An Edible History Of Humanity Essays - Food And Drink, Agriculture

An Edible History Of Humanity Essays - Food And Drink, Agriculture An Edible History Of Humanity 57169051905000For this assignment, first read the excerpts from Tom Standage's An Edible History of Humanity, available on Blackboard. Based on your reading, respond to the following questions. Your responses must be typed, in Calibri or Times New Roman size 12, and be in full sentences. While there is no set length limit, each response should clearly state and explain the answers. This assignment will be graded as Skills Demonstration. Date Due:_________________________________________________ Please attach this sheet to the front of your responses when you submit your assignment! Rubric Formatting: follows directions for assignment, completed thoroughly 5% Responses: Questions answered thoroughly and with reflection/supporting detail as needed. Reflects understanding of the questions and the reading 90% Grammar: clear, fluent language with few/no spelling or grammatical errors 5% The Invention of Farming Food as Technologies What does Standage mean when he says farmed land is as much a technological landscape as a biological one? Does farming spread from one point outward around the world? Where and when does it develop? The Man-Made Nature of Maize Standage highlights several differences between teosinte and maize. Describe those differences and how they benefitted farmers. How did early farmers change a natural process of selection into deliberate cultivation of specific traits? Based on Standage's explanation, do you thing farmed corn is natural? Cereal Innovation Explain how "tough rachis," a mutation undesirable for plant survival, benefitted early humans, and how it became the dominant trait in about 200 years. Why was domestication "bad" for plants like rice and wheat? Use examples in your answer. Explain what Standage describes as a trade-off in human domestication of animals, giving examples. Refer to the map on page 12. Based on what you know about early humans, what do you think explains why maize was domesticated so much later than wheat or rice? Roots of Modernity An Agricultural Mystery State what Standage calls the "most complex, and most important question in human history." Standage argues that farming was not a liberation from the "anxious hand-to-mouth existence of the hunter-gatherer." Do you agree with this assertion? Explain your rationale. The Origins of Farming Explain and analyze at least 3 contributing factors that led to the shift towards farming. Why was it impossible for humans to revert to a nomadic lifestyle? Did Farmers Spread, Or Did Farming Spread? Define demic and cultural diffusion. Describe the archaeological evidence of demic diffusion. Describe the linguistic evidence of cultural diffusion. How did the Khoisan of southern Africa transition from hunting and gathering to domestication? Why does Standage believe farming was a hybrid of both mechanisms? Man, An Agricultural Animal "Is man exploiting maize for his own purposes, or is maize exploiting man?" What does Standage mean by this? How did the transition to agriculture impact the foods we eat today? Focus on the last paragraph of page 27. Do you agree with the position Standage takes on the invention of farming? Explain your rationale, including examples from the text.

