenty of teaching opportunities. However, the perception remains that, in the private sector, native English speakers are preferred in most cases. My Opinion This is a complex issue, and having benefited from the fact that I am a native speaker I admit to having had an advantage for certain teaching jobs throughout my life. On the other hand, I have never had access to some of the cushier state teaching jobs available. To be blunt, state teaching jobs offer much more security, generally better pay and infinitely better benefits. However, I can also understand the frustration of non-native English speakers who have gained mastery of English, and who can help students in their own native language. I think there are a few criteria for making a hiring decision, and I offer these for your consideration. The native / non-native teacher decision should be based on students needs analysis. Are the learners going to need to speak English in native English speaking countries?Qualifications must be considered: Just Speaking English doesnt make a teacher qualified. Teachers need to be judged on their qualifications and experience.Non-native speakers have a distinct edge for teaching lower level students as they can explain difficult grammar points in learners native tongue with great accuracy.The perception of native speakers is best seems antiquated in the global English speaking environment. Perhaps it is time for private schools to revisit their marketing strategies.Native speakers do have the edge when it comes to idiomatic language skills. Imagine an English learner is going to move to the US to work in a company, a native English speaker with a bit of knowledge about that industry will be able to quickly latch on to idiomatic language, as well as jargon that the student will need. Please take advantage of the opportunity to express your own opinion. This is an important discussion, that everyone can learn from: teachers, both native and non-native speakers, private institutes that feel the have to hire native speakers, and, perhaps most importantly, students.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS Essays - Philippines, Government, Free Essays

INAUGURAL ADDRESS Essays - Philippines, Government, Free Essays INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF HIS EXCELLENCY FERDINAND E. MARCOS [ Delivered at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila on December 30, 1965 ] Mr. Chief Justice, Mr. Vice President,Mr. Speaker, My Countrymen: Sa bisa ng inyong makapangyarihang hatol at sa pamamagitan ng mabiyayang tangkilik ng Dakilang Maykapal , narito ako ngayon sa inyong harap sa pinagkaugalian nang ritwal sa pagtatalaga at pagsumpa sa tungkulin ng isang bagong halal na Pangulo . Sa kapasiyahan ninyong ito ay muli pa ninyong pinatunayan na matatag at matibay ang pagkakatanim ng mga ugat ng demokrasya sa sinapupunan ng bansang ito . At sa bisa ng kapangyarihang ipinagkaloob sa inyo ng mga batas ay naisasagawa nang mapayapa at maayos ang pagsasalin ng kapangyarihang pampamahalaan . By your mandate, through the grace of the Almighty, I stand here today in the traditional ritual of the assumption of the Presidency. By your mandate, once again you have demonstrated the vitality of our democracy by the peaceful transference of governmental authority. It is but fitting and proper that this traditional ritual be undertaken on this sacred ground. For sixty nine year ago today, a young patriot and prophet of our race fell upon this beloved soil. He fell from a tyrant's bullet and out of the martyr's blood that flowed copiously there sprung a new nation. That nation became the first modern republic in Asia and Africa. It is our nation. We are proud to point to our country as one stable in an area of instability; where ballots, not bullets, decide the fate of leaders and parties. Thus Kawit and Malolos are celebrated in our history as acts of national greatness. Why national greatness? Because, armed with nothing but raw courage and passionate intelligence and patriotism, our predecessors built the noble edifice of the first Asian Republic. With the same reverence do we consider Bataan, Corregidor and the Philippine resistance movement. Today the challenge is less dramatic but no less urgent. We must repeat the feat of our forebears in a more commonplace sphere, away from the bloody turmoil of heroic adventure - by hastening our social and economic transformation. For today, the Filipino, it seems, has lost his soul, his dignity and his courage. We have come upon a phase of our history when ideas are only a veneer for greed and power in public and private affairs, when devotion to duty and dedication to a public trust are to be weighed at all times against private advantages and personal gain, and when loyalties can be traded in the open market. Our people have come to a point of despair. I know this for I have personally met many of you. I have heard the cries of thousands and clasped hands in brotherhood with millions of you. I know the face of despair and I know the face of hunger because I have seen it in our barrios, huts and hovels all over our land. We have ceased to value order as a social virtue. Law, we have learned successfully to flaunt. We have become past masters at devising slogans for the sake of recorders of his history but not for those who would live by them in terms of honor and dignity. Peace in our time, we declare. But we can not guarantee life and limb in our growing cities. Prosperity for all, we promise. But only a privileged few achieve it, and, to make the pain obvious, parade their comforts and advantages before the eyes of an impoverished many. Justice and security are as myths rendered into elaborate fictions to dramatize our so called well being and our happy march to progress. But you have rejected all these through a new mandate of leadership. It is a mandate that imposes a change of leadership in this country, and to me, as your President, this mandate is clear - it is a mandate not merely for change. It is a mandate for greatness. For indeed we must rise from the depths of ignominy and failure. Our government is gripped in the iron hand of venality, its treasury is barren, its resources are wasted, its civil service is slothful and indifferent, its armed forces demoralized and its councils sterile. But

Alzheimer’s disease Essay Example for Free (#3)

