Praise Song for my Mother by Grace Nichols Essay

The poem, as the name suggests is a song where the poet is rejoicing her relationship with her mother by making use of simple but powerful imagery. It is important to note that unlike the commemorative poems that are usually written by Western writers, â€Å"Praise for My Mother† does not have a requiem like elegiac mood. The overall tone of the poem is pleasant. â€Å"Praise Song† is a panegyric on the writer’s mother. in which she celebrates a woman who gave her both roots to grow from and wings to fly with. Writing about her own mother, Nichols once commented that she was a ‘†¦ warm, intelligent, loving woman who was full of stories, anecdotes and songs from her own childhood. People loved being around her and I can’t remember a single day when our home wasn’t visited by some friend, neighbour or relative who had dropped in â€Å"just fuh [sic] minute† but ended up staying hours. ‘ Starting with the vocabulary, it is vivid but hard-hitting. The writer uses the images of water, moon and sun- all powerful symbols of nature, to describe her mother’s character which shows her strength of personality and the extent of her love and affection towards her. The red colour of the fish’s gills is reminiscent of the maternal love; a break from the clichi d usage of the colour red in â€Å"standard† English literature where the colour is usually associated with sensuality. Talking about the lyrical style, a look at the formative years of Grace Nichols in Guyana may shed some light on her writing and choice of subject. She was born into a world of books and music. Her father was a head teacher and at home she was surrounded by books – she was fascinated by the kingdom of books and language. Her mother used to give piano lessons. The first 8 years of her life that she spent in a village left an imprint on her that shows in the poem as well; the rhythm of music and the beat of pan, the call of the fisherman and the fruit vendor, the odour of mud and salt when she went crab hunting (â€Å"the crab’s leg†), the whole of the morning sky, the whole of the evening sky, (â€Å"sunrise† and â€Å"moon’s eye†). The poem is also repetitive, ‘replenishing replenishing’. The poet may have opted for this because it brings a sense of childhood as a young child would repeat words. Nichols wants to use this effect because the repetitive content relates to a child’s attitude, which will then recall the memories Nichols had of her mother when she was a child. Food is a very important part of Caribbean culture and tradition. The home-cooked food is something that does not have any alternative. The writer’s memory of her mother is not complete without thinking about or mentioning the food she used to cook. This intensifies the sacrifice that the writer’s mother had to make for her daughter’s brighter, â€Å"Wide futures†. As Nichols once pointed out, â€Å"Like a beacon in London, every now and then I get this craving for my mother’s food. I leave art galleries in search of plantains, salt fish, sweet potatoes; I need this link, I need this touch of home, swinging my bag like a beacon against the cold. † Praise song for my mother Fat Black Woman Tropical Death Grace Nichols puts the image across that the issue of culture is extremely important to her. Through her poems we understand that she is confused of her identity. When she moved to London she felt as though she was living in an alien world. Grace Nichols was longing for a cultural identity in Britain and she tends to describe Britain negatively and the Caribbean positively. This is why throughout the poems she applies her own dialect of Creole, which is the official dialect of the Caribbean. She also uses Creole because she feels as though she should preserve it. She maintains that her Caribbean language is ‘genuinely exciting’ and that Creole’s aspects are very vivid which concludes her to believe that there is no equivalent in the English language. Nichols has successfully carved a niche for her culture and poetry in the existing canon of complex poets and poetry by writing in a laymen’s register. This is a poetry that everyone can understand and read. This is a poetry that everyone can identify with. This is the poetry the Nichols has written for her countrymen, for her mother, for her roots- it is a tribute to her roots back at home. We get a clear sense of this in ‘Praise Song for My Mother’, in which she talks of a mother who is ‘deep and bold and fathoming’ and who ‘replenishes’ her whenever she needs comfort.

Islamic Pottery Essay

Medieval Islamic pottery occupied a geographical position between Chinese ceramics and the pottery of the Byzantine Empire and Europe. For most of the period it can fairly be said to have been between the two in terms of aesthetic achievement and influence as well, borrowing from China and exporting to and influencing Byzantium and Europe. The use of drinking and eating vessels in gold and silver, the ideal in ancient Rome and Persia as well as medieval Christian societies, is prohibited by the Hadiths, with the result that pottery and glass were used for tableware by Muslim elites, as pottery (but less often glass) also was in China, but was much rarer in Europe and Byzantium. Islamic restrictions In the same way Islamic restrictions greatly discouraged figurative wall-painting, encouraging the architectural use of schemes of decorative tiles, which are the most distinctive and original speciality of Islamic ceramics. Era of Islamic Pottery The era of Islamic pottery started around 622. From 633, Muslims armies moved rapidly towards Persia, Byzantium, Mesopotimia, Anatolia, Egypt and later Andalusia. Early History of Islamic Pottery The early history of Islamic pottery remains somewhat obscure and speculative as little evidence has survived. Apart from tiles which escaped destruction due to their use in architectural decoration of buildings and mosques, much early medieval pottery vanished. The Muslim world inherited significant pottery industries in Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, North Africa (African Red Slip) and later other regions. Early Medieval (622-1200) A distinct Muslim style in pottery was not firmly established until the 9th century in Iraq (formerly Mesopotamia), Syria and Persia. During this period pieces mainly used white tin-glaze. Information on earlier periods is very limited. This is largely due to the lack of surviving specimens in good condition which also limits the interest in the study of ceramics of these periods. The most highly regarded technique of this centre is the use of calligraphy in the decoration of vessels. Chinese influence on Islamic Pottery During the Abbasid dynasty pottery production gained momentum, largely using tin glazes mostly in the form of opaque white glaze. Some historians, such as Arthur Lane, attribute the rise of such industry to Chinese influence. Three main phases According to Lane, the influence of Chinese pottery progressed in three main phases.  ·The first contact with China took place in 751 when the Arabs defeated the Chinese at the Battle of Talas. It has been argued that imprisoned Chinese potters and paper makers could have taught the Muslims the art of pottery and paper-making. In 800’s Chinese stoneware and porcelain reached the Abbasids.  ·The second phase took place in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, a period noted for the decline of pottery industry following the fall of the Seljuk dynasty. This period also saw the invasion of the Mongols who brought Chinese pottery traditions.  ·The third phase was in the fifteenth century, when much of this influence came through imports made from Tang, Song and Ming dynasties at the hand of Zheng He. Islamic innovations From between the eighth and eighteenth centuries, the use of glazed ceramics was prevalent in Islamic art, usually assuming the form of elaborate pottery. Tin-opacifiedglazing, for the production of tin-glazed pottery, was one of the earliest new technologies developed by the Islamic potters. Middle (1200–1400) By this period the distinctive Islamic tradition of decorated wall tiles had emerged, and continued to develop together with vessel pottery in a way unique to Islamic art. The Seljuks brought new and fresh inspiration to the Muslim world, attracting artists, craftsmen and potters from all regions including Egypt. In addition to continuing the production of similar (although more refined) tin and lustre glaze ceramics, the Seljuks (in Persia) were credited for the introduction of a new type sometimes known as â€Å"Faience†. This is made from a hard white frit paste coated with transparent alkaline glaze. Examples of Islamic Period Pottery  ·Glazed pottery  ·Unglazed pottery Glazed pottery Glazed pottery is typical for the Islamic Period in Egypt, but there is evidence that is was already introduced in the Byzantine Period (Engeman 1990). In contrast to Faience and the glazed materials of the Pharaonic period, true glass was used as glazing. Colours were produced by adding metallic oxides. When transparent it could be applied over paintings. Unglazed pottery  ·Water jugs had often filters built into the neck for keeping out the flies. Especially the examples from Egypt are produced with great delicacy.  ·Most of the pottery of daily use produced in the Islamic period (including down to today) is unglazed.  ·Vessels of uncertain function, with compact fabric: suggestions for use vary from military projectiles to storage of vintage wine.

Difference Between Romanticism and Transendinlalism in American and British Writers Essay

