Non violent movement

There is a wide-spread conception in the theory of nation-building that violence is an ultimate way to express disagreement and overcome injustice as well as fight a dictatorship. But the last century has proven the fallaciousness of this conception. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Dalai Lama and many others have shown that nonviolence can be more powerful force in defeating oppressive rulers and laws.Their lives and actions are examples how oppressors or unjust legislation may be defied by the force of word and soul rather than by the force of weapons. Gene Sharp summarizes the effectiveness of nonviolent actions with such words: â€Å"nonviolent action is possible, and is capable of wielding great power even against ruthless rulers and military regimes, because it attacks the most vulnerable characteristic of all hierarchical institutions and governments: dependence on the governed† (p. 18).Nonviolent action is an application of a very simple tr uth: people do not always do what they are told to do, and sometimes they do that which has been forbidden. When people refuse their cooperation, withhold their help, and persist in their disobedience and defiance, they do this to deny their opponents the basic human assistance and cooperation which any government or hierarchical system requires. If they do this collectively through their established independent social institutions or newly improvised groupings for a sufficient period of time, the power of that government will weaken and potentially dissolve.The world history has witnessed the cases when nonviolent means have been chosen over violence for religious or ethical reasons. In some cases, even when pragmatic political considerations were dominant in the choice of nonviolent struggle, the movement has taken on certain religious or ethical overtones. This was the case in the campaigns of the Indian National Congress for independence from Britain in the 1920s, 1930s, and 194 0s. Those struggles, often under Gandhi’s leadership, and also the civil rights campaigns in the 1950s and 1960s in the Deep South of the United States, under the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr., are very important.Mohandas Karamchand  Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi, is the first name that comes to mind when one speaks of nonviolence in the 20th century. His charisma and his action not only had a profound effect on India’s modern history, but also provided firm basis for all future nonviolent struggles in the world. Gandhi’s political philosophy revolved around three key concepts: satyagraha (non-violence), sawaraj (home rule), and sarvodaya (welfare of all). Whereas satyagraha was essentially a tactic of achieving political ends by non-violent means, sawaraj and sarvodaya sought to encourage ideas of individual and collective improvement and regeneration. Such regeneration, Gandhi insisted, was necessary if India was to rediscover her enduring h istorical and religious self and throw off British rule. (Andrews, 1949)Perhaps Gandhi’s best-known act of civil disobedience, known as the second satyagraha (‘hold fast to the truth’) was Salt March that was taking place in 1930 from  12 March to 6 April. It expressed increasing frustration by Congress at its own impotence and, specifically, the British refusal to grant Dominion status to India. Gandhi chose the hated salt tax as the object of his campaign. At the time, the Indian government maintained a monopoly over the manufacture of salt, an essential basic commodity which was thus heavily taxed. Those using their own salt, e.g. if they were living close to the sea, were subject to heavy punishment.The 61-year-old Mahatma started the 240-mile-long march from Sabarmati to the coastal town of Dandi together with seventy-eight of his followers. He was joined by thousands along the way, in a march that received vast international and national attention. When t he protesters marched on to a government salt depot, he was arrested, as were between 60,000 and 90,000 other Indians in subsequent months, as well as the entire Congress leadership. Gandhi was released and called off the campaign in March 1931 following the Gandhi–Irwin Pact, which allowed Gandhi to participate in the second Round Table Conference, and symbolically permitted the production of salt for domestic consumption.From the 1920s to early 1940s, he led a series of passive resistance campaigns in pursuit of Swaraj, which redefined the character of Indian nationalism. He sought tolerance between Hindus and Muslims and the eradication of caste untouchability. In January 1948 he was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic for his pro-Muslim sympathies. Gandhi’s insistence that means were more important than the ends distinguished him from other great political leaders of the twentieth century.Since his death Gandhi has become the source of inspiration for non-violent polit ical movements such as the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. Desmond Tutu in the article A Force More Powerful a Century of Nonviolent Conflict rightfully points out: â€Å"The leaders who opted for nonviolent weapons often learned from resistance movements of the past. Indian nationalist leader Mohandas Gandhi was inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1905. The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other African American leaders traveled to India to study Gandhi’s tactics.† (Tutu, 2000) Non-cooperation was a major tactic employed by Gandhi when he felt the state had become immoral or unjust.In the King movement, such action was called boycott, the most effective nonviolent tactic employed in the movement to abolish discrimination in public transportation in Montgomery, Alabama. The justification for such action lies in the fact that rejection is as much of an action as acceptance. Thus, King, like Gandhi, while emphasizing the necessity of courage, utilized the boycott to achieve rejection of unjust laws regulating public transportation and public lunch counters.The net effect of the various expressions of the nonviolent protest, especially the boycott, strike, demonstration and jail, was to draw one’s opponent off balance, hoping thereby to change his mind. (Smith, p.58) Nonviolence, therefore, was not a sign of weakness or of a lack of courage. Quite the contrary, King believed that only the strong and courageous person could be nonviolent. He advised persons not to get involved in the civil rights struggle unless they had the strength and the courage to stand before people full of hate and to break the cycle of violence by refusing to retaliate.King just as Gandhi emphasized the need to prepare for action. The Civil Rights Movement initiated by Martin Luther King, Jr. succeeded in mobilizing massive nonviolent direct action. Innovative tactics included economic boycotts, beginning with the yearlong boycott of a bus company in Montgomery, Al abama, begun in December 1955 and led by Martin Luther King, Jr.; sit-in demonstrations; and mass marches, including a massive mobilization of whites and blacks in the August 1963 March on Washington, which culminated in King’s â€Å"I have a dream† speech, and protest marches led by King that met with police violence in Selma, Alabama, in January 1965.The goal of these protests was to overthrow the entire system of racial segregation and to empower African Americans by seizing the franchise. Participants of the Civil Rights Movement were often beaten and brutalized by southern law enforcement officials, and thousands were arrested and jailed for their protest activities. Some leaders and participants were killed.Nevertheless, an endless stream of highly visible confrontations in the streets, which contrasted the brutality and the inhumanity of the white segregationists with the dignity and resolve of black protesters, made the cause of black civil rights the major iss ue in the United States for over a decade during the 1950s and 1960s. The nation and its leaders were forced to decide publicly whether to grant African Americans their citizenship rights or to side with white segregationists who advocated racial superiority and the undemocratic subjugation of black people.In conclusion it would be relevant to provide a brief revision of the similarity and differences the detection of which was purpose of this analysis. The parallels between Gandhi and Martin Luther King are self-evident. This preliminary look at Gandhi and King’s activity gives us the understanding that nonviolent movement cannot be limited by time frames or specific location. It rather needs a leader with strong character, resilience and ability to persuade people. The two leaders preferred nonviolence at a time when their people were being oppressed. Both struggled against the yoke of white oppression. Like Gandhi, King valued the power of nonviolent political action in ke eping with the spirit of Gandhi’s satyagraha. King’s role in organizing the Montgomery bus boycott enabled him to emerge as the creator of a strategy of civil disobedience that earned for the civil-rights movement in the United States unprecedented media coverage, new forms of public recognition, and greater access to political power.Though both agreed that nonviolence is successful tactics on condition that every individual is committed to truth and justice, Gandhi tended to lay stress upon the necessity of personal suffering when participating in nonviolent movement, an attitude that to some extent was less aggressive than King’s emphasis on self-sacrifice. Moreover, Gandhi claimed that to achieve the goals through nonviolence one needs patience and non-cooperation and King believed that it is a certain degree of confrontation that is necessary to accomplish change. One more difference between Gandhi and King lies in the paradigm of their activity.While Gandhi was concerned about social injustice suffered by Indian people, King’s concerns bore upon racial discrimination of African Americans in the USA. And probably the most striking difference is the result of their struggle. While Martin Luther King’s ideas after his death were followed through by his followers and found an echo in common American’s heart, Gandhi was criticized that his tactics unnecessarily delayed the departure of the British, precipitated the partition of India, and led to the Hinduization of Congress because of his over-emphasis on religion. Few of Gandhi’s ideas were put into practice by independent India.While both of them deserve respect and admiration, it is possible to recognize that their approaches to the practice of nonviolence later grew strong one as opposition, the other as protest. Gandhi and King help us to believe that peaceful resolution of a conflict will live up to its promise.References:Andrews, C. F. Mahatma Gandhi†™s Ideas.   London: Allen & Unwin, 1949McCarthy, R. and Sharp, G., eds., Nonviolent Action: A Research Guide. New York, 1997Sharp, G. The Role of Power in Nonviolent Struggle. Monograph Series, No. 3. The Albert Einstein Institution, 1990Smith, Kenneth and Zepp, Ira. Search for the Beloved Community: The Thinking of Martin Luther King. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1974.Tutu, Desmond. â€Å"A Force More Powerful a Century of Nonviolent Conflict†. Social Education. (64):5, 2000

