Albert Camus Essays - Absurdist Fiction, The Stranger,

Albert Camus In The Stranger, Albert Camus portrays Meursault, the book's narrator and main character, as aloof, detached, and unemotional. He does not think much about events or their consequences, nor does he express much feeling in relationships or during emotional times. He displays an impassiveness throughout the book in his reactions to the people and events described in the book. After his mother's death he sheds no tears; seems to show no emotions. He displays limited feelings for his girlfriend, Marie Cardona, and shows no remorse at all for killing an Arab. His reactions to life and to people distances him from his emotions, positive or negative, and from intimate relationships with others, thus he is called by the book's title, "the stranger". While this behavior can be seen as a negative trait, there is a young woman who seems to want to have a relationship with Meursault and a neighbor who wants friendship. He seems content to be indifferent, possibly protected from pain by his i ndifference. Meursault rarely shows any feeling when in situations which would, for most people, elicit strong emotions. Throughout the vigil, watching over his mother's dead body, and at her funeral, he never cries. He is, further, depicted enjoying a cup of coffee with milk during the vigil, and having a smoke with a caretaker at the nursing home in which his mother died. The following day, after his mother's funeral, he goes to the beach and meets a former colleague named Marie Cardona. They swim, go to a movie, and then spend the night together. Later in their relationship, Marie asks Meursault if he wants to marry her. He responds that it doesn't matter to him, and if she wants to get married, he would agree. She then asks him if he loves her. To that question he responds that he probably doesn't, and explains that marriage really isn't such a serious thing and doesn't require love. This reaction is fairly typical of Meursault as portrayed in the book. He appears to be casual a nd indifferent about life events. Nothing seems to be very significant to him. Later on in the book, after he kills an Arab, not once does he show any remorse or guilt for what he did. Did he really feel nothing? Camus seems to indicate that Meursault is almost oblivious and totally unruffled and untouched by events and people around him. He is unwilling to lie, during his trial, about killing the Arab. His reluctance to get involved in defending himself results in a verdict of death by guillotine. Had Meursault been engaged in his defense, explaining his actions, he might have been set free. Meursault's unresponsive behavior, distant from any apparent emotions, is probably reinforced by the despair which he sees open and feeling individuals experience. He observes, for example, Raymond cheated on and hurt by a girlfriend, and sees his other neighbor, Salamano, very depressed when he loses a dear companion, his dog. Meursault's responses are very different, he doesn't get depressed at death nor does he get emotionally involved. He appears to be totally apathetic. Thus, he seems to feel no pain and is protected from life's disappointments. Sometimes a person like Meursault can be appealing to others because he is so non-judgmental and uncritical, probably a result of indifference rather than sympathetic feelings. His limited involvement might attract some people because an end result of his distance is a sort of acceptance of others, thus he is not a threat to their egos. Raymond Sintes, a neighbor who is a pimp, seems to feel comfortable with Meursault. Sintes does not have to justify himself because Meursault doesn't comment on how Sintes makes money or how he chooses to live his life. Even though Meursault shows no strong emotions or deep affection, Marie, his girlfriend, is still attracted and interested in him. She is aware of, possibly even fascinated by, his indifference. Despite the seemingly negative qu

The Halifax Explosion of 1917 essays

The Halifax Explosion of 1917 essays Thursday, December 6, 1917, a horrible incident hit the city of Halifax, capital of Nova Scotia. On this dreadful day, the second largest manmade explosion in History occurred in the center of Halifax harbor. The source of this disaster was the collision of two ships; the Mt Blanc and the Imo. 1917 was the time of the horrific war in Europe; however, Halifax, Nova Scotia, located on the Atlantic coast of Canada, comprised a huge part in this war. The port of Halifax was full of activity, busy with the movement of war ships, troupes, relief supplies and munitions. At the high point of WWI, ships would enter harbor and proceed through the Narrows to the Bedford Basin where they could unload and reload war supplies, troops, setup a convoy, obtain supplies, etcetera. Halifax was not underestimated during this damaging time, for Halifax had the largest role in the War for all of Canada, as a strategic port. The greatness of Halifaxs position can be attributed to her excellent distinctive ness. The natural harbour is deep, free flowing from ice year-round. Since 1812, Halifax has been defended by many forts placed on islands throughout the harbour as an authentication to the ports ongoing importance. More of late in the early part of 1917, Halifax served as a key convoy system to assist in the reduction of losses from other boats. The Bedford basin was ideal for convoys and ships to dock as it was isolated from the sea and other elements. Halifax, which was used in both World War I and II, remains a major port for the Canadian Royal Navy today. December 6, 1917, the factories were opening early at 7:00 to assist in efforts for the war. It was going to be a beautiful day, there wasnt a cloud in the sky, and the fog was already lifting and burning away at eight oclock ; the city had no idea what the day had in store. The Halifax Ferry was taking workers across the harbour from Dartmouth to Halifax for means of work, s...

