Comparing Marcuse, Freire and Gramsci Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Comparing Marcuse, Freire and Gramsci - Essay Example According to his theory of politics, the downfall of the emancipator politics is caused by little understanding of the basis of power of the institution. The lack of adequate knowledge is majorly brought about by the relationship that existed between politics and the popular culture. According to the theory, the political education of a marginalized area determines the occurrence of changes in the political and social life of the region. In order to eliminate the domination relations, a new culture has to be created. The masses should also be transformed into being conscious of the political on-goings in the state. According to Gramsci’s theory of politics, in the modern state, the relations of domination are maintained and protected by the coercion and force (Borg, Buttigieg & Mayo 27). The relations are also maintained through the practices of consent and persuasion.

Police Brutality Essay Example for Free

Police Brutality Essay Philadelphia is located in New Jersey on the eastern sea board of the United States. This makes it an ideal location for immigrants from Nigeria to choose as an entry point into the US. This inflows has led to an over stretch in the social amenities. In so far as Nigerians perform the jobs Americans do not want, the fact that they do not pay taxes means they cannot contribute to the growth of Philadelphia. The police force on their part is predominantly white. They are not trained on how to deal with the new population. How to be sensitive to their culture and beliefs. Since the arrivals are also not very at par with the American culture, this breeds a society that coexists but does not know how to interact and appreciate each other. This has led to an increase in police brutality especially among Nigerian males of ages 15-70. Both sides feel they are mis-understood-the police are trying to keep the peace, while the Nigerians are trying to make ends meet. While there are more obvious signs of harassments against people deemed black (African-Americans and Native Americans) as opposed to whites to begin with, xenophobia (undue fear or contempt of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples) is more prominent against those foreigners who also happen to have darker skins which naturally includes Africans, Mexicans, Jamaicans, Carib-Africans, Haitians, Indians (from India), So. Americans, etc. nd other non-Caucasian races. Africans, who naturally fit into the black quota, therefore get a double-whammy should they encounter a police officer who has xenophobia, and Nigerians who have encountered harassment incidences have noted this as a prevailing factor in the course of their being harassed. Distinct accents are a dead give away and a xenophobic officer would have a field day should he encounter one whom he fears and thus portrays hatred towards (www. igeriansinamerica. com). There is need to train the police force on the necessity to overcome Xenophobia amongst its officers. Also, more black offices must be employed and an effort be made to assign them to work in black communities and neighborhoods, to increase the acceptance of the police as a law enforcement agency.

From India with Love for Internal Medicine :: Medicine College Admissions Essays

From India with Love for Internal Medicine My early years were spent in a small farm in India. My parents had never been to school but were a source of inspiration to me and inculcated a sense of hard work and discipline. I studied in one of the most prestigious schools in the country and spent most of my life in boarding school. On the basis of my academic performance, the government of India sent me to USSR for medical studies .The respect in society; sacrifice of a doctor and making a contribution to the world has inspired me to become a doctor. Medical school was an exciting, challenging and enjoyable with exchange of cultural experiences while studying with students of 25 different countries. I stood first in the university and was awarded M.D. degree with Honors. I was selected as "The best graduating student" for 1996. With hard work I was able to get distinctions in all the subjects. During Internship I was awarded a certificate of appreciation by Minster of health for services rendered during a community project on prevention of cardio-vascular disease. Break up of USSR was a difficult time for all but in this period of adversity I developed remarkable resilience and maturity. Spending 9 months in U.K. and observing the British medical system and having traveled all over Europe and Scandinavia has enhanced my communication skills. Sports and being a captain of volleyball team and the president in school has taught me mind and body control, the need for careful planning and how to both rely on team members and to get the best of myself. In medical school I found that hard work was not a burden but a pleasure. I felt at home in the hospital. After school hours I would go to district hospital, Odessa and work in accident and emergency department. I keenly participated in medical conferences throughout medical school to know more about the ever-changing medicine. I believe I can weather both the mental and physical challenges and that my avocations of weight lifting and long distance running will give me the stamina for the common night shifts in residency.

A new India

It is an undeniable fact that the youth constitute a vast reservoir of energy, especially in a country like India with a population of more than 100 crore. Out of this total, those falling in the 15-30 age group constitute 40 percent. This means that nearly 40 crore young men and women stupendous man power by all counts indeed, are available for handling various tasks of national reconstruction. History bears out the undesirable fact that all great movements of nationwide importance have succeeded on the strength of massive youth power.In India, the epoch-making Indian National Movement could gain momentum and shake the very roots of the British Raj only when the youth were harnessed in it. Over a decade ago, Mao Tse Tung, the famous Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, relied upon youth power to usher in a great Cultural. Revolution. The Chinese youth enacted a memorable drama of national reconstruction. The same is the story of the French Revolution. Large parts of West Europe and North America were swept across by massive waves of youth and student power.In India several top-ranking leaders have paid homage to youth power and have regarded it as an inexhaustible reservoir of human resources. ‘Catch their young ‘ has been the motto. Mahatma Gandhi once saul, â€Å"Young man. claiming to be the fathers of tomorrow, should be the salt of the nation. If the salt loses its flavor, wherewith shall it be salted? † The elders, including statesmen, expect India ‘s youth to do vote their energies to the task of reconstructing India in accordance with the long accepted ideals.There is little doubt that given the right lead and guidance, India ‘s youth can create a new society by eliminating the evils, making good the flaws and deficiencies and facilitating the reinstatement of the highly cherished moral values of the East. In addition to this they can lay the basis for reconstruction in all spheres-social, economic and political. This begins with uplifting the rural masses in particular from the state, of stagnation as a result of the shackles of decayed traditions and superstitions senseless customs, ruthless exploitation by the greedy landlords and ineffective and retrograde official programmes.In the social arena, the youth can help the rural masses who are gripped by the wily village leaders, crafty priests and other religious men who revel in supper situations. They can do something to broaden the ‘horizon ‘, of the village-folk. Social emancipation and reconstruction involves tackling the dowry menace, illiteracy rumoring of caste and clan prejudices, checking corruption, elimination of untouchability and other discriminatory practices, besides child marriage and ill-treatment of widows.These tasks seem formidable and arc bound to meet with rebuffs. But a little patience and perse?verance on the part of the youth to make headway. The task of economic reconstruction of the country is admit?tedly complex and the enlightened youth can make a significant contribution in it. It includes expediting development by facilitating implementation of the various programmes drawn by the Central and the State Governments.They can introduce the modern outlook to agriculture and industry and bring about the ‘Green ‘ and the ‘White ‘ revolutions, India ‘s youth policy aims at promoting govern?mental and non-governmental effort in implementing various programmes. During the last forty years of India ‘s independence, various youth programmes have been started in the country with a view to involving the youth in national reconstruction. In 1948, the National Cadet Corps was launched to create awareness of the youth in nation?al defence and to ensure their active participation.In 1969, the National Service Scheme was started to promote social consciousness, a sense of responsibility as well as a sense of discipline and dignity of labour among youth. With thi s view special camps were organized; ‘Youth against Famine ‘, â€Å"Youth against Dirt and Disease ‘, ‘Youth for Afforestation and Tree Plantation ‘ and ‘Youth for Rural Reconstruc?tion ‘ etc. Since 1981-82 economic -development programmes have been taken by NSS volunteers. During 82-83 about 5. 5 lacs students participated in various commendable programmes.Parallel to the NSS are the Nehru Yuvak Kendras which are innovative multi purpose institutions. The basic purpose of this scheme is to enable such youth to help the process of rural deve?lopment and popularize national objectives. At these centres, voca?tional training is imparted for self-employment and social service. Then, there is the National Service Volunteer Scheme, laun?ched in 1977-78, which provides opportunities to graduate students to involve themselves on a voluntary basis in nation-building acti?vities for a specific period on a whole time basis.These volunteers are genera lly engaged in promoting adult educational programmes. In this connection, exchanges of visits by youth of different regions of the country have been helpful. In the political sphere too, the youth can help in cleansing the Eugean stables. The entire political system is infested with oppor?tunism, nepotism, corruption, deception, fraud, intrigues and shrewd tactics. Most of the political parties have no clear far-sighted goal and no well-thought-out programmes of national reconstruction.The leadership is in the hands of senile octogenarians, power-hungry and unwilling to make way for the younger generation. Fortunately, India now has a young Prime Minister in Shri Rajiv Gandhi. He is Anxious to clear up the mess that has accumulated over the years and to ensure an honest, credible regime. The youth can play a significant role by strengthening his hands. Admittedly, the young men and women of today are disgrunt?led and frustrated on many counts.The internal strife, graft all round, d ouble talk, frauds, chicanery, political opportunism, decep?tion, deep-rooted corruption and an air of distrust among the young and the old are among the causes of unrest among India ‘s youth. Several institutions, like joint-family system, are disintegrating before their eyes. To make matters worse, there are social injustices and the unwillingness of the old fossils to step down and make way for the young people. However, there is no room for frustration and giving up; they should be brought round by patient endeavour.The role of the youth for national reconstruction became even more relevant in 1985 which was celebrated as the ‘International Year of the Youth ‘ with the basic themes of ‘Participation, Develop?ment and Peace ‘. In the years to come, the role of the youth in India and other developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, in the task of national reconstruction is going to become increasingly more significant. The challenges are immense, and the youth, as a well-regulated wave of power can sweep through the country and meet these challenges competently, and life the country to heights of progress.

