The Goal Essay Example For Students

The Goal Essay PrecisThe Goal by Goldratt is a book about the Theory of Constraints, TOC. It is about the behavior of manufacturing facilities. It deals with bottlenecks that are the manufacturing constraints and the variability that creates them. The book states that a manufacturing organization cannot run at 100% and that you cannot balance the assembly line. It seems that your efforts for efficiency must be focused on the worst bottleneck. The loss caused by a bottleneck is a loss for the entire system. Focusing on improving the throughput of the bottleneck increases the flow for the entire manufacturing line. If there is a bottleneck, then all other areas are capable of excess capacity. Dont try to improve non-bottlenecks, as it is a waste of time and effort. The TOC integrates into Total Quality Management, TQM, except for one main theory. TQM supports continuous improvement of the system while the TOC does not support continuous improvement of every process. The TOC says that we must focus on the constraint. We will write a custom essay on The Goal specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Q: What is the Theory of Constraints about? A: Developed by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt, TOC states that any system has at least one constraint. Otherwise, it would be generating an infinite amount of output. Bearing this in mind, TOC is easily explained through use of the chain analogy a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If we look upon our organization as a chain, where each department is a link in the chain, what constrains our organization from achieving its goal? Only through addressing the weakest link, the constraint, can substantial improvements be made. In other words, if the constraint dictates the pace of an organizations ability to achieve its goal, it makes sense that addressing the constraint will allow the organization to achieve a substantial rate of throughput faster. There are five steps in applying TOC: 1.Identify the systems constraints. Of necessity this included prioritization so that just the ones that really limit system progress toward the goal. 2.Decide how to exploit the systems constraints. Once we have decided how to manage the constraints within the system, how about the majority of the resources that are not constraints? The answer is that we manage them so that they just provide what is needed to match the output of the constrained resources. We NEVER let them supply more output than is needed because doing so moves us no closer to the goal. 3.Subordinate everything else to the above decision in Step 2. Since the constraints are keeping us from moving toward our goal, we apply all of the resources that we can to assist in breaking them. Constraints are not acts of God. In practically all cases their limiting impact can be reduced or eliminated. 4.Elevate the systems constraints. If we continue to work toward breaking a constraint (a lso called elevating a constraint) at some point the constraint will no longer be a constraint. The constraint will be broken. 5.If the constraint is broken, return to Step 1. When that happens, there will be another constraint, somewhere else in the system that is limiting progress to the goal. CritiqueTo analyze the process of improvement is to look at reality; think logically and precisely about what is going on around us. Eli Goldratt uses The Goal to explain how simple improvement can be. The message is delivered in a Socratic way. Socrates way of assisting people was spontaneous and specifically suited to the particular needs of the individual as he saw them. Socrates is famous for his method of asking questions in especially effective ways. He is very careful not to take for granted what the answers of the other person will be; but he always waits for the response and occasionally repeats a simple question, not to gain a contradiction, but so that the argument can move consec utively. He does not wish to get into a habit of anticipating the others thoughts, but prefers that the person develop his own views in his own way, whatever they may be. Therefore we have Jonah, the physicist who helps Alex Rogo, the plant manager at UniCo. Jonahs way of leading to the answers, his Socratic approach is very effective at peeling away the layers of common practice. Alex was born and raised in Bearington and is very proud to have come back home to work for one of the factories in his hometown. The plant is running but not turning a profit, therefore facing the threat of being closed. The book follows Alex and his team as they use principles such as benchmarking and the theory of constraints to transform their mediocre plant into a money making machine. Before this transformation, the division Vice President, Bill Peach, tells Alex that he has three months to turn the plant around. Now its time to sit back and analyze what Alex is or is not doing for his plant to make a change. The central premise of The Goal can best be summarized as CHANGE. I state this in contradiction to what many will believe is the real premise. It is easy to get a message of focus on whats important from the book. Most believe the story attempts to get readers to focus on making money. If you focus your activities only on those that make money and eliminate those activities that do not make money, you will eliminate waste and constraints. Another focus would be of constant improvement. Continuous improvement is seen throughout the book, when non-bottleneck machines seem to become new bottlenecks, but this really stuck out to me at the end when everything seems to be going smoothly only to find that more problems have come up. But neither of these focuses produces permanent results unless there is change. As you read the book, the constant theme that is replayed over and over is one of change. Previous assumptions must be changed to allow processes to be changed to allow in teractions to change. Yes, the chain analogy exists even in my description here as well as does the need to discover the core constraint. If the Union contract was the constraint that kept Bob from changing lunch hours so the set-up process on the NCX-10 could be changed so that smaller lots could be run so that increased throughput could occur, Rogo addressed it (the constraint) to accomplish the change. I use this as an example to show that change is the focus of the book. To further support my position, look at chapters 33 through 40. I dare you to try to count the number of times change appears. Additionally, look at the amount of times change is the subject of the sentence, paragraph, or chapter. Rogo had to change his paradigm of operations, then change his staffs, then change operations of the factory, then change his senior managements paradigm of success and profitability, then change his own paradigm again of how to perform his function once he moved up, and then he had to discover how to change his division for it to survive. Using the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and the Five Focusing Steps only facilitated Rogos being able to implement change. The book states that a manufacturing organization cannot run at 100% and that you cannot balance the assembly line. It seems that your efforts for efficiency must be focused on the worst bottleneck. The loss caused by a bottleneck is a loss for the entire system. Focusing on improving the throughput of the bottleneck increases the flow for the entire manufacturing line. If there is a bottleneck, then all other areas are capable of excess capacity. Dont try to improve non-bottlenecks, as it is a waste of time and effort. Finally, knowing how to think about things in terms of cause and effect was hammered home throughout the book. Theory of constraints says that by knowing how to think, we can better understand the environment around us and by having a better understanding we are then able to make improvements. The key lies in the ability to transform production from the prevailing cost-world mentality into the common sense approach of the throughput-world mentality. A shift in mentality is necessary in order to deduce the mandatory procedures. Goldratt also knew when he wrote the book that developing the ability to design and implement change was just as important. His appendix My Saga at the end of the book clearly addresses the need to create and implement change and the disastrous effects of improperly implemented change, even TOC. .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b , .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b .postImageUrl , .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b , .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b:hover , .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b:visited , .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b:active { border:0!important; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b:active , .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u75d70dc43f61803ee77e556c1606b57b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Lysistrata Analysis EssayIntegrationI work at Lucent Technologies Fiber Optic Cable Plant in Norcross We manufacture fiber used for phone lines, cable lines and several other uses. The fiber starts out as a preform where certain chemicals are added to the material to make it into fiber. Several departments handle the perform before it reaches Post Draw as fiber spun on a spool. Inspections are done numerous times to find scarring and impurities. When impurities are found the preform is rejected and not sent to Draw. Like everything in life some bad preform slips through to the next phase in the process. Thus resulting in bad fiber on the Rewind/Repair floor. I digress. Aft er the fiber is drawn and placed on 600K spools it is sent down to Rewind/Repair. We then rewind the fiber on smaller spools and send them to the Measurements department for testing. After testing is complete in four areas the fiber is sent back to the Rewind department to remove the bad fiber found during testing. The fiber is then sent back to measurements for further testing and if it passes the four test sets it goes to the cage as inventory. More times than many the fiber ends up back in rewind. A spool can start out with 75K meters on it and go back and forth from Measurements to Rewind until it is split up into several spools. When we get a spool with less than 5K meters on them the PTS systems has us run half and end up scrapping both the payout and takeup spools. I feel like this is a constraint because this spool may have gone to Measurements and back to Rewind four times only to be scrapped. This is a waste of time for the operator. Although it is a part of the process, I think spools with 5K or less of fiber on them should be automatically scrapped. There is not a instance where an order ever calls for 5K meters or less. Another example of a constraint in our department was with lunch and breaks. When I first came to the cable plant you took your breaks whenever you could within a specific window. Just as long as your machine was running and an operator on your line was to set it up if it went down, you could take your break at your convenience. A few months went by and new coaches were hired. They decided they wanted to closely monitor the operator to see when they took their breaks and for how long. The decision was made to stop the machines when you go on your break and/or lunch. The new coach obviously wanted to make a good impression and bring something new to the table. They changed our staggered breaks to scheduled breaks. The results after a few weeks showed production was down and efficiency was at a record low. It showed machines were not running at full capacity for a tour. Immediately their superiors decided we would go back to the staggered lunches and breaks. The downtime was then reduced and our departmental efficiency went up. They realized it was not as important to monitor the person, as it was to have the machine running. Now I know this does not stand up to the problems Alex and his staff faced with UniCo but this is what I face everyday. I found a case study that was used at the TOC World 2000 Seminar in St. Paul MN last year. I thought I would include it for your enjoyment

