The Terrorist Attacks in the United States

A Brief Guide to the Sociology of Globalization

A Brief Guide to the Sociology of Globalization The sociology of globalization is a subfield within sociology that focuses on understanding the structures, institutions, groups, relationships, ideologies, trends, and patterns that are particular to a globalized world. Sociologists whose research lies within this subfield focus on how the process of globalization has shifted or changed pre-existing elements of society, new elements of society that may have evolved in response to globalization, and the social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental implications of the process. The sociology of globalization contains the study of economic, political, and cultural globalization, and importantly, examines the interplay of all three aspects, as they are all mutually dependent on one another. When sociologists focus on the economic aspects of globalization, they examine how the capitalist economy has evolved from a pre-globalization state. They research legal changes in the regulations of production, finance, and trade that either facilitated or are responses to the globalization of the economy; how the processes and relations of production are different in a globalized economy; how conditions and experiences of labor, and the value of labor, are particular to a globalized economy; how globalization changes patterns of consumption and distribution; and what may or may not be particular to the business enterprises that operate in a global economy. Sociologists have found that the deregulation of the economy that allowed for its globalization have led to a rise in insecure, low-wage, and unsafe work around the world, and that corporations have amassed unprecedented levels of wealth during capitalism’s global epoch. To learn more about economic globalization, see the work of William I. Robinson, Richard P. Appelbaum, Leslie Salzinger, Molly Talcott, Pun Ngai, and Yen Le Espiritu, among others. When studying political globalization, sociologists focus on understanding what has changed or is new about political institutions, actors, forms of government and governance, the practice of popular politics, modes of political engagement, and the relationships between them in a global context. Political globalization is intimately connected to economic globalization, as it is within the political realm that decisions about how to globalize and run the economy were and are made. Sociologists have found that the global era has wrought entirely new forms of governance that are global in scope (the transnational state), made up of organizations of heads of state or high-level representatives from many nations who determine the rules for global society. Some have focused their research on the implications of globalization for popular political movements, and have illuminated the role of digital technology in facilitating globalized political and social movements that reflect shared idea s, values, and goals of people all over the world (like the Occupy movement, for example). Many sociologists carve a distinction between â€Å"globalization from above,† which is globalization determined by the leaders of transnational corporations and the transnational state, versus â€Å"globalization from below,† a democratic form of globalization called for by popular movements. To learn more about political globalization, see the work of Josef I. Conti, Vandana Shiva, William F. Fisher, Thomas Ponniah, and William I. Robinson, among others. Cultural globalization is a phenomenon connected to both economic and political globalization. It refers to the export, import, sharing, repurposing and adapting of values, ideas, norms, common sense, lifestyles, language, behaviors, and practices on a global scale. Sociologists have found that cultural globalization occurs via the global trade in consumer goods, which spreads lifestyle trends, popular media like film, television, music, art, and material shared online; through the implementation of forms of governance borrowed from other regions that reshape everyday life and social patterns; the spread of styles of conducting business and of working; and from the travel of people from place to place. Technological innovation has a great impact on cultural globalization, as recent advances in travel, media production, and communication technology have brought wide-scale cultural shifts across the world. To learn more about cultural globalization, see the work of George Yà ºdice, Mike Featherstone, Pun Ngai, Hung Cam Thai, and Nita Mathur.

Ethical Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical Case Study - Essay Example Deontological principles focus on the concept of duty rather than any concept of right or wrong. With reference to the case, there are two types of deontological ethical theories, duty theories and rights theories. Duty theories purport an action as being morally right if it is in accord with some list of obligation and duties. Right theories is an action is morally right if it is adequately respects the right of all humans. Conversely, the two types of consequential ethical theories that are related to the case study include utilitarianism and ethical egoism. Utilitarianism states that people are driven by their fears and interests. However, their interests supersede their fears. A group of people can pursue their happiness while hurting others. Ethical egoism is a consequential theory that prescribes action that can either be beneficial or detrimental to the welfare of others. The deontological ethical theory, duty theory was not implemented by J.L mother. Despite the fact that, sh e is a nurse in the same hospital that J.L went to seek treatment, she could have respected the patient bill of rights. When J. L was in the emergency room, her mother could have given her privacy. The staff assumed that the mother wanted to stay even without seeking the patients’ permission. The duties of a nurse are to practice confidentiality with a patient. This clearly shows that her rights are being violated with respect to the rights theories. The nurses should have done the necessary tests to rule out a possibility of appendicitis. The nurse delays her treatment for about two hours, dishonoring their professional code of ethics that advocates for proper full attention towards a patient’s illness. Due to a lost specimen, the nurses decided on a pelvic exam that was traumatic to the patient. This is also seen as a violation of her rights. The reports indicating that the patient was uncooperative depicted that the moral rights of the nurse were not followed. The p regnant test done against J.L permission was also not a morally ethical act. After undergoing such an ordeal, the nurses did not recommend any form of treatment. This was a violation of the nursing code of ethics. The nurses were focused on the concept of duty rather than any concept of right or wrong (Marcum, 2010). If the consequential theory, which determines the rightness or the wrongness in any action were used in this scenario, J. L would have received better kind of treatment. J.L mother should have helped her daughter in the application and given her bill of rights to read. Confidentiality is an imperative issue especially when it is concerns with some ones health. The staff that was treating J.L should have examined her alone. Utilitarianism was clearly implemented as the nurse conducted a pregnancy test on a patient without his approval (Pozgar, 2007). They conducted this test on the notion that many underage girls have â€Å"immaculate conceptions† on the event the y report abdominal pains. Ethical egoism could have been implemented on the event J.L did not tell her mother the diagnosis of her abdominal pain. Since, she is a nurse at that hospital; she would have easily accessed that information. The delay in the examination and lack of any remedy for the pain by the medical staff supports the

Human Bioscience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Bioscience - Essay Example bases with a breathing rate of 40 beats/min and the skin is flushed. Electrocardiograph (ECG) demonstrates tachycardia (fast heart rate). The child remains semi-conscious.   John and Linda put on gloves and initiate supportive care and treatment for this child. They proceed with the following treatment:   Airway – insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway   Breathing – application of a non-rebreather oxygen mask   Circulation – location and cannulation of an accessible vein for fluid hydration and drug administration.   The treatment is completed and the paramedics carry the child down to their stretcher and out to their vehicle. John goes into the back of the ambulance with the child and Linda climbs behind the steering wheel and drives to the hospital. At the hospital the paramedics perform a handover to the medical staff providing the history and the results of their examination.   The medical officer, Dr. George, makes enquires of the mother confirming the initially supplied patient history. Dr. George notes that the mother is periodically coughing and asks her about her own health. The mother replies that she had been ill last week and she thought it might have been flu as her joints were achy but that she did not see the doctor as she was too busy at work. She self-medicated throughout with cold and flu tablets from the local chemist. She now feels much better but still is periodically coughing. The mother is 22 years old. Dr. George has admitted to the hospital several very unwell patients with flu like symptoms and a cough in the past few days aged between 8 and 20 years, one of whom is currently semi-conscious and in intensive care.   The nursing staff, Sue and James, repeat the observations for body temperature, blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate and level of consciousness whilst also transferring the child from the ambulance equipment to the hospital’s breathing support equipment and ECG monitor. James puts on gloves and checks that the cannula placement and drip line have remained patent during the transfer. Dr. George checks the child for neck rigidity and reactions to bright light. He then takes a blood sample and orders a full blood count and antibody markers as well as a chest X-ray and spinal tap for a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample. He also writes a request for the fluid hydration to be continued and prescribes an antipyretic to lower the child’s temperature. Dr. George is looking to differentiate between influenza and meningitis. Dr. George considers prescribing antibiotics as a precautionary measure for meningitis whilst awaiting the results of the diagnostic tests.   Dr. George then proceeds to take a more detailed history of where the child has spent the last couple of weeks and who he and the mother have been in contact with.

