Critical thinking and analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical thinking and analysis - Essay Example It is nevertheless interesting to compare the lights and darkness of the changing landscape of a city like Los Angeles, as we draw upon historical accounts of the city in the late 1970s by Joan Didion recalling the fire of 1978 in ‘Fire Season’ and Truman Capote reminiscing about Christmas in Los Angeles in the early 1950s in ‘Local Color’. Both authors have a particular recollection of the city and though weather patterns repeat themselves, the effect is never quite the same across different decades. Discussion My judgment of the light and darkness of Los Angeles can be summed up in the vagaries of weather that the city has to face during a typical year. From hurricane alerts to wildfires raging through various parts of the city, there is never a dull moment in Los Angeles. There is always something happening at the beaches that dot the coastline of the city, and tourists as well as the local people make a beeline for it come summer. The winters too are coo l and not too wet, but the pleasant breeze that blows down the coast of the shoreline and into one’s living rooms in the evenings can send chills down some spines. It is chilling yet cool to be here. Be in the blinding sunlight of summer or the hazy shade of winter, there is some danger of forest fires and other natural calamities making life difficult for the residents. Joan Didion in her piece Fire Season recalls the blaze of 1978 that resulted from the Malibu and Kanan fires and wiped out parts of Malibu and the Palisades. Some areas of Los Angeles have been burned as many as eight times. The local brush takes as long as 20 years to replenish itself. Thus we are looking at a major ecological disaster that reoccurs. With the weather patterns being consistent enough to distinguish between summer, winter and the rainy season, firefighters and the Mayor’s Office are usually on high alert during both summer and winter season when there is a good chance of fires flaring u p somewhere or the other. This may be exacerbated if the conditions have been dry and unrelenting in the earlier part of the year. The conditions are so well known that even little children will describe the autumn season as â€Å"dry winds and dust; hair full of knots† (Didion, 509). Yet there is something peculiar about the resilience of inhabitants to stay put in Los Angeles County despite the recurring fires. It is as if they are in a state of denial, or love the land too much to leave it. Los Angeles even has a Fire Index. Moving on to Truman Capote’s recollection of spending Christmas in Los Angeles during the 1950s, where he had to play chaperone to a Negro girl who was coming to Hollywood in search of a job in the movie industry. Describing the usual indiscretions here, it was noted that people regarded the absence of Youth as death. No one walks, there is usually a long line of cars lining the streets as the only mode of transportation. There is no time or inc lination to have kids since everyone is so busy with their movie careers- it is termed the childless city (Capote, 354). A typical Hollywood home is so incomplete without some paintings of the Masters and everybody is supposed to have some knowledge about Art. There is much emphasis on makeup and keeping up appearances, getting a toned, chiseled body and using botox to appear eternally young. Makeup and perfume is liberally applied and you are supposed to learn how to manage through divorces and remarriages. Older people can relax and really appreciate the serenity of the place. Conclusion

Many people immigrate to the United States because they believe that Essay

Many people immigrate to the United States because they believe that it is better than their country.Do you agreeWhy - Essay Example One can easily identify that people immigrate to the US because they are in need of better education, living standard and opportunity. Besides, they do not feel alienated in the mainstream society of the United States because the same is a ‘melting pot’ of different cultures. Fenton states that â€Å"After the liberalization of immigration laws in 1965, these populations all grew through immigration† (29). From a different angle of view, the most important reason behind the immigration to the US is the urge to be successful in life. The people from the third world nations consider that the US society can fulfill their dreams. Besides, the acceptance shown by the US citizens towards the immigrant population is an important factor behind large scale immigration. Summing, the whole world is undergoing rapid development due to the influence of information revolution. So, the concept of international citizenship is not a myth, but reality. Those who accept the same shows interest to grab the opportunity and to lead better life. In short, the urge to lead a better life is the motivation behind the large scale immigration to the United

The Difference Between Two Orphans Essay Example for Free

The Difference Between Two Orphans Essay Last week, every newspaper in Korea printed two American names with two Korean faces. But Toby Dawson and Jae Harrell made the newspapers for very different reasons. Every year, Korean orphans are being adopted by American parents. Last year alone, an estimated thousand six hundred and thirty children were taken in from South Korea to America. This is not so surprising, considering that Americans have been adopting orphans from South Korea from a long way back. This is where Toby Dawson and Jae Harrell’s stories begin. Both of them have been born in Korea, and both have left their country when they were adopted by Americans. They both felt loneliness and isolation: suddenly, they found themselves in another country with nobody they knew, with a language they do not understand, and with people who looked so different. They grew up realizing that it was them who looked different in this world of Caucasian people – they were Americans, but their faces revealed their heritage.   We can imagine how they suffered – not only with the fact that they knew they were adopted and were having issues with their identity as to who their biological parents were and where were they and why they were separated from them, but growing up in a different country and being reminded of that fact everyday as they look in the mirror, they must have felt the pang of isolation more vividly. But whatever pain they felt, the similarities they shared ended there. Toby Dawson was born Bong-seok in Pusan, South Korea. His father, Kim Jae-su, was a truck driver. On one fateful day, his mother lost him in the market. By the time his father got home from work, it was already too late to look for him. His father searched for him in the market and nearby places, in different orphanages, but to no avail. Defeated, his father gave up looking for him. But the fates must have smiled at Bong-seok, because soon an American couple, ski instructors Mike and Deborah Dawson. The couple took him to their home in Vail, Colorado. He was three. Toby did not know English, and for the first year that he stayed in the country he had nightmares, screaming in his sleep almost every night. Everything was so different – the culture was different, and he was living with adoptive parents when he knew he used to have parents back in Korea. He struggled with his sense of identity, with being different, with being adopted, with being a minority in this part of the world. He accepted his situation and decided to make the best of it. He attended summer camp for adopted children from South Korea and other Asian countries, and made friends and shared bonds with other children like him who were going through the same ordeal. He learned to ski at a young age, although probably because his parents wanted him to learn how to ski, but eventually skiing became an outlet for his aggression. Toby worked hard on his skiing – he has had his share of accidents and broken bones, but still he keeps at it to become the best in his field. He has competed in the major skiing competitions like the World Cup Circuit, and even won a bronze in the Olympics. He also has not forgotten the pain he endured in his childhood – whenever he has time, he spends it with the kids, volunteering for the summer camp that helped him so much before. It seems that everything is going his way, and the only thing left is to make peace with his past. And after his Olympic fame, Toby finally decided to meet his parents. With his new status, a lot of Koreans came forward to claim him as their own, but genetics has a way of clearing things up, and soon Toby found out who his real father was. Toby and Kim met, together with his younger brother. He did not reproach his father for abandoning him – instead, he even told him: I have been waiting a long time, Father. And Kim was moved and proud to see that despite everything, his son has grown up to be a wonderful man. Toby Dawson’s story is made known to all of America last Tuesday in Oprah. But with all the good fortune that has come his way, it must be remembered that Toby worked hard to make the best out of what life has to offer. He faced life and all its challenges bravely, and for that he is reaping the fruits of his labor. On the other hand, things did not fare as well with Jae Harrell. Adopted when he was a newborn baby by Ruth Harrell and her husband, Toby must have felt isolated just like Toby when he was growing up when he realized that he did not look like his parents, that he looked different. Unlike Toby, Jae took a different path. Whereas Toby spent his time in summer camp to cope with all the things that are happening to him, Jae turned to drugs and alcohol. Whether for fun or consolation or he just needed to forget, Jae’s reliance on alcohol and drugs did him no good, and soon he was on a list for mental health watch. He let remorse and hatred overcome him, and perhaps he felt anger towards his parents in Korea who sent him away, and maybe he felt anger too with the position he found himself in this country, and he had no productive outlet for his aggression. Charged and found guilty of retail theft in November, he was sentenced to three years in jail but was granted parole last January. But he did not stop there. His anger took over him and he ended up killing his mother, the one who adopted him and raised him up. Jae had been charged with battering his mother Ruth a year ago, but the charges were dropped after his mother declined to show up in court. This time, she was not so lucky. After an argument with Ruth, Jae struck his mother with a hammer on the head and then strangled her. He put her in her car and drove her to local school’s parking lot, and checked back if somebody found her. Seeing that the body was not discovered, he drove the car to I-290 and left it there. The car and the body were found by a worker from the Illinois Department of Transportation, and Jae Harrell has been arrested and bail set at $ 300 million. Toby Dawson and Jae Harrell were both orphans, both adopted from South Korea. They both had a difficult time adjusting to their situation here in the United States. However, they led significantly different lives. It was the decisions they made that took them where they are now. Toby’s effort, hard work and optimistic attitude made him a successful skier and gave him happiness. Jae’s negative attitude, his reliance on drugs and alcohol, and his failure to see the good things in life gave him disgrace and this tragic affair. In the end, it does not matter where we are from or what we look like because what matter is what we are inside.

