Who does Shakespeare present as more civilised Ari Essays - Fiction

Who does Shakespeare present as more civilised Ariel or Caliban? By Tommaso Faulkner 7RN In this essay, I will show and describe who I think Shakespeare presents as more civilised in his play The Tempest. The tempest is a play describing how a magician called Prospero is banished from Milan by the king of the Naples and his cousins he escapes to this small island and starts a life there with his daughter and then finds two slaves one of them Caliban and the other one Ariel and they live happily till the king of the Naples and his son Ferdinand come in a galleon Prospero sets Ariel on to them and Ariel summons a massive storm to kill them, the king gets washed ashore with his advisor and Prospero's cousins, and Ferdinand the kings son gets washed ashore on the another part of the island. Both Ferdinand and the king of the Naples believing the other to be dead mourn and Ariel makes Ferdinand's life a misery by singing to him about his father at the bottom of the sea, and Caliban tries to assault Miranda (Prospero's daughter) luckily Prospero stops him. I think that Shakespeare presents Ariel as more civilised because all the times that she does something bad or good it is because of orders from Prosepero for example in act 1 scene 2 Ariel torments Ferdinand about his father's death saying that his eyes will turn to pearls, his bones to coral and he would be sung to hourly by sea nymphs. She uses beautiful language while she sings about his father's body at the bottom of the ocean for example when she says those are pearls that were his eyes' which is talking about his eyes turning into pearls. But actually the subject is about what Ferdinand's fathers body would look like at the bottom of the sea and although it was Ariel that tormented him with her beautiful voice and dreadful song it was Prospero that made her do it ;Ariel didn't want to do it she just wants to be free. I also think that Shakespeare presents Caliban as very uncivilised, for example in act 2 scene2 where he curses Prospero for the way he is treated saying that he abuses him hurting him, letting him get bitten by snakes but this is a lie. He also hopes that Prospero will get hurt. But I do not think that Prospero abuses him and I think that Prospero is treating him fairly because he is not nice to Prospero so why should Prospero be nice to him, Caliban tried to assault Miranda and has no respect. once, he took a sip from a bottle of wine and he was suddenly starting a rebellion to kill Prospero, alcohol doesn't create ideas, Caliban also thinks that the island is his and will do anything to get it back and Caliban is also a rude selfish and mad, he also has anger problems once somebody even annoys him a little bit he will attack them, then he is also dirty and desperate. He is in other words uncivilised. In the extract: act 3 scene 3 Ariel goes to the king of the Naples and Prospero's cousins to punish them for their sins against Prospero, by laying out a delicious banquet while they were starving and even though obviously it is a trap the king his advisor and Prospero's cousins move forward to take some food from the banquet once the king touches a piece the whole banquet disappears and Ariel in the form of a harpy appears cursing them, and telling them that they will die a horrible death, then she torments them with visions of crows attacking them. And the only reason that Ariel does this is because she in a way cares for her master (in a friend way) and feels bad for him being banished from his own homeland so she goes to punish them and personally I think that they deserve it. In act 3 scene 2 Caliban explains to stephano and trinculo how the island is full of beautiful music on their way to kill Prospero and take over the island. And says that when he dreams his

How to Write a Perfect Home Health Aide Resume (Examples Included)

How to Write a Perfect Home Health Aide Resume (Examples Included) with an aging population, home health aides have one of the most important (and fastests)How to Write a Perfect Occupational Therapist ResumeHow to Write a Perfect Physician Assistant Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Receptionist Resume (Examples Included)How to Create a Perfect Retail ResumeHow to Write a Perfect Sales Associate Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Social Worker Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Truck Driver Resume (With Examples)

