Using Genealogy Timelines as Research Tools

Research timelines are not just for publication--use them as part of your research process to organize and assess the mountain of information you have uncovered for your ancestor. Genealogy research timelines can help to examine our ancestors life in historical perspective, uncover evidence inconsistencies, highlight holes in your research, sort two men of the same name, and organize the evidence necessary to build a solid case. A research timeline in its most basic form is a chronological list of events. However, a chronological listing of every event in your ancestors life could go on for pages and become impractical for evidence evaluation purposes. Instead, research timelines or chronologies are most effective if used to answer a specific question. Most often such a question will pertain to whether evidence may or may not pertain to a particular research subject. Some questions which might be answered with a genealogy research timeline: When did my ancestor migrate to or from a particular location?Why might my ancestor have emigrated from Germany in 1854?Is there only one man of a particular name in a certain area and time period, or has my research (or others) erroneously combined information from two men of the same name?Was my ancestor married only once, or multiple times (especially when the first name is the same)? The items you might want to include in your timeline may vary based on your research goal. Typically, however, you might want to include the date of the event, a name/description of the event, the locality in which the event occurred, the age of the individual at the time of the event, and a citation to the source of your information. Tools for Creating a Research Timeline For most research purposes, a simple table or list in a word processor (e.g. Microsoft Word) or spreadsheet program (e.g. Microsoft Excel) works well for creating a research timeline. To get you started, Beth Foulk offers a free Excel-based timeline spreadsheet on her website, Genealogy Decoded. If you make heavy use of a particular genealogy database program, check and see if it offers a timeline feature. Popular software programs such as The Master Genealogist, Reunion, and RootsMagic include built in timeline charts and/or views. Other software for creating genealogy timelines includes: Genelines - Genelines timeline software includes seven customizable timeline charts and reads directly from Family Tree Maker versions 2007 and earlier, Personal Ancestral File (PAF), Legacy Family Tree, and Ancestral Quest. Genelines also supports GEDCOM import.XMind - This mind-mapping software offers a number of different ways to look at your data. For research timeline purposes, the Fishbone Chart can be helpful for showing the causes of a specific event, and the Matrix View offers an easy way to organize and represent chronological data.SIMILE Timeline Widget - This free, open-source web-based tool helps you to visually represent your timelines for easy online sharing with family or colleagues. The SIMILE widget supports easy scrolling, multiple time bands, and inclusion of photos, however youll need to be able to work with and edit code (at a level similar to basic HTML website coding) to use this program. SIMILE also offers a Timeplot widget. See the Getting Started 500 500 50 0 500 guide for more details.Time Glider - If you prefer a visual timeline solution that doesnt require a lot of technical skill, then this subscription, web-based timeline software makes it easy to create, collaborate on, and publish interactive timelines. A free plan is available (students only) for very simple timelines with limited photos. The regular $5 monthly plan offers extensive flexibility.Aeon Timeline - This Mac-based timeline software equips you with a variety of tools for creative and analytical thinking. It is designed for writers creating story plots, but the same tools for connecting people, places, and relationships with events is perfect for genealogical research. Want something even more creative? Valerie Craft shares a demonstration of using the free presentation software Prezi to create a visual genealogy timeline on her blog Begin with Craft. Case Studies Demonstrating the Use of Genealogy Timelines: Thomas W. Jones, Organizing Meager Evidence to Reveal Lineages: An Irish Example—Geddes of Tyrone, National Genealogical Society Quarterly 89 (June 2001): 98–112.Thomas W. Jones, Logic Reveals the Parents of Philip Pritchett of Virginia and Kentucky, National Genealogical Society Quarterly 97 (March 2009): 29–38.Thomas W. Jones, Misleading Records Debunked: The Surprising Case of George Wellington Edison Jr., National Genealogical Society Quarterly 100 (June 2012): 133–156.Marya C. Myers, One Benjamin Tuell or Two in Late Eighteenth-Century Rhode Island? Manuscripts and a Timeline Provide the Answer, National Genealogical Society Quarterly 93 (March 2005): 25–37.

Essay about The Internet - 891 Words

The Internet The Internet is an electronic series of virtual networks that link people and information through computers and other digital devices, allowing peer to peer communication and information retrieval. The Internet was first developed in the late 1960s by the US government. The Internet however was not publicly available until 1982; with the use of GUIs increasing the numbers owning computers, the Internet became widely available and commercial interests grew. Access and use of the resource spread rapidly, the number of American users grew from 25 million in 1995 (when only 3% of people had ever used the Internet) to 83 million in 1999, with 55 million of those going online in a†¦show more content†¦E-mail is a way to stay in touch, but you cant share a coffee or a beer with somebody on e-mail or give them a hug. However on the other side of the argument, many say the Internet say the Internet is pro socially when used sensibly. About two-thirds of the Internet users surveyed said they spent less than five hours a week online. People who have incorporated the Internet find it a useful tool in their everyday lives with no harmful effects. Nearly 60 percent of those who email friends and family were in contact with loved ones more often than before, and 75 percent said they had seen a friend or family member the previous day. Socially active people tend to use email in particular to allow them to communicate more and it actually extends their social life. A UCLA study, reported findingsShow MoreRelatedInternet Privacy And The Internet954 Words   |  4 Pagesunauthorized information by computer, but they actually make the internet a safer place. With the growth of the internet comes the growth of hackers and internet privacy. New laws that would increase internet privacy and, limit hackers would halt the internets growth and development. Since the year 2000, the internet has grown enormously we can all agree and with this growth comes a growth of internet users. With all the internet users, online comes people trying to accuse their information byRead MoreInternet Safety And The Internet954 Words   |  4 PagesInternet safety has been an extensive issue for children and adolescents since accuse to the Internet has become readily available in homes. With Internet use increasing at such rapid rates and a large proportion of adolescents using the Internet daily, the awareness of Internet safety should be addressed. The term Internet safety can be defined as â€Å"the knowledge of maximizing an individuals safety to private information, and self protection from using the Internet†. The impact and influence thatRead MoreThe Impact Of Internet On The Internet1616 Words   |  7 PagesThe amount of revenue the Internet brings in a single year is has drastically increased in the past couple years and it will expo nentially keep growing as the years go by. As people use the World Wide Web more and more, they look for ways to profit off of it by having advertisements and other types of promotion. Sites specifically made for people’s inputs run solely on how many active users are on the site. For example, YouTube and Facebook were made to have people post whatever one wants to uploadRead MoreThe Phenomenon Of Internet And The Internet992 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction The phenomenon of internet is henceforth taking part of our everyday life. Several of our activities have been altered due to this technology of communication. Internet is both a worldwide mechanism of distribution of information and a means of collaboration and interaction between persons and their computer, regardless of the geographic location. Concretizing the famous worldwide network of communications conceptualised by J.C.R. Licklider[1], internet was so on the rise that we cannotRead MoreInternet Security And The Internet955 Words   |  4 PagesInternet security are such a big thing because many things are based off the internet. As in most of the storage is done off of cloud storage, so you don’t need lots of storage in your computer. Which makes internets unsafe because anyone could hack into your account and take your information. Like your bank account and your personal accounts that could really hurt you I the long run. Or someone could put a scam on a common we bsite that most people go on. And could hack everyone’s computer that hasRead MoreInternet Of Things : Internet1052 Words   |  5 Pages INTERNET OF THINGS: ï‚ ¥ Introduction: According to a survey, in 2008 the things connected on Internet were much more than the people living on the earth that time, and since now it has grew much larger. ï‚ ¥ What is Internet of Things? Mainly they refer to the devices which are able to collect and transmit data via Internet. Internet of things or simply IoT relay to the things. Basically ‘things’ which are physical objects and are though connected with each other through a communication network. TheRead MoreInternet Crimes And The Internet1719 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The purpose of this research is to discuss about cybercrimes also known as internet crimes. The researcher has taken help from a number of online sources and a few books as well. Firstly, the researcher will discuss about cybercrime, how and when it came in existence. The researcher then will categorize cybercrimes into 2 parts, cyber abuse and cyber-attacks. This in turn has a few subtopics to follow. And lastly, the researcher will discuss prevention from these kind of attacks. TechnologyRead MoreInternet Addiction And The Internet924 Words   |  4 Pagesor two, Internet is a channel that promotes an access to information and communication. It is one of the most powerful tools throughout the world today. Now-a-days, an access to the internet has become easier than ever, whether we are using a computer, phone or tablets. There is no doubt that people are spending more and more time online. Because many people use the internet for their career and education, it is hard to differentiate between the normal usage and excessive usage of internet. We allRead MoreThe Impact Of Internet On The Internet1216 Words   |  5 Pages The internet since its creation was a promising tool. How that tool was to be used was unexpected. Today the internet has been used in knowledge and entertainment that exceeds a human being’s life span. The question lives with how affects the internet people sociologically, how are new generations using the internet compared to the generations were in its infancy? What are the pro and cons of the sociological effects of this vast tool? The internet is now also used to interact with peopleRead MoreAdvertising On The Internet : Internet1985 Words   |  8 PagesGiacomo Randazzo Ms. Blair English III 26 March 2015 Advertising on the Internet Most of the websites collect money through advertisement; websites collect a bunch of information about who visits the page that they use to target their advertisements to services and product that reflect his interests. So targeted advertising is a good thing because it allows the web to run without the necessity to pay for every visited page, but people should be informed and conscious of where the information websites

