The Cuban Missile Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Cuban Missile Crisis - Essay Example During 1962, the President of Soviet Union was repeatedly accused of creating a missile gap between the US and Soviet Union. At that point of time, Soviet Union was desperately behind the US in terms of balancing the power of armed forces. It felt insecure as its missiles could only be utilized against Europe, whereas US missiles were able to assault the entire Soviet Union. Furthermore, Cuba also feared about an assault from the US army. Cuba was also searching for a way to defend the island from US attack. Due to these reasons, Soviet chief conceived the idea of positioning missiles in Cuba. In order to defend the island, Cuba had approved the plan of Soviet Union to position missiles in the island. This missile positioning strategy in Cuba was intended to enhance the strategic resources and to restrict the possibility of the US threat on Cuba as well as Soviet Union. This was the build-up of a grave missile crisis in Cuba between two global superpowers2. In the US, the crisis started when satellite images exposed Soviet missiles under installation in Cuba. As the US forces scrutinized transportation activities in Cuba, gossips started to flow in Washington. Through the investigation, the US had revealed the presence of defensive missiles in Cuba. Although Soviet Union allegedly declared that there were no invasive missiles in Cuba, US had discovered the existence of missiles in Cuba. This situation resulted in intense arguments within top levels of governments. During the Cuba missile crisis, tensions started to generate from both sides3. Considering the situation, the US had asserted that any kind of nuclear launch from Cuba would be termed as an attack on the US by Soviet Union and consequently it could start a new nuclear war. In the meantime, the US had also directed Soviet Union to eliminate all the offensive missiles from Cuba. One of the most precarious moments of the crisis occurred when the US destroyers were forced to isol ate Cuba4. A

The Innovation of Prosthetics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Innovation of Prosthetics - Essay Example That is, the innovation in the development of prosthetics is aimed at giving the amputee more control and feel over the device which makes him feel that it is as good as a natural body part. The whole evolution of prosthetics over the centuries is driven by the desire for improving the artificial devices’ anthropomorphism (Pitkin, 2009). Anthropomorphism can be best defined as the expressing of human motivations and feelings in non-human entities (Clark, 2011). In this case, it is to allow the prosthetic to serve as an equivalent to the natural body part doing all activities and functions that could have been performed with the natural body part. This report looks into the innovation in the field of prosthetics. It discusses the evolution of prosthetics over the centuries. The expected future developments in the field are also discussed along with initiatives taken to increase the awareness among people. Evolution of Prosthetics Prosthetics has evolved from its primitive form to today’s highly sophisticated form over the centuries. There have been numerous ideas and innovations that have been introduced in the field of prosthetics. Some of them have been very successful and they have been expanded new forms and design. Fixed-position foot is an example of a successful innovation. On the other hand, some of them have not worked out as anticipated and have been sidelined. The use of iron in prosthetics is an example of a poor innovation that did not work out. The very first prosthetics were the peg legs and hand hooks that were designed in and around 400 BC. These prosthetics have evolved over the years and lead to more advanced and sophisticated fittings and castings. Today’s prosthetics are highly individualised to meet the specific needs of the person (Norton, 2007). The earliest of prosthetics rather than function mainly served the purpose of wholeness. They were made fibres. The next step in the innovation of prosthetics was the use iron and bronze. The core of the prosthetics consisted of wooden and the exterior was made of bronze and iron. Slowly the dimension of purpose was introduced (Norton, 2007). The purpose was still trivial such as to enable the amputee to walk, hold shields in the battle, etc. The prosthetics served only one purpose and was not very effective and there was very little attention paid to function. Prosthetics were used mainly in battles for soldiers and only the rich and famous in the society could use hand hooks and peg legs for daily functions. The next step in the evolution was the better designs and the use of gears and springs. The designing was boosted by the contribution from people of various trades. Watchmakers played an important role in the introduction of gears and springs in the prosthetics. This gave a new dimension to prosthetics as they were added with specific intricate internal functions. The period of renaissance saw a rebirth of innovation in prosthetics. The mew materia ls such as copper, steel, iron along with wood were used in the making of prosthetics (Norton, 2007). Prosthetics were now designed with the intent to make it more easy and multifunctional. People now started using prosthetics to perform activities such as signing the name, opening the purse, removing the purse, etc. Engineering features started to become a integral of prosthetics. Engineering features that made into the design of prosthetics were fixed positions, harness that could be adjusted, mechanisms that could control knee lock, etc.

