American Dream critique essays

American Dream critique essays The implicit critique of the American Dream in Sea Oak. The notion of the American Dream is widely used describing the American Society in general. Sometimes we hear: He is the real embodiment of the American Dream. But what does it mean? Is he famous? Is he successful? Has he much money? The answer is YES. He is prosperous and wealthy. But how has he reached that? The answer is he believed in the American Dream. What is the American Dream, then? The American dream is the idea held by many in the United States of America that through hard work, courage and determination one can achieve prosperity. These were values held by many early European settlers, and have been passed on to subsequent generations. The origin of the American dream stems from the departure in government and economics from the models of the Old World. This allowed unprecedented freedom, especially the possibility of dramatic upward social mobility. Europeans came to America to escape a poor quality of life at home. They wanted to embrace the promise of financial security and constitutional freedom they had heard existed so widely in the United States. That was the time when some poor people coming to a new Land could achieve wealth. Nearing the twentieth century, major industrialist personalities became the new model of the American dream, many beginning life in the humblest of conditions but later controlling enormous corporations and fortunes. Perhaps m ost notable here were the great American capitalists Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. This acquisition of great wealth appeared to demonstrate that if you had talent, intelligence, and a willingness to work extremely hard, you were likely to be a success in life as a result. There are hundreds of such examples, in fact. But, still, is that so simple? Is that really a formular that works? That is the question. The American Dream is the part of the American culture. It is the ma...

Use of the Word Analogies in the ESL Classroom

Use of the Word Analogies in the ESL Classroom Using words analogies is a useful way of building vocabulary. Word analogies can be created using many different categories. Here is a simple example of a word analogy: Hot is to cold as up is to down OR hot - cold | up - down This is an example of a word analogy using antonyms. Here are a number of word analogies in a wide variety of categories.   Word Analogies: Antonyms or Opposites hot - cold | up - downblack - white | happy - sadlaugh - cry | rich - poorcrazy - sane | large - small Word Analogies: Relationships Expressing a Part of the Whole eye - head | finger - handcent - dollar | inch - footeraser - pencil | CPU - computerwheel - car | sink - plumbing Word Analogies: Relationships Between Numbers one - two | two - four1/2 - 1 | 10 - 20six - thirty-six | two - four100 - 1,000 | 1,000 - 10,000 Word Analogies: Sequences breakfast - lunch | morning - afternoonMonday - Tuesday | AM - PMwork - earn | plant - harvestleave - arrive | get up - go to sleep Word Analogies: Objects and Their Uses (noun - verb) pen - write | food - eatlawn - mow | coffee - drinksugar - sweeten | ball - throwbutton - push | letter - mail Word Analogies: Objects and Their Users (thing - person) library - student | computer - programmercar - driver | piano - musicianbrush - painter | football - quarterbackdoll - child | cell phone - teenager Word Analogies: Grammatical Relationships I - me | He - himdrive - driven | fly - flownto think - thinking | to shout - shoutingsome - any | already - yet Word Analogies: Group Relationships student - class | member - clubplayer - team | representative - congressjudge - court | policeman - police forceviolin player - orchestra | teller - bank Word Analogies: Cause and Effect (adjective - verb) thirsty - drink | tired - sleepdirty - wash | funny - laughwet - dry | hot - cool downcurious - ask | sad - cry

The influence of Street Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The influence of Street Art - Essay Example History of Street Art. Street art is capable of changing the cold concrete walls into beautiful lively canvasses. The beautiful artifacts act as a reflection of the thought processes of the daily lifestyle of the people. The street art draws its prolonged history in the 16th century in Europe. The street art evolved from the dwindled history of the artists who used this mode as a process to collect money from the pedestrians. Later on, through the different international festivals, the street art attained recognition. Today, street artists form the major sector of the contemporary art and visual culture. Street art in the present day forms a connecting node of the multidisciplinary institutional domain. Difference between Street Art and Graffiti. The basic difference between graffiti and street art is that the message delivered by the street art is understood by the general public. Graffiti with the use of tags and messages secludes the use of the message only for closed groups who b elong to the same community. Graffiti fails to provide for a podium for the general public to interact freely about the message of the art. Moreover, graffiti provides for a textual base to share messages whereas the street art is drawn with the pictorial focus to beautify the urban environment. Influence on the People. The different pictorial images that are used in the street arts often carry a motivational message that influences the thinking process of the general public. The street art carry the subversive messages.

