A Doll’s House Study Guide Essay

Act I: Kevin Gao The setting is on Christmas Eve, in the Helmer’s Household. There is the aspect of the contrasting temperature, in which inside the house it is warm, symbolic of security and safety, whereas outside it is harsh and cold, symbolic of the real world and how cruel it is. These details are important in that they set the stage for the rest of the story. The people who live in the house are obviously very well-off people. They have money, yet they are frugal, not very lavish. The title â€Å"A Doll’s House† suggests that their home is very decorative. There is a bookcase, fine China, and other neat little ornaments. The characters are all described as dressed in nice clothing. Nora has all kinds of things on her like money and sweets. Money is very important in the play in that it seems to directly influence the kind of lifestyle they live. I’ve noticed that the gifts are very tacky, showing poor taste, and are very unnecessary and needless objects. In my opinion, only the rich people seem to be able to afford macaroons and other sweets. The macaroons are characteristic of lavish lifestyles, for people who have time to kill. Nora Initially seems like a silly, naive woman, indicated by her playful attitude (noticeable when she says things like â€Å"Pooh! † and â€Å"Just a tiny wee bit†). Her appearance in Act 1: she is very pampered and spoiled by her husband, yet later she reveals her slightly rebellious side, showing that she does not need to be treated as such by Torvald. I predict she will later develop a more independent lifestyle from Torvald. I notice that she is constantly asking for money. It’s as if she wants to do things by herself, with her â€Å"own† money. Mrs. Linde is Nora’s childhood friend. Mrs. Linde is like Nora’s foil in that her life of poverty seems to underscore Nora’s wealthy and privileged life. Nora isn’t being honest to Torvald. She is obviously lying to Torvald about eating the macaroons, and she is described as being â€Å"rather uneasy†. Nora adores her own children, her most prized possessions. She shows herself as a genuinely loving mother. Torvald delights in his position of authority as a husband in the house. He believes that it is a man’s job to protect and guide his wife. Torvald treats her like a child, which was described as like her father would, and is name calling (little squirrel, little lark) is like he masking his authority with tenderness, and that he sees her as a simpleton who will succumb to his bantering. He constantly reminds Nora not to be a thrift spender. He does not see Nora as an equal, and his teasing, his referrals to her as â€Å"a girl†, and his uses of pithy phrases suggest that Torvald doe sn’t take her quite seriously. Krogstad is a lawyer who went to school with Torvald. He is essentially the antagonist of the play. He was employed by Torvald, but he might lose his job. He constantly torments Nora with financial issues; he once loaned to her, but he blackmails her because he knows she forged her dad’s signature on their contract, even though he also committed the same crime. His actions aren’t characteristic of his good intentions and his sympathy for her. Unlike Torvald, who desires to get respect for his own selfish satisfaction, Krogstad wants that respect for the sake of his own family. Krogstad and Mrs. Linde used to be lovers, but she left him because of his immoral behavior and because she wanted to marry someone with more money. Dr. Rank is one of Torvald’s friends. Rank seems to be obsessed with talking about the diseased natures of all the people he is acquainted with, even himself. Nora and Torvald do not think very highly of Dr. Rank; he is simply unimportant to them and everyone else. He does not rank very high in their thoughts, hence the irony in his name. Act II: The setting takes place on Christmas Day. The space around the tree is very messy, indicating that they had a Christmas celebration. The room and the tree have been removed of all signs of festivities. The costume is what Nora has to wear to the Stenborg’s ball; however it is in need of mend. This is representative of how Torvald wants to dress Nora as one would dress a doll. The letter Torvald sent to Krogstad shows his complete narrow-mindedness, as he is not changing and as understanding as the other main characters. The maid hands Nora Krogstad’s visitor card and tells her that Krogstad will not leave until he has spoken with her about the issue. Krogstad’s letter is used to inform Torvald of the forgery committed by Nora. He uses this as blackmail for Nora to get a better position in the bank. Dr. Rank plays the piano in accompaniment, showing that he is still the supporting character and unimportant, as in the first act. Again, there are recurrent aspects of the â€Å"rich-family† theme, with the champagne and the macaroons at the dinner party. Nora has been thinking about leaving her family, specifically, she is contemplating suicide. However, she is hesitant about doing so because she is worried that her kids will miss her, and she thinks it will be difficult for her kids to adapt to life without her. The reason she wants to commit suicide is because of her forgery crime on the contract for the money, but she wanted to do this because she knew it was a choice to save either Torvald, or her dying father. Nora is afraid that if Torvald find outs about her crime, he will sacrifice himself and take all the blame onto himself (a fantasy she has concocted in her mind) and go to jail, which would be great but terrible at the same time; this is the terrible thing she hopes and fears for. Nora does not persist with her request for Dr. Rank because she is disturbed by how he feels about her, as she has stated that â€Å"there are some people one loves best, and others whom one would almost rather have as companions†. Nora wants Christine to be her witness in case she goes mad over the crime she committed, or if something happens to her (presumably, her suicide) and her credit is dishonored. To make matters more complicated, Torvald had written a letter notifying Krogstad of his dismissal. Nora tries to stop him by saying that Krogstad has power with the press to bad mouth Torvald. That’s when Torvald makes the connection between him and her father: that she fears for Torvald as much as she used to fear for her father, but that he is, unlike her father, not in any legal trouble, which makes him safe from all threats. He tells Nora that he doesn’t want to take back the dismissal letter, as it would show his weakness and that he is easily swayed by his own wife. This shows his belief that a wife has no authority in a household or in business; he thinks she knows nothing of the business world and that her opinions have no real intent. This, in turn, shows that he does not know anything about his wife at all, which might lead some to believe that their marriage is nothing but a charade, an act without meaning or purpose. However, it is his â€Å"knowledge† of her that Nora tries to use to her advantage. By calling herself â€Å"little skylark† and â€Å"little squirrel†, she is trying to manipulate him into doing what she wants. However, Torvald’s pride is persistent, as well as his stubbornness. He thinks that he must dismiss Krogstad to keep his own appearance of a strong man who is not easily stifled. Also, in my, opinion, Torvald’s view of social life has stemmed from his very stubbornness. For example, he believes that Nora does things, like warning him of Krogstad’s power over the newspaper, simply because she loves him, as a â€Å"typical wife† would, and that he must show her that she has nothing to fear (this is that â€Å"strong manly husband† fantasy). Christine agrees to help Nora with her dress because she wants to help her make a good impression with Torvald. Christine, claiming her to be more mature and more experienced than Nora, tries to figure out some of Nora’s problems, specifically, to look out for Dr.  Rank and to end her friendship with her; Christine does not leave because she is suspicious of Nora, and she knows that she is hiding something from her. When Christine reappears, she tries to help Nora understand the fact that her marriage is not what she thinks it really is; it is not perfect and she isn’t really happy with it. Christine agrees to be Nora’s witness to testify that Nora did that whole act on her own, and that Torvald was not connected to it at all. She agrees because she wants her to continue her endeavor to save Nora’s marriage; she gives Nora the courage and reassurance. Krogstad is pretty much described as a nuisance to Torvald; he is â€Å"morally diseased† to Torvald because he did not confess to his crime of forgery and that there was no justice done onto him. Torvald is disgusted with Krogstad because, since they used to be friends, he calls Torvald by his first name. Torvald would prefer if he showed him more respect as a superior. Krogstad is so desperate because he wants to gain as much respect as he can, and to achieve a high position in the bank, higher than Torvald. He does this in order to take care of his children. He threatens to use the forgery contract as blackmail to have influence over her and to make her get his job back. He says that he is willing to keep it all a secret as long as Torvald promotes him to a higher position. We learn the Dr. Rank is ill from syphilis, that he received it from his father (who was sexually overindulgent), and that he does not have much time left. This shows Ibsen’s tragically flawed philosophy that morals are hereditary, for example, Nora’s naive belief set, that any action is acceptable as long as it benefits her loved one; also, another trait is that Nora’s father always made excuses, and later â€Å"passed it down† to Nora. Dr. Rank confessed that he loves Nora. Nora is surprised because they have been best friends for a long time, and that she feels that his confession is basically a misinterpretation of her affection toward him. She does not continue with her request because she feels that he would think of it as exploiting his love for her, since he knows now that Nora will reject him. Unlike the other two, Dr. Rank is pretty much ‘the help’, as he states it. He has not changed much from the first act in that he is still nothing but a supporting character; he remains unimportant in anyone’s thoughts. Krogstad, unlike Torvald, is working for respect to support his family as well as establish an appearance/personality for him to others. Dr. Rank is not like Torvald in that he is only one Nora feels she can express herself fully in front of, something she wouldn’t dare try to do with Torvald. Act III: The setting is in the Helmer’s household. There is dance music upstairs. The table is in the center of the room with a lamp burning on it, surrounded by chairs. The lamp is like Nora’s realization; at first, there was nothing in the room, but as time went on, a spark grew in her mind, with its own ideas, independent from that of Torvald’s. The dress is great, but it shows how possessive Torvald is of Nora, and the costume he dresses her in is from his own choosing, as one would do when dressing a doll. The mailbox is like a cage; no outer forces can penetrate it, and it holds Nora captive in the way that she is trapped by the letter inside the mailbox. The door slam at the end is like Nora has finally woken up and has realized that her life for the past 8 years has been an act, nothing more. She closes the door on Torvald, suggesting that she no longer wants Torvald’s guidance; that she needs to do things on her own from now on. Nora doesn’t want to come back into the house because she will never be understood in her house. Torvald will never treat her like an independent woman, that she will always be a child. She leaves what she describes as a ‘stranger’s’ house. Nora’s dance, the tarantella, is an Italian dance. Her dancing is so flustered, and it is constantly full of uncertainty in the moves, which is like Nora’s character. The dance expresses the idea that an ugly truth, though it might be harmful, is the only way to mend Nora’s marriage with Torvald; it is Nora’s last chance to be Torvald’s little doll, to amuse and satisfy him. She says â€Å"Never to see him again. Never! Never!†¦. † indicates that she is leaving Torvald and her children, because she still thinks that he will step in and take the blame, and she does not want him to do this. This is also shown in the phrase â€Å"You shan’t save me, Torvald†. After the second letter, Nora becomes frozen, all quiet and puzzled. Nora suddenly realizes the truth about their marriage: that Torvald only cares about aesthetics, and that he would do anything for a seemingly happy marriage. The â€Å"most wonderful thing† it, to its fullest, a marriage that is not tied down by any social bindings. What Nora wants is a marriage that is purely feeling, unconditional love, without duty or responsibility. Torvald’s imaginings indicate that he is very self-protective, and that he is worried too much about what others think of him. His reaction to the letter suggest that he does not care about Nora, but that he only cares about himself and whether or not his â€Å"reputation† will be destroyed or not. These selfish reason are based on his desires for appearances; also, he forgets that the only reason Nora committed the crime was to save him, which further underlines his selfishness. by He mentions Nora’s father as a way of saying that it is not his fault, it is Nora’s father’s fault, and ultimately, her fault as well, which is very different from what Nora thought he would do (to take the blame upon himself). He repeats the most wonderful thing of all because he has no idea what it is, showing how blinded he is by his own fantasy of a â€Å"real† marriage. The story opens with Christine and Krogstad as a way to set the stage for the background story. From the phrases that the two exchange, it is obvious that they were once lovers, but that Christine left Krogstad for someone else with more money. It is also apparent that Christine often regrets throwing him out of their home, and that she justifies it by saying that she had to take care of her own family and siblings. Deep down, she always wanted to stay with Krogstad. Christine is Nora’s foil in that Christine’s poor, cruel, and bitter lifestyle seems to underscore Nora’s lifestyle, and her actions, such as living prudently, underscores Nora’s wasteful and lavish lifestyle. The quote â€Å"but now I am quite alone, my life so empty and I fell forsaken. There is not the least pleasure in working for oneself† suggests that Christine wants to get back together with Krogstad. Krogstad and Christine’s relationship is like a foil to Nora and Torvald’s marriage in that their broken and â€Å"shipwrecked† marriage underlines Nora and Torvald’s successful and ‘happy’ marriage.

