Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Cross-Cultural Marriage - 954 Words

Cross-Cultural Marriage Sometimes people have no control over whom they begin a love relationship with. One does not see color, religion, culture, country, etc. difference, so it is very possible that someone may fall in love with a foreigner who has a totally different culture, which may result in a cross-cultural marriage. No matter how deeply this couple is in love with each other, differences will rise due to the variations in culture. Marrying someone with totally different culture will lead to leaving one’s country, inability of grandparents to communicate with grandchildren and leaving one’s traditions. Marrying someone with totally different culture forces one the spouses to live outside his/her country. By that†¦show more content†¦But people from different cultures may not laugh on the same thing and spouses may find difficulties in understanding the other’s humor as Carol O’Hara said, â€Å"Things that are funny to one will not be funny to the other. You will have to explain the humor to one another.† To sum up, some people may find marrying someone with another culture is exciting. The idea comes to them due to experiencing some new and different things. What people sometimes do not consider is that these new and different things may turn into the reason of conflict and misunderstanding between spouses. As an advice, no one should rush into a cross-cultural marriage unless he/she is ready to let go his/her traditions, willing for his children to not really know his/her parents and be ready to live outside his/her country. One should think of all that and even more before thinking of marrying someone from another culture. Works Cited Appleby, Vince. â€Å"Marrying someone from another country.† International Pen Pal. 2009. 10 May 2009. Benlafquih, Christine. â€Å"Tips for Successful Intercultural Relationships.† Suite101. 27 Mar 2008. 10 May 2009. â€Å"Marrying into a Different Nationality.† Professor’s House. 10 May 2009. O’Hara, Car ol. â€Å"Are you thinking of marrying someoneShow MoreRelatedCross Culture Of Cross Cultural Marriage1299 Words   |  6 PagesCross-cultural marriage is a marriage composed of two culturally diverse individual who independently posses distinct national cultures. Cheung (2005) stated that it is generally accepted in long-term marriage literature that the five â€Å"C† are important elements that contribute to long-term marital satisfaction. The five Cs are commitment, caring, communication, conflict and compromise, and contract which refers to the marital partners’ implicit and explicit expectations of each other and their marriagesRead MoreEssay on Cross Cultural Perspectives828 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Cross Cultural Perspectives ETH 316 October 13, 2014 Cross Cultural Perspectives Multi-national companies from the U.S. hold a great advantage by working in and with other countries and cultures to make their products accessible to a much broader community.   When multi-nationals gains access into or with other companies/countries, it may be an assumption that because everyone inside the business is working for the same purpose, they are going to automatically communicate, thinkRead MoreThe Cross Cultural Psychology : Research And Applications Book1917 Words   |  8 Pagesthe Cross-Cultural Psychology: Research and Applications book, chapter three’s content is on individual development: childhood, adolescence and adulthood. It is primarily split into two parts, first part being Childhood and adolescence and second part being Adulthood. This chapter examines cross-cultural variations in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. After a discussion of cultural notions of childhood and adolescence they present evidence on how childhood experiences can describe cross-culturalRead MoreManaging Across Borders and Cultures Essay2184 Words   |  9 PagesCritically evaluate the relevance of cross cultural management issues within internation al business and discuss why companies fail to underline the need for cross cultural understanding. Introduction In today’s world, culture is hard to ignore. It affects the way people dress, what they eat, what religion they follow and also the places they go. Culture is essentially a set of shared beliefs, social norms, organizational roles and inherited values (Lee, 2005) that affects everyday life inRead MoreHofstede’s Limitations14637 Words   |  59 PagesImproving Cultural Indices 1 IMPROVING CULTURAL INDICES AND RANKINGS BASED ON A METAANALYSIS OF HOFSTEDE’S DIMENSIONS VAS TARAS University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business SH441, Human Resources and Organizational Development 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4 Tel: (403) 220-6074 Fax: (403) 282-0095 e-mail:taras@ucalgary.ca PIERS STEEL University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business Human Resources and Organizational Development SH444 - 2500 University DriveRead MoreCross Cultural Relationship Between People And People From Different Cultural Backgrounds Essay1564 Words   |  7 PagesCross Cultural Relationships Abstract This term paper focuses on different types of relationships, be it personal, professional or marital, between people from different cultural backgrounds. The objective of this paper is to list out the ways in which to have a healthy relationship between people who are so different from each other. This has a major significance in today’s world as people are beginning to accept each other on a wider basis across nations and as a result there comes a situationRead MoreIntercultural Marriage Is Not Just A Union Between Two Cultures827 Words   |  4 PagesIn addition to these basic problems, another major issue ascends about religion. Intercultural marriage is not just a union between two cultures, but also of two religions. Many a times, marriages face a breakup or divorce just because the two are not able to unite in terms of their respective religions. In such a situation, one partner either endure their own religion or change their preferences for the other. But, then they might have quarrels on religious matters when it comes to family or forRead MoreBook Report Of Preparing Missionaries Or Intercultural855 Words   |  4 PagesBook Report of Preparing Missionaries or Intercultural Communication This book was written by Lyman E. Reed. â€Å"Preparing Missionaries or Intercultural Communication† is a book for missionaries who want to prepare for being a cross-cultural missionary and provides the necessities for adequate preparation of missionaries. One of the clearer imperative for missions was pronounced and is recorded in Matthew 28: 19-20: Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of theRead MoreCultural Psychology and Cross-Cultural Psychology3267 Words   |  13 Pagessimilarities between cultural psychology and cross-cultural psychology. Describe the differences between cultural psychology and cross-cultural psychology. Cross cultural psychology and cultural psychology are two fields of psychology that are often confused. Cross-cultural psychology and cultural psychology have many similarities and they differ in a few areas. Cross-cultural psychology is a comparative field of psychology that studies the cultural effects on human psychology. A cross-cultural study drawsRead MoreA Comparative Analysis Between Aboriginal and Chinese Cultural Differences1504 Words   |  7 Pagesresources, especially human capital, has made managerial of culture differences ever so important as to understanding the different variables (Hofstede G, 2010). In this paper, the Power Distance Index (PDI) of both Chinese and aboriginal traditional cultural value and belief in family, social life and workplace is going to be examined under the scope of Hofstede’s dimensions. To a truthful stereotype, both culture heavily emphasis upon power distance in a form of age-grade social hierarchy, the variance