Project Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Project Plan - Assignment Example The company is getting really good business in the information management domain niche and the growth for the next three halves is projected to be 60%. The Human resources are also projected to increase by more than 100% to cover up this cost. In order to reside the increasing number of employees, the organization will be occupying two more floors in the same building. Therefore, to catch up this growth and increasing business, the organization needs to modify its current strategy that pertains to two main drivers of its business: the operations strategy across the business and the human resource need of the business. The scope of this project plan covers how this business will react to increase demands of the business. It is obvious that we need to upgrade our existing systems that are used for extracting data from silos and legacy systems. Moreover, the Web Analytics system hardware needs to be optimized since it’s not able to handle the increasing volumes of data. There is also a need to ensure the security of networks and storage media. A consideration should also be given to fine tuning the software as service and cloud based computing methodology that are to be adopted in near future for the increasing requirement of the business. For implementing this scope of changes, certain controls need to be enacted while changes to some are to be made. In all, following are the controls that need implementation in the current organization setup (these controls cover the overall steps that the organization needs to take and doesn’t focus solely on one specific department): Human resources will go through a new compensation information system program that will strictly monitor their work and compensation Finance department will now enact formal accounting procedures and payroll systems Branding activities and budgets will now be officially audited through the main finance system Project Managers would have to submit their project progress on weekly basis to the executive management and other team members would be putting their daily timesheets or work report to their designated line manager Clients will be billed 50% in advance because there have been incidents of credit locks in the recent past. This will be done as soon as the project is signed Several authentication controls will be added to the existing list. New controls like biometrics, cryptographs and smart cards will be given to employees based on their roles and privileges (Cavoukian & Stoianov, 2007). Networks needs to be segregated based on clients, personal users and corporate users. Middleware for legacy systems will be separated from the main system. Honeycomb networks will also be implemented which will not only act as sacrificial network but will also provide an eye on insider or proposed outsider sniffing activity Work-areas will be separated. The first floor will be designated for main IT and support for operations. Floor two will have operations and third floor would be separated for client engagements and executive’s residence. The reception will decide where to send each guests and will issue them smart cards based on access levels and privileges Systems for testing and development will be an exact replica of live system to ensure timely back-ups and disaster recovery activities Source Control will be in place for each project, regardless of its size or client. Incremental backups will be the closing process of the day. Full backups are time consuming and expensive Goals and Objectives of the Plan Following are the goals and objectives of this plan: To ensure that project deadlines are met in a timely fashion To ensure that changes in the