Why Lawyers are Good for Healthcare essays

Why Lawyers are Good for Healthcare essays Healthcare, in its most basic context, can be viewed as an essential human right, and as such, certain standards must be upheld within healthcare if the best interests, and indeed the very lives of patients are to be protected. Thankfully, the presence of lawyers has helped to protect the public from the flaws and shortcomings of the healthcare system. With this statement in mind, solid, logical arguments can be made to validate the role of lawyers in the modern healthcare system and beyond. Organized healthcare enjoys a distinct advantage over the patient from several points of view; generally speaking, doctors and hospitals hold the power to decide whether a patient lives or dies, and as such, the tendency of the patient in the past was to relinquish all rights in the pursuit of being cured of a disease or recovering from trauma (Annas, 1989). This has put the patient, ironically enough, in the dangerous position of having no protection and basically taking a gamble with their wellness and survival. Beyond this surrender on the part of the patient, the true motives of the healthcare industry have degraded to an all out pursuit of profits over the provision of the best care that is humanly possible. In the pursuit of a fat bottom line, healthcare has cut staffing to bare minimum levels, compromised care to lethal levels in many cases, and the like. This is proven by the outrageously high number of fatalities from preventable complications such as infections, careg iver error, substandard facilities, and deliberate negligence (Forsythe, 2000). In the midst of this healthcare crisis, fortunately, lawyers have stepped forward to provide an improved view of healthcare-as it should be. The Lawyers View of How Healthcare Should Be Because of the life and death power that the healthcare industry holds, it can be fairly argued that healthcare as a whole has lost sight of the fundam ...

