Describe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Describe - Essay Example time for students as they don’t need to leave the university to look for various services.ISU has well trained, equipped and experienced lecturers who teach the students and provide them with knowledge on their various courses. In addition, the university has a well equipped library and resource center where they do their private studies and research. The University offers different leisure time activities for both children and adults. These activities benefit the students, campus staff, and their children. The University hosts an extraordinary variety of events: lectures, performances, exhibitions, concerts, readings, film screenings, and more, many of which are student planned and run. The University events calendar keeps track of all daily happenings on and around campus. Many relatives, friends, and many other people visit the campus during the fun times. The university supports student efforts to take the lead in shaping the learning and living environment. Many student organizations work with the Student Activities Office and other university groups to plan events and bring exciting guests, artists, and speakers to campus. The ISU community is well-equipped with everything that could be found anywhere else outside the University.ISU has a website where one can obtain help and information on the University. The has a meeting room, where students hold various meetings for both academic and co-curricular matters. The meeting room is updated with technology, river views, Wi-Fi, and a welcoming, knowledgeable staff to help make meetings a success. The University has a bookstore where students get books and other learning materials easily and at low costs. It also has a game center. The game center serves as a hub for experiential education, persuasive play research, and innovative production in the fields of games for change. The game center seeks to encourage collaboration and establish a foundation for research at ISU on serious games and virtual

Japanese traits Essay Example for Free

Japanese traits Essay In short, the characters of anime show the Japanese who so aspire to Western traits as they would like to see themselves. It is an effect that cannot possibly be duplicated by live actors, who — being alive — can never really change the physical characteristics determined by their genetic makeup. They can dye their hair and even change their eye color with contact lenses, but they cannot fundamentally alter their skin color, facial features, or physique. And even if they tried, using special make-up effects or plastic surgery, the result would be unnatural. Only anime, and its cousin manga, can convincingly meld Japanese and Caucasian attributes into a natural-looking human being. This is because the upside of these genres inherent lack of realism is their unique ability to exploit the appeal of and fascination for the unreal. And that is why manga and anime have attained such a high status in the popular culture of Japan, compared to that of other countries. These are the only two media capable of portraying reality the way Japanese feel it should be. By comparison, live-action films sacrifice appeal from the outset simply because they feature Japanese actors. Fashion illustrator Nagasawa Setsu expressed the feelings of many Japanese in an essay he wrote in 1983 for the Japanese playbill of the British film Dont Look Now: With their sharp-featured faces and long-limbed bodies, Westerners (read Caucasians) are physically suited to the movie screen; everyone looks almost too beautiful, down to the minor characters . .Japanese are just the opposite. Even people who appear delicately beautiful in person look round and dumpy and totally unstylish on camera. The reason many people today say they dislike the ugliness† of Japanese films — content notwithstanding — is that the looks of Japanese screen actors put domestic films at a crucial disadvantage. Period pieces at least allow one to cover up these failings with elaborate costumes. But when they take off their clothes for bedroom scenes, even the most glamorous Japanese actors and actresses look hopelessly unattractive — which is why you cant pay me to watch Japanese porn. That Nagasawa is not alone in his preference is attested to by the growing number of animated pornographic videos that have been produced in Japan since the mid 1980s. Thus, the history of the past twenty years, during which anime has pushed live-action to the side and emerged as the face of Japanese cinema, has in essence been the history of ethnic bleaching in Japanese film. Incidentally, it was also during the last two decades that manga, originally regarded as kids stuff, truly came into its own as adult entertainment. In contrast to ideologies of American communities being portrayed as great melting pots, Americans have historically aligned themselves along racial and ethnic divisions. This has flourished in stereotypes of practically all non-majority members in the media. Japanese-Americans have been no exception. Characterizations of Japanese-Americans in the media often fail to make distinctions between Japanese, Japanese-Americans, Asians and Asian Americans. Consequently, attitudes towards Japanese-Americans have been heavily influenced by portrayals of all Asians. The first Asians to come to America in significant numbers were Chinese laborers. The early depictions emphasized slant-eyes, buckteeth and yellow skin. This representation reinforced the notion of â€Å"otherness. † Anti-Asian bias was a major reason behind immigration exclusion acts directed first at he Chinese, then the Japanese. Rather than the media acknowledging the difference between Asian cultures, American representation of Asians often borrowed indiscriminately from all cultures. All the dozens of Asians and Pacific Island cultures are lumped together into one homogeneous group identity. Even the Korean and Vietnamese women in the late 1950’s-70 were commonly called â€Å"Mama San† despite the Japanese American origins of the term. Characterizations of Japanese-Americans (and all Asians) in the media of the 1920’s and 1930’s as â€Å"vicious, rat-like sneaks, part of a world-wide â€Å"yellow peril† appears to have been one of the reasons for the internment. Amy Kashiwabara in â€Å"Vanishing Son: The Appearance, Disappearance, and Assimilation of the Asian-American Male in American Mainstream Media (1996) states â€Å"The visceral hatred of the Japanese inevitably tapped into yellow peril sentiments before the turn of the century which had been directed mainly against the Chinese†. In early movies, attached to the assignation of being Japanese came the implication of duplicity, violence and untrustworthiness appearing as Japanese traits, thus, sending the message that Asians, particularly Japanese men could not be trusted, no matter how Americanized they seem. This furthered the notion that Japanese-American men were even more dangerous than unassimilated ones because they could deceive people into trusting them. Persistent in early media was the idea of the diabolical Japanese that continually plotted the destruction of America in general and white women in particular. The 1946 film, â€Å"The Yellow Menace,† showed attempted Japanese domination. The 1940’s images on film were rife with scenes of Japanese torturing and abusing white people. The majority of Americans in the ‘40’s were intimately introduced to the Japanese in the context of war and violence at the movies, newspaper editorials, propaganda posters (*scan example) and later on in the 1950’s on television. Films from 1942 included â€Å"Prisoner of Japan,† â€Å"Remember Pearl Harbor,† and â€Å"Secret Agent of Japan. †

My Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy of Teaching Statement

Philosophy of Education If I had to pick one view that is most compatible with my own view and learning and teaching it would have to be Constructivism. If I got to choose another one I would go with Cognitive. Constructivism is a view that focuses on the active role of the learner and a Cognitive view sees learning as an active mental process of receiving, remembering, and using knowledge. Both of these views see the role of students as an active role; an involved role. I believe that we learn knowledge and change our behavior based upon this knowledge; instead of the other way around. I used to be somewhat of a behaviorist in that I put too much of the teachers focus on the behavior of the students. I have began to stray away from the idea that teachers are to teach there students morals and ethics. One of the major changes in my philosophy is the student/teacher relationship. The relationship that students and teachers have now is one that really doesn’t allow for the teacher to teach thin gs like morals and ethics. I see that this relationship is becoming more and more impersonal. This goes beyond the classroom though; for some reason this is just the general direction that our culture seems to be heading; impersonal relationships. My philosophical view on education was most closely related to Progressivism. I realize that having a pure Progressivism point of view, or any pure philosophy for that matter, is a dangerous perspective to have. My belief that Progressivism is 100% correct would be a pure Progressivism philosophical view. This was straight from my original philosophy and as you can see it really reveals a constructive view of learning. All educators as well as students should constantly be open ... ...r of today’s teachers for the job to be taken lightly. Our future President is in a classroom right now. Realizing this, teachers should have a desire to teach children and to prepare them for the future, and if this takes completely changing my style because it isn’t compatible with my students then so be it. A lack of this desire to do whatever it takes will no doubt show in a classroom and in the world we will live in. Teachers are the ones who need to go through a rigorous education in order to be better equipped to do the job efficiently. Trust and respect should be maintained and teachers should always encourage their students. It is a teacher’s job to help young men and woman obtain the knowledge they will need to be successful adults. No one can dispute the fact that teachers affect the future. What students are being taught today will effect tomorrow.

