King Lear Essay

â€Å"Drama is essentially about the struggle for power and the impact of this struggle on individuals. † How does Shakespeare use a range of literary conventions and writing techniques to explore this concept? Within Shakespeare’s productions the struggle for power within individuals is represented; not only in script but stage directions and writing techniques. ‘King Lear’ is a tragedy, considered to be a literary masterpiece. Throughout the coinciding plots, conflicts between tragic heroes and their ‘loyal’ followers develop the major ideas of the play. The nature of the world, betrayal and loyalty are all themes that form the basis of these conflicts. Inevitably these themes provoke the audience to side with certain characters and create modern day analogies towards specific themes in the text; good battling evil is the cornerstone of the script and the inevitable struggle to regain power. Within the script Shakespeare presents characters of great greed and ambition in the effort to gain power. Their struggle towards power is followed, Edmund seeking Gloucester’s title and Gonerill and Regan in the hunt for Lear’s land and power. Initially, the audience is presented with the ‘love test’ in which Lear’s daughters have to flatter their father into dividing the Kingdom. Consequently, Shakespeare foreshadows the repercussions of Lear’s actions through metaphor ‘We have seen the best of our time†¦ all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our graves†¦ we make guilty of our disasters†¦ by and influenced obedience of planetary influence’. Through Gloucester’s words the direction of the play becomes increasingly obvious. From Act I we are presented with a struggle of power and more is foreshadowed. Manipulation is also a tool used by Shakespeare to create strong emotion within the battle of good vs. evil. The storm brewing outside the Kingdom is metaphorically what is going on inside Lear’s head. At this present time Lear is full of conflict, anger and disorder much like the environment ‘one minded like the weather, most unquietly’. Shakespeare is manipulating the audience, changing their emotions in accordance to the tone of the act. Shakespeare has allowed the audience to form their own views on characters, only after providing strong persuasive symbols and intentions of their power. Symbolism is the most effective device in the text indicating how ruthless characters such as Gonerill, Regan and Edmund pursue power to satisfy their needs. Gonerill especially, when described as having a ‘wolfish visage’ and as being ‘Sharp-toothed, like a vulture’. Similarly, Regan is presented in the same light; ‘looked black†¦ most serpent like’. On a whole, the sisters are ‘animalistic’ with ‘boarish fangs’, ‘monsters of the deep’, ‘dog hearted daughters’ and ‘tigers not daughters’. Conversely Shakespeare contrasts this and conveys Cordelia with ‘saint’ like status, ‘sing like birds in a cage’. Cordelia is really the only figure to be represented positively. Through this symbol of Cordelia the audience is immediately attracted towards her. Whilst Gonerill and Regan are the epitome of evil, Cordelia by the end of the play is recognised to be the true essence of goodness. Shakespeare also provides animalistic symbolism, through Lear, whilst describing mankind. ‘poor bare forked animal’ describing man’s venerability. It also ironic in the sense, that as Lear gains a sense of being he is able to generalise mankind through the power he once had. Although Gloucester is physically blinded, Lear is personified metaphorically through his inability to see the world clearly, ‘see better, Lear’. When the sub plots finally meet, Lear’s encounter with Gloucester is beneficial as things become visible. With careful perception, it becomes increasingly obvious that Gloucester’s blinding is the physical manifestation of the mental torture Lear endures. Shakespeare includes irony after Gloucester’s physical blinding, ‘I stumbled when I saw’. He finally acknowledges his mistakes and misjudgements about his sons. In another case this may be humorous to the audience but in fact it delivers comedy of the grotesque. The audience is deeply saddened through the irony. When Gloucester could see, he couldn’t see the true colours of his sons. Conversely when he became physically blinded it was only then, that he fully understood his son’s real identities. Gloucester also becomes more perceptive with his tragedy, and is almost reiterating central ideas of the play, ‘As flies to wanton Boys, are we to the Gods; they kill us for their sport. ’ He is acting as a tool for Shakespeare to display the impact of power amongst people. That mankind is dispensable. Conflict is the underlying convention Shakespeare uses, giving the audience insight into the real motives of characters good or evil. From this we can determine who really is good, and who is fundamentally evil. The inevitable battle between Edmund and the rest of his family, Edgar and Gloucester almost drives Gloucester beyond the limits of endurance. Gloucester’s overwhelming suffering; both physically and mentally, take its toll, ‘but his heart flawed†¦burst smilingly’. Similarly, Lear is put through suffering by his ‘pelican daughters’, and grows from it. Initially he is an egotistical, self-centred man which through his suffering acknowledges that fame and power are transitory. By the end of the script Lear has developed into a philosophical, fatalistic old man. Manipulation is again used by Shakespeare but in an ironic sense, as power is destroyed, harmony is developed. As Lear reconciles with Cordelia, the background music represents Lear’s state of mind. Music is the art of combining vocal and instrumental sound to produce harmony and express emotion. The calmness of the music represents Lear’s psychological state and peace of mind, ‘my own tears do scald like molten lead’. This is ironic as Shakespeare has transformed Lear much the same as the weather. In the dark gloomy storm, Lear was fragile, compared to spring the sign of new life where he is returned to tranquillity. Shakespeare personifies the struggle for power and its convoluted effect. The script is transformed into another dimension with the use of writing techniques and literary conventions. Irony has been the cornerstone in which the central ideas of the play have been shaped, providing the reader with timeless life lesions. King Lear is a text that advocates the struggle for power and how this impacts individuals. Individuals must be aware of the addictive nature of power and be wary of its destructive ability.

Critical Review

Frances Hill’s book is not in a horror genre as what the first impression could be with regards to the title itself.   It is merely a collection of facts and stories untold, and an extension of a historical argument that is more terrifying than fictional horror stories.   Is the book A Delusion of Satan: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trial still timely to discuss or not?Witchcraft, sorcery and witch hunting; judicial perspective, extreme religious practices of good versus evil and social responsibility reflects on Frances Hill’s search for truth and justice by means of writing.   Being a professor in the school of law, she astutely provides the fascination to take charge the unending trials by publicity of the people generation to generation with the same subject Salem Witch Trial which created a deep impact on the history.The said mass hysteria in 1692 is one of the darkest parts in the history of America.   Although there are some who still patronizes such act of witchcraft, the tendency to repeat the mass hysteria is now impossible to happen.   We are now more scientific and democratic in all our moves while we are unfolding the history.Thus, as long as we believe in scientific bases and act intelligently, the delusion of Satan in the witchcraft trial like what the Salem people in 1692 has experienced will never happen again.It was clearly described in the book how the people during those days are immoral in their own ways, has poor understanding and explicitly drastic.   They tend to believe in superstitions and voodoo activities irregardless of their social status.   It was as if these people are all uncivilized, uneducated and not God-fearing people in the author’s study which stated as follows.The Salem witch trial began and found suspects guilty as the judges allowed the supposed victims   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to testify about being attacked by the suspects in their spectral or ghostly formsâ€⠀Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   that is, forms    that no one other than the victims could see.[1]   The trial resulted to sufferings of more than a hundred residents of Salem.They are tortured, beaten and starved in prisons.   Nineteen people   Ã‚  Ã‚   were hung and executed, and one pressed with heavy stones to death because of denying to the said accusations of witchcraft.   Others were made to stand without rest during interminable   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   sessions of questioning.[2]Before the book ended, the author Frances Hill gave significant propositions why the girls of Salem Village behaved that way and why the judges and the people involved did not see their actions as fake, feigned and delirium.ConclusionTo conclude this critical review of the book, I would like to stress out my own statements and conclusions being an educated and knowledgeable individual.   Firstly, I certainly do not agree to the evil and grotesque way of the Salem Witch Trial.   I believe in due process, fair trial and fair justice which modern people like us practice in our day to day living.   Secondly, I agree with the author’s battle against these evil activities by pinpointing facts from the history.However, I believe that this topic of trial for suspected witches are no longer timely and helpful in accordance to our more mature and technologically advanced culture.   Authorities, judges and justices themselves do not rely now on supernatural things.They evaluate the case based on scientific evidence, and sentence the accused in a more humanitarian way.   Hence, the author’s topic and the book itself are just merely opinions and story-telling combined with a touch of intelligently driven research.R E F E R E N C E SHill, Frances. â€Å"Chapter One Sowing the Dragon’s Teeth†. A Delusion of Satan: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trial. p.1. Copyright 1997 Published by Da Capo Press Cambridge, MA Uniqueness of the Salem Witchcraft Tria ls.   Mar. 29, 2007. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_701701818_2/Salem_Witch_Trials.html#s8.[1] Uniqueness of the Salem Witchcraft Trials.   http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_701701818_2/Salem_Witch_Trials.html#s8 2 Hill, Frances. Chapter One Sowing the Dragon’s Teeth. A Delusion of Satan: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trial. p.1 Copyright 1997 Published by Da Capo Press Cambridge, MA

The effectiveness of advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The effectiveness of advertising - Essay Example BMW, headquartered in Munich, Germany, was founded in the year 1916. Its primary line of operations include manufacture and sale of cars and motorcycles worldwide which is done in collaboration with its subsidiaries. The company belongs to the consumer goods sector and auto manufacturers–major industry. BMW’s automotive segment manufactures, assembles and sells cars and off road vehicles under famous brand names such as BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce. It also manufactures and sells BMW and Husqvarna branded motorcycles in their motorcycle division (Yahoo Finance, 2013). Campaign Strategy According to Ramalingam, et al (2006), effective advertisement’s can be characterized on the basis of two levels. The first level explains the need for the advertisers to satisfy consumer’s objectives by engaging them and delivering a relevant message. The other one emphasizes on the need for advertisements to achieve the advertiser’s objectives. An effective advertisem ent campaign must incorporate both this characteristics in order to formulate a near perfect strategy. Effective advertisements are generally well executed. The main strategy of an advertisement campaign is to make sure that the details, the photography, setting, printing, and the production values are finely tuned. These characteristics are now the benchmark that has been set in the advertising industry. BMW’s campaign strategies are absolutely customer specific. With BMW group campaign BMW i, which is also known as â€Å"Driving the next movement†, the company is pioneering a new path towards a revolutionary change in automobile technology and the industry as a whole. They thrive for innovation and their... This essay "The effectiveness of advertising" outlines characteristics of the successful advertising and BMW's campaign strategy. According to Ramalingam, et al (2006), effective advertisement’s can be characterized on the basis of two levels. The first level explains the need for the advertisers to satisfy consumer’s objectives by engaging them and delivering a relevant message. An effective advertisement campaign must incorporate both this characteristics in order to formulate a near perfect strategy. Effective advertisements are generally well executed. The main strategy of an advertisement campaign is to make sure that the details, the photography, setting, printing, and the production values are finely tuned. These characteristics are now the benchmark that has been set in the advertising industry. BMW’s campaign strategies are absolutely customer specific. With BMW group campaign BMW i, which is also known as â€Å"Driving the next movement†, the com pany is pioneering a new path towards a revolutionary change in automobile technology and the industry as a whole. They thrive for innovation and their vision for innovation is distinctively reflected in the ad campaigns designed by the company’s marketing management division. BMW group’s primary objective behind the BMW i campaign is to provide answers to the environmental and economical challenges that prevail in this changing world thereby satisfying the interest and curiosity of audiences towards the company’s products and services.

