the call of the wild Essay - 952 Words

The Call of the Wild, on the surface, is a story about Buck, a four- year old dog that is part Shepherd and part St. Bernard. More importantly, it is a naturalistic tale about the survival of the fittest in nature. Throughout the novel, Buck proves that he is fit and can endure the law of the club, the law of the fang, and the laws of nature. Buck had been raised in California, on the ranch of Judge Miller. There he had the run of the place and was loved and pampered by all. Unfortunately, one of the judges workers had a gambling problem and stole Buck to sell him for fifty dollars. Buck fights being tied, caged, and beaten, but his efforts only frustrate him. He is put on a train and a boat, being shipped to Alaska to be used as a†¦show more content†¦Most of the other dogs stay away from Buck because of his size and strength, but Spitz becomes his constant enemy, from whom he learns an important lesson. Spitz fights with Curly, one of the dogs that is friendly to Buck. Buck watches as all the other dogs attack and kill Curly once he is down. Buck is determined he will never be put in the same position. He will fight to the death if necessary. Spitz constantly picks on Buck, wanting to get in a fight with him; Buck, however, resists the challenges from Spitz. Then one time he steals the resting-place that Buck has created for himself. Buck has had enough and attacks Spitz with a vengeance. Francois and Perrault have to separate the two dogs. Although the fight is stopped, the animosity continues, and the two enemies are always in a skirmish. Then one day when Spitz prematurely kills a rabbit that all the dogs have been chasing, Buck attacks again. The battle is fierce, and Buck is losing. He then calls upon his intelligence and imagination to defeat Spitz. Instead of going for his throat, Buck attacks Spitzs front legs, breaking both of them. Once he is down, the other dogs come in for the kill. Now that Spitz has been eliminated, Buck is determined to become the leader of the dog sled team. When Francois and Perrault harness Sol-leks at the front of the team instead of Buck, he refuses to fall into his place. When the drivers try to catch him, Buck runs out of reach. The quot;gamequot; of tag continues forShow MoreRelatedThe Call Of The Wild1092 Words   |  5 Pages The book ‘The Call of the Wild’ uses the characters, storyline and subject matter to explore ideas that almost all of us experience. This lesson will fill you in on these themes, help with understanding the storyline, and offer a few questions to test your comprehension. !!!’’The Call of the Wild’’ - The Basics Author __Jack London__ wasn t your typical storyteller. Born in 1876, he drew inspiration for his work as a novelist and journalist from his early life experiences in poverty, as a sailorRead MoreThe Call Of The Wild754 Words   |  4 Pagesauthors in history, wrote a book called The Call of the Wild and a short story called To Build a Fire. These two writing pieces share similar attitudes and setting. In addition, their endings and travel style are much different. The Call of the Wild and To Build a Fire have these two similarities and two differences that add a lot of meaning to each story. The four parts of setting in these stories are very similar. On page 15 in The Call of the Wild it says â€Å"Buck’s feet sank into white mushy somethingRead MoreCall of the wild2057 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Name: Instructor: Course: Date: A Problem of Nature in The Call of the Wild by Gary Snyder The poem Call of the Wild by Gary Snyder represents an ecological view on relationship between nature and Western civilization, as well as on peace and war. The image of the West in this poem is characterized by repression, ignorance, and violence. It ruins both wild nature with its forests and animals, and civilized human nature. Thus, the term nature itself appears to be problematic. I argue thatRead MoreThe Call Of The Wild1115 Words   |  5 Pagesintellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself†. In Jack London s book The Call of The Wild, out of many themes the most important is adaptation for many reasons. Buck has adapted mentally and physically, Buck s original character was changed very quickly after arriving in the cold Alaskan wilderness. Buck adapted in many ways throughoutRead More Call Of The Wild E ssay979 Words   |  4 Pagespet to a primordial, wild beast. To begin with, before living in northern Canada and Alaska, Buck lived a pampered, luxurious life on Judge Miller’s estate in Santa Clara Valley, California. Although there were numerous breeds of dogs living on the estate, Buck had an aspect to himself that set him aside from the other dogs and animals. amp;quot;For he was king – king over all creeping, crawling flying things of Judge Miller’s place, humans included.amp;quot; (Call of the Wild, page 14). Buck wouldRead More The Call of the Wild Essay632 Words   |  3 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Call of the Wild nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Call of the Wild, by Jack London, is a classic piece of American literature. The novel follows the life of a dog named Buck as his world changes and in turn forces him to become an entirely new dog. Cruel circumstances require Buck to lose his carefree attitude and somewhat peaceful outlook on life. Love then enters his life and causes him to see life through new eyes. In the end, however, he must choose betweenRead MoreCall Of The Wild Analysis773 Words   |  4 PagesThe Call of the Wild Literacy Analysis â€Å"Buck stood and looked on, the successful champion, the dominant primordial beast who had made his kill and found it good.† (London, 43). In the adventure novel by Jack London, The Call of the Wild, a huge 140 pound Saint Bernard/Scotch Shepherd named Buck goes through internal and external challenges that leaves him retrogressed and more wild than ever. He adapts to the wild Northland environment that he had never experienced in the sunny state of CaliforniaRead MoreThemes In The Call Of The Wild784 Words   |  4 PagesThe Call of the Wild penned by Jack London, Buck, a Scotch Shepherd/St. Bernard mixed dog, is carried off into the Alaskan Klondike during the Yukon Gold Rush, and retrogresses from a civilized Southland pet into a ferocious, primitive beast of the North. Throughout Buck’s Northland adventure, he passes through the possession of several masters, each with varying degrees of mutual friendship or hatred. Finally, upon the death of his ideal and fin al master, John Thornton, he answers the call of theRead MoreThe Call of the Wild Essay1288 Words   |  6 PagesThe best chapter of The Call of the Wild is chapter six â€Å"For the Love of a Man.† Chapter six is the chapter in which Buck, the protagonist, begins to live with John Thurston. John saved Buck from his masters that were whipping him and clubbing him nearly to death. Nursing Buck back to health, the pair begins to form a bond like no other, a bond of unconditional, passionate, genuine love. The exuberant John always played with the carefree dogs, including Buck, Skeet and Nig. The bond that BuckRead MoreEssay about The Call of the Wild Versus Into the Wild1246 Words   |  5 PagesChris McCandless and Buck serve as examples of the archetype of the wild through their experiences of leaving where they feel most comfortable and answering the call of the wild. They show that each experience is inimitable because the wild is unique to every individual. For Bu ck, the wild is a place outside of civilization and his dependence on man, where the external threats of nature exist and he must prove himself as a true animal with instincts for survival. In McCandless case, the place

