Early Cycladic female sculptures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Early Cycladic female sculptures - Essay Example According to Fitton, this kind of art existed in Crete, in addition to Greece’s mainland. The sculptures, at first were said to have a religious meaning and mostly represented either a goddess or a god, but in reality, they simply represented femaleness. It is said that they represented the great mother, goddess of fertility. This was very evident from the appearance of the sculptures. They mostly had a female shape with folded arms across the abdomen. They had a closed set of legs with dangling feet over the surface on which they were set to stand. A research by Fitton indicates that these sculptures were mostly found in tombs and graves thus indicating that they were mostly used in funeral rituals (Fitton 22). This is a clear indication that they might have been used to represent past female legends and important personalities. The most common of the sculptures, one of a lady playing a harp in a sitting position, shows that the Cycladic people adored music and thus a female who was talented in music was considered a legend. Other familiar sculptures are of a lady playing a flute and that of a female folding hand (Christos 69). The fact that these sculptures were made from hard marble material rather that some soft material shows that these figures were made to live for centuries and thus were so important to the people who curved them (Christos 49). They represented the dead family members and the heroes in the community. The figures are said to have no facial features and clothing. They mostly represented a naked female body. The feet were mostly made to stand on tiptoe, and the head and waist to be inclined backwards (Fitton 72). Fitton state that the other facial features were added in terms of paint. They were painted to show other features such as eyes, ears, hair, mouth, and scars if the owner had any. The figures also had curves put in the right way and correct proportions. This shows that skilled artists made them. According to Fitton, some scu lptures show some evidence that the same person made them. He argues that the measurement and textures of the sculptures seem to be the same and exact. He says that it is not easy for different artists to produce the same and exact sculptures. In addition to this, traces of red pigments were observed on the front and the back of the sculptures. This was noticed mainly on the early Cycladic works of art and is a show that the surface of the sculpture shows how important the sculpture is. The importance of a sculpture could be easily noticed from the texture of the surface. It could also be noticed from the color painted on the surface. This is seen to be a good feature as it helped strangers to identify the historical legends in a community (Fitton 21). The sculptures are also seen to be made to show the character and power of a person. A sculpture of a female leader was noticed to have strong muscle on hands, barely seen breasts, strong hips and downward pointing toes with highly co nvex soles (Fitton 142). This showed her exceptional command as a leader. It is also said that such sculptures were brightly painted. Such sculptures have also shown evidence that they were repaired over time. They had patches of additional pieces of marble. This shows the importance these sculptures had to the community. Some sculptures were extracted from graves in full while others were extracted in pieces. The purpose of burying the sculptures as full or broken is not

Gender Stereotypes Essay Example for Free

Gender Stereotypes Essay Gender stereotypes are type of generalized or oversimplified perceptions, impressions, images, or opinions about men and women (Santrock, 2007, p. 177) It is also the presumption that a certain behavior or trait belongs to certain gender and cannot be applied to the other. In short, gender stereotyping can also involve assigning a certain label to a particular gender. One of the most common gender stereotypes are the ones associated with feminine and masculine behaviors. For example, it is common for most people to perceive that males should always be aggressive and tough. In addition, generally, in emotional situations, men are expected to hold their own and not breakdown or cry. It is also a general perception that young males should always strive to be athletic and active in sports and play toys such as guns, cars, and weapons. On the other hand, there are also several female stereotypes. For example, females are generally perceived to be emotional and are the first ones affected during a dramatic situation. In other words, females are expected to be more sensitive than males. Moreover, females are also generally perceived to be always demure and reserved. Furthermore, sexism is the attitude or idea that one gender is less valuable or weaker than the other or that one gender is better and superior than the other (Santrock, 2007, p. 178). It generally has two forms: old-fashioned and modern sexism. Old fashioned sexism is the belief that there should be differential treatment between women and men because women are significantly inferior to men while modern sexism is the rejection of the belief that there is still antagonism and discrimination towards women and their rights (Santrock, 2007, p. 178). One example of old fashioned sexism is when a male employee has a problem of having a female supervisor or boss. On the other hand, an example of modern sexism is when a male lawyer denies that there is discrimination against women even after his law firm rejected a potential lawyer partner simply because she is a woman. References Santrock, J. W. (2007). Adolescence 12th edition. McGr

Poverty and Food Shortages :: Famine World Hunger

There is a serious development that concerns not only hungry people but all of us. Food is becoming too expensive and food riots are spreading. There were tortilla riots in Mexico when the praise of grain became unaffordable which can happen again. Most countries have been able to feed their own but there is a fear that the millions of the unfed will come across borders to eat. If this happens those with food will battle to keep it from the hungry. Supermarkets will be forced to place armed guards in front of their doors and refrigerators will be padlocked. There are food riots going on at the present time in Haiti where the government was overthrown. Nobody can predict tomorrows costs of grain or rice. Many say it will double in price in the coming months. Over a billion Chinese people are now eating meat products that are grain fed. This is a result of an increase in their standard of living. They grow very little grain so more than ninety percent of all meat eaten in China is imported. This is one of the causes of the shortage of world wide grain. The Chinese people have a right to eat as much meat as they can afford. It would be ridiculous to ask them to curb their appetites for the sake of the hungry in other countries. We must look elsewhere for a solution. The rising price of oil is the main cause of rising grain costs. Harvesters and trucks that use oil have to pass on added expenses. A loaf of bread cannot be sold for one dollar when it costs two to produce. The hungry must eat but if they cant afford to buy bread who will pay to feed them? The best solution is to lower oil prices which will bring down the costs of grain production. This would bring to a halt world wide hunger. There have been many famines where millions have starved to death. The Ukraine suffered a man made famine less than seventy five years ago where over a million died of hunger.

Nuclear Weopons testing Essay -- essays research papers

In their effort to create a bomb that would assure destruction of enemies, the world super powers of this century have created a legacy that could presumably destroy the entire world as we know it (Schull 6). During the course of the last fifty years, nuclear weapons have continually become an increasingly detrimental threat to our own health and environment. Consequently, laws have been proposed and bills have been signed to end this senseless build-up of arsenal and testing of havoc-causing atomic was instruments. Unfortunately, enforcing such rules worldwide has proven itself to be remarkably difficult and world allies have had to use extreme caution when dealing with any and all emerging threats. In the early days of nuclear weapons production, of course, not all safety hazards were fully appreciated,and possible threats to the environment went completely unrecognized. For this reason, we continued to tryout these deadly war tools without any major concern for our future. To be sure, it is understandable that in the race to produce the atomic bomb before Hitler, such considerations would come second. What is surprising is that this negligence should persist for 50 years thereafter, in spite of the growing awareness of the threats that technology and nuclear weapons production can pose. Even the challenge of cleaning up the results of four decades of nuclear weapons production from testing should be vast enough to tell us that testing must absolutely come to a complete stop around the world. Incredible resources will be needed to dispose of 2,700 tons of spent fuel, 10,500 hazardous substances, and 100 million gallons of high-level waste; to clean up 2.3 million acres of land; and to remediate 120 million square feet of buildings on 120 sites (Day 40-41). Four major tasks can be identified: to stabilize and maintain a large number of nuclear materials and facilities; to design, build, and operate a variety of treatment facilities to prepare waste for disposal and provide safe interim storage; to manage large amounts and varieties of wastes; and to work towards environmental restoration (Mosman 13). But nuclear weapons testing has had different effects all over the world. And the "not-in-my-backyard syndrome" has come to voice opinions everywhere.-- Nobo... ... Pie Chart Below : (Source : Mollison A/08) References Day Jr., Samuel. "The big lie.," Vol. 57, Progressive, 1 Jun 1993, pp. 40. Johnson, Douglas. "Atolls and atom bombs: France's colonial design.," Vol. 45, History Today, 1 Dec 1995, pp. 8. Mollison, Andrew. "Focus on Nuclear Testing." The Atlanta Constitution, 16 Aug 1995, pp. A/08. Mosman, Jan. "Ban nuclear tests.," Vol. 339, Economist, 4 May 1996, pp. 13. Ruben, Barbara, "How to really bomb a test.," Vol. 24, Environmental Action, 1 Jan 1993, pp. 8. Schull, William J. Effects of Atomic Radiation. (New York, NY: Free Press, 1995). Sternberg, Steve. "From war's holocaust, new radiation findings," The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 20 Mar 1993, pp. F/01. Yamazaki, James N. Children of the Atomic Bomb. (Duke University Press, 1995). Nuclear Weopons testing Essay -- essays research papers In their effort to create a bomb that would assure destruction of enemies, the world super powers of this century have created a legacy that could presumably destroy the entire world as we know it (Schull 6). During the course of the last fifty years, nuclear weapons have continually become an increasingly detrimental threat to our own health and environment. Consequently, laws have been proposed and bills have been signed to end this senseless build-up of arsenal and testing of havoc-causing atomic was instruments. Unfortunately, enforcing such rules worldwide has proven itself to be remarkably difficult and world allies have had to use extreme caution when dealing with any and all emerging threats. In the early days of nuclear weapons production, of course, not all safety hazards were fully appreciated,and possible threats to the environment went completely unrecognized. For this reason, we continued to tryout these deadly war tools without any major concern for our future. To be sure, it is understandable that in the race to produce the atomic bomb before Hitler, such considerations would come second. What is surprising is that this negligence should persist for 50 years thereafter, in spite of the growing awareness of the threats that technology and nuclear weapons production can pose. Even the challenge of cleaning up the results of four decades of nuclear weapons production from testing should be vast enough to tell us that testing must absolutely come to a complete stop around the world. Incredible resources will be needed to dispose of 2,700 tons of spent fuel, 10,500 hazardous substances, and 100 million gallons of high-level waste; to clean up 2.3 million acres of land; and to remediate 120 million square feet of buildings on 120 sites (Day 40-41). Four major tasks can be identified: to stabilize and maintain a large number of nuclear materials and facilities; to design, build, and operate a variety of treatment facilities to prepare waste for disposal and provide safe interim storage; to manage large amounts and varieties of wastes; and to work towards environmental restoration (Mosman 13). But nuclear weapons testing has had different effects all over the world. And the "not-in-my-backyard syndrome" has come to voice opinions everywhere.-- Nobo... ... Pie Chart Below : (Source : Mollison A/08) References Day Jr., Samuel. "The big lie.," Vol. 57, Progressive, 1 Jun 1993, pp. 40. Johnson, Douglas. "Atolls and atom bombs: France's colonial design.," Vol. 45, History Today, 1 Dec 1995, pp. 8. Mollison, Andrew. "Focus on Nuclear Testing." The Atlanta Constitution, 16 Aug 1995, pp. A/08. Mosman, Jan. "Ban nuclear tests.," Vol. 339, Economist, 4 May 1996, pp. 13. Ruben, Barbara, "How to really bomb a test.," Vol. 24, Environmental Action, 1 Jan 1993, pp. 8. Schull, William J. Effects of Atomic Radiation. (New York, NY: Free Press, 1995). Sternberg, Steve. "From war's holocaust, new radiation findings," The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 20 Mar 1993, pp. F/01. Yamazaki, James N. Children of the Atomic Bomb. (Duke University Press, 1995).