Monday, December 16, 2019

Tom Sawyer Free Essays

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Whether or not many have read the book, Mark Twain’s â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer† has been referenced numerous times in social media. It has been used in media in such formats as movies and cartoons. Because of this, many believe Tom Sawyer to be a children’s book, while others believe it to be a more literal adult influenced novel. We will write a custom essay sample on Tom Sawyer or any similar topic only for you Order Now With the many outside influences such as religion, writing styles, and the author’s opinions it can be argued that Mark Twain’s â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer† can be seen as either a children’s book or an adult’s novel. Many believe it is more suited as an adult book. The Influence of religion in any storyline can affect the plot greatly. â€Å"If we maintain the implicit conjunction between the Bible and Tom’s books, this can be read as a very serious critique of the abuses of religion† (McIntosh-Byrd 15). In his critique, Byrd states how religion is often seen as the only way to go. Many don’t know any different and therefore Byrd believes the book to be more centered on religion and its constant critique. â€Å"The fact that both of these scenes take place within the church in indicative of an implicit critique of the role of religion in St. Petersburg† (McIntosh-Byrd 15). Again here Byrd says that religion has changed the storyline somewhat. Because of these reasons it can be argued that Tom Sawyer is more suited for adults because adults can understand what Twain was trying to say more and he knew this by the way he wrote. The different writing styles in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer change the audiences that the story appeals to. â€Å"These defects of structure would probably not appreciate the flexibility of the narrative, it’s easy, casual gait. † (Doren 431). From this view, Mark Twain’s â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,† can be seen as more of a children’s book because of its easy going nature. The lack of responsibility in this book translates well to children. â€Å"But Tom’s energy did not last. He began to think of the fun he had planned for this day, and his sorrows multiplied. † (Twain 12) Many are without responsibilities and hope to never gain any. â€Å"Mark Twain drives with careless, sagging reins, but he holds the general direction. † (Doren 431) Twain keeps a general hold on the story but he allows the characters to roam bout freely, which makes it more kid friendly, in the sense that the kids want to feel like they are truly in charge. â€Å"And when the middle of the afternoon came, from being a poor, poverty-stricken boy in the morning, Tom was literally rolling in wealth. † (Twain 15) The different writing styles affected the story in one way but at the same time it can affect it in the other opposite direction. On the other side of the spectrum, this book can be seen as an adult’s novel based on the writing styles evident in the text. Twain borrowed its structure from several literary genres popular in the United States during the late nineteenth century: Local color-fiction, Juvenile fiction, sentimental romance, and the dime thriller† (De Santis). Adults can handle a lot more styles in books such as these. â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer†¦Represented an attempt to cultivate the gentled, eastern-seaboard audience currently enthralled by local-color fiction. † (Baetzhold) Again here critic has noticed the same trend. Local-color or regional literature is fiction and poetry that focuses on the characters of a story. This is evident in De Santis’ critique of â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer†. Noticing the author’s opinions the reader can tell whether they meant for their book to be a children’s book or an adult’s piece of literature. â€Å"It had no history, and no future, existing in the framed bookends of the author’s comments at the beginning and end of the tale. † (McIntosh-Byrd 15) Twain’s opinions about the way things should be in society affects the story. Say another writer had written about the exact same topic it would be completely different. Twain put a lot of his own thoughts and beliefs into his story. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an extremely difficult work to approach analytically because it is so embedded in the author’s own childhood. † (McIntosh-Byrd 13) It has been argued that the town of St. Petersburg in the story was Twain’s interpretation of his childhood hometown. â€Å"Uncertain whether it should be aimed at a youthful or an adult audience, Mark Twain once more submerged in the shadow the realistic aspects of puberty, removing portions of the book which might offend younger readers. † (Baetzhold) if Twain didn’t remove these portions f the story it would have definitely been focused towards a more mature audience. Since he did it is more appropriate that â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer† be focused more on the youthful audience. With the many outside influences such as religion, writing styles, and the author’s opinions it can be argued that Mark Twain’s â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer† can be seen as either a children’s book or an adult’s novel. The book was originally written as an adult’s novel, but over the years since it has been written it has slowly been more closely analyzed as a children’s book. How to cite Tom Sawyer, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Analyse Ethics in Relation to Kale’s Principles †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Analyse Ethics in Relation to Kales four Principles. Answer: Introduction Ethics is a concept that does govern our daily interactions with each other. The aspect of being ethical often follows a set of principles that have been ingrained by the society as one grows up. Ethics is a moral compass that dictates the actions we take when faced with different challenges. There are a number of theories that have been presented by various scholars on ethics, but this report will focus on Kales ethical intercultural communication. Kale 2013 purports that there is an interaction that, takes place between our human spirits with that of other people from different cultures during association when it comes to ethical issues. He formulated four principles that form the foundation of ethical intercultural communication. The four principles to some extent are wholesome in their approach as they have incorporated some elements of the various known ethical theories. The report uses the four principles of Kales theories in expounding the decisions that the companies and the government in Brazil took when the Bento Rodriguez dam disaster occurred. The disaster was a tragic event that resulted in loss of lives, property and their source of livelihoods. The Germano mine that was the cause of the disaster was owned by the Samarco Minercao that was owned by two multinational corporations one Brazilian and the other Anglo-Australian(Szoke, 2015). The two companies come from different cultures and the application of Kales ethical intercultural communication plays a central role in dissecting their reactions to the situation. For a long time corporations around the world have been profit oriented, but that is changing with the introduction of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The various companies have to consider their impact of their actions on the societies around them. The implementation of CSR determines the continuity of the company in different parts of the globe. The report will try to focus on how the Kales principles are entwined with other ethical theories in resolving the Bento Rodriguez dam disaster strategy. Description of Kales 4 Principles The first Kales principle is founded on people from different cultures relating to each other with the same level of respect that they would like to accord them(Kale, 1991). In other words, respect is a two way traffic the way one treats another person is the same way they will be treated. The respect often flows when we accept the differences in the different cultures and focussing more on factors that unite us all. On the same breath, acceptance means that we do not ridicule the other peoples cultural identity either non-verbally or verbally via our communication(Jandt, 2012). Acceptance is intertwined with respect since it makes it easier for human beings to ignore the aspects that we do not like and tolerate those that glare at us on a daily basis. The second principle among ethical communicators is that they should focus on accuracy and truth when they give their perceptions on different aspects. The concept of truth varies from one culture to another as it is often construed by the societal way of life. The ethical aspect comes into play when one tells the truth based on what they understand from their own point of view of a situation. Truth tends to free ones spirit and brings a peace of mind to the person telling it and to the people listening. Truth does open an avenue for the wrongdoer to correct their mistake and starts the healing process for the injured party(Kale, 2003). In other words, being truthful does liberate the society and institutes a form of continuity in their daily lives. The third principle is enshrouded on the freedom of expression. People from different cultures should feel free to express their own uniqueness and individualism(Kale, 1991). The first principle discussed in the report places a boundary on the way one does express their unique cultural identity. The freedom to voice out ones ideas should not interfere with the respect instituted among the parties involved. Respect does govern how we relate and express ourselves in intercultural settings. The third principle does enforce the respect of the minority and their inclusion of their ideas in decision making(Hall, 2013). The fourth principle deals with the ethical communicators working towards seeking identification with people from the different cultures. The principle is different from the first three as it is not