HR Management and Motivation Essay

High employee motivation is a function of many internal and external factors and can be intrinsically or extrinsically led. Many employers feel that the real objective of the supervisor or HR manager is to ensure that employees are intrinsically motivated. This is because such an employee works hard on his job because he enjoys it and wants to do it, and he may continue to do so regardless of extrinsic rewards to a certain extent (Schop, 2). I myself faced a situation recently where I had immense drive and enthusiasm to do that work and it was majorly sourced by intrinsic motivation. One of my professors was starting a community welfare club and requested students to join in as volunteers. We had to go to different organizations that worked with special people and spend time with them and do various activities. I joined in as a volunteer as well and started at a school that worked for the rehabilitation of special children. The first day was an eye opener for me. There were kids of all ages there, handicapped in some way or the other, and yet they were the sweetest and the most adorable children. Not only had I felt thankful to God for making me such a complete human being and for bestowing such blessings on me, but I also felt deeply for those children. I started visiting them twice a week and did various different activities with them for hours. Time always flew by quickly and all the children would hug and kiss me when I was leaving. After leaving that place, I always felt a strange sense of tranquility over me and great personal satisfaction. It was a great feeling to be doing something for those who are less privileged than us. The love they showed me, the thankfulness in their gestures and the smiles in the eyes was enough to take me there every other day. I started to love spending time there with those people, and started to visit them more and more regularly, taking various things with me for them. From twice a week to thrice, I started spending ten to fifteen hours a week over there. This was all because I loved going there and enjoyed every minute I spent there. The pleasure, the comfort and the satisfaction after spending time there intrinsically motivated me. Seeing my dedication, my professor made me the leader of the volunteers working there, which added to my motivation. He gave me full autonomy and freedom to decide and plan activities, shifts and rotations. I had a chance to introduce more fun activities there for the children and plan the work of volunteers, and this also added to my motivation. Encouraging leadership and responsibility opportunities serves as one of the true motivators (N. a, 3) and proves to be very encouraging for the worker. Not only this, my professor also from time to time encouraged me and complimented me on my efforts. These things added to the drive I already had because the appreciation made me feel even nicer about my work. I was then asked to expand our volunteer network and organize a proper recruitment drive from various other schools and colleges. I planned the whole process with my team and we went to different institutions and did interviews. The entire responsibility for this was on me and I this again served as a great motivation tool. I started worked harder and harder on it and gave in my full energy and dedication to this activity. My professor was highly impressed by my drive and the contributions I was making to his cause. At the annual dinner for students, he gave me a certificate of appreciation for being the most effective contributor in front of the entire student and faculty body. I felt a great moment of pride at that point and it further instilled in me the drive to work for this cause. I still volunteer for the children and our network of volunteers, which started from fifteen students, has now expanded to over a sixty students. My motivation was highly intrinsic and self instilled because of the satisfaction I got from doing something for those people. But it was also complemented and enhanced by my professor who from time to time encouraged me, and added to my drive by giving me an opportunity to exercise freedom and autonomy. The reward in the end was an extrinsic tool that also encouraged me to further pursue it with more energy and enthusiasm.

Illustration of how the Polis was the center of Athenian Life Essay

Introduction The word Polis (poh-lis) referred to the city-state, to the fortress, and to the people as a whole.   Greek city-states often grew up around forts on the hills or mountaintops for their protection. These city-states were independent states (a nation of its own) that controlled a limited amount of farmland surrounding the territory .The Greek city states were small of which the ideal size was a population of about 5,000 male citizens, who were the only people counted in official records. Of all the polis, Athens had the largest population, reaching to about 35,000 male citizens in the middle of the fifth century B.C. Because of its small size, the people (citizens) had the opportunity to interact closely with each other.   When there is no war, Athenian life revolved around the state[1]. This paper will illustrate how the polis was the center of Athenian life. The illustration will be derived from examples of the political and cultural activities of its citizens. Political Life Political Participation Like most Greek city-states, the Athenians developed political units that were centrally based on a single city (Athens). Athenians were the first people in history to lead the establishment of a government in which free citizens ruled themselves. This type of government was called â€Å"democracy† meaning â€Å"rule by the people†.[2] Previously, Athens was ruled by powerful noble officials known as archons who tended to favor the upper class of Athens but because of lower class Athenian protests, the leadership was transferred to Solon in 594 B.C. Solon was a statesman, poet and merchant who was widely regarded as wise and just. Solon made political reforms that decreased the power of the nobles. He divided Athenian citizens into four classes based on wealth, not on noble birth. This gave the merchants a voice in the government, for citizens in the three highest classes could hold public office and later all male citizens were expected to serve in the government.[3] About 510, Athens was ruled by Cleisthenes. After consulting with the Assembly he reformed the political system by dividing Athens into ten areas called demes.[4] To safeguard the new democratic government, Cleisthenes started a new practice. Once a year the Athenians voted out a person who they suspect will become a tyrant leader.   If 6,000 votes were cast against a particular person, he was forced to leave Athens for ten years. Because votes were written on a piece of broken pottery called an ostrakon, this practice became known as ostracism. Few people actually were ostracized but the custom gave citizens more power. Pericles, who ruled Athens in 460 B.C., increased the participation of Athenians in politics. He opened government jobs to all classes and government officials were paid salaries so that even poor citizens could serve as officials.   Citizens were given the freedom to criticize leading generals or statesmen without being punished. The duties of government were performed by ordinary citizens. They took care of the public buildings, kept the waterfront safe for ships, and watched over the city’s food supply. They served in the army and rowed ships in the navy. Rather than being elected, officials were chosen by lot (a process similar to having one’s name picked out of a hat). They held office for one year and could not hold the same position again. This gave every male citizen a chance to serve the community.[5] In fact, the Athenian political system of allotment made it possible for every male citizen to be liable for executive government duties. Participation in the Assembly The number of Athenian citizens was small enough for them to govern themselves in a direct democracy. There was no need to elect representatives as most modern democracies do. About forty times a year all citizens met in the Assembly (supreme-decision making body in Athens) in an open area on a hill called The Pnyx. The Assembly meetings were opened for every male citizen over the age of 18.[6] There they debated, voted all matters of domestic and foreign policy and made the laws. They themselves decided whether to sign a trade treaty, build a navy, or make peace. Although every male Athenian had the right to attend, due to limited space and other practical reasons, not all of them were able to attend every meeting. With a total male population of 30,000, the Phynx can only accommodate 6,000 of them. Nevertheless, Assembly meetings were events that most Athenians look forward to. Usually Assembly meetings were scheduled just after dawn, delayed only when citizens and presiding officials were late. It is significant to note that any citizen, whether he held a public office or nor, had the right to speak or voice his opinions before thousands of his fellow Athenians. Before or after the speech, each citizen was expected to openly show their support or disagreement for it was assumed that each Athenian citizen could think intelligently about community affairs.[7]   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. Participation in the Council (Boulà ª) The Athenian Council was composed of 500 members. These members were chosen by lot from 50 citizens of the 10 Athenian tribes.   Any male with an age over 30 had the opportunity to serve in the Council although not all are required to do so. Usually eligible males in each deme (local municipalities) would volunteer themselves and 50 of them were selected by lots to serve in the Council.   Athenian citizens are allowed to serve twice in the Council. Unlike the Assembly, the Council met everyday, except for festival days and certain other forbidden days, in the Agora. If there was an Assembly meeting, the council would meet in the afternoon for normally Assembly meetings end at noon. The Council’s primary responsibilities include the preparation of an agenda for the Assembly, drafting of bills and the supervision of the public officials.[8] The Council would give an account of its actions and activities before the Assembly (meaning before all the Athenian males) at the end of its year of service. What was interesting about the Council was that their activity was supervised daily by each different member of the Athenian tribes. In other words, through the casting of lots a new chairman was elected every day and was entrusted with the keys to the temples that kept the state funds, records and state seal. The daily change of Council leadership  Ã‚   means that the reins of the Athenian government were in the hands of a different Athenian citizen every day of the year.[9] This was a remarkable way of managing political affairs where competency and efficiency does not make one hold on to a government position. Women and slaves in Athens were excluded from government service however. But in spite of that they found other things to do in Athens like raising the family and participating in festivals. [10]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   D. Participation in the Law Courts Because of their democratic form of government, every accused Athenian were tried in the Athenian courts. Every year 6,000 mostly poor Athenian citizens were chosen by lot to serve in the jury. They were not forced to serve in this function but voluntarily put themselves forward because of the prospect of receiving salary. The Athenians were eager juries who would show up in the courts early in the morning for daily sessions. The numbers of juries needed for that day were selected with the use of a complicated allotment machine. The allotment process takes two steps, first to select the juries and second to select the court rooms where they will be assigned.   Because allotment occurs daily, there was a constant change of juror for all cases. The reason for this complicated behavior was to prevent the occurrence of bribery. There was no way of knowing in advance whether a certain juror will serve that day and if he does what case he will be assigned. As mentioned earlier the court system was run by non-professionals. There were no professionally trained judges and lawyers to rely upon. Unlike today, public prosecutions in ancient Athens were not represented by assigned district attorney to serve as prosecutor and there was no lawyer assigned for the defendant.   In private cases, both the accuse and the plaintiff defended themselves. Final decision for court cases was obtained after the jury (without discussing with each other) voted. Private prosecution only last 9  ½ hours while private ones took about only two hours. Justice was rather quick for the Athenians. [11] Cultural Life Love of Learning The Athenians love to educate themselves. There were so many things that they wanted to know and learn. That is why they produced great philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The Athenians discussed their ideas in the Agora or marketplace daily.[12] There they argue, discuss or scrutinize some new knowledge   The Athenians considered education necessary for good citizenship. Boys were enrolled in private schools or taught at home by tutors, often educated slaves. They learned reading, arithmetic, and the works of Homer and other great poets. Young men studied public speaking, geometry, astronomy and poetry and were encouraged to discuss their ideas about politics and questions of right and wrong. The Athenians were very fond of the athletics. All schools of Athens had physical education as part of their curriculum. An Athenian philosophy was that an ideal citizen is a product of exercise and morality.  Ã‚   There were many athletic events in and around Athens that the Athenians look forward to. The underlying purpose of  Ã‚   all the sacrifices of self-discipline and learning were for each Athenians to be hailed  Ã‚  Ã‚     worthy of Athens and to bring honor to its name especially by winning in the Athletic games against other Greek-states. Pre-occupation with Arts and Literature Athens was the cultural center of Greece. The Athenians believed that a man’s life was empty if he failed to use his mind and develop his talents. Because of that philosophy the Athenians made extraordinary achievements in art, literature, science and philosophy. In these fields, they set standards for later Western civilization. Because they placed high value on individual excellence, Athenian cultural heritage continue to awe and inspire modern men. Athenian poets and playwrights wrote enduring masterpieces. Poetry played an important part in expressing the Athenian view of life. Their poems vividly showed people striving to live up to standards of courage and honor. Poems were also written to honor victors in athletic games and heroes killed in battle, which of course encouraged the Athenians to refine further their talents and win victories for Athens. Plays were popular entertainment for all Athenians.   The Athenian ruler Pisistratus sponsored the first drama festivals in 534 B.C Because. Greece had a mild climate, the dramas were performed outdoors, in a large theater built into the side of a hill. The theater held as many as 20,000 people. Opening day was a public holiday. The poor were given money to buy seats, and prisoners were even released from jail to watch the performances. Many people brought food, for performances often lasted from sunrise to sunset.[13] As in some modern theaters, audiences in ancient Athens sat in half-circle around a circular area where the actors, dancers, and musicians performed. Athenian playwrights also wrote comedies that made fun of Athenian politicians, generals, philosophers and other playwrights. Also Athenian artists and architects created simple and beautiful styles that continue to serve as models. The style of Greek architectural style had been used in thousands of public buildings in the United States and Europe. Practice of Religion Athenians were firm believers of gods and goddesses which they honored in shared community rituals and festivals. Processions, music, animal sacrifice and communal dining were participated by all Athenians. Athenian arts not only express the Athenian love for what is beautiful but also to honor their gods by building shrines and temples for them around Athens. [14]An example is the pillared temples on the Acropolis, a hill in the center of Athens. The largest is the Parthenon, the temple of Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. The Parthenon seems to have grown out of the rocky hillside in the center of the city. It is simple, but perfectly proportioned, built of white marbles. It originally held a 40-foot-tall ivory and gold statue of Athena. Athenians also made statues of their gods and goddesses. These gods and goddesses were pictured in the form of beautiful human beings, for that was the way the Greeks imagined them Conclusion Athenian life revolved around the city-state (polis) of Athens. Its small size and democratic form of government had enabled the citizens to actively participate in all of its affairs and to ensure its stability.   They collectively participated in the management of the state with all male being given the opportunity to lead their communities. Their rich culture boasts of famous philosophers, beautifully designed shrines and temples and religious fervor with gods and goddesses that are as famous as Athens itself. It is clear to see that with the time and devotion that they had given to their political and cultural life within the walls of Athens, the city was an important part of their lives. Bibliography Athenian Life. Brooklyn College Classic Homepage 2008 .Retrieved February 1, 2008 from   http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/athnlife/index.htm Lang, Mabel L. The Athenian Citizen. Princeton, New Jersey: American School of Classical Studies at Athens,1960. Parker, Robert. Athenian Religion. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1997. Perry, Marvin. A History of the World. New York: Houghton-Mifflin, 1988. Stockton, David. The Classical Athenian Democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990. [1] Marvin Perry, History of the World, New York: Houghton-Mifflin, p. 69 [2] David Stockton The Classical Athenian Democracy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990), 1.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1 [3]   Marvin Perry, A History of the World ( New York: Houghton-Mifflin, 1988), 71-80. [4] David Stockton, The Classical Athenian Democracy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990), 57 [4]   Perry, 73. [6] Mabel Lang, The Athenian Citizen (New Jersey: American Classical Studies at Athens), 3-4. [7] Athenian Life, available from Brooklyn College Classic Homepage, 2008 from   http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/athnlife/index.htm [8] Mabel Lang, The Athenian Citizen (New Jersey: American Classical Studies at Athens), 10. [9] Athenian Life, available from Brooklyn College Classic Homepage, 2008 from   http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/athnlife/index.htm [10] Marvin Perry, A History of the World ( New York: Houghton-Mifflin, 1988), 75. [11]  Ã‚   Athenian Life, available from Brooklyn College Classic Homepage, 2008 from   http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/athnlife/index.htm [12]   Mabel Lang, The Athenian Citizen (New Jersey: American Classical Studies at Athens), 67. [13] Marvin Perry, A History of the World ( New York: Houghton-Mifflin, 1988), 82-86. [14] Robert Parker , Athenian Religion ( Oxford: Clarendon Press ), 67-80.