Financial Accounting principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Financial Accounting principles - Essay Example In actual practice, if a business is to be run at profit, it has to sell goods at such a price as will enable it to meet out not only expenses on account of cost of goods sold but also other numerous expenses like rent, salary, cartage, freight, commission , electricity, etc. Thus for making a profit, sales must be kept sufficiently high to meet all the other expenses. To emphasize the necessity of accounting, it can be said that accounting must provide the following information and we should ensure that we completely understand and analyze them: Accounting is defined as the 'the art of recording, classifying and summarizing in terms of money transactions and events of a financial character and interpreting the results thereof .' The American Accounting Association Committee defined accounting as - The process of identifying, measuring and communicating economic information to permit informed judgment and decision by the user of the information. The Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) stated "the function of accounting is to provide quantitative information, primarily financial in nature about the economic entities that is intended to be useful in making economic decision." Business Managers and outside interested parties make use of accounting information for decision making that affect the business. The primary purpose of accounting is to provide information about financial transaction, i.e., transaction involving money of a business enterprise. When a person starts a business or even to maintain the accounts of his daily expenditure he must make use of financial accounts. The two primary objective of any business are To earn profit. To have sufficient funds to pay their debts as and when they are required to be paid. This information makes a firm or an individual person take the right business related decision which helps to take the business further. Thus, accounting information, if properly and systematically recorded and reported, can direct a business enterprise to run on successful and efficient lines. Before we move on to understand more about Financial accounting we must clearly understand the advantages-disadvantages and limitations of accounting. Advantages Maintenance of

Contemporary British Film Culture -Critically discuss the role and Essay

Contemporary British Film Culture -Critically discuss the role and importance of social realism to contemporary British film culture. Use research and one or two film examples to illustrate your response - Essay Example While some directors may be focused on producing films that deal with some unrealistic issues and rely on special effects, other find a particular joy in creating films that depict the reality as it is and highlight the problems that real people experience in their daily lives. This paper will analyze two films that might be seen as prominent examples of British realism: This Is England (2006, Shane Meadows) and Kidulthood (2006, Menhaj Huda) exploring different aspects of it is providing that social realism is extremely important to contemporary British film culture. In order to do so, the analysis will include the political and social dimension that the films in question should be seen in, the connection between the issues raised and the British traditional culture, the focus on low and tabooed themes, the function of the films to express important ideas, the brutality of the realism shown as well as the necessity of realistic ethos, the trend of films that are shot for the youth t o show the actual affect of drugs, the rejection of narrative conventions to a certain extent to create a unique impact on the viewers. The first and one of the most important aspects that contribute to the significance of social realism in the contemporary British film culture focuses on the ability of such films to let different parts of the population express their views on the screen. Indeed, generally they are silenced in the social discourse because of various reasons and the public might be close to thinking that they almost do not exist if there is no â€Å"the bringing of hitherto neglected groups, hitherto unsaid truths, hitherto unexpressed attitudes on to the screen†(Murphy, 1992, p. 35). Nevertheless, when directors are courageous enough to let these people articulate their ideas freely, the rest of the population is able to hear this small minority. For