Barack Obama - Victory Speech in South Carolina

Barack Obama South Carolina Democratic Primary Victory Speech delivered 26 January 2008 Thank you, South Carolina. Thank you to the rock of my life, Michelle Obama. Thank you to Malia and Sasha Obama, who havent seen their daddy in a week. Thank you to Pete Skidmore for his outstanding service to our country and being such a great supporter of this campaign. You know, over two weeks ago we saw the people of Iowa proclaim that our time for change has come. But there were those who doubted this countrys desire for something new, who said Iowa was a fluke, not to be repeated again. Well, tonight the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina. After four great contests in every corner of this country, we have the most votes, the most delegates and the most diverse coalition of Americans that weve seen in a long, long time. You can see it in the faces here tonight. There are young and old, rich and poor. They are black and white, Latino and Asian and Native American. They are Democrats from Des Moines and independents from Concord and, yes, some Republicans from rural Nevada. And weve got young people all across this country whove never had a reason to participate until now. And in nine days, in nine short days, nearly half the nation will have the chance to join us in saying that we are tired of business as usual in Washington. We are hungry for change, and we are ready to believe again. But if theres anything, though, that weve been reminded of since Iowa, its that the kind of change we seek will not come easy. Now, partly because we have fine candidates in this field, fierce competitors who are worthy of our respect and our admiration and as contentious as this campaign may get, we have to remember that this is a contest for the Democratic nomination and that all of us share an abiding desire to end the disastrous policies of the current administration. But there are real differences between the candidates. We are looking for more than just a change of party in the White House. Were looking to fundamentally change the status quo in Washington. Its a status quo that extends beyond any particular party. And right now that status quo is fighting back with everything its got, with the same old tactics that divide and distract us from solving the problems people face, whether those problems are health care that folks cant afford or a mortgage they cannot pay. So this will not be easy. Make no mistake about what were up against. Were up against the belief that its all right for lobbyists to dominate our government, that they are just part of the system in Washington. But we know that the undue influence of lobbyists is part of the problem, and this election is our chance to say that we are not going to let them stand in our way anymore. Were up against the conventional thinking that says your ability to lead as president comes from longevity in Washington or proximity to the White House. But we know that real leadership is about candor and judgment and the ability to rally Americans from all walks of life around a common purpose, a higher purpose. Were up against decades of bitter partisanship that cause politicians to demonize their opponents instead of coming together to make college affordable or energy cleaner. Its the kind of partisanship where youre not even allowed to say that a Republican had an idea, even if its one you never agreed with. Thats the kind of politics that is bad for our party. It is bad for our country. And this is our chance to end it once and for all. Were up against the idea that its acceptable to say anything and do anything to win an election. But we know that this is exactly whats wrong with our politics. This is why people dont believe what their leaders say anymore. This is why they tune out. And this election is our chance to give the American people a reason to believe again. But let me say this, South Carolina. What weve seen in these last weeks is that were also up against forces that are not the fault of any one campaign but feed the habits that prevent us from being who we want to be as a nation. Its a politics that uses religion as a wedge and patriotism as a bludgeon, a politics that tells us that we have to think, act, and even vote within the confines of the categories that supposedly define us, the assumption that young people are apathetic, the assumption that Republicans wont cross over, the assumption that the wealthy care nothing for the poor and that the poor dont vote, the assumption that African-Americans cant support the white candidate, whites cant support the African-American candidate, blacks and Latinos cannot come together. We are here tonight to say that that is not the America we believe in. I did not travel around this state over the last year and see a white South Carolina or a black South Carolina. I saw South Carolina because in the end, were not up just against the ingrained and destructive habits of Washington. Were also struggling with our own doubts, our own fears, our own cynicism. The change we seek has always required great struggle and great sacrifice. And so this is a battle in our own hearts and minds about what kind of country we want and how hard were willing to work for it. So let me remind you tonight that change will not be easy. Change will take time. There will be setbacks and false starts, and sometimes well make mistakes. But as hard as it may seem, we cannot lose hope, because there are people all across this great nation who are counting on us, who cant afford another four years without health care. They cant afford another four years without good schools. They cant afford another four years without decent wages because our leaders couldnt come together and get it done. Theirs are the stories and voices we carry on from South Carolina the mother who cant get Medicaid to cover all the needs of her sick child. She needs us to pass a health care plan that cuts costs and makes health care available and affordable for every single American. Thats what shes looking for. The teacher who works another shift at Dunkin Donuts after school just to make ends meet she needs us to reform our education system so that she gets better pay and more support and that students get the resources that they need to achieve their dreams. The Maytag worker whos now competing with his own teenager for a $7-an-hour job at the local Wal-Mart because the factory he gave his life to shut its doors he needs us to stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas and start putting them in the pockets of working Americans who deserve it and put them in the pockets of struggling homeowners who are having a tough time, and looking after seniors who should retire with dignity and respect. That woman who told me that she hasnt been able to breathe since the day her nephew left for Iraq, or the soldier who doesnt know his child because hes on his third or fourth or even fifth tour of duty they need us to come together and put an end to a war that should have never been authorized and should have never been waged. So understand this, South Carolina. The choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders. Its not about rich versus poor, young versus old, and it is not about black versus white. This election is about the past versus the future. Its about whether we settle for the same divisions and distractions and drama that passes for politics today or whether we reach for a politics of common sense and innovation, a politics of shared sacrifice and shared prosperity. There are those who will continue to tell us that we cant do this, that we cant have what were looking for, that we cant have what we want, that were peddling false hopes. But heres what I know. I know that when people say we cant overcome all the big money and influence in Washington, I think of that elderly woman who sent me a contribution the other day, an envelope that had a money order for $3.01 along with a verse of Scripture tucked inside the envelope. So dont tell us change isnt possible. That woman knows change is possible. When I hear the cynical talk that blacks and whites and Latinos cant join together and work together, Im reminded of the Latino brothers and sisters I organized with and stood with and fought with side by side for jobs and justice on the streets of Chicago. So dont tell us change cant happen. When I hear that well never overcome the racial divide in our politics, I think about that Republican woman who used to work for Strom Thurmond, whos now devoted to educating inner-city children, and who went out into the streets of South Carolina and knocked on doors for this campaign. Dont tell me we cant change. Yes, we can. Yes, we can change. Yes, we can. Yes, we can heal this nation. Yes, we can seize our future. And as we leave this great state with a new wind at our backs, and we take this journey across this great country, a country we love, with the message weve carried from the plains of Iowa to the hills of New Hampshire, from the Nevada desert to the South Carolina coast, the same message we had when we were up and when we were down, that out of many we are one, that while we breathe we will hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt and fear and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of the American people in three simple words: Yes, we can. Thank you, South Carolina. I love you.

Ecology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ecology - Essay Example Global warming is however beginning to have significant impact on this insect. This impact may as yet not be dramatic for decades but a clue of what is in the offing, if unchecked, is already visible in the study of this insect. A major contributing factor to the issue of global warming is the dependence of industrial sectors on fossil fuels which are rich in carbon and when burned combines with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide. The Sinai Baton Blue butterfly is found in the terrestrial ecosystems around the globe. Unfortunately global warming is having a very harmful effect on the Natural habitat of this butterfly. This butterfly must maintain a level of interaction with its abiotic environment in order to survive. Proteins and nucleic acids are essential nutrients to this insect and the growth of plants from which it derives these nutrients is being severely hampered by the reduction in nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen fixation by decomposers is already being affected by global warming. Also affected in its terrestrial ecosystems is the water cycle, over 90 Percent of the moisture that enters the ecosystem passes through plants and evaporates from their leaves. A reduction In soil nitrogen therefore affects the water cycle. The earths rising temperature are beginning very noticeable impact on this butterfly. Its ecosystems are changing on the individual, population and community levels. At the individual level of its ecology this butterfly may not survive in a region above certain degrees in termperature.the change being witnessed now is an estimated average of 0.6C within the last 100 years. It therefore implies that with the current rate in global warming more drastic changes will occur that will lead to the outright extinction of this butterfly. The Sinai Baton blues are beginning to breed and migrate earlier than expected. They have shifted ranges northward by 200km in Europe and north America-a pole ward shift and as well movement towards higher elevations. In the next 50 years the Sinai Baton Blue Butterfly will have migrated to areas, which were uninhabitable to it in the past. Another area where the potential effect of global warming will be felt greatly are the categories of plant it helps pollinate. Plants are among the slow movers in reaction to changes in global warming. a direct implication therefore will be extinction of large numbers of plant species. As more and more of this butterflies jostle for the available conducive habitat, a trend will set in-the survival of the fittest. This happens because the population will continue to rise without limit thus ensuing gross overcrowding and the habitat becomes saturated with the butterflies as it reaches its full carrying capacity and can support no more, thus leading to invariable reduction in population. Global warming also has the potential to decrease the diversity of the butterfly, which occurs when their habitat is drastically altered. Interactions among these butterflies and other species also result. In conclusion the current rate of global warming is very disturbing. Severe stress and pressure is being mounted on the butterfly and there is an urgent need to quickly find ways of reducing the harmful impact of the

