Essay Commanding Lady Fortune Machiavelli’s Theory of...

Commanding Lady Fortune: Machiavelli’s Theory of History Machiavelli opens his Discourses on Livy by declaring that what will follow will be entirely revolutionary—â€Å"a path yet untrodden by anyone†Ã¢â‚¬â€but then quickly backs down from such assertions, shifting his focus away from his own efforts to the modern views of the ancients, and leaving the nature of this revolutionary undertaking ambiguous (Discourses, 5) . Indeed, the purpose of the whole work is repeatedly skirted in the preface. Machiavelli instead focuses on the distinction between the moderns and the ancients, mourning the superficial modern adoption of ancient ideas in art and law that lacks a deeper understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of ancient thought. He†¦show more content†¦The implications of such a view of history for politics is Machiavelli’s claim that, because history is the study of the actions of great men with fixed natures, history itself is subject to a discernible method that may be used to understand the pres ent and predict the future. The man who understands the repetitive nature of history does not attribute the unexpected events of the present to fortune or God, but to his failure to find an accurate parallel to the present event in the past. In his outline of the proper education of a prince, Machiavelli suggests that â€Å"as to the exercise of the mind, a prince should read histories and consider in them the actions of excellent men, should see how they conducted themselves in wars, should examine the causes of their victories and losses, so as to be able to avoid the latter and imitate the former† (Prince, 60) . Philopoemen, by evaluating every possible military maneuver, achieved a state of expertise at which â€Å"there could never arise, while he led the army, any accident for which he did not have the remedy† (Prince, 60). In other words, the knowledge of all possibilities could head off the devastating effects of fortune. Thus, fortune is defined not as the sou rce of inexplicable events, but as the failure to predict events. Fortune—whether good or ill—is simply badShow MoreRelatedElizabethan Era11072 Words   |  45 PagesThe Elizabethan Age is the time period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603) and is often considered to be a golden age in English history. It was an age considered to be the height of the English Renaissance, and saw the full flowering of English literature and English poetry. In Elizabethan theater, William Shakespeare, among others, composed and staged plays in a variety of settings that broke away from Englands past style of plays. It was an age of expansion and exploration

Gay Judgement Free Essays

People are often mislead by word judgement. Judgement is the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing. Many people in the world today judge for no apparent reason. We will write a custom essay sample on Gay Judgement or any similar topic only for you Order Now They judge because they do not know what to say about a person. Judgement can be passed when one criticizes people based on their clothes,car , and even their sexuality. Judgment on sexuality is the worst type of judgement the saying â€Å" Do not judge a book by it’s cover† can be definitely applied to sexuality bias. People should not be judged based on their sexuality because homosexual have come a long way since the 1950, freedom,acts as the catalyst to unnecessary suicides every year and unfortunately this judgement. Homosexual rights have came a long way since the 1050’s. Homosexual have been fighting the government since the 1950’s starting with the gay right movement. Until 2004 when everything changed. Massachusett declared that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and legalized marriage for same-sex couples. Becoming the first state in the U. S. to do so. Connecticut ,Iowa, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire all legalized same-sex marriage. Then the California Legislature Approved Gay Marriage,and granted same-sex couples most of the benefits of married couples such as the right to jointly file income tax returns, the right to bring a foreign partner into the United States and right to pass Social Security benefits on to a spouse. So far, more than 30,000 same-sex couples are registered in California as domestic partners. In the beginning the government was unwilling to recognize the rights of homosexual and look at them now they are giving the gays pride and glory while making everyone equal. Freedom was what the world wanted, but not everyone is free. Most homosexual people fight for their freedom because they want to be treated like everyone else. The 14th amendment states in section 1 â€Å"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This states that everyone in the U. S is free. It does not state that gay people cannot be free. Everyone in the United State have their own freedom. Harsh and unfair judgement on homosexuals can lead to suicide. Tyler Clementi, 18, who was studying at Rutgers University, jumped from the George Washington Bridge, after a video of him with another man was posted online. Tyler was a young man who was really talented. People did not have to bully him or post video of him. Tyler was probably a quite guy who did not tell many people about his life. Many people just judge without knowing a person and that is not good. People should not judge a person if he/she does not know the person. Judgement may cause people to go insane. â€Å"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. † Everyone should refer to with this quote and when they decide to judge a person remember that they are judging themselves. How to cite Gay Judgement, Papers

Corporate Social Responsibilities

Question: Discuss about theCorporate Social Responsibilities. Answer: Reflection Corporate social responsibilities or CSR is a very common term in the field of corporate industry. The industrialists have their own different viewpoints about CSR policies. This reflection segment depicts my analysis of the different viewpoints of various authors about the organizational CSR policies. In accordance with the traditional definition of CSR policies, the business organizations have some responsibilities toward the society, but in my opinion the CSR policies of the organizations should be different from that. I think that the organizations should be liable to their shareholder and duty bound to give them appropriate returns for their investments in the business. the other social responsibilities like offering employments to the people, avoiding pollution, and donating money for the wellbeing of the common people comes under the secondary social responsibilities of the profitable organizations. So, in my opinion the companies have to first give priority for offering maximum returns to their shareholders, and then focus on the other social responsibilities. On the other hand I disagree with the people who think differently about CSR policies of organizations. I believe in giving priority to the shareholders first, but Many believes in giving maximum priority to the customers of any company. I think that the major aim of the business organizations is to earn maximum profits from their business, but they should also give priority to the needs of their customers to some lesser degree as long as it does not hamper their primary objective. Besides this, he also added that the organizations also should be responsible to the environment, to their employees and vendors and also to the communities. I think that by giving preferences to the customers over the investors helps the business organizations to achieve sustainable growth and that also leads to give long term benefits to their investors which should be the overall goal of the CSR. Therefore, in my opinion benefit of both the shareholder and customer should be focused on equally as long a s they do not oppose each other fundamentally. I think that the business organizations should put profits first but not at the cost of harming one party benefitting from the operations of the company. . I also think that the companies should take all the necessary strategies for earning maximum profits from their business while remaining true to their other goals. In accordance with this, the organizations should train their employees properly to enhance their customer services and also should focus on the product qualities for building positive relation with their customers that help them to earn maximum profits from their business. Thus adopting suitable strategies, the business associations will be able to make handsome profits from their business and also they can be able to give maximum returns to their investors. Thus from the above reflection it can be concluded that some want to earn maximum profits from the business to offer maximum value to their shareholders, many want to serve their customers in better ways. However, I believe in wellbeing of all the individuals as per the Corporate Social Responsibilities. So, there are different opinions about the CSR responsibilities of the companies but I think all of them are interconnected and they do not oppose one another so all can be achieved by planning and strategizing in a way that will fulfill all the goals.