Hispanic Identity

Hispanic Identity Tammy Simpson University of Phoenix Hispanic Identity Names are very important and when discussing the differences between racial or cultural, it is very important to remain culturally sensitive. Explaining the differences between Hispanics, Latino, Chicano, and Mexican American may give you a better understand of why some people choice what they want to be called. Because people should be able to choose how he or she is called and names disempowered can have serious repercussions. Hispanic or Latino Americans are categorized as a group of people made up of distinct characteristics.Every group should be allowed to choose their own name as well. When individuals or groups are called names that we do not wish to be called they can become upset or even annoyed. Some want to be called Hispanic and others Latinos, so how do you vary or distinguish. Well Chicano is just too narrow, encompassing only members of the Mexican-American community or anyone else of Mexican herit age. The word â€Å"Chicano† was once considered derogatory when it first emerged, but later generations of Mexican-Americans have since considered it acceptable and embraced the term, at least unofficially.The Term Chicano was thought to have originated as slang that described immigrants from the Mexican revolution, but later evolved to define the uprising of Mexican American reformers. The Chicano Movement changed Mexican Americans’ lives in the United States’ economy. It was a movement that secured these people in the economy with civil rights and economic opportunity. They used tactics such as civil disobedience as an influential way to make it known that â€Å"change† was inevitable.Marches, hunger strikes, and litigation were methods that they used. Mexican Americans consist of the largest Hispanic group within the United States. Their history has covered over 400 years within America, varying in different regions. In such states as California, Texa s, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada, great portions of Mexican Americans subsist there. (â€Å"Mexican Americans,† 1997-2007) The word â€Å"Hispanic† is more worldwide then â€Å"Chicano†. Historically, areas that were conquered by the Spaniards were considered part of an area called Hispania.Countries that traced their history to Spain are considered to be Hispanic and include Mexico, Central America, and most of South America where Spanish is the prime language. Latino is extremely close in meaning to Hispanic, but is also includes other countries such as Brazil. Latino was popularized during the social movements of the 1960’s. While â€Å"Latino† may be politically and socially correct, it is still better to be ethnically aware of a person’s heritage then referring him or her to the broader term Latino.Descendants of pre Columbian populations from Latin America and most of those from parts of the United States who were part of the Spanish Colonial Empire are considered Latinos/as. However Native Americans, United States citizens who are of pre –Columbian derivation, but whose ancestors lived in areas outside what constitutes United States territory today are not considered Latinos/as. The children born in Latin American from Spaniards are considered Latinos/as, but Spaniards themselves are not (Latinos or Hispanics?A Debate About Indentity, 2003) Hispanic population today has expanded immensely over the years. The growth rate of the Hispanic community has grown faster than any other racial and ethnic group in the nation. The Hispanic community and culture has populated around the United States, and introducing new traditions and customs. Hispanics or Latinos are defined as people of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Spanish speaking cultures and if you travel to different cities in the States we will see a wide spread of Hispanic communities.For instance in New York the Puerto Rican culture is dominated , and in Miami the Cuban culture is populating the area (Cattan, 1993). Hispanic groups are known in the social economic, politics, labor force, and religion. Spanish culture has an effect on a variety of areas such as music, food and language. Learning about others culture is always good, especially when visiting other countries. Our differences are what make us fascinating and such a diverse country. Hispanics in the United States have significantly contributed to much of our society’s culture and way of life for centuries.Ranging from politics, public service, military, business, science, organized sports to even the entertainment industry, you can find their imprint everywhere if you take a closer look. It is quite a wonder as to the many historians whom have not acknowledged Hispanics’ impact on history, as they are just as woven into America’s history as any other race or nationality. Many of our folklore and achievements are given credit to them. The Unit ed States is a major representative of all immigrants of the world into the symbolic â€Å"melting pot† that we are known for today. â€Å"Contributions of,† n. d. ) The Hispanic group adds to that diversity. A survey of the community conducted last year by the Per Hispanic Center of Washington found that nearly all people from Spanish speaking backgrounds identify themselves primarily by their place of national origin (Latinos or Hispanics? A Debate About Indentity, 2003). When the Mexican Americans came to America in search of the American dream they never thought the lack of education would stop them from advancing to a higher paying job. But in the labor field Mexicans are getting fair pay.There are both positive and negative views on parts of the economy pertaining to the Hispanic culture. The more we spend has a positive effect on the economy and the employer benefits from the cut cost on labor by employing Hispanics for lower pay. There is a downside to employin g workers for lower pay is the impact on government debt. Because workers are using government programs and schools but not paying taxes it depletes government spending. Marketing and consumer behavior is becoming increasing important in the Hispanic-American culture in the United States.Cuban Americans do not have rights in and liberty and flee to the United States not as immigrants but political refugees seeking freedom. Cuban Americans had the highest rate of business ownership among Hispanic groups, with approximately one ethnic-owned enterprise for every 16 Cuban Americans (MSN, Ecarta). Cubans are generally Roman Catholics; however, it has been greatly modified to â€Å"syncretism† by large amounts of support since Catholicism’s early introduction into Cuban’s history. (â€Å"Religion in,† n. d. Mexican Americans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans and El Salvadorians are just to name a few who are a part of the Hispanic group. But each and every one of these gr oups shares a part of their Hispanic culture with one another, but they also vary in distinguished ways. Although they share the Spanish language the dialect can be different and the words pronounced the same many have different meanings, which gives them the distinctiveness within their group. Hispanic Americans, on the basis of language have a rich cultural identity (Noble, J and LaCasa, J).Being able to speak the Spanish language gives you a competitive edge in the job market. Being bilingual is imperative to the Unites States economy. The Hispanic culture is becoming more involved in the politics. I believe many Hispanics follow the Republican Party more so than Democratic. Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans prefer liberal nominees in national and state elections. Hispanic Americans cultural variety is imitated in the different groups as well as in the foundations of the individual cultures.Hispanic culture has been known to be swayed to different degrees by many customs, but t he Cuban Americans stay within the culture tradition and stern values. Hispanic families raise their children to realize the importance of values, ethics, and respect for their elders and authority. The church plays a significant role in the quality of life and the greater part of the Hispanic community is Roman Catholic. I feel that is one of the Hispanic’s group strong point is the balance of spiritually and how it important to the family way of life. Hispanics are becoming a large part of the economy in the America and its community.The Hispanic culture is as unique and special as any other, and should be treated with the correct hospitality as anyone else. From pop music to food to political campaigns and corporate marketing the Hispanic community has made very strong present in the United States. I think as the years goes by we see that the Spanish community will become the majority, instead of the minority. I’m really drawn to the Hispanic ethic group. I admire t heir traditions and how they are very family oriented. The overall Spanish culture has brought a lot of traditions and culture to add the American diversity.Although current terms such as â€Å"Latino† and â€Å"Hispanic† function both as forms of self identification and also to mark Latin American populations in the United States as recognizable civic bodies, these terms, in their current popular manifestations, not only â€Å"refer to different dimensions of collective social experience,†(Flores, 2000,p. 194) Hispanic is pragmatic, because no matter what one says Hispanics first and foremost applies to Spaniards and this can be used to refer to Latin Americans and Latinos/as only secondarily or derivatively.Not only does Hispanic imply derivatively Spanish, but in many places it is associated with negative qualities: for example laziness, lax morals, lower class, deficient education, and so on. (Garcia, 2000)References www. wisegeek. com/what-is-the-difference -between-latino-chicano-and-hispanic. htm http://webhost. bridgew. edu/lasociedadlatina/articles/latinos%20or%20hispanics. pdf http://www. encarta. msn. com/encyclopedia_761587500/mexican_americans. html http://www. opensecrets. org/pubs/cubareport/roots. asp

