Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Pink-Collar Ghetto for Women

Pink-Collar Ghetto for Women The term â€Å"pink-collar ghetto† means that many women are stuck in certain jobs, mostly low-paying jobs, and usually because of their sex. â€Å"Ghetto† is used figuratively to evoke an area where people are marginalized, often for economic and social reasons. â€Å"Pink-collar† denotes jobs historically held only by women (maid, secretary, waitress, etc.)   The Pink-Collar Ghetto   The Women’s Liberation Movement brought about many changes for the acceptance of women in the workplace throughout the 1970s. However, sociologists still observed a pink-collar workforce, and women still did not earn as much as men overall. The term pink-collar ghetto reflected this discrepancy and revealed one of the major ways women were at a disadvantage in society.   Pink-Collar vs. Blue-Collar Jobs Sociologists and feminist theorists who wrote about the pink-collar workforce observed that pink-collar jobs often required less education and paid less than white-collar office jobs, but also paid less than blue-collar jobs typically held by men. The blue-collar jobs (construction, mining, manufacturing, etc.) required less formal education than white-collar jobs, but the men who held blue-collar jobs were often unionized and tended to receive better pay than the women stuck in the pink-collar ghetto. The Feminization of Poverty The phrase was used in a 1983 work by Karin Stallard, Barbara Ehrenreich and Holly Sklar called Poverty in the American Dream: Women and Children First. The authors analyzed the feminization of poverty and the fact that the increased number of women in the workforce were largely working the same jobs as they had since the previous century.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

PEST and PESTEL Analysis

PEST and PESTEL Analysis The PEST analysis is a tool for assessing the broad environment in which a firm operates and is trying to compete, and the model is probably best-known for providing a virtual alphabet soup of acronyms. PEST is an acronym for Political/Economic/Sociocultural/Technological; other variants include PESTEL (Political/Economic/Sociocultural/Technological/Environmental/Legal), STEP, SLEPT, PELTS, LE-PEST-C (which adds Competitive Forces to the PESTEL model), and SPECTACLES (Social/Political/Economic/Cultural/Technological/Aesthetic/Customer/Legal/Environmental/Sectoral). Apart from different degrees of breadth and the suggestion that some factors can be prioritized in different ways depending on how the acronym is arranged, there is no fundamental difference among these variations. Defining PEST Factors Political: The political environment consists of the laws, regulations, and policies that currently – or in the foreseeable future – affect the company’s operations and objectives. Economic: Economic factors are those of the wider macroeconomic environment (which is to say, practically all of it, one way or another) that affect the company. Inflation and interest rates, equity and commodity market trends, and other indicators such as unemployment or job creation rates all have an impact on the company by determining what stage of the business cycle the company’s particular market is currently in; obviously, if the company is pursuing a strategy that is not supported by its economic environment, that would be a problem. Sociocultural: Cultural characteristics and traditions, the social structure of a population in the company’s market, ethical and moral norms, and other factors such as age, education level, and language are all important factors for the company to understand and respond to appropriately with its products or services. Technological: Technological influences exist on many different levels. The most obvious one is the technology of products, for example, the rapid proliferation of increasingly capable  smartphones and tablets steadily taking market share from ‘traditional’ desktop computers and laptops. Process technology for businesses evolves almost as rapidly  because it is supported by the developing technology underlying consumer products. Managerial technology, the ideas, methods, and processes used to manage businesses competitively, also evolves. The latter is the most likely to be overlooked in an environmental analysis; most firms are fairly competent in identifying the characteristics of their environment, but often do not recognize that the means and methods which they must use to respond effectively to new circumstances need to be updated as well. You may also be interested in: How to Write Critical Analysis Critical Success Factors Analysis Five Forces Analysis How to Understand SWOT Analysis My Assignment Brief Says â€Å"PESTEL† Analysis, so Where’s the EL? Including the Environmental and Legal components of the analysis seems to be current academic fashion; in real-world managerial practice, preferences for more or fewer factors are more or less uniformly distributed – some prefer the longer and more sub-divided format like PESTEL or SPECTACLES, others prefer the shorter version. The pitfall of additional factors is that they are often not distinct enough to warrant separate attention. Environmental concerns, for example, do not exist outside the contexts of social and cultural attitudes towards the environment, political factors that affect the management of the environment, and technological impacts on the environment. Legal issues, such as laws regulating company activities, or laws governing the forming and enforcement of contracts, all derive from political factors, and to some extent, from sociocultural factors; they cannot exist on their own. For the purposes of generating the environmental overview, turning a PEST into a PESTEL or another  variation is not at all difficult. Analyzing the factors, however, becomes more complex the more letters there are in the acronym; careful attention must be paid to how the various factors are related to each other. Common Steps in a PEST Analysis In general, analyzing the factors gathered together in a PEST requires five steps: Step 1. Determine which trends are relevant to the organization.  Past strategies and their outcomes are a good guide to determining which of the factors identified are likely to have an impact on the company in the future; some will be rather obviously relevant or not, but most will require careful study. Once the relevant factors are identified, investigate their behavior over time to identify general trends and patterns that will be continued in the future. Step 2. Identify the interdependencies in the trends.  All of the relevant factors and trends are connected in some way  and either complement or conflict with one another. Using the ‘environment’ example from above, a trend towards stricter environmental laws (a Political factor) would probably be seen to correlate with stronger public attitudes about the environment (a Sociocultural factor) and growth in â€Å"green† products (an Economic and/or Technological factor). Understanding these interdependencies is important to prevent the development of strategic objectives that have unintended consequences. Step 3. Forecast specific issues for the company that the trends will create.  Again, past performance is the best source of evidence for how relevant trends will impact the company. At this point, you should begin to prioritize the trends and the issues that are created from them in order of greatest to least impact on the company and its strategy. Step 4. Develop implications of trends and environmental changes.  