The Movie Pleasantville - 1541 Words

Pleasantville is a movie where significant change occurs based on the theories of social change. In the movie, the TV show Pleasantville is set in the 1950’s and everything and everyone in that show is in black and white. And being that they’re set in the 1950’s the have the same outdated morals, values and beliefs that are associated with 1950’s culture. However, the town of Pleasantville slowly but surely turns into colour when they go against their societal norms and beliefs and have sex, read, paint, express emotions and many other things. Pleasantville portrays a town that is ready and is in need of social change and how social changes are required for humanity to progress. One could say that the colour changes in Pleasantville are viewed as a bad thing because it would mean that you broke a societal value or norm in Pleasantville where everything is always perfect. However, David and Jennifer prove to the locals that the colour change is anything but bad and how it allows them to express every facet of their minds and not be stuck in the same roles and routines day in and day out. These sociological, anthropological and psychological changes are needed when trying to move forward as a society and Jennifer and David have helped Pleasantville expand their horizons. Psychologically speaking the people in Pleasantville knew in their minds that they wanted some type of change they just did not know how to go about deviating from the norm and were not exposed to anythingShow MoreRelatedThe Movie Pleasantville 1281 Words   |  6 PagesThe film Pleasantville shows the changes in American society over the past 50 years by placing two teenagers into the Pleasantville show, which was from the 50’s. The movie depicts how there is no longer the â€Å"American Dream† and no longer a perfect way of life and the changes the world has made. The world that the teenagers come from is filled with sex, drugs, money, and is very different from the way the world was in which the Pleasantville Show took place in. Morals and values have changed inRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Pleasantville 1325 Words   |  6 Pagesfriendly. Pleasantville maybe pleasant, but not at all, it’s just the name â€Å"Pleasantville† is just a simple twis t that’s all. David Wagner is a simple, nerdy kid with the fifties addiction in the movie. He s obsessed with the fifty show â€Å"Pleasantville† that plays reruns. This is set in a simple place where everyone is everyone is a perfect character and perky, hostile is dirty word and life is pleasingly pleasant. David addicted to this perfect ideal world, David deepens himself in Pleasantville as anRead MorePleasantville1586 Words   |  7 PagesNovember 15th, 2010 Utopia/Dystopia Dr. Viau Pleasantville Pleasantville is a great movie with many hidden messages. The not so obvious but informative messages are one of best aspects of this nineties flick. The special effects are impressive considering this movie is indeed from the nineties. Pleasantville touches base on many actual conflicts in America and throughout history in the most subtle but blunt way. My favorite thing about this movie is how it takes this blind community and showsRead MorePleasantville s Insight Of Reality900 Words   |  4 PagesPleasantville’s Insight of Reality Pleasantville takes place during the 1990s in which the two main characters David and Jennifer get sucked into the 1950s sitcom Pleasantville. The movie has many deep themes however, one major theme was the similarities between the treatment of the â€Å"colored† in Pleasantville and minority groups such as blacks in America during the 50s and 60s. There are two more groups that also had similar treatments to that of the† colored† in Pleasantville and the real world such asRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave in Pleasantville Essay1087 Words   |  5 Pagesdirector Gary Ross captured the essence of Plato’s philosophical views in his movie, Pleasantville. The movie is about two siblings, David and Jennifer, who live in completely different high school social scenes. Jennifer is the wild, extroverted teen who is obsessed with partying and boy drama. David, on the other hand, is a social outcast and spends most of his time watching TV, specifically, his fa vorite show, Pleasantville. David idolizes the show because of the perfect town in which everyone isRead MorePleasantville and Back to the Future1781 Words   |  7 Pagesillustrate the concept of change are Pleasantville and Back to the Future. In both of these movies, the main characters – Marty, David, and Jennifer – are sent back into the times of the 1950s and are faced with a world completely different from their own. In Pleasantville, David and Jennifer get stuck in David’s favourite television show, Pleasantville, as the characters Bud and Mary Sue. Jennifer seems to want to stir things up, creating change throughout Pleasantville, causing things to turn to colourRead MorePleasantville And A Clockwork Orange Essay1335 Words   |  6 Pages Pleasantville and A Clockwork orange are both films that have certain things that are abnormal. Pertaining to Pleasantville it begins in black and white and end to be in color because of being exposed of certain things. In a Clockwork Orange that is exposed with violence robbery is highly unusual because it is not something morally right to do. While analyzing both of these movies they both have certain distortions that can be covered that make their own individually, out of ordinary, a tad shockingRead MorePleasantville Racism Paper959 Words   |  4 Pagesmindset, and/or being ignorant of other people’s cultures. In the 1998 movie Pleasantville, it is shown that racism and discrimination towards different people occurs because of sudden changes to an established system and society. In reality, racism is a result of generations of stereotypes and mistreatment of a certain group of people, and is not something that can be resolved as quickly as it is in the movie. The film Pleasantville, directed by Gary Ross, is the story of how two teens from the 1990’sRead MorePleasantville Biblical Refrences Essay1108 Words   |  5 PagesThe movie â€Å"Pleasantville† (Produced and directed by Gary Ross in 1988) is more than just your ordinary film. Pleasantville sends a message within a message. Not only is it a great film, (made popular by New Line Cinema) it contains numerous biblical references. Some of the biblical references in this film may be easier to see and understand than others. But when asked to analyze this film and critique the biblical references you will understand just how many there are. To me the most obviousRead MorePleasantville Essay1690 Words   |  7 PagesPleasantville Essay A lot can happen in sixty years, and America is no exception to that statement. It is arguable that one of the biggest differences regarding America in the 1950s to modern America is culture. The movie â€Å"Pleasantville† reflects much of these cultural differences from 1950s to today in a creative and thoughtful way. It also provides much useful insight into the cultural conflicts America faced throughout the 1950s. The many differences between 1950s culture and modern day culture

Effects of Overpopulation and Industrialization on the...

Effects of Overpopulation and Industrialization on the Environment Throughout history, the world’s population has expanded in an extremely exponential fashion-- taking over three million years to achieve a one billion person benchmark, it then only took 130, 30, 15, 12, and 11 years to reach subsequent billions, respectively. (Southwick, 159) Such a massive and still increasing population, combined with the environmentally detrimental repercussions of industrialization (as a result of the need to sustain such a large population), namely pollution from fossil fuels, has begun to take a serious toll on our planet’s ecosystem. Moreover, â€Å"some scientists have calculated that an optimal human population on earth in terms of reasonable†¦show more content†¦Regardless of whether or not pollution increases as population increases, (Edwin Dolin strongly refutes this principle that population increases lead to increases in pollution) the statistics nonetheless illustrate that increased population, and now what many consider overpo pulation, has without a doubt led to continuingly deteriorating environmental conditions. Especially since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, new technologies have enabled cultures and communities, initially in the new territories traversed by the Europeans, to expand in populace: â€Å"we are forever realizing that the Industrial Revolution has changed forever the relationship between humanity and nature. There is a real concern that by the middle or the end of the 21st century human activities will have changed the basic conditions that have allowed life to thrive on earth.† (Internet 1) These basic conditions include the earth’s natural climate and the depletion and manipulation of its natural resources. Such expansion (since the Industrial Revolution) and creation of new establishments began, on a small scale, to effect the environment in many ways. The first element of the environment that was immediately effected was forests. Massive deforestation occurr ed, and still does so today, as land was cleared to make way for new towns. Moreover, many construction projects also used wood from trees, not to mention other commercial uses, such as paper, and fuel. Deforestation mayShow MoreRelated Overpopulation, Industrialization, and the Degradation of the Environment934 Words   |  4 PagesOverpopulation, Industrialization, and the Degradation of the Environment The overall growth of the human population in the last 2000 years has been a J-shaped growth. This can also be expressed as an exponential growth. A big question that can only be answered in time is how this population growth will slow down or stop. The planet can only handle so many humans before the effects of overpopulation send the environment into an unrecoverable tailspin of degradation. So the question is willRead MoreThe Impact Of Environmentalism891 Words   |  4 Pageseye-catching movement globally. Environmental problems have always been a focus worldwide, and new issues keep popping up as the world develops and the economy grows. Environmental degradation is always closely tied to two main problems: overpopulation and industrialization. These two factors create an infinite connection, and the consequences of their interactions can last decades. So, we are not only dealing with the acute chaos we create in our time but also coping with the chronic historical mess leftRea d MoreThe Presence of Corruption in Bangladesh 1471 Words   |  6 Pagesdevelopment of the nation. Natural causes such as floods and cyclones are significant to why Bangladesh struggle to maintain economic growth. Bangladesh has to confront many problems in its environment and overpopulation. Industrialization leads to increase in pollution production leading to adverse effects in the environment. Bangladesh is strongly unstable and a corrupt nation because of its failing economy, political instability, and social problems. The development of Bangladesh is affected by deterioratingRead MoreHuman Overpopulation1505 Words   |  7 PagesThe topic of overpopulation has different perspectives regarding whether or not it is happening as well as its apparent effects of both the environment and its inhabitants. The idea of human overpopulation being a problem most clearly begins around the time of Thomas Robert Malthus’ publishing of An Essay on the Principle of Population as It Affects the Future Improvement of Society, with Remarks on the Speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and Other Writers. In his writing, Malthus describesRead MoreContent Analysis Essay1326 Words   |  6 Pagesimportance and direction of natural disasters, global warming, overpopulation, and industrialization. Recurrent words are population and over population, economy, natural disaster, data and facts, costs, CO2 emissions, industry, and health. Many times the recurrent words are referred in different ways. In regards to population, the word appears in many ways such as world population, human population,global population, overpopulation, people worldwide, the population, and migrants. EconomyRead More Industrialization, Economics, and the Environment Essay1969 Words   |  8 PagesIndustrialization, Economics, and the Environment Human technological advancements make it possible to sustain larger and larger population by exploiting more and more natural resources. The three revolutions in human history, agricultural, industrial and green have all been answers to overpopulation. Naturally, industrialization leads to environmental degradation. The concern with Industrialization is that it is not a long term solution to human sustainability, since it operates under the premiseRead MoreDan Browns Inferno: A Bleak Depiction of the Future1088 Words   |  5 PagesDan Brown’s Inferno, a chillingly grim picture of a potential future, is a wonderful piece of satire. His views on overpopulation take a surgically-precise stand on what statistics predict to be true. In fact, his novel has no thematic connection to Dante’s classic work of the same name; although allusion is made to it, the real topic is overpopulation. The novel depicts a bleak world in the very near future of a human race on the brink of e xtinction. Furthermore, the dismal predictions he projectsRead MoreWhat We Have Learned From Our Readings Provided By The Population Reference Bureau719 Words   |  3 Pagesthe reality is that development countries have help in the transition to improve life and offset human mortality. As a result we are going to mention some of the most important changes of those improvements. a. Life expectancy Thanks to industrialization and modernization in developed countries, public health initiatives and the development of new medicines has become a reality reason enough to increase life expectancy. More children survived nowadays and death rate has become lower, unfortunatelyRead MoreOverpopulation And Resource Conflict And Allocation1741 Words   |  7 PagesNew Zealand UNEP Topics: Overpopulation and Resource Conflict and Allocation Country Introduction: Located in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand consists of two central islands, the North and South Islands, parted by the Cook Strait, which is divided into provinces, each with a certain amount of autonomy. The official languages of the nation include Maori, English, and New Zealand Sign Language. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, which comprises ofRead MoreThe Effects Of The Malthusian Catastrophe Throughout The Past Few Centuries1498 Words   |  6 Pagesfeed it, and, if unchecked, the world s population will double every 25 years. At the same time land cannot keep up with the population growth, because land cannot breed. This will lead to a population growth problem. This paper will explore the effects of the Malthusian catastrophe throughout the past few centuries. Reviewing the implications of population growth and the need for implementations to limit population growth and natural resource depletion, providing questions challen ging this point