Capital Valuation Models Example

Essays on Capital Valuation Models Research Paper Financial Paper: Capital Valuation The present paper seeks to apply some capital valuation models in order to justify current market values of equityand debt of Home Depot. There exist different types of capital valuation models that are used in order to determine the value of a firm or the value of equity or debt of a firm at any particular time. Valuation is generally regarded as a method which forecast the present value of the expected pay offs to the shareholders of a firm. Valuation process also helps in converting forecasted value in to one particular number which corresponds to the basic intrinsic value of the firm. According to Lee (1999), capital valuation models are nothing but a set of accounting systems which helps in constituting the tools that are essential for communicating the assessment regarding any future event. Capital valuation models are of different types. Some of them are based on asset based valuations, while some others take in to account discounted cash flow measures. For the purpose of the present study, focus will be placed on those models that use the technique of discounted cash flows. Before moving into analyzing how far findings regarding current market value of equity or debt, it would be better to have a look at different discounted cash flow models of capital valuation. Discounted capital valuations model are mainly of three types: Free Cash Flow based accounting system, dividend based accounting system and earning based accounting system. All of these three types of capital valuation techniques can be used for the valuation of entire firm as well as for the equity of the firm. Once, value of firm and value of equity is determined, it becomes quite easy to calculate value of debt. Present value of debt can be calculated by subtracting the present value of equity from the present value of firm as a whole. Free cash flow based valuation system: Under this system, for the valuation of entire firm’s capital free cash flow to the firm is taken into account, while for the valuation of equity only, free cash flow to the equity holders is taken into account. Free cash flow to firm (FCFF) is defined as the cash flow that is made before any repayment of debt, but after incurring all sorts of operating expenses and taxes. On the other hand, free cash flows to equity (FCFE) can be defined as the cash flows which are generated after incurring all expenses and taxed along with the repayment of debt due to that period. (Vishwanath, n.d) In terms of equation, FCFF can be represented as follows: FCFF= cash flows from operation + interest (1-t)-capital expenditure And FCFE can be written as follows: FCFE= cash flows from operation + interest (1-t)-capital expenditure- net debt paid. In both of the cases interest benefit of taxation has not been included as the discount rate includes such benefit. Now, under free cash flow based valuation technique, to calculated present value of the firm with infinite life a terminal period is required to be set after which the firm is expected to grow at a rate which is different from the ongoing rate. For the terminal period, a terminal price is calculated and then it is discounted by a specific discount rate. The formulae for the present value of a firm and the present value of the firm’s equity can be represented as follows: (Vishwanath, n.d.; Levin and Olsson, 2000) T (Value of firm)t=0 = FCFF0 + ∑PV (FCFFi) + PV (Terminal Price); i=1 Where Terminal Price = (FCFFT)/(r-g), where r is the discount rate and g is the growth rate after terminal period. And, T (Value of firm’s equity)t=0 = FCFE0 + ∑PV (FCFEi) + PV (Terminal Price); i=1 Where Terminal Price = (FCFET)/(r-g), where r is the discount rate and g is the growth rate after terminal period. Now to calculate value of firm working cost of capital is used as the discount rate. Cost of capital to a firm is generally defined as the opportunity costs of investors for making their investment in the firm. WACC can be represented by the following formula: (Miles and Ezzell, 1980) WACC = were + wdrd Where we is defined as the weight of equity, re is defined as the cost of equity, wd is defined as the weight of debt, rd is defined as the cost of debt. The weight of equity can be defined as the ratio of market capitalization to the market value of the firm and the weight of debt can be defined as the ratio of market value of debt to the market value of the firm. Total market value of firm is generally measured by summing total market value of equity and total market value of debt. (Miles and Ezzell, 1980; Fama, 1970; Fama, 1991) Cost of equity is generally treated as the return that the investors expect to be paid by the firm for compensating them for the variability in returns which is generally caused by fluctuating earnings and fluctuating prices of shares. Cost of equity can be presented by the following formula: (Miles and Ezzell, 1980) Cost of Equity = risk free return to yield on long run government bonds + market risk premium * Beta variant for the company. Cost of debt, on the other hand, is generally taken at the effective rate of interest applicable to an AAA rated company in the market with an appropriate mix of short, medium and long term debt, net of taxes. Dividend based capital valuation: Dividend based valuation formula can be represented as follows: Value of the firm = Dividend / (WACC – g); where g is the growth rate of dividend. Value of the firm’s equity = Dividend / (cost of equity – g); where g is the growth rate of dividend. (Feltham and Ohlson, 1995) Earning based capital valuation = Earnings per share / (cost of equity – g) (Feltham. and Ohlson,. 1995) Calculation for Home Depot: In case of Home Depot, cash flow from operating activities has started to diminish from the year of 2007 owing to the global recession. From 2007 to 2008 cash flow from operation had declined by around 25 percent, while from 2008 to 2006 it declined by 3.4 percent. Hence, it is assumed that the market will grow by a rate of -2 percent for the coming two years and from third year it will attain a growth rate of -3 percent which is assumed to continue for the rest of its life time. Now, it is required to calculate WACC for discounting cash flows. Before calculating WACC, it is necessary to calculate cost of equity. On the basis of available information, beta for the firm is 0.56, which is quite high. Now risk free rate is around 4.3 percent, while market risk premium on U.S. securities is 6.8 percent (for 2008). Given these values, cost of equity is – Cost if equity = 4.3 % + 0.56(6.8 %) = 8.19 % Now cost of debt of the firm is around 5 percent (approximately). From the balance sheet for the period ended on 1st January, 2009, market value of equity and market value of debt can be obtained. Market value of equity is $17,777 million, while market value of debt is $11434 million. Therefore, WACC = 8.19 *(17,777/ 29211) + 5 * (11434/29211) = 4.98 + 1.95 = 6.94 (approximately) Now from available information FCFF and FCFE can be calculated for Home Depot. FCFF and FCFE for the current period are $3681 million and $1636 million. Now, FCFE for the current period is $1636. Given that the firm will grow at a negative rate of -2 percent and since the third year it will grow at a rate of -3, the present value of the firm’s value can be given as = 1636 + (1636(1-0.02))/(1+0694) + (1636 (1-0.02)2)/(1+0694)2 + 1373(1-0.03)/(0.498-0.03) = 17777. It implies that on the basis free cash flow based technique of calculation of firm equity value it is possible to justify current market value of equity with the assumptions of appropriate rate of growth. Now it would be interesting to find out whether with the assumption of same rate of growth in dividend and earning per share it would be possible to justify current market valuation of equity of the firm Home depot. Now from available information, total dividend earnings for the period ended on 1st January, 2009 was (.90*1.68) billion = 1512 million. Now applying the formula of dividend based the following can be obtained: Total value of firm’s equity will be = 1512/(0.0498+0.03)= 18984. Here results can not properly justify the current market value as current market value is lower than the estimated. But it can be taken as a good approximation as difference between the estimated value and current value is not quite large. Now the formula based on earning per share can be applied. From available information, total earnings of the share holders for the period ended on 1st January, 2009 was (1.37*1.68) billion = 2301.6 million. Now applying the formula of earning based valuation method the following can be obtained: Total value of firm’s equity will be = 2301.6/(0.0498+0.03)= 28842 Here results can not justify at all the current market value as current market value is lower than the estimated. Hence, with similar kind of growth rates, free cash flow based technique seems to be best applied for the purpose of valuation. References: Feltham G.A. and Ohlson, J.A. (1995), â€Å"Valuation and clean surplus accounting for operating and financial activities†, Contemporary Accounting Research 11, 689-731 Lee, C.M, Myers, J. and Swaminathan, B. (1999). â€Å"What is the Intrinsic Value of the Dow?†, Journal of Finance 54, 1693-1741 Levin, J. and Olsson, P. (2000), Terminal Value Techniques in Equity Valuation: Implications of the Steady State Assumption. SSE/EFI Working Paper Series in Business Administration No 2000:7 Miles, J. and Ezzell, R. (1980). The Weighted Average Cost of Capital, Perfect Capital Markets and Project Life: A Clarification. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 15: 719-730. Vishwanath, P.V. (n.d.) Fundamentals of Valuations. Available at www.swlearning.com/finance/daves/valuation/ [accessed on 12th June, 2009]

Prometheus Essay Free Essays

When I was reading â€Å"Prometheus†, I came upon a lot of similarities between the story and Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus. I believe Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus was a good name for Mary Shelley’s book for multiple reasons. One reason was that both Prometheus and Victor, despite what people said, gave very valuable but dangerous things to both society and individual persons. We will write a custom essay sample on Prometheus Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Another reason might be that both Victor and Prometheus had to suffer for their bad decisions. Both Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus and â€Å"Prometheus† share many similarities through both their tone and morale. In Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus, the tone of the subject to the author simply screams disapproval and a little bit of appreciation. When Mary Shelley first writes of Victor creating the monster, she shows excitement through her writing when she brings up the idea that life could be created in a lab and given to a lifeless being. But, later on in the book, when she is writing for Victor’s character, she clearly expresses more hatred and disapproval of the idea of the giving of life to lifeless beings. She expresses these ideas through Frankenstein’s obvious anger and pain that is caused because of his reckless choice to create life. In terms of morale, Shelley makes it clear life is not meant to be created and given away. Life is supposed to be a very valuable thing to be appreciated every day. But yet, she still shows that good can come from a bad situation. These are some of the examples of Shelley’s intentional moral and tone in Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus. In â€Å"Prometheus† the author’s tone also shows disapproval, but it presents positive thoughts about the gift of fire. When Prometheus first gives fire to the people of the earth, the author expresses both his approval and disapproval of the situation through Zeus’s character and Prometheus’s character. When Zeus says, â€Å"Now that they have that gift, there’s no telling what they’ll do. Soon they will be so proud of their accomplishments, that they will think they are as great as gods. Who knows, they might even try to storm Olympus itself†, the author obviously is glowing with disapproval of the idea. However, the author admits that some good could come out of it, when Zues decides to give the humans a chance ather than burn them in their own flames. Now we are to the point where I must state both the stories’ similarities. Both the â€Å"Prometheus† and Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus are similar in so many ways; I easily understand why Mary Shelley named her novel based on the Greek Myth. One of the most obvious reasons is the close similarit y in the plot. Both Victor and Prometheus are punished for their decisions they had make. They also both think their choices will contribute to society, instead of being a menace to society. Another major similarity is that the authors of both stories present the same lesson throughout each story. The lesson is that some things are meant to be left alone or else major consequences will follow because of the decision to tamper with those things. In Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus, Victor tampers with the matter of life; his consequence is the torture of being responsible for the murder of those he loves. In the Greek Myth Prometheus, Prometheus tampers with the matter of fire; his consequence is being tortured every day for the rest of eternity by excruciating physical pain. Those are a couple of the many similarities between the two classic stories. Both the Greek myth â€Å"Prometheus† and novel Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus were good stories to read. They both provided very good life lessons. One is that if one is doing something that requires unwanted lying to those they love, one probably should not be doing it in the first place. Another is that one needs to take responsibility for his or her actions and accept it with open arms because it was due to their one decision. After reading these stories many similarities arose for me that helped me make the decision that Mary Shelley’s novel was appropriately named. How to cite Prometheus Essay, Essay examples