Funny in Farsi Analysis

Funny in Farsi Analysis Firoozeh Dumas is an Iranian-American writer, known for creating the memoir ‘Funny in Farsi’. Born in Iran, Dumas tells of her childhood memories and how she and her family moved to America when she was just seven years old. Soon after the events that took place on September 11th, friends had encouraged her to publish the stories that she had written. By doing this, she would be able to tell Americans of how Middle Eastern cultures are not what the media portrays them to be.Throughout the memoir, Dumas aims to show Americans that Iranians are truly virtuous and have a sense of humor. With the use of lighthearted humor, emotional appeal, and family anecdotes, Dumas shows that Iranians are not, (in any way,) what we think they are. Dumas attempts to show us that Iranians have a sense of humor by establishing a lighthearted tone from the beginning of the piece. As opposed to keeping the piece serious, she ends the very first passage saying that even though her brother was far away from her it was merely a â€Å"small price to pay for owning a Barbie†.Though she could have been focusing on the distance from her brother, she was rather occupied with her Barbie, an act fairly typical for a seven-year-old girl. The phrase can help many readers feel nostalgic. Many people have some sort of object or toy tied to a relative, and being with that particular toy can make it seem as if we are with that loved one. At the same time, this also sparks emotional appeal and nostalgia to the reader; many of us, as children had found ourselves happy at the receipt of a new toy, even if we had been crying just seconds before.Dumas easily uses both strategies at the same time to show the innocence and humor of Middle Eastern cultures. After a rather embarrassing first day of school (with her mother,) Dumas decided that from that day on, her mother would â€Å"have to stay home†. Dumas uses a combination of a family anecdote as well as self-deprecation to showcase the innocence and humor of the Middle Eastern people. Dumas attends her very first day of school with her mother to. The day proves to be embarrassing to Dumas, as it â€Å"negated† the impression she had made just the other day.The students had begun to stare at them not because they could not speak English, but because they appeared rather dimwitted. The author belittles herself by the use of self-deprecation; because of this, the audience is able to identify with her. Dumas does this successfully by admitting that she and her mother appeared â€Å"stupid†, further reinforcing it by saying that her first impression had been â€Å"negated† by the day’s events. The word negated communicates the idea that Dumas’ hard work in impressing her teacher, Mrs. Sandberg had been done in vain.It makes her more likeable to her readers, and only strengthens her message that Iranians are merely virtuous and humble people. The Septe mber 11 attacks had left many Middle Eastern cultures with awful stereotypes. Dumas’ memoirs, however, successfully convey the image that Middle Eastern people are not what the media tells us. With the use of a lighthearted tone and Dumas’ humorous story of going to school and owning Barbie’s, Funny in Farsi shows the audience that the Iranian people (and perhaps other Middle Eastern cultures,) are indeed innocent, virtuous, and humble people.

Hamlet and the Oedipus Complex

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a play about indecision, apprehension, and inner turmoil. Hamlet, the main protagonist, struggles within himself, attempting to muster the courage to avenge his father’s death by the hand of the current King, Claudius, who is also his late father’s brother. There seem to be many possible reasons for Hamlet’s delay in doing so. However, the one theory that answers all the questions is that Hamlet was possessed by his own Oedipus Complex , that is, he was deeply in love with his own mother, Gertrude. This can be seen throughout the play in several ways. Hamlet was understandably upset over his father’s death, but he was much less angry about the loss than he was disgusted with his uncle. His â€Å"girlfriend† Ophelia was not his lover, the relationship was a cover-up for his true feelings. King Hamlet’s spirit was aware of this. When he finally gave his blessing to Hamlet and Gertrude, he still did not act against Claudius. And most significantly, when Hamlet finally did take revenge and murder Claudius himself, he only did so because he knew Gertrude would approve at that point. Hamlet did not seem angry with Claudius as much as he seemed disgusted. After Claudius’ marriage to Gertrude in the first act, Hamlet is clearly suicidal in his first soliloquy: O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! (I, 2, 129-132) However, the soliloquy is not about the loss of his father, or about Claudius taking the throne, but about his hasty marriage to Gertrude: Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She married. O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not nor it cannot come to good: But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue. (I, 2, 154-159) This undue preoccupation with Gertrude’s personal life and suicidal tendencies show his self-hate and inner turmoil over his feelings for Gertrude, and the repressed desire to have her for himself. It seems as if he had been privately waiting for the inevitable death of his father for a long time, and was extremely bitter that Claudius married Gertrude before he had her to himself for any amount of time. Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia was a guise put up for two reasons: Firstly, a cover-up for Hamlet’s inappropriate feelings for Gertrude, and secondly, a sexual release for Hamlet. Whether Hamlet consciously realized this or not, he showed displays of love for Ophelia when he felt he was obligated, such as when he jumped into her grave, but when the two of them were together in private, he did not treat her as one should treat a significant other. It was seen how Hamlet treated Ophelia in private when he spoke to her in the castle: You should not have believed me; for virtue cannot o inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it: I loved you not. (III, 1, 118-120) Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offences at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. (III, 1, 121-128) He told her, essentially, that he never loved her and discourages her from breeding immoral beings like himself. It seems that he may have begun to realize his complex around this point, and while he cared for Ophelia enough to try and let her go, he did not love her enough to continue the guise. However: When Hamlet was in the graveyard in Act 5 Scene 1, he speaks matter-of-factly about death and dying with Horatio: No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it: as thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam; and why of that loam, whereto he as converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel? Imperious Caesar, dead and turn'd to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away: O, that that earth, which kept the world in awe, Should patch a wall to expel the winter flaw! (V, 1, 192-202) He seems apathetic towards the bodies in the graveyard, and even after Ophelia’s corpse was brought to the grave, he did not react until Gertrude said: Sweets to the sweet: farewell! I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife; I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid, And not have strew'd thy grave. (V, I, 230-235) It was then that Laertes leapt into Ophelia’s grave, and presumably for the sake of attaining Gertrude’s approval, Hamlet did as well. His feelings for Ophelia were of lower priority than pleasing his mother. He stayed with Ophelia for a sexual release, and when Ophelia found out that Hamlet did not love her and what he was using her for, she went mad. The songs she sang before the time of her death were about her dead father, Polonius â€Å"He is dead and gone, lady/He is dead and gone/At his head a grass-green turf/ At his heels a stone,† (IV, 5, 34 37). â€Å"I hope all will be well. We must be patient: but I/ cannot choose but weep, to think they should lay him/ i' the cold ground. My brother shall know of it† (IV, 5, 73 75). This shows how Ophelia was consumed and eventually driven to madness and suicide by the influence of controlling men over her life: Hamlet was the catalyst to her destruction. King Hamlet’s spirit seemed to be well-aware of the nature of Hamlet’s love for Gertrude. While the ghost did come back to ask Hamlet to avenge him, there was an underlying implication that he was conscious of Hamlet’s true feelings, and disapproved of them. So to seduce! –won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen! † (I, 5, 48-50) King Hamlet stated throughout the scene several times that his love for Gertrude was dignified, and that he was against incest in Denmark’s royal bed. However, when speaking about incest, he never specifically says that he only means Claudius. Throughout the play, Hamle t showed an indecent interest in Gertrude’s sex life. It is highly irregular for a son to go into such graphic detail when expressing his unhappiness with Gertrude’s choice in partners. Hamlet actually says to Gertrude: Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, Stew'd in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty— (III, 4, 91-94) This outburst seems unnecessarily sexually explicit. Hamlet’s preoccupation with Gertrude’s personal life is strange, given that he could have addressed the situation with critique of Claudius’ leadership or Gertrude’s marriage without the graphic imagery. In the 3rd scene, Hamlet is invited into Gertrude’s closet, a strangely intimate situation for mother and son, and speaks with her about her marriage to Claudius. King Hamlet’s ghost appears and tells Hamlet to â€Å"Step between her and her fighting soul† (III, 4, 113) presumably encouraging Hamlet to help her put an end to her relationship with Claudius. However, Hamlet is still scared to act, as he says: Do not look upon me Lest with this piteous action you convert My stern effects: then what I have to do Will want true color. (III, 4, 129-132) Hamlet meant that he was afraid to eliminate Claudius, because he was afraid of the desire deep within him to consummate his relationship with Gertrude, which he knows that his father would definitely not approve of. This shows the conflict between his own complex and his respect for his father: The cause of his delay of action throughout the entire play. The time when Hamlet finally acts and murders King Claudius is when Gertrude, after drinking poisoned wine that had been intended for Hamlet, was dying and realized that Claudius had done. Despite his contempt for Claudius and respect for his father, Hamlet had always been hesitant to murder the King because deep inside, he was more desperate for his mother’s approval than he was his father’s. As these instances show, Hamlet had a deep love for his mother, Gertrude, on platonic, maternal, and sexual level. It was Hamlet’s own Oedipus Complex, the neurosis that turned maternal love into a silent competition with his own father for her complete love, that kept him for so long from murdering Claudius to avenge his father. It seems as if Shakespeare knew enough about the workings of the human mind to discover the â€Å"Oedipus theory† long before Sigmund Freud or the science of psychology itself even existed.

