Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Chemicals That Color of Urine and Feces

Have you ever wondered what chemical makes urine yellow? Its because urine contains a pigment called urochrome or urobilin. Depending on your hydration level, urochrome can make urine appear straw-colored, yellow, or amber. Pigments in Blood to Urine and Feces You have a lot of red blood cells, but each cell has a relatively short lifespan of about 120 days. When red blood cells die, they are filtered out of the blood by the spleen and liver and the iron-containing heme molecule is degraded into biliverdin and then bilirubin. Bilirubin is excreted as bile, which makes its way into the large intestine, where microbes change it into the molecule urobilinogen. This molecule, in turn, is converted by other microbes into stercobilin. Stercobilin is excreted through feces and is what gives them their characteristic brown color. Some of the stercobilin molecules are reabsorbed into the bloodstream, where they are oxidized to become urochrome (urobilin). Your kidneys filter out this molecule and it exits your body in urine. In addition to having a characteristic color, urine glows under a black light, but this is due to high levels of phosphorus.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Perfect Competition - 2278 Words

Pure Competition ANSWERS TO END-OF-CHAPTER QUESTIONS 21-1 Briefly state the basic characteristics of pure competition, pure monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly. Under which of these market classifications does each of the following most accurately fit? (a) a supermarket in your hometown; (b) the steel industry; (c) a Kansas wheat farm; (d) the commercial bank in which you or your family has an account; (e) the automobile industry. In each case justify your classification. Pure competition: very large number of firms; standardized products; no control over price: price takers; no obstacles to entry; no nonprice competition. Pure monopoly: one firm; unique product: with no close substitutes; much control over price: price†¦show more content†¦What can you conclude about the structure of the industry in which this firm is operating? Explain. b. Graph the demand, total-revenue, and marginal-revenue curves for this firm. c. Why do the demand and marginal-revenue curves coincide? d. â€Å"Marginal revenue is the chang e in total revenue associated with additional units of output.† Explain verbally and graphically, using the data in the table. Total revenue, top to bottom: 0; $2; $4; $6; $8; $10. Marginal revenue, top to bottom: $2, throughout. (a) The industry is purely competitive—this firm is a â€Å"price taker.† The firm is so small relative to the size of the market that it can change its level of output without affecting the market price. (b) See graph. (c) The firm’s demand curve is perfectly elastic; MR is constant and equal to P. (d) True. Table: When output (quantity demanded) increases by 1 unit, total revenue increases by $2. This $2 increase is the marginal revenue. Figure: The change in TR is measured by the slope of the TR line, 2 (= $2/1 unit). 320 Pure Competition 21-4 (Key Question) Assume the following cost data are for a purely competitive producer: Average fixed cost $60.00 30.00 20.00 15.00 12.00 10.00 8.57 7.50 6.67 6.00 Average variable cost $45.00 42.50 40.00 37.50 37.00 37.50 38.57 40.63 43.33 46.50 Average total cost $105.00 72.50 60.00Show MoreRelatedPerfect Competition and Monopoly1722 Words   |  7 PagesQuestion 3 Perfect Competition and Monopoly (a) I. Explain perfect competition and monopoly market structures, and identify the key factors that distinguish them. Perfect Competition Market In economic theory, the perfect competition is a market form in which no producer or consumer has the power to influence prices in the market. According to the website wordIQ.com, in order to classify the market is a perfect competition market, the market must match below criteria: 1. 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Monday, December 9, 2019

Competitive Strategy AAA Strategies

Question: Discuss about the competitive Strategy for AAA Strategies. Answer: Introduction The paper focuses on generating an empirical discussion of the AAA strategies that are undertaken by business institutions for enhancing their level of competitive advantage in the related industry. The paper subsequently aims at applying the AAA strategies relating to 4 firms belonging to two different industries for understanding the effectiveness of the AAA Model. The AAA Strategies The AAA Strategies stand an acronym for three different types of strategies like adaptation, aggregation and finally arbitrage that are undertaken by business institutions in a combined and synergistic fashion for developing and sustaining competitive advantage both along the short and long term periods. Adaption strategies undertaken by firms are essentially linked to the different strategies employed by it for developing an effective presence along a specific region (Zhang Dong, 2015). Aggregation strategies are identified and characterised to be such that contribute in helping the firm form potential agreements with other firms operating in the like sector such that the same contributes in developing the presence of the company in the international markets. Finally, the employment of the arbitrage strategy gains justification based on the restructuring of the existing organisational structure for generation of needed competitive advantage (Ghemawat P. , 2011). Adaptation Strategy The adaptation strategy undertaken by the business institutions effectively contribute in generating customised product offerings and solutions to the prospective customers. The generation of customised products that contribute in meeting the consumer demands and expectations potentially help in enhancing and sustaining revenue growth for the organisation in the long run while also helping in maximising the existing market shares of the company in the related industry. Different types of adaptation strategies are exercised by the business institutions like differentiation, externalisation, focused strategy and also the generation of new product and service designs that in turn help in enhancing the leadership and growth potential of the company in the specific industry (Motohashi, 2015). Aggregation Strategy Aggregation strategies are undertaken by the business institutions along two main categories like economies of scale and economies of scope. The business institutions continually focus on enhancing the economies of scale through maximising the level of product generation and development which in turn tends to reduce the level of production cost related to such. Similarly, the enhancement of the value generation and propositions by the company based on incorporating effective distribution, supplier and sales and marketing networks further contributes in enhancing the scope of the company in developing its market leadership in the related industry (Lee, Jeon, Kim, 2011). Arbitrage Strategy In terms of the arbitrage strategy the firms continually focus on reducing the operational, manpower and business costs such that the reduction in the mentioned costs contribute in generation of effective savings for the business institution and thereby also help in enhancing the level of firms performance and productivity in the long run. Similarly, different types of performance enhancement strategies are also undertaken by the business institutions in that the same helps in enhancing the firms operational efficiency and productivity (Jha, Dhanaraj, Krishnan, 2015). Application of the AAA Strategies Food/Beverage Industry (McDonalds, Starbucks) Pharmaceutical Industry (GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis) Adaptation McDonalds Variation as an adaptation strategy is prominent in the case of McDonalds such that the food retail chain focuses on generation of customized food offerings for its diverse customer force spanning across geographical boundaries. The generation of the Glocal strategy by McDonalds has enabled the company for generation of different recipes that would meet regional needs and expectations(Sinclair, 2012). McDonalds continually focuses on the generation of needed innovation in terms of generation of burger that would be made of fresh patties. Apart from innovation rendered in product offerings, McDonalds also aims at digitalizing marketing and promotional campaigns through the use of Smartphones and tablets(Forbes, 2016). Starbucks Starbucks is widely recognized for the employment of a broader differentiation strategy. The beverage retail chain focuses on the generation of coffee drinks in a highly customized fashion for effectively suiting the needs of different coffee drinkers located both along the regional and international markets. The coffee retail chain adequately aims in meeting the detailed needs of its coffee drinkers visiting its restaurants in diverse markets(Laasch Conaway, 2014). In a significant move during 2012, Starbucks is observed to have formed a joint venture with Tata Global Beverages for developing an effective presence in the Indian subcontinent. The joint venture between Starbucks and Tata is taken to gain effective success owing to the sharing of commitments and responsibilities for serving fresh and quality coffee drinks to its customer groups(Tata Global Beverages, 2012). Starbucks is also widely known for its innovative brewing activities and other in-store innovative conducts that contribute in attracting potential customers to its diverse retail outlets both along United States and other international regions. Different types of innovative brewing ideas are implemented in the retail outlets of Starbucks that serves in generating a competitive advantage for the company(Lorenzetti, 2014). GSK GlaxoSmithKline largely focuses on the generation of innovative offerings related to healthcare and also value-added drugs for meeting the diversified and emergent needs of patients. The pharmaceutical company potentially aims at generation of variegated and diversified product offerings associated with categories like Wellness, Nutrition, Skin and Oral Health Care. GSK is observed to generate significant investments contributing in the promotion of its research and development wing that help in the generation of innovative products. Incorporation of innovation strategies in a continual and sustained fashion ideally contributes in generating increased competitive advantage for GSK (GSK, 2016). Novartis Novartis like GSK also focuses on the generation of potential investments for contributing in the development of the innovating potential such that the same helps in the generation of innovative ophthalmic solutions (Novartis , 2015). Similarly, Novartis also operates in the generation of effective drugs and healthcare solutions for addressing the needs of its oncology division. Novartis also works based on a focused differentiation strategy such that it aims at generation of potential products for catering to the needs of a growing global aging population (Lorenzetti, 2014). It also focuses on participating with the physicians to understand the needs and expectations of the patient groups and thereby in generating effective healthcare solutions (Laasch Conaway, 2014). Aggregation McDonalds McDonalds tends to gain the benefit of economies of scale from the conducting of production and business operations. The food retail chain based on the generation of large scale product offerings tends to gain the advantage of reduction in production costs. Similarly, the endeavor of the company management of McDonalds to continually communicate and govern the activities and decision making of the supplier group potentially contributes in managing and aptly reducing the sourcing cost of different types of raw materials. The above activity in turn tends to enhance the profit margins for the company(Gurufocus, 2012). Starbucks Starbucks tends to gain on economies of scale based on the production of brewed coffee drinks in large amounts that help in reducing the prices for the coffee products and other raw materials. The company is known for its aggressive hedging policies associated with reducing the cost of its coffee products, dairy and fuel materials(Stock, 2013). Starbucks also gain on economies of scope based on the generation and offering of different food products along with the serving of hot coffee drinks. Starbucks acquiring of La Boulange bakery during 2012 has further helped Starbucks gain on needed economies of scope based on gaining access to potential equipments, infrastructures and storage facilities(Chen, 2014). GSK GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has entered into a strategic alliance with Novartis such that the same enhances the potential of GSK through helping it gain an effective access to potential distribution networks, access to large number of product patents and also in terms of gaining effective access to different product divisions and formats of Novartis (Conover, 2013). Again the Joint Venture entered into by GSK with Novartis also helps the former gain needed potential for developing its leadership potential in the Over the Counter or OTC category. The companies thus potentially focus on the generation of different healthcare brands that would contribute in developing and sustaining a leadership potential in the OTC market. The joint venture of GSK with Novartis potentially contributes in generation of effective synergies that help the pharmaceutical companies to develop their strategic potential in developing and sustaining market leadership in the global pharmaceutical market. Economies of Scale gained by GSK owing to its joint venture with Novartis ideally contribute in helping the pharmaceutical company compete with consumer product companies like Unilever and Procter and Gamble (Staton, 2014). Novartis The formation of a joint venture agreement between Novartis and GSK is evaluated to help Novartis continually develop its potential in generating and sustaining increased revenues and profits in the long run (Chen, 2014). The above fact would thereby help the management of Novartis in generating effective returns to the shareholders of the company. The joint venture formed between Novartis and GSK also contributes in helping Novartis develop on its innovative portfolio of vaccines for addressing the emergent needs of the consumers (Stock, 2013).. Arbitrage McDonalds McDonalds focuses on cost reduction initiatives through promotion and growth of franchisees. The development and growth of a number of franchisees and also the restructuring of the international operations is taken to help McDonalds generate savings of around $300 million relating to the annual cost expended by the company. The food retail chain aims to franchisee around 90 percent of its restaurant business by the close of 2018 which is taken to help in the savings of potential business costs and enhancement of revenue(Gasparro, 2015). Starbucks The arbitrage strategy undertaken by Starbucks reflect that corresponding to a reduction in the prices of coffee beans in the commodity market, the beverage retailer has focused on enhancing the price of its coffee offerings in diverse markets. The reduction in the level of commodity prices for coffee beans has contributed in lowering the operating costs of Starbucks. The company in turn tends to enhance the prices of the product offerings for help in the generation of increased revenues, market share and potential dividends to its shareholders(SOMMER, 2015). GSK The management of GlaxoSmithKline focused on reducing its manpower cost through the development of a simpler and small organizational structure. The restructuring program enabled by the company potentially helped GSK in gaining potential savings of around GBP 0.4 billion currently during 2016 (Hirschler, 2014). Similarly, the restructuring of the organisation also contributed in enhancing revenue margins relating to the pharmaceutical, health care and also for its vaccine departments (Stephens, 2016). Novartis The joint venture formed with GSK has also motivated the management of Novartis in restructuring the organisation for contributing in reducing its business and operational costs (SOMMER, 2015). Similarly, the joint venture formed with GSK also helps in increasing the innovating potential of Novartis (Ward, 2015). Conclusions The analysis carried out in the paper ideally reflects the employment of the AAA strategies by two companies each like McDonalds and Starbucks and GSK and Novartis belonging to the fast food/beverage and pharmaceutical industry in a respective fashion. The use of the AAA strategies ideally reflects the manner the different strategies are used by the four different firms in cultivating and enhancing on the dimensions of competitive advantage along their related industries. References BBC News, 2014. Hewlett-Packard to split into two companies. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-29501235 [Accessed 6 September 2016]. Burke, S., 2015. HP Eyes $2 Billion In Cost Cutting In Troubled Enterprise Services Business. [Online] Available at: https://www.crn.com/news/data-center/300076904/hp-eyes-2-billion-in-cost-cutting-in-troubled-enterprise-services-business.htm [Accessed 6 September 2016]. Chen, X.Y., 2014. Why food will become more important to Starbucks future growth. [Online] Available at: https://marketrealist.com/2014/02/food-to-become-more-important-part-of-starbucks-future-growth/ [Accessed 7 September 2016]. Computer Weekly, 2016. Budget for innovation: Case study - standardising Dell. 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[Online] Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/id/46821894 [Accessed 6 September 2016]. Gasparro, A., 2015. McDonalds to Speed Refranchising, Cut Costs. [Online] Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-to-speed-refranchising-cut-costs-1430744590 [Accessed 7 September 2016]. Ghemawat, P., 2007. Managing Differences. United States : Harvard Business Review. Ghemawat, P., 2011. Cosmopolitan Corporation. Harvard Business Review , pp.1-10. Glassman, A.M., Zell, D. Duron, S., 2014. Thinking Strategically in Turbulent Times: An Inside View of Strategy Making. New York : Routledge. GSK, 2016. Consumer healthcare research. [Online] Available at: https://nerdyturtlez.com/tutor/order.php?id=187087 [Accessed 11 September 2016]. Gurufocus, 2012. McDonald's: Still Strong, Despite Headwinds. [Online] Available at: https://www.gurufocus.com/news/167949/mcdonalds-still-strong-despite-headwinds [Accessed 6 September 2016]. Hirschler, B., 2014. 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United States : Cengage Learning. Lee, S.-H., Jeon, R.-K. Kim, J.-H., 2011. Strategies for Developing Countries to Expand Their Shares in the Global Construction Market: Phase-Based SWOT and AAA Analyses of Korea. JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, pp.460-70. Lehmann, C., 2014. Dell Boomi queues up performance and troubleshooting enhancements, reports 13x growth. [Online] Available at: https://www.boomi.com/files/Dell_Boomi_performance_and_troubleshooting_enhancements.pdf [Accessed 6 September 2016]. Lorenzetti, L., 2014. Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies: Starbucks, where innovation is always brewing. [Online] Available at: https://fortune.com/2014/10/30/starbucks-innovation-cafe-to-classroom/ [Accessed 7 September 2016]. Motohashi, K., 2015. Management Strategies for Global Businesses. Global Business Strategy , pp.21-40. Novartis , 2015. Novartis highlights strong innovation momentum at its second Meet Novartis Management investor day. [Online] Available at: https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-highlights-strong-innovation-momentum-its-second-meet-novartis [Accessed 11 September 2016]. SOMMER, J., 2015. Why Starbucks Prices Went Up as Coffee Beans Got Cheaper. [Online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/your-money/why-starbucks-prices-went-up-as-coffee-beans-got-cheaper.html?_r=0 [Accessed 7 September 2016]. Staton, T., 2014. Novartis, GSK team up in consumer JV to save big money, gain big scale. [Online] Available at: https://www.fiercepharma.com/m-a/novartis-gsk-team-up-consumer-jv-to-save-big-money-gain-big-scale [Accessed 11 September 2016]. Stephens, P., 2016. Strong sales growth and reduced costs boost GlaxoSmithKline plcs results. [Online] Available at: https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2016/04/27/strong-sales-growth-and-reduced-costs-boost-glaxosmithkline-plcs-results/ [Accessed 11 September 2016]. Stock, K., 2013. The Game Theory Behind Starbucks' Big Coffee Price Cut. 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Monday, December 2, 2019