Can You Retake AP Exams Expert Guide

Can You Retake AP Exams Expert Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Most AP tests are very challenging, and scores don't always turn out the way you imagined they would. If you're concerned that you've forfeited any chance of getting college credit, can you retake an AP exam?In this article, I'll show you how you can bounce back from a low AP score to end up with college credits and AP Scholar Awards. Can You Retake AP Exams If You Do Poorly? First off, can you retake an AP exam? The answer is yes! If you don’t do well on an AP exam, you can retake it the next time it’s offered the following May. However, you should consider this decision carefully before committing.If you score a 3 or above on an AP test, I wouldn’t recommend going for a retake unless you’re absolutely set on earning college credit for your work. Ultimately, your AP score will have minimal impact on your admission chances unless you’re applying to the most selective colleges with 1s and 2s. According to theCollege Board FAQ, "When we surveyed admission officers, more than 75 percent indicated that a low score on an AP Exam would NOT harm an applicant’s admission prospects"(emphasis mine).In other words, the grade you earn in the year-long AP class is more important than areyour AP score for admissions purposes. Retaking AP tests is expensive; it will cost you an extra $94!It's also a pretty big time commitment to take on additional studying on top of a full course load. Really think about whether it's worth it before you settle on your decision. If you still feel sure that you want to retake the exam, speak to your school’s AP Coordinator about registering.You cansign up through your school, just like you did the first time you took the test, except now your teacher won't be helping you through the process. It’s completely up to you to track down the coordinator and make arrangements to take the test. If you want to retake an AP test, you gotta shed the training wheels and ride your big-girl bike over to the guidance office. If you really want to impress them, ride a unicycle. Do Both AP Scores Show Up? Which One Counts for AP Scholar Awards? Your score report will include all your AP scores (including repeats of the same test) unless you choose to withhold or cancel scores.The difference between withholding and canceling scores is that when you cancel your score, it is permanently deleted, as if you never even took the test.There is no fee for canceling a score. Here's theScore Cancellation Formyou would need to send to the College Board. On the other hand, if you choose to withhold your AP score, it won’t be seen by colleges, but it will stay on record in case you want to send it later.It costs $10 per score to withhold scores from colleges that you originally indicated on your answer sheet.Here’s theScore Withholding Formyou’d need to send to the College Board. The deadline for both withholding and canceling AP scores for tests you took is June 15.If you miss the deadline, all your scores will be sent to the colleges you indicated on your answer sheet. If you choose to retake an AP test, only your highest score will count toward AP Scholar Awards, even if you don’t cancel or withhold your lower score.That means you don’t have to worry about your initial score ruining your chances at becoming an AP scholar if you show improvement on your second try. Never fear, you can still become a scholar with a sweet beard even if you get a low AP score the first time around. Study Tips for Retaking AP Exams Here are a few important tips to keep in mind as you prepare to retake an AP test. To be successful in improving your score, you'll need to assess your weaknesses critically and study strategically. #1: Understand Where You Went Wrong Last Time Your primary goal is to avoid repeating the mistakes you made on your first AP test.Think about why you did poorly and what you can do to prevent those pitfalls this time.Did you wait too long to start studying? Did you take unofficial practice tests that gave you an unrealistic idea of the test’s content or difficulty level? Did you rely completely on your class to carry you through the test and find your knowledge lacking?Whatever the case may be, do some reflection to figure out how you can fix these problems and redeem your score a second time around. You might consider tutoring if you think you did poorly because the subject as a whole was not your strong point or your teacher didn't do a good job of explaining the material.You could even ask one of your peers who did well on the test to give you some studying advice or tutor you on concepts you’re having trouble mastering on your own. #2: Get a High-Quality Review Book If you’re going to retake an AP test, you won’t be just finishing up a year of studying the subject in class. As a result, notes and study materials might not be as readily available to you, and it will be harder to structure your time without a teacher and class schedule to guide you. You should get a review book that covers all the concepts in the course thoroughly so that you have an easy way to study content, plan out your time, and do practice questions.Think of it as a lighter version of self-studying.Usually, Barron’s books are a good option for more in-depth surveys of AP courses. #3: Start Studying Early One of your problems the first time around might have been that you ended up waiting until the last minute to study.Cramming is a bad idea for AP testssince they cover so much information and expect you to answer questions that require high-level critical thinking. You won't do yourself any favors by skimming the surface. Start studying at least a couple of months before you take the test.Ideally, you should review concepts throughout the year so that your memory stays fresh and you have time to correct whatever issues you had with the material originally. You should also take plenty of practice tests so you can keep tabs on your performance and make sure you're improving. Be the early bird. Get out there and catch your AP worm. Summary: Can You Retake AP Exams? You can choose to retake an AP test when it’s offered again the following year.If you really need college credit or are concerned about how a low score will look on your application, you might consider this option. Assuming you retake an AP test and get a better score, that score will be the one that counts toward AP Scholar awards.You can even choose to withhold or cancel your lower score if you don’t want it to show up on your record. Taking an AP test a second time is an expensive commitment, so you should make sure you put some serious effort into studying for it.Try to learn from whatever problems you had the first time around, and avoid cramming or glossing over content areas you don’t quite understand. What's Next? Ideally, you'll get a high score on your test the first time around. To make sure that happens, read our five-step plan detailing the best way to study for AP exams. Practice tests are super important when preparing for AP exams. Learn more about where to find the best AP practice tests to use in your studying. It might be tough to take new AP classes on top of preparing for a retake. Find out how many AP classes you should take in high school and whether it's worth it to load up your schedule. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The economy in California Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The economy in California - Essay Example In the course of this assessment and analysis, various factors are considered in light of their effects and implications on the economy. These factors are divided according to their level of influence and their scope in regards to how each individual entity can deal with them (Melvin & Boyes, 122). As such, economics as a social science incorporates aspects of creation, circulation and utilization of commodities and services within an economy and the various factors that affect this cycle. For a proper and more insightful analysis of these factors, the concepts of micro and macroeconomics are introduced to deal with varying perspectives of the way in which various dynamics impact on the economy. Microeconomics often deals with aspects that are within a given economic entity’s scope, and refers to factors that the entity has control over. On the other hand, macroeconomics lays emphasis on factors that an economic entity has little or no control over, especially factors that hav e a national, transnational or global scope. An example of a factor that affects the economy on a national perspective is the inflation rate, or the level of inflation within the economy. As such, the analysis of this factor forms an insightful upshot from which the impact of macroeconomic factors can be viewed in relation to the economy. BODY: On a general platform, inflation can be described as the gradual increase in the prices of commodities and service provision within an economy over a given period. This is occasioned by the value of the currency dropping, whereby the financial might of a unit of currency drops and it is able to purchase lesser and lesser items as the level of inflation increases.... On other platforms, inflation refers to an average increase in the money circulating within an economy, as occasioned by the value of the currency dropping warranting the need for more legal tender to complete a transaction (Melvin & Boyes, 134). Inflation is caused by a number of factors, ranging from government expenditure exceeding the revenues, or the private sector causing shortfalls in output resulting in demand exceeding the supply of goods and services. Moreover, increased production costs also result in increased prices of goods thereby resulting in inflation. The measure for inflation is carried out through the price index that monitors the overall pricing of consumer goods and services over a given period. The general percentage change in price roughly implicates the inflation level within the economy. The impacts of inflation can be both positive and negative in some instances. However, its negative force is more impacting than the positive effects (McEachern, 187). There are levels of inflation, with low levels of inflation generally considered not as harmful. However, zero and high inflation are considered harmful to any economy. The major impact of inflation is that it creates a financial shortage for individuals who are surviving on a fixed income. This is occasioned by the lack of income dynamism in relation to the rate of inflation (McEachern, 222). The amount of disposable income for such individuals decreases, thereby leading to less expenditure, further enhancing the inflation rate. This results in minimized savings, as more money is used in purchases that were previously less straining on the financial muscle. However, inflation can also result in hidden tax raises especially in

Diabetes-Impaired Wound Healing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Diabetes-Impaired Wound Healing - Research Paper Example Therefore, the main objective of this study will to find the best method wound care for patients with diabetes between natural wound care and traditional wound care. Even though the two methods were known to be effective, the natural wound care as indicated in the paper is more effective in treating the condition. In future, there is need for researchers to undertake more studies and properly store the information in order to make it accessible and useful. Diabetes has emerged as a serious metabolic disease that is affecting individuals from all geographic, racial and ethnic origin. With its level at the increase globally, burden from this costly disease is felt by the developed as well as emerging economies. One of the notable countries that have high cases of diabetes is India. For example, in 2013, more than 65 million adults were affected by the disease in India. This number is projected to increase to 109 million if the government does not take major steps to curb new cases of t he disease. Some of the notable risk factors for type 2 diabetes in the case of India include positive family history of diabetes, presence of hypertension, having more than 35 years, upper body adiposity, recent weight gain, gestational diabetes and sedentary lifestyle (Ramachandran 2014). Warning signs of diabetes include unexplained weight loss, irritability, frequent fatigue, dry mouth, itching, reactive hypoglycemia, decreased vision, delayed would healing, impotence or erectile dysfunction among others (Allison et al 2014).