Inadequate Compensation Essay Example for Free

Inadequate Compensation Essay Compensation for most positions is far below the market average for our region, no annual increases in the last 4 years. Salary.coms survey results show that inadequate compensation is by far the number one reason that dissatisfied employees want to leave their job. It has been proven time and again that fair pay practices benefit not only the employee, but also the employer (by reducing unwanted and unanticipated turnover costs). Employees who are paid competitively, relative to their specific market, are generally much happier. One way to find out if you are being paid what you are worth is to use Salary.coms salary negotiation tool, the Personal Salary Report. The Personal Salary Report will help you determine your value based on job title, industry, geography, company size, education, experience, and other personal factors. #2 Inadequate Opportunities for Career Advancement Percent Responding: 37.3% My boss has dangled the carrot for a year. Opportunity for career advancement is a major factor in retaining employees and keeping them happy. 37.3% of dissatisfied employees cited inadequate opportunities for career advancement as the reason they want to quit. Empty promises by upper management, such as promotions that dont pan out, have led many employees to give up on moving up the corporate ladder at their particular company. #3 Insufficient Recognition or Appreciation Percent Responding: 34.2% There is no recognition of my creative talent, training, or skills. The three major portions of an employees total rewards package are compensation, benefits, and the work experience. The work experience includes things like company culture, dress code, and how employees are recognized and appreciated for individual contributions and accomplishments. The fact that 34.2% of dissatisfied employees are disgruntled because of insufficient recognition or appreciation shows the importance of elements of the work experience, such as employee recognition programs. This proves that rewarding top performers with cash or gift certificates, or even just a pat on the back, goes a long way toward improving employee retention rates. #4 Boredom Percent Responding: 20.1% My job duties have gone from being challenging to boring. 20.1% of dissatisfied employees are unhappy because of boredom. There is only so much socializing with coworkers, surfing the Internet, or simply spacing out that an employee can do before its time to find a new job. The July 2005 AOL/Salary.com study on Wasted Time At Work revealed that the average American worker admitted to frittering away 2.09 hours per 8-hour workday, not including lunch and scheduled break-time. However, employees expressed that they are not always to blame for this wasted time. 33.2% of respondents cited lack of work as their biggest reason for wasting time. #5 Inadequate Benefits Percent Responding: 16.9% The insurance premiums I pay cut deep into my paycheck. Results recently released from Salary.coms 2005 Small Business Basic Medical Coverage Survey show that nearly 90% of small businesses are paying more this year than last year for basic medical insurance for their employees. And these soaring healthcare costs are forcing small businesses, in many instances, to adopt measures that lower employee take-home pay. This has spurred some employees to start looking for work elsewhere, perhaps at companies offering more generous employer contributions towards the cost of basic medical coverage. Use the Benefits Tab of the Salary Wizard ® Calculator to see how your benefits stack up. #6 Inadequate Opportunities for Professional Development Percent Responding: 15.3% Im probably too experienced and educated for this organization. 15.3% of dissatisfied employees feel as if they have reached the pinnacle of their professional development at the company at which they are currently employed. Whether they are leaving to further their education, start their own business, or find a job that promises more professional growth, opportunity for professional development proves to be an important factor in retaining and satisfying employees. #7 Insufficient Job Security Percent Responding: 11.8% My job is being outsourced to Mexico and Asia. Insufficient job security is a result of a variety of different factors, including outsourcing, industry decline, lack of profits, competitive threats, and rumors that the company may be sold. The survey results indicated that many employees are searching for new jobs in response to the fact, or rumor, that their company or job is going under. Many of the 11.8% of respondents who cited insufficient job security as their top reason for leaving lack confidence in upper managements ability to save the company. #8 Undesirable Impact on Health or Stress Level Percent Responding: 10.5% This is bad for my health- my knees are hurting due to 12 hour shifts. Many employees are working long, hard hours and are finally realizing the effect that their job is having on their overall health and stress level. Some of these employees are opting to leave the workforce entirely, while others are in search of a job that wont give them an ulcer. #9 Poor Relations with Management Percent Responding: 10% Management is incompetent, clueless, overcompensated, abusive, hostile and predatory. Bosses everywhere, beware! Your employees are watching you and may leave because of your behavior. Even though poor relations with management ranked as the ninth most common reason unhappy employees want to leave their job, employees who dislike their boss provided us with some particularly entertaining feedback: Upper management has no spine, they are jellyfish. My boss has a diagnosed mental condition, but doesnt take his medication. My employer wants to disregard regulations and laws in order to meet company goals. My direct employer is sexist, tyrannical, and engages in extreme favoritism, cronyism, and nepotism. #10 Undesirable Commute Percent Responding: 9% My cost of gas versus my hourly income equals my net pay. Rising gas prices have become an effective pay cut for Americas commuters, and many are starting to think about leaving their job for something closer to home. Assuming that individual and company goals are met, employees can expect a salary increase of about 3.7% this year. They can also expect to pour 3.3% of their salary down the gas tank, virtually wiping out that increase. In fact, while salaries are rising 3.7% year over year, commuting costs have risen 50% in the last year.

