Analysis Of Jezebel s Sara Benincasa Essay - 783 Words

In one column, Jezebel’s Sara Benincasa responds to a woman who expresses her trouble getting along with other women. The woman communicates that she finds other women to be boring, as she does not want to talk about â€Å"babies or clothes or makeup or dating or diets or weddings† like her female counterparts. There are several issues to this woman’s question, the first and arguable most important being her reinforcement of the gender binary. The woman is expressing her concern that she has only two options: spending time with fellow women and being made bored by their rapport talk and interests, or spending time with her boyfriend’s male friends, and being able to participate in what she considers to be stimulating conversation about â€Å"business and gaming and sports.† Through this, the inquirer is defining male and female interests as mutually exclusive while simultaneously privileging male companionship as the superior choice. The questioner also describes that she does in fact have female friends; however, these women are â€Å"like a dude in a dress.† This description of her female friends speaks a lot to this woman’s views of femininity and masculinity and her perceived difference of the two. With dominant gender norms, idealized femininity and muscularity are opposite. This woman is stating that her female friends do not represent what society wants them to be; they are something different, something better. This way, she is classifying all other women as being the normal

Bankruptcy Essay - 1454 Words

Bankruptcy, today, is a very common thing among companies and individuals alike. Sadly enough there were as many bankruptcy cases filed in federal courts, as there were all other cases. The American bankruptcy law allows people to avoid paying their debts, by offering the debtors a discharge, which eliminates all their legal responsibilities. However, bankruptcy is a controversial issue amongst religious members of the Jewish population, for one must question whether it is morally correct to avoid paying a dept by filing for bankruptcy. According to the torah, a debt is an obligation that must be fulfilled. Consequently, if a bankruptcy discharge is invoked, under the strictness of Jewish law, one is still required to pay back the money†¦show more content†¦A discharge of debt can be obtained through a majority of creditors, even if there are a minority are not in agreement with this. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Halacha recognizes the fact that commercial transactions are in agreement with secular customs or agreements. This means that if both parties, when making the agreement, agreed that the debtor may file for a bankruptcy discharge, it is halachacilly acceptable. There are two reasons that are connected to each other. The first based on â€Å"Minhag Hasocharim†, and the second based on the fact that the parties made their agreement based on secular law. The source for Minhag Hasocharim is based on the Mishna of Hasocher es HaPoalim (Bava Metzia 83a): â€Å"One who hires laborers and tells them to come early or stay late: in a place where the custom is not to come early or stay late, the employer is not allowed to force them (to do so)†¦All (such terms) are governed by local custom†. In fact minhag supersedes Halacha in this case. These local customs do not have to be established by halacha nor by a Jew . Rather, they are the custom of the time and age. In many cases the secular law may have the same effect as a minhag, and may be used even if Dina D’malchusa Dina ( explained below) doesn’t apply. If business is done in the United States, there is a strong argument that that means that the partiesShow MoreRelatedBankruptcy1437 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION Bankruptcy is a legal status of an individual or someone who cannot pay back debts owed to creditors. Bankruptcy is mostly imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor. Bankruptcy is not the only legal status that an insolvent person or other entity may have, and the term bankruptcy is therefore not a synonym for insolvency. In some countries, including the United Kingdom, bankruptcy is limited to individuals, and other forms of insolvency proceedings (such as liquidationRead MoreBankruptcy973 Words   |  4 PagesBANKRUPTCY This article is intended to provide some general bankruptcy information and is certainly not intended to replace the tailored information a debtor will receive from an attorney. Bankruptcy is governed by Federal Law (Title 11 of the US Code separated into individual Chapters, each dealing with a different type of bankruptcy) but the bankruptcy laws of each state also play an important part; consequently, though there are bankruptcy kits, you will probably need a lawyer to successfullyRead MoreBankruptcy1213 Words   |  5 PagesBankruptcy Assignment Warren and Westbrook, The Law of Debtors and Creditors Sara Israelyan Spring Semester 2011 University of Minnesota Law School March, 2011 Warren and Westbrook, The Law of Debtors and Creditors Problems 8.1 Absent bankruptcy, what can Harv and Lois protect as the creditors begin to move in? What if they filed a Chapter 7? What could they protect if they lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming? When considering bankruptcy, pre-bankruptcy planning is one of the most importantRead MoreBankruptcy And Bankruptcy1467 Words   |  6 Pagessome of the different types of bankruptcy. There are currently many different types of bankruptcy chapters within the Bankruptcy Code. The Bankruptcy Code is the set of federal laws that governs all bankruptcy cases in the United States. The Code can be found under Title 11 of the United States Code. It is divided into several Chapters. The first three Chapters (1, 3 and 5) deal with the general bankruptcy rules and procedures, the chapters that deal with bankruptcies are; chapter 7, 9, 11, 12, 13Read MoreEssay on Bankruptcy698 Words   |  3 Pagesunable or unwilling to pay his or her debts may declare bankruptcy. The state of being solvent means that one has the ability to pay his or her debts. However, insolvency means that a person cannot pay his or her debts. In order to declare bankruptcy, a person must file a petition for bankruptcy in a bankruptcy court. A voluntary bankruptcy proceeding is started by the person who is declaring bankruptcy, whereas an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding is started by the creditors of the bankrupt personRead More Bankruptcy Essay1887 Words   |  8 Pagesyears, the process of declaring bankruptcy has become incredibly simple. Because of this change, the number of people declaring bankruptcy is at an all time high. Today, bankruptcy is a common thing among companies and individuals alike. The American bankruptcy law allows people to avoid paying their debts by offering the debtors a discharge without a harsh consequence. By not having repercussions for their actions, bankruptcy filers often plan future bankruptcies, allowing them to steal even moreRead MoreBankruptcy Among Youth1748 Words   |  7 Pages1.0 Introduction Bankruptcy becoming the issues toward many youth nowadays. The worst is the bankruptcy was involves with many youth where below than age 30. According to Credit Counselling and Management Agency in New Straits Times (2011), an average of 41 Malaysians are declared bankrupt daily, with the majority failing to make repayment for car purchase loan. In short, the problem of bankruptcy among youth has to be taken seriously. 2.0 Problem Statement Statistics by the AKPK indicated thatRead MoreBankruptcy Among Youth5014 Words   |  21 Pageswere involves with bankruptcy. According to Credit Counseling and Management Agency in New Straits Times (2011), an average of 41 Malaysians are declared bankrupt daily, with the majority failing to make repayment for car purchase loan. Here, bankruptcy becoming the serious issues toward many youth nowadays. Insolvency Department of Malaysia has taken the responsibility as premier government agency leading the national administration and regulation of insolvency and bankruptcy matters in MalaysiaRead MoreFinancial Crisis: Understanding Bankruptcy1099 Words   |  4 Pagescompanies, a loss usually meant riding the wave to bankruptcy, a stigma which meant death in the financial world. Today, bankruptcy is sometimes used as a strategic move within the business world breaking free from financial burdens to start anew. This financial â€Å"get out of jail free card† has taken on a few changes over the years. Along with the history of bankruptcy there are different approaches or chapters with each method of filing, reasons for bankruptcy, and affects associated with both the debtorRead More The New Bankruptcy Law Essay examples1518 Words   |  7 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Bankruptcy has been the answer to extremely troubling and difficult financial times for many people in Amer ica. Many individuals, for one reason or another, have found it to be the new start in life that they desperately needed. Unfortunately, bankruptcy has also served as a crutch to many as well, allowing them to relinquish debt that they were completely capable, however selfishly unwilling, to pay. As with any law, or policy, Americans are forced to accept the good