Difference Between Romanticism and Transendinlalism in American and British Writers The expression Romantic gained currency during its own time, roughly 1780-1850. However, the Romantic era is to identify a period in which certain ideas and attitudes arose, gained the idea of intellectual achievement and became dominant. This is why , they became the dominant mode of expression. Which tells us something else about the Romantic era which expression was perhaps everything to do with them — expression in art, music, poetry, drama, literature and philosophy. Romantic ideas arose both as implicit and explicit criticisms of 18th century Enlightenment thought. For the most part, these ideas were generated by a sense of being unable to deal with the dominant ideals of the Enlightenment and of the society that produced them. Which characterized Transendinlalism very differently from that of Romanticism. The difference of Transendinlalism was that it was a literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. However, the Romantics thought differently because they that, that romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a heightened interest in nature, emphasis on the individual’s expression of emotion and imagination, departure from the attitudes and forms of classicism, and rebellion against established social rules and conventions. The Romantics felt all the opinions of the Enlightment were fraught with dangerous errors and oversimplification. Romanticism may then be considered as a critique of the inadequacies of what it held to be Enlightened thought. The difference between these two eras are the British and American writers that have chosen either the path of romanticism or transendinlalism. The characteristics of Romanticism are different to those of Transendinlalism. Romanticism results in part from the libertarian and egalitarian ideals of the French Revolution, the romantic movements had in common only a revolt against the prescribed rules of classicism. The basic aims of romanticism were various: a return to nature and to the belief in the goodness of humanity; the rediscovery of the artist as a supremely individual creator; the development of nationalistic pride; and the exaltation of the senses and emotion over reason and intellect. In addition, romanticism was a philosophical revolt against rationalism. Another difference between those of Romanticism and Transendinlalism are it’s themes that it represents. One of the many themes of romanticism are dreams and visions. The most notable example of the emphasis on dreams and visions in romantic literature is Coleridge’s poems is â€Å"Kubla Khan†written in 1816, he claims to have written is during a dream while deeply asleep . While transcribing the lines from his dream, he was interrupted by a visitor, and later claimed that if this interruption had not occurred, the poem would have been much longer. The idea that a person could compose poetry while asleep was a common amongst romantics. Although critics at the time were not particularly enthusiastic about Kubla Khan. Nature had a overwhelming influence during the Romantic Era. In Kubla Khan describes the nature that he is surrounded by; † Walls and towers were raised around â€Å"twice five miles of fertile ground,† filled with beautiful gardens and forests. A â€Å"deep romantic chasm† slanted down a green hill, occasionally spewing forth a violent and powerful burst of water, so great that it flung boulders up with it â€Å"like rebounding hail. † The river ran five miles through the woods, finally sinking â€Å"in tumult to a lifeless ocean. † Amid that tumult, in the place â€Å"as holy and enchanted / As e’er beneath a waning moon was haunted / By woman wailing to her demon-lover,† Kubla heard â€Å"ancestral voices† bringing prophesies of war. The pleasure-dome’s shadow floated on the waves, where the mingled sounds of the fountain and the caves could be heard. â€Å"It was a miracle of rare device,† the speaker says, â€Å"A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice! † Coleridge’s is inspired by the beauty and charmingness that nature gives them during the romantic era. Before this period of time another era had began called The Age Of Enlightenment. In the 18th century â€Å" The Enlightenment,† made this movement advocated rationality as a means to establish an authoritative system of ethics, aesthetics, and knowledge. Which then gave the transendinlalism it’s place in this movement. Transendinlalism is a literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. It is no coincidence that this movement took off just as the American literary tradition was beginning to blossom. Transcendentalism—though inspired by German and British Romanticism—was a distinctly American movement in that it was tied into notions of American individualism. In addition to the theme of American democracy, transcendentalist literature also promotes the idea of nature as divine and the human soul as inherently wise. Transcendentalism also had a political dimension, and writers such as Thoreau put their transcendentalist beliefs into action through acts of civil disobedience to the government. The nineteenth century was a volatile one, beginning with the hope and promise of democracy and the development of an American identity and moving towards mass devastation and division by the middle of the century. Slavery and the Civil War, women’s rights, growing industrialism and class division —all of these events were influential and each had a role to play in the transcendentalist movement. Transendinlalism had many themes to those of the Romantics at their time like self- wisdom. Quite simply, Transcendentalism is based on the belief that human beings have self-wisdom and may gain this knowledge or wisdom by tuning in to the ebb and flow of nature. Transcendentalism revolves around the self, specifically the betterment of the self. Where Emerson and his followers differed from earlier philosophical and religious beliefs was in the idea that human beings had natural knowledge and could connect with God directly rather than through an institution such as organized religion. Transcendentalism celebrated the self, an important step in the construction of American identity, better understood as the notion of American individualism—one of the cornerstones of American democracy. Nature played an important role in the Transcendentalist view. Nature was divine and alive with spirit; indeed, the human mind could read the truths of life in nature. To live in harmony with nature and to allow one’s deepest intuitive being to communicate with nature was a source of goodness and inspiration. In fact, writers not only celebrated America’s great landscape, but also constructed the wilderness as a type of dramatic character that illustrated moral law. The desire for an escape from the evils of society and a return to nature became a permanent convention of American literature. Transcendentalist thought emphasized individualism. Only by rejecting the irrelevant dogmas in place and searching for inner truth could one experience the deep intuition of spiritual reality. In relation, Transcendentalism is also very democratic, asserting that the powers of the individual mind and soul are equally available to all people. These powers are not dependent on wealth, gender, background, or education, but on the individual’s willingness to release their own imaginative power to realize his or her place in the Oversoul. The obvious results from Transcendentalist efforts are manifest in the intense moral enthusiasm that characterized Transcendental thinkers. Society, with its emphasis on material success, was often seen as a source of corruption. To combat this evil, many Transcendentalists were associated with such moralist groups as the anti-slavery group, the march for women’s rights, and other aid societies. Ultimately, some Transcendentalists hoped to reform society by creating an American utopia with a perfect social and political system. The Transcendentalists can be exasperatingly vague in their prescriptions for spiritual transformation, a vagueness which derives principally from their distrust of all forms of ritual and inherited religious forms. The transcendent individual is often a solitary figure, contemplating his soul (and by analogy, the soul of all humanity), and contemplating other souls through the reading of serious literature. But the central recurring theme that emerges is a return to nature, where the artifice and depravity of society cannot reach. Thus Thoreau leaves Concord and heads for Walden Pond to explore the great truths of the natural world. Thus Jones Very, in his poem â€Å"The Silent,† distinguishes between the sounds that strike the ear and those that strike the soul when one walks in the woods: ‘Tis all unheard; that Silent Voice, Whose goings forth unknown to all, Bids bending reed and bird rejoice, And fills with music Nature’s hall. And in the speechless human heart It speaks, where’er man’s feet have trod; Beyond the lips’ deceitful art, To tell of Him, the Unseen God. † Thus the similarities in the Romantic and Transendinlalism era are ver closely together. For the writers of these eras believed in different yet similar things. For example, nature was one of the similarities of both eras they had marked the world in believing that nature is something that will keep you clam and feel safe like all writers at the time believed in. For romantics believed in intellectual and artistic belief in their writing. Thus they also had many differences for reason over belief this is one of the subjects that the romantics and transcendentalist did not agreed in. During the 18th century their truly was no difference in both the romantic and Transendinlalism era. The only difference was those of the people’s writings of this period who made this era last for years.

Describe, giving reasons, how a judge in the High Court might approach Essay

Describe, giving reasons, how a judge in the High Court might approach claims for nervous shock (psychiatric injury) from the de - Essay Example The twins’ father who was at the stadium during the disaster also experienced psychiatric injury but was still able to help the injured others. Issue: Whether or not the psychiatric injury claim of the deceased boy’s grandmother, mother and father would prosper. Cause of Action Cause of action in the instant scenario shall be analyzed in reference to the case of Dulieu v White (1901), a landmark precedent. In that case, the High Court granted the plaintiff’s claim for nervous shock. The defendant’s negligent act actually frightened a pregnant woman which eventually caused her to miscarry. Judge Kennedy J set forth the following requisites for filing a psychiatric injury claim: (1) the fright or shock whether mere or substantial is followed by a physical damage (2) the fright or shock is a natural result of the defendant’s negligence (3) the physical damage done is not too remote to support the claim. Phillimor J added one more requirement, that is, there should be a legal obligation on the defendant’s part not to frighten or shock the plaintiff by his or her negligent act. All of the mentioned requisites should be present in order for cause of action to exist. The respective situations of the deceased twins’ grandmother, mother and father shall be subjected to analysis. As to the twins’ grandmother and mother, it is contended that they have no cause of action. First, no consequent physical damage has transpired after they were frightened. Notably, the two were merely watching the whole event on television. Stated otherwise, they were not located in the place of incidence. Although their fright can be regarded as a normal result of the defendant’s (the stadium owner) negligence, still the third and fourth requisites are not complied with. The remoteness of the physical damage done shall not be dealt with since there was no physical damage to speak of in the first place. As the game was aired on telev ision, the stadium owner had a duty to prevent any circumstance that would frighten the audience. In the given scenario, the horrific event was unluckily televised which shocked the boys’ grandmother and mother. In that respect, the stadium owner is negligent. James and Christopher’s father has also no cause of action. Despite the fact that their father was at the place of incidence, it is to be presumed that he did not suffer any physical damage. It was just stated that he too experienced nervous shock and administered first aid to the injured others. Needless to say, the first requisite is absent. His fright however is a normal effect of the defendant’s negligence. The third requisite is not an issue in this instance. Based on the stated findings, a High Court judge will declare that the twins’ grandmother, mother and father have no cause of action to file a case for psychiatric injury. Each of them may have complied with the second and fourth requisite s but they failed to pass the first and third conditions. This is in pursuance to its simple approach based on the exclusive elements of psychiatric injury. Legal Standing In the present scenario, legal standing (locus standi) shall be discussed in light of the principles enunciated in Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police (1992). Alcock was one of the injured victims in a crowd crush. In this case, the court did not uphold the plaintiff’s claim for nervous shock. The House of Lords promulgated two requisites for one to have a legal standing in

Environmentalists cannot be animal liberationists Essay

Environmentalists cannot be animal liberationists - Essay Example Although various people believe that both animal rights activists and the environmental activists belong to the same class. Author Gary Varner actually spoke with Mark Sagoff mentioning the belief that the animal rights activists cannot be environmental activists. As a matter of fact this is a statement that has been made by various authors. According to the authors, it is very hard to mess these two groups into a larger group. Varner also stated that among the environmental philosophers there is a tendency to compare the environmental ethics and the animal rights. This is usually done by differentiating the specific views in the ethical theories or the specific accounts of the views that might imply to discussion (Varner 98). The environmental philosophers on the other hand cannot come into an agreement over the fact that the theoretical foundations as well as the practical applications of the animal rights view are quite inconsistent with the people belonging to the discipline of t he environmentalism. Varner also provided evidence that the two groups look at themselves as two different groups, hence the people around should also look to do the same. Varner also said that Bryan Norton believed that both the groups of animal rights activists and the environmental activists should help each other because both the values and systems of the groups point towards the common objective of protecting the ecological balance.