Multicultural Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Multicultural Education - Essay Example In revising this text for the paper, the researcher would conduct further research and look for empirical evidence to support the contention that the achievement gap among diverse cultures are linked to attention and engagement. The arguments presented in this text explored would have been more persuasive if researchers, their research methodologies and findings had been presented to support this statement. Attempts would have also been made to find empirical evidence of the claim that a multicultural education can engage and gain the attention of pupils and thus close the achievement gap. Certainly there must be some evidence of this outcome somewhere in the literature. In conducting further research, the researcher would revise the paper to identify possible areas of further research in the area of attention and engagement and how a multicultural education might have a positive outcome on the achievement gap. If the researcher finds nothing of value in the literature, he would rev ise the paper to reflect that the hypothesis has not been satisfactorily tested in the literature. It is also stated that a third and final revision would be the removal of direct quotes. These quotes would be removed and replaced by a synopsis of the quoted text instead. In conclusion, the researcher would also revise the text to reflect more critical arguments on the topic of multicultural education rather than a regurgitation of the theories discussed and assumptions espoused in the literature.

Reflection on Social Work Group Task

Reflection on Social Work Group Task This essay is going to reflect on learning gained from a group task carried out in the unit lectures. I will explore group work theories, collaborative and inter-disciplinary working and the application of these theories in relation to the group work. I will also identify how I will develop my practice in relation to my current skills and areas for development. Finally, I will also reflect on how I have developed my self-awareness, professional values and professional development, in relation to group work task and how this will inform my future professional practice. Toseland and Rivas (2008) define group work as a goal directed activity aimed at accomplishing tasks. Members of the group have the opportunity to share ideas, feelings, thoughts, beliefs, engage in interactions and also share experiences. The group members develop feelings of mutual interdependence and a sense of belonging. Martin and Rogers (2004) define inter-disciplinary working as a team of individuals with different professions, working collaboratively with a shared understanding of goals, tasks and responsibilities. This collaborative working is needed when the problems are complex, a consensus decision is required and also when different competencies are needed. According to Cheminais (2009), the approach to the collaborative working requires clarity on roles, power, accountability and strategic planning. This was evident during the group work as the group worked collaboratively to share ideas and tasks were allocated to each member according to competencies and mutual understanding. Salas et al. (2012) states that, group work started from the perspective of people working in partnership for a common goal. The theories of group work later materialised in regard to the dynamics of group work and the they provide an understanding of human behaviour when people are working in groups. A group or team can be understood by looking at Tuckman and Jensen’s (1977) model of group formation which comprise of forming, storming, norming, performing and later adjourning. According to Tuckman and Jensen (1977), the forming stage is when the group members are establishing common interests and get to know one another with the desire to be part of the group. Martin and Rogers (2004) states that, in an inter-disciplinary team this is the stage where membership is established, team purpose is clarified, roles and boundaries are decided and interpersonal relationships begin. Tuchman and Jensen (1977) state that, storming stage may involve competing for ideas and perspectives, rules are developed and members may confront one another. Conflict may emerge and when unresolved, it can inhibit the team’s progress. There is then the norming stage when members take roles and responsibilities and an agenda is established. This stage involves belonging, growth and control. The performing stage is when the group is functional and tasks are implemented and evaluated. Finally, the adjourning stage involves the goals and objectives fulfilled and task completed. Tuckman and Jensen’s (1977) model of group formation can be applied to different settings and groups and it is easy to use. The model is flexible and can be applied regardless of type of group or task. However the model has no clear demarcation of the stages and is a linear format although the first four stages may not be in sequence. It does not explain time spent in each stage or if the stage can be repeated as some of the stages can recur for example norming and perfoming stages. (Halverson 2008) Reflecting on the unit group task, I think my group went through Tuckman and Jensen’s (1977) model group formation which included the â€Å"forming†stage in which the group purpose was clarified. The group went through the â€Å"stormimg† stage and at that point, there were disagreements on what should be included and how the task will be presented. I was in favour for a presentation using Power Point, however the majority of the group voted for a role play which I thought was not going to address all the information due to time allocated for the group to present. I was also a bit anxious for failing the task as the group had elected me to take the lead on the role play. At that time I felt that the team wanted me to do most of the task and I rejected the ideas they were putting forward. I think I did this unconsciously because I realised my actions later on when my group members gave feedback. Belbin’s (2010) work identified roles in teams which each offer positive contributions to team working. The roles include co-ordinator, evaluator, maintainer, innovator, shaper, implementer, expert, investigator, team and completer, Reflecting on Belbin’s (2010) group roles, each team member brought strength and perspectives grounded in their discipline and experience. During the group work task, I had the experience and knowledge in relation to the task and I