The trends and issues should be examined in three contexts: the possible impacts on the industry or sector as a whole; possible impacts on the company’s competitive position; and possible impacts on the position of the company’s direct competitors. Step 5. Conduct a sensitivity analysis.  The particular manner in which this is done depends on the circumstances and priorities of the firm. As a general rule of thumb, if the projected possible negative result of a particular issue is slightly below the ‘worst-case scenario’ result for the related objective, the issue should be considered critical. Advantages Disadvantages of PEST The PEST analysis is a useful precursor to internal analyses  or analyses such as SWOT analysis that combine  internal and external factors. Like the Critical Success Factors analysis, a significant part of the benefits from doing a PEST analysis come from the exercise itself. Key drivers of change in the organization or its market are identified along with their relationships, and this analysis framework provides a sort of â€Å"common language† for managerial decision-making and interaction. On the other hand, PEST does have a number of flaws. The four factors of the basic PEST model are somewhat arbitrary; the assumption that they do significantly affect every business is usually correct, but there is no guarantee of this. And of course, adding more factors to turn PEST into a PESTEL or another  variant comes at the cost of added complexity. The model also makes the assumption that historical behavior and trends predict  the future, which may not always be the case. In addition, determining which trends and factors are relevant to the company and its market is entirely subjective, as is identifying interdependencies among trends to some degree. Various data-management programs can help reduce the uncertainty  but add time and cost to the analysis.  And finally, PEST does not necessarily suggest a course of action; it helps to identify important factors and trends, but not what the organization should do about them.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Describing the leadership style of someone you respect Essay

Describing the leadership style of someone you respect - Essay Example Leadership is about how one overlooks personal interest to satisfy the needs of an organization and its workforce. This is exhibited prominently by Bobbi Quick, the former VP of operations at the Member Service centre where I work. Leadership is about what one thinks of themselves and the self-image one presents. Tracy Brian emphasizes this in the assertion â€Å"If you want to be a leader or a better leader, remember that it’s all up to you. It’s in your hands, or, even more important, in your mind† (Tracy 7). Quick has unceasingly demonstrated the ability to lead effortlessly and exemplary. Firstly, there exists an inherent belief to be a great leader that has in point of fact become a reality (Tracy 56). Self-confidence and the desire to lead are integral components that I admire in Quick’s form of leadership. Bobbi Quick’s approach to governance characterizes transactional leadership. A transactional leader is one who organizes people to realize a set objective. To some extent, a transactional and transformational leader presents similar characteristics. Quick’s basis of power is based on the interests of the workforce and their adaptability to the work setting. She has such high energy and really gets individuals excited to work for her while making one feel their contributions to the business really matter. In the main, it is her personality that fuels the remarkable association she has with the workforce. To a great extent, she reminds me of Groucho Marx’ quote, â€Å"Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men -- the other 999 follow women.† It is nearly impossible to such a leader who not only leads but also inspires and influences the workforce. This sentiment is echoed by Alan Murray, who posits that leadership is about adapting to the situation at ha nd and the requirements of the people involved. The influence that Bobbi Quick has in my life is

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Writing project Part 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Writing project Part 2 - Essay Example It therefore seeks to justify the need through policy formulation, funding through research and development and technical initiatives to realize energy efficiency. Annotated bibliography Patridge, Robert B. Energy Efficiency: Challenges and Trends for Electric Utilities. S.l.: Diane Pub Co, 2003. http://www.asu.edu/title/energy-efficiency-challenges-and-trends-for-electric-utilities/oclc/795292357 Patridge defines energy efficiency as any positive measures taken to reduce energy consumption. He further states that this involves the deliberate substitute of more energy efficient equipments to produce the same amount of energy with less electricity and changing consumer behavior to cut energy use. He is of the view that energy efficiency is achieved through replacing, upgrading or maintaining existing equipment to reduce the amount of energy needs in lighting, heating, cooling, propelling machines and transportation. I am of the opinion that energy efficiency therefore contributes grea ter energy productivity and economic efficiency as opposed to renewable energy alternatives.... The Wall Street Journal, Before Adding Try Reducing by Sari Krieger. 2012. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970203771904574179270925771280 The U.S. government continues to offer a lot of subsidies and tax incentives to expand renewable energy instead of committing funds to energy efficiency and subsidize conservation. Susan Krieger a reporter for Dow Jones Clean Technology Insights in New York notes that billions of funds are pledged in support of renewable energy instead of encouraging the use of less energy in industrial production and domestic use. Those in favor of energy conservation argue that we need more subsidies and tax incentives on insulation, light emitting diodes (LED) in building and industrial systems which in the long-run result to less waste of energy in cooling, heating and lighting. Natalie Mims an energy consultant at Rocky Mountain Institute, Snowmans, Colo says that renewable energy often costs more, take longer to recoup on investment compared to energy efficiency measures which tend to receive less subsidies, tax incentives and funding particularly in research and development. From my point of view I think that newer energy conservation technology may be cost effective even with a high initial cost but are also yet to be embraced by the wider public due to unavailable information. The Natural Resources Defense Council. Renewable Energy For America, Harvesting the Benefits of Home-grown Renewable Energy. 2013. http://www.nrdc.org/energy/ According to a recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) of America, developing clean renewable energy sources has not only the potential to add to our power supply but also enhance sustainability and environmental protection.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Legal and Ethical Implications for Classroom Management Essay Example for Free

