Arranged marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Arranged marriage - Essay Example According to various anthropologists along with sociologists, marriages reveal the relationship between emotion, privacy, sexuality and ideologies creating a bond between a man and a woman. They also affirmed marriage to be a social institution which attempts to establish broad assortment of social norms that promote ethical behaviors in order to protect the relationship amid mankind (Hart, â€Å"Love by Arrangement: The Ambiguity of ‘Spousal Choice’ In a Turkish Village†). Thesis Statement The discussion henceforth will be emphasized on critically evaluating Gitanjeli Sapra’s argument that arranged marriages are actually healthier as compared to love marriages. With this concern, the Toulmin strategy has been selected to structure the arguments in a comprehensive way. Discussion: Toulmin Strategy for Arguments The conception of ‘Toulmin Strategy for Argument’ comprises six different parts which include ‘claim’, ‘qualificatio n’, ‘rebuttal/observation’, ‘grounds’, ‘warrant’ and ‘backing’. The prime intention of this theory is to provide effective guidance in analyzing as well as constructing a suitable logic of a specific argument through the aid of the aforementioned constituents. The detailed analysis of the aforesaid facets based on the argument of Gitanjeli Sapra has been provided hereunder. Claim Arranged Marriages are actually healthier than the kinds of marriages people are accustomed to in the Western world. Since ages, marriages in humankind are regarded to be a sacred practice which intends to generate interpersonal affiliation and kinship between the two people, their families and communities. The terminology of ‘arranged marriages’ are viewed to distinguish those marriages which are primarily negotiated by the family members of the bride and the groom rather than any couple themselves. This kind of marriages is also ackno wledged as prearranged marriages. In relation to the argument which deals with reference to the fact that arranged marriages are actually healthier in comparison with any other marriages, it can be stated that arranged marriages possess numerous significant advantages as compared to other kinds of marriages. The arguments regarding arranged marriages have been mostly based on the perception that such kinships are proportionately healthier in comparison to love marriages as arranged marriages strengthen both economic as well as social ties between the couples (Hart, â€Å"Love by Arrangement: The Ambiguity of ‘Spousal Choice’ In a Turkish Village†). Grounds The major ground for supporting the claim is that arranged marriages last longer and the rates of divorces are quite less. Stating precisely, it has often been observed that arranged marriages tend to last longer owing to the aspect that the couples are rightly matched through planning and patience as they poss es similar culture and share identical religious upbringing. The other precious learnt feature of arranged marriage depicts that there lies a lesser probable chance of divorces. In this regard, it can be stated that the possible chance of divorcing is quite minimum in the case of arranged marriages as compared to other marriages as the couples belong to similar family backgrounds and share identical views regarding life (Hart, â€Å"Love by Arrangement: The Ambiguity of ‘Spousal Choice’ In a Turkish Village†). Warrant The principle that connects the grounds to the claim is

There are a number of factors which are responsible for this disaster Essay Example for Free

There are a number of factors which are responsible for this disaster Essay 1. Documents which were obtained in the course of a law suit against Union Carbide for environmental contamination before a New York Federal District Court have revealed that the Carbide that had been exported to the Indian plant was untested unproven technology. 2. The Indian subsidiary plant unlike the Union Carbide plants in the U. S. A. were not equipped to handle or cope with problems of this magnitude nor were the local authorities informed about the dangers of the chemicals that were being manufactured in Bhopal. 3. The scientist’s reports which talked and warned about such a possibility as the accident which occurred were ignored outright and the senior staff never got to view them. 4. The sales were dipping and the staff was reduced due to which the safety checks were less frequent. 5. Slip-band plates which had to be installed in order to prevent the water from the pipes entering the tanks were not installed. 6. The MIC tank refrigeration coolant was being used elsewhere, but if a button was pressed in the control room it would have activated it to use the remaining coolant. This was overlooked by the staff. 7. The gas scrubber was kept on standby, so it could not be used to clean the escaping gases with sodium hydroxide which could bring the concentration down to a safe level. 8. The water curtain also was set to ~ 13m and it did not reach the gas, it was perhaps not designed to contain a leakage of such magnitude.. 9. The audible external alarm had been activated to warn the residents of Bhopal, but this was quickly switched off in order not to cause panic among the residents. So, many kept sleeping little realizing what was happening and those who woke up thought the problem was resolved. 10. The flare towers which were used to burn off gases before escaping into the air were under repairs. 11. Doctors were not updated about the proper treatment methods for MIC gas inhalation. When they inquired they were told to give the patients cough medicines and eye drops. Union Carbide denies all this. Their theory is that one of the employees introduced water into the tank by removing a meter, â€Å" a disgruntled plant employee, apparently bent on spoiling a batch of methyl isocyanate, added water to a storage tank†(Browning). Their argument is that so much water could not have entered the tank by accident. They further accuse that the plant staff falsified the numerous records to distance themselves of the disaster and that the Government of India did not prosecute the employee as it would weaken the allegations against the Union Carbide, but the Union Carbide themselves have not named or identified the employee. Still others, like the many experts in industrial safety, believe that the tragedy was preventable, arguing that it was the due to â€Å". the negligence on the part of the Union Carbide Corporation and its corporate subsidiary Union Carbide of India Ltd. (UCIL), which had the responsibility for taking care of the day-to-day operations of the facility†(Bogard 4). Moreover, the Indian Madhya Pradesh State Government had also not done anything for the safety standards and the Union Carbide also failed to implement its safety rules. This plant had experienced six accidents between 1981 and 1984, three of them involving MIC or phosgene, but since they were small scale ones, only one worker died in 1981, the official inquiries were shelved. Probably the neglect of not getting trained workers at the plant and the laxity in the upkeep of the equipments was responsible for the leakage. Union Carbide agreed to pay US$470 million in an out of court agreement for the damages caused in the tragedy, but little of the money went to the survivors, and the people of Bhopal felt betrayed by both the Union Carbide and their own politicians. Thus on the anniversary of the tragedy they burnt the effigy of Warren Anderson who was the chairman of the Union Carbide at that time as well as the effigies of their own politicians. In July 2004, The Supreme Court of India ordered the government to pay the victims and their families the remaining $330 compensation fund. Union Carbide sold its Indian subsidiary which ran the Bhopal plant to the Eveready Battery manufacturers in 1994. The Union Carbide was purchased by the Dow Chemical Company in 2001 for $10. 3 billion. Dow Chemicals have refused to clean up the toxic waste even as activists have demanded it and are pressurizing the Government of India to demand more money from Dow. According to environmentalists the contamination may lead to slow poisoning and diseases of the liver, kidney and the nervous system. Studies have also thrown light on the fact that cancer and other illness are on the rise in this region after the tragedy. BBC Radio5 reported on 14th November 2004 that the site is still contaminated with thousands of metric tones of toxic chemicals which are held in open containers or loose on the ground. Rainfall causes run off thus polluting local wells and boreholes. Some of the areas are so polluted that anyone entering the area for more than ten minutes are likely to loose consciousness.

My Educational Philosophy Essay -- Philosophy of Education Teaching

My Educational Philosophy To describe my educational philosophy, I needed to combine two philosophers into one making it my own. I plan to explain my philosophical view by discussing the purpose of public education in society. I felt that essentialism, popularized by William Bagley, and progressivism, led by John Dewey, best described my attitudes and views towards education. I feel the overall purpose of education is to teach students traditional academic subjects such as math, reading and writing, social studies, the sciences, music, art, computer science, health, and physical education. These classes are the foundation needed by students to survive in today’s society. However, I also believe that some students need activities that satisfy personal needs. Some stud...

