Delivering Bad News

| Delivering Bad News: Helping your patients retain dire details| Modern Medicine Oct 1, 2009| | The purpose: This article focuses on providing healthcare professionals with suggestions that will help their patients remember important information immediately after receiving bad news. Although nurses usually don’t deliver the bad news, they are often in the room when it is given and are often the person that has to give the patient instructions immediately afterward. Research supports the fact that patients might not hear much of the nurse or physician tells them at this time, therefore they retain very little of the valuable information. Patients with poor prognoses are especially at risk and retain even less than patient with fair to good prognoses. This research also revealed that the more information given to the patient the less they retained. Information data: The first suggestion that will help patients retain information in the event of bad news is to prepare the patient ahead of time for how they will hear the results. Ask them to bring a spouse, supportive friend or a tape recorder. The second suggestion is to have a face to face conversation with the patient. This will enable you to watch the patient’s body language. Nonverbal language plays a big role in the assessment of a patient’s well being of state of mind at the time. This meeting should be during a reserved time period, so that you or the patient doesn’t feel rushed. A third suggestion is to decide on a few key points to make and stick with presenting these few only. Giving a patient too much information will result in them retaining even less. The fourth suggestion is start with the prognosis, not the diagnosis. Say something like â€Å"you have a condition that is very treatable with medication. If it is a grim diagnosis start with empathy and then convey the commitment to the patient. State â€Å"we’re here to talk about what the test showed and I want you to know that I am committed to working with you closely throughout the course of your treatment. † The fifth suggestion is use simple language so that the patient can understand what is being explained to them. Many times Dr will use many words that the p atient’s just don’t understand. It is important to remember that everyday language in the hospital or Dr Office setting may not be so in the everyday setting for the patient. Explaining valuable information in a language that patients can understand is important in helping them retain the information. The sixth suggestion is to use a â€Å"teach back† or â€Å"chunking and checking† teaching strategy. This method gives the patient a small piece of information and asks them to explain it back in their own words. One good way to do this is have them explain to you how they are going to relay the information just give to their spouse or another family member not present at the meeting. Another way would be for them to show you how they are going to teach others about their treatment plan. The seventh suggestion is to use handouts in simple language as supplements to verbal teaching. These work well as references that can be referenced at a later time. The eighth suggestion is to give the patient resources to help them with further coping. Resources such as websites, support groups or social workers can be very helpful in promoting coping. The ninth and finial suggestion is to set up follow up visits to assess how the patient is feeling as well as answer any additional questions the patient may have. This is very important in order make the patient feel as if they are not alone in dealing with this issue and that you are committed to working closely with the patient throughout the prescribed treatment. Conclusions reached by author: Today healthcare providers are doing better at communicating information, but there are still areas to improve. These nine suggestions have contributed to the improvements and will continue to impact the way healthcare professionals communicate. In the authors opinion the most important thing is being honest and open. As nurses it is important to take the time to get to know the individual and appreciate the journey with the patient. Critique This article was very easy to read and had a good flow with the presentation of the information. I was able to read the article easily and did not have to stop to clarify much of the information. I liked that the author summarized the suggestions in a numbered list at the end of the article. This made it easier to present each suggestion in my summary. The article seemed to be more directed at Physicians, however I think the suggestions could be very valuable to any healthcare professional involved with direct patient care. Any healthcare professional that is involved in the teaching or communicating the treatment plan to the patient could benefit with the application of these suggestions. As a nurse I can apply these suggestions anytime I need teach patients about treatment plans. Good communication is a very important skill to develop and will be beneficial not only with the patients but with coworkers as well.

How well is Whole Foods Market performing from a strategic perspective? Essay

The chief elements of the strategy There are chief strategies are WHOLE FOOD, WHOLE PEOPLE and WHOLE PLANET. * Selling the Highest Quality Natural and Organic Products Available This is brand image of whole food market. And John Mackey created the first market in highest quality natural and organic products. It is successful. * Satisfying and Delighting Our Customers Worth of mouth is better than advertisement. Though the price more expensive than the other market, if customers have enough money, they are willing to buy highest quality and price natural and organic products in whole food market * Team Member Happiness and Excellence Make employee excellence; make customers happiness, Whole Food Market put customer in first, employees in second, shareholders in the end. * Creating Wealth Through Profits & Growth Sell highest quality health food in higher price not only earn more money but also can Survey of most or worse market demand * Caring About Our Communities & Our Environment Good environment about produce natural and Organic Products such as vegetable and animals growth in their growth cycle without chemical pesticide and Hormone WFM’s core values These core values are the soul of Whole Foods Market. * Their deepest purpose as an organization was helping support the health. Selling the highest quality natural and organic products is their goal. Now our life is becoming better and better, and many people more and more attention to their health. The price of Whole Foods Market are more expensive than other similar market, but customers also want to buy it. Because they have high quality products. * The customer is God. Company provides with the best customer service, more meaningful value products and has a competitive price to customers. Try to achieve or exceed customer expectations as much as possible, and then help company to improve other performance. So, satisfying and delighting customers is very important. * The company has a good internal environment. Let employees can try their best to get a good job. Team members will communicate and cooperate with each other and obtain the many kinds of information and knowledge. Employees can creative more ideas. Using the power of groups to make an effort to company. The key of contributed to Whole Foods Market success are highest quality, satisfying customers and team force. How well is Whole Foods Market performing from a strategic perspective? Is the strategy working? Does the company have a winning strategy? The Whole Foods brand stands for best- quality, organic goods, is performing well from a strategic prospective as they are increasing their locations and markets. They continue to provide healthy high quality foods and brands that are good for consumers, the environment, and their own growth in the industry. Whole food appeals to a greater social responsibility and has a strong distribution network. They have a competitive advantage to other supermarkets because of their high and fine products that they carry. This company had different acquisitions. One of the acquisitions Whole Food had was when they bought Wild Oats Market. This was a good acquisition Whole Foods made because it opened a lot of opportunities to success as a better company. Whole Foods also has the advantage of a well-known name that’s associated with a higher quality for supermarket products at more competitive prices. Whole Foods has a variety of products and brand selection. These included some 30,000 natural, organic, and gourmet food products and nonfood items. The company has a broad range of products including beverages, snacks, frozen items, pantry staples and different supplements. In addition, Whole Foods appraise quality by nutrition, freshness, and appearance. This company put a lot of emphasis in the health of their customers; therefore the company wants to offer the best quality possible. Recommendations 1. Deferment of Expansion Market: carrying cooperation approach is more cost-effective. You can also detection of this place is whether or not suitable for whole food to survive. The characteristics products and self-owned brand of the food put on the supermarket of cooperation to sale is very good way. 2. Adjust Measures to Local Conditions each busy section or prosperous business district faces high-end consumers is not the same. For example cooperation with the Chinese market , if whole food will open in Shanghai, because the Shanghai is the cosmopolitan city, The high-end supermarket target consumer groups will be mainly focused on a foreign high-end consumers. High quality high level of the organic food will no longer be whole food characteristics, but can afford a high price of people would not less. If whole food market will locate in Xiamen, high quality high level of the organic food can be whole food characteristics, not like Shanghai that would have so many people to buy. 3. Local Culture: Internationalization is a huge barrier, China is a large agricultural country, cooperation with the Chinese Farm, into some of the local culture, it can cut down the price, and also can helps to keep food fresh cooperation with the local farm, launch of the local characteristics of organic food, so as to attract more high-end consumers. Road transport conditions of China are good; it has a great degree of protection for fresh food

Global Education Workshop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Global Education Workshop - Essay Example Audience of the Project: The main audience of this project would be the educators, the school leaders and the community members who need to be educated about the importance of global education in the area. And the secondary audience of the global education workshop would be the school children who would be given the briefing about the importance of global education in their school environment to become a responsible global citizen. Global Education Model for Workshop: The model for global education workshop would be based on developing the understanding of values, attitudes, skills and knowledge within the group of educators, teachers, school leaders and the community members on how they can be a responsible citizens and how they can develop their own understanding about the developmental, political, humanitarian and societal issues in addressing the problems of their communities. The workshop would long for 9 hours for just a day. The workshop should work on the following guidelines : 1- Clarification of the goals and objectives such as what kind of message is centered for the audience at the end of the workshop? What are the major goals behind conducting the workshop? The strategy and the action plan according to which it is being organized. 2- Involvement of the primary audience and the partnering organization. It is important to target audience from different communities and cultural backgrounds and each one should be assigned with a specific task according to their role. It is equally important to understand that how each one of them fulfills the assigned role and responsibility. 3- Action Plan includes that how the organizers can develop relationship between the content and the audience to increase their involvement according to their... The model for global education workshop would be based on developing the understanding of values, attitudes, skills and knowledge within the group of educators, teachers, school leaders and the community members on how they can be a responsible citizens and how they can develop their own understanding about the developmental, political, humanitarian and societal issues in addressing the problems of their communities. The workshop would long for 9 hours for just a day. The workshop should work on the following guidelines:The model for global education workshop would be based on developing the understanding of values, attitudes, skills and knowledge within the group of educators, teachers, school leaders and the community members on how they can be a responsible citizens and how they can develop their own understanding about the developmental, political, humanitarian and societal issues in addressing the problems of their communities. The workshop would long for 9 hours for just a day. The workshop should work on the following guidelines:1- Clarification of the goals and objectives such as what kind of message is centered for the audience at the end of the workshop? What are the major goals behind conducting the workshop? The strategy and the action plan according to which it is being organized.2- Involvement of the primary audience and the partnering organization. It is important to target audience from different communities and cultural backgrounds and each one should be assigned with a specific task according to their role. It is equally important to understand that how each one of them fulfills the assigned role and responsibility.3- Action Plan includes that how the organizers can develop the relationship between the content and the audience to increase their involvement according to their environment and location.4- Timing, budget, and human resources also play an important role in structuring the model for global education workshop.5- Develop an activity o utcome chart for each action taught to the participants.  