Trade Legislation of Russia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Trade Legislation of Russia - Essay Example Business is allowed to take the form of sole proprietorship or an enterprise in any other case businesses are required to create a foundation agreement which defines the nature of the relationship and the roles of the participants. Republic of Hungary is a Central European country bordered by Ukraine, Romania, Austria, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Serbia. Its capital is Budapest and has a population of approximately 10 million. Its currency is the Forint with and exchange rate of 269.43 Hungarian forint equal to one Euro. The government type in Hungary is Republican. The resignation of the Hungarian prime minister earlier this year caused uncertainty in the political situation of the country. The president is the head of state and the prime minister heads the governments. There is a National Assembly which makes up the legislative set up and they Supreme and Constitutional court which make up the judicial system. Hungary was also affected by the global economic crisis and the country's debt levels have been on the rise. The country also faced a decline in the foreign investors. And the government securities became an issue of concern for its ability to meet finance requirements. The government has ensured liquidity of the financial markets and introduced a financial stabilization package with the IMF and EU to enhance investor confidence. The GDP declined in 2009 to -6.7 percent. The European Union revised the projections of decline and agreed to raise the deficit target of the country to 3.9 percent. The Hungarian Debt Management agency has been successful in launching bond auctions in 2009. A series of reforms by the government have been introduced to cut down on spending and to reduce the tax burden on labor in an attempt to encourage employment and to deal with the recession. The tax burden has been shifted from labor to wealth consumption. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26566.htm#political http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/hungary/social.htm Technology in Hungary The technology scenario in Hungary is focused on research and development. Both technology and telecommunications sector has experienced massive growth over the past few years. General Electrics, Hewlett Packard, Motorola, Nokia have established research and development centers in the country. Competition will be tough with competitors such as Eriksson, Nokia and Motorola already in the market but the company will be able to sustain through on going innovation and efficiency, and by keeping the company aggressive against competition. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3662785.stm PEST for Turkey Turkey is situated in the Southeast region of Europe. The country is bordered by Greece, Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Syria and the