Rehabilitation Psychology Case Study

Rehabilitation Psychology Case Study Rehabilitation Psychology Case 2: Mary Lee was only 22 years old and was involved in a serious car accident 1 year ago. She sustained multiple fractures in her spine and has become a quadriplegic (C5 level). She is now wheelchair bound and needs to live with her parents (both nearly 60 years old). She is fully dependent for all her ADL and is pondering what to do with the rest of her life. She has always been proud of her good looks before and wanted to be a movie star. Now her boyfriend has left her and she is feeling very lonely and depressed. Leung Kar Ming, Kevin Word Count: 800 words Many victims of serious car accidents survived with impaired physical functions. Hong Kong record a high number of traffic accidents with more than 20,200 casualties per year1. Traffic accident (42.1%) is the most reported cause of spinal cord injury (SCI)2. In our case, Mary Lee is one of the unfortunate victims sustaining multiple fractures in her spine. Incomplete (30.1%) and complete (20.4%) quadriplegia are the most frequent categories of persons with SCI2. Less than 1% experienced complete neurologic recovery by hospital discharge2. There are seven factors affecting patients coping with SCI: personal resources, health-related factors, social physical context, cognitive appraisal, adaptive tasks, copping skills and health-related outcomes3. I. Personal resources These include self-efficacy (SE), self-esteem, sense of coherence (SOC), spirituality, optimism, intellect and other personality characteristics3,4. These factors are associated with positive coping, and are determinants of adjustment to long term outcomes4,5. Mary was a pretty girl and dreamed of becoming a movie star. The traffic accident took away her health, good looks, relationship and became wheelchair bounded. It is essential to help Mary regain a high SE, self-esteem and SOC. II. Health-related factors More than 50% of SCI patients suffer from chronic pain which significantly affects quality of life (QOL)3,4,8,9. Patients who experience more pain tend to catastrophize more and have a decreased mental health well-being. Psychological factors helps contribute to the relationship between pain intensity and depression8,9,10. Substance abuse, especially abuse of drugs prescribed for spasticity and pain, may contribute to further health problems8. In Mary’s case, it is very important that clinicians can provide effective pain control, and build a positive relationship with Mary to aid the effectiveness of the treatments. III. Social physical context After the injury, Mary became fully dependent on her parents. Her parents, at their retirement age, have to learn to provide support and adapt to their daughter’s functional limitation. Her boyfriend has left her making her very depressed. It is important that these social and physical contexts are addressed. Social context is the relationship, support and expectations of the significant others. Physical context focuses on accessibility, mobility, autonomy, as well as the personal space and privacy of the patient3,4. Finding of positive meaning in lives involves a continuous search for comfortable relationships between self, disability and society4,6,7,10. Encouraging engagement in social activities can work as a distraction technique to increase mood levels7,8. The burden of the caregiver should not be neglected. Care-giving burden is associated with locus of control, social support, and modes of coping. Caregivers also add to the discredit of self by making the injured person entirely dependent on them. Gaining independence from the caregiver is also a key to restoring competency in persons with SCI. Interventions should be tailored towards the needs of the care recipients as well as the caregivers. IV. Cognitive appraisal Cognitive appraisal is how an individual views a situation. Appraisals have a strong association with adjustment. It is important that focus on appraisal of the cause of injury is shifted to the appraisal of having an SCI. Such individuals were found to be well-adjusted psychologically. Visible disabilities affected Mary significantly. Assistance to help her regain her self-image, develop coping skills, making the best use of her remaining bodily function and adjustments of dealing with disability is important. V. Adaptive tasks Mainly focuses on how the individual adapts to the new situation and how they prepare for an uncertain future. Individuals, like Mary, should be encouraged to be able to make decisions on choices of care, commitment to achieving individual goals and sustain independence. Such individuals with SCI are more likely to engage in positive coping strategies. VI. Coping skills Engaging strategies includes self-control, social support, accepting responsibility, problem solving and positive appraisal, resulting in an internal locus of control. Total locus of control, sense of coherence, self-worth, hope, purpose in life and positive affect were consistently associated with greater QOL. Disengaging strategies, however, should be discouraged. These include denial, wish-fulfilling fantasy, self and other blame to SCI and substance abuse. Mary needs to overcome invisible barrier to social contacts. She learns to cope with environmental factors by enhancing functions of her arms and hands and learning wheelchair skills. VII. Health-related outcomes This is mainly the effects of the coping strategies. Also focus on the reduction of stress, emotion control, self-image, self-esteem and social relationship. The use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can improve the psychosocial outcomes in individuals with SCI. The society is in high demand for clinicians to help patients to recover and resume their normal life activities. Interventions that promote coping and adjustment include: 1. physically, helping individuals on environmental adaptations, training on independent living skills and pain management; 2. psychologically, with the use of CBT and peer counseling; 3. socially, such as providing vocational rehabilitation, social engagement and family counseling. References Census and Statistics Department (2013). Hong Kong monthly digest of statistics. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (U.S.) (2009). Spinal cord injury: The facts and fiqures. Birmingham, Ala: National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC). Martz, E, Livheh, H. (Eds.). (2007). Coping with chronic illness and disability: Theoretical, empirical, and clinical aspects. New York: Springer. Chapter 6. Peter C, MÃ ¼ller R, Cieza A, Geyh S. (2012) Psychological resources in spinal cord injury: a systematic literature review. Spinal Cord.;50(3):188-201. Review. Kilic SA, Dorstyn DS, Guiver NG. (2013) Examining factors that contribute to the process of resilience following spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord..;51(7):553-7. van Leeuwen CM, Post MW, Westers P, van der Woude LH, de Groot S, Sluis T, Slootman H, Lindeman E. (2012 ) Relationships between activities, participation, personal factors, mental health, and life satisfaction in persons with spinal cord injury.Arch Phys Med Rehabil.;93(1):82-9. Simpson G, Jones K. (2013) How important is resilience among family members supporting relatives with traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury? Clin Rehabil.;27(4):367-77. Chevalier Z, Kennedy P, Sherlock O.(2009) Spinal cord injury, coping and psychological adjustment: a literature review. Spinal Cord.;47(11):778-82. Review. Putzke JD, Richards JS, Hicken BL, DeVivo MJ. (2002) Predictors of life satisfaction: a spinal cord injury cohort study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 83(4):555-61. Mehta S, Orenczuk S, Hansen KT, Aubut JA, Hitzig SL, Legassic M, Teasell RW;(2011) Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence Research Team. An evidence-based review of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosocial issues post-spinal cord injury. Rehabil Psychol.;56(1):15-25. Review.