National economic policy

On the issue of the global war on terror there are various effects which come along with the paying for the long-term war on terror. The huge amounts spent on this kind of war are spent through the government, through the private and other indirect means in the economy and these costs will need to be paid in the years to come.The policy or programs recommended addressing the likely effects of paying for the war on terrorWorld trade organization The world trade organization as an international organization promotes liberalization by encouraging all the nations to lower their existing trade barriers. In addressing the issue of the global war on terror the world trade organization has a mechanism by which it settles and also resolves various disputes without the result of any costly trade wars. Since the United States is a member of the world trade organization the country’s markets have been liberalized (William D. Orpheus 2002)Social securityThe social security program is highl y recommended in addressing the likely effects of war on terror. This ensures that the country has provided its citizens with the security that is needed against the attacks from the country’s enemies. Through the social security program the American citizens are given internal as well as the external security and they are also made to feel very safe in their own country.This is achieved by the continual; manning of the country’s entry points such as the airports and the sea. Ports. On the other hand there is lot of surveillance in the country and this prevents any possible attacks from the terrorists. The social security fund similarly ensures that the social welfare of the country’s citizen is well catered for and the citizens are well aware of their social security in terms of their social welfare. (U.S. Department of Justice 2002)Medicare and Medicaid spendingThe Medicare and also the medic aid spending are also recommended in addressing the likely effects o f paying for the long term war on terror. This provides the soldiers and also those who are involved in the war on terrorism a cover on their medical spending.The long-term financial strategy and the unique fiscal challenges of paying for the long term war on terrorThe American national security highly depends on the country’s financial security. There has been a revolutionary war debt in America and this and this has been a very huge threat to the nation’s creditworthiness and also its very existence. There has been an establishment of various financial principles in order to further secure the country. The country has been borrowing a lot so that it can pay for the war in Iraq as well as the short sighted tax cuts in the face of the long term war on terror which has been running against the American tradition thus placing the country into a security peril. (Daniel McGinnis with Suzanne Smalley 2003)This has led the American government to further realign its economic policies on the country’s taxes, the social security, Medicare, and also the country’s oil dependency so as to safeguard the American liberty as well as its future. The need to pay for the war on terror in America has driven the country to a financial innovation the American common duties for instance have often fallen off with the existing hostilities and this has further led to the increased reliance on the consumption and also the excise taxes.This has highly cut the civilians demand and freeing up the war resources but it has been very burdensome on the poor Americans. On the other hand the taxes on the businesses in America and also the wealthy people are very popular however they do not this do not reduce the consumption in the country and they also discourage an energetic investment in the country’s war industries. If it is broad based the financial debt can cement the support on the war but if it is not then it could lead to a class of creditors who have excessive political power.The shortsighted fiscal policyThe forging of the American fiscal policy has not been very simple since most of the American president’s have been frequently facing the congressional resistance to the country’s massive tax and its borrowing requests on several occasions. It has been found that the fiscal policy can not be only about the raising of very huge sums of money even though this is very important for the country as it addresses the issue of war on terror. But the fiscal policy could also be about finding several ways in resolving the country’s internal differences so as to unite the country behind the war effort as well as maximizing the productive output in the country’s economy.The American fiscal policy is short sighted since it is viewed by large portions of the country’s populations as unfair since the methods employed by the political leaders for securing funds for the war are also not fair. This will howeve r make the efforts for the support for the war to greatly suffer. On the other hand the methods used to raise money for the war on terror have weakened the country’s economy and also the country’s foundation of the military power.America has been faced with a major challenge of financing the war on terrorism since the long war has been fought is being fought in parallel with the ground wars which are prolonged in Iraq and also Afghanistan. The fiscal policy will limit and also prevent the government’s ability to pay for the threats of the catastrophic attacks from the country’s unknown enemies. This is because the policy has led to the elimination, postponement or even the reduction of funding for the low priority domestic projects so that there can be room for the high priority military spending in the budget.How to successfully prosecute the global war on terror while at the same time meeting the growing cost of retirement and the healthcare benefitsThe American leaders can successfully prosecute the global war on terror while at the same time meet the growing cost of the population’s retirements and the healthcare benefits of all the Americans. This could be achieved by finding ways which meet the crucial security needs while at the same time addressing the country’s healthcare costs of the aging population and the escalating retirement benefits.The country’s administration should adapt a long-term fiscal strategy which will allow for such needs to be met. The country’s budget on the other hand should encompass and also as set aside some amounts of money which will cater for the social security demands, together with the healthcare benefits and the growing costs of retirement for the aging population in America. Similarly the strategy should include more thorough prioritization on the allocation of the country’s resources.This will allow the curbing of the non essential spending in the country. On the other hand there should be a tax policy which will help in the avoidance of the country’s chronic deficits. Similarly the American government should adapt fiscal policies and strategies which will match the payouts in the prerogative programs at a closer look to the money which is flowing into the country. (Robert D. Hormat. 2007)The country should also reduce its dependence on the on the foreign capitals as this aggravate s the financial threat which is facing America as a nation. So that there could be a successful prosecution on both the war on terrorism and at the same time meeting the growing cost of retirement and the healthcare benefits the fiscal policy should be consistent and not in any way undermine the American national security.Reference:William D. Orpheus (2002): Iraq, The Economic Consequences of the War.   New YorkReview of Books, December 5,U.S. Department of Justice. (2002):   Explanation of the Process for Computing Presumed Economic Loss. Retrie ved fromAccessed on 12th December 2007Daniel McGinnis with Suzanne Smalley (2003): Now Families Face the Cost of War.Newsweek, April 21, 2003, p. 11..Robert D. Hormat. (2007): The Price of Liberty: Paying for Americas Wars. Published by Henry and Holt Company

Free sample - Social Story Interventions for Students. translation missing

Social Story Interventions for Students. Social Story Interventions for StudentsSocial Story Interventions for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders A Meta-Analysis According to the American Psychiatrist Association (APA, 2000), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of disorders characterized by a variety of difficulties with social interactions, communication, interests and repetitive behaviors. Included in ASD is autism, Aspersers Syndrome(AS) and pervasive developmental disorder which is not otherwise specified(PDD-MOS.)A wide range of interventions have been practiced so as to   mitigate the disorder. Among the intervention strategies is the use of social stories. These are individualized short stories written by teachers or parents of students with ASD. These stories can according to Atwood,2000 be used to aid people with such disorders in interpreting and comprehending challenging or rather confusing social questions. Social stories also give information regarding what people in a given situation are doing, feeling, thinking, sequence of events and the identification of important social cues and their meaning. Basically, the storie s deal with the ; who, what, when and why aspects of social situations (Atwood, 2000.p.90). Reynhout and Carter conducted a meta-analysis of single subject research to examine the use of social stories and the role of comprehensive set of moderator variables which include intervention and participant characteristics on intervention outcomes. In 2004, Sansosti, Powel Smith and Kincaid had carried out a comprehensive review and synthesis of the already existing research literature relating to social story effectiveness and discovered that a lot of the conducted studies were deficient of experimental control, had weak treatment effects and were confounded by a range of treatment variables. This made it hard to determine whether social stories alone were responsible for the changes seen in target behaviors.(Reynhout and Carter ,p.466)coincide with the observations made by Kincaid and company. They note that 'existing research does not demonstrate unequivocally that social story intervention is consistently effective in facilitating behavior change in children with autism. A com parison between two related studies was done. The studies were: a meta-analysis of single subject research and a web based survey. The two research studies had the following set of questions :( a) what is the overall effectiveness of social stories? (b) How are social stories constructed and used? and (c) What are the control participant and intervention variables that moderate the effectiveness of social stories? In the meta-analysis, (Crozier, 2007) Percentage of non-overlapping data (PND) was computed for the total intervention in the study for each participant. A set of inclusion criteria was used i.e. â€Å"studies using non experimental AB designs†¦treatment packages, those involving participants without a diagnosis of ASD and those with ceiling effects in baselines were not included†(Crozier, 2007). Due to this, a total of 18 studies comprising of 15 published articles and 3 dissertations that had been published between the years 2002 and 2007 were included in the meta-analysis. The web based questionnaire analyzed using descriptive statistics provided data for the survey. The final sample was made up of 42 teachers who were dealing with students with ASD. The use and effectiveness of social story was obtained and later on compared and contrasted across the two studies. The results of the meta-analysis pointed out those social stories had low to questionable overall effectiveness as per the PND score of 62% in the range 11-100% obtained for the intervention. Most teachers on contrary perceived the stories as highly effective when used to address transition difficulties faced by students with ASD. The meta-analysis indicated larger effects of the social stories on the reduction of challenging traits as opposed to the increase of social stall. According to the studies, the use of teachers as agents of social stories in special education contexts is the most common. On the other hand, the use of social stories in general education classrooms with students as their own intervention agents were associated with greater treatment effectiveness. The application of Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)   to inform social story interventions is believed to have led to improved outcomes. Younger and higher functioning participants such as students with better communication and social skills seemed to benefit to a greater extent from the intervention compared to older students with lower levels of skill development. The analysis also made use of additional variables of interest such as format of social stories, length and intensity of the intervention, use of comprehensive checks and participant reading skills.

