Critical Book Review on saint Augustine - confessions Essay

Critical Book Review on saint Augustine - confessions - Essay Example Augustine lived a hedonistic lifestyle in his youth and hence developed a close relationship with a young woman who remained his concubine for fifteen years and got a son by her named Adeodatus. By the age of thirty, Augustine had carved an enviable niche for himself in the Latin world. Bishop Ambrose was the key person to have changed Augustine’s outlook on life. It was in the summer of 386 AD, that Augustine became inspired after reading the â€Å"Life of Saint Anthony of the Desert† and that’s when he decided to convert back to Christianity, become a priest, follow celibacy and devote himself to God. â€Å"Confessions† written by Saint Augustine, gives us a vivid account of the pagan life he had led as well as his spiritual transformation as a devout Christian. The word â€Å"Confessions†, take on two meanings – one is to confess ones sins before God and the other is to acknowledge the truth about God. Therefore â€Å"Confessions†, can be taken as praise and glory to God Our Father. Augustine takes us on a mysterious pilgrimage from paganism to the state of grace relying on God’s strength and magnanimity. As in the words of Augustine, â€Å"they shall praise the Lord who seek him† (8) for â€Å"those who seek shall find him† (9) and â€Å"finding him shall praise him†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..(10). This is precisely what happened to Augustine. In Book One, when recalling the trouble he gave to his mother and those who looked after him as an infant. He recalls to mind how as a boy going to school he hated learning and used to get flogged by his elders. He was also given to gluttony, relentless lies to his parents and tutors and craved dishonest victories, often pilfering things from his parents to trade with other children the baubles they were willing to sell. He is disgusted by his own ways and cries out in despair to the Lord saying, â€Å"Oh, God! Woe to the sins of men! When

How is leadership different in Asian business from Western business Research Paper

How is leadership different in Asian business from Western business - Research Paper Example Understanding the differences in business leadership among these two continents helps both sides in the common goal of success. The success rate or even the failure rate of any company or organization depends solely on the strategy and management of resources. However, in order to implement the strategy and further to achieve the goals, many other factors have to be taken into account. This implies that the management and the leadership roles, both have a huge part to play in the smooth functioning of the strategy. On one hand, management is responsible to ensure that the resources are being utilized in the best way possible and maximum results are being produced to the advantage of the firm. On the other hand leadership has an even important role to play in envisioning the employees with the objectives of the firm and motivate their team in order to achieve a common goal. If the leaders lead their teams toward the right direction, the task of the management also becomes easier, and with that, the company is destined to reach another level. However, this paper will aim at analyzing the leadership roles in As ian business firms, alongside critically commenting on the leadership trends and shifts in the West to draw a clear contrast, and further to understand the effect of these differences on the global market. Prior to analyzing the leadership trends in Asia and in the west, it is crucial to understand the dynamics of leadership from both Asian as well as Western Perspectives, so that it becomes convenient to lay the foundation over which the comparison can be made. If there is a leader, then there are followers. If people are to follow someone then their leadership must be considered as something personal, a relationship between the leader and follower, with the leader’s credibility providing the foundation. There needs to be trust established

P.E.S.T analysis of social media marketing

P.E.S.T analysis of social media marketing In order to analysis the macro environmental challenges that could influence social media marketing, the research conducted by keynote will be applied. Amongst the economic factors influencing social media marketing is the digitial economy act developed in 2010. This was designed as an attempt to control illegal sharing of files. Since, social networking sties easily enable users to share and broadcast content, many users have made attempts of claiming copyright. Regulations Last year, an amendment, covering every means of online marketing communications, was made in extension to the regulatory framework which already covers online advertisements. The intention behind this is to ensure Economic factors A number of factors have had an impact on the increased investment in social media in terms of marketing. One major factor consists of the economic crisis having decreased budget for traditional marketing channels. Another factor is comprised of increasing growth and popularity of social networking. This has led marketers to engage with their audience through social media. A further challenge is imposed by the excessive investment in social networking companies as dependence on advertising may be influenced by the current economic crisis. Social factors The social media being highly dependent on the existing trends in consumers preferences, there is a great risk of those users switching their preferences. An example of such is the change from MySpace to Facebook. Technological factors As social networking has become an integrated part of online experience in terms of search as well as integrated digital marketing with regards to advertising, users may seek solutions and assistance Task2. Media reporting -the influence of social media marketing The included reports shed light on the rapid growth and trends in social media marketing, and propose unprecedented ways whereby organizations can exploit the existing trends of social media and mark their presence. Marketers Mine Facebook, Twiiter Posts to Duck Brand Snafus The author suggest that rather than aiming to generate impressions amongst audience members, an organization should exert positive and convincing influence on social webs citizens. Subsequently, these users will spread the message to other people. This is also recognized as word of mouth marketing (Flinn, 2010). Conversely, the author further argues that poor management of online marketing can backfire and generate negative consequence which will spread online. Thus, it can be argued that importance of word of mouth and viral marketing are likely to increase which is why investment in these tools are necessarily. In particular, Word of Mouth management is needed in order to avoid negative referrals that could damage a given companies reputation or image. Additionally, it is suggested that an online presence can help companies avoid product disasters. Also, it is argued that Facebook, Twitter and blogs are adequate tools that can enable companies to get an insight in the consumers thi nking process. Social media are changing the rules for business This report suggests the increasing usage of social media marketing can assist companies to build their brand, expand their target reach and relationship to their customers. This report further argues that organizations reputations are being constantly formed and a company may risk losing their customer based on social network sites. Hence, it could be argued that Social Media Marketing should be integrated in the overall communication plan. Additionally, it is suggest that companies who do not adopt social media marketing and rely on traditional means of marketing may risk losing or damaging their image. Therefore, it is suggested that they might as well take part and make themselves visible. Furthermore, the report suggest that online media enables companies to involve their customers in creating new products or services through their feedback. Task 2. Personal SWOT analysis Task 4. Remaning flexible Dear Peter, Please find enclosed a proposal of my request for telecommute. As you may notice, this issue is of crucial importance for me. I hope you will welcome my ideas of establishing a balance between what could prove beneficiary for the department as well as enabling me to deal with my personal issues. I would request for a 60-day trial period, with the possibility of mid-way evaluation after the first month and at the end of the period to assess the functionality. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask me. Thank for taking my request into consideration. Work from Home Proposal I have been employed at FDM for 2 years and I am very devoted to the quality of my work. Lately, I have been finding it extremely difficult to cope with some family issues, which have been intensified as a result of my full-time work. In addition, my commute time of 90 minutes from Holbaek makes it difficult for me to address the needs of my family issues. Therefore, I would like to request for two days, where I can work from home. Having reviewed the other teams attendance in the department, Fridays and Mondays, would be appropriate. I believe that my productivity will increase, as I no longer have to commute, which will improve my performance. This will also mean that you do not need to pay for commuting expenses. In addition, this will contribute to my job satisfaction as I will find a balance between my job and family. I will have my laptop and phone nearby so I can be easily reached. I would like to discuss my proposal in further detail and address any potential concerns that you may have. I understand that due to your responsibility of the organization, you must determine whether or not this is appropriate in terms of achieving the goals for the office. As most of my responsibilities require working with online activities my telecommuting is less likely to make the quality of work suffer. The following represent potential impact of my telecommuting on the department and may entail the following: Issue: The departments development and implementation of communication strategy may require additional Solution: I will keep John updated with my suggestions and ask him to send me the brief of strategies that have been discussed in the department Issue: Management of social media communities Solution: This would require online presence, which is less likely to be an issue Issue: Producing reports on online activities; feedback, key issues, insights and trends Solution: I would like to ask Helen if she is willing to assist me with this while I do her parts of the online activities. Issue: Identify online threats and opportunities surrounding the brand Solution: I spent 20% of my time on assessing the threats and opportunities. If you decide that Helen would be an appropriate person to handle the feedbacks, I believe she would be capable of handling this in addition to her duties. Task. 5 Making a positive impression on potential employers Online Marketing Assistant Marketing Communications Assistant International Online Marketing Social Media Guru I am currently eligibile for the above listed positions, which can be attributed to the fact that I do not have adequate work experience within social media marketing, which is why I would be eligible for positions such as online and offline marketing assistant, Marketing Communications Assistant or International Online Marketing Social Media Guru. Social media manager-future goal In order to be qualified for the this position, an experience of 3-4 years is essential. I believe that the most adequate way of gaining the experience is through an apprenticeship which can give me an insight into how social media manager deals with various tasks and how they enable small business gain a competitive advantage by building their unique image through social media. While gaining the experience I aim to develop my skills in terms of developing and enhancing my network, management, . Help people promote themselves through varius social media plat forms such as: Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin. Gain competencies that can help me assist plans for small business and how they rather than investing in traditional means of promoting. In demand job due to the current credit crunch and the increasing popularity of social media. What I can contribute with is my experience and knowledge This can also be identified as marketing strategy that I blieve that building your career is a matter of timing and right now is the perfect timing for building a career within social media. I believe I can achieve this position not only on the basis of my degree in Marketing but also my bachelors degree in Internatinal communications. Moodboard description The moodboard represents how I perceive myself and my future goals. Firstly, I have used an eagle as to me it represents independency, determination and leadership. The clock resents my punctuality and the importance of timing. Flexibility is one of the key words which describe my personality. The fly on the bike: I believe almost any goal is achievable if one possess will power and determination. Teamwork: The golden guy represents teamwork and The woman running towards the arrows, represents my willingness of going against the odds. The house in the middle of the sea: represents doing what may appear impossible. The gold picture symbolizes my will to achieve the results by motivating others and being a teamplayers.