Transnational Crime free essay sample

Life and Debt portrays a true example of the impact economic globalization can have on a developing country. When most Americans think about Jamaica, we think about the beautiful beaches, warm weather, and friendly people that make it a fabulous vacation spot. This movie shows the place in a different light, by showing a pressuring problem of debt. The everyday survival of many Jamaicans is based on the economic decisions of the United States and other powerful foreign countries. The film opens with camera shots portraying Jamaica as the beautiful and carefree place that most Americans view it as. The vast majority are oblivious to the fact that the delicious food they indulge in on their voyage probably came off a ship from Miami. In the 1970s, the countrys former Prime Minister signed a loan agreement which ultimately led Jamaica to owe over four billion dollars in debt to the World Bank and IMF. We will write a custom essay sample on Transnational Crime or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This ultimately caused a sinking economy of low valued imports and to sweatshops destroying local businesses and agriculture. In the video, we see workers who are working gruesome six-day-a-week work schedules to receive the legal minimum wage of only $30 in US money for the entire week. Many have protested against the poor compensation, and have been fired from their jobs; having been placed on blacklists which prevent them from ever getting work again. Many have turned to crime as a means of income. What Globalization Means Globalization is not a recent concept. It means that the worldwide, virtually instantaneous interdependence about many aspects of economic and cultural life within a nation or state has expanded across borders either intentionally or unintentionally. Now this nation or a states independence to control events within its borders is challenged by international corporations, economic globalization, trade, transnational crime and the increase in global communications and developments in technology. Ways in Which Globalization Increases Crime Streeten defined the components of globalization’s effects on the fundamental change in our lives as below: †¦additionally to economic interdependence in terms of trade, finance, direct investment, there are technological, educational, cultural, ideological, and environmental, legal, military, strategic and political incentives that are rapidly spread throughout the world. Money and goods, images and people, sports and religions, guns and drugs, diseases and pollution can now be moved quickly across all over the world. Although people in many places seem prepared to die for the better option, we can say that there is no absolute model of the state. While we are talking about the state and globalization, we face the same dilemma while discussing the family characteristics in the West. In other words, the traditional Western family model and marriage has lived through many changes, and faced irreversible damages. We cannot state how the family will be in the future. The only thing we can do is keep up old and traditional values. Similarly, states are seeing considerable elements of traditional statehood being eroded. Main Components The sum of the various elements of globalization has caused sovereign state less and less a locus of policy and control under some organizations such as the WTO, the EU, NAFTA. Those organizations have become more significant players in the world politics arena. Indeed, it will be increasingly difficult for our future civil servant to define what national and international dimensions of problems are. Main Actors More than 190 countries now take place in the political arena with a larger number of powerful non-sovereign and at least partly (and often largely) independent actors that at least partly, varying from corporations to non-government organizations (NGOs), from terrorist groups to drug cartels, from regional and global institutions to banks and private equity funds. The sovereign state is affected by them causing better or worse as much as possible. The monopolistic power once enjoyed by sovereign entities is now being eroded.

Conrad Hilton and Hilton Hotels Corporation

Hilton has set records as one of the largest hotels globally providing high quality and stylish hospitality. Currently Hilton provides full hotel services to more than seventy five countries with more than five hundred and forty hotel brands.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Conrad Hilton and Hilton Hotels Corporation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is a rare achievement that makes Hilton a leader in the hotel industry. The reason why Hilton has been able to maintain high standards in the long run is the innovative move towards the provision of quality products, facilities and services. Hilton has always led the way in coming up with new ideas like having televisions in the guest houses. Hilton was also the primary initiator of the notion in franchising hotels, in the industry, opened the first airport hotel and initiated the first system to provide multi-hotel reservation services (Walker 76). For the past ninety years, Hilton has worked hard to ensure that it remains the top in the industry and consistently revealed an unbeatable expertise. The other feature that has been emulated by thousands of other hotels in the industry is Hilton’s spirit to uphold hospitality and its unique culture. Hilton members have always formed a strong team that works on shaping the traveler’s events every day. The team members are given an opportunity to explore their careers in hospitality in all Hilton hotels and resorts globally. Besides the hospitality, Hilton undertakes a function in the global society by participating in charitable activities and encouraging others to join them in these activities (Walker 78). Hilton also values and appreciates the community in which it operates in (Walker 88). Hilton is an impressive hotel that no one can resist its services. High levels of hospitality and team work in ensuring quality services makes all the difference. What makes Hilton even more ap pealing is the creativity to provide maximum customer satisfaction. Making itself part of the global community is also remarkable. Works Cited Walker, John R. Title Introduction to Hospitality. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall Higher Education, 2008.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This essay on Conrad Hilton and Hilton Hotels Corporation was written and submitted by user Helena Rosa to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Marcus Garvey Essays - Black Star Line, Harlem Renaissance

Marcus Garvey Essays - Black Star Line, Harlem Renaissance Marcus Garvey Historians familiar with Garvey's career generally regard him as the preeminent symbol of the insurgent wave of black nationalism that developed in the period following World War I. Although born in Jamaica, Garvey achieved his greatest success in the United States. He did so despite the criticism of many African-American leaders and the covert opposition of the United States Department of Justice and its Bureau of Investigation (forerunner of the FBI). As a young man, Garvey had preached accommodation and disavowed political protest, advocating loyalty to the established colonial government. His views, however, underwent a radical transformation shortly after he arrived in the United States in 1916. The emergence of the radical New Negro movement, which supplied the cultural and political matrix of the celebrated Harlem Renaissance, to a large extent paralleled Garvey and his post-World War I "African Redemption" movement. Garvey established the first American branch of the UNIA in 19171918 in the midst of the mass migration of blacks from the Caribbean and the American South to cities of the North. It was also a time of political awakening in Africa and the Caribbean, to which Garvey vigorously encouraged the export of his movement. In the era of global black awakening following World War I, Garvey emerged as the best known, the most controversial, and, for many, the most attractive of a new generation of New Negro leaders. Representative Charles B. Rangel of New York has noted that "Garvey was one of the first to say that instead of blackness being a stigma, it should be a source of pride" (New York Times, 5 April 1987). Black expectations aroused by participation in World War I were dashed by the racial violence of the wartime and postwar years, and the disappointment evident in many black communities throughout the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean allowed Garvey to draw dozens of local leaders to his side. Their ideas were not always strictly compatible with Garvey's, but their sympathy with his themes of "African redemption" and black self-support was instrumental in gathering support for the movement from a vast cross-section of African-American society. Similarly, Garvey's message was adopted by a broad cross-section of educated and semi-literate Africans and West Indians hungry for alternatives to white rule and oppression. The postWorld War I years were thus a time when a growing number of Africans and West Indians were ready for change. In most colonial territories, Africans, like African Americans, were disappointed when expected postwar changes failed to materialize. The Garveyist message was spread by sailors, migrant laborers, and travelling UNIA agents, as well as by copies of its newspaper, the Negro World, passed from hand to hand. In the Caribbean, what has been termed the "Garvey phenomenon" resulted from an encounter between the highly developed tradition of racial consciousness in the African-American community, and the West Indian aspiration toward independence. It was the Caribbean ideal of self-government that provided Garvey with his vocabulary of racial independence. Moreover, Garvey combined the social and political aspirations of the Caribbean people with the popular American gospel of success, which he converted in turn into his gospel of racial pride. Garveyism thus appeared in the Caribbean as a doctrine proposing solutions to the twin problems of racial subordination and colonial domination. By the early 1920s the UNIA could count branches in almost every Caribbean, circum-Caribbean, and sub-Saharan African country. The Negro World was read by thousands of eager followers across the African continent and throughout the Caribbean archipelago. Though Caribbean and African Garveyism may not have coalesced into a single movement, its diverse followers adapted the larger framework to fit their own local needs and cultures. It is precisely this that makes Garvey and the UNIA so relevant in the study of the process of decolonization in Africa and the Caribbean. As if in confirmation of the success with which Garveyism implanted itself in various social settings, when Garvey himself proposed to visit Africa and the Caribbean in 1923, nervous European colonial governors joined in recommending that his entry into their territories be banned. Many modern Caribbean nationalist leaders have acknowledged the importance of Garveyism in their own careers, including T. Albert Marryshow of Grenada; Alexander Bustamante, St. William Grant, J. A. G. Smith, and Norman Washington Manley of Jamaica; and Captain Arthur Cipriani, Uriah Butler, George Padmore, and C. L. R. James of Trinidad. Before the Garvey and UNIA Papers project was established, the only attempt to edit Garvey's speeches and writings was the Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey, a propagandistic apologia compiled

Types of speech within the First Amendment Assignment

Types of speech within the First Amendment - Assignment Example There is pure speech, speech plus actions, and symbolic speech. Political speech receives the most protection through the first amendment (Jones, 2011). Political speech gets highly protected as it is vital to a functional republic due to its expressive nature. The first amendment also provides less than full protection to commercial speech. All speech is not equal within the first amendment. Several types of speech do not get protected by the first amendment (Cohen, 2010). These limitations on free speech get recognized by the US Supreme Court and constitute exceptions to free speech within the country. These exceptions got created over time based on context and certain types of speech (Jones, 2011). The first amendment exempts speech that involves false statement of fact, incitement, child pornography, obscenity, and plagiarism from its protection. Defamation on the form of libel or slander also gets exempted from the protection of the first

Motivational theory in Management and Administration Essay

Motivational theory in Management and Administration - Essay Example Maslow tries to emphasize that administrate theories are there to fulfill the needs of society. This in essence has been monumental because it fits Maslow’s hierarchal needs. For instance, serving the needs of the citizens that demand a better job manifests itself in Public Administration. When citizens see an incentive in public administration, they are likely to buy in the whole policy process. When basic needs are met as Maslow describes it, people are going to become interested.Douglas McGregor proposed two motivational theories by which managers perceive employees and their motivation. Each theory assumes that management's role is to effectively organize resources. Theory X states to control the lazy and unmotivated individuals while Theory Y is to reward hard working motivation individuals within an organization. Although many organizations find it useful to consider the two extremes of the spectrum that McGregor identified, many also accept that there is also a group of individuals that lie in between.Motivational theory is compatible with government efficiency because of various reasons. First and foremost is the fact that people are highly going to be motivated if they see their needs are being met and the government will continue to invest in them. This is crucial in public policies such as Cash for Clunkers or FAFSA programs. In order to ensure that the public buys into this programs, their needs must be met. Public policy also must be aggressive in facilitating individuals.