Prison Essay free essay sample

TaxState prison vs. Private prison Compared to a state prison, private prisons are privately funded, owned and operated by individuals or stockholders. Therefore many of our tax dollars are poured into these facilities, so we must sometimes overlook these costs for that of the safety and security of the public. In the 1980s the War on Drugs caused a burgeoning prison population and increased use of incarceration, prison overcrowding and rising costs became increasingly problematic for local, state, and federal governments. To remedy the problem of prison overcrowding, rising incarceration rates, constraints on increased government funding to provide more prison space. The concept of prison privatization came about in the early 1980s as a policy. Thus the birth of the private prison took place, helping to relieve the stress at the state prisons, by allowing them to send their overflow of inmates to the smaller private facilities. Industry –funded studies often include that states can save money by using private prisons. We will write a custom essay sample on Prison Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, state-funded studies have found that private prisons keep only low-cost inmates and send others back to state-run prisons; as a result they really aren’t saving too much money if some of these inmates are still going back to the state facilities. The transportation of these inmates back and forth between the facilities ends up costing the state facilities more money, which is what they are trying to save in the first place. Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) was the first private prison business to emerge and establish itself publicly in 1984- it was awarded a contract to take over a facility in Hamilton County, Tennessee. It marked the very first time that any government in the country had contracted out the complete operation of a jail to private operator. So from this, the private prison business began to take off, as the need for more housing for the overcrowded state prisons arose. Most of the cost savings comes at the expense of the security. Those employed by these prisons are put through training; however, the state employee receives more extensive and continual training. While some of the private facilities are getting violent inmates who are reclassified as lower risk inmates, the private prison officers were not properly trained for handling the more violent inmates. The private prison had inadequate patrols and prisoner movement, excessive false alarms, a lax culture, and inconsistencies in visitor screening procedures. Some studies show that training and lower staff levels at the private prisons may lead to increases in incidents of violence and escapes. The study also found that assaults on guards by inmates were 49 percent more frequent in private prisons than in government –run prisons and that assaults on fellow inmates were 65 percent more frequent in private prisons. Because of the increase in escapes, assaults on guards by inmates and assaults on inmates by fellow inmates, it caused the government to take a closer look at how the private prisons were being run as well as their standards. Funding for the private prisons come from investors who use venture capital to build these prisons and, like a hotel, they lease their beds to the state in a profit-making endeavor. While the state prisons are government funded, the majority have to count on taxpayer votes in order to build new prison and recently the voters are saying no, that is when private prisons go up. Correctional Corporations has amassed a large political influence through many government ties, lobbying power as well as campaign contributions while attempting to convert the discourse of justice into the language of the marketplace. In this way, they accuse government agencies as having a monopoly on corrections, espouse the need to downsize and cut through red tape. They claim that they can run prisons more efficiently and cheaper, doing a better job and saving the taxpayers money. Even using every known method of reduction, the monthly cost of a prison that houses 2,000 inmates still runs well over $1. 5 million. Since every cost cutting exercises have been tried, used, and exhausted, the only way the private company can still reduce costs is to cut services. Hiring practices are then lowered and the training substandard in some cases. In theory, using a private prison is supposed to cost less and save the American taxpayer money. In reality, the cost is far more and everyone is suffering for it. Private prisons are most commonly funded by community and statewide taxes. Both prisons have their share of ethical issues. While state prisons may seem to be run more efficiently and handled properly,- state prisons were found sending their higher level offenders to lower security prisons (private) in order to cut corners from housing these offenders and having extra security to care for them. The state of California uses private prisons because of the overcrowding and also the fact that they aren’t in compliance with the basic standards of care for inmates. The largest single cost feature in prison is medical. It comprises fully 1/3 of the total budget. As a result medical care in these prisons suffers greatly. Since we cannot deny medical care to an incarcerated person, the lawsuits that have resulted from this far exceed the amounts saved by contracting out to a private prison. Other ethical issues are raised by private â€Å"profiteers†; there are potential abuses of the bidding process, as in any situations where the government contracts with a company for services or products. Money may change hands to ensure that one organization receives the contract, companies may make informal agreements to â€Å"rig† the bids, and other potentially corrupt practices may go on. Legal as well as ethical issues abound when private and state motives are mixed. During the building phase, private prisons may cut corners and construct buildings without meeting proper standards for safety, therefore putting the staff and inmates in danger. Managing the institution also raises the possibility that a private prison will attempt to maximize profits by ignoring minimum standards of health and safety and will, if necessary to this end, bribe inspectors or monitors to overlook the deficiencies. Private prisons argue that some state prisons subject them to endless and picayune rules and continually audit them to the point that it appears that state prison officials are trying to find noncompliance in order to cancel contracts. There is probably some truth that some correction department officials are not happy to have legislators approve the use of private prisons and want to see them fail. While Private Prisons have served as a faster solution to prison overcrowding during times of rapid growth in the correctional population, the state prisons will remain. Although our tax dollars continue to go toward these institutions, we must sometimes overlook these costs, for that of the security and safety of the public.

The Problem of Peoples Dangerous Evolutionary Baggage

People were always interested in the aspects which could influence their consciousness and behavior. In his book Cosmos, Carl Sagan discusses a lot of problematic questions associated with the spheres of evolution, science, philosophy, and sociology, providing the large context for the people’s actions because of their considerable evolutionary heritage expressed in the global knowledge collected during thousands of years.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem of People’s ‘Dangerous Evolutionary Baggage’ specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Sagan, people have the significant, but dangerous evolutionary baggage which influences their actions and considerations, and this baggage can be discussed as the definite knowledge collected by the generations and as certain collected human features and qualities on which people’s reactions and activities depend. If the notion of ‘evolutionary baggage’ can be explained with references to the concepts of the development of the world and progress of a man in it, in order to understand its ‘dangerous’ character, it is important to pay more attention to the details of the historical development of the society and evolution of the man as a human being. Sagan states that all the answers to the problematic questions can be found with the help of exploring the Cosmos because this exploration can be discussed as â€Å"a voyage of self-discovery† (Sagan 318). Moreover, Sagan stresses that people are the children both of the sky and the Earth. Thus, during the humans’ term on this planet, â€Å"we have accumulated dangerous evolutionary baggage, hereditary propensities for aggression and ritual, submission to leaders and hostility to outsiders, which place our survival in some question† (Sagan 318). In spite of the fact the author also refers to the positive heritage wh ich is the developed compassion for others as the characteristic human feature, the dangerous effect of the ‘baggage’ requires its detailed discussion because the consequences of people’s using this ‘baggage’ can be irreversible. Sagan pays attention to the example of the possible nuclear war as a result of the humans’ evolution and progress in technologies. The author states that as the â€Å"technology improved, the means of war also improved† (Sagan 326). Although people are inclined to develop the strategies and approaches to coping with the problems of slavery and racism, they are also ready to destroy the world with the help of the most powerful weapons. The history provides the examples of dangerous nuclear attacks, but there are also examples of the higher levels of altruism (Sagan 330). According to Sagan, this controversy is in the human nature and the processes of evolution contribute to complicating the situation.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The author focuses on exploring the conflict of the people’s passions and their â€Å"better natures† in detail and states the physiological causes for the conflict which is between the deep â€Å"ancient reptilian part of the brain, the R-complex, in charge of murderous rages, and the more recently evolved mammalian and human parts of the brain, the limbic system and the cerebral cortex† (Sagan 326). That is why, people are able to resist their instincts which can be discussed as dangerous with the help of their inner balance. People’s ‘dangerous evolutionary baggage’ is the challenge for them to state their humanity and save the world from destructing by their own means. In spite of the fact all the people’s actions have definite consequences and they are not always positive with references to the dang erous baggage, it is impossible to reject the fact that the persons’ achievements today are the results of the other people’s activities many years and generations ago. Works Cited Sagan, Carl. Cosmos. USA: Random House, 1980. Print. This essay on The Problem of People’s ‘Dangerous Evolutionary Baggage’ was written and submitted by user Analia Boyer to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Why Babylonians Saw Humans as Slaves of The Gods

Why Babylonians Saw Humans as Slaves of The Gods Free Online Research Papers Why Babylonians Saw Humans as Slaves of The Gods Myth, as defined by Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, is an ancient story or set of stories, especially explaining in a literary way the early history of a group of people or about natural events and facts. Mythology has no author and is considered to be the collective memory of a group of people. Before myths were written, they were preserved orally and entrusted to priest and poets who passed them down for generations. This essay will be concerning myths from Mesopotamia, a country that lied between the Tigris River and Euphrates River in what is now Iraq. Mesopotamia was a rich country which prospered through agriculture, pastoralism and extensive trading. The purpose of this essay will be to prove that the Babylonians understood humans to be the workers and slaves of the gods, made to serve them. Based on the excerpt of the Epic of Creation: â€Å" ‘It was Quingu who started the war, He who incited Tiamat and gathered an army !’ They bound him and held him in front of Ea, Imposed the penalty on him and cut off his blood. He created mankind from his blood, Imposed the toil of the gods (on man) and released the gods from it.† (Epic of Creation IV) In this passage, primeval man is created by the god Ea from the blood of the warrior Quingu who Tiamat, the primeval goddess who is the mother of the first generation of gods in this epic, had chosen to lead her battle. Quingu represents the vengeance of Tiamat who failed avenge the death of her husband Apsu. Quingu also represents humanity in the sense that man is made from him. In a way, he is the â€Å"mother† of humanity much in the same way that Tiamat is the mother of the first generation of gods in this myth. Since humanity sprung from the death and blood from Quingu, it only makes sense that primeval man would have some qualities of him. The warrior Quingu is a leader; you could say it was in his blood. That same blood was passed down to man. In this way, it shows that the Babylonians thought of men as leaders. At the same time, however, Quingu was singled out as the one who started the war. This also shows the side of humanity in which people can cause conflicts, flare tempers and be toilsome, which has been proven true time and time again through the wars and conflicts of the social world in the past thousands of years. Humans have tempers and will stand up for things they believe in just as Quingu did in the Epic of Creation. Another reason why mankind was created was to bear the burden of the gods, so they could fully become gods in the sense that they had no real duties, just a life of leisure. Man is being punished for Quingu’s war in a way because through him, they are created to become the slaves of the gods and carry out their duties. This proves that Babylonians thought of humans as the slaves of the gods, put on this earth for one reason, and that is to serve them. I believe that the Epic of Gilgamesh shows how the Babylonians perceived mankind just as well, if not better, than the Epic of Creation. Gilgamesh, though not completely human, is a good example of the average man, not in the sense that he is a hero because very few humans today are true heroes, but because of the way that he has faults just like any other person. He is lustful, always looking for a young girl to court. He is also proud, which sometimes can be a fault when it is in excess. Gilgamesh is also easily influenced as we all are at times once he discovers his companion and brother Endiku, who was created by the mother goddess Aruru from a piece of clay. Endiku was meant to be created as a rival for Gilgamesh, someone to compete with for women and someone who would become a rival for him. Instead, Endiku became a brother, soul mate, and best friend to Gilgamesh, which shows the unpredictability of humans. Once the wild Endiku has made love to a woman, the harlot Shamhat, he has become human and the wild will no longer accept him. Soon, after a quarrel between Endiku and Gilgamesh, they each of them show their emotions; show that they are but mere mortals, and form a bond which can never be broken. This scene from the Epic of Gilgamesh shows that all humans have weak moments, and have emotions. I believe the most important lesson we learn from this duo is that sometimes people bring out the worst in each other. Gilgamesh is easily persuaded by Endiku to commit feats that he would normally never undertake such as hunting the Humbaba, the keeper of the forest. This act is to prove that they are strong and powerful, so people will remember and respect them, which is a common attribute of humans. We would all like to be remembered after we’re gone, become legends and do something great that no one else did. Even though Gilgamesh is not completely mortal, he embodies all of the characteristics of humans. We are promiscuous, we cry, we are proud and stubborn. We plot against other people and strive to become great. And we scar both physically and emotionally, as Gilgamesh did after the death of his dear Endiku. Both the Epic of Creation and the Epic of Gilgamesh show how the early Babylonians perceived mankind, but in different ways. Gilgamesh shows the softer side of humans, while the Epic of Creation shows the raw and primordial side of man. Bibliography: Dalley, Stephanie, trans. Myths From Mesopotamia. Revised ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2000. Littleton, C. S., ed. Mythology. London: Duncan Baird, 2002. 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Writing College Admissions Essays From the Heart