Essay Sample on Emerson #8211; The Father of the American Literary Renaissance

Essay Sample on Emerson #8211; The Father of the American Literary Renaissance Ralph Waldo Emerson, considered the father of the American Literary Renaissance, wrote many essays to ultimately change the societal values surrounding him. In Self Reliance, Emerson conveys his philosophical idea that every individual has their own individual genius speaking universal truths. However this tends to be a hard to achieve with society imposing conformity, traditions, and institutions on society. To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, -that is genius(19). Emerson values individuality and believed that thinking for one’s self and trusting original ideas, help reach a universal truth that will ultimately benefit society as a whole. Thoreau, Whitman, Dickson, and Frederick Douglass, and Hawthorne’s writings all have an â€Å"Emersonian† essence of self-reliance and individual genius by conveying themes of individuality and non-conformity. Similar to Emerson, Thoreau dislikes institutions and promotes non-conformity. He believes the government stands in the way of individuality because the majority, instead of the individual thinker, makes decisions. Thoreau takes Emerson’s â€Å"Self Reliance† philosophy further by becoming an activist while following his conscious or individual thoughts. An example is Thoreau protesting slavery using Civil Disobedience, â€Å"If one HONEST man, in this State of Massachusetts, ceasing to hold slaves, were actually to withdraw from this co partnership, and be locked up in the county jail therefore, it would be the abolition of slavery in America†(9). Thoreau encourages disobeying unjust laws in order to change them. Eventually, he stops paying his poll tax for six years and is imprisoned. Acting as an individual by disobeying unjust laws is what will change the laws. When the individual follows its conscious, or what Emerson would call â€Å"individual genius,â₠¬  the universal truth would be apparent that unjust laws should not be followed. Thoreau refuses to let the system of government define the individual and supports individual genius through individual action and protest against unjust laws. Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman’s poetry contains the same themes of Emerson but writes in a more concrete way opposed to abstract theories. Dickinson writes mainly of the self-reliant, private individual. Many of Dickinson’s poems such as, â€Å"I Died for Beauty† and â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop for Death,† deal with immortality. She views death as private thing that everyone goes through alone, isolating everyone. In contrast, Whitman portrays a more democratic side of the universal self. He differs from Emerson believing that society is inspirational to the individual opposed to drowning out the individual thought. The Poem, â€Å"Song of Myself† says everyone is an individual but differences should not separate everyone. â€Å"My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air, Born here of parents born here from parents the same and their parents the same.† Whitman believes the differences between each individu al are not important because the same universe created everyone. However he does realize the importance of not conforming to everyone when saying, â€Å"I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard†(26). Whitman speaks through is individual genius even if what he says is not agreed upon. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self Reliance influenced both poets to speak their universal truths through their poetry. Frederick Douglass’ autobiography was not knowingly written with the influence of Emerson but is living proof of the philosophy of self-reliance. Douglass lived a much different life from Emerson, being born into slavery and witnessing humanity being stripped away from fellow slaves. Slaves would be whipped, beaten, and sometimes even shot. After witnessing his own aunt beaten as a young boy, Douglass comes to the realization, more similar Whitman, that everyone shares a universal human nature. This is more democratic compared to Emerson’s more individualistic idea, believing all men are equal. Douglass determined to dedicate his life to the emancipation of all slaves does also compare with Emerson later on in his life. By befriending other boys in his neighborhood, Douglass learns to read and write. He finds this as a necessity to speak universal truths and express his own genius and be credible to others. Douglass compares with Emerson through his actions but differs in the life that he lived. â€Å"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles†(32). These last two lines from â€Å"Self Reliance† essay represent Emerson’s individualistic concepts. Emerson values the equal individual that is in touch with their universal genius. Thoreau promotes this individuality and non-conformity through civil disobedience. Through poetry, Dickinson and Whitman speak their own genius. Whitman thinks more democratically while Dickinson values the private individual. Fredrick Douglass is proof of finding his own genius and universal truths and uses these concepts to help free himself and fellow slaves of the deprivation of universal humanity that all men deserve. Though these writers may ultimately be trying to convey different messages, all contain the theme of self-reliance and influence of Emerson. You can order a custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis or dissertation on Ralph Emerson at our professional essay writing service which provides students with high-quality custom papers written by qualified academic writers. 100% No plagiarism and on-time delivery guarantee! Any topics. Any deadline. Get professional essay help at an affordable cost.

How to Improve Your Vocabulary Steadily

How to Improve Your Vocabulary Steadily How to Improve Your Vocabulary Steadily How to Improve Your Vocabulary Steadily By Michael Sylvia Grappone says, An article on how to improve vocabulary would be helpful. Im in my late 30s and noticed that I can no longer remember things as easily as I did when I was a teen, and with a hubby and kids have no time to really focus on studying. I do read in my leisure time but at the moment only technical books. Would reading novels help my vocabulary? Any shortcuts or techniques? Sylvia, the more you read, the more words youll see, and the more youll understand. Even in the Oxford English Dictionary, the final authority for the meaning of a word is how the word has actually been used in print. But since your family limits your time, let me suggest some ways to improve your vocabulary that are more efficient than reading every book in the library. Make it a priority to learn new words. If you want to improve your vocabulary more quickly, you have to make at least a small commitment. Decide to learn one new word every day or two. Visit Daily Writing Tips for our Word of the Day. Or subscribe to a Word of the Day email list, install a Word of the Day tool on your computer desktop, or buy a Word of the Day calendar. Make your vocabulary practical. Start by learning the words that can express whats most important to you. For example, learn more of your trade language the words that are commonly used in your business or hobby or vocation. Go beyond the jargon and cliches. Find better, fresher, clearer words to express what your peers are talking about. Find the right word for you and use it. When youre writing something, use a thesaurus frequently. That will help you express yourself better. And every time you do that, youll learn a new word and youll use that new word. Start learning where you are. As you read, if you come across an interesting word that you dont understand, dont just bleep over it. See item number 1. Take the time to look it up in a dictionary. Write it down and use it later. Learn roots. Most English words are built from common roots, prefixes and suffixes, often with Greek or Latin origins. Theyre highly reusable. When you learn one root, youll start to understand the many other words that use that root. When you learn a word, use it immediately and frequently. Make it a game. Slip your new word into conversation with as many different people as you can. Repeat it to yourself. Use it in sentences. Write it on a flashcard and practice it while waiting for red lights. The key to a better vocabulary is regular practice and progress. Maybe you cant learn a hundred new words a day, but you can learn one or two a day, totaling thousands of new words over the years. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Creative Writing 101What to Do When Words Appear Twice in a Row50 Synonyms for â€Å"Villain†

Research on Education in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research on Education in China - Essay Example China’s view on education had its first beginnings with the teachings of Confucius who taught them that it is important to try something to be able to learn something (Hanyoe, R., 1984). Today, this was translated to the significance they put in reading books and scholarly materials to give them knowledge starting from a very early age (â€Å"China Education, Educational System, Teaching and Learning†, n.d.). Indeed, leaders in China serve as very significant influencers in standardizing educational goals for the whole country. As leaders, they are expected not only to do exert leadership but to serve as social ambassadors of change and success. Currently, China’s educational system is one of the largest and is one that is run by the state or the Ministry of Education. This is the institution that makes sure everyone abides in the nine-year education for all citizens. Basic education in China involves three levels: Pre-school education, primary education, and regular secondary education (â€Å"Primary, Secondary and Higher Education in China†, n.d.). Preschool starts accepting children ages three years old until six and usually lasts up to three years, where the academic year is divided into two semesters. Primary and Secondary education in China have been implemented as the 9-year compulsory education since the promulgation of the â€Å"Compulsory Education Law of the People’s Republic of China†. Secondary education is divided into either academic secondary education or specialized/vocational/technical secondary education. This would give their citizens more freedom and opportunity to enhance th eir skills and interests and use this to better Chinese society all in all (World Bank, W. B., 1997). What happens in academic secondary education is that one would have to go through academic lower and upper middle schools where graduates can have the

Education Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Education Questions - Essay Example The rest are part of these two broad groups and this has been discussed below (Oluwatelure & Oloruntegbe, 2010). Academic benefits- when families are greatly involved in children’s academic lives, we start to notice improvements in grades, test scores rise and the students attitudes towards school work improves. The effect may not be a cause and effect one but I t has been observed that with time these improvements are seen in the students’ academic life. It has been found that these students will complete homework on time, chances of them being placed in special education will be minimal, and they enroll in postsecondary education more often. It has been found that parents’ attitudes and other family members go a long way in helping these students realize the importance of education. It is especially true when these students are in a family that many people are seen to be performing well at school (Jeynes, 2005). Behavioral benefits- the benefits of a strong fam ily-school relationship have been found to extend beyond just the academic work to the individual activities and behaviors of the children. First and foremost the involvement of family improves the behavior of children at school such that the children are encouraged to adopt positive behavior because they understand the consequences of deviant behavior at school. They realize that the teacher will finally get the report to their parents about their unbecoming behavior. Compared to other cases where the family is not involved the students have higher chances of engaging in deviant behavior at school. For example higher attendance rates and lower drop out rates are witnessed as a result of strong family-school relationships (Georgiou & Jourva, 2007). Strong family-school relationship also contributes to higher self-esteem in children. This is because the children feel that their parents are concerned about them doing well in school. They are motivated to perform higher because the par ents together with are motivating them. If they fail parents are there for them trying to identify where mistakes came from and what they can do to improve the situation. This will boost the children’s morale and consequently lead to higher self-esteem (Georgiou & Jourva, 2007). The next behavioral benefit is that the children have a high probability of avoiding high risk behavior that is characteristic of adolescents. The parents and teachers are available all the time shaping attitudes and their behaviors. This form of guidance instills discipline and a sense of responsibility in the children such that they understand the consequences of engaging in inappropriate behavior. In the long run they are able to go through the adolescent stage with minimal problems. Compared to other children whose parents are not involved in their school activities it can be seen that such students are usually overcome by the challenges in adolescent stage and begin engaging in early sexual activ ity, some may start using drugs and all these are a result of peer pressure and lack of guidance from parents (Georgiou & Jourva, 2007). Question 3: components of Parent-Teacher conference The parent teacher conference is a kind of meeting between the teacher and the parent that provides a parent with a short uninterrupted period of time with the child’

Digitalized New Yorker Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Digitalized New Yorker - Research Paper Example developed artistic taste and established new standards of magazine literature with its skillfully written stories, brilliant essays, intelligent humor, self-sufficient caricatures, reviews of uncommon books, performances, movies. Mr. Ross wanted to create the magazine of a subtle humor. Having taken in partners the businessman Raul Fleyshmann Ross founded F-R Publishing Company, and remained the editor of the magazine till the death in 1951. Though the magazine did not lose sense of humor, it soon won reputation in the serious journalistic environment with its cartoons and unexpected reviews of uncommon books, performances, and movies. Speaking about New York`s cultural life The New Yorker was meant to become a visit card of Big Apple, however, it is highly demanded throughout America generally (The New Yorker history 2). The New Yorker has published the stories of many popular writers, and some stories from the magazine were transformed into the film scenarios. Among The New Yorker`s writers there were Vladimir Nabokov, Roland Dahl, Haruki Murakami, J.D. Salinger, John Updake. Such films as Adaptaion by Charlie Cauffman or The hours by Michael Cunnigham have appeared after the stories were adapted to the screen (The New Yorker history 2). The edition uses specific spelling with application of diaresis marks over repeating vowels in words where they are said separately is allocated, without forming a digraph as in the word â€Å" reelected†. The New Yorker along with Technology Review published by MIT, are one of the few editions keeping this practice. Besides, record of numbers by a copy-book, including rather long ("for the-seven thousand" instead of "47000") is accepted. The New Yorker, as a rule, does not use italics tracing for record of names of books, movies, and other works. Instead they are quoted. Though italics are used at the mention of other printing editions, it is used only for the name of the edition while the name of the city is typed by a usual

