Theory final Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theory final - Assignment Example pp.19-25). The three theories differ in complexity and the concepts they put forward. Grand theories are comprehensive, middle-range theories have a middle view reality, and practice theory is on a narrow view of reality. The prepositions in grand theories are not always explicit, middle-range theories are whereas in the propositions are well defined. Grand theories are more general in terms of the setting; middle-range theories are more particular to practice areas, and practice theories are to special populations or an identified field of practice. The similarities that exist between the three approaches is that they all view nursing as a profession that involves administration of care. Also, all the theories are aimed at improving service delivery for the general well being of human beings (Koshar, n.d. pp.35-42). An interactive-integrative framework involves viewing phenomena as having multiple, interrelated parts in relation to a particular context. Virginia Henderson concepts of the nature of nursing will be most helpful. It describes the role of a nurse as that of facilitating the activities of a sick or well person that contribute to general health or recovery. The theory states that a nurse should help patients recover and regain independence as soon as possible. The nurse to fit into the shoes of patients so as to identify and relate to their actual needs. This theory will suit the workplace as the hospital is a centre for the senior citizens who need special attention and follow up. The theory will be helpful, therefore, in addressing the needs of the elderly in a more personalised manner (Fawcett, 2005). Roy’s six-step nursing process would be most appropriate for development of Marys care plan . The model was established via the concept of an open system for human beings. The concept can respond to environmental stimuli through the development of survival

A brief of taxation case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A brief of taxation case - Essay Example In 1938, the property was sold a net sales of $2,500.00 (after deducting $500.00 sales expenses).The petitioner reported 50% of the net sales value ($1250.00) as taxable income (Bittker 277). Analysis: According to the petitioner, the property she had inherited was in the form of equity which according to the tax laws was zero tax based. The amount collected from the sales should have been treated as her net gain from the sales of equity (Yin 208). The IRS commissioner to the contrary argued that the petitioner had inherited land and building and not equity. He cited that before the selling, the petitioner was allowed depreciation deductions of $25,000 in excess on the premises. Likewise, the commissioner pointed out that the petitioner received money equivalent to the net sales on top of the debt amount transferred to the buyer of the property (Yin 214). First, the court addressed the meaning of the word ‘’property’’ and whether it was a synonym of ‘’Equity’’. The court agreed with the IRS commissioner in addressing how to treat inherited ’’property’’. In the ruling the court agreed that there was no evidence whatsoever to conclude that both words meant the same thing. Secondly, court said that by replacing the word ’’property’’ with ‘’equity’’ under the tax law would attract negative complications in the future cases. The major problem would have occurred while determining the value of depreciation to be subjected on a property. Subsequently, the action would undermine some of administrative rules in existence (Yin 250). The court secondly determined that the value the petitioner realized from selling the ‘’property’’ should be subject to the conclusion made under the first issue. The court maintained that there must exist actual money receipt or receipt of any other property on a transaction for it to be subjected to a taxable gain. Finally, the court ruled

