Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Rapid Out Break Of World War I - 1277 Words

There were many contributors that led to the rapid out-break of World War I, such as: Militarism, Imperialism, and Nationalism. However, Nationalism was the single-most dominant factor for European Powers. Nationalism can be defined in one of two ways: the belief that the interests of a nation are of the utmost importance, and the belief that a people of common ethnicity, dialect, and culture should establish a sovereign nation free of foreign power. All of the notable European nations relied on Nationalism to kick-start the war, even though definitions of nationalism may have varied from nation to nation. The most important nation to determining the outbreak of the war is Serbia. Serbian Nationalism was the â€Å"driving force† behind every action leading to the â€Å"Great War:† â€Å"But a major goal remained for Serbian nationalism; the unification of the 7.3 million diverse South Slavs of varying religions who still lived in the neighboring Habsburg monarchy – whether Slovenian, Serb, or Croat, Muslim, Catholic, or Orthodox Christian – into a greater Serbia. It was within this framework of recent events – the military coup of 1903, the 1908 Bosnian crisis, and the victories of the Balkan Wars – that the two central figures of the Serbian drama of June and July 1914 operated: Chief of Serbian Military Intelligence Dragutin Dimitrijević and Prime Minister Nikola PaÃ… ¡ić. The Clash between these two men defined the nature of Serbian civil-military relations, not just in 1914, but fromShow MoreRelatedThe Influences in the Advancements of Prosthetics1040 Words   |  5 Pagesof prosthetics. The question is what influenced the advancements of prosthetics and how it affected prosthetics. The answer lies within the history and the physiological components of prosthetics. Mobility and function, physiological components, and war all played an important role in the advancements of prosthetics. Mobility and Function The most obvious factor in the influence of the advancements of prosthetics is mobility. Mobility has played a key role in prosthetics since the dawn of man andRead MoreThe Cage By Ruth Minsky Sender1125 Words   |  5 Pagesdays. I stumble, foot over foot to the crack of sunlight that beams into the car. I feel the train rock back and forth, side to side as we tumble over the tracks to a â€Å"better life.† A better life. More bread. They care about us. I hear the screech as the cars stop as we are all tossed forward. â€Å"Welcome to Auschwitz, Jews.† I hear a man scream be strong. I hear the crack of a whip and gun shots. I know they lied. The Cage by Ruth Minsky Sender is based on her experiences during World War Two inRead MoreOld Testament Exegetical Paper Ââ€" Isaiah 621683 Words   |  7 Pagesprophet who did not soften his words of condemnation and urge to make changes (Stafford 616). The nation of Judah stood in a precarious position: the wickedness of the people, the civil war which divided the Israelites into two kingdoms of Judah and Israel, the neighboring countries which stood by, threatening war and the dilemma that faced the leaders about whether or not they should take on allies all indicated the downfall of the nation of Judah if the people did not heed his words and change theirRead MoreWilfred Owen Poetry799 Words   |  3 PagesPoetry is a form of writing that can be used to convey very strong emotions and ideas to the reader, this can be seen in the works of famous poet Wilfred Owen, Owen is the most well-known English trench warfare poet who fought in World War I. His military career began in 19 15, when he enlisted himself in the Artists Rifle group and soon became a second lieutenant, like many young men he was ready to fight and die for his country. In 1917 he was wounded in battle and was diagnosed with shell shock;Read MoreEdgar Estlin Cummings Essay example838 Words   |  4 Pages 1894 with his birth to Edward and Rebecca Haswell Clarke Cummings. At the age of sixteen he enters Harvard College, and begins to write poetry for Harvard Monthly. After Harvard, he joins Ambulance Corps, and sails to France to participate in World War I. Soon after his arrival he gets arrested and imprisoned for three months in a French detention camp on suspicion of disloyalty1. On New Years Day he is released, and soon after that he returns to New York and meets Elaine Orr, whom he marries laterRead MoreEffects Of The War On The World888 Words   |  4 Pagesof 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, thus marking the official start of World War I. Soon after alliances brought othe r countries into the war including France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and Great Britain. Austria charged into Serbia, Germany attacked Belgium and France, and Russia attacked Germany and Austria. The United States attempted to stay neutral in the war. However, due to acts of aggression against the United States, the country joined the war in April of 1917. In fall of 1918Read MoreThe War Of The 1910 S782 Words   |  4 PagesThe 1910’s were stressful for everyone - especially for soldiers. Warfare and weaponry was changing drastically right before their eyes on the smoke-infested battlefields of World War I. Little did they know, these advances would alter the way wars were fought for eternity. Fighting a never ending battle would be no more; countless lives lost for a never ending battle would be no more; old techniques used repetitively would be no more. As written in â€Å"Le Feu† by Henri Barbusse, a French soldier, TwoRead MoreThe American Dream ( The Great Gatsby )1173 Words   |  5 Pages*HANDS OUT ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ BEFORE STARTING SEMINAR *TURNS ON POWERPOINT TO THE TITLE Now everyone I want you to close your eyes and imagine what you think living in the 1920s would be like. *GOES ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE TO THE SOCIETY IN THE 1920s Now everyone open your eyes. What do you see here? *POINTS TO PICTURE LIVING IN THE ACTUAL 1920S. Now what do you see here? *NEXT SLIDE. *POINTS TO PICTURE LIVING IN THE AMERICAN DREAM (THE GREAT GATSBY). Did anyone notice anything that caused a changeRead MoreAmerican Dream In The Great Gatsby Essay1183 Words   |  5 PagesFitzgerald’s America is an accurate depiction to 1920s American Dream *HANDS OUT ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ BEFORE STARTING SEMINAR *TURNS ON POWERPOINT TO THE TITLE Now everyone I want you to close your eyes and imagine what you think living in the 1920s would be like. *GOES ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE TO THE SOCIETY IN THE 1920s Now everyone open your eyes. What do you see here? *POINTS TO PICTURE LIVING IN THE ACTUAL 1920S. Now what do you see here? *NEXT SLIDE. *POINTS TO PICTURE LIVING IN THE AMERICANRead MoreThe Schlieffen Plan For World War II1655 Words   |  7 PagesWhen war was declared in 1914, the Germans had devised a plan to avoid fighting war on two fronts against both, Russia and France; the Schlieffen Plan. The plan however, did not solve Germany s problem of a two-front war and the leadership of Helmuth von Moltke determined its failure, to a great extent but not entirely; erroneous assumptions that the plan was based on and countless mistakes made on the battlefield also contributed to its lack of success. The Schlieffen Plan was devised to prevent