Epistemologies; Plato vs. Aristotle Essay

Plato, the father of philosophy, was a rationalist. He was the first systematic metaphysician and epistemologist. He believed that we had innate knowledge; a priori. So to him learning was only a matter of remembering. Plato believed that the â€Å"ideal† world existed beyond our own physical earth because according to him realty could not be changing or imperfect. From his point of view what we see are only the particulars, the mimics of the real thing, therefore, we have to pull back from the world of peculiars and search in our own minds. Things like justice or moral virtues do not exist in this world in a proper form. In Crito & Meno we can clearly see these ideas. The essential argument in Crito is ‘The Many vs. The One’. Socrates says â€Å"We should’t care all that much about what the populace will say of us, but about what the expert on matters justice and injustice will say, the individual authority, or Truth. † With this phrase he is saying that we should never pay attention to the opinion of the many but always find the one who knows because that is the only person whose opinion is valuable. And later on he goes on to say that if it is never good to do injustice then it is also wrong to do injustice in response to injustice which is why he refuses to escape. In Meno we get more in depth into the idea of inborn knowledge. Meno starts with the question ‘What is Virtue? ’ but Meno always answers the question by giving examples of virtue instead of defining the word and going to the roots of what all those virtues have in common. Down in the world of particulars there are many kinds of virtues for example for the male it’s to run the state, female it’s to run the household but what is important, essential is the traits they both have in common; temperance and justice. Socrates uses the dialectical method in order to get answers out of Meno and also clearly demonstrates this method on a slave of Meno to prove his theory about innate knowledge. Even though it can always be used, using the dialectical method is specifically significant when a person believes that we have innate knowledge, because if what we call learning is just remembering then teaching is just pulling out that knowledge, giving opportunities for that innate knowledge to spring forth. Aristotle on the other hand was an empiricist. He believed that we â€Å"learned† through our senses, by gathering knowledge from the world around us; â€Å"a posteriori†. By reading ‘On the soul’ and ‘Metaphysics’ we get a clear sense of Aristotle’s epistemology. Aristotle encourages embracing the particular in order to possibly gain a sense of the universal. According to Aristotle forms are the essence and when we combine form and matter we get human. The reading ‘On the Soul’ discusses that the body and the soul is not one, that sight allows us to absorb the world in very abstract ways and that memory is learning. In the reading ‘Metaphysics’ Aristotle sets forth causes for the explanation of change: Substance (essence), Matter (or substratum), Source of change and the cause opposed to this. Plato and Aristotle both believed in a universal purpose but the ways in which they got to these universal purposes were very different. Plato was an idealist, he despised the physical whereas Aristotle was a scientist, he loved facts and commonsense. Aristotle would argue that we gain knowledge after experience (a posteriori) but Plato would certainly disagree and say that we gain knowledge before experience (a priori). Plato believes that there is a world of ideas where ideas exist perfectly, the objects in our world are just mimics whereas Aristotle says that the ideas we perceive are inside the particular object. By saying that matter and form combined is what makes an individual Aristotle brings Plato’s Forms â€Å"down from the heavens to concrete reality. †

Assess the contribution of Social Action Theory to sociology Essay

Social Action Theorists, or Interactionists are also known as micro sociologists, this is because instead of looking at the bigger picture in society, and how the large structures and institutions such as the education and judiciary systems affect individuals, which is what Marxists and Functionalists (macro sociologists) look at, Social Action Theorists look at the opposite, how us, individuals, act by our own accord, and how we make up society. This is known as a ‘bottom up’ view of society. They see people as having a much more active role in society, as opposed to the passive puppets that Structuralists make us out to be. They reject the view that our behaviour is the product of these organisations and structure. Although Social Action Theorists do look very much as individual behaviour, they also take into account the fact that we are aware of the people around us, they argue that our behaviour is influenced by how other individuals react to us and behave, so society is made up because people come together and interact. We are able to react to each other’s behaviour in this way because we have learnt how to expect what people should and shouldn’t do, and how to interpret behaviour. We have meanings for various symbols during interactions, for example, someone frowning may show confusion or anger, and someone swearing with a hand gesture may be insulting, because of these codes and symbols, we are able to anticipate behaviour, and judge how people are feeling. This also gives us a knowledge about what behaviour is and isn’t appropriate in certain situations. These different situations can also affect how we behave and what behaviour is acceptable, for example shouting and swearing may be seen as acceptable at a football match, but this would be highly inappropriate in the middle of a supermarket or library. These behaviours and expected ways of carrying ourselves, or norms and values, (especially the basic ones, such as how to act around others) are learnt from the family at a young age. However education teaches us how to act in a larger range of social situations. The acquiring of this knowledge is what leads to us gaining our identity. Social action theorists suggest that there are three main parts to our identity. The first of these parts is the things that make us individual, such as name, signature and photograph. The second aspect is social identity, which is made up of the personality characteristics that are associated with our role in society. For example, I am seen as an older brother, which society may make me out to be annoying and protective of my younger sibling, but I am also seen as a student, who is perceived to be hard-working and well-behaved. The final part of our identity is the concept of ‘self’, or what we think of ourselves, and how we think we play our respective roles. This concept of ‘self’ has been developed further by social action theorists, who believe that this can be further broken down into two components, the ‘I’ and the ‘me’. The ‘I’ is the private inner self, what we truly think of ourselves, whereas ‘me’ is the social self, and is the one that carries out the roles of brother and student. Goffman referred to society as a play, and that we are all as individuals, actors in this play, or in the drama of everyday life. The expected ways of behaving, or social norms are the script, for example, greeting someone with ‘Good morning’ is expected. He suggests that the roles we carry out are simply a performance designed to create a particular impression. For example in front of grandparents, I put on this performance of being exceptionally well mannered (believe it or not). Another part of social action theory is the concept of labelling. This is when someone is put into a group, or stereotyped, because of the way they look or act. For example a young person may be labelled as a ‘goth’ because they have pale skin, black hair, and listen to a certain type of music. Becker came up with the idea of a Master Status. This means that an individual can have a status (normally negative) which overrides all other labels. For example, someone may be a very good brother and son, but then may be arrested for robbery, and then the label of ‘criminal’ will become his master status, and people won’t see the brother or the son they saw before, they will simply see him as a criminal. It is believed that these labels lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. This means that someone will react to the label they have been given, and this label will become true. For example, if a teacher (very wrongly) labels a student as ‘dumb’ they may think they genuinely are dumb, and will not do well at school. However it has been argued that the opposite can occur, and people may go out of their way to disprove their label, to carry on with the example before, the ‘dumb’ student may try exceptionally hard at home and at school, to prove the teacher wrong, the label may act as motivation. There are many criticisms of Social Action Theory, one being that they tend to be very vague when describing who is responsible for creating these norms and values, and interpretations that mean we know how to act around people and in certain situations. They fail to explain power, and factors which may affect these norms such as class or gender.

Smoking should be banned in public places Annotated Bibliography - 1

Smoking should be banned in public places - Annotated Bibliography Example Naiman et al are all health professionals working in health centres or tutoring in institutions of health qualifies them to expound on the issue. Neiman et al article introduction covers the historical implementation of the public ban on smoking in Canada. The authors later share the findings of their study on the effect of the ban on public and workplace second hand smoking. They rely on the Canadian community health survey data. Neiman et al is a point on article as it focuses on the topic on my interest as it gives evidence to my argument. The findings of their study that the ban has led to reduced second hand smoking by use of empirical evidence validates my study and is a worthwhile source. The study shows where the ban has been applied, substantial success has been observed as it focuses on the municipalities of Canada an d measures exposure rates, comparing them to data before the ban. I would recommend this source although most of the issues discussed are at an advanced level, and the review part is rather taxing to follow. Patience is required in using it, as list of sources is

Brazil economic overview and solar power in Brazil Essay

Brazil economic overview and solar power in Brazil - Essay Example In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt (Brazil Economy – overview, 2012). Along with India, China, Russia and South Africa; Brazil is one of the prominent members of BRICS countries. BRICS countries are the most rapidly developing regions in this world at present. While majority of the Latin American countries and America like wealthy countries struggling to develop properly, Brazil is developing rapidly. The injuries of 2007-2008 recessions have not affected Brazil very much. â€Å"In 2010, consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth reached 7.5%, the highest growth rate in the past 25 years† (Brazil Economy – overview, 2012). Even though the economic growth in Brazil has been slowed down a bit in 2011, the forecasts for 2012 and coming years are bright. â€Å"Despite slower growth in 2011, Brazil overtook the United Kingdom as the world's seventh largest economy in terms o f GDP. Urban unemployment is at the historic low of 4.7% (December 2011)† (Brazil Economy – overview, 2012). Social â€Å"The richest 10% of people in Brazil have access to over 40% of the country’s income. On the other hand, the poorest 10% receive about 1% of the income† (Brazilian Social Issues, 2011). The gap between the rich and poor in Brazilian society is extremely huge compared to that in many other countries. One of the most challenging problems facing by Brazil at present is the reduction of this gap. The living conditions of the rich people are advancing rapidly whereas poor people are still struggling to attain the benefit of economic growth in Brazil. Poverty, unemployment and other problems are still prominent in Brazil despite the huge economic growth. It is evident...This paper is the best example of PESTEL analysis of Brazil. There is also a strong analysis of current state of solar power industry development in Brazil provided in the pape r. Brazil is a federal presidential representative democratic republic, in which the president holds supreme power of the country as well as the government just like America. Even though multiparty system exists in Brazil, its democracy is different from other democratic systems Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries, and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets The gap between the rich and poor in Brazilian society is huge compared to that in many other countries. One of the most challenging problems faced by Brazil is the reduction of this gap. The technological developments in Brazil are not so much attractive. Indigenously developed technologies are less in Brazil compared to other emerging countries The rapid development of a country often brings many environmental challenges Deforestation, acid rain, endangered species, air pollution, waste disposal, etc are some of the major environmental problems facing by Brazil. Brazil is a federative republic, constituting an indissoluble union of States, Municipalities, and the Federal District. The Brazilian legal system is codified. In 2012, the Brazilian National Agency of Electrical Energy approved the most important piece of new legislation for the solar industry in the country to date. Net metering for solar systems up to 1MW was introduced and utilities were granted an 80% reduction in distribution taxes for power generated by solar plants up to 30MW in size