Control and The Role of Destiny, Free Will, and Fate Essay -- Explorat

Control and The Role of Destiny, Free Will, and Fate Control. Who is in control of our actions and decisions and what happens as a result of them? As humans, we like to believe that we are in control of our actions and decisions and that we are in complete control of where we go and what we do in life, but is that really the case? Are there other factors besides us that help determine where we go and what we do in life? Is there a supreme being, such as God, that controls where our actions and decisions will take us and even influences our decisions, or does chance/fate and only chance/fate play a factor in decisions we make and their outcomes? Do other people have the ability to control our actions and us, or is that not possible? As was stated, the nature of humans is to want to feel like one is in control of him/herself and where his/her decisions will lead him/her in life. We like to believe that we aren't influenced when making decisions, but, after discussing the topic of what influences our decisions in class, I realized that most of our decisions are influenced, in some way or another, by our peers, our family, television, movies, music, teachers, and so forth. For example, take the topic of clothing. Why do we wear the clothes we wear? When I go to school, I generally see people in the same clique wearing similar clothing. Some people believe that they buy the clothing they buy only because it feels comfortable and it (supposedly) lasts a long time, but, in my opinion, I think students' decisions of what clothing to purchase are influenced by their peers and also by the companies that make clothing. If a person's friends didn't wear Abercrombie and Fitch clothing, they probably wouldn't wear it. Clothing manu... ...ven the same decision, but where that decision leads them may be totally different. God has a plan for everyone's life, and HE uses the decisions we make to guide us down the path HE wants us to go, not necessarily where we want to go. Someone can decide that he/she wants to become a really, really rich business person, but if God doesn't want that to happen, He'll use their decisions they think are leading them to become a businessman/woman for His own purpose. We all like to feel like we're in control of our lives and what's going to happen to us, but that actually isn't the case. This feeling we desire comes from pride - we think we can do what WE want on OUR own, without God, without realizing that He has already planned what's going to happen to us. So next time you think, "Some day I'm going to...," remember that what you want isn't always going to happen. Control and The Role of Destiny, Free Will, and Fate Essay -- Explorat Control and The Role of Destiny, Free Will, and Fate Control. Who is in control of our actions and decisions and what happens as a result of them? As humans, we like to believe that we are in control of our actions and decisions and that we are in complete control of where we go and what we do in life, but is that really the case? Are there other factors besides us that help determine where we go and what we do in life? Is there a supreme being, such as God, that controls where our actions and decisions will take us and even influences our decisions, or does chance/fate and only chance/fate play a factor in decisions we make and their outcomes? Do other people have the ability to control our actions and us, or is that not possible? As was stated, the nature of humans is to want to feel like one is in control of him/herself and where his/her decisions will lead him/her in life. We like to believe that we aren't influenced when making decisions, but, after discussing the topic of what influences our decisions in class, I realized that most of our decisions are influenced, in some way or another, by our peers, our family, television, movies, music, teachers, and so forth. For example, take the topic of clothing. Why do we wear the clothes we wear? When I go to school, I generally see people in the same clique wearing similar clothing. Some people believe that they buy the clothing they buy only because it feels comfortable and it (supposedly) lasts a long time, but, in my opinion, I think students' decisions of what clothing to purchase are influenced by their peers and also by the companies that make clothing. If a person's friends didn't wear Abercrombie and Fitch clothing, they probably wouldn't wear it. Clothing manu... ...ven the same decision, but where that decision leads them may be totally different. God has a plan for everyone's life, and HE uses the decisions we make to guide us down the path HE wants us to go, not necessarily where we want to go. Someone can decide that he/she wants to become a really, really rich business person, but if God doesn't want that to happen, He'll use their decisions they think are leading them to become a businessman/woman for His own purpose. We all like to feel like we're in control of our lives and what's going to happen to us, but that actually isn't the case. This feeling we desire comes from pride - we think we can do what WE want on OUR own, without God, without realizing that He has already planned what's going to happen to us. So next time you think, "Some day I'm going to...," remember that what you want isn't always going to happen.

Summary of the Book of Genesis

Summary of the book of Genesis In Genesis chapters 1-11, God created the universe and all living things in the span of 7 days. He created Adam and let him reside in the Garden of Eden so they may maintain it. The Garden of Eden has river that flows through it, and splits into four headstreams, Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. Soon after, God created woman, whom we know as Eve. The fall of man followed as Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and God banished them from the Garden of Eden.Adam and Eve Gave birth to Abel and Cain, Cain killed his brother Abel and Lived in the land of Nod, East of Eden. Soon the children of Adam and Eve soon bore children of their own, and their children’s children had children of their own, so on and so forth. At each passing generation their life spans become shorter. God decided to destroy all living things but allowed Noah and his family to be saved.He told them to make and Ark and bring seven of every kind of c lean animal, 2 of every unclean animal and seven of every kind of bird, so that their lives will be spared from the flood. The ark stopped at Mt. Ararat, and they all stepped out of the ark onto dry land, and Soon after they repopulated the earth. When the people, who all had a common language and vocabulary, started building the tower of Babel, God confused their language and spread them all over the earth. In Genesis chapters 12-25, it now begins the story of Abraham.God's call of Abram and the covenant with him in which he was promised that his descendants should inherit the land of Canaan, that they should become a great nation and that through them all nations of the earth would be blessed. Abram's name is changed to Abraham and Ishmael is born to Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's handmaid. Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed and the Lord sparing Lot’s life. Abraham deceived Abimelech concerning Sarah, his wife. And Sarah bore a child just as the Lord promised them, and they named him â€Å"Isaac†.God also tested Abraham’s faith by making him offer his only son as a burnt offering to Him. Soon after, Sarah died and they bought the family burial ground from the Hittites, and the betrothal of Isaac and Rebekah. At the end of this section, Abraham's death is recorded and the generations of Ishmael are given. And the story of Isaac was given and that he has twin sons, Jacob and Esau. In chapters 27-37, the story of Jacob and Esau were written. Jacob leaves home, after receiving his father's blessing by deceit. It was on this journey that he experienced the vision of the adder at Bethel. Jacob's family and his return from Haran to Canaan. Chapters 29-33 gives an account of Jacob's marriages, the birth of most of his children, the shrewd dealings between Laban and Jacob and the departure of Jacob from Haran. After leaving Haran and wrestling with the angel, Jacob came into contact with Esau, but without the conflict which had been feared. And finally in chapters 34-36 both lineages of Jacob and Esau were recorded. In the last arc of the Book of Genesis, chapters 37-50, the story of Joseph was written.Joseph, the seventeen year old son of Jacob, because of the jealousy of his brothers, is sold into Egypt where, after a series of events, he becomes a ruler of Egypt, ranking just under Pharaoh. Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy food during a time of great famine. After a time, Joseph reveals his identity to his brethren. Joseph insisted that Jacob and his family settle in Egypt. Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and gave his prophecy concerning the twelve tribes. And at the final chapter of the Book of Genesis, was the recorded death of Joseph and Jacob.