Economics and the Governement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Economics and the Governement - Essay Example The government has therefore developed a very extensive and comprehensive plan which seeks to achieve a clean energy future. In a way, the Bill is very clear and concise both from an environmental and economic perspective. The development of this bill was basically a response to the growing concern over climate change especially by international bodies. It is nevertheless realized that Australia is responsible for only 1.5% of the total Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the world. However, on scientific grounds, this is not a justification for a slow approach in addressing climate change. In any case, the effects of global warming will be realized by all countries irrespective of their contributions to the whole problem. As such, governments across the world have been enacting such legislation to ensure a reduction in GHG emissions. Australia is one of the largest CHG per capita emitters which create an even greater need for the country to enact and implement a number of domestic leg islation geared towards mitigating emissions (Lockie, 2012). Carbon Price The bill established a fixed carbon price of $23 per ton which falls squarely on some of the largest GHG emitters from 2012 to 2015 after which the price of carbon will basically be flexible through a trading scheme with the market forces being the biggest price determinants. As a result of the increase in the price of carbon, there is a subsequent increase in the prices of carbon-intensive goods and services. Due to these increases, many producers and consumers will be compelled to seek for cheaper alternatives to the carbon-based products. Indeed, according to basic economic theory, there must be a great reduction in the consumption of carbon based products as long as substitutes are available. In a way, this scheme is very successful since the government sets a limit to the annual GHG emission which can always be achieved (Considine, 2012). Indeed, the Carbon Price Mechanism (CPM) is important in a number o f ways. Under the initial flexible price model, there is price certainty since most of the affected parties can accurately predict how much the carbon emissions will cost them for the three years period under operation. In the same way, all the parties down the supply chain of carbon consumption also have a three year period to determine the cost of their emissions. While the initial period focuses on price certainty, the second stage is basically geared towards addressing emission certainty. As such, from 1st July 2015, the government will actually regulate the number of permits given each year so as to cap the country’s net emission. More importantly, considering the few number of permits which shall be granted, they will be auctioned in the market and their prices will therefore be determined by the market forces. With a reduction in the number of permits, companies will definitely a have motivation to trade the excess permits for profits. Under the CPM, a liable entity is one who has an operational control of the facility which is emitting the gasses (Simon, 2011). It is presently estimated that much of the net national emissions results from electricity generation which accounts for 37 percent while industrial fuel consumption accounts for 17 percent. Agricultural and transport have a cumulative

Sociological and Culturalist Accounts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Sociological and Culturalist Accounts - Essay Example Furthermore, the model shapes our culture. It gives us the necessary resources, cryptogram and tradition through which the society compose a universal culture, and that which enables us to fit in the very culture. The question of who possesses media power and the powerless, or even those that can implement might and brutality, and those who cannot is a clear display of the media and its associated culture. The centrality and influence of mass media in modern culture cannot be overlooked. This is a true demonstration of how a number of media sources mainstream information and messages to the society through such forms as internet, newspapers, articles, and Radio. Such information despite positive impact to the society creates an illusion of things not beneficial to the very culture. Mostly, media power proves to be symbolic and persuasive. The media primarily have the greater potential in controlling extensively the mind of readers or viewers but not their actions in a direct way. In such cases of physical, coercive force however, the control of action, that is often the ultimate aim of the exercise of power, is mostly indirect. Whereas the control of intentions plans, knowledge, beliefs, or opinions in mental representations that monitor overt activities is presupposed. Despite the pervasive symbolic power of the media, the audience will generally retain a minimum of autonomy and independence, and engage more or less actively instead of purely passively, in the use of the means of mass.

Economics and the Governement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Economics and the Governement - Essay Example The government has therefore developed a very extensive and comprehensive plan which seeks to achieve a clean energy future. In a way, the Bill is very clear and concise both from an environmental and economic perspective. The development of this bill was basically a response to the growing concern over climate change especially by international bodies. It is nevertheless realized that Australia is responsible for only 1.5% of the total Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the world. However, on scientific grounds, this is not a justification for a slow approach in addressing climate change. In any case, the effects of global warming will be realized by all countries irrespective of their contributions to the whole problem. As such, governments across the world have been enacting such legislation to ensure a reduction in GHG emissions. Australia is one of the largest CHG per capita emitters which create an even greater need for the country to enact and implement a number of domestic leg islation geared towards mitigating emissions (Lockie, 2012). Carbon Price The bill established a fixed carbon price of $23 per ton which falls squarely on some of the largest GHG emitters from 2012 to 2015 after which the price of carbon will basically be flexible through a trading scheme with the market forces being the biggest price determinants. As a result of the increase in the price of carbon, there is a subsequent increase in the prices of carbon-intensive goods and services. Due to these increases, many producers and consumers will be compelled to seek for cheaper alternatives to the carbon-based products. Indeed, according to basic economic theory, there must be a great reduction in the consumption of carbon based products as long as substitutes are available. In a way, this scheme is very successful since the government sets a limit to the annual GHG emission which can always be achieved (Considine, 2012). Indeed, the Carbon Price Mechanism (CPM) is important in a number o f ways. Under the initial flexible price model, there is price certainty since most of the affected parties can accurately predict how much the carbon emissions will cost them for the three years period under operation. In the same way, all the parties down the supply chain of carbon consumption also have a three year period to determine the cost of their emissions. While the initial period focuses on price certainty, the second stage is basically geared towards addressing emission certainty. As such, from 1st July 2015, the government will actually regulate the number of permits given each year so as to cap the country’s net emission. More importantly, considering the few number of permits which shall be granted, they will be auctioned in the market and their prices will therefore be determined by the market forces. With a reduction in the number of permits, companies will definitely a have motivation to trade the excess permits for profits. Under the CPM, a liable entity is one who has an operational control of the facility which is emitting the gasses (Simon, 2011). It is presently estimated that much of the net national emissions results from electricity generation which accounts for 37 percent while industrial fuel consumption accounts for 17 percent. Agricultural and transport have a cumulative

Women in mathematics,Science,and Engineering Essay - 1

Women in mathematics,Science,and Engineering - Essay Example However, women are highly underrepresented in science and technology studies at the secondary and tertiary levels of education, and in the overall technical workforce. This is despite evidence that suggests further involvement of women in technology related fields would greatly improve innovations and economic development in most countries (OECD, 11). Young girls are currently less involved in technical subjects as early as in their high school level; only a third of students in OECD countries taking biology, advanced chemistry, and physics related subjects are girls. In the United States, only 15% of girls are enrolled in advanced computer science studies, despite the growing computer literacy among all young people. Therefore, there is need to critically address the low enrollment of women in science and technology based fields to bridge the large gap between male and female expatriates in science and technical fields. Currently, women in US and other OECD countries are increasingl y enrolling in male dominated engineering and mathematics fields; there has been a remarkable impact on the number of women enrolling for engineering and math intensive courses.... There is a serious under representation of women in engineering enrollment in the western world. In the US, there are evident and remarkable differences in the numbers of females enrolled in various engineering disciplines. These trends are indicative of specific university features, or some courses appearing attractive to females, resulting in higher numbers of female students in some science and technical courses compared to others (Gill etal, 392). For example, in Australia, though engineering is regarded as one of the highly paid professions, requires high tertiary scores before admission to university, and has the highest level of employment from the graduate level, females in Australia make below 14% of the total first year enrollments in engineering; this is despite the given incentives, high professional status of engineers, and high pay offered in engineering (Grill et al, 392). Moreover, in Australia, women have been leaving the engineering profession at a much higher rate compared to men, which suggests that women underrepresentation in engineering will continue to worsen. This is complicated by the fact that high performing females who overcome the barriers to score highly in math and science subjects, and would be expected to take engineering as the best course, prefer other courses such as Law and medicine, with female students making more than 50% of first year enrollments in these studies across Australia (Grill et al, 392). The trend where high performing female students in Australia prefer law and medicine to engineering hints on the social implications of being an engineer. Law and medicine are associated with

Belonging Speech Essay Example for Free

Belonging Speech Essay To me belonging is a sense of enlightenment felt when an individual gains an understanding of themselves in relation to others and the wider world. To actually feel as if we belong, we must first accept ourselves and be accepted by others. A real sense of belonging can be determined by self-acceptance and acceptance by a group. However, when difficult situations are experienced, an individual may gain a sense of belonging through self-acceptance alone. This is clearly represented in the novel, ‘The Passage’, written by Justin Cronin, the poem, ‘St. Patricks College’, composed by Peter Skrzynecki and the film, ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ directed by Stephen Chbosky. These three texts clearly reflect how one would belong through self-acceptance. ‘The Passage’ is a post-apocalyptic thriller about an ancient vampiric disease that destroys society and leaves only a handful of people alive including Amy, the protagonist, who incidentally holds the key to the survival of the human race. The main protagonist, Amy, with specific reference to chapter 23, is travelling the apocalyptic landscape of America where she gains a certain self-acceptance due to the difficult situation that she is dealing with. The difficult situation being that Amy is scientifically immortal and has kept to living on her own and ultimately, surviving on her own. Cronin reveals â€Å"It was summer again and she was alone. Alone with no one but the voices she heard, everywhere and all around. † To us, it reveals how alone Amy really is and ultimately how she has come to accept herself for what she is. This revelation of Amy’s has come from the situation she has had to deal with and in a way, grown up with. The situation being that the world has ended, she is immortal and she has no one to belong with. Due to the difficult situation that Amy is in she has had to draw her own sense of belonging from herself as opposed to feeling as if she belongs with other people. For Skrzynecki in ‘St. Patricks College’ he has had to accept himself, like Amy, though a difficult situation is faced he has still been able to feel a sense of belonging with himself. Skrzynecki feels â€Å"Like a foreign tourist,† whenever he attends St. Patricks College or whenever he is among others who attend St. Patricks College. This highlights the feelings of Skrzynecki and how he as an individual feels as though he does not belong with them. Skrzynecki even reveals that he is â€Å"Uncertain of† his â€Å"destination†. This yet again implies how much Skrzynecki does not belong at St. Patricks College or in that case with any other student who attends St. Patricks College. Obviously, this situation has forced Skrzynecki to adapt to his surroundings of the College and learn to accept himself to feel the sense of belonging that isn’t really expressed within the text. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ is a film set in the early 1990’s and addresses the problems that Charlie, the main character, faces while attending high school after his best friend from middle school had committed suicide only months before hand. For anybody, being a semi-depressed teenager is a difficult situation to be in; Char lie faces this during the entire film all the way up to the very last moments. At the beginning of the film while we hear Charlie’s voice over of him writing his first letter to his â€Å"friend† he talks of alienation from his ex-middle school friends such as Susan. Charlie writes â€Å"I thought maybe my old friend Susan would want to have lunch with me† but because of Charlie’s extremely difficult situation that he is dealing with Susan â€Å"doesn’t like to say hi† to Charlie anymore. The use of voice over in this scene creates a connection between the audience and Charlie and provides sufficient evidence of how alienated Charlie is among his peers. Charlie even admits â€Å"If my English teacher is the only friend I make today, that would be sort of depressing. † This emphasises how alienated Charlie is and how much he doesn’t fit in. Due to this being a difficult circumstance for Charlie he has learnt to belong with himself even though he feels he does not belong with anyone else. In ‘The Passage’, Amy faces her situation head on which in Chapter 23 reveals that, in a way, Amy has been forced to see belonging as an unimportant aspect of her life. This has pushed Amy to accept herself and disregard the need for others. We learn this when Amy is thinking to herself when she thinks â€Å"Are we the all? For I have seen no one, no man or woman, in all the years and years. Is there no I but I? During this moment Amy is feeling a negative connection with the Virals, the vampires, she concludes her thoughts where Cronin writes â€Å"Go now, she thought, and closed her eyes; and when she opened them again she found she was alone. † Cronin pieces together Chapter 23 with finesse and understanding of Amy. He was able to show us two things: the first is that Amy did not want to belong with anyone as she feared for their safety and the second was that even though we must be accepted by others to belong, we are able to belong if we are to accept ourselves if we are involved with a difficult situation. For Skrzynecki in ‘St. Patricks College’ he also finds belonging an unimportant aspect of his life while he attends the College. This might not be as bad as Amy’s situation but to Skrzynecki it is still daunting. Skrzynecki â€Å"†¦ stuck pine needles Into the motto On my breast. † This shows the lack of caring for the motto and in turn the College. As Skrzynecki doesn’t really care for the College belonging obviously does not matter as much as Charlie from ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ wants to belong. For Skrzynecki saying, â€Å"The Lord’s Prayer In Latin, all in one breath† was a feat clearly showing his disregard for the significance of The Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is clearly connected to the College for religious reasons and because Skrzynecki misses the significance of the prayer it proves that Skrzynecki didn’t want to necessarily belong. Due to Skrzynecki being alone and feeling excluded from the college he has had to rely on his own self-acceptance to feel his own sense of belonging. ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ is a film where the main theme is belonging. Charlie reflects just that and begins to accept the fact that he is a â€Å"wallflower† and feels a sense of belonging with himself. Aside from this, Charlie wants to feel included, he wants to belong and eventually he feels that with Sam and Patrick. At Charlie’s first party Patrick makes a toast to Charlie of which Charlie questions with â€Å"what did I do? † where Patrick responds â€Å"you didn’t do anything, we just wanted to toast our new friend† this conveys a sense of belonging among the audience as well as Charlie and the other characters. This is different from Amy in ‘The Passage’ and Skrzynecki in ‘St. Patricks College’ because they do not want to belong or don’t feel the need to whereas Charlie wants to belong and wants to fit in. Accompanying this is the use of camera angles. When the camera is facing Charlie it is in a high angle position showing Charlies vulnerability and when it points at Patrick it’s a low angle position demonstrating the importance of Patrick. This is a clear representation of how one would feel a sense of belonging when they are accepted by others as well as how one would feel a sense of belonging when they accept themselves. To feel as if you belong, you must accept yourself and be accepted by others but when dealing with difficult situations you can rely on self-acceptance to feel as if you belong. This is without a doubt clearly represented in ‘The Passage’, ‘St. Patricks College’ and ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’. These three very similar texts all show how a sense of belonging can be determined by self-acceptance and acceptance by a group. However, when difficult situations are experienced, an individual may gain a sense of belonging through self-acceptance alone.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development: OECD