Marketing in the digital age-Kodak Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing in the digital age-Kodak - Essay Example It was only in the year 1892 that the company was renamed as Eastman Kodak Company of New York, only to be formed again under the New Jersey law as Eastman Kodak Company of New Jersey. Kodak expanded its operation and grew gradually by its low cost mass production concept, international distribution, extensive advertising and customer centric business policy. The initial years of the company was dedicated to the production and supply of low cost photography tools and make it available to the common people. It was not long before the company understood the true potential of the world market. Based on this fact the company expanded its operation to rest of USA, only to be followed by marketing in France, Germany, Italy and other European countries. As of today, Kodak has expanded its manufacturing operations in South America, Europe and Asia. Kodak has great exposure and popularity in the motion picture industry as well. Most of the movies are shot in Kodak film and the company has received 8 Academy Awards for scientific and technical excellence. Over the years especially in the early 1900s Kodak made lot of technical advancement in the world of photography. Kodak Developing Machine was introduced, which helped in processing films without a dark room. It also introduced the Non-Curling film, which has dominated the world of amateur photography for more than 30 years. Aerial cameras were developed by Kodak, which was extensively used during the World War 1. Along with the technical development the company was also doing well financially, with its worldwide employment crossing the figure of 20,000. The thirst for development in the field of photography and its accessories was never ending for Kodak. The company went on introducing new technology and products both for the consumers, the motion picture industry and for business use. It was in

Software testing issues Related to project Failure or Success Essay

Software testing issues Related to project Failure or Success - Essay Example Such is the case that if the defects are transferred all the way to the final acceptance testing phase of the project life cycle, the greater risk of time consumption and costing increases. Consequently, small effort advanced towards quality assurance will help reduce expenses to a greater degree with regard to detecting and rectifying the defects. To better understand the effectiveness of the processes of agile software; it is important to gather facts on defects identified in the previous projects and also examine how the same defects can be eliminated following process improvements and application of newer methodologies. This paper presents comprehensive view on the defect prevention techniques and practices that can be followed in agile software development. In handling this topic the paper will look into related work and further discusses the need for defect deterrence. Additionally, the work will address handle issues of improvement workflow along with the illustration of various stages, the root cause analysis and determination of precautionary action. Agile software defect simply refers to â€Å"Imperfections in agile software development process that would cause agile software to fail to meet the desired expectations†. During the long and complex process of agile software development, lot of defects frequently occurs. One misleading notion is that defects crop into the process at the start of the cycle and is eliminated all through the remaining development phases. The truth is that defects form part of the development process from the very beginning to the end, a factor that makes its prevention an essential part in the agile software process quality improvement. Defect prevention (DP) refers to quality improvement process whose aim is to discover regular causes of defects and prevent their reoccurrence through alteration of the relevant process (es).

Business ownership and global business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business ownership and global business - Essay Example All the three forms of companies have their own benefits and risks. However sole proprietorship appears to be more risky as the owner is totally liable for every debt or loss incurred by the company. Limited Liability Company has some characteristics of sole trader and some of corporations as it is a limited liability company but a flow-through entity which means not subject to taxation up to some extent. Usually single owners choose this type of company to get rid of tedious paperwork required in other forms of companies. I think co-operative structure will be appropriate for this organization as it will help them to bring a wider platform in terms of financing and other resources. It also brings more knowledge and expertise to the organization. The company is totally run by the owner by his own self with out any other partner or director so in this form of business, the owner is not only limited in terms of ideas and knowledge but also monetary resources. The owner should think to delegate some powers and duties by getting other stakeholders in the company to extend the scope of business. A Limited liability company can also be limited in terms of financing sources. The owner, if not willing to change the ownership structure, opt to open branches of his business in other cities by replicating the same operations administered by local branch managers. He may choose to outsource some of the operations to other companies to get expert output. Tariffs and duties may affect the global business negatively. Higher rates of custom duties and taxes usually discourage buyers to import from other countries and they prefer to buy locally. The governments may take measures of decreasing such tariffs in order to encourage global

Growing up as a child in my family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Growing up as a child in my family - Essay Example I fell pregnant on five separate occasions but had a total of six children, all of whom were all girls. I gave birth for the first time in 1977 and had my last child in 1981. In conjunction with being a full-time mother, I also worked two jobs to help support my children. In 1989, a met a really nice guy who was to be my future husband. We have now been together for 22 years and are still in love with each other just as much as we were back then. In the year 2000, my husband and I decided to become foster parents. We have cared for over 32 kids since then and have gone on to adopt three of those kids, all of whom are girls. These girls were so adorable that we had no choice but to open our hearts and accept them. They are currently aged 11, 14, and 17 years old respectively. For the last 26 years I have been working as a C.M.A. All this time I have been trying to finish raising my girls. It is only now that I have realized that I need to go back to school in order to finish my high s chool diploma. I don’t have much to say about my childhood except I became a mother far too soon. I thank God every day for each of my three kids. I am part of a gospel group called God’s Chosen Generation, of which I am the group’s manager; my husband is in charge of the music. My two youngest daughters sing as part of the group along with my friend’s daughter too. Every Sunday we go to church and participate heavily in the church’s activities. This is the story of me â€Å"growing up as a

Victors act Essay Example for Free

Victors act Essay In Frankenstein, many issues are raised concerning sciences interference with nature. Today, scientists are coming increasingly close to being able to clone a human being using genetic engineering. Dolly, the first cloned sheep is proof that we have the technology to clone mammals. From Frankenstein we can learn that creating new life is a massive responsibility and ultimately is wrong, because it is impossible to imagine the problems that might arise. In this situation the novel is even more relevant today, because in 1818 cloning was only a dream, and now it is closer to reality than ever before. Throughout the novel Frankenstein there is a pervading theme of the quest for knowledge, which still continues today. Victor attempts to surge beyond accepted human limits and access the secret of life, just as many genetic scientists are trying to do today. Likewise, Walton attempts to surpass previous human explorations by endeavouring to reach the North Pole. This ruthless pursuit of knowledge proves dangerous, as Victors act of creation results in the destruction of everyone dear to him, and Walton finds himself perilously trapped between sheets of ice. I think that although we may have the knowledge to do something, it doesnt mean that we must do it, if it has moral or other implications. For example we know how to make a nuclear bomb, but should we ever use it? Another issue that the novel raises is the issue of moral responsibility. We need to care for humanity as a whole, not just ourselves. We in the rich West have money food and shelter while those in other lands such as Ethiopia are starving. In these modern times, we also have a responsibility to care for and sustain the environment, not to abuse the gift of nature. This is in contrast to the deforestation of Amazon Rainforests in Brazil, where millions of trees are cut down every day for the Western worlds timber and paper needs. We are even more aware of the damage to our environment now because of the scientific progress we have experienced since Shelleys day. Frankenstein refuses to take moral responsibility for his creation. Today, people emphasis their rights over their responsibilities. Perhaps even more than in Shelleys time, we need to encourage moral responsibility in our individualistic society, where most people seems to be looking out only for themselves. Another final issue raised by the novel is the issue of prejudice. An example of prejudice is anti-Semitism: prejudice towards Jewish people. Anti-Semitism was a tenet of Nazi Germany, and in the Holocaust 1933-45 about 6 million Jews died in concentration camps and in local extermination pogroms, such as the siege of the Warsaw ghetto. In Eastern Europe, as well as in Islamic nations, anti-Semitism still exists and is spread by neo-fascist groups. In spite of the globalisation of our world, through air travel, TV and the Internet, since Shelleys day, we still have many examples of prejudice and discrimination against those of different appearance, colour, race, intelligence, sex, age from ourselves. Throughout the novel, the monster is rejected and exiled because of his appearance, when deep down he was an intelligent, thoughtful and emotional being. No one could see past his horrific appearance to reveal his personality and thoughts. To be a victim of prejudice is demeaning and makes the person feel worthless. Despite this, the Monster fights on, trying to befriend people until he finally gives up and decides that the best thing to do would be to die. This type of attitude and feeling is something that people should not have to deal with in such a multi-cultural world we live in, for we are all human beings.