Impact Of Television On Sexual Behaviour Of Youths Media Essay

Impact Of Television On Sexual Behaviour Of Youths Media Essay INTRODUCTION Television, radio, films, newspapers, magazines, books, and other media are increasingly persuasive and influential in peoples lives around the world. New technologies such as the Internet, cell-phones and chat rooms, have changed the nature of the media experience in significant ways through the information they provide to users. The information obtained from mass media maybe constructive or detrimental and it is for that reason there is need to assess the impact it has on teenagers sexual behaviour by mainly focusing on televised programmes. Background of the Thesis Televised programmes do qualify as one of the convenient sexual educators in our culture but laden with contradictions. TVs accessibility and popular appeal make it an excellent instructor, offering a convenient way to learn about sex without embarrassment which usually arises between parents and their children when discussing sex related issues. While TVs sexual messages are not always explicit, they are abundant, and often provide information youth do not get elsewhere. Through its dialogue, characterisations, storylines, and themes, television presents adolescents with numerous verbal and visual examples of how dating, intimacy, relationships, and sex are handled. On the other hand, concern is often expressed that the messages TV sends about sexuality are limited, sometimes stereotypical, and potentially harmful. The concern is that the prevalence of sexual content on TV inadvertently overemphasizes the role of sex in male-female relationships. Of equal concern is the impression t hat television provides a one-dimensional picture of sexual relationships and sexual encounters are always spontaneous, romantic, and risk free. Thus, because of the prevalent yet limited nature of TVs sexual content, researchers and educators have become interested in/whether viewing of these portrayals is associated with distorted expectations, irresponsible sexual decision-making, and permissive sexual attitudes. Although the research in this area has been sparse in Kenya, research findings do associate amount of TV viewing with viewers sexual attitudes, expectations, and behaviour. First, greater TV exposure has been linked to viewers attitudes about sex and sexual relationships. Both heavy regular consumption of and experimental exposure to sexually-oriented genres, such as soap operas and music videos, have been related to expressing more liberal sexual attitudes, to being more accepting of sexual improprieties, and to more negative attitudes toward remaining a virgin. Together, these findings but not limited to, provide tentative evidence of a link between watching sexually-oriented programming and viewers own sexual attitudes, expectations, and behaviour. The effects of television consumption on teenagers behaviour regarding to sex are of increasing interest to educators, policy makers, program planners and the society as whole. The concern is that the extent to which frequent consumption of media with high levels of sexual content and low levels of portrayal of responsible sexual conduct is a pivotal influence on young peoples subsequent sexual behaviour, including the responsible use of protection from pregnancy and disease. Research done in United States has demonstrated that young people are heavy consumers of sexually- oriented media including TV, both broadcast and cable channels, videos, movies, magazines, and, more recently, the internet. The researcher acknowledges that the above mentioned relationship cannot be generalised across cultures especially Kenya and United States, however televised programmes do carry sexual content across board. Content analyses have also demonstrated that broadcast television contains a high, growing and increasingly explicit dose of sexual messages, and that a proportion of such messages display or model either restraint or contraceptive use. However, scientific evidence has not yet established a causal relationship between exposure to sexual content in the media and teenagers attitudes concerning sexuality and their own sexual behaviours. Therefore a detailed research that addresses the nature and magnitude of the role of television in teenagers decisions regarding sexual intercourse and protection from disease and unintended pregnancy might create data which could guide future policy making and programming, both in the government and in the media industries. Statement of the Problem The role of television as a sexual educator in our culture is perceived to be inappropriate. On the one hand, televisions accessibility and popular appeal as an excellent instructor, does offer a convenient way to learn about sex and sexual behaviours without embarrassment. While televisions sexual messages are not necessarily visually explicit (which can be either non-verbal or verbal cues), they often provide information that teenagers may not receive elsewhere. One dimension of involvement to be considered is viewing motivation, or viewers expected uses of television. People use and select media (television) to gratify specific needs, and that specific uses lead to differences in behaviour and outcomes. According to this construct, people exhibit varying levels of activity when using the media, differing in their selectivity, attention to, and involvement with the content viewed. However, while the expectation is that the effect of television content will therefore depend on ones level of active involvement. It is argued that facilitative activity, which includes selectivity, attention, and involvement, is more likely to enhance television effects on sexual behaviour, whereas inhibitory activity, which includes avoidance, distraction, and scepticism, should deter teenagers involvement in sexual activities. Focusing on the two dimensions of facilitative activity and inhibitory activity, the researcher seeks to determine to what extent televi sion viewing impact on teenagers sexual behaviour. Thesis Objectives In order to achieve the purpose of the study which is to determine the impact of television on the sexual behaviour of the youth by exploring aspects of television use that are associated with teens sexual behaviours and expectations, hence the research has based its objectives on: To investigate whether television content affects the sexual beliefs and behaviour of the youth To investigate what sexual content the youth pay attention to and how they interpret what the see and hear. To investigate whether television as a form of media can be used to promote responsible sexual behaviour Thesis Questions What sexual content do teenagers pay attention to, and how do they interpret what they see and hear? Do sexual media content affect teenagers sexual beliefs and behaviour? Can the mass media be used to promote responsible sexual behaviour among teenagers? Hypotheses The study will test the following hypotheses; Sexual behaviour among the youth is influenced by what they see on television. Television is appropriate channel to educate the youth on responsible sexual behaviours. Television has become a peer to the youth. Limitation of the Thesis For comparison reasons, the research is limited to researches done on the similar topic on argument impact of television on the sexual behaviour of youths. The study sample of teenagers between the age of 15 to 17 living in Starehe constituency may not give a fully representation of the each and every youth in the country. Its important to note that there no readily available research or documented information regarding to television viewing among teenagers in Kenya which would have added value to this research. The study is limited in collection of primary data specifically in interviews and questionnaires. The question of whether the respondents will accept appointments, attend, answer and return the questionnaires in good time is delimitation to the research. It is important to mention that not all respondents will be able to reply to the questionnaires adequately due to reasons beyond the researchers control, while some may have clerical errors. Concerted efforts will be ensured for better response and retrieval of important information from relevant sources. Motivation This study is important for Kenyan society, in understanding the impact of television on the sexual behaviours of youths. Furthermore, the information attained in this study could also help in understanding sexual decisions that are made by youths. As the country and the world as a whole are working towards combating the HIV and AIDS epidemic, it is imperative to try and understand the different aspects (peers, parents, television, as well as the media as a whole) that contribute to such decisions, particularly since statistics have highlighted that they are more vulnerable to being infected and are at the risk of experiencing teenage pregnancy. Thesis Structure The thesis will be segmented in chapters; the first chapter will concentrate on the sociological analysis of the topic whereby the study will look at the problem, its root-cause and what has been done by other researchers on teenagers sexual attitudes and behaviour regarding to what they watch on televised media. In this particular chapter the study will look at various communication and psychological development theories which tend to explain teenage sexuality. The subsequent chapter or segmentation of this study will document the research methodology in collecting primary data, sampling of respondents, data collection and analysis. The study uses descriptive survey research design whereby the researcher will describe a scenario to a respondent who will then give in-depth response on the same. The research population is drawn from teenagers of age 15-17 years old whereby stratified sampling will be applied to select the respondents. The final chapter deals with elaboration of the communication strategies available such as injection theory and agenda setting theory followed by the justification of the communication theories through the research findings and details on the implementation of the proposed thesis. It will end with general conclusion based on the findings expressed from data analysis and discussed literature in view of thesis objectives. CHAPTER ONE Introduction This chapter deals with literature concerning previous studies relating directly and indirectly to the influence of television on adolescent girls sexual attitudes and behaviour. Furthermore, this chapter furnishes a detailed description of how different researchers view the underlying assumption of this study together with a consideration of the different methodologies employed to conduct the various studies which have resulted in similar conclusions. This chapter further describes how television has influenced other aspects of adolescent life and behaviour. Although the study solely focuses on the impact of television, the study also describes mass media in order to broaden the perspective regarding media influence among adolescents. In addition, the researcher indicates how television influences other behaviours other than sexual. The reason of including other manifesting behaviours is to illustrate that if television is able to influence teenagers in this manner, it may also influence their sexual attitudes and behaviour. Teenagers and Sexuality Teenagers undergo adolescence which is viewed as a time of adjustment and is often characterised by turmoil resulting from issues regarding identity and sexual identity and orientation. A key period of sexual exploration and development occurs during adolescence. During this time, individuals begin to consider which sexual behaviours are enjoyable, moral, and appropriate for their age group. Many adolescents become sexually active during this period. Sexuality is a developmental milestone among teenagers with which each generation struggles. Sexuality encompasses behavioural components with boundaries of sexual activity moving in an increasingly permissive direction. Perceptions appear to be constant through the ages while only the circumstances change. An emphasis on individual freedom and rights-driven culture in societies may be influential in this apparent permissiveness. A number of factors which include media and the internet, urbanization, electronic communication, peer influences and the breakdown of traditional parental and community structures also play a part. Therefore, we look at these factors in more detail. Factors Influencing Sexual Behaviour There are many factors that contribute to and influence sexual behaviours among adolescents. Family structure, age, gender, parenting styles, and type of parental communication have all been pointed out as factors that influence teenagers behaviour. However, family structure has been of particular interest to most researchers as more adolescents are being exposed to family disruption and are moving away from traditional lifestyles. The positive or negative impact of these changes on adolescents may also influence their sexual behaviour. Teenage sexual attitudes and behaviours are also influenced by: Biological and psychological factors within an individual this refers to age, level of maturity and gender Close relationships in family and peer groups refers to the people with whom a teenager enjoys near, close or intimate relationships. Socio-cultural contexts such as race, religion, school and the media refers to the kind of environment from which a teenager come from, their belief systems, the kind of education, as well as the kind of media (television, print media, internet, radio), to which they have been exposed. Consequently this research aims at determining television as an influencing factor on the sexual behaviour of teenagers in Starehe constituency. One potential but largely unexplored factor that may contribute to sexual behaviours among adolescents is exposure to sexual content in the mass media. The average youth spends one third of each day exposed to media, and the majority of that exposure occurs outside of parental oversight. Although mass media have been shown to have an influence on a broad range of behaviours and attitudes including violence, eating disorders, tobacco and alcohol use, surprisingly few studies have examined the effects of mass media on adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviours. Theoretical Perspectives: Attitudes and Behaviours The potential for mass media to influence behaviour has been supported through a number of different psychosocial theories, hypotheses, and models. Although there is considerable variation in theoretical mechanisms by which media might affect adolescents sexual attitudes and behaviours, most posit that sexually related message content and behaviour act over time as stimuli to change consumer psychological, physiologic, and behavioural function. The study thus analyses two theories namely Social-Learning Theory and Cultivation theory to relate the sexual behaviours among teenagers. Social-Learning Theory Banduras social-learning theory provides ample evidence that even when children and adults have not actually performed a behaviour, they can learn by imitation. Bandura identifies three main processes involved in learning: direct experience, indirect or vicarious experience from observing others (modelling), and the storing and processing of complex information through cognitive operations. This theory suggests that behaviours are learned and that they are influenced by social context: Television is seen as an increasingly influential agent of socialization that produces its effects through childrens propensity to learn by imitation. The premise of Social learning theory is that it focuses