Influence of Cold War on Development i the Third World Essay

Influence of Cold War on Development i the Third World - Essay Example Third world countries adopted capitalist economy that has hindered their developments in many ways. Considering the level of human interference such as government regulations, selfish interests and communism policies can be claimed to have hindered development. Permanent economic forces such as the forces of demand, supply, unemployment, and inflation have been consistently applied in academic teachings where the forces are traced into a perfect self-balance in the free market economies. Unlike the free market economies that could have enabled third world countries to improve their economic prosperity through the self-balancing forces, the capitalist economies have continually had effective development. The forces of unemployment have driven most third world countries into underutilization of resources that could have been effectively used to advance economic developments into industrialization and self-sufficiency among the states. Moreover, third world countries continue to become under-developed due to lack of balance of the controlled and government regulated markets (Arnold Harberger, 1998, p50-54) The ideologies of capitalist states that spilled over into the third world countries have resulted in ownership of the biggest percentage of states resources by a few individuals, while the majority of the population continue to languished in poverty. The ideological frameworks have led into high level of inequality among people, since land and asset owners have accumulated wealth from the middle class and forced them into poverty. A good example of the capitalists market is Chile, which has experienced societal war of the middle class and the poor against the rich. Indeed, forty-five percent of the population was below the poverty line while ten percent of the population increased their income by eighty three percent since the introduction of the capitalist rule (Eduardo Galeano, 1983, p86). Geo-Political Framework It is believed that third world countries have remained underdeveloped due to domination of political framework where the society is forced into accepting the non-communi st system of governance and economic strategy. The systems of communism where people exist freely without being restricted and operating in free markets were barred by dictatorial rule. According to Garner (N.d), this kind of dictatorial rule seeks to manifest its ideologies and establish itself at the expense of the welfare of the society that has utilized liberal ideologies to build itself and live in harmony. The story of the three little pigs that built their houses with liberal ideas and freedom of choice represents the free market economy where democracy exists. This kind of ideology is what the third world countries need to protect against the ‘Wolf and its imperialist rule’ to achieve development and industrialization. This kind of government often faces a threat of revolution among members of the society. The Nicaraguan case is viewed as a social movement towards revolution against the imperialist ideological rule that has degraded humanity in poverty and despe ration (Ross and Levy, N.d, 410). Dictatorial rule was seen to subject citizens who were against this kind of rule to torture and even death. Citizens who were seen to have ideologies that were contrary to the system of

Why Effective Communication Is Important Essay Example for Free

Why Effective Communication Is Important Essay 1.1 Explain why effective communication is important in developing positive relationships with children, young people and adults. Communication is simply defined as the process of conveying information from one person to another. It can be verbal, no verbal, visual or written. Effective communication involves the ability to use these different methods of communication not just to pass on information but to also receive feedback or learn the other persons viewpoint. Therefore the goal of any communication is understanding. Hence, It is a social skill that is crucial for any relationship to succeed. Unfortunately, as easy as the definition of communication sounds, it is often the root cause of many problems in relationships. This is because effective communication involves much more than just talking to someone. It involves listening not just to what is said, but a whole lot of what is unsaid. Misunderstanding can occur when barriers to communication are not recognised and dealt with. Barriers, such as; Language differences Speech impairments Cultural differences Emotional state and attitude Prejudice Sensory impairments. In the area of supporting teaching and learning in schools, effective communication is vital as communication styles differ across the various kinds of individuals that one would have to develop relationships with in Schools. Children for instance think in black and white terms, young adults are starting to think more in grey terms and may have more emotional barriers to deal with. Adults on the other hand are more susceptible to cultural differences and sometimes prejudice. To use the same approach in communicating with these different types of individuals would result in misunderstanding and conflict.

Comparing Language in Baby of the Family and Black Girl Lost :: comparison compare contrast essays

Function of Language in Baby of the Family and Black Girl Lost      Ã‚   African American literature is a genre that has, in recent years, grown almost exponentially. African American novels such as Tina McElroy Ansa's Baby of the Family and Donald Goines' Black Girl Lost are increasingly becoming more popular with the public. Baby of the Family is a wonderfully written "coming of age novel" ("Reviews 2") about a young girl named Lena McPherson as she grows up and must learn to deal with her extraordinary powers. Much unlike this, Black Girl Lost is a "shocking novel" (Goines 208) about a young girl named Sandra, who is forced to live on the streets. Though each of these novels is unique in their own aspect, a common bond can be established between the two through the use of language employed in the text. Because of the various functions that language can serve in literature, it is a rather "fascinating phenomenon" (Blackshire-Belay 1) to study in reference to these two novels. In both Baby of the Family and Black Girl Lost, language is used to reflect the speech patterns of the minority culture, as a portrayal of different worlds within the novels, and acts as a mirror to the life of the main character in order to navigate plot speed.    Language can be defined as "a regularized symbolic code that connects its users in a symbiosis of substance" (Blackshire-Belay 1). Not only are we produced by language, but we produce through language (Blackshire-Belay 1). In other words, language is a very integral part of our lives, especially in literature. It can even be said that literature, "in its most profound sense, is the most complex use of language to create meaning" (Blackshire-Belay 4). Therefore, its importance should not be looked upon lightly. In both Baby of the Family and Black Girl Lost, it seems that language is being used in order to convey the minority experience to readers, whether they be of the African American race or the dominant culture. To accomplish this, each novel displays Africanisms, or qualities that are very common in the African American language. These qualities include emphatic speech such as double negatives, call and response phrases and also metaphorical language.

Compare and Contrast China

Compare and Contrast Essay The Mongols and the Franks similate in many different ways that lead to such rapid conquest throughout different regions in the world. Some of the similarities were how both of the famous rulers, Charlemagne (Franks) and Genghis Khan (Mongols) divided up their land to family descendants such as Kublai Khan. Some main areas in which they differ is through their way of living, culture and there religions that they practiced and allowed to be practiced such as Christianity and Islam.The Mongols and Franks have similar traits such as great rulers, which led to the conquest of massive land areas, and also being nomadic. They differ in agriculture techniques/ practices and religion such as Christianity and Islam. The Mongols and Franks raised their empires to be very successful in the manner of conquering many regions in a very quick time. The most important ruler for the Franks was Charlemagne and Genghis Khan was the one who started the Mongol reign throughout all of Asia.Another way that they also similate is through their nomadic lifestyles. The Mongols, as well as the Franks, traveled very quickly to maintain land in a faster manner and to increase the sizes of their empires. This increased trading routes and also led to many more diseases such as the bubonic plague. Although the Franks and Mongols shared great leaders, they have quite a few differences as well.One difference is that the Mongols were pastoral, which is living on horseback with their domesticated animals. On the other hand, the Franks were mainly an agricultural based society, raising livestock and using plows in the fields. Another way these to empires differ is through culture. The Mongols were tolerant of the cultures that they conquered, meaning that they let the people they conquered practice the religion/rituals the might do as long as they stay loyal to the Mongols.Meanwhile, the Franks gave the barbarians no say in what they can do in their free time. That means they were to all convert to Christianity or they will die. Simple as that. The Mongols also practiced Islam, along with Christianity, which would set another difference between these two diverse areas. In conclusion, the Mongols and the Franks had similarities in the rise of the empire and also had differences but these are what made each empire be successful for such a short period of time.