A Complete Guide on a Persuasive Essay

A Complete Guide on a Persuasive Essay A Complete Guide on a Persuasive Essay You will hardly find a more common task, which is given to students of all academic levels. A persuasive essay is by right called the quintessence of college writing and can become your strength or a terrible headache. It requires a variety of skills: lexical and grammar knowledge, critical approach, ability to gather and analyze information, and much more! However, don’t think that it is impossible to write an outstanding persuasive essay if you lack some of these skills. Just go on reading and we guarantee that you will be able to write such an essay without any efforts. So what is a persuasive essay? It is a written task, which aims to persuade the audience that the author’s point of view is the most valid and informative one. The writer needs to not only explain the matter but also provide arguments and explain every issue, backing it with credible sources. Using logic and evidence is the key to a persuasive essay, so you should always spend enough time on a proper research. How to complete a persuasive essay In most of the cases, you will be given a persuasive essay topic, so take your time to understand it and decide what side you are on. You can make notes and write down your thoughts on the subject, deciding whether you agree with the matter or not. Don’t think about your tutor’s or classmates’ opinion: this task aims to show your personal approach and critical thinking, so it is crucial to provide original thoughts on the subject. You need to be ready that in most of the cases you will be given a controversial topic, which may stir up a hot discussion. However, you don’t need to be nervous and should concentrate on your arguments to be able to protect your point of view. Get started Any written assignment should start with a research. Especially when you need to persuade the reader to take your side! Make sure you have enough time not to do anything in a hurry and collect data from multiple sources. Remember that you should use only credible articles, books or websites. Your tutor may even ask you to redo the whole essay if you use forums or social media pages as the basis for your evidence. Once you have completed the research, you need to create an outline. Many students neglect this stage, considering it not important. However, an outline helps to organize your thoughts and your writing style becomes more structured and clear. You won’t have to wander from one argument to another, and will always be able to stick to the point. An outline of the persuasive essay Your outline should consist of three main parts, each of which can have a different number of subsections: introduction, body paragraphs and conclusions. As all of you know, the main purpose of the introduction section is to grab interest of the audience and make it go on reading. The best introduction always consists of three key parts: a so-called ‘hook’, definition of the audience and a thesis statement. The ‘hook’ is the part, which contains a catchy phrase, a fact or a quote to interest the reader. Then you need to explain why the topic is important for a particular reader. You need to give the audience a clear explanation why the subject matters. Finish your introduction with a thesis statement, where you state all the matters and arguments you are going to discuss in the text; Main paragraphs. There are no clear recommendations on the quantity of arguments and paragraphs you need to include, as everything depends on the topic and the word count. However, you should always remember that one arguments equals one paragraph. If the word count allows, you can also give a description of opposing ideas to prove that they are wrong; Many students neglect this section but it is equally important and summarizes all the points you have stated before. Your conclusions should contain information on the topic, the benefits it can bring and prognosis for the future. If the topic allows, you can provide possible solutions and why they are important for the society. Finish your persuasive essay with a call to action or a ‘hook’ sentence. Format of a persuasive essay The number of words greatly depends on your tutor but usually a persuasive essay should be 500, 1  500 or 2  000 words long.   You need to use readable fonts, for example Arial or Times New Roman, in 12-points for the text and 16-points for a title. The spacing should be double if other is not indicated. Structure: Introduction (the hook, the audience and thesis); Main paragraphs (paragraphs number 1,2,3 – topic sentence and evidence); Conclusions (summary, benefits, prognosis); Call to action. Topics of a persuasive essay Here is a list of topics you may use if you are given a chance to choose: How Trump policy can influence the democratic world; Should there be different classes for male and female students? Should teachers obtain grades from students? Is it ethical to keep animals in cages? Can secure cameras protect our privacy? If you want to cure yourself, write a personal diary; Availability of social communities for teenagers; Physical activity is good not only for health but also for mental abilities; Sports should be compulsory at schools; How sexual exploitation influences the world; How can science and religion coexist? Should we invest in space exploration? Who rules social media? Should IQ testing be compulsory to have a voting right and a chance to have children? Examples of a persuasive essay One of the most popular problems of completing a persuasive essay is that we don’t always have inspiration and proper ideas to complete an outstanding paper. In such cases, we only need a push and some help to see which direction to go. The solution is simple: you can download examples of persuasive essays and use them to get fresh ideas and understand how your own work should look like. Help with a persuasive essay There are different types of solutions for those, who need help with a persuasive essay. Here are only some of them: Writing services. Even if you decide to complete an essay on your own, you may still need help with proofreading and editing. Unfortunately, not all students can provide mistakes-free essays, so it is important to use services of professional writers, editors, proofreaders and managers to provide an outstanding paper. When you contact us, you get a full package of first-class services at a reasonable price; Essay samples. It is always important to create original and plagiarism-free content. However, not everyone has enough time and imagination. In such cases, we have created a database with examples to give you inspiration and motivation. Just upload examples and get all the information on the structure or topic you may need; Generator of the topic – when you need to choose the topic on your own, you may easily get lost among thousands of hundreds of ideas. Just go to our section of topic solution, indicate the essay type and choose the best topic immediately! Paper checker. For those of you, who are not sure whether they have completed an essay properly, there is a great solution. Our software allows correcting all the mistakes, including plagiarism, structure of the sentence, lexis, grammar, readability and much more! Just upload your essay, wait a minute and get a full analysis of your work. As you see, writing a persuasive essay is quite simple if you know all the rules and tips. Follow our advice and you will surely have a positive experience dealing with an essay of any kind!

Obser and inquire Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Obser and inquire - Research Paper Example In this regard, using the observation experience as in input in the current essay, the aim of the discourse is to pursue responding to a developed inquiry that: â€Å"Women in Mainstream American Culture Tend to Take on More Child-Rearing Duties than Men†. Upon closer examination of the points of inquiry, one established the need to delve into further research on the validity of women taking on more child-rearing responsibilities than men. In the working draft written by Robert Max Jackson, a whole chapter devoted to the responsibility for child rearing provided extensive and comprehensive details that aim to address the question: â€Å"why women so regularly contribute most of this effort† (Jackson 126). Although the author ventured into providing theories that explain the disparate role and skewed responsibilities towards women, Jackson concluded his arguments by indicating that â€Å"mens economic position gives them individual competitive advantages and collective power that allow men individually to beat out women in the labor market and collectively to impose institutionalized discrimination† (Jackson 146). It is interesting to note that the theoretical framework to rationalize women’s propensities for child-rearing tasks from Chodorow’s theory, to wit: it "has unquestionably been true that women have had primary responsibility for child care, (and that) women by and large want to mother, and get gratification from their mothering;" and that "women have succeeded at mothering" (Chodorow; cited in Jackson 133). The observation noted at the shopping mall have effectively validated that mothers were more restrictive and verbally reminding their children to stay close and not to wander far. In contrast, fathers were more lax and were self-assured that they could immediately find their wandering children. Using Chodorow’s theory, mothers would not be complacent in their primary responsibility