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development: OECD GROUP MEMBERS ARIEL MAHABIRSINGH RACHEL CADOGAN BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF THE OECD (OECD 2010) Background The OECD is the replacement organization to the Organization for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) whose specific purposes was to help the reconstruction of Europe after World War Two. The OECD development was not always smooth one as it has been perceived as â€Å"rich man’s club† its members account for approximately three-fifths of the world’s GNI and has faced many calls for its dismantlement (Woodward, Richard 2009). Over the past 50 years, the OECD has become a valuable source of â€Å"policy analysis and internationallycomparable statistical, economic and social data.† (USOECD 2014) MEMBER NATIONS Image showing member nations of the OECD (OECD 2014) MISSION The OECD mission is â€Å"to promote policies that will improve sustainable economic growth and development, maximize employment social well-being of people around the world.† (Woodward, 2009) ORGANISATIONL STRUCTURE The OECD functions as three tier structure. This is comprised of a Council, a Secretariat and Committees. The Council, which is at the top, consists of ambassadors from the various member states that are in charge of establishing goals and policy issues. The Council holds the power of decision making as they handle the oversight and strategic direction of the organisation. The Secretariat is made up of the Secretary General, the deputy Secretaries General and directorates. These include economists, scientists and lawyers and several administrative staff, who are responsible for research, data collection and analysis. The Secretary General chairs the Council and thereby manages the work of the Secretariat. The Committees comprise of representatives from various member countries that come together to form groups such as education, environment, trade and investment. Table 1 showing: the organizational structure of the OECD (OECD 2014) ROLE AND FUNCTION The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has many key roles. These roles include: The major functions of the OECD are: To provide a platform in which governments of member nations can use to find solutions to common problems organize policies and share good practices To set global standards and principles by monitoring economic trends. and development policies To offers the know-how and ideas to over 1000 non-member countries for their development. (Economy Watch 2010) HOW THE OECD DOES IT? The OECD used the wide range of information gathered on various topics to help governments promote â€Å"prosperity and fight poverty through economic growth and financial stability. They also ensure the environmental implications of economic and social development are taken into account. OECDs work is based on continued monitoring of events in member countries as well as outside OECD area, and includes regular projections of short and medium-term economic developments.The OECD Secretariat collects and analyses data, after which committees discuss policy regarding this information, the Council makes decisions, and then governments implement recommendations. † (OECD 2014) Table 2 showing: The way the OECD works (OECD 2014) Types of Publications The OECD publications fall into three cqtegories Key Publication, which include Factbooks. At a Glance books, Insights, Outlooks, Economic Surveys, OECD Observer, Better Policies Series, OECD Insights and Blogs. They also produce several other types which include statistics, journals,magazines and papers (OECD 2014) A couple examples are as followed BOOKS: Africn Economic Outlook 2014 Health at a Glance Asia/Pacific 2012 Agricultural Policy Monitering and Evaluation 2014 JOURNALS: Financiaal Market Trends Competition Law Policy STATISTICS: OECD Health Statistics OECD Productivity Statistics OECD Science, Technology and RD Statistics Papers; Education Indicators in Focus Trade Policy Papers (OECD ILIBRARY2014) Development Projects of the OECD 1. OVERCOMING SCHOOL FAILURE: POLICIES THAT WORK â€Å"This project is based on the idea that the OECD can provide effective support to countries on how to progress toward fair and inclusive education systems,† It offers data on the policies that are successful in reducing school failure, and supports countries in promoting reform. This project directly reflects one of the roles OECD—providing the platform where governments can work together to solutions to common problems and share good practices. This project is both comparative and selective. It offers the breakdown of challenges faced by countries as well as an overview of the different policies implemented across OECD countries that aims at equity in education policies. Countries that are interested can have a targeted national assessment seminar during which the precise situation of the country will be examined. (OECD 2010) The overall aim of this project is to provide assistance and support to countries trying to improving their education policy and practices, in order to achieve reduction in failure and dropout rates. It updates and fine-tunes policies giving â€Å"tailor-made advice on how to design and model their policies, as well as on how to overcome barriers to implementation†. (OECD 2010) Table 3 showing: The structure of the OECD Project Overcoming School Failure: Policies That Work (OECD 2010) 2. PROGRAMME FOR INTERNATIONAAL STUDENT ASSESSMENT (PISA) (Locally) What is PISA? PISA is the OCED’s answer to the global call for countries to have a way of comparing the effect of their investments in schooling on the students’ knowledge and skills. (Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment. 2011) This is an international assessment that examines educational performances on a common measure that is, reading science across countries, OCED member nations, partner nations and other non-members. (OECD 2014)It addresses the questions of if students are ready for real life future challenges? Are they able to analyze and communicate effectively? Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela have all participated in this project. (OECD 201) Why PISA? With PISA and other data provided by the OECD together with policy analysis, helps to build more effective and unbiased educational system with improved outcomes. As PISA addresses the future questions, the data gathered by this research helps to shape policy plans by identifying possible future issues. (OECD 2014) PISA represents a pledge by nations to supervise the outcomes of education systems through measuring student achievement on a regular basis and within an internationally agreed common framework. It aims to present a new foundation for policy dialogue and for partnership in defining and executing educational goals, in inventive ways that reflect judgments about the skills that are relevant to adult life. (OECD, 2009, p.9) PISA is one of the OECD major policy tools; this programme has pioneered new and highly collaborative ways in which to measure progress in societies on a global scale. There are many lessons that can be learnt from PISA on how to evaluate learning, the pace of achieving learning goal. Some countries have used their PISA results for a policy discussion indicates the likely pace of progress towards achieving a learning goal. 3. THE BETTER LIFE INITIATIVE (Globally) This project is a combination of various OCED works that makes an effort for move beyond GDP as a measure the well being of society, the OCED has pioneered a field of research that focuses on the aspects of life that matter to people and shapes their quality of life. They have identified 11 dimensions as being essential in terms of ‘material living conditions† which are income, housing and jobs and â€Å"quality of life â€Å"education, community, local environment, governance, health, subjective life satisfaction work/life balance and personal safety.(OECD 2011) This initiative is measured by the better life index Table 4 showing: The features of measuring well being [1] (OECD 2011) â€Å"The Better Life Indexes an interactive tool that allows you to see how countries perform according to the importance you give to each of 11 topics that make for a better life. From a statistical point of view, the Index relies on best practices for building composite indicators. The Index is robust to various methodological assumptions.† 4. LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN-OECD INVESTMENT INITIATIVE (Regionally) This Initiative aims to increase the input of private investment to economic and social development. It help improves government policies at three levels: (OECD 2010) Table 5 showing: How the initiative improves government policies Success and Failure of Initiatives SUCCESS: The Better Life Initiative has been by itself a success, considering that it is a newly introduced program. Out of this came the â€Å"Better Life Index† and â€Å"How’s Life†. The Better Life Index which was launched in 2011 is an interactive tool that allows one to assess the performance of countries based on eleven key elements that are important in the development and well being of OECD countries. It has been created in order to involve and engage citizens as they too play a role in the decision making of policies that lead the way to their social well being. The eleven dimensions include: Housing, Income, Jobs, Community, Education, Environment, Governance, Health, Life Satisfaction, Safety and Work Life Balance. . Each flower represents one country . Each petal represents one of the eleven dimensions . The length of the petal represents the country’s score in a topic and the width represents the importance of the topic (OECD 2011) Table 6 showing: How the better life index works (OECD 2012) FAILURE: PISA Program for International Student Assessment is an international evaluation that measures fifteen year old students’ performance in areas such as reading, mathematics and science literacy. It was first administered in 2000 and this is when Finland’s education system became involved. Finland has been the world leader in education however; recent assessments have shown that they are no longer at the top as results have declined since the mid 2000’s. PISA has driven the improvement in the beginning, however recent trends have changed. The involvement of PISA has therefore become a question in the education system. Some argue that it has encouraged the altering of teaching styles, curricula and grading schemes to make students well adapted to the program. It is established that while PISA has developed the Finnish education system in the early 2000’s it has also done some harm and produced minor downfalls. It has been proven to be an expensive way of handling the students who are â€Å"left behind†. These students sometimes become school drop outs or prolong their period of stay in order to successfully complete school. This therefore incurs additional costs on the governments. A second major issue is the gender differences in various areas of study. An example of this is in mathematics where girls are less motivated to learn and perform. This also ties in with the fact that girls are underrepresented in certain career fields such as engineering and computer science. This then widens the gap in education and so places more emphasis on one side, rather than an equal and fair system.(Strauss, 2013) Table 7 showing: PISA results Perception and Responses to the Institution PUBLIC PERCEPTON Positive Perception The OECD is seen as an organization with a bright future because it is forward thinking, one of the best in analysis and policy advice. It is seen as an essential international organization that provides a place for interstate consensus and cooperation bringing nations with similar challenges of globalization and sustainable development together. (Julin 2003) The OECD is perceived as being useful with their data since in some instances has improved policies and strategies when used to implement internal measures, (Asia Society. 2014) Negative Perception Mr. Paul Krugman is of the view that the OECD in the wake of soaring unemployment rates and low inflation â€Å"have consistently called for policies that would depress advanced economies even more.† He believes the OECD often makes recommendations without a rigid application of conventional economic models. (Krugman 2013) Some believe other institutions such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum have become competitors the OECD and are actually outperforming them in issues that were once considered OECD turf. They believed that the OECD is outperformed due to the way in which they operate -extremely slow- making the organization seem powerless to pushing burning problems to the top of their agenda. Because of this, there is the perception that the OECD is not a key player in dealing with the issues of globalization and sustainable development. (Julin 2003) CIVIL SOCIETY AND NGO’S PERCEPTION The OECD has been engaging with civil society since its inception. For many years the civil societies, especially those whose focus is on business and labour sectors through the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) has had a positive response to the OECD since the OECD has increasingly engaged in formal dialogues with them. (Global Policy Forum 2003) On the other hand, some civil organizations a NGO’S view the OECD as â€Å"a servant of developed country interests, sometimes even as an adversary, rather than a partner, in globalization and sustainable development† Civil societies especially criticize the OECD for their lack of openness to membership to nations other than European and a few rich non-European nations (Julin 2003) especially since the dialogue with these other interests are usually informal.. References Asia Society. 2014. â€Å"What is PISA and Why Does it Matter?†Accessed September 22, 2014. http://asiasociety.org/education/learning-world/what-pisa-and-why-does-it-matter Economy Watch. 2010. â€Å"Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.† Accessed September 15, 2014. http://www.economywatch.com/international-organizations/organization-of-economic-cooperation-and-development.html Friends of the Chair group on broader measures of progress. 2014. Some national, regional and international efforts and practices in the measurement of sustainable development and human well-being.† Friends of the Chair group on broader measures of progress. Global Policy Forum 2003. â€Å"NGOs and the OECD†. Accessed September 22, 2014 https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/177/31572.html, Julin, Jorma. 2003. â€Å"The OECD: Securing the future† OECD Observer, December. Accessed September 22, 2014 http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/archivestory.php/aid/1197/The_OECD:_Securing_the_future.html Krugman, Paul. 2013. â€Å"Uncertain at the OECD.† The New York Times. September 12, Accessed September 22, 2014 http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/uncertain-at-the-oecd/?_php=true_type=blogs_r=0 OECD 2010, â€Å"Active with Latin America and Caribbean†. Accessed September 28, 2014. http://www.oecd.org/globalrelations/Latin_America_2013_GB.pdf OECD 2010, †Latin America and Caribbean: Conference on investment for jobs and development, Santiago, Chile, 27-28 September 2010† Accessed September 28, 2014 http://www.oecd.org/daf/inv/investment-policy/latinamericaandcaribbeanconferenceoninvestmentforjobsanddevelopmentsantiagochile27-28september2010.htm OECD 2011. How’s Life? Measuring well-being, OECD Publishing Accessed September 18, 2014http://dx.doi.org.10.1787/9789264121164-en OECD 2011. â€Å"Latin America and Caribbean: Conference on investing in infrastructure for jobs and development† Accessed September 28, http://www.oecd.org/daf/inv/investment-policy/latinamericaandcaribbeanconferenceoninvestingininfrastructureforjobsanddevelopment.htm OECD. 2011. â€Å"OECD Launches Your Better Life Index.† Accessed September 20, 2014. http://www.oecd.org/general/oecdlaunchesyourbetterlifeindex.htm OECD 2012. â€Å"Latin America and Caribbean: Conference on international value chains† Accessed September 28, 2014. http://www.oecd.org/daf/inv/investment-policy/conferenceonglobalvalue-chainsandcompetitiveness.htm OECD. 2014. â€Å"About PISA† Accessed September 19, 2014. http://www.oecd.org/pisa/aboutpisa/pisafaq.htm OECD. 2014. â€Å"History.†Accessed September 15, 2014 http://www.oecd.org/about/history/. OECD. 2014. â€Å"Members and Partners†. Accessed September 18, 2014 http://www.oecd.org/about/membersandpartners/ OECD. 2014.†Latin America and Caribbean: Conference on infrastructure investment† Accessed September 28,, 2014. http://www.oecd.org/countries/peru/lac-2014-infrastructure-conference.htm OECD. â€Å"OECDiLibrary.† Accessed September 17, 2014. http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/books;jsessionid=2pk5e0rnb7ls8.x-oecd-live-02 OECD. 2014. â€Å"Who Does What?† Accessed September 20 2014http://www.oecd.org/about/whodoeswhat/ OECD. 2014. â€Å"OECD Publishing† http://www.oecd.org/about/publishing/ OECD ILIBRARY. 2014 Accessed September 20, 2014. http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/# Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment. 2011. â€Å"POLICY EFFECTS OF PISA† Accessed September 18 2014 http://oucea.education.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Policy-Effects-of-PISA-OUCEA.pdf OECD/AfDB/UNDP(2014),African Economic Outlook 2014: Global Value Chains and Africas Industrialisation, OECD Publishing. Accessed September 21, 2014. http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/development/african-economic-outlook_19991029 Strauss, Valerie. 2013. â€Å"Are Finland’s vaunted schools slipping?† The Washington Post , December 3. Accessed September 8, 2014. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/12/03/are-finlands-vaunted-schools-slipping/# United States OECD. 2014. â€Å"What is the OECD?† Accessed September 22, 2014. http://usoecd.usmission.gov/mission/overview.html Woodward, Richard. 2009. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Institutions, Taylor Francis. Accessed September 15, 201 4 http://books.google.tt/books?id=F61_AgAAQBAJpg=PR1lpg=PR1dq=why+is+the+oecd+dismissed+as+a+rich+mans+clubsource=blots=DTD0vhbGIHsig=3s8GpUJXJRm4icRfN8rmkprI5qAhl=ensa=Xei=g8ciVNqSK8eQgwTn7YHQAQredir_esc=y#v=twopageqf=false [1]

