Critical Reflection of Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Critical Reflection of Learning - Essay Example Secondly in this area, instructors have been shown as the real professionals and experts who administer the skills to learners as a way of passing knowledge from one generation to another. It is in this group that professionalism and integrity should be stressed so as to ensure that right and correct curriculum and procedure is followed. The government of the day is a unique figure in the propagation of knowledge in the country. They formulate policies that will improve the delivery of knowledge in academic excellence. They depend on learning centers and organizations so as to produce sufficient and qualified personnel which will carry on the nation in the coming generations. It is with this great interest and dependence of learning process that this paper shall outline the benefits of critical reflection so as to improve learning and enhance efficiency for both learners and instructors. Learning depends on a systemic guide that elaborates the academic procedure and curriculum which instructors lead learners through it, and assessment and evaluation is done to show if learning has taken place or not. Good performance in assessment and evaluation through examinations is seen as positive, while failure is shown to suggest that learning has not taken place. This critically does not reflect the true identity of learning process. This is because examiners may wish to examine learners in a specific topic or module which may not be friendly with the learner hence the poor performance of the student. This therefore, suggests that the student may have failed in this area but well equipped in other topics which may not have been examined. This illustration makes an argument that examination may not be the best tool to reflection of the learning process since it does not indicate all the possible avenues of education. On the hand, those who may have performed well in the exam may have had a good time with the topic examined hence their performance. Environment is a great contributor in the performance of a student that may enable one to perform well or poor. In cases where tension is identified, learners may be affected in their performance. Parents and instructors who threaten their children put pressure to perform on them hence passing or failing dos not reflect learning and acquisition of knowledge. This indicates that pupils may pass the exam because of the family, and friends pressure, and not as a result that they have achieved the goal of learning. This proves that stakeholders should come together and come up with ways to evaluate and assess learners in the learning process so as to send out qualified professionals that can be depended on to improve economies of the world and offer management expertise in global organizations. Academic performance has been set as a mark in the employment subject which has seen people with good certificates enter the job world. However, it has been argued that some of these people are considered incompetent e ven though they possess certificates with wonderful grades. This raises alarm on the merits of learning since in several high learning institutions, it is the choice and decision of the respective lectures that make or break a professional from the class environment. Proper machinery and

Criminological research Essay Example for Free

Criminological research Essay Longitudinal Approach to Chicago Crime Research The Project on Human Development in Chicago Research conducted a research regarding the historical origins of crime using the statistical longitudinal approach — eight-year-follow-up from 1993 to 2001 on 11,000 individuals with equal male to female ratio in nine different age groups selected at random from 70 different communities— and the developmental crime analysis using multi-field approaches from various related studies in criminology, sociology, psychology and biology. The Project is based at Harvard School of Public Health and is jointly sponsored by National Institute of Justice and MacArthur Foundation. The project attempted to explain the psychological and criminological determinants of the city in response to the mounting crime rates from the years 1960’s to current. In lieu with this, the project also aimed to find ‘solutions’ through the aforementioned multi-disciplinary analysis combined with therapeutic intervention analysis. Understanding criminal behavior entails identification of the source (from birth to adulthood), the developmental origin and environmental influences. Main areas for the study include individual differences, influences from family, school, peer and community, criminal careers, predictions of dangerousness. Data collection is by multistream STORI approach—self-reports tests and examinations, observational procedures (surveys and interviews), existing records, and informant reports. Community, as a determinant, is analyzed through systemic social observation. Changes in family structure is measured at several factors including the individual and/or mixed effect of household environment, care providers, key figures , presence of extended family, quality of upbringing, and the relationships within. The impact of racism on construction of identity of the samples was also considered. Gender-specific roles was also investigated–— why males tend to be more violent and the females more into sexual and property offenses  ¬Ã¢â‚¬â€ their differential response to developmental determinants, individuality, and social behavior with focus between adolescence-adulthood period. Antisocial behavior as exhibited by criminal behavior is evaluated at traumatic stress (and PTSD), abuse and child development; the coping mechanism and resilience and cycle of violence hypotheses is evaluated in line with this. Aside from exploring the history and patterns of anti-socialism, the project maimed at creating intervention programs at the following age group to prevent recidivism: 0-6 (improved social skills and cognitive stimulation); and young adolescents (modeling, peer leader and educ films); young adults (probation and diversion programs). Testing persistence-desistence hypothesis by using various theories [ (bio-psych development, social learning and control, social organization, network, rational choice and deterrence theory)] with focus on peer relations will also be included in the Project. The Project also aimed at creating a pragmatic, large-scale approach for crime prevention by testing their hypothesis on differential social organization, individual differences, peer groups and social networks. The Project’s scheme is rather ambitious considering that it requires an 8 year statistical analysis, only 200 field experts and one co-sponsor (aside from the federal). While it is true that ‘meta-analysis’ can be applicable for such types of study, there are problems in statistical method sampling especially if the test samples ‘migrated’ or ‘died’ before the end of the project. Would the Project resort to attrition analysis? The investigation may also be weak because it relies on questionnaires and interviews, and most criminals, in reality, rarely talk about their life. Technology should also be assessed for the study. Additionally, the methods used, although very extensive, may be very tiring to the staff. Although the objectives of the study are great, the methods require extensive staffing and careful management and (detached) association with the samples in the study. Reference Earls, F. J. and Reiss, A. J. (1994). Breaking the Cycle. NIJ Research Report. 91 pp.

Admittedly Committred :: essays research papers

Admittedly Committed   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All I could do was stand there and shiver. I don’t know if it was the fact that all I was wearing was a hospital gown and a pair of socks or if it was the fact that I was in a mental hospital. I was standing there, waiting to be put in a room for the night and I would be reassigned in the morning.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Laying down on what felt like a stone with linens thrown on it wasn’t very comfortable at all. Sleep was the least of my worries at this point though; I was wondering how to stay warm. Looking around in the dark at my room, everything was bolted directly to the floor. The beds, dressers, and desks were made of cheap oak and the walls were cement covered in an inch and a half of squishy white padding. Inside this room with me lay two brothers, who I came to find out have been in this place for a very long time and weren’t leaving anytime soon. I didn’t want to be there.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When I awoke, the two brothers were playing some sort of fake soldier game and running around the room like animals and hitting each other with pillows. They couldn’t have been older than thirteen. It was very sad that people so young should ever need to be put in a place such as this. I introduced myself to them. One of the brothers, Beau, got on my nerves right from the start. He was a very annoying little boy. He spent most of his days in a corner in â€Å"time-out† because he was the one kid out of all of us who never listened and never stopped talking.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sitting down in the discussion room after breakfast was very uncomfortable for me. I was the new kid and I didn’t like being looked at by these people. We were all in here for something, but none of us talked about it unless we were forced by the counselors in the room. These people were crazy. Running away seemed pea-sized in comparison to the other things these kids had done in here. There were kids with white stretchy bandages on their arms to cover up the cuts. Other kids just had like severe ADHD and were on high doses of Ritalin. There was this little boy named Tyler, he was the smallest, youngest boy there.

The Joys of Mediocrity :: Personal Narrative

The Joys of Mediocrity "Why do I look fat?" "Why is the shape of my face not proportional to my body?" "Why do I have so many pimples?" "Why is my nose that big?" You and I have, at some point, grumbled like this -- it could have happened last month, last week, or even just five minutes ago! We never forgave ourselves for those flaws in our physical structure called imperfections. Most of us strive to become the person of what fashion magazines, movies, or pop culture in general proclaim as the "ideal physique of man." The beau ideal meant good looks, prominence of height, well-toned bodies, and the like. Lacking in one or more of these qualities suggests that you aren't qualified to be with the elite who dominate the world because 'the world' considers them elegant and glamorous -- simply, they are 'perfect.' So we do what we can to prove them wrong. It's easy to see because it's everywhere around us. Ladies copy the latest fashion trend, while men attempt to look and act what they think is the 'in' thing. And there's always the beauty products and modern technology to work everything else out. No, nothing wrong with doing these -- every person has the right to do so. The question is "For what real purpose is it about?" Has society been so judgmental, so vainglorious that it casts its eyes down to anyone who doesn't meet their expectations? Do we have to punish ourselves-by not valuing time, money, and self-worth-for something only temporary? Imperfection is normal. No one escapes it-not even the most well-bred. We are only human. Or in a more philosophical sense perhaps we were meant to be created this way, to counterbalance what we have and what we don't have. When you closely look at it, imperfection is not such a big deal. It's what that's in you that truly counts. Does perfection even exist? Most of the greatest people that ever lived were recognized for their remarkable achievements, not for how they look like. And besides, if all in this world were perfect, nothing will be regarded with appreciation anymore. A flaw actually makes an object look more appealing and precious, because you see the finer features beneath.