Renaissance (1300-1650), the Industrial Revolution Essay

Throughout history, slavery has played a very prominent role in shaping the world’s societies and economies. Across three time periods in particular, slavery throughout the world has notable similarities and differences in areas such as the status of slavery, the way slavery influenced society, and the motivation for a civilization to practice slavery. These time periods are the Renaissance (1300-1650), the Industrial Revolution (1700-1900), and World Wars I and II (1914-1945). Renaissance The time period known today as the Renaissance was, as its name means, a â€Å"rebirth† of Greco-Roman values. It was a reaction against the Dark Ages and stood in stark contrast to the medieval time period before it. The practice of slavery was no exception. Whereas slavery had fizzled out during the Dark Ages, it was instituted again during the Renaissance. Slavery in the Renaissance began in Spain, and for a while the Spanish played the primary part in the slave market. Soon, though, slavery spread to the other parts of Europe. This was especially true with the case of the Italian city-states in which the Renaissance boomed. As the Renaissance grew in Italy and as the city-states expanded, slavery became more and more widespread until Italy became a main user of slaves (Hooker). In contrast to slavery in the later periods of the Industrial Revolution and the two World Wars which is explained later in this essay, slavery in the Renaissance was not solely based on race, but mostly religion (at least in Europe; another type of slavery was practiced in America during the Renaissance, as explained later). Europe and Africa at that time was divided between Christians and Muslims, and so slavery in nations dominated by either religion was based on captured people from the other religion. In other words, in the Renaissance, Christians mostly enslaved Muslims and Muslims mostly enslaved Christians. In the case of the Italian Renaissance, Muslims slaves came from â€Å"Spain, North Africa, Crete, the Balkans, and the Ottoman Empire† (Hooker). The vast majority of slaves at the beginning of the Renaissance were white (Hooker). But as the Renaissance progressed, black slaves began to be used more and more widely. In the beginning of the Renaissance, these African slaves were acquired through Arabs in North Africa, who also held them as slaves. When the Portuguese started exploring the African coast, they participated in a black slave market, shipping slaves to the Americas and back to Europe (Guild). El Mina was the first slave trading post set up by the Portuguese on the West Coast (â€Å"Gold Coast†) of Africa (Guild). Thanks to enslaved Africans, the Portuguese were especially successful in their plantations in the islands off the west coast of Africa known as the Cape Verde, where they transported many of the Africans they enslaved to work in plantations there (Gascoigne). While most slaves in the Industrial Revolution did hard labor in fields, most slaves in the Renaissance were domestic slaves. This means that they did work in the home, doing duties for their masters around the house. Rich people in the cities almost always had one or more slaves. Instead of the brutal, inhumane treatment of slaves common in the Industrial Revolution, slave-owners during the Renaissance commonly integrated their slaves into the family. In both the Industrial Revolution and the Renaissance, masters claimed all rights for their slaves; they did with them what they willed. Therefore, there arises the similarity between all three time periods in that commonly the slaves were used as sex slaves, although sex slaves in the World Wars were used mostly just for sex, not for hard labor. When masters in the Renaissance had an illegitimate child with a slave, the child was not a slave but was free (Hooker). However, when a child was born to a slave and its master in the Industrial Revolution, the child became a slave like its mother (â€Å"Master-Slave†¦). While most slaves were domestic in the Renaissance, another form of slavery was surfacing, slaves used for cheap labor in plantations. In the Renaissance, slaves were starting to be used in plantations, mostly in America, but also in plantations in Italy and off the coast of Africa (Gascoigne). So, in both the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution, at least some slaves were used for hard labor. The Portuguese were the first to put slaves to work in plantations, and slaves soon came to be used on plantations in the Americas by nations such as Spain, Holland, France, England, and the Netherlands. The first slaves they enslaved in these colonies were the native peoples, but soon, the native population began to dwindle. Since Portugal had been exploring the coast of Africa and since Africa had a booming population of people, Africans became the people they predominantly enslaved (Guild). Thus, racial slavery was started. Blacks came to be viewed as lower than human, and this view spread to all the nations which came to have plantations in America. Millions of blacks were imported to plantations for sugar, spices, tobacco, coffee, etc. during the span of the Renaissance (Hornsby). Industrial Revolution Slavery went through many changes during the course of the Industrial Revolution. At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, slavery on plantations that had developed in the Renaissance continued to grow in the Americas. With the success of the plantations in America, what is known as the triangular trade began to form, and this trade majorly affected the world’s economies and prosperity. This system of trade is known as the triangular trade because the directions of travel for the trade were in the shape of a triangle—from Europe to Africa to the Americas and back to Europe. Items such as weapons, liquor, jewelry, and products made from cotton were taken to Africa from Europe and traded for slaves. These were loaded on ships and taken to the Americas. Conditions in the ships were horrible. Thousands of slaves were chained in very tight spaces in the ships. Disease permeated the hold where slaves were kept. Slaves laid in their own excrement and urine, and were fed barely anything. Many slaves died or committed suicide—an average of 16% of slaves. When the horrible trip was over, the remaining slaves were auctioned and sold in slave markets to plantation owners in the Americas. The products made in the plantations, such as tobacco, coffee, sugar, spices, and molasses which could be made into rum were then shipped to Europe, completing the trade system. The British were the primary traders in this system, but other nations participated (Gascoigne). Slavery greatly affected the Industrial Revolution. It made it possible to create and grow products in a shorter period of time and for less money. All the master had to do was to provide food, which he have very little of, so slaves provided very cheap labor. In the case of America, slaves operated the new inventions such as the cotton gin to make cotton products easier. This greatly affected the economy of America. The prosperity in the South boomed as agriculture continued to see success. This cotton industry and therefore the textile industrial majorly drove the Industrial Revolution in America. It became the primary export and cash crop. Hundreds of thousands of slaves were imported until 1808, when the American slave trade was banned. Still, hundreds of thousands of slaves were moved across America to the South and West to work on cotton plantations. These plantations and slavery in general brought in a huge profit for the American people. A similarity between slavery in the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution can be seen here—both used slavery as a catalyst for economies (â€Å"Africans.. †). But a difference is that most slaves in the Renaissance were domestic slaves in homes and were considered part of the family (Hooker). However, most slaves in the Industrial Revolution were plantation slaves and were considered less than human and were subjected to incredibly harsh treatment by their masters. However, near the Industrial Revolution, there was more of an awareness of the brutalities of slavery and more of a movement to stop it than the Renaissance. The final time period that will be discussed in this essay is the World Wars from 1914 to 1945. World Wars Forms of slavery used during World Wars I and II from 1914 to 1945 were very different from slavery before it and slavery after it. The wars during this period of history had a huge impact on all aspects of society, and so the status of slavery and the motivation for slavery was largely based on the huge wars taking place. During World War I and the time after it before World War II, outright slave traffic continued to be curbed in the areas of the world still practicing slavery. The slave trade still continued underground between countries in eastern Africa, especially Ethiopia, and the Middle East, especially Arabia. Throughout this period before World War II, there were outrages about revealed underground slave trades with enslaved Africans in Liberia and the Congo, and enslaved Native Americans in northern Peru (â€Å"Slavery†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Joseph Stalin was the dictator of the Soviet Union from 1927 to 1953. During his regime, millions of people were forced to work in labor camps. This was in accordance with the USSR’s Labor Code, which stated that all citizens must labor for the government. Prisoners, enemies of the state, and other convicts were sent to do hard manual labor in Siberia during this time. Citizens were accused of being enemies of the government and sent to work without a trial and without much grounds at all. Like in the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution, Stalin used his massive free labor force to build up the Soviet Union’s economy and to industrialize the nation. Labor projects included building roads and railroads, building houses and power plants, mining, cutting trees, working in fields, etc. The workers were given nothing but food. One third of all the workers died from the poor environment in which they worked and from starvation and the cold. They were brutally treated on unjust bases. Therefore, this â€Å"corrective labor,† as it was called, is really slavery at its core. World War II was the instigation of several other types of slavery, also, such as POW slavery, Holocaust slavery, and sexual slavery. Nazi Germany captured enemy civilians and soldiers and brutally enslaved them to fill the gaps in the workforce. Much of the weaponry made by the Germans during World War II was made by slaves. One manufacturing company alone – Krupp—held 100,000 slaves by the end of the war. Many of these slaves died from exhaustion, starvation, and lack of basic necessities. They were kept in stables like livestock. Those that didn’t die were forced to work in German factories and farms. In 1944, Germany held 9. 5 million slaves—7 million civilians and 2. 5 million captured soldiers. Russian women that the Germans captured were held as domestic slaves, and Russian adolescents that the Germans captured were apprenticed to German businessmen. Not only were the Germans notorious for their brutal system of slavery for prisoners of war, but even worse, they enslaved innocent Jews and other â€Å"undesirable† people during the Holocaust. As a method of exterminating them, these people were sent to labor camps where they were treated even worse than the prisoners of war. Children from 6-years-old up were forced to work in these camps. Slaves mined, built weapons, sewed, etc. Slaves there were driven to work too hard in tight spaces with the poorest of living conditions. They had poor and meager food rations and a shortage of shelter and clothing. Loads of people died from diseases such as tuberculosis, from being overworked, from the cold, and from starvation. Their corpses were systematically burned in huge crematoriums (Sylvester – everything above). The fact that there were scandals about slavery and labor camps during the time period of the World Wars indicates a similarity and difference between this time period and the Renaissance/ Industrial Revolution. A similarity is that all three time periods had some forms of slavery to enhance nations’ economies and extract resources. But a difference is that slavery in the World Wars was looked down upon and was underground, whereas it was not in the Renaissance. But there lies a similarity between the World Wars and the Industrial Revolution, in that in both, measures were enacted to end slavery and the slave trade. However, World War II had labor camps for prisoners of war and specific races, which had never been done before. It also had sexual slavery, which though it had been practiced before, never to the extent it was carried out in World War II. Some captured slaves in the World Wars were used as domestic slaves, as they were in the Renaissance. But in the World Wars, there was not the worldwide slave trade there was in the Renaissance and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Part 222 Introduction The 18th century English poet William Cowper’s poem, â€Å"Pity for Poor Africans,† accurately portrays the world’s mindset throughout history about slavery. A line from that poem reads, â€Å"I pity them [slaves] greatly, but I must be mum, for how could we do without sugar and rum? † This sums up much of the world’s motivation for millennia for slavery. Throughout history, slavery has been a way to easily derive resources and produce goods. It has played a very prominent role in shaping the world’s societies and economies. Though it may have struck a chord with peoples’ consciences, the world did not know how else to get luxuries and how to live without them, and so the world allowed this horrific practice to go on. This essay details more of how slavery was used as an economic stimulus, how the world finally took action against it, and what forms of it still were used after this action took place. Across three time periods in particular, slavery throughout the world has notable similarities and differences in areas such as the status of slavery, the way slavery influenced society, and the motivation for a civilization to practice slavery. These time periods are the Renaissance (1300-1650), the Industrial Revolution (1700-1900), and World Wars I and II (1914-1945). Conclusion As one can clearly see, slavery has been a major factor in affecting and molding the world’s economies and societies throughout all of history. It has gone through major changes, affecting the world as a whole, especially in three time periods, namely, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and World Wars I and II. Throughout all three and under many names, it was used as cheap labor to easily produce goods and advance civilizations’ economies. This slavery did, and it played a massive role in getting the world to where it is today. Without slavery, America might not have been industrialized or industrialized as quickly. Without slavery, we would not have the manufactured goods we have today. However, I am by no means condoning slavery; if slavery had not been practiced, millions of innocent, beautiful people would have lived their lives in freedom and would not have been torn away from their homeland, families, and livelihood to go labor without profit for people who abused and beat them. The Civil War would have been largely prevented if it weren’t for slavery. Though slavery was mostly domestic in the Renaissance, this does not make it any better. Also, the plantation slave emerged in that time period, and the triangular trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas continued well into the Industrial Revolution. Men achieved luxury through the pain and misery of others. Thankfully, mankind realized, though later than it should have been, how deplorable this system was. Finally, they put an end to it through abolitionist movements that spread throughout the world at the end of the Industrial Revolution. Yet, slavery continued in several other forms into the 20th century. Throughout the time period of the World Wars, labor camps emerged. Though these were seen as punishment for criminals and war prisoners, they were slavery at root, used to industrialize and make transportation routes, weaponry, etc. These labor camps were even used against innocent Jews and other â€Å"undesirables† during the Holocaust. Unbeknownst to the world for a time, even outright and brutal slavery was still used as exemplified by King Leopold of Belgium. Sexual slavery is another often overlooked form of slavery that had been carried out through past time periods like the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution but that was executed en masse by the Japanese during World War II. Still today, the pernicious act of slavery continues to be practiced, though concealed to the world, in underdeveloped countries of the world. Let us hope that mankind’s conscience continues to overshadow its greed and that slavery continues to be fought until it is completely wiped out the whole world over.