Alzheimer’s disease Essay What causes Alzheimer’s disease neurologically? This question came to my mind when I was watching the movie ‘The Notebook’ for the fifth time. Unusual for a guy, I love romantic genre movies and I was wondering why Alzheimer causes short and long term memory loss. I also had an interest on the Alzheimer’s disease after watching the movie ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ where the protagonist tries to fix the neurology nerve system to heal his father’s Alzheimer. What causes Alzheimer’s disease neurologically? I think the core reason of the Alzheimer’s disease lie on the nerve pathway signal transmission. I think the nerve pathway signal transmission system is same as all of the body functional system and as it grows older and older, the functioning of the specific nerve pathway signal transmission for memories weakens and decreases. #4 Making predictions based on this model If the problem of the Alzheimer’s disease is in the nerve pathway signal transmission, then the Alzheimer’s disease is indeed a neurological problem. If we can find out the way to re-ignite the signal or heal the receiving or sending parts of the neurological nerve signal system, then we will be able to delay the process of the disease or even fix it permanently. I do not know the system of the central neurological nerve system of the human nor the treatment of the Alzheimer’s disease. However, to find out numerous people with and without the disease should complete the cause of the Alzheimer’s disease. Run a MRI test on brain of the participants and compare the MRI results with the people with and without the Alzheimer’s disease. If it shows some difference showing the weakening or decreasing of the nerve pathway signal transmission then we can conclude that the neurological nerve pathway signal transmission is the cause of the Alzheimer’s disease. However, we can’t be sure that that is the only causes of the Alzheimer’s disease so we will have to create more experiments. Alzheimer disease is a neurological disease and it is one of the many forms of dementia. The researches says that the Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia since its percentage is over half of the total dementia cases. My question was ‘what causes the Alzheimer’s disease neurologically?’ so I decided to first go research about the neuroscience of the human body since the Alzheimer’s disease is primarily the degenerating of the signal pathway system in the brain. The human have a special cell called the neurons in the nervous system and these cells communicate with other cells by synapses. This is the most basic difference between a normal cell and a neuron. Synapses signal can be either chemical or electrical and they are just membrane-to-membrane junctions with such molecular machinery that produces rapid transmission of signals. There isn’t just one neuron in human. In fact, there are hundreds of different types with differ ent functions and shapes. So all these information led me to an another question of ‘what kind of neurons are related to the Alzheimer’s disease?’ I found out that Alzheimer’s kills neurons due to the accumulation of proteins in the brain. That is why the Alzheimer’s diseases are called the neurodegenerative diseases. I couldn’t specifically find the exact neurons that are related to the Alzheimer’s disease but I found out that the Alzheimer’s kills these neurons in the brain by proteinaceous plaques. An article by ‘Journal of Neuroscience’ did a research on A-beta, a peptide that surrounds the dying neurons in certain regions of the brain. The research said they weren’t sure if the A-Beta is the protein that kills the neurons. A-Beta becomes toxic when it forms an oligomer. Oligomer means a molecule that consists of a few monomer units. A-Beta oligomers are bad for neurons because it causes the neurons to re-enter the cell cycle. This is bad because once the brain neurons become adult cells, these are not supposed to divide. This is why neuronal cancers are very rare because the neurons cells don’t divide once it reaches adulthood. Then the articles went into deeper matters with mouse models so I stopped my research of A-Beta here. It says that the cause for the Alzheimer’s disease is essentially unknown and all of these researches are part of the hypotheses. There are many hypotheses including the cholinergic and the amyloid hypotheses. But the A-Beta is the most recent hypotheses in the field of  science since the A-Beta theory was updated in 2009. Then, I took my TA’s advice and went to find the biology behind the transmission of nerve impulses. Neurons have a part called the dendrites and this is where the neuron fires a correct impulse to another neuron through the axon. Axon is a long projection that connects nerve cells. Just like a normal cell, the neurons have cell membranes as well. When the neuron is not transmitting impulse, the reason is in its cell membrane. When the neuron cell is polarized, that is when the neuron is inactive. The outside of the cell contains excess sodium ions and the inside of the cell contains excess potassium ions. However, the inside of the cell is negative due to other negatively charged protein and nucleic acid molecules inside the cell. There are Na+/K+ pumps on the membranes and it is permeable! When the neuron gets stimulated, the sodium ions flow in to the cell and the neuron gets depolarized. When the neuron reaches the complete depolarization, impulse is transmitted through the axon and thus makes the cell active. When the impulse fires from a neuron, the other neuron at the end of the axon depolarizes and calcium ions are allowed to enter the cell. Then a chemical called a neurotransmitter is released into the synapse. The neurotransmitter then binds to proteins on the neuron membrane to receive the impulse. The proteins are the receptors of the many different neurotransmitter and the neurotransmitters does have specific receptor proteins. It is logical that when the neurons die from proteins of the Alzheimer’s disease, the synapses and impulse decreases and decreases. Therefore, I began to have questions about the effect and the symptoms of the Alzheimer’s disease due to the death of many neurons. Alzheimer’s disease equals the loss of neurons and synapses in the cerebral cortex. The most common effect and symptom of the Alzheimer’s disease is the loss of memory and mental skills. The chance of getting an Alzheimer’s disease is higher for older populations. The symptoms advance as the time passes. The speed of the progress of the disorder differs from person to person but most of them start with forgetfulness. It is probably the neuron transmission failure. As the brain neuron dies, the mental state of the human weakens and decreases. When the Alzheimer’s disease attacks the frontal lobe of the brain, the person’s mood swing can be dangerously unstable. It is because the frontal lobe controls the feeling and the behavior of a person. The person can also have problems  with washing and cleaning him/herself because another function of the frontal lobe of the brain is to plan things based on what is wrong and what is right. Also 40% of the Alzheimer’s patients have low appetite in food and have significant weight loss because as the neuron dies, the olfactory and taste nerves fails. All of these symptoms are all directly connected to the problems with the brain neurons. So my first starting question of ‘what causes Alzheimer’s disease neurologically?’ was answered. A simple but sophisticated disruption of a tiny neuron cells in the brain causes the Alzheimer’s disease. Then I began to think if there are any treatment researches going on in the field of biology. I found one research that caught my eyes and it was stem cells. Professor Kim of the Chung-Ang University in South Korea successfully restored a mouse’s brain function by transplanting a human nerve stem cell. He was able to transplant a stem cell containing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, and the articles said that the mouse restored its brain function to a normal state. Professor Kim’s work is also announced in an international journal called ‘Cell Transplantation.’ #7 Repeat (Modify, extend or reject) ‘What is the specific molecule (possibly a protein) that affects the neuron of the brains so it causes the Alzheimer’s disease neurologically?’ and ‘How will transplanting stem cell containing a neurotransmitter called ‘Acetycholine’ affect the human Alzheimer’s disease?’ These are my two refined questions after my exploration of the Alzheimer’s disease. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_system#Neurons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer’s_disease http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-the-transmission-of-nerve-impulses.html http://scienceblogs.com/purepedantry/2009/02/12/how-does-alzheimers-kill-neuro/ (Authors: N.H. Varvel, K. Bhaskar, A.R. Patil, S.W. Pimplikar, K. Herrup, B.T. Lamb) http://voices.yahoo.com/the-dreadful-effects-alzheimers-disease-116725.html?cat=70 (Publisher: Carl Kolchack, freelance article writer) http://blog.naver.com/vitaminmd?Redirect=Log&logNo=110133967592 (Publisher: Vitamin MD) http://www.medworld.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=63612 (Youn Sang Yong Reporter) Alzheimer’s disease. (2016, Jun 14).

Analysis of Jack Sheltons Im Just a Bill Assignment

Analysis of Jack Sheltons Im Just a Bill - Assignment Example There needs to be a strong majority on certain bills before the bills can go to the White House to be signed by the president, and become law. There needs to be a majority in both houses before the bill can go to the White House to be signed into law by the president. â€Å"I’m Just a Bill† did not inform viewers of the time it would take for a bill to go from a thought to a bill, to become a law. Sometimes, Congress votes on a bill because of its urgency. Some bills are less important to national security and the safety of Americans. â€Å"I’m Just a Bill† did not inform viewers it could take less than 30 days for a bill to pass through Congress. Sometimes, like with the United States of America Patriot Act Congress put all other bills on hold, and passed the United States of America Patriot Act within 30 days of September 11, 2001. â€Å"I’m Just a Bill† says it takes months, and years for Congress to debate over a bill. Congress has a rule that all bills introduced during one session of Congress need to be voted on before the end of that session. Congress does not allow bills to sit around from session to session. If someone watches â€Å"I’m Just a Bill† this person is led on to think that it takes more than several months for a bill to go from a thought, to a bill and to law. If someone watches â€Å"I’m Just a Bill† this person may think it could take years for a bill to be discussed in Congress. Question Number Two When Saunders, Abramowitz, and Williamson discussed the level of sophistication as it pertains to the study of voters from 1996 the data in the table appears to prove the hypothesis by Saunders, Abramowitz, and Williamson. However, Saunders, Abramowitz, and Williamson received the data for the table using data from the voting machines. The data in the table; therefore would be inconclusive. Every district has a socioeconomic status. The voting machines can count mixed ticket s; therefore the data reflects the number of mixed tickets was cast in the 1996 election. However, some sophisticated voters may live in underprivileged areas such as an urban area.  