The Impact of European Influence on the Sioux and Iroquois Nations Essay

The Impact of European Influence on the Sioux and Iroquois Nations - Essay Example They had an intricate democratic system of government within the confederacy. The Iroquois were divided into 3 different clans: the bear, the wolf and the turtle. These clans were not segregated from one another; rather, they were a support network to others within the same clan providing lodging and food for one another while on hunting trips. This support system allowed the trade patterns of the Iroquois to encompass hundreds of miles. The Iroquois society was closely tied to the natural environment. Villages were primarily located near waterways as the canoe was a primary mode of transportation. The women were responsible for planting and harvesting of their staple vegetables: corn, beans and squash. The men hunted deer and bear and fished, providing meat for the family. The land of the Iroquois was rich in a variety of natural resources which were traded within the Nation as well as to the Plains Indians to the west and the tribes to the south. Some of the more important trade it ems included quartzite, copper, jasper and flint. The Northern Plains was home to the Sioux Nation (Oceti Sakowin). Their land was vast, mostly consisting of open plains. Family was central to the Sioux. Mutual respect between the sexes was evident in their daily lives. Unlike the Iroquois to the east, the Sioux tribe was nomadic, following buffalo herds which were their primary source of meat.

Relativism And Realism Debates

Relativism And Realism Debates Should psychology pursue the path of realism or relativism? Critically discuss the implications of the relativism realism debate for psychology. In the field of psychology, there is a debate amongst psychologists about which scientific approach to take when it comes to studying psychology. Whilst some psychologists prefer the realism approach, other psychologists prefer a different approach, relativism. The debate argues over which approach is the best theory for psychology to adopt; how research should be conducted, what assumptions can be made by psychologists, and which approach is the best way to gain knowledge about the world. So what is realism and what is relativism? Realism is what could be considered mainstream psychology, where knowledge about the world can be acquired through methodical and systematic experimentation. Fletcher (1996) states that realism is focused mainly on behaviour, and that empirical research is the cornerstone of the scientific method (pp. 409). This approach is widely used in psychology to study behaviour and to gain facts about the world, which can be used to build psychological theories (Cac ioppo, Semin Bertson, 2004, pp 215). Relativism, on the other hand, offers an alternative approach to realism. Relativism argues that the world is created by the human mind, and the realism approach is no more rational or trustworthy than ordinary thinking (Fletcher, 1996, pp. 410). Cacioppo, Semin and Bertson (2004) suggest that the relativism approach argues that theoreticians should recognize that all forms of theories are worthwhile and the key is to evaluate the relative informativeness of each theory (pp.219). This indicates that all theories are valid, but they are based upon the relative ideas and assumptions of the theoretician that put it forward. These relative ideas and assumptions of the theoretician are based on societal contexts which are part of the defining statement (Kagan, 1964, pp.131), meaning that what is stated is relative to the state of the individual and the context it is said in. But which approach should psychologists take and what does this mean for psy chology? The realism and relativism debate has been ongoing for a long time in the field of philosophy and more recently, psychology (Fletcher, 1996; Parker, 1998). In the field of philosophy, an empiricism approach has been widely abandoned in favour of a relativistic approach (Fletcher, 1996, pp. 410). However there is little consensus about which is the best approach to adopt by psychologists. There are arguments both for and against relativism and realism, and there are benefits to both approaches. This essay will look at both realism and relativism as philosophical approaches to psychology and which approach is more appropriate for the field. The realistic approach to psychology has been used in most psychological research that uses an experimental design. The assumption of the realism approach is that there is a real world that can be tested to establish facts; which experiments adopt to establish facts about behaviour. This, in a way, lends support for itself in psychology; by creating theories that can be tested, psychologists are able to predict behaviour, which is what some would say is the central aim of psychology (Gergen, 1973, pp. 317). Haig (2005) suggests that realism alone can offer an all-encompassing approach to psychology. It is argued by Haig (2005) that whilst there can be no proof that realism is a deficient philosophy for psychology, there is no need for other philosophical approaches to the field. However, it can be noted that this would be a very realist view; Haig (2005) needs proof that realism is deficient before it can be considered deficient. Whereas from a relativist point of view, proof would n ot be needed for realism to be considered a deficient philosophy, it would be relative to the context and person stating that it is deficient. This poses a problem; if realism is based on facts and wants proof that it does not provide an adequate philosophy, and relativism does not need facts or proof that realism is not an adequate philosophy, then a consensus of which approach is the most appropriate for psychology can never be made. One argument by Sankey (2004) suggests that the physical existence of the world provides evidence for a realist approach. It is suggested that the existence of the world around us does not depend on our thoughts, perceptions or experiences of it, it just exists. Whatever way we think about the world, or try to change parts of it (constructing buildings, growing crops, polluting the environment etc, pp.63), we did not create the world itself. It is argued that from this, human thoughts do not create the conception of reality, it is physically around us and this lends support to the realism approach. This would seem plausible, the fact that there are physical objects around us, that we can touch and interact with would suggest that there is a real world, and that we can acquire knowledge about that world. Sankey (2004) goes on to suggest that Mental representations are but a small part of a greater reality in which we find ourselves embedded. Any philosophy which seeks to ground our co nception of reality on our own mental representations commits the fundamental error of anthropocentrism, and should therefore be dismissed as fatally flawed, (pp.64). This suggests that by assuming that reality is evaluated exclusively through human representations of the world, relativism is flawed. It can also be noted that if relativists argue that all theories are worthwhile, then this argument by Sankey (2004) is perfectly reasonable in providing evidence for the realism approach. However, one thing that may go against this argument by Sankey (2004) is that there is no way of knowing whether everyone perceives the physical world around us in the same way or not. This means that the physical world as evidence for realism could be perceived in many different ways, suggesting that in fact a relativist approach is more appropriate for studying psychology. Whilst the realist approach lends support to the experimental side of psychology; enabling a psychologist to assume what they have found to be factual and free from representations, there is an increasing number of psychologists and psychological fields that are adopting a more relativist approach. These include social constructivism, discourse analysis and feminist psychology (Fletcher, 1996). But why adopt a relativist approach when a realism approach has been used so widely in the mainstream field of psychology? There are several arguments against using a realist philosophy for psychology. One argument that is highlighted by Fletcher (1996) is the idea that the empiricism approach to a lot of psychological research is based on a set of rules set out by psychologists that all experiments adhere to, for example significance levels (p.411). There is a question of why those particular values are deemed significant and why others are not, and what made those values significant. It can be supposed that somewhere along the line, humans decided what results could be considered significant and what results could not. This provides evidence for the relativism approach; everything is relative to the persons thoughts, assumptions and experiences. In this case results may only be significant to some people whilst the same set of results could be completely insignificant to others. However, because of the significance values used in the methodology employed by the realism approach, results that could seem significant to some people are deemed insignificant by the constraints of realist psychology. Rosnow and Rosethal (1989) criticise the methods of analysing data, stating that determining the particular level of significance of the data at which a null hypothesis will be rejected is essentially a personal decision, (pp.1277) which strengthens the argument that psychology is based on social constructs and is relative to the psychologist. The relativist argument that realis t methods are too dichotomous is also supported by Loftus (1996). Relativists have also rejected realist arguments that because we can physically touch and interact with our environment that this proves the world is real and that it can be tested in order to gain knowledge (e.g. Sankey, 2004). Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) identified two arguments used against relativism, (being able to touch furniture and the reality of death) and argue that these are still socially constructed. Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) suggest that a realist would hit a table and the resulting sound shows it is physical, and not socially constructed. The table, in the eyes of a realist, would be a real object that can be touched, physically in the real world. However, what Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) argue is that the table, whilst displaying physical properties is still a socially constructed object. The person that hits the table experiences it as real, but only the part that is touched by the hand. In addition to this, how does anybody else watching the t able being hit know it is real (pp.29)? It is also argued that by hitting the table, it does not prove that tables continuing existence (pp.29), nor does it prove that everything else around that table and other objects in the world exists. This highlights a flaw in what realists would count as evidence that the world is real and free from human interpretations. Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) also state that a realist would use death as evidence for a world that is free from human perceptions. It is said that a realist would ask how a relativist can question whether death is a reality or not. To dispute that death is a reality would seem immoral and it would be impossible to say that the death of something or someone is just a social construct. However, it is argued by Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) that even death is socially constructed. It is suggested that when you look at death and everything that relates to it, for example, resurrection, the afterlife, survival of the spirit, the non-simultaneous criteria of brain death, the point when life support might as well be switched off, cryogenic suspension, the precise (how precise?) moment of death, (pp. 36), it becomes clear that there is a lot of social construction surrounding death. Along with the different ways it is possible to die, it is stated that everyone knows, these are c ategories which are as constructed as can be, (pp.36). This is a convincing argument for relativism; there are things in the world that appear to be reality, physical and factual. However, as shown in the case of death, there are more components to death than just the umbrella term which are clearly socially constructed. When someone dies, are they truly dead? What if they are, instead, reincarnated as something else? In a realist world, these questions would seem scientifically impossible to test which leads to the question of whether death can really be established as fact and a realistic truth. The way in which we would class someone as dead is only to the extent of our own knowledge, tools and assumptions, but this would mean death has to be classed as a social construct and not free of human interpretation. As presented, there is support for adopting a realist philosophy and there is support for adopting a relativist philosophy. So which approach is best for psychology? As previously stated, Fletcher (1996) highlights that realism has been overlooked in favour of a relativist approach in several areas of psychology, in particular, social constructivism, discourse analysis and feminist psychology. Within feminist psychology there has been an increasing use of relativist philosophy. A paper by Riger (1992) suggests that relativism is the most appropriate approach for studying women and feminism in psychology. It is suggested that gender is a socially constructed phenomenon; we are members of gender through our thoughts and actions rather than just having the gender of male and female. In addition to this, it is argued that the relations between men and women are a result of patterns of social organisation (pp.737). Therefore, it is suggested that psychology as a discipline should consider the social context of gender and womens activity, promoting the use of a relativist philosophy in this particular branch of psychology. Support for a relativist approach in psychology is provided by Hepburn (2000), who points out the advantages to using such a philosophy in feminist psychology. It is stated that relativism clears the way for addressing the many competing versions, contingencies, arguments and agendas that go with doing feminist research (pp.103). This suggests that the relativist assumption that all theories are valid, allows for the many different paths of research in feminist psychology to occur. Therefore, it also has to be considered whether a realist approach would be appropriate for feminist psychology. Gender differences in empiricist research do not take the social context and human perceptions of those gender differences, which could mean that psychologists who follow a realist approach to psychology may not know every reason for those gender differences. Therefore, it can be questioned whether or not empiricism really does gain factual knowledge about the world, if it does not take into account everything that could contribute to those facts. In this case, it would seem that for feminist psychology, realism would not be the most appropriate philosophy to adopt. In contrast, there are some that promote realism within feminist psychology. New (1998) defends realism as the most appropriate philosophy for feminist psychology to adopt. It is stated by New (1998) that despite realisms current resounding unpopularity among feminist theorists, they cannot do without it, (pp.366) suggesting that whilst relativism is popular within feminist psychology, there is also a need for realism. It is argued that realism is needed to understand the underlying concepts in the history of feminist psychology and to understand the knowledge that has already been obtained of feminist psychology, and this cannot be done without assuming that the relativist social constructions are also true. This could mean that in psychology, you cannot have relativism without realism. In order to understand the knowledge that is gained through a relativist approach it may mean that realism is also needed. In other words, if relativism argues that gender differences are a social co nstruction, then they have to assume that these social constructions are true and real. New (1998) adds to this by suggesting that when arguing the case for relativism, relativists have to regress to realism in order to articulate the case. In addition to this, Parker (1999) supports realism in other branches of psychology. In his paper against relativism in psychology, Parker (1999) points out that some psychologists believe realism warrants psychology as a real science. Therefore, this could mean that by adopting a realist approach psychology could be put in the same category as what are commonly called real sciences such as physics, chemistry and biology. This has implications for psychology as a science and not just for psychologists either. If psychology is classed as a real science, the results of psychological research may carry more weight in everyday life, where not everyone is aware of the debate between realism and relativism. Therefore, as presented with the example of feminist psychology, there is a strong case for both realism and relativism within psychology. This leaves the question of which approach to adopt for psychology up in the air; the debate seems to have no solid consensus of which approach to adopt. Even in the case of feminist psychology, which is suggested to have predominantly accepted the relativist approach, there are still some that argue for a realist philosophy (e.g. New, 1998). However, there may be other philosophical approaches more appropriate for psychology. For example, Cacioppo, Semin and Bertson (2004) evaluate instrumentalism as an approach for psychology. According to Cacioppo, Semin and Bertson (2004), the aim of instrumentalism is not to discover truth, but instead aims to construct intellectual structures that provide adequate predictions of what is observed (pp.217). Therefore, whilst not searching for the truth like realism or proving that instead everything that is th ought to be true is instead a social construction, like relativism, instrumentalism provides a way of predicting and describing what is observed rather than persistently debating whether what is observed is true or not. In a way, instrumentalism positions itself in between realism and relativism, it just utilises the observations without having to assume whether it is real or not. So, aside from realism and relativism, would this be a better approach for psychology? Instrumentalism would seem to be a compromise between the two approaches and so this could be the path psychology should pursue. As highlighted by New (1998), it seems relativism cannot be without realism and as highlighted by Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) it is argued realism cannot be without relativism. Therefore, as the debate between realism and relativism can become blurred, it may be that instrumentalism is a more suitable approach to psychology. In conclusion, with no consensus between realists and relativis ts, it is unclear whether psychology should pursue the path of realism and relativism. As proposed by Cacioppo, Semin and Bertson (2004) an integrated approach between realism and instrumentalism may be the best approach for psychology. Word Count Excluding References : 2,847