Ethical Theory (Philosophy) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethical Theory (Philosophy) - Essay Example Unfortunately, despite of the huge popularity of ethics in academia, it has been an observation that individuals informally and even organizations formally have ignored the importance of ethics and its implementation in different procedures intentionally and/or unintentionally, which has resulted in rising of various ethical dilemmas globally. This paper is an attempt to contribute towards the similar debate regarding the role of ethics in understanding and resolving ethical dilemmas in our society. Particularly, focus of the paper will be on ethical dilemma in the business world while an ethical theory Utilitarianism will be under utilization for analysis purpose. In the corporate world, majority or almost every decision involves the factor of profitization, and for this purpose, business organizations develop their own code of ethics to suit their decisions and justifications. As the result, one can observe a conflict of ethical standards when it comes to comparing different organi zations that are resulting in creation of global issues that are directly or indirectly affecting millions of people around the world. Experts believe that â€Å"business ethics is a set of principles and ideologies that offer understanding and methodology to earn fair income in the business organizations† (Crane, 2007, pp. 23-28). Unfortunately, analysis has indicated that there has been a similar understanding in majority of organizations; however, it has remained limited to the level of understanding only rather than implementation (Furrow, 2005). Ethical Dilemma In every business organization, accountancy is one of the major aspects that play a significant role in determining its success or failure. Due to such significance, accountancy includes dealing with sensitive information that results in a very big responsibility on accountants, which at the same time, opens doors for unethical acts and fraudulent behaviors (Kotler & Lee, 2005). Unfortunately, literature has ident ified a number of instances in which accountants and particularly, organizations failed to abide by the ethical code of conduct resulting in heavy prices (Beenen & Pinto, 2009), and the case of Enron Corporation is a very famous example of ethical dilemma in business field. This case resulted in a new debate that now focuses on white-collar crimes and possibility of organizational corruption due to presence of loopholes in organizational setup that then lead to unethical activities globally. The paper will analyze this ethical dilemma in light of non-religious ethical theory of Utilitarianism; however, from analysis of other literature, work pressure has turned out to be the most evident factor that enforces individuals to incline towards unethical activities (Johnson, 2008). Work pressure can be in the form of overload work that results in lesser time for individual to spend at home or out of organization, which creates pressure. On the other hand, work pressure exists in the form of financial pressure that involves using organizational structures and loopholes for personal advantages and success (Beenen & Pinto, 2009). Utilitarianism As earlier mentioned, many philosophers and scholars proposed their theories for explaining the notion of ethics; however, many of these theories faded in darkness but Utilitarianism (Mill,

Business Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Business Proposal - Assignment Example This business proposal concerns the introduction of a new private health insurance scheme in the country which will cater to the varying needs of the low to middle income group residents of the United States of America. An oligopolistic market is a market structure in which a handful of firms compete and overshadow. The insurance market in the United States of America is a highly competitive market. As per the principles of Economics, when a market sector is communicably connected between few dominating firms, then it becomes a highly competitive market. In an oligopolistic market, although a few companies dominate, there remains a possibility of a number of small companies operating in the same market. For example, in the health care insurance market of the United States of America, there are multinational companies like Blue Cross organizations, Etna and Kaiser who are the main players in the sector. However, in addition to this, there is also some small scale independent health care insurance coverage provided as a part of creating a support system for the low income groups of people. Also, there are small private insurance companies which provide specialty insurance services for disabled and ne edy people (Economics Online Ltd, 2014). This business proposal is focused on the emerging and existing demands in the market related to health insurance coverage. Also, the factor of the significance of health insurance coverage for the consumers and the manner in which premiums and coverage for these plans change in order to adapt to the external competitive environment are taken into consideration in the selected business proposal. A necessity of examining the results of certain quality metrics related to demands in the health care insurance market has been identified in the insurance market of the United States. The