Teen pregnancy Case Essay Example for Free

Teen pregnancy Case Essay Effects Teen pregnancy causes dramatic changes to a teen girls lifestyle, emotional well-being and body. According to PregnancyCenters.org, some of the most long-lasting effects of teen pregnancy involve the emotional stress of planning for parenthood, or planning for adoption. Prevention/Solution The only guaranteed method of avoiding teen pregnancy is abstinence. If a teen does decide to become sexually active, she should talk to her parents, physician, counselor or other mentor or health-care professional about available methods of birth control. Mainstream MTVs hit shows 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom have brought teenage-pregnancy awareness and prevention into mainstream popular culture. Sponsored Links Are you a Teen Girl? Having sex has consequences! Come read the stories from other teens. www.StandUpGirl.com Family Problems? Find resources and help for Filipino families www.usapangpamilya.com Want to get pregnant? Many people carry genetic mutations that can be passed on to offspring. genetestnow.com Pregnancy = Numb Fingers? Relax. Take a Deep Breath. We have the Answers. No More Numb Fingers TherapyGloves.com/numbfingers.html Related Searches Teenage Pregnancy Help Teen Pregnancy Pregnancy Facts Pregnancy Abortion Unplanned Pregnancy More to Explore Reasons Why Teenagers Get Pregnant How to Support a Pregnant Teenager 9 Infertility Causes in Young Women (Parent Society) Is That Normal? 9 Surprising Age-Related Changes (Shape) Whats this? References National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy: 50-State ComparisonsCost of Teen Childbearing National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy: BrieflyTeen Pregnancy Rates in the United States, 1988-2006 MSNBC: HealthTeen Birth Rates Highest in Most-Religious States Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images Read more: What Is Teenage Pregnancy? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_6005988_teenage-pregnancy_.html#ixzz2IPDAfzYE

My Service Learning Experience :: Community Service, Volunteer Work

I wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter since I am majoring in Pre-Vet, but at the last moment, I decided to do something very different. I chose to student teach first graders at County Elementary. It is very surprising to me that I chose to do this. I always said that I hated kids and had no desire to ever work with them I even said I would never give birth to any kids because I hated them so much. The thing is that I actually enjoyed my experience very much. I chose this activity because I wanted to try something different that I thought I wouldn't like. The teacher that I did this volunteer work for was my 1st grade teacher at County Elementary when I went to school there in 2000. The reason that I hate kids so much is because had a really bad experience with them. In the summer of last year I baby-sat these kids across the street from me that moved here from New York. They were the kids from hell. They were so annoying, and ungrateful. For instance they always asked me to buy them Taco Bell, and when I did, they would say, "why did you buy me this?", or "I want more, you better buy me more." I hated them. I was so stressed from them that I would cry at night. I really didn't want to baby-sit them anymore but I felt bad if I said no. So I thought I couldn't judge all kids on those three. I had to give others a chance, and didn't want to give up on having kids. I did many fun and exciting things while I was working with these kids at County Elementary. The first day Mrs. Aiken introduced me. She said, " Boys and girls this is Taysha, and I was her teacher when she was your age." They were all in awe. They couldn't believe that I had her as a teacher. The first kid I helped was a black girl named Shontele. I helped her with her math work and reading. I taught her to group thins in Math when you are adding or subtracting. For example: Say you have ten subtract three. I told her to put ten into groups of five, then cross out three, and count how many there was left. She enjoyed that and thought it was now much easier to do her Math.

Cambridge Admissions Essay -- Cambridge Admissions Essay

Cambridge Admissions Essay As a child growing up in Communist China, I woke up every morning to the blasting of People's Central Broadcasting Station from a large radio on the dresser and fell asleep every evening in the surreptitious murmuring of Voices from America from a small radio by Grandpa's pillow. By fourth grade, I figured out that the two stations often reported the same events from opposite standpoints, using different words and tones, and thus projected contradictory interpretations onto the same events. Eager to share this revelation with my grandparents, I pointed out the differences between the two stations by singing their respective theme songs and by imitating the voices of their newscasters. To my disappointment, they were much more alarmed than amused. "Don't you talk nonsense in school," Grandma warned me. "You'll bring us trouble." With hindsight, I have realized that her reproach was no more than an attempt to protect what little freedom we did have. Back then, I knew only enough to keep my mouth shut, but I could not shut my mind off to questions that sprang up the more I listened, questions that shattered my faith in what I was taught. Like a small window that opened unto another world, the radio by Grandpa's pillow made me re-examine my own world in a new light. More than the accumulation of knowledge, learning, for me, means to test my own beliefs and prejudices against other points of view and to understand the reasons behind our differences. The classes I have taken at Harvard in the humanities and social sciences have shown me how to observe multiple layers of meaning in a given cultural situation, while campus journalism, internship with a documentary filmmaker, and summertime explorati... ..., philosophy and theater-as well as make a film composed of ten or twenty video "postcards," or an anthology of poetic fragments. Half will be detailed observations of Cambridge-thoughts on and video clips of spots I would frequent and of individuals I would see on a daily basis. The other half will be snapshots from travels to other parts of Europe-of places I may never see again and of strangers I will meet on the road. The most crucial criterion for inclusion in the anthology will be revelation-the moment captured has to be a window opening unto a different world, be it an idyllic countryside or warring battleground, an international city or a private home, a civilization that perished centuries ago or a community that has just come to be. This will allow me to explore the different possibilities of sharing what I see and experience with those not there with me.

Technoscience and Artificial Life :: Technology

Technoscience and Artificial Life ABSTRACT: This paper uses the theory of technoscience to shed light on the current criticisms against the emerging science of Artificial Life. We see that the science of Artificial Life is criticized for the synthetic nature of its research and its over reliance on computer simulations which is seen to be contrary to the traditional goals and methods of science. However, if we break down the traditional distinctions between science and technology using the theory of technoscience, then we can begin to see that all science has a synthetic nature and reliance on technology. Artificial Life researchers are not heretical practitioners of some pseudoscience; they are just more open about their reliance on technology to help realize their theories and modeling. Understanding that science and technology are not as disparate as was once thought is an essential step in helping us create a more humane technoscience in the future. Introduction As soon as the new sciences of Complexity, Chaos Theory, and Artificial Life (hereafter referred to as AL), began to be noticed by the popular science press a kind of "honeymoon" period began. During this time these sciences were seen as the sexy new breakthrough theories that would eventually lead to our ability to solve all the problems of the world, from the cure for AIDS to the complete understanding and synthesis of living systems. (1) Recently a number of attacks have been leveled against the studies of Complexity and Chaos Theory in general and on the study of AL directly. The most damning of these attacks on AL has been launched by John Horgan in his article "From Complexity to Perplexity," printed in Scientific American (Horgan 6/95) and in his book The End of Science. In his article Horgan fiercely criticized the study of AL with the implication that the entire study is some kind of sham. Horgan states that: Artificial Life — and the entire field of complexity — seems to be based on a seductive syllogism: There are simple sets of mathematical rules that when followed by a computer give rise to extremely complicated patterns. The world also contains many extremely complicated patterns. Conclusion: Simple rules underlie many extremely complicated phenomena in the world. With the help of powerful computers, scientists can root those rules out (Horgan 6/96, Pg. 107). Horgan goes on to argue that this position held by AL researchers is untenable and that the kind of science practiced in AL is no where near the kind of science that is normally practiced in biology.

Good vs. Evil

Judgments: Good vs. Evil There are many concepts that are determined in the eye of the beholder. People have different morals; someone’s morals could be seen as corruption to someone else. What someone considers beautiful, another might consider appalling. A person’s definition of justice could be someone else’s definition of illegal. There are many factors as to why we all have different paradigms, such as the way we were raised, our past experiences, our culture, or our faith. Consequently, we all judge accordingly to our own perspectives. In East of Eden, John Steinbeck states that one can be assumed good or evil once the person has died.With our different paradigms, we would have different perspectives on good and evil. Therefore, we do not know the correct definition of good or evil, so it would not be right for us to judge someone at all before or after their death. Everything we see is perspective, but how are we so sure it is the truth? Take for example, a flower. To a human, it is small enough to hold in his hand; to an insect, it is big enough to be a home. The human and the insect are looking at the same flower, but view it differently. Is the ant simply miniature, or is the human just too big?It cannot be deemed because there are different paradigms that manipulate our judgment. There are also more serious cases that this applies to. On July 5, 2011, Casey Anthony was found not guilty for murdering her young daughter Caylee. Observers were stunned and outraged by the jury’s verdict. Jurors claimed that it could not be proven that Casey Anthony was guilty because there was not enough evidence. There were only facts that led up to the conclusion that Casey could be the murderer, but there were no raw and actual facts that clearly showed that Casey was responsible for the death of her daughter.The death penalty weighed a lot on the deliberation of the jurors. They had a life in their hands; conclusions and inferences were no t enough to find her guilty. The jury could be deemed good for following the law and abiding by their oath, or they could be deemed evil for letting a potential murderer get away with a crime. There are many positions on this verdict based on our viewpoints, but we do not actually know the truth. There are so many perspectives in the universe, we can never be so sure which is the correct one. Without knowing the truth, our judgments aren’t justified.They say there is a story behind everything. Stories usually have two sides to them, maybe even more. Often times, we want to believe that we know the full story. As human beings, we like closure and we do not like unanswered questions. But should it often occur to someone that there may be multiple unknown sides to a story? Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bedroom from an overdose on August 5, 1962. Monroe’s death remains a mystery and has become one of the most debated conspiracy theories of all time. Some people beli eve that her death was a homicide, and some people believed it was a suicide.There could be many unknown explanations to Monroe’s death, and we may never find out. Without knowledge of how she died, our judgments are not rationalized. There are always going to be unanswered questions and ambiguous endings. As humans, what we believe is virtuous usually leads back to our viewpoints and understanding of life. Everyone has their life structured a certain way according to their beliefs. Our beliefs have a huge impact on our mentality and actions whether we believe in God, Buddha, Atheism, Karma, or anything at all. With differentiating religion and beliefs, there is no validity to our judgments.Without the knowledge of the truth, we are not able to judge righteously; we would be assuming blindly. It is a human instinct to judge. We judge to make laws so society can function in an orderly manner, we judge to protect ourselves from harm by distinguishing what seems to be dangerous or harmful, and we also judge to make decisions to benefit ourselves, such as choosing the college to our desire. Although these are rational reasons as to why we should judge, they also lead to war, terrorist attacks, stereotypes, and prejudice. Our assumptions and judgments revolve around our perspective.Our paradigms frame our judgments, and this often results to different positions and viewpoints. The concept of good and evil are in the eyes of the beholder. The true definition of good and evil may never be revealed in our lifetime. Consequently, we are not able to deem someone good or evil before or after their death since we do not have the understanding of these ideas in the first place. Works Cited â€Å"Death of Caylee Anthony. † Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Dec. 2012. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. .