Critique about Authors and Their Way of Expressing Information Using Research Paper

Critique about Authors and Their Way of Expressing Information Using Surveys about Knowledgeable Consumer - Research Paper Example Some customers who have prior knowledge about a certain product or service seem to take less time when purchasing that product or service (Oliver, 2010). This prior knowledge was got from former purchases or reading about the said product or service. This research was based on consumers of strawberries. The authors had the following objectives when deciding to conduct the research; To identify who the direct strawberry customers were, To evaluate the major factors that guided consumers on making purchase decisions. To compare the intentions of consumers to the actual purchases made, To determine how effective advertising relates to the choices made by consumers, and To recommend any changes to the managers, so as to improve on their marketing programs. Methodology The survey was conducted by various companies among them; The North Carolina Department of Agriculture. The survey was conducted at eight different operations during the 1999 Spring. The companies conducting the research de cided to divide the research into two sections. One section of the survey was conducted when consumers arrived to purchase the strawberries. There are those customers who preferred to pick the strawberries themselves while others bought the already picked ones. This part of the survey was intended to highlight the purchase expectations of the customer, and their experiences when picking strawberries. The other segment of the survey was conducted when customers left the operation. The intention of this second segment of the survey was to find out the actual purchases made by the customers and what contributed to the customers purchasing what they purchased. This survey comprised of about 1647 respondents (Safley, Wohlgenant, & Suter, 1999). From the research conducted, it emerged that two third of the respondents had come to the strawberry operation before, while a third had not come to the place before. It also emerged that about two-thirds of those who opted to pick the strawberrie s before had prior knowledge concerning that.

Convenience Cookware case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Convenience Cookware - Case Study Example It is also important for the company to pre-test the products before manufacturing them for the market. In this case, the company made a blunder to manufacture a lot of products before testing them if they are suitable for the market. The company should produce a manageable batch of products at a time such that it can take proactive measures should any crisis happen. For instance, it is easy to recall defective product in small quantities than large quantities as illustrated in the case study of Convenience Cookware. The above argument goes in line with inventory management. The company should make sure that they stock current assets in the form of products on offer that can be quickly converted into cash. Basically, current assets are in form of cash and other assets that can be converted into cash or consumed during one year on the normal operating cycle of business (Chasteen, Flaherty & O’connor, 1998). The acquisition of inventory and converting it into cash should be a short period hence the current assets should not be overstocked as illustrated in the case study given above. Overstocking inventory is always problematic in that it may not be sold out during the anticipated period which can negatively impact on the return on sales to the company. The other change that can be made by the company is to use Public Relations (PR) in its operations especially in times of crises such as the one revealed in the case study. Basically, PR refers to sustained effort to create and maintain goodwill between the organization and its publics (Flippo, 1961). This discipline can also be used for crisis management so as to try to create a positive image of the organization. During times of crises, PR can be used to present the firm in a positive way which can help to rebuild confidence in the consumers. It is important for the company to carry out research about the causes of such problems in the future. This will be followed by an

FNB Lunch Evaluation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

FNB Lunch Evaluation - Assignment Example I would say that the greeting of guests met expectations. I say this because the staff certainly did their job in making everyone feel welcome, but they did not go above and beyond that which was expected. In addition, I did feel as if much of the greeting activity was much too rehearsed. It seems to me that guests should feel truly valued and that the staff sincerely appreciates their presence. This can be accomplished by more individualized greetings, rather than memorized and rehearsed innuendos. The individual that greeting me certainly smiled and had a happy demeanor, but not much eye contact was maintained. That being said, I certainly cannot flaw their performance as I certainly felt welcome and well received, just not enough to warrant a score of ‘exceeding expectations’. When considering the seating of guests, I would certainly comment that this activity exuded expectations. While the process was also a bit rehearsed, that is exactly what it should have been like in this situation. Servers walked each guest to their table, pulled customer chairs out in a respectable manner, and allowed the guess to be comfortably seated before presenting them with a menu. Once each guest, myself certainly included, had the menu then the server informed everyone of what the next step in the process should be. Since all of the steps were expected of them according to the rubric, I would certainly comment that the seating of guests exceeded expectations. After getting settled and having had a moment to hear the process for ordering, a service person asked for our drink orders. For this category, I would have to give the rating of ‘approaching expectations’ as only 2 of the 4 suggested activities was completed during this stage of the ordering process. While there were no children at the table, the server did ask the ladies what drinks they wanted first. They also effectively utilized a pivot point.

Windows Server Deployment Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Windows Server Deployment Proposal - Assignment Example In addition, it also proposes a File and Sharing system that is suitable for a firm that is growing such as Worldwide Inc. The Windows Server 2012 is characterized by a wide range of new features ranging from much improved storage, wider chances for networking and more remote access. Moreover, it is characterized by a server administration characteristics all of which come together to significantly enhance on the functionality of this operating system. Many of these features especially in the area of storage could be of distinct help to Worldwide Inc especially because it deals with advertising that requires a great deal of storage (Tulloch, 2014). Throughout the server’s infrastructure, Window’s Server 2012 with Hyper V will be used and will be secured using a secure tunnel since it will provide support for the work done at Worldwide Inc. Moreover, Hyper-V will present the chance for the company to take full advantage of the servers it already has while at the same time enabling it to take full advantage of the new technology on the hardware for virtualization (Tulloch, 2014). Considering the fact that when making the decision to design and select the system specifications for a new solution of a server, it is important to consider that even the most optimal requirements for the system from Microsoft might not be requisite. In this regard, an assessment of the specifications of the planned server role while at the same time taking the load during the time that the deployment will be carried out since this will also take the growth of the firm into consideration (Finn et al, 2013). The table below shows the requi rements for deployment of Windows 2012. There are only two editions available within Windows server 2012; Standard and Datacenter with each of the editions supporting a Server Core version. It is recommended that a new installation be carried out as opposed to upgrading on the company’s already existing server. Installing a new