Monday, December 16, 2019

Study of economic growth and development China Free Essays

string(205) " Science and Technology is the lead body in charge of developing science and technology strategy, policy and coordinating other government agencies that were involved in the implementation of the project\." Introduction: Economists have during recent time associated economic growth to research and development ability of a country. One of such economic models is called the endogenous growth model. According to the endogenous growth model, research and development is a key driver of technological innovations using human resources capital and the existing knowledge (Romer, 1986). We will write a custom essay sample on Study of economic growth and development China or any similar topic only for you Order Now This theory goes on to state that innovation is then used to produce goods which will contribute to the permanent increase in the growth rate of output. Innovations that are endogenously created are essential to a sustainable economic growth. Research Development therefore can be regarded as an engine for the creation new technology and goods. China has a long history of research and development. The ancient China is celebrated for having invented paper, printing, compass and gun powder. China has also made great invention in the agricultural sector as well as in the astronomy (Sevin 1982). From 1946 to 1970, China pursued a socialist agenda with government playing the central role of coordinating all state affairs. Even though China was considered as a low income country during this period, it invested a lot into Research and Development motivated in order to become a world military power. Elite research institutes such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences were created to support the research and development and China rapid progress in nuclear technology, space technology, and genetic engineering in the 1960s and 1970 testifies to the partial success of this system. However as the Soviet Union was suddenly divided in the 1960, this advancement could not be sustained because China was then dependent on the importation of Tec hnology from its main ally the Soviet Union. Beginning from the period of Chinese economic reform in 1979, Research and Development in China experienced two transitions: first, from plan to market economy as it moves away from a centrally directed innovation system, secondly, from low income developing country toward Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) industrialised country status as it intensifies its innovation effort and more effectively deploys the ensuing technological gains. According to the comparative measures of RD intensity among countries of OEC from 1991 to 2003, China’s RD intensity rose to 1.4 percent. Beginning from 1980 to 1990, the central government of China in its bid to catch up with other developed countries decided to formulate and finances science and technology programme throughout the countries. Programmes such as the 863 project and the 973 project were designed to promote science and technology capabilities and to catch up with the growing technological and innovation gap between China and the West. Other programmes such as the Torch programme were designed to support local high –tech industries by providing direct government grant and tax incentives to industries. This essay focuses on the Chinese National RD (863) programme. The objective there is to critically examine the programme, evaluate its output and impact and provide recommendation for its future directions (Naughton,2007). National High-Tech RD (863) Programme in Brief The National High-Tech Research and Development Programme also known as the 863 programme came into being on the 3rd March 1986, when four top China scientists addressed a private letter to Deng Xiaoping, the then Leader of the China calling for the establishment of an Elite project devoted to technology that would make china the â€Å"xin jinshu geming† the new technological revolution. Deng Xiaoping agreed and approved the proposal and directed that action must be taking immediately to implement the programme. The project was then codenamed 863 programme for the year and the month of its birth. The 863 Programme has set as objective to provide funding for technological research and innovation which were of a strategic importance to the economic and social development of China. It was expected that the programme will enable China achieve a technological â€Å"leap frog† especially in areas were China already enjoys a relative advantages and support the implementation of the third phase of china modernisation process. In recent years, the programme has been extended to include the development of key technologies, in agriculture, biology, environmental protection, renewable energy and information technology. Policy Context and Implementation The programme 863 can be described as part of the general reform efforts that begun in 1979. It was important to move the country away from the socialist approach which was more focused in investing in military research which did help improve the Chinese people wellbeing. The Chinese government also believed that a reform of the economy was important as it will enable a rapid economic growth, improvement on technological innovation and fast infrastructure development that will improve the quality of life of Chinese people. The 863 programme was constituted of an emerging China’s high-technology sector, which includes a number of high level government agencies, state-run research institutes, public and a growing private RD investment funds. The programme could be described as an attempt of the government’s openness policy adopted toward international trade and foreign investment by providing investment attraction to foreign investors through tax incentives and co-investment in research. The project came to being at a time the government needed to find a lasting solution to its energy needs which became high as the volume of industries and the number of imported cars have increase dramatically. According to the New Yorker, by 2001, more than two thousand new cars were bought in China everyday and millions of barrels were imported from outside and depended of its coals to generate more eighty percent of its energy. This phenomenon was rendering China very polluted and the impact of climate change could undermine China’s future stability. It was therefore for China to develop new technology to find new solution to its energy and pollution management. The central government wanted to focus on the development renewable energy and as a result made available direct significant public funding to research, product development and application of technologies in the renewable sector. The Ministry of Science and Technology is the lead body in charge of developing science and technology strategy, policy and coordinating other government agencies that were involved in the implementation of the project. You read "Study of economic growth and development China" in category "Essay examples" Other institutions such as the Chinese Academy of science, the Natural foundation Committee and the Academy of Engineering were also playing important roles in the allocation of funding to research institutes. Funding and Impact Data from the Ministry of Science and Technology reveals a continuing growth in the Chinese Expenditure on Research and Development. In 1996 the gross domestic expenditure on RD was 404 million Yuan and by 2006 the figure has increased to 3003 million Yuan. China currently spends almost 1.5 percent of it of its GDP on research and Development. China’s expenditure on RD can be regarded as high considering the fact that the living standard of living is still low. By comparison the level of expenditure among OECD countries ranges between 2-3 percent. China is the only low and middle country that depicts such intensity on Research and Development expenditure (UNDP 2001). The government of China is the principal provider of funds for the realisation of the programme. Data from figure 2 shows that government funding is around seventy percent of the total fund that the programme attracted in 2006. Other sectors such the Businesses and Foreign Direct Investment also contribute to fun ding RD. Figure 1. Gross Domestic Expenditure on RD, 1996-2006 Source: Ministry of Science and Technology 2007 Figure 2: GERD by source of funds and sector performance Source: MOST 2007 Even though it is believed that the 863 programme has immensely contributed to the China’s recent technological and industrial development an examination of the impact is required to justify the large amount of fund pumped in to the programme. The 863 programme is heavily dependent on government fund. At the beginning of every year the commission in charge of award of grant set it objectives and calls for bid. The government intention is just to fulfil its catch up agenda with the west. Researchers and research institutes that are involved in the programme are therefore under indirect pressure to deliver the set objectives. As a result Research and Development is often riddled with plagiarism, falsification of data and conflict of interest. In 2004, the popular Chinese researcher from Shanghai Jiao tang University, Chen Jin was involved in a fakery scandal after having received more than ten million dollar in grant to produce a Chinese microchip to rival the American Intel. T he situation is a rampant one among Chinese academics and researchers and the reason is that because it is public fund that is involved many researchers are afraid of taking risk since failure may be expensive to them and to the government as this may mean waste of fund among public opinions. According to information from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the 863 programme was a successful project as it helps China invent new technology such as the world First man –loading HTS Maglev, the Third Generation Intelligent Robot that can move freely and avoid barriers and able to talk with human within a certain distance and the Atmosphere and Environmental Monitoring Laser just to mention few. Considering the amount of money the Chinese government spend on Research and Development it is not encouraging to say that China high tech export is highly dominated by foreign investment. According to report from OECD, in 2006, China surpassed the European Union, the US and Japan to become the world largest exporter of high-tech. This is mainly due to the relocation of production capacities of multinational enterprises into China. The China technological advancement has little to do with the indigenous High Tech market. Most of the firms producing High Tech goods in China a re mostly foreign companies; China only contributes in labour term (Xing, 2010). The 863 programme in its conception cannot be said to be a programme which has been designed to promote RD in China. The central government plan was to improve the image of China and it is purely the continuity of the socialist agenda. The only change is that, instead of developing military capabilities, the Deng Xiaoping administration decided to focus on economic catch up. All the projects that were executed under the programme cannot be described as things that will contribute to long term economic growth of China. In the infrastructural and construction area, it is a fact that that the programme has helped China to achieve a historical record in road, railways and airline development. Between 2000 and 2005, the road length in China has increased from 250.700 km to about 1, 930,500 km. Also the Railways have experienced a rapid development. China now has double tracked rails of 25, 000km and electrified rail of 20,000 km. The civil airline has also been developed and today China h as become world second largest air transporter after the United States (Liang Chuan, 2008). Some may argue that China needs all these infrastructural development to elevate its status to a developed country. There is even a Chinese old saying which says that â€Å"If you want to be rich, you must first build road†. But the problem is all these constructions are heavily dependent on public fund and no other country spend so much on infrastructure as China does. According to one study it is estimated that China will need to spend around $132 billion ever year from 2006 to 2010 to maintain these constructions. Moreover the central government does not take into account the social cost of all these development projects for the common Chinese people in terms of lost of land and environmental problems. The speed at which these projects are executed also poses a problem of quality and standard in the construction and engineering process. In October 1999, the $52 million 0ne half mi le-long Zhaona Mountain bridge which was built over the young river in Ningbo started to has sways and shack a month before its opening date and inspectors discovered cracks caused by engineering and design flaws. So also in the month January of same year 1999, two bridges collapsed in two different places killing 47 people and injuring more than 30 others (Hays 2008). Another core problem with the 863 programme was the incentive packages the central government made available to motivate researchers and RD firms. It is believed that the central government support to RD through the 863 programme has contributed to the rapid rise of China in the patent applications. Data for figure 3 from the Ministry of Science and Technology shows that the total domestic patent applications increased from 383.157 to 470,342 between 2005 and 2006. The design applications increased from 151,587 to 188,027 within the same year. This tremendous achievement can on the one side be attributed to the zeal and hard work of Chinese researchers but on the hand it can be attributed to the incentives made available by the central government. Figure 3 Patent application filed and patents granted by SIPO Source: Ministry of Science and Technology, 2007 The 863 programme put in place incentive packages ranging from tax reduction to several concessions. In a paper published the Economist title â€Å"Innovation in China: Patents yes ideas maybe† it was stated that â€Å"Professors who do are more likely to win tenure. Workers and students who file patents are more likely to earn a hukou (resident permit) to live in a desirable city. For some patents government pays cash bonuses for others it covers the substantial cost of filling. Corporate income tax can be cut down from 25% to 15% for firms that file many patents. They are also more likely to win lucrative government contracts. One could say the patents applications filed did not mean so much to the applicants compared to the gains and interest the application may yield for them. Therefore the quality and originality, patents designs, and inventions were questionable. Closely link to this argument is that fact the 863 programme did not promote the culture of innovation among Chinese researchers and enterprises. The Ministry of Science and Technology which is the principal government agency coordinating the 863 programme stated that one of the key objectives of the programme was to strengthen the innovation capabilities of Chinese researchers and enterprises so that they can become technical bodies that will support the national aspiration of China to achieve socio-economic development. The programme supported some innovative ideas such as the development of an Intelligent Robot, the Coal-fired MHD Power Generation and the Experimental Fast Reactor. Otherwise, most realisations under the 863 programme were heavily dependent on importation of technologies. The programme was following the international high technological development but did not focus on the development of local indigenous technology (Chunliang, 2008). Conclusion The 863 programme has enabled the Chinese government to achieve a considerable economic and industrial advancement. In order to consolidate all these achievement is important that the 863 programme be reformed to rather focus its attentions on promoting indigenous innovative research and development activities which can turn China into technological advanced country. Incentives and motivational elements in the programme for researchers and private investors should also be reviewed as this may put local investors at a competitive advantage over foreign investors and deter them from investing into RD in China. Finally Chinese Government has to enforce the weak intellectual property right regime in existence at the moment. References ROMER, P. (2005) â€Å"Increasing Returns and Long-run Growth† Journal of Political Economy, 94 (5):1002-1037 SAMINI, J. A ALERASOUL, S. M. (2009) â€Å"RD and Economic Growth: New Evidence from Some Developing Countries† Australian Journal of Basic Applied Sciences, 3(4):3464-3469 HU. A G. Jefferson, G. H. (2008) â€Å"Science and Technology in China† China’s Great Economic Transformation. Ed. L . Brandt and T. Rawski, New York City, Cambridge University Press NAUGHTON, B. (2007) â€Å"The Chinese Economic: Transition and Growth, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press PENTAS, P. (2005) â€Å"Natioanl High-Tech Research and Development Program 863: Introduction, Objective and Organisation [Online] http://www.ppentas.com/thesis/National_RD_Programm_863.pdf, Accessed on the 17/05/2011 ONOS, E. (2009) â€Å"Green Giant: Beijing’s Crash Program for Clean Energy† The New Yorker [Online] http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/12/21/091221fa_fact_osnos, Accessed on the 17/05/2011 XING, Y. (2010) â€Å"Chinas High-Tech Exports Myth and Reality† EAI Background Brief N. 506 [Online] http://www.eai.nus.edu.sg/BB506.pdf, Accessed on the17/05/2011 How to cite Study of economic growth and development China, Essay examples