Dangers in the Environment Essay

The Dangers within the Environment are affecting our health to means that we wouldn’t believe. We destroy our planets ozone that affects and causes global warming. The pesticides, mercury and carbon dioxide that we release into the environment cause so many health problems to use and our children. It actually affects our children’s health more than it does to use. How can we do this to our environment knowing that it affects our health more and more. Dangers with in our Environment The dangers within the environment that affect our health are increasing day by day. The first thing that is we are doing to the environment is destroying our ozone layer. We are destroying the ozone layer by greenhouse gases. The way we treat our planet is going to affect our health and maybe even kill us because of the toxins and pollutants that we release into our environment. Certain types of pollutants that we release into the environment can cause us to have several complications with our health. The pesticides, mercury and carbon dioxide that we release into the environment cause so many health problems to use and our children. It is not hard to see what we are doing to our planet on a daily basis. There is so much research that shows how much even low level of air pollution affects our health. Carbon dioxide is what we breathe out of our lungs when exhaling. Carbon dioxide is released while we are driving our motor vehicles, using our lawn mowers, and etc. For the one gallon of gasoline that is used in our machines it causes 19. of carbon dioxide to distribute into our environment. Trees absorb the carbon dioxide from the air but if the tree is cut down, burned, or dies then the carbon dioxide will not be absorbed up. When a tree slowly rots then the carbon dioxide is slowly released back into the environment. The pesticides that are toxic to our health and our environment are chemical pesticides. The chemical pesticides that is more dangerous to be farmers, their family members, and other people who use the chemical pesticides. The pesticides are released into the air that we breathe in. The pesticides are left on the produce that they are sprayed on and then remain on the inside of the produce. The pesticides can be rinsed off, but they also can run off into springs, and large bodies of water. In which the pesticides can contaminate our water supply. In the world today everyone is at risk for simple reason that we are destroying our planet. Our world is at a total disaster at how we treat it and take care of it. Individuals that live in the world are at risk form pollutants and toxins that are in the environment that we breathe on a daily basis. The pesticides, mercury and carbon dioxide that we release into the environment cause so many health problems to use and our children. We need to take better care of our environment and worry about our health. People do not care about their health because if they did then they will not smoke cigarettes that affect their health and our environment. If we would save from driving all over the place in our vehicles when you could ride a bike or walk. It could help save our environment from pollutants being disbursed into the air that we breathe.

Eliot in Modernism

Eliot in Modernism Free Online Research Papers In â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† Prufrock questions, â€Å"Do I dare disturb the universe?† which epitomizes the disillusionment of Prufrock. Though modernism reflects new ideas of human possibilities, Prufrock displays a pessimistic attitude toward his life. The poem contains numerous thematic features of Modernism such as its form and use of literary elements. The idea of the antihero itself is a characteristic of Modernism which Prufrock embodies. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Eliot attended Harvard, where he studied philosophy. He later moved to England where he held several jobs pertaining to literature including: schoolmaster, literary editor for the publishing house Faber Faber, and also founded and edited the literary journal Criterion. Eliot’s poetry proved to be Modernist by not conforming to the public’s belief or with language itself because he believed poetry should represent the complexities of modern civilization. (T.s. Eliot Biography) A major characteristic of modernism in poetry is the focus on form rather than meaning. In this particular work, the use of interior monologue of Prufrock is evident throughout the poem; where he speaks silently to himself. The interior monologue entails use of the stream of consciousness, where Eliot eavesdrops on Prufrock’s conscious, stressing the importance of the unconscious mind. Because of both these forms of narration, some fragmentation occurs throughout the poem where either Eliot is describing what is happening through Prufrock’s eyes or else Prufrock’s narration (T.S. Elliot 1092-1095). In continuation to the poem’s form, another formal feature of Modernism is the use of free verse. In â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock†, Eliot uses free verse in order to characterize the modernist movement in poetry. There is no specific meter, rhythm, or rhyme and contains irregular line lengths (Morner and Rausch 11, 89,138) The Modernist movement is characterized by literary elements such as: tone, similes, personification, imagery, paradoxes, metaphors, and allusions. Prufrock uses a simile and personification to illustrate the melancholic setting and tone of the poem. The simile, â€Å"When the evening is spread out against the sky like a patient etherized upon a table;† describes Prufrock’s inability to control anything that occurs in his surrounding such as the etherized patient-almost helpless. The personification, â€Å"The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the windowpanes, the yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the windowpanes† contributes to the tone of the poem by describing a dark, depressing environment. Some imagery such as, â€Å"I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas† produces the image of a solitary crab and thinking that the crab itself would have a better life than Prufrock. There are paradoxes in the p oem that conform to the characteristics of Modernism. A paradox occurs in the repetition of the line, â€Å"And indeed there will be time† yet throughout the poem he also remarks on how he is aging therefore losing time, â€Å"I grow old†¦ I grow old†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Another paradox occurs in the last line of the poem which Prufrock displays the pessimistic attitude that he rather be asleep/numb rather than awake where he feels pain, â€Å"Till human voices wake us, and we drown.† An interesting line which Prufrock compares his life to minimal meaning and achievement is the metaphor, â€Å"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons† (T.S. Elliot 1092-1095) Prufrock not only displays characteristics of Modernism through literary elements but also epitomizes the modernist antihero. He conforms to the characteristics describing the antihero: inept, antisocial, pathetic, and in a conflict with a world which he cannot control and whose values he rejects (Morner and Rausch 11, 89,138). Prufrock uses several elements throughout the poem illustrating his erudite yet self-loathing mannerisms. The first evident sign of the antihero is the repetition of the idea that he â€Å"still has time† – an excuse he uses for him not to venture out of his social norms. There is also another repetition of the line, â€Å"And would it have been worth it, after all† referring to the amount of communication needed in order to be with a woman, showing his lack of aptitude for social interaction (T.S. Elliot 1092-1095). He degrades himself with statements of his physical appearance and mental status so he may gain the sympathy of the audience, â€Å"With a bald spot in the middle of my hair†, â€Å"(They will say: ‘But how his arms and legs are thin!’)†, â€Å"but a bit obtuse†¦Almost at time the Fool.† As if he describes his place in society and accepts it. (T.S. Elliot 1092-1095) To reiterate, â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† proves to conform to the characteristics of the Modernist movement of literature while epitomizing the Modernist antihero. The meaning of the work and its place as a Modernist poem is characterized by literary elements such as tone, similes, personification, imagery, paradoxes, metaphors, allusions. It is not only literary elements that make a work Modernist but also the structure. The structure for Modernist poems need not be didactic but written in a rather more open form, with free verse and no particular rhyme nor rhythm. Though it may seem as if Prufrock believes he has yet to accomplish anything in his life, â€Å"And indeed there will be time.† Morner, Kathleen, and Ralph Rausch. NTCs Dictionary of LITERAR TERMS. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1991. 11, 89,138. Print. Roberts, Edgar. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. Literature: An Introduction To Reading And Writing. Ed. Leah Jewell. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc., 2004. Print. T.S. Eliot Biography. Nobelprize.org. 12 Sep. 2010 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1948/eliot-bio.html Research Papers on Eliot in ModernismMind TravelThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsThree Concepts of PsychodynamicHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoThe Hockey GameHip-Hop is ArtLifes What IfsAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeWhere Wild and West Meet

Andrea Yates essays

Andrea Yates essays Andrea Yates and the Insanity Defense On June 20th, 2001, Andrea Yates, a 36-year-old mother of five, drowned all five of her children one at a time in the bathroom tub. She then calmly called 911 and then her husband telling him Its time. I finally did it. When she was interviewed by police later that day she told them that the reason she had killed her children was because she had done a bad job as a mother and wanted to punish herself. Andrea had a history of metal illness and was treated for postpartum depression and psychosis after her fourth and fifth children. She had attempted to kill herself two years earlier and was taking two antidepressant medications at the time of the murders. She had previously been on several other antidepressants and the antipsychotic medication Haldol. Andrea was charged with two counts of capitol murder. The defense did not dispute that Yates had killed her children but rather they claimed that she was legally insane at the time of the killings. According to Texas state law the defense is required to show that the defendant is not only mentally ill but did not know that what they were doing was illegal or wrong at the time. The prosecution agreed that Andrea was mentally ill but argued that she knew what she was doing was wrong. They cited the fact that she confessed to planning the killing in advance to police and a psychologist, and that she immediately called 911 after the killings suggest premeditation and that she knew killing her children was wrong. The defense argued that Andrea knew killing her children was legally wrong but that she was so delusional that she thought she was saving them from Satan. The jury convicted Andrea of the two counts of capitol murder. In sentencing Andrea the Jury had to decide between life in prison or the death penalty. To impose the death penalty under Texas law, the jury had to decide unanimously that Yates was a futur...