founded on protecting the human spirit, but establishing contact with the other cultures. It is more interlinked with seeking recognition from the other cultures by focussing on the common attributes instead of the differences(Jackson, 2014). The last concept leads to an acknowledgement that our differences create a delicious salad bowl than eating a single fruit. In other words, diversity opens new avenues and it does enrich everyone. Responses from the company or the government Company Government In 2013, the Institute Pristino carried out a research which termed the dam to be dangerous and recommended the institution of contingency measures. The company in 2015 countered the analysis by hiring their own investigation company (VOGBR). The company stated that the dam was safe and could handle the residue deposited by the company. Contrary to their findings the dam collapsed within months, indicating foul play(Szoke, 2015). The Brazilian Federal police carried out an investigation that revealed that the company knew of the risks that the dam would cause. The dam had drainage issue which they failed to properly monitor hence leading to the tragedy. In other words, the company was negligent in reinforcing the dam(Philips, 2016). The Samarco, Vale and BHP Billiton have stated that the water is safe since the sludge was made of mud and no toxic elements. The high commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations contradicted the statements of the company by stating that the water contained toxic chemicals, hence it was unsafe for use (Ali,2015). The Brazilian Federal environment agency has criticized the efforts of Samarco geared at salvaging the environment where they are rerouting the rivers(Lopes, 2017). Samarco has worked towards providing the people affected by alternative residence as they search for long lasting solutions to them(Lopes, 2017) The government responded to the tragedy by fining Samarco, Vale and BHP Billiton $66 million, which it increased to nearly $ 5 billion as fines for the tragedy they caused. The figure is part of the fines that the company is facing with respect to the tragedy(Lopes, 2017) The company says it is willing to compensate nearly over half a million people even as the negotiations continue(Philips, 2016). The government is working towards reinforcing their mining laws to prevent the occurrence of a similar tragedy(Cowie, 2016). Evaluation of the responses based on Kales theory and other ethical theories The first principle in respect of the other peoples cultures in this case applies to the companys efforts to restore the mining operations(Kale, 1991). The people of Bento Rodriguez are dependent on mining as their main source of livelihood. The halting of the companys operations has altered their way of lives as most struggle to make ends meet (Philips, 2016). The company with the aid of their shareholders have come up with an alternative plan where they will store their waste in a 33 foot dike for two years as they seek a permanent residue disposition means. The plan will ensure that the 3,000 people employed in the company are able to resume their way of life (Leahy, 2017). According to Leahy 2017, Samarco set up the Renova foundation in 2015 with the aid of its two shareholders and the government to carry out the clean-up. The companies injected over $3.3 billion to aid in the recovery exercise. The CEO said that they will provide 10% direct compensation. 450,000 people will be the first beneficiary receiving R$ 800-R$1000 daily Additionally, the foundation is carrying out negotiations with the locals to identify a reasonable compensation for their loss. According to Kales principles the formation of the foundation is the first step in acknowledging that the disaster was a mistake that was attributed to their actions(Jandt, 2012). It deals with the second principle of being truthful, based on the facts presented before them. Despite their efforts it is important to note that they are not entirely true. The company is purporting the water is safe while based on further analysis it contains toxic chemicals. Their lies tend to negate the work that they are doing with respect to redeeming themselves in the public eye. If people use the water according to the UN analysis of the situation they are prone to get affected(Cowie, 2016). The third principle deals with allowing the people to express their own uniqueness (Kale, 1991). In this context the principle deals with allowing the locals to express their own views on the disaster. The company has been involved in a number of lawsuits where they have prevented their case, while the locals have expressed their view points. The company has accepted to pay the compensation and indemnities that the courts have ruled. The company agreed to carry out $5.6 billion settlement to cover the damages of the incident. In addition, they have provided the residents with alternative areas to stay and have paid $300 million as compensation(Lopes, 2017). The fourth principle deals with identification with the people in different cultures(Kale, 1991). The mine disaster did not only incapacitate the people involved in mining. It altered the farming, fishing and tourism in the nearby region. The peoples cultures were changed by the single tragedy and the Samarco Company has decided to be the bigger person. The company has consented into recovering over 5,000 streams that are within the River Doce; carry out a reforestation of 10,000 hectares and a restoration of over 30,000 hectares. It is its way of bringing healing and peace not only to the people of Bento Rodriguez but the other neighbouring regions affected by the disaster(Philips, 2016). The government has led Samarco, BHP Billiton and Vale in signing an agreement that will ensure that the company carries out an environmental recovery work for 5 billion over a period of 15 years. The aim is to ensure that the people are able to have a sense of normalcy and that the company can be able to resume their operations. When evaluating the responses of the company the non-consequential theory comes into play. The rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by what the society stipulates. The intention of an action is what matters the most when evaluating a situation and not the outcome(Graham, 2014).An analysis of the tragedy in Brazil clearly reveals that the company was unethical in its approach to the situation. According to (Fadness, 2016), the company was given a warning about the dam being unable to hold the residues and there was a recommendation for the management team to monitor it while they instituted buttress as a reinforcement. The management team did not follow up on the recommendations and when the tragedy struck they went silent. According to some locals, the company did not respond rapidly to the tragedy as they sent their rescue team after the others had arrived despite them being in the centre of the tragedy. The non-consequential theory focuses on looking at the intent behind one action not at the outcome. The company had knowledge of the predicament that would befall the people, but they choose to be profit oriented than societal oriented. The mining activities could have halted for a while as the company carried out the reinforcements, but the result is that the tragedy could have been avoided. The action of the law taking its course by charging the company large sums to indemnify the locals is a step in the right direction. The companys negligence did cost the people around not only their homes and livelihoods, but also lives were lost in the mud tsunami. Conclusion Based on the report analysis if the company had been ethical in the first place the strategy could have been prevented. The profit oriented mentality corrupted their societal compass resulting in the tragedy. The hefty fines that the company and their partners are facing should serve as a lesson to other companies around the globe. References Ali, H.S. (2015). Who should we blame for the Brazil mining dam disaster? The Conversation. Retrieved 7 May 2017, from https://theconversation.com/who-should-we-blame-for-the-brazil-mining-disaster-50521 Cowie, S. (2016). Seeking answer to catastrophic Brazil mine disaster. Aljazeera. Retrieved 7 May 2017, from https://aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/12/seeking-answers-catastrophic-brazil-disaster-151224071626923.html Fadness, I. (2016).Brazils Fundao dam collapse: The silence after the mud. Aljazeera. Retrieved 7 May 2017, from https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/05/brazil-fundao-dam-collapse-silence-mud16051006544213.html Graham, G. (2004). Eight theories of ethics. London: Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group. Hall, B.J.(2013. Cultire, Ethics, and Communication. Ethics in intercultural and international communication. Jackson, J. (2014). Introducing language and intercultural communication. Routledge. Jandt,F.E. (2012). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community. Sage Publications. Kale, D. W. (1991). Ethics in intercultural communication. Intercultural communication: A reader, 421-426. Kale,D.W. (2003). Peace as an ethic for intercultural communication. Intercultural Communication: A Reader, 10th ed. (Belmont,CA: Wadsworth/Thomson, 2003),467. Kant, I. (2013). The Metaphysical elements of ethics. Simon and Schuster. Lopes, M. (2017). The Bento Rodrigues Dam Collapsed a Year Ago and Its Nowhere Near Fixed. Motherboard. Retrieved 7 May 2017, from https://motherboard.vice.com/en-us/article/the-bento-rodrigues-dam-collapsed-a-year-ago-and-its-nowhere-near-fixed Philips, D. (2016). Samarco dam collapse:one year on from Brazils worst environmental disaster.the Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/oct/15/samarco-dam-collapse-brazil-worst-environmental-disaster-bhp-billiton-vale-mining Szoke, H. (2015).Brazil mine disaster exposes BHPs failures. Retrieved 7 May 2017, from https://www.smh.com.au/comment/brazillian-dam-disaster-shows-bhp-falls-short-of-global-expectations-2015118-gl2i8c,html. THEORIES OF ETHICS. (n.d.). Retrieved 7 May 2017, from https://soe.syr.edu/academic/counseling_and_human_services/modules/Common_Ethical_Issues/theories_of_ethics.aspx

Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Concept of Energy

Energy is referred as the capacity of a body or a system to function or operate. The concept of energy is very common and widespread in all scientific fields. This however, explains the varied explanation and approach of the term ‘energy’ across various contexts such as physics, biology, and chemistry.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Energy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the context of this study, energy is the vitality or power that would be needed for sustained mental or physical functioning of various bodies. In other words, this is the indirectly observed quantity normally viewed as the ability of a physical body to function or operate normally. As it would be observed, energy exists in numerous different forms, and these can be electrical, chemical, mechanical, radiant or light, and heat or thermal forms of energy. Energy is a fundamental part of modern life that plays a cruc ial role in almost every sector of human life. For instance, people use energy to make their work easier in various fields of operation, and to process things in a more convenient style. More importantly, energy is used for lighting purposes and to power machinery as well as other significant equipment that makes life easier and more exciting for humans. There are many sources of energy, and this would range from renewable to non-renewable sources. While energy is crucial and beneficial to human life in many ways, it is nevertheless one of the major causes of the common global issues currently affecting the human nature. A good example here is the combustion of fuels for the purpose of powering cars among other machineries and equipment, which is arguably one of the major activities having the biggest impact on the progressive issue of the global warming. Among other key concerns, the operations of the global energy sector have drawn incessant scrutiny from the global leaders as a r esult of the above reason. Concerns about the issue of global warming, which is observed to be necessitated by the combustion of fossil fuels, has immensely contributed to the implementation of a number of strategies that would be applied in dealing with the problem. In this regard, a massive shift from the use of fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy appears to be the most effective step which can successfully implement this goal. This plan aims at repowering America and the entire world with carbon-free forms of energy within the next one or so decade. The brains behind this plan have concluded that, there is a possibility of such a change if the necessary measures towards the plan where taken. Other big concerns that have had influential impact on the plan would include things such as high prices of oil, land use, the wildlife, global water supply, environmental pollution, and heightening government concerns.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The many implications that the generation and use of fossil fuels would tend to have on all the above aspects are likely to be minimized or even eradicate completely the effect of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, through the use of renewable forms of energy usually generated from water, wind and solar. It has been proven that the construction, operation and execution of renewable sources produces almost zero emissions of harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases, and this makes them safer over the non-renewable sources. There is confidence that, the global energy systems can easily be transformed through widespread use of solar installations, wind turbines and water machines, which do not present emission of significant gases and other waste products. This could be an effective approach in eliminating the immense pollution associated with the non-renewable sources of energy used in modern transportation sector. Renewable Sources of Energy This normally refers to those sources of energy that are continually restored or replenished. What makes renewable sources of energy more reliable over non-renewable sources is the fact that, these forms of energy can be used as many times as they would be required. As it would be observed, renewable sources of energy sustain a relatively high percentage of the overall human energy consumption. Many countries are gradually shifting to these forms of energy sources, considering the high costs and the many effects associated with non-renewable energy sources. More importantly, there are many health and financial benefits that can be associated with renewable sources of energy, and this makes them the most preferred energy sources over non-renewable sources such as natural gas, coal and oil, which have continued to present immense social and health issues to the global population. Some of the common examples of renewable energy sources would include things like wind power, geothermal power, solar power, biomass power, and hydropower. Non-Renewable Sources of Energy These are energy sources that can be found on earth in limited capacity, and that are likely to become extinct within a specific period of time. Non-renewable energy sources would constitute of nuclear power, natural gas, coal, and oil. Unlike the renewable sources, it is not easy to regenerate non-renewable sources of energy for human energy consumption whenever it is necessary. Non-renewable sources of energy are classified into two main groups namely; nuclear fuel and fossil fuels. Nuclear fuel is generated out of radioactive substances that do occur naturally.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Energy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A good example of this classification is uranium which can be found in soil and rocks. These elements are transformed into energy through extraction and concentration, to produce fuel rods that can generate heat, when placed closed to each other. The heat is the form of energy here, and can be used to transform water into steam, thus producing electricity that can be used in different ways. The above diagram illustrates the process by which nuclear fuel is generated from Uranium. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are energy in the form of fuels which can be extracted from the earth’s surface, where they are said to be generated through geological processes on dead matter. Examples of fossil fuels include materials such as natural gas and oil, which tend to undergo millions of years to form under the earth’s surface. It is believed that, both gas and oil are generated from the remains of dead living things in the bottom of seas, which have been covered by layers of other sediments. According to study findings, it may take many millions of years for gas and oil to form under the earth’s surface, before they ev entually sieve into the earth’s surface through porous rocks. The diagram below illustrates how gas and oil are generated from the earth’s surface. Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overview of Various Resources of Renewable Energy Wind Energy Wind energy is a form of energy whereby wind turbines are used to produce electricity for human consumption. Wind energy has been applied by humans for avery long time to perform various tasks, such pumping of water and winnowing of grains. Normally, wind turbines intended for generation of electricity are mounted on tall structures, where they can capture large masses of airflows needed to produce energy. The power output in this resource would tend to increase as the speed of wind increases. In this regard, areas with constant and stronger winds are the most preferable sites for wind farms. Wind Power Turbines in the US are common in Alaska and New Zealand States, where the speed of wind is known to be higher than that of any other place in the country. The global use of wind as a reliable source of energy has increased dramatically in the last few decades. Wind is not only one of the most attractive sources of energy, but it also among the cleanest sources of renewable energy, and for these reasons, it is the fastest advancing energy technology in the world. Wind energy supplies about one percent of the US electricity needs and this capacity is observed to be growing rapidly, owing to recent developments. Advantages of Wind Energy Resources Wind is a clean source of energy i.e. it does not produce greenhouse gases or any other form of hazardous products that can be harmful to human and animal health. The energy is abundant and free to use. Wind turbines normally take minimal space compared to the normal power station, and therefore, it is land economical. Wind energy can be combined other sources of energy such as solar to provide a steady supply of energy in form of electricity. Wind energy is less costly compared to other forms of non-renewable energy which may need to be imported from foreign countries. Wind is a reliable source of energy for regions where wind is stronger and more constant. Wind is a relatively long-lasting source of energy for human energy needs and in that case, it is reliable and more convenient. Disadvantages of Wind Energy Resources This form of energy is unreliable since winds are unpredictable in many regions. Construction and erection of wind turbines is obviously very expensive and time consuming. Many people are yet to give in to the idea of wind energy as an efficient source of energy, and for that reason, there would be amid protests against development of wind farms in some regions. Wind turbines can sometimes be very noisy, and in that case, they are not fit in residential areas. According to recent studies, wind turbines are observed to be among the largest killers of birds in many regions of the world, where they are applied. Solar Energy This is the use of sunlight to generate electricity which can be used for lighting, heating, and cooling purposes in our homes. As it would be observed, solar energy, which comes from the sun, is a significant source of energy, since it influences all the other forms of renewable energy in a number of ways. For instance, heat and light from the sun plays a crucial role in the growth of plants which can in turn be used for the generation of biomass energy. More importantly, solar heat also plays a key role in evaporation and precipitation cycles which are essential for the generation of hydropower. A good example of popular solar energy resources is the Copper Mountain Solar Facility, situated in Nevada, near Boulder City. The facility caters for different energy needs in the area including lighting and heating purposes. A less percentage of solar energy is used to meet various energy needs in the contemporary world, compared to other renewable sources. However, this attitude is likely to take a different course, considering the rapid developments of efficient and reliable solar technologies. Advantages of Solar Energy Resources Solar energy can be associated with minimal en vironmental impacts. Just like the wind power, solar energy is absolutely free. Solar systems are durable and they don’t require any form of maintenance or repair. Solar energy industry has created jobs for many people allover the world. Another impressive aspect about the solar energy sector is that, modern solar systems are designed for particular needs and this makes it a diverse source of energy in different areas of operation. Disadvantages of Solar Energy Resources Solar energy has a high unreliability factor, since solar light is only available during the day. Solar energy is highly inefficiency since it produces minimal levels of electricity. Installation of solar energy systems can be costly, and this is one common limitation about the development of the systems in many parts of the world. Another outstanding limitation of solar energy is that, solar panels are bulky. Water Energy/ Hydro Power This is a form of energy which is generated by the powerful force of fl owing water. Water flowing downstream is used to drive power wheels or turbines beneath the water surface to generate mechanical processes that are capable of producing electricity. Water is arguably the most common source of energy in most parts of the world, due to its efficient and reliability. Examples of major Hydro Powers include the Aswan High Dam in Egypt and The Grand Coulee Dam in Washington, USA. Advantages of Hydro Power Resources Hydro Power is the least expensive source of energy for many people in the contemporary world. There is no air pollution or emission of greenhouse gases in Hydro Power generation. Storage of pumped hydro power energy is possible. Hydro Power has a high load factor compared with other energy resources. This source of energy is much reliable compared to other renewable energy resources. Hydro Power Plants are observed to have a relatively longer life compared to Nuclear Power Plants. Disadvantages of Hydro Power Resources Construction of dams for Hydro Power generations has been linked increased earthquake vulnerability in some countries. Hydro Power comes with high risks of dam failure and/or tail risks. Fishes and wildlife are likely to be affected as a result of water and ecological destruction for purposes of hydroelectric generation. There is always a possibility of displacement and loss of livelihood for many people, as land is acquired for construction of Hydro Power stations. Construction of dams and Hydro Power stations is expensive. Biomass Power This refers to the form of energy which is obtained from plant material. Biomass is either used for direct heating or burning of wood to generate electricity energy, or is converted into liquid fuels to cater for massive fuel needs in the transportation sector. Biomass power is observed to be the second important renewable energy source in the US. One of the major biomass plants in the US is the Tracey Biomass Plant, located in California. This plant supplies for vari ous energy needs in the region. It has been predicted that, growing and cultivation of high-yielding energy plants can significantly help in the development of biomass energy resources in the world. These, coupled with modern high-efficient technologies in the energy sector can supplement the global consumption of non-renewable forms of energy such as fossils, thus helping to address the progressive issue of global warming. Advantages of Biomass Power Resources Biomass is a comparatively lesser polluting form of producing energy and fuel. Apart from energy, Biomass also provides manure for farming purposes. This is a much reliable and a relatively cheaper source of energy for home use. Biomass is renewable. Biomass is more cost effective compared to other sources of renewable and non-renewable energy. Growth of biomass plants helps in cleaning the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and releasing oxygen to the air. There is a high potential to generate biomass energ y in many parts of the world, since plant matter is readily available everywhere. This source of energy also plays a significant role in maintaining cleanliness as well as in reducing disposal costs in towns and villages. Disadvantages of Biomass Power Resources Biomass is reserved for the rich, since the cost of erecting a biogas plant is relatively high. Biogas plants and residue normally produces bad smells, which may be uncomfortable to many people. Construction of biogas plants requires great expertise, and many biogas plants end up operating in an efficient way, due to improper construction. Constant supply of biomass is essential for continuous generation of energy. Transportation and storage of biomass power through pipe system over long distances is quite difficult. Storage of biogas energy in cylinders is not easy. Geothermal Energy Resources This is the production of heat and electricity using the natural sources of heat found within the earth’s surface. In most cases, geothermal energy is produced using hot water or steam erupting from the ground. Geothermal energy can also be obtained through drilling, whereby deep underground reservoirs are accessed for generation of energy. There are various geothermal technologies that are currently in use in most parts of the world, and these would include; geothermal heat pumps, direct-use systems, and the use of deep reservoirs to generate energy in form of electricity. Utah Geothermal Plant, located in Beaver County is one of the oldest and popular geothermal plants in the US. Advantages of Geothermal Energy Resources Geothermal energy significantly reduces reliance of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources of energy. It is an effective way of saving energy costs. It generates clean energy which is free from pollution. This source of energy is associated with immense economic benefits, since it plays a crucial role in creation of employment opportunities. Geothermal energy is more efficie nt, since it can be used directly for home and office-related tasks. Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy Resources Drilling of geothermal energy is often associated with hazardous and poisonous gases. Most of the geothermal plants are far from specific areas such as big cities and town, where it is highly needed. Steam power installation is expensive and costly. Generation of geothermal energy is obviously too small to cater for energy needs of the people in the surrounding regions. Among other hazardous risks, generation of geothermal energy is known to pose serious dangers of volcano eruptions. This essay on The Concept of Energy was written and submitted by user Gia H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