State of Nevada

The topic of discussion was Arizona’s SB 1070 bill that was approved to chuck out illegitimate migrants. The bill was seen to have affected the education sector since many high school students were forced to live without their parents.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on State of Nevada specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Their parents were forced to move to other states that do not have stern immigration policies. The participants talked about the impacts of the law to the Arizona youths and what could be done to reduce its impacts. The guests analyzed one of the current studies undertaken by a group of researchers from a local university. In the study, it is revealed that many young people were unwilling to give their views because of unknown reasons There were two participants in the debate that is, Devin Browne- the KJZZ reporter and Tomas Lopez the co-author of the recently performed study. Browne observed t hat although the tenets of the SB 1070 were not fully endorsed, its sanctioning caused societal disruptions. Many parents chose to move to other states without the law and left their children to continue with their studies. The proponents of the law believe that its passage would allow people to go back to their ancestral regions since illegal migration interferes with the financial system of a particular state. The panelists observed how the Arizona bill has been misinterpreted as a move to subjugate certain races. The bill in actual terms does not contravene the constitution since the US constitution permits states to establish regulations that guarantee normalcy as well as constancy (Frontani 217). The central government on its part has failed to educate people on the importance of such law, which has ended up rising tensions among different groups (McKnight 246). The government has actually failed to act as a unifying factor because it is inciting Americans against their fellow Americans.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Obama regime has failed to deliver its promises to the masses, which it had pledged during elections. The regime was initially perceived to be committed towards abolishing racial and ethnic discrimination (Cheryl 30). The Arizona law does not allow racial profiling but the media and the ruling elites have taken the opportunity to advance their interests as regards to racism (Anderson 140). Politicians are using the ongoing debate to frustrate supporters of their opponents or to seek votes (Hagan 671). As usual, politicians and the media will always ensure that the public follows their perspectives concerning major debates (Miller 21). The Arizona law is applicable since illegal immigration has caused more harm than good. Immigrants from time to time have been proved to be interfering with the labor market. They offer cheap labor, which d emoralizes the most qualified in society (Fawcett 56). Again, refugees are known to be smugglers. They bring in goods from their places of origin without paying custom duties. To the extreme end, they engage in illegal businesses such as trading in drugs and firearms (Baigent 239). Columbia and other states have lost their sovereignty to drug lords and criminals because they lack effective migration laws (Clinton 15). The American states near the border must constantly come up with strong policies aimed at containing illegal migration. Finally, the panelists were concerned with national security (White 100). Application of Arizona law is necessary for national interests because terrorists should not be given any chance of becoming citizens of a great nation like the US (Archibold 17). On a personal standpoint, the Arizona law should be implemented immediately. If Arizona does not continuously crackdown on illegal immigrants, it can be like Columbia where drug lords have taken over s tate powers and established their own administrative unit referred to as FARC (Archibold 4).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on State of Nevada specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Works Cited Anderson, Philip. â€Å"Introduction to Vilhelm Moberg’s ‘Why I Wrote the Novel about Swedish Emigrants'†. Swedish-American Historical Quarterly, Vol. 59, pp 137-144, 2008. Archibold, Randal. â€Å"Illegal immigrants slain in an attack in Arizona†. The New York Times, 26 May 2007. Print. Archibold, Randal. â€Å"Judge blocks Arizona’s immigration law†. New York Times, 17 October 2011. Print. Baigent, Elizabeth. â€Å"Swedish immigrants in McKeesport, Pennsylvania: Did the Great American Dream come true? Journal of Historical Geography, Vol. 26, Issue 2, pp 239-72, 2002. Cheryl, Sullivan. â€Å"US Cancels virtual fence'†. Christian Science Monitor, 17 May 2011. Online. Clinton, Will iam and Schwarzenegger, Arnold. â€Å"Beyond Payday Loans†. The Wall Street Journal, 2008. Fawcett, James and Carino, Benjamin. Pacific Bridges: The New Immigration from Asia and the Pacific Islands. New York, NY: Center for Migration Studies, 1987.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Frontani, Michael. â€Å"From the Bottom to the Top’: Frank Sinatra, the American Myth of Success, and the Italian-American Image. Journal of American Culture, Vol. 28 Issue 2, pp 216-230,2005. Hagan, John and Palloni, Alberto. Sociological Criminology and the Mythology of Hispanic Immigration and Crime. Social Problems, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 617-632, 1999. McKnight, Roger. â€Å"Vilhelm Moberg, the Emigrant Novels, and their Changing Readers†. Swedish-American Historical Quarterly, Vol. 49 Issue 3, pp 245-256, July 1998. Miller, Debra. Illegal Immigration. New York, NY: Reference Point Press, 2007. White, Roa, â€Å"Emigration as Emancipation: Portrayals of the Immigrant Irish Girl in Nineteenth-Century Fiction. New Hibernia Review, spring Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp 95-108, 2005. This essay on State of Nevada was written and submitted by user K1m0ra to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Quotes to Turn to When Youve Been Hurt