Lesson Plan Step #8 Assessment and Follow-Up

Lesson Plan Step #8 Assessment and Follow-Up In this series about lesson plans, were breaking down the 8 steps you need to take to create an effective lesson plan for the elementary classroom. The final step in a successful lesson plan for  teachers is Learning Goals, which coming  after defining the following steps:   ObjectiveAnticipatory SetDirect InstructionGuided Practice  ClosureIndependent PracticeRequired Materials and Equipment An  8-step lesson plan is not complete without the final step of Assessment. This is where you assess the final outcome of the lesson and to what extent the learning objectives were achieved. This is also your chance to adjust the overall lesson plan to overcome any unexpected challenges that may have arisen, preparing you for the next time you teach this lesson. Its also important to make note of the most successful aspects of your lesson plan, to ensure that you continue to capitalize on strengths and continue to push forward in those areas.   How to Assess Learning Goals Learning goals can be assessed in a variety of ways, including through quizzes, tests, independently performed worksheets, cooperative learning activities, hands-on experiments, oral discussion, question-and-answer sessions, writing assignments, presentations, or other concrete means. However, its important to remember that you may have students who better display their mastery of a topic or skill through non-traditional assessment methods, so try to think about creative ways you can assist those students in demonstrating mastery. Most importantly, teachers need to ensure that the Assessment activity is directly and explicitly tied to the stated learning objectives  you developed in step one of the lesson plan. In the learning objective section, you specified what students would accomplish and how well they would have to be able to perform a task in order to consider the lesson satisfactorily accomplished. The goals also had to fit within your district or state educational standards for the grade level. Follow-Up: Using the Results of the Assessment Once the students have completed the given assessment activity, you must take some time to reflect on the results. If the learning objectives were not adequately achieved, you will need to revisit the lesson in a different manner, revising the approach to learning. Either you will need to teach the lesson again or youll need to clear up areas that confused several of the students. Whether or not most students showed understanding of the material, based on the assessment, you should note how well students learned different parts of the lesson. This will allow you to modify the lesson plan in the future, clarifying or spending more time on areas where the assessments showed the students were weakest. Student performance on one lesson tends to inform performance on future lessons, giving you insight into where you should take your students next. If the assessment showed the students fully grasped the topic, you may want to proceed immediately to more advanced lessons. If understanding was moderate, you may want to take it slower and reinforce the takeaways. This may require teaching the entire lesson again, or, just portions of the lesson. Assessing different aspects of the lesson in greater detail can guide this decision.   Examples of Types of Assessments Quiz: a short series of questions with right and wrong answers that may not count towards a grade.Test: a longer or more in-depth series of questions that probes for more understanding of the topic and may count towards a grade.Class discussion: rather than a quiz or test that is scored, a discussion helps identify understanding. Its important to make sure all students are able to demonstrate mastery here, so that no one is lost in the shuffle.  Hands-on experiment: Where the subject matter is appropriate, the students apply the lesson to an experiment and record the outcomes.Worksheet: Students fill out a worksheet, especially for math or vocabulary lessons, but it also could be developed for many topics.Cooperative Learning activities: Students work in a group to solve a problem or have a structured discussion.Illustrations or Graphic Organizers: These can include Venn diagrams, K-W-L (Know, Want to Know, Learned) charts, flow charts, pie charts, concept maps, character traits, c ause/effect diagrams, spider web, cloud chart,T-chart, Y-chart, semantic feature analysis,fact/opinion chart, star chart, cycle chart, and other appropriate graphic  organizers. Often the subject will determine which works best as an assessment tool. Edited by Stacy Jagodowski

The movie 13th Warrior Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The 13th Warrior - Movie Review Example There are also references to the Cain killing Abel â€Å"this unhappy being had long lived in the land of monsters since the Creator cast them out as kindred of Cain.   For that killing of Abel the eternal Lord took vengeance.†( Heaney, 165).   Beowulf has taken 12 men to his last fight, just like Jesus had twelve disciples at the table during the Last Supper.   Probably, the author was trying to put Beowulf on the line with Jesus.   Beowulf went to kill the dragon in order to stop killings on innocent, just like Jesus has sacrificed himself to give salvation to the whole human kind.     The same elements of Christianity can be traced in the movie â€Å"13th Warrior†, however, with some differences.   For example, the movie starts with Arab meeting with his people to go on a quest.   This Arab is the narrator of the story, and, therefore, he is Muslim, not Christian.   However, all of those Christianity elements mentioned above (twelve people, referenc e to one God not many) still remain.   Such difference in representing religion is a bit confusing, because it is believed that Muslim religion belongs to the Pagan.   The Vikings (members of the Arab’s bang) showed in the movie were the part of the culture according to which there are numerous Gods and they reside on Mount Olympus.   The similarity between Arab and Beowulf is that both of them believe in one God.   From the other side, mentioning of the trolls, giants fighting ogres and elves which are plenty in the poem, are not part of the Christianity (Beowulf, 164).. Moreover, the mentioning to the idols is also part of the Paganism. These Pagan symbols and creatures are also present in the movie. Therefore, the depiction of Pagan religion in the poem and in the movie is the same. Another theme covered in the poem is the traditional funeral of that time. Both the movie and poem start with the funeral of the king which is described very vividly. As it is written in Beowulf, the warrior and king are set a float with all the possessions and then the raft is set on fire. â€Å"13th Warrior† presents this scene exactly the same. Afterwards the great feast comes to celebrate the death of the old ruler and the life of the new ruler. It is a very interesting historical tradition to make the celebration of the king’s death and life of new king at one day. It seems that joy and sorrow stand at one line. Further, the personality of Beowulf is depicted differently in the poem compared to the movie. For example, Beowulf has led his warriors in the search for glory (not because of his desire to be good) and decided to help the town only because this act will add up fame in his life. In the movie, it is presented differently: the warriors traveled to the village in order to relieve distress and for this reason they have offered their assistance. However, the courage of these warriors is equally appraised in the movie and in the poem: not a single person went to sleep

Underrepresentation of african americn women in higher education Dissertation

Underrepresentation of african americn women in higher education administrative positions - Dissertation Example Underrepresentation of african americn women in higher education administrative positions The main purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the poor representation of African American women in higher education administrative posts in public institutions of higher education. A Synopsis of African American women The end Civil War manifested an innovative period for education and occupation for African American women, while the passage of the Land Grant College Act and the accompanying Act of 1890, which entailed the allocation of black American education, marked an innovative commencement for civic higher learning . Previously, women and African Americans were basically not included in institutions of higher learning. African American women first obtained entry to institutions of higher learning in the United States when 1837 students where admitted at Oberlin College after Harvard College was developed for the teaching of young men. This was the starting point for women in official higher learning. Later on, African American women were enrolled to and gained degrees from Oberlin College. Among them was Lucy Session who graduated with a literary degree from Oberlin College. This made her the first black woman to obtain a degree in the United States, and Mary Jane Patterson who graduated with a B.A. degree from the same Oberlin College. She was the first black woman to obtain a bachelor’s degree in the United States. Apart from obtaining degrees, African American women were elected as administrators at higher learning institutions. Coppin was appointed the principal of the Institution for Colored Youth in 1869; this made her the first black woman to head a higher learning institution in the United States (Littlefield, 1997). At the department of Lincoln University, Silone Yates was made the professor and head of the Natural Sciences in 1889 (Littlefield, 1979). During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, a change for African American women was developed. Nevertheless, African American women’s first entry into higher lear ning institution was not simple. Just the way as, Solomon (1985) illustrated, in the previous nineteenth and beginning of twentieth century, the black university woman was the exclusion of the exceptions in that both white and black required her. Regardless of the opposition, African American women pressed forward for highly developed learning. Thirty black women in 1890 in the United States had obtained degrees, as compared to three hundred Black men and two thousand five hundred white women. According to a research study conducted by Dubois, two hundred and twenty five Black women had gained degrees, sixty five from Oberlin College. From these figures the progress was protracted, although the amount of African American women gaining degrees at higher learning institutions was increasing. At the commencement of the twentieth century, African Americans’ women contribution in higher learning improved. This was a period of expansion for African Americans. The National Associati on for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) was developed after the migration of many African Americans (NAACP, 2002). African American women aimed at making social change within the society. They advocated for an increase societal literacy in the African American society and endorse â€Å"racial strength.† They kept on becoming the first African American and the first women in most areas of higher learning. During 1920’s, many institutions and association were developed mainly for African American women in higher learning. Bennett College, developed as a coeducational organization in 1873, turned to a university for women (Littlefield, 199

Role of high performance work systems in organizational performance Essay

Role of high performance work systems in organizational performance - Essay Example This work system aims at developing high involvement through the development of an adequate degree of commitment among all levels of human resources working in the organization. The notion of the high performance work system are supported by claims that this system of work practices lead to the creation of superior performance at the individual as well as organizational levels. However, it can be argued that the system of high performance work systems often makes an organization shift from the conventional and eclectic selection of the best practices employed in human resource management which ensures the creation of higher organizational performance outcomes but does not necessarily add to the performance outcomes of individual employees in an organization. Developing the work on these lines of analysis, this essay is prepared with the objective of critically discussing the role of high performance work systems in organizational and individual performances. The scholars across vario us fields of study like industrial relations labor economics, organizational behavior, and the strategic human resource management and operations management who have presented varied views regarding the effectiveness of the high performance work systems in the contemporary business organizations. As per the views of many scholars and the researchers, the high performance work systems are extremely useful form an organizational as well as individual performances. Higher complexity in the job roles.