Debate Alcohol and illicit Drugs

Question: Write about theDebate for Alcohol and illicit Drugs. Answer: Expectant Mothers who abuse Alcohol and/or Illicit Drugs Should be Subject to Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Child Abuse Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to participate in this debate. I would like to begin by commending you for bringing this topic. Prenatal and antenatal care has been a major issue of concern in healthcare. So, without much ado, I would like to go straight to the point and express that I fully support the motion. I am for the opinion that pregnant mothers who abuse alcohol should be subjected to a mandatory reporting requirement for cases of child abuse (Yeo, Crandell Jones-Vessey 2016). Even though prenatal care should not be forced on anyone, it is necessary to take such measures because of the good of the fetus and the mother as well. The first reason why pregnant mothers using alcohol and other related drugs should be compelled to report is because it can give them an opportunity to learn about the dangers of such drugs to the life of the unborn child. Many parents are not aware that the use of such drugs during pregnancy is very risky because it can cause lifelong challenges to them and the fetus. To the mother, substance abuse during pregnancy can result into poor weight gain and the abruption of the placenta. Worse still, the behavior can cause many challenges to the fetus such as still birth, miscarriage, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASDs). A child with FASDs has physical, mental and behavioral anomalies like small head size, poor coordination, speech delays, shorter body size, low body weight, poor memory, hyperactivity, low IQ, hearing, and vision problems (van der Wulp, Hoving de Vries 2015). These are important information that should be known by all pregnant mothers. Besides, I support the mandatory reporting by the pregnant mothers abusing alcohol and other illicit drugs because it can give them a chance to acquire the necessary medical services aimed at protecting the life of the child. When a pregnant mother visits a healthcare facility for antenatal care, she can get to be screened and tested for alcohol and drug use and related disorders. If is established that she has been engaging in drug use, she should be urged to stop doing so because it can continue exposing the fetus to the aforementioned dangers (Fitzpatrick, Latimer, Ferreira, Carter, Oscar, Martiniuk, Watkins Elliott 2015). At the same time, the healthcare providers can identify, at an earlier time, the most appropriate medical intervention and treatments to provide so as to protect the health of the unborn child. Last, but not least, mandatory reporting should be encouraged because it can enable the pregnant women to acquire counseling skills on how to behave during the entire pregnancy period. It is no doubt that many women are not aware that alcohol consumption can be dangerous to the fetus at any time during pregnancy (Wright, Terplan, Ondersma, Boyce, Yonkers, Chang Creanga 2016). At the same time, women do not know that even small quantities of alcohol, be it beer, wine or spirit, used during pregnancy can be disastrous to the fetus. So, when obliged to report to the authorities, the pregnant mothers do not necessarily get punished, but only get an opportunity to enjoy counseling services for her own good and that of the unborn child (Gardiner, Gutierrez, Luo, Davies, Savage, Bakhireva Perroneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Bizzozero 2016). Having said all these, I would like to point out that threats or actual arrest, prosecution and eventual detention of pregnant women can instill fear in women and prevent them from engaging in drug abuse during the pregnancy period. However, the nurses delivering prenatal care should not violate the law, and ethical codes of conduct governing their practice (O'Keeffe, Kearney, McCarthy, Khashan, Greene, North, Poston, McCowan, Baker, Dekker Walker 2015). All issues of informed consent and confidentiality should not be contravened, unless it becomes inevitably necessary to so for the sake of the life of the pregnant woman and the fetus. This can enable the nurses to collaborate with the law enforcers to contribute to the fight against alcohol and drug abuse by the pregnant women. References Fitzpatrick, J.P., Latimer, J., Ferreira, M.L., Carter, M., Oscar, J., Martiniuk, A.L., Watkins, R.E. and Elliott, E.J., 2015. Prevalence and patterns of alcohol use in pregnancy in remote Western Australian communities: The Lililwan Project. Drug and alcohol review, 34(3), pp.329-339. Gardiner, A.S., Gutierrez, H.L., Luo, L., Davies, S., Savage, D.D., Bakhireva, L.N. and Perroneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Bizzozero, N.I., 2016. Alcohol Use During Pregnancy is Associated with Specific Alterations in MicroRNA Levels in Maternal Serum. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 40(4), pp.826-837. O'Keeffe, L.M., Kearney, P.M., McCarthy, F.P., Khashan, A.S., Greene, R.A., North, R.A., Poston, L., McCowan, L.M., Baker, P.N., Dekker, G.A. and Walker, J.J., 2015. Prevalence and predictors of alcohol use during pregnancy: findings from international multicentre cohort studies. BMJ open, 5(7), p.e006323. van der Wulp, N.Y., Hoving, C. de Vries, H., 2015. Partners Influences and Other Correlates of Prenatal Alcohol Use. Maternal and child health journal, 19(4), pp.908-916. Wright, T.E., Terplan, M., Ondersma, S.J., Boyce, C., Yonkers, K., Chang, G. and Creanga, A.A., 2016. The role of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in the perinatal period. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 28(5), pp.257-287 Yeo, S., Crandell, J.L. and Jones-Vessey, K., 2016. Adequacy of prenatal care and gestational weight gain. Journal of Women's Health, 25(2), pp.117-123.

Venus De Willendorf Vs. Barbie free essay sample

Venus de Willendorf and Barbie are two very different representations of women and their beauty. Both are man-made and inspirational, both from two very different times. Venus by the homosapiens millions of years ago and Barbie a mere fifty years ago by a woman and mother looking for a doll her daughter could play and grow with. In looking at Venus de Willendorf and the Barbie doll, they seem to be related in a way and yet could not be any more different in appearance. In analyzing their culture and the time periods by which both were created, we learn a lot of who created them, what they stand for, how they are related and how they are different. As modern women, we put a lot into our appearances. From dying our hair, putting make-up on, use creams and serums, Botox, collagen injections, plastic surgery and so much more all to feel beautiful and attractive to those we desire and to avoid the unacceptable look by modern standards of Venus de Willendorf. We will write a custom essay sample on Venus De Willendorf Vs. Barbie or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Paleolithic times are still so unknown to us, we study Venus de Willendorf based on what we do know. Her name â€Å"Venus† is a Greek rooted name for â€Å"Love and Beauty. † Her obese body tells modern historians that she was the symbol of motherhood and stood for fertility. It is believed that Venus was what the Paleolithic saw as beautiful. A woman capable of producing children. Her missing face is also felt that her beauty what not measured by her facial features at all but her abilities to reproduce and expand their people. Venus was created by what are believed to be the first homosapians and the start of human kind. They were hunters and gatherers that survived and hunted using tools by which they created. Making stones sharp and pointed to hunt with using every part of what they killed for their own survival. The hides and skins were used for warmth, the meat is what fed them, and then bones were made into tools or houses for shelter and survival. They mated with one another to grow their villages. These homosapians saw beauty where it wasn’t defined, and their ignorance to what we know as attraction makes it all the more surreal. Currently there are two theories as to why the Paleolithic people created the Venus de Willendorf. The first and least popular idea of her creation is based upon her voluptuous body and abundance of overall body fat. Some see the fact that her people were hunters and gatherers fighting to survive, having so much body would help to keep one warm enough to survive along with providing warmth to another. The other modern belief is that Venus was a symbol fertility. The exaggerated breasts, buttocks and knowledge that she had red dye painted around her genital region suggesting menstruation, bringing attention to the beauty of women and all attributes used for reproduction and child bearing. Either way, Venus was seen as a symbol of sex, desire and beauty to the Paleolithic culture so many millions of years ago. It was also noted that the over-all size of the Venus statue as well as others that have been found over the years were small enough to fit into a modern day pant pocket, they believe the women and children carried these small statues around because they were possibly forms of religious charms or dolls for children, believed to bring fertility to them. In 1959, Ruth Handler wanted her daughter to have a doll to play with that had unlimited possibilities. For over 54 years, Handler has been successful in her efforts. Fifty-four years after her creation, Barbie is still the woman to which modern woman want to be and look like. Barbie has the perfect body, so perfect in fact that her dimensions are too impossible for a woman to hold her upper body vertical. She would be forced over because her waist would be too narrow to support the weight of her upper body. Even knowing this, modern women still feel like Barbie has the perfect body along with the wardrobe most only dream about, the sports car, dream house fully furnished and career possibilities that are endless. As the times are different than they were in 1959 modern women have to work, cook, clean, be mothers and still feel they have to uphold the appearance of Barbie to be attractive for their husbands, significant others or society in general. The busier our schedules, the worse our diets become and less time we have to work-out and get exercise on a regular basis. Modern medicine helps women to achieve the Barbie look for a very hefty price. In modern culture, we accept having plastic surgery done in order to look and feel desired. We want to be thin, beautiful, have great hair and be able to wear a teeny bikini no matter what. Our reality is a whole lot different. There are a lot of medical reasons that women gain weight and/or simply cannot lose weight, one also has to consider hectic and busy schedules not leaving enough time for one to exercise as much as she might want to and sometimes we are just so tired, we cannot get up enough energy to cook a healthy meal or get to the gym for an hour or so. No matter the reason, in the end we look and feel the way we do about ourselves for a reason. Looking in the mirror and seeing the Venus de Willendorf looking back at you is not the look any of us are going for. Being obese is seriously frowned upon not just by the medial industry but by society as a whole. There are so many women today that are getting thousands and thousands of dollars worth of plastic surgery, insisting that they are made to look like Barbie in every way, a new term has been coined; The Barbie Complex. Some women are spending their whole lives and all of their money to achieve the same look as Barbie. One questions remains in the end; why is it not acceptable today to look like Venus? Venus is obese. Yes we know that medically being obese is not a healthy way to live one’s life, but what makes it unattractive. According to men personally surveyed in an anonymous survey the answer given were as follows; â€Å"Because she is fat† â€Å"She’s fat which means she’s just lazy† â€Å"If there was less of her she might be cute. † One person even claimed, â€Å"It looks like she ate Barbie. † All of these are very real answers from modern men. Fat is simply not seen as attractive and evidently is seen as a characteristic flaw in women since being depicted as lazy because of size. It is possible that because women are terrified of falling into such an unattractive category, especially as teens and young adults many women and girls have fallen victim to eating disorders. Anorexia and Bulimia are both very good examples of what women are doing to themselves so to ensure not becoming over weight. The fear of not being thin and beautiful like Barbie and being overweight and ugly like Venus is driving them to starvation and expelling food from their body after consumption. Some girls are becoming depressed by their size that they are eating more. This clearly has an adverse effect on the issue at hand. Today if Venus were alive and real, it could be said that she certainly would not be seen the same way as it is believed that she was seem upon creation. One could go as far as to say that because of her appearance and it being considered as unacceptable as it might be today, that she would not be seen as the symbol of anything related to sex or child bearing. To think of sex one would think of a woman of Barbie’s stature and measurements in modern day society. It could be related that these two symbolized women both stood as the symbols for sex during their own time periods and within their own cultures. So while the Paleolithic people saw Venus as being the symbol of child bearing, giving life and reproduction, modern day men and women see someone of her stature and appearance disgraceful and unacceptable. Men and women in modern society want children and families, but there is an expectation to still maintain the appearance of the Barbie doll. From dying our hair, putting make-up on, use creams and serums, Botox, collagen injections, plastic surgery and so much more all to feel beautiful and attractive to those we desire and to avoid the unacceptable