Ethics of Rendition Essay

This study begins by stating that nulla poena sine lege, meaning that no person may be punished except in accordance with the law. In every instance, there must be a law governing and prescribing punishment. Further to that non omne quod licet honestum est, meaning that not everything that is permissible or even lawful is honest or honorable. There are limitations in respect of this maxim. Finally, it would also like to state that apices juris non sunt jura or non congruit de apicibus juris disputare, meaning that legal principles must not be carried to their most extreme consequences, regardless of equity and good sense. This study deems it fit to address the issue of rendition within the three maxims mentioned there above. It is worth while to note that rendition is not only a legal issue but also an ethical issue, so to speak. Therefore this study will take into consideration several ethical theories to enrich the theoretical perspective of this study. The section on findings and discussion will give a critical synthesis between law and morality discussed in this study. This will also be the part where this study will give its own stance regarding ethics of rendition. Research Questions Q. To what extent can rendition be justified? Q. Is it justifiable in law and in morality? Literature Review This section will explore in depth the notion of rendition and its impact on contemporary society. It will look at how different governments feel about it especially in the United States. Rendition is defined as the act of shifting a person from one nation to another for imprisonment and interrogation through the use of torture, which would not be permissible if they remained in a certain country. Extraordinary rendition involves the transportation of suspected foreign terrorists or other persons suspected of crimes, to other countries for interrogation and imprisonment. Looking at the above definition one can already dismiss the rationale of rendition off-hand. Just before even getting to the aspect of torture in it, why would a government take advantage of another country’s laws? Why is it hard for such a government to enact laws friendly to rendition in their own country? There are so many other queries that need to be addressed here. It is believed that the aim of extraordinary rendition is to make suspects provide intelligence information by torturing them. These suspects are either sent to facilities sponsored by the US government or can be left in the hands of foreign governments. As mentioned earlier, suspects are transported to countries whose laws do not prohibit torture and abusive treatment. In this regard, extraordinary rendition allows acts of torture towards detained suspects notwithstanding the fact that torture is an offence, at least, under international law no matter the cost. This practice is believed to have begun back in 1990s but gained its momentum following the September 9/11 attacks on US. It is also believed that this policy re-appeared during the reign of Bill Clinton although it grew in strength during the reign of George Bush. It is estimated that 150 foreign nationals have been victims of torture as a result of rendition in the last few years alone. In most cases this foreign nationals have purportedly been suspected for terrorist acts. After their transportation, detention and interrogation takes place in countries like Jordan, Egypt, Diego Garcia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt and Guantanamo. Robert Baer, the former CIA agent, is on record for having said that if one wants a serious interrogation then the culprit should be sent to Jordan. If the aim is to torture them then the best place would be Syria and if the aim is to make a victim disappear and never to be seen again, then the best place would be Egypt. There are allegations that US intelligence agencies have sent terror suspects for interrogation by security officials in different countries. By so doing, they put them in a situation where they cannot be protected by the American Law. Some persons confess that they were flown to countries like Syria and Egypt by CIA agencies where they were tortured. The US government and its intelligence agencies believe that their operations are legally justified. Even though US officials agree that terror suspects have been transported to other countries for interrogation, they vehemently deny that acts of torture take place when they get there. The former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on record for having said that all American interrogators act within the UN Convention on Torture. She went further to state that they adhere to this Convention while exercising their duties in US or in another country. There are several documents that detail human rights legislation, for instance: (a)Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions (b) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) (c) United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) and (d) US Constitution. Surprising enough is that US government is a signatory of each of these treatises. This study believes that by the fact that United States identifies with the principles in each of these documents it should be the first nation to safeguard victims against acts of torture. Nonetheless, the impression is that US promotes extraordinary rendition in the name of war on terror. Then why would one not accuse US government of hypocrisy or cynical relativism in terms of its commitment to human rights and civil rights laws? Moreover, the fact that US are a signatory to the abovementioned documents it needs to terminate programs that violate human dignity. The Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions The Geneva Convention set the standards for international law as far as humanitarian issues are concerned. Its central concern was the treatment of civilians as well as prisoners of war. Its principles safeguard against human rights violations and establish universally acceptable standards and approaches relating to detained victims in times of war. The Convention forbids any form of physical or mental torture or any other kind of coercion towards suspects in a bid to gather information from them. It further states that even if the prisoners fail to open up during the interrogation process they should not be intimidated or abused or maltreated for that matter. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights The fifth article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that â€Å"no person shall be put to torturous acts or inhuman treatment or punishment†. Apart from providing an injunction against torture it further restricts the utilization of â€Å"degrading treatment or punishment†. In the sixth article, it states that every person has a right to recognition before the law no matter where the person is or could be. The eighth article invalidates the CIA’s practice of â€Å"extraordinary rendition†. This article states as follows: â€Å"Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law†. This study believes that whenever prisoners are transported to other countries chances that this protocol will be observed are quite minimal. The ninth article prohibits the arrest of persons with no proper justification, including detention or exile. This provision prevents United States from carrying out extraordinary rendition activities. The tenth article essentially invokes what in Latin can be termed as habeas corpus which literally means that one may have the body. It is a writ ordering a person to be brought before a court or judge so that the court may ascertain whether his detention is lawful or not. United Nations Convention against Torture This convention has an international scope on human rights protection. This Convention is greatly endorsed by the United Nations and its observance is extremely mandatory for all the member states who are signatory to it. As mentioned earlier, United States is a signatory of this document so it has no option but to adhere to its provisions. This Convention states that all signatories should create appropriate measures to safeguard against torturous acts within their territories and prohibits countries from transferring persons to other countries so that they might torture them. Article two states that every state ought to exercise appropriate legislative measures, administration and judicial measures to fight any elements of torture under its jurisdiction. It further states that under no circumstances can torture be justified. The circumstances could be a state of war or a threat of war or public emergency. It also does not matter whether such orders come from the top officers, torture remains unjustified. In article three it states that no person may be transported to another state to be interrogated or tortured simply because that country’s laws allow it. The Constitution of the United States It is quite impressive to discover that the practice of extraordinary rendition is not only prohibited as seen in the three Conventions discussed above, but the US constitution is against it as well. The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Amendments are a clear indication that US holds a no-policy towards extraordinary rendition. These amendments prohibit arbitrary search and seizure of individual and/or property; it also invokes the right to due process of law, as in, the concept of habeas corpus mentioned above. In this light, US government contradicts the spirit of its constitution whenever they indulge in extraordinary rendition. Deontology versus Utilitarianism Deontological moral theory is also a Non-Consequentialist moral theory. While consequentialists believe that the end always justify the means, deontologists assert that the rightness of an action is not simply qualified by maximizing the good alone, it must be that the action fulfils what is considered moral. It is the inherent nature of the act alone that determines its ethical standing. Or better still, utilinitarianism believe that one should always exploit the good in his/her actions while deontologism believes that it is not the pursuit of the good but it is the moral worthiness in the act. Virtue Ethics is not much concerned with rules, consequences and specific acts but it puts more emphasis on the subject of the actions. In other words, it is interested with the person who is responsible for acting. It holds that acting in accordance with given rules; or analyzing the good outcome of the actions is not what should only count. The most primary thing is whether the subject of the actions, in this case the individual, exhibits elements of good character or moral virtues or not. Unlike utilitarianism which is concerned with the maximization of the good in performing a given act, virtue ethics instead, focuses on the moral quality exhibited by the agent of the actions. Therefore, the dictum that the end justifies the means has no place in virtue ethics. On the other hand, deontologism is somehow a normative approach to ethics which typically evaluates the actions of an individual in relation to moral standards in the objective order. Both utilitarianism and deontology focus on the actions of the agent contrary to virtue ethics which is a complete turn to the subject that is acting. Findings and Discussion Throughout this study it can be seen that there is no where that extraordinary rendition has been justified. The reader taking part in this study can clearly ascertain that rendition has no place either in law or in morality. Furthermore, it cannot be justified no matter the circumstance. This study however believes that persons who destabilize peace and stability should be dealt with accordingly. In any way, they should be eliminated in the society. Looking at the intention of extraordinary rendition, it stands justified in that it serves as a deterrent kind of punishment. Literally, it makes the culprits pay for the wrongs they have committed. In the contemporary society crime cannot be something that anybody will brush under the carpet, it is important that preventive measures be put in place. The Conventions discussed in this study clearly indicate that extraordinary rendition is an offence in law. Now, the problem is that this study does not understand to what extent each of these Conventions applies. It was stated very clearly that signatories to these Conventions are bound by them; so do these same Conventions apply to countries like Syria, Jordan or Egypt which are clearly the preferred destinations for acts of interrogation and torture. This study cannot fail to mention that most countries, or instance, Syria or Egypt are sovereign and with authentic constitutions. Could it be that their constitutions allow extraordinary renditions? Or is it that their laws do not care about such practices? This means that a country need not legalize torture but the fact that its laws say nothing about acts of rendition it becomes a reason to practice them. From a utilitarian ethical viewpoint, the end qualifies the means so long as the acts brings desirable end. This means that utilitarianism supports extraordinary rendition insofar as it will eliminate same crime occurring in the future. On the contrary, deontological ethical viewpoint believes that what should be investigated is the act itself not the consequences. As such, torture is immoral whether a nation recognizes it in law or not. This study confidently declares torture an immoral thing and something that should not be used as a form of punishment. Finally, this study would like to reiterate that the contemporary world needs to enact stiff measures to ensure that all criminals have been completely wiped out. No person should disturb another person’s peace. It also believes that due process of law is the best way to deal with criminals. Imprisonment in itself is maximum punishment since it denies such criminals opportunities for further commitment of crime. Conclusion This study has explored the meaning of extraordinary rendition and its implications. So far, there is no where in this study has it been justified. Much of its practice has been adopted by the United States government in its war on terror. From the Conventions it is clear that the practice of torturous acts remains entirely prohibited no matter the cost. It has also been indicated that the major proponents of extraordinary rendition, the United States for this matter, prohibit such practice in their constitution. This study has also highlighted two ethical standpoints namely deontologism and utilitarianism. Inasmuch as utilitarianism justifies the means due to the perceived good it does not offer any justification for extraordinary rendition. So, human dignity should be upheld at all times. This study invites persons with malicious intentions to reconsider their attitudes and evade practices that would make them be treated inhumanly. Bibliography Alfred W. McCoy, (2006). A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation from the Cold War to the War on Terror (New York, Metropolitan Books) p. 60. Craig R. Ducat, (2000). Constitutional Interpretation: Rights of the Individual, Vol. II (Belmont, Wadswoth/Thomson Learning), E33. 18 Garret T. (2005). Virtue Theory. London International Committee of the Red Cross, International Humanitarian Law – Third 1949 Geneva Convention. http://www. icrc. org/ihl. nsf/FULL/375? OpenDocument> Jeremy Brecher et al. (2005). eds. , In the Name of Democracy: American War Crimes in Iraq and Beyond, (New York, Metropolitan Books) p. 304-5. Korsgaard, Christine M. (2003). Punishment & Legality: Extraordinary Rendition. New York: Cambridge University Noam Chomsky, (1999). The Umbrella of U. S. Power: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Contradictions of U. S. Policy (New York, Seven Stories Press) p. 71. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, http://www2. ohchr. org/english/law/cat. htm> Schumpeter J. (2006). The Understanding of Deontology Moral Theory. Oxford University Press Stephen Grey, (2007). Ghost Plane: The True Story of the CIA Rendition and Torture Program. New York.