Parasitic Essays - Parasitology, Helminthiases,

Parasitic Flatworms Imagine going to the doctor for a simple check up. Sure you've had some minor problems- indigestion, lack of energy, weight loss, and a bit of gas- but that's not out of the ordinary....or is it? In most cases you would be correct...but today is your unlucky day. The doctor has just informed you that you have a tapeworm parasite. PARASITIC CHARACTERISTICS By definition, a parasite is an organism that lives either in or on another organism. Infected organisms that are carrying a parasite are called host organisms- or hosts. This parasitic relationship can vary from benign to harmful- and sometimes even fatal. There are two main types of parasites: endoparasites and exoparasites, however endoparasites will be the focus of this paper, and flatworms in particular. Endoparasites are parasites that live inside the host organism. Endoparasites that inhabit vertebrates or invertebrates live off the nutrients in the food host organisms eat as well as the tissue of the host. These parasites not only live in the cavities of hollow organs but can also live within the tissue. Endoparasites can range from microscopic in size to 25 feet or more in length. Many worms are antiparasitic. Some live in the host's digestive tract feeding off the host's blood. Others, such as trichinosis, enter the host through the digestive tract and then migrate throughout the body tissue. Most microscopic worms secrete toxins into the hosts blood stream which then circulates and often causes damage to surrounding systems and tissue. The life cycle of endoparasites is as varied as the parasites themselves. Some parasites are permanent fixtures in a host's body, while others only live within the host for a limited amount of time. For example, parasitic worms can live within a host for up to 30 years! The host not even being aware of this fact because there are little or no symptoms of the invasion. Not only are life cycles varied for parasites but the number of hosts they live in are as well. Sometimes parasites live in only one host for their entire life- known as autecious - while others change hosts- known as heteroecious. In relation to the life cycle of parasitic worms, there are also different reproductive methods. Many parasites do not reproduce within their host, or reproduce to a limited degree. They are more likely to reproduce eggs that enter another host before they develop in the final host. These parasites just use their fist host as an intermediatory step in completing their life cycle. The species schistosoma ( Refer to Figure 1 ) from the class trematoda is an example of such a parasite. These parasites go through a life cycle in which they use an invertebrate, usually a snail as an intermediatory host. ( Refer to Figure 1a ) FLATWORM CHARACTERISTICS Flatworms from the phylum Platyhelminthes, are parasites that live within the intermediatory host but usually complete their sexual maturity within a vertebrate. They are broken into three major classes: Turbellaria, the most primitive, free-living class that resides either in or on a host, they generally live in a marine environment. Trematoda which is the small parasitic flatworm ( most of which are called flukes) has disk like suckers which attach to the outside or internal organs of their host, and the class Cestoda which consist of the parasitic flatworm known as the tapeworm. ( Refer to Figure 2 ) Tapeworms have no true digestive tract, therefore they live inside the digestive tract of vertebrates and some invertebrates, absorbing food through their body wall. They latch onto the walls of their host's digestive tract with suckers and hooks, located at their head, which is called a scolex. The phylum platyhelminthes are one of interest when discussing parasitic flatworms that infect vertebrates and invertebrates. INFECTION Humans and animals are in continuous contact with microorganisms, because of this relationship there are numerous ways in which infection of flatworms can occur. Organisms that transmit parasites are known as vectors. Some vectors transmit parasites when they are eaten by the hosts. An example of this would be a flea eaten by a dog or cat. When the animal eats the flea, the immature form of the tapeworm emerges from the fleas body and later develops into a mature tapeworm. Another way animals can become infected is by eating feces of infected animals which carry the eggs of the parasites. Pigs and cattle are known for this type of infection. Humans can become infected by larva penetrating the skin, when walking barefoot on infected soil. An example of this would

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Storytelling in Your College and Career Documents

