Impact of multimedia in learning English as a second language Literature review

Impact of multimedia in learning English as a second language - Literature review Example Meanwhile, learning happens as a process rather than an event. This means that for the acquisition of second language to take place, there are series of things that a person should do, as learning a second language will not happen overnight. Mayer (2003) used the cognitive theory to explain the processes that take place in the course of second language acquisition. It was noted that the more interaction a person has with the language being learnt, the better the chances of acquiring it more easily and quickly. Meanwhile, the interactions that a person has with language often differ in potency and impact. For example using the multimedia principle, Mayer (2003, p. 33) explained that ‘the human information processing system contains an auditory/verbal channel and a visual/pictorial channel’. By implication, a person gets an easier grip of a particular language being learnt if provisions are made for all of auditory, verbal, visual and pictorial channels. However, using multimedia such as audio and video easily provides all these channels at a go (Neal, 2006). Based on this, when designing a website for acquisition of English as a second language, it will be beneficial to include audio and video files that wil l provide multimedia learning platforms, rather than use only written and verbal means of acquisition. Neal, L. (2006). Predictions for 2006 — E-learning experts map the road ahead. Elearn Magazine [online]. Available at http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=31-1 [accessed 13 February

Profit Pathology and Disposable Planet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Profit Pathology and Disposable Planet - Essay Example Both â€Å"Flow† and â€Å"Pathology† address crucial problems that endanger people’s lives. â€Å"Flow† is a documentary directed by Irene Salina in 2008 and introduces the difficulty many people around the world have in finding clean water and how chemicals have contaminated drinkable water around the world. It is common knowledge that water is indispensable for survival; however, the reality is that water is becoming scare throughout the world. As stated in â€Å"Flow†: â€Å"The world is running out of fresh water.† This dramatic observation represents a real threat to millions of people around the world compelled to drink dirty water. This scarcity of fresh water is related to the pollution caused by companies whose chemical products contaminate the water. â€Å"Flow† presents examples from Mexico, Bolivia, India and South Africa where people die after drinking contaminated water. This pollution is a point Michael Parenti denounce s in his article. He indeed presents pollution as s threat to people’s health and survival. Indicating the companies’ involvement in the pollution, he states: â€Å"This corporate system of capital accumulation treats the Earth's life-sustaining resources (arable land, groundwater, wetlands, foliage, forests, fisheries, ocean beds, bays, rivers, air quality) as disposable ingredients presumed to be of limitless supply, to be consumed or toxified at will†. ... He indeed presents pollution as s threat to people’s health and survival. Indicating the companies’ involvement in the pollution, he states: â€Å"This corporate system of capital accumulation treats the Earth's life-sustaining resources (arable land, groundwater, wetlands, foliage, forests, fisheries, ocean beds, bays, rivers, air quality) as disposable ingredients presumed to be of limitless supply, to be consumed or toxified at will† (Parenti). He clearly denounces the destruction of the world’s resources and the toxic chemicals companies discharge in them therefore threatening people’s health and lives. Similarly â€Å"Monsanto† and Parenti’s article also share the same concern about the deadly effects of chemicals and the invincibility of the multinationals that have total control over the organizations supposed to regulate the fields. This documentary directed by Marie-Monique Robin in 2008 presents Monsanto, a multinational agri cultural biotechnology corporation, involved in the production of herbicide and genetically engineered seeds. Even though Monsanto claims â€Å"to help farmers produce better crops† (Monsanto) there is a growing controversy concerning the health risks that the products constitute. In fact, some studies find that the herbicide, Round up, and other chemicals â€Å"Provoke the first stages that lead to cancer† (Monsanto). Because of these health risks, workers and researchers raise the question of safety; however, their concerns did not find easy answers since they soon found out that the company was very powerful and well-grounded. Their priority was not the safety of their workers or the environment but to make profit. One of the company’s reports indicates: â€Å"We cannot afford to lose

Mumbai-Pune Expressway

Mumbai-Pune Expressway The Mumbai-Pune Expressway has always been a project of high priority for the Maharashtra State Government. The traffic on the Mumbai-Pune section of National Highway 4 is expected to increase drastically. The distance between the two cities is some 180 km and it takes about five hours to cover it under good traffic conditions. However increasingly, and during the monsoon, traffic on the Mumbai-Pune road is very high and frequent accidents block the narrow and winding curves of the two lane highway. Landslides in the region are very frequent due to the monsoon rains. The resulting delays and traffic blockages turn a 5-hour journey to one that would involve anywhere between 10 to 15 hours. (Sulakshana Mahajan, 2002) The Government of Maharashtra had been newly elected in 1995 and they were very keen on the early completion of the Mumbai Pune Expressway, as there was prestige value attached to it. It was decided in July 1996 to implement the project as a BOT(Build-Operate-Transfer) project and tenders were prepared appropriately, for which only one bid was received from Reliance India Limited which was rejected as it was double the government budget. In turn the project was awarded to MSRDC. (IITK Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 2007) Feasibility Study: In 1990, the Government of Maharashtra appointed RITES and Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick of United Kingdom to carry out the feasibility study and they submitted the report with the estimated cost of 240 million USD. The Government then handed over the project to MSRDC in March 1997 on a Build Operate and Transfer basis (BOT) with permission to collect tolls for a period of 30 years. The Government of India received the clearance from the Ministry of Forests and Environment in November 1997. In order to prepare detailed estimates, designs and bid documents the work was divided into eight phases and each phase was under the supervision of renowned international consultants. (IITK Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 2007) Features: Â · The Mumbai Pune Expressway also known as the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway is Indias first six lane high speed access controlled tolled expressway. Â · Spanning a distance of 93kms it connects Mumbai, the financial capital of India and Pune, the neighboring industrial hub city. Â · The project cost 350 million USD to construct and was completed under the guidance of MSRDC in a time period of 24 months. * The expressway has four lane wide tunnels at five locations with a total length of 5724m. * There are separate tunnels for traffic in each direction and these tunnels are provided with modern facilities for ventilation, lighting and fire fighting vehicles. * This work was entrusted to the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd on 8 December 1997. Benefits of the Expressway: Many aspects of the Expressway make it an engineering marvel. * No signals along the 93km route and no blind curves. * Reduction in accidents. * Reduction in travel time. * Saving of fuel consumption. * Faster crossing of the Khandala Ghat. * Reduction in pollution. Issues faced in building the Highway: Â · The mountainous terrain around the area, posed a huge threat in building the Expressway. Â · As five tunnels had to be constructed, there was a lot of difficulty in drilling through the mountains as the rock was extremely hard. Â · Around 500 trees which got in the way of the construction had to be uprooted and transplanted into pits dug at other locations. Â · Vast areas of rich, fertile land had to be cleared into farmlands in interior areas. Â · Difficulty in accessing the work areas to supply raw materials. Â · Nature of soil in the area caused problems in building roads, due to which concrete roads had to be built. * Environmental Concerns: An Environment Impact Assessment was conducted by RITES and they identified the following concerns: The construction of the Expressway would impact on the quality of water in the rivers flowing in nearby areas, which were being used for drinking and industrial Purposes. It would also result in loss of forests and rare flora, effect on wild life in the Ghats and lead to landslides in the future. Â · The difficulties faced due to rehabilitation of the human settlements. Reasons for the successful implementation by MSRDC: Workforce: MSRDC hired their workforce from Public Works Department and CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra), most of whom had extensive experience in the development of large-scale projects. They also took employees from the revenue department on deputation to help with the land acquisition process. (IITK Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 2007) Appointment of Project Management Consultants: A Steering Committee was set up in order to recommend different technical standards to be adopted, to prepare geometric standards, and to help MSRDC in deciding upon various provisions of tender documents and related matters. The Steering Committee proposed that Project Management Consultants (PMC) be appointed for preparing and ensuring consistency in design standards, cost estimates and tender documents, and to supervise the construction work as and when it began. In addition it was also though that if the technical aspects of the projects were taken care of by PMCs, then MSRDC could concentrate on the task of coordinating the various administrative requirements such as getting clearances, raising finances etc. Committees were to be formed to perform each of the tasks by drawing personnel from each of the PMCs to ensure consistency. Since the most important skill for a PMC was considered to be Technical Skill, the selection criteria were such that 75% importance was assigned to the technical bid and 25% to the financial bid. Another condition was imposed that 1 PMC will work on only 1 section of the Expressway to avoid excess load on a PMC. (IITK Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 2007) Facilities given by MSRDC to Consultants and Contractors: MSRDC and the Government of Maharashtra provided several facilities to contractors and consultants in order to ensure quick and efficient working. The expenditure on these services helped reduce production costs by 8-10% as a result of speedy completion of work. Some of the facilities given were like: * Project Management Consultants had their own site offices set up with standard equipment like Xerox, telephone, printer provided at MSRDCs expense. * Increase in the price of steel, bitumen and cement will be absorbed by MSRDC. * Custom duty is to be reimbursed for import of new machinery. * Land provided for site facilities was given to the contractor free of cost. * As the stretch of construction was 93 kms, MSRDC prompted oil companies to set up petrol pumps. * MSRDC took the responsibility to divert all utility services like telephone cables, water pipelines and electrical lines coming in the construction stretch. Litigation: MSRDC adopted a very proactive stand towards litigation right from the start and they appointed a panel of experts for handling cases. They also made sure they responded to court orders in very less time which helped reduce the delays in re-seeking appropriate dates. (IITK Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 2007) References: Roadtraffic-technology.com. (2009) Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India. Available from: http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/mumbai/ [Accessed: 11/12/2009] Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd. (2007) MSRDC Project Mumbai Pune Expressway. Available from: http://www.msrdc.org/Projects/Mumbai_Pune_Expr.aspx [Accessed: 11/12/2009] Wikipedia (2009) Mumbai Pune Expressway. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai-Pune_Expressway [Accessed: 11/12/2009] ExpressIndia (2000) The Mumbai-Pune expressway. Available from: http://www.expressindia.com/news/fe/daily/20000730/fec30031.html [Accessed: 11/12/2009] Dandekar/Mahajan EPW Paper (2001) MSRDC and The Mumbai-Pune Expressway: A Sustainable Model for Privatizing Construction of Physical Infrastructure? Available from: http://sdmahajan.tripod.com/epw_paper.pdf [Accessed: 11/12/2009]

