Professional Project Plan

Context of the study As the number of students studying Foreign Language increases worldwide, there is need to improve their proficiency in such languages. As a matter of interest, there have been different studies, which have been looking into ways of improving learning different foreign languages.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Professional Project Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the recent past, there have been studies carried out with the aim of encouraging foreign language learning through technology in form of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). In the Middle East however, research on the usefulness for elementary-prep school EFL teachers to incorporate CALL in their day to day classroom activities has not yet drawn the attention of many researchers. The most interesting part of it is that, Middle East has a very unique culture and history of origin (Teh Fraser, 1995). The region is strug gling with the aim of becoming global citizen, where global and international firms and entities are in a position of prospering in the region. As a result, the region is very much committed to a population that is well educated with proficiency in international languages like English, for instance. Many teachers have worked in different kindergartens with children four and five years old. As a matter of fact, such teachers have lots of experience and also shared their ideas and approach of teaching. The problem is such teachers might not have enough teaching qualifications, as some have education background in accounting profession, rather than teaching. This issue is possible due to two main facts; the first fact is that kindergartens are preparation especially for basic academic skills. Secondly, there was no specific local higher educational institution that generates Early Childhood teachers until two years ago. Before then the assumption in the Middle East was that for one to be a kinder teacher, there is no need of special skills. There have been significant changes that have been made to improve education quality, especially at their workplace, but with all these changes, some still feel that, their aims have not been fully reached. As a result, this project plan provides a reflection of teaching profession, to find out whether teachers have practised teaching based on children’s developmental requirements.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hopefully from such reflection teachers might recognize their problems and limitations in their previous teaching practices and find good solutions while at the same time, enriching good practices. Project Rationale The study will investigate the usefulness of elementary-prep school EFL teachers to incorporate CALL in their day to day classroom activities in Middle Eastern settings. This will serve as an effort o f increasing EFL proficiency, with the aim of being the engine that will increase CALL research in Middle East. In terms of social change, the findings herein will help make teachers as well as other relevant stakeholders aware of the benefits associated with adopting Computer Assisted Language Learning. It is worth noting that if this is done in a rational and sober manner, then level of education, performance among other things will tremendously improve for the better in Middle East schools. This is very important in determining the future of our children who seek quality education, thus producing academically successful students with great hope for future success as adults and productive citizens to our society. Study objectives The main question the research proposal intends to answer is if it is useful for elementary-prep school EFL teachers to incorporate CALL in their day to day classroom activities in Middle Eastern settings? In trying to answer this major question, the proj ect will be guided by the following questions; What are the benefits of CALL in foreign language learning to learners in Middle East? Is it of beneficial for teachers to incorporate CALL in teaching student in the Middle East? What are the Middle Eastern governments’ policies towards CALL in TEFL? What are the limitations of incorporating CALL in TEFL daily activities? As a result, the main focus would be on learners and teachers attitudes towards CALL in the Middle East (elementary-prep students aged 11-13). Literature Review According to Kessler, 2007 the introduction of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) system holds a greater potential than traditional teaching method for improving foreign language learning. Through its use, for example internet applications, activities which are considered meaningful in EFL are brought to class.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Professional Project Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/pa ge Learn More When such activities combine with sounds along with texts and graphics, CALL enriches and extends the class instructional activities.  As a result, in the Middle East, parents and teachers have invested much in computer technology with the aim that it will change the experience of foreign language learning (Kessler, 2007). The use of CALL has the power of increasing of providing quality language learning experience to learners. The system also provided platforms for distance language learning, where learners can are able to view and interact with the contents of learning at any place. CALL faces a lot of limitations, â€Å"innovations in computer assisted learning rarely have been evaluated in terms of their impact on the nature of classroom learning environment as perceived by students† (Teh and Fraser, 1995: 32). This is particularly CALL under which induced technology pedagogy is looked upon as being a panacea to problems of teaching, for ins tance, inadequate chances for real life communication, student motivation, as well as the provision of authentic input. Another limitation is that, there are ethical issues which have to be taken into consideration for instance abuse of the technology, privacy matter, confidentiality among others that renders a second thought in traditional language learning methods. Such considerations have not been handled in CALL. In addition, CALL faces limitations in its applications, for instance inadequate training and unfamiliarity of the technology by both teachers and students. This has led to a lot of difficulties in the introduction of the internet language classes (Dinev Mullen, 2008). Recent studies have indicated that there is inadequate CALL presence in the programs dealing with teacher preparation in Middle East. In addition, teachers get to know about CALL from sources that are informal. As a matter of fact, most graduates are never satisfied with limited preparations that they re ceive during their studies.