Euthyphro †Plato Essay Example for Free

Euthyphro – Plato Essay On his way to his trial, Socrates runs into his friend Euthyphro, there to prosecute his own father for the murder of a slave. From this state of affairs, Socrates engages Euthyphro in a dialogue that begins with questions regarding piousness and ends up unsatisfactorily attempting to come to a true answer. In the course of this discussion, definitions of concept of holiness emerge, only to be picked apart by Socrates. Ultimately, Socrates’ goal is a new definition of piety and subtle rejection of the very idea of gods, paving the way for Plato’s defense of his wrongly accused teacher. Socrates is shocked to learn that Euthyphro is prosecuting his own father. Euthyphro defends his actions, believing that it is just to do so even though his acquaintances maintain that â€Å"it is impious for a son to prosecute his father for murder† (Plato, 8). Quickly, Socrates gets to the heart of the matter. Euthyphro is positive in his belief, therefore Socrates asks him directly: â€Å"what is the pious, and what the impious? † (9). Euthyphro’s first definition of piety is simple: â€Å"the pious is to do what I am doing now, to prosecute the wrongdoer† (9). Socrates is quick to show Euthyphro that such an explanation is but an example. â€Å"I did not bid you tell me on or tow the many pious actions but that form itself that makes all pious actions pious† (10). This lies at the heart of Plato’s philosophy: that all things have an ideal form, and that one can gain knowledge of that form through examination. The argument being refined, Euthyphro delivers his second definition: â€Å"what is dear to the gods is pious, what is not is impious† (11). Socrates points out that â€Å"different gods consider different things to be just,† noting how in Greek mythology, the gods are as quarrelsome and fickle as human beings. â€Å"Try to show me a clear sign that all the gods definitely believe this action to be right,† Socrates demands (13). Euthyphro cannot, and so Socrates presses him to further refine his definition. Therefore, Euthyphro delivers his third definition: â€Å"the pious is what all the gods love, and the opposite, what all the gods hate, is the impious† (14). Socrates must quickly turn this definition on its head: â€Å"Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods? † (14). There is a circular reason here that Socrates traps Euthyphro in. By seeking to attach piety to the desires of the gods, one cannot separate the effect and cause. Does piety exist in some form, that the gods maintain and uphold, or is piety defined by the agreement of the gods? â€Å"It is not loved by those who love it because it is being loved,† Socrates asks, â€Å"but it is being loved because they love it? † (15). Now Euthyphro must admit that there is a difference between what is â€Å"god-beloved† and what is pious. Since what the gods love and piety are different ideas, Socrates puts for the connection between justice and piety. â€Å"Is then all that is just pious? † he prompts (17). Concerning piety and the gods, Socrates eventually sums Euthyphro’s beliefs as â€Å"piety would be a knowledge of how to give to, and beg from the gods† (20). In establishing this premise, Socrates is driving towards the very notion that got him indicted by Meletus: corrupting the youth and not believing in the gods. Of course, when pressed in a court, Socrates will maintain that he believes in the gods. He later states that his public career was at the behest of the gods, who challenged him to find one wiser than he. However, Socrates’ line of reasoning suggests that he does not actually believe in the gods. â€Å"What benefit do the gods derive from the gifts they receive from us? † he asks (21). Socrates is constantly pointing out to Euthyphro that piety and the notion of the gods are two separate notions. For example, when he asks: â€Å"Would you agree that when you do something pious you make some one of the gods better? † it appears that he is reducing the notion of what a god supposedly is to that of a changing and corruptible being (19). If the gods are what they are supposed to be, how can they be improved by a pious action of a mortal? It would seem only that some god-delivered idea of piety would transform the mortals, and not the other way around. Piety, then, my dear Socrates, is that which finds universal approval as a good among human beings. If we remove the gods from the equation, then piety becomes an idealized notion of goodwill between human beings. If we are to seek out a form of piety, then there cannot be infallible gods who change their minds and respond differently to different situation. Socrates: Yes, my friend, perhaps there is indeed a form of piety, as we have been seeking. However, by what measure do you define universal approval? Simple majority? Are we to vote on a common definition? If a majority of people go to war, and sanction the killing of others, is it pious to do so? If the cause is just, one must say yes. Socrates: If war can be pious, then what cannot fall under this definition? What is just and what are pious must be two different notions, as we have already discussed. Indeed you are correct, Socrates. Piety is fidelity to the truth. Perhaps if there is indeed a form of it somewhere, then we have instinctive knowledge of piety without being able to define it in human language. If Euthyphro has â€Å"no clear knowledge of piety and impiety† despite his convictions, is it possible that each one of us defines such morality on our own (22)? Perhaps, then, there is no form in the universe, and each one of grasps at straws attempting to satisfy an inner desire to make sense out of the chaos that is life. References Plato. Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo. Translated by G. M. A. Grube. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1981.

Identity in The Color of Water :: water

Identity in The Color of Water The American Dictionary defines identity as the distinct personality of an individual. Many factors make up one's identity, such as race, one's relationship with society, and religion. People seek other people who with they can identify. One must interact with others and learn from his interests and their responses to find a suitable group. The process of finding a group allows one to discover his or her own identity. Through The Color of Water, James McBride demonstrates that one perceives his identity through feedback from others as well as through his own thoughts and emotions. One aspect of identity where feedback can be given almost instantaneously is race, as it involves a person's skin color. Young children often ignore each others' races unless they are taught or given reason to do otherwise. McBride's race came to his attention at an early age. He noticed that both black people and white people stared at his white mother with her black family, letting him know that his family was different from what was considered normal and acceptable by society. Comparing skin color with his mother, he noticed that her skin was white while his was black. He became confused about his own color and uncomfortable with the fact that his mother was white. He wanted to be accepted by others, and he thought that life "would be easier if [his family was] just one color, black or white" (103). McBride became aware of his race at a younger age than most children. While he was comparing skin color with others, I was unconcerned about my race because people of similar skin colo r surrounded me. I was aware of black people, but, because most people that were around me were white, I never felt alienated because of my race. Also, my family was made up of one race, so I did not share McBride's confusion about his color. Because of his uncertainty, he was unsure of how he fit into society. By analyzing his thoughts and emotions and others' feedback, one can also discover where he fits in relation to society when he experiments with different groups of people. McBride felt that his mother's color was hindering him, so he began his "own process of running, emotionally disconnecting [himself] from her" (138). Though he was previously an outstanding student, he dropped out of school and began his search for someone with whom he could identify.