Definition and Examples of Appositives in English

Definition and Examples of Appositives in English In English grammar, an appositive is a  noun, noun phrase, or series of nouns placed next to another word or phrase to identify or rename it. The word appositive comes from the Latin for to put near. Nonrestrictive appositives are usually set off by commas, parentheses, or dashes. An appositive may be introduced by a word or phrase such as namely, for example, or that is. Appositive Exercises Practice in Identifying AppositivesSentence Building with Appositives Examples of Appositives My father, a fat, funny man with beautiful eyes and a subversive wit, is trying to decide which of his eight children he will take with him to the county fair. (Alice Walker, Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self. In Search of Our Mothers Gardens. Harcourt Brace, 1983)The hangman, a grey-haired convict in the white uniform of the prison, was waiting beside his machine.(George Orwell, A Hanging, 1931)The Otis Elevator Company, the world’s oldest and biggest elevator manufacturer, claims that its products carry the equivalent of the world’s population every five days. (Nick Paumgarten, Up and Then Down. The New Yorker, Apr. 21, 2008)Christmas Eve afternoon we scrape together a nickel and go to the butchers to buy Queenies traditional gift, a good gnawable beef bone. (Truman Capote, A Christmas Memory. Mademoiselle, December 1956)Television was left on, a running tap, from morning till night. (Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, 1932)Though her cheeks were high-colored and her teeth strong and yellow, she looked like a mechanical woman, a machine with flashing, glassy circles for eyes. (Kate Simon, Bronx Primitive, 1982) I have had the great honor to have played with these great veteran ballplayers on my left- Murderers Row, our championship team of 1927. I have had the further honor of living with and playing with these men on my right- the Bronx Bombers, the Yankees of today. (Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig, The Pride of the Yankees, 1942)The essence of loneliness is that one both remembers and hopes, though in vain, in the midst of ones dissolution. Plain nothingness compared to it is a comfort, a kind of hibernation, a tundra of arctic whiteness that negates feeling and want. (Alexander Theroux, in An Interview with Alexander Theroux. Review of Contemporary Fiction, Spring 1991)The Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, Africas only nuclear power plant, was inaugurated in 1984 by the apartheid regime and is the major source of electricity for the Western Capes 4.5 million population. (Joshua Hammer, Inside Cape Town. Smithsonian, April 2008)The Spectator. Champagne for the brain. (ad slogan for The Spectator magazine) Xerox. The Document Company. (slogan of Xerox Corporation)The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call out there. (Truman Capote, In Cold Blood. Random House, 1966)They passed the last house, a small grey house set in the open field. Yellow gullies ran across the field, bald plateaus of snow-smeared sod between gully and gully. (Robert Penn Warren, Christmas Gift, 1938)Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, inventor of the cornflake and peanut butter, not to mention caramel-cereal coffee, Bromose, Nuttolene, and some seventy-five other gastronomically correct foods, paused to level his gaze on the heavyset women in front of him. (T. Coraghassen Boyle, The Road to Wellville. Viking, 1993)Dads shop was a messy disaster area, a labyrinth of lathes...My domain was the cramped, cold space known as the music room. It was also a messy disaster area, an obstacle course of musical instruments- piano, trumpet, baritone horn, valve trombone , various percussion doodads (bells!), and recorders. (Sarah Vowell, Shooting Dad.  Take the Cannoli: Stories from the New World.  Simon Schuster, 2000) As I stood on the platform beneath another, fairly recent London civility- namely an electronic board announcing that the next train to Hainault would be arriving in four minutes- I turned my attention to the greatest of all civilities: the London Underground Map. What a piece of perfection it is, created in 1931 by a forgotten hero named Harry Beck, an out-of-work draftsman who realized that when you are underground it doesnt actually matter where you are. (Bill Bryson, Notes From a Small Island. Doubleday, 1995)The sky was sunless and grey, there was snow in the air, buoyant motes, play things that seethed and floated like the toy flakes inside a crystal. (Truman Capote, The Muses Are Heard)[N]othing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose- a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. (Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, letter I in Frankenstein, 1818)And then there was that feeling one gets in a ride to a cemetery trailing a body in a coffin- an impatie nce with the dead, a longing to be back home where one could get on with the illusion that not death but daily life is the permanent condition. (E.L. Doctorow, Homer Langley. Random House, 2009) Observations on Appositives The appositive is a substantive or nominal set off by commas from the word which it identifies. We say that the appositive is used in apposition with the other word. Ex: The king, my brother, has been murdered. Ex: we spotted Tom Hanks, the movie star, at the cafe yesterday.In the first example, the noun brother is used in apposition with the subject king. The appositive renames or describes the subject king by specifying which king the sentence is about. In the second example, the noun star is used in apposition with the proper noun Tom Hanks, a direct object. The appositive clarifies the proper name, telling us which Tom Hanks was seen. For all we know, the writer could have a cousin named Tom Hanks. Remember that the appositive and the noun to which it refers always share the same four properties- gender, number, person, and case- since they both name the same entity. (Michael Strumpf and Auriel Douglas, The Grammar Bible. Owl Books, 2004) Punctuating Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Appositives Bens brother Bob helped him build the house. If Ben has more than one brother, the name Bob would be necessary to identify which brother is being discussed- in other words, to restrict the meaning of the word brother. If Ben has only one brother, the name Bob would be additional information not essential to the meaning of the sentence; Bob would be a nonrestrictive appositive. Nonrestrictive appositives are always set off by punctuation. Since no punctuation surrounds the appositive Bob in this example, we know that Bob is a restrictive appositive (and that Ben has more than one brother). (Gary Lutz and Diane Stevenson, The Writers Digest Grammar Desk Reference. FW Publications, 2005)