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Shakespeares Views On Love Essay Example For Students

Shakespeares Views On Love Essay Shakespeares Views On LoveRomeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare’s sixteenth century tragedy, remains one of the most famous, timeless pieces of literature yet created. This bittersweet tale documents the forbidden attraction between two impulsive children, and their tragic suicides. The story’s incidents, saturated with Shakespeare’s views and opinions, reveal the playwright’s philosophies on love. Many consider Romeo and Juliet the greatest love story of all time, yet when the â€Å"love† between the two main characters is analyzed, it cannot truly be considered love. Instead Shakespeare wrote this play as a testament of the harsh consequences of reckless lust and attraction, and endeavored to send an admonition. Shakespeare meant not for Romeo and Juliet to define true love, rather, to define what true love is not. The balcony scene of Act II, pulsating with the passionate current existing between the Romeo and Juliet, contains some of the richest, most beautiful poetry ever written. However, from a more critical aspect, this scene also contains some of the most impetuous, melodramatic reactions of two attracted individuals ever chronicled. Though they have only known each other for a few hours, and have not yet shared â€Å" a hundred words of utterance (II. ii. 64-65), they immediately devote themselves to each other. Both Romeo and Juliet display a dangerously impulsive nature, as well as an inability to control their emotions, characteristic of their age. The reckless actions of Romeo seem especially thoughtless, considering the danger he faces on the territory of his mortal enemies, the Capulets. Yet he insists in stealing alone in the dark night to see his â€Å"love† Juliet. Romeo’s remarkably recent and compelling obsession over Rosaline, his â€Å"old desire doth in his deathbed lie, an young affection gapes to be his heir. / That fair for which love groaned for and would die, / With tender Juliet matched, is now not fair.† ( Prolougue Act II, 1-4 ). Thus, Rosaline is swiftly replaced. Mightn’t Juliet be replaced that quickly?In an elaborate monologue Romeo worshipfully compares his lady to brilliant, heavenly bodies and beings, such as â€Å"bright angel† (II. ii. 28) with eyes as â€Å"the fairest stars in all the heaven† (II. ii. 15). Romeo’s departure from the darkness in which he has been hiding and his venture to the light of Juliet, his â€Å"fair sun† (II. ii. 4), sy mbolizes the dawning of a new age in his life, after the dark night of Rosaline’s rejection. Romeo appears guilty of desperation; his ecstasy in finding a beautiful girl sharing his attractions blinds common sense. Juliet’s impulsive behavior proves similar to Romeo’s. They see each other, exchange a few romantic words, and she allows him to kiss her. Then alone on the balcony she pines for him, swearing to renounce her own family and â€Å"no longer be a Capulet † (II. ii. 38), pledging herself to a boy she has just hardly met. She ignores the impulse to fear this sudden and intense attraction, â€Å" . . . too rash, to unadvised, too sudden, / Too like the lightning which doth cease to be / ere one can say ‘It lightens.’ † (II. ii. 129-130). Juliet does not realize the wisdom in and significance of her own words, the foreshadowing of her own fate. These theoretical mortal enemies, oblivious of the danger and obstacles that impede their future, transform in a single night to mortal lovers who cannot live without each other. They exchange vows on the moonlit balcony, beneath the heavens, vibrant and volatile, symbolizing the explosive nature of the situation. The situation does swiftly explode in Act III, Scene I, the point at which the play rapidly spirals downward. Mercutio, Romeo’s comical (and often obnoxious) friend, and Tybalt, Juliet’s fiery, hot-blooded cousin, clash as a result of reckless insults and the thirst for revenge. When Mercutio falls, Romeo in his fury flies after Tybalt, and in turn kills him. Two beloved lives snuffed out because of visceral rage, emotions let wild and unrestrained. .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 , .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 .postImageUrl , .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 , .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326:hover , .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326:visited , .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326:active { border:0!important; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326:active , .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326 .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u869c16098a47f2ed7c0d86683e217326:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Family Values EssayHad this play ended happily, it easily could easily be considered a comical masterpiece. However, the tragic end causes viewers to think about the cause of the play’s disastrous events: the deaths of Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio, and Tybalt. The deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt were undoubtedly caused by the powerful impulses of hate, much like the impulses of attraction between Romeo and Juliet, which, in the end, killed them also. Had they not felt those impulses so passionately, neither would have felt the compulsion to commit suicide because of the impossibility of living without the other, and probably would have escaped happily to Mantua. Shakespear e draws parallels between lust and hate, two of mankind’s most powerful impulses, to oppose them, and support instead true love, a gradual respect and understanding of an individual, based on more than physical attraction. Shakespeare

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Jim Henson Essays - The Muppets, American Film Directors

Jim Henson Jim Henson was born on September 24, 1936, in Greenville, Mississippi. He moved to Maryland in fifth grade and throughout his childhood had a strong interest in both art and television. His grandmother was very supportive of his interests and constantly encouraged him to use his imagination. In 1954 Jim started in television performing puppets on a local channel's Saturday morning program. The next year, while studying at the University of Maryland, he was given a five-minute show called Sam and Friends which aired twice a day. This show introduced the first Muppets, marionette puppets. The success of this show led him to many appearances on shows such as The Today Show and The Steve Allen Show. During this time Jim began making many humorous commercials for sponsors. With weekly appearances on these shows, Jim asked for the help of a puppet maker name Don Sahlin and a puppeteer name Frank Oz. "From 1964 to 1969 Henson produced several experimental films." In the mid-60's Jim was asked to create characters to populate a new children's show, Sesame Street. It was here where he made some of his most famous characters such as Ernie and Bert, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird. On this show Jim produced over two dozen shorts to teach counting and other basics. Soon after his fame on Sesame Street Jim, after promoting the idea for The Muppet Show for years, finally received backing to produce. On this show the most famous Muppet of all, Kermit the Frog, was introduced along with Miss Piggy, Rizzo the Rat, Rowlf the Dog, Fozzie Bear, and of course Gonzo the Whatever. The Muppet Show became the most widely viewed television program in the world. From this show many movies and spin-off television shows have been produced. Jim Henson died in 1990 from pneumonia right after his last project for Muppet Vision 3-D, an attraction for Disney World, and right before he was going to sell his company to Disney Studios. Today his son runs and owns the Henson Company. Jim Henson possessed many lovable qualities about him but his most important characteristic was his creativity. Jim Henson created characters that were out of this world and quite unexpected. Jim Henson also had an extraordinary sense of humor, which attracted young and old to his television shows. Jim Henson once said, "Nobody creates a fad. It just happens. People love going along with the idea of a beautiful pig. It's like a conspiracy." These qualities will definitely serve society greatly in the next one thousand years. Jim Henson's creativity will inspire writers and producers to do the same. This will allow them to attract many viewers of a broad range of ages. Jim Henson's humor will also influence the next millennium of people. His humor will teach people stuck in a world of seriousness to have a light heart and to laugh once in a while. I believe Jim Henson has taught everyone an important lesson, that no matter how tough life gets, you can always find a bit of little humor in it. Bibliography "Henson, Jim." Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. 1999 ed., Wilmeth, Don B. "Henson, Jim." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1996 ed., 191.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Ethics of offshoring Essay Example