Chronic Alcohol Disrupts Dopamine †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Chronic Alcohol Disrupts Dopamine. Answer: Introduction: Signs and symptoms of severe depressive episodes: David Wilson, a 38 year old man working as a mechanical fitter for mining company has been diagnosed with Major Depression (ICD10 diagnosis F32.2 severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms). In the category of depressive episodes, his condition comes under F32.2. A severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms is one where symptoms like fatigue, tiredness, lowering of mood, decreased concentration, low capacity for enjoyment, decreased appetite and sleep disturbance are present at extreme level and patient develop distressing experiences in life. In patients with F32.2 severe depressive episodes, the continuous presence of such symptoms results in loss of self-esteem and feeling of worthlessness (ICD-10 Version: 2016, 2017). This was also seen in case of David, as his performance at workplace decreased due to poor concentration and he kept ruminating over negative events resulting in poor self-esteem. Such patients ge nerally have suicidal feelings and somatic symptoms like unusual waking hours, weight loss, loss of appetite, psychomotor and loss of libido. As majority of these symptoms were present in Mr. David Wilson, he has been diagnosed with Major Depression. Pathophysiology of depression: The difficulty faced by Mr. David Wilson is clearly an indication of severe depression. Major depressive disorder is medical condition in which feeling, thinking and activities of a person is negatively affected. This leads to feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, guilty feeling, loss of energy, change in appetite and sleeping patterns and difficulty in concentration. People may experience single or multiple episodes of depression. The examination of neurobiological theories elucidating the pathophysiology of depression suggest that depletion of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in the central nervous system results is the underlying factor behind the pathophysiology of depression (Hasler, 2010). While considering the pathophysiology behind the condition, it can be said that neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals plays a major role in depression. Sperner-Unterweger, Kohl, Fuchs, (2014) has shown that changes in function of neurotransmitters affect their interaction with neurocircuits and this in turns results in development of depression as neurocircuits are mainly involved in maintaining mood stability. Hence, mood stability is severely affected by the biological changes in neurotransmitters. Links has been found between inflammatory pathways and neurocircuits in the brain as the mechanism of interactions of the immune system with the neurotransmitters and neurocircuits affects the risk for depression. The activation of inflammasome results in release of stress induced inflammatory signals such as increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The inflammatory cytokines consequently has an impact on monoamines, noradrenaline and dopamine. Neurotransmission plays a role in mood regulation and through several mechanism, inflammatory cytokines reduces the availability of monoamines which contributes to the pathophysiology of depression. In case of dopamine, they play a role in motivation and motor activity and cytokines decreases the release of dopamine leading to poor mood and depression (Miller Raison, 2016). Hence, activation of inflammasome leads to release of inflammatory cytokines and this affects the function of neurotransmitters and neurocircuits resulting to unsuitable behavior in affected person. There is ambiguous evidence on the specific causes of depression. However, a combination of biological factors as well as environmental stressors might play a role in the onset and diagnosis of depression (Uher, 2014).. While reviewing the case of David Wilson, it has been found that his mother, Michelle, 69 years old had a history of depression and currently she was also suffering from early onset of Alzheimers dementia. This is an indication that David may have hereditary links to depression as blood relatives with history of depression are known to increase the risk of developing depression. Research has shown that genetics has a role in the development of depression and as it mainly runs in families, it is highly regarded as hereditary (Flint Kendler, 2014). In case of David, his mother has been found to have a history of depression and in such case he is 1.5 to three times more likely to suffer from the condition. Hence, hereditary factors may have contributed to Davids depress ion. Other biological factors that might be the cause of depression in David include the abnormal brain structure and brain chemistry. For instance, the parts of brain involved in regulating mood, thinking and behavior might be affected and the imbalance in neurotransmitters leads to the progression of depression (Kemp, Lickel Deacon, 2014). Due to such imbalance, David might be suffering from low moods and other symptoms of depression. As David has been working as a mechanical fitter on the Pilmara mines since the last 7 years, it is also possible that his work environment might have increased the risk of depression in him. This is said because research has pointed out that mining industry workers often develops mental health problems like depression and anxiety. The lifestyles, work characteristics and attitudes influences the mental and psychological health and well-being of workers (Liu,Wang, Chen, 2014). Hence, work environment and occupational factors might be cause of depression in David. For patients like David, who is suffering from major depressive disorder, two types of medications can be given to treat him. The first is the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Fluoxetine (Prozac) and this is the first medication which is initially started in patients. However, medications needs to be taken with caution as Prozac may result in common side effects of skin rashes, restlessness, fever as well as severe side effects of anxiety, joint pain, seizures and diarrhea. The main cause side effects in Prozac is that the drug has long half life and this results in slow processing of drugs in the body (Prozac Oral: WebMD 2017). The function of SSRIs is to prevent the serotonin neurotransmitter from being reabsorbed into the nerve cells. This results in lightening of mood effect. Antidepressants are often linked to severe side effects of first time seizures and SSRIs was found to be associated with the worse odds of having first time seizures. This was seen mainly because overdose of the drug and timing of taking medicines (Schloesser et al., 2015). Another medication that can be given to Mr. David Wilson for treating depression is tricyclic antidepressants like Clomipramine (Anafranil) if the above medication does not work on the patient. The drug acts by increasing the level of norepinephrine and serotonins and blocking the action of acetylcholine. This helps to restore the balance in neurotransmitters and it alleviates depressive symptoms in patient. However, the consumption of the medication is associated with many side-effects. Common side effects include dry mouth, fatigue and constipation whereas serious side effects include low blood pressure, seizures and irregular heart rate in patients (Annette (Gbemudu) Ogbru, 2017).The heart rate variability is mostly seen during treatment of patients with tricyclic antidepressants because of dose variability and abrupt discontinuation of drugs. Evidence by van Zyl, Hasegawa Nagata, (2008) also proved that tricyclic antidepressants lead to the increase in heart rate of patients. When Davids employer presented him to the local hospital, he was found in an intoxicated state. His employer also reported that he is not able to work due to increased consumptions of alcohol and poor concentration in work. Increased consumption of alcohol might also be a reason for depressive symptom in patients because alcohol is found to have an impact on adult brain. Evidence has mainly showed that alcohol has damaging effects on the brain. Consumption of alcohol results in blurred vision, impaired memory and slow reaction time. The PET imaging of brains in people with heavy alcohol consumption has indicated that alcohol influences the function of the neurotransmitter system, the brain cell mechanism as well as the blood flow within the brains. The changes in function have been found mainly in frontal lobes which is involved with learning and memory and the cerebellums involved in controlling movements and coordination (Hermens et al., 2013). This discussion clearly explains why alcohol consumption results in impaired memory, difficulty in walking and concentrating. The dependence and overuse of alcohol can also be regarded as a pathway to depression in Mr. David because of its link with neuropsychological impairment. The controlled process of attention and memory and mental flexibility of student is affected by the overuse of alcohol. Alcohol has been found to influence neurotransmitter pathway too as evidence has shown that it activates neuro-immune signaling and persistent neuoroimmune-gene induction