Separation of Powers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Separation of Powers - Essay Example the courts of law, according to the recognized and established laws. The separation of powers of the varied aspects of the state that are the legislature, executive and the judiciary is the strongest possible safeguard against the concentration of power and authority in any one single pillar of the British democracy. The separation of powers is also the best possible protection against the possibility of misuse or manipulation of power by specific individuals, groups or institutions for achieving vested interests and gains, to the detriment of the will of the citizens.2 However, realistically speaking, the separation of the powers in Britain is at the best partial and the British state suffers from a blatant overlapping of powers in between the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Much needs to be done before the UK has a satisfactory separation of powers. Separation of Powers: The Concept In a specifically democratic context, the primary role of the varied instruments of state is to protect the rights of the citizens. However, history is replete with examples and instances when the governments went despotic, when the legislature became all powerful and when the judiciary turned corrupt. So, since the dawn of the Western civilization, the political thinkers and philosophers have tried their best to come out with measures and instruments aimed at preventing the pillars of the state power going awry. The concept of separation of powers is actually a model of state governance, in which the authority of the state is segmented into varied branches, with each branch being allocated disparate areas of responsibility and the associated and requisite powers, with no branch enjoying a power greater than any other branch.3 Here, the independence of one branch from other comes with multiple meanings.4 Either it may mean that the selection of each and every branch is independent of other branches or that no branch is dependent on any other branch for its existence. Tra ditionally speaking, the UK being a parliamentary democracy has been more prone to the fusion of powers. This tendency makes the United Kingdom vulnerable to interference by one aspect of the state into the area of authority of the other. A rather more intimidating possibility is collusion between varied aspects of the state. Separation of Powers: Philosophical Background Separation of powers is a concept that has attracted the attention of academicians, philosophers, architects of constitutions, political thinkers and scientists since ages. In a UK specific context, the debate on the separation of powers has mostly hovered around the possibility as to whether the UK’s un-codified constitution is based on the doctrine of separation of powers, in theory and in practice? It is next to impossible to pinpoint the exact genesis of the doctrine of separation of powers. An analysis of the writings of Greek thinkers, say Aristotle, point towards a preliminary version of the doctrine of the separation of powers. In Politics, Aristotle classifies the elements of the state authority, that are deliberative, which meditate and ponder on the issues of common importance, the officials, which practically run the affairs of the state and the judicial, responsible for dispensing

The Use of Knowledge in Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Use of Knowledge in Society - Essay Example Since the process of decision making process is heavily influenced by the type of knowledge possessed and the type of organizations involved, the motivation for decision making i.e. the type and level of knowledge possessed by them, is of crucial significance. This essay on ‘Use of knowledge in Society’ aims to discuss, analyse, and assess the views put forward by the author, F. A. Hayek (1945) and ascertain the implications of the claims made in view of various micro-economic theories and concepts. Summary: The article by Hayek (1945) on the use of knowledge in society discusses the various merits and influence of price mechanisms on the decision making process and role of specific knowledge as a decision-making mechanism. He states that â€Å"The peculiar character of the problem of a rational economic order is determined precisely by the fact that the knowledge of the circumstances of which we must make use never exists in concentrated or integrated form but solely a s the dispersed bits of incomplete and frequently contradictory knowledge which all the separate individuals possess (p. 519)." He implies that that it is humanly impossible for a single individual to possess all the relevant information to arrive at a favourable decision. The quest of individuals with regard to addressing the economic problem is hence not about applying the available information or knowledge for optimum utilization of resources but rather on the manner in which the best possible resources can be acquired by means of the limited knowledge available at our disposal. Merits of the argument: Product specific or consumer specific knowledge is known to help firms / organizations in maximizing their profits and sustaining their competitive positioning in the industry. The application of market oriented specific knowledge by the organizations helps firms in warding off competition and in developing effective strategies. Critical information or knowledge regarding one's com petitors such as products, prices, or policies adopted by them etc., plays a key role in producing market/ consumer oriented ideas/ products thus helping organizations in effectively catering to their target consumer/ market segment (Glazer, 1991). Such market / consumer oriented strategies developed based specific knowledge provides organizations with a competitive advantage (Barney, 1991) and helps them in succeeding regardless of the presence of negative influences / obstacles in the external environment (Jaworski and Kohli, 1993; Narver and Slater, 1990). Hayek has stressed the relevance and significance of knowledge in the development of society stating that awareness and application of specific knowledge is likely to contribute towards the overall development of the society and it is hence vital for individuals and societies to acquire and apply such knowledge for generating and maximizing their profits. Since capital is by far the most critical input of production in an indus trial society, possession of appropriate knowledge is inevitable for enabling effective decision making in order

The Commonwealth games OR The Olympics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Commonwealth games OR The Olympics - Essay Example (Heath and Roberts). In the Olympic Games, a combined team called Great Britain comprising England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is only fielded in all sports disciplines. This has been the case in all the previous Olympics, and will be case in the upcoming London Olympics in 2012. â€Å"Team GB will have a chance to shine again, this time on home soil, when the next Olympics comes to London† (Berkmoes 2009). People will normally back this combination or team, thereby reinforcing their belief in Britishness. â€Å"When an England team (or athlete) fails to qualify†¦, the media quickly appropriates other British or Irish teams as ours.† (Smith and Porter 2004). However, the British identity gets changed according to the situations. The current issue which again reinforces the clash in identities is the decision about fielding a combined football team in the London Olympics. With a combined Great Britain team participating in every Olympic event, it should be the case with the f ootball event as well. So, sections of population including even the former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown proposed the idea of fielding a combined Great Britain football team, with players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. â€Å"Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is Scottish, has already jumped on board and suggested that another Scot, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, could coach the team.† (Silva 2009). However, this arrangement is not welcomed by the Scottish, Irish and Welsh football associations, who opined that having a combined team will negatively impact the individuality of each nation. Gordon Smith, Chief executive of the Scottish FA, had this to say â€Å"Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland have always been autonomous where football is concerned and that is the way it should remain† (guardian.co.uk 2009). They have also

The Use of Knowledge in Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Use of Knowledge in Society - Essay Example Since the process of decision making process is heavily influenced by the type of knowledge possessed and the type of organizations involved, the motivation for decision making i.e. the type and level of knowledge possessed by them, is of crucial significance. This essay on ‘Use of knowledge in Society’ aims to discuss, analyse, and assess the views put forward by the author, F. A. Hayek (1945) and ascertain the implications of the claims made in view of various micro-economic theories and concepts. Summary: The article by Hayek (1945) on the use of knowledge in society discusses the various merits and influence of price mechanisms on the decision making process and role of specific knowledge as a decision-making mechanism. He states that â€Å"The peculiar character of the problem of a rational economic order is determined precisely by the fact that the knowledge of the circumstances of which we must make use never exists in concentrated or integrated form but solely a s the dispersed bits of incomplete and frequently contradictory knowledge which all the separate individuals possess (p. 519)." He implies that that it is humanly impossible for a single individual to possess all the relevant information to arrive at a favourable decision. The quest of individuals with regard to addressing the economic problem is hence not about applying the available information or knowledge for optimum utilization of resources but rather on the manner in which the best possible resources can be acquired by means of the limited knowledge available at our disposal. Merits of the argument: Product specific or consumer specific knowledge is known to help firms / organizations in maximizing their profits and sustaining their competitive positioning in the industry. The application of market oriented specific knowledge by the organizations helps firms in warding off competition and in developing effective strategies. Critical information or knowledge regarding one's com petitors such as products, prices, or policies adopted by them etc., plays a key role in producing market/ consumer oriented ideas/ products thus helping organizations in effectively catering to their target consumer/ market segment (Glazer, 1991). Such market / consumer oriented strategies developed based specific knowledge provides organizations with a competitive advantage (Barney, 1991) and helps them in succeeding regardless of the presence of negative influences / obstacles in the external environment (Jaworski and Kohli, 1993; Narver and Slater, 1990). Hayek has stressed the relevance and significance of knowledge in the development of society stating that awareness and application of specific knowledge is likely to contribute towards the overall development of the society and it is hence vital for individuals and societies to acquire and apply such knowledge for generating and maximizing their profits. Since capital is by far the most critical input of production in an indus trial society, possession of appropriate knowledge is inevitable for enabling effective decision making in order

Arguing a postion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Arguing a postion - Essay Example Furthermore if it comes to a choice between regulated studies on a few animals and treatment for an incurable disease, most people reluctantly make the same choice (Morelle).On the other hand, and animal rights activists argue that animal testing and experimentation is ethically and morally wrong, because by experimenting carious medicines on animals, we are selfishly causing them pain for our own benefit. While the standpoint of the activists may be sympathetic, ultimately, in Western society as a whole accepts the sacrifice of animals in the name of science. Joan Ryan, an ex-home office minister quoted, â€Å"Animal research and testing has played a part in almost every medical breakthrough of the last century. It has saved hundreds of millions of lives worldwide†. (Ryan). In fact, animal testing may not be the only way to discover new methods of treatment and diagnosis. The tests performed provide convenience as most of the test animals resemble the Human biological system and the results observed in these systems are quite similar to the effects expected to be observed in Humans. Since Humans can’t be used for testing and experimental purposes. Moreover, as animals share similar biological features to humans; animal testing has made strides in veterinary medicine as well. On the other hand, there are many people who consider animal testing as cruelty being inflicted upon the animals, the issue of selfishness is also another reason that these experiments are considered wrong because of the fact that we hurt the animals just to gain benefit for our own self. Animal testing and experiments are also considered to violate animal rights; those who support this statement tend to believe that if testing on humans is considered wrong then the same should be considered for the animals (Shukla). All of these procedures and experiments are previously approved by the relevant

Martha J. Coston Essay Example for Free

Martha J. Coston Essay Martha Coston was born in Baltimore in the year of 1826. She was left with four children to take care of after the death of her husband. This happened when she was only 21. Even though her husband was now gone she was determined to make money so she could raise her precious children. She then came up with the idea to signal flare on her dead husband notebook. Although the plans didn’t work she was still determined to find a successful way to make signal flare work. After some attempts she finally discovered that she could use phyrotechnice to make it. The green, red, and white flares worked so well that the navy bought them from her for $20,000 they even awarded Martha the contract to make them with. After the run in with the money she had just received her flares served as the bass of a system of communication that helped save lives and win battles during the civil war. So even after the war, Martha continued to improve her invention that has helped continuesly through out wars and such. The flares she had created became so popular that they sold in very many places. Such as France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and Haiti. The system of bright, long-lasting signal flares revolutionized naval communication and continues to be in use. Costons invention saved many lives. The effectiveness of Pyrotechnic Night Signals attracted the U.S. Navy and till now these devices are still used. Later on her son Benjamin got a bad fever and died at age 26. Marthas life was then full of tragedies, her infant son had died and her mother also died. Even after all these tragic moments, she got money for her flares and saved the lives of millions people.