A Revolutionary Road | Analysis

A Revolutionary Road | Analysis In a society that promotes conformity it is hard enough to come to find oneself as an individual and to find your own identity. In a society that sucks the best out of our personality. Maintaining your own identity has little chance when being around a false image of affluence. This place is known as the suburbs. The ideas of deception pulled in a lot of people that were raised around nice families that only had the American Dream in their mind. In Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates, Frank and April Wheeler are sucked into suburbia with the dream of raising their two kids in a safe and comfortable area. But, as the two quickly find out, suburbia is not all its cracked up to be. Soon, suburbia and the complimentary standard gender role poses a problem for the couple as their relationship begins to deteriorate over time. But, in order to understand the situation, you must first understand the times. The suburbs were created as an escape from the hectic and, sometimes, dangerous life in the city. As time went on, the suburbs became known as a middles class paradise with ties to a nearby big city. Along with the suburbs came the stereotypical suburban family. The father was the head of the family while his wife was completely under his rule. Her main job was to take care of the kids and cook for the tired man when he got home. This family was supposed to have everything together and be the picture perfect example of the achievement of the American Dream. This stereotypical view of the suburbs created a strong misconception that attracted many families to the area and created a place void of individualism. The fantasy of the American Dream in the 1950s formed a naive view of suburban life and its equivalent standard gender roles and rigid view of the ideal family structure. The American Dream in the 1950s produced an idealistic view of life in the suburbs. In Dwight D. Eisenhowers State of the Union address in 1954, he describes what is the beginning of suburbia when he says, The details of a program to enlarge and improve the opportunities for our people to acquire good homes will be presented to the Congress by special message on January 25. This program will include: Modernization of the home mortgage insurance program of the Federal Government (Eisenhower). This place, as endorsed by one of the most popular presidents of all time, was sugar-coated from its inception. When Eisenhower spoke, people listened. When he endorses a housing development that will improve the opportunities for anyone living there that can help them achieve the American Dream, the public was willing to jump on the bandwagon in a moments notice. So began the false advertisement of the suburbs that ensnared so many families with good intentions of bringing up a beautiful family in a place that was supposed to ease them along the way. In an article about the history of American families, the author describes how people derived their beliefs on the typical suburban family by saying, The Leave It to Beaver ideal of breadwinner father, full-time homemaker mother and dependent children was a fiction of the 1950s, she shows. Real families of that period were rife with conflict, repression and anxiety, frequently poor and much less idyllic than many assume; teen pregnancy rates in the 50s were higher than today (The Way). The false impression that a popular television show had on 1950s society contributed to the even greater fallacy that all suburban families had everything together. The reality is that the suburbs was a place stricken with the same basic problems that everyone else had and maybe even more. Many families were under the impression that everything was going fine because they had all the elements of a traditional suburban family: a breadwinning dad, a stay-at-home mom, and servile children. But, simply being able to claim these things does not make a family tantamount to the perfect family that they are perceived to be as evidenced by the conflict, repression, and anxiety. In Richard Portons article on the American Dream and the suburban nightmare, he describes the delusion that many families drowned in when he argues, Lewis Mumford maintained that the suburb served as an asylum for the preservation of illusion. He fumed that suburbia was not merely a child-centered environment; it was based on a childish view of the world' (Porton). Since the suburbs were associated with prosperity and happiness, they also became linked to the American Dream. When families entered this suburban paradise they immediately became seduced by the lore and awe of finally achieving that dream. Unfortunately, many never came out of that dream and continued to be deceived by this fantasy land that was almost juvenile at times. It is easy, now, to be o n the outside looking in and wonder how they fail to see that things crashing down around them. But since they were so deeply rooted in their dream world, it seemed that everything was going perfectly when, in reality, their personal life was a disaster. The American Dream provided the fuel that led to the conflagration that was the impractical view of suburbia. The American Dream in the suburbs formed absurd family roles that were usually stereotypical. In an article about the role of women in the 1950s, the author explains, Women who spent too much time outside the home, social commentators were quick to warn, were endangering their families, neglecting their husbands and especially their children. Life magazine, in a special issue devoted to the American woman, deplored the changing roles of married couples and placed most of the blame on the increasingly aggressive wife (Womens Roles). The fact that women had to be regulated shows how they were mistreated and forced to fit into a role that no one could be completely happy with. A woman who wanted pursue a career was viewed as overaggressive and held responsible for the breakdown of the family. Women were expected to sacrifice themselves for the family and become stay-at-home mothers all because that is what American society says a perfect mother should do. In the same article, the author says, The belief in a womans destined social role was reinforced by the popular media of the dayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The magazines of the time were filled with images of dedicated housewives whose only pleasures were that their families were satisfied and their chores made easier (Womens Roles). From the start, women never really had a chance to become what they wanted or pursue a career. From an early age, it was drilled into them that they would become a mother and that they would look to their husband to bring home the bread and make important decisions. The American Dream stripped women of their ability to overcome the status quo by sending a relentless message that their purpose in life was to become a housewife and nothing more or less. In another article about the plight of the 1950s woman, the author says, When women started complaining of boredom, society invented the sowing and quilt making clubs. They would do anything to please their men because their life depended on them s o much. To disagree with her husband would have been the gravest of all errors. The men had almost total control over their wives (A Womans Role). Women who tried to establish themselves as an individual and stand up against societys twisted view of what a suburban family should look like were repeatedly shoved back into their rightful place. When women started getting out of line, men were quick to invent something to occupy their time and get their minds back on their tasks. Disagreeing with the man was an unforgiveable mistake that could have negative consequences in the future. In spite of their will to change, efforts to change the system were kept at bay by the scheming man who did not want to see his power diminished by a lowly, rebellious wife. Overall, the American Dream shaped an unjust role for women in suburban society. In Revolutionary Road, the foolish quest for the American Dream creates an unbalanced family with identity problems and, quite often, complete subjugation. As Frank finally convinces April that having an abortion would be a terrible mistake, she cries in his arms as he proudly thinks, And it seemed to him now that no single moment of his life had ever contained a better proof of manhood than that, if any proof were needed: holding that tamed, submissive girl and saying, Oh, my lovely; oh, my lovely, while she promised she would bear his child (Yates 52). The head of the family in the ideal suburban household was the father. This father was supposed to have everything in complete control and solve every problem that crossed his family. By conquering his wifes emotions and desires, Frank establishes himself as the rightful head of the family because that is what he thinks he is supposed to do. His actions were influenced by the ridiculous thinking of that time period and not because he truly believes that was how he should have handled the situation. When Frank tries to diagnose Aprils problems, he rants on and on about a story of a girl who wished to be a boy and says, I think we can assume, though, he said, just on the basis of common sense, that if the most little girls do have this thing about wanting to be boys, they probably get over it in time by observing and admiring and wanting to emulate their mothers- I mean you know, attract a man, establish a home, have children and so on' (Yates 245). Franks ignorant comments show the fallacy in the thinking of the 1950s. He says that their goal in life was to attract men and bear their children. Franks comments show the misunderstanding of suburban families because it is hard to believe that someones lifelong goals would be that shallow and without any other ambitions. Women probably wanted more than that but were sucked into believing that that was all they should want which eliminated them as an individual and l ed them to be controlled by men. After a fight with April, Frank leaves to go do yard work and thinks to himself, Even so, once the first puffing and dizziness was over, he began to like the muscular pull and the sweat of it, and the smell of the earth. At least it was a mans work. At least, squatting to rest on the wooded slope, he could look down and see his house the way a house ought to look on a fine spring day, safe on its carpet of green, the frail white sanctuary of a mans love, a mans wife and children (Yates 47). Under the influence of suburban folklore, Frank feels that he needs to establish his identity as a man by physically exerting himself and doing something that no woman could do. The sweat on his brow and the strain of a good days work are what make Frank feel like a man all because someone said that was how a man should act and how a man should feel. The immense workload gives Frank a feeling of masculinity that no woman can give him. Instead of solving his proble ms with April, he decides to do what a man was supposed to do in that situation instead of the right thinking to do. By and large, the ideal suburban family was so heavily influenced by the American Dream that they failed to find themselves and, instead, fell into a general role that they did not belong nor function well in. In Revolutionary Road, the American Dream has also created a warped and impractical view in the minds of suburban families. When April tries to convince Frank to move to Paris, she tries to pry him from his suburban way of thinking by arguing, Because you see I happen to think this is unrealistic. I think its unrealistic for a man with a fine mind to go on working like a dog year after year at a job he cant stand, coming home to a house he cant stand in a place he cant stand either, to a wife whos equally unable to stand the same things, living among a bunch of frightened little my God, Frank, I dont have to tell you whats wrong with this environment Im practically quoting you. Just last night when the Campbells were here, remember what you said about the whole idea of suburbia being to keep reality at bay? You said everybody wanted to bring up their children in a bath of sentimentality. You said - (Yates 115). At this point, April finally sees the lies that they were sucked into when they first bought a home in the suburbs. She is trying to convince Frank who, although he has realized the same lies, is still having trouble letting go of a doctrine that he has held fast to for so long. She realizes that what she and Frank have been experiencing in the past few years is not reality and that they need to find a way to break free and Paris would be a great place to do so. In the same instance, April goes further to say, Thats how we both got committed to this enormous delusion- because thats what it is, an enormous, obscene delusion- this idea that people have to resign from real life and settle down when they have families. Its the great sentimental lie of the suburbs, and Ive been making you subscribe to it all this time (Yates 117). April continues to elaborate on the lies that were told to the couple when they entered the fabled suburbia. When they first got there, they were led to believe that starting a family was the end to real life. The whole time they had been living a lie that neither of them was willing to admit which caused a loss in crucial years of their lives that could have been spent establishing their family as a unique tight-knit group that was not influenced by the ignorance of the time period. When Frank and April go on a walk with John Givings, he fumes on and on about the self-deception of suburbia and the failures of society by stating, Its as if everybodyd made this tacit agreement to live in a state of total self-deception. The hell with reality! Lets have a whole bunch of cute little winding roads and cute little houses painted white and pink and baby blue; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and if old reality ever does pop out and say Boo well all get busy and pretend it never happened (Yates 68-69). John hits the nail on the head when he describes the fantasy that the people of the 1950s live in. He describes suburbia as a flowery place where everything looks t he same and everyone lives far away from reality. When confronted with reality, they act as if it never occurred and go back to the dream that they never want to wake up from never mind the fact that it is destroying them as a person. The American Dream in their lives has distorted their take on reality and led to them to believe that their way of life is real. By listening to the lies of the American Dream, suburban families were deceived into creating a dream world away from bona fide life that the rest of the world had to face every day. The desire for the American Dream in the mid-1900s created an immature outlook on suburban life and its corresponding gender roles and unyielding doctrine of the perfect family. Ever since its creation, suburbia has been sugarcoated to please potential home buyers and consequentially ensnared many families during the 1950s through its bold but enticing lies and the twisted view on what a real American family should look like. It produced absurd roles for a family that made it hard to function properly and took advantage of the wife by forcing her to subject to her husband. Furthermore, the suburbs distracted its residents from real life by giving them a false euphoria that rarely lasted long. Finally, it made many people give up their dreams and sacrifice their individuality in order to conform to its views. Its never beneficial to give up your identity which is why so many families have suffered and continue to suffer even today. Rather, it is always best to preserve the individual inside rather than change your beliefs and morals to fit society. Posttramatic Stress Disorder: Causes and Effects Posttramatic Stress Disorder: Causes and Effects A War Without End:  The Struggle of Posttramatic Stress Disorder Abstract This analysis is divided into two major parts. The first portion is dedicated to describing  posttramatic stress disorder, as well as the stress response and its contribution to developing PTSD. Along with describing PTSD is a reaction to a Frontline Documentary on veterans struggling with the  disorder. The second portion is an analysis of a personal friend that is currently undergoing treatment  for PTSD. Though the information of his treatment is true, information about his identity or personal  life will be altered. Part I. The issue of PTSD has gained a lot of attention with the United States fourteen year endeavor in  the middle east. The number of veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD is quite  staggering. To better understand PTSD it is important to look at stress and trauma, and how these two  mechanisms manifest. Their manifestation is crucial to our understanding of PTSD. Stress Stress can best be exemplified as our natural physiological response to a treat. To say that stress  itself is a bad thing would imply that our survival is bad. The stress response is what has allowed our  species to adapt and reach our current status. So what is the stress response? It all starts at the hypothalamus which sits dorsal to the limbic system, the system that is  responsible for our stress response. The hypothalamus than triggers our endocrine system by relaying  electrical signals to the pituitary gland, also know as the master gland of the endocrine system. When  the stimulation of the pituitary is that of a perceived threat, adrenocorticotropic hormone is released  stimulating the adrenal glands (Cohen, 2013). The adrenal cortex responds by releasing cortisol, and  the adrenal medulla releases epinephrine. Cortisol is responsible for raising glucose levels by  stimulating the release of stored glycogen in the liver. Epinephrines response is what raises heart rate,  dilates blood vessels, and prepares us for the situation that of which caused the initial reaction. All of  what falls under this description of stress results from the sympathetic nervous system, and its effect on  what is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal ( HPA) axes (Siegel, et al. 2005). Trauma When people experience a traumatic event, in more cases than not, they attach an emotional  response to said event. Looking at traumas long term effects, we see that these responses can be acted  out through unpredictable behavior/emotion, flashbacks, unstable relationships, and even physical  pains (APA, 2013). Trauma can affect anyone at any age, and can result from events such as rape,  abuse, and as it is most prevalent to this topic, combat. When someone suffers from trauma, a nonthreatening  event can set off a stress response if triggered in some way (Comer, 2014). PTSD In a simplified explanation of posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD could be seen as an over  active stress response that follows a traumatic, or series of traumatic events. As is common with those  who see combat or the gruesome consequences of combat, PTSD has left psychological scars on the  veterans who return home after serving. A 2005 Frontline documentary depicted PTSD in a way that was both informative and  emotional. One point that stood out about the documentary was the culture of military life, especially in  the army and marines. The culture is basically this; Being violent and reactive is very much  encouraged, showing empathy is weakness, disobeying an order is cowardice, and showing signs of  psychological issues is as cowardice as it is weak. Because of this disturbing belief system it is really  not a topic to stay politically correct on. Let us start with the fact that violence and reactivity are  considered virtues of a soldier. Finding a peaceful resolution has never resulted from fighting fire with  fire. Attempts to find peace are crushed by the surge of reaction (Martin Luther King Jr., 1965), and for  a very obvious reason. When someone is reactive in a situation that does not readily call for it, more  times than not mistakes are made. In the case of Rob, this issue came center stage when he opened fire  on a civilian women after hearing reports of suicide bombers. She fell with a white flag in her hand  (Frontline, 2005). It is not Robs fault that this civilian died, but rather a consequence of war. He felt  that the threat of a suicide bombing was approaching, and instinctively tried to preserve his life, and the  men he fought along side. When he began to struggle with the event, the men around him labeled him a  coward. Robs story is not uncommon for those who have fought in this war. Turning to a soldier by the  name of Jeff, we see the consequences of not seeking help after a traumatic event. According to the  Frontline documentary, Jeff told his family of a haunting memory which seems to depict the  consequece of blindly following orders. Jeff was commanded to execute two unarmed prisoners of  war, and his obedience cost him his sanity. Jeffs mental decline was shown through his abuse and  excessive use of alcohol (Frontline, 2005). Jeff committed suicide roughly about a year after serving,  which alcohol could be seen as a contributing factor. The experiences of those interviewed in the Frontline Documentary provided great insight in  terms of PTSD, and with this insight the signs and symptoms can easily be spotted. With this  information a brief diagnostic assessment will be attempted, and as stated earlier, some of the  information about this particular individual has been altered. Part II. Background John is a white male in his mid-twenties. He was released from active duty in the Army July,  2013. John has been receiving psychiatric care for PTSD for a year and a half, and he claims that he has  been improving. His psychiatrist has him undergoing drug treatment to help with the symptoms. As is  common with those suffering from PTSD, John takes Lithium to help with his anxiety and feelings of  depression attributed to stress. As an adolescent John was diagnosed with ADHD, and had been  prescribed Adderall up until 10th grade. He has been back on Adderall for the past six month to help  with concentration, and also for the anti-anxiety benefits of taking a low dose stimulant. Behavior John is rather evasive when talking about his time in Afghanistan. When asked about his  experience, John seems to steer the conversation towards boot camp, seemingly as an attempt to keep  his mind off of his duty served in Afghanistan. The only thing that could be confirmed is that John had  seen combat on a number of occasions. At times his speech seems disorganized and forced. He looses  attention during conversation quite often, and has trouble holding eye contact. When John initially  returned to civilian status he began using methamphetamines for a short duration before seeking help.   John has also been trying to limit his consumption of alcohol since being releaved of duty, and though  he has stopped drinking every night, his troubles with alcohol have persisted. Summary Johns behaviors that of which can be observed fall in line with most of the behaviors of those  mentioned earlier in the Frontline Documentary. Drug abuse has been the most prevalent issue in Johns  life after serving, but he has shown signs of progress with his current treatment plan. References Comer, R. J. (2014). Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers.  Revised July 2014 Fulton, Germer, Siegel. (2005). Mindfulness and psychotherapy. New York: The Guilford Press. Cohen, B. J. (2013). The human body in health and disease. 12th Edition. Baltimore, MD:  Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Aronson, Raney (2014) A Soldier’s Heart [Video]. Retrieved February 2015 from  http://www/pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heart/view King, M. L. (1965). The three evils of society. (Speech). Retrieved from  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8d-IYSM-08