A Nursing Research Critique Essay

McGrath, M., Lyng, C., & Hourican, S. (2012, September). From the simulation lab to the ward: Preparing 4th year nursing students for the role of staff nurse. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 8(7), e265-e272. The length of the title of the study is important. According to Connell Meehan (1999), the title should be between 10 and 15 words long and should clearly identify for the reader the purpose of the study (Coughlan, M., Cronin, P., Ryan, F. 2007). Parahoo (2006) said that titles that are too long or too short can be confusing or misleading (Coughlan et. al. 2007). The title of the study â€Å"From the simulation lab to the ward: Preparing 4th year nursing students for the role of staff nurse† is consist of 18 words. The title maybe too long and does not clearly reflect or represent the variables used in the study. A research problem is often first presented to the reader in the introduction to the study (Bassett and Bassett, 2003). The problem was not stated clearly in the introduction of the study. However, the authors have referred to it as the purpose of the study. In either case the statement should at least broadly indicate to the reader what is to be studied (Polit and Beck, 2006). The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between management styles and nurses’ retention at private hospitals using the Likert’s Profile of Organizational Characteristics to: (1) measure the nurses’ perception of management styles in their work unit; (2) to allow nurses to briefly describe the management system as they perceived being practiced in the organization; (3) and to give them an opportunity to indicate which management system do they desire in the future, all of which were given to staff nurses in in-patient units in different hospitals. It is significant in the nursing practice and administration since it is focused on the management styles and retention of staff nurses. The researchers presumably stated that Managers who retain staff start by communicating clear expectations to the nurse. It is said that they share their picture of what constitutes success for the nurse with regard to both the expected  deliverables and the perform ance of their job. These managers provide frequent feedback and make the nurse feel valued. When a nurse completes an exchange with a manager who retains staff, he or she feels empowered, enabled, and confident in his or her ability to get the job done. A research hypothesis is the statement created by researchers when they speculate upon the outcome of a research or experiment (Shuttleworth, 2008). It must be a specific, testable prediction about what you expect to happen in your study (Cherry, 2012). However, there was no mention of a hypothesis in the study. Also, its absence was not justified. A literature review is a process of reading, analyzing, evaluating, and summarizing scholarly materials about a specific topic (Sage, 1998). There should be clear links between the aims of the research study and the literature review, the choice of research designs and means used to collect data, the discussion of the issues, and its conclusions and recommendations (Nordquist, 2009). In terms of this, the study has various references that can reinforce their research statement. Before the study was conducted in three private hospitals, permission to conduct the study was obtained from the ethical committee of the Faculty of Nursing, as well as directors of the studied hospitals to collect necessary data. However, it is not indicated in the study if they followed the principle of confidentiality and full disclosure during the data gathering. Complete confidentiality of information provided by the subjects will not be publicly reported or accessible to others (Polit & Beck, 2008). The design used in the study is correlation-descriptive. A correlational study is a method designed to determine if two or more variables are associated with each other. Descriptive method is used to describe the present behavior or characteristics of a particular population. The population and sample were described sufficiently. In addition, Roscoe (1975) suggested some simple â€Å"rules of thumb† for selecting appropriate sample sizes based on an analysis of acceptable confidence levels in behavioral research studies (Alreck & Settle, 2010). The general recommendation is that sample sizes be at least 30 and need not be larger than 500 (at 500, sample error will not exceed 10 percent of the standard deviation about 98 percent of the time). Furthermore, within this range of 30 to 500, it is appropriate to sample 10 percent of a population (Alreck  & Settle, 2010). The population size of the study is 228 which are within the limit of Roscoe’s Rule of Thumb. The instrument utilized was the Profile of Organizational Characteristics (POC), which was in an 8-point likert scale. According to Chomeya (2010), an 8-point Likert Scale is appropriate to research that has several variables because it will make the test as a whole. An 8-point likert scale prevents bias present in a 5-point scale (Chomeya et. al. 2010. The questionnaire was translated into Arabic and was tested for relevance and reliability. Cronbach’s alpha was used and it yielded 0.89, which indicates good reliability. After obtaining consent, the data collection was done which included three phases. During the first phase, the researchers obtained a list of number and names of all nurses. All of those that are obtained are interviewed and oriented with regard to the study and the concern of the instrument to be used. The second phase commenced 9 months after the first phase. Data were collected from director of nursing and head nurses about the numbers and name of nurses who had quit and reasons for leaving their units. The reasons are then classified into obligatory and non-obligatory reasons. Nurses’ retention was calculated in the last phase by subtracting the number of nurses who had quit the hospitals from the total number of nurses available during data collection, divided by the total number of nurses and then multiplied by 100. A rule of thumb is that studies that are descriptive in design only use descriptive statistics (Polit and Beck, 2006). Inferential statistical tests are used to identify if a relationship or difference between variables is statistically significant. Inferential statistics, which are based on the laws of probability, provide a means for drawing conclusions about a population, given data from a sample. In the study, the researchers performed data analysis using SPSS version 11.5 for Windows using descriptive and inferential statistics. The researchers clearly defined what statistical tests were undertaken and why these tests  were used. To enhance readability researchers frequently present their findings and data analysis section in tabulated forms of data by categories. This can help the reviewer determine if the results that are presented clearly answer the research questions. The flow in the discussion of findings is also logical and it is related to the literature review thus placing the study in context. The significance of the findings should be stated but these should be considered within the overall strengths and limitations of the study (Polit and Beck, 2006). The researchers have explored the clinical significance and relevance of the study and the implications of the study are well stated, and the researchers impose recommendations with regard to their conclusion.

Methamphetamine abuse

Methamphetamine abuse is a major problem in the United States, as it increases spreads from Western parts of the country to other parts. With its root in the Hawaii, it has gradually spread to the Southern and Mid-west part of the states; and is increasingly associated with unsafe and frivolous behaviors that predispose to transmission of infectious diseases like hepatitis B and C, and even the dreaded virus, HIV.   Of course, the later condition makes it more worrisome for the government, health care workers and Drug agency. It is associated with brain damage, serious cardiovascular disorder, behavioral changes, psychotic symptoms, depression, and deleterious effects in pregnant women. This is a situation where an individual consumes methamphetamine in quantities that are above a therapeutic abuse, without prescription, and for unsolicited personal gains. It presents with short term gains such as euphoria accompanied by rush, high level of activity and increased attention. Methamphetamine is used as therapeutic drug in attention deficit syndrome, and is used to treat narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant. This implies that it had a high addiction tendency and increased potential for abuse. Although it is only available through a prescription that can not be refilled, it is abused by many within the country. Most of these are man aged 18-25white. Etiology The cause of this abuse can not be divorced fro the use of drug for personal or group work. In most cases of abuses [ if not all], methamphetamine is taken as a   neuroactive stimulant to produce short term effects in the individual. Such effects include: euphoria, rush, increase rate of breathing, Increased attention and concentration, Increased activity and wakefulness, reduced appetite and decreased fatigue. It also increases libido. These short term advantages are associated with a good feeling in the user. Besides, it does not last long enough, and as a compensatory mechanism, methamphetamine drub users and chronic abuser engage in continual use of drug, increased consumption frequency. Sometimes, they take high dose of the drug to increase the effect of the drug on their behavior such as improved sexual performance, better attention and increased tendency to work better and more effectively. Methamphetamine comes in a variety of forms. It can be smoked, snorted, injected, or orally ingested. The method that is adopted by a region depends on the cultural behaviour with respect to other abused drugs and the pattern of choice has changed over time. Of these methods, smoking is commonest because of its faster rate of absorption into the brain to produce the desired effects. One other factor that contributes to Methamphetamine abuse is that it is e readily available at local clandestine laboratories. Although it is manufactured by foreign specialized laboratories, the ingredients for its manufacture are readily available over the counter at affordable prices; as a result, it is produced for local use. This contributes greatly to its widespread use. Pathogenesis Methamphetamine is similar to amphetamine but they do not share essentially the same properties of site of action. It is particularly similar to dopamine structurally. Its primary site of action is the brain.   Although t shares certain similar behavioral and physiological effects with cocaine, it is different from it in its mechanism of action. It has a high retention rate in the body. This implies that is not readily eliminated from the system via excretion or detoxification in the liver. Since its primacy site of action is the brain, its absorption and long stay in there increase its stimulant action. Central to this action is the fact it increases the levels of the brain chemical dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in emotional motivation, pleasure, and motor function.   Methamphetamine blocks dopamine re-uptake, while increasing the release of dopamine, leading to much higher concentrations in the synapse, which can be toxic to nerve terminals. This has an implication in chronic abusers, their increased frequency of consumption or ingestion of higher concentration potentates these effects and makes dopamine readily available for its deleterious effects on neurons. Clinical Features The symptoms of methamphetamine abuse and sign elicited on examination arise from the euphoria of short term effect, and the toxic effects of dopamine by virtue of long term use. The short term effects have been mentioned earlier. The long term effects are usually negative: one of such is addiction. Association with chronic consumption of the methamphetamine is increased tolerance for the substance. This creates a preparatory ground for addiction. Other symptoms seen in chronic abusers of methamphetamine include anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behavior. They also can display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions.   Memory Loss, Aggressive or violent behavior, Mood disturbances, severe dental problems, Weight loss also form part of features seen in this category of people. Treatment The alarming rate of spread of methamphetamine indulgence across the nations is worrisome for health care providers. It is equally a headache for every member of the community interested in safe sexual behavior, peace and progress; those averse towards violence and communal clashes which have been associated with methamphetamine abuse. In the midst of this sad picture emerges the god news that methamphetamine abuse can both be prevented and more interestingly treated. Since the disorder includes brain damage which presents in functional and behavioral disturbances, the treatment options available are targeted at these. Treatment of methamphetamine intoxication is primarily supportive. Treatment of methamphetamine abuse is behavioral; cognitive behavior therapy, contingency management, and the Matrix Model have proven effective. Treatments by use of drugs are under investigation. REFERENCES Winslow BT, Voorhees KI, Pehl KA., Methamphetamine abuse. Swedish Medical Center Family Medicine Residency, Littleton, Colorado 80121, USA. http://www.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/cewg/pubs.html. http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Methamph Injury associated with methamphetamine use: A review of the literature Hawaii Med J. 1997;56:34–6, 44. [PubMed]; Murray JB. Psychophysiological aspects of amphetamine-methamphetamine abuse. J Psychol. 1998;132:227–237. †¦ www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1448174 Psychophysiological aspects of amphetamine-methamphetamine abuse. From: The Journal of Psychology | Date: 3/1/1998 | Author: Murray, John B. †¦ www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-20565391.html Thomas Ernst, PhD, Linda Chang, MD, Maria Leonido–Yee, MD and Oliver Speck, PhD Evidence for long-term neurotoxicity associated with methamphetamine abuse http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/6/1344 Methamphetamine Abuse During Pregnancy: Outcome and Fetal Effects BERTIS B. LITTLE, MA, PhD, LAURA M. SNELL, MPH and LARRY C. GILSTRAP, III, MD ttp://acogjnl.highwire.org/cgi/content/abstract/72/4/541   