Dream Psychology- Sigmund Freud

Dreams and the Sub-Conscious Mind The definition of a dream is a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. It is believed that dreams have always existed in human society and have been shared among members of societies dating back to 3000-4000 BC. In various societies dreams held a number of meanings and significance.Throughout history dreams have been recognized as significant symbols or signs, warnings of the future, connections between living and the dead, capable of diagnosing illness and predicting onset of diseases, temptations of the devil, and numerous other possible things. Dream interpretations, or attempts made to understand a person’s dream, date back to 3000-4000 B. C. , where they were documented on clay tablets. For as long as man has been able to talk about dreams, humans have been fascinated with them and have strived to understand them, though this is challenging because dreams are often so easily forgotten.Througho ut the history of the study of dreams, famous theorists have presented their own dream philosophies and theories, developed eight specific categories of dream types, and presented many dreams found commonly among people which represent common aspects of life, all of these things have been developed in trying to answer one question: Do dreams reflect, or relate to, a person’s sub-conscious state of mind? First, the most famous of all dream theorists is a man named Sigmund Freud, who lived from 1856-1939 and is considered to be â€Å"the father of psychoanalysis† (Dream Moods). evolutionizes the study of dreams with his work The Interpretation Of Dreams. Freud begins to analyze dreams in order to understand aspects of personality as they relate to pathology, or the science of causes and effects of diseases. He believes that nothing one does occurs by chance; every action and thought is motivated by the unconscious  at some level. In  order to live in a civilized soci ety, humans have a tendency to hold  back  urges and repress impulses. However, these urges and impulses must be released in some way; they have a way of coming to the surface in ambiguous forms. Read also Memory – ForgettingFreud believes that one way these urges and impulses are released is through dreams. Because the content of the unconscious may be extremely disturbing or harmful, Freud believes that the unconscious expresses itself in a symbolic language. To explain this symbolic language, Freud categorizes aspects of the mind into three parts. These parts include the Id, the Ego, and the Superego. Id, which is centered around primal impulses, pleasures, desires, unchecked urges and wish fulfillment.Ego, which is concerned with the conscious, the rational, the moral and the self-aware aspect of the mind. Superego, which is considered to be the sort of â€Å"censor† for the id, which is also responsible for enforcing the moral codes of the ego. When one is awake,   the impulses and desires of the id are suppressed by the superego. Through dreams, one is able to get a glimpse into the unconscious, or the id. Because one’s guards are down during the dream state, the unconscious has the opportunity to act out and express the hidden desires of the id.However, the desires of the id can, at times, can be so disturbing and even psychologically harmful that a â€Å"censor† comes into play and  translates the id's disturbing content into a more acceptable symbolic form. This helps to preserve sleep and prevent one from waking up shocked at the images. As a result, confusing and often cryptic dream images occur. According to Freud, the reason one struggles to remember their dreams, is because the superego is at work. It is doing its job by protecting the conscious mind from the disturbing images and desires conjured by the unconscious.According to Freud, dreams always have what he called a â€Å"manifest and latent content† (qtd. in moods). The manifest content is what the dream seems to be saying. It is often bizarre and seemingly nonsense. On the contrary, the latent content is what the dream is really trying to say. Dreams give one a look into the unconscious. Freud believes that it is possible to chip through the dream's manifest content to reveal the underlying significance and its latent by utilizing the technique of â€Å"free association†.Using this technique, one must start with one dream symbol and then follow with what automatically comes to the mind first. One must continue in this manner and essentially see where it leads. In order to interpret the cryptic images of dreams, Freud divided the images into five major categories, or processes. The first being displacement which occurs when the desire for one thing or person is symbolized by something or someone else. The second, projection which happens when the dreamer propels their own desires and wants onto another person.The third being symbolization which is characterized when the dreamer's repressed urges or suppressed desires are acted out metaphorically. Fourth, condensation which is the process in which the dreamer hides t heir feelings or urges by contracting it or underplaying it into a brief dream image or event. Thus the meaning of this dream imagery may not be apparent or obvious. Lastly, rationalization which is regarded as the final stage of dreamwork. The dreaming mind organizes an incoherent dream into one that is far more understandable and logical.This is also known as secondary revision. Essentially this is Freud’s basic explanation of what dreams are and how one is to interpret them. Freud’s dream psychology is heavily based on psychoanalysis and is centered on the fact that dreams do in fact reflect the sub-conscious mind of the dreamer. Another dream theorist, who lived during the time of Freud, Alfred Adler (1870-1937), believed the importance of dreams to be a little different than Freud’s beliefs. Essentially, Adler believed that dreams are an important tool to mastering control over waking lives.They are problem-solving devices. Dreams need to be brought to the conscious and interpreted so that better understanding can be shed on one’s problems. Adler believes it is important to learn from dreams and incorporate them into waking life. Adler believes that there is a correlation between dreams and the problems in daily life. The more dreams one has, the more problems one is likely to have. Adler believes that dreams are an open pathway toward one’s true thoughts, emotions and actions. In dreams, one clearly sees one’s aggressive impulses and desires.Dreams are also a way of overcompensating for the shortcomings in waking life. For example, if one is unable to stand up to a boss in waking life, then one may find it easier to lash out at the boss within the comfort and safety of a dream. Dreams offer some sort of satisfaction that is more socially acceptable. So, though Adler does not entirely agree with Freud’s views of the subconscious controlling the dream, he does in fact believe that one’s subconscious d esires and drive are released through a dream.A third dream theorist, Carl Jung, who was considered to be a mentor of Freud’s also believed in the existence of the unconscious. However, he did not see the unconscious as animalistic, instinctual, or  sexual; he saw it as more  spiritual. Eventually, Jung split with Freud due to their differing views on dreams. According to Jung, dreams are a way of communicating and acquainting oneself with the unconscious. Dreams are not attempts to conceal one’s true feelings from the waking mind, but rather they are a window to the unconscious.They serve to guide the waking self to achieve wholeness and offer a solution to a problem one is facing in waking life. Jung views the ego as one’s sense of self and how one portrays oneself to the world. Part of Jung's theory is that all   things can be viewed as paired opposites: good/evil, male/female, or love/hate. So working in opposition to the ego, is the â€Å"counteregoà ¢â‚¬  or what he refers to as the shadow. The shadow represents the rejected aspects of oneself that one does not wish to acknowledge. The shadow is more primitive, somewhat uncultured,   and a little awkward.As dreams are a way of communicating with the unconscious, Jung believed that dream images reveal something about oneself, one’s relationships with others, and situations in one’s waking life. Dreams guide one’s personal growth and  help in achieving full potential. Jung also believes that the dream's manifest content is just as significant  and revealing as the  latent content. By simply discussing what is currently going on in one’s life, it can help one interpret and unlock the cryptic images of one’s  dreams. Jung's method of dream interpretation is placed more confidently on the dreamer.He believes that all dreamers possess the necessary tools to interpret their own dreams. The meaning of one’s dreams is a personal judgm ent and is up to the dreamer on how to interpret them. Jung noted certain dream symbols that possess the same universal meaning for all men and women. He terms this phenomenon the â€Å"collective unconscious†. While dreams are personal, one’s personal experiences often touch on universal themes and symbols. These symbols are believed to occur in every culture throughout history. Jung identifies seven such symbols in what is referred to as the major archetypal characters: 1.The Persona is the image one presents to the world in  waking life. It is similar to a public mask. In the dream world, the persona is represented by the Self. 2. The Shadow is the rejected and repressed aspects of oneself. It is the part of oneself that one does not want the world to see because it is ugly or unappealing. It symbolizes weakness, fear, or anger. In dreams, this figure is represented by a stalker, murderer, a bully, or pursuer. It can be a frightening figure or even a close friend or relative. Their appearance often makes one angry or leaves one scared.They force one to confront things that one doesn't want to see or hear. 3. The Anima / Animus is the female and male aspects of oneself. Everyone possess both feminine and masculine qualities. In dreams, the anima appears as a highly feminized figure, while the animus appears as a hyper masculine form. These dream imageries appear depending on how well one is able to integrate the feminine and masculine qualities within oneself. They serve as a reminder that one must learn to acknowledge or express a masculine (be more assertive) or feminine side (be more emotional). . The Divine Child is one’s true self in its purest form. It not only symbolizes innocence, vulnerability, and helplessness, but it represents one’s aspirations and full potential. One is open to all possibilities. In the dreamscape, this figure is represented by a baby or young child. 5. The Wise Old Man /Woman is the helper in dream s. Represented by a teacher, father, doctor, priest or some other unknown authority figure, they serve to offer guidance and words of wisdom. They appear in the dream to steer and guide the dreamer into the right direction. 6.The Great Mother is the nurturer. The Great Mother appears in dreams as ones own mother, grandmother, or other nurturing figure. She provides one with positive reassurance. Negatively, they may be depicted as a witch or old bag lady in which case they can be associated with seduction, dominance and death. This juxtaposition is rooted in the belief by some experts that the real mother who is the giver of life is also at the same time jealous of ones growth away from her. 7. The Trickster, as the name implies, plays jokes to keep one from taking oneself too seriously.The trickster may appear in ones dream when one has overreached or misjudged a situation. Or he could find himself in the dream when one is uncertain about a decision or about where to go in life. Th e trickster often makes one feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, sometimes mocking or exposing  one to personal vulnerabilities. He may take on subtle forms, sometimes even changing its shape. Overall, Jund seemed to be influenced by both Freud and Adler in his belief of the dream yet he presented common dreams symbols which further explained the manifestation of one’s sub-conscious mind within the dream.Next, research and records of dreams further progressed it was discovered that there are essentially eight major categories which all dreams fall into. These categories being: daydreams, lucid dreams, nightmares, recurring dreams, healing dreams, signal dreams, and epic dreams. Daydreams are often viewed as light-hearted in nature. They are silly fantasies and wishful thinking. Actually, even worrying over things can be classified as a form of daydreaming. When one worries, one is visualizing an unwanted or negative outcome to a situation.By repeating these negative images in one’s mind, one is more likely to make them happen. Daydreaming is believed to occur when one is only semi-awake and it is essentially running away with ones imagination, or the take over one’s thoughts by wandering sub-conscious mind. Next is the Lucid dream. Lucid dreams give the ability to control one’s own dreams and steer them toward the direction the dreamer wants. In the lucid state, one is more willing to confront threats and as a result, become more self confident.When one achieves lucidity, one can use it as a tool to improve one’s sports game, to rehearse for a speech, to fulfill your fantasies, or to solve a problem in your waking life. Though lucid dreams often give one the power to face the things in the forefronts of one’s mind, it is believed that the unconscious is what triggers a lucid dream and encourages one to assume this power. Third, is nightmares which are a subcategory of dreams. The distinction of a nightmare is its frigh tening and/or emotional content. One tends to wake up in fear in the midst of a nightmare.Because of its frightening nature, one is more likely to remember nightmares and the vivid details. Nightmares are almost always believed to be caused by the sub-conscious mind as it the sub-conscious’ way to get your attention about a situation or problem that one has been avoiding, warning of a health issue, or nightmares may stem from a deeper level indicating that something is troubling you from within your subconscious. Next, is recurring dreams, which are quite common and are often triggered by a certain life situation, transitional phase in life or a problem that keeps coming back again and again.These dreams may recur daily, once a week, or once a month. Whatever the frequency, there is little variation in the dream content itself. Such dreams are often a message from the subconscious highlighting a personal weakness, fear, or inability to cope with something in one’s life . Fourth, is Healing dreams are often dreams which tell the dreamer that he or she needs to go to the dentist or doctor. These dreams are often communication between mind and body that something is not quite right. Prophetic dreams, also referred to as precognitive or psychic dreams, are dreams that seemingly foretell the future.One rational theory to explain this phenomenon is that one’s dreaming mind is able to piece together bits of information and observation that one may normally overlook or that one does not seriously consider. In other words, one’s sub-conscious mind knows what is coming before one consciously pieces together the same information. Signal dreams, are similar to healing dreams, in that they are essentially a warning. Signal dreams are considered to be a sub-conscious warning or problem solving method to help the dreamer deal with situations in life.Lastly, Epic dreams are so huge, so compelling, and so vivid that one cannot ignore them. The detail s of such dreams often remain with one for years. These dreams possess much beauty and contain many archetypal symbology. When one wakes up from such a dream, one feels that they have discovered something profound or amazing about oneself or about the world. These dreams are also often future telling or even present revealing messages from the subconscious mind. Overall, each of these categories or types of dreams are the development which has resulted from the theories of the above dream theorists.Each type of dream is related to an archetype or belief of one, two, or even all three of the above theorists which reveals the large influence of the subconscious mind on dreams. Overall, it can be concluded that dreams are quite often reflecting of, or related to, the subconscious mind of the dreamer. This can be seen in all three of the major theories presented and through the eight major types of dreams which have been determined through said theories. For example, In Freud’s t heory, he states his belief that dreams are the subconscious mind’s release of suppressed desires and ambitions of the dreamer.Freud believes these suppressed desires must be released, so the mind releases them in the form of a dream, which can often be incredibly disturbing. That is, until the subconscious mind intervenes, turning these disturbing dreams into cryptic and symbolic images which can really only be understood through psychoanalysis of the mind of the dreamer. Adler’s theory, similar to Freudian theory, but not entirely the same claims that dreams are essentially problem solving devices. Adler believes that through dreams the subconscious mind of the dreamer brings forward waking life desires the dreamer may not even realizes exist yet.Adler states that the dream is used to make the conscious mind aware of what to do in waking life as it presents lessons to be learned from. Freud and Adler differ in that Freud believes the dream comes from the conscious mi nd and is edited and controlled by the subconscious, whereas Adler believes the dream comes from the subconscious and is to teach the conscious, and make it more aware. Lastly is Jung who believes all dreams share in a number of specific archetypes and are a way of communicating and acquainting oneself with the subconscious.Jung’s theory differs the greatest from Freudian theory and Adler’s theory as Jung believes the conscious and subconscious mind come together in a dream, and work together to create images which express the psychological state, and views of the dreamer. Overall, each of these three theorists and the eight categories of dreams which resulted from their studies have revealed that the subconscious mind of the dreamer has great influence on dreams and that the subconscious, no matter what the dream, plays a major role in some aspect of the creation or portrayal of the dream.