Brown Jim Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Brown Jim - Essay Example He played from the Cleveland Brown’s side from 1957 to 1965. He showed excellent skills and expertise in the game in his high school and university life that earned him more opportunities to get proper training and move ahead to playing for NFL. He is considered to be among the greatest running back players of all times. Due to his success in sports, he received All-American honors in football and lacrosse. His name has appeared in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as US Lacrosse National Hall of Fame (Jim Brown Biography). An amazing thing about this player is that he retired at the age of 30 when he was at the peak of his career, yet he has been able to collect numerous awards and recognitions for his outstanding game. He has even set multiple records as a running back player for his team. 2. Life after Football After his retirement, he joined the film industry to pursue his career as an actor. He always believed in equal rights for all humans, irrespective of their rac e, religion or origin and this attitude even prevailed in the film industry. Due to this positive attitude towards equality, he got the opportunity to act in numerous films and performed the kind of work that had not been done by an African American actor before. He also directed and produced films in Hollywood. 3. Contributions to the Society Jim Brown has been a social activist and a humanitarian, who has made numerous contributions for the betterment of the societies. He was one of the few famous people of his times who realized the powers that they had- fame and fortune. He realized that he could use these powers for many valuable causes. One of his first endeavors was to help the African Americans who were struggling to start their own businesses to earn their livelihood (Simmonds). This endeavor was termed as Black Economic Union and the main aim of this effort was to make the African Americans self-reliant and to earn them a respectable position in the society. The law enforc ement agencies took this as a threat for the peace and security of the region since Jim Brown and his peers were perceived to aim for something harmful, rather than meaningful. The suspicion earned Jim Brown a place in the watch list of the FBI, but times have shown the world that Jim Brown meant nothing but good for the people. In 1966, Jim Brown and his associates got a major grant of over $ 1 Million from the Ford Foundation Grant (Jim Brown - NFL's Greatest) for the social cause. It has been recorded that over 400 African American benefitted from the monetary support and technical guidance provided by the respective establishment. In 1980, the humanitarian joined hands with an organization Vital Issues Project to help the ex-convicts (individuals who had completed their sentence in jails and prisons) (Brown). Such people require guidance and opportunities to earn their livelihood and become useful members of the society. Jim Brown’s efforts and reputation as a social refo rmer earned that company a respectable position in the market, due to which they were able to help greater number of such individuals to get back to their lives. The dedication of Jim Brown towards the cause of getting the ex-convicts settled in life, can be analyzed by the fact that 95% of the jobs at Amer-I-Can Foundation (Jim Brown’s non-profit organization) have been given to them (Jim Brown - NFL'

Spanking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Spanking - Essay Example Human beings develop or grow by observing the surroundings and so they are called as social animals. Children at young age don't have that much understanding to differentiate between genders or elderly people, teachers, family members and friends are the easiest scapegoats. The beginning of spanking may start from people surrounding the child start interfering in their matter and trying to alter their thoughts and at the same time molding them in a way what their parent or guardians need their wards to grow. This noble effort may be a good weapon to blend their children into a multi-talent adolescent, but it may have serious consequences if the child is already preoccupied by thoughts of his own. At this time if someone tries to interfere with their thoughts and intentions, emotions that may burst paving a way of spanking whoever tries to bother them. "When children mould their behavior as ways to avoid pain, they are likely to end up as self-centered and selfish adults." (McCord, 832). Children at tender age can't differentiate between teaching and strict discipline. Their lies a very thin line between teaching and discipline. If the child experiences this he/she may get disturbed and may get averse to the situations and will react unruly. The greatesThe greatest responsibility of molding a child depends on parents, teachers, etc. Students are the building blocks of the society. Teachers should be well versed in their subject, learnt and should have enchanting character which should influence the child to imitate their teachers. One of the reasons for children and adolescents is suspected weakness in themselves or in others. They try to cover up their weaknesses by aggressive behavior and showing the power personally. Effects of Spanking Spanking has diversified and serious effects on adolescents and adults. The effects of spanking have long-standing issues and may stretch thought life span. Short term or long-term spanking tend to have serious mental difficulties on adults. Adults who continue to spank get into serious troubles and commit crimes like, marital violence, child abuse etc. "Even non-abusive spanking, which is accepted as justifiable, appears to be ineffective in changing child behavior." (Larzelere, 824). It also affects the cordial relationship between the family members and friends. As it develops an adult may use more sophisticated form of bullying either directly or indirectly. It has shades of sexually harassing men and women to an adult where if sexually also reported even to moral policies. Adults who continue to spanking tend to become more sophisticated and gets associated with peer groups forming organized social structures with differentiating codes of behavior targeting women and children for personal collective needs.Boys and girls who continue to be spanked and bullied end up getting in to romantic relationships and affairs before marriage and extra marital affairs after marriage. Which effects their relationship and may end up getting divorced through court of law are may get separated with out getting divorced.The

Characters in OConnors stories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Characters in OConnors stories - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the characters of the grandmother in O’Connor’s story ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find’ and Mrs. Ruby Turpin in ‘Revelation’ are similar to a great extent. Grandma, a widow lives with her son’s family including grandchildren while Mrs. Turpin lives with her husband only. Both are in need of Catholic Grace and they belong to the Afro-American population. Both the characters are overconfident about their image, beliefs, and traditions. Grandma remarks about the current generation, saying, â€Å"In my time†¦ children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else. People did right then†. On the other hand, Mrs. Turpin gets satisfaction in nomenclature – â€Å"white-trash woman†, â€Å"the pleasant lady† etc.   She likes scrutinizing people around her and derived at conclusions about them. She also contemplates what she could be if she is not herself. She always thanks Jesus for making her what she is and she also feels that Jesus is good to her. In contrast, Grandma believes that the finest lady God has made is her mother and does not directly talk of God’s blessings on herself. However, both retain their pride and feels that God’s has some extra favor on them. Unlike Mrs. Turpin, the latter, however, does not live in a world of fantasy or dreams and in contrast, she is more practical as she knows the ways and directions and keeps herself updated with the news of the Misfit.

Undecided Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Undecided - Essay Example In 1641, Massachusetts announced that slavery was legal thus became the first colony to legalize slavery (Lee 14). The Transatlantic slave trade that had begun around 1500 was the major slave supplier to America. New Haven, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Plymouth adopted fugitive slave law and in 1650, Connecticut legalized slavery. In 1662, Virginia passed a hereditary slavery decree that directed that children of black salves would be bond or freed depending on the condition of their mothers. Maryland legalized slavery in 1663, the same year that slaves in Virginia revolted. In the following year, New York and New Jersey legalized slavery while a law was passed in Maryland illegalizing marriage between white women and black men (Lee 15). Many states passed laws directing that Christian baptism would not change the status of slaves and slaves were not allowed to possess firearms. In states like Virginia, slaves were banned from meeting in large numbers and those who assaulted whites or tried to escape were severely punished. In New York, slaves were not allowed to sell commodities. In 1688, the first formal antislavery resolution was passed in Pennsylvania. Rice cultivation in Carolina intensified slave trade in the state. Some states such as Massachusetts penalized slave masters who freed their slaves. In Connecticut, slaves who disturbed peace or assaulted whites were whipped (Lee 16). Slaves in Rhode Island were required to carry passes when walking at night. In some instances, for instance in Virginia, slave masters were allowed to kill and destroy runaways. From 1711, slave trade started losing popularity in most states. For instance, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island prohibited the importation of black and Indian slaves. Even so, slaves were not allowed to marry or operate businesses without the permission of their masters. Occasionally, slaves got infuriated and revolted killing whites and their captors. In most states, slaves were not