Howard Roark, in Ayn Rands The Fountainhead Essays

Howard Roark, in Ayn Rands The Fountainhead Essays Howard Roark, in Ayn Rands The Fountainhead Paper Howard Roark, in Ayn Rands The Fountainhead Paper Essay Topic: Atlas Shrugged The Fountainhead That is probably the most selfish statement that you have ever heard in your life. Selfishness in our society is view as a bad thing. What if someone could perfectly articulate that selfishness, in its purest form, could be the best way to live your life? Ayn Rands rational selfishness is best shown by her two heroes, Howard Roark and John Galt, in the novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged respectively. Her philosophy has been read by, and influenced millions of people, including some of the worlds leaders of business. This selfish though, is not the selfish that you are accustomed to. Ayn Rand redefines the word selfishness through these two characters, and puts them above the lying, cheating and plundering of the recent plague of corporate scandal. More importantly, her philosophy is about man as a hero, and the triumph of the human spirit in its purest, selfish state. Ayn Rand uses Howard Roark, the protagonist in The Fountainhead, to show that the rights of the individual completely outweigh the needs of society as a whole. First, to establish a basis for her philosophy, Rand must make Roark fit the mold of a hero. What is a hero by todays standards? Someone who strives to be above the normal? Someone who has a certain aura about them that they have something more than most? Is this a hero? His face was closed like the door of a safety vault; things locked in safety vaults are valuable; men do not care to feel that. He was a cold, disquieting presence in the room; his presence had a strange quality: it made itself felt and yet made them feel that he was not there; or perhaps that he was and they werent (Rand, The Fountainhead 62). Roark has an uncanny ability to make those around him feel as though he is the only one in the room. This is a very powerful image when you look at the characterization of Roark. He goes through life with this power, this presence, that makes all others around him insignificant. This power is his ego. Rand makes him above all others, much like a super hero. Essentially though Rand believes that all men can be heroes and the accomplishment, creations, of man should be praised. President Herbert Hoover, before the popularity of Rand, shared the same pride in the accomplishments of men. Once in a speech regarding one of our national treasures, the dam that bares his name, Hoover expresses his pride in the heroic ability of man. It does give me extraordinary pleasure to see the great dream I have so long held taking form in actual reality of stone and cement. This dam is the greatest engineering work of its character ever attempted by the hand of man. The waters of this great river, instead of being wasted in the sea, will now be brought into use by man. The whole of this will translate itself . into millions of happy homes. out under the blue sky of the West (Stockdon 818). Roarks life and the vessel of philosophy that he is are best shown in two events in his life. The first is his expulsion from The Stanton Institute of Technology. Roark in his history at the school was a genius, in the subjects of math and engineering. In addition to that he was a genius in design, but this is where the universitys problem arose. Roarks convictions, when it comes to architecture, are unbreakable. The basis for his expulsion is his refusal to reproduce styles that are considered timeless. I do not understand why you want me to believe that this is great architecture. That, said the Dean. is the Parthenon. So it is. I havent the time to waste on silly questions. All right then. Roark got up, took a very long ruler from the desk and walked to the picture. Shall I tell you what is rotten about it? Its the Parthenon! said the Dean Yes, God damn it the Parthenon! Then Roark goes on, at length to explain that the reason that the Greeks designed things such as the Parthenon was because, previously to that period of architecture, columns and triglyphs were used to hide joints in wood. The Greeks then took there wooden principles and applied them to marble. Roark simply asks the question why should something that served one purpose as wood, serve the same purpose as marble. Roark is beautifully stubborn, but his stubbornness is justified because he is right, and he knows that he is. Roark is proud of man and the accomplishes that he has had. That is why he does not think that one should look at the accomplishments of the past only, and not strive to create. The Dean then asks him about his clients. If Roark continues to only design the way that he does, he is surely to not have clients. To Roark though that is a trivial thing. I could say that I must try to sell him (the client) the best I have and also teach him to know the best. I could say it, but I wont. Because I dont intend to build in order to serve or help anyone. I dont intend to build in order to have clients. I intend to have clients in order to build (Rand, The Fountainhead 26). Roarks selfishness is clearly shown by his lack of flexibility when it comes to his ideals. This is another trait that he has that makes him into a hero. I mean Superman is not ever a little bad. Rather, he never sways from being a good guy, never. Roark in the same manner does not sway from what he thinks is right. His righteousness, though, gets him into quite an ordeal. The most concrete testimony of Rands philosophy comes out in the Cortland Trial. Roark designed a government housing project on the sole terms that his original plans be left unchanged. When his plans are altered, he destroys his work by means of dynamite. Why is it so important that his plans be left unchanged? Simply put, Roark lives to see his buildings erected. Just as his buildings come to life, he also breathes life when the plans become reality. In his defense and summation he gives a speech that is unparalleled, except by another of Rands heroes. His speech is a retelling of the history of man, and the history of persecution of men that are like him. Roark refers to himself as a creator. His enemy is the second hander. The creators, create the things that the second handers give away. Charity and self sacrifice are the ideals of the second handers. Roark says: Men have been taught that it is the highest virtue to give. Yet one cannot give what has not been created. Creation comes before distribution. The need for the creator comes before any possible beneficiary (Rand, The Fountainhead 680). The second handers would not have anything if not for the creators. And yet the altruists want to take everything that he holds as sacred. The altruists want his buildings, which in turn he gives life to, loves, and extends himself into. Roark holds himself and his work as sacred and the second handers want to give it away before Roark even can create it. They want his individuality and that is what Roark cannot give and his summation explains this, and he is acquitted. Ayn Rand uses Howard Roark to establish her views on the needs of the individual, in contrast to the needs of society, as a whole. Although Howard Roark is essentially the voice of Rand, her philosophy is not fully developed through him. On the other hand, with John Galt, Rand culminates her philosophy by creating the most selfish character in the history of literature. Rand shifts gears from individual vs. society in The Fountainhead, to capitalism, business and government in her epic, one thousand seventy eight page novel, Atlas Shrugged. This novel describes a world where business men, musician, mathematicians and philosophers are persecuted for living their life to please themselves. John Galt is one of the victims of this society. He invented an engine that draws power from static electricity from the air. This invention would be the safest and most abundant source of energy the world has ever known, but the society wanted to take it from him so that he could not enjoy the fruits of his labor. So he simply destroyed the machine, his research and all blueprints so that they could not use it. Galt then gathers all of the men around the world that are persecuted like him and colonizes them to a secret location in Colorado. Just before Galt completely removes the men from the world he takes one last opportunity to address the world. In a very Ayn Randian way he gives a 42 page speech which is the heart of the philosophy of Ayn Rand. Rand believes in a system of pure, laissez faire capitalism. In this society the government has no role in the world of business. In the society that Rand creates in Shrugged the government rapes the business man of everything. The capitalist, selfish, business owners are plundered by the socialist system as Galt describes here: You did not care to allow rewards to be won by successful production; you are now running a race in which rewards are won by successful plunder. You called it selfish and cruel that men should trade value for value; you have now established an unselfish society where they trade extortion for extortion (Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged 976). I think that what Galt is saying here holds some truth. There are times when I think that the government does not allow business to do as much as they would like. Recently, Bill Gates, an avid reader of Atlas Shrugged, and his corporation Microsoft, came under fire from the American government on grounds of monopolizing software. In the end he ended up compromising and the government essentially won. On the other hand if I were Bill Gates, the second that the government brought charges against me I would have threatened to move my headquarters, currently in Seattle, Washington, 100 miles north into Canada. The government would have backed off pretty quick. As much as they do not want a monopoly they crave Bill Gates income tax and the taxes collected from the selling of Microsoft stocks on the market. The government wants everyone to have a fair shot but they also want the money generated by this countrys largest corporations. That is essentially what John Galt did. He took away what the government was trying to plunder, the selfish men of the world. You may be asking yourself; What does Ayn Rand believe, if any, is the role of the government? In Atlas Shrugged the government has control of everything and their power is unlimited. In our society, the government plays a pretty large role. John Galt, speaking for Ayn Rand on page 972, says that: The only proper functions of the government are: the police, to protect you from criminals; the army, to protect you from foreign invaders; an the courts, to protect your property and contracts from breach or fraud by others. John Galt and Rand would agree that the governments role is merely for an individuals protection from other individuals. They would agree in the minimalization of government as much as possible. This type of political philosophy shows up today in various ways. For example, a hot topic now is privatization of social security. Personally, I believe that social security should be eliminated entirely, but at least I should be able to take my money out of the hands of the government. The government has bankrupted the social security trust fund by seven trillion dollars. I will never see a dime of social security, yet I am still paying. Rand, Galt, and Roark would agree with me that this concept takes away from the virtue of selfishness that they live by. Galt is the vessel by which Rand professes her philosophy on business, and his extreme selfishness and desire to reap the rewards of his hard work are the ideals at the heart of Rands philosophy. It is when this selfishness is taken out of context that some controversy can arise. Ayn Rands philosophy of rational selfishness has touched the lives of millions of people. In a recent poll of American Book Club members, Atlas Shrugged has been named the second most influential book of all time. Second on to The Bible, Atlas Shrugged has influenced some of the most powerful men and women in the world. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple computers has read the book. As I mentioned before, Bill Gates, the worlds richest man, has read the book. In addition, the most powerful man in the world, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, not only read the book, but he was a member of Rands inner circle. Journalist Michael Lewis wrote that Greenspan has preserved a hard core of fanaticism, encasting it in a shell of pragmatism, waiting for everyone to realize that extreme laissez faire capitalism is the best system (The American Enterprise). In the United States today their is a corporate witch hunt underway and the target is big business. The executives of Enron and Worldcom have lied to, cheated and deceived their shareholders. The media targets selfishness as the motive for these men and their inexcusable behavior. Because Ayn Rand is an advocate of selfishness, big business, and because these executives have all read Atlas Shrugged, Rand has been found guilty by association and coincidence, of justifying the actions of these execs. The media associates Atlas Shrugged with greed, deception and fraud, which all these executives are guilty of. In contrast though, it is the media who is guilty of selective reading and misquoting the second most influential book of all time. A recent USA Today articles headline reads: Scandals lead execs to Atlas Shrugged; 1957 Ayn Rand novel sanctions self interest. Just by that association Rands novel has been connected to the actions of the executives. The media makes multiple mistakes which make their claim untrue. The first is that Ayn Rand redefined the word selfish in her two epic novels. The media does not apply Rands definition of selfishness to the acts of these executives. Of course when you call these men selfish by the definition most widely used they would fit the description. On the other hand, they neglect to compare these men to the meaning of selfishness described by Ayn Rand. The second mistake that the media has made is that they have selectively read some of the book and have left crucial pieces out to fit their own needs. John Galt in his speech says; that neither love, nor fame, nor cash is a value if obtained by fraud (Rand, Atlas Shrugged, 932). John Galt, or Ayn Rand essentially, feels that fraud makes your selfishness void. A truly selfish man earns his wealth through his own hard work alone. These men lied on their annual earnings and fooled their stockholders, while at the time they were frantically cashing in their stock, essentially getting rich. Not only would Ayn Rand condemn these men she would probably spearhead the investigations. This is another example of taking things out of context. When the media leaves crucial things out they are, ideally, doing a great injustice and turning many people off to a great author. When I was a child I used to pretend that I was one of many super heroes. I used to take off all of my clothing, except underwear, tie a towel around my neck, and pretend that I was Superman. It is this mentality that Ayn Rand attempts to draw out with her philosophy. Not the mentality of a child, but the common desire that we have to be a hero. Her Supermen, Howard Roark and John Galt, lead the reader to agree that they can do something great with their lives. Rands work has such appeal and will continue to have it, because it appeals to the individual, not the collective. These are the principles, by which, this country was founded and it is the reason why our system is working. Capitalism allows the potential for us all to be heroes. They dont call it living the American dream for nothing. The words of Howard Roark say it all: Now observe the results of a country built on the principle of individualism. This, our country. The noblest country in the history of man. The country of greatest achievement, greatest prosperity, greatest freedom. This country was not based on selfless service, sacrifice, renunciation or any precept of altruism. It was based on a mans right to the pursuit of happiness. His own happiness. Not anyone elses. A private, personal, selfish motive. Look at the results. Look into your own conscience.

