American and Chinese Business Cultures

The American and Chinese business cultures have vast differences that interfere with the way business is carried out. The business people in the two regions have certain practices and values that are considered as norm. The differences in the two business cultures have led to some viable and successful business ventures to be turned down due to a misunderstandings or conflicts that were experienced based on the business cultural differences. There are various similarities found between the two business cultures and one similarity is the strict adherence to schedules and time management.The two business cultures value their time and they ensure that it is spent wisely. Failure to manage time in both cultures is seen as an insulting gesture and a sign of disrespect. Moreover, another similarity is the art of appreciation that is highly regarded and the respect given to the senior business men in meetings when they are being addressed. There are several outstanding differences that clea rly exist between the two business cultures and they influence the manner in which business is carried out in these countries.For instance in the Chinese business culture, businesses are owned and managed within the family regardless of their qualifications and experience. Information regarding the performance of the businesses is treated as confidential and when they need funds for their businesses they search for it from their friends and family or within the private sector. Americans on the other hand, seek funds from both the private and public sectors to finance their business. They also reveal all the information about their companies making it public for the public to scrutinize and analyze it.In addition, their businesses are run by qualified professionals. 1. 0 Introduction Culture is a complex way of living that is developed by many people all over the world. It is passed on from one generation to the next over the years for it to be maintained. It is worth noting that cul ture is entails the values and norms followed by a group of people in a society and it describes the way those people should behave and treat each other as they live together harmoniously (Bucknall, 2000). It equally defines the nature of the people in that society and how they relate to the rest of the world.The culture of a particular people characterizes how they can relate to another group with a culture that is quite different. The more the differences that exist between the two cultures the more difficult it is for the two societies to live together and interact. On the same note, the chances of misunderstandings increase when two cultures differ greatly in their values, norms and other characteristics. Additionally, conflicts also increase exponentially when the two societies have not had any interactions among them (Gertmenian, n. d).The American and the Chinese business cultures are a good example of cultures that are different and that continually interact with many challe nges and misunderstandings facing them. Business people who have been trying to venture into the two economies have been faced with several challenges. Some of these business people have gone into business ventures with little or no information about the cultural differences between the two business cultures (Chen, 2003). Their business ideas and ventures have failed despite their capabilities and promise of success and profitability.The reasons that have been cited for the failure of such profitable ventures are the lack of understanding of the differences in the culture between the Americans and the Chinese. Business opportunities continue to increase in the Chinese region and this is attracting a lot of Americans to take up these opportunities. This business people need to understand the different aspects that lie between the two cultures and the business etiquette that is required from them once they are in China.It bears noting that the Chinese community also needs to understan d the American culture with regard to the business practices in order to minimize the chances of misunderstandings and disagreements. Knowledge of the two different cultures is very important to the success of the business. In light of this view this paper will objectively discuss four similarities and four differences between the American and Chinese business cultures. 2. 0 Similarities between the American and the Chinese Business Culture The American and Chinese business culture though depicted in two different countries, share some similarities in the way they operate.These similarities are shared through their strategies and focus that they both have in carrying out business successfully. The similarities that they share are independent and are not influenced by the behavior or culture of the each other. These similarities are however grounded in the way their other cultural practices that they have developed and maintained over the years. a) Business Meetings This is one of th e similar features in the sense that the two business cultures hold business meetings to discuss business relationships between the companies.The business meetings may take the form of lunches or dinners or they may sometimes be carried out in the offices. The meetings are usually arranged in advance and they sometimes require some form of literature that is forwarded to each of the invited guests (Kwintessential, n. d). The meetings are usually arranged on normal working days to avoid inconveniencing the different parties attending and the dress code is usually implied by different factors but in most cases it is formal. The right relationship is first made in both cultures to allow for the development of the business deal.It is worth mentioning that in both cultures business meetings usually involve the shaking of hands when they are being introduced to each other and it shows that they are in agreement. The shaking of hands is taken to be a sign of respect between the two parties . Business cards are exchanged during the meeting either at the start or end of the meeting. It is viewed as a polite gesture in both cultures to take a minute and view the business card before putting it away. When business is being carried out between the two cultures it is important that the business cards are made bi-lingual to ensure that the recipients are able to read them.Refreshments are also offered during the business meetings. In the Chinese culture green tea is usually offered in most of the meeting though some of the international companies also offer coffee as refreshment. In the American culture refreshments usually consist mostly of coffee or tea. During the meeting exclusive sitting arrangements in both cultures are made and each person who attends the meetings has to sit at a precise position allocated to them. There is usually a host in the meetings who ensures that the meeting goes on smoothly and that the guests are well hosted (CBBC, n.d). b) Managing Time In both business cultures time is of the essence case in point. Among the Chinese business meetings start on time and they take the scheduled time needed to ensure that the purpose of the meeting is achieved. Time is not wasted during the meetings and they remain focused to the agenda of the meeting. Punctuality is emphasizes and considered to be very important in both cultures and the attendants are actually encouraged to arrive early. Besides, in the Chinese business community arriving late to any business meeting is seen as an insult to the other members.When the meeting is a Chinese banquet, the guests are advised to arrive at least 15 minutes before the banquet starts (Chinese Business Culture, n. d). The Americans on the other hand usually work with tight schedules and they equally value their time. They do not take it kindly when the guests who are supposed to be in the meeting arrive late. It is a common practice to be asked to wait after arriving early for a meeting in the Ame rican culture as the host finishes preparing for the meeting. In both cultures business meeting are carried out within normal working hours that are between 8 am and 5pm (â€Å"Chinese Business Culture,† n.d) and is mostly for the meetings carried out within the offices. Other meetings that take place in the evenings like the dinner meetings are not extended late into the night. c) Protocol In both cultures the seniority levels are strictly followed. The most senior person is introduced first and is usually referred to by their surnames and their positions such as Mr. or Director (CBBC, n. d). This is usually very important and is regarded as a sign of respect for them. Their position may be given when they are being introduced and each person in the meeting is expected to address them according to their titles and position.Protocol is also expected to be maintained in the seating arrangements with the senior person given the front seat. The host normally takes the seat that is placed in the middle of the table and faces the door. The most senior person in the meeting seats on the left side of the host at the middle seat. The rest of people in the meeting get their seating positions according to their status in a descending manner. Seniority in the Chinese business culture is very important especially when the meeting involves state or government officials. When the introductions are being made the senior person is introduced first then the rest follow.When business cards or gifts are being offered, it is polite in both cultures to offer the senior person in the meeting first (Saxon, 2007). In the American culture the same is expected of the government and state officials. They need to be addressed according to their title and their positions. They also get introduced first in the meetings and accorded the respect that they deserve. d) Appreciation Both cultures have a way of appreciating the other parties especially after a successful business deal. Th e appreciation method normally takes place at the end of the meeting when the deal has been finalized.In the Chinese business culture the business people take a lot of time and effort in appreciating their business partners and their clients as a way of supporting and developing their business relationships. They normally give them gifts as a sign of appreciation for the business, celebrating the success of a business deal, a way to encourage future business and to strengthen the relationship between them (Thompson, 2007). In the Chinese business culture the business people may decide to ask the other business people what they would like as a gift. The giving of gifts is usually carried out with a certain intended purpose.When it is given in the absence of a good reason it is usually construed differently. The recipient of the gift in most cases is expected to reciprocate since the gift is seen as a debt. The choice of the gift is usually considered wisely and cash is never accepted as a gift in the Chinese culture (CBBC, n. d). In the American business culture appreciation is a common practice within companies doing business together. The art of giving gifts is however restricted by some of the business companies. Most of these businesses normally prefer giving a note that is gracious and which is very appropriate and acceptable among the companies.For the companies that offer gifts, the gift is given in such a way that it does not appear to be a bribe to the receiving company. In most companies an invitation to a meal is the most common method used among business people. 3. 