Criminal Justice Court System

Is the American criminal justice system fair to all citizens? If asked this question, many people would go both ways. Some people would say it’s fair, while others would accuse it of being unfair. There are many reasons to why it would be fair but there are also many reasons to why it would be unfair. Many people would say that the American criminal justice system is fair is for many reasons. One reason is that every single person has certain rights no matter what. These are known as Miranda rights or the Miranda warnings.Law enforcement is required to administer these rights to protect any individual who is in custody and subject to direct questioning. If these warnings aren’t read, it’s seen as a violation of the person’s Fifth Amendment rights. Some of these warnings or rights include the right to remain silent and the right to stop answering questions at any time until you talk to your attorney. This is fair because it protects people against self incr imination. Another example that shows the fairness of the American criminal justice system is the right to counsel or the right to an attorney.The sixth amendment states that in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have the right to have the assistance of counsel for his or her defense. If a defendant is not able to afford and attorney, one will be appointed to them. Another fair thing about the criminal justice system in America is the exclusionary rule. The exclusionary rule prevents law enforcement from using most evidence gathered in violation of the United Sates Constitution. It applies to evidence gained from an unreasonable search and seizure.The exclusionary rule would prevent a prosecutor from introducing at trial evidence seized during an illegal search. One more reason why people would call the American criminal justice system fair is because of the drug courts. These are courts that handle nonviolent substance abusing offenders. They are problem solving courts th at operate in which many communities work together to help nonviolent offenders find restoration in recovery and become productive citizens. While some people would call the criminal justice system fair, many people would say just the opposite.One unfair part of the criminal justice system is the death penalty. The death penalty is for the people who commit horrible crimes and are put to death because of it. It is unfair because sometimes, innocent people are convicted and put to death when they weren’t even the ones who did something wrong. The jury can only do so much and it can sometimes be wrong which is why the system needs to be careful about putting people to death. Another thing about the criminal justice system that could be seen as unfair is the plea bargain.A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a particular charge in return for something like a lesser sentence for example. It’s seen as unfair because sometimes even innocent people plead guilty because they feel like they have no way out. Another example of the criminal justice system not being fair is the right to certain lawyers. It’s true that if you cannot afford an attorney, you are appointed one but it’s not fair that the good attorney’s cost a lot of money.What if an innocent person could only afford an attorney who wasn’t very good and that person was convicted guilty? One more unfair thing of the criminal justice system is racial profiling. Racial profiling is the use of an individual’s race as of key factor in deciding whether or not to engage in enforcement. This is unfair because it could lead to unfair stereotypes or false assumptions. If someone asked me if I thought the American criminal justice system was fair, I would tell them yes.There are many unfair parts about the criminal justice system but I think that there are many more fair qualities about it. I like that everyone has similar or the same rights when being accused no matter what. I like that a certain court can help people put their lives back together instead of sending them to live with dangerous criminals. I also like that certain rules make sure law enforcement cannot violate any of the amendments. I would say the American criminal justice system is fair. Criminal Justice Court System Is the American criminal justice system fair to all citizens? If asked this question, many people would go both ways. Some people would say it’s fair, while others would accuse it of being unfair. There are many reasons to why it would be fair but there are also many reasons to why it would be unfair. Many people would say that the American criminal justice system is fair is for many reasons. One reason is that every single person has certain rights no matter what. These are known as Miranda rights or the Miranda warnings.Law enforcement is required to administer these rights to protect any individual who is in custody and subject to direct questioning. If these warnings aren’t read, it’s seen as a violation of the person’s Fifth Amendment rights. Some of these warnings or rights include the right to remain silent and the right to stop answering questions at any time until you talk to your attorney. This is fair because it protects people against self incr imination. Another example that shows the fairness of the American criminal justice system is the right to counsel or the right to an attorney.The sixth amendment states that in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have the right to have the assistance of counsel for his or her defense. If a defendant is not able to afford and attorney, one will be appointed to them. Another fair thing about the criminal justice system in America is the exclusionary rule. The exclusionary rule prevents law enforcement from using most evidence gathered in violation of the United Sates Constitution. It applies to evidence gained from an unreasonable search and seizure.The exclusionary rule would prevent a prosecutor from introducing at trial evidence seized during an illegal search. One more reason why people would call the American criminal justice system fair is because of the drug courts. These are courts that handle nonviolent substance abusing offenders. They are problem solving courts th at operate in which many communities work together to help nonviolent offenders find restoration in recovery and become productive citizens. While some people would call the criminal justice system fair, many people would say just the opposite.One unfair part of the criminal justice system is the death penalty. The death penalty is for the people who commit horrible crimes and are put to death because of it. It is unfair because sometimes, innocent people are convicted and put to death when they weren’t even the ones who did something wrong. The jury can only do so much and it can sometimes be wrong which is why the system needs to be careful about putting people to death. Another thing about the criminal justice system that could be seen as unfair is the plea bargain.A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a particular charge in return for something like a lesser sentence for example. It’s seen as unfair because sometimes even innocent people plead guilty because they feel like they have no way out. Another example of the criminal justice system not being fair is the right to certain lawyers. It’s true that if you cannot afford an attorney, you are appointed one but it’s not fair that the good attorney’s cost a lot of money.What if an innocent person could only afford an attorney who wasn’t very good and that person was convicted guilty? One more unfair thing of the criminal justice system is racial profiling. Racial profiling is the use of an individual’s race as of key factor in deciding whether or not to engage in enforcement. This is unfair because it could lead to unfair stereotypes or false assumptions. If someone asked me if I thought the American criminal justice system was fair, I would tell them yes.There are many unfair parts about the criminal justice system but I think that there are many more fair qualities about it. I like that everyone has similar or the same rights when being accused no matter what. I like that a certain court can help people put their lives back together instead of sending them to live with dangerous criminals. I also like that certain rules make sure law enforcement cannot violate any of the amendments. I would say the American criminal justice system is fair.

The Controversies in the Education System of US

Think about how much of your life is spent trying to learn all you can and make yourself better prepared for the â€Å"real world. † We start schooling at age five or six. Kindergarten is about finger paints and learning the alphabet. Before we know it, we are standing in front of our class and parents accepting a high school diploma. That is thirteen years right there. Then, if we really want to â€Å"succeed† we have to get through another 4 to 6 years of college. That is almost 20 years total in school. Are those 20 years well spent? Are we all satisfied with the education we received? The answer is â€Å"no. † It is apparent that today†s education system in the United States is not satisfying the needs of all people. One of the main controversies in the education system of the United States is the content of what is taught. Everything that is taught in school is uniform for the entire grade. However, not every individual student is uniform in what they already know and how capable they are of learning new things. Not only that, but also is each student interested in learning what everyone else is learning? Today there are many schools that have put more emphasis in teaching learning skills rather than the knowledge that is needed to move on to the next level (Hirsch 129). Some schools have gone to what is known as â€Å"core knowledge† to make sure that each and every student has the same foundation upon which to build the rest of their education. They believe that through the method of â€Å"core knowledge†, everyone can benefit together (Hirsch 129). Opposite that idea is the idea that we shouldn†t be filling a child†s mind with â€Å"miscellaneous facts†, but rather be trying to extract the knowledge that is within each person†s mind (Harris). The main argument with that opinion is that without some filling, there won†t be anything to extract from a person. One positive thing that our children are learning is the ability to think creatively and be innovative. Many Americans overlook the fact that in this country, children are able to experiment with ideas and learn to believe in themselves and in their own creativity (Ho 126). But is mere creativity enough to make up for the other shortfalls in education? Another big controversy in education is the way the children are taught. Many of the same arguments that are made regarding what is taught, can be made regarding how it is taught. Those who are naturally talented and intellectual say that filling a child†s head with various types of knowledge is not very productive, but what about those children that need that knowledge just to be at an equal level with the other students. Children who have not learned very much at home or outside of school won†t have very much to give intellectually, so the idea of teaching to draw out personal knowledge will not work. How do you fairly teach a class that will mean whether or not you will keep your job? Many teachers face this dilemma today because of the process of anonymous evaluation. Teachers who get a bad evaluation could lose their jobs because of it, thus there is an ever-growing problem of teachers giving better grades to possibly save their job. What about the grades that are given? As long as there has been a school, there have been grades given to students to show how well they are doing in school. But are grades the most effective way to show a student†s progress and more importantly, what they actually learned? Some call grading â€Å"tyrannical and indefensible† and even go as far as saying the grading system is â€Å"criminal† (Lean 131-32). Grading is probably the most scrutinized of all practices in education. It is easy to see the difference between an â€Å"A† and an â€Å"F† in a subject like math where the answer is either right or wrong. But, how do you give a grade in a subject like art where each piece is something from an individual†s own creative mind? There is no right or wrong, or good or bad. So how could anyone say that his painting is an â€Å"A†, while her sculpture is an â€Å"F†? In a case like that, grading can be seen as nothing more than personal preference. So how does grading affect students and teachers? The grades given to students not only affect the students† lives, but the teachers† lives also. For students, bad grades mean not getting into the college of their choice, and for the teachers, bad grades mean possible bad evaluations. Many people have blamed bad grades for giving a child low self-esteem, but what about those children who have excellent grades and no social lives. Don†t they have low self-esteem? Building self-esteem in students shouldn†t be a substitution for basic schooling (Moore 136). It has been argued that teachers lower their grading standards in order to raise the self-esteem of their students. Those teachers believe that a high self-esteem is necessary for a student to learn well and have a high self-esteem (Moore 136). True self-esteem does not come from a high GPA, a piece of paper called a diploma, or even a high status socially; it comes from hard work and meaningful accomplishments. Do you want children to be filled with trivial information or encouraged to think on their own and explore their own intelligence? Do you want to receive letter grades just like you or do would you rather receive evaluations on their progress? Do you think that their self-esteem should be based on their grades or something more important? These are questions we will have to answer in new millennium and as we become new parents. The education of our children is something too important to overlook.