Changing Context of Workforce Planning and Labour Market Change Research Paper

Changing Context of Workforce Planning and Labour Market Change - Research Paper Example The report indicates that the LFS essentially tracks two different types of teleworkers, including those working in their premises and those working in particular places like on the train, at their client’s homes, or in the cars. However, all the two types of teleworking services use the home comfort as their primary setups. In 2005, the majority of teleworkers worked in several places but used the home as their center. The number represents a whopping 1.8 million out of a total 2.4 million. These figures just demonstrate how the labor market is vigorously shifting from the more demanding contractual basis to the less critical self-employment context. There are several factors central to the sudden change in the labor market context. The first primary aspect is the advancement in technology. The new skills and equipment have revolutionized and redefined the entire workforce because it has brought a range of capabilities that were initially far-fetched. For example, in the case study, the rise of computers and telephones has changed the game because it has made work easier for builders. They can efficiently execute particular duties at home and at the same time communicate with clients. This scenario contrasts the traditional white-collar-job setup that requires an employee to link remotely with the employer. Apart from technology, several other reasons perhaps drive employees away from the customary right jobs, hence making home based work more appealing and convenient. First, some contracts are not guaranteed.

Management Strategy Perspectives and Paradoxes Essay

Management Strategy Perspectives and Paradoxes - Essay Example In such environ, it is important for an organisation to find a 'differential aspect' of its product or service in order to survive the market competencies, otherwise the organisation will be driven out of the business ruthlessly. "Having a competitive advantage is like having a gun in knife fight". The paper explores this statement and illustrates the key factors through which a firm can attain this competitive gun while all the competitors remain fighting with their competitive knives. It goes for a gross understanding of the term 'competitive advantage', realising how it can be interpreted as 'a gun in the knife fight', plus analysing and examining a bunch of important issues underlying this concept. The focus of this paper remains to be the factors that need to be addressed by an organisation in its quest to dig out a competitive advantage to create and maintain its position in the market that is unbeatable for its competitors in a specific point in time. There happen to be several areas where a firm can manage to obtain a competitive advantage against its competitors. These areas are discussed in this paper with the help of the literature available on the given subject. "Having a competitive advantage is like having a gun in a knife fight". Consider a fight in which everybody has got a knife as weapon and using it in all ways to win the battle. During this fight, one of the fighters manages to acquire a gun. A gun in a knife fight implies having a weapon or an advantage through which any battle or competition could be won in way that nobody else could be able to claim victory for a long time. In the context of businesses, this statement entails having a competitive advantage or that aspect of an organisation, which can be utilised to fight the battle of competition and gain a superior weapon over other competitors. An exploration of this statement first of all lies in a profound understanding of the term competitive advantage and the necessary issues associated with it. The statement will be explored further in the paper after an illustration of what actually is meant by the term 'competitive advantage'. A competitive advantage is simply an aspect of the organisation that it possesses or offers to the customers. In order for an organisational aspect to constitute as a 'competitive advantage', it has to be unique in the market not adopted by any other current or potential firm in the market. This phenomenon can also be understood in the words of Barney (1991, p102) as, "a firm is said to have competitive advantage when it is implementing a value creating strategy not simultaneously being implemented by any current or potential competitors". This value strategy can be in any form, as long as it is providing benefit to the customers and the organisation directly or indirectly. For instance, if a firm manages to produce its products at a lower cost than all other firms in the market, it is a direct benefit to the customer in the form of reduced prices and an indirect benefit to the organisation in the shape of enhanced sales. This can only become possible when the firm has identified uni que ways to lower the product costs, either unknown or inapplicable to other firms. Porter (1985, p3) illustrates the conception of competitive advantage as the ability of a firm to create value for its customers in a way that proposes more benefit

Marketing - Explain and Evaluate Porter's 'five forces' model Essay

Marketing - Explain and Evaluate Porter's 'five forces' model - Essay Example This model has become widely known, discussed and applied to various markets or industries. Porter’s Five Forces Model attempts to explain the forces which operate in the market with a potential to reduce the profitability of a firm as a result of the interests of various actors which are a part of the market, or who interact with the industry. Although consideration of Porter’s Five Forces model is essential for any analysis related to an industry or a market, the model also presents some limitations when it is used for the analysis of dynamic, global markets in which fast innovation, technology change and a rapid change of players has come to be accepted. This essay presents an explanation of Michael Porter’s Five Forces Model and examines some of the model’s limitations. Existing industries and those players who are about to enter a market, as well as the investors who want to make an investment in an industry need to understand the competitor dynamics associated with the industry or market. Such an understanding is necessary for the assessment of the potential investment opportunities associated with a venture so as to provide a better assessment of the returns which can be expected, sound business or strategic planning and how the products or services which are being offered by an industry player may be differentiated or enhanced from what is being offered by the competitors. Various models have been offered to assist with such an analysis including the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats or SWOT model, Igor Ansoff’s Gap Analysis model, the resource based model and Michael Porter’s Five Forces Model (Porter, 1998) and (Quick MBA, 2005). Michael Porter’s Five Forces Model is one of the most popular and respected model which attempts to provide a greater understanding of the business environment of the industry and its relative attractiveness. The

A Critical Role in Deterring Smoking Both in the US and in the UK Research Paper

A Critical Role in Deterring Smoking Both in the US and in the UK - Research Paper Example Particularly, according to statistical data, the number of adult smokers in the U.K went down by approximately one million between 2006 and 2007 (Easton, 2009). However, contrary to this observation, the number of heavy smokers has increased to 29% from 24% during the same period and those who planned to quit reduced by approximately 5% from 72% (Easton, 2009). The fall represents an estimated 1.2 million people. The U.K also required the manufacturers to print health warnings on the cigarette packs in an attempt to deter people from smoking. According to the most recent statistics, the U.K has 22% and 19% male and female smokers respectively. Although the U.K has approximately 10 million smokers, there are 15 million ex-smokers indicating that the ban has been effective (Smoking Statistics, 2013). Nevertheless, the U.K has been receiving some troubling news concerning the number of children starting smoking, which stood at 200,000 annually (Cancer Research UK, 2013). On the other ha nd, the U.S has more smokers than the U.K. According to a 2012 statistic, the U.S has at least 42 million smokers, which represents 18.1% of the overall population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014a, p. 30-32). This number comprises of adults alone or individuals with at least 18 years of age. Of the overall U.S smokers, 78% were heavy smokers. According to race, the American Indians led the smokers with 21% and the behaviour is more common among the males than females with males taking on almost 21% while females represent 15.8%.

Effects of tourism on economic growth in China Research Paper

Effects of tourism on economic growth in China - Research Paper Example A huge increase in the amount of expenditure from foreign tourists with an average of average of 19.7% in each year was recorded between 1978 and 2001. For this reason, the World Tourism Organization had expected that China would have been the primary tourist destination in the world by 2010 (Yan & Wall 260). Currently, it is speculated that, by the year 2015, China will become the second largest travel and tourism economy in the world after the United States. The main factors influencing the tremendous growth in China’s economy include its flourishing and widely considered growth in the tourism industry. This is also because of the open policy established by the Chinese, and an increased number of flights between China and other countries in the world. Moreover, various great improvements such as the transport infrastructure in China, accommodation in hotels and the increased tourist attractions have significantly contributed to this growth. One of the major theories in macro economics is the economic growth theory. Through the use of quantitative analysis, it has been shown that the effect of tourism on the developing economy of China bearing in mind the undeveloped levels of their tourism industry, tourism plays a significant role in the development of the country’s economy. In the conclusion of their 1992 study, Yan and Wall (270) noted that both domestic and international tourism only had a slight impact on the national level. This is with regards to the diversity and size of the economy in China. Using the traditional Type I Input-output model, they did not include the impacts of domestic tourism. Contrary to the use of outdated data in this case, the World Travel and Tourism council has recently projected the indirect and direct effects of domestic and...In this paper, the effect of tourism on the economic growth in China will be thoroughly evaluated, as the impact of tourism in China has not been sufficiently analyzed, prior to the time of the conducted analysis. The size of tourism in China has significantly increased. A significant and sustainable growth has been experienced in China consequent to both domestic and international tourism for the past 20 years. With this, the ratio of tourism to the GDP in the country has been shown to increase every year. Through the creation of the social accounting matrix, the type II input-output model was developed. This model contends that high percentage of total household income, GDP, and total Chinese employment depends on the expenditures of international tourism. The variation displayed by the percentages is clearly explained by the sectoral make up of tourist expenditures, as well as the sectoral variations in ratios between capital and labor, backward linkages and labor productivity. The designation of an account as either endogenous or exogenous is the most fundamental step towards movement from SAM to a model structure. According to Bulmer-Thomas, the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) plays an essential role in making accounting records for different economies An investigation was performed on the dependence of Chinese economy on the expenditure by tourists. It was necessary to integrate the IO impact Model with the demand for endogenous consumption that is based on the SAM model. These instruments were used to estimate the â€Å"direct, indirect and induced dependence† that the Chinese economy has on the international tourism. The impact of international tourism in China displays a lot of prospects for Chinese economy

Discussion 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Discussion 5 - Essay Example mally held at the home of the elder family members, this is the one time during the year when the whole year when the clan is expected to gather to partake of a dinner normally composed of chicken and fish. The strange part is that the chicken and fish dishes are not consumed but are instead meant as offerings. I have often had to explain to our foreign guests that the chicken and fish are meant to honor the Chinese pun that says â€Å"every year have chicken and fish left over† or â€Å"have profit every year† for businesses, and for families, it could mean â€Å"be blessed every year†. I realize that it is a waste of perfectly good food not to partake of the dishes served specifically for the â€Å"pun† purpose. However, it is Chinese tradition and culture that dictates we must do it. It is a tradition that has the best of intentions and has never brought harm to anyone. Which is probably why my family also continues to honor the tradition to this very day and we find ourselves constantly having to explain ourselves to our foreign guests who, in the process, learn more about Chinese cultures and