Angelas Ashes Response Essays - Limerick, Angelas Ashes,

Angela's Ashes Response In Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes the reasons for which Angela and her future husband left Ireland for New York were simple. Angela was sent to New York by her mother because she said Angela was worthless and there was plenty of room in America for useless people. As for Malachy, Angela's future husband, he escaped to New York from Ireland because he had a price put on his head from fighting with the Old IRA. He became a fugitive and his only way out was to escape to America. Later after the McCourts were married and had children, they eventually had to leave New York. They had to leave because New York was going through a depression along with the rest of America and there was not much work. The McCourts could not afford to stay in New York. Angela and Malachy also suffered the loss of there little girl, Margaret. After the loss of their daughter the McCourts could not bare to stay in New York anymore. The McCourts made a terrible mistake by leaving New York. They made a terrible mistake because shortly after they left, America was coming out of the depression and there were more jobs. The McCourts left the hardships in New York to the even worse conditions of a poorer Ireland. In America people were free and could have more better job opportunities. By choosing to leave New York the McCourts gave up any opportunity they had to having a better life for themselves. The McCourts appeared to have gained nothing by moving back to Ireland. There were hardly any jobs and the ones that were available did not 3 pay that much. The McCourts also did not get any help from the government nor barely any help from their family that lived there. The McCourts left New York and only made their situation worse for themselves. They should have just stayed in New York so that their children could of had at least some chance of a decent life. In Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes the reasons for which Angela and her future husband left Ireland for New York were simple. Angela was sent to New York by her mother because she said Angela was worthless and there was plenty of room in America for useless people. As for Malachy, Angela's future husband, he escaped to New York from Ireland because he had a price put on his head from fighting with the Old IRA. He became a fugitive and his only way out was to escape to America. Later after the McCourts were married and had children, they eventually had to leave New York. They had to leave because New York was going through a depression along with the rest of America and there was not much work. The McCourts could not afford to stay in New York. Angela and Malachy also suffered the loss of there little girl, Margaret. After the loss of their daughter the McCourts could not bare to stay in New York anymore. The McCourts made a terrible mistake by leaving New York. They made a terrible mistake because shortly after they left, America was coming out of the depression and there were more jobs. The McCourts left the hardships in New York to the even worse conditions of a poorer Ireland. In America people were free and could have more better job opportunities. By choosing to leave New York the McCourts gave up any opportunity they had to having a better life for themselves. The McCourts appeared to have gained nothing by moving back to Ireland. There were hardly any jobs and the ones that were available did not 3 pay that much. The McCourts also did not get any help from the government nor barely any help from their family that lived there. The McCourts left New York and only made their situation worse for themselves. They should have just stayed in New York so that their children could of had at least some chance of a decent life. Philosophy Essays

The Nature of Psychology essays

The Nature of Psychology essays Psychology, as we know it today, is the science of behavior and mental processes. It helps us to understand why people think, feel, and act the way they do. Psychology is a science just like Biology and Philosophy, both of which have had a major impact on psychology. Psychology is a word that encompasses many aspects, but probably the best way to understand its exact definition is to understand that it focuses solely on being a science of behavior and mental processes. The word psychology itself has a route in Greek language as meaning knowledge about soul life. The symbol for psychology also happens to be a Greek symbol known as psi. Psi is a letter from the Greek alphabet and is from where we get the word Psychology, and other related terms beginning with Psych-. There are many components that make up psychology, and each component has a corresponding face that goes with it. Body of knowledge is one such component and its face is teaching. Another component is the set of investigative methods which has the face of research. Lastly, array of techniques is a component and therapy is its face. Psychology has certain goals for understanding behavior that it tries to accomplish through various methods. The basic, general goals of psychology is to answer what, why when, and how. What is for a description, to describe the behavior. Why is an explanation, to try and explain why the behavior is the way it is. When is a prediction of behavior that predicts a certain time for a particular issue. How is used when we want to modify behavior in behavior modification. There are many specialized sub fields within psychology, being that it is such a broad science. Clinical psychologists are in one sub-field of psychology that I would personally find to be the most interesting. Their job description is more or less working ...

American Presidency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Presidency - Essay Example An interrelated program of domestic-policy reforms characterized the Reagan policy agenda. We see this in the administrations work to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, which entailed lowering federal taxation and domestic spending as well as the deregulation and returning of the power to the states.i The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 was the first of changes that Reagan launched in his pursuit of his domestic policy. This legislation brought about far-reaching budget cuts and policy shifts and is considered to be one of Reagan’s major achievements in domestic policymaking. Besides significantly trimming domestic spending and trimming the federal government’s role in domestic program areas, the legislation had two other significant effects: first, it substantially changed welfare programs, and second, it increased the proportion of federal grant funds that are channeled to the states and reduced the share paid to local units of government.i i Reagan’s experience as governor of California, prior to his election as President, influenced his attitude toward domestic policy. As governor, Reagan became convinced that the states could play the major role in running domestic programs such as welfare. He saw in this experience that domestic policy choices are best made at the state level and that this philosophy became the foundation of his New Federalism. Reagan emphasized this in his 1982 State of the Union address: Our citizens feel they have lost control of even the most basic decisions made about the essential services of government, such as schools, welfare, roads, and even garbage collection. They are right. A maze of interlocking jurisdictions and levels of government confronts the average citizen in trying to solve even the simplest of problems. They do not know where to turn to†¦ who to hold accountable.iii For Reagan

Brand positioning and focus Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Brand positioning and focus - Research Paper Example This research is intended to develop the sound understanding of the impact of the branding on the lives of individuals, especially their buying decisions. Moreover, we also aim to identify the best practices of branding in contemporary era. In past era, branding was considered to be what it is considered now. Few years back, brand used to be defined as "the name,associated with one or more items in the product line, that is used to identify the source of character of the item(s)" (Kotler 2000, p. 396) Another definition that was given by Keller (2003) depicts the same thought. He defines brands as "technically speaking, the n, whenever a marketer creates a new name, logo, or symbol for a new product, he or she has created a brand" (p. 3)" However, over the period of time, it was realized that branding has far wider scope than this. Realizing this, people started to explore more avenues into it. "For a long time, the brand has been treated in an off-hand fashion as a part of the product" (Urde 1999, p. 119). With the changing time, the needs and demands of the businesses were changing too. "The challenge today is to create a strong and distinctive image" (Kohli and Thakor 1997, p. 208). This definition shows that the scope of branding has been broadened and besides providing identity to the product, it is also responsible for conveying to customers that brand message associated to that brand through the process of branding. The modern concept of branding is associated to a number of other related concepts. In order to make the brand successful and the high impact brand, one of the most essential part is its positioning. It is well known phrase in the marketing circles that those brands which are top in terms of customer recall are really the leaders. Thus, brand positioning means that a brand should be presented as a response to some customer need, in order to make it successful. For example, if a company sells the cars. The brand manager of that particular car should see that what particular needs that car is going to fulfill for the customers and present the product as simply not the product, rather, the solution to that need of the consumer. Keeping in view the customer needs is simply one factor, others may include competitor's move, emerging trends and so on and so forth. Besides, other factors of success include, targeted marketing, efficient segmenting and focused advertising and public relations . Targeting marketing and focus advertising are essential because, we can't market our product to everyone. There is a cost to it. Every second that runs an ad on any channels, it costs a handsome some of money to the producer and this price is ultimately shifted to the customer. If lesser people Brand purchase that product, higher contribution from each purchaser is required. In today's world where there is cutting edge competition, one

William Carlos Williams Essay Example for Free

William Carlos Williams Essay The poem that I like the best was â€Å"Catch† by Robert Francis. I thought this poem was the me of my childhood and it represents what poetry should be. The imagery in this poem was great; it took me back to when I was a youngster when I and my brother would play catch for hours. We would throw the ball every way possible to make it more challenging and fun to play just like the poem described. The third line in the poem says â€Å"Teasing with attitudes, latitudes, interludes, altitudes† really grabbed me with the use of assonance’s and the hard T and L sounds gave the poem intensity. I also like how the poem represents how poetry should be. For example, line 10 says â€Å"Over his head, make him scramble to pick up the meaning.† Poetry is supposed to be challenging, surprise the reader and makes them think what the deeper meaning is; which creates interest. If poetry was simple and easy to read it would be a short narrative story and be engaging or satisfying. The poem was a great representation of what poetry should be and brought me back to my childhood which is why I chose it to be the best. The poem I liked the least was â€Å"The Red Wheelbarrow† by William Carlos Williams. I liked it the least because I couldn’t find a deeper meaning of the poem. All I got from it was an image of a red wheelbarrow with rain water glistening on it sitting beside white chickens. I’m sure Williams wanted the reader to get deeper meaning out of the poem than just an image. I went through the five questions and tried to decipher the meaning of the poem and still came up with nothing. Why does so much depend on a red wheelbarrow? Does he have a bad back and depends on the wheelbarrow to haul stuff around to make a chicken coop for the chickens to survive? I have no idea. The poem has interesting diction but I thought it was vague which is why it is was my least favorite poem.