Ethics of offshoring Essay Example Ethics of offshoring Paper Ethics of offshoring Paper I do not believe that doing clinical trials in India would be the best interest of the stakeholders. (Economic and Ethical aspects) From a financial perspective developing countries such as India doesnt benefit Novo Norriss and they would have to save costs, they would have to pay attention to rules and use full resources which could cost money. They would have the demographic patient poll, they would be able to do trials cheaper and have a faster pick of the patients. In order to do this In a country without the wealth they would have to clip corners and use cheaper resources and ell as cheaper products, which could harm the patients in the trials. The concern is that they have a social responsibility to making profits. This would affect the primary stakeholders which are the customers, suppliers and the shareholders concerning the ethical consequences of the policies and procedures involved in conducting trials in India. They would also have to be concerned with secondary stakeholders such as, the media or special interest groups. To be socially responsible they must weigh and balance the economic, legal and ethical consequences. So they must perform and economic analysis so they dont engage In deceptive and dangerous practices so the individuals wont get hurt. This is when we have to be careful clipping corners can be unethical. Perhaps the concern of using Placebos might affect their social responsibility. A legal analysis is required to see If an ethical problem exists. They would do this by complying by the laws of the country as well as their own. They must ask themselves several question such as is it in violation with the international agreements? Does it follow the companys ethical code? Is it consistent with the Meanys culture or with the cultural norms? Is it consistent with the personal moral beliefs? If they answer yes to all those questions then they can move forward. After the Economic and Legal analysis are done they should also consider the ethical analysis. They must determine what the right thing is to do. They must use deontological reasoning where they know and follow the written rules. The Interest and well-being of the trial subject should be first concern not the concern of the science and society. By using prescriptive ethics Novo should avoid negative uniqueness of the stakeholders. (Trial participants and India) they would have to make a contract with participants stating a fair profit, and duties that go along with that. Also they would have to enter into a contract with India following their laws. They must also make sure that they agree on the basic rules of their moral behavior. India and Novo should agree on the basic rules or moral behavior. Focusing on the Code of conduct and must include prescriptive and proscriptive rules to guide their behaviors. This would tell them what they can do and what they cannot do. The clinical trial would have concerns of a lack of regulation of private trials and the requirements for informed consent and proper ethics review. One of the most popular teleological ethical theories is utilitarianism, the greatest good for the greatest number focusing on the consequences and to select India they could do a cost-and-benefit analysis. The utilitarians basic language view says that they must maximize human welfare, exposing Indians trial participants to a placebo or a potentially dangerous testing without the proper understanding and care could harm examine the benefits if there are potentially unpleasant outcomes or consequences to be made. Perhaps if the placebo doesnt harm them and was administered without their knowledge but didnt harm them is this still ethical? They could also focus on the deontological ethical theory which focuses on the morality and the actions of the good and bad. Meaning they should know what is right because that is how an ethical person should behave. Corrupt practices would also be another concern, because of India being a OLD they may use poorer quality products which loud have serious consequences on the clinical trials and individuals involved. They may also not allocate their resources to the fullest. Principles that guide the decisions are conducting trials in developing countries like India is not beneficial for the company, therefore Novo Norriss would have to be very careful and follow the guidelines making sure that they do not ruin their reputation and the best interest of their stakeholders. Making sure they are not using Placebo clinical trials, making sure that they are scientifically and ethically Justified. Furthermore, placebo trials would only be used on healthy volunteers during first phase of the trials. Focusing on the codes of conduct on the dos and dont of what is ethically right or wrong. Making sure that the stakeholders all agree to the code of conduct. They would also have to make decisions, resolve conflicts, build teams, and manage solutions. (Emerging economies and standards) Conducting clinical trials in an emerging economy would save cost, the demographics would be much larger, and the rules would be less strict and establishing efficacy with environmental differences. They just build their reputation and trust which will make them better off in the long run, make sure that the interest and well-being of the individuals should trump the interest of science. They must still only use placebo trials when they are ethically and scientific legitimate reasons for the well-being of the individual and not Just the science of it. It would be the best interest of the stakeholders to do their trials in emerging economies. In order for this to be effective they would have to have recruitment, a site manager, and focus on the data analysis tactics. They would also be able to spend more on healthcare and attractiveness to RD would have to be plentiful. They would have to be careful of the use of bribery and corruption which could be devastating to the whole clinical trial as well as to the stakeholders. Sometimes when bribery is used they will use poorer quality of products and materials to make up for the bribe and then using these could be devastating to the individuals and unethical. Because of bribery issues this could also make the prices too high and inefficient allocations of the resources. They would have to use such standards as APPC practices, such as the Prohibited foreign trade practices. The APPC forbids United States companies form making or offering payments or gifts to foreign government officials for the sake of gaining or retaining business. A code of conduct is also in order, respecting basic human rights, maintaining high standards of local political involvement, transfer technology, consumer protection, employment practices and protect the environment. They could also have common standards and rules for those with different cultural backgrounds.