Nixon and the Fabled Silent Majority Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nixon and the Fabled Silent Majority - Essay Example Mason argues that Nixon, "[...] owed his election to the votes of a minority rallied in opposition to the mistakes of the Democrats rather than in support of his promise" (37). The myth of the silent majority would pervade history and haunt Nixon in the coming years of his presidency. The search for a majority would permeate the White House debate during the Nixon presidency. Patrick Buchanan, a conservative Nixon speechwriter, "[...] had a burning interest in the identification of a new majority and regularly wrote political analyses for Nixon with speculation about how to win this electoral goal" (Mason 39). However, Nixon rarely ventured outside his small group of inner circle advisors for political advice and most of his ideas were generated by a relatively small number of close aides (Mason 40). Nixon was also politically isolated by the reality of both houses of Congress being in the hands of the opposition. He attempted to reduce the tension between the houses of Congress and his administration by appointing Bryce Harlow as congressional-relations chief. Though this seemed to demonstrate Nixon's desire to develop a closer relationship with a broader base, it was met with some hostility from the Democrats. Nixon would blame the obstructionist Democrats for the administration's failures but Mason observes that "[...] the failure was more significantly linked with Nixon's personal shortcomings" (40). Nixon had included few experienced political people in his administration and most Congressmen dismissed his aides as newly arrived novices. Nixon's career had likewise been short of national legislation experience. Mason argues that "Especially at a time of divided government, these shortcomings had very significant implications" (40). Nixon had neither a majority nor a mechani sm to gain one. Rather than cultivating majority support in Congress or the public, Nixon became self-obsessed with his own image. He discounted the importance of the legislature and believed, as he used to say, "The President is the government" (qtd. in Mason 41). This would further alienate even Republican members of Congress. Rather than having a silent majority, he was creating a non-existent myth of support that did not exist. New Yorker writer Pete Hamill noticed the first rumblings of a 'silent majority' in 1969. He wrote, "The working-class white man, is actually in revolt against taxes, joyless work, the double standards and short memories of professional politicians, hypocrisy and what he considers the debasement of the American dream" (qtd. in Mason 46). These feelings resonated racist attitudes among those that felt they were too wealthy for welfare and too poor to be mainstream America. This group of white, working, poor would become the base of George Wallace's campaign. Nixon attempted to captivate this audience as his own by sending a softer message that speechwriter Tom Huston called, "[...] a rhetoric which communicates concern for the legitimate claims of this class, yet avoids any incitement to the baser instincts of man afraid" (qtd. in Mason 47). There may have been a substantial silent Republican constituency, but it was not Nixon's and it was not a majority. Nixon's tactic of using racial divide to generate electoral popularity has been called "disturbing" (Mason 49). His other efforts at capturing the electorate that spread to the issues of law and

Two Learning Theories Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Two Learning Theories - Assignment Example Two of these theories are the behaviorist theory and the humanist theory. Behaviorist theory view learning as the product of the stimulus conditions (S) and the responses (R) after the exposure to the stimulus. Due to the relationship between the stimulus and the responses, it is most often referred to as the S-R Model of Learning (Bastable, 2008, p. 54). Proponents of the behaviorist theory believe that behavior can be learned or unlearned by modifying the stimulus in the environment or the responses to the stimulus. This type of learning acquires learning through practical application, requiring less thinking and emotional affectations. Behaviorist theory created a significant impact on education and behavior change through classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning was identified by Ivan Pavlov and sometimes referred to as the Pavlovian conditioning or respondent conditioning (Butts& Rich, 2011, p. 207). In classical conditoining, there is an introduct ion of a neutral stimulus to the unconditioned stimulus and unconditioned response. The neutral stimulus has no connection with the unconditioned stimulus and response. ... 210). On the other hand, humanistic learning theory focuses on the person and emphasized the importance of feelings over thoughts(Butts& Rich, 2011, p. 229). Learning takes place when people are given the chance to express their feelings, making them an active participant in the learning process. The concept of hierarchy of needs by Abraham Maslow has strengthened the humanistic theory as well as the construct of self-concept by Rogers which identified individual need for unconditional positive self-regard (Butts& Rich, 2011, p. 230). Humanistic theory’smain advantage over other learning theories is its holistic approach and openness in education and health care field. Learning Theories and Nursing Practice Learning theories is crucial to nursing practice. Evidences of interconnection are found between patients and families who wanted to acquire information on how to adjust to a particular medical condition, in students getting hold of information and skills needed to become a nurse, or in health care professionals designing effective teaching plan for patients. All of these demonstrate relationship of learning theories with the nursing practice. Learning theories serve as frameworks for health care professionals on planning learning outcomes.The construction of different learning theories enables the health professionals to understand how the introduction of knowledge can affect an individual’s feeling, thoughts, and behavior. Learning theories were also linked to the health counseling, work organization, and hospital’s management, marketing, and advertising (Bastable, 2008, p. 73). Nurses are often the professionals involved in health education of patients. That is why they always

Ordovician Life in Ohio Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Ordovician Life in Ohio - Research Paper Example This essay functions to consider the Ordovician sea life in the state of Ohio. In developing this examination it presents a brief investigation into the geological and general scientific elements related to the Ordovician period and then investigates the sea life that existed during this time. Ordovician Background The Ordovician period is a categorical definition of a period in geologic history. It roughly covers the time between 488 and 443 million years ago and falls within the Paleozoic Era. The period itself was named after a Celtic tribe of the Ordovices and gained its definition in the 19th century. The period itself is recognized as starting during the Cambrian-Ordovician extinction events. In total, the period lasted for approximately 44.6 million years and concluded with the onset of the Ordovician-Silurian extinction event, which distinguishes nearly 60% of marine genera (Moore, Teichert 1978). These dates and distinguishing elements represent slight estimations, as they s hift occasionally with the discovery of new radiometric patterns; the exact time period differs as sources disagree over various data elements. Within the Ordovician period, there are a great many subdivisions, as distinguished by the years in which they occurred. One of the primary concerns of this era is in relation to paleogeography. Paleogeography indicates that during this period sea levels were generally high (Moore and Teichert 1978). Indeed, it’s been noted that the Ordovician period witnessed the As one later considers the Ordovician period in terms of the state of Ohio they will recognize that sea level and continent positioning was drastically different. During this period the southern area continents were part of one whole referred to as Gondwana. In addition to Gondwana there was also the continent of Baltica and Siberia, both which are now parts of present-day northern Europe, but at the time separate entities. In terms of the state of Ohio, the North American c ontent was linked and referred to as Laurentia. There was tremendous geological change during this period, with underwater volcanoes emerging that would go on to form the Appalachian mountain range. Ordovician Life Abundant life emerged during the Cambrian period, and this life carried over to the proceeding Ordovician period. This life evolved and divided into new species many of which existed throughout what would later become the Ohio region. While fossilized sea life has been discovered throughout Ohio, perhaps the most prominent discoveries have come in the southwestern region of the state. It has even jokingly been noted that if one were to remove all of the Ordovician rocks from the Cincinnati area, then the state would once again fall below sea level. While there are a variety of sea life fossils that have been discovered in Ohio, scientists have identified a number as the most prominent. One of the most prominent such sea life fossils in Ohio are bryozoans. It’s been indicated that these animals, â€Å"lived in branching, tree-like colonies or flattened, encrusting masses on shells of other invertebrates. In some areas, bryozoans litter the outcrop. Brachiopods are no less spectacularly abundant than bryozoans and are a favorite of the beginning collector.

Data Warehousing and Mining Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Data Warehousing and Mining - Essay Example This paper will discuss the concept of data mining in detail. This paper will discuss the main aspects, techniques and algorithms of data mining. This paper will also assess the market applications of data mining. DATA MINING Data mining is a technique which is used to evaluate business or corporate data from a target source and after that turn that data into valuable and useful information. This corporate information is normally employed to facilitate a business to raise profits, reduce cut expenditure in specific business areas. Moreover, the main purpose of data mining applications is to recognize and take-out similar business configuration enclosed in a given set of corporate data (Bradford, 2011). IMPORTANT DATA MINING TECHNIQUES This section outlines some of the prime and important data mining techniques. Some of the main techniques are presented below: Neural Networks/Pattern Recognition Neural Networks are utilized in a blackbox style. In this technique, an individual produce s a set of data for testing purpose, which allows the neural network to find out patterns based on the identified results, then for these data permits the neural network imprecise on massive amounts of data provided. ... Memory Based Reasoning This technique can offer same results which can be achieved from neural network however the working of this technique is different from neural networks. In addition, the memory based reasoning searches for "closely related" type of data, rather than considering similar working patterns (Chicago Business Intelligence Group, 2011) and (Han & Kamber, 2006). Cluster Detection This is a standard technique of data mining which is used to assess the relationship between market and business transaction data because it discovers associations from data patterns. Mainly, this method discovers associations in clients or product or anywhere we desire to discover interaction in data (Chicago Business Intelligence Group, 2011) and (Han & Kamber, 2006). Link Analysis This is another method for relating similar business records. However, this method is not utilized extensively; on the other hand, a number of methods and software applications have been built on the basis of this technique. Since its name states, this technique attempts to discover associations, either in dealings, various products, consumers, etc. as well as reveals those associations (Chicago Business Intelligence Group, 2011) and (Han & Kamber, 2006). Visualization This method of data mining facilitates the users to recognize their data. In this scenario, visualization is used to create the association from text established to visual/graphical arrangement. In addition, various other techniques such as rule, decision tree, pattern visualization and cluster facilitate users to observe data associations rather than reading the associations. Moreover, a lot of powerful data mining systems have taken effective actions for enhancing their