Writing College Admissions Essays From the Heart There are several different ways that you can write a college admissions essay. One way is to be very analytical in your approach, and direct your argument as you would toward a group of impartial strangers. Another is to be extremely conversational in your essay, as if you were talking to a friend. In my opinion, however, the best approach to take when writing your college admissions essay is to write it as you would a well organized, passionate, and heartfelt speech. As previously covered, college admissions personnel require personal essays from their applicants both as a method to test applicants writing skills as well as to get to know them personally. With this in mind, you should speak from the heart when composing your college admissions essay. Now, this doesnt mean that the tone of your essay should be casual and/or conversational, but it should be relaxed enough so that the people reading it feel as though they capture your individuality. I feel that the biggest mistake a person can make when writing a college admissions essay is to approach it as if it was a research paper and/or subject analysis. The point of college admissions essays is to write about yourself and discuss your goals for the future! That is what admission board members want to know they want to know about you. Composing an admissions essay from an impartial perspective will only stand to alienate the admissions council. . .and hurt your chances of admission. Writing a college admissions essay doesnt have to be excruciating. As long as you are honest in your approach, you can rest assured that your voice will be heard. If you would like help writing your college admissions essay or if you would like to know where you can find a professional editor who is qualified in proof-reading college admissions essays, please dont hesitate to contact me.

English Legal Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

English Legal Methods - Essay Example The most authoritative decision is the [1996] AC 563 as it is the House of Lord’s decision. The House of Lord is the highest court in England. The doctrine of judicial precedent states that the decisions of this court are binding on the lower courts. Question 3 [6 marks available in total] What were the facts giving rise to Mr R’s criminal trial and what was the outcome of that trial? Mr R had a relationship with the mother of four children. They gave birth to two children and the other two were from a previous marriage. The father was Mr H, and C was the eldest daughter, who alleged that in September 1993, Mr R had raped her continuously when she was between 7 and 8 years. This continued for over 5 years. Mr R was then charged with rape. He was tried in October 1994. The allegation involved four charges of rape. The main witness in this case was the daughter C. Mr R was consequently acquitted of the charges. Question 4 [6 marks available in total] At the hearing of thi s case at first instance what, in summary, were the two key conclusions the judge reached in respect of D1’s allegations against Mr R? The judge made the following conclusions. The first substantive issue was whether D1 was sexually abused. The judge averred that D1had proved, in her statement, the fact that there was abuse. Her story was consistent and factual. Mr. R had lied that he had never had an opportunity to be alone with any of the children, which was proved by D1 testimony. The judge felt that that D1’s allegations were true. He felt that the evidence presented by her and her statement in court was true. Mr. R had not rebutted these assertions by his evidence or his behavior in court. He felt that the allegations of abuse by D, which were true were based on presentation of evidence. He believed the evidence tendered by the girl was true. Her statement could also be reasonably suspected to be true Question 5 [4 marks available in total] Summarise the issues ce rtified for Their Lordships’ consideration in this case. The issues before the Lordships are three, and they are as follows. The first issue is the standard of proof, which is to be proved where an allegation has been made that a child will suffer significant harm under the second part of 31(2) (a) of the Children Act. The second issue is in relation to the requirement of proof of sexual abuse, which is the standard of proof being higher than the normal civil standard of balance of probability, but lower than the criminal standard of proof. There is a question as to whether the evidence needed to prove the charge needs to be based on the seriousness of the charge. This means that the more serious the charge, the more evidence one needs to prove their case as opposed to a question of proving on a balance of probability. The final issue is where an allegation is made that a considerable injury is likely to impact on the child. The question raised here is: should one prove the l ikelihood to suffer harm on a balance of probability or does the presence of a substantial risk suffice instead of a speculative future risk? Question 6 [8 marks available in total] Summarise the submissions made before Their Lordships on behalf of: (a) The Local Authority (3marks) (b) The Guardian Ad Litem (2 marks) (c) The parents (3 marks) Submissions made on behalf of the Local Authority. The counsel submitted that the question of law to be addressed was on the

Medieval Spanish Literature. Topic Proposal. Annotated Biblio Research Paper

Medieval Spanish Literature. Topic Proposal. Annotated Biblio - Research Paper Example Since women were looked down upon in Medieval Spain as their lives having less value than men, it is interesting how Estrella Tabera reverses the societal expectation of her to be only a lady of the night—and how she ends up garnering power, wealth, and prestige with the paramour of Sancho IV pursuing her in the play, and Philip IV pursuing Francisca de Tabara in real life. It is no surprise, then, that Estrella Tabera, being a sort of outcast in Medieval Spain, is able to reimagine the role of seductress and have a revolutionary leitmotif for women everywhere. II. Thesis (50 words) It is thought that, how we know and based on what we know of The Star of Seville, that: Philip IV is represented by the fictional character Sancho IV; Francisca de Tabara is represented by the fictional character Estrella Tabera; and that Villamediana is represented by the fictional character Busto. III. Annotated Bibliography (500 words) Source Citation: De Armas, Frederick Alfred. Heavenly Bodies : The Realms of La Estrella de Sevilla. US: Bucknell University Press, 1996. ... (100 words) Contributors: Frederick A. De Armas Last Edited: 1996 Source Citation: Magill, Frank N., et. al. Masterplots. US: Salem Press, 1996. Summary: In Masterplots, Magill and Mazzano masterfully work through the cast of main characters in The Star of Seville and parse each character’s importance in the play. They analyze the plot of the The Star of Seville and talk about how the play is relevant not only for today’s audiences, but also how The Star of Seville will always be a relevant play for Medieval Spanish literature in the future. Masterplots seeks to chart a course for the reader, taking the reader on a tour through the play’s highs and lows as it tries to evaluate, simply, the play’s overall effectiveness. (100 words) Contributors: Frank Northen Magill, Laurence W. Mazzano Last Edited: 1996 Source Citation: McKendrick, Melveena. Playing the King: Lope de Vega and the Limits of Conformity. US: Boydell and Brewer Ltd., 2000. Summary: This book c ritically evaluates Lope de Vega’s works, and his delicate dance of openly criticizing the Spanish throne during Medieval times. McKendrick weaves a masterful tale of Lope de Vega’s struggle to temper subversiveness with cleverness, and use political themes overtly—but in a manner that cannot be immediately detected by the untrained eye. Lope de Vega fools the reader into thinking that he or she is reading a play about some fictional characters—when actually his characters stand for allegorical allusions to what is really going on in Medieval Spain, and we see his characters lived out in real-time. (100 words) Contributors: Melveena McKendrick Last Edited: 2000 Source Citation: Anonymous. The

To what extent does Dead Set reinforce or challenge codes and conventions Essay Example for Free