Storytelling in Your College and Career Documents When we were kids, we all loved stories.   Well guess what?   That hasn’t changed!   I recently read the article Storytelling an Effective Training Method! and it sparked me to write this post. The fact is, we all love a good story.   Admissions committees love good stories.   Hiring managers love good stories.   Customers and clients love good stories.   Always remember:   the person you’re writing for is a human being!   How do you get another human being to read your document?   Spin a good yarn! If you’re applying to college, tell a story with a beginning, middle and end.   I had a client who wrote his college application essay about teaching his sister to ride a bike.   His first draft was all rosy about how great the experience was, and it did not have a compelling beginning, middle and end.   He felt lost in the writing, and the essay was boring. What ultimately made the story great was that he started at the beginning, when he was annoyed at his sister for being small and clumsy, then moved through the process of a breakthrough in becoming a teacher, and a better teacher and finally to where he released the seat and the sister took off on her own on the bike.   Victory! A great story. In college applications, many times what makes a great story is to admit to a struggle or fault, and show how you broke through it.   In a cover letter, believe it or not, you can do the same thing. All kinds of people are saying â€Å"No one reads cover letters anymore.†Ã‚   Well, of course no one is reading them – because they are stilted and boring and no one can get through them!   Have you ever considered that if you write a good enough story in your cover letter that it really  will get read! Do you have an example of a time when a project was failing, and you stepped in to fix it?   That makes a great story!   Is there an example of something you achieved that relates to the job you’re applying for?   Don’t be afraid to tell these stories in your cover letters! On your resume, too, tell as much of a story as you can in a bulleted line. What not to write:   â€Å"Assisted scientists with their research.† What to write: â€Å"Conducted genetic, epidemiology, and behavior research on sport fish in Illinois, Canada, and the Bahamas.† Ah, now that sounds kind of interesting! For an example of a professional bio that tells a great story or two, see Senior Investment Analyst Bio on The Essay Expert’s website.   This client reported to me that she loved her bio story so much that she kept reading it to herself after it was done! Whatever the reason, we all love a good story.   Tell one in your college and job applications.   Tell one in your professional bio.   If you do it well, your intended audience will keep reading†¦Ã‚   and reading†¦Ã‚   and reading.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Sample Papers

Sample Papers Sample Papers Sample Papers: Help for Students Are you becoming crazy about those numerous assignment papers that you are constantly provided with during your study? Sometimes it may seem to you that they are aimed at turning your life into the terrible nightmare. Do not know how to escape from all that? Try not to avoid the problem but solve it! This article will help you in that. If you do not know how to write your assignment papers, do not rack your brains make use of the Internet. You may find a lot of different web-sites there that offer students assignment writing services. You may say that it is too expensive to buy every assignment paper. But these sites may be useful for you even if you are going to write your assignment paper by yourself. In what way? Free Sample Papers The answer concerns sample papers that these sites propose you to get free of charge. You may find a lot of different papers: sample term papers, sample research papers, sample essay papers and many others. But in what way can they help you if you are not going to buy assignment papers? Of course, you should not submit one of these sample papers as yours because you may have problems. As these papers are available for you everyone else may get them (even one of your group-mates or your tutor). Any kind of sample papers is a papers research sample. What does it mean? Any of sample papers may give you a hint about in what direction you should make your research of the topic given in order to write a good paper. Moreover, reading of such papers may give you a lot of other interesting ideas concerning preparing and writing. Sample Paper ElementsTopic. Sometimes your tutor may let you choose a topic for your paper by yourself. But if you have no ideas about it, you may search them in sample papers. You may find a topic that you may get interested in and that is the half of the success of your paper. Thesis statement. When reading sample papers you may find out how to formulate a thesis sta tement in order to make it clear and understandable. Structure. You may study the structure of papers of a certain kind: what parts they should include, how you should divide them into paragraphs. That will help you make your paper well-structured. Vocabulary. You may study what special words and phrases are used in the academic writing. The usage of such vocabulary will help you put your thoughts logically and clearly. One should stress that this is one of the main criteria of writing a good assignment paper. Thus, it becomes obvious that sample papers may be very helpful for you even if you are going to write your assignment paper by yourself.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Deforestation and the Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Deforestation and the Environment - Essay Example The first case is about deforestation in Sumatra, an Island in Indonesia (Kuhn). Deforestation on the island is mainly because of papermaking. APP, Indonesia’s largest papermaker runs numerous acacia tree plantations on the Island. These plantations have been set up by clearing a vast majority of forestland. Local dwellers have accused the officials of the company of bringing about dilapidation to the local environment. The second case is based in the United Sates, where Cargill Corporation burns large tracts of forestland in order to pave way for soya plantations (Greenpeace International) in Brazil. This, in the region, is coupled with the fact that cattle ranchers, who in other areas typically move into areas that have already been exploited by loggers, are in this case clearing forestland themselves in a bid to expand their operations. The situation appears bleak; with Greenpeace International projecting that deforestation rates will be rising in coming years.Perhaps the m ost immediately felt effect of deforestation in the Sumatra region is the fact that the activity deprives locals of one of their most important sources of food. They recall a time when they could hunt for deer and birds in the forest, an activity they now cannot undertake since animals of this nature do not create habitats in the acacia forests. Acacia trees do not provide enough shade for animals. Another effect of deforestation in Sumatra is the fact that it is destroying the natural habitat of the Sumatran Tiger.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Midterm - Essay Example To this end, the paper will critically examine the concept of philosophy and what it actually means in the general sense. From there, the Indian philosophy will be examined in-depth. This will involve the critical review of elements and aspects of Indian thought and what really matters to the Indian people in terms of philosophy. Afterwards, the paper will examine traditional Greek philosophy, which forms the basis of Western philosophical thought. This will lead to a comparison between the Greek and Indian philosophical ethos. This discussion will make way for an introduction of Chinese philosophical worldview. This will involve the reconciling of Chinese philosophy and Indian philosophy as the Eastern or Oriental school of philosophical thought and the assessment of their differences. The discussion will also compare how the two philosophies differ from each other. In order to analyze and evaluate the core concepts and ideas of this study, there is the need to make meaning of the world "philosophy". This will provide an answer to the central features and concepts in the discussion to be undertaken. There are various definitions of philosophy that can be used to describe the concept. Philosophy can be viewed as the fundamentals related to the study of human thought and a conception of things around human beings. In other words, philosophy is about how to provide a documentation and definition of various ideas and principles that describe things that exist and things that happens around people in the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Globalization and Its Impact Essay Example for Free

Globalization and Its Impact Essay Globalization has a major impact on the management of human resources in developing countries like India. The roles and responsibilities of Human Resource Departments are transforming as the modern business faces pressures of globalization. With accelerating globalization, organizations have had to change and new trends have set in even in the management of human resources. Globalization has forced organizations and their human resources to redefine their strategies. It is necessary for the management to invest considerable time and amount, to learn the changing scenario of the Human Resource Department in the 21st century. Now organizations need to place greater emphasis on attracting human capital rather than financial capital. In order to survive the competition and be in the race, HR Department should continuously update itself with the transformation in HR. Suitable HR Policies that would lead to the achievement of the organization as well as the individuals goals should be formulated. The prime objective of the paper is to identify issues related with Globalization and its impact on Human Resource Development. The paper focuses on a number of outcomes of globalization, which promotes human resource development. It also states about several factors that inhibit the human resource development. Finally, the paper provides few strategy recommendations to develop human resources of developing countries in a changed situation of political economy of trade liberalization. Several articles of the renowned thinkers and practitioners are consulted to get a clear concept of the topic in respect to objectives mentioned above. Besides, different other publications were also consulted to make the paper informative and objective oriented. Keywords: Globalization, Human Resource Development, Management of Human Resources, HR Challenges, HR Policies ; Strategies. INTRODUCTION: Globalization is the closer integration of the countries and peoples of the world brought about by the enormous reduction of costs of transportation and communication, and the braking down of artificial barriers to the flows of goods, services, capital, knowledge, and human resource across borders. Globalization as an effective instrument of international exchange of goods and services has to have a human face, based on ethical consideration rather than on cut throat competition. It should play a positive role in reducing economic and social disparities within and among, the nations. It should be also effective tool for improving sustainable development. In the era of globalization, with the increasing competition, locally or globally, organizations must become more adaptable, resilient, agile, and customer-focused to succeed. And within this change in environment, the HR professional has to evolve to become a strategic partner, an employee sponsor or advocate, and a change mentor within the organization. In order to succeed, HR must be a business driven function with a thorough understanding of the organization dig picture and be able to influence key decision and policies. In general, the focus of todays HR mangers is on strategic personnel retention and talents development. In todays aggressive global market it has become necessary for organization to expand internationally to gain competitive advantage. Globalization has forced organization and their human resources functions to redefine their strategies. It is necessary for the management to invest considerable time and amount, to learn the changing scenario of the Human Resource Department in the 21st century. In order to survive the competition and be in the race, HR Department should continuously update itself with the transformation in HR. Suitable HR Policies that would lead to the achievement of the organization as well as the individuals goals should be formulated. HR Practitioners of every organization and also for those who have significant interest in the area of Human Resource Management should realize the growing importance of human resource and understand the need to build up effective HR strategies. Peoples are important assets. Placing this value on employees, requires the organization to emphasize on human resource practice, including reward for superior performance, measures of employee atisfaction, careful selection of employees, promotion from within, and investment in employee development. Just taking care of employees would not be enough; new HR initiatives should also focus on the quality needs, customer-orientation, productivity and stress, team work and leadership building. The researcher has thrown light on the emerging HR trends and discusses HR issues in various industries like Financial Services , IT, Power, Healthcare etc. It is valuable for practicing HR managers of every organization and also for those who have a significant interest in the area of Human Resource Management, to realize the growing importance of human resource and understand the need to build up effective HR strategies to combat HR issues arising in the 21st century. INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF HRM The human resources management approach which has been gaining the attention of management professionals during the last decade has become the need of the hour due to various reasons. Widespread industrial unrest, growing trade union influence on work force, strained worker management relationship, increasing gulf between management and their people, emergence of militancy in trade unionism, and the growing conflict in the industrial relations scene have resulted in the workers getting out of gear of the management in many organizations in India. This has made the managements to think in terms of carrying their workers with them. Convincing the workers of the managements concern for them may, perhaps, go a long way in getting along with them and ensuring their better performance. This has naturally resulted in the present human resources movement. Humanization of work environment in countries like Japan, quality of work life movement in countries like United States, and the quality circles approach in India itself have initiated action to attain better organizational commitment among the work force. The human resources approach is in consistency with these movements. Changes in business environment have substantially affected the approach to manpower. Technological changes are prominent among them, computer revo1ution, introduction of microprocessor, CNC machines in manufacturing operations, mechanization and automation of office operations, quick communication systems like satellite communication and facsimile introduction or robots, electronic revolution, and such other new developments have revolutionized the vital areas of business. Operational efficiency or manpower must cope with such a revolutionary change in the technology which necessitated a new approach to manpower. Globalization of business is another important aspect of change which takes place in the business environment of today necessitating a human resources approach to manpower. It is not only those Indian firms operate and compete abroad, but they have to compete with multinationals and foreign firms in India itself. Business philosophy, skills, expertise, efficiency and particularly global corporate citizenship philosophy fostered by internationally successful firms necessitate Indian firms to deliberately update their perspective to suit the internationally emerging trends. In conformity with the human resources approach emerging globally, Indian managers must also foster a human resources philosophy to guide their management practices. A widespread feeling now influences at least some management practitioners that the technological development has gone to the extent of machines taking over the human jobs. For example: highly skilled milling, grinding and lathe machines are replaced by CNC machine tools which can take over, not only manual functions but even the intelligent human functions and Robots can lake up human functions in place of real human beings. Increasing influence of illusions tend to reduce the importance of human role. In fact no machine can replace man. The more the technological development, the greater would be the dependence on man. One simple error a computer makes can lead to havoc, where skill and intelligence of man are indispensable. Greater the technological development, greater skill and technical capability are required of people who operate. Obviously greater human approach to people would be required. Moreover installation, monitoring of machines, production, operation, maintenance and controlling the operations need large number of trained and skillful people. Technicians, repairers and service people are also necessary. The more the technical development and automation, the more would be the dependence on human beings. There would, therefore, be greater need for humane approach to manpower. Similarly use of more capital intensive methods would result in greater productivity of men necessitating greater motivating and greater human resources approach of management. Large scale production, increasing effects of recession, technical and technological developments and so on have opened up new training needs for the people at work. Human resources development programmes have therefore; become the need of the hour. Government policy of importing technology has also necessitated introducing new facilities and avenues for training and development. Fresh initiatives and emphasis on research and development in the realm of industry also led to a new policy of human resources development to cope with the increasing demand for technically capable people. Resultantly a need arose for a new approach to human resources.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Othello essays