Evaluation of Gender Inequality (Through the World, Time, and Of Mice and Men) Essay Example

Evaluation of Gender Inequality (Through the World, Time, and Of Mice and Men) Essay Example Evaluation of Gender Inequality (Through the World, Time, and Of Mice and Men) Essay Evaluation of Gender Inequality (Through the World, Time, and Of Mice and Men) Essay Gender Equality throughout the World, Time, and Fiction Charlotte Bronte wrote in Jane Eyre, l am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will. No visible net ensnares womankind. However, long have women been viewed and treated as unequal to their male counterparts. This inequality is alive everywhere. As displayed in Of Mice and Men, gender inequality is alive even in fiction. Gender equality has been an ongoing struggle in fiction and reality, our country and foreign countries, and in the past and the present. Gender inequality effects the people of the entire world. For example, there are major issues involving gender in Egypt. In Egypt, there are the sparks of movements trying to introduce women into government without challenging the reigning Brotherhood. Another place that struggles with gender inequality is the U. S. where women representation in government is very low. Only 17 out of 100 senate seats are held by women. Even in the U. S. , one of the most highly regarded nations in the world, women are not entirely equal. Gender inequality has effected people all through time. In example, it wasnt until the 1920s that women could vote in the U. S. Women have long been considered less than their male counterparts. Only recently have women put a dent in the extreme patriarchy that has existed all through history. Today, women still are of unequal representation, pay, and rights across the globe. For example, in the U. S. today, there mans dollar as pay for the same positions. This is one example of how inequality lingers in modern day first world countries. Gender inequality is also existent in both reality and fiction. We have already given any examples of real cases and statistics including representation and wage gaps. However, there is also gender inequality in the fictional world. For example, in Of Mice and Men, Curlys wife is a prime example of gender struggles. She is constantly being marginalized. She is viewed as a thing that would get Lennie in trouble instead of an actual person. Even her name is never spoken. She is referred to as Curlys wife which reaffirms Curlys ownership over her and her status as a possession or an object instead of a human being. When her dead body is found, the first and only omment made of her death was along the lines of, Poor boy. Curlys wifes death was seen as nothing but something unfortunate for Lennie. This contributes to the pile of evidence that can conclude that Curlys wife was considered a mere object. Through time, in foreign countries, and even in between pages, gender inequality has been a constant struggle. Charlotte Bronte wrote that she, a woman, is no bird. A woman, after having a net thrown on her and her fellows time and time again, must decide to declare that they are not a bird, but a human being. Human beings arent o be ensnared. It is said that the first step of fixing a problem is the recognition that it exists. So, women must understand that the net encompassing them is not a blanket, but a prison. Together, womankind must stand and declare, We are not birds. Hopefully, these examples of gender inequality is bringing more attention to the net. Hopefully, the realization will dawn that gender inequality is thriving among us and will not die out on its own. It has existed everywhere, always. A mighty effort is to be made to begin the reversal of this inequality and injustice.

Deductive and Inductive Reasoning in Sociology

Deductive and Inductive Reasoning in Sociology Deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning are two different approaches to conducting scientific research. Using deductive reasoning, a researcher tests a theory by collecting and examining empirical evidence to see if the theory is true. Using inductive reasoning, a researcher first gathers and analyzes data, then constructs a theory to explain her findings. Within the field of sociology, researchers use both approaches. Often the two are used in conjunction when conducting research and when drawing conclusions from results. Deductive Reasoning Many scientists consider deductive reasoning the gold standard for scientific research. Using this method, one begins with a theory or hypothesis, then conducts research in order to test whether that theory or hypothesis is supported by specific evidence. This form of research begins at a general, abstract level and then works its way down to a more specific and concrete level. If something is found to be true for a category of things, then it is considered to be true for all things in that category in general. An  example of how deductive reasoning is applied within sociology can be found in a 2014 study of whether biases of race or gender shape access to graduate-level education. A team of researchers used deductive reasoning to hypothesize that, due to the prevalence of racism in society, race would play a role in shaping how university professors respond to prospective graduate students who express interest in their research. By tracking professor responses (and lack of responses) to imposter students, coded for race and gender by name, the researchers were able to prove their hypothesis true. They concluded, based on their research, that racial and gender biases are barriers that prevent equal access to graduate-level education across the U.S. Inductive Reasoning Unlike deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning begins with specific observations or real examples of events, trends, or social processes. Using this data, researchers then progress analytically to broader generalizations and theories that help explain the observed cases. This is sometimes called a bottom-up approach because it starts with specific cases on the ground and works its way up to the abstract level of theory. Once a researcher has identified patterns and trends amongst a set of data, he or she can then formulate a hypothesis to test, and eventually develop some general conclusions or theories. A classic example of inductive reasoning in sociology is  Ãƒâ€°mile Durkheims study of suicide. Considered one of the first works of social science research, the  famous and widely taught book, Suicide, details how Durkheim created a sociological theory of suicide- as opposed to a psychological one- based on his scientific study of suicide rates among Catholics and Protestants. Durkheim found that suicide was more common among Protestants than Catholics, and he drew on his training in social theory to create some typologies of suicide and a general theory of how suicide rates fluctuate according to significant changes in social structures and norms. While inductive reasoning is commonly used in scientific research, it is not without its weaknesses. For example, it is not always logically valid to assume that a general principle is correct simply because it is supported by a limited number of cases. Critics have suggested that Durkheims theory is not universally true because the trends he observed could possibly be explained by other phenomena particular to the region from which his data came. By nature, inductive reasoning is more open-ended and exploratory, especially during the early stages. Deductive reasoning is more narrow and is generally used to test or confirm hypotheses. Most social research, however, involves both inductive and deductive reasoning throughout the research process. The scientific norm of logical reasoning provides a two-way bridge between theory and research. In practice, this typically involves alternating between deduction and induction.

Archaeological Hearths - Features With Benefits

Archaeological Hearths - Features With Benefits A hearth is an archaeological feature that represents the remnants of a purposeful fire. Hearths can be extremely valuable elements of an archaeological site, as they are indicators of a whole range of human behaviors and provide an opportunity for obtaining radiocarbon dates for the period that people used them. Hearths are typically used to cook food, but may also have been used to heat-treat lithics, burn pottery and/or a variety of social reasons such a beacon to let others know where you are, a way to keep predators away, or simply provide a warm and inviting gathering place. The purposes of a hearth are often discernible within the remnants: and those purposes are key to understanding the human behaviors of the people who used it. Types of Hearths Over the millennia of human history, there have been a wide variety of intentionally-built fires: some were simply piles of wood stacked on the ground, some were excavated into the ground and covered to provide steam heat, some were built up with adobe brick for use as earth ovens, and some were stacked upwards with a mix of fired brick and potsherds to act as ad hoc pottery kilns. A typical archaeological hearth falls in the middle range of this continuum, a bowl-shaped soil discoloration, within which is evidence that the contents have been exposed to temperatures between 300-800 degrees centigrade. How do archaeologists identify a hearth with this range of shapes and sizes? There are three crucial elements to a hearth: inorganic material used to shape the feature; organic material burned in the feature; and evidence of that combustion. Shaping the Feature: Fire-Cracked Rock In places in the world where rock is readily available, the defining characteristic of a hearth is often plenty of fire-cracked rock, or FCR, the technical term for rock thats been cracked by exposure to high temperatures. FCR is differentiated from other broken rock because it has been discolored and thermally altered, and although often the pieces can be refit together, there is no evidence of impact damage or deliberate stone working. However, not all FCR is discolored and cracked. Experiments recreating the processes that make fire-cracked rock have revealed that the presence of discoloration (reddening and/or blackening) and spalling of larger specimens depends both on the kind of rock being used (quartzite, sandstone, granite, etc.) and the kind of fuel (wood, peat, animal dung) used in the fire. Both of those drive the temperatures of a fire, as does the length of time the fire is lit. Well-fed campfires can easily create temperatures up to 400-500 degrees centigrade; long-sustained fires can get to 800 degrees or more. When hearths have been exposed to the weather or agricultural processes, disturbed by animals or humans, they can still be identified as scatters of fire-cracked rock. Burned Bone and Plant Parts If a hearth was used to cook dinner, the leftovers of what was processed in the hearth may include animal bone and plant matter, which can be preserved if turned to charcoal. Bone which was buried under fire becomes carbonized and black, but bones on the surface of a fire are often calcined and white. Both types of carbonized bone can be radiocarbon-dated; if the bone is large enough, it can be identified to species, and if it is well-preserved, often cut-marks resulting from butchery practices can be found. Cut-marks themselves can be very useful keys to understanding human behaviors. Plant parts can also be found in hearth contexts. Burned seeds are often preserved in hearth conditions, and microscopic plant residues such as starch grains, opal phytoliths and pollen may also be preserved if conditions are right. Some fires are too hot and will damage the shapes of plant parts; but on occasion, these will survive and in an identifiable form. Combustion The presence of burned sediments, burnt patches of earth identified by discoloration and exposure to heat, is not always macroscopically apparent, but can be identified by micromorphological analysis, when microscopically thin slices of earth are examined to identify tiny fragments of ashed plant material and burnt bone fragments. Finally, non-structured hearthshearths that either were placed on the surface and were weathered by long-term wind exposure and rain/frost weathering, made without large stones or the stones were deliberately removed later and are not marked by burned soilshave still been identified at sites, based on the presence of concentrations of large quantities of burnt stone (or heat-treated) artifacts. Sources This article is a part of the About.com guide to the Archaeology Features, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Backhouse PN, and Johnson E. 2007. Where were the hearths: an experimental investigation of the archaeological signature of prehistoric fire technology in the alluvial gravels of the Southern Plains. Journal of Archaeological Science 34(9):1367-1378. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2006.10.027Bentsen SE. 2014. Using Pyrotechnology: Fire-related features and activities with a focus on the African Middle Stone Age. Journal of Archaeological Research 22(2):141-175.Fernndez Peris J, Gonzlez VB, Blasco R, Cuartero F, Fluck H, Saà ±udo P, and Verdasco C. 2012. The earliest evidence of hearths in Southern Europe: The case of Bolomor Cave (Valencia, Spain). Quaternary International 247(0):267-277. Goldberg P, Miller C, Schiegl S, Ligouis B, Berna F, Conard N, and Wadley L. 2009.Bedding, hearths, and site maintenance in the Middle Stone Age of Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 1(2):95-122. Gowlett JAJ, and Wrangham RW. 2013. Earliest fire in Africa: tow ards the convergence of archaeological evidence and the cooking hypothesis. Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa 48(1):5-30. Karkanas P, Koumouzelis M, Kozlowski JK, Sitlivy V, Sobczyk K, Berna F, and Weiner S. 2004. The earliest evidence for clay hearths: Aurignacian features in Klisoura Cave 1, southern Greece. Antiquity 78(301):513–525.Marquer L, Otto T, Nespoulet R, and Chiotti L. 2010. A new approach to study the fuel used in hearths by hunter-gatherers at the Upper Palaeolithic site of Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France). Journal of Archaeological Science 37(11):2735-2746. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2010.06.009Sergant J, Crombe P, and Perdaen Y. 2006. The ‘invisible’ hearths: a contribution to the discernment of Mesolithic non-structured surface hearths. Journal of Archaeological Science 33:999-1007.