Strategic Human Resource Management In Hyundai

Strategic Human Resource Management In Hyundai Strategic human resource management is the process of linkingthe human resource function with the strategic objectives of the organization in order to improve performance. If a global company is to function successfully, strategies at different levels need to inter-relate.   An organizations [human resource management] policies and practices must  ¬Ã‚ t with its strategy  in its competitive environment and with the immediate business conditions that it faces.   The [human resources-business strategy] alignment cannot necessarily be  characterized in the logical and sequential way suggested by some writers; rather, the design of an HR system complex and iterative process 1.2.The Purpose of strategic Human Resource Management activities in Hyundai Over the past decade, HR researchers and practitioners have focused their  attentionon other important questions. First, what determines whether an organization adoptsa strategic approach to HRM, and how is HR strategy formulated? Of interest is whichorganizations are most likely to adopt a strategic approach to HRM. Is there, forexample, a positive association with a given set  of external and internal characteristicsor contingencies and the adoption of SHRM? Another area of interest concerns thepolicies and practices making up different HR strategies. Is it possible to identify acluster or bundle of HR  practices with different strategic competitive models? Finally,much research productivity in recent years has been devoted to examining the rela-tionship between different clusters of HR practices and organizational performance.Does HR strategy really matter? For organizational practitioners who are looking forways to gain a competitive advantage, the implication of HR strateg ic choices forcompany performance is certainly the key factor. 1.3.contributions of strategic Human Resource Management to the achievement of Hyundai Motors Objectives Management PolicyIn 2000, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors merged to form the Hyundai Automotive Group and implemented a Ã’horizontal management system in September 25 of that year. The horizontal managementsystem gives departmental teams extensive power to carry out corporate policies and implement their own action plans based on those policies. The horizontal management system is guided by three principles: 1) Trust-Based Management 2) Site-Intensive Management 3) Transparent Management. These principles, together with the environmental policy mentioned later in this report, give direction to the management strategies that drive our business. In 2003, we established four objectives to be met in the mid- to long-term strategies: 1) enhance product value, 2) establish a global production system, 3) increase brand power, 4) improve environmental management systems. 2.1.the business factors that underpin human resource planning: According to company officials, Hyundais six assembly plants with a yearly production capacity of 1.65 million vehicles, were operating at only 40 percent of their capacity. In May, 1998, Hyundai reacted to this grim situation by announcing plans to lay off 27 percent of its 46,000 workforce in South Korea and to cut pay bonuses and benefits in a bid to save 230 billion won. Unfortunately for the management of the company, Hyundai had one of the most powerful and militant unions. The decision of the company to lay off workers sparked off agitations not only in Hyundai but in other companies too. The unions were particularly offended at the governments approval of Hyundais decision. In a demonstration in Ulsan, where Hyundai has its biggest automobile plant, 32,000 employees participated in rallies. All across South Korea almost 1,20,000 employees from about 125 companies participated in demonstrations against Hyundai and the governments decision. The government had to deploy nearly 20,000 riot police to control the demonstrators 2.2. assessment of human resorce requirements Hyundai Motor Co., formed in 1967, was a part of the large South Korean Chaebol the Hyundai Group until the group split in September 2000. In the last four decades, Hyundai managed to establish itself all over the world as a company producing reliable, technically sound and stylish automobiles.   In the 90s, the company started aggressive overseas expansion programs. By the late 90s, when Southeast Asian crisis struck, the company like all the other chaebols, faced serious financial problems. To survive, it had to cut its labor force. The company offered various retirement schemes, unpaid leave for two years, etc. to workers, and expressed its inability to support its entire workforce in the slack period. The unions refused to compromise and the management too held its ground. Finally, the government intervened to force a negotiated settlement between the union and the management. 2.3. Human Resorce Plan in Hyundai Hyundai Motor Co., formed in 1967, was a part of the large South Korean Chaebol the Hyundai Group until the group split in September 2000. In the last four decades, Hyundai managed to establish itself all over the world as a company producing reliable, technically sound and stylish automobiles. In the 90s, the company started aggressive overseas expansion programs. By the late 90s, when Southeast Asian crisis struck, the company like all the other chaebols, faced serious financial problems. To survive, it had to cut its labor force. The company offered various retirement schemes, unpaid leave for two years, etc. to workers, and expressed its inability to support its entire workforce in the slack period. The unions refused to compromise and the management too held its ground. Finally, the government intervened to force a negotiated settlement between the union and the management. 2.4.Human Resource Plan contribute to meet Hyundai objectives:: Company strategies and Government policies each arise from the decision-makers views of their own bargaining strengths and those of other relevant actors, as well as their assessments of opportunity costs and their willingness to forego any dealings with the other party. Among the many actors that are relevant to policymaking, TNCs constitute a particularly significant group, since they affect employment, generate and distribute income, alter the balance of payments, assist in regional development, create technology and impinge on other policy areas.Governments are crucial in affecting company strategies, since they set the rules of the game. These conditions lead to the bargaining relationship between TNCs and Governments. That relationship can be viewed as a jointmaximizing (or mini-max) problem as in the theory of games with each side seeking to pursue its goals constrained by its resources, its dependence on the other party and its relationships with other actors. 3.1. The Purpose of Human Resource Management Policies In Ashok Leyland. Human resource management policies are vital for organizations that are serious about resolving personnel issues and finding hr solutions. HRM policies are intended to help maximize the effectiveness of your Human Resources function.   à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ HR should ensure that HRM policy you have consistent, well-written legal policies and procedures. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ HRM policy should provide hr advices for the organizations needing help with specific HR-related issues à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Individuals and organizations who are serious about human resources should understand the bottom-line importance of job evaluation, job descriptions and effective policies.   Types of HRM Policies: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Attendance Policy Attendance Policy à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Recruitment Policy Recruitment Policy   à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Leave of Absence Policy Leave of Absence Policy à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Performance Planning and Evaluation Performance à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Probationary Period à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Compensation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Compensatory Leave à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Overtime Leave à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Annual Leave à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Educational Leave, 3.2. The Impact of regulatory requirements on human resource policies in Ashok Leyland: The Human Resources regulatory compliance arena continues to be a myriad of ever changing state and federal mandates.   The cost of ensuring compliance continues to climb with each new regulation however, in many cases, small and medium sized businesses simply cannot keep up. AlphaStaff provides Human Resources Regulatory Compliance services that control costs, systematically address key compliance issues, and provides legal liability protection. AlphaStaffs unique approach develops  a Human Resources regulatory  compliance foundation and tailors  it to meet your business needs. Conclussion: HR Audit   Unsure if you are in regulatory compliance? We will review your hiring practices, record keeping, policies and past practices and make recommendations. HR Posters, Forms   Handbooks   We will supply regulatory compliance posters, provide forms (hard copies and online) and develop customized employee handbooks that  ensure  your compliance. Hiring Assistance   We will assist with job descriptions,  interview training,  handle background and drug screening and post your jobs. Administration   Tired of records retention? Let us do it all personnel files, verifications of employment, unemployment responses, FMLA and your EEOC reports and charge answers. HR Consulting Services   Call us with your employee issues and we will provide creative solutions that best fit your needs but maintain your compliant Human Resources foundation. Training   We can provide online or classroom training on Human Resources business issues ranging from Diversity to Management Training to Dealing with the Difficult Customer. EPLI   You will be protected from discrimination, wrongful termination and harassment suits through our premier Employment Practices Liability Insurance coverage. EAP   Employee Assistance Programs that provide counseling and guidance to your employees available 24/7 through an 800 hotline. REVIEWING HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: 4.1.Analyse the impact of organizational structure on the management of human resources: Organizational design and structure.  As we mentioned earlier, modifying the organizations basic structure may be a way of changing the existing norms, and hence the culture. For example, a culture of mistrust between the leaders and the members of an organization may be exacerbated by a line structure that discourages vertical communication. Organizational systems and procedures.  The simplest definition of culture is thats the way we do things around here. Routines or procedures can become so embedded that they become part of the culture, and changing the culture necessitates changing those routines. We can all think of organizations where a weekly or monthly meeting takes on a life of its own, becomes more formalized, lengthy, and elaborate, and becomes the only way information moves within the organization. Changing the culture to improve communication may only be possible by changing the meeting procedures or eliminating the meetings altogether. Design of physical space, facades, and buildings.  The impact of the design of buildings on culture can easily be illustrated by considering the executive perks in an organization. Which organization do you think will have a more open and participative culture, one where top executives have reserved parking spaces, top floor offices, a special elevator and an executive dining room, or one where the executive offices are not separated from the rest of the company and executives park and eat in the same place as their employees? Stories about important events and people.  This is a way that culture is perpetuated in an organization, in that it helps define and solidify the organizations identity. By what events and stories they emphasize, leaders influence that identity. Formal statements of organizational philosophy, creeds, and charts.  This is the way leaders most often try and influence their organizations, and encompasses the vision or mission statement and statements of the organizations (or the leaders) values and philosophy. By themselves, however, formal statements will have little effect on the organizations culture. They must be linked to actions to affect culture. 4.2. Analyse the impact of organizational Culture on the management of human resources: Why is culture so important to an organization? Edgar Schein, an MIT Professor of Management and author of  Organizational Culture and Leadership: A Dynamic View,  suggests that an organizations culture develops to help it cope with its environment. Today, organizational leaders are confronted with many complex issues during their attempts to generate organizational achievement in VUCA environments. A leaders success will depend, to a great extent, upon understanding organizational culture. Schein contends that many of the problems confronting leaders can be traced to their inability to analyze and evaluate organizational cultures. Many leaders, when trying to implement new strategies or a strategic plan leading to a new vision, will discover that their strategies will fail if they are inconsistent with the organizations culture. A CEO, SES, political appointee, or flag officer who comes into an organization prepared to shake the place up and institute sweeping changes, often experiences resistance to changes and failure. Difficulties with organizational transformations arise from failures to analyze an organizations existing culture. WHAT IS ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE? There is no single definition for organizational culture. The topic has been studied from a variety of perspectives ranging from disciplines such as anthropology and sociology, to the applied disciplines of organizational behavior, management science, and organizational communication. Some of the definitions are listed below: A set of common understandings around which action is organized, . . . finding expression in language whose nuances are peculiar to the group (Becker and Geer 1960). A set of understandings or meanings shared by a group of people that are largely tacit among members and are clearly relevant and distinctive to the particular group which are also passed on to new members (Louis 1980). A system of knowledge, of standards for perceiving, believing, evaluating and acting . . . that serve to relate human communities to their environmental settings (Allaire and Firsirotu 1984). The deeper level of basic assumptions and beliefs that are: learned responses to the groups problems of survival in its external environment and its problems of internal integration; are shared by members of an organization; that operate unconsciously; and that define in a basic taken -for-granted fashion in an organizations view of itself and its environment (Schein 1988). Any social system arising from a network of shared ideologies consisting of two components: substance-the networks of meaning associated with ideologies, norms, and values; and forms-the practices whereby the meanings are expressed, affirmed, and communicated to members (Trice and Beyer 1984). . 4.3.the effectiveness of human resources management is monitored in organisation: Cultural forms function as the linking mechanism by which networks of understanding develop among employees. (Trice, 1988) The cultural forms shown in the table on pages 293-94 act as a medium for communicating ideologies, values, and norms. Cultural forms enable leaders to transmit messages about desirable culture to influence thinking and ways of behaving. Cultural forms also address the emotional aspects of organizations that are commonly referred to as cohesion or camaraderie. Organizational scholars Janice Beyer and Harrison Trice elaborate on this point: Cultural forms not only aid sensemaking through the meanings they convey; they also aid the sensemaking process through the emotional reassurances they provide that help people persist in their coping efforts. Forms provide a concrete anchoring point, even if the meaning they carry are vague and only imperfectly transmitted.Also many cultural forms involve the expression of emotion and, by this venting of emotions, help people to cope with stress. Federal agencies are replete with cultural forms that serve these purposes. However the challenges facing strategic leaders of these agencies involve creating and orchestrating cultural forms that can foster change and have longevity beyond their tenure.Cultural forms that have longevity by their nature such as rites and ceremonies reaffirm the organizations core ideologies, values and norms. 4.4. Recommendation to improve the effectiveness of human resources management in an organisation Strategic leadership needs to be transformational if it is to serve the organization. Transformational leaders must operate from a foundation of high morality and ethical practices and Culture is deep seated and difficult to change, but leaders can influence or manage an organizations culture. It isnt easy, and it cannot be done rapidly, but leaders can have an effect on culture. Schein outlines some specific steps leaders can employ: What leaders pay attention to, measure and control.  Something as simple as what is emphasized or measured, over time, can have an effect on an organizations culture. One example of this is an emphasis on form over substance. If leaders pay more attention to form, an organizational culture can develop where people start to believe that the substance of a recommendation is less important than the way it is presented. One can recall when more attention was paid to the format of viewgraphs used in a briefing than what was said; what we characterize as eyewash. Where do you think people will focus their effort once it becomes accepted that a slick presentation is what the leaders are looking for? How could you go about changing that aspect of the organizations culture? Consider cultural assumptions and beliefs underlying a zero defects organizational mentality. You must always be perfect; mistakes arent allowed. If this assumption reflects a dysfunctional aspect of an organizations culture, how would you go about changing that perception? Leader reactions to critical incidents and organizational crises.  The way leaders react to crises says a lot about the organizations values, norms and culture. Crises, by their nature, bring out the organizations underlying core values. Often, this is where rhetoric becomes apparent. Reactions to crises are normally highly visible, because everyones attention is focused on the incident or situation. Disconnects between actions and words will usually be apparent, and actions always speak louder than words. Additionally, a crisis not only brings a great deal of attention, it also generates a great deal of emotional involvement on the part of those associated with the organization, particularly if the crisis threatens the organizations survival. This increases the potential for either reinforcing the existing culture, or leading to a change in the culture. Such a crisis can provide an opportunity for a leader to influence the organizations culture in either a positive or a negative w ay. Deliberate role modeling, teaching, and coaching.  Nothing can take the place of leaders walking their talk. The personal example of a strategic leader can send a powerful message to the members of an organization, particularly if it is ethical and consistent. Reinforcing that example with teaching and coaching will help others to internalize the desired values. Criteria for allocation of rewards and status.  The consequences of behavior-what behavior is rewarded and what is punished-can significantly influence culture. If the organization reacts to new ideas by ridiculing the ideas and those who propose them, it wont take long before people believe that new ideas are not welcomed or desired. One belief of perceived organizational culture is reflected in the statement: Dont raise questions or suggest improvements, because nothing will come of it and you will just get in trouble. If you were in an organizations strategic leader, what steps could you take to alter the reward system to change this aspect of the culture? Criteria for recruitment, selection, promotion, retirement and excommunication.  One of the powerful ways of changing an organizations culture is through the type of people brought into, retained, and advanced in the organization. You should be able to establish a desired culture base in an organization by bringing in and advancing individuals with the values you want, and eliminating those with undesired value bases. 1. Dont oversimplify culture or confuse it with climate, values, or corporate philosophy. Culture  underlies  and largely  determines  these other variables. Trying to change values or climate without getting at the underlying culture will be a futile effort. 2. Dont label culture as solely a human resources (read touchy-feely) aspect of an organization, affecting only its human side. The impact of culture goes far beyond the human side of the organization to affect and influence its basic mission and goals. 3. Dont assume that the leader can manipulate culture as he or she can control many other aspects of the organization. Culture, because it is largely determined and controlled by the members of the organization, not the leaders, is different. Culture may end up controlling the leader rather than being controlled by him or her. 4. Dont assume that there is a correct culture, or that a strong culture is better than a weak one. It should be apparent that different cultures may fit different organizations and their environments, and that the desirability of a strong culture depends on how well it supports the organizations strategic goals and objectives. 5. Dont assume that all the aspects of an organizations culture are important, or will have a major impact on the functioning of the organization. Some elements of an organizations culture may have little impact on its functioning, and the leader must distinguish which elements are important, and focus on those. CONCLUDING THOUGHT An understanding of culture, and how to transform it, is a crucial skill for leaders trying to achieve strategic outcomes. Strategic leaders have the best perspective, because of their position in the organization, to see the dynamics of the culture, what should remain, and what needs transformation. This is the essence of strategic success. Refernces: Books Book Single Author. Adler, N.J. (1991).  International dimensions of organizational behavior. Boston: PWS-Kent Publishing Company. Book Multiple Authors, Second or Subsequent Editions. Aron, A., Aron, E.N. (1999).  Statistics for psychology. (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall International, Inc. Chapter in Edited Book. Hartmann, L.C. (1998). The impact of trends in labour-force participation in Australia. In M. Patrickson L. Hartmann (Eds.),  Managing an ageing workforce  (3-25). Warriewood, Australia: Woodslane Pty Limited. Chapter in Edited Book, Several Volumes. Adams, J.S. (1965). Inequity in social exchange. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.),  Advances in experimental social psychology(Vol. 2, 267-299). New York: Academic Press. Chapter in Edited Book Two Authors, Second or Subsequent Edition. Forteza, J.A., Prieto, J.M. (1994). Aging and work behaviour. In H.C. Triandis, D. Dunnette, L.M. Hough (Eds.),Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology. (2nd ed., Vol. 4, 447-483). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press. Edited Book One or more Authors. Hewstone, M., Brown, R. (Eds.). (1986).  Contact and conflict in intergroup encounters. Oxford: Basil Blackwell Ltd. Journals Journal Article. Kawakami, K., Dovidio, J.F. (2001). The reliability of implicit stereotyping.  Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(2), 212-225. Journal Article No Volume Number. Schizas, C.L. (1999). Capitalizing on a generation gap.  Management Review, (June), 62-63. Others Newspaper article Author Known. Alch, M.L. (2000, July). Get ready for the net generation.  USA Today, 129, 26-27. Newspaper Item Author Unknown. Thin blue line has no future, (2002, October 27th).  The Sunday Times, Perth, Western Australia, 26. On-line Article (access date is shown in square parentheses). Anderson, G.F., Hussey, P.S. (October, 1999).  Health and population aging: A multinational comparison. [On-line]. International Health Policy. Available http://www.cmwf.org/programs/international/aging_chartbook.asp [2003, March 4th]. Conference Proceedings. Belous, R.S., Appelbaum, E. (1988).  Human resource flexibility and older workers: Management and labour views. Paper presented at the Forty-first Annual Meeting of the Industrial Relations Research Association, New York. Telephone Contact. Cordery, J. (2001, November 14th). Negative items (telephone conversation). Dissertation. Daboval, J.M. (1998).  A comparison between baby boomer and generation X employees bases and foci of commitment.  Dissertation Abstracts International, University Microfilms No. AAT 98-23312. Poster Session Presentation. Finkelstein, L.M., Gonnerman, M.E.J., Johnson, B.A. (April, 1999).  The development of measures of age and generation identity. Paper presented at the poster session presented at the 14th annual meeting of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Atlanta, GA. Magazine Article. Shoebridge, N., Ferguson, A. (1997, January 20th). Rise of the baby-boom bosses.  Business Review Weekly, 28-34. Annual Report. Western Australia Police Service. (1999).  Western Australia Police Service Annual Report 1999. Perth, Western Australia. Corporation/Institution as Author. World Bank. (1994).  Averting the old age crisis: Policies to protect the old and promote growth. Washington DC: World Bank and Oxford University Press.

