Analysis Of William Shakespeare s Hamlet And Macbeth

The work of William Shakespeare is, to many, the purest representation of theatricality there is. He is the most instantly and internationally recognizable playwright, and so works like Hamlet and Macbeth have come to be seen as staples of the dramatic genre, expected to be studied and performed, with critical acclaim, on a massive scale. However, as with so many forms of art, Shakespeare s work was not necessarily appreciated as such in his own time, specifically by certain critics of the theatre, and the theatrical form, itself. This was perhaps most fascinatingly articulated by Charles Lamb in his essay On the Tragedies of Shakespeare, Considered with Reference to their Fitness for Stage Representation†: â€Å"The things aimed at in theatrical representation are to arrest the spectator s eye upon the form and the gesture, and so to gain a more favourable hearing to what is spoken : it is not what the character is, but how he looks; not what he says, but how he speaks it.â⠂¬ 1 I believe what Lamb is saying is that he has a problem with the way â€Å"theatricality†, or perhaps more accurately staging, can serve as a distraction to the spectator from the actual writing, possibly implying that the writing is too weak to stand on its own. As Jonas A. Barish put it in his book The Antitheatrical Prejudice, â€Å"Where Shakespeare is concerned Lamb recoils from the very essence of theater, from its neccesity to externalize, in which he finds intolerable coarseness. Plays themselves may beShow MoreRelatedWho Should You Trust?1543 Words   |  7 PagesWho Should You Trust? â€Å"In Analysis: Propose a Solution to the Trust Issue in Macbeth â€Å"Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air.† (Page 323). This line is one of the most important ones from Macbeth. Macbeth is one the most popular plays by William Shakespeare. Moss and Wilson state, â€Å"Some details of William Shakespeare s life are still shrouded in uncertainty. What is known is that he rose to prominence as a playwright in London toward the end of the sixteenth centuryRead MoreShakespeare Major Paper2833 Words   |  12 PagesCoe EN 360 Shakespeare I Major Paper 04/20/14 Throughout many of Shakespeare’s plays, one of the central themes with which he provides his readers is the topic of madness and insanity. In Karin S. Coddon’s, â€Å"Such Strange Desygns†: Madness, Subjectivity, and Treason in Hamlet and Elizabethan Culture, the author depicts the reasons behind the psychosis of Shakespeare’s characters and what led to their insanity. The author expresses insight for not only the themes of madness in Hamlet but also helpsRead Moreshakespeare influences16068 Words   |  65 Pagesï » ¿ RESEARCH TOPIC An Analytic Review Of Shakespearean Influence On Faulkner s Tragedy RESEARCH QUESTION How Shakespeare tragic patterns influenced on William Faulkner s writings? NAME: SYEDA AMBREEN FATIMA FATHER’S NAME: SYED HASAN AKHTER SEAT NO: 1315793 ENROLMENT NO: 2013/ENG/M.A(LIT)/15681 DATE OF SUBMISSION: 28TH NOV 2013 SUBMITTED TO: MISS SAMREENRead MoreAnalysis Of The Structure Hamlet 1233 Words   |  5 PagesStability, Sanity, and Structure (Analysis of the structure in Shakespeare’s Hamlet) Structure is in our lives all around us; we see it in work lives, our home lives, in our owe bodies, and even more so in the curriculum that kids are learning at school. Structure, in all aspects, is constructed according to a plan. It gives a sense of assembly and backbone to whatever we are looking at. We see structure is in the information students are attaining at school, especially in the literary sense. ManyRead MoreHamlet, Prince Of Denmark1869 Words   |  8 Pages ABSTRACT I, with all my interest and will decided to do my term paper on one of the most controversial yet diversely analysed work of literature that is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark written by the ever greatest man in history of English literature, William Shakespeare.The aura of this play is not at all questionable. The essence it captures down throughout every single scene and dialogues is undeniably recommendable. But in spite of these the play, accordingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Limerence Of Martha 1170 Words   |  5 Pagesit can also be used as comparisons. A few comparisons, from William Shakespeare, are Macbeth and Banquo in the play The Tragedy of Macbeth and Laertes, Claudius, and Fortinbras in the play Hamlet. In The Tragedy of Macbeth when the three witches are telling the fortune of Banquo the first witch says Lesser than Macbeth and greater, and the third says â€Å"Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.† What they were inherently saying is Macbeth will become king, b ut will not have heirs to the throne, unlikeRead MorePsychoanalytic Ideas And Shakespeare By Inge Wise And Maggie Mills1420 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract This essay is on the book Psychoanalytic Ideas and Shakespeare, edited by Inge Wise and Maggie Mills, Published by Karnac Books , London , 2006 ; research and descriptions by numerous authors who wrote on the writing works of Shakespeare, Freud’s work on the psychological works on Shakespeare in general are used throughout the book . The authors focus on psychopathic fiction characters in six plays Hamlet, Macbeth, twilight nights, King Lear, and the Tempest. The book when you readRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1231 Words   |  5 Pages William Shakespeare is certainly one of the best known playwrighters of the theater history for having written plays such as Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth. A feature of Shakespearean theater is so-called â€Å"theatre within a theatre†, â€Å"drama within a drama† or more generallyâ€Å"a play within a play†, i.e a play where the author stagged, at some time, an other theater play inside this o ne. Many of his plays can be qualified as â€Å"plays within plays† and espacially Hamlet and A Midsummer Night s Dream. ThereforeRead MoreShakespeare As A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay1922 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is a well know writer in the English time. William Shakespeare was a poet but he was also a play writer and actor. According to The Longman Anthology British Literature, Volume 1b, The Early Modern Period pgs. 1199-1203. William Shakespeare was the greatest writer in the English language, he wrote poems that incorporated plays of histories, tragedies, comedies. Shakespeare was the third child of John and Mary Shakespeare, born in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23, 1564, and atRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Influence On The Sound And The Fury2240 Words   |  9 PagesClasses, tape 2†). A major influence on Faulkner’s work is Shakespeare, especially on The Sound and the Fury. Faulkner used his love of Shakespeare to enable him to write a novel that took some of Shakespeare’s groundbreaking thoughts, ideas, and writing styles and use them to create something innovative and different. It is clear that Shakespeare was a sizeable influence on Faulkner’s writing. From his youth he read and recited Shakespeare and he has talked about a copy of Shakespeare’s work that

The Battle Of Dien Bien Phu - 1519 Words

Vietnam Timeline 04/24/2016 Sarah Dustagheer Period 4 Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954) The Battle of Bien Dien Phu was the first crucial engagement in the first Indochina War. It took place in March 13, 1954 - May 7, 1954. This battle was a symbolic turning point in Indochina. The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was fought between French forces and the Viet Minh communists. The French wanted to convert Vietnam as one of their colonies, but on the other hand, Vietnam wanted their independence. After the French forces took over the Dien Bien Phu valley in late 1953, Viet Minh commander, Vo Nguyen, deported and placed heavy artillery. The Viet Minh soldiers set up the artillery in caves of mountains overlooking the French camp, to break the French lines. When the French were defeated, there was a formal negotiation. Geneva Accords (1954) The Geneva Conference of 1954 was a meeting between many countries that agreed to end hostilities and restore peace in French-Indochina and Korea. It was signed by France and North Vietnam. This produced a set of treaties called â€Å"Geneva Accords.† The Geneva Accords organized a settlement which brought an end to the first Indochina War. This agreement was reached at the end of the Geneva Conference. These agreements temporarily separated Vietnam into two zones, a northern zone to be governed by the Viet Minh, and a southern zone to be governed by the state of Vietnam. AShow MoreRelatedCauses and Consequences of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu1475 Words   |  6 PagesCauses and consequences of the battle of Dien Bien Phu Examine the causes and consequences and consequences of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, 1954, which affected the lives of the Vietnamese until the 1960s. Dien Bien Phu, 1954, was the final battle of the first Indo-China war. Lasting 55 days, the battle had French troops attempt to hold an armed camp against the Viet Minh, who greatly out-numbered them. Dien Bien Phu was situated in a valley in Northern Vietnam, surrounded by mountains. TheRead MoreThe Battle Of Dien Bien Phu1256 Words   |  6 PagesElizabeth Oviedo Professor Petursson November 25, 2015 History 213 From The Battle Of Dien Bien Phu To Vietnam War â€Å"It will be a war between an elephant and a tiger. If the tiger stand still, the elephant will crush him. But the tiger will never stand still. It will leap upon the elephant’s back, ripping out huge chunks of flesh and then will disappear back again into the dark jungle and slowly the elephant will blead to death† (PeriscopeFilm, 1962). After World War II, the worldRead MoreCauses and Consequences of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu1481 Words   |  6 PagesCauses and consequences of the battle of Dien Bien Phu Examine the causes and consequences and consequences of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, 1954, which affected the lives of the Vietnamese until the 1960s. Dien Bien Phu, 1954, was the final battle of the first Indo-China war. Lasting 55 days, the battle had French troops attempt to hold an armed camp against the Viet Minh, who greatly out-numbered them. Dien Bien Phu was situated in a valley in Northern Vietnam, surrounded by mountains. The FrenchRead MoreEssay on Conflict in Indochina1156 Words   |  5 Pagessense of nationalism regardless of the 17th parallel. The battle at Dien Bien Phu, guerrilla warfare, Ho Chi Minh and the domino theory all play significant roles in the evident importance of nationalism in Vietnam. Primary and secondary sources have effectively provided an insight of the apparent nationalism that occurred in Vietnam leading up to 1965. Vietnam’s long lasting struggle with the French and the emphatic victory at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 was crucial in reaffirming a firm stance and beliefRead MoreWhy Did the French Lose the Indo-Chinese War? Essay1026 Words   |  5 Pages19, 1946 to August 1, 1954, the Frenc h were engaged in a brutal, grueling and ultimately unsuccessful campaign in Vietnam. The catalyst for conclusion of the war was the demoralizing and humiliating defeat of the French at the short-lived battle of Dien Bien Phu. Other contributing factors which lead towards the defeat of the French included the failed tactics of the French, the lack of political motivation, their ignorance towards the aptitude of the Viet Minh, and the ultimate determination of theRead MoreViolence As A Cleansing Force Essay1686 Words   |  7 Pagesthe modern French army at Dien Bien Phu on May 8, 1954 made an enormous impact and gave hope not only to Fanon and the Algerian FLN who declared the national liberation war against the French colonialism in 1954, but also to the subjugated people living under the colonial/imperial domination in the world. Applauding the great victory of the Vietnamese people at Dien Bien Phu, Fanon argues clearly that the purpose of the armed struggle is to bring about another Dien Bien Phu (The Wretched of the EarthRead MoreThe French Withdrawal From Indochina1918 Words   |  8 Pageswithdrawal from Indochina occurred on May 7th 1954 as a result of the French being out numbered, additionally they also had an inadequate amount of knowledge of the surrounding area of Dien Bien Phu compared to Vietnam’s knowledge. The Viet Minh were highly underestimated by French forces during the battle at Dien Bien Phu. In the nineteenth century Indochina was colonised by France, who misused the people and their resources, however cultural legacy was present. Indochina called for independence followingRead More Why did the French loose the war in Vietnam? Essays1964 Words   |  8 Pagesmassacring the Viet Minh in a open field battle. The first phase of fighting, is small Viet. Minh units setting up ambushes and initializing small skirmishes with the French, nothing major. The second phase involves bigger units actually attacking smal l outposts and strategic military targets in quick and violent raids. The third phase of fighting is the formation of battalions with the smaller units banding together now taking on full French forces in a fixed battle. Giap new that the phases of fightingRead MoreNo Dogs And Chinamen By Gayatri Spivak Essay2387 Words   |  10 PagesIndochina conflicts. As Toulon says, Vietnam was our colony. Not only didn t the Americans help us to keep them, but now, seven years later, they ve come back to grab the territory for themselves (44). The U.S. supported France to win the battle at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 by financing 78% of the total war expenses. Therefore, the Vietnam War was, in fact, from the beginning not only the French war but also the American war. Asked by the Americans to be their eyes and ears (44) since the AmericansRead MoreThe Vietnam War Was A Significant Moment For Canada921 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Vietnam War had nothing to do with Canada, later events in the war wer e related to Canada largely. The beginning of the war is a crucial part in how we got involved in the Vietnam War. On May 7th 1954, Viet Minh had finally won the Battle of Dien Bien Phu marking the end of the First Indochina War. This was a breakthrough for Vietnam because this meant that France was no longer involved with Vietnam, and the French would then seize fire. A new government would now rule Vietnam. The North