found myself leading the group on sourcing information. I got positive feedback from my group colleagues such as, â€Å"goal oriented, researched well on the topic, contributed well and very good ideas on the role play†, however I was criticised of being inflexible with ideas of others. The feedback brought awareness on how I work with others and will help me in my practice. I think I took the role of an implementer who turns the team concepts into practical actions and plans however, inflexible and somewhat reluctant to change. However reflecting on my experience from my previous placement when I was working on a project to enable young mothers to gain independent skills, the project failed because I lost interest as a result of constraint in obtaining the resources. I think at that time I took the role of an investigator. In Belbin’s (2010) model, an investigator explores opportunities and resources from many sources however can jump from one task to another and lose interest. Looking back at it, I think this was because I tend to do things in a structured way and task oriented. The resources in the organisations did not allow me to do the task in time and I end up losing interest. I think in future I need to be flexible and think of other ways of working around the plan for the benefit of the service users. I should also seek supervision with my manager to discuss such situations as it can provide best possible support. I later understood the situation of working in an organisation team by looking at the group system theory. According to Connors and Caple (2005), group systems theory provides an understanding of working with teams or groups in an organisation. They suggested that, group systems theory is influenced by the interactions within the group and by the external environment. All the group members influence group dynamics however, the organisation in which the group work may impacts the group work with its boundaries, resources and leadership structures. I abandoned a project which was going to benefit the young mothers and in a way the community as well. Although this was due to organisational constraints, as a future social worker, I should try to balance responsibilities in a way that supports well-informed decision making, using professional judgement and accountability (British Association of Social Workers 2012). Salas et a.l (2012) state that, in order for me to be grounded in theories of group work, I need to formulate theoretical frameworks that are in alignment with my perspectives and inclinations. To achieve this I need to have knowledge of the strength and weaknesses of the frameworks I use. This will help me to select theories that are appropriate to the situation. The Health and Care Professions Council (HPCP) (2012) also states that, I should â€Å"understand the key concepts of the knowledge base relevant to social work† so as to achieve change and development. Gilley et al. (2010) suggested that the purpose of a group is to accomplish the task and for the practitioner to develop effective interpersonal skills. As a social work student, in order to work collaboratively, I need to develop skills and knowledge in decision making, effective communication and task coordination and the ability to learn from others and embrace change (DAmour et al 2005). This is imperative as I will be working in teams with other professionals or agencies. From the unit group work, I have learnt that mutual understanding and collaboration is vital for teamwork to be effective. Teamwork requires respecting each other’s values, beliefs and viewpoints and also self awareness of my own beliefs, values and perspectives (Hall 2005). I also now have an understanding of the importance of effective communication, participative decision making and accepting ideas of other when working in a team. The group work enabled me to develop skills in sharing of ideas and also how to relay and support my own viewpoint with confidence. According to Crawford (2012), I must have an understanding of my own professional identity as a social worker so as to develop confidence in myself and work with other professionals effectively. The HCPC (2012) states that, I must â€Å"be able to engage in inter-professional and inter-agency communication† and work in partnership with other agencies as part of a multi-disciplinary team. It is also vital that I develop self awareness of my behaviour and values. According to Hall (2005), as values are internalised, they can be invisible to other team members thereby creating obstacles in inter-professional working. As a result, I must make my professional values clear to other professionals I work with and also have an understanding of their values. The College of Social Work (2014) states that, as a social worker, I need to develop skills, competencies and the ability to recognise the challenges and dynamics of team-working and also have an awareness of team cultures so as to be able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team. The group work task and the feedback I received from my colleagues enabled me to develop awareness on how I work with others and I also managed to learn about my strengths and weaknesses. For example taking the role of an implementer I was able to execute a plan however resistant to change. I have also learnt that I need to acknowledge and appreciate the differences and adjust, adapt, and mirror interpersonal interactions when interacting with others. In future, I need to take into consideration other people’s ideas as there are different approaches to tasks and also appreciate other people’s experiences and values especially when working with professional of different background as mine. References The College of Social Work (2014) Roles and functions of social workers in England http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedfiles/thecollege/_collegelibrary/policy/rolesfunctionsadvicenote.pdf DAmour, D, Ferrada-Videla, M, Rodriguez, L, Beaulieu, M 2005, The conceptual basis for interprofessional collaboration: core concepts and theoretical frameworks,Journal Of Interprofessional Care, 19, pp. 116-131, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 August 2014. http://0-eds.b.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?nobk=yvid=4[emailprotected]hid=102 Claire B. Halverson, S. Aqeel Tirmizi Effective Multicultural Teams: Theory and Practice: theory and practice British Association of Social Workers (2012) The Code of Ethics for Social Work :Statement of Principles http://cdn.basw.co.uk/upload/basw_112315-7.pdf