Friday, November 22, 2019

11 Fun Toddler Learning Games for Your Preschooler

Fun Toddler Learning Games for Your Preschooler SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Looking for games that your toddler will both enjoy and gain important skills from? We’ve got you covered! In this guide, we go over of the best toddler learning games. These educational games for toddlers can be played with few materials, one or more children, and toddlers of varying age ranges. For each game, we explain what skills it will teach toddlers and give instructions on how to set up and play the game. How Can Learning Games Benefit Toddlers? Toddlers’ minds and bodies are undergoing huge changes during this time of their lives, as they learn to communicate, think, and move in completely new ways as they move out of babyhood. Games are one of the best ways for toddlers to develop these new skills because they’re easy and fun to participate in. Some of the skills toddler learning games can teach include: Gross and fine motor skills Language development Creativity/imagination Critical thinking and analysis Counting Social skills Learning games can help toddlers be prepared for when they start school by giving them a leg up on topics such as numbers, colors, and letters. The social skills they learn from these games, such as sharing and listening to instructions, will also make school, daycare, or even play dates more enjoyable because your toddler will have more experience interacting with other children and being a fair playmate. Examples of Toddler Learning Games Below are examples of educational games for toddlers that can teach everything from counting to motor skills to following directions. For each of these toddler learning games, we give a brief description, an overview of the materials needed, and directions on how to play the game. #1: Car Parking Numbers This counting game takes only a few minutes to set up, but once it’s ready your toddler can play with it over and over again to practice their counting skills. This game also helps toddlers practice fine motor skills when steering the cars into the correct parking spot. Materials: Shallow cardboard box with lid removed Matchbox cars (plastic horses are also a good substitute) Permanent marker Small pieces of paper Tape Directions: Tape a number to the top of each car, then draw the same number of â€Å"parking spaces† in the cardboard box. Label each of the spaces with a number so that each numbered car has a parking spot with a corresponding number. Your toddler can then â€Å"drive† each car into the matching parking spot while you discuss numbers and counting with them. As your toddler’s counting skills grow, add more parking spots and numbered cars to keep them learning. #2: Simon Says A great game for teaching toddlers how to follow instructions, Simon Says can be played with any number of children. You can also tailor it to different areas of learning, such as a Simon Says game that focuses on moving different body parts, identifying different shapes, etc. In fact, studies have shown that young children who play Simon Says go on to have improved math and literacy skills, so this game truly has a whole host of benefits! Materials: None required Directions: To play Simon Says, choose one person to be Simon (it’s best to start off with you or an older child being Simon until younger kids get the hang of the game). â€Å"Simon† then calls out commands such as â€Å"jump up and down† or â€Å"touch your toes.† The key is the other players must listen for the phrase â€Å"Simon says† before each command before they follow it. If they follow a command you didn’t preface with â€Å"Simon says† then they are out. The last person remaining in the game is the winner. #3: Foam Writing Many toddlers still struggle to correctly hold a pencil at this age, but you can help them practice their writing and drawing skills with foam writing. They’ll love playing with foam, and at the same time they can learn how to form different letters and shapes. Materials: Shaving cream Large, flat surface that can be covered with shaving cream Directions: Spread the shaving cream in a thick, even layer across the surface. For younger toddlers you can start with just having them draw any patterns they like in the foam to improve motor skills. For older toddlers, write a number, letter, shape, etc. in the foam and have your toddler copy you. As they get more advanced, you can also have them write out letters or numbers on their own without you writing them first. After you’ve played for a while, the foam can be smoothed over with your hands to create a blank surface again. #4: Sorting Most toddlers love sorting things, from their toys to the food on their plate, and you can use this activity to help them learn. It’s also very easy to customize this game to focus on whatever you want your toddler to learn: colors, shapes, sizes, etc. This game will help your toddler recognize similarities and differences between items and learn the basics of categorization. Materials: Items that have multiple types of whatever characteristic you want your toddler to identify. (ex. If you want your toddler to learn about colors, gather items of several different colors) Directions: For the sorting game, you can either ask your toddler to sort the items based on a specific characteristic (â€Å"show me all your red toys† or â€Å"can you group your toys together by color?†) or you can ask them to sort the items on their own, then ask them to explain how they sorted them. This is a great game for facilitating discussions with your toddler as you talk about the different objects and how they are similar to and different from each other. #5: Board and Card Games Board and card games can be a great way to teach toddlers how to follow rules, wait for their turn, and learn whatever skills the games are promoting. There are board games for toddlers that focus on the alphabet, other focus on counting, colors, etc. Materials: An age-appropriate board game for toddlers. Some of our favorites are: Go Fish Candy Land The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game Chutes and Ladders Directions: Read the directions for the game, and start playing! If you’re looking for other board and card games, search for those meant for ages 2-4, as these will have rules and playing times specifically designed to help toddlers learn the game and have fun. Don’t be surprised if you don’t make it through the entire game, as toddlers have short attention spans and, even if they enjoy the game, they’ll likely want to move onto another activity fairly quickly. You can continue the benefits of the game by bringing it up a short time later. For example, at lunch you can say, â€Å"Remember the board game we played earlier where we counted how many fish you caught? Let’s count how many pieces of fruit are on your plate.† #6: Story Time Toddlers love listening to stories, and you can get them to practice their creativity skills by encouraging them to participate in the story you’re telling, as well as incorporate important lessons you’d like them to know. By age three, many children know roughly 400 words, and they love hearing words they understand, especially when words/phrases are repeated throughout the story so that they’re easier to remember. Materials: Children’s book (or you can make up your own story) Some recommendations: Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. By: Al Perkins Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. By: Bill Martin Jr. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. By: Dr. Seuss Dear Zoo. By: Rod Campbell Directions: Read/tell the story, stopping every now and then to ask your toddler questions like, â€Å"What do you think will happen next?† or â€Å"Do you think [character] treated her friend nicely?† then listen to your toddler’s responses and either continue the conversation, continue the story, or alternate between the two. #7: What’s Missing? This memory game can be played in nearly any room of the house, and it helps toddlers work on naming and describing objects as well as improving their memory. Materials: 4-5 objects of any kind A tray to place the objects on Towel to cover the objects Directions: Place the objects (toys, household items, foods, etc.) on the tray and look at them with your toddler. Name each item to help them remember it. Then, cover the items with the towel and ask your toddler to cover their eyes/turn around. Remove one of the items and set it aside in a place the toddler can’t see. Next, remove the towel and have your toddler tell you which item was removed. You can give them hints to help if they’re struggling to remember such as, â€Å"It’s a yellow fruit that’s sour.† To make the game more challenging, add more items to the tray and/or remove more than one item at a time. #8: Hokey-Pokey This classic game is a great way to get toddlers moving, as well as teach them about listening to directions and learning the names of different body parts. Many older kids love the song as well, so it can be used to occupy children of a variety of ages. Materials: None required Directions: Have the children stand in a line or a circle, and start singing! Lyrics are here, but feel free to substitute different body parts for different verses if you desire. Even if kids don’t know the song, they’ll pick it up after a few minutes and join you in the singing. #9: Memory Game Toddler’s memories are beginning to develop at a very rapid rate, and this is a great way to test their growing skills. Any version of the game will help toddlers hone their memory skills, and you can also make your own cards to focus on whatever you want your toddler to learn, whether that’s shapes, colors, animals, etc. Materials: About eight or ten cards with matching pairs. There are memory card sets available to buy, or you can also make your own with images, letters, numbers, colors, etc. you want your toddler to learn. Just make sure you make two of each image/figure. This game can also be played with several two-piece puzzles that children can match together. For an outdoor version, you can make oversized cards out of posterboard and spread them across the lawn, then follow the rest of the directions below. Directions Lay out the cards, face down, in a grid pattern on a flat surface. Each player takes a turn flipping over any two cards they choose. If the cards are a match, they get to remove them from the game. If they aren’t a match, the cards get flipped back over. The trick is to remember where they’ve seen cards from previous turns so they can eventually find all the matching pairs. The person with the most matched pairs wins. Younger toddlers may need some hints to play the game when they first start, and talking about the cards as they’re flipped over can also help children remember them more easily. #10: Indoor Bowling While most toddlers are too young for actual bowling alleys (it can be difficult for them to roll the ball with enough force it needs to make it to the end of the lane), you can set up your own bowling alley in just a few minutes at home. In addition to motor skills, this game can be used to teach toddlers the basics of counting, and even addition and subtraction (ex. If there are ten pins and you knocked four down, how many are left?). Materials: 6 or 10 empty containers of similar size/shape (soda cans work well for this) Tennis ball or small plastic ball Masking tape Directions: Use the masking tape to mark out the bowling lane (a few meters should be long enough). Arrange the containers in a pyramid at the end of the lane, either (if using ten containers) four on the top, then three on the second level, two, then one, or (if using six) three, then two, then one. Your toddler can then roll the ball along the â€Å"lane† and see how many containers they can knock over. #: Count the Flowers A fun springtime activity, Count the Flowers combines some arts and crafts with a counting game that will help toddlers learn their numbers. Materials: Fake flower pieces (about 10-20) Popsicle sticks Hot glue gun Several plastic containers that you can write or stick numbers to Directions: Glue a flower to the top of each popsicle stick, then clearly label each container with a number, going up as high as you’d like to. When you’re ready to play the game, display the containers in a row, with their numbers visible. They can be in numerical or random order, depending on how difficult you’d like the game to be. Have each toddler choose a container, then ask them to put the proper number of â€Å"flowers† in it. So, if they chose the container with a â€Å"3† on it, they’d need to put three flowers inside it. Correct them if they make a mistake and use it as an opportunity to count together with them. Tips for Teaching Toddlers Toddlers aren’t always known for being the easiest people to keep occupied, but these three tips can help playtime remain fun and educational for everyone involved. Keep Games Short Toddlers have notoriously short attention spans, and trying to get them to play a long and involved game is a recipe for disaster. All of the games we discussed in this article can be completed in just a few minutes, which may be all the time your toddler is willing to spend on an activity some days. They can also each be extended if your toddler gets really into the game and is able to focus on it for a longer period of time. When doing these or any other preschool learning games, let your toddler dictate how long (s)he wants to play, and don’t give up on a game if they aren’t that interested in it the first time they play it. Use Repetition Toddlers love repetition, whether it’s a song with a repeating chorus or a game that requires repeated actions to play it. Toddlers experience so many new things each day that they love repetition, both because it gives them a sense of order and because it helps them improve their memory. There aren’t many instances when a toddler can predict what will happen next, so they love when it happens in their games. Ask Them Questions When you’re tired of reading the same book or playing the same game every day for a month, you can change things up by asking questions about the game they’re playing and why they make certain choices. For example, if your toddler is playing with cars, you can ask her which car is her favorite, why she likes that one the best, how it reminds her of the car she rides in, etc. Any question that gets your toddler thinking critically and engaged in conversation will help them develop key skills they’ll use throughout life. Summary: Educational Games for Toddlers Toddler learning games are a great way for young children to learn numerous skills, as well as engage in fun playtime. Each of the activities listed in this article can be modified to suit different ages, group sizes, and time requirements. When playing educational games for toddlers, it’s important to keep the pre k learning games short, use repetition, and ask them questions while they play to ensure they get the most out of these games. What's Next? If you enjoy working with toddlers, then perhaps an early childhood education degree is right for you.Our guide goes over what this degree entails in terms of coursework, and gives you a helpful list of the best online BA in Early Childhood Education degree programs. Pipe cleaner crafts can be a great activity for toddlers.Read our guide for simple instructions for 31 fun pipe cleaner crafts for kids. Looking for games for other age groups?Check out our guides on general learning games, spelling games, and alphabet games. (coming soon) Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Christine Sarikas About the Author Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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Thursday, November 21, 2019

Cementing Intercultural Communication Gaps For Smoother Roads to Research Paper

Cementing Intercultural Communication Gaps For Smoother Roads to Harmony - Research Paper Example Human beings communicate their thoughts and feelings to one another in verbal and non-verbal ways. Verbal communication, or speaking out to another person is often accompanied by non-verbal language which includes facial expressions, gestures, posture, body language and tone of voice. Sometimes, such non-verbal expressions say more than the verbalizations of a person. The way one communicates and receives information matters much in the quality of relationships he or she has with others. Effective communication takes practice and hard work especially for those who are not skilled in interpersonal relations. Several factors need to be considered when communicating: age, gender, relationship to the person, nature of the communication exchange, temperament and personality and even culture. The adage â€Å"Actions speak louder than words† rings true in a variety of situations. In the workplace, people manifest explicit verbal communication and implicit, non-verbal communication (L ee, 2008). Explicit verbal communication takes the form of direct reprimands or written memos to delinquent workers. Implicit, non-verbal communication is more action-oriented. An example is a boss deliberately showing a delinquent worker that he is taking over the tasks formerly assigned to the worker. The boss may not say anything, but the message comes across very clear to the worker that his inefficiency is noted by the boss. In times of conflict, the impact of implicit, nonverbal communication and explicit, verbal communication (that is, the written norm) is never equal. The more visible and stark the image, the more effective the message is delivered and received. Verbal and nonverbal interactions play a part in the effective exchange of ideas. LeFebvre (2008) advises that when speaking, one must also be aware of body language and tone and inflection of voice. She notes that different ideas may be conveyed by simply emphasizing or speaking louder the different parts of the sta tement. Being an active listener helps one understand the message being relayed to him. As the listener, one should hold his response until the speaker is done, and keenly observe nonverbal cues expressed. It must always be remembered that communication is a give and take process. One must learn to wait his turn to be the speaker and the listener. The Role of Culture in Communication Hofstede (1994), a well-known scholar of culture and its effect on people, defined culture as â€Å"the collective programming of the mind which distinguished the members of one human group from another†¦ Culture, in this sense, includes systems of values; and values are among the building blocks of culture† (Hofstede, 1994, p.54 ). This definition shows how much culture has an influence on people, often dictating how they would relate and communicate to others. Consideration of others’ cultural background entails adjustments to accommodate the needs of others and the exertion of effo rt to understand what they want to communicate. On the contrary, disregarding the other’s culture and instead, promoting one’s own, whether it agrees with the other or not can be a source of major conflicts. Even within a specific country, there exist sub-cultures. An example is the Asian culture. Some values are associated as â€Å"typically Asian†, such as honor and integrity. Within Asian countries, some communicative interpretations differ. To illustrate, in one country, being able to look straight into the eye of another person when speaking, means that the person is sincere while in another country it denotes defiance