African American Characteristics Paper Essay Example for Free

African American Characteristics Paper Essay African American culture in the United States refers to the cultural contributions of Americans of African descent to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct from American culture. The distinct identity of African American culture is rooted in the historical experience of the African American people. The culture is both distinct and enormously influential to American culture as a whole. African-American culture is rooted in Africa. It is a blend of chiefly sub-Saharan African and Sahelean cultures. Although slavery greatly restricted the ability of Americans of African descent to practice their cultural traditions, many practices, values, and beliefs survived and over time have modified or blended with European American culture. There are some facets of African American culture that were accentuated by the slavery period. The result is a unique and dynamic culture that has had and continues to have a profound impact on mainstream American culture, as well as the culture of the broader world (Rydell, 2010). Learning Team B has chosen African Americans as the culturally diverse group we will focus on. The subjects in this paper will be African American history, family characteristics, parenting practices, language, and religion. Also, the primary characteristics of African Americans and how those characteristics impact their experience as a subculture in American Society will be a topic. The last topic will be the implications of the characteristics for psychological theories and practices. History African Americans are the descendants of Africans brought to America during the slavery era. Many were owned as property and forced to work as day laborers in the fields or as servants in their owner’s homes. Others were allowed to work off their debts by being bough and sold on the block. An article titled The Slave Auction of 1859 gives a brief account of what it was to be sold on the block: The buyers, who were present to the number of about two hundred, clustered around the platform; while the Negroes, who were not likely to be immediately wanted, gathered into sad groups in the background to watch the progress of the selling in which they were so sorrowfully interested. The wind howled outside, and through the open side of the building the driving rain came pouring in; the bar down stairs ceased for a short time its brisk trade; the buyers lit fresh cigars, got ready their catalogues and pencils, and the first lot of human chattels are led upon the stand, not by a white man, but by a sleek mulatto, himself a slave, and who seems to regard the selling of his brethren, in which he so glibly assists, as a capital joke. It had been announced that the Negroes would be sold in families, that is to say; a man would not be parted from his wife, or a mother from a very young child. There is perhaps as much policy as humanity in this arrangement, for thereby many aged and unserviceable people are disposed of, who otherwise would not find a ready sale (New York Daily Tribune, 1928). President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of civil war. The proclamation declared that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are, and henceforward shall be free. Despite this expansive wording, the Emancipation Proclamation was limited in many ways. It applied only to states that had seceded from the Union, leaving slavery untouched in the loyal border states. It also expressly exempted parts of the Confederacy that had already come under Northern control. Most important, the freedom it promised depended upon Union military victory. History pages often claim President Lincoln as The Great Emancipator which most educated adults come to learn is an over exaggeration. The general consensus is that Lincoln never freed a single slave, and only used the proclamation as a means to get what he wanted from the states. Once freed most African Americans still experienced racial violence and lived in fear for many years. In 1870 the fifteenth amendment was added to the constitution giving blacks the right to vote. Although blacks were free they were still segregated from the white people, made to go to different schools, stores, and even ride at the back of the bus. In 1954 the supreme courts declared segregation in school unconstitutional due to the Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka Kansas. The civil right movement was at its peak during 1955-1965. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ensuring basic civil rights for all Americans, regardless of race, after nearly a decade of nonviolent protests and marches, ranging from the 1955-1956 Montgomery bus boycotts to the student-led sit-ins of the 1960s to the huge March on Washington in 1963. In 1968 President Johnson signed the Civil Right act prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. Some of the most famous leader of the civil right movement includes Martin Luther King Jr. , Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks and many others. Although civil rights were established many African American still struggled to be treated fairly in America. Affirmative Action was established in 1978 by a ruling of the Supreme Court to ensure that minorities are given an opportunity that they may have missed because of their race. In 2008 Barack Obama was the first African American to be nominated for a major party nominee for president. He was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009. Family and Parenting Characteristics As with most cultures, African Americans place a high value on their families. In the United States African American family’s make-up 12. 9 percent of the population according to the 2003 US Census. The US census also shows that for African Americans over the age of 15 there are 34 percent married, five percent separated, eleven percent divorced, seven percent widowed, and 43 percent were never married. According to the First Things First website, â€Å"African Americans are the most un-partnered group in America† (Medium, 2011, para. 4). One major goal of African American families is communalism, which is very important for effective functioning (Hall, 2010). Hall (2010) describes African American families as having three family types. The first type is the cohesive-authoritative that is explained to be a family with high cohesion along with being supportive, nurturing, and involved with their children (Hall, 2010). The second type of family is the conflictive-authoritarian that is defined as families with conflict and the parents are controlling, critical, and express unhappiness with children (Hall, 2010). The last type of family Hall (2010) explains is the defensive- neglectful, that did not like other racial groups and also did not teach their children to be proud of being an African American. One significant trend that has been determined about the African American family structure is that the more interconnected the family is, the lower the rate of depression in African Americans (Hall, 2010). Based on these findings, a program called Strong African American Families has been created in order to strengthen the relationships between parents and children. According to Hall (2010), â€Å"The Strong African American Families program also has been found to reduce preadolescent risky sexual behaviors, preadolescent alcohol use, and parental depression among African American families† (p.95). This kind of program has been very effective in keeping families cohesive and helping to improve the goal of communalism. Language Generations of hardships imposed on the African American community created distinctive language patterns. Slave owners often intentionally mixed people who spoke different African languages to discourage communication in any language other than English. This, combined with prohibitions against education, led to the development of pidginsimplified mixtures of two or more languages that speakers of different languages can use to communicate. Examples of pidgins that became fully developed languages include Creole, common to Louisiana, and Gullah, common to the Sea Islandsoff the coast of South Carolina and Georgia (Rydell, 2010). It is sad to think that slave owners intentionally put Africans with people who did not speak their language to discourage communication, but is have been researched and proven to be true. Slavery is not the only element to African American culture, and it often seems that when discussing African American culture slavery is the main topic. However, when discussing language the centuries of slavery that they endured have everything to do with the evolution of African-American language. Now that we have covered the origin of African American language we can discuss the American perspective of where modern day African American language stands, and how this effects the culture. African American Vernacular English (AAVE)—also called African American English; less precisely Black English, Black Vernacular, Black English Vernacular (BEV), or Black Vernacular English (BVE)—is an African Americanvariety(dialect, ethnolect and sociolect) of American English. Non-linguists sometimes call it Ebonics(a term that also has other meanings or strong connotations) or jive or jive-talk. Its pronunciation is, in some respects, common to Southern American English, which is spoken by many African Americans and many non-African Americans in the United States. There is little regional variation among speakers of AAVE. Several creolists, including William Stewart, John Dillard, and John Rickford, argue that AAVE shares so many characteristics with Creole dialects spoken by black people in much of the world that AAVE itself is a Creole dialect; while others maintain that there are no significant parallels. As with all linguistic forms, its usage is influenced by age, status, topic and setting. There are many literary uses of this variety of English, particularly in African-American literature (Rydell, 2010). Of course this information does not imply that all African Americans speak a version of AAVE, only that it is very common and prevalent throughout the modern day African American culture. Religion In the African American community religion plays an extremely significant role. The story of African-American religion is a tale of variety and creative fusion. Enslaved Africans transported to the New World beginning in the fifteenth century brought with them a wide range of local religious beliefs and practices. This diversity reflected the many cultures and linguistic groups from which they had come. The majority came from the West Coast of Africa, but even within this area religious traditions varied greatly. Islam had also exerted a powerful presence in Africa for several centuries before the start of the slave trade: an estimated twenty percent of enslaved people were practicing Muslims, and some retained elements of their practices and beliefs well into the nineteenth century. Preserving African religions in North America proved to be very difficult. The harsh circumstances under which most slaves lived—high death rates, the separation of families and tribal groups, and the concerted effort of white owners to eradicate heathen (or non-Christian) customs—rendered the preservation of religious traditions difficult and often unsuccessful. Isolated songs, rhythms, movements, and beliefs in the curative powers of roots and the efficacy of a world of spirits and ancestors did survive well into the nineteenth century. Historically during their most difficult times the African American relied on their religious beliefs to endure. During the civil rights movement black churches were often the target of racial violence because that was a place that African Americans spent most of their time. This was a place where they often held meetings to discuss their civil rights efforts. African Americans practice a number of religions, but Protestant Christianity is by far the most prevalent. Some African and African American also follow the Muslim and Judaism. According to Fife, Kilgour, Canter and Adegoke (2010), â€Å"African spiritual traditions have historically held a central place in African American communalism (Mbiti, 1990) and were vital to survival during the time of slavery. In African and African American culture the concept of spirituality is inseparable from all other aspects of human experience. The spiritual and the physical are indistinguishable (Mbiti, 1990). A deep connection exists between humans, God, family, and group (Barrett, 1974). Spirituality is not compartmentalized into systematized beliefs and practices but woven into everyday experience (Boyd Franklin, 1989). The Black church is the primary means through which many African Americans express their religious and spiritual beliefs and values (Richardson June, 1997). This institution is a central force in African American childhood and adolescent identity and helps to shape ideas about what comprises community. † Many African American children have christen ceremonies for they can even walk or talk. African American families generally spend a substantial amount of time within their places of worship. Conclusion For review, the big questions the above research addressed were: †¢What are the primary cultural characteristics of this selected group? †¢How do the characteristics of this group impact its experience as a subculture in American society? †¢How might the cultural aspects of this group be applied to traditional psychological theory? †¢What are the implications of these characteristics for psychological theory and practice? We have found that the primary cultural characteristics of the African America culture are their history of slavery in America, distinct family and parenting practices, slavery based evolution of their language, and their dedicated religious beliefs. The characteristics of this group impact its experience as a subculture in American society by enticing others in to the culture and sparking curiosity around the world. African Americans make up a small percentage of the minority in America. However African American culture dominates the world of music, fashion, and professional sports. The cultural aspects of the African American group can be applied to traditional psychological theory when considering family dynamics, cultural perspectives, and how these aspects influence mental health. The implications of these characteristics for psychological theory and practice would focus on how the African American history of slavery in America influences their world view, how family and parenting practices mold their ideals of what a family should be, how religion influences their beliefs and actions, and how language distinguishes them from others and what psychological impact this has on them as a whole. For many years African-American culture developed separately from mainstream American culture, both because of slavery and the persistence of racial discrimination in America, as well as African-American slave descendants desire to create and maintain their own traditions. Today, African-American culture has become a significant part of American culture and yet, at the same time, remains a distinct cultural body. References Fife, J. , McCreary, M. , Kilgour, J. , Canter, D. , Adegoke, A. (2010). Self Identification Among African American and Caucasian College Students. College Student Journal, 44(4), 994. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Hall, G. C. N. (2010). Multicultural psychology (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Medium. (2011). First Things First. Retrieved from http://firstthings. org/page/research/african-american-family-facts New York Daily Tribune, March 9, 1859 reprinted in Hart, Albert B. , American History Told by Contemporaries v. 4 (1928). Retrieved from http://eyewitnesstohistory. com Rydell, R. J. , Hamilton, D. L. , Devos, T. (2010). NOW THEY ARE AMERICAN, NOW THEY ARE NOT: VALENCE AS A DETERMINANT OF THE INCLUSION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE AMERICAN IDENTITY. Social Cognition, 28(2), 161-179. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Renaisance Art Essay -- essays research papers