Make a Science Fair Poster or Display

Make a Science Fair Poster or Display The first step to creating a successful science project display is to read the rules concerning the size and types of materials allowed. Unless you are required to present your project on a single board, I recommend a tri-fold cardboard or heavy poster board display. This is a central piece of cardboard/posterboard with two fold-out wings. The folding aspect not only helps the display support itself, but it is also great protection for the interior of the board during transport. Avoid wooden displays or flimsy poster board. Make sure the display will fit inside any vehicle that is required for transportation. Organization and Neatness Organize your poster using the same sections as are listed in the report. Print each section using a computer, preferably with a laser printer, so that bad weather wont cause the ink to run. Put a title for each section at its top, in letters large enough to be seen from several feet away (very large font size). The focal point of your display should be your purpose and hypothesis. Its great to include photos and bring your project with you  if it is allowed and space permits. Try to arrange your presentation in a logical manner on the board. Feel free to use color to make your presentation stand out. In addition to recommending laser printing, my personal preference is to use a sans serif font because such fonts tend to be easier to read from a distance. As with the report, check spelling, grammar, and punctuation. TitleFor a science fair, you probably want a catchy, clever title. Otherwise, try to make it an accurate description of the project. For example, I could entitle a project, Determining Minimum NaCl Concentration that can be Tasted in Water. Avoid unnecessary words, while covering the essential purpose of the project. Whatever title you come up with, get it critiqued by friends, family, or teachers. If you are using a tri-fold board, the title usually is placed at the top of the middle board.PicturesIf at all possible, include color photographs of your project, samples from the project, tables, and graphs. Photos and objects are visually appealing and interesting.Introduction and PurposeSometimes this section is called Background. Whatever its name, this section introduces the topic of the project, notes any information already available, explains why you are interested in the project, and states the purpose of the project.The Hypothesis or QuestionExplicitly state your hypothesis or question. Materials and MethodsList the materials you used in your project and describe the procedure that you used to perform the project. If you have a photo or diagram of your project, this is a good place to include it.Data and ResultsData and Results are not the same thing. Data refers to the actual numbers or other information you obtained in your project. If you can, present the data in a table or graph. The Results section is where the data is manipulated or the hypothesis is tested. Sometimes this analysis will yield tables, graphs, or charts, too. More commonly, the Results section will explain the significance of the data or will involve a statistical test.ConclusionThe Conclusion focuses on the Hypothesis or Question as it compares to the Data and Results. What was the answer to the question? Was the hypothesis supported (keep in mind a hypothesis cannot be proved, only disproved)? What did you find out from the experiment? Answer these questions first. Then, depending on your answ ers, you may wish to explain ways in which the project might be improved or introduce new questions that have come up as a result of the project. This section is judged not only by what you were able to conclude  but also by your recognition of areas where you could ​not draw valid conclusions based on your data. ReferencesYou may need to cite references or provide a bibliography for your project. In some cases, this is pasted onto the poster. Other science fairs prefer that you simply print it out and have it available, placed below or beside the poster. Be Prepared Most of the time, you will need to accompany your presentation, explain your project, and answer questions. Sometimes the presentations have time limits. Practice what you are going to say, out loud, to a person or at least a mirror. If you can give your presentation to a person, practice having a question and answer session. On the day of the presentation, dress neatly, be polite, and smile! Congratulations on a successful science project!

Advertising & Consumers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Advertising & Consumers - Essay Example and Trehan, R. (2011) as advertisement. According to Bishnoi and Sharma (2009), advertisement refers to a persuasive, normally paid for, impersonal communication on services, products or ideas through various media by a specific sponsor. The intention of the advertiser would be to spread ideas on the product and offerings, recognised by Belch, George Edward, Belch, George Eugene & Belch, M. (2006) as a marketers’ tool of communication to customers. Wang, Zhang and Ouyang (2009) categorise the effects of advertising as either intermediate, which influences the beliefs and attitudes of consumers or behavioural, which relates to the purchase and brand choice of consumers. Advertisement banks on psychological factors that influence consumer behaviour to reach out to the customer. These psychological factors include learning, personality and lifestyle, attitude, image and individual needs. Studying these factors would guide the advertiser on the message, ad-appeal, colour, illustra tions, media, media scheduling and the layout of the ad-copy among other critical advertisement factors. If these consumer behaviour factors would be related to the target audience, advertisers would come up with effective advertisements. Impact of advertisements on consumer behaviour ... Sutherland (2009) appreciates the importance of repetition in advertisements with consistency in messages so as to increase familiarity especially with the use of a catch line, an observation opposed by Chung and Zhao who noted that â€Å"ad repetition has no influence on perceived humour and overall effectiveness of advertising† (2003, p.121). Percy and Elliott (2012) add to this debate arguing that in direct response advertising, there would be no need for repeated advertising as action terminates with a single purchase. Consumer choices would be influenced by the brand and product image and their perception towards them (Percy & Elliot, 2012). Through advertisement, advertisers could change consumers’ perception through association of the product with attributes appealing to the needs of the consumer. Consequently, in their minds, consumers would associate that attribute to that particular brand more than they would for competitor’s brand, thus influencing pur chasing behaviour (Sutherland, 2009). Different organisations would have differences in their dependencies on advertisement to sell their products. For example, a cereal company would have to advertise more due to the existence of varied competing products as opposed to a power company which has minimal or no competition (Yeshin 2006). A strategy that advertisers employ to influence consumers to purchase products has been noted to be the creation of a feeling of lack or scarcity (Wells & Foxall, 2012). But noting the role that brands play in influencing consumption of products, Dahlen, Granlund and Grenros (2009) introduce an important role of advertising in brand

Nike Sweatshops Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nike Sweatshops - Case Study Example According to the paper the suffering was based on working long hours some up to 13 hours in a day, the overtime was forced upon the employees and not compensated, and there were higher case of child labor encompassing children of even 8 years working for around 9 hours in a day. This was in addition to the extra low wages they were being given which was way lower than the recommended minimum wages in the country as well as being physically punished by the supervisors. From this paper it is clear   that the ethical framework approach ensures a reduction of the suffering mentioned above and increases the benefits that the workers can accrue by working in Nike Inc. especially in the Asian nations of Vietnam, Taiwan where the suffering was in excess. This means starting with the issue of how workers are being treated where they are physically abused by the supervisors. This should be followed by the issue of eliminating completely child labor as this is morally wrong. The issue of working hours and overtime should be addressed according to the international labor laws. This should be followed by the wages being paid to be raised to at least the minimum wage required. In the end, the workers will be happy working for the organization which will in turn increase their productivity as well as save the company from having to use large sums of money paying off the politicians and other health officials to avoid being exposed or inspection of the factorie s. Nike should have first paid the employees for the pain they have caused them all this long. This should have been followed by a public apology from the top management of Nike Inc. who would express their unethical behavior and the changes that would follow.

Article Critique Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Article Critique - Research Paper Example The article clearly discusses the results of recent experiences with the use of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest in a patient. The layout of the article itself flows well and offers a clear and distinct linear progression. The four doctors who participated in the research, Sagalyn, Band, Gaieski, and Abella are from the Department of Emergency Medicine and Center for Resuscitation Science at the University of Pennsylvania. Their departmental positions indicate a high degree of knowledge in this field, and make them uniquely qualified to write this particular article; with qualifications such as these it would be easy to believe that they have the necessary skills to make this type of analysis on the subject. The abstract offers a clear overview of the study itself, detailing what their objectives were, the setting in which their review took place, the subjects used as a part of the study, the measurements that were taken, and the main results of the outcome of the analysi s itself. Each specific section offers a concise summary for that heading, and, again, flows well and in a linear fashion. The phenomenon of using therapeutic hypothermia after a patient experiences cardiac arrest is clearly identified and the question addressed by the paper is thoroughly discussed, complete with ample research into the matter. The question presented was whether or not therapeutic hypothermia was beneficial after a patient experiences cardiac arrest, with the results showing â€Å"increased survivial with an odds ratio of 2.5 and favorable outcome with 2.5† (Sagalyn, Band, Gaieski & Abella, 2009). The specific purpose of the article is easy to identify, determining whether or not therapeutic, clinically induced hypothermia is beneficial to the patient after they have experienced a heart attack, and the conclusion of this research is likewise concisely stated; â€Å"the survival and neurological outcomes benefit from therapeutic hypothermia are robust when co mpared over a wide range of studies of actual implementation† (Sagalyn, Band, Gaieski & Abella, 2009). The literature review was done in order to gain the initial data to be able to start the research project itself, and as such, added information on the topic itself, as it provided the burden of proof for the theory itself. It was highly inclusive of the subject being explored as a result, for it was the primary methodology used in order to gain the data to correlate the theory and gain proof for the theory itself. The theoretical framework present was the benefit of clinically induced hypothermia on cardiac arrest patients outside of a clinical trial, directly relating to the question that the paper itself strives to answer. It is clearly detailed in the first and second paragraphs of the research article itself, and is used to provide the setting for the remainder of the paper itself. The specific sample method and sample size is not identified; however, the process used to determine if a study could be used as a part of the data for this particular study is detailed. The participants identified for the study were included or excluded on the basis of only a few qualifiers. â€Å"

Agricultural sector for the country Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Agricultural sector for the country - Coursework Example Therefore, agriculture is rated as one of the crucial economic sector in Cambodia, this is because it represents more than 30 percent of the country’s GDP. Most of the Cambodia household lives in the rural regions. With such a population, most families depend on agriculture. The agricultural sector offers employment to more than 50 percent of the population. The highest rate of employment experienced by the country was in 1998, where it recorded a rate of 78%. Most income for rural household is low, thereby resulting to food insecurity. A percentage of the Cambodia population stays in plateau region that had limited access. However, due to the contribution of agriculture to the economy, the roads are well connected to major cities. Therefore, Agriculture has remained to be one of the most important sectors in Cambodian economy, based on its share of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the country and contribution to

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 35

History - Essay Example Religious Concepts: The religious concepts of this region are also very unique as compared to the rest of the world. This is again due to the lack of access to this region from foreign powers. The main ancient religion in this area was Shangdi. This was the worship of one Supreme Being or power known as heaven or god. Other religions such as Confucianism and Taoism were developed later. Culture: The highlight of this region’s culture is their association of philosophy and religion. The Chinese culture is inspired by Confucianism, with calligraphy being their most prominent art from. Development of Political, Economic and Social Organizations: The development of an economic organization can be detected to more than a thousand years in this region. The political organization however is still new and is marked by the recent communist ideology of China which dominates this region geographically. Religious Concepts: The two main religions of the region are Hinduism and Islam. Hinduism is practiced mostly in the subcontinent. As a culture this region has always shown close association to religion. Culture: The culture of this region is rich with art, poetry and architecture. This region has produced some phenomenal poets like Mirza Ghalib. The art and poetry of this region is reflected strongly in the local religion Hinduism. Development of Political, Economic and Social Organizations: Due to a very long occupation by Britain, the region has not yet developed in terms of social or political organization and therefore is in the initial stages of development. Some progress has been shown both in economic and political organization by