Look Out! Its an Octopus!A Squid!The Son Of Hades! Professor Ramos Blog

Look Out! Its an Octopus!A Squid!The Son Of Hades! â€Å"How it lashes, how it thrashes, How if flashes, how it flails, How it dwarfs the greatest fishes, Even dwarfs the mighty Whales. Nothing living in the ocean Can enjoy a moment’s ease, For the Kraken has awakened at the bottom of the seas.†   (Prelutsky,1980)         Wait it can swallow a whale? Thats one big ass sea monster. It would have to be the biggest monster on the planet in order to â€Å"hunt for mighty vessels† or â€Å"choke a great leviathan with one squeeze   (Prelutsky, 1980).† The first mention of the Kraken dates all the way back to 1180. King Sverre of Norway at this time would tell tales and give warning to sailors of sea monsters that were dangerous and of these sea creatures the most dangerous of them all was the Kraken   (Gaither, 2012). This was a time when the sea was more of a mystery than it is now and there was so much unexplored and unmapped waters. Men would spend months on sea, sometimes even getting lost. With drinking water and food in low supply, and extreme weather conditions ranging from storms to extreme heat it is safe to say that a lot of the men at sea were not in their right mind. The stories and experience of these early voyages were influenced due to these factors and their perception and reality was blurred. They would come back with horror stories of various monsters and experiences that held only a small amount of reality (Salvador, 2016).          I dont know about you, but when I hear the word â€Å"kraken† immediately my mind paints an image of gigantic tentacles ripping apart a ship. The interesting part is that its never a modern day cruise ship, its always a wooden ship from a specific era in which parts of the world were still left undiscovered. Is this by coincidence? I think not. I believe the kraken has been burned into our minds as a monster from that era. Try   to imagine a kraken today. Can you picture it taking down a Carnival cruise ship? Maybe a Naval jet carrier? It’s difficult to paint these pictures because the kraken is a direct product of a time in which the sea itself was an unknown danger. In Monster Theses 1: The Monster’s Body is a Cultural Body, monster theorist Jeffrey Cohen explains that a monster’s creation is directly linked to the time and culture in which it was created. â€Å"The monster is born only at this metaphoric crossroads, as an embodiment of a certain cultural moment-of a time, a feeling a place.†(Cohen, Thesis 1) The time in which the Kraken was created was a time of uncertainty in regards to the sea. There was so much mystery about the sea, how deep it was, and most importantly what creatures, or monsters if you will, inhabit it. What makes the Kraken such a significant monster as it applies to Cohen’s first thesis, is that all of these cultural factors regarding the mystery of the sea are still just that, mysteries. Although we immediately imagine the kraken in an ancient setting, the possibilities of a current kraken are still there and left unexplored in modern films. This could possibly be because the kraken has such a strong connection to the specific cultural moment in which it was created.         Living in the deepest parts of the ocean in most description, the kraken is a product of parts of the ocean left unexplored. Modern technology has taken us all the way to the moon, however we have been unable to reach the very bottom of the ocean floor on our own planet. We have yet to find aliens in space, but we haven’t explored enough to determine if they in fact exist. This same idea applies to the sea. Do we know that the kraken is just a legend? Is it possible that there are things beyond our knowledge sleeping on the floor of the darkest and deepest parts of the ocean? We can’t answer any of these questions with full certainty. The kraken, regardless of it being a product of imagination or fact, is a warning of the unknown that lies in our own planet. Perhaps it is stories and modern variations of the kraken that have stopped us from answering the questions the ocean holds. Monster theory has taught us that a monster serves as a warning to the unkno wn and that it embodies the ideas that scare us so that we will not look any deeper into them(Cohen, 5). Perhaps we fear waking the beast that could potentially be so large as to be mistaken for a mile long piece of land. After all we were able to build technology that allows us to breath in space but we can’t figure out technology to take us to the lowest depths of the ocean floor. Or maybe we can and we don’t? The kraken’s warning of the unknown is undeniable, and if kraken could be imagined to be down there, we can only assume there are frightening hybrid creatures dwelling with it. The potential for monstrosity on our own planet spans far beyond that of space. â€Å"To modern science, the deep sea is an alien world cradling unknown life.† (Alder, 2018)   The idea of the kraken existing is not that far out as we continue to discover new forms of life in our oceans every year that were previously unrecorded. Sometimes we are even able to connect them to the ideas of the monsters in legends and myths. Although a kraken has yet to be discovered, the possibility of its existence is still there and the different imagery we have in film and television of this monster adds to our fears and anxieties.          The kraken takes on a reimagined look that strays from early descriptions we may have had in the film ‘Clash of the Titans’ where we see a sea creature hybrid that holds human-like characteristics. â€Å"Clash of The Titans† gives us a classic story of a hero, Perseus, son of the god Zeus, fighting Zeus’ brother and god of the underworld Hades. In the film, Hades is explained to have created the Kraken and uses him as a weapon in this war of gods. We receive narration throughout the film explaining just how the kraken came to be. â€Å"Zeus convinced his brother Hades, to create a beast so strong it could defeat their parents. And from his own flesh, Hades gave birth to an unspeakable horror, The Kraken.†(Clash of the Titans, 2010) I personally could not think of a monster more scary than one that is birthed from the flesh of the god of the underworld. Although most descriptions of the kraken early on can be written off as a giant squid or an octopus, the reimagining of the kraken is a mixture of various creatures. In â€Å"Clash of The Titans† we see that the kraken stands upright with a full torso, a head, a face, and arms in addition to its massive tentacles. Kraken is some sort of humanoid cephalopod hybrid in this adaptation. The combination of human-like features on a sea monster makes this monster that much more frightening because we are unable to classify it as just a giant squid or anything else. I believe they used this strategy to replace the image we may have had of the kraken and create something less predictable and more ferocious. Monster theory three shows us that a monster can not be defined by a specific class, it can be a combination of a few different species, or hold characteristics that cross the lines of all characteristics. So just to paraphrase this interpretation of the Kraken is part Hades, god of the underworld, part cephalopod, part who knows what else but definitely something evil and monstrous that has the ability to crush entire cities and craves the flesh of humans. The issue I have with this interpretation of the Kraken is that all it took to kill it was the head of Medusa. We see the Kraken stare into her eyes and begin to turn to stone even though he is a goliath of a creature. I feel like a creature so evil, born of Hades flesh, should have had a bit more of a fight and a more complex demise then just turning to stone especially since it has arms in addition to its tentacles and just towers over the city as if it were a set of legos. I would like to believe that the kraken could not be so easily defeated and for this, I give â€Å"Clash of the Titan’s† interpretation of the kraken a two out of five. One point for monster thesis nu mber three being present in its physical features, and one point for the cool, fear-inducing creation story.         Although redefining the appearance of the kraken is one way to scare an audience, another way would simply be to perfect the classic description with an addition of one unforgettable and unexpected feature and this is exactly what we got in the film â€Å"Pirates of the Caribbean.