How To Get Organized Essay Example for Free

How To Get Organized Essay Organization is the key to success in any organization. Individual who are organized in their personal lives are more likely to be organized and efficient in their work place. An organized mind establishes efficiency in all areas of life. They create an organized work environment which leads to overall organizational success. Disorganization is characterized by unnecessary items that need to be grouped together, hidden out of sight, wasted thoughts, energy and time. It starts with an inward motivation to break away from states of confusion and disorder. As the personal assistant in the Elementary School, personal organization is very important in enabling school run its activities without conflict. This research paper aims at seeking ways of addressing the problem of not being organized as highlighted to me by those I constantly interact with. This can be by: avoided too many things in your head, having a work plan of what should be done in a given time, setting priorities right and setting adequate time on each, increasing efficiency in what need to be done through proper planning. The paper aims at identifying ways of improving personal organization skills such as good time management, creating enough space in the work place with the aim of avoiding disorganized and distractive work environment, appreciating the position one is in as a means of creating internal strength to keep on working, setting realistic goals and maintaining to stick to their time guide and at times delegating responsibilities in an attempt to avoid overworking. Its important to note that, failing to plan is in simple terms planning to fail. Self control and a focused mind are important in getting organized thus improving work output in an organization. HOW TO GET ORGANIZED Being organized is the first step towards being efficient and productive in what we do in life. Some of the main obstacles that hold people from getting organized include; Time Management Time managements the key to being organized. It’s important to first admit that I have made mistakes in managing time and work towards improving upon it. The easiest is to have a daily To Do List. The list provides a list of all the tasks to be done within the day such as phone calls to be made, purchases to be made and letters to be drafted, among other numerous activities. The list gives priorities at a glance of all pending jobs and their agency and helps eliminate miscellaneous pieces of paper work with job reminders. A daily planner, mainly a pocket notebook is the most preferred due to its easy portability. The To Do List should be reviewed on a daily basis and all the tasks successively achieved marked out and all items not accomplished for whatever reason transferred to the next day’s list. These items should be prioritized in the next day’s To Do List so as to avoided pushing them further resulting to pile up of unfinished jobs that make people appear disorganized even when they are organized. Dark markers can be used to reinforce major tasks. Several lists should be made for each day, week, month and if possible for a year. Put it back Organizing the work space ensures that all items not in use are thrown away or put it efficiently in storage at a clear and designated place. This helps you in determining the actual amount of space you have within the office, thus eliminating time and money wasted in organizing stuff you do not need. All items frequently used such as envelopes, stamps, stain removers should be easily accessible mainly on the working desk. It is important to set timers for how long an organizing task should take in an attempt to avoid doing a single task for a whole day and help in remaining focused. Once you have placed every thing where it belongs it is very important to develop the habit of placing every thing back to where they belong as soon as you finish working on them. All items with similar usage should be placed in the same place such as keys, phones, all pending jobs and finished jobs so as to eliminate time wastage while searching for items. Similarly combine all similar activities such as make all call at the same time, pay all bills and do all the errands and shopping in one trip. Honesty with Yourself. Incase you feel wasted and not proud of yourself in the position you are in presently, it important to have a realistic look at where you spend your time, way all the pros and cons and see if there is any opportunity to improvement. This gives the opportunity for personal reflection thus encouraging positive energy to take control which will lead to being organized. Its important to determine what exactly you want to organize, rather than stating that am organized. Draft a list of all things you would like to organize such as schedules over a given period of time and ensure you abide by the list. Delegate responsibilities Delegating responsibilities to other people ensures all or most of the To Do List activities are meet. Doing everything by your self makes it hard to remain organized since you cannot meet all deadlines set out due to emerging pop-ups. Conclusion. Being organized is being in control of all the activities in our lives and the work place. If some aspects of your life are dissatisfying, it is good to get excited since you are aware of what you do not need in life. Create a time frame of when that must be achieved and strictly stick to it. References Bridges, C. Organizational Skills. (2000). [Online]. Available: http://www. at. bridges. com/20010108/skills/main. htm Bordenaro, B. (n. d. ). Being Organized in Not a Trait! [Online]. Available: http://www. ideamarketers. com/library/article. cfm? articleid=7414 Hemphill, B. (2001). Six Ways to Improve Your Office Organization Skills. [Online]. Available: ttp://www. frogpondgroup. com/articles. cfm? articleid=bhemphill04