The Destruction of Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman :: Death Salesman essays

The Destruction of Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman    In the book Death of A Salesman, author Arthur Miller shows how cruel life can be through the life of Willy Loman, the main character. His feelings of guilt, failure, and sadness result in his demise.  Ã‚   Willy's sense of pride is a very big issue in his life; he doesn't like people to give him handouts, although he may need them. But the feeling of failure overrides him when he learns about the loss of his job. "But I got to be in 10-12 hours a day. Other men-I don't know-they do it easier. I don't know why-I can't stop myself I talk to much." (p.37) Willy being a hard working man that tries his best realizes times have changed. His youthfulness and life have begun to fade. A man his age working ten to twelve hours a day is very unlikely. "I don't want you to represent us. I've been meaning to tell you a long time now!" (p.83) When Willy first heard this from his boss, that is a man younger than him begins to cry. A man his age working in a company that long doesn't really deserve to be fired. It makes his life seem a waste, and makes him imagine himself as a failure. "I was fired and I am looking for a little good news to tell your mother, because the woman has waited and suffered." (p.107) Willy is clueless of what is to come of his family and feels he has let everyone down. He failed to support his wife along with his sons. His life was basically devoted to impressing others and the one job he had led him to failure. In Willy Loman's life, guilt played a big role. He lived many years feeling remorseful of what led and followed after cheating on his wife. "Now look Biff, when you grow up you'll understand about these things. You mustn't overemphasize a thing like this." (p.120) When Biff first caught his father cheating on his mother he reacted in a very harsh, way leaving his father feeling guilty. Biff began to realize his whole life was a fake. "You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! Overcome, Biff turns quickly and weeping fully goes out with his suitcase. Willy is left on the floor on his knees"(p. The Destruction of Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman :: Death Salesman essays The Destruction of Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman    In the book Death of A Salesman, author Arthur Miller shows how cruel life can be through the life of Willy Loman, the main character. His feelings of guilt, failure, and sadness result in his demise.  Ã‚   Willy's sense of pride is a very big issue in his life; he doesn't like people to give him handouts, although he may need them. But the feeling of failure overrides him when he learns about the loss of his job. "But I got to be in 10-12 hours a day. Other men-I don't know-they do it easier. I don't know why-I can't stop myself I talk to much." (p.37) Willy being a hard working man that tries his best realizes times have changed. His youthfulness and life have begun to fade. A man his age working ten to twelve hours a day is very unlikely. "I don't want you to represent us. I've been meaning to tell you a long time now!" (p.83) When Willy first heard this from his boss, that is a man younger than him begins to cry. A man his age working in a company that long doesn't really deserve to be fired. It makes his life seem a waste, and makes him imagine himself as a failure. "I was fired and I am looking for a little good news to tell your mother, because the woman has waited and suffered." (p.107) Willy is clueless of what is to come of his family and feels he has let everyone down. He failed to support his wife along with his sons. His life was basically devoted to impressing others and the one job he had led him to failure. In Willy Loman's life, guilt played a big role. He lived many years feeling remorseful of what led and followed after cheating on his wife. "Now look Biff, when you grow up you'll understand about these things. You mustn't overemphasize a thing like this." (p.120) When Biff first caught his father cheating on his mother he reacted in a very harsh, way leaving his father feeling guilty. Biff began to realize his whole life was a fake. "You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! Overcome, Biff turns quickly and weeping fully goes out with his suitcase. Willy is left on the floor on his knees"(p.