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The perception of teachers is that CALL education has been neglected in Middle East to make them equipped with CALL knowledge and necessary experience when using the advanced technology in language classrooms. In general, very little has been done to prepare teachers with formal teaching programs, though most of them are ready to adopt the technology. This inadequate preparation is due to out dated nature of the technology they usually use in their classes (Kessler, 2007). However, more recent research show that adoption of CALL and other technology enhance learning is on the rise (Chapelle, 2001). The perception of teachers regarding CALL use has been investigated on a very limited scale, but there has been â€Å"no evidence of research showing overall attitude towards technology among educators†. According to Vodanovich Piotrowski (2004: 45), those ready to adopt the technology effectively are in most cases deterred from doing so by institutional barriers. Teachers have wel comed cyberspace technology and most of them have faith that the tool will assist learners achieve foreign language competence. On the other hand, some teachers view CALL as a very significant part of their course, and on top of that, they have a very high motivation to use CALL. It is true that students having knowledge on CALL do appreciate the use of, and value the kind of, learning that they engage by the using computers; this has given rise to high face validity for CALL. In general, studies dealing with the perception of along with the perception of learners towards use of CALL in language classes in Middle East , have concentrated on short-term usage of synchronous and asynchronous instruments that have been developed just for certain studies (Kessler, 2007). According to Al-Hajri, 2008 governments in Middle East have been deemed to be ‘enemies’ of technology use. Most of their legislatures, laws, guidelines and regulations do not favor free use of technology and media. Most of the institutions have placed laws and policies that do not encourage CALL applications in Middle East governments. Most legislation provides close control on internet usage and its applications in schools, especially CALL application. As a result, most legislation discourages CALL application in classrooms (Dinev, Mullen, 2008). How it works (methods and resources) Computer Assisted Language Learning usually entails using technology to impart knowledge; traditional forms of training are not used but when used in combination which has been shown by other researcher to be one of the best ways to go in terms of imparting skills and knowledge especially in languages, it is then termed as blended learning (Crook, 1994). E-learning typically employs internet and computers. Generally, it refers to the use of computers as well as net-work assisted transfers of knowledge and skills. The contents are shared by use of internet, audio or video tapes, satellite television, intra net, CD-ROM. Mechanisms used in CALL may entail computer-based learning (CBL) which personal computers aid in knowledge and skills transfer. In this context, it not only refers to use of computers in classrooms but also to their use in a structured setting to enhance teaching. Due to advanced technological innovations, computers have also changed from heavy and cumbersome ones to light, portable handheld ones. This can be used in the classroom or at home with or without internet connection Computer based training (CBT) refers to self paced forms of learning, usually accessible through computers or other handheld devices. Basically, this approach can be thought from the context of reading literature material online. Web Based Training (WBT) is different from CBT on the basis of how information is delivered, with WBT; internet is exclusively used in conveying the information while in CBT CD-ROM is what is employed to deliver information (Chapelle, 2001). The concepts employed in CBT i nclude use of multiple choices, drag and drop, simulation, radial button. It provides a user friendly environment that brings satisfaction as it supplements traditional training forms. Instructors can use this kind of approach to teach learners English. Computer supported collaborative learning is an innovation thought to better how instructors teach and students learn through using the latest communication technology-e-learning 2.0. Lastly, another approach termed Technology Enhanced Learning (Ellis, 1999) has the potential of helping impart knowledge through CALL. It focuses on technological support. Additionally, it is characterized with learning resources that are created, distributed, accessible, compiled and consumed in a digital manner, full of action through communication, interaction and collaboration, it is contextual in terms of time, duration, surrounding, location and people. There is active participation and goals as well as objective clearly set (Allen Morton, 1994). It is worth noting that CALL works if one or more of these approaches are used in combination. For instance, through careful evaluation, the program, can be designed in such a way that the time spends in classroom and at home behind a computer reading English for those individuals that it is not their native language yield maximum satisfaction while meeting the learning goals and objectives (Felix, 2004). Advantages of CALL According to Poole Bates, 2003 there are various advantages of adopting CALL. One notable advantage is that it will enhance just like in other subjects and curriculum increased learning. Learners will be provided with a mixed approach in acquiring knowledge and skills that will help them counter-balance the weaknesses of traditional form and pure e-learning and offer opportunity to learners to grasp more and do more assignments with frequent assessment. Convenience also comes with this kind of learning approach. Those student who do not have English as their na tive language will access the instructions and teaching in a more flexible manner. Additionally teachers need not to travel to distance geographic location to teach as they can do it from any place provided the equipment is in place. In addition, the method has also been hailed to reduce congestion in parking lots as well as reducing traffic in institutions of higher learning. This makes it easy for people to move with ease translating to saving time (Felix, 2004). On the same note, CALL has been seen to ease the pressure on limited equipments as well as the limited space in various learning institution. Unlike traditional form of teaching, and or e-learning, CALL brings the synergy of these two and ensures that there is very high level of interaction between student, students and contents, students and instructors. This usually yield positive result manifested through improved performance. The approach makes it possible for learners to post information that will fuel general educat ional rendezvous (Allen, 2003). Methodology The research employs a mixed research design method. It is important to note that theoretical study calls for deeper digging of various literatures ranging from journals, publications, books, other forms of literature and from the internet (Beiske, 2002). What this implies is that some of the data required will be collected by perusing through secondary sources of data. Qualitative research is also employed in the study; the approach seeks to contextualize the research by immersing the researcher into the study scenario as well as with the study subjects. The research question addressed during