Need law specialised to write personal statements Essay

Need law specialised to write personal statements - Essay Example Most importantly, I believe in the Latin maxim fiat justitia et pereat mundus or let justice be done, though the world may perish. The study of law exists to educate people and their solicitors about the law and their rights and obligations. He who sleeps on or is ignorant of his rights risks being taken advantage of others.I wish to pursue a doctorate in the law that I may receive the best and most up to date and most advanced legal knowledge possible. I wish to achieve this so that I can be of greater service to my clients, my country and myself. Personal Statement (800 words) I have always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. Even when I was in the science section of the Al-Marefah Alahlyah school, I was already fascinated with the law. Our concentration in the natural sciences and the laws of science opened my mind to the belief that a higher learning of the real world can be achieved. Specifically, that a man can aspire to a greater understanding of human laws and how they govern our l ives, much in the same way that natural laws organize and govern the natural world. In both spheres, knowledge and insight is what enables leaders to gain predictable results and hence, harness natural and legal phenomena to our advantage. After secondary school, I went to the King Abdul-Aziz University to study law and it was there that I began to quench my thirst for legal knowledge. As a result of my earnest efforts in that school, I completed my Bachelor of Laws and became a lawyer. It was not long, however, before I aspired to expand my legal horizons. To do this, I went to England to obtain a Master’s degree in International Law and Financial markets at the prestigious University of East London. Having completed my Masters, I now wish to gain a Juris Doctor from your fine institution. One may well wonder why I desire to obtain a Doctorate so soon after I received my Masteral degree. My answer to this is that I want to become a successful lawyer in an ever-changing world . I believe that, in order to accomplish this, I must constantly educate myself in the best institutions. I believe that complacency is the root of decay and that my hard-won knowledge of the law must be constantly enhanced with new learning and further study. Otherwise, my legal skills may become obsolete or outdated to the great detriment of my practice. Besides, I am still hungry for more knowledge of the law and greater expertise thereat. I believe that a Doctorate from the nation that gave mankind the rule of law is the proper avenue to expand my mastery of certain topics in the law. After all the study of law is a continuing process and one should never be fully satisfied with his level of mastery in any subject in the law. The desire to have greater knowledge of the law also has a practical aspect in my duty as a member of the bar and a Solicitor striving for the benefit of my clients. Bad legal advice is worse than no legal advice at all because the client would have been le d to think that he had received good advice and will follow it only to find out later that it was wrong. I do not want to someday hand out bad advice because of a deficiency in my mastery of the law. After all, ignorance of the law excuses no one and it would certainly look very bad if I was to lose a case or file an improper case simply because I lacked knowledge about a particular topic. A Doctorate from your institution will allow me to impart what I have learned to peers and

Undecided Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Undecided - Essay Example In 1641, Massachusetts announced that slavery was legal thus became the first colony to legalize slavery (Lee 14). The Transatlantic slave trade that had begun around 1500 was the major slave supplier to America. New Haven, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Plymouth adopted fugitive slave law and in 1650, Connecticut legalized slavery. In 1662, Virginia passed a hereditary slavery decree that directed that children of black salves would be bond or freed depending on the condition of their mothers. Maryland legalized slavery in 1663, the same year that slaves in Virginia revolted. In the following year, New York and New Jersey legalized slavery while a law was passed in Maryland illegalizing marriage between white women and black men (Lee 15). Many states passed laws directing that Christian baptism would not change the status of slaves and slaves were not allowed to possess firearms. In states like Virginia, slaves were banned from meeting in large numbers and those who assaulted whites or tried to escape were severely punished. In New York, slaves were not allowed to sell commodities. In 1688, the first formal antislavery resolution was passed in Pennsylvania. Rice cultivation in Carolina intensified slave trade in the state. Some states such as Massachusetts penalized slave masters who freed their slaves. In Connecticut, slaves who disturbed peace or assaulted whites were whipped (Lee 16). Slaves in Rhode Island were required to carry passes when walking at night. In some instances, for instance in Virginia, slave masters were allowed to kill and destroy runaways. From 1711, slave trade started losing popularity in most states. For instance, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island prohibited the importation of black and Indian slaves. Even so, slaves were not allowed to marry or operate businesses without the permission of their masters. Occasionally, slaves got infuriated and revolted killing whites and their captors. In most states, slaves were not

The U.S. Foreign Policy during the Cold War Essay Example for Free

The U.S. Foreign Policy during the Cold War Essay It is true that foreign strategy of the United States during the Cold War (1947-1989) is called containment. This policy can be described as the efforts to stop global political movement toward communist and socialist ideology (the ideology of the Soviet Union) and promote political popularity of democratic ideas dominating in Europe and the United States. That is how it was supposed to create a certain political isolation of the Soviet Union, which would sooner or later bring to a number of various problems, such as political decadence, economic stagnation and so on. In other words, containment was a policy directed on gradual weakening and declining the power of the Soviet Union by preventing the expansion of communist beliefs around the world and defending the ideas of democracy and opened economy. The strategy of containment was created and proposed by George Frost Kennan, an American politician and diplomat, known as â€Å"the father of containment†, who worked in 1944-1946 as a head of American mission to the Soviet Union and was an excellent specialist in understanding the relations between Washington and Moscow. Having sent his historical â€Å"long telegram† Kennan warned the administration of Truman about possible dangers of messing with Soviet political powers. Besides, later on he publicized his ideas about the necessity to follow the policy of containment in Foreign Affairs magazine, where he stated: â€Å"†¦the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union †¦ must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies† and ideology taught them [Soviets] that it was their duty eventually to overthrow the political forces beyond their borders. (U. S. Department of State, n. d. ). Kennan also argued that Soviet Russia was an antagonistic and closed-minded society, driven by a great obsession to dominate combined with a huge political insecurity. That is why, he thought, only a determined and resolute reaction of the United States would be the best solution to frustrate the ambitions of Soviet authorities and eventually bring the power of American ideological ally to a standstill. These ideas of Kennan received a lot of warm support in American administrative circles and became the main postulates of famous Marshall Plan on reformation. Therefore, Kennan’s call for containment had a tremendous impact on American policy-makers and â€Å"†¦inspired the hardheaded power politics that shaped the Cold War† (Holbrook, 2005). The controversy of this policy arose around the issue of the limits of containment, because it was crucial not to lose the control of the situation and peripheral interests of the U. S. That is why in 1950 a detailed plan, stipulating the stages and activities of the United States in the framework of the Cold War was issued by National Security Council as a document called NSC-68. Anyway, the strategy of containment was a great success in the long run, and it became one of the most far-seeing and prudential political moves in modern history, because any aggression from one of the sides in this â€Å"peaceful competition† called the Cold War would spark a serious conflict and possibly bring to global bloody outcomes. George F. Kennan himself in his interview to CNN analysts commented on the effectiveness of the containment policy as the following: â€Å"†¦the alternative was to have a great military conflagration and I could see no good coming out of this† (CNN, n. d. ) Certainly, not every American politician was supporting the policy of containment and there were some, who insisted on more determined activities of the U. S. directed against communist ideology expansion. In particular, John Foster Dulles, the 52nd Secretary of the State, was promoting the ideas of liberation of Western European countries. Nevertheless, the strategy of containment which â€Å".. helped to define the issues and values dividing America and Russia†, was a well-considered political step, which eventually contributed to collapse of communist ideology in Western Europe (UXL Encyclopedia, 2005). References Cornwell, R. (2005, March 19) Obituary: George Kennan. The Independent. 58 (893), 6. George F. Kennan. (2005). UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. 1. Farmington Hills, MI: UXL (Gale). George F. Kennan, U. S. Embassy, Moscow. (n. d. ). CNN. A CNN Perspectives Series. Retrieved December 19, 2007, from http://www. cnn. com/SPECIALS/cold. war/episodes/01/interviews/kennan/. Holbrooke, R. (2005, March 21). The Paradox of George F. Kennan. The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved December 19, 2007, from the World Wide Web: http://www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/articles/A52533-2005Mar20. html. Kennan and Containment. (n. d. ). U. S. Department of State. Retrieved December 19, 2007, from the World Wide Web: http://www. state. gov/r/pa/ho/time/cwr/17601. htm.