Legal and Ethical Implications for Classroom Management Essay Today’s classrooms are more dynamic than ever before. Educational needs of students are changing at breakneck speeds, along with the demands being placed on their teachers. There are associated legal and ethical implications that are evolving as rapidly as the technology that is driving a lot of the change. In order to have a chance to meet the needs of students and legal/ethical obligations, educators must have well developed classroom management techniques. These can get tricky quite often and require balancing the increasingly diverse needs of many different people. To be an effective teacher today is extremely difficult for these reasons. This essay will examine some of the current issues that teachers are exposed to in today’s classrooms by summarizing four journal articles and responding to them. The specific issues will be free speech and what it means in a school setting, cell phones in classrooms, bullying (specifically of students with disabilities), and gender specific dress codes. Freedom of Speech The issue addressed in the first article summary is freedom of speech and how it is interpreted in a public school setting in relation to the distribution of religious materials. This is really not a new topic of debate. Current precedents have been set in court cases dating as far back as1969 and the Tinker vs. Desmoines case. In that case, the court decision reads that, in order to prohibit any students’ expression of opinion, the school must provide evidence to support the fact that the actions being suppressed would be significantly disruptive (Essex, 2006). Because it is an issue of ongoing debate there are cases still being heard all over the country. This article is specifically in response to a case in the New York Supreme Court, where a student was prohibited from distributing religious fliers on school property. The question is, why was the student prevented from expressing her opinion in the first place. According to Essex (2006), one of the requirements placed on schools is that they remain viewpoint neutral. This means that if the literature was suppressed because it was religious in nature, the suppression violated her First Amendment rights, even in the school setting. In all court cases, the real message has been that schools are responsible for making sure parents and students are aware that the schools are merely sending messages indiscriminately from religious and non-secular sources and that they are not in support of any of them (Essex, 2006). Really the essence of the article is that sound policies must be in place, well documented, and consistently followed for a school to be able to regulate what a student says or distributes and there must be no endorsement of any particular ideas from any group or student. Cell phones The next topic of discussion is cell phones in classrooms. The article being summarized is entitled The Only Thing We Have to Fear is†¦120 Characters. In this article, Kevin Thomas and Christy McGee (2012) make arguments for the use of cellphones in classrooms in spite of the fact that 69% have banned them. This paper responds to the many reasons for disallowing their use, and then it goes on to highlight some ideas about why cell phones should be used as educational tools. Both sides of the discussion certainly make valid points. If 69% schools have taken students cell phones away, there must be some reasons. Thomas Mcgee (2012) identified and responded to four commonly offered rationales, including misuse for cheating, replacing Standard English with textese, sexting, and cyberbulling. It seems rather obvious that these are negative side effects of the technology, however there are also positive results that can be attributed to the use of cell phones. Today, they are relatively affordable and powerful miniature computers. When used properly, the possibilities for better use of time are astonishing. According to Thomas and McGee (2012), teachers need to be modeling appropriate behavior with their portable electronic devices and taking advantage of the benefits because the technology is not the cause of the problems. The problems being associated with cell phones all existed in some form, long before modern technology. Thomas Diamates (2010) reports that courts have supported schools in their efforts to ban cell phone use as long as the school follow established procedures. Bullying The third topic has to do with bullying, specifically students with disabilities. These students stand out in the classroom, as they are â€Å"different† and so they are subjects of increased abuse from fellow students (Eckes and Gibbs, 2012). Schools and teachers have an obligation to provide students with disabilities a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004). This paper looks at the findings in several court cases to establish what is required of teachers in situations where students with disabilities are being bullied. What this article shows is that there are an increasing number of suits against school where disabled children are being bullied. The interpretation of what is considered an appropriate education, and whether or not the school took proper preventative/disciplinary steps in light of the bullying are the reasons for these suits. The findings of this study provide evidence that the courts will generally side with schools that have taken and documented actions to alleviate the harassment. In Brown vs. Monroe County Board of Education (1999), the Supreme Court ruled that for a school to be liable, it must receive federal funds, it must have been aware of and acted â€Å"deliberately indifferent† to the harassment, and the bullying must have been severe enough to deprive educational opportunity (Eckes and Gibbs, 2012). Basically, schools must make an adequate effort to alleviate the harassment in order to limit their liability, and this has been upheld by the courts in cases like Werth v. Board of Directors (2007), and Biggs v. Board of Education (2002). Dress codes The last article on the list takes a look at how and why public schools can or cannot implement gender based dress codes. Proponents of dress codes list reasons including less distractions, less pressure to dress right, safety, and lower cost to families. Opponents say that dress codes take away students expressive rights, which are already severely limited in school settings. In this particular case, Ceara Sturgis had her picture and name removed from her senior yearbook because she is a lesbian who was more comfortable wearing the school prescribed male outfit. The current question is whether or not this is in violation of her civil liberties. Historically the courts have upheld the rights of schools to implement dress codes with very few exceptions. In Blau v. Fort Thomas Public School District (2005), a father brought suit against the school for violating 1st and 14th amendment rights with their dress code. The court found no violation of rights since â€Å"it is not related to suppression of the content of expression, it furthers a substantial government interest, and it does not burden substantially more speech than is necessary to further that interest† (Dowling-Sender, p. 34, 2005). On the other side of the coin, in United States vs. Virginia (1996), schools were required to show a â€Å"legitimate and important† reason for any gender based restrictions (Smith, 2012). In Ceara’s case, the school is going to have to show that it meets all these criteria, and the outcome has some potentially far reaching consequences. What all this means is that teaching in todays classrooms must be dynamic. Teachers need to be aware of their ever-changing legal and ethical obligations as educators. Decisions must be based on sound judgment and carefully documented observations. Teachers, students, and parents must work together and communicate with each other to create the best possible learning environment for everyone.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Transition from Analog Television to Digital Television :: Expository Essays Research Papers