I have a real love for Renaissance art. The reason I chose this topic is because I took a class on art a freshman, and really enjoyed it. The book I read was ‘The Art of the Renaissance.’ After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in about the 5th century A.D., Europe remained poor and in poverty until the 11th century. By then, Europe began to grow and flourish. While surrounding countries of Italy, such as France, Spain, and England were powerful centralized nations, Italy was still full of city-sized states.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Italy was now the center of trade and manufacturing. Noble courts and wealthy people criticized artists and scholars as they saw them as non-equals. Most Italian artists and sculptors modeled what the ancient Romans did in the way of art, and literature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Florence was the place where art had a ‘rebirth’, following the masterpieces of Giotto in the 13th century. In the 15th century, a man by the name of Filippo Brunelleschi had turned his idea of art into architecture. New buildings and Cathedrals were being built in Florence, and Brunelleschi’s amazing sense of contrast of light, classical proportions, and spatial effects made him one of the best.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Later in the 1400’s there was a painter by the name of Masaccio. This amazing artist had a special was of creating 3 dimensions in all of his paintings. As time went on, more talented artists, architects, and sculptors had found thems...

Merit vs Anniversary Pay Rates Essay

Performance reviews are an integral part of business. Employees crave feedback, whether it is positive or negative, as it provides motivation and a better understanding of the job requirements. Anniversary Date and Common Merit Date performance reviews each have advantages and disadvantages. It would behoove the human resource professional to choose the approach that best suits their organization’s needs and goals. Some of the factors that should be taken into consideration are; planning cycles, hiring practices, and organizational culture (Koss, 2009, p. 7) Anniversary reviews are commonly used when the organization has a lot of hourly, lower level employees (Koss, 2009, p. 2). This method provides a fair system. â€Å"Every employee receives a performance appraisal and sometimes a compensation adjustment on the one year anniversary of their start in a job, and at one-year intervals thereafter. All employees get reviewed and receive compensation adjustments at the same interval† (p. 2). This method is popular when the organization wishes to evaluate select employee performances against industry established standards, instead of vetting an employee against an alternate employee (p 2). [The Anniversary Date Method can] lighten the managers’ workloads and increases the likelihood that they’ll spend more time on their employee performance reviews, since they’re not caught trying to do them all at once. In addition, they spread out the appraisal-related workload over the year, avoiding processing peaks† (p. 2). Sometimes, Anniversary Date reviews are not the ideal choice. â€Å"An employee’s future is based solely on his/her manager’s subjective opinion of them† (p. 2). When appraisals are conducted annually, and on the anniversary date, usually about half of the staff is in line with prospective organizational objectives (p. ). Another con of this method is that the appraisal date generally does not match with any specific performance period (p. 2). This method can also result in inadequate reporting, and lesser understanding of why objectives were not met (p. 2). Because the manager is evaluating the performance of the individual, and not the comparative performance of their peers, it can create an unfair environment, and compensation allocations may be unequal (p. 3). Managers tend to try and accommodate the compensation budget, which is directly related to the cyclical ups and downs of the economy. If there is no money left in the budget, an employee with a year end review may receive a lower increase, not because they are less deserving, but because there is no more room left in the budget (p. 3). Common Merit Date Reviews is a procedure where organizations evaluate all of their employees at one specific time (p. 3). â€Å"One of the biggest advantage is that †¦they allow for corporate and individual goals to unite. HR actually spends less administration time on focal reviews because the process typically runs over a few months, rather than an entire year. This allows for†¦everyone in the organization to align their goals appropriately† (p. ). Because everything is done at one time, and each employee’s performance is being evaluated at the same time, managers can compare employees to each other, and provide consistent and fair appraisals, and allow for compensation to be [somewhat] unaffected by changing business cycles (p. 4). â€Å"Another advantage is that if any changes to evaluation criteria have to be made, new forms or processes can be distributed out to everyone at the same time† (p. 4). When the organization is focused on completing appraisals once a year, it can be much simpler to offer training on tools, processes, and skills necessary (p. ). While there are many advantages to the Common Merit Date Review, there are still a few disadvantages. Newer employees will not be permitted a full year of performance for evaluation. If there are a large number of employees, managers will need a significant amount of time to review the process and may have to neglect other tasks until the process is complete (p. 6) †¢Koss, S. (2009). Which is Best? Anniversary vs. Focal (Common Date) Performance Reviews. Koss Management. Retrieved February 26, 2011, from kosshrexpert. com/Article-WhichisBest. pdf