The United States as an Empire Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The United States as an Empire - Research Paper Example An empire is defined as an extensive group of countries under the umbrella of a single supreme authority and mainly controlled by an emperor or an empress. An empire exercises control and influence over an expanded territory beyond its original boundaries while maintaining military posts or bases throughout the world. To maintain the control, an empire conducts wars of aggression on foreign lands and goes to an extent of offering protection to other countries as well. As a way of serving the less fortunate people from other countries, an empire accepts them into its realm as unskilled laborers. The United States is well endowed with powers that do not match any other nation. The absence of serious threats to the American security that gives the United States control over foreign policy choices. Lack of military threat gives the U.S opportunities for global outreach. The military capabilities enable the U.S to support its outreach ends. The U.S military has never been challenged by an y country. For instance, in the year 2012, the U.S military spending was bigger than any other spending of other influential military powers like China, Russia, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, Italy, and Brazil all combined. This is why the U.S dominates military globally, keeping international deployment at the present level, and tackling international missions successfully (Buzan 2004, p.9). Even before the Americans were free, they already had intimations of greatness. The French and the Indian War demonstrated that the U.S forces were of significant size as per the eighteenth century standards, especially their armies on the North American continent. The Anglo-American victory determined their western boundaries and further gave them the confidence of rendering superpowers over other governments.

Microsoft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Microsoft - Essay Example Microsoft name is a combination of the word â€Å"Microcomputer Software†. It is founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 4, 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. They used to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. The company is on the Fortune 500 list of companies as of 2005 (Wikipedia, 2006). Secure wireless networking: When wireless networking started several years ago, it was called as Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). The WEP was not providing the privacy equivalent of a wired network. WEP is easy to crack. WPA or WiFi Protected Access was created in 2003 to overcome the privacy issues of WEP. In 2004, the third generation of wireless networking encryption, known as WPA2 came along. 64-bit, multiple-core computing: The 32-bit microprocessors are replaced by the 64-bit microprocessors in 2005 and these microprocessors can handle twice the data than the earlier version of 32-bit microprocessors. In addition, they can handle particularly more memory. That will be important for businesses with huge databases. The new 64-bit chips also can handle 32-bit programs natively. That means 32-bit programs will continue to run. Most likely, all of the programs today are 32-bit. Microsoft Windows Vista: Microsoft plans to introduce Windows Vista by the end of 2006. Vista will offer improvements on XP in a number of areas. High-speed Internet connections have become more common today. Web services: Recently, Bill Gates announced that Microsoft plans to put Office and other applications online. When Microsoft acts, the technology has arrived. Look for more Web services from Microsoft in 2006 (Komando, 2006). Microsoft commands a larger share of the desktop PC software market than any other company in the world. Its Operating System Windows is installed on more than 93% of desktops worldwide. Macintosh and Linux are considered as the two closest OS

Employee Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Employee Relations - Essay Example Employee involvement as well as participation is measured to be equally significant for the reason of attaining organisational objectives along with ensuring the effectual functioning of the organisations (Light, 2004). Human capital has been considered to be an imperative asset since long for every kind of organisations. All the other existing resources are made use of and dealt by the human resources itself. It is in this context that it becomes essential to achieve the involvement and participation of the employed human resources with regard to every sphere of work so as to ensure enhancement in their respective performance as well as attaining satisfaction. The present business environment is considered to be quite competitive as well as turbulent which makes it mandatory for organisations to look for various ways to attain increased adaptability, flexibility and competitiveness (Light, 2004). The research study would aim to provide a lucid understanding regarding the aspects of employee involvement and employee participation along with vividly identifying their key differences. Understanding the Aspect of Employee Relations The aspect of employee relation is perceived as strategic with regard t o the management of the business risk associated with organisations. Employers are learnt to make use of the proficiencies and potentials linked with employee relations. These mentioned proficiencies as well as abilities are regarded by the employers or the organisations to be vital for attaining performance specifications with the help of concentrating on employee participation as well as involvement. The employee relations are supposed to be strategic with regard to the management of business perils that exists both upside and downside risks. Notably, the upside risk refers to the disappointment regarding the failure of displaying or attaining utmost business performance. The downside risk refers to the nonconformity with the rules as well as regulations related to employment (Williams & Smith, 2010). In this regards, Human Resource Management (HRM) is learnt to emphasise on the ways organisations build and encourage employees to attain the superior specifications related to perfo rmance that is considered and believed to be essentially imperative in the present competitive environment. Employee relations can therefore, be stated as the emphasis that is exerted on the broader associations existing among the employer and the employees (Dicker, 2003). Superior degree of employee relations is believed to be the primary essential condition that is required to attain success by the organisations. The methods related to the facet of employee involvement are believed to prove helpful in circumstances where the employees and the management maintain flexibility in their respective behaviour as well as attitudes. It is believed to trigger employee participation accompanied with employee encouragement with the help of mutual agreement. Therefore, it can be deduced from the stated explanation that with the intention to ensure superior and successful employee relations, there need to pertain an environment of dependency and belief (Gennard & Judge, 2005). Concept of Emplo yee Involvement Employee involvement refers to the assortment or series of processes that are devised so as to employ the comprehension, encouragement and the best possible contribution of every individual

The dissapointment by behn's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The dissapointment by behn's - Essay Example The writer had approached the 17th century contemporary literary as well as socio-political aspects that were predominant in the restoration world of art and literature. Behn’s treatment of the 17th century discourse of sexuality and morality In the poem Behn took up the topic of the battle of the sexes that was one of the most prevalent topics in restoration literature. Her poem began with the typical act of the male pursuing the female in the game of love. She apparently glorified masculine strength over feminine coyness as the power that initiated the act of love. By describing Lysander as one who made sexual advances to a lady because he was â€Å"By an impatient passion swayed† (I.1), Behn not only pointed out the vain male ego but the crudity of the situation. As a contrast to Lysander’s rakish character Behn created Cloris as the conventional figure of ‘virgin innocence’ who was apparently trying to ward off his charms. But her resistance to L ysander’s approaches as she â€Å"Permits his force, yet gently strove† (II.14) indicated Cloris’ indulgence.