Enrons Code of Ethics free essay sample

This writing will analyze Enron’s Code of Ethics and examine the sections on values and corporate responsibility, it will also use applicable theories and concepts and will detail Ken Lay’s view of ethics and Enron’s corporate social performance, as well as reflect Enron to be socially irresponsible to everyone with any type of financial investment in Enron because of the deception it practiced with employees and investors about its true financial status, despite having stated in its company code of ethics that transparency, integrity, and respect for the law would be the cornerstones of its daily operations.Enron’s values, as stated in the 2000 code of ethics, include the following: respect for others; openness and integrity; a premium on communication; a commitment to organizational excellence; and a commitment to non-discrimination. As it pertains to corporate responsibility, Enron’s code states that it (or its representatives) will do the foll owing: it will comply with all relevant health and safety laws. It will emphasize safe operations because the company is devoted to protecting the environment, human health and natural resources; and the company pledges to enter into productive partnerships with the communities in which Enron is a part partnerships geared towards creating healthy families, and geared towards making the community stronger via education and environmental stewardship (Enron, 2000, pp. 5-6). Applicable concepts and theories explain Ken Lay’s view of ethics.For example, the wording of the document is aspirational; it demands that people hold themselves to the highest ethical and moral level and work constructively with partners to forge better communities (for a definition of aspirational, please see Ethics Resource Center, 2009). As well, the code of ethics and it’s values-centered insofar as its ethical ideals are among the first things discussed in the code; the code of ethics also stresses sustainability because of its focus on environmental and community stewardship (for a definition of both terms, please see Ethics Resource Center, 2009).None of the websites discussed in this paper take note of specific ethical theories when talking about what is acceptable or unacceptable for a company to do. However, there are two broad ethical theories deontology and utilitarianism that can be applied. Deontology holds that one must do right for the sake of doing right; utilitarianism holds that something is only ethical if it creates the greatest good for the greatest number(for a definition of both terms, please see Dictionary. com 2009). Put another way, the outcome is all that matters when it comes to corporate actions.In the case of Enron, speaking the truth about its financial situation in1999 would have hurt the company by depressing stock value; it is also clear that company investors might have been forced to sell off stocks or take a financial â€Å"hit. † On the other hand silence would keep people investing in the stock, therefore increasing the stock holdings of employees. A deontological approach would have favored full disclosure; a utilitarian approach would presumably favor not saying anything and hope that things turn around.Without question, Enron was socially irresponsible when it lied about its income and failed to reveal that its equity value was lower than its balance sheets said. At the same time, the company used its â€Å"partnerships† with the many companies it created to hide its losses and its debts. Enron executives also ignored accounting irregularities and calmly kept millions in stock-market gains, even though they knew company employees who had stock in the organization were going to suffer when things came out (National Public Radio, 2009).Without a doubt, Enron betrayed its shareholders (its employees most of all) because it went against its own stated commitment to integrity; it eschewed communication for greed; and its creative accounting showed its real contempt for local and international business laws even though Enron (2000) claimed to respect the law (please see page 5 of the Code of Ethics). In retrospect, it is not clear that Enron had a compliance officer in place in 2000 when it formulated its code of ethics.However, it would appear that senior officials in the company would have the same responsibilities as any compliance officer: to ensure that the company upheld all relevant laws and regulations; to be leaders in the formation of ethical business practices ; and disclose any information required by law or by company policy (Ethics and Compliance Officer Association, 2009). The leaders at Enron violated every one of their obligations and betrayed stakeholders.This paper reflects the sections on values and corporate responsibility highlighted in Enron’s code of ethics; the paper then looked at the pertinent concepts and theories that apply to the situation and answered the question of whether or not Enron was being socially responsible. The ultimate answer is no, Enron was not being responsible; the company hurt many people even though it undoubtedly thought that keeping things secret would serve the greater good insofar as it would give senior staff time to reorganize things without causing a depression in the stock holdings of employees. In the end Enron destroyed its credibility and ruined many lives; all because it declined to follow its own code of ethics. Enrons compensation and performance management system was designed to retain and reward its most valuable employees, the setup of the system contributed to a dysfunctional corporate culture that became obsessed with a focus only on short-term earnings to maximize bonuses. Employees constantly looked to start high-volume deals, often disregarding the quality of cash flow or profits, in order to get a higher rating for their performance review.In addition, accounting results were recorded as soon as possible to keep up with the companys stock price. This practice helped ensure deal-makers and executives received large cash bonuses. The company was constantly focusing on its stock price. Management was extensively compensated using stock options, similar to other U. S. companies. This setup of stock option awards caused management to create expectations of rapid growth in efforts to give the appearance of reported earnings to meet Wall Streets expectations.

Viva San Pedro Calungsod Essay Sample free essay sample

Filipino teenage sufferer Pedro Calungsod is set to fall in the communion table of saints when Pope Benedict XVI leads the canonisation ceremonial at the Vatican City on Sunday. October 21. 2012. With the meagre historical information written about him. Blessed Pedro’s life can be written in a few paragraphs. Therefore. the docudrama will follow the life of a Visayan male child who lived and died spreading and supporting his religion. his miracle. and the significance of his rise to sainthood. Blessed Pedro Calungsod was merely 17 old ages old when he was murdered while functioning and evangelising the Chamorro indigens on the island of Guam in 1672. In 2000. he was beatified by Pope John Paul II. and has had one intercessory miracle recognized by the Vatican and declared worthy of belief. Calungsod joins fellow catechist San Lorenzo Ruiz as the 2nd saint in a state that is preponderantly Catholic. As one of merely two Catholic states in Asia. We will write a custom essay sample on Viva San Pedro Calungsod Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page the Philippines observe a major milepost and takes great pride in the canonisation of Blessed Pedro. Many groups and chapels dedicated to him hold sprouted non merely in the Philippines and Guam. but besides in the United States and other states with Filipinos. Calungsod’s backing besides includes the young person and migratory workers for giving his immature life to God and his missional work. Now Blessed Pedro Calungsod is known as the frequenter saint of immature people. He will be a good illustration for immature people around the universe to follow. In this manner they will follow the Words of God and assist one another to construct a universe with full of love. hope. religion. and integrity.

Big Bang or Creationism essays

Big Bang or Creationism essays Our Universe: Big Bang or Creationism Talking about our universe as a whole brings up a great question that theologians and scientist have been debating for years. So much so that it has involved boards of education and trials in court. Was God the creator of the universe as many of us are taught in Sunday school? After all it does say in the Book of Genesis that God created the Earth and the Heavens in six days and rested on the seventh. Or did the universe just happen as a chance occurrence as the Big Bang suggest? Scientist Stephen Hawking suggests that the origins of the universe always has been and continues to be a chicken-and-egg question (Hawking, 2002). In a nutshell, Hawking notes, what agency created the universe (Hawking 2002)? By the same token, what created that agency (Hawking 2002)? Hawkins also notes that; . . . in the last few years, it has emerged that the Laws of Science may hold even at the beginning of the universe. In that case, the universe could be self contained and determined complet ely by the Laws of Science (Hawking 2002). The problem with this is Christians who whole-heartedly follow what is written in the Bible believe the total opposite. This one sided type of thinking is nothing new however. The origins of the universe have been debated for years and continue to be debated today. The debate has been an either-or situation; either God was the Creator of the universe or he was not (Sluder, 2002). Either the universe was a spontaneous creation or it was not (Sluder, 2002). Trying to clear those two questions never easy. Trying to give a direct dictionary definition of creationism is a little more complex than it seems. First we have to start by saying that the belief in the creation of the universe as the Bible tells it is literally true. Creationism can then be considered a belief based solely up ...