ACT in 10th Grade

Should You Start Prepping for the SAT/ACT in 10th Grade SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Being successful on the SAT and ACT is all about the preparation you put into it.While you probably knowit'sa myth to think you can't study for these tests, you might not realize that the reverse is true - studying is exceptionally important for doing well on the SAT or ACT. That's why it's a really smart idea to prepfor the SAT/ACT as a sophomore. Let's talk about why prep is so important for these tests, what you can do in 10th grade, and what your most helpful study schedule should look like over the school year and beyond. First, when will you be taking the SAT or ACT? When Should You Take the SAT/ACT? When you should prep has a lot to do with when you're planning to take the SAT or ACT. Typically, many students choose to take the SAT or ACT for the first time in the fall of junior year. That way they can take it again in the spring of junior year to improve their scores. If they still have room for improvement, they can take it again in the fall of senior year. Since your college deadlines are probably in the fall or winter of senior year, that last test would be your last chance to improve your scores. That can put a lot of pressure on those three test dates. If you want to leave yourself more available test dates to improve your scores, or even get the tests over with before senior year, you might choose to take the SAT or ACT even earlier, like in the fall or spring of sophomore year. Whether you take the SAT/ACT for the first time as a sophomore or junior, you definitely want to take advantage of sophomore year and the summer after to prep for the SAT/ACT. At least 40 hours of test prep is a good idea to start, but working your way up to 100 or more hours of test prep will really benefit you and help you reach your target scores. Rather than pushing this off and cramming in the weeks before your first date, you'll be best served byspreading out this test prep over the course of sophomore year. Let's take a closer look at why prep is so important for these tests. Prep and the SAT/ACT The SAT/ACT are probably not like any tests you take in high school. While they relate to the skills and knowledge you've developed in your classes, like reading comprehension, math, and writing, they are unique in the way they word questions, present information, and impose strict time limits. These two tests also have some key differencesfrom each other. Focused test prep with official sample questions will help you in a number of ways, as well as raise your score hundreds of points above what it would be if you took the tests without prior studying. You can use SAT and ACT Questions of the Day, download official SAT and ACT practice tests, and try sample SAT and ACT online practice questions. PrepScholar customizes its online test prep for students at all grade levels and helps you with weekly progress reports and the added option of a one-on-one tutor. Finally, many students also use SAT books and ACT books to review concepts and try practice questions. Studyingwill help you master the content, learn vital time management skills, and identify and drill your weaknesses. All of this takes months to accomplish successfully, so the time to prep is sophomore year, if not even earlier. Let's go through what it takes to do really well on these tests. Prep to master the content. Master the Content As mentioned above, the SAT and ACTare unique in their timing and the way they word questions. Luckily, there's a ton of information out there explaining the content and format of the tests. By familiarizing yourself with the tests, you can know specificallyhow many Critical Reading questions you'll answer in how many minutes or exactly what you need to know for the ACT Science section. If you prep for 2 to 3 hours a week throughout sophomore year, then you'll be able to review the concepts, apply them to practice problems, and fix any patterns of mistakes or confusion. Besides reviewing content, test prep will also help you answer questions quickly and efficiently over time. Take Control of Time Besides the often tricky, unique wording and material on the tests, they also are challenging because of their strict time limits. You probably aren't accustomed to having such short time for math, reading, or writing. That's why taking practice tests under timed conditions can help you get better and better at pacing and answering questions both quickly and thoroughly. You can learn and try out the best techniques for drafting an SAT essay in only 25 minutes, or learn the best approaches to read and answer questions on 4 ACT Reading passages in only 35 minutes. As you prep throughout sophomore year, take the time to sit for a practice test under simulated timed conditions. Sit in a quiet space with no distractions, and make sure to abide by your time limits. Try out different strategies and figure out what works for you. As you determine your best strategies, you can also be on the lookout for your strengths and weaknesses. Assess Your Strengths All of the skills tested on the SAT and ACT take time to pinpoint and develop. Plus goodstudying involves a certain amount of self-reflection. Ask yourself, What am I good at? Where are my weaknesses? Do I keep getting tripped up over dangling modifiers, or do properties of triangles confuse me every time? Once you've taken the time to identify your areas of improvement, you can make sure to fill in any knowledge gaps and drill them with practice problems. Because this kind of thorough prep takes time and effort to undertake, it's definitely a good ideato start sophomore year. You won't be caught up in the rest of the college process, and you probably won't have a caseload of as challenging classes as you take junior year.Plus if you're taking the SAT/ACT in the fall of junior year, you don't want to walk into totally unprepared. A really low first score could look bad to colleges if you have to send them all your score reports, plus it could raise red flags to the College Board/ACT. Putting off preparing for a test only leads to more stress and pressure later on. Instead of procrastinating, you can get started on test prep now in 10th grade when it's not so urgent and you can take a more relaxed approach. Not only will prepping for the SAT/ACT help you perform well on the tests and not get overwhelmed in th grade, it also will likely reinforce your understanding of and dedication to your 10th grade classes. Let's take a look at how the SAT/ACT are connected to your sophomore year classes. Excel inYour 10th Grade Classes While these tests are unique, they do test a lot of the material you're learning in 10th grade. If you're in algebra or geometry, for example, both of those subjects will be on the tests. You also are almost certainly reading and analyzing works from various genres in English classes, as well as mastering the 5 paragraph persuasive essay. Practicing these skills in the context of the SAT/ACT could kill two birds with one stone. You'll reinforce your understanding in your classes, while at the same time get yourself prepared for these important tests. You could also try to get a headstart on concepts you'll tackle junior year. For instance, the ACT covers some trigonometry. By reviewing these concepts and trying practice problems, you'll be ready to dive into a trigonometry class in th grade. Preparing for the SAT/ACT in 10th grade will allow you to feel ready and confident when you take the test, likely in the fall of junior year. While I've touched on the reasons prep is so important, I'll also suggest a plan of attack for accomplishing all this - mastering the content, managing your time, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and reinforcing the lessons you learn in class. Sophomore Year Plan of Action So you know prep is important, and you have a sense of when you're going to take your first SAT or ACT. How can you design a sufficient study plan, and how can you make sure you stick to it? At the bare bones minimum, students should devote at least ten hours of prep before taking the SAT or ACT. However, this won't give you much more than a basic familiarity with the format and timing of the test. As mentioned above, 40 hours is a good baseline for reviewing concepts, but 100+ hours will get you deeper into content and your own strengths and weaknesses. There are about 40 weeks in the school year, so if you are able to devote 2 to 3 hours of test prep a week, then you'll easily meet this goal of 100 hours. Of course, this depends on how busy your schedule is. Other students prefer to start slow, with an hour here or there, and thenramp up their test prep at the end of sophomore year and over the summer. This can work if you have extra free time over the summer and are able to keep up the discipline to study during summer vacation. The best way to stick to your study plan is to make it a part of your routine. Setting aside a specific time for test prep on a certain day every week and writing it down in your assignment notebook or planner will help you make it a habit. Plus an added benefit is that your time will really add up. Instead of getting overwhelmed with a ton of test prep at the last minute, you'll slowly build up your skills and knowledge and be able to approach the tests with confidence. To Sum Up... Sophomore year is the time for test prep. Most students take their first SAT/ACT in the fall of junior year. Since these tests require a good deal of prep to do well on, you can spread out your prep over the course of 10th grade and the following summer. Take the time to review concepts, keep up in class, and make SAT/ACT prep a part of your routine. Instead of procrastinating and running out of time, do Future You a favor and put in the effort now to meet your goals later. Dedication and commitment to your goals will help you improve on the SAT/ACT, as well as grow in otheraspects of your academic and personal life. What's Next? The best SAT and ACT practice questions come straight from the source. Download official SAT practice tests here and ACT tests here. Are you also taking the PSAT? We've collected free PSAT practice test pdfs for you to download and use for test prep. Are you aiming to become a National Merit Semifinalist or Semifinalist? Read how you can qualify for these outstanding distinctions here and here. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 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:

Friday, November 22, 2019

Definition and Examples of Agents in English Grammar

Definition and Examples of Agents in English Grammar In  contemporary  English grammar, the agent is the noun phrase or pronoun that identifies the person or thing which  initiates or performs an action in a sentence. Adjective:  agentive. Also called actor. In a sentence in the active voice, the agent is usually (but not always) the subject (Omar selected the winners). In a sentence in the passive voice, the agent- if identified at all- is usually the object of the  preposition  by (The winners were selected by Omar).The relationship of the subject and verb is called agency. The person or thing that receives an action in a sentence is called the recipient or patient (roughly equivalent to the traditional concept of object). Etymology From the Latin agere, to set in motion, drive forward;  to do Example and Observations Broadly the term [agent] can be used in relation to both transitive and intransitive verbs. . . . Thus the old lady is the agent both in The old lady swallowed a fly  (which can be described in terms of actor-action-goal), and in The fly was swallowed by the old lady. The term can also be applied to the subject of an intransitive verb (e.g. Little Tommy Tucker sings for his supper).The term clearly makes more sense when restricted to a doer who, in a real sense, initiates an action, than when applied to the subject of some mental process verb (e.g. She didnt like it) or of a verb of being (e.g. She was old). Some analysts, therefore, restrict the term, and would not apply it to the noun phrase the old lady if her action was unintentional and involuntary.(Bas Aarts, Sylvia Chalker, and Edmund Weiner,  The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2014)   The Semantic Roles of Agents and Patients Though semantic roles influence the grammar profoundly, they are not primarily grammatical categories. . . . [F]or example, if in some imagined world (which may or may not correspond to objective reality), someone named Waldo paints a barn, then Waldo is acting as the AGENT (the initiator and controller) and the barn is the PATIENT (the affected participant) of the painting event, regardless of whether any observer ever utters a clause like Waldo painted the barn to describe that event.(Thomas E. Payne, Understanding English Grammar. Cambridge University Press, 2011) Subject and Agents Sentences in which the grammatical subject is not the agent are common. For instance, in the following examples the subjects are not agents because the verbs do not describe an action: My son has a very good memory for songs; This lecture was a bit special; It belongs to her mum and dad.(Michael Pearce, The Routledge Dictionary of English Language Studies. Routledge, 2007) Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch.(W. C. Fields, You Cant Cheat an Honest Man, 1939)Man serves the interests of no creature except himself.(George Orwell, Animal Farm, 1945)I write entirely to find out what Im thinking, what Im looking at, what I see and what it means.(Joan Didion, Why I Write. The New York Times Book Review, December 6, 1976)Mr. Slump hit the horses twice with a willow branch.(Grace Stone Coates, Wild Plums. Frontier, 1929)Henry Dobbins, who was  a big man, carried extra rations; he was especially fond of canned peaches in heavy syrup over pound cake.(Tim OBrien, The Things They Carried.  Houghton Mifflin,  1990)When I was two years old my father took me  down to the beach in New Jersey, carried me into the surf until the waves were crashing onto his chest, and then threw me in like a dog, to see, I suppose, whether I would sink or float.(Pam Houston,  Waltzing the Cat.  Norton, 1997)  Early in the  20th century,  parasols of lace lined   with chiffon or silk, or in chiffon and moirà © silk often matching the dress, with exquisite handles of gold, silver, carved ivory or wood with jeweled knobs, were carried by women.(Joan Nunn,  Fashion in Costume, 1200-2000, 2nd ed. New Amsterdam Books, 2000)   Walter was kicked by a mule. The Invisible Agent in Passive Constructions In many situations, . . . the purpose of the passive is simply to avoid mentioning the agent:It was reported today that the federal funds to be allocated for the power plant would not be forthcoming as early as had been anticipated. Some contracts on the preliminary work have been canceled and others renegotiated.Such officialese or bureaucratese takes on a nonhuman quality because the agent role has completely disappeared from the sentences. In the foregoing example, the reader does not know who is reporting, allocating, anticipating, canceling, or renegotiating.   (Martha Kolln and Robert Funk, Understanding English Grammar. Allyn and Bacon, 1998)The function served by a passive- that of defocusing an agent  (Shibatani 1985)- is useful in a variety of circumstances. The agents identity my be unknown, irrelevant, or best concealed (as when Floyd merely says The glass was broken). Often the agent is generalized or undifferentiated (e.g. The environment is being seriously degraded ). Whatever the reason, defocusing the agent leaves the theme as the only, and thus the primary, focal participant. (Ronald W. Langacker, Cognitive Grammar: A Basic Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2008) Pronunciation: A-jent