How advertising and commercials influence my life Essay

Advertising and commercials have, no doubt, a strong influence in my purchasing behavior. They influence the clothes I wear, the food I eat and the places to go for a night out. Adverts in the television and magazines are expressive of models wearing different designs of clothing outfits. Such outfits make the models look admirable. This brings the feeling in me that if the clothes look good, then they must make me feel good. Due to this reason, I am compelled to purchase such clothes. Most of my friends and I have our eating habits greatly influenced by advertising and commercials. With the many adverts on hamburgers, hotdogs, and pizzas among other, most of my friends are always out to the pizza inn during class breaks. Despite the many claims by opponents of frequent use of fast foods, my heart is always impressed by the deliciousness portrayed on the adverts, a factor that inevitably forces me into purchasing such foods and drinks. Where to go for a night out is mainly influenced by commercials and advertising. This is because such adverts are indicative of the type of entertainment to expect and above all the entertainers to meet. Just to be appreciated is the fact that I like to go out with a preset mind of fulfillment. This is why advertising has no doubt a crucial role to play in dictating the best place to hang out. Therefore, advertising and commercials bring invaluable influence to my purchasing and spending behavior. Such marketing practices have indeed dominated my psychology.

Your Garden Gloves Operation Managment Essay Example

Your Garden Gloves Operation Managment Essay Example Your Garden Gloves Operation Managment Essay Your Garden Gloves Operation Managment Essay Name: Eman Mohamed El sayed Amine GROUP:(A) CHAPTER (1) . OPERATION MANAGEMENT Q3: describe the operation function and the role of operation manager? It involves conversion of inputs into outputs inputs (land ,labor, capital ,information) through transformation process it becomes goods and services with a control process and feed back. And the operation manager is responsible for managing the core, hence and managing the process that create goods and services Q4:list five important differences between goods production and services operations ,then list five important similarities? Differences degree of customer contact 2- uniformity of input 3- labor content of jobs 4-uquality assurance 5- amount of inventory Similarities: 1- how they done for example design and operation decisions 2- the size factory needed 3- location decision 4-work schedules 5- allocation of scarce resources Q8:why is the degree of customization an important consideration in process planning? Because providing h ighly customized products or services such as home remodeling, plastic surgery and legal counseling tend to be more labor intensive than providing standardized products such as those you would buy ff the shelf at a mall store or super market or standardized services such as public utilities and internal services ,further more ,production of customized products or provision of customized services is generally more time consuming ,require more highly skilled people ,and involves more flexible equipment than what is needed for standardized products or services, customize tend to have lower outputs at higher prices the degree of customization is important for process selection and job requirements . he impact goes beyond operations and supply chain . it affects marketing ,sales ,accounting. finance and operation system Q15: explain the term value added? The difference between cost of input and the price or value of output.

Facts About Sponges (Porifera)

Facts About Sponges (Porifera) Sponges (Porifera) are a group of animals that includes about 10,000 living species. Members of this group include glass sponges, demosponges, and calcareous sponges. Adult sponges are sessile animals that live attached to hard rocky surfaces, shells, or submerged objects. The larvae are ciliated, free-swimming creatures. Most sponges inhabit marine environments but a few species live in freshwater habitats. Sponges are primitive multicellular animals that have no digestive system, no circulatory system, and no nervous system. They do not have organs and their cells are not organized into well-defined tissues. About Sponge Types There are three subgroups of sponges. The glass sponges have a skeleton that consists of fragile, glass-like spicules that are made of silica. The demosponges are often vibrantly colored and can grow to be the largest of all sponges. The demosponges account for more than 90 percent of all living sponge species. The calcarious sponges are the only group of sponges to have spicules that are made of calcium carbonate. Calcarious sponges are often smaller than other sponges. Sponge Body Layers The body of a sponge is like a sac that is perforated with lots of small openings or pores. The body wall consists of three layers: An outer layer of flat epidermal cellsA middle layer that consists of gelatinous substance and amoeboid cells that migrate within the layerAn inner layer that consists of flagellated cells and collar cells (also called choanocytes) How Sponges Eat Sponges are filter feeders. They draw water in through the pores located throughout their body wall into a central cavity. The central cavity is lined with collar cells which have a ring of tentacles that surround a flagellum. Movement of the flagellum creates current that keeps water flowing through the central cavity and out of a hole at the top of the sponge called the osculum. As water passes over the collar cells, food is captured by the collar cells ring of tentacles. Once absorbed, food is digested in food vacuoles or transferred to the amoeboid cells in the middle layer of the body wall for digestion. The water current also delivers a constant supply of oxygen to the sponge and removes nitrogenous waste products. Water exits the sponge through the large opening at the top of the body called the osculum. Classification of Porifera Sponges are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Invertebrates Porifera Sponges are divided into the following taxonomic groups: Calcarious sponges (Calcarea): There are about 400 species of calcarious sponges alive today. The calcareous sponges have spicules that consist of calcium carbonate, calcite, and aragonite. The spicules have two, three, or four points, depending on species.Demosponges (Demospongiae): There are about 6,900 species of demo sponges alive today. The demo sponges are the most diverse of the three groups of sponges. Members of this group are ancient creatures that first arose during the Precambrian.Glass sponges (Hexactinellida): There are about 3,000 species of glass sponges alive today. Glass sponges have a skeleton that is constructed from siliceous spicules.

Improve your college paper writing with us!

Improve your college paper writing with us! Why Your College Writing is Not Getting Good Grades - Tips to Fix It Once you walk into your first college class, you are subject to much higher expectations for course work. Your reading assignments will be more frequent and lengthier; your assignments will be more challenging; and the type of college papers you must produce will be more complex and held to a higher standard than is typical for high school students. It is highly unlikely that your professors will do the following: Receive a rough draft, make corrections and suggestions for improvement, and then receive a final draft for ultimate grading. Assist you in improving your writing, unless it is a writing course with a lab component. It is highly likely that your professor will do the following: Read and assign a grade to an essay or paper that you submit Assign a poor grade if the piece of writing does not meet his/her expectations If your writing assignments result in poor grades, there may be a number of reasons, and there are also methods for fixing any of the issues you may have with your research and writing skills. Mis-understanding/Failing to Adhere to the Specifics of the Assignment This is one of the most common mistakes students make. When a college paper assignment is given, they fail to read carefully from their syllabi or listen to their professors’ specifications. Frequently, a details of a writing assignment will be contained in the syllabus, so be certain that you read them very carefully and stick exactly to what your professor wants. If the assignment specifies that you compare and contrast, then that is exactly what you must do; if you are to analyze an outside reading assignment, then you are to read it carefully, take it apart, summarizing the points the author is making and commenting on those points. If you are asked to evaluate, you are being asked to make a judgment – are the author’s points or opinions valid? Why or why not? If you are to write a book review discussing one of its themes, you will not be providing a plot summary. The Fix: Read the assignment very carefully and look for key words – compare, contrast, analyze, discuss, respond to, evaluate, describe, etc. If you do not understand the assignment, contact your professor of the TA. Do not do a thing until you know exactly what is expected of you. Too Broad or Too Narrow a Topic You will usually be given a minimum and maximum length for a writing assignment, ad your topic must be of a breadth and depth to â€Å"fit.† When you choose a topic that is too broad, you will become overwhelmed with the amount of information there is and may fall into a trap of leaving out crucial research and points, in order to stay within the length requirement. If your topic is too narrow, there will not be enough information to meet the minimum requirement, you may try to add â€Å"fluff† to fill pages, and your grade will definitely suffer. The Fix: If you have to choose your own topic within a broad area, select a couple that are of interest. Contact your professor or TA and ask for advice. They are usually happy to help! If your topic is too broad, you can probably narrow it down to one or more aspects; if it is too narrow, better pick something else. Part of writing a college paper is selecting a topic that is correct for the required length! Unsophisticated Research You are in college now, and Wikipedia is not a resource for research. You will be expected to find scholarly resources on your topic. If you use the same types of resources that you did in high school, or if you use resources intended for middle and high school levels, your professor will be angry, and you could easily end up with an â€Å"F.† The Fix: Once you have your topic, perform a simple â€Å"Google† search. For example, use â€Å"college level resources for eugenics movements in the United States.† You will get a long list, including one or two clearing houses of resource lists. Choose your resources from among these lists and be grateful you are not in college 4 decades ago when searches had to be conducted in the library, using the card catalogue! And if you do go to the campus library, you can search by topic and be comfortable knowing that resources housed there are at an appropriate level of sophistication. One note, however: Wikipedia does have its place, particularly as you are attempting to refine a topic, because the entries are almost always divided into sub-topics. Lack of a Thesis You may have been able to get away with this in high school, but never when writing college papers. Choosing a topic is one thing. Coming up with a solid thesis is quite another. The thesis statement tells your reader why you have researched this topic or presents your viewpoint or opinion on the topic. Without a thesis, your paper has no scholarly merit and will certainly earn an â€Å"F.† The Fix: Once you have a topic, ask yourself some questions about it. Is this something that most people don’t understand? Why is it important? What is your purpose in researching this – are you trying to enlighten, persuade, or analyze? When you answer one or more of these questions you will have your thesis statement. (And put it at the end of your introductory paragraph) Composition Issues If you lack good writing skills – organization, coherence, paragraph development, sentence structure, transitions, mechanics, you will always receive lowered grades, no matter for what course you are writing an essay or paper. The Fix: Unfortunately, correcting this issue is a process that takes times. You need to begin a self-taught program of grammar and composition, get a tutor, or spend a lot of time in the writing lab. Anyone can become a good academic writer, but it takes commitment and lots of practice. In the meantime, you may want to enlist the services of a reputable academic writing service that can provide you with original, custom writing while you develop your own skills.