Investigating The Causes Of Criminal Behavior Criminology Essay

Investigating The Causes Of Criminal Behavior Criminology Essay Crime. Why some people commit crimes and while others do not has always interested me. Every hour a crime is committed in the United States and people have been committing crimes as early as the Bible days. Later in the seventeenth century European colonists in North America considered crime and sin the same thing. They believed evil spirits possessed those who did not conform to social norms or follow rules. The act of committing a crime is not relegated to any particular race, sex, or age. Persons as old as 80 have been convicted of murder: James von Brun, who shot the security guard at the Washington DC Holocaust Museum in June 2009 will likely be convicted; he was 88 at the time of the murder, to children as young as 11: On January 14, 2000, Nathaniel Abraham, 11, was the youngest child convicted of murder. Many feel criminal activity and choosing to commit a crime is a case of nature vs. nurture. All of us combine good and bad traits, and while certain circumstances may cause individuals to go beyond the bounds of normal behavior, there is no basis to assert that these people are totally evil. We think we can spot lunacy, that a maniac with uncontrollable urges to kill will be unable to contain himself. In the street, it is the mentally ill we avoid, sidestepping the disheveled, unshaven man who rants on with himself It is evident that those guilty of the most heinous violent crimes tend to fit an otherwise average description. There are many reports where the neighbors of a mass murderer were shocked to find that the nice guy who lived next door had committed such despicable acts. The factors causing criminal activities are varied and hard to pinpoint. Some cases may be due to the financial status of the person, while others may be due to the mental health or social outlook of the person. Crimes like theft are committed for gain and excitement, while many violent crimes are committed by people who consider themselves powerless. But, how do some people decide to commit a crime? Do they think about the benefits and the risks? Why do some people commit crimes regardless of the consequences? Why do others never commit a crime, no matter how desperate their circumstances? I am fascinated with the television show, Bait Car, it forces you to ask these questions and want to put them in perspective. The police department goes into an area that has a high vehicle theft crime rate, stages an argument and it seems as if the person is so distracted that they leave their car; door open and keys in the ignition. Then they, wait and watch to see if anyone takes the bait and drives off with the car. Every single time, without fail, a person or persons get in the car and take off. Sometimes, you can see that they wrestle with good and evil; they go to the car, sit in it, look through it, and some even leave it. Only to return, and inevitably steal the vehicle. Some are forewarned, by either a bystander or a friend, but they always choose the wrong path and knowingly take possession of something that they know is not theirs. While in the car, cameras catch the euphoria of the criminals thinking that theyve gotten away with it, if they have a co-conspirator, they pr actice what to say when caught. When they are caught, excuses range from, the owner of the car asked me to bring it to them, I was going to turn it in, I dont know why I did, and I didnt steal it. For me, this show asks the question, Why would you get into a car that simply is not yours? Perhaps the answer to this is that some crimes are simply opportunistic and for the simple purpose of greed and stupidity. Some people decide to commit a crime and carefully plan everything in advance to increase gain and decrease risk. These people are making choices about their behavior; some even consider a life of crime better than a regular job-believing crime brings in greater rewards, admiration, and excitement-at least until they are caught. Others get an adrenaline rush when successfully carrying out a dangerous crime. Others commit crimes on impulse, out of rage or fear. What causes a person to turn to a life of crime? Is it the fault of the parents; is it a societal or medical mishap? What kind of upbringing breeds a child that would be violent enough at the age of fifteen to commit an act of armed robbery that results in murder?   It was an urge. A strong urge, and the longer I let it go the stronger it got, to where I was taking risks to go out and kill people risks that normally, according to my little rules of operation, I wouldnt take because they could lead to arrest.-Edmund Kemper. Why does Kemper have this strong urge, and why does it have such a hold on him? If we experienced this urge, would we be able to resist? Is the need to commit a crime genetic, hormonal, biological, or cultural conditioning? Do people who kill have no control over their desire? We all experience rage and inappropriate sexual instincts, yet we somehow know how to keep our inner demons locked up. Are we born evil? Born to be a criminal? Or does how and/or where we were raised determine that outcome? That same question was asked back in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when the role of genetics in crime was widely accepted (Joseph, 2001). Prominent researchers believed that genes were fully responsible for criminal activity and that criminals could be identified by their physiological features. This period was marked with inhumane treatment and the belief that genes were the sole reason behind criminal behavior. By the late twentieth century the general public did not believe that criminal acts were mental, they believed in free will and called for more prisons and longer bouts of incarceration. Researchers in the twenty-first century, however, continued to look at psychological stress as a driving force behind some crimes. In 1986, psychologist Robert Hare identified a connection between certain brain activity and antisocial behavior. He found that criminals experienced less brain reaction to dangerous situations than most people. Such a brain function, he believed, could lead to greater risk-taking in life, with some criminals not fearing punishment as much as others. Neurochemicals are responsible for the activation of behavioral patterns and tendencies in specific areas of the brain (Elliot, 2000). As seen in the Brunner et al. study, there have been attempts to determine the role of neurochemicals in influencing criminal or antisocial behavior. Included in the list of neurochemicals already cited by