Using a quantitative method enables you to draw up conclusions from the statistical results

a) Using a quantitative method enables you to draw up conclusions from the statistical results. One advantage of this is using questionnaires to get generalisable results. You are able to distribute these across England and Wales to all types of people, working class, middle class, male or female etc, which later makes your results more representative of the population that you are studying. You have results from a range of people instead of one particular group, which may have higher rates than others due to material or social factors. Another advantage is quantitative data is a lot faster than qualitative data, so if you didn't have a lot of time to gather your results then a quantitative approach would be best. You don't have to ask informal questions in interviews but instead can gather statistical information via quick survey questions that make your results easier to read. b) One advantage of using two methods to gather your results is you can measure them against each other. If your results are similar then they are more likely to be valid measure of your sample. If however there is a major contrast then you could adopt a different method until you have similar results, to ensure your results were a valid measure of the thing you were studying. Another advantage is the more results you have, the more you can generalise about your sample. You could extract results from each targeted group you were studying which would make them representative and in the end more reliable. You have a wider range of results that you could pick your results from. c) Despite minor fluctuations, Item A demonstrates a steady rise in divorce rates in England and Wales over the past 30 years. It has increased dramatically by over 10%. The main cause according to the item is the introduction of divorce laws in the UK, in particular The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1967. This saw a massive 80 thousand divorce increase peaking after the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act of 1985 to 160 thousand divorces in England and Wales in the same year. What we notice from item A is that a bigger number of divorces are filed by women rather than men, particularly in the latter years where there are over twice as many women filing for divorce compared to the mere number of men. The ratio widened dramatically after the Divorce Reform Act of 1971, which allowed couples to divorce on grounds of marital breakdown. This increase did not simply represent a backlog of couples waiting to legally end marriage as the rates continue to rise over the following years. d) In order to start my research I must first operationalise the concept â€Å"stability of family life.† Family life in this case means a married couple with their own children who they still support. Stability will be based on the grounds that the family own a mortgage and are not on the brink of divorce. To get into the field I will interview children and their parents at schools throughout England and Wales. To make my results generalisable, I will use a public and a Comprehensive school from each county. This also makes my result representative as I am using schools from different social backgrounds, which will give me a good representation of the stability of family life from different social classes. Once I am in the field I will use unstructured interviews and focus groups to gather my data. I will interview children to make sure I obtain reliable results – one answer tends to be better than two. When interviewing children I will make sure their parents are present in case anything is said that they disapprove of which would be unethical. To gain access of parents I will use parents' evenings to interview them together. This way I will get one answer from them instead of two, which could be different. It also saves time comparing results. When conducting the interview I will ensure my questions are similar for each and that the family understands what the questions entail so my results are valid. I must make sure I am measuring the stability of family life that I recognize, not what someone else believes is the concept. This will then make my results reliable for use. e) When using qualitative data, the methods used can make results unreliable for a number of reasons. The main concern with my method is, are families likely to confess to a stranger that their family is unstable? The simple answer is no as that could be embarrassing and it's a personal question. If I was using quantitative data for example, questionnaires then people might put a truthful answer down as they are not under scrutiny from the interviewer or their partner. Interviewing children is also difficult especially whilst under the influence of their parents. They are likely to know if their parents are in an unstable relationship for obvious reasons but may not wish to say so because they are being watched by their parents which raises the point of obtaining reliable results. However you can't interview them without their presence due to ethical values. Parents are also under the influence of each other. Even if the marriage is unstable, one may be too afraid to say so due to the reaction of the other, again causing concern for the reliability of my results. My method of collecting data may not work when it comes to interviewing families at parents' evenings. Statistics show that parents from working class backgrounds are less likely to show up. This could be due to work factors such as shift work that most working class people tend to do. This would mean that you would have more parents show up in public schools than you would in your local Comprehensive thus giving you an unrepresentative measure of your sample. Another drawback is generalisability. You need to have a diverse sample to make sure it is representative but this then makes your method time consuming and expensive. You would need to carefully select your destination but either way there is a downfall to this factor.

Operation Linebacker in the Vietnam War

Operation Linebacker in the Vietnam War Operation Linebacker took place from May 9 to October 23, 1972 during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). In March 1972, with the United States working to transfer responsibility for fighting on the ground to the South Vietnamese, the North Vietnamese launched a major offensive. With South Vietnamese forces under pressure and giving ground, Operation Linebacker was launched with the goal of slowing the enemy advance by striking transportation and logistical targets. These air attacks proved effective and by June, North Vietnamese units were reporting that only 30% of supplies were reaching the front. An effective campaign, Operation Linebacker helped halt the Easter Offensive and aided in restarting peace talks. Fast Facts: Operation Linebacker Conflict: Vietnam War (1955-1975)Dates: May 9 to October 23, 1972Force Commander:United StatesGeneral John W. Vogt, Jr.Seventh Air ForceTask Force 77Casualties:United States: 134 aircraft lost to all causes Background As Vietnamization progressed, American forces began handing off responsibility for fighting the North Vietnamese to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). In the wake of ARVN failures in 1971, the North Vietnamese government elected to move forward with conventional offensives the following year. Beginning in March 1972, the Easter Offensive saw the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) attack across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as well as east from Laos and south from Cambodia. In each case, PAVN forces made gains driving back the opposition. Debating the American Response Concerned about the situation, President Richard Nixon initially desired to order three days of B-52 Stratofortress strikes against Hanoi and Haiphong. In an effort to preserve the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, National Security Advisor Dr. Henry Kissinger dissuaded Nixon from this approach as he believed it would escalate the situation and alienate the Soviet Union. Instead, Nixon moved forward with authorizing more limited strikes and directed that additional aircraft be dispatched to the region. As PAVN forces continued to make gains, Nixon elected to push forward with a large escalation of air attacks. This was due to both the deteriorating situation on the ground and the need to preserve American prestige prior to a summit meeting with Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev. To support the campaign, the US Seventh Air Force continued to receive additional aircraft, including large numbers of F-4 Phantom IIs and F-105 Thunderchiefs, while the US Navys Task Force 77 was increased to four carriers. On April 5, American aircraft began striking targets north of the 20th Parallel as part of Operation Freedom Train. A US Air Force F-4 Phantom II during the Vietnam War. Photograph Courtesy of the US Navy Freedom Train Pocket Money On April 10, the first large B-52 raid struck North Vietnam and hit targets around Vinh. Two days later, Nixon began allowing strikes against Hanoi and Haiphong. American air attacks largely focused on transportation and logistics targets, though Nixon, unlike his predecessor, delegated operational planning to his commanders in the field. On April 20, Kissinger met with Brezhnev in Moscow and convinced the Soviet leader to reduce military aid to North Vietnam. Unwilling to risk an improving relationship with Washington, Brezhnev also pressured Hanoi to negotiate with the Americans. This led to a meeting in Paris on May 2 between Kissinger and Hanois chief negotiator Le Duc Tho. Sensing victory, the North Vietnamese envoy was unwilling to deal and effectively insulted Kissinger. Angered by this meeting and the loss of Quang Tri City, Nixon further upped the ante and directed that the North Vietnamese coast by mined. Moving forward on May 8, US Navy aircraft penetrated Haiphong harbor as part of Operation Pocket Money. Laying mines, they withdrew and additional aircraft conducted similar missions over the next three days. F-105D Thunderchief. Photograph Courtesy of the US Air Force Striking at the North Though both the Soviets and Chinese frowned on the mining, they did not take active steps to protest it. With the North Vietnamese coast effectively closed to maritime traffic, Nixon ordered a new air interdiction campaign, dubbed Operation Linebacker, to commence. This was to focus on suppressing North Vietnamese air defenses as well as destroying marshaling yards, storage facilities, transshipment points, bridges, and rolling stock. Commencing on May 10, Linebacker saw Seventh Air Force and Task Force 77 conduct 414 sorties against enemy targets. In the wars single heaviest day of aerial combat, four MiG-21s and seven MiG-17s were downed in exchange for two F-4s. During the early days of the operation, the US Navys Lieutenant Randy Duke Cunningham and his radar intercept officer, Lieutenant (j.g.) William P. Driscoll, became the first American aces of the conflict when they downed a MiG-17 (their third kill of the day). Striking targets across North Vietnam, Operation Linebacker saw the first widespread use of precision-guided munitions. MiG-17. US Air Force This advance in technology aided American aircraft in dropping seventeen major bridges between the Chinese border and Haiphong in May. Switching to supply depots and petroleum storage facilities, the Linebacker attacks began to have a telling effect on the battlefield as PAVN forces saw a 70% drop in supplies through the end of June. The air attacks, coupled with increasing ARVN resolve saw the Easter Offensive slow and finally stop. Unhampered by the targeting restrictions that had plagued the earlier Operation Rolling Thunder, Linebacker saw American aircraft pound enemy targets into August. Aftermath With imports into North Vietnam down 35-50% and with PAVN forces stalled, Hanoi became willing to resume talks and make concessions. As a result, Nixon ordered bombing above the 20th Parallel to cease on October 23, effectively ending Operation Linebacker. In the course of the campaign, American forces lost 134 aircraft to all causes while downing 63 enemy fighters. Considered a success, Operation Linebacker was critical to halting the Easter Offensive and damaging PAVN forces. An effective interdiction campaign, it began a new era of aerial warfare with the mass introduction of precision-guided munitions. Despite Kissingers proclamation that Peace is at hand, American aircraft were compelled to return to North Vietnam in December. Flying Operation Linebacker II, they again struck targets in an attempt to force North Vietnamese to resume talks.

Crime and Robbery misc essays

Crime and Robbery misc essays Words 1 "Crime is the violation of statutes enacted into criminal law by a locality, state, or the federal government" (Macionis, 218). Crimes against property include robbery of another's personal belongings. Property crimes include burglary, larceny, and auto theft. Burglary consists of "the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a [serious crime] or a theft" (Macionis, 220). Larceny is "the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession of another" (Macionis, 220). Auto theft is "the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle" (Macionis, 220). Since the beginning of time there has been crime and theft. In primitive civilizations theft could have included stealing essentials for life (food, water, shelter), women, weapons, etc. In more recent times theft has come to include all material possessions a person has. Only naming several which are money, jewelry, pets, automobiles, etc. For as long as people have legitimately owned or made a legal claim to objects there has been theft. Most criminals steal in order to support expensive habits in which excessive amounts of money are crucial. Poverty is also another significant influence of crime and theft. As well as a lack in morals and values contributes to crime and robbery. Another influence of crime and robbery is that certain crimes are committed to experience a thrill, adrenaline rush or whatever it may be called. No matter what the motive may be, crime and robbery are very frequent and rates are increasing. There is a direct and close correlation of poverty and crime. As the years have passed people have become more and more socially stratified. Thus, creating a feeling of inferiority among the poor and less fortunate. With this feeling people are more inclined to commit crimes, mainly in the form of robbery. The act ...

How to Register for the SSAT 5 Simple Steps

How to Register for the SSAT 5 Simple Steps SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The SSAT can be an important test for students hoping to attend a private school, but how do you register for it?In this guide, we walk you step-by-step through the SSAT registration process and include screenshots from the SSAT website to makes things as simple as possible. At the end of the guide, we also include a chart with upcoming SSAT registration dates so you know exactly when you need to register for each exam date to avoid late fees. What to Know About the SSAT Before Registering If you’re planning on applying to a private school, you’ll likely need to take the SSAT and submit your scores as part of your application. There are three levels of the SSAT depending on the grade you’re in. (Students take the test based on their current grade, not the grade they’ll be entering next year, so make sure you register for the correct test.) Elementary for students in grades 3 and 4 Middle for students in grades 5 through 7 Upper for students in grades 8 through For more information on the SSAT, including an in-depth look at what topics it tests, check out our guide to the SSAT. The SSAT sign up process is pretty simple, but before you start, you should gather all the information and materials you’ll need for registration. This will make the registration process much easier and faster to complete. Here’s what you need for SSAT Registration: Your address and contact info The names of up to three schools where you’d like the results to be sent (you can also add these schools after the exam) A credit card for payment 5 Steps to Register for the SSAT Follow these five steps to register for the SSAT and get your choice of exam date and location. #1: Create an Account Before you can begin the registration process, you’ll need to visit the SSAT website and create an account. You’ll create both an account for the student taking the SSAT and a parent/guardian account so you can manage the student account. To create the accounts, you’ll need to enter some basic information such as your address and contact info and your child’s age and grade. Each student who’ll be taking the SSAT needs their own account, so if you have several children who’ll be taking the test, you’ll need to create separate accounts for each of them. You’ll only need one parent account. #2: Begin the Registration Process After you’ve created your account, click â€Å"Manage My SSAT† then â€Å"Register for SSAT.†You’ll see a page (below) outlining the steps you’ll need to take for SSAT test registration. #3: Choose a Test Location and Date After selecting whether the student needs additional accommodations or a Sunday exam due to religious reasons, you’ll select the grade of the student taking the exam. You’ll then see a page with the location and dates of upcoming SSAT exams, with the closest test center at the top of the list. Select the test that works best for you. #4: Add Score Recipients (Optional) You’ll next have the option of choosing the school(s) you want the SSAT scores to be sent to. You can send SSAT scores to up to three schools for no additional charge. If you’re not sure yet where you’d like the SSAT scores to be sent, you can also complete this step anytime before or after the exam date.SSAT score reports are sent about two weeks after the test date. #5: Select Add-Ons and Complete Payment The next step is choosing if you want to purchase any additional add-ons such as rush reporting or practice materials.The final step of SSAT test registration is payment. You’ll need a credit card to pay for the SSAT test fee (plus fees for any add-ons you chose). Below is a chart showing SSAT fees. Domestic tests refer to those administered in the US, Canada, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Saipan, or the US Virgin Islands. International exams are those administered in any countries other than those just listed. All fees are in USD. SSAT Exam Type Fee Elementary Level (Domestic) $80 Elementary Level (International) $157 Middle or Upper Level (Domestic) $132 Middle or Upper Level (International) $257 After you’ve paid, you’ll receive a confirmation email, and the SSAT registration process is complete! SSAT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines Below is a chart of recent and upcoming SSAT registration dates and deadlines.You should register for the SSAT at least three weeks before the exam date to avoid late fees. It’s possible to register for the SSAT up to three days before the exam, but you’ll end up paying $45 to $85 in late fees, depending on how late you register for the test. SSAT Exam Date Regular Registration Deadline Late Registration Begins ($45 fee) Rush Registration Begins ($85 fee) Last Day for Registration Oct. 14, 2017 Sep. 23, 2017 Sep. 24, 2017 Oct. 1, 2017 Oct. , 2017 Nov. , 2017 Oct. 21, 2017 Oct. 22, 2017 Oct. 29, 2017 Nov. 8, 2017 Dec. 9, 2017 Nov. 18, 2017 Nov. 19, 2017 Nov. 26, 2017 Dec. 6, 2017 Jan. 6, 2018 Dec. 16, 2017 Dec. 17, 2017 Dec. 24, 2017 Jan. 3, 2018 Feb. 3, 2018 Jan. 13, 2018 Jan. 14, 2018 Jan. 21, 2018 Jan. 31, 2018 March 3, 2018 Feb. 10, 2018 Feb. , 2018 Feb. 18, 2018 Feb. 28, 2018 April 21, 2018 March 31, 2018 April 1, 2018 April 8, 2018 April 18, 2018 June 9, 2018 May 19, 2018 May 20, 2018 May 27, 2018 June 6, 2018 If your student needs additional testing accommodations or needs to take the SSAT on a Sunday due to religious reasons, you’ll need to apply for testing accommodations.You’ll need to apply for testing accommodations at least four weeks before the desired test date and have any requested materials submitted at least two weeks before the test date. Summary: SSAT Registration The SSAT is an exam many students hoping to attend private schools take. There are versions of the SSAT available for elementary, middle, and high school students.SSAT test registration is a pretty simple process, but knowing what to expect ahead of time will make it easier and faster to complete. There are five main steps to SSAT registration: #1: Create an account #2: Begin the registration process #3: Choose a test location and date #4: Add score recipients #5: Choose add-ons and pay There are several SSAT registration dates throughout the year, and you should aim to register for the SSAT at least three weeks before the test date to avoid late fees. However, if you’re willing to pay late fees, you can register up to three days before the exam. What's Next? Want help with your SSAT prep? Check out our SSAT study tips and complete collection of SSAT practice tests. Vocab is an important part of the SSAT, but it can be hard to find high-quality practice materials. Our guide to SSAT vocabulary has done the hard work for you and compiled every top SSAT vocab resource in one place. Want to learn more about what's covered on the elementary, middle, and upper-level tests? Then be sure to read our complete guide to the SSAT. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Slavery in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Slavery in America - Essay Example The strength of the agriculture was that it remained the core of the economy and wealth accumulation. In the 1850s, the main advantage of the South was its developing agriculture, which supported the rapid economic growth of the country. Owners of the cotton plantations were interested in cheap labor in order to extend their crop areas. African slaves were the only source of cheap labor supply meeting the needs of growing economy. Africans were strong and able to work long days in the plantations. Also, "Tobacco, cotton, and rice, which require many hands to tend, stimulated slavery" (Chronology on the History of Slavery and Racism, 1999). Another economic cause of slavery was decline in immigrants labor supply connected with changing economic situation and urbanization. Many European immigrants settled in the North or returned to Europe where the processes of urbanization and distribution of wealth were faster than in the South. The North economic development and new wave of industrialization was higher and more stable attracting white immigrants and poor from the South. Industrial development and new production modes required cheap labor supplied from Africa. Another economic factor was importance of trade between Europe and America which demanded rapid industrial and agricultural growth of the Southern and Northern states, and transatlantic slave trade which became the important source of power and wealth accumulation for European and American sl

Give Me a Low Five Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Give Me a Low Five - Research Paper Example Virtually any criminal crime one can think of will fall under one of these categories, and to understand their significance and role in criminal law, an ensuing in-depth examination of each will take place. Let us first explore crimes known as offenses. These acts of indiscretion, also known as infractions, carry the lowest degree of penalties, often issued in the form of tickets with relatively low fines. Minor violations in this category today are parking violations, jaywalking, speeding tickets, and littering, and about a millennia ago, when common law as we know it was in its early stages in England, trivial offenses in this category were handled by the English Court of Common Pleas − that handled petty cases on which the king did not want to waste his time (Baker, 2002). Itinerant judges traveling between towns would try such minor crimes at various circuits, hence the term, â€Å"common law.† Today, these lower crimes, usually called summary offenses, â€Å"are often tried at the lowest level of the judicial system, usually before a district magistrate or justice of the peace, and often use a streamlined procedure,† (Davenport, 2008, p. 9). If convicted, one ca n receive a prison sentence, usually under 90 days, and can expect to pay a fine, as well. Such cases are typically devoid of the safeguards – like a jury trial −extended to those charged with greater crimes, (Ibid.). ... Crimes falling under the banner of misdemeanor today include falsifying crime reports, driving under the influence, and disorderly conduct. Those convicted can be sentenced to up to a year in prison, but a penalty of a fine or probation is more likely (Ibid.). Misdemeanors are usually tried in local city or county courts with an arraignment charging the violator being scheduled within 15 days ? this is followed by a pre-trial hearing to set the case status; then a possible motions hearing to withhold physical evidence so that the case can be dismissed might be slated; and next is the trial, including jury selection and instructions, open statements, examination of witnesses, closing statements, and the verdict; while the last stage of being tried is usually the sentencing hearing, where fines (usually up to $5,000 and/or jail time up to one year) are issued (The Misdemeanor Criminal Process). Inchoate (or incomplete) crimes are offenses that have not yet been completed. Such crimes w ere traditionally considered misdemeanors, but today, they are viewed closer to felonies in severity and scope (Robinson, Gaeta, Majarian, Schultz, & Douglas, 2010). Back under common law centuries ago, the three subdivisions of inchoate crimes of conspiracy, attempt, and solicitation were devised in order to stem actual crimes before they came to fruition (Stevens, 2003). Conspiracy, the most publicized of the three, consists of an arrangement by one or more persons to commit a criminal act, where an obvious attempt to move forward in the crime has been witnessed. A person committing this offense may be tried in any county that is considered to be an element of the offense, and the doctrine of inchoate crimes must be applied during the trial, which calls for four things: 1)

Management Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Management Accounting - Essay Example Management accounting determines the success or failure of an organization. Moreover, it is very essential in the appropriate decision making. The main aim of a management accounting report is to provide logical information about the business and the functioning of it in all the levels of an organization. â€Å"The process of identifying, measuring, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating information for the pursuit of an organization's goals.† (Managerial accounting. 2007).Due to the changes that have been taking place in the accounting field, it is necessary to take appropriate measures to improve the managerial accounting techniques and procedures. Obtaining adequate information required for the organization is the main driving force for change. In order to gain the organizational goals, it is necessary to implement the relevant managerial accounting policies effectively. Increased competition requires adequate changes in the management techniques. Earlier, management ac counting was mainly concerned with the determination of cost, control of finance, and the like. It was also used in order to minimize the wastage of resources. In addition to this, the management accountant is also responsible for the preparation of accounting statements effectively.... "Financial accounting is something performed to agreed standards and principles (GAAP) designed to fairly and accurately report the true worth of a business to its owners and its true profits to the tax collector. Management accounting, on the other hand, is a mechanism for using a financial metric (dollars) as a normalizing mechanism for making decision about (often vastly) different choices and alternatives." (Anderson 2005). In order to mitigate the existing difficulties associated with the concept of managerial accounting and its principles and policies, it is necessary to undertake effective implementation strategy and the reinvention of management accountants. The organizational customs and its environmental factors are also effecting this reinvention to certain extend. Management accounting principles and its applications are fundamental for the preparation of financial statements and report to the entity so as to take appropriate future decisions. Management accounting highly concentrates on taking the most relevant decision required within the organization, and it is necessary to obtain the proper information about the entity to facilitate decision making, and such information should be more accurate in nature. As Professor Lee D Parker suggests, reinventing the management accountant is a fundamental concept to improve the efficiency of the subject of management accounting. For this, more talented and eligible personalities are required for the organization for controlling the area of accounts and finance. As a result of this, it is very clear from the fact that the management accountant, their role, duties, and responsibilities are widely increasing day by day, due to the technological innovations made by the

Information system Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Information system - Assignment Example In this report I have capably compared information systems development methodologies SSADM and ETHICS using the NIMSAD framework. I hope this report will offer a better overview of those methodologies and main differences between them. 17 A methodology can be described as a set of actions, techniques, tools as well as documentation support which will facilitate systems developers in their efficient employment along with practice of the new information system. Additionally, a methodology is composed of stages themselves which are then divided into sub-stages that will proficiently give direction to all the developers of information system in their inclination of the practices that might be handy as well as suitable at each phase of the development. In addition, this methodology moreover facilitates them to effectively handle, formulate, control and appraise various projects of information systems. Moreover, the methodologies enclose models and reveals particular viewpoints of ‘reality’ foundational on a set of theoretical paradigms. However, a methodology must inform the developers ‘what’ phases to obtain as well as ‘how’ to achieve those steps though the majority significantly t he causes ‘why’ those phases should be taken, in that particular order (Gasson, 1995; Yaghini, 2009) and (Avison & Taylor, 1997). In this research I will present a detailed analysis and comparison of two most well known information systems development methodologies SSADM (Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method) and ETHICS (Effective Technical and Human Implementation of Computer-based Work Systems). This research and evaluation will be formulated on the origin of the NIMSAD framework that will facilitate us in clearly analyzing and understanding the area of problem solving (in general). Here NIMSAD framework will also help us in case of overall functioning as well as proficient evaluation of the information system methodologies, their arrangements,

Organization and planning assumptions for the Community Disaster Essay

Organization and planning assumptions for the Community Disaster Relief Plan.M1S - Essay Example Some trade goes on, as does logging in the expansive forest, lying in its outskirts. The people in Chloe-land live mainly off the logging and the timber factories, with lumberjacks being the town’s most treasured people. Many residents have no formal employment and work in the timber industry, and it is a very religious town. There are two major disasters that these people are most vulnerable to, wild fires in the forests and massive landslides for those who live on the hill-slopes (David & Cleland, 2006). The plan is to allow one to modify effects of the disaster. Therefore, it is imperative to use social units in an effort aimed at disaster reduction. How successful these efforts are will rely on the level of understanding of the social structure of Chloe-land (David & Cleland, 2006). Social assumptions are important, especially three underlying ones. Presuppositions that steady emergency planning contemporarily, the issues that relate to institutionalizing of measures against forest fires in Chloe-land and the evacuation and temporary settlement of the inhabitants of Chloe-land as a way of reducing future risk ((Dewar, 2002). The community organization structure would include the local police department, the local pastor and priest as well as the head of the lumberjack umbrella body. The captain of the local baseball team, a well-respected young man, would be a help with the younger generation. This would support the CDRP well enough until the authorities come in to join

Information system Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Information system - Assignment Example In this report I have capably compared information systems development methodologies SSADM and ETHICS using the NIMSAD framework. I hope this report will offer a better overview of those methodologies and main differences between them. 17 A methodology can be described as a set of actions, techniques, tools as well as documentation support which will facilitate systems developers in their efficient employment along with practice of the new information system. Additionally, a methodology is composed of stages themselves which are then divided into sub-stages that will proficiently give direction to all the developers of information system in their inclination of the practices that might be handy as well as suitable at each phase of the development. In addition, this methodology moreover facilitates them to effectively handle, formulate, control and appraise various projects of information systems. Moreover, the methodologies enclose models and reveals particular viewpoints of ‘reality’ foundational on a set of theoretical paradigms. However, a methodology must inform the developers ‘what’ phases to obtain as well as ‘how’ to achieve those steps though the majority significantly t he causes ‘why’ those phases should be taken, in that particular order (Gasson, 1995; Yaghini, 2009) and (Avison & Taylor, 1997). In this research I will present a detailed analysis and comparison of two most well known information systems development methodologies SSADM (Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method) and ETHICS (Effective Technical and Human Implementation of Computer-based Work Systems). This research and evaluation will be formulated on the origin of the NIMSAD framework that will facilitate us in clearly analyzing and understanding the area of problem solving (in general). Here NIMSAD framework will also help us in case of overall functioning as well as proficient evaluation of the information system methodologies, their arrangements,

Employment and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Employment and Society - Essay Example The management, which is mostly consisted of male employees, find women not flexible enough, or assume that women do not want to be relocated or put long hours for the company because of their family responsibilities. Because of this, talented and skilled women lose the opportunity to be promoted to the higher management. Although there are women being promoted to the next level, there are still several signs that the place of women in the workplace is still at a lower level compared to men. Although the compensation gap between men and women employees are slowly narrowing, women’s compensation range is still at 77% lower than men’s in a 1999 data (Gregory, 2). By 2000, 46.5% of the US workforce are women but only 11.7% have held board of director positions and only 12.5% are corporate officers (Gregory, 2). Sadly, women themselves have unwittingly become the perpetuator of their own discrimination. Some women do not recognize that a certain policy is discriminatory in nature. Others, who recognize the discrimination, do not want to become involved in legal proceedings. Or are scared of losing their jobs or think that it is useless to bother with such issues as all other workplace are also infested with discrimination. There have been various laws that were passed to ensure that women get an equal opportunity in the workplace. This proves that the course towards gender equality in the workplace is on the works.

In Jonathan Kozol Essay Example for Free

In Jonathan Kozol Essay In Jonathan Kozol’s novel Amazing Grace, religion plays a dominant role throughout the book. As Kozol describes the people in poverty of Mott Haven and the myriad horrible circumstances that they face everyday, religion provides their one and only salvation and solace. It is much easier to ask what these children don’t face than what they do. They face people dying daily, prolonged sickness, crime, drugs, abuse, alcoholism, asthma, poverty, dirt, dilapidated housing. They see people die horrific deaths whether it is from AIDS or a little girl falling down an elevator shaft that nobody would fix. They are denied medical care or given substandard care, which means people don’t get better. They attend substandard schools where they receive less than adequate education. What they don’t face is a lot of compassion or empathy. At a time in America when neo-liberalists would like to get rid of government control of the economy, which results in cutting social programs that directly benefit the poor, religion is their only means of hope. Incidentally, neo-liberalists do not have any problem with government subsidies or benefits for businesses. With the rising sentiment of â€Å"I didn’t breed them†¦I don’t want to feed them† (128), this nation’s poor are shoved away and hidden more and more. They are blamed for the problems they face, and less is being done to help. As Reverend Overall says of the lack of mention of 97th Street, though 96th Street is featured in tourist guides,, â€Å"The papers ignore realities like the waste burner, but they do it in a way that tends to neutralize the dangers almost instantly† (187). 97th Street is poverty, and America turns its back on these people in the name of neo-liberalism. The American public believes as Kozol states, â€Å"If only enough children, we are told, would act the way heroes do, say no to drugs and sex and gold chains and TV and yes to homework, values, church and abstinence, and if only enough good parents, teachers, volunteers, and civic-minded business leaders would assist them in these efforts, we could turn this around† (240). This again is blaming the victim, not the society who created these conditions at all. As long as the poor are hidden away in places we run from, the inequalities will continue to exist. And when faced with such an extensive list of problems, what can these people do? They can turn to religion. Religion provides them hope. Churches provide them with food and clean needles and community organizers as well. Church becomes the focal point around which their lives revolve. As Father Glenwith Miller says, â€Å"Many here a great deal more devout then people you would meet in wealthy neighborhoods. Those who have everything they want for need have often the least feeling for religion. The rich are very busy storing everything they can accumulate: wealth, power, or prestige†¦Still I think it grieves to hear of God when human beings created in His image treat other human beings like filthy rags† (78). This quote says a great deal about why people of Mott haven are so religious with a comment about the social responsibility of humanity as well. People from Mott Haven come to church in order to escape bullets and crime for a brief respite. They use church to take away the harshness and darkness of their own lives. Church is someplace where they can hope and dream for something better than they have. Kozol wants the reader to truly understand the power religion has to buoy their spirits against the rising tide they must face everyday—the guns, the violence, the drugs, the sickness, the injustice. A nightly prayer for Mrs. Washington’s children is â€Å"God bless Mommy. God bless Nanny. Don’t punish me because I’m black† (69). Others express the sentiment that god provides a better place after death or are just thankful that God has allowed them to live. Kozol asks Shirley Flowers, a friend of Reverend Overall’s, â€Å"Do your children have the same belief in God that you do? † She replies â€Å"Yes†¦They do. This family talks to God† (169). And when a student of Gizelle Luke’s is asked â€Å"Who do you look up to? , he replies I look up to God, my mother, and myself† (33). These quotes are used to show just how important religion is as a force in their lives. Father Glenworth Miles discusses the importance of God in this community. We are not literal fundamentalists here†¦We see God as a liberating force who calls us to deliver people from oppression. The apparent consensus of the powerful is that the ghetto is to be preserved as a perpetual catch-basin for the poor. It is not about annihilating segregation or even about transformation of the ghetto, but setting up ‘programs’ to teach people to ‘adjust’ to it, to show a ‘functional’ adaptation to an evil institution†¦As a religious man, I see it as my obligation to speak out against this, not to bend the poor to be accommodated to injustice but to empower them to fight it and to try to tear it down† (81). He determines it to be

Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures Cultural Studies Essay

Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures Cultural Studies Essay Carl is you typical Filipino teenage who luckily wins an opportunity to be part of a youth conference held abroad. He meets many teenagers, just like him, who comes from different parts of the world. Upon interacting with them, he finds some cultural practices to be somewhat weird and uncomfortable for him. Likewise, he also feels that the other teenagers feel the same way about him; he doesnt know why. To make matters worse, his roommate is of Middle Eastern background. Carl cant quite understand why his roommate talks too close to him and that his roommate frequently breaths right in front of his face. Not knowing what to does, he just politely gestured to go out and then he eventually did. With a lot in his mind, he decided to grab a drink. Upon arriving at the refreshments corner, he met the Iranian girl which had recently given a wonderful presentation earlier. Hoping to make friends with her, Carl gestured her with the thumbs up hand signal for a job well done. Expecting a smil e or a thank you from her, Carl got the complete opposite; a humiliating slap to the face. The world now is getting smaller and smaller; this is made possible because of globalization and technology. Individuals from all over the globe are now given the opportunity to meet and understand other individuals whose cultural background may be different from theirs. Because of this, misunderstandings might arise. In order for this not to happen, individuals must be very good communicators. One way of developing excellent communicating skills despite differences in background is by learning and mastering nonverbal communication and its different interpretations around the world. In this paper, one will be given an overview about what nonverbal communication is in general and a lot of examples and scenarios on how different cultures interpret these nonverbal cues. Statement of the Problem This paper aims to give readers an overview of what nonverbal communication is and its importance in the communication process, particularly in the cross- cultural setting. Also In this paper the discussion of the interpretation of the different cultures of the various nonverbal cues is also presented. Particularly, this paper first discusses what communication is and how communication happens nonverbally. The distinct properties of nonverbal communication from the verbal communication is then discusses along with the functions of nonverbal communication afterwards. Next to this, the different nonverbal cues are then each thoroughly discussed so as to give the reader a general knowledge about the topic. After achieving this, the importance of nonverbal communication in inter-cultural interactions will then be discussed. Afterwards, common scenarios of how different cultures perceive each nonverbal cue will be given so that the readers will be made aware of how diverse each nonverbal cue is interpreted. This is also to equip them with an important knowledge which they will surely find useful and applicable in their day to day lives. Lastly, the paper will then discuss practical applications of the knowledge of nonverbal communication and its interpretation in different cultures all around the world. Significance of the Problem The study of nonverbal cues and its interpretation around the world is beneficial to all. Here are just some specific groups of people and the benefits they can achieve by harnessing the full potential of the use of nonverbal communication. To the migrant workers, the knowledge of the nonverbal ways of communicating, particularly in their host country, is essential for their survival. Its thru the knowledge of the nonverbal cues in which they can become more effective communicators. And by becoming effective communicators, they are able to avoid misunderstandings and be able to express themselves more easily and effectively. To the professionals, by becoming knowledgeable in nonverbal communication, they can have an edge against others. Armed with this, it will be easier for them to climb p the corporate ladder or advance more quickly in their desired career path and also make business deals with foreigners easier. To the teenagers, by becoming aware of the nonverbal cues and its different interpretations across cultures, they become more culturally integrated. They then begin to understand others who are different form their own more intently and eventually learn to mingle cohesively with others. With this being achieved, world peace can slowly be materialized thru the efforts of the youth around the world. To the elderly, with the knowledge of the nonverbal cues across cultures they can become more aware of the changes around them. By doing so, they wont be shaken by the changes which might occur around them. Also this gives them the opportunity to know more about certain actions which may be, in their culture, rude or obscene but isnt for another. This is to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. Scope and Limitations This study focuses more on the general overview on what nonverbal communication is and the common interpretation of nonverbal cues around the world. Nonverbal communication is still a budding research topic in the scientific community; hence, there arent that many studies yet that are conducted on the subject. Due to time constraints, this paper isnt able to discuss the specifics which revolve around the subject. The researcher was not able to know how each study was conducted by the person in authority. The researcher was only able to get the conclusions which were derived from these studies and experimentations. Also the aspect of communication in which this subject was based was on face-to-face interactions, not thru any other means. Another limitation is that only a fraction of all the interpretation of nonverbal cues around the world is discussed in the reason. As what was stated earlier, the interpretation of nonverbal communication across cultures is a relatively new venture i n the scientific community and only a handful of research has been conducted as of the moment. Another reason being that literatures and sources about this subject are still relatively new and that most of these are very hard to find or be obtained especially in our locality. Definition of Terms Nonverbal communication. A process whereby people, through the intentional or unintentional manipulation of normative actions and expectations, express experiences, feelings and attitudes in order to relate to and control themselves, others and their environments. Intrinsic codes. Communication In the books written by Griffin (1991) and Hayakawa (1990), it was stated that communication has no single accepted definition. But rather there are three perspectives in which it is understood. First is the Communication Behavior Perspective. It is defined based on the actions of the individuals involved meaning it can be either sender-oriented of receiver-oriented. According to the sender oriented definition, communication happens if the sender has the intention to send a message with the use of a language. It is irrelevant to know if ever the receiver gets the message or not. On the other hand, the receiver-oriented definition holds that communication as the response of an organism to a stimulus. The second perspective is the Communication Process Perspective. It looks on communication as the collaborative effort of two or more individuals. Therefore, according to this perspective, it is wrong to assume that communication is happening between two people if only one is involved in the process; regardless is he/she is the sender or at the receiving end. There are three definitions of the Communication Process Perspective. First is the bilateral definition which assumes that the sender must intend to send a message and that the receiver must interpret that message. Second is the Interaction-oriented definition which holds that communication happens if two individuals are both sending and receiving messages. And lastly the shared-meaning definition holds that communication happens only if the message is essentially, although not precisely, interpreted as what it was suppose to. For purposes of understanding Nonverbal Communication it is recommended to use the last communication perspective is the Communication Code Perspective. It emphasizes that communication is possible thru the use of communication codes. First type of communication code is the intrinsic codes. These are codes which we have even before birth. These are biologically shared codes among humans for communication purposes. Next are iconic codes which are learned in which the outward appearances are used to deliberately to communicate with others. The last communication code is the arbitrary code which is a learned signal system which is socially constructed and it uses symbols to convey messages. Nonverbal Communication Importance of Nonverbal Communication In an article by the Oklahoma Panhandle State University, it was noted that that Hickson Stacks (1985) defined nonverbal communication as A process whereby people, through the intentional or unintentional manipulation of normative actions and expectations, express experiences, feelings, and attitudes in order to relate to and control themselves, others and their environments. Moreover, Wertheim mentioned in his article that a large percentage of the meaning derived from communication is from the non-verbal cues. Moreover, in a study conducted by Professor Albert Mehrabian called Mehrabians communication study attests to the fact that indeed nonverbal communication plays a crucial part in the communication process. Mehrabians concluded the following from the experiments he conducted. He subsequently generalized that in all communication, 7% happens thru spoken words while 38% thru voice tone and 55% happens via body language, the two being nonverbal ways of communicating. Although the exact numbers may be challenged, the fact remains that a lot of communication happens nonverbally. The words of Remland (2000) in his book seem apt as conclusion to this part of the paper. He stated that, Overall, it pays to look good, wear an authoritative uniform, dress up, make eye contact, get close, and use light touch to the forearm or shoulder. Perhaps with additional research we may be able to add other nonverbal cues facial expression, speech accents, vocal qualities, posture and so forth that could also make a difference. It may surprise us to learn that seemingly trivial actions can play so prominent a role in our everyday interactions. Properties of Nonverbal Communication According of Leathers (2008), Nonverbal Communication has four distinct properties which differentiate it from Verbal Communication. These are the following: First property is that many nonverbal cues are universal. It is because of their survival value for our species. They identify us, protect us and facilitate courtship and mating. The next property is nonverbal communication is that nonverbal signals are sent and received spontaneously. We can always choose our words carefully, but nonverbal cues such as blushing, dropping our jaw and many more occur involuntarily. That is why nonverbal messages are more believable because of the cause-and-effect relationship. But it doesnt mean they cant be mimicked, it is just that many are tough to fake and most are hard to fake convincingly. The third property is that nonverbal communication resembles the things they mean. Unlike verbal communication which doesnt necessarily represent their referents, nonverbal cues always represent theirs. This characterizes much of what nonverbal communication is and it allows fostering of mutual understanding; even between individuals who speak different languages. The last property is that nonverbal signals can be made simultaneously, even as we use language. When we speak, write or sign, we must do it one word at a time. But in nonverbal communication we can use several nonverbal cues simultaneously like body movement, facial expression and the likes to express a message. Because of this, nonverbal cues can either be used to reinforce a single message or even send a mixed signal one. Functions of Nonverbal Communication Remland (2000), in his book, mentioned that nonverbal cues have four main functions, namely: First is the identification function. All animals have a distinct identity, including humans. Their identities must be able to be signaled to others. Because identities play a crucial role in the survival of the humans, they have become an integral part of the communication process. It is thru appearance and behavioral signals in which we are able to communicate to others many things. Many of these signals are inherent since birth, but humans have developed uncanny ways of altering these identities in order to communicate certain messages. The next function is the relationship function. It is the important task of getting along with others. Nonverbal cues help in the formation of relationships with others in order to survive. Many nonverbal signals are used in order show how intimate a relationship is and whos going to be in control. The third function is the emotion function. Nonverbal signals are used to let others know how they feel. These signals aid in adaptation to the environment and also it helps communicate intention to others. Most of these signals are belong to intrinsic communication codes but some display of emotions are more like public showings of what we want others to believe therefore they are classified under iconic communication codes. The last function of Nonverbal Communication is the delivery function. It involves the exchange of information about the outside world. In articles by Andrews University and Segal of helpguide.org, it was cited that under the delivery function of nonverbal communication, nonverbal cues are used to repeat the verbal message, accent the verbal message, complement or dispute the verbal message and may even substitute the verbal message. Nonverbal Cues and their Cross- Cultural Interpretation Kinesics Wikipedia.org quoted the definition of Kinesics from Ray Birdwhistell (1952) as the interpretation of body language; more formally non-verbal behavior related to movement, either of any part of the body or the body as a whole. Kinesics has many classifications, namely: The first classification under Kinesics is physical posture. The Management Sciences for Health, an organization blah blah , mentioned in an article of theirs about physical posture that in many cultures around the world, its impolite to show the bottom of the shoe. Thats why one should never sit with one foot resting on the opposite knee. Meanwhile in Argentina, standing with hands on the hips means anger or a challenge. Also in many cultures slouching is being disrespectful particularly in Taiwan wherein men sit with both feet firmly on the floor. The second classification is gestures. Matsumoto in his paper mentioned that David Efron was the pioneer in the study of gestures across cultures when he examined gestures of Sicilian, Lithuanian and Jewish immigrants in New York City. Matsumoto stated that his studies became the roots of the study of culture and gestures. As what Andrews University mentioned in their article, gestures are impossible to catalog. But they are needed to be studied upon because of the following reasons. First is that gestures can be acceptable in one culture but can be rude or offensive in another. Second is that if used improperly, the message might not be interpreted as it was meant to be. And third, without the knowledge of interpretation of gestures in a global context might lead to awkward situations. In the articles of Steve Darn of the Izmir University, by Andrews University and by the Management Sciences for Health, it was written that the following hand gestures are subject to different cultural interpretations such as the following. The perfect sign commonly means everythings all right, but in France it means nothing, in Japan its a symbol for money, in Germany it has a rude meaning and in Malta, Greece and Brazil it has an obscene connotation. The thumb up sign is also subject to careful usage. Dresser ( ) also attests to this when she mentioned in her book that it commonly means okay, but in Australia, Nigeria and even in most Middle Eastern Countries as well, it has a rude connotation. On the other hand, in Japan in means five and lastly in Turkey it means political rightist party. The next gesture is pointing. In the US, people point with their index finger, this in Japan is considered rude. They point with their whole hand. People from Germany on the other hand point with their little finger. The last gesture is the crooked finger. Dresser ( ) stated that in Japan it is an obscene gesture. In Yugoslavia and Malaysia, it is used to call animals. In Indonesia and Australia it is used to beckon prostitutes and in Vietnam, it is used to call inferiors or animals. And lastly in most cultures when this gesture is used between persons of equal status, it is considered as an act of hostility. Oculesics Andrews University defined Oculesics or commonly called Eye Contact as the meeting of the eyes between two individuals. Furthermore, honlulu.hawaii.edu and Management Sciences for Health both agree that eye contact is an important channel of interpersonal communication. The use of eye contact is vital in our day to day interactions and is a very powerful nonverbal cue. Studies have found that people use their eyes to indicate their interest. Matsumoto mentioned in his paper that Watson (1970) classified 30 countries as either a contact culture or a noncontact one. Contact cultures engage in more gazing while noncontact ones had less. Andrews University cited an example of this in one of their articles mentioning that Americans feel uncomfortable with the gaze associated with Arab or Indian communication patterns. Western cultures see direct eye to eye contact as positive. Arabic cultures meanwhile make prolonged eye-contact because in their culture it shows interests and helps them understand truthfulness. Dresser ( ) also attests that Japanese, African, Latin American and Carribean cultures on the other hand avoid eye contact to show respect.

Comparing Science and Religion in Frankenstein and Angels and Demons Es

Comparing Science and Religion in Frankenstein and Angels and Demons Science and religion have been at odds since back in Galileo’s day and maybe even before. The battle rages on even today with debates on cloning and stem cell research. These issues can be seen not only today’s literary works but also in the works from the years past. Two great examples of the past and present are: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons. Both deal with the issue of the roles that science and religion play. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a horror story written in 1831. It tells a tale of Victor Frankenstein’s obsession with playing God and creating a man and the consequences that come with it. Not only does the book reflect on Victor’s life and but also on the monster’s life and how it deals with the situations at hand. Angels and Demons is a suspense thriller written in 2000. Robert Langdon has been asked to help solve a murder mystery because it is believed that a secret society that he has studied called the illuminati are behind it. The story takes a ton of twist and turns that involve a container of antimatter, the Catholic Church and a dead priest’s secret. Even though both of these books were written in different times and with totally different plots they still both bring to light the battle between science and religion that may never diminish. Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with his to attempt to create a human. He works on it constantly alienating friends and loved ones. His obsession is finally rewarded with success; he manages to create a monster. This is where Mary Shelley starts to bring in the lesson of playing God. When Victor looks at his creation, he sees what a horror he has created and how hideous a creature it is. â€Å"No mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch† (Shelley 44). Shelley shows that man cannot create things without messing it up. This is would not be the last time that scientist went to far to attempt to create perfection. In 1991 Michael Stewart wrote a story called Prodigy in which a man messes with his daughter’s DNA to make her smarter. However, she becomes a child that has evil genes. (Nelkin 35). This is another way authors show that man is not capable of imitating God. Even though Victor’s description of... ...ck facts before committing them to complete believe. These two books show very well what can happen when religion and science try to battle with each other. There are two types of extremes. Those that want to use advanced technology to expand into the realms of God and those that want to use their religious stance to stop technology from advancing. Frankenstein is blinded by his obsession to create life and the Carmerlengo Carlo Ventresca went to the extreme to punish those that he thought had disobeyed his religion even if it was his own father. Neither extreme is completely right and yet both sides tend to think that they have all the answers. It is a battle that has been going on for centuries and one that is not soon to be done. Works Cited Brown, Dan. Angels and Demons. Pocket Star Books. New York, 2000. Mazur, Allan. Science three, religion zero. Society. May June 1996 V 33 No.4. P 20-28. Nelkin, Dorothy. Genetics, God and sacred DNA. Society. May/June. 1196 V33 no.4 pg 29-43. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Bantam Classics. New York, 1818. Silver, Lee. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. www.princeton.edu/wws320/films/Frankenstein/Frankenstein%20essay.htm

DBQ- Gin Act of 1751 Essay

In mid-eighteenth century England, Parliament passed the Gin Act of 1751, which restricted the sale of gin through increased retail license requirements and higher taxes on such liquor. This measure was enacted to reduce the consumption of spirits and the subsequent crime it engendered. Indeed, gin production increased nearly 500% from 1701 to 1751. However, the general populace became engaged in a fierce debate for and against the new legislation. While authors, artists, and religious leaders argued for the act, economists, businessmen, and landowners argued against it with equal fervor. Meanwhile, politicians were torn amongst themselves over the situation at hand. Each group held the position it did for either intrinsic or extrinsic reasons, usually but not always to serve their own best interests. Authors, artists, religious leaders, and certain politicians all supported the Gin Act of 1751, but each for individual motives. For example, one anonymous author described gin drinkers as â€Å"poor ragged people, cursing and quarreling with one another†, in clear correlation with his book’s title, Distilled Liquors: The Bane of the Nations (1736). His passion against gin was predictably conceived from painful firsthand experience in the London city streets. This sentiment is echoed in a different author’s similar observation. From a 1747 excerpt of The London Tradesman, he laments that society is caught in a vicious cycle of drunkenness, impossible to break. Both authors derive concern from a genuine desire to improve the human condition. However, the same cannot be said for artist William Hogarth in his opposing pictures, Gin Lane (1751) and Beer Street (1750). Because he was commissioned to create this anti-gin propaganda, his motives were purely business-ori ented. Nonetheless, people in Beer Street are portrayed as happy, healthy, and prosperous, while those in Gin Lane are scrawny, lazy, and careless. Another anti-gin activist was religious leader, John Wesley, who also possessed an alterior motive for his platform. To maintain a positive image for the newly founded Methodist church, Wesley deemed it necessary for its members to be pious, God-fearing, and sober. Additional supporters of the gin act included certain politicians whose government positions were contingent upon their ability to foresee the long-term effects of major legislation, such as the gin act. Such politicians, including county magistrates from Middlesex and Lord Lonsdale, held the opinion that gin was a destructive vice that rendered citizens unfit for any useful purpose in society. By that logic, they concluded the gin act to be a necessary and justified law that posterity would look well upon. In contrast, economists, businessmen, landowners, and other politicians rejected the Gin Act of 1751, but again for different reasons. Economists, such as Daniel Defoe, represented the anti-gin act platform on the grounds that gin was essential to â€Å"support the landed interest† and reduce England’s grain surplus. However, Defoe’s opinion may have differed had he not been a wealthy man untouched by the horrors of city slums. Because of his detachment from common society, Defoe was only able to see the cold, scientific ramifications of decreased gin production. Such was also the case with William Pulteney, a rich landowner who petitioned Parliament for lesser restrictions on gin sale, because gin was a thriving business to which many owed their source of income. Still others protested the gin act for completely different reasons. In one businessman’s letter to an important gin distiller (1736), he voiced legitimate concern that high gin license fees would violate property rights and hurt the economy. This very issue was also raised by a member of Parliament (1736), who cited vast possible financial losses to the crown as a result of extortionate taxes. Lord Bathurst of Parliament rejected the gin act for yet another reason. He believed drinking in moderation was a necessary evil for the maintenance of sanity. However, he was oblivious to the fact that alcohol consumption of most English drunkards was anything but moderate. Altogether, the Gin Act of 1751 was a highly controversial piece of legislation among the English demographic. While authors, artists, religious leaders, and some politicians defended its morality, economists, businessmen, landowners, and other politicians attacked its potential threat to political and economic stability. However, the act was not repealed, since it took into account only those opposed to the sale and production of â€Å"this great evil†.

About film Magnifico Essay

The film opens with the birth of Magnifico (also called Ikoy in the film). It is clearly discernible at the outset that the boy was born in to a rural poor family. His father, Gerry, is a carpenter but does not have regular employment. It was Gerry who christened him Magnifico because he enjoyed watching a magician by that same name. Magnifico’s mother, Edna, augments the family income by stitching embroideries. Their house is a dilapidated hollow-blocks-and-wood structure typical in rural Philippines. They were so impoverished that they could only prepare soup and noodles for the town fiesta. At one point Edna had to pawn her wedding ring so they could have food on their table. The story actually begins when Magnifico turned nine. His brother, Miong, has just lost his much-needed scholarship from a university in the capital city Manila. This was a heavy blow because Gerry pinned his hopes on Miong to save the family from poverty. His grandmother, Magda, who lives with Magnifico’s family, figured in a serious accident and had to be hospitalized. In the hospital it was discovered that Magda had pancreatic cancer. This was another backbreaking blow because part of Gerry’s meager income would now go to medical expenses. As if these problems were not exasperating enough, Magnifico’ sister Helen had cerebral palsy, which rendered her incapable of self-mobility and comprehensible speech. Burdened by such seemingly insurmountable difficulties, Edna lustily sighed, â€Å"life is a never-ending misery†. But whole throughout the film life proved to be a series of small marvels. When Magnifico heard whispers that his grandmother Magda would soon die and that his family was incapable of shouldering the sky-high burial expenses, he innocently devised a secret plan. Employing the help of his school buddy Carlo, he covertly began constructing a wooden coffin. For materials he asked scrap wood from a local woodcarving shop and borrowed carpentry tools from his neighbors. And together with Carlo, he sold iced water and juice at the town carnival, hoping to collect money enough for his grandmother’s funeral dress, flowers, and tomb. When their two plastic jars emptied, they ended up with 306 pesos (about 4 euros) in their hands. However this was way too low, considering that he needed at least 30,000 pesos (roughly 400 euros). Yet Magnifico never lost hope. Nor felt bad. He was determined to fulfill his mission even if he had to sell iced water and juice until kingdom come. For aside from toiling for her grandma’s wake, he was also saving for her sister Helen. He  promised to bring her to the town carnival so she could have a colored balloon and enjoy the merry-go-round and other fun rides. Since Helen could not walk, Magnifico resolved to use his money to rent a wheelchair from Domeng. On the day Magnifico and Helen would go to the carnival, Magda’s illness worsened. And since his parents had virtually nothing, Magnifico had to part with his 230 pesos to buy the requisite medicines. Armed with less than a hundred pesos in his pockets but with a lot of determination, Magnifico brought Helen to the carnival by carrying her on his back. The neighbors who saw Magnifico and Helen at the carnival showed them compassion. A guy who used to bully Helen for laughs drove them there. Two feuding neighbors each gave them 100 pesos for tickets to the rides. One ticket controller admitted them without charge, another gave them a huge discount and a vendor gave Helen a free balloon. Magnifico brought Helen around. He showed her the cotton candies, the ice cream, the works. Helen had the time of her life. When Domeng saw Magnifico hauling Helen on his back, he understood why Magnifico wanted to rent his wheelchair. Moved by what he witnessed, Domeng decided to give his wheelchair to Magnifico for free. So he arranged for Magnifico to get the wheelchair from his house. On his way to Domeng’s house, Magnifico was hit by a car and died instantly. The colorful coffin he built for his grandmother became the chest in which he was buried. MAGNIFICO AS A CHRIST-FIGURE Peter Malone defines the Christ-figure in films as â€Å"any purely fictional character who resembles Jesus, significantly and substantially†. This does mean that the character has to look like the conventional Jesus in church paintings or be named Jesus. The character does not even have to be Christian nor male nor sinless in order to be a Christ-figure. The Christ-figure is â€Å"neither Jesus nor the Christ, but rather a shadow, a faint glimmer or reflection of him†. Thus, for the Christ-figure to be authentic, the film character must mirror Jesus’ life in some way. When the film character’s life or at least some aspects of it make implicit, metaphorical representations of Jesus’ own life and values then he or she may be considered a Christ-figure. Hence, â€Å"the Christ-figure is a way of being led back to the Jesus of the Gospels†. Aside from being the son of a carpenter, the central dynamic of Magnifico’s story runs parallel to a variety of  Christ-story elements and situations in the Gospels. The film presents these elements and situations in both symbolic forms and in the day to day life and behavior of Magnifico. The following are some of the scenes wherein we can see Jesus peek through in Magnifico. a.) Magnifico serves others with love Magnifico is a film brimming with Christian themes, the most obvious of which is that of selfless love. Magnifico’s love for his grandma Magda, for his parents, for his brother Miong, for his buddy Carlo, and especially for his sister Helen is radically Christian and thus radically different from any experience of love these people have ever experienced from other members of their family and from their neighbors. Magnifico’s attentiveness to the feelings and needs of his ailing grandmother contrasts against Edna’s bitterness towards Magda. Edna regarded Magda’s illness and impending death as an unnecessary encumbrance to the family. Magnifico, on the other had, wanted to make her grandma’s apparent passing away as dignified and unburdensome as possible. He spent much of his free time making this mission into reality. Magnifico’s compassion towards Helen contrasts against Makoy’s bullying of the crippled girl. He never felt burdened by Helen even if he had to carry, entertain, protect and feed her often. He labored hard to secure a wheelchair for her and to give her the chance to have a â€Å"normal† life and enjoy the carnival. While doing all these, Magnifico never complained nor had any selfish reasons. All he cared about was the joy he could give to those he loved and to those who needed him the most. Such compassion and selfless desire to be of service to others positively manifests Magnifico’s role as a Christ-figure who came to serve not to be served and to give his life as a ransom for many. b.) Magnifico makes â€Å"miracles† happen There is a minor character in the film named Ka Doring. She isolated herself from people and lived in the cemetery because she felt more at peace being away from the crowd. She was always begrudging and her face perpetually frowned. Children made fun of her hoarse voice. In turn she would scare them off with threats and curses. Magnifico brought her a bottle of herbal medicine for her soar throat. At first Ka Doring suspected that Magnifico was just one of the kids who wanted to make fun of her so she threw the bottle away. Upon learning this, Magnifico brought her another bottle and this time Ka Doring drank a few gulps. Later on Ka Doring’s sore throat would go away. During the town fiesta, Magnifico also brought Ka Doring noodles cooked by her mother. Magnifico brought about healing in Ka Doring, both in the physical and in the emotional sense. For when her soar throat healed she was not anymore antagonistic towards the children who made fun of her. Another small miracle made possible by Magnifico concerned Helen’s speech impediment. Edna tried all she could to teach her daughter Helen to say even such simple words as Nanay (mother) but to no avail. There came a point when Edna’s patience was stretched too thin that she ended up hurting Helen physically. On the night when Helen would be brought by Magnifico to the carnival she miraculously began to talk. It was out of sheer joy that Helen began to utter words like â€Å"mother† and â€Å"carnival†. The total healing experienced by Ka Doring and the unsurpassable joy experienced by Helen which gave her the impetus to speak implicitly establishes that dimension of Jesus as healer and miracle worker. These two narrative frames dramatically highlights Magnifico as a Christ-figure. c.) Magnifico inspires forgiveness and reconciliation Magnifico’s christological identity is exteriorized not only in the small miracles he effected in Ka Doring and Helen but also in bringing about reconciliation between Miong and his girlfriend, between Edna and Magda, and between Tessie and Cristy. Miong broke his rich girlfriend’s heart when she learned that Miong only wanted to marry her in order to bail out his family from poverty. Magnifico encouraged his elder brother Miong to ask forgiveness from his girlfriend. Miong humbled himself and went to his girlfriend to reconcile with her. As has been noted above, Edna was always bitter towards Magda. But in the end Edna’s attitude towards her mother-in-law changed radically. It seemed that Edna’s heart suddenly melted when she saw her son carrying Helen on his back without a hint of displeasure or exasperation. The camera focused on Edna’s face and we see tears streaming down her cheek. Then she looked at Magda, and in their eye-to-eye contact it is communicated that now Edna understood the meaning of unconditional love. If her son Magnifico could carry the crippled Helen  with love, so must she bear Magda with patience and compassion. That night was the beginning for a new and better relationship between Edna and Magda. Tessie and Cristy were both jealous of each other. While Tessie was a perennial gambler, Cristy was a helpless rumormonger. They were neighbors but they didn’t talk to each other. In the carnival they each gave Magnifico one hundred pesos. Not conscious of the presence of the other, each waved and smiled at Magnifico and Helen. After which they discovered that the other was just nearby and they soon had eye-to-eye contact. For a brief moment it seemed that their mutual hatred for each other had gone away for the better. It seemed that at last they were initiating a new way of being neighbors. Except for his brother Miong, it was not a conscious effort on the part of Magnifico to bring warring people to reconcile. Yet it seemed that every contact with Magnifico was life-changing and inspiring. These people were moved to ask pardon, to forgive and reconcile not so much by what Magnifico did as by his manner, his way of being and loving, which formed a luminous evidence to his being a Christ-figure. d.) Magnifico carries his own cross, dies and brings about redemption To start building his grandma’s coffin Magnifico and his devoted friend Carlo went to a woodcarving shop and asked its owner for scrap wood. On their way home they carried a long wooden plank on their shoulders which paralleled to that part in the passion story when Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry his cross. Whole throughout the movie Magnifico would be seen carrying something – a bottle of herbal medicine and some noodles for Ka Doring, a basin of vegetable for his family’s lunch, plastic jars for iced juice and water, a pouch of money to buy medicines for his grandma Magda, a brush to paint her coffin, and Helen on her back. These were his little crosses. These bespoke of his immense determination to be a person for others. And such involving scenes were essentially Christlike in their execution, content and effect. The life of Magnifico was cut short. He was on his way to meet Domeng to get the wheelchair for his paralyzed sister when a vehicle hit him. He died just like that. He must have been too excited to see Domeng on the other side of the road that he failed to notice the speedy cars. Up to his last breath Magnifico was always on the move to be of service to others. Symbolically his death poignantly conveys that, like Christ, he was willing to lay down his life for others. It was a kind of poetic justice – his death empowered  others to new life. This new life began for the family he left behind. Everyone who knew him attended his funeral. It was such a sad moment. The burial donations the family received totaled 31,105 pesos. When he was still alive Magnifico hoped to raise as much as 30,000 pesos. Ironically, this was to be accomplished in his death. Because of it Edna was able to redeem the wedding ring she pawned. And because of it they had something to restart on financially. Hence, the money became a metaphor of redemption for his family. One recurring symbol used throughout the film was the Rubik’s cube which Gerry tried to solve for at least a year. His failure to solve it symbolized his family’s lack of accomplishment in delivering themselves out of poverty, despair and misery. After one problem piled after another Gerry could not bear it any longer and threw the Rubik’s cube out of his sight. After Magnifico’s death, Gerry discovered that Magnifico had solved the Rubik’s cube, putting everything in its proper place. This was so symbolic of what Magnifico did for the people around him – he united his family, reconciled feuding neighbors, brought about healing to the sick, gave joy to the handicapped – in short putting their lives and their relationships in their proper place. Thus, in effect Magnifico became the Good Shepherd who died so that others may have the fullness of life.