Iago in Othello  Ã‚      In William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello we see a morally depraved character, perhaps a very mentally sick individual, named Iago. His personality and development during the play is the subject of this essay. In Shakespeare’s Four Giants Blanche Coles comments on the mental illness that appears to afflict the despicable Iago: When such old time critics as H. N. Hudson, who wrote nearly a hundred years ago, saw that Iago was not acting from revenge, one is more than surprised to find modern critics, who have had the advantage of the progress that has been made in the study of abnormal psychology, accepting Iago for anything but what he is, and what Shakespeare intended him to be – a psychopathic personality. (79) Evidence of his psychopathic personality is seen early in the play. He manipulates the wealthy Roderigo into awakening the senator Brabantio (â€Å"Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight†); and then he utters very offensive smutty lines about a black ram and white ewe, which indicate the way his sick mind operates. He seems to be motivated by love of money which he has been receiving from Roderigo for some time (â€Å"thou, Iago, who hast had my purse / As if the strings were thine†). Iago himself says that he is motivated by revenge on the Moor (â€Å"I follow him to serve my turn upon him†) because of the promotion of Michael Cassio to the lieutenancy. But regardless of the question of motivation, it is a fact that Iago hasn’t a single true friend in the play; in his disordered personality he can only manipulate or use people; he is incapable of loving them. His manipulation of his general repeats time and again from the first meeting: Nay, but he prated, And spoke such scurvy... ...eps due on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To the Propontic and the Hellespont,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Till that a capable and wide revenge   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Swallow them up. (3.3) Iago is so in control of the general’s contorted mind that he specifies how the Moor should kill Desdemona: â€Å"Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.† And the general dutifully responds, â€Å"Excellent good!† The enthusiastic answer causes one to suspect that the ancient’s psychopathology has taken possession of the Moor. WORKS CITED Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos. Coles, Blanche. Shakespeare’s Four Giants. Rindge, New Hampshire: Richard Smith Publisher, 1957.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Ethics: How Should I Live My Life Essay

April 15, 2011 How Should I Live? Immanual Kant vs. Jon Stuart Mill In their works â€Å"Principle of Utility† and the â€Å"Categorically Imperative† the philosophers Kant and Mill have addressed one of the most prominent questions humans have asked ourselves since the beginning of time; what are the fundamental moral principles that we should base our lives on? My intent is to show how each of these philosophers in their approach this subject yielding totally different results. I will compare and contrast and ultimately determine which of their philosophies I personally find better suited to my own way of life. I will also point out when sometimes you can have circumstances when they do not contradict each other. â€Å"Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure† Classics of Moral and Political Theory, 3rd edition p. 398). The purpose of the above passage is to define that the moral choice according to Mill. According to him when presented with a choice of actions to take, the correct and moral action is to choose the one which will produce in its consequences the greatest amount of pleasure and the least amount of pain in the world. To help understand his concept I present the following scenarios in which we would need to make a moral choice according to the above framework. Let’s suppose that while driving we are stopped at a traffic light and a couple of young kids ask you for a donation to help them make a trip to another state for their National Little League Championship. The outcome seems to depend on how much you need the money. If you were out of a job, struggling to make payments on the rent or food for example giving away your money will definitely decrease your own happiness more than it would increase the happiness of others. However if you have some disposableincome giving it away to the little league of baseball players would who need it more it would definitely increase their happiness, therefor increasing the total amount of happiness in the world as the Principle of Utility demands. Another scenario would be as follows. Imagine that you are harboring a fugitive that committed a petty crime but that you know without any doubt that he has the cure of a disease that currently kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. If this person gets caught by the police he would never have the chance to develop the cure. The police go to your house and ask you if you have seen the person in question. Now if you are following the Principle of Utility you have to consider the impact on the total amount of happiness each of the two possibilities, telling the police the truth or you telling them something else will bring about. If we examine what could happen if you tell the police the truth, we can see that the police’s happiness will be increased as the lack of pain from future victims of the fugitive’s crimes. But when we compare this against the happiness of the people whose lives will be saved by cure that the fugitive will be helping create we can see that in this case the greatest good will be done by telling the police that you have not seen the petty thief. In this case the long term effect of the decision helps make it a clear choice according to Mills. Long term consequences are also evident in the third scenario. In this scenario you find yourself witness of a horrible crime being committed, let’s say a rape. At first considering the demands of the Principle of Utility the choices are a little difficult to discern for if you choose to end the life of the rapist you are denying him much pleasure of the long term and causing him a lot of pain in the short term. Not doing so will also bring overall loss of pleasure by the victim and increase of pain would occur. Nevertheless if we consider the consequences of not only the short term but also the long term the death of the rapist would most likely spare many in the future from pain and trauma and preserving their opportunity for pleasure, and thus the Principle of Utility would demand that you take the rapist’s life to spare the lives of his victim and his other future ones as well. Let’s continue now to examine Kant’s Categorical Imperative. The first formulation of which is something that reminds me somewhat to the Golden Rule, â€Å"Do Unto Others as You Would Have Others Do Unto You. † (except the Golden Rule does not make for example a duty to be benevolent to others) â€Å"Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law. † (p. 851) Kant explains this by a series of example one of which goes something like this. If I run out of money I might be tempted to borrow some, even though I know I would be unable to repay it. I am acting on the maxim â€Å"Whenever I believe myself short of money, I will borrow money and promise to pay it back although I know that this will never be done† I cannot will that everyone should act on this maxim because if everyone asked for money but then would never pay it back nobody would believe the promise of the borrowers. A promise would lose its meaning. Therefore we could not borrow money under this circumstance as doing it would violate the categorical imperative Kant defines perfect duty as those which must be fulfilled under any circumstances and dictate a specific course of action; he defines imperfect duties as those which are more subject to circumstances and allow a certain degree of freedom in deciding how to comply with it. I see the difference between these duties as the one where are required by a society to function and those required by a society to be good and civil. Some actions are so constituted that their maxims cannot without contradiction even be thought as a universal law of nature, much less willed as what should become one. In the case of others this internal impossibility is indeed not found, but there is still no possibility of willing that their maxim should be raised to the universality of a law of nature because such a will would contradict itself. † He is trying to say that if it would be against o ne’s own interest for everyone to act on a particular maxim one cannot will the maxim to be universal as to make it universal it would go against one’s own interest. Let’s revisit the examples I gave earlier to see how our behavior would change if we let our actions be dictated by the Categorical Imperative. In the first scenario, whether to donate to the little league baseball team, it would seem that the fate of the team would be to never be able to travel as (assuming most of their finances come from donations) if people were never to donate to them any money, but none of that would prevent anyone who does have money from not donating to this club. This seems to indicate that donating to the little league baseball club is not a perfect duty. However it would be against one’s own interest for the whole world to be so stingy towards all little league baseball clubs or any other amateur sports clubs for that matter, so one could not will that to be the case and so donating to this club would be an imperfect duty. In the second scenario, whether to lie to the police about the hidden fugitive, following Kant’s Categorical Imperative is that one has a perfect duty to never lie, even in such situation. Let’s analyze that. According to Kant if everyone were to lie in an attempt to achieve some desirable result, even one as benefitting as saving hundreds of thousands of lives, the meaning of language would cease to be as people would start lying for anything they can think would be for the greater good at the end. The maxim in that case would be that you could lie as long as it was to save someone’s life (in this case the large number of sick people that would have been cured). If that maxim would become universal then we could no longer tell if anyone was telling the truth. Everyone would become untrustworthy communication between people would cease and therefore we would be unable to lie; in this case the categorical Imperative demands that we refrain from lying, even if doing so prevents from bringing about undesirable results. At the same time this still does not required us to always tell the truth; we can simply refrain from saying anything if telling the truth would violate another imperfect duty, and in my example it most definitely would since not speaking in this case (even though it may raise suspicion from the police) would be curing people of a disease all over the world a most noble imperfect duty. We can also apply the same line of reasoning to my third scenario, whether to kill a criminal to stop him from committing a horrible crime, in this case a rape. To allow killing to achieve a greater good would result in much killing all around, possibly resulting in oneself getting killed in the process and thus making impossibly for one to act at all. It seems that no one could will such anarchy to take place. Wecould modify the maxim here to say that killing is allowed if only to prevent another death, but what we are talking about ere is about the preservation of life, and as with the case of lying to the police, many people could by such a maxim feel themselves justified in killing others to achieve other ends that have nothing to do with stopping a crime. This would result in the anarchy described above so we cannot make it according to Kant a perfect duty but instead at least an imperfect one to not kill even when faced with the opportunity of preventing a crime. Kant’s second formulation of the Categorical Imperative is: Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end. † (p. 855). Here Kant states that if a maxim diminishes the freedom of choice of others, which he proclaims is one of the unconditional values of humanity, as a means to obtain other goods then that makes it an immoral maxim violating the definition of perfect duty. Anyone who uses deceptive or coercive methods to undermine the freedom of choice and action exercised by others also violates perfect duty. Looking at the first scenario again, whether to donate to the baseball club. If nobody donated any money it would not mean that you are using other people as a means to an end, you would be just ignoring them not using them at all, so donating is not a prefect duty as the failure of not doing so does not involve misusing other people. However refusing to donate to the little league is a failure to account for other people as ends themselves. People need to have means in order to exercise their will, so limited means makes it much harder for people to exercise their free will. Therefore if not donating would deprive them of resources, it would be a failure to account for the club’s members ability to freely act as an end of one’s own actions and so it makes it an imperfect duty to donate money to the little league baseball club. In the second scenario whether to lie to the police about the location of the fugitive, resource here is information. For an individual to act freely, he must have accurate information which means that if you lie to someone you are giving them information that is not valid thus not only depriving them of the resource they need to act freely but you are taking away the power they have to exercise their will. In this scenario lying to the police even with such good motive as getting a cure to a disease that will save hundreds and thousands of lives is to treat the police as a means to an end disregarding the right to exercise their free will. This make in this example a a perfect duty not to lie. However we can also see how there would be an imperfect duty not to tell the police where the fugitive is, for doing so would be a failure to take into account the fugitive as an end in themselves, getting caught and sent to jail would impede his ability to exercise his free will so according to Kant the correct choice in this case would be to refuse to talk to the police even when this would bring about suspicion and possibly further actions from the police. If we apply the second formulation of the Categorical Imperative to the third example it seems clear that killing another person, even a rapist, would certainly limit his ability to exercise their own will, so the Kant’s second formulation would require as a perfect duty not to kill the criminal even to save another person from being raped. So as we can see when we apply the principles from Kent and Mills we find ourselves following different path of actions. In my first example donating to the Little League Baseball Club both Kent and Mills proclaim that donating is the correct choice to make. But when analyzing the second and third example their philosophies start to disagree as what is the right thing to do. The Categorical Imperative is more rigid insisting that we must not lie to the police and we must not kill the rapist as it is a perfect duty in all cases. The Principle of Utility in contrast allows more room to apply our rational to consider the consequences. It allows certain actions such as lying and killing if it is for the greater good. What is the correct moral framework on which we should base our lives on? Even though I find aspects of each these systems commendable I believe that neither system has been perfectly created. The Principles of Utility relies heavily on the consequences of one’s actions to flag a course of action as correct or incorrect. Only by looking our action and their consequences in retrospect we can truly determine if the course of action taken was the correct one. If we had the luxury of foreseeing all consequences then it would be a perfect system but since we always have to make decisions without knowing the ramifications of our actions and most times we only have partial information it does not seem that one should base one’s life solely on the principles that Mills dictates. What is needed is a set of rules we can use to adapt our actions to that will always produce the biggest benefit or the least amount of harm in the long run even if in the short term produces consequences that are not as good as other course of action. The Categorical Imperative at first seems to be a good standard for behavior but at the end of my analysis I do not feel comfortable with the absolute rules where by following them we can find ourselves in a scenario where one cannot even lie to save a life let alone kill to prevent it. It just seems too open for abuse with great benefits by those who did not obeyed the laws akin to what I think would happen if our right to carry arms was taken away so law abiding citizens would not possess any arms but the criminals would, putting the rest of us in a very precarious situation unable to defend ourselves. At the end I align myself a little more with Mills, I would like to think that if I ever in the situation of the last example I gave I would have enough courage to try stop a rape from happening and any action up to an including killing the rapist would be defensible in court, of course I would prefer to be able to stop it from happening without to resorting to such extreme measures. If the basis of a free society is the right to liberty and property then our duty should be not just to not impede others to have it but to also defend others when their rights to either are being taken away. I have a have a personal duty to defend those in danger and to give those in need and even if not everyone adheres to thesemoral guidelines we will all be as a society better off as the general happiness will certainly reach a higher level.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Operation Torch