Home Visit Activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Home Visit Activity - Essay Example The mother is 25 years old named Jane. My friend recommended me to interview her for this task. In the planning process of this activity, I called a week in advance to see if she was willing to be interviewed. She agreed to the visit and we decided to carry out the activity on February 1 at 9 am. Although the time was set as per her consent I made a call before visiting her to make sure that the time is still suitable for her. The visit I visited Jane on the specified time. The visit started with a pleasant greeting to her and the baby. I went to wash my hands before holding the baby to give the impression of hygiene importance. To make the atmosphere friendly and light I introduced myself concisely and gave her a hand sanitizer as a gift for visitors. As per the phone conversation I expected a friendly but shy lady. However, Jane felt comfortable with me discussing her problems and circumstances. The purpose of the visit was to explore the facts which may be causing the baby girl to lose weight. The mother clearly stated that the baby was not gaining weight despite of her struggles and visits to different local doctors. The place where she lived was a small underdeveloped area with less educated and poor people surrounding it. She told about the frequent changes in medications in order to resolve this issue.

A multimedia Analysis of ‘A Doll’s House’ Essay Example for Free

A multimedia Analysis of ‘A Doll’s House’ Essay In Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’, the1973 movie version by Joseph Losey better depicts a more compelling story than the written version, specifically with the character of Christine Linde. The play ‘A Doll’s House’ takes place in the late 1800’s in Norway, where men seemed more superior than women. Men usually take up the role of the sole breadwinner and take care of the household. Christine is a friend of Nora, was once engaged to Krogstad who was convicted of fraud. Christine was forced into marrying another person because of her responsibilities towards her family. She became a very independent woman who worked very hard in her life. But now she came to Nora looking for a purpose to live for. She sees how happy Nora is with her husband and children. She wants to work for someone else rather than just herself. However, Krogstad was working at Nora’s husband bank and Torvald is to be the now Bank Manager, is strongly contemplating on firing him because of his past and his reputation that he has within the community. What makes the movie version a more compelling than the written one is that, the movie uses a new script to which gave more effectiveness in the scenes whiles creating a good path towards character development, another reason is that the order in which the three acts were played out were significantly different in the movie which helped in the audience to have a better understanding of each character’s background. In the written version, Christine is shown as a friend to Nora, however, in the movie with its first scene, shows how more deeply and close the relationship with Christine and Nora is. As in the written version, Nora is unable to remember her friend even though Christine is in front of her, ‘Nora- (doubtfully). How do you do—Mrs. Linde You don\t recognize me, I suppose. Nora No, I don\t know—yes, to be sure, I seem to—(Suddenly.) Yes! Christine! Is it really you?’ (Ibsen; Act I). This scene took place in Helmer’s house according to the written version while the opening scene of the movie shows Christine and Nora chatting in a small diner, their conversation shows how close they are as friends. As Nora says to Christine, ‘We must write to each other†¦every week†¦you must come to visit us whenever you wish’ (Losey – A Dolls House; 1973). This drastically contrasts the written version, and while the movie scripts a re not 100% in line with the written version, it does give a better understanding of the relationship between Christine and Nora. In the written version, Christine is shown as a woman that has gone through a lot, having experiences with life and its hardship, but somehow the notion that she feels she is more knowledgeable, smart, and even sometimes, discourteous type of friend, is embedded within the story. As in the scene, where Nora talks about Dr. Rank with Christine, Christine’s response is completely left out in the movie version in order to have the character’s relationship with Nora to seem questionable. ‘Mrs. Linde Listen to me, Nora. You are still very like a child in many ways, and I am older than you in many ways and have a little more experience. Let me tell you this—you ought to make an end of it with Doctor Rank. Nora What ought I to make an end of? Mrs. Linde Of two things, I think. Yesterday you talked some nonsense about a rich admirer who was to leave you money—Nora An admirer who doesn\t exist, unfortunately! But what then? (Ibsen; Act II). That scene wen t on with Nora having no understanding of what Christine is implying or accusing her of but Christine’s response is, ‘Don\t prevaricate, Nora. Do you suppose I don\t guess who lent you the two hundred and fifty pounds’ (Ibsen; Act II). The whole use of the word ‘prevaricate’ highlights the difference between the two versions, whereas, in the movie, Christine’s response was ‘Nora, don’t you think I know that Dr. Rank loan you the money?’ (Losey – A Dolls House; 1973) with Nora’s response, ‘Are you mad? I wouldn’t have dreamed of such a thing’. The movie scene stays in line with each character and their development. The use of Christine in the story is to serve as a direct comparison to Nora’s character, the movie supports this notion. So that Christine does not seem to be patronizing Nora and creating a type of conflict between the two characters since their decision at the end of the story are very different which makes their choice more effectively.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Feminism Essay -- Literacy Analysis