Bubble-ology essays

Bubble-ology essays Purpose: Which soap can make the biggest bubble? Hypothesis: If we use dawn soap and blow a bubble then it will be the biggest one out of all the soap. 3 different brands of dish washing soap- A, B, C 1. Mix 5ml soap solution A, 50ml of distilled water and 1 drop of glycerin into a 250ml beaker. Mix with a stirring rod. 2. Pour some but not all the soap solution on your lab table and use your hands to rub the soap on the table about 40 cm in diameter. 3. Take a straw and touch a small bubble on the surface and blow into the straw until the bubble pops. 4. With the tape measure the diameter of the ring that was left by the soap bubble. Record the diameter in cm on data sheet. 5. Repeat until you have done 3 trials. 6. Repeat the process for soap solution B and C. Repeat steps 1-5. 1. State what you think is the scientific problem being investigated in lab. The scientific problem being investigated in this lab I think is which soap can make the biggest bubble. 2. According to the data, which soap brand made the largest average bubble? Were your predictions correct? In my data it showed that the Ivory soap brand made the largest average bubble. My predictions were incorrect. 3. What conclusions can you make about the price of the soap and the size of the bubbles? What is the basis for your conclusions? Is there any correlation? I dont know how much each soap brand cost but I think that the more expensive the more larger the bubbles will be because the companies probably spend more money for ...