Corporate Governance Disclosures in Emerging Capital Markets

Corporate Governance Disclosures in Emerging Capital Markets THE CASE OF GHANA CHAPTER 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION Corporate governance has dominated the policy agenda in developed market economies since the mid 1990s. The spate of corporate failures and massive government bailouts that have characterised the current global recession has led to an upsurge in the call for tighter regulation of capital markets and more stringent corporate governance. What has become clear from the current global capital markets meltdown is that, as capital markets develop, so too does the complexity of transactions and organisational structures, and the span of inter-dependencies among the various players in the market which extend beyond the boundaries of nations and continents. It is imperative for the stability of the global economy that there is adequate and effective regulation of the various capital markets and that the managers of major companies be held accountable for complying with these regulations and adhering to the principles of good corporate governance. In order for corporate manager to be held accountable for their compliance with regulations and good governance, they must make relevant disclosures in their companies annual reports. Corporate Governance and Emerging Capital Markets The recent international financial scandals have generated increased interest in corporate governance as a means of mitigating financial problems in developing economies (Tsamenyi et al. 2007, Reed 2002, Ahunwan 2002). These problems include weak and illiquid stock markets, economic uncertainties, weak legal controls and investor protection, and frequent government intervention. Developing economies also suffer from poor corporate performance and high concentration of company ownership (Tsamenyi et al. 2007, Ahunwan 2002). They usually suffer from state ownership of companies, weak legal and judiciary systems, weak institutions, limited human resources capabilities, and closed/family companies (Mensah 2002, Young et al. 2008). Reed (2002) noted that, globalization, international trade, and international investment practices call for the development of corporate governance in developing nations. Corporate governance is mechanism for ensuring corporate management acts in the best interest of a companys stakeholders (John Senbet, 1998). If capital markets in developing economies such as Ghana are to become fully established and grow, effective corporate governance regulations need to be developed and implemented. Such regulatory structures should not only be adequate to protect the interests of shareholders but also to assist in boosting the confidence of prospective investors and other stakeholders in corporate activities (Cadbury, 1992). Emerging Capital Markets (ECMs) are an integral part of the global capital market. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC, 1996), EMCs can be viewed as any market in a developing economy that has the potential for development (IFC, 1996). Such markets compete for investment funds with well developed capital markets and therefore need to put in place appropriate measures to attract business activities. The adoption of effective corporate governance is one such measure. Gompers et al. (2003) assert that, good corporate governance increases company valuations and boosts the bottom line. Along similar lines, Claessens et al. (2002) maintain that sound corporate governance frameworks benefit companies through increased access to financing, lower cost of capital, better performance and more favourable treatment of all stakeholders. Corporate transparency and full-disclosure of information are core attributes of the corporate governance mechanism (OECD, 1999) and are regarded as an extremely important factor in the quality of corporate governance. Further, Beeks and Brown (2006)contend that firms with more effective corporate governance make more informative disclosures. Although corporate governance systems differ across countries, with the development of Codes of Best Practice around the world, there is gradual convergence of corporate governance practices toward global standards (Hopt 1997). Ghana is an example of an emerging economy which is increasingly embracing the concept of good corporate governance and requiring companies to report on their corporate governance practices. Attempts being made in Ghana to promote effective corporate governance include the formation of the Institute of Directors in 2001 and the development of National Accounting Standards. Additionally, the Ghana Securities and Exchange Commission (GSEC) has developed a Corporate Governance Code of Best Practice against which companies can benchmark their practices. Other regulatory requirements which govern corporate conduct include provisions in the Companies Code 1963 (Act 179), the Securities Industry Law 1993 (PNDCL 333) and the Membership and Listing Regulations of the Ghana Stock Exchange. Notwithstanding all of the above measures which are designed to secure good corporate governance by public listed companies in Ghana, the general level of compliance with the requirements is, and has always been, low. A study by Tsamenyi et al. (2007), which investigated corporate governance disclosures by applying a disclosure index to the 2006 annual reports of 22 listed companies in Ghana, found that the extent and quality of corporate governance disclosures were minimal. Many studies have been examined on corporate governance disclosures based on the examination of the content and scope of annual reports information by establishing corporate disclosure indexes (see Meek et al. 1995, Coy and Dixon, 2003). This study is concerned with the information disclosed mostly in the annual reports. Information in the annual report consists of qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative data is both financial and non-financial. Moreover, many annual reports contain illustrations, diagrams and graphical presentations. 1.2 RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVES Following from the above discussion, the overall aim of this study is to make recommendations designed to improve the extent and quality of corporate governance disclosures by public listed companies in Ghana. In order to achieve this aim the research has the following objectives: to determine the current corporate governance disclosure requirements of listed companies in Ghana; to compare Ghanaian disclosure requirements with those applying to UK listed companies; to examine the corporate governance disclosures made by a Ghanaian listed companies in their 2008 annual reports; to identify the differences (if any) in the corporate governance disclosures made by the listed companies in Ghana studied and the corporate governance disclosure requirements; to ascertain the reasons for the failure by listed companies in Ghana to fully comply with the corporate governance disclosure requirements; to make recommendations on how the quantity and quality of corporate governance disclosures by listed companies in Ghana might be improved. 1.3 METHODOLOGY In order to achieve the research objectives the following methods have been used. Literature review: Relevant articles in academic and professional journals have been reviewed in order to establish the extent to which corporate governance disclosure requirements exist and are adhered to in various ECMs. Keywords such as corporate governance, disclosures, ECMs, and Ghana input into databases such as Emerald, JSTOR, SSRN, and Google to search for relevant articles. Document study:Statutory and regulatory documents have been examined to ascertain the existing corporate governance disclosure requirements in Ghana. In addition, the annual reports of a sample of 25 listed companies in Ghana for the year 2008 have been studied to determine the extent and quality of their corporate governance disclosures. Disclosure Index:A corporate governance disclosure index has been and applied to the 2008 annual reports of 25 listed companies in Ghana. The index is has been constructed to include the key corporate governance requirements that apply to listed companies in Ghana. Semi-structured interviews: Six semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to ascertain the reasons for differences in the corporate governance disclosures made by, and required of, listed companies in Ghana. The interviewees were two finance executives of listed companies, two senior audit partners from the Big Four auditing firms and one representative from each of the Ghana Stock Exchange and the GSEC. 1.4 IMPORTANCE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY Prior studies such as those of Tsamenyi, et al 2007 and ROSC 2005, which have examined aspects of corporate governance in ECMs and, in particular, Ghana have revealed that corporate governance as a policy and regulatory issue is gaining ground but the level of corporate governance disclosure is low. This study, by establishing the current extent (and quality) of corporate governance disclosures in Ghana, identifying deviations from the corporate governance disclosure requirements, and making recommendations on how corporate governance disclosure practices may be improved, will help to bring about improvements in the corporate governance disclosures by listed companies in Ghana However, the study has a number of limitations. These include the following: The study has focused only on a limited sample of 25 out of the 36 listed companies on the GSE. As a consequence the result may not be representative of all listed companies (or indeed, other companies) in Ghana. The study will be based on one years corporate governance disclosures and these may not be representative of corporate governance disclosures made in other years. Research which incorporates a longitudinal study may be necessary to demonstrate the development of corporate governance disclosures in Ghana. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with a small sample of interviewees and the opinions expressed may be influenced by their personal ideologies and the extent of their experience with listed companies in Ghana. 1.5 ORGANISATION OF THIS RESEARCH REPORT This research report has six (6) chapters as follows, Chapter 1: Introduction: In this chapter the background to the study is explained, and its aims and objectives are specified. The research methods used for the study are outlined and consideration is also given to the contributions and limitations of the research project. Chapter 2: corporate governance requirements in Ghana: This chapter provides background information on the corporate environment in Ghana and sets out the corporate governance requirements. Chapter 3: Literature review: This chapter provides a definition of corporate governance and examines the importance of, and the principles underpinning, corporate governance. It also reviews prior research which has examined corporate governance disclosures and more particularly, those which have investigated corporate governance disclosure in ECMs. Chapter 4: Methodology.This chapter explain the development and application of the of disclosure index used to examine the quantity and quality of corporate governance disclosures in the 2008 annual reports of a sample of listed companies in Ghana. It also describes the methodology adopted for the semi-structured interviews conducted with six interviewees from selected institutions in Ghana. In addition it explains the means by which the data have been analysed and reported. Chapter 5: Research findings. The results of the analysis of selected companies annual reports and the semi-structured interviews are reported and examined in the light of the exact literature. Chapter 6: Conclusions and Recommendations.This chapter provides a brief summary of the research project and its findings. Conclusions are drawn from the research findings and recommendations made on ways in which corporate governance disclosures by listed companies in Ghana might be improved. CHAPTER 2 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REQUIREMENTS IN GHANA 2.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter provides background information on Ghana, its political and economic environment and its corporate profile. It also explains the legal and regulatory framework and the corporate governance requirements which apply to listed companies in Ghana. 2.2 COUNTRY PROFILE Ghana is a Sub-Saharan African country with a total land area of about 238,538 square kilometres/92,100 square miles and a population in 2007, of 23.5 million (Bureau of African Affairs, 2008). Ghanas population is concentrated along the coast in the principal cities (Bureau of African Affairs, 2008). Ethnically, Ghana is divided into smaller groups, each of which has a different language or dialect, however, the official language is English, which is a legacy of British colonial rule (Sarpong, 1999). 2.3 POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IN GHANA For more than century, Ghana was under British colonial rule. She attained independence on 6th March 1957 and became a republic in July 1960. After independence, Ghana alternated between civilian and military rule. After a series of coup detats (Sarpong, 1999), in January 1993, the country returned to democratic rule under the National Democratic Congress (NDC). After 8 years (in 2001) power switched to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) but in January 2009, following the election, the NPP handed over power to the NDC. The economy of Ghana is dominated by agriculture, mining and forestry agriculture. Agriculture accounts for about 37.5% of GDP (GOG, 2008), and the largest foreign exchange earners for the country are cocoa, gold and coffee (BBC, 2009). In 2007, the countrys GDP was $15.2 billion. As at the first quarter of March 2009, the inflation rate of Ghana was 20.53 % (GOG, 2009). Ghana is a member of United Nations (UN), the British commonwealth, African Union (AU), International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 2.4 GHANA STOCK EXCHANGE AND LISTED COMPANIES OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) was incorporated in July 1989. It was recognised as an authorized Stock Exchange under the Stock Exchange Act of 1971 (Act 384) in October 1990, and trading on the floor of the Exchange commenced in November the same year. In April 1994, it became a public company limited by guarantee (GSE 2009). The exchange is regulated by the GSE Membership Regulations L.I. 1510, Listing Regulations L.I 1509 and Trading and Settlement Regulations, and is organized as a body corporate under the supervision of the Securities Exchange Commission that falls under the Ministry of Finance. The Exchange is governed by a council which includes representation from licensed dealing members, listed companies, banks, insurance companies, and the general public. The functions of the Council include preventing fraud and malpractice, maintaining good order among members, regulating stock market business and granting listings. The GSE currently has 36 listed companies with a market capitalization as at 31 March 2009, of GH18,041.20m, equivalent to US$13,073.33m (GSE 2009). The manufacturing and banking sectors currently dominate the Exchange, while other listed companies fall into the insurance, mining, transport, food, publication, pharmaceuticals and petroleum sectors. Most of the listed companies on the GSE are Ghanaian (three being listed family-controlled companies) but there are five multinationals. Until 2006, individual foreign investors, who were first allowed to participate on the Exchange in 1993, were not permitted, without approval, to hold more than 10% of a listed companys shares and the total foreign investments in any company could not exceed 74% of the companys shares. These limits were removed by the Foreign Exchange Act of 2006 (Act 723) and non-resident investors can now invest in the market without limit or prior exchange control approval. Dividend income is taxed at 8%, while Capital gains on listed securities are exempt from tax until November 2010 (GES 2009). 