Hydric Soils as a Part of Water Treatment in Wetland Systems Essay

Hydric Soils as a Part of Water Treatment in Wetland Systems Most basically, a hydric soil is defined as "A soil that is saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part (Kent, 1994, p. 26)." Included by this definition in the United States Department of Agriculture/Soil Conservation Service's list Hydric Soils of the United States are all of the poorly drained and very poorly drained soils and most of the somewhat poorly drained soil series. Hydric soils are further categorized into two major groups: mineral soils and organic soils. Histosols (organic soils) typically contain at least 46 cm of organic matter in the upper part of the soil profile. They are grouped by the degree to which plant material and fibers are decomposed. Most decayed are the saprists (muck), followed by hemists (mucky-peats and peaty mucks), and fibrists (peats), the least decomposed. (Folists, the fourth group of organic soils, are not regarded as hydric soils because the organic part is not inundation or saturation derived.) Mineral soils ordinarily have less organic matter in the upper part of the soil profile than histosols. To be considered hydric soil, a mineral soil must meet specific drainage and water table criteria that indicate at least 15 consecutive days of saturation or 7 days of inundation during the growing season. Hydric mineral soils include soils in the Aquic subgroups, Aquic suborders, Albolls suborder, Salorthids great groups and Pell great groups of vertisols (Kent, 1994). In the field, hydric soils are distinguished by indicators displayed within the root zone. These include histosols, histic epipedons, high organic matter content in the surface hori... ...aton, C. K. Smoley, 216 p. Kadlec, Robert H., and Robert L. Knight, 1996, Treatment Wetlands: Boca Raton, Lewis Publishers, 893 p. Kent, Donald M., editor, 1994, Applied Wetlands Science and Technology: Boca Raton, Lewis Publishers, 436 p. Landers, Judith C., and Barbara A. Knuth, 1991, Use of Wetlands for Water Quality Improvement under the USEPA Region V Clean Lakes Program: Environmental Management, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 151-162. Mitsch, William J., and Gosselink, James G., 1993, Wetlands, Second Edition: New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 722 p. Simmons, Robert C., Arthur J. Gold, and Peter M. Groffman, 1992, Nitrate Dynamics in Riparian Forests: Groundwater Studies: Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 21, pp. 659-665. Singer, Michael J., and Donald N. Munns, 1996, Soils: An Introduction, Third Edition: Upper Saddle River, Prentice Hall, 480 p.

Rhetorical Analysis of Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” Essay

Directions: Read â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† As you read, underline examples of Thoreau using rhetorical devices and identify and explain the devices via annotation. Answer questions 1-4 to prepare for further work with a small group. The group will work together on questions 5 through 8. Be ready to explain your answers to the whole class. Even when you’re working as a group you should be writing the answers. 1. Based on your reading of â€Å"Civil Disobedience,† what kind of person does Henry David Thoreau seem to be? How would you characterize his state of mind and emotion as he composed this essay? Cite specific examples from the text to support your claims about Thoreau’s voice and persona. Voice = textual features such as diction and syntax, that contribute to a writer’s persona Syntax and tone are formal, academic, eloquent. Sentences tend to be longer, complex sentences punctuated with frequent commas and semicolons (to indicate pauses) which lends the pacing of a speech, almost as if even though we’re reading a written word, it’s Thoreau himself speaking to us, lecturing even. Also, parallelism (more precisely in the following example, anaphora): Yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate. The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished. (paragraph 2) (The last â€Å"It does not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  with the â€Å"The†¦American people has done† is antithesis) Diction is academic and intelligent, supporting the same tone mentioned above (â€Å"alac rity† is a lesser-known word for â€Å"speed†). Repeated use of the â€Å"machine† metaphor when referring to the government and politicians/lawyers who work for it. Sets up an â€Å"Us† (free-minded, free-thinking citizens who rebel against slavery) versus â€Å"Them† (the government machine and those who would support it, as well as those who talk but don’t act against it). He uses â€Å"We† a lot, further emphasizing this division against government, but also the unity of people who agree with his points, a â€Å"we’re in this together† kind of thing.  Repeated use of words associated with honorable, positive human qualities as well as those associated with evil and guilt: â€Å"tradition†¦integrity†¦vitality†¦force† versus â€Å"complicated machinery† (paragraph 2); â€Å"a corporation has no conscience†¦agents of injustice†¦damnable business†¦at the service of some unscrupulous man in power† (paragraph 4) Persona – the character that a writer/speaker conveys to the audience Anti-authority (at least rebellious against corrupted power). Anti-government. In favor of the rights of all free-thinking people. A bit of a â€Å"maverick†. Angry and in some cases, bitter at the government for injustice. Critical and mocking of people who claim they disagree with slavery but do nothing about it. 2. What does Thoreau do in â€Å"Civil Disobedience† to urge his readers to believe in him as a trustworthy, credible person? Point out specific passages where you felt Thoreau was (or was not) particularly believable (this gets at the ethos of the piece). Other examples of logos or pathos? A writer builds ethos (an appeal to the author’s credibility) by establishing himself as credible, believable, and trustworthy. 