Strategic and Operational Roles of Procurement within DHL

Strategic and Operational Roles of Procurement within DHL Executive Summary The aim of this paper was to analyze the strategic and operational roles of procurement at DHL. The company’s procurement function was analyzed using various procurement tools and concepts. Furthermore, secondary data was collected from a variety of sources that included the company’s website, peer reviewed journals and textbooks to complete the analysis.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Strategic and Operational Roles of Procurement within DHL specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The results of the analysis indicate that DHL uses a centralized procurement system to reduce costs. Its subsidiaries in overseas markets also participate in the procurement process by implementing the decisions made by the headquarters. The company has also embarked on implementing supply base optimization initiatives in order to reduce operating costs. DHL’s Procurement System DHL is the largest mail and logistics company in the world. The company was founded in German where its headquarters are located. Since its inception, DHL focused on rapid expansion by joining different markets in every continent. As a result, the company currently operates in over 200 countries and employs nearly four hundred thousand employees. DHL’s vision is to â€Å"remain the postal provider for Germany and become the logistics company for the world† (DHL 2013). In order to achieve this vision, the company focuses on providing excellent services. These include â€Å"dialogue marketing, press distribution, and corporate communications solutions† (DHL 2013). Moreover, the company provides mail delivery, transport/ logistics, and supply chain management services. Organizational Structure As a multinational company, DHL relies heavily on the effectiveness of its procurement department to access all the supplies that it requires to meet the needs of its customers. Currently, the comp any is organized into four divisions that have semi-autonomous divisional headquarters (DHL 2013). However, procurement and other functions such as finance and personnel are centralized. Figure 1: DHL’s organizational structure Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Procurement plays a vital role at DHL by facilitating effective and efficient sourcing of products/ services, supporting functions such as marketing and reducing operating costs. For instance, the procurement unit often assists the company’s sales team to perform activities such as reviewing response to requests for proposals (RFP) (DHL 2013). In order to leverage the capabilities of its procurement unit, the company has embarked on innovation and use of advanced technology. Furthermore, the company is collaborating with its suppliers to help them to achieve innovation, which in turn improv es efficiency in its supply chain. Business Conduct and Operational Activities DHL has strategically chosen to simplify its procurement system in order to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in its business and operational processes. The company’s procurement strategy focuses on the use of advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) and partnering with only a few certified suppliers. ICT is important to DHL’s procurement unit because it facilitates efficient flow of the information that is required to complete transactions such as placing orders. DHL’s business strategy is to streamline its operations in the markets it operates in by working with selected suppliers who are able to help it to reach customers in different geographical areas (DHL 2013). The company expects to reduce its direct and indirect costs by working with a limited number of suppliers. In particular, purchasing various supplies in large quantities from a single or a few supplie rs is likely to reduce costs through discounts (Pooler, Pooler Farney 2004, p. 47). Working with a few suppliers also helps in centralizing procurement functions (Benton 2006, p.92). DHL has centralized its procurement functions in order to avoid duplication of roles in processes such as selection of suppliers and supplier relationship management. This leads to reduction of indirect costs associated with duplicating procurement activities (Weele 2009, p. 89).  Although DHL’s global procurement decision–making processes are centralized, the company encourages the participation of its overseas subsidiaries in strategy formulation (DHL 2013). In most cases, the company’s purchase decisions are made at its headquarters. However, the subsidiaries in various regions are responsible for implementing the decisions. For instance, the company has worldwide contracts with providers of services such as printing and labeling to enable its subsidiaries to purchase their su pplies easily (DHL 2013). This strategy also reduces the costs associated with shipping materials from a centralized purchasing unit to the overseas subsidiaries (Ogden Carter 2008, pp. 5-28).Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Strategic and Operational Roles of Procurement within DHL specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Analysis of DHL’s Procurement Function The effectiveness of the procurement unit is partly determined by its position in the organizational structure (Yin Khoo 2007, pp. 7-24). The organization of the procurement unit illustrates the extent to which it is integrated into the business strategy (Yin Khoo 2007, pp. 7-24). In addition, the organization of procurement function determines its relationship with other departments, which in turn affects its effectiveness (Ashenbaum, Maltz, Barratt 2009, pp. 169-186). Figure 1 shows that DHL’s procurement function is a department under the glo bal business services unit. In this regard, the head of procurement unit has limited ability to influence procurement strategies and policies since he or she reports to the head of global business services, who in turn forwards his concerns of the CEO. Generally, DHL’s procurement function plays a facilitation role since its involvement in various business processes is moderate. In particular, the procurement team is mainly concerned with the purchase of goods and services that facilitate the operation of other departments. (DHL 2013) These include printed materials such as envelops, as well as, maintenance, repair, and operational (MRO) services (DHL 2013). The effectiveness of the facilitation model that has been adopted by DHL’s procurement unit can be evaluated based on its effect on supplier selection, supplier relationship management, and purchase decisions. An ideal â€Å"procurement organization must balance the desire to leverage purchasing power through comp lete ownership with the need to maintain the flexibility of individual business units† (Noor, Khalfan Maqsood 2013, pp. 802-826). This balance can be achieved by adopting an appropriate organizational structure that aligns procurement processes to the company’s needs (Noor, Khalfan Maqsood 2013, pp. 802-826). Moreover, procurement roles, responsibilities, and decision rights must be distributed in a manner that prevents tensions among business units (Pushmann Alt 2005, pp. 34-51). The facilitation model adopted by DHL is effective since it leads to distribution of decision rights according to what is being purchased. The limited involvement of the procurement unit enables the functional units to participate actively in the purchase of complex equipment such as aircrafts (DHL 2013). In this case, the executives in the air freight division are allowed to perform duties such as product specification and most of the sourcing activities. The rationale of this strategy is that the functional units have good knowledge of each of the complex equipment that they use (Stolle 2008, p. 67). Thus, their involvement in the purchase process helps in avoiding the mistakes that might occur due to the limited knowledge of the procurement team (Stolle 2008, p. 68).Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For products or services that are â€Å"less business specific such as repair and maintenance, the facilitation model promotes cooperation between the procurement team and the business units† (Stolle 2008, p. 69). For instance, DHL’s procurement team often provides technical assistance such as evaluation of requests for proposals, whereas the business units identify the product’s specifications. At the corporate level, DHL’s procurement team manages the entire process of purchasing standardized products and services such as office supplies. The advantage of this strategy is that it helps in reducing procurement cycle time and costs (Nicosia Moore 2006, p. 91). However, it can lead to tensions between the procurement team and other business units since the later is hardly involved in the purchase of standardized products. Centralization versus Decentralization The choice between a centralized and a decentralized procurement system is often difficult to ma ke because each system has its advantages and disadvantages (Farmer, Crocker Jessop 2008, p. 123). DHL uses a centralized procurement system where most of the purchase decisions are made at its headquarters. The subsidiaries and each division participate in the procurement process by identifying their supply chain needs and making purchase requests to the head office (DHL 2013). Moreover, they participate in product or service specification and make recommendations to the procurement team.  The centralized approach has the following advantages. Apart from reducing procurement costs, centralization facilitates control of contracting terms and practices (Farmer, Crocker Jessop 2008, p. 123). This helps in maintaining good relationships with the suppliers and sealing the loopholes that can lead to fraud. In addition, centralization leads to specialization and development of skills such as negotiation among procurement staff (Zaman 2011, p. 78). This has enabled DHL to secure the be st deals for its supplies throughout the world (DHL 2013).  Despite its benefits, the centralized system is likely to create the following problems. To begin with, it leads to delays when the company’s subsidiaries are making ad hoc purchases since requisitions have to be processed by the headquarters (Wincel 2004, p. 93). This can adversely affect operations if the goods are needed urgently. DHL has responded to this challenge by providing its subsidiaries with purchasing cards that allow them to spend a limited amount of money to make ad hoc purchases. This has enabled the company to reduce its purchasing costs by 50% and to acquire its supplies in time (DHL 2013). Nonetheless, a decentralized system would enable the company to achieve faster approval of ad hoc purchases (Cherif Maira 2011, pp. 860-877). Involvement of the Procurement Team According to Anderson and Katz (1998, pp. 1-13), the procurement team should be strategically involved in the purchase process at an early stage. Early and strategic involvement enables the procurement team to improve efficiency and reduce costs in processes such as planning and negotiation (Seshadri 2005, p. 98). Thus, DHL focuses on promoting cooperation and effective coordination of the activities of its procurement unit and other departments. This includes using advanced information technologies to share transaction information between departments (DHL 2013). In addition, the company has introduced training programs to improve its procurement team’s managerial skills. The training programs are expected to improve the procurement managers’ ability to work strategically with the functional leadership teams of the company’s suppliers. Apart from improving efficiency, early and strategic involvement creates clarity of the procurement objective that has to be achieved (Moser 2007, p. 145). Furthermore, it enables the procurement team to make accurate product or service specifications, which in turn leads to development of the best technical solutions (Sollish Semanik 2011, p. 117). However, pursuing strategic objectives in procurement is likely to eliminate the possibilities of cost reduction at DHL. Since the company works with a few certified suppliers, the difference between the prices quoted by the highest and the lowest bidders is likely to be very small (Sollish Semanik 2011, p. 119). In this case, the company will not be able to save on procurement costs. In addition, failure to achieve high savings is likely to have negative effects on the motivation of the procurement team since their effort is often measured in terms of cost performance. The procurement team will not be rewarded if they are not able to realize meaningful savings. Thus, they will have little or no incentive to participate in strategy formulation at the corporate level. Supply Base Optimization Supply base optimization refers to the process â€Å"of determining the right mix and number of supp liers to maintain† (Ogden Cater 2008, pp. 2-28). The objective of supply base optimization is to identify the ideal number of suppliers who are able to deliver the required goods in a timely and cost-effective manner (Ogden Cater 2008, pp. 2-28). DHL’s approach to supply base optimization involves switching suppliers and reducing the number of tier one suppliers (DHL 2013). In order to select the right mix of suppliers, DHL incorporates supplier development functions in its supply base optimization process. The process begins with identification of the company’s strategic supply chain needs. Once the needs are identified, the company recruits competitive suppliers and sets performance metrics to assess their achievements. The company uses a problem-solving approach to develop its suppliers. This approach involves cultivating open relationships with suppliers through feedback and sharing of information (DHL 2013). Supply base optimization initiatives can only be effective if they are supported by an appropriate supplier evaluation system (Chang, Tsai Hsu 2013, pp. 34-51). In addition, the company must be able to reward its suppliers by awarding them long-term contracts. This is likely to be a challenge to DHL since it lacks a clear guideline for rewarding its suppliers. In addition, DHL is likely to lose its competitive advantage by entering into long-term contracts with suppliers of commodities such as oil whose prices keep fluctuating (Vagstad 2000, pp. 949-963). For instance, the company might not be able to benefit from price reductions in the market after entering a contract for the supply of a particular commodity at a specific price. Recommendations DHL should consider the following recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of its procurement unit. To begin with, the procurement unit should be allowed to play a strategic role in the organization (Ukalkar 2000, p.78). The company should reorganize the procurement function by allo wing it to operate as an independent unit that reports directly to the CEO. This will improve the process of making strategic decisions by enabling the head of procurement unit to participate in strategy formulation at the corporate level.  The company should also rethink its supply base optimization objectives because reducing the number of suppliers does not necessarily lead to a reduction in costs. Specifically, the company should have an optimal number of suppliers in order to reduce costs (Weber Ellram 1993, pp. 3-14). The gist of this perspective is that the competition between suppliers will be minimal if their number is very small. Consequently, the possibility of reducing costs through low bids will be diminished. On the other hand, having a large number of suppliers will increase the cost of supplier relationship management. Apart from identifying the right number of suppliers, DHL should establish a better reward system for its procurement team. Cost performance should be used in conjunction with other metrics to evaluate the achievements of the procurement team (Benton 2006, p. 137). This will motivate them to participate in strategy formulation in order to improve the company’s efficiency.  DHL should also improve its supplier development approach by adopting advanced technologies such as e-learning. Currently, the suppliers are supported through periodic training programs and incentives to innovate. However, better performance can be achieved if advanced information technologies are used to enable supplier to access the company’s knowledge base to improve their performance (Doherty, McConnell Chadwick 2013, pp. 495-515). In addition, the company should establish a proper supplier reward system that recognizes performance and innovation. This will enable the company to benefit from its supply base optimization initiatives. Implementation Plan The company should begin its restructuring process by identifying its procurement need s and setting appropriate objectives. Once the procurement objectives are clearly specified, the company should redefine its organizational structure by establishing the procurement function as an independent unit that reports directly to the CEO. The Unit should be allowed to shape policy and to set guidelines for procurement functions such as purchasing and evaluating suppliers. Adopting advanced information technologies to support the suppliers should be considered as a strategic spend and a long-term corporate objective (Murray, Rentall Geere 2008, pp. 540-555). The company should focus on incremental improvement of its supplier development model through systematic acquisition and implementation of user-friendly information systems. The incremental approach will help in alleviating the resistance that is likely to be experienced if the improvements are implemented as a revolutionary change. Conclusion The procurement function is central to the success of DHL since it enables it to access key supplies that determine the quality of its services. However, the procurement function has not been given adequate recognition by being allowed to operate independently. The company has adopted a centralized procurement system to reduce its operating costs. Similarly, it has embarked on supply base optimization to reduce the costs associated with managing suppliers. However, these initiatives might not lead to cost reduction if they are not implemented effectively. For instance, a significant reduction in the number of suppliers will eliminate the opportunities for cost reduction through competitive bidding. Thus, the company should rethink its supply base optimization objectives and improve its supplier development model in order to achieve a competitive advantage in procurement. References Anderson, M Katz, P 1998, Strategic Sourcing, International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 23 no. 2, pp. 3-14. Ashenbaum, B, Maltz, A Barratt, M 2009, Organizational Alig nment and Supply Chain Governance Structure: Introduction and Construct Validation, International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 20 no. 2, pp. 169-186. Benton, W 2006, Purchasing and Supply Management, Sege, London. Chang, H, Tsai, Y Hsu, C 2013, E-procurement and Supply Chain Performance, International Journal of Supply Chain Management, vol. 18 no. 1, pp. 34-51. Cherif, O Maira, S 2011, Collaboration as an Anti-crisis Solution: The Role of the Procurement Function, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, vol. 41 no. 9, pp. 860-877. DHL 2013, Annual Report 2012. Web. Doherty, N, McConnell, D Chadwick, F 2013, Institutional Responses to Electronic Procurement in the Public Sector, International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. 26 no. 6, pp. 495-515. Farmer, D, Crocker, B Jessop, D 2008, Procurement Principles and Management, MacMillan, London. Moser, R 2007, Strategic Purchasing and Supply Management, Butterworth-Heinemann. London . Murray, J, Rentall, P Geere, D 2008, Procurement as a Shared Service in English Local Government, International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. 21 no. 5, pp. 540-555. Nicosia, N Moore, N 2006, Implementing Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, Butterworth-Heinemann, London. Noor, M, Khalfan, M Maqsood, T 2013, The Role of Procurement Practices in Effective Implementation of Infrastructure Projects in Pakistan, International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, vol. 6 no. 4, pp. 802-826. Ogden, J Carter, P 2008, The Supply Base Reduction Process: An Empirical Investigation, International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 19 no. 1, pp. 5-18. Pooler, V, Pooler D, Farney, S 2004, Global Purchasing and Supply Management, Routledge, New York. Pushmann, T Alt, R 2005, Successful Use of E-procurement in Supply Chains, International Journal of Supply Chain Management, vol. 10 no. 2, pp. 122-133. Seshadri, S 2005, Sourcing Strategy: Principles, Policy and Designs, Sage, London. Sollish, Fred Semanik, J 2011, Strategic Global Sourcing Best Practices, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Stolle, M 2008, From Purchasing to Supply Management, McGraw-Hill, New York. Ukalkar, S 2000, Strategic Procurement Management, McGraw-Hill, New York. Vagstad, S 2000, Centralized vs. Decentralized Procurement: Does Dispersed Information Call for Decentralized Decision-Making, International Journal of Industrial Organization, vol. 18 no. 6, pp. 540-555. Weele, A 2009, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Weber, C Ellram, L 1993, Supplier Selection Using Multi-objective Programming: A Decision Support System Approach, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, vol. 23 no. 2, pp. 3-14. Wincel, J 2004, Lean Supply Chain Management, McGraw-Hill, New York. Yin, X Khoo, L 2007, A Hierarchical Model for E-supply Chain Coordination and Optimization, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 18 no. 1, pp. 7-24. Zaman, N 2011, Procurement Management, Palgrave, London.