Free College Admissions Essays: My Mother had Faith in Me :: College Admissions Essays

My Mother had Faith in Me    As a child, I never thought I would be the one who would graduate from high school. In grade school, I learned that I could do well, but I was afraid of going to a higher level. As a freshman in high school, I made a decision not to be a fool and drop out. Even though it crossed my mind to drop out, I stood tall and looked up to God. Now I have an overall of 3.567.    However, each goal that I strived for, I achieved because my mother always had faith in me. She believed I could do anything that I put my mind to . For eleven years, my mother was a single parent who raised me. My biological father died before I was born. She basically raised me all alone. My mother always bought me books as a child. Every night we read books like, 'Who am I,' and my favorite, 'Wacky Wednesday,' from beginning to end. Her dedication inspired me to be the person that I am striving for today. She always had a way of showing me her love and care by pushing me towards a successful life. Regardless of the circumstances, she was the one who helped me get to where I am today. This is why I'm determined to go even further in life.    In fact, today my career goals are not a problem I know that I can get the job done to the best of my ability by furthering my education. In the year 2005, I will be a junior high school math teacher. I will teach at a school that I attended as a child to help students learn. I will teach my students not only math, but values that will help them to be successful in life. As a teacher, or an accountant, I will also be an entrepreneur. I will help the people in the community where I grew up in and that's a promise. I know that I will achieve these goals. When I get my Bachelor and Master's degree, I will make sure that I will have something to show for it. Therefore, my career goals on my agenda will be accomplished through my success.    I have participated in various extra-curricular activities. I remember back in the 9th grade, when I tried out for the pom-pom team.

jackie robinson Essay -- essays research papers

The grandson of a slave, Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia; he was the youngest of five children. Jackie grew up very poor, but little did he know that his athletic ability would open the doors for his future. After his father deserted the family when Jackie was six months old, his mother, Mallie Robinson, moved the family to California in search of work. California also subjected blacks to segregation at that time, but to less of a degree than in the Deep South. The young Jackie defused his anger over this prejudice by immersing himself in sports. He displayed extraordinary athletic skills in high school, excelling at football, basketball, baseball, and track. After helping Pasadena Junior College win the Junior College Football Championship, Robinson took his athletic ability to the University of California at Los Angeles and became a top collegiate running back in 1939. Having used up his athletic eligibility, as well as having some financial trouble, Robinson left UCLA before graduating. After college he held a job with the National Youth Administration work camp until the camp was closed due to the onset of World War II. In the fall of 1941 he joined the Honolulu Bears professional football team. In 1942, Jackie Robinson was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was accepted into Officer Candidate School in Ft. Riley, Kansas and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1943. While stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas, Robinson worked with heavyweight champion Joe Louis to eradicate unfair treatment of blacks in the military. However, inequities would persist in the armed forces for decades to come. He was later transferred to Ft. Hood, Texas where an incident in which he refused to move to the back of the bus found Court Martial charges brought up against him. He was found innocent, but was honorably discharged in 1944 on the grounds that his ankles had been weakened during his years of playing football. Robinson joined the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League in 1945 for a reported $450 a month. Although he soon became one of the league's top players, he was not fond of the low pay and relentless traveling and apparently had no intention of making baseball a career. That attitude was changed due to the efforts of Brooklyn Dodger president Branch Rickey. Starting in 1943, Rickey had been searching for a black playe... ...ckie Robinson’s debut. On that day, Major League Baseball announced that the number forty two would be retired throughout the Major League, an event that was symbolic of the impact that Robinson had on baseball. Jackie Robinson always went his own way, answering to his own instincts and refusing to be swayed by those who objected to his choices. He never took for granted his role as a trailblazer in the integration of sports and the opening of opportunities for blacks in the United States. By being a man with incredible physical skills, mental fortitude, and competitive fire who arrived in the right place and at the right time in history, Robinson had a major impact on the black struggle for equality in the twentieth century. Jackie Robinson's signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers was the most significant event to occur in baseball since World War II. Although Robinson may not have been the best athlete in the Negro Leagues it was his overall character, education, and social upbringing that appealed to Branch Rickey. Collectively, they paved the way for integrating the game, allowing some of the greatest players to participate who had previously been restricted to their own league.

