Engineering Disasters Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Engineering Disasters - Assignment Example Investigations unearthed this with a number of recommendations being made to the FAA and the ATA. The disaster led to establishment of measures and guidelines to improve safety of aircrafts and passengers. The disaster had a great impact on material engineering with a resounding need to ensure proper composition and quality of products so as to ensure safety of the users. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 1.Background information 5 2.Investigation: 6 2.1.The NTSB Team 6 2.2.The public hearing 6 2.3.The Process 7 3.Findings and recommendations 7 3.1.Findings of the commission 7 3.2.Probable cause of the accident 8 3.3.Future precautions recommended 9 3.3.1.To the federal Aviation Administration 9 3.3.2.Air Transport Association 10 3.3.3.Other recommendations of the commission 10 4.Impact on Engineering Practice 11 4.1.Regulations or laws instituted 11 4.2.Areas of Engineering impacted 12 Works Cited 15 Introduction Disasters have continued to take place throughout h istory. Many of these are natural however, some are human made. Disasters may or may not be avoided depending on the situation at hand. Most natural disasters cannot be avoided and happen as a result of natural forces operating within the environment (Stoltman, Lidstone and DeChano 25). Such is the case with floods, hurricanes and droughts. It is not possible to control natural disasters or to prevent them from happening as they cannot be predicted. They happen when the conditions are fit for them to happen with little or no warning. The resulting effect is a devastating effect on humans and the environment as a whole. Manmade disasters on the other hand are caused by the activities of the human population on the environment. Each and every activity in the environment has the potential of creating a disaster. The magnitude may be different. Many of the world’s renowned disasters are engineering disasters which has affected millions of people or sections of the world (Alexande r 40). They happen because of faults or errors that happen during engineering processes which may have not been seen during the process. They are also made worse by the ignorance of some of the engineers and also because of the assumptions that are usually made assuming that the situation will correct itself with time. The result has been loss of lives, property, finances, waste of efforts, and damage to the environment (Tierney, Lindell and Perry 23). This paper analyses the flight 232 disaster in American aviation history. 1. Background information Flight 232 disaster is one of the most discussed disasters in the world due to the nature of the incidence and how the crew members handled the incidence to prevent the loss of lives. The flight 232 Airline was a flight headed to Philadelphia international airport. The flight was to pass through Denver, Colorado and then O’Hare International airport before moving to its final destination (Kilroy). The plane is recorded to have cr ashed while on route to its destination as a result of the failure of its tail mounted engine. This failure resulted in the loss of the all flight controls disconnecting the flight from any control tower. The plane had to thus make an emergency landing that resulted in the crash. The plane was carrying 285 people on board. There were 11 crew members, 172 people were injured, and 111 had fatal injuries that resulted in death, while a

Drunk Driving Essay Example for Free

Drunk Driving Essay Driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, drunken driving, drunk driving, drink driving, operating under the influence, drinking and driving, or impaired driving is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit . Similar regulations cover driving or operating certain types of machinery while affected by drinking alcohol or taking other drugs, including, but not limited to prescription drugs. This is a criminal offense in most countries. Convictions do not necessarily involve actual driving of the vehicle. In most jurisdictions a measurement such as a blood alcohol content in excess of a specific threshold level, such as 0.05% or 0.08% defines the offense, with no need to prove impairment or being under the influence of alcohol. In some jurisdictions, there is an aggravated category of the offense at a higher level e.g. 0.12%. In most countries, anyone who is convicted of injuring or killing someone while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be heavily fined, as in France, in addition to being given a lengthy prison sentence. Some jobs have their own rules and BAC limits, for example commercial pilot, and the Federal Railroad Administration has a 0.04% limit for train crew. Some jurisdictions have multiple levels of BAC; for example, the state of California has a 0.08% BAC limit, which is lowered to 0.04% if the operator holds a commercial drivers license. The California BAC limit is 0.01% for those younger than 21 years of age and those on probation for a previous DUI conviction. Some large corporations have their own rules; Union Pacific Railroad has their own BAC limit of 0.02% that, if violated during a random test or a for-cause test — for example, after a traffic accident — can result in termination of employment with no chance of future re-hire. Many states in the U.S. and provinces in Canada have adopted truth in sentencing laws that enforce strict guidelines on sentencing, differing from previous practice where prison time was reduced or suspended after sentencing had been issued. Some jurisdictions have judicial guidelines requiring a mandatory minimum sentence. The specific criminal offense may be called, depending on the jurisdiction, driving under the influence, driving under intense influence, driving while intoxicated, operating under the influence operating while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, driving under the combined influence of alcohol and/or other drugs, driving under the influence per se or drunk in charge . Many such laws apply also to motorcycling, boating, piloting aircraft, use of motile farm equipment such as tractors and combines, riding horses or driving a horse-drawn vehicle, or bicycling, possibly with different BAC level than driving. In some jurisdictions there are separate charges depending on the vehicle used, such as BWI, which may carry a lighter sentence. In the United States, local law enforcement agencies made 1,467,300 arrests nationwide for driving under the influence of alcohol in 1996, compared to 1.9 million such arrests during the peak year in 1983. In 1997 an estimated 513,200 DWI offenders were in prison or jail, down from 593,000 in 1990 and up from 270,100 in 1986. Blood alcohol level With the advent of a scientific test for blood alcohol content, enforcement regimes moved to pinning culpability for the offense to strict liability based on driving while having more than a prescribed amount of blood alcohol, although this does not preclude the simultaneous existence of the older subjective tests. BAC is most conveniently measured as a simple percent of alcohol in the blood by weight. Research shows an exponential increase of the relative risk for a crash with a linear increase of BAC as shown in the illustration. BAC does not depend on any units of measurement. In Europe it is usually expressed as milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. However, 100 milliliters of blood weighs essentially the same as 100 milliliters of water, which weighs precisely 100 grams. Thus, for all practical purposes, this is the same as the simple dimensionless BAC measured as a percent. The per mille measurement, which is equal to ten times the percentage value, is used in Nor way, Sweden and Finland. The validity of the testing equipment/methods and mathematical relationships for the measurement of breath and blood alcohol have been criticized. Driving while consuming alcohol may be illegal within a jurisdiction. In some it is illegal for an open container of an alcoholic beverage to be in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle or in some specific area of that compartment. Drivers have been convicted even when they were not observed driving if it could be safely concluded they had been driving while intoxicated. Within the American system, citation for driving under the influence also causes a major spike in car insurance premiums – 94.1% in the first year, and still 63.5% higher by the third year. The German model serves to reduce the number of accidents by identifying unfit drivers and removing them from until their fitness to drive has been established again. The Medical Psychological Assessment works for a prognosis of the fitness for drive in future, has an interdisciplinary basic approach and offers the chance of individual rehabilitation to the offender. George Smith, a London taxi driver, was the first person to be convicted of drunk driving, on 10 September 1897. He was fined 25 shillings, which is equivalent to  £71.33 in 2005 pounds. Field sobriety testing Historically, guilt was established by observed driving symptoms, such as weaving; administering field sobriety tests, such as a walking a straight line heel-to-toe or standing on one leg for 30 seconds; and the arresting officers subjective opinion of impairment. The officer must correctly perform the Field Sobriety Tests that are approved by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration . The US Department of Transportation explains the Field Sobriety Test as, a battery of three tests administered and evaluated in a standardized manner to obtain validated indicators of impairment and establish probable cause for arrest. Starting with the introduction in Norway in 1936 of the world’s first per se law which made it an offense to drive with more than a specified amount of alcohol in the body, objective chemical tests have gradually supplanted the earlier purely judgmental ones. Limits for chemical tests are specific for blood alcohol concentration or concentration of alcohol in breath. Drunk driving law by country The laws relating to drunk driving vary between countries and varying blood alcohol content is allowed before a conviction is made. Comparison with cell phone use Studies show that cell phone use is comparable to driving while intoxicated in rate of increase of likelihood of causing an accident, yet is not even illegal in many locations. This comparison has led users of alcohol to question why DWI should be illegal, and others to consider making cell phone use while driving illegal. The penalties where this is done are never commensurate with the penalties for DWI. Texting while driving is very dangerous, as it takes eyes off the road for an average 4.6 seconds at a time. When laws against drunk driving were implemented in the United States in 2000, fatalities due to drunk driving increased, as was predicted by opponents.