Philosophy: The Power of Ideas Essay

 · Is it more common for people to make decisions regarding religion based on reason or by faith? Explain your answer. Considering the development of religious philosophy, it commonly appears that people make decision regarding their religion based on their faith. People create their religious doctrines, idealism, and theology based on the faith towards the existence of God wherein they argue that these principles are given with divine intervention and provision. In the aspect of religion, people decide matters within their institution as their approach for developing and strengthening their relationship towards their God through the medium of faith. Indeed, people pursue their religious interest based on faith rather than their own reasoning as an influential part of their religious philosophy is their faithful submission towards the divine being. As part of their religion, people make decisions as inspired by their faith thus, putting much more interest and significance on their religious teachings rather pursing their own idealism. In general, people put much more emphasis on faith towards the idealism of the divine being rather than the philosophy of the human beings.  · Considering the historical development of religious philosophy, whose philosophies do you think most advanced Western religious thought? Explain your answer. In the course of religious development in the world, most religious philosophies originated from the western culture though only some has full advanced and realized the western thought. Under this aspect, that the philosophy of the Roman Catholic religion manifests much representation of the western thoughts. Their teachings have promoted the monotheistic view towards divine existence and have strengthened the relationship of the human beings with their divine creator. Because of the significant foundations laid by their philosophy, the western thoughts were widely accepted by the other culture giving the western idealism much influence to the world. Because of the contribution of this specific religious philosophy, the world has realized the western thoughts regarding the existence of the divine being and has established their own religious relationship in relation to the western idealism

Quantitative Analysis of Vitamin C in Food Products Essay

There is growing evidence that Vitamin C serves as a potent antioxidant in vitro. There are many functions that Vitamin C has in the body among which is the capacity to improve the immunity system such that a person is more able to fight off colds and flus. Pre-Lab: List five other functions of Vitamin C in the human body. Vitamin C is another name for ascorbic acid. There is a marked similarity between the structure of glucose and Vitamin C. As a matter of fact, plants and most animals are able to synthesize Vitamin C from glucose. Unfortunately, humans are unable to do this and we must include Vitamin C in our diet or we risk a vitamin deficiency disease. We all recognize citrus fruits as a valuable vitamin C source, but few of us realize that many freshly harvested vegetables contain considerably more of this vitamin than do oranges or lime. Unfortunately, storage and processing destroy most of the Vitamin C in vegetables before they reach the consumer. Consumer cooking methods further decrease the amount of vitamin C in vegetables. Vitamin C is water soluble and thus leaches out while cooking or steaming. One useful analytical method for measuring the Vitamin C content of a vegetable or fruit involves an oxidation-reduction titration of ascorbic acid. In the titration, ascorbic acid is oxidized to form dehydroascorbic acid. You might think it unusual to oxidize the acid rather than titrate it with a base. However, biological samples contain many substances that also act as acids (as was mentioned in Experiment 3) and thus interfere in a titration of ascorbic acid with a base. In contrast, many fewer components of biological materials interfere with the oxidation of ascorbic acid by the oxidizing agent 2, 6-dichloroindophenol (DCP). Thus, an oxidation-reduction titration of ascorbic acid with DCP provides a more selective analysis than would an acid-base titration. Please note the equation for the reaction below: C6H8O6 (colorless) + C12H7O2NCl2(red) –> (pH3) C6H6O6 (Colorless) + C12H9O2NCl2 (colorless) This titration is particularly convenient because DCP also serves as its own indicator. As we add DCP solution to a solution containing Vitamin C, the reaction mixture remains colorless until all of the Vitamin C has been converted to dehydroascorbic acid. The next drop of DCP solution added imparts a red color from excess DCP to the mixture, indicating both the equivalence point and the endpoint of the titration. (Expect solution to go from red to colorless —–then at the endpoint red again). Because DCP solutions have a relatively short shelf life, we usually standardize such solutions immediately prior to using them. We can perform the standardization conveniently by titrating aliquots of an ascorbic acid solution prepared from an accurately-weighed sample of reagent-grade ascorbic acid. The standardization titration reaction is the same as the analysis reaction above. In this experiment, you will begin by standardizing a DCP solution. Then you will determine the vitamin C content of liquid and solid food samples by titration with the standardized DCP solution. Prior to performing the titrations, you will treat the food samples with metaphosphoric acid. Treatment with this acid serves to denature and precipitate proteins that would otherwise interfere with the analysis. Acidification of thesample also serves to stabilize the ascorbic acid, which will otherwise decompose and be undetectable. Acidification to pH less than 4 also minimizes reaction of DCP with other compounds which react with DCP only at pH levels greater than 4.