How Enzymes Work in the Home and in Industry Essay Essay Example for Free

How Enzymes Work in the Home and in Industry Essay Essay This essay aims to explore the ways on how enzymes are used in home and in industry, and it aims to explain the advantages and disadvantages of using enzymes in the home and industry. An enzyme is a protein that is formed by the body that acts as a catalyst to cause a certain desired reaction. Enzymes are very specific. Each enzyme is designed to initiate a specific response with a specific result. Firstly, the AQA Science Biology textbook published in 2011 by Nelson Thornes Ltd suggests on page 172 that â€Å"in the past, people boiled and scrubbed their clothes to get them clean – by hand! Now we have washing machines and enzymes ready and waiting to digest the stains. † This is telling us how people now use enzymes at home and it is much easier from the past. This is an example of how enzymes are used in homes. Enzymes are used to get rid of the stains that are on the clothes in washing machines. Enzymes are used to break down proteins and fats that are in the stains. This is evident in the same textbook on the same page number mentioned above when it says, â€Å"many people use biological detergents to remove stains such as grass, sweat and food from their clothes. Biological washing powders contain proteases and lipases.† Proteases and lipases are those enzymes that are used to break down the proteins and fats that are in the stains. In addition, it is better to use biological detergents instead of non-biological detergents at lower temperatures because that is when the enzymes work at their best, if the water is too hot then they are denatured and this also means that you use less electricity. The edited book version called ‘Enzymes in Industry’ written by Dr Wolfgang Aehle published in 2007 suggests that â€Å"in the food industry enzymes are used to improve dairy products like cheese or to supply us with breads that have the right crumb structure and give us the right mouth feel while eating.† This is showing how and why enzymes are used in industry. They are used to improve dairy products or to supply with breads that are good enough for us. Protease enzymes are used to make baby foods. In the book ‘Chemistry at a glance’ published by Roger Owen and Sue King it says on page 116 â€Å"proteins in baby foods may be pre-digested by proteases (enzymes which digest proteins). Babies are not very good at digesting the food when they first begin to eat solid foods. By using protease enzymes in the food, makes it easier for a baby’s digestive system to cope with it and then the babies can also get the amino acids that need from their food more easily. There are more enzymes used in industry like carbohydrases to convert starch into sugar (glucose syrup). There are many advantages and disadvantages of using enzymes. Enzymes can be good to use. In the AQA Science Biology textbook published in 2011 by Nelson Thornes Ltd suggests on page 173 that â€Å"in industrial processes, many o the reactions need high temperatures and pressures to make them go fast enough to produce the products needed. This needs expensive equipment and requires a lot of energy.† The good thing is that by using enzymes it would solve industrial problems like these. On the same page, it says the enzymes â€Å"catalyze at relatively low temperatures and normal pressures. This is why the enzyme-based processes are cheap to run. This is an advantage showing that by using enzymes it is cheaper and easier. There are also disadvantages of using enzymes. This is evident in the same book on the same page as it mentions, â€Å"one problem with enzymes is that they are denatured at high temperatures, so the temperature must be kept down†. This shows that by using enzymes they can be denatured so you would have to be careful and keep an eye on the temperature. In addition, the pH needs to be controlled and it costs money to control these conditions which means it is bad. You would have to pay to control theses conditions and if you do not then the enzymes would denature which is not good. The original BBC Bitesize GCSE website in the science section suggests that there are many enzymes, which are expensive to produce. This is evident on the website as it says, â€Å"In industry, enzymes allow reactions that normally need expensive, energy-demanding equipment to happen at normal temperatures and pressures. On the other hand, most enzymes are denatured at high temperatures.† This shows that many enzymes are quite expensive to produce and this is a disadvantage of using enzymes. In conclusion, enzymes are used in many places like homes and in the industry because they can be good in ways such as using them in baby food, which would help the digestive system of babies. However, there are also some disadvantages of using enzymes for example some enzymes can be very expensive to produce. I believe that enzymes should be used in some places and should not in others, this way I think that there would not be trouble caused.

Analysis of the Harlem Renaissance

Analysis of the Harlem Renaissance The movement raised significant issues affecting the lives of African Americans through a variety of literature, art, music, drama, painting, sculpture, movies, and protests. The outburst of creativity among black writers of this period was the productof the many moods and circumstances of the time. Therefore, the Harlem Renaissance was more than a literary movement; it was anexciting cultural expression of racial experience which extendedinto every area of black life. The significance of this movement to African American literary art lies in the efforts of its writers to praise the legacy of African Americans and to use their unique culture as a means toward re-defining African American literary expression Harlem Renaissance was the era when African-Americans for the first time had a real reason to experience pride and rejoice in their identity. In Harlem they found something that was uniquely their own. African-American literature, art, music, and beliefs were respected, appreciated and recognized on a national level. African-Americans were first time regarded as intellectuals before Harlem renaissance Afro Americans were generally considered a stereotype from the outside. This stereotype was an individual servile, unqualified, unskillful and with little potential other than as a laborer. After many years of suffering through imprisonment and domination by the White man, African Americans began to come together to express their strong beliefs of racial pride and self-identity. This movement increased self confidence of Afro Americans and made them feel proud and happy. For the first time, all publishers and critics took Afro American literature seriously and Africans Americans started to work with white people. The Harlem Renaissance was a turning point in African American literature; it was no longer read mainly by black people, but started to be absorbed into the whole American culture. Due to all reasons mentioned above Harlem Renaissance stands as one of the most celebrated movements in African-American culture and American history. It is known as the golden period of African American art and literature. The purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was for African Americans to express their need for racial equality. Civil Rights activists such as W.E.B. Du Bois, who helped to establish the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), decided that instead of using direct political means to achieve their goals of racial equality, that they would employ artists and writers of their culture to achieve their goals. During the Harlem renaissance there was an outburst of artistic creation in all fields including visual arts, literature and poetry, music and dance that both represented and gave voice to the afro American thoughts. Even Newspapers and magazines such as The Messenger, Crisis, and Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, were also highly important because they exposed the evils of discrimination. African Americans looked to these pieces of literature for leadership and direction. The main goal of the writers of the Harlem Renaissance was to show the Negro as a talented individual, worthy of the same respect given to white Americans. Writers such as Claude McKay and Langston Hughes not only changed the way Negros have been portrayed in theaters throughout history but also blazed the path for the future generations to follow. The Harlem Renaissance was a transitional time when poetry changed a state of African-Americans to outstanding heights. It was one of the most vital expressive vehicles used for the promotion and celebration of African American history, culture and political awareness. The presence of many lower and middle-class blacks in theNorthern ghettoes who could buy books and magazines and go totheaters and clubs provided the financial backing to support thecreative blacks who contributed to the Harlem Renaissance. One of the chief poets who emerged from the period was Langston Hughes. He was born in 1920 in Joplin, Missouri and spent most his youth in the American Midwest. He first came to New York in 1921 to attend Columbia University. A year later he shipped out as a salesman and cook’s helper on a tramp steamer to Africa and Europe. He lived and worked in Paris and Italy and then returned to the United States, where he took a job as a busboy in a Washington DC, hotel. There in 1925, he was discovered by the poet Vachel Lindsay, who praised Hughes’s poems and advised him to devote himself to literature. His first books, The Weary Blues (1926) and Fine Clothes to the Jew (1927) won poetry prizes and brought him wide acclaim. Unlike many of his peers who were turning inward for poetic expression. Hughes explored the expressive validity of black vernacular in urban and rural black lifestyle. His dynamic and insightful representation of African-Americans touches the souls of many. His poetry paints a picture of the complications faced by African-Americans with a mixture of music, culture, happiness and environmental struggles. Langston Hughes lived ina society that was completely dominated by White men. Heremembers the company of his grandmother, â€Å"She†¦held mein her lap and told†¦stories about people who wanted to makethe Negroes free†¦.† (Emanuel19). Thus, not only social atmospherebut his family experiences have also made him touse poetry as a weapon by which he could give an effectiveexpression to cultural and ethnic qualities of his black race inorder to shape a society. â€Å"He has asserted his voice of selfacceptance†(Berry 87). For the first time, there has been aman on the literary scene to glorify his â€Å"Blackness† and not tofeel ashamed of his being Black. Hughes is most famous for his poetry but he contributed to numerous forms of literature and nonfiction throughout his long career.His first novelNot Without Laughter appeared in 1930. Hughes had a wide range of talent. He was a successful humorist and a historian of the lives of blacks. He wrote proudly and sanguinely about the African American conditions. His most famous fictional character is Jesse B. Semple, nicknamed Simple, who uses humor to protest and satirize the existing injustices. Apart from poems and novels he also wrote short stories, children’s books, song lyrics and operas. He translated foreign writers and wrote numerous plays, three of which were produced on Broadway. Langston Hughes in his essay The Negro Artist and The Racial Mountain (1926), expressed the new rebellious mood of the Renaissance writers: Let the blare of Negro jazz bands and the bellowing voice of Bessie Smith singing Blues penetrate the closed ears of the colored near-intellectuals until they listen and perhaps understand. Let Paul Robeson singing Water Boy, and Rudolph Fisher writing about the streets of Harlem, and Jean Toomer holding the heart of Georgia in his hands, and Aaron Douglas drawing strange black fantasies cause the smug Negro middle class to turn from their white, respectable, ordinary books and papers to catch a glimmer of his own beauty.(Ervin 48) Much of his best writing was journalistic. In 1937 he served as a foreign correspondent covering the Spanish Civil war for the Baltimore,Afro American news –paper. His most popular works were news paper sketches written for the Chicago Defender in the 1940s .The sketches recounted the adventures opinions of an innocent downtrodden Negro, â€Å"Simple,† whose penetrating views of blacks and whites provided Hughes with the means for making broad satirical and critical commentary on society and government. Hughes was a worldly cosmopolite who lived an almost nomadic life. He traveled to Mexico, Cuba, and the Caribbean, to Africa, Western Europe, The SovietUnion, China and Japan. But he was most influenced by his American experience, by his black heritage, and by the vivid life of New York’s city and Harlem, with its blues and jazz music that so influenced the structure and rhythm of such poems as â€Å"The Weary Blues†. He was the first black American to support himself as a professional writer. In all, he produced more than sixty books. He was also one of the first American writers to receive extended and serious critical attention for realistic portrayals of black Americans. Through his poetry, fiction, and essays, he became one of the dominant voices speaking out for the significance of black culture at the core of life in the twentieth –century America. In the Twenty-first century his work still proclaims, â€Å"I, too, am America.† He created a new literary art form called jazz poetry.He was perhaps the most original of African American poets in the breadth and variety of his work and assuredly the most representative of African American writers. He believes in the ideals of liberty,equality and universal brotherhood. His creative oeuvrereflects that how he constantly struggled for the dignity andequal rights of African Americans. Claude McKay, from Jamaica, was another most influencing poet of the Harlem Renaissance. He was born on September 15, 1890 in, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica, and West Indies. Youngest of eleven children he was sent to live with his oldest brother at an early age so that he could be given the best education. McKay was an avid reader who began to write poetry at the age of ten. Much of his writings are a reflection of that shock he felt about American racism. With the publication of two volumes of poetry, Spring in New Hampshire (1920) and Harlem Shadows (1922), McKay emerged as the most militant voice of the Harlem Renaissance. His poetry gained a lasting admiration among African-Americans during the Harlem Renaissance and addressed social and political concerns. McKay wrote three novels: Home to Harlem (1928), a best-seller which won the Harmon Gold Award for Literature, Banjo (1929), and Banana Bottom (1933). He also authored a collection of short stories, Gingertown (1932), and two autobiographical books, A Long Way from Home (1937) and Harlem: Negro Metropolis (1940). His book of poetry, Harlem Shadows (1922) was among the first books published during the Harlem Renaissance. His book of collected poems, Selected Poems (1953), was published posthumously. Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen identified McKay as a chief inspiring force, even though he did not put pen to paper for modern verse. His poem â€Å"If We Must Die earned excellent remarks for him from fellow writers such as James Weldon Johnson and Walter White. Lines from his poem, If We Must Die, indicate the spirit of protest: If we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accursed lot. If we must die, O let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!