3. One device a writer can use to get a point across is metaphor. Thoreau uses metaphor extensively in â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† Notice, for example, what he compares machinery to or how he uses gaming metaphorically. Select two metaphors and explain, citing specific examples from the text, how they help Thoreau’s central idea become more vivid for his readers. The â€Å"machinery† metaphor is extended—used throughout the work: The â€Å"gaming† metaphor: (paragraph 12) â€Å"All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong, with moral questions; and betting naturally accompanies it†¦Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority.† 4. How do you think Thoreau wanted his readers to react to the essay? What did he want them to feel? think? believe? do? How do you know? Identify specific places in the essay that help you determine Thoreau’s purpose. (paragraph 15) â€Å"†¦Some are petitioning the State to dissolve the Union, to disregard the requisitions of the President. Why do they not dissolve it themselves—the union between themselves and the State—and refuse to pay their quota into its treasury? (paragraph 17) â€Å"Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?† (paragraph 23) â€Å"†¦If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose. If a thousand men were not to pay their tax-bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood.† 5. Using the questions below, divide the essay into functional parts (a part of text classified according to its function—for example, introduction, example, or counterargument). Label the parts and be prepared to support your answers. †¢ 1) the exordium: the web that draws listeners into the speech, the speaker would introduce the subject at hand and include material that would make the audience attentive and receptive to the argument. †¢ 2) the narration would offer background material on the case at hand †¢ 3) the partition would divide the case and make clear which part or parts the speaker was going to address, which parts the speaker would not take up and what order would be followed in the development †¢ 4) the confirmation would offer points to substantiate the argument and provide reasons, details, illustrations, and examples in support †¢ 5) the refutation would consider possible objections to the argument and try to counter these †¢ 6) the peroration would draw  together the entire argument and include material designed to compel the audience to think or act in a way related to the central argument a. Is there some section that clearly lets the reader know what subject the composition is about and what the writer’s purpose is? If so, where does this section begin and end? In this section, can you find an answer to the central question that the text has been written in response to, or can you find an indication of the text’s central argument? b. Is there a part that explains any background information that the reader needs to know in order to be able to understand the answer to the central question or argument that the composition offers? If so, where does this section begin and end? c. Is there some sentence or paragraph that focuses the reader’s attention on some particular issues, aspect, or theme that the paper examines as opposed to others that it could examine? d. Is there some section that purposefully sets out material in support of the paper’s answer to the central question of its argument? If so, where does this section begin and end? e. Is there a part that examines possible objections to the answer, argument, or supporting material? If so, where does this section begin and end? f. Is there a sentence or section where the writer specifically answers the â€Å"So what?† question? In other words, is there a section where the writer hints at what he or she hopes readers will think and do on the basis of what they have read in the text? 6. Using a functional part where Thoreau is supporting his argument, see how many of the following rhetorical methods you can identify. Cite the paragraph number and a few identifying phrases or sentences of specific text to identify the method: a. Relating anecdotes b. Describing scenes and evoking sensory images c. Defining terms and concepts d. Dividing the whole into parts e. Classifying the parts according to some principle or order f. Providing cause-and-effect reasoning 7. Select one specific paragraph that you believe represents the most interesting, most vivid passage in â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† Describe as much of the style of that passage as you can. For every stylistic feature you notice, explain what you see as its effect on 1) the appeal of the essay, 2) the credibility of Thoreau (ethos), or 3) the emotional or persuasive power of the piece (pathos). 8. Point out some ways you see Thoreau tapping into the â€Å"cultural memory† of his readers. (Cultural memory in modern rhetoric refers to the writer-reader connection. It has to do with how much knowledge, information, and data a writer has about his audience and their culture. A simple way of talking about this is to ask: what does a writer know about is readers and their lives, and how does he or she use it to further his writing purpose?). To what does the text refer or allude with the expectation that readers will know the reference or allusion? Are these references and allusions likely to appeal to and affect readers today in the same way they did when Thoreau used them?