Tyler LeBlanc Essays (1134 words) - Enron Scandal, Free Essays

Tyler LeBlanc Essays (1134 words) - Enron Scandal, Free Essays Tyler LeBlanc Prof. Sullivan CRJ 362 2/6/2017 Enron's Scandal Dismantle Enron was a Houston based corporation founded in 1985, that reached the peak of the business world in the late nineties to early Two thousands. Enron was known for their business savvy techniques, on the other hand it was notorious for their demise resulting from their audit scandals. The aftermath was imprisonment of large amounts of CEO's, as well as thousands of employees losing their jobs. This all transpired when there was constant change of CEO's and CFO's , and unsystematic plumet of $137 million loss in stock in which attracted the attention of many forcing the justice to investigate. In this paper i will evaluate the facts of this case,and analyze the scandal using the rational choice theory. The rational choice theory ties into the Enron scandal as executives took into account the large benefits prior to participating in this infamous disparagement,as the rational choice theory states that individuals make decisions with the greatest benefit or satisfaction. They took into mind the pros in this situation, and Found loopholes around being caught . These executives thought that there would be no way they would be caught, and even if so they believed they personally would not be held accountable for fraud if in fact they were exposed. Anderson Litter was the Auditing company that was in charge of checking frequently on Enron's books, however the company rarely did so. This factor led Enron accountants to believe that if no one was checking the books that they could purposefully undermine the rules by misfiling, and not reporting Enron's problems. Anderson litter and other auditors had all the reason in the world to keep quiet of the scandal that was taking place bas ed off the fact that they let all Enron's messy business slide under the radar they were now considered accomplices. Enron felt they had more to gain then lose, when analyzing the cost benefits. The benefits would be auditors could live lavishly as there was large amounts of income filling there pockets from the scandal. The cost if they were to come clean they would be tarnishing the corporation's reputation as well as their own. Waste Management's jail free scandal was the staple for Enron's executives when taking in consideration the cost benefits in the corporation's fraud scandals. Waste management was a corporation that bought out hundreds and thousands of garbage companies, increasing their sales and profits year by year. The Company was a skyrocketing business as their company stock profit soared higher than any other big time corporation. The Waste Management business hit the fan when the company could no longer expand as they ran out of garbage companies to buy out. This large problem did not stop waste management as they turned to a counting fix fooling wall street to believe the company was still growing by stretching depreciations. Waste Management changed the life span of their assets such as garbage trucks,landfills, and garbage containers. The typical lifespan of these assets is twelve years, Waste Management changed it to eighteen years saving over one hundred million dollars. This was all possible from the help of Anderson auditing company as they did not report the Waste management financial mistakes. In 1997 Waste Management and Andersen's auditing company was exposed for its $1.7 billion exaggerated stock earning. Both corporations were fined $457 million which is like paying a typical bill for the average person. Anderson Auditors did not stop after their exposure from this big scandal as they came to the table with the same approach with Enron. Enron's executives took in account if they did get caught in there scandal they would only be faced with a minimum fine compared to the billions of dollars they would make from the fraud scandal , they believed they wouldn't receive jail time as well. Anderson Little Firm was the direct Auditing firm in which Enron had ties too. Although the auditors based from Anderson's knew Fastow was embezzling money, they would sign off on tax statements within Enron. The auditing company became one of the same with enron holding the same beliefs and morals in respects to accounting. Anderson became so

International Relations and Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

International Relations and Terrorism - Essay Example The US bombing on September 11th is one case where terror was unleashed upon a mixed combination of individuals from countries across the world. International relations experts have made attempts to explain the impacts of this attack on the US and in the world. The events of September 11 are clearly etched in the minds of individuals across the world. The terrorist attack targeted and hit the World trade centre, a building that was central to the activities of many countries, not only the United States of America (Saurette, 2006). The terrorist attack in effect caused what political scientists would call a domino effect. Soon after the bombing, Afghanistan was invaded closely followed by the invasion of Iraq. The aftermath of America's retaliatory actions were only seen later, at a time when no remedial action could be taken - several lives were (and are still being) lost, and billions worth of property destroyed. The American dollar gradually devalued while the Euro has achieved tremendous gains, rich oil companies departed from the United States for Dubai and much more effects have been witnessed across the world. In Afghanistan, America's actions resulted in a gender revolution. Generally, the reputation of the US as a superpower has also been negatively affected by the attack as well as by its wars against the countries it engaged in war (Saurette, 2006). Th The terror attack on the world's superpower on a global scale raised eyebrows. The reality of terrorism has much more been accepted, and nations across the world have continued ever since to make provisions for counter-terrorism. Extremist movements have since received international attention and nations are taking pro-active measures in preventing small and big flare-ups as opposed to waiting for an attack to apply reactive measures. The events as they occurred, together with the retaliatory actions of the United States of America have provoked a lot of International Relations theorists to jump into action in an attempt to analyze the impacts of the event on international relations. The following sections attempt to critically relate international relations theories with the events that followed the September 11th US attack. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY International relations theory is geared towards providing a conceptual model that can be used as a basis for analyzing international relations. Every theory takes a reductive and essentialist form to different degrees by taking different assumptions in each case. In international relations theory, the analysis only focuses on salient events that are prove to be relevant to the theory. This can better be stated considering a case where a realist completely disregards an event that may be crucial to the constructivist and vice versa. The character and number of assumptions that are made by an IR theory practically determines how usefulness it will be. Again, several ways of thinking come to play when dealing with International relations theory. The different schools of thought which are usually conflicting include Neo-Gramscianism, Marxism, Constructivism, Institutionalism and others. Two positivist schools of thinking however have become most popular: Liberalism and Realism. Constructivism is continuously becoming a mainstream theory and particularly outside the USA, post-positivist theories are increasing in popularity (Mann,

Individual Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Individual Project - Essay Example Economic appraisal is noted to act on the physical attractiveness. The role of physical attractiveness in economics requires appraisal. There is a vast literature on physical attraction and its importance in a number of areas: game theory (Solnick and Schweitzer 1999), earnings (Hamermesh and Biddle 1994), election results (Rosar, Klein and Beckers 2008). The retail car price negotiations (Ayres, 1991), teaching evaluations (Lawson and Stephenson 2005), and election results (Rosar, Klein and Beckers 2008) to name just a few. Mankiw (2007) has highlights the role of height to suggest, perhaps tongue in cheek, taxation on height. He suggests a similar recommendation regarding physical attractiveness. (Pokrywka, Cabric and Krakowiak 2006; Grundl, EisenmannKlein, and Prantl 2009; Swami, Furnham and Joshi 2008; Swami, Einon, and Furnham 2007) Conventional wisdom suggests feminists in general identify with the political left. Likewise, Deirdre McCloskey (2000) argues that to the liberation of women, feminist economists offer less support to the free markets than typical non-feminist economists. Female professors are far more likely to identify with the Democratic Party than male economists as Cardiff and Klein (2005) support; see Table 1.2. In part, this results to a view that the underlying assumptions of economic theory are gender biased, with differences evident in Strober (1994) and Nelson (1995). Beauty pageants chronically have been sites of controversy and resistance. For example, during its first decade, the Miss America contest was attacked by religious groups and women’s clubs as vulgar, indecent, and degrading (Cohen et al. 1996). In response, in order to create an aura of respectability for the pageant, organizers subjected contestants to constant monitoring and surveillance. Due to a state of relentless policing of femininity and behavior (Banet-Weiser 1999: 39), participants

Impact of Nursing Faculty Shortage in the Nursing Field Term Paper

Impact of Nursing Faculty Shortage in the Nursing Field - Term Paper Example This paper aims to discuss the problem of shortage of nursing faculty. A number of implications will also be provided to overcome the issue of shortage of nursing faculty. Problem Statement: Among different factors that have been considered as the reason behind shortage of nurses in healthcare field, lack of nursing faculty is one of the crucial issues that need avid implications. There are number of reasons that have contributed in the shortage of nursing faculty such as ageing of nursing faculty, retirement wave increasing the shortage ratio etc (Cronenwet, 2011). Significance of the Problem: Nursing faculty shortage is an element which has contributed in the poor supply of nurses to the health care institutions. It is thus imperative to strategically counter the issue. A number of strategic implications are already underway by American Nursing Association but there is more to be done to overcome the problem. By countering the issue of shortage of nursing faculty, it will be possib le to provide quality health care to the patients (Cronenwet, 2011). Nursing Faculty Shortage: A number of American nursing schools have marked increased shortage of nursing faculty. Since 2004, the number of student enrolments has increased by large. It is because of this reason that increased number of nursing faculty is needed in the schools. ... As per analysis it was noted that the average age of nursing educators is 45+. The retirement of faculty of nursing has kept the deficit of nursing faculty in a continual state (Cronenwet, 2011). The shortage of nursing faculty has a direct negative impact on the supply of nurses in the healthcare departments. The main purpose of the nursing schools is to supply nurses to the health care profession so that quick and quality health care facilities can be provided to patients. Looking at the situation of shortage of nursing faculty in nursing schools, it has been estimated that 600,000 jobs are expected to be vacant for nursing professionals within next ten years. This fact is problematic and needs implication to overcome the turmoil of nursing profession (Cronenwet, 2011). It should be noted that nursing is a profession which is given a great deal of imperativeness in US. A lot of students have interest in pursing nursing degrees which is a hope for overcoming the shortage of nurses. Researchers have claimed that such tremendous interest by the students in the nursing field is because the profession is to help humanity and the working conditions of nurses is relatively better than other professions. Also, the compensation packages being given to national nurses is quiet attractive for the students which makes it easier for the nursing profession to have more practitioners (Riegelman, 2006). The interest of students towards nursing profession has relatively increased which also resulted in increasing number of enrolment. It has also been noted that a large number of applicants are turned away each year because the nursing

Symmetric Vs Asymmetric Algorithms Computer Science Essay

Symmetric Vs Asymmetric Algorithms Computer Science Essay Data integrity, confidentiality and availability over the web, applications and storage means have become the major concerns in computer world. If data are exposed to an attacker, it will have a significant impact to business. Cryptography has a major role to play to prevent attacks to sensitive data employing encryption and decryption mechanisms. There are two main approaches to encryption: symmetric and asymmetric, and each of them contains its own variety of encryption algorithms. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages as none of them excels at both efficiency and high security. As illustrated in this paper it is not sufficient enough to use a single type of encryption methods in applications. Rapid development of network technology and expansion of information around the world, information security has to be balanced with processing efficiency requiring hybrid approaches. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each type of cryptography and proposes i n reference to literature integration approaches. Index Terms -encryption, decryption, symmetric algorithm, asymmetric algorithm, public keys, ciphertext, PGP, GnuPG, hybrid encryption. Introduction Cryptography is the study of the mathematical techniques related to aspects of information security such as confidentiality, data integrity, message authentication, and entity authentication (Piper, 2002). Cryptography has many applications including those in key management for digital communication (communication equipment, electronic mail and data interchange, access control and audit trails, e-banking), commercial software (software verification and virus detection). Encryption of electronic messages has been considcred for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), where contracts and purchase orders are signed and delivered electronically. Similar system has been used by the British banks for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for Point Of Sales (POS). For Local Area Networks (L.4Ns) the IEEE 802.10 LAN Security Working Group is currently drafting security standard using public-key techniques for key management. Access control to buildings or computers relies on use of passwords or Personal Identification Number (PIN). Passwords are either stored to the computer or are dynamically generated using battery-powered devices (tokens). In some cases (e.g. in banking) the token is activated by entering a PIN. State-of-the art smart card devices embed personal or payment data which can be decrypted as long as the user enters a password or provides biometric data (e.g. voice, fingerprint, handwritten signature, or scanned picture). In theory of cryptography, the information to be encrypted is called the message and the operation of disguising is known as encryption (or enciphering). The enciphered message is called the ciphertext or cryptogram. The algorithm used for this operation also has a second input known as the enciphering key. The process of obtaining the message from the ciphertext is known as decryption, and, in addition to the ciphertext, the deciphering algorithm needs a deciphering key. The receiver will obtain the correct message, if they use the right deciphering key. An encryption system is said to be symmetric if, for each corresponding pair of enciphering and deciphering keys, it is easy to determine the deciphering key from the enciphering key. If, on the other hand, it is computationally impossible to determine the deciphering key from the enciphering key, then we have a public key system or, else, an asymmetric system. Symmetric and asymmetric cryptography are almost two different subjects, therefore the algorithms are different, and the key management problems are different. In the sections below we present the main algorithms of each system and a comparison between the algorithms of each system is performed. SYMMETRIC ALGORITHMS In symmetric algorithms, the sender and receiver of messages and files share the same key for encryption and decryption. Symmetric algorithms have the advantage of not consuming too much computing power. The most typical examples are: DES, Triple-DES (3DES), IDEA, CAST5, BLOWFISH, TWOFISH. In symmetric algorithms an important aspect of their effectiveness is the strength of the key encryption or else the size of the key used. Since the same key is used for encryption and decryption, the longer the keys are, the harder to unlock them. Strong versus weak key is one of the typical classification of symmetric algorithms. DES (Data Encryption Standard) was the first symmetric algorithm to be introduced by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) in 1974. DES uses one 64-bits key and many attacks have been recorded in literature against it and that caused the need to propose 3DES (Triple DES). Triple DES (3DES) uses three 64-bits keys. Therefore, 3DES applies 3 times the core encryption method of DES however this makes it slower than other symmetric algorithms (Nadeem and Javed, 2005). In addition, NIST introduced AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) in 1997 as replacement of DES. AES uses various (128,192,256) bits keys. Yet Brute Force attack was the only effective unlocking mechanism against it trying all character combinations. Bruce Schneiers Blowfish encryption method is even stronger with no effective attack to have been recorded since its release in 1993. Its effectiveness relies on using variable length key (32-448) and 128-bit is its default and a 64-bit block size although taking the risk of allowing the definition of weak keys (Nadeem and Javed, 2005). Running simulation tests, Nadeem and Javed (2005) showed that Blowfish has better performance than other symmetric algorithms and no any security weak points to its record. AES and 3DES showed poor performance since it requires more processing power. Similar results have been produced in (Elminaam et al, 2009). ASSYMETRIC ALGORITHMS Nowadays confidential messages around the world are encrypted and decrypted relying on asymmetric techniques. This is because the key used for encryption and decryption is not the same but rather it relies on a key distribution mechanism which is called public-private key distribution. Confidential messages are encrypted using the public key and can only be decrypted using the private key. RSA, DSA, ELGAMAL, TLS, PGP are some of the examples of asymmetric algorithms. RSA is one of the well known public key (asymmetric type of) algorithms used for generating digital signatures over messages (Das and Madhavan, 2009). In addition, NIST published the Digital Signature Standard (DSS) in 1991 for generating digital signatures. DSS uses the SHA-1 algorithm for calculating the message digest of the plain message and then applies the DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm) for creating the digital signature of the message based on the message digest. DSA is only used for performing digital signatures. It cannot be used for encryption and this is the main difference with RSA (Das and Madhavan, 2009). COMPARING SYMMETRIC AND ASSYMETRIC CRYPTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES Advantages and disadvantages of symmetric algorithms are illustrated in the table below (Panda and Kumar, 2011): Advantages Disadvantages Simple method of encryption Agree a priori a secret key before any message exchange Encryption of personal user files and messages Maintain multiple keys one for each pair of message exchange or collaboration Faster than asymmetric techniques Sharing the secret key does not prove authenticity of sender or receiver of messages Requires less computer resources Key management is a task requiring significant effort Key compromise to a communication pair does not affect communication with other pairs Key exchange should also be a secure process requiring the implementation of its own secure channel Can use the same publicly known algorithm for encryption strength of security depends on size of key Advantages and disadvantages of symmetric algorithms are illustrated in the table below (Panda and Kumar, 2011): Advantages Disadvantages Makes convenient the key distribution as only the public keys are shared Public key generation and distribution is required for activating the encryption mechanism requiring a verification process in its own Digital signatures are generated through public key encryption hence verifying the authenticity of the sender It is rather slow in comparison to symmetric algorithms and is not preferred for short messages Messages accompanied by digital signature cannot be modified during transfer It requires a lot more processing power Digitally signing a message is equivalent to a physical signature thus the recipient of the message cannot deny the authenticity of the sender Losing a private key can cause can cause widespread security compromise as all messages can be read HYBRID approaches The main disadvantage of asymmetric algorithms is their slowness is comparison to the symmetric algorithms. One way to address this issue in many applications, is to apply a combination of both. A typical integration approach is the following: use asymmetric keys for authentication then one or more symmetric keys can be generated and exchanged using the asymmetric encryption. Typical examples of this procedure are the RSA/IDEA combination of PGP2 or the DSA/BLOWFISH used by GnuPG. For instance, Mantoro and Zakariya (2010) proposed a secure method of e-mail communication for Android-based mobile devices using a hybrid cryptosystem which combines AES 128 bit (symmetric) encryption, RSA 1024 bit (asymmetric) encryption and SHA-1 (hash) function. This approach had been tested with plain text but not with email attachments or communication between Android devices and other mobile platforms. PGP Configuration One of the main applications of public key encryption techniques is in the PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) program for data communication. It is primarily used for signing, encrypting emails, files, text and anything else that is involved in email communication (Zimmermann, 1995). RSA key of 1024 bits are still considered secure (given the available options of 512, 1024, 2048 bits). On the other hand, Kaliski (2003) considers that an 1024-bit RSA key can be broken in one year and that an 2048-bit RSA public key is secure enough for a PGP configuration which includes also the AES and the SHA-1 algorithm. RSA/IDEA/MD5 or any other other similar configuration is less secure according to Lenstra and Verheul (2003). PGP works as follows (Benz, 2001): compresses the plain message in order to reduce the pattern of the typical plaintext creates a session key which is a random number, usually generated given mouse movements or keystrokes a symmetric encryption algorithm is applied on the random number (e.g. Triple DES, Twofish, CAST, or AES) to generate a one-time-only secret key (session key) additional input might be required by the user if the collected information is not sufficient enough (e.g. additional mouse movements, keystrokes) the session key is used along a symmetric algorithm to encrypt the message to a ciphertext. The session key is also encrypted using an asymmetric technique such as RSA The recipient receives the ciphertext along with the public key-encrypted session key. Indeed the combination of the two encryption methods exploits the convenience of public-key encryption with the speed of symmetric encryption (Benz, 2001). Symmetric encryption is about 100 to 1,000 times faster than public-key encryption, solving the problem of slow encryption which asymmetric algorithms suffer from. Public-key encryption provides a solution to key distribution and data transmission issues. Hence, performance and key distribution are improved by combining both approaches without any sacrifice in security. On the othe hand, the PGP process described above can be a complex process for users requiring though some training. Apart of awareness it is important both parties to have installed PGP-compatible programs to be able to exchange PGP messages (Benz, 2001). PGP2 Configuration PGP2 implements the public key encryption using the RSA and IDEA algorithms to provide secure electronic mail communication either between individuals or known sources (e.g. EDI). This approach of authentication through cryptography ensures that the encrypted message does not provide any information that it is carrying even if it is intercepted by attackers. The recipient of the mail can decrypt the mail using the associated private or public key (Simmons, 1993). This approach verifies that the recipient is certain that the message is from the original sender and the contents has not been changed or lost during data transmission from sender to recipient. Furthermore, a digital signature can be attached together with the mail to further confirm the identity of the sender. This approach complements password authentication and is therefore utilized in interpersonal communication between known parties. Similar combination of asymmetric and symmetric encryption techniques can be generalized to other application domains involving collaboration between large groups. Common prerequisite is to obtain the secret key information before the recipient is able to decrypt the mail. HARDWARE-BASED IMPLEMENTATION OF RSA/IDEA ENCRYPTION A VLSI implementation of an encryption process, which combines RSA for key exchange and IDEA for block encryption, are proposed in (Buldas and Poldre, 1997). The encryption process consists of 8 rounds. Each around contains 16-bit modular additions and multiplications which simulate the integer calculations used in RSA. Also the key inversion algorithms for both ciphers are similar. When the circuit is in block encryption mode it starts the IDEA cipher process.One The IDEA cipher applies 128-bit key for block encryption. GnuPG Configuration The aim of GnuPG was to create a digital signature mechanism which would be compatible with OpenPGP but at the same time it should avoid the use of patented algorithms like RSA. GnuPG provides therefore encryption and decryption services based on a range of both symmetric and asymmetric algorithms (Garloff and Jaeger, 2000). Keyring: is the key management solution of GnuPG maintaining a database of private keys and a range of corresponding public keys Hashing modules verify the authenticity of the public keys Web of trust: a collection of signatures which have been declared as trusted by other users form a web of trusted keys In comparison to PGP2, GnuPG rejects emai;s signed with RSA and IDEA keys, potentially been produced by PGP2. And vice versa, PGP2 rejects emails signed with DSA/ELGAMAL keys from GnuPG. GnuPG is compatible with PGP5 (Garloff and Jaeger, 2000). Conclusion In this paper we illustrated that symmetric and asymmetric techniques in cryptography have their own advantages and disadvantages. Symmetric algorithms are better in performance than asymmetric methods, and require all parties to share a key before they collaborate. The asymmetric ciphers allow public key infrastructures and key exchange systems, but they consume a lot of processing resources. A hybrid cryptosystem is an approach forward which combines multiple algorithms of different types, in order to exploit the best advantage of each type. One typical approach is to apply a symmetric module to generate a random secret key, and then apply an asymmetric module to encrypt this key using as input the receivers public key. After that, the message is also encrypted using the symmetric algorithm and the secret key. Both the encrypted secret key and the ciphertext of the message are then sent to the receiver. Since it is insufficient to use a single kind of cryptographic algorithm in applications, the hybrid approach in cryptography fills the gap of efficiency or performance of each of the types of cryptography (symmetric, asymmetric) along with the objectives of confidentiality, data integrity, authentication, and trust between two communication parties. This need is generalized to any type of collaboration between individuals (email exchange, group collaboration, file sharing, etc).

Predictions on the Highest and Lowest Achievers in an Elementary School Class :: Teaching Education

Predictions on the Highest and Lowest Achievers in an Elementary School Class The highest achievers and the lowest achievers in an elementary class can sometimes be treated differently because of their achievement levels. Without even knowing the class very well it can be determined who in the class is more likely to be a higher achiever and who is not as gifted. Even though it is evident sometimes who is the least and highest achievers a great deal of the time the best achievers can be overlooked if you simply watch a class for an hour. One student who I picked out, as a high achiever was a boy named Travis. Travis performed above average in gym class and was overall a better athlete and competitor than the other students in the class. This overall fitness made me consider him to be a student who was a higher achiever. Since he was better at athletics then I reasoned that he might be better at other aspects of school besides athletics. Travis also exhibited math skills by beating the rest of the class consistently in the math assignments that where done during the class as well as having the right answers. Another student that I considered a high achiever based on my observations was a boy named James. James was well dressed, wearing church type clothes. He was also an outgoing a generally happy kid who didn’t seem to mind being in school or in the class. The happiness that he exhibits gives you the feeling that he must be a high achiever because if he was unhappy about the situation than he would not try as hard. However, since he does seem to be happy then he would try his best and be enthusiastic about learning. The last student that I picked out as someone who is a higher achiever is a girl who pays attention very well and seems to follow the teacher’s line of thought throughout the class. As well as paying attention and participation in class this girl, Jackie, asked an insightful question that needed to be asked. The question pertained to a fundraising activity and Jackie asked for the teacher to clarify a certain aspect that could be interpreted in a number of different ways.

Advance Marketing Research Essay

When dealing with marketing research the essential parts are linking the consumer, customer and the public through various ways of getting information to the marketer. The two vital parts of marketing research is the problem identification research and problem solving research. (Malhotra 2010). The NFL is a sport, which is dominated by men for many years, only recently has the NFL recognize the potential audience in women. They are now acting quickly so they can capture the different segment market to cash in and also to make women more aware and appeal about the sport. The underlining point to the market research question is how does the NFL market the league to women adequately. Marketing research can help address the matter of effectively marketing the league and finding out the role of marketing research when dealing with NFL. The key role of marketing research is to acquire vital information so they can react to the markets offerings, which is to market the NFL league to women. Marketing research measures the information needed and even delivers NFL with valid, relevant, reliable and current actionable information for helpful research purposes. With the absence of marketing research, it is worth taking note that the NFL might have adverse effects with incorrect management decisions, which can later be costly. In essence for improved decision making it is vital that market research has a role to play. Question 2 A management decision problem confronts the decision maker to make a decision as in what to do. The NFL wants to increase the market penetration in the female segment; in this case the management has to decide what angle should they move in to gain market penetration in the female segment. The decision that the management should make is to change the advertisement slots, which should focus on more female oriented products or brands in conjunction with the NFL. This will attract, appeal and increase the chance of women watching the NFL league hence: Should the NFL change or alter their current advertisement pattern? Question 3 When decision makers are concerned with making possible actions it is information oriented that a marketing research problem is formed (Malhotra  2010). When dealing with the marketing research problem in the case of NFL, it is fundamental that the company must invest heavily therefore the NFL should undertake the following MRP: Promotional advertisements such as traditional and non-traditional forms of media to seize the attention of potential females who might become a potential follower and customer. Basically the marketing research problem is should the NFL invest heavily on advertising and promotional campaigns. It is important that the NFL should research exactly which media channels will be the most effective tools to campaign towards the female segment. This can be done through survey questions, interviews, focus groups and online surveys. Question 4 Research questions are refined statements of the specific components of the problem Research Question 1: Do females pay attention to Advertisement? Hypothesis H1: Females watch television during their free time H2: Females do not watch television during their past time. Research Question 2: Is magazine a good medium to advertise NFL to the female segmentation? H1: Females buys magazines regularly H2: Females does not read magazines regularly Research Question 3: Does female lifestyle suit the NFL’s environment? H1: Female lifestyle can be influence by NFL advertisements to watch the sport H2: Female lifestyle does not match the behavior of the NFL Reference List Gershberg, M. (2006) NFL studies what women fans want| Reuters. [online] Available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2006/11/29/us-media-summit-nfl-women-idUSN2933923020061129 [Accessed: 25 July 2012]. Goldberg, S. (2006) Why the NFL Struggles to Attract Female Fans. [online] Available at: http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2006/12/05/why-the-nfl-struggles-to-attract-female-fans [Accessed: 28 July 2012]. Malhotra, N. (2010) Marketing Research : An Applied Orientation. 6th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, p.1 – 74. Reed, k. and Staff, G. (2004) Making sure ads play to women, too – The Boston Globe. [online] Available at: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2004/01/28/making_sure_ads_play_to_women_too/?page=1 [Accessed: 20 July 2012].

The Iraq War and Globalism essays

The Iraq War and Globalism essays Several theories have been advanced by political commentators around the world about the real reasons behind the United States' war with Iraq. These include the Bush administration's "official" version[1] about preventing the "Weapons of Mass Destruction" (WMDs) from falling into the terrorists' hands, the supposed connection between Saddam and Al-Qaeda, liberation of Iraq from the clutches of a cruel tyrant, and the neo- conservative agenda of creating a "model democracy" in Iraq for the Arab world to follow. Although some of these reasons may be valid to an extent, the more plausible explanation for the US war in Iraq lies in the imperatives of globalization. This is because economics have always been and remain the driving force behind international relations. This paper looks at the current Iraq war from the perspective of the Globalism International Relations theory besides reviewing the historical background of the conflict and its possible outcomes. Historical Background of the Conflict Modern Iraq was created by the British colonialists out of three Ottoman provinces after the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I in 1918. A pro-British monarch was installed in the country to safeguard Western interests and to ensure that the Iraq Petroleum Company, which enjoyed monopoly control over the Iraqi oil industry, would be allowed to follow the cartel interests of the international Anglo-American oil companies. A nationalist coup in 1958 overthrew the pro-British monarch, throwing a spanner in the works by shifting the ideological policies of the country towards left leaning nationalism which was a threat to Western influence in Iraq. ("History of Oil in Iraq") Saddam Hussein, the hated tyrant who was declared the enemy # 1 by the US in later years was not always in the anti-American camp. In fact there is evidence to suggest th...

Operational Definition of Behavior in a School Setting

Operational Definition of Behavior in a School Setting   An operational definition of behavior is a tool for understanding and managing behaviors in a school setting. It is an explicit definition that makes it possible for two or more disinterested observers to identify the same behavior when observed, even when it occurs in very different settings. Operational definitions of behavior are vital to defining a target behavior for both a  Functional Behavior Analysis  (FBA) and a  Behavior Intervention Program  (BIP). While operational definitions of behavior can be used to describe personal behaviors, they can also be used to describe academic behaviors. To do this, the teacher defines the academic behavior the child should exhibit. Why Operational Definitions Are Important It can be very difficult to describe a behavior without being subjective or personal. Teachers have their own perspectives and expectations which can, even inadvertently, become part of a description. For example, Johnny should have known how to line up, but instead chose to run around the room, assumes that Johnny had the capacity to learn and generalize the rule and that he made an active choice to misbehave. While this description may be accurate, it may also be incorrect: Johnny may not have understood what was expected or may have started running without intending to misbehave. Subjective descriptions of behavior can make it difficult for the teacher to effectively understand and address the behavior.  To understand and address the behavior, its extremely important to understand how the behavior  functions.  In other words, by defining behavior in terms of what can clearly be seen, we are able to also examine the antecedents and consequences of the behavior. If we know what happens before and after the behavior, we can better understand what instigates and/or reinforces the behavior. Finally, most student behaviors occur in multiple settings over time. If Jack tends to lose focus in math, hes likely to lose focus in ELA (English Language Arts) as well. If Ellen is acting out in first grade, chances are shell still be acting out (at least to some degree) in second grade. Operational definitions are so specific and objective that they can describe the same behavior in different settings and at different times, even when different people are observing the behavior. How to Create Operational Definitions The operational definition should become part of any data that is collected in order to establish a baseline for measuring behavioral change. This means the data should include metrics (numerical measures). For example, rather than writing Johnny leaves his desk during class without permission, its more useful to write Johnny leaves his desk two to four times per day for ten minutes at a time without permission. The metrics make it possible to determine whether the behavior is improving as a result of interventions. For example, if Johnny is still leaving his desk but now hes only leaving once a day for five minutes at a time, there has been a dramatic improvement. Operational definitions should also be part of the Functional Behavioral Analysis (FBA) and the Behavior Intervention Plan (known as the BIP). If you have checked off behavior in the special considerations section of the Individual Education Program (IEP) you are required by federal law to create these important behavior documents in order to address them.   Operationalizing the definition (determining why it happens and what it accomplishes) will also help you identify the replacement behavior.  When you can operationalize the behavior and identify the function, you can find a behavior that is incompatible with the target behavior, replaces the reinforcement of the target behavior, or cant be done at the same time as the target behavior.   Operational Definition of Behavior Non-operational (subjective) definition:  John blurts out questions in class. Which class? What does he blurt? How often does he blurt? Is he asking questions that relate to the class? Operational  definition, behavior:  John blurts out relevant questions without raising his hand three to five times during each ELA class. Analysis: John is paying attention to the content of the class, as he is asking relevant questions. He is not, however, focusing on the rules of classroom behavior. In addition, if he has quite a few relevant questions, he may be having trouble understanding the ELA content at the level its being taught. It is likely that John could benefit from a refresher on classroom etiquette and some ELA tutoring to be sure he is working at grade level and is in the right class based on his academic profile. Non-operational (subjective) definition:  Jamie throws temper tantrums during recess. Operational  Definition, behavior:  Jamie shouts, cries, or throws objects each time she participates in group activities during recess (three to five times per week).   Analysis: Based on this description, it sounds like Jamie only becomes upset when she is involved with group activities but not when she is playing alone or on playground equipment. This suggests that she may have difficulty in understanding the rules of play or social skills required for group activities, or that someone in the group is intentionally setting her off. A teacher should observe Jamies experience and develop a plan that helps her to build skills and/or changes the situation on the playground. Non-operational (subjective) definition:  Emily will read at the second-grade  level. What does that mean? Can she answer comprehension questions? What kind of comprehension questions?  How many words per minute? Operational Definition, academic: Emily will read a passage of 100 or more words at the 2.2 grade level with 96 percent accuracy. Accuracy in reading is understood  as the number of correctly read words divided by the total number of words. Analysis:  This definition is focused on reading fluency, but not on reading comprehension. A separate definition should be developed for Emilys reading comprehension. By separating these metrics, it will be possible to determine whether Emily is a slow reader with good comprehension, or whether she is having trouble with both fluency and comprehension.

Managerial Functions on Starting a Sporting Goods Store Assignment

Managerial Functions on Starting a Sporting Goods Store - Assignment Example The store is likely to deal in a variety of sports goods supplied by different manufactures of national and international repute. According to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), a sporting goods store may be defined as "an establishment primarily engaged in retailing new sporting goods, such as bicycles and bicycle parts; camping equipment; exercise and fitness equipment; athletic uniforms; specialty sports footwear; and sporting goods, equipment, and accessories".(Small Business Notes) Planning function is fundamental to any serious and time-bond activity. In business, the importance of planning activity cannot be over emphasized. It is commonly accepted that a well formulated plan is half done of what is required to be done in future. As remarked by Arnold S. Goldstein, a good business plan is the road map to success (Goldstein 2002). However, the activities to be performed at this stage differ from business to business. The various elements of planning process of the present business can be detailed as below: 2. Finding t an appropriate location for the shop: Location is very important as it determines how successful the business is. It is advisable to find a location near schools or colleges and/or near to stadium or sports grounds. 5. 3. Complying with the legal Formalities: The following requirements are to be completed before starting the business operations in the United States (State Requirements):- a. Getting Business Licenses b. Registration for Occupations and Professions c. Licenses Based on Products Sold d. Tax Registration e. Trade Name Registration, and f. Employer Registration 4. Strategic Planning: This requires the firm to frame appropriate long term plans for the firm to survive in a competitive and highly innovative business environment. 5. Financial Planning: Initially finance is required not only to meet start up capital but for meeting day to day working capital as well. The working capital requirement of a retail shop is relatively lower than that of manufacturing firms. 6. Finding suppliers: When selecting the suppliers, the manger should take care of the reputation and reliability of the supplier and must ensure that goods are available without interruption. It is also imperative that materials are at affordable prices and good quality. Organising It is basically a function of grouping of all activities of an organisation into various departments and determining the authority and responsibility of employees assigned to various groups/departments (Kroon 1995). Since the present organisation is of trading nature, it is better not to for very complicated organisation structure. Therefore, it has been decided to follow the functional approach of organisational structure where the entire activities are grouped into departments based on the nature of function. The following departments have been formed so as to

Money laundering and economic effects Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Money laundering and economic effects - Essay Example A case in point is the example of the measures put in place by the Basel Committee on Regulation and Supervisory. In this case, therefore, it becomes extremely easy for banks to have a clear check on their dealings with its counterparts and come up with appropriate solutions in cases where they detect secreted dealings. Secondly, it would be of use to regulate the manner in which organizations run their activities, so as to normalize efficiency. If the management is alert and constantly report on any forms of suspicious dealings, the entire organization will be better placed to deal with the implications of the money laundering. This will be applicable in the case of fraud such as in the instances of procurement, accounts, employment qualifications, investments amongst others. If this is applied in all organizations, a lot of money that would have landed in the hands of a few people will be saved from losses, or landing in the hands of the wrong people. The management must always be alert in the quest to make timely recognition on the crimes that might be related to crimes in the organizations and make appropriate decisions that focus on the minimizing chances of adverse effects on the economy. On another point of view, it is vital that all organizations are up to date with the novel technologies that are taking place in the globe today (Gup, 2007). This is related to putting in place rules and regulations that will change the tactics that will lead to adjusting to modern forms of money laundering. Consequently, organizations will be in a better position to adjust to the changing needs of the business related environment (Hinterseer, 2002). This is appropriate in the case of organized crimes that relate to money laundering in the society. With up to date technologies, organized crimes will be detected early enough; thus, prevent an occurrence of a crime that would be lead to terrorist activities in the globe. Conclusively, money

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 191

Summary - Essay Example Most reviewers have given positive comments about the film and commended it as a classic production. The plot is cast deep in the Chechen Mountains in a war environment. While on war duty, Russian soldiers get ambushed by a group of rebels. A fight ensues between the two groups which ends in the death of all the Russian soldiers save for two; Sasha and Vanya. The two of them get taken captive by the rebels who subject them to a situation where they have to cope with cross cultural and civilization differences. Notably, Sasha is and old soldier while Vanya is merely a new recruit. Perhaps it is this difference that makes them bear differences in preferences and characteristic traits. While the former works on a plan of escaping, the latter instead develops an approach of attempting to please his captors in one way or the other. While Sasha remains extremely cynical, Vanya gets portrayed as gawky and Naà ¯ve. In the Caucasus where they are captured, Islam is the main religion. As a result, they both have to cope with Islamic tendencies. They get chained together and have to live as one almost all through. This forces the two into developing a comradely bond and the warmth of support for one another. Specifically, the young soldier begins to develop emotions and feelings for their captor’s daughter which makes him warmer to the family as opposed to his counterpart. Apparently, the daughter of their captor also gets touched by Vanya’s kindness and warmth; a point that makes her risk the wrath of her father by extending a warm and helping hand to the former. The reason for keeping the soldiers captive is the hope of a possible swap between the rebels and the Russian Soldiers. Apparently, the Russian soldiers also hold the son of the chief captor hostage. The major themes portrayed in the film include pessimism, disillusionment, war, despair, and extreme cases

Cultural Competence Essay Example for Free

Cultural Competence Essay Cultural and linguistic competence in nursing can be defined as a set of related behaviors and attitudes that integrate together within a healthcare system or institution and among the professionals that work within the system or institution with the purpose of enabling effective and efficient delivery of health services in cross-cultural scenario (Jeffreys, 2006). Below is a brief description of the eight principles of cultural competence: †¢ Broadly defining culture This involves identifying the other factors besides race, language and ethnicity that determine an individual’s sense of awareness in relation to other people (HRSA, 2001). This is because health services are delivered to an individual, and group characteristics may not be a reflection of a person’s attitudes and life experiences (Lundy Janes, 2003). †¢ Valuing Clients’ Cultural beliefs This involves caregivers or professionals in healthcare sufficiently learning the attitudes, knowledge and belief of their target population regarding healthcare and applying what is learned for the delivery of culturally competent care (HRSA, 2001). †¢ Recognizing complexity in Language interpretation This is identifying any hindrances to effective communication and targeted group due to language differences; and laying down strategies to address the same (HRSA, 2001). †¢ Facilitating learning between caregivers and communities This is the creation of environments under which caregivers can learn about the beliefs and attitudes of the targeted cultural group and their impact on healthcare; while the targeted community learns more about how healthcare works (HRSA, 2001). †¢ Involving the community in the defining and addressing healthcare needs This is getting the community to fully participate in the formulation of health policies in the system that serves them so that managed care can be fully culturally competent (HRSA, 2001). †¢ Collaborating with other agencies This is forging working alliances with groups that are familiar with the needs of the targeted community to boost the chances of delivering culturally competent services (HRSA, 2001). †¢ Professionalizing staff hiring and training This is setting cultural competence standards for new caregivers getting into the system; and continually training serving staff in emerging standards of cultural competence (HRSA, 2001). †¢ Institutionalizing cultural competence This is making cultural competence standards an integral part of healthcare planning and optimizing hiring, training and funding to meet these standards (HRSA, 2001). In conclusion, the above principles are very vital to the delivery of holistic healthcare services for healthcare professionals working in cultures different from them (Lundy Janes, 2003). ? References Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA (2001). Cultural Competence Works. Retrieved on 14/5/2010from ftp://ftp. hrsa. gov/financeMC/cultural-competence. pdf Jeffreys, M. R. (2006). Teaching Cultural Competence in Nursing and Health Care: Inquiry, Action and Innovation. Springer. Lundy, K. S. Janes, S. (2003). Essentials of Community-based Nursing. Jones Bartlett.

Free College Essays - Religious Symbols and Symbolism in Sweat :: Hurston Sweat Essays

Religious Symbolism in "Sweat" Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat" is a short story rich in moral and religious parallels. This story is about a common African- American working woman in the deep South and how she clings to her faith in God to see her through the hardships caused by her faithful and abusive husband. Throughout this story there is religious symbolism that characterizes Delia and Sykes Jones as two people on opposite ends of the moral spectrum yet bound by marital vows that have lost their meaning. Delia Jones is a hard working woman who uses her faith in God to guide and protect her from her husband's relentless physical and emotional abuse. From the very beginning, Delia represents diligence in work, humbleness, and saintly virtue. This protagonist is depicted as physically feeble yet spiritually strong. Diametrically opposite to Delia's character is her husband Sykes. Sykes Jones seems to oppose Delia in his every word and action. He is physically abusive toward his wife, non-virtuous in that he is adulterous, and he takes advantage of Delia's hard work by spending the money that she makes on his lover. While Sykes is physically strong and has no virtue or faith in God, Delia's strength lies in her religion and humble tolerance of her husband which proves, in the end, prevalent over his brute strength and abusive attitude. Certain objects and situations in the story suggest the influence of religion. The white clothes Delia washes in the story are symbolic of her character. White represents her virtue and saintly tendencies as she humbly tolerates Sykes' torment. The religious association of snakes and evil is prevalent in two instances in this story. Sykes at one point uses a whip to scare Delia by rubbing it on her and making her think it was a snake. Also, later in the story, Sykes places a real snake just outside the door of their house for the sole purpose of scaring Delia. These two examples could be seen as a biblical allusion as in the story of Adam and Eve when Satan took the form of a snake. The symbolism of snakes in "Sweat" subtly and cleverly illustrates Sykes as being an evil antagonist character. The pattern of good vs.

The History Boys Comedy Essay

The History Boys Essay 13. â€Å"Brilliantly funny†¦. but by the end, tears are as near as laughter. † To what extent can we read The History boys as comedy? One of the key factors that makes the History Boys such an iconic play is its witty comedic effect throughout the entire book. Using various techniques, such as parody, contrasting characters and clever juxtapositions within the plot, intelligent metaphors, bathos and many more.But at first glance the history boys could seem a typical dramatic themed book with a group of characters restricted almost entirely to a single location and a short period of time however looking deeper into the play you begin to notice the comedy reveal before your eyes. Within Hector’s French lesson, the juxtaposition of Hector’s character immediately contrasts that of the headmasters as soon as he walks in.Hector’s strangeness and open-minded character contrasted with the headmaster’s strict adherence to rules, regulations and formality with Hector interrupting the headmaster’s dialogue â€Å"Mr Hector, I hope I’m not. . . † with the informal gesture that is â€Å"an admonitory finger. † The use of the â€Å"admonitory† there comically reverses the power balance between the two characters, with Hector playfully showing that he has authority in his lessons, much to the shock of the headmaster who feels both humiliated and challenged enough to try and speak French and keep up with the students.The Headmaster finds difficulty in speaking French, having to hesitate and show non- fluency features in â€Å"Pourqoui cet garcon . . . Dakin , isn’t it? . . .est sans ses trousers? † having to switch back to English with simple words â€Å"trousers† for lack of knowledge showing low confidence which brings amusement to the boys and to the audience. The headmaster is a subject of mockery because of his unlikable character.This unlikable character is emphasised later in the book with the Headmaster using the word â€Å"silliness† to describe the exercise that Hector had made the boys take part in and then taking back what he had said, saying â€Å"not silliness† showing that he is hypocritical with what he says to the boys in order to encourage them with their studies, which he only says to allow himself to have his school higher up in the league tables â€Å"Yes, yes. I know that, Dorothy. But I am thinking league tables. Furthermore the fact the French scene is allowed to go ahead in lessons demonstrates the boys and Hector are willing to cheekily challenge and mock authority figures with their intelligence, all knowing French to a better degree than the Headmaster. The use of â€Å"ma tante! † creates bathos for the pretend character with â€Å"tante† showing desperation for ideas to keep the lie going. The following questioning â€Å"sa tante? † by the Headmaster and Timms’ repl y of â€Å"la famille entiere† as if the headmaster missed something embarrassingly obvious adds to the comedy because the boys team up with each other to justify and ridicule the headmaster.Irwin’s unexpected input of â€Å"Il est commotionne, peut-etre? † is another example of Bennett’s clever character juxtapositions but also of using unexpected events to contrast what was being done before it, with the stage directions of â€Å"the classroom falls silent† suggesting that the boys’ found it rude and out of place for Irwin to but in. The language â€Å"fall silent† contrasts with the hectic and the loud situation that occurred before it, using Irwin’s awkwardness to change the tone of the scene. Hector not knowing what the word means and using the interrogative â€Å"comment? † adds to this awkwardness.There are many important scenes throughout this book where you can feel the comedy seeping through even though some ma y say it shouldn’t be used while writing about certain topics, including the scene in which Hector and the Head master are discussing the matter of â€Å"a man†¦fiddling. † In this scene I really agree with the question in whether the history boys is seen as a comedy as you can’t help but thinking Bennet may have used some of the characters personality traits to bring a humorous feel to a dark subject but not to make an audience laugh out loud necessary but instead to make them feel uncomfortable with inappropriate laughter. Ah think† Hector once again in the book uses his quick wit and intelligence to frustrate the headmaster giving a sarcastic response to a question the headmaster clearly wants answering and for him not to use his poetry and intelligence to get him out of a situation as he normally would do so. â€Å"I have no idea. What women know or don’t know has always been a mystery to me. † using the word women hector tries to re late to the audience and make a remark about men and women in general, suggesting that does any man know what women do or don’t know which may have been intended to make the audience laugh and leave them wondering hy Hector isn’t taking this matter seriously and is instead making jokes, showing how time and having a modern audience viewing this brings shock to us as issues such as this would been taking much more seriously and probably involved police but the headmaster is more worried about how the school may come across if he has to fire Hector then the actual behaviour that he has displayed â€Å" I do not want to sack you. It’s so untidy. The use of historically details of a war battle is another way Bennett creates humour in the play but is also Bennet showing off how the boys will use their intelligence in almost all situations even sex, using â€Å"around 23:00 hours our forces withdrew† as metaphorical euphemisms for Dakin’s activities wit h Fiona, here bennet uses contrast in showing the not so exciting historical details with the exciting details of his own sex life. Bathos is applied when Dakin breaks off from his metaphor and uses the word â€Å"tits† and then cuts back into using his military jargon such as â€Å"front-line troops† and â€Å"territory. As Dakin goes further and further into detail Scripps makes a final comment on the matter â€Å"I can’t take any more. Enough† adds a final touch of humour to the matter as the audience can tell that Scripp’s is both jealous and disgusted at what he is hearing. Also highlighting the fact that he is deeply religious but also a teenager and the contradiction between the two of wanting to have sex and not wanting to displease God by doing so. The use of a historical metaphor is showing just how the boys will use anything that they can to make an intelligent joke.One of the history boy’s many strengths is its portrayal of the various individuals in the play. Using extremely contrasting personalities emphasizes the individuality and purpose of each character. One character that specifically stands out is Dakin, possibly the most socially dominant boy of the class and one of the most comical characters, helping the history boys to be seen as a comedy rather then a drama. Dakin is popular boy in his class, even in the whole school. He is, extremely witty.He is the most complicated and mysterious character throughout the play and only shows what’s on the surface, he does not show his emotions but his main purpose is to use his wit and desire to entertain and amuse the people around him. Even Mrs. Lintott says that he is â€Å". † Instead of being bad or naughty like normal teenagers, he plays with others and tests the people around him to create a comedic effect. We can see it through his â€Å"love† story. Even though he has a relationship with Fiona, a chool staff, he flirts with Irwin for he thinks that Irwin might be homosexual and would like to go out having some drink with him he might be bisexual yet, he does that just for fun, just for saying thank to Irwin, and just for answering his curiosity about Irwin’s way of life. There is also another funny scene later on in the play where the boys receive a piece of work from Irwin. Dakin is annoyed to find he hasn’t receives a good mark off his teacher which he longs to impress.Scripps comments on how his writing has changed to be like Irwin’s, Dakin denies it but then Posner, who has always had a crush on him, says â€Å"you copy him and I know because I copy you. † It shows another comedic moment in the book because it shows how Posner’s complete obsession with Dakin And how the other boys can just dismiss this behaviour as normal to them suggesting that the environment they grow up in has a lot of unusual behaviour in it.This is fundamentally a very funny book. The level of qu ickness of wit displayed definitely suggest that the history boys is a comedy with no doubt and that Bennets main aim was to show the lifestyle of A level adolescents making their final steps to adulthood before university with many serious and controversial subjects throughout using humour to allow these matters to be downplayed and create a fascinating and a memorable book. WORD COUNT : 1499 (minus the title and question quote)

Chinese Views on Death and Dying Essay

Chinese religion and strict cultural beliefs are inseparable from the death rites performed. Many different names for death are scattered throughout Chinese history, including an ideogram that depicts a person kneeling in front of their ancestor’s bones 1. In Chinese culture, death rites are intricate and well thought out works on preparing one for the afterlife and rebirth. Chinese funeral rites have strict guidelines as to where the rites are to be performed, how the rites are performed (ritual bathing of the corpse), the dress of the attendees and the dead, the transfer of material goods on Earth to the dead, acknowledgement of the deceased and the actual burial of the body. All these sacred rites are performed by specialists (usually priests or otherwise) who are paid by the deceased’s family members. Death rituals carry on long after the burial of the body in terms of grieving for the dead. These rites include returning to the burial site on specific dates to mourn, perform yuan-fen (a symbolic act in which the burial site is rounded off with dirt to give it a nice and proper shape) and burning of incense and earthly offerings 2. Attitudes and beliefs on death and the afterlife are quite the same among the Chinese people of the late Imperial Chinese culture and the Chinese culture of today. The continuing traditions of the ritualistic burials sheds light on one way a society can be linked culturally. 1. T.C. Lai â€Å"To The Yellow Springs: The Chinese View of Death† (17) Hong Kong: Joint Publbishing Co. and Kelly & Walsh, 1983 2. Watson, James L. and Evelyn L. Rawski â€Å"Death Ritual in Late Imperial and Modern China† (12-15) Berklely: University of California Press, 1988 Different cultures harbor different views on death and dying, and it is important to understand the significance of these contrasting elements of other cultures and our own. The Chinese cultures do not see death as something shy away from, but rather it is a part of life that is revered. Death is such a scared step that it embodies many different characters for definition such as ni 3a and qi shi 3b. The transition from being a mortal and alive and being deceased is very important to the Chinese. The Chinese  have a strict set of funeral rites that must be followed completely in order for the transition between this world and the world after death to be smooth- the rites are so embedded in culture and rich with rules that there is even a set time for certain levels of grievances. Death rites are often followed by a series of mourning sessions over the year. However, death rituals for those higher up in society, of course, differ from those of the common man. James L. Watson states that â€Å"To be Chinese is to understand, and accept the view, that there is a correct way to perform rites associated with the life-cycle, the most important being weddings and funerals. By following accepted ritual routines ordinary citizens participated in the process of cultural unification.† 4 and with this in mind we can begin to understand the reason why the Chinese abode by such rigid structure for the burial of a deceased person. The structure that was imposed on the people of China was embraced because it brought everyone together. 3. T.C. Lai â€Å"To the Yellow Springs: The Chinese View of Death† (18) Hong Kong: Joint Publbishing Co. and Kelly & Walsh, 1983 4. Quote from: Watson, James L. â€Å"Death Ritual in Late Imperial and Modern China† The Structure of Chinese Funerary Rites: Elementary Forms, Ritual Sequence, and the Primacy of Performance (3) The sequence in which the ritual is performed is laid out perfectly and begins with public notification that a death has occurred. As soon as a death has occurred women in the presence of the death must announce the death by wailing at the top of her lungs, such wailings, as documented by Watson were not voluntary. Along with the informal announcement of death was a formal one where white banners and blue lanterns are placed around the abode and along the doorway. Some of the formal notices were voluntary in part of China, whereas in some parts they were also mandatory. Not much unlike Western culture, different colors hint to a time of mourning. Instead of wearing black (like in Western cultures), those who are mourning  the deceased in China are seen wearing white clothes, shoes and cloaks that are usually made out of sackcloth or hemp. Although mourning colors differ in different parts of China, white is the universal color of mourning for the Chinese. These mourning clothes are usually ragged, unbleached, unhemmed and white. 5 The corpse must go through a series of cleansings and blessings before it is allowed to be buried. A ritualized bathing of the corpse is required before it goes on to the next step in the rites. In south China the water is not gathered by the family themselves, but rather, bought from a deity of a sacred well. This particular rite is called mai-shui or roughly translated, â€Å"buying water†. There are 5. Jones, Constance R.I.P. The Complete Book Of Death And Dying New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1997 (Pg. 163)  several ways the corpse is cleansed–from scrubbing with the water bought, or a  gentle dab on the forehead with the sacred water. Along with the cleaning is the  donning of new clothes on the corpse. The next step in the funerary rites would be the transfer of material goods to the dead. Things like paper clothes, cardboard houses, furniture and servants and other things the dead might need in the afterlife would be transferred into the world of the dead by burning them in a big pot. Food was presented as an offering to the deceased and afterwards, the mourners would partake in the food. 6 Food is an integral part of Chinese tradition and culture, especially with the ritualized steps of burial. Stuart E. Thompson says that, â€Å"To be Chinese is to perform Chinese ritual and vice-versa; to be Chinese is also to eat Chinese-style food with Chinese-style implements.† It is explained that the  food used in the rites are to transform a corpse into an ancestor. Food is a centerpiece in the ritual more than once. 1. Foods are presented as soon as the person dies and once again during the ceremonial coffining of the body. Rice is a crucial part of Chinese diet and rice balls and other food products (roast pork and such) are usually placed on top of his/her coffin to accompany the dead on their journey. Parts of the ceremony are used to separate the living from the dead, for instance, the breaking of bowls to break the ties between the dead and his/her descendants. After the breaking of the bowls, the 6. Watson, James L. â€Å"The Structure of Chinese Funerary Rites† from Death Ritual in Late Imperial and Modern China. (12-13)  family members must insure that the deceased does not return upset, so  the belongings of the deceased must be symbolically distributed among his/her heirs using the food on top of the coffin. 2. After the coffining of the body, food is presented to the coffin at least twice a day by the daughter-in-law of the deceased. These offerings are made until the coffin is buried. Sometimes, the offerings continue even after burial. 3. A farewell feast is giving either the day before, or on the day of the burial. This tradition is to ensure that transformation from being deceased into an ancestor is complete. Prized offerings consist of either pig heads or whole pigs along with rice. Along with the farewell feast for the deceased, some offerings are given to hungry ghosts whom would usually steal from the deceased on his/her journey. 4. Wine, usually rice wine, is poured into three cups for the dead on the burial grounds. This is the last rite before the body passes on to become an ancestor. 5. Food is presented again after the burial when everyone returns to the home where the ceremony began. Ancestral tablets (explained further in this paper) are then set on specially built alters or mantles. (My own family has the ashes of the deceased on a mantle in which food is presented to them at every meal) 7 7. Thompson, Stuart E. â€Å"Death, Food, And Fertility† from Death Ritual in the Late Imperial and Modern China. (75-76) Soul tablets are made for the deceased (except for children and unknown people) as a symbol of a part of their soul. These soul tablets are made by ritual specialists and are placed either on an alter (of those who are married) or in temples, specified institutions or covenants for a fee (for unwed women). These tablets were very important to the rites of the dead. A written Chinese name was required for these tablet, hence the reason why unknown strangers could not receive one. The dead were not recognized by any materialistic idol or pictures, but only by their written Chinese name. Music was also an integral part of the burial sequence. There were two different kinds of sounds that were used to either ward off evil spirits or aid the passing of the soul. High-pitched piping and drumming were the two common sounds heard during burial rites. These sounds are usually played during transitions in the ritual, usually when physical movement of the corpse is taking place. Music is also played during the sealing of the corpse. The Chinese found that this is the most important feature of all the different acts. The coffins made of wood have been with the Chinese since the Neolithic. Again, paid specialists are the ones who make sure the corpse is stationary within the coffin. They secure the lid on with nails and caulking compounds to be sure that the coffin is airtight. The nailing of the coffin is the most important part of the whole ritual. The hammering is usually done by the main mourner or by an invited guest who holds a high social status. The final sequence is the removal of the coffin from the village. However, this  last rite does not need to be performed immediately. It is actually a sign of respect for the  coffin to be kept close to the family over a long period of time. But of course, there comes a time when the coffin must leave the hands of the living. 8 Those who are relatively wealthy will be able to carry out every burial rite with the assistance of a burial specialist. Watson explains that, â€Å"The ethnographic evidence suggests that, among the Cantonese, there is a hierarchy of specialists ranked according to the relative exposure to the pollution of death. This hierarchy also reflects the standards of skill, training, and literacy required to carry out ritual tasks† (Death Ritual in Late Imperial and Modern China. 109) The highest ranking specialist is the Geomancer (a person who has the ability to foretell the future by using signs from the earth) whose work demands high levels of skill and literacy. Next in line are priests who receive their knowledge through years of apprenticeship. Priests are moderately literate in order to perform mortuary rites. Those who rank below priests are usually illiterate, mainly because their line of work usually does not require any reading or skill. These specialists range from pipers, nuns, musicians, and overall helpers. There are also helpers who rank even lower than those below priests and these are the corpse handlers. Corpse handlers’ tasks involve washing the corpse, dressing the corpse and arranging the corpse in the coffin, and finally carrying the coffin to its burial ground, digging the grave, and disposing items that are directly associated with the corpse 9. Corpse handlers are of the lowest ranking ritual specialists because they are deemed as highly polluted by death and are set apart from the other specialists. 8. Watson, James L. Death Rituals in Late Imperial and Modern China (12-15) 9. Watson, James L. â€Å"Funeral Specialists in Cantonese Society: Pollution, Performance, and Social Hierarchy† Death Ritual in Late Imperial and Modern China (109-110) Along with the ritual sequence come the many names for death. As  explained before, the earliest concept of death was characterized as a person kneeling before his ancestor’s bones. The deaths of people of different ranks in society are characterized differently from one another. The death of sovereign is called beng ,which comes from the sound of a large building collapsing. The death of a prince is called hong (the sound of something breaking), a government minister’s death is called cu (â€Å"the end†), and that of an official is called bu lu (meaning: ending the enjoyment of emolument), however, the death of a common person is less extravagant–si simply means â€Å"to expire†. Just like the many characters there are for the people who pass away, there are many characters for the ways people can die, for example, death from old age is called shou zhong which translates to â€Å"the termination of longevity†, which death while young is ca lled yao which means â€Å"breaking in mid-journey†. 10 With the different ways they have to describe death in one or two words, it is hard not to notice that the Chinese are very much interested in the process of death. In China, the spring time is time for purification and regeneration. The Spring Festival is held every spring and it is very important to the comfort of the dead. During the festival, descendants will visit graves of their ancestors to honor  and care for the burial ground and body it incases. Prayers and sacrifices are made to the dead during that time and the act of â€Å"saluting the tomb† is practiced. 10. Text adapted from To the Yellow Springs: The Chinese View of Death by T.C. Lai. Hong Kong: Joint Publishing Co. and Kelly & Walsh. (1983) (Text 18) â€Å"Saluting the tomb† is an act where red-colored rice and peeled eggs, which are symbolic of the saying â€Å"old gives way to the new†, are placed on top of the burial ground. November is the month that harbors Ghost Day celebrations. Ghost day is a special day where people burn paper money as  offerings to their ancestors. Another day of celebration is the Winter Dress Festival where paper clothes and such are burned for their ancestors, again this holiday is celebrated in October and November 11. These celebrations do not directly pertain to spirits who are in a state of unrest. In China a ghost, a male ghost is called kuei while the female is called yao, is a spirit whose death was either very unusual or very violent criminal act. The Chinese are extremely superstitious. It is said that ghosts linger relatively close to the location of their death. For example, Ghosts of thieves would sometimes be seen close to the area of their execution. Another common superstition (one that was also taught to me) was that if a pregnant woman were to walk past a spot where a person has died, that spirit would attempt to expel the child’s soul and replace it with its own to be reborn 12. Anniversary ghosts also exist in Chinese culture. Anniversary ghosts are essentially ghosts who appear on the anniversary of their death to re-enact the scene. The only way this can be stopped is if someone dies in its place on that same day, the same way, in the same spot so that the soul that is tr apped and doomed to repeat its painful death will be released. Unfortunately, the person who has died in their place will be doomed to repeat his 11. Jones, Constance The Complete Book of Death and Dying (135) 12. Jones, Constance The Complete Book of Death and Dying (129)  or her death, unless a specialist performs a ritual to set the spirit free. One can already tell that the Chinese have great respect for the dead and their ancestors. Chinese attitudes and beliefs about death are influenced by Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism 13. â€Å"If one does not know life,  how can he begin to know death.† Confucius (Fig. 1) The Chinese honors the dead regularly by presenting offerings and prayers since they believe that these practices push forth the sense that death occurs all the time and that it should be accepted into daily life. 13. Jones, Constance R.I.P. The Complete Book of Death and Dying (12) 14. Figure 1 is from T.C. Lai To The Yellow Springs (14) NOTE! Blank Spaces are for images taken from books. Be sure to add corresponding images to this essay.