0 Differences between the American and the Chinese Business Culture There are vast differences that exist between the American and Chinese business cultures that continually affect the way business is carried out. Both countries have had different backgrounds that have led to these differences.These differences are clearly established when it comes to the communication level between the t wo sides duet to the language barrier. Consequently, these differences have led to the failure of successful business ventures between the two countries and the loss of a lot of money. a) Relationships in Business This is a major difference because in the Chinese business community, a lot of emphasis is put on establishing and maintaining relationships. Moreover, the main objective put in most business meetings is the development of business relationships between the parties involved.The relationship in the Chinese culture is seen to be more of cooperation other than just business relationships. For them to do any business, the parties involved need to be friends. They exchange gifts during meetings and host each other in various places to establish their relationships. Most of their business meetings are carried out during meals such as dinners or lunch as they talk about life in general. Such encounters are seen to strengthen their business relationships and develop trust among th em (Chinese Business Culture, n. d). In America however the purpose of business meetings is to close a deal.There is little or no emphasis in maintaining relationships. The American’s keep a certain attitude that business is business and hence there is no need for them to be friends or even remain friends after the business deal is closed. The business meetings are carried out in formal environments and are characterized by concepts and features that are focused on business. The talk in these business meetings also focuses on business and the deal that is supposed to be made with the party that is proposing the deal highlighting gains that the other party will acquire once they accept the deal (Saxon, 2007).b) Availability of Information Another difference that exists between the Chinese and the Americans lays in the way they handle information about their business and the performance. It is considered rude and inappropriate among the Chinese for one to ask about the performa nce of another’s business. The Chinese only reveal this kind of information to their close friends and families and other people that are very close to them. The information is also not publicly available and they do not discuss the performance of their companies. They never volunteer their business information to other people (CBBC, n.d). The business plan is also considered to be an inappropriate document and is not used in the Chinese business world. They do not make such documents since they are considered to portray distrust among them. They prefer to believe each other when doing business and not ask for documents or information that will show the performance of the company or business. Many of the Chinese business people have been known to enter into business opportunities that are worth millions when they know very little about the other company. They rely on trust and they sign these deals by a mere handshake (Thompson, 2007).American business people on the other han d require a lot of detailed information about the companies that are involved in the business. They normally require a detailed company profile and other information that is essential in proving the performance of a company before they even start negotiating a business deal. This information may include the financial statements, the sales figures, marketing strategies and even business plans. For them to make decisions about any business opportunity they need to gather facts and data that will help them support the decisions that they make.Their business information is also made publicly available as they produce quarterly and annual reports that are availed and openly discussed. c) Business Ownership According to the Chinese culture, the businesses are normally family owned and they practice a lot of nepotism. Also, the businesses are controlled and operated by the family members and this is the norm in the country. The business is inherited within the family members despite their qualifications and their job experience and as such it is one of the strongest cultural practices in the business world among the Chinese.The businesses are usually carried out based on the family obligations rather than the pursuit of riches (Thompson, 2007). The owner of the business who is mostly the head of the family carefully makes decisions regarding the business and how it is operated. This individual hires new employees and executes changes that are needed. Besides, the individual in question selects the family member that will take over the critical role of running the business. Other family members and even some close family friends are given other top roles in the business.This practice is usually carried out because of distrust and social status among the Chinese people. The practice tends to lead to them overlooking the qualifications that are needed for the top positions held. In America however the business is usually carried out from a totally different perspective. Nepotism in the American business environment is considered illegal and highly discouraged within the business environment. When one is suspected or found guilty of having practiced it by hiring or favoring a family member in the business rather than a qualified a stranger or an employee of the company, serious legal charges are made.Further, one may end up in the middle of very serious legal charges that may lead to high compensations and legal damage fees arising from the act. Businesses tend to therefore hire employees in terms of merit and qualifications. Decisions are made by the management of the business rather than the family members. They tend to do what is right for the business rather than what might be appropriate for the family (Saxon, 2007). In the American business culture the purpose of the business is to make money rather than to provide for the company.The businesses normally have a purpose that they follow and strive to achieve. They also have a purpose and a cle ar and organized chain of command within the business. The protocol has to be followed in the businesses especially when issues are being raised and during the decision making process. For example middle level managers are not allowed to question the authority at the top. They must follow protocol at all times and direct their issues to the other managers above them before they can get the issue to the top management. d) Future of the BusinessBusiness in the Chinese culture is normally centered on the long term profitability and investments rather than the short term (Thompson, 2007). The business also strives to increase the family honor as status is an important element in the business environment in the culture. The family honor is measured according to the status that the family is given in the community. The higher the respect and status, the more the family honors. The family needs to have the ability to command respect and trust from the society. It is equally notable that th e future of the business is usually focused on ensuring that the family honor is maintained.Each transaction of the business is carefully considered and implemented in a way that invests into the future of the company. Relationships are also maintained and kept for the long term benefits. When acquiring finances to start the business or expand the business to facilitate its growth, the Chinese businesses normally search for funds among the family members. The businesses are largely financed by the family members. They also use family connections to acquire loans from their friends and sometimes use the family investments to act as collateral for these loans.It is very rare for the Chinese businesses to look for methods of finances from the public sources. They restrict themselves to the private sources since they prefer the confidentiality that the method brings (Gertmenian, n. d). They also use these methods since they operate on a trust basis to carry out their business and this m ethod does not require them to provide any documents regarding the performance of the business. When developing their businesses, the Chinese people use the family connections and their friends to make and increase the sales of their businesses.They develop personal connections with all their customers and clients and to ensure that these relationships maintained even in the long run. To maintain these relationships they go to great lengths and incur huge expenses as they stay connected to the customers and the business people who are influential and who make huge decisions. They give tokens of appreciation for services that are offered to them and to their customers (Chen, 2003). It is not unusual for the large Chinese corporations to incur extensive costs in international travel when they have clients from overseas.The American culture of carrying out business normally focuses on the profits that the business makes and achieving the targets and goals made. They take little concern on the relationships that are needed to ensure the future of the business. They rely on several methods to increase the profitability of the business and its future. A lot of marketing and advertising is carried out as they concentrate more on the monetary gains and having the most effective practices that will contribute to the goals of the company in the future.They take sales and marketing activities seriously to boost the company’s performance in the short term and also in the long run. When seeking finances to expand their business or even start off the Americans are used to seeking public sources of finances and selling securities (Thompson, 2007). They prefer such methods as they are able to cater for the financial needs and targets. Most of the companies and corporations are usually publicly owned and therefore they provide their financial information to the public. They are also publicly scrutinized for every decision that they make.4. 0 Conclusion It is true that t he American and Chinese business cultures are different and they interfere with the business development. Most of the failure of the ventures in business in the region is attributable to the neglect by the multi-national companies to understand the cultural differences that exist between the two business environments. It is worth noting that there is need for these companies to understand these cultures to ensure that they are able to successfully develop business opportunities that are continually emerging. Word Count: 3400 Reference ListBucknall, K. (2000). Chinese Business Etiquette and Culture. California: C&M Online Media, Inc. CBBC. (n. d). China Guide. Retrieved July 14, 2010, from China Britain Business Council: http://www. cbbc. org/china_guide/b_culture. html Chen, M. -J. (2003). Inside Chinese Business: A Guide for Managers Worldwide. Massachusetts: Harvard Business Press. Chinese Business Culture. (n. d). Retrieved July 14, 2010, from Los Angeles Chinese Learning Center: http://chinese-school. netfirms. com/business. html Gertmenian, L. W. (n. d). Cultural Insights on Doing Business in China .Retrieved July 14, 2010, from Pepperdine University: http://gbr. pepperdine. edu/982/china. html Kwintessential. (n. d). Doing Business in China. Retrieved July 14, 2010, from Kwintessential: http://www. kwintessential. co. uk/etiquette/doing-business-china. html Saxon, M. (2007). An American's guide to doing business in China:. Massachusetts: Adams Media. Thompson, S. (2007, October 29). American Vs. Chinese Business Culture: In the Family. Retrieved July 14, 2010, from Associated Content: http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/421642/american_vs_chinese_business_culture. html