Quotes to Turn to When Youve Been Hurt There is an old saying that goes, It is easier to hurt than to heal. Inflicting pain on others to get revenge when youve been hurt might initially seem fulfilling, but it only ends up stoking a bigger fire in your heart. Confrontation is almost never a solution in the long run. Get some insight from these quotes about being hurt. Famous Quotes Albert CamusTo live is to hurt others, and through others, to hurt oneself. Cruel earth! How can we manage not to touch anything? To find what ultimate exile? Robert FulghumPlay fair. Dont hit people. Say youre sorry when you hurt somebody. B. Graham DienertMany people pray as if God were a big aspirin pill; they come only when they hurt. Lillian SmithThe human heart dares not stay away too long from that which hurt it most. There is a return journey to anguish that few of us are released from making. Joanne Kathleen RowlingPoverty is a lot like childbirth you know it is going to hurt before it happens, but youll never know how much until you experience it. Will RogersA remark generally hurts in proportion to its truth. Muhammad AliLife is a gamble. You can get hurt, but people die in plane crashes, lose their arms and legs in car accidents; people die every day. Same with fighters: some die, some get hurt, some go on. You just dont let yourself believe it will happen to you. Carl SandburgAnger is the most impotent of passions. It effects nothing it goes about and hurts the one who is possessed by it more than the one against whom it is directed. Chuck PalahniukThat old saying, how you always hurt the one you love, well, it works both ways. Diego RiveraIf I ever loved a woman, the more I loved her, the more I wanted to hurt her. Frida was only the most obvious victim of this disgusting trait. Penelope SweetDepression is nourished by a lifetime of ungrieved and unforgiven hurts. Jessamyn WestIve done more harm by the falseness of trying to please than by the honesty of trying to hurt. George Bernard ShawCruelty would be delicious if one could only find some sort of cruelty that didnt really hurt. Erma BombeckThere is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt. Mark TwainIt takes your enemy and your friend, working together to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you. Alexis CarrelEveryone makes a greater effort to hurt other people than to help himself. Indian ProverbGreat anger is more destructive than the sword. Henry Wadsworth LongfellowA word that has been said may be unsaid it is but air. But when a deed is done, it cannot be undone, nor can our thoughts reach out to all the mischiefs that may follow. Ecclesiasticus 28:16 (Apocrypha)Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen by the tongue. Chinese ProverbTwo barrels of tears will not heal a bruise.

logic - definition and observations

logic - definition and observations Definition: The study of the principles of reasoning. Logic (or dialectic) was one of the arts in the medieval trivium. Over the course of the 20th century, notes A.D. Irvine, the study of logic has benefited, not only from advances in traditional fields such as philosophy and mathematics, but also from advances in other fields as diverse as computer science and economics (Philosophy of Science, Logic and Mathematics in the Twentieth Century, 2003) See also: ArgumentDeduction Enthymeme and Syllogism FallacyInductionInferenceInformal LogicLogical ProofLogosRenaissance Rhetoric Etymology: Observations: But of all the arts the first and most general is logic, next grammar, and finally rhetoric, since there can be much use of reason without speech, but no use of speech without reason. We gave the second place to grammar because correct speech can be unadorned; but it can hardly be adorned before it is correct.(John Milton, The Art of Logic, 1672)Logic is the armory of reason, furnished with all defensive and offensive weapons. There are syllogisms, long swords; enthymemes, short daggers; dilemmas, two-edged swords that cut on both sides; sorites, chain-shot.(Thomas Fuller, The General Artist, 1661) Logic and RhetoricA good deal of everyday talk, even gossip, is intended to influence the beliefs and actions of others and thus constitutes a kind of argument. . . . [A]dvertisements often just provide product information rather than advance explicit arguments, yet clearly every such ad has an implied conclusionthat you should buy the advertised product.Nevertheless, it is important to un derstand the difference between rhetoric that is primarily expository and discourse that is basically argumentative. An argument makes the claim, explicit or implicit, that one of its statements follows from some of its other statements. It at least implies that acceptance of its conclusion is justified if one accepts its premises. A passage that is purely expository gives us no reason to accept any facts it may contain (other than the implied authority of the writer or speaker, as, for example, when a friend tells us that she had a good time at the beach).(Howard Kahane and Nancy Cavender, Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life, 10th ed. Thomson Wadsworth, 2006) Formal Logic and Informal LogicSome logicians study only formal logic; that is, they work only with abstract models that have purely logical substance and content. . . .Relating the abstract systems of formal logic to real statements and arguments is not part of formal logic itself; it requires the consideration of many issues and factors beyond the basic logical forms of the statements and arguments. The study of the factors other than logical form relevant to the analysis and evaluation of statements and arguments of the kind that occur in everyday situations is known as informal logic. This study includes considerations of such things as: identification and clarification of vague or ambiguous statements; identification of unstated assumptions, presuppositions or biases and making them explicit; recognition of frequently used but highly questionable premises; and assessment of the strength of analogies between more or less similar cases.(Robert Baum, Logic, 4th edition, Harcourt B race, 1996) Pronunciation: LOJ-ik

Creating Conditions for Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Creating Conditions for Learning - Essay Example I discuss my views on these areas by using personal experiences to assess whether they are integral to maintaining the lesson’s momentum, which in turn translates into academic achievement. I believe that learning can only occur when all parties (students and instructors) are able to create an interactive conducive environment. Earlier on, I learned that instructors bear the responsibility of creating such an environment. For example, simply preparing a lesson plan by the book, does not guarantee to learn, as more than one factor might dissuade students from learning. Disruptive behaviors from students rank high on the list of learning detractors. Therefore, instructors must always be wary of students prone to behavioral problems, in order to mitigate them before such behaviors hinder the learning process. At the core of the different problem-solving approaches I use, is the intent to equip the students with behavioral skills, which will assist them in mitigating disruptive be haviors. In my opinion, helping students avoid disruptive behaviors is not merely enough to maintain lesson momentum. More often than not, I have come to the realization that instructors are to blame for losing the lesson’s momentum. The text clearly states that instructional activities comprise of both strategies and formats. The former refers to the different ways of grouping students whereas the latter refers to the different methods used by instructors to engage their students (6.04). Therefore, instructors with personal inadequacies, which hinder them from executing either of the instructional activities risk affecting students’ engagement and in turn their academic achievement. I agree that instructors might stand to benefit from comparing themselves against the areas listed in the module’s text if they hope to improve their instructional strategies.