Expressionism in Black Swan Essay examples -- Film Analysis

The Black Swan is a psychological thriller that documents a prima ballerina’s descent into madness. Nina Sayers is a dancer at a New York City ballet company. Her mother is a very controlling, ex-ballerina whose career ended when she became pregnant with Nina. Having forced his current prima ballerina into retirement, Thomas Leroy, the company's director, is searching for someone worthy enough to play the Swan Queen in his next production. Despite his doubts about her ability to successfully dance the role of the Black Swan, he gives the role to Nina. However, Nina fears Lily is trying to steal the Swan Queen role from her especially when Leroy makes Lily Nina’s understudy. As they move further into the production, Nina's strive for perfection with the White and Black Swan roles causes a slow descent of her mental state. By using a variety of expressionistic techniques, Director Darren Aronofsky uncovers Nina’s worsening psychosis. (Huggo) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an â€Å"anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviors you feel compelled to perform† (Segal and Smith, â€Å"Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Symptoms, Behavior, and Treatment†). This disorder occurs when the brain becomes obsessed with a specific action or thought. Uncontrollable, recurring thoughts and images, known as obsessions, can take attention away from more important matters. Compulsions consist of actions and rituals that one is compelled to carry out multiple times. (Segal and Smith, â€Å"Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Symptoms, Behavior, and Treatment†) Nina's obsession is perfection. She states repeatedly that she â€Å"just wants to be perfect† (Aronofsky). Her compulsion is practice. No matter ho... ...chiatrists-diagnose-natalie-portmans-portrayal-psychosis/story?id=12436873&page=1>. Schoenstadt, Arthur. "Bulimia." Bulimia. 23 Sept. 2008. Web. 22 May 2012. . Segal, Jeanne, and Melinda Smith. "Anorexia Nervosa: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Effects, and Treatment." Helpguide.org. May 2012. Web. 15 May 2012. . Segal, Jeanne, and Melinda Smith. "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Symptoms, Behavior, and Treatment." Helpguide.org: Understand, Prevent and Resolve Life's Challenges. Apr. 2012. Web. 10 May 2012. . Segal, Jeanne and Melinda Smith. "Understanding Schizophrenia." Helpguide.org. Jan. 2012. Web. 10 May 2012. .