Report of Desert Safary in dubai Research Paper

Report of Desert Safary in dubai - Research Paper Example 26% of the respondents visited Dubai because of its deserts; 34% respondents visited for enjoying the beaches; 25% of the respondents wanted to experience the nightlife; and the rest were curious about Dubai’s culture. 22% of the respondents rated the trip as very good; 34% of the respondents rated it to be good; 21% of the respondents took a neutral standpoint; 15% of the respondents rated the trip as bad; 8% rated the safari as very bad. 42% of the respondents booked their trip with Arabian Adventures; 22% of the respondents booked their trip with Fun Tours, 18% of the respondents booked their trip with Arabian Safari Trips; 12% chose Dubai Adventure Safari and the rest chose other tour service operators that were not mentioned in the options. Majority of the respondents (38%) liked overnight stay in the desert as the most beautiful part of the trip; 21% liked BBQ dinner arrangement; 8% liked camel rides; 12% of the respondents liked sand skiing; 10% of the respondents enjoyed weather in the desert the most; 4% of the respondents liked the wildlife and the rest enjoyed overall environment. 24% of the respondents enjoy parties organized by their friends and relatives the most; 39% respondents enjoy the nightclubs, 24% of the respondents liked the fact that they could drink without any restrictions; 9% respondents liked the sex tourism aspect in Dubai; whereas the rest provided other answers, which were not adequately relevant. Respondent 1: According to respondent 1, the choice to go for the desert safari was driven by the fact that the respondent had visited several places that had beaches. This time, the respondent wanted to experience something new, which has not been done as per respondent’s to do list. Respondent 2: As far as respondent 2 was concerned, the individual wanted to experience the overnight stay during the trip. The respondent was fascinated after hearing about BBQ dinner arrangements and belly dancing program, following the

When the Emperor was Divine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

When the Emperor was Divine - Essay Example The story is told from the perspective of the anonymous family, and it has special meaning. It does not matter what were the names of family members because they became simple outcasts in the eyes of Americans. The author calls her personages simply: a mother, a girl, a boy, and father which means that similar events happened to almost all Japanese families: they were simply turned to enemies. The story has four different narrators. First chapter is told from the Mother`s perspective who probably was affected the most by this unexpected exile as she was responsible for two little children at the absence of the husband. The journey on the train from their home in California to Topaz War Relocation Center is described by the daughter of the family while the family`s staying in inhumane conditions in the camp is described by the boy. The fourth chapter is told from the position of the father, however he uses the pronoun â€Å"we† which can be understood as â€Å"we† the fa mily or â€Å"we â€Å"-Japanese. It is possible to compare this novel to Bernard Schlink`s â€Å"The Reader† but this will be a comparison through opposition. In the story told by Schlink the main character, Hanna, does not feel any regret about her past service for the Nazi camp and tries to forget it with the help of books and strange love. The author raises a difficult question of conscious of the whole nation, and for Germans as well as for Japanese this question turns out to be very difficult as it touches each and every citizen. However, in â€Å"When the Emperor was Divine† the life of the characters, even the smallest one, is changed from the very beginning of the war. They become outcasts and they start feeling ashamed for their origin. These events influenced every character of the book in a different and serious way. The mother of the family faced

Photosynthesis In Plants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Photosynthesis In Plants - Essay Example Three leaves of the bouquet were covered by aluminum foil ensuring that the foil was blocking light from the leaves. The foil was removed from one leaf every week, photographed and observed for the three-week period.ResultsIn Figure 1, the leaves were green and healthy. Figure 2 shows leaves that had turned to light green and almost white in color. Vascular bundles were clearly visible in addition to the green spots on the leaf. The color at the center of the leaf was lighter than the periphery. Figure 3 shows leaves that are brown and dried out.DiscussionThe findings indicate that light is necessary for photosynthesis. The leaf in Figure 1 was green and healthy despite being covered by the aluminum foil because the energy in the chloroplast could still sustain photosynthesis. The leaf in Figure 2, was turning light green to indicate minimum photosynthesis was taking place. The leaf in Figure 3 had been covered for a longer period of time and the energy needed for photosynthesis was depleted. Moreover, there was no more light energy that could be absorbed for photosynthesis. This experiment shows that a low light intensity leads to a low rate of photosynthesis. This would deduce that an increased light intensity would lead to a high rate of photosynthesis at an optimum level.ConclusionIn summary, photosynthesis is essential for plants. Therefore water, temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide should be made available to ensure the survival of plants.

Exam Topics (Operations Management) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Exam Topics (Operations Management) - Essay Example Operations is one of the most important and primary functions in any sort of firm or business. "While marketing induces the demands for products and finance provides the capital, operations produces and delivers the product (goods and services)." (Hall, Johnson, & Pyke, 2005). By discussing these five questions, we can come to a clearer and more knowledgeable viewpoint on the subject matter. The aim of this paper is to discuss all of this, while also examining the other key elements which fit within this profile of subject matter. This is what will be dissertated in the following. Inefficiency drains valuable components such as money, time, quality, and talent. There is no chance in optimizing or making more positive any of the steps involved in the process if the process itself is deemed as inefficient. "Incidentally, process optimization is a continuous phenomena. It is not like you can do it once and forget about it. External conditions keep changing, other dependant processes keep changing, and so on." ("TopSigma", 2005). The nature of inefficient processes management is to make sure that these valuable components (money, time, etc.) are not wasted, but rather are used to the fullest extent possible; the ideal is to have all members working at their absolute top strength, which creates a cycle of efficiency, which in the end creates a positive result. What is the Role of Operations Management The role of 'operations' varies from business to business, but the basics always remain: the operations management looks at every process in the business, breaks it down, analyzes it, and makes it better. Their goal is to have overall customer satisfaction, and to continue the business in a positive, efficient, and effective way. "Operations management revolves around the design, organization, leadership and control of the productive assets of the enterprise, including people and technology." (Merrett, n.d.). Regardless of the size or type of business, there are always processes and operations issues that must be dealt with. Operations managers find the inefficiencies or problems in the work flow of the business, and re-engineer these processes in order for them to be more efficient and profitable for the company. Operations management involves all of the tools and processes of the business, including components such as: the supply chain, product quality, manufacturing, sales and marketing, safety and health, and environmental concerns. "Operations managers use tools like performance measurement, flowcharts, best practices information, and benchmarking to determine where the problems are and the best methods to correct them." (Obringer, 2006). Some of the processes that are linked to the operations ma

Should All Tobacco Products Be Banned Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Should All Tobacco Products Be Banned - Essay Example Tobacco industries are one of the largest sectors that raise the tax revenues. Banning it would, therefore, result in losing all these millions of dollars that tobacco industries provide. The tax returns from tobacco are also generated from its numerous advertisements and exportation and therefore the country will lose a lot of its income. Â  Thousands of citizens are addicted to tobacco and banning it will, therefore, have its own repercussions from the citizens who will not have been mentally and physically prepared to stop its use. With the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products being high in some parts of the country, banning this product will, therefore, mean a massive loss of jobs for those working in the tobacco industry’s directly or indirectly and even loss of livelihood for the tobacco farmers. The government, therefore, must be prepared for the increase in unemployment as a result of this ban and also an increase in mentally incapacitated individuals who have been forced to stop tobacco intake whereas they had not been sufficiently prepared. Â  Having presented those arguments, it is time for the reality to be examined. Taxation loss is definitely going to dent the economy. On the other hand, however, the dent might not be as large as the opponents might want to indicate. This is because a ban on tobacco will reduce the negative health effects that accompany tobacco use as stipulated in the introduction sector. The government will, therefore, be saving on the health costs and this will almost balance the reduction in tax revenue. Â  Banning tobacco does not mean that the government will not come up with other industries which can accommodate those who were depending on tobacco for their livelihood. A campaign to ban tobacco and introduce other stimulants that are not necessarily harmful to the people like what happens in rehabilitation centers for those addicted to nicotine should be enforced.