A STUDY ON THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The model presented in Fig. 1 below, provides the anchor by which constructs of this survey flow. The mark respondents are the chemical science instructors of Sarangani Division. The survey will measure their public presentation degree and learning competency in position of the undermentioned parametric quantities: cognition of the different chemical science content in a diagnostic trial in relation to their self-assessment in the NCBTS-TSNA Toolkit under sphere 4 – course of study and their over-all instruction competency as described in all other spheres of the NCBTS-TSNA Toolkit. An intercession plan by manner of instructors ‘ preparation shall be prepared by the research worker based on the identified least erudite competences and least scored points in the NCBTS-TSNA Toolkit, capable to the acceptableness of the respondents. The proposed preparation plan will enable chemical science instructors to eliminate or at least minimise some misconceptions in chemical science and derive better apprehension of some hard constructs in chemical science. Likewise, the proposed preparation plan shall incorporate diverse instruction accomplishments and schemes to turn to the demands of different types of scholars.B. Review of Related LiteratureRelated articles and findings from other surveies are included herein to give the research worker penetrations therefore, supplying a stronger footing by which to prosecute this probe.B.1 Repertoire of Knowledge and Skills for Effective TeachingKhine, Lourdsamy, Lang and Wong ( 2005 ) province that heightening cognition of ego as a instructor can be achieved through figure of attacks as presented below: Knowledge of Self Knowledge is increasing quickly. How adequately a instructor shows betterment is a step of learning quality. A instructor must put in womb-to-tomb acquisition through preparations, accomplishments development and personal upgrading. Mr. Goh Chok Tong ( 1998 ) , former Prime Minister of Singapore said: â€Å" We must do larning a national civilization†¦ We must put up comprehensive mechanisms to continually retrain our work force and promote every person to prosecute in acquisition as a affair of necessity†¦ instructors and principals will invariably look out for new thoughts and patterns, and continually review their ain cognition. Teaching will itself be a learning profession like any other knowledge-based profession of the hereafter † . Self-evaluation and re-evaluation with respects to a instructor ‘s over-all growing and dignity is an of import tool in cognizing oneself. Believing in one ‘s value, endowments and dignity will gain self-pride, which in bend enables a instructor to associate with others. A instructor must besides sporadically assess his/her ain attitude which can impact his/her perceptual experiences in associating with others. Peers and pupils appraisal can besides supply some objectiveness to complement one ‘s appraisal of ego. The mentor-mentee strategy can assist to heighten ego. A wise man provides the line of life to new instructors â€Å" tossed in disruptive H2O † of an unsure environment. Mentors provide non judgemental feedback and the â€Å" modelling consequence † . Knowledge of procedures A instructor must be a brooding practician. In reflecting, the instructor expression inwards to measure ain learning behavior, discover new thoughts and see how certain patterns can interpret into ain instruction to better public presentation. Knowledge on job resolution is besides of import as the school environment invariably presents jobs to be solved. Knowing the job work outing procedure will bring forth alternate solutions. Research on the other manus, provides sound principle to a scope of options of the best instruction patterns. The cognition of hunt procedures will link the instructor to the most current stuffs to the best usage of the scholars. Knowledge of Content Content is indispensable and a dynamic cognition. For a instructor to learn the topic good he or she needs to hold an apprehension of an extended and updated cognition, be able to ground the cognition with mundane application and be prepared to reply all sorts of inquiries relevant to what he or she teaches. Delivery of the coveted content and accomplishments in scientific discipline to the scholars greatly depend on how much a peculiar scientific discipline instructor have in shop for them, e.g. educational background, major country of specialisation, related preparations and learning experience. Though, the set of coveted larning competences provide instructors with way, it is wide in range and can be interpreted in different ways depending on the instructor ‘s background and experience. A instructor must hold the right cognition of the different contents and accomplishments in the BEC competence before he/she can precisely interpret it to the scholars. The broad range of scientific discipline demands that instructors must possess the specific cognition and accomplishments of a peculiar subdivision of scientific discipline and non from related background and experience. Physicss, Chemistry and Biology instructors should non merely be one page in front of their pupils ; neverthele ss, they should be experts, because that is what the scholars expect them to be. Knowledge of Teaching Pedagogy Teaching for better acquisition is about how to learn efficaciously. The procedure is associated with footings like, instructional schemes, learning cognition, learning schemes, learning methods, learning rules or learning theoretical accounts. Teaching for thought is a determination doing procedure of doing significances. The thought procedure is associated with the undermentioned footings: analytical thought, analogical thought, brooding thought, critical thought, originative thought, inductive thought and sidelong thought. Though, there are different footings for believing but there is a common yarn through them ; it is a procedure with three components- operations, cognition, and temperaments. Knowledge of Students and Their acquisition Manners An facet of individualism crucial to pedagogical determinations is â€Å" learning manners † or penchants. It sets accent on how pupils learn and non on what they learn. Prior to instruction, the instructor must happen out how pupils learn through interviews, insouciant interactions, pupils ‘ personal profile and learning manner diagnosing.Lack of Qualified Chemistry TeachersScience and Technology III ( Chemistry ) , in the visible radiation of 2002 Basic Education Curriculum aims to assist the Filipino scholars ‘ addition a functional apprehension of scientific constructs and rules linked with existent life state of affairss and get scientific accomplishments, attitudes, and values necessary to analyse and work out day-to-day jobs. The aims of the scientific discipline plan focal point on conceptual apprehension, acquisition of scientific discipline procedures or believing accomplishments, peculiarly critical and originative thought accomplishments and development of scientific values and attitudes. Therefore, scientific discipline instructors must every bit posses the same conceptual apprehension and competency because it is through them that the ends and aims of the section instruction are being carried out. They are the ultimate agencies to recognize the visions of instruction. Nevertheless, based on the latest survey ( DOST-SEI, 2005 ) and ( DEPED, 2006 ) the Numberss of instructors learning scientific discipline and mathematics with no background have exceeded the figure of those with background by 14,153 ( Ogena, Ester, 2006 ) . This survey shows excessively many unqualified scientific discipline instructors in the section of instruction. Therefore, consequences of the National Diagnostic Test administered to high school pupils in 2002 and 2003 are no surprising. It shows that merely 10 % of pupils in scientific discipline passed the competence degree. Likewise the consequences of the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study ( TIMSS, 2003 ) show that the national Mathematics and Science average tonss in 1999 and 2003 were really much lower than the international mean mark ( bottom 25 % of pupils ) ; and, one of the recommended solutions given by TIMSS was teacher preparation. Harmonizing to Ibe and Ogena ( 1998 ) , teacher instruction does non pull the best or the extremely intellectually capable high school alumnuss. It is the least expensive plan that is accessible to the center and low income households that desires higher instruction for their kids. This generalisation resulted from a survey conducted by Ibe ( 1979 ) , that more pupils from the lower 30 percentiles expressed penchant for teacher instruction. This is because, instruction plan particularly for non scientific discipline big leagues are least expensive and requires less laboratory fees. However, when they will fall in the instruction profession, these instructors will be forced to learn scientific discipline when there is no available scientific discipline instructor to learn the topic. Proficiency in the English linguistic communication is another larning barrier on the portion of pupils every bit good as instructors. Science text editions are written in English, category instructions are made in English, yet instructors possibly fluid English talkers but doing usage of the native speech pattern. In 1925, one important happening made by the Philippine Education System was that, Filipino kids were two and a half old ages behind than American kids in reading accomplishments. This spread is merely apprehensible because, to the Americans English is their native linguistic communication while for the Filipinos, it is their 2nd linguistic communication ( Gonzales, 2004 ) . English linguistic communication is taught by Filipino instructors who every bit good are non self-generated English talkers. Using right American speech pattern affairs because the significance of the word differs with how it is being pronounced. Smithers and Robinsons ( 2005 ) said that rich states like USA and Canada are besides sing great trouble in pulling their ain race to acquire into chemical science and natural philosophies learning. They besides experience serious deficit of competent chemical science and natural philosophies instructors and because of this ; they recruit instructors from the Philippines offering attractive wages and other benefits ; and who can decline this really luring offer? Hence, best instructors in chemical science and natural philosophies are traveling out of the state in seek for greener grazing land. What is the deduction of all these studies to the educational system of the state? This leaves no pick for the section of instruction than to let misfits to learn chemical science and natural philosophies particularly in far flung countries.The BEC Learning CompetencesThe prescribed acquisition competences present the set of coveted learning ends peculiarly in chemical science by which instructors shall stay and construction their lessons consequently. Chemistry is a wide topic and encompasses different countries of specialisations. Below are two sets of competences in Chemistry- BEC and the CEM competences by which their diagnostic scrutiny shall be based. Both competences designed for high school chemical science are classified as General Chemistry. Therefore, they include basic subjects appropriate for the degree of apprehension of high school pupils that will fix them for third instruction.BEC Learning CompetencyThe 2002 Basic Education Curriculum ( BEC ) of the Department of Edu cation lays down the undermentioned coveted larning ends: Introduction to chemistry – scholars are expected to appreciate the importance of chemical science, appreciate the accomplishments of Filipino and foreign chemists, appreciate and understand the usage of different research lab setup and demonstrate apprehension on the mathematical constructs of chemical science. Classifying Matter – the scholars are expected to show accomplishments in placing chemical systems demonstrate understanding on the elements and compounds present in day-to-day life and show cognition of simple techniques in preparing, dividing and sublimating affair. Solutions – pupils shall be able to understand the solution procedure and its relation to energy alterations and molecular interaction, place types of solutions, relate colligative belongingss of solutions, be able to work out jobs in relation to concentration of solutions and associate solutions to the natural environment. Colloids- Students are expected to show apprehension on the belongingss and utilizations of colloids and its importance in day-to-day life. Gases- Learners shall show apprehension on the belongingss and behavior of gases in relation to different gas Torahs and equations, show job work outing accomplishments utilizing mathematical equations and associate gas Torahs and rules involved in some engineerings. Inside the Atom – this chapter speaks about the parts of early scientists in the development of the atomic theory, demonstrate understanding on the construction of the atom and appreciate how these subatomic atoms and radiation are used in engineering peculiarly in medical specialty. Order Among Elementss – the scholars are expected to show apprehension of the belongingss of elements in relation to their places or locations in the periodic tabular array, and appreciate the importance of cognizing the elements and how they are used in engineering. Neckties That Chemically Bind – pupils shall be able to understand how atoms combine, place the types of chemical bond and associate the belongingss and utilizations of compounds with the type of chemical bond. Changes In Matter – appreciate the practical of phase/chemical alterations, demonstrate apprehension of the Torahs regulating alterations, and show the ability to utilize symbols, expressions and chemical equations in explicating chemical reactions. Change, Energy and Time – demonstrate apprehension of how chemical reactions occur and appreciate the importance of commanding rates of reactions in engineering.The CEM Learning CompetencesA A The competences designed by the Center for Educational Measurement contains precisely the same in footings of content with the BEC version but in different agreement. For chemical science, the undermentioned competences are enumerated below: Introduction to Chemistry: Demonstrates knowledge and apprehension of constructs: discusses scientific method ; determines figure of important figures ; makes temperature transitions ; enumerates safety safeguards in the lab ; distinguishes: substances/mixtures, homogeneous/heterogeneous systems, physical/chemical alterations, exothermic/endothermic reactions, and heat/temperature. Symbols, Formulas, and Equations: Demonstrates cognition, apprehension, and application of constructs: writes chemical symbols ; balances chemical equations ; translates verbal statements to chemical equations ; uses mole construct to execute mole-mole, mass-mass computations ; solves jobs affecting molar mass/ per centum composing by weight/number of moles given the expression of a substance. Phases of Matter: Demonstrates cognition, apprehension, and application of constructs: describes/compares the belongingss of the provinces of affair ; states the Kinetic Molecular Theory, composing of the ambiance, and the map of a calorimeter ; solves jobs affecting the gas Torahs ; describes the relationship between temperature and vapor force per unit area. The Atom: Demonstrates cognition, apprehension, and application of constructs: observes electrical nature of affair ; infers the footing of agreement of elements in the periodic tabular array ; predicts the group figure of elements utilizing figure of valency negatrons ; determines electronic constellations ; interprets from a tabular array the relationship between atomic mass and comparative copiousness of isotopes. Chemical Bonding: Demonstrates cognition, apprehension, and application of constructs: provinces and explains formation of covalent, ionic, and metallic bonds ; determines oxidation figure of elements in a compound ; relates molecular form, mutual opposition, intermolecular forces of attractive force, and boiling points of molecules to each other. Types of Chemical Chemical reactions: Demonstrates cognition and apprehension of constructs: names/identifies four general types of chemical reactions ; identifies reactants and merchandises of a reaction ; uses the activity series of elements to find whether a individual supplanting reaction will continue as written. The Chemistry of Solutions: Demonstrates cognition and apprehension of the constructs: describes the nature/types of solutions ; identifies solute and solvent ; identifies saturated, unsaturated, and supersaturated solutions ; calculates solution concentrations ; defines/explains solubility and the factors impacting it ; states colligative belongingss of solutions. Chemical Kinetics and Chemical Equilibrium: Demonstrates cognition and apprehension of the constructs: defines dynamicss and rates of chemical reactions, identifies and explains factors impacting rates of reactions ; differentiates organic and inorganic accelerators ; explains how a chemical reaction occurs ; defines and explains chemical equilibrium and what a reversible reaction is. Ions and Equilibrium: Acids and Bases: Demonstrates cognition and apprehension of constructs: defines