on viewers personal connections with the portrayals via identification and perceived relevance to the self. The dimensions here emphasize on television characters as models of behaviour. The hypothesis proposes that specific critical portrayals may exert a stronger force on impression-formation and image-building than might the sheer frequency of television characters and behaviours viewed. This notion emphasizes the power of individual performances to affect viewers, most likely portrayals that speak to the viewer in some way. Banduras theory predicts that teenagers will imitate or model what they see on television when those television personalities are rewarded or are not punished for their behaviour, and are perceived as attractive, powerful, and similar. Indeed, evidence suggests that perceiving TV figures as sexual role models is associated with more permissive sexual attitudes, more extensive sexual experience, and great er dissatisfaction with ones sexual status and sexual experiences. Thus, it is expected here that the contributions of TVs sexual content will be stronger among teenagers who more closely identify or connect with the portrayals of television personalities. In light of the aforesaid, the most common examples of social learning situations are television commercials, movies and music videos. Sexual content displayed in these programmes may suggest that certain sexual behaviour renders teenage boys and girls more attractive and admirable. The theory further indicates that human sexual behaviour is governed mainly by social conditioning, rather than endocrinal stimulation. Sexual modelling presented on television teaches affectionate techniques, reduces sexual inhibition, alters sexual attitudes, and shapes sexual behaviours by conveying norms: for instance, which behaviours are socially acceptable and which are not. Cultivation Theory Cultivation theory posits that heavy exposure to mass media creates and cultivates attitudes more consistent with a media-directed version of reality than with reality itself. Up to this point, the dominant theoretical model supporting this research has been the cultivation theory. The cultivation theory (Gerbner, Gross, Signorielli, 1994), proposes that televisions consistent images and portrayals construct a specific portrait of reality, and as viewers watch more and more television, they gradually come to cultivate or adopt attitudes and expectations about the world that coincide with this portrait. Although this model has typically been employed to explain the impact of TV violence, it has been applied successfully to the cultivation of attitudes about gender roles, politics and marriage. Accordingly, if content analyses indicate that sex on TV is glamorous, prevalent, recreational, and relatively risk free, the cultivation model predicts that frequent teenage television viewers will be more inclined than sporadic viewers to hold and accept this perspective of sexuality. Media portrayals and messages might affect the behaviour of teenagers over time by enabling them to acquire new attitudes and behaviours or by changing the likelihood that they will perform new or previously learned responses. However, while the results reported thus far are provocative and informative, and do support the premises of this model, they offer a limited analysis of televisions role in the sexual socialization process. It is argued here that viewing amounts should be seen as only one avenue through which TV exposure might affect teenagers. Indeed, the processes by which television viewing shapes viewers attitudes and expectations are varied and complex, with several factors contributing at the same time. Therefore, to better examine contributions of television exposure, other dimensions of viewing need to be considered. In particular, a key element missing has been the role of viewer involvement. The study believes that teenagers perceptions of the portrayals and their connections with the material are likely to be critical factors in the socialization process. Drawing on the premises of several theoretical perspectives, I have outlined four aspects of viewer involvement which I believe may play an important role. It is my argument that teenagers who feel more connected with the material and who are more involved in the viewing experience will be most affected by it. To contextualize the Cultivation theory, the study discusses viewing motivation, active viewing and perceived depiction. Viewing Motivation One dimension of cultivation theory involvement to be considered is viewing motivation, or teenagers expected uses of television. Gratifications concepts contend that people use and select media to gratify specific needs, and that specific uses lead to differences in viewing behaviour and outcomes. While some viewing is believed to be more ritualized, in which a television is used to fill time, escape, or provide company, other television use is more instrumental, in which viewing is purposeful and goal-directed, perhaps driven by information-or arousal-seeking. In relation to the study, we focus on instrumental motives, more specifically on viewing TV to learn about the sex. The expectation is that the effects of TVs sexual content will be stronger among teenagers who are intentionally using TV to learn about sexual behaviour. Active Viewing A second dimension of Cultivation theory focuses on the level of active viewing. According to this construct, teenagers exhibit varying levels of activity when using the television, differing in their selectivity, attention to, and involvement with the content viewed. However, while the expectation is that the effect of TV content will therefore depend on ones level of active involvement, the direction of this effect is unclear. The suggestions are that active teenage viewers are more affected by televisions messages; others indicate that passive teenager viewers are most vulnerable. In reconciling this debate, a current perspective suggests that different ways of being active contribute to different outcomes. It is argued that facilitative activity, which includes selectivity, attention, and involvement, is more likely to enhance television effects, whereas inhibitory activity, which includes avoidance, distraction, and scepticism, should deter them. Focusing here on facilitative ac tivity only, the expectations are that the socializing effects of TVs sexual content will be stronger among teenage viewers who tend to engage in more facilitative activity. Perceived Depiction A third dimension of involvement considers the perceived realism of the portrayals. Although most television programs are fictional, there are many aspects of the portrayals (such as the clothing, physical settings, dialogue, and situations) that closely resemble those in real life. Consequently, most notions predict that televisions impact will increase the more realistic its content is perceived to be. Evidence supports this premise, with cultivation effects appearing to work stronger for those who view the portrayals as realistic. Thus, it is expected that the socializing effect of televisions sexual content will be stronger among teenage viewers who perceive its portrayals as more realistic. Influence of Television on Teens Television has proven to exert a large influence on peoples attitudes and behaviour. It has been found to reflect and possibly shape the attitudes, values, and behaviours of young people. According to them, this medium has become so influential that it serves as a teacher, often providing a common source of information to young people. The role of media in teenagers lives has raised concerns in many respects, such as violence, sexuality and body dissatisfaction. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the effects of media on various behaviours, including violence and aggression, social stereotyping, and pro-social behaviours, the systematic process of examining sexual content on television and its impact on adolescent sexual behaviours is in its infancy. Studies have demonstrated clearly that sexual content is pervasive in TV programming, movies, music videos, and magazines; however, much less is known about sexual content on the radio (including remarks by presenters) and the sexual content of video and computer games. It is surprising that only a few studies have assessed the sexual content of the television, and none have specifically examined this content in relation to teenager exposure. This is particularly troublesome given that what little evidence there is indicates that the television programmes may contain the most sexually explicit content. Studies on the effects of television on teenagers sexual behaviour have found that prime-time programmes and music videos, focusing on sex outside marriage, promote more justifiable attitudes about premarital sex. Two cross-sectional surveys have linked frequent exposure to sexual television content and transition to sexual intercourse. However, because time order was not clear in these studies, Ward and Friedman further state that it is credible to conclude that teenagers who were having sexual intercourse were also those most interested in sexual content in the media, rather than that exposure to sexual media was accelerating the initiation of their sexual activity. The single longitudinal study on this topic found that adolescents (12-17 years old) who watched television shows with more sexual content were more likely than those who viewed fewer shows with sexual content to have engaged in more advanced sexual behaviour, as well as sexual intercourse, up to one year later. Larson is of the opinion that the exposure to portrayals of sex may affect adolescents in developing beliefs about cultural norms as well. He states that television may create the illusion that sex is more central to daily life than it truly is and may promote sexual initiation as a result, a process known as media cultivation. Exposure to the social models provided by television may also alter beliefs about the likely outcome of engaging in sexual activity. Social learning theory predicts that teens who see characters having casual sex without experiencing negative consequences will be more likely to adopt the behaviours portrayed. Although televised sexual portrayals can theoretically inhibit sexual activity when they include depictions of sexual risks (such as the possibility of contracting an STI or becoming pregnant), abstinence, or the need for sexual safety, this type of depiction occurs in only negligibly of shows with sexual content. As a result, sexual content on television is far more likely to influence sexual behaviour among teenagers than discourage it. Teenage Sexual Behaviour in Kenya It has been documented that modernisation increases opportunities for sexual encounters and provides new models for sexual behaviour. The results suggest that modernisation favour transgression of the more restrictive traditions that existed decades. The scenario in Kenya regarding to teenage sexuality, little has been done to study the trends on the issue. Some of the close related studies done have mainly focused on sex education and reproductive health among adolescents. Problems related to sexuality and related behaviours seem to play a central role in the lives of many teenagers. In many parts of Kenya sexual debut begins early and in the absence of information and services. They state 7 out of 10 young people in Kenya have had sex before the age of 19. This high level of sexual activity is associated with risks such as HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, unsafe abortion, economic hardship and school dropout. Currently 5 in 10 girls in Kenya have begun childbearing before age 20 years. In most communities in Kenya, adolescents are faced with many of the same problems and violations of rights that may lead to sexual abuse. In their report, they have identified some reasons to explain this situation; the break down in traditional family systems in both urban and rural areas, influence of the mass media and modernisation as well as the lack of access to information and services are just some of the factors. In some cases they have pointed out that there is poor packaging of information for teens consumption hence having a negative impact on their sexual behaviours. In compounding this, it illustrates that not only do teenagers lack the right information and skills they need to make sound, healthy choices, but they are at particularly high risk of serious, long-term consequences of poor decision-making about sexual activity regarding to STIs, sexual abuse and early parenting. Narrowing it down to area of study, Kenya boosts over five national television stations and cable television. These stations broadcast various programmes featuring music videos, films, educative programmes, soap operas, all these shows run under various themes which may or may not have sexual connotations. Due to limited dedication to sex education among teens, the outcome is that these teens will rely on their own judgement or peer advice to make decisions regarding to sex. Thesis Critique Based on this review, the study identified many gaps in our knowledge of the sexual content of various television especially Kenya, the amount of exposure to it by adolescents, and the impact of this exposure. Moreover, there is a noticeable scarcity of well-conducted, scientifically rigorous studies that examine the impact of sexual content in the television media on sexual behaviours among adolescents, and there are no studies that have longitudinally examined the cumulative effects of sexual content in different types of media. It is critical that longitudinal research be conducted, and within the multilevel context of child development: that is to say, different groups of adolescents (defined by age, geographic location, tribe, domestic situation, and other variables) have different media diets, and identical diets may have differing effects depending on a number of factors. Based on this review, future studies should survey parents to assess the effectiveness of parental involvement, communication, supervision, and monitoring of media sexual content in the media in influencing the sexual attitudes and behaviours of teenagers. Also there is a need to evaluate adolescent and parent media-literacy education to determine best-practice interventions and their impact on youth viewing choices, interpretation of content, and sexual attitudes and behaviours: Intervention studies are needed to examine whether current media-literacy education has an impact on adolescent sexual attitudes, decision-making, and behaviours and how such programs may be improved to best protect teens. Throughout the study, there no are tangible researches in relation to teen sexual behaviours done which has taken into account early initiation of sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, other sexual behaviours such as oral sex, dating violence among teenagers. Conclusively, this study categorically urges that there is need to address potential mediating variables such as puberty, peer factors, society and family factors (e.g., parental supervision and monitoring of media use); only in such ways can we determine the effects of television on adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviours. Conclusion This chapter has focused on discussing the theoretical framework that underlines this study. A review of social learning theory and cultivation theory with the main emphasis placed on cultivation theory. The importance of observing modelling behaviour, attitudes and viewing motivations of teenagers is addressed, as is the fundamental assumption of social learning theory and cultivation theory. The modelling process, factors influencing observa