Human Rights and Prisoner Rights

Human Rights and Prisoner Rights Abdullah Bin Omar, a former prisoner in Guantanamo Bay prison was said to be one of the worst criminals regarding terrorism. Bin Omar was captured by the United States army in Pakistan after he had spent twenty three years in an unknown prison in Tunisia. The unfairness that Abdullah faced was the fact that he wasnt told nor convicted of any real or specific crime. Cliff Stafford Smith, who is a legal director of Reprieve, a UK charity that provides front -line investigation and legal representation to prisoners found out that Bin Omar was captured with no charges and no trial was made for him. Smith said there are many other Guantanamo prisoners facing Bin Omars fate, much as they want to get out of Guantanamo- a purgatory of imprisonment without charge or trail (Smith, 2007). Another example of such unfairness is Eddie/Canada. Eddie was convicted of murder and was set to stay in prison for the rest of his life. Moreover, Eddie was totally aware of the prisons procedures and knew hi s limits during his time over there. Although Eddie killed himself on August 10th, evidence proved that the ignorance of the prison system by those who made and worked on the prisons rules, not mentioning the carelessness of the guards regarding their prisoners were pretty much the main reasons for Eddies suicide. These two examples illustrate and introduce my topic of prisoners rights, which can be supported by article number five in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states: No one shall be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment(Universal declaration of human rights, 1948). The main topic of this research paper is relying solely on prisoners rights and the declaration of their humanity. Because prisoners are still considered as humans, yet they are being tortured and neglected, prisoners should demand for their rights as human beings. In this research paper, I will be discussing: The prisoners environment. Prisoners image from the societys point of view. What the society has done for prisoners. Prisoners environment: General abuse: Life in prison can be seen from multiple views. First of all, the purpose of creating prisons is nothing but to punish certain people who have been claimed to be criminals. Also, the general idea is to treat prisoners equally within the prison walls and help providing them with whatever they require to maintain their lives as human beings. However, not all prisons share or at least work with such an idea. Richard Tewksbury and Margaret J Mahoney, Criminal Justice academics said: As criminal justice academics and practitioners, we know that this sunny look at incarceration is rarely the actual experience of an offender. Although their frequency may be sensationalized by the media, the numerous hardships of prison and jail life (e.g., rape, gangs, drugs, abuse) do exist. They also mentioned that such abuses are found among the inmates and also among the inmates and the staff; guards, officers and etc Despite the help authorities as well as governments provide for prisoners to speak out their abuses, many inmates are still not able to do so, due to the fear from the doer; weather another inmate or a staff member. Furthermore, not all claims of abuses by prisoners are true, since many inmates have attempted to make false claims against other inmates or their own staff in the purpose of creating troubles. Sexual abuse and lack of educational background: To be more precise, inmates all over the world suffer from sexual abuses by both other inmates as well as the staff. In an article regarding sexual victimization in prisons, Richard Tewksbury states that many rape or sexual abuse incidents among inmates are still unknown and are being under-reported. Also, lots of these abuses occur between prisoners because of the lower level of education they receive either before getting to prison or inside the prison itself. In other words, many prisoners who lack of educational background reflect their behavior toward each other and the other inmates as well. Hilde Hetland explains in his article; Educational Background in a prison population the rates of inmates level of education as follows: 14.2 percent of state prisoners have an eighth grade education or less as their highest educational attainment 33.2 percent have completed high school. Only 2.4 percent of state prisoners have reached a college degree. When observing such rates, we can clearly sense the lack of educational background inmates have acquired, and therefore, such a low level of education reflects negatively on their behavior resulting in all kinds of abusing, but most especially, sexual abuses. Prisoners and Sadist guards: A lot of inmates experience different kinds of abuses from sadist guards who use their powers to treat their inmates in an inhuman manner. Theodore Dalrymple, a British psychiatrist and a prison doctor shows in his article The Evils of Ideology how sadist guards take an advantage of their powers towards abusing their prisoners. I have little doubt that he would have kicked him hard and often in short, given him what used to be called in prison warders parlance the black aspirin, which is to say the prison warders boot if I had turned my back for an instant. (Theodore Dalrymple, 2006). Such an act is one of many sadist guards use against inmates and few of these incidents are being reported due to the fear of the guards threats and warnings. Theodore puts the blame on the government, the one that agreed to hire people with such mental illness to be as guards for inmates whom after all are human beings and have their own rights to claim. Discrimination among prisoners: In the 1980s, the United States of America has suffered severe economical crisis in which it has reflected negatively not only on the society but prisoners as well. According to Bert Kimball in his book States of Siege : U. S. Prison Riots, 1971-1986, due to the lack of liquidity, the government was unable to provide enough spaces for all prisoners, therefore, every 119 prisoners were to share a space that fit for only 100 prisoners. As a result of such action, cruel discrimination appeared among prisoners and their guards. For example, a Muslim prisoner received less rights or services than a Christian one. Also, a massive discrimination occurred between blacks and whites which was caused by the guards different treatment for each race. Other than discrimination, the Eighth Amendment that stated the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment was violated due to the lack of organization among the guards. Prisoners image from the societys point of view: Prisoners main definition is that they are certain people who have been claimed to be involved in an illegal or a criminalized act against the society. Such a definition does leave an impact on how the society perceives prisoners as humans with rights to claim for. According to Deborah Cheney; the Howard Journal of Criminal Justice: certain serving prisoners have the right to vote as any other citizen, based on criteria such as sentence length and offence seriousness. We can observe from this quote that not all prisoners have the right to vote, and therefore, not all prisoners deserve to be given such right due to the level of crime they have caused to the society. As human beings, societies are not capable to fully sympathize with individuals who have been convicted of doing harmful or filthy acts towards the society they live in. therefore, not all prisoners can be treated the same or in an equal manner. For example, a society can emotionally forgive a man who robbed a bank or a ma n who didnt pay his taxes, but the very same society is not emotionally capable of fully forgiving a man who has been convicted of raping a 12 years old girl. In other words, the society still perceives some of the prisoners as a lower class of citizens and they simply cant be forgiven no matter how much they pay for in prison time. According to the Lance, worlds leading general medical journal, the Japanese government has allowed the execution of prisoners with mental illnesses. Regardless of their rights as human beings, such prisoners are being terminated with no questions asked. In addition, the evaluation of a prisoner weather he/she is suffering from mental illness is questionable as well. Therefore, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has announced a public argument regarding this issue, hoping that the Japanese government would listen to the other side of the story and might provide some actual rights for such prisoners. Another point to talk about is how the society perceiv es prisoners as an active part that is capable of establishing as well as improving the world in order to make it a better place. As mentioned before in this research, there is a significantly low level of education among prisoners in general. This low level of education reflects negatively on the prisoners image towards their society for their abilities to improve things around. After all, prisoners remain humans with enough mental and physical abilities that can help any society to improve its standard of living. What the society has done for prisoners: New Rights for Prisoners: In response to the prisoners demands for providing them with enough rights that could serve them as human beings, Robert Spencer. Human Events, in article called, Democrats Are Giving Rights to Jihadists, a list of human rights have been provided by the US government to inmates who have been accused to distribute terror among a certain society. Some of these rights can be summarized as follows: Jihadists have the right to have a decent or a respectable lawyer who can defend them and also stop any insults that may appear against them. Jihadists will have the right to eat a decent food that can serve their body and continue their survival Jihadists will have the chance to own a Quran; the Islamic religious book, in their serving period. Jihadists will not experience psychological torture as a strategy of investigation due to its cruel nature that shall not be applied to mankind. Finally, Jihadists will have the opportunity to have phone calls in which they can communicate with their loved once and comfort them. Such rights to be given to prisoners, regardless of whatever it is they have been accused of, create an understanding society that has the ability to forgive as well as the ability to understand why a person has ended up in prison. Supreme Court decisions affecting prisoners rights: Another act in relation to prisoners rights is mentioned in an article called, Prisoners Rights and the Rehnquist Court Era, written by Christopher E Smith., a journalist. The Supreme Court states that prisoners shall be able to maintain their rights as humans and also have the right to fight for their humanity. The Supreme Court also points out the corrections that should be made to lower court decisions regarding the expansion of prisoners rights as human beings with complete protection that will maintain their survival while serving their time in prison. Improve the education level among existing prisoners: In regards to the lower educational level among prisoners, the very same article that discusses this issue; Educational Background in a prison population, provides the following procedures: Education is a central part of the rehabilitation of prison inmates; therefore, Thirty- four of the 47 prisons offer education and training. Increased the number of available school places for prison inmates in recent years. Adopting administrative cooperation model, where the prisons are formally linked to the ordinary public services available outside the prison, such public services provide prisoners with the professional and financial responsibility for education as well as training in the correctional services. A questionnaire to the inmates contained questions about age, gender, citizenship, country of childhood and teenage years to build up a status of the prisoners recent updates as well as their improvement during their serving time. Arguments against capital punishment: Carol S Steiker, a journalist says in her article, Capital Punishment: A Century of Discontinuous Debate: The most powerful new argument in the death penalty debate one that simply did not exist in any sustained form prior to the modern era of capital punishment in the United States (post- 1976) emphasizes the greater cost of capital punishment compared to the alternative of long-term (even lifetime) imprisonment. The argument has become so ubiquitous in contemporary debates about the death penalty that it is hard to imagine that it was virtually non-existent until a few decades ago. Indeed, in one generation, the cost argument has become perhaps the greatest threat to the continued robust use of capital punishment in the United States. This section will examine how and why the cost argument emerged over the past few decades as well as the reasons for its virtual absence in death penalty discourse during the first centuries of capital practice in this country. Many of our societys members have found out that capital punishment is nothing but a cruel act that the government uses to justify the crimes connected to a prisoner. Moreover, the death penalty has become a major argumentative subject in which it is neither known nor certain the measurement of a persons act that makes him/her deserve such punishment. Also, as Carol states in the article, The inability of our capital system to provide meaningful redress for victims families, pretty much explains the fact that there is a failure in our system regarding the issue of a prisoner being sentenced to death penalty. Therefore, serious actions have been made in order to pay more effort as well as more focus on this type of punishment and always reconsider other solutions such as; Life Time imprisonment instead of just sending someone to his/her death. In conclusion, I have talked about the prisoners environment and how prisoners react to it. I also talked about the general idea about prisoners from the societys perspective and how such an idea impacts prisoners from claiming their rights. Finally I have discussed what the society has done for prisoners in regards to their claims to be treated as human beings regardless of their criminal acts. In Abdullah Bin Omars case as discussed earlier in the introduction of this paper, serious procedures have been in order to provide actual human rights, not only for him especially, but also for all Guantanamo as well as all prisoners who suffer the injustice by those who made justice for them, such procedures were discussed in details under New rights for prisoners in this research. In general, any man who has been convicted with any crime; an act that results in harming the society or the surroundings of this person shall be punished so he will know the consequences of his acts and so he wi ll become an example for those who do the same action or attempt to do so. At the same time, it is ultimately important to pay extra attention on the validity of such convictions, the type of punishment that would be determined and finally how to reserve the prisoners right as a human being. After all, we are all humans who are subject to make mistakes, and as a religious person, I believe that its only GOD who has the final say in a mans act and only he can punish this man or forgive him for his mistakes.