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Recycling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Recycling - Research Paper Example Integrating recycling into K-12 educational system has become a goal for many educators. Usually it is integrated into science or social studies classrooms. This is due to its inclusion in the national education standards for both of these subject areas. Common areas that recycling is integrated into the curriculum include areas such as the study of natural resources, general environmental units, soil units, water units, community units, economic units, and geography units. Although interest is growing, major textbook publishers do not always include recycling in a textbook so teachers are left to supplement the textbooks with outside curriculum to meet the national standards. For example, in a unit about trees or natural resources teachers could include supplemental curriculum about recycling because in the textbook it is never explicitly covered. Non-profit organizations as well as governmental organizations have created supplemental curriculum for teachers to fill this void. Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land filling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" waste hierarchy. Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and electronics. Although similar in effect, the composting or other reuse of biodegradable waste - such as food or garden waste - is not typically considered recycling. Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing. Most people don't think twice about what they put in the garbage. The average American produces from 3-5 pounds of trash per day, which adds up to 50 tons per year. That means over 200 million tons of trash are produced by everyone in the U.S. every year! Up to 70% of this trash is buried in landfills. The scary thing about this is that even though landfills are getting tons of new trash every day, more and more are closing down because they are too expensive to maintain. This is becoming a widespread problem across the U.S. as states struggle to find alternative ways to reduce the amount of trash accumulation. Only about one-tenth of U.S. garbage actually gets recycled every year, when in reality over half of it can be recycled into new products. Recycling is one of the most important acts to follow in our daily lives because it can reduce the amount of waste in our landfills, sustain our natural resources and provide better air and water quality. On average, each person throws away eight dry-cell batteries each year. A dry cell battery is the type of batter used to power small household items like clocks and radios. Double and triple A batteries, C, D, and 9-vot batteries are all dry-cell batteries. Batteries are powered by heavy metals that interact with chemicals, so simply discarding batteries can cause a horrible impact on the environment, especially when old batteries leak and mixed with rain water pollute the soil and into

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Hitler Was a Weak Dictator Essay Example for Free

Hitler Was a Weak Dictator Essay How far do you agree with the view that in the years 1933-39, Hitler was a weak dictator? Hitler has been categorised as a weak and a strong dictator by structuralist and intentionalist historians respectively, intentionalist for the importance of Hitler, and structuralist for the importance of those around him. Timothy Mason, a British Marxist historian, is an example of a structuralist historian, believing that Hitler was heavily reliant on those around and supporting him. There is also Ian Kershaw, who believed in the ‘Working towards the Fuhrer’ ideology, where Hitler exploited the attitudes of the German people in an attempt to have them work towards him. Timothy Mason, a British Marxist historian was certainly believed that Hitler was a weak dictator, in agreement to the question. Hitler was meant to be an all-powerful Fuhrer, being the only person who really knows what Germany and Germans want and need, yet he as Mason describes, â€Å"†¦had a preference for creating new organs of state to carry out specific projects.† If Hitler had been an all-powerful Fuhrer, he would not have required new organs to help him carry out tasks, he would have just been able to dictate and organise everything himself. This was shown in the massacre of the Night of the Long Knives This shows that Hitler in fact was a weak dictator, who did not have control over everything that happened in Nazi Germany, and he needed the support of the Nazi backroom to help him run the country. Mason also described, in about how Hitler would give jobs to other people to carry out. He realised that he wasn’t cut out to be leading certain jobs, and therefore he chose, ‘the right man for the job’. This is no more apparent than in the appointment of Goebbels as Propaganda Minister. Hitler wanted someone better than himself to arrange the propaganda appearances and meetings for himself, and Goebbels was clearly the best man for the job, as shown by his arrangement of the Night of the Long Knives in 1933, a highly successful propaganda campaign. Hitler was not capable of doing such things himself, proving that he is a weak dictator, by leaving jobs to others. Hitler was a dictator entirely dependent on his reputation, and therefore was indecisive when it came to making decisions, as Feuchtwanger describes, ‘Hitler often refused to take decisions, especially when a decision might damage his popularity†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ It was well known that Hitler’s popularity paved the way for his success, as was shown in results in General elections. However, a strong dictator would not have to worry about the decisions they made, because whilst popularity would have been a cause for concern, their position would have been so secure that worrying would not be an issue, however, in this case where Hitler is clearly agitated and worried over the support he is receiving, it shows that his position as dictator is not as strong as it could be. Kershaw writes about the central role of Hitler to the running of Germany and the Nazi system. He was the, ‘†¦focal point of the Nazi system of rule.’ Every dictator needs to be the focal point of whatever Government they are the head of, and therefore Hitler’s proving of being the front focus of Nazi rule, shows how strong a dictator he was. He was the focal point and face of every Nazi policy, such as the Decree for the protection of People and State. Hitler used communists as an excuse for bringing in new laws and he was central to the policy making and was the face of the new policy. Werner Wilkins was a State Secretary in Germany during the Nazi regime, and he felt that Hitler was neither a weak or strong dictator, but that Germany was in fact Working towards the Fuhrer. This would mean that Hitler was not necessarily important in the running of everyday politics, such as a normal dictator, but he would however let people interpret his policies how they wish. This would not lead to a weak or strong dictator theory, but a society where everyone was working towards the Fuhrer’s will. Werner says how, â€Å"†¦everyone worth a post in the new Germany has worked best when he has, so to speak, working towards the Fuhrer.† This means that everyone in the country no matter what Hitler did was working towards his will, as it is believed he is the only one who knew what Germans truly wanted. In conclusion, Hitler was seen to be a weak dictator, as he was very afraid from the real threat created by losing his popularity, which would have turned the people against him, and whilst he had still not consolidated power fully, particularly at the start of the period, he was always under the threat of being thrown out of power again. Because of this, he had to curb some of his will and policies, and any threat to his popularity was handed over to someone else, whose loss in popularity would not have affected Hitler’s personal rule.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Tiresias, Oedipus, and Self Essay -- Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex

Tiresias, Oedipus Rex, and Self  Ã‚   The play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, tells a horrendous tale about one man's quest for the truth. In the play, King Oedipus was burdened with the task of finding his predecessor's murderer so that order may be restored to his kingdom. While his conscious mind was seeking the murderer, his unconscious mind was retarding his progress in order to conceal the truth. Tiresias, prophesies the truth to Oedipus, but Oedipus's unconscious mind would not hear it. Thus, when the awful truth is finally revealed, Oedipus is overwhelmed by it. This causes the physical and emotional wounds that would last him a lifetime. A supplementary piece of literature, Tiresias by Tennyson, was written to complement this play. In Tennyson's poem, he told about a man who was touched by the Gods, when he reached the point of enlightenment in his life; this man is Tiresias. Through the study of Tennyson's Tiresias, one can better understand the play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus the character and one's self. In Tiresias, the narrator speaks about his desire to be like his friend Fitz. The perception of Fitz given by Tennyson is that he was a very spiritual man touched by the Gods. Tennyson's first attempt to be like Fitz was to become a vegetarian: And once for ten long weeks I tried Your table of Pythagoras, And seem'd at first "a thing enskied," As Shakespeare has it, airy-light To float above the ways of men, Then fell from that half-spiritual height Chill'd, till I tasted flesh again One night when the earth was winter-black, And all the heavens flash'd in frost; And on me, half-asleep, came back That wholesome heat the blood had lost, And set me climbing icy capes . . . (Tennyson, 14-... ...ind's frailty consider his last day; and let none presume on his good fortune until he find life, at his death, a memory without pain." (Sophocles, 757) This imagery of peace and serenity causes one to strive for such enlightenment. After an extensive examination of both works, one's understanding of Oedipus Rex the play, Oedipus the character, and one's self is heightened. One can better understand how Tiresias, Oedipus, and one's self are bound to the ways of the flesh. One also understands that in order to break free from the ways of man, one must reach enlightenment which is done when one is touched by the Gods.    Works Cited Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex." Elements of Literature. Ed. Robert Scholes, Nancy R. Comley, Carl H. Klaus, and David Staines. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1990. 714-757. Tennyson. "Tiresias." ENGOA1 Handout.      