An Analysis via Erikson’s Theory Essay

Hillary Clinton is a well-known political figure, with many contradictions in her personality. This difficult Democratic primary election process has revealed interesting features of her personality, from her strong, resolute character, reflected in her perseverance despite political challenges, to her vulnerability, which she has shown in several moments, like that well-publicized tearful scene in the New Hampshire primary, in front of all the cameras. I chose Erikson’s theory of personality to help explain the development of Hillary Clinton’s personality. Erikson proposes that an individual develops her personality by passing through various life stages, each marked by a specific area of conflict. Hence, I will apply Erikson’s stages to Hillary Clinton’s personality development and life events. Erikson’s first life stage is trust versus mistrust, followed by the second stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt. During Hillary’s infancy and early childhood, Hillary was born into a supportive family with a strong religious background. Her parents nurtured her emotional development. In such a supportive environment, her personality flourished, as she found her caregivers and family caring and reliable. Independence and self-reliance were encouraged at an early age in Hillary’s family. Erikson’s third stage is the conflict of initiative versus guilt. Early in her childhood, Hillary was encouraged by her parents to be assertive. Personal drive was strongly encouraged, as she excelled early in school, and as she was encouraged to stand up for her rights. One popular incident was illustrated by Hillary’s mother when one time, Hillary came home crying because she was being bullied. After a long talk with her mother, Hillary came back to school, and punched her bully. Erikson’s fourth stage of industry versus inferiority is a major period of success for Hillary Clinton. From the time of her early childhood to high school, she excels in school, graduating first in her class. Hillary develops a strong feeling of purpose and self-worth, which carries forward her ambitions later in life. Her sense of industry and accomplishment are further validated by her academic achievement in Wellesley College and Yale University. Erikson’s fifth stage of identity versus role confusion is often matched to an individual’s  teenage years, but this stage covers many events in Hillary’s personality development, extending beyond her teenage years. Hillary’s parents allowed her to gain her own voice. She was encouraged to break free beyond the traditional female roles of her time, to pursue higher education and a career. Her political leanings radically changed, as she left her earlier registration in the Young Republican party, to join the Democratic Party. In her valedictory speech at Wellesley College, she embraced the strong sentiment against the Vietnam War and full support for the civil rights movement. Like many members of her generation that time, Hillary tried to find her identity in the turbulent society of the 1960’s. The sixth stage of Erikson corresponds to an individual finding love, in a struggle of finding intimacy versus isolation. As a law student at Yale University, Hillary met her husband, Bill Clinton. While Bill Clinton’s infidelity will challenge this relationship, the relationship between Hillary and Bill Clinton is a true partnership. Despite the proposals of cynics that Hillary stuck with Bill Clinton because of his political connections, many sources still acknowledge that the love between Hillary and Bill Clinton has been genuine. This family unit, also built around their sole daughter Chelsea Clinton, has helped the Clintons weather political turmoil. Erikson’s seventh stage of generativity versus stagnation is a major question that keeps recurring in Hillary Clinton’s life. Hillary Clinton has worked hard on her legacy, and continues to do so. During her husband’s administration, Hillary took up active roles in formulating government policy, including an attempt at health care reform, far beyond the traditional roles of a First Lady. Not content after Bill Clinton left the White House; Hillary Clinton decided to pursue her own ambitions by running for the Senate. Finally, as she attempts to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination, Hillary strives to make history as America’s first female president. Perhaps, it is this driving force to leave a legacy which is the source of Hillary Clinton’s tenacity during the Democratic primary. The final stage of Erikson’s life development, involving ego identity versus despair, is an open chapter in Hillary’s life. If she fails to secure her lifelong dream of becoming the first American female president, will her personality turn to despair? Or instead – will she instead be satisfied with her family and her political accomplishments? Time will decide how Hillary’s personality  development will unfold. In summary, Erikson’s life stages of development offer a useful framework for understanding Hillary Clinton’s motivations and personality development. The various conflicts in Erikson’s theory highlight the life of Hillary Clinton, who faced many challenges to reach her current unique position of success and historical significance.