Exam Topics (Operations Management) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Exam Topics (Operations Management) - Essay Example Operations is one of the most important and primary functions in any sort of firm or business. "While marketing induces the demands for products and finance provides the capital, operations produces and delivers the product (goods and services)." (Hall, Johnson, & Pyke, 2005). By discussing these five questions, we can come to a clearer and more knowledgeable viewpoint on the subject matter. The aim of this paper is to discuss all of this, while also examining the other key elements which fit within this profile of subject matter. This is what will be dissertated in the following. Inefficiency drains valuable components such as money, time, quality, and talent. There is no chance in optimizing or making more positive any of the steps involved in the process if the process itself is deemed as inefficient. "Incidentally, process optimization is a continuous phenomena. It is not like you can do it once and forget about it. External conditions keep changing, other dependant processes keep changing, and so on." ("TopSigma", 2005). The nature of inefficient processes management is to make sure that these valuable components (money, time, etc.) are not wasted, but rather are used to the fullest extent possible; the ideal is to have all members working at their absolute top strength, which creates a cycle of efficiency, which in the end creates a positive result. What is the Role of Operations Management The role of 'operations' varies from business to business, but the basics always remain: the operations management looks at every process in the business, breaks it down, analyzes it, and makes it better. Their goal is to have overall customer satisfaction, and to continue the business in a positive, efficient, and effective way. "Operations management revolves around the design, organization, leadership and control of the productive assets of the enterprise, including people and technology." (Merrett, n.d.). Regardless of the size or type of business, there are always processes and operations issues that must be dealt with. Operations managers find the inefficiencies or problems in the work flow of the business, and re-engineer these processes in order for them to be more efficient and profitable for the company. Operations management involves all of the tools and processes of the business, including components such as: the supply chain, product quality, manufacturing, sales and marketing, safety and health, and environmental concerns. "Operations managers use tools like performance measurement, flowcharts, best practices information, and benchmarking to determine where the problems are and the best methods to correct them." (Obringer, 2006). Some of the processes that are linked to the operations ma

Writing the Target Audience Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Writing the Target Audience Analysis - Essay Example The photo is larger than the interior second picture and thus the large appeal. The first photograph contains more Aristotelian appeal than the second paragraph. The magazine focuses on adults that are above the age of 18 but below 25. This group is commonly known as the young adults group. The reason for stating that this is the most preferred age group for the magazine is because of the explicit content contained in the magazine. When reading the column on the right of the left page one gets to view issues revolving around sex and it is such issues that should not be accessed by young people. In the contemporary environment, there have been different issues that involve young people getting into explicit behavior at a young age and the reason for this is the access to such magazines. It is from this that one understands that adults are the targets of this magazine. Young adults value information regarding new experience in the intimate sector. Many people around this age have little experience in intimacy and from the magazine, the audience value information regarding the subject of the column who discusses her experience when breaking her virginity. From this information one gets to understand the reason why the young adults relate to the magazine The second advertisement is that of acclaimed clothing line, Gucci. Gucci is an international store that has had the ability to capture the attention of many people from the classy products it has introduced into the market. When looking at the advertisement, one thing to note is the elegant bottle of perfumed displayed on the box. Prior to identifying the bottle, the first thing noticed is the color of the background in the advertisement. Color brown is internationally recognized as to having a certain appeal on people and the fact that it is the one used in the advertisement, it is very easy to capture potential buyers’ attention. Looking at one side of the

The novella Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck Essay Example for Free

The novella Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck Essay I am going to write about the way Steinbeck creates and describes outsiders. John Steinbeck writes from own past experience and uses it to inform us, as he worked on ranches and wrote about what he experienced in his time. In 1936 a novella about two migrant farm labourers who represent of a class that desire for a home, of which it seems they perpetually deprived. In order to gain perspective into the lives in the novella Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses themes and language of the troubling times of the Great Depression in America and Steinbecks own past experience. Of Mice and Men reflects the time of early experience in ranch life were chronicles a time of social disintegration and a mass of unemployment. Employers continually rewarded the employees with bad pay, insecure work and dangerous working conditions unlike the working society we have today. This was major pressure on Americans at the time and caused depression and isolation, mostly common to blacks, racial prejudice from whites towards black people. Blacks were always being discriminated against in all areas of life and were frequently victims if something was wrong. The novella Of Mice and Men, Crooks demonstrates this. Crooks was employed to be a stable buck (takes care of the horses). He is the only black worker on the ranch; he is a proud and lonely man who has to live apart from the other workers who were white. He shares his lodgings with no one but him self. Crooks is banned from the bank house because he is black. The only relief and comfort he obtains is from competing in the horse shoe game and caring for the horses. Steinbeck introduces Crooks into the novel well, by describing the character with considerable pity and sympathy; this is shown by the continually detailing of Crooks crooked back. Steinbeck describes Crooks as an outcast by the colour of his skin. There is no doubt that Crooks would be lynched if Curleys wife chose to pick on him instead of Lennie. Steinbeck shows us the time at Christmas when Crooks was invited into the bunkhouse, he was constantly picked on for a fight, it was made out that it was normal for Crooks to be picked on. The others saw no reason why Crooks should not be their victim just because he is black, although because of his back injury allowances were made. George and Lennie are outcasts and exiles, the reason being that they are itinerant workers and they are always together. Steinbeck plays on George and lennie for that reason, they go everywhere together whereas compare to other people at that moment and time many people worked and went places on their own. Earlier in the novella Slim emphasises that it is unusual for guys to travel around together he said Aint many guys travel round together this shows us how unique and special George and Lennies relationship is and shows that both the characters are outsiders. The ranch workers have noticed that they have come together to the ranch to work and immediately see the two as a pair and therefore they treat them similarly because it is not normal in their point of view for two men to travel together. The scene were George killed Lennie instead of the other ranch workers wanting to kill him for suffocating Curleys wife, unintentionally, immediately eliminates an immense burden and a threat to Georges life and he may now no longer be classed as an outsider by the ranch workers because he is now alone which is normal according to the workers at that time. His new burden is now hopelessness and loneliness, the life of a homeless ranch worker. Slims comfort at the end You hadda George indicates the sad truth that you have to surrender your dreams in order to survive, not the easiest of things to do in America. Curleys wife, I think is described well by Steinbeck; she also is an outcast which is the main theme that I am writing about. For instances Steinbeck simply names Curleys wife Curleys wife throughout the story, because her name is not mentioned and she is only identified as Curleys wife is a good way in my opinion to show then character as an outsider because it indicates that she is not a main character and that she is not all that important as she is only referred to as Curleys wife, it also shows that no one ever stays long enough to get close enough to her to find out her real name because they will most likely be threatened by Curley who was some control and command over the ranch because his father owns it, so the workers try to stay away from Curleys wife because they fear they will be canned (dismissed). The ranch workers know full well to stay away from Curleys wife because it is her who finds them because she is bored and just wants company. Soon after George and Lennie arrive at the ranch Curleys wife is there to greet them and she immediately catches Lennies eye and Lennie almost falls for her until George explains to him the what would happen if he got involved with her. She appears at the door of the bunkhouse and later Crookss room pretending to be looking for him when she is actually looking for company, as if they can afford to care when their jobs and physical well being are at stake, she says Think I dont like to talk to somebody ever once in awhile? Think I like to stick in that house alla time? Although Curleys wife likes to flirt, her isolation is genuine; she says Satiday night. Everbody out doin sompin. Everbody! An what am I doin ? Standin here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs an likin it because they aint no body else there is no way out of her alienation from the other characters on the ranch, who are all men. When she develops her ill fated relationship with Lennie she tells him she gets awful lonely, and like Crooks, appeals to him to understand how she feels. To Curleys wifes disappointment at not being in the movies, as says she had an opportunity to be in them, she marries Curley and soon regrets it. This brings my essay to an end as Steinbeck also finds other ways to develop the theme of loneliness and outsiders by the near by town called, Soledad and Crookss birthplace, means lonely in Spanish. George can so often be found playing solitaire, a card game for one player is a reminder that George will soon discover we are all alone in the end. In my opinion the main reason for being an outsider is probably because they have not been accepted into the group (ranch workers) and therefore they will feel lonely and an outcast.