Literature Review of Health Literacy and HIV Treatment Adherence Thesis

Literature Review of Health Literacy and HIV Treatment Adherence - Thesis Example Health Literacy and HIV/AIDS-----------------------------------------------------------8 5. Why is Treatment Adherence Important for HIV/AIDS-----------------------------10 6. Health Literacy and HIV Treatment Adherence--------------------------------------11 7. Strategies to Improve Treatment Adherence in Low Literacy Subjects-----------15 8. References---------------------------------------------------------------------------------19 Abstract The only effective treatment for HIV/AIDS is regular medication with anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Regularity in timing and dosage of medication is essential not only for the improved health of the subject but also to prevent the emergence of resistant strains of the virus. Non-adherence to the treatment is one of the biggest hurdle in tackling the AIDS pandemic. Among the different factors contributing to non-adherence, health literacy is considered one of the major players. We carried out a literature survey using search terms â€Å" †Å"Health literacy† and HIV†, â€Å"Treatment adherence and HIV†, â€Å"Literacy and Treatment Adherence† and â€Å"Literacy treatment adherence HIV) in the databases of OVID and Pubmed. The relevant articles were reviewed. Any new articles that were encountered amongst these articles in their citations were retrieved and also reviewed. We found that there are a fair number of articles dealing with various aspects of health literacy, educational literacy and HIV/AIDS. However, there are very few articles on interventions designed to improve treatment adherence in low literacy patients. Health Literacy and Treatment Adherence Health Literacy According to Healthy People 2010, health literacy is defined as â€Å"the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions†. Apart from the healthcare aspect, where the focus is on communication betwee n healthcare providers and patients, explaining and obtaining informed consent and managing patient’s treatment regime, an extremely important facet of health literacy is in the field of public health. As per the CDC data, the American patient obtains information and makes his or her treatment decision based on the feedback received from the home or the community, while spending just about an hour a year in the medical care provider’s premises. Health Literacy and Health-Related Behavior and Outcome The Council of Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association states that poor health literacy is â€Å"a stronger predictor of a person’s health than age, income, employment status, education level, and race†. The Institute of Medicine reports that nearly half of the US population, about 90 million individuals, have poor health literacy. This culminates into poor understanding of their health status and its treatment, poorer health status, irregularity in d osage consumption, sub-optimal use of health services, inability to understand the do’s and don’t of medication consumption and a higher hospitalization rate. Poor health literacy creates barriers to fully understanding an individual’s health, illness, treatment and medication management. The population at risk includes the elderly (older than 65 years), minorities, immigrants, economically challenged and those suffering from chronic ailments. Not only are these individuals unable to decipher the instructions accompanying

Why did Isaac Newton say he was able “to stand on the shoulders Essay

Why did Isaac Newton say he was able â€Å"to stand on the shoulders of giants† to construct his view of the universe - Essay Example d at Trinity College Cambridge where Aristotelian philosophy was the preferred mode of instruction, but Newton was more interested in the pioneering ideas of philosophers lying like Descartes, and the astronomers Galileo, Kepler and Copernicus. His landmark work ‘Principia† is a compendium on physics and contains the laws of motion that were to revolutionize physical theories. In this pursuit of mechanics, i.e. gravity and its effect on the orbits of planets, he was guided by the work of Kepler’s third law, and his law of attraction was an elaboration of Dutch astronomer Christian Huygens theory of centripetal acceleration of a body moving in a circle. He even consulted with his contemporaries like Edmund Halley on the problem of orbits suggesting an ellipse shape about which he wrote to the astronomer in â€Å"a curious treatise de motu.†(Westfall, Richard) Newton put the seal of justification on his concept of attraction, by acknowledging that the ancients had already known of the law of gravitation and for him, â€Å"they represented a deeper penetration into the prisca sapientia, possible only when the preliminary work has been accomplished through experience.† (J. E. McGuire and P. M. Rattansi, Newton and the ‘Pipes of Pan’, pp. 137) Newton also gave an analytical account of the speed of sound in air which was based on Boyle’s law. Newtons three laws of motion represents a conscious diversion from Aristotles physics, and is more universal in nature, capable of being applied to the motion of a planet as to the fall of a stone. His theory of vortices moved away from that of Descartes’. (Ball 1908, p. 337) The reflecting telescope built by Newton was a further exposition of the ideas of Scottish mathematician James Gregory, who in 1663 had proposed the design. Before this Hans Lippershey, a German lens - maker who lived in the early 17th century had already applied for a patent for an optical retracting telescope, while Galileo was looking at the

The retail mix analysis for Zara in uk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The retail mix analysis for Zara in uk - Essay Example Competitive Advantage in Zara Zara in the United Kingdom is a successful Fashion that has been in existence for over five years and has kept a high profile as a supply chain. The administration of Zara has been reporting the contributing factors to the retailer’s achievements as the use of modern information exchange. The first element of competitive advantage of Zara is majorly proper monitoring and study of the dynamic consumer needs. Zara through the Marketing Department conducts systematic research on the specific needs of the fast fashion consumers in order to provide relevant services and design items (Tadros, 2010). This has led to sustainable business due to unique designs and fashions for customer orders. The second aspect of competitive advantage is Financial Leveraging. Zara through partnership with other fast fashion retail chain stores in the UK manages to access adequate funding for its production and operational costs. This enables Zara to triumph against its cl ose competitors such as Top-Shop and Mango. Partnership enables Zara to spread its financial obligation and deficits that may arise to the partners and eases the financial burden of entire organization (Laermer & Simmons, 2007). Thirdly, Zara has a systematic and strategic implementation of the fast fashion model, which allows flexibility of decision making by allowing members staff to get involved in decision making indirectly through contribution of ideas. As this takes place, and indeed, it really happens, it applies creativity, technicality and excellence in production among other departments through the sharing of information. Fourth, Zara exercises teamwork (Pahl & Mohring, 2009). As they work in a big team, the members of staff nurture the potential to make valid decisions and at the right speed. It also becomes easier to implement the emerging needs for changes in the manufacturing sector in a profound fast fashion system. The team building takes the decision makers through the ordinary models to construct aspects of flexibility in the lines of production. Finally, there is a perpetual accessibility of information, which makes Zara to predict the future market needs based on the changes in fashions and styles in the rapidly transforming markets and the changing trends of economic development. 2. SWOT Analysis of Zara 2.1. Strength Zara has a number of strengths that enables it to have an upper hand against its competitors. First, Zara is able to access large quantities of stock based on its leveraging and access to finances. It is a boosting factor for its production targets, by which it stands to gain through the economy scale. Majority of its competitors do not have stable cash flow, hence they do not hold as much stock as Zara (Kardes et al., 2011). An Example of such competitors is Mango. The second strength for Zara is the establishment of market and research through which it produces relevant and fast moving products and services. Zara keeps a go od track of the market products and identifies the relevant needs and specifications of customers. Zara does a proper market study through its marketing promotions and gathers the consumer opinions to enable the production sector to adopt the emerging customer requirement. Fast fashion business has thus favored Zara since it began its implementation of flexibility in production brands. 2.2. Weakness Zara, like other fast fashion chain stores in the UK has its weaknesses, which poses a risk of losses and a

FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR VODAFONE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR VODAFONE - Essay Example Vodafone will have to deal with increased completion in the near future as more telecommunication companies come up. To understand how this will affect the company in the next ten to fifteen years, it is important o look at the issues that have emerged in the last ten years. As William (2009) says, since the globalization of mobile networks ten years ago, it has become explicit that that every year that passes by the telecommunication industry is changing. Those companies that entered in to the industry in early 1990s no longer have the monopoly that they used to have in the past. In the earlier years, licensing for telecommunication companies was very expensive and prohibitive for new and small entrants. However, this has changed and it is now easier for such companies to come up with a way to enter the market with minimum cost. This has increased the risk for bigger and older firms such as Vodafone and they are at risk of being drowned by the new entrants. In this regard, the main issue that Vodafone will be facing in the near future (by the year 2020) is the problem of increased competition. This will be more so in the developing countries such as China and many African countries (McKenna, 2011). Vodafone has a number of networks in threes developing countries and these networks are becoming a major aspect of the Vodafone business and network. As these networks continue to be attacked by smaller newer networks, the firms will have a crisis by the time it reaches 2020. A good example is in Kenya where Vodafone owns forty percent of the largest telecommunication network called Safaricom. While this Safaricom has been the largest and the most profitable network in the east African region, it has become very clear that the network is losing its mighty and power to newer and upcoming network. The network was launched in Kenya in the year 2003 and by the year 2006, it had managed to scoop over 80% of the telecommunication market share. It also had a very fast grow ing network subscription over the last ten years. However, this has been seen to change over the last three years. Subscriber loyalty has decreased and now more subscribers are more willing to go to newer networks. This was not so in the past as more subscribers were loyal to the Safaricom network. The same is happening everywhere in places like China where the local telecommunication companies have grown very fast and are taking over the industry (Westen, 2009). As this continues, it will become very difficult for Vodafone to maintain its strategic leadership and this will become a very major issue for the firm. The other thing that has affected the firm is the reduction of licensing fees for telecommunication companies. Many governments have realized that licensing many firms is a benefit to the economy as it increases completion and reduces monopoly in the telecommunication industry. As a result, the hefty licensing amounts that were charged to telecommunication companies in the earlier days are no longer there. In this regard, it has been easier for new and smaller telecommunication companies to enter the market and thus bringing more competition for the older and bigger firms like Vodafone (McGreggor, 2010). Vodafone seems to be the most affected because it seems to not have prepared for such an eventuality. As Vodafone grapples with these issues in the short term, there are other problems looming in the long term. With the expectation that there will be a technological singularity by the end 2035, it is expected that the way people communicate will change over time. Personal computers are changing the way people co