Edgar Allan Poe’s Influence on Literature Essay

Edgar Allan Poe’s influence on American literature was nothing short of great; not only was he the creator of the detective story and the horror thriller, but he also influenced many great writers, among those William Faulkner and Fyodor Dostoevsky. While Poe is best known for his horror thrillers, being the creator of that particular genre, he has also fashioned two other literary genres, like the detective and the science fiction genre. Throughout his life, Poe read, reviewed, and critiqued many books for various magazines and papers. Poe did not hesitate to attack what he deemed inferior. â€Å"Is purely too imbecile to merit an extended critique,† he once wrote of a novel. Because of his readiness to attack what he believed to be unworthy, Poe helped set high standards for American literature (Meltzer 64). Poe had an influence on both American and non-American writers, like William Faulkner, and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Faulkner, who is considered to be the South’s most renowned novelist, will be forever linked to Poe. Both writers were fanatically obsessed with what made mankind good and what made it evil. Their writings also dealt with common elements, like narcissistic doubling, vengeance, and violence (Wyatt-Brown). In Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury, the incestuous relationship between two of the characters, Quentin and Caddy Compson, draws a parallel between Poe’s own incestuous relationship with his first cousin, Virginia (Wyatt-Brown). Fyodor Dostoevsky, a Russian novelist, was also greatly influenced by Poe. Dostoevsky’s novel, Crime and Punishment depicts a man who commits murder and becomes increasingly guilty throughout the novel because of it, until he is finally urged to confess by the woman he loves. The novel’s plot was prefigured in Poe’s A Tell Tale Heart, which portrays a man who commits a murder and is driven insane by the guilt as he hears the heart beating from underneath the floorboards, where he had stored the body. Dostoevsky once declared that Poe: â€Å"almost always takes the most exceptional reality and endows it with such details that the reader is convinced of its possibility, of its reality, when objectively the event or situation is impossible. † (Wyatt-Brown) Dostoevsky’s opinion on the matter relates exceptionally with Poe’s A Tell Tale Heart. One would not believe the story to hold even a semblance of reality, as Poe has infused the short story with the most absurd of details that make it so obviously impossible; however, while reading one becomes entirely immersed in the story that it does not seem so absurd anymore. According to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer of the famous detective series, Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe is the father of the detective story (Meltzer 83). Doyle was of the opinion that Poe had covered the genre’s limits so completely, that he could not see how his followers could find any fresh ground of their own (83). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s very own character, Sherlock Holmes, was inspired by C. Auguste Dupin, the detective of the stories who began the detective genre (Binns 114). Among many of Edgar Allan Poe’s writings is The Murders in the Rue Morgue, one of the Dupin stories. This story was the first ever detective story to be printed, which made it the archetype for the modern detective story (Meltzer 83). Although The Murders in the Rue Morgue was the first ever detective story to ever see print, Poe did incorporate new elements into other works that writers of detective fiction still make use of. For example, in The Purloined Letter and Thou Art the Man, Poe introduced post-mortem examinations, ballistic evidence, and the frame-up (104). Many believe Poe had begun the science fiction genre (Binns 114). His first attempt was Hans Pfall, a story in which a man travels to the moon on a revolutionized balloon. Poe included actual facts into his story, mixing it with entirely false scientific â€Å"facts† to make the story believable (Meltzer 64). Poe’s innovations would later expand the modern science fiction genre. His vivid imagination veered off from scientific facts to create believable details to incorporate into his stories. These details anticipated later discoveries in both geography and astronomy (64). Science fiction writers like H. G. Wells and Jules Verne learned a great deal from Poe, which they integrated into their own writings. The belief that Poe began the science fiction genre may also be attributed to Poe’s complicated piece of writing which explained his own view of the universe. Eureka: A Prose Poem was published in March of 1848, and in it, Poe introduced his theory, a mixture of science, theology, and intuition. Poe theorized that: â€Å"God existed before matter. God created the first atoms. They scattered to create the universe. They are all trying to join back together, but when they do, they will be scattered again. † Poe’s theory caused an upset in society, as it was not Christian; however, others believed it to be brilliant, as it showed both insight and clear thought (Binns 100). Poe’s influence has not limited itself on just literature. Alfred Hitchcock, director of classic suspense films like Vertigo and Psycho has stated that Poe was the reason he began directing films (Burlingame 100). And, as Hitchcock has become an influential being himself, with many other directors using elements from his films, Poe has indirectly influenced them as well. Aside from literature and films, Poe’s name and lyrics have been used among many musicians. Thirty Seconds to Mars uses a quote from The Raven: â€Å"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. at the end of their video for Hurricane. The quote seems entirely fitting, as the video, which embraces some of Poe’s own elements, like vengeance and violence, is entirely surreal and evokes a sense of fear as they’re being pursued by masked men. However, they fight back, not letting the men take control of them, refusing to become martyrs. Like many of Poe’s writi ngs, the video seems ambiguous, open for many interpretations. Although Poe has long passed away, he still continues to influence today’s society. Writers will continue to use the elements he created in their stories. Film directors will continue to use his stylistic elements to portray a sense of Poe into their films. Musicians will continue to use Poe’s lyrics in their music, as well as use different aspects of his writings in their videos. Not only will Poe continue to influence them, but he will also continue to communicate with people through his works. People will continue to connect with Poe, just like previous generations have, through the themes of his writings, and through the understanding that Poe was just as misunderstood and criticized as the rest of us.