the study will be; ‘is it useful for elementary-prep school EFL teachers to incorporate CALL in their day to day classroom activities in Saudi Arabia; Middle Eastern settings? The main focus would be on learners and teachers attitudes towards CALL in the Middle East (elementary-prep students aged 11-13). Sampling strategies that will be used du ring research process when coming up with population will include careful biased sampling. This is because it will purely target materials from the library, internet and related research reports. These will be read and analyzed to provide the required data and information on the subject. It is worth noting that data to be used will come from personal reflection as a teacher. This will be done by closely tracking back of my personal teaching experiences. Personal diaries as well as journals will help in providing required data. Additionally, some data will collect from national curriculum archive which is available in Arabic. Similarly, additional data will be collected from kindergarten daily activity schedule and children language progress reports. It is evident that the reports are indeed unique to various institutions. As previously stated other data will be derived from existing literatures that can be found in the library as well as internet. Data Analysis After collecting the required data, filtering and data coding will be done; proper statistical analysis (non parametric data analysis) will be carried out to help bring out coherent meaning of the study. The analytical methods that will be used to achieve this will include correlation, regression and cross tabulation analysis. In addition chi-square analysis will be carried out to test for significance differences. While carrying out research and reducing data, I will look for links, associations as well as patterns in the topic being studied. This can be attained through various mechanisms such as analytic induction. Ideally it entails scanning or given patterns and relationships so that the researcher comes up with a general picture to fully describe what is happening. Using constant comparison is also applicable especially when dealing with grounded-theory approach. Analysis of data collected from diaries and personal experience as EFL teacher will be analyzed as raw data (Creswell, 2003). Data codin g is where researcher manages the collected data. This is done by labeling, storing as well as retrieving. Data management includes organizing data by using computers and displaying data. It is worth mentioning that appropriate statistical analysis such as hermeneutics, discourse analysis, ground theory, content analysis as well as ethnographic decision model (Bogdan Biklen, 1982). Presentation after the analysis will be done by use of tables, graphs as well as charts. Limitation and scope of the study Most, if not all research studies have limitations and in this case, the following are the limitations; Method used to collect data is purely from secondary source. There are higher chances that the gathered information might be biased and outdated. Some vital information to help answer the research questions might not be made available due to limited research on the topic. Due to financial constraint, coupled with limited time, all aspects that constitute blend learning might not b e adequately brought to light. Considering the fact that technology changes each and every day, this poses a threat because what might be brought out by the study might not adequately reflect what will happen in the near future. The complexity of the whole process of theoretical study brings with it many processes that can lead to some aspects of the topics being forgotten. This I will address by being very careful to ensure that each and every aspect in the research questions and aims are adequately addressed. Ethical Issues The project will be approved by the school Independent Review Board before data collection. Additionally, to use the data from academic progress reports, consent from the parents or guardians will be sought after. The identity of the student from the progress reports will be confidential. Similalrly the data collected will be used for the intended purpose and only shared with the research team. In addition, respondents’ views will be handled with lots o f privacy and confidentiality, and will only be used for the intended purpose alone. Timing Mileposts Stage/Event Start and end dates Drafting the project plan 6 Mar – 15 Mar 2011 Refining the project plan 20Mar – 30 Mar 2011 Searching reading the literature (Reflective teaching, DAP, methodology-analyzing data, etc) 1 Apr – 20 Apr 2011 Collect data 22 Apr – 2 May 2011 Analyzing data 4 May – 13 May 2011 Writing up professional project 14 May – 21 May 2011 Writing up Reflection on personal learning 22 May – 25 May 2011 Proofreading 27 May – 29 May 2011 Hand in the assignments 30 May 2011 References Al-Hajri, S. (2008). The Adoption of e-Banking: The Case of Omani Banks. International Review of Business Research Papers. 4(5): 120-128. Allen, T., Morton, M. (1994). Information Technology and the Corporation of the 1990s. New York: Oxford University Press. Beiske, B. (2002). Research Methods: Uses and Limi tations of Questionnaires, Interviews, and Case Studies. Manchester: University of Manchester. Bogdan, R. Biklen, S. (1982). Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theory and methods. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc. Chapelle, C. (2001). Computer applications in second language acquisition. Foundations for teaching, testing and research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Creswell, J. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Crook, C. (1994). Computers and the Collaborative Experience of Learning. London: Routledge. Dinev, T. Mullen, M. (2008). Internet Users’ Privacy Concerns and Attitude towards Government Surveillance –An Empirical Investigation. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems. 17(3): 214-233. Ellis, R. (1999). Learning a Second Language through Interaction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Company, Felix, U. (2004). Teaching Languages Online: Deconstructing the m yths. Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 19 (1): 118-138. Fukutake, T. Matsubara, H. (1992). Methodologies of Social Survey (in Japan). Tokyo: Yuhikaku Publishing Co. Kessler, G. (2007). Formal and Informal CALL Preparation and Teacher Attitude towards Technology. Computer Assisted Language Learning. 20(2), 173-188 Poole, G. Bates, A. (2003). Effective Teaching with Technology in Higher Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Teh, G. Fraser, B. (1995). Development and Validation of an Instrument for Assessing the Psychological Environment of Computer-Assisted Learning Classrooms. Journal of Educational Computing Research. 12(1): 177-193. Vodanovich, S. Piotrowski, C. (2004). Faculty Attitudes towards Web-Based Instructions May Not BE enough: limited use and obstacles to implementation. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 33(1): 309-318 This essay on Professional Project Plan was written and submitted by user Sons of the Tiger to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