†   and this is exactly what we found . Jack Sparrow, the legendary drunk and untrustworthy pirate, finds his greatest fear in the beast that sleeps on the bottom of the ocean floor in The Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy. The other-worldly pirate Davy Jones keeps the kraken as his sleeping pet, only woken in the most extreme cases to do Jones’ bidding. Sparrow finds himself on the wrong side of the seas when he is marked with â€Å"the black spot† by Jones. The black spot enables the Kraken to find Sparrows exact location upon being woken from its slumber. Before we even get a glimpse of the kraken in the film we are threatened with the monsters capabilities and unimagin able strength. â€Å"A fearsome creature with giant tentacles that’ll suction your face clean off, and drag an entire ship down to the crushing darkness. The Kraken. They say the stench of its breath is†¦(shudders) Imagine, the last thing you know on God’s green earth is the roar of the Kraken and the reeking odor of a thousand rotting corpses. If you believe such things.† -Pirate Gibbs. (Pirates Of The Caribbean, 2016 ) The kraken clearly has a reputation in this world the film has created which is why Sparrow spends the duration of the movie dodging the Kraken and trying to come up with a way to evade the monster’s promise of a watery grave. We see a peak of the Kraken as it demolishes ships in less than a minute. It seems to park its unidentifiable body underneath Naval ships and with absolute silence we see the larger than life tentacles breech the ships sides and in an almost effortless swoop, the ship is completely submerged with no trace of the catastrophe. At this point we assume from the verbal descriptions and the tentacles that this Kraken is just a giant squid or Octopus. Although a giant squid would still be more than enough to freak me out, I am still able to classify it which takes away from this films variation fitting into monster thesis three. It is not until a monumental moment in the climax of the film where we actually see the kraken surface in full to feast on Jack Sparro w. Upon its emergence we get a glimpse at a huge mouth filled with rows upon rows of sharp and salivating teeth. This kraken is able to extend its mouth open in a way that is fitting of the earliest descriptions of the kraken in which sailors describe it as being able to open its mouth wide enough to swallow an entire vessels and whales(Salvador, 2016). At this moment in the film we immediately throw all the classifications of the kraken being a giant version of a sea creature out the window and it is here when it becomes the monster that we can no longer classify. The delayed reveal of this creature plays a trick on our minds leading us to believe we know what it is and then all of a sudden we are greeted by a monstrous reveal of the beastie, as Sparrow calls it. We begin to question our assumptions of the monster which monster theorist Jeffrey Cohen explains in the third monster thesis. â€Å"Generally: they are disturbing hybrids whose externally incoherent bodies resist attempt s to include them in any systematic structuration.† Cohen’s observation can be easily broken down as I watched the slow reveal of the Kraken. I thought I had it all figured out, its just a giant squid and then, bam, where in the hell did all those teeth come from? And how in the hell is this thing able to just swallow a ship whole? Its a freakish creature that dwells below and the fear it has struck in the characters suddenly make sense. This kraken in my opinion is the kraken of all krakens. Although we see it die in the film, it took an entire naval fleet to kill it not just some head of a snake lady. This kraken kicked ass and took names before meeting its demise. It swallowed multiple ships effortlessly, it was revealed to us in a way that kept it mysterious and surprising, and it ate the main character of the entire Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. If this kraken were to fight the kraken from â€Å"Clash of the Titans† it would clearly kick its ass, but t hen again the tiny head of snake lady was able to kick its ass so maybe thats not saying much.         The kraken is said to sleep on the bottom of the ocean floor, and maybe thats where its been all this time that it hasnt been portrayed in a present day or modern way. The few versions we have been given of this beast are enough to prove just how monsterous the kraken truly is. We are never able to understand exactly what it is as it is product of the sea in which we have left unexplored. Its physical features, although sometimes recognizable, are mutated and horrific. It has been portrayed mainly in films and stories set in an era in which it was created. In this era the world as a whole was a new place and it was easy for our minds to create monsters out of pieces of reality. We have explored the planet since then which is perhaps why the role of the kraken as a monster has gone underrepresented. If you ask me we have forgotten the most important thing that defines kraken as just that, even in todays world. The kraken is a warning of what we dont know and what we have left unexplored on our own planet. The monster possibilities under the sea are endless because of our ignorance or perhaps our fear of knowing. Fear, anxiety, and potential of unfathomable monstrosities manifests in the legend of the kraken. I believe this monster is severely underrated and severely underrepresented in todays culture. I suppose the kraken is out there sleeping on the ocean floors and we be wary of the day it wakes and confronts us with our fears that we seem to have forgotten of the unknown parts of our very own planet. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Alder, Emily. Kraken. The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters, Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, Ashgate Publishing, 1st edition, 2014. Credo Reference, https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/ashgtmonster/kraken/0?institutionId=5312. Accessed 17 Jul. 2018. This is a detailed analysis of the history of the Kraken.   The author compares the very first documented descriptions of the kraken with other newer variations of the kraken. There is also an in depth analysis of the different names the kraken has in different cultures. I will be using this source to pull various krakens to compare. I will also be using some of the cross examinations. This source is credible because it is a scholar journal found on credo. Sea Serpent. Gaithers Dictionary of Scientific Quotations, edited by Carl C. Gaither, and Alma E. Cavazos-Gaither, Springer Science+Business Media, 2nd edition, 2012. Credo Reference, https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/sprgaithers/sea_serpent/0?institutionId=5312. Accessed 29 Jul. 2018. This source summarizes early tales of the kraken and its origins. I will be using this source to understand how we created the monster. I will tie this in to monster theory centered around the monsters being a product of the era in which they were originated. Alder, Emily. Sea Monsters. The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters, Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, Ashgate Publishing, 1st edition, 2014. Credo Reference, https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/ashgtmonster/sea_monsters/0?institutionId=5312. Accessed 29 Jul. 2018. This source gives a detailed background specifically around the origin of various sea monsters. Although the kraken is not mentioned in this academic journal, the observations about the unexplored sea can be applied to my essay. I will use these observations to explain how the kraken is a product of our fears of the unknown associated with the sea. Prelutsky, Jack. â€Å"The Kraken.† 1992 https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/kraken#. Accessed 17. Jul. 2018. This is   poem written about the Kraken.   I will use this source as one of the examples of the kraken that I am examining. Although it is just a short poem it is still very descriptive in its appearance. I will also use this in my introduction. Salvador, Rodrigo Brincalepe. â€Å"The Real-Life Origins of the Legendary Kraken.† The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 4 Jan. 2016, independent.co.uk/news/science/kraken-the-real-life-origins-of-the-legendary-sea-monster-a6796241.html. This is an article that once again details the origin of the kraken however this time the reference of the actual journals is being used. I will use this to explain the fear and anxiety the kraken actually created during this time. This will help me link the kraken to the monster theory that talks about monsters being a specific product of a moment in time or era. Leterrier, Louis, director. Clash of the Titans. Warner Bros., 2010. I will be using the version of the kraken from Clash of the Titans to analyze. Bruckheimer, Jerry, et al. Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Mans Chest. Buena Vista, 2006. I will be using this version of the kraken from Pirates of the Caribbean to analyze. Cohen, J Jeffrey. â€Å"Monster Culture (Seven Thesis) Monster Theory: Reading Culture, 1996 pp. 3-20 This is the source of the monster thesis which I will be incorporating to analyze and evaluate the kraken. I will compare monster thesis 1, 3, and 5 to the kraken and explain how these theories apply to it.  