researchers are monoamine oxidase (MOA), epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an enzyme that has been shown to be related to antisocial behavior. Specifically, low MAO activity results in disinhibition which can lead to impulsivity and aggression. MAO is associated with many of the neurochemicals that already have a link to antisocial or criminal behavior. Norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine are metabolized by both MAOA and MAOB (Elliot, 2000). Serotonin is a neurochemical that plays an important role in the personality traits of depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder (Larsen Buss, 2005). It is also involved with brain development and a disorder in this system could lead to an increase in aggressiveness and impulsivity (Morley Hall, 2003). In addition, children who suffer from conduct disorder, have also been shown to have low blood serotonin (Elliot, 2000). There is a great deal of evidence that shows serotonin is related to aggression, which can be further associated with antisocial or criminal behavior. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with pleasure and is also one of the neurotransmitters that is chiefly associated with aggression. Activation of both affective (emotionally driven) and predatory aggression is accomplished by dopamine (Elliot, 2000). Personality traits and disorders have recently become essential in the diagnosis of individuals with antisocial or criminal behavior. Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) is characterized by argumentativeness, noncompliance, and irritability, which can be found in early childhood. When a child with ODD grows older, the characteristics of their behavior also change and more often for the worse. They start to lie and steal, engage in vandalism, substance abuse, and show aggression towards peers (Holmes et al., 2001). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is associated with hyperactivity-impulsivity and the inability to keep attention focused on one thing. Children diagnosed with ADHD have the inability to analyze and anticipate consequences or learn from their past behavior. Conduct Disorder is characterized with an individuals violation of societal rules and norms. This disorder can only be diagnosed when an individual is over the age of eighteen and at which point an individual shows persistent disregard for the rights of others (Morley Hall, 2003). It is of great importance that these early childhood disorders are correctly diagnosed and effectively treated to prevent future problems. Antisocial behavior between the ages of nine and fifteen can be correlated strongly with impulsivity and that aggression in early childhood can predict antisocial acts and delinquency. One statistic shows that between seventy and ninety percent of violent offenders had been highly aggressive as young children (Holmes et al., 2001). These personality traits have, in some research, been shown to be heritable. Searching for the origins of antisocial personality disorders and their influence over crime has led to studies of twins and adopted children. Identical twins have the exact same genetic makeup. Researchers found that identical twins were twice as likely to have similar criminal behavior as fraternal twins who have similar but not identical genes, just like any two siblings. One of the most fundamental studies influencing scientific opinions of nature vs. nurture would be a study done comparing identical vs. fraternal twins. (Christiansen, 1977). In this study, twin pairs were examined for the concordance of criminal behavior for both twins. This is a study of particular interest because both sets of twins were raised in the same environment but in one case, the case of the identical twin sets, the siblings are genetically identical where as in the other case, the case of the fraternal twin sets, the siblings are merely genetically similar. The identical twin pairs were found to have a 50% concordance (in one out of two cases both twins exhibited criminal behavior) where in the fraternal cases there was only 21% concordance. This illustrates a strong correlation of genetics and criminal disposition but it also indicates the relative importance of environmental factors as well; environmental factors influence criminal behavior, which explains why there is not a 1:1 correlation of genetic disposition and criminal behavior. Other research indicated that adopted children had greater similarities of crime rates to their biological parents than to their adoptive parents. A study was done using identical twins that were adopted by two different families and raised apart from each other. It was observed that adopted children are as aggressive as their adoptive parents rather than their biological parents. The results from both studies indicate that environment and genetic disposition are equally as responsible in shaping human behavior. (Mednick, Gabrielli, and Hutchings, 1984) The frontal lobe of the brain is the functioning area for behavior in human beings, and there are beliefs in the scientific community that damage to the frontal lobe can cause significant behavioral problems for individuals. In fact, there are findings that prefrontal cortical deficits and abnormalities in the temporal lobe are high within the incarcerated population Recent studies show that our criminal justice system is the new home for individuals with psychological problems. Although this may seem like a solution, it is creates a dilemma for society. Do we have the treatment and rehabilitation in prison to prepare inmates for life outside? Once we label these individuals as criminals it creates a stigma for those who may suffer from psychological problems. Certain psychological problems have been shown to be heritable and if given the right circumstances, individuals with those genes could find themselves engaging in criminal activity. If a tragedy occurs and a friend or loved ones life is ended purposely, or a child has been hurt or traumatized, people can lose control and act out of anger. And because of their reactions, they too, have now become the criminal. Not everyone who is incarcerated has criminal tendencies. Many have made irrational choices out of anger or desperation or no thought of the consequences of an action. There are many factors that can create a criminal mind, but there are also many factors that cause people to make irrational choices. It goes back to when we were taught cause and effect. We often speculate but there is no definite answer to why some people become criminals. The brain is a mysterious organ, that is constantly being studied.