Literary Allusions in Eliots The Hollow Men :: Eliot The Hollow Men Essays

Literary Allusions in Eliot's The Hollow Men      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Scholars have long endeavored to identify the sources of various images in T. S. Eliot's work, so densely layered with literary allusions. As Eliot himself noted in his essay "Philip Massinger" (1920),    One of the surest of tests is the way in which a poet borrows. Immature poets imitate, mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different.    In Eliot's poem "The Hollow Men," several sources have been posited for the "hollow men . . . the stuffed men / leaning together . . . filled with straw" (lines 1-2). B. C. Southam notes three: that the "hollow . . . stuffed men" are reminiscent of the effigies burned in celebration of Guy Fawkes Day; that "according to Valerie Eliot, the poet had in mind the marionette in Stravinsky's Petrouchka"; and finally, that the "straw-stuffed effigies are associated with harvest rituals celebrating the death of the fertility god or Fisher King."(n1)    In 1963, some years before Southam's summary, John Vickery had proffered an interpretation similar to the third point mentioned. He noted that "the opening lines of `The Hollow Men' with their image of straw-filled creatures, recalls The Golden Bough's account of the straw-man who represents the dead spirit of fertility that revives in the spring when the apple trees begin to blossom."(n2) Whereas Eliot may well have had any or all of these ideas in mind, I suggest that there is yet another connection to be made, namely between Eliot's "hollow . . . stuffed men" and the Roman ritual of the Argei.    In 1922, a few years before Eliot wrote "The Hollow Men," W. Warde Fowler described the particulars of this ritual, which was to him a "fascinating puzzle" and "the first curiosity that enticed" him "into the study of Roman religion," in his book Roman Religious Experience.(n3) The rite according to Fowler occurs    each year on the ides of May, which is in my view rather magical than religious, though the ancients themselves looked upon it as a kind of purification, [namely] the casting into the Tiber from the Pons Sublicius of twenty-four or twenty-seven straw puppets by the Vestal Virgins in the presence of the magistrates and pontifices. Recently an attempt has been made by Wissowa to prove that this strange ceremony was not primitive, but simply a case of substitution of puppets for real human victims as late as the age of the Punic wars.

The Web and Education Essay -- Teaching Learning Technology Papers

The Web and Education I read somewhere that everybody on this planet is separated by only six other people. Six degrees of separation. Between us and everybody else on this planet.(1) —John Guare The Chronicle of Higher Education recently reported that Internet researchers at the University of Notre Dame (Barabà ¡si, Albert, and Jeong, 1999) discovered that, on average, due to the hypertext links, any two Web pages are only 19 clicks away from each other. The research loosely follows the earlier work of Stanley Milgram, a social psychologist at Yale University. In the 1960s, Milgram demonstrated that any two individuals were linked by five mutual acquaintances. It was this theory about human relationships that the character Ouisa reflects upon in John Guare's famous play Six Degrees of Separation in the quote above.(2) Like the intricate web of human relationships, the Notre Dame researchers' 19 clicks of separation theory poses an interesting notion about the potentiality of Web pages and their complex inter-relationships. As the number of Web pages grows phenomenally, it's not hard to imagine that the information and knowledge you are seeking in your research and education may one day be only five clicks away from where you start surfing on the Web. It is precisely the vast interconnectivity of the Web that makes it an especially intriguing new education medium or tool. Consequently, the Web is emerging as an important and potentially primary infrastructure for any time, any place learning in the future. Many higher education institutions in the US are already eagerly jumping on the Web bandwagon. According Khan in the preface of a recent textbook on Web-Based Instruction (Khan, 1996): †¦the Int... ...2-bin/printable.cgi Kilian, Crawford (1998). F2F Why Teach Online, Educom Review (p. 31-34). Nardi, Bonnie A. and O'Day, Vicki L. (1999). Chapter Four: Information Ecologies. Information Ecologies: using Technology with Heart. [On-line]. Available: http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issure4_5/nardi_chapter4.html Oliver, Ron; Herrington, Jan; and Omari, Arshad. (1996) Creating Effective Instructional Materials for the World Wide Web. [On-line]. Available http://www.scu.edu.au/sponsored/ausweb/ausweb96/educn/oliver/ Oppenheimer, Todd. (1997). The Computer DELUSION. The Atlantic Monthly. [On-line]. Available: http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97jul/computer.htm Ryder, Martin and Wilson, Brent. (1996) Affordances and constraints of the internet for learning and instruction. [On-line]. Available: http://wwcudenver.edu/~mryder/aect_96.html

Personal Statement University MBA program

It is no more new that the world’s most initiative providers are product of MBA graduate. It is only a man full of vision without direction will continue to aspire achievement from distant without pushing ahead into a reality. In the course of my seven years of experience in finance as well as extensive knowledge in areas of accounting, capital investment analysis, I discovered a huge necessity to study more in business education, and become a certified professional. When the choice of institution arises, I have got not to doubt the products of Hamline University from where I also graduated three years ago with evident of commendable testimonies displaced in my work place over the years. From findings, Hamline University’s degree curriculum is such an outstanding one. It is full of current need of a blue chip company who really strives to maintain standard and leverage proficiency among equals. This definitely must have been mapped out from substantive reports of continual research. In line with the aim of the institution, Hamline Uiversity’s MBA program became interesting to attend when Linda Hanson, Hamline President, declares that the program is aimed at producing the best trait in business education that will also radiates an excellent aura of critical thinking skills of a well-educated person. I sincerely believed this is of much important to a leader to put up good leadership skills in the present world where the dare need for one is yet unresolved. I have a vision, a mission coupled with the direction of a platform to fulfill the vision. It is all about becoming a professional in strategic management. While studying Master of Art in Management, courses like Foundations in Management & Leadership, Human Resource Management for Business and Managerial Communications most especially sustain the   aged passion to live a carrier in strategic management. With the recent diagnosis of integration insufficiency as the major challenge to MBA programs in Hamline University (Dean Julian Schuster), the new proposition to blend the business education into four 16-week module plus one 16-week specialization session seems promising. Further more, the plan to amalgamate finance, accounting, marketing and operations with leadership development and strategic analysis and ethical practices will help out in the corporate business. The proposed curriculum seems to be a continuation of my exposure during the Master program. I consider it a privilege to be part of the pioneering students of such great plan and bright prospect. A leading industry like Hp Company has a well grounded strategic management as its engine. This is the open secret of success. Strategic management enhances high degree of perfection in harmonizing working-team to work out a target within stipulated expectation. Strategic management is simply the science of drafting, implementing and analyzing decisions from different angles to drive home the objectives of an organization. It involves execution of policies and principles to achieve organizational purpose. It therefore combines the activities of various functional areas of business to achieve unified goal. It is the peak in management carrier performed by the Chief Executive Officer and the designated team(s). With the understanding of the high level of responsibilities and commitments required of my area of interest – strategic management, it is criminal to remain unsecured with the professional skills necessary for good service delivery to humanity and God. I hereby write to continue the mentoring I earlier enjoyed in Hamline University, now in the direction of Master in Business Administration. Your anticipated consideration is appreciated.