Affirmative Action Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Affirmative Action - Term Paper Example The following will explore job discrimination with an eye to how this form of discrimination affects certain groups of people in the labor market and how society has attempted to protect these people from discrimination. Taking a controversial approach to minority set aside programs, this essay will then persuasively argue that since these programs promote discrimination themselves, they are inherently defeatist and promote the same type of behavior that they try to eradicate. We now begin with an overview of the reasons for minority set aside programs – also called â€Å"Affirmative Action† in the United States – and this will follow with a concise rebuttal of the needs for such programs. Discrimination in the workforce affects people from all walks of life. Accordingly, the employment opportunities of half of our population are hindered by latent and overt sexism in the offices of America. It is well known that women in America earn substantially less than their male counterparts. The Equal Pay Act (EPA) of 1963 was established more than four decades ago to protect men and women who perform the same tasks from wage-based discrimination. Sexism is an unfortunate aspect of our modern society but the EPA seeks to combat it through positive legislation aimed at correcting the pay discrepancy between men and women in the labor force. Older workers also face a variety of impediments to their active inclusion in the labor force and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination at work. Finally, people with disabilities face a plethora of hurdles in society and the Americans with Disabilitie s Act (ADA) of 1990 was established to ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities in American society. Covering a wide variety of instances of discrimination, the ADA is one of the most recent pieces of legislation mentioned above which aims to tackle problems

PAPER 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PAPER 2 - Essay Example The strain theory assumes that all persons aspire for a similar social status and material needs, although the means available to achieve these desires differs from person to person. Institutions like family, educational system, religion and the economy help the individual in attaining success. However, the theory also believes that issues like family status and wealth play a significant role in determining the level of success attained by the individual even in a highly competitive society (Mednick, 2008). The theory thus contends that strain is felt whenever these support factors do not provide equal opportunity thereby prompting people to adopt illegal ways to achieve these means. Such persons are under pressure from the larger society to conform to specific ideals which ultimately forced them to turn into criminals. On the other hand, the control theory believes that such deviations from conformed norms can be resolved through a good family, parenting and education (Adler, 2009). The control theory relies on the ‘push and pull theory’ to explain the reasons behind crime including social deficiencies and psychological pressures that push the individual towards crime and illegal opportunities that can pull the person towards criminal activities.

Research an aircraft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Research an aircraft - Essay Example raft is a combination of advanced aeronautics, electronics, and is the pinnacle of maritime multirole fighter aircraft; which is why I have chosen the F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18 Hornet was developed by McDonald Douglas in order to fulfill the US Navy’s requirement of an advanced carrier borne multirole fighter. The ageing fleet of the US carrier aircraft consisted of the F-14 Tomcat, A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair and the F-4 Phantom II; these aircrafts were unable to adapt to the fast paced developing world of maritime warfare.2 This was evident from the casualties that were suffered in the Vietnam War at the hands of the MiG-17 and MiG-21 fighters. Furthermore, an aircraft with longer range, higher payload and better avionics was needed to complement and replace the ageing F-14 Tomcat.1 This is where the F/A-18 Hornet was introduced. The development of the F/A-18 was brought about as a result of pressure from the congress to attain carrier aircrafts to supplement the F-14 Tomcat. The US Navy initiated the experimental Naval Fighter-Attack (VFAX) program to seek the desperately required aircraft. However, in August 1973 the congress urged the Navy to pursue a low cost alternative to the F-14.2 The United States Navy consulted with the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation and McDonnell Douglas for proposals. Both proposed aircrafts that were as expensive as the F-14. Alongside these developments, the air force was filtering companies to design aircrafts for their Light Weight Fighter (LWF) program. The Air Force for its LWF program decided upon two companies; the Northop and General Dynamics. Both companies lead on to manufacture YF-17 and YF-16 respectively. The US Congress and Senate and House of Representatives of Armed Forces Committees insisted that the Navy chose the YF-16 from the Air Forces LWF program; just as the Air Force had done. However, the Navy was keener towards designing and manufacturing of their own aircraft, which would be tailored for their

Linguistic and Academic Needs of Korean ESL Students Essay

Linguistic and Academic Needs of Korean ESL Students - Essay Example Content-based language teaching is expected to produce self-directed/autonomous learners and motivated students capable of critical thinking (Snow, 2001). The contents that are integrated into language study are subject matter and authentic text, and the subject matters may include literature, economics, mathematics, journalism, sociology, political science, art history and filmmaking (Byron, 2006). Content-based ESL instruction is much needed in Korea, where globalization is catching on but where the ESL system is rooted in rote memorization (Cho & Krashen, 2001). The type of topics ideal for the CBI teaching of English depends on the students' needs and interests. In adopting CBI, there is no need to discard the existing ESL syllabus aimed at developing the student's language skills. All the school needs to do is introduce the CBI concept to enrich the method. CBI is noted for its flexibility such that it can be adapted to any ESL settings and curricula. Methodology The study used the qualitative approach to research through the primary data collection tools of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with Korean teachers and students in ESL classes. Such interviews are semi-structured if the triangulation method is employed, which is done by checking out the consistency of data obtained from the interviews with those found in the available literature. The references used for this purpose are led by Mohan (1986), Kramsch (2002), Mohan (1986) and Brinton, et al. (1989) for those making a case for CBI in general, and Cho & Krashen (2001), Li (1998), Sook (2002) and Lee (2002) for those focusing on the specific need of Korea for content-based language instruction. For... This paper has demonstrated how multi-lingual collaboration in a socio-linguistics course creates an active atmosphere where the discussion and negotiation of content-based meaning or collaborative dialogue in communities of learners have been evaluated as being motivating to the students. It is argued here that such interaction is necessary in the teaching of socio-linguistics, firstly, as the subject-matter in the syllabus is best enhanced by student experiences and perspectives, and secondly, since it raises and sustains the general level of comprehension for potentially challenging themes. The evaluative framework has also contributed to this motivation, since it is based on active participation in this process rather than accuracy alone. This methodologically hybrid approach to teaching and learning is argued, in this case, as being a direct influence from the language-sensitivity and group-work orientation in the EFL training and experiences of the instructor. Future courses mu st, however, take into consideration the academic culture shock of the demands on students of the interactive lecture which requires students to adopt a student-centered, collaborative learning mode.

How can a company pursue sustainable development in order to Dissertation

How can a company pursue sustainable development in order to contribute to excellence competitive edge and financial position - Dissertation Example How can a company pursue sustainable development in order to contribute to excellence competitive edge and financial position? This research explores how companies can support sustainable development to improve their competitiveness in the light of the lessons from Toyota. This study mainly relies on secondary data to gather qualitative as well as quantitative data in order for meeting the research objectives. The findings indicate that Toyota strongly supports the concept of sustainable development to gain a competitive edge over its rivals. The sustainable business operations have greatly benefited the TMC to improve its competitive edge and strengthen its financial position. Toyota has been successful in making their customers aware of the company’s environmental sustainability efforts. The organisation increasingly relies on sustainability reports and social networking sites to communicate its sustainability initiatives to the company stakeholders. The emergence of globalisation eliminated international trade barriers and thus intensified cross border flow of capital, labour, ideas, and cultures. Evidently, globalisation and the resulted fast industrial expansion contributed to various issues like global warming, climate change, water pollution, and increased energy consumption, which in turn pose potential threats to the long term sustainability of the environment today. There has also been a notable increase in the population growth over the last two decades, and that worsened the condition. Researches indicate that world’s current non-conventional energy sources will be consumed out if people and organisations continue to consume the energy at the current rate. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the use of conventional energy sources, maintain water quality, and take other environmental actions to meet the needs of future generations. However companies like Toyota have adopted the concept of sustainable development t o drive environment-conscious growth and thereby enjoy wider market acceptance. TMC encourages and establishes innovative technologies to reduce the environmental impacts of its business operations and inspires local communities to support the company’s environmental efforts. In this context, it is relevant to explore how a company can pursue sustainable development in order to contribute to the competitive edge and financial position. 3. Literature review 3.1 A brief overview of Toyota Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the world’s leading automobile manufacturer headquartered in Japan. The organisation was founded on 28th August 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda. As of 2010 Toyota employed 300,734 people worldwide to run its business and the company was rated as the largest automobile manufacturer in the world by means of production (Toyota: CSR & Sustainability News). TMC is a part of the Toyota Group and currently the organisation has presence in almost all countries across t he globe. Since its foundation, the organisation has been particularly focusing on quality because the management believes that quality is the key to brand loyalty. In order to ensure improved product quality, the organisations has developed extensive production line strategies which can make sure that production and assembly processes are in line with accepted industry standards. According to reports, one of