Truth and Order in Ionescos Bald Soprano Essay -- Bald Soprano Essays

Truth and Order in Ionesco's Bald Soprano      Ã‚  Ã‚   Any sense of order, of sense itself, is shattered and constantly questioned by Eugene Ionesco in his play "The Bald Soprano". A serious challenge is made against an absolute notion of truth. Characters throughout the play, however, continue to struggle to maintain and share a unified and orderly existence. Empiricism is espoused by several characters. They submit that life experience is all that is necessary to establish unshakable order and thus, truth. Mrs. Smith states, "Truth is never found in books, only in life" (29). While this empirical debate underscores the need for an unmediated knowledge of truth, Ionesco simultaneously undermines empiricism as a viable method of attaining it. On a basic level, order diminishes, deteriorates, and virtually disintegrates as the play proceeds.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Empiricism is essentially deductive in nature; a logical premise is established from direct sensory experience. This method calls into question even the most commonplace assumptions. Nothing is accepted as given without sufficient proof. In this manner ordinary events like tying one's shoe or reading the newspaper in the subway are made to seem extraordinary. Each otherwise mundane experience contains a new vitality. Mr. Martin exclaims, "One sees things even more extraordinary every day, when one walks around" (22). The characters seem to lack a certain sense of familiarity (or boredom, perhaps) with such mundane events. Each experience, regardless of size or scope, force the characters to constantly remain in the process of reevaluating and refining the most basic assumptions upon which their lives are based. Mrs. Smith's incessant externalized inner monologue at the open... ...le isolated statements cease to be intelligible. Ionesco's language late in the play is a language of non sequitirs and nonsense. Far from articulating a unified notion of truth, language unleashes the capacity to express a cacophony of voices and viewpoints. Unequivocal statements of any sort become virtually impossible because the power to negate them is embedded in the fabric of language itself. Ironically, as the play reaches its seemingly chaotic crescendo, Ionesco himself seems to submit to some vaguely cyclical notion of order. The dialogue of the players disintegrates and then reintegrates into a single sentence, thus allowing the play to begin again with new faces, but undoubtedly the same dramatic dà ©nouement.    Works Cited Ionesco, Eugene. "The Bald Soprano." Four Plays by Eugene Ionesco. Trans. Donald M. Allen. New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1958.

Knowledge Management Essay

It involves applying the collective knowledge and abilities of the entire workforce to achieve specific organizational objectives. State agencies should feel free to adapt and use information and tools on the following pages as necessary within their organization. It is provided to be a starting point for sharing knowledge and experience, allowing those who remain with the organization to continue providing quality service. Capturing and sharing critical knowledge and expertise should be occurring continuously among employees. In many cases, however, it is not and this need becomes pressing when a valued employee is preparing to retire or change positions. When an organization is considering implementing a knowledge transfer plan it is important to answer several questions: 1. Is the organization going to fill the vacant position or reassign the duties? 2. Are all the duties of the position still important to the mission of the organization? 3. Is there a need to update the position description? 4. Will the position change, remain as is, or be eliminated once the employee leaves? What is knowledge transfer? David DeLong’s book â€Å"Lost Knowledge† describes knowledge as the â€Å"capacity for effective actions or decision-making in the context of organizational activity†. Accordingly, lost knowledge would decrease this vital capacity and help undermine organizational effectiveness and performance. The goal of transferring knowledge to others [known as Knowledge Transfer] is to: 1. Identify key positions and people where potential knowledge loss is most imminent. 2. Assess how critical the knowledge loss will be. Develop a plan of action to ensure the capture of that critical knowledge and a plan of action to transfer it. Why is knowledge transfer important? A significant percentage of the state’s workforce is nearing retirement age over the next ten years. These employees have acquired a tremendous amount of knowledge about how things work, how to get things done and who to go to when problems arise. Losing their expertise and experience could significantly reduce efficiency, resulting in costly mistakes, unexpected quality problems, or significant disruptions in services and/or performance. In addition, faster turnover among younger employees and more competitive recruiting and compensation packages add significantly to the mounting concern about the state’s ability to sustain acceptable levels of performance. What are the benefits of a knowledge transfer program? Knowledge transfer [KT] programs prevent critical knowledge loss by focusing on key areas. Some of the immediate benefits of KT programs are: 1. They provide reusable documentation of the knowledge required in certain positions or job roles. 2. They result in immediate learning and knowledge transfer when carried out by individuals who can either use the transferred knowledge themselves or have responsibility for hiring, training, mentoring, coaching or managing people within an organizational unit. 3. They reduce the impact of employee departure. 4. They integrate staffing, training, job and organization redesign, process improvements and other responses. 5. They aid in succession planning. 6. They prevent the loss of knowledge held only in employees’ heads when they leave the organization or retire. They enhance career development. Generally Accepted Definitions for Knowledge Management and Transfer Knowledge Management (KM) refers to practices used by organizations to find, create, and distribute knowledge for reuse, awareness, and learning across the organization. Knowledge Management programs are typically tied to organizational objectives and are intended to lead to the achievement of specific outcomes such as shared intelligence, improved performance, or higher levels of innovation. Knowledge Transfer (an aspect of Knowledge Management) has always existed in one form or another through on-the-job discussions with peers, apprenticeship, and maintenance of agency libraries, professional training and mentoring programs. Since the late twentieth century, technology has played a vital role in Knowledge Transfer through the creation of knowledge bases, expert systems, and other knowledge repositories. To understand knowledge management and knowledge transfer, it is helpful to examine the differences between data, information, and knowledge. Data is discrete, objective facts. Data is the raw material for creating information. By itself, data carries no judgment, interpretation or meaning. Information is data that is organized, patterned and/or categorized. It has been sorted, analyzed and displayed, and is communicated through various means. Information changes the way a person perceives something, thus, affecting judgment or behavior. Knowledge is what is known. It is richer and more meaningful than information. Knowledge is gained through experience, reasoning, intuition, and learning. Because knowledge is intuitive, it is difficult to structure, can be hard to capture on machines, and is a challenge to transfer. We often speak of a â€Å"knowledgeable person,† and by that we mean someone who is well informed, and thoroughly versed in a given area. We expand our knowledge when others share theirs with us. We create new knowledge when we pool our knowledge together.