A Brief Introduction for Chinese Culture

Xia culture represented the early Chinese culture and Zhou culture contributed to the form of more than 2000 years of feudalism culture in China. The May 4th Movement of 1919 was also an important date because it symbolized that it entered into a new culture period. In the spring and autumn and warring-states period, slave society gradually turned into feudalism society and a lot of thinkers sprang up with their immortal work. Among those, Confucianism was the most successful, which helped to build up the norms and values of Chinese people in the following centuries and also was used as a method for emperors to rule the country. However, after the fall of Qing dynasty, the last feudalism dynasty, Confucianism, which was seen as the product of feudalism society lose its dominant position. But its influence still lasts until now. Besides Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism also once played an important role in ancient Chinese. Nevertheless, nowadays most of Chinese are atheists. Buddhism is the biggest religion in China with a history of about 2,000 years. Then Muslim comes the second. It is popular within minority nationalities such as Hui and Uygur. Christianism and Catholicism are also believed in by some people. However, Taoism as indigenous religion has the fewest followers. Moreover, China is a multi-national country with quiet different 56 groups, in which Han has the largest population. Every group has its own language, customs, festivals and some fixed residence. In order to solve the problems of communication between groups and facilitates management, the government standardized language through popularizing mandarin, which is mostly based on Beijing dialect. Cultural values The development of Chinese values can be divided into two phrases:the former is the traditional cultural values; the latter is modern cultural values, which is affected by the western culture since the 20th century. Confucianism is the core element in traditional values. Deeply influenced by Confucianism , Chinese people tightly adhere to the Doctrine of Mean and try to avoid conflicts. Afterwards, with time going by, Confucianism experienced improvements by combining with Taoism and Buddhism. In this period, Confucianism focused on human, for example, the relationship between human and human, human and nature and so on. Under the influence of the above factors, Chinese traditional values can be concluded into the following aspects: -believe in self struggle ‘Man’s determination can conquer the nature’ is an old Chinese saying. Chinese people believe that through their efforts they can change their life. -emphasis on the art of tolerance Tolerance is another characteristic for Chinese nation. Chinese people won’t be easily infuriated by others. They are used to avoid conflicts and keep peace. It seems to be a little cowardly . But the truth is that many great men succeed because of temporary tolerance . -follow the majority This is still a serious problem in today’s society. Conformist mentality has proved to have negative effect on building up one’s confidence and independence. People are not willing to express its own opinion to keep conformity with the majority and become passive. -respect the old Respect for the old is a Chinese traditional virtue. Not like western individual consciousness, Chinese parents think it’s their duty to look after their children and do all that they can do for them. So when children grow up, they tend to be grateful for their parents’ contribution. As a result, the old enjoy a high position in the family. Moreover, since the old experience much more than the young, young people are willing to listen to their opinions when making decision. -collectivism This means that Chinese, in general, is a collective society that strives for harmony and group belonging, whether to family, friends, work, or country. The Chinese are more willing to suppress their own feelings and needs for the good of the group. This value has been passed down the Chinese culture from folklores where martyrs sacrificed their lives for their community or country ever since the dynastical eras 5,000 years ago. The arrival of western cultural value stroke Chinese traditional culture values and helped to discard some backward or bad parts of traditional values. Moreover, it also brought something new such as freedom, charity, democracy and etc. Cultural norms -saving face and losing face ‘Fcae’ stands for one’s position in a certain social group. It’s related to honor, good reputation or respect. Consequently, loss of face is not simply a form of embarrassment. Saving face is another concept. Chinese people respect a person who is friendly and who carefully avoids hurting the feelings of others. Loud, untactful or boisterous behavior is usually regarded as very poor taste. – greeting When meeting for the first time, a handshake is the most common greeting. In order to express some special esteem, to those elderly people or government officials, a slight bow might be given. -gift When visiting a family it is appropriate to bring a small gift, such as fruits, to the host, especially around New Year’s time. Gifts should be given and received with both hands. It is also a Chinese custom when receiving a gift to thank you for it and then place it to the side without opening it. eating  ·Chopsticks and a soup spoon are common eating utensils. Food is not passed around the table, but remains in the center. The host usually chooses the food for his guests and serves it to them from the central dishes on the table.  ·Refusing to drink is sometimes thought as dishonor to the people who toast to you. -relationship (guan-xi) Guan xi is a Chinese word which means relati onship. One’s guan-xi, is an important factor in the individual’s social status. It is also an important Chinese business element. Having a right guan xi helps companies to minimize the risks, frustrations, and disappointments. Guan-xi relationship, like face behavior, is obligation between individuals for the purpose of maintenance of group integrity. -parents dominant Parents are accustomed to interfering children’s decision and sometimes just determine for them regardless of their own wishes. -look down on girls In some remote areas, the natives still prefer boys to girls. If a family has two children and they can’t afford the education fees for both of them, the boy will have more chance to go to school. Ways of communication -nonverbal communication Chinese is a high context country. Nonverbal communication is as common as verbal communication. Nonverbal communication includes facial expression, tones of voice , gestures, and eye contact. They’re quiet important in Chinese daily life and sometimes it is even more powerful than the verbal interaction. Different gestures have different meanings. Due to different cultural background, even the same gesture has different meaning for people in certain context. -avoid speaking directly Speaking directly is often considered rudeness. Try to be â€Å"diplomatic† and tactful where possible, as the Chinese may be offended by directness in some situations. For example, it is a terrible thing to be criticized in public due to the fact that harmony is highly valued in Chinese society. -conversation tips Find some common areas to talk about such as family, sports and etc. Don’t verbally attack China and be careful about criticizing things there, as many Chinese will feel personally attacked by this. Avoid political arguments, as many Chinese feel reluctant to speak or explore their true opinion about the current government. saying â€Å"Thank you† â€Å"Thank you† is said a lot less than in the West. In a lot of instances, for example when someone opens a door for you or passes the soy sauce, saying â€Å"thank you† is seen as being over polite and without meaning, and is often met with requests for you not to be so polite (over-polite). -saying â€Å"Excuse me† â€Å"Excuse me † is not used as often in China. People are expected to give way naturally to one another on the street or when walking around, without anything being said. Interrupting somebody talking or doing something else to ask a question, make a request, etc. also happens regularly without any warning or apology. -compliments Be careful when complimenting someone’s possessions or somebody because they may think it’s a kind of flattering rather than appreciation. In conclusion, Chinese culture is based on the wisdom of Confucius and quiet different from western culture in many aspects. But nowadays because of the process of globalization, Chinese people are striving to learn from mainstream culture and improve and develop their own culture. A Brief Introduction for Chinese Culture Xia culture represented the early Chinese culture and Zhou culture contributed to the form of more than 2000 years of feudalism culture in China. The May 4th Movement of 1919 was also an important date because it symbolized that it entered into a new culture period. In the spring and autumn and warring-states period, slave society gradually turned into feudalism society and a lot of thinkers sprang up with their immortal work. Among those, Confucianism was the most successful, which helped to build up the norms and values of Chinese people in the following centuries and also was used as a method for emperors to rule the country. However, after the fall of Qing dynasty, the last feudalism dynasty, Confucianism, which was seen as the product of feudalism society lose its dominant position. But its influence still lasts until now. Besides Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism also once played an important role in ancient Chinese. Nevertheless, nowadays most of Chinese are atheists. Buddhism is the biggest religion in China with a history of about 2,000 years. Then Muslim comes the second. It is popular within minority nationalities such as Hui and Uygur. Christianism and Catholicism are also believed in by some people. However, Taoism as indigenous religion has the fewest followers. Moreover, China is a multi-national country with quiet different 56 groups, in which Han has the largest population. Every group has its own language, customs, festivals and some fixed residence. In order to solve the problems of communication between groups and facilitates management, the government standardized language through popularizing mandarin, which is mostly based on Beijing dialect. Cultural values The development of Chinese values can be divided into two phrases:the former is the traditional cultural values; the latter is modern cultural values, which is affected by the western culture since the 20th century. Confucianism is the core element in traditional values. Deeply influenced by Confucianism , Chinese people tightly adhere to the Doctrine of Mean and try to avoid conflicts. Afterwards, with time going by, Confucianism experienced improvements by combining with Taoism and Buddhism. In this period, Confucianism focused on human, for example, the relationship between human and human, human and nature and so on. Under the influence of the above factors, Chinese traditional values can be concluded into the following aspects: -believe in self struggle ‘Man’s determination can conquer the nature’ is an old Chinese saying. Chinese people believe that through their efforts they can change their life. -emphasis on the art of tolerance Tolerance is another characteristic for Chinese nation. Chinese people won’t be easily infuriated by others. They are used to avoid conflicts and keep peace. It seems to be a little cowardly . But the truth is that many great men succeed because of temporary tolerance . -follow the majority This is still a serious problem in today’s society. Conformist mentality has proved to have negative effect on building up one’s confidence and independence. People are not willing to express its own opinion to keep conformity with the majority and become passive. -respect the old Respect for the old is a Chinese traditional virtue. Not like western individual consciousness, Chinese parents think it’s their duty to look after their children and do all that they can do for them. So when children grow up, they tend to be grateful for their parents’ contribution. As a result, the old enjoy a high position in the family. Moreover, since the old experience much more than the young, young people are willing to listen to their opinions when making decision. -collectivism This means that Chinese, in general, is a collective society that strives for harmony and group belonging, whether to family, friends, work, or country. The Chinese are more willing to suppress their own feelings and needs for the good of the group. This value has been passed down the Chinese culture from folklores where martyrs sacrificed their lives for their community or country ever since the dynastical eras 5,000 years ago. The arrival of western cultural value stroke Chinese traditional culture values and helped to discard some backward or bad parts of traditional values. Moreover, it also brought something new such as freedom, charity, democracy and etc. Cultural norms -saving face and losing face ‘Fcae’ stands for one’s position in a certain social group. It’s related to honor, good reputation or respect. Consequently, loss of face is not simply a form of embarrassment. Saving face is another concept. Chinese people respect a person who is friendly and who carefully avoids hurting the feelings of others. Loud, untactful or boisterous behavior is usually regarded as very poor taste. – greeting When meeting for the first time, a handshake is the most common greeting. In order to express some special esteem, to those elderly people or government officials, a slight bow might be given. -gift When visiting a family it is appropriate to bring a small gift, such as fruits, to the host, especially around New Year’s time. Gifts should be given and received with both hands. It is also a Chinese custom when receiving a gift to thank you for it and then place it to the side without opening it. eating  ·Chopsticks and a soup spoon are common eating utensils. Food is not passed around the table, but remains in the center. The host usually chooses the food for his guests and serves it to them from the central dishes on the table.  ·Refusing to drink is sometimes thought as dishonor to the people who toast to you. -relationship (guan-xi) Guan xi is a Chinese word which means relati onship. One’s guan-xi, is an important factor in the individual’s social status. It is also an important Chinese business element. Having a right guan xi helps companies to minimize the risks, frustrations, and disappointments. Guan-xi relationship, like face behavior, is obligation between individuals for the purpose of maintenance of group integrity. -parents dominant Parents are accustomed to interfering children’s decision and sometimes just determine for them regardless of their own wishes. -look down on girls In some remote areas, the natives still prefer boys to girls. If a family has two children and they can’t afford the education fees for both of them, the boy will have more chance to go to school. Ways of communication -nonverbal communication Chinese is a high context country. Nonverbal communication is as common as verbal communication. Nonverbal communication includes facial expression, tones of voice , gestures, and eye contact. They’re quiet important in Chinese daily life and sometimes it is even more powerful than the verbal interaction. Different gestures have different meanings. Due to different cultural background, even the same gesture has different meaning for people in certain context. -avoid speaking directly Speaking directly is often considered rudeness. Try to be â€Å"diplomatic† and tactful where possible, as the Chinese may be offended by directness in some situations. For example, it is a terrible thing to be criticized in public due to the fact that harmony is highly valued in Chinese society. -conversation tips Find some common areas to talk about such as family, sports and etc. Don’t verbally attack China and be careful about criticizing things there, as many Chinese will feel personally attacked by this. Avoid political arguments, as many Chinese feel reluctant to speak or explore their true opinion about the current government. saying â€Å"Thank you† â€Å"Thank you† is said a lot less than in the West. In a lot of instances, for example when someone opens a door for you or passes the soy sauce, saying â€Å"thank you† is seen as being over polite and without meaning, and is often met with requests for you not to be so polite (over-polite). -saying â€Å"Excuse me† â€Å"Excuse me † is not used as often in China. People are expected to give way naturally to one another on the street or when walking around, without anything being said. Interrupting somebody talking or doing something else to ask a question, make a request, etc. also happens regularly without any warning or apology. -compliments Be careful when complimenting someone’s possessions or somebody because they may think it’s a kind of flattering rather than appreciation. In conclusion, Chinese culture is based on the wisdom of Confucius and quiet different from western culture in many aspects. But nowadays because of the process of globalization, Chinese people are striving to learn from mainstream culture and improve and develop their own culture.