My Criteria For Choosing Movies essays

My Criteria For Choosing Movies essays With the presumption that whatever you view becomes you, and my fathers constant admonishing that everything I do has to eventually lead me to heaven, my criteria for choosing a film to watch has been stricter than most. To illustrate what I mean, most films last between an hour and a half and two hours, time which can be spent doing something far more productive and worthwhile. Also, films, many times, have the power to persuade and, in some instances, change a persons perception of life and reality. Now, that can be good or bad. To sum it all up, my general yardstick for measuring films is that films have to do more than just while away my time for them to be worth watching. In fact, I give them the responsibility to teach me truths about the world, truths of which I would otherwise be ignorant, whether it has to do with plants, animals, history, astronomy, politics or human relations. Following up on that yardstick, I eventually came up with a set of criteria for choosing a particular film over another. Since my first contact with most newly released films, more often than not, occurs when I first see its trailer on television, what I learn about the film from the trailer is my very first criterion for choosing a film to watch. In watching a trailer, I examine many factors, the genre, the content, and the rating being the factors I examine most often. At the beginning of a trailer the rating of the film is stated. This is probably the most crucial factor in my decision to watch or not to watch that particular film, a film rated G being more desirable than one with an R rating. If a movie was rated R, unless it was totally appalling, I might continue to watch the trailer, but dont count on seeing me at the theatre or the video store renting it. Unlike the R rated film which receives outright rejection, a film with a PG-13 rating or below would be subject to further scrutiny. ...

Business Plan Master Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Business Plan Master - Case Study Example Furthermore, Ms. Thomas feels that her enthusiasm towards the task will enable her become a successful sole proprietor. However, there seems to be some drawbacks in that she has a dispute with her husband with whom they have separated but this does not seem to deter from achieving her goals. Ms. Thomas has never been an entrepreneur and therefore she does not have any records to indicate that she has engaged in business before. Financially, Ms.Thomas seems to have some financial commitment because as indicated, she has had a bank account for ten years. In her business proposal, she has left out some essential information, which would assist her in the in understanding the kind of business she wants to engage in. A business plan is also evaluated by looking at one's ability to run a business. In business, it involves one's ability to manage resources. From Ms. Thomas history, she has little or no experience that she can use to manage her business. This would be very challenging to her because, in order to run a business well, one needs to have knowledge that will assist her in the management of the physical, human and financial resources. Due to the fact that this is the first time that she is engaging in business, she may not have any business documents to support her claim that she has the ability to keep financial records. In this case, if requested by the bank to show the business records, then, she would not have any to show since this is one requirement that a bank would ask for when one is requesting for a business loan. Management would also be evaluated in a business plan. This would be done in terms of assessing the quality of the key personnel that she would employ the relevance of decision makers and also the level of education and training displayed by the key personnel. In Ms. Thomas proposal, she does not explain in any way in which the personnel would be recruited to assess their credibility in terms of offering quality service to the clients. In this case, she would not be in a position to know if the key personnel are helping her in making relevant decisions in the business. The purpose of a business should also be analyzed in a business plan. One needs to explain why a banking facility is needed, whether the facility will be based on serving the customers, whether it would be used for trading purposes or for purchasing fixed assets. Ms. Thomas proposal clearly outlines the purposes for which she would use the facility. For instance, she would request a mortgage from the bank to buy fixtures, fittings and stock and also in the acquiring of a premise. In business plans, an analysis is done on amounts. In this case, one has to balance between the customers stake versus the bank. Ensuring that all costs have been included and that they are correct would do this. When analyzing amount, one needs to ensure that the customers' money is injected into the business before the bank lends it money. In the case of Ms. Thomas proposal, she has stated that she would give all her customers priorities but she has not included the costs that would be incurred in running the business. Furthermore, her business is new so she does not have any money from sales that is essential to show to the banks that she indeed has a business that is going on and

International law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International law - Essay Example Despite existence of the political, global and territorial differences the whole world is considered as a global village and such concept mainly enhances the idea of universal brotherhood. At the same time in the context of trade, cultural intercourse, the idea of globalization plays a major part. In this context it needs mentioning that no matter how much the globalization aspect seems positive and flawless but at the same time it includes several lacunas. In this global society also the superior nations are finding an opportunity to show their aggression, to inflict oppressive approaches towards the other nations, their people and their economy. The rate of crime has also increased to a great extent and most of the criminal, after committing the criminal deeds flee to other nations to seek shelter. As administrative system of a particular nation does not have the power to exercise the hold over other jurisdictions, the fear of being caught is reduced to a great extent for those cri minals. At the same time economic aggression is also taking a brutal shape. According to modern international treaties in the post World War II situation it has not been possible for the nations to exaggerate the power of politics to express their imperialistic mentality. Thus, those nations have adopted the procedure of economic aggression through which a superior nation can enjoy economic hold over the other nation through trade relationship. Thus, the importance has also been realized by legal scholars that there must be some kind of restraints that prevent one nation to become havoc over the other. These are some of the typical situation; rather problems at the international level that generated the emergence of this new discipline of legal jurisdiction: International Law. Legal and scholars of jurisprudence have attempted to provide definition of the International Law in different

Managing and Controlling Ethics Programs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing and Controlling Ethics Programs - Essay Example An effective ethics program creates a competitive advantage, enhances performance, increases profits, and ensures the attainment of the business goals. Ethically, the ethics program reduces misconduct, improves decision-making, and improves ethical awareness. Most specifically, an effective business ethics program should be formal to engage the operations, marketing, human resource, and all the other units of a business. However, it is clear that to design and implement an effective ethics program, a lot of management and control is necessary. Indeed, since businesses have different scope and have different goals, any business adopts ethic programs that are reasonable and effective to specific businesses. As such, it is the manadate of the management to ensure the design and implementation of an effective ethics program. In managing and controlling an effective business ethics program, the organization must have the relevant resources. Most specifically, the organization must have qu alified and ethical leaders and managers. This will guarantee quality, professionalism, and effective design, management, implementation, and control of all ethical practices in the organization. The organization must also have a business environment that fosters ethical behaviour in the organization. The management has the mandate to ensure that the business environment is ethical friendly and they should not compromise ethical culture in an organization. Additionally, the mangers should establish an organizational culture.