The God Of Small Things

The God Of Small Things Intertextuality signifies the inter connectedness of one text with other texts and it reveals the presence of one text within the other and highlights the fact that no text can have an independent meaning. Every text takes something from the previous texts, and lends something to the future texts. Every text takes something from the previous texts, and lends something to the future texts. Intertextuality is the shaping of texts meanings by other texts. It can refer to an authors borrowing and transformation of a prior text or to a readers referencing of one text in reading another. (Wikipedia). The term intertextuality was coined by the poststructuralist theorist Julia Kristeva in her article Word Dialogue which was published in 1966. Intertextuality generally signifies that the literary works are not a closed network and are not autonomous in nature. Today, intertextuality is used frequently and it has become a part of our notion as one watching film or TV, reading novel , or experiencing art. Graham Allen describes the concept of intertextuality as one of the central ideas as he argues: Texts, whether they are literary or non-literary, as viewed by modern theorists, as lacking in any kind of independent meaning. They are what theorists now call intertextual. The act of reading plunges us into a network of textual relations. To interpret a text, to discover its meaning, or meanings, is to trace those relation [. . .] Meaning becomes something which exists between a text and all other texts to which it refers and relates (Allen, Graham., Intertextuality: New Critical Idio m Series. Rutledge Publications, London, 2000, p.1) The theory of intertextuality is developed by poststructuralist and postmodern theorists, has become an effective appropriation strategy for postcolonial writers. Postcolonialism is chiefly characterized by questioning and subverting the authority. Pramod K. Nayyar defines postcolonial literature as: Postcolonial literatures seek to address the ways in which non-European (Asian, African, South American, but also settler colony) literatures and cultures have been marginalized as an effect of colonial rule, and to find, if possible, modes of resistance, retrieval and reversal of their own pre- colonial pasts. (Nayyar K, Pramod., Postcolonial Literature: An Introduction., 2008, Dorling Kindersley publications, Delhi). The sense of interconnectedness between different cultures is particularly significant in the postcolonial context, a context which arises due to the meeting of cultures. Arundhati Roy uses global referenced intertextuality to such a great extent in her novel. Intertextuality as a device in literary texts can be deployed at different levels. Roy makes intertextuality a conscious motif and device. The remark made on the twins in the context of the Kathakali performance: Trapped in the bog of a story that was and wasnt theirs. That had set out with the semblance of structure and order, then bolted like a frightened horse into anarchy (Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. New Delhi: India Ink, 1997, p.236). Similarly, a rewriting of texts is suggested in the description of the twins as Hansel and Gretel in a ghastly fairy tale in which their dreams would be captured and re-dreamed (Roy, p.293). Roy makes extended references to texts as different as the popular film The Sound of Music (Roy, p.105-11), Heart of Darkness (Roy, p.125-26,199-200,305-06), Chemmeen (Roy, p.218-20), the Kathakali man and his Great texts like Kama Shabadam (Roy, p.218-20) and Duryodhana Vadham (Roy, p.229, 234). Many passing allusions are made to texts as disparate as popular soap operas like WWFs Hulk Hogan and Mr.Perfect (Roy, p.28), Shakespea res The Tempest, The Jungle Book, The Adventures of Susie Squirrel (Roy, p.58-59), Sinbad the Sailor (Roy, p.80), Julius Caesar (Roy, p.82-83), Ulysses and Penelope (Roy, p.157), the fairy tales about the Three Bears (180) or the Ugly Toad who turns into a handsome prince, Rumplestiltskin (Roy, p.182), Hansel and Gretel, and even literary texts like The Tale of Two Cities (Roy, p.61), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Roy, p.182) and so on (Roy, p.187), a recipe for making jam (Roy, p.195), and the boatsongs of Kerala (Roy, p.196-97). The contexts in which these texts are used are, in general, negative or pessimistic. Roy in her novel especially in the first few chapters used intertext to create an atmosphere of 1960s. She concentrated on fashion and culture to create that atmosphere. But the skyblue Plymouth with chrome tailfins was still parked outside.. (Roy, p.2). The reader will eventually realizes that the attributes from the 1950s belong to Kerala and its inhabitants and that many of the attributes from the 1960s the arrival of Sophie Mol with her mother Margaret. And then they were there, the Foreign Returnees, in washnwear suits and rainbow sunglassesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.Maxis and high heels. Puff sleeves and lipstick. Mixy grinders and automatic flashes for their cameras(Roy,140). Chackos exwife Margaret and daughter Sophie Mol arrival to Kerala is a turning point to the novel. Ammu, Chacko, Estha, Rahel and Baby Kochamma get into the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ skyblue Plymouth with chrome tailfins à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Roy, p.2) to pick them up at the airport. The Plymouth car has many symbolic values. The Plymouth used to belong to Pappachi, Rahel and Esthas grandfather. Now that he was dead, it belonged to Mammachi, their grandmother (Roy,35). The grandfather was a man who lived according to the British colonisers rules. He was also a patriarch and harassed his family. However, Chacko has taken Pappachis role of being the man in the house. The fact that the car is now driven by Chacko, who is a self proclaimed Marxist, which symbolises the new Marxist rulers of Kerala. The car is thus a symbol of entrapment and also it symbolises the delay in modernity in Kerala. This delay in modernity is emphasised at the airport when the family waits for their guests from London. Estha, Rahel and Ammu are being resistant and suspicious of their guests. This is emphasised by the smell of London and the prosperity brought with the newcomers: Then, there, among the washnwear suits and shiny suitcases, Sophie Molà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦She walked down the runway, the smell of London in her hair. Yellow bottoms of bells flapped backwards around her ankles. Long hair floated out from under her straw hatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.(Roy, p.141). Sophie is a symbol of freedom and therefore a threat to old Keralan values. She represents a breath of fresh air with flapping trouser legs and floating hair. Uncle Chackos daughter is only a young girl and still a threat to Esthas and Rahels world. Estha was wearing his beige and pointy shoes and his Elvis puff. His Special Outing Puff. His favourite Elvis song was  ´Party ´.  ´Some people like to rock, some people like to roll,  ´he would croon, when nobody was watching, strumming a badminton racquet, curling his li p like Elvis.  ´But moonin ´an ´a- groonin ´gonna satisfy mah soul, less have a pardyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Roy, p.37). In order to make a good impression on Margaret and Sophie, Baby Kochamma is showing off, pretending she is not as behind the time as the rest of the family:  ´Elvis Presley, ´ Baby Kochamma said for revenge. ´ Im afraid were a little behind the times here. ´ Every one looked at Estha and laughed (Roy, p.145). However, the childrens attraction to Sophie Mol and the modern world is there: And the three of them, led by Sophie Mol, sashayed across the airport car park, swaying like fashion models, Eagle flasks and Made-in-England go-go bags bumping around their hips (Roy, p.152). Further on, in the tragic story, Sophie Mol drowns and at her funeral she is still surrounded by her London-ness: She lay in it (the coffin) in her yellow Crimplene bellbottoms with her hair in a ribbon and her Made-in-England go-go bag that she loved (Roy, p.4). Now her hair is in a ribbon. Modernity and change will perhaps never survive in Kerala. Estha and Rahels fear of losing their place in the family is partly explained by the The Sound of Music intertext. Before picking up Margaret and Sophie at the airport in Cochin, the Ayemenem family went to see The Sound of Music. However Chacko and Ammu had different views on the film: Chacko said that going to see The Sound of Music was an extended exercise in Anglophilia, while, Ammu said,  ´Oh come on, the whole world goes to see The Sound of Music. Its a World Hit( Roy, p.55). Rahel and Estha were on their way to Cochin to see The Sound of Music for the third time. They knew all the songs and to know all the songs is also imp ortant to the reader. this time the film would mean something special to the children. Estha and Rahel are scared of loosing their uncle to Sophie Mol and Margaret. They feel as if they are not good enough. In comparison with the children in The Sound of Music, no child would be good enough: Captain von Trapps seven peppermint children had had their peppermint baths, and were standing in a peppermint line with their hair slicked down, singing in obedient peppermint voicesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Roy, p.110). Estha is definitely not peppermint clean and he has been molested by the Orangedrink Lemondrink man. Shocked by this experience, Estha wonders if ever a Captain von Trapp, an uncle Chacko or a father could love him and Rahel. Estha imagined that Captain von Trapp had some questions of his own. (a) Are they clean white children? No. (But Sophie Mol i s.) (b) Do they blow spit bubbles? Yes (But Sophie Mol doesnt.) (c) Do they shiver their legs? Like clerks? Yes (But Sophie Mol doesnt) (d) Have they, either or both, ever held strangers soo-soos? Nà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Nyes (But Sophie Mol hasnt.) (Roy, p.106). Apart from Esthas comparison between him and the peppermint children in the film, there are also several images connected to Baby Kochamma. Baby Kochamma was in her youth very much in love with a Father Mulligan, working in Ayemenem. She decided, at a young age, to become a nun, while waiting for her love for him to be returned. However, the love was never returned and Baby became disillusioned. In The Sound of Music Julie Andrews or Maria is also a nun. The life in the convent does, however, not fit Marias personality and neither did it fit Baby Kochammas. They both escaped the convent life. Still, Baby Kochamma liked the early nun bits best in the film. Ammu explained to Estha and Rahel that people always loved best what they identified most with (Roy, p.98). Although Baby Kochamma escaped the convent life, she somehow still identified with the nuns. She is jealous of other peoples love and happiness, and especially Ammus: They [the nuns] had complaints to make to their Reverend Mother. Sweetsinging complaints. About Julie Andrews, who was still up in the hills, singing The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music and was, once again, late for mass: She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee, Her dress has got a tear. She waltzes on her way to Mass And whistles on the stairà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ And underneath her wimple She has curlers in her hair! (Roy, p.99-100) These lyrics will lead the reader back to Baby Kochammas feelings about Ammu and Ammu, a divorced woman, who should feel shame and guilt over her failures, does the contrary and is in love. She subscribed wholeheartedly to the commonly held view that a married daughter had no position in her parents home. As for a divorced daughter according to Baby Kochamma, she had no position anywhere at all. And for a divorced daughter from a love marriage, well, words could not describe Baby Kochammas outrage. (Roy, p.45). Thus, within the interpretation of The Sound of Music the reader also has to know the intertext Let it Be by The Beatles in order to link Baby Kochamma to the nuns, Julie Andrews to Ammu and jealousy to love. Ammu is in love with the untouchable man Velutha. She has known him all her life and although he is untouchable, Ammus family has treated him with a certain amount of respect. However, this does not mean that they would accept a relationship between her and Velutha. Therefore, on some days , Ammu cannot help feeling happy, although sad about the fact that he is untouchable for her. She sometimes wakes up to the sound of music, just as anyone being in love does. Still, Ammu knows that the laws say Let it Be. However, as the reader delves further into the plot, Ammu is touched by the untouchable Velutha. Thus, the line I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me refers to their nightly meetings. Mother Mary is Baby Kochamma, speaking for the rules given by Christianity and Caste systems and yet, Mother Mary is also love, in the shape of Velutha. Through this maze of imageries the reader can understand how Baby Kochamma hates Ammu. The novel eventually develops into several tragedies where one of them is the horrifying ending of Ammus and Veluthas relationship and Veluthas death. There are many coinciding circumstances, although it is Baby Kochammas jealousy and personal disappointments that will have the most devastating consequences. In the film, Rolf is the oldest peppermint daughters boyfriend. He is a trustedperson, as if he belonged to the family. He becomes, however, a Nazi and betrays the family von Trapp. Sadly, a parallel between him and Baby Kochamma can be found. Baby Kochamma also becomes a betrayer, although she is one in the family (Roy, p.313-320). She turns from a nun into a betrayer. This imagery, it is also linking Baby Kochammas betrayal with a negative view on Christianity. There are again a multitude of messages cooperating on different levels in the intertext The Sound of Music. Uncle Chacko, the self proclaimed Marxist, who in a way is a betrayer as well. From being almost as a father to Estha and Rahel, he turns his back on them when Margaret and Sophie arrive. Uncle Chacko is thus a symbol of Marxist ideas and the Marxist government ruling Kerala at that time, a government picking the best apples from the basket of Marxism, just as Chacko does. The Love in Tokyo intertext was a successful Bollywood film released in 1966. The film plot involves forbidden love affairs just as in The God of Small Things. However, the most important symbol from this intertext is the two beads on a rubber band holding Rahels hair together: Most of Rahels hair sat on top of her head like a fountain. It was held together by a Love-in-Tokyo two beads on a rubber band, nothing to do with Love or Tokyo. In Kerala Love-in-Tokyos have withstood the test of time, and even today if you were to ask for one at any respectable A-1 ladies store, thats what youd get. (Roy, p.37) Rahel and Estha are twins. I get the impression from Roy that twins form a unit, and that when they are separated, they are just halves. They are Two beads on a rubber band (Roy, p.37). One of the many tragedies in this story involves Estha being sent away to live with his father, while Rahel stays in Ayemenem. The children do not understand the causes of all the tragedies and as children often do, they blame themselves. When they meet in Ayemenem again, they have not seen each other for twenty years. They have therefore not bean able to deal with their complexes of guilt and separation. As Rahel saw her brother in the bathroom, she thought of him: He was a naked stranger met in a chance encounter. He was the one that she had known before life began. The one who had once led her (swimming) through their lovely mothers cunt (Roy, p.93). Now, imagine the two beads, Rahel and Estha, being pulled apart as much as it is possible. As the rubber band is at its breaking-point and the puller has to let go, the beads will slip out of hands and by the force of the pulling, crash into each other: They were strangers who had met in a chance encounter. They had known each other before Life began. There is very little that anyone could say to clarify what happened next. Nothing that (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) would separate Sex from Love. Or Needs from Feelings (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Only that what they shared that night was not happiness, but hideous grief. (Roy, p.327-328) Roy uses intertextuality to a great extent in order to give the story a deeper meaning than what it encompasses on a surface level. However, since a deeper meaning can be found in most fictional work when analysing images and metaphors.