The Transition from Analog Television to Digital Television The transition from analog television to digital television is an issue that is becoming more and more prevalent today. In 1996 the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) ruled that until 2006 or when digital television reaches 85 percent of all American households (whichever comes later) broadcasters can keep their analog spectrum free-of-charge. They decided that after that all television broadcasts must be made digital(Leopold). While this seemed like a great plan in 1996, it was later realized that it would take much longer for the transition to be complete due to many factors. The digital evolution began to transpire on November 1, 1998. Since then there have been many other forms of digital technology adopted by our society and digital television quite possibly is next. â€Å"The speedy conversion to digital technology will have profound interest benefits, permitting efficient spectrum use, optimizing the development of new technologies and services to consumers, and fostering diversity and competition(FCC). What are the advantages of Digital Television? Overall there are many advantages to digital television. The point to creating digital television is to receive digitally encoded broadcasts. These digital broadcasts are more picture perfect and have more lifelike sound than analog television. In an analog system the waves are modulated into mechanical form and transmitted through air or over cable. In a digital system sound and images are analyzed first then converted into a stream of numbers. Digitized information is transmitted in this system, not mechanical waves(Johnson). Comparing Resolutions: Analog TV Resolution: 480 interlaced lines, which means that half the screen is refreshed at a time. Digital Television Resolution: 480 progressive-scan lines, which means that the entire screen is refreshed at the same time. Digital signals convert regular signals into strings of ones and zeros, which is much more efficient than analog signals. Broadcasters can maximize their use of channel space because digital signals carry significantly more information than analog signals. Several digital programs and services can be sent in the space occupied by a single analog channel. The result of this is that the consumer is provided with more channel choices(FCC).

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Humility in Lifeand Business

Humility is the one characteristic human trait that is the most elusive, as it cannot be obtained through effort, work, or education. The reason it is so difficult to obtain is because the more you aspire for it, the more it will go away from you. Have you ever heard a person state, â€Å"I have finally become a humble person! † The statement alone is a signal that humility has not been gained. It is something which has to be inculcated from the very beginning in one’s life. For this to happen, it follows that the right family values play a very important role. Humility is a trait that lets a person be grounded, no matter what the situation is. It’s considered a virtue in many religious and philosophical traditions. Humility is multi-dimensional and includes self-understanding and awareness and openness. Humility stops the ego or arrogance from creeping in to our minds and it is a great team building asset and vital in a business. In business there are people who work for you, you pay them wages for them to deliver the amount of work entrusted to them, to achieve their KRA’s so as to say. But by no means does that give the employer the right to treat them in a non-humane manner. Respecting the human resource today, the people who work for you whether it be a manufacturing facility or a services concern, is imperative. The respect will come as an offshoot of humility, in the belief that not only ones leadership but also the people who work for you are the two wheels which draw your chariot of success. Leaders, who want to inspire followership, need to demonstrate not simply their accomplishments but their character. Take pride in what you have done, but use it as a platform to bring people together to do greater things, e. g. increase sales and improve quality. Use your leadership for something other than self-aggrandizement. We must understand that as humans, it is natural for us to have our faults and to realise the things which we do well and ones which we do not. This is the first step to self realisation and the stepping stone to humility. In a way it helps you to think beyond yourselves and see the larger picture. Hence, it is considered an important characteristic, one to be believed and practised. C. K. Prahalad, the renowned management guru said â€Å"Leadership is about self-awareness, recognizing your failings, and developing modesty, humility, and humanity. † It is essential to acknowledge what others do. Few have said it better than legendary Alabama coach, Paul â€Å"Bear† Bryant. â€Å"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you. Practice that attitude always, especially when things are not going well, and your team will rally together because they want you to succeed. In short, humility breeds humility. It is the same in business and in life. Success plays a critical role when it comes to humility in Life. In the journey of life, achievement of success- expected or unexpected can boost anybody's ego and put them in a spot of complace ncy. Furthermore milestones of success are keenly anticipated. Subsequent successes are hugely welcomed but at that point of time, the occurrence of any possible failure can really demoralize the person. In the case of the humble ones, the wings of airs are rarely obtained. Even in times of adversity the humble ones stay put. Humility can bring more success in the long run. The lesson remains that it always pays to be more grateful than to be more proud. It is human to want more in life, to be ambitious and to go to lengths to achieve your goals. But in this process we often choose the path of ruthlessness and become shrewd. This path has provided success more often than not to most people who have resorted to using it, which in turn gives us the return present of PRIDE. We loose the art of humility that was one of the first lessons taught to us as children, and as the saying goes ‘Pride comes before a fall. ’ Each one of us is a blend of our personal and professional lives and as I see myself part woman and part businesswoman, I have realized the importance of humility in everyday life. Sometimes I learnt it the hard way, but it was a lesson well learnt. I have realized that in family situations and at my work place whenever I was faced with a difficult situation and I choose to be angry or arrogant, I was not able to achieve the desired results. People respond better to love and compassion as compared to criticism. I learnt that when I changed my attitude in situations in which I otherwise used to be angry or proud to one where I was humble, I got better results! We have