theodore roosevelt essays

theodore roosevelt essays Theodore Roosevelt was born in New York City in 1858, the second of four brothers and sisters. Although blessed with a quick mind he was not blessed with a strong body. He suffered from life-threatening asthma attacks throughout his childhood. Urged on by his father, Theodore began to build up his body by strenuous exercise, and by adulthood he had become a model of physical courage and toughness. This early example of his character was critical of the way he lived the rest of his life. He did not back down in the face of hardships, and he continually displayed remarkable physical and Partly because of a severe asthmatic condition, Theodore was educated by private tutors until 1876, when he entered Harvard College. Abandoning plans to become a naturalist, he developed political and historical interests and finished twenty- first in his class. Four months after his graduation in 1880, he married Alice Hathaway Lee, with whom he had a daughter. Bored by the study of law in the office of an uncle and at Columbia University, Roosevelt willingly gave it up in 1882 to serve the first of three terms in the New York State Assembly. Roosevelt's last term was spoiled by the sudden deaths of his mother and his wife within hours of one another in 1884. After this he moves to North Dakota to find himself and he looses his snobbery. He then moves back to New York and runs for mayor. He then went to London to marry Edith Carow, with whom he had four sons and a daughter. Roosevelt returned to New York City in 1895 to serve two years as president of the police board. Roosevelt resigned in the spring of 1897 to become President William McKinley's assistant secretary of the Anxious to prove himself under fire, Roosevelt resigned as assistant secretary of the Navy in April to organize the "Rough Riders". He took command of the unit in ...

10 Terms for the Common People

10 Terms for the Common People 10 Terms for the Common People 10 Terms for the Common People By Mark Nichol The English language is rich with descriptive (and generally derogatory) terms for the common person, though many are adopted from other languages: 1. Bourgeoisie: This term, derived from the French word roughly translated as â€Å"the people of the city,† refers to the middle class rather than the common folk per se, but the sense of the word is â€Å"conventional.† The petite, or petty, bourgeoisie are those of the lower middle class. Twentieth-century journalist H. L. Mencken ridiculed the ignorant masses when he coined booboisie as a pejorative play on the term. 2. Great unwashed: The common people. An epithet of contempt for the lower classes, based on the supposition that their hygienic habits are inferior to those of the upper classes. The expression is said to have been first heard in speeches around the turn of the eighteenth century, but the first documentation is in a novel by Edward â€Å"It was a dark and stormy night† Bulwer-Lytton. 3. Hoi polloi: The first word of the Greek phrase referring condescendingly to the common people means â€Å"the,† but because the phrase is not a common term in a familiar language, it is still assigned the English article: â€Å"the hoi polloi.† 4. Little people: The common people. The sense is of an inconsequential mass populace. 5. Mob: The masses as a mindless single entity driven by base or anarchic impulses. The term is a truncation of the Latin phrase mobile vulgus (â€Å"vacillating crowd†). The word is therefore an abbreviation of the adjective describing the people’s actions, not the people themselves. (From vulgus we also get vulgar, which, originally, rather than having a pejorative connotation, was a neutral term meaning â€Å"typical of people.†) 6. Peons: Menial workers. The implication is that such people can be denigrated and/or exploited with impunity. The term, taken directly from the Spanish word for a landless laborer, may also refer to indentured servants, those who are in peonage. 7. Plebeians: The common people. This word, derived from the Latin word plebeius, whose definition matches the one just given, implies small-minded attitudes and gauche behavior. Truncated forms include pleb and plebs; the plural form is plebes. (Plebe and its plural form are also slang terms for first-year students at military academies.) 8. Proles: The common people. This word is a truncation of proletariat, referring to laborers as a class. This latter term (a French word derived from the Latin term proletarius, in turn stemming from proles, or â€Å"progeny†) has an ideological connotation deriving from its use in socialist rhetoric to refer to the working people as the backbone of a society. In the slang phrase â€Å"lumpen prole,† however, the abbreviation is used in a pejorative sense with the implication that the working class consists of a mindless mob. 9. Rank and file: This phrase referring to the ordinary people in a company or organization is an extension to the civilian world of the original sense of the horizontal ranks and vertical files of soldiers in formation. 10. Riffraff: This term for disreputable people derives ultimately from rif e raf, a hybrid of English and French that means â€Å"altogether,† later evolved to â€Å"rif and raf,† or â€Å"every one.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Does [sic] Mean?50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetablesâ€Å"Least,† â€Å"Less,† â€Å"More,† and â€Å"Most†

Global Banking Operations and Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Global Banking Operations and Strategy - Essay Example The following ratios are calculated to evaluate the capital adequacy of RBS (Refer to Appendix 1 for the calculation of ratios) (Bhayani, 2006) From the above figure it is evident that the CAR of RBS has been fluctuating over the years. The highest CAR has been 15% (in 2008 and 2012). The capital resources of RBS comprise Tier 1 and Tier 2. Thus, it can be inferred that 15% of capital (Tiers) of RBS is needed for protecting its risk weighted assets in 2012 ( Hilbers, Krueger and Moretti, 2000). From the above figure it can analysed that the debt equity ratio of the bank has decreased over the years from 2008 to 2012. It can be noticed that RBS has been aggressive in 2008 regarding financing. However, the decrease in the debt equity ratio reflects the fact that RBS has become more conservative in financing its capital through debt (Grier, 2007). The asset quality is a vital factor for gauging the strength of a bank (Pastory and Mutaju, 2013). The main aim is to ensure the component of non-performing asset as percentage of total asset (Refer to Appendix 2 for the calculation of ratios). The ratio gauges the efficiency of the bank for assessing its credit risk and debt recovery (Wagner and Knaup, 2008). NNPA refers to the loans that are about to become default once the borrower fails to make the interest payment (Godlewski, 2003). From the above figure it is evident that the net performing asset has decreased over the year which means the numbers of customers who are not able to pay the interest have decreased. This reflects the fact that RBS has been performing well over the 5 years (Hoshi, Kashyap. and Scharfstein, 2009). From the above figure it is evident that the bank has concentrated in investing their assets over the years so that they can earn profitable return out of it. However, according to the graph, the total investment has reduced over the years. The decrease in total assets may be predicted as the increase in liabilities for

U03d1 Theory of Constraints Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

U03d1 Theory of Constraints - Essay Example The basic theory is that the lesser the barriers to the performance, there is higher chances of realizing the full potential. This theory helps provide a complete focus on five main aspects which include â€Å"identity constraints, exploit constraints, subordinate others, elevate constraints and repeat cycle† (Anderson, 2005). The theory of constraints is based on five steps. This is clear from the diagram below. Theory of Constraints in some ways is similar to lean thinking however along with the focus on the reduction of wastes, and increase in the process flow, the theory also focuses on throughput. However there is little or no focus on the emphasis of making money by selling products and services or also simply cutting costs (Jacob, Bergland, & Cox, 2009). In terms of the example of the correlation between the two selected processes, it is best to choose the internal process and the structural management process with the focus on quality service. Considering the health care organization, the main constraints and restrictions are mainly recognized by the stakeholders of the organization along with the supervision of the administration. Together they work towards the determination of the offered resolutions and also work towards the response and removal of or adding on to the necessities of the organization to have an overall effective and cost efficient process. The health care industry can overall be improved to a great extent using the Theory of Constraints and the overall management as well as the staff credentials can be improved based on the needs of the organization (Goldratt, 1999). The overall organization can be improved to a great extent by increasing the operational flow, improving the communication and also working on the s taff awareness and cohesive delegation of the tasks. Together the overall processes can be improved and the Theory of Constraints’ five step program

Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment Term Paper

Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment - Term Paper Example During the revolution, European philosophers tore down the faulty set of scientific viewpoints established by the forefathers and maintained by place of worship. To replace this inconsistent knowledge, scientists sought to ascertain and convey the factual laws leading the phenomena they experiential in nature. Of all the revolutions that swept over Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, the most generally dominant was an epistemological revolution that is also known as the scientific revolution (Dupre, page 20). The scientific revolution never occurred instantly, nor begun at any set date. The scientific revolution that is associated with Francis Bacon, Galileo, and Isaac Newton, started much earlier. The period can be back dated to the work of Nicolaus Copernicus at the commencement of the sixteenth century, or Leonardo da Vinci in the central point of the fifteenth century. Although it would require centuries to create, the Scientific Revolution commenced near the conclusion of the Middle Ages, when farmers started to study, notice, and record those ecological conditions that produced the best yields. In time, inquisitiveness about the world extended, which led to additional innovation (Ellen, & Reill, p. 543). The Church’s compassionate stance toward science transformed unexpectedly when explorers like Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei started inquiring the ancient knowledge of Aristotle and other usual truths. Galileo’s labor in the fields of inertia and physics was pioneering, while Kepler’s laws of planetary movement exposed, among other effects that the planets stirred in elliptical orbits. Galileo especially met significant confrontation from the Church for his encouragement of the hypothesis of Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, in late fourteenth and early fifteenth century, who had affirmed that the sun, not the planet earth, was the core of the solar structure and not vice versa, contrary to church’s stand and belie f. Though up against substantial Church resistance, science moved into the limelight in the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Galileo had long alleged that scrutiny was a necessary constituent of the scientific technique a point that Francis Bacon coagulated with his inductive technique. Sometimes known as the Baconian technique, inductive discipline stresses surveillance and analysis as the means for coming to common conclusions. A later modern, Rene Descartes, selected where Bacon stopped. Descartes’ abilities ran the gamut from arithmetic to philosophy and eventually the amalgamation of those schools. His job in joining geometry and algebra revolutionized both of those disciplines, and it was Descartes who initiated the idealistic conclusion of asserting that, if nonentity else, he was at least a philosopher. Descartes’ deductive advance to philosophy, using logic and math, enforced a distinct and clear basis for thought that still relics a standard for diffic ulty solving. As it came out, all of these improvements of the scientific uprising were actually just a basic coverage for Englishman Isaac Newton between1642–1727, who cleaned in, built upon the job of his forerunners, and changed the features of mathematics and science. Newton began his vocation with mathematics job that would eventually develop into the entire discipline of calculus. From there, he carried out tests in math and physics that exposed a number of natural regulations that had previously been accredited to divine forces.