History and Political Science; A Response to Historical Cases Essay

History and Political Science; A Response to Historical Cases - Essay Example Of particular interest is to understand the implications of the Pericles’ oration (Thucydides 34) with respect to what is known of Athens. In evaluating Pericles’ speech, it is imperative to decipher the underpinning points in the speech, as depicted by Thucydides (pp 34-46). First, Pericles begins by acknowledging the need to hold ceremonies for those who dead for the country. He proceeds to assert that all that had happened was necessary. He was in line with the law, as well as the democracy requirements. In elucidating his point, he pays tribute to the ancestors, acknowledging them for creating a worth-celebrating history for the Athenians. He cites how the empire and its possession would have been without the sacrifice of the ancestors and that it was only justified for him to uphold the legacy. Pericles presents Athens as exceptional, in terms of its laws, justice, social equality, mobility and inclusivity of migrants, and that everyone had an equal opportunity to serve the nation. The aspect of Athens to offer social refreshment, such as games is not also overlooked. He affirms Athenian determination to shun all the challenges, as well as respecting the neighbors. He eventually justifies the point that the fallen men should not be the cause of any consolation. Instead, such a point brings comfort to the Athenian community. The crucial question is whether Pericles’ insight holds any validity. In particular, does Athens fit into the doctrine of exceptionalism, as presented? Moreover, is Pericles’ point about the fallen justified? In my view, whereas there are certain aspects of exceptionalism that could be justified about the historical Athenian society, others cannot. For instance, it is agreeable that the ancestors had a crucial role in creating history for posterity, considering that imperialism was the order of the time. The affirmation of respect of law and democracy also reflect the historical nature of Athens. This is beca use Athens historical government is widely cited as the mother or even the correlate of the sophisticated and desired contemporary democracy. Indeed, one avenue of viewing at Pericles’ forefather reference could act as a base the role which Athens played in Greek history. Perhaps he was referring to the growth of the government of Athens as well as the role which the forefathers played. Pericles next statement is that the city of Athens was great and served as a symbol of inspiration as the pioneer of true democracy (Halsall 39). Thucydides uses parallelism whereby Pericles talks of Athenian s’ reputation compared to other armed forces, as well as the Athenian self belief. However, the theme of imperialism cannot be left out of his speech. One questions whether this could also be an aspect of exceptionalism. Doesn’t it contravene the affirmation to respect the autonomy of the neighbors? I infer that whereas Pericles stand reflect the interest of the Athenians, i t is advanced on the basis of nationalism, which can be dismissed as a thesis of societal selfishness. Response to part two: Robert, the Monk's account of Pope Urban II's call to crusade During the 11th century, when states like France and Britain had not emerged, Christianity united the states of Europe. All European states took part in religious wars against Muslims in what was known as the Crusades. Both Christians and Muslims committed atrocities against human beings although each side claimed to be fighting for a just course. At the

Drug Addiction Disorder & Group Therapy as Part of Recovery Dissertation

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Competitive&strategic analysis - Essay Example A study by Fleisher and Babette (20) posits that a marketing manager requires applying strategic positioning through serious inventions. He requires coming up with new services by keeping up with the market trends. This is not easy because it calls for a lot of creativity and learning the competitor’s operations. The company as a whole requires understanding the market trends in order to set a strategic position. This includes thorough research from the competitors and from the consumers. This success can only happen through enhancing this company’s online marketing which lacks in the company. It should create strong websites with relevant information both existing and potential in relation to marketing. The company should set aside some funds in order to create a strong online presence through wed-designs and development. This is because research shows that 97% of the consumers use the web to search for local and international businesses. After creating the website, the company should consider its Search Engine Optimization (SEO) since study shows that 80% consumers use it for researching products (Fleischer & Babette 30). Every company requires harmonized decision-making, and it is important to include all employees in decision-making. Online marketing is the most popular marketing strategy in the current business world. For this reason, this company requires coming up with a strong internet presence in order to capture a larger

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Literary research paper on The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien Essay

Literary research paper on The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien - Essay Example This paper is a reflection of the literary analysis and in depth meanings of the characters and the circumstances they were thrust into. A number of famous stories make up the confines of the pages of this book – these include characters that keep reappearing every now and then. Each and every character is a justification towards some or the other feeling that every man suffers in his lifetime. For example, the main protagonist, Tim, is a soldier who finally admits that he was responsible for the death of Kiowa, tries to explain to others, and believes that not everything is explicable. This book is an amalgamation of the kind of experiences he shared with other soldiers. Jimmy Cross is a lieutenant and the platoon leader in the short story of the same title as the main book, The Things They Carried, and is also blamed for the death of Kiowa, a devout religious Christian soldier. Ted Lavender is one of the first to die in the book; he was a soldier with true grit but smoked ma rijuana and contained a great amount of anxiousness regarding what would happen next in the War. (Rafferty, Rebecca) The Things They Carried is a story full of symbolism; in this particular tale, O’Brien has marked a very vivid description of all the objects that the various soldiers carry with them. Incidentally, all these objects help the reader to understand the kind of people the soldiers are and the kind of relationship they share with others around them. He has written about Lavender’s obsession with tranquilizers and marijuana, Dobbins’ need to carry his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck as well as his extra rations, and Kiowa carrying a copy of the New Testament at all times. All this imagery helps to provide a stark understanding to the reader as per the needs and priorities of the soldiers. O’Brien has also described the kind of burden each man carries on his shoulders in the form of memories from their personal lives, for example, t he lieutenant’s obsession with Martha back home leaves him feeling very disgruntled and regretful. These thoughts eventually leave him questioning and wondering about Martha’s virginity and this eventually leads to distractions and death He also carried maps and compasses, giving a picture of the true leader that he was, always looking out for his soldiers. (Department) Physical objects like machine guns, M-16 rifles, grenade launchers and tents help to depict the harsh reality they were surviving in. Thus, with the use of these physical objects that the soldiers require during their stay in the War, the author has tried to explain the kind of dilemma they were being made to choose between – fantasy and reality. Cross begins to question himself for the death of Lavender and wonders whether or not it was his fault and negligence towards his duty because of his dark fantasizing about Martha that led him astray. (Moore, Julie) A literal meaning of the title and the background that the soldiers are in, the story speaks of a cross join between love and war. It tries to reflect, with the use of the everyday objects that each of the soldiers used (that made up their personalities) how it was unconditional but one sided love for someone that gave way to waging another war. This is a transition from Cross’