leads to continuous neurodegeneration and loss of behavioral flexibility in person (Crews et al., 2015). This has been also support by another research study which has explained that the effect of alcohol on disrupting dopamine receptor activity. The dopamine receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex control the cognition process by balancing the excitatory and inhibitory transmission. The impact of alcohol on dopamine mediated neurotransmission in rats has shown that behavioral flexibility decreased in rats with alcohol exposure. This confirms that cognitive function is seriously affected by alcohol exposure due to its impact on dopamine receptor signaling (Trantham-Davidson et al., 2014). For this reason, cognitive disruption has been seen in David as he has isolated him from others and shows poor concentration. Pathophysiology of alcohol withdrawal: During admission to the hospital, David came in an intoxicated state. While staying at the hospital, he is likely to go into alcohol withdrawal state. Going into the phase of sudden reduction in alcohol use following a period of excessive consumption may result in alcohol withdrawal symptoms like vomiting, fever, and increase in heart rate, anxiety and shakiness. In severe cases, people may also suffer from seizures (Mirijello et al., 2015). In case of people consuming excess alcohol, ethanol interacts with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Ethanol targets GABA type A leading to the downregulation of GABA type A receptors. However, in contrast to the stimulation of GABA type A receptor, ethanol inhibits function of NMDA receptor and causes compensatory upregulation of NMDA receptor. Hence, adaptive mechanism in neurotransmitter-receptor interaction promotes development of alcohol toleran ce in people. In case of alcohol withdrawal in the alcohol-dependent patient, sudden reduction in alcohol use results in imbalance between the GABA receptor Type A function and the NMDA receptor. Due to the decrease in the alcohol level in blood, the inhibitory activity of GABA is reduced and symptoms of hallucination seizures, tremors and hyperactivity is seen in affected person (Yanta, Swartzentruber, Pizon, 2015). The severity of symptoms in alcohol withdrawal increases because of kindling phenomena. This is a process where low electrical stimulus leads to changes in behavioral response and symptoms of seizures. Evidence proves that this phenomena deteriorates the withdrawal symptoms (Mainerova et al., 2015). In patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome, many mild to severe symptoms can be seen which can be mistaken for other clinical condition. It is critical that nurses effectively manage alcohol withdrawal patients in hospital setting. Common withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and insomnia, whereas severe symptoms include hallucination, disorientation and agitation. While caring for alcohol withdrawal patients, the nurse must understand the time at which the symptoms manifest in patients and the time at which the symptoms must terminate. Alcohol withdrawal patients are often very agitate and they show behaviors of violent outburst and verbal abuse. In such situation, the nurse needs to prioritize patient safety and injury. As family members are going to face problem due to abusive behavior of patient, the role of nurse is to educate family members regarding withdrawal symptoms and being empathetic and non-judgmental with patient during this period. Providing relaxing envi ronment to patient is also important (Mirijello et al., 2015). The nurse must also take caution while interacting with patients and if they become extremely aggressive, then visitors or nurse must stay away from them. Observing facial signs and body language of patient can also support a nurse in keeping patient calm and compliant with treatment process. In case of severe withdrawal symptoms, nurse can also provide medications like Benzodiazepines to control agitation and treat such behavior of patients. Meeting their nutritional needs will also be important in such situation (Jarvis Blad, 2010). Biological link between alcohol and depression Mr. David Wilson has been diagnosed with Major Depression and considering the impact of alcohol on neurotransmitter pathways, it can said that his condition has deteriorate even more by excessive use of alcohol. This explanation points out to the facts that there is biological link between alcohol and depression. This link is described in detail by the use of different biological factors which are as follows: Genetics: The study by Mayfield, Harris Schuckit, (2008) gives the implication that alcohol abuse and alcohol independence has relation with genetics and gene expression. For instance, genetic predisposition and genes increase the impaired controls towards many behavior such as alcohol use or drug use. This is also proved by the facts that relatives of alcoholics and twins of alcohol dependent person have fourfold higher risk of alcohol dependence. Secondly, specific genes like GABA A receptor, alpha 2 gene on chromosome 4 has been found to influence phenotypes of impulsivity and disinhibition (Dick et al., 2008). A study investigating about genetic relationship between alcoholism and depression has shown that combination of both alcoholism and depression run in families and this is most common in first degree relatives. The study showed that both alcoholism and depression were linked to specific chromosome region of chromosome 1. Hence, genes present on this region may predispose o r increase risk of alcoholism and depression in different people. The importance of the research was that it reinforced the idea that heavy drinkers are genetically vulnerable to depression and antidepressant treatment on alcoholic depressed patients improves both depression as well as alcohol consumption symptoms (Nurnberger et al., 2002). Changes in neurotransmitter pathways: The biological link between alcohol and depression is also proved in many research as both the condition has been found to lead to changes in neurotransmitter pathways. This is also evident from the above discussion regarding the pathophysiology of depression and alcohol withdrawal. A recent study highlighted the fact that various neurotransmitters are involved in the pathway towards alcohol addiction. This is said because alcohol exposure has an impact on function and balance of various neurotransmitters in the brain (Banerjee, 2014). Many studies done in patients with alcohol dependence has shown that the brains neurobiology is permanently changed by effect of alcohol. Alcohol has been found to particularly influence many neurobiological pathways like dopaminergic, GABA, serotoninergic and glutamate pathway (Yanta, Swartzentruber, Pizon, 2015). Alcohol interact with these transmitters and produce reinforcing affects resultsing in changes in ne uronal function and development of alcoholism. The research by Zuo et al., (2017) investigated particularly about the effect of ethanol on dopamine and glutamate receptors. The study gave the insight that ethanol stimulates the release of presynaptic glutamate mediated by the activation of dopamine subtype receptors and the cAMP dependent metabolic pathways. Hence, this evidence is useful to manipulate glutamate receptor while planning treatment of alcohol abuse. The impact of alcohol and depression on neurotransmitter pathway is again understood from the research by Heberlein et al., (2014) and this again established the biological link between alcohol and depression. Both depression and alcoholism are associated with morbidity, impact on quality of living and mortality. While discussing the physiological impact of alcoholism and depressions, the researcher showed that chronic alcohol consumption reduces the availability of dopamine and influences mood and memory of affected person Similarly, Yin et al., (2016) showed changes in GABA and neurotransmitter system resulting in suicide behavior and major depressive order. Both GABA and glutamate are major inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters and they are associated with suicidal behavior and major depressive disorder too. They have the capability to changes the normal function of brain in the area of cognition, mood regulation, memory and learning. This is reason for manifestation of symp toms like poor concentration, low esteem, feelings of guilt and social isolation. As GABA affects the concentration of monoamines in brain which reduced stress, this mechanism is often exploited for the delivery antidepressant therapy too. Hence, biological link between alcoholism and depression is proved through the changes in neurotransmitter system. Brain dysfunction: Alcoholism and depression is also found to have association with brain and neurobehavioral functions. For instance, excessive alcohol use has been found to lead to brain damage and this has been mainly proved by neuro-imaging studies in animals or deceased patients. The alcohol related brain damage is also affected by age, history of drinking and risk to specific regions of brain. The regions that are most likely to be damaged by alcohol exposure includes neurotransmitter system, entire brain, frontal lobe system, limbic system, thalamus and hypothalamus (Shokri-Kojori et al., 2016). The study regarding brain development in heavy drinking adolescents have also showed that trajectory of normal brain development is altered due to excessive consumption of alcohol. The specific brain region that is affected includes regional cortical volumes and white matter structures. The longitudinal analysis of brain structure in adolescents mainly showed heavy decline in frontal a nd temporal cortical volumes (Squeglia et al., 2015). Just like the connection between brain damage and alcoholism, the connection between depression and brain dysfunction has also been established. The biological link is close because alcoholism itself is known trigger depression and deteriorates symptoms of depression. They intensify the effects of GABA leading to sedative effects and this result in poor concentration in people with depression. Similarly, imbalance in function of neurotransmitters in both conditions results in depressive symptoms in people. In addition, the dopamine and the endorphin pathway is also affected by the conditions. Alcohol also damages the area of brain involved in non-verbal emotional stimuli thus resulting in social withdrawal and inappropriate behavior in patients (Joseph, 2017). Vitamin deficiency: The study also showed that vitamin deficiency in people also contributes to brain damage and results in severe cognitive deficits in person with alcohol use and those with Major depression (Shokri-Kojori et al., 2016). Nutritional deficiencies are also known to cause depression and anxiety in people. Certain vitamins like Vitamin B12, B-complex and Folate are known to delay depression (Rao, et al., 2008). Reference Annette (Gbemudu) Ogbru, M. (2017).What are the side effects of tricyclic antidepressants? - RxList. [online] RxList. Available at: https://www.rxlist.com/tricyclic_antidepressants_tcas-page2/drugs-condition.htm#side effects [Accessed 5 Oct. 2017]. Banerjee, N. (2014). Neurotransmitters in alcoholism: a review of neurobiological and genetic studies.Indian journal of human genetics,20(1), 20, doi:10.4103/0971-6866.132750 Crews, F. T., Sarkar, D. K., Qin, L., Zou, J., Boyadjieva, N., Vetreno, R. P. (2015). Neuroimmune Function and the Consequences of Alcohol Exposure.Alcohol research: current reviews,37(2), 331-41, Retrieved from: https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc4590627 Dick, D. M., Aliev, F., Wang, J. C., Saccone, S., Hinrichs, A., Bertelsen, S., ... Xuei, X. (2008). A systematic single nucleotide polymorphism screen to fine-map alcohol dependence genes on chromosome 7 identifies association with a novel susceptibility gene ACN9.Biological psychiatry,63(11), 1047-1053, doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.11.005 Flint, J., Kendler, K. S. (2014). The genetics of major depression.Neuron,81(3), 484-503, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.01.027 Hasler, G. (2010). Pathophysiology of depression: do we have any solid evidence of interest to clinicians?.World Psychiatry,9(3), 155-161, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950973/ Heberlein, A., Kser, M., Lichtinghagen, R., Rhein, M., Lenz, B., Kornhuber, J., ... Hillemacher, T. (2014). TNF- and IL-6 serum levels: Neurobiological markers of alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent patients?.Alcohol,48(7), 671-676, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2014.08.003 Hermens, D. F., Lagopoulos, J., Tobias-Webb, J., De Regt, T., Dore, G., Juckes, L., ... Hickie, I. B. (2013). Pathways to alcohol-induced brain impairment in young people: a review.Cortex,49(1), 3-17. ICD-10 Version:2016. (2017). Apps.who.int. [online] Available at: https://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2016/en#/F32.2 [Accessed 5 Oct. 2017]. Jarvis, S. D., Blad, K. D., (2010). Nursing Care of Patients with Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, Retrieved from: https://www.sccm.org/Communications/Critical-Connections/Archives/Pages/Nursing-Care-of-Patients-with-Alcohol-Withdrawal-Syndrome.aspx Joseph, M. (2017). Comorbidity of alcoholism and depression in relation to social support network. Kemp, J. J., Lickel, J. J., Deacon, B. J. (2014). Effects of a chemical imbalance causal explanation on individuals' perceptions of their depressive symptoms.Behaviour research and therapy,56, 47-52, Retrieved from: https://www.uw-anxietylab.com/uploads/7/6/0/4/7604142/chemical_imbalance_test_brat.pdf Liu, L., Wang, L., Chen, J. (2014). Prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among Chinese underground coal miners.BioMed research international,2014, https://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/987305 Mainerova, B., Prasko, J., Latalova, K., Axmann, K., Cerna, M., Horacek, R., Bradacova, R. (2015). Alcohol withdrawal delirium-diagnosis, course and treatment.Biomedical Papers,159(1), 044-052, Retrieved from: https://biomed.papers.upol.cz/artkey/bio-201501-0007_Alcohol_withdrawal_delirium_-_diagnosis_course_and_treatment.php Mayfield, R. D., Harris, R. A., Schuckit, M. A. (2008). Genetic factors influencing alcohol dependence.British journal of pharmacology,154(2), 275-287, doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.88 Miller, A. H., Raison, C. L. (2016). The role of inflammation in depression: from evolutionary imperative to modern treatment target.Nature Reviews Immunology,16(1), 22-34, doi:10.1038/nri.2015.5 Mirijello, A., DAngelo, C., Ferrulli, A., Vassallo, G., Antonelli, M., Caputo, F., ... Addolorato, G. (2015). Identification and management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.Drugs,75(4), 353-365, doi:10.1007/s40265-015-0358-1 Mirijello, A., DAngelo, C., Ferrulli, A., Vassallo, G., Antonelli, M., Caputo, F., ... Addolorato, G. (2015). Identification and management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.Drugs,75(4), 353-365, doi:10.1007/s40265-015-0358-1 Nurnberger, J. I., Foroud, T., Flury, L., Meyer, E. T., Wiegand, R. (2002). Is there a genetic relationship between alcoholism and depression?.Alcohol Research and Health,26(3), 233-240, Retrieved from: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh26-3/233-240.pdf Prozac Oral: WebMD. (2017).Prozac Oral : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings Dosing - WebMD. [online] Available at: https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6997/prozac-oral/details [Accessed 5 Oct. 2017]. Rao, T. S., Asha, M. R., Ramesh, B. N., Rao, K. J. (2008). Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses.Indian journal of psychiatry,50(2), 77, doi:10.4103/0019-5545.42391 Schloesser, R. J., Orvoen, S., Jimenez, D. V., Hardy, N. F., Maynard, K. R., Sukumar, M., ... Martinowich, K. (2015). Antidepressant-like effects of electroconvulsive seizures require adult neurogenesis in a neuroendocrine model of depression.Brain stimulation,8(5), 862-867, doi:10.1016/j.brs.2015.05.011 Shokri-Kojori, E., Tomasi, D., Wiers, C. E., Wang, G. J., Volkow, N. D. (2016). Alcohol affects brain functional connectivity and its coupling with behavior: greater effects in male heavy drinkers.Molecular psychiatry, doi:10.1038/mp.2016.25 Sperner-Unterweger, B., Kohl, C., Fuchs, D. (2014). Immune changes and neurotransmitters: possible interactions in depression?.Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry,48, 268-276, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.10.006 Squeglia, L. M., Tapert, S. F., Sullivan, E. V., Jacobus, J., Meloy, M. J., Rohlfing, T., Pfefferbaum, A. (2015). Brain development in heavy-drinking adolescents.American journal of psychiatry,172(6), 531-542. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.14101249 Trantham-Davidson, H., Burnett, E. J., Gass, J. T., Lopez, M. F., Mulholland, P. J., Centanni, S. W., ... Chandler, L. J. (2014). Chronic alcohol disrupts dopamine receptor activity and the cognitive function of the medial prefrontal cortex.Journal of Neuroscience,34(10), 3706-3718, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0623-13.2014 Uher, R. (2014). Geneenvironment interactions in severe mental illness.Frontiers in psychiatry,5, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00048 van Zyl, L. T., Hasegawa, T., Nagata, K. (2008). Effects of antidepressant treatment on heart rate variability in major depression: a quantitative review.BioPsychoSocial medicine,2(1), 12, doi:10.1186/1751-0759-2-12 Yanta, J. H., Swartzentruber, G. S., Pizon, A. F. (2015). Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: Improving Outcomes Through Early Identification And Aggressive Treatment Strategies.Emergency medicine practice,17(6), 1-18, Retrieved from: https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/26302015 Yin, H., Pantazatos, S. P., Galfalvy, H., Huang, Y. Y., Rosoklija, G. B., Dwork, A. J., ... Mann, J. J. (2016). A pilot integrative genomics study of GABA and glutamate neurotransmitter systems in suicide, suicidal behavior, and major depressive disorder.American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics,171(3), 414-426, doi:10.1002/ajmg.b.32423 Zuo, W., Fu, R., Hopf, F. W., Xie, G., Krnjevi?, K., Li, J., Ye, J. H. (2017). Ethanol drives aversive conditioning through dopamine 1 receptor and glutamate receptor?mediated activation of lateral habenula neurons.Addiction biology,22(1), 103-116, doi:10.1111/adb.12298