Conflicts in schools in Tanzania Essay Example

Conflicts in schools in Tanzania Essay Example Conflicts in schools in Tanzania Essay Conflicts in schools in Tanzania Essay THESIS PROPOSAL FOR THE MASTERS DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP Title: FACTORS INFLUENCING CONFLICTS IN SCHOOLS.AN EXPLORATORY CASE STUDY OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TANZANIA. FOR SUBMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF JYVASKYLA, FINLAND. BY: BONIPHACE, M. FASILI. P.O. BOX 11554, DAR ES SALAAM. Introduction: Organizational psychologists start with the position that there is, or can be, a echt struggle between a human being and his or her occupation of work, between the satisfaction of the demands of the single worker, and the demands of the using organisation. However, some common land between them is that: people have demands and, accordingly, motivations for making things. These demands and motivations, hence, do impact peoples behavior, and their behaviour c an be explained, ( Chris, A. ) . There can be conflict between the ends of the organisations and the ends of people working for those organisations. The manner to avoid such struggles in pattern is non by offering payoffs and sweetenings to the workers, nor is it by offering them monolithic public assistance plans, but is by altering the really construction and ends of the organisation to suit peoples personal ends, ( Chris, A. , in Kooontz, H. and C. ODonnel,1976 ) . While other minds suggest that, the best type of organisation is one which succeeds best in accomplishing the adjustment of peoplesA personal ends by advancing worker engagement in determination devising, enabling workers to carry through themselves and utilize a broad assortment of endowments, direction by aims instead than by authorization, and eventually, good communicating and expressive supervising. Schools as organisations are said to be influenced by a combination of factors and have their ain organisational civilization of alteration and development, ( Mbiti, D.M.,1974 ) .In most instances, school development implies the direction of planned alteration. These alterations may at times be consistent or non consistent with the organisational culture.Unplanned alterations are no more than accidents. An effort to redesign a school organisational civilization in the manner that will accommodate to the alterations within and in the external environment or to efficaciously accomplish the ends sometimes result into struggles, Mosha, H. ( 1994 ) .This may be caused by displacements inA the involvement and perceptual experiences of the organisation members, fright of alteration, self involvement, perceptual experience of the organisation ends schemes by instructors or long for good old yearss . The school direction has to get the better of these factors if it is to carry through the planned alteration. BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM Schools have traditionally been expected to learn kids academic accomplishments. The school has the duty to develop in each kid a favorable attitude towards learning.Schools are besides topographic points where pupils interact with one another, their instructors and educational decision makers. Many pedagogues believe that pupil behavior affects academic accomplishment ( Boothe, Bradley, Flick, Keough, and Kirk,1993 ) . Traditional disciplinaryA patterns include assorted signifiers of penalty based on the premise that if negative behaviors are eliminated, the schoolroom clime will be contributing for acquisition, ( Canter A ; Canter, 1992 ) . Critics of traditional disciplinary patterns believe that the accent on penalty thwarts development of pupil duty, leading, independency and mutuality ( Dreyfuss,1990, in Mahduri Pendharkar,1995 ) . Tanzania like any other developing states is at the head to do socio economic transmutations to accomplish some laid down rules in the Millenium Development Goals ( MDGs ) . Some major transmutations have been directed towards bettering the direction and public presentation of educational establishments including more enrolment in both primary and secondary schools, and prioritising misss instruction, ( TDREG 1989 ) .The period between 2000 t0 2005 have showed an increased school registration. This has besides impacted on enlisting of more instructors and increased authorities outgo in instruction, ( BEST 2005 ) . While improvedA public presentation in instruction is expected, developing for direction is often neglected. The impact has reflected on often and repeated struggles in schools attesting in boycott, public violence, bead outs, every bit good as dislocation of managerial capacities and answerability in some schools. Whereas, struggle declaration accomplishments for instructors or pupils in most schools is non emphasized. In most schools in Tanzania there are discipline Masterss, Patrons and Matrons whose traditional function is to stamp down negative behaviors of pupils. Some of them were appointed on the footing of certain personal properties instead than the needed accomplishments. Most of them lack conflict direction accomplishments. As a consequence pupils hate them. This is impacted by deficiency of struggle declaration accomplishments in schools. The accent is on stiff regulations and subject. Lyons and Hathering ( 1992 ) pointed out that, organisation wellness is characterized by high degrees of trust, low struggle and clash, regard for differences, personal freedom and single liberty in forms of supervising and control. Conflict in schools need to be decently managed in order toA make a healthy organisational clime that is so of import for effectual acquisition and public presentation of duties. Mosha, H.J. ( 1994 ) stressed that, some struggles in higher acquisition establishments occur due to miss of proper diagnosing taking to crisis. Conflicts in schools are either non understood or non managed decently. Burton ( 1969 ) suggested for struggle direction which include disincentive schemes aimed at avoiding escalation of struggle while keeping control without giving manner. Burton farther suggested that if struggle physiques towards crisis successful direction should be able to turn the conflicting forces towards a constructive instead than a destructive way. However, instructors developing plans in Tanzania have non provided for greater flexibleness for instructors to pull off struggles other than going martinets. Mismanagement of struggles in schools has resulted into increased authorities intercession taking to closing of schools and increased outgo. Meanwhile, effectual instruction and acquisition plans are ever impaired taking to farther crisis in schools and the authorities in general. The state of affairs besides creates burn out to some instructors to alter their calling. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: The intent of this survey is to look into on the factors act uponing struggles in schools in Tanzania. Several struggles have been reported to hold annihilating impacts. There are often and repeated struggles in most schools in Tanzania. The scientific account about the nature of these struggles is non good established neither documented. It has besides been reported that those struggles involve school decision makers and instructors, instructors and pupils, pupils and the school disposal, every bit good as pupils themselves. At some degrees struggles escalate to involveA the external school environment. The impacts of these struggles have resulted into loss of lives of some pupils, demolished school edifices, public violences, boycott and increased belligerencies in the workplace, deficiency of contributing learning larning environment, dismissal and suspension of pupils, decision makers and instructors. This survey hence, is an effort to look into on the nature of struggles in schools, and perchance come up with the existent account as to why they often occur, every bit good to set up attacks that can be applied to harmonise the state of affairs. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: ( a ) . ToA place the nature of struggles in public secondary schools in Tanzania. ( B ) . To set up agencies to minimise struggles in schools. ( degree Celsius ) . To lend and widen cognition and accomplishments in struggle direction for schools instructors and decision makers. ( vitamin D ) . To act upon the authorities policy in instruction, struggle direction is an built-in portion of the modern-day school environment. RESEARCH QUESTIONS/HYPOTHESES: Significance OF THE STUDY: This survey is intended to be wide spectrum in nature. It is expected to come up with possible account of the beginnings of struggles in schools as acquisition and work topographic points in Tanzania. It will besides set up possible preventative struggle direction attacks that are so indispensable and could be applied in deciding struggles which arise in the school environment. Whereas, the survey is expected to lend the coevals of new penetrations, cognition and accomplishments in direction in general, and organize a baseline for school decision makers, directors, instructors and pupils to reflect on during state of affairss of jobs taking to struggles. This survey is possibly the innovator one every bit far as conflict direction in schools is concerned. It is expected to act upon the policy of the authorities. Conflicts in the modern-day school environment are going portion and package of the entire instruction system. Finally, the survey will impact on other broader dimensions of the societal systems in Tanzania. LITERATURE REVIEW: This subdivision reviews and examines briefly some literature on relevant scholarly work. Mosha, H.J. ( 1994 ) describes struggle as an synergistic opposing behaviour between two or more people, organisations or systems over incompatible ends, involvements, scarce resources, values, belief system, power and prestigiousness, nature of relationship every bit good as public presentation. He farther states that, struggles behaviours may run from rational jostle or malicious chitchat all the manner to utilize of physical force to do devastation of belongings or physical hurt. Mosha, ( 1994 ) further suggests that struggles are built-in portion of any societal system they need to be decently managed in order to make a healthy organisational clime that is so of import for effectual public presentation of duties. Whereas, Lyons and Hatherly, ( 1992 ) remark on organisational wellness that is the province in establishments characterized by by and large highA degrees of trust, low struggle and single liberty in forms of supervising and control. Lyons and Hatherly farther insist that in wellness organisations relationships are honest, there is high grade of trust, hapless public presentation is confronted and joint solutions sought. Peoples feel free to signal jobs and take part in happening solutions. Murphy and Saal ( 1990 ) in Mosha, ( 1994 ) stated that struggle direction is a procedure of going aware of existent or possible struggle, naming its nature and range and using appropriate methodological analysis to spread the emotional energy involved and enable challenging parties to understand and decide their differences. While, Burton ( 1969 ) adds on struggle direction that include disincentive schemes aimed at avoiding escalation of struggle while keeping control without giving manner. Harmonizing to Gray and Starke ( 1990 ) traditionalists conceived struggle as being per se bad. Under this school of thought members of the organisation who caused the struggle were regarded as emotionally disturbed, otherwise they should non hold caused the struggle. Therefore, to extinguish the struggle and thereby work out the job it was necessary to fire or acquire psychiatric aid for the responsible employees ( Jandt and Gillettee,1985 ) . The modern theoreticians harmonizing to ( Gray and Starke,1990 ) in Mosha, ( 1994 ) argue that organisational struggle is neither good nor bad per Se, and that it is inevitable. Conflict is inevitable and non needfully harmful. Indeed, they continue to reason that you can non hold an organisation, community or society that is free from struggle. However, Mosha, H.J. ( 1979:169 ) argues that competency should be the major standard for engagement as educational jobs have branchings that require attending and specialised aid is utile in mobilising needed cognition and judgement. At another graduated table of looking at leading manners, Bennis, W.G. , ( 1989 ) was of the position that the challenges facing organisational leaders are dashing even to the most audacious. Bennis farther remarks that organisational restructuring has bulldozed off much worker morale and trueness, along with many degrees of direction and 1000s of occupations. The disentangled bonds between workers and organisations have increased worker alienation and raised turnover. Bennis, W.G. ( 1989 ) farther commented on accomplishing manners, civilizations, values, wagess and discontinuities that organisations have their particular achieving manners, manners that their civilizations, consciously or unconsciously instill in their members. That is, organisations characteristically reward certain sorts of accomplishing behaviour and punish or disregard other sorts. Organizational civilization both comfort and command its members. It comforts them by bring forthing a familiar context for organisational life and offering rank to those who conform. At the same clip, organisational civilization controls members by compressing the scope of behaviors and attitudes that are valued andA rewarded. Furthermore, Max Weber ( 1864-1920 ) examined the organisation and came up with the sentiment that the term organisation meant the ordination of societal relationships, the care of which certain persons took upon themselves as a particular undertaking. Weber, farther maintains that the presence of a leader and an administrative staff was a feature of an organisation, which in fact was them who preserved the organisation. Hence, basic to WebersA thoughts was the impression that human behaviour is regulated by regulations. The being of a distinguishable set of regulations was inexplicit in the construct of organisation. On direction, Henry Fayol ( 1916 ) stated that to pull off is to calculate and be after to form, to command and to coordinate and to command. While G.A. Cole ( 1994 ) proposed a on the job definition for strategic direction as a procedure directed by top direction to find the cardinal purposes or ends of the organisation and guarantee a scope of determinations which will let for the accomplishment of those purposes or ends in the long-run whilst supplying for adaptative responses in the short term. The above implies that, if the direction is non successful in covering with oppositions to alter and if it still wishes to alter and continues to implement the alteration plan, struggle will finally originate, Mosha, ( 1994 ) . Whereas, Ekval, G. ( 1993 ) cautioned that where counter groups, divisions and cantonments exist the work clime is bound to be hapless.