Health Essays Childhood Obesity Overweight

Health Essays Childhood Obesity Overweight Childhood Obesity Overweight Introduction Childhood obesity in the United States is proving to be a topic of major concern. Throughout the past decades, this issue has been overlooked and simply unattended to. Other health issues such as second-hand smoke and cancer have indeed been the more popular topics addressed. However, people are starting to notice a change in the leaders of tomorrow. Quite frankly, these children are becoming extremely unhealthy and overweight. In the past, it was out of the ordinary to see a child that was obese. However, overweight children in the United States are actually starting to become a norm (Koplan, Liverman Kraak, 2005). This is where the problem begins to unfold. Parents are becoming increasingly concerned about their children’s health due to the fact that obesity hinders a wide range of factors. Imagine a child that cannot participate in any extracurricular activities such as baseball, soccer, or basketball due to his or her weight. Then, try to explain to that child that due to being overweight, he or she might have an increased chance of heart disease, strokes, and high blood pressure (Vessey MacKenzie, 2000). Above all, imagine being a child and learning that one of their peers has just died due to the fact that he or she was obese. One must begin to realize that the lives of children in the United States are at stake. Science in the past has told the public that each generation is living longer than its precedent. The tide has turned sadly enough as scientists are predicting that this verity is now untrue (Kimm Obarzanek, 2002). With that being said, if lives are beginning to shorten, one might conclude that it is now time to take some action. In an attempt to explore the idea of childhood obesity one must result to an interdisciplinary analysis. The topic involves a wide range of disciplines such as biology, sociology, psychology, and business, which should all be taken into consideration to avoid an oversimplification. There is not one single discipline that can fully address the entire scope of childhood obesity (Repko, 2005). By narrowing down the research, a large amount of data will be looked at using numerous perspectives to try to avoid a biased outcome. The extent of obesity in children is an extremely multifaceted topic and desperately needs to be approached this way to fully grasp and comprehend the issue. Also, for a complete understanding and resolution to be formulated, every discipline needed to investigate the issue must be used. Childhood obesity contains a vast range of disciplines to help in its characterization. With that being said, these disciplines tend to all be interlocked with one another. Looking at childhood obesity through the discipline of biology for instance would constantly be leading the researcher to a psychological standpoint every time a page is turned. Simply ignoring certain disciplines would be an extreme mistake in trying to come to a conclusive solution of the issue addressed and would most likely lead to a biased opinion. Disciplines The following is a compilation of all the disciplines used along with each of their contributions in the process of addressing the issue of childhood obesity. There is indeed a vast range of disciplines that are included. Chemistry, economics, law, and history all bring important insights to the table when addressing childhood obesity. Chemistry will look at various experimental data to try to assess the various structures of fats and sugars that are involved in a child’s diet. Economics could be used to try to understand the possible effects that production and distribution of certain foods has when placed in front of children. Why are these extremely unhealthy foods being put on the shelf for kids to buy? Economics would try to investigate this issue and bring forth a decisive explanation. In addition, law would be utilized to help to understand what governmental efforts have been made towards the issue of childhood obesity. Are the steps being taken by are government in the right direction or are they simply dancing around the heart of the issue? Finally, history is a very helpful discipline in referencing statistical data taken about obese children. Has this problem always been around or is it just now becoming an issue? History with the help of statistics will also illustrate past successes and failures of strategies that were put in action to help to aid the issue being discussed. Throughout the course of the investigation of childhood obesity all the preceding disciplines listed will be taken into consideration. However, biology, sociology, and business will be most relevant and crucial to the process of defining the issue at hand. Biology Biology will be used to try to understand the needs of the human body to progress and function. Each person has a minimum amount of calories that must be consumed to properly run its processes. Likewise, each person has a unique rate of consuming these calories and converting them to energy. The researcher can use biology to place an actually measurement of health of an individual. Attaining a proper measurement or gauge of health has proven to be a very difficult task. Height, sex, genetics, bone structure, and even ethnicity are all very important factors that determine a child’s proper weight. Biology will help to place a gauge on each of these factors and formulate a proper medium for each person. This discipline will be examined first in the following writing because one needs to understand what obesity is before he or she can begin to examine the problem. Biology will basically lay a foundation for the rest of the disciplines as to how they are to be used to assess obesity in children. Sociology Next, a viewpoint based on sociology must be addressed. Demographics of families, along with their ethnicities will be looked at to try to explain the effects of obesity on certain specific populations. Society will be investigated to try to expose the viewpoints of obese children and their parents. Does society really understand the issue? Do children place any concern with health and fitness? These are both very important questions that sociology will help to address through the aid of statistical data. Also, every child does have the right to choose what he or she consumes on a day-to-day basis. Hence, each child must face all of the problems that arise if he or she becomes obese. Obesity is not purely a biological problem. If the previous statement was true, a child could then simply consume less calories and loose weight. However, a child has to make cognitive choices and observations about what is acceptable. Sociology will step in and try to uncover any problems that may be resulting in a population of obese children that simply are misguided by the viewpoints of society. This discipline will be used after biology in hopes to build upon the new understanding of the problem. Once a person understands the physical aspects of childhood obesity using biology, then he or she can delve into the societal traits. Business Finally, obesity has become such a large issue that it has effectively created an entire new industry to take care of itself. Business is a discipline that will be used to help explain the way industries portray children and how they affect what populations recognize and understand. Business will try to assess ethical issues as to whether the food industry for example is making an effort to help. There are obviously many businesses in the United States that are trying to educate children about obesity. However, for every positive product formed, there is another marketing scheme that is made to try to take advantage of a very helpless situation. As a result, the structure and function of the food industry needs to be addressed and scanned for possible pitfalls and shortcomings. Lastly, the discipline of business will be used in the final part of this paper in hopes to illustrate how it relates back to the obese children. The reader will then furthermore understand the extremity of this issue and how it is rooted in almost every aspect of life. In summation, childhood obesity is an extremely sophisticated problem involving the ethics and morals or our society. Children cannot be expected to solve their own problem and desperately need help from all ends of the spectrum. The purpose of this paper is to lay the foundation for a better understanding and new perspective of childhood obesity. This perspective will hopefully stem new possible outcomes that are constructed by the synthesis of each of the discipline’s contributions. Furthermore, the following writing will attempt to educate society of the dangers of childhood obesity and show that this is not a problem caused by one situation. Hopefully the reader will realize that through an interdisciplinary understanding, bringing an end to obesity in children is not an unattainable goal. Background How is childhood obesity defined? Has this issue been around for a long time or is it merely just beginning to cause trouble for the United States? These are two very important questions that every individual needs to be aware of. One cannot expect to be able to successfully tackle an issue without knowing its history beforehand. First, childhood obesity is basically defined as a person that has a body mass index that is above the 95th percentile. That is, the individual exceeds his or her natural weight by approximately 20%. Body mass index is the most widely accepted procedure for sampling obesity in large populations. Basically, it is a numerical measurement composed of a person’s height and weight. Although this particular test does not take a persons bone structure into consideration, the average of an overall population remains very accurate (Vessey MacKenzie, 2000). The people involved in this issue are individuals between the ages of 6 and 17. Male and female children including every ethnicity that resides in the United States are included in this problem. Although obesity rates are increasing almost exponentially in all age groups, children seem to be of the most concern to health experts today. These children are in the most important stage of their growth. An overweight child is putting his or her entire lifespan in jeopardy (Green Reese, 2006). Adolescent obesity has not been around as long as other problems such as cancer, leukemia, or the flu. Yet, it is unique due to the fact that childhood obesity is growing at such an alarming rate. The first signs of childhood obesity began to appear in the 1960’s (Schwartz Puhl, 2003). What caused this sudden weight gain in children during this time? There are several possible explanations however there does not seem to be one clearly defined culprit. The fast food industry is just one of the possible causes that is often looked at. Critics believe that during the 1960’s fast food was starting to embed in American culture. McDonalds restaurants were popping up all around the United States offering a quick and effortless meal. Before fast food, most families were dependant upon time consuming home cooked meals. However, for the first time, people were starting to realize that a ready-to-eat meal was just a few dollars away. Consequently, people started putting the healthy meal aside and began to grab a quick sandwich from a fast food restaurant. Hence, in the 1960’s children’s calorie intake began to rise as their eating habits were basically being altered by society. Statistics showed during this time that the percentage of obese children was approximately 4.5%. As calorie intake began to rise, physical activities began to decrease. Approximately 33% of students in high school do not expose themselves to any strenuous physical activity. Present day schools are so involved in standardized testing that extracurricular activities have been in some ways taken out of the daily lesson plan. Even technology, which usually always aids in the advancement of society, has played a role in increasing rates of childhood obesity. Computer based games, and highly sophisticated cell phones are a few examples that have placed negative outcomes on beneficial cardiovascular events (Harper, 2006). Heath experts began to see a problem by the 1970’s. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was one of the first efforts in addressing the issue of childhood obesity. A study was done in three parts during a 25-year span starting in the late 1960’s. The test studied the body mass index of children and adjusted the results as age, sex, and ethnicity of the population of children changed through time. The results were anything but subtle. There was a 40% increase of overweight children in the ten-year span of the first and second studies. No other illness at this time was even close to growing at such an astounding rate (Rosenbaum Leibel, 1998). With that being said, the third study that was completed in 1994 delivered a divesting knockout punch. The National Health and Nutrition Survey revealed that the number of obese children in the United States had grown a monstrous 100% in the past 10 years (Dietz Gortmaker, 2001). Obesity in children was now considered an epidemic. In the past decade, the percentage of obese adolescents in the 95th percentile has once again doubled. Obese children between the ages of 6 and 11 seemed to have the highest grow rates of any other subgroup. Estimates were now showing that almost 15% of the children in the United States are obese or extremely overweight. Obesity does not seem to be biased towards any particular age, race, or gender. However, African American girls, Hispanics, and American Indians were shown to have the largest overweight populations (Koplan, Liverman Kraak, 2005). Why are obese children the population that is drawing the most attention? First, biologists studying this epidemic have noted that fact that the gene pool in the United States has basically remained the same over the past 15 years. This tends to rule out any possible explanations dealing with actual evolutionary changes or modifications in the human body. As a result, scientists tend to believe that the causes of the increase in children’s weight are a product of environmental effects on metabolism. At any rate, it is shown that individuals who are obese as children are most likely beginning a lifelong fight (Dietz Gortmaker, 2001). Present studies have shown that approximately 95% of obese individuals who succeed in loosing weight tend to gain almost all of it back over time (Koplan, Liverman Kraak, 2005). This statement is supported by our ever-increasing percentage of obese adults. In 2001, statistics show that there were 29 states containing a percentage of obese adults of 20% or greater. Hence, prevention at the earliest possible age is said to be the only hope for success in stopping this seemingly out of control problem. It is shown that the younger the child is, the less likely he or she will have developed bad eating habits. Also, younger children tend to be much easier to work with as oppose to stubborn teenagers who may not accept parental influence. All in all, childhood obesity tends to result in numerous mental, physical and social health disorders for the growing individual. Without immediate intervention at a young age, obesity in children may continue to grow (Kimm Obarzanek, 2002). The following writing will continue to decipher the issue of adolescent obesity and will expose crucial concepts, theories and assumptions dealing with each discipline involved. Biology will first be discussed with the goal of further defining the physical and biological effects of childhood obesity. One must understand how the child physically becomes obese and what biological factors are involved. Next, sociology will be addressed with the goal of educating the reader of the impacts that society has on obese children. Are there any direct causes of obesity that society may have initiated? Finally, business will be mined for possible ways that large companies and organizations have affected the issue. Are these interventions effective or are they merely ways to mask the problem? In conclusion, each discipline involved offers its own understanding of childhood obesity. One must take each possible approach into consideration in hopes of forming a new more comprehensive explanation. An interdisciplinary approach is used in this situation to help organize the inputs of the disciplines and then synthesize them into a new holistic picture. This process helps to avoid a biased opinion, which is likely formed by increasing specialization of the disciplines. Furthermore it attacks the issue from every angle within the reach of the disciplines used (Repko, 2005). References Biology Dietz, W., Gortmaker, S. (2001). PREVENTING OBESITY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. Annual Review of Public Health, 22(1), 337. Retrieved February 29, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Kimm, S., Obarzanek, E. (2002, November). Childhood Obesity: A New Pandemic of the New Millennium. Pediatrics, 110(5), 1003. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Rosenbaum, M., Leibel, R. (1998, March). The physiology of body weight regulation: Relevance to the Pediatrics, 101(3), 525. Retrieved February 29, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Vessey, J., MacKenzie, N. (2000, September). Childhood Obesity: Strategies for Prevention. Pediatric Nursing, 26(5), 527. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Sociology Green, G., Reese, S. (2006, Fall). CHILDHOOD OBESITY: A GROWING PHENOMENON FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATORS. Education, 127(1), 121-124. Retrieved February 29, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Koplan, J., Liverman, C., Kraak, V. (2005, Spring). Preventing Childhood Obesity. Issues in Science Technology, 21(3), 57-64. Retrieved February 4, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Schwartz, M., Puhl, R. (2003, February). Childhood obesity: a societal problem to solve. Obesity Reviews, 4(1), 57-71. Retrieved February 29, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Business Harper, M. (2006, October). Childhood Obesity. Family Community Health, 29(4), 288-298. Retrieved February 29, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Other disciplines Repko, A (2005). Interdisciplinary practice a student guide to research and writing. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Essay on Worth in Everyday Use -- Everyday Use essays