Immigration reform Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Immigration reform - Term Paper Example Immigration reform targets both legal and illegal immigrants. The proponents of the immigration enforcement argue that immigrants cost tax payers an estimated $338.3 billion dollars. Immigration reform includes the involvement of various state organs stemming from the executive to the judiciary; with each playing a unique role as stipulated in the Constitution. Constitutional Position The United States require a new immigration policy that is based more on realism rather than wishful thinking. The policy should be inclusive with each state organ playing a distinct contributory role in liaison with other organs. It is unwise for the government to waste vast resources in enforcing arbitrary numerical restrictions to immigration policy that have no impact on the economic situation. The government will gain economically if the economic reform undertaken collectively with the involvement of all governance structures. Branches of Government Engaged In Immigration Reform Office of the Presi dent The Office of the President’s role in the reform is putting the necessary judicial line-up in place for reform realization. Such roles include the appointment of the Supreme Court judges and judges of appeal or district courts. The office of the president can also use its powers to influence the senate to changing the immigration reform agenda. The political influence on the debate can also be influenced by the intervention of the president as a state figure. The office of the president has of late remained mum on the issue owing to the political interests vested on the issue. The political orientation determines the decision that the president is expected to take. Although the office of the president continues to insist on a pledge to uphold sustainable immigration policy reform, many critics state that the lagging in the policy implementation signifies lack of commitment to the promise. Executive Bureaucracy The executive is spearheaded by the president and his deputy and is more inclusive in terms of governance as compared to the office of the president. Some of the executive institutions involved in immigration include; the Department of Homeland Security, immigrations and naturalization service, Bureau of Immigration appeals, immigration judges serving in immigration courts and the Executive office of Immigration Review (Serow & Ladd, 2011). Some of these arms of the executive have been involved in bureaucratic actions while dealing with the immigration issue. For instance, the immigration and Naturalization Service has been accused of possessing backlogs on family and employment-based immigration applications. Most of the delays are exacerbated by the numerical visa issuance that faces numerous legal limitations. For instance, the recent statistic states that an estimated 5.8 million individuals that attained the approval for family base immigrant visas have not yet received them up to date. The Customs and Border Patrol agency has been accus ed of using militaristic approaches when dealing with illegal immigrants along the borders. This has fuelled violence, migrant death and anti-immigrant hostility. Yet, the executive regards the departments as efficient in maintaining security along the borders (Kohli and Varma, 2011). The immigrations and customs enforcement (ICE) institution has been accused of targeting innocent illegal migrants and those with petty crimes

A Farewell to Arms Essay Example for Free

A Farewell to Arms Essay A writers job is to tell the truth ? Ernest Hemingway. This quote means that it is a writers job to convey some sort of truth or accuracy to the reader. I agree. This is shown in the novel, A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway through the setting and characterization in the novel. It is also shown in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee through the themes and setting of the novel. In the war novel, A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway demonstrates that it is a writers job to convey some sort of truth to the reader through the setting of the novel. This novel takes place during a time of war and shows what war is like, realistically. For a war novel, there is not a lot of fighting but instead more of getting from one place to another and the situations that occur in the interim. This portrays a truth to the reader because it shows how war is in reality and that it is not all death and destruction. Hemingway expresses the emotions of the characters accurately for time of war and conditions or situations the characters are put into. The author shows us the characters interact with each other and how they deal with the war surrounding them. For example, in Book III of the novel, the priest says that people that summer finally realized the war and that people were gentler because they had been beaten. This, truthfully, shows how war affects people and their emotions because it shows how they are disappointed. Through the setting of the play, Hemingway tells the truth by stating that people are trapped biologically because of their setting and the fact that it is human condition. In the novel, Frederic feels trapped because of Catherines pregnancy. In the novel, A Farwell to Arms, the author establishes that a writers job is to deliver accuracy and truth to the audience of the piece of work through characterization in the novel. Hemingway shows the reader what war can do to a person. He shows this through Frederics personality and his change throughout the story. Frederic went from an innocent man who joined the army because he was in Italy at the time and spoke the language and after a lot of experience becomes cynical. This work of literature also shows how war can be dehumanizing on an individual. In Book III, Frederic shoots at a sergeant and thinks nothing of killing another human being because thats what occurs in war. Another way that the author tells truth in this novel is by showing that some characters keep their morals and human values. For example, in Book III, Frederic stops his fellow officers from harassing the two young girls who needed a ride. During the war times, most men did not have respect for their fellow people but Hemingway shows the reader that a select few fight to keep their morals straight. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee confirms that a writers job is to tell the reader the truth through the themes of this novel. One theme of this novel is racism; the townspeople are prejudice towards Tom Robinson because hes black. Even though, many know and believe that he is innocent and he did not rape Mayella they still blame him and find him guilty in court. Another theme of this novel, that shows truth as well, is the coexistence of good and bad. Harper Lee shows his reader that in his story, just like it is in the real world, good and bad exists. The good in this story is Atticus and him trying to fight for Tom and stands up for him as his attorney to show he supports him even though the town turns against him and he knows he cant win. The bad in this story is racism and inequality. The author of this novel conveys a lot of truth because these problems still occur to this day in real life situations. Another important theme that expresses truth to us from the author is innocence and the loss of that innocence. When the novel begins, Scout and Jem seem very innocent to the evil in the world, mostly because they had not ever witnessed it. After they see the racism, prejudice and unjust treatment that are put onto many characters they start to lose that childlike innocence. This is a strong truth, to this day. Young innocent people are losing and missing out on a lot because of their environment and surroundings. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the author shows the audience that the writers job is to distribute the truth to the reader through, the literary element, of setting. This story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb is home to many complacent, racist and prejudice people. The people of Maycomb try to ignore the truth that is plain to see by not acting on it. They let people in the town, who may be of different skin color like Tom Robinson, be stepped on and treated unfairly just because of his skin tone while many of the people of the town know he is innocent. During the course of the novel, the Great Depression is occurring. This sets the stage for poverty to be a strong point in this story. The characters make this a separation element. Another factor of setting that expresses truth in this novel being in the South in these days. The South had many rules and segregation laws concerning black citizens and white citizens. This caused an increase in the racism. As shown above, the two novels, A Farewell to Arms and To Kill A Mockingbird, both have many literary elements that help the author to express truth in his/her literary work. Some of these literary elements were setting, characterization and theme among many others.