Philip Pearlstein Two Models with Blow-Up Chair & Salvador Dali Essay Example for Free

Philip Pearlstein Two Models with Blow-Up Chair Salvador Dali Essay Through the development of art, the fascination of the female body has been a main motif. It is Venus, Roman Goddess of love who has intrigued the artist, and held their attention for well over a few centuries. She has been not only Venus, but also Aphrodite (the Greek Goddess of Love), she has been Mary, mother of Christ in Gothic tradition and she had been found in the countless faces of women depicted by Picasso, Monet, Degas, Warhol (for isn’t Monroe a goddess? ). The link in these references is that this goddess, whomever she is, is holding the fascination of male artist. This is not to say that female artists have not taken up the trend which she invokes, but the purpose here is to discover how differently she is seen through their eyes in comparison with male visions of ‘love’. Pearlstein’s innovation in completing this project is one of Modernism, mixed with Realism. Pearlstein paints an oil painting of two females. They appear plastic wrapped within the canvas due to the severe highlights Pearlstein applies to both of their bodies. They lay beside each other, one on the chair the other next to the chair, and they both appear to be asleep. These two models or Venus’ are full frontal nude. The viewer is unable to see if they are ashamed or not from their faces because one of them is hiding her face and the other one’s head extends beyond the canvas (this is a trademark of Pearlstein). Though both Venus’ are or appear asleep they are active with the coloring and highlights which Pearlstein has seen fit to attribute to them. The line of light glares down the frontal figures body, highlighting the left breast, the stomach wrinkles and over the curves of both of the legs. This mimics the curves and highlights given to the plastic chair which she ‘sleeps’ upon. The other model fades into the background, yet still has that tiny shot of highlight upon the same appendages and other body parts which the first Venus had on her. The interesting item in this painting is that there are two female figures being painted. This is coupled with the fact that here too, like all the ones before it, Venus is apathetic, or at best the viewer is unable to tell what she (they) are feeling. Never mind the composition, Venus is still without a ‘voice’ in this painting. Through the very brief glimpse of feminine fecundity, and pulchritude, Venus remains elusive, and stoic. It has taken the art movement of the 20th century to see the full force of Venus. She has, with the help of female artists, broken her silence. In Dali’s oil on canvas The Persistence of Memory (1913) the theme of paranoia is persistent in this dreamscape. The distortion of the piece exudes a frightening use of spatial mobility and form. Surrealism is a way in which the expression of fantasy can be forthcoming in the world of Art. Dali exemplifies this notion in his use of foreground and background shapes and the pure psychic automatism which is symbolized in the clocks. Dali’s focus in this work is mainly about freedom; although the context of this work is based on paranoia and the weightiness of time the work is also free from previous constraints of other artistic movements in that it is not a painting dedicated to reason or moral purpose. Dali’s painting is that of a dream and reason becomes a series of disjointed objects in space; there is no rhyme in his work unless it is free verse; that is to say that there is no structure as prior to surrealism the viewer is used to seeing structure. Dali’s work often reflect what Virginia Woolf was so diligently experimenting with, which is unconscious writing or free narrative. Dali painted as though the conscious mind was sleeping, and that is why his paintings are so often reminiscent of dreams as Janson states, â€Å"The notion that adream can be transposed by ‘automatiatic handwriting; directly from the unconscious mind to the canvas, bypassing the conscious awareness of the artist, did not work in practice. Some degree of control was unavoidable. Nevertheless, Surrealism stimulated several novel techniques for soliciting and exploiting chance effects† (Janson â€Å"The History of Art 807) . Even the central figure in The Persistence of Memory is portrayed as though it were sleeping. The unfinished background is almost anachronistic with the foreground as it exhibits a cliff sliding off into a body of water. It seems as though Dali made the background on purpose to confuse the viewer since dreams are intended to be symbolic of personal meaning. The sky in the background also seems incomplete with no visible clouds but merely a color palette that drifts off into a sfumato haze. The background however is not what Dali wanted the viewer to be stricken with as a first impression. The central figure of the painting is unfinished as well. Dali painted an eyeball, and a nose and made no more attention to the rest of the figure. This feeling of incompleteness is unnerving and truly embodies the emotional state and perception of dreaming. The painting is purely inspired by that part of Dali’s unconscious mind. Although the painting exhibits that Dali used controlled in certain aspects of the work such as the use of diagonals, and linear shapes, but the overall impression of the painting lies within the angles, the objects and the general ambience of the piece. The clocks themselves prove to be unnerving both their positions and their lack of solid form, as though they are oozing across the plane in the foreground and the limb near the horizon of the painting, as well as across the half finished face. Another artistic ploy that Dali uses in The Persistence of Memory is his use of shadow; not merely darkness but the chiaroscuro so prevalent in the piece. This furthers the theory of this paper that Dali uses surrealism to tap into the unconscious and the dream world. Dali does the opposite in this painting of previous artists; he places the darkness in the foreground of the painting and the brightness in the background. This is symbolic because Dali wants to evoke to the audience that in the dream world the objects that are in front of the dreamer’s face are not always tangible but looming and undefined. In the background the objects are illuminated but this illumination does not add in defining the object because Dali here uses space to further illustrate his unconscious perspective; the objects in the background are too far away and cannot be seen. Thus, each part of the painting is uncomfortably defined. It is almost nonsensical; these objects of Dali’s in space without a coherent theme except for these persistence clocks. The clocks are the main meaning and focus of the painting and it is through these objects that the theory of this paper rests. The clocks present the theme of paranoia (as mentioned prior). Not only are they draped over the main objects in the foreground but their rendering is disconcerting. Each clock offers a different time, and one clock is closed so that the viewer cannot decipher its time. It is interesting that Dali did not distort the closed clock; it signifies a secret and further exemplifies the state of the dream world present in this painting; that is, the one clock that could offer a valid time is closed and unable to be seen by the painter, or the audience. The contention in the painting is that the central figure of the face is sleeping and is thus oblivious to the clocks, to time, to the unfinished landscape. That is the quintessential meaning of a dream; the sleeping figure is unaware to symbolism, to action, to time, and that is how Dali exudes incoherence in the dream world.

Steven Spielberg :: Essays Papers

Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg is an American motion-picture director, producer and executive, who has achieved great commercial success and is among the most popular film-makers of the late 20th Century. Spielberg made his first film at the age of 12. In 1969, his short film â€Å"Amblin† came to the attention of Universal Pictures and he signed a seven-year contract with them. His earliest commercial efforts were television movies, which included the f m â€Å"Duel† made in 1971, and which gained him wider recognition. In 1975 Spielberg made the film â€Å"Jaws†, a thriller based on Peter Benchley’s novel about a great white shark. â€Å"Jaws† proved to be a tremendous success and quickly established Spielberg’s reputation and fame. After this, with only few exceptions, almost every motion picture that Spielberg has handled has become a box-office hit, and he has been increasingly regarded as a film-maker of genuine artistic ability. Subsequent films have included â€Å" Close Encounters of the Third Kind†(1977), â€Å"1941†(1979), â€Å"Raiders of the Lost Ark†(1981) and it’s sequels: â€Å"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom†(1984) and â€Å"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade(1989), also â€Å"E.T.† (1982) which has been said to have been his greatest achievement, â€Å"The Color Purple† (1985), â€Å"Empire of the Sun†(1987), â€Å"Always†(1989) and â€Å"Hook†(1991). In 1993 Spielberg released two films that had tremendous commercial and artistic impact. â€Å"Jurassic Park† featuring computer-createad dinosaurs, which within four weeks of it’s release became the top-grossing motion picture up to that time. He als released â€Å"Schindlers List†, an epic of the Holocaust, this proved him to be a director of grear power and sensitivity, he received an academy award for best director and best picture. In 1987 he had received the Irving Thalberg Award. In 1994, with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, Spielberg formed a new studio, Dreamworks SKG, they also annouced the formation of a creative partnership with Microsoft Corporation - Dreamworks Interactive - to produce interactive games, videos a teaching materials.