A Question of Worth in Everyday Use  Ã‚     Ã‚   From the fashionable, expensive clothing that the character Dee in Alice Walker’s "Everyday Use" wears, the girl seems almost immediately to be a person of great value and importance. It may seem, too, at first glance, that Dee’s mother and sister, Maggie, in their tin-roof house and shabby clothing, are of little or no worth in "Everyday Use." The story ironically shows, under more careful thought, that the very outer characteristics which deem Dee the more valuable character are the ones which prove that the mother and Maggie have the more powerful inner worth. In the beginning of the story, Dee is portrayed to be more physically valuable than her mother and Maggie. Dee’s outfit reeks of a money-based society, much different from that of her heritage. Dee wears "A dress down to the ground...There are yellows and oranges enough to throw back the light of the sun. Earrings, too, gold and hanging down to her shoulders" (Walker 1151). Dee’s mother even reflects on her oldest daughter’s full figure and nice hair(1150). The mother and Maggie, on the other hand, are given an air of simplicity and unattractiveness. The mother is described as a large, big-boned man-worker whose usual attire consists of overalls and flannel nightgowns. Maggie, referred to as a "lame animal," is thin and shabbily dressed(1150). From the vivid description of Dee and rather bland ones of the mother and Maggie, it may be readily assumed that Dee is of much higher extrinsic value than her family members. Despite the outer attractiveness of Dee and unattractiveness of her mother and Maggie, the differences in the behavior of the groups indicate a turnaround in the presumed value judgments of the characters... ... as well. The first glimpse of "Everyday Use" may suggest that Dee surpasses her mother and sister in value, but closer scrutiny of the work reveals that the mother and Maggie have just as much, if not more, merit than Dee. Works Cited Walker, Alice. "Everyday Use." The Harper Anthology of Fiction. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. 1149. Baker, Houston A., Jr. and Pierce-Baker, Charlotte. Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler. Vol. 5. Gale Research Inc.: Detroit, MI,1990. 402. Mickelson, Anne Z. Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler. Vol. 5. Gale Research Inc.: Detroit, MI, 1990. 406. Works Consulted Matriz, Roger, ed. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Inc., Vol. 5, 6, 9, 19, 27. 1991. Draper, James P., ed. Black Literature Criticism. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, Inc., Vol. 3. 1992.   

The Cat Walk :: essays research papers

â€Å"Oh my God! It is awfully dark!† screamed Britney as she tried to quickly make her way through the incinerator. She felt a brisk chill on the back of her neck as she heard her predator drawing closer and closer. Her body quickly stopped as she slammed into the catwalk railing. Her heart was pounding and her feet staggered as she pulled her body up the 50 foot catwalk. The stairway started to sway as the person following walked onto the steps. Britney kept running into cold metal as the catwalk twisted and turned around the building. She figured she must be getting near the stairs when she felt a violently stern hand grab her neck. The man had caught her and she lost her breath. Desperately screaming, he picked her up by her hair and her legs, and lifted her up over the railing. Britney tried to grab for anything as she fell. He heard her scream, then a blood curdling snap, and then silence It is 9:45 a.m. when Anthony Streets arrived at the Glen Oak Recycling center. Police and forensics already made their way through the incinerator, checking the smoke stacks, burning pits, control rooms, and machinery for clues. â€Å"Take a break, guys. Let me have a look around for awhile.† This was Anthony’s first case on his own, since his 15 year partner had died unexpectedly. â€Å"Mr. Streets. The girl worked here on weekends. She was 26, from California. We already contacted the family. Three other people used their key cards yesterday; Betty Thompson, Chris Moore, and Devon Moore. All are on their way here. Betty Thompson and Chris Moore were on the time sheet to work yesterday.† â€Å"Thank you Officer Becker. Now please ask your men to give me my space. Thank you.† Anthony examined the place of death first. It was obvious that Britney fell, by the way her neck was broken and by the way she was sprawled on the icy concrete floor. Blood was smeared, so he could tell the murderer touched the body to make sure she was dead, but there were no fingerprints found. He then went to search the cat walk. As Anthony attempted to ascend the catwalk, he felt a cold hand touch his shoulder. â€Å"Excuse me , are you a cop? The police department called me down here. What is going on?† As Anthony caught his breath, he asked, â€Å"And you would be who?† â€Å"The name is Moore.