The Destruction of the Indies and the Middle Passage Essay Example for Free

The Destruction of the Indies and the Middle Passage Essay Bartolomà © de las Casas was one of the first proponents of Indian rights in the New World. A priest and historian of his day, responsible for preserving Christopher Columbuss journals, de las Casas also wrote works such as The Devastation of the Indies and Apologetic History of the Indies. Labeled a heretic and traitor, de las Casas documented the war on the Indians by the Spaniards and argued the Indians cause, at great personal risk, before the Spanish court. The following account gives a sympathetic description of the natives, outlines the Spanish lust for gold, and details a nearly unbelievable torture of several Indians. SOURCE: From The Devastation of the Indies by Bartolomà © de las Casas. English Translation Copyright  © 1974 by The Crossroad Publishing Company. Reprinted by permission of The Crossroad Publishing Company. And of all the infinite universe of humanity, these people are the most guileless, the most devoid of wickedness and duplicity, the most obedient and faithful to their native masters and to the Spanish Christians whom they serve. They are by nature the most humble, patient, and peaceable, holding no grudges, free from embroilments, neither excitable nor quarrelsome. These people are the most devoid of rancors, hatreds, or desire for vengeance of any people in the world. And because they are so weak and complaisant, they are less able to endure heavy labor and soon die of no matter what malady. The sons of nobles among us, brought up in the enjoyments of lifes refinements, are no more delicate than are these Indians, even those among them who are of the lowest rank of laborers. They are also poor people, for they not only possess little but have no desire to possess worldly goods. For this reason they are not arrogant, embittered, or greedy. Their repasts are such that the food of the holy fathers in the desert can scarcely be more parsimonious, scanty, and poor. As to their dress, they are generally naked, with only their pudenda covered somewhat. And when they cover their shoulders it is with a square cloth no more than two varas in size. They have no beds, but sleep on a kind of matting or else in a kind of suspended net called hamacas. They are very clean in their persons, with alert, intelligent minds, docile and open to doctrine, very apt to receive our holy  Catholic faith, to be endowed with virtuous customs, and to behave in a godly fashion. And once they begin to hear the tidings of the Faith, they are so insistent on knowing more and on taking the sacraments of the Church and on observing the divine cult that, truly, the missionaries who are here need to be endowed by God with great patience in order to cope with such eagerness. Some of the secular Spaniards who have been here for many years say that the goodness of the Indians is undeniable and that if this gifted people could be brought to know the one true God they would be the most fortunate people in the world. The common ways mainly employed by the Spaniards who call themselves Christian and who have gone there to extirpate those pitiful nations and wipe them off the earth is by unjustly waging cruel and bloody wars. Then, when they have slain all those who fought for their lives or to escape the tortures they would have to endure, that is to say, when they have slain all the native rulers and young men (since the Spaniards usually spare only the women and children, who are subjected to the hardest and bitterest servitude ever suffered by man or beast), they enslave any survivors. With these infernal methods of tyranny they debase and weaken countless numbers of those pitiful Indian nations. Their reason for killing and destroying such an infinite number of souls is that the Christians have an ultimate aim, which is to acquire gold, and to swell themselves with riches in a very brief time and thus rise to a high estate disproportionate to their merits. It should be kept in mind that their insatiable greed and ambition, the greatest ever seen in the world, is the cause of their villainies. And also, those lands are so rich and felicitous, the native peoples so meek and patient, so easy to subject, that our Spaniards have no more consideration for them than beasts. And I say this from my own knowledge of the acts I witnessed. But I should not say than beasts for, thanks be to God, they have treated beasts with some respect; I should say instead like excrement on the public squares. I once saw this, when there were four or five Indian nobles lashed on grids and burning; I seem even to recall that there were two or three pairs of gri ds where others were burning, and because they uttered such loud screams that they disturbed the Spanish captains sleep, he ordered them to be strangled. And the constable,  who was worse than an executioner, did not want to obey that order (and I know the name of that constable and know his relatives in Seville), but instead put a stick over the victims tongues, so they could not make a sound, and he stirred up the fire, but not too much, so that they roasted slowly, as he liked. I saw all these things I have described, and countless others. And because all the people who could do so fled to the mountains to escape these inhuman, ruthless, and ferocious acts, the Spanish captains, enemies of the human race, pursued them with the fierce dogs they kept which attacked the Indians, tearing them to pieces and devouring them. And because on few and far between occasions, the Indians justifiably killed some Christians, the Spaniards made a rule among themselves that for every Christian slain by the Indians, they would slay a hundred Indians. Among the noteworthy outrages they committed was the one they perpetrated against a cacique, a very important noble, by name Hatuey, who had come to Cuba from Hispaniola with many of his people, to flee the calamities and inhuman acts of the Christians. When he was told by certain Indians that the Christians were now coming to Cuba, he assembled as many of his followers as he could and said this to them: Now you must know that they are saying the Christians are coming here, and you know by experience how they put So and So and So and So, and other nobles to an end. And now they are coming from Haiti (which is Hispaniola) to do the same here. Do you know why they do this? The Indians replied: We do not know. But it may be that they are by nature wicked and cruel. And he told them: No, they do not act only because of that, but because they have a God they greatly worship and they want us to worship that God, and that is why they struggle with us and subject us and kill us. He had a basket full of gold and jewels and he said: You see their God here, the God of the Christians. If you agree to it, let us dance for this God, who knows, it may please the God of the Christians and then they will do us no harm. And his followers said, all together, Yes, that is good, that is good! And they danced round the basket of gold until they fell down exhausted. Then their chief, the cacique Hatuey, said to them: See here, if we keep this basket of gold they will take it from us and will end up by killing us. So let us cast away the basket into the river. They all agreed to do this, and they flung the basket of gold into the river that was nearby. This cacique, Hatuey, was constantly fleeing before the Christians from the time they arrived on the island of Cuba, since he knew them and of what they were capable. Now and then they encountered him and he defended himself, but they finally killed him. And they did this for the sole reason that he had fled from those cruel and wicked Christians and had defended himself against them. And when they had captured him and as many of his followers as they could, they burned them all at the stake. When tied to the stake, the cacique Hatuey was told by a Franciscan friar who was present, an artless rascal, something about the God of the Christians and of the articles of the Faith. And he was told what he could do in the brief time that remained to him, in order to be saved and go to Heaven. The cacique, who had never heard any of this before, and was told he would go to Inferno where if he did not adopt the Christian Faith, he would suffer eternal torment, asked the Franciscan friar if Christians all went to Heaven. When told that they did he said he would prefer to go to Hell. Such is the fame and honor that God and our Faith have earned through the Christians who have gone out to the Indies. The Middle Passage, from Olaudah Equianos Interesting Narrative This account of the middle passage comes from one of the first writings by an ex-slave and the originator of the slave narrative. Equiano was born in Nigeria and was kidnapped into slavery at the age of eleven. After a time in the West Indies, he was sold to a Virginia planter before becoming the slave of a merchant. Years later he was able to buy his freedom and at the age of 44, he wrote The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African. Written by Himself. Equiano became an abolitionist and made the expedition to settle the colony of ex-slaves at Sierra Leone. . . . The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, and waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror when I was carried on board. I was immediately handled and tossed up  to see if I were sound by some of the crew; and I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits, and that they were going to kill me. Their complexions too differing so much from ours, their long hair, and the language they spoke, (which was very different from any I had ever heard) united to confirm me in this belief. Indeed such were the horrors of my views and fears at the moment, that, if ten thousand worlds had been my own, I would have freely parted with them all to have exchanged my condition with that of the meanest slave in my own country. When I looked round the ship too and saw a large furnace of copper boiling, and a multitude of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances expressing dejection and sorrow, I no longer doubted of my fate; and, quite overpowered with horror and anguish, I fell motionless on the deck and fainted. When I recovered a little I found some black people about me, who I believe were some of those who brought me on board, and had been receiving their pay; they talked to me in order to cheer me, but all in vain. I asked them if we were not to be eaten by those white men with horrible looks,  red faces, and loose hair. They told me I was not; and one of the crew brought me a small portion of spirituous liquor in a wine glass; but, being afraid of him, I would not take it out of his hand. One of the blacks therefore took it from him and gave it to me, and I took a little down my palate, which, instead of reviving me, as they thought it would, threw me into the greatest consternation at the strange feeling it produced, having never tasted any such liquor before. Soon after this the blacks who brought me on board went off, and left me abandoned to despair. I now saw myself deprived of all chance of returning to my native country or even the least glimpse of hope of gaining the shore, which I now considered as friendly; and I even wished for my former slavery in preference to my present situation, which was filled with horrors of every kind, still heightened by my ignorance of what I was to undergo. I was not long suffered to indulge my grief; I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: so that, with the loathsomeness of the stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat, nor had I the least desire to taste  anything. I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me; but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables; and, on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across I think the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely. I had never experienced anything of this kind before; and although, not being used to the water, I naturally feared that element the first time I saw it, yet nevertheless, could I have got over the nettings, I would have jumped over the side, but I could not; and, besides, the crew used to watch us very closely who were not chained down to the decks, lest we should l eap into the water: and I have seen some of these poor African prisoners most severely cut for attempting to do so, and hourly whipped for not eating. This indeed was often the case with myself. In a little time after, amongst the poor chained men, I found some of my own nation, which in a small degree gave ease to my mind. I inquired of these what was to be done with us; they gave me to understand we were to be carried to these white peoples country to work for them. I then was a little revived, and thought, if it were no worse than working, my situation was not so desperate: but still I feared I should be put to death, the white people looked and acted, as I thought, in so savage a manner; for I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruellty; and this not only shewn towards us blacks, but also to some of the whites themselves. One white man in particular I saw when we were permitted to be on deck, flogged so unmercifully with a large rope near the foremast, that he died in consequence of it; and they tossed him over the side as they would have done a brute. This made me fear these people the more; and I expected nothing less than to be treated in the same manner. I could not help expressing my fears and apprehensions to some of my countrymen: I asked them if these people had no country, but lived in this hollow place (the ship): they told me they did not, but came from a distant one. Then, said I, how comes it in all our country we never heard of them? They told me because they lived so very far off. I then asked where were their women? had they any like themselves? and why, said I, do we not see them? they answered, because they were left behind. . . . The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time, and some of us had been permitted to stay on the deck for the fresh air; but now that the whole  ships cargo were confined together, it became absolutely pestilential. The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost  suffocated us. This produced copious perspirations, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died, thus falling victims to the improvident avarice, as I may call it, of their purchasers. This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, now become insupportable; and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which the children often fell, and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable. Happily perhaps for myself I was soon reduced so low here that it was thought necessary to keep me almost always on deck; and from my extreme youth I was not put in fetters. In this situation I expected every hour to share the fate of my companions, some of whom were almost daily brought upon deck at the point of death, which I began to hope would soon put an end to my miseries. Often did I think many of the inhabitants of the deep much more happy than myself. I envied them the freedom they enjoyed, and as often wished I could change my condition for theirs. Every circumstance I met with served only to render my state more painful, and heighten my apprehensions, and my opin ion of the cruelty of the whites. One day they had taken a number of fishes; and when they had killed and satisfied themselves with as many as they thought fit, to our astonishment who were on the deck, rather than give any of them to us to eat as we expected, they tossed the remaining fish into the sea again, although we begged and prayed for some as well as we could, but in vain; and some of my countrymen, being pressed by hunger, took an opportunity, when they thought no one saw them, of trying to get a little privately; but they were discovered, and the attempt procured them some very severe floggings. . . . . . . I and some few more slaves, that were not saleable amongst the rest, from very much fretting, were shipped off in a sloop for North America. . . . While I was in this plantation [in Virginia] the gentleman, to whom I suppose the estate belonged, being unwell, I was one day sent for to his  dwelling house to fan him; when I came into the room where he was I was very much affrighted at some things I saw, and the more so as I had seen a black woman slave as I came through the house, who was cooking the dinner, and the poor creature was cruelly loaded with various kinds of iron machines; she had one particularly on her head, which locked her mouth so fast that she could scarcely speak; and could not eat nor drink. I was much astonished and shocked at this contrivance, which I afterwards learned was called the iron muzzle . . .