The adversity women endured in a patriarchal society during the nineteenth century gave birth to female feminism. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was one of the leading feminist during that time. Gilman strived for the oppressed women during the â€Å"Victorian Age†, she dedicated her life to social reform believing ever women should have equality. She opened the door for every day women to become involved and to be the masters of their own destiny. The subjugation Gilman faced in the nineteenth century as well as her own experience with postpartum depression greatly influenced her short story â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† Gilman lived in a time of American history where women were subjugated against and using her own life experience, she wrote â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† Gilman was born on July 3, 1860, during the American Civil War. After the war, America changed drastically and Gilman was at the forefront of that change. The Industrial Revolution soon took place after the war. The men who no longer fought on the battlefield began to integrate into the workforce. According to Carol Hymowitz who wrote A History of Women in America â€Å"The business of business took middle-class men away from their homes, leaving women alone in them. Women of the middle class were isolated from the world of men a commerce.† Women continued to do traditional work such as cooking, cleaning, making cloths and caring for children. Because the men earned money and the women did not, women’s work was not considered â€Å"real work† (History).This was the beginning of the inequality among sexe s. Gilman watched and observed the world around her as men portrayed women as nothing more than simple house-wives. Gilman was outraged by laws which made wives property of their husbands,... ... Works Cited Norton, Mary Beth. Major Problems in American Women’s History. Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Health, 1989. p202.Print> Hymowitz, Carol, and Michaele Weissman. A History of Women in America. New York: Bantam Books, 1978. p64. Print> Johnson, Greg. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† Short Stories for Students. Vol.1. p289. Print> Beck, Cheryl, and Jeanne Driscoll. Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Saubury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2006. p83. Print> http://lion.chadwyck.com/searchFulltext.do?id=BIO003857&divLevel=0&queryId=../session/13 36535002_12933&trailId=1369532E38F&area=ref&forward=critref_ft. Chadwych, Healy. Literature Online. Criticism & Reference: Full Text.2001.May 2, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/postpartum-depression/DS00546. Mayo Claim Staff. Postpartum Depression. June 3, 2010. May 2, 2012 Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Feminism Essay -- Literacy Analysis The adversity women endured in a patriarchal society during the nineteenth century gave birth to female feminism. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was one of the leading feminist during that time. Gilman strived for the oppressed women during the â€Å"Victorian Age†, she dedicated her life to social reform believing ever women should have equality. She opened the door for every day women to become involved and to be the masters of their own destiny. The subjugation Gilman faced in the nineteenth century as well as her own experience with postpartum depression greatly influenced her short story â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† Gilman lived in a time of American history where women were subjugated against and using her own life experience, she wrote â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† Gilman was born on July 3, 1860, during the American Civil War. After the war, America changed drastically and Gilman was at the forefront of that change. The Industrial Revolution soon took place after the war. The men who no longer fought on the battlefield began to integrate into the workforce. According to Carol Hymowitz who wrote A History of Women in America â€Å"The business of business took middle-class men away from their homes, leaving women alone in them. Women of the middle class were isolated from the world of men a commerce.† Women continued to do traditional work such as cooking, cleaning, making cloths and caring for children. Because the men earned money and the women did not, women’s work was not considered â€Å"real work† (History).This was the beginning of the inequality among sexe s. Gilman watched and observed the world around her as men portrayed women as nothing more than simple house-wives. Gilman was outraged by laws which made wives property of their husbands,... ... Works Cited Norton, Mary Beth. Major Problems in American Women’s History. Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Health, 1989. p202.Print> Hymowitz, Carol, and Michaele Weissman. A History of Women in America. New York: Bantam Books, 1978. p64. Print> Johnson, Greg. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† Short Stories for Students. Vol.1. p289. Print> Beck, Cheryl, and Jeanne Driscoll. Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Saubury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2006. p83. Print> http://lion.chadwyck.com/searchFulltext.do?id=BIO003857&divLevel=0&queryId=../session/13 36535002_12933&trailId=1369532E38F&area=ref&forward=critref_ft. Chadwych, Healy. Literature Online. Criticism & Reference: Full Text.2001.May 2, 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/postpartum-depression/DS00546. Mayo Claim Staff. Postpartum Depression. June 3, 2010. May 2, 2012