Women infertility Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Women infertility - Research Paper Example ly people who can make diagnosis if a person has had sex for more than one year withoutconceivingfor a period of one year, while having sex without protection. Infertility remains a problem for many women and sometimes men too suffer problems of infertility. This paper highlights some of the pathogenesis, common symptoms and current conventional treatment. It further addresses the issue of nutritional protocol to include diet and supplements, not only for healing the disorder, but also for prevention. Explain why the diet and supplements suggest are appropriate for this particular illness. b) The controversies surrounding the infertility problem is associated with a range of emotional problems facing the couples. Such challenges affect mostly the childless couples. And some argue that having at least one child may cool the tempers regarding infertility. a) Fallopian tube blockages or damages: when fallopian tubes of a woman are damaged, there is little possibility for a woman to conceive. It is vital to note that the fallopian tubes play an important role of carrying the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus and when they are damaged, there is no possibility of contact between the egg and sperm. Fallopian damages create many other problems that contribute to female infertility such as: endometriosis, pelvic infections, pelvic surgeries that may lead to scar formation and fallopian tube blockages (Jorge, Walter, and Skerrett, 71). b) Cervical problems: a cervical causes a small number of women to suffer from cervical conditions that may cause issues when it comes to conception. Cervical conditions are likely to bur sperms from passing through the cervical canal. Nonetheless, this is a treatable problem and many gynecologists will always advice women that it can be treated and women to conceive. Many of such cases have successfully been addressed through intrauterine insemination. c) Hormonal causes: hormonal problem may cause female infertility because many women

Managing People and Organizations and Changing Business Scenario and Coursework

Managing People and Organizations and Changing Business Scenario and Management Practices - Coursework Example There are different approaches and perspective of management however management is about planning, organizing, leading and controlling to ensure that the organizational objectives are achieved. The task of managers is not only to ensure that organizational objectives are achieved, but it is the responsibility of the management to make sure that the motivation level of employees is high (Glueck, 1980). There is vast scholarly evidence suggesting that the theory of management came after the Second World War.; and its basic in-depth study has begun ever since. But the concept, in essence, started after the Industrial Revolution which brought upon mass production, specialization and seeing people a critical resource all paved way for management to viewed as a critical area of discourse. Principles of management are basic truths and the clarification between a dependent variable and an independent variable. Principles shall hathe ve a predictive or explanatory effect into it and it is muc h more deeply related to the dependent and independent variable as to whether these principles are applicable in given situation or not The rapidly changing environment along with different technological advancements, have been raising questions that the theories related to management are applicable in the current environment or not. Different researches and studies have been carried in this regard. In this report, an attempt has been made in order to understand the different management theories and their implications in the changing workplace. Managers are important for any modern organization i.e. plant managers look after machinery working properly, sales manager’s task is to build an effective sales team and formulate an effective sales strategy and a personnel manager’s job is to provide an enthusiastic, effective task, accomplishing and productive workforce (Rogg, Schmidt, Shull, & Schmitt, 2001). Managers are responsible in the organization to ensure that all the tasks are accomplished within the deadline and to complete the tasks in the most appropriate manner, they assign the tasks and manage people with the intention that the organizational objectives are accomplished properly.  

Does the EU need politicization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Does the EU need politicization - Essay Example The fundamental question which must be addressed before embarking upon the launch of measures to politicize the EU is rather straightforward and is rooted in a legitimate concern of the stakeholders which are somehow affected by the functioning of the politico-economic union of several European nations. This question aims to explore whether the EU essentially needs and require politicization. For the purposes of comprehensively and critically examining this fundamental aspect, this paper integrates positions of renowned scholars on the topic so as to reach at objective and viable conclusions with regard to inquiry. According to De Wilde and Zurn (2012), the onset of politicization is a direct outcome of the rising power and authoritative position which is currently possessed by the EU. It should be noted with reference to this claim that the possible increase in this authoritative stature of the union has been prompted by two critical events – the failure of the Constitution Treaty and the inception of the financial crisis which hit the region. For scholars such as Statham and Trenz (2012), the agenda of politicization has reached a stage where its effects can be characterized as palpable and where its eventual progression appears to be foreseeable. Despite of these observations it is important to identify whether this particular measure appears to be the only viable and feasible answer for effectively resolving the problems of the European Union? In their comprehensive and insightful research on the issue of politicization surrounding the European Union (EU), Magnette and Papadopoulos (2008) adopt a neutral stance on the position of renowned scholars Hix and Bartolini and rightly classify the issue of EU’s politicization as a supposed solution for the imminent problems which are being faced by the union. This notion postulates that rather than blatantly disapproving or approving of this

Media Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Media - Research Paper Example What is the extent of the reach of mass media in all of its forms? What is the impact of mass media advertising on the perceptions of people of themselves, their self-image? How does marketing affect decisions to purchase? How do mass media images and coverage influence court decisions, as typified by the effects of mass media images on high profile cases involving celebrities like OJ Simpson? What are the negative effects on the social skills of people from using social media, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of making use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter? (Katz et al., 1973, pp. 164-181; Newton, 1999, pp. 577-599; Mutz and Martin, 2001). II. Discussion There is no doubt that there are subtle as well as titanic shifts in mass media brought about by the proliferation of alternative media channels online, such as YouTube, changes in the way people consume news with the decline of print and the shift to digital, the surge of social media platforms suc h as Facebook and Twitter in terms of mind share and use on a global scale, and a host of other developments. Mass media can be construed as not being something that is static and well-defined, but rather is something that is now undergoing a radical process of change, and it can be argued that rather than being a static reality mass media in fact is in a state of constant flux (Barkow et al., 2012, pp. 121-133). The advances in communications technology facilitated by the Internet will accelerate this upheaval and change process no doubt, and the future shape and form of the dominant mass media platforms are not yet prognosticated with any degree of confidence. There are winners and losers to be sure, but who those are is anybody’s guess at the moment. With the exception of social media platforms maybe, and some established media juggernauts such as Google, it can be said that mass media as a whole, including its stakeholders and its consumers, is up for grabs and no one kno ws ultimately what its future shape and form will be (Prat and Stromberg, 2011; Crokidakis, 2013). On the one hand there are those who predict the decline in the power of mass media over the masses, and in this regard new and more potent forms of marketing are taking the place of marketing strategies that are overly focused on reaching target markets making use of mass media. On the other hand, the continued rise in revenues from advertising making use of emergent social and online media platforms, such as Facebook and the various Google search properties, attest to power not moving away from mass media per se, but moving away from the traditional mass media platforms, such as print, in favor of digital media platforms and social media platforms. What is true is that even here the landscape is not well-described, as there are differences in the ways that people make use of the new dominant social media platforms for different purposes, in different geographies and cultures (Katz et al., 1973, pp. 164-181; Newton, 1999, pp. 577-599; Mutz and Martin, 2001; Webster et al., 2005; Surani and Shroff, 2012). What is clear is that the new media platforms are indeed putting clear demarcation lines between old ways of consuming and reacting to media and the new ways that people have come to interact with media as represented by the digital and social media

Public Opinion Poll Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Public Opinion Poll - Essay Example Citizens were brainwashed to keep them gullible. History was re-written. Big Brother's message was written for all to see: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength (Orwell 1949). America might be closer to Orwell's nightmare than anyone would like to admit. On October 26, 2001, just 45 days after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed H.R. 3162, the United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, commonly referred to as the Patriot Act. This law was passed to "deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes." Some of the provisions in the Act have come under intense scrutiny and criticism by many civil liberties organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Library Association (ALA). The majority of the objections stem from the enhanced surveillance powers it gives the executive branch of our government, more specifically sections 213, which allow officials to inspect private property without providing notice, section 214, which allows the government to implement what are known as "trap and trace searches", section 215, which allows personal information held by a third party to be reviewed without notice to that individual, and section 218, which calls for the compilation of foreign intelligence information. These provisions are seen as an infringement on the rights granted to Americans in the Bill of Rights (ACLU online, 2005). The Patriot Act is the wrong solution to preventing terrorism, and it opens the door for further intrusions on civil libert ies. Civil liberties are those rights granted to Americans by the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Since the passing of the Patriot Act, several of those rights have been violated. namely the First amendment, which grants the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the right to peaceful assembly. The Fourth amendment grants the freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. The Fifth Amendment says that no person will be deprived of life, liberty, or property without the due process of law. And the Sixth amendment which guarantees the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury, the right to be informed of the facts of the accusation, the right to confront witnesses and the right to have the assistance of counsel (ACLU online, 2005). In November of 2003 the Gallup Poll conducted a survey on how much Americans were willing to sacrifice in the name of security. According to that survey most Americans feel that the trampling of civil liberties is too high a price to pay for security. They also are growing more likely to say that the Bush Administration has gone too far in his crusade against terrorism. (Carlson 2004) The Bush Administration has made numerous attempts to restrict basic American rights. For example, in October of 2003, the White House banned media coverage of the hundreds of caskets that house the remains of soldiers killed in Iraq. In defense of their censorship, the Pentagon claimed this coverage posed a threat to Homeland Security, although they made no attempt to explain how that could be. The image of the caskets would make many Americans question what