Physics and Firearms :: physics firearm gun guns ballistics

So you are into reloading and you wonder how well that little package with 77 grains of IMR 4350 powder behind a 300 grain round nose, full metal jacket bullet will do. Well, you can do two things, a little bit of physics calculations, or go out and touch it off, hoping that it doesn’t explode in the barrel! I would choose to do a little physics myself†¦ By using some basic physics equations, you can figure out just about any part of the rifles ballistics data. For instance, if you know a few variables, you can predict range with physics, or if you like you can figure things like drag on the bullet, pressure and expansion values inside the gun, on the bullet and much more, all from physics. So, lets take a look at both the potential and kinetic energies of the .338 Winchester magnum. I will use a load given by the Winchester Reloading manual, which can be found online at: http://www.winchester.com/reloader/index.html This load is a 300 grain bullet, using 59.8 grains of Winchester 760 powder, and this gives a muzzle velocity of 2285 ft/sec. For potential energy we know that PE=mgh, where PE= Potential Energy, m=mass, g=acceleration due to gravity, and h=height. So for a 300-grain bullet, the potential energy is calculated by first finding the mass. To do this, take 300grains/7000grains/pound. This gives you a value of .042857lbs. Then we need to convert pounds to slugs (slugs are the units of mass†¦) .042857lb/32.2ft/s^2=.001331slugs. Now we can calculate the potential energy of our 300-grain bullet. We will assume that h=six feet, since that is roughly the height of the barrel when I shoot from a standing position. So, since PE=mgh, we get PE=(.00133slugs)(32.2ft/sec^2)(6ft)=.256956lbft. The answer is pretty much nothing and so we can pretty much ignore the potential energy of that bullet sitting at six feet in the air, but now lets look at the Kinetic energy of this bullet when shot. Since this bullet will be twisting when it flies, it will have rotational kinetic energy, but I really don’t want to get into those calculations and from what I have read, the amount of energy given by rotation versus that of the charge behi nd the bullet is really insignificant so I will only calculate the KE as if the bullet is not rotating. The formula is KE=1/2mv^2.

Frankenstein, Blade Runner Context Essay

Good morning/ afternoon miss, today I will be speaking about the themes of two texts and the context in which they were written. The two texts ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Blade Runner’ both embody themes of science, creation and nature that are reflected in the author’s life and what was happening in the world around them. By examining Mary Shelley’s life we can see many of the key themes of her time reflected in Frankenstein. The novel Frankenstein was written in 1818 and follows the story of a scientist, Victor Frankenstein and his quest for creating life. However his experiment goes wrong as his creature goes on a rampage after he has been rejected. One theme from this novel that is part of Shelley’s life is the natural world. The theme of the sublime natural world was embraced by Romanticists such as Mary Shelley who, in their writing, glorify the natural environment. By showing nature as a powerful force it gives an idea that nature is a great and controlling force, somewhat god like. Victor, depressed after the deaths of William and Justine for which he feels responsible for, heads to the mountains. A cold†¦ breeze†¦ upon my cheeks †¦ fills me with delight† is a shortened quote from Victor which expresses his feelings towards nature as a joyous one. The influence of nature on mood is evident throughout the novel and just like Victor feeling happy in the embrace of nature; the monster also feels his heart lighten as spring arrives after a being abandoned in the cold winter. â€Å"The weather became fine and the skies cloudless†. Contrasting to Frankenstein that explores the beauty of nature, Blade runner explores how when the natural environment fades the consequences for both humans and the planet are terrible. Blade Runner is a film directed by Riddley Scott in 1982 and follows the story of a blade runner named Deckard as he sets out on destroying artificial humans known as replicants. In the 1980s many Americans, including Scott feared their country was in a great decline and depression of the war and industrialization. These somber themes are evident within the film. At the beginning of the film we see a montage of manmade buildings and structures that overwhelm the landscape as there are no natural elements. Symbolism is very important in this opening scene as we also see setting in the background, the sun. The sun setting symbolizes the end of the earth and that humans are entering into the dark. Rain in many parts of this film and is used as a visual metaphor to suggest that nature is crying for its destruction by humanity. The effect of this impression is that when nature dies everything will mourn. The setting of this post apocalyptic film is not the only thing that has been urbanised. Many animals have been created artificially. When Deckard first goes to Tyrell he is shown an artificial owl, to which he responds â€Å"must be expensive†. The repetition of animals being artificial and expensive highlights that nothing natural remains and that nature has been taken over by commerce. Scott uses the animals as a symbol to represent how artificial the world has become. Another theme that is evident in both Frankenstein and Blade Runner is science and creation. Frankenstein was written in a period of technological advancement where science was just beginning to take shape and the thought of recreating life was evident. An event in Shelley’s life that impacted her was the work of Luigi Galvani who discovered that the muscles of dead frog’s legs twitched when struck by a electricity. This advancement leads Shelley to critique the ideals of science contrasting to the value of nature. Shelley is clear on her feelings about the use and abuse of technology. The reanimation of a man from the dead can be useful so we can always be with loved ones, but what responsibility should we take once we bring people back from the dead? How far can we go in raising the dead without destroying the living? Shelley seems to portray the idea that man cannot handle becoming like God without difficulty. Victor Frankenstein learns all he can about the field of science, both before, during, and after his work at the university and is continuously obsessed with creating life. The effect of uses a character obsessed with creating life, then later rejecting it further shows how Shelley feels about miss using technology. Similarly to Frankenstein, Blade Runner also questions the values of science and creation. Scott created his film when industrialization and when technology is rapidly becoming part of everyday life. As the creator of the replicants, Tyrell simply creates the androids for money and power then immediately outcasts them. Scott makes the company of Tyrell seem very dark and large to emphasize his power within the city. Both Mary Shelley and Riddley Scott draw inspiration from the events and other themes that are impacting their life, whether it is nature, the advancement of technology or creation issues at the time of writing.

Passed On written by Carole Satymurti poem Analysis

In the poem, Passed On written by Carole Satymurti, the poet illustrates the importance of a box filled with index cards, at the same time, she reminisces about her mother. Through the detailed depiction of the memories that the index cards bring her, a sense of nostalgia is created. Carole presents her memories in a chronological order, such that it portrays events from when her mother was still alive to the poet's final acceptance of her mother's death. However, as the poem progresses, these organized patterns of thoughts, gradually break away from conformity, creating an outburst of freedom felt from her release from pain. At the end of the poem, Carole finally shows acceptance of her mother's death, at the same time reassuring the readers of her growth. This poem begins with Carole reflecting upon her past where she recollects the times when her mother â€Å"scribbled with a squirrel concentration† writing things down on the index cards, reflecting her mother's seriousness towards what she is doing. The sibilance of in the phrase â€Å"scribble with a squirrel† creates a fast paced rhythm contrasting to the quite nature of the atmosphere created by the â€Å"s† sound. This also creates a sense of secrecy, hinting that the relationship between mother and daughter is not very close. Her extreme concentration is also shown as nothing seemed to deter her from her desires even as â€Å"I nag at her.† The second stanza is much longer as compared to the other four and reveals to the reader the contents of what is in the box and what is written on the index cards. This stanza creates a sense of closeness between the author and her mother because â€Å"the cards looked after [her]† and her mother â€Å"rendered herself down from flesh to paper† to be â€Å"there for [her] in every way she could anticipate.† However, the specific organization of the card of her thoughts is contrasted with the nonsensical notes in which she jotted down onto the cards: â€Å"Acupuncture: conditions suited to Books to read by age twenty-one Choux pastry: how to make, when to use† This paradox between the organizations shows the overwhelming outbursts of thoughts as they deem to be uncontrollable and hard to organize. The fragmented sentences on the card also increase the rhythm of the poem, creating a sense of urgency as the mother races against time to jot down every vital piece of information. Because of her mother's protectiveness, the author becomes overly dependent on them. â€Å"The cards looked after [her] and [she'd] shuffle them to almost hear her speak.† Carole Satymurti wraps herself around her mother's past and hides in the box of cards as to her â€Å"the world was box shaped† and in there, every card had a solution to â€Å"every doubt or choice† she may ever have. Over time, the author begins to realize that the cards have â€Å"seemed to shrink† and the writings on the cards have begun to fade away. This forces the author to break away from the comfortable boxed up world that she hides in. However, no matter how hard she tries, she does not seem to be able to renew the past and to bring back her mother's thoughts, as her thoughts are mere chaos next to her mother's. â€Å"infinitives never telling love lust single issue politics when don't hopeless careful trust† The author's notes on the cards are not in complete sentences and are simply a bunch of words that do not have a definitive connection between them. These illogical statements portray the author as a child, unable to make sensible statements. Furthermore, a sense of awkwardness is created between the profound statements and the presentation of the ideas as if Carole's ideas are too overpowering for her to control. The last stanza of the poem, short and abrupt, portrays the author's final escape from her mother's grasp on Carole's life as she â€Å"lets her go.† Carole builds a â€Å"hollow cairn† and empties the index cards into it. The word â€Å"hollow† portrays an empty and silent atmosphere whilst having an ethereal feel to the overall situation. The control her mother has on her slowly begins to fade away as â€Å"the smoke rose thin and clear, slowly blurred.† However, the author does not completely break off all ties between her and her mother as she has â€Å"kept the box for diaries†, keeping the memory of her mother but at the same time, allowing herself to live a new life free from restrictions. The act of burning the index cards also reflect the author's final acceptance of her mother's death, as if she is cremating her once again, letting the memory of her mother remain by her side but not as an overpowering force controlling her life and thought s. The uneven lengths of each stanza in the poem shows a sense of development throughout as it begins with the past, moving to the present and finally ending with the aspiration of a bright new future of uncertainties as portrayed with the â€Å"blurred† imagery in the end. Subsequently, from this, the author grows to accept her mother's death and slowly moves away from her mother's protective safe environment and embarks on a journey into the unknown.