Performance Appraisal: Functions and Implementation

Performance Appraisal: Functions and Implementation Chapter 1: 1.1 Introduction This dissertation project has been undertaken for the fulfilment of the business degree MBA, General Management from the University of East London. The findings of this dissertation will contribute to concerned company and the author to complete the MBA degree. At the beginning, a leading mobile tele-communication organisation in Bangladesh named Banglalink was chosen as the research organisation. In the middle of the study, the management refused to cooperate with providing information. As a result the author had to find and choose a suitable company to collect research information and data to finish the study. Secure Facilities Management Company Ltd. (SFM) was the new company chosen to finish the research. The introduction chapter gives an overall idea about the study. In this part, the background, objectives and research questions and the structure of this dissertation will be discussed. 1.2 Background of the Study The study discusses about the functions and the implementation of performance appraisal in the new era. The concept of ‘Welfare Personnel was developed in the end of the British golden colonial history by the humane concerns of some business families like Cadbury and Rowntree. Then within the next century, the concept had changed and became Personnel Management and later on Human Recourse Management. Now the world has just entered into a new millennium and the concept of human resource management has become a strategic partner for the business organisations. (McKenna Beech, 2008:2 3) Organisations require many things in order to be effective, a method for producing a product or service, financial resources, a way of marketing and human resources. While all of these are important to organisational effectiveness, the only factor that represents a potential competitive advantage is human resources. This is why the concept of human resource management is s important to every organisation.. The basics of managing people are getting people, preparing them, stimulating them motivate them. To manage human resources in any organisation the following questions are to be considered: (Dessler, 2005:4-5) Are the persons hired for the job wrong? Is the organisation able to milk out the best from the employees? What is the most frustrated area of human resource management? Is the rewarding system working properly? The above refers to how people worked in the past, what changes are required in future to make the production system effective, what are the weaknesses of the system and how to improve. These actually refer to the evaluation of employees of job which is called Performance Appraisal. Performance appraisal system is an important function of personnel department in any organisation. The system has a close relationship between organisation goals and individual performance. The performance appraisal system represents a year round exercise of managing individual performance in an integrated manner with a view to enabling employees to perform at their performance standards. (Dessler, 2005:310) With the view of increasing organisational effectiveness through the effective management of human resources, the organisations use different methods of appraising performance of their employees. For this research a small security service company named ‘Secure Facilities Management Company Ltd. (SFM) a private single owner security service company has been chosen. SFM became a successful organisation in the last few years. Their high standard efficient employees are one of the key factors for their success. For that, SFM has been chosen to practice the theoretical knowledge and to get familiar with the existing system of Performance Appraisal of a small private company. 1.2 Research Question In general, most of the organisations have a kind of formal or informal performance appraisal system. Through the performance appraisal system, the employees get to know their performance standards, which area of their performance needs to be developed etc. The supervisor also provides them with feedback, development and incentives to help them eliminating their performance deficiencies. If performance appraisal system is effectively used, it can improve attraction motivation of the employees on the job. If inappropriately used the appraisal process can have disastrous effects (Dessler, 2005:310). Hence the discussion leads to the research questions: What is the level of understanding and compliance of the employees on performance appraisal? What are the reactions of the employees regarding the performance appraisal? What are the constraints of the performance appraisal in practical life? 1.3 Aims and Objectives of the Study The research has been undertaken for the fulfilment of the requirement for completion of MBA, General Management for the year 2008/2009. This is mainly aimed to develop the job expertise in the performance appraisal activities under the guidance of expert faculty member of University of East London. It is really a difficult task to assess consistency, relevance and reliability of the tools and techniques of the system, however and effort is made to have some ideas about the matter. 1.3.1 Aims The study mainly aims at knowing about the awareness, the level of understanding and compliance of the employees of SFM regarding performance appraisal system. The study attempts to analyse the present performance appraisal system and the role of both appraisers and appraises in connection with the implantation of the system in real life situation. 1.3.2 Objectives To be acquainted with and acquire practical knowledge regarding performance appraisal system of an organisation. To relate the theoretical knowledge of performance appraisal with practical implication. To determine the acceptability and reliability of the performance appraisal system in a certain organisation. To assess the constraints/factors which influence the performance appraisal system. 1.4 Scope of the Study Target group includes officers of all level. The working forces those who are working in the head office and also in the other sites. Value Perception of both appraisers and appraises of the organisation under study. 1.5 Limitations of the Study While preparing this report, the following limitations had been faced: At the beginning a renowned mobile Tele-communication company in Bangladesh, Banglalink, was chosen for the study but they refused to deliver any information and cooperation just one and half month before the submission date. As a result, the author had to choose a small security company, Secure Facilities Management Company Ltd. (SFM) to carry on and finish the study within such a short time. SFM has a master plan on performance appraisal, but at present implementing a part of it. As a part of the business strategy, SFM did not provide all information on their performance appraisal procedure. The major limitation of the study was the lack of time for such an intensive work which compelled the author to narrow the scope of the study. All officials were very busy with their own assignments. As a result, they had a little opportunity for giving much time in this regard. Limitation was faced on the volume of the report due to which many relevant and important things will remain unexplored in detail. 1.6 Organisation Profile Introduction to Secure Facilities Management Company Ltd. (SFM): Since its formation SFM has built its reputation by providing security personnel of the highest calibre. This has been achieved by combining sound management with sensible terms and conditions for all staff. SFM strives to ensure that their clients and staff benefit from a focused and well-defined professional approach, the ratio of management to client is kept to no more than one manager per 10 clients. SFM strives to provide the highest standards of efficiency to all its clients, both large and small. SFM understands the importance of first impressions and that their personnel are often the first point of contact for their clients visitors and residents. 1.7 Structure of the Research This structure of this study has the following five chapters: Chapter 1 is the introduction chapter where the background, research question and rationale, objective, company profile and structure of the research are stated. Chapter 2 contains a brief literature review on performance management, history and meaning of the performance appraisal, purposes, functions, types of performance appraisal, MBO, 360 degree appraisal, problems and solutions of performance appraisal and essentials of a good performance appraisal. This chapter will provide a basic understanding about performance appraisal which is related to the research questions. Chapter 3 contains Research Methodology which includes research framework, the design of the research, population and sampling, and questionnaire. Chapter 4 provides Data analysis, statistical analysis and findings of the research. Chapter 5 describes the critical review of the findings. Chapter 6 discusses on recommendation and conclusion of the study and reflection summery. Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Introduction Organisations require consistent levels of high performance from their employees in order to survive in a highly competitive environment. In a view of this, performance appraisal can be a systematic system through which evaluation of an employee is done analyze effectively to determine required performance. It plays a key role in rewarding systems. It is the process of evaluating the performance of employees, sharing information with them and searching for ways to improve their performance. Appraisal is necessary in order to: Allocate resources in a dynamic environment; Motivate and reward employees; Give employees feedback about their work; Maintain fair relationships within groups; Coach and develop employees; and Comply with regulations. It is also a formal opportunity to do what should be done much more frequently in organisations to express appreciation for employee contributions. Companies must administer their employee performance reviews, at all levels, fairly and without discrimination. Since all appraisals can be used against a company in an appraisal employee lawsuit, it is critical that these reviews should be completely accurate. This practice of performance appraisal has been given a variety of titles. The academicians call it performance appraisal, performance review etc. In Government services in Bangladesh, it is known as ACR (Annual Confidential Report). In private organisations, it is often described as merit rating, personnel rating, progress rating, annual performance, etc. Performance appraisal plays a major role in Human Resource Management. The subject is a part of Performance Management. It is necessary to discuss the performance management briefly before proceeding to performance appraisal. Performance Management The primary concern of performance management is the improvement of individual and collective performance. It is a continuous cycle of self-renewing. The aim of performance management is make direct link together individual goals, departmental purpose and organisational objectives. It integrates the major elements of HRM like appraisal and employee development, performance-related pay and reward management, individualism and employee relations. In other way it can be called as day-to-day management activity as it deals with organising works to get the best result. â€Å" a strategic integrated approach to delivering sustained success to organisations by improving the performance of the people who work in them and by developing the capabilities of tams and individual contributors†. Armstrong (2001:467) According to Armstrong (2001:475) the main activities of performance management are Role Definition, The Performance Agreement or Contract, The Performance Development Plan, Managing Performance Throughout the Year and Performance Review. These activities are a continuous cycle. According to Marchington Wilkinson (2004:187), the process of performance management system involves Induction and Socialisation, Reviewing and Appraising Performance, Reinforcing Performance Standards and Counselling and Support. Beardwell and Holden (2001:538) stated â€Å"Performance Management is not simply the appraisal of individual performance: it is an integrated and continuous process that develops, communicates and enables the future direction, core competencies and values of organisation, and helps to create an ‘horizon of understanding†. Performance Management is an effective tool by which the employees work behaviours are aligned with the organisations goals. There is no one way to manage performance. Whatever system is adopted needs to be similar with the culture and the principles of that organisation. However, most system of performance management has several parts: Defining Performance: Carefully defines employee performance so that it supports the organisations strategic goals. Setting of clear goals for the individual employee is a critical component of performance management. Measuring Performance: Measuring performance does not need to be narrowly conceived, but can bring together multiple types of performance measured in various ways. The key is to measure often and use the information for mid-course corrections. Feedback and Coaching: In order to improve performance, the employee needs information (feedback) about their performance, along with the guidance in reaching the next level of results. Without frequent feedback, employees are unlikely to know that behaviour is out of synchronization with relevant goals, or what to do about it. The major aim of performance management is to find ways of continual improvement of levels of both organisational and individual performance and performance appraisal is the perfect weapon for that improvement. The Rise of Performance Appraisal The performance appraisal has a long history which started China in the third century, the reign of Wei Dynasty. It was mainly used for the civil servants, army officers and managers until recently. Now it is very much wide spread all over the world and has become a popular management tool. In the UK most of the private sector organisations has introduced and are practicing performance appraisal during the last decade or two. Some people suggested that the reason behind for its growth is to use the individualised performance-pay system. Some other factors like market competition, managing change, organisation goal, milk out the best from the employees etc. are also important. Now the terminology ‘performance appraisal is changing to ‘personal development review and ‘performance review and development. (Taylor, 2004:247-248) Meaning of Performance Appraisal Performance Appraisal (PA) is a methodical, on the job-review of an employees abilities and accomplishments. Performance appraisal functions as a valuable management assessment tool and a superior employee motivation weapon. It enables us to strike a workable balance between organisations need for qualified and trained personnel and employees need for feedback and motivation. Performance is the contribution and appraisal is the procedure of measuring the contribution. Performance appraisal is an integral part of a system of managing individuals working in an organisation. Performance appraisal is an inevitable inspire of modern technology and all the systems and controls coming into widespread us, people remain the most important factor in all kinds of business, government agencies, charitable organisations and all other organisation. Performance appraisal is a process of bringing together the approaches of performance management like counselling, training, improving performance etc. that helps the managers to exercise them to achieve the goal of the organisation. It is a procedure of rewarding and disciplining the employees to improve the over performance of the organisation. It is the process of evaluating performance or contribution of an employee to the organisation during a specific period of time by his or her supervisor with relation to his or her job requirements. An effective, reliable and valid performance appraisal system recognizes the legitimate desire of employees for progress in their professions. Integration of organisational demands and individual needs through career management is the part of performance appraisal. Therefore, the performance appraisal program is inevitable for measuring the contribution of both â€Å"employees and managerial personnel†. Performance appraisal program is the basis of determining who is profitable to higher position and who is to be rewarded for better contribution to the organisation he or she belongs to. Performance feedback lets employees know how well they have performed in comparison with the standards of the organisation. Performance appraisal program is the administrative and employee development tool, which is the domain of the management not shared by the employees. Opponents of the performance appraisal attack it on a variety of grounds but without appraising performance of the employees career development, organisational development, recently a number of organisations have revamped their appraisal system in a bid to reduce possible negative outcomes. Appraisal, no doubt is a complex issue and it is clear that to be effective, a system must be designed and implemented with great care. â€Å"Performance appraisal means evaluating an employees current and/or past performance relative to his or her performance standards†. (Dessler, 2005:310) Michael Armstrong (2001:486) says â€Å"Performance review discussions enable a perspective to be obtained on past performance as a basis for making plans for the future.† He explains that the five elements of performance management (measurement, feedback, positive reinforcement, exchange of views and agreement on action plans) can be achieved through performance review. In the conclusion it can be said that, performance appraisal is the process by which an employees contribution to the organisation during a specific period of time is assessed. Performance Feedback then lets the employee know how well they have performed in comparison with the standards of the organisation. Who Should Do The Appraisal? By traditionally a managers authority typically has included appraising subordinates performance. The logic behind this tradition seems to be that since managers are held responsible for their employees† performance, it only makes sense that these managers do the evaluating of their performance. The employees immediate boss conducts about 95 percent of all performance appraisals at the lower and middle levels of the organisation. Purposes Purposes of Performance Appraisal: HRD Employees View Performance appraisal or evaluation serves a number of purposes for Human Resources Department and for the development of the employees. Management uses performance appraisal for general human resource decisions. Evaluations provide input into such important decisions, transfers, and terminations. Performance appraisals identify training and development needs. They pinpoint employee skills and competencies that are currently inadequate but for which programs can be developed to remedy. Performance appraisal can be used as a criterion against which selection and development programs are validated. Newly Hired employees who perform poorly can be identified through performance appraisal. Similarly, the effectiveness of training development programs can be determined by assessing how well those employees who have participated do on their performance appraisal. Performance appraisals also fulfil the purpose of providing feedback to employees on how the organisation views their performance. Furthermore performance appraisals are used as the basis for reward allocations. Decisions as to who gets merit pay increases and other rewards are frequently determined by performance appraisal. Purposes of Performance Appraisal: Organisations View Identify the successful less successful aspects of the employee needs organisational goals. Assist decision makers in allocating resources in planning for future. Assist managers in just frying expenditure accounting for those expenditures. Monitor employee activities to detect any change in activities or the quality of services. Serve as a benchmark, i.e. identifying best practice performance, using that performance as a goal, investigating the factors that led up to that performance, then trying to replicate that level of performance. Functions / Uses of Performance Appraisal Multiple uses of Performance Appraisal are: Development uses. Administrative uses/decision makings. Organizational maintenance/objectives. Documentation. Types of Performance Appraisal There are various types of performance appraisal which includes Alternation Ranking Method, Graphic Rating Scale, Management By Objectives (MBO) etc. (Dessler, 2005:315) These are explained below. Alternation Ranking Method It is the oldest simplest of formal systematic rating is to compare one person with all others for the purpose of placing them in a simple rank order of worth. In doing this, the appraiser considers person and performance as an entity; no attempt is made to systematically fractionize what being appraised into component elements. Graphic Rating Scale This method is widely used in merit rating is similar to the techniques in point-evaluation plan. This involves the supervisor to rate employee performance in terms of prescribed traits i.e. quality of work, quantity of work, initiative, dependability, knowledge of work etc. Each trait is defined various degrees of each are prescribed in some way. From traits degrees over-all rating can be obtained. Forced Distribution Choice Another attempt to counteract the tendency of raters to give average ratings or even sometimes to â€Å"twist† a report to bring about a desired result is the forced-choice technique. Here the rater is faced with groups of three of four statements, he must tick the one, which applies most nearly to the employee under assessment. These statements are so devised that it is impossible for the rater to know which will give the most favourable rating. Grading It is a further development to the guideline approach which attempts to provide a frame work of reference by defining a number of levels at which the characteristics is displayed asking Managers to select the definition which most closely describes the individual they are assessing. For example, in rating effective output the Manager in a typical grading scheme is asked to choose between: Outstanding Outstanding output of high quality work Satisfactory Satisfactory level of output effort Fair Completes less than the average amount of effective work Poor Low output poor worker. Critical Incident Method The critical incident method requires every Supervisor to adopt a practice of recording in a note-book of those significant incidents in each employees behaviour that indicate effective or poor behaviour. These are recorded in a specifically-designed notebook that contains characteristics under which the various behaviours can be recorded. Management by Objectives (MBO) Management by Objectives (MBO) is a critical process that often consists of four steps as a way to attain desired performance: Objective setting-joint determination by manager employee of appropriate levels of future performance for the employee, within the context of over-all unit goals resources. These objectives are often set for the next calendar year. Action planning-participative or even independent planning by the employee as to how to reach those objectives. Providing some autonomy to employees is invaluable; they are more likely to use their ingenuity, as well as feel more committed to the plans success. Periodic reviews-joint assessment of progress toward objectives by manager employee performed informally sometimes spontaneously. Annual evaluation-more formal assessment of success in achieving the employees annual objectives coupled with a renewal of the planning cycle. Some MBO systems also use performance appraisal to tie rewards for employees to the level of results attained. MBO had been taken likened to a modem form of scientific management. It is also subject to the same possible criticisms of too great an emphasis on individual job definition together with a management authority structure, the assumption of no conflict between individual organisation goals. MBO should not be applied simply as a pressure device by which management apply increasingly demanding targets which Staffs are expected to achieve. MBO draws attention to the objectives for individual members of the organisation as a whole. MBO is a potentially attractive system. It provides an opportunity for staff of accept greater responsibility to make a higher level or personal contribution. There is much to recommend it to both the organisation individual managers. 360 Degree Appraisal or Evaluation The latest approach to performance appraisal is the use of 360 Degree evaluations. It provides for performance feedback from the full circle of daily contacts that an employee might have, ranging from mailroom personnel to customers to bosses to peers. The number of appraisals can be as few as three or four evaluations or as many as 25; with most organisations collecting five to ten per employees. The appeal of 360-degree appraisals is to fit well into organisations that have introduced teams, employee involvement, and TQM programs. By relaying on feedback from co-workers, customers and subordinates, these organisations are hoping to give every one more accurate reading on employee performance. Appraising Performance: Problems and Solutions Few of the things a manager does which are more risky than appraising subordinates performance. Employees in general tend to be overly optimistic about what their ratings will be, and also know that their raises, career progress, and peace of mind may well hinge of how they are rated. This alone should make it somewhat difficult to rate performance; even more problematic. There are more numerous structural problems that can cause serious doubt on just how fare the whole process is. Some of the main appraisal problems and their solution are explained below. Dealing with the Five Main Rating Scale Appraisal Problems Five main problems can undermine appraisal tools such as graphic rating scales: unclear standards, halo effect, central tendency, leniency or strictness, and bias. Unclear Standards: The problem of unclear standards is illustrated. Although the graphic rating scale seems objective, it would probably result in unfair appraisals because the traits and degrees of merit are open to interpretation. For example, different supervisors would probably define ‘good performance, ‘fair performance, and so on differently. The same is true of traits such as ‘quality of work or ‘creativity. Halo Effect: The halo effect means that the rating of subordinate on one trait (such as ‘gets along with others) biases the way that person is rated on other traits (such as ‘quality of work). This problem often occurs with employees who are especially friendly (or unfriendly) towards the supervisor. For example, an unfriendly employee will often be rated unsatisfactory for all traits rather than just for the trait ‘gets along well with others. Being aware of this problem is a major step toward avoiding it. Supervisory training can also solve the problem. Central Tendency: Many supervisors have a central tendency when filling in rating scales. For example, if the rating scale ranges from 1 to 7, they tend to avoid the highs (6 to 7) and lows (1to 2) and rate most of their people between 3 and 5. In a graphic rating scale, this central tendency could mean that all employees are simply rated ‘average. Such a restriction can distort the evaluations, making them less useful for promotion, salary, or counselling purposes. Ranking the employees instead of using a graphic rating scale can avoid this central tendency problem because all employees must be ranked and thus cannot all be rated average. Leniency or Strictness: Some supervisors tend to rate all their subordinates consistently high (or low), just all some instructors are notoriously high graders and others are not. This strictness/leniency problem is especially serious with graphic rating scales since supervisors arent necessarily required to avoid giving all their employees high (or low) ratings. On the other hand, when the raters rank subordinates, they are forced to distinguish between high and low performances. Thus, strictness/leniency is not a problem with the ranking or forced distribution approach. In fact, if a graphic rating scale must be used, it may be a good idea to assume a distribution of performances-that, say, only about 10% of the people should be rated ‘excellent, 20% ‘good, and so forth. In other words, try to get a spread (unless, of course, the raters are sure all their people really do fall into just one or two categories). Bias: Individual differences among raters in terms of characteristics like age, race, and sex can affect their ratings, often quite apart from each rates actual performance. In one study, for instance, researchers found a systematic tendency to evaluate older rates (over 60 years of age) lower on ‘performance capacity and ‘potential for development then younger employees. The rates race and sex can also affect the persons rating. However, bias is not necessarily consistently against minorities or women, as it seems to be in the case of older workers. In one study, high performing females were often rated significantly higher than were high performing males. An interesting picture of how age can distort evaluations emerges from a study of registered nurses. When the nurses were 30-39 years old, they and their supervisors each rated the nurses performance virtually the same. In the 21-29 category, supervisors actually rated nurses higher than they rated themselves. However, for the 40-61 nurse age categories, the supervisors rated nurses performance lower than the nurses rated their own performance. The conclusion here may be that supervisors are tougher in appraising older subordinates. Specifically, they dont give them as much credit for their success, while attributing any low performance to their lack of ability. A related problem is described in the Diversity Counts feature. An employees previous performance can also affect the evaluation of h