and gives illustrations of acids and bases ; explains how pH is related to the sourness of a solution ; explains buffers and buffer solutions and describes maps and restrictions of acid-base indexs. Electrochemistry: Demonstrates cognition, apprehension, and application of constructs: explains oxidization and decrease reactions in footings of addition or loss of negatrons ; describes ways of preventing/controlling redox reactions ; describes and explains electrolytic reactions and applies Faraday ‘s Law of Electrolysis to find provinces of metal/metal ions produced. Carbon and Compounds: Demonstrates knowledge and apprehension of basic constructs: identifies categories of organic compounds with their illustrations ; describes biological procedures for the organic structure to utilize energy from saccharides, fats, and proteins. ( http: //www.cem-inc.org.ph ) . Comparing between two sets of competences – BEC and CEM, both contains precisely the same subjects as of the first seven competences but the latter become more advanced in the following four subjects. Nevertheless, a specialist chemical science instructor is expected to be more knowing than his or her scholars. These advanced chemical science content countries will supply background information for the instructor as he or she must understand the constructs good so that he or she can efficaciously leave these constructs to the scholars.B.2 National Competency-Based Teacher ‘s Standard ( NCBTS )The National Competency-Based Teacher Standard ( NCBTS ) is an incorporate theoretical model that defines the different dimensions of effectual instruction in all facets of a instructor ‘s professional life and in all stages of instructor development. This is an outgrowth of the Basic Reform Agenda ( BESRA ) of the Department of Education, under Key Reform Thrust 2- Training a nd Development. BESRA, is a reform enterprise of the section to supply basic competences to everyone to accomplish functional literacy for all Filipinos, in support to EFA which means, â€Å" Education For All † ; a planetary motion led by UNESCO to achieve functional literacy by 2015. The NCBTS -TSNA Toolkit is a revised version of the NCBTS which will enable instructors to find their strengths and failings in relation to the set of criterions that defines the general competency of a instructor. This toolkit is composed of 270 cognition, accomplishments, and attitudes ( KSA ) points, under 80 indexs, 3 strands and seven NCBTS spheres. Therefore, the instructor will sporadically measure his learning public presentation thru this toolkit in order to continuously better and raise his/her learning competency towards criterion. Least scored points in the toolkit shall besides function as footing of the Department of Education to include these points in their INSET. Thus, the undermentioned spheres wholly describe an effectual and efficient instructor in the section of instruction, as follows: Sphere 1 – Social Regard for Learning This is composed of two bases and five indexs of cognition, accomplishments and attitudes depicting the instructor as function theoretical account to the scholars. Thus the instructor demonstrates the undermentioned indexs: attachment to school policies and ordinances, promptness, appropriate visual aspect and behavior. Sphere 2 – Learning Environment This is consist of 5 strands and 17 indexs that describes the ability of the instructor to make a favourable physical and societal environment where pupils are respected, irrespective of gender, faith, socio-economic background, ethnicity, and where pupils are safe and acquisition is contributing given the physical environment. It besides describes the ability of the instructor to make a societal clime where pupils actively engage in larning activities without bias and fright. Sphere 3 – Diverseness of Learners This sphere is described by the instructor ‘s ability to determines, understands, and accepts the scholars ‘ diverse background and experiences. This entails his or capableness to choose larning activities suited to the different types of scholars. Sphere 4 – Course of study Sphere 4 is focused on command of content and learning teaching method. Therefore, the instructor is expected to present accurate and updated content cognition to the scholars with appropriate methodological analysiss, attacks and schemes suited to the different types and intelligences of scholars. The instructor is besides viewed to posses ‘ linguistic communication literacy accomplishments, pass oning clearly to the apprehensible degree of scholars. Similarly, this besides refers to the instructor ‘s ability to make and utilize teaching stuffs peculiarly in the usage of information and communicating engineering in learning and acquisition. Sphere 5 – Planning, Assessing and Reporting This sphere measures the capacity of the instructor to develop and implement instructional programs, the usage of a assortment of appropriate appraisal schemes to better the teaching-learning procedure. Domain 6 -Community Linkages The instructor is able to do lessons and teaching-learning activities relevant to the experiences, values, and aspirations of the community. The instructor demonstrates involvement in community projects that promote acquisition. Sphere 7 – Personal Growth and Professional Development This is the last sphere which speaks about the self-respect of the instruction profession and his or her professional growing and development. The instructor should continue the self-respect of the learning profession by puting the highest criterion of ethical and moral values and ever seeks uninterrupted betterment in his or her teaching calling ( NCBTS-TSNA Toolkit, Department of Education, TEDP, TWG ) .B.3 Teaching Competence thru NCBTS and Performance thru Diagnostic TestThe National Competency-Based Teachers Standard ( NCBTS ) is the instructor ‘s development usher towards personal and professional growing. It is a self-assessment usher that helps instructors place their professional and developing demands every bit good as their single strengths in line with the seven spheres of the National Competency-Based Teachers Standard ( NCBTS ) and as summarized in the Teacher Strengths and Needs ( TSNA ) Toolkit. This NCBTS-TSNA Toolkit is a modified version of the National Compe tency-Based Teacher ‘s Standard initiated by Project BEAM which is more localised, comprehendible to the degree of instructors, and most of all, quantitative. This modified toolkit is designed to assist instructors find their professional development and preparation demands. However, the informations derived from this toolkit shall non be used to rate them ; instead, they will give accurate information about the instructor ‘s competences in the undermentioned spheres and strands so that, appropriate intercessions on the portion of the instructor and the direction shall be effected to assist instructors in their professional growing and development. However, instructors may hold the inclination to over rate themselves in some of the points because of adult male ‘s unconditioned inclination to â€Å" self-preservation † ( Freud Sigmund, 1910 ) . The term self-preservation in its simplest term describes both the set of behaviours by which persons attempt to continue their ain being and the physical procedures that set up these behaviours. Hence, the inclination of non seeing their failings can besides be supported by the cognitive-psychological trial created by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1995 in the United States. This is known as the â€Å" Johari Window † . In this theory, it is said that there are unsighted musca volitanss in some countries of adult male ‘s life that is non known to self but are known to others. To sum it all, the NCBTS-TSNA toolkit may non be an effectual tool towards instructors ‘ personal and professional development if it is left entirely to the instructor to see his or her ain strengths and failings. As most instructors tend to rate themselves maximum in footings of content and teaching method, but their existent public presentation in an administered and standardised trial will state the truth about their content competence peculiarly for chemical science instructors in the division of Sarangani Province. Therefore, this survey will be best achieved if consequences of the instructors ‘ diagnostic trial will be correlated with their NCBTS-TSNA tonss particularly in content and teaching method.B.4 Training ProgramIn-Service Trainings ( INSET ) are frequently given to instructors before the gap of categories to fix instructors for the coming school twelvemonth. However, most in-service preparations are done in mass, non capable specific but instead a combination of learning schemes and managerial or supervisory attacks. Therefore, a good preparation plan to reply specific jobs re- chemical science content and teaching method may cover the undermentioned countries: Chemistry Content Misconceptions in some hard constructs are the most common mistake committed by non specialist chemical science instructors or if non, escaped by some. Teaching method Teaching teaching method involves the schemes or methodological analysiss of learning and how instructors deliver the goods to the scholars. Thus, some of the subjects may include the undermentioned: oppugning technique, trial building, and synergistic acquisition activities.The Art of QuestioningEffective instructors are able to carry on direction that keeps pupils actively involved in the lesson. The best instructors are skilled in oppugning, in assisting pupils come to a clear apprehension of the content, and in supervising apprehension ( Cruickshank, Jenkins, Metcaff, 2006 ) . The most effectual instructors set up and keep extremely synergistic classrooms- schoolrooms characterized by student-student and teacher-student duologue instead than merely, teacher talk ( Feden, 1994 ; Lock and Priggue, 2002 ; Marzano, 2002 ) . Bellon, Bellon, and Black ( 1992 ) province that oppugning is the instructional procedure that is cardinal to verbal interaction in the schoolroom. The inquiry instructors ask service as the interface between instructor ‘s outlooks and pupils ‘ response. This interface in synergistic instruction is critical because it shifts the focal point from the instructor to the pupils. Effective inquiries require pupils to actively process information and compose an reply. Good inquiries addition pupils battles, raise the degree of ideas, aid pupils form their ideas, guide pupils more successfully through academic undertakings and let instructor to supervise understanding and provide feedback. In spite the obvious value of good inquiries, it appears that instructors rarely use inquiries every bit efficaciously as they could ( Alexander, Jetton, & A ; Kulikowich, 1994 ; Orstein and Lastery, 2000 ) . Most instructors ‘ oppugning spiels includes giving information that unneeded or confusing, presenting more than one inquiry at a clip, or neglecting to stipulate the nature of the expected reply ( Sigel, 1990 ; Traver, 1998 ) . Good and Brophy ( 2000 ) reviewed research on oppugning and concluded that pupils learn more when instructors ask frequent inquiries and include a assortment of inquiries in their lessons. Wilen and Clegy ( 1986 ) besides reported that instructor inquiring is besides related to increase accomplishments among pupils. Further, research on oppugning suggests that instructor ‘s usage of higher order inquiries promotes higher order believing accomplishments.Good and Effective QuestionsIf instructors want their inquiring to be effectual, they must be certain to give voice their inquiries clearly and briefly. Too frequently, instructors ask inquiries that are about impossible for pupils to reply accurately. Tayko and Sunga ( 2004 ) said that, for inquiries to be effectual, clear inquiries use natural, unambiguous linguistic communication appropriate to the degree of pupils. They are besides concise, including merely the words, footings and information, pupils used in order to reply the inquiry. They describe the specific points should go to to, but they do non include unneeded words or parenthetical looks. Finally, they are directed towards academic content, or the aims of the lesson.Test Constructionâ€Å" Do you learn to the trial? † This was the debut made by an unknown writer in the stuff, â€Å" Developing Higher degree Teacher-Made Trials † . The monitoring and rating group during the pilot execution of the 2002 Basic Education Curriculum ( BEC ) found out that instructors were found, so, to â€Å" learn to the trial † , and the pupils â€Å" survey to the trial † . This refers to how instructors constructed their trial inquiries. The studies showed tha t inquiries like simple callback and acknowledgment which are low degree inquiries are still prevailing. These are types of traditional trials that do non heighten the higher order believing accomplishments of pupils. Higher flat inquiries like analysis, synthesis and rating are hard to build because it requires clip and intelligence to build the inquiry logically. Multiple Choice, though it is among the traditional type of trials, is highly versatile- can mensurate the higher metal procedures. Nevertheless, building plausible options is a hard thing to make. BEC besides urged instructors to utilize alternate signifiers of appraisal like free response or open ended inquiries, group work, research lab and field observations and many others. The recent tendencies in appraisal do non propose the traditional appraisal technique that instructors had been utilizing through old ages should finally be changed. In fact, these types of trials are normally adopted and are appropriate in periodic and accomplishments trials. Surely, decently constructed multiple pick trials are first-class for expeditiously and objectively measuring cognition of a big content of sphere. What is needed is a balanced attack to assessment, in which appropriate techniques are administered and used in a believable manner for the instructor ‘s determination devising. Just because the appraisal focuses on complex thought accomplishments or uses portfolios does non intend it is better or more believable. The appraisal technique must be matched to aim and must be conducted harmonizing to quality criterions ( McMillan 1997 ) . Hanna and Peggy ( 2004 ) province that, the major ground for blemished trial building pattern is that the sorts of trial inquiries that are easiest to write- be they objectives or essay- step rote cognition, non deep processing. It is natural to take the easy route and to â€Å" zigzag out † points that â€Å" flow easy † . However, if busy instructors do non prosecute in thoughtful preliminary planning refering balance between recall type inquiries and points that tap complex thought, a trial is likely to give more accent than wanted on memory and less on such things as apprehension, thought, and using acquisition to other state of affairss.Teacher as the Facilitator of LearningIn the teaching-learning procedure, two critical factors come into play- doctrine of instruction and psychological science of larning that a instructor must subscribe to. The three doctrines of instruction as presented by Beach and Reinhartz, are essentialism, progressivism and existential philo sophy. The 2002 Basic Education Curriculum espouses progressivism as its doctrine and adopts the positions of the constructivist theory of larning. The major theoretical point of the constructivist theory of acquisition is that, single scholars generate their ain apprehension. Learners construct sets of outlooks or beliefs about a scope of natural phenomena in the attempt to do sense of their mundane experiences. These beliefs are based on old acquisition and past experiences. From the constructivist position, scientific discipline acquisition means a alteration in thoughts instead than taking in a new thought as a separate, stray entity. When a scholar receives information, he tries to understand it by suiting it into his bing cognitive structure.. ( Josefina L. Pabellon, NISMED, 2002 )Whole Brain Literacy Approach ( WBL )WBL or Whole Brain Literacy is an attack to larning proposed by Rizalina Tayko and Corazon Letz, which they described it as the 3rd literacy. It stems from the findings o f Dudley Lynch on how the encephalon plants. They defined WBL, which they besides called, â€Å" Plus Competency † , as a reader/learner ‘s ability to use the module of whole encephalon operation in treating information. The encephalon has its parts and specialised maps. When the four quarter-circles of the encephalon connect, interrelate and interact, the encephalon is its functional best. ( Perla Rizalina M. Tayko, et.al, 2005 ) . How does WBL precisely work to heighten the competence of instructors? How would the attack better the competence of the scholars? WBL explores and expands believing larning procedure by utilizing the four quarter-circles of the encephalon in every measure of learning and larning procedure. The aims, the types and degrees of activities of the lesson, the types and degrees of rating and at the terminal of the lesson- all these must embrace the four operation parts so that scholars would be challenge to utilize their whole encephalon module. The envisioned holistic acquisition in the Revised Basic Education Curriculum of the Department of Education, says Tayko in her book, â€Å" Learning to Read, Reading to Learn † , can be facilitated utilizing the WBL scheme.