20 Essay Topics for ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by N. Hawthorne for a Literary Analysis

20 Essay Topics for ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by N. Hawthorne for a Literary Analysis Writing a literary analysis essay about a classical literary work is a common assignment in literature courses. Not only does it force students to read the original text, but it also pushes them to delve into the author’s opinions and commentaries on the text. ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the richest novels when it comes to themes and ideas, which is why many instructors choose it for literary analysis write-ups. If you have this book on your reading list and have to write a literary analysis on it, refer to the list below to decide on an aspect to tackle. If you want to come up with your own idea, check our 10 facts on ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by N. Hawthorne for a literary analysis. Without further ado, the topics: The Role of Pearl in Hester’s Transformation An Exploration of the Relationship between Hester’s Identity and the Scarlet Letter The Contrast between Herter’s Self-Created Identity and the One Which Society Assigns to Her The Scarlet Letter as a Commentary on the American History The Use of Symbols: Puritan vs. the Narrator The Functions of Physical Settings in the Scarlet Letter An Analysis of Chillingworth’s Ideas of Revenge Pearl: A Blessing and a Curse for Hester Pearl as a Symbol of Hester’s Conscience The Contrasting Behavior of Children and Adults in the Scarlet Letter Hawthorne’s Ideas of the Inherently Flawed Human as Presented in The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne: When Women Break Cultural Bonds and Gain Personal Power Sphere Imagery: Purpose and Effectiveness The Scarlet Letter: An Embodiment of the Tradition of Romanticism? The Difference between Hester and Dimmesdale An Exploration of How Tone, Word Choice, and Symbolism Help In Character Development in the Scarlet Letter The Literary Devices in the Scarlet Letter: Types, Usage and Effect on Persuasiveness Hypocrisy and Conformity in the Scarlet Letter Sin in the Puritan Community: A Comparison between the Punishments of Men and Women Hester Prynne: A Sinner and a Saint You can use these topics as is or tweak them a little to suit the purpose of your thesis. If you wish to explore a more specific aspect, you can choose to refine any of the topics from our list. This will ensure that you choose something substantial and relevant. A sample essay is added below to help inspire your literary analysis. The following lines explore the symbolism of the major characters in the text. Sample Literary Analysis: An Exploration of How Tone, Word Choice, and Symbolism Help in Character Development in the Scarlet Letter ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the prominent romance novels despite not appearing to be one. It delves deeply into the Puritan community, highlighting its rigid rules of life and how its members could suffer by going against them. One of the aspects that make ‘The Scarlet Letter’ truly immortal is the author’s extensive use of symbols. Therefore, in order to understand the text, it is necessary to analyze the myriad of symbols presented. In literature, a symbol is often a concrete idea used to represent a more complex, abstract idea. This idea is broader in meaning and scope, and is usually a religious, philosophical or moral concept. The Puritans view the world through allegories. Simple patterns of nature such as a meteor moving through the sky held a deeply religious meaning. This is just one facet of the repressive thinking. Hawthorne shows their moral attitudes in a different light through the symbolism of his characters. The Puritan society looks at Hester as a woman fallen from grace, Dimmesdale as a saint-like personality, and was likely to consider Chillingworth as a victim and a betrayed husband. The author turns these interpretations around; he ultimately shows Hester as a sensitive human being, strips Dimmesdale of his saint-like faà §ade, and reveals Chillingworth as an offender of humanity who pursues evil and revenge. The Puritan mentality refuses to accept the reality of these characters. Hester is shunned and Dimmesdale’s confession is not believed by many people. This shows that underneath the public displays of piety so favored by Puritanism, there exists a grim underside that goes unseen. The static and stagnant thinking of the Puritanical society is shown through the transformation of characters as symbols and the subsequent refusal of the society to accept this change. Hester is a fallen woman in the beginning; she is publically shamed and shunned, causing her to suffer greatly. She struggles to understand the letter’s symbolic meaning only to come out as a