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Admission eassy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Admission eassy - Essay Example My vision is to provide accurate and professional work to clients. Additionally, I hope to be an internationally recognized professional and gain autonomy through offering high quality professional work that commands respect and trustworthy. Moreover, I also seek to provide both short-term and long-term solutions to my clients. Since I am an accounting major, I have great inspiration on receiving a Master’s degree in the same field. Moreover, I will be getting the skills in management and control. This has made me realize that I can do so much more with the accounting knowledge that I have within my folds. It has made me feel equipped, confident, and secure in the knowledge that the already acquired pool of knowledge in diverse fields will be put to use. My future is secured if I gain the much-needed Master’s within my folds. For my short-term plans, I wish to take the CPA exams so that my future work manifestations facilitate the experience that I have gained thus far. This will put me in a better stead than where I am at presently. It will make sure that I am in top of my educational and professional levels, which I have always thought for my own self. The most basic purpose of gaining the Master’s degree would be to let me know that I am at par with what I have planned for myself and how I need to equip myself to handle the challenges of the overwhelmingly increasing challenges and demands of modern professional field. It will make sure that I am able to merge both my experience and knowledge to good purpose because it is a much-needed proposition at the end of the day. My father has an accounting firm and a furniture store to manage. I wish to join him in the near future and be instrumental in pushing the family business to greater heights. One of my long- term plans is to be the CEO of our family business as I also endeavor, as I said before, to provide accounting and financing consulting services. I

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Anlysising the hole in the wall story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Anlysising the hole in the wall story - Essay Example This meant that the husband would take a break from his university lecturing job so as to relocate (Barrett 4). What depressed mostly falls under the state at which they lived in Brooklyn. The state portrayed the â€Å"living in the projects†. This meant that some appliances were not in proper shape, no hot water and no means to prepare meals; hence they showered in public pools and ate at local restaurants. They had no television, no mail boxes; no telephone lines; no lightings in the restroom and many thousand other things. A remorseful trickle of power flowed through an orange annex cord linked from a neighboring house (Barrett 7). At the stroke of eight, each morning, the diverse people came and started working loudly everywhere immediately. In conclusion, the significance of the hole in the wall portrays itself where the house had a large hole that the industry next to it could be seen clearly through the hole when seated in the house. This was a sign of abject poverty as the house that had a hole was next to an industry, the aspect of poverty was so severe that the industry and all activities that were conducted in it could be seen as one sat in the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Private School vs Public School Essay Example for Free

Private School vs Public School Essay Many public school facilities are impressive others are mediocre. The same is true of private schools. In the public school system, the twin engines of political support and economic revenue base are critical. In private schools the ability to attract endowments and other forms of financial support are just as critical. Private school facilities reflect the success of the schools development team and that of the school to continue to generate alumni support. Some private K-12 schools have facilities and amenities which surpass those found at many colleges and universities. Hotchkiss and Andover, for example, have libraries and athletic facilities on a par with those at Brown and Cornell. They also offer academic and sports programs which make full use of all those resources. It is hard to find comparable facilities in the public sector. They are few and far between. Public schools also reflect the economic realities of their location. Wealthy suburban schools will have more amenities than inner city schools as a rule. Think Greenwich, Connecticut versus Detroit, Michigan, for example. So, who has the edge? Lets call it a draw, all things considered. Class Size: According to the NCES report Private Schools: A Brief Portrait private schools win out on this issue. Why? Most private schools have small class sizes. One of the key points of private education is individual attention. You need student to teacher ratios of 15:1 or better to achieve that goal of individual attention. On the other hand a public system has to take almost anyone who lives within its boundaries. In public schools you will generally find much larger class sizes, sometimes exceeding 35-40 students in some inner city schools. At that point teaching rapidly degenerates into babysitting. Teaching: Public sector teachers are generally better paid. Naturally compensation varies widely depending on the local economic situation. Put another way, its cheaper living in Duluth, Minnesota than it is in San Francisco. Unfortunately low starting salaries and small annual salary increases result in low teacher retention in many public school districts. Public sector benefits have historically been excellent; however, health and pension costs have risen so dramatically since 2000 that public educators will be forced to pay or pay more for their benefits. Private school compensation tends to be somewhat lower than public. Again, much depends on the school and its financial resources. One private school benefit found especially in boarding schools is housing and meals. Private school pension schemes vary widely. Many schools use major pension providers such as TIAA-CREF Both public and private schools require their teachers to be credentialed. This usually means a degree and a teaching certificate. Private schools tend to hire teachers with advanced degrees in their subject over teachers who have an education degree. Put another way, a private school hiring a Spanish teacher will want that teacher to have a degree in Spanish language and literature as opposed to an education degree with a minor in Spanish. Budgets: Since local property taxes support the bulk of public education, the annual school budget exercise is a serious fiscal and political business. In poor communities or communities which have many voters living on fixed incomes, there is precious little room to respond to budget requests within the framework of projected tax revenue. Grants from foundations and the business community are essential to creative funding. Private schools on the other hand can raise tuition, and they also can raise significant amounts of money from a variety of development activities, including annual appeals, cultivation of alumni and alumnae, and solicitation of grants from foundations and corporations. The strong allegiance to private schools by their alumni makes the chances of fund-raising success a real possibility in most cases. Administrative Support: The bigger the bureaucracy, the harder it is to get decisions made at all, much less get them made quickly. The public education system is notorious for having antiquated work rules and bloated bureaucracies. This is as a result of union contracts and host of political considerations. Private schools on the other hand generally have a lean management structure. Every dollar spent has to come from operating income and endowment income. Those resources are finite. The other difference is that private schools rarely have teacher unions to deal with. Advantages and disadvantages: There are many advantages and disadvantages to both public and private schools. As a parent, both options must be explored and the choice must be based on what is right for each particular child. Public schools often have a larger variety of subjects available, especially when it comes to electives. However, what is learned is somewhat decided by the state because public schools need to do well on standardized testing. Private schools, on the other hand, whether parochial or private have much more freedom of choice in curriculum and can choose to make their own assessments. Because of the individualized instruction, private schools tend to do generally better on standardized testing, that is, if they choose to use it. Private schools, many times, have more demanding curricula and have a higher rate of students who go on to attend college. Public schools are larger and also have larger class sizes. Public schools also have larger student-teacher ratios. According to a web site called Public School Review, Private schools average 13 students per teacher, compared with an average of 16 students per teacher in public schools (public school review). However, public schools have certified teachers. Private schools typically have teachers who are not state-certified and who may not have expertise in their subject matter. The biggest difference between public and private schools probably is that public schools are required to educate all students. They cannot deny any student admission. On the other hand, private schools have complete control about which they accept and can kick students out much more easily. Public schools are funded by tax revenue whereas private schools are funded privately. That means private schools cost money to attend called tuition. Taxpayers pay for public schools so the payment is included in what people pay. However in private schools, the payment is upfront for students to attend. Overall, there is no one right answer for which kind of school a student attends-public or private. The decision must be made for each individual student as there are advantages and disadvantages of both. Comparisons: Private school can be more beneficial than going to a public school. Private schools focus on preparing students for the next level of education; public schools are focused on test preparations sessions. Choosing the right school system for your child has a repercussion towards their future education. In the public school system the classrooms are overcrowded with students. Each class has an average of 27 to 30 students to it, which can limit the ability of one on one interaction with the teacher. A lot of the bullying issues come from the unstructured dress codes. This can create social divide to the less fortunate kids that can’t afford all the name brand items. In public school teachers are quick to say your child needs to be on medication if they are high strung, without knowing what other forms of issues might be occurring in the home. When parents try to discipline their child at home the school seems to always try to step in. Some things should be up to the parents to handle without haven to worry about the school stepping in. In the private school system when a child enters the school for the first time he or she will start out with a minimal class size with no more than 20 students. This allows more one on one time with the teacher, it also opens up more time for activities. The private school has a very strictly enforced dress code to eliminate animosity between the students. The schools are very family oriented with parents and students being involved with school activities. Teachers and parents are held to higher standards from the private schools. Teachers are expected to continue to grow and parents are obligated to maintain discipline of their children even in their absence. The testing that takes place at private schools is called Terra Nova, and kids are tested two or three times a year. Conclusion So, who comes out on top? Public schools or private schools As you can see, there are no clear-cut answers or conclusions. Public schools have their advantages and disadvantages. Private schools offer an alternative. Which works best for you? Thats the real question which you have to answer.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Social Security Essay -- Welfare Politics Essays

Social Security "On a daily basis senior citizens face a choice between buying food, paying the rent, or buying medicine. Senior citizens slice pills into halves because they can't afford their full prescriptions." (Federal News Service Sept. 2002) Social Security is what keeps many elderly and disabled Americans from being stricken by poverty. Without Social Security in our society 15.3 million elderly would have incomes below the poverty line, however after Social Security was added to the equation only 3.8 million elderly have incomes below poverty. Three-fourths of those elderly people who would have been poor without Social Security were removed from below the poverty line by Social Security. Nearly 90 percent of America's elderly are lifted from poverty by Social Security. Currently nearly 44 million Americans receive benefits under Social Security, making it one of the nation's largest anti-poverty programs existing today. Although many Americans are also not helped by Social Security and linger at the fringes of society because the money is not enough to live in America today, even with Social Security adjusting to inflation. Today, the average Social Security benefit is less than $10,000 a year, and for women the average benefit is closer to $9,000. For most seniors, especially those who live in high-cost areas such as my home state of New Jersey, that's barely enough to maintain even a basic standard of living. Unfortunately 11.9% of Americans who receive Social Security are still below poverty level. It's shocking that over ten-percent of a country of 281 million people can have that much of its citizens in poverty. (http://www.cbpp.org/4-8-99socsec.htm) However c... ...ll. The biggest part of privatization is letting the person decide how to invest their Social Security since it is given to them to be invested, rather than put in a private account after being taken from the person's paycheck as is the current government policy. Americans could then invest in stocks, corporate bonds, government bonds, money market funds, and annuities. The Republican Party then goes further to say there is less risk and makes many more Americans feel "safer". Although there are risks in everything we do. Bibliography  · http://www.cbpp.org/4-8-99socsec.htm  · Socialsecuritychoice.org  · The New York Times Company, October 10, 2002; New York Section: Section A, Page 30, Column 1  · U.S. Newswire Inc., October 8, 2002 Section: National Desk  · Federal News Service Inc., September 24, 2002 Section: Press Conference or Speech