The Effects of Power and Fear on a Government

The Effects of Power and Fear on a Government Fear is one of the few emotions everybody feels at some point in their lives. From their environment to the leaders that were in charge there were many things for the boys to be fearful of. Lord of the Flies, by William Gilding is about a group of boys stranded on an Island during World War II. They have to deal with power struggles and situations they would have never thought of. In Lord of the Flies, the destructive power struggle between the primary characters mirrors the power struggle betweenHitler and the Jews during World War II, and the current dictator Basher al- Sad and his citizens in Syria. Lord of the Flies represents a political allegory because some of the characters represent an abstract idea of government. Many people who have great leadership attributes but have a hard time with their appearance struggle, † Piggy is Ralph advisor, someone who is unable to rule because of his own social and physical shortcomingsâ₠¬  (Winnfield). Nowadays appearance has become a huge part of the society at hand. Appearance helps a society decide what it wants to be like as well as ho to follow.Struggling with appearance Is not the only Issue, It Is also struggling with standing up for yourself. Which In the book It Is shown that Piggy struggles with this. † â€Å"Then went on piggy, that boy- I forgot â€Å"your talking too much† said Jack Merrier. â€Å"Shut up, Fatty. † Laughter arose and Piggy was silent† (Gilding 21). In a society there are many people just like Piggy. There are so many great leadership characteristics in people. The problem is if that Pearson can not stand up for themselves or any of their beliefs none of the great characteristics matter.This shows owe Lord of the Flies represents a political allegory because It shows how some of the characters Like Piggy represent an abstract Idea of government In the book. In addition to the characters representing governmen t they also act similarly to past and current political figures in the world. Most people at some point In time have a chance at power, if they choose to take it they will most likely lose It eventually as well â€Å"Even Jacks power Is Illusory or at least temporary, vanishing the moment an adult authority arrives on the island† (Olsen). In this it is seen that the power Jack had elates to many figures in the world.The power Jack had though is instantly taken away when someone else with higher authority arrives. This happens all the time in the real world as well. In the book it adds on to the same situation even more so † Whoso boss here asked the officer? I am said Ralph loudly. A little boy with the pair of spectacles started forward then changed his mind and stood still† (Gilding 148). It is clearly shown that Jack loses the power he had quite quickly. This has happened to those in the real world, who thought they would never be run out of rower, such as Doll Hitler.As seen the characters in Lord of the Flies act similarly to past and current political figures in our world. In Lord of the Flies there is a very similar situation when Jack is put in control of the island and the rest of the boys, Just like when Doll Hitler was put in charge of Germany and it's people. At some point in everybody's lives they will most likely want to be in charge of something or be a leader of some sort, † Seen in this light, Hitler thought the only way to prevent Germany from losing again was to eliminate the impure groups from society.He also knew the only way he could accomplish this is if he rose to power† (â€Å"Doll† 1). In Lord of the Flies Jack thinks a lot like Hitler. When most people hear the name â€Å"Hitler† the first thing that comes to most minds is a dictator in Germany who killed Jews. This is true, but the reason behind that was Just because he wanted power. Hitless strong desire for power is a lot like Jacks. Th ey both Just wanted to rule something which in their case it was people. Arrogance is a big reason for people wanting power † I ought to be chief said Jack with simple arrogance, because IM chapter chorister and head boy.I can also sing C Sharp said lace (Gilding 228). Jack obviously thought he was better than everybody else and was very arrogant. It was one thing that some of the boys didn't like about him. Hitler was the same way, he normally thought no one was better than him and if he did he got rid of them quite quickly. Arrogance only got Jack and Hitler so far. Clearly shown the similar situation of Jack and Hitler being put in control shows the similarities of their leadership. Doll Hitler was a dictator during World War II, the character Jack acts much likeHitler in the book by emphasizing the strong desire of power and intolerance towards others. In life some people think the only way to fix certain problems is to completely get rid of them â€Å"Hitler implemented government policies based on anti-Semitism and racism. These policies became more severe over time and led to the extermination of the Jews, racial minorities and other groups† (â€Å"Doll†l). In Lord of the Flies it is seen that Jack does this quite often. He doesn't really give any thought to what he is doing unless he really wants it done.For instance when Jack took Piggy as a really different errors and not in a good way. Eventually Jack got his way and Piggy died. Hitler does this with the Jews. He wanted the people who he thought were perfect and those people were not the Jews. So because he thought the Jews were the problem he started to kill them off. In the book we not only see Jack treating Apply harshly but he also treats some of the other boys the same way â€Å"I'm chief yelled Jack. Viciously, with full intention, he hurled his spear at Ralph. The point tore the skin and flesh over that Jack is willing to hurt people in order to get what he wants.This is such a moment where Jack showed the power he thought he had to the boys. It also gave the boys a reason to fear him. Jack was using this fear to control the boys much like Hitler. Fear can cause people to do unbelievable things including follow and listen to unwise rulers or leaders. This adds to the desperate wanting of power and intolerance towards others. Another Situation very similar to the one the boys are put into due to Jack is more current, the power struggle between Basher al-Sad and the harsh way he treats his citizens in Syria.Most dictators are harsh, cruel and will try and do anything to keep heir place secure muff need to show that you are strong, that you are a leader. You need to crush in the first moment any signs of opposition, resentment, or independence. As well as causing the people to fear you said Sad† (â€Å"Basher† 2). Basher al-Sad uses the harsh way he treats his citizens to produce fear so that no one will overtake his place as being leader in Syria. In the book when some of the boys start to show opposition Jack did exactly what Sad mentioned, he crushed it the moment it started.Which caused fear amongst the boys. Dictators find terrible hinges to do for no reason but to cause fear amongst their people † † Hess going to beat Wilfred! † â€Å"What for? â€Å"said Ralph but Robert shook his head doubtfully. â€Å"l don know he never said why' The chief was sitting in the cave, naked to the waist, his face blocked out in white and red. The newly beaten and untied Wilfred was sniffing noisily in the background† (Gilding 160). In this it is clear that Jack Just beat Wilfred because he had been angry. This act caused fear amongst the group of boys. The fear caused kept the boys loyal to their chief.Jack would have had no way to control al the boys if he never used fear. This doesn't mean its right by any means. Basher al-Sad and Jack both use fear in a harsh way to control their people and ideas o f government. Basher al-Sad current dictator in Syria is very similar to the character Jack in Lord of the Flies such as some of their motives. In Syria there are many rules â€Å"Freedom of speech was only marginally restored but for the most part Sad kept it the same† (â€Å"Basher† 2). In Lord of the Flies Jack and Basher kind of relate to each other because the both did not allow freedom.The fact that Basher and Jack wouldn't allow freedom of speech was most likely because they wanted to prevent any uproars or anything that could harm their spot in leadership. † â€Å"Then went on piggy, that boy- I forgot -† â€Å"your talking too much† said Jack Merrier. â€Å"Shut up, Fatty. † Laughter arose and Piggy was silent† (Gilding 21). Here we not only see Jack being cruel towards Piggy but we also see him limiting Piggy speech. This action is harsh and even though Piggy had freedom of speech it was almost as if Jack stole that from him. Most likely Piggy is not the only person Jack treated like that.This is how we can see some f Basher al-Sad and Jacks motives line up. In Lord of the Flies we see that fear plays a enormous role in the book. It plays off between the see between Jack and Ralph. Fear is a strong emotion and can cause many situations. We see this not only in the book Lord of the Flies but also in our everyday lives and other political power struggles in our World. Such as the fight for power in World War II with Doll Hitler and the Jews. It is even seen currently in Syria with Basher al- Sad and his citizens. Jack, Hitler, and Sad all have one main thing in common they all ruled with fear.

Cooperative learning Change of Leadership for Differentiated Education

Concerted larning refers to work done by pupil squads bring forthing a merchandise of some kind ( such as a set of job solutions, a research lab or undertaking study, or the design of a merchandise or a procedure ) , under conditions that satisfy five standards: ( 1 ) positive mutuality, ( 2 ) single answerability, ( 3 ) face to confront interaction for at least portion of the work, ( 4 ) appropriate usage of interpersonal accomplishments, and ( 5 ) regular self-assessment of squad operation. Extensive research has shown that comparative to traditional single and competitory manners of direction, decently implemented concerted larning leads to greater acquisition and superior development of communicating and teamwork accomplishments ( e.g. leading, undertaking direction, and struggle declaration accomplishments ) . Gregory ( 2008 ) The technique has been used with considerable success in all scientific subjects, including chemical science. The benefits of concerted acquisition are non automatic, nevertheless, and if amiss implemented, the method can make considerable troubles for teachers, most notably dysfunctional squads and pupil opposition or ill will to group work. This paper offers a figure of suggestions for organizing squads, fulfilling the five specifying standards of concerted acquisition, and minimising the jobs. Harmonizing to Gregory ( 2008 ) Teachers who have ne'er used the attack are advised to travel into it bit by bit instead than trying a all-out execution on their first attempt, and to increase the degree of execution in subsequent class offerings. To an increasing extent, they should see the larning benefits promised by the research, and as their expertness and assurance in implementing the method continue to turn, pupil ratings of the squad experience should better at the same time. Most si gnificantly, instructors who are successful in utilizing concerted acquisition in their categories will hold the satisfaction of cognizing that they have significantly helped fix their pupils for their professional callings. There are several grounds why concerted acquisition plants every bit good as it does. The thought that pupils learn more by making something active than by merely watching and listening has long been known to both cognitive psychologists and effectual instructors and concerted acquisition is by its nature an active method. Beyond that, cooperation enhances larning in several ways. Weak pupils working separately are likely to give up when they get stuck ; working hand in glove, they keep traveling. Strong pupils faced with the undertaking of explicating and clear uping stuff to weaker pupils frequently find spreads in their ain apprehension and make full them in. Students working entirely may be given to detain finishing assignments or jump them wholly, but when they know that others are numbering on them, they are motivated to make the work in a timely mode. The proved benefits of concerted acquisition notwithstanding, instructors who attempt it often encounter opposition and sometimes unfastened ill will from the pupils. Bright pupils complain about Begin held back by their slower teammates ; weak or unassertive pupils complain about being discounted or ignored in group Sessionss ; and bitternesss build when some squad members fail to draw their weight. Knowing and patient teachers find ways to cover with these jobs, but others become demoralized and revert to the traditional teacher-centered instructional paradigm, which is a loss both for them and for their pupils. Gregory ( 2008 ) However I believe concerted acquisition is more than merely inquiring pupil to acquire in a group and work on an assignment together. Most research workers and practicians of concerted larning emphasis that it is a formal instructional theoretical account in which instructors carefully design lessons and activities that are suited for usage by squads. These squads are little, stable, and heterogenous, and have been adequately prepared for working together. When utilizing squads in the schoolroom, I see faculty as holding to direct their attending to six different countries: climate-setting ; squad formation ; teambuilding ; concerted accomplishments development ; lesson design ; and classroom direction.Climate SettingWhile many of my pupils are enthused about the chance to larn with and from their equals, it is non uncommon for me to meet pupils who are loath to take part in any kind of group activities. So, how does one take a category of pupils whose feelings about concerted acquis ition scope from love through indifference to downright ill will and turn them into a community of scholars? The first ( but by no means the merely ) measure is to work on making a category clime that encourages cooperation. My suggestions include: aˆ? Communicate clear outlooks to pupils about Cooperative acquisition on the first twenty-four hours of category. I recommend that you inform pupils that you plan to utilize concerted acquisition, why you use it, and what it means to them. Will they be graded on category engagement? What happens if they come to category unprepared? It ‘s peculiarly of import to allow pupils cognize about your policies on group classs. It ‘s besides a good thought to admit that some people would prefer to work entirely, and to indicate out the activities and assignments they ‘ll be working on independently.aˆ? Problem SetsStudents complete some or most of their prep assignments in squads. The squads are encouraged to include merely the names of existent participants on the solution set that they manus in. The pupils are ab initio disinclined to go forth anyone ‘s name away, but finally they get tired of allowing nonparticipants ( â€Å" hitchhikers, † in concert ed acquisition idiom ) acquire good classs for work they did n't make and get down to exclude names, at which point many hitchhikers-unhappy about acquiring nothings on assignments-start cooperating. The squad gets a class for the assignment, but finally the public presentation of each squad member should be assessed and the consequences used to set the mean squad prep class individually for each squad member. In decision there are many route blocks that may happen throughout the journey to cooperative acquisition. Not all pupils take their duties earnestly plenty. Many feel that their slack will be picked up by the others in the group. Some pupils may be excessively strong of leaders and smother the parts of the other members of the squad. Conflict is a natural byproduct of cooperation. When pupils are asked to work together, it is with the purpose that they will each supply a differing position and or sentiment. When differing sentiments are joined together to make one merchandise, struggle is certain to originate. Conflict can be a really healthy springboard to larning. When pupils dialogue and debate their sentiments they might reenforce their thoughts or disregard them. The ability to listen and be flexible to new positions is perfectly indispensable to the success of a group. Delegating functions may besides assist to ease the instability of attempt. The pupils who do n't lend adequate attempt should foremost be encouraged by their groups. If this proves unsuccessful, the teacher should step in and mediate. It is perfectly unjust to penalize a group for the ineffectualness of one member. Students should make everything possible to stay a concerted and cohesive unit, but if all efforts fail they should be allowed a opportunity to reconstruct a new unit. It should besides ne'er be the duty of the strongest member of the squad to transport the others. Teachers can non presume that all group struggles should be resolved entirely. Classroom mold of effectual group work and role-playing of struggle state of affairss should be directed by the instructor. However many old ages of research and legion surveies can non be denied concerted acquisition is an effectual method for understanding and retaining information. Industry experts can non be ignored when they province that being able to work efficaciously in a squad is an imperative accomplishment. Concerted acquisition is non a replacing for the schoolroom instructor. It is intended to complement the direct direction by doing pupils to be confident minds and active scholars.