Six Zigma methology and how the consultant can use it during Essay

Six Zigma methology and how the consultant can use it during consulting process - Essay Example The task for the consultants is extremely challenging because the oppurtunities for defects (OFD) in the automobiles is extremely high. While the original aim of Six Sigma was focused on the manufacturing processes, today marketing, billing, purchasing and invoicing functions are also advised by consultants which help to constantly minimize errors and improve efficiency. Six Sigma methodology defines, measures, analyzes, improves and controls (DMAIC) the entire improvement process and there are teams formed to oversee the improvement process (Heuring, 2004). Sigma representing standard deviation has evolved from a measurement scale to a far reaching methodology to drive business improvement. The sigma level is the benchmark for the ability of a process to accomplish the demanded requirements (Pfeifer, Reissiger & Canales, 2004). There are so many oppurtunities to apply the Six Sigma that companies find it difficult to decide which project to tackle. Consultants do not find it easy to make Six Sigma work through an organization. If the employees are discontented, then success with Six Sigma cannot be achieved. Six Sigma strategy places emphasis on achieving quantifiable and measurable financial returns to the bottom line of an organization (Antony, 2004). It also clarifies that to be successful there has to be strong and passionate leadership. Six Sigma methodology integrates the human and the process elements of improvement. The human elements include the culture change, customer focus, belt system and infrastructure while the process includes process management, statistical analysis of data, and measurement system analysis. The tools and techniques for fixing the problems are utilized in a sequential and disciplined manner. The difference in the success and failure of the Six Sigma project depends on how, where, and when the tools are applied. Six Sigma creates an

Socioilogy Essay Example for Free

Socioilogy Essay Many people are under the impression that the United States prison system is meant to punish those who have committed acts against the law. Although this is true, it has been proven that as a whole, the country has become exponentially more punitive, sentencing individuals at a far greater rate than in decades before. Nicola Lacey explains in American Imprisonment in Comparative Perspective that America is on an imprisonment â€Å"binge†. Until 1980, 110 people per 100,000 individuals were behind bars whereas today the numbers are increased to 740 people per 100,000. We live in a society of mass incarceration in which 1 out of every 100 adults are currently incarcerated. For a comparative perspective, America accounts for 5% of the world’s population while also accounting for 25% of the world’s incarcerated population. It is clear by the numbers that something has happened within the last thirty years to drastically increase the use of punishment. There are different explanations for the imprisonment binge in America, however the effects of incarceration on individuals, and consequences of penal practices have become a growing social problem. The extremely racialized incarceral system not only diminishes family life and distorts democracy, but also outcasts ex-convicts by discriminating them educationally and black-listing them from many everyday activities in society. Now more than ever, social circumstances effect one’s likelihood to be involved with crime and the criminal justice system as a whole. Class, Race and Hyperincarceration in Revanchist America by Loic Wacquant argues that mass incarceration does not exist in the United States, rather hyperincarceration, or finely targeting incarceration by class, race and place. This method of categorization associates imprisonment with poor, African American males. This triple selectivity of class, race and place is the reason Wacquant believes we have an absurd criminal justice system in the United States. It is unfair that predetermined factors dictate the involvement of blacks and other minorities with crime and incarceration. Not only has an increased punitive system in the United States contributed to discriminating against blacks, but it forms society’s view of blacks overall. Another piece of Saperstein and Penner’s paper investigates the hypothesis that â€Å"incarceration affects how respondents indentify themselves and how they are perceived by others: respondents who are or have been incarcerated will be more likely to be classified as black, and less likely to be classified as white† (Saperstein 93). The researchers use data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) to examine the relationship between different dependent variables such as racial self-identification and racial classification. The independent variables in the experiment are incarceration and interviewer characteristics. The authors suggest that this racial affiliation based on incarceration creates a vicious cycle where inequality is reproduced. Saperstein and Penner’s hypothesis leads me to draw a direct connection between race and crime. The connection is not that blacks are more likely to commit crimes, rather society’s lens is more likely to affiliate crime with blacks. Because of the phenomena of mass incarceration, when a person thinks of a criminal, they tend to think of a black person. In turn, police officers, judges and prosecutors tend to assume the same, making blacks the targets of racial profiling and harsher sentencing. Not only are members of the courtroom workgroup likely to be more harsh on a black person, but this causes other people to look at members of every person in the black community as criminals. This scenario has a far greater effect on society than thought of at first glance. The prison system has a far greater effect on society beyond the prison walls themselves, especially in terms of family life. Although the prisoner is the person who directly feels the temporal sentence itself, families bear the cost of incarceration as well. As many people know, the majority of prisoners in the United States prison system are male. This is exemplified by the numbers at San Quentin Prison, being that 95% of all visitors are women. Wives, sisters, daughters and mothers travel for hours to spend a few short minutes with their loved ones behind bars. Megan Comfort explains the struggle to maintain family bonds â€Å"In the Tube at San Quentin: The Secondary Prisonization of Women Visiting Inmates†. The visitation system in many prisons are degrading in that cueing and waiting degrades the visitors time and depreciates the visit. Visitation restrictions stretch to the regulation of clothes and belongings in that 1/3rd of female visitors are asked to change some aspect of their attire for one reason or another. Female visitors experience many pains of imprisonment. In assimilating to the regulations and degradation of prison, female visitors undergo what Comfort calls a form of secondary prisonization. Not only are women penalized based on visitation regulations, but the prison system disorganizes families, causing them to bear many costs of incarceration. Marriage and divorce becomes an issue with many couples going through the prison system. The hardships of imprisonment on family life has a destabilizing effect, causing problems for wives and children equally. Bruce Western and Len Lopoo state in Punishment and Inequality In America, that although 60% of prisoners have at least monthly contact with family members in some way, visitations are relatively rare in that prisoners are places more than 100 miles away from home. An even greater effect that the carceral facility plays on the family is the stigma and shame many family members endure. Family life is one of the overlooked consequences of imprisonment that has a large effect on many individuals affiliated with the criminal justice system. It is evident that the incarceration system as a whole accounts for a civil death in the distortion of democracy. Essentially, prisoner votes count in the districts in which they are incarcerated. This means that more funding is given to districts which have a greater population due to the existence of a prison, however those behind the prison walls are not accounted for in their voting rights. This form of prison-based gerrymandering influxes the number of votes in an area in which prisons are located, giving a political advantage to those running for office. Christopher Ugger and Jeff Manza write about the elimination of voices of formally incarcerated people in their piece Lost Voices: The Civic and Political Views of Disenfranchised Felons. Since the prison system is on based around raced, the criminal disenfranchisement in the United States has taken the right to vote from 17% of African American men. It is clear that a major collateral consequence is the elimination of eliminating the voices of such a specific racial and social category. On major challenge of prisoner re-entry is the denial of access to education, not to mention the social ostracization the prison system imposes on individuals. Issac, a formally incarcerated individual and a member of the Center for Community Alternatives explains that after he was let out for criminal possession of a controlled substance, it was extremely difficult for him to get into college. The Dean at SUNY Oswego did not want him in the school because he was an ex-convict. Access to education is an issue for both formally incarcerated individuals, and individuals behind bars. President Bill Clinton passed the Crime Control Law Enforcement Act under his presidency which denied Pell Grants to criminals despite unanimous professional opinion that post secondary education reduces recidivism, bolsters carceral order, and increases public safety. Josh Page explains this in Eliminating the Enemy: The Import of Denying Prisoners Access to Higher Education. Page argues that lawmakers enacted this legislative penal drama oriented in the pursuit of political capital. The denial of prisoners access to education is not an economic decision being that prisoners receive less than 1% of Pell Grant dollars, rather a symbolic, communicative act. How can anyone argue this when it has been proven that it costs more not to educate prisoners? Aside from the implications of not allowing prisoners to gain secondary education, the hardships of ex-convicts to gain education effects their life and society greatly. If people cannot gain education after prison, they are less likely to get jobs, and in turn, more likely to reoffend. Making it more difficult for people to become re-acclimated with society creates a vicious cycle of recidivism. Aside from hindering access to education, the penal system as a whole creates a stigma for individuals life after prison. After being in prison, it is hard to rebuild connections with one’s family since they have been apart for so long. Ex-convicts are separated from society physically and institutionally. After being in prison, it is very difficult for an individual to regain their life and adjust to the new social circumstances they are subjected to, and have been shielded from for so long. An example of this occurs in Miami Day County. In Florida, Jessica’s Law banishes sex offenders to the streets by requiring that ex sex offenders live 2,500 feet or more away from parks, schools and daycares. Since parole requires that ex-convicts live in the county they committed a crime, Jessica’s law left hundreds of individuals living homeless under a bridge. This is one example of many ways in which prisoner re-entry becomes very difficult for individuals. Overall, the penal system is a cultural performance which challenges individuals across society and creates a system of inequality for all those affiliated with it.

Dual Roles :: essays research papers fc

Dual Roles   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In many stories, it is often noticed that the writers use an allegorical figure to demonstrate abstract qualities as actual people. In these stories the allegorical figure holds a name that will tell you what his character is supposed to be representing. The allegorical figure is a cunning and unique way of taking a characteristic or an object and making it come alive to the readers. This can put an advantage upon your story when trying to get across a certain point, but most often a morality issue. Everyman is a play in which the writer went to great lengths to use allegorical figures to get across a lesson that concerns itself with the salvation of all men’s souls (Vignery p 111).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Good Deeds is an allegorical figure in Everyman. Good Deeds is represented not only as a person, but also as an abstraction. This dual role is clearly stated from the first time that Good Deeds speaks, until the time that Everyman and himself descend into the grave together. Good Deeds is portrayed excellently as a person. He is a person in the sense that he speaks out to Everyman and tells him how to redeem himself to be saved. He is a also a person in the sense that Everyman is asking Deeds for counsel like normal people ask for counsel in times of grief and great need. The â€Å"human† in Good Deeds comes out when he tells Everyman to call upon other allegorical figures to go with him on his long journey to the grave. The humanness appears again when Good Deeds is a true friend to Everyman. Good deeds shows the friendship quality when he refuses to leave Everyman, and promises to stick with him until the Day of Judgment. Good Deeds is just like a good fr iend who refuses to go home when a friend gets into trouble, and offers to help talk to the parents. He is also that true friend in the aspect that he offered and actually does speak to God for Everyman, just as a true friend would do (Everyman lines 309-455).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Good Deeds plays a second, or dual, role as an abstraction in the play also. An abstraction is a concept or an idea; in this case, the abstraction is more of an object. Good Deeds are special tasks that a person completes throughout their lifetime and will count as a point in their favor on the Day of Judgment.

Grendel, the Outsider

To be an outsider is to be someone who does not belong to the general population of society. Someone who does not follow the same principles, morals, or ideals as the majority. Whether by choice, or by being forced out of the inner circle, anyone could potentially become an â€Å"outsider† to society. Grendel is by far the best example of an outsider in John Garders novel, Grendel. His views on life, relationship with humans, and relationship with his mother easily sets him apart from the rest of the characters in the novel. Throughout the novel, Grendel talks about his own view of life and what it means, and although everyones views of life are different, Grendels was far different from the majority of the world at the time. Grendels own view of life is that there is no real â€Å"purpose† of life, which separated him from everyone else. He never tried to find his purpose in life, so all he ever did was wander the world and observe life, and the way humans and animals interacted with eachother. In a way, Grendel made himself an outsider. He would not allow himself to be associated with humans, so his views are almost polar opposites of theirs, which in turn, made him an â€Å"outsider†. Not only did Gendels views of life make him an outsider, but the relationship he had with humans was a major part of him being separated from the majority of society. The humans thought that Grendel was a monster, so when he would come to the villages, they would all start attacking him, and attempt to drive him out. This would obviously make him an outsider, because none of the humans wanted to be around him, so he was forced to be on his own. However, after a while, Grendel began to hate the humans. He would go into Herot and kill people because he hated them so much. This widened the social gap between the humans and Gredel, making him even more so of an outsider. Grendels relationship with his mother is also a major factor in Grendel separation from society. While Grendel is an intelligent being, who is capable of speech, his mother has never been able to speak. This is a key factor in the development of Grendel. He was never taught the way â€Å"others† would have been taught. Instead of learning speach from his mother, he learned from hearing the humans talk, and slowly began to pick up on the language. He taught himself how to do most of the things that he does now, which makes him â€Å"stand out from the crowd†. Also, it is hard for him an his mother to communicate well with eachother, which could potentially make Grendel even more of an outsider, because of the lack of communication between him and his mother. Grendels views and relationships truly separate him from the rest of mainstream society. His strange and alien morals and ideals make him an outsider among the humans, and the rest of the world that he lives in. He truly is the only one of his kind.

The advantages and disadvantages of a business plan

Entering the world of business is not that easy. When starting a new venture, one should never come unprepared. If you started a new venture without planning anything first, chances are, you will end up going wherever the wind takes you. That is why a business plan is a necessity for someone who is interested in starting a new venture. In the world of business, a business plan is treated like a bible for it lets investors and lenders know about the business you are trying to put up. It also serves as a manual for suppliers and other stakeholders of the business. A business plan may have its advantages but it also have its disadvantages. In this part of the paper, we shall look at the strong and weak points of developing a business plan for a new venture. However, a business plan is supposed to be an advantage to the business that is why the advantages, as expected, outnumber the disadvantages. Advantages One advantage of developing a business plan for a new venture is that it identifies what the consumer really wants. Of course, a business plan is all about making your target market patronize the product or service you are offering in your new business. Before you can make profits, you must first identify your target market and know what they really need or want. This is one important advantage of a business plan especially for those who are new in the business scenario. Once you identify what your target market really wants, you are most probably headed to indentifying the demand for the service or product you intend to offer. Identifying the demand for the product is also very important in launching a new venture because from this, you will know whether the service or product you are to offer is needed by the people. Of course, you cannot just think about your supplies and your suppliers. Those things will come after you determine the demand for your product. Aside from identifying the target market and the demand for the product or service, the advantages of a business plan also include assistance in designing your product that are appealing to the senses of the consumers. Since your purpose in developing a new venture is to make profit, the consumers’ senses are your main target. Designing your product is very important. It includes the packaging of the product and other advertising tools to make the people buy the product. This is also an important aspect of the business plan for it contributes a lot to the success of the business. Of course, if you are developing a â€Å"for-profit† business, making profit and paying debts will have to be included in your business plan. Aside from paying debts, your plan should also include measures on how to generate daily income. In this aspect, a business plan is very helpful because you already have your plans on how to manage the financial aspects of the business (which is one of the most important aspects). If you know exactly the financial path of what you are venturing, you are most likely to succeed in terms of profit. Another advantage of a business plan is that it makes the proprietor identify his competitors. When you have the knowledge about your competitors, you will be able to identify your competitive advantage over the competitor’s firm. Since you are developing a new business, it is important that you know exactly your edge in the business scenario over the others. If you have planned beforehand about your competitive advantage over the competitors, chances are, there will be product differentiation in the market. That is actually a good thing because it lessens competition within simi8lar firms. By analyzing your competitors, you will be able to create strategies that are effective even if there are many competitors in the market. A business plan is also advantageous because it enables us to indentify new product and service areas, and new or potential customers. In business, it is not only important to find the customers for some of them will not be loyal to your firm. It is hard to find new customers when you are just developing a new venture but it is much harder to retain them. The good thing about a business plan is that it helps the owner of the firm to identify potential customers. If it is hard for the owner to retain his customers, it would be very helpful to identify new or potential customers. In that way, at least, you will have your next resort. Lastly, an advantage of a business plan is that it allows the business owner to evaluate his business strategies and if his strategies are giving the desired results. What is good about a business plan is that it enables the owner to assess whether his strategies are effective or not. If he found out that his strategies are not effective enough to make the business succeed, he can immediately formulate new strategies to make the business succeed. As we all know, business strategies are very important, be it human resource, financial, etc. The business plan serves as a test for the formulated strategies and also serves as way to make room for improvement. If the owner finds out that there is something wrong with his first strategies, he will be able to change it right away and save his business from falling apart or incurring losses. Disadvantages Although we mentioned a lot of advantages in making business plans, it also has its drawbacks. If the owner is new in the world of business, he may not have all the business skills that a new venture requires. If he happens to be the one making his business plans, the business plan can be one way of identifying his weaknesses in dealing with business. If the owner is not used to making business plans, people who will look to it will find out the weaknesses of his business skills. Suppliers, investors, and lenders will most likely not to participate in the business when they find out that the person they are dealing with is not that skilled in business. Also, if the other stakeholders of the business find out that the person they are making arrangements with is not as skilled as they thought, they might not trust him with the success of the business. They might even plan to use his weaknesses or his business plan against him since they know that he is not a skillful businessman. Another disadvantage of a business plan is when it is not properly thought of. If the data in a business plan is not properly analyze, it may result to improper marketing decisions which will eventually have a bad effect on the business itself. Although a business plan helps a lot in making the business successful, it may also make the business fail if not done correctly. What makes it hard for a business to succeed is the impulsiveness of the business owners when it comes to decision making. Sometimes, the data in business plans are not analyzed properly that is why decisions are also made incorrectly. If the one who made the business plan is not a professional business consultant or is not really familiar with making a business plan, information can be interpreted incorrectly. The faulty interpretation of information can result to unrealistic financial projections. In a business, financial matters are very important that is why if financial statements are understated or overstated, it could greatly affect the business. If the information in the business plan is interpreted incorrectly, wrong decisions can be made. The owner can also make unrealistic projections about the financial aspects of the business which can cause further problems. This would greatly affect the future of the business. Since the business plan somewhat includes the mission and vision of the business, it would be a great problem if the business plan fails to make correct projections for the firm. If the business owner is not familiar with making business plans, he may opt to hire a business plan consultant. It is very advantageous actually since they offer quality service and they have been making business plans for many successful businesses. The disadvantage is that the service of these consultants is very expensive. Although they offer good service, it would cost you a lot. The money that can be added to your investment in the business will just go to the payment for the business consultant. If the business owner happens to be saving up for his new venture, he can resort to hiring an inexpensive business consultant which is not always good for the business. Sometimes, inexpensive consultants are not as good as the expensive ones. There are also some which uses software that makes business plans. They will just ask the owner of the business certain questions and then enter the information in the software they use. This will eventually lead to improper analysis of data and information in the business plan which will not do the business any good. Assessment of the Biz Air Plan Just by taking a look at the business plan’s executive summary, we can already have an idea that the financial projections are overstated. With only 6 aircrafts, their projected revenues were  £17.4 million. What I am trying to point out here is that what they are trying to build is an airline company and not just a convenient store or a clothing company. There were statements in the executive summary that seem to understate the losses in the first year. They even projected that there would be a 12% improvement in profits in the company’s second year and a long term 16% of sales in the third, fourth, and fifth year. Aside from wrong financial projections, I find the business plan full of assumptions.   For example, in the part where in they conducted customer analysis, they chose to conduct the study during lunchtime and interviewed people who dress like a business person. In other words, they just assumed that if a person is in corporate attire, he or she could be a potential customer since they assumed that he or she is a businessperson. There is also a part in the paper in which it is stated that â€Å"as long as the flights are not delayed, the post experience evaluation should be favourable.† I find this very assuming because it is not only the delay of the flight that affects on whether the customer will or will not like the new airline company. The satisfaction of the customer does not rest solely on the factor that their flight is on time. Factors such as cleanliness, safety, or the friendliness of the staff also affect the satisfaction of the customer. It is also mentioned in the business plan that through satisfying customers (that is in terms of not delaying their flights), they will serve as salesmen for the airline company who will try to suggest the company’s service to other people. I find this a little idealistic for business does not just go that way. Business does not only succeed through word of mouth. When they said that the customers will serve as the salesmen for the airline company, it gave me the impression that they were already assuming that the delay of the flight solely determines customer satisfaction which would later on result to advertising the company. It is very idealistic since they were sort of assuming that all the satisfied customers will endorse their company. Another thing that I found very disturbing about the paper is its being overconfident about the services it offers. Of course it is very important that you have confidence in the business that you are putting up but not to the point that you will sound boasting about your business that has not even tried by the people. You can see this in the part where in they discuss the advertising of the service. They mentioned that they are just going to advertise through newspapers and billboards near airports. I have nothing against that idea, actually. But you don’t have to say that you do not have to advertise in televisions because you are sure that once the news broke, there would be much television publicity that will come out. I think it will seem very unprofessional for those who will take a look at the business plan. Potential investors will have the impression that they are dealing with unprofessional people. Lastly, there are several faulty analysis and incorrect financial projections which can be the main cause of the failure of the business. Reference: 2004. Creating Your Business Plan. [Online]. Available: http://www.nvbdi.org/howto/biz_plan.php.   [29 July 2007] BELLIS, M. 2007. Creating A Marketing Plan for the Independent Inventor. [Online]. Available: http://inventors.about.com/od/licensingmarketing/a/tutor_marketing.htm. [29 July 2007] 2001. Approaches to Writing A Business Plan. [Online]. Available: http://www.caycon.com/plan_options.php. [28

Film Auterism essays

Film Auterism essays Auter is defined as a French term for the film director who places a personal style on his or her films. It was first coined by Francois Truffaut to describe the mark of a film director on his films. A director can be considered an auteur if about five of his films depict a certain style that is definitely his own. In other words, much like one can look at a painting and tell if it is a Monet, a Renoir, or a Degas, if a film director is an auteur, one can look at his film and tell by style and recurring themes that it was made by a certain director. In auteur films, the director is many times what brings an audience to the theater, instead of the actors or storyline. Often famous directors are more highly billed in advertisements than the actors that the film stars. To further prove the importance of directors styles on films three directors and their films will be analyzed. Three such auteurs are Frederico Fellini, Satyajit Ray, and Alfred Hitchcock, and it will be effective to discuss these particular directors work. The Master of Suspense, Hitchcock, blends the traditional thriller with comedy and a dreamlike aspect. Nearly all of Hitchcocks movies contain several themes and aspects which enrich the viewers enjoyment of the film. It appears that emotion is the most important feeling he is trying to get across. His mise-en-scene is perhaps the most recognizable of his contemporaries. They all include a very tense feeling throughout most of the film which is strengthened through his camera angles, zooms, and the soundtrack. Take for example the dream sequence in Vertigo. The colors and music during his dream keep the audience on the edge of their seat and it finally culminates in a long close up of a very frightened Scotty played by Jimmy Stewart. The score is deathly haunting, the type of music perfect for a Hitchcock thriller. Most of his films also include terror inflicted upon the ...

Assessment test Essay Example for Free

Assessment test Essay Assessment is a vast topic that is a continuing process that educators use to observe, gather, and evaluate evidence to determine what students have learned, as well as, making informed, and dependable decisions to enhance student learning. It encompasses a broad range of testing from nationwide accountability tests to everyday classroom observation and quizzes. In order to take control of what appears to be an excess use of testing, assessment should be looked upon as a tool for information. The more information we have about students, the more closely we can look at  instructional strategies that are effective and which ones need to be modified. There are two main types of assessments that I will be discussing, formal and informal. Informal assessments or in other words â€Å"assessment of learning†, are used to evaluate students during the learning process. Formal assessments are conducted as a tool to evaluate student’s completion of work or the final product. There are many advantages and disadvantages to these types of assessments techniques that I will be discussing for measuring student progress. I will begin by discussing two formal assessment types along with its  advantages and disadvantages. The first type of assessment that I would like to address would be the statewide-standardized test under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The statewide standardized test is considered a high-stakes test because of the important consequences it has on passing or failing the test. It mandates yearly testing for grades 3 through 8 and once in high school for reading and math. Science was recently added in the mix to test students at least once in elementary, middle and high school. The underlying principle for this type of testing was intended to reach great  academic achievement for all students, especially those from lower socioeconomic classes. Advantage #1 It ensures that no child—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or status is trapped in a consistently low-performing school. If a school does not make adequate progress towards set standards, parents have the option of sending their children to a better performing school or are provided free tutoring. This assessment helps determine if the student is receiving high-quality education at different grade levels. Advantage #2 Teachers are held accountable. If a student is not advancing with one  method of teaching, the teacher must use a different technique for a more favorable outcome. They must use research-based methods of teaching. This high-stakes test determines how to use assessment results to plan effective instruction. Disadvantage #1 This statewide-standardized test does not recognize student growth. It does not offer a realistic picture of how a student or school is performing as a whole. The extent of what a student actually learned is not known. Students that start out at a disadvantage are not given recognition for progress in achievement. Disadvantage #2 Teaching to the test. The growing concern with this high-stakes test is that it has become the curriculum and instruction has been narrowed to focus on results. Disadvantage #3 States set their own standards and can make tests unusually easy to compensate for inadequate student performance. The second type of formal assessment I would like to discuss is the aptitude test. It is a norm-reference test and is administered under timed testing conditions. It measures a student’s overall performance across a wide range of intellectual capabilities. These test are useful to determine the current level students are at and to adjust classroom curriculum  accordingly. Advantage #1 Aptitude tests are excellent predictors of future learning or performance. Advantage #2 Aptitude tests help students understand their own strengths and weaknesses. Advantage #3 Aptitude tests are useful tools for working with students with special needs because it can help teachers form realistic expectations of the student. Disadvantage #1 Since this is a multiple-choice type test, it does not allow for creativity or an alternative way of thinking. Disadvantage #2 Since this is a norm-reference test, students do not know how well they individually mastered the material. They only know how well they did compared to other students. Informal assessments is an important tool for teachers to use to monitor students’ progress throughout the learning process. The first type of informal assessment I feel is crucial in monitoring student performance is observation. I feel this method would be valuable to use in my classroom because I can observe students immediate reaction to my instruction especially during a pair-share or group setting. As I walk around the classroom, I would document my assessment of students’ performance and then provide feedback. As I observe and listen, it will allow me to know how many students remembered and processed the information given, as well as using it to solve problems. Advantage #2 As I observe and listen, it can help me to immediately clarify any confusion and address the problem. Disadvantage #1 Not all students may be verbally participating at the time of observation. Disadvantage #2 Some students become nervous when being observed, and their performance may suffer. A second type of informal assessment that I would use in the classroom would be student portfolios. Through the portfolio process,  students develop goal-setting and self-directed learning techniques. It helps students value themselves as learners. It also allows students to compete with themselves rather than with other students. Advantage #1 Students can plan and manage their own time to complete their work. This can benefit the students by teaching them responsibility for their own learning goals. Advantage #2 Students know their own strengths and weaknesses as they assess and analyze their progress. Disadvantage #1 Portfolios take a lot of planning and organization. Gathering all the information can make it difficult to manage. Disadvantage #2 Evaluating and scoring a student’s portfolio evolves a wide range of subjective evaluation procedures, which can limit reliability. A third method of informal assessment is through student oral presentation. This technique provides the student an opportunity to present information through verbal means in lieu of a written form. It allows the student to show their knowledge on a particular subject. To assess this type of method I would use a rating scale to grade student performance. It is very important to use a detailed rating scale for students to know the  aspects of the presentation that are to be considered in the assessment. Advantage #1 This method of assessment is instant and immediate in the transmission of information. Feedback can be given instantly. Advantage #2 Oral presentations provide maximum preparation. This can allow the students to practice to achieve perfection. Disadvantage #1 Some students are timid and more introverted than others. Oral presentations can be very intimidating and nerve-racking. Disadvantage #2 English language learners or those students who have a disability might affect their ability to speak fluently. Disadvantage #3  Students might find it easier to organize information through written communication. The final informal assessment method I would use would be pop quizzes. This type of assessment is usually quick, given without prior warning and can be completed in 15 minutes or less. Teachers can use this method to determine if students have grasped recent information. Advantage #1 Allow students to build on previous information and strengthens concepts which may have been unclear to them. Advantage #2 It is a great way to reinforce material that may be covered on a standardized type assessment test. It does not allow for accommodation for those students who need extended time on examinations, tests and quizzes. It can cause undo stress for those students. Disadvantage #2 It doesn’t really tell the true picture of a student’s level of knowledge. Some students may be lucky enough to guess the majority of the questions correctly. Having a mixture of written and oral types of informal assessments services a wide range of students. It allows the teacher to evaluate and recognize student’s learning needs and determine the appropriate level and pace of workflow. It offers the students the best chance to excel in one or more formats. Assessment test. (2016, Sep 25).

Greek Civilization Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Greek Civilization - Assignment Example The major thinkers that have existed in this world have roots in ancient Greece. The civilization of the Greeks grew in small city-states (Montgomery, para 4). An individual city-state was made up of a town which was surrounded by many other villages. There was a lot of farmland from where town residents could get their food. Many of the small city-states of the Greek civilization had a lot of rivalries; they were characterized by constant fighting. It is, however, important to note that the citizens of particular city states were very patriotic and took a keen interest in affairs of their states. Among those many city states, two of them were most significant; the Sparta state and the Athens state. These cities are known to have been the first to establish mature democracies. It was difficult for these states to form a single united nation(Montgomery, para 13-17,). However, a few things bound them together; their language was common, religion and cultural practices played this important role. This gave the ancient Greeks a feeling that they were totally different people compared to others whom they tagged as barbarians. Ancient Greek civilization is much attributed to its formidable political structures as well as geographical location. These two factors placed it in a strategic position which accelerated its growth and development. Geographical factors were the prime reason for its growth, compared to other near eastern civilizations, the Greek civilization existed between several ranges of mountain ranges.