High Stakes Testing In The Modern World Education Essay

I think that in today ‘s modern universe, everyone is determined to hammer some type of achievement, whether it is academic or vocational. In some instances high bets proving are used to find most of these accomplishments. High bets trial are hence used to verify a broad scope of critical results which allow pupils to come on to the following degree. High bets proving can be traced back to the 1965 mandate of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ( ESEA ) . This was to better doing of import determinations about pupils, instructors, and decision makers in the simple and secondary schools and besides for measuring the schools and school systems. Clarke, Shore, Rhoades, Abrams, Miao, and Li ( 2003 ) found in their National Board survey that answerability systems with high bets test helped instructors aim countries for future direction, and transformed the accent on authorship and critical thought accomplishments. I ‘m of the steadfast sentiment that high bets test allows pupils to analyze and measure a given job or state of affairs by get the hanging the cardinal content cognition and achieving the accomplishments necessary for future success in instruction and work force. Besides instructors provide feedback so that accommodations and even restructuring could be applied. With high bets proving some instructors have adopted a more student-centred attacks Jones, Jones & A ; Hargrove, ( 2003 ) , and aligned their course of study to the province criterions, which in bend increased teacher coaction Marshall ( 2003 ) . Students have to be given the chance to construct on their old cognition and explicate their ain thoughts as to do sense of what is being taught. The civilization of the instruction has to be in coherency with the province or state to let pupils to bring forth at an optimal degree. Students must be able to associate and place within their linguistic communication, beliefs and norms. High bets proving besides highlights the accomplishments gaps between rich and hapless territories, rural and urban countries and among cultural and cultural groups. Uncovering these informations can let pedagogues to turn to the prevalent jobs, particularly if wagess and countenances to schools, instructors and pupils are specified. Administrators and instructors can nail possible jobs and readdress the course of study and instructional activities accordingly. Conversely, the high bets trials constrained many instructors ‘ ability to learn creatively Gordon & A ; Reese, ( 1997 ) ; Jones, Jones & A ; Hargrove, ( 2003 ) and undermined their sense of professionalism and liberty. Some of these high interest trials have defined course of study and fashioned direction. Teachers now have moved to where everything has got to be aligned and tightly structured. A sense of autonomy is no longer executable due to the authorizations and force per unit areas to execute. Teachers are hence learning the course of study and implementing a strategic method of memorisation – a pupil ‘s ability to shop and reproduce names, day of the months and facts for the benefit of go throughing a certain degree of their academic accomplishment. In add-on to the above, high bets test have the inclination to over trial and under-examine pupils abilities and accomplishments. This places an tremendous sum of force per unit area on the instructors and pupils likewise to follow a narrow course of study and concentrate on memorising facts alternatively of developing more advanced abilities. High bets proving has maintained a narrow appraisal of pupil capablenesss and so pupils do what they must in order to go through the test and nil more. Education becomes a inactive experience and this transcends the schoolroom to the work environment. Finally by far the most compelling indictment of these high-stakes scrutinies is that they test what pupils know instead than what they can make and as such motive is an authoritarian factor. Education should be an active experience where pupils are invariably engaged and where a love for acquisition is developed, instead than a hatred for concluding tests. Ash and Persall ( 2000 ) stated that motive can drastically impede school betterment and make an discerning and dead environment in which instructors are isolated, without chances to collaboratively work out jobs, portion cognition, or larn together. In reasoning the intent of high interest trials is to better pupil accomplishment. While pupils with larning disablements have a batch to derive from increased focal point on pupil accomplishments it is besides evident that high bets trial does hold major deductions. Crucially, with respects to high bets proving more direct and concrete information is needed to demo that pupils are using factual information and reassigning their cognition, accomplishments and thoughts into a merchandise, a public-service corporation or a public presentation. However, high bets trial are geared towards bettering pupils and heighten the answerability that the contrivers are urgently seeking and supply the equity and regard that each and every kid is entitled to in the school system. Then it might be merely possible that every kid would acquire a opportunity to reflect.BACKGROUND TO HIGH STAKES TESTING IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOIn Trinidad and Tobago High Stakes Testing are done throughout our primary schoo ls, secondary schools and third establishments as these establishments have maintained a stiff arrested development on scrutinies. Standardized trials are good in that they are utile for comparing pupils countrywide since they are all required to analyze the same course of study for the same test. The Secondary Examination appraisal is no different as it awards a kid for farther accomplishment in the academic field. Secondary Entrance Assessment ( SEA ) Examination is a high interest trial that is used in Trinidad and Tobago to ease the arrangement of pupils in Secondary Schools.A The SEA comprises of three documents Creative Writing, Mathematics, and Language Arts with an allotted clip frame for each topic and covers the national course of study for Primary-level instruction with a focal point on Standards three to five. The Common Entrance was replaced with this debut of the SEA scrutiny high-stakes trial to be used as one of the tools to drive the instruction system in the right way. Planners would no uncertainty argue that there is good virtue for the application of this high interest appraisal. Besides the SEA exams uses standard tonss to use the discrepancy in each paper and hence allows the pupil ‘s to keep a criterion when they are combined, therefore guaranting equity in the arrangement procedure. Placement in secondary schools continues to be on the footing of virtue, pick of schools and gender. Merely when pupil ‘s picks of schools have been exhausted, will try be made to put pupils in schools closest to their places. In such a high interest trial as the SEA exams the paper contains open-ended points for which pupils are required to build their responses, instead than choose them from a figure of other options. Open-ended points can arouse different right responses from pupils, but the accent is on uncovering pupils ‘ thought. This high interest trial