Providing Employees with Company Sponsored Fitness Memberships Essay

Providing Employees with Company Sponsored Fitness Memberships - Essay Example Introduction In an age of increased competition business organizations are looking forward towards generating overall excellence in business. The role of human resource management is very important in this regard as they form the most important asset for any organization. Organizations are trying to provide various benefits to employees in order to retain the best talents and increase the job satisfaction levels. In addition to monetary rewards and benefits, companies are also providing non material benefits like meal passes and other recreational items to the employees in order to ensure motivation among the employees. The present study would analyze the aspect of providing fitness center memberships to employees as an added benefit. The study would analyze the various advantages it can have on the employees of the organization that in turn can lead to generation of organizational excellence. The study would analyze the fitness center programs of LA fitness center that is based in U K and offers fitness center facilities to the members. In addition to this a comparison would also be made with two other competitors namely Virgin Active and David Lloyd with regards to the facilities and cost of each of these centers. Advantages of Memberships The aspect of providing fitness club memberships for employees has far reaching benefits for the organization. Some of the possible benefits for employees and the organization include reduction of insurance premium costs for the employees; generation of disability based benefits as well as reduced expenses on medical related reasons. In addition to these benefits a fitness center membership can also help in improving the physical fitness of the employees. This would help in reduced absenteeism due to lesser instances of an employee being unfit. This can also lead to generation of more productivity that can help the organization in the long run. It has also been found that sponsoring fitness schemes for employees leads to imp rovement in the morale of the employees that affects their performance at the organization which in turns affects the productivity of the employee. Certain other derived benefits of health club memberships for employees include attractiveness among the new and prospective candidates, reduced turnover rate of employees that in turn helps a company to not only get the best talents but also helps in retaining the talents of the organization that helps generate competitive advantage for the organization. Inclusion of family members in the fitness club membership can increase the satisfaction levels of employees manifold and would help the organization generate greater motivation for the employees. The effect of fitness center memberships can multiply if education and promotional programs are included as a part of the fitness program offering. Special efforts should be made to popularize these aspects especially among employees who have chronic problems such as blood pressure and diabete s as well as workers whose tasks are largely sedentary in nature. Physical fitness programs can help generate a healthy balance of mind and body