Monday, November 11, 2019

Festival Season in Malaysia

Lim Chin Pei Title: Festival Season in Malaysia Malaysia is one of the countries in the world which have multi-racial. Although Malaysia has the most races of citizens in the universe, the Malaysia’s residents can live together peacefully. The ethnics of citizens in Malaysia are Malayan (Muslims), Chinese, Indian (Hindu), Iban, Kadazan and etc. Between, the three major ethnics are Malayan, Chinese and Indian in Malaysia. Because of the multi-racial of Malaysia, there are also many festive season in Malaysia. Malaysia also is the country which has the most festive season in the world.The most interested things are all of the races in Malaysia can celebrate the festival together. The main festival celebrate by the Muslims is the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. The Hari Raya Aidil Fitri are also known as Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya Puasa is celebrated on the first day of the Muslim month of Syawal. The month in Muslim calender before Hari Raya Puasa is the month of Ramadhan. In the month o f Ramadhan, Muslims are not allowed to intake the foods and drinks from sunrise to sunset which is from 7am to 7pm.When the first day of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, the Malayans are go praying in mosque. After that, follow by visit the graves of family members and later parties in evening with relatives and friends. The Muslims also will serve the friends in the parties with delicacies. This tradition is known as the â€Å"open houses†. The other races also are welcome to the Muslims house celebrate the Hari Raya Puasa together to increase the racial relationships. Besides, other festivals of Malays are Awal Muharam, Hari Raya Haji etc.Chinese New Year is the main festival that celebrated by Chinese. Chinese New Year is the first festive season celebrated in every year after the 1st of January New Year. The Chinese New Year is celebrated 15 days which started from the first day of a year in Chinese Lunar calendar. Each year is denoted by one of the 12 animals as depicted by the Ch inese Zodiac. Every Chinese house will be marked in red color of lights, the â€Å"luck† and â€Å"prosperity† mark. Before the first day of Chinese New Year, the Chinese will gathering and eat dinner â€Å"Tuan Yuan Fan† with their families.In the first day of Chinese New Year, the Chinese also will have open house to let the relatives and friends visit. The friends of Chinese originated from other ethnics are also allowed to visit. An Ang Pow will be given by the elders to the youngsters who singles. In tradition, Chinese will play firecrackers, because of the dangerous of firecrackers, the firecrackers are prohibited. Other than Chinese New Year, the tradition festivals of Malaysia’s Chinese are Ching Ming, Wesak Day, Hungry Ghost Festival, The Moon Festival, Nine Emperor Gods Festivals and others.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Did Alexander II deserve the title Tsar Liberator? Essay

A liberator is defined as someone who releases people from captivity or bondage. For Alexander II to deserve the title of Tsar Liberator he would have to have released the Russian people from bondage. In 1861 Alexander II passed the Ukase of the emancipation of the serfs, which saw the freeing of 40 million serfs. Whilst in theory this was a good idea in practice things didn’t work out as planned as there was no structure to how the process was carried out. The change came about for the wrong reasons instead of emancipating the serfs for the growth of industry in Russia, Alexander did it out of fear that if he didn’t abolish it from above it would be destroyed from below; he was simply trying to protect his autocracy. The emancipation was flawed, serfs were given plots of land that were 20% smaller than what they needed just to feed their family, they were expected to earn their own money selling the produce they had grown but they had no idea how to and were given no help. Serfs were also expected to pay for the plots of land they had been given over the course of 49 years; the average life expectancy was around 40 years so the debt was passed down through the family. As the population of Russia increased the size of land the serfs were given became smaller and smaller and so people were finding it increasingly difficult to be able to grow enough food to feed their family and have enough produce left over to sell in order to make loan repayments. Whilst Alexander II did in theory liberate the serfs they were still bound through the repayment of debt, so he would be unworthy of the title tsar liberator as he never truly released them. In 1864 Alexander II introduced a more modern western style legal system. This included the introduction of judges that could not be swayed by bribery, juries and courts. For the first time Russians were offered the chance of a fair trial, and a considerable freedom of expression. It was thought that due to this reform the court room became the only place in Russia that real freedom of speech prevailed. However any political cases were removed from courts and the Tsar’s secret police could still arrest people at will. This was a big step forward for Russia and does contribute to Alexander II deserving the title Tsar Liberator, but the reform was limited because not all cases could be taken to court, and the Tsar was still using his secret police to arrest whoever he liked. Next local government reforms that saw the introduction of Zemstavs and the Dumas that held local power over public health, prisons, roads, agriculture and education. This provided new opportunities for local political participation. But there were still imitations as the Tsar’s word was still law and he could overrule the Zemstavs any time he wanted, the Zemstav was not a equal representation of the public as it was made up of mainly gentry so peasants were not able to have their say, and the Zemstav was often short of money making them open to bribes from influential people. This reform would not earn Alexander II the title of Tsar Liberator, because although it was a good idea and a step towards liberating the public and letting them have their say, the system put in place was corrupt and was not an accurate representation of the population, therefore it did not liberate very many people and the Tsar still had an over ruling power in order to protect his autocracy. Alexander reformed the army in order to modernize and strengthen it. He reduced the length of conscription from 25 years to 6 years and introduced universal military service for all males over 20. This meant that people were becoming more skilled and disciplined and would have time to use these new found skills in the world outside of the army. By drastically cutting the length of conscription Alexander made being a part of the army less of a life sentence, thus releasing the Russian people. This action would make him worthy of the title Tsar Liberator as it left the Russian people free to experience life outside of the army. Censorship was relaxed and education policies became more liberal, meaning that university students were now able to learn about life outside of Russia and leave Russia in order to study. This liberated Russian scholars as they were able to learn about other places and about their governments and philosophy, but it caused an increase in student radicalism, and political instability. This in some cases lead to riots. This was liberating in the sense that it Russian became aware of a life outside of Russia, where allowed to talk about what was happening elsewhere and were able to leave Russia to study elsewhere. This would make Alexander II worthy of the title Tsar Liberator. Alexander II did not deserve the title of ‘Tsar Liberator’ because whilst some of his reforms could be seen as liberating the Russian public he was simply finding a new way to have a hold over them for example through debt. To truly be ‘Tsar Liberator’ Alexander would have had to give the public more of a say in how the county was ran, doing this would have destroyed his autocracy, which is something he was not willing to do.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on Homeless

In the article, â€Å"Are the Homeless Crazy,† from the book, Rachel and Her Children, which was published in 1988, Jonathan Kozol challenges the widely accepted claim that homelessness is a result of deinstitutionalization that took place in the 1970s. Jonathan states that â€Å"those who work among the homeless† believe the principal cause of homelessness is economic, due to the shortage of low income housing, and wages to lease them. They cite decreasing welfare benefits to families with children, and the lack of entry-level jobs to justify their claim. Jonathan further explains that every year low income housing units are being converted to condominiums and office buildings, an effect of the â€Å"accelerated gentrification of our major cities,† while the families in the remaining units are being charged more rent, forcing many into the streets. He indicates the results of a study published by the Massachusetts Medical Society, that mental illness only ac counts for 12% of the illnesses among the homeless, excluding alcohol and drug abuse. He believes that mental illness in the United States bears a â€Å"stigma,† that society assumes the homeless are mentally ill because it is easier for us to blame the problem on an uncontrollable mental illness then to accept responsibility and try to help, and we do not want to feel guilty for renting or purchasing those newly renovated condominiums. Jonathan argues that mental illness does not make people homeless that being homeless make people mentally ill. He gives an example of a woman protesting the eviction from her home, on a Manhattan traffic island who was ridiculed as a â€Å"paranoid in the street,† by a reporter, who lacked any psychiatric training, and yet no one offered to help her. Jonathan thinks that we are too hesitant to judge, he points out that some psychiatrists believe that not showing anger, after being evicted, would be a greater illness. He concludes t hat politicians... Free Essays on Homeless Free Essays on Homeless In the article, â€Å"Are the Homeless Crazy,† from the book, Rachel and Her Children, which was published in 1988, Jonathan Kozol challenges the widely accepted claim that homelessness is a result of deinstitutionalization that took place in the 1970s. Jonathan states that â€Å"those who work among the homeless† believe the principal cause of homelessness is economic, due to the shortage of low income housing, and wages to lease them. They cite decreasing welfare benefits to families with children, and the lack of entry-level jobs to justify their claim. Jonathan further explains that every year low income housing units are being converted to condominiums and office buildings, an effect of the â€Å"accelerated gentrification of our major cities,† while the families in the remaining units are being charged more rent, forcing many into the streets. He indicates the results of a study published by the Massachusetts Medical Society, that mental illness only ac counts for 12% of the illnesses among the homeless, excluding alcohol and drug abuse. He believes that mental illness in the United States bears a â€Å"stigma,† that society assumes the homeless are mentally ill because it is easier for us to blame the problem on an uncontrollable mental illness then to accept responsibility and try to help, and we do not want to feel guilty for renting or purchasing those newly renovated condominiums. Jonathan argues that mental illness does not make people homeless that being homeless make people mentally ill. He gives an example of a woman protesting the eviction from her home, on a Manhattan traffic island who was ridiculed as a â€Å"paranoid in the street,† by a reporter, who lacked any psychiatric training, and yet no one offered to help her. Jonathan thinks that we are too hesitant to judge, he points out that some psychiatrists believe that not showing anger, after being evicted, would be a greater illness. He concludes t hat politicians...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