2.5 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REQUIREMENTS IN GHANA Over the recent years, notions of corporate governance has been gaining roots in Ghana in response to initiatives by some stakeholders such as the Ghana Institute of Directors (IoD-Ghana), Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF), State Enterprises Commission, the Institute of Economic Affairs, and the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (Ocran 2001; Mensah et. al 2002). The IoD-Ghana strives to improve corporate governance practices and strengthen companies boards of directors. It has, for example, hosted international and national conferences, run competitions to increase awareness of corporate governance issues and developed manuals and procedures to help implement good corporate governance practices (Mensah et. al 2002). Notwithstanding the above developments, formal corporate governance structures and institutions are not widespread although a number of laws provide for governance structures for companies in Ghana. These laws include: The Ghana Companies Code 1963 (Act 179), The Securities Industry Law, 1993 (PNDCL 333) as amended by the Securities Industry (Amendment) Act 2000, (Act 590), and the Listing Regulations of the Ghana Stock Exchange, 1990 (L.I. 1509) (K-Coleman and Biekpe 2008) 2.5 .1 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS The Companies Code 1963 (Act 179), which is based substantially on the UKs Companies Act 1948, provides for governance mechanisms of all companies incorporated in Ghana (NEPAD 2005). It provides governance of ministration such as requirements to have directors, appointment and removal of directors, remuneration of directors, directors reports, and audited financial statements. It also provides for various mechanisms for shareholders to enforce their rights, such as rights to annual general meeting, equal treatments of shareholders. The Securities Industry Law 1993 (PNDCL 333), as amended by the Securities Industry (Amendment) Act 2000 (Act 590) and Exchange Commission Regulations (2003), provides for, among other things, the governance mechanism of all stock exchanges, investment advisors, securities dealers, issues concerning accounts and audits and collective investment schemes licensed under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC 2003). The Securities and Exchange Commission, overseeing the disclosure of material information to the investing public by companies, including securities listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. Regulatory Frameworks for Boards of Directors The Companies Code describes directors as person who is appointed to direct and administer the business of the company, and stipulates that each company must appoint a minimum of two directors for a company. However, the Code allows companies to fix the maximum number of directors in their Regulations. Section 181 of the Companies Code provides that directors are to be appointed through the individual votes of shareholders at a general meeting of the company. However, this frequently means that the directors are approved by the controlling shareholders. There is no requirement under the Companies Code for the appointment of independent directors but this is required under the Securities and Exchange Commissions Code of Best Practices on Corporate Governance (SEC Code) for the GSE. In the exercise of their duties, the directors are required to act at all times in what they believe to be the best interests of the company as a whole so as to preserve its assets, further its business, promote the purposes for which it was formed, and to do so in such manner as a faithful, diligent, careful, and ordinarily skilled director would act in the circumstances. The Code makes provision for the appointment of executive directors by allowing directors to hold any other office or place of profit in the company, other than office of auditor. The directors remuneration is to be reasonably related to the value of services provided and is to and shall be determined from time to time by ordinary resolutions of the company The Companies Code enjoins directors to, at least once annually (at intervals of not more than 15 months), to prepare and send to each shareholder the directors report, which show the state of the companys affairs with any change during the financial year in the nature of the business of the company. The report is approved by the board of directors and signed on behave of the two directors. Regulatory Framework for Shareholder Rights The Companies Code 1963, the Securities Industry Law 1993 and the Regulations of the Ghana Stock Exchange provide the primary regulatory framework for the establishment and operations of companies that issue publicly traded securities. The Companies Code gives shareholders opportunities to participate and vote in general shareholder meetings or exercising rights through proxy for the appointment or removal of directors, access to timely and transparent company information concerning the date, location and agenda of general meetings and the right to petition against unfair prejudice. The Securities Industry Law and the GSE Listing Regulations ensure that the market for corporate control of listed companies functions in an efficient and transparent manner. It provides for example the organizing of shareholders meetings, proxy solicitation and voting by shareholders, disclosure of equity ownership, and allowable actions that shareholders may undertake against directors, including law suits, the removal of directors, and penalties for breaches of their fiduciary duty. Regulatory Framework for Accountability and Audit Under the Companies Code a companys, directors are responsible for keeping proper books of account and for the preparation of financial statements which provides a true and fair view of the company. Auditors are to be appointed by an ordinary resolution of shareholders, except that the directors may appoint the first auditor of the company and fill any casual vacancy in the office of an auditor. Auditors are expected to employ diligence, objectivity and independence in the discharge of their duties and functions. To ensure the auditors independence, the Code prohibits an officer of the company or any associated companies, partners of, or employees of an officer of the company from holding office as auditor. However, the Code permits auditors, in addition to their statutory duties to shareholders as auditors, to provide other services to the company such as, advising on accounting, costing taxation, rising of finance and other matters. This provides a ground for a conflict of interest which may impair the auditors independent. An auditor may be removed from office by an ordinary resolution of shareholders at an annual general meeting after 35 days notice and is allowed to speak to this at this meeting in response to his intended removal. No provisions exist under the Companies Code limiting the term of office of auditors. The GSE Listing Regulations recognize the need for audit sub-committee which should be composed of non-executive directors. The GSE Listing Regulations also prescribe the audit committees duties such as; making recommendations to the board concerning the appointment and remuneration of external auditors; reviewing the auditors evaluation of the system of internal control and accounting. The Companies Code, the Securities Industry Law and the GSE Listing Regulations requires all companies to provide shareholders with audited financial statements prepared in accordance with the Ghana National Accounting Standards issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana) at close of their financial year to its shareholders. 2.5.2 LISTING REQUIREMENTS AND GOVERNANCE GUIDANCE BY CODE OF BEST PRACTICES In December 2003, the Ghana Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued corporate governance principles for listed companies entitledCode of Best Practices on Corporate Governance. This code is based on the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (SEC 2003). Consistent with the United Kingdom, the code is not mandatory. While these provisions are not binding, the SEC encourages compliance with the Code and requires listed companies to include a statement in their annual report disclosing the extent of compliance with these guidelines. The Code set out principles for the equitable treatment of all shareholders, disclosure and transparency and responsibility of the board of directors. As require by best practice. There should be formal and transparent procedures for appointments to the board. Also there should be separation between the roles of CEO and Board Chairman responsibilities unless there are specific reasons militating against such separation. In the case where two offices are combined the Code required companies to explain to shareholders and the board must enact procedures that ensure the independence of the board as a whole and their respective responsibilities should be defined. There should be a balance of executive and nonexecutive directors with the complement of independent non-executive directors being at least a third of the total membership of the board and in any event, not less than two. 2.6 ANALYSIS OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURES IN GHANA IN COMPARISON WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM The provisions of the code are set in Table 1. Further, so that the provisions applying in Ghana may be evaluated in the light of well established Code of Corporate Governance, the provisions of the UKs Combine Code of Governance (Financial Reporting Council, 2008) are also presented. B.2 ProceduresThere should be a formal and transparent procedure for developing policy on executive remuneration. Members of the committee should exclude themselves from deliberations concerning their own remuneration.There should be a formal and transparent procedure for developing policy on executive remuneration and for fixing the remuneration packages of individual directors. No director should be involved in deciding his or her own remunerationC.2 Internal ControlThe board is responsible for ensuring that appropriate systems of internal control are in place for monitoring risk, adherence to financial governance measures and compliance with the law.The board should maintain a sound system of internal control to safeguard shareholders investment and the companys assets GHANA UK A. Directors A.1 The Board Every company should be headed by an effective board, which is collectively responsible for the success of the company A.2 Chairman and Chief Executive There should ideally be a separation between the role of Board Chairman and CEO unless there are specific reasons which militate against such separation. There should be a separation between the roles of CEO and Board Chairman A.3 Board Balance and Independence The board should include a balance of executive and non-executive directors with the complement of independent non-executive directors being at least one third of the total membership of the board and in any event not less than two. The board should include a balance of executive and non-executive directors (and in particular independent non-executive directors) such that no individual or small group of individuals can dominate the boards decision taking A.4 Appointments of Board Appointments to the board should be formal and transparent selection process should be based on merit. There is no nomination committee There should be a formal, rigorous and transparent procedure for the appointment of new directors to the board. There should be a nomination committee which should lead the process for board appointments and make recommendations to the board A.5 Information and Personal Development The board should have unrestricted access to all company information, records and documents. All directors enjoy the right to retain outside professional experts for counsel The board should be supplied in a timely manner with information in a form and of a quality appropriate to enable it to discharge its duties. All directors should receive induction on joining the board and should regularly update and refresh their skills and knowledge A.6 Performance Evaluation The board should annual review their own performance and that of the various committees The board should undertake a formal and rigorous annual evaluation of its own performance and that of its committees and individual directors. A.7 Re- Election All directors should submit themselves for re-election at regular intervals and at least once in every three years of its committees and individual directors. A.7 Re- Election All directors should submit themselves for re-election at regular intervals and at least once in every three years All directors should be submitted for re-election at regular intervals, subject to continued satisfactory performance B. Directors Remuneration B.1 Directors Remuneration The levels of remuneration in corporate bodies should be competitive, should focus on retaining management and be linked to corporate and individual performance. Every corporate body should establish a remuneration committee. The remuneration committee should comprise of a majority of non-executive directors. Does not give number of directors Levels of remuneration should be sufficient to attract, retain and motivate directors of the quality required to run the company successfully, but a company should avoid paying more than is necessary for this purpose. A significant proportion of executive directors remuneration should be structured so as to link rewards to corporate and individual performance. The board should establish a remuneration committee of at least three independent non executive directors. C. Accountability and Audit C.1 Financial Reporting The board is responsible for ensuring that a balanced and understandable assessment is given of the financial and operating results of the corporate body in the financial statements. The board should present a balanced and understandable assessment of the companys position and prospects C.3 Audit Committee and Auditors The board should establish an audit committee. The audit committee should comprise at least three directors, the majority of whom should be non-executive The board should establish an audit committee of at least three independent non-executive directors D. Relationship with shareholders D.1 Dialogue with institutional shareholders There should be a dialogue with shareholders based on the mutual understanding of objectives. The board as a whole has res