Peace in Islam :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Frederick Denny, the keynote speaker of the night spoke on Islam and its moral responsibility and how Muslims need to educate. He was a very intelligent man and great speaker, but he was too philosophical for the students in the audience. I was one of those misfortunate souls who could not understand where he was going. He hit on many key points that connected the current problems of Islam and ideas of liberation theology.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He stressed that Islam is and always will be a monotheistic, ethical religion. I agree with this statement and with the education of the youth and the world, others will see that Islam is not evil or that much different from Christianity in faith. In his randomness he also hit on the ideas of sin. In Islam Ma’arvt and Mounkar are the Islamic terms for what Christians call sinless and sinful acts or the expectable and not expectable behaviors. From these aspects of faith one can seek justice and morality through God, the one who wills and acts justly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Spiritual morality and justice are filtered from God and should not be questioned. We should take what he gives us and use it responsibly. Doing what is right and just in the eyes of the lord will draw one closer to the almighty. Closeness to the Creator is the ultimate of all Muslims and with understanding and education all will see that this is the goal of all the Abraham faiths. All 3 believe that happiness comes from love for him. He asks only that we should â€Å"spend of our substances out of love for him alone.† Meaning moral duty enacted out of duty for him, â€Å"for god’s sake first.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Doing all things through the lord first and then showing and educating the people, the world and Muslims alike in the ways of the lord can reach peace in Denny’s opinion. There are struggles with-in Islam itself with the more radical liberation theology. They take their faith to the extreme and segregate their own. Find peace from with-in, find peace amongst your brothers, and then find peace amongst your neighbors in order to accomplish Takwa (avoidance of unethical). There will be a great deal of suffering. Denny does not Denny does not deny that. He says along with many Muslims that suffering with the principle of faith. Arming oneself with the glory of God will maintain your spirits and ultimately lead you to peace.

Dear Doug Essay

I am happy to hear you are adjusting to college life. I’m sure it’s a big change, but at least you have found friends to help you with the transition. It is also good to hear that you have a diverse group of friends, even though you do not all agree on the same thing. It will be a really good opportunity for you to show them the Christian view and maybe question their own beliefs. So I saw your question from Nathan about if God created all of nature, everything would be divine. No, not everything is divine, but God did create everything. Divinity has characteristics specific to itself that are lacking in finite (human) beings, animals, and material things. For instance, none of these are omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful), omnipresent (always everywhere), or immutable (non-changing). Therefore, nature is created by the divine (God), and is a work of His creative nature, but nature is not divine in itself. Human beings were created â€Å"in the image of God†, meaning that He provided us with the knowledge and gifted us the Holy Spirit, which gives us a â€Å"connection†, a relationship with Him. Now the question about the trinity is hard for everyone to understand. Since we as human are very visual and physical we try to understand that trinity in our own terms, but since it is something out of our nature we have a hard time grasping the concept that God is three in one. In the essay â€Å"Are all Religions One† by Douglas Groothuis he explains that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), who eternally exists in three equal persons: The Father (Ephesians 1:3), the Son (John 1:1), and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-5). The trinity teaches that there is one divine essence that exists in three persons, not that one person equals three. Also I do not think God is a human invention. If we believe that we exist because of matter and chance then how could we trust our own minds? There would be no reason to trust our own mind since there is no absolute truth. Also everyone has a sense of right and wrong, well again evil could not exist if there was no truth, and God is our truth. I think it is pretty hard to make say God is a human invention and then have no explanation for the creation around us. Last but not least you asked about what is the Christian view of God. The Christian view would be that Physical and non-physical things both exist, such as morality, minds, souls, and numbers. Also while physical things change, non-physical things do not. Therefore, Christians believe that God (non-physical) exist and is unchangeable. Along with that he is all knowing and all-powerful, creating the universe in which we live. God is not dependable on us, but we sure are dependable on him. I hope this helps answers some of your questions, have fun on your date night! Cannot wait to hear all about it. Sincerely,

Written Task Dolls House

Outline Prescribed question: Power and privilege: â€Å"How and why is a social group represented in a particular way? Title of text for analysis: A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, Norway 1879. Task is related to course section: Part 3: Literature texts and context Task focus: This essay focuses on Ibsen’s way of representing women, it explains why does he represent them in that specific particular way and how the time, era and context he lived in affected this aim. It states that women are represented as capable and independent individuals because of Ibsen’s concern of society’s acceptance of this new role of women.It compares women showed in â€Å"A Doll’s House† with the actual women of that time. It uses examples and quotation from the text in order to prove Ibsen’s posture towards the topic, and to answer the question of how and why women are represented in that particular way. Written Task: Henrik IIbsen was a Norwegian playwright , very concerned of women and human rights in general. Because of his thoughts and worries he wrote a play, â€Å"A Doll’s House† in 1879, which took him to being one of the most important Norwegian drama playwright. In this play he expresses his thoughts of how unfair women were treated in those days.The typical female stereotype was the mother and wife that usually stayed at home and took care of the children and house cleaning, the ones that sacrificed their lives and their personal goals for what society expected women to be. Ibsen’s idea for the play was to show how this stereotype had to change by accepting women as equal individuals as men. For this he created different women characters that expressed how wrong it was to follow this stereotype because of society. Throughout the play we will see women breaking this ideal stereotype, proving men and society wrong.In this essay we will reveal the how and why were women represented in this particular way. We already know that Ibsen had concerns of how women were treated, this was because of the context and time he lived in. Through all his life he lived in a society that showed women as unequal individuals. For some reason this did not make sense to him. He did not understand why women had to be treated differently. This was one of the main reasons of why he wrote â€Å"A Doll’s House† referring to society as an actual Doll’s House, were women were manipulated and to make people reconsider women’s role in society.The characters he created all alluded to how women were treated in those days. For example, Nora, the principal character, at the beginning of the play, was shown as a submissive wife: the typical woman stereotype. As the story continues she starts showing a new hidden side of her, that showed she was not going to follow societies expectations any more. Ibsen creates a situation in which Nora has to sacrifice for her family, because of Torvaldâ€℠¢s (her husband) sickness, by breaking the stereotype she should follow. She asks for a loan and lies to Torvald; she tells him that her father gave her the money.In order to pay for the loan she had to secretly work. When Torvald finds out that she lied, he judges her and tells her that it’s unbearably wrong. Nora realizes that Torvald does not really love her but he always loved the fact that she was dependent of him, the moment she stopped being dependent because of trying to save his life, he couldn’t take it. This led Nora to leave him; she was tired of being treated like this, she knew she was capable of much more. â€Å"I have been performing tricks for you, Torvald†¦ It’s because of you I’ve made nothing of my life. Here we can see how determined Nora is of her capacities, she blames Torvald because of her failure in life. She also points out that she’s been â€Å"playing tricks† all her life, for Torvald and society, acting as expected. Ibsen also reveals how a woman at that time, was impaired to find out who she is, in this case, Nora, really was and all she was capable of doing, not only for herself but in benefit of her family. Through having to tell lies, to her husband about how she obtained the money when he was ill, and to Krogstad, about her father? signature, she comes to realize that she is a valuable and more than capable person, although her ways of doing things was not correct. Her final goal was so important to her, protecting her family, she knew she had to do whatever was necessary, even if that meant not being true to her husband or society. In the end, she realizes that it was more important to her husband his reputation, than what it had meant to Nora, all she had done for the love of her family, concluding to the raw truth that her husband didn? really love her: he loved what she represented before society, a loving, faithful wife that compelled to all his expectations. She knew that to love her children, she needed first to understand and love herself, a thought way beyond and ahead of time, for a woman in the late 1800? s. Another woman, having a different role in society, such as Nora? s friend, Christine Linde, a childless widow, that proves to be an individual capable of surviving on her own, in a society who thought that a respectable women should be married and dependent of her husband. She once had been a â€Å"doll† like Nora.She also shows that she is a resourceful woman. When Nora tells Christine what is happening with Krogstad, Christine tells Nora not to worry that she will help her dissuade Krogstad (and she does), because she was once in love with him, but didn’t marry him since she needed money to help her sick mother and family. She proves here that a woman can act on her own, not being manipulated by men as it usually occurred, but being able to influence a man for her own purposes or even to help a friend. Nora, like a lot other women definitely felt like a â€Å"doll† being â€Å"played† by men and society.We can conclude that in the play women are represented in a particular way, women that could be independent and totally capable individuals with the intention to prove men and society of those times wrong. Ibsen’s posture towards this subject is so definite in that women should be treated as equal, that we can understand why he represented women like this; it was just the way he wanted society to accept them. Maybe one of the few ways of expressing this kind of thoughts was by creating a fictional drama play that showed women, as he wanted them to be accepted by an equal society. Word Count: Outline 151 Written task 1000

Colonial America essays

Colonial America essays Colonial America was a successful establishment in less than a hundred years. The first official census of the United States was 3,900,000 in 1790. Most of the population came from a high birthrate from the settlers; while the other half of the population came from the intense immigration of slaves. While the settlers came in hope of a better life, their goals could not be reached without hard work, work that they were not accustomed to. This called for the need of slavery. Captured Native Americans were also used as slaves, but that eventually did not work anymore. With no one else working on the land, the colonists needed major help. Slavery was one of the most important reasons people moved to colonial America. Slaves were imported mostly from West Africa, and they had no choice but to do what they were told. But the slaves obviously did not work for themselves. They worked for colonists from Europe, mostly England. Colonists started to move to America in hope of living a better life. If your status was not that great in England, coming to America was a chance to improve your status. Colonists were offered land to live and work on, and there was lots of land to be distributed so living expenses would also be a lot cheaper. This gave the lower-class better opportunities for a better life. Also, if you were an indentured servant, after you serve your time, you were given land of your own and no longer worked for anyone but yourself. Another reason why so many people to moved to America was because England was overpopulated. They forced Englishmen off the land and exported them to America. But England did not export their good men; they exported poor people, and prisoners (mostly all lower classes). England felt that they needed to get people off their land because if the population continued to grow, it could lead to disasters for the country. So people came to Colonial America for various reasons, whether it be f...