Reconstruction: American Civil War and Black Man Essay

What were the objectives and long term effects of Reconstruction on political, economic and social development of the United States? Reconstruction, literally meaning the rebuilding of the shattered nation, was a pivotal movement between 1865 and 1877 in which the South was trying to be readmitted into the Union as well as a moment in time where blacks were attempting to gain a redefined status in American society. The period of reconstruction during the later half of the 19th century consisted of two primary periods, known as presidential and radical reconstruction. Each one had its own unique goals and accomplishments; both however making significant advances for both South and the freedmen following the end of the civil war. Politically, economically, and socially, America was affected significantly in these areas during the Reconstruction era. Although successful in its pursuit of readmitting the South and redefining the status of the black man, the greater of the two accomplishm ents for the country as a whole was the rise in importance of the black man in American society. While political participation became one of the leading goals for blacks, who thought and believed was a significant part of the overall definition of freedom, following the end of the Civil War, the South was devastated economically but starting from almost nothing, the Union was able to reassemble eventually into a united nation socially. The vision of freedom during this era was quite controversial during this time, as no single man appeared to have an acceptable and clear definition that applied to the common man. As Congressman James Garfield mentioned in 1865, â€Å"What is freedom? Is it the bare privilege of not being chained? If this is all, then freedom is a bitter mockery, a cruel delusion.† The idea of freedom meant two separate things for the white and black man. African American’s definition of freedom was based on their experiences as slaves and what they observed around them in what they considered a free society. Public education and the sharing of righ ts and opportunities as other American citizens were some of the ideals that swept through the minds of the once previous slaves. Henry Adams, who was an emancipated slave in the state of Louisiana stated, â€Å"If I cannot do like a white man, I am not free†; a common theme for all blacks during this redefining stage of the black man. Succession from the Union created a difficult path for the South back into the Union following the end of the Civil War in 1866. One of the most  difficult objectives for the country as a whole was to gain the cooperation of the South in attempt to redefine the status of the black man; a goal that the South clearly and for good reason wanted no part of. Although not blatantly said before civil war broke out between the North and South, the war was fought over the debate of slavery. Therefore, as the North requested the South’s cooperation in honoring the goals and motives of this movement, there was an almost expected surge in opposition from those below the Mason-Dixie line. Social developments among the black communities created lasting effects upon American Soc iety which has lasted more than a century. Institutions like churches became centers for schools and social events, and almost a century later became strongholds for speeches that propelled the civil rights movement. The first black universities began to spring up across the country suck as Fisk University in Tennessee, Hampton University in Virginia, and Howard University in Washington D.C. Black family life which previously never existed came into existence. These social advances sparked the political and economical changes that would soon follow. Presidential Reconstruction, 1865 through 1867, consisted of a series of proclamations that had one goal, to reunite the nation. The man behind all the action, President Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s successor, became the man in charge of the restoration of the Union. Although President Andrew Johnson once supported emancipation under Lincoln, this would soon change as he came into power. With the objective of admitting the South back into the Union, the president restored political and property rights through a series of pardons to all white southerners who agreed to take an oath of allegiance. Even though this pardon was meant to exclude leaders of the once confederates and wealthy planters, they were also given the opportunity to take an oath of allegiance. Furthermore, President Johnson appointed provisional governors to call state conventions that would create loyal governments. Unfortunately, these ‘loyal governments’ would become primarily infested with confederate leaders. The only rules that the South was required to abide by was the abolishment of slavery, reunite with the union, and pay confederated debt. But in turn, the president allowed the new governments to manage their local affairs; foreshadowing a disastrous outlook for the freedom movement of the black man. Soon after the end of the Civil War in 1865, Frederick Douglas said, â€Å"Sla very is not abolished  until the black man has the ballot.† Political participation became one of the leading goals for blacks, who thought and believed was a significant part of the overall definition of freedom. Having agreed to allow local governments in the South to govern their own affairs, this created a wall of opposition to this objective of political participation. Black codes, put into effect by southern governments to regulate blacks’ lives granted legalized marriage, ownership of property, and limited access to the courts. At the same time the black codes denied blacks voting rights and the ability to testify against whites in courts; ultimately creating a greater divide not only between the North and the South, but the North and the President of the United States. However, the ratification of the fourteenth amendment following the passing of the Civil Rights Bill in April of 1866 put citizenship into effect for all Americans, requiring the federal government to protect the rights of all Americans. This amendment stated that any state that denied the right for blacks to vote would have their representation in Congress reduced. This did not grant blacks the right to vote, however put political democracy in favor of the black community. The Reconstruction Act of 1867 marked the end of Presidential Reconstruction, and marked the beginning of a new period called Radical Reconstruction. This act along with the Tenure of Office Act, were just few of the political moves by Congress which characterized this time period. However most significant was the fifteenth amendment which under President Ulysses Grant in 1868 made it illegal to deny the right to vote based on race, literacy tests, property qualifications, and poll taxes. By 1870, the desire to have all states readmitted to the Union was completed. A few years previous of this, new state constitutions slowly started to form. Under these new state constitutions, the first established state-funded systems of free public education, prisons, orphanages, and institutions for the insane came to be. Further political action that affected American society which in some way or another has left an impact on society today is the Freedmen’s Bureau. This agency created in March of 1865 was put into place by Congress to establish schools, help the needy, settle disputes between blacks and whites, and finally maintain equal treatment for blacks and those loyal of the union in front of the courts. This bureau had a lasting impact, creating an astounding 3,000 schools, and ran hospitals that had been put into place  during the war. In addition, close to 250 blacks took office during the Reconstruction Era, marking a change in the direction of politics of the country as a whole. Following the end of the Civil War, the South was devastat ed economically. Numerous short-term effects became prominent, such as the situation with share cropping and the crop-lien system; two systems in which the black man as well as the white man came out as losers. However, due to the tremendous devastation that did take place railroads began to penetrate the South where investors and merchants took advantage of the ongoing situation. With the growing presence of the railroad companies in the South and their rapid expansion, towns and cities further inland became the market places for merchants and townsfolk. Cities like Atlanta for once were able to trade directly with the North. These cities expanded quickly and became enormous centers for great populations of people which are present today. Infrastructure, factories, and towns popped-up where they never would have existed without the introduction of the railroad. The Reconstruction Era was a period of time in American history which was represented by a country in shambles, a country divided not only b y the famous Mason-Dixie line but on grounds of ethics and morals. A country that had been devastated by war, and there existed points at which the conflict was not only between the North and South but also against the President of the United States like that of President Andrew Johnson. Starting from almost nothing, the Union was able to reassemble eventually into a united nation. The country was by no means unified on their perspectives such as politics or black’s place in society, but at least they were once again one union. Although unified once more, the reclassification of the black man in society far out-did the importance associated with readmitting the South into the Union. A country separated on accounts of civil war is by no means an easy situation to deal with. The process by which Congress and the North as well as South had to undergo in order to become what we now call the United States is no less than a marvel. But a greater success story can be found within the decade or so we call the Reconstruction Era. The freedom allotted to the black men that were once under white control is absolutely incredible. Not only was slavery abolished and black men allowed to vote thanks to the 15th amendment, but they finally took hold in American life with their own communities and establishments. There exists no other point  in American history besides the Revolutionary War that a group of people fought so hard, in desperation for their rights and the opportunity to live freely with the ability to reap nearly the same benefits as their counter parts, the white man. Within 12 years the black men were no longer slaves to a wealthy plantation owner, and no longer were they limited in society due to the belief that they were completely ignorant, but were now part of a nation that took significant progress in making blacks their equals. Although not perfect, an entire race was finally being recognized by society as a product-full part of society. A shattered nation was by no means an understatement in describing the condition of America following the Civil War. Not only having the overwhelming task of coming to terms of agreements with the succeeded states in order to re-unify the country, the country was also placed with another enormous situation, having to redefine the status of blacks in American Society. America has marveled many over its history, and has not let-up in its ability to amaze those in the accomplishments and advances made during this period of time. Whether it be the ratification of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, or the fact that by 1870 the once divided nation was whole again. America has the ability to overcome even with the odds against them. The railroad system not only penetrated the South, but created a lasting impact like that of bustling towns which have now grown into tremendous cities such as Atlanta. Public education finally came to the forefront with the creation of Universities still prominent today like that of Fisk University. However far apart and at the same time inter-related the objectives of the Reconstruction Era were, the re-admittance of the South into the Union was not the highlight of the late 19th century, but masked by the success story of the redefining of the black man in American society.