The Triad Essay Example for Free

The Triad Essay This paper seeks to analyze and discuss whether there is basis to agree to the proposition that the Triad is the fast track to company globalisation and standardisation. We will try to evaluate whether theory and evidence supports such proposition.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First we should know what is the Triad is.   Moore and Rugman (2005) in discussing, ‘Globalization is about Regionalization’ said that the word â€Å"triad† was coined by Japanese consultant and author Kenichi Ohmae which refers to the economies of Western Europe, North America and a small number of East Asian nations, particularly Japan. Moore and Rugman (2005) quoted Ohmae to have argued that these economies are the critical ones from a viewpoint of innovation, trade and investment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The classification of the countries into triad is based on the viewpoint of innovation, trade and investment.   This means that these countries would take the lead in introducing new products ahead of other countries in the world and it also happened that these few countries in the triad are ones   with high GDP according to the last available data from World Bank (Wikipedia- GDP, 2006) (Paraphrasing made).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus Moore and Rugman (2005) agreed with Wikipedia when they categorized a triad whereby MNEs around the world belongs.   They said: â€Å"The vast majority of Fortune 500 companies on which we could compile data (320 MNEs) are home-triad based, having only modest sales in the other two regions.   A set of 36 are â€Å"bi-regional,† with at least 20 percent of their sales in two parts of the triad.   Only 10 of the 500 are truly global, with at least 20 percent of their sales in all three parts of the triad.   Overall, this is a picture of regionalization, not globalization.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In proving the result of the study, Moore and Rugman (2005) they had examined the Fortune Global 500 which deals the largest firms by revenues in the world and found out that the intra-regional sales of 380 of the 500 firms were included in the list.   The author noted that these 380 firms account for 79.2% of the total revenues of all 500 firms.   Thus, researchers concluded that the average revenue for a firm in the top 500 was $28 billion, ranging from Wal-Mart at $220 billion to Takenaka at $10 billion and that the average sales revenue of a firm in the set of 380 firms was $29.2 billion.   Most notable too, is the authors’ finding that across these 380 firms, the average intra-regional sales represent 71.9% (Moore and Rugman, 2005) (Paraphrasing made).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Knowing what the triad is, we should know what globalization is. Jessup, (n.d.) said:   â€Å"Strategically, globalization refers to actors attempts to promote the global coordination of activities on a continuing basis within (but not necessarily across) different institutional orders or functional systems. Such attempts can be pursued through different material and social technologies on the interpersonal, inter-organizational, inter-institutional, or inter-systemic levels.†   The author gave the following examples to illustrate globalization: interpersonal networking; strategic alliances orchestrated by transnational enterprises (alliances which may include more local or regionally-based firms as well as not-for-profit organizations); the institutional design of international regimes to govern particular fields of action; and projects for world government or global governance. Further, Jessup, (n.d.) noted that the forms of coordination proposed for globalization vary widely and none are guaranteed to succeed witness the market-led globalization favoured by the World Bank, the horizontal global governance favoured by proponents (especially NGOs) of international regimes, and plans for more top-down inter-state (or even world) government.   Hence, he inferred that what is generally labelled nowadays as economic globalization rarely, if ever, involves full structural integration and strategic coordination across the globe (Paraphrasing made).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  The term globalization, however, has a very broad meaning for it could also mean cultural integration.   IEL (1999) thus stated that the degree of adaptation or resistance to foreign cultural schemata varies among societies, citing the Schumpeterian concept of creative destruction where there is there is a constant struggle between groups that wish to speed up the process of integrating new ideas, processes, and products and those who want to slow down the speed of losing existing norms (IEL, 1999) (Paraphrasing made).   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We are then directed to know what standardization is.   Wikipedia (2006) defined standardization, â€Å"in the context related to technologies and industries, is the process of establishing a technical standard among competing entities in a market, where this will bring benefits without hurting competition. It can also be viewed as a mechanism for optimizing economic use of scarce resources such as forests, which are threatened by paper manufacture. As an example, all of Europe now uses 230 volt 50 Hz AC mains grids and GSM cell phones, and (at least officially) measures lengths in metres.†Ã‚   It added that in the context of social criticism and social sciences, standardization often means the process of establishing standards of various kinds, and improving efficiency to handle people, their interactions, cases, and so forth (Paraphrasing made).      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After knowing the concepts, is there now basis to agree that the Triad is the fast track to company globalisation and standardisation?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On the basis of the evidence presented that the countries belonging to the triad are the MNEs who have proven track records in their revenues as those belonging to top as per Fortune magazine, and relating now the same to concept of globalization which may be summarized as going to the global market through various means, we could say the triad is fast track to globalization.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     As far as path to standardization is concerned, which could mean mechanism for optimizing economic use of scarce resources or improving efficiency to handle people and their interactions, we could also say that the triad is the obvious path because it is there where competing companies for globalization are found. It is argued that globalization produces competition leading to standardization.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hence, we could say that triad could really be a fast track for an aspiring company wanting to have globalization and standardization since the triad provides the venue and the opportunities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To conclude, it could be said that will eventually trigger globalization while the latter will result in economic integration of the whole world. .   Globalization is seen to promote further interdependence among countries in East Asian economies as they pass through different stages of development.   MNE being classified as triad-based MNEs indicate that triad first conquers first their own region or triad to sell their products before actually becoming global, hence a company must first become a major player in a country within the triad, then it becomes regional until it becomes global.   However, being part of the triad based does not mean that they will eventually become global, because strategy is still a choice.   Bibliography: Jessop, B. (n.d.) Reflections on Globalization and Its (Il)logic(s), Lancaster University, Department of Sociology{www document} URL   http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fss/sociology/papers/jessop-reflections-on-globalization.pdf, Accessed October 28,2006 International Economic Letter, Number 52 (1999), Globalism {www document} URL http://www.sba.oakland.edu/econpage/newsletters/NewsLetter52.htm ,   Accessed October 28,2006 Moore and Rugman (2005), Globalization is about Regionalization, Mcgill International Review, {www document}   URL   http://www.irsam.ca/mir/Moore%5B27-30%5D.pdf, Accessed October 28,2006   Wikipedia, 2006, Standardization {www document} URL   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standardization, Accessed December 8, 2006. Wikipedia, 2006, List of Countries by GDP, {www document} URL   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29, Accessed October 28,2006

Comparison of Classical Homeopathic Methodology and Scholtens Theories Essay Example for Free

Comparison of Classical Homeopathic Methodology and Scholtens Theories Essay Critically evaluate one homeopathic methodology of your choice and compare it with the classical model. Give an account of the assumptions underpinning the method. Briefly discuss possible clinical situations where this method could be indicated and appropriate. In Aphorism 21 Hahnemann wrote that it is â€Å"undeniable that the curative principle in medicines is not in itself perceptible† and that therefore we should â€Å"rely on the morbid phenomena which the medicines produce in the healthy body as the sole possible revelation of their in-dwelling curative power†. Hahnemann, 2001) Although it is possible that here Hahnemann was referring only to the â€Å"Doctrine of Signatures† (whereby it is considered that the shape of the plant reveals its medical properties) since he wished to promote the integrity of medical science, it has been argued that this Aphorism should also be applied to Jan Scholten’s theories regarding the Periodic Table and that therefore the use of remedies using Scholten’s methods cannot be considered homeopathy. (Habich et al, 2003). Scholten advocates the use of compounds on which there have been no more than ‘meditative’ or ‘dream’ provings as opposed to physical provings. However although Scholten’s work on the periodic table has not promoted the use of physical provings; he originally studied both chemistry and philosophy (for two and three years respectively) and has applied logic to draw a picture of the homeopathic properties of all cations and anions using the periodic table and the compounds which they make. Scholten’s work is based on key concepts rather than the individual symptoms from a proving and in his book Homeopathy and Minerals he describes a process called ‘Group Analysis’. In group analysis all the common symptoms in a family of salts or cations, (such as potassium), or anions (such as the carbonates, chlorides, phosphates and sulphates), are extracted and grouped together. This way of looking at a remedy is in line with classical homeopathy and influenced by Kent’s grouping; for example under the mind section in Kent’s Repertory ‘impatience’ contains five different potassium salts (kali-ar, kali-bi, kali-c, kali-p and kali-s). In the same way as Kent, from this type of information Scholten would deduce that all the potassium salts would exhibit impatience; a conclusion drawn whether or not an individual potassium salt had been proved or not. Kent had already begun this type of deduction by including a picture of Kali-Silicatum and Kali-arsenicosum from his knowledge of Silica, Arsenicum and the potassium salts in his Lesser Writings. However Scholten expanded on this work and developed key concepts for individual elements: When the individual key concept of a cation and an anion are known he posits that when combined into a single compound the compound can be given a definitive concept by drawing conclusions from the cation or anion characteristics. For example in Kali-carb the themes of duty and pragmatism in a kali, and self worth and hard work in a carbon would be combined to form a picture of principled person doing their duty. (Scholten, 1993). Scholten’s work also goes further still and he has divided the periodic table into the horizontal and the vertical for use in homeopathic analysis. The horizontal relates to the number of shells surrounding an atom and these he has categorised into seven different series; Hydrogen Series(one shell), Carbon Series (all those atoms with two outer shells), Silicum (all those with three shells), Ferrum (all those with four shells), Silver (all those with five), Gold (all those with six) and Uranium (all those with seven). He has related these to Themes (Being, I, Other, Work, Ideas, Leaders and Magus), Age (seven stages from foetus to old age), Area (seven stages from spaceless to universe), Sense (from smell to intuition) and Tissue (from skin to Bone marrow). In Scholten’s view of the periodic table the eighteen horizontal arrangements which relate to the size of the atom decreasing in size in relation to its density (i. e. density increases) along the periodic table are arranged in a cycle. This cycle he relates to eighteen stages starting with beginning, then steadily moving on through the following seventeen stages; finding space, company, establishing, preparing, proving, practising, perseverance, success in sight, Lord and Master, preserving, division, withdrawal, formal, loss, remembering, the end, letting go, rest and then finally back to beginning. (Scholten, 1993) In this way a fuller picture of the elements and hence the resulting compounds can be drawn. Scholten tells how he first looked at known remedies but the logical order that presented itself meant that he was able to fill in the gaps by making an informed guess as to what should be next in the table, very much like Mendeleev when he was first constructing the chemical periodic table and made correct guesses as to the next in a sequence. (Scholten, 2005) By using these methods group analysis can not only cover particular known salts or anions by can be extended to so a whole series in the periodic table so that each elements unique identity s revealed. It also means that element or compound can be looked at in greater breadth and this can be particularly helpful not only where elements have not received a proving but where they have only received a small proving. Scholten himself also asserts that his remedy pictures are more holistic in that they also show a positive side whilst the traditional provings tend to show mainly the negative side resulting in a picture that is a ca ricatures of the remedy. Scholten, 2009) Although it could perhaps be argued that there is a justification for making assumptions about minerals where the anions and cations in them have received physical provings, meaning that there could be an automatic right to call the use of this homeopathy, it is harder to justify those compounds in which neither anions nor cations have had any physical proving. This is the case with the Lanthanides; here Scholten has made predictions as to the key concepts in these hitherto unused remedies using a combination of meditative provings and assumptions from the work on the periodic table (Scholten, 2005). He argues however that meditative provings not only have a financial advantage over a traditional proving but that there is an advantage in that they are not ‘attention dependent’ or open to disturbances taking place in the life of the prover although he does recognise that a meditative proving will only give a partial picture (Scholten, 2007). In contrast, as well as Hahnemann’s advocacy of relying only on phenomena produced by remedies in healthy bodies in aphorism 143 he also purports that only when a considerable number of medicines have been tested will ‘we have a true materia medica’ (Hahnemann, 2001) He lay down exacting guidelines for provings which have today been expanded upon and the European Council for Classical Homeopathy has produced its own set of guidelines issuing safety guidelines and advising on best practice. However it was the clinical success that Scholten first achieved from developing key concepts with previously unknown salts that inspired him in his development of the Periodic table furthering work that was first attempted by Sherr and Sankaran (Scholten, 1993) and which subsquently led to the work on the Lanthanides. These too have been reported to be a valuable homeopathic tool and the clinical successes achieved by their use have been reported in an article published in The Homeopath by Jackie McTaggart. McTaggart). By presenting remedies in a sequential way it also facilitates understanding of remedy relationships, and therefore acts as an aid in choosing follow up remedies or promoting an understanding of how a better choice of remedy could be arrived at. Scholten also points out that although data that does not come from provings is ostensibly frowned upon, by other leading homeopaths, including Vithoulkas much of the data for the polychrests does not come from provings but fr om clinical data. On his website he offers as an example the fact that in Essences of Materia Medica (Vithoulkas, 1991) Vithoulkas gives fifty-two symptoms of Lycopodium whereas in the original provings there are only thirteen symptoms. (Scholten, 2008). This group analysis or thematic prescribing has been criticised for its lack of adherence to physical provings but its basic idea has proved popular. There are homeopaths that having learnt the system, find this way of prescribing simpler and more successful (Watson, 2004) and it has proved popular and widely used enough to be included in the MacReportory. Although still finding acceptance in some quarters Scholtens way of prescribing is very much pointed towards classical prescribing, with its emphasis on definitive holistic concepts. Having only one definitive concept (for example Ferrum Muriaticum being defined as Disciplined Mother) means it would not lend itself to prescriptions that use more than one remedy. Since the concepts employed by Scholten appear to have been primarily developed along psychological themes it would also appear that this method of prescribing does not lend itself to palliative or acute prescribing either. However the beauty of the system is its expansive nature and it could therefore easily be adapted to to both acute situations; for instance beginnings of a cold brought on by over indulgence, or a chronic situation that needed palliating such as advanced bone cancer when one might look to letting go, series seven for bone. Finding concepts for acute situations or those that need palliating could be aided by the Repertory developed by Scholten; it includes 15,000 rubrics and has over 40,000 entries and auguments his previous work; Homeopathy and Minerals and Homeopathy and the Elements written three years later in 1996. It is clear that Scholten recognises that much in homeopathy needs to be updated and he has presented the format of rubrics in a new way with nouns being put first followed by verbs, adjectives and adverbs so that along with a more scientific way of investigating the homeopathic properties of elements and compounds there is a more standardised way of finding the concepts and symptoms too. Scholten does not stop there; in the repertory he also suggests that it is time has come for the old familiar names to make way for a newer system. Being a chemist Scholten would be aware that in the last sixty years there has been a movement headed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) to standardise the nomenclature of chemicals so that there sequencing can be deduced from their name. It is therefore not surprising that he should also seek to standardise remedy names so that place in the periodic can more readily be understood meaning that it would become easier understand the characteristics of a remedy simply by readings its name. In ‘Stages as a universal principle for differentiation’ Scholten is also currently looking at how the series and stages relate to the plant and animal kingdoms (Scholten2007) Although tools such as MacRepertory have made it easier to find the correct remedy the standardising effect of Scholtens work should be a great aid for both educators and students of homeopathy should it be looked at more closely. It promotes both greater understanding of remedies, a greater range of remedies from which to choose and also by its logical nature can be an aid in understanding remedy relationships. www. interhomeopathy. org: http://www. interhomeopathy. org/fr-dogmatism-in-homeopathy http://www.interhomeopathy.org/archives-by-category?c=theory