gives room for originative and critical thought leting pupils to develop their accomplishments. Students are required to demo their cognition of the mechanics of linguistic communication and expose their academic competences. While their exists certain wagess to the SEA high bets test the sum of accent placed on larning through past documents, â€Å" brochures † and sample trials speaks to the unfortunate importance of the understanding the trial format over the importance of understanding the existent stuff. Furthermore, what makes a â€Å" good school † good is how good its pupils perform at the terminal of these trials. This places an tremendous sum of force per unit area on the instructors to follow a narrow course of study and concentrate on memorising facts alternatively of developing more advanced abilities. For case where a instructor would wish to give her pupils a hebdomad to plan an experiment to prove the consequence of planetary heating, the clip factor before the S.E.A. exam merely does non allow her to make so. Alternatively of advancing fresh groundbreaking thoughts, instructors are forced to restrict themselves and pupils to walking the beaten way. Another downside is that the instruction system is organized in such a manner that if you have jobs memorising and regurgitating, you are branded as a individual who is â€Å" non bright † and your way is set from every bit early as the S.E.A. scrutinies. Those doors are non unfastened to you who have jobs declaiming information, because even if you somehow do it go through the first phase of S.E.A. , you end up in the same state of affairs at higher degrees in a system that has the same learn-by-heart demands of its pupils. This civilization of high interest trials in instruction has limited the capacity of our citizens to bring forth at an optimal degree in our society because it has limited creativeness of the instructor, of the pupil and of the ensuing work force. Standardized testing besides limits creativeness of the instructors. Our state ‘s overexploitation of tests to measure pupil public presentation is holding serious negative effects on instruction and acquisition. The trials have defined course of study. The standardised testing of SEA exams merely assesses pupil ‘s ability to shop and reproduce names, day of the months and facts. What is of import is that pupils memorize the expression and non that they understand it. This leads to a entire deficiency of capacity for groking cardinal constructs and believing in abstract footings. In add-on, how the topic is tested has become how the topic is taught and what is non tested is non taught. Students should non be asked to reproduce a twelvemonth ‘s work in a 70 proceedingss exam because this does non develop their critical thought accomplishments and analytical techniques. By heightening creativeness in the schoolroom, it will cultivate originality in believing which will enable citizens to see things otherwise and use new schemes and attacks to work outing jobs. Education should be an active experience where pupils are invariably engaged and where a love for acquisition is developed, instead than a hatred for concluding tests. Fortunately for us, Ras Shorty I did non hold to go through a music test in order to contrive soca and it is a good thing that Brian Lara did non larn to play cricket through a cricket enchiridion with batting expression. It is non the sweeping reproduction of novel-writing but the originative usage of written linguistic communication that makes VS Naipaul an acclaimed author. In decision high bets test such as the SEA scrutiny has its benefits and its negative impact. It is utile in puting criterions across the schools, territories and state. Besides it would be polar in constructing answerability into the system. Hence provide feedback so that accommodations and even restructuring could be applied to the system. However, peculiar attending to the course of study and instructional techniques, alteration of proving methods, more teacher encouragement and good observation are some of the other factors that will besides promote pupils to accomplish higher classs.Campaigners InterviewedData Collection InstrumentDate and Time of Interview1. Teacher 2. Parent 3. Student: One Two Three Interviews – Interviews were conducted with a instructor, parent and students, with respects to high bets proving. 2rd June 2010 @ 2:00 autopsy 4th June 2010 @ 3:30 autopsy 7th June 2010 @ 2:00 autopsy 9th June 2010 @ 2:00 autopsy 11th June 2010 @ 2:00 autopsyTeacher:After carry oning an interview with a SEA test instructor, Mr. Mehindra stated that most pupils sitting the S.E.A Examination are under intense anxiousness as the course of study had many countries to specify. He stated that the SEA scrutiny course of study is rather regime and demands a batch from the pupils composing the test. A major job he stated was the clip restraint that inhibits pupils from being originative as there is small or no clip to experiment with information. Formulae, regulations and grammatical constructions are learnt and merely applied to inquiries. While he found a high interest trial such as the S.E.A. scrutiny to be relevant and necessary as it standardizes proving of pupils who portion similar learnt cognition and ability as to what they have studied throughout their primary instruction. He stated that as a S.E.A. exam instructor such a high interest trial is indispensable because it allows for pupils to be motivated and encourages an environment for competitory acquisition. He besides mentioned that the accomplishment of transportation is at the bosom of larning and should non be left to speculate. It must be officially encouraged and become profoundly engraved and structured into the course of study in schools. In contrast he besides claimed that the existent winners are ever those who think outside of the box and who have put their cognition and endowments to creative usage in the humanistic disciplines, concern, scientific disciplines, humanistic disciplines, athleticss and across subjects and have good balanced and holi stic development.Parent:Most parents want what ‘s best for their kids. They want their kids to go critical minds with the accomplishments necessary for higher instruction and great success in life. As a parent of a kid who sat the SEA test late she was much relieved that it was done and over with. She stated that utilizing high bets test to do determinations with of import effects for single pupils can be intimidating. Her concerns were if the trials are being used right and reasonably. She besides stated that it was much work for her as it was for her kid because she spent same sum of hours awake and was emotionally stressed out by the volume of worked needed to be covered by her kid. Besides the memorisation of all the assorted expression and grammatical regulations were rather overpowering. She found that the SEA test high bets test promoted a narrow focal point on acquiring the right reply and contract the course of study to whatever information is expected on the trial. Thinking outside of the box is discouraged. Capable countries such as art, music, wellness and scientific discipline got fringy attention.A Conversely she besides expressed rather an interesting point by acknowledging that high bets