Our Town essays

Our Town essays What is the definition of a small town? Is it where everyone knows your name, like the theme song of Cheers, or is it where everyone cares about each other and knows what's going on in town. Grover's Corner fits the definition of the classic small town back in the early twentieth century. Our Town by Thornton Wilder shows that this small town is very close in manor and growth to Asheville, North Carolina. Grover's Corners as imagined today would have everything in common with Asheville. It would consist of one rather large shopping mall. This is where all the local teenagers spend their free time, even with the lack of money to spend. The fact that some students have ambitions, like Emily, and some really would rather just settle down near their hometown and be a farmer, like George. In truth today Emily with her drive to learn and be at the top of her class would have gotten her a lot farther in life than it did in the play. Emily would have become a surgeon and gone off to school somewhere. She would never be able to leave her hometown, Emily would move back with her husband and settle down and have those babies just like in the play. Grover's Corners, which occupied about 3 thousand people at that time, would be about the same today as Asheville as the growth rate is very similar. Asheville is at about 60,000 residents now within the city limits with many more outside in the suburbs. The city is not big enough to be called a big city with urban problems and industrial centers but is big enough to where people notice it. Life here is simple in that we don't have all of the violence and trouble of big cities. Grover's Corners was a place where you didn't have to lock your door at night. There was no evidence of crime and if there was it would be dealt with swiftly, and with a great cause of concern of the neighborhood. Grover's Corners would eventually come to be l ...

Comin Thro the Rye by Robert Burns

Comin Thro the Rye by Robert Burns The poem Comin Thro the Rye by  Scottish writer  Robert Burns  (1759–1796),  is probably best known because of Holden Caulfields misinterpretation of it in J.D. Salingers novel  The Catcher in the Rye. Instead of meeting a body in the rye, he remembers it as catching a body. Discussing the poem with his sister, Phoebe, Holden tells her a fantasy that he is  a rescuer of children playing in a field of rye, and he is catching them before they fall off a cliff. The reference to the poem in The Catcher in the Rye has prompted writers and scholars to take a look at the source when discussing the novel. The poem was written with a  Scottish dialect;  draiglt  translates to  drags;  weet  to  wet;  gin  to  when or if,  depending on the interpretation;  ilka to  every; loe to love;  waur to  worse off;  and  ken  to  know. Depending on the source, the last line of the second verse has a period or a question mark, and the third verse has a question mark or an exclamation point. Note: The second setting wasnt signed by Burns but is widely accepted as being by him. Poem Text Comin Thro the Rye by Robert Burns [First Setting] Comin thro the rye, poor body,Comin thro the rye,She draiglt aher petticoatie,Comin thro the rye. Chorus:O, Jennys a weet, poor body,Jennys seldom dry;She draiglt a her petticoattieComin thro the rye.Gin a body meet a bodyComin thro the rye,Gin a body kiss a body- Need a body cry. [To chorus] Gin a body meet a bodyComin thro the glen,Gin a body kiss a body,Need the warld ken! [To chorus] [Second Setting]   Gin a body meet a body, comin thro the rye,   Gin a body kiss a body, need a body cry;   Ilka body has a body, neer a ane hae I;   But a the lads they loe me, and what the waur am I.   Gin a body meet a body, comin frae the well,   Gin a body kiss a body, need a body tell;   Ilka body has a body, neer a ane hae I,   But a the lads they loe me, and what the waur am I.   Gin a body meet a body, comin frae the town,   Gin a body kiss a body, need a body gloom;   Ilka Jenny has her Jockey, neer a ane hae I,   But a the lads they loe me, and what the waur am I.   How the Poem Relates to Catcher in the Rye The poems theme is the question of whether casual sex is OK. Meeting a body in a field isnt just running across someone and saying hello. The poem asks Need a body cry? as in- Is it worth getting upset over? This relates to Salingers novel because the  sex question is a source of moral conflict inside the 16-year-old Holden. Saving children from falling off a cliff, then, in his fantasy, can be equated to helping children keep their innocence as long as possible.

How to Write an Effective Analytical Essay

How to Write an Effective Analytical Essay How to Write an Effective Analytical Essay An analytical essay is one which provides an analysis of a piece of writing without merely summarizing the text. An analytical essay shouldn’t read like a book report, but rather provide an in-depth discussion about the themes and imagery. Effectively argue your points, backed up by textual evidence to support your claims. For an effective essay, write an introduction that grabs your reader’s attention and gets their interest from the very first sentence. Once you’ve got the audience’s attention, lay out your thesis statement describing your intent. After that, the body of your essay will provide some supporting points and paragraphs. This content should keep the reader interested; the best way to accomplish this is to give each claim its own paragraph. The basic analytical essay is written in a five-paragraph format: Introduction the thesis statement Three supporting paragraphs Conclusion recap what you said and further argue your thesis Depending on your instructor’s requirements, you might need more supporting paragraphs. Support your claims by using specific examples from the text. Either use direct quotes from the text or paraphrase, but always properly cite your source(s). If you’ve been assigned an analytical essay and are merely staring at a blank computer screen, is here to help. If you’ve already written the essay and need another set of eyes to examine it and make it better,

Schistosomes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Schistosomes - Essay Example This article essays the implication of this unique physiological characteristic and its consequences on schistosome life history particularly their faithfulness while choosing a mate. Adult schistosoma lives in the mammalian blood but their life cycle requires a phase of asexual reproduction within a secondary host. The life history of the parasite begins when adult female deposit eggs in the veins surrounding intestine or bladder. The mammal then continues the life cycle by transmitting those eggs through urine or feces. Once in water, the eggs hatch into marcidia, which must find an appropriate snail host. Once inside the snail each marcidium produce several hundreds of carcariea which when released in water seeks the skin of suitable mammals to burrow into. There are many different species of schistosomes of which Schistosoma haematobium, S. mansoni, and S. japonicum clinically important parasites that infect humans. Schistosoma haematobium , commonly called urinary schistosomiasis, dwells in the vesical veins surrounding the urinary tract and therefore mammal host usually excretes its eggs in urine. It is found throughout most of Africa and in parts of Wester n Asia. Two species, S. mansoni and S. japonicum cause intestinal schistosomiasis. S. mansoni usually occupies the mesenteric veins around the large intestine,while S. japonicum usually occupies the mesenteric veins around the small intestine. The mammalian host excretes the eggs in feces and continues the life cycle. Figure 1: Life cycle of Schistosoma (Machen, Rogers n.d.) Gonochorism is a reproductive strategy that describes a sexually reproducing species in which there are two distinct sexes. It is a very unique characteristic exhibited by schistosomes and thus this unusual physiological state managed to raise considerable amount of curiosity amongst parasitologists over the past two decades. Loker (2006) in his most recent study has put forward a hypothesis to address the foundattion of schistosome gonochorism. He says that first, schistosomes were derived from hermaphroditic ancestors; second, the potential for gonochorism appeared in the spirorchiids, most notably with Griphobilharzia; and third, 'true gonochorism' appeared when schistosomes invaded their endothermic hosts (birds and mammals). The evolution of separate genders was supposedly beneficial in providing optimal genetic diversity against the sophisticated immune system of warm-blooded vertebrate hosts. Loker (2006) also suggest that the segregation of two genders was determined by the s pecialization of each gender for a limited set of 'domestic task' and this was further backed by the gender associated gene expression profiling study by (Hoffman et al. 2002). It was concluded that males primarily looks after the transportation while females concentrate on egg production. In such an interaction schistosomes, once paired, the male and the female worms remains in this state for a long time and the mating is assumed to be monogamous (Reed 1990). In most of the Schistosomes, pairing is essential for complete female growth and reproductive morphogenesis (Popiel 1986). Figure 2: A typical schistosoma pairing (Beltran 2008, p.2) Kunz (2001) demonstrated that virgin females (one sex females) are considerably smaller than paired females and it is already established that egg laying female