Upcoming Changes to Interstate Driving Ages Open New Possibilities

Upcoming Changes to Interstate Driving Ages Open New Possibilities According to the American Trucking Association, the industry is currently facing a shortage of more than 30,000 drivers; many eligible drivers have been unable to secure cross-country or interstate routes because of insurance regulations that prohibit drivers younger than 21 from crossing state lines. Young drivers are eager to take more lucrative opportunities; insurance companies are often leery of trusting younger drivers for safety concerns, but according to Ken, Vice President of Spirit of CLD training services, â€Å"If they’re getting trained properly and you’re helping them grow up and realize †¦their responsibility and obligation†¦I don’t think age should matter.† He has even trained his daughter, Cheyenne, 18, to follow in his trucking footsteps- she’s looking forward to the potential jobs this change in regulation could open up for her.A bill coming before the Illinois legislature would allow bordering states to partner with one another in individual or group compacts that would allow 18-year-old drivers to cross between participating states. Detractors say a bigger pool of younger drivers would take jobs from more established operators- but the ATA’s deficit of drivers would seem to counter those concerns.

How Many Volunteer Hours Do You Need for College

How Many Volunteer Hours Do You Need for College SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Community service is one of the most popular extracurricular activities for high school students to do in their free time. There are hundreds of ways that high school students can get involved in their communities. There is really something out there for everyone, no matter what your personal interests are! Admissions officers also love to see community service on college applications. Having community service experience means you're passionate about making a difference in the world and are ready to take action and be involved. But how many community service hours for college do you actually need in order to make sure your contribution is â€Å"good enough† for admissions officers? Is there a certain numberof hours that you need for different schools? Read on to find out! Do You Need to Complete a CertainNumberof Volunteer Hours for College? As a rough guideline, anything between 50 and 200 hours is going to sound impressive and show that you have made a commitment.However, once you get above 200 hours, you should start to consider if your free time could be better spent doing something else. Unfortunately, there is no one magic number of community service hours that is going to be your golden ticket into college. Grades and test scores will always come first. Though community service work can showcase an aspect of your personality and make admission officers see you as a good citizen and leader, it isn’t going to guarantee admission on its own. Even if youhave spent 500+ hours on volunteering, admissions officers won'thold spots open for you based just on that. You still need to be the full package. So treat volunteer work as you would any other extracurricular activity. If this is what you choose to do with your time, make sure that it counts. Fortunately, a recent study by DoSomething.org will help you to do just that. They asked admissions officers from 33 of the top 50 colleges for guidance on how they judge community service as an extracurricular activity. Their answers are a great guide towhat admissions officers are actually thinking when they see your community service hours on your application. You may be surprised to learn thatthe number of hours you spend doing community service is notthe most important focus. In fact, most admissions officers say thatthey care more about what you have done, why you are doing it, and what you are getting out of it. As long as you can adequately explain these things, they don’t care as much about the number of hours you spent doing it. Two-thirdsof college admission officers say that it’s not possible to have too many community service hours. As long as it’s not affecting your grades or other parts of your life, you can volunteer to your heart’s content. But the opposite is also true. As long as you have made a valuable contribution that you can explain, most admissions officers are probably not going to discount community service work that you have done just because you haven’t spent enough hours doing it. How Should You Allocate Your Volunteer Hours? So if your goal is 50-200 hours, how should you spend that time? In general, it'seasier and takes fewer hours to havean impact if you keep volunteering for the same project, instead of spreading yourself across several different projects. Try to find a project that you can spendat least fifty hours on.If you have much less than this, most admissions officers will not be convinced that you have dedicated enough time to really be making a difference. Be intelligent about how you spend your free time if you're going to dedicate more hours. However, once you get above 200 hours, you should start to consider if your free time could be better spent doing something else. At the end of the day, 500 hoursis not going to seem that much more impressive than 200 hours,and those are hours that probably couldbebetterspent elsewhere, such as on other extracurriculars, getting top grades, or test prep. If the numberof hours you spent doing community service isn't the most important thing that admissions officers are looking for, then what DO they want to see in your community service? What Do Admissions Officers Want to See in Volunteer Work? There are three main qualities that you should be showing inyourcommunity service work: commitment, passion, and leadership.The best students will also use their community service experience as an opportunity forreflection. #1: Commitment You can show commitment by being involved in your chosen project over a long period of time. In the DoSomething study, 70% of admissions officers said they would prefer to see long-term dedication to an unglamorous cause such as local service work instead of a short-term commitment to something flashy like volunteering abroad. Furthermore, 60% of admissions officers would prefer to see students who have made a commitment to just one cause over their high school careers. Why? They're more interested in seeing what you can accomplish when you're dedicated and put your mind to it than they are by a longer list of volunteer activities. One officer noted,â€Å"Longevity and dedication are traits necessary for collegiate success.† Long-term commitment shows passion and dedication. Over 60% of admissions officers say that they would like to see service that goes back to the beginning of high school, and 15% more say that the service commitment should start before high school. But what really matters is that you have been volunteeringfor a long enough time that you have actually made a difference in the community and your own development as well. #2: Passion To showpassion, doa community service activity thatrelates to something thatyou're already interested inor care deeply about. If you have a certain interest, community service can be a great way to explore it. For example, if you're passionate about animals, you could consider volunteering at an animal shelter. As mentioned above, long-term involvement is important. Students who already care about a cause are more likely to make a long-term commitment. Working in an area you care about also shows thatyou can take action to improve things where you see a need, which is a great trait that admission officers look for. Also, the more you can talk about why you care about a cause, the more sincere you will seem in your efforts. #3: Leadership You can show your leadership skills by managing others and being in charge during an event or activity. You can also show leadership by being responsible for motivating others to succeed. As with any extracurricular, schools are interested to see how you've taken charge and made your extracurricular activity better than you found it.Colleges want to admit people who will change the world, and leaders have a better chance of doing this.Over 50% of admissions officers thought that having a founding or leading role in your volunteer work was the most important quality that you could show them. #4: Reflection The best students who have done community service work will also be able toreflect on how their work has made a difference, both to others and to themselves. Students should ask themselves if their community service projects have actually made a positive contribution to society. After all, that is the point of community service. Successful community service can be a lot trickier to gauge than success in other extracurriculars. Ask yourself if you have accomplished what you set out to do and who is better off because of your work. Also, check to see thatyou understand whythe work you've done is important and how you've made an impact. Students who can reflect on these aspects are more likely to impress admissions officers because theyshow that they are thoughtful and have dedicated themselves for sincere reasons – not just to have something to list on their resume. Ask yourself, have you spent enough time doing community servicethat you have actually made a difference?If you just showed up and did some hours for the sake of a better resume, admissions officers won't be impressed. Finally, what kind of experience have you gained? In particular, admissions officers are looking for leadership experience, as mentioned above. However, they're also interested instudents who have become more mature and developed in other ways as a result of their community service. If your service work has made you more empathetic, for example, this would also be a greatthing to write about. Students who can reflect on these aspects are more likely to impress admissions officers becausethey canshow that they did community servicefor sincere reasons – not just to have something to list on their resume. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. What Do Admissions Officers NotWant to See? Many students willdo community service work for the wrong reasons - and it willshow. Admissions officers are always on the lookout for students who volunteer just to fulfill a quota. If you talk about your experience in terms of hours instead of causes and accomplishments, this can be a red flag. Words like â€Å"required† and â€Å"mandatory† are also red flags for admissions officers. If community service was required by your high school, even if you did productive and meaningful work, don't describe it in a way that makes it sound like you were forced to do it. This can make admissions officers feel you hada negative relationship with the work you accomplished and only did it because you had to. If it’s obvious that you are only doing community service work so that you can list it on your application, admissions officers would prefer that you leave it out. As with any other extracurricular activity, you should only list it if it’s beensignificant to your development. The Bottom Line Though all extracurriculars are theoretically equal, I would still recommend that you have some typeof community service on your application if you have the means to do so. This is especially important when applying to top schools. Try to have a project that you have committed at least 50 hours to.If you want community service to be your main extracurricular activity, try to dedicate even more time over several years. Though most officers say that all activities are totally equal and can show the same traits, some admissions officers for top schools say that community service can be mostconspicuous on an application if it'scompletelyabsent. This is especially true in applications for the most competitive schools, where most students will have done some volunteer work. However, also keep in mind that community service is not mandatory, especially if you have a good reason for not having done it.Almost 100% of officers say that there are many ways that you can show you are a good citizen and leader that DON’T involve community service. This can be accomplished through other extracurriculars, work experience, or helping out your family if that is what your personal circumstances require. What's Next? If you need some inspiration, check out our list of 129 community service activities that you can try. Want to find your own project? Here are the 9 best places to do community service. Not sure that community service is worth your time? Learn about some of the ways that community service can benefit you. Did you know that doing community service can help you pay for college?Check out our list of community service scholarships that you can win! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Definition and Examples of the Plain Style in English