Qantas Management

Executive Summary This study recommends that Qantas outsource its heavy machinery services to Asia in order to reduce the company’s costs of operations. Also key in the success of the company is a focus on the development of the company’s strategies around four major areas of competency which are attraction of new customers, management of company fleet of planes, management of employees and management of finances. These findings have been developed through a comprehensive analysis of Qantas’s core business strengths and competencies together with an analysis of the Australian aviation industry.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Qantas Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Preliminary findings identified that Qantas is heavily reliant on the development of the Australian economy as well as an increase of passenger demand. Additionally, the company’s performance is greatly boosted b y the fact that it has developed good bilateral relationships with other leading airline market leaders. These competencies together with upcoming new opportunities in the aviation industry are set to see the company post increased growth and revenue. However, as this progress is expected, the company is bound to experience a number of legal and union barriers. These factors are further discussed in detail. Qantas Business Strategy and Corporate Mission Launched in 1920 as Queensland, Australia’s Qantas undertakes both local and international flights across the globe. The company boasts of being among the largest global airlines in the world; propelled by its prudent strategies as well as an upheaval of its mission statement of being the leading provider of global transport and logistic services in Australia and the world at large (Martin, 1997, p. 53). Qantas reports that the industry has just come out of an all time low in financial performance, although the aviation indust ry still remains challenged in light of increasing competition and volatility. With regards to these developments, the company’s latest annual report maintains its two-airline strategy to counter the industry’s unpredictable nature. Qantas is of the opinion that this strategy provides some sense of flexibility where it can ride through the different economic cycles of the aviation industry and leverage the various cycles existent in the market. In addition, the company upholds the opinion that the two-airline strategy will help it maintain a robust business strategy in coming years. The two-airline strategy incorporates the low fare Jetstar and the full service Qantas which the company hopes to sustain in the long run (with regards to the stiff competition that is characteristic of the aviation industry) (Business Day, 2010). The main goal of creating jetstar was to provide the lowest costs airline in the world. This strategy was expected to sustain growth in the comin g few years and live to be a positive and energetic brand as the company’s corporate mission demanded of it. This strategy has been tried out in 2010 through the adoption of the iPad as an in-flight entertainment system. This was only unique to the airline because no other company had undertaken such an initiative (Business Day, 2010). Plans are still underway to improve this corporate strategy with fifty recent purchases of Boeing 787 to effectively rejuvenate the two brands. The first batch was expected on June 2010. Fifteen of the new planes will be allocated to the Jetstar brand while the A330-200s will be reallocated to the Qantas brand and the B767-300s will be eliminated from normal operations (Business Day, 2010).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Elimination of old planes brings us to another of Qantas’s core business strategies which is cost cutting an d grounding of old airplanes. In this regard, the company has had a good record of diligence and discipline in minimizing its costs over the past few quarters. For instance, in the last quarter, revenues fell by close to 13.4% but the costs were equally slashed by approximately 16.2% (Business Day, 2010). This measure has enabled the company realize minimal costs as compared to previous years but it has also been supplemented by suspension of flights to unpopular routes. This strategy has enabled the company experience full flights even in light of the recent recession; though its low fares have also been identified to enhance the same (Nigam, 2010). Industry Structure Key success factors for the Australian aviation industry and indeed the world have had a positive impact on Qantas. Through a comprehensive strategic analysis of Qantas, the key success factors for the Australian industry have always been the analytical tools for the aviation industry in which the company operates. Co nsidering Qantas majorly relies on the Australian market for its primary customers, this industry analysis is essentially inspired by the tremendous progress the Australian aviation industry has had over the past few years. The Australian aviation industry has largely endured the motions of the recent financial crisis better than most aviation markets did. While other aviation industries recorded a significant drop in passenger and cargo services, the Australian aviation industry grew. Of the total domestic and international passenger volumes, the Australian passenger volume increased by 1.4% in the year 2009 when the world was experiencing a decrease in passenger volumes. For instance, America recorded a drop of 5.2%; United Kingdom (UK) recorded a drop of 7.2% while Spain recorded the highest drop of 8.1% while other major aviation markets like Germany posted even lower drops (Australian Government, 2010). The Australian aviation industry has therefore been supported by increasing volumes in passenger services both domestically and internationally. However, the input of the Australian government cannot go unmentioned because through government initiatives, many Australians have been able to travel within and out of the continent for both business and leisure purposes. This was majorly undertaken through a government’s stimulus package that saw many Australian’s keep their jobs and become very confident about travelling (Australian Government, 2010). Finally, the productivity of the Australian aviation industry has been largely supported by the growth of the Australian economy. Considering Australia is located in one of the most isolated continents in the world, the economy has been largely dependent on the aviation industry. Increasing economic performance, especially compared to other developed economies has therefore increased the demand for Aviation services and consequently led to the increase in demand for Qantas’s services. SWOT An alysis Qantas SWOT analysis describes the factors influencing the company’s performance and also justifies its business strategies to date. The company’s growth and future sustainability is also largely dictated by the SWOT analysis.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Qantas Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Strengths As the Australian aviation industry witnessed an increase in profit margins, Qantas has also seen a significant increase in profit margins. Also key to its success strategy has been the company’s range of subsidiary businesses. This diversity has enabled the company achieve considerable gains from different business portfolios like catering, luggage handling, and engineering sectors (Plunkett, 2009). This has effectively enabled the company manage its supplier obligations and also effectively control the maintenance costs in the long run. Qantas is also in partnership w ith other similar companies namely: the American, British, Canadian and Cathay airlines to form the One World Alliance which has effectively enabled the company manage its non-core business activities. Such activities include the ticketing service; advertising and maintenance procedures which have also enabled the company reduce its cost margin as well as cut down costs in certain functional areas such as ticket pricing. In addition, the company has also been able to effectively connect its passengers with different flights while on transit. The final business strength is the company’s good record of resource management as Australia’s number one airline company. It subsidiary business entities have also provided supplementary services to the company’s main business ventures (Hierling, 2007, p. 16). Weaknesses One of the company’s core weaknesses lies in the fact that the company has a poor reliability record especially with regard to safety concerns. For instance, in the period 2008/09 the company had various safety incidents with some of its planes. Although nothing happened, these occurrences greatly dented the company’s image and left a lot to be desired with regard to their safety policies and procedures (Hierling, 2007, pp. 16-17). The company has also experienced one of the worst strikes in the airline industry in 2009. This almost brought the company to a near standstill because operations were uncoordinated by striking workers even though the protest was not sanctioned by their trade unions. The company’s operations were therefore marred by major delays even affecting the operations of other companies. Opportunities One of the company’s major opportunities lies in the open skies policy. With the Implementation of this policy, the company is set to enjoy a liberalization of the industry in light of current stringent rules and immense government legislation. Other benefits the company is set to enjoy inclu de a liberalization of the competitive landscape, market driven pricing, equal playing opportunities for all competitors and the freedom to undertake cooperative marketing agreements with other like-minded companies. Threats As regards the company’s threats, Virgin Blue poses a lot competition especially with regards to market share because it is the only strong competitor in the Australian aviation market (Hierling, 2007, p. 16). This SWOT analysis can be further summarized as follows: SWOT AnalysisAdvertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strength Increase in its profit margins Wide range of subsidiary businesses. One World Alliance Weakness Unreliability Poor safety standards Worker strikes Opportunities Open skies policy Threats Virgin Blue Core Competencies and Competitive Advantages Qantas has a number of core competencies that have elevated it to be a world-class market leader. First, the company enjoys some form of monopoly of the Australian aviation industry and is therefore immensely knowledgeable on how the Australian aviation market operates. This fact has even made it a highly sought target for partnership agreements with similar airline companies like British Airways and Deccan in India as a strategy for penetration into the Australian market. Secondly, Qantas enjoys sound bilateral relationships with other world leading airlines in the One World Alliance that enabled it achieve a world-class stature (Hussey, 1998, p. 375). Strategy Recommendations One of the most viable options for Qantas is to o utsource its heavy maintenance services to Asia. Asia is a good destination because as compared to other outsourcing destinations, it is relatively cheap. Moreover, it is in close proximity to Australia. This should especially be done with regards to its long haul fleet of airplanes. This strategy is bound to increase the level of specialization and improve efficiency in the organization because specialized maintenance functions will be undertaken by a specialized company in Asia. In the same regard, the company can also reduce its operational costs because it will not be required to undertake the same services locally (Clark, 2007, p. 208). This will mean a reduction in staff and maintenance costs which are usually expensive in the long run. The company’s strategy should also seize to be general or specific on only a few functional areas. Studies have affirmed that the airline industry is supported by the pillars of customer attraction, finance management, fleet management, and human resource management which need to be supported by all airline companies that want to withstand the highly competitive nature of the aviation industry (McCabe, 2010). Thus, the success of Qantas will lie on the company’s strategy to attract many customers, how it will manage its fleet, how it will manage its people and how it will manage its finances. However, with regards to attracting its customers, Qantas has been able to sustain low prices even in light of increasing costs of operations although more still needs to be done with regards to management of the other three core areas. However, this does not mean that it will be smooth sailing all the way after adoption of these strategies because a number of hurdles still lie on the way. Potential Fallout Outsourcing a majority of the company’s maintenance services may probably cause a number of job losses. The rough approximation is about 2500 jobs (Rochfort, 2006). Most of this impact will be felt in Australi a because approximately 90% of the company’s workforce is based in the locality (Rochfort, 2006). In addition, there a number of legal barriers expected to be advanced by the Australian Licensed Engineers Association which is likely to surface in protection of Engineers’ rights if the company seeks to outsource its services. The Qantas sales act is the major legal barrier to this kind of strategy because its enactment preceded Qantas’s privatization in 1995. The act stipulates that â€Å"of the facilities, taken in aggregate, which are used by Qantas in the provision of scheduled international air transport services (for example, facilities for the maintenance and housing of aircraft, catering flight operations, training and administration), the facilities located in Australia, when compared with those located in any other country, must represent the principal operational centre for Qantas† (Rochfort, 2006). Qantas’s management is therefore expecte d to prove that it is not in breach of the law as its tries to strike out a balance between caring for the needs of its employees and stakeholders while also ensuring the company’s prospects for growth is on course. The sales act therefore needs to be reevaluated with regard to the company’s rights in legal foreign ownership. Without any legal amendments to the act, existing legislation is likely to limit Qantas’s access to capital. A lot of union activity should also be expected if the company intends to pursue this strategy (Rochfort, 2006). References Australian Government. (2010). Opening Address To Airservices’ 2010 Waypoint Conference. Web. Business Day, (2010). Qantas Affirms Its Two-Airline Strategy. Retrieved from: https://www.smh.com.au/business/qantas-affirms-its-twoairline-strategy-20100903-14t4o.html Clark, P. (2007). Buying The Big Jets: Fleet Planning For Airlines. London; Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Hierling, M. (2007). The Australian Airline Industry and the Case of OzJet – A Strategic Analysis Report: Case Study about OzJet and the Airline Industry in Australia. Sydney: GRIN Verlag. Hussey, D. (1998). Strategic Management: From Theory To Implementation. London: Butterworth-Heinemann. Martin, S. (1997). The Impact Of Privatisation: Ownership And Corporate Performance In The UK. London: Routledge. McCabe, R. (2010). The Ability For Airlines To Succeed Today Is Measured According To Several Key Success Factors. Retrieved from: https://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2010/08/airline-industry-key-success-factors/ Nigam, S. (2010). Australia’s Qantas Airways – The World’s Most Agile Airline Brand? Retrieved from: http://simpliflying.com/2010/australias-qantas-airways-the-worlds-most-agile-airline-brand/ Plunkett, J. W. (2009). Plunkett’s Transportation, Supply Chain and Logistics Industry Almanac 2009 (E-Book): Transportation, Supply Chain and Logistics Industry Market Research, Statistics, Trends and Leading Companies. New York: Plunkett Research, Ltd. Rochfort, S. (2006). Legal Barrier To Qantas Strategy. Retrieved from: https://www.smh.com.au/business/legal-barrier-to-qantas-strategy-20060220-gdn034.html This report on Qantas Management was written and submitted by user Jaeden C. 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.

Jean Jacques Rousseau and Mary Wollstonecraft Essays

Jean Jacques Rousseau and Mary Wollstonecraft Essays Jean Jacques Rousseau and Mary Wollstonecraft Paper Jean Jacques Rousseau and Mary Wollstonecraft Paper Essay Topic: Bad Boy a Memoir Jean Jacques Rousseau and Mary Wollstonecraft were both born in the 18th century, within 47 years of each other, and both were regarded as important philosophical thinkers of their time. Jean Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1712; his father was a watchmaker and his mother died while giving birth to him. His father Isaac, who taught him to read, and appreciate the countryside, consequently brought up Rousseau. His father had to leave Geneva when Rousseau was 10 years old to avoid going to prison; he was then brought up by his aunt and later by an uncle. In his writings The Confessions he recalls only happy memories of his childhood, although to the reader it does have some strange features such as not being allowed to play with children of his own age, Never once, until I left my fathers house, was I allowed to run out alone into the road with the other children (The Confessions: Book 1, 1953, pp21). When Rousseaus father had to leave Switzerland, he was put into the care of his Uncle Bernard, who had a son of Rousseaus age. Together they were sent to a place called Bossey to board with a pastor called M. Lambercier, for an education. Up until this point Rousseau had had a childhood with no formal education at all. Rousseau also recalls his time at Bossey with fond memories, and claims; The manner of my life at Bossey suited me so well that if only it had lasted longer it could not have failed to fix my character for ever. (The Confessions: Book 1, 1953, pp25). After leaving Bossey and spending a few years living with his uncle, he was sent at the age of thirteen to be an apprentice engraver. He lived here for about three years before running away at the age of sixteen to travel across Europe, where he becomes a Catholic briefly before converting back to Protestantism. Rousseau ended up in Paris, leading a somewhat unsettled life, where he eventually died in 1778. He left behind him a cult following, his name and writings became infamous during the French revolution. Mary Wollstonecraft was born in 1759 to John Edward Wollstonecraft, who was a tyrant and a bully, and Elizabeth Dixon. She was the second child of six. She had an elder brother; Edward and four other siblings were born after her, James, Charles, Eliza and Everina. They were brought up as Anglicans. Wollstonecrafts paternal grandfather owned a silk weaving business, and her maternal grandfather was a wine merchant. In 1765 her paternal grandfather died leaving the silk weaving business to her father. However her father was a bit of a snob and he didnt care very much for being a tradesman, so he took the money from the business and invested in farming. This had disastrous consequences as her father knew nothing of farming, and the family spent their time moving from one farm to another, leaving their debts behind them. Between the years 1759 and 1776 they had moved about the country on numerous occasions and tried their hand at farming at places such as Epping, Whalebone, Essex, Yorkshire and Wales. By the end of the 1770s the family fortune was at very low ebb. In 1775 Mary Wollstonecraft met Francis (Fanny) Blood, who became her closet friend and companion until her death in 1785. Her mother died in 1782, and in 1784 Mary Wollstonecraft, her sister Eliza, and Fanny opened a new school in Islington, where they were joined by her other sister Everina. After Fanny Bloods death Wollstonecraft returned to find the school had suffered in her absence, so she closed it and turned her mind to writing by way of making a living. In 1786 she earned herself ten pounds after her first publication, which was a pamphlet entitled Thoughts on the Education of Daughters. Mary Wollstonecrafts life was changed, as was most of the world, by the French Revolution in 1789, and went to live in Paris in 1792 to witness first hand the effects of the French revolution. Wollstonecraft went on to produce many more important writings during her lifetime, one of her most famous being A vindication of the rights of women. Wollstonecraft died on 10th September 1797 of childbed fever 11 days after her second child was born. In 1798 William Godwin, her husband published a book called Memoirs of Mary Wollstonecraft, which seemed to have a negative effect on her popularity. Jean-Jacques Rousseaus ideas on childhood and education were considered quite revolutionary at the time, and even today they continue to be quite controversial. Rousseau was famous for being a social critic; he felt that social life corrupted human nature. Rousseau strongly believed that: We are all born good, but civilisation turns us all into moral slaves. (Lecture notes, 13/10/03) It is upon this belief that Rousseau wrote one of his most controversial pieces in 1762, which was a novel called Emile. This book was based on Rousseaus thoughts that people developed through various stages and that different forms of education may be suitable to each specific stage. Rousseau alleged it was possible to sustain the original nature of the child by careful control of his education and environment. This was done through a close investigation of the different physical and emotional stages through which the child passed from birth through to maturity. Geraint Parry mentions in the book Emile: Learning to Be Men, Women, and Citizens that: It is intended to portray an ideal of education that is as close to nature as it is possible to attain in the world as we now find it. (The Cambridge Companion to Rousseau, 2001, pp249) In Emile, Rousseau divides the childs development into five stages, and a book is devoted to each. The five stages are: Stage one Infancy (birth to two years), Stage two The age of Nature (Two to Twelve years), Stage three Pre-adolescence (Twelve to Fifteen years), Stage four Puberty (Fifteen to Twenty years) and Stage five Adulthood (Twenty to Twenty Five years). (www. infed. org) The books that are most fundamental to Rousseaus belief of childhood being a crucial phase of self-development are books one, two and three. Rousseau attempts to show the reader how a persons self-development can be determined by the way he is educated in his childhood. Rousseaus belief that society was corrupt fuelled his ideas on education. Geraint Parry mentions in Emile: Learning to be Men, Women, and Citizens that The significance of education for Rousseau is that it seems to offer a means of solving one of the central dilemmas of his social and political thought. A fundamental objective is to create a virtuous circle in which transformed human beings could live in a transformed society (The Cambridge Companion to Rousseau, 2001,pp248) Rousseau says in book one of Emile: We are born sensitive and from our birth onwards we are affected in various ways by our environment. As soon as we become conscious of our sensations we tend to seek or shun the things that cause them, at first because they are pleasant or unpleasant, then because they suit us or not, and last because of judgements formed by means of the ideas of happiness and goodness which reason gives us. (Emile, 2003, pp7) Rousseau backs this idea up when he writes his Confessions later in his life when he recalls some of his childhood memories, one in particular of his time at Bossey when he was chastised by Mlle Lambercier for a wrong doing and found that the experience of being beaten by her wasnt as bad as he had first thought it would be, and he goes on to say: Who could have supposed that this childish punishment, received at the age of eight at the hands of a woman of thirty, would determine my tastes and desires, my passions, my very self for the rest of my life,.. (The Confessions, book one, Penguin 1953, pp26) It is clear from Rousseaus writings that he strongly believed that Childhood is a crucial phase of self-development. Much of his work was read and admired by Mary Wollstonecraft. She was born nearly fifty years after Rousseau, but his writings on education were something that Wollstonecraft admired: the ideas she had begun to acquire about education, filtered down from Rousseau (The Life and Death of Mary Wollstonecraft, Claire Tomalin, Penguin 1992, pp49) Wollstonecraft was seen as very insightful, in the sense that she longed to bridge the gap between mankinds present circumstance and an ultimate perfection. She was beyond doubt, a child of the French revolution. She saw a new age of reason and compassion close at hand. Wollstonecraft, in her writings, attempted to undertake the huge task of helping other women. Helping them to fight for a better education did this. Which in turn helped them to achieve a better life, not just for themselves, but also for their children and even their husbands. In reality it took more than a century before society sat up and took notice of her beliefs and put her views into effect. Mary Wollstonecrafts experience in childhood and as a young woman, in a class-bound and male-dominated society, influenced and shaped the ideas she would later develop into a feminist argument. (A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Penguin 1992, pp2) It is possible to see that Wollstonecrafts own childhood experiences have shaped her beliefs on childhood as a crucial phase of self-development. Unlike Rousseau, however Wollstonecraft is primarily concerned with the childhood and education of females. This is because in 1784 she opens a school for girls in Newington Green, near Islington. Wollstonecraft quickly became convinced that the young women they were trying to teach had already effectively been enslaved into submissiveness to men through their previous social training. As there were no qualifications that were needed to become a teacher sadly this venture failed, but it did lead her to start writing about her ideas on childhood and education, especially for women and girls. In 1786 Wollstonecraft was published for the first time. She earned herself ten pounds from the publication of a pamphlet called, Thoughts on the Education of Daughters. In this publication she proposed to intentionally explore the enlightenment ideals to include education for women; because she believed their rational natures were no less capable of intellectual achievement than were those of men. Wollstonecraft was for a short time a Governess to the Kingsborough family in Ireland. The position of a Governess was a hard one. She was employed to bring up the children of the Kingsborough family. Wollstonecrafts experiences in her childhood and as a young adult no doubtedly had an effect on her ideas about childhood being a crucial phase of self-development. In the introduction to A Vindication of the Rights of Woman it states; Mary Wollstonecraft may have been recalling her own childhood when her narrator in Maria The Wrongs of Woman says that her mother was a vague and uncertain figure. She seemed to dote on her oldest son, a boy, (Penguin 1992, pp3) it is clear from this quote that Wollstonecrafts childhood experiences, especially those with her mother and father have stayed with her into her adult life. It has shaped her very ideas and thoughts on how parents should show affection and bring up their children. She has dedicated a whole chapter to Parental Affection in her book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Wollstonecraft writes very clearly about parental affection, and she also makes it clear where she believes parents are going wrong with their children; Parents often love their children in the most brutal manner, and sacrifice every relative duty to promote their advancement into the world. (Penguin 1992, pp270), Wollstonecraft is trying to make the point to her readers that the child will only suffer if it is brought up in this manner. The parents will rob the child of the vital stage of having a proper childhood if they neglect everything else while pushing their children to become the child genius they dream of them becoming. Wollstonecraft goes on later in the chapter to describe the qualities of a good mother, which she lists as; To be a good mother, a woman must have sense, and that independence of mind which few women possess who are taught to depend entirely on their husbands. (A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Penguin 1992, pp272), Wollstonecraft is trying to reiterate that to have any hope of being a good effective mother, a woman must be in possession of good sense and have her own mind. A woman must also be independent from her husband, Wollstonecraft felt that if a woman relied too much on her husband it would effect her abilities as a mother, this is backed up by what she states later in the chapter; Meek wives are, in general, foolish mothers; wanting their children to love them best, and take their part, in secret, against the father, who is held up as a scarecrow. (A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Penguin 1992, pp272). In conclusion it is clear to see from both Jean-Jacques Rousseaus and Mary Wollstonecrafts writings that they both believed that childhood was a crucial phase in a persons self-development. It was important for them to try to relate their beliefs to the general public which is why they emphasise it in their books, and also the reason that they write about it so successfully is because of their own personal experiences in their own childhood which seems to have provided them with a solid base to work upon in their adult life.

The Best Way to Study SSAT Vocabulary

The Best Way to Study SSAT Vocabulary SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re taking the SSAT, you’ll need to have a good vocabulary in order to do well on the test. It can be difficult to find good SSAT vocab resources, but we’re here to help!In this guide, we explain the three main ways vocab is tested on the SSAT (with sample questions), go over the top resources to help you find SSAT vocab words, and give you advice on the best way to study those vocab words. How Important Is Vocabulary for the SSAT? Vocabulary is a key part of the SSAT and one of the main areas it tests.There are three levels of the SSAT depending on the grade you’re in. (Students take the test based on their current grade, not the grade they’ll be entering next year.) Elementary for students in grades 3 and 4 Middle for students in grades 5 through 7 Upper for students in grades 8 through 11 Each version of the SSAT includes questions on vocabulary. The SSAT has three main sections: verbal, quantitative, and reading comprehension. Vocabulary questions will primarily appear in the verbal section of the test, with some more indirect vocab questions in the reading comprehension section. There are three types of vocab questions on the SSAT. We explain each of them below and include a practice question so you can get a better idea of the types of vocab questions to expect on the test. Synonyms Synonym questions test vocab by giving a word and asking you to choose its synonym from five options. The questions feature words from various subjects including science, technology, and social studies. Here’s a sample synonym question from an Elementary-level SSAT. DISTURB amuse support bother complete Declare The correct answer is C. Analogies For analogy questions, you’ll need to make comparisons between two words or phrases. The relationship might be that of synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, or part to whole, to give a few examples. The words may also fall into similar categories or share certain characteristics. Here’s a sample Middle-level analogy question. Translucent is to opaque as light is to (A) sun(B) dull(C) lamp(D) candle(E) darkness The correct answer is E. Reading Comprehension Questions You also need a strong vocabulary to do well on certain reading comprehension questions. These questions won’t directly ask you about vocab, but you’ll need to know the definitions of the words they mention in order to understand the question and answer it correctly. Directions: Read the passage carefully and then answer the questions about it. For eachquestion, decide on the basis of the passage which one of the choices best answers thequestion. We had a consuming desire to see a pony rider, but somehow or other all that passed us streaked by in the night, and so we heard only a whiz and a hail, and the swift phantom was gone. But now the driver exclaims: "Here he comes!" Every neck is stretched and every eye strained. Away across the endless dead level of the prairie a black speck appears.Soon it becomes a horse and rider, rising and falling, sweeping nearer and nearer, and the flutter of hoofs comes faintly to the ear. Another instant a whoop and hurrah from our upper deck, a wave of the rider's hand, but no reply, and man and horse burst past our excited faces and go winging away like a belated fragment of a storm! At the driver’s call, the people became more eager puzzled hysterical frightened disappointed The correct answer is A. In this question, you aren’t directly asked for the definition of the word, but you’d need to know what all five of the answer choices mean in order to get the question right. Where Can You Find SSAT Vocabulary Practice? Even though vocabulary is an important part of the SSAT, the makers of the test don’t produce any official vocab lists you can study from. However, there are still plenty of resources you can use to study SSAT vocab. In this section we discuss both official and unofficial sources. Official Sources Even though there aren't many official SSAT vocab resources, the vocab materials they do provide can be helpful to use. You can purchase official study materials on the SSAT website, and you’ll also be given the option of buying these materials when you register for the test. Official SSAT vocab practice materials include sample questions for each of the three question types we discussed above, as well as videos you can watch that explain the different question types and how to answer them. For Middle and Upper-Level SSAT students, you can purchase the official prep book for $37 or an online version of the official prep book along with the online videos for $69.95.The Elementary-Level SSAT prep materials can be downloaded for free but don’t include any videos. These resources don’t include word lists, but you can use the practice questions to get a better idea of the types of words the SSAT will test you on and what the vocab questions are like. Unofficial Prep Books There are also plenty of helpful unofficial sources to help you study for SSAT vocab. Here are some of the top SSAT prep books. Ivy Global Ivy Global sells three vocab books, each containing over 100 words useful to know for the Middle and Upper-Level SSAT.While high-quality, these books aren’t cheap. Each book costs about $27, which is quite a bit for what is basically a vocab list with definitions. Kaplan Kaplan’s SSAT prep book costs about $15, and it contains a vocab list for each of the three SSAT levels. If you’re trying to save money, you can often find older versions of the prep book that cost less, and they’ll still have the same SSAT words in their vocab lists. Princeton Review Similar to Kaplan, Princeton Review’s Cracking the SSAT and ISEE is also about $15 and contains vocab lists for the different SSAT levels. Unofficial Online Lists There are also lots of websites and online lists with SSAT vocab resources. These can be a great resource and many of them, including the three below, are free, but make sure the resource seems high quality or you could end up wasting time studying unhelpful words. Use other resources first so you can get a sense of what kinds of vocab words you should be studying before you use these resources. Ivy Global In addition to their prep books, Ivy Global also offers a free SSAT vocabulary PDF of 75 words for Middle and Upper-SSAT students. This is a great free resource that you should definitely make use of if you’ll be taking the Middle or Upper SSAT. Varsity Tutors Varsity Tutors has flashcards to help students study verbal questions for each of the three SSAT levels. These are mostly sample questions, not vocab word lists, but they can still be a useful resource. Quizlet Quizlet has a set of nearly 500 SSAT vocab flashcards. These can be a useful resource, but remember that they’re user created so they may not be as accurate as other resources, and the words aren’t organized based on SSAT level. How to Make and Use SSAT Vocabulary Flashcards Once you have your SSAT vocabulary list, you can start studying with them. You can make physical flashcards with note cards (our recommendation) or use a website like Quizlet to create a deck online.We recommend using the waterfall method to study your flashcards. If you’re not sure what the waterfall method is, we break it down for you below. Once you have your SSAT words, go through the complete flashcard deck. For each card whose definition you know easily, you’ll put it in a â€Å"Know It† pile. If you don’t know the definition of a particular SSAT vocab word, put it in a â€Å"Struggled† pile. After you’ve gone through each of the cards once, pick up your â€Å"Struggled† pile. You’ll now go through this pile again. For words where you know the definition, place them in a second â€Å"Know It† pile next to (but not combined with) the first â€Å"Know It† pile. For words you don’t know, make a new â€Å"Struggled† pile. Repeat this process, placing new â€Å"Know It† piles in a row from left to right. This creates your waterfall. Repeat this process until the â€Å"Struggled† pile has only a few words left. Now, you’ll move back up the waterfall. Starting with the most recent â€Å"Struggled† pile, go through the flashcards until you know all the words in the pile. Then, add the most recent (the rightmost) â€Å"Know It† pile. Go through those words. If you miss any, go through the entire pile again until you get all of them right. Go through those words.If you miss any words, go through the entire pile you currently have again until you get all of the words right.It may take awhile to get through the entire pile, but this method will guarantee that you learn those SSAT words! Continue this process until you get all the way back up the waterfall. This is the best method to study vocab flashcards because you’ll spend the majority of your time reviewing the words you struggle the most with, as opposed to just studying the entire stack over and over. Summary: SSAT Vocabulary Practice Vocabulary is an important part of the SSAT, and you’ll see several types of vocab questions in the Verbal and Reading sections of the exam.It can be difficult to find a high-quality SSAT vocabulary list though, but we’ve compiled several resources you can use, including official study materials, unofficial prep books, and websites. Flashcards are the best way to study SSAT vocabulary words, and we recommend using the waterfall method when studying to memorize the words more quickly. What's Next? Want to learn more about what's covered on the Elementary, Middle, and Upper-level tests?Then be sure to readour complete guide to the SSAT. Looking for free materials to use for SSAT practice?We've gathered links tothe best free SSAT practice tests here. How do you register for the SSAT?Learn all the info you need to know in our step-by-step guide to SSAT registration. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 33

Journal - Essay Example Having a Mercedes in these times means that a person has accomplished so much in his lifetime and is content with what has been gained by them. Many of the researches and surveys have shown that the new generation is primarily focusing on the image, fame and money associated with them (Schensul et al, 389). Yet recent survey of thriving families by a professor in University of Chicago show that their adult members picked their most cherished memories as the things that made their time together with other people memorable. Even the people who are more materialistic and try to find happiness by buying things have the lowest of life satisfaction scores and materialism has a negative effect on happiness of a person according to the subjective well-being researches. Schensul, Jean J., Cristina Huebner, Merrill Singer, Marvin Snow, Pablo Feliciano, and Lorie Broomhall. "The high, the money, and the fame: the emergent social context of â€Å"new marijuana† use among urban youth."  Medical Anthropology  18, no. 4 (2000):

Smallpox Vaccination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Smallpox Vaccination - Essay Example Since smallpox vaccine comes with side effects, it is argued that it should not be administered. It is true that the smallpox vaccine is associated with certain side effects: it is estimated that approximately one in 1 million primary vaccinees and one in 4 million revaccinees will die from adverse vaccine reactions (Maurer et al. 889). There are more severe health related complications that may follow either primary vaccination or revaccination. For instance, it may have and impact on the nervous system that may result in postvaccinial encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, and encephalopathy, and more serious skin infections. Progressive vaccinia (vaccinia necrosum) generally occurs in individuals with weakened immune systems and eczema vaccinatum generally occurs in people with eczema and related skin diseases. Such complications may progressively result in severe disability, permanent neurological damage, and sometimes even death. History of vaccination has seen approximately 1 death per million primary vaccinations and 1 death per 4 million revaccinations. In most of the cases death is often the result of postvaccinial encephalitis or progressive vaccinia. ... Hence, smallpox vaccines should be produced further and should be used in case of any sudden outbreak. It is estimated that 300-500 million deaths in the 20th century was due to smallpox. The World Health Organization estimated that in 1967, 15 million people were the victims of the disease and that two million died in that year due to smallpox (WHO Factsheet n. pag, 2007). World Health Organization certified the eradication of smallpox in 1979 after successful vaccination campaigns throughout the 19th and 20th centuries (WHO A52/5, 1999). While the last case of smallpox in the United States was in 1949, the last naturally occurring case in the world was in Somalia in 1977. After the disease was eliminated or eridicated from the world, routine vaccination against smallpox among the general public was stopped because it was no longer necessary for prevention. United States discontinude the smallpox immunisation in 1972 and also halted the production of vaccine in 1983. Today, stockpiled vaccine has been used only for laboratory researchers working on orthopoxviruses. Since most of the population today is considered to be nonimmune, there is concern raised as to whether smallpox immunization should be resumed or not. This is in view of the current threat from the bioterrorists (Baltimore and McMillan 110-4). There are four factors that have contributed to skepticism of smallpox vaccine's effectiveness. The dubious notion that lesions from cowpox, a disease of cattle, could prevent smallpox, a related but different human disease is the first point. Secondly during the 19th century, which preceded modern bacteriology and the age of refrigeration, it was impossible to know exactly what was in any given dose of vaccine. Thirdly the reported amplification

Information Processing and Learning Disabilities Essay Example for Free

Information Processing and Learning Disabilities Essay The body gathers information through five senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch. However, in order to use the data or information that has been gathered by these senses one must constantly put the senses into constant use. After the body has collected information through the five senses it is taken to the brain, which in turn recognizes it, interprets it, understands it, responds to it and stores it. This is a continuous process which can be repeated even a thousand times in any given day. Newell (1990)] Information processing is responsible for the coordination and performance of the tasks that we carry out in any given day, from taking a shower to learning in school or participating in a sport. Discussion Within the field of cognitive psychology, information processing is the thinking and reasoning about mental processes, envisioning them, in the same way as a computer software runs on a computer machine. According to Ulric Neisser, who also goes as the father of the term ‘cognitive psychology’ human beings can be compared to dynamic information processing systems with mental operations that are identical to those of computer machines and that can be described in computational terms. [Neisser, 1967] The mind is the software while the brain is the hardware. The human mind processes information through the application of logical rules and strategies, that like a computer, the human mind has got a limited capacity for the amount and even the nature of information it can process, and that just as the computer can be made to process more information through the change or overhaul of its hardware and software, learners can become great thinkers if changes can be made in their brains through the use of authentic rules and strategies of learning. [Hetherington Parke, 199] According to Atkinson and Shriffin in their ‘stage theory’ model, the human memory processes and stores information in three stages. Information is processed in a serial and discontinuous manner as it transits from one stage to the other. [Atkinson Shriffin, 1968] Craik and Lockhart in their ‘levels-of-processing’ theory posit that learners make use of various levels of elaboration as they process information. This is achieved through a succession of levels beginning from perception, through attention, to labeling, and lastly meaning. Craik Lockhart, 1972] Another theory posits that information is processed simultaneously by several different parts of memory system as opposed to sequential processing. [Goleman, 1995] Lastly, Rumelhart and McClelland in their ‘connectionic’ model propose that information is stored in multiple locations in the form of network connections in the brain. It is grounded on the wisdom that the more connected an idea is the more the chances of it to be remembered. Rumelhart McClelland, 1986; Scientific American, 1999] In a learning situation, the measure of receiving and organizing information, remembering it, and expressing it will obviously differ from one learner to the other. There will always be discrepancies in reading, writing, comprehension, and reasoning among the learners. Those learners who experiences difficulties in organizing, remembering, and expressing information will definitely experience difficulties in reading, writing, comprehension, and reasoning. Such learners are considered as having learning disabilities: they tend to experience difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical abilities. They face difficulties in learning new skills, they have poor memory, and they tend to confuse basic words, experience difficulties in connecting letters and sounds, among other difficulties. Lerner (2000)] Since the process of information gathering occurs through the application of logical rules and strategies learners without disabilities are bound to organize, remember, and express information with great ease than those with disabilities. Learners with disabilities will experience difficulties in making use of various levels of elaboration as Craik and Lockhart reasons. They will experience snags in transferring information from one stage to another. In a nutshell the process of information processing is complex and therefore it requires proper learning strategies to make it a success. It requires the best learning strategies that are tied to the needs and interests of students and that are based on varied types of learning styles to enhance maximum learning. [Ekwensi et al, 2006] For instance, before the process of learning begins, a teacher should always aim at gaining the learners attention by using cues to signal when you are ready to begin and keep moving around the class while using voice variations. Always remember to bring to the mind of the learners prior learned content that is relevant to present content. This can be done through a brief discussion or a brief question and answer session aimed at forming a link with the present lesson content. This should be followed by a brief discussion of the main points of what is about to be learned. Learners may also be provided with handouts to get a deeper glimpse of the content. The teaching/learning process should now progress from what is already known to what is not known, from simple to complex. Bransford et al, 2000] The teacher should present the content in chunks while giving the learners opportunities to connect new information to information already known. In order to enhance maximum retaining of the learned content the teacher should also show the learners coding tips, e. g. , through the use of acronyms, simple songs, construction of silly sentences using the first letter of each word in the list and mental imagery techniq ues such as the keyword method. The teacher should also provide repetitive teaching and learning: by stating important points many times using different methods; this helps to build Short Term Memory (STM). [Miller (1956)] Include item on each day’s lesson from previous lesson or even periodically review previously learned skills for building Long Term Memory (LTM). The teacher should also provide enough opportunities for learning and over-learning of important concepts and skills; methods such as daily drills may be applied for arithmetic facts. Huitt (2003)] The teacher should aim at building both STM and LTM. The STM will help to increase the amount of time the learners pay attention to external stimulus and form some meaning out of it. According to Miller (1956) individuals can process up to 7 plus or negative units at any given time, therefore the teacher should aim at helping the learners to identify the most important information to learn at any given time. This can be achieved through proper organiza tion and repetition. To achieve organization the concept of chunking can be applied whereby information will be presented in bits representing units that can be easily remembered. To achieve repetition, the teacher should try to making the learners repeat what they have learned, especially after some time – few minutes (when forgetting begins). The process of learning should also be made sequential, relevant, and transitional. On the other hand, the LTM helps in the recalling of information learned long time ago particularly when such information is arranged and organized using the declarative, procedural, and imagery structures. The declarative memory will help in storing information about things that are talked about in classroom; [Stillings et al, 1987] the procedural memory will store information that touches on ways of doing things practically while the imagery memory will store information inform of images. This program helps to build ‘higher-order-thinking’ and self esteem. In order to build LTM the teacher should apply the ‘Direct Instruction’ method of teaching that provides constant interaction between the students and the teacher. Nonetheless, teachers should make sure that they teach small amount of material in sequential steps, they should make it possible for the learners to use as many of their senses as it is practically possible and that the content material should seek to build on, and enhance the learners’ prior knowledge. The teacher should also make the instructional language more simple but not the content by reinforcing on the main ideas through paraphrasing, repeating, and the use of stimulating learning aids such as charts, maps, and pictures. If possible, the use of technology should be encouraged as learners have been noted to feel free and productive particularly when they are working independently in front of a computer, rather than in crowded classrooms. [Singleton, Terrill, 1995/96] Conclusions In order to address information processing problems among learners with disabilities, a teacher should understand the common difficulties that they face so as to be able to employ the appropriate learning strategies. Learners with disabilities they experience the inability to manage their time well, they have spelling problems, they cannot follow if the teacher speaks too fast, they are slow readers, they have difficulties in recalling mathematical symbols, and sometimes they may portray impulsive behavior. This calls for a lot of patience on the part of the teacher when dealing with them. To achieve this, the teacher should watch, listen and talk to the learners to establish their strengths and weaknesses, and to use interest-arousing stimulus in the instructional process because learners are more likely to be attentive when the teacher uses a stimulus

African Culture and Traditions as Told by Waris Dirie :: Waris Dirie Africa Rituals Cultural Essays

African Culture and Traditions as Told by Waris Dirie Waris Dirie was born into a family of nomads in a Somalian desert. Growing up, she was privileged to run free with nature’s most majestic animals, and learned a respect for nature that many of us as Americans could never fathom. However, these thrills are just on the surface of what life is really like for African women. She suffered through intense traditional mutilation in her childhood, and endless hours of hard labor in the fields everyday. At the age of 13, she ran away to escape the marriage that her father had arranged for her to a sixty-year-old man in exchange for five camels. She left with nothing but the swaddling clothes on her back not even shoes to protect her feet from the scorching African sun. Her journey on foot went on for weeks, until she found her sister, who had also ran away five years earlier for the same reasons. After getting reacquainted with an aunt and her ambassador husband, Waris moved to England with them. When her uncle’s term was up, sh e stayed in England where a photographer, who eventually put her on the cover many major magazines, discovered her. In describing her remarkable journey through life, Waris demonstrates examples of a masculine culture with elements high uncertainty-avoidance, and her own individualism amongst such a collectivistic society. Waris’s description of life in Africa is a perfect definition for a masculine culture. She explains, â€Å"Women are the backbone of Africa; they do most of the work. Yet women are powerless to make decisions.† She recalls a story of how her loving mother permitted her to be butchered, because of a traditional African ritual to please African men. When she was five years old, her mother made her an appointment to meet with â€Å"the gypsy women.† Waris didn’t know exactly what this meant, but it was supposedly an exciting moment in the lives of young African girls, and when they returned, they were considered women. Waris recalls in graphic detail being bound and blind-folded by her mother while the gypsy women sliced between her legs repeatedly, then sewed her up, leaving a whole the size of a match-head. She was then drug off to a shelter under a bush where she spent weeks alone to recuperate. Sadly, this is not an isolated case, millions of nomadi c cultures still perform the ritual, and many young girls do not survive the surgery.