Argumentive Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Argumentive - Thesis Example The object of this thesis is to diecuss the statement "global warming is not a threat to planet earth†, by a study of both sides of the picture. Thesis: Global Warming Is Not A Threat To Planet Earth Though the proponents of the theory of global warming consider it a threat to the very existence of planet Earth and all its inhabitants, and the same is being propogated by governements and non government organisation; private and public associations; media and politicians; there is another group of scientists strictly adhering to the theory of â€Å"global warming: a natural phenomenon†, The scientists insist that global warming has been a continuous phenomenon irrespective of human activities. Moreover, they refute the global warming threat on the basis of lack of credibility of the techniques routinely used in the science of climatology; which they stress are ill equipped to study and understand the intricacies of weather. One of the major evidences in favour of global w arming being a natural phenomenon is that it has been in existence much before the start of industrial revolution. The concept of hot and cold being relative, if the planet is hot today, there has to be a point of reference; i.e. in comparison to what or when. If we compare the earth temperature to that of 1970s, or to the period spanning 1200 A.D. to the end of 19th century (commonly known as little ice age); yes the planet is warmer (Bradley & Jones, 1993). But in comparison to 1000 A. D. or to more recent 1930s, it is cooler. Infact, since the end of last ice age, 10,700 years ago, there have been seven major phases, four warming and three cooling; one of which is, present warming phase. The melting of glaciers often reported as evidences to global warming threats too can be accounted for by this warm phase or the interglacial phase. The rise in temperature in this phase; 1.5.F is same as that in 1850. Next, greenhouse gases contribute to the phenomenon of global warming in a ver y small measure: 0.2-0.3%, the bigger factors being astronomic, atmospheric and tectonic. The evidence for this comes from the fact that of the CO2 being produced in the atmosphere only a small fraction 3% is manmade. Same holds true for the rest of the green house gases as well; only 18% of methane, 5% of nitrous oxides are manmade (Wallington et al., 2004). So even the most vigorous of human activities can in no way significantly intensify global warming, nor can a complete cessation of activity inhibit it. While its true that a slight warming has been occurring for the past 50 years, but this warming has been mostly noted for night time and winter temperatures. Moreover the warming trend has been more effcetive in the Northern cooler latitudes. This warming like the phase preeceding the little ice age (1000 A.D.) is proving to be beneficial (Bradley & Jones, 1993). On one hand it is levelling the temperatures by making colder regions warmer, on the other hand, it is responsible f or providing longer days, longer seasons and higher CO2 levels for plant growth. This can easily be translated as higher productivity in general, and more agricultural productivity in particular. In light of the above arguments

Strategic Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Strategic Human Resource Management - Essay Example Even though the workers are apportioned into different departments, they will be overseen by the human resource department only, apart from the management team. Therefore, human resource department will make their presence in every aspect of worker’s life in an organization. This paper will look at the human resource department of a fictional company, Galactic Enterprise Furniture by specifically analyzing its Strategic Human Resource Management, its advantages, and the disadvantages. In addition, the paper will discuss a set of recommendations, which will be drafted to fill any gap, between what is actually happening and what is felt to be desirable. SHRM short for Strategic human resource management is the concept of managing workers in an organization through human resource management (HRM as well as HRD), with the main emphasis of attaining strategic goals of the organization. So, SHRM can be defined as â€Å"the linking of HRM with strategic goals and objectives in order to improve business performance and develop organizational cultures that foster innovation and flexibility† (Truss & Gratton, 1994). Human Resource management always forms an integral part of the organization and when it becomes a strategic partner in the formulation of the company’s strategies, the concept of Strategic Human Resource Management is initiated. That is, if a company follows SHRM, the activities of the Human Resource Department such as recruiting, training and rewarding personnel will mainly border on achieving the strategic goals of the organization. In short, the HRD should function effectively to produce the best workers, who co uld produce the best results for the organization. So, this concept of SHRM could produce optimum results for the organization like Galactic Enterprises Group particularly Galactic Office Furniture (GOF) and the employees working in it.

Substandard Patient Care or Health Care Delivery Paper Essay

Substandard Patient Care or Health Care Delivery Paper - Essay Example Five years later, since his last admission due to Upper respiratory infection, he was again admitted for three days due to URI accompanied with Rheumatoid Arthritis and in the month of September 2005, he was treated for Gastritis. Anywhere around the world, there seemed to be an outbreak of Respiratory infections which includes viruses such as the influenza virus, SARS, and now the avian flu virus. Respiratory illness is a common chronic health problem and places a significant financial burden on the health care system. Respiratory symptoms are significantly higher among poorer children, those in the inner city, and among minority populations. Immigrants from outside North America and Europe constitute over twenty percent of Metro Toronto residents, yet relatively little is known about their experience of respiratory illness. (Thompson et. Al. 2004) There have been many organizations that focus on the needs of the ill older adults. NHS organisations in England recognises the importance of the NSF for Older People and the emerging practice and policies related to this, such as Intermediate Care, the single assessment process, the 1999 Health Act Flexibilities and has responded by re-focusing its activity to realign more closely with the local and national priorities. (2005) Published in 2001, this NSF focuses on people who are over 50 and still active but who need to be able to maximise and maintain their health as well as people with age related needs who may have more complex social and medical problems. (2005) The Department of Health, Services and Social Safety applies palliative care services which aims to achieve the best quality of life possible for patients and their family through active identification, holistic assessment and appropriate management of problems, when progressive advanced disease is not responsive to curative treatment.(29) There are over a half million older adult aged 65 or over who are living in care homes (nursing and personal care) and a large number end their lives in these care settings. Unfortunately, care homes can only provide appropriate terminal care if barriers to the provision of care are addressed. The National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services (NCH&SPCS) holds documents containing practice recommendations and therefore, the provision of appropriate terminal care makes the process of dying more comfortable and meaningful for a person and their family. Nightingale's (1860) theory on nursing evolves around the concept that the patient's recovery is highly related to the conditions of his environment. The environment of a patient has a direct effect on his recovery or his deterioration. According to Nightingale, "Nature alone cures." With that she stresses on the healing properties of the physical environment of the patient; fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness and a suitable diet. The environment not only refers to the physical aspect but also to the psychological and social environment surrounding the patient. Healthy communication with the patient and healthy environment keeps the patient's mind active and stimulated. Here Nightingale stresses that communication should be soothing and a form of

Project Plan Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project Plan - Coursework Example The newly developed product being addressed by this marketing plan is software with about 95% accuracy in predicting products that customers are likely to buy in the next 30 days. The software is a tool for obtaining information on buying habits from customers and their unmet needs and therefore, it accurately predicts future purchases. The software will enable businesses to obtain information concerning expected changes in customer taste or general demand trends for the various products they sale. The information collected can be utilized by businesses for timely matching of products supply with customer demand. English (2004) agrees that quality information is required for meeting customer satisfaction. The main goal of the company is to develop products that are timely in meeting customer needs and enhance their capacity to achieve their own goals. The company focuses more on software that addresses marketing and production needs and this is well achieved because of the company’s culture. Our culture as a company is to be a mile ahead in developing products for customers before they can request for them. As a result of this, the company dominates about 40% of the software market share due to timely product launching. Despite competition, the company has been able to maintain good profit margins due to its unique and timely products, a good marketing strategies and high level of customer satisfaction. Krell (2005) explains that efforts to achieve customer satisfaction will also enable a business to attain customer loyalty without much effort, fear for competition or customers shifting to substitute products despite changes in prices. Our company holds to a similar point of view and so customer satisfaction is the main value driver for the company. The main target customers for this product are businesses. This customer base is large due to the

Substandard Patient Care or Health Care Delivery Paper Essay

Substandard Patient Care or Health Care Delivery Paper - Essay Example Five years later, since his last admission due to Upper respiratory infection, he was again admitted for three days due to URI accompanied with Rheumatoid Arthritis and in the month of September 2005, he was treated for Gastritis. Anywhere around the world, there seemed to be an outbreak of Respiratory infections which includes viruses such as the influenza virus, SARS, and now the avian flu virus. Respiratory illness is a common chronic health problem and places a significant financial burden on the health care system. Respiratory symptoms are significantly higher among poorer children, those in the inner city, and among minority populations. Immigrants from outside North America and Europe constitute over twenty percent of Metro Toronto residents, yet relatively little is known about their experience of respiratory illness. (Thompson et. Al. 2004) There have been many organizations that focus on the needs of the ill older adults. NHS organisations in England recognises the importance of the NSF for Older People and the emerging practice and policies related to this, such as Intermediate Care, the single assessment process, the 1999 Health Act Flexibilities and has responded by re-focusing its activity to realign more closely with the local and national priorities. (2005) Published in 2001, this NSF focuses on people who are over 50 and still active but who need to be able to maximise and maintain their health as well as people with age related needs who may have more complex social and medical problems. (2005) The Department of Health, Services and Social Safety applies palliative care services which aims to achieve the best quality of life possible for patients and their family through active identification, holistic assessment and appropriate management of problems, when progressive advanced disease is not responsive to curative treatment.(29) There are over a half million older adult aged 65 or over who are living in care homes (nursing and personal care) and a large number end their lives in these care settings. Unfortunately, care homes can only provide appropriate terminal care if barriers to the provision of care are addressed. The National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services (NCH&SPCS) holds documents containing practice recommendations and therefore, the provision of appropriate terminal care makes the process of dying more comfortable and meaningful for a person and their family. Nightingale's (1860) theory on nursing evolves around the concept that the patient's recovery is highly related to the conditions of his environment. The environment of a patient has a direct effect on his recovery or his deterioration. According to Nightingale, "Nature alone cures." With that she stresses on the healing properties of the physical environment of the patient; fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness and a suitable diet. The environment not only refers to the physical aspect but also to the psychological and social environment surrounding the patient. Healthy communication with the patient and healthy environment keeps the patient's mind active and stimulated. Here Nightingale stresses that communication should be soothing and a form of