Mertons Strain Theory Essay -- Sociology, Adaptation, Inequalities

In Merton’s (1938) strain theory social structures account for the criminal tendencies found in offenders. Individuals adjust to societal pressures in five distinct ways. Adaptation I, which entails conforming to both culture norms and means, is the most common. The popularity of this adaptation allows a society to function effectively. In contrast, adaptation IV is the least common and gives rise to the rejection of both cultural goals and means. Those that adopt this culture pattern are societal misfits and usually include some such persons as psychotics, psychoneurotics, chronic autists, vagrants, and chronic drunkards or drug addicts. Sykes and Matza’s (1957) control theory postulates that acts of delinquency are generally not approved of even by the delinquents who commit such crimes. First, they don’t believe their crimes are â€Å"right†. Instead, they often show remorse or guilt when faced with the consequences of their crimes. Moreover, this show of shame shouldn’t be completely attributed to deception to pacify authorities. Second, delinquents do have respect for law-abiding citizens (Sykes and Matza, 1957). Often if a delinquent’s offenses are shared with law-abiding people that they look up to or sports heroes perhaps they will show deep remorse. Therefore, delinquents do not hold a set of values that are in contrast with cultural norms. Sykes and Matza (1957) describe two more points, but in light of the two given here there is evidence that delinquency is not the creation of a sub-culture, because a society of those who conform cannot be overlooked. Instead, delinquent acts are internally justified despite their repugnance to the legal system and the rest of society (Sykes and Matza, 1957). There ... ...elihood. In sum, Rosenfeld and Messner (1995), Bonger (1969), and Currie (1997) give examples of how materialism is destroying the lives of US citizens. Materialism is not a facet of liberal or conservative thought (Galston, 1991; Kirk, 1987). Moreover, in both Galston (1991) and Kirk’s (1987) articles there was no attack on capitalism and the market economy. However, the liberal idea of the need for social programs was propounded by Currie (1997), which is counter to conservative ideals. Currie (1997) also showed the need to debunk the conservative â€Å"myth† that there must always be inequalities in society. Besides these points these criminologists are really attacking capitalism and are not on a liberal or conservative platform. Furthermore, Chesney-Lind (1989) doesn’t delve into the government’s political structure based on liberal or conservative views. Merton's Strain Theory Essay -- Sociology, Adaptation, Inequalities In Merton’s (1938) strain theory social structures account for the criminal tendencies found in offenders. Individuals adjust to societal pressures in five distinct ways. Adaptation I, which entails conforming to both culture norms and means, is the most common. The popularity of this adaptation allows a society to function effectively. In contrast, adaptation IV is the least common and gives rise to the rejection of both cultural goals and means. Those that adopt this culture pattern are societal misfits and usually include some such persons as psychotics, psychoneurotics, chronic autists, vagrants, and chronic drunkards or drug addicts. Sykes and Matza’s (1957) control theory postulates that acts of delinquency are generally not approved of even by the delinquents who commit such crimes. First, they don’t believe their crimes are â€Å"right†. Instead, they often show remorse or guilt when faced with the consequences of their crimes. Moreover, this show of shame shouldn’t be completely attributed to deception to pacify authorities. Second, delinquents do have respect for law-abiding citizens (Sykes and Matza, 1957). Often if a delinquent’s offenses are shared with law-abiding people that they look up to or sports heroes perhaps they will show deep remorse. Therefore, delinquents do not hold a set of values that are in contrast with cultural norms. Sykes and Matza (1957) describe two more points, but in light of the two given here there is evidence that delinquency is not the creation of a sub-culture, because a society of those who conform cannot be overlooked. Instead, delinquent acts are internally justified despite their repugnance to the legal system and the rest of society (Sykes and Matza, 1957). There ... ...elihood. In sum, Rosenfeld and Messner (1995), Bonger (1969), and Currie (1997) give examples of how materialism is destroying the lives of US citizens. Materialism is not a facet of liberal or conservative thought (Galston, 1991; Kirk, 1987). Moreover, in both Galston (1991) and Kirk’s (1987) articles there was no attack on capitalism and the market economy. However, the liberal idea of the need for social programs was propounded by Currie (1997), which is counter to conservative ideals. Currie (1997) also showed the need to debunk the conservative â€Å"myth† that there must always be inequalities in society. Besides these points these criminologists are really attacking capitalism and are not on a liberal or conservative platform. Furthermore, Chesney-Lind (1989) doesn’t delve into the government’s political structure based on liberal or conservative views.

Move and position Essay

1:1 Outline the anatomy and physiology of the human body in relation to the importance of correct moving and positioning of individuals The anatomy which the physical structure of the body and physiology which is the normal functions of the body help individuals to move their limbs. Muscles have the power of contraction thus it produce movement of the body and allow the bones to work like hinges. When moving someone/individual it is important to remember that the muscles can only move the joint as far as the bones will allow them. 1:2 Describe the impact of specific conditions on the correct movement and positioning of an individual If an individual has suffer from a stroke this may cause loss of movement in the limbs on one side of the body (hemiplegia). In that case it is very important to remember that when you are assisting an individual with regards to dressing you need to dress the individual firstly the bad side and when undressing him/her you do the bad side lastly to prevent discomfort. Read more: Identify any immediate risks to the individual essay Therefore that mean by following this procedure you are not pulling their muscles in the wrong direction. 2:1 Describe how legislation and agreed ways of working affect working practices related to moving and positioning individuals How legislation and agreed ways of working affect working practices: Current, local, UK and European legislation affects procedures and practices. This include Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended 2004), Reporting of Injuries, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (England, Wales and Scotland) Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) order 1 978, Lifting operations and lifting Equipment Regulation (1998( – LOLER, The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) 1999; Disability Discrimination Act (1995), Human Rights Act (1998). In the workplace there is Code of Practice and Conduct, Standards and Guidance relevant to individual’s role and responsibilities eg health and safety policies, moving and handling policies, moving and handling techniques, Policies on information sharing, risk assessment documentation, individual care plans, infection control procedures, recording and reporting procedures ect. All these policies and procedures can affect our working practices for example Manual and Handling is about supporting the weight of someone or moving them yourself by using an equipment, If you do not carry this procedures safely it could result injury to self, to service user and other individual that are working with you. The Health and Safety Work Act (1974) state that 50% or all accident reported each year are from assisting people with manual and handling. The regulation that are set impose duties on employers, self- employed and employees, they state that employers must avoid all hazardous manual handling activities where it is practical to do so. Employees must follow the work system set by the employer to promote care for the health and safety of self and others, comply with the requirement imposed on the employer, never misuse or interfere with anything provided for health, safety and welfare. Also use material or equipment only according to recommended procedures. 2:2 Describe what health and safety factors need to be taken into account when moving and positioning individual and any equipment used to do this Health and safety factors that need to take into account when moving and positioning individual and any equipment used to do this are as follows: Environmental hazards: wet or slippery floor, wires that are hanging or are on the floor and items in the immediate area that could cause a trip or a fall or preventing you to move freely when using equipment, precautions for infection prevention and controls, ensuring any equipment is ready for use and fault free, individual trained in the use of any equipment and have the skills for the moving and positioning required; any factors that might affect the individual’s ability to move or position others eg physical disability or injury, pregnancy or other medical condition; procedures to minimise risk of injury (back injury) to the individual carrying out the moving and handling; importance of not dragging including effect on pressure sores; importance of wearing suitable clothing that allows free movement when bending or stretching; suitable, safe footwear, equipment eg hoists, slides, slide sheets, slings, pillows. 3:3 Identify any immediate risks to the individual: The immediate risks to the individual are as follows environmental factors, equipment, service user and person involved in the moving and handling. The service user could be in danger or harm if procedures has not carried out correctly, individual could be at risk of infection, it could cause pain, discomfort or friction from moving, not having proper moving and handling techniques could be a risk to individual. Those assisting in the moving and handling, others within the environment and servicer. Equipment can be faulty. Risk can occur any time at your work place that why it is important to always check and identify risks and try to correct it straight away ( ie) if you are using a sling to hoist a service user and it has a tear on it no matter how small the risk is, if it is not being corrected straight away this could lead to a big risk and may cause detrimental damage to self, service user and others involved. Therefore a risk assessment plan should be in place so that it can be changed and implement as to requirement of service user’s needs. 3:4 Describe actions to take in relation to identified risks Action that needs to be taken in relation to identified risk are as follows: To report it to Nurse in Charge on duty or Manager so that risk assessment plan can be updated. Ensure service user and all people involved in the care are made aware of the changes, ensure staff are implement procedures according the update risk assessment. Ensure the plan design comply with the trust requirement policy and staff are working within those guidelines. Communicating with the team to find out from staff whether the plan in place are working or any changes needs to be done. 3:5 Describe what action should be taken if the individual’s wishes conflict with their plan of care in relation to health and safety and their risk assessment Policy and procedures in relation to moving and handling may conflict with service user wishes. Due accident that happening in workplace due to lifting. Many workplace has now adopted NO-Lifting policy which means that hoists are to use according to their needs. However on many occasions service user do not want to be hoisted and if dealt with it incorrectly, it could leave service user feeling scared, undignified, humiliated, distressed and degraded. As much as employees has to follow policies but you find yourself in trouble due to basic human right may have been violated. .To prevent conflict between service user and workplace policies relating moving and positioning you must involve service user in their own risk assessment and mobility service plan if appropriate. . Risk assessment to be focus on service user needs only on Employer needs. . Patient Centred Care Plan with agreement to service user taking into account requirement needs. . Wishes of service user need to be balanced to ensure employer are not putting themselves at risk through moving and positioning activities. By involving service user in their care this will promote independence, autonomy and dignity. Service user may change and mobility can improve or deteriorate – which may lead changes to their mind on how they wish to be moved or positioned. If their wishes conflict with their plan of support, it is important to document this in the service user care plan and inform the manager and outside agency that are involved in the care of the service user. 6:1Describe when advice and/or assistance should be sought to move or handle an individual safely You would seek advice: . When individual that need moving has preferences that conflict with safe practice. . When risk cannot be dealt with . When equipment appears to be worn, damaged or unsafe to use . When techniques or equipment used require more than one person to use it safely . When working unaided would exceed personal handling limit . When individual care plan and/or risk assessment cannot be follow as planned . When Organisational policies and procedures cannot be followed. 6:2 Describe what sources of information are available about moving and positioning Sources about moving and positioning is available within the work setting such as policies, procedures and manuals, there is also advice from other practitioners such as nurse, welfare officer, physiotherapist or team advising on health and safety eg back care, sources external to the setting including local authority, primary care trust and organisations promoting health and safety and caring for those with physical disability, Back care advisor (BCA).