30 English Words Borrowed from Dutch

30 English Words Borrowed from Dutch 30 English Words Borrowed from Dutch 30 English Words Borrowed from Dutch By Mark Nichol During much of the 1600s, the Netherlands was a world power, especially at sea, and this influence contributed to the English language in the form of borrowings from Dutch into English of various nautically and aquatically themed words. Here’s a list of many of these terms (a few of which were adopted from, or may derive from cognates in, other languages) and their definitions and their Dutch origins. 1. avast (â€Å"stop†): from hou vast, meaning â€Å"hold fast† 2. bow (â€Å"front of a ship†): from boeg (or from Old German or Old Norse) 3. brackish (â€Å"salty†): from brac (or a Low German cognate), meaning â€Å"salty† 4. buoy (â€Å"marker† or, as a verb, â€Å"mark with a buoy† or â€Å"keep afloat†): from buoy, ultimately from the Latin word boia, meaning â€Å"shackle† 5. caboose (â€Å"the last car on a freight train, used for the accommodation for the train’s crew†): from kabuis or kombuis, meaning â€Å"galley,† or â€Å"ship’s kitchen† 6. commodore (â€Å"senior captain† or â€Å"naval officer above a captain in rank†): probably from kommandeur, ultimately from the Old French word comandeor, meaning â€Å"commander† 7. cruiser (â€Å"warship larger than a destroyer but smaller than a battleship,† or â€Å"pleasure motorboat†): from kruisen (related to kruis, meaning â€Å"cross†), meaning â€Å"sail across or go through† 8. deck (â€Å"any of various floors of a ship†): from dek, meaning â€Å"covering† 9. dock (â€Å"mooring structure for vessels† or, as a verb â€Å"tie up at a dock†): from docke, meaning â€Å"pier† 10. dredge (â€Å"riverbed or seabed scoop† or, as a verb, â€Å"drag† or â€Å"scoop†): perhaps based on dregghe, meaning â€Å"dragnet† 11. freebooter (â€Å"pirate†): from vrijbuiter, meaning â€Å"robber†; the second half of the word is related to booty, also derived from Dutch 12. freight (â€Å"shipped goods† or, as a verb, â€Å"ship goods†): from a word variously spelled fraght, vracht, and vrecht and meaning â€Å"water transport†; the Dutch word is also the source of fraught, meaning â€Å"heavy† or â€Å"weighed down† 13. filibuster (â€Å"obstructive act† or, as a verb, â€Å"obstruct†): from vrijbuiter by way of the Spanish word filibuster (see freebooter above), which in turn comes from the French word flibustier 14. hoist (â€Å"lift† as a noun or a verb): from hijsen 15. jib (â€Å"spar†): from gijben, meaning â€Å"boom† 16. keel (â€Å"spine or structure projecting from a hull†): from kiel 17. keelhaul (â€Å"punish by dragging over the keel†): from kielhalen, meaning â€Å"keel hauling† 18. kill (â€Å"riverbed†): from kil 19. maelstrom (â€Å"whirlpool† or, by extension, â€Å"confused situation†): from maalstroom, meaning â€Å"grinding current† or â€Å"strong current† (the second element of the word is cognate with stream); possibly based on an Old Norse word 20. morass (â€Å"boggy or muddy ground† or, by extension, â€Å"complicated or confused situation†): from marasch, meaning â€Å"swamp,† partly based on the Old French word marais, meaning â€Å"marsh† 21. plug (â€Å"stopper† or, as a verb, â€Å"stop (a hole)†): from plugge, meaning â€Å"stopper† 22. school (â€Å"large group of fish,† unrelated to the term for an educational institution): from schole 23. scow (â€Å"small, wide sailboat† or â€Å"flat-bottomed boat†): from schouw 24. shoal (â€Å"large group of fish†; unrelated to the same word meaning â€Å"area of shallow water†): cognate with schole 25. skipper (â€Å"captain of a ship†): from schipper, meaning â€Å"someone who ships† 26. sloop (â€Å"sailboat,† either a small modern boat or a specific type of warship): from sloep, either ultimately from slupen, meaning â€Å"to glide,† or from the Old French term chalupe 27. smack (â€Å"small sailboat†): possibly from smak, meaning â€Å"sailboat,† perhaps from the sound made by flapping sails 28. smuggler (â€Å"illegal trader†): smokkelen or the Low German word smukkelen, meaning â€Å"transport (goods) illegally†) 29. stockfish (â€Å"cod or similar fish prepared by drying†): from stokvis, meaning â€Å"stick fish† 30. yacht (â€Å"small, light pirate-hunting naval vessel† or â€Å"pleasure motorboat or sailboat†): from jacht, meaning â€Å"hunt† and short for jachtschip Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Words with More Than One SpellingItalicizing Foreign WordsForming the Comparative of One-syllable Adjectives

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Zero Carbon Homes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Zero Carbon Homes - Essay Example Through the use of renewable energy systems, engineers, contractors and architects can easily offset or lessen the emission of carbon. In the process of continuously promoting energy efficiency in buildings and local houses, engineers, contractors and architects will be able to protect the environment from the harmful effects of carbon emission (gov.uk, 2012). Now-a-days, low carbon technologies such as the use of heat pumps, photovoltaic arrays, bioenergy systems, and thermal insulation are currently available in the market. Despite the different kinds of low carbon technologies, only the use of photovoltaic arrays technology will be highlighted throughout the paper discussion. In response to the development of green building, ways on how photovoltaic arrays technology can be use in the construction of green buildings and houses will be examined and analyzed. After providing a clear description of photovoltaic arrays technology, its value in terms of providing solution to climate change and ways on how to create more photovoltaic arrays technology innovation will be tackled in details. Prior to conclusion, various assessment techniques and regulations such as the Feed-in-Tariff and Photovoltaic arrays technology produces electricity coming from the sun. Often times, photovoltaic arrays are placed on the roofs of buildings and houses. Other than the sloping angle and the location where the photovoltaic cells are placed, the efficiency of this particular renewable energy sources is highly dependent on the size and type of cell used (i.e. facing East or South, sloping angle at 30o, etc.) (Noguchi, 2013). In case of a full sunlight, photovoltaic cells can produce up to 1,250 to 1,300 watts of electricity (Eiffert and Kiss, 2003). As a common knowledge, silicon is a semi-conductor material that is capable of creating

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Base on reading of the Bunraku play chushingura Essay

Base on reading of the Bunraku play chushingura - Essay Example The play entails several sub-plots and elements, but it primarily emphasizes on the notions of honor and loyalty that pervaded the Japanese society and the play primarily focuses on these traits as the main theme. The protagonist of the play is Yuranosuke, who is the chief retainer of Hangan’s household and wants to fulfill his master’s dying wish to avenge him. Yuranosuke is assisted by a band of retainers, who have sworn allegiance to him and go to severe extremes to help him accomplish his mission; Kampei is one of the most notable retainers, who is unable to make any substantial contribution to the assassination plot, but his devotion to Hangan still moves all the other retainers to include him in the list. Yuranosuke’s loyalty to his master is exhibited through his undying resolve to exact revenge on Morono. Even though, a vendetta in Tokugawa Japan is punishable by ritual suicide, but the retainers remain resolute under Yuranosuke. They are ready to lay dow n their lives for their Master Hangan, which is a sure sign of their loyalty. Moments before Hangan is ordered to commit Seppuku; ritual suicide, he asks Yuranosuke, to take his dagger after his death, which clearly indicates his wish to be avenged. Yuranosuke, who is both aggrieved and determined to take revenge upon his master’s tormentor, licks the blood off his master’s dagger ; this act to show his dedication to the cause (p. 23). He gathers all the other retainers, who are devoted to cause and secretly starts off the vendetta. The vendetta is a secret mission; therefore he takes every measure to protect it from Morono, who was already suspicious of it. The strength of Yuranosuke’s resolve to proceed with the assassination is very clear as he is willing to do anything to prevent his plan from getting compromised. He even eats fish on his master’s death anniversary; which is considered to be a great religious taboo, but he breaks it just so he could p rotect his master’s last wish. After their master’s death, the retainers were left without a leader and Yuranosuke, being the chief retainer in Hangan’s household gained the leadership by default. All his fellow retainers were quite dedicated to him and had they not sworn complete allegiance to him, they would not have been able to bring their plans to fruition. The case of the merchant in the play further underscores the lot’s loyalty to Yuranosuke; the merchant had been supplying them with weapons in order to help them with the plot. The merchant had sent his wife off to live with her parents in order to prevent her from finding out about the plan, but in so doing he earned the ire of his father-in-law, who wanted her daughter to marry someone of wealth and constantly forced the merchant to divorce her. Upon seeing his ordeal, Yuranosuke intervenes and cuts off the woman’s lock and prevents her remarriage. This trait is reflected in all of Hangan ’s retainers, particularly Kampei as well. He suffers from a lingering guilt for he had abandoned his post in order to meet his lover, with whom he had scheduled daily trysts and when Hangan was being provoked into drawing his sword, he had been with his lover all this while. As a result, Kampei always felt guilty and responsible for his master’