Arjie’s Journey in Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy Essay -- Funny Boy Ess

Arjie’s Journey in Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy Growing up during a time of violent political upheaval in Sri Lanka, Arjie travels an especially bittersweet journey into maturation in Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy. The adults in Arjie’s extended family mostly belong to an older, more conservative generation that attempts to fit Arjie into society’s norms. The adults that Arjie meets in the community through his family are individuals who prompt him to see past the confines of his childhood, and it is Arjie’s peers who give him the extra push to understanding himself. With guidance from his extended family, his adult friends, and his peers, Arjie is able to discover his identity through understanding the impact of race and gender on his life. Although spend-the-day occurs but once a month, Ammachi has a commanding presence in Arjie’s life. While Appachi hides behind his newspapers, Ammachi is â€Å"enthroned in big reclining chairs† (Selvadurai, 2), her canes inspiring awe in her grandchildren. When Arjie is caught dressed in a sari while playing bride-bride, Ammachi decides that manual labour will teach him to be more masculine. This is the first time Arjie is embarrassed about his â€Å"funniness†, though he does not understand why. It is also at his grandparents’ house that Arjie first learns about the tension between the Tamils and the Sinhalese. Afraid that people will talk, Ammachi forbids Radha Aunty to receive rides from Anil Jayasinghe, a Sinhalese. Arjie does not comprehend why Ammachi is upset, for he is in a Sinhala class at school and his friends are Sinhalese. His parents’ best friends and servant are Sinhalese too. Nevertheless, Ammachi sends Radha Aunty to Jaffna for a month, hoping that ... ...hehan allows Arjie to reach a new level of understanding about his place in a world where race and gender are of utmost importance. Directly and indirectly, the family and friends of Arjie all impress upon the boy their views on race and gender. The familial love of Arjie’s extended family is at times hurtful and confusing, but it nevertheless serves to guide Arjie through the growing up process. The lives of family friends merge with Arjie’s for only short periods of time, yet the values that these friends cherish linger on in Arjie’s conscience. Arjie’s peers grow up with him seeing the world through eyes that are near in age, thus their views on race and gender truly open Arjie’s eyes during his journey into maturation in Selvadurai’s Funny Boy. Works Cited Selvadurai, Shyam. Funny Boy. Toronto, Ontario: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1994. Arjie’s Journey in Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy Essay -- Funny Boy Ess Arjie’s Journey in Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy Growing up during a time of violent political upheaval in Sri Lanka, Arjie travels an especially bittersweet journey into maturation in Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy. The adults in Arjie’s extended family mostly belong to an older, more conservative generation that attempts to fit Arjie into society’s norms. The adults that Arjie meets in the community through his family are individuals who prompt him to see past the confines of his childhood, and it is Arjie’s peers who give him the extra push to understanding himself. With guidance from his extended family, his adult friends, and his peers, Arjie is able to discover his identity through understanding the impact of race and gender on his life. Although spend-the-day occurs but once a month, Ammachi has a commanding presence in Arjie’s life. While Appachi hides behind his newspapers, Ammachi is â€Å"enthroned in big reclining chairs† (Selvadurai, 2), her canes inspiring awe in her grandchildren. When Arjie is caught dressed in a sari while playing bride-bride, Ammachi decides that manual labour will teach him to be more masculine. This is the first time Arjie is embarrassed about his â€Å"funniness†, though he does not understand why. It is also at his grandparents’ house that Arjie first learns about the tension between the Tamils and the Sinhalese. Afraid that people will talk, Ammachi forbids Radha Aunty to receive rides from Anil Jayasinghe, a Sinhalese. Arjie does not comprehend why Ammachi is upset, for he is in a Sinhala class at school and his friends are Sinhalese. His parents’ best friends and servant are Sinhalese too. Nevertheless, Ammachi sends Radha Aunty to Jaffna for a month, hoping that ... ...hehan allows Arjie to reach a new level of understanding about his place in a world where race and gender are of utmost importance. Directly and indirectly, the family and friends of Arjie all impress upon the boy their views on race and gender. The familial love of Arjie’s extended family is at times hurtful and confusing, but it nevertheless serves to guide Arjie through the growing up process. The lives of family friends merge with Arjie’s for only short periods of time, yet the values that these friends cherish linger on in Arjie’s conscience. Arjie’s peers grow up with him seeing the world through eyes that are near in age, thus their views on race and gender truly open Arjie’s eyes during his journey into maturation in Selvadurai’s Funny Boy. Works Cited Selvadurai, Shyam. Funny Boy. Toronto, Ontario: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1994.