Self-Assessment Final Reflection

Is one always in the process of learning? Of course! Every experience a person has makes them grow and develop. Through these experiences, they learn new materials, and at the same time, they learn about themselves as well. Learning to write is equally alike. As a person reads and writes more and more, a person is able to grow and develop their reading and writing skills. This summer was a growing experience for all students taking the writing 100 class. Personally, I believe I have grown as a writer.At the beginning of the bridge program, my CSP class was asked to write a paper. The topic was about why we decided to choose U of M as our college of choice. Writing the paper was a breeze and I felt confident that I would get a good grade. Unfortunately, when I was handed back my paper, I realized I earned a B on the paper. However, during the period of time where my professor was checking our papers, my Writing 100 class read David Bartholame’s article, Inventing the University .The first time I read this article, I did not understand what he was talking about and what his central theme way. However, after reading the article numerous times, breaking it down, outlining it, diagraming it, and writing about it several times, I was able to understand what he wanted the readers to know; a light bulb went off in my head. I saw the mistakes I made when writing my first paper for my CSP class. My essay demonstrated my lack of knowledge of the many various activities, and events held by the university.I was stuck in my common place, talking about only what I knew instead of seeking out information in order to expand my writing capabilities. I did not look on the internet to learn of any other information I could have used in the essay. Instead, I only wrote about what I knew. I also realized that organization was a key when writing an essay.   The largest critique I had on my essay was my organizational skills. My professor took off several points for jumping f rom topic to topic.Although my organizational skills were terrible when writing that essay, I believe I have gotten much better. This is due in part to Mrs. Allen. Throughout the writing course, she constantly encouraged us to think about our organization when writing essays, journal responses, and other writing activities. I’m grateful I learned how to better organize my papers, because during the second to last week of the intensive bridge program, I was asked to write a last journal for my CSP class. This time, we interviewed our parents and were asked to write about our experiences while nterviewing them. While writing this paper, I paid close attention to my organization. I made everything flow into each other. I also made sure that my paper went in chronological order so that it was easier to read and follow. My professor took about a week to grade my paper. During this time, I was able to ponder upon my essay. I knew what my professor was looking for, and I wrote for h im. I knew that I had done my best on the essay; my organization was solid and I had a nice flow. I finally received my essay back on August 10th, receiving a 25/25.I was ecstatic when I had received my grade. This is all thanks to my Writing 100 class and the hard work that I put into the class. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to take this class and learn to develop my organizational skills. Through taking this class, my writing skills increased immensely. When I wrote my first CSP essay, I had no idea that my organization was skewed and that I could improve. In my eyes, I thought that I did not need any help and that my writing was â€Å"perfect†, or at least, close to.However, I was able to learn that I needed to improve my organization in order to succeed as a college writer. Without this course, it would have been difficult for me to adapt to the college level writing required for an English class. The assignments we were required to read and write about taugh t me about my writing; I could see where I needed improvement. My experience demonstrates that with constant reading and writing, a person is able to continue learning more about their own writing in order to improve. There is always room for improvement.

Apocalyptic Literature

The immediate thought most of us have when hearing the word apocalypse is destruction. From modern doomsday novels to movies like the Viet Nam era Apocalypse Now, we associate the word with war and destruction. The word apocalypse actually comes from a Greek word meaning to reveal or to uncover. So, right off the back we have to adjust our view of Biblical apocalyptic literature. In and of itself, it does not refer to disaster and hopelessness. Instead, it refers to an unveiling of something hidden. In this case, it is the final chapter in the story of Jesus Christ and His victory over sin and evil. In this paper I plan to shed some light on the understanding apocalyptic literature, the characteristics of apocalyptic literature, and how a person should interpret biblical apocalyptic literature. How to understand apocalyptic literature? Understanding the meaning of the word apocalypse is key to grasping apocalyptic literature. Apocalyptic, as a term in the common language or dictionary definition, means something that is written in a warning and threatening way. It is scary, awkward, and about boding evil. The dictionary tells us it is presaging people of imminent disaster, exaggerated predictions, or allusions of the last days. However, this is not what it meant in the original Greek or Hebrew or in the time this term was penned. What did it mean? It means â€Å"discourser of events,† and that is what it literally and truly means to us today, too. It also means an â€Å"uncovering† or â€Å"unveiling,† and â€Å"Revelation† means â€Å"discourser of the apocalypse. † Apocalyptic is not meant to scare us or keep us away from interpreting Scripture; rather, it is meant to help us understand God, victory, hope, grace, God’s plan, and that He is indeed in control. The only people who should be scared are those who reject and hate Christ. When we see how this literature operates, it will help us greatly as it discloses for us the unfolding of historical events past, present, and future, with God’s plan and purpose being the ultimate goal. There for, if we take the time and effort to understand this type of genre, it will make things clearer for us it will expose, not conceal what God has for us. We need to realize that all languages use symbols and metaphors including Greek and Hebrew. If we assume a word is literal when it is not, we will make a wrong conclusion that will lead us and others away from the correct teaching. Then, if we teach it, we lead others astray from the correct teaching all because of our pride or ignorance of not correctly interpreting Scripture or reading the Bible for all that it is worth. For example, a parable should not be treated as history, nor should poetry (both of which contain many symbols) be treated as straightforward narrative; the same goes for apocalyptic literature. Most of the apocalyptic literature in Daniel and Revelation came to the writer as inspired by the Holy Spirit in visions. These are visions that came to them from God and or an Angel, with imageries that need to be put into human based words, but no words have the power or substance to contain the meaning. Therefore, a metaphor is used, as it is able to contain far more information about the â€Å"secrets† of Heaven and End Times than what a few sentences could. These images are usually explained and known to the writer and audience, but not so much to us today (Dan. –12; Rev. 4:9). What are some of the characteristics of apocalyptic literature? Apocalyptic literature is written in symbolism, poetry, and imageries, as well as in an Old Testament prophecy style (Matt. 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21; Rev. 1:2-4; 19:9; 22:7-19), all intertwined as a textile to describe literal events but with a twist, using language with symbols that are cataclysmic, words that are exaggerated, a nd metaphors that may be lost to a 21st century person. Such imagery is often used for God’s judgments and the end of days. These forms of language are often combinations of narrative and poetry written in vivid imagery and rhythmical phrases that are intended to express a deeper but not necessarily a hidden meaning that a regular word would not convey. Take our English word, â€Å"bull. † It normally means a male cow, but in context, it refers to not just a farm animal, but also could mean someone who is aggressive, an upswing in the stock market, someone who is clumsy, or slang for someone who is telling a lie. This simple word can be exaggerated for a purpose just as Daniel and most of Revelation uses language to express a point. Apocalyptic writing is also found in Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Matthew 24. Apocalyptic literature is a combination of narrative and poetry written in vivid imagery and poetic phrases that are intended to exaggerate for a purpose, such as in Daniel and most of Revelation. Apocalyptic writing is a more specific form of prophecy. Apocalyptic writing is a type of literature that warns us of future events, but the full meaning is hidden to us for the time being. Apocalyptic writing is almost a secret, giving us glimpses of what is to come through the use of symbols and imagery. We may not know the meanings now, but time will flush them out. How to interpret apocalyptic literature? We have to be careful how we interpret the Bible. Most of the time, we are to take his word literally; it means what it means and says what it says. However, in the genre of apocalyptic literature, the language is clear, such as the word, â€Å"lamb,† which is used often. We know what a lamb is and we know that Christ is described as a lamb, but do we also know that Jesus is the lamb been slain which means that Christ is the sacrifice? A lamb is the common animal that was slain and sacrificed for the atonement of sin and used for trade. Jesus replaces this lamb as the ultimate sacrifice, the sacrifice for our redemption. When you see the word, lamb, it is most likely referring to sacrifice and our Lord who offers us salvation (John 1:29; 1 Pet. 1:18-20). In contrast to the image of a lion which means sovereign and judge, the lamb was considered the weakest of all animals, needing constant attention and care just to survive. A lamb would die in the wild, whereas the lion would thrive. The image of the lamb was common in apocalyptic literature, also meaning victory and power through, and sometimes over death (Ex. 12:12-13; Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; 21:15; Rev. 17:14). You can see that these images and themes have or will have history and significance. When we come to words that seem peculiar to our modern minds, such as stars, the first-century Jews would know that it meant â€Å"angels†. Lampstands meant â€Å"churches;† the phrase, â€Å"wife of the Lamb† meant â€Å"Jerusalem,† and the great prostitute was a covert slogan to refer to â€Å"Nero† or any corrupt leader in power. Babylon usually referred to Rome (Rev. 1:20; 17:1-5, 18; 21:9-10). Babylon the Great mainly referred to Isaiah’s mockery of sin and those who follow it as a harlot does. It is a contrast of evil governments in resentment to God and God’s Kingdom, the captivity of the Jews under Babylon and its moral decadence, and the early Christians under Rome, which was also steeped in immorality. This is also a reference to how people are led captive into sin. It was a metaphor that meant to sin and fall into seduction, meaning what lures us away from faith and what replaces faith. The application of this phrase is that seduction becomes corruption; this can range from pagan worship and atheism to following what is fruitless and meaningless while ignoring our Lord. This is not necessarily referring to one specific person or entity or political system, but pointing the faithful to what is evil in general. Nor, does this mean that Babylon will be rebuilt or restored in some way. This theme is about enmity to God and people’s participation in it which is in direct contrast to what Christ offers and is—Pure and Holy (Is. 1:9; Jer. 51:7-8; Dan. 2:35, 4:30; 44; Rev. 13:1-18; 16:19; 17:1-5; 18:3; 18:2, 10, 21, also 4 Ezra). Another apocalyptic word is star. A star in ancient cultures was a popular expression for divinities or angels; context is the key. Is it talking about messengers, things to come, or stellar events such as astrology? If it is a message being delivered, it could refer to a mighty angel, or refer to a cosmic disturbance, an Angel or ser vant, or an instrument of God (Rev. 8:10; 9:1-11; 20:1). Context and commonsense are the keys. These images are metaphoric, or symbols of specific themes in judgment. The obvious is that the actuality of this passage is pointing to God’s power, but these events are not necessarily verbatim, as it would be seemingly impossible. How could one star, much less billions upon billions land on this plant that is a billion times a billion smaller? The answer is, it is figurative, and it is a mystery how this will be eventually played out and what we will see. This is a depiction, just as a first century Jew would read and write. What we do know is that it will not be the same! The point of this metaphor is that no one is immune from experiencing God’s judgment. The entirety of the universe will bear witness to God’s will as an incredible phenomenon, displayed in the cosmos, that will herald Christ’s Second Coming (Mark 13:24-26; Luke 2:25-27). Overall, it is important to note that 28 percent of the Old Testament is prophecy, most of which came to pass in the life and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The New Testament has over 20 percent of some form of prophecy too, of which most (although this is debated) has not yet come to pass. Therefore, apocalyptic literature is important because God has dedicated a significant portion of his word to it. Again, do not read in what is not there. We are given a clear warning in Revelation 22:18-19 not to add in our ideas or take a way His precepts and then teach what is false. I believe it is ok to speculate academically, research, and argue and deliberate over the views, but we are not to seek or read in what we want and then miss what he as. Bibliography Stein, Stephen L. , ed. The Encyclopedia of Apocalypticism. Vol. 3, Apocalypticism in the Modern World and the Contemporary Age. New York: Continuum, 2000. McGinn, Bernard, ed. The Encyclopedia of Apocalypticism. Vol. 2, Apocalypticism in Western History and Culture. New York: Continuum, 2000. Himmelfarb, Martha. The Apocalypse: A Brief History. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Cook, Stephen L. The Apocalyptic Literature. Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingdon, 2003.