Agricultural sector for the country Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Agricultural sector for the country - Coursework Example Therefore, agriculture is rated as one of the crucial economic sector in Cambodia, this is because it represents more than 30 percent of the country’s GDP. Most of the Cambodia household lives in the rural regions. With such a population, most families depend on agriculture. The agricultural sector offers employment to more than 50 percent of the population. The highest rate of employment experienced by the country was in 1998, where it recorded a rate of 78%. Most income for rural household is low, thereby resulting to food insecurity. A percentage of the Cambodia population stays in plateau region that had limited access. However, due to the contribution of agriculture to the economy, the roads are well connected to major cities. Therefore, Agriculture has remained to be one of the most important sectors in Cambodian economy, based on its share of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the country and contribution to

Molecular Biology and Molecular Diagnostics Essay

Molecular Biology and Molecular Diagnostics - Essay Example The magazines are always aimed at the general public, therefore the language employed is standard and can be comprehended by any age group, individual. This paper aims at exploring the form and nature of molecular biology with the particular interest in understanding the interactions between the distinct systems of a cell. The paper will look at the interaction between RNA, DNA, protein biosynthesis, and how the interaction can be used in the diagnosis of a named disease. Molecular biology is concerned with the development, structure, and function of macromolecules critical to life (Carson, Miller, and Witherow, 2012, p. 19). The field digs deeper to explore the role of macromolecules in cell replication and how genetic information is transmitted from one stage of life to another. Basically, molecular microbiology aims at analyzing how the DNA can be manipulated in order to mutate or sequence it. A mutat3d DNA is usually inserted into the genome of a living being to offer some mutation effects caused by the phenomenon. Of late, there has been an increase in the study of molecules (Carson, Miller, and Witherow, 2012, p. 59). The studies have either been direct or indirect in their approach to the study of molecules. Direct studies have focused on the interactions of molecules (cell biology and developmental biology). Other indirect studies have focused on inferring historical attributes of species/masses (populations). A molecular diagnostic is a method that is employed to assess biological markers in an individual’s genetic code (in the genome and proteome). This aspect of cellular microbiology focuses on how the cells of individuals express their genes in the form of proteins. Molecular biology is applied in medical testing to monitor and diagnose diseases, identify risks, and decide on the kind of therapies that will achieve the maximum results (Clark, 2010, 170). ). Molecular biology has contributed to the detection and characterization of the management of disease-causing micro-organisms.  Ã‚  

Explain religious teaching about what it means to be a human Essay Example for Free

Explain religious teaching about what it means to be a human Essay Human has a embodied spirit who thinks, act, speaks and desires. Religious teachings say that humans are created in the image of god. They are different from animals because humans have the ability to love, be moral and have free will. Humans life is a gift from god. We must value life. God created us as intelligent beings with the ability to control our actions, urges and emotions. Christian teaches that free will is given by God. By free will, we shape our own lives. Bible says Humans are creation of God. God desired humans to exist. God gave us the ability to reason, speak and to live a moral life. Humans are mixture of earth and divine breath. Bible teaches that we are the incarnation of the divine and part of us is drawn from the earth. Everything created by god is perfect and it was intended. Of all the creatures in Gods creation, Humans are the only ones who enter into a dialouge with God which is by prayer. Most christians believe that humans are distinct from the animal word, and that the most important differences between animals and humans have is soul – a divine spark that sets them apart from other living things. This asserts that Christians do not treat animals as their equals, as only humans were made in the image of God. Christians believe in the sanctity of life, that there is something special and holy about life. Christians believe that humans have a soul which lives on after the body has died, this soul will then be judged and then can join God in heaven. God gave humans dominion over the non-human life, E.g. in Genesis Let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air suggesting human life has a higher value than non-human life, this shows God has given humans a big responsibility to life which exempliflies the value. God made man in his image many christians believe that God gave them the brains and the abilities to find cures for humans by experimenting on animals and not to use these abilities would be denying Gods plan for them. Some christians say that this gives them the right to use animals in  experiments because humans are of more value. As well in Genesis God said to Adam Rule Over all living creatures suggesting animal testing is acceptable. However, Some christians may be very much against this, as when God created the world, he saw that all that was in was good. Some say this means we should not experiment on animals because they are wonderful part of Gods creation. The earth is the Lords and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Human lives are special because it is a gift from God. Human lives distinct from any other creatures and are in higher positions. Humans have sanctity which relates to their dignity, which has both natural dimension, in terms of rational thought and moral decision-making powers. â€Å"Human beings have complete control over their own life and destiny.† (15 marks) How far might a religious believer agree with this statement? Everyone has a purpose of being in this universe because we all have a special position that is created by God. Humans make their own choices and lead on their life. But, God is always there to show people the right path. Only God has control over peoples lives. He decides when we die and when we born. Everything is in Gods hand as religious believer will say God created the world. Gods choices are always right. He is capable of carrying out any project to a successful conclusion without the possibility of fault or failure. Nothing in His universe happens by chance or accident. For every effect there is a cause. God is in control. We have freedom to choose within the constraints of who we are and the circumstances we find ourselves in. Yet while God controls those circumstances but does not control us. While God is able to control us, and if he wanted to he could override our freedom, he chooses not to. The concept of the control of God over everything is called the â€Å"sovereignty† of God. Nothing gives us strength and confidence like an understanding of the sovereignty of God in our lives. God’s sovereignty is defined as His complete and total independent control over every creature, event, and circumstance at every moment in history. Subject to none, influenced by  none, absolutely independent, God does what He pleases. God is in complete control of every molecule in the universe at every moment, and everything that happens is either caused or allowed by Him for His own perfect purposes. Religious believer might say that God is directing your steps down to the smallest details. He can make things happen that you could never make happen on your own. He is for you, on your side, and what He has purposed for your life will come to pass.