Reasons for Initiating Operation Torch – – The Allies planned to occupy Vichy France to prevent the land from being occupied by Axis; the invasion would eventually force Axis powers to fight a two-front war; also helped to diminish transportation of supplies to Axis forces; Key Personalities (Involvements) – – General Dwight D. Eisenhower – – Jean Francois Darlan – – Andrew Cunningham – Objective(s) of Operation Torch – – Allies planned to team up with Vichy France in North Africa in order to take Tunisia before Germans could occupy it from nearby Sicily.After invading North Africa and convincing the French to join the Allies, American and British forces planned to head directly to Sicily, invade, and move up to the core of Europe. Victory here would also allow the Allies to clear up the Mediterranean of Axis forces for their own personal use. Important Readings – from Earl Rice’s â€Å"Strate gic Battles in Europe† . . . – page 24: The Americans joined their British allies. Roosevelt's military advisers wanted to build up immediately for an invasion of the European mainland later in the year or early in 1943.Churchill and his counselors declared that an invasion of the continent so soon would be next to impossible because of insufficient time to assemble the necessary forces and too few available landing craft in which to haul them across the English Channel. Churchill and his advisors did not want to risk a failed invasion. – page 25: Churchill instead favored extending operations in North Africa, where British forces were already fighting. he argued that seizing North Africa and beyond would introduce American troops to the action, boost American morale and appease Stalin's demands for a second front.But Roosevelt's advisors were unreceptive to Churchill's plan and suggested redirecting U. S efforts to the Pacific Theater. In June 1942, Churchill to ld Roosevelt that Britain was both unable and unwilling to undertake the invasion of Europe in 1942 or even in 1943. Having already been driven from Norway, France and Greece by the Germans, the British (now page 26) intended to stay the next time they landed on the Continent. – page 26: Roosevelt accepted Churchill's proposal. Torch’s primary objective was to take Tunisia before the Germans could occupy it from nearby Sicily.The Anglo-American invasion force in the west would then move eastward to link up with Lieutenant General Bernard L. Montgomery’s British 8th army, advancing westward through Libya. Together the 2 Allied armies would form a vise within which to crush Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s 100,000-man German-Italian army in Libya, including his vaunted Afrika Korps. But first they had to deal with the French. https://www. diigo. com/list/audreym96/operation-torch SOURCE and Earl Rices â€Å"Stategic Battles in Europe†; Even though Stalin required that the Allies attack somewhere in Europe, Operation Torch was successful: the Allies gained a wide amount of land and the Suez Canal was saved. So what’s the importance of the Suez Canal, huh? The Suez Canal provided a short sea route between Britain and Middle East oil supplies, and its imperial colonies in Asia and the Far East. It enabled the Allies to move supplies,men,equipment,fuel,and raw materials around the world to where they were needed much more quickly than if they had had to sail around the southern tip of Africa,which would have made them much more vulnerable to U-boat attack.Why the British cared SO much about North Africa? – When the second World War broke out, there were many soldiers from many different nations in Cairo. The Italians were there, but there were really no serious attempts to help Mussolini by them. The only real enemies in Cairo were the Germans. The British secret police watched them very carefully. There was a political r aid in which the British caught German spies that had come to Cairo with money, a radio transmitter and a house boat on the Nile.Because the English were unable to ship all of their supplies in from Britain, they trained and employed thousands of Egyptians in various trades. Some were mechanics, electricians, drivers, engineers and even lens grinders. They repaired military equipment and even built trains and machinery. Egypt started to weave their own cloth out of silk and wool. Advances were made in mining, cement, petroleum refining and chemical industries. In Egypt, the British spent over ten million pounds every year. In July of 1942, the British were pushed back almost to Alexandria.Rommel stopped at Alamein because his troops were exhausted and almost out of supplies. The British rushed to Cairo. Soldiers were sent to various places to train while other got ready to retreat from the city. The British officers went to the banks to try to get their money while at the British he adquarters, vital papers were burned. This scare changed Cairo to a point where it would never be the same again. Montgomery took over the Eighth Army in the desert and moved them to Alamein. He won this battle in October or November of 1942.After this battle, Egypt lost most of the fantasy and glamour that had been year during the years of occupation. Now the city settled down to the first order of business, national liberation. http://www. touregypt. net/hbritish. htm SOURCE ALGERIA AND MOROCCO – http://www. ushmm. org/wlc/en/article. php? ModuleId=10007303 Operation Torch, the Algeria-Morocco military campaign, began on November 8, 1942, and ended on November 11, 1942. US and British forces, commanded by American General Dwight D. Eisenhower, carried out this campaign.Three task forces landed on the beaches near Casablanca on the Moroccan Atlantic Coast; near Oran in western Algeria; and near Algiers, more than 250 miles to the east in Algeria. Although Vichy French forces initially resisted, a coup d'etat by the French resistance in Algiers on November 8 neutralized the French XIX Corps before the Allied landing. General Mark Clark, Eisenhower's deputy, induced Admiral Jean Francois Darlan, Vichy High Commissioner for North Africa, and General Alphonse Juin, the commander of the Vichy French armed orces in North Africa, to order French forces to cease armed resistance in Oran and Morocco on November 10–11. In return for his cooperation, Darlan temporarily remained head of the French administration as the French forces in North Africa joined the Allies. The Allied landings triggered the German occupation of the unoccupied zone of France and the rapid dispatch of German troops to Tunisia. To avoid capture of their Mediterranean Fleet by the Germans, the Vichy French scuttled it in the harbors of Toulon on November 27, 1942. By the end of November, the Allies had crossed the Tunisian border in the northwest.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Definition and Examples of Therapeutic Metaphor

Definition and Examples of Therapeutic Metaphor Definition A therapeutic metaphor is a  metaphor (or figurative comparison) used by a therapist to assist a client in the process of personal transformation, healing, and growth. Joseph Campbell attributed the broad appeal of metaphor to its inherent ability to establish or recognize connections, especially those connections that exist between emotions and past events (​The Power of Myth, 1988). In the book Imagery and Verbal Process (1979), Allan Paivio metaphorically characterized a therapeutic metaphor as a solar eclipse that hides the object of study and at the same time reveals some of its most salient and interesting characteristics when viewed through the right telescope. See Examples and Observations below. Also see: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a MetaphorWhat Is a Metaphor? Examples and Observations Where description is the main function of a literary metaphor, altering, reinterpreting, and reframing are the main goals of the therapeutic metaphor. In order to achieve these, the therapeutic metaphor must evoke both the imagistic familiarity of the literary metaphor and a relational familiarity based on a sense of personal experience. The story itselfthe characters, events, and settingsmust speak to the common life experience of those listening, and it must do so in language that is familiar. An example from a modern fairy tale might be The Wizard of Oz (Baum, 1900), which functions as a metaphor for the common theme of searching for magical solutions somewhere outside the self. The image of a wicked witch, a good witch, a tinman, scarecrow, lion, and wizard all depict aspects of the listeners experience as mirrored in Dorothy.(Joyce C. Mills and R. J. Crowley, Therapeutic Metaphors for Children and the Child Within. Psychology Press, 2001) Extended Metaphors[T]herapists can corro borate the aptness of a metaphor [by helping to] construct a chain, to assist in weaving an elaborate web of correspondences that tease out additional ramifications and add new dimensions. Rather than presenting metaphors of their choosing, therapists can try to emphasize the raw material presented by clients, and, if possible, use the lead established by them to spin out further connections. In this fourth manner, they can exploit a natural aspect of language, lexico-semantic cohesion, as a strategy to densely layer semantic associations in jointly constructed extended metaphor.(Kathleen Ferrara, Therapeutic Ways With Words. Oxford University Press, 1994) The Power of Storytelling[T]he concept of therapeutic story-telling . . . [emphasizes] the power of metaphor to slip past the defences of the conscious mind.Such practitioners have little acquaintance with literary historyotherwise they would surely have recognized that their therapeutic metaphor amounts to little more than a relabelling of the time-honoured genres of allegory and fable. What is new is their highly individualised focus. Therapeutic stories, they maintain, must be constructed specifically to suit the emotional dynamics of individuals.(Hugh Crago, Bibliotherapy and Psychology. International Companion Encyclopedia of Childrens Literature, 2nd ed., edited by Peter Hunt. Routledge, 2004)