The Importance Of Good Governance To Democracy Politics Essay

The Importance Of Good Governance To Democracy Politics Essay Democracy cannot flourish in the absence of good governance. The pre-condition for good governance is effective democratic institutions for democratizing the society. Improvement of the living standard of people cannot happen where people cannot participate in governance, human rights are not respected, information does not flow, and civil society and the judiciary are weak. Nine criteria of to be referred as the Nine Is of good governance or Nine I model of good governance. In the absence of these Nine Is good governance in Bangladesh like any other country will be a far cry. These components constitute the foundations of modern democracy and create the underpinning to establish free economy and spur domestic and foreign investment, specially the potential investment of the Non Resident Bangladeshis ( NRBs) particularly in the case of Bangladesh. It is not true that only elections lead to a democracy. Democracy should be home work (Manifesto) of the political parties where they ought to outline their ideas and concept of democracy they want to offer to the citizens in lieu of their votes. The political parties should make it vividly transparent as to how and when they will apply their policies for establishing a democratic society ensuring parity, rule of law, equitable distribution of wealth, social justice, freedom of speech and thought if voted to power. The political philosophy and the commitment of the political parties should be expressed in the form of party manifesto much ahead of elections for empowering the voters so that they can make good governance may be used to determine whether any country qualifies to have good governance are: 1. INDEPENDENT AND NON PARTISAN ELECTION COMMISSION 2. INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY AND THE RULE OF LAW 3. INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH 4. INDEPENDENT ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION 5. INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE 6. INDEPENDENT AND EFFECTIVE PARLIAMENT 7. INDEPENDENT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 8. INDEPENDENT OMBUDSMAN SYSTEM 9. INVESTMENT FRIENDLY GOVERNMENT. I would propose these Nine components informed decisions before casting their votes during the elections. In Bangladesh, unfortunately the practice of presenting the manifesto of the political parties are not transparent and as such it may be stated that political commitment of the parties to the people is also not transparent which gives the parties a space to shift form their commitments and promise after the election. Sound policies and their execution are essential pre-condition of development. Good Governance necessarily means govern justly, invest in the people, and encourages private economic enterprise. Bangladesh is yet to promote principles of good governance, and initiative of our civil society reinforces the need for good governance. Through cooperative ventures of our parliament, judiciary, executive organ of the state along with the civil society it is possible to enact policies and design the governance so that human dignity and freedom are allowed to flourish. Some of the principles of good governance date back to the time of ancient Greece . Others are principles developed in more recent years, or lessons learned from our own history and that of other democracy practicing societies. Broadly speaking, good governance promotes fundamental and universal human rights. As per constitution of Bangladesh , the political power lies with the people  (Article 7). Principles of good governance allow people to pursue their lives in a just, equitable and democratic society. Countries like Bangladesh need the tools to educate their citizens to take part in the opportunities offered by the global economy. We need to do hard work to eradicate corruption. Perhaps the most basic and important principle of good governance is that a nations political institutions be democratic. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a form of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. This means that the rights and principles of democratic government can and should be universally applied. They are not a uniquely American invention. The right of every person to speak freely about his government is a basic human right to overcome bad governance even by a elected government by the party, for the politician and nothing for the people. The right of any citizens to express his opinion about his government is one that is supported by the doctrine Rule by the Ruled as has been recognized by nations all over the world. Now let us examine the Nine Is of Good governance INDEPENDENT AND NON PARTISAN ELECTION COMMISSION Independent and Non Partisan Election Commission is a precondition for free fair participative elections to elect public representative to the parliament. Elections, however, are not the only cornerstone to democracy. Accountable leadership and fulfillment of the will of the people are essential to ensuring that elections are a means to a democratic society, not an end in themselves. It is critical that a nations elections be free and fair in level plane ground. This means that every citizen have a equal access and opportunity to compete to become public representative. Voters have a choice among candidates and that they have a right to information concerning those candidates background. Free and fair elections are open and transparent to all people without discrimination based on sex, religion, or race. Such elections are not restricted by government interference and coercion by money and muscle. The right to free and fair elections should be guaranteed by independent nonpartisan election commission having appropriate capabilities and skill to deliver honest acceptable elections. And such elected government can only be held accountable to their citizens. Voters should be able to participate freely in the political process, whether through political parties or independent candidates. INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY AND THE RULE OF LAW Another criterion of good governance is independent judiciary, important for preserving the rule of law. It is very essential to have a strong judiciary and courts to ensure that a nations laws are enforced constantly and fairly. All organs of government must be law abiding. The rule of law also is the basis for the formation of business enterprises and the establishment of a free market, which underpin economic development. Citizens or their elected representatives should be involved in all levels of lawmaking including the local government. Another characteristic of good governance is the presence of constitutional limits on the political power. Such limits include transparent, creditable, periodic elections, guarantees of Fundamental Rights, guarantees of Human Rights by a independent judiciary, which allows citizens to seek protection of their rights and redress against government actions. These limit help make government departments accountable to each other and to the people. Accountability is another characteristic that is considered globally for the eligibility when determining whether a country practices good governance. Not only should the law be enforced, but it should also be enforced fairly and without any sort of discrimination. Good governance means equal protection for all without any discrimination of sex, cast, creeds, and race. An open and easy access to judicial and administrative systems. A nations courts should not be open to only a select few. Government agencies should allow appeals of regulations as well as citizen participation in their decision-making process, and citizens should be granted access to these bodies in a timely and easy manner. Governments also have a duty to protect their citizens from criminal violence, especially the practice of trafficking of persons. Women, girls and children are most vulnerable to this illegal trade, which can only be stopped by diligent law enforcement. Respect for the Citizens rights relating to personal privacy is a far cry in a weak democracy like Bangladesh . INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH To function properly, a democratic society must ensure free exchange of information and ideas. This is best realized in the creation of a free and open media and the freedoms of speech and expression. A free and independent media provides voters with the information they need to make informed decisions. It facilitates the exchange of political discourse, creating an open place for ideas where no view is neglected and the best are chosen. Free Media can also serve as a check on government power ensuring that