Some firms have been forced out of business with the earthquake Essay

Some firms have been forced out of business with the earthquake. Although, this was an extreme event, it raises a very important - Essay Example Now the question arises is it possible to do long term business planning? Or are we victims of the external environment? This paper aims at analyzing the extent of the ability of the organizations to plan for the future by taking into account all the external factors? Is it possible to predict all external factors affecting the business in the long term and plan accordingly? Can we predict natural calamities such as earthquakes and plan accordingly? Discussion Uncertainties in the environment are unavoidable. Dealing with these uncertainties in the environment requires inclusion of scenario planning in the strategy formulation. The traditional ways of strategy formulation can further be strengthened by inculcating scenario planning in the process by assessing the evolutionary changes in the environment. External environment analysis provides the company with the unique insight into the changes and its implications for the organizations and enables the company to prepare for them, by for example developing the technology and techniques required to understand and respond to these changes. One such technique is scenario planning which studies the relationship between strategy, environment and performance in context of business scope and resource commitment. Organizations can better plan for the future with the help of PESTEL (political, economical, social, technological, ecological and legal forces) analysis, internal resource analysis and the scenario planning. This model helps managers and planners develop a model of external environment in which the business may operate and helps in creation of strategy through which business may retain in its competitive advantage in the changed environment (Fahey, 2000). The theory about formulation of strategy by organizations can be divided into three forms or modes. They are called entrepreneurial mode, adaptive mode and planning mode. Entrepreneurial mode is generally found in the writing of some classical economist and m anagement theorist. According to this mode one bold and risky action by a strong leader on behalf of the organization is strategy. Adaptive mode is the ability and the decision of the organizations to take small steps and adjustments according to the changes in the external environment. Finally the planning mode which is propagated by management science and policy science involves explicit planning for the business based on formal analysis with the aim of integrating strategies for the future. All these modes if combined together and alternatively used by managers according to the changes in the environment can result in a powerful and effective strategy for the business. (Mintzberg, Strategy Making in Three Modes, 1973) There is consensus among all researchers of the theory of organizational behavior and strategic management that changes in the external and external environment results in the ambiguity within and across the organizational structure and hence increases the probabili ty of strategic error. It may even result in economic collapse of the organization. Mintzberg believe that managers within an organization need to develop a CE strategy that top level mangers not only formulate keeping in view the concept of the organization but should also promise minimization of strategic error. The leadership and management of the organizati

Germany Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Germany Project - Essay Example Stories like Binjamin Wilkomirski's Fragments are accepted with no proof. In fact, to question a survivor story is to risk the case of being called anti-Semitic. Finkelstein has pointed out that today's society wants to be victims. Whether a Jew, African American, Native American, homosexual, woman, or other minority groups, people want to belong to a victim group. While Finkelstein did intensive research, his use of imagery and outlandish words make this story a little less credible. If he would have stuck to just the facts, Finkelstein might have gotten his point across better. Finkelstein points out that real history is being ignored in favor of an exaggerated glorified account that exploits the true Jewish suffering in the 'Nazi holocaust'. When first approaching this book, many readers might think Finkelstein is being anti-Semitic. However Finkelstein raises some good points. His main point is the Nazi holocaust happened. It is a historical event. The Nazis committed crimes agai nst humanity. Finkelstein acknowledges that the Nazi holocaust was wrong, but he wants the world to sympathize will all suffers not just the Jews of the Nazi holocaust. His point is war and atrocities have happened since the beginning of man and still occur. All of these atrocities are horrible; the Nazi holocaust is not any less horrible, but not more horrible than any other atrocity. By using the Holocaust as beacon to rally people to the Jewish cause dishonors the victims and survivors. He explains: The claims of Holocaust uniqueness are intellectually barren and morally discreditable, yet they persist. The question is, Why? In the first place, unique suffering confers unique entitlement. The unique evil of the Holocaust, according to Jacob Neusner, not only sets Jews apart from others, but also gives Jews a "claim upon those others." (Finkelstein 25) All human suffering should be sympathized with, not just the suffering during the Nazi holocaust. This is not to lessen or dismiss the Nazi holocaust, only to put it in proper perspective. Finkelstein suggests after World War II no one in America, or around the world cared about the Nazi holocaust. Some historians theorize that Jews did not want to talk or share about their horrible experience. Finkelstein dismisses this theory. He believes that no one wanted to know or think about it, especially in America. Finkelstein explains: The standard explanation is that Jews were traumatized by the Nazi holocaust and therefore repressed the memory of it. In fact, there is no evidence to support this conclusion. No doubt some survivors did not then or, for that matter, in later years want to speak about what had happened. Many others, however, very much wanted to speak and, once the occasion availed itself, wouldn't stop speaking. The problem was that Americans didn't want to listen. (Finkelstein 9) Even American Jews did not want to listen. After the war everyone wanted to forget about the atrocities of World War II. The Allies had won. It was a time for victory, not time to remember how many Jews had died. The Holocaust Industry began after the United States started backing Israel as part of US Foreign Policy. When Israel fought the War of Independence America cautiously backed the Arabs due to the oil in the region. It did not look like Israel would survive. However after Israel not only won, but doubled their land size, the US started

Toyota Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Toyota - Essay Example In order to analyse the internal competencies of Toyota motors, the model can be used is traditional SWOT analysis in order to evaluate strengths and weakness of Toyota Company and what leads to their opportunities and threats. Toyota is among the world’s largest car manufacturers today, and has the most comprehensive global presence. Toyota Company has been able to maintain an image of quality and reliability. Moreover, Toyota Motors has been renowned for its quality controls and management operations efficiencies that enable them to capitalize on cost cutting against their competitions. Toyota is following just in time production system successfully. There have been investments in 2009 by Toyota in US and China and able to get the Net profits rose by 0.8% to 1.17 trillion yen ($11bn; Â £5.85bn), while sales were 7.3% higher at 18.55 trillion yen. This is against the global auto industry. Analysts are off the view that this profits and growth is because of strong mix of vehicles manufacturing. Some others and internet resources were of the view that the Toyota have been observed not to be the bold one pursuing the innovation at the first place but it plays fast second player role that is among the weakness or also can be termed as defensive measures. Nonetheless, they lose their first mover advantage at that time. As Toyota is now huge base all around the globe and being big has its own consequences. Toyota was supposed to follow just in time manufacturing system that is difficult to manage on this wide scale but Toyota is doing well but the threat remains there. As Toyota is working on the demand bases and just in time any fall in their own demand of vehicles can easily resulted in excess capacity and can suffer fixed costs without sale. This weakness is embedded in their operations and sales system and can prove to be fatal in the time of crisis. Lexus, the luxury line of Toyota is

Essay on Germinal by Emile Zola Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

On Germinal by Emile Zola - Essay Example It is for this reason that Germinal is valuable in order to understand the social and cultural values of French society of that period but also to make significant assumptions regarding the protest against the capital as it was formulated the particular period. These assumptions do not have just historical value but they can be used in order to understand modern social structures and forms of protest against the capital as this protest is being developed throughout the world. It should be noticed that in order to write Germinal, Zola has studied carefully all aspects of coal mining industry. In this context, it is mentioned by Ellis, referring to Zola, (Introduction, 2nd and 3rd lines) that ‘For six months he travelled about the coal-mining district in northern France and Belgium, especially the Borinage around Mons, note-book in hand’. It is for this reason that Germinal represents with accuracy all aspects of life of workers in the particular industry being one of the few novels in which such an issue is developed. The general story developed throughout Germinal could be described as following: Etienne Lantier is a young man that decides to go and live in a mining village. Soon, Etienne begins to work in the mine. However, after a while the daily problems of miners lead Etienne to urge them to protest against the capital (miner’s owners). In the meantime, Etienne – because of his capabilities has become a leader of miners and his view influences them. It is for this reason that influenced by Etienne miners decide for their first time to protest against the capital. Their protest, which has the form of a strike, causes severe financial losses to the miner’s owners and their reactions are characterized by violence and brutality. The story of the novel is ‘enriched’ by the extended reference to the daily life of a particular family of the village, the Maheu family. Etienne, who felt