To what extent does Dead Set reinforce or challenge codes and conventions Essay Horror films generally incorporate a set of codes and conventions which make it clear to the audience which type of genre the film belongs to. Dead Set follows conventional horror film narratives in that many of the codes and conventions shown within the narrative are depicted to an effect that suggests crucial aspects of the film, for instance main characters and their alignment (good/bad). An example of this is when Patrick shields himself from the horde of zombies using a disabled person, this denotes Patrick as a villainous character to the viewer. Props character function theory suggests there are generally eight broad character types in media productions, one of which being the villain, which Patrick fulfils in this scene. These character types are included as they build expectations within the audience such as the direction of the plot, these expectations can either be met by the producers or challenged. By shielding himself with the wheelchair user the audience also learn of Patricks disdain towards his employees, a concept that becomes more apparent throughout the series. This scene ends after Patrick enters the cubical and locks the door, following Barthes enigma code theory which explains how plot elements are included in media text to plant questions in the mind of the audience, they do not know whether Patrick has survived unless they watch the next episode. Another notable example is when Marky, Space and Kelly depart in a van from the Big Brother set, this cliff hanger poses questions in the audiences minds, a common technique used in horror texts further more it is recurring throughout Dead Set purposefully used as it engages the audience and helps ensure they continue to watch the following episodes. Character development is a cornerstone of reality television however Dead set challenges this convention to an extent because the characters arent explored in a huge amount of depth. Kellys strained relationship is the one a few exceptions, this is more to the tune of horror texts. The lack of character development may have been included to move the action forward also to keep the narrative primarily focused on action as this may be more gripping for the audience. Dead Set features many technical and symbolic codes used in conventional horror films for instance the extreme gore and violence; even in the first episode as the protagonist Kelly hits the skull of a zombie with a fire extinguisher exposing its brains, this intense violence ensures fans of the horror genre will be satisfied. Less extreme violent behaviour is also demonstrated by the characters in other scenarios such as the frequent hostile exchanges between Grayson and Marky, the foul language used by the characters is common place in the reality television sub-genre. Shortly after the zombie has been killed we are shown Kelly clearing up the remains with a dustpan and brush, Dead Set challenges typical horrors as the high level of realism isnt a traditional feature of horror texts, this particular code helps align Dead Set with the reality television sub-genre. The mise en scene in Dead Set further perpetuates the conventions seen in the reality television sub-genre through the incorporation of alcohol, cigarettes and a provocatively dressed Veronica also the use real past contestants and the actual big brother set add a sense of realism to the production which help to immerse the audience in the action. The mise en scene also denotes violence in particular the characters costumes are soaked in blood, weapons such as knives, guns and fire extinguishers are featured heavily, props such as these are similarly used in other horror texts, these techniques used by the producers of Dead Set follow the codes and conventions used in other horror films such as Dawn Of The Dead these assist in categorizing Dead Set into the same zombie apocalypse sub-genre. Tracking shots of Veronicas body objectify her sexually which in turn help appeal to reality television fans as this technique is used conventionally in the genre. The establishing shot sees the house mates talking to one another in the big brother house, these fantastically colourful shots are then juxtaposed to desaturated, grey behind the scenes footage which open the story. This may have been included as it adds realism also it is Brookers way of perpetuating the idea to the viewer that reality television is far from true reality. The polysemic signs within the narrative arent conventional in horror or reality television however they are featured numerous times throughout Dead Set, an example of this is during eviction night, Joplin describes the audience as â€Å"animals† however they are actually zombies, this is Brooker comparing BB audience to the brain dead zombies, this satirising of society contrasts typical horror texts. Non-diegetic music is also incorporated, during the first epsiode it epitomises the dim situation of the characters, this may have been included as it points the audience to the bleakness of the narrative. The contrapuntal music used in the final episode sounds calming and somewhat optimistic however it contrasts greatly to the images on screen, the zombies devouring one another. This philosophical music may have been included to emphasise the sub-textual meanings to help the viewer see past the literal signs, for example the zombie looking at Kelly on the television, the inclusion of the music makes the satire more evident to the audience in this instance it isnt just the zombie watching Kelly, it is Brooker satirising the reality television audience more specifically those who watch Big Brother.

Smart Impaired :: essays research papers

Smart Impaired Traditional values have always implemented the idea of an intellectual life style, that education is the sole key to success in life. Although there is an undeniable truth in that spectrum in the long run, there are advantages to being stupid when the run is short. Stupid is so politically incorrect, but then it does no harm to the spoken party since their comprehension of vocabulary words whose spelling exceeds three letters is dim. When can you say that you are under no pressure than when you're stupid? Lowered expectations only lead to less disappointments, so stupidity is not a bad quality to have. Smart kids, are two kinds, one whose gift of smart is common sense and one who is just plain gifted. They constantly work their butts off to achieve some award, and in statistical artificial jargon, ninety-eight percent fall to the hell pit of being average students. And who remembers average kids, surely stupid kids are noted more for the last hilarious thing they did, such as irritating the most revered teacher with enthusiastic inquiries about unrelated subjects. A stupid kid is never erased from the memory, you'll always find yourself recalling their incessant wit. " What year was the war of 1812 again ? " I remembered so well when Jeremy Hershonmire asked that question about, oh, a million times. It all sent us laughing about his seriousness while asking the question. There was also a school wide spelling bee with mandatory participation. It was a show that supposedly displayed the accelerated curriculum at our school. After the spelling bee, while most smart kids would of been frustrated because of their failure to capture victory, Jeremy Hershonmire was content with being able to spell the d-i-s in the word dissipated. Stupid people are also counted on to do less work. They are never picked on at math class, so they are not reluctant to incorrectly elucidate Desargues's theorem, or be in the inconvenience of trying to show everybody how to solve a problem. In algebra last year, the class was subsequently segregated in three groups: people who did their homework, people who understood algebra and did their homework, and people who were dunces. Lucas Kaith was one of the dunces, he sat in class everyday and I almost literally saw algebra go through one ear and out the other. And through the course of the year I never heard Mrs.

Abc Apparel Case

ABC Apparel Case | | | | |Questions | | | | | | | |1 |What are the respective amounts and percentages of Materials, Labor, Overhead and Other in total COGS for ABC? | |* Illustrate on an Excel pie chart showing amounts and percentages for each slice. | | | | |[pic] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |2 |What percentage of total COGS is represented by what Mr. Price called â€Å"full package† (purchased finished goods)? | | | | | |â€Å"Finished Garments† represent $647 Million. This assumes the purchased finished goods are supplied freight and duty paid; otherwise, applicable freight and duty| | |costs would have to be added.Note that not all freight and duty can be added to this category, since freight and duty must also support the owned supply chain | | |operations. | | |$647 / $2528 = 25. 6% | | | | |3 |Where do you see the largest opportunities for cost reduction? List your Top 3, with strategies to pursue each one. | | |* Explain your selections. | | |Purchas e price or cost of supply (TCO) reductions in purchased finished goods. At 38% of COGS, these represent the largest single opportunity for cost | | |management / reduction. | |Material price reductions (30% of COGS) through supply chain procurement practices. | | |Other Costs. Freight and Duty represent almost 10% of COGS, which is probably ripe for improvement. Evaluate reducing carriers from 4-5 to fewer. | | |Labor – At 20%, Labor is a substantial percentage of cost but has probably already given up the â€Å"low hanging cost fruit† in the relocation to offshore | | |geography, and would probably be difficult to further reduce. | | | | |4 |Which functional areas would you prioritize in your cost reduction efforts? Why? | | | | |Following the same priorities in Question 3: | | |Purchase price or cost of supply (TCO) reductions in purchased finished goods. Apply supply chain procurement practices such as negotiated price reductions, | | |reverse auctions, global sour cing, target costing, centralizing procurement, spend analysis or supplier rationalization. | | |Material price reductions. Apply supply chain procurement practices such as negotiated price reductions, reverse auctions, global sourcing, target costing, | | |centralizing procurement, spend analysis or supplier rationalization. | | |Other Costs Reduction.Freight and Duty represent almost 10% of COGS, which is probably ripe for improvement. | | |Labor Cost Reduction. At 20%, Labor is a substantial percentage of cost but has probably already given up the â€Å"low hanging cost fruit† in the relocation to | | |offshore geography, and would probably be difficult to further reduce. | | | | |5 |Which internal manufacturing processes would you prioritize for improvement? Why? | | |Evaluate moving the textile manufacturing processes (yarn through Fabric Finishing) from US to offshore, preferably close to the cutting operations.If the key | | |materials could be sourced in-region, this would eliminate the cost, risk and lead time of shipping these products from the US to Central America / Caribbean, | | |reducing the high freight costs. | | |Evaluate Supplier Relationship Management programs with Asia garment suppliers. Objective would be to fully identify and reduce â€Å"hidden† costs of supply from | | |this region through collaborative problem-solving and joint incentives (â€Å"gainsharing†) for improved performance. | | |Pursue lead time reductions and reduced lead time variability through improved logistics practices. Seek use of technologies to identify logistics wait times | | |and unplanned delays.Consider use of a 3PL to become accountable for coordinating all Western Hemisphere logistics, negotiating with the major carriers to | | |reduce costs, pre-clearing all shipments through customs, etc. | | | | |6 |What is the ratio of internal manufacturing cost to purchased garment cost? | | | | | |Ratio, internal to external costs | | |275% | | | | | Internal $1,881 | | |External | | |$647 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |7 |Assuming a SG&A rate of 24% and a gross margin of 35%, what annual revenue would you estimate for ABC? Show your calculations. | | | | | |[pic] | | | | |8 |What is ABC's net profit margin, in dollars and percent? | | | | |11% | | |$428 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |9 |What is ABC's â€Å"profit leverage effect† of reducing purchased item costs? How much additional revenue would be required to equal a 5% reduction in purchased | | |prices paid? | [pic] | | | | | | | | | | | | | †¢ 5% of 1404 = $70 Million. So, reducing purchased costs by 5% reduces COGS and increases profit by $70M. †¢ To yield an equivalent increase through sales, sales must increase by ($70/. 35) = $200 Million (6%).