bureaucracy, public officials and government departments remain accountable to the voters. The medias ability to report on trade and industry and the economy is also important for preserving public trust in the free economy and for attracting domestic and foreign investment including the potential investment of the NRBs. The right of the free media to publish, to editorialize, to criticize, and to inform is a fundamental principle of democracy. INDEPENDENT ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION Good governance also means combating corruptions, and countries can not be considered having good governance, if they are corrupt. To preserve the integrity of democracy, governments must strive to rid themselves of corruptions and bribery. Corruption destroys economic foundations, impedes the ability of developing countries to attract foreign investment. Corruption hinders the growth of democratic institutions, and concentrates power in the hands of a few having money and muscle. The best way to combat corruption is for governments to be open and transparent. Official Secrecy Act must not be abused. While in certain cases governments have a responsibility to retain secrecy and confidentiality regarding national security and alike issues. Strong laws against corruption, application of such laws and the actions of law enforcement agencies that work against corruption demonstrate a governments commitment to this principle. INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE Good governance requires that governments invest in their people and work to preserve the welfare of their citizens, without regard to gender, race or religion. Governments should invest in health care, nutrition, housing, education, and poverty elevation. They should ensure an economic environment where people can find jobs and establish business enterprises. Along with other measures, a governments ability to provide job and a high standard of living for its people is considered by the democratic world in determining governmental effectiveness. The importance of the other Four Is i.e., Independent and Effective Parliament, Independent Human Rights Commission, Independent Ombudsman System, Investment Friendly Government could not be discussed here due to limitations of space which I have intention to discuss later in some other articles of mine. CONCLUSION Only practicing these components  (Nine- Is)  of good governance results in a democratic society where people can pursue their hopes and aspirations. This will facilitate the creation of free markets, which are trusted by investors and financial institutions. Good governance is a pre-condition for any economic development. Development cannot flourish where people cannot participate in governance, human rights are not respected, information does not flow, and civil society and the judiciary are weak. UNDP and the World Bank, among others, have come to realize that development assistance that focuses only on economic governance at the expense of democratic governance fails. The proof is that, 42 of the 49 high human development countries on the UN Development Index are democracies  (UNDP source). With few exceptions, all of the worlds richest countries have the worlds most democratic governance. The fundamental rights and the standard of living of Bangladeshi citizens will be enhanced through good governance. But one has to remember the rule that no good governance no democracy. Governments that govern rationally with the commitment of good governance become democratic and get support for their reform efforts from their people as well as from the democratic world. #

Essay on Internet Privacy - Carnivore is an Invasion to Privacy :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Carnivore is an Invasion to Privacy Carnivore is the FBI's latest toy. All the time we hear about how it is an invasion to privacy, and while I do agree it does have serious problems it also has some moral dilemmas. For example who is subject to Carnivore and where is it located? How much and What kind of information is the FBI interested in getting? Lets start by looking at just what exactly Carnivore is. Carnivore is an actual piece of hardware that the FBI connects to an internet backbone. According to Compnet.com; "For Carnivore to gain access to this much data, its hardware must be plugged directly into the network at a central location. Because most Internet based communications in the USA flow through large Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the FBI would typically install a Carnivore box inside an ISP data center. Controlled physical and network access improves the system's overall security." Basically from the data center of the ISP Carnivore is able to acquire any information that it chooses to, or is assigned to. Typically a search warrant is issued and the device set to acquire information about a subject. Any email, or other form of communications that the person being viewed is recorded for the FBI to view later. Any information is intercepted once the FBI is in they know all and see all. Which begs the question what if they are getting search warrants on anyone they choose? Who reports them? Who holds the people accountable for spying on people later found out to be innocent? Because Carnivore is a "BLACK BOX" project a lot of information about the project is not being released to the public and if that is not scary enough for you, the people in charge of issuing the warrants and who the FBI labels and those that need to be "Watched" is also not readily available. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Without an internal regulatory system for the FBI to control the use of carnivore it looks as though anyone anywhere can be tapped. Carnivore also has other problems too. According to cnn.com; "Specific technical concerns noted by the scientists include a lack of analysis between the Carnivore code and its host environment and operating system, inadequate discussion of the remote access provided by the use of the "PC Anywhere" program, and no evidence of a systematic search for bugs or serious errors.

Howard Robard Hughes Essays -- Biography

Howard Robard Hughes (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976), a pilot, movie producer, playboy, and one of the wealthiest people in the world during his lifetime, was well-known for his eccentricity. His eccentric behavior is theorized to have been the result of obsessive-compulsive behavior. The intent of this review is to illustrate Mr. Hughes’s abnormalities, arrive at a clinical diagnosis using all five axes of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR (DSM-IV-TR), explain his behavior from the biological theoretical perspective, and finally to arrive at a hypothetical treatment plan. Behavior: To begin, what constitutes abnormal behavior in Mr. Hughes’s case? As early as the 1930s, Hughes demonstrated signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive compulsive disorder is identified by DSM as having recurrent obsessions (persistent thoughts, ideas, impulses or images that seem to invade a person’s consciousness) or compulsions (repeated and rigid behaviors or mental acts that people feel like they must perform in order to prevent or reduce anxiety) (Cormer, 2008). Close friends reported that Hughes was obsessed with the size of peas, one of his favorite foods, and used a special fork to sort them by size. Those who interacted with him as a director comment of his obsessions. While directing a movie, Hughes became fixated on a minor flaw in an actress’s top, claiming that the fabric bunched up along a seam and gave the appearance of two nipples on each breast. He was reportedly so upset by the matter that he wrote a detailed memorandum to the crew on how to fix the problem (Hack, 2002). An executive producer who worked with Hughes wrote in his autobiography about the difficulty of dealing with the t... ...h has shown that exercise, outdoor activity and socialization lead to increased serotonin levels and overall health (Young, 2007). Although the biological treatment of drug therapy, physical therapy, and nutrition therapy will begin to produce desired results towards a cure, the prognosis for recovery from this disorder would be greatly enhanced by a combination of behavioral, cognitive, and drug therapies. Patients who receive a combination of such therapies yield greater relief from their symptoms than do singular approaches alone (Kordon et al., 2005). It is unfortunate that Mr. Hughes was not able to receive adequate help for his disorder during his lifetime. Given the aforementioned treatment plan, along with the benefit of current research, and Mr. Hughes affluence to receive the best care, his prognosis during current times would have been quite good.