to try not to let our achievements in life get to our heads. I met with a time in my life when everything was falling apart my work, my health and my personal life and I had nothing but my attitude to blame for it. I considered my small achievements as big, people were doing much more work than I was and keeping silent about it. Their humility was giving them the necessary cover and capacity to do better while I was collapsing under the weight of my attitude. But only when you reach your lowest point can you rise back up. I hit an all time low, met with an accident, and was laid up in bed for 9 months. This forced rest gave me the opportunity to ponder over my life. Life taught me the best lesson I have learnt the hardest way. I was left at the mercy of others, I could not walk or move without help. This helplessness broke my pride to bits. In these 9 months in bed, I realized that my attitude of pride has given me nothing but anger and failure. When I got back onto my feet, I slowly started to change my ways. As they say ‘charity begins at home’ I started by changing my attitude towards my family and friends. I became more forgiving and adopted an Attitude of Gratitude towards daily things. Seeing my changed attitude my family changed their attitude towards me. Difficult situations became easier and life started to seem easy. As I saw a change in family situations I realized how this could change troubled situations at work as well. I started by being more soft spoken and humble towards people at work – my employees and my clients of course. Even when I saw a difficult situation I did not act on impulse and on success I was not proud. I tried to look at every achievement as a stepping stone towards more and kept my calm. The frequency of my achievements grew considerably and I was able to think better with a sound mind. This new found clarity gave me immense satisfaction and peace of mind. I was happier, more loved and respected among family and co-workers and since then I have tried to make it my way of life.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Malcolm X: Misunderstood

In the year of 1960s, the civil right movement was at its peak. At this time, blacks were mistreated and discriminated against and because of that, the Negroes were searching for a leader who can change the status of blacks. What is a leader? A leader is, according to a dictionary, a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group. There is no doubt that Malcolm X, formerly known as El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, had many characteristics of a great leader written all over him, when he joined the Nation of Islam. As a result, African Americans looked up to Malcolm X, who called himself the angriest Negro in America, for leadership. In this paper, I am going to argue that Malcolm was a great leader, who gave his life for the struggle for equal rights in the richest and most powerful country of the world, the USA. In a country, where everybody seeks to fulfill â€Å"the American dream†, but where many people live in a nightmare. For that, he should be remembered along with Martin Luther King Jr. To fully understand how great of a leader that he was, we need to take a closed look at Malcolm X's life. Malcolm led three remarkable lives in less than four decades: first as Malcolm Little, a convicted burglar and con man; as Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam's flamboyant orator; finally, as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, organizing an international approach to the problems besetting African Americans. It all began when Malcolm Little's confidence and dream was shattered and crashed. His teacher told him that he had to be â€Å"realistic about being a nigger. † (Malcolm X 118) I don't think Malcolm would became what he was if it was not for his teacher's comment on his dream of becoming a lawyer one day. Then, we have Minister Malcolm X, who devoted his life to the teaching of Elijah Muhammad. â€Å"The Honorable Elijah Muhammad is giving us true identity, and a true position – the first time they have ever been known to the American black man. † (Malcolm X 356) Malcolm was fascinated by the discipline, the obedience, and the strong sense of community responsibility the members of the Nation showed, and soon became one of Elijah's most devoted followers. Finally, after his trip to Mecca, we see Malcolm as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz whose belief was now in world brotherhood and human justice. Malcolm X was a misunderstood figure of his time, in my opinion. If you have read or heard what he said, you would undoubtedly label him as a racist. He went as far as calling whites the â€Å"devils† and he stirred up both the black and white communities with his â€Å"anti-white† philosophy. Malcolm is usually projected as the uncompromising advocate of Black Nationalism. Malcolm, always brooding and alienated, is depicted as the architect of armed revolution and confrontation and he is presented as the hostile critic of White liberalism. Many people base this on his denunciation of racism and they misinterpret this statement to mean that now he endorsed the principles of integration as a solution to America's racial dilemma. What people didn't realize at that time was Malcolm's basic goal or objective never changed: He was totally committed to freedom for oppressed people. Malcolm wanted for blacks only what whites wanted for themselves, no more and no less. Also we have to realize that his trip to Mecca had changed the way he thought about white people and he was not given enough time to show the world his new point of view because he was assassinated soon after. That's why most people today have the impression that Malcolm was a â€Å"bad† guy, who would gain freedom by any means necessary. What made him so great? He was a man of word and action. Malcolm represents a leader, which all communities look up to as dynamic, intelligent, and most importantly revitalizing. The Muslims of today, from all parts of the world see Malcolm as a man who not only had strong convictions and beliefs, but was not afraid to voice them and stand up to a system of oppression from white supremacy over powerless and minority black people. Black people need a leader who speaks the truth even when white people don't want to hear it, and Malcolm X is filling that role. As Malcolm X traveled around the country, preaching and encouraging blacks to take pride in their history and strengths as a people, membership in the Nation of Islam grew from about couple hundred to hundreds of thousands. Furthermore, I think it was Malcolm's vigorous passion for Black self-determination and Black unity as well as his spiritual connection to Islam that attracted black people to Nation of Islam and Elijah's vision played only a little part of it. In addition, the reason why the number of followers increase in Nation of Islam was contributed by Malcolm's exceptional oratorical ability, his quick wit, and piercing analysis that he gave in front of many audiences. Analysis such as â€Å"US government make their citizens hate Germany and Japan during WWII and now US had again make the people love Germany and Japan after the war†. And the comment that he made about the racial problems of today â€Å"If you pull out a knife on my back, the wound left a permanent scar which you can get rid off†. Those points that he made were right on the money. He was very charismatic, and when he talks, people