Kansas Gun City Experiment | Research Analysis

Kansas Gun City Experiment | Research Analysis INTRODUCTION This paper provides a critical assessment of a level 3 impact evaluation that was assigned in 2012. The study chosen was the â€Å"Kansas City Gun Experiment† which was undertaken by Sherman and Rogan (1995). This paper analyses how well the selected study addressed the issues of reliability of measurement, internal validity of causal inferences, external validity of conclusions to the full population the study sampled and the clarity of the policy implications of applying the results in policing. This essay is divided into six areas. Firstly, a summary of the Kansas City Gun Experiment was presented. This summary gives a brief account of the history of the experiment as well as describes the criminological theories to which the experiment was based, the methodological processes of the experiment and a brief description of the findings of the experiment. Following the summary the essay verges onto the main assessment of the study. Firstly the reliability of measurement of the study is critiqued by examining its test-retest reliability and its internal consistency. Secondly the internal validity of causal inferences was assessed to determine whether the causal relationships between the two variables were properly demonstrated. The external validity of conclusions to the full population the study sampled was then assessed followed by the clarity of the policy implications of applying the results in policing. SUMMARY The Kansas City Gun Experiment, carried out for 29 weeks, from July 7th 1992 to Jnuaray 27th, 1993, was a police patrol project that was aimed at reducing gun violence, drive-by shootings and homicides in the U.S.A. It was based on the premise that seizure of guns and gun crime are inversely proportional. This hypothesis was based on the theories of deterrence and incapacitation. The Kansas City Police Department ( KCPD) implemented greater proactive police patrols in hotspots where gun crimes were prevalent. The study of these patrols were studied by Sherman and Rogan 1995) employing the use of quasi-experimental design. Two areas were chosen for the experiment. Beat 144, the target area, was chosen due to elevated incidences of violent crimes including homicides and drive-by shootings. Beat 242 was chosen as the comparison area or control group due to similar numbers in drive-by shootings. The control group which was used to increase the reliability of results was left untreated meaning that no special efforts or extra patrols were carried out. In contrast beat 144 was treated several different strategies for increasing gun seizures. Some of the techniques used included stop and search and safety frisks. Officers working overtime, from 7pm to 1 am, 7 days a week, were rotated in pairs to provide patrols focused solely on the detection and seizure of guns. These officers did not respond to any other calls that were not gun related. Some of the data collected to be analyzed included number of guns seized, number of crimes committed, number of gun related calls and arrest records before initiation of the experiment, during and after completion, for both experimental and control groups. The differences between the experimental and control group were then compared using a difference of means test (t-test). Gun crimes in the 52 weeks before and after the patrols in both the experimental and control group were compared using autoregressive moving averages (ARIMA) MODELS. There was indeed a 65% increase in gun seizure and a decrease in gun crime by 49% in the target area. In the control group, gun seizures and gun crimes remained relatively unchanged. Also, there was no significant displacement of gun crimes to areas surrounding the target area. These results were also similar for homicides and drive-by shootings. Citizen surveys also revealed that most of the general public were less fearful of crime as compared to those in control groups. RELIABILITY OF MEASUREMENT The results of this study suggest that there may be clear implications for other cities wishing to reduce their gun crime. But how valid are these conclusions? How reliable are they? All measurements may contain some element of error. In order for the measurements recorded during the Kansas City Gun experiment to be sound, they must be free of bias and distortion. Reliability and validity therefore are important in this regard. Reliability can be seen as the extent to which a measurement method is consistent. Reliability of a measure can be described as when a measure yields consistent scores or observations on a given phenomenon on different occasions ( Bachman and Schutt 2007, p.87). It refers firstly to the extent to which a method of measurement produces the same results for the same case under the same conditions referred to as test-retest reliability and secondly the extent to which responses to the individual items in a multiple-item measure are consistent with each other known as internal consistency. A measure that is not reliable cannot be valid. Can it be said that the measurements used in the Kansas City Gun experiment were reliable and valid? This can be assessed by firstly by looking at its’ test-retest reliability and then secondly, its’ internal consistency. Test-retest reliability As funding ran out the study was never repeated under the same conditions in beat 144, thus strictly speaking there was never an opportunity to test whether the same or similar results would have been obtained over an equivalent period some time later. Internal consistency The measures used in this study included separate bookkeeping and an onsite University of Maryland evaluator who accompanied the officers on 300 hours of hot spots patrol and coded every shift activity narrative for patrol time and enforcement in and out of the area. Property room data on guns seized, computerized crime reports, calls for service data, and arrest records were analyzed for both areas under the study. Sherman and Rogan (1995) then analyzed the data using four different models. The primary analyses assumed that the gun crime counts were independently sampled from the beats examined before and after the intervention. This model treated the before–during difference in the mean weekly rates of gun crime as an estimate of the magnitude of the effect of the hot spots patrols, and assessed the statistical significance of the differences with the standard two-tailed t–tests (Sherman and Roagn (1995)). A second model assumed that the weekly gun crime data points were not independent but were correlated serially, and thus required a Box–Jenkins ARIM (autoregressive integrated moving average) test of the effect of an abrupt intervention in a time series. A third model examined rate events (homicide and drive-by shootings) aggregated in 6-month totals on the assumption that those counts were independent, using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. A fourth model also assumed independence of observations, and compared the target with the control beat in a before–during chi-square-test. The t–tests compared weekly gun crimes for all 29 weeks of the phase 1 patrol program (July, 7, 1992, through Jan. 25, 1993) with the 29 weeks preceding phase 1, using difference-of-means tests. The ARIM models extended the weekly counts to a full 52 weeks before and after the beginning of phase 1. The ANOVA model added another year before phase 1 (all of 1991) as well as 1993, the year after phase 1 (Sherman and Rogan (1995)). It is submitted that Sherman and Rogan (1995) use of the four different models described above attempted to ensure that an acceptable level of triangulation and as such, internal consistency was achieved given the fact that the program design itself did not lend itself to the researcher having data and an opportunity such that responses to the individual items in a multiple-item measure could be checked for consistency. Reliability may be seen as a prerequisite for validity. Therefore the fact that there was never any opportunity to repeat the study, there was never any opportunity to examine whether the same or similar results would have been obtained in beat 144 over an equivalent period some time using the same policing tactics. In other words can it be safely said that the use of the same measures as mentioned above, i.e., the onsite University of Maryland evaluator who accompanied the officers on 300 hours of hot spots patrol together with Property room data on guns seized, computerized crime reports, calls for service data, and arrest records would have yielded similar results? The simple answer is no as it was never done. It is to be noted that the evaluator accompanied the officers on 300 hours of hot spots patrol out of 2,256 (assuming that the 300 referred to patrol car-hours). Is this number statistically sufficient to reduce the occurrence of random errors which occur as a result of over-estimation and under-estimation of recordings? It is accordingly submitted that the level of reliability of measurement is limited to the instance of this study as there is no way of testing its stability short of repeating it. THE INTERNAL VALIDITY OF CAUSAL INFERENCES Validity is often defined as the extent to which an instrument measures what it purports to measure. Validity requires that an instrument is reliable, but an instrument can be reliable without being valid (Kimberlin and Winterstein (2008)). Validity refers to the accuracy of a measurement or what conclusions we can draw from the results of such measurement. Therefore, apart from the issue of reliability discussed above, it must also be determined whether the measures used in the Kansas City Gun Experiment measured what they were suppose to measure and whether the causal inferences drawn possess internal validity. Internal validity means that the study measured what it set out to whilst external validity is the ability to make generalizations from the study (Grimes and Schulz (2002)). With respect to internal validity, selection bias, information bias, and confounding are present to some degree in all observational research. According to Grimes, David, A. and Schulz, Kenneth, F. (2002), selection bias stems from an absence of comparability between groups being studied. Information bias results from incorrect determination of exposure, outcome, or both. The effect of information bias depends on its type. If information is gathered differently for one group than for another, this results in biasness. By contrast, non-differential misclassification tends to obscure real differences. They viewed Confounding as a mixing or blurring of effects: a researcher attempts to relate an exposure to an outcome but actually measures the effect of a third factor (the confounding variable). Confounding can be controlled in several ways: restriction, matching, stratification, and more sophisticated multivariate techniques. If a reader cannot explain away study results on the basis of selection, information, or confounding bias, then chance might be another explanation. Chance should be examined last, however, since these biases can account for highly significant, though bogus results. Differentiation between spurious, indirect, and causal associations can be difficult. Criteria such as temporal sequence, strength and consistency of an association and evidence of a dose-response effect lend support to a causal link. It is submitted that the onsite University of Maryland evaluator who accompanied the officers on 300 hours of hot spots patrol and coded every shift activity narrative for patrol time and enforcement in and out of the area would have been able to give a rough measure of the number of guns seized, whilst the Property room data on guns seized, computerized crime reports, calls for service data, and arrest records would have after analysis indicated whether gun crimes increased or decreased. It could be inferred therefore that as the number of guns seized increased, the level of gun related crimes decreased and that this inference possessed internal validity. THE EXTERNAL VALIDITY OF CONCLUSIONS TO THE FULL POPULATION THE STUDY SAMPLED According to Grimes, David, A. and Schulz, Kenneth, F. (2002), external validity is the ability to make generalizations from the study. With regard to the Kansas City Gun Experiment, the question which must now be asked is whether the program is likely to be effective in other settings and with other areas, cities or populations. Steckler, Allan McLeroy, Kenneth R. (2007) quoting Campbell D.T. Stanley J.C. (1966) argues that internal validity is as important as external validity. We have thus gone a bit further so not only is it important to know whether the program is effective, but also whether it is likely to be effective in other settings and with other areas, cities or populations. This would accordingly lead to the translation of research to practice. It must be submitted that as with internal validity, the fact that there was never any opportunity to repeat the study, there was never any opportunity to examine whether the same or similar results would have been obtained in beat 144 over an equivalent period some time using the same policing tactics and or in any other beat for that matter. It cannot therefore be validly concluded that the Kansas City Gun Experiment would be as effective in any other beat area. THE CLARITY OF POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF APPLYING THE RESULTS IN POLICING The policy implications of applying the results of the Kansas City Gun Experiment are arguably fairly clear. The most important conclusion is that police can increase the number of guns seized in high gun crime areas at relatively modest cost. Directed patrol around gun crime hot spots is about three times more cost-effective than normal uniformed police activity citywide, on average, in getting guns off the street[1]. Policing bodies around the United States can conclude that although the raw numbers of guns seized in a particular beat may not be impressively large, the impact of even small increases in guns seized in decreasing the percentage of gun crimes can be substantial. If a city wants to adopt this policy in a high gun crime area, this experiment proves that it can be successfully implemented[2]. It is also clear from the Kansas City gun experiment that a focus on gun detection, with freedom from answering calls for service, can make regular beat officers working on overtime very productive. REFERENCES Bachman, R. and Schutt, R, K, (2007). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice. 3rd Edition , Sage Publications Inc. Sherman and Rogan (1995), â€Å"The Kansas City Gun Experiment†, National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Sherman and Rogan (1995), â€Å"The Kansas City Gun Experiment†, National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice Sherman and Rogan (1995), â€Å"The Kansas City Gun Experiment†, National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice Kimberlin, Carole L., and Winterstein, Almut, G. (2008),â€Å"Validity and Reliability of Measurement Instruments used in Research† Research fundamentals, Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 65 Dec 1, 2008 Grimes, David, A. and Schulz, Kenneth, F. (2002), â€Å"Bias and causal associations in observational research† Grimes, David, A. and Schulz, Kenneth, F. (2002), â€Å"Bias and causal associations in observational research† Campbell D.T. Stanley J.C. (1966), Experimental and Quasi Experimental Designs, Chicago, Ill: Rand McNally; 1966. 8. Steckler, Allan McLeroy, Kenneth R. (2007), The Importance of External Validity, Am J Public Health. 2008 January; 98(1): 9–10. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.126847 9. Sherman, Lawrence W., and R.A. Berk, (1984), â€Å"The Specific Deterrent Effects of Arrest for Domestic Assault,† American Sociological Review, (49)(1984):261–272. [1] Sherman, Lawrence W., and R.A. Berk, (1984), â€Å"The Specific Deterrent Effects of Arrest for Domestic Assault,† American Sociological Review, (49)(1984):261–272. [2]