Western Canada Concept Essays - Western Canada, Canada, Free Essays

Western Canada Concept Essays - Western Canada, Canada, Free Essays Western Canada Concept The Western Canada Concept The Western Canada Concept is a separatist party led by Alberta lawyer Doug Christie. The party is devoted to a peaceful secession of the four Western provinces and the two territories from Canada. By means of four referenda held in each respective western province, the Western Canada Concept would establish an independent nation. A wide spectrum of reasons, encompassing political, economic, and cultural issues, fuels the groups drive for a sovereign, united, West. The Western Canada Concept, through referenda and economic stability, insists that a sovereign West would better serve the needs of Western Canadians, which have been ignored by governments of the recent past. Reasons for Western Independence According to David Christie, leader of the Western Canada Concept, reasons for western separation abound, touching each area of Western Canadians lives. Many of these stem from a deep-rooted feeling of western alienation. During the Trudeau era, the majority of Liberal seats in the House of Commons was heavily concentrated east of the Manitoba border. Through unpopular government decisions, such as the management of Albertas petroleum industry, some westerners began to feel that the government did not serve their needs. Manipulating a famous Abraham Lincoln quote illustrates this belief perfectly - since the government was elected by Central Canada, it must be a government of Central Canada, for Central Canada. This distribution of power in the House of Commons, a primary reason for Western Independence, has become a platform for many western politicians. One concern is that there is little or no checks on the Prime Ministers agenda where regional equality is concerned. The Prime Minister is from one province, can be elected into power with only the support of a single region, and can run the entire country accordingly. Christie believes that the only way to keep Central Canada, the primary source of power for most recent governments, in check is to amend the Senate. The system by which Canada should model their Senate is the American system, in which the President is kept in check by equally distributed Senators. Such wishes for Senate reform have long been embraced by western parties of the past such as the Progressives, Social Credit, the CCF, the United Farmers of Alberta, and most recently, the Reform Party of Canada. Since the Reform Party merged with splinter Conservatives to form th e Canadian Alliance Party, its agenda, according to Christie, has become more national. If the Alliance, once a defender of western ideals, wishes to come to power, support from Central Canada is necessary. Thus, they seemingly have abandoned their fight for Senate reforms to appear more palatable to Ontario voters. If Western Canadians want these reforms, they cannot expect a national party desperate for Central Canadian support to act on their behalf. Rather, secession is seen as the only way to draw attention to our concerns. As Christie put it, The major reason the political power of Ontario and Quebec has never been challenged is simply because the West has never considered the option of independence. In addition to the aforementioned political reasons, the Western Canada Concept has put forward economic reasons for Western Independence. In light of the fact that the West produces 52% of the Gross National Product in primary sector industries such as fishery, forestry, mining, and agriculture, and 90% of the petroleum production with only 27% of the population, the West should be able to sustain itself economically. Furthermore, the West fares well on the international market. Of the provinces, only British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan export more than they import. Although the West seems to make a profit internationally, it is, according to Christie, being robbed from home. A colonial economy, where Central Canada produces 80% of the countrys manufactured goods, and where tariffs prevent the other provinces from buying elsewhere, is preventing the West from flourishing economically. Again, since national parties with an interest in staying in power cannot effect any change in policy that might anger Central Canadians, the only answer is independence. The most difficult to defend, but most important reasons for independence, according to Christie, are cultural reasons. It is tricky for Western Canadian Concept members to air their views on culture as they