Drown Essay -- Junot Diaz

Drown   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The fact that I am writing to you in English already falsifies what I wanted to tell you.†(Diaz) Drown; a compilation of short stories, by Junot Diaz portrays the integration of fiction and truth. Yunior, narrator, as he tells his stories, he exaggerates and jumps from one period of his life to another. The characters of the story can relate to many young adults. Their experiences and the journeys of their lives are what most Hispanic teenagers go through. The 10 different stories explain the different themes shown throughout the book. The Hispanic community faces many problems and Diaz states a couple of them; gender immigration, violence, drugs, family, cultural identity, and the Latin experience. In the beginning, Yunior and Rafa are both ignorant and show a sign of hate towards Ysrael. The story about Ysrael is that when he was a baby a pig bit him on the face. They find out about Ysrael, because a boy told them a story about him. Yunior and Rafa both show their views of ignorance and hatred towards Ysrael. One day they decide to go and look for him. Once they find him their first attempt is unsuccessful. Yunior and Rafa are trying to go along with the other kids so they can fit in. But when Yunior befriends Ysrael, he begins to have a serious conversation with him. Yunior is content talking with Ysrael, because he begins to realize that they share similar interest. Also both have family in the states. Yunior believed Ysrael when he told him that he wa...

Characters and what Pip learns Essay

Magwitch reminds Pip of his vulnerability throughout the novel. When Magwitch turns Pip upside down in the novel, this can be interpreted as a metaphor for indeed just how much Magwitch does change Pip’s life around. When Pip first meets his convict he does not look down on him, even hoping the guards don’t catch him on the marshes. However, snobbish attitudes towards convicts soon develop when Pip has expectations. Therefore, when Magwitch returns into Pip’s life, Pip looks down on the man who has provided for and supported him, simply because he is not a gentleman. This is a great irony as is the convict had kept the money to himself, Pip would be the inferior, and Magwitch the gentleman. â€Å"The abhorrence in which I held the man, the dread I had of him, the repugnance with which I shrank from him, could not have been exceeded if he had been some terrible beast. † Pip realises that Magwitch takes more pride in seeing Pip exist in such a rich manner than if he himself was having all the comforts. The money Magwitch gives to Pip does not make him happy, so Pip learns about the value of money from the convict. He learns that money alone cannot make him happy and that deserting dear Joe for the posh London lifestyle was wrong. ‘It was for the convict†¦ that I had deserted Joe’ At the end of the novel Pip would rather let Magwitch die a happy man with the ignorance that Pip would inherit a fortune, than let Magwitch know the crown would take his money for a chance that he might get some of it. Pip begins to realise that Magwitch was not an evil man, and not all convicts are typical of their social stereotypes. In fact, Pip’s realisation that Magwitch is indeed a more honest, true and loyal person than he had ever been, changes him completely. Going to Magwitch’s trial and holding his hand in front of the public states just how much Pip begins to pay the convict the respect he so deserved. Pip realises you cannot become a gentleman by simply having money, but it needs a change of heart. ‘No varnish can hide the grain of the wood; and the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself’ Therefore, the idea that people are not always as they seem on the surface crops up in the novel. This is also brought to our attention when we find out that Estella, who was brought up a lady and seemed a lady, actually came from apparently more lowly backgrounds than Pip himself. Pip’s encounter with Estella at Satis House changed his whole perception of himself. Before Estella revealed to him that he was â€Å"a coarse and common boy† Pip had always been happy in his destiny as an apprentice to Joe in the forge. However, having fallen for Estella’s beauty he wanted more than anything in the world to be a gentleman, so that he might have a chance to compete for her love. The knowledge that Pip was common and seen as inferior made him ashamed of home, and unhappy in his job with Joe. â€Å"†¦ I had believed in the forge as the glowing road to manhood and independence. Within a single year this was all changed. Now, it was all coarse and common†¦ † Therefore, Estella and Miss Havisham had in effect poisoned Pip’s mind and given him knowledge he would have been happier without. Estella herself ends up miserable from the lifestyle she had been brought up to lead. Pip realises that Estella thinking she had no heart ruined more than just the men she teased lives, but her own. By Estella marrying Drummle and refusing Pip’s love, she made a very big mistake and admits to it. Pip learns that love should never be refused or scorned, but repayed. For example, he is happiest in his self when he is in a muturally affectionate relationship with Magwitch and Joe. Miss Havisham and Orlick teach Pip that revenge is not a route to take. The desire to have revenge on each other between Compeyson and Magwitch leads to the end of both of their lives. Orlick’s plans for revenge on Pip are unsuccessful and he ends up in the County Jail. Miss Havisham dies a thoroughly unhappy lady when she realises in horror that by raising Estella to have no heart, Estella herself cannot love even her. Another fact is that she herself had broken Pips heart in a similar fashion to how her own was broken, and she despaired at the thought. Pip regards Biddy as having a ‘bad side of human nature’ whenever she tries to approach him in the respect that Pip was not behaving correctly or had a thought that was not agreeable to him. Similarly, Pip privately believed Herbert to be a lost cause and planned eventually to disassociate himself with him. When he looks back, in retrospect, Pip realises that the faults he saw in Biddy and Herbert were not their faults at all, but his. In this way he realises that his vanity and arrogance had led him to believe he was a better person than honest and hard working Herbert and Biddy, when in fact he was far below them. ‘We owed so much to Herbert’s ever cheerful industry and readiness, that I often wondered how I had conceived that old idea of his inaptitude, until I was one day enlightened by the reflection, that perhaps the inaptitude had never been in him at all, but had been in me. ‘ Pip learns that there is more to people than just the impressions they give you. For example, Pip cannot understand how Joe can be proud of his life early on in the novel, but later finds Joe to be one of the greatest people in his life and is proud of him. Pip’s debts were paid off by Joe and this surprised Pip because he hadn’t even considered Joe would do it. Although Joe appears to be one of the simplest people in his life, Joe always remain true to Pip and always treats him exactly the same throughout, with the exception of the time when Joe comes to London and is made to feel uncomfortable. He also gives very wise advise to Pip on the way life is, and proves that the wisest men are not necessarily the ones with the largest bank accounts, but the ones with the largest hearts. ‘If you can’t get to be a oncommon scholar through going straight, you’ll never get to do it through going crooked. So don’t tell no more on ’em Pip, and live well and die happy. ‘ Jaggers behaves throughout the novel like a lawyer both while at work, and at home. He is very efficient and all his words seem as if they are planned to derive a specific reaction. Jaggers appears to have no emotion at all. However, when Pip reveals he knows of Estella’s parentage, Jaggers displays qualities that imply Jaggers does indeed have a heart, as he rescused Estella and had ‘poor dreams’ himself. This is another example of how people are not always as they seem. Pumblechook is portrayed by Dickens as a sycophantic, arrogant obnoxious, vain and selfish man. By Pip’s uncle claiming to be Pip’s earliest benefactor, it reveals that not all gentlemen are necessarily nice people. It is indeed an irony that it may be Pumblechook’s recommendation of Pip to Miss Havisham that ruined Pip’s life, rather than helped him. This idea can be seen again where Compeyson uses his education and manners to gain Miss Havishams love in order to drain her of her money.