Compare/Contrast Organic Food vs Processed Food Essay

How important is the food that the averages person puts into their bodies every day? Eating is a way of making peace, passing the time, sharing friendships, and having a communion. The narrator of Food Inc points out that, â€Å"The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000† (2008). How has it changed? Americans have gone from eating hunter-gatherer style organic greens and fruits, to severely processed sugars, carbohydrates, and high protein meats. Most Americans eat something similar to a â€Å"chicken and pasta† diet nowadays. This may not be bad, but is this â€Å"new† food really better for us than what people ate 50 and 100 years ago? Organic foods are substances that are produced using ways that do not involve modern unneeded synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Organic foods are also not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives (dictionary). Convenience food, or tertiary processed food, is commercially prepared food designed for ease of buying and consuming. Products designated as â€Å"convenience or processed foods† are often prepared so they can be sold as hot, ready-to-serve plates; as room-temperature, long lasting shelf life products; or as refrigerated or frozen products that require minimal preparation (usually just microwaving). There are studies that show that the food people consume on a daily basis Taylor 2 can influence them for years to come, and can impact the longevity of lives through weight fluctuation, energy, and healing powers. The most common ads on TV nowadays are weight loss commercials. The average American is overweight, sluggish, and unhealthy. More than one-third of U. S. adults (35. 7%) are obese (Ogden). How does food control our weight? Does processed food cause weight gain more than organic would? Processed and packaged food is filled with unnatural dyes, toxins, and genetically modified ingredients that our bodies don’t know how to react to. These artificial chemicals give the food flavor, color, and a long shelf life, but they also build up in the body and cause the nutritional system to be confused, blocked, and set into fat-storing mode (Davis, William). Consuming fresh vegetables, fruits, and other items grown naturally without any preservatives is what the body naturally expects. It’s easy for that sustenance to be converted to energy because that’s what one’s body expects. An organic diet usually results in a trimmer and more energetic body and mind set. Eating organic is not always helpful to one’s budget; the supply of organic food is more limited than the demand. Handling the food results in higher costs because of the mandatory separation of organic and conventional products, and selling and dispersing the organic food throughout the country can also result in higher costs because it’s rather inefficient and the volumes are smaller (FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization). Fast food may appear to be cheap food and, in the literal sense it often is, but that is because huge social and environmental costs are being excluded from the calculations. Taylor 3 Any analysis of the real cost would have to look at such things as the rise in food-borne illnesses, the advent of new pathogens, such as E.coli 0157, antibiotic resistance from the overuse of drugs in animal feed, extensive water pollution from intensive agricultural systems and many other factors. These costs are not reflected in the price of fast food (Prince Charles). Beyond prices is food security. Can farmers produce enough organic food to sustain the global population? Conventionally made food is easier to find, a lower price, and quicker to prepare. But organic food does yield more than one would think (Michigan State University). The wrong foods have been known to cause diseases, but the right ones have also been known to prevent them, or rid the body of harmful toxins causing the illness. â€Å"Although human bodies are incredibly adaptable and may maintain themselves for a long time when nutrition is improper or lacking, ideal health is dependent on optimum nutrition. † (Allman, 9). â€Å"In 1972, the FDA conducted approximately 50,000 food safety inspections. In 2006, the FDA conducted 9,164† (Food, Inc). Not all food is safe for the body to digest. This quote is not saying that all processed food is bad for the body, and that all organic food is perfect, it’s saying that most food people eat isn’t as clean as it used to be which is much like â€Å"going backwards† from all the progress America has made with food codes and regulations. The question throughout all of this still stands, â€Å"Can the food one eats truly help them live longer? † One of the oldest people alive, Walter Breuning, had an interview about his diet recently. All his life he’s said that most people eat â€Å"just too darn much† (Sanders). Breuning hasn’t eaten supper for the past 35 years. He eats lots of fruit, lots of vegetables, and drinks a Taylor 4 large amount of water. He says that’s the way he likes it, and there’s no denying that it’s helped him go far beyond the average lifespan of an adult male. Whether one considers their weight, lifespan, budget, or general health next time they go out to the grocery store, or consume something to eat, it’s always good to consider something. Mindless eating doesn’t benefit anyone. Do people â€Å"eat to live,† or do they â€Å"live to eat? † Food can affect our weight, lifespan, energy, and health. Eating will never go out of style, and it will always be something that’s talked about in everyday lives.

Intelligence Community

In evaluating and analyzing the US Intelligence Committee, it would help to look back in history. The Cold War, which emerged in the 1940’s, was the start of the usefulness of the US Intelligence Community in battling against Communism.The result of the Second World War is like glue attached to each country involved therein. By 1943, the effects thereof were already inevitable. Germany, who was the leader of the Axis power, was dealt with full anger. Allied forces became stronger when German invaded Russia.Further, Japan and Germany were continuing then their battle and spread their powers in Europe and Asia. But the suicide of Adolf Hitler around 1945 ended the war. Germany was divided into two—West Germany was invaded by Americans while East Germany was invaded by Russia. This led to tension and anxiety between citizens of Germany. Because of this division, each invader-country practiced their type of economy to their colony.Hence, in West Germany, Capitalist form of economy and East Germany under Russia practiced Communism. After the World War, decolonization and liberation happened to some nations who suffered. These nations as they rise from the battleground seek help especially in their economic status. This situation was taken advantage by Capitalists and Communists powers (Borade, 2009). The US Intelligence Community became popular towards the end of Cold War period. Intelligence is at most the responsibility of the government.But in America, they always connect the success of their Intelligence Community during the Cold War era.   On January 22, 1946, President Truman, due to the lessons learned in Pearl Harbor, created National Intelligence Authority. This group is in-charge of planning the executing the intelligence activities of the country. Under the National Intelligence Authority is the Central Intelligence Group is responsible for disseminating the intelligence activities.The first assignment of CIA was battling against Society Union who is spreading its Communist powers worldwide. During 1950’s and 1960’s, CIA gained its full development. On 1950’s, National Security Agency, under the Department of Defense was created which assumes the some tasks of CIA and military.During the 1960’s a lot of technological advances happened to C IA. As an example, in 1965, the military departments were given the new Defense Attache System. This system includes military men in uniform researching information that will be useful in the military. Other technological advances in the CIA of the Military are: (1) high-speed aircraft and; (2) SR-71. Around 1970, a big reform was made in the Intelligence Community under the presidency of Richard Nixon.A Schlesinger report was made in 1971 and the said report mentioned that the Intelligence Community is already malfunctioning due to its disorganization. For example, the Intelligence Community according to the report was doing redundant activities and these activities were costly. Because of these findings in the report, President Nixon directed the Intelligence Community to manage its budget properly and oversee the execution of projects and activities.After the election of President Bush around in the 1990’s, there are suggestions on how to improve the Intelligence Community . This is also because of several things that happened during that time, especially the end of Cold War. Because of this there were calls for the destruction of Intelligence Community. Some legislators said there is no more need for Intelligence Community. But the Congress proposed that instead, a new structure of the Intelligence Community and across the board reductions in the personnel would be better. (Zegart, 2007). Along with the creation and development of Us Intelligence Community is the US Department of Defense. In 1775, during the American Revolution, US Army, US Marine Corps and US navy were established. Hence, around 1789, the War Department was established.The War Department is what we now called the Department of Defense. Technically, Department of Defense was created in 1947. This was created with the belief that it will regain the trust given to military, which was destroyed during the Second World War. As the new millennium came, new issues were faced by the Department o Defense.Dominant among these issues is the use of budget by the said department. The US Government Accountability Office suggested in 2002, that Department of Defense perhaps should try to partner with other government agencies to minimize their budget.In battling against Communism, CIA has the biggest stake around the world. Communism is like a contagious disease that is growing and spreading throughout the world.An d the CIA has made several steps on war against communism even at the start of the Cold War. Some intellectuals who are exposed to the age of Nazism and Soviet Communism have different views and interpretations about communism. Despite Germany's commitment to democratic reconstruction in the postwar years, its link to liberal and democratic values is weak. Both Nazism and Communisms as intellectuals say promised a new humanity and a new world order.They were examples of what is called utopian thinking. Utopianism assumes a level of social harmony and moral consensus that renders conflict and change abnormal or deviant. Utopias promote, often unwittingly, a hostile attitude towards individualism, pluralism and change. This is also what CIA promises to the people and the reason why they are doing their job. This is the rational behind their series of activities against Communism which started during the Cold War until the present time.

Bp Case

1. The aspects of BP’s ethical culture that could have contributed to the Gulf Coast oil spill disaster include: * The company tried to assure concerned stakeholders that it took environmental concerns seriously, but BP’s actions have not always concided with its words. BP has engaged in numerous instances of questionable behavior including fraud, environmental, and ethical transgressions clearly demonstrate that the company has a history of disregarding the well-being of stakeholders.The company has claimed to be an ethical company, concerned with stakeholder well-being, but its many violations tell a different story. * BP’s code of conduct was not sufficient to prevent a man made environmental disaster on an unprecedented scale. Apparently, BP’s code did not effectively address specific high risk activities within the scope of daily operations. * An investigation implies that BP cut short procedures and quality testing of the pipe (tests that are meant t o detect has in the well).Also, BP used a less costly well design that some investigators deemed â€Å"risky†. Installation of this design is easier and costs are lower. Although, BP didn’t break any laws by using this design, they ignored safer alternatives (to save money) that might have prevented, or at least hindered, the accident. * BP admitted that they had ignored several procedures required by the Clean Air Act for ensuring mechanical integrity and a safe startup between 1999 until the explosion in 2005 that killed 15 employees and injured another 170 people.The explosion was the result of a leak of hydrocarbon liquid, and vapor. Another leak that happened in 2006 occurred after BP failed to respond to numerous red flags. One of these flags consisted of a dangerous corrosion in its pipes that had gone unchecked for more than a decade. * To narrow this entire question up, BP took shortcuts in their productions to cut their costs, and ignored defaults, regular ro utine cleanings, and maintenance of the rigs causing explosions and leaks, and people getting killed, harmed, or injured. . Yes, BP engaged in purposeful avoidance of risk management. * Some suggest that BP cut corners in risk management to save time and money. * BP had a responsibility to ensure that appropriate precautions were taken to prevent a disaster, but they failed to meet their responsibilities. For example, one technician that worked on the oil rig accused BP of willful negligence. He claims that BP did in fact have knowledge that the rig’s blowout preventer was leaking weeks prior to the explosion, but did not halt the production. BP’s contingency plan in case of a disaster was inadequate. It contained many important inaccuracies. For example, one of the wildlife experts listed as an emergency responder had been dead since 2005. Another example, is that the contingency plan estimated that if a oil spill should occur, that the company would be able to recove r about 500,000 barrels of oil per day, when in reality it took BP months to just contain the leak, at a spill rate of much less than listed in their plan.The inaccuracies of BP’s contingency plan shows how unprepared the company was for a disaster like the Deep Water Horizon spill. 3. I think that in order for BP to rebuild their reputation and manage the risks associated with offshore drilling, they should not take shortcuts or cut corners to save time or money. They should commit to a socially responsible approach and stakeholder engagement. They should have safety organizations in place. They should follow safety rules and regulations. Conduct better start up procedures.