listen. Communication is a very powerful weapon to use if you want to spread your words and wisdom, and Malcolm took advantage of that. Armed himself with knowledge of Islam, books that he read, and debating skill, he went on television shows argued against his many critics and performed public speech day in and day out. He was so eagerly devoted to spread the teaching of Nation of Islam that he found himself out on the road and was away from his family for many weeks or months. The development of Nation of Islam was his priority. Why Malcolm had such impact on black communities? Because Malcolm was one of them before he joined Nation of Islam and became a minister. Came out from the heart of the Harlem ghetto, he knew the first hand experience of prejudice and inequality that impose on blacks. Therefore, many of his audiences can relate some of the things that he said in their everyday life. In addition, Malcolm transformed himself from a street hustler to an articulate leader and was convinced that others could change for the better as well. His message about self-improvement was loud and clear. Without education, you are not going anywhere in this world. In his autobiography he said, â€Å"My whole life had been a chronology of changes†. Such an extreme change seems to unbelievable, but after reading his autobiography; everyone can feel how much power this man had. Another reason why he was a great leader was that his readiness to revise his ideas and change them. People make mistakes and it takes courage to admit it publicly and try to change it so the mistake won't happen again. In the fields of politic and religion, which he was vigorously involved in, people usually don't change, even they proved to be wrong. Malcolm X was different. He turned all his beliefs and his way of life upside down when joining the Nation of Islam. He stopped drinking, smoking and abusing drugs instantly and dedicated his life to his leader, whereas he had been selfish and greedy his whole life before. Everything is going well till when the affairs of Elijah Muhammad with his secretaries made Malcolm questioned the leadership and belief of Nation of Islam. As a result, he left Nation of Islam and took a pilgrimage to Mecca where he experienced real brotherhood, being accepted and treated as a human being. The friendliness and respect he received made a great impression on him. â€Å"I saw that people who looked alike drew together and most of the time stayed together? KIt tucked it into my mind that when I returned home I would tell Americans this observation; that where true brotherhood existed among all colors. † (Malcolm 350) He became less militant and even admitted that white people could contribute to the black movement. Malcolm also got rid of Mr. Muhammad's doctrines and taught the real Islam he experienced in the East. When we remember Malcolm X, we cannot ignore that he did change from seeing race as a dividing issue to his final testimony as a Muslim who believed in a religion which spells out clearly that all humankind is created and judged equally. He declared that â€Å"all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color. † Malcolm often predicted that his leaving the Nation of Islam would lead to his death. When he heard of the Black Muslim's plot to kill him, he did not feel any fear; he just wanted his family to be safe. Before he died, he declared that he would be glad if he could have helped the black people, but that all credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes were his. This is another admiration that I have for him. He did not fear death and went on doing his business as usual. Like I stated earlier, Malcolm put himself last and newfound religion and his family first. He was not afraid to accept the ultimate freedom for African Americans, as he stated, which is death. Today, nearly 30 years after the end of the Civil Rights Movement, some things have changed. A strong black middle-class has emerged, and some African-Americans have been able to get into leading positions in management or government. In several big cities with a majority of black citizens, black mayors are in office. Both civil right leaders Martin and Malcolm have become American heroes. Finally, Malcolm was a great man and a role model for all African Americans and Malcolm was a man who made people proud and showed them who they were. He dared to speak truth against the lies of racism, to stand tall before the blows of hatred and oppression. When they died, they left examples of wisdom, courage, and spiritual tenacity that few leaders of any race have matched. He didn't die in vain because things have improved since his death. We see the growth of strong black middle class.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Changes Caused By Global Warming Essays - Climate Change

Changes Caused By Global Warming Essays - Climate Change Changes Caused By Global Warming ENGLISH DOCUMENTRY ASSIGNMENT Proposed topic: How the World is changing due to the effects caused by Global Warming The reason for this topic is our increasingly changing climate. Every year our climate continually is changing and becoming warmer. However it's becoming more and more difficult to change our polluting ways. Though this documentary I'd like to get the publics attention about our ever-changing climate. For this topic I would like to have a god like sounding narrative voice. A demanding voice, with both compassion, and intelligence. This voice is necessary to get the point across. The thesis for this documentry is how can we prevent the destruction of our climate. This thesis is necessary because the side this documentry well be taking is to focus on how we can change or stop the damage which has been done to our environment. More so with this thesis there is many branches that lead to informative and substantial evidence to support this thesis. Seemingly this thesis also gives room for the solutions to this problem. Through this thesis I hope to narrow my topic and also allow enough room for a insightful and interesting documentary. The target audience for this documentary is anyone with the concern for the environment. However it really effects everyone on this planet. Theoretically this documentary is directed at everyone. Research on this subject is very extensive and information on it is easy to find. For instance just look at the winter that has just passed for evidence. Several questions to be answered from this documentary would be; 1. What changes are to be expected in the future? 2. What consequences of these changes can we expect? 3. What solutions are there? I'd use an upbeat, original, and futuristic style. By incorporating wide angle shots, and futuristic settings.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Best Way to Study SSAT Vocabulary