The Importance of Settings in Great Expectations Essay example -- Engl

The Importance of Settings in Great Expectations The purpose of setting is to provide a physical background for the narrative and it must enhance or advance the plot. In â€Å"Great Expectations† Dickens has varied and contrasted his settings (on purpose), to make the changes in characters personalities more appropriate. For example Pip goes from a poor, working class boy from the marshes, to a socialite of the upper class who is arrogant and proud in London. In his choice of setting Dickens has made sure that his settings tie in with his characters social class, he has done this with Jaggers the lawyer who lives in London, Wemmick his assistant who lives in a quiet, small, eccentric urban house and the Gargery’s in their forge on the marshes. By making Characters settings seem appropriate for their class and personal storyline this makes the novel seem somewhat realistic and possible and this must have been very exciting to the readers of what was then a series and would have been one reason why they might have been eager to read the next chapter. I think Dickens intentionally made his purpose of setting real and authentic to achieve the appeal, which would have been generated from this. Dickens ability to set mood, tone and atmosphere to compliment his characters was crucial in their success, for example, Abel Magwitch and his first appearance in the story as the ‘convict’. What better a place to situate a convict but in a place where it is misty, foggy, cold, damp, dark, dangerous and perilously silent? What makes it even better is that also Dickens puts in a timid boy who has come to visit his dead relatives, only to be ambushed by a convict. The atmosphere created here really works and is effecti... ...reate unique and powerful portrayals of his settings for example ‘the sky was just a row of long angry lines and dense black lines intermixed’. By using similes like ‘skylight patched like a broken head’ Dickens made setting imaginable and so easier to imagine/relate to. The use of setting Great Expectations is of a high standard as Dickens has been able to create vivid world through his involvements of senses and various writing techniques. Also Dickens was able to make his novel realistic as he drew from many of the experiences of his life. Dickens has provided more than a physical background for his narrative as through is settings he has further enhanced and also deepened his plot there for bringing his book to life, also he has used mood, tone and atmosphere to complement his characters effectively and his choice of locations fit in with his story.