Fraunhofer Diffraction Experiment

Fraunhofer Diffraction Experiment INTRODUCTION Diffraction is one of the most important topics in optics, it refers to a spectacle which occurs when a wave encounters an obstacle or slit in its path. The wave will then bend around the edges or corners of the obstacle or aperture, into the region of a geometrical shadow of the obstacle. The Fraunhofer diffraction equation is used to model the diffraction of waves when the diffraction pattern is viewed at a long distance from the diffracting object, and also when it is viewed at the focal plane of an imaging lens. In contrast, the diffraction pattern created near the object, in the near field region, is given by the Fresnel diffraction equation. If the shadow of an object cast on a screen by a small source of light is examined, it is found that the boundary of the shadow is not sharp. The light is not propagated strictly in straight lines, and peculiar patterns are produced near the edges of the shadow, which depend on the size and shape of the object. This breaking up of the light, which occurs as it passes the object, is known as diffraction and the patterns observed are called diffraction patterns. The phenomena arise because of the natural wave nature of light. Apertures and objects produce a similar effect. In Fraunhofer diffraction, a parallel beam of light passes the diffracting object in question and the effects are observed in the focal plane of a lens placed behind it. From the diagram in FIG 1, AB represents a slit whose length is perpendicular to the plane of the paper given by the distance $d$, and which parallel beam of light passes through from left to right. Per Huygenss principle, each point in the slit must be considered as a source of secondary wavelets that spread out in all directions. Now the wavelets travelling straight forward along AC, BD, and so on, will arrive at the lens in phase and will produce strong constructive interference at point O. Secondary wavelets spreading out in a direction such as AE, BF, and so on will arrive at the lens with a phase difference between successive wavelets, and the effect at P will depend on whether this phase difference causes destructive interference or not. It will be noticed that there will always be a bright fringe at the centre of the diffraction pattern. The separation of the diffraction bands increases as the width of the slit is reduced; with a wide slit the bands are so close together that they are not readily noticeable. The separation also depends on the wavelength of light, being greater for longer wavelengths. In the case of the slit shown in the diagram, the first dark line at P is in a direction $theta$ such that BG is one wavelength, $lambda$. If d is the width of the slit, then $theta = lambda/d$. This is assuming the angle is so small then $sin(theta) approx theta$. EXPERIMENTS In these sets of experiments a low power (0.5 mW) Helium-neon laser is used as the source of light. The laser light produced by the laser used is coherent and parallel, but for these sets of experiments the beams diameter is far too small. To get around this problem a beam expander arrangement is set up in front of the laser source to expand the beam to a larger width before hitting the object being examined. From FIG 2 it can be seen that the biconcave lens A causes the beam to diverge, and appear to emerge from the point X in the focal plane of the lens A. If a second lens B with focal length $f_B$ and place it $f_B$ away from X as shown, the outputted laser light will be parallel again, but it will have a large width. The output of this beam is used to examine Fraunhofer diffraction patterns produced under various circumstances, viewing the resulting patterns on a white screen or with the use of a photodetector to detect beam intensity at varying locations. A good bit of time is spend aligning the laser to be as close to the center of the lenses as possible and therefore careful note is taken for where each position of the lenses stands are set, this will help with consistency between different days and if the apparatus is tampered with. The distance from the object being examined to the photodetector was kept at a constant $(0.53pm 0.01)m$ throughout all experiments carried out. SINGLE SLIT The first object to be examined is the simple single slit. Setting up a variable slit in the object path the slit width can be adjusted allowing investigation of slit width and intensity to be measured. The intensity distribution on the screen is given by the equation, The resulting laser beam from the beam expander passes through the single slit then through another lens to focus on a detector screen. Placing a white sheet of paper on this screen the maximas can easily be seen by eye allowing simple marks to be placed where they are. These marks then can be easily measured with a set of digital callipers, which have a measurement uncertainty of $pm$0.02mm for measurements less than 100mm and $pm$0.02mm for less than 200mmcite{digitalcalipers}. It is seen that for a varying single slit the separation of the diffraction bands increases as the width of the slit is reduced; with a wide slit the bands are so close together that they are not readily noticeable. This is as expected from the predicted theory. Using a single non-variable slit as the object, the resulting slit separation can be calculated. This is done by taking the measurements from the central maximum and plotting them against their order. This relation is given by Youngs equation,  where $y_m$ is the distance from the central maxima for the mth order fringe, $lambda$ is the wavelength of laser light used, $D$ is the distance from the object to the screen and $a$ is the slit width. Plotting the values of $y_m$ versus the corresponding order value $m$ the resulting line of best fit is the value of $frac{lambda D}{a}$, with the use of the known constant the value of $a$ can be determined. This calculation is easily done with MATLAB which would give a more accurate result than hand drawing a graph, using the function $nlinfit$ the error in the line of best fit can be obtained and thus the uncertainty in the measurement of the slit width. Each value for $y_m$ is taken multiple times to reduce reading uncertainty and also the marking of maxima on the paper is repeated to further reduce reading uncertainty. From measurements taken the calculated value for the slit width was found to be $(7.31pm 0.39)cdot10^{-5}m$, this agrees with typical values for a single slit which are in the order of Nano meters. At this point it was found that the photodetector didnt function properly. Trying to measure intensity it was seen that the measured value was negative. It was also not notable to see second and third maximas, just the central maxima could be clearly detectable. Many attempts were made to correct this, re alignment of the laser had very little effect. Ensuring the room was constantly dark to try to eliminate the background light was also tested, but again no improvement in the reading. It was decided to stop taking any measurements of the intensities for the remaining experiments. MULTIPLE SLITS An arrangement consisting of many parallel slits, of the same width and separated by equal distance is known as a Diffraction grating. When the spacing between the lines is of the order of the wavelength of light, then a noticeable deviation of the light is produced. The intensity of light can be adapted from one single slit to a generalisation for N number of slits, the distribution for N number of slits is given by, The $sin^2beta/beta^2$ term is describing the diffraction from each individual slit. While the $(sin^2(NY))/(sin^2(Y))$ describes the interference for the N slits, and so this gives a maximum and minimum where, Each diffraction grating was placed in the source holder one by one and the outputted diffraction patterns on the detector screen were observed. It was found to be that the second maxima were weaker as the number of slits on the source was increased and the central maxima became sharper. Grating with 6 slits was found to be the sharpest central image while the slit with only 2 was the weakest. ONE AND TWO DIMENSIONAL One dimensional gratings can now be used to examine the difference in slit width and to examine the difference in diffraction patterns observed, for this part there were three unknown one dimensional gratings to be examined. The gratings were loaded in one by one and marking the central maximum and other maximum observed on the screen the distances can be measured allowing slit width to be calculated. It was observed that the different gratings gave a different spread of maxima on the screen. For a one dimensional grating the measurements were repeated 3 times for three different gratings. The same method is used to calculate the slit distance as in the single slit experiment. The measurements for the gratings widths were found to be, $(6.90pm 0.51)cdot10^{-5}m$, $(2.37pm 0.46)cdot10^{-5}m$ and $(1.49pm 0.14)cdot10^{-5}m$. All these values lie within the expected range for a slit to diffract light. To measure the output of the two-dimensional grating we can model it as two one dimensional problems. Measuring the maxima in one direction then again in the other direction, these two can be compared and should be with in similar value is the grating is equally spaced in both directions. Results were found to be $(5.84pm 2.62)cdot10^{-5}m$ and $(5.24pm 2.62 CONCLUSION All parts of the experiments were carried out effectively and for all parts of the experiment data was collected and analysed. For a single slit of unknown width the calculated value for it was found to be $(7.31pm 0.39)cdot10^{-5}m$, which is in the right order of magnitude for a single slit resulting in light diffracting. Also observing multiple slits on a source was found to show that the second maxima were weaker as the number of slits on the source was increased and the central maxima became sharper. Finally, a one and two-dimensional grating was analysed to calculate wire separation. It was found for the one dimension samples the separation width was $(6.90pm 0.51)cdot10^{-5}m$, $(2.37pm 0.46)cdot10^{-5}m$ and $(1.49pm 0.14)cdot10^{-5}m$ and for the two dimensional it was found that in each directions the width was $(5.84pm 2.62)cdot10^{-5}m$ and $(5.24pm 2.62)cdot10^{-5}m$. Unfortunately, the photodetector did not work accordingly. The values obtained from one measurement did not match with values obtained later or on different days. Attempts were made to try and improve readings; keeping room constantly pitch black and realignment of the mirrors. It was decided to stop taking detector measurements.