The Ideal Leading me to Study Law Essay -- Law College Admissions Essa

The Ideal Leading me to Study Law The war in the former Yugoslavia is an intensely personal matter for me. I had, for some time, been more aware of the strife in Croatia than many of my peers. My family is originally from Zagreb. As the war progressed, my parents worried about relatives and friends whom they could no longer reach. My father gave up his medical practice in the summer of 1991 to volunteer his medical skills in Zagreb. Throughout this time, I struggled between my sense of responsibility to my relatives and "homeland" and my comfortable life as an American college student. Concentrating on classes and career plans became less important as the war progressed. As I read my father's letters during my senior year detailing the horrible conditions in Croatia, my grades went into a shameful decline. But my heart was nowhere near a textbook; it was at my father's side helping the victims of this international travesty. I didn't even look for a "career option" in the United States. Instead, I sought a volunteer job, sponsored by the University of Zagreb, rebuilding homes destroyed in the conflict and teaching English. Croatia provided a hot blast of reality. During my first week in Krasic, the village where I was assigned, I watched Croatian teens yelling "Cetnik!" (Serbian nationalists during WWII) pelt an elderly woman, who lived in the village for over fifty years, with rocks. Until then, I had never seen such overt and utter hatred, but I learned that such events occurred frequently in the village. Sadly, in a few months all the non-Croatian villagers were forced to leave for Serbia or Bosnia, countries that they did not consider home yet knew were safer for them. I remain... ...equired that, raised one way, I learn another. The lessons I learned, however, go beyond personal growth. I now know that justice is not a passive condition. It is not an intellectual concept. Rather, it is an active and practical application of values by people dealing with real problems affecting individuals at the most essential level. That is the ideal leading me to law school. I learned in Croatia that our current social and political problems run deep, and addressing them requires sophisticated legal skills as well as zeal and compassion. I think my father was right in saying that one can accomplish more with greater education, and that I was right in going to help when I needed to. But now I need to return to the classroom, knowing that I can accomplish more if I return in three years with the skills needed to achieve even more than I already have.

Addiction and the Reward Circuit Essay -- Biology Essays Research Pape

Addiction and the Reward Circuit Most people are affected directly or indirectly by drug addiction. Many stereotypes including race and socio-economic class are associated with drug addiction. Despite longstanding stereotypes there is more and more evidence being discovered pointing to an explanation from within the brain of the addict. Free will is generally associated with drug addicts as is their choice to use drugs, but free will may not be a factor in addiction. The key to addiction lies solely in the brain, without influence form the "I-function", or free will. The affect of all drugs of abuse, which are characterized by heroine, cocaine, LSD, opiates, and others, is on what is known as the reward circuit of the brain (1). The circuit includes the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is connected to the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex in the pathway where they communicate through neurons (4). Other areas of the brain may be involved depending on the drug (2). The VTA and nucleus accumbens are involved in the reward circuit of all drugs (3). The natural function of the reward circuit is to provide a reward and associated pleasurable feelings in response to life sustaining functions, such as eating, to encourage repetition of that function. The reward circuit functions through the use of neurotransmitters, mainly dopamine. When activated, the circuit triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that induces a pleasurable feeling, from the neurons in the VTA. Drugs of abuse stimulate this same response, in many cases to a greater degree than the natural response causing a spike in dopamine levels. Certain drugs, especially cocaine, can block dopamine receptors in the reward circuit. After being ... ...tion towards addiction to drugs of abuse. The brain may be solely responsible for the addiction but if this is true, how do people overcome their own brains to recover from addiction. Could it be that the brain changes back to its normal state in turn allowing the addict to recover or could it be the addict forcing his brain to change back to its normal state, causing recovery. References 1)This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated. Contribute Thoughts | Search Serendip for Other Papers | Serendip Home Page http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/serendip/a2z.html

The Life And Hard Times Of Grantly Marshall :: essays research papers

The Life and Hard Times of Grantly Marshall Could anyone imagine having no money, few friends, and no chance to succeed in life? Well, for one individual this situation is all too real. Grantly Reed Marshall, a 18-year-old high school student from Franklin Square, Ohio, had big dreams but little money. Grantly had reached a crucial time in his life. He desperately wanted to attend college. Grantly's siblings were much smarter than he was, as were his parents. None of his classmates expected Grantly to amount to anything, but this made him more determined. Grantly's family was very different. They had one light bulb in their entire house. Grantly got his name when his mother read the book Childbirth Without Pain, by Dr. Grantly Reed. His father ran for president in 1928 under the Communist Party. During this period in his life when they usually excluded him from the other kids, and was the poorest he would ever be, Grantly wanted most of all to go to college. The best things Grantly knew how to do was act and recite poetry. He would memorize poetry with more than twenty stanzas in a week and recite them to anyone who would listen to him speak. Finally, with scholarships, student aid and multiple jobs Grantly fulfilled his dream of attending college. Majoring in theater Grantly graduated Kent State University in 1972 with honors. After he graduated, Grantly did act in local theaters for a few weeks and then decided to do to the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Just weeks before he was to leave Grantly's father fell ill and died shortly there after. Grantly knew his father would want him to go to the Olympics anyway so off he went to Germany. Because he was such a passionate speaker Grantly could speak many languages and had no problems in Europe. A few people Grantly did know and was friends with began to wonder about him after the Summer Games ended and he did not return. Then, one day Gary Johnson, one of Grantly's only friend's received a phone call. It was none other than Grantly. It ended up that Grantly loved Germany and he got a job as a German Postal Worker. Gary had many more long talks with Grantly. These talks did not cost either of them a cent because Grantly always called from the post office. This did make Gary cautious but, they were never caught. Grantly, once again started acting and reciting poetry. People began to notice how good he was and Grantly began to make friends with more important people in Munich.