test facilitates higher acquisition accomplishments. She besides appreciated the fact that the SEA test high interest trial in peculiar besides encourages an environment for competitory acquisition.Student # 1As a SEA exam pupil it proved to be rather ambitious and boring Cavita stated with a diffident smiling. She has late completed the SEA scrutiny and shared some of her late fond memories. The effects of the high interest SEA test did so take a toll on her. Her full agenda had changed as she had increased her perusal hours because the work got really demanding, which in bend reduced her extracurricular activities by about half. She besides stressed of the scope of inauspicious emotional reactions, of which she frequently felt down, disquieted, or embarrassed. Besides at times she felt stupid and less proud of herself. While there was the motivative factor of competitory acquisition she besides stated that it was so a immense challenge. Cavita besides mentioned that her parents were rather supportive and did so attend to her every demand. Her female parent would frequently remain up while she studied and if she was hungry made a speedy bite for her to crunch on. She did nevertheless hold that standardising a high bets test such as the SEA tests do hold its benefits, as it allowed a similar scene of criterions across the schools, territories and state. Furthermore she stated that it gave a sense of what to anticipate at secondary and third degree scrutinies.Student # 2Ravi is a originative kid who is non really fond of tests. When questioned about the SEA test he was a spot hesitating about the subject because he found the test to be an highly hard undertaking. He argued that it was excessively much work to larn in excessively small clip. He stated that at times the focal point on memorisation of ex pression and grammatical regulations were rather overpowering. Besides he stated that instructors teach the course of study and merely what is in the course of study and as such originative humanistic disciplines and scientific discipline undertakings are sidelined in order to complete the demanding course of study. Next, he mentioned how boring it used to be as instructors focus on so many trial documents and past documents that at clip he felt suffocated. His extracurricular activities were denied as he had excessively much work to concentrate on. However he besides stated that he was a spot slower than others and frequently felt down and defeated, therefore, the demand to seek harder. On the positive side he was appreciative to the fact that in such a high interest trial as the SEA exam he can look frontward to capture into a secondary school, which in bend was his motivative factor.Student # 3Small speculative heads ever think critically, as such is this student who late wrote the high bets SEA test. She found the SEA scrutiny to be a ambitious vas to greater accomplishment. She stated that it a mechanism that is used to actuate pupils and instructors likewise. Student should desire to execute good to experience a sense of achievement as go throughing this test allows you to graduate and travel on to a secondary instruction. Teachers should besides experience accomplished when their clip and attempt is appreciated, non merely by their pupils but parents every bit good. She besides pointed out that standardising trial such as the SEA scrutiny will let pupils a just opportunity of equality as the same trial is given to each kid. She besides did non bury to advert that a high interest trial as the SEA test will besides help in puting criterions across the schools and state. On the downside nevertheless, she stated that a batch of analyzing had to be done and as such her extracurricular activities were minimum. Besides being originative was non an option as memorisation of assorted expressions and grammatical regulations was a cardinal factor in go throughing the SEA test.THEMES DERIVED FROM ALL INTERVIEWS TAKENHarmonizing to the World Wide Web, a subject â€Å" is a consolidative thought that is a perennial component in literary or artistic work, † in a sentence, paragraph or try. Many subjects can be derived from the interviews taken every bit many responses were likewise based. While it s true that each individual has given their valuable and honest parts towards this assignment, it can be noted that many of us are of the same position when it comes to standardised testing, and to a big extent Secondary Entrance Assessment Examinations, and that it that it is clip devouring with its overladen course of study, it encourages competitory acquisiti on, disputing, motivationally structured and it diminishes any excess clip towards extra-curricular or other capable affairs. As a instructor in the primary school, I am to the full cognizant that the clip tabular array is shifted doubtless when a kid escalates to the standard 5 category. Besides, small or no clip is given to extra-curricular activities every bit good as Creative Humanistic disciplines, Music, Science and Social Studies. It was besides highlighted that there are excessively many expressions, regulations and grammatical constructions which are to be mastered in order to keep and put high at its terminal. Decision In kernel, high-stakes testing has its benefits and its disadvantages. High bets trial is aimed at making better accomplishing pupils. A High-stakes testing is designed to keep single studentsA accountable for their ain trial public presentation, unlike â€Å" system answerability, † which is aimed at the suppliers of instruction, such as, school territories, and schools. However, this can non be achieved if the system is smothering the creativeness of the people. Memorizing a text edition is no replacing for advanced thought. The creativeness for advancement that should hold been cultivated in the schoolroom is missing. Therefore neglecting to go through for a esteemed school at the S.E.A. scrutiny does non specify a individual it merely puts you at a different degree. Rather the inquiry is how best to utilize high-stakes testing. Furthermore, sufficient resources must be provided for professional development of instructors in the usage of trials and redress of pupils who ab initio fails. Policymakers must non lose sight that the ultimate end of a comprehensive answerability system is non to honor or penalize, but to better the bringing of course of study and increase pupil larning. Some balance could be brought to bear on the overdose of these pen-and-paper trials if schools become committed to a annual expounding of kids ‘s work highlighting, among others, their accomplishments in athleticss, the ocular and executing humanistic disciplines, and the school ‘s outreach community programme, to be viewed publically by school functionaries, nucleus stakeholders and other service suppliers. It provides indirect grounds that pupils are showing understanding of their cognition in context. Therefore it is of my sentiment that a high interest trial does non specify an person but help a pupil into going a more successful and accomplishing individual. In Trinidad and Tobago we must recognize that the consequence of the instruction system which revolves about high bets scrutinies is non ever the most achieving method but a mechanism used to assist ease higher accomplishment.