Free Essays on Ernest Hemmingway’s Tragic Vision Of Man

Ernest Hemingway’s Tragic Vision of Man In The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway, shows what has been called by many his "tragic vision of man." Hemmingway’s view of life is that it is ultimately ironic. By accepting his world for what it is, and in finding out how to live in it, he has formed a tragic but glorifying vision of man. Hemmingway explains that, "we are part of a universe offering no assurance beyond the grave, and we are to make what we can of life by a pragmatic ethic spun bravely out of man himself in full and steady cognizance that the end is darkness." In more simple terms, we are born, we learn how to live, and we die not knowing what is next. This is what is so ironic about life. We are born to die, and along the way many more ironic things happen. In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago is Hemingway’s tool in proving his theory. The old man hooks an enormous marlin after eighty-four days of catching nothing. He uses every bit of his knowledge and strength to finally catch and kill the fish. After three days of battle he is able to pull the fish alongside the boat and tie him up. During the long voyage home, sharks follow the trail of blood from the marlin and eat the great fish. Santiago does all that he can to stop them, but it is no use. It is over. This shows us the qualities which define man’s place in a world full of violence and death not known to him. This story gives the experience of Santiago its significance as Hemmingway’s concept of life. His tragic vision of man. Hemingway says about the story. "It is enough to live on the sea and kill our bothers." In realization that he has gone out alone and too far, the old man has ruined himself and the great fish. The old man reflects Hemmingway’s theory that in his individualism and pride, man goes beyond his limits in the world and inevitably brings violence and destruction upon himself and others. But in doing this, San... Free Essays on Ernest Hemmingway’s Tragic Vision Of Man Free Essays on Ernest Hemmingway’s Tragic Vision Of Man Ernest Hemingway’s Tragic Vision of Man In The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway, shows what has been called by many his "tragic vision of man." Hemmingway’s view of life is that it is ultimately ironic. By accepting his world for what it is, and in finding out how to live in it, he has formed a tragic but glorifying vision of man. Hemmingway explains that, "we are part of a universe offering no assurance beyond the grave, and we are to make what we can of life by a pragmatic ethic spun bravely out of man himself in full and steady cognizance that the end is darkness." In more simple terms, we are born, we learn how to live, and we die not knowing what is next. This is what is so ironic about life. We are born to die, and along the way many more ironic things happen. In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago is Hemingway’s tool in proving his theory. The old man hooks an enormous marlin after eighty-four days of catching nothing. He uses every bit of his knowledge and strength to finally catch and kill the fish. After three days of battle he is able to pull the fish alongside the boat and tie him up. During the long voyage home, sharks follow the trail of blood from the marlin and eat the great fish. Santiago does all that he can to stop them, but it is no use. It is over. This shows us the qualities which define man’s place in a world full of violence and death not known to him. This story gives the experience of Santiago its significance as Hemmingway’s concept of life. His tragic vision of man. Hemingway says about the story. "It is enough to live on the sea and kill our bothers." In realization that he has gone out alone and too far, the old man has ruined himself and the great fish. The old man reflects Hemmingway’s theory that in his individualism and pride, man goes beyond his limits in the world and inevitably brings violence and destruction upon himself and others. But in doing this, San...

The Scarlet Letter Essays (233 words) - English-language Films

The Scarlet Letter Essays (233 words) - English-language Films The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter the author uses several symbolic things. He uses the rose bush that is in the midst of all the grayness. Pearl, Hesters' daughter is also a symbol. The scarlet A that Hester has to wear is a symbol that she is an adulteress. The author goes on to describe these in great detail. The setting in this puritan town, Boston, the author describes everything as being gray. Everything sounds so depressing, but he talks about this rose bush right next to the prison. It symbolizes that nature has some kind of sympathy for these criminals. The rose bush is so beautiful, yet it is outside of a prison. Hester had a daughter, Pearl. Pearl is a child of Dimmesdale, which is not Hesters' husband. Pearl is very beautiful, yet she is often referred to as a demon child. Pearl is very violent, she throws rocks at the other kids. She is symbolic because she was conceived in a very ugly situation, but she is a very beautiful kid. Another symbolic thing is the scarlet A that Hester has to wear. She wears it to let everybody know that she is an adulteress. An A on her clothes changes the way people think of Hester. Something so insignificant such as a piece of cloth changes a whole life and causes a whole lifetime of pain and suffering.

Creating Shared Value by Mark R Kramer Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Creating Shared Value by Mark R Kramer - Article Example The industries and large business corporations of the present day are highly responsible for various environmental, social and economic problems. In other words, it is stated that there is a siege of the capitalist system. However, there is an inherent requirement for the change in existing paradigm for CSR. Traditionally, the organizations believed that creating the social values would hamper the economic success. The author has demonstrated in this article the concept of ‘Shared Values’ that would help the organization in building both economic and social values without affecting the economic success. The article will be judged based on certain criteria including creativity, adherence to the topic, tendency to influence the readers and reliability (Porter and Kramer 62-77). The article â€Å"Creating Shared Value† mainly focuses on the business establishments for regaining the trusts in the current era of crisis. In the article, the authors have asserted, â€Å"The capitalist system is under siege†; â€Å"learning how to create shared value is our best chance to legitimize business again† (Porter and Kramer 64). However, the article aims at transforming the social problems related to the organization into opportunities for business and thus contributes to solving the social challenges along with increased profitability for the organization at the same time. Moreover, Porter and Kramer have also asserted in the article that, â€Å"Creating Shared Values can give rise to the next major transformation of business thinking†, â€Å"drive the next wave of innovation and productivity growth in the global economy† and â€Å"reshape capitalism and its relationship to society† (Porter and Kramer 64). However, these are t he most tempting propositions made by the authors that have created enormous attention among the business community, educators, and the management practitioners.

Method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Method - Essay Example The antioxidants stock solutions were prepared separately. Four hundred milligrams of L-ascorbic acid and tannic acid were dissolved in 5 mL of water to make a stock solution of 80 mg/mL. Forty milligrams of epigallocatechin were dissolved in 5 mL water for a concentration of stock solution of 8 mg/mL. Cells of Staphylococcus aureus strains SH1000 and UAMS-1 were streaked on Mueller-Hinton Agar (MHA) plates and incubated 37Â °C for 24 hours. After this period, single colonies were picked, and transferred to tubes with Mueller-Hinton Broth (MHB). The tubes were placed in an incubator-shaker at 37 Â °C for another 24 hours. The overnight cultures in MHB, after appropriate dilution, served as the inocula for the experimental determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibiotics and antioxidants, and mutational frequencies (MF). Overnight cultures were always used fresh, and not after storage. The desired antibiotic starting concentrations were obtained by diluting the desired volume from the stock solutions. For the determination of the mupirocin MIC, the starting concentration was 16 Â µg/mL. This amount was diluted doubly using sterile saline to produce decreasing concentrations of 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, and 0.03125 Â µg/mL. The starting concentration of rifampicin was 2 Â µg/mL. Again, double dilution was performed. The following concentrations were used to determine the rifampicin MIC: 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, 0.03125, 0.01563, 0.0078, and 0.0039 Â µg/mL. To determine the MICs of the antioxidants that were to be used in the experiment, the antioxidants solutions were also serially diluted similar to what was done for the antimicrobials mupirocin and rifampicin. The starting concentration of all the antioxidants was 8 mg/mL. After double dilutions, the concentrations used were 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, 0.03125, and 0.01563 mg/mL. Cellulose ester disks with 0.22 Â µm

Trial of Galileo Galilei Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Trial of Galileo Galilei - Research Paper Example This theory ruled the ancient and medieval science for a very long time and it was hugely respected among all the scientists around the world. When Galileo introduced his theory and heliocentric approach, it was proposed that Earth does not occupy the central position in the solar system, rather sun is at the centre and all the other planets including Earth revolve around it. The observations made by Galileo through his own telescope revealed the scientific facts that initiated phenomenal criticism around the globe. He showed proof based on practical experience that Earth is not stationary, rather it revolves around the sun. Actually, Galileo was made liable to attend a trial in the court because his theory did not go in accordance with the traditionally and religiously accepted view. This paper is an effort to highlight and explain almost all the exposed and obscured facts related to this historical trial. Science was a sub field of religion in the medieval ages and therefore, any modification made in the scientific views directly caused offence to the religiously held views as well. In this way, science and religion had a direct relation in the medieval age and this was one of the major causes of causing the entire angry riot in regards to Galileo’s heliocentric theory. Religious concepts were highly respected and fiercely followed in the old days and Galileo’s modern scientific views seriously interfered with the religious views of then people. In fact, Galileo experienced a dual-trial since he was seriously warned in the first trial in which he was ordered not to show any tendency for publicly speaking about his scientific approach. In the second trial, he was punished by the court in terms of house arrest and ordered to stay at his home for the rest of his life. This trial raised such a pandemonium in the scientific and

Establishing a Business Continuity Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Establishing a Business Continuity Plan - Essay Example The prioritizations of the services or the products that are initially identified are based on the lower delivery levels and higher time period of the services. In order to conclude the significant ranking related to the services the information is needed for the determination of a distracted impact on the service delivery, loss of revenue, additional expenses and intangible losses. 1.3  Classifying Business Impacts for Interruptions or IncidentsThe disruption impact on significant services or the products helps in the verification of how long functions of an organization can work without services or products. It is essential for the business continuity to find out the time period before major impact on the unavailability product is experienced.1.4  Business Impact Analysis (BIA)The function of the BIA is to recognize the authorization and the significant services or products of the business. In addition, the identification of the internal as well as the external disruption and t he priority services or products ranking for the fast or continuous delivery of the products is identified and controlled by the BIA.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1.5  Classify DependenciesThe delivery of services depends upon internal and external dependencies of significant services or products. The internal dependencies comprise of availability of staff, information, equipment, applications, transport, human resource, security and information technology (IT) support services. On the other hand, external dependencies consist of contractor, management facilities.