strong woman in the end. Hester gains a unique understanding of humanity and the struggles of other people. As Hawthorne says, The tendency of her fate and fortunes had been to set her free. The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Dimmesdale is a private sinner; his sins remain a secret. His public face presents a stark contrast with his private face. The Colony of Massachusetts looks at him as an embodiment of sanctity and goodness, but this is just a faà §ade. Dimmesdale struggles internally and drowns in the storm raging between his holiness and guilt. Dimmesdale is a symbol of hypocrisy and moral weakness. He refuses to do the right thing and the reader comes to view his piety as something superficial. Ultimately, he manages to redeem his soul, albeit quite late. Pearl is by far the strongest of the allegorical images in this text. She symbolizes the freedom of nature. Hester views her as the living hieroglyphic of her sin. Hester describes Pearl to the community leaders by saying, â€Å"she is my happiness! - she is my torture. . . See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin? The Scarlet Letter displays symbols through characterization, colors, location and light. The author’s brilliant use of these symbols and their transformation is a major reason for the acclaim and popularity of this classical work and why it has become a peerless example of romance novels. After reading this analysis, you probably have a few suggestions and thoughts to make it appear better. So, quickly jot those down and begin creating an outline for your own literary analysis. If you need more help with this assignment, check out our guide on how to write a literary analysis on ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by N. Hawthorne. References: Hunter, Dianne, Seduction and theory: readings of gender, representation, and rhetoric. University of Illinois Press. 1989. Pgs. 186-187 Schreiner, Samuel A., Jr. The Concord Quartet: Alcott, Emerson, Hawthorne, Thoreau, and the Friendship That Freed the American Mind. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons, Inc., 2006: 158.ISBN 978-0-471-64663-1 Crowley, J. Donald, and Orestes Brownson. Chapter 50: [Orestes Brownson], From A Review In Brownsons Quarterly Review. Nathaniel Hawthorne (0-415-15930-X) (1997): 175–179. Literary Reference Center Plus. Wineapple, Brenda. Hawthorne: A Life. Random House: New York, 2003: 209–210. ISBN 0-8129-7291-0. Wright, John Hardy. Hawthornes Haunts in New England. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2008: 47. ISBN 978-1-59629-425-7. McFarland, Philip. Hawthorne in Concord. New York: Grove Press, 2004: 136. ISBN 0-8021-1776-7 Miller, Edwin Haviland. Salem is my Dwelling Place: A Life of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1991: 299. ISBN 0-87745-332-2

Nast essays

Nast essays Blessed with their various gifts and talents, many Americans have influenced the future course or our nations history. Among those who have done so, Thomas Nast has proved to be one of them by the use of his influences as a political cartoonist. Throughout the course of his career, he is thought to have become far more than a successful political cartoonist- he had become a presence, an institution. His cartoons chronicled the American scene from the Civil War period to the turn of the century. They highlighted every major national event and issue, the political process, elections, and scandal in the government. The American scene was perfect in subject matter for Nast. The country was fast becoming an industrial nation; railroads were spreading, factories were being built, and cities were fast becoming crowded with immigrants that supplied cheap labor. Scandal was everywhere. Elections were being rigged and Thomas Nast was there to catch and display all of it. Thomas Nast was born on September 27, 1840 in Landau, Germany. Following the tradition of thousands that immigrated to America, young Nast, his sister, and his mother came to the United States in 1846 while his father followed four years later.1 It was difficult enough for a 15-year-old to get a job but it was more difficult since Thomas could not read or write. The only skill he had to offer was his ability to draw what he saw. His first job that he got through continuous persistence was working as an illustrator for Leslies Weekly. It was during his first three years of employment there that Thomas Nast drew his first cartoon attacking civic corruption, a theme that was to bring him fame in later years.2 In the spring of 1862; Thomas joined the staff of Harpers Weekly Magazine as a war correspondent. However, it was his drawings that attracted the most attention and aroused Northern Patriotic fervor to such a note that by the wars end Thomas Nast w...

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