French Maginot Line A Defensive Failure History Essay

French Maginot Line A Defensive Failure History Essay The plan of investigation is going to be an analysis and evaluation of the history behind the French Maginot Line and why it failed. To undertake this study, the following was used: visiting a local library and researching in the reference section, researching at Troy High Schools Library, and going to a bookstore to purchase secondary sources. With these starting points, I found articles, journals, and documents, that may be able to offer important information and details to my research reinforcing my arguments. Through the usage of the information gathered in these sources, I will formulate a conclusion of the importance of why the French Maginot line was a defensive failure from Germany in WWII. B. Summary of Evidence The Maginot Line, named after French Minister of Defense Andrà © Maginot, was a French defense structure comprised of concrete fortification, anti-tank barriers, artillery armaments, machine gun turrets, and much more (Allcorn). France built this structure to protect its borders from Germany and Italy based on experiences during the First World War, and preliminary Second World War (Kaufmann). The reasoning behind the construction of the Maginot line comes from the immense French losses during the WWI. By the time the war had ended November 11, 1918, the eastern sector of France was invaded and occupied by enemies for four years (Allcorn). Within these years, the war had caused the deaths of over one million French citizens and, as a result, had a major impact on demographics in France, such as a steep drop in the national birth rates (Maurois). Being a witness to the repercussion of the war, France asked itself a vital question: what could France do to defend itself in the future? The Maginot Line seemed to be the answer. If Germans were to attempt another invasion in France, a defense fortress like the Maginot Line would prevent them from doing so. The construction of the Maginot Line consisted of multiple phases throughout the 1930s (Kaufmann). The STG (Service Technique du Gà ©nie) ran the project and was supervised by CORF (Comission dOrganisation des Rà ©gions Fortifià ©es) (Allcorn). The majority of construction was completed during 1939, costing about three billion francs (Allcorn). The Maginot Line seemed to be the pinnacle of defense structures at the time: it was a linear structure, with a succession of forts constructed in an continuous line (Jurga).   Each fort was placed about 15 km apart from the next, varying amongst terrain. Between each forts were casements, armored buildings from where machine-gun are fired, that further reinforced the Lines defenses (Jurga). The forts and interval casemates were adjoined by anti-tank barriers and barbed wires (Jurga). In essence, the ligne de principale rà ©sistance, with all of its forts, casements, and barriers, seemed to be the ultimate defensive structure. In theory, an invading German army would have to battle the Line as wholly conjoined system, not as series of individual forts and turrets (Robertson).   However, as the German Army drew closer to France, the French Commanders withdrew troops and artillery troops that connected the individual forts and turrets and deployed them elsewhere (Maurois).   This choice weakened much of the Lines firepower and infantry.  Hence, when the Germans attacked, they did not battle the  Line as envisioned by  its constructors (Kaufmann).   The WWII German invasion plan of 1940 (Sichelschnitt) was created to deal with the Line (Allcorn). A decoy force sat opposite the Line to instigate the Phony War: for 8 months, the Germans gave the impression that they were planning to invade the French at the Maginot Line by shooting artillery salvos on an area nearby (Feuchtinger). In the meantime, another German force cut through the Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as through the Ardennes Forest, which lay north of the main French defenses (Allcorn). Hence, the Germans were able to avoid directly attacking the Maginot Line. On May 10th, German forces had penetrated deep into France continued to advance until for fourteen days (Kaufmann). The French Prime Minister, Marshal Philippe Pà ©tain, realizing that France was overrun, proceeded to surrender and requested an armistice with Germany, which Adolf Hitler agreed to (Maurois). C. Evaluation of Sources Maurois, Andre. The Battle of France. Right Book Club, 1940. Print. Origin: The author of this document is Andre Maurois, a French author born in Normany, who served in the French army during several wars, including the First and Second World. Purpose: The purpose of this document is to describe what Maurois witness firsthand during his time in the Second World War, mostly the Battle of France and what lead up to it. During his times as a traveler for the French army, Maruois had several duties that required speaking to people from different nations, primarily the British and Americans. Value: The value of this document is that it provides firsthand insight into knowledge of what occurred in World War II. A behind-the-scenes look at what happened during the war is provided as insight through this source. Not to mention that it also includes several different perspectives and ideas because Maurois spoke to people from various international countries. Seeing how Maruois spoke to French, American, and British soldiers throughout the war, including those that had posted at the Maginot Line, this document will provide me with useful information regarding the Maginot Line. Limitation: This document is limited in that it may be biased from a French perspective. Despite the fact that it includes the opinions of those who are from America or Britain, Maurois, as a Frenchman, could have easily filtered out facts or ideas that he did not appreciate. Jurga, Robert. Fortress Europe: European Fortifications of World War II. Da Capo, 2002. Print. Origin: The author of this document is Robert Jurga, an American historian who studies specifically the era of the Second World War. Purpose: The purpose of this document is to look into the different types of defense structures that existed throughout Europe during the Second World War such as forts, bunkers, anti-tank barriers, and more. It describes in detail the sizes and fortifications of notable defense structures that were constructed during this time period, including the Maginot Line. Value: This document is valuable because it provides detailed descriptions of the Maginot Line such as the specific structures, building phases, and groups important to the construction of the Maginot line such as the STG (Service Technique du Gà ©nie) and CORF. Limitation: This document is limited in that it may be biased from an American perspective. Jurga, may have found certain defensive structures throughout Europe to be better than certain other ones. If he somehow considered the Maginot Line to be inferior, he may have put less effort into making a more detailed description of the design of structure. D. Analysis France had experienced catastrophic damage in World War I. After the Treaty of Versailles of 1919, France had a strong intent that it would never have to suffer from such a disaster again (Kaufmann). In 1920, both the government and military favored implementing a military tactic that would prevent any further German invasion (Allcorn). Many powerful figures in the French military, such as Marshall Foch, assumed that the German anger over their humiliating treatment at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles guaranteed that Germany would seek revenge (Kaufmann). As a result, the French military intent was to solely embrace the power of the defense (Kaufmann). When Andrà © Maginot took government office in 1929, he lead France to spend a fortune (nearly 3 billion francs) to construct a complete defense blockade, the Maginot Line, across the German border (Allcorn). He rashly opposed any objections to his plan, his only argument that the structure would surely prevent any further terrible bloodshed, like that of WWI, should there be another war (Kaufmann). The intended Line would run through the French-German and French-Italian borders (both foes during the war) and would have two functions: to deter an assault long enough to fully mobilize the French army, and to act as a bunker to fend off the assault (Kaufmann). Hence, any combat would occur on the French borders, avoiding internal harm and occupation. However, France made a critical error when they ceased to construct northern fortifications, which is where Germans would invade from (Feuchtinger). This was because Belgium, an ally, was north of France, and it was unthinkable that either one build such a colossal construction on their shared boundary: the Ardennes Forest. Furthermore, the French had believed that even if the Germans invaded through Belgium, they had considered the Ardennes Forest to be impenetrable due to its hilly and woody terrain (Maurois). As a result, the French decision to not extend the Maginot Line across the Ardennes Forest partly contributed it to become a defensive failure. On another note, many critics at the time claimed that the original design of the Line was too large and costly, which lead the project to become downsized (Jurga). Some of even proceeded that the only reason why the project did not extend across Belgium was because funds had been running out. In 1934, Chief of State Philippe Pà ©tain obtained a billion francs for construction, and many people saw this as definite overspending (Allcorn). Seeing how much was invested into a project that did not fulfill its purpose, it becomes evident why many people consider the Maginot Line a defensive failure. The errors of the French ultimately culminated in Frances failure to suspect and deter the Nazi invasion plan, the Sichelschnitt. Germany gave the impression that it was going to attack the Line; it posted a diversion army across the Line, whose mere presence prevented French soldiers at the Line to be used as reinforcements elsewhere (Kaufmann). On May 10th 1940, Germany attacked the Netherlands, through Belgium. France, at this point, was not worried-the war seemed to be according to plan, where troops at the Maginot Line would be used as a hinge to advance and deter the invasion through Belgium (Allcorn). However, the French did not expect that the German forces would cross Luxembourg, Belgium and go through the Ardennes. With well over one million troops and a thousand tanks, the German army easily crossed the impenetrable forest (Feuchtinger). They were faced with small resistance, and the French army began to wither. By June, Germans had swung behind the Line and cut it off fro m the rest of France, leading France to surrender and ultimately manifesting the Line as a defensive failure. E. Conclusion Though the Maginot Line had been considered by the French as the perfect defensive structure that would fend off an enemy invasion, it is clear that was not the case. Several factors contribute to why the Maginot Line was a defensive failure against the German invasion: the belief that the Line would be the only invasion entryway into France for the Germans, the wrong assumption that the Ardennes Forest was impenetrable, the failure to see that the German army opposite the Line was a diversion, the incompleteness of the Line (failing to extend across Belgium and the Ardennes Forest), and the high cost and time-consumption that went into it. The French had become paranoid from the damage it took from the World War I and invested too much time and money embracing the concept of defense without considering other possibilities such as from invasion elsewhere. As a result, the Maginot Line, the seemingly ultimate defensive structure, failed to perform its duty: to defend France. F. Bibliography Allcorn, William. The Maginot Line 1928-45. Grand Rapids: Osprey, 2003. Print. Feuchtinger, Edgar. 21st Panzer Division in Combat Against American Troops in France and Germany. United States Military, 1940. Print. Jurga, Robert. Fortress Europe: European Fortifications of World War II. Da Capo, 2002. Print. Kaufmann, J. E., and H. W. Kaufmann. Fortress France The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II (Stackpole Military History Series) (Stackpole Military History Series). New York: Stackpole, 2007. Print. Kaufmann, J. E. Maginot Line none shall pass. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 1997. Print. Maurois, Andre. The Battle of France. Right Book Club, 1940. Print. Robertson, Harry S.. Report on French Defenses: Maginot Line. United States Military, 1940. Print. H. Additional O.P.V.Ls Feuchtinger, Edgar. 21st Panzer Division in Combat Against American Troops in France and Germany. United States Military, 1940. Print. Origin: The author of this document is Edgar Feuchtinger, a German General (Generalleutnant) during the Second World War. He was the Commander of the 21st Panzer-Division and participated in many critical German battles such as the Battle of Normandy. Purpose: This document is a debriefing of German General Feuchtinger by the United States after he and the rest of the German 21st Panzer Division were captured by the British. Feuchtinger kept records and logs of what he encountered throughout the war. The debriefing document includes what Feuchtinger had known about the Line at the time, including the number of forces encountered there and what kinds of artillery and weaponry the French had in possession. Value: The value of this document is that it provides firsthand insight into knowledge of what occurred in World War II. Not only is it from the perspective of a German, but a General, a critical military position which requires much knowledge and skill. This document will be able to provide me with inside details about the Maginot from a position that I would normally not be able to get from a document that is taken from an American perspective. Limitation: This document is limited in that it may be biased from a German perspective. The German general may have withheld important information due to the fact that the war wasnt actually over when he was being debriefed. Robertson, Harry S.. Report on French Defenses: Maginot Line. United States Military, 1940. Print. Origin: The author of this document is Harry S. Robertson, an American Colonel during the Second World War, who was part of the 75th Infantry Division and the 291st US infantry Regiment. Purpose: Harry S. Robertsons duty was to investigate the Maginot Line for American intelligence. Robertson, along with his unit, went inside the Line and took firsthand observations to debrief what they witnessed there such as weaponry, troop count, and artillery. Value: The value of this document is that it provides firsthand insight of what occurred in World War II. Unlike many other sources, Robertson was there to witness what the Maginot Line was like at the time of the War: he saw what types of armaments the French were in possession of or what the structural layout of the Line was like. More recent documents attempting to investigate the Maginot Line are not likely to provide as much detail as this document due to the fact they are not deduced from firsthand experiences. Limitation: This docume nt is limited in that it may be biased from an American perspective. Due to the fact that it was an Americans job to debrief what he sees in a French fortress, it is plausible to believe that Robertson may not have found the assignment to have been too interesting and that he may failed to provide a completely accurate investigational analysis of the structure.