Nuclear Weapons And The Development Of Nuclear Warfare Essay -- Nuclea

Nuclear weapons are the most powerful and destructive technology ever created. From the first notion that nuclear technology could be harnessed to create a bomb, massive amounts of time and energy (as well as government funding) have been invested in further increasing the destructive yield of nuclear weapons. The process of development was carried out independently by governments worldwide. Despite the segregation of groups of scientists and secrecy surrounding their discoveries, design strategies and problems remained basically the same in all development projects with similar solutions being realized more or less concurrently. The first and most basic fission bomb quickly evolved to produce higher and higher yields. Through discoveries and modifications, nuclear technology evolved to eventually produce fission-fusion weapons, which are what compose most of the nuclear arsenal today. Further development, ironic as it may seem, is highly unnecessary and unlikely (except, perhaps, t o increase efficiency) due to the ridiculous power wielded in every modern thermonuclear weapon. The popular modern threat of nuclear weapons is the possibility of terrorist groups acquiring the materials to produce bombs. 'Lo-tech' nuclear weapons are feasible and would seem highly desirable for such groups to possess. The home enthusiast might even flirt with the idea of creating his or her own nuclear arsenal. Assuming one could obtain 10-20kg of highly enriched fissionable material, this may not be such a romantic idea after all. There are a number of things anyone must know about nuclear weapons, however, before declaring themselves a nuclear power. Fission Weapons (Atomic Bombs) Fission weapons, or "Atomic Bombs", are based on nuclear fission. Nuclear fission occurs when the nuclei of certain isotopes of heavy elements (such as uranium or plutonium) capture neutrons. The result is that the nuclei become unstable and break apart into two smaller nuclei. This process converts some of the mass into energy and releases varying numbers of neutrons that go on to collide with other nuclei causing them to break apart and so on and so on. In nature this process is irrelevant due to the low natural occurrence and densities of radioactive isotopes. During weapons construction, however, isotopes are refined and concentrated to ultra-pure forms so that fission can occur at the ... ...can be added on. The fusion reaction can go on to start another fusion reaction and so on with unlimited yield. The most powerful weapon ever conceived was of a similar design. The Russian "Tsar Bomba" (King of Bombs) was a fission-fusion-fusion weapon with an additional fission jacket surrounding the third stage that would have produced a yield of at least 100 megatons if it were ever exploded. Without the additional fission jacket it still produced the largest nuclear explosion ever at 50 megatons. Works Cited Brown, Richard K. "Nuclear Weapons Diagrams" href="http://www.enviroweb.org/issues/nuketesting/hew/Library/Brown/index.html">http://www.enviroweb.org/issues/nuketesting/hew/Library/Brown/index.html "Nuclear Explosive Devices" href="http://www.accutek.com/~moistner/homepg1.htm">http://www.accutek.com/~moistner/homepg1.htm Sublette, Carey "The High Energy Weapons Archive: A Guide to Nuclear Weapons" <a href="http://www.enviroweb.org/issues/nuketesting/hew/">http://www.enviroweb.org/issues/nuketesting/hew/ "The Atomic Bomb" <a href="http://www.geocities.com/athens/agora/4526/index1.html">http://www.geocities.com/athens/agora/4526/index1.html Nuclear Weapons And The Development Of Nuclear Warfare Essay -- Nuclea Nuclear weapons are the most powerful and destructive technology ever created. From the first notion that nuclear technology could be harnessed to create a bomb, massive amounts of time and energy (as well as government funding) have been invested in further increasing the destructive yield of nuclear weapons. The process of development was carried out independently by governments worldwide. Despite the segregation of groups of scientists and secrecy surrounding their discoveries, design strategies and problems remained basically the same in all development projects with similar solutions being realized more or less concurrently. The first and most basic fission bomb quickly evolved to produce higher and higher yields. Through discoveries and modifications, nuclear technology evolved to eventually produce fission-fusion weapons, which are what compose most of the nuclear arsenal today. Further development, ironic as it may seem, is highly unnecessary and unlikely (except, perhaps, t o increase efficiency) due to the ridiculous power wielded in every modern thermonuclear weapon. The popular modern threat of nuclear weapons is the possibility of terrorist groups acquiring the materials to produce bombs. 'Lo-tech' nuclear weapons are feasible and would seem highly desirable for such groups to possess. The home enthusiast might even flirt with the idea of creating his or her own nuclear arsenal. Assuming one could obtain 10-20kg of highly enriched fissionable material, this may not be such a romantic idea after all. There are a number of things anyone must know about nuclear weapons, however, before declaring themselves a nuclear power. Fission Weapons (Atomic Bombs) Fission weapons, or "Atomic Bombs", are based on nuclear fission. Nuclear fission occurs when the nuclei of certain isotopes of heavy elements (such as uranium or plutonium) capture neutrons. The result is that the nuclei become unstable and break apart into two smaller nuclei. This process converts some of the mass into energy and releases varying numbers of neutrons that go on to collide with other nuclei causing them to break apart and so on and so on. In nature this process is irrelevant due to the low natural occurrence and densities of radioactive isotopes. During weapons construction, however, isotopes are refined and concentrated to ultra-pure forms so that fission can occur at the ... ...can be added on. The fusion reaction can go on to start another fusion reaction and so on with unlimited yield. The most powerful weapon ever conceived was of a similar design. The Russian "Tsar Bomba" (King of Bombs) was a fission-fusion-fusion weapon with an additional fission jacket surrounding the third stage that would have produced a yield of at least 100 megatons if it were ever exploded. Without the additional fission jacket it still produced the largest nuclear explosion ever at 50 megatons. Works Cited Brown, Richard K. "Nuclear Weapons Diagrams" href="http://www.enviroweb.org/issues/nuketesting/hew/Library/Brown/index.html">http://www.enviroweb.org/issues/nuketesting/hew/Library/Brown/index.html "Nuclear Explosive Devices" href="http://www.accutek.com/~moistner/homepg1.htm">http://www.accutek.com/~moistner/homepg1.htm Sublette, Carey "The High Energy Weapons Archive: A Guide to Nuclear Weapons" <a href="http://www.enviroweb.org/issues/nuketesting/hew/">http://www.enviroweb.org/issues/nuketesting/hew/ "The Atomic Bomb" <a href="http://www.geocities.com/athens/agora/4526/index1.html">http://www.geocities.com/athens/agora/4526/index1.html

Anime Essay -- essays papers

Anime Anime is the Japanese take on the word "animation". It represents the Japanese style of animating cartoons. However, not all anime is for children. Majority imported to America is aimed at an adult audience- containing deep storylines, graphic violence, gore, as well as nudity and adult situations. This cinematic genre is a fast growing trend in the west and can now possibly be considered the most popular phenomenon among children, considering the success of the much-in-demand anime series "Pokà ©mon". Anime art is known for it's characters' big round eyes, abnormal shaped hair, and it's unique exaggeration of physical reality. Since anime is basically movies translated into animation, it contains as many subgenres as there are actual genres. However, the majority of anime contains some type of action or martial arts, so I chose to discuss the action/horror subgenre and will be using Yoshiaki Kawajiri's Ninja Scroll to aid in describing its basic elements. Action anime contains titles such as: Street Fighter II, Tekken, and Battle Royal High School. Some titles I've come across that would fit horror anime are: Shutendoji- the Star Hand Kid, Devilman, Biohunter and Vampire Hunter D. I chose Ninja Scroll as my model not only because its animation is "top-notch" and its storyline, in my opinion, is excellent, but it fits both the action and horror subgenre. Action/horror anime has three main character types: "the hero", the "damsel-indistress", and "the enemy". The protagonist of the story, usually male, is nothing short of a "superhero". He's smart, strong, brave, and extraordinary, usually having some type of supernatural or uncanny power or is extremely mastered in some type of martial art. He's a mysterious, isolated character, a lot of the time a wanderer, and is different from all other characters in the story. We start off knowing little or nothing about him, and as the story progresses, we learn more about his history and powe rs. In Ninja Scroll, the hero of the story is Jubei, a mercenary ninja hired for money. He proves in many confrontations to be extremely skilled in using a sword, and through combining skills, brains, and the help from his trusty blade usually comes out on top, no matter the number or strength of his adversaries. The characters of the story are familiar with his skills and he is known as a master sw... ...e capture Kagero several times, and in the end, Gemma takes her life. The hero then must find and rescue the damsel. Jubei saves Kagero every time she's captured. After, the hero journeys to confront the main antagonist. On the way, he defeats the last of the henchmen and lower division enemies. When it comes time for the climax, the hero usually has a score to settle with the enemy. Here, Jubei not only tries to stop Gemma's reign of evil, but also seeks vengeance for the death of Kagero. There's a long and brutal confrontation, favoring the almost invincible enemy. Jubei is beaten close to death, but in the very end manages to find a weakness and kill Gemma. This scenario is similar in most action/horror anime. Finally, the resolution shows the direction each character is headed- Jubei continues wandering the earth with his memory of Kagero and his experiences with Gemma and the Eight Devils of Kimon.Although there is an extremely large selection of anime, even within the action/horror subgenre, they share similar qualities and patterns in the plot and characters. The genre keeps its diversity through differences in its animation and storyline of each individual movie.