Four Narrative Positions in Fictions Essay

In fiction novels, one of the most important elements is the authoritative narrator. The narration is the part of the material which guides the readers and keeps them in track of how the story goes. Without this element, everything will be left onto the readers, like the parts of analysis and interpretation, which may lead to confusion. There are several kinds of narrations when it comes to fiction writing. However, although all narrative styles may appear helpful guiding the readers throughout the rest of a novel, the narrative style with the utmost access to the characters consciousness is always the most effective and affective to the readers. John Steinbeck’s â€Å"The Chrysanthemums†: Outside Privileged Narration Looking at the narrative style of John Steinbeck’s â€Å"The Chrysanthemums,† it can be observed that the narrator speaks consistently in the third-person point of view. This is a one of the major properties of outside privileged narration. Another observable characteristic of the narrative position of this novel is that it has all the access to the characters’ emotions, views, feelings, and inner thoughts. The narrator seems to have all the knowledge in terms of how the characters feel as presented in this line: â€Å"Her face was eager and mature and handsome; even her work with the scissors was overeager, over-powerful. The chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy† (Steinbeck page #). Aside from this, the narrator of this story also seems to have the ability to analyze the events it the story as well as the thoughts and dialogues of the characters, which is another distinct characteristic of an outside privileged narrator. This can be observed in the following line: â€Å"Here, for instance, the claustrophobic world of Elisa Allen is signaled by the claustrophobic clouds pressing in on the valley. This frustrated woman will never break free† (Steinbeck page #). Lastly, the narrator nonetheless appears credible since its presence has been close enough to the author’s views. Kate Chopin â€Å"The Story of an Hour†: Outside Effaced Narration In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin, it can be easily seen that the identity of the story does not dwell much on the characters. just like in the â€Å"The Chrysanthemums,† the narrator here also tells the tale in the third-person, all-knowing point of view. However, as compared to the first short story, the narrator in this story does not have much access to the characters’ feelings and thoughts as reflected in this line which barely tells the outside manifestation of the characters’ emotions: â€Å"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sisters’ arms† (Chopin page #). Moreover, the narrator also does not convey much about its presence as it can be observed that it does not always give sufficient descriptions and analysis, as presented in this line as well: â€Å"The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares† (Chopin page #). Also, this narrator is reliable in the sense that it shows the characters’ actions and describes what they are supposedly thinking and feeling, specifically that of Louise’s. However, it does not present the inner voice of the characters, nor does it express its own comments about the happenings in the story. Ralph Ellison â€Å"Battle Royal†: Inside Dramatized Narration In Ralph Ellison’s â€Å"Battle Royal,† the narrator appears as the character that is presented as the focus and identity of the novel. The narrator uses first-person pronouns which implies that he, himself is the character of the story which stars him. Unlike the short stories discussed earlier, the narrator in this story has the most access to the characters’ consciousness and feelings as he himself is the character of his own story – which makes his lines more affective and believable. This line clearly presents this attribute: â€Å"I saw them start up the steps and felt suddenly as though my head would split† (Ellison page #). Aside from this, there seems to be no question regarding the domination of the narrator in this story as he himself acts as the one who relates his own experiences: â€Å"Oh God, this wasn’t it at all. Poor techniques and not at all what I intended [†¦] Dispossessed? I cried holding up my hand and allowing the word to whistle from my throat. ‘That’s a good word, Dispossessed! Dispossessed† (Ellison page #). However, in most parts, there seem to be some questions regarding the narrator’s reliability as his and others’ knowledge in the story will always seen insufficient and not all-knowing. William Faulkner â€Å"A Rose for Emily†: Inside Restricted Narrator Just like Steinbeck’s and Chopin’s stories that were presented previously, the identity in this story is not focused on the characters. Also, it holds some similarity with the first two stories as this was also told in the third-person point of view. However, what is different in this story is that it only holds access to the consciousness of some characters and not all, as presented in the following lines: â€Å"The heart of the Rose expanded in kindness to every human being; in tenderness to the dumb creation; and for the vegetable, she felt an enthusiastic admiration. Her unaffected gaiety, and artless fullness would frequently inspire and ease in the manner of naturally reserved Emily† (Fau1kner page #). With regard to the narrator’s domination in the story, it can be seen that it constantly speaks through its own voice at times, yet there are also instances when it combines its thoughts with the character’s views: â€Å"Praise, however indirect, to her mother, always brought a flush of joy to the cheeks of Rose; she gave Emily a kiss of gratitude, and then turned to her flowers† (Fau1kner page #). In terms of the narrator’s reliability, it seems limited in the sense that it presents the shared consciousness of the townsfolk (as the narrator is deemed as the townsfolk due to the constant use of personal pronouns in plural form such as we), but it does not have access to the consciousness of all the characters, especially to the consciousness of Emily as well as the characters close to her (e. g. , the black servant). Upon exploring the different narrative styles in the aforementioned stories, it can be inferred that the reliability of the narrator definitely depends upon how well he or she is knowledgeable about the story and upon whether he or she has access to the characters’ consciousness. Moreover, although all the above-mentioned narrative styles help in guiding the readers throughout the novels, the one which possesses the utmost ability to influence and move the readers still appears to be the narrative style with utmost access to the characters’ feelings and emotions, which is the inside dramatized narrative style. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. â€Å"The Story of an Hour. † Literature for Composition: Essays, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 8th ed. Eds. Sylvan Barnet, William Burto, and William E. Cain. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. pages #s. Ellison, Ralph. â€Å"Battle Royal. † Literature for Composition: Essays, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 8th ed. Eds. Sylvan Barnet, William Burto, and William E. Cain. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. pages #s.