Definition and Examples of the Plain Style in English In rhetoric, the term plain style refers to speech or writing that is simple, direct, and straightforward. Also known as the  low style, the scientific style, the simple style, and the Senecan style. In contrast to the grand style, the plain style does not rely heavily on figurative language. The plain style is commonly associated with the matter-of-fact delivery of information, as in most  technical writing. According to Richard Lanham, the three central values of the plain style are Clarity, Brevity, and Sincerity, the C-B-S theory of prose (Analyzing Prose, 2003). That said, literary critic Hugh Kenner has characterized plain prose, the plain style as the most disorienting form of discourse yet invented (The Politics of the Plain, 1985). Observations and Examples I am glad you think my style plain . I never, in any one page or paragraph, aimed at making it anything else, or giving it any other merit- and I wish people would leave off talking about its beauty. If it has any, it is only pardonable at being unintentional. The greatest possible merit of style is, of course, to make the words absolutely disappear into the thought.(Nathaniel Hawthorne, letter to an editor, 1851) The only way to write plainly, as a worker should, would be to write like [George] Orwell. But the plain style is a middle-class accomplishment, got by arduous and educated rhetorical effects.(Frank Kermode, History and Value. Oxford University Press, 1988)The plain style . . . is completely unadorned. It is straightforward and void of any figures of speech. It is the style of much contemporary newspaper prose. Cicero thought it was best suited for teaching, and indeed, the plain style is the idiom of the best schoolbooks of our age.(Kenneth Cmiel, Democratic Eloquence: The Fight Over Popular Speech in Nineteenth-Century America. University of California Press, 1990) The Power of the Plain Style In political language, plainness is powerful. Of the people, by the people, for the people. Ask not what your country can do for you. I have a dream. This is especially so for language designed to be heard, like speeches and debate exchanges, rather than read from a page. People absorb and retain information in smaller increments through the ear than through the eye. Thus the classic intonations of every major religion have the simple, repetitive cadence also found in the best political speeches. In the beginning. And it was good. Let us pray.†(James Fallows, Who Will Win? The Atlantic, October, 2016) Cicero on the Plain Style Just as some women are said to be handsomer when unadorned- this very lack of ornament becomes them- so the plain style gives pleasure when unembellished. . . . All noticeable ornament, pearls as it were, will be excluded; not even curling irons will be used. All cosmetics, artificial white and red, will be rejected. Only elegance and neatness will remain. The language will be pure Latin, plain and clear; propriety will always be the chief aim.(Cicero, De Oratore) The Rise of the Plain Style in English At the beginning of the 17th century, the Senecan plain style enjoyed a significant and widespread boost in prestige: this came from playwrights like [Ben] Jonson, low-church divines (who equated ornate persuasion with deceit), and, above all, scientists. Francis Bacon was particularly effective in associating Senecan plainness with the aims of empiricism and inductive method: the new science demanded a prose in which as few words as possible interfered with the presentation of object reality.(David Rosen, Power, Plain English, and the Rise of Modern Poetry, Yale University Press, 2006)The Royal Societys Prescription for a Plain StyleIt will suffice my present purpose to point out what has been done by the Royal Society towards the correcting of its excesses in Natural Philosophy . . ..They have, therefore, been most rigorous in putting in execution the only Remedy that can be found for this extravagance, and that has been a constant Resolution to reject all the amplifications, digre ssions, and swellings of style: to return back to the primitive purity, and shortness, when men delivered so many things almost in an equal number of words. They have exacted from all their members, a close, naked, natural way of speaking; positive expressions, clear senses, a native easiness; bringing all things as near the Mathematical plainness as they can: and preferring the language of Artizans, Countrymen, and Merchants, before that, of Wits, or Scholars.(Thomas Sprat, The History of the Royal Society, 1667) Example of the Plain Style: Jonathan Swift [B]ecause it is idle to propose remedies before we are assured of the disease, or to be in fear till we are convinced of the danger, I shall first show in general that the nation is extremely corrupted in religion and morals; and then I will offer a short scheme for the reformation of both.As to the first, I know it is reckoned but a form of speech when divines complain of the wickedness of the age; however, I believe, upon a fair comparison with other times and countries, it would be found an undoubted truth.For, first, to deliver nothing but plain matter of fact, without exaggeration or satire, I suppose it will be granted that hardly one in a hundred among our people of quality or gentry appears to act by any principle of religion; that great numbers of them do entirely discard it, and are ready to own their disbelief of all revelation in ordinary discourse. Nor is the case much better among the vulgar, especially in great towns, where the profaneness and ignorance of handicraftsm en, small traders, servants, and the like, are to a degree very hard to be imagined greater. Then it is observed abroad that no race of mortals have so little sense of religion as the English soldiers; to confirm which, I have been often told by great officers of the army that in the whole compass of their acquaintance they could not recollect three of their profession who seemed to regard or believe one syllable of the gospel: and the same at least may be affirmed of the fleet. The consequences of all which upon the actions of men are equally manifest. They never go about as in former times to hide or palliate their vices, but expose them freely to view like any other common occurrences of life, without the least reproach from the world or themselves. . . .(Jonathan Swift, A Project for the Advancement of Religion and the Reformation of Manners, 1709) Example of the Plain Style: George Orwell Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers. I will come back to this presently, and I hope that by that time the meaning of what I have said here will have become clearer.(George Orwell, Politics and the English Language, 1946) Hugh Kenner on the Disorienting Plain Style of Swift and Orwell Plain prose, the plain style, is the most disorienting form of discourse yet invented by man. Swift in the 18th century, George Orwell in the 20th are two of its very few masters. And both were political writers- theres a connection. . . .Plain style is a populist style and one that suited writers like Swift, Mencken, and Orwell. Homely diction is its hallmark, also one-two-three syntax, the show of candor and the artifice of seeming to be grounded outside language in what is called fact- the domain where a condemned man can be observed as he silently avoids a puddle [in Orwells A Hanging] and your prose will report the observation and no one will doubt it. Such prose simulates the words anyone who was there and awake might later have spoken spontaneously. On a written page, . . . the spontaneous can only be a contrivance. . . .The plain style feigns a candid observer. Such is its great advantage for persuading. From behind its mask of calm candor, the writer with political intention s can appeal, in seeming disinterest, to people whose pride is their no-nonsense connoisseurship of fact. And such is the trickiness of language that he may find he must deceive them to enlighten them. . . .What the masters of the plain style demonstrate is how futile is anyones hope of subduing humanity to an austere ideal. Straightness will prove crooked, the gain will be short-term, vision will be fabrication and simplicity an intricate contrivance. Likewise, no probity, no sincerity, can ever subdue the inner contradictions of speaking plainly.(Hugh Kenner, The Politics of the Plain. The New York Times, September 15, 1985)