Spread of Islam Essay -- Religion, Muhammad

Islam began in Mecca when the Prophet Muhammad began to spread the word of God (292). The Prophet â€Å"sought to warn his people against worshipping false gods and all immortality, especially injustice to the poor, orphans, widows, and women altogether† (293). The first converts of the religion were Meccan townsfolk and farmers (292). While some prominent Meccans joined him, the aristocracy generally resisted his teachings (293-94). According to the Qur’an, paradise lies in gratitude to God as well as in his guidance and forgiveness (293). Muhammad is accepted as the last of many prophets chosen to spread the word of God (293). Unfortunately, the Prophets’ teachings did not readily spread and succeed (293). Still, many peoples followed his wife, Khadija, and recognized him as a â€Å"chosen reformer† (293). After Muhammad’s death in 632, the lack of a successor or son led to a political struggle between the Meccan and Medinan peoples. This ended wh en Abu Bakr was selected as the successor to the Prophet (297). However, as in most previous cases, many Arab tribes renounced allegiance to the Prophet after his death (297). Nonetheless, the rule of Abu Bakr â€Å"reestablished religious conformity for much of Arabia and forced Arabs to recognize the faith and practice of Islam as opposed to a certain leader; the Prophet Muhammad in this case† (297) Following Bakr, Caliphs Umar and Uthman pushed Arab armies beyond the peninsula and conquered Byzantine and Sasanid territories, Egypt, and most of Iran by 643 (297). This success can be accounted to the leadership of the first caliphs and field generals as well as the weakness of the Byzantine and Iranians (297). By 651, Arab armies defeated the last of the Sasanid rulers (297). The fourth caliphate; ... ...sian oppression (298). Muslims were accepting of other religions and allowed Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian groups to live under protection of Islamic rule â€Å"provided they recognize Islamic political authority, pay a non Muslim head tax, and not interfere with Muslim religious practices† (298). The head tax and other divisions on non-Muslims encouraged many to convert (298). Islamic culture was also highly adaptable and open to blending of cultural traits, allowing it to spread in even hostile societies (346). Muslims could exchange ideas and goods with Muslims of radically different backgrounds and â€Å"encounter them as brothers and sisters of the Umma† (347). Thus, Islam primarily spread through the conquests of Arab armies and successfully spread due to its tenets, high adaptability, the weakening of Byzantine and Sasanid Empires, and its immense leadership.

Moral Sentiments and Determinism Essay -- Philosophy Philosophical Pap

ABSTRACT: P. F. Strawson’s essay "Freedom and Resentment" was a landmark in the study of determinism, free-will, and morality. It contributed a much-needed correction to the problem of overintellectualization as found in twentieth-century compatibilist literature. Although most of the central claims in Strawson’s essay are important and true, it fails to fill the lacuna in the analysis, discussion and proposals of traditional compatibilism. The reasons may be summarized as follows. The web of moral demands, feelings and participant attitudes comprises a set of facts within human social life which must be investigated in order to understand the relation (or lack thereof) between determinism and morality. If the facts themselves fill the gap, then it must be some adequate and coherent understanding of them. According to Strawson, the incompatibilist has an understandable dissatisfaction with his opponent’s account because, among other things, the latter fails to de al with the condition of desert and of the justice of moral condemnation and punishment. However, the theory of "Freedom and Resentment" fails equally on this point. What is now needed is a combination of factual study with ethical inquiry. The former would draw on the results of social psychology, the psychology of moral development, the social sciences of morals, and (philosophical) moral psychology. I In the light of a well-known distinction between participant moral attitudes and objective ones, the traditional issue of free will and morality is rephrased, in P.F.Strawson’s ‘Freedom and Resentment’ (henceforth FR), as follows: Could, or should, determinism lead us always to look on everyone exclusively in the objective way? The negative answer is defended and ... ...egal punishment, and the sociology and anthropology of morality. As far as the latter is concerned, that would amount to a sort of revival of the late l9th Century and early 20th Century studies in the social sciences of morals. In an age of multidisciplinary studies such as ours, FR may retrospectively be looked on by present-day students of our philosophical problem as containing an ‘ahead-of-its-time’ invitation, and an especially attractive one, for the philosopher to embark on such a multidisciplinary enterprise. References Honderich, T. (Ed.), Essays on Freedom of Action, Routledge and Kegan Paul, l973. Schlick, M., Problems of Ethics , Dover Publications, N.York, l939. Strawson, P.F., ‘Freedom and Resentment’ in Freedom and Resentment and other Essays, Methuen, l974 Skepticism and Naturalism: some varieties, Columbia University Press, l985.

Women in Sports - NCAA vs. AIAW :: Sports Essays Women

NCAA vs. AIAW Women have faced an uphill battle throughout the history of sports whether it is to be able to compete in sports, to attain equal funding for programs, to have access to facilities, or a number of other obstacles that have been thrown in their ways. Women have had to organize and administer their own sports structure rather than compete within the men's structure that existed. The sheer strength and determination of many women sports heroes is what propels women's sport to keep going. One theme that has predominantly surfaced in this fight though is the merging of women's programs with men's, oftentimes only when they are successful enough to stand alone on their own. When female athletes wanted to participate in tournaments and intercollegiate play they had to form their own league, since the NCAA would not accept women's teams. Many women fought long and hard in order to form the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) in 1972, and even harder to make it the successful league it eventually became. The AIAW gained corporate sponsors and television coverage of their national championship and also catapulted women's basketball into the forefront of athletics worldwide. In 1976, just four years after the formation of the AIAW, women's basketball debuted at the Olympics. At the end of its reign the AIAW had created 42 national championships and moved from a 276 charter member institution into an organization consisting of 971 institutional members (Hult). In 1979 Title IX was passed, giving female athletes a huge step towards achieving their goals but possibly giving the AIAW it's defeating blow. With the passage of Title IX came funding for women's sports that was not present prior to this. Suddenly women's athletics were more than just a game, they were profitable sports and men took note of this. Most educational institutions merged their men's and women's physical education and athletic departments. Since this new athletic department had twice the staff that was needed, women athletic director and administrators were sent down to secondary positions. Men were now controlling women's athletics, one domain where women had ruled for the past decade. Male coaches weren't the only ones to notice the potential profit included in women's athletics; the NCAA began to make serious offers to AIAW about merging. Because the NCAA had not prior to this considered the AIAW an equal until women's athletics had potential for television contracts and national championships, the AIAW refused these offers.

June Yip proposes post colonialism to evaluate Taiwanese films Essay

June Yip analyzes Taiwan in the book Envisioning Taiwan as a new breed of country in the postcolonial era which has least interest in the idea of nation-state, maintaining it’s very local faces as well as open to international influences with much surprise. Yip takes a look at Taiwan’s post-national territory status through its fiction and cinema movement concentrating her attention to filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien. (Winterton) Taiwan has a long history of colonialism and suppression, but the multinational capitalism, mass migration, the arrival of new electronic media; all these encouraged a postmodern culture and have questioned the traditional limit as well as made the notion of nation irrelevant. June Yip emphasizes the hybrid nature of identity as fallout of postmodernism, is vastly reflected in the present form of Taiwanese films. The earlier versions were more conventional and guarded the theme of nationhood. She points in her book Hou’s films present a picture â€Å"the island as an increasingly complex and hybrid social space, an ever-changing formation†. (Yip, 230) Yip focuses that Taiwanese New Cinema, emerged in the 1980’s and its patrons are fascinated with displaying the socio-historical qualities of modern Taiwan’s experience and also to form a sense of Taiwanese cultural identity with centralizing on the search for nationhood in their works. They represent the tough transition period of Taiwan’s history through which the island came to the global order and try to depict the same in their films with â€Å"a quest for an understanding of a modern Taiwanese experience† and rising questions from present and future. (Yip, 10) Yip also presents the grim picture of Taiwan’s history where under various regimes; either Japanese or Chinese, the linguistic medium of films was strictly regulated by the ruling authorities. Most of these languages were foreign to the locals while the local medium was eclipsed. So, in modern Taiwanese cinema, a global touch could be felt where characters easily switch from Taiwanese to Mandarin to Japanese to English, showcasing a multicultural effect. (Yip, 6) Yip clarifies that Taiwan’s cultural awareness took time to surface itself on cinema due to its colonial Hanover. As there is a strong link between cinema and the idea of nationhood but in the later half of the 20th century the cinema carried a huge responsibility of nation building as being a visual medium. Government was always involved in making of Taiwanese films but in 1990’s it felt the need to loose the belts as to get back commercial as well as critical acclaim. Most of the film personalities have grown the age of rigidity, so when they started working they tries their best to free themselves from the knuckles and criticized the government under its banner itself as well as displayed the new experiences with global changes. The films Three Times and Puppetmaster have shown the changes of post colonialism. Three Times is a film consisting of three episodes based in three periods of Taiwanese history showcasing the problems of the turbulent times in the history, urge for freedom and also the confusion prevailing in a contemporary city. The Puppet master recollects the life of a puppeteer spanning during the period of Japanese occupation of the island and portraying the sorry state of the Taiwanese people and their hardships and also depicts the loss of tradition under suppression and western influence. Both the films in their respective themes lament sufferings of the history and urge to come out of the rigid circumstances supporting Yip’s thesis. (Schumann) While The Wedding Banquet is a drama with humorous touch where personal relationships, based on generation and cultural conflicts within individuals of slender theme rather matching the concept of analysis of Yip of Taiwanese cinema.