Photography

Photography Using a broad range of critical, satirical, and photographic texts, assess the cultural reception of photography in the mid nineteenth century. To answer this question fully, there must be a clear knowledge of the culture/society which birthed photography. The mid nineteenth century was a time of great technological advancement (most prominently industrial technologies) that bought with it significant cultural and social change. It is well known that photography was both embraced, but also regarded with some scepticism as to its overall purpose and usefulness in the early Victorian era. Julia F Munro (2009 pg.167) states It is now widely accepted that photography wasnt truly discovered until 1839, as it was then that Daguerre and Fox Talbot made their discoveries of early photographic processes, the daguerreotype and calotype respectively, and shared them with the world. Goldberg (1991) agrees that it was much earlier when people began to realise a need and take interest in using light as a way of taking pictures, preserving a moment accurately and mechanically. Goldberg (1991 pg.10) goes on to state that desire was abroad to catch nature in a net. Indeed as early as the late eighteenth century, devices such as the camera obscura (optical device used mainly to aid drawing) and camera lucida (a piece of technology which allowed artists the ability to precisely record contours of landscape) were rife, and captured the eye of professional and amateur artists alike. Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877), sometimes referred to as the Grandfather of Photography, was one of many people searching for an answer to the void that existed before the conception of photography, and was most interested in its ability to record nature accurately, and pursued his development of the calotype photographic process mainly as a result of his poor ability as an artist. Talbot states is his manual The Pencil of Nature (1844) that his photography should be thought of as photogenic drawing. Talbots earliest photograph, Latticed Window although very poor quality and taken during his early experiments utilising an adapted the camera obscura, highlights his intentions as a keen scientist and mathematician to take mechanically accurate pictures. It is merely an accurate recording, a latticed window on a bright day, it serves very little artistic purpose, and is mainly a triumph of technical accuracy. Photography came to serve a much needed purpose, one that had been recognised much earlier that its first conception. Although Daguerre/Fox Talbots Victorian audience were generally a receptive and willing one, indeed ready to embrace a new and exciting technology, but they also engaged in much critical debate regarding the cultural, ethical and social impact regarding the emergence of photography. Wells (2004 p.12) states that hailed as a great technological invention, photography immediately became the subject of debates concerning its aesthetic status and social uses , Henisch (1994 pg.2) agrees stating intense controversies raged concerning its status and role. The debates related to art or technology is one still fought today, and ones which roots can obviously be found in the very early years of photography. The famous quote by Paul Delaroche (1797-1859) upon first seeing a daguerreotype photograph, from this day painting is dead, whilst an overt exaggeration, highlights a genuine fear felt by artists (especially portrait) during infantile years of photography. The daguerreotype Although accepted for its ability to record mechanically accurate images that are free of discrimination, photographys status as an art form was much less certain, and fiercely contested. Can photography be considered artistic? Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867), a French Poet artist, was a well known and very vocal critic of early photography: If photography is allowed to deputize for art, it will not be long before it has supplanted or corrupted art altogether (Baudelaire 1859 pg.297) Baudelaire suggest photography simply should not and could not supplant more traditional artistic methods. Its ability as To answer this question fully, there must be a clear knowledge of the culture/society which birthed photography. The mid nineteenth century was a time of great technological advancement (most prominently industrial technologies) that bought with it significant cultural and social change. Whilst these advancements were the cause of change, Well (2004) states a society will also invest and put time into developing new technologies in order to help satisfy previously unseen social needs. Wells (2004 pg. 12) summarises, photography was a consequence, and not a cause of culture. It was not a cause of change, but an answer to an unforeseen social need brought about by the fast evolving, and ever changing modern metropolitan lifestyle. Bibliography WELLZ, L. 2004. Photography: A critical introduction. Oxford: Routledge. CLARKE, G. 1997. The Photograph. Oxford: Oxford University Press. BAUDELAIRE, C. 1859. The Salon of 1859. Unknown. BRIGGS, A. 1998. A Victorian Portrait. London: Cassell Publishers Limited. GOLDBERG, V. 1991. The Power of Photography: How photographs changed our lives. New York: Abbeville Publishing Group. GREEN-LEWIS, J. 1996. Framing the Victorians. New York: Cornell University Press. HEINZ, K. 1994. The Photographic Experience 1839-1914. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press. MARIEN, M. 1997. Photography and its Critics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. MUNRO, J. F. July 2009 The Optical Stranger: Photographic anxieties in British periodical literature of the 1840s and 1850s. Journal of early popular visual culture 7(2) pp167-183.