Smoking; Who Does it Really Affect? Essay -- Health, informative, expos

Secondhand smoke is extremely hazardous. It can cause death and dangerous health defects. Therefore, smoking is not only bad for the smoker, but for people around him or her too. However, there are only few laws that restrict public smoking. More legislation on smoking restrictions is needed because secondhand smoke causes asthma attacks in children, heart disease in adults, and sudden infant death syndrome in babies. These health problems are a result of the harmful chemicals in cigarettes. According to the National Cancer Institute, Beryllium, Butadiene, Chromium, Nickel, and Polonium are just a few of the 69 deadly chemicals that can cause cancer. The Office of the Surgeon General has proven that when inhaled, the same cancer-causing chemicals that smokers breathe enter the non-smokers body through secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is the combination of the smoke given off by a burning tobacco product (side stream smoke) and the smoke exhaled by a smoker (mainstream smoke). Because side stream smoke is made at lower temperatures and under different conditions than mainstream smoke, it has larger amounts of many of the toxins found in cigarette smoke. [National Cancer Institute]. Secondhand smoke has over 50 chemicals that cause cancer, and a minimum of 250 can harm you [National Cancer Institute and Office of the Surgeon General]. â€Å"The National Toxicology program estimates that at least those 250 chemicals in secondhand smoke are known to be toxic or carcinogenic† [Office of the Surgeon General]. The National Institutes of Health shows that environmental smoke is hurtful enough that it is considered a â€Å"Group A† carcinogen. â€Å"Group A carcinogens are the most toxic substances known to cause cancer in humans† [National Institut... ...g to worry about inhaling someone else’s smoke. Therefore, the government needs to take secondhand smoke seriously, and take precautions to help innocent bystanders from being subject to secondhand smoke. Works Cited American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2010. Atlanta, GA: 2010. Print. American Heart Association. â€Å"Environmental (Secondhand) Tobacco Smoke.† n.p. 29 Nov. 2010. Web. 8 May 2011. National Cancer Institute. Health Effects of Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute, 1999. Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph 10. National Institutes of Health. â€Å"Other People’s Smoke.† n.p. n.d. Web. 8 May 2011 Office of the Surgeon General, â€Å"The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General.† U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 4 Jan. 2007. Web. 8 May 2011.

Islam :: essays research papers

The five pillars The Five Pillars of Islam are the structure of Muslim religion. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and if you are lucky the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime. The first pillar, entitled the testament of faith, exploits the Belief in one God, Allah, whom constitutes the very foundation of Islam. Prayer is the next pillar of Islam. Prayers do not take more than five minutes and are required five times daily. In prayer, a person feels inner happiness, peace, and a direct connection between the worshipper and Allah. Giving Zakat, other known as supporting the needy, is the third pillar of Islam. Initially, Zakat was the issue that altered Muhammad’s views of the world and turned him into a political figure. Fasting for the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. Even the Quran states, "O you who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa" (Quran 2:183). Ramadan consists of fasting from dawn until sundown while concurrently abstaining from food, drink, and sexual contact. Finally, the pilgrimage to Mecca is the last pillar. Although these conditions seem intense, there are actually many benefits to these submitters. The temptations of the world seem to erase our understanding for religion and g-d. Fasting will remind you of what has been handed down to us. Ramadan can draw one closer to g-d by seclusion from the surrounding world. Ramadan will help achieve a willingness to give to the needy. Now you have been in their shoes and understand how it feels. Understanding discipline is important, since g-d has given us a free will, and the torture of Ramadan is a great reminder of how to view life. In the Quran one can find references to ritual prayer or salat. Holy Qur'an 2:149 "From whencesoever thou startest forth turn thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque; that is indeed the truth from thy Lord.

Compare and Contrast Classical Greece and Han China Essay

From 600 BCE to 600 CE, known as the classical period, Greece and Han China began to develop. These empires were extremely important and successful. However, despite their success, Classical Greece and Han China had major similarities and differences in their political, technological and economic/environmental views. These societies were similar in the fact that they emphasized certain buildings being built, such as urban centers, or universities. Both built systems to make certain aspects of life easier as well. The Greeks built aqueducts and the Chinese built a system of roads within their society. They were both also similar in the fact that both civilizations experienced population growth during the classical period, which led to expansion. Although they had multiple similarities, these societies had their differences as well. Politically, Greece was not unified they were divided into separate city-states, where as China was unified. Technologically, The Greeks focused more on building up their army and staying strong, while the Chinese worked on products that could improve their everyday lives, and had less to do with the protection of their civilization. Also, they differed economically/environmentally. Greece’s main items of trading were grapes and wine, China’s main export was silk. Although they had many similarities, Classical Greece and China’s differences outweighed these similarities. Politically, these societies had major differences. Greece was not unified, and was separated into separate city-states. Each city-state was called a Polis. Each Polis included an urban center and its rural territory, an acropolis, agora, public buildings/establishments and fortified walls. Each Polis was also unique and different because they developed independently. Things in each Polis such as traditions, economies,religions and political systems were different. A different person was the â€Å"ruler† of each Polis. Polis’s also had a different, distinct form of government as well. In Han China, they were not divided! China was unified by Shi Huang Di. Since the empire was unified, they were able to focus on bigger and more important political advancements. The entire empire followed Confucian philosophy, which believed that deep down, humans were capable of doing good deeds. They had a standardized currency for trade, which made it easier for trading to take place. The empire even had a Civil Service system which was  non-existent in Greece. The Civil Service system was put in charge of duties that regulated the society and kept it in balance. They also conducted the Civil Service Exams, which a citizen could take in order to move up in society. This was China’s form of social mobility. However, these civilizations had slight similarities. Both societies stressed the importance of having certain buildings constructed, such as urban centers and universities. These buildings were highly important for these civilizations because they helped the societies carry out the values that were important to them. Urban centers offered a place to meet, while universities were a site where one could go to become more knowledgeable. Technologically, these civilizations were also different. The technologies that they were able to develop or that were important to them was based primarily on their location geographically. In Classical Greece, they focused on building up a strong military base to fend off the surrounding civilizations of Egypt, Persia (Turkey) and Rome. They did this by developing their technologies in things such as ship building, training skilled sailors, and developing their navy for trading and fighting. However in Han China, they were far less concerned about their military/army base because they only had to worry about their nomadic neighbors! They had time to develop technologies such as the cross-bow, the first seismograph (the tool that is used for predicting earthquakes), they built A LOT of roads, specialized in paper making, and they also popularized silk. The popularization of silk was very important because it was the main product that China used for trade! The Chinese even made their paper out of wood bark, which is partly how we make our’s in today’s society! This shows how technologically advanced Han China really was. Despite these immense differences, Classical Greece and Han China had a few similarities. Both societies built certain systems that made life easier for their society. In Classical Greece, they built aqueducts, which were brick water pipes. These pipes were used to transport water throughout the society. In Han China, a system of roads was built. These roads made it easier to transport goods for trade, and had other uses as well. Although the actual technologies may have been different, the one goal that they shared was similar- to make life easier! From the economic/environmental point of view, Greece and Han China had some major differences. Geographically, Greece was a peninsula. They had access to many natural harbors, and Han China did not, along the Silk Road of Han China, people often died of thirst. Greece was also wasn’t far from societies such as Egypt, Persia and Rome. Being so close allowed for cultural diffusion to be present in Greece. Classical Greece’s major trade products were grapes and wine. They often traded these to get the goods that they needed. Greece even had events such as the Olympic Games. The Olympics even brought the divided city-states together for a brief time, despite rivalries they might have had! In Han China, their society was based on agriculture. However, in Greece, the land wasn’t fertile enough to farm. This was a major difference since agriculture was such an important part to China’s society! Another big difference between the two was the Silk Road. It was China’s source of trade, and they often traded their main export, silk on the Silk Road. Despite all of the products the Silk Road gave China, such as horses (China’s most desired product), it also came with a down side. Many diseases were spread on the Silk Road from Europe! This resulted in diseases coming back to Han China, they didn’t just stay on the Silk Road! Despite their major differences economically/environmentally, there were some similarities. One of these similarities was that both civilizations experienced population growth, which led to expansion. The Han period in China was mostly a period of population growth, expansion, and migration! This was the same for Greece. These societies were doing so well in terms of trade, and being able to support the population and become more advanced led to this population growth! It is a great achievement that these civilizations were able to last so long despite all of the hardships they were faced with such as disease and invasions. Yet, they were so advanced for their time that they seemed untouchable! Greece and Han China were mostly different despite their civilizations lasting so long and being so successful. Their ways politically, technologically, and economically/environmentally worked for whatever problems that they were exposed to where they lived, which is what made them prosper. Their views also shaped the legacy that they would leave  on the world! Especially in terms of things that we use today such as road systems and paper making! These advancements are the things that are so important, and still have us learning about Classical Greece and Han China today!