What Is a Subsidized Loan Definition and Explanation

What Is a Subsidized Loan Definition and Explanation SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In looking over the financial aid packages that colleges provide, you might see some terms that are unfamiliar. You have a general idea of what a loan is - you borrow money now, and pay it back later (plus some extra) - but what's a Direct Subsidized Loan? As it turns out, subsidized student loans are pretty unique (in a good way). So what is a subsidized loan? How do you define subsidized and compare it to unsubsidized loans? A Direct Subsidized student loan is one type of financial aid provided by the US federal government, or more specifically, the US Department of Education. You can also get Direct Unsubsidized student loans as part of your federal financial aid package. Before we get into the specifics of subsidized loans, I'll talk a little bit about why these loans exist, and how loans usually work. A Brief History of Federal Student Loans You can thank Russia and the Cold War for the first government-backed student loan programs. The federal government first started offering loans to students in the 1950s under the National Defense Education Act, or NDEA. After Russia launched Sputnik, the US scrambled to boost education in the sciences - hence, a financial program that encouraged students to pursue higher education. Federal student loan programs have since been expanded to assist students to fund their education in a wide variety of disciplines, regardless of whether they plan on defeating Soviet Russia in an arms race. OK, So How Do Loans Work? The way that loans work is pretty standard, no matter where you're getting the loan from. You borrow a sum of money, or principal, from some lender - usually a bank. You also agree to particular loan terms, including interest rates and length of repayment. When you make loan payments, which usually happens on a monthly basis, you pay back a portion of the principal plus extra money: the interest, or a percentage of the principal that's accrued (accumulated).The longer you take to pay back the loan, the more interest accrues. The bigger your principal, the more interest accrues. You can think about interest as a charge or a fee that you pay to your lender. Interest is how lenders make money on loans. It usually starts accruing as soon as the loan is disbursed (when the money is given out, or provided to you. Sometimes, the interest that has accrued on your loan is added to your principle. When new interest accrues, it will be on this new, larger principle. This is called capitalization - when this happens, you start paying interest on more than your original loan amount, which means more interest. Loans can be really helpful when it comes to paying for school, but as you may have guessed, people generally don't love being in student debt. The less money you owe after you graduate, the better, right? What Makes Direct Subsidized Loans Unique? You're might already be thinking about how to decrease your loan payments in the long run. Subsidized loans can help you do that. Direct Subsidized loans are special because, during certain periods of time, the federal government pays your interest for you. In the long run, this can save you a lot of money. As I previously mentioned, interest on "normal" loans starts accruing as soon as the money is disbursed. When you have a subsidized loan, however, interest does not accrue during the following periods: When you're in school at least 1/2 time For the first 6 months after you leave school (this is called agrace period) During a postponement of loan payments (this is called adeferment period) It's almost like your loan is frozen while you're still in school, and for 6 months after you leave. You're not adding any extra money to the amount you owe because interest isn't accruing; you also don't have to make any payments. This is useful if you need some time to find a job in order to be able to afford payments. Ultimately, you're not being "charged" to borrow money - you're not building up any interest on your loan - when you're not in a position to be able to pay it back. Subsidized loans: a little bit friendlier than your average student loan Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized: How Much of a Difference Could It Make? I'll use an example here to demonstrate long-term financial outcomes of a subsidized vs. an unsubsidized loan. Say I take out a $3,500 loan to pay for school my freshman year, at an interest rate of 4.29%. The chart below outlines different outcomes based on loan type if I don't make any payments while still in school. UNSUBSIDIZED SUBSIDIZED Amount Borrowed $3,500 $3,500 Interest Rate 4.29% 4.29% Interest Accrued During School (4 years) $640 $0 Balance Owed at Graduation $4,140 $3,500 Time to Payoff at $50/month (Interest accrues for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans during this period) 99 months 81 months Total Amount Paid $4,950 $4,050 Standard repayment plans for federal student loans set a timeline of 120 months until payoff, but the minimum monthly payments are $50.In this example, it would take me much less time (and much less money) to pay back a subsidized loan vs. an unsubsidized loan. Direct Subsidized Loan Details There are some standardized limits, restrictions, and repayment terms for all students who take out Direct Subsidized loans. They're not quite as flexible as Direct Unsubsidized loans, but that's a small price to pay when you consider how much money they save you in the long run. First, there are limits to how much money you can take out in subsidized loans. These annual maximums depend on your year in school: Year Subsidized Loan Limit 1st Year Undergrad Annual Limit $3,500 2nd Year Undergrad Annual Limit $4,500 3rd Year Undergrad Beyond Annual Limit $5,500 Subsidized Total Loan Lifetime Max $23,000 There are also limits to eligibility windows for Direct Subsidized loans, unlike for Direct Unsubsidized loans.You can only receive subsidized loans for 150% of your program length; for example, if you're enrolled in a 4-year college, you can receive subsidized loans for a maximum of 6 years (4*150% = 6). Interest rates are standardized and are the same as for unsubsidized loans. Federal student loan interest rates are generally pretty competitive and are the same for all students regardless of credit history.For 2015-2016, the interest rate is 4.29%. Finally, repayment plans (including details about the amount you owe every month, and the amount of time you have to pay back your loans) can be customized, and will depend on variables such as your principle balance and your income.Standard repayment plans set up monthly payments so that you pay off your principle + interest in 120 months, or 10 years. Who's Eligible for Direct Subsidized Loans? If you're looking for aid to bridge the gap between what you have and what you need to pay for college, subsidized loans are smart options if you meet all the eligibility requirements. Direct Subsidized loans are only available to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. Because these loans are a form of federal aid, you must also meet basic federal requirements in order to be eligible. The following charts list these requirements. You must do all of the following: Have a high school diploma, GED, or approved homeschool education Be enrolled or accepted to enroll in an eligible degree/certificate program You can check with your school/program’s financial aid office if you want to confirm eligibility Be registered with Selective Service, if you are male and between 18-25 years old If applicable, you can do this here https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration Have a valid Social Security Number (unless you’re from the Marshall Islands, Federal States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau) Sign statements on the FAFSA stating that (1) you’re not in default, and do not owe refund money, on a federal student loan, and (2) you’ll only use federal aid money to help pay for your education Access the FAFSA here https://fafsa.ed.gov/ Maintain â€Å"satisfactory† progress in school If you’re concerned about your academic performance or have questions about what is considered â€Å"satisfactory,† set up a meeting with your dean or other school administrator. In addition to the requirements listed in the chart above,you must be able to check one of the following options: Be aUS citizenorUS national Have agreen card Have anarrival-departure record Havebattered immigrant status Have aT-Visa How Do You Apply for a Direct Subsidized Loan? All things considered, eligibility requirements aren't too stringent for subsidized loans. The next step after meeting requirements would be to actually apply for this great financial aid resource. You can apply for all types of federal financial aid, including Direct Subsidized loans, by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The federal submission deadline to receive aid for the 2015-2016 academic year is June 30, 2016. You can find detailed instructions on submitting a FAFSAhere. What's Next? You can get an estimate of your federal aid eligibility, including the amount you could take out in Direct Subsidized loans, by following steps listed in ourPell Grant Calculator guide. Want more information on federal aid that youdon'thave to pay back? Learn more abouthow to get a Pell Grant, and check out our guide onPell eligibility requirements. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Economic Models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Economic Models - Essay Example The aggregate supply and demand model is dictated by the standard of the models in the market. This captures the level of interaction between the buyer and the seller in both the long and short-term model. In the economy, there is a great relationship between the demand and the supply in the market. The fluctuation of one greatly affects the balance of the other. For instance, it is traditionally known that whenever the level of demand is high, there would be an automatic increase in price to contain the equilibrium in the market (Cohn 2007). The case is vice versa when there is low demand. The demand of commodities in the market is low, and then the prices would be lower to attract more buyers. The AS/AD model explains this phenomenal to an understandable degree of agreement between the market dynamics. Demand, in o5ther economic terms is explained as the quantity of goods a population is willing to purchase in an economy at a particular price. On the other hand, supply is the amoun t a market can offer to its people. The law of the demand in a market dictates that, the higher the price, the lower the demand of goods and services in a specific market. The opportunity cost of buying the goods goes higher because people would have other preferences in their decision. It is most apparent that people would look for other alternative means when the prices in the market are not favorable. The law of supply also has a great determination in the market. This law dictates that, when the prices are high, there are high supplies in the market. This is because suppliers seek the opportunity to make more profit when the prices are high. The Aggregate supply and demand graph When the supply and the level of production are lower than the natural level, then the economy is bound to suffer. This would mean that the level of gross domestic product of a country is low. This would mean that the government would not be in a position of raising enough capital to fund its endeavors. When the level of production goes below the natural levels, the rate of unemployment would also rise. A number of people would be laid off because the government would not be in a position of maintaining. The impact of reduced GDP would further pose many challenges in the economy. People’s welfare would not be adequately looked into and the government would neglect their wellbeing. Prices of goods are bound to increase in such a situation. The prices would take the effect of the law of demand, but this would further pose challenge to the economy of the state. When the supply is low, people are not willing to pay more for the goods, and services would further make suppliers and investors hard time in supplying the economy. This is a major setback. In a situation where people are not willing to supply the market due to poor prices and at the same time, people do not have resource to buy the products in the market. The situation should not be like this in any economy. The adjust ment process in the economy It is a natural phenomenon that people and situations would always resist change but rather choose to be comfortable with the normal. However, not every market is marked with an absolute degree of permanency. A time comes when things have to change. Things have to be done in a new way to enable the market of the economy to take care of the ever-increasing value and demands of humanity. In every day’s market, prices are bound to change; the quality and quantities in the market fluctuate. The first cause of the market adjustment is the determinant. The determinant of a market adjustment