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

David Koresh, Leader of Deadly Branch Davidians Cult

David Koresh, Leader of Deadly Branch Davidians Cult David Koresh (August 17, 1959–April 19, 1993) was the charismatic leader of a religious sect known as the Branch Davidians. During a deadly standoff in Waco, Texas with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), Koresh and more than 80 of his followers were killed. Early Years David Koresh (born Vernon Wayne Howell) was born in Texas to a fourteen-year-old mother. He never knew his father, who broke up with his mother before she gave birth. The young Koresh Howells mother later moved in with a violent and abusive man. When Koresh was four years old, he was sent to be raised by his maternal grandmother, but when he was seven, his mother got married and he went back to live with her and her new husband. However, he still attended religious services regularly with his grandmother, who took him to her Seventh Day Adventist church. As a teenager, Koresh struggled with dyslexia and was placed in special education classes. He was considered awkward and unpopular. He dropped out of school before his senior year of high school, and in his early twenties, he committed statutory rape, resulting in a 15-year-old girls pregnancy. He was later thrown out of his mother’s evangelical church after pursuing the pastor’s teenage daughter and saying that God had ordered him to marry her. By the early eighties, he moved to Waco, where he joined the Branch Davidians at their Mount Carmel Center. Within a year or so, Koresh was claiming to have the gift of prophecy. Sygma via Getty Images / Getty Images The Branch Davidians When Koresh joined the Branch Davidians, it is believed he was involved in a sexual relationship Lois Roden, the wife of Branch Davidian founder Benjamin Roden. Koresh said that God wanted him to father a child with Lois, who was 65 years old at the time, and that this child would be the â€Å"chosen one.† His interest in Lois soon waned, however, and in 1984 he claimed that God wanted him to marry a 14 year old named Rachel Jones. In 1984, Jones parents gave her permission to marry Koresh, who had at this point adopted the Koresh name (though he would not change it legally until 1990). After escalated infighting between Koresh and the Roden family, particularly Lois’ son George, Koresh and Jones left in 1995, along with 25 other members of the group. They moved to Palestine, Texas, 90 miles away from Waco, and lived in buses and tents for several years. Koresh used this period to recruit new members, not only from Texas but from California, Israel, and the United Kingdom. Following Lois Roden’s death., Koresh and George Roden found themselves battling for control of the Waco compound. George challenged Koresh to a spiritual duel of sorts, involving the resurrection of a corpse. Koresh took advantage of the opportunity to go to law enforcement and get George out of the way once and for all. He was told he’d need to provide evidence that George had illegally exhumed a dead body, and when he and seven supporters arrived at the compound, a gunfight erupted. George Roden was injured, and Koresh and his men were arrested. When they explained that they were on the property to gather evidence of abuse of a corpse, they were acquitted of the charges of attempted murder.   In 1989, George Roden was himself charged with murder after killing one of his own supporters with an axe (the man had claimed to be the true Messiah). Once Roden was sent to a psychiatric prison, Koresh and his followers were able to raise the money to purchase the Waco property themselves. Accusations of Abuse There were repeated accusations against Koresh of statutory rape and â€Å"spiritual marriages with underage women. Koresh claimed to have fathered children with several women and girls in the group; he said he had received a revelation from God, telling him to father two dozen children to serve as leaders once the Rapture came. There were also claims that Koresh and other members of the group were physically abusing children. One incident involved the beating of Koresh’s three-year-old son Cyrus. A lengthy investigation by Child Protective Services was launched. Michelle Jones, one of the alleged victims, was assigned a surrogate husband to throw investigators off the trail. The investigators ultimately failed to turn up any concrete evidence. Meanwhile, Koresh and his followers had begun stockpiling weapons, forming an â€Å"Army of God,† to prepare for the apocalypse. Koresh claimed to have cracked the code of the Book of Revelations and warned that the End Times were near. Shelly Katz / Getty Images The Waco Standoff In February 1993, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) went to the Waco compound to serve a warrant for illegal firearms and take Koresh into custody. The raid turned into a four-hour gunfight. At its conclusion, four ATF agents and six of Koresh’s followers were dead. This led to a standoff, which lasted 51 days.   Did You Know? In the years since Waco, law enforcement officials have spent time studying the failed raid and the standoff itself in an effort to determine what went wrong. As a result, several changes have been made to federal law enforcement protocols in cases of hostage situations.   Negotiators from the ATF and the FBI worked endlessly to end the standoff, and a few of the Branch Davidian members were able to exit the compound safely. However, more than 80 men, women, and children, remained inside.  The ATF and the FBI used tear gas in an effort to end the siege. In response, the Branch Davidians continued the gunfire. As a result, the compound caught on fire. A few people managed to escape the fire, but 76 were killed. Most died when the compound collapsed during the blaze, while others were killed by gunshot wounds, including Koresh, who was found shot in the head. It has never been determined whether Koresh killed himself, or whether he was shot by another member of the group. Nearly two dozen of the dead were under the age of 17.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Response to at least 3 student's postings with 2 references each Coursework

Response to at least 3 student's postings with 2 references each - Coursework Example Nancy’s post compares democracies in the United States and in Australia, identifying similarity in their governmental structures and administrative organization into states. It however identifies the Australian system as a constitutional monarch and the United States’ as a federal republic. I agree with Nancy’s post on federalism and people’s sovereignty in the American system as entrenched in the nation’s constitution (Wilson, Diiulio and Bose, 2012). Similarly, the writer’s idea of federalism and monarchy in Australia is valid (Robbers, 2006). Alfred explores Panama’s government system with the aim of demonstrating its level of democracy. The post further discusses similarities and differences between the system and the United States’ such as similar branches of government and roles of presidents. It however reflects differences in the nation’s legislature. I agree with Alfred’s post on the American bicameral legislative system (Wilson, 2011). The writer’s post on panama’s reliance on United States policies is also supported by the American historical involvement in Panama’s governance that indicates a significant degree of democracy in Panama (Harding,

Friday, November 1, 2019

Is there a connection between mortality and religion Research Paper

Is there a connection between mortality and religion - Research Paper Example But does religiosity translate into biological mechanisms which affect the rates of survival?—this is the moot question that remains to be answered by the researchers. The popular belief is the healthy body goes with the healthy mind. Only a moral/religious/spiritual individual can have a healthy mind. Religious practices are meant to combat the negative thoughts. In spiritual texts of all religions, one comes across parables related to long-life and such people adopted healthy practices in their day to day living. Physical wellbeing and religious belief is like the scale of justice. Both arms of the scale are equally important to get at the equilibrium. In one’s life, they must run like a train that speeds on two parallel tracks. Ralph W. Hood, Jr., et.al (2009, p.181) writes, â€Å"Some impressive research has examined the relationship between mortality and religious involvement†¦..The results showed that frequent attendees lived longer than infrequent attendees. Apparently, the former were more likely to cease smoking, engage in exercise, remain married, and maintain their social connections.† To put it in the terms of a laym an, a well-disciplined individual will live longer than a man with negative tendencies and habits. Brian Thomas in article â€Å"New Study Makes Connection Between Religion and Lower Mortality,† concludes that women performing religious service with regularity lived 20 percent longer than those who did not, as per the recent study. Some of the specific revelations in support of connection between mortality and religion are: Exodus 20:12: â€Å"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.† To explain this further, one who adheres to this commandment lives the disciplined life. Principle of God-fearing is a positive approach to life-situations and such positivity contributes to peace which is conducive to long span of life. Proverbs

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Ethics of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Research Paper

Ethics of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning - Research Paper Example These include aspects relating to safety of real human beings such that they will not pose risks and moral status of the devised machines in reasoning well as expected of person undertaking a given certain task (Bostrom, & Yudkowsky, 2011). In this case, Artificial Intelligence (AI) especially in the field of machines focuses on imparting devices relevant ethical principles or a certain procedures that will enable them discover as well as resolve dilemmas, which they might experience while undertaking their respective tasks. Hence, making them behave or function ethically with the aid of their complex programmed decision-making processes. This study seeks to analyze and present an in deep understanding, comparing of artificial intelligence in the field of machine learning and highlighting certain philosophical implications mostly used relating to human conduct, for instance, morals. Artificial general Intelligence Currently, machines owing to their complex advancements over years hav e resulted to tackling varied and even intricate tasks challenging to human beings. However, this breakthrough has not prompted professionals especially in the field of machines rest but even work more to rectify significant shortcomings evident in robots and similar devices (Bostrom, & Yudkowsky, 2011). ... This is because of their limited inherent Classical artificial intelligence whereby in their quest to equal humanity ought to embrace varied networks integrated in them (Muller, 2012). For instance, these include neural networks, universal algorithms, cognitive science, mathematical methods, emergence behavioral robotics, interactive devices besides others supposed to enhance refined capabilities (Muller, 2012). References Bostrom, N. & Yudkowsky, E. (2011). Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved on 13Th October 2013 from Grodzinsky, F. S., Miller, K. W., & Wolf, M. J. (2008). The ethics of designing artificial agents. Ethics and Information Technology, 10(2-3), 115-121. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10676-008-9163-9. Muller, V. (2012). Introduction: Philosophy and Theory of Artificial Intelligence. Minds & Machines. pp. 67-69. DOI:

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Conversation Analysis In A Real Conversation English Language Essay