Health Care Spending Essay Example for Free

Health Care Spending Essay In the past seven decades health care spending has been increasing tremendously. The industrial era brought in a new system to help population duel with the cost of medical care. New technology has become a much needed investing in the 21st century which has yield to a great margin between small and big facilities. When looking at all of these factors there is no wonder the nation is spend way too much money on health care, although at times might seem that there is not enough. It seems that the right investment is needed to help aid those that need help the most the elderly and unemployed, with the economy in a fragile state and unemployment rates increasing with the quarters there is no question that decisions about how we are spending on health care needs to change. Even though so many factors are involved in the spending this paper would focus on our current level of expenditures, how and where is the money spent, forecasting what would be coming next. Current level of national healthcare expenditures According to Physicians for a National Health Program (2012), â€Å"National Health Expenditures was $2.8 trillion, and the spending as a percent of GDP was 18% for 2012† (National Health Expenditure Projections: Modest Annual Growth until Coverage Expands and Economic Growth Accelerates). When looking at these facts many would even argue we are spending quite enough when it comes to healthcare or perhaps too much, however is the complete opposite not enough spending is in the right place. These figures does not represent the spent on one area of health care the graph below will provide an idea as to what, when, and where was spent on 2009. Total = $2.3 Trillion Source: Martin A.B. et al., â€Å"Growth In US Health Spending Remained Slow in 2010; Health Share of Gross Domestic Product Was Unchanged from 2009,† Health Affairs, 2012. As shown on the graph 51% of the spending is towards hospital care and physician/clinical services which are great to be invested in, however the rest of the spending in my opinion is not proportionally distribute, yes those areas are extremely important but it would be beneficial if more can be distributed along medication, and other professionals services to include the testing and diagnose of serious illnesses such as cancer. The investment is require to subsidize the needs on these areas, 45 percent of people under age 65 who dont have insurance coverage for prescriptions said they had not filled a prescription in the last year because of the cost. Additionally, 84 percent of working-age people in the U.S. without insurance coverage for prescriptions said they had taken some action such as spending less on groceries or postponing paying other bills in order to pay for their medications, an increase from 71 percent last year (Rowan, 2012). Regarding testing for patients with cancer there should be more funding for the new technology available for test that many patients are not aware, because they cannot afford it or simply because it is not available in their area. Spending: Too much or not enough? In 2010, $2.6 trillion was spent on health care services and products, 61 percent of which purchased hospital care, physician and clinical services, and retail prescription drugs. Private health insurance paid for 33 percent, out-of-pocket sources for 12 percent, and other third party payers and programs for 7 percent. The two largest government health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid, purchased $925.1 billion worth of health care goods and services in 2010, accounting for 36 percent of total health care spending (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2012). The increase of cost would continue to rise according to economists, health care managers, and advisors forcing for a new reform to change the system. Thus many are not too please with this idea is a phenomenal that cannot be avoid, there is a need to change in policies and methods in which we spent or invest in health care. Suggesting that the investment is too little would be a denial statement, everyday more and more patients are relying on programs such as Medicare and Medicaid to get the attention required at the moment. As the economic recession set in deeper less would be available to afford just the basic needs, medication or any treatment; unemployment rates are on the rise and it does not seem it would stop anytime soon. Although the new reform would try to establish some type of stability, until the insurance companies and policy makers come to an agreement to provide a universal premium for service which can be affordable for all, the same problems would continue to emerge. Many factors also have effect on spending considering for example the demand for new technology in the 21st century; this trend has become to some degree a factor in the rise on health care spending. Much of this new technology is beneficial if it provides a new way to used already establish technology, however many studies have revealed that most of them are only here to replace such technology and at some circumstances increase the cost of service. As a country a deeper consideration of such technology is needed not only to save money, but to invest wisely as to what would help the system cut in spending. Future economic needs of health care For years to come the enduring effects of the economic recession and slow recovery, due mostly because of partial growth in incomes, are expected to continue to limit health spending growth. In 2014 the coverage expansions laid out in the Affordable Care Act for Medicaid and for private health insurance are expected to increase the growth rate for health spending, with notable increases expected in spending on physician services and prescription drugs for newly insured patients. By the end of the year, higher income growth and the continuing shift of baby boomers into Medicare are expected to cause health spending to grow roughly two percentage points faster than overall economic growth, which is about the same differential experienced over the past thirty years. Therefore a necessary reform of a national health care perhaps would provide the change needed, the only issue with this suggestion is the funding. Thus a national health care would help every citizen reach the so needed medical attention required at an affordable price there is no surprise that the funding through Federal programs are thinning, and the cost of private insurance keeps on raising. Therefore a more evaluated reform should be put in place where the cost of care should be regulated, and more affordable options are given to the population; an increase on reimbursement of healthcare for basic health needs is necessary to subsidize the cost for complex health needs in order to keep the cost regulated. According to Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services (2011), â€Å"In 2014, national health spending is projected to rise to 7.4 percent, or 2.1 percentage-points faster than in the absence of reform, as the major coverage expansions from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are expected to result in 22 million fewer uninsured people† (National Health Expenditure Projections 2011-2021). Increases in Medicaid spending growth, and private health insurance growth will contribute to the overall acceleration in national health spending in 2014. There is no question that technology would also continue to raise to help the system provide the best and fast way possible services to those in need. Investing more in health care can only benefit the nation; however the right decisions needs to be made in order to keep the spending growth under control. Reference Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/dsm-10.pdf Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and -Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/Downloads/Proj2011PDF.pdf Martin A.B. et al., â€Å"Growth In US Health Spending Remained Slow in 2010; Health Share of Gross Domestic Product Was Unchanged from 2009,† Health Affairs, 2012. Physicians for a National Health Program. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.pnhp.org/news/2012/june/2012-health-care-spending-including-administration Rowan, K. (2012). Fox news.com. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/13/why-americans-prescriptions-are-going-unfilled/