The Best Way to Study SSAT Vocabulary SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re taking the SSAT, you’ll need to have a good vocabulary in order to do well on the test. It can be difficult to find good SSAT vocab resources, but we’re here to help!In this guide, we explain the three main ways vocab is tested on the SSAT (with sample questions), go over the top resources to help you find SSAT vocab words, and give you advice on the best way to study those vocab words. How Important Is Vocabulary for the SSAT? Vocabulary is a key part of the SSAT and one of the main areas it tests.There are three levels of the SSAT depending on the grade you’re in. (Students take the test based on their current grade, not the grade they’ll be entering next year.) Elementary for students in grades 3 and 4 Middle for students in grades 5 through 7 Upper for students in grades 8 through 11 Each version of the SSAT includes questions on vocabulary. The SSAT has three main sections: verbal, quantitative, and reading comprehension. Vocabulary questions will primarily appear in the verbal section of the test, with some more indirect vocab questions in the reading comprehension section. There are three types of vocab questions on the SSAT. We explain each of them below and include a practice question so you can get a better idea of the types of vocab questions to expect on the test. Synonyms Synonym questions test vocab by giving a word and asking you to choose its synonym from five options. The questions feature words from various subjects including science, technology, and social studies. Here’s a sample synonym question from an Elementary-level SSAT. DISTURB amuse support bother complete Declare The correct answer is C. Analogies For analogy questions, you’ll need to make comparisons between two words or phrases. The relationship might be that of synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, or part to whole, to give a few examples. The words may also fall into similar categories or share certain characteristics. Here’s a sample Middle-level analogy question. Translucent is to opaque as light is to (A) sun(B) dull(C) lamp(D) candle(E) darkness The correct answer is E. Reading Comprehension Questions You also need a strong vocabulary to do well on certain reading comprehension questions. These questions won’t directly ask you about vocab, but you’ll need to know the definitions of the words they mention in order to understand the question and answer it correctly. Directions: Read the passage carefully and then answer the questions about it. For eachquestion, decide on the basis of the passage which one of the choices best answers thequestion. We had a consuming desire to see a pony rider, but somehow or other all that passed us streaked by in the night, and so we heard only a whiz and a hail, and the swift phantom was gone. But now the driver exclaims: "Here he comes!" Every neck is stretched and every eye strained. Away across the endless dead level of the prairie a black speck appears.Soon it becomes a horse and rider, rising and falling, sweeping nearer and nearer, and the flutter of hoofs comes faintly to the ear. Another instant a whoop and hurrah from our upper deck, a wave of the rider's hand, but no reply, and man and horse burst past our excited faces and go winging away like a belated fragment of a storm! At the driver’s call, the people became more eager puzzled hysterical frightened disappointed The correct answer is A. In this question, you aren’t directly asked for the definition of the word, but you’d need to know what all five of the answer choices mean in order to get the question right. Where Can You Find SSAT Vocabulary Practice? Even though vocabulary is an important part of the SSAT, the makers of the test don’t produce any official vocab lists you can study from. However, there are still plenty of resources you can use to study SSAT vocab. In this section we discuss both official and unofficial sources. Official Sources Even though there aren't many official SSAT vocab resources, the vocab materials they do provide can be helpful to use. You can purchase official study materials on the SSAT website, and you’ll also be given the option of buying these materials when you register for the test. Official SSAT vocab practice materials include sample questions for each of the three question types we discussed above, as well as videos you can watch that explain the different question types and how to answer them. For Middle and Upper-Level SSAT students, you can purchase the official prep book for $37 or an online version of the official prep book along with the online videos for $69.95.The Elementary-Level SSAT prep materials can be downloaded for free but don’t include any videos. These resources don’t include word lists, but you can use the practice questions to get a better idea of the types of words the SSAT will test you on and what the vocab questions are like. Unofficial Prep Books There are also plenty of helpful unofficial sources to help you study for SSAT vocab. Here are some of the top SSAT prep books. Ivy Global Ivy Global sells three vocab books, each containing over 100 words useful to know for the Middle and Upper-Level SSAT.While high-quality, these books aren’t cheap. Each book costs about $27, which is quite a bit for what is basically a vocab list with definitions. Kaplan Kaplan’s SSAT prep book costs about $15, and it contains a vocab list for each of the three SSAT levels. If you’re trying to save money, you can often find older versions of the prep book that cost less, and they’ll still have the same SSAT words in their vocab lists. Princeton Review Similar to Kaplan, Princeton Review’s Cracking the SSAT and ISEE is also about $15 and contains vocab lists for the different SSAT levels. Unofficial Online Lists There are also lots of websites and online lists with SSAT vocab resources. These can be a great resource and many of them, including the three below, are free, but make sure the resource seems high quality or you could end up wasting time studying unhelpful words. Use other resources first so you can get a sense of what kinds of vocab words you should be studying before you use these resources. Ivy Global In addition to their prep books, Ivy Global also offers a free SSAT vocabulary PDF of 75 words for Middle and Upper-SSAT students. This is a great free resource that you should definitely make use of if you’ll be taking the Middle or Upper SSAT. Varsity Tutors Varsity Tutors has flashcards to help students study verbal questions for each of the three SSAT levels. These are mostly sample questions, not vocab word lists, but they can still be a useful resource. Quizlet Quizlet has a set of nearly 500 SSAT vocab flashcards. These can be a useful resource, but remember that they’re user created so they may not be as accurate as other resources, and the words aren’t organized based on SSAT level. How to Make and Use SSAT Vocabulary Flashcards Once you have your SSAT vocabulary list, you can start studying with them. You can make physical flashcards with note cards (our recommendation) or use a website like Quizlet to create a deck online.We recommend using the waterfall method to study your flashcards. If you’re not sure what the waterfall method is, we break it down for you below. Once you have your SSAT words, go through the complete flashcard deck. For each card whose definition you know easily, you’ll put it in a â€Å"Know It† pile. If you don’t know the definition of a particular SSAT vocab word, put it in a â€Å"Struggled† pile. After you’ve gone through each of the cards once, pick up your â€Å"Struggled† pile. You’ll now go through this pile again. For words where you know the definition, place them in a second â€Å"Know It† pile next to (but not combined with) the first â€Å"Know It† pile. For words you don’t know, make a new â€Å"Struggled† pile. Repeat this process, placing new â€Å"Know It† piles in a row from left to right. This creates your waterfall. Repeat this process until the â€Å"Struggled† pile has only a few words left. Now, you’ll move back up the waterfall. Starting with the most recent â€Å"Struggled† pile, go through the