Innovation and Enterprise (BBVA) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Innovation and Enterprise (BBVA) - Essay Example Innovation and Enterprise (BBVA) In most instances, innovation is commonly attributed to newness of a given aspect (Varis and Littunen, 2010, p. 128). However, they argue that there is no universally conclusive definition of the term since in the present world new knowledge is always coming up and not everything new can be classified as innovation. However, OEDC (2005, p. 101) described firm level innovation as planned change in an organization’s activities geared towards enhancing the organization performance. Innovation is differentiated based on main two aspects. The first looks at the object of change, such as product, market, process and organizational innovation (Oke, Burke and Myers, 2007, p. 735). Moreover, the type of innovation can be based on their how radical they are or their newness; that is based on the extent of change. According to Varis and Littunen (2010, p. 128), radical innovations usually bring up revolutionary changes and in some instances may trigger technological innovation. Basic ing redients of innovation are transferable and the most critical source of innovative ideas include the firm’s the employees, competitors and research (Beach, 2006, p. 1). Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria is a major retail bank in Spain that offers a wide range of financial services to both end-user clients and business customers. The bank was established in about one hundred and fifty years, and has grown significantly to open branches in USA, Mexico and South America. Currently, the bank is the largest in Mexico and is listed among the 25 major banks in US. Moreover, BBVA is among the few Western Banks operating successfully in Japan. By 2008, BBVA had 112, 000 employees serving more than 47 million countries in more than 30 countries (Ramis-Pujol and Droege, 2011, p.3). The bank has been able to balance its corporate principles while still focusing on customer service. In addition, BBVA views innovation as an engine for its future growth. Presently, BBBVA is one of the seven largest banks in the world measured in terms of market capitalization after joining this league in 2009. Types of Innovation by BBVA One of the types of innovation implemented by BBVA is product innovation when the bank came up with tu cuentas. Some years back, BBVA bank identified the great potential offered by internet technology to retail banking. The bank felt that its customers could appreciate more online banking services to better manage their financial activities and make them more open. The bank envisioned that customers could be more satisfied knowing what they spend their finances in, average money spent on different items in the budget and compare their spending trends with those of their peers. Moreover, the new product could help the customers develop strategies to optimize their spending habits. Tu cuentas was also developed to improve the user experience and increase its functionality and flexibility. Moreover, BBVA intended to allow its customers incorporate their banking information from other their accounts in other financial institutions. This last functionality was a unique service in retail banking. Given that the bank was financially and expertise constrained, it decided to

Managing Operations and Processes Through Servitisation Essay

Managing Operations and Processes Through Servitisation - Essay Example As manufacturing companies head towards the delivery of service propositions, employees; existing and potential, are increasingly expected to comprehend the components of services that are controllable for the purpose of increasing efficiency (Vandermerwe et al., 1988). Manufacturers are adopting the concept of servitisation whereby they deliver services in line with their original product. Besides the provision of value added to clientele, they are able to secure orders and boost their profitability. They are also putting themselves in a better position to possess the ability to produce at extremely high standards as well as respond and maximize on all service propositions that arise from the usage of their products.Studies reveal that more than sixty per cent of large manufacturing corporations all around the world are servitised. There are five steps to take when servitising a company. The first involves considering the possible service value proposalsaround the particular product. The aim here is not ownership of one’s product but rather the achievement of an alternative objective. Secondly, it is important to assess whether it is possible to achieve the set goal without having to sell the product. Thirdly, consider whether or not it is feasible to deliver the services through the use of internal resources and whether there would be need for external partnership or collaboration. Correspondingly, the company should assess its enthusiasm for and aptitude to cope with the implications of potential risks involved in the provision of the amenities. Last but not least, the firm must consider forming skills plus technology approaches that will convey the business infrastructure needed for the task (Vandermerwe et al., 1988). The process of servitisation necessitates supply chain and procurement professionals to adapt quite a large number of variables within their

Establishing a Business Continuity Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Establishing a Business Continuity Plan - Essay Example The prioritizations of the services or the products that are initially identified are based on the lower delivery levels and higher time period of the services. In order to conclude the significant ranking related to the services the information is needed for the determination of a distracted impact on the service delivery, loss of revenue, additional expenses and intangible losses. 1.3  Classifying Business Impacts for Interruptions or IncidentsThe disruption impact on significant services or the products helps in the verification of how long functions of an organization can work without services or products. It is essential for the business continuity to find out the time period before major impact on the unavailability product is experienced.1.4  Business Impact Analysis (BIA)The function of the BIA is to recognize the authorization and the significant services or products of the business. In addition, the identification of the internal as well as the external disruption and t he priority services or products ranking for the fast or continuous delivery of the products is identified and controlled by the BIA.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1.5  Classify DependenciesThe delivery of services depends upon internal and external dependencies of significant services or products. The internal dependencies comprise of availability of staff, information, equipment, applications, transport, human resource, security and information technology (IT) support services. On the other hand, external dependencies consist of contractor, management facilities.

Managing Operations and Processes Through Servitisation Essay

Managing Operations and Processes Through Servitisation - Essay Example As manufacturing companies head towards the delivery of service propositions, employees; existing and potential, are increasingly expected to comprehend the components of services that are controllable for the purpose of increasing efficiency (Vandermerwe et al., 1988). Manufacturers are adopting the concept of servitisation whereby they deliver services in line with their original product. Besides the provision of value added to clientele, they are able to secure orders and boost their profitability. They are also putting themselves in a better position to possess the ability to produce at extremely high standards as well as respond and maximize on all service propositions that arise from the usage of their products.Studies reveal that more than sixty per cent of large manufacturing corporations all around the world are servitised. There are five steps to take when servitising a company. The first involves considering the possible service value proposalsaround the particular product. The aim here is not ownership of one’s product but rather the achievement of an alternative objective. Secondly, it is important to assess whether it is possible to achieve the set goal without having to sell the product. Thirdly, consider whether or not it is feasible to deliver the services through the use of internal resources and whether there would be need for external partnership or collaboration. Correspondingly, the company should assess its enthusiasm for and aptitude to cope with the implications of potential risks involved in the provision of the amenities. Last but not least, the firm must consider forming skills plus technology approaches that will convey the business infrastructure needed for the task (Vandermerwe et al., 1988). The process of servitisation necessitates supply chain and procurement professionals to adapt quite a large number of variables within their