Free Essays on Profile of Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass, one of history’s most successful black abolitionist, changed America’s views of slavery through his writings and actions. Frederick Douglass had many achievements throughout his life. His great oratory skills left the largest impact on Civil War time period literature. Douglass was born a slave in 1817, in Maryland. He educated himself and became determined to escape the horror of slavery. He attempted to escape slavery once, but failed. He later made a successful escape in 1838. Frederick’s life as a slave had the greatest impact on his writings. Through slavery, he was able to develop the necessary emotion and experiences for him to become a successful abolitionist writer. He grew up as a slave, experiencing all of the hardships that are included, such as whippings, scarce meals, and other harsh treatment. His thirst for freedom , and his burning hatred of slavery caused him to write Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, and other sim ilar biographies. In his Narrative, he wrote the complete story of his miserable life as a slave and his strife to obtain freedom. The main motivational force behind his character (himself) was to make it through another day so that someday he might see freedom. The well written books that he produced were all based on his life. They all started with Douglass coping with slavery. He had a reason to write these works. As a die-hard abolitionist, He wanted to show the world how bad slavery really was. "He did this really well, because he made people understand the unknown, and made abolitionists out of many people. This man had a cause, as well as a story to tell" (Schomp, 25). Douglass, as a former slave, single-handedly redefined American Civil War literature, simply by redefining how antislavery writings were viewed. Frederick Douglass is well known for many of his literary achievements. He is best known, now, as a writer. "As a writer, Frederick Douglass shined. As a spe... Free Essays on Profile of Frederick Douglass Free Essays on Profile of Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass, one of history’s most successful black abolitionist, changed America’s views of slavery through his writings and actions. Frederick Douglass had many achievements throughout his life. His great oratory skills left the largest impact on Civil War time period literature. Douglass was born a slave in 1817, in Maryland. He educated himself and became determined to escape the horror of slavery. He attempted to escape slavery once, but failed. He later made a successful escape in 1838. Frederick’s life as a slave had the greatest impact on his writings. Through slavery, he was able to develop the necessary emotion and experiences for him to become a successful abolitionist writer. He grew up as a slave, experiencing all of the hardships that are included, such as whippings, scarce meals, and other harsh treatment. His thirst for freedom , and his burning hatred of slavery caused him to write Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, and other sim ilar biographies. In his Narrative, he wrote the complete story of his miserable life as a slave and his strife to obtain freedom. The main motivational force behind his character (himself) was to make it through another day so that someday he might see freedom. The well written books that he produced were all based on his life. They all started with Douglass coping with slavery. He had a reason to write these works. As a die-hard abolitionist, He wanted to show the world how bad slavery really was. "He did this really well, because he made people understand the unknown, and made abolitionists out of many people. This man had a cause, as well as a story to tell" (Schomp, 25). Douglass, as a former slave, single-handedly redefined American Civil War literature, simply by redefining how antislavery writings were viewed. Frederick Douglass is well known for many of his literary achievements. He is best known, now, as a writer. "As a writer, Frederick Douglass shined. As a spe...

American Dream Lost

American Dream Lost It is the natural inclination of all men to dream. Some may have short-term goals, and others may have life-long ambitions. Despite what cynics say, the American people are hopeful and waiting for something great. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck paints a portrait of characters who, longing for something outside of their monotonous lives, each have a lost dream that supports Steinbecks view that the American dream is a lost cause. Lennies dream to tend to rabbits does not come true because of his own deficiencies and the obstacles of society. As Lennie and George, Lennies companion and protector, travel through the woods to their next ranch-hand job, George confronts Lennie about keeping a dead mouse in his pocket and demands Lennie hand it over, Lennie hesitate[s], back[s] away, look[s] wildly at the brush line as though he contemplated running for his freedom. George insists, The mouse aint fresh, Lennie; and besides, youve broke it pettin it, and reminds Lennie of his past history of killing mice, so, then Lennie look[s] sadly up at him Id pet em, and pretty soon they bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little and then they was dead' (9-10). Lennie, who has a fetish for soft things, has the severe deficiency that he does not realize his own strength. His dream to own rabbits is important to him because he wants something to be responsible for, but it is obvious by his past history of roughness, and e ven his reluctance to hand the mouse over to George, that he is too reckless for his dream to ever to come true. In a conversation between Lennie and Curleys wife, Curleys wife tells Lennie that she has soft hair and that he may pet it, so, Lennies big fingers fell to stroking her hair Lennie said, Oh! Thats nice, and he stroked harder And then [Curleys wife] cried out angrily, You stop it now, youll mess it all up. She jerked her head sideways and Lennies fingers closed on her hair and hung on. Let go, she cried. You let go!' (99). Lennie panics, and, in an effort to silence her, shakes her so hard that he breaks her neck, showing that he has absolutely no self-control. He does not stop petting Curleys wifes hair when she asks him to, even demands him to, partly because he is too dumb, but also because he lacks the physical capacity to control himself. Although Lennie is inherently innocent, his dumbness and lack of self-control combined with his obsession with soft things and his unknown strength, produce a deadly formula. Unfortunately for Lennie, society does not understand his mental handicap (earlier in the book George makes reference to the fact that Lennie was kicked in the head as a boy), and because he murdered Curleys wife, George must shoot him. Before George shoots him, Lennie asks him to recite their shared dream aloud, We gonna get a little place, George began He reached in his side pocket and brought out [the gun] Look down there acrost the river, like you can almost see the place. And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennies head He pulled the trigger (117). Lennies dream is his security blanket. His only measure of the seriousness of his actions is how it will affect his dream, and in his last moments of life, he asks to hear about it, still is too naive to realize that surely now it can never come true. After George pulls the trigger, Lennie dies along with the lost dream. For Lennie , the American dream is dead. Crooks dream does not come true for different reasons. A lonely man desperate for companionship, he has the ambition to work on George and Lennies future farm that will never become reality. When Lennie first tells Crooks about his and Georges plan to buy a piece of land, Crooks reacts, Youre nuts I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an that same [darn] thing in their heads An never a [darn] one of them ever gets it. Crookss pattern of pessimism and negativity brings him down, and he even attempts to dampen the hopes of those around him, relating to Lennie that hundreds of men have passed through the ranch, all of them with dreams similar to Lennies, but not one of them, he emphasizes resentfully, ever manages to make that dream come true. However, when he hears more of the plan, he offers, If you guys would want a hand to work for nothing-just his keep, why Id come an lend a hand (80, 84). A plan so daring and uncertain requi res its followers to have absolute faith. Crooks, who never believes in the plan from the very start, has a great chance of suddenly giving up again. Crooks physical disability along with his race will prevent him from reaching his dream. Steinbeck narrates, Crooks, the Negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn His body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine (73). Crooks is not allowed in the bunkhouse with the white ranch hands and remains in a forced isolated state. He wants a place where he can be independent and have some security, but there is no security for a black man in a prejudiced world, least of all one with a crooked back. Farm work requires strength and physical endurance, and though Crooks offers to do odd jobs for George and Lennie, he would only end up hindering them with his disability. While Lennie, Candy, and Crooks fantasize about the land they hope to have one day, Curleys wife enters and mak es attempts to draw all attention to herself. When Crooks tells her to leave, She turned on him in scorn. Listen, Nigger You know what I can do to you if you open your trap? Crooks stared hopelessly at her Yes maam.' Curleys wife retorts, Well, you keep your place then, Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego-nothing to arouse either like or dislike. He said, Yes, maam, and his voice was toneless (88-89). The fact that Crooks is black cements his fate, and he realizes this. The moment Curleys wife, who on a larger scale actually represents all society, brings Crooks back to reality and keeps him down in his place, he loses the little bit of hope he had gained and again becomes nothing. The American dream that everyone has equal opportunity to achieve his goal through hard work and determination is dead to Crooks. Crooks pessimism, physical disability, and race prevent him from reaching his dream. Though Curleys wife, who walks the ranch as a temptress, seems to be cold and cruel, she too has a lost dream. Continuously throughout the novel, Curleys wife reminds those around her about the time a man came through town and told her that she could be a star. Another man told her that she was a natural and promised to write, but the letter never came. She tells Lennie, I always thought my ol lady stole it. Well, I wasnt going to stay no place where I couldnt get nowhere or make something of myself So I married Curley. Met him out to the Riverside Dance Palace that same night, (97). Curleys wife is a poor decision-maker because she does not think out her actions. Instead of pursuing her dream by taking acting lessons or moving to Hollywood, she marries Curley the same night she met him. Entering the marriage, she believes it is a means of escape, but she only ends up stuck in Salinas, even more tied down. In not giving Curleys wife a name, Steinbeck makes Curleys wife a universal ch aracter; she represents every woman. Curleys wife has no personal identity; she is only identified with her husband. A woman who does not have even an identity can never make it big or even on her own. Later, in the same barn scene, Curleys wife flirts with Lennie and encourages him to pet her hair. When she tells him to stop, Lennie becomes frightened and breaks her neck. Steinbeck describes, Curleys wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young, (101). Even before Curleys wife dies, she is bound to remain in the same circumstance her entire life, never able to make anything of herself. Only in Curleys wifes death does Steinbeck grant her virtue, because only then does she dies does she regain her innocence. Her dream is lost forever, and now without all her plans for the future she becomes fully human. Steinbe ck seems to show through her that even the worst of us have our humanity. For Curleys wife, the American dream to rise out of ones humble roots will never be a reality. Lennie, Crooks, and Curleys wife all have lost dreams because of their own personal deficiencies and those society forces on them. To them, the American dream is dead. Although the loss of dreams is depressing, all men must eventually face this harsh reality of life.

The Odyssey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Odyssey - Essay Example Telemachus is the son of Odysseus, and he wants to stop the suitors from taking advantage of his father’s estate. He searches for his father’s news so that they can proclaim their estate. Odysseus Odysseus is portrayed as a leader with Homeric character. He is powerful, confident, and courageous, and wants to achieve glory. Conversely, he has a character trait that makes him dissimilar from the others since he is particularly intelligent, and this is evident by his deliberations before any action. His intelligence and quick thinking helped him in the difficult situations that he encountered. His intelligence saves him when he escapes from Cyclops cave, and when he hides the disgust from the suitors; â€Å"please, play the wedding song for the guests† (Steinruck, 2008). Odysseus is remarkably eloquent in his speeches because he manipulates and convinces the audience. His soft tongue makes many people in the audience favor his assertions. This is evident when he wi ns the trust of Nausicca by using a comforting approach. Just like other Homeric heroes, Odysseus is striving to achieve glory from the society through noble deeds, and he also wants to go home. He is an adventures person, and this is portrayed by his luxurious life with calypso in an exotic land even though it lasts for a moment. He practices infidelity with Calypso for a short time and realizes he wants to go back home because calypso does not compare to his wife. He is concerned about his home, because he constantly thinks about home while spending time with Phaeacians. Odysseus is torn between the quest of getting home and achieving glory. Most of his time for getting home is wasted by his search for glory. He is troubled when he loses men and time while sacking land. Odysseus is a patient man â€Å"I will wait for as long as it takes in these caves† while enjoying milk and cheese (Steinruck, 2008). His patience makes him trapped in the cave when the Cyclops returns. Home ric characters are presented to be static since they are complex and realistic. These characters do not divert from their mission as portrayed by characters in modern novels and stories. However, this rule is broken by Odysseus and Telemachus. Odysseus is consumed by his quest of achieving glory, and this makes him reveal his identity to the Cyclops, thus bringing Poseidon’s anger on him. He is willing to temper his pride with patience at the concluding part of the epic. Even when he is disguised as a pauper Odysseus does not react to the abuse, â€Å"I will wait until the traps I have set and loyal people will place me at a suitable position for striking back† (Steinruck, 2008). Telemachus Telemachus was a child when his father left for Troy. At the beginning of the novel, Telemachus is still growing up. He is encountered by many challenges because he does not know how to protect the land from the suitors. Athena tells Telemachus to fight for his father’s estat e as she tells him â€Å"you are no longer a child† (Steinruck, 2008). He is facing this challenge because he recently became aware of the real intentions of the suitors. Telemachus is told by Athena that his father is still alive, and he needs to go to Pylos and Sparta to enquire about any news of his father. While he prepares to make his journey to Pylos and Sparta, Athena visits him, and she is masked as a mentor. She tells Telemachus â€Å"

The Nature and Role of Originality in Scientific Progress Term Paper

The Nature and Role of Originality in Scientific Progress - Term Paper Example At the same time, originality is not a quality that rigidly means that no one has ever performed that research before, indeed John Stuart Mill’s thesis, On Liberty, for the most part is actually a break-down of an ancestor’s work while Mill only interjects a few new thoughts. Although John Stuart Mill was not 100% original, he is still considered an original in his field because of a few breakthrough philosophies in economics: non-competing groups, joint products, alternative costs, the economics of the firm, supply and demand and Say’s law. These novel ideas although not entirely new are attributed to Mill because of his command of language and his analytic work. Originality is a measurement for scientific progress only if the originality accomplishes three things: it discovers a novelty or innovative piece of information; it adds more information to a theory, thus improving on it, or it can negate the truth of a widely-held belief. In all, originality has to ch arter man toward development and truth. Another criteria to evaluate the efficiency of originality is the closer investigation and refinement of theories already engineered. The purpose of originality is to necessary clash with an existing order since each new idea has to continually challenge man to question, revise and reform theories and accepted truths. Originality is not synonymous with development, however, it is positive because it carries a power that can revolutionize, shake and remake – a characteristic much needed in science. Also a risk that must be taken is the infiltration of error in the name of originality. â€Å"The Wealth of Nations (1776) is an intellectual watershed. Adam Smith’s System of Natural Liberty (Laissez Faire) represents a sharp break with the past with respect to the relations of citizens to government and the economy.† Composed by Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations is a historical text which advances the idea of capitalism and lai ssez-faire liberalism. Both philosophies manage to lay the groundwork for America’s government and economy. Adam Smith tends to revive a liberalism of a country’s local economy and the international market. Preceding capitalism and laissez-faire liberalism is a restrictive and imperialistic order controlled by the State. Smith stands out as a great economist since â€Å"great economists are those who influence the profession as a whole, and this they can do only if their doctrines do not involve too great a change from the views and knowledge of †¦the science† (Stigler 3). Smith blazes a trail in the field of economics advocating capitalism and laissez faire liberalism. His views are widely accepted because they fall in line with the predominant socio-political climate in America during the proclamation of independence and promote the interests of equality, meritocracy and industry in a society damaged by aristocratic prejudice and royalist oppression. Smit h’s view is to encourage a liberalization of the world market with no barriers to trade. Instead of an insular, local market, Smith lives and writes The Enlightenment period of world history during which the light of reason shines. Absolute control is no longer pleasing to the enlightened ear. Instead, independence obtains wide currency. In view of the change in American government from monarchy to democracy, Smith sees the need to break away from the old order of transacting business. The year is 1776 in which the rays of the Enlightenment burst forth; as a result, thinkers are developing new

Tell u later Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Tell u later - Lab Report Example The company has faced several political issues that have deteriorated its financial position and brand image among its peers. The major competitors of Nokia are Samsung, Apple, LG and Sony. These companies operate in the Android platform apart from Apple. The rapid growth of Samsung has allowed it to reach the leading position which was once owned by Nokia for a long period of time. Nokia has high potential in the windows tablet market owing to the recent rise of windows tablets’ popularity. The business deal with Microsoft has allowed Nokia to have a strong financial background that can be leveraged to finance the future innovations. In order to improve the current condition of Nokia, the company must introduce new technology and innovative products like smart watch or other wearable devices to gain a competitive advantage over its rivals. Nokia Corporation is best known as the manufacturer of mobile handsets in the global market. The company is headquartered in Finland, owns production plants in 8 countries and operates in more than 120 countries (Marketline, 2014a). The company also manufactures network and location based equipments for third party companies. The company owns three major business divisions, the devices and services, network solutions and location based services under the brand HERE. The devices and services section offers mobile phone devices including smart phones and other low end feature phones. The network solution section offers telecommunication solutions targeted at the global mobile broadband industry. It includes 3G, 4G and LTE services along with customer experience management. HERE offers customized GPS and location based services for application developers, automotive companies and device manufacturers (Nokia, 2014). The global mobile phone market has grown significantly over the past fe w years. As of 2013, the mobile phone market earned revenue of $163.4 billion, which represents a growth of

Analysis the Current Economic Crisis Term Paper

Analysis the Current Economic Crisis - Term Paper Example America had been the epicenter of scientific and engineering innovation throughout the 20 century. While the Civil War triggered off the entrepreneurial spirit in America and witnessed technological and scientific advancement in the 20th century, the period of five decades after the Civil War witnessed a virtual explosion of industrial growth. Additionally, the scale of the war convinced people about the viability of developing organizations of national scale. This belief, coupled with industrial growth, led to the development of gigantic business organizations. This period also witnessed the growth of nationwide transportation systems, like transnational railway lines and steamships and communication systems, like telephone and telegraph networks. These developments transformed the American economy from a loose collection of city/state based economy to a truly unified and synchronized economy. This unification led to a period of robust growth of the economy and drove the consumption of society. (Kornblith G.J., 2004) As discussed before, America in the pre-civil war era was essentially a loose collection of local economies. Agricultural was the most important employment generating sector and local communities were more or less self-dependent. However, agriculture, due to its inherent dependence on nature, offered an uncertain and often underpaid economic system. The advent of the Industrial revolution led to explosive growth in demand for skilled as well as unskilled laborers. Unlike agriculture, an industrial job offered more stability and sometimes, higher wages. This led to a massive flow of labor from agriculture to the industrial sector. This internal migration led to the rapid growth of existing cities and the development of new cities. This massive urbanization led to the evolution of an entirely different kind of society - a society that had a relatively stable income and surplus cash but was totally dependent on the larger economy for its basic needs. Â  

Medieval Warm Period Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Medieval Warm Period - Essay Example The Medieval Warm Period idea was discovered by an English Climatologist known as Hurbert H. Lamb for the first time in 1965. He also founded the (CRU) UK Climate Research Unit where he estimated that the High Middle Ages temperatures were 1-2 degrees above the normal (Bianchi 2009, p.87). This period impacted most part of the North Atlantic and the regions surrounding it. The Little Ice Age period followed after the occurrence of High Middle Ages Period. During earlier Medieval Period, Europe experienced the mild climate conditions where agriculture was practiced in the higher latitudes (Scott 2004, p. 21). The medieval Warm Period could be regional other than global but some traces shows that the period existence in other parts of world (Bradley 2003, p. 13). In attempt to provide evidence for the occurrence of medieval warm climate as a global element, the Holocene, interglacial and the bond argued on the basis of ratio of iron-stained present in ice –rafted debris in North Atlantic (Bradley 2003, p.18). The objective was to reconstruct Holocene temperature fluctuation but the problem encountered was that the yield temperature was less than one degree percent (Scott 2004, p.30). The optimum temperature needed for the reconstruction could have been 0.5 degrees Celsius. Some of the records that tried to explain the existence of medieval warm period include the mountain glaciations record, the tree ring records, the corals and the remains of flora and fauna found on the sediments in lakes and bogs. Some of the papers that supports that the High Middle Ages could be global include the tree-ring reconstruction in the Southern Hemisphere. The records shows that above average temperatures were received in the New Zealand during the summer temperatures. The period was also experienced in the pacific basin where sea level rose reaching a maximum that exceeded the normal sea level. In Asia, evidence of medieval warm Period was characterized by the cultivation o f citrus fruits which was never as far as to the north. The extreme warmth resulted to the existence of some insects such as the Heterogaster urticae beetle that was detected during the Roman Optimum (Bradley 2003, p.22). A case study in the northern part of the United States on the icy crystal known as Ikaite by geochemist Zunli Lu of Syracuse shows evidence of existence of Medieval Warm Climate. The case was 10,000 miles south of northern Europe (Mann 2003, p.85). The mineral forms in cold waters and constitutes water and calcium carbonate. The crystal could be found in Green land and off the coast of Antarctic Peninsula. The two climates were important because temperature variation resulted into the formation of the Ikaite. The hydrated water from the bottom of the ocean holds the crystal structures together hence during cooling; the ice sheets would expand as the bottom ocean water accumulates heavy oxygen isotopes (Goose 2006, p.223). Melting of glaciers causes mixture of the b ottom water with the enriched light oxygen fresh water. When the ratio of oxygen isotope in calcium carbonate and that o hydrated water was taken, a correction of oxygen was determined between rises and fall. A conclusion in the Antarctic Peninsula was that the crystal Ikaite could build oscillations around the globe especially during the High Middle Ages (Peterson 2005, p.116). The Mediaeval Warm Period in South China The medieval warm per

Tell u later Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Tell u later - Lab Report Example The company has faced several political issues that have deteriorated its financial position and brand image among its peers. The major competitors of Nokia are Samsung, Apple, LG and Sony. These companies operate in the Android platform apart from Apple. The rapid growth of Samsung has allowed it to reach the leading position which was once owned by Nokia for a long period of time. Nokia has high potential in the windows tablet market owing to the recent rise of windows tablets’ popularity. The business deal with Microsoft has allowed Nokia to have a strong financial background that can be leveraged to finance the future innovations. In order to improve the current condition of Nokia, the company must introduce new technology and innovative products like smart watch or other wearable devices to gain a competitive advantage over its rivals. Nokia Corporation is best known as the manufacturer of mobile handsets in the global market. The company is headquartered in Finland, owns production plants in 8 countries and operates in more than 120 countries (Marketline, 2014a). The company also manufactures network and location based equipments for third party companies. The company owns three major business divisions, the devices and services, network solutions and location based services under the brand HERE. The devices and services section offers mobile phone devices including smart phones and other low end feature phones. The network solution section offers telecommunication solutions targeted at the global mobile broadband industry. It includes 3G, 4G and LTE services along with customer experience management. HERE offers customized GPS and location based services for application developers, automotive companies and device manufacturers (Nokia, 2014). The global mobile phone market has grown significantly over the past fe w years. As of 2013, the mobile phone market earned revenue of $163.4 billion, which represents a growth of

Medieval Warm Period Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Medieval Warm Period - Essay Example The Medieval Warm Period idea was discovered by an English Climatologist known as Hurbert H. Lamb for the first time in 1965. He also founded the (CRU) UK Climate Research Unit where he estimated that the High Middle Ages temperatures were 1-2 degrees above the normal (Bianchi 2009, p.87). This period impacted most part of the North Atlantic and the regions surrounding it. The Little Ice Age period followed after the occurrence of High Middle Ages Period. During earlier Medieval Period, Europe experienced the mild climate conditions where agriculture was practiced in the higher latitudes (Scott 2004, p. 21). The medieval Warm Period could be regional other than global but some traces shows that the period existence in other parts of world (Bradley 2003, p. 13). In attempt to provide evidence for the occurrence of medieval warm climate as a global element, the Holocene, interglacial and the bond argued on the basis of ratio of iron-stained present in ice –rafted debris in North Atlantic (Bradley 2003, p.18). The objective was to reconstruct Holocene temperature fluctuation but the problem encountered was that the yield temperature was less than one degree percent (Scott 2004, p.30). The optimum temperature needed for the reconstruction could have been 0.5 degrees Celsius. Some of the records that tried to explain the existence of medieval warm period include the mountain glaciations record, the tree ring records, the corals and the remains of flora and fauna found on the sediments in lakes and bogs. Some of the papers that supports that the High Middle Ages could be global include the tree-ring reconstruction in the Southern Hemisphere. The records shows that above average temperatures were received in the New Zealand during the summer temperatures. The period was also experienced in the pacific basin where sea level rose reaching a maximum that exceeded the normal sea level. In Asia, evidence of medieval warm Period was characterized by the cultivation o f citrus fruits which was never as far as to the north. The extreme warmth resulted to the existence of some insects such as the Heterogaster urticae beetle that was detected during the Roman Optimum (Bradley 2003, p.22). A case study in the northern part of the United States on the icy crystal known as Ikaite by geochemist Zunli Lu of Syracuse shows evidence of existence of Medieval Warm Climate. The case was 10,000 miles south of northern Europe (Mann 2003, p.85). The mineral forms in cold waters and constitutes water and calcium carbonate. The crystal could be found in Green land and off the coast of Antarctic Peninsula. The two climates were important because temperature variation resulted into the formation of the Ikaite. The hydrated water from the bottom of the ocean holds the crystal structures together hence during cooling; the ice sheets would expand as the bottom ocean water accumulates heavy oxygen isotopes (Goose 2006, p.223). Melting of glaciers causes mixture of the b ottom water with the enriched light oxygen fresh water. When the ratio of oxygen isotope in calcium carbonate and that o hydrated water was taken, a correction of oxygen was determined between rises and fall. A conclusion in the Antarctic Peninsula was that the crystal Ikaite could build oscillations around the globe especially during the High Middle Ages (Peterson 2005, p.116). The Mediaeval Warm Period in South China The medieval warm per

The Colt Revolver Essay Example for Free

The Colt Revolver Essay In the 1870s Colt’s Manufacturing Company was making new models. For example in 1872 the company began to manufacture its first breech-loaded revolver, which used self-contained metallic cartridges. After that between 1873 and 1941, Colt’s Manufacturing Company produced more than 350,000 Single Action Army Revolvers and 40,000 .45 Caliber bullets with it. In 1901 to 1960, the company had only eight presidents. Colt’s Manufacturing Company was faced with usual problems that confronted the company. With the onset of the war in 1942, Colt’s Firearms tripled its workforce to 15,000 employees in three plants. By 1955 the company was losing money and faced a deficit that was growing each month. By September, Colt’s board decided to seek a merger partner. They found Leopold D. Silberstein and his company, the Penn-Texas Corporation. In addition Colt’s Firearms became a wholly owned subsidiary of Silberstein’s holding company. From 1960 to 1994 Colt’s Firearms introduced the AR-15(which is a semiautomatic rifle). Shorter after the AR-15, the company made the M16 (which is a military full-automatic rifle). Changes came again in 1964 when the company reorganized under the name of Colt Industries and the firearms subsidiary became Colt’s Inc., Firearms Division. During the 1970s the company introduced the Sharps Rifle, Sawer Rifle, and the Black powder Reproductions. In addition Colt management also responded to an increasing demand for engraved firearms. In 1986 the company celebrated its 150 anniversary. By 1995 to 2009 Colt’s Firearms exited from a short bankruptcy and then launched a rebirth and rejuvenation. By doing so the company made ne weapons, for example different pistols and rifles that were automatic.

Electroencephalogram Test on Alcoholics and Non Alcoholics

Electroencephalogram Test on Alcoholics and Non Alcoholics INTRODUCTION The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a measurement of the electrical activity in the patients brain. This electrical activity is produced by the firing of neurons (a nerve cell) within the brain and varies from patient to patient. In 1875, English physician Richard Caton discovered the presence of electrical activity in the brain; however, it was not until German neurologist Han Berger in 1924 used his ordinary radio equipment to amplify the brains electrical activity so he could record it on paper. He noticed that rhythmic changes in brain waves varied with the individuals state of consciousness (sleep, anesthesia, epilepsy) and that various regions of the brain do not emit the same brain wave frequency simultaneously. (http://www.bio-medical.com). The EEG was given its name by Berger who used the German term elektrenkephalogramm to describe the graphical representation of the electrical currents generated in the brain. The scientific community of Bergers time did not believe the concl usions he made and it took another five years until his conclusions could be verified through experimentation by Edgar Douglas Adrian and B.C.H Matthews. These experiments made head-waves and other scientists began studying the field and in 1936 W. Gray Walter demonstrated that this technology could be used to pinpoint a brain tumor. He used a large number of small electrodes that he pasted to the scalp and found that brain tumors caused areas of abnormal electrical activity. (Romanowski 1999) and http://www.ebme.co.uk. The brain is the central part of the nervous system, which is the most complicated system in the body. It is an intriguing organ that has been studied right from the time of brain development in the fetus. The human brain weighs about 1.5kg in adults. The cerebrum, which forms the bulk of the brain, is divided into two hemispheres, the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere. Each hemisphere of the brain interacts with one half of the body, but for unknown reasons, it is the right side that controls the left half of the body and the left half of the brain that controls the right half of the body. However, in most people, the left hemisphere of the brain is involved in language and creativeness, while the right side of the brain is more involved in understanding and judgment. The cerebrum, which is located in the forebrain, is the largest part of the human brain and is associated with higher brain functions such as thought and action. The cerebral cortex is divided into four sections called lobes. These include: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe. The frontal lobe is associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement and problem solving. The parietal lobe is associated with movement, orientation, recognition and perception of stimuli. The occipital lobe is associated with visual processing and the temporal lobe is associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, memory and speech. (Khan 2009). Over the years with advancements in technology EEG electrodes, amplifiers and output devices were improved and scientists learned the best places to put the electrodes and how to diagnose its conditions. They also discovered how to create electrical maps to produce an image of the brains surface and today EEG machines have multiple channels, computer storage memories and specialized software that can create an electrical map of the brain. (Romanowski 1999). EEG has come a long way since its inception more than 100 years ago and it is used primarily in studying the properties of cerebral and neural networks in neurosciences (Michel et al. 2004). It is used to monitor the neurodevelopment and sleep patterns of infants in the intensive care unit and ultimately enable physicians to use the information to improve daily medical care (Scher 2004). The emergence of neurofeedback or EEG biofeedback has expanded the application of EEG for both cases with particular disorders or among healthy p articipants. EEG frequencies in neurofeedback can be controlled to influence certain cognitive performance and memory task, (Vernon et al. 2003). Interactive Brainwave Visual Analyzer (IBVA) is a form of biofeedback for the brain (neurofeedback). Its a training process of using technology to provide you with more information about what your body is doing than your ordinary senses provide. This feedback helps you learn to use your mind to develop greater control over your body, or, in the case of neurofeedback, your brain. IBVA detects brainwaves phasing at speeds measured in units of Hz for cycles per second between 0 and 60 Hz. It is used for sleep state and hypnosis analysis, image programming for sports training, super learning (photo reading) and for study. EEG biofeedback is effective in treating psychological disorders such as attention deficit, depression, chronic anxiety disorder, chronic alcoholics and neurological disorders like epilepsy. Patients with epilepsy that cannot be controlled by medication will often have surgery in order to remove the damaged tissue. The EEG plays an important role in localizing this tissue. Special electrodes can be inserted through the cortex or alternatively a grid of electrodes placed directly on the surface of the cortex. These recordings, often called Long Term Monitoring for Epilepsy (LTME), can be carried out for periods ranging from 24 hours to 1 week. The EEG recorded will indicate which areas of the brain should be surgically removed. (Smith n.d). Another important application of the EEG is used by anesthesiologist to monitor the depth of anesthesia. EEG measures taken during anesthesia exhibit stereotypic changes as anesthetic depth increases. These changes include complex patterns of loss of consciousness occurs (loss of responses to verbal commands and/or loss of righting reflex). As anesthetic depth increases from light surgical levels to deep anesthesia, the EEG exhibits disrupted rhythmic waveforms, high amplitude burst suppression activity, and finally, very low amplitude isoelectric or flat line activity. Quantitative EEG (QEEG) has come a long way in its relatively short life in terms of use in clinical practice. Now, as clinicians become aware of the scientific basis and power of using parametrically based measures of QEEG to assess an individual against age-matched populations, they find new ways to employ this technique. There are literally thousands of univariate electrophysiological measures that can be derived, transformed and normed into Z-scores (standard scores), to be used to indicate degrees of derivations from normal. QEEG offers a powerful application tool as a method for providing convergent evidence in the identification of clinical syndromes for individuals. Over the years, various clinicians using QEEG have attempted to establish brain maps to correspond with specific disorders such as learning disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), chronic alcoholism and depression. While certain features may be associated with general types of impairments, the utilization of univariate sets of features have, to date, been unable to provide defining specific psychiatric disorders. Looking at only the univariate features without recognizing the full space of all deviant measures, one may not realize the particular cluster of measure that may contribute to specific disorders with distinct features. Multivariate statistical measurement sets encompass the space of regions by measurement, yielding distinctive complex patterns which yield greater sensitivity in discriminability. (Budzynski, Evans and Abarbanel 2008). The basic systems of an EEG machine include data collection, storage and display. The components of these systems include electrodes, connecting wires, a computer control module and a display device. The electrodes used can be either surface or needle electrodes. Needle electrodes provide greater signal clarity because they are injected directly into the body and this in turn eliminates signal muffling caused by the skin. Surface electrodes on the other hand are disposable models such as the tab, ring and bar electrodes as well as reusable disc and finger electrodes. These electrodes may also be combined into an electrode cap that is placed directly on the head (Romanowski 2002). EEG amplifiers convert weak signals from the brain into a more discernable signal for the output device. An amplifier may be set up as follows; a pair of electrodes detects the electrical signal from the body, wires connected to the electrodes transfer the signal to the first section of the amplifier (buffer amplifier). Here the signal is electronically stabilized and amplified by a factor of 5 10 and then next in line is a differential pre-amplifier that filters and amplifies the signal by a factor of 10 – 100. After passing through these amplifiers the signals are multiplied by hundreds or thousands of times. Multiple electrodes are used since the brain produces different signals at different points on the skull and the number of channels that an EEG machine has is related to the number of electrodes used. The amplifier is able to translate the different incoming signals and cancel out ones that are identical; this means that the output from the machine is actually the diff erence in electrical activity picked up by the two electrodes. This therefore means that the placement for each electrode is critical because the closer they are to each other the less differences in brainwaves will be recorded (Romanowski 2002). EEG SYSTEM LAYOUT (www.medicalengineer.com) Recording of the electrical activity in the brain takes place over a short period of time from where information is obtained from electrodes stationed at specific points on the patients head. Electrodes are placed on the scalp of the head usually after preparing the scalp area by light abrasion to reduce impedance due to dead skin cells. In order for the placement of these electrodes to be consistent throughout an internationally recognized method called the 10-20 System is followed. The 10 and the 20 gives the actual distances between adjacent electrodes. This distance can either be 10% or 20% of the total front-back or right-left distance of the skull, i.e. the nasion – inion and preauricular points respectively, http://www.neurocarelaunches.com. Specific measurements from bony landmarks (inion, nasion and preauricular point) are used to generate a system of lines, which run across the head and intersect at intervals of 10% or 20% of their total length as mentioned above. Th e standard set of electrodes consists of 21 recording electrodes and one ground electrode. The distance between the nasion and inion is measured along the midline and the frontopolar point, Fpz, is marked at 10% above the nasion. Frontal (Fz), central (Cz), parietal (Pz) and occipital (Oz) points are marked at intervals of 20% of the entire distance, leaving 10% for the interval between Oz and inion (see Diagram 1). The midline points Fpz and Oz routinely do not receive any electrode. The distance between two preauricular points across Cz is measured. Along this line, the transverse position for the central points C3 and C4 and the temporal points T3 and T4 are marked 20% and 40% respectively from the midline (see Diagram 2). The circumference of the head is measured form the occipital point (Oz) through temporal points T3 and T4 and the frontopolar point (Fpz). The longitudinal measurement for Fp1 is located on that circumference, 5% of the total length of the circumference to the left of Fpz. The longitudinal measurements for F7, T3, T5, O1, O2, T6, T4, F8 and Fp2 are at the distance of 10% of the circumference (see Diagram 3). An electrode is then placed on each of the two ear lobes. (Jasper 1958) and (Jasper 1983). In order for the EEG test to be a success and the best possible results obtained the preparation the patient must undergo is very basic since only a good night sleep before the test is needed along with a grease-free head on the morning of the test. However, it can get more technical should the patient be taking any medication and information on this medication must be passed on to the doctor. An EEG test may be done in a hospital or in a doctors office by an EEG technologist. Using the internationally recognized 10-20 system, the electrodes are placed on the patients head and the technologist can then put the patient through a variety of different tasks such as addition/subtraction of numbers, breathing deeply and rapidly or he can ask the person to wear a goggles sending out a strobe (bright flashing light). These tasks take place normally at 15-20 second durations with 30 second breaks in between. The electrodes attached to the patients head are connected by wires to a computer wh ich records the electrical activity in the brain. An EEG test can last between 1-2 hours and the results obtained from it can be read by a certified doctor known as a Neurologist. The results of an EEG test are in the form of waveforms which gives vital information about the patient. Waves can either be Alpha waves (frequency of 8 to 12 cycles per second), Beta waves (frequency of 14 to 50 cycles per second), Delta waves (frequency less than 5 cycles per second) or Theta waves (frequency of 4 to 7 cycles per second). Basic alpha waves, which originate in the cortex, can be recorded if the patient closes his eyes and put his brain at rest as much as possible. Beta activity is a normal activity present when the eyes are open or closed. It tends to be seen in the channels recorded from the centre or front of the head. Some drugs however, tend to increase the amount of beta activity in the EEG. Theta activity can be classified as both a normal and abnormal activity depending on the age and state of the patient. In adults it is normal if the patient is drowsy. However, it can also indicate brain dysfunction if it is seen in a patient who is alert and awake. In youn ger patients, theta activity may be the main activity seen in channels recorded from the back and central areas of the head. Delta activity is only normal in an adult patient if they are in a moderate to deep sleep. If it is seen at any other time it would indicate brain dysfunction. Abnormal activity may be seen in all or some channels depending on the underlying brain problem. The stroke or blow on the head. (Niedermeyer, Ernest and Lopes da Silva 2004). ALPHA WAVES BETA WAVES THETA WAVES DELTA WAVES (http://www.electropsychology.com) Each type of wave mentioned above gives us information about the patient, for example in a normal patient we tend to observe mainly alpha or beta waves since both sides of the brain show similar patterns of electrical activity. A normal person in this case is described as one who doesnt possess any of the following diseases or injuries; head injury, neurological disease, convulsions, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, memory difficulties, confusion, depression, delusions/hallucinations and learning disabilities. If the patient is abnormal you may find two sides of the brain giving different electrical activities and this may mean there is a problem in one side of the brain caused by a brain tumor, stroke, infection or epilepsy. EPILEPTIC SPIKES AND WAVE DISCHARGES MONITORED WITH EEG (http://www.webmd.com). A stroke, which is a sudden disruption in blood flow to brain, caused by blockage or bleeding of a blood vessel and Epilepsy which is a nervous system disorder, can cause abnormal electrical activity in the brain and this abnormality can be seen from the results of an EEG test. Another common disease which is on the escalation presently is Alcoholism. This disease is known as alcohol dependence syndrome i.e. the most severe stage of a group of drinking problems, and the person who has this disease is known as an alcoholic. Alcohol clearly affects the brain since impairments such as difficulty in walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times and impaired memory are detectable after only one or two drinks and is quickly resolved when drinking stops. We do know that heavy drinking may have extensive and far-reaching effects on the brain ranging from simple slips in memory to permanent and debilitating conditions that require lifetime custodial care (White 2003). Accordi ng to the number 1 website for alcoholism, http://www.alcoholism.about.com, studies have shown that brains of alcoholics are smaller, lighter and shrunken when compared to that of a normal person. The cerebral cortex or gray matter in the brain controls all the complex mental activities and this is filled with neurons connected by single long fibers which make up the hard wiring of the brain. Heavy consumption of alcohol is particularly damaging on this hard wiring hence the reason why the brain becomes lighter and smaller and the alcoholic severe impairments. SCHEMATIC DRAWING OF THE HUMAN BRAIN, SHOWING REGIONS VULNERABLE TO ALCOHOLISM-RELATED ABNORMALITIES. (http://www.elvizy.com). Another major organ apart from the brain which alcohol affects is the liver. Long-term abusers of alcohol usually have some degree of liver damage, ranging in severity from asymptomatic and reversible fatty liver, through hepatitis and cirrhosis, to primary liver cell carcinoma, which is usually fatal. Evidence is accruing to suggest that this spectrum of disorders may be a progressive series of stages of increasing severity. Alcohol liver damage accounts for the vast majority of cases of cirrhosis in patients coming to autopsy. Further, mortality from cirrhosis is associated with national per capita levels of consumption. In North-American studies, alcoholic cirrhosis was one of the top five causes of mortality for people aged 25 to 64 years in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1992, Savolainen, Penttila and Karhunen investigated the relationship between alcohol intake and liver cirrhosis in Finland, where the per capita consumption rates doubles between 1969 and 1974. Rates of liver cirrhosi s mortality rose from 4.2 to 9.7 per 100,000 between 1968 and 1988. The mortality rate from cirrhosis has been estimated as between seven and thirteen times higher in alcoholics than in those who do not drink. Although it is more common in men than in women, there is evidence that liver disease progresses more rapidly in the female alcohol abuser (Knight and Longmore 1996). Alcoholics, they say, are not like helpless victims of measles or cancer. They may have impaired control but they can gain control through will-power and learning certain techniques. While the cause of alcoholism is unknown, a number of risk factors have been identified. These include; availability (Australian Aborigines illustrate the importance of availability of alcohol as a risk factor since when they were forbidden to drink there apparently was a low rate of alcohol abuse), family history (alcoholism in the family is probably the strongest predictor of alcoholism occurring in particular individuals), sex (st udies have confirmed higher incidence of alcoholism in men than in women), age (alcoholism in men usually develops in the teens, twenties and thirties while in women it often develops later), geography (people living in urban or suburban areas are more often alcoholics than those living in farms or in small towns), occupation (waiters, bartenders, Dockers, musicians, authors and reporters have relatively high cirrhosis rates whereas accountants, postmen and carpenters have relatively low rates), religion (almost all Jews and Episcopalians drink, but alcoholism among Jews is uncommon and appear relatively low among Episcopalians, whereas Irish Catholics in the USA and UK have high rates of alcoholism) and school difficulty ( secondary school dropouts have a record of being irritable and melancholy and experience feelings of guilt and remorse which drives them to become alcoholics. These lose interest in life and contemplate suicide which is a common outcome of alcoholism). People who have been drinking large amounts of alcohol for long periods of time run the risk of developing serious and persistent changes in the brain. Damage may be as a result of the alcohol on the brain or may result indirectly, from a poor health status or from severe liver disease (Goodwin 2000). Alcoholics are not all alike since they experience different degrees of impairment and the disease has different origins for different people. Consequently, researchers have not found conclusive evidence that any one variable is solely responsible for the brain deficits found in alcoholics. Characterizing what makes some alcoholics vulnerable to brain damage whereas others are not remains the subject of active research. The good news is that most alcoholics with cognitive impairment show at least some improvement in brain structure and functioning within a year of abstinence, though some people take much longer (Bates, Bowden and Barry 2002), (Gansler 2000) and (Sullivan 2000). Clinicians must consider a variety of treatment methods to help people stop drinking and to recover from alcohol related brain impairments, and tailor these treatments to the individual patient. Development of these therapies would occur over time with advancements in technology. Brain imaging techniques are u sed by medical doctors so that they can monitor the course of these therapies and see how successful they are. This monitoring is important since imaging can reveal information such as structural, functional and biochemical changes in the living patient over a period of time. Promising new medications also are in the early stages of development, as researchers strive to design therapies that can help prevent alcohols harmful effects and promote the growth of new brain cells to take the place of those that have been damaged by alcohol. OBJECTIVES Electroencephalogram or EEG is a tool used to image the brain while it is performing a cognitive task. This allows us to detect the location and magnitude of brain activity involved in the various types of cognitive functions we study. EEG allows us to view and record the changes in your brain activity during the time you are performing the task. Results from an EEG is extremely useful since Neurologists use this to diagnose seizure disorders (epilepsy), brain tumors, brain hemorrhage, cerebral infarct, head injury, sleep disorders and in confirming death in someone who is in a coma. (Tatum 2007). In this research project we have narrowed the study of the EEG to examine male alcoholic and non-alcoholic patients. The general objective of this project requires us to compare EEG results obtained from testing alcoholic and non-alcoholic patients at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. An alcoholic is one who suffers from the disease known as alcoholism and cannot control how much they consume. Identification of one involves an objective assessment regarding the damage that imbibing alcohol does to the drinkers life compared with the subjective benefits the drinker perceives from consuming alcohol. While there are many cases where an alcoholics life has been significantly and obviously damaged, there are always borderline cases that can be difficult to classify. Apart from the general objective of this research project there were many smaller tasks which had to be completed in order for us to obtain successful results and hence fulfill our main objective. The first task of this research project entailed sourcing alcoholic and non-alcoholic volunteers to test. This was particularly important since the successfulness of this task would revolve solely around our general objective. However, once this first task was sorted out and patients were tested, from the results obtained we used analytical methods such as monopolar absolute power maps, coherence maps and chaos analysis to help us get a clearer illustration of the results and hence make the general objective much clearer. The second objective of this project required us to have sufficient background information on the EEG, the experimental methodology when conducting an EEG (10-20 System), analytical methods used to illustrate EEG results, alcoholism, EEG on alcoholics and other general topics revolving around the area of research. In order for this to be a success the necessary books, journals, websites had to be sourced and read before any practical work commenced. Once these two tasks were performed successfully, we then set out to obtain our general objective of analyzing and comparing EEG results of both alcoholics and non-alcoholics. LITERATURE REVIEW An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures and records the electrical activity of your brain by using surface biopotential electrodes. These electrodes are attached to the patients head and hooked by wires to a computer which records the brains electrical activity on the screen or on paper as wavy lines (waveforms). Among the basic waveforms are the alpha, beta, theta and delta rhythms. Alpha waves occur at a frequency of 8 to 12 cycles per second in a regular rhythm and are present only when you are awake but have your eyes closed. They normally disappear when you open your eyes or start concentrating mentally. Beta waves occur at a frequency of 13 to 30 cycles per second and are usually associated with the use of sedative medications. Theta waves occur at a frequency of 4 to 7 cycles per second and are most common in children and young adults. Delta waves occur at a frequency of 0.5 to 3.5 cycles per second and generally occur in young children or during deep sleep. Duri ng an EEG, typically about 20-30 minutes of activity are evaluated and special attention is paid to the basic waveforms, but brief bursts of energy and responses to stimuli, such as light are also examined, (The university of Texas medical branch, http://www.utmbhealthcare.org). Results from an EEG test can tell a lot about the patient and is a read by a neurologist. The waves recorded can be classified as normal or abnormal. Abnormal waves can indicate medical problems, whereas different types of normal waves can indicate various states or activity levels. The value of understanding the normal EEG lies in developing the foundation to provide a clinical basis for identifying abnormality. Knowledge of normal waveform variations, variants of normal EEG that are of uncertain significance, and fluctuations of normal EEG throughout the lifecycle from youth to the aged are essential to provide an accurate impression for clinical interpretation. When abnormality is in doubt, a conservation impression of normal is proper. EEG produces a graphic display of a difference in voltages from two sites of brain functions recorded over time. Extra cranial EEG provides a broad survey of the electrocerebral activity throughout both hemispheres of the brain while intracranial E EG provides focused EEG recording directly from the brain through surgically implanted electrodes that are targeted at specific regions of the brain. (Tatum 2007). Information about a diffuse or focal cerebral dysfunction, the presence of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), or patterns of special significance may be revealed from an abnormal EEG. For the successful interpretation of an abnormal EEG, one must first understand the criteria necessary to define normal patterns. While a normal EEG does not exclude a clinical diagnosis (i.e. epilepsy), an abnormal finding on an EEG may be supportive of a diagnosis (i.e. in epilepsy), be indicative of cerebral dysfunction (i.e. focal or generalized slowing), or have nothing to do with the reason that the study was performed (i.e. in headache). It is in the clinical application of the EEG findings that imparts the utility of EEG. (Tatum 2007). Two important applications involving EEG wave classification are diagnosis of sleep disorde rs and construction of brain-computer interfaces to assist disabled people with daily living tasks. Sleep occupies roughly one-third of a persons life and is indispensable for health and well-being. Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by a ten-second or longer pauses in breathing during sleep. A person with sleep apnea cannot self-diagnose the presence of this disorder so in order to make diagnoses for sleep disorders, physicians usually need to study patients sleep patterns through sleep recording. A typical sleep recording has multiple channels of EEG waves coming from the electrodes placed on the subjects head. The waves from a healthy subject are stable about zero and show relatively high variability and low correlation whilst the waves from a person with sleep difficulty show less variability and higher correlation. Measuring EEG signals is a non-intrusive procedure since it does not cause any pain to the subject. Sleep staging is the pattern recognition task of classifying sleep recordings into sleep stages continuously over time and is performed by a sleep stager. These sleep stages include rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, four levels of non-REM sleep and being awake. Sleep staging is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of various sleep disorders. In order to make many EEG-based applications practical enough for routine use, it is necessary to achieve high accuracy in EEG wave classification. For physicians specializing in sleep disorders, improving sleep stage classification accuracy can increase both their diagnostic accuracy and the speed with which they make diagnosis. (Min and Luo. n.d). DIAGRAM SHOWING EEG SLEEP PATTERNS, (http://www.benbest.com) Brain-Computer interfaces (BCIs) are currently being developed to facilitate the control of computers by people who are disabled. As disabled people think about what they want to have the computer do, their thinking is classified based on their EEG waves and corresponding instructions are automatically executed by the computer. Accurate EEG wave classification is a critical requirement for computers to receive correct instructions. There are various kinds of BCIs with the most promising one being the P300 BCI using EEG signals. This is so because of its non-invasiveness, ease of use, portability and low set-up cost. In neuroscience, P300 refers to a neutrally-evoked potential component of EEG. (Min and Luo. n.d). Quantitative EEG signal analysis involves the transformation of the EEG signal into numerical values that can be used to examine selected EEG features. Once a specific feature of the EEG has been quantified, it can be displayed using various graphical methods such as topographic mapping or spectral trend monitoring. Other applications of quantitative analysis include automated event detection, intraoperative or ICU monitoring, and source localization. Normative databases of quantitative EEG features (such as the peak alpha rhyth m frequency or amount of alpha reactivity) can be used for statistical comparisons in research studies. Statistical quantitative EEG analysis is not yet considered reliable as an independent measure of abnormal brain function for clinical purposes. Topographic mapping refers to the graphical display of the distribution of a particular EEG feature over the scalp or cortical surface. Advanced forms of topographic mapping attempt to display EEG activity as it might be seen at the cortical surface by superimposing a color or gray scale image of the EEG feature onto the cortical surface image taken from the subjects MRI. More simplified forms of topographic mapping create a graphic display of an EEG feature over an imaginary head surface. All methods of topographic mapping depend heavily on montage construction. (Fisch and Spehlmann 1999). DIAGRAM SHOWING AN EEG TOPOGRAPHIC MAP, (http://www.cerebromente.org) Automated event detection is a form of quantitative analysis in which certain signal characteristics are used to classify an EEG change. It is most commonly applied to the detection of electrographic seizures during epilepsy monitoring. Intraoperative EEG monitoring is performed using continuous routine EEG visual inspection alone or in combination with quantitative EEG monitoring. The most common application of intraoperative EEG monitoring is for ca

Character and Setting in Popular Music :: Music Communication Essays

Character and Setting in Popular Music Whether it is through music or written literature, such as a novel, characters convey emotion and thought. The audience understands through the characters present. Just as we find characters we love we also find characters we despise. Setting is much the same. Whether the setting is explicitly given or simply implied, the audience has a picture in mind. Sometimes it is a place of great beauty and sometimes it is a place we would rather disregard. It is my observations however that character and setting are to some extent present in every song I listen to. Character and setting are not only additions to music and songs, but seem to be what makes the songs. Of the popular music available today, we can find songs dedicated to telling a story about a lost loved one, a favorite place of recluse, love in general. But not each of the popular songs lay out the setting or give the embodiment of a character. Listening to these songs however, the listener is transposed into the song and can see as the speaker talks. For example, Alicia Keys’s song â€Å"Diary.† This song is the voice of a woman speaking to her lover. â€Å"Lay your head down on my pillow,† she sings. â€Å"Here you can be yourself.† So from the beginning we are invited to witness the sweet whispers of lovers in a room. The bed, inviting and comfortable, sits in center stage. We listen to the woman tell of her love and the security her man can find in her and she in him. â€Å"I am the pages of your diary,† she sings. Again, Alicia does not tell us all the details, but somehow the picture is so clear. Another example of a popular song that has setting and character is a song by India Arie entitled â€Å"Nature.† In this song she is telling a loved one to slow down: â€Å"Let’s sit and watch the flowers grow†¦let’s sit and watch the river flow.† She believes that nature is a show and there is music there. And although she doesn’t really give us a clear character we can relate to, we can see the singer as the character.

A Character Analysis of Nora in Ibsens A Dolls House Essays -- A Doll

A Character Analysis of Nora in Ibsen's A Doll's House It is a general consensus that women play more than one role after they are married and have a family. These roles include wife, mother, chauffeur, and nurse. In A Doll's House, Nora is given many roles to play and, though some of the above are included, she also plays the role of child, friend, confidante, and manipulator. But the greatest feat that she accomplishes is her star performance as doting daughter and submissive spouse. Nora has been acting out a role to fit everyone's expectations of her since she was a small child. "When I was home with Daddy, he told me all his opinions, and so they became my options too. If I disagreed with him I kept it to myself, for he wouldn't have liked that. He called me his little doll baby, and he played with me the way I played with my dolls" (Act III 945) one can imagine Nora as a young child, living under the conditions that she did, knowing that, if she did want to make...

Persuasion, Manipulation, and Ethics

There is a thin line that goes between persuasion, manipulation, and being downright unethical. There is a huge difference between what is persuasive and what is manipulative or unethical. However, there is a certain degree wherein these ideas come into a junction. Perhaps, the shared meaning between these words is influenced and is dependent on the objective and the intention of the speaker. To be clear on the similarities and or differences of these words, the definition of each must be placed into position. Persuasion is an act of influencing or pleading others to understand and recognize certain ideologies, beliefs, viewpoints, etc. Manipulation, on the other hand, is a form of social control wherein others are dealt with forcefully, capably, or cleverly, to bring about an end that is beneficial to the manipulator. (Merriam-Webster, 2008) Judging by the definition of the word ‘manipulation’ makes it unethical. If persuasion were a form of influence, then it would be accurate to establish the idea that in persuading an audience, there is a sense of sending out information and enlightening the audience to sway and encourage them to believe in or adhere to an idea. Manipulation on the other hand is a more dynamic  Ã‚  Ã‚   way of bringing about action and change to the audience. (Sager, 2008) If it is a cleverly way to win over an audience and controlling them to accomplish an objective, it would also be precise to establish the idea that in manipulation, there might be a tendency to go beyond what is ethical, such as covering-up the truth, to make people believe in or adhere to an idea. (Maxfield, 2007) Somehow, persuasion and manipulation are one in the same in the sense that both ideas are common in their objectives and purpose, and that is to cause change behaviorally or ideologically speaking to their audience. The difference between the two lies in their means of carrying out this objective. Persuasion is only a part of the bigger picture and that is manipulation. However, persuading an audience does not make it manipulation or an unethical act. References Maxfield, D. (2007). Influence vs. Persuasion and Manipulation. Retrieved: February 28, 2008, from InfluencerBook. Website: http://www.influencerbook.com/blog/influencer/1191540540000.html Merriam-Webster. (2008). Merriam-Webster Online. Retrieved: February 28, 2008, from Merriam-Webster Incorporated. Website: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manipulate Sager, Lynn Marie. (2008). Persuasion Versus Manipulation – What’s the Difference?. Retrieved: February 28, 2008, from EzineArticles. Website: http://ezinearticles.com/?Persuasion-Versus-Manipulation—Whats-the-Difference?&id=980122