Reposition sense in the knee joint in individuals with and without low Essay

Reposition sense in the knee joint in individuals with and without low back pain - Essay Example (Gill & Callaghan 1998; Newcomer et al. 2000; O`Sullivan et al 2003). Although not significant to prove the hypothesis, it could be seen how the result of this study has drawn the realization of the fact that proprioception needs to be increased among patients of LBP as they undergo particular therapies to treat their health issues. Through focusing to this need, it could be noticed how the entire system of therapy applied among those in need of healthcare assistance in connection with LBP could be improved through the implication of the importance of seeing how giving attention to bodily proprioception could be a huge difference in the process of curing those who have LBP. The limited proportion of the samples between each other has a huge significance with the result that has been garnered from this study. The fact that the participants came from the same institution and are having quite the same age range made the study more focused on a particular group of the population who may or may not be in constant possibility of developing LBP, which is the youth. Diversity was perhaps the lacking factor in this study. As this study lacked the said element, the application of the results to a more general scope of population affected by the health situation becomes a huge question of limitation. The LBP subjects included in this study described their pain as mild to minimal severity. Moreover, the recruitment period was conducted during summer vacation. Likely because of the situation, the season and the perception of the participants with the time, they are rather expected to have moods and certain perceptive reactions to the experiment which could have likely affected the whole result of the study. To overcome the whole limited sense of the study, an application of the isokinetic testing could be applied. This testing could help in

Continuation from Assignment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Continuation from Assignment 2 - Essay Example The project plan includes the project organisation, project practices and measurements, project objectives, and project execution phases. In terms of project organisation, Starbuck’s project will consist of a project manager and four members of the management team including a member from each of the organization’s main departments – HR Department, Marketing Department, and Finance Department. Each of the members will have specified duties and responsibilities depending on their skills, abilities and qualifications; and all of them will report to the project manager. In terms of project practices and measurements, the project will be implemented through a series of activities: hiring independent contractors, purchasing materials, laying foundation of the stores, building the stores, furnishing and upgrading motorcycles to be used in marketing. These activities will be measured in terms of percentage to completion. Each of the phases of implementing the project wil l be headed by one of the project managers, and it will depend on the percentage to completion. Each phase will be undertaken after the completion of the preceding phase in order to ensure that there is no overlap of activities in the project management. The project will be run by a specialized group of staff composed of members with special knowledge and skills to run the project. The staff will be categorised as support staff or infrastructure staff. The staff will be trained on regular basis during the project progress in order to enhance effective project execution and development of new insights on project execution (Packendorff, 1995). Each member of the project team will be allocated specific tasks needed to execute the project depending on their levels of skills, knowledge and experience. The staff will work in groups in order to achieve higher results. The importance of staff working in groups is that it

Nullification Crisis and its Impact on U.S. History Research Paper

Nullification Crisis and its Impact on U.S. History - Research Paper Example The present face of the U.S. as the world leader has a part of its history of rigorous fights between Federal laws and State rights which resulted in widespread depression of industries. Certain changes implemented by the Federal government related to the tariff bill were largely criticized as a tool for the industrial promotion in the North. With this change, the political conditions worsened across the South, and as a result, the State of South Carolina advocated the State’s right to nullify the imposition or operation of Federal laws by early 1830s, and the resultant actions were jointly called ‘the nullification crisis’. When the cultural rights of the citizens and the economic safety of migrant residents were seriously challenged against the interest of the Supreme Court, the assumed authority by the states to decline the instructions of the Federal government initially gave liberty to people in their economic activities. As stated by historians like Bancroft, the development of nullification process strengthened and reached at the peak by 1833, when President Jackson was openly opposed by Governor Hayne of South Carolina against a new bill introduced in the Senate for imposing heavy excise duties on States to support the national banking for fiscal stability (71-72). Following this, the succeeding governor of the state, Mr. Calhoun reassured the importance of the State’s policies to stand against the Federal laws. Â  

Defining the Humanities Essay Example for Free

Defining the Humanities Essay After reading this week’s lecture and my understanding of what humanities are is the study of what people have experienced and how they express this experience. Humanities are how people have interacted throughout their existence and how people interact today. Humanities are the study of the philosophical beliefs of a culture. The philosophical approach to understanding a culture is what separates humanities from science and history. Science and history are exact and rarely are open for debate once it is proven to be fact. Science will set out  to prove its point, whatever it may be, through precise calculations. Science also studies theory and probability. Science lacks imagination in their calculations whereas humanities use imagination to understand past culture. Science wants to prove how people came to exist whereas humanities seek to understand why people exist. History is different from humanities because history studies documentation as facts and undisputable regarding what happened. Humanities seek to answer why it happened and to understand it. History was recorded in books in  libraries, Humanities are written on walls in caves or in the design contained in buildings. Today cultures express their interests, their experiences, and their values through many forms such as art, music, and movies. Sharing experiences is perhaps the most basic form of explaining who people are. By sharing these experiences in the forms of art, music, and movies, it allows us to share information about us through our creativity. In today’s culture these three forms of expression allow people to show their individuality and to connect with many on different levels. Art takes many forms and is interpreted by an individual differently. Colors and design reflect our feelings. Black and white expresses loneliness and pain whereas bright colors express happiness. A painting for example, allows an artist to express themselves in a way he or she feels. It is their visualization of their thoughts (Kitchin, 2004). Society looks at the painting and is free to interpret it their way. One person may see happiness whereas another sees sadness. A picture of time square could mean chaos and seem overwhelming to one from a rural area where someone from a city sees everything he or she needs. People continue to express themselves with music. The meanings behind the words of the songs often come from the feelings and the experiences of the author. It is the responsibility of the musician to express those feelings and experiences through sound. Music with soul (Hakes, 2011). Music has been very important to our culture. Think of how important the Beatles were to world or even the Grateful Dead. My personal favorite band is Linkin Park. They are my favorite because I can relate my life to the words of their song. Their music attracts those DEFINING THE HUMANITITES 3 who appear to be weak or who do not appear to be societies strongest. Their song â€Å"The Little Things Give You Away† was written about Hurricane Katrina. The devastation from Hurricane Katrina was widespread devastation. Their song attempts to reflect through music the pain and suffering affected by it. Movies are much like music however instead of only simply able to hear words and visualize it; the movies create the visualization for the person. Movies use categorization such as romance, action, and drama. Movies based on real life events attempt to capture those events and explain them. Movies can show the romance side of a situation or even the heroics. The recent movie Argo is about the falling of the United States Embassy in Iran, which was overrun. This movie reflects the horror that six members went through while showing the heroics of a CIA member to return the members of the Embassy to the United States. These three forms of expression will continue to exist as time continues. They are acceptable means of  expressions and are a very important part of today’s society. All three bring joy to people and if capable a person can express him or herself like none before. DEFINING THE HUMANITITES 4 References Kitchin, M. (2004). Art and expression. Retrieved from http://www. students. sbc. edu/kitchin04/artandexpression/artandexpression. html Hakes, T. (2011, March 11). Music as expression vs. music as entertainment. Retrieved from http://abovegroundmagazine. com/blogs/letter-from-the-editor/03/15/music-as-expression-vs- music-as-entertainment/

Families Of The Victims Should Be Highly Compensated Essay Example for Free

Families Of The Victims Should Be Highly Compensated Essay Because the impact of the September 11th terrorist attacks upon the families of the immediate casualties is historically profound, though largely immeasurable, the families of the victims should be financially compensated by the Federal Government, as this is the best tangible way for the society to show its compassion for the lives of the sacrificed. This notion of victim compensation has ignited fierce debate; the question and concerns center around considerations of victim-eligibility and also, to whom responsibility for the disaster itself should be assigned. Along with these considerations, debate about the compensatory value of economic payments is valid, specifically: how much should be paid? Should their be different compensatory rates for different victims, or a uniform dollar amount? Whatever the dollar amount: it is clear that the September 11th attacks caused unprecedented economic, physical, emotional, and psychological damages not only to the families of those who were killed, but to the entire city of New York and the inhabitants of Washington D.C. The 911 terrorist attacks proved so dramatically devastating that compensation to the victim’s families is indicated. An investigation of the cost-estimates and damage assessments, as well as a study of the 911 commission’s findings demonstrate the claim that 911 was a disaster of unparalleled proportions. This is a key factor in the claim for compensation. A second key factor is the assertion that the 911 terrorist attacks were (at least within the scope of reason) preventable. Even if investigation of the 911 Commission’s findings and a survey of independent sources and analysts determined that the 911 attacks were not preventable, the issue of victim compensation remains valid. However, should sufficient evidence lead to the opposite conclusion, then, certainly, the case for compensation would be strengthened. A third key element of the argument for victim compensation involves the issue of the 911 rescue workers and the questions surrounding their deployment during the crises. Are the families of the first-responders who perished in the attacks entitled to more (or less) compensation than â€Å"civilian† families? Is the responsibility for their deaths a separate (but perhaps parallel) determination from the determinations of responsibility and preventability for the 911 attacks? Extensive periodical and journalistic coverage of the first-responders at 911 is available along with book-length investigative material. Demonstrating that the federal government should bear a financial burden on behalf of the families of the 911 victims will be a challenging task. It is perhaps not possible to establish with certainty whether or not the 911 attacks could have been prevented. If there is no specific office or person to assign responsibility to for the attacks, demonstrating the efficacy of a reparation payment scheme would be doubly strenuous. However, the scope of the disaster and the magnitude of its damaging impact so vast, the argument for compensation becomes slightly easier to make, based on emotional and civic appeal. Annotated Bibliography Chomsky, N. (2001). September 11 /. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen Unwin. A comprehensive chronicle of the 911 attacks and their impact on political and social thought. This may be considered a main source-book for the thesis. Dahir, M. (2002, September 17). September 11: Are All Survivors Equal? One Year after the Terrorist Attacks, New Laws Have Broadened the Definition of Legal Partnership-But the Laws Might Not Be Broad Enough to Help All September 11 Survivors. The Advocate 26+. A discussion of the circumstances of gay and lesbian couples and a debate about the entitlement of non-traditional families to compensation. This source helps elucidate the legalistic angles (and also humanizes) of the 911 attacks. Dolfman, M. L., Wasser, S. F. (2004). 9/11 and the New York City Economy: A Borough-by-Borough Analysis The Effect of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001, on the New York City Economy Was Far Reaching and Extended to Every Borough of the City; Hardest Hit Was New Yorks Export Sector-The Most Internationally Oriented Part of That Economy. Monthly Labor Review, 127(6), 3+. Article detailing the impact of the 911 attacks on the economic, social, and mercantile activities of New York City. An important source for establishing the devastating impact of the attacks in microcosm, and thereby establishing evidence for central pillar of the compensation thesis. House Approves Panel on September 11 Attacks. (2002, July 26). The Washington Times, p. A14. Article showing the lead-up to the establishment of the 911 Commission. Important for establishing responsibility for the attacks, and whether or not preventability played a factor. From this source I hope to find leads to further details of the Commission’s findings. Jackson, B. A., Peterson, D. J., Bartis, J. T., Latourrett, T., Brahmakulam, I., Houser, A., et al. (2002). Protecting Emergency Responders: Lessons Learned from Terrorist Attacks. Santa Monica, CA: Rand. Source examining the process and procedure of emergency responders to 911. Can improvements be made; ie– were mistakes made? I hope this source will provide insight into the responsibility and efficacy issues of the first-responders mentioned in my thesis.