LEGO and the Market for Children’s Building Blocks Essay -- Children T

†¢ Background There exists in some human beings an insatiable draw towards the unique and the unusual, as much a statement of individuality as the clothes a person wears. This attraction sometimes leads towards the hobby of collecting a set of objects. Each person has their own niche of memorabilia, often a set that reminds them of childhood fantasies or other happy times. Because these consumers have specialized needs, wanting with varying fierceness to obtain specific, rare items to complete their sets, the collectibles market makes for intriguing study, especially that dominated by LEGO—the market for a collectible children’s toy distinguished by its interlocking bricks. The LEGO Company has made itself a giant in the market for children’s toys during its existence and has used that leverage to propel itself successfully into the collectibles market. The firm began as a manufacturer of wooden toys in Denmark seventy years ago. Sales allowed the Danish company to survive, but not to thrive until it introduced in 1949 miniature plastic blocks with divots and bumps that were aligned such that they could fit into one another, and were designed for building structures. With these plastic blocks the company was able to market to all first-world countries, from North America to Western Europe, Australia, and Japan. Visualizing something and then constructing it, its creators believed, was and is an educational experience that encourages â€Å"lifelong creativity, imagination and learning,† according to their press release. Perhaps the very reason that many people now collect LEGOs is that they were indeed captivated as children with the infinite capacity of the blocks. LEGO expanded its product line in the late 1980’s by... ...th. By having examined its competitors and their successes, one now sees by contrast what LEGO is and is not. To continue setting the market standard it must maintain its current corporate direction, including repeated product updates and retirements, that was critically scrutinized here and proven to work. Indeed, ask history itself. - 10 - Works Cited â€Å"Annual Average Exchange Rates: 2001.† Spreadsheet. Bank of England. 29 Oct. 2002 . Annual Report: LEGO Company. â€Å"Annual Accounts 2001.† 2001. . Annual Report: MegaBloks Inc. â€Å"MegaBloks Quarterly Report 2002. 2002. . â€Å"The Ultimate LEGO book.† New York: DK Publishing. 1999. Heller, Richard. â€Å"(Re) Building Blocks.† Forbes. 168.13 (2001): 154. Mand, Adrienne. â€Å"Bionicle Web Chronicle.† Advertising Age. 72.33 (2001): 21. LEGO and the Market for Children’s Building Blocks Essay -- Children T †¢ Background There exists in some human beings an insatiable draw towards the unique and the unusual, as much a statement of individuality as the clothes a person wears. This attraction sometimes leads towards the hobby of collecting a set of objects. Each person has their own niche of memorabilia, often a set that reminds them of childhood fantasies or other happy times. Because these consumers have specialized needs, wanting with varying fierceness to obtain specific, rare items to complete their sets, the collectibles market makes for intriguing study, especially that dominated by LEGO—the market for a collectible children’s toy distinguished by its interlocking bricks. The LEGO Company has made itself a giant in the market for children’s toys during its existence and has used that leverage to propel itself successfully into the collectibles market. The firm began as a manufacturer of wooden toys in Denmark seventy years ago. Sales allowed the Danish company to survive, but not to thrive until it introduced in 1949 miniature plastic blocks with divots and bumps that were aligned such that they could fit into one another, and were designed for building structures. With these plastic blocks the company was able to market to all first-world countries, from North America to Western Europe, Australia, and Japan. Visualizing something and then constructing it, its creators believed, was and is an educational experience that encourages â€Å"lifelong creativity, imagination and learning,† according to their press release. Perhaps the very reason that many people now collect LEGOs is that they were indeed captivated as children with the infinite capacity of the blocks. LEGO expanded its product line in the late 1980’s by... ...th. By having examined its competitors and their successes, one now sees by contrast what LEGO is and is not. To continue setting the market standard it must maintain its current corporate direction, including repeated product updates and retirements, that was critically scrutinized here and proven to work. Indeed, ask history itself. - 10 - Works Cited â€Å"Annual Average Exchange Rates: 2001.† Spreadsheet. Bank of England. 29 Oct. 2002 . Annual Report: LEGO Company. â€Å"Annual Accounts 2001.† 2001. . Annual Report: MegaBloks Inc. â€Å"MegaBloks Quarterly Report 2002. 2002. . â€Å"The Ultimate LEGO book.† New York: DK Publishing. 1999. Heller, Richard. â€Å"(Re) Building Blocks.† Forbes. 168.13 (2001): 154. Mand, Adrienne. â€Å"Bionicle Web Chronicle.† Advertising Age. 72.33 (2001): 21.

Goals of Social Studies Essay

Overview The term â€Å"social studies† usually designates the introductory and intermediate level of social science education at the elementary and secondary school levels. However, it also encompasses a good amount of specialized knowledge drawn from fields of study that are usually found in post-secondary instruction, such as economics, political science, sociology and anthropology. The goals of a social studies education are to instill students with an intimate knowledge of their history, cultural values and civic responsibilities. Social Competency and Literacy One of the most basic goals of a social studies education is to promote social competency and literacy. It is important that students living in advanced industrial societies understand how those societies function. Students should be highly literate, because their ability to maneuver through society often depends upon it. The social sciences often require a large amount of reading and writing in their curriculum, the content of which is usually designed to give students an idea of how their society is structured. These two goals provide students with a certain amount of social mobility. Online Management Courses ucpmarjononline.co.uk/Management Boost Your Career Prospects w/ Our Online BA and MBA in Management! Ads by Google Social Knowledge Another goal of social science education is to introduce students to the values of their own native society. In the U.S., this means students are taught democratic principles, our particular style of government and the history behind both. While students are often urged to commit to these principles, ideally they are introduced in such a way that they do not have to personally adopt them, but merely understand them to effectively function within their society. Critical Thinking and Analysis Critical thinking and analytical skills are fostered as tools for  understanding and evaluating the values and institutions that make up the students’ society. These skills also are developed as valuable assets in their own right, because they are easily transferable to other areas of study and have private and professional applications in the real world. Comparative Society Another important objective in social science education is to instill in students an understanding and tolerance of the social values, norms and practices of other cultures and foreign societies. This is usually achieved through the study of world history. Students should be able to understand that the majority of social norms and cultural differences are relative, and they should learn to treat such differences with tolerance and respect. Civic Efficacy Perhaps the most important goal of a social studies education is to help students develop a sense of their roles and responsibilities as citizens. Students are taught the importance of making well-informed decisions and how to work within the channels of civic action available to them. In the U.S., for example, this means teaching students the gravity of the democratic process and urging them to take part by exercising their constitutional rights, voting and expressing dissent.

Advance Criminology

From the beginning of the world, there are two terms generated among the human beings i.e. Peace and Crime, not only in the Human being but also among the creatures of world. â€Å"Crime is an activity prohibited or not authorized by law that may be punishable by the governing authority†.Generally, the offence begins among the people for the following reasons i.e. money, property, and women. There are several types of offences committed in all the communities, when it became serious it got the face of Cognizable and if it is simple in nature  Ã‚   it is called Non cognizable.   The cognizable offices are usually serious in nature.Mostly the crimes committed by the youth are Theft, Robbery, Dacoit, Murders etc.   Because the youth are prone to do any illegal acts to achieve something or due to aberration by the Political leaders, adults as well as parents.Other than youth, the following crimes may occur like Assault, Cheating, Forgery, Nuisance etc. if the weapons are use d by the youth then it become very serious crime which is called Cognizable offence. But predominantly the sexual offences are occurred by youth only, like Adultery, Bigamy,   Rape Where the question of committing the offence of Rape a youth may do it to overcome his passion or to fulfill his sexual desire or any enmity with that particular female.   Where the question of sexual offence is concerned, It is not true to say that only Males commit crime, while females are with the par avian of males in the same manner. The punishment for any cognizable offence is Death sentence, life imprisonment, 10 years imprisonment fine or both respectively.In the present scenario of the world mostly sexual offences are in frequency among the youth, because new generation became independent. â€Å"Since the early 1990’s, youth violence has become a policy priority at entry level of American Government†[2].Every body yearn for freedom with all respect and more over there are lot of facilities to make contact with each other by means of communications like, through Cell, Internet etc and as well as there is no provision on International Level.Where as property matters are concerned crimes may occur in non cognizable comparison to other criminal offences. On the other hand crime is based on gender; race like Black, White, but this issue is mostly in U.S.A. As per  the History of USA  Blacks were not always been given an opportunities of juries, and they have been assassinated for the little violation of existing law and many of these killings occurred without any legal process.Though the Supreme court has done efficient control over this, yet the system could not eliminate racial bias.On the other hand the Carolyn Snurkowski of the Florida attorney generally office believes that the disproportionate number of blacks on death row   can explain the fact that, Many black murders result from barroom brawls that   wouldn’t call for the death penalty, but many white murders occur   on top of another offense, such as robbery† (as cited in Gest,1986.)This may be true but the Washington legal Foundation says that â€Å"blacks are arrested for murder at a higher rate than whites.†Violence has become a part of accepted backdrop in United States; there are also stringent laws to curtail them[3]. What we need now is social investment which will drive out the crimes most effectively. It is the time to act on that lines or else the next generations will feel the mistakes done by the present generation.Ultimately there is no end of crime and offences are being committed by youth It is true that we cannot find any country where there is no crime. It is also fact that there is no end of crime till the Doomsday.Bibliography:  1.Encyclopediaâ€Å" Crime† †, wikipedia, U.S,   04:12, 13 December 20072.BookFranklin E. Zimring, American youth violence, New York, 1998.  3. Newspaper Article on the InternetElliott C urrie â€Å"Crime and Punishment in America† New York Times, 1998. Metropolitan â€Å" Crime† †, wikipedia, U.S,   04:12, 13 December 2007   [2] Franklin E. Zimring, American youth violence, New York, 1998 [3] Elliott Currie â€Å"Crime and Punishment in America† New York Times, 1998. Metropolitan

Glass Menagerie Essay Essay

Have you ever read the book The Glass Menagerie and seen the movie? There are more similarities between the book and the movie version than there are differences. The movie does have some small differences but the movie script is almost identical to the script of the play. They both have the same setting and all the scenes take place in the apartment of the Wingfields. All the characters also remain the same consisting of only Amanda Wingfield, her children Tom and Laura, and Jim O’Connor (the gentleman caller). There were many technological aspects of the play and the movie that were different. Some things that were done in the movie could not be done in the play. For example, in the movie, you can see the scene from different views and different frames. Also, in the movie, the actor’s backs could be towards the audience, but actors can’t do that on stage in a play. Lastly, in the movie, music was played in the background during the scenes, which is something that wasn’t done in the play. Some of Laura’s features that are in the play are also different in the movie. Laura had a brace on her leg during high school because of a disability but the brace was no longer on during the movie. In the movie, Laura seemed like a normal person and you would probably not even be able to tell there was anything wrong with her if her family didn’t show such and exaggeration of her being a cripple. Amanda also acts like she was still young expecting gentleman callers at any moment and in the movie the actress that plays Amanda seems way to old, I would have used someone a bit younger. When Jim comes over, Amanda flirts with him like she is the one trying to marry him instead of Laura. Tom also seems different in the movie. In the movie he is kind of creepy and it seems like he does not care much for his family and is just waiting for the chance to leave. In the play he seems like a good person who wants to do the best for his family but wants to get out. Similarities are more common between the play and movie. As I mentioned before, the scripts are almost identical to one another and there are only a few sections in which the movie strays from what is written in the book. Most of the characters, with the exception of Amanda, follow the personalities that are described in the play. The apartment is also set up  the same way as it was in the play. Even outside the apartment was the same with the dance hall in the alley and the fire escape. The story lines of both the play and movie were also the same. The movie differs little from the book with the exception of the differences above. In comparing the play, The Glass Menagerie, to the movie, they are very similar in most ways. The differences lie in the personalities of the characters themselves and how they are portrayed. It seems like when creating the movie they chose to stick as close to the play as possible.