Moral Theories: Kant and J.S Mill Essay

Throughout this paper, I will contrast and compare two moral theories in attempt to uncover what one provides a better argument and can be applied as a universal moral code. The two moral theorists Immanuel Kant and J.S Mill have created two distinctly different theories on morality and how to develop a universal moral code. Both theories focus on intentions and consequences. Kant believes that the intentions and reasons of our actions can be measured and defined as morally correct, where as Mill believes that our intentions really play no role in morality, and that we should focus on the consequences and outcomes of our actions to evoke the most happiness for the most people. Even though both philosophers make incredibly different points, each encompasses strong arguments as well as issues with their approach. However, Kant will be successful in articulating a better universal moral theory through the use of his categorical imperative. Immanuel Kant and his Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) attempts to uncover a universal moral principal for all to use. According to Kant, we aren’t only knower’s, we are also doers as we act and make certain decisions in the world. He wants to know what decisions we should make and how should we treat people in this diverse world. He contemplates the use of internal feelings of approval or disapproval to know when something is right or wrong, but deems there are many problems with this has feelings are always changing. Kant believes that goodwill and goodwill alone is good in itself without qualification. â€Å"Understanding, wit, the power of judgment, and like talents of the mind, whatever they might be called, or courage, resoluteness, persistence in an intention, as qualities of temperament, are without doubt in some respects good and to be wished for; but they can also become extremely evil and harmful, if the will that is to make use of these gifts of nature, and whose peculiar constitution is therefore called character, is not good.† (Kant, 1785) In this quote, Kant is saying that even though there are characteristics that are seemingly good such as intelligence and courage, if these things can be used for evil, they are not within itself without qualification good. So good will is the only thing good and is the basis of Kant’s moral philosophy. Essentially, Kant’s goes  on to explain that even if you produce a positive outcome with your action, if it lacked goodwill as an intention, it meets the criteria of a moral action, but is not good in itself. â€Å"The good will is good not through what it effects or accomplishes, not through its efficacy for attaining any intended end, but only through its willing, i.e., good in itself, and considered for itself, without comparison, it is to be estimated far higher than anything that could be brought about by it in favor of any inclination, or indeed, if you p refer, of the sum of all inclinations.† (Kant, 1785) Therefore it’s neither the outcome nor the effect of the action, it’s the inner state of the will itself that determines morality. Kant describes two types of imperatives that can be used to evaluate intentions. The first is hypothetical imperatives, which apply to someone who is dependent on having certain ends to the action. Example, a person may act in a certain way only to receive something in return. Kant’s Categorical Imperative is the one he uses to evaluate motives of actions. The categorical imperative is absolute, universal, unconditional commands and can be defined by â€Å"Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law†. According to Kant, reasons and motives are everything and count far more than the action itself. If you act in goodwill, it is moral. Even if the action causes unintended harm, if it had good intentions and that alone, it is moral. I agree with much of his theory and how we ought to act in ways that only have the best intentions behind them by acting in goodwill. The problem with Kant’s moral theory is that, even though it is important and necessary to act in goodwill, to disregard a positive, good action just because it lacks solely good intentions is flawed in my opinion. Even though Kant does acknowledge that behaviour and actions that produce a good outcome or consequence is in fact aligned with morality, he believes if you do anything that benefits you is wrong. As a personal example, I volunteer and produce ‘good’ actions because not only do I know it is right, or the good thing to do, but it gives me a sense of purpose. I feel good putting people before myself. Some people will do nice things for others because it makes them feel good as well. In my opinion, if people love to help others and act in  ethically sound ways because it gives them a feeling of approval, and the action is causing a positive consequence, that should be moral. It should be a wonderful thing that mankind can actually have feel good chemicals run through there body when assisting humanity. Kant should take this into consideration that if we feel good acting in good ways, it is more likely to be sustainable. John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham have been recognized as the founders of Utilitarianism. Contrary to Kant’s moral theories, Utilitarian’s would disagree with most of Kant’s theory. While Kant believed that it is the intention of the action that should be recognized as moral or unmoral, J.S Mill and Bentham would say that it is in fact the outcome of said action that determines morality. Mill attempts to settle disputes about right and wrong with his theory of â€Å"Utilitarianism†, which is his moral theory that is based on the â€Å"greatest happiness for the greatest number of people†. Mill believes that actions are morally sound or unsound in proportion to how much happiness is produced. He defines happiness as pleasure and the absence of pain and believes that happiness is the sole basis of morality. Mill says that our actions have a teleological structure to them, and introduces the principal of utility, which states that actions are right as long as they promote happiness of pleasure, and are wrong is the actions tend to cause unhappiness or pain. However, Mill argues in his work that pleasure can differ in quality and quantity. Bentham offers a hedonistic calculus as a way of quantifying happiness or pleasure. He lists 6 hedonistic measurements as criteria; intensity, duration, proximity or remoteness, fecundity, purity and extent. Most of our society’s laws, rules and regulations can be compared to utilitarian principals as it very effective to think in terms of what is best for the greatest amount of people. Although Mill makes very good conclusions and has done a relatively good job at developing a universal moral code, there are some issues with his theory. The problem with J.S Mill’s Utilitarianism theory is that it is a moral based primarily on  happiness. The standard of happiness cannot be measured for everything and is much more complex than Mill expresses it to be in his theory. Not everyone’s definition of happiness will be the same, and in many cases, one person’s happiness is not the same as another’s. Therefore, there can be huge conflict depending on different people. Both moral theories have very strong points and in theory, can be used as universal moral principals. However, each argument from both Kant and the Utilitarian’s have problems with them and weak points. I personally believe that both theorists make good points. I agree with Kant in that morality is defined by intentions and that we ought to have goodwill and good intentions that follow the categorical imperative, however disagree in that if we do anything to better ourselves that it is no longer morally correct. With utilitarianism, I strongly believe that we should be looking out for the greatest good for the greatest amount of people, but strongly disagree with that personal happiness should be the measurement. As a selfish, entitled society, I believe that solely acting out of happiness could be detrimental to the well-being of the planet. In conclusion, I believe that Kant’s moral theory is the best. Even though our society can be deemed at utilitarian and Mill does make strong points, I personally believe that Kant’s morals, when applied and taken seriously, could become a solid universal moral code. Work Cited: Kant, Immanuel & Wood, Allen (2002). Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. Retrieved from http://www.inp.uw.edu.pl/mdsie/Political_Thought/Kant%20-%20groundwork%20for%20the%20metaphysics%20of%20morals%20with%20essays.pdf Notes from class -Lesson on Kant -Lesson on Utilitarianism