flashcards until you know all the words in the pile. Then, add the most recent (the rightmost) â€Å"Know It† pile. Go through those words. If you miss any, go through the entire pile again until you get all of them right. Go through those words.If you miss any words, go through the entire pile you currently have again until you get all of the words right.It may take awhile to get through the entire pile, but this method will guarantee that you learn those SSAT words! Continue this process until you get all the way back up the waterfall. This is the best method to study vocab flashcards because you’ll spend the majority of your time reviewing the words you struggle the most with, as opposed to just studying the entire stack over and over. Summary: SSAT Vocabulary Practice Vocabulary is an important part of the SSAT, and you’ll see several types of vocab questions in the Verbal and Reading sections of the exam.It can be difficult to find a high-quality SSAT vocabulary list though, but we’ve compiled several resources you can use, including official study materials, unofficial prep books, and websites. Flashcards are the best way to study SSAT vocabulary words, and we recommend using the waterfall method when studying to memorize the words more quickly. What's Next? Want to learn more about what's covered on the Elementary, Middle, and Upper-level tests?Then be sure to readour complete guide to the SSAT. Looking for free materials to use for SSAT practice?We've gathered links tothe best free SSAT practice tests here. How do you register for the SSAT?Learn all the info you need to know in our step-by-step guide to SSAT registration. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Diversity in Criminal Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Diversity in Criminal Justice - Essay Example Furthermore, the analysis will consider the classes that are â€Å"at risk† within society; alongside a discussion of why. Additionally, the paper will analyze typical community perceptions of law enforcement; with a discussion of what classes are most likely to engage law enforcement and why. Lastly, the analysis will reference factors of recidivism, poverty, alienation, and collective efficacy (Yamatani & Spjeldnes, 2011). Through such an analysis, it is the hope of this author that the reader can gain a more informed understanding concerning the importance and relevance of considerations of diversity in criminal justice theory and application. Firstly, the concept of an individual being a product of their environment is drawn from the sociological influences that an individual faces within a unique spatial or cultural setting. Within such an understanding, those individuals that are exposed to especially difficult situations, whether this be poverty or high crime rates, will likely gravitate towards these as an understanding of the way in which life is supposed to be defined. By comparison and contrast, an individual that is from a more affluent environment will generally seek to further this experience within their own lives; seeing it as an acceptable status quo; in an almost identical way to the manner through which those that grow up within a poorer or more crime ridden environment will gradually accept this as a reasonable expectation for how life should be defined. Further, an individual that lives within an urban environment is much more likely to be experience extreme levels of poverty. The underlying reason for this has to do with the fact that almost all forms of government housing have been constructed near the urban centers; as a means of encouraging these individuals to find jobs and better themselves through immediate access to the city’s center;

Friday, November 1, 2019

Gramsci's Philosophy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gramsci's Philosophy - Assignment Example This is because any slight manifestation of intellectual activityin any language contains varied conceptions of the world. The diverse conceptions are necessitated by the fact that everyone is unique in his or her way. Thereafter, an individual may be compelled to move to the next level of conceptualization, which entails criticism and awareness. In other words, spontaneous philosophy gives people insights on how their world is; thus, they are presented with the opportunity to take part in everything that occurs in it. Spontaneous philosophy consists of three elements namely;common sense and good sense, language and religion. First, the language in spontaneous philosophy should not have baseless words, but concepts and notions that have content. Common sense as an element of spontaneous philosophy refers to the illogical set of held beliefs and assumptions common to any society; whereas good sense refers to the concrete realistic, common sense in the English meaning of the term. Gram sci’s intention in conceptualizing spontaneous philosophy aims at giving individuals an opportunity to criticize their own conceptions of the world. This in turn, makes the world comprehensible and raises it to a level that can only be reached by the utmost advanced opinions in the whole world. In addition to that, acquiring one’s own conception of the world puts an individual within the same social framework with other individuals who are likely to share the same philosophy. 2. Discuss in detail the passage from spontaneous philosophy to philosophy of Praxis. Engage the moment of critical awareness, which serves as a transition. What, then, is philosophy of Praxis and what sets it apart from spontaneous philosophy? Spontaneous philosophy begins with individuals viewing themselves as philosophers. This is magnified by the fact that everyone is unique in his or her own way; thus, they view the world differently. The varied conceptualization of the world makes one belong to a particular group where common thoughts are shared. In these groups, thoughts and conceptualizations of individuals are tailored to make them be at par with the world’s most advanced thoughts. This forms the starting point of one’s critical elaboration since he gets the opportunity to have knowledge of himself. After comprehension of oneself, individuals are supposed to have a better understanding of the philosophical history as well as the history of culture. Knowledge of one’s history of culture and philosophy puts one in a better place to have a clear and critical conception of the world. Understanding one’s language is also central in conceptualizing the world since it lessens the intricacy in comprehending things. Language understanding also enables the translation of one culture to the other; thus, producing a new culture with an extraordinary element of intellectualorder and harmonizationis made easier. The philosophy of Praxis denotes the soc io-practical activity whereby actions and thoughts are mutually determined. It cannot present itself at the beginning in a critical and polemical appearance, but as superseding the prevailing perceptible thoughts and the existing modes of thinking. First, it must be criticize the commonsense notion, basing its arguments that everyone is a philosopher in his or her own way. Then, it must criticize the philosophy of intellectuals, from which the history of philosophy developed. Having understood these criticisms, one may conclude that philosophy of Praxis leads to a higher life conception and does not leave simple details in their nascent philosophy of common sense. 3. Discuss the differences between the two great (in Gramsci’