Marcus Aurelius essays

Marcus Aurelius essays Marcus Aurelius Antonius, born Marcus Annius Verus in 121 C.E, was adopted at age 17 by emperor Antonius Pius. Marcus succeeded to the throne without difficulty after the death of Antonius in 161 C.E. A devotee of Stoicism, Marcus is well remembered for his Meditations, written while in isolation, in which he attempts to reconcile his Stoic beliefs with his role as emperor. In terms of his role as emperor, Marcus Aurelius is well remembered for protecting the borders of the empire against Germanic forces, his caution in spending empirical funds, his social policies, his legal policies, the effect of his Stoicism on his policies, his relentless persecution of Christians, believing them to be a threat to the empire, and also his benevolence towards the weak and needy. During the reign of Marcus Aurelius, there were many threats to the borders of the empire, most coming from Germanic tribes from the north along the Rhine-Danube border in 167 C.E. Marcus spent much time with his army along this border, boosting morale while at the same time keeping an eye on the goings on. A significant victory for Marcus came against the Parthians in 166 C.E. In the last years of Antonius reign, tensions had grown between Parthia over control of Armenia, a buffer between the two feuding empires. Both wanted to impose a king on Armenia that had interests favourable to their respective empires. with the death of Antonius and the uncertainty surrounding a new emperor, Parthia struck quickly placing in Armenia its own candidate. Parthenian forces inflicted serious setbacks on the Roman forces sent to oppose them. Marcus sent Lucius Verus to head the Roman attacks. From 162 C.E. on, Roman forces struck deciding blows on Parthenian cities and strongholds. By 166 C.E. P arthia had capitulated. One surprising aspect of Marcus military exploits was his readiness to carry out ruthless retaliation against those who broke treaties, or killed and pillag...

Free Essays on A Black Mans Justice

A Black Man’s Justice Going down a back road, carrying groceries for her mother, Tonya Hailey walked toward her home. All of a sudden she feels a sharp pain in the back of her head, falls to the ground unconscious, and is dragged to the back of a yellow pick-up truck. Hailey woke up with her hands tied to a tree, and two legs spread apart and tied to separate fence posts. She smelled beer and liquor on the two men who were tying her up. She cried for her daddy, but he could not be there for her. The two men take turns raping her, ignoring the fact that she is bleeding. When they have finished, they spit on her, they cuss her, and they urinate on her. Thinking they will get rid of her, they dump her in a near by river, hoping and believing she will drown. But she does not drown; she lives, and she is found. This is a preview to the beginning of the book I read- A Time to Kill. This book is about a black girl who was raped by two white men. The white men are found guilty, but even so, the girl’s father, Carl Lee Hailey, kills them both. After the two white men, Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard, have been tried in court, they are walking out, handcuffed, and the angry father who seeks revenge runs from a janitor’s closet and shoots them both. They die almost instantly. Obviously, Carl Lee Hailey will be taken to jail. His kids and wife are left at home to fend for themselves. His wife had no job and could not imagine how she would get along with no money and no husband to provide for her family. She is scared, and because of Tonya’s hospital bills, they are even more so in debt then ever. Carl Lee remained in jail. Before Carl Lee killed the two white men, he consulted a lawyer friend that he knew named Jake Brigance. Jake is an average lawyer in a small town. He is white, unlike Carl Lee, and although he realized how angry Carl Lee was, he did not figure that he would do something crazy like kill the ... Free Essays on A Black Man's Justice Free Essays on A Black Man's Justice A Black Man’s Justice Going down a back road, carrying groceries for her mother, Tonya Hailey walked toward her home. All of a sudden she feels a sharp pain in the back of her head, falls to the ground unconscious, and is dragged to the back of a yellow pick-up truck. Hailey woke up with her hands tied to a tree, and two legs spread apart and tied to separate fence posts. She smelled beer and liquor on the two men who were tying her up. She cried for her daddy, but he could not be there for her. The two men take turns raping her, ignoring the fact that she is bleeding. When they have finished, they spit on her, they cuss her, and they urinate on her. Thinking they will get rid of her, they dump her in a near by river, hoping and believing she will drown. But she does not drown; she lives, and she is found. This is a preview to the beginning of the book I read- A Time to Kill. This book is about a black girl who was raped by two white men. The white men are found guilty, but even so, the girl’s father, Carl Lee Hailey, kills them both. After the two white men, Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard, have been tried in court, they are walking out, handcuffed, and the angry father who seeks revenge runs from a janitor’s closet and shoots them both. They die almost instantly. Obviously, Carl Lee Hailey will be taken to jail. His kids and wife are left at home to fend for themselves. His wife had no job and could not imagine how she would get along with no money and no husband to provide for her family. She is scared, and because of Tonya’s hospital bills, they are even more so in debt then ever. Carl Lee remained in jail. Before Carl Lee killed the two white men, he consulted a lawyer friend that he knew named Jake Brigance. Jake is an average lawyer in a small town. He is white, unlike Carl Lee, and although he realized how angry Carl Lee was, he did not figure that he would do something crazy like kill the ...

Operation management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Operation management - Essay Example A trend is observed in the x bar chart for size of the dolls making it a focus area for the company. There have been a lot of customer returns due to inconsistencies in the colour and the size of the dolls manufactured in the plant. In order to analyze the situation, the company recorded 2 sets of data. The first set contains the number of colouring defects over a period of 30 days. The second set contains the sizes of 3 dolls selected at random daily over a period of 30 days. The company needs to find out whether its processes are in control or not. C-chart is the most appropriate control chart for the number of defects found if the sample size remains the same throughout. For the first data set the sample size for testing in each of the 30 subgroups is 200. Thus, using c-chart makes absolute sense. The 3 sigma control limits for a c-chart are calculated as: In the R-chart and x bar chart for height of the dolls, many observations lie outside both the control limits. This shows that the process is out of control. R-chart is shown in Figure 3.2 and x bar chart is shown in Figure 3.3. The manufacturing process of the toy plant is out of control for both the number of defectives in colour and the heights of the dolls. Since, only 1 observation is out of limits for colour defects, it may be considered as a one-off deviation and can be neglected. However, the company must still aim to decrease the mean number of defects. This could be done by replacement of the machine which would require a capital expenditure. The ultimate aim of the company must be to go for zero defects as proposed by quality experts. This is also a key philosophy of Lean Management and Six Sigma. From the point of view of heights of dolls, the process is completely out of control. Sharp trends are visible in the R chart and x bar chart. This implies a problem with the production process. This variation is a controlled variation and rectifying the production process will

Violations of Securities Laws Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Violations of Securities Laws - Assignment Example with insider sales, potentially more opportunities for insiders to sell their shares, decreased burden on counsel or trading compliance officers who would have make subjective determinations on the availability of non- public information (Johnson 56). The ramification of those who violate this rule are judicially constructed. In addition, the Congress passed the PSLARA that would encourage the voluntary disclosure of information by corporate issues, empower the investors so that they may exercise primary control over their private securities litigation and encourage plaintiff to pursue valid claims and fight abuse claims. Under Rule 16b of the Exchange Act , with respect to any company whose securities are registered on a NSE, enforces certain restrictions and obligations on the company’s directors and every beneficial owner of more that 10 percent of any call of equity security as those presumed to have access of inside information. As a trader, this rule is beneficial as it helps to prevent the unfair use of information which may be gotten by the beneficial owner by reason of the relationship that is present with the issuer. The ramification for those who violate the rule allows allow a stakeholder to file a derivative suit that will help recover such profit (Federal Securities Law Reporter 66). If this is not implemented or they refuse to bring such suit within sixty days, there will be no requirement for the share holder to own any shares at the time of the insider trading. Federal Securities Law Reporter: Federal Regulation of Securities : Laws, Regulations, Forms, Rulings and Decisions, Currently Supplemented and Indexed. Chicago, Ill: Commerce Clearing House, 1964. Continually updated