Conversation Analysis In A Real Conversation English Language Essay In the previous chapter, discourse analysis has been discussed. In this chapter, we are going to talk about conversation analysis, which is one of the approaches to analyze discourse. 8.1.1 What is Conversation Analysis? People are interested in understanding how social interaction work. Linguists discover the ways in which how social interaction are organized, they tried to describe and analyze those features appeared in conversation; they use scientific methods to examine the phenomena. Conversation Analysis is a systematic study established by the American pioneers, Harvey Sacks, Emanuel A. Schegloff, and Gail Jefferson. According to Hutchby and Wooffitt (2008), how is a normal conversation organized, how do people arrange their conversation in daily social interaction, and what is the role of conversation in between each participants, are the major subject matter of this chapter. 8.1.2 Why do we need Conversation Analysis? Conversation analysis represents a methodological approach to the study of social communication (Psathas, 1995). At the fundamental level, conversation analysis is the study of talk. It studies the natural and authentic conversation in real life situations, especially to determine turn-taking organization, silence and repairing problem, sequence of utterances and transcription. The term interaction could apply to numbers of social encounters. For instance, a teacher chatting with students in a staff room is one kind of interaction; others included a doctor asking patient for the illnesses, a professor attending to a formal academic exchange meeting, or a woman chit-chat with the shop-keeper during she buys vegetables at the supermarket, and there are dozens of examples showing that people are involved in different contexts of conversation. 8.1.3 Maxims of Conversation In the field of linguistics, even more specifically in the area of pragmatics and discourse analysis, scholar introduced an important concept: maxims of conversation. It is the unwritten rules that govern people to make an appropriate conversation. The basic description of Grices cooperative principle govern how people ordinarily react in conversations: Be true, be brief, be relevant and be clear. 8.2.1 Turn-taking Organization in Conversation Turn-taking is one of the most critical and noticeable aspects of conversational structure. Harvey Sacks (1995), who the founder of the conversational analytic system, hold the view that the basic small unit of the conversation is turn. We are going to look at some fundamental features about turns (or floors) in order to discover how turns can be allocated. Furthermore, in a normal, polite, Western-styled conversation, participants do not keep on speaking all the time, as to demonstrates patience, cooperation, social etiquette in a conversation, they will wait for their turn to speak. Liddicoat (2007) indicated that speakers keep changing in a conversation: when A is finished, it is Bs turn to talk. Consequently when B has finished speaking, A take turn again. 8.2.2 How does turn-taking works? Schegloff, Sacks Jefferson (1974) introduced a set of turn-taking rules for people who involved in conversation can manage turn transition and turn allocation easily. The turn-taking rules are set for distinguishing who should take the turn at the next transition relevance place (TRP). A transition-relevance place (TRP) takes place at the completion of an utterance; it is the change-of-turn place (Wang, 2011). The turn-taking rules are ordered as the following: If a speaker is selected by the current speaker, then that speaker must take the turn at the next transition relevance place. Example Venus: Where should we go now, turn left or turn right?Winnie. Winnie: Erà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I dont know, I am sorry. In this situation, A pass the turn to B by asking a question. If, however, no next speaker is selected, then any other participant in the conversation may self-select to take the role and start speaking. Example Venus: Where should we go now, turn left or turn right? Hailey: I know. Venus: Yes? Hailey. Hailey: uhà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I suppose we should turn left. If no other speaker self-selects to take the role, the current speaker may then continue to talk again. Example Venus: Which is the correct direction to go, left or right? Winnie, Joanna, Hailey: (Silence) Venus: No one knows? Venus: uhà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Ok, turn right then. Speakers will indicate their willingness to stop by using signals, such as turning their gaze to someone in the conversation, or using body languages and gestures, in order to stop and let others continue. Also, they may soften their speech, lengthen the last syllable of a sentence or use some discourse markers e.g. you know, as you see or sort of things etc. If certain markers are showed by the current speaker, another participant will then take over the conversation. There are two types of signals or markers. Implicit markers Most of the time, people use body languages, sometimes prosodic features such as falling tone and rising tone can also be used. Example 1 Have you noticedà ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ that? Example 2 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ Cant you see the dolphin? Explicit markers These are different kinds of linguistic features to invite people give response. a) Suggestion Turn-taking by making some suggestions. Example Shall we go to Lamma Island on this Tuesday? b) Request Current speaker may make a request the others. Example Could you please tell me about your journey? c) Question Current speaker will asks question in order to draws people attention and encourage others to get involved. Example We go to Barcelona in the coming Easter, what do you think, darling? 8.2.3 Gaps and Overlaps in Turn-taking Jerfferson (1983) have proposed some of the organizational features of gaps and overlapping. As we mentioned before, turn-taking can be visibly signaled by using body languages and gestures, however, it can also be marked by overlapping (Hutchby Wooffitt, 1998; Schegloff, Sacks Jefferson, 1974). If two or more people are speaking at the same time, overlapping will occur when the next speaker start talking when the current speaker has just completed a thought only, but still decide to continue (Schegloff, Sacks Jefferson 1974). Gaps may be treated as signs of trouble, for example, that the upcoming turn such as disagreements and repairs (Levinson, 1983). Gaps in conversation occur very frequently, such as telephone conversation. Example 1 Joanna: Well, will you help me for these. Hailey: I certainly will give you a hand. Example 2 Hailey: Why dont you come and join me tonight at the party. Winnie: Sure, I would like to. When the next speaker self-selects at a transition-relevance place, but a current speaker would like to add additional information into the completed utterance, overlaps will also occur. Example 3 Hailey: That was a romantic weekend, uh..Ven- Venus. Venus: Im glad you enjoyed your time. Example 4 Winnie: The party should be around seven or so Venus: Well, do you have an extra bed at your place? 8.3 Repairs As Schegloff (1979) said, Repair is defined as the mechanism by which trouble in speaking, hearing, and understanding is claimed and resolved. 8.3.1 Different kinds of conversation repair Repair can be classified by who initiates repair, such as self or other, and by who solves them, such as self or other (Wikipedia: Conversation Analysis, n. d.). Repair therefore can be divided into four types. They are self-initiated self repair, other-initiated self repair, self-initiated other repair and other-initiated other repair. 8.3.1.1 Self-initiated self repair According to Wang (2011), the speaker initiates the mistake or something unknown in his conversation and he repairs it by himself, which is called self-initiated and self repair. Example Ruby: What have you done at the weekend? LiXun: I go toà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦erà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦have gone to see a movie. In the example, LiXun initiates that he uses the wrong tense so he changes go into have gone immediately. 8.3.1.2 Other-initiated self repair Not only the speaker himself can initiate his mistake, but other speakers also can do so. The speaker himself will repair it. This situation is called other-initiated self repair. The same situation as what mentioned above. The situation is changed. Ruby: What have you seen? LiXun: I go to see a movie. Ruby: (surprised) What do you mean? LiXun: I said I have gone to a movie. In this example, LiXun does not initiate that he uses the wrong tense. Ruby however dose. She reminds LiXun to repair. 8.3.1.3 Self-initiated other repair Self-initiated other repair is absolutely opposite to other-initiated self repair. The speaker himself initiates what should be repaired but he fails to repair it. The others help him to repair. Example Ruby is going on talking with LiXun. Ruby: Then what have you seen? LiXun: A movie, er, adapted from a magic fiction, er, so famous. I forget the nameà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Its writer is J.K. Rowling. Ruby: Aha. I see. Its Harry Potter. LiXun: Yes, that is! Thanks. In this example, LiXun fails to remember the name of the movie in the conversation. Even though he knows the detail of the movie, he still cannot tell Ruby what he has seen. The detail which he gives however reminds Ruby of the name of the movie. This situation is defined as self-initiated other repair. 8.3.1.4 Other-initiated other repair In other-initiated other repair, the speaker even does not initiate what he has to repair. Others initiate it and repair for the speaker. You can learn from the following example. Example LiXun wants to go on their conversation. LiXun: What about you, Ruby? Ruby: Er, I think we have to go to the lecture room. Otherwise, we will be late for the lecture. LiXun: Lets go to D1-LP-02. Ruby: No, we are going to D1-LP-04. Ruby initiates what LiXun says is wrong in the conversation and repairs what he fails to say. 8.4 Attributable silences Silence plays an important role in our speech. As stated by Jaworski (1993, p.3), The main common link between speech and silence is that the same interpretive processes apply to someones remaining meaningfully silent in discourse as to their speaking. Jaworski (1993) also suggests that silence has positive and negative value in a speech. His words indicated various silences of different situation perform different functions. 8.4.1 Function of silence Jeasen (1973) suggested that there are five function of silence in speech. The functions he points out are the following: a judgmental function, a linkage function, an affecting function, a revelation function and an activating function. All of the five functions are what we are going to focus on. 8.4.1.1 Judgmental silence According to Jeasen (1973), silence may indicate ones attitude towards the topic he is talking about. Silence can tell whether he supports or he objects the idea. Example LiXun is talking a boring topic with Ruby. LiXun: I think chemistry is so amazing! Ruby: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Smiles and says nothing) LiXun: Wow! You see the chemistry formulaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (He goes on talking excitedly.) Ruby: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Still keeps silent) Its apparent that Ruby holds opposite attitude to what LiXun is talking about. So she keeps silent for politeness. 8.4.1.2 Linkage silence Jeasen (1973) stated that silence is able to bring two or more people together or to separate them. It brings further effects on the speakers in the speech. We are familiar with the following situation. Two good friends misunderstood each other. Every time when they see each other they just keep silent. They, sooner or later, will become strangers. Because of silence, they fail to know what the other thinks. As the time goes by, they are separated by silence. This kind of silence separates people. 8.4.1.3 Affective silence Jeansen (1973) holds the opinion that silence can heal or wound someone. It is believed that silence shows your attitude towards the topic of the conversation, as well as your attitude towards the speakers. For example, people always keep silence when they are talking to someone they dislike. The silence usually wound the speakers. 