Avaition law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Avaition law - Essay Example of whether federal aviation law preempted state common law claims, or more specifically, whether a manufacturers compliance with federal aviation statutes and regulations should be a complete defense to individual state common law claims.3 The Tenth Circuit affirmed the trial courts decision not to grant summary judgment to Piper based on that defense.4 Concerned manufacturers, pilots, and legislators criticized the award for several reasons.5 In fairness to the Cleveland jury, one would have to have been at the original trial to know the factors influencing its decision.6 Deciding aircraft accident cases becomes even more difficult if the crash involves a small passenger aircraft, and if innocent third parties, either on the ground or in the aircraft, are injured. In cases where no one was negligent but people are injured, the ultimate legal question remains: â€Å"Who should pay?† Section 402A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts provides the basic rule for â€Å"strict liability† standard for defective products cases.7 Essentially, section 402A permits an individual who is injured by a product to receive compensation from the seller, manufacturer, or distributor of that product without regard to â€Å"fault† in producing, selling, or distributing the product. Also, under section 402A whether the manufacturer, seller, or distributor used the utmost care in the production and sale of the product is irrelevant.8 Liability under section 402A is predicated upon the fact that the product was â€Å"defective† at the time it was sold. If the defective product has injured someone, it does not matter if the â€Å"defect† is a singular flaw in one particular unit or a design flaw in an entire product line. Policies behind the adoption of this no-fault â€Å"strict liability† standard reflect the concern for harm to the unsuspecting individual. If an increasingly mechanized society benefits from these products, and a certain number of the products are bound to be defective,

Case Analysis for Nursing Ethics Paper Essay Example for Free

Case Analysis for Nursing Ethics Paper Essay Overview A forty-eight year old female patient was brought into the emergency department with petechiae/purpura distributed over her skin. Her husband reported that she started to bleed from her nostrils and mouth. She suddenly appeared to have had what seemed to be unexplained bruises on her body and was semi comatose. In a state of panic, her husband brought her to the emergency department. With a heart rate of 180, her blood pressure was 60/24 and she was going into endotoxic shock. She received emergency care that made her stable enough to be transferred to the ICU where she became conscious and able to communicate. The medical team explained the seriousness of her condition and their plans for her treatment but she declined their proposal for further care and complained about inadequate insurance coverage for that hospital. She further professed her faith in God for divine healing. The medical team was then faced with offering this patient treatment regardless of her ability to pay to avoid the imminent danger of her leaving the hospital at that time. Medical Indications This forty eight year old female patient, who had no medical history in this hospital was diagnosed with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC). DIC is a rare, life-threatening condition that prevents normal blood clotting in an individual. A treatment refusal or decline may hasten the disease process resulting in excessive clotting (thrombosis) or bleeding (hemorrhage) throughout the body leading to shock, organ failure or even death. Prognosis varies depending on the underlying disorder and the extent of clotting. Regardless of the cause, the prognosis is often poor, with 10-50% of patients dying. The goal of treatment is to stop bleeding and prevent death. According to WebMD (2007), in DIC, the body’s natural ability to regulate clotting does not function properly. This causes the platelets to clump and clog small blood vessels throughout the body. This excessive clotting damages organs, destroys blood cells, and depletes the supply of platelets and other clotting factors so that the blood is no longer able to clot normally. This often causes widespread bleeding, both internally and externally, a condition that can be reversed if treatment is carried out  promptly. Current indication for treatment include interventions such as transfusion of blood cells and other blood products to replace what has been lost through bleeding. Numerous tests to establish the probable cause of this condition have to be done because it is usually a first symptom of a disease such as cancer or it could be triggered by another major health problem. Patient Preferences The patient is informed of the benefits of follow up interventions after emergency care as well as the likelihood of losing functions of major organs and even death without following interventions being implemented. The principle of autonomy comes to play since it is her right to choose where, when and how she gets her health care. Based on the medical report and her personal reasons for deciding to leave the hospital against medical advice, there seems to be no evidence that she is mentally incapable. There is also no justification in disregarding her requests nevertheless, it is doubtful if she actually understands and appreciates the situation. Her preferences were to be signed AMA (against medical advice) so she can find cheaper, alternative care. Her husband, who was present with her, tried to convince her to accept the teams’ proposal but she insisted that she could not afford it. In my opinion, the patient decision was as a result of her ignorance of what choices was av ailable to her. Quality of life The quality of life for this patient is severely compromised because of the symptoms associated with this diagnosis (bleeding, syncope, weakness, shortness of breath, etc). As stated earlier, DIC could be as a result of an underlying disease such as cancer. If so, chemotherapy and radiation could help alleviate symptoms and give her a vibrant life expectancy. Also, there is the possibility that she would experience tremendous medical progress with treatment if her diagnosis has to do with platelet malfunction. However, we cannot tell, since she turned down any advice by the team to carry out blood tests. Without immediate treatment, she runs the risk of damage to major organs of her body, which could eventually lead to death. Time is of essence here because the longer she delays intervention, the more likely she has irrevocable damage that might negatively alter her previous  quality of life. Ethical issues that would arise with this patient is the emergency care she got, it got her stable enough to where she could refuse treatment. An assumption that we could make about receiving that care is, ‘what if she got into a DIC coma and had to be on a ventilator?’. She would have been unconscious and would probably not be able to debate whether she receives care or not. Contextual features Without casting aspersions, the reason, obvious to me, for refusal of care is financial. The patient talked about shopping for cheaper healthcare. This is a patient born to American missionaries in Brazil. As an American citizen, she took up the calling of her parents and was also a missonary in Brazil for most of her life. She married a man from England who is unaware of how the American system works. Her reason is justified because she probably had little to no social security and with her sojourn in Brazil, we can say that she has been accultured. Therefore her outlook and way of thinking would affect her decision about healthcare in America. Another contextual feature is that of religion and faith, the patient said that her faith in God would heal her but failed to see that this might be why she was at the hospital at that time. It is difficult to attribute her decision solely to faith or finance alone but one thing that stands out is the fact her husband tried to convince her otherwise. Still, she kept saying this was what she wanted. Her husband seemed helpless as he tried to communicate with the team however the patient kept saying that this was about her not him. My patient’s lack of insurance, her job as a missionary and her inability to pay acts as a bias that would prejudice the providers’ evaluation of her quality of life. Analysis The goal of medicine involves promoting health, curing disease, optimizing quality of life, preventing untimely death, improving function (maleficence), educating and counseling, avoiding harm (non-maleficence) and assisting in a peaceful death. The ethical dilemma is deciding to let her go based on her wishes (autonomy) versus doing what seems to be the overall right thing (paternalism), which is giving her treatment (beneficence), thus preventing harm (non-maleficence). The maleficent nature of medicine propels the team to convince the patient of what they think would restore her  health. In a bid to ‘do good(maleficence), she got emergency care that made her stable enough to communicate and state her wishes. Apart from maleficence and non-maleficence there are multiple ethical issues embedded in this case; the medical team is faced with honoring this patient’s autonomy and letting her go when they know she could be dead in a few hours without treatment. Nevertheless the patient is exercising her autonomy at her own detriment because she and her husband got adequate disclosure communicated clearly by the healthcare team about the reasons for treatment and the benefits burdens related to her decision. The team’s scope of disclosure covered her current medical state, the possible interventions to improve prognosis and their recommendation based on clinical judgement. In addition, they are faced with medically determining her decisional capacity because of the possibility that her mental state might be affected by the pathology and her inability to afford care. If proven to be incompetent, then interventions are carried out regardless of what she wants. Hence, the medical team will deliberately override this patient’s autonomy because of their perceived notion of beneficence (paternalism). As medical practitioners, the team weighs the consequence (utilitarianism) of letting her go. To them, the action that would produce the best overall result is to go ahead and give her treatment. The ethical theory of deontology gives the team, the moral duty and obligation to do good and prevent harm. Compassion and sympathy (Ethics of care) also play a big role here, consider a patient who had committed her life to helping others, yet in her time of need could not get reciprocity. These emotions should play a major role in how the team decides to proceed. The nurse involved with this patient has an obligation to get to know this patient so that she can effectively advocate for her. Inasmuch as I know she has the right to refuse treatment, I strongly believe that her refusal is based on the insubstantiality of information and her lack of knowledge of what is accessible to her. Recommendation I recommend that the patient’s autonomy be empowered not overpowered by giving her information on what is available to her. An advocate (her nurse, case manager or social worker) should be assigned to her. In addition, the Chaplain should be invited to offer spiritual counseling. Asking the right questions, getting to understand her fears and giving her hope. Many  hospitals and clinics have patient navigators that can help determine financial aid for patients who cannot afford care or who do not have Medicaid/insurance. The team should encourage the patient that at this point money is of no consequence, her life and health come first in other words everything will be done to get her aid. I also recommend that the team critically asseses the decision-making capacity of the patient since it determines whether a patient’s health care decisions will be sought and accepted. Furthermore the patient should also be educated on and encouraged to put in place advanced directives to promote her autonomy and avoid a situation where there is no one to decide in case she is incapacitated. Justification In my opinion, Individuals respond favorably to people, things, beliefs and circumstances that hold significance, value and passion for them. Pesut’s (2009) article, confirms that incorporating spirituality into care where appropriate, has the potential to maximize health care quality. For this to be effective, the healthcare team has to look at the patient holistically, they have to put into consideration her profession of faith and how getting the chaplain involved will convince her that the medical team does not just want her money rather they value her worth. Subsequently, paternalism as a recommendation seems to be arbitrary and counteracts the autonomy of the patient, yet Whitney and McCullough (2007) in their article Physicians Silent Decisions: Because Patient Autonomy Does not Always Come First, give support to selective paternalism. They argue that Patients values and preferences play varying roles in medical decisions (Whitney et al. 2004). Indeed my patients refusal to accept care was not because she wanted to die but because her values of faith and her preference to spend within her means trumped getting the immediate intervention. Suffice to say that culture can be considered in this case because it influences values and preferences. My patients background was Brazilian, this is a country where there is little trust for the healthcare system. Hospitals and clinics are more interested in how much money they can make. So, Individuals that reside there, do not have routine checkup, they often wait till they are about to die before they go to a physician. And in this time they are constantly visiting places of worship in belief that they would be miraculously healed. As a result, my  patient probably had many symptoms over a period of time but did not go to the hospital, incidentally when she was brought in, it was a matter of life and death. With the team’s knowledge of her diagnosis and its prognosis, my patie nts preference became largely irrelevant. Yet, the physicians wanted to respect her autonomy and her sense of dignity by maintaining her part in the decision-making. As medical practitioners we uphold the goals of shared decision-making and of empowering patients to make important choices. However, these objectives provide important insights, not universal answers. In medicine, as elsewhere, individual choice, however highly we value it, must compete with individual welfare and with constraints of time and money hence the decisive factor will depend on the particular situation at hand. (Whitney and McCullough 2007 p. 37). Next, they explained that decision-making, whether silent or spoken by the physician must be understood in terms of the clinical encounter. In fact the overriding of her autonomy was for her own good. My rationale for encouraging advanced directives especially if she is deemed competent at the moment is, in the event that she can no longer make a decision in the future, something and someone will be in place to help. It will help to guide future clinical decisions and promote confidence in the decision of the surrogate she choos es. According to Lynch, Mathes and Sawicki (2008), patients are in the best position to make choices for themselves, or at least a position that is superior to that held by any other party. Therefore, patient directives must be enforced, though not through the mechanism of strict liability. (p. 158). Therefore, a decision written and signed by the patient legally would prevail, in the event that she becomes incapacitated and cannot decide she would already have that in place. Medical practitioners are encouraged to inform all patients’ about the importance of advance directives because it removes the burden of dealing with what the patients would have wanted. In summary, the discussion and justification of proceeding with medical intervention yet disregarding the patient’s decision, proves that autonomy can be respectfully countered. This is congruent in continuing with medicine’s obligation to do no harm, do good and serve in the best interest of the patient. Evaluation The desired outcome was that this patient receives the care and intervention  that she needed in time to prevent gross damage to her body thus altering her quality of life. With the input of the chaplain, her husband, the advocate and careful communication with this patient, the patient admits that she wanted the best care. She accepts the offer for financial assistance and receives the appropriate intervention. The nurse and medical personnel express satisfaction in saving her life (maleficent), Her husband is elated and he also signs an advanced directive for himself. It seemed difficult to convince the patient at first but once the suggestion for financial aid and the Chaplain was received, the patient complied with all other recommendations. References Lynch, H. F., Mathes, M., Sawicki, N.N., (2008). Compliance With Advance Directives: Wrongful Living And Tort Law Incentives. The Journal Of Legal Medicine, 29:133–178. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.proxy.medlib.iupui.edu/pubmed/18569439 Pesut, B. (2009). Incorporating patients spirituality into care using Gadows ethical framework. Nurs Ethics. 2009 Jul;16(4):418-28.Retrieved from http://nej.sagepub.com.proxy.medlib.iupui.edu/content/16/4/418.long WebMD, (2007). Retrieved November 26, 2012, from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/disseminated-intravascular-coagulation-dic-topic-overview Whitney, S. N., McCullough, B. L. (2007). Physicians’ Silent Decisions: Because Patient Autonomy Does Not Always Come First. The American Journal of Bioethics, 7(7): 33–38, 2007. Retrieved from http://mcr.sagepub.com.proxy.medlib.iupui.edu/content/early/2012/10/31/1077558712461952.long