Free Essays on Urban Legends

Urban legends are reflections we have all heard of strange and gory stories that are supposedly true, experienced by a friend of a friend. Whether true or not these so called "urban legends" tend to circulate through individuals fears and curiosity. These tales do not survive throughout the years solely on the basis of their entertainment level, but due to the fact that they reflect fears. When hearing of others life threatening stories it gets the heart racing. That could happen to me. This connection is immediate because it asks for no suspension of belief. This is very possible that the tale has some truth to it and that the actions of the tale are quite believable, distinct, and real. Urban legends often times provide us with a glimpse of the real world. I feel Urban Legend is story passed on by each generation, mostly being false, but having some truth to it. When dealing with why urban legends are told, how people believe them, and who creates them, legends become very complex. Usually, the legends include several different versions that people chose to believe as true without actual evidence concerning the story. They are stories. Sometimes true, but mainly only believed to be true, they have been told over and over again always happening to a â€Å"friend† of a â€Å"friend.† Usually characterized by some combination of humor, horror, warning, embarrassment, morality or appeal to empathy, their goal is to teach a lesson. Urban legends are the type of stories to make you always aware of your surrounds.... Free Essays on Urban Legends Free Essays on Urban Legends Urban legends are reflections we have all heard of strange and gory stories that are supposedly true, experienced by a friend of a friend. Whether true or not these so called "urban legends" tend to circulate through individuals fears and curiosity. These tales do not survive throughout the years solely on the basis of their entertainment level, but due to the fact that they reflect fears. When hearing of others life threatening stories it gets the heart racing. That could happen to me. This connection is immediate because it asks for no suspension of belief. This is very possible that the tale has some truth to it and that the actions of the tale are quite believable, distinct, and real. Urban legends often times provide us with a glimpse of the real world. I feel Urban Legend is story passed on by each generation, mostly being false, but having some truth to it. When dealing with why urban legends are told, how people believe them, and who creates them, legends become very complex. Usually, the legends include several different versions that people chose to believe as true without actual evidence concerning the story. They are stories. Sometimes true, but mainly only believed to be true, they have been told over and over again always happening to a â€Å"friend† of a â€Å"friend.† Usually characterized by some combination of humor, horror, warning, embarrassment, morality or appeal to empathy, their goal is to teach a lesson. Urban legends are the type of stories to make you always aware of your surrounds....

Basic Goals essays

Basic Goals essays Question: What are the basic goals of consequence intervention? A consequence is a stimulus that contingently follows a behavior. Consequence interventions are strategies that address the stimuli. Two strategies can be use when problem behavior occurs more frequently: increase reinforcement for desirable behavior and decrease reinforcement when engaging in problem behavior. The basic goals of consequence intervention are: minimizing reinforcement for problem behavior, increasing reinforcement for desirable behavior, redirecting the student towards alternative responses, and providing strategies that assure health and safety. Strategies for minimizing reinforcement for behavior problems may include considering the response efficiency of a new skill by 2. Immediacy of the rein forcer following a response 4. Quality of the rein forcer following a response Withholding reinforcement for problem behavior can minimize the undesirable behavior. Another strategy for minimizing reinforcement for behavior problems is ignoring problem behavior; thereby avoiding coercive interactions. Another goal of consequence intervention is to increase reinforcement for desired behavior. Reinforcement refers to the relationship between behavior and its consequences. Increasing reinforcement for desired behavior can be obtained by: 1. Providing positive interactions regardless of student 2. Including four positive interactions for every request or correction 3. Spending time listening to and accepting students ideas In conclusion the basic goals of a consequence intervention are: minimizing reinforcement for problem behavior, increasing reinforcement for desirable behavior, redirecting the student towards alternative responses, and providing crisis prevention strategies that assure health and safety. ...