Monday, November 11, 2019

Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough

Introduction:Take that part of the history, when the first interactions between the native Indians and the British settlers. Mostly, it began with the initial hesitation, mutual distrust, pitched battles ensued, lots of bloodshed resulted with loss of human lives on either side, the true and noble emotions of the human beings played their part, love episodes between the white man and black beauties happened. Did it help to smooth the relations between then tribes and the settlers, or worsened the situation resulting in more mistrust and bloodshed. Many constrains come in the path of writing the history of the sixteenth century and what really happened in Jamestown, in the absence of authentic historical records   as for the conditions and contributions of the native Indians. British historians have sidetracked many facts, according to Helen Rountree and she has tendered archeological evidences to prove her findings.The Lives Changed:Pocahontas is regarded as the most famous Native American who ever lived, hailed from the native tribes. But as documented by the historians, during the process of settlement of Jamestown and for two subsequent centuries, the great Tribal Chiefs, Powhatan and Opechancanough took the front seats. Pocahontas demanded lots of attention for different reasons. Opechancanough captured the British captain John Smith. To save his skin and perhaps his life from his unpredictable captor, John Smith came out with certain original ideas to impress his captors in that land of uncertainties for the early adventurous settlers.He gave his captor a compass, and told him the details about a spherical earth which revolved around the sun. He had apprehensions whether his captor was a cannibal in which case Smith’s life was in danger. That was a wrong assumption– he was no cannibal but he ‘knew’ that the earth was flat. John Smith was duly presented before the paramount chief Powhatan. The meeting had positive results as for John Smith. He got an opportunity to meet Powhatan’s daughter Pocahontas. Thinking him to be a good individual and believing that he had a firm ally, he released Smith from captivity. Within the next few decades his people were the subjects of the British Crown.The 400th anniversary of Jamestown’s founding:Helen Rountree is a nationally renowned scholar of Native Americans. Historians could not get much of the events that shaped the lives of Powhatan or Opechancanough, but Rountree’s book fills up this lacuna.  Ã‚   Pocahontas steals the limelight as for the remarkable life that she lived. All the three historical figures have been adequately covered in the book. The initial introduction, the interaction period and the final confrontation between the natives with the English settlers have been taken into account. An interesting turn to the events of the era was the intriguing diplomacy following     the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. This personal event was against the social traditions then practiced by the tribal. During Opechancanough’s reign the native sovereignty came to an end.The essential difference between the writing and recordings of the British Historians and Helen Rountree:The book written from the ethno-historical angle, Rountree has utilized two important tools required for honestly constructing historical facts—anthropology and written records. The writers among the white settles did their own job. Their writings remained unchallenged, whether right or wrong, because there was not another writer, who could tell facts. By no account English can be termed as heroes. They were Tassantassas (strangers), squatters and invaders. The truth must be told, feels Rountree and she has constructed her recordings in an authentic manner on the basis of facts and evidences.When romance scores over history:History is an interesting subject; history with romance is very interesting. Historical fiction novels are good playing ground for the imaginative movies to sprout. For one thing, the historical characters lay quietly in their graves and they are not likely to challenge your version of their romance. John Smith, known in his day as a bad boy, would not have done anything good for the fifteen years young Princess Pocahonas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan. Did she play a role to save John Smith’s who was imprisoned by the Tribal Chief—can’t say but her contribution to lessen the tension between the colonists and the natives was noticeable and mentioned prominently by the historians. She married Jon Rolfe, a British nobleman. She learned to speak English. She adopted the Christian religion.She moved to London and became a lady. In the meantime, Powhatan tried and did his best for unity between the natives and colonists. He seemed to have succeeded for a while but later the conflicts resumed.The systematic and scientific approach to writing by Helen Rountree:Rountree wri tes without any prejudice, and calls spade a spade. She has termed the British settlers as invaders and rightly so. The book intensely covers the period from 1607 to 1644.She has highlighted three important points, a) Virginia Company’s settlement in Jamestown, b) deterioration of relations between colonists and natives and c) the wars of 1622 and 1644. She has given detailed description about the pre-invasion life of the tribes, highlighting the importance of  Ã‚   rituals in their life. She has mentioned the different lifestyles and environments, and shown how values were entirely different. The contents of the book give the overall picture of the founding of Jamestown from the Indian point of view.â€Å"Jamestown's founding approaches, nationally renowned scholar of Native Americans, Helen Rountree, provides in a single book the definitive biographies of these three important figures. In their lives we see the whole arc of Indian experience with the English settlers â⠂¬â€ from the wary initial encounters presided over by Powhatan, to the uneasy diplomacy characterized by the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, to the warfare and eventual loss of native sovereignty that came during Opechancanough's reign.† (Three†¦.)  Rountree, with her scholarly approach gives facts about seventeenth-century Powhatan culture. It is being appreciated by the scholars for the wealth of understanding it brings.   The lay readers like it for the personable prose and lively narrative structure. Her interpretations are backed up by careful, acceptable research-based reasoning and extensive knowledge.To get the truth, sieving the biased and none-sided approach of the British historians is a tough task and Rountree has managed her job well, despite hard constrains. Powhatan lacked a written language. She has relied upon evidence derived from archaeology. She has highlighted Powhatan’s own vocabulary of seasons linked to different forms of food g etting. One feels of getting the other side of the story—the real story! â€Å"In particular, the three main subjects of the book all begin to emerge—Powhatan and Openchancanough from their relative obscurity, and Pocahontas from the myths that have surrounded her since at least the nineteenth century. Just in time for 2007, they appear with all of the complexity of character and motivation that the history books have typically reserved for only a few of the â€Å"strangers† like John Smith.† (Virginia†¦.)Hollywood portrayals:â€Å"When Disney Studios released the 1995 movie, Pocahontas, Dr. Rountree subsequently devoted many interviews to debunking the myths surrounding the young girl who, today, plays such a pivotal role in the American imagination.† Recently Hollywood movie â€Å"The New World† is released. This movie is an adult version of the Pocahontas and John Smith romance.  Ã‚   The four hundredth anniversary of Jamestownâ₠¬â„¢s founding was inaugurated, May 2006, that will last for 18 months.Conclusion:Helen Rountree’s credits and achievements through this book can be summed up thus. She has thrown fresh light on the life and culture of the native Indians. One is able to understand Jamestown in a better perspective. The indigenous voices are heard. She has shown how important are the lives of Pocahonas, Powhatan and Openchancanough to understand what happened in and to Jamestown in the sixteenth century.References Cited:Rountree, Helan C. Book: Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown. Publisher: University of Virginia Press; Edition (June 15, 2006) ISBN-10: 0813925967: ISBN-13: 978-0813925967Article: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown. Target.comwww.target.com/gp/product/0813925967) Retrieved on 17th September 2007.Virginia Magazine of History and Biography: Article: Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown...www.vahistorical. org/publications/review_rountree.htm – 9k – Retrieved on 17th September 17, 2007

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Software Design Specification Document Essay

1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose of this document  describes the purpose of the document, and the intended audience. 1.2 Overview  provides a brief overview of the product defined as a result of the requirements elicitation process. I am working for M. Bufton which is a small engineering/prototyping company, which is in the process of expanding. They currently have a small workshop unit and office, but are looking to expand into the adjoining building. They have 20 PCs that are of mixed age and specification as well as 4 laptops. In addition to their office machines they have 2 CAD/CAM machine tools, an extrusion polymer 3D printer and a full (manual) machine shop. They employ 30 staff in various roles. Mrs Megan Bufton is a Newtown native, and speaks Welsh as her first language. All of the reports and other documentation need to take this into account. Initially, I have been tasked with improving the basic processes, procedures and documentation required for their business systems. However due to their rapid growth in the use of 3D printing the company is planning to franchise their operation and with the help of their intended franchisees open additional sites across the country as soon as possible. The company proprietors have decided that in order for their business to expand further and create a brand recognised as offering a wide choice of rapidly designed and developed products with simplicity of operations they  need strong support systems for franchisees. To keep costs low they will need a computerised system to manage all the company’s orders. The company’s proprietors have heard about databases but have no idea what they are or how they will benefit the company. Bufton’s company currently collects all regular orders in an Excel spreadsheet. They find the spread-sheet difficult to use and keep having to type in the same data for each customer order, which has led to data entry errors and subsequent inconsistencies in the data held. The spread-sheet doesn’t allow for effective retrieval of information and does not offer any reporting facilities for printing off documents such as invoices and outstanding payments. As their resident IT specialist I been seconded into developing a system based on database software to deal with Bufton’s orders. 2. General Description 2.1 Product Functions Describes the general functionality of the product, which will be discussed in more detail below. 2.2 User Characteristics Describes the features of the user community, including their expected expertise with software systems and the application domain. Directness I have made the program as direct as possible. You can search forms for specific data, add data, delete data with cascading updates and deletes and you can view reports for a quick overview of your data. The program does not have any unnecessary features. User in control The user can modify the system how they like, they can create new reports for specific criteria, they can view the data any way they like and have clear, easy to use buttons on the forms to navigate through them with ease. Consistancy The forms, reports and database is consistant, the layouts are the same and they look similar and proffesional. The navigational buttons are all in the same place and are the same size. I have added a picture to the company form as I was going to have a different related background on each but I didn’t have time to change the photo or seasrch for other related images for the other forms. Forgiveness My error messages contain a clear description of which characters must be entered into the field, you can then click ok and edit your entry. You cannot click onto another field untill the field you are on contains the right criteria. Feedback I have used reports for clear viewing of data so you can see clearly and quickly what stock is selling etc and I have input masks and validation rules on many fields so if the wrong information is entered an error message will appear. This helps to keep the referential integrity. Aesthetics I have made the database as logical as possible with fields in the right order and I have made the reports and forms as eye pleasing as possible by using pictures, colours and a consistant layout. Simplicity Using forms and reports I have made inputting data and pinpointing data as easy as possible. I have used a well known program to develop my software so most people will know how to use it anyway, I have also made a switchboard where the user can go from a menu to any form they want to view and a button on each form to take you back to the menu, ready to select another form.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Commonly Confused Words Prescribe and Proscribe