Physical Environment in Early Civilizaitons Essay

Although Mesopotamia , Egypt, and The Indus Valley share a lot of physical environments in the development of early civilization, there are minor differences in cultural, agricultural, and social structures. Different civilization are depended on their traits; For example, certain agricultural, political, environmental, and social; Filled with sophisticated monuments, certain trade routes, and how early humans survive. First, Every civilization is different. Relating to document 1 (Excerpt from the story of Gilgamesh) the civilizations are depended on the traits like cities as administrator , a political system based on defined territory rather than kinship. Many people engaged in specialized, non-food-production activities, states distinctions baed largely on accumulation of wealth, monumental buildings, a system for keeping permanent records, long-distance trade, and finally sophisticated interest in science and art. The physical environment that connects to the development of early civilization is the monument building, and mostly trades, every civilization has an origin. For Gilgamesh – in Mesopotamia , there was very slow development of farming, but the trades did not end just because the development of product is slow , Gilgamesh trade are mostly to Egypt through the Nile River, trades makes the civilization powerful and forms an organized culture . According to document 3 (Reed Huts in the Marshes of Southern Iraq .photo. p.15) – it is showing the river banks and swampy lands at the head of the Persian Gulf, it was used for antiquity , mostly when trades happen floods arise people constantly creating new technology to prevent it. Based on the article in document 4 (Violence and Order in the Babylonian New Year’s Festival on page 20), every human development celebrates their largest and most important festival is that of the New Year, which falls in the Babylonian month of Nisan and coincides with the Spring Equinox. This was essentially a celebration of revival, the promise of fertility in the renewed cycles of the seasons. Even though it is a celebration. In this festival violence gets involved, in the early days during the festival , after relating the origins of the gods from mating . It is a myth that tells us how Tiamat gathered an army of old gods and monsters to destroy the younger generation of gods. Every civilization has its own language and the way it communicates . As seen in document 5 (Mesopotamian Cylinder Seal p.22) It is a picture of the Mesopotamian Cylinder seal, it is often used for legal documents or the identity of an individual , it is made out of wet clay. This particular seal symbolizes to those who attributes fertility and war, they are indicated by the date cluster in the hand, also an knife, it is cutting away out of the mountain and sunrising. As all of these information said above we can tell that civilizations can be economic ,agricultural and so on an so fourth. Second, The Indus Valley and the physical environment in the development of early civilizations of Indus Valley. In document 2( River -Valley civilization, 3500-1500 B.C.E p.13). It is a picture of Indus Valley map , including the river which can be used as trade routes. It shows that it was very convoluted . There is numerous parts where it is indicated green -as in the Extent of trading contacts. In bonding relevance to the document 7( Mud-brick Fortification wall of the citadel at Harappa photo.32). It is built upon a very elevated high-rise and massive amount of man-hours of labor; the fortification wall, it is for massive radical climate changes, also tolerant of dry conditions, the stabilization of sand dunes; Sometimes heavy rainfall comes once in a while. It is made for the changes of the landscape caused by shifts and courses of rivers. The Indus Valley cities were abandoned sometime after 1900 B.C.E. Civilizations like Indus valley isn’t so proficiently. They suffered something called â€Å"System Failure† -A breakdown of interrelationship of political, social and environment. Today, in recent study brings to the end that today, the Indus Valley is played important role in the life and decay of the Indus civilization. Egypt, it became a country when small villages and groups began forming along the Nile, then between 3900 and 3100BCE. Two particular villages that grew into power, were Upper and Lower Egypt. For example showing a map of Egypt. It is the great Egypt map(document 6: Map 1.4 Ancient Egypt) – indicating the well known Nile River, flowing south to north . This is a great physical development for the Egyptian, since in the view of the fact that the Nile River is such an extraordinary advantage ; Everything depended on the river in ancient times as it still does today to a large extent. It is simply Egypt’s lifeblood. Even with all the modern progress attributed to today. All inclusive, the physical environment of the three civilizations was similar but differ at some point . One country’s civilization can cause good or evil economically , socially, environmentally, or physically. It can change big about the country and that in this world every country has a civilization, but some might be in form of developing unhurried, downtempo, but some might be rapid, however it will all in due course lead to a human development.