Psychological Testing Article Analysis Essay Example for Free

Psychological Testing Article Analysis Essay Psychological testing is a tool to properly assess behaviors and characteristics of individuals. Results of psychological testing are often presented through statistical tables that allow evaluation and comparison of the different variables tested against set norms. This paper will review an article lifted from the Health Psychology journal and determine the appropriateness of the psychological testing instruments used in the study. For this purpose, the article chosen is â€Å"Evolution of Biopsychosocial Model: Prospects and Challenges for Health Psychology† written by Jerry Suls and Alex Rothman in 2004. Article Summary The Biopsychosocial Model has enabled health psychologists in the search for a multi-level, multi-system approach to human functioning (Suls Rothman, 2004). This idea is based on the premise that there is an intrinsic relationship between what is physical, psychological and social. However according to the research of Suls and Rothman, there are marked challenges that the model faces that have essentially impeded the progress of its full potential as a research, intervention and practice tool. The article’s ultimate goal was to determine what can be done to ensure the continuous refinement and evolution of the biopsychosocial model (Suls Rothman, 2004). As a means to determine the viability of the biopsychosocial model as a multi-faceted instrument to help explain an individual’s health psychology, Suls and Rothman resorted to the use of statistical tests in psychology. By conducting frequency tests and factor analysis, the team of Suls and Rothman came up with a list of recommendations in the model’s areas of research, training, policy and funding, and practice. These recommendations are to further utilization of the links between biological, psychological, social, and even macro-cultural variables, with the ultimate aim of enhancing health (2004). Through the tests five issues were also identified to be crucial in the progress of the biopsychosocial model as a legitimate approach to health assessment. The article concluded by highlighting the various advancements in health psychology, particularly with the biopsychosocial model. However, Suls and Rothman stressed that the full potential of the model in terms of the ability to advance the theory and practice remain untapped (2004). Only a strong commitment to the model and it implications would establish long-term success of its involvement in health psychology (Suls Rothman, 2004). Psychological Testing Instruments Used The article of Suls and Rothman did not explicitly discuss the test they used to assess the biopsychosocial model. In spite of this, it can be deduced from the tables they presented and the discussion of their findings that they relied on statistical tests in psychology in data-gathering. Statistical tests are commonly used to analyze results of a psychological research (Green D’Oliveria, 1982). In fact many social sciences, particularly psychology, necessitate the use of statistical inference to explain findings (Meehl, 1967). In this particular article where the bulk of the fact-finding are based on peer research, two statistical tests in psychology were used. Suls and Rothman conducted frequency tests two times in their research study. Frequency tests are the most helpful tool when comparing data against each other (Lane, 2004). Through frequency tests, marked differences in independent variables are clearly distinguished. To measure the progression of the biopsychosocial model as a accepted concept in health psychology, Suls and Rothman conducted a frequency test on the use of the term â€Å"biopsychosocial† in journals and articles of Medline from 1974 to 2001, totals of which were group into a 3-year period interval (2004). Suls and Rothman likewise applied a frequency test to measure the integration of behavioral approaches to medical science in the study (2004). They reviewed articles in 4 major medical journals namely New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association, and the Annals of Internal Medicine between the years of 1974 and 2001 (Suls and Rothman, 2004). Once again, they grouped the results into 3-year period intervals. From the raw frequency scores collected, they were able to produce a frequency polygon. A frequency polygon is the best way to present data gathered from frequency tests because it shows the shape of distribution of measured variables (Lane, 2004). Apart from frequency tests, Suls and Rothman also used factor analysis test. Factor analysis is one of the most commonly used statistical tests in various disciplines. It is used to determine patterns of relationships between variables (Gorsuch, 1983). In the area of psychology, factor analysis is commonly applied in intelligence research but it can also be used in other areas, like personality, behavior, belief, and even theory assessment. In this instance, factor analysis was used to assess the attitude of health psychologists towards the biopsychosocial model. The biopsychosocial model is dependent on the interaction between the biological, psychological, and social factors within an individual (Suls and Rothman, 2004). Suls and Rothman theorized that health psychologists are more likely to focus heavily on the psychological factor alone in the biopsychosocial model (2004). Therefore they used factor analysis to measure the presence of all the factors in articles written within a 12-month period, November 2001-September 2002 in Health Psychology. This particular application is called confirmatory factor analysis. It is used when the concern is to determine the number of variables that conform to a pre-determined theory set (Gorsuch, 1983). The value of this test is to assess the validity of preconceived ideas. In the case of Suls and Rothman’s study, it is the leaning of health psychologists towards psychological factors to assess an individual’s health. The article of Suls and Rothman did not make use of any standardized psychological testing instruments. The reason may be due to the fact that it is a study aimed at determining the advancement of a framework of health assessment. However, they still integrated valuable statistical testing in psychology to explain clearly the findings they have gathered. Effectiveness of the Psychological Testing Instruments Used The main premise of Suls and Rothman’s article is that the biopsychosocial model has proven remarkably successful in shaping the way health psychologists view an individual’s overall functioning (Suls and Rothman, 2004). To prove this point, the team proceeded to measure the familiarity of the concept among health psychologists by reviewing published journals in Medline, and four other notable medical journals. The raw data collected was then subjected to different statistical tests commonly applied in the field of psychology. From there Suls and Rothman were able to formulate recommendations vital to the advancement of the biopsychosocial model as a valid instrument in health assessment. The effectiveness of psychological testing is based mainly on two factors, validity and reliability. Validity measures the soundness of a test against its set objectives. On the other hand reliability measures the accuracy of the test in terms of producing consistent results. To determine whether the result of psychological testing is effective, researchers usually turn to statistical tests. In this case where no standardized psychological testing instruments were used, the effectiveness of the study may be directly correlated with the quality of the results produced by the statistical tests used by Suls and Rothman. Suls and Rothman resorted to frequency test to explain their findings on the use of â€Å"biopsychosocial† as a term in medical journals. The test confirmed their initial assumption that the biopsychosocial model has helped in advancing health psychology in the last 25 years. The frequency test showed a consistent rise in the use of â€Å"biopsychosocial† as a term in medical journals. However, Suls and Rothman are quick to stress that this may also be due to the increase of the number of articles published that deal with behavior in recent years (2004). They also used frequency test to assess the integration of behavioral approach to medical science (Suls Rothman, 2004). The results attested as well to the increased integration of behavioral approaches to medical science in the last 30 years (Suls Rothman, 2004). Finally a factor analysis test was conducted to determine the reliance of health psychologists on the variables essential to the biopsychosocial model. The factor analysis test clearly showed that health psychologists are still biased in considering psychological issues over biological, and even social. This correctly proved the initial postulation of Suls and Rothman. Considering that the statistical tests in psychology used in the research of Suls and Rothman ably supported their theory, it can be said that they were effective. However, since the study is mostly a review of journals it is not enough to completely determine the actual advancement of the biopsychosocial model as a tool for health assessment. George Schwartz in his book suggested that the biopsychosocial model faces a challenge with the use of empirical testing (1982). Empirical testing is a vital component to any psychological research. Another is that the model remains a concept in research. It has yet to transcend from research to practice, then back to research (Keefe, Buffington, Studts Rumble, 2002). This is when the recommendations of Suls and Rothman become important. They were able to identify important areas that are tangible and measurable that will help in the transition of the model from a mere conceptual framework to a fully working tool in health assessment. As a stand-alone article, Suls and Rothman presented a thorough exposition of their chosen subject. However, based on the criteria of the article review, it did not meet the standards required. The fundamental component needed in the review is psychological testing in which the article did not have. On the other hand, the statistical tests were very helpful in understanding the basis of Suls’ and Rothman’s conclusion. Considering the statistical tests were properly chosen and used, it can be concluded that in the end the article of Suls and Rothman was a success. References Gorsuch, R. (1983). Factor analysis. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum Green, J. D’Oliveria, M. (1982). Learning to use statistical tests in psychology 3rd edition. NY: Open University. Keefe, F. , Buffington, A. , Studts, J. , Rumble, M. (2002). Behavioral medicine: 2002 and beyond. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 852-856. Lane, D. (2004, Augus 10). Frequency polygons. Connections. Retrieved August 25, 2010,