Organising a Discursive Essay about Car Use Essay

An argumentative essay opens with a boldly expressed point of view and then the rest of the essay presents arguments (examples, proof or logic) to support that point of view. Normally, it refers to opposing arguments but demonstrates that these are weak or even false. (Look at this essay about zoos for an example.) A discursive essay presents both sides of the issue in a more balanced way. In the end, however, it normally reaches a conclusion; in other words, the writer states what s/he thinks. The following is an example of how a discursive essay on handguns might be structured: Introduction : The issue of handgun ownership A. Some people believe individuals should not own handguns B. Others believe ownership is an important personal right Disadvantages of handgun ownership – Both adults and children can have accidents – People can use guns for crimes Advantages of handgun ownership + People can protect themselves from intruders + People can use guns for recreational purposes (e.g. target practice at gun clubs) Conclusion (a summary & evaluation of arguments above) = Problems of accidents and crime make gun ownership difficult to accept = Gun ownership should not be allowed in the interest of a better society Your task in this assignment is to write a discursive essay about the advantages and disadvantages of car use. You will be given the various arguments both in favour of, and against, car use. Your first task will be to organise these arguments. TASK 1 Read the following notes. Identify all the points in favour of car use and mark them with the symbol à ¼ . Identify all the points against car use and mark them with the symbol à » . Not restricted by schedules as you are with public transport Comfortable (spacious, cool, radio/CD etc.) They cause air pollution (e.g. exhaust emissions contribute to global warming) Roads deface the natural landscape and destroy/disturb wildlife habitats Fast, less time-consuming than public transport Car parks take up valuable space in city centres (could be used for public gardens instead?) Fairly cheap to run? Car accidents result in many deaths and injuries Modern fuels are lead-free and getting â€Å"cleaner† Traffic jams lead to stress and â€Å"road rage† (angry drivers attacking others) Car use contributes to a faster, less natural pace of life that often results in high blood pressure and heart disease TASK 2 Now that you have sorted your points into two groups, you will be able to divide the body of your essay into two sections: advantages and disadvantages (or possibly the other way round). However, each of these two sections still needs to be divided further – into topics. Each topic will then become a paragraph in the essay. Take the advantages above and arrange them under the topic headings of â€Å"Convenient† and â€Å"Efficient†. Take the disadvantages and arrange them under the topic headings of â€Å"Bad for the environment†, â€Å"Dangerous† and â€Å"Stressful†. TASK 3 A well-made paragraph usually starts with a topic sentence. This contains the main idea or argument of the paragraph. It is followed by a few illustrations or examples that support it. In the case of your essay on car use, the topic sentences in the body of the essay will cover the points in TASK 2 (above). Write topic sentences based on each of the headings in Task 2 (i.e. â€Å"Convenient†, â€Å"Efficient† etc.). Here is an example: Cars are extremely popular because they are so convenient. Do not be satisfied with the first thing you write. Rewrite it; share it with a classmate or your teacher; aim for a more effective sentence. TASK 4 The structure of your essay is going to be as follows: Paragraph 1 (INTRODUCTION) Paragraph 2 (Convenient †¦) à ¼ Paragraph 3 (Efficient †¦) à ¼ Paragraph 4 (Bad for the environment †¦) à » Paragraph 5 (Dangerous †¦) à » Paragraph 6 (Stressful †¦) à » Paragraph 7 (CONCLUSION) Unless, of course, you decide to deal with the disadvantages first †¦ You still need to plan an introduction. Basically, this will state that there are both advantages and disadvantages to car use. However, it will sound rather weak if you simply write: â€Å"There are both advantages and disadvantages to car use†. It will make a stronger impact if you start with a bold or surprising statement, or perhaps a striking statistic. For example: We have become extremely dependent on cars: there were 580 million worldwide in 1990 and it is estimated that this figure will grow to 816 million by 2010. You can follow this with a summary of the main arguments contained in the body of the essay. You should present these in the order they will appear later. Continue this opening paragraph by adding sentences from the jumbled list below. Present them in the same order as the plan above. We have become extremely dependent on cars: there were 580 million worldwide in 1990 and it  is estimated that this figure will grow to 816 million by 2010. Thirdly, some people argue that they contribute to the frantic, unhealthy pace of modern life. On the other hand, there are powerful arguments against car use. Firstly, they damage the environment. Clearly cars are so popular because they are both convenient and efficient. Secondly, they kill and maim large numbers of people. TASK 5 Let us save the conclusion for later. (Basically, it will sum up the main arguments again and evaluate them – in other words, you will say whether you think car use should be limited or even banned.) First, you will try to write the body paragraphs – paragraphs 2-6 in the plan above. Each paragraph already has a topic sentence. The challenge now is to support it with illustrations or examples. For example (paragraph 2): Cars are extremely popular because they are so convenient. They allow us far more freedom than public transport which is often unreliable, slow or even unavailable. Given a choice between walking in the rain to join a bus queue or stepping straight into a car and driving directly to one’s destination, who would prefer the latter? Furthermore, cars are more comfortable than buses or trains since they are less cramped and have luxuries such as an air-conditioner and a sound system. Now use the points below to complete paragraphs 3-6. (Start each sentence with your topic sentence from TASK 3.) Fast, less time-consuming than public transport  Fairly cheap to run, especially if you use a small model  Modern fuels are lead-free and do not cause a lot of pollution They cause air pollution (exhaust emissions contribute to global warming and health problems such as asthma) Roads spoil the natural landscape and disturb wildlife habitats Car parks take up valuable space in cities that could otherwise be used for recreation Car accidents result in many deaths and injuries (e.g. approx. 125,000 people were killed in road crashes in the  OECD’s 29 member countries in 1999, enough to fill 300 jumbo jets) Traffic jams lead to stress and â€Å"road rage† (angry drivers attacking others) Car use contributes to a faster, less natural pace of life that often results in high blood pressure and heart disease You do not need to change the language much. However, you certainly will need to use some linking words/phrases, such as the following: For example, †¦ For instance, †¦ †¦ also †¦ In addition, †¦ Furthermore, †¦ What is more, †¦ Another argument against car use is that †¦ Another disadvantage of car use is that †¦ Similarly, †¦ TASK 6 Finally, you need a conclusion. Avoid a weak â€Å"sitting on the fence† conclusion such as this: â€Å"There are some strong points both for and against car use and it all depends on what your opinion is.† Instead you should sum up the arguments you have already covered and state whether, on balance, you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or vice-versa. It may be effective to present the arguments in reverse order this time. For example: In conclusion, car ownership has several negative effects, including stress, road accidents and destruction of the natural environment. Nevertheless, we have become very dependent on cars because of the comfort and freedom they offer. A total ban seems out of the question, but for the sake of our own health and the health of the planet, we must aim to reduce car use – for example, by improving public transport systems and introducing car pooling schemes. TASK 7 Now try a discursive essay on a different topic. You could try the one about handguns (see notes above). Other possible topics include: Computer use by children Television viewing School uniforms You may have a better idea yourself, but please check it first with your teacher. Whichever topic you choose, you will need to do some research first and then draw up an essay plan. Without a plan, you will almost certainly produce a disorganised, ineffective essay!

Attack on Pearl Harbor: Usa in World War Essay

Pearl Harbour is a lagoon harbour on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii. Most part of the harbour is a naval base for the United States Navy and it is also the headquarters of United States Pacific Fleet. It was attacked by the Japanese navy in a surprise military air strike. The attack took place in the early hours of December 7 1941 and lasted for around two hours. The following day USA declared war on Japan and thus the entry of USA in World War II. Reason for the attack â€Å"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces – with the unbounded determination of our people – we will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.† Bibliography * www.eyewitnesshistory.com * about.com * Wikipedia * www.history.com * www.worldwar2history.info * www.history.navy.mil * www.u-s-history.com * www.wtj.com ( War Times Journal ) * www.law.ou.edu * www.bbc.co.uk * education.nationalgeographic.com