Early Education and Maria Montessori Essay

In 1870, Maria Mostessori was born in Chiaravalle, Ancona province in Italy. In 1896 she became the first female physician in her country after graduation at the University of Rome. She represented her country in two women’s conferences, in Berlin (1896) and London (1900). Her clinical observations during her medical practice served as bases for her analyses of children’s behaviour. This has persuaded her to return to the university and pursue psychology and philosophy. In 1904, she became a professor of anthropology at the University of Rome. Thus, she made a paradigm shift from physiological aspect of man to mind (â€Å"Maria Montessori: A brief Biography,† n. d. ). In 1906, she relinquished her medical and teaching professions to establish Casa dei Bambini, or â€Å"Children’s House† wherein she nurtured the 60 children of working parents in San Lorenzo, Rome. In her institution, she made scientific observations on the children’s spontaneous learning process and eventually developed her methods of educating young minds. Her findings moulded her to be an advocate of educational reform in teaching principles and methodologies, and teacher training programs (â€Å"Maria Montessori: A brief Biography,† n. d. ). Alexander Graham Bell and his wife, together with other colleagues such as Thomas Edison and Helen Keller, founded the Montessori Educational Association at Washington DC in 1913 in the same year when Maria Montessori visited the United Sates. During the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco in 1915, Maria Montessori amused the world with her â€Å"glass house† school room. She also trained teachers and graced the gatherings of both the National Education Association and the International Kindergarten Union during this second U. S. visit. In addition, in 1917, the Spanish government invited her to grace the opening of a research institute and started her series of teacher training programs in London in 1919 (â€Å"Maria Montessori: A brief Biography,† n. d. ). Maria Montessori became a government inspector in Italy in 1922, however, forced to leave her country in 1934 because of her opposition to Mussolini’s fascism. During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, she was rescued by a British cruiser in Barcelona, Spain. She also graced the opening of the Montessori Training Centre in Laren, Netherlands in 1938 and started a series of teacher training programs in India in 1939. Together with her son Mario, she continuously trained educators in India amidst the World War II in 1940. Then, she founded the Montessori Centre in London in 1947. In her pursuit of educational reform, she was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for three consecutive years (1949-1951). In 1952, Maria Montessori passed away in Noordwijk, Holland but through her Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) she founded in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1929, the fruits of her works have been treasured in the field of education (â€Å"Maria Montessori: A brief Biography,† n. d. ). The Montessori Method Maria Montessori began practice her professional work in the field of psychiatry by visiting children who were believed to be mentally deficient in asylums. She observed how children in the asylums crawl on the floor, grab for crumbs of bread, chase and fight with each other. She reasoned out that children acted in this way because this is their only means to relieve their boredom for being locked up in a naive room. This mental deficiency according to her was pedagogical in nature. She also affirmed that these â€Å"feeble-minded† tagged children only lack experience but are capable of learning just like other normal children. Then, she avowed her educational theory in 1907 by combining the methods of sages in medicine, education, and anthropology. Her new method, both experimental and miraculous in nature, enhanced the scientific qualities of education and created teachers as social engineers. Her Casa dei Bambini in Rome has served as laboratory in asserting her theories. She led in teaching children in a worst environment and trained her teachers in moulding young minds. The Casa dei Bambini has trained children to learn on their own by doing learning exercise without adults’ assistance. As a result, her pedagogical theories and methods have transformed the unruly children into refined individuals. Children learned not only writing and reading but also self respect (Flaherty, n. d. ). Didactic Materials In the Casa dei Bambini, Maria Montessori observed the children’s lack of interest in toys and drawing materials but on didactic materials. She thought that those children were already disgusted of toys with a single function, thus, they have much interest in materials which can be manipulated. She interpreted this as the children’s willingness to solve problems by trial and error gaining joy at they successfully finish the task (Flaherty, n. d. ). Learning by Doing Maria Montessori believed that the school is a place for learning cognitive skills and self-reliance. She focused on learning skills that can be practically applied. These skills should be learned by the through self-exploration. To facilitate the learning process, she designed the classrooms conducive for learning. Each room has a set of learning materials designed for the children’s age level such as small tables and chairs, low washstands, and nook for other materials including pets (Flaherty, n. d. ). Stages of Learning Maria Montessori established the notion that the combination of sensory observation, repetition, and teacher guidance should direct learning in order to for the child to understand completely the sequence of the learning activity (Flaherty, n. d. ). Hence, for her education of the senses is important before the education of the intellect. For instance, if children have runny nose they could not appreciate different smells and if their hands are filthy they will fail to identify different textures. Thus, achievement and maintenance of cleanliness promote not only motor activity but also learning cognitive skills. In addition, she emphasized that children are intrinsically motivated by the learning activity and not by any external reward (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). Thus, the selection and design of any learning activity is crucial in propelling children for further learning. The Teachers According to Maria Montessori, teachers should treat children with the highest regard. They must understand children through observation and analysis (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). By this means, teachers can cater to the needs of every child. She suggested that some teachers should live within the school to effectively manage the activities of the institution. They should be open-minded, ready to participate to all undertakings of the school, and must willing to adopt special methods. Moreover, there should be technical and visiting teachers who will give lesson based on their field of proficiency or craftsmanship. This will help children to learn things that are practically useful in everyday living, thus, training them for independence (Flaherty, n. d. ). Montessori’s Contributions Maria Montessori pioneered in the psychology of early childhood education. The materials and design of her Casa dei Bambini such as small and child-sized tables, chairs and washstands, and her didactic materials became a model of the present childhood education in a lot of countries. Her pedagogical principle, education of the senses before the education of the intellect, has gained a wide acceptance because this paved not only for the sensori-motor skills development but also for the development of the cognitive skills (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). Hein (2008) discussed the tenets of Montessori’s concept of early education that became the backbone of the present early childhood education. Maria Montessori believed that education should cater to the needs of every child. Since children are fascinated by the beauty of nature, they should not be virtual prisoners in a classroom. Instead, nature must be used as their learning environment where real objects are used in every learning activity. In the Montessori system, children should actively engage in every learning activity at their own pace. The teacher should not be autocratic and must not force learners for a non-interesting lesson. Limitations of the Montessori Method Modern educators through the contemporary researches in educational psychology have seen some limitations of the pedagogical practices of Maria Montessori. First, her method does not really give opportunity for â€Å"learning to learn† (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). Modern educators describe Montessori’s learning tasks as rigid, compartmentalized, and an end-state reached once it is done. This means that when the child has correctly done the activity, learning stops. In the real world, children need capabilities to create and adapt to their changing environment. Thus, they should not only train with compartmentalized activities. Second, her method is a method of perfection (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). One the child has correctly reached the end of the task, learning has already done. This will not develop creativity and innovation in the child for the didactic materials’ design limit the creative freedom (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). Hence, the method will not pave for the development of multiple intelligences. Moreover, her method is limited in scope and flexibility (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). There is a single way to correctly accomplish the task on didactic materials, thus, limited the child’s initiative to use the materials in his own way. If a child has manipulated the materials of his own way, the teacher encourages him to continue working until such time that he completed it based on pre-determined parameters. This impedes the development of genuine inner initiative, creativity, and individuality (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). Recent findings have proven that Montessori’s Method is merely just a cost-effective and highly efficient way in the preparation of children for formal learning (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). No matter what the recent researches in the field of educational psychology revealed against Montessori’s Method, it is still a fact that Maria Montessori made a great educational reform in the early childhood education. She pioneered in the advocacy of child-centred learning process, development of the sensori-motor and cognitive skills through her â€Å"education of the senses before education of the intellect† dogma, and training children for self-reliance by giving learning experiences with practical applications and using the nature as learning environment. Nonetheless, she proposed the roles of teachers in the educative process as non-autocratic. The educator should observe and analyze the nature of the learners, create learning environment and learning materials that support and encourage further learning, and must cater to the needs, interest, and ability of every child. Some of the Montessori’s principles that are still ubiquitous in the contemporary teaching methods are: nature, science, observation based; respect for individual differences; community of learners; care of self and environment; time and space to practice and perfect; the three-period lessons (introduction/demonstration, practice/assimilation, independent expression); control of error; peer learning and teaching; and isolation of learning objective (â€Å"Maria Montessori: The Woman and the Method,† n. d. ). References Flaherty, T. (n. d. ). Maria Montessori. Retrieved October 24, 2008, from http://www. webster. edu/~woolflm/montessori. html Hein, S. (2008). Notes From the Work of Maria Montessori. Retrieved October 24, 2008, from http://eqi. org/maria. htm#Introduction%20and%20Summary Maria Montessori: A Brief Biography. (n. d. ). North American Montessori Teachers’ Association. Retrieved October 24, 2008, from http://www. montessori-namta. org/NAMTA/geninfo/mmbio. html Maria Montessori: The Woman and The Method. (n. d. ) The Swaraj Foundation. Retrieved October 24, 2008, from http://www. swaraj. org/shikshantar/montessori. html