Debates on Race and Language: Frantz Fanon

Debates on Race and Language: Frantz Fanon In no way should I dedicate myself to the revival of an unjustly unrecognised Negro civilisation Explain and assess this statement by Fanon at the end of Black Skin, White Masks Introduction We understand the world, ourselves, and other people through language (Foucault, 1977). For Foucault everything in life is determined by what he calls discourse, that is to say what we say about a subject. Thus, the language that we use defines how we see the world and how we view other people. Foucault (1977) further maintains that language is controlled by those who hold power in society. This means that everyone else’s use of language is determined by what those I power have to say about a subject. Nowadays many writers maintain that the social and linguistic construct of race has had a powerful effect on the consciousness of both black and white people. Language is real because it is inevitable acted upon (what Bordieu describes as a speech act) the language that spoke of one race as inferior to another became a justification for enslaving those people designated as inferior. Discourses of race and inferiority were central to the success of the modernist project as black p eople were seen as treacherous to the central narrative of Western personhood, that is to say they were different from what was elevated as the white norm (Fanon 1986). Frantz Fanon was a French essayist and author whose main concern was decolonisation and what he, and many other thinkers have seen as the psychopathology of colonialism. He died in 1961 at the age of 36 yet his work continues to be highly influential, particularly in the fields of cultural studies and race and ethnicity. He wrote most of his work while he lived in North Africa, by contrast, Black Skin, White Masks was written while he was still living in France. For many he is seen as the intellectual thinker on decolonisation in the twentieth century. His work has had far reaching implications over the years on a number of liberationist movements which has led some people to regard him as an advocate of violence.[1] Beginning with an introduction to modernity this assignment will discuss Fanon’s work and his statement in the context of this debate about language and the debate about black experience and black identities which, Gilroy (1993) maintains can only be understood in terms of the history of slavery. Fanon (1986) would however, dispute this notion, he believes that if it were at all possible, then colonialism should be done away with and wiped from the history books, even though he recognises that this is not possible. The period of colonialism where countries were made great on the backs of slavery separated white from black as though they were two completely different civilizations. The western world became that of the oppressor and the oppressed and Fanon sees the world in terms of this almost pathological relationship. Fanon’s work in Black Skin, White Masks (Fanon, 1986 ed.) encapsulates the sense of division that is felt by both oppressed and oppressors, black and white. Such divisions are rooted in the period that sociologists and cultural theorists now speak of as modernity. Modernity The onset of what is known as Modernity can be traced back to the Enlightenment in the late 17th to early 19th century. The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement and its primary concerns were the powers of human reason, the inevitability of human progress, and the ability of science to provide humanity with answers. Philosophers of this period were also interested in how knowledge was transmitted and how we came to know what we know. This period is renowned for the immense technological and social changes that were taking place and which eventually led to a break with traditional view of the social, of society, and of a person’s place within that society. During this period there was an intense concentration on the individual, which prompted the philosopher Hegel to develop his idea of the historical subject. This is the idea that people’s actions are what have made history what it is. In recent years many theorists have argued that the subject referred only to the white, western, middle class male (see Abbott and Wallace, 1997) and that women, children and other races were excluded from the whole project. This idea of modern society, coupled with the Enlightenment notion of human progress has been problematic for a number of reasons, not least because, as we are well aware, human beings do not always act rationally, and in this sense modernity brought out the darker side of our human nature. The events of the twentieth century have done nothing to dispel this notion, in fact there are those who would argue that modern society is now at its most irrational. Modernity gave the world the nation state, the spread of capitalism and as we shall see, western cultural imperialism and colonization. Modernity produced the conditions for slavery and its success was built upon the enslavement of people who were regarded as different from, and thus inferior to, white western males. Fanon’s Concerns Western history is not just a history of colonial oppression but it is also a history of the struggles against such oppression. Western history is about the oppression of colonialism and the struggles against that oppression, which calls into question Enlightenment notions of the subject. These problems are examined by Fanon in Black Skin, White Masks (1986) where he concentrates on black subjectivity and experience and with the problematic concept of western modernity. He was also concerned with the refutation of dualism, that philosophy apparent in the Enlightenment period which separated things into binary opposites such as male/female, white/black. Binary divisions not only separate genders and races, they objectify them because that which is other is defined only by the oppressor. Fanon’s other major concern was the dislocation that occurs when people are taken from their homelands and forced into a diasporic existence.[2] Fanon (1986) contends that the biggest weapon the coloniser’s had was their representation of those who were colonised, as different. This was done in such a way that they were no longer recognisable even to themselves. For Fanon being colonised estranges human beings from themselves so that they are no longer connected to their own human nature. He is concerned with the history as it is relates to the black experience although his work is sometimes disorganised and not always easy to follow. He writes about the black/white, self/other experience, and how colonialism results in an alienation of the person. Fanon, is against ethnic and cultural absolutism, but could see no reconciliation between the races because the white colonisers will always be waiting for the black mask to slip and reveal the whiteness beneath. Syncretism Gilroy (1993) traces the mutual influence of black and white culture in both America and Britain in an attempt to challenge notions of national and cultural purity and reveal a syncretism of the cultures. Decades before this and in his earlier work The Wretched of the Earth (1963) Fanon writes about syncretism as oppression where the black person assimilates the culture of the coloniser whether they like it or not. He maintains that such syncretism is the colonisers way or reducing black people and thus he speaks of the settler’s creation of the ‘native’ a concept which is evident in the discourses of modernity and its rational subject. This subject could only exist by excluding difference and otherness. Fanon (1986) maintains that the ‘Negro’ is only acceptable on certain terms: What is often called the black soul is a white man’s artefact . . . there is a quest for the Negro, the Negro is in demand, one cannot get along without him, he is needed, but only if he is made palatable in a certain way. (Fanon 1986, p. 114) In saying this Fanon rejects both narcissistic myths of Negritude (and) the White Cultural Supremacy (Bhabha, H. 1986:ix) which is most obvious in linguistic terms. This cultural supremacy still operates today, in most countries in the world children will learn English in school, when the English go abroad many of them do not trouble to learn the language of the country they are visiting. People assume that English will be spoken because cultural hegemony has its base in language and this language signifies power. Thus the language carries with it the power and knowledge of the nation. Hall (1992) argues that nationalism and the nation state are a direct result of capitalism. When people promote these things in a multi-cultural society it can result in people having a confused sense of national identity. Hall further maintains that identity and culture are closely linked. The cultural diaspora that was brought about by slavery has resulted in what Hall (1992) terms ‘hybrid identities’- an expression which in some ways is expressed in Fanon’s idea of black skin and white masks. Fanon (1986) argues that race has been objectified through discourses of superiority and inferiority and has thus become a fixed category which he decries. What these discourses have done is to make of the black person a divided self, a person with a ‘double consciousness.’ This is a term first used by W De Bois, who defined double consciousness as a twoness-an American, a Negro, two souls, two thoughts, two unrecognised strivings, two warring ideals in one da rk body, who dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder (Dubois 2003 quoted in Sawyer, M 2005:86). This double consciousness is demonstrated in the relationships involved in slavery. Slavery was an integral part of this double consiousness of which Du Bois wrote because it consciousness was central to Hegel’s master/slave idea, where the slave remains a slave because they are dominated by a slave mentality. Following on from this line of thought was Richard Wright who believed that the Negro was a symbol in the psychological, social and political systems of the West. The Negro spoken of in modernist discourse was once an African, along with the experiences of slavery this led black people to experience a sense of dislocation where they experienced what the philosopher Nietzsche once described as a frog’s perspective because they looked up from beneath the chains of their oppressors (Wright, 1956). The frog’s perspective lay behind Wright’s understanding of double consciousness. Wright’s work had a strong influence on the writings of Frantz Fanon. In Fanon’s work this‘double consciousness’ or divided self is not restricted to the colonised, Fanon maintains that it is also a property of the coloniser because colonialism affects the self-understanding of both the oppressed and their oppresors. In this he demonstrates the influence that Wright (1956) had on his work because Wright thought that mental illness could result from the relationship between master and slave, between the oppressed and the oppressor. Fanon believed that racial subjectivity was determined from outside of the individual and so he sees neither a unitary black experience nor a unitary white experience. Fanon sees experience as contextual rather than historical, that is to say that the experience of the black person who remained in Africa would be very different from the black person who was made a slave – white experience is affected in a similar way. Thus Fanon says that I do not have the right to allow myself to be mired in what the past has determined. I am not the slave of the slavery that dehumanised my ancestors (Fanon, 1986:230). Conclusion When Fanon says at the end of Black Skin, White Masks that In no way should I dedicate myself to the revival of an unjustly unrecognised Negro civilisation. He is arguing against the objectification of race and the language of inferiority and superiority that are associated with the term ‘negro’. His life’s work was dedicated to decolonisation of those areas that were still part of what had been called the British Empire. The negro was a function of the coloniser’s differentiation of the slave from the white owner. Thus Fanon’s statement acts as a repudiation fo slavery and colonisation. Furthermore Fanon’s argument is important to cultural analysis and to society at large. Talking about a separate negro civilization puts us in the position of being stuck in the binary categories of a black/white cultural analysis that is the heritage of modernity and its failures. What Fanon (1986) appears to be saying is that society and its analysis needs t o go beyond ideas of nationalism and ethnic absolutism – because these things paved the way for colonialism and slavery. Fanon (1986) recognises that we have to live with the inheritance of colonialism and that things are not changed overnight. If we dispense with many of its ideas as Fanon appears to suggest then this raises the question of how we analyse race, nationalism, gender and ethnicity without the use of those categories? We have to have some way of speaking about the things that trouble our society and the best ways of dealing with them. Whatever we choose to say or feel about this as individuals the fact of the matter is that these categories are part of our consciousness and so are integral to our discourses on these subjects. Having said that, things are perhaps only this way because those who are not white, western, middle class males, will always be other – because most of the power in the world is in the hands of this group their definitions of concepts still holds. Bibliography Abbott and Wallace 1997 A Feminist Introduction to Sociology London, Routledge. Bhabha, H. 1986 â€Å"Foreward† in Fanon, F. 1986 (1967) Black Skin, White Masks London, Pluto Press Bourdieu, P. 1991 .Language and Symbolic Power. Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press. Fanon, F 1963 The Wretched of the Earth New York: Grove Press Fanon, F. 1986 (1967) Black Skin, White Masks London, Pluto Press Foucault, M. 1977 Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison London, Allen Lane Gilroy, P 1993 The Black Atlantic London, Verso Hall, S. 1992 â€Å"Our Mongrel Selves† New Statesman and Society, 19th June 1992 Sawyer, M 2005 â€Å"DuBois’ double consciousness versus Latin American exceptionalism: Joe Wright, R 1956 The Colour Curtain Dobson. London . Wright, R. 1979 Native Son Harmondsworth, Penguin 1 [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frantz_Fanon#Work [2] The spread of groups of people (often against their wishes, and specifically black people and Jews) across different parts of the globe.

The Effect of Gangs in There Are No Children Here Essay -- There are N

The Effect of Gangs in There Are No Children Here  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   Throughout There Are No Children Here, a continuous, powerful tension always lurks in the background. The gangs that are rampant in the housing projects of Chicago cause this tension. In the Henry Horner Homes, according to Kotlowitz, one person is beaten, shot, or stabbed due to gangs every three days. In one week during the author's study of the projects, police confiscated 22 guns and 330 grams of cocaine in Horner alone (Kotlowitz 32).    For the children of the projects, the pressure to join a gang never waivers. Quick cash and protection are hard forces to resist in a world of poverty and violence. However, the children's role in these gangs is inferior to that of the leaders. At first, the concept of joining is quite attractive. According to Lafeyette, one of the two brothers profiled in the book, " 'When you first join you think it's good. They'll buy you what you want' " (31). However, " 'You have to do anything they tell you to do. If they tell you to kill somebody, you have to do that' " (31).    What Lafeyette refers to is frighteningly true. In the inner city, gangs often recruit young children to do their dirty work. Shortly after joining, a fourteen-year-old friend of Lafayette's allegedly shoots and kills an older man in an alley half a block north of Lafayette's building (31). Acording to Kotlowitz, life in the Henry Horner Homes is controlled to a great extent by gangs, particularly the Conservative Vice Lords. Residents so fear and respect the Vice Lords' control that they refuse to call 911 (34). Snitching can get a resident killed. Even though the Chicago Police Department installed a hot-line number and promise confidentia... ...rime, Social Forces, Vol. 75 No. 2 December 1996, pg. 619-645. Lo, Chun-Nui, A Social Model of Gang Related Violence, Free Inquiry In Creative Sociology, Vol 19 no. 1, May 1991, pg. 36-43. Osgood, Wayne et al., Routine Activities and Deviant Behavior, American Sociological Review, Vol. 61 no. 4, August 1996, pg 635-655. Brantley, Gangs, Vol.63, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, May 1,1994, pp1-8 (Article) Kennedy, Leslie and Stephen Baron, Routine Activities And A Subculture Of Violence: A Study Of Violence On The Street, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Vol. 30 No. 1, Febuary 1993, pp. 88-112 (Journal) Lo, Chun-Nui (Celia), A Social Model Of Gang-Related Violence, Free Inquiry In Creative Sociology, Vol 19 No 1, May1991, pp. 36-43 (Journal) Shakur, Sanyika, Monster: The Autobiography Of An L.A. Gang Member,Penguin Book Ltd., 1993