Indus valley civilizations Essay

The Indus Valley civilization is an ancient civilization that prospered along the Indus River and Ghaggar-Hakra River in present day Pakistan and India. The Indus valley civilization is sometimes called the Harappan Civilization in reference to the first excavated city called Harappa. The Indus Valley civilization was discovered in the 1920s. The existence of the Indus Civilization is only proved by excavations and maybe some Sumerian writings, e. g. The Mehulan, which is said to correspond with Indus Valley civilization. The Indus Valley Civilization extended from Balochistan to Gujarat, with an upward reach to Punjab from east of the river Jhelum to Rupar on the upper Sutlej. Coastal settlements extended from Sutkagan Dor in Western Baluchistan to Lothal in Gujarat. Besides the western states of India, the Indus Valley Civilization encompassed most of Pakistan. An Indus Valley site has been found on the Oxus River at Shortughai in northern Afghanistan, at Sutkagen dor (Western Baluchistan, Pakistan), at Mandu on the Beas River near Jammu, and at Alamgirpur on the Hindon River, only 28 km from Delhi. Indus Valley sites have been found most often on rivers, but also on lakes, the ancient sea-coast and on islands. There is no documentary evidence that the Indus civilization really existed. What is known of it is the archeological evidence. The assumption that a civilization once existed and prospered in that valley is based on what was found there at the at the excavation sites. It is a well known fact, through out history, ancient Civilizations always started along the banks of rivers or water bodies. Archeologists create theories out of their findings. Most of the artifacts found on archeological sites are explained away with out any substantial recorded facts to back their explanations. The discovery of the Indus valley civilization proves that indeed there has been some human presence around there but the question is: is the Indus valley civilization exactly what we are being told it is today? Are the facts acceptable for scholarly pursuits? It has being recorded that the Indus valley civilization had elements of urbanism such as advanced sewerage systems, dockyards, warehouses, granaries such as we have today. One could clearly conclude from these facts that a great form of civilization indeed existed which might be the basis of what we have today. The lack of authoritative and verifiable written materials on the Indus civilization makes it very difficult to study. This is because the proof of it does not exist in writing in the first place so that at least they can serve as other sources for referencing when in doubt. Good scholarly conclusions can only be drawn from authentic facts which can be proven over time and this is not a very strong point of the Indus civilization.