English Texts in Time Speech Manuscript Essay

As times change and transition into new eras and periods, one aspect remains constant, which are societal values due to the linearity of human nature. Similarities in the influences of the respective contexts of authors can be examined in texts that explore identical thematic concerns. Two authors and texts that can be used to demonstrate this include Mary Shelley’s didactic novel Frankenstein written in the early 19th century and, Ridley Scott’s film noir, Blade Runner (Directors Cut 1982). As though these two texts have been constructed in distinctive time periods, they share similar or juxtaposed content that convey parallel social values in both their cautionary tales.  By analyzing the congruent components embedded in characters or warnings in texts, it can be proven that societal norms are sustained even through the influence of distinctive time periods. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses the protagonist Victor as a representation of how society values individuality. She creates the didactic element in the text by Victor’s interaction with Walton. â€Å"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge† exhibits how Victor realizes that his ulterior motive was ethically wrong and wishes to demonstrate to his fellow companion that shares the same â€Å"madness†. Walton’s character is created for the purpose of being compared to Victor. As Victor is the only one who experiences these consequences of blind and obsessive ambition develops him into a unique character, which can be reflected upon Mary Shelley’s context of the enlightenment. The enlightenment is a romantic era in the 19th century, which emphasizes reason and individuality, which is exploited in the character of Victor. Similarly, Eldon Tyrell in Blade Runner produces artificial human beings, the â€Å"Replicants† all for the purpose of his dominance in a scientific based commerce. Because of this Tyrell is represented as a dominant and wealthy character despite his stature. This by far demonstrating his individuality, which is further emphasized in his contrast to every other character in the film. Filmic devices such as lighting support this; such as when Tyrell is brought to the scene, natural light illuminates his body, which juxtaposes every other character of the film. Low angle camera shots of Tyrell also represent his superiority. By his creation of artificial life along with the motto of â€Å"more human than human†, he has embellished an ironic element to the text. This ironic element is how these artificial human beings begin to behave in a more humane way than actual humans depicted in the text. Blade Runner’s comment on this is influenced by Ridley Scott’s context of globalization, which is a concept that leads to the eradication of individuality which is shown in the depiction of humans as a globalized society that has been identically merged.  Both texts utilize their characters to portray how society values individuality. The creature in Frankenstein has an obsession for vengeance and acceptance due to his constant alienation. Throughout the text he never finds a true sense of acceptance. Roy, as well as the other replicants however shares an obsession for attaining a prolonged life span. These desires and experiences that transpire in the two creations of selfish ambitions reflect the nature of humanity. The creature is a pure being as he enters the world space that Mary Shelley materializes. â€Å"I was benevolent and good, misery made me a fiend, make me happy and I shall again be virtuous† this use of alliteration conveys the monsters cause of maliciousness as his own misery. This misery is caused by his treatment by society and how prejudice they are based on appearance. This portrays how society judges based on aesthetics. This can be reflected upon Mary Shelley’s context of Aestheticism, which is a period of emphasis on aesthetical value. As the monster is continually called loathsome and hideous, we muster sympathy towards him in his desire for acceptance in which he is continually denied. Which reflects societies value of difference. Conversely in Blade Runner Roy Batty, is â€Å"perfect† but yet audiences still manifest sympathy towards him. This is because of his final state of agony before his death. Roy asks a rhetorical question in eloquent manner, â€Å"Quite an experience to live in fear isn’t it? That’s what it’s like to be a slave† which is the point of when the audience begin to pity him even with his disoriented state. As Roy’s last fellow being Pris is â€Å"retired† he expresses his emotions, another factor that humans lack in film. His emotions are expressed through a howl simulating a wolf, which acts as a symbol of isolation. The term â€Å"retired† instead of more appropriate words like murder or kill in terms of the replicants shows clear distinction of treatment based on difference. This further hyperbolizes the presence of the societies value of judgment and difference in both texts. The treatment of the ideas of denaturalization that is present in texts from different times can juxtapose each other but still reflect the same social value. Both Mary Shelley and Ridley Scott capture a sense of nature through the world space they create in their texts. Mary Shelley shows more of a realization to the importance and beauty of nature and how it can act as a place of tranquility. This is done by the characters interactions with nature and how it nurtures the individual. â€Å"My spirits were elevated by the enchanting appearance of nature; the past was blotted from my memory, the present was tranquil,† depicts the creatures encounter with nature and its benefits. It reflects how society values nature, in her context of the beginning of the industrial revolution. In contrast Ridley Scott presents the full pessimistic perspective of denaturalization by creating a dystopian world space. With a landscape that is completely devoid of nature, it implies how society values nature.  The treatments of nature by these two composers are complete inverse but they still both reflect the same societal value of denaturalization. Even with the disconnection between Mary Shelley and Ridley Scott, they both produce texts with reflections to different contexts but similar social values. Through the comparison of characters and warnings intertwined in both texts it can be demonstrated that as times change, societal values are sustained. Both composers’ representations of social values both are demonstrated through the characters, cautions and world spaces they convey in their texts.

Final Paper Outline Essay

Dr. White ordered an unusual dose of a medication for a patient. May Patterson, RN, sees the order and believes it to be the wrong dose. She is afraid to call Dr. White because he can be abrasive at times. Nurse Patterson asks the charge nurse who is not as familiar with the patient to call the doctor. The charge nurse calls Dr. White. He insists that he knows what is best for the patient and insists that the medication will be given as written. The charge nurse calls you, the administrator on call for the weekend, to resolve the issue. 1. What principles of effective teamwork have broken down? 2. How will you work to resolve the issue? 3. List and describe five potential strategies for conflict resolution within this team. a. What types of information will you need to collect to have an intelligent conversation with this physician? b. Who should be involved in this situation, and the discussion with Dr. White, and why? 4. Which conflict resolution strategy is likely to be most successful? The principles of effective teamwork have been broken down when there was a fear of communication. Being that this case was due to someone’s health, Nurse Patterson should have put her fear of communicating with an abusive man aside and focused more on the patient’s health. It was however good that she at least brought someone else into the situation instead of just putting it all aside and submitting the prescription knowing the possible dangers. I as an on call administrator would resolve the issue by looking into the patient’s medical history and find out what the symptoms are and if that prescription is ri ght in order to treat their diagnosis. I would then call Dr. White to confirm why this certain medication was needed. Bargaining is one of the five potential strategies for conflict resolution. If you can get a team to bargain together you are getting them to come together once then next time a situation arises, the favor can be returned. Problem solving is getting the team to work through a situation and come to an agreement. Voting can be a bit difficult because one may not always agree with the other and a solution may not be reached. Researching can take up too much time and may delay a problem being solved longer than need be. Having a third party involved is always a plus because they can hear both sides of a dilemma and give their side as well and get a solution. The information needed to be collected in order to have an intelligent conversation with Dr. White would be to gather as much information about the patient, the patients history as well as the past history of the Doctor and how he communicates with others that way I would be able to know how to approach the situation and how to come to a conclusion without there being any conflict. The only ones needing to be involved is Dr. White, Nurse Patterson and the charge nurse. In this situation I don’t feel it would need to go any further than the administrator unless I felt there was potential harm or ill intent on the staff’s part. The conflict resolution strategy I feel would work the best is problem solving. With this strategy you are able to look at both the pros and the cons of this situation and it would make it easier to make a decision as to what is the best thing that needs to be done in order to treat the patient. Discussion 2 Human resources are an integral part of health care operations to recruit and retain high quality, and often highly specialized employees. 1. Describe why human resources management is comprised of strategic and administrative actions, providing examples of each. 2. Outline specific activities that encompass the strategic and administrative responsibilities of the human resources department. 3. If you were employed as an administrator in a small physician group without a human resources department, how would you carry out the strategic and administrative responsibilities required? Strategic actions has a main role in participating in business strategies rather than supporting administration. Research is done on its own in order to come up with a solution in order to have effective advice. It maps out specific strategies for achieving results for the organization. On the administrative side they are more focused on providing advice, guidance, strategies and services to management and staff. As well as what is best for the health company when it comes to hiring and recruiting the right kind people to do the job to the best of their ability. The roles of strategic planning is the process of planning, having a vision, its mission, values, suppliers and customers, acknowledging bumps and roadblocks, figuring out the goals and objectives, spreading the word, keeping track, assessing and following up on the process. Administrative responsibilities include the hiring process and orientation, approval for health care vacancies, advertising the position, preparing for the interviews and making selections. As an administrator I would designate certain people to carry out the job of what is required of both strategic and administrative responsibilities in order to keep the business meeting its required standards of staffing.

Google is a company that has created a road map for what IT companies Research Paper

Google is a company that has created a road map for what IT companies should be like explain how Google can be considered to be - Research Paper Example The organization was founded by Sergey Brin and Larry Page. It is considered as the world’s most important and popular customer Technology Company. The search engine of Google is supreme popular among the global internet users. The organization introduced Android operating system for the Smartphone buyers. The organization has a mission to organize the information of the world and make it useful and accessible across the globe (Google, 2013, p.1). Effective service and product differentiation strategy helped the organization to secure its leading position within the competitive market place. A broad range of technological products and services helped people to attain information about every possible necessary product across the globe. Strong research and development always ensures the quality of products and featured within these products. Online advertising is another major business growth driver of Google. Throughout its business operation Google Inc acquired several leading organization in order to develop a potential user base around the globe. Most importantly, this business strategy helped the organization to maximize its business profit margin. ... Therefore the organization tried to implement effective operational strategies in order to meet the satisfaction level of the users around the globe. Whether designing a new and attractive internet browser or a unique tweak to the get up of the home page, Google takes significant care in order to ensure that they ultimately serve people. They always try to meet their corporate and organizational value through effective customer service rather than achieving own bottom line or internal goal. The homepage interface of Google is quite simple and clear. In addition the pages load instantly right after a click. The organization constantly develops and introduces new applications and tools to ease the online activities of global users. Placements in the search results are never sold to any other individual. Effective privacy and significant security level of the applications motivate global users to access Google. The research and development team of Google exclusively focus on solving res earch problems. The research and development team constantly tries to find out a better solution for a particular problem. This continuous iteration helped the organization to solve difficult and complex issues. Continuous improvement in products and services and fast access to the information sites increased the acceptance level of Google among the global users (Franklin, Workman and Powell, 1997, p.12). An effective and impressive dedication to improve the searching process helps the organization to learn about new products and services. This actually enhances the knowledge and skill level of the employees to perform effectively. Gmail, Google maps are the most value added applications of Google that helps the people around the globe in