Engage In Personal Development In Health And Social Care

Research two different reflective models. Examples are Gibbs, Kola and Christopher Johns. Briefly describe and compare them. Looked at all three reflective models and chose to describe Johns and Kola. The Johns model is very in-depth and seems to target a wider area of thought and contemplation. It would also be a good tool to discuss with another more senior member of staff, who would have their own emotional response to each situation, therefore giving you a slightly different outcome. This would be ideal when paving supervision or discussing an incident in an objective manner.The start Of the model really gets into the way in which you are feeling and this can dramatically change the outcome of the reflection that is taking place. I think that this is a type of grounding, a way of getting into the present moment and making you more mindful of the situation in hand. This is different from the Kola model because you have to look at yourself first, which is very beneficial. The Gibbs model is slightly less descriptive and a little shorter but it still offers a way of transforming information into knowledge, which is needed, so we an learn more about the client or situation that we are reflecting on.The Kola model starts with observations and reflections and finishes with concrete experience. Concrete experience is what we strive for to make us grow as support workers. In my opinion the main comparison between the two is that the Johns model is better for personal development within ourselves and the Kola model is better for a greater knowledge about those we work with. 2. Decide which one you prefer. Explain why. Prefer the Johns model because it focuses more on the way that we are feeling in the here and now.This can have a massive impact on a situation in the work place because it allows us to view others and ourselves. Reacting positively to a negative situation is not always easy, so having a degree of emotional intelligence can go in the favor of all parti es concerned. I like learning more about clients and how can make my role go more smoothly but I think that having knowledge about oneself and I how I react to things will be more beneficial to me personally. 3. Consider a task that you have recently completed at work, which has not gone so well. This could be : Manual handling.Communication. Challenging behavior. Falls. Using your preferred model of reflection, describe what happened, what went wrong, what went right, what you could do differently next time? Was asleep and I heard shouting coming from upstairs. I checked my watch and it was just before am. Went upstairs and discovered that the noise was coming from a clients room. I asked if he was K and I was asked to go away in a not so polite tone or wording. I asked the client to keep the noise down, as he would wake the other clients within the house, to which I got the same response.I felt a little put back by this, as the client wasn't provoked in any ay, he was just taking his mood out on me. I also felt protective about the other clients because of how they would be feeling about the shouting too. The client is a drug user and when under the influence can behave in an aggressive way to the other clients, which can make them anxious, so again had to ask him to stop shouting. I was then verbally abused, which ignored, as it wasn't positive. I made my way downstairs, as the situation wasn't getting any better. The client then came downstairs and Went into the kitchen.He lit up a cigarette in the lounge, which is against our house rules, so asked him o go outside. He then walked up to me and put his face into mine, asking me to lay the first punch. I had no choice but to lock myself into the staff room and call my manger and the police. I went outside to get a better signal and the client walked outside through another door. He had his top off and again came into my personal space and repeated what he had said minutes before. It was a little scary becaus e as a support worker am not allowed to defend myself unless there is an attack.I started to think about my daughter and what would happen if he became violent. Managed to get back into the souse and the client came back in. He got to the other side of the staff door and was threatening to kill me. By this time was on the phone to 999, so they heard everything, as I asked him to repeat what he said to me. The police arrived shortly afterwards and he was arrested. Think the most significant thing was that I should have left his door after his first reply to me. I put the clients feelings first but they were safe in their rooms and wasn't.I left myself open to attack at the top of the stairs. I was quite tired and not really thinking correctly but this is no excuse. Next time ill just call our emergency mobile or the police first, so I have a back up. Getting him to repeat his threat worked well, as it highlighted to the police his intent, so when he got arrested the other clients wer e out of danger and so was I. My intention when first got up that morning was not to get him arrested it was just to ask him to stop shouting. He is a great guy when he is not under the influence and I wish that had reminded him about this at the time.I think my actions were a little too defensive and I didn't put his feelings before my own. 4. Why is it important to reflect in this way? It is important reflect in this way because the whole process helps us to grow in our roles and become better at what we do. At times we can think in an entirely different way that may not be objective to the task in hand, so reflection can give us hindsight to see a more positive outcome, which at the time seemed negative. Am a parent too, so a little reflection time can teach me things about myself or my child that might have been missed on a first encounter.Our knowledge can greatly increase as we reflect on and in practice. We can understand more about the clients, colleagues and gain an increas ed understanding of situations that wouldn't normally have been thought of in our working day because of other emotional diversions. The importance of reflection is increased ten fold when in a managerial position because every member of staff has a unique personality and pleasing everybody is never an easy task. A manager must take time out and reflect on how he handled situations, meetings and many other duties, which require perfecting for future use. . What are your responsibilities and those of your employer to ensure your practice is current? My employer has a responsibility to make sure that we are operating within the law. There are certain acts and regulations, which have to be adhered to under government legislation. It is the employers duty to inform staff when any updates to the legislation has been made, so that the employee can be up to date. Employers have the responsibility for health and safety the workplace and to make sure that we are all working under current ris k assessments.The employer has a duty of care to all staff members to many things including Making the workplace safe Preventing risks to health Ensuring safe working practices Providing first aid facilities Providing PEP if necessary Reporting accidents and many more It is an employee's contractual responsibility to be up to date with all legislation, policies and procedures. We have responsibility for our own health and safety at work, so we must refuse something that would be deemed as unsafe. If we think our employer isn't meeting responsibilities we must speak to them about it.If this fails then we must contact they local authorities to safeguard ourselves. 6. What does the legislation say? The legislation is made up of acts that companies must adhere to. These include; Care act 2014 Health and safety act 1974 Mental health act 1983 Data protection act 1 998 COACH act 1994 7. Complete a SOOT analysis and a CUP form. SOOT Analysis Form. Helpful to achieving the objective Harmful Internal Origin (attributes of the organization) Strengths Strong team members with lots of experience. High levels of communication Weaknesses Under staffed at times due to sickness, which causes stress to team members.Arguing amongst team members and not giving 100% External Origin (attributes of the environment) Opportunities Outside agencies becoming partners with Maples. Annular, PDP and Second Step The retreats Government cutbacks. Increased pressure for reduction in care and costing. Continuing Personal Development Form Key Dates What did you do? Why? What did you learn from this? How will this be used? 04/11/2014 Dual Diagnosis Training For the last 2 years there has been in increase in the amount of clients that join our service with a history of drug use.I went on the course to increase my knowledge of mental illness and drug related disorders. Gained insight into different types of drugs, the effects and what to look out for when dealing with our higher risk clients. Put ting my knowledge into action by observing clients when at work and supporting them accordingly. 0/07/2014 Understanding Personality Disorder Training Again we have been taking on more clients with personality disorders. I attended the course to increase my knowledge base. Personality disorder is a term that is used when a client is doesn't fit certain criteria for other mental disorders.It is unique to the client, so it may change on a daily basis. Putting my knowledge into action by observing clients when at work and supporting them accordingly. 12/05/2014 Safeguarding Adults Alerter Training It has been over two years since my last course, so an update was needed. I as reminded of types of abuse, what to look out for and how to report incidents in the workplace. It will support me with my working day and help keep me vigilant of any safeguarding issues. 8. How do your personal values and strengths affect your practice? My personal values and strengths have a massive impact on my working life.I have had the pleasure of being raised in a family where good manners and empathy have great importance. I am honest and work hard and sometimes relay this to the clients when they are looking for voluntary work or other activities that will give them life skills. I am very clean and tidy and again I try to lead the clients by example by showing them how much pleasure can be taken from doing a good job. Work in a house sometimes, which has a lot of younger clients and all now take great pride in completing house jobs that I have taught them.When a client comes to the service with a little amount of life skills and they leave with a few more it makes me happy to think that I have supported them to be like that. Like to give lots of praise when a good job is done, as I feel it is important for the client to feel good about himself or herself. I am very happy with who I am and what I stand for and in think it is equally important for the clients to feel this way too. Some times the clients can be stigmatize for their illness but if they have self respect, honesty and some politeness it can carry them a long way.I think my values have carried me forward on most occasions, not all but most. 9. Who gives you feedback on your own performance? I have a fortnightly supervision session with my manager and an annual appraisal too. Every week we discuss issues with clients, staff, safeguarding, health and safety and other subjects. It gives you the opportunity to look at past situations again and look into ways of improving them. This isn't always the case but it can come up from time to time. Also accept feedback from other staff members during staff meetings and other types of handover.Feedback from clients is always helpful too, as you can adjust your working procedure if it isn't positive to the client involved. The management team usually speak to the clients and then this is discussed during supervision or at an appraisal. 10. How do you use the feedbac k to improve your performance? Think feedback is Very important because it helps us to view ourselves from different angle, which is important because sometimes we can get caught up in a pattern, which may not be suitable to those that we are working with. Feedback can be negative, positive or just neutral.Negative feedback can cause a mass of emotions and defensiveness, if not correctly handled. Where positive feedback could make you over confident and cause carelessness at the worst-case scenario. If get feedback I will take it away, reflect on it and then try to think of ways that can utilities it, as it is a valuable commodity, good or bad. Like to think of everyday being a school day, as we never stop earning. We learn from the clients, we learn from staff and we even learn from ourselves. Take feedback as a learning tool especially if it is negative.I always learn more when have made a mistake, as this sticks in my mind more. I try not to take things personally, as this can on ly make matters worse. If you have made a mistake it is just best to see where the problem was and avoid that situation in the future. 1 1 . Discuss two forms of learning that you have recently completed. What did you gain from these? Have recently been on some courses; Dual diagnosis and understanding personality disorder. Both of the courses were very informative and I gained valuable insight into some areas of our ever-expanding client base.

Dementia Care Pathway-People with Learning Disability Essay

The Psychiatrist is responsible for making the decision with regards to diagnosis; they will be reliant on the information and assessments of other professionals to assist in this process. The Psychiatrist will then decide on the most appropriate treatment for treating. The key role of the community nurse is to maximise the health and wellbeing of an individual. Looking at the individual from a holistic perspective the nurse will promote good health with proactive strategies, minimise health risks through assessment and care planning. The primary goal of Occupational Therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational Therapists engage with clients using activities that are meaningful and purposeful to them to assess and treat the physical, psychological and social needs of the individual and their environment to enable them to reach or retain their optimum potential. OTs use a range of different assessment methods, looking at functional and cognitive skills, for activities of daily living, activity levels sensory needs and well-being. Physiotherapists are responsible for promoting mobility to the optimum level for as long as possible and then for assessing and providing additional support and mobility aids when necessary. Speech and Language Therapists working with individuals with learning disabilities who have developed dementia cover two main areas: Communication: The Speech and Language Therapist’s role is to assess the communication needs of the individual with dementia, identify means for supporting these, and advising carers and support workers regarding improved, or successful communication. Eating and Drinking: The role of the speech and language therapist is, in liaison with others, to assess the individual and advise regarding strategies to improve safety of eating, drinking and swallowing or to suggest strategies to support the maintenance of adequate oral intake. Clinical Psychologists can be involved in diagnosing dementia, often when the person’s difficulties are complex and the diagnosis unclear. Once a diagnosis has been made psychologists would intervene where there are problems such as challenging behaviour, depression and anxiety, or where there are issues to do with loss, illness and disability.

Love and War in Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried Essay

In The Things They Carried, as the title indicates author and Vietnam war veteran Tim O’Brien carefully describes all of the necessities of warfare carried by the men with whom he shared the war. In addition to the weapons and gear necessary for survival they carried within themselves the images and memories of home. O’Brien describes the various articles carried by individuals as well as the heavier items they would take turns carrying. The heaviest were â€Å"the things men carried inside† (25). Because of the heaviness it was often too much for one man and â€Å"they shared the weight of memory. They took up what others could no longer bear† (14). O’Brien indicates the heaviest memories were of love ones, particularly wives and girlfriends. Obrien describes the characteristics of the memories of love in a combat zone, memories that could be a saving grace or a dangerous self-destructive weapon.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Women occupy a very special place for the men of O’Brien’s platoon as they do for combat soldiers everywhere. The women they know and love, mothers, sisters, wives and girlfriends, are tens of thousands of miles away. At times they are as mentally and emotionally distant as they are in geographic terms. When firefights rage the soldiers’ thoughts by necessity become fixed and focused on the chaos of combat surrounding them and the thought of women can be fleeting or distracting. It may be a thought of the loved one they hope to see if they survive, or the thought may distract them and cost them their life or the life of another soldier. Women are as real as their vivid dreams yet upon awakening there is the doubt they ever existed. The space they occupy is the anxious and unnerving world mixed with hope and doubt, happiness and depression. With their letters they provide a link to the real world once occupied by the soldiers who may wonder if the women will be there for them if and when they return. The soldier may hope their girlfriend will be there and doubt she will understand. The thought of the girlfriend may provide a solid foundation on which to live on another day, or with a â€Å"dear John† letter inadvertently provide a seemingly hopeless depression. The women occupy a space unlike any other space in the thoughts of the combat soldier.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For Lieutenant Jimmy Cross the thought of â€Å"Martha, a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey† was a constant preoccupation (1). She was a daily part of his life, and he had a ritualistic devotion to viewing photographs of her. She was in many ways the embodiment of the contradictions women occupied in soldiers’ thoughts. She was not quite a serious girlfriend and lover who was devoted to him and would be waiting for him. In fact their relationship before the war was one-sided:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And then suddenly, without willing it, he was thinking of Martha†¦why so alone? Not lonely, just alone†¦and it was her aloneness that filled him with love. He remembered telling her that one evening. How she nodded and looked away. And how, later, when he kissed her, she received the kiss without returning it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (11-12).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yet Cross would not let go of his attachment to her. He blamed it for the death of one of his soldiers; â€Å"now Ted Lavender was dead because he loved her so much and could not stop thinking about her† (7). He felt that because of his preoccupation with her he failed to supervise his men and as a result Lavender was shot. As a result Cross decides to burn her photos and letters. Now â€Å"he hated her. Yes, he did. He hated her. Love, too, but it was a hard, hating kind of love† (24). His feelings for her were just one of the many contradictions of the war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In some ways women became almost magical, and occupied the superstitious and surreal world of the thoughts and actions of men in combat. â€Å"Henry Dobbins carried his girlfriend’s pantyhose wrapped around his neck as a comforter. They all carried ghosts† (10). The stockings gave Dobbins the memories that comforted him. Later he became convinced it truly was a good-luck charm as a boobytrap failed to detonate after he tripped it and then survived a vicious firefight (117-118). For Dobbins and others the pantyhose â€Å"gave access to a spiritual world† and even after he receives a â€Å"dear John† letter he retains the pantyhose stating â€Å"the magic doesn’t go away† (118).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Other women, real or imagined came into the men’s lives through their stories. The most dramatic stories â€Å"are those that swirl back and for the across the border between trivia and bedlam, the mad and the mundane† (89). O’Brien recounts the story of the â€Å"Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong†, the girlfriend of a soldier who manages to have her visit him at his medical-aid base (89-91). â€Å"Mary Ann† is but seventeen years old, but quickly adapts to the blood and gore of her boyfriend’s job and becomes a valuable assistant treating the wounded. But then she becomes more and more fixated to the war, the culture and the environment of Vietnam. She becomes friendly with, and then a part of a contingent of the strange and isolated â€Å"greenies†, Special Forces soldiers stationed at the base. She eventually becomes a part of them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Soon she cannot be found despite her boyfriend’s search. According to the story she began going out with the Green Berets on combat missions. When she returned she was no longer what she had been. He had a hard time recognizing her. She wore a bush hat and filthy green fatigues; she carried the standard M-16 automatic assault rifle; her face was black with charcoal. Mary Ann handed (her boyfriend) the weapon. â€Å"I’m exhausted,† she said. â€Å"We’ll talk later.† (102) Despite her boyfriend’s effort to get her away from the Green Berets and send her home she is hooked; â€Å"Vietnam had the effect of a powerful drug† (114). Soon, the story goes, Mary Ann disappears into the jungle, never to be heard from again, only occasionally spotted as a ghostly figure in the jungle. It is as though she served as a metaphor for the space occupied by women in the war. They were far away in a land so remote it no longer seemed to exist. Then against all odds the soldier is able to literally import the woman he loves. Then the war changes everything and destroys the relationship.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For O’Brien women also occupy a dual yet contradictory space in his life. His first young love is also his first collision with death. Although he and his girlfriend are only nine, O’Brien â€Å"know(s) for a fact that what we felt for each other was as deep and rich as love can ever get† (228). Tragically she is suffering from a fatal disease and dies. For O’Brien the memory of her, like his memory of fallen comrades, is and always will be sharp and vivid. For O’Brien the lost friends and lost girlfriend are united in death and brought back to life in the memories and stories of those who survive. It is the vivid image of a casualty of the war that inexplicably reminds him of his young girlfriend Linda; â€Å"all day long I’d been picturing Linda’s face, the way she smiled† (228). For O’Brien the dead will always be in a sense alive. The fallen troops and Linda are â€Å"all dead. But in a story, which is kind of dreaming, the dead sometimes smile and sit up and return to the world† (225).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If O’Brien’s lost girlfriend is a link to the departed his daughter Kathleen is the vision of life. He brings her to Vietnam when she is only ten, and seems to serve as the woman who will help him break his link to the deaths of Vietnam. She is too young to understand why her father has journeyed off the normal tourist sites to find the spot where a friend was killed and the body lost in the mire of a swampy river. She witnesses him as he performs a ritual burial of his late friend’s moccasins in the spot they found his body. It is though she is his tether back to reality, the present and life itself. Childlike she chastises him for his actions and cannot understand the importance of the places she visits. She tells him he is â€Å"weird† for coming back to Vietnam, innocently proclaiming â€Å"Like coming over here. Some dumb thing happens a long time ago and you can’t ever forget it† (183).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She presents the counterpoint of his life in Vietnam and it had to be an odd sensation for O’Brien to see his daughter in an area of Vietnam that is drastically different than the Vietnam of O’Brien’s death. It brings up the idea and question of whether O’Brien, in his wildest thoughts during his combat in that location that his daughter would stand in the same spot years later. Unlike the other women of memories and dreams Kathleen is able to be in Vietnam with him and help close that chapter of his life. As she notices a Vietnamese farmer staring at her father Kathleen asks if the old man is mad at her father. â€Å"No,† replies O’Brien, â€Å"All that’s finished† (188).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For O’Brien it seems as though he needs the female characters to make the connection between love and war and life and death. It is not always a successful link. His fellow soldier Norman Bowker had carried a picture of his girlfriend with him during his days and Vietnam but she had married. He saw her on his return, but while he could not bring himself to approach her and talk, he also could not pull himself from the memory and went past her house time and time (146). He later committed suicide.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Women seemed to occupy the same space and provide the same ironic and contradictory thoughts as Vietnam itself. They were vital to the combat soldiers, but not present with them, or present as a mysterious Mary Ann. They could give a soldier a reason to stay alive or a reason to care less about living. They could be a distraction to take a soldier’s mind off of the war or a distraction which could contribute to the horror of war. Like Martha they could be loved and hated at the same time. Like combat itself the women in the soldiers’ thoughts were both intensely private and yet communal. Works Cited O’Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York: Broadway Books, 1990.