8.4.1.4 Revelatory silence Revelatory silence is an interesting one. Jeasen (1973) said that there may be some information behind the silence. It, meanwhile, may be known to the speakers or the listeners. What the silence actually means depends on the relationship between the speakers. You can see in the following example. If two closed friends, especially girls, are gossiping, they will keep silence when they are met someone who they are talking about. In this example, the silence conveys a warning. 8.4.1.5 Activating silence Jeasen (1973) indicated that this kind of silence may bring some deep thoughtful signal. It also may bring mental inactive signal. While we are talking, our mind keeps on thinking. A silence is able to show the deep mind of the speakers. As you can see, when we are consulting with the professors, they usually lead us to thinking deeply. The professors, therefore, choose to be silence when we are talking our ideas. The silence can be considered as an encouragement, an agreement or an appreciation. 8.5 Sequence of Conversation 8.5.1 Adjacency Pairs Adjacency pair is the sequence of conversation. It includes two parts which are produced near another (Hutchby Wooffitt, 1998) and is the smallest unit of conversational exchange. Basic form of adjacency pair (Schegloff, 2007): First, adjacency pair involves two utterances. Once the first utterance is spoken, the second is required. Second, each utterance is produced by two different speakers. Third, pairs are adjacently placed. Fourth, pairs of utterances are ordered. They are separated into two parts. They are the first pair parts (FPPs) and the second pair parts (SFFs). For instance, given a question is followed by an answer, then the question is the FPPs and the answer is the SPPs. Lastly, they are pair-type related. Here are some example of some types of adjacency pairs (Wang, 2011): Question à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ answer [At the supermarket] Hailey: Can I get some help over here? I cant get that tin of sardines. Shop-keeper: Ill be right here to help you. Invitation / request à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ acceptance / declination [In Winnies birthday] Joanna: Would you like to dance with me, please? Winnie: Yes. Greeting à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ return greeting Hailey: Good morning. Joanna: Morning. Offer à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ acceptance / rejection [In the library] Liberian: May I help you find something? Venus: No thanks, I can find it by myself. Compliment à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ acceptance Venus: Your dress looks very lovely. Winnie: Thank you. I just brought it from HM. 8.5.1.2 Transition of sequence There are different types of transition of sequence. 8.5.1.2.1 Adjacency/ Nextness To verbalize a turn-constructional unit, every word ought to be placed one by one (Schegloff, 2007). (8.5.1.2.1.a) Ben : Good morning. Bob : Good morning. In the above conversation, Ben greets Bob and then Bob returns the greeting to Ben immediately. (8.5.1.2.1.b) Ben :Would you like to have a lunch? Bob : No, thanks. Ben : How about a drink? The above conversation is called exchange as it includes three utterances. The IRF pattern are initiation, response and follow-up (Wang, 2011). 8.5.1.2.2 Counters Counter means one does not answer SPP directly after one asks a FPP, instead he/she direct the FPP back to the asker (Schegloff, 2007). In this case, SSP given is being delayed. (8.5.1.2.2.a) (Tarpee, 1991:1) 1 Kate : F Æ’Â   What is it? 2 Emily : F Æ’Â   You guess what it is first. 3 (0.2) 4 Kate : S Æ’Â   Pumpkin. 5 Emily : Yes, it is. In the conversation, Kate asks a question (FFP) in line 1, however, Emily does not answer it in return, and instead she redirects the question back to Kate (the asker) to answer. (line2) (8.5.1.2.2.b) (Scheflen, 1961:114, as adapted in Peyrot, 1994:17) 1 Seth : F Æ’Â   Do you love me? 2 Candy : F Æ’Â   Do you think so? 3 Seth : Sure. 4 Candy : But I dont. In the conversation, Candy does not answer Seths question directly. Instead, she answers the question with an insertion of a question-answer exchange. 8.5.2 Pre-expansion Pre-expansion means adding a part before an exchange (FPs and SPs). According to Schegloffs, pre-expansion is expanding the conversation by adding preliminary question in front of the FFP (Schegloffs, 2007). 8.5.2.1 Pre-invitation Before giving an invitation, you need to be sure that he or she is available or not. So, you need to ask some preliminary questions. For example, by asking What are you doing?, if you want one to accept your invitation, you expect the answer to be no; vice versa. (8.5.2.1) (Jefferson G.3:1) (Arthur is the caller; Sylvia is answering to the phone) 1 Sylvia : Hello. 2 Arthur : Hello, how are you? 3 Sylvia : Fine, thanks. 4 Arthur : F(pre)Æ’Â   What are you doing? 5 Sylvia : S(pre)Æ’Â   Nothing. 6 Arthur : F(b) Æ’Â   Do you want a drink? 7 Sylvia : S(b) Æ’Â   Yes, why not? Arthur asks what Sylvia is doing to see if she is free or not. With the go-ahead response of Sylvia (line 5) indicating she is free, Arthur continues to invite her as he knows she is free with the pre-sequence asked at line 4. Finally, Sylvia accepts his invitation. 8.5.2.1 Pre-offer Pre-offer is similar to pre-invitation. It aims to provide the need to someone beforehand. (8.5.2.2.a) 1 Sylvia : Oh, I tear the sheet mistakenly. 2 Arthur : 3 Sylvia : I think I need to buy a tape. 4 Arthur : I have one. 5 Sylvia : Really? 6 Arthur : Do you want it? 7 Sylvia : Sure. From the example, Arthur gives the pre-offer (line 4) to Sylvia after knowing she needs a tape. At line5, when she says Really?, it is a go-ahead response to pre-sequence. Lastly, when Arthur makes the offer, she accepts. 8.5.3 Preference There are different types of responses during exchanges. For instance, when greeting, one says hello to you and you are supposed to reply with a greeting too. Nevertheless, when one asks you a question, you may have different answers which can be preferred or dispreferred by the asker. Like an invitation, the reply can be positive or negative. Nonetheless, an answer with yes does not mean it is a prefered response. According to Schegloff, If the question is built to prefer yes, then no is a dispreferred response, even if delivered without delay and in turn-initial position, vise versa (Schegloff, 1988 c:453). 8.5.3.1 Types of responses There are two types of responses. The first one is preferred responses, which means answers are given positively. Another is dispreferred responses, which means answers are given negatively. In fact, there are some hints indicating the preferred status of a turn. When answering directly and without any delay: Example: Janice : Do you want to go swimming Jill : Yes, I do. Moreover, there are some other hints indicating the dispreferred status of a turn. a) When answering indirectly: Example: Janice : Are you free on Monday? Jill : Well, I need to do my homework, and b) When answering with delay: Example: Hesitation such as Well, Um, Erà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 8.6 Conversation Transcription Transcription of conversation is very essential for analyzing conversation .It should be produced preceding conversation analysis, because it is used as a referential tool for the analysis of conversation (Psathas, 1995). 8.6.1 Tools used for recording A naturally occurring conversation is usually recorded by video recorders these days. Hence, apart from recording the conversation, body languages, gestures as well as facial expressions can also be recorded. These features are very crucial as they allow the relationship between speech and body movement to be observed (Psathas, 1995). 8.6.2 Procedures involved in transcription In fact, the recordings mentioned in 8.6.1 are done by analysts themselves. After producing the recordings, analysts listen to the recordings repeatedly by themselves. Once analysts repeatedly listen to the tape, they can focus on the phenomena that are very crucial for conversation analysis (Hutchby, Wooffitt, 2008). 8.6.3 Characteristics of conversation transcription Conversation transcription is not simply a piece of writing with words and sentences exchanged by the speakers. However, it includes many other different features as well. The information listed below should be included in a transcript (Wang, 2011). Information about the participants Words spoken Sound uttered Inaudible sound Overlapping speech Stretch, stresses, volume Different transcription symbols will be introduced as follows: 1. Latching When latching occurs in a conversation between two people, two = will be placed in the transcript when the second speaker speaks just after the first speaker speaks. The first = will be placed right behind the transcription of the first speaker, while the second one is placed in front of the transcript of the second speaker (Psathas, 1995). Example Mary: Im hungry= Peter: =You never feel full Latching by more than one speaker is represented similarly to latching by two speakers. A = is put after the transcription of the first speaker, but a =[[ is placed in front of the transcription of two speakers instead of = (Psathas, 1995). Example Hailey: Im hungry= Joanna: =[[You never feel full Venus: =[[So do I Latching by more than one speaker can also occur in a way that two speakers end their conversation at the same time and immediately the third speaker speaks. (Psathas, 1995) Example Venus: Im very very [hungry]= Hailey: [hungry] Joanna: =So do I. In this case, the Mary and Peter end their conversation at the same time and then Paul immediately speaks. 2. Audible breathing Exhalations are represented by an h or more than one h while inhalations are represented by .h or more than one .h (Psathas, 1995). Usually, exhalation expresses tiredness or sadness. Example Joanna: I havent finished my Wiki-book project yet hhhh! As for inhalation, it usually indicates surprise or nervousness. Example Venus: .hhh Im going to have my linguistics exam tomorrow. Sound stretch Sound stretch means lengthening the sound. When speakers would like to strengthen their tone, sound stretch occurs. One colon denotes that the precedent sound is lengthened, while more than 1 colon means a more lengthened sound (Psathas, 1995). Example Hailey: I am so:::: hungry Venus: I know (.) I can hear that some sounds coming out from your stomach. Intonation Throughout a conversation, there must be rises and falls in the intonation of speakers (Psathas, 1995). A rise in intonation An arrow pointing upwards is put just prior to the rise in intonation (Psathas, 1995). Example Joanna: Would you like to have dinner with me? Venus: à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬ËœYes, sure. A fall in intonation An arrow pointing downwards is put just behind the fall in intonation (Psathas, 1995). Example Hailey: Would you like to have dinner with me? ((gap)) Venus:à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Yes(0.9)if Im free tonight. Stress When speakers want to emphasize something, they will speak the words more loudly and lengthen the words. The emphasized word is underlined (Psathas, 1995). Example Hailey: I almost got full marks for my linguistics exam, will I be awarded something, Mum? Venus: Sure (0.9) Ill buy a reference book for you to study so that you can get full marks next time. Pitch A Fall in pitch To show a fall in pitch, the vowel of the word should be underlined, and a colon is added just behind the underlined vowel (Psathas, 1995). Example Hailey: I was awarded a reference boo:k(0.8) for having good results in the exam.. Joanna: If you were awarded the newly released photo album of Rain, you would have been much happier. A rise in pitch To show a rise in pitch, the stress is marked on the prolongation (Psathas, 1995). Example Joanna: My mother gave me a big surprise:::! Hailey: Buying you the photo album of Rain? Joanna: Yes:: Volume Increased Volume is indicated by capital letters (Wang, 2011). Example When Joanna is talking to Hailey, suddenly a dog appears. Joanna: Have you finished the wiki-book project? (.) A DOGS RUNNING TOWARDS US! Hailey: Calm down, Joanna. Decreased volume is indicated by degree marks (Wang, 2011). Example When Venus is telling Hailey something bad about Paul, suddenly Paul approaches. Venus: Paul never hands in his homework on time. Hailey: ËÅ ¡Pauls approachingËÅ ¡ 8. Sound uttered There are not only words within a conversation. Sometimes, when the speakers produce some sounds, they are also recorded. Example Hailey: Oh! Ive dropped my mobile phone into the toilet! Venus:(laugh) Why are you so careless? 8.7 Conclusion Conversation is an exchange of information between people in real-life situations. The aim of conversation analysis is to give an analytic description of the organization of interaction. We can understand how people carry out conversation in the society. In addition, we know more about the secrets behind the conversation, such as silence and preference.