Leadership and mangement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leadership and mangement - Essay Example Since the concept of patient-centered care is increasingly emphasized in today’s healthcare environment, responding to patient feedback, grievances, and complaints are very important. Under this patient care model, patients have the right to file complaints and grievances if they are not satisfied with the health services received (Kaplan, 2014). Healthcare organizations are legally obliged to comply with federal regulations and Joint Commission standards while dealing with patient grievances and complaints (Dearmon, n.d.). This is inevitable for nurses to promote patient safety and to reduce their liability risk. Generally, patient grievances may be about unmet care expectations, offensive staff behavior, immediate discharges, compromising of confidentiality, treatment without informed consent, or any other unethical healthcare practice (ECRI Institute, 2010). According to Duxbury and Wittington (2005), addressing grievances involves difficult tasks as patients’ grieva nces can be different. An inexperienced nurse cannot easily handle the situation as there may not be a particular procedure for dealing with each type of patient grievances. As Devers, Pham and Liu point out (2004), even experienced nursing staff are not completely informed of the regulations and standards set by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Joint Commission, and other government entities. Hence they become confused when they are required to handle situations of patient grievances. Generally patients may not be familiar with the grievance process, and therefore it is the duty of the nursing staff to assist clients to file their grievances. According to O’Daniel and Rosenstein (2008), good communication is the key to the effective execution of the grievance process because proper communication will avoid misunderstanding, and hence will