Personal Writing: My New Life In India :: essays research papers

Personal Writing: My New Life in India Tap ... tap ... tap ... I looked up to see a blurry figure of my mother tapping a few fingers on my shoulder. "Sorry to wake you up, Rishi, but me and Daddy have something important to tell you." She was not smiling. I got up, now fully awake, wondering what was going on. With my father standing next to her, my mother crossed her arms and, in a tone that I knew could not be argued with, stated, "We have decided to move to India permanently." I was awestruck. My family is Indian, but I had never so much as considered living anywhere but Peach Tree Court, a street that had the brightest green maple trees and fields of radiant yellow and orange marigolds. India was nothing more than an old family story to me, not a place to live. Over the next couple of weeks, I ruminated on what life would be like in India. My brother, who already attended an Indian boarding school, told me in scratchy long-distance telephone conversations how great life was in India at his boarding school. "We have the best futbol (soccer) field in all of India," he said. "It has an electronic scoring board, and the surface is fluorescent blue astroturf." This was an enormous motivation factor, due to the fact that soccer is my favorite sport. "And the food is delectable," he went on, "They serve chicken curry with juicy vegetables four out of the seven days of the week." I ate chicken curry every chance I got, so this, added to the soccer field, made the school sound fantastic. "The weather is remarkable. The temperature year-round is seventy-five to eighty degrees," he continued with emphasis, "just like California, Rishi." My brother knew that I loved California. He also told me that I would get to visit our parents two times a week, which is very generous compared to other Indian boarding schools. My brother's long-distance stories convinced me. From what I had heard, India sounded like utopia. Six weeks after my mother woke me with the big "news," my father, mother and I arrived in India. We left Peach Tree Court, with all its beautiful maple trees, and flew to India. I stepped off the airplane into the dirtiest, oldest airport I had ever seen. A film of dirt covered everything in the airport; the windows, the walls, even the floor. And the people working there seemed more likely to shrug their shoulders and ignore the passengers than care at all if anything worked right.

Mathematical Education: A comparison between Japan and America Essay

Mathematical Education: A comparison between Japan and America The mathematical education provided in the United States has proved to be inferior compared to that of other countries. Specifically the Japanese and other Asian educational systems produce more educated mathematics students than the United States. American children tend to score lower on standardized testing than Asian students do. Many studies have been done by research groups such as the National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education and the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement showing the differences in teaching methods between the United States and Japan. The teaching styles and the cultural differences can account for the gap in performance. One of the most famous studies of its kind is called Pursuing Excellence, the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. This study was conducted in 1995. The Mathematical knowledge of half a million students from forty-one countries was tested. Of these countries, the test shows that American students performed below average in mathematics. During the same research project, classrooms in America, Germany and Japan were videotaped and analyzed. (1) When the curriculums in various countries were reviewed, researchers consistently found that American teachers spend a small amount of time on many topics where as other countries focus on fewer topics with more depth of topic and more repetition. Another variation is that American teachers, for the most part, have received more formal education than Japanese teachers, but have less classroom training and experience. Japan has a much higher focus on teaching quality than the United States. Most of t... ...needed to solve the problem at hand. Japanese teachers provide their students with the knowledge they need and the ability to think so that they can apply this knowledge in various situations. For this reason, Japanese students have been able to perform better in studies than American students can. Bibliography "Inside Scoop: a worthwhile international comparison." National Education Association of the United States. 1997. (website- address unknown) Ibid "Understanding and Improving Classroom Mathematics Instruction: an overview of the TIMSS video study." Phi Delta Kappa Inc. 1997. (website- address unknown) Ibid Steffe, Leslie, Nesher, Pearia, Cobb, Paul, Goldein, Gerald, Greer, Brian. Theories of Mathematical Learning. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 1996. P. 6. Ibid, p. 6-7. Peer reviewed by Melissa Lenzi and Helen Hunt