Ghanshyam Thori Introduction: with a Quotation or Hypothetical Question

Ghanshyam Thori Introduction: With a quotation or Hypothetical question Followed by Resources for Essay â€Å"India’s new identity as a federal nation has been determined by the values & the heritage cherished by our trimphed national liberation movement. Media/Indian Education/Democratic Principles (depending on topic) has not only played an important role to liberate India from foreign rule but also to emanicipate its people from the tribal & feudal practices & elaborate indigenous system of sanctified social inequalities & oppression†. Content:  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  · All Dimensions should be included. Social Economic Historical Political Administrative Psychological Geographical (E. g. Geographical Inequalities, Variations etc) Humanitarian Dimension International Dimension (Developed Versus Developed Countries, South-South Cooperation, International Bodies like UNO, FAO, IMF, World Bank etc) Environmental Dimension.  ·  ·  ·  · Quote examples from GS, News, Magazines, TV etc. Current examples add marks. Don’t stretch on idea nor repeat any idea. Essay is coherent story of a number of ideas. Quotations are highly useful for essays & need to be memorized well. Language should be powerful (Sentences which show your command over language: â€Å"Read Essay on â€Å"Whither Indian Democracy† – Crack IAS material to get a glimpse of the demands of language required in essay writing†. Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori  · Resources for Essay Language should be creative (E. g. Not many would have imagined that the India Democracy would not be a case of Infant Mortality). Conclusion: The end of conclusion can be â€Å"Remember the immortal words of Swami Vivekananda or Gandhiji or Nehru etc† followed by quotation on that topic. Some Typical Words to be Used: Problem: predicament, plight, dilemma, quandary, bone of contention, hassle, conundrum, crisis. Criminal/Wrongdoer: offender, wrongdoer, culprit, lawbreaker, criminal, hooligan, vandal, ruffian, hoodlum, miscreant, malefactor, transgressor; juvenile delinquent, young offender. delinquent adjective 1. delinquent young people mischievous, culpable, transgressing, offending, criminal. 2. delinquent policemen negligent, neglectful, remiss, careless, slack, derelict. Love/Affection: affection, fondness, care, concern, attachment, regard, warmth, intimacy, devotion, adoration, passion, ardour, desire, lust, yearning, infatuation, adulation. Hate: loathe, detest, abhor, dislike, abominate, despise, execrate, have an aversion to, feel hostile towards, be unable to abide/bear/stand, view with dislike, be sick of, be tired of, shudder at, be repelled by, recoil from. Destroy: destroy the bridge demolish, knock down, pull down, tear down, level, raze, fell, dismantle, wreck, smash, shatter, crash, blow up, blow to bits, explode, annihilate, wipe out, bomb, torpedo. . destroy the countryside ruin, spoil, devastate, lay waste, ravage, wreak havoc on, ransack. 3. destroy their confidence terminate, quash, quell, crush, stifle, subdue, squash, extinguish, extirpate. 4. destroy the herd/tribe kill, kill off, slaughter, put to sleep, exterminate; slay, murder, assassinate, wipe out, massacre, Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay liquidate, decimate. 5. destroy the enemy/opponents defeat, beat, conquer, vanquish, trounce, rout, drub; inf. lick, thrash. Hope: expectation, xpectancy, anticipation, desire, longing, wish, wishing, craving, yearning, aspiration, ambition, dream, belief, assurance, assumption, confidence, conviction, faith, trust, optimism. Initiative: , deed, move, effort, operation, performance, undertaking, manoeuvre, endeavour, exertion, exploit, striving. Emancipation (Focus on Spelling): setting free, liberation, release, deliverance, discharge, unfettering, unshackling, manumission; freedom, liberty. Empower: allow, permit, authorize, entitle, qualify, fit, license, sanction, warrant, accredit, validate, commission, delegate, legalize, empower. . enable you to cross the river allow, permit, give the means/resources to, equip, prepare, facilitate, capacitate. Important/Crucial: decisive, critical, determining, pivotal, central, testing, trying, searching. 2. the matter is of crucial im portance very important, high-priority, essential, momentous, vital, urgent, pressing, compelling Macabre: , grisly, grim, gory, morbid, grim, ghastly, hideous, horrific, horrible, horrifying, horrid, horrendous, terrifying, frightening, frightful, fearsome, shocking, dreadful, appalling, loathsome, repugnant, repulsive, sickening. Pathetic: pitiful, pitiable, piteous, to be pitied, moving, touching, poignant, affecting, distressing, heartbreaking, heart-rending, sad, wretched, mournful, woeful. pitiful, lamentable, deplorable, miserable, wretched, feeble, woeful, sorry, poor, contemptible, inadequate, unsatisfactory, worthless. Terrorism/Violence 1. â€Å"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind† – Mahatma Gandhi Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay 2. Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary – Mahatma Gandhi 3. Hate the sin, love the sinner. Mahatma Gandhi 4. When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it–always. – Mahatma Gandhi. 5. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. – Mahatma Gandhi 6 . To err is human, to forgive divine – Alexander Pope Hope/Corruption/Faith You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. Mahatma Gandhi You must be the change you want to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi Arise awake and stop not till the goal is reached — Swami Vivekananda Only as high as I can reach can I grow. Only as far as I can seek can I go. Only as deep as I can look can I see. Only as much as I can I dream can I be. Freedom/Liberty Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. – Mahatma Gandhi Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay – Unkown (Karen Ravn). Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay General Quotes Gandhiji’s Talisman (Use in Swaraj, Liberty, Poverty, Help etc)  · â€Å"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away. Preamble of Indian Constitution WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; IN OUR CONST ITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November,1949,do HERE BY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.  ·  ·  · Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress – Mahatma Gandhi A strange darkness engulfs earth today – Jibanananda Das (Used in Essay on Indian Heritage). One ounce of practice is worth twenty thousand tons of big talk (Swami Vivekananda – This quote can be used to conclude almost every essay). â€Å"The future depends on what we do in the present. † Mahatma Gandhi (Can be used to conclude almost every essay). â€Å"Strength is Life, Weakness is Death. Expansion is Life, Contraction is Death. Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Love is Life, Hatred is Death. † — Swami Vivekananda Resources for Essay Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom – Nehru’s Speech on India’s Independence. (The speech was made to the Indian Constituent Assembly, on the eve of India's independence, towards midnight on August 14, 1947. It focuses on the aspects that transcend India's history. It is considered in modern India to be a landmark oration that captures the essence of the triumphant culmination of the hundred-year Indian freedom struggle against the British Empire in India. ) I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards – Abhraham Lincoln Only as high as I can reach can I grow. Only as far as I can seek can I go. Only as deep as I can look can I see. Only as much as I can I dream can I be. Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work. Abdul Kalam Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action-Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake. Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay – Rabindranath Tagore (Let us remember the golden words of Guru Rabindra Nath Tagore which still serve as lighthouse & illuminate the direction for the nation to move in). India of my Dreams â€Å"I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country, in whose making they have an effective voice, an India in which there shall be no high class and low class of people, an India in which all communities shall live in perfect harmony. There shall be no room in such an India for the curse of untouchability. Women will enjoy same rights as men. We shall be at peace with the rest of the world. This is India of my dreams† – M. K. Gandhi. Education The real difficulty is that people have no idea of what education truly is. We assess the value of education in the same manner as we assess the value of land or of shares in the stock-exchange market. We want to provide only such education as would enable the student to earn more. We hardly give any thought to the improvement of the character of the educated. The girls, we say, do not have to earn; so why should they be educated? As long as such ideas persist there is no hope of our ever knowing the true value of education. Mahatma Gandhi Sustainable Development â€Å"The earth, the air, the land and the water are not am inheritance from our fore fathers but on loan from our children. So we have to handover to them at least as it was handed over to us. † ~Mahatma Gandhi â€Å"Nature has enough for Man’s Need but not for Man’s Greed† – Mahatma Gandhi Conclusion: â€Å"Man has been u niquely endowed in that he can contemplate on his mortality & sadly if we do not soon realize that it is no longer a question of either development or environment but Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay armonius development or doom, we may find that we should be the first species to orchestrate its own extinction† Women Empowerment (Include examples of Inspirational & Remarkable women like Hellen Keller, Joan of Arc (French Catholic Saint & led French army to victory during the Hundred Year’s war indirectly leading to coronation of Charles VII), Mother Teresa, Sister Nivedita, Margaret Thatcher (Iron Lady & PM of England from 1979 to 1990), Indira Gandhi, Aung San Suu Kyi, Angela Merkel, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Michelle Bachelet (Chile President, Surgeon), Hellen Clark (PM of New Zealand), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Often referred to as the â€Å"Iron Lady†, Johnson-Sirleaf is Africa's first elected female head of state i. e. Pres ident), Pratibha Patil, Tarja Halonen (Current President of Finland). The real difficulty is that people have no idea of what education truly is. We assess the value of education in the same manner as we assess the value of land or of shares in the stock-exchange market. We want to provide only such education as would enable the student to earn more. We hardly give any thought to the improvement of the character of the educated. The girls, we say, do not have to earn; so why should they be educated? As long as such ideas persist there is no hope of our ever knowing the true value of education. – Mahatma Gandhi â€Å"It is impossible to think about the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is impossible for a bird to fly on only one wing† – Swami Vivekananda. Women have been taught that, for us, the earth is flat, and that if we venture out, we will fall off the edge† The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, â€Å"It's a girl. † ~Shirley C hisholm Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, â€Å"She doesn't have what it takes. † They will say, â€Å"Women don't have what it takes. † ~Clare Boothe Luce I asked a Burmese why women, after centuries of following their men, now walk ahead. He said there were many unexploded land mines since the war. ~Robert Mueller All nations have attained greatness by paying proper respect to women. That country and that nation which do not respect women have never become great, nor will ever be in future – Swami Vivekananda Manu, the law giver, has written Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devta, it means God resides in homes where women are respected It’s a tragedy that since the time the first human opened his eyes, he started subjugating his own creator – the woman. Religion â€Å"True religion is not a narrow dogma. It is not external observance. It is faith in God and living in the presence of God†. – Mahatma Gandhi â€Å"All the different religions are but applications of the one religions adapted to suite the requirements of different nations†. – Swami Vivekananda. Media â€Å"Let the people know the facts & the country will be safe† – Abraham Lincoln Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay â€Å"Where the Eyes go, the mind also goes there† – Vedas (Among the five sense organs, eye is the most subtle. Whatever the eyes see the mind perceives quickly and retains for a long period. This underlines the impact of Media on human mind as well as behaviour). Conclusion: If world has become a prosperous global valley it is the Media which will have to become a lighthouse. Humanity (Serving Humanity) â€Å"All my life I have lived like an animal on the street & now I am dying like an angel† – A man uttered these final words as he lay dying in an angel’s lap. The angel was none other than Mother Teresa who in the slums of Kolkata saw Christ in the distressing disguise of a destitute & downtrodden. â€Å"If in this hell of a world one can bring a little joy & peace even for a day into the heart of a single person, that much alone is true; this I have learnt after suffering all my life, all else is mere moonshine† – Swami Vivekananda Judicial Activism â€Å"Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment. † William Shakespeare (Wrote this in his hamlet many centuries back. Even today judiciary is seen as the last asylum to many who long for the deserved justice). Equality: â€Å"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. † – Martin Luther King Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Examples of Creative Sentences (Which can be Generalized Elsewhere)  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  · Any judge/MP who seeks immunity from truth under the cover of the robe robs the right of We, the People of India, the sovereign of Bharat. The Court is an open book & if the Bench seeks an iron curtain between its economic interest & Litigant community, it is violative of Glasnost (the policy of openness & transparency). Democracy is an open book & if any public functionary seeks an iron curtain between its own interest & the public, it is violative of Glasnost. In our murky world of gloom, greed & agony, our duty is to save the country of means of a compassionate recipe & dedicated endevaours. hope†¦. is defined by a farmer who ploughs his land when drought conditions prevail,by the blind who learn colors,young girl who steps into mama's high heels. Conclusion of Essay on Democracy: The success of Indian democracy in future will hugely depend on how the human resource of this nation is able to raise itself to face the challenge of the new economic & political scenario,. For all its strengths & weaknesses, this is where the future of the Indian democracy hinges. Go to the interior tribal villages of India. If you have a healthy little girl child coming out of the school with a smile on her face & a mind sharper than yesterday, we should be on the right track.  ·  ·  · The unmatchable planning of Harrapans, the empire of Ashoka, the ragas of Nanak, Kabir & Namdeva find their place in the Golden words throughout the world. (India of my Dreams). We have not invaded anyone. We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them (Quotation by Abdul Kalam). Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? Is it a legacy of our colonial years? We want foreign television sets. We want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with everything imported? In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few. Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Nehru’s Tryst with Destiny Speech Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge f dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity. At the dawn of history India started on her unending quest, and trackless centuries are filled with her striving and the grandeur of her success and her failures. Through good and ill fortune alike she has never lost sight of that quest or forgotten the ideals which gave her strength. We end today a period of ill fortune and India discovers herself again. The achievement we celebrate today is but a step, an opening of opportunity, to the greater triumphs and achievements that await us. Are we brave enough and wise enough to grasp this opportunity and accept the challenge of the future? Freedom and power bring responsibility. The responsibility rests upon this Assembly, a sovereign body representing the sovereign people of India. Before the birth of freedom we have endured all the pains of labour and our hearts are heavy with the memory of this sorrow. Some of those pains continue even now. Nevertheless, the past is over and it is the future that beckons to us now. That future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving so that we may fulfil the pledges we have so often taken and the one we shall take today. The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over. Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay And so we have to labour and to work, and work hard, to give reality to our dreams. Those dreams are for India, but they are also for the world, for all the nations and peoples are too closely knit together today for any one of them to imagine that it can live apart Peace has been said to be indivisible; so is freedom, so is prosperity now, and so also is disaster in this One World that can no longer be split into isolated fragments. To the people of India, whose representatives we are, we make an appeal to join us with faith and confidence in this great adventure. This is no time for petty and destructive criticism, no time for ill-will or blaming others. We have to build the noble mansion of free India where all her children may dwell. The appointed day has come-the day appointed by destiny-and India stands forth again, after long slumber and struggle, awake, vital, free and independent. The past clings on to us still in some measure and we have to do much before we redeem the pledges we have so often taken. Yet the turning-point is past, and history begins anew for us, the history which we shall live and act and others will write about. It is a fateful moment for us in India, for all Asia and for the world. A new star rises, the star of freedom in the East, a new hope comes into being, a vision long cherished materializes. May the star never set and that hope never be betrayed! We rejoice in that freedom, even though clouds surround us, and many of our people are sorrowstricken and difficult problems encompass us. But freedom brings responsibilities and burdens and we have to face them in the spirit of a free and disciplined people. On this day our first thoughts go to the architect of this freedom, the Father of our Nation [Gandhi], who, embodying the old spirit of India, held aloft the torch of freedom and lighted up the darkness that surrounded us. We have often been unworthy followers of his and have strayed from his message, but not only we but succeeding generations will remember this message and bear the imprint in their hearts of this great son of India, magnificent in his faith and strength and courage and humility. We shall never allow that torch of freedom to be blown out, however high the wind or stormy the tempest. Our next thoughts must be of the unknown volunteers and soldiers of freedom who, without praise or reward, have served India even unto death. We think also of our brothers and sisters who have been cut off from us by political boundaries and who unhappily cannot share at present in the freedom that has come. They are of us and will remain of us whatever may happen, and we shall be sharers in their good and ill fortune alike. The future beckons to us. Whither do we go and what shall be our endeavour? To bring freedom and opportunity to the common man, to the peasants and workers of India; to fight and end poverty and Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay ignorance and disease; to build up a prosperous, democratic and progressive nation, and to create social, economic and political institutions which will ensure justice and fullness of life to every man and woman. We have hard work ahead. There is no resting for any one of us till we redeem our pledge in full, till we make all the people of India what destiny intended them to be. We are citizens of a great country on the verge of bold advance, and we have to live up to that high standard. All of us, to whatever religion we may belong, are equally the children of India with equal rights, privileges and obligations. We cannot encourage communalism or narrow-mindedness, for no nation can be great whose people are narrow in thought or in action. To the nations and peoples of the world we send greetings and pledge ourselves to cooperate with them in furthering peace, freedom and democracy. And to India, our much-loved motherland, the ancient, the eternal and the ever-new, we pay our reverent homage and we bind ourselves afresh to her service. Ten Political Disgrace of Free India (India) 1. The Emergency, June 1975-March 1977: It effectively bestowed on Indira Gandhi the power to rule by decree, suspending elections as well as civil liberties, such as the right to free press. 2. Operation Bluestar, June 1984: It was a political disaster and an unprecedented act in Indian history. Its aftermath and the increased tensions led to assaults on the Sikh community in India. 3 The Bofors scandal, 1987-1996: One of the biggest political scams in the country till date, involving Rs 64 crore. It was responsible for Rajiv Gandhi’s defeat in the November 1989 general elections. 4. Demolition of Babri Masjid, December 1992: The date has remained etched as a blot in Indian history. The mosque was destroyed by 15,000 strong Hindu extremists as BJP leaders watched. 5. The JMM Bribery Case, July 1993: The democratic values of the country were put to shame when the then PM P. V. Narasimha Rao was accused of bribing members of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to vote in his favour in the confidence motion. 6. Fodder Scam, January 1996: The scam involved millions of dollars in alleged fraudulent reimbursements from the treasury of Bihar for fodder, medicines and husbandry supplies for non-existent livestock. It forced Lalu Prasad Yadav, the then CM of the state, to resign. 7. The IC-814 Hijacking, December 1999: IC-814 was hijacked by terrorists and taken to Kandahar. The government was forced to release dreaded terrorists for the passengers. Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay 8. The Arms Bribery Scandal, March 2001: India’s coalition government began to fall apart when video tapes of highly-placed officials taking bribes in arms deals were released in 2001, forcing the then BJP president Bangaru Laxman to resign. 9. Gujarat riots, February-March 2002: The riots were horrific blotches of communal hatred in the country’s secular history. Despite the killings of 254 Hindus and 790 Muslims, the state government chose to sit in a cushy corner, doing nothing to stop the wave of hatred. 10. The vote of no confidence, July 2008: Parliament was adjourned after BJPmembers waved around wads of money, claiming they were offered cash in return for their support. Ghanshyam Thori Resources for Essay