Auditor's Professional Ethics and Legal Liability Essay

Auditor's Professional Ethics and Legal Liability - Essay Example instance, ‘Compensation’ though is a legitimate action it can become unethical when the top executives of companies fix ‘excessive compensation’ for themselves (Anthony, 2004, p.28). Accountants and auditors must have a code of conduct so as to coordinate their work and to fix a standard for their actions. The significance of the predetermined code of conduct is that it enables accountants and auditors to carry out their duties and responsibilities more accurately and transparently. The code of conduct remains to be an assessment tool for management to evaluate employees’ professional ethics based on their performance. In order to uphold the reliability and integrity of the profession auditors must comply with legal and ethical norms of the firm. For instance, an auditor should not reveal the audit report or any information concerned with the firm under audit to any persons or companies other than to the management which assigned the audit work. It is very difficult to bring out a fraudulent action if it is committed by persons at the higher level of the management. However, auditor should take all possible efforts to reveal the organizational misconduct of any sort. The auditor being held criminally liable under current regulations may suffer cash fine or imprisonment subsequent to his/her mistake on the concern. The punishment may also differ for intentional and unintentional mistakes which have committed during the course of audit. An auditor can minimize his legal liability by submitting audit memorandum in order to prove that he has discharged the responsibilities correctly. Audit memorandum is a personal document of the auditor which consists of all details and explanations of audit work he/she had performed. This document helps to defend the auditor in case of lawsuits and thereby minimizes his/her legal liability. Individuals like accountants, managers, and auditors play significant roles in the sustainable profitability of a firm. If the

The Fundamental Changes of Adolescence Essay Example for Free

The Fundamental Changes of Adolescence Essay Puberty is the sum of all the changes that occur in the growing girl or boy as the individual passes from childhood into adulthood. This phase of rapid physical and psychological and social changes prepares the child into a period of full sexual maturation. Furthermore, this phase is manifested by growth spurt and development of secondary sex characteristics. Growth hormones are the reason for the development of secondary sex characteristics which can be described as the changes in the outward appearance that signal the onset of reproductive maturity. These include growth of pubic hair, changes in the appearance of sex organs and breast development. Accompanying these changes is the feeling of anxiety and shame of these rapid bodily changes so without proper guidance during this turbulent stage in his life may not prepare him for the more complex problems of adulthood. Not all adolescents undergo these changes at the same time; some mature late while some mature early. The onset of puberty can occur as early as age 7 years in girls and 9 and ? in boys or as late as 13 in girls and 13 ? in boys. In girls, the interval between the first sign of puberty and complete physical maturation can be as short as six years and in boys, the comparable interval ranges from about two years to five years (J. Tanner, 1962. ) For the boys, the sign that he has reached sexual maturity is termed spermache. Spermache is the first ejaculation of the seminal fluid generally occurring a year after the beginning of growth of his primary sexual organ, the penis. On the other hand, girls have reached sexual maturation with the onset of her first menstruation and the term for this occurrence is menarche. Psychological Effect of Puberty The bodily changes during adolescent stage can affect teen’s behaviour and psychological functioning. The increase of hormone testosterone is directly linked to the increase in boy’s sex drive. Bodily changes will also make the children more conscious with his physical appearance. There is also a change in how others react to the adolescents’ new image in turn these reaction will elicit change in the adolescents’ self-image. During this period, the adolescent also sets high ideals, dreams and aspirations. They wanted to act like an adult but society cannot yet grant him the privileges that adults enjoy. In wanting to reach his high ideals, adolescents can realize that they cannot reach those ideals and this leads to loss of self-confidence and may experience a feeling of inadequacy. Timing and Tempo of Puberty There are factors which can affect the timing and tempo of puberty. One of the prime reasons is the genetic makeup of the individual. There are studies which reveal that African-American female mature earlier than their American counterparts. Study also shows that maturity occurs much earlier in prosperous countries as compared to less developed countries and scientists believe that better nutrition, improved sanitation and better disease control caused the early maturation. Those teens that have experienced maturity during normal period have the high incidence of having less emotional and psychological problems than those who matures early or late because they have the right amount of time spent in childhood which can make them cope better with the demands of adolescence (Fundamental Changes in Adolescents, p. 26.). Reaction to Early Maturation Boys and girls have different reactions when dealing with early maturity. For the girls, it has both positive and negative effects. The positive effect is that when compared with late maturing, early maturing girls are more independent minded, more popular with boys and felt better with their figure. They also dated more frequently. Because of their more independent attitude, they can be more likely to get into trouble at school because they tend to speak their mind without thinking if their comments might hurt another’s feelings. Girls who mature early also have the tendency to get low grades in class because they are in dates often and they neglect their school duties. Early maturers are treated as more mature by peers and adults so they have the tendency to show adult behaviours and can cope easily with the emotional turmoil brought about by the sudden physical and psychological changes. For boys early maturation mean competitive advantage over peers in the field of sports and in leadership. They are also more attractive to girls than their awkward looking peers and are often viewed as sophisticated, poised and self-confidence. One disadvantage is that early maturers have less time for childhood games and fun because adults expect them to do more mature roles. There is less time to adjust to physical maturity so they tend to be socially immature. Reaction to Late Maturation Same as with early maturation, boys and girls have different reaction to late maturation. Girls who are late maturers are under less pressure because adults don’t expect her to behave and act maturely. Late maturers also mature at the same time as boys so they are in the same social and psychological level that they don’t have difficulty in forming intimate relationship with the opposite sex. Potential disadvantage of late maturity in boys is that late-maturing boys cannot compete with early maturers in forming boy-girl relationships because they are still conscious with their physical appearance and because they still have underdeveloped muscles and hoarse voice and this leads to the development of negative self-concept: a feeling of inadequacy, a feeling of hopelessness and rejection. It is easy to spot late and early maturers. Physically, their difference is marked by their body built. Those with athletic build are likely to be early maturers but those with slight build are the late maturers. Knowing the potential advantages and disadvantages of these types of adolescents may help the parents and adult guardians understand the crisis they face and can easily formulate methods to help these adolescents pass this rite of passage and built a positive self-image. References: Tanner, J. M. , 1962, Growth at Adolescence, 2nd edn (Oxford: Blackwell Scienti ®c Publications). â€Å"Development Needs of Children and Adolescents†, retrieved May 20, 2010 at the website http://www. bhojvirtualuniversity. com/ss/online_cou/b_ed/secp_02/cp2b2u2p3. asp â€Å"The Fundamental Changes of Adolescence† retrieved on May 20, 2010 at the website http://highered. mcgraw-hill. com/sites/dl/free/0072414561/16698/ch01. pdf