Abortion Economics 101 :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Abortion Economics 101    There was a constant debate about the approval ratings for President Bill Clinton in the midst of the sex scandal. At times the ratings were higher than even before news of the scandal broke. Everyone agreed that the high ratings were linked to the strong economy. Herein lies the truth. After all, America’s strong economy wasn't built on presidential scandals, but on abortion. The greatest economic fear right is the possibility of ending abortion, and the champions of abortion happen to be President Bill Clinton and the Democratic Party    One should recall that the economy of the pre-Civil War South was built on the backs of slaves. They feared abolition, even to the point of going to war, because their whole economy would collapse without slavery. They certainly would not be able to keep the same standard of living. Today we have a similar situation. The present economy has been built on the backs of dead babies and those who support abortion fear that its abolition will mean that they will not be able to keep the same standard of living that they have grown accustomed to. Is it fair for me to make this dramatic claim? Consider the following and decide for yourself.    Imagine a family with two children, one in 7th grade and one in 10th. Mom and Dad both work, he earns 60% of their income and she earns 40 %. Mom becomes pregnant. The first issue is whether she can or will continue to work after the baby is born. If she quits, this means a 40 % cut in income right off the top. Even if she can continue to work, now there are five people to support instead of four; three to send to college instead of two; and a child living at home for eighteen more years instead of five. Now consider the nation as a whole. In the last 25 years we have killed one-third of all babies before they were born. Without abortion, whatever resources and income we have as a nation would have to be spread around over 35 million more citizens not to mention the babies the 16- to 25-year-old women would have had by now. Think of the added cost for the programs being touted now by the president in education, day care, health care, energy usage, etc.

Coriolanus is a man of action who is finally defeated by words Essay

‘Coriolanus is a man of action who is finally defeated by words.’ To what extent do you agree? There is no question that Coriolanus has, like any other tragic hero, a large flaw in his soldier personality, a weakness that could inevitably lead to his downfall. His inability with words against his ability as a warrior is a fatal combination, and this begs the question as to whether it was this one weakness or his military strengths that were ultimately the cause of his defeat. Coriolanus demonstrates right from the beginning of the play that his tactless way with words leads him to become his own worst enemy. In Act 1, Scene 1, Menenius cleverly uses the Parable of the Belly to highlight to the plebeians how fundamental Coriolanus is to their society, that he is ‘the storehouse and the shop of the whole body’ and they couldn’t get by without him. Yet immediately after the citizens have calmed down and accepted Menenius’ speech as ‘an answer’, Coriolanus enters and undoes all that Menenius has said by saying that the ‘dissentious rogues’ are ‘curs†¦hares†¦geese’ who ‘like nor peace nor war’, belittling them first through his use of animal imagery and again by implying their weak and fickle nature. His pride gives him the ability to completely disregard the impact his words will have on others and, eventually, himself, which indeed gives the impression that words, partic ularly his own, will be the destroyers of his position. However, this tendency that Coriolanus has to speak his mind without hesitation reflects his nature as a soldier and the way that it is essential to act instantly on the battlefield, as even the slightest hesitation could be disastrous. As Menenius says, ‘his heart’s his mouth’ and that his mother has ‘bred [him] i’th’wars / Since ‘a could draw a sword, and is ill-schooled / In bolted language’, which clearly shows that the reason he lacks the skill to speak like a true politician is because he has been brought up as a soldier, and soldiers need only to think of their actions and how swiftly they execute them. Communication is unimportant; what proves a fighter’s worth is his wounds not his word, whereas a statesman is the complete opposite. It is therefore apparent that whilst Coriolanus speaks irrationally and with haste in a way that is damaging towards his reputation, it is only because he is adopting his combatant natur e, the only attitude he knows. It is not only his own words, but also the words of others that exacerbate his downfall. The Tribunes in Act 3, Scene 3 manage to persuade the mob that Coriolanus is ‘a traitor to the people’ and that they should withdraw their votes and ‘banish him [their] city’. Shakespeare uses Sicinius provoking Coriolanus into a fuming rage twice to show how strongly and negatively words affect him, as Brutus and Sicinius deliberately ‘suggest the people in what hatred he still hath held them’. In Act 3, Scene 1 the Tribune uses the word ‘shall’, a very forceful word implying necessity, which angers Coriolanus and causes him to make an insulting and vicious speech in an attempt to indicate his power over them. In Act 3, Scene 3, a similar event takes place, where again Sicinius provokes Coriolanus into a furious rage by calling him a ‘traitor’. All Coriolanus’ rant manages to do is make the citizens turn against him even more and convince them to indeed ‘banish him’. This banishment does eventually lead to his death, so in this particular instance the use of words is a key factor in his defeat. Although throughout the majority of the play the tragic hero is seen as a poor public speaker, there are a few examples of words turning from being his enemy to being his friend. Act 1, Scene 4 sees Coriolanus giving a speech to ready his army for battle. Shakespeare cleverly changes his speech into verse for the first time, to highlight the change in the quality of his words and also to emphasise his persuasiveness. He also describes his soldiers as having ‘hearts more proof than shields’, a powerful metaphor designed to inspire them to fight. He treats the men as his ‘fellows’ rather than animals, as well as threatening to kill them if they don’t fight. This authoritative and influential speech made by Coriolanus emphasises the fact that he is able to use words effectively when he needs to. Act 1, Scene 6 also includes a powerful use of rhetoric by Coriolanus when he asks ‘make you a sword of me?’ which incorporates the extended metaphor of the body politic and of all the men working together, a very significant element as it is the first time this play sees the men working as one with the protagonist. These words certainly do not lead to Coriolanus’ downfall, but rather allow him to gain a prestigious title after winning a spectacular battle, demonstrating the true warrior that he is. The reason that things do start to go wrong for Coriolanus, however, is because he is not well suited to be a statesman, as well as the fact that he has to ‘stand for his place’ as consul and is forced to ask the plebeians for their votes, which in the end he does not succeed in getting. Politics are about words and battles are about actions, and Coriolanus is definitely more suited for one than he is for the other. His mother’s aspirations for him to become consul are highly ambitious, yet she ‘doubt[s] not but our Rome will cast upon thee’, whereas he ‘had rather be their servant in [his] way / Than sway with them in theirs’. This makes it apparent that Coriolanus would rather fight than speak as he does not want to be a politician, and it is the first sign of conflict between him and his mother, as well as the first sign of where things begin to take a turn for the worse. Words are evidently not only his enemy but also something that he himself is scared of, reflected in his modest behaviour, and he also says that ‘when blows have made [him] stay [he] fled from words’. He knows that he is not a good speaker and would therefore rather stay a soldier. It is strongly ironic that his greatest enemy isn’t on the battlefield but in fact much closer to home. This certainly shows that Coriolanus is a man of action, and that he is trying to avoid being defeated by words, although he does not succeed. Volumnia did not just have high ambitions for her son after winning his battle; she had been forming him through her words since he was a child to become the person that she could not be, due to the restrictions of Roman society. She ‘rejoiced in [his] absence’ when he was fighting and was ‘pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame’. Honour was what mattered most to her, and her guidance had managed to lead Coriolanus astray, as she steered herself and her son through her delusional plans to make him a great leader. She counts his wounds and ‘thank[s] the gods for’t’, which is a very unaffectionate thing to do. This lack of a true maternal presence in his life is what some believe to be the leading factor that made him abandon Rome to fight alongside Aufidius after he was accused of being a traitor and ultimately what led to his death. This is then another possible example of the use of words against him as his own mother shaped him into the man he became through her words. Although Coriolanus is capable of speaking effectively and using words to his advantage when under pressure, he has essentially been brought up to be a soldier and is therefore not only a victim of the harmful words of others but also incapable of defending himself through his own speeches, which is the fatal flaw in his character that leads him to be defeated. Shakespeare clearly shows that, apart from a few exceptions, Coriolanus is certainly a man of action defeated by words. Bibliography Shakespeare, W. Coriolanus. (L. Bliss, Ed.) The New Cambridge Shakespeare. Coriolanus: Godalming College Study Guide, 2011. Godalming College.