Construction of Knowledge

Throughout this course, we have been exposed to various fields of literature that revolve around a specific theme portraying the argument and point being made. It is possible, however, that two very opposite articles with unrelated topics can and may revolve around a similar theme. Beginning on page 239 of Katherine Ann Ackley’s Perspectives on Contemporary Issues, author Jean Kilbourne describes the impact that advertising has had on our society in her write Advertising’s Influence on Media Content. This article shares a close connection Lois Lowry’s Newbery Medal-winning novel, The Giver.In this dystopian society, a society characterized by human misery (Dictionary. com), officials regulate what the members of the Community know and experience. In addition to Kilbourne, published in The Atlantic in 2008 is writer David Carr’s article Is Google Making Us Stupid? Carr explains that the use of the internet and web browsers such as Google has altered the pro cess in which we perceive information. Although these articles discuss very different issues, from contradicting advertisements to the perception of information, one can take notice to a striking resemblance.The construction of knowledge is affected through both the impact of advertisements in society as well as our recent exposure to the luxury of the internet. The regulation of information and the modern, instantaneous method of attaining knowledge contribute to the deterioration of our construction of knowledge. Author Jean Kilbourne describes in her article Advertising’s Influence on Media Content the misrepresentation of information provided by the media through magazines and television.The media exerts their content in two major ways: via the suppression of information that would harm or offend the sponsor and via the inclusion of editorial content that reflects the product in a positive light (Kilbourne, 239). The line between advertising and editorial content is blurr ed by advertorials, product placement, and video news releases (239). Strikingly, up to 85% of the news we get is bought and paid for by corporations eager to gain positive publicity (239).It is startling to see the control that the media has on what advertisements we as a society are exposed of, and how information is being filtered and regulated for the open public. In 1998, a scandal surfaced concerning the working conditions in foreign factories that supply Nike. Nike’s sponsorship of CBS’ Olympic coverage was rewarded when correspondents delivered the news wearing jackets emblazoned with Nike’s symbol (240). The president of CBS News denied that this sponsorship had anything to do with the investigative 48 Hours segment that had been released just before (240).The editor of The San Francisco Examiner likewise denied that Nike’s co-sponsorship of their annual promotion was in any way related to kill a column by a reporter that was highly critical of N ike (240). It is clear that corporations such as Nike have a way with advertising and have mastered the technique of masking their scandalous ways. Nike’s influence on the media and filtering of information is frightening, and its control over the construction of knowledge has deterred society from questioning its actions.In connection to the concealment of truths, Lois Lowry’s novel The Giver is based upon the construction of knowledge of a civilization. The novel revolves around Jonas, a twelve-year-old boy living in a dystopian society, where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives (Lowry). He is chosen among his community to serve as the â€Å"Receiver of Memory† where he will maintain the past memories of a time before Sameness filled with pain and suffering, and the training for which will isolate him from his family and friends forever (Lowry).He learns through the previous Receiver, known as the Giver, about true knowledge and is exposed to a wor ld shunned from the others of that society (Lowry). Jonas experiences a life full of love, color, choices, and knowledge, but consequently with hatred, suffering and misery (Lowry). The members of his community are content because they do not know of a better life, and the knowledge of what they are missing out on could create major chaos (Lowry). This is relative to Kilbourne’s argument that major corporations are releasing selected advertisements that expose only what they want the public to see.In the case of the Nike Corporation, the concealment of their horrid working conditions is relevant to Sameness in The Giver. By suppressing information from society, a higher power is in charge of regulating what the community is exposed of, and therefore interfering with their construction of knowledge. One of the main strategies that Kilbourne targets is the contradicting placement of advertisements within women’s magazines. Kilbourne points out the contrasting views withi n a magazine, from the front cover, through the context of the magazine, all the way to the advertisement appearing on the back page.The various headlines included on the cover appear to be along the lines of weight-loss advice, how to make the perfect chocolate cake, hair-styling tips, and numerous ways to avoid aging. Once you make your way to the pages within the magazine, numerous articles feature luscious cakes and pies juxtaposed with articles about diets. This, Kilbourne writes, is an invitation to pathology, fueling the paradoxical obsession with food and weight control that is one of the hallmarks of eating disorders (241). Women’s Day once offered an article on â€Å"Special Report on Deadly Appliances†.Lest we think this is not a serious problem, 80 people died and 370 were injured by these killer appliances (242). On the back cover of the exact magazine, however, there is an advertisement for cigarettes, a product that kills over 400,000 people a year (242) . In 1996, an informal survey was conducted of popular women’s magazines that covered stories varying from countless health issues (242). These issues include skin cancer, Pap smears, and leukemia, as well as outstanding claims such as how breast cancer can be held off with aspirin and the possibility that dry-cleaned clothes can cause cancer (242).The back covers of all of these magazines contained an advertisement for cigarettes, and not a single mention of lung cancer and heart disease caused by smoking (242). The contents within these magazines contradict themselves, and it is obvious how major companies have played a role in regulating the news we receive through the media. The construction of knowledge is interrupted by the filtering of information by these companies paying off the media, restricting exposure to the real problems and issues in our society.Similarly to Kilbourne, David Carr expresses his concern for the construction of knowledge, although through a dissi milar issue. In his article Is Google Making Us Stupid, Carr expresses the influence that the internet has made on how we perceive information. Carr himself has personally been affected by the speedy resource that Google has provided for him (Carr). There has been a change in Carr’s perception of information, where he claims to have lost a sense of focus and that he feels he is literally dragging his way through a piece (Carr).Now, with the assistance of Google, research that once required days in the library can now be done in minutes (Carr). Instead of reading thoroughly the context of an article, Carr finds himself scanning headlines and blog posts, watching videos and podcasts, or just tripping link to link to link (Carr). In his words, Carr describes his own personal spectacle: â€Å"Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski† (Carr). Further research has been conducted to explore the phenomenon.A recently pub lished study of online research habits, conducted by scholars form University College London, suggests that we may well be in the midst of a sea of change in the way we read and think (Carr). The scholars examined computer logs documenting the behavior of visitors to two research sites over the course of five years. People using these sites exhibited a â€Å"form of skimming activity†, hopping from one source to another and rarely returning to any source they had already visited (Carr). It is apparent that our society has experienced a huge deterioration in the construction of knowledge.The perception of information has been influenced by the fast-paced and ever-expanding internet. Because we cannot fully absorb the content before us, our construction of knowledge has worsened and eroded. At a first glance, the articles Advertising’s Influence on Media Content and Is Google Making Us Stupid, written by Joan Kilbourne and David Carr, respectively, have nearly nothing in common in terms of their surface context. Kilbourne’s article relates to the impact of advertisements within the media, while Carr’s piece explains the deteriorating perception of knowledge.In addition to these two articles is the novel The Giver written by Lois Lowry, describing a dystopian society and the effects of regulating information. These pieces, while covering a vast span of topics and issues, commonly cover a deeper meaning: the construction of knowledge. All three sources explain the influence of media and other outside sources on how we perceive and stimulate knowledge based on our exposure. The regulation of information and the modern, instantaneous method of attaining knowledge have in fact contributed to the deterioration of our construction of knowledge.Works Cited Carr, David. â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid? † The Atlantic Day July/August 2008. Magazine. â€Å"Dystopia. † Dictionary. com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 13 Apr. 2013. . Kilbourne, Jean. â€Å"Advertising’s Influence on Media Content. † Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Readings Across the Disciplines. 6th ed. Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Boston: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2012. 230-233. Print. Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin, 1993. Print.