Professional Growth Essay

Developing Ethical Practice Part I   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In any industry, business or work, morality is a sensitive issue that needs to be personally and professionally addressed. Individuals have moral convictions as much as companies have their moral values where usually their corporate culture is based. Thus, t is important for companies to look at their moral background as this will influence the moral values of their employees. Equally, employees should share the right moral values for their company and colleagues.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yet where before professional development revolved around trainings and educational achievements for a person to be able to propel forward in his career, today professional development embodies different aspects of growth. Apart from training, professional development now requires goal setting, research, action plans, improvements, and a never-ending learning process. Each one is a pre-requisite of the other to qualify that a person is really growing professionally and developing in his chosen industry. Moral values are integral aspects of this. (Litke, 1996) Before, planning is a job for firm administrators. They dictate where the company is going, and where the people in it go as well. This exemplifies how the values of a company help shape the individual values of the employees. This has widely changed. Effective planning is now a personal decision of the employees. It is now their prerogative. Thus, moral values have now become an individual choice as well. In effect, these individual ethics make up the ethics in which the company dwells in. (Rennekamp, nd) Education   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My educations influenced my ethical upbringing in a variety of ways. Throughout my school years, I had my share of challenges on my moral and ethical values. Specifically, interaction with other students tested my ability to uphold my ethical beliefs. While other students indulge in what can be considered forms of cheating, speaking ill about others, and the likes, I tried my best to avoid doing such. It is undeniable that it is not only once when I experienced such occurrences. There were also times when I failed fighting these temptations. Yet most importantly, those experiences taught me the value of friendship and camaraderie—when it is right and wrong, honesty, dignity, and strength of values.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Education has been a big part of my ethical development. My formal education and training where starting points on the way I performed and moved through my career. I received my professional certification upon passing the licensure examination of Canada in 1991, the same year after receiving my diploma in Associate Arts in Nursing. Also in the same year I was employed as a clinical nurse for the medical respiratory-cardiac unit of a hospital until 1994.   After this assignment I received a position as a critical care nurse in an intensive care unit. Until now, I have been handling this type of job for intensive care units while also holding a position as an e-Nurse. All these roles challenge my morality every day. All of these also create new ethical principles to live by. Yet school was also the one who started on building the foundation for good moral values. Teachers and instructors as well as inspiring mentors who exhibit impressive values and proper ethics in their work and in their classes are the forefront ways in which students like me learned good values. I believe that if students did not learn, then the teachers did not teach. If teachers are able to encourage their students to do and say the right things through deliberate didactic teaching and through practice and good example, then students will have a good moral foundation that they will carry on at work. Luckily, my educational experience provided me this. Work environment At work, moral values are continually put to a test as well. Colleagues who are practicing unethical decisions at work are rampant. Patients and clients may also encourage unethical practices if its end favors them. At these times, the ethics I learned from school, from mentors, and from my colleagues during the times that I was still in school teaches the right thing to do. It takes analysis to decide how to go about the situation, but the bedrock values one learns will always reign. In the few instances when temptation to do the immoral and unethical was too strong, the inspiration of ethical people at work also helps. When there are people in my side approving of the right action that I want to take, it is easier to choose what is right from wrong. In the same way, when more people choose what is wrong, it is harder to indulge on what is right. It takes rooted values to fight these temptations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a nurse, though, it is easy to choose the ethical. Varcoe et al. explains that because nurses are moral agents, their practice of ethics and values become more important than with other professions. (Module 4A, page 7) When a nurse knows this, it is harder for him to choose things that are contrary to what values dictate. Being ethical is always the thing to do. This expectation on me as a nurse created a culture of moral, ethical, and virtue-driven focus. Thus, I have instilled in me a deep understanding of the values I have to undertake in my role as a nurse and in setting my priorities in and out of my profession. This created an identity that is unique to me, brought about by the many influences that I receive in my practice. Doane proves this. He states that identity emerges from a series of social relations. Thus, people learn their values by listening or telling stories on how one has been moral or immoral in his actions. (Module 4A, page 8, 10) Doanne states that nurses are relational and narrative beings. Thus, nurses often learn from other people and from outside sources such as literature. He suggests that nurses should pay attention to the relationships that they maintain, the conflicts that they encounter, the feelings that they develop towards every event that they go into, and the values that they engage or disengage in. In their way they develop their role as nurses and become ready for bigger challenges in their practice. They are also encouraged to narrate their experiences to others as it will bring them forward as moral agents. (Module 4A, page 12) I have proven these true. In fact, many of my values which I learned from work were based on the ethical principles of other people. They were mentors, colleagues, and patients who have shared their stories on how they fought the unethical and upheld their principles. As much as they inspired me and my other colleagues, they also strengthened the values that we already learned in school. They gave the reassurance that doing the right thing is the right thing. Self-reflection Maintaining good values was also brought about by reflection. Just the same, self-awareness and self-definition became possible through reflection. Reflecting on everyday activities at work are good indications of one’s work values and attitudes. It will also help if a person will be able to watch or listen to recordings of own work performance which will harness an identification of faults—of strong and weak points—where improvements will be available. This is also how I was able to gauge my performance at work and how I enhanced my skills. (Continuous assessment and professional growth, nd) According to Rennekamp (nd), professional development has several stages. In all these stages there are values inherent to an employee. There is the entry stage, the period when the employee is new to his industry and is still developing the faculties that he needs to sharpen and use in his job. Much of the ethics in this stage come from the school and the family. The second stage is the colleague stage. This is the point when the entry-level employee has mastered his surroundings and the scope of his job. At this stage the employee is an active part of the problem-solving team and no longer the passive listener or follower. He has also found his way around several ethical standards in the company which he may have adapted. (Rennekamp, nd)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After the colleague stage is the counselor role. Here, the employee takes on a new role as a mentor to others. Leadership roles are prevalent at this stage. Apart from their regular assignments, employees in the counselor stage may take on additional tasks in leading others. They are now sharing their values to others. (Rennekamp, nd)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Finally, there is the advisor stage. In this stage the employee is no longer just an employee but an essential part in strategic planning of organizations. The employee in the advisor stage is more influential and is now a holder of more responsibilities. He also sets standards of practice rather than just encouraging others to do them. (Rennekamp, nd).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Currently, I would presume that I am in the counselor role. I have mastered my job as a critical care nurse and have created networks. I have also established myself as a nurse and have been helping others achieve as well. However, I am in the colleague stage of my e-Nursing and nursing informatics career. I have just entered this role, but I now have taken leadership roles. Despite this difference in my stages in the two job matrices that I am in, I am in the counsellor stage of my moral and ethical life at work. I learn principles every day and teach them as much to others. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many factors in which ones moral values are founded. Doane claims that moral identity comes from layers of influences, including the self, others, and the culture or environment in which one is in. Socialization empowers morals and ethics as much as they may disempower them. It is important for a person to have the freedom to choose how he wants to decide about a situation. Ethics cannot be practiced by mechanically teaching employees how to act, speak, or think. It takes proper integration of ethical principles and living by example to enable ethical values to be learned. (Module 4A, page 10)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Overall, ethics is an important part of work in any industry. Where there is no ethics, proper social relations is impossible. It is inevitable to be in situations calling for the unethical practices to be made. However, if the ethical is feasible, then it shall be made. Part II   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethics is often tested at work. There was a time when a patient who was terminally ill and was diagnosed to have just several days more to live consulted me if she should seek medical intervention for giving her earlier death. She was not in any pain only because she was practically living on pain killers. Despite her medical insurance, she also cannot sustain the monetary requirements of her illness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The family feels otherwise. They know that every centavo that they are spending is worth it. They are confident that she will survive. She has not told them about her thoughts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I am personally against euthanasia. Even though there are instances and occasions when it is needed, I prefer the natural way for death. It was painful to hear a patient decide that way. It was not surprising, though. Before the conversation, she has always been complaining about her medicines, her family, her illness, her life, and her finances. She was sharing that her family wants her gone. She wanted to end the pain and the pain killers. I was not able to help but share this conviction with my patient. I told her that first, she is not in real pain and that even though her pain is only subsided because of pain killers, it should give her hopes of living; secondly, I shared her several things about life that can encourage her to go on. I told her, despite the onset of her disbelief, that there is a right time for everything. I left her room, and I know that she is dismayed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The patient lived for almost another year. She even managed to be discharged from the hospital. After our conversation, the topic was never raised again. The family never knew about that conversation, nor did the other nurses I was working with. Yet I felt that the attending physician had to know, and so I told him, and to my relief he shared my convictions. He likewise helped the patient recover from the psychological turmoil that was pushing her to the edge. In the end, the patient proved herself wrong. Becoming a moral agent   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The patient’s story impacted my values a lot. When I heard that she died, I felt sad but victorious that I did what I and the physician thought was the right thing. I became a catalyst of her change of mind and heart. I knew I did the right thing because she outlived the deadline that was given to her life by the doctors. Whether she realized that we made the right thing or not did not matter anymore. The heart of the matter is that I was able to win over this morally distressing situation and get out of it the right way.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I was a moral agent, and my moral agency stressed on me that the right thing to do is allow her to live some more. It was my duty to prolong others’ life as much as I could. It would have been an exactly different feeling if I decided otherwise, against my moral principles. Nursing, I subscribe, is a job that entails moral responsibilities. Lessons learned After this situation, I became extra sensitive to the psychological and emotional needs of the patients especially those with terminal cases. I read about positive psychology and shared my learning to other nurses. I was also able to magnify cues that may lead to the same situation as well. When I identify them, such as when the patient is verbalizing thoughts that the family wants her gone or that she should not be living anymore, I try to console her and share my thoughts on life and her health. There are times when the patient will lash out on me with disagreement, but this does not make me bend my convictions. I stayed on believing, because of that patient who survived, that when I make the right choices the right things will happen. In the process, my ethics and morality is also nurtured. Raines assert that there are four antecedents to the occurrence of a moral agency. First is the modeling. In the situation, the patient showed signs of discontent and giving up. She was practically moving away from all other choices but death. Secondly there is the coming of the ethical dilemma. This was when the patient verbalized what she really wanted, which was to cheat on death by ending it earlier. The third stage, the alternatives, caught me in the situation. I was torn between the choice of the patient and my personal ethics; my beliefs or the patient’s beliefs. (Module 4A, page 15) Lastly, my decision was based on information. I gathered all the facts that I have instilled in me to be able to encourage the patient to live longer and have hope. I believe that all these four antecedents take integral roles in accomplishing an act of moral agency. A moral agent cannot be so if there is no ethical dilemma at hand, posed by modeling of the impending dilemma. Alternatives and information, likewise enabled the solution of the dilemma, thus were equally important. (Module 4A, page 15) It is likewise important to have alternatives. Raines assert that nurses should consider that there are always alternatives to a situation. This will put them off the pressure to being gullible followers of a single choice which may not be right. In doing so, ethical values may be put in jeopardy. Gathering and giving information, as well, is important. (Module 4A, page 15) Other factors Communication is another important skill in this. I should still try to learn more about communication processes and skills. Growth can be enhanced by being updated with new policies and guidelines in the skills being developed and the work itself. (Continuous assessment and professional growth, nd) I can do this by attending trainings about effective communication skills, effective listening, and customer support. This does not only benefit my communication with patients and their caregivers, it will also give me the ability to communicate with the other members of my team more effectively which in effect will give me more chances to deliver better and ethics-based patient care in behalf of the company, my team, and myself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethics and values should be part of the highly complex goal-setting strategy of a person. They are as important as any other aims. Interestingly, Cooper (nd) states that 87% of people do not have goals. These people were found to have difficulties coping with the demands of their jobs. They also found it difficult to excel in their fields. In the contrary, 3% of people have clearly defined goals which are written down. These people were found to be achievers, accomplishing their goals and developing in their careers at 50 to 100 percent of the time. While it is not a requirement, employees should write down their ethical and moral resolutions and read them a couple of times periodically. This will instill in them these resolutions. Through all this process of planning, Rennekamp (nd) instills that flexibility is an important element. While being focused on goals and achievements is important, preparations for unexpected events should be considered. In my personal practice, for instance, I usually encounter many dilemmas that challenge my values. It is hard to please everybody, and the moral thing is not always the good thing to do. There will be times when the unethical may bring the good for the more number of people, and it can be sometimes the right choice. References BCIT Document, Specialty Nursing. 2007. Developing ethical practice. Module 4A.    BCIT Document, Specialty Nursing. 2007. Developing ethical practice. Module 5.    Continuous assessment and professional growth. nd. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/Chapter6.Carlson-Final-Pdf-4.pdf Cooper, T. nd. An action plan for growth and success. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from http://teachersnetwork.org/NTNY/nychelp/Professional_Development/growth.htm Litke, C. 1996. Professional growth in changing times: challenges and choices. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from http://www.ucalgary.ca/~cll/resources/litke.html Rennekamp, R. nd. Professional growth: a guide for professional development. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from http://www.ca.uky.edu/agpsd/stages.htm

Essay on Immigrant Minors and Child Protective Services

Essay on Immigrant Minors and Child Protective Services Essay on Immigrant Minors and Child Protective Services Essay on Immigrant Minors and Child Protective ServicesThis paper discusses the role of child protective services in the life of immigrant minors who face abuse and neglect caused by their parents. Immigrant minors encounter considerable challenges because of the long-term adaptation in the new country. As parents are considered to be the primary caretakers of their children, they should bear responsibility for the development of them. Unfortunately, in many immigrant families, parents are maltreating their children. The professionals of child protective services are focused on providing protection from any negative factors that may cause damage to immigrant minors’ psychological, emotional and developmental well-being. The U.S. law guarantees protection from negative effects of environment and personal experiences, including child abuse and neglect.Introduction  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Children of immigration face considerable challenges in the new country because of the long-term adaptation. Parents are considered to be the primary caretakers of their children. In many immigrant families, â€Å"parents are maltreating their children† (Lansford et al., 2009, p. 297). Children should be protected from any negative factors that may cause damage to their psychological, emotional and developmental well-being. The U.S. law guarantees protection from negative effects of environment and personal experiences, including child abuse and neglect. Child protective services (CPS) are an effective system of intervention of child abuse and neglect in the USA. The major goal of the CPS is to use the proper strategies in order keep the child in safety, and if the child is at risk in his /her home, to develop an effective plan to solve the existing problems. Immigrant children need support and protection. According to the CPS experts, â€Å"cultural competency with immigrant children and their families requires not just learning about culture, but also having an understanding of the process of migration, the reasons families migrate, and the process of acculturation and related family or marital stressors† (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Official Website, 2014). Child protective services help immigrant minors to achieve cultural competence through effective practices.Child protective services: background information  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Child protective services (CPS) is a governmental agency specially developed to address the issues of child abuse and neglect. The responds provided by the child protective services agency are based on the established laws. This organization can be found practically in all states of the USA. Some organizations in the field of child protection are aimed at addressing family-centered issues, e.g. Department of Children Family Services and Department of Social Services.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The CPS activity is focused on the established laws, including Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, Indian Child Welfare Act, Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, Adoption and Safe Families Act and other laws and regulations. Special attention is paid to the issues of child abuse and neglect, family violence, etc.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The history of child protection services is long. In the U.S., child protection had been included in social justice reform, which was launched in the 1800s (McDaniel Lescher, 2004, p. 32). The story of Mary Ellen Wilson was one of the first cases of child abuse that received wide publicity in the U.S. in 1875. The young girl who was abused by her caregivers involved public concerns. The concerned citizens wanted to help the child through the involvement of various organizations in New York City that provided various social services. As a result, legal assistance was obtained from American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) (McDaniel Lescher, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Since that time, the scope of child protective services has increased. Due to the rapid growth of various types of child protective services, as well as the significant effects of various interventions in this field, healthy environment was created to produce accountability in decisions and actions taken by the organizations and general public (Klein-Rothschild Brittain, 2004, p. 494). Today a wide range of child protective services and interventions are aimed at making a difference, providing safety for children (McDaniel Lescher, 2004).   The CPS agents use the proper skills and abilities to enhance the well-being of children of different age groups, including immigrant minors.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Actually, child welfare laws and policies developed and implemented in the USA and other countries help immigrant children exposed to domestic violence, no matter what country their parents have arrived from (Klein- Rothschild Brittain, 2004; Song, 2004).Today the professionals of child protective services thoroughly investigate all causal factors that lead to child abuse and neglect. The police have adopted to provide mandatory reporting procedures for any type of domestic violence that encounter in immigrant families. Besides, child protective services agents protect children from witnessing domestic violence (Song, 2004).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In general, the current rate of immigration requires effective child protective services initiatives and procedures. Many immigrant families move to the USA and other countries knowing nothing about the laws and regulations. The professionals of child protective services use the proper strategies to better understand the etiology of immigrant minors’ maltreatment. According to researchers, there are several predicting factors that can give explanation to child abuse and neglect by immigrant parents (Alaggia Maiter, 2013).   These factors include:Parent-related factors, such as the history of child abuse, personality traits, various psychological resources, etc. (Alaggia Maiter, 2013)Child-related factors, such as age of a child, some problems with physical health of a child, behavior patterns, personality type and temperament, etc.The effectiveness of community and social support networksNegative environmental factors that may create negative conditions, resulting in child abuse (Alaggia Maiter, 2013, p. 250).The professionals of child protective services take the above mentioned factors into consideration in order to find the most appropriate approaches to solving the existing problems. To have a better understanding of the strengths of immigrant families, child protective services are focused on the cultural aspects of each family. The professionals of child protective services realize that for immigrant families, â€Å"these so-called risk factors may be exacerbated by the process of migrati on and the associated psychological distress and settlement struggles that may arise† (Alaggia Maiter, 2013, p. 249). Undoubtedly, migration leads to serious psychological problems that may result in child maltreatment. The attitudes of immigrant parents toward their child’s obedience and corporal punishment may vary. The knowledge of existing cultural factors helps to better understand child abuse and neglect in immigrant families (Alaggia Maiter, 2013). According to researchers, â€Å"different families from a particular ethno-cultural group or from an immigrant group will exhibit differential behaviors, depending on their niche within this ecological framework†(Alaggia Maiter, 2013, p. 249).Essay on Immigrant Minors and Child Protective Services part 2

Beneficios migratorios de gays y lesbianas en EEUU

Beneficios migratorios de gays y lesbianas en EEUU Los migrantes gays, lesbianas, bisexuales y transgà ©nero deben estar al tanto de cules podrà ­an ser sus beneficios migratorios en los Estados Unidos en los que su condicià ³n sexual puede ser tenida en consideracià ³n. Obviamente, las personas dentro del colectivo LGBT estn sujetas a las mismas reglas que aplican al resto de los migrantes, pero por su condicià ³n sexual 2 aspectos deben destacarse, en primer lugar el del asilo y en segundo lugar, el de los beneficios por matrimonio. Este artà ­culo informa sobre ambas situaciones. Asilo y el colectivo gay, lesbiana, transexual y bisexual En Estados Unidos pueden solicitar asilo las personas que han sido perseguidas o tengan un temor fundado de que sufrirà ­an persecucià ³n si regresaran a su paà ­s por razà ³n de su raza, nacionalidad, religià ³n, opinià ³n polà ­tica o grupo social. Serà ­a precisamente en este à ºltimo apartado donde la condicià ³n LGBT podrà ­a tener cabida. Los casos de asilo son complicados y, aunque es cierto que en los à ºltimos aà ±os se han ganado importantes victorias en las cortes migratorias, es muy importante conocer las posibilidades reales, cules son las consecuencias de plantear un caso de asilo y perderlo y la relevancia de contar con abogados especialistas en este tipo de casos. Adems es importante conocer y reconocer que en los resultados de estos casos hay una gran importancia segà ºn el lugar de la corte en el que se plantea la situacià ³n, en el caso asilo defensivo. Derechos migratorios de la comunidad LGBT por matrimonio Los matrimonios formados por gays o por lesbianas tienen los mismos derechos migratorios que los formados por la pareja hombre-mujer. El gran cambio se debe a una sentencia de la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos con fecha del 26 de junio de 2013. En ella, y por cinco votos a favor frente a cuatro en contra, los jueces declararon inconstitucional la ley federal conocida como DOMA que definà ­a al matrimonio como una unià ³n de un hombre como una mujer.Aquà ­ se puede leer en ingles la histà ³rica sentencia. La consecuencia inmediata es reconocer beneficios federales a los matrimonios vlidos formados por gays y lesbianas en las mismas condiciones que los conformados por heterosexuales. Esto significa que los ciudadanos americanos y los residentes permanentes legales gays y lesbianas podrn patrocinar una tarjeta de residencia para sus cà ³nyuges extranjeros. Y siguiendo el mismo procedimiento administrativo. A tener en cuenta para obtener los papeles por matrimonio Al igual que ocurre con los matrimonios formados por un hombre y una mujer, el matrimonio por sà ­ sà ³lo no basta para conseguir los papeles para el cà ³nyuge extranjero. Entre otras cosas, se exigen los siguientes requisitos: Que el cà ³nyuge extranjero sea admisible para recibir la tarjeta de residencia, tambià ©n conocida como green card, y si no lo es que pueda pedir un perdà ³n o waiver y que à ©ste le sea concedido. Entre los requisitos que debe cumplir se encuentran los de salud y vacunacià ³n, no tener delitos invalidantes o determinadas violaciones migratorias, como por ejemplo, presencia ilegal por ms de 180 dà ­as. Es decir, la green card puede ser negada porque se considera que la persona para la que se solicita es inadmisible. El ciudadano americano o residente permanente debe cumplir con los requisitos econà ³micos para patrocinar. Y por supuesto que el matrimonio debe ser uno de buena fe, y no una boda realizada con el fin de cometer un fraude para concederle los papeles a una persona extranjera. Atencià ³n al asunto de la validez del matrimonio Para que el cà ³nyuge extranjero pueda obtener beneficios migratorios es necesario que haya matrimonio. No basta con parejas de hecho. En el caso de los gays y lesbianas hay que prestar especial atencià ³n a las leyes estatales que regulan este tema y quà © aplica a un caso concreto. Lo mismo cabe decir de los matrimonios celebrados en el extranjero, ya que para que se puedan deribar derechos migratorios es necesario que sea vlido de acuerdo a la ley local del lugar en el que se celebra. Por à ºltimo, al igual que ocurre con las parejas del mismo sexo, hay que tener mucho cuidado con las bodas celebradas en Estados Unidos cuando el miembro extranjero de la pareja ha ingresado al paà ­s con una visa de turista. Son matrimonios vlidos pero desde el punto de vista de inmigracià ³n hay ciertas precauciones que hay que tener en cuenta si el cà ³nyuge de otro paà ­s quiere quedarse a vivir en EEUU. Visas de novios como una opcià ³n Los ciudadanos americanos pueden solicitar visas K-1 para sus novios o novias. Este es un derecho que no aplica a los residentes permanentes. Es importante destacar que los residentes permanentes legales no pueden solicitar esta visa para sus prometidos. Tiempo de espera para green card por matrimonio No hay là ­mite por aà ±o fiscal al nà ºmero de visas por matrimonio que pueden pedir los ciudadanos americanos, pero sà ­ a las que pueden solicitar los residentes permanentes, por los que hay un tiempo de espera o demora que hay que tener en cuenta. Pero incluso en las peticiones realizadas por ciudadanos la tramitacià ³n lleva un tiempo administrativo. Si el cà ³nyuge extranjero est en otro paà ­s hay que calcular entre medio aà ±o y un aà ±o el tiempo que pasa desde que se presenta la solicitud y el solicitado pasa la entrevista en el consulado y ya est listo/a para viajar a Estados Unidos. Abogado responde a dudas Hay muchas dudas entre la comunidad de gays y lesbianas sobre el lugar en el que ha tenido lugar el matrimonio y el del domicilio de la pareja a la hora de solicitar beneficios migratorios. El abogado Frank Calabrese responde en esta entrevista a esas preguntas y despeja las dudas. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Consumer behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Consumer behavior - Essay Example It can be said that the superior level of internet penetration in various regions of the world has played a crucial role in creating a demand for products and services of global standards in various markets. It is important to highlight that this demand among the consumers for new products and services has created a platform of unique business opportunities and has in return triggered the need for opening up of closed economies (Free, 2010, p. 464). The opening up of economies, along with the smooth integration and penetration of internet in various corners of the world has lead to the formation of a globally connected marketplace, where the geographical barriers are absent. With the opening up of previously closed economies, many new markets with unique patterns of consumer behaviour and consumer psychology are emerging from various regions of the world (Hargrove and et.al, 2006, p. 411). It is important to mention that the consumers of today’s date are highly tech savvy in n ature. ... Social Networking Overview From the sociologic point of view, it can be highlighted that human beings are born with unique social needs, which involves interacting and communicating with each other as it helps in the development of individual or generalized perceptions and feelings (Kendall, 2011, p. 102). Because of the high penetration of technological devices along with the existence of highly digitized nature of information content in today’s date, people automatically think of social networking as an online medium rather than a traditional offline medium. From the general point of view, it can be said that the social networking today represents a series of virtual platforms which facilitate the process of human interaction and communication of individuals, with their friends, relatives, families and even fans and followers located in various corners of the world. It is interesting to state that though the social networking is a part of the social media, which actually rep resents a very diverse and broad range of platforms which comprises of online blogs, discussion and knowledge forums, podcasting sites, public video sites like YouTube yet the various social and professional networking sites help the most in sharing and linking up of individuals with their close and important contacts (Jue & et.al, 2010, 44). Because of its ability to connect with people in the easiest and fastest manner, it can be said that the social networking sites has gained the status of a very important marketing tool for organizations who are trying to communicate the values of their own products and services to a specific demography of

Painting Styles, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist & Modern Essay

Painting Styles, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist & Modern - Essay Example The essay "Painting Styles, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist & Modern" explores such painting styles as Impressionist, Post-Impressionist & Modern. The group included the rebellious young Artists looking for new ways for the expression of ideas in painting. They attempted to question the traditionalists by portraying objects and scenes that lacked definition, and tried to explain how the eye interpreted objects. Exponents of ‘Impressionism’ also exploited the light sources for exploration and translation of light on the canvas, and the subject matter was the modern world, particularly landscapes. The founding members of ‘Impressionism’ were Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro."Images of suburban and rural leisure outside of Paris were a popular subject for the Impressionists.† The artistic technique of ‘Impressionism’ includes strong strokes of brush on canvas, and this style uses vibrant shades and attempts to translate scenes with mood and feeling. The Painting-â€Å"Autumn Evening,† by the Russian Painter Oleg Frolov in the year 2001, an oil painting on canvas, can be considered as an example of typical ‘Impressionist Painting.’ Post-Impressionism: Post-Impressionism is less easy to define and it differs from Impressionists on dissimilarity in personal styles, and subjects. In the transitory effects of light and spontaneous compositions, they share similar interest with Impressionists and concern with light, but their personal styles vary greatly. The term Post-Impressionism was coined.

Where Do You See Yourself In 4 Years As An Elementary School Teacher Essay

Where Do You See Yourself In 4 Years As An Elementary School Teacher - Essay Example By learning I do not mean gaining in-depth knowledge of a subject or becoming a master in many fields. By this, I mean learning to understand the psyche of a rebellious 12-year-old or a shy first grader. Every student has his/her own special needs and a teacher is duty bound to identify those needs. Understanding young children do not happen through listening to lectures or analyzing books on child psychology. It can only be brought about by experience and patience while interacting on a one to one basis with the children you are working with. I intend to work towards building the confidence of my pupils, first of all in themselves, so they will always know that no goal is unreachable, and secondly in me so they will positively respond to my suggestions and advice. During my years as a student, I have always responded well to only those teachers who, apart from being excellent in their teaching, were also genuine. Many teachers undermine the perceptive powers of their students assumi ng that they can get away with just cursory replies to queries and in doing so unconsciously lose respect and faith of the children. Genuinely being interested and devoted to all of my students is my primary objective. In addition to earning their trust, I will also be able to easily make them pay heed to me. After all, it is easier to control a class with love than with a rod. A rod can indeed quite a noisy class but cannot make the minds attune to what is being taught. A holistic approach instead of a completely academic approach is required to reach out to the students, especially at such an impressionable age. Further, students at all levels have considerable attention deficit (not the syndrome) and at the elementary level more so. To keep them engaged throughout an entire period is quite a challenge in itself. In order to accomplish that I will put into practice a thoroughly interactive and imaginative approach.