Political Power Essay

Power could be defined as â€Å"the ability to bring about change† according to Beyond intractability. Org website (http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/Power/). Power is the ability to influence the behavior of the others so as to make them do what one wants.   It entails authority and control.   Thus political power is the authority to control a society. Political power can be manipulated leading to negative use by the person or people holding it.   There are many bad uses of political power that can result from holding of the power by an irresponsible person. Such negative uses include dictatorship, corruption and oppression of the society.   Political power can also be used positively to bring benefit to the society. Political power can be used to foster development, to maintain peace and also to protect the society from external threats of invasion.   Despite the various harsh negative uses of political power, the positive uses shows that political power does not always lead to negative outcomes.   Political power can be effectively used to bring a lot of benefits to the society. Political power can be used to perpetrate corruption. People holding much political power can use it inappropriately to engage in corruption. This is particularly possible when much of the power is vested on a few individuals and there is no evaluation or a watchdog on how this power is used.   When they get enticed to use it for their personal gain at the expense of the society for which they are supposed to care. Corruption is abuse of office or power by a person so as he can benefit.   Corruption can take many forms all leading to great injustices to the society.   When political officers get into office, they do so promising the society that they will serve the interest of the society before their own personal gains.   However, after gaining political power they uphold their personal gain.   This can be done through misappropriation of funds whereby the offices holding the power spends public funds in a way that do not bring benefits to the society.   Example of misappropriation of funds may entail starting of projects that are not necessary to the society or buying luxurious facilities for their use at the expense of other more necessary facilities. Corruption can also be in the form of embezzlement o f public funds.   The political officers may use their power to get access to money belonging to the public through public corporations and use it for their own personal interests.   Facilities of such corporation can be wrongly used to serve the officer’s personal interests instead of their official use. Such actions lead to poor performance of such corporation leading to difficulties in meeting the essential needs of the society.   If funds belonging to a government institution, for example, a hospital are embezzled by a few officers, it means the hospital is not able to offer the services it is supposed to offer efficiently.   This will lead to great suffering of the members of the society which depend on such public facilities.   It is also very unfair to the society as they pay taxes so that they government can offer such services Corruption can also take the form of bribery.   This is mostly an administrative form of corruption but can be perpetrated by political officers also.   This involves the political officers asking for bribes from the members of society or organization so as they can be offered certain services. The is bribes may range from small gifts to massive amounts of money.   This form of corruption means the members of society are not able to get services without parting with other resources.   It also means there is segregation of some of the members of the society as, if they fail to raise the required bribes, they don’t get access to the resources they need. Corruption can also lead to extortion.   This entails use of political power by the political officers to obtain something by illegal threats.   The political officers may acquire interests in certain things or organization though issuing threats or force. Corruption has various costs to a country. If corruption is predominant in a country all the members of society are affected in one way or another.   The wealth of such a country is significantly affected leading to decrease in income.   The economy in a very corrupt state will be poor and businesses will not operate efficiently.   Consequently, the national income goes down affecting the ability of the government to offer essential services to the citizens.   This will inform produce a society with high rates of illiteracy and poverty. In the animal farm Napoleon used his political power to instigate corruption. He changed the rules from what had been collectively agreed to what suited his rule. He also used the dogs to threaten any other animal that opposed his rule. Napoleon and the other pigs also used the property of the farm for their own use which the other animals had not agreed upon. Another negative use of political power is establishment of dictatorship rule. Dictatorship is whereby the country is controlled by one or a few individuals who have absolute power.   Their rule is not limited by anyone, buy law constitution or social justices.   They do what they want. To gain dictatorship political officers use the little political power they have to gain more political power and later dictatorship. This is possible through oppression of nay efforts that try to limit their power.   This may include execution of people who take the bold steps of openly opposing the rule of these political powers. Dictators take control of all the operations of power in the country and personalize the rule. The dictatorship may also regulate all the actions by the citizens of a country and directs these actions against the will or consent of the citizens. Dictatorships are influenced by different factors that lead the political rules to misuse their political powers and establish dictatorships.   There are many countries that have been ruled by dictators or are still ruled by dictators.   An example of dictatorship is Stalinism which was a regime established by Joseph Stalin who lived between 1878 and 1953 in United Social Soviet Republic.   He was a dictator party leader whose tenure and campaigns costed lives of millions of people.   His rule had big negative impacts on USSR but also transformed it from a peasant society to an industrial nation http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSstalin.htm). In George Orwell’s book (1996), the Animal Farm he depicts how people struggle collectively to oust bad rule but after gaining control, the few who are trusted with the political power misuse it and establishes an autocratic form of rule whereby they dictate on all the others. The pigs in the story, after chasing the oppressive farmer, took control of the farm and established a rule that oppressed the other animals.   The animals that questioned the rule were mistreated or executed (Orwell 1996). Napoleon used mudslinging to destroy the reputation of Snowball and later chased him from the farm. These represent how people who oppose a dictator are exiled after being falsely accused. This is typical of many African and Asian countries whereby after gaining independence form colonialism, the leaders who were trusted with political power went ahead to establish dictatorship.   Other examples of dictators include Idd Amin of Uganda, Hu Chi Minh of North Vietnam and Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Oppression of citizens and social injustices is another form of negative use of political power.   In this case, the leaders vested with political power bends the rules, and perpetrate actions that lead to oppression of citizens and social injustices.   The law or the constitution is not followed and injustice becomes inaccessible to the society. In political system where citizen are oppressed and social injustice are rife, a few people control all the branches of government. Though the legislative, executive and judiciary branches of the government may seem independent, this few individuals use their political powers to influence the operations of all these branches.   This results to much suffering of the citizens and as the justice system are faulty the citizen lack a forum through which their injustices can be addressed. In modern society this can be done through practices like imposition of rules that are aimed at oppressing the citizens, coercion to the citizens to carry out certain actions and even detention of some prominent people.   The individuals who do not support the action of those with the political power are mistreated, detained or exiled. In the Animal farm, George Orwell depicts how this is done when the pigs after assuming the leadership of the other animals change the rules and uses their power to mistreat, overwork, starve and oppress the other animals (Orwell 1996). Napoleon sold off one of the animals after he became old and less productive. This was an act of betrayal and oppression of the animal as he had also taken part in the fight for their independence. Political power can also be used for the benefits of the society. There are many countries that have benefited from positive use of the political powers to the benefit of the society.   One way political power can be used positively is fostering development can greatly be encouraged through use of political power to create the right environment for development.   Political powers can be used to enact laws, policies and strategies that are aimed at fostering development.   As the political systems influence much of the economic systems in a country, positive use of the political power can lead to positive influence on the economy of a country. The leaders vested with political power can use this pioneer to help enact laws or policies that will encourage investment and expansion of the economy.   This may be in the form of providing incentives to investors building effective infrastructures or providing a conducive environment for the economy to flourish.   In the animal farm the decision to build the windmill was a good idea aimed at bringing development in the farm and comfort to the animals (Orwell 1996). United States is a country that has massive political power that is used to foster developments. The country has a free market economy with policies encouraging conducive running of the economy.   A country like Japan has used their political power to build good infrastructures that facilitate expansion of their economy. Another positive use of political power is maintenance of peace. Political power can be effectively used to maintain peace and order in the country.   As peace is very crucial for co-existence and development in a country such use of political power can lead to great benefits to the country.   The political leaders can use their authority and influence in the society they rule to encourage and foster good co-existence between the citizens.    Political powers are needed to ensure that this happens.   The leader will use their authority to maintain order in the society and make sure that no one single citizen engages in practices that infringe the rights of others.   Laws are enacted to guide the actions of the citizens and certain strategies are taken to make sure that the laws are followed.   Political power is used to establish such a system. In Orwell’s Animal Farm the animal had collaborated to come up with rules that were aimed at maintaining good co-existence among the animals (Orwell 1996). This is done through establishment of a police force that maintains law and order and enactment of a court system that ensures that those who defy the rules are punished or forced to obey. Political power also establishes the judicial system that offers a forum through which the citizens can have their rights enforced.   All these actions bring peace by ensuring all the citizens get their rights and live harmoniously. Another positive use of political power is protection of the country from invasion. Political power is used in establishment of strategies of ensuring that a country is protected from external invasion.   This will ensure that the country is safe from threats and can concentrate on development. Political power can be utilized in different ways to protect a country from external attacks.   First the political leader can use their power and authority to help and lead in formation of policies aimed at protecting the country from possible attacks.   These policies may include security measures aimed at preventing such attacks.   The political powers can also establish armed forces that will maintain the security of the country and defend it in case of any external attacks. Weapons can also be acquired either through manufacturing or purchase form other countries aiming at providing a security measure to prevent or defend an attack.   Political leaders can also use their authority to established partnerships links with other countries aimed at fostering co-operation thus minimizing threat of attack from those countries.   These co operations may also be used as partners in maintenance of the peace of the country.   Such partners will collaborate in case of an attack or in strategies aimed at minimizing possibilities of an attack. In Orwell’s Animal Farm he depicted good use of political power when the animals united in their fight against Mr. Jones, the earlier owner of the farm. Because of this unity they were able to defeat Mr. Jones (Orwell 1996). Political leaders can use their authority to influence the practices of their country so as to prevent any actions that may trigger attacks from other countries.   Such actions may include neutrality in conflicts involving other parties. Countries in Europe have formed the European Union aimed at co-operation and collaboration in different issues.   This union unites the country hence minimizing the possibility of attack of one country by another.   There are many such unions that have been formed for such purposes including organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) and the African Union (AU). Other countries in Europe and other places have formed NATO which is aimed at collaboration to prevent attacks form other countries.   All these efforts are aimed at protection of the individual countries and are established by political powers Political power can be used to instigate very bad and harmful activities in a country such as corruption, dictatorship and oppression of citizens. These activities lead to a lot of suffering and deterioration of economies of such countries.   However, political power can also be used to establish policies and practices for the benefit of a country. Political power is a key ingredient for development, peace and safety of a country.   Actually for country to be successful it must have a good and strong political powers that will help instigate the success.   Ã‚  Thus, it is evidence that political power does not always lead to negative outcomes.   It can be used effectively to produce many benefits to a society. Reference: Beyondintractability.org. Power. Retrieved on February 6, 2008 from http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/Power/ Orwell G. (1996).Animal Farm. New York; New American Library. Spartacus educational. Joseph Stalin. Retrieved on February 6, 2008 from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSstalin.htm