Social construction gender

The Social Construction of Gender Associated with Disordered Eating Patterns. In the US alone, there is reported to be over 1 million malnourished cases. Of all the above, a significant percentage are self-imposed malnourishment, which implies that, they do not occur as a result of lack of nutritious food but rather as a result of the rush for beauty. More than ever before, women want to look and feel thin and ‘small’. This is what is in the contemporary times viewed as beauty. The media, community as well as peers have all contributed to the development. This paper explores the concept of thinness as reflected in the contemporary society especially the role of eating disorders in the endeavour for beauty. 1. Introduction The social construction of gender has been attributed to numerous challenges facing women since time immemorial. Numerous happenings which influence or affect human beings have been given a social interpretation and therefore resulting onto the coining of the term â€Å"social construction†. The term basically refer to those belief widely held by the society which influence the interactions. In reference to gender, social construction refers to the social process in which men and women are subjected to different conditions in an endeavour to understand better how each one functions as well as the interconnection between the two genders. Social construction aims at looking at the effects the differential treatment of women has on their social life as well as their cultural practices. Although not widely researched on, social construction of gender had much influence on eating patterns. The fact that modernization has yielded much pressure on today’s human is a point to the fact that social construction is in action in almost all spheres of life. Unlike in the fact when beauty has not so much tied to one’s body weight/mass. The 21st century has seen a rise in the emphasis given to being slim especially on the part of women although overweight, obesity or under weight are problems that affect both gender, not is worthy noting that much of the emphasis on keeping fit in the sense of remaining slim is usually used in regard to women. From a gender perspective women are under much pressure to look and keep’ smart. The reason why majority want to remain slim is due to social pressure which stems from the fact that many cultures and especially the western culture value slimness and views it as a lading quality of beauty. The following discussion focuses on self-scheme less space as well as lack of voice as basic concept which advances social construction of gender. On the other hand, the discussion analyses gender identity from a woman perspective while at the same discussing the valuable concepts such as the power associated with beauty as well as the pressure of period the community at large as well as the effects these have on women. . Self-Schema This refers to the experiences of people in regard to their interactions with the society. Self-schema has been defined by, Lorber, & Farrell,(1991) as the organization of personal information all related to one experiences all of which have an impact on what people do and focus on. In regard to social construction, self-schema may refer to how wome n perceive and describe themselves. Such may include women role in the family women and leadership, women and beauty, which is the main focus of this paper. Schema in human beings is concerned with beliefs, pas experiences in life. In case of women various schemas can be attributed to eating disorder. These includes, what the society holder as the ideal weight, what the society beliefs to be the ideal height the ideal hair colour, the idea colour as well as what the society holds to represent heavily. The above contribute to childhood experiences as well experiences in teenage, early adulthood as well as late adulthood as well as late adult shapes ones mind set on many issues. For instances whether a lady perceives herself as beautiful cut, attractive or one of the above is greatly influenced by what she has undergone in life. The experiences shape beliefs over perception of the general public. In regard to women and dietary habits any consistent staring aimed at an overweight or round figured lady can lead to the lady believing that the stares are as a result of her body size, shape or figure and this further contributes to social construction of women. Self schema depends and is shaped by a woman’s experiences and at the same by stimuli in the society such as reactions from people, fashion, attitudes as well as cultural and environmental factors. Self schema on the other had is determined by the company or peers of a woman, the environment whether office or human environment. Determinants of self schema in women. Experience, how often a woman has been subjected to particular self-schema in women. Experiences of how often a woman has been subjected to particular self-schema determine how one is likely to respond or react. Importance of self-schema in women. While self schema could sometimes be detrimental to a woman’s health, the fact that some self-schema is represented positively is worth noting. Of particular interest to feminists is the fact that women who result of self-schema hold high opinions of themselves are more likely to resist social pressures which cause many women to confirm to society’s expectations which are mostly anti feminine. Problems of self-schema Self-schema can cause a number of problems to women. Such may include the development of stereotypes which revolve around certain attributes being assigned to specific groups of people. For instance, there exists, a stereotype about the western woman being slim and tall as apposed to African who are viewed as plum and short. Stereotypes can lead to misconceptions of facts and a lack of clear interpretation to meaning this in turn results into women suffering especially if the stereotypes come in the way of woman development issues. A. Disappear/Less Space A prejudice concerning a woman as not being beautiful for instance may put the particular woman at a disadvantage when it comes to making choices especially in her social life. For instance where prejudice of a woman in terms of her appearance and shape is dominant, chances are that the woman is more likely to suffer and be at a disadvantage compared to others who are not subjected to the prejudice. . Woman’s gender Identity Self schema may be problematic in that, they may lead to a woman being discriminated against in light of her beauty or lack of it. Since society mostly conceptual ones beauty a physical appearance, a woman may be discriminated against as account of her physical looks. This in turn may cause numerous effects in that the woman who is not equally physically endowed may miss out on opportunities she rightfully qualifies for. Woman gender identity From a gender perspective a woman has been portrayed as the weaker sex. Although it is hard to trace the origin of this common belief, it can be attributed to the domination of man in most spheres of public life such as politics and religion. Also the religious teachings of many religious have perpetrated this understanding in that their teaching which often call for nor-compromising adherence preach about how a woman should be submissive to a man. This has had the greatest impact in the lives of more women than any other factor, for instance, a woman is more likely to be denied a place in some churches or religious purely because of the fact that the particular religion teachers that. Power of beauty Power of beauty has been known to bring down ever the mightiest in the society. From the biblical records of King Solomon to Samson, from presidents to kings, beauty has been cited as one of the greatest assets the female gender has at its disposal. Even at household levels, beautiful women have a high bargaining then not so beautiful woman, for a beautiful woman, the beauty acts like a fall-back position and one is likely to use it to her advantage. However beauty as a gender concept is given different interpretation from culture to culture as well as from society to society, however, the immense power those of the females who are beautiful yield makes them at bargaining. The concept of beauty and the emphasis accorded to it has meant it more of a tool of bargain than it is a natural gift endowed to a woman. Women are investing in healthy and nutritious foods as well as seeking services of beauty consultants. Overall, the role of diet and food in beauty can not be over-emphasized. To remain beautiful, at least according to American standards one has to keep close watch on their weight, this has in turn has contributed to eating disorders. This is a big blow to proponents of health. Unlike in the past, currently the once promising trends as far as malnourishment cases in the society are concerned have started to revert and more cases of malnourishment are being reported. It is common knowledge that nowadays; women are keen to ‘keep fit’ at all costs. However, what makes the topic of interest and concern to social constructionist is the fact that the problem does not reflect in men as much as it is reflected in women. This phenomenon has led to feminists calling far changes in the way beauty is perceived in the society so as to alleviate the impeding danger of malnourishment. Recent happenings in some beauty events early this year clearly illustrates the extent to which the problem has become another challenge for governments and other stakeholder such as health departments. Role of media Media has been termed as one of the strongest agent of change in the 21st century. From the internet to television adverts, mobile phones and computer technology. Media in all its forms whether print or electronic is the vehicle through which the society mostly utilizes in communication. For instance, in advertisement, the medial constantly portrays the beautiful women as that who is slim slender or not weighing a lot. Due to its power of communication, audiences often fall for what the media passes across and only a few take the time to review it and give it a critical review. Thus, the media has in some sense been misused to misconstrue facts and there has altered meanings of some concepts such as beauty. On the other hard, media can be used positively to rectify the negative perception inculcated in minds of people especially about what entails beauty. The media can come up with programmes aimed at advancing a different dimension, which perhaps de-emphasises sliminess and concentrates on other aspects such as beauty of the heart as well as beauty of being truly health through use of natural means such as healthy food, and exercises. Role of community/Team In terms of beauty at least every one grows knowing a beautiful colleague. It is hard to fail to arrive at consensus on who is beautiful than, who usually the judgement does not need experts but each society is socially constructed in such a way that, it has attribute and even values which as highly associated with beauty, it is these values than the community and ones peers hold about being beautiful and what is beauty that, make the role of community and peer central to the understanding of beauty. The society especially peers have enhanced the constructing of beauty as thinness is that, even in most cultures, being overweight is more revered than being under weight. This clearly points to the fact that, thinness has been taken to be a synonym for beauty and vice versa. Conclusion As long as society continues to give more power to thinner women, eating disorders will continue. Women are expected to look and act a certain way in order to have a small portion of the power men have. As feminist we must help create a society that avoids discrimination. Eventually that is the only way that we will help alleviate many issues women deal with, such as eating disorders.

Buy to Let Investment Market Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Buy to Let Investment Market - Assignment Example This paper will focus on four areas of the buy to let marketplace: explanation of the taxes a property investor will be subjected to, how the property investor can minimize their capital gains tax liability through careful tax planning, how to be careful not to attract an investigation by the Inland Revenue, and, the tax benefits of setting up a property company to save property tax. There are a variety of taxes that the investor will be required to consider when investing in buy to let properties including: stamp duty and inheritance tax. There are some taxes that can be reclaimed against the tax on rents for buy to let properties such as "costs of maintenance, such as insurance, cleaning, gardening, agent's commission and other reasonable management expenses (but not home improvements) and a wear and tear allowance of 10% of the rents received may be deductible." (Alan Harvey, 2006) liable when, land or residential property is purchased where where the purchase price is above 60,000, or where it is transferred and the outstanding mortgage amount is greater than 60,000. The rates of stamp duty vary between 1% for properties less than 250,000 and 4% for properties over 500,000. It is also worth noting that there are certain areas that are exempt from stamp duty, where the property is purchased for less than 150,000. (Weller and McTernan, 2006) if at the timeThe other tax that the investor will be responsible is inheritance tax which is commonly referred to as the 'gift' or 'death tax'. Weller and McTernan (2006) explain the inheritance tax: if at the time of your death you pass on part or the whole of your estate then again the inheritor could be liable to pay Inheritance Tax. There is currently an IHT threshold level of 263,000 for the 2004-2005 tax year. Anything above this amount is taxed at 40% i.e. at the highest rate. This means that if at the time of death, your whole estate is valued at less than 263,000 then the inheritor will have no tax to pay. (Weller and McTernan, 2006) The two things you can't escape are death and taxes, but, why not make an investment work for the investor. By buying into the buy to let scheme, an investor's main goal is to gain equity buy minimising what they will pay to the Inland Revenue department. The investor's objective is to minimise their capital gains tax liability through careful tax planning. Minimising Capital Gains Tax Capital gains tax is payable "if a property is sold for a higher price that what was paid for it, or when a property or part of a property is transferred to someone who is not your spouse." (Weller and McTernan, 2006). Thus "the capital gain is calculated by deducting the allowable costs and Inland Revenue tax relief's, from the selling price of the property. Examples of allowable costs include, property extensions, purchasing related costs etc." (Weller and McTernan, 2006). As some investors fail to realise that when they sell their property, they could end up paying an extremely large tax bill of anywhere up to 40% of the net profit of the sale of the property.