European Union Environmental Business Law Essay

The Treaty of Rome which established the European Economic Community in 1958, did not originally included any provisions for the safeguard of the environment It was not until 1985 that the Single European Act inserted Title VII containing articles 130r to 130t in the Treaty of Rome that made environmental protection a lawful objective of the Commission and laid down the core principles upon which the environmental policy was based (Poostchi 83). The core principles as stated by Poostchi are â€Å"the principles that preventative action should be taken, that the polluter should pay and that environmental damage should be rectified at source. These legal principles as given by the Single European Act were further refined by The Maastricht Treaty which enhanced the scope of the environmental policy of the European Union. Today the European Union has over 200 directives (legal texts) with environmental policies under the broad classifications of Air, Biotechnology, Chemicals, Civil Protections and Environmental Accidents, Climate Change, Land Use, Noise, Ozone Layer Protection, Soil, Waste and Water as well as issues like public participation in environmental decision making and public access to environmental information. Development and Implementation of Environmental Law The EU has the option of adopting environmental legislation by way of three primary legal instruments: (i) directives, (ii) regulations, and (iii) decisions. Regulations and decisions are binding in their entirety and are directly applicable within Member States; directives, are binding as to the result to be achieved, but leave to the Member States the choice of form and method, which means that member states have the power to enact local legislation based on a directive to further the cause of initiating it in the first place (Goodrich). The branch of law dealing with the environment has the same system of development and enforcement as other laws developed by the commission. The primary responsibility of EU is to develop environmental laws, while the duty of implementation and enforcement rests in the hands of the 25 member states. Herein lays the strength and weakness of the system. The strength lays in the fact that member states have greater power of enforcement than a council of 25 states, but at the same time member states enjoy considerable flexibility in enforcement which often leads to delays or avoidance of implementation, thereby frustrating the purpose of the law itself. The Legislative Process The Commission is responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental laws. By undertaking its own assessments, through complaints by EU parliament and petitions by EU citizens, the commission monitors the degree of compliance. If after review there is evidence of a breach of law, the EU initiates the infringement proceedings against the violating state. There are three categories of breaches 1) Non-communication cases, in which a member state fails to, inform EU about the adoption of national legislation implementing a directive after the deadline for implementation has passed. 2) Non-conformity cases, in which a member state implements a directive incorrectly. 3) Bad-application cases, in which a member state has failing to correctly apply community law in a particular case. The infringement procedure contains several steps which are outlined in Article 226 of the Treaty. The Commission usually upon receiving a case, issues a formal notice to the government, after which it can issue a reasoned opinion. If the member state still refuses to comply the commission refers the case to the European Court of Justice, for a ruling. Non-compliance with a ruling can lead to the imposition of a fine or lump-sump penalty on the member state. In April 2004 environmental liability directive was issued by the EC with the aim of preventing and remedying environmental damage. According to the directive (which is to be adopted by member states over a period of 3 years) Environmental damage can be remedied in several ways depending on the type of damage: For damage affecting the land, the Directive requires that the land concerned be decontaminated until there is no longer any serious risk of negative impact on human health; For damage affecting water or protected species and natural habitats, the Directive is aimed at restoring the environment to how it was before it was damaged. Another development in the environmental law front is the possibility (proposal for a directive) of criminal action against serious negligence and intentional damage. According to a press release by the EC (Brussels, February 2007) the law would apply to both natural and legal persons. The proposal lays down the maximum penalty, and allows member states to impose more stringent measures. The motivation to introduce criminal action is because although EC Environmental law has existed for 30 years, there are still many cases of severe non- observance of Community environmental law. According the Seventh Annual Survey on the implementation and enforcement of Community environmental law 2005 (Commission Staff working paper Brussels, 2006) there has been a significant reduction in the number of open cases at the end of the year 2005 (798 cases) as opposed to 2004 (1220 cases). However the Environment sector, still accounts for one-fourth of all open cases concerning non-compliance with Community Law under investigation by the Commission. EU Environmental Law and International environmental law Over the past 30 years EU had made tremendous impact on environmental law legislation by enforcing very stringent environmental standards across its member nations. Environmental laws are discriminatory by nature, as they favor countries with developed infrastructures, wealthy industries and higher per capita incomes. For EU to expect all its trading partners (irrespective of their national income and stage of development) to comply with its strict Environmental laws, means that it will seek to eliminate any advantage that they might have in terms of lower prices. Environmental laws can serve as a form of non-tariff trade barrier. As in the case if Shrimp-Turtle case (USA banned the import of shrimp from countries which in the process of shrimp trawling accidentally caused the death of sea turtles. These countries were expected to install US made Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), so that the shrimp trawling would become environmentally friendly again) (Schaffer et al. 628). The net effect was to increase the sales of a US industry (the industry making TEDs), and possibly raise the price of imported shrimp products. (Schaffer et al. 623) United States ran into trouble with the WTO on the ban on shrimp products, because it was declared uncompetitive and unfair. Subsequently USA had to redefine its guidelines, so that exporting countries which employed a programme similar to that of the USA for turtle protection were given a certification to export again. Impact on FDI and International Businesses EU’s has emerged as the leading incubator for environmental rules and regulations, and this has major implications for all businesses hoping to work with the European market. This includes businesses within and outside the European Union. This is mainly because of two reasons. Businesses must comply with EU regulations if they wish to continue supply and demand to the region. Secondly like all highest forms of legislation (and constructive action in general) the EU legislation set the benchmark for environmental regulation and there may come a time when they will be followed and implemented across the globe. Recently the Commission enacted 3 new laws, which will have a significant effect on businesses trading in EU. The three regulations are REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Assessment of Chemical Hazards); RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances); and WEEE (the directive on Waste Electronic and Electric Equipment). All three are complex pieces of legislation that will affect a vast range of products, chiefly electronics that are made, sold, used, and disposed of across 25 EU member countries. (Elkington) The first legislation will make mandatory testing of over 30,000 chemical substances for human safety. This will put the fate of several chemical companies in jeopardy. RoHS seeks to ban six substances out of the E. U. economy: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). This will make it nearly impossible to manufacture semiconductors for electronic items. The third legislation (WEEE) will affect manufacturers of products like TVs, refrigerators, or cars. This take-back legislation will force companies to take the responsibility of recycling packaging material of their product and also ensure recycling of discarded products (end of life accountability). This legislation takes root from the concept of recycling all waste material so that some of it can be re-absorbed (re-claimed) in the productive process, instead of going unutilized into landfills. These legislations will have a number of implications for local and foreign countries in Europe. Firstly they will have to invest in take-back and recycling infrastructure. It is generally observed that big companies adopt the law, in fear of retaliation from NGO’s, and because they refused to be driven out of markets because of these de-facto trade barriers. Korean and Japanese countries demonstrated this when they took a lead in adopting the ISO 14000 standards, so that they cannot be discriminated in the European Market. The rate of adoption of companies from these countries was faster than that of EU companies themselves. The possible impact of stringent environmental laws is felt on domestic companies as well. During a period of economic downturn and business slowdown, most businesses are reluctant to enforce environmental legislation. Also the cost of monitoring the legal environment for businesses increases. EU is actively taking notice of breach in compliance with environmental laws and the process of pursuing legislative action at the European court is a time wasting and expensive affair. According to the OECD report on FDI, the 2003 FDI inflows to European countries were 23 per cent lower than in 2002. But according to data available with UNCTAD, for the period 2004-2006 FDI picked up again and the EU countries recorded a growth of 30% . Thus it cannot be determined to a conclusive level whether the changes in FDI have resulted because of the enactment and enforcement of environmental laws. It may be noted that European Union’s proactive behavior in enacting environmental legislation could be because they had a smaller land mass and learned the importance of conservation before other bigger countries like US. Whatever the case maybe, it remains to be seen whether the extensive array of laws will improve the environment to any noticeable degree. Given the number of years it takes for degradation to become noticeable any fruits of improvement will take time to manifest themselves. Till then both foreign and domestic businesses will find themselves facing a host of challenges, ranging from legislative action, forced compliance, rising environmental compliance cost and the like. However it will also open opportunities for businesses to develop eco-friendly products, and maintain a positive image in the minds of consumers.