Group dynamics in The Breakfast Club Essay

Whether groups are formed for social or task oriented purposes, the ability to produce and maintain a sense of affiliation, peer support and collaboration is important for overall group functioning. The cohesion of a social group is produced through the establishment of a set of group norms, which are later defined as a guide for conduct accepted within a group of individuals. However, in order for a group to perform and produce results, the team leader should guide his/her team through the proper stages of group development, which includes the following steps: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. Although teams should follow all these stages of group development, the forming and the norming stages are the most important, since these develop and foster the development of the group norm which prevents segregation within a group. In addition, an autocratic leadership style, which is a very authoritative method is useful in cohering a poorly organized group, especially a group of young high school students as in the movie, The Breakfast Club. The first stage of group development is the forming stage. Forming is when members get to know each other and find common ground, while the group leader provides structure, direction and ground rules. For example, in the movie, The Breakfast Club, the forming stage was the point at which students were forced into a group during detention, which provided structure and rules and allowed individuals to become familiar with one another. The second stage in group development is the storming phase, which usually involves arguments, power struggles, debates and general conflict of interest, often resulting in individuals perceiving such gathering as a waste of time. An example of this stage also seen in the The Breakfast Club is where differing opinions and ideas due to variations in social norms created conflict and arguments within the group. However, if a team leader is able to get past this stage by reminding members of the general goal, group members will begin to work as a team and will move onto the norming stage. At this stage, the group begins to realize the more positive points of individuals within the group, which promotes the development of trust and respect which begins to build group cohesion. The next stage is the performing stage, which is typical of high-performing teams that are able to function as a group and figure out various options to get the job done smoothly and effectively without supervision. The final stage is the adjourning phase, which is the final step in completing tasks  and breaking up the team. The groups that are formed as adolescents often determine group associations as adults and define an individual within their social group that will either set them with or against other groups. This is described in an article on social groupings by Colin Allen, which mentions that our social asso ciations as adolescents are strong indicators to future patterns of social norms as adults. Therefore, the group of students in the movie, The Breakfast Club, can also be extrapolated to adult group dynamics. However, the varying social norms between groups can present conflicts when adults are required to function within a very diverse group of individuals. In The Breakfast Club, the Jock, Geek, Prom Queen, Delinquent, and the Freak groups are brought together initially through an autocratic or directive leadership role, used to bring the group together in order to proceed to the next phase of group development. This stage is particularly important within a group of varying personalities, such as a group of high school students, since it is most often the only way such a diverse group can become familiar with each other. Then through the forming stage, the group members move away from differing group norms, interact and eventually find common ground within the group and establish a unified group norm. The importance of developing a group norm is also illustrated in an experimental study done on group norms and self-aggressive behaviors, which indicated that the establishment of a group norm played a crucial role in the expression of self-inflicted aggression. This tendency to conform to a group norm was shown to influence individual behavior, such as the enhancement of self-image associated with group identification. Therefore, the formation stage in a group process is important, since it develops group norms by requiring the individual to gather data and impressions on similarities and differences within the group and rely on a strong authoritative leader for guidance. The second important stage in group development is the norming stage, which emphasizes interpersonal relations and group cohesion. This is the stage at which the members are actively acknowledging each other through learning about one another and developing group cohesion. Through this stage, individuals begin to share leadership roles and dissolve former cliques and contribute to the overall success of group functioning. This will also increase the sense of group belonging, and individual invested interest in solving any issues within the group. This stage is characterized  by sharing, soliciting information, accepting and finally, providing feedback, and increased creativity. In the film, The Breakfast Club, this stage occurs later when the group has already gone through the forming stage, where the individuals are able to function as a group towards the same goals. In general, if this stage is achieved, members of the group will become more open with each other and information sharing will occur, which will benefit the effectiveness of the group. At this stage a more relaxed leadership style can also be implemented, such as the democratic or laissaize-fair methods. In conclusion, the development of a group who vary in social norms is very dependant on the forming and norming stages, since these steps allow the group to develop a unified group norm. Depending on the characteristics of the group, normally an authoritative style should initially be implemented in order to bring some cohesion to the group. As an example, a group of first year nursing students would benefit from the forming stage, under the direction of an autocratic leadership, since this would offer a solid foundation on which to build a unified group norm. After the group is formed and rules have been learned and accepted by the students, a less authoritative leadership style can be implemented in the norming stage. This will allow students the freedom to learn and explore the field of nursing and develop their individual self-confidence within the field.