Business ethic case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Business ethic case - Essay Example Counselors have a responsibility to help mitigate the damage done by racism in the workplace. Companies have a responsibility to act justly toward their employees and shareholders. Government has a responsibility to protect the liberty of its citizens. Minorities have a responsibility to speak out against such oppression wherever possible. The majority has a responsibility to protect the weak. Employees have a responsibility to their employers and co-workers to maintain an egalitarian work ethic. Ultimately, the primary stakeholders are individual families, the only stakeholders who are secondary victims of a racist corporate culture. Consider the roots of workplace racism proactively. What causes racism in the workplace? It could be a matter of resources. There may not be enough jobs to go around and people want those of their own race to benefit over others, or it could be a matter of personal intent. People tend to express aggression toward those they see as somehow inferior either physically, mentally or socially. Usually, this tends to be a matter of self-esteem. What understanding must people have to avoid workplace racism? The basic belief everyone must adopt in order to avoid racially charged conflict at work is simple. We must understand that although we may not all look, think, and act alike, everyone has the right to live and survive peaceably within our society. That means although I may not like a person for whatever reason, I should give them the room they need to provide for themselves and their families. If there is no other reason I feel this way, it should be because I wish for the same. If othe rs feel hostile toward me, I want them to leave me alone enough to feel secure in my job and at home at the very least. Some thinkers have posited this notion as the basis for the social contract. Why do humans not simply overrun one another with force and

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 - Essay Example Glucose is the major source of energy and is often derived from food and the liver’s ability to manufacture glucose from its glycogen stores. During the first phase of the disease, insulin secretion is regulated with the balanced production and output of glucose by the liver. The defects of the beta-cell function, results in the loss of inhibitory effects (Daniels & Nicoll, 2011). During a carbohydrate load from a meal, glucose production by the liver is not a requirement, however, owing to the loss of inhibitory effects, the liver continues to produce glucose thus contributing to a state of hyperglycemia in the body (Daniels & Nicoll, 2011). In the pre-diabetes state, the high glucose levels build up over the years and eventually triggers insulin secretion (hyperinsulinemia), for the purposes of regulating blood glucose and to counteract the tissues that are resistant to insulin. During the second phase, the beta-cells continue to secrete high levels of insulin for years to r egulate blood glucose levels. Eventually, the beta-cells failure occurs resulting in a decrease in insulin production. These slow and stealthy pathophysiologic changes in type 2 diabetes occur gradually taking up to 20 years to develop (Daniell & Nicoll, 2011). There are a number of identifiable risk factors of diabetes. These factors include obesity, old age, family history of diabetes, and history of gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity and less than optimum intrauterine environment.

Impacts of the Globalization on International Law and Tradition on Research Paper

Impacts of the Globalization on International Law and Tradition on Quatar and the UAE - Research Paper Example According to the Universal Declaration on human rights however restricting the accessibility of the facilities, goods, and services on the basis of gender is unlawful. Hence the UN has criticized the human rights law practiced in Qatar on multiple occasions. The international laws practiced in UAE have also been largely criticized by the international institutions on law enforcement. Example: The UAE’s Draft Labor Law introduced in 2007 received a number of sever criticisms from the Human Rights Watch. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for provisions of workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively, protecting all the categories of workers including local farmers and grazing workers by the labor law, clarifying the minimum age of employment and non discriminatory accessibility to all the categories of work by women and local labors. Further, the remedies or sanctions that are placed to deter the violations of UAE labor law are inadequate according to the Unive rsal Declaration of Human Rights. The government is advised to provide effective penalties for violations and be effective and efficient in applying them (HRW, 2007 p.13). Nevertheless, Qatar ranked in 36 among the 186 countries listed in the Human Development Index (HDI), 2012. Evidently adopting a legislation which is heavily different from the dominating western countries has not impeded the socio economic development of Qatar. It can be due to the fact that Qatar’s strategic restrictions that are placed upon the International trade. International trade regulations had been highly liberal despite the controversy status in human rights. Example: Export tax are not imposed in Qatar despite import and sale of... This paper is one of the best examples of comparison of the evolution of legislative systems of two of the most economically developed countries of the Middle East region, the UAE and Qatar, which is driven by the globalization process. The influence of the globalization on cultural traditions of these two countries is also assessed. Establishing international level interdependencies can improve the laws and traditions practiced in countries. However the profitability of such international alliances largely depends on the availability of common interests, values, principles and procedures that are transparent across all the member states. Successfully implemented globalized economies are more powerful than the individual states. Globalization has positively influenced the international law in Qatar and the UAE. These two countries have significantly improved the international laws during the late 2000. This lead to decrease the cost of labor in the country. In 2005, the number of migrants in UAE labor market amounted approximately 2.7 million . It is evident that labor law and migrant law have supported the high economic growth rates in UAE. The traditions of the UAE and Qatar however face significant challenges in a rapidly globalizing environment. Although similar domestic legislation and traditions are observed in both the countries, international law has been substantially different. Differences in international have been unfavorable towards the UAE compared to the Qatar.

RBC Centura Bank Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

RBC Centura Bank - Research Proposal Example Culture shares a common viewpoint regarding what constitutes appropriate business and interpersonal relationships and reflects the overall traditions and communications styles acknowledged within the business. At RBC Bank, efficiency and inter-staff respect are at the forefront of culture where expectations for performance begin at the highest levels of the business and trickle down to subordinate staff levels. In this particular organization, the ability to fit in with other employees generally involves being efficient at the job role. Inefficiency leads to an ineffective team and those who do not fit within this cultural norm regarding performance will generally have a difficult time making positive relationship with others. Organizational behavior, closely tied with culture, is the attitudes and actions which take place within the business environment. People in organizations do not work in proverbial vacuums, meaning that they consistently come into contact with others during the course of a regular workday. Organizational behavior are the various interactions between staff members which dictate the overall method by which business is conducted both externally and internally, such as how co-workers interact and how customers/clients are approached. Organizational behavior is the human aspect of how business and the individual interact (Delta Publishing, 2006). At RBC Bank, much like its culture, efficiency and performance are common behavioral characteristics and expectations. Mutual respect is on the forefront of the business’ policies, where all business and associate transactions occur with this premise in mind. All clients and associate workers behave according to high ethical guidelines, s uggesting that the organizational behavior at RBC Bank is one where leadership qualities are valued and developed. Diversity is a common theme at RBC Bank, defined as various differences in

Wright Family Essay Example for Free

Wright Family Essay Following is an estate plan designed for Wright Family. It consists of Margaret and Tom Wright, and their first child is about to come. Their objectives are: 1. To grow their wealth to ensure that their debt levels are reduced in the long term. 2. To have sufficient funding to ensure that their and their children’s needs are met, without both having to work full-time. 3. To ensure that their joint assets are protected as far as possible from any potential litigants. Thus, the aim of clients is to preserve and enhance the value of their estate and to avoid adverse consequences for their intended beneficiaries. Circumstances Margaret and Tom Wright are bright young professional couple expecting their first child soon. They come from middle class background. Tom is a partner in a medium sized accounting firm and Margaret is a doctor working in a local clinic. Both are doing well in their fields as Tom is a partner in middle sized accounting firm and Margaret has prospects of becoming a partner in the clinic where she works. Tom is quite a bit older than Margaret and has an eight year old son from his ex-wife whom he has divorced. As a result of his divorce, he has significant borrowings that funded his property settlement. Tom feels that his ex-wife and his son have been adequately compensated and now his key objective is to ensure that Margaret and their new baby are fully provided for in the event of his death. He wants to ensure that his former wife cannot overthrow any arrangement he establishes for the benefit of Margaret and his new child. Similarly, Margaret would like to ensure that Tom benefits from her assets, and not his former wife or his son. They want to have sufficient funding to ensure that their needs and, most importantly, the needs of their children, are met. Ideally, they would like to be able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle without both having to work full-time. Funding Tom and Margaret Wright have certain assets which shall provide them funding for their estate. They are: Tom’s Assets: 1. Interest in his accounting practice ( through a discretionary trust which he controls solely), 2. The equity in which is funded through a life insurance policy on his life in the event of his death, 3. Some superannuation (a portion of which has been ‘split’ with his former wife), 4. The family home that he and Margaret share, that is mortgaged to about 80 per cent of its value, 5. A trust funded by an advance of his inheritance from his parents, that he uses to fund his child support payments. Margaret’s Assets: 1. Savings from her years of working, 2. An investment property with the inheritance she received from her parents. In addition to these existing funds, they can also look for increasing their funds in future. This can be done by investing more in municipal bonds, real estate, modified endowments, stocks and mutual funds. Though the return through any investment varies, but careful planning and expert advice can yield expected results. Options and impediments From available facts, it appears that Margaret and Tom Wright are people of modest wealth who need to reduce taxes, protect their assets and secure enough to maintain their lifestyle. They are also at risk of litigation from certain parties and they would like to mitigate that risk. Considering their circumstances and objectives, it shall be wise for them to formulate an estate plan before actually finalizing their funding and investment strategy. An ideal estate plan ensures speedy transfer of estate to the intended beneficiary without any hassles. It also maximizes the value of estate by minimizing taxes and other expenses. The idea is to take benefit of various exemption clauses present. A major tax that comes in case an estate is transferred to a beneficiary is the estate’s tax. This can be reduced if the value of estate owned by the deceased is less at the time of his death. Most of the planning strategies achieve this by transferring the estate step by step by using annual gift tax exemptions in cases where a will is present. â€Å"Estate planning for people of modest wealth is challenging because they face significant death taxes but do not have such a large base of wealth that they can easily afford to make significant lifetime gifts or other transfers to reduce the taxes which will arise when they die. †