Effects of Language on a Specific Region

Effects of Language on a Specific Region Crystal Mullen ASSIGNMENT: Select a specific region that interests you, such as South America, Central America, Asia, etc., and research, as well as evaluate, the power of language in creating the idea of a region. Is language a self-sufficient and complete geographical model? Write a 1-2 page paper explaining your findings. Please be sure to substantiate your opinions with examples, as well as cite your resources using APA format. in length. Professor Sandve’s Explanation: 1) Define a region. What is a region? 2) Evaluate the power of language. Can you define a regions society, traditions, norms, climate, topography, etc. by evaluating the language? 3) Is language a self-sufficient and complete geographical model? What is a geographical model? If language is the only characteristic youre evaluating, can you fully define the region? I believe a region means something different to different people or industries. Before taking this class, I thought a region was that part of the basement or that portion of an attic that scary movies warned us to avoid. The Merriam-Webster dictionary had a different view: â€Å"Region: a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way (Merriam-Webster.com, 2014)† This definition appears to speak more to the topic of geography because we are now discussing spatial locations that offer distinct characteristics that are found in that found in that location. However, I need to know what a region is from a geographer’s point of view. â€Å"Region: in geography, an area of the earth that displays distinctive grouping of physical or cultural phenomena or is functionally united as a single organizational unit (Getis, Bjelland, Getis, 2014).† This definition best describes geography in the for this assignment because it encourages me to pick an area of the world that I find interesting because of how various physical or cultural features are joined into one spatial location. One region that I that does interest me is Africa. Africa is the second largest continent in the world; as well as the world’s second most-populous continent. Within its borders one will find 54 countries that are share the home for the continent’s many mountains, rivers, valleys and deserts. First of all, the Atlas Mountains run from the southwestern portion of Morocco along the coastline of the Mediterranean, all the way to Tunisia’s eastern edge. Also, the Great Rift Valley is the continent’s ground form of depression. Here is found a series of geological faults at are approximately 4,000 miles in length. The extent of the Great Rift Valley extends from the Red Sea region near Jordan, to the country of Mozambique. Furthermore, Africa is home to the Congo River Basin which dominates the landscape of central Africa’s Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally though certainly not I would be remiss to speak of Africa without speaking of the Sahara Desert. The Sahara Desert cover close those a third o f Africa’s surface. It is the world’s largest desert in the world at approximately 3,500,000 square miles in total size (World Atlas, 2014). Based on this the geographical information, I would be surprised to learn if there is a cohesion of language within the continent to unify the continent of Africa. The range of traditions and customs in Africa are as diverse as Africa’s geography. For example, when it comes to meal time, the men eat before the women. Children remain silent while adult meal conversation is in progress. Also, hospitality is very important to the country of Africa. When they welcome their guests, they wash their hands, clap, and offer their best meats as a symbol of graciousness. Furthermore, when it comes to courtship, it appears that it is the girl who initiates the process. She will send a multi-colored beaded bracelet to the boy of her choice. Each bead represents a secret meaning and once the courtship process is over the secret behind the beads are revealed. Finally, though certainly exhaustively, it is customary during an African wedding that the bride wears a wedding dress that reflects her culture’s traditions and heritage. Also, the bride and groom are often tied at the wrists with either cloth or braided grass as a symbol of their newly cr eated union (Drake, 2014). When I read these customs, I feel as if it is possible for language to be a complete self-sufficient model of its people because their customs appear to transcend their multi-faceted geography, The aspect about Africa is their massive diversity of languages and dialects. While no one appears to know for absolute certainty, the best estimate of the number of languages and dialects spoken in Africa are around 2,000. One group of African languages are known as the Afro-Asiatic language group of languages. The 400 languages under this umbrella is generally heard spoken in North, East, and Southwest Africa. Some examples of these languages include Aramaic, Amharic, Arabic, Hausa, Hebrew, and Tigrinya. Another family of languages heard spoken in Africa is the Khoisan, or language. This happens a language that may be dying out, it is currently spoken in Angola, Botswana, and Namibia. This is the family of fifty different languages that use mainly clicking or tonal sounds to communicate. Finally though certainly not exhaustively the language family that holds the greatest number of languages is the Niger-Congo language family. Under this umbrella of languages one will find almost 4 00 languages that are spoken by over 500 million people. Common languages that fall within this family include Igbo, Swahili, Yoruba, and Zulu (wiseGEEK, 2014). I find it fascinating that there are countless languages for a person in Africa to express the frustration of the desert sand, being insulted by a dinner guest or vowing his or her life to a new spouse. I find myself conflicted when I consider if language is a complete, self-sufficient geographical model of the region of Africa. On the one hand, because there are over 2,000 languages, spoken in Africa, I would say that each language and dialect is a perfect representation of the country, or portion of that country within Africa. If language were my only representation I was evaluating, I could easily define that particular region. On the other hand, because there are over 2,000 languages, spoken in Africa, I would say that each language and dialect creates the perfect storm for confusion for Africa as a whole. I don’t see how I could identify Africa as a continent because the continent cannot unite behind one or two languages. In this scenario, if language were my only representation I was evaluating, I would greatly struggle to define the continent because millions of African citizens would not be representing in my definition. Therefore, I find that the African languages bo th reflect and confuses the geographic model found in the continent of Africa. References Drake, F. (2014). African Customs. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from eHow.com: http://www.ehow.com/info_8582146_african-customs.html Getis, A., Bjelland, M., Getis, V. (2014, January 7). Glossary. In A. Getis, M. Bjelland, V. Getis, Introduction to Geography (pp. G-9). New York: McGraw Hill. Retrieved from Balanced Politics: http://www.balancedpolitics.org/affirmative_action.htm Merriam-Webster.com. (2014). Definiton of Region. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from Merriam-Webster.com: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/region wiseGEEK. (2014). How Many Languages are Spoken in Africa? Retrieved January 26, 2014, from wiseGEEK: http://www.wisegeek.org/how-many-languages-are-spoken-in-africa.htm World Atlas. (2014). Africa Map. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from World Atlas: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/af.htm World Atlas. (2014). Geography Africa. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from World Atlas: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/afland.htm