History Important Terms Essay

Bacon’s Rebellion-1676 – Nathaniel Bacon and other western Virginia settlers were angry at Virginia Governor Berkley for trying to appease the Doeg Indians after the Doegs attacked the western settlements. The frontiersmen formed an army, with Bacon as its leader, which defeated the Indians and then marched on Jamestown and burned the city. The rebellion ended suddenly when Bacon died of an illness. John Winthrop-He became the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony, and served in that capacity from 1630 through 1649. A Puritan with strong religious beliefs. He opposed total democracy, believing the colony was best governed by a small group of skillful leaders. He helped organize the New England Confederation in 1643 and served as its first president. He believed in the creation of a City on a Hill and that they would be an example to the world. Separatists- Non-separatists (which included the Puritans) believed that the Church of England could be purified through reforms. Separatists (which included the Pilgrims) believed that the Church of England could not be reformed and that it was corrupt so started their own congregations. Roger Williams-Rhode Island. He left the Massachusetts colony and purchased the land from a neighboring Indian tribe to found the colony of Rhode Island. Rhode Island was the only colony at that time to offer complete religious freedom. He was an antinomian. He was exiled from Massachusetts because of his beliefs. He believed you couldn’t take land from Native Americans because they could be saved, Anglican Church is too corrupt, separation of church and state and religious toleration, you don’t have to listen to the bible or minister if you are already predetermined. Founder of Rhode Island. Anne Hutchinson-She preached the idea that God communicated directly to individuals instead of through the church elders. She was forced to leave Massachusetts in 1637. Her followers (the Antinomians) founded the colony of New Hampshire in 1639. She allied with merchants. Said the bible was wrong. â€Å"Visible saints†- – people who were godly Christians and who went to heaven when they died. Puritans believed that they were the saints of the world. Half-Way Covenant- The Half-way Covenant applied to those members of the Puritan colonies who were the children of church members, but who hadn’t achieved grace themselves. The covenant allowed them to participate in some church affairs. Dominion of New England- 1686 – The British government combined the colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut into a single province headed by a royal governor (Andros). The Dominion ended in 1692, when the colonists revolted and drove out Governor Andros. An example that Britain was beginning to lose control of New England. Penn’s â€Å"Holy Experiment’- William Penn’s term for the government of Pennsylvania, which was supposed to serve everyone and provide freedom for all. He was a Quaker. He was most likely gay so he wasn’t accepted by puritans but in Pennsylvania he could be free and safe because they believed that they are the same as everyone else. Nathaniel Bacon- Virginian planter who organized a militia of 500, attacked and killed Indians because some tribes caused planters problems. Then he marched the militia into Jamestown and burned it. House of Burgesses-1619 – The Virginia House of Burgesses formed the first legislative body in colonial America. Later other colonies would adopt houses of burgesses. Indentured servants- People who could not afford passage to the colonies could become indentured servants. Another person would pay their passage, and in exchange, the indentured servant would serve that person for a set length of time (usually seven years) and then would be free. Headright- Headrights were parcels of land consisting of about 50 acres which were given to colonists who brought indentured servants into America. They were used by the Virginia Company to attract more colonists â€Å"middle passage† – passage from the African west coast to the West Indies Enlightenment-A philosophical movement which started in Europe in the 1700’s and spread to the colonies. It emphasized reason and the scientific method. Writers of the enlightenment tended to focus on government, ethics, and science, rather than on imagination, emotions, or religion. Many members of the Enlightenment rejected traditional religious beliefs in favor of Deism, which holds that the world is run by natural laws without the direct intervention of God. It is believed that it influenced the American Revolution. Great Awakening- Puritanism had declined by the 1730s, and people were upset about the decline in religious piety. The Great Awakening was a sudden outbreak of religious fervor that swept through the colonies. One of the first events to unify the colonies. It believed in individualism and New Birth. Believed to influence American Revolution. George Whitefield- George Whitefield, an Anglican minister, led numerous revivals and preached a theology â€Å"scaled down to the comprehension of twelve-year-olds.† While not denying the doctrine of predestination, he preached a God responsive to good intentions. He believed in the concept of New Birth. Jonathan Edwards- Jonathan Edwards was the most famous native-born revivalist. In 1727 he â€Å"inherited† his grandfather’s pulpit in Northampton, Massachusetts, and dramatized hell’s fire and brimstone from the pulpit. Eventually in 1749 his parishioners voted to dismiss him. By the 1750s, the Great Awakening, the first truly national event in American history, had run its course. Although it had caused divisions, it also fostered religious toleration. His most famous work is â€Å"Sinners†. He believed one could become morally perfect. Mercantilism-Navigation Acts- the most important legislature that Britain passed on colonies. Says that all goods shipped on vessels built in UK, Raw material to UK only in UK ships, no manufacturing in colonies, 75% UK crews, all goods to other countries stop in UK for unloading. Congregationalism- Puritan system. Says that church is center of town and the meeting house. Congregation elects minister. Pilgrims – Mayflower Compact- 1620 – The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony. It said that all people must adhere to majority rule, allegiance to king and church is the center of their town. Triangle Trade- The backbone of New England’s economy during the colonial period. Ships from New England sailed first to Africa, exchanging New England rum for slaves. The slaves were shipped from Africa to the Caribbean (this was known as the Middle Passage, when many slaves died on the ships). In the Caribbean, the slaves were traded for sugar and molasses. Then the ships returned to New England, where the molasses were used to make rum. Great Migration- Many Puritans emigrated from England to America in the 1630s and 1640s. During this time, the population of the Massachusetts Bay colony grew to ten times its earlier population. King Philip’s War- 1675 – A series of battles in New Hampshire between the colonists and the Wompanowogs, led by a chief known as King Philip. The war was started when the Massachusetts government tried to assert court jurisdiction over the local Indians. The colonists won with the help of the Mohawks, and this victory opened up additional Indian lands for expansion. Covenant of Grace- Puritan teachings emphasized the biblical covenants: God’s covenants with Adam and with Noah, the covenant of grace between God and man through Christ. John Smith-Helped found and govern Jamestown. His leadership and strict discipline helped the Virginia colony get through the difficult first winter. Virginia Company-Virginia was formed by the Virginia Company as a profit-earning venture. Starvation was the major problem; about 90% of the colonists died the first year, many of the survivors left, and the company had trouble attracting new colonists. They offered private land ownership in the colony to attract settlers, but the Virginia Company eventually went bankrupt and the colony went to the crown. Virginia did not become a successful colony until the colonists started raising and exporting tobacco. William Berkeley- the royal governor, Sir William Berkeley of Virginia. He was forced by Bacon to legitimize his power in order to take control of Jamestown and fight against Indians. â€Å"seasoning time†- period of time when new colonists became accustomed to the weather and hygiene conditions in the colony Toleration Act of 1649- 1649 – Ordered by Lord Baltimore after a Protestant was made governor of Maryland at the demand of the colony’s large Protestant population. The act guaranteed religious freedom to all Christians. Maryland was unique in that it became a refuge for Catholic immigrants, and although Catholics were a minority in Maryland their rights were protected Jacob Leisler- In New York in 1689, Jacob Leisler seized control of the government for two years before being sent to the gallows. But for two decades struggles continued between those who shared Leisler’s dislike of English rule and those who had opposed his takeover. He took control of New York. He was arrested for denying English troops to enter key forts. He arrested many new Yorkers for questioning his authority. John Peter Zenger- Another political problem occurred when Governor William Cosby made a claim for back salary and was opposed by forces led by Lewis Morris. Morrisites established a weekly journal which was eventually closed down and which led to the trial for seditious libel of its editor, John Peter Zenger. Deism- The religion of the Enlightenment (1700s). Followers believed that God existed and had created the world, but that afterwards He left it to run by its own natural laws. Denied that God communicated to man or in any way influenced his life. Albany Plan of Union- During the French and Indian War, Franklin wrote this proposal for a unified colonial government, which would operate under the authority of the British government. Gives the arousal of William Pitt. The first time the colonies unite. Great War for Empire- increased tensions between France and Britain. France puts up forts around their land. Britain is defeated in Ohio because they have really bad Generals and Native Americans are allied with France, But Irukoy Indians ally with Britain. It is the cause of the first meeting between all 13 colonies. William Pitt was appointed general and helped defeat the French. Regulator Movement- was the attempt to regulate taxes in North Carolina where citizens took up arms against corrupt colonial officials. While unsuccessful, some historians consider it a catalyst to the American Revolutionary War. Stono Rebellion in NY- the rebellion against slavery in New York. One of the earliest known organized rebellions in the present United States, it was led by native Africans who were Catholic and the rebellion was suppressed. Treaty of Paris (1763)- 1763 the Treaty of Paris ended hostilities and gave England dominance in North America. France is out of New World. North Carolina Regulators- Western frontiersmen who in 1768 rebelled in protest against the high taxes imposed by the Eastern colonial government of North Carolina, and whose organization was crushed by military force by Governor Tryon in 1771. In South Carolina, groups of vigilantes who organized to fight outlaw bands along the Western frontier in 1767-1769, and who disbanded when regular courts were established in those areas. Sugar Act (1764)- The passage of the Sugar Act (1764), which placed tariffs on sugar, coffee, wines, and other imported products, was denounced by the colonists as taxation without representation. Also in 1764, the government in London restricted the printing, although not the use of, paper money in the colonies. â€Å"Salutary neglect†- colonists resorted to smuggling and bribery to bypass Parliamentary regulations. Mercantilistic laws merely steered American economy toward England, and the colonies enjoyed almost continuous prosperity from 1650 until the Revolution. Proclamation of 1763- Proclamation of 1763. No settlers were to cross the Appalachian divide, only licensed traders could do business in that area, and the purchase of Indian land was outlawed. The purpose of the proclamation was to organize Great Britain’s new North American empire and to stabilize relations with Native North Americans through regulation of trade, settlement, and land purchases on the western frontier. Tea Act 1773- The final crisis in the ongoing conflict over imperial control surfaced in 1773 when Parliament, in attempting to save the corrupt and inefficient British East India Company from bankruptcy, gave the company a monopoly on colonial tea trade. Although this action reduced the price of tea (middlemen were eliminated), Americans regarded it as a sly attempt to trap them into paying the tea tax. In Boston the situation deteriorated as Samuel Adams and other propagandists inflamed the public to a point that on December 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party occurred. Coercive Acts 1774- All of these names refer to the same acts, passed in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, and which included the Boston Port Act, which shut down Boston Harbor; the Massachusetts Government Act, which disbanded the Boston Assembly (but it soon reinstated itself); the Quartering Act, which required the colony to provide provisions for British soldiers; and the Administration of Justice Act, which removed the power of colonial courts to arrest royal officers. Albany Plan-Stamp Act Congress 1765- taxed many kinds of printed matter, including newspapers, legal documents, and licenses. Was direct taxing by eng. An intercolonial Stamp Act Congress passed resolutions of protest, and relations were further strained as colonists burned the stamps, boycotted British goods, and the Sons of Liberty resorted to some violence. Parliament responded by repealing the Stamp Act (1766). Writs of Assistance- Search warrants issued by the British government. They allowed officials to search houses and ships for smuggled goods, and to enlist colonials to help them search. The writs could be used anywhere, anytime, as often as desired. The officials did not need to prove that there was reasonable cause to believe that the person subject to the search had committed a crime or might have possession of contraband before getting a writ or searching a house. The writs were protested by the colonies. Declaratory Act 1766- On the same day Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, it passed a Declaratory Act establishing its right to enact any colonial legislation it deemed proper. The Declaratory Act highlighted the degree to which British and Americans had drifted apart on the concepts of representation, constitution, and sovereignty. Townshend Acts 1767- Facing the possibility of a deficit budget, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts (1767) which placed new taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. Colonists immediately began boycotting British imports and influential Americans began questioning the basis of the British colonial system. The spectrum of debate ranged from the moderate views of John Dickinson to the radical opinions of Samuel Adams. Boston Massacre 1770- On March 5, 1770, idlers tossed snowballs at Redcoats guarding the Boston Custom House, and panicking soldiers fired their muskets into the crowd, killing five. Although radicals like Samuel Adams played up the incident, cooler heads prevailed and a post-massacre truce settled over British America. Circular Letter- a letter sent by Sam Adams to colonies that says taxing is unconstitutional. Virtual – Actual Representation- Virtual representation means that a representative is not elected by his constituents, but he resembles them in his political beliefs and goals. Actual representation mean that a representative is elected by his constituents. The colonies only had virtual representation in the British government. 1st-2nd Continental Congress- The First Continental Congress met to discuss their concerns over Parliament’s dissolutions of the New York (for refusing to pay to quarter troops), Massachusetts (for the Boston Tea Party), and Virginia Assemblies. The First Continental Congress rejected the plan for a unified colonial government, stated grievances against the crown called the Declaration of Rights, resolved to prepare militias, and created the Continental Association to enforce a new non-importation agreement through Committees of Vigilence. In response, in February, 1775, Parliament declared the colonies to be in rebellion. It met in 1776 and drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence, which justified the Revolutionary War and declared that the colonies should be independent of Britain. Sam Adams- A Massachusetts politician who was a radical fighter for colonial independence. Helped organize the Sons of Liberty and the Non-Importation Commission, which protested the Townshend Acts, and is believed to have lead the Boston Tea Party. He served in the Continental Congress throughout the Revolution, and served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1794-1797. John Dickenson- Drafted a declaration of colonial rights and grievances, and also wrote the series of â€Å"Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania† in 1767 to protest the Townshend Acts. Although an outspoken critic of British policies towards the colonies, Dickinson opposed the Revolution, and, as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776, refused to sign the Declaration of Independence. Sons of Liberty- A radical political organization for colonial independence which formed in 1765 after the passage of the Stamp Act. They incited riots and burned the customs houses where the stamped British paper was kept. After the repeal of the Stamp Act, many of the local chapters formed the Committees of Correspondence which continued to promote opposition to British policies towards the colonies. The Sons leaders included Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. Unit II Terms Olive Branch Petition- a petition sent by John Dickinson during the Second Continental Congress to George III of Britain to try and reconcile their feuds. It fails to have any effect because by the time the petition arrives in Britain George III knows about Bunker’s Hill and declares Massachusetts in open rebellion so he cuts off all imports to colonies, which will cause major economic problems. Common Sense- a testament written by Tomas Paine to challenge the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. He writes it to try and create a greater awareness that colonist need independence. It is simple and easy to read. Called for colonists to realize their mistreatment and push for independence from England. Attacked King George III and the monarchy itself. As a result, Continental Congress unleashed privateers against British commerce, open American ports, established state governments. Loyalists- colonists that fight for the British during the Revolution. They included Canadian elites in fear of Americans spreading into their land, some native Americans, and were influenced by the Whigs. They wanted to remain loyal to the British king. Yorktown (1781)- The Battle of Yorktown. It is the decisive battle that ends the Revolutionary War. It forced the British to surrender and negotiate some sort of agreement between America. It leads to the Treaty of Paris 1783 which acknowledged the colonies as independent. Thomas Paine- author of Common Sense. He wanted to create more awareness to colonists about what Britain was doing. He wanted to inspire colonists to do something about their independence. Declaration of Independence- the statement adopted on July 4th that declared that the colonies were no longer part of Britain. Sharply separated Loyalists from Patriots and helped to start the American Revolution by allowing England to hear of the colonists disagreements with British authority. Franco-American Alliance-Saratoga (1778)- an alliance formed between France and the United States. France agrees to help America militarily and economically to defeat and weaken Britain. Articles of Confederation (1781)- The first form of federal government. It had limited national power. It requires a unanimous vote from all colonies to ratify a law, donations instead of taxes, inadequate central government. Gave states independence and more power over national government (able to form treaties, control foreign policy, coin money). Its successes were the Land ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance 1787. Peace of Paris (1783)- Treaty between America and Britain. It recognizes America’s independence. It required all British troops to be evacuated as long as loyalists were paid; all land east of Mississippi went to America, fishing rights of grand banks. Saratoga-Yorktown- two important and decisive battles for America. They are both victories for America.   Republican Motherhood- Came from US War of Independence. Concept that women should educate themselves in the principles of liberty, independence, and democracy so as to inculcate the coming generation with these republican values. This was one sign that women were becoming more respected as intellectually capable. Shays’ Rebellion 1786- Daniel Shay (Revolutionary War veteran) gathered farmers and marched to courthouse because of trade issues and taxes, preventing state Supreme Court from meeting. State sent troops to fight them and suppressed them. Shay and his rebellion were arrested. Land Ordinance of 1785 -Provided for surveying western territories into 6 square mile townships before sale at auction. Compromise between south’s sale to individuals and NE’s sale to groups or companies. 1 section for education and schooling. Imposts -Section 8 of the Constitution. Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the US. But all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the US. Annapolis Convention 17855 -states met â€Å"to discuss common problems of commerce†. All talk, no action. Decided not to make any changes due to lack of reps from other states, so Hamilton suggested they meet in Philadelphia to â€Å"fix† the Articles of Confederation. 3/5 Compromise-North argued slaves should be counted for federal taxation. South disagreed but still wanted slaves counted as people to determine number in House of Representatives. Eventually Every slave counted as 3/5 of a person. 1808 Compromise- Allowed the slave trade to continue, but placed a date-certain on its survival. Congress eventually passed a law outlawing the slave trade that became effective on January 1, 1808. Virginia Plan- a political plan that wanted 2 houses; upper and lower. A strong central government and representation that is proportional to population.   New Jersey Plan- a political plan that wanted equal representation in every state regardless of population.   Northwest Ordinance of 1787- Establishes government for West. First governed by governor and 3 judges, then territory with legislature, and then state. Determines process of dividing territory and writing territory constitution. Banded by Ohio & Mississippi Rivers and Great Lakes. Same rights as original 13 states. Prohibited slavery. Great Compromise- Delegates at Great Convention decided to have bicameral legislature: Lower House- House of Representatives dependent on population (Virginia Plan – favored by larger states) and Upper House- Senate, with equal number of representatives per state (2 per state) (New Jersey Plan – small states). All revenue bills begin in house. Any bill that says it will take money will begin in house of representatives because they are closer to the people. The Federalists Papers 1788- by Madison, Jay and Hamilton. To convince voters in Virginia and New York that constitution was worth a chance. Had little impact but finally New York and Virginia supported it. Checks and balances- Phrase to describe the separation of powers/branches of government. By dividing powers between legislature, executive (President), and judiciary, no one branch can be too powerful. Each one can â€Å"check† the other’s actions. Antifederalists -People against federalists in 1787. Disagreed with the Constitution because they believed people’s rights were being taken away without a Bill of Rights. Appealed to â€Å"common man† as they didn’t want an elected aristocracy. Gave in a bit when promised the Bill of Rights, which they wanted because the British constitution is unwritten so no one can claim any rights. Bill of Rights 1791- By Madison (since he wrote the Constitution too). First 10 amendments of Constitution. Added in 1791. Guarantees civil liberties like freedom of speech, free press, and freedom of religion, etc. written to satisfy the needs of states fearful of losing their rights (anti-federalists. Hamilton’s Economic Plans 1792-94- Funding and Assumption. (Funding- funding the national debt. ‘Spend your way out of debt’ by funding the old debt. Government taxes and uses bonds (citizens lend government money) – people who gave money will pay taxes, will want government to succeed so they get their money back.) (Assumption- the central government takes (assumes) all of the state debts.) Funding and assumption later lead to the formation of political parties. Whiskey Rebellion 1795- 1st major challenge to federal authority. Small rebellion that began in Southwestern Pennsylvania in 1794. Challenge to the national governments unjust use of an excise tax on whiskey. Washington crushed the rebellion with excessive force, proving the strength of the national governments power in its military. Shows that constitution is supreme law and that there are severe limits to what people can do to oppose government.