How to Introduce a Speaker Essay Example for Free

How to Introduce a Speaker Essay Speech introductions are often an afterthought, hastily thrown together at the last second by someone with little knowledge of the speaker, their speech, or the value for the audience. And yet, speech introductions are critical to the success of a speech. While a strong speech opening is vital, nothing helps establish a speaker’s credibility more than a carefully-crafted and well-delivered introduction. This article gives you a series of practical tips for how to introduce a speaker to position them with the best possible chance to succeed. 1. Answer three core questions. When you are introducing a speaker, your primary goal is to prepare the audience and get them excited for what they are about to hear. To do this, you must answer these three core questions: * What is the topic? * Why is this topic important for this audience? * Why is the speaker qualified to deliver this talk? By addressing these three questions, you’ve given the audience a motivation for listening (the topic is important to them), and you’ve reinforced the speaker’s credibility. 2. Prepare and practice adequately. â€Å"While a strong speech opening is vital, nothing helps establish a speaker’s credibility more than a carefully-crafted and well-delivered introduction.† At all costs, avoid thoughts such as â€Å"Oh, I don’t need to prepare†¦ I’m just introducing a speaker.† Thoughts like that lead to stumbling, bumbling, off-the-cuff introductions which undermine your credibility and the credibility of the speaker. You should write out (and edit) the full introduction, check it with the speaker, and practice it several times. 3. Memorize it, or minimize your notes. Try to memorize the introduction; speaking without notes will add to your authority, and the audience will put more weight in your recommendation (that is, to listen to this speaker). If you are unable to memorize the entire introduction, then use as few notes as you can. Be sure you can you deliver the last sentence of your introduction without notes as this will maximize momentum for the speaker. 4. be positive and enthusiastic. The audience takes cues from you. If you seem disinterested, they will be disinterested. If you are (genuinely) positive and enthusiastic, they will be too. Your choice of words, voice, gestures, and facial expressions should all convey enthusiasm. So, how do you ensure you are enthusiastic? 5. Get to know the speaker. It is difficult to get the audience excited about the speaker if you aren’t excited yourself. If the speaker is previously unknown to you — for example, suppose you’ve volunteered to introduce speakers at a large industry event — your introduction may lack sincerity. So, get to know the speaker. Google them. Talk with them. Ask others about them. Research the speaker and their expertise until you are excited by the opportunity to introduce them. 6. Eliminate mispronunciations. A sure way to weaken your own credibility and that of the speaker is to mispronounce their name, the title of their presentation, or any other key terms. Luckily, this is easily avoided through practice and by confirming the correct pronunciation with the speaker well before the presentation. (Don’t wait until you are delivering the introduction to ask them — this looks amateurish.) â€Å"A sure way to undermine your own credibility and that of the speaker is to mispronounce their name, the title of their presentation, or any other key terms.† 7. be accurate. Being accurate is as important as correct pronunciation, perhaps more so. Make sure you know the precise years, facts, or details. If you make factual errors, many speakers will feel an irresistible compulsion to correct you. This is a lousy way for them to begin their speech, and will almost certainly kill their momentum. 8. Don’t alter the speech title. Many speakers craft their presentation title very carefully, and the words matter to them. The title may be a phrase they want the audience to remember, it may reflect language used on accompanying slides, or it may be a humorous play on words. Don’t change it under any circumstances. (And, of course, know how to pronounce it.) 9. Should you attempt humor? In most circumstances, no. Your objective is to get the audience excited about the topic and the speaker, and this is not the time to tell humorous anecdotes about the speaker. Save those for a roast! There are exceptions (as there are to all public speaking advice), and you’ll have to use your judgment. If this speech is part of a longer event, and the preceding talk has been particularly sad or low on energy, then it may help to lift the spirits of the audience. If you need to do this, do it early in your introduction, and then move on to the more thought-provoking content leading to your climax. 10. Don’t give an outline of the speech. I was once introduced by someone who had seen a longer presentation I gave on the same topic two years prior. Not only did they ignore the introduction I had written for them, but they gave a detailed outline of my whole talk, including which parts were their favorites! Unfortunately, my outline had changed substantially, and they had created unreasonable expectations and sabotaged my talk. Avoid undermining the speaker by giving too many details about the speech, telling anecdotes from their speech, or making promises about details in their presentation. It is the speaker’s job to decide how and when they reveal their outline. Keep your introduction at a high level, unless they have specifically asked you to do otherwise. 11. Stick to relevant expertise of the speaker. One very common mistake is to recite a lengthy list of biographical details (education, awards, former job titles, publications, etc.) which may or may not be relevant to the topic being presented. This is especially common at academic conferences. For example, avoid introductions such as: Our speaker grew up in Seattle and graduated at the top of her mechanical engineering class at Carnegie Mellon University. She went on to earn a Master’s Degree from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard. She is a member of the Automotive Engineers Association, and a two-time recipient of the Stone Award for Distinguished Linguistics Research. She was previously the Director of Research at Hasbro, and is currently the CEO for the Miami Dolphins. Her talk today is entitled â€Å"How to Dougie.† A much better introduction would touch on how many years the speaker had Dougying whether she had been trained or self-taught, and that she had written a book on this topic. Okay, maybe that example was a bit extreme. But, even if the speaker has a lengthy list of biographical details that are related to her talk, there’s no need to recite them all. Pick a small number (about three) that are most relevant — usually the most recent details. Why not give all the details? 12. Don’t overdo it. Long introductions filled with biographical details are bad for two main reasons: * Long introductions are boring. Nobody attends an event to listen to the introducer go on and on. * Long introductions are pompous. Reciting dozens of professional accolades gives the impression that the speaker cares only about himself and his ego. Keep your introduction just long enough to accomplish your goals: [1] what’s the topic, [2] why does it matter, and [3] why is the speaker credible? â€Å"Keep your introduction just long enough to accomplish your goals: [1] what’s the topic, [2] why does it matter, and [3] why is the speaker credible?† I’m a big fan of short introductions in just about all situations. Sixty or ninety seconds is usually ample time. For really long presentations, (e.g. keynote addresses lasting an hour or more) two or three minutes may be warranted. 13. Avoid clichà ©s. How many times have you heard: â€Å"This speaker needs no introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ? While the speaker may indeed be well-known to the audience, nearly every speech benefits from a brief introduction. 14. Avoid exaggerated hype. Your introduction should get the audience excited about the presentation, but don’t take it too far. For example, it is reasonable to claim that the presentation will help the audience solve a business problem, save time, or understand the complexities of tax policy. But, it doesn’t help anyone to claim that â€Å"this presentation will solve all your problemsâ€Å", or that it is â€Å"the best presentation you’ll ever hearâ€Å", or even that â€Å"you’ll be amazed by what you are about to hearâ€Å". Proud expectations will actually have a detrimental effect, because the audience will feel challenged to prove you wrong. 15. Build to a climax. Your vocal delivery (strength and volume) should build toward the end of your introduction. (Keep it reasonable†¦ there’s no need to yell.) By doing so, the audience will be compelled to welcome the speaker with loud applause. One effective way to do this is to end with the speaker’s name and explicitly encourage applause: Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our guest speaker, Baby Girl! 16. Ensure a smooth transition. Know where the speaker will be as you speak your last words so that you can turn in that direction to greet them. Etiquette dictates that you should wait for them to come to you (e.g. on the stage, or at the lectern) and then shake hands before you leave. Shaking hands is a symbolic gesture that indicates you are â€Å"handing the floor† to them. Occasionally, the speaker may have a special entrance planned. (e.g. entrance music, a staged stunt, something with a prop) Make sure you ask the speaker about this, and do whatever you can to support them in a successful entrance. How to Introduce a Speaker: 16 Essential Tips for Success Preparing an Oral Report Follow these steps to put together and deliver a first-rate presentation. Step 1. Research the Facts Gather information about the subject of your oral report. List the facts and interesting information from your reading, taking notes accurately. Remember that relevant details and vivid descriptions will make your oral report more interesting, as will visual aids such as maps, charts, and pictures. Step 2. Organize Your Information Organize your oral report in three parts. †¢ Introduction How will you introduce your report? What will be your first line? Write a short introduction that briefly explains what your report will cover. †¢ Body Organize the main points of your report. They should follow a logical order. Be sure that: all your information is accurate; you have included information from your research to support your main points; you use details and descriptive sentences to make your report interesting. †¢ Conclusion Write a short conclusion. You can use the conclusion to: wrap up and restate your main points; draw upon your main points to formulate a personal opinion concerning the topic of your report. Step 3. Practice Giving the Oral Report Practice presenting your oral report with a friend or family member. If no one is available, try practicing in front of a mirror. Keep the following points in mind when you give your report. †¢ Hold your body upright and face your audience. †¢ Speak clearly and deliberately—you want everyone to hear what you have learned. †¢ Refer to your notes only when necessary. Step 4. Make A Final Copy of Your Report Notes Use your notes to make a final outline of your report and put it on one index card or half-sheet of paper. Try to use this card alone when giving your report. Refer to the rest of your notes only if absolutely necessary. http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_ss/teacher99/toolkit/TOOLKT19.pdf