The Commonly Confused Words Prescribe and Proscribe The words prescribe and proscribe  are similar in pronunciation and can be easily confused, but are almost opposite in meaning. Definitions The verb prescribe means to recommend, establish, or lay down as a rule. Similarly, prescribe means to authorize a medical prescription. The verb proscribe means to ban, forbid, or condemn. Examples When doctors prescribe medicine for a child, they take the childs size and weight into account and adjust the dose accordingly.He read her temperature as 98.8. Very, very slight, he told her. I prescribe sleep.(John Updike, Married Life)Each year as many as two million Americans suffer from antibiotic-resistant illnesses, and 23,000 die as a result. Clearly, we need to get doctors to  prescribe  antibiotics more selectively. But how can this be done?(Craig R. Fox et al., How to Stop Overprescribing Antibiotics. The New York Times, March 25, 2016)Many localities have passed ordinances that proscribe the use of leaf blowers.The First Amendment generally prevents government from  proscribing  speech, or even expressive conduct, because of disapproval of the ideas expressed.(Earl E. Pollock,  The Supreme Court and American Democracy, 2009) Usage Notes Prescribe is a much commoner word and means either issue a medical prescription or recommend with authority, as in the doctor prescribed antibiotics. Proscribe, on the other hand, is a formal word meaning condemn or forbid, as in gambling was strictly proscribed by the authorities.(Maurice Waite, ed., Oxford Thesaurus of English, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, 2009)These are almost direct opposites, and ought not to be confused. To prescribe is to define a remedy, to ordain, to decree. To proscribe is to prohibit, to forbid, to ban. When the Food and Drug Administration proscribed Laetrile, it meant that no doctor could lawfully prescribe it.(James J. Kilpatrick, The Writers Art. Andrews McMeel, 1984) Practice (a) It is illegal to pay doctors to _____ certain medicines to their patients.(b) Chinas laws severely _____ public demonstrations. Answers to Practice Exercises: Prescribe and Proscribe (a) It is illegal to pay doctors to prescribe certain medicines to their patients.(b) Chinas laws severely proscribe public demonstrations. Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The 7 most common mistakes in technical writing †and how to fix them

The 7 most common mistakes in technical writing – and how to fix them How to fix the 7 most common glitches in technical writing Most of us are technical writers at some point or other, even if we don’t realise it. You may be quite happy with the label if you write test reports or standard operating procedures. But you can have a very different role and still sometimes need to write technical things: a design brief, an employee handbook or even guidance on how to use the new office photocopier. If your document is complex, and someone needs to be able to follow and act on it, then it’s technical writing. The fact that many people don’t realise that what they’re writing is technical may partly explain why so many of these types of documents fall short. Fortunately, those shortcomings tend to fall into just a few categories, and they’re easy to fix. So let’s look at some of the most common difficulties technical writers (and their readers) face – and how to fix them. 1. Messy structure Many technical documents confuse readers and fail to achieve their aims because they were not planned properly to begin with. This lack of planning means that documents, especially longer ones, end up structured in an illogical fashion. Things are hard to find in the text, sections don’t follow naturally from each other, cross-references are a mess, and so on. At best, this frustrates readers; at worst, it makes the document virtually unusable. How to fix it: Before you begin writing at all, think carefully about the overall layout of the document. Creating a simple outline will help you structure it appropriately and optimally. So when youve written the text, but before you publish it, have it carefully reviewed – preferably by an editor or by a colleague who will read it closely. They may suggest improvements to the document’s structure, especially if you ask them to keep this in mind. The structure of the finished document should seem logical and intuitive to its intended readers. 2. Too much jargon Who your readers are will inform the content and style of your text. So it’s important to keep them in mind throughout the writing process. If you’re writing something for specialist readers, some jargon and technical language is fine; it may even be essential. If you’re writing for a general audience or people who actually specialise in a different area, be careful – what’s familiar and self-evident to you may not be so to them. One manager who commissioned a technical-writing course from Emphasis described how different specialists may ‘talk different languages’. You need to ensure that nothing gets lost in translation. How to fix it: Take a few moments to identify and visualise your readers. Then consider what level and type of technicality in the writing will be appropriate for them – and what won’t be. Those acronyms that roll off your tongue because you use them every day – are they well known elsewhere? Unless you’re sure your readers will know all the technical terms you plan to use, it’s a good idea to include a glossary or a list of abbreviations, or both, at the start of a text. Another strategy is to explain those items in parentheses or footnotes when they first appear. But if you find yourself doing this a lot, you should probably just add a glossary instead. 3. Poor punctuation All writers have a passing knowledge of the main set of punctuation marks. Very few, however, outside of professional authors and editors, have a thorough grasp of how each one works. The use of full stops and question marks is painless enough, but beyond that there is widespread difficulty with getting the details right. When exactly are commas required? Which dashes go where? When should you use hyphens? What’s going on with colons and semicolons? How to fix it: Find a good, modern guide to punctuation and read it carefully until you have a firm grasp of each mark’s use and misuse. Pay particular attention to any area you have trouble with. If certain mistakes or difficulties crop up repeatedly in your company’s documents, address them in your style guide (see next item below). 4. Inconsistency Technical writing should convey coherent ideas and trains of thought. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. And that’s especially true when a document is written over a period of time, created by multiple authors, or updated piecemeal without due regard for overall consistency and readability. These circumstances are common and can result in choppiness in the document’s style, layout, tone, point of view, and so on. For example, the text may address readers as ‘you’ in one paragraph and as ‘designers’ in the next. The tone may switch abruptly from warm and chatty to scientific. This can be disconcerting, if not downright confusing. How to fix it: If you’re making changes to an existing document, get a sense of the surrounding context – including things like tone and tense. Try to align your changes with these, so that new material is incorporated seamlessly (or, if necessary, signposted appropriately). Jumps in tone or tense can be overlooked even more easily than typos and grammatical errors. The sense is clear to the writer (or writers), so they don’t notice things that will jar for the reader. These jumps must therefore be looked for specifically. Create a company style guide and make sure all your writers have easy access to it and are encouraged to consult it. This will do wonders for the consistency of your documents, both internal and external. Ensure that the guide not only includes vocabulary items but also addresses things like readership, typography, company aims, and brand voice and identity. A style guide is a living document, so put a system in place for proposing and incorporating additions and revisions to it. 5. Too much abstraction People writing in a formal or semi-formal context often go overboard in an effort to make their prose sound proper and elevated. Their writing, as a result, can end up very abstract and noun-heavy. ‘The achievement of good performance’ may sound fancy, but it’s a mouthful compared to ‘performing well’, and it’s really no more impressive than the plain-language option. It’s also less clear. Abstractions like this are unnecessary and, as they accumulate, make your prose turgid, verbose, and tiring to read. They can also make it ambiguous: if you describe a system as having ‘enhanced functionality’, do you mean it has more functions or that it works better? How to fix it: Try to replace abstract, noun-heavy phrases with strong, straightforward verbs. This will make your points more concise and intelligible. ‘The carrying out of tests’ can become ‘carrying out tests’, or, better still, ‘testing’ or ‘tests’. Watch out for phrases like took place, which often point to gratuitous nouning and buried verbs: ‘Analysis of the figures took place’ really just means ‘The figures were analysed.’ A related issue is redundancy: ‘blue in colour’ means blue, ‘robust in nature’ means ‘robust’, and so on. 6. Unclear antecedents An antecedent is a word, phrase, or clause referred to by another word, which is usually a pronoun like it, they, or who. For example, in ‘Observe the results and add these to a worksheet’, results is the antecedent of these. Ambiguity can occur when there is more than one possible antecedent. Take the following: ‘Trainees should mark their schedules in the notebooks provided, then in the group calendars. The manager is responsible for them.’ Whoever wrote this knew what the manager was responsible for, but readers may reasonably wonder if them referred to the trainees, the schedules, the notebooks, or the calendars. How to fix it: This is a common blind spot for writers, and it shows why we are our own worst editors. When we review the text, we see only what we meant – we miss the potential for uncertainty. Have someone else look over the text, if possible, because a fresh pair of eyes will be more likely to notice problems like this. It’s better to choose someone who is less familiar with what is being described, since they are less liable to fall into the same trap of overfamiliarity. 7. Dense presentation Technical writing can be very †¦ technical. Unavoidably so. Applying plain language as much as possible will help, though you still probably won’t win awards for literature. But even allowing for its stylistic limitations, technical writing can be made much worse through poor presentation. Long, unbroken chunks of text, for example, are visually off-putting and hard to follow. They can make a reader’s brain shut down out of sheer effort and frustration. The prevalence of jargon and complex concepts add further cognitive loads, and it all adds up. How to fix it: There are several ways to tackle the issue of dense presentation. Short words, sentences, and paragraphs are generally preferable, though they’re no guarantee of lucidity – it’s more important to use the most appropriate words in the best possible manner. Some passages can be broken up with bullet points, which makes them far easier to digest. Bullets also allow you to simplify the grammar, since they don’t need to be full sentences. Parallelism can lend grace, polish, and clarity, and is a grammatical device worth attention and practice if you want to improve your writing. It can take various forms, but essentially it means using matching grammatical structures in words, phrases or clauses that should work in parallel. For example, consider the sentence: For breakfast we like eggs and to grill bacon. Here, eggs is a noun but to grill is a verb. Better to write: For breakfast we like eggs and bacon, or: For breakfast we like to fry eggs and grill bacon. It’s natural to struggle with technical writing, especially if you only do it from time to time. Producing something that reads effortlessly is a challenge. But thinking about and applying these seven straightforward tips will benefit your writing experience. Even more importantly, it will make everything a whole lot clearer – and life a lot easier – for your readers. Image credit: ALPA PROD / Shutterstock