An Analysis of ISIS and its Relation to Traditional Islam

In today's world it is easy to assume that ISIS and traditional Islam are the same thing. The news often reports phrases like â€Å"radical Islamist terrorists† and â€Å"radical Islam.† Has society made a correct assumption? Are all people who follow Islam potential terrorists? Does Islam seek to promote such terrorist behaviors? This paper seeks to address these questions and uncover the differences between the two, if any. Traditional Islam Traditional Islam began over 1,500 years ago and currently has around 1.6 billion followers. The word â€Å"Islam† actually means â€Å"submission to God.† Therefore, a Muslim is someone who strives to submit to God. Islam has spread completely around the world. You can find Muslims in North and South America, Western Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Their principal homelands lie in the area commonly referred to as the â€Å"10/40 Window† (between 10 degrees latitudinal north and 40 degrees latitudinal north ranging from the eastern side of North Africa to the western side of Asia). Majority of Muslims are Asian (60%) and the rest are Arab (22%) sub-Sahara African (12%) and Eastern European (5%) . Islam was founded in 610 A.D. by a man named Mohammed. During Mohammed's time, polytheism reigned, and people were worshipping many gods at the same time. Mohammed had a vision from a being he thought to be an angel who told him, â€Å"There is only one God, and His name is Allah. Worship Him.† Islam, at its core, is a religion based on faith, life, piety, freedom, religion, peace, and morality. Researcher Sohaib Sultan states: â€Å"Islam believes in a God of mercy, a scripture of mercy, and a Prophet who was sent as a mercy to all the world.† ISIS ISIS began in 2003 as a â€Å"blowback† of the U.S. invasion and dysfunction of Iraq. In the earliest stage there were several Sunni extremist groups who were fighting back with the U.S. in hopes to provoke a civil war. The group, at that time, was called al Qaeda which was in Iraq with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in command pledging allegiance to Osama bin Laden. Zarqawi was killed during a 2006 U.S. airstrike, but the group continued . ISIS is a post-al Qaeda terrorist group. With over 30,000 fighters, ISIS holds territorial lands in both Syria and Iraq. It maintains an extensive military operation, controls communications, controls infrastructure, and funds itself. It can be said that ISIS is a pseudo-state which is led by their military. The goal of ISIS is to control certain territories thereby creating a â€Å"pure† Sunni Islamist state that is governed by a strict interpretation of Sharia Law. It also seeks to remove the political borders that the Western governments created in the Middle Eastern regions. ISIS seeks to become the sole political, military, and religious authority over all the Muslims in the world. ISIS core message is more about power and revenge than anything else. Differences Between ISIS and Traditional Islam In the first section of this paper we saw that traditional Islam is a relatively peaceful religion that stresses mercy and peace. This is significantly in conflict with the agenda of ISIS. Where do these two paths cross? What is the relationship between terrorist groups such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Al Shabab in Somalia, the Taliban with traditional Islam? Many people believe that ISIS is a group that is based on the religious beliefs of Islam including following the examples of the Prophet Mohammed . This is where most of the confusion comes into play. ISIS uses Islam as a vehicle to carry out their political agenda by reinterpreting the fundamental meaning and purpose of Islam. In other words, they are twisting the Quran to say what they want it to by weaving lies in with the truth and preying on the ignorance of the people. The message of ISIS is vastly spread not only by social media, but through certain mosques as well. Researcher Ian Pelletier suggests the motivations of ISIS are:â€Å"Market and Reinforce: Emphasizes consistency of Islamic State's strategic objectives with mainstream Islamic Law.Obfuscation: Ignores/blurs contradictions between Islamic State's strategic objectives and mainstream Islamic Law.Leveraging: Connects areas in which Islamic State strategic objectives are consistent with mainstream Islamic Law to social movement catalysts in order to gain momentum.Reinterpretation: Justifies a radical reinterpretation of Islamic Law as essential to address past issues or current shortfalls within society and achieve the strategic objectives of the Islamic State. â€Å"ISIS interprets Islam from a very radical point of view that is rooted in the extremist fraction of Salafi/Wahhabi Islam within the Hanbali Sunni tradition . The strategic goals of ISIS are as follows:â€Å"Permanently break down political boundaries and cultivate conditions for government failure and regional sectarian civil war in Iraq and Syria.Establish the Islamic Caliphate by controlling terrain across Iraq and Syria, governing the population within, and defending against external threats.Bring like-minded people to fight alongside and settle within the Islamic Caliphate.  Expand the territory of the Caliphate to connect with the wider Muslim community. â€Å"Traditional Islamic Law (Sharia) is based on the Quran which follows the hadith or the teachings of Mohammad. It is traditionally viewed as a statement of relatively easy limits and not a source of rigid and inflexible rules to be imposed in any circumstance . It is supposed to be based on the premise of justice and equality for everyone . Historically it has been determined that Islamic Law had the most humane and liberal fundamental principles as it fostered peace with se lf and society. Groups such as ISIS use Islamic Law instead for harsh discipline and to control the people. Sharia, as it was originally intended, was used as a guideline for societal norms and values. It served as a model in which one could pattern their life after. Some of the many positive attributes of Sharia are: a belief in God, daily prayers, asking/receiving forgiveness, freedoms of choice, strong sense of community, love your neighbors, exercise self-control, do not abuse religion to exploit or abuse others, and must respect the rights of others. Conflicts Between ISIS and Mainstream Moderate Muslims There have been many practicing Muslims who do not agree with nor adhere to the beliefs of extremists' fringe groups such as ISIS. In an open letter from 120 Islamic scholars and clerics to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, they challenged ISIS's ways as being un-Islamic. They further claimed that ISIS routinely twists and perverts Islamic Law selfishly to achieve their own agenda. The letter went on to illustrate the contradictions between ISIS's theology and that of traditional Islamic Law. The scholars accused them of citing only portions of the Quran without taking the whole spirit of the Quran and Hadith into account. It was also noted that ISIS had a practice of killing innocent people and that jihad was only meant for defensive measures during a war. Offensive measures of Jihad, without proper cause, was equal to criminal conduct and was not acceptable in traditional Islam . The letter also went on to say that Islam forbids the mistreatment of Christians and no one can be forced to convert to Islam against their will. Author Wael Hallaq states that, â€Å"Sharia is not a rigid unchanging ‘Law of God' and when applied correctly, it is flexible. The way it is interpreted and implemented by ISIS makes it a little more than a list of fixed punishments, ritual requirements and oppressive rules that are enforced with coercion upon a marginalized group of people. In addition, it is increasingly clear that ISIS selectively interprets Sharia.† One may ask how ISIS is able to get away with using Islamic Law to achieve its objectives. They accomplish this by convincing people that their views are in fact inline with mainstream Islamic traditions. They have a knack for rationalizing any perceived contradictions that are found within their belief and the traditional teachings. Al-Baghdadi, while addressing his fighters said, â€Å"Beware, O lions, the state that they reach a Muslim woman or child or sheikh without you, for if this happens, then, by God, you have no excuse for yourselves before me. Look to yourselves and do not be a place of blame. Put their bodies before yours. Their blood before yours and their fortune before yours, and beware of being happy to live in a day when the honor of a Muslim woman is transgressed, or the blood of a child is spilled, or an elderly sheikh is insulted, for what deliciousness can there be in life if this is in it or even a part of it?† While his speech is complimentary with Islamic Law in principle, he is trying to energize his fighters to fight in a war that is not justified according to Islamic Law. He stresses that not only is the war just, but it is according to Islamic Law which it a bold lie. They may sincerely believe that their war is justified due to their extremist views, but according to traditional Islamic Law, they are not qualified to wage war with anyone unless it is a defensive measure. ISIS does not engage in defensive measures as a rule—they are very offensive in their tactics. Conclusion Extremists groups, such as ISIS, claim to be Islamic in their beliefs, but they do not adhere to the basic tenants of the faith. They twist and turn the Quran and Hadith to make it say whatever they need it to say that will further their agenda. ISIS is a violent terrorist group that has been attracting many young people. They seek out those who are vulnerable, who are seeking religious righteousness, adventure, power, and a sense of belonging. They are also known for producing sexual opportunities for the young men by keeping women as slaves. This is extremely contradictory to traditional teachings and philosophy of traditional Islam. It is certainly a disservice to the majority of Muslims to assume that all Muslims are somehow connected to terrorist activities. In America, ever since September 11th, 2001, there has been a remarkable increase of violence and hatred against Muslims from such assumptions. Extremists groups are not representative of what it means to be a Muslim in today's world. We need to see them for who they are and not for the vehicle they misuse which is Islam. Furthermore, it is very unhelpful when the media keeps reporting phrases like â€Å"radical Islam† and â€Å"Muslim extremists† as this further perpetuates the discrimination and hatred against innocent and peace-loving Muslims. There is no link between ISIS terrorism and traditional Islam. ISIS fundamentally changes the core beliefs of Islam and inserts their own interpretations to make it into something that is self-serving. Extremists can be found in most religions. The only way to combat this is to be very knowledgeable of your own religion and beliefs so that you will recognize a falsehood when you hear it. Sadly, many people simply believe what they are told and that is it. Such people can be easily caught up in extremist groups as they lack knowledge. The same can be said for Christianity. We are not exempt from those who have perverted God's Word to make it say something that it never was intended to say. This is how cults are formed, and again, is due to a lack of knowledge. The bible says that the people perish due to a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). ISIS operates via intimidation, fear, legalistic authority, assassinations, and bombings . This is nothing like what traditional Islam teaches. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It is not fair to classify all Muslims by such rouge fringe groups. For two years I worked and lived in an Islamic country. I never met anyone who was associated with ISIS nor any other extremist group. I found the Muslims there to be very friendly, eager to help, and welcoming. That experience really helped me to see them for who they really are and without the media bias that was projected to me. Many Muslims do not even consider groups such as ISIS to be true Muslims. They look at them in disdain as the perverters of Islam. Usually these are the more educated people who know what Islam is supposed to be. Sadly, a lot of Muslims have a lower educational level which would be very conducive to being led astray. Many modern Muslims are Muslim in name only and not in practice which makes them an easy target for extremists.