Dreams - REM essays

Dreams - REM essays Theories attempting to explain the origin and functions of REM sleep include: (1) that REM sleep provides stimulation for the development of the brain; (2) that it performs a chemical restoration function, since during REM dreaming neuro-protein synthesis occurs along with the restoration of other depleted brain chemicals; (3) that it provides oculomotor (eye movement) coordination, since during non-REM sleep the eyes move independently of each other; (4) that it provides a vigilance function, since REM sleep (stage I) is characterized by a level of consciousness close to the awakened state; (5) in a more recent and controversial theory, REM dreaming performs a neurological erasure function, eliminating extraneous information build-up in the memory system; and (6) that, in a more cognitive psychological explanation, REM dreaming enhances memory storage and reorganization. Contrary to popular belief, dreaming is not caused by eating certain foods before bedtime, nor by environmental stimuli during sleeping. Dreaming is caused by internal biological process. Some researchers have proposed the activation-synthesis hypothesis. Their neurological research indicates that large brain cells in the primitive brain stem spontaneously fire about every 90 minutes, sending random stimuli to cortical areas of the BRAIN. As a consequence, memory, sensory, muscle-control, and cognitive areas of the brain are randomly stimulated, resulting in the higher cortical brain attempting to make some sense of it. This, according to the research, gives rise to the experience of a dream. Now, as in the past, the most significant controversy centers on the question of whether dreams have intentional, or actual personal, meaning. Many psychotherapists maintain that while the neurological impulses from the brain stem may activate the dreaming process, the content or meaningful representations in dreams a...

Developing a Teaching Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Developing a Teaching Plan - Essay Example This comes off as friendly yet she is still in charge of the classroom. Bringing order into the classroom early on can help establish a set of solid rules to follow and discipline. This type of treatment of the students' materials also showed respect not only to the teacher and her rules but it also taught the children to keep their items in good condition rather than askew. Since this was taught early on, it was continued to be implemented throughout the year. She also was very organized, letting students know what to expect each day to learn. This was so that students would be able to see their guidelines for the day and implement them so they could see what they had accomplished throughout the school day. She also uses methods to introduce the fact that students will be expected to learn cursive, not immediately but down the road during the year. She also establishes order using chips, assigning jobs and posting a classroom clock. Ms. Petone uses numerous methods to keep her stude nts organized. Though they are just third graders, she establishes order in her classroom early on. The students know what is to be expected of them and there are few surprises. She rewards her students for jobs well done and also gives each student their own responsibilities. Every day is a schedule. Students know what different tools or areas are used for. She gives students direction and is proactive in adapting these procedures to her classroom. Analysis, Exploration and Reasoning When analyzing the way that the students behaved in following Ms. Petrone's classroom structure, it is evident that it works because she was discussing that by the one-hundredth day of school, the students would still be organized. A predicted student level of engagement in this scenario would be that the students would be more respectful to the teacher. She is friendly and makes sure that the students understand instead what she is saying. She does not talk down to them so they are more than likely mo re open to being responsive. Since they know what everything in the classroom is for, they are more than likely to know when and what certain items or areas in the classrooms are used for. The strong structure of the classroom is indicated using the board with the day's routine on it. This helps students feel like that they have accomplished more and keeps them more focused and on target to see what they have achieved. The students will more than likely be willing to please the teacher and will learn responsibility through the classroom jobs she has assigned them. Since Ms. Petrone is rewarding the entire class for good behaviors and attendance, it is also another way to get them to work as a group. No child wants to be the one reason that the entire class did not receive a token. One classroom routine that has obvious purpose is the classroom schedule. This shows the entire schedule of the day so that the classroom students can see what they are supposed to be doing and when. Once they have completed one task, they can move on to another. This gives them a feeling of accomplishment and achievement. Also, when a child sees what they have done, they are more likely to be able to recall what they did at school that day. This actually keeps everyone on schedule. If something goes off schedule then it just gets pushed back to be a task for the next day. The students will be excited once they see that their tasks have been checked off of the list. Connections to Other

Staffing Report (final project for the HRM class ) Research Paper

Staffing Report (final project for the HRM class ) - Research Paper Example Walmart values the ability to offer customers the lowest prices which in turn, they believe, leads to an overall feeling of well being. In addition to their continuing goal of offering low prices, Walmart also wants to have the best selection of products. According to the article entitled â€Å"Walmart, P&G, Kraft Swap Sales & Marketing Strategies,† Walmart added 8500 items to their shelves in order to meet the demands of their customers("Walmart, p&g, kraft," 2011). In terms of their business strategy, Walmart is seeking to create more stores internationally and within the United States("Walmart, p&g, kraft," 2011). In addition, Walmart is gearing up to create more environmentally friendly brands and products, so as to reduce their carbon footprint ("Walmart, p&g, kraft," 2011). In terms of their Human Resource strategy, Walmart seeks to provide continuous training and education for their employees, so that customer service is high and costs are low("Walmart corporate," 2011) . For the next three years, HR believes that this strategy will continue to help keep expenses down for the company. Description of who they hire Within the Walmart company there are many different jobs that a person may apply for. One of the most common positions at this company is that of the store associate. Currently, there are 1.2 million employees who work as store associates. This particular job is comprised of all things customer service. Store associates are expected to work the registers, perform returns, help customers find products, stock merchandise, and keep the store clean and organized("Walmart corporate," 2011). There does not appear to be any requirement for this position, although it is helpful if the person is in decent health and can handle standing for long periods of time and have the ability to lift moderately heavy items on occasion("Walmart corporate," 2011). There are also store management positions. Within this particular area, there are three different l evels of management: assistant manager, co-manager, and store manager. The minimum qualifications for these positions usually include 1-3 years in a supervisory role and 1-3 years of general management experience. An education or background in finance is also an important component, although not always required. The main duties of those within a management position is to supervise the store associates, meet sales and financial goals, and to make sure that the store keeps to the company’s guidelines and policies("Walmart corporate," 2011). People can also apply for a logistics career at Walmart which is the distribution end of the company. This particular job entails getting products to the stores. There are over 40 distribution centers in the United States and products are constantly coming in and out according to the needs of the stores("Walmart corporate," 2011). For this job, high levels of physical fitness are required as is experience with heavy machinery. Organization s kills are important for this particular career path as well. Walmart’s hiring philosophy revolves around â€Å"Respect for the Individual† ("Walmart corporate," 2011). This means that the company wants to offer a competitive salary and benefits for their employees. They are a fairly active