Peter Osbornes Analysis of Modernity

Peter Osbornes Analysis of Modernity Give an account of the specific characteristics of ‘modern time’ as outlined by Peter Osborne. The term modernity has become deeply contested in the last quarter of a century. The emergence of deconstruction as a hermeneutic tool of analysis inclined sociologists, historians and philosophers to prefer the concept of post-modernity as a designation of the present. Peter Osborne believes that there is little evidence that could plausibly justify this shift in terminology. He sets out to inquire into the philosophical dimensions of the term modernity and maintains that, once modernity is understood in its theoretical and conceptual complexity, the post-modern fails to display the necessary differentiating criteria that would make it a notion in its own right. At the heart of his investigation thus lies to reveal the inconsistencies in other thinker’s philosophical interpretation of modernity. The first chapter focuses on two interpretations in particular: Marshall Berman’s account of modernity and Perry Anderson’s critique of it.[1] Three aspect takes centre stage in Osborne’s analysis of modernity: modernity as a category of historical periodisation (1), modernity as a quality of social experience (2), and modernity as a project (3).[2] His thesis is that neither Marxism, as it animates Berman’s account of modernity, nor Anderson’s critique captures the peculiar characteristics of modernity as a concept of temporality. The essay will briefly recapitulate Osborne’s rendering of Anderson and Berman’s interpretation and then outline the semantic shifts that led to the conceptual ambiguity of the idea of modernity. Osborne notes first of all the more mundane characteristics of modernity. Philosophers and ordinary people alike would identify the notion of modernity with a ‘distinct span of time’ that is ‘identifiable’ and suggests a particular form of periodisation.[3] This specific type of periodisation however already gives rise to some unsettling conceptual questions, amongst others what modernity in essence actually represents: a concept for understanding the present, or a form of social experience. He notes that modernity is suffused with different forms of time-consciousness and that the temporality of periodisation lies at the heart of the sociological discipline insofar it allows sociologists to engage in cross-temporal comparisons. In fact it is sociology that benefited most from the transformations in the notion of temporality which are somehow reflected in the notion of modernity. Osborne captures the basic dilemma of how to comprehend change in society throu gh the lens of temporal structures: ‘†¦The problematic character of these assumptions (on the nature of the present) comes into view as soon as the issue of change within the present is raised otherwise than as an extrapolation of developmental tendencies built into the relationship between pre-given structural social types†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢[4] This problem marks the potential and limitations of sociological inquiry. Modernity is constant change within the present, but we can only understand it through the emergence and transformation of social structures. This may permit us to compare societies across the times but it feeds upon an obscure notion of modernity as an unproblematic form of temporality. What we loose through this sociological kaleidoscope of analysis is the certainty that the historical process is radically open. Osborne contends that Marxism as well as Postmodernism attempt to rectify this problem and that both fail to succeed. Let us now turn to his critique of Marxism first. Osborne credits Marxism with a novel view of historical time. In a way, Marxism reconciles plausibly the concepts of change and temporality while preserving a notion of modernity as something distinctively different to all previous ages. At the core of Marxian analysis lies the modes of production, a starting point that is reminiscent of the sociological view. Osborne points however to the crucial difference between the two by noting that Marxism achieves the visionary fusion of constant change and modern times only at the expense of a historical determinism that undermines any sensible concept of history as an open and uncertain path. In this sense, Marxism fails even more than the sociological view of modernity to attune to the philosophical consequences of the dual characteristics of temporality in modernity: that is denotes a form of time-consciousness and at the same time functions as a periodising category that has inscribed in itself various types of temporality. Berman’s answer to this problem that pervades Marxism as a historical analysis of societal change is, according to Osborne, to replace the historical project of communism with the notion of a radically open future. Osborne remarks caustically that such an act of simple replacement lacks any justification.[5] Anderson’s critique of Berman then provides Osborne with a valuable counter-perspective. The crux of Anderson’s argument is that Berman’s account of modernity fails to acknowledge the differentiated forms of temporal experience that are implicit in modernism as a series of movements.[6] Osborne immediately points to the problem that such a critique would necessarily involve two different usages of modernity. On one hand, Anderson would argue from the perspective of modernity as a designation of a historical phenomenon, whereas on the other hand, he would need to use modernity as a category for the analysis of historical processes. This conceptual discrepancy however invalidates, so Osborne thinks, the potency of his critical remarks.[7] What neither Berman nor Anderson consider is the dual nature of modernity as historical reality and as a concept capable of creating a ‘coherent whole’ through its periodising thrust.[8] He concludes that philosophers must recognise the nature of the ‘reflexivity of the historical experience’. He writes: ‘For there is something decidedly new about modernity as a category of historical periodisation: namely, that unlike other forms of epochal periodisation †¦, it is defined solely in terms of temporal determinants†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢.[9] The key to reconciling these different aspects of modernity is what Kosselleck would term a Begriffsgeschichte, a history of the concept. Mapping the semantic change that the concept of modernity undergoes can provide us with clues as to its complex philosophical conditions. So while neither Anderson nor Berman consider the ‘logic of modernity as a category of historical periodisation’ they fail to comprehend that modernity is not a chronological category (Adorno).[10] Kosselleck’s interpretation of the emergence of the term Neue Zeit (new time) hints, so Osborne believes, at the structure of temporality that characterises modernity in contradistinction to other forms of temporality in pre-modern times. The critical intervention occurred with the claim of the Enlightenment that the new times were marked by recognition of autonomous reason. Modernity thus acquired a sense of something qualitatively new. It provided for the first time in history a ‘conceptual space for abstract temporality of qualitative newness’.[11] While modernity could now be understood as a form of social experience, it also was seen as something that happened and continues to happen. While the latter was hinted at already in the process of the accumulation of capital as conceptualised in Marx’s critique of capitalism, the former aspect of modernity now unfolded into two dimensions: firstly, the experience of contemporaneity, and secondly, the experience of ‘register[ing] this contemporaneity in terms of a qualitatively new, self-transcending temporality.’[12] Osborne notes that this ‘†¦is achieved through the abstraction of the logical structure of the process of change from its concrete historical determinants – an abstraction which parallels that at work in the development of money as a store of value.’[13] This would now complete Osborne’s alternative interpretation of the relationship between temporality and modernity. As he summarily remarks: ‘Modernity is permanent transition. Modernity has no fixed, objective referent.’[14] In a critical addendum he analyses Habermas and Foucault’s notion of modernity and concludes that both fail to distance themselves from the project of constructing improbable ‘universal histories with cosmopolitan intent’.[15] Modernity as Osborne outlines it in his critical review of various thinkers is inexorably tied in with the notion of progress that falsely allows the ‘projection of people’s present as other people’s future.’[16] He thus closes the circle in returning to the fallacy of the sociological account of modernity, one that has exaggerates universalising discourses of progress. Consequently, the idea of decline has no purchasing power in these philosophically erroneous notions of modernity. Bibliography Peter Osborne. The Politics of Time. Modernity and Avant-Garde. London and New York: Verso 1995 Perry Anderson. Modernity and Revolution, in A Zone of Engagement, London and New York: Verso 1992 ____. The Notion of Bourgeois Revolution, in English Questions, London and New York: Verso 1992 Marshall Berman. All that is Solid melts into Air: The Experience of Modernity. London and New York, 1983 1 Footnotes [1] Marshall Berman. All that is Solid melts into Air: The Experience of Modernity. London and New York, 1983; Perry Anderson. Modernity and Revolution, in A Zone of Engagement, London and New York: Verso 1992; Perry Anderson. The Notion of Bourgeois Revolution, in English Questions, London and New York: Verso 1992; Peter Osborne. The Politics of Time. Modernity and Avant-Garde. London and New York: Verso 1995 [2] Osborne, Politics, p.5. [3] Osborne, Politics, p.1. [4] Osborne, Politics, p.2. [5] Osborne, Politics, p5. [6] Osborne, Politics, p.7. [7] Osborne, Politics, p.7. [8] Osborne, Politics, p.6 and passim. [9] Osborne, Politics, p.8. [10] Osborne, Politics, p.8. [11] Osborne, Politics, p.11. [12] Osborne, Politics, p.14. [13] Osborne, Politics, p.14. [14] Osborne, Politics, p.14. [15] Osborne, Politics, p.16. [16] Osborne, Politics, p.17.