Ecological Theory And Child Development

Ecological Theory And Child Development Analyse the contribution of Ecological theory to our understanding of typical and atypical child development, and discuss this model in relation to the factors and possible interventions for child abuse The importance of insight regarding the parent/child bond has always been a component of social services custom, but the significance has not always been indentified of the interaction that the environment plays on a parents ability to act in their childs best interests (Department of Health, 1999). A significant breakthrough in the knowledge of child abuse appears to have emerged through the application of an ecological model of child maltreatment, The ecological paradigm is currently the most comprehensive model we have for understanding child abuse (Gallagher 2001; 76). Such a perspective has generally been derived from theory based on Bronfenbrenners (1979) pioneering work, in which he defines to which The ecology of human development involvesthe progressive, mutual accommodation between an active, growing human being and the changing properties of the immediate settingsthis process is affected by relations between these settings and by the larger contexts in which these settings are embedded. (Sidebotham, 2001; 105). The importance of an ecological standpoint in the perception of abuse is, firstly, that it widens the boundaries of the unfavourable effects of maltreatment on children beyond just the parent-child relationship to consider the familial and social context in which such abuse occurs. Second, the ecological model is transactional; in the sense that it acknowledges the individual and the immediate and wider influences as actively interacting with each other. However, it should be noted that this ideology holds some limitations in the sense that it would not seem to account very well for child sexual abuse. Any pairing together of juxtapositions forms of behaviour as occurs with child abuse or child maltreatment, is bound to result in some loss of specificityIt would be foolish to think that ecological models are the final word on child abusethere is not single solution to abuse (Gallagher 2001; 77). Specific hazardous factors contribute to parents abusing their children. Although maltreatment does not often occur without numerable of these factors interacting in the same household simultaneously. Firstly, the risk of abuse increases in any household exposed to significant stress, regardless if this stress arises from unemployment, poverty, neighbourhood violence, a lack of social support, or an especially demanding infant (CDC, 2006). Bronfenbrenners predominant layer, or microsystem, refers to the collaborations that occur within the childs immediate environment. The childs own genetic and social characteristics affect the habits, behaviour and patience of their peers, For example, a temperamentally tiresome infant could disaffect their parents or even create friction between them that may be sufficient to damage their marital relationship (Belsky Crnic, 1995). Also, the relationship between any two individuals in the microsystem is likely to be influenced by the introduction of a child. Fathers, for example, clearly influence mother-infant interactions, happily married mothers who have close supportive relationships with their husbands tend to interact much more patiently and sensitively with their infants than mothers who experience marital tension, little support from their spouses, or feel that they are raising their children on their own (Cox et al, 1992). In regards to the emphasis on family, the notion to which a parent regards their competence and rates the performance of their parenting role is also a relevant matter. Parenting competence has been noted as problematic among abusive parents (Marsh Johnston, 1990) and linked with increased abuse possibility. Whilst acknowledging that improvement of parenting capacity is an important objective one must be cautious in concluding that improved competency in parenting directly results in a reduction in child maltreatment as observations on interactions based under experimental conditions rarely reflect in daily life (Gallagher,2001;248). Direct exposure to abuse can have a dangerous impact as abused children tend to function less adaptively than their non-abused peers in many areas (Cicchetti, Rogosch, 1993). According to Hipwell et al (2008) Children in a caring and loving environment feel more secure in their immediate surrounds in regard to the microsystem, they develop greater self-confidence, are altruistic and show higher signs of being empathetic. These children are also shown to have larger IQs throughout their schooling life, and show lower levels of anger and delinquent behaviour. As Bronfenbrenners ecological model would present, higher degrees of affection can even buffer a child against the negative implications of otherwise precarious environments (Bartley Fonagy, 2008). Several studies of children and teens growing up in poor, dangerous neighbourhoods show that the single ingredient that most clearly distinguishes the lives of those who do not become delinquent from those who do is a high level of mat ernal love (McCdord, 1982). The Mesosystem is the connections or interrelationship among such microsystems as homes, schools, and peer groups. Bronfenbrenner argues that development will be increased by supportive and strong connections between Microsystems. For example, children who have instigated attached and secure relationships with parents have a tendency to be accepted by others and to have close, supportive peers during their development (Perry, 1999). According to McAdoo (1996) a childs competence to learn in a schooling environment is dependent upon the quality of the teaching provided and also the degree to which their parents place value upon education capital and how they interact with the teacher and vice-versa. However, this can also impact negatively at this level as when deviant peer groups or friends of the child devalue scholastics, they will tend to undermine that childs school performance in spite of teacher and parents best efforts. Numerable research has revealed that exposure to abuse had a severe negative impact upon a childs academic functioning. Schwab-Stone et al (1995) concluded that as the consistency of maltreatment increased this had a direct negative correlation with academic performance. Likewise, Bowen (1999) found in a sample of over 2000 high school students that exposure to community and school violence put limitations on school attendance, behaviour and results. Warner and Weist (1999) revealed that children from low income families who are witnesses to household and neighbourhood violence demonstrated atypical symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression. The symptoms continue upon the latter to include atypical externalising behaviours such as anger, inability to form relationships and a decline in academic performance. Surviving on a low income in a bad neighbourhood does not make it impossible to be the caring, affectionate parent of healthy, sociable children. But it does, undeniably, make it more difficult (Utting, 1995, p. 40). Children from low-income households may display more behavioural troubles than their better-off peers. However, according to Gorman-Smith (1998) family factors, including parenting practices do not predict childrens exposure to violence. He suggests that other community factors rather than their household income will influence and operate on children and those family factors are not powerful enough to mediate or moderate their effects. Such studies have often found there to be an important correlation between communities in which citizens have described a high level of community cohesions and children safety, with an increase in child abuse being linked with a negative sense of community identity. Self-care has the most negative effects for children in low-income neighbourhoods with high crime rates (Marshall et al, 1997). Children who begin self-care at an early age are more vulnerable to older self-care children in their communities who can damage or abuse them. These children are more likely to have adjustment problems in school and are more likely to use after-school with socially deviant peers who do not value school and undergo criminal activities. Predictably, then the positive effects of organised after school programs on academic achievement are greater for children in low-income neighbourhoods (Mason Chuang, 2001). Bronfenbrenners penultimate layer, or exosystem, consists of contexts that children and their peers may not be aware although nevertheless will influence their development. For example, parents work environments are an exosystem influence. Childrens emotional relationships at home may be influenced considerably by whether or not their parents enjoy their work (Greenberger, ONeal, Nagel, 1994). In a similar fashion, childrens experiences in school may be influenced by their exosystem, by a social integration plan taken on by the school council, or by job cuts in their community that result in a decline in the schools revenue. Negative impacts on development can also result when the exosystem breaks down. For example, Sidebotham (2002) has shown that households that are affected by unemployment, poor housing and poor social networks are more likely to be involved in increased occurrences of child abuse. Whose comments are justified next to Beeman (1997) who concluded that a lack of so cial support and a high consistency of negative attitudes towards available networks all contribute towards the chances of child maltreatment. The majority of the research on the impact of mothers employment concludes towards a small positive influence on most children (Scott, 2004). Children whose mothers are in employment are more confident and show more admiration for their mothers in contrast to those mothers who do not work. The effect of the mothers work on influencing attitudes and results in school become less apparent, with many studies showing no difference (Gottfried, Bathurst, 1994). Muller (1995) in his large study on the latter topic distinguished a small but comprehensible negative difference on the effect on maths results if that childs mother was in employment. However, this difference seemed to be based on the fact that mothers who do not work as much are less engrossed with their childs work and are less likely to oversee the childs work continuously after school, rather than from a long-lasting deficit brought about by maternal employment in the early years. Thus, working mothers who find ways to provide such supervision and who remain involved with their childrens schools have kids who do as well as children whose mothers are homemakers. Research evidence intuitively shows that when a man becomes unemployed, it places a strain on his marriage; which in turn leads to an increase in marital conflict and both mother and father show more signs of depression. The effects of these conflicts eventually show the same characteristics as families who are experiencing divorce; both parents appear less coherent in their attitudes towards their children, become less loving and less effective at monitoring them. Similarly, children, in turn respond to this situation as they would during their parents divorce by exhibiting a series of atypical behaviours which can include depression, anger or becoming involved in delinquent behaviour. According to Conger et al (1992), the likelihood of abuse at all levels, shows an increase during times of households unemployment. However, according to Berger (2004) parents who are experiencing divorce but who have a supportive framework and emotional support from friends are increasingly more like ly to provide a safe and affectionate environment for children in comparison to those who are occupied in social isolation. Gorman-Smith and Tolan (1998), in their study of the effects of divorce, did not find that family structure and other familial influences had an independent involvement towards the prediction of exposure to abuse in comparison to that of other risk factors such as the breakdown of traditional social processes in the community. Low income parents are characterised by contributing towards their childs atypical development as Evans (2004) concludes that parents of such a nature are less likely to communicate with their children, spend less time engaging with them in intellectually stimulating activities and in turn are harsher and more aggressive in their discipline techniques. Not all children follow the same development pathways and there are certain factors that influence their development. For example, children below the poverty line are half as likely to recall the alphabet and have the ability to count by the time they enter the first years of schooling. This development according to Brooks-Gunn (1995) also applies, and is maintained through to adolescence as older children in poverty are twice as likely as their counterparts to repeat a year of school and are less likely to go onto higher education. In keeping with Bronfenbrenners model, parental values on the best way to deal with discipline will be largely in coherence with the larger culture in which they reside. According to Lockhart (Ecology of Development; 345), by striking a child it will usually stop the chid from repeating the behaviour. Although research evidence suggests that children who are spanked, like children who are abused at later ages are less popular with their peers and show higher levels of aggression, lower self-esteem, more emotional instability, higher rates of depression and distress, and higher levels of delinquency and later criminality (Mostow Campbell, 2004). Bronfenbrenners concluding layer is that of a macrosystem which entails a broad, overarching ideology in which the child is embedded, and whose principles dictate how a child should be treated and how discipline should be distributed. These principles differ across macrosystems (cultures) and sub-cultures and social classes and can have a direct influence on the types of experiences a child will have in all levels of their ecological system. To cite one example, Belsky (1993) discusses how the incidence of child abuse in families (a microsystem experience) is much lower in those cultures (or macrosystems) that discourage physical punishment of children and advocate nonviolent ways of resolving interpersonal conflict. Similarly Clarke (1997) revealed how at the level of the macrosystem, a Government policy that ensures parents have the option to take paid or unpaid leave from their jobs to see to family matters could provide a significant intervention towards child abuse allowing pare nts more free time to observe their childs development and resolve difficulties that may arise within their child. The debate that encircles the surrounding links between culture and child abuse is a complex notion, which has resulted in a myriad of concerns. For instance, recent statistics of child maltreatment has indicated that ethnic minority children are substantially more at risk of abuse than their Caucasian counterparts (U.S Department of Health, 2006). However Lassiter (1987) has countered, showing that these minorities may be over-represented to the relevant services. Lassiter argues that biased statistics do not take into consideration other influencing factors such as socioeconomic status and the level of schooling received. Without considering socioeconomic factors that may also influence the parent and child, research risks inadvertently concluding that factors that increase abuse potential are because of race or ethnicity, or are universal. The contextual risk variable that looks to have the biggest part in forecasting child maltreatment is having a family member who has also been a direct victim of some form of previous abuse. For example, A parent suffering from the stress of having been victimised herself or having another family member who has been victimised may be overwhelmed and more disturbed by the childs behaviour and may, therefore, have a lower threshold for viewing the childs externalizing behaviour as problematic. Primary or universal support targets the community as a whole, with generic initiatives, campaigns and community-based services that support parents and families without entry criteria. Their aim is to prevent problems such as child abuse and family breakdown (Healy Darlington, 1999). MacMillan (1994) in describing child abuse interventions found it necessary to distinguish between the differing forms of prevention, including that of primary intervention to which he describes as any manoeuvre that is provided to the general population or a sample of the general population or a sample of the general population to reduce the incidence of child maltreatment;, and secondary prevention, early detection of a condition with the aim of shortening the duration of the disorder, and tertiary prevention, prevention of recurrence of maltreatment and impairment resulting from abuse. MacMillan further explained the difficulties in prevention in regards to psychological and emotional maltreatment, which accounts for a high number of reported cases but difficulty arises when evidence needs to be collated, and if emotional abuse is accepted as a form of abuse, then the distinction between primary and secondary prevention or indeed tertiary prevention becomes less clear. Osofsky (1995) in his research on primary prevention has called for a nationwide campaign that would address to change the attitudes toward maltreatment and lower peoples tolerance of child abuse. Support for an ecological approach to child welfare is evident in the Framework for the Assessment of Children and their Families (Department of Health et al, 2000), which stresses the need to consider not only the factors relating to the child and their parents, but also the wider context in which children live when assessing their needs, acknowledging the impact of social and community factors on childrens welfare. This is also justified through the Every Child Matters document which refers to the concept of Making a positive contribution; being involved with the community and society. Involving local communities in the prevention of child abuse was acknowledged by Nelson and Baldwin (2002) who asserted that the Every Child Matters model has the potential to involve communities enthusiast ically in partnership with agencies in identifying problems and seeking solutions and that the process can help to build communities which are more informed, aware and thoughtful about child protection. Although the presence of risk factors, such as a poor environment or unsupportive relationships with primary caregivers, or being looked after outside the family, increases the likelihood of a negative outcome for the individual, studies of competence and resilience have shown that, regardless of background, children are generally resourceful. Competence has been shown to be a mediating variable that predicts positive or negative outcomes (Smith, Cowie, Blades, 2001; 569).

The Symbols In The Awakening English Literature Essay

The Symbols In The Awakening English Literature Essay In Kate Chopins The Awakening, the underlying meaning is imparted to the reader through the use of explicit symbolism. The major role of the use of symbolism in the novel is to attempt to draw a link between the world that Edna knows and her several awakenings and make that link more powerful and compelling. Analyzed in this essay are three prominent symbols of interest which are birds, the ocean and the houses Edna resides in. The avian allusions and symbols that are present throughout the story serve to represent the ability to fly and the freedom it enables. The references to oceans and seas within the novel are symbolic of freedom and empowerment as it relates to Edna. Further houses allow the reader to observe the different transformations that Edna undergoes. The Awakening, written by Kate Chopin, is filled with numerous symbols and motifs that allow the reader to develop a deeper understanding of its message. The first symbol to be analyzed is the recurring sign of birds present throughout the novel. When birds appear in the novel they serve as a reflection of Ednas self, and her thoughts. The novel opens not with a main character speaking but with parrot, Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! (pp. 3). This declaration from the bird translates to Go away! Go away! For heavens sake! It can be inferred that these lines are representative of the thoughts that are passing through Ednas mind for much of the novel. Much like the parrot which could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood, (pp. 3) Edna is unable to communicate her true desires and her true feelings to anyone else because they could not understand. Edna wishes to abandon her role as a compliant wife, and acquiescent mother that the Creole society demands she be. Further the bird discussed above is caged symbolizing the entrapment of Edna by society and its expectations for females of that era. Perhaps the only other character in the novel that understands Edna is Mademoiselle Reisz, who stirs Ednas soul with music, and gives advice to her. Edna informs Arobin that Mademoiselle Reisz: Put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong, she said, The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth. (pp. 103) It appears that Reisz knows beforehand that Edna will attempt to fly and expresses an uncertainty as to whether or not Edna is strong enough to succeed. Mademoiselle Reisz is warning Edna in this passage that her flight may ultimately end in failure but Edna does not receive this message for she is not thinking of any extraordinary flights. I only half comprehend her. Reisz is attempting to help her with this flight by inferring that she is perhaps not strong enough, and may fail but it falls on deaf ears as Edna does not comprehend what Reisz is trying to do. The reader encounters birds towards the conclusion of the novel during a pivotal moment in Ednas life, All along the white beach, up and down, there was no living thing in sight. A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water. (pp. 113) Edna observes this as she is about to walk into the ocean and go through her final awakening. This bird with a broken wing em bodies Edna representing that she, much like the bird, is unable to fly away and escape from the things that confine her. Further it also illustrates that Edna is already dead before she enters the water like the bird that is doomed to death. The second symbol to be analyzed is the frequent appearance of the ocean/sea. Of all the symbols in the novel, the ocean appears most regularly. Edna consistently connects the ocean with a certain personal free will even when she is a child, [a meadow] seemed as big as the oceanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦she threw out her arms as if swimming when she walked. (pp. 21) Clearly Edna feels freedom and excitement in the above passage illustrated through the reference to the wide open ocean. Further, it is in the ocean located off from the Grand Isle where we observe on of Ednas awakenings. Before this awakening she has already learned how to swim, and when she attempts to swim out into the ocean for the first time a certain metamorphosis occurs, A feeling of exultation overtook herShe grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman has swum before. (pp. 37) This scene is critically important in the progression of the novel because with her discovery o f her ability to swim she also realizes that her life is an empty shell. Perhaps this realization serves to assist her in the changes that she will encounter later in the novel. But there is an aspect of foreshadowment in the line she grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. Though swimming in the ocean gives her many positive feelings of freedom she has not the strength to swim for longer periods of time and as a result will drown. Her desire to swim far out, where no woman has swum before is a noble desire to escape from her entrapment due to Creole society, and she somewhat accomplishes this wish but ultimately fails with her demise. The ocean in the novel allows Edna some of the feelings of freedom, but it also serves as an instrument of her demise; Exhaustion was pressing upon and over possessing her. Good-bye, because I love you à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ He did not know; he did not understand. He would never understand à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it was too late; the shore was far beh ind her, and her strength was gone. (pp. 116) Edna believes that the ocean allows her to express herself and escape from the power that is exenterated over her by society. But she realizes that no matter what she attempts to do she will always be trapped by society, for she lacks the ability to change the way her life is. After coming to this realization she decides that she will retire where she feels the most free and away from being influenced; into the ocean. The third and final symbol to be analyzed in this paper is the dynamic symbolism of the houses that Edna resides in. These houses are a direct reflection of the numerous mental and emotional states that Edna experiences throughout her journey. The cottages that are located on the Grand Isle have several symbolic meanings. They serve as separate cages for Edna and also are a reflection of the families that reside within them. Further, all of the cottages at places like this are nearly identical suggesting that all families that dwell in them are identical according to the traditions of the Creole society. Perhaps the most iconic and important house that is encountered during the novel is Ednas pigeon-house. The imagery relating to this house instantly gives the reader insight into why this house is so important to Edna, In a little four-room house around the corner. It looks so cozy, so inviting and restful. (pp. 79) This pigeon house serves to provide Edna with the comfort and indepe ndence that her old house with her husband never provided. Her freedom she experiences allows her to realize how much control she can have over her life, she had resolved never again to belong to another than herself. (pp. 80) This can be considered one of her many awakenings for she realizes that she does not need a man in order to fulfill and complete her life. It is also important to note the contrast from her previous feelings to the new feelings and abilities that arise after Edna moves into the pigeon house; before when she kisses Arobin in the house of her husband she has feelings of reproach looking at her from the external things around her which he had provided for her external existence. (pp. 84) Yet when she engages with Arobin at her new pigeon-house she experiences no feelings of reproach or regret. This illustrates how she is now more free in this house than she has been in any other setting. There are many symbols in the novel The Awakening, and in this essay three of the most prominent have been examined leading us to a huge conclusion. Clearly it is necessary in this novel, and most others to analyze and apply the occurrences and meanings behind symbols scattered throughout the work. Birds serve as an allusion to Edna herself and as an instrument of foreshadowment in regards to her own demise. The ocean is used numerous times throughout the novel as a source of freedom and self expression that allow Edna a release from everything going on in her life. The last symbol was the many houses that Edna was in during the novel that were representative of her current feelings and were a reflection of her. Without the analysis and acknowledgment of these symbols the story becomes just a simple piece of writing and lacks significant deeper meanings.

Democracies and Success in War Essay example -- Government War Democra

Democracies and Success in War Introduction Democratic governments have spread quickly around the world since the end of the Cold War and fall of the Soviet Union. Democracy has become one of the most desired regime types amongst states and is contributed to fostering wealth, stability, and even peace. Dan Reiter and Allan Stam argue that democracies are the most successful in war or military combat. In their book, Democracies at War, Stam and Reiter argue that after observing conflicts since the 1800’s, democratic governments tend to be more selective in choosing conflicts to participate in and democracies also have a propensity to win more often than authoritarian regimes. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study to test if democracies fight better wars. The paper will examine Stam and Reiter’s four propositions presented in their book and test the two propositions, political culture and political structure, that the authors suggest have a significant impact on democracies and the outcome of war. There are no previous intense case studies that have been performed over democracies and their success in wartime situations. Since only brief examples of case studies have been performed in previous literature, this paper will contribute to the discussion by presenting an intense case study on Israel during the Six Day War in 1967 and Yom Kippur War in 1979. For Stam and Reiter to be correct in their assessments over democracies high success rate in war, political culture and political structure must be found internally within Israel during the time period of these two conflicts. To be able to identify political structure and culture I have proposed a few variables that should be present wit... ...d freely choose to participate in both conflicts. However, the enormous threat by the Arab states, not only in these wars but since independence, were so overwhelming that Israelis had no choice but to fight or risk genocide thus giving merit to Desch’s argument. Democracy is winning out on all accounts and continues to grow, while authoritarian regimes, by choice or force, are dwindling on the world stage. Further research on Stam and Reiter’s claims should be tested, along with other arguments from democratic theorist. I suggest that an alternative case study be performed concerning a successful authoritarian regime to test claims of realist and institutionalist. A study of this nature coupled with research such as this paper presents can be compared and evaluated to obtain a firmer grasp on regime type and success in war.