Jump Shot In Handball

Jump Shot In Handball The jump shot is one of the most important elements of handball as in the game, motor behavior are performed in specific conditions with the presence of players of the opposing team and while adhering to the regulations. However which areas can be controlled and are used to make the handball action more efficient? Thus we will look into the jump shot in which handball is analyzed in its different phases to find out its efficiency. The goals of the run, jump, shoot are ball velocity and accuracy. Maximum ball velocity and precision is required to minimize the chance of the opponent or goal keeper intercepting the shot. In team handball, shooting to score goals is one of the most important aspects of the game. In order for a shot to be successful, it must have maximum ball velocity and precision for an element of surprise for the goalkeeper (Wagner Muller, 2008). Wagner, Buchecker, Duvillard, and Mulller (2010) state that 67% of ball velocity at ball release was explained by the summation effects from the velocity of elbow extension and internal rotation of the shoulder. Thus we divide them into Approach, Take-off, Shoot, Land. Logically speaking, the faster the ball is thrown at the goal the goalkeeper will have a lesser time to save the shot. In order for a throw to be successful, the highest velocity at ball release together with aiming accuracy is required therefore during the game, thus the athlete has to keep up with the optimal efficiency of these two factors (Zapartidis, Gouvali, Bayios, Boudolos, 2007). Accuracy is something defined as variable. We didnt want to make it become a close-system where the subject keeps hitting at the same spot. Thus in the analyzing performance stage, we came out with a table to judge the subject throwing effectiveness in performing the skill. Zapartidis, Toganidis, Vareltzis, Christodoulidis, Kororos, and Skoufas (2009) reported that players during the game are notably affected by time as aiming accuracy or ball velocity gradually decrease. In all sports tasks, most coaches apply eight biomechanical principles when analyzing their athletes (Bartlett, 2007). These eight principles can be separated into two broad categories. The 3 basic universal principles; use of the stretch-shortening cycle, minimization of energy used, control degrees of freedom. The other 5 general principles; sequential action of muscles, minimization of inertia, impulse generation, maximizing the acceleration path, stability. These apply to sports tasks which are usually used by speed generation. However not all of the principles can be used to apply in every sport. For example, the stability is a one of the biomechanical principle which is applicable to sumo wrestling. Whereas it is not applicable in the game of handball, as there is a lesser emphasis on having a wide base of support for stability when preparing for a shot (Knudson, 2007). In handball, the biomechanical principles that can be applied are use of the stretch-shortening cycle, minimization of energy used, control degrees of freedom, sequential action of muscles, minimization of inertia, impulse generation and maximizing the acceleration path. The recruitment of each part of the body is important by allowing the development of maximal velocity of these parts. This begins from the proximal parts then to the distal parts of the body. The larger proximal joint starts the action by accelerating, thus a transfer of momentum results in a high velocity to the smaller distal joints. Each segments of the kinetic chain is linked to the stoppage of the proximal part results in the increase of angular velocity (Pori, Bon, Sibila, 2005). When performing the shot, certain physiological characteristics are taken into considerations. Therefore, at least for some muscular groups there should be the shortest possible time between extension and contraction for muscles involved in this phase (Pori et al., 2005). Pori et al. (2005) concluded that better players make use of extensors in the wrist better than worse players. Components of Skill 1. Approach (Run-up) Physique We assume there will be significant differences to the speed of ball release in our goal of skill regarding to body height and body weight between handball players of different performance levels (Hasan, Reilly, Cable, Ramadan, 2007). Are tall athletes better than shorter ones? Thus we have physique. Taller handball players with greater body weight have the ability to achieve a higher ball release speed (Wagner et al., 2010). Maximizing acceleration path is a critical factor Using the work-energy relationship which shows that a moving object is equals to work done. This is important for the handballer maximizing use of the run-up which to apply force (Bartlett, 2007). Using the formula: Velocity/Time Acceleration for an increase in velocity, acceleration also increases. 2. Take-off Contact Maximize force generation is a critical factor This is where the Angle, Speed, Height of Jump comes. Further increase in speed at take-off is required by generating more impulse just at take-off. Using the impulse-momentum relationship where change of momentum, I=Ft, increased in I= increased Force exerted on the ground multiply by increased Time of force. From an increased in F we have F=Mass of the athlete multiply by increasing Acceleration of the athlete. This movement requires being fast and powerful at take-off. 4. Shoot Sequence of trunk joint and muscle group in throw Ball velocity at ball release was explained by the summation effects from order of the proximal parts to the distal parts of the body (Wagner et al., 2010). High release point is a critical factor A high elbow release point needed to generate much velocity. The time of the take-off contact would point to fast and elastic strength of the subject and indirectly affect the height of a throw and ball velocity. 5. Land Contact with the ground is a critical factor Decreased force over a period of time by bending knees when landing to reduce the mean impact force which also can prevent further injury. Deterministic Model Run, Jump, Shoot Figure 1 Important considerations for videotaping the skill The points below have been well thought-out to minimize errors recorded during two-dimensional filming, thus improving the accuracy of all data (Bartlett, 2007). Perspective and parallax errors were paid carefully attention to. 1) Position of camera The camera is mounted on a fixed tripod, on a level ground and aiming at the subject. The camera is positioned as far away from the action in order to reduce perspective error. The field of view (FOV) is adjusted to match with the performance of the subjects which as is recorded. As this take advantage of the performer on the projected image and increases the accuracy of digitizing. Once the FOV is in place and it is kept constant at all time. The camera is placed perpendicular to capture the movement of the subjects, horizontal scale of 7m and vertical reference from the goal post. The set-up is shown below, Figure 2. Figure 2 A line was marked out 7 meters from the goalpost and subject use the take off area as point of jump. The camera was place 10 meters perpendicular to the take off area. 2) Lighting Filming is done outdoors, a location with a dull and non-reflective background was use to allow the athlete and the ball to standout. This will make it easier to assess the movement patterns and biomechanics of the jump shot. In contrast, if the background or backdrop was to be too bright, the athlete would be hard to spot. 3) Background The background is as neat as possible, simple and non-reflective as it provides a good contrast which allows the viewing and estimating of the axes of rotation from the subjects anatomical landmarks. 4) Shutter Speed A shutter speed of 1/2000 was selected as this shutter speed would allow for slow motion playback and ease the motion analysis process. Using a lower shutter speed would cause blurriness when the video is playback, while a higher shutter speed comes with a decrease in image quality, thus making analysis impossible. 5) Subject Preparation The recording of the movement is as unpretentious as possible. The subject is briefed that he is performing in front of a camera in an experimental perspective and had little clothing to minimize errors in locating body landmarks. A verbal consent is obtained from the athlete participating in the analysis. The subject was told to throw the ball as fast as possible into the net for the initial 4 shots. After which, he was given coaching cues to correct his technique and delivery of the skill. Results of the Videotaping Session The male subject is a national basketball player who trains 5 times a week (Height-189 cm; body mass 82kg; age 24 years old). He does not have prior experience to playing handball therefore is a suitable candidate. In order to evaluate the over arm throwing performance, according to the International Handball Federation, (IHF), rules of the game a standard handball was used: (Circumference 58-60cm and Weight 425-475g, IHF Size 3, for Men and Male Youth (over age 16). The subject was told to throw as fast as possible; no coaching cues were given for the first 4 shots. Therefore we came up an evaluation of the quality of the execution skill for the subject in Table 3. Table 3 Mark Run-up Take-Off Shoot Land 3 Optimal speed of stride and synchronized lowering of CG, Execution is smooth, in cadenced Planting of takeoff leg accurately, take-off is vertical, explosiveness The elbow is high and moving along height of the head, correct use of sequential muscle groups into the throw, explosive finishing Land on take-off leg or on both legs simultaneously with knees bend 2 Fairly too short or too long stride, Execution still fluent, in cadenced Placement of takeoff leg rather far from the goal, take-off going a little too forward The elbow still moving low, technique of execution better Average execution, with slight unbalance 1 Lack of speed, hasty lowering of CG, not in cadenced, poor execution, execution is poor Placement of takeoff leg is too far from the goal, take-off oriented too forward, lack of explosiveness Placement of takeoff leg is significantly away from the goal, take-off directed markedly forward Land on non-take- off leg, poor execution Legend: CG centre of gravity; Mark: 1 Poor, 2 Average, 3 Good As for the first 4 jumps shots, the subject attainted 10.6  ± 0.2 m/sec for the ball velocity at release. The following are the results of the first 4 jump shots, Table 4. Table 4 Attempt Run-up Take-Off Shoot Land Total Score 1 2 1 1 1 5 2 1 2 1 2 6 3 2 1 2 1 6 4 2 1 3 1 7 Attempts to give too many cues to the subject will paralyze the subject. After letting him explore the jump shot on the initial 4 shots, this time the subject was then told to aim for the top right hand corner of the goalpost, using the jump shot technique. We gave him coaching cues to correct his technique starting from the run-up phrase, take-off, shoot and then leading to landing phrase, Table 5. Table 5 Critical Features Coaching Cues Run-up Take a long third step Take-off Explosiveness-gain vertical height Optimize height of release Release at the top Angle of release Draw a semi circle Summation of forces Smooth-jump and shoot Rotation of ball Flip wrist Land Bend knees The following are the results of the jump shots with coaching cues given to him in Table 6. The subject attainted an improved 12.6  ± 0.4 m/sec for the ball velocity at release. Table 6 Attempt Run-up Take-Off Shoot Land Total Score 5 2 2 3 1 8 6 3 3 2 2 10 7 2 3 2 2 9 8 3 3 3 3 12 Qualitatively analysis Evaluation of performance After taking the video for the running jump shot, we compare it to a elite athlete jump shot. There are a few features which are important in the sequence, the run up (3 steps), the jump and the throw. The run up The 3 steps run up will provide the athlete impulse for the jump shot. As impulse = change in momentum (Blazevich, 2007). F.t = m.v m.u Momentum is the quantity of motion possessed by the body. Therefore a run up is important in this aspect. After assessment, we found out that the subject did a 1 step run up which did not create enough impulse. Therefore the rating is poor -good for the run up Critical Features Rating The run up Poor 1 step run up The jump The height of the jump is determined by a few factors, the weight of the athlete and the acceleration. F = ma The reason for the bending of the knees for a higher jump is that the time it takes for the athletes to leave the floor (Muller, 2009). v = u + at Vavg = s/t Presume the jump height is the same, the less time, he takes to jump the same distance, the more velocity the person create, the higher the person will go. By contracting the quadriceps, will stretch the tendon, by doing this, it is possible to jump higher. The assessment for the subject is poor-good as he did not bend his knee, and straighten his leg after that. Critical Feature Rating Bend Knees Poor-Good Straighten leg Poor Bend Knee? Straighten leg? The throw The speed of the throw is determined by the speed difference and the time it take for the ball to leave the hand. It is similar to the theory of the jump, where the more distance and less time you take the faster the ball will travel. The difference is that there is a twist to the body; therefore there is an angular motion to it. ÃŽÂ ±= (à Ã¢â‚¬ °f à Ã¢â‚¬ °f)/t à Ã¢â‚¬ ° = Ó ¨/t Since the mass of the ball is the constant. The only factor that can influence the amount of force being exacted on it is acceleration. T = I ÃŽÂ ± (angular) Critical Features Rating The pull back Poor Good The follow through Poor Good Pull back? Follow through Correcting the performance The whole sequence of the running throw will be broken to parts to teach the subject. Critical Features Rating Picture Remarks / Strategies Coaching Cues The run up Poor The run up will be done in 3 steps, the subject will attempt to take 3 wide steps to gain speed. Wide Step; More Force Bend Knees Poor Good The subject will jump on the spot, with the knees bend before the jump. Squat more Straighten leg Poor The subject will jump and straighten the leg to gain more height. Explode; Stretch The pull back Poor Good The subject will try to shoot with the jump. By pulling the arm further back. Arc back; Roll Shoulder The follow through Poor Good With the pull back, the subject will attempt the follow through with the same action. Follow through; Swing arm Discussion There are mainly two factors in shooting technique of handball, the first is speed ball velocity of shoot, and the second factor is that no clear prediction of direction to shoot for goal keeper. This approach gives a good evaluation on the kinematic structure in analyzing handball. Thus, this model can be used in detecting the efficiency of the jump shot. An examination of individuals information and its comparison with the model allow us to identify weakness in the execution of jump shot. The use of biomechanical analysis maybe helpful in correcting or perfecting techniques, however the efficiency of the player in a game does not depend solely on performing a perfect kinematics structure during an isolated testing environment.

Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf as the Ultimate Hero :: Epic Beowulf herobeo

Beowulf as the Ultimate Hero In the poem Beowulf, translated by Constance B. Hieatt, Beowulf is a hero. A hero is one who places himself or herself at great risk while performing acts of courage. Not only is Beowulf a hero because of his physical strength, but rather than basking in the resulting glory, he gives the glory to God. Beowulf is the ultimate hero who put his life on the line for an entire kingdom. Beowulf's heroism can be seen when he takes 14 of the bravest in his land to go help Hrothgar. Hrothgar was Beowulf's father's close friend who had been plagued by attacks for twelve years that threatened an entire kingdom. Beowulf did not have to offer Hrothgar's kingdom help, but does so because he wants to uses his God given strength to the best of his ability. As soon as Beowulf heard of the troubles in this land he set sail immediately. Beowulf continues to show his thankfulness by thanking God for giving them safe travel across the sea. Beowulf is lead to Hrothgar and offers him is "services." "-Now sit down to the feast, and, in due time, listen to lays of warriors' victories, as your heart may prompt you. (15) Beowulf is asked by the warriors to tell of his past defeats while eating in Hrothgar's palace. Beowulf is already a hero to the people of this land for he is about to rid them of their enemy. The warriors are anxious to here what he has done and what he plans to do to Grendel. Here Beowulf "puts on his running shoes" and runs through his battle plan mentally just as any great athlete would do before a big meet. As the Banquet continues, Hrothgar thanks Beowulf, and promises him great treasure if he succeeds in defeating Grendel. As an ultimate hero, Beowulf decides, to be far, he will not use weapons in his battle against Grendel since Grendel reputedly does not use them. "I do not consider myself a lesser fighter than Grendel does himself; therefore I will not kill him with a sword, and deprive him of life in that way....No: this night we two will abstain from swords.