The Unwitting Vehicle for Evil in Moby Dick :: Moby Dick Essays

The Unwitting Vehicle for Evil in Moby Dick My opinion about symbolism in the book Moby Dick is a patchwork of the "Evil Captain" theory and the "Nothingness" theory. In this theory chance and circumstance cause an unlucky (as opposed to ill-fated) captain to become the unwitting vehicle for evil. It is not his fault, he is driven to it by simple bad luck, and so evil is created out of nothingness, and then disappears from whence it came. The whale represents nothing, Starbuck represents nothing, Pip only serves to represent the madness that would have overtaken Ahab had he not invented an evil whale to blame his leg on, and most importantly Ishmael represents God, or the truth, or something I haven't thought up a name for yet. One thing that surprised me about this book was how contradictory the wording was. Sentences, paragraphs, and whole chapters were quite simply put to the ax and cut short as if Herman changed his mind upon further contemplation. At first I thought that Herman had A.D.D. but soon I figured that he was playing the old trick on us. That is, he was intentionally being non-descript in order for everyone to interpret the book in a different way (its such a common trick now that I look back, but it really had me for a while). In the beggining the quote reads, "Whales in the sea, Gods will obey," as if Moby Dick was beyond a force of nature, a tool of consummate evil, but by the end the book the quote reads normal, "Whales in the sea, God's will obey" (notice the possessive apostrophe missing in the first one?[thank you for misquoting]). An example of this type of contridiction of ideas occurs between pages 197 and the last page: Aside from the more obvious considerations touching Moby Dick, which could not but occasionally awaken in any man's soul some alarm, there was another thought, or rather vague, nameless horror concerning him, which at times by its intensity completely overpower all the rest; and yet so mystical and well nigh ineffable was it, that I almost despair of putting it in comprehensible form. it was the whiteness of the whale that above all things appalled me. But how can I hope to explain myself here; and yet, in some dim, random way, explain myself I must, else all these chapters might be naught.

Benefits of Breastfeeding Essay -- Parenting Raising Children

Benefits of Breastfeeding Mother’s milk is the best food possible for the newborn baby. Breast milk works as an all in one nutritional supplement.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Breast milk works as a thirst quencher, medication, food supplement and for the mother it works as a weight loss program with no equal. Although, there are formulas that can be used for replacing breast milk, they do not have the same supplements as the natural milk from the mother. The American Academy of Pediatrics â€Å"†¦recommends that babies be breast-fed for six to 12 months. The only acceptable alternative to breast milk is infant formula.† (Williams, 1995). Breast milk is a perfect combination of nutrients and antibodies for an infant’s fast growing system. Breast milk is made up of fatty acids, water, lactose, and antibodies. The antibodies in breast milk help the baby fight off many illnesses within their environments as well as help them build their own immune systems. Without these antibodies babies tend to get sicker more often, and it can take the babies longer to recover from these illnesses. Since the food is coming directly from the breast rather then a bottle, there is less likely a chance of bacterial infection that can come from a bottle not having been properly sterilized. One of the great benefits of breastfeeding for mothers is the ability to loose the extra weight gained quicker. The mothers body uses alot of the stored food in the body and converts it to milk for the infant. Breastfeeding also hel...

Location Planning and Analysis Essay

Every firm must use location planning techniques. There are many options for location planning. Corporations choose from expanding an existing location, shutting down one location and moving to another, adding new locations while retaining existing facilities, or doing nothing. There are a variety of methods used to decide the best location or alternatives for the corporation. Methods such as identifying the country, general region, small number of community alternatives, and site alternatives. Several factors that influence location positioning include the location of raw materials, proximity to the market, climate, and culture. Models for evaluating whether a location is best for an organization consist of cost-profit analysis for locations, the center of gravity model, the transportation model, and factor rating. This chapter discusses the decision to relocate a facility by considering costs and benefits. If you are planning on moving or acquiring a new facility, there are many factors to consider: the size, the geographic area, culture, transportation costs and others. After a location or locations have been chosen a cost-profit-volume analysis is done. The main factors that affect location decisions include regional factors, community considerations, and site-related factors. Community factors consist of quality of life, services, attitudes, taxes, environmental regulations, utilities, and development support. EVALUATING LOCATION ALTERNATIVES (Page 385) – There are three specific analytical techniques available to aid in evaluating location alternatives: 1. Location Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis: 1. The Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis can be represented either mathematically or graphically. It involves three steps: 1) For each location alternative, determine the fixed and variable costs, 2) For all locations, plot the total-cost lines on the same graph, and 3) Use the lines to determine which alternatives will have the highest and lowest total costs for expected levels of output. Additionally, there are four assumptions one must keep in mind when using this method: 1. Fixed costs are constant. 2. Variable costs are linear. 3. Required level of output can be closely estimated. 4. There is only one product involved. 5. 2. Total cost = FC = v(Q) where FC=Fixed Cost, v=Variable Cost per Unit, Q=Number of Units (Also shown below but not in the same format) 1. Factor Rating 1. This method involves qualitative and quantitative inputs, and evaluates alternatives based on comparison after establishing a composite value for each alternative. Factor Rating consists of six steps: 1. Determine relevant and important factors. 2. Assign a weight to each factor, with all weights totaling 1.00. 3. Determine common scale for all factors, usually 0 to 100. 4. Score each alternative. 5. Adjust score using weights (multiply factor weight by score factor); add up scores for each alternative. 6. The alternative with the highest score is considered the best option. 2. Minimum scores may be established to set a particular standard, though this is not necessary. 2. Center of Gravity Method: 1. This technique is used in determining the location of a facility which will either reduce travel time or lower shipping costs. Distribution cost is seen as a linear function of the distance and quantity shipped. The Center of Gravity Method involves the use of a visual map and a coordinate system; the coordinate points being treated as the set of numerical values when calculating averages. If the quantities shipped to each location are equal , the center of gravity is found by taking the averages of the x and ycoordinates; if the quantities shipped to each location are different , a weighted average must be applied (the weights being the quantities shipped). Company Relocating There are many factors that contribute to a company relocating. Some of the reasons include expanding the market and diminishing resources. For an existing company to relocate, they must weigh their options when planning to relocate elsewhere. They can expand their existing facility, add new ones and keep their existing facilities open, move to another location and shut down one location, or keep things the way they are and not do anything. Globalization has led many companies to set up operations in other countries. Two factors that make relocation appealing are advances in technology and trade agreements. By going global, companies will expand their markets and be able to cut costs in labor, transportation, and taxes. They also have gained ideas for new products and services. IDENTIFYING A COUNTRY, REGION, COMMUNITY, AND SITE (Page 376)  · factors that influence location decisions are: Manufacturing : o Availability of energy and water o Proximity to raw materials o Transportation cost Service: o Traffic patterns o Proximity to markets o Location of competitors  ·Once important factors have been determined, an organization will narrow down alternatives to a specific geographic region. These factors that influence location selection are often different depending on whether the firm is a manufacturing or service firm. When deciding on a location, mangers must take into account the culture shock employees might face after a location move. Culture shock can have a big impact on employees which might affect workers productivity, so it is important that mangers look at this. v IDENTIFYING A COUNTRY o A decision maker must understand the benefits and risks as well as the probabilities of them occurring v IDENTIFYING A REGION- 4 major considerations o Location to Raw Materials: The three most important reasons for a firm to locate in a particular region includes raw materials, perishability, and transportation cost. This often depends on what business the firm is in. o Location to Markets: Profit maximizing firms locate near markets that they want to serve as part of their competitive strategy. A Geographic information system(GIS) is a computer based tools for collecting, storing, retrieving, and displaying demographic data on maps. o Labor Factors : Primary considerations include labor availability, wage rates, productivity, attitudes towards work, and the impact unions may have. o Other : Climate is sometimes a consideration because bad weather can disrupt operations. Taxes are also an important factor due to the fact that taxes affect the bottom line in some financial statements. v IDENTIFYING A COMMUNITY o There are many important factors for deciding upon the community in which move a business. They include facilities for education, shopping, recreation and transportation among many others. From a business standpoint these factors include utilities, taxes, and environmental regulation. v IDENTIFYING A SITE o The main considerations in choosing a site are land, transportation, zoning and many others. When identifying a site I]it is important to consider to see if the company plans on growing at this location. If so, the firm must consider whether or not location is suitable for expansion. There are many decisions that go into choosing exactly where a firm will establish its operations. First, a company must determine the driving factors that will influence which areas are suitable locations. After these factors have been determined, the company will identify potential countries and examine the pros and cons of establishing operations in these countries. After looking at pro and cons of the different countries and deciding on a country, then decision makers will identify a region within the country. When identifying a region, decision makers must take the four major factors explained above into consideration. The last two stages of the search include choosing a community and a site. Note: The above part is way too lengthy for this assignment. Summary below.. Summary : There are several ways that are very helpful in evaluating location alternatives, such as locational cost-profit-volume analysis, factor rating, and the center of gravity method. First, let’s take a look at Location Cost-Profit-Volume Analysis. This analysis can be done numerically or graphically. The procedure for locational cost-profit-volume analysis involves these steps: 1. Determine the fixed and variable costs associated with each location alternative. 2. Plot the total-cost lines for all location alternatives on the same graph. 3. Determine which location will have the lowest total cost for the expected level of output. Alternatively, determine which location will have the highest profit. This method assumes the following: 1. Fixed costs are constant for the range of probable output. 2. Variable costs are linear for the range of probable output. 3. The required level of output can be closely estimated. 4. Only one product is involved. Here’re a couple of important formulas to remember: Total cost = Fixed cost + Variable cost per unit * Quantity or volume of output Total profit = Quantity(Revenue per unit – Variable cost per unit) – Fixed cost In most situations, other factors besides cost must also be considered. We will now consider another kind of cost often considered in location decisions: transportation costs. Transportation costs sometimes play an important role in location decisions. The company can include the transportation costs in a locational cost-volume analysis by incorporating the transportation cost per unit being shipped into the variable cost per unit if a facility will be the sole source or destination of shipments. When there is a problem with shipment of goods from multiple sending points to multiple receiving points, and a new location is to be added to the system, the company should undertake a separate analysis of transportation. In this case, transportation model of linear programming is very helpful. The model is used to analyze each of the configurations considered, and it reveals the minumum costs each would provide. Then the information can be included in the evaluation of location alternatives. Multiple Plant Manufacturing Strategies (page 381-382) -When comapnies have several manufacturing facilities t here are several different ways for a company to organize their operations. These ways include: assigning different product lines to different plants, assigning different market areas to different plants, or assigning different processes to different plants. These strategies carry their own cost and managerial implications, but they also carry a certain competitive advantage. There are four different types of plant strategies: 1. Product Plant Strategy * Products or product lines are produced in separate plants, and each plant is usually responsible for supplying the entire domestic market. * It is a decentralized approach as each plant focuses on a narrow set of requirements that includes specialization of labor, materials, and equipment along product lines. * Specialization involved in this strategy usually results in economies of scale and, compared to multipurpose plants, lower operating costs. * The plant locations may either be widely scattered or placed relatively close to one another. 2. Market Area Plant Strategy * Here, plants are designed to serve a particular geographic segment of a market. * The individual plants can produce either most, or all of the company’s products and supply a limited geographical area. * The operating costs of this strategy are often times higher than those of product plants, but savings on shipping costs for comparable products can be made. * This strategy is useful when shipping costs are high due to volume, weight, or other factors. * It can also bring the added benefits of faster delivery and response times to local needs. * It requires a centralized coordination of decisions to add or delete plants, or to expand or downsize current plants because of changing market conditions. 3. Process Plant Strategy * Here, different plants concentrate on different aspects of a process. * This strategy is most useful when products have numerous components; separating the production of components results in less confusion than if all the production were done in the same location. * A major issue with this strategy is the coordination of production throughout the system, and it requires a highly informed, centralized administration in order to be an effective operation. * It can bring about additional shipping costs, but a key benefit is that individual plants are highly specialized and generate volumes that brings economies of scale. 4. General-Purpose Plant Strategy Plants are flexible and have the ability to handle a range of products * It allows for a quick response to products and market changes, but can be less productive than a more focused approach. * A benefit to this approach is the increase in learning opportunities that happens when similar operations are being done in different plants. Solutions to problems as well as improvements made at one plant can be shared with the other plants