An Analysis of A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn Essay

A People’s History of the United States is a 1980 non-fiction book by American historian and political scientist Howard Zinn. In the book, Zinn seeks to present American history through the eyes of the common people rather than political and economic elites. A People’s History has been assigned as reading in many high schools and colleges across the United States.[1] It has also resulted in a change in the focus of historical work, which now includes stories that previously were ignored.[2] The book was a runner-up in 1980 for the National Book Award. It has been frequently revised, with the most recent edition covering events through 2005. In 2003, Zinn was awarded the Prix des Amis du Monde Diplomatique for the French version of this book, Une histoire populaire des États-Unis.[3]More than two million copies have been sold. Reviews have been mixed. Some have called it a brilliant tool for advancing the cause of social equality. Others have called the book a revisionist patchwork containing errors. In a 1998 interview, Zinn said he had set â€Å"quiet revolution† as his goal for writing A People’s History. â€Å"Not a revolution in the classical sense of a seizure of power, but rather from people beginning to take power from within the institutions. In the workplace, the workers would take power to control the conditions of their lives.†[4] In 2004, Zinn edited a primary source companion volume with Anthony Arnove, entitled, Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Columbus to the Robber Barons â€Å"Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress† covers early Native American civilization in North America and the Bahamas, the genocide and enslavement committed by the crew of Christopher Columbus, and incidents of violent colonization by early settlers. Topics include the Arawaks, Bartolomà © de las Casas, the Aztecs, Hernà ¡n Cortà ©s,Pizarro, Powhatan, the Pequot, the Narragansett, Metacom, King Philip’s War, and the Iroquois. Chapter 2, â€Å"Drawing the Color Line† addresses the early enslavement of Africans and servitude of poor British people in the Thirteen Colonies. Zinn writes of the methods by which he says racism was artificially created in order to enforce the economic system. He argues that racism is not natural because there are recorded instances of camaraderie and cooperation between black slaves and white servants in escaping from and in opposing their subjugation.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Persons of Mean and Vile Condition† describes Baconâ€℠¢s Rebellion, the economic conditions of the poor in the colonies, and opposition to their poverty.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Tyranny is Tyranny† covers the movement for â€Å"leveling† (economic equality) in the colonies and the causes of the American Revolution. Zinn argues that the Founding Fathers agitated for war to distract the people from their own economic problems and stop popular movements, a strategy that he claims the country’s leaders would continue to use in the future.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"A Kind of Revolution† covers the war and resistance to participating in war, the effects on the Native American people, and the continued inequalities in the new United States. When the land of veterans of the Revolutionary War was seized for non-payment of taxes, it led to instances of resistance to the government, as in the case of Shays’ Rebellion. Zinn wrote that â€Å"governments – including the government of the United States – are not neutral†¦ they represent the dominant economic interests, and†¦ their constitutions are intended to serve the se interests.† â€Å"The Intimately Oppressed† describes resistance to inequalities in the lives of women in the early years of the U.S. Zinn tells the stories of women who resisted the status quo, including Polly Baker, Anne Hutchinson, Mary Dyer, Amelia Bloomer, Catharine Beecher, Emma Willard, Harriot Hunt, Elizabeth Blackwell, Lucy Stone, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Margaret Fuller, Sarah Grimkà ©, Angelina Grimkà ©, Dorothea Dix, Frances Wright, Lucretia Mott, and Sojourner Truth. If you look through high school textbooks and elementary school textbooks in American history, you will find Andrew Jackson the frontiersman, soldier, democrat, man of the people — not Jackson the slaveholder, land speculator, executioner of dissident soldiers, exterminator of Indians. Howard Zinn, A People’s History of the United States â€Å"As Long As Grass Grows or Water Runs† discusses 19th century conflicts between the U.S. government and Native Americans (such as the Seminole Wars) and Indian removal, especially during the administrations of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. Chapter 8, â€Å"We Take Nothing By Conquest, Thank God† describes the Mexican-American War. Zinn writes that President James Polk agitated for war for the purpose of imperialism. Zinn argues that the war was unpopular, but that newspapers of that era  misrepresented the popular sentiment.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom† addresses slave rebellions, theabolition movement, the Civil War, and the effect of these events on African-Americans. Zinn writes that the large-scale violence of the war was used to end slavery instead of the small-scale violence of the rebellions because the latter may have expanded beyond anti-slavery, resulting in a movement against the capitalist system. He writes that the war could limit the freedom granted to African-Americans by allowing the government control over how that freedom was gained.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Other Civil War†, covers the Anti-Rent movement, the Dorr Rebellion, the Flour Riot of 1837, the Molly Maguires, the rise of labor unions, the Lowell girlsmovement, and other class struggles centered around the various depressions of the 19th century. He describes the abuse of government power by corporations and the efforts by workers to resist those abuses. Here is an excerpt on the subject of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877:[10][11] Chapter 11, â€Å"Robber Barons and Rebels† covers the rise of industrial corporations such as the railroads and banks and their transformation into the nation’s dominant institutions, with corruption resulting in both industry and government. Also covered are the popular movements and individuals that opposed corruption, such as the Knights of Labor, Edward Bellamy, the So cialist Labor Party, the Haymarket martyrs, the Homestead strikers, Alexander Berkman, Emma Goldman, Eugene V. Debs, the American Railway Union, theFarmers’ Alliance, and the Populist Party. The Twentieth Century â€Å"The Empire and the People†, covers American imperialism during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War, as well as in other lands such asHawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The Teller Amendment. Zinn portrays the wars as being racist and imperialist and opposed by large segments of the American people. Chapter 13, â€Å"The Socialist Challenge†, covers the rise of socialism and anarchism as popular political ideologies in the United States. Covered in the chapter are the American Federation of Labor (which Zinn argues provided too exclusive of a union for non-white, female, and unskilled workers; Zinn argues in Chapter 24 that this changes in the 1990s),Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), Mary Harris â€Å"Mother†Ã‚  Jones, Joe Hill, the Socialist Labor Party, W. E. B. Du Bois, and the Progressive Party (which Zinn portrays as driven by fear of radicalism). â€Å"War is the Health of the State† covers World War I and the anti-war movement that happened during it, which was met with the heavily enforced Espionage Act of 1917. Zinn argues that the United States entered the war in order to expand its foreign markets and economic influence. â€Å"Self-Help in Hard Times† covers the government’s campaign to destroy the IWW, and the factors leading to the Great Depression. Zinn states that, despite popular belief, the 1920s were not a time of prosperity, and the problems of the Depression were simply the chronic problems of the poor extended to the rest of the society. Also covered is the Communist Party’s attempts to help the poor during the Depression. â€Å"A People’s War?†, covers World War II, opposition to it, and the effects of the war on the people. Zinn, a veteran of the war himself, notes that â€Å"it was the most popular war the US ever fought,† but states that this support may have been manufactured through the institutions of American society. He cites various instances of opposition to fighting (in some cases greater than those during World War I) as proof. Zinn also argues against the US’ true intention was not fighting against systematic racism such as theJim Crow laws (leading to opposition to the war from African-Americans). Another argument made by Zinn is that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not necessary, as the U.S. government had already known that the Japanese were considering surrender beforehand. Other subjects from WWII covered include Japanese American internment and the bombing of Dresden. The chapter continues into the Cold War. Here, Zinn writes that the U.S. government used the Cold War to increase control over the American people (for instance, eliminating such radical elements as the Communist Party) and at the same time create a state of permanent war, which allowed for the creation of the modern military-industrial complex. Zinn believes this was possible because both conservatives and liberals willingly worked together in the name of anti-Communism. Also covered is the US’ involvement in the Greek Civil War, the Korean War, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and the Marshall Plan. Chapter 17, â€Å"‘Or Does It Explode?'† (named after a line from Langston Hughes’s poem â€Å"Harlem† from â€Å"Montage of a Dream Deferred†, referred to as  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Lenox Avenue Mural† by Zinn), covers the Civil Rights movement. Zinn argues that the government began making reforms against discrimination (although without making fundamental changes) for the sake of changing its international image, but often did not enforce the laws that it passed. Zinn also argues that while nonviolent tactics may have been required for Southern civil rights activists, militant actions (such as those proposed by Malcolm X) were needed to solve the problems of black ghettos. Also covered is the invol vement of the Communist Party in the movement, the Congress of Racial Equality, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Freedom Riders, COINTELPRO, and the Black Panther Party. â€Å"The Impossible Victory: Vietnam†, covers the Vietnam War and resistance to it. Zinn argues that America was fighting a war that it could not win, as the Vietnamese people were in favor of the government of Ho Chi Minh and opposed the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem, thus allowing them to keep morale high. Meanwhile, the American military’s morale for the war was very low, as many soldiers were put off by the atrocities that they were made to take part in, such as the My Lai massacre. Zinn also tries to dispel the popular belief that opposition to the war was mainly amongst college students and middle-class intellectuals, using statistics from the era to show higher opposition from the working class. Zinn argues that the troops themselves also opposed the war, citing desertions and refusals to go to war, as well as movements such as Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Also covered is the US invasions of Laos and Cambodia, Agent Orange, the Pentagon Papers, Ron Kovic, and raids on draft boards. Chapter 19, â€Å"Surprises†, covers other movements that happened during the 1960s, such as second-wave feminism, the prison reform/prison abolition movement, the Native American rights movement, and the counterculture. People and events from the feminist movement covered include Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell, Patricia Robinson, the National Domestic Workers Union, National Organization for Women, Roe v. Wade, Susan Brownmiller’s Against Our Will, and Our Bodies, Ourselves. People and events from the prison movement covered include George Jackson, the Attica Prison riots, and Jerry Sousa. People and events from the Native American rights movement covered include the National Indian Youth Council, Sid Mills, Akwesasne Notes, Indians of All Tribes, the First  Convocati on of American Indian Scholars, Frank James, the American Indian Movement, and the Wounded Knee incident. People and events from the counterculture covered include Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan,Joan Baez, Malvina Reynolds, Jessica Mitford’s The American Way of Death, Jonathan Kozol, George Dennison, and Ivan Illich. Chapter 20, â€Å"The Seventies: Under Control?†, covers American disillusion with the government during the 1970s and political corruption that was exposed during the decade. Zinn argues that the resignation of Richard Nixon and the exposure of crimes committed by the CIA and FBI during the decade were done by the government in order to regain support for the government from the American people without making fundamental changes to the system; according to Zinn, Gerald Ford’s presidency continued the same basic policies of the Nixon administration. Other topics covered include protests against the Honeywell Corporation, Angela Davis, Committee to Re-elect the President, the Watergate scandal,International Telephone and Telegraph’s involvement in the 1973 Chilean coup d’à ©tat, the Mayagà ¼ez incident, Project MKULTRA, the Church Committee, the Pike Committee, theTrilateral Commission’s The Governability of Democracies, and the People’s Bi-Centennial. â€Å"Carter-Reagan-Bush: The Bipartisan Consensus†, covers the Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush administrations and their effects on both the American people and foreign countries. Zinn argues that the Democratic and Republican parties keep the government essentially the same (that is, they handled the government in a way that was favorable for corporations rather than for the people) and continued to have a militant foreign policy no matter which party was in power. Zinn uses similarities between the three administrations’ methods as proof of this. Other topics covered include the Fairness Doctrine, the Indonesian invasion of East Timor, Noam Chomsky, global warming, Roy Benavidez, the Trident submarine, the Star Wars program, the Sandinista National Liberation Front, the Iran-Contra Affair, the War Powers Act, U.S. invasion of Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War, the Invasion of Grenada, Óscar Romero, the El Mozote massacre, the 1986 Bombing o f Libya, the collapse of the Soviet Union, theUnited States invasion of Panama, and the Gulf War. â€Å"The Unreported Resistance†, covers several movements that happened during the Carter-Reagan-Bush years that were ignored by much of the mainstream media. Topics covered include the anti-nuclear movement, the Plowshares Movement, the Council for a Nuclear Weapons Freeze, the Physicians for Social Responsibility, George Kistiakowsky, The Fate of the Earth, Marian Wright Edelman, the Citizens’ Clearinghouse for Hazardous Wastes, the Three Mile Island accident, the Winooski 44, Abbie Hoffman,Amy Carter, the Piedmont Peace Project, Anne Braden, Cà ©sar Chà ¡vez, the United Farm Workers, the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Teatro Campesino, LGBT social movements, the Stonewall riots, Food Not Bombs, the anti-war movement during the Gulf War, David Barsamian, opposition to Columbus Day, Indigenous Thought, Rethinking Schools, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. â€Å"The Coming Revolt of the Guards†, covers Zinn’s theory on a possible future radical movement against the inequality in America. Zinn argues that there will eventually be a movement made up not only of previous groups that were involved in radical change (such as labor organizers, black radicals, Native Americans, feminists), but also members of the middle class who are starting to become discontented with the state of the nation. Zinn expects this movement to use â€Å"demonstrations, marches, civil disobedience; strikes and boycotts and general strikes; direct action to redistribute wealth, to reconstruct institutions, to revamp relationships.†[13] Chapter 24, â€Å"The Clinton Presidency†, covers the effects of the Bill Clinton administration on the U.S. and the world. Zinn argues that, despite Clinton’s claims that he would bring changes to the country, his presidency kept many things the same as in Reagan-Bush era. Topics covered include Jocelyn Elders, the Waco Siege, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Crime Bill of 1996, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the 1993 bombing of Iraq, Operation Gothic Serpent, the Rwandan Genocide, the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the 1998 bombing of Afghanistan and Sudan, the Impeachment of Bill Clinton, Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed, Stand for Children, Jesse Jackson, the Million Man March, Mumia Abu-Jamal, John Sweeney, the Service Employees International Union, the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, the Worker Rights Consortium, the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights,  the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Spare Change News, theNorth American Street Newspaper Association, the National Coalition for the Homeless, anti-globalization, and WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 protest activity.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The 2000 Election and the ‘War On Terrorism'†, covers the 2000 presidential election and the War on Terrorism. Zinn argues that attacks on the U.S. by Arabterrorists (such as the September 11, 2001 attacks) are not caused by a hatred for our freedom (as claimed by President George W. Bush), but by grievances with U.S. foreign policies such as â€Å"stationing of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia†¦ sanctions against Iraq which†¦ had resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children; the continued U.S. support of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.† Other topics covered include Ralph Nader, the War in Afghanistan, (though notably absent is any mention of the Talibangovernment in control in Afghanistan at the time, the war being launched, according to Zinn, based merely on the belief that bin Laden was hiding in the country) and the USA PATRIOT Act

HaleaKala Volcano essays

HaleaKala Volcano essays HaleaKala is the second largest shield volcano in the world. It's under historical status, which means it is dormant or not active right now. The summit elevation is 10,023 feet high, its latitude is 70.8 degrees North, and its longitude is 156.25 degrees west. Haleakala's base diameter is 33-miles, and more then 90 percent of the mountain are under water. Measured from its base on the other ocean floor its elevation would be 28,000 feet. It is located on the Hawaiian island of Maui there are two volcanoes on the island of Maui. One is west Maui and the other East Maui. East Maui volcano, HaleaKala is the easternmost of the two shield volcanoes that are in Maui. Haleakala was born at the Hawaiian hot spot. The Hawaiian hot spot that Maui was formed on is 1 million years old and is growing about 4 inches per year. HaleaKala Crater is erosion calderas formed by the heads of two large valleys as they eroded in the volcano. HaleaKala Crater last erupted in 1700 at the Perouse Bay. The crater is an active volcano, because the eruption was in the historic time of Hawaii. HaleaKala was formed like any other shield volcano. It was made by the fluid lava flows. The flow after pours out in all directions from a central summit vent, building a broad, gently sloping cone of flat domical shape. It almost looks like a warriors shield. It flows of highly fluid basaltic lava and cools dipping sheets. Lavas erupt from vents along fractures that develop on the flanks of the cone. Some of the largest volcanoes are shield. HaleaKala has had ten eruptions in the past 1,000 years. It's said to erupt again in the future, because of its eruptive history. The powerful force of erosion has affected HaleaKala greatly. The powerful force of erosion has affected HaleaKala greatly. About 300,000 years ago HaleaKalas volcanic activity slowed, at the same time of torrential rains of Hawaii. Streams that flowed down which are now called Kaup ...

Picture of a House

Picture of a House It is said that every family has skeletons in the cupboard. If only old houses could speak, they would tell a lot of fascinating stories about bad and good times of their inhabitants. At first glance, an old house in the picture may seem to be a mere building consisting of walls, windows and doors, but its atmosphere and every its part would mean a lot for several generations that were born and grew up in it.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Picture of a House specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A paved path leading to the terrace steps looks so inviting that it is hard to resist the temptation and enter the building. Stepping on this winding trail, a guest would inevitably think of those people who had walked this path millions of times day by day in the past. It is possible that these were small children who ran skipping along and perhaps even fell after stumbling over one of the stones on the path. These could also be elderly people who went slowly because it was already difficult for them to walk. Young people could walk this path in a hurry from and to work without even noticing beauty of the house. With all these thoughts in mind, a guest would find himself/herself on a desert terrace. Knocking on the door, the stranger would imagine children playing games on this terrace and an elderly man sitting in a rocky chair. However, now there are no lights in the window and the terrace is desert. Nobody would open, and it seems that now only memories and family secrets live in this house. Not able to enter the house, a stranger would stay outside and walk in the garden. It is autumn, and the bare trees share the mood and loneliness of the house. However, there are no leaves on the lawn, and it means that somebody has collected them. Someone who is now invisible has gathered the autumn leaves and neatly cut the lawn. The presence of invisible but caring owners surround the house with atmosphere of mys tery. The red tiling on the roof of the house and a gabled tower make the building look like a castle from a fairy tale. There is a small chimney on the roof, and obviously small children growing up in this house were waiting for Santa Claus to come through it every Christmas Eve. Children grew up and do not believe in miracles anymore, but a small chimney remains as a commemoration of those old good times. The large windows of the house are similar to somebody’s curious eyes and connect the inhabitants of the building with the surrounding world. It is obvious that there are even more windows in this house than it is necessary for lighting the rooms in a proper way. Most rooms of the house have two or even more windows which demonstrate the openness of the inhabitants and make the building look even more inviting. It is possible that previously the house was more hospitable than on this autumn morning and guests crowded on its small terrace and in its brightly-lit rooms. Howe ver, now the house looks desert and sleeps, hiding all its secrets behind thick curtains on the windows.Advertising Looking for essay on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Looking at the exterior of the house in the picture, strangers can only make guesses concerning the lives of its inhabitants and the true meaning of the elements of the building. A winding path, bare trees in the garden and large windows would seem only the elements of the construction to a stranger, but would tell much more to people who have spent at least a part of their lives in this house.

Definition and Examples of Person in English Grammar

Definition and Examples of Person in English Grammar In English grammar, the category of person  identifies the relationship between a subject and its verb, showing whether the subject is speaking about itself (first personI or we); being spoken to (second personyou); or being spoken about (third personhe, she, it, or they). Also called grammatical person. Personal pronouns are so called because they are the pronouns to which the grammatical system of person applies. Reflexive pronouns, intensive pronouns, and possessive determiners also show distinctions in person. Examples and Observations A widely attested type of verbal inflection in human language involves persona category that typically distinguishes among the first person (the speaker), the second person (the addressee), and the third person (anyone else). In many languages, the verb is marked for both person and number (singular or plural) of the subject. When one category is inflected for properties (such as person and number) of another, the first category is said to agree with the second. . . .Modern English has a [comparatively] impoverished system of person and number agreement in the verb, and an inflectional affix is used only for the third person singular in the non-past tense.  (William OGrady, et al. Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction. Bedford, 2001)I amYou areWe are Australian.(B. Woodley and D. Newton, I Am Australian)I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.(John Lennon and Paul McCartney, I Am the Walrus) The Three Persons in English (present tense) First person I see great things in baseball.(Walt Whitman)We see things as we are.(Leo Rosten) Second person You see things, and you say Why?(George Bernard Shaw) Third person She sees more hospices and sink estates than most people.(Prince Andrew)The traveler sees what he sees; the tourist sees what he has come to see.(G.K. Chesterton)[M]urder is always a mistake. One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner.(Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1890)Love is not blind: it sees more, not less.(Julius Gordon)They see me as some sort of pathetic character.(Mike Tyson) The Forms of Be Be is unique among English verbs in having three distinctive person forms in the present tense (am, is, are) and two in the past tense (was, were). Other verbs have a distinctive form only for the third person singular of the present tense (e.g., has, does, wants, etc., as opposed to have, do, want, etc.). (Bas Aarts, Sylvia Chalker, and Edmund Weiner, The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2014) Etymology From the Latin persona, mask

Discrimination Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Discrimination - Term Paper Example By feeling threatened, productivity of the minority group is sure to go down to the extent that organizations and entities lose valuable human potential (Crosby, Stockdale, & Ropp, 2007). On the other hand, suits of discrimination result in costly lawsuits against the firms and can result in loss of reputation and goodwill which cannot easily be recovered. It is therefore, of utmost importance that organizations address this area by curbing discriminatory practices. The paper shall shed light on two of the most common forms of discrimination, race and sex. Before delving into specific cases of discrimination, it is important to know what discrimination is and what psychological notions give birth to it. Theories regarding the way people view themselves and how they feel about themselves are aplenty in psycho-sociological literature. Since what we perceive about ourselves is kernel to what we think we are, what we think we can do, and how best we think we can do it (Tan, Dalisay, Zhang, Han, & Merchant, 2010), one can find a vast number of studies regarding the nature of self-perception and its relation to other constructs. Because studies in this field focus on the basic human need to understand who they are and why they exist, self-perception is arguably one of the most significant cognitive structures organizing an individuals experience and, thus, has been represented as an appropriate starting point for developing a cognitive theory of how individuals learn from their past experiences (Tan, Dalisay, Zhang, Han, & Merchant, 2010). Stereotyping has been a common cause of discrimination since time immemorial. Research suggests the two most common paradigms of stereotyping are the cognitive and affective dimensions (Schneider D. J., 2004). The cognitive component delineates on the fact that stereotyping results from an oversimplification of information that is processed by our mental

Lab report paraphrasing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lab report paraphrasing - Essay Example The term, total squared error, is used in defining the accuracy of the original signal in the Fourier series. The accuracy of the Fourier series can only escalate if the value of â€Å"m† increases. The accuracy, for example, deteriorates or is very low when the value of â€Å"m† is 1. Consequently, the accuracy of the experiment is very high when the â€Å"m† value stands at 6. The poor accuracy results from the failure to take into consideration the original signal. The original signal serves as a crucial first step towards solving the Fourier series. It is, therefore, important to have a high value as â€Å"m† in order to increase the accuracy of the series. H. Wilbraham was the first scholar to identify the Gibbs phenomenon. Josiah Gibbs then later studied the phenomenon in detail. The phenomenon has a direct relationship with the Fourier series. It appears as a small sinusoidal wave in square waves. The phenomenon forms part of the troughs and peaks in the series. The sinusoidal waves cannot be eliminated unless the â€Å"m† rises to infinity. In other words, the small peaks forming parts of the square waves are always present. There are several uses of Fourier series in Electrical engineering. There are, for example, very useful in studies involving harmonic analysis. Harmonic analysis refers to the assessment of periodic functions that constitute simple sinusoidal elements. The methods are of immense importance in noise analysis, filter designing, and signal analysis. These are just a few areas of the wide harmonic analysis that calls for thorough understanding before undertaking computations of the

CIO Case Analysis Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

CIO Case Analysis - Article Example Comprehensive IT/IRM frameworks ensure that the CIO has the responsibility of discerning development projects that align to the core business strategies of the agency and ensures IT investment on projects that provide the most positive impacts on the society. This work analyzes current and recommended governance approach of Federal CIO; and how the CIO should lead or manage IRM to meet the IT needs of the federal agencies. In his endeavors to ensuring strategic development, Federal CIO has a duty to ensure an efficient Federal IT Workforce (Federal CIO Roadmap, 2012). Federal CIO has the responsibility of assessing the Information Resource Management skills required for agency IT personnel. He has the responsibility of identifying, evaluating and rectifying deficiencies that may hinder the agency from meeting its strategic goals and business objectives. The federal CIO further has the duty of placing specific plans for hiring IT staff, training the IT workforce and ensuring the perso nnel of Information Technology Department have the requisite professional training. There are particularly emphases on providing regular appraisals and trainings on new concepts that develop every single day in IT (Federal CIO Roadmap, 2012). ... agency, through the CIO, has the core responsibility of signing qualifies project managers for all its projects and document and examine the qualifications of the project managers. Federal CIO Improvement of IT and IT Services through Enterprise Architecture Federal Laws and regulations have sections that guide Chief Executive Officers in their operations. The law directs Federal Laws direct federal CIOs to develop Enterprise Architectures (EAs) as blueprints for modernization of IT in support for maintaining agency missions (Federal CIO Roadmap, 2012). Agency develops and maintains Enterprise Architecture as a means of ensuring there is Performance Improvement Lifecycle (PIL) (Federal CIO Roadmap, 2012). The Performance Improvement Lifecycle has three distinct phases; Architect phase Invest phase and Implementation phase. This is linked to the agency’s development and budget submission process. Every September, the OMB issues Federal Enterprise Architecture guidance. The guid ance consists Enterprise Architecture Assessment framework for the fiscal year in question and any cross-agency initiatives. Upon receiving the Federal Enterprise Architecture guideline, an agency develops its own EA blueprint. The CIO works together with businesses within the agency sector to segment Enterprise Architecture in a bid to ensure the agency missions reach the grass roots and are met fully. In March every year, the federal government conducts an assessment that provides an immediate feedback on the performance of all the federal agencies. The CIO has the responsibility of fully cooperating with the assessors to ensure there is clear understanding the extent of success of the EA and Segment Architectures. An agency then uses the EA to inform and guide its capital investment

Colored Regiments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Colored Regiments - Essay Example In addition, it also sheds light on the life of black soldiers during service and instances of discrimination against them including the controversial issue of payment. The question of the earliest enlistment of colored troops is a tricky one with historians honoring different states as taking the earliest initiatives. The reason for this type of confusion might simply be that by the time the army and the government had mutually and formally agreed to enlist freed slaves as soldiers, many army officers had already begun to enlist and train them. By 1862, there are evidences of black recruitment practices being carried out openly by army and government officers like General Hunter, Major General Fremont and Governor John Andrews. At this time, General Butler also seized the opportunity and enlisted and trained a regiment at New Orleans, by September 1862. The first Negro regiment to be officially inducted in the army, they were called the First Louisiana Native Guards (Edgerton 27, Dawson 6-8). A vital fact worth noting is that freed slaves were enlisted in the war when almost half of it was over, despite the fact that there was no dearth of freed slaves offering their services due to abject poverty and lured by the promise of bounty (Wilson 177). In addition, there was a growing pressure from army officers who insisted that blacks should, in all fairness, be a part of war that was being fought for them and it was unjust of the government to force only the whites in it (Wilson 38, De Forest 31,). The government, however, recruited them reluctantly and after repeatedly rejecting their participation in a war that was being fought for their emancipation in the first place. The obvious reluctance of the government sprang from the fact that racial prejudices were still deeply rooted in the consciousness of the public and the government feared not only a backlash from them but worse - a fierce dissent among their own party members. This fear is voiced by many during discussions in chief newspapers of the time. As a concerned reader, RHV, wrote to the editor of New York's Weekly Anglo-African in 1861, saying that by involving blacks in military service at that time would "would only embarrass the present administration, by stirring up old party prejudices which would cause the loss of sympathy" (Qtd. in Finkenbine et al. 213) [Read complete text of the letter in Appendix] The Freed Slaves As Soldiers: If one were to read firsthand accounts of white officers who fought the Civil War with their black subordinates, it will be noticed that they have spoken highly of the qualities of the Negro soldiers. For instance, Thomas Wentworth Higginson praised his men most warmly for their intelligence, bravery, courage, fearlessness, and dedication and for their surprising readiness to accept disciplining policies as compared to their white counterparts. One characteristic of the nature of his subordinates, which Higginson considered remarkable, was that despite their lack of education and mental training they seemed to fully grasp the enormity of their task, their delicate situation as the first colored regiment and the responsibility and courage needed from them. Not one of them shirked

Fibre Optics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Fibre Optics - Essay Example This essay aims at scrutinizing what authentic technical literature has to say on the issue of integrating fiber optics in the aircraft systems in addition to contemplating the theory of light in relation to optical fibers as a way of illuminating exactly how the idea to transmit light through a thin fiber made of glass or plastic originated. The application of optical fibers in fiber-optic communication will also be discussed to evaluate how they allow transmission over longer distances at higher speeds as compared to other communication media. Theory of light relevant to fiber optics While ray theory best explains the light transmission and guiding properties of optical fibers, mode theory works to explain the behavior of light within a fiber. Ray theory basically serves to describe the direction taken by a plane wave inside a fiber (Einstein College of Engineering n.d.). According to ray theory, there are two types of rays which are carried by an optical fiber namely meridional an d skew rays both of which stand in contrast to each other in context of the course they take inside a fiber. While meridional rays pass through the axis of a fiber, the skew rays journey through a fiber without passing through its central axis. Also literature suggests that â€Å"the acceptance angle for skew rays is larger than the acceptance angle of meridional rays† (Einstein College of Engineering n.d). The light capacity of a fiber is enhanced when skew rays are added to meridional rays. But it is argued that as â€Å"skew rays tend to propagate near the edge of the fiber core† (Einstein College of Engineering n.d.), so the addition results in entrapment of a large number of skew rays in the fiber core made of thin glass. â€Å"A large portion of the number of skew rays that are trapped in the fiber core are considered to be leaky rays† (Einstein College of Engineering, n.d.). Construction of fiber optic cables Fiber optic cables basically consist of three parts namely the core, the cladding, and the coating which are also referred to as the triple C’s. Though light has been shown to propagate along the fiber core even without the aid of cladding, it is suggested that cladding made of plastic or glass has its share of important functions like improving mechanical strength, reducing the loss of light into the surrounding during transmission course and protecting the fiber against many surface contaminants to smooth the process of transmission. Buffer or the coating forms the outermost layer which serves to lend extra durability and strength to an optical fiber as a way of protecting it against physical harm (Freudenrich, 2012). It is important to remember that the core is essentially made of glass, the cladding layer is made up of either plastic or glass, and plastic is used as a preferred material for the buffer.    Basic fiber optic theory   As mentioned earlier, mode theory along with ray theory is used to explain the pro pagation and behavior of light in an optical fiber. Mode theory also largely serves to explain the issue of leaky ray loss caused by the addition of skew rays to a fiber’s core. It also suggests that a light wave can be referred to as a plan wave or a wavefront when travelling through an optical fiber and such wave is described by â€Å"its direction, amplitude, and wavelength of propagation† (Einstein Colleg

Letter to a future student Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Letter to a future student - Assignment Example This was an exciting time to take this course because many of our discussions were about the state of the economy today. The global economic crisis is a very relevant study in macroeconomics. My experience in working on the integrated project was challenging. I had a difficult time communicating exactly what I wanted to say at times. I studied a major international corporation (McDonalds) for my project. I learned how macroeconomic conditions influence the decisions a big corporation has to make. I also clearly could see that large, multinational corporations are major players in a macroeconomic sense once they are firmly established in some nations. If you want to succeed in this class, the best thing you can do is to learn the vocabulary and keep good notes on the different macroeconomic theories. Learn all you can about Keynes and use this as a reference point for comparing the other theories. If you can keep the theories and vocabulary words sorted out, you are going to be successful in this

Fibre Optics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Fibre Optics - Essay Example This essay aims at scrutinizing what authentic technical literature has to say on the issue of integrating fiber optics in the aircraft systems in addition to contemplating the theory of light in relation to optical fibers as a way of illuminating exactly how the idea to transmit light through a thin fiber made of glass or plastic originated. The application of optical fibers in fiber-optic communication will also be discussed to evaluate how they allow transmission over longer distances at higher speeds as compared to other communication media. Theory of light relevant to fiber optics While ray theory best explains the light transmission and guiding properties of optical fibers, mode theory works to explain the behavior of light within a fiber. Ray theory basically serves to describe the direction taken by a plane wave inside a fiber (Einstein College of Engineering n.d.). According to ray theory, there are two types of rays which are carried by an optical fiber namely meridional an d skew rays both of which stand in contrast to each other in context of the course they take inside a fiber. While meridional rays pass through the axis of a fiber, the skew rays journey through a fiber without passing through its central axis. Also literature suggests that â€Å"the acceptance angle for skew rays is larger than the acceptance angle of meridional rays† (Einstein College of Engineering n.d). The light capacity of a fiber is enhanced when skew rays are added to meridional rays. But it is argued that as â€Å"skew rays tend to propagate near the edge of the fiber core† (Einstein College of Engineering n.d.), so the addition results in entrapment of a large number of skew rays in the fiber core made of thin glass. â€Å"A large portion of the number of skew rays that are trapped in the fiber core are considered to be leaky rays† (Einstein College of Engineering, n.d.). Construction of fiber optic cables Fiber optic cables basically consist of three parts namely the core, the cladding, and the coating which are also referred to as the triple C’s. Though light has been shown to propagate along the fiber core even without the aid of cladding, it is suggested that cladding made of plastic or glass has its share of important functions like improving mechanical strength, reducing the loss of light into the surrounding during transmission course and protecting the fiber against many surface contaminants to smooth the process of transmission. Buffer or the coating forms the outermost layer which serves to lend extra durability and strength to an optical fiber as a way of protecting it against physical harm (Freudenrich, 2012). It is important to remember that the core is essentially made of glass, the cladding layer is made up of either plastic or glass, and plastic is used as a preferred material for the buffer.    Basic fiber optic theory   As mentioned earlier, mode theory along with ray theory is used to explain the pro pagation and behavior of light in an optical fiber. Mode theory also largely serves to explain the issue of leaky ray loss caused by the addition of skew rays to a fiber’s core. It also suggests that a light wave can be referred to as a plan wave or a wavefront when travelling through an optical fiber and such wave is described by â€Å"its direction, amplitude, and wavelength of propagation† (Einstein Colleg

Video Games Essay Example for Free

Video Games Essay Whenever I look out from my window at home, nothing but memories come back to me. When the time that me and my friends playing together with many kind of Filipino games like â€Å"Patintero†, â€Å"Langit Lupa†, â€Å"Black123† and many more. I was about 7 years old when I was always want to go outside to play with my friends from morning up to afternoon. My only break was when my Mom calling me saying that â€Å"we’re gonna eat our lunch† so I need to come back home as soon as possible. When I’m with my friends, my life has been always happier than when I am inside of our house. I really loved to be outside and play with my friends because it gives me fulfillment of my childhood life. As I become aware that my street has become barren from children playing outside, those memories soon fade away into silence. The truth of the matter is that video games have affected the children who play them. Although video games have been quite influential on our generation, video games have had a lot of negative effects on the children of today. Children have become obsessed with video games. Since 1980’s, the video game industry has expanded so much in the market, it is only getting larger with the growth of technology. And although these games provide much entertainment, it does not come without a cost. Since the rise of video games, more children have become more obese, more violent and less social.

How effective questioning contributes to learning

How effective questioning contributes to learning For the purpose of this essay I will look at effective questioning and how the use of effective questioning contributes to the learning process of pupils in a school or classroom setting. The essay will look at the varying Theorists that talk about questioning and how they believe that questioning was a positive part of the schooling day and delve into different methods of questioning and how best the answers support the learning of how to question. I will look in particular how effective questioning is useful in two subjects thought on the curriculum which are English Literature and Information and Communication Technology or ICT as it is known. To concentrate on these two subjects and to show how important I have found effective questioning I will look at how effective listening and speaking also contributes to effective questioning. The essay will look at different National Strategies and Frameworks and literature available that exist to support the guidelines and theories that ex ist to support effective questioning and evidence I have gathered during my experiences working with children in the class room to portray the practical evidence of this. Main The Primary National Strategy (2006) emphasises the need for the development and promotion of creativity across the curriculum. Speaking and Listening are to be developed in innovative and exiting ways through discussion and questioning. Children need to listen to their teacher and their peers and have the confidence to express their own thoughts, Sharing responses to Literature is one of the most meaningful ways in which good listening and good talking can be achieved.(Nicholson, C as site in Goodwin, 2005). This assignment will take a look into how effective questioning can contribute to pupils learning and will be backed up by examples that I have seen in my practice. Theorists have different beliefs as to how children learn. In my opinion, a mixture of their strategies is needed in schools and across the curriculum to achieve the best results possible. We learn that Bruner is more associated with questioning, problem and discussion in contrast to Vygotsky believed that adult talk plays a central role in developing a childs understanding. He saw all speech as primary social in function, the intellect being developed within social interaction (Goodwin, 2001). He believed in combining language with thought but more emphasis being placed on effective adult language and that through pupil talk, children would develop their reading and writing skills. Ofsted (2005), reported that when children talked through ideas firstly, they were there after better writers. Bruner introduced cognitive scaffolding, which aimed at extending pupil understanding through support of a social system. He highlighted the importance of language and communication with others- peers and others (Loveless, 2003). He didnt believe in giving pupils material in this final form. On placement I would introduce a problem to the children and support them with appropriate questioning. This in turn led to discussion and the utilisation of higher order thinking skills in scaffolding conversations learners can try out ideas make mistakes and adapt their thinking by listening to others as they work towards understanding (Goodwin, 2001). I consider a lot of classes as being too rigid and they are trying to adhere to a strict plan to reach goals and cover material. For example in literacy The National Curriculum and the Literacy Strategy (although this is not statutory) have a wide range of topics to be covered leaving I found teachers under pressure for time. I feel that time needs to be allocated for spontaneity where the teacher focuses and directs children through effective modelling questioning and discussion with educational goals in mind. The Ofstead English Report (2005) found that even though there is more discussion in primary schools at the moment unfortunately it is dominated by the teacher giving the pupils only limited opportunities to express their thoughts and listen to their peers. The report also found reading and writing getting more attention in schools. Excellent and Enjoyment (2003) described teaching in England as being too prescriptive which was impacting negatively on creativity. Another example of how effective questioning contributes to students learning in through the use of information and communication technology or ICT. The National Grid for learning was set up by the DfEE in 1997 to equip schools with computers and this in turn enabled both students and teachers to access materials that became available. This also enabled children to talk to others in the world and to interact globally. Schools therefore now have more resources, computers and packages to enhance ICT usage, some even have laptops. Before my six week placement, I had little knowledge of how to use the IWB as a teaching tool but, my class teacher taught me how to use it with confidence. I found it a useful resource for holding the childrens interest and attention. It enabled supporting use of exciting pictures to brighten up tasks. For example, in Literacy, we were doing a story from the Jungle Book called Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, I was able to search for and insert pictures of the characters fr om Google images to suit the theme. The children really enjoyed this as it brought the characters to life. Stories are important for a number of reasons. They link places to interesting themes, they aid spelling and they can increase knowledge about certain topics or facts. Stories are the fundamental way of organising human experience and understanding the world (Fisher, R., Williams, M. 2006). They can be linked to many different tasks, apart from reading to enhance literacy skills. The book I am basing my lessons on with regard to this assignment, is called Rose Blanche. The illustrations within it present a World War Two setting which gives a truly special historical insight into the suffering and pain endured by the characters as seen through the eyes of a child. Analysis of this picture book will evoke an emotional response to the Second World War through the implementation of effective questioning and discussion in the classroom. Such strategies are central in the new the Primary National Strategy (2006). As a teacher, it will be my role to ensure that the children apply creative/h igher order thinking to their reading through learning how to read between the lines, using inference, deduction and prediction and learning how to recreate and respond to the text. Effective questioning with regard to setting, character, plot, themes dialogue and point of view will extend childrens thinking about a story (Fisher, R., Williams, M. 2006). A mixture of both open ended and closed questions are necessary components of reflective reading where children will skim, scan and read in more detail to find answers. An essential aspect of questioning is allowing children enough time to think before pursuing a response. Towards the end of my placement, the children had an idea of the type of response I required by the length of thinking time I would give them. They knew that more thinking time required more than one word answers. It is crucial also that teachers pitch questions at appropriate levels to challenge the more able without loosing the interest of the less able through lack of understanding. EAL students and those with special educational needs may benefit from visual cues where possible. This is where Literacy through ICT becomes highly beneficial and effective. Interactive white boards are powerful tools for displaying images and texts which can be clearly seen by the whole class. Speaking and listening in the National Curriculum has a strong social focus. Children will learn to take turns, deal with opposing views politely, talk effectively, take different roles and help the group to move forward (DfEE, 1999). These aspects need to be enforced within each subject in order to achieve success where all voices are heard and spoken. Children need to become interactive listeners where they listen to other members of the group but also have the confidence to articulate ideas without fear of embarrassment or ridicule. This is also the view point of Jones, R., Wyse, D., 2004 who believe that in building pupils literacy skills, teachers should reward curiosity and exploration, build internal motivation, encourage risk taking, have high expectations of all pupils, give opportunities for choice and discovery and develop students self-management skills. Children need to know when it is ok for them to speak and when they should listen. For this reason, I always made the rules clear at the beginning of each class. The children then knew how they should request to voice their opinion i.e. put their hand up. An articulate classroom is a community of learners and teachers who share an understanding about the roles of talk in their learning(Goodwin, 2001). Speaking and listening can be enhanced through ICT with the use of tape recorders, digital cameras, recording to computers and much more. Some teachers prefer however, not to use classroom discussion because of fear of losing control through increased noise levels. Another issue with discussion is finding the time to allow learners to ask and seek their own answers. I personally found this difficult to resolve. I strongly believe that group work in Literacy is extremely beneficial to pupils. It certainly suits the shyer pupil who might not have the confidence to express an opinion within whole class interaction. It enables the perfect opportunity for teachers to develop scaffolding on a smaller scale which relates to Bruners theory. On my placement, guided reading was carried out every day after lunch which meant each group had one session each week. The National Literacy Strategy promotes this process where by one group works with the teacher and the other groups work independently (DfEE, 1998). The pupils were split into groups of similar ability which meant the less able children had more support at their level and the more able had more scope. Ofsted (2005) found guided group work to be a positive development in the classroom in terms of speaking and listening. Conclusion The new science of learning and thinning tells us that everybody has the capacity to become a better learner, and that there are conditions under which learning power develops (Pollard 2002). If children are having difficulty in understanding what you are teaching them, then you must reflect and ask yourself why? You as a teacher must reflect on lessons and ask yourself have I asked effective questions in my lesson? Questions can be used for a wide range of purposes and they can be seen as a vital tool for teaching and learning. It is a powerful way of scaffolding childrens understanding and raising their performance. The way in which teachers can use questions to improve the quality of childrens thinking and the extent of their participation (Pollard 2006). As stated above and trough out this essay I have looked at how questioning, effective questioning in particular contributes to a Childs learning through effective listening, speaking in particular through ICT and English. I have learnt in practice that these methods keep a child engaged, motivated and egger to learn. This not only applies to English and ICT but in all subjects on the National Curriculum. Reference List Adams, A., Brindley, S. (2002) Teaching Primary Literacy with ICT. Buckingham, Open University Press. Bennett, R. (2006) Learning ICT with English. Great Britain, David Fulton Publishers. Goodwin, P. (1999, 2005) 2nd edn. The Literate Classroom. Great Britain, David Fulton Publishers Ltd. DfES (2006) Primary National Strategy; Primary Framework for literacy and mathematics. London, DfES. Fisher, R., Williams, M. (2006) Unlocking Literacy. 2nd edn. Great Britain, David Fulton Publishers. Jones, R., Wyse, D. (2004) Creativity in the Primary Curriculum. Great Britain, David Fulton Publishers Ltd. Loveless, A. (2003) The Role of ICT. London, Continuum. Ofsted (2000, 2005) The Annual Report of Her Majestys Chief Inspector of Schools. HMSO, London. Rudd, A., Tyldesley, A. (2006) Literacy and ICT in the Primary School. Great Britain, David Fulton Publishers. Journal McFarlane, A. (2001) Perspectives on the relationships between ICT and assessment. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 17 (227-234). Website www.kingston.ac.uk/booksalive/ www.ofsted.gov.uk