Stereotypes in the American Media Essay -- Media Stereotypes Stereotyp

Stereotypes in the American Media Propaganda is an effective device that is used to influence and manipulate human behavior by appealing to emotions. When propaganda is combined with stereotypes, it usually produces negative results. A simplified view of a group of people, spread by mass communication can cause people to be more narrow-minded and can alter their perspective. Living in the Information Age, people are exposed to a constant stream of ideas and images. These ideas can reflect the views of those with a hidden agenda. They can also produce a generality about something that people are not familiar with, therefore readily accept the stereotype. There are many examples of propaganda from recent times that include stereotypes that assist in getting the message across. From political ideology to advertising, some uses of stereotypes in propaganda are successful in influencing the masses, while others are more transparent and less effective. Sweeping generalizations of people of Middle-Eastern descent are prevalent the American media, especially films, which can easily influence how an audience regards people of this origin. Most action films promote American patriotism, but at the same time, make an enemy of Non-American people. In the past 10 years, people from Arab speaking countries have been portrayed as terrorists in American films. This typecasting generates a view of this ethnicity that is associated with terrorist activity. In the article â€Å"Arabs in Hollywood: An Undeserved Image† that author, Scott J. Simon, discusses action films that portray Arabs as the enemy. â€Å"While the plot of True Lies seems to be no different than any other action movie involving spies and smugglers, the characterization of the Arab g... ...ALD, Michael. [2003]. Dixie Chicks axed by Clear Channel. Online at: , consulted on April 1st, 2004. FRANCL, Luke. [2004]. Back to Vermont: New Club for Growth Ad in Iowa. Online at: , consulted on April 1st, 2004. CHAVANU, Bakari. [1999]. Seventeen, Self-Image, And Stereotypes. Online at: , consulted on April 1st, 2004. MEDINA, Sam. [2003]. Female Stereotypes in Advertising. Online at: , consulted on April 1st, 2004. GRAHAM, Judith. [2001]. Five Ways to Save on Essential Cosmetics. Online at: , consulted on April 1st, 2004.

Summer Reading :: essays research papers

Over the course of this summer I read four books. The books I read were Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling, The Giver by Lois Lowry, Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix, and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry again.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling was the first book I read this summer and I really liked it. I decided to read the 5th Harry Potter book because I had it and I never really got a chance to read it. The book begins were it had left you of in the 4th book when Harry is just about to enter his 5th year at Hogwarts. He still lives with his aunt and uncle whom he hates because they are mean and evil to him. The letters from his friends are very dull and they have nothing to say, which confuses him and makes him furious. He is also mad because he’s still stuck with the Dursleys all summer long. The story goes with his adventures and challenges throughout his 5th year. The genre is fantasy complete wi th magic. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes the Harry Potter books. I would also recommend that if you have never read any of the previous books you start from the beginning. I can’t wait ‘till the next book comes out!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next book I read was The Giver by Lois Lowry which I actually bought a couple years ago at a book fair. It sat on my shelf for two years then it was recommended to me again, so this time I read it. I ended up liking it so much I contacted the author via email and asked if she would ever consider selling the movie rights. She replied and said that the movie rights have been sold and there’s a movie in the making. The story is about a boy named Jonas living in the perfect utopia where there is no war, no crime, and no hate. The ceremony of twelve’s is very soon and that is the most important ceremony of all; it is when your assignment or job for life is decided. Little does Jonas know that he is about to receive the most important assignment of all. Shortly after the assignment is given he meets The Giver. This sci-fi book is one of the best books I’ve read and is also a Newberry Award winning book.

Media And The Government :: essays research papers

The media can often have a large impact on public opinion. The general community can be swayed based purely upon how the news carries a story. This places a massive responsibility on the media. They must decide what is appropriate and how to address certain topics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the cartoon the author was describing the impact the media can have on presidential races. People, in general, like to know the gossip about candidates. They like hearing the dirt, it brings the nominees down to the level of the common man. Since this is what the press knows the people want to hear this is what they publish. The more inside details the news gives the more people will want to buy their product. This cartoonist was showing the extremes that the media will go to in order to sell their product. The producers of all types of media are not stupid though, if a story has gone on to long or no longer interests the American public they will listen to public opinion and change subjects immediately. In the case of presidential campaigns media producers know that it affects all Americans so they can drag out different topics. Voters demand to know as much about candidates as they possibly can so that when they are in the booth they can make the best possibl e decision. The news has they used polls and realized that people don’t vote because of issues alone. They also vote (or don’t vote) for a candidate because of his personal appearance, attitude, or even actions in the public eye. Since these are all reasons for choosing certain contenders the media can publish stories that have so little relevance to the actual campaign and still sell their merchandise. The author of these cartoons was suggesting that perhaps the media might take things to far at times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their are certain characteristics that apply to all forms of media that explain their reasons for writing and exploring the issues that they do. The media has been assigned certain roles by society. One of those roles is that of the gatekeeper. This gatekeeper role means that the media decides what issues make news, and for how long they make news. Also, media is supposed to be a sort of scorekeeper. They decide who is winning and losing in political contests. This is very important because it can sway public opinion greatly. Media And The Government :: essays research papers The media can often have a large impact on public opinion. The general community can be swayed based purely upon how the news carries a story. This places a massive responsibility on the media. They must decide what is appropriate and how to address certain topics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the cartoon the author was describing the impact the media can have on presidential races. People, in general, like to know the gossip about candidates. They like hearing the dirt, it brings the nominees down to the level of the common man. Since this is what the press knows the people want to hear this is what they publish. The more inside details the news gives the more people will want to buy their product. This cartoonist was showing the extremes that the media will go to in order to sell their product. The producers of all types of media are not stupid though, if a story has gone on to long or no longer interests the American public they will listen to public opinion and change subjects immediately. In the case of presidential campaigns media producers know that it affects all Americans so they can drag out different topics. Voters demand to know as much about candidates as they possibly can so that when they are in the booth they can make the best possibl e decision. The news has they used polls and realized that people don’t vote because of issues alone. They also vote (or don’t vote) for a candidate because of his personal appearance, attitude, or even actions in the public eye. Since these are all reasons for choosing certain contenders the media can publish stories that have so little relevance to the actual campaign and still sell their merchandise. The author of these cartoons was suggesting that perhaps the media might take things to far at times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their are certain characteristics that apply to all forms of media that explain their reasons for writing and exploring the issues that they do. The media has been assigned certain roles by society. One of those roles is that of the gatekeeper. This gatekeeper role means that the media decides what issues make news, and for how long they make news. Also, media is supposed to be a sort of scorekeeper. They decide who is winning and losing in political contests. This is very important because it can sway public opinion greatly.

Manila and Rizal Essay

Even if this great man lived a century and a half ago, his teachings and the ideals he embodied are still alive today. In fact, there is a little bit of Jose Rizal in everyone if you only take a close look. He would probably squander his fortunes by now, because he loves women, and he is probably working as on OFW maybe as a Mercenary for a private military company abroad. Or he immigrated to Spain and worked as a Physician†¦ And enjoys the weekend at the beach with his girlfriends, or he could have been Public Enemy number one for speaking the truth against the corrupt Religious establishments and Philippine Government. Much of Rizal’s greatness has been downplayed over the years. Most people only know of Dr. Rizal as the writer of two Filipino literary pieces that are studied in high school. He appears on the humble one peso coin. Hundreds gather at Rizal Park, even if not to remember our national hero, then to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon. However, people may wonder how a man born 150 years ago can be considered relevant in today’s times. The Philippines is no longer under Spanish Rule, and there’s no revolution going on. Filipinos are still being oppressed by debilitating poverty. The country’s resources are being raped. While we declare ourselves to be a democracy, there is no authentic freedom from the bondage of poverty, illiteracy, corruption and the manipulation of the masses. Or maybe other people would think of him as an ordinary person just like you and me. He is not going to be our national hero if he were alive today. But knowing the capability of Rizal he might just be one of the Philippines prominent personality like.Casino.Abalos.Fernando etc†¦Also in the politics because Rizal is a known speaker and a critics of the government then. But didn’t you notice that is why Rizal was born in those time and age for him to be somebody else. He wasn’t put to be in these time & age. Why? Because his talent and his ability will be gone for naught or for nothing. That is why there is a time for each and every one of us, not to the time we choose it to be but what God has plan for all of us. But some people would also say that. Rizal was not meant for this time. He has his own place and time just like we do. If ever he was living at this time, probably the Philippines are speaking in different languages just like him. And the Philippines are much more stable in economic terms. You don’t need to be a doctor, rich, well educated, well traveled or get shot in the back to be like Rizal. There is Rizal in you if you love your country, if you respect your fellowman and want what is best for the nation. If you are willing to set aside your personal interests for that of the common or greater good, then there is Rizal in you I think Jose Rizal would work as an ophthalmologist and serve the poor people in depressed areas†¦ At the same time He would educate the Filipino youth as a teacher. He’d be the first one to write articles against the corrupt government. If Jose Rizal were alive today, he would probably run for public office, since nowadays, that’s what heroes and sons of heroes do. He would even likely be President. Up to this day, the received wisdom is that he had retracted and the many objections to it have been forgotten through the years. Rizal’s alleged retraction became just another controversy and his heroism diminished under a cloud. Fortunately, Rizal was both intellectually gifted, having mastered many different languages and being a versatile genius in many fields; and strong in character, as he possessed outstanding traits like courage, devotion to truth, integrity, selflessness, and loyalty. Jose Rizal gives all of us inspiration in all the things we do. He is inspires us to be hardworking and diligent, which most of us are not. Rizal is our hero, our inspiration, our lesson of the past that we should be a man for our country.