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

The Renaissance - Essay Example A close examination of our American technology and our institutions will find many similarities that had their origin in the roots of the Italian Renaissance. Prior to the Renaissance, almost all technical knowledge of science was outside the reach of the average person. It had been the sole property of the church and the elite and was available only through universities. A major technical innovation of the Renaissance period was its placing knowledge in the hands of the ordinary person. According to Thomas Carlyle in Sartor Resartus published in 1833, "He who first shortened the labor of copyists by device of movable types was disbanding hired armies [...] creating a whole new democratic world" (cited in Kreis). The invention of the printing press in 1440 gave the general public the access to knowledge and philosophy. The first bible was printed in 1452 gave the ordinary man regular access to the text and had a lasting effect on religion. Spurred by classical philosophy, religion turned from the worship of the abstract towards the morality of man (Anesi). This brought new thought to religion and brought about the Reformation and altered the Christian religion forever. Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the greatest technical innovators of the Renaissance and he is often thought of as the father of engineering. However, Da Vinci was joined by others such as Filippo Brunelleschi, Mariano di Iacopo, and Francesco di Giorgio to spearhead an artist-engineer revolution (Bjerklie, 1). Their ideas were the basis of major changes in agricultural equipment and improvement in land management. One example was the heavy- wheeled plow and the horse harness and stirrup that allowed the ground to be worked on a more massive scale. This began the basis of large industrial crop farming and allowed the farmers to relocate to the industrial centers of commerce. This modernized agriculture and paved the way for the coming Industrial Revolution. As people were moving from an agricultural based economy made possible by the new agricultural methods, trade was becoming more important. The newly developing nation-states required trading partners outside their own borders. Optics made a significant contribution to worldwide navigation during the Renaissance period. The science of optics was treasured by Kings as a method required for exploration, trade, and dominance. For example, in April 1541 an Italian offered a telescopic device to Henry VIII. "The French ambassador in London reported that 'there is an Italian here, aged about 70 years, who has shown this king that he would make a mirror and place it on top of Dover castle, in which mirror could be seen all ships that leave Dieppe'" (Dupre, 19). This may have been the description of the reflecting telescope that has become the mainstay of today's science of optics. Improved navigation aids and the evolving telescope made worldwide navigation, exploration, and trade a reality. The Renaissance spirit of exploration also opened up curiosity to the other fields of science. Science of the Renaissance stressed observance and more importance began being placed on methodology and experimentation. It valued experience over abstract thought. The Renaissance is credited with being the era of the creation of the scientific method. The

William Faulkner-Annotated Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

William Faulkner-Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example ion and constraint of the ‘other’ as they are examined by notables in the field such as Edward Said and Ziauddin Sardar and then applying these theories to Faulkner’s short story â€Å"Ad Astra,† one can begin to see how these theories can be traced in action in contemporary media. As the world enters into more troubled times with nations struggling against nations, it is more important than ever to understand how to achieve a more stable and in depth understanding of those we might simply wish to classify as ‘other’. William Faulkner (1897-1962) is one of America’s most highlighted and most unlikely authors. Eventually producing 26 books and a difficult to count number of short stories, Faulkner’s stories were full of such artistry and character that he has become recognized as a giant in world literature. â€Å"Faulkner accomplished in a little over a decade more artistically than most writers accomplish over a lifetime of writing† (Padgett, 2005). His creation of the mythical Yoknapatawpha County, along with all the people in it, painted a precise picture of what life was like in the turn of the century American south. Rather than portraying his characters in keeping with the generally accepted and widely held view of the stereotypical farmer, for instance, Faulkner presented his characters, good and bad, with a strong degree of sensitivity and understanding (Cowley, 1977). Although Faulkner has incorporated a number of themes and issues within his writings, one of the mor e prevalent is his exploration of the true nature of the black man as an individual human being capable of great strength and resilience. This is significant as it was a time in which most black men (and women) were viewed as somehow subhuman, having just recently escaped the shackles of slavery yet still confined within those of ignorance, poverty and blatant oppression. This impression laid the foundation for today’s race relations as well as illustrated the degree to