Olga Semyonova’s Discovery of Peasantry Life Essay

Peasant life is known to be one of the lowest status situations in many parts of the world during the past. Many people are not give equal opportunities compared to those that have a higher status in life. Most often, they are treated like they are not people but slaves due to the lifestyle as well as the work they have. Most of the time, peasants rely on those that has a higher status of living to get work. Thus peasants are one of those unfortunate people who are present in the world. In the book written by Olga Semyonova Tian-Shanskaia and David L. Ransel, the life story of peasant life in Russia. In order to have an overview of the author’s desire to write this type of book, a short background of Olga Semyonova would be presented. Semyonova was born in the year 1863 into a very prominent and scientific family during those eras. The author was one of the daughters of Pytor Pertovich Semyonov who is a popular geographer, explorer and statistician. Through the explorations and attainments which were done by her father, he was acknowledged by the emperor and later added the name Tian-Shanskii. Semyonova’s father played a huge role in the life of peasants because he â€Å"designed the legislation for the emancipation of the Russian peasants for serfdom, a reform implemented in years 1861-1863. Throughout Semynova’s life, she was living in St. Petersburg and was traveling with her family abroad. More often than not, she spent her summers in Gremiachka which is her family’s estate located in Riazan Province. The location of their estate would later on be used to study the life of peasants. With the inheritance of her father’s attitude in exploration, Semyonova was able to do her own explorations regarding peasantry. (xix-xxi) Semyonova’s adult life was very tragic. Although she was very intelligent there was a point in her life that she shielded her self away from her social and intellectual life. She was offered by marriage by a young man who deeply fell in love with her. However, she declined the man. As a result, the young man decided to shot himself in the head and he eventually died. After such, she mostly spent her life living in their real estate which made her aware of the situations of the peasants around their area. (xix-xxi) During the nineteenth century Russian society was in crisis. For several people, the development of the country was slow in comparison to other countries such as Germany, France, England and the United States. These countries were the ones who educated the Russians which brought pressure to the country. In contrast, Russia was very far from these countries bases on their urbanization and industrialization. In addition, these countries have a much higher level of culture and general education. On the other hand, change was very rapid and people blamed the government with its persistence to catch up with the Western world. With the decision of the government, the Russian society was lead into a revolution. The Russians who were well educated were able to view the main sources of the said crisis. As these educated people said, the resolution of the rebellion depends on the actions and attitudes of the regular people such as the peasants who composed the eighty-five (85) percent of the Russian nation. Russian Peasants were the ones who dwell in the rural areas as well as those migrant workers or the industrial workers of the country in different parts of Russia. Peasants were also the ones who constitute the Russian armed forces. Thus, this made all the parties in Russia believe that they know the diverse situation in the villages. Therefore in their perspective, the armed forces have the right to speak for the whole Russian peasantry and all their concerns. However, all their assumptions are not true. Hence, the government was not able to address the problems which are faced by the peasants. In the whole book, the study which was utilized was made by Semyonov with the collaboration with another researcher named K. V. Nikolaevskii during the late 1890s. The study was done regarding the real situation of the peasants throughout those times in order to see the attitudes, aspirations and conditions of the peasants. In addition, the research regarding the lives of these people was regarding their customs, family life. However, there is a failed attempt to present the fluidity of peasantry life. During the time of Semyonova’s study of the peasantry life, she often noticed the she was similar to an outsider to the place. As evidence it was stated that, â€Å"She constituted her own identity as a person of Western scientific culture in opposition to the peasants she studied. According to her, the boundary between childhood and adulthood, so clearly demarcated in education society, collapsed in village society. Peasant children saw the world very much as did the adults† (xxi). Semyonova highlighted that such situations were possible due to the early exposure of children in the difficulties that is normally faced by adults. In addition, the view of point of peasants regarding â€Å"work, morality and property were likewise quite different from the perspective of Semyonova’s upbringing† (xii). Accordingly, there is a different treatment of women in the community in comparison to the treatment of women in the world known by Semyonova. In the book it is stated that, â€Å"†¦the treatment of women, whose lot as the brutalized work horses and chief preservers of social bonds in the family and community†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (xii). In the book, there are many social issues which were stressed by Semyonova. With all the studies observation and researches that she had done in the lives of Russian peasants, the author discovered many things that are very much different from her life while she was growing up. In order to fully represent the life of the peasants, Olga was able to coordinate with one of the peasants in order to properly present the whole community of peasants in general. The person interviewed was named Ivan. Similar to other peasants, the family of Ivan was working on a farm in order to live. As a matter of fact Ivan’s family had, â€Å"livestock at the time of Ivan’s birth included three horses (one of which was a yearling), fifteen sheep, one cow, a heifer, and a pig. Their hut, which was wooden, had three windows and an enclosed entryway (sentsa). Nearby were a workyard, a small granary, and a threshing barn. † In addition they family had the most important necessity for them to live, â€Å"Farm tools included two wagons, two wooden, wheelless plows, one harrow, two types of harnesses, two scythes, two rolls of sackcloth (veret’ia), a sleigh, an ax, two spades, and two flails† (Semyonova, 1). Thus without their farming tools they are not able to see that there are not able to provide for all the things that they need. In the life of Ivan, it was very obvious that culture, norms and economic status was very important. Through this, his upbringing and future is very much affected. In the third chapter which focuses on the issue of child birth. Semyonova highlights that a child if brought up in such type of environment could be affected while growing up. It was stated that, â€Å"their attitudes and behavior as conditioned by the promiscuous intimacy of peasant life† (22). She again states that children see things in a much matured way therefore she finds teenagers very promiscuous and sexual even in a young age. The author also made some comparisons regarding the â€Å"our children, that is the child or the educated urbanized people† (22) against those that live a peasant life. In addition, Seymonova highlights the difference between the lives of peasants in contrast of the urbanized people. Stating that to peasants, â€Å"Deceit to escape punishment was approved, as was the use of foul language or abuse of animals to vent frustration. Patriarchal authority was accepted implicitly; might makes right, and in a sense this brutal fact of life justified deceit and other means of avoidance to escape the dictates of authority and power† (22). With such lines, it is noticeable that the lives of well educated persons are very much different from those that live in peasantry whom have not experienced any education. In general, the life of peasants in Russia during the time of Seymonova does not have any type of opportunity to move forward from the difficulties that they are in. Only those that are privilege and rich are those that are given the right to be educated and move out from the situation they are in. In contrast, the situation of Russia in the current time is far more different from the past situation of peasants. It is not a secret that there are still poor people in Russia but due to various technologies and improvements in terms of laws and policies there are opportunities available for those that wanted to change their lives. Great schools are available and scholarship grants are offered for students who would like to create a change in their lives. Accordingly there are organizations that are very willing to help and provide trainings and assistance with regards to various subjects such are welfare, health services and the likes. Through this, the less fortunate people are educated with regards to their health and sexual relations. As stated by Seymonova, there are promiscuous actions which are made by young people thus; it could be assumed that early pregnancies and diseases are possibly taken a threat. In comparison to the current society of Russia, the awareness and education which are received by citizens protects them against possible sicknesses and threats that could lead to life threatening diseases. Thus, improvements of the benefits of the people have been done through out the years with the help of many changes in terms of government processes and activities. However, problems with regards to society cannot be fully addressed due to the lack of ability of the government to fully reach out to the people. As stated in the introductory pages of the book, that problems could only be resolved through the cooperation and desire of the poor to respond with the issues due to the high percentage rate of their constituents. Works Cited Semyonova Tian-Shanskaia, Olga and David L. Ransel. Village Life in Late Tsarist Russia. United States: Indiana University Press, 1993.