Gough Whitlam Policies

GOUGH WHITLAM POLICIES Social Justice and equality is the meaning of all humans in society have the same and equal rights regardless of their gender, race or religion etc. it works on the universal principles that support people through the advantages and disadvantages within the society. The commitment of the Gough Whitlam government was based on social justice and equality and supported areas in the society such as, education, migrants and health reforms. Whitlam and the government changed these laws and others with debates, conventions and policies.PARAGRAPH 2: EDUCATION REFORM- Before the Education reform there was increased University fees, that was unaffordable for most Australians. Until the Whitlam Labour Government abolished the Uni fees and introduced tertiary education assist to help support students with fee costs which then lead to increase educational opportunities for all Australians. PARAGRAPH 3: MIGRANT REFORM- Policies related to migration went from Assimilation to Integration and now to multiculturalism.The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 banned all forms of discrimination on the basis of colour, race or ethnic origin. The Discrimination Act aided to the development of multiculturalism and tried to prevent division within society. The Whitlam government policy tries to promote the benefits of multicultural Australia and encourage people from non-English speaking backgrounds to become part of the community. PARAGRAPH 4: HEALTH REFORM- In 1973 a compulsory national health insurance scheme was introduced by the Whitlam Labour Government called Medibank.The purpose of Medibank was to help provide many benefits to Australians and their families regardless of wealth. It gradually involved to a free medical service, which means providing health insurance coverage for all Australians leading to increased spending on health. CONCLUSION: The Gough Whitlam Labour Government reforms, education, health, migrant and etc have received a number of good and ba d outcomes leading towards created policies for all Australians in society to have the same and equal rights.

True Love: Hermia and Lysander

True Love Love is a strong-filled emotion, a bond which is shared between two persons. Love adds to the enchantment and beauty of life. Love has the power to lift the spirits of the persons who share this pure sentiment and is also capable of eliminating the controversies, jealousies and barriers existent due to blood lineage which may try to harm lovers. Egeus, Hermia’s Father, goes to Duke Theseus for assistance with his predicament. Theseus gives Hermia the option to either marry Demetrius, the man his father has deemed worthy of her, or for her to live a barren life as a nun.As Hermia heard what was to come, she replies to Theseus as she defends her love, †So I will grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up unto his lordship whose unwished yoke my soul consents not to give sovereignity. † Hermia’s pale cheeks and melancholic look reflected the sorrow settling in her spirit as she lost her right to love with her heart but in the eyes of another. The situation in which Hermia and Lysander are due to Egues complaint reveals the dominant male perspective of a fatherin society.Lysander in the situation they are in comforts Hermia by saying, â€Å"The course of true love never did run smooth. † Lysander assured her that they are only going through a phase which all lovers undergo but they will be able to conquer. In response to the Dukes options offered to Hermia, she and Lysander plan to elope in the woods and go to Lysander’s aunt. Lysander suggests to his love,†Therefore hear me, Hermia: I have a widow aunt a dowager of great revenue; and she hath no child. From Athens is her house remote seven leagues; and she respects me as her only son.There gentle Hermia, may I marry thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hermia replies to him, â€Å"In that same place thou hast appointed me tomorrow truly will I meet with thee. † Hermia‘s and Lysander’s love is always put to the test by Egeus’ rejection of Lysander. In the forest, their love is put to the test simply by the fact that Demetrius is always after Hermia and tries to prevent her from eloping with Lysander. Their love is also trialed by Puck who confuses the Athenian lad which Oberon had sent him to put the love potion on.Puck was to place the potion on Demetrius for him to respond to Helena’s love but instead Puck placed it on Lysander’s. Throughout the plot of the story, Hermia always had the option to give up on Lysander’s love and stay with the lad her father had chosen for her, but she always had in mind to follow her heart and not give up on her love due to small adversities. Lysander is worthy of Hermia’s love and proves to be a brave lad who was willing to take risks in order to be with Hermia.While being with the Duke, Lysander tries to convince them that he is financially stable to be with Hermia by saying, â€Å"I am my lord, as well possessed. My love is more than his; my fortune every way as fairly ranked- if not with vantage- as Demetrius. † Through all adversities, He never left Hermia unprotected nor did he give up. Lysander comforts Hermia with his company and words of advice. Lysander was with Hermia in times of need as in the Dukes resolution.Lysander conquered all obstacles that came in between the love that he had for Hermia and proved he was truly worthy of Hermia’s love with his actions. The theme of forbidden love is reflected by the characters of Hermia and Lysander who live life as a daily battle in struggle to maintain their love alive. Even though â€Å"supernatural† powers and mountain-high problems may come in the way of true love, in the end love will always be victorious. Hermia and Lysander are an example of a couple who faced challenges on the way but the prize-being together as a couple, was far more rewarding in the end.

I’m Bored- What your Child Is Really Telling You Essay

In the short essay, I’m Bored: What Your Child is Really Telling You, by Linda Morgan, children everywhere are having issues with saying what they really mean when they say they are bored. Whether at home or in school, when a child says those two words, â€Å"I’m bored†, he may be in need of parental attention, redirection of school work, and direction in completing projects and activities. In today’s world, technology takes over a child’s extra time. Instead of going outside to play with friends or having a specific hobby, adolescents find themselves caught in an Xbox or computer game. Yet after they have beaten the game or moved on to something else they still complain that they are â€Å"bored†. But what does that really mean? According to Dr. Danielle Kassow, when a child states that they are uninterested in whatever they are doing or working on, it could mean that they simply want their parents, teachers, and daycare provider’s attention. It’s common for a child to want the attentiveness of an adult. Being a kid in society today, direction is still needed by the parent; whether in school or not. Adolescents need that extra push in order to make up their own mind about what they want to do next or what they are interested in. In order to help a child make up their mind, it could help to ask them questions like â€Å"what’s your favorite hobby† or give the child educational projects to do. These questions and projects will stimulate their minds and allow them to actually pay attention to something. Unlike a project that is hands on, games on any kind of technological device will allow them the chance to put their attention on something. If a child comes home from school and starts their homework, says he is bored in the middle of the assignment, it could mean that he needs a redirection of school work. His assignments may not be as challenging as they need to be for him. He is not becoming engaged in his school work, therefore he gets bored while doing or listening to his lessons. Also, it could mean that he needs a clearer pathway as to what he should start on or how he should start the homework. Children need a coach, whether it’s the parent or the teacher. Help him become motivated and less confused as to how or where he should start. Make his understanding grow a little clearer when pushing him in the direction to where he needs to start. This â€Å"coach† persona will help to child pick up an understanding about how to layout or outline his projects or assignments. It will not only give him a head start it will help him with all the assignments he may have some trouble with in the future. At times, a child saying they are bored could mean that they are independent and wants to organize their own activities. When adolescents get caught up in the technological world, they lose sight of how to rely on themselves to create their next activity. This causes them to want the guidance from the parent or teacher. While there are still children that find themselves independent, they may get bored because they don’t know how to entertain themselves. Kids need to find activities that they are able to do on their own. Things like drawing, simple building, or going outside to socialize or play with friends. Children need the time to be allowed to decide what they want to do, something that they are able to do. Giving them this time will help them reconnect with physical activities and not so much mental activities. When kids are doing their homework, and they seem to rely on their parents or teachers too much, you could give them a little time to themselves. In order to get them to think on their own without their parent saying â€Å"you aren’t doing this right† or â€Å"this is wrong do it again, let them work the assignment without any interruptions and eventually they will understand why they didn’t get the right answer at first and how they got the correct answer in the end. After they are done the parent or teacher could check their work and then tell them what they got wrong or right. This is important for the child so they can be able to learn on their own without needing the help from the teacher or parent all the time. These little techniques will come to the guardian as an advantage. Not only is the child engaging in the activity, but he or she is enjoying the process. It’s important to know what a child means when they say they are bored so they can be helped. Whether it’s tough to figure out or there is a very easy solution, in the end there will be a drastic change in the child attention skills. Boredom is a concurring epidemic in today’s society because of all the technology we rely on. Kids do not need to be exposed to all these advantages we have at a young age. Being able to rely on themselves is important in the early stages of life. Although sometimes kids say those words some parents hate to hear â€Å"I’m Bored†, it could have a complex meaning to it. Children may need attention from the parent or teacher, redirection of their school work, and some direction in completing projects and assignments. There are many ways to help children fall away from spending too much times playing computer games, or PlayStation games and allowing them to have the responsibility of choosing their own activities. Helping them move in the right direction in school work, whether they are not getting the challenge they need or simply needing that extra help starting an assignment will ultimately have a positive effect on their progress. Independent children will need the time to figure out the correct answer on their own. The guardian will also get a positive result from giving them that time to correct their issues. Children are all different, when they say they are bored, it could be something drastic or something ve ry simple. It’s up to the parent or teacher to decide what the next move is for the child.