Reading Quiz on A Hanging by George Orwell

Reading Quiz on A Hanging by George Orwell First published in 1931, A Hanging is one of George Orwells best-known essays. To test your understanding of Orwells narrative, take this brief quiz, and then compare your responses with the answers on page two. 1. George Orwell’s â€Å"A Hanging† is set in which one of the following countries?(A) India(B) Burma(C) England(D) Eurasia(E) Persia 2. At what time of day do the events in A Hanging take place?(A) about an hour before sunrise(B) in the morning(C) at high noon(D) late in the afternoon(E) at sunset 3. In paragraph three, a bugle call is described as desolately thin in the wet air. In this context, the word desolately means(A) without hope or comfort(B) with doubt or suspicion(C) in a quiet manner, softly(D) lacking a tune or silently(E) in a sentimental or romantic way 4. Which one of the following characters does not appear in Orwell’s A Hanging†?(A) the hangman, a gray-haired convict in the white uniform of the prison(B) the superintendent of the jail, [who] was an army doctor, with a gray toothbrush moustache and a gruff voice(C) Francis, the head jailer(D) a Hindu prisoner, a puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes(E) an old Indian judge, with a gold-rimmed monocle and a handlebar moustache 5. When the procession to the gallows is interrupted by a dog (which made a dash for the prisoner and . . . tried to lick his face), what does the superintendent say?(A) Come here, pooch.(B) Shoot it!(C) Never a dull moment.(D) Who let that bloody brute in here?(E) Leave him alone. Let him be. 6. The narrator doesnt refer directly to himself or use a pronoun in the first-person singular until paragraph eight. Which sentence marks this shift in point of view?(A) For Gods sake hurry up, Francis, I said irritably.(B) I fixed the rope round the prisoners neck.(C) Then we put my handkerchief through its collar...(D) I reached out with my stick and poked the bare brown body...(E) The superintendent passed the whisky to me. 7. What simple action by the prisoner causes the narrator to realize for the first time what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man?(A) saying God bless you(B) avoiding a puddle(C) petting the dog(D) praying(E) calling for his daughter 8. What is the one word that the prisoner cries out (repeatedly)?(A) â€Å"Innocent!†(B) â€Å"Help!†(C) â€Å"Ram!†(D) â€Å"No!†(E) â€Å"Stella!† 9. After the hanging, the narrator reports that Francis was walking by the superintendent, talking garrulously. In this context, what does garrulously mean?(A) in a rambling or excessively talkative way(B) softly, reverently(C) in a pompous, self-important manner(D) sorrowfully(E) in a hesitant, uncertain manner 10. At the very end of Orwell’s â€Å"A Hanging,† what do the remaining characters (that is, all but the prisoner and, presumably, the dog) do?(A) pray for the soul of the dead prisoner(B) discuss the ethical dimensions of their behavior(C) shoot the dog(D) hang another Hindu(E) laugh and drink whiskey Answers to the Reading Quiz on A Hanging (B) Burma(B) in the morning(A) without hope or comfort(E) an old Indian judge, with a gold-rimmed monocle and a handlebar moustache(D) Who let that bloody brute in here?(C) Then we put my handkerchief through its collar...(B) avoiding a puddle(C) â€Å"Ram!†(A) in a rambling or excessively talkative way(E) laugh and drink whiskey

Learning differences in a given learning environment Essay

Learning differences in a given learning environment - Essay Example Debates exist on whether it is the parental or teacher responsibility to effectively educate all these differences in student learning. Teacher's expectations/stereotypes whether conscious or subconscious may serve to either support all these learning differences in a mutual learning environment or may advantage some to the disadvantage of others. According to the theory of critical pedagogy which attempts to tailor the educational environment according to students' lived experiences, most educators do not consciously attempt to disadvantage students who come with non-dominant cultural, economic, ability differences yet since all of these students are located within a dominant culture they may or may not receive the proper attention required. Due to dominant curriculum content/narratives and norms of thinking which serve to stream non-dominant students into lower learning tracks and socializes them as such, many students fall between the cracks of the educational system and do not ge t their full learning potential realized. According to several critical pedagogical theorists the role of most schools is one in which the values of society with all its inequities are reproduced. Instead of focusing on the Zone of Proximal Development as described by Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky (1962) and Giroux (1998) teachers simply do not have all the knowledge base resources available nor the financial incentive to pay due attention to these important factors. Although working in the same time frame as Piaget, Vygotsky focused on cultural influences on cognitive stages of development in thinking (Santrock, 2008; Vygotsky, 1962; 1978). For Vygotsky culture specifies what to think, how to think and the means by which individuals think. For this reason, language is considered by him to be an essential element in the learning process since it represents the means by which the adult guides the child through the learning process (Santrock, 2008; Vygotsky, 1962). This illustrates that students who have a second or third language that they are exposed to at home learn differently than those exposed to English only. Since language is the primary means, according to Vygotsky, of intellectual transformation then language has a direct impact on learning. Children use internal speech and imitate their parents' speech so they start teaching themselves through the use of this self-talk. Development according to Vygotsky, means that children gradually become adapted through language to their cultural background and effectively to the learning environment. This theory otherwise known the sociocultural or social cognitive approach illustrates the importance of culture and language in the learning process. Teachers who address language and cultural differences in their teaching by recognizing and effectively including these understandings within learning are being effective educators (Santrock, 2008; Vygotsky, 1962; 1978). Another important factor is the role of socio-economic backgrounds. According to Giroux (1998) schools should do more than simply replicate the stratification existing in society by emphasizing values of competition, individualism, and intellectual consumerism. Instead schools can and should promote a sense of democratic community for teachers and students (Giroux & Schmidt, 2004). This inevitably means

Linguisitcs- Empirical findings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Linguisitcs- Empirical findings - Essay Example Hypothesis 3 predicted that both corpora would provide more dependent noun clauses than other types of dependent clauses and is confirmed within the interview corpus but not within the linguistic corpus, which contained an even number of adverbial, noun and relative clauses. Hypothesis 4 predicted that the extract taken from a transcribed interview would contain more contractions than the linguistic extract, and is borne out by the results. This study compares two small corpora, each comprising 300 words, taken from a linguistic journal and a transcribed interview. The texts are therefore diverse in terms of content, style, register and their proposed audience, and are compared and contrasted in terms of the linguistic properties pertaining to the number and length of sentences, the number and type of dependent clauses, and the use of contractions. The focus on sentence constructions begins by ascertaining the number of sentences within each corpus. The purpose of this is that the number of sentences will provide insight as to the length of the sentences, which is measured in terms of the number of words within a punctuated sentence. The higher the number of sentences found within a 300 word corpus, then the shorter the sentences would have to be. The fewer the number of sentences therefore, would realise longer, compound and complex sentences and thus would be expected to render more dependent clauses. The second property to be measured in this study is the number and type of dependent clauses used within each text. A dependent clause does not convey a complete idea and therefore is unable to stand by itself; in other words a dependent clause relies on an independent clause for meaning. Tallerman (2005) refers to dependent clauses as subordinate clauses and the independent clause, which must contain a finite verb, as the matrix clause. She also tells us that subordinate clauses are often considered as embedded clauses because