Free Essays on FOR Affirmative ACTION

What is affirmative action? Affirmative action is defined as a tool to monitor the consequences of employment practices. Affirmative action analyses determine whether employment practices result in a diverse applicant pool. The following quote by the former United States Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, seems to summarize the government's perception of this sensitive subject: An Affirmative Action Plan is a â€Å"careful, systematic analysis of who you’ve got, who’s out there, and how you are going to broaden opportunity. The plan creates opportunity. It’s not a quota machine. The purpose of goals and timetables in Affirmative Action Plans is to get employers to cast a wider net to find qualified applicants.† Throughout the history of the United States of America the intense and controversial view of "equality" has been a hot topic. With that in mind, our founding fathers of this great country set forth the three theories of what every citizen should be entitled to; freedom, order and equality. Their perception of what equality meant has taken on many different definitions as we as a society have evolved and changed. As a human being and especially as a citizen of the United States of America, I believe that civil rights are a very intricate part of our existence. When those rights are violated, a person tends to feel betrayed and persecuted due to their color, race, religion or personal beliefs. Therefore, the context of affirmative action seems to play a part in the balance of equality. In 1954, the Supreme Court issued a controversial ruling in the case of Brown vs. The Board of Education. The Court ruled that the concept of "separate, but equal facilities established on the basis of race" be deemed unconstitutional. Since racism and indifference had restricted rights for blacks, executive orders issued by presidents in the 1950s and 1960s established the concept of anti-discrimination measures to guarantee fair... Free Essays on FOR Affirmative ACTION Free Essays on FOR Affirmative ACTION What is affirmative action? Affirmative action is defined as a tool to monitor the consequences of employment practices. Affirmative action analyses determine whether employment practices result in a diverse applicant pool. The following quote by the former United States Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, seems to summarize the government's perception of this sensitive subject: An Affirmative Action Plan is a â€Å"careful, systematic analysis of who you’ve got, who’s out there, and how you are going to broaden opportunity. The plan creates opportunity. It’s not a quota machine. The purpose of goals and timetables in Affirmative Action Plans is to get employers to cast a wider net to find qualified applicants.† Throughout the history of the United States of America the intense and controversial view of "equality" has been a hot topic. With that in mind, our founding fathers of this great country set forth the three theories of what every citizen should be entitled to; freedom, order and equality. Their perception of what equality meant has taken on many different definitions as we as a society have evolved and changed. As a human being and especially as a citizen of the United States of America, I believe that civil rights are a very intricate part of our existence. When those rights are violated, a person tends to feel betrayed and persecuted due to their color, race, religion or personal beliefs. Therefore, the context of affirmative action seems to play a part in the balance of equality. In 1954, the Supreme Court issued a controversial ruling in the case of Brown vs. The Board of Education. The Court ruled that the concept of "separate, but equal facilities established on the basis of race" be deemed unconstitutional. Since racism and indifference had restricted rights for blacks, executive orders issued by presidents in the 1950s and 1960s established the concept of anti-discrimination measures to guarantee fair...