Elie and Marion Wiesel Night | Book

Elie and Marion Wiesel Night | Book Night The title suggests a clear setting of the nighttime and in a symbolic way the setting is during a time as dark and long as the night. Elie Wiesel lived through a time in world history that is so sinister many people refuse to believe it could have even happened. The Holocaust, World War II, Nazi Germany invasion of Eastern Europe countries, all are the setting and background story for Elie Wiesel firsthand account of surviving it all written in his book Night. Starting in Sighet, Transylvania â€Å"a small village that didn’t even make the maps† (Birthplace) Elie, his family, and many other Jews felt safe. They were far from the action in 1941 living their normal lives. The years passed and the Nazi threat grew closer their daily routines were changed, they were forced to move, to wear a star, and finally to be transported in 1944 to Auschwitz a German concentration camp, the largest of the death camps. (Auschwitz-Birkenau) Arriving at Birkenau men and women were separated as soon as they exited the train. In the moment so many families and loved ones were looking at each other for the last time, and none had the foresight to even know it. The same was true for Elie, â€Å"I didn’t know that this was the moment or the place where I was leaving my mother and Tzipora forever.† (Wiesel p.29) In the night (around midnight) Elie and his family were in Birkenau in the year 1944 and for two family members this was also their final resting place. It stands out to me how human nature is portrayed in the experience in this book. Even as they were separated from families, beaten, yelled at, seemingly marched to their death in the crematoria, told to strip, shaved, marched around camp, made to stand in the elements, and all the while smelling the stink of burning human flesh, they were still able to share joy when finding friends in the same place as you, in holding a family members hand because at least you weren’t alone, and having a moral boost after some sleep. (Wiesel 33-42) This holds true for the rest of the book, people always keeping the faith, holding on to some dream, and living for the family they know are still alive. All these things gave them the will to go on and the will to survive because it had to get better, didn’t it? But for the ones who did survive to the liberation by the allied troops I don’t think life will ever be a continuous sunny day, because the night always comes and with it th e memories and nightmares that will never be forgotten. But thankfully it will never be forgotten because the people who perished under these circumstances of the Holocaust should never be forgotten. In Birkenau Elie and his father were made to work in the warehouse and there the author begins to note has life in a concentration camp had changed him. After his father was beaten his anger was directed not at the Kapo who beat him but at his father who should not have provoked the Kapo. (Wiesel p. 54) This is where I began to see the separation of Elie and his father and imaged how it must have been for many others during this time in concentration and work camps. The human body can separate from the heart and emotion and learn to only survive and sometimes survival means only taking care of you. Take the story told on page 63 where a pipel was beating his own father because he did not make his bed properly and then demanded he stop crying or he would stop bringing his food. (Wiesel) In the winter of 1945 as the allied troops drew closer, the camp was told of evacuation and the decision had to be made to go as told or stay behind in the infirmaries where there was a possibility of being finished in the furnaces. At this point Elie was more worried about not being separated from his father and they chose to be evacuated with the others. Foresight would have saved them his father’s death had they have know those in the infirmary were liberated by the Russians two days later. (Wiesel p 82) â€Å"SS units evacuate Auschwitz in January. Elie and his father are transferred to  Buchenwald  concentration camp, near Weimar Germany. Soviet troops liberate Auschwitz on January 27.† (Elie Wiesel Timeline and World Events: 1928–1951) The evacuation proves to be the wrong choice for Elie’s father but it struck me how during the march it was his father’s existence that kept him going and in the snowy night his father was the one encouragin g his son who wanted to quit. This was also the time that Elie prayed the prayer to never do what Rabbi Eliahu’s son had done. â€Å"He had thought by this separation† from his father he could â€Å"free himself of a burden that could diminish his own chance for survival.† (Wiesel p. 86-91) This goes back to the idea of survival being a journey that one feels like they have to do alone, so others won’t bring them down or get in their way. It is so heart breaking that the encouragement the group needed to continue came from the very people that were making them march in the cold in the first place. So strange that they were wishing and praying for the barbed wire of Gleiwitz to appear, to be hoping and pining for another concentration camp where death seemed imminent. (Wiesel p. 92) On the move again from Geliwitz they were put in train cars again this time different people entirely entered the cars. They had different views on life and what it meant to live. They also had different appearances, now so skinny more could fit into the cars. (Wiesel p. 97) â€Å"Our brains a whirlwind of decaying memories. Our minds numb with indifference†¦The night was growing longer, never ending.† (Wiesel p. 98) The author could be speaking of the literal night as they road to their new location but I feel that he was talking about the night that they will all live in for the rest of their lives. They will never be able to remove those memories from their minds and after experience something so horrific the night must seem never ending. The story of the workers throwing bread on to the train car shows another parallel in the story of the fight the human body has for survival above anything else and it takes over the heart and emotions numbing them. When the old man g ets bread for he and his son and his son is the very one that is beating him to death to take the bread from his father, the son is beyond human in that moment and does not even recognize his own father calling out for him to stop. (Wiesel p. 101) When they finally reach their destination, Buchenwald, Elie’s father has given up. The will to live is the key to survive in any aspect of life. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, when you are lost in the wilderness, when any struggle arises you must keep the will to live. This was proven in the book when people lost their will to live after learning of loved ones who did not make it; they gave up and died soon after. â€Å"I knew that I was no longer arguing with him but with Death itself, with Death that he had already chosen.† (Wiesel p. 105) As his father’s health worsens Elie starts to realize that he is too is acting the way he prayed he would not. He tried to help his father but was given the advice â€Å"In this place, there is no such thing as a father, brother, friend. Each of us lives and dies alone.† (Wiesel p. 110) When his father did pass in the night no one was aware of it happening and Elie was changed forever. He felt freedom and hung er. Nothing else mattered after his father died but food. This was his body taking over his mind and emotions and driving everything in his being toward survival and to survive you just need food. (Wiesel p. 112-113) When the Front came closer and closer to Buchenwald Elie thought only of food. When the American tanks arrived and liberated the remaining men they only thought of provisions. â€Å"No thought of revenge, or of parents. Only of bread. And even when we were no longer hungry, not one of us thought of revenge.† (Wiesel p. 115) I hope that the survivor’s still do not think of revenge but instead of preserving and continuing the memory of all those that were lost during the Holocaust and World War II. The families not only lost people they cared for but the world suffered a great loss in losing so many lives and stories and possibilities. I am glad that Elie Wiesel had the strength to write this book and I hope that there is truth in the saying that time heals all pain. Maybe with time he and others have healed enough to see the light at dawn and not focus completely on the night. Works Cited Auschwitz-Birkenau.Auschwitz-Birkenau. PaÅ„stwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau W OņºwiÄâ„ ¢cimiu, 1999. Web. 30 Nov. 2014. Birthplace.Birthplace. G. Seila M. Acree, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2014. http://enloehs.wcpss.net/projects/west42002/wiesel3/birthplace.html> . â€Å"Elie Wiesel Timeline and World Events: 1928–1951.United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Council, 20 June 2014. Web. 30 Nov. 2014. http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007200>. Wiesel, Elie, and Marion Wiesel.Night. New York, NY: Hill and Wang, a Division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. Print.

The High Enlightenment and the Low-Life of Literature Essay -- Literar

Today, as historians look at the enlightenment they look at it through the eyes of the great thinkers.â€Å"The philosophic spirit itself took refuge in the writings of some great men†(D’Alembert,7).They helped create knowledge in how it is viewed today. However, the question remians what is the category that these men fall into. There are many different names and definitions of what these men can be called and who qualifies to fit in this group. It is said that many of the men that were classified in the category were not actual philosopher thinkers that expanded the mind and challenged thought. In the essay â€Å"The High Enlightenment and the Low-Life of Literature† by Robert Darnton he discuses the status of these philosophes that were being produced during the High Enlightenment. He argues that â€Å"the summit view of eighteenth-century intellectual history has been described so often and so well that it might be useful to strike out in a new direction, t o try to get to the bottom of the Enlightenment, and try to penetrate into its underworld...from below†(Darnton,57). He decides to look at the status of the enlightenment thinkers during this time to see the social standing that they had and the influence upon the world around them, not from the overall philosophes. Not from their works that were produced or the social responses to them; from the actual men of letters themselves.Darnton criticizes other historians for having looked at the Enlightenment â€Å"only through the eyes of this elite and proposes that, instead, we examine it from the perspective of those who failed to break into this closed elite of ‘literary aristocrates’†(Who were the Philosophes, 44). Darnton discusses, in his essay, the stance of the men of letters during the ... ... impoverished. The members of Grub Street now needed the change that was happening in thought during the Early Enlightenment. â€Å"It would seem to be necessary, therefore, in looking for the connection between the Enlightenment and the Revolution, to examine the structure of the cultural world under the Old Regime, to descend from the heights of metaphysics and to enter Grub Street†(Darnton, 65). These ideas of the old Enlightenment were seeping down into the lower classes because of what was happening to the Men of Letters. These members needed a change. â€Å"[W]hile they grew fat in Voltaire’s church, the revolutionary spirit passed to the lean and hungry men of Grub Street, to the cultural pariahs who, through poverty and humiliation†(Darnton, 66). This is what was happening in France during the High Enlightenment that led down into the Revolution for further change.

Acquisition of a Good Education

Education is defined as acquiring skills. There are many different ways to be educated and many subjects that can be studied. A good education is one that teaches a student to think. This is proven by Edith Hamilton, Malcolm X, and Adrian Rich in their works to define what they believe about learning and its importance to our world. In Edith Hamilton's essay, The Ever-present Past, she described a good education as one that is modeled after the ancient Greek's ideas. She defines being educated as being â€Å"able to be caught up into a world of thought† (752). The Greeks were taught to think. They were cultivated on an individual level so that they knew how to conceive ideas on their own. During the times of the ancient Greeks students were shown how to appreciate poetry, music, arts, and mathematics. They carried their education of thought into their government and their ways of life. The era of the ancient Greeks was laid by the teachings of their schools and therefore helped make them into a notable civilization. Today, Hamilton believes that with our set way of teaching we are not encouraging individuals to think. She concludes that we are â€Å"headed towards a standardization of minds† (756). Hamilton believes that we need to challenge our society to shape our educational goals after those of the Greeks. With the problems our world faces we should study how the Greeks triumphed in a savage world and how they were educated to do so. Then maybe we can learn how to prevent the â€Å"standardization of the minds† in our society and avoid repeating the ill-fated history of the ancient Greeks (754). In Malcolm X's, â€Å"Freedom Through Learning To Read†, a chapter of his autobiography, he describes a good education as being able to understand life. He wrote of how he desired to acquire more knowledge. This inner struggle began when he envied his friend's intelligence and when he was unable to express himself eloquently in letters. From that point he began to read everything. Malcolm X started by copying a dictionary to learn all the words he could. From there he never spent fifteen minutes free time without a book (48). As he studied the works of Mr. Elijah Muhammad he realized how the history of the black Americans were not included in most books. He searched to find a book to learn the history of the African-Americans and finally found a few that taught him about slavery (49). Malcolm X said that through his domestic education a new world had been opened up to him. He achieved his goal of learning to read and through that obtain what is considered by many a good education. He was able to read, understand, and form ideas and opinions based on what he had read (53). Through reading Malcolm X was capable of expressing his own views and our society benefited greatly from this self-educated man. In Adrienne Rich's, â€Å"Claiming An Education†, a speech given at Douglass College, she describes a good or serious education as the study of languages, ideas, methods, and values (58). Part of being educated is â€Å"refusing to let others do your thinking, naming, or talking for you†(59). Some of the most important things needed to fulfill intellectual independence are to learn the ways of rationalizing, deep discussions, and writing. Rich writes about how it is our own responsibility to claim an education and how we should not sell ourselves short (59). In order to learn we first need to assess what we hear and read in our courses to form an opinion (57). In order to form an opinion, Rich says that we have to first commit ourselves to our studies and expect others to show us respect. Rich describes an education as a commitment and a responsibility (59). Throughout these essays the main ideas were that to be educated a student has to be an individual and be able to think. There are many arguments over what we should study and how we should be taught. There is no wrong or right way to teach or certain subjects that need to be studied. As long as the students are taught to think for themselves and have the desire to learn, they will be able to obtain a good education.