Human Consumption and Resource Depletion :: essays research papers fc

In today’s ever growing society, we must pay special attention to the amounts and types of resources we our currently consuming and the supply of these resources that will last us for the future. In researching this topic there are many factors to take into account such as the ever growing population, use of limited and unlimited resources, destruction of resources without full utilization of them, and the planning and discovering of new resources for our future. It is a safe assumption to make that our society’s population is not one that will be slowing down anytime soon. To date, according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census the United States population is projected to be 290,634,727 people, with a net gain of one person every 11 seconds, and though this may seem quite large it is only a mere 1/25th the world population, which currently is around 6.5 billion people. With large numbers like these and an outlook for continuous growth, it must be taken into concern that at some point, the U.S. and the world as a whole is going to reach its carrying capacity, a point at which the resources in an environment can no longer support a greater population. Though this may still be hundreds of years away, by addressing energy consumption and depletions concerns now we can prolong and prepare for that date as best as possible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the United States, and the world as a whole, there are three major areas in which resources can stem from; those are water, minerals, and the land. All of our resources and utilities to produce resources come from one of those three, and as our population continues to grow, those three sources are ever depleting. As stated above we are a culture who on the whole has a population that does not look like it will cease in growth anytime in the near future. Due to this, the planets limited supply of water seems to be one of the first things that would lead to destruction of our population. We already our currently experiencing global droughts that affect the production of other resources such as food, and therefore directly affect the health and stability of our population. With continued growth, it can only be expected that available water will be ever depleting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With the focus on our continued growth, one must next look at its affects on the land in which live on.

Constructivism Learning Theory Essay

Constructivism learning theory is a philosophy which enhances students’ logical and conceptual growth. The underlying concept within the constructivism learning theory is the role which experiences-or connections with the adjoining atmosphere-play in student education. The constructivism learning theory argues that people produce knowledge and form meaning based upon their experiences. Two of the key concepts within the constructivism learning theory which create the construction of an individual’s new knowledge are accommodation and assimilation. Assimilating causes an individual to incorporate new experiences into the old experiences. This causes the individual to develop new outlooks, rethink what were once misunderstandings, and evaluate what is important, ultimately altering their perceptions. Accommodation, on the other hand, is reframing the world and new experiences into the mental capacity already present. Individuals conceive a particular fashion in which the world operates. When things do not operate within that context, they must accommodate and reframing the expectations with the outcomes. Bruner’s Theory on Constructivism Bruner’s theory on constructivism encompasses the idea of learning as an active process wherein those learning are able to form new ideas based on what their current knowledge is as well as their past knowledge. A cognitive structure is defined as the mental processes which offer the learner the ability to organize experiences and derive meaning from them. These cognitive structures allow the learner to push past the given information in constructing their new concepts. The learner, often a child, will take pieces of their past knowledge and experiences and organize them to make sense of what they know, then base further concepts and solve additional problems based upon a combination of what they already processed and what they think should be processed next. The teacher resources used should be focused on that of encouragement, aiding and allowing the student to uncover the main principles on their own. Communication between the learner and teacher is the key concept. Socratic learning is suggested as the best method of communication in this theoretical framework, as it allows the  teacher to actively note any study skills the learner verbalizes, their progression, their frustrations, and form a rubric of their current learning state based on the dialogue. Seeing as this theory takes known information and expounds upon it, any teacher lesson plans, teacher worksheets, or resources should in fact be constantly building the learner’s knowledge in a spiral manner. The four major principles of Bruner’s theory on constructivism encompass 1) a predilection toward learning. The second, how a grouping of knowledge is able to be constructed to best be understood by the learner. The third is effective manners for the teacher to present said material to the learner, with the fourth and final aspect being the progression of rewards as well as punishments. Piaget’s Theory of Constructivism Jean Piaget was a philosopher from Switzerland. He was also a natural scientist that was famous for the work that he did studying cognitive development and learning theories encompassed in his view of â€Å"genetic epistemology†. At the young age of eleven he attended high school at Switzerland Latin wherein one of his short pieces was the start of his scientific career. Piaget’s theory of constructivism impacts learning curriculum because teachers have to make a curriculum plan which enhances their students’ logical and conceptual growth. Teacher must put emphasis on the significant role that experiences-or connections with the adjoining atmosphere-play in student education. For example, teachers must bear in mind the role those fundamental concepts, such as the permanence of objects, plays when it comes to establishing cognitive structures. Piaget’s theory of constructivism argues that people produce knowledge and form meaning based upon their experience s. Piaget’s theory covered learning theories, teaching methods, and education reform. Two of the key components which create the construction of an individual’s new knowledge are accommodation and assimilation. Assimilating causes an individual to incorporate new experiences into the old experiences. This causes the individual to develop new outlooks, rethink what were once misunderstandings, and evaluate what is important, ultimately altering their perceptions. Accommodation, on the other hand, is reframing the world and new experiences into the mental  capacity already present. Individuals conceive a particular fashion in which the world operates. When things do not operate within that context, they must accommodate and reframing the expectations with the outcomes. Vygotsky’s Theory on Constructivism Lev S. Vygotsky believed that culture is the principal determinant of cognitive progress. In Vgostsky’s theory on constructivism, knowledge leads to further cognitive development. The societal configuration of intelligence states that the individual growth could not be comprehended without indication to the societal and cultural context where the aforementioned evolution is entrenched mind development is continuous. Vygotsky focuses on the actual mechanism of the development. He excludes discernible stages of development as theories and assumptions. Vygotsky’s theory on constructivism does not adhere to the idea that a single abstract principle is able to explain cognitive development. As a substitute to Piaget’s constructivism, he argues that knowledge is internalization of social activity. Mediation refers to people intentionally interject items between their environment and themselves, so that they are able to modify it and gain specific benefits. Mediation is the key propoent of Vygotsky’s theory of constructivism. His theory offers a harmonizing viewpoint to the behaviorist view. Vygotsky’s theory of constructivism supports that the use of mediators helps the human to alter their environment, and this is her way of interacting with the nature. Vygotsky’s theory of constructivism also supports that the use of activity mediators provides a way in which people are able to interact with the nature. Mediation is also defined as the use of certain tools within socially organized activity. There were two phenomena which encompasses the mediated relationship of individuals to their environment. These are 1) Humans use language and physical signs to change social relations into psychological functions between their minds and their environment. The second thing was that higher intellectual progression will actually use symbolic mediation. Apart from learning theories, Piaget’s theory of constructivism addresses how learning actually occurs, not focusing on what influences learning. The role  of teachers is very important. Instead of giving a lecture the teachers in this theory function as facilitators whose role is to aid the student when it comes to their own understanding. This takes away focus from the teacher and lecture and puts it upon the student and their learning. The resources and lesson plans that must be initiated for this learning theory take a very different approach toward traditional learning as well. Instead of telling, the teacher must begin asking. Instead of answering questions that only align with their curriculum, the facilitator in this case must make it so that the student comes to the conclusions on their own instead of being told. Also, teachers are continually in conversation with the students, creating the learning experience that is open to new directions depending upon the needs of the student as the learning progresses. Teachers following Piaget’s theory of constructivism must challenge the student by making them effective critical thinkers and not being merely a â€Å"teacher† but also a mentor, a consultant, and a coach. Some strategies for teacher include having students working together and aiding to answer one another’s questions. Another strategy includes designating one student as the â€Å"expert† on a subject and having them teach the class. Finally, allowing students to work in groups or pairs and research controversial topics which they must then present to the class. Jonassen (1994) proposed that there are eight characteristics that differentiate constructivist learning environments: 1. Constructivist learning environments provide multiple representations of reality. 2. Multiple representations avoid oversimplification and represent the complexity of the real world. 3. Constructivist learning environments emphasize knowledge construction inserted of knowledge reproduction. 4. Constructivist learning environments emphasize authentic tasks in a meaningful context rather than abstract instruction out of context. 5. Constructivist learning environments provide learning environments such as real-world settings or case-based learning instead of predetermined sequences of instruction. 6. Constructivist learning environments encourage thoughtful reflection on experience. 7. Constructivist learning environments†enable context- and content- dependent knowledge construction.† 8. Constructivist learning environments support  Ã¢â‚¬Å"collaborative construction of knowledge through social negotiation, not competition among learners for recognition.† Jonassen’s eight characteristics would be supported by both social and cognitive constructivists. There is, however, a difference in the emphasis these two strands on constructivism place on each of those characteristics.