Competitor or Competition Focused

Competitor or Competition Focused If you’re competitor-focused, you have to wait until there is a competitor doing something. Being customer-focused allows you to be more pioneering. ~Jeff Bezos All too often we watch what all the other writers are doing in both writing and marketing, then try to snare which gimmick we can copy to work for us. Writing and self-promoting based upon our competition. I dare say the majority of early writers dont start off that way. Most want nothing more than for readers to flock to their story and gobble it up. Its probably why they started writing in the first place . . . to share a tale. However, reality sets in quick and harsh. Readers already have an abundance of reading material. So how can struggling writers be seen, heard, or better yet, read with so much competition? As a result, writers then gravitate to those more successful in the field, emulating the ads, the touring, the whatever-else they are doing. It becomes all about the numbers . . . yet the numbers arent that easy to come Then we commiserate with other writers. We join organizations, newsletters, Facebook groups comprised of writers, to learn how to be a more successful writer. But we have limited hours in the day. What goes lacking is the communication with potential readers. We forget were supposed to be customer-focused instead of competitor-focused. The goal is to reach out to where readers are:Â  libraries, schools, book fairs, radio, podcasts, niche organizations, maybe even your local paper. If you write romance, where do these souls tend to collect both in person and online? Ditto any other genre or subgenre. Do not stray from your reader being right up front in your writing world. Do not forget you are feeding them, educating them, entertaining them, using your talents to be the best you can be for them. Slowly and steadily, keep reaching out, respecting and adoring them. Readers are your market, not your competitors.

Sustainability and Built Enviornment Assignment

Sustainability and Built Enviornment - Assignment Example While several sustainable construction materials are now available, the criteria used to choose either of the same is informed by the desire to strike a delicate balance between the growing needs of the world today and the need to minimize the negative impacts that would emanate from such initiatives both to resources and to the environment. From the perspective of the environment, the building materials used have a direct impact on the energy consumption, the emission of carbon dioxides, how much waste materials are generated, the natural resources used, water consumption as well as how the utilization of such materials directly affects the health of the persons around the area. The first criteria that would be used in choosing a sustainable building material are the ability of the material to be recycled. Taking an example of steel, it is a building material that is recyclable for an indefinite time without necessarily suffering any losses in terms of quality. Steel can, for instance, be recycled 100 percent. However, for purposes of building, steel materials can be recycled i.e. used from one building to another to a degree of about 98%. There is, therefore, an economic loop that is sustained by the intrinsic quality inherent in the steel itself. Today, it is estimated that all over the world, recycled steel make up to about 40% of the total ferrous material in the steel industry. Mostly, such materials are used in the electrical furnace procedures and other processes like the blast oxygen furnace that play a role in generating building materials and even in direct construction processes. Through recycling, there are a significant cost reduction processes meaning that it can be sustained for a long time.

Computer Physical Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Computer Physical Security - Essay Example Biometric characteristics are exclusively individual; therefore making such characteristics a basis of user identification provides high reliability of protection. So we may define a biometric system as 'a pattern recognition system which recognizes a user by determining the authenticity of a specific physiological or behavioral characteristic possessed by the user'2. The tests made by the International Computer Security Association (ICSA) have allowed to issue certificates to rather limited number of systems of biometric identification. It is necessary to notice that six products certificated by the ICSA have been selected as a result of the careful analysis from a plenty of models. In the manual 'Biometric Industry Product Guide' issued by the ICSA, there is a description of 170 systems, allowing to make identification of users on basis of their unique physical parameters. Many independent users, including representatives of the ICSA, appreciate certified systems at their true value. The majority of biometric systems operate in the following way: the digital mark of a fingerprint, an iris or a voice is stored in the system database. A person, who is going to get access to a computer network, enters his/her own personal biometric information into the system by means of a microphone, a scanner of finger-prints or other devices. The received data are compared with the sample, which is kept in the database. Let us consider the mostly used biometric systems of computes access control.FINGERPRINT RECOGNITION Recently the dactyloscopy has attracted the attention as a biometric parameter, which quite possibly will become the most popular in the future. Already now the application of this technology has received wide circulation in Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) used by police throughout all territory of the USA and more than in other 30 countries of the world. In the USA devices of access control based on fingerprint identification are established in military institution, including the Pentagon. Among the advantages of fingerprint scanners are simplicity, usability and reliability. Though the percent of erroneous negative identification is about 3 %, a mistake of positive access is less than one to one million. All process of identification lasts no more than several seconds and does not demand any efforts from those, who use the given system of access. Nowadays such systems are made in the size of less than a pack of cards. The certain disadvantage constraining the de velopment of the given method is the bias of a part of people, which do not wish to make the information on their fingerprints available. Thus the counterargument of developers of such equipment is the assurance that the information about papillate pattern of a finger is not stored. What is stored is only short identification code constructed on the basis of prominent features of your finger-print.HAND GEOMETRY RECOGNITION The method of identification of users by hand geometry by it's the technological structure and the level of reliability is quite comparable to the method of ident