Topic Analysis, Annotated Bibliography, and Research Paper

Topic Analysis, Annotated Bibliography, and - Research Paper Example He argues that the degraded youth express themselves creatively through Hip Hop music. The author’s claim that Hip Hop originated from the neglected and crack-infested inner cities of NY and, thus, cannot be expected to live up to the standards of Middle Class America, will form a critical part of my argument on the origins and influence of Hip Hop. Dimitriadis, Greg. Performing Identity/performing Culture: Hip Hop As Text, Pedagogy, and Lived Practice. New York: P. Lang, 2009. Print. Professor Greg Dimitriadis is an associate professor at SUNY with interests in popular culture and urban education. He critically reflects on Hip Hop’s contemporary currents and the economic, social, and cultural shifts that have influenced and been influenced by commercial Hip Hop. He concludes that these shifts in contemporary currents have a profound influence on Hip Hop fans and adherents. Using Hip Hop historical works to argue that youth fashion their notions of community on Hip Hop ideals, he argues that most urban youth have formed their notions on what America is through the depictions of Hip Hop artists from different regions. This argument will support my claims regarding the influences that Hip Hop has had on young people. Annotated Bibliography Where and how did Hip Hop originate and what influence has it had on contemporary America? Light, Alan. ... The author concludes that Hip Hop arose from aspirations of people who had little in terms of economic and social emancipation. Using vivid reviews by over 50 music and cultural critics, he argues that Hip Hop used the resources that were available to its originators, including microphones, turn tables, old records, and aspirations of success. This argument will support my research into the origins of the Hip Hop art form. Chang, Jeff. Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2011. Print. Jeff Chang is a journalist and Hip Hop critic with a range of awards for his chronicling of the early rap music scene. He focuses on the effect of youth rebellion on Hip Hop’s origin, concluding that, from its initial origins as an art form, for youth without societal support, Hip Hop has transformed American culture and politics. Based on interviews with early Hip Hop artists, the main argument proposed by the author is that Hip Hop acted as an outlet for young black youth to be heard by the society. This claim is relevant to my take on how and why Hip Hop went from music of the oppressed to the most profitable genre in America today. Brown, Adrienne. "Drive Slow: Rehearing Hip Hop Automotivity." Journal of Popular Music Studies 24.3 (2012): 265–275. Adrienne brown is an assistant professor of English literature and language, specializing in African American and American effects on cultural production in the 20th and 21st century. Her central focus here is the materialistic culture in Hip Hop and its influence on American youth, concluding that, rather than the artists, it is this materialistic culture, which speaks to the audience. The main argument is that, in Hip Hop, materialistic objects like

The Leadership at Food and Drug Administration Essay

The Leadership at Food and Drug Administration - Essay Example The FDA granted permission to Merck to market rofecoxib (Vioxx) and it generated more than $2.5 billion but surprisingly, the company withdrew the drug as a result of the excess risk of myocardial infarctions and strokes. The responsible people, in this case, did not take appropriate action to safeguard the health concerns of the people through several studies had shown that this drug has side effects in the people involved. Merck and the FDA reneged on their responsibilities to the public which can be regarded as unethical in their health care profession. Â  The traits of Merck, for instance, are oriented towards generating revenue at the expense of the health of the consumers of rofecoxib. He prioritizes commercial interests ahead of the public health concerns. This is shown by his audacity to spend more than $100 million per year in direct-to-consumer advertising. On the other hand, it can be noted that the FDA which could have stopped Merck from using direct-to-consumer advertising as a result of the fact that cardiovascular toxicity was real since it received considerable confirmation in multiple studies did not act decisively. The leadership at FDA and Merck share the responsibility of not taking appropriate action meant to safeguard the interests of public health.

Naguib Mahfouz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Naguib Mahfouz - Essay Example Considerable recognition will also be given to his contribution to the world of literature through his many successful works which will certainly never fade away even though he has passed. The story of Naguib Mahfouz is similar to the story of modern Egypt itself (Lalami 2006, p.1). Born in 1911 in the Gamaliya district of Cairo, Mahfouz observed the very last days of British colonial rule and Ottoman influence, the nationalist struggle of Saad Zaghloul, the supremacy of King Fuad and King Farouq, the military revolution of 1952, the establishment of the republic, Gamal Abdel Nasser's takeover in 1954, the Suez Canal disaster, the rule of Anwar al-Sadat, the Camp David accords of 1978 and finally the brutal dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak together with the rise of Islamic fundamentalism (Lalami 2006, p.1). A devoted reader, Mahfouz had a lifelong infatuation for the history of ancient Egypt, predominantly its pharaohs: Akhenaten, who rejected pantheism in favor of monotheism; Menenre II, who ruled briefly at the end of the sixth dynasty; Khufu, who built the great pyramid at Giza and Nefertiti, Akhenaten's wife and mother-in-law to Tutankhamen (Breasted 1912, p.56). Mahfouz published his earliest novel in 1939 (The Games of Fate), and since then has written thirty-two novels and thirteen collections of short stories (Allen 1982, p.17). In his old age he had preserved his prolific output, producing a novel every year. The novel genre, which can be traced back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe, has no significant prototypes in classical Arabic writing (Allen 1982, p.26). Although this thrived in all kinds of narrative, none of them could be described as we recognize the term novel today (Hashmi 1986, p.19). Naguib, who was born to a middle-class family in one of the oldest quarters in Cairo, was to give a face to influential metaphors, in excess of a period of half a century, to the expectations and frustrations of his homeland. Readers have so often identified themselves with his work, a great deal of which has been adapted for the cinema, theater and television, that many of his characters become household names in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab region (Allen 1982, p.26). Alternatively, his work, though deeply steeped in local reality, appeals to that which is universal and permanent in human nature, as shown by the relatively good reception his fiction has met in other backgrounds (Allen 1982, p.17). Views on Life Even though Mahfouz's novelistic methods have passed, as we have seen, through recognizable stages, one cannot say the same about his world view, the main features of which can be traced back to his earliest works (Allen 1982, p.17). Mahfouz appears to have sorted out the main questions about life at an early juncture of his youth and to have held on the answers he arrived at right up until his death. A sociopolitical vision of man's existence is at the very root of almost everything that Mahfouz has written. Even in a novel with a strong metaphysical claim such as "Al-Tariq" (The Way), the social message is appropriately woven into the texture of the work: man is not meant to spend his life on Earth in a futile search and his only true

Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example Cloud computing makes it possible for small and medium businesses to take advantage of large datacenters and applications software that they require to run their IT operations. Obtaining such services by utilizing in-house enterprise computing resources would mean huge expenditure for purchase of new hardware systems and related software. While cloud computing service providers like Amazon and Microsoft are offering an inexpensive solution to these problems, issues like security and data safety concerns require intensive resolution by such service providers. Traditional model of enterprise computing An in-house IT computing division of any business would consider the total cost of ownership to run the required computer systems. This includes the cost towards purchase of licensed applications software, hardware equipment and devices, as well as maintenance of in-house IT staff and development of vendors. Fixed and variable costs Any new start-up has to bear the upfront expenses that i nclude installation costs for hardware systems, software applications and cost towards setting up the required security environment. The variable costs include expenses towards running of the system, upgrade of software, training of IT staff and constant monitoring of security system. The operating cost for traditional enterprise computing keeps on increasing with the new technology upgrades. Every upgrade of software would require dedicated staff to run the application. With rapid expansion in businesses and fast technological development in the computing environment, the capital cost towards installation of new hardware is always high, considering the output required from such systems. In addition, the frequent need for replacing large and small equipment like servers and routers puts extra burden on the economics of the concerned company. Coordination with vendors and suppliers, apart from software application upgrades is yet another cost burden, which can prove hazardous for the company. As new applications are developed almost overnight, the earlier expenditure done on the outdated application is a waste, while the system would demand installation of new application software for quality deliverance. This would also need matching hardware, as per the software installation and running set-up instructions. The cost keeps on increasing with expansion in the company business volumes.(Total cost of ownership) In-house IT staff Any upfront set up would require in-house staff to install, maintain and subsequently run the IT computing infrastructure and software. Hardware installation and running requires a different group of IT engineers, while another group would install applications software. Similarly, the training methodology for both would be different. Hence, the company may require new group of engineers for running a replaced server or router. The vendor development and software applications purchase agreements would require another group of IT staff, whi ch has sufficient legal and technical knowledge about the involved technicalities. In addition, the expansion of business would mean installation of another set of expensive hardware, requiring more staff to run the same. The capabilities of IT staff remain limited, as engineers may not be able to match the new requirements of technology with their existing knowledge. This puts additional burden on the concerned business, in terms of

I believe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

I believe - Essay Example When I was in junior high school, I joined the basketball team, we had matches held every Saturday against other schools in the league, we practice a lot during the whole week days and we were confident to think every time that no team is better than us. In our first game we were defeated with the score 80-2. I was so much disturbed that I never thought we would be so bad, and at that time I just felt that simply training is not enough. I went back home and during dinner I told my dad about the basket ball team and my idea to quit the basketball team and join the soccer team. I said that the basketball team was a mere waste of time. My dad seemed to be inconsistent with my opinion, he went mad and shouted at me, he told me that â€Å"if one loss makes you to think of giving up, I am sure you will neither match my success and nor will make your life meaningful† He told me that, when he was young and just started working for his father he had to confront with variety of people and a range of treatments. They were of the view that my dad contracted this position because his dad was the owner of the company, but that didn’t stop him. He remained deaf towards their comments and was contemplating on improving his working style and within 3 months he became a salesperson with a fantastic proof of selling the maximum number of product of that year... Even then I found myself not convinced with his moral; I was still obsessed with the thought that his experience has a lot of discrepancy with mine... The team was so bad, but in order to flee from my dad’s resentment I remained in the basketball team itself. During that year we had lost most of our games, the thought of quitting was taunting me every time when I went for the match, but the words of my dad kept echoing â€Å"Do not think of Giving up!†.. So I decided to stay, and started concentrating in practicing and trying to analyze the