Strategy in Action. Zurich Insurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategy in Action. Zurich Insurance - Essay Example The major issues addressed involves how effective business strategies are adopted by Zurich Insurance, and how can they improve the strategies to run the business in better and efficient way. The analysis is executed through SWOT and PESTLE analyses to identify the internal strengths and weaknesses and uncontrollable external opportunities as well as threats are identified by overall industry analysis, value chain analysis and other telescopic observation matrix. The study has revealed that through customer-centric approach Zurich Insurance can sustain and make growth in the coming years as the prospect for industry is generally found to be quite promising. The life-insurance segment can also provide further leverage for the company in the coming years as the demand for such financial product is increasing among people. Zurich HelpPoint can provide the company certain advantages in attaining their objectives in future. Zurich Insurance is an international company that is engaged with the rendering of financial services related to insurance-based sector. The services provided by Zurich Insurance are vehicle insurance, life insurance, business insurance, building insurance along with pension and investments. The market in which Zurich operates its business is highly competitive. The vision of Zurich Insurance is to be the leader in rendering of economic safeguard as well as investment solutions in relation to customer requirements, financial performance along with employee motivation. The company’s philosophy is to focus on ‘Customer Centricity’. They emphasise on individual customers that can assist them to reinforce the brand. Moreover, the company also puts attention towards its employees as the employees work as ‘one team’ (Zurich, 2011). ... es 3.1 Vision Zurich Insurance is an international company that is engaged with the rendering of financial services related to insurance-based sector. The services provided by Zurich Insurance are vehicle insurance, life insurance, business insurance, building insurance along with pension and investments. The market in which Zurich operates its business is highly competitive. The vision of Zurich Insurance is to be the leader in rendering of economic safeguard as well as investment solutions in relation to customer requirements, financial performance along with employee motivation. The company’s philosophy is to focus on ‘Customer Centricity’. They emphasise on individual customers that can assist them to reinforce the brand. Moreover, the company also puts attention towards its employees as the employees work as ‘one team’ (Zurich, 2011). 3.2 Mission Statement Mission statement of any organisation can be stated to be a reflection of its core principl es, identities and values. Mission statement shows the future perspective of the company. The target market segments for the company are individuals, small along with medium-sized businesses and key global corporations. The mission statement of Zurich Insurance is as follows: â€Å"We’re working to become the UK’s leading provider of financial services, giving you customer service you’ve never experienced before. We’re committed to doing the right thing, in the right way and for the right reason for you, our employees and the communities we work in† (Zurich, 2011). The aim of the company is to eradicate the obstacles that prevent people from the ultimate utilisation of their earning (Zurich, 2011). 3.3 Corporate Objectives The corporate objective of the company towards environment is aimed to decrease

Global company analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Global company analysis - Research Paper Example The launch of the first transistor radio was in the late 1950’s, although it was not the first of its kind to be invented; it was however the first to be marketed out to the general public. Sony corporation has been a publicly traded company since 1958 (Akio Morita 1986). At the beginning they relied heavily on investors to help fund and operate the company. As well as the use of non-traditional marketing tools such as the hiring of regular spokespeople to use Sony products within the general public and asking them to try it. Sony managed to stay ahead of its competition by being the leaders of innovation in the electronic market. They focused their energies on inventing rather than market research, bringing the latest and newest products out on the market before there was a demand for it. Such inventions included the portable cassette player known as the â€Å"walkman†. Besides being well known for its quality in personal recording and storage devices, Sony Corporation is also the leader of quality sound systems used in major motion pictures. It is a well known global company, which offers a variety of products around the world. Sony is subdivided in two sections. The Sony Corporation is the holding and electronics portion of the organization and the Sony Group which is branched out into other sectors, such as computer, motion picture and music entertainment. ... distribution reports showed total revenue of $88,205 billion U.S dollars and according to Forbes, Sony’s current stock exchange rate is $27.58 U.S dollars, which is down by 2.30% since last year. Although the company has seen a decline in overall revenue in 2008, there has been a slow increase in sales in 2010. The sale of video gaming consoles and systems as well as the entertainment industry continues to be the company’s largest source of income. The company’s overall goal is in maintaining their reputation as leaders of technological advancements throughout its global structure. The company was originally founded on the Japanese principals of creating a â€Å"family like† atmosphere by preserving strong relationships between management and the employees. However, as the company expanded its resources on the international scale, keeping in line with the same values and principals becomes a challenge. Akio Morita believes that the only way for a company t o be successful is by its people. (Akio Morita 1986). This is the value that Sony tries to uphold throughout all its global sectors. The Sony Corporation human resources department is actively involved in group wide initiatives to help new recruits as well as existing members in enhancing their abilities and skills in order to become successful within the company. They are continuously working at implementing global strategies in order to maintain a unified goal. The Sony Group’s global initiative in developing business leaders is an important asset to the company’s overall success. In 2008, Sony implemented â€Å"global talent directors† (Sony website), their job is to seek out and train potential recruits into business leaders. To help maintain company unity, Sony also launched a job rotation program. This

The Extensive Use of Financial Ratios by Both Practitioners and Essay

The Extensive Use of Financial Ratios by Both Practitioners and Researchers - Essay Example One of the major reasons for using financial ratios is to compare different firms in the same industry regardless of the size of the organizations. For instance, Return on Equity (ROE) can be calculated by using two variables; profitability or income of the organization and its equity therefore even if the size of the firms differs a lot but still these two firms can be compared to each other (Gowthorpe, 2006). As a result, financial ratios are helpful in controlling different factors while comparing different companies operating in the industry and allowing researchers a platform to compare firms which might have not been possible without these ratios. Similarly, besides controlling the size of the organization, financial ratios control other factors like technology and assuming that these factors are uniform within the same industry. ... he firm is ignored, as investors investing in a riskier firm would like to demand higher return on investment therefore the firm should earn higher returns in order to attract investors Therefore all this considerations or limitations of financial ratios have raised concerns on important issues that are ignored by the financial ratios but despite of this fact, financial analysts, researchers and practitioners have been continuously using financial ratios. ADVANTAGES AND APPLICATION OF USING FINANCIAL RATIOS There are several advantages and applications of using financial ratios which are as follows: ENABLES COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT FIRMS Financial ratios are helpful in allowing comparison between different firms and their performance and therefore management of the firm is able to take decisions considering its competitors in the industry and overall averages in the industry (Bodie, Kane, & Marcus, 2004) BENCHMARKING TECHNIQUE Because of financial ratios, companies are able to se t their performance targets and measures against the leading firms in the industry and as they aim high, they are able to improve their overall performances (Heaton, 2002). FINANCIAL RATIOS ENABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO EVALUATE FROM THEIR PAST PERFORMANCES Financial ratios allow organizations to compare their past performances against their current performance and in this way they are able to identify whether they are going in the right direction or not (Correia, Flynn, Uliana, & Wormald, 2007). FINANCIAL RATIOS ARE HELPFUL IN IDENTIFY DIFFERENT COSTS AND EXPENSES THAT CAN BE REDUCED With the help of financial ratios, management is able to identify different costs and expenses of the company that have increased over the last few years or costs and expenses in comparison to their competitors and

Learning and Development of New Employees Assignment

Learning and Development of New Employees - Assignment Example An effective indicator of how much training has helped the learning process is to analyze the performance of each group within the company before and after the training period. The assessment of learning need refers to two related and sequential activities. The first need is the identification of the learning need, and secondly, it is the analysis of the learning need. The identification and analysis of the learning need to enhance the ability and performance of an individual in the team. The crux of the matter is the correct identification and analysis. In the absence of these, it is not possible to see the desired results in the employees. The needs assessment phase of a learning and development project serves a diagnostic purpose and the needs assessment phase must be done properly as it is the basis for much subsequent learning and development. If this is not done, the training cannot be properly directed and inadequately focused and the consequences may be that learners may not acquire appropriate knowledge or skill, scarce and valuable resources may be wasted, the credibility of the learning and development function may suffer, and the learning and development program will not contribute to meeting the organization's strategic objectives. Although concerned with conceptual issues, there are practical issues also since it is the assessment of needs using valid and reliable tools which is of direct concern to the learning and development practitioner on a day-to-day basis. This model must pursue a clear, balanced approach to concepts and practice. One without the other will only render the model ineffective and hypocritical. The overarching purposes of needs assessment and learning and development planning are to ensure that learning and development interventions address priority learning needs that can enable individuals, departments or organizations to meet their goals and commitments, and are aligned between the individual's goals and commitments (Training 4 Business). On the Job Needs Assessment On the job needs assessment is to identify the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are likely to be required by a job holder. These are hierarchical task analysis, cognitive task analysis, and critical incident technique. These analysis and technique provide the trainee with a better understanding of the organization, better knowledge of the product, and ensures that the trainee is imparted necessary skills to raise performance levels.