The nature versus nurture debate Essay

The nature versus nurture debate was founded by Francis Galton in the 19th century. It basically states that all of your attributes are either hereditary or environmentally. There are many theories that have challenges the nature versus nurture theory. For example; some of the theories state that there are different kinds of attributes such as life experiences, how our parents raise us, what we are taught at school and our cultural backgrounds. It is obvious that we are born with some of our parents attributes, for example your parents may both have long legs that you inherited, but things like perhaps a love of poetry or your sexual preference weren’t inherited, and have influenced your personality from your surroundings. There are lots of identical twins separated at birth that reunite as adults to find they had been using the same brand of toothpaste or have named their dogs the same names. This proves the nature theory, proving that attributes are founded at birth. But other scientists are taking this further and into ethical questions such as â€Å"what if serial killers were born to commit their crimes?† The most current nature versus nurture debate is whether the â€Å"gay gene† exists or not. This would suggest that homosexuality is no more a choice than eye colour. There are also attributes that are a mixture of nature and nurture, such as: Personality: Nurture – often there are similarities and differences that come from your parents. Nature – Children develop personalities and lean towards certain behaviours such as shyness and anger. It sometimes cannot be explained because the parents sometimes don’t have these traits. Homosexuality: Nurture – It’s widely seen that it is a humans choice to be a homosexual, where as some people believe that it’s to do with someone’s upbringing. Nature – People believe that homosexuality is genetic, like your foot size or eye colour. The argument for this is the perspective that nature being responsible for the individual development in life. Intelligence: Nurture – This could be based on the childs educational background as well as how the individuals parents had raised them. Nature – Someones ability to achieve and someone who picks up on their parents level of intelligence and tries to match it. To conclude the nature versus nurture debate, It shows that the physical and mental aspects can be queried by an individual to show how a person can develop through their parents or nature. What’s most likely is that both nature and nurture play some role in how we all turn out. But no one really knows with certainty. The true answer as to which side tips the scale remains to be seen. How this affects Samora: Samora’s Early childhood- Physical – Samora would have inherited her average height and weight from her parents meaning that her parents must also be of average height and weight. This physical attribute is nature, and will affect Samora by making her less vulnerable to diseases like obesity and diet related issues. She had all the normal childhood diseases, meaning she was quite an average child. Mental – Samora’s development at this life stage would be brief. Her childhood is the most important part of her mental development as this is the time she would be nurtured to start moulding her personality. She is averagely intelligent, leaving school with a decent amount of A-C GCSE’s, and having good A level grades allowing her to go to university, This was nurtured in to her since she was a child as her parents must be clever as they both have quite well paid jobs, and her brother and sister do also. Emotional – At this age Samora would have become stubborn or angry when change occurred, as she doesn’t have full control over her emotions. As her early childhood progresses, she should have been nurtured to gain more control over her emotions and learn right from wrong. Social – At the beginning of Samora’s childhood she would have been the centre of attention, which her older siblings may not have liked. This could of affected her relationship with her siblings as the youngest child is always the most vulnerable to sibling jealousy. How nature/nurture affects early childhood – I believe that nature is obviously a very important part of a person’s early childhood, as  it is the attributes they are born with, and will live with for the rest of their lives. However, nurture plays an extremely important part in a person’s overall development. For example, if both of a person’s parents smoke, the person is more likely to smoke in the future, as they are nurtured in to believing that is the correct thing to do. Samora’s Adolescence- Physical – As Samora is of average height and weight, her physical attributes should develop averagely. For example, during adolescence Samora’s breast would start to develop, she would have started body hair, her weight should increase and she may develop acne. This is nature, as they are things that Samora can’t change. Samora started smoking at the age of 15, which is very young and could have shunted her full lung development. She also does dancing and netball, which would have helped her going through puberty, as she wouldn’t gain as much weight as she was active. Mental – This is where Samora decided her career. She is a qualified primary school teacher, which she would have had to of decided on when she started college. This could have been a stressful time for Samora as she had to decide the rest of her future at such a young age. She may have started smoking due to a false safety net, believing that bad things cant happen to her. For exampl e, she could have believed that she wouldn’t get addicted to cigarettes because she believed she was untouchable. Emotional – Adolescence is where you develop your identity, This could have been when Samora decided she was a lesbian. I believe that Samora wasn’t a troubled teenager as she isn’t addicted to drugs or alcohol, and she had good GCSE grades. This is due to the nurture of Samora. Social – It says that Samora is sociable meaning that she must have friends. During adolescence, teenagers may struggle making and maintaining friends as they will act out at anyone and everyone, This is nurture as you aren’t born with friends. How nature/nurture affects adolescence – Nature affects adolescence as they have to go through a lot of physical changes (puberty) which is a very important part of development. Nurture is also important as a person starts to develop their identity, and their surroundings could have an important influence on this.

My Personal Accomplishment version 2

There are two experiences, which are very important to me. The first is being part of the Leland High School Speech and debate Team. The second is doing volunteer work at the World Children’s Fund (WCF). These experiences make me proud because they help me develop myself and give back to society at the same time. Through these experiences, I am able to enrich others as I enriched myself. Debate has always been my favorite subject. Engaging in a debate incorporates two distinctive life-learning skills. They are public speaking and problem solving. Most people are afraid of speaking in front of many people. However, I do not seem to be like â€Å"most people†. I do not fear public speaking. Instead, I enjoy it. I relish the feeling of standing in front of many people and being free to express myself. I savor the exhilaration of knowing that people listen to what I say. This makes me feel important and fulfilled. However, it is not only the feeling that matters. The skills, values and knowledge I acquire are also important. Through debating, I am able to develop my critical thinking and my creativity. I learn to examine arguments carefully and quickly to be able to retort wisely and on time. Debating also helps me improve my focus. A problem to be debated has certain limits. Relevant issues and controversies should not be ignored. Similarly, irrelevant issues and controversies should not be introduced. Lastly, debate exposes me to a wide range of topics- from international issues to national issues. Many facts I learned through debating, such as the Jenna 6 incident, has helped me a great deal during my high school years. I also learned a lot from seminars and trainings such as the Parliamentary Debate Camp held by the Stanford University National Forensic Institute. Another reason debate is important to me is that it helps me develop a sense of fulfillment. It helps me believe that I am capable of doing something. In the Parliamentary Debate Camp, I became a quarter-finalist in the Parliamentary Debate Varsity Division. I was also awarded the Super Distinction of National Forensic League this fall. I am able to prove my leadership skills by being the Chairman of the Parliamentary Debate Team. As the leader, I am responsible for around thirty freshman students and some older members. It is my responsibility to give lectures about debating and help others develop the capability to compete in upcoming tournaments. I run two classes a week and had completed over 100 PowerPoint lectures, by the end of the second semester last year. I also hold mock debates and private tutorial sessions to help other students to catch up. As the Chair, it is also my responsibility to communicate with other schools that are interested with debating, and give advice and information to administrators, students, and parents. For example, just last year, I assisted Bret Harte Middle School in creating a debate team. I confer with parents and students at the Bret Harte Middle School Cafeteria and give them tips on how to create a successful debate team. Knowing that people trust me with these responsibilities and that I am able to perform these responsibilities gives me a sense of accomplishment and allows me to believe in my own abilities as a debater, a thinker, a team member, a teacher and a leader. Another experience that I value the most is doing volunteer work for the WCF. It is a non-profit organization engaged in giving humanitarian aid to help and rescue children in need in developing countries, including those who are abandoned, distressed, endangered, exploited, homeless, hungry, sick or suffering. I coordinate production of humanitarian packages for distribution. We place stuffed animals, drinking water, MREs, antibiotics, band-aids, medical equipments, and other essential items into boxes and ship them to countries such as the Philippians, Africa, Vietnam and other developing nations. I consider helping in the WCF as one of my community obligations. It is an â€Å"obligation† because I believe that it is my duty as a member of society to always give back. Even though I cannot carry out more demanding roles like going directly to other countries, my contribution is also important. I feel that I am actually changing the world little by little. Through these experiences, I am able to give kindness and aid to others the same way that I received kindness and aid when I needed them most. Like these children, there was a time in my life when I was in need of help and attention too. This happened when I first came to the United States in 1996. I was then a foreigner who does not know how to speak English and communicate with the people around me. This made my assimilation into the American culture difficult. However, a few individuals took initiative to help me fit in. These individuals inspired me and my assimilation happened faster. Looking back, I still remember a 7-year-old child on his first day of school as a foreign exchange student sitting on a bench alone. He is bewildered with the English language and is too afraid to try to speak. He cried all night that night in bed. The next day, he expected to be alone again, but someone reached over and stuck a cookie in his mouth- a chocolate chip cookie. This led to a conversation and, by the time lunch break ended, the two children were already best friends. This initiated his acceptance into the society that he did not yet fully understand. It is a wonder how this foreign exchange student grew up to be me, not anymore alone and afraid of not being understood. It is also a wonder how, after eleven years, Corey Tucker, the boy with the cookie, is still my true and best friend. Yesterday, I proudly recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Even though I do not fully understand the meaning of â€Å"America†, I understand that America is the place where I belong. This feeling of acceptance was made by the kind efforts of the friends I made that day, most especially by Corey. Through the years, many other Corey Tuckers came into my life. This time, I want to be a Corey Tucker too. I want to be able to help others and give back the kindness I have received before. At present, knowing that I am able to do this through my debate class and the WCF gives me a feeling of calmness, peace and satisfaction that money cannot buy.