The Character Horatio in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay -- Shakespeare Ham

The Character Horatio in Shakespeare's Hamlet In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the confidant Horatio is created to serve a number of different purposes. Horatio is a flat character. He is a loyal, obedient, and trustworthy companion to Hamlet. His character does not undergo any significant transformation throughout the play, except that he serves as a witness of the death of Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude. Horatio's role in the play seems to be as a utilitarian character that Shakespeare created in order to heighten the suspense of the play. Also for Horatio to be Hamlet's ear so as to appease the audience's ear, and to communicate the moral of the play. Horatio serves often as the voice of reason, for instance; he is skeptical of the watchman's testimony that a ghost appeared during their watch in the previous night. Marcellus says of the watchman's testimony, "Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, / And will not let belief take hold of him" (1.1.23-4). Horatio believes the watchmen only when he witnesses the ghost and even then is still skeptical. He is also the voice of reason when he asks Hamlet to restrain himself from meeting the ghost. He is afraid that Hamlet will hurt himself or go mad (1.4.63-91), finally telling Hamlet, "Be ruled, you shall not go" (1.4.81). Hamlet often seeks verification of events from Horatio as well. Horatio agrees with Hamlet, in 1.4, that the night is cold (1.4.2), and verifies Hamlet's belief that the ghost is "wondrous strange" (1.4.164). Horatio does not exaggerate about the length of the stay of the ghost. In 1.2, Horatio tells Hamlet that the ghost stayed in his presence for possibly "a hundreth" ( 1.2.137), followed by Marcellus and Barnardo's utterance, "Longer, longer" (1.2... ...he allegiances for power that lead to death. Horatio is the only victor, for he did not plot, and remains alive to tell this tragedy to others. Horatio is Shakespeare's utilitarian character. Horatio serves as a foil to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, prompts Hamlet to disclose his feelings, gives vital information in the form of exposition (verbal or in a letter) or verification of Hamlet's reality, and helps to build the suspense of the play. The only emotional aspect of his character is that he remains alive, and serves as a vehicle for Shakespeare's moral of Hamlet. Works Cited and Consulted Berman, Allison. "We Only Find Ourselves." Hamlet reaction papers. Wynnewood: FCS, 2000. Lugo, Michael. "The Character Horatio." Hamlet reaction papers. Wynnewood: FCS, 2000. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. 1600? Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: Signet Classic, 1998

Change and Continuity Over Tome Essay Essay

Students should organize these essays with three chronological paragraphs. Each essay will traditionally cover only one historical period but each period has numerous sub-periods. The periods in AP World History include: I. Broad Historical Periods and Sub-Periods A. Foundations Period 1. Prehistory: 1,000,000 BCE to 5000 BCE 2. River Valley Civilizations: 5000 BCE to 1200 BCE 3. Classical Civilizations: 1200 BCE to 600 CE B. Post-Classical Period 1. Early Post-Classical: 600 to 1000 CE Muslims to Crusades 2. High Post-Classical Period: 1000 to 1250 CE Crusades to Mongols 3. Late Post-Classical Period: 1250 to 1450 CEMongols to Collapse C. Early Modern Period 1. 1450 to 1600 CE:Spain, Portugal, Asian Gunpowder Empires 2. 1600 to 1750 CE:English, Dutch, French, and Russians Ascendant D. Modern Period 1. 1750 – 1800 CE:The Enlightenment and 1st Industrial Revolution 2. 1800 – 1850 CE:Early Political Revolutions 2. 1850 – 1914 CE:2nd Industrial Revolution, New Actors & Imperialism E. Contemporary Period 1. 1914 – 1945 CE:The Long World War 2. 1945 – 1990 CE:The Cold War, Decolonization 3. 1990 CE to Present:Globalization and Responses II. Chronologies with Civilizations All civilizations have sub-periods within their own histories. For instance, Roman Civilization begins with an Etruscan kingdom from 753 to 509 BCE, the Roman Republic from 509 to 27 BCE, and the Roman Empire from 27 BCE to 476 CE. The Han Dynasty has Early Han, the Wang Mang Interlude, and the Late Han. If you the student can break down periods in this manner, it is always a superior demonstration of knowledge. However, some students have trouble organizing these essays. While you should know the beginning and end of the above periods, you can always split a period into three groups by taking the first date of the period, the ending date, and a middle date. Effectively this is early, middle or high, and late. Select an essay prompt and one region. Trace the topic through one of the larger historical periods listed above. 1. Trace the change and continuities of interactions between any two contiguous periods in any historical region: Latin America; North America; Sub-Saharan Africa; SW Asia and North Africa; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; Central Asia; South Asia; Southeast Asia; and East Asia. 2. Trace the changes and continuities in world trade from 500 BCE to 1000 CE in any one of the following regions: the Mediterranean, the Silk Road (Central Asia, East Asia, Southwest Asia), the Indian Ocean, Sub-Saharan Africa. 3. Trace the changes and continuities in world trade from 500 to 1500 CE in any one of the following regions: North Africa and SW Asia; Western Europe; Mesoamerica; Sub-Saharan Africa; the Indian Ocean; Central Asia; East and Southeast Asia. 4. Trace the changes and continuities in world trade from 1450 to 1914 CE in any one of the following regions: Latin America; North America; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; Southwest Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; East  and Southeast Asia. 5. Trade the transformation of warfare from 1500 BCE to 1000 CE in any of the following regions: Southwest Asia; the Mediterranean; Western Europe; and East Asia. 6. Trace the transformation of warfare from 1000 to 1918 CE in any one of the following regions: Latin America; Sub-Saharan Africa; Western Europe; Southwest Asia; East Asia; North America. 7. Trace the transformation of warfare from 1750 to 2000 CE in any one region: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia. 8. Trace the transformation of diplomacy and international organizations from 1450 to 2000 CE. 9. Trace the changes and continuities in state structures and political culture from the beginnings of ancient civilizations to the end of the Classical period in any one of the following regions: Southwest Asia; South Asia; East Asia; the Mediterranean; Sub-Saharan Africa. 10. Trace the transformation in functions and structures of states from the beginning of the Classical period to the end of the Post-Classical period in one region: Western Europe; Eastern Europe; SW Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; East Asia; Southeast Asia; South Asia. 11. Trace the transformation in state structures from 1750 to 2000 in any one region: North America; Latin America; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; South Asia; Southeast Asia; East Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Southwest Asia. 12. Trace the change in attitudes towards states and identities including political parties in the 20th century in one region: Latin America; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; East Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; SW Asia and North Africa; South Asia; and Southeast Asia. 13. Trace the changes in environment and demography from the Paleolithic Age through the end of the Ancient period (1200 BCE) in any one river valley civilization: the Nile River, the Indus River, the Yellow River, and the Tigris-Euphrates River Valley. 14. Trace the demographic shift from 1450 to 1914 in any one region: Latin America, Western Europe, North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, or East Asia. 15. Trace any changes in environment and demography from 1914 to the present in any one region: Latin America; Sub-Saharan Africa; East Europe; South Asia; East Asia. 16. Trace any demographic movements in any one region 1750 to 2000 CE: Latin America, North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Europe, East Asia. 17. Trace the transformation of technology including agriculture and weaponry from the beginning of the Neolithic Period to the end of the classical age in any one region: Southwest Asia; the Mediterranean; South Asia; East Asia. 18. Trace the transformation and impact of technology including manufacturing, transportation and communications from 1750 to 2000 in any one region: North America; West Europe; East Europe; Sub-Saharan Africa; Southwest Asia and North Africa; South Asia; and East Asia. 19. Trace the transformation of religion and philosophy from the beginning of the classical period through the end of the Post-Classical period in any one region: East Asia; South Asia; Southwest Asia and North Africa; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; and Sub-Saharan Africa. 20. Trace the intellectual and artistic transformation from 600 to 1750 in any one region: East Asia; South Asia; Southwest Asia; West Europe; East Europe. 21. Trace the changes and continuities in social systems from the beginnings  of human societies through the rise of the first civilizations. 22. Trace the changes and continuities in social structures from the Ancient through the end of the Classical civilizations in any one region: the Mediterranean; Southwest Asia; South Asia; and East Asia. 23. Trace the transformation of social structures from 1000 to 1750 in any one region: Latin America; West Europe; Southwest Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; East Asia. 24. Trace the transformation of social structures from 1750 to 2000 in any one region: Latin America, North America, West Europe, East Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southwest Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, East Asia or Southeast Asia. 25. Trace changes and continuities in gender roles from Neolithic cultures through the Classical Age in any one region: Southwest Asia, Central Asia, the Mediterranean, South Asia, or East Asia. 26. Trace the transformation in gender roles from 600 to 1750 CE in any one region: the Muslim world, the Christian world, the Hindu world, the Confucian world, the world of the Central Asian nomad. 27. Trace the transformation of social inequalities including labor and gender from 1000 to 1750 CE in any one region: West Europe; Southwest Asia and North Africa; Latin America; Sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; and East Asia. 28. Trace the changes and continuities in gender roles from 1750 to 2000 CE in any one region: Latin America; North America; West Europe; Southwest Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; and East Asia. 29. Trace the transformation of labor systems from 1750 to 2000 in any one region: Latin America; North America; Sub-Saharan Africa; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; East Asia; South Asia. 30. Trace the relationship between change and continuity across any two contiguous time periods in any one region: Latin America, North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Southwest Asia, West Europe, East Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific.