To Be Loved or Feared as a Leader Essay - 1710 Words

TO BE LOVED OR FEARED AS A LEADER? Leaders in fields ranging from military and politics to business and even education have been posed with the choice of instilling love or fear among their respective followers. Traits like warmth and trustworthiness of a leader instill love among followers and fear of a leader originates mostly from his strength and competence. Although there are numerous other traits in a leader, warmth and strength are the most influential. According to psychology, a major part of other peoples perception about a person is determined by these two dimensions of personality (Cuddy, Kohut and Neffinger, 2013, p. 56). The dilemma of the choice between these two is inherently present in the nature of the two extremes†¦show more content†¦For instance, has the change from autocratic to democratic societies and the change from vertical to horizontal style of management in organizations affected the mindset of people including the leaders and followers? From what I have observed while assisting my father in politics and overseeing my family business in Pakistan is that people are more responsive to a leader who demonstrates strength as opposed to a leader who shows warmth. The first thing that came to my mind was that this reaction is probably due to the fact that Pakistan is a developing country evolving into a enlightened society. I justified the fear model with backwardness of the area and attributed it partly to cultural norms. But it was rather surprising to learn that this model is still practiced quite frequently in the developed world as well. Taking the example of Texas Techs coach, Bobby Knight, who is widely respected for his leadership, had adopted the same fear model. His harshness dragged him into many controversies including the one where he allegedly choked a player in practice (Snook, 2008, p.18). It can be argued that some fields like organized sports, military or manufacturing industry require such strict leadership as ma intaining the chain of command is of utmost importance. However, knowledge industry has no such restrictions but the same model has been applied there in various cases. I personally know a few successful business owners in the US who rely on aShow MoreRelatedTo be loved or feared as a leader?1706 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿TO BE LOVED OR FEARED AS A LEADER? Leaders in fields ranging from military and politics to business and even education have been posed with the choice of instilling love or fear among their respective followers. Traits like warmth and trustworthiness of a leader instill love among followers and fear of a leader originates mostly from his strength and competence. Although there are numerous other traits in a leader, warmth and strength are the most influential. According to psychology, a majorRead MoreIs It Better to Be Loved or Feared as a Leader?1774 Words   |  7 PagesWhether a leader is feared or loved has been a debated issue by philosophers for many years. You could argue that a leader being loved is better because of the trust and motivation sides of things, or you could say to be feared is better because people follow rules and orders better. What is the role of government in human society? Whether being ruled under democracy, dictatorship, or autocracy all of these types of governments do however have one thing in common. All of these types of leadershipsRead MoreMachiavellis Views on Leadership- It Is Better to be Feared as a Leader than Loved 697 Words   |  3 PagesAccording to Machiavellis view of how to be an effective leader, a ruler should be one who is feared but not hated. Machiavelli states that fear is better than love because love is unreliable. All of the reasons that Machiavelli gives relate to how human nature controls men and drives them to commit crimes in order to reach their goals and satisfy themselves. Before the organization of Italy as a country, it was broken into city-states one of which Machiavelli called home. He was a FlorentineRead MoreNiccolo Machiavelli : Better For A Prince To Be Feared Than Feared In The Prince1516 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Niccolo Machiavelli (1810) asks whether it is better for a prince to be loved or feared in The Prince. The purpose of this essay is to argue that it is better for a prince to be feared than loved since the duty of a prince is to remain in power by any means necessary, using the example of Tsar Ivan. Supporting evidence of conflicting viewpoints will be analysed and evaluated throughout to help reach this judgment. The use of contemporary examples: President Trump and Colonel GaddafiRead MoreAnalysis Of Niccolo Machiavelli875 Words   |  4 Pagesholding his power in control without nourishing any hatred on themselves as a leader. A ruler sets an impression, reflecting how their subjects behave by his actions. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote his treatise â€Å"The Prince,† in 16th century Italy. As a political theorist, Machiavelli put his concerns towards cruelty and clemency and argues whether or not it is better to be loved than feared. Machiavelli advises future leaders arguing what makes an ideal ruler and the impact rulers would have on politicsRead MoreMachiavelli: The Power of Fear Essay845 Words   |  4 PagesNiccolo Machiavelli stressed that â€Å"one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved†¦for love is held by a chain of obligation which, men being selfish, is broken whenever it serves their purpose; but fear is maintained by a dread of punishment which never fails.† He felt that a true leader must be cunning and deceptive, winning the hearts of his people through power and influence. If he could not be liked, he couldRead MoreTotalitarianism In The Prince By Niccol Machiavellis The Prince934 Words   |  4 Pagesthe novel those who follow Machiavelli’s teachings are not evil because in order to be a good and powerful leader one is required to show strong leadership, maintain domination for the benefit of citizens, and at times be feared ra ther than be loved. Machiavelli thoroughly explains that rulers should lead their people in how the world is instead of how it   the world should be. A strong leader is not concerned necessarily about what is right or wrong, but about what is most practical and effectiveRead MoreNiccolo Machiavelli s The Qualities Of The Prince And Lao Tzu1198 Words   |  5 Pages Government: A Profound Leader Since the being of time, humans have sought out law, or government. Governments have been set in place all throughout the world to try to maintain peace and order. As easy as it sounds, governments can be demolished without the right leader. However, that is the catch, what makes a good leader? Niccolo Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince† and Lao-Tzu’s â€Å"Tao-te Ching† gives some ideas on how a leader should control their government. Although Machiavelli’sRead MoreMachiavellis The Prince and its Role in Politics in the Renaissance757 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen debating over time. Machiavelli maintain the thoughts which is the essential for the cruel to a successful leader. To those of view points according to Machiavellis thoughts are the arguments that a prince is to be clement or cruel, to be feared or loved. Those significance are appeared in his written and plays the main role in his viewpoints. It is common to every leaders that wants to be thought as clement but not the cruel in his citizens mind. A good repetition of clement is notRead MoreThe Prince by Machiavelli1057 Words   |  5 Pageswere every prince should rather be feared than to be loved, study war and always be ready for it, and that in the case of two states in war always pick a side and never stray away from it. These characteristics were present in a strong and merciless ruler who used the three features above to govern over an entire country. Joseph Stalin might be seen as a mass murder, but his achievements and contributions to Russia proved that by being feared rather than loved, studying war and perfecting it, and

School Bullying - 2394 Words

School Bullying Essays Bullying is not a new behavior. Kids have been exposed to bullying in school for generations. Now, however, bullying has taken on new heights and sometimes victims of bullies suffer severe and lasting consequences. The topic has gained not only national attention but international attention since it is a phenomenon that exists in many countries. School bullying essays look into this very serious matter and how it is being addressed. Like essays on classroom management, essays on school violence, and essays on teen suicide, school bullying essays are concerned with the environment in which our children learn and how this environment affects them emotionally and physically. School bullying essays specifically†¦show more content†¦Howard Spivak of the New England Medical Center, in Boston, and Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith of the Harvard School of Public Health, commenting on the research. In light of recent school shootings, parents and educators have become concerned about whether bullying behavior or being the victim of one may contribute to more serious acts of aggression. But experts disagree about predicting future violent behavior from earlier bullying tendencies. Dr. Robert Findling, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University Hospital of Cleveland believes aggression is a very stable trait that is long-lasting. Dr. Carl Bell, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Illinois, in Chicago, adds, there is some link between bullying behavior and later violence, but we are just not certain how strong it is. One commonly cited British study reported that individuals with a history of bulling had a four-fold increase in criminal behavior by the age of 24. The British study, however, examined only violent behaviors - such as beating someone up after school, and not the more benign behaviors like name-calling or giving someone the cold shoulder. But some see bullying as part of the more normal aspect of children’s behavior, not leading to excessive violence later on. Dr. Eugene Beresin, director of child and adolescent psychological training at McLean and MassachusettsShow MoreRelatedBullying And Bullying At School983 Words   |  4 PagesWhen I was a young girl and I would discuss bullying with my parents I always told â€Å"You never let anyone bully you or put their hands on you†. It was a common in my society to hear the statement â€Å"If someone hits you then you hit them back†. Now that I am a mother the thought of those statements still come to mind, when speaking to my children about bullying at school. In today’s society what we know and understand as bullying does not require a school or playground, these actions take place rightRead MoreSchool Bullying : Bullying And Bullying2186 Words   |  9 Pages School Bullying Susan Polk Chamberlain School of Nursingâ€Æ' School Bullying Tyler Clementi 18, a freshman in college. Phoebe Prince 15, a high school sophomore. Jamey Rodemeyer 14, a freshman in high school. Megan Meier 13, an eighth grade middle school student. Mitchell Wilson 11, a sixth grade middle school student. Ashlynn Conner 10, a fifth grade elementary school. They are all victims of bullying and today they are all dead from suicide because of being bullied. Bullies are in elementary/middle/high/Read MoreBullying in Schools Essay1644 Words   |  7 PagesBullying in Schools: Every second and minute of the day a kid is bullied. Bullying is something that is not only happening here in the U.S. but all over the world. We need to put a stop to! As parents, school educators, and a community we need to stand up to bullies and give kids who are being bullied an outlet to reach out for help. According to No Bully.com bullying is defined as a form of repeated aggression that is directed by one or more people towards another person. One of the biggestRead MoreEssay on Bullying in Schools737 Words   |  3 Pages Bullying in Schools ï‚ · Typically, bullying is thought of as aggressive behavior on the part of one child, directed toward another; however, playful tussling or normal childhood conflicts can be characterized the same way, resulting in mislabeling and misunderstanding of the problem. ï‚ · Bullying is â€Å"verbal or physical behavior designed to disturb someone less powerful† (Santrock 372)—â€Å"the most malicious and malevolent form of deviant behavior widely practiced in our schools† (TattumRead MoreBullying In Schools Essay1267 Words   |  6 PagesBullying in Schools Bullying is the act of using superior strength to intimidate someone, typically to force him or her to do what one wants. Bullying is in every school at every age level for variety of different reasons. A bully can be in many different forms and can be angry and looking for revenge for many different reasons, but two specific groups of people could work together to put an end to this abusive, hostile, and cruel thing that is bullying. These two different groups are the parentsRead MoreEssay on Bullying in School836 Words   |  4 Pagesof a gang. And so at the tender age of 14 he was already a part of the ‘Iggypura’. Good morning to you all. I want to tell you about bullying little children in school. Bullying can have a far worse outcome on the student than we could ever imagine. According to Time magazine, approximately 47% of sixth graders admitted to being bullied at least once in five school days. According to news 14 Carolina, victims being bullied may experience isolation and lower grades immediately and in the long runRead MoreBullying Is A Problem For School1318 Words   |  6 PagesBullying has been a problem for schools for a long time and has continued to be so. It has increased dramatically, taking everything that happens at school and moving it to the Internet. Pre-teens and teens are the most likely victims because they do not fit in a certain group or the bully just wants to show them that they are better than anyone else. While, the school focuses on only the academic part of the students and not the social, they cause students to build barriers between everyone in orderRead Mor eCyber Bullying in Schools962 Words   |  4 PagesTwenty percent of high school students admit to being a victim and/or participating in cyberbullying (â€Å"Cyberbullying†). This form of bullying that takes place on the Internet, is beginning to become a major problem in our society. Cyber bullying must be terminated in order to prevent teenage depression, fights breaking out in schools, and adolescences growing up to become criminals. Depression in teenagers is a major issue in the world around us. According to the article Cyberbullying, TargetsRead MoreBullying And Its Effect On Schools1607 Words   |  7 PagesWhile bullying has occurred for many years, anti- bullying programs in schools are having a strict development. Bullying was not an important subject that was paid much attention in schools or classrooms before 1999. When the Columbine and Virginia Tech shooting happened, schools did not have any anti-bullying programs. In 1999, schools started to implement anti-bullying programs like The Espelage Lab and Collaborator and many others. Unfortunately, bullying is still happening in nowadays. BullyingRead MoreSchool Bullying : How Does Bullying Affect Children?1299 Words   |  6 PagesSchool Bullying How does bullying affect children? Name: Thai Nguyen Phuc Dang ( Dom ) Teacher: Jack Moon ID number: 4956206 Due date: 04/05/2015 Subject code and title: EDU00004 – ACADEMIC AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS B â€Æ' Abstract School bullying is one of the issues being hotly debated today. It effects on daily life, psychological and physical of each student. This is the issue that parents and teachers must understand to be able to control their children in a better way. This report will show

Alcohol abuse among college students at univeristy of south carolina Free Essays

Alcohol is a drink made by mixing yeast with sugary substances such as corn, barley and rye. The mixture is then left to ferment for some time. Once consumed it is absorbed into the body systems through the stomach and the small intestines and affects the mind making the person who had consumed it lack proper coordination. We will write a custom essay sample on Alcohol abuse among college students at univeristy of south carolina or any similar topic only for you Order Now It leaves the body by being excretion through the kidney, lungs and the liver. Many college students consume alcohol as a way of forgetting certain situations in their college life that is stressing them, make friends and even maintain them. But in actual sense alcohol only suppresses the problem for a very short duration of time after which the negative effects to the individual manifest themselves such as poor personal health, poor concentration in school and financial constrains. Excessive use of alcohol leads to neglect of major responsibilities such as schooling and this state is termed as alcoholism that has no cure but can only be controlled (Presley, Meilman, Cashin, 1996). Starters mainly consume alcohol varieties that are less concentration but upon advancing they get to very concentrated brands that eliminate the desire to drink fast. Alcohol Abuse among College Students The African-American students within the campus drink less compared to white counterparts. The students who engage in heavy drinking are usually aged between 18-29 years and drink up to three times in a week with very few going up to five days; this clearly indicates that alcohol is readily available within the campus and that the alcohol-control policies are somehow lenient. Though this should not generalize that all students drink, a good number of students have never tasted alcohol within the institution. The availability of alcohol within the community surrounding the Campus draws students towards alcohol even if the campus authorities are against it. In order to lower the levels of alcohol abuse among students of drinking age which is set at 21 years by the federal laws, the university encourages students to drink responsibly and behave in a mature manner (O’Malley Johnston, 2002). To reduce alcohol abuse the university has ensured that those students selling alcohol within the campus premises have a commercial license that governs their conduct. Â  The university has ensured that alcohol is sold in designated points such as the students centre and not just anywhere and this helps reduce its accessibility thus reducing its abuse. Any misconduct upon being drunk should be reported to the campus dean within twenty four hours of such offence and appropriate punishment administered according to the law (Presley, Meilman, Cashin, 1996). How to cite Alcohol abuse among college students at univeristy of south carolina, Essays

Importance of Intellectual Property System

Question: Discuss about the Importance of Intellectual Property System. Answer: Introduction Intellectual property is an intangible asset which is created by the mind i.e. innovation. For example patents, copyrights and trademarks fall under the category of intellectual property. IP provides confidence to the investors and the other financiers and thus promotes mergers and acquisitions. UAE law on IP entails a wide range of rights which are in line with UK, USA and the European countries. It has a wide room for promoting an innovative culture within the country. Importance of Intellectual Property to Uae UAE has been making efforts in budding a full proof intellectual property system which would boost the economic conditions of the country and make it sustainable towards achievement of the UAE Vision 2021. IP helps any business house to realise its true worth in the market both domestic as well as global. Its importance to UAE cannot be underestimated. Growing competition and globalisation is the main cause for the registration of trademarks, patents and such other IPs. The IP is crucial for the benefit of the country along with the individual business houses since it enhances the companies competitiveness and profit in the global market. The most important fact is that if a particular patent or copyright is protected then it benefits the economy of the country as well since the work cannot be copied by anyone else belonging to the same or other country and thus enables maintaining exclusivity. Further IP promotes innovation and originality by making the general public aware about the IP and how it protects them thus ensuring that UAE is able to make a place in the world market. Another fact with regards its importance is that it ensures sustainable development of the entire economy of the country. Another most important criteria is that IP helps in multiplying the progression in innovation, developing better modernized technology and a more cohesive culture as well. Stability in the economic development is the most crucial part of todays culture as it ensures that the job market is well developed along with industrialisation. It provides an atmosphere where the creativity and innovation can prosper for the advantage of all. Intellectual property can promote innovation in culture of UAE. If the younger generation are innovative and are made aware about the benefits of getting their innovations registered under the Intellectual Property Rights Law then it is sure to promote a cultural environment full of great ideas. Intellectual property boosts confidence of the innovators and give them a steady name in the society as well as uniqueness. This in turn encourages many others also to focus on developing innovative ideas. Further various seminars are being held in UAE basically to develop an environment of commercialisation and industrialisation and enabling imparting of knowledge across the entire community thus benefiting the entire society. For a development of a healthy cultural background for any country, talent is of utmost importance else the economy will not be culturally innovative which will effect the economical stability in the long run. IP legislation of UAE comprises of patents and Industrial Design Law 44 of 1992, Trademarks Law 37 as of 1992, Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Law 40 of 1992 and such other similar laws will help to promote innovation in culture of UAE. For example as per the Copyrights Law each author is required to submit their write ups to the Intellectual Property Protection Department of the Minister of Information and Culture so to be able to obtain protection grant under the law for their work. Since the law protects these artists and authors therefore people are more inclined towards such innovation which enhancs the culture of the country significantly. Conclusion Therefore on a concluding note, it is very clear that the importance of Intellectual Property cannot be ignored. It is important for the overall development of the economy as well as for the promotion of a healthy cultural background of the country as a whole. The laws of UAE are so strict for the protection of art and such other similar talent of the citizens that it automatically encourages towards development of an innovative culture. References Adam Global, Intellectual Property- Adam Global in the United Arab Emirates, https://www.adamglobal.com/office/dubai/services/intellectual-property/ Byat Ahmad Bin and Sultan Osman, The United Arab Emirates : Fostering a Unique Innovation Ecosystem for a Knowledge- Based Economy, (online), https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_gii_2014-chapter6.pdf Department of Economic Development, Intellectual Property Rights and The Efforts of the UAE, [August 2009], https://ded.abudhabi.ae/en/studies-indicators/Studies/Intellectual%20Property%20Rights%20and%20the%20Efforts%20of%20the%20UAE.pdf UAE Stresses Importance of Intellectual Property System, The Gulf Time, Business Emirates (online), 06 October 2016, https://emirates-business.ae/uae-stresses-importance-of-intellectual-property-system/ United Arabs Emirates University, The United Arab Emirates University Organizes a symposium on Intellectual Property and the Transfer of Technology (online), November 2015, https://www.uaeu.ac.ae/en/news/2015/november/intell_property.shtml

Best Unsecured Credit Cards for People With Bad Credit

Best Unsecured Credit Cards for People With Bad Credit SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Having a poor credit score can feel like you’re caught in a catch-22. You need a credit card to improve your score, but it’s hard to get a credit card without a good score. Luckily, there are credits cards available for people with poor credit. Once you get one of these cards, you can use it to build your credit score over time. This guide will give you recommendations for the best credit cards for people with bad credit, along with some tips on how to apply. Click here to go straight to the credit card recommendations, or first, read on to learn what makes a bad credit score and why it matters. What Is Bad Credit? Credit scores range from 300 to 850. Your score is based on a number of factors, including your credit history, payment history, outstanding debt, and account inquiries from lenders, like credit card companies or banks. Defaulting on loans or closing a credit card that still has a balance on it are two actions that could seriously damage your credit score. You might also have a low score if you’re new to the world of credit and have never had a credit card before. Credit scores below 630 are considered to be very low. Scores between 630 and 700 are fair and between 700 and 800 are strong. Any scores above 800 are excellent. To find out your score, you simply need to set up a free account with Credit Karma. You can also request a comprehensive credit report from one of the three major credit bureaus, TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian. You can get one free report each year by requesting it from annualcreditreport.com. Any additional reports cost $9.95. Your credit score matters big time when you apply for any kind of credit card or loan. Why is it so important? Maybe we shouldn't call a credit score under 630 "bad." Rather, it's a work in progress! Why Does Your Credit Score Matter? Credit scores are a key factor when a credit card company or bank is evaluating your application for a credit card or loan. Lenders consider your past financial behavior to be an indication of your future behavior. They seek to reduce risk, so they only want to lend you money if they feel assured that you can eventually pay it back. The better your credit score is, the higher your credit line will be. You’ll also be eligible for more attractive credit cards that have low fees or rewards, like cash back or travel points. With a low credit score, your application for most travel rewards cards would be rejected outright. However, people will low scores can still qualify for certain credit cards and then use the card to build up their credit over time. With a low score, you may qualify for a secured or unsecured credit card. Lenders look at your credit score when deciding whether to give you a loan. They aren't big risk-takers. What Kind of Credit Card Can You Get With Bad Credit? Secured Vs. Unsecured If your credit score is the lowest of the low, then you’ll probably only be able to get what’s called a secured credit card. Secured credit cards require a deposit up front. Some of them act as prepaid debit cards. You load them up with a certain amount of money at the beginning of the month and then spend that money where the card is accepted. Secured credit cards have low limits and require up-front cash-loading or deposit. If you can qualify for a regular, unsecured card with bad credit, then you should skip this initial step of getting a secured card, unless you really need to set low, strict spending limits on yourself or can't afford an annual fee. Unsecured credit cards are just like any other credit card. They typically start with a line of credit of about $300 per month. As you build your credit over time, your monthly line of credit will increase. Unfortunately, you won’t get a credit card with the most appealing terms if you have poor credit. The unsecured cards recommended below have the best policies available and can help you build your credit into the fair or good zone. Read on for the top recommendations for the best unsecured credit cards for poor credit. Secured credit cards are useful if you need to set strict limits on your spending. 5 Best Unsecured Credit Cards for People with Bad Credit in 2016 The five cards recommended below are the best unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit available. Each card lets you fill out a quick and easy form online to see if you prequalify. The top five cards are the following: Credit One Bank Unsecured Visa* Indigo Platinum Mastercard Milestone Gold Mastercard Total VISA Unsecured Card Platinum One Credit Card (for average credit) *The Credit One Bank Visa stands out as the best overall unsecured credit card, because it gives you some rewards and may increase your line of credit after five months of on-time payments. The remaining credit cards for poor credit offer more or less equal benefits, so you should shop around to see where you prequalify. Let’s take a closer look at the terms of each unsecured credit card. Credit One Bank Unsecured Visa Credit Card The Credit One Visa is a rare card available to people with poor credit that gives rewards. With this card, you can earn 1% cash back on gas and groceries. The card has an annual fee of $0 to $75 the first year and $0 to $99 annually after that, depending on your credit score and income. You may be able to pay this fee back monthly, rather than as one lump sum at the end of the year. The card offers a monthly credit score tracking service so you can keep track of your progress toward a stronger credit score. It comes with a rather high variable interest rate of 15.65% to 24.15%, but the interest rate shouldn’t really matter. To build your credit and avoid debt, you should never carry a balance over on your credit card from one month to the next. Always pay off your full balance every month to avoid penalty and steep interest charges. A typical beginning line of credit for someone with a low credit score is $300. This might increase after five or more months of on-time payments. After five months of on-time payments, Credit One should increase your credit line. Pro tip: count your months by the Gregorian calendar, not the Mayan one. Indigo Platinum Mastercard The Indigo Platinum Mastercard is an increasingly popular card that’s available to people with a range of credit scores. Like the Credit One card, the Indigo card offers online account access and has an easy pre-qualification process online. A typical starting line of credit is $300, and the card has an annual fee of $0 to $99. The APR is fixed at 23.9%. Unlike the Credit One card, the Indigo card doesn’t offer any rewards back on your purchases. Milestone Gold Mastercard The Milestone Gold card similarly has a fixed APR of 23.9% and a typical starting line of credit of $300. The annual fee falls between $35 and $99. Total VISA Unsecured Credit Card The Total VISA has the highest APR of 29.99%. It has a fee of $75 for the first year and $48 annually after that. Like the other unsecured credit cards for low credit, the typical starting line of credit is $300. Capital One Platinum Card If your credit has started to climb out of the red zone and surpassed 600, then you might qualify for the Capital One Platinum card. This card is available for people with a credit score of 600 or higher. It has no annual fee, 24.99% APR, and fraud coverage. A typical starting credit limit falls between $200 and $500, and this can increase after five or so months of on time monthly payments. Now that you have a sense of the best unsecured credit cards, what do you do next? How do you apply for one of these cards? Even with bad credit, you have options for credit cards! How to Apply for an Unsecured Credit Card You can easily apply for a credit card online. First, head to the company’s website and go through its quick pre-qualification process. While this survey isn’t the be-all and end-all word on whether or not you qualify, it gives you an idea of your eligibility based on your income level. You’ll enter your personal information, including your salary and social security number. Going through this pre-qualification check, by the way, won’t hurt your credit score. Your credit score will only be affected when the company runs a hard check to see whether you officially qualify and you open an account. If you prequalify, then you’ll go through the full process of applying for the card. Only fill out a full application for one card, so as not to hurt your credit score. Once you apply and are approved, your card will be mailed out to you within one to two weeks. If your credit score and salary are too low, and you find yourself ineligible for any of the above cards, then you do have one more option - getting a secured credit card. Easy online pre-qualification forms give you a sense of whether or not you'll be approved a credit card. What If You Don’t Qualify? If you don’t qualify for an unsecured credit card with bad credit, then you should look into secured credit cards. As mentioned above, secured cards require a deposit up front, or they ask you to prepay and then spend the money that’s already loaded onto your card. While they’re a little different from other cards, secured credit cards will help you build credit until you’re able to get a regular, unsecured card. These are some of the best secured credit cards: Discover It Secured Card Capital One Secured Mastercard Secured Visa from Merrick Bank USAA Secured Card American Express If you want to set strict limits on your spending with a prepaid debit card, then look into the secured cards from Bluebird or American Express Serve. Once you get your credit card, how can you use it in the best way to build your credit? How to Use Your Credit Card and Build Credit Building and maintaining good credit isn’t about avoiding a credit card; it’s about using one well. Using a card well requires you to follow one rule of thumb: never carry a balance on your card from month to month. Don’t expect that you’ll have more to spend next month than you do this month. Only buy what you can pay off in cash immediately on the card, and make sure to pay off your full balance by each payment due date. As you read above, on-time payments will help you build credit, and your credit card company may offer you a bigger line of credit as time goes on. How can you be sure that you’re staying within your budget? This kind of awareness comes from developing a budget and keeping track of your daily and monthly spending. There are several apps, like YNAB and Mint, that are useful for helping you keep track and gain control of your personal finances. In closing, let’s go over the key points you should remember about the unsecured credit cards that are available to people with poor credit. Rome wasn't built in a day! With enough time and effort, you can build your credit score into the good or excellent range. Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit - Final Thoughts If you have bad credit, you aren’t going to be eligible for a $10,000 line of credit and 2% cash back on all your purchases. However, you may become eligible eventually by first getting one of the secured or unsecured credit cards that are on offer to people with low credit card. Unsecured cards typically have an annual fee and start with a line of credit of around $300 a month. By making on-time payments month after month, you’ll see your credit score go up and may eventually qualify for a larger line of credit. If you don’t already, make sure to check your credit score and understand where it comes from. Then, you can come up with a plan to take control of your personal finances and build your credit score into the fair, good, or even excellent range. By shoring up your credit score with one of the best credit cards for bad credit, you’ll put yourself in a much better financial position for future credit card, loan, or mortgage applications. What’s Next? Is your credit score high enough that you could qualify for other credit cards? Check out this guide to find the best credit card for you based on your personal spending habits. Do you feel like your spending has gotten out of control? This guide will help you reign it back in with seven steps to taking control of your personal finances. Would you like to start saving money for a big purchase or perhaps a retirement account? This comprehensive list has 100 different ways for you to start saving money today.

How does Shakespeare portray ambiguity in the play Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

How does Shakespeare portray ambiguity in the play Romeo and Juliet Essay Example How does Shakespeare portray ambiguity in the play Romeo and Juliet Paper How does Shakespeare portray ambiguity in the play Romeo and Juliet Paper Essay Topic: Metamorphoses The exploration of ambiguity in the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ encapsulates Shakespeare’s message of how there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong,’ ‘good’ or ‘evil’. This theme is sparked from the contextual circumstance of the play, set in Renaissance England, a time of great change and cultural ambiguity, bringing about the protestant reformation and the emergence of ‘the new man’ and new outlooks on love and romance. Shakespeare adopts descriptive techniques and distinctive wordplay, integrating literary devices and imagery to portray ambiguity subliminally throughout the play. The concept of ambiguity is portrayed by his use of oxymoron, for instance â€Å"Oh brawling love, oh loving hate† depicts ambiguity through the binary of love and hate and how elements of both can be found in one another, thus highlighting Shakespeare’s message of how the entire concept of the play is ambiguous. An oxymoron is by definition ambiguous, and is often adopted to conceptualise ambiguous meanings and ideas. Similarly, Shakespeare uses paradox, for instance, when Juliet questions, â€Å"was ever a book containing such vile matter so fairly bound? to depict Juliet’s complexity as a character, and her conflicting emotions when trying to battle with the idea that the love of her life is a murderer. In addition Shakespeare conveys ambiguity by categorising imagery into two extremes, light and dark. This imagery continually recurs throughout the play, and is often adopted by Romeo, for instance when he first sees Juliet he declares, â€Å"O, she doth teach the torches burn bright† and Juliet is continually referred to as a light in the darkness and Juliet concurrently expresses how â€Å"Romeo’s body† be â€Å"cut out in little stars. Shakespeare uses this to accentuate the contrast of love and hate, an ambiguous disparity Shakespeare uses to encapsulate the meaning of the play. Furthermore, Shakespeare’s use of distinctive language and character repartee is used for contrast and to craft oxymoron and paradox to illustrate ambiguity, for instance; â€Å"A damned saint, an honourable villain! The poignant contrast between the words, â€Å"damned† and â€Å"honourable† each adjectives used to inverse the distinct characterisations of â€Å"villain† and â€Å"saint† in the form of an oxymoron. Ambiguity is also explored through the characters themselves. For instance, Friar Lawrence is portrayed to have a vested interest in the happiness of both Romeo and Juliet and appears as an advocate of their forbidden romance and even helps to marry the two in secret, later providing Juliet with a substance that will give her the power to fake her death to avoid her marriage to Paris. However it appears he has an ulterior motive fuelled by his peace loving disposition. This is portrayed when he states that â€Å"this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancour to pure love,† thus expressing the somewhat ambiguous nature of his character. Furthermore, his unorthodox behaviour may have in fact caused the deaths of the two lovers and thus Shakespeare portrays ambiguity in this instance by portraying the layers of the Friar’s character, how a peace loving man of God, whom Shakespeare initially appears to use as a plot device, gradually metamorphoses to someone who will, by any means necessary, attempt to achieve his goal, no matter how innocent his motives. Similarly, Lord Capulet’s character also appears to acquire a similar ambiguous nature. He initially appears as a loving father with seemingly chivalrous qualities, asking Paris to â€Å"let two more summers wither in their pride, ere we may think her ripe to be a bride,† allowing his daughter time to mature before she weds Paris. Similarly, when Tybalt expresses his anger and concern when Romeo enters Juliet’s party, he responds dismissively and appears to see no point to the feud, portraying a sensible, understanding side to his character. However, Capulet soon loses this title and becomes a more aggressive character, forcing Juliet to marry Paris and when she refuses he exclaims, â€Å"Out you baggage, you tallow face,† expressing a more belligerent side to his character. And thus again, Shakespeare portrays ambiguity through Capulet’s somewhat twofold character, each a polar end of two extremes, aggression and compassion. In addition, Mercutio’s character also resembles a somewhat ambiguous nature. His name itself is derived from the word ‘mercurial’ which means unstable or volatile, which in itself encapsulates his ambiguity. He initially appears very self assured and confident with an aptitude for bawdy humour. He appears to sustain a dismissive, derogatory outlook on love, expressing that â€Å"if love be rough with you, be rough with love. † He also appears as a loyal friend to Romeo, and advocate of the Montagues. However, it appears Mercutio’s alleged confidence is merely a facade fuelled by his insecure, volatile undertones. This is portrayed during his dying moments when he exclaims, â€Å"a curse of both your houses! † portraying his volatility and insecurity as opposed to his initial confident, secure demeanour and thus conveys his character’s ambiguous fibre. Ambiguity is also distinguished through the themes integrated into the play and the plot itself. Shakespeare expresses how the conflicting themes included in the play, for instance ‘Love and Hate’ are merely adopted by Shakespeare to portray how there is no ‘one or the other,’ there is always a mixture of both. He uses the characters’ emotions and actions to portray these themes as inversed extremes battling against one another to realise the ultimate conclusion mentioned previously. Similarly the plot in itself, a fickle feud fuelled by the insecurity of each other’s prevalence that ultimately resulted in the deaths of each of their own.

Nutrition Communication Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nutrition Communication Plan - Essay Example It recommended for the formation of a Food and Nutrition Council to further implement other recommendations basically the formation of bureaucratic bodies. Fisher proposed that groups of environmental interests although well-represented by a large local bureaucracy had been silent and that the document was fond to be insufficient for a 1985 and onwards acceptability. Among others, he noted four major deficiencies such as lack of a systems approach to food and nutrition, lack of consideration of the environmental implications of human nutrition, lack of consideration on the effects of additives and lack of use of the anthropology of food. In order to facilitate satisfaction of human nutritional needs require environmental factors, both the outer environment or natural resources and the inner, physiological and psychosocial environments (Borgstrom, 1972). A change in the ay of eating was recommended (Fisher, 1986) with the justification that per capita nutrition provided from plant crops requires less from the environment in comparison with animal crops as off-farm processing pf raw foodstuffs include transport, packaging and retailing procedures that extract much from the environment. ... ide from that, Fisher argued that greater effort is exerted on handling, preparing, preserving animal foodstuffs with consideration for hidden costs on legislation and policing of standards. In addition, disposal of leftovers and cleaning after preparation of meat-based meals are more difficult and intensive and produces more pollutants. The proposal that purchase and consumption of fresh, local plant sources although encouraging for a start (Fisher, 1986) also poses other environmental damages that were not discussed before such as effects of the use of chemical fertilisers, insecticide and preservatives. It is with this premise that the Green Line Organic Direct enters the situation. The Green Line Organic Direct The GLOD is Melbourne Victoria's leading (online) organic store that offer home delivery of a huge range of products that are biodynamic and environmentally friendly products including: organic and biodynamic fresh fruit - organic and biodynamic fresh vegetables - organic and biodynamic grocery products - organic and biodynamic bulk items - organic and biodynamic meat - organic alcohol - environmentally friendly cleaning and household products - environmentally friendly and organic personal care products - environmentally friendly and organic baby products (Green Line Organic Direct, 2007). Organic Foods It has been proposed that organic food is produced according to certain standards requiring that crops were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. In addition, animal food products meant they were reared without the use of antibiotics and growth hormones (Wikipedia, 2007). Due to nutrition and health impacts as well as

Packing in school Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Packing in school - Research Paper Example The federal government have also implemented reductions in salt and saturated fat, trans fats in addition to the proper portion of lunches for children according to their age. The standards were based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and developed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services (Mientka, 2013). In 2011, to encourage healthful eating, Chicago schools implemented the media approbation for a long- standing policy that banned homemade lunches. They were allowed only for those children who had any doctor’s notes. The policy was initiated on the basis of observations that stated that students were bringing bottles of soda and bags of hot chips for lunches. A peanut butter has also been banned by schools. However, that aroused mass protests among parents, when schools started bringing in  rules banning nut- free spreads. Schools were defending their decisions by stating that nut- free products looked much like real peanut butter and that stressed out those children with allergies (Eng & Hood, 2011). Critics, however, assume that schools along with the federal government thought of everything, but for the children good. Asserting in schools of such lunch programs was called by the desire to enrich the pockets of corporations. Besides, people stated that that was the perfect demonstration of how the governments one-size-fits-all requirement on nutrition works. However, it failed again, because some parents desired to pack a gluten- free meal for a child and others had no problem with their child to enjoy soda. Lunch policies, whether they are dictated by the desire to form better understanding of how should a child eat every day or they are simply at school’s hand, they do not have to dictate parents how to pack in their kids’ lunches and what to put inside the lunch bag.  Banning of certain products or lunch meals as they are put teaches and government in

Short answer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Short answer - Essay Example Christians also pray that sinners may allow God to take control of their lives in preparation for the coming on God’s reign (Fischer &Hart, 1995. The reign of God has already begun because Jesus is always demonstrating his power to the evil ones on the world. The book of Luke chapter 11: 20, it is indicated that Jesus is now pushing back the powers of evil in the world. Paul illustrates on the book of Romans 6:1-11 that after a sinner accepts Christ and gets baptized, the reign of God has begun on his or her life. According to Fischer and Hart (1995), the reign of God has begun through the life of Jesus and his teachings. The only expectation is its fulfillment. The proper attitude according to St. Paul is that sinners ought to confess their sins and be baptized while the righteous have the obligation of staying clean. The righteous should also spread the gospels to non-believers in order to alert them on the second coming of Christ. Christians have an interest in the exact time for second coming of a new phenomenon because they believe that they will have a chance to see the Christ they have been waiting for many years with their own eyes. They also believe that a new phenomenon will be the perfect time to end the struggle with the evil one that they encounter on daily basis on their lives (Fischer &Hart, 1995). Christians tend to be much concerned with counting the exact date of second coming of Christ. However, Jesus discourages the speculation and instead urges believers to be always prepared for he might come any time. Jesus urges Christians to be ready and righteous at every moment in their life in order to inherit the Kingdom of God as it already reigns (Fischer &Hart, 1995). That Jesus had no intensions of revealing secrets concerning his second coming. The biblical meaning of parousia also ought to be understood

Relationship between Aggression and Parenting Styles

Relationship between Aggression and Parenting Styles 5.1  Introduction This chapter includes the summary of the study, the conclusion derived from the study. The implication of the study and the limitations are also discussed in this chapter followed by the future research suggestions. 5.2  Summary The purpose of the study was to the level of aggression, between adolescents with different styles of perceived parenting style of their fathers. The sample included101 adolescent girls and boys, belonging to the age group of 14 to 16 years coming from various schools of Pune city. The sample included boys and girls from middle class population who were English speaking.The adolescents included in the sample had working fathers and homemaker mothers. The adolescents were categorized into three groups based on their perceived parenting styles of their father. The tools used in the study were Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire (Buss Perry, 1992) to measure Aggression among adolescents and the Parental Authority Questionnaire (Buri, 1991) was used to assess the perceived parenting style. The research design used was non-equivalent multi group post-test design. The sampling method used for this study was Random sampling. Permission was acquired from the various schools selected to participate in the study. After the permission was granted, the target sample (adolescent students) was requested to participate in the study. The questionnaires were handed over to the students and instructions were given. The independent variables parenting style had three levels namely Permissive, Authoritarian and Authoritative. These levels were made into three groups. The mean score on each group was calculated as well as the standard deviation. All candidates whose score lay above the â€Å"one standard deviation up† score were included in the group. Thus the three groups were formed. Since there were three levels of the independent variable giving three mean scores the statistical analysis used for the study was ANOVA. Based on literature review the following hypotheses were formulated. Aggression will be significantly higher among adolescents who have Authoritarian fathers than adolescents who have Authoritative fathers. Aggression will be significantly higher among adolescents who have Permissive fathers than authoritative fathers. Aggression will be significantly higher among adolescents who have Authoritarian fathers than Permissive fathers. Conclusion There was a significant difference in the aggression scores between adolescents who perceived their fathers to be Authoritarian and adolescents who perceived their father to be Authoritative. Thus concluding that, adolescents who perceive their father to be Authoritative are less Aggressive in comparison to adolescents who perceive their father to be Authoritarian. No significant difference was found between the aggression scores of adolescents who perceived their father to be Permissive and Authoritative. Similarly, no significant differences were found between adolescents who perceived their fathers to be Permissive and Authoritarian. 5.4  Implication It was concluded by the study that, adolescents who perceived their fathers to be Authoritarian were more aggressive in comparison to the other two groups. The findings can be used to Psycho – educate parents about the effect of Authoritarian parenting which may help preventing aggressive behaviours among adolescents. The same could be extended to a school setting too, where teachers are also made aware of the consequences of Authoritative interaction with their students. Also as the time spent by the adolescent with the father has been spoken about as a factor influencing aggression. These findings could be used to educate parents about the adequate amount of time that is required to be actively spent with their adolescent. This finding can also be used in future researches by comparing variables such as academic performance with perceived parenting styles. Further research could also include comparing mother’s parenting style and aggression. 5.5Limitation The sample did not include equal number of girls and boys which may have affected the results of the study. A common observation around the world is that males are more aggressive than females (Perry,Perry Weiss, 1989), as aggression is influenced by the male sex hormone testosterone (Dabbs, 1998). Therefore it could have been beneficial to include equal number of boys and girls to control gender differences. The sample included only middle class population. Not including the other social strata in the sample does not allow the sample to be a true representative of Pune city. Hence, the use of only Middle class sample would be counted as a limitation of this study. It was observed that a few responses of a few candidates were influenced by social desirability. This resulted in discarding of such response sheets thus affecting the sample size. The sample size was only 200 out of which only 101 could be included into the three groups made. This constitutes a very small percent of the total population of Pune city and hence the results cannot be generalized. Most of the literature review caters to the Western and European sample, whereas the sample included in this study belongs to the Indian population. In cultures such as African-American and Asian-American, adolescents tend to have less negative effects such as deviant aggressive behaviours as compared to other ethnic groups (Steinberg, 2001). Since there are culture differences found in aggression, culture may have played an essential role in influencing Aggression which may be counted as a limitation. 5.6  Suggestions The study had a number of drawbacksthat could be avoided in the future studies. To begin with, the limitations mentioned above could be looked into. Correcting the limitations of this study would represent the Population better and hence yield more apt results in turn. The most important suggestion would be to increase size of the sample. Since the present study consisted only of 101individuals, there is a possibility that the sample wasn’t represented best. With a larger sample the results may have been more accurate as the general population would be represented in a better manner. In future research it can be ensured that there is equal representation of each gender, as doing so would eliminate the effect of gender differences on the variable aggression. For future research it can be kept in mind that the sample may have equal number individuals from each socioeconomic class and not just middle class as done in this study. A sample that is inclusive of individuals from all classes would be a well represented sample and therefore the results may be generalized to the entire city being studied. Another suggestion for future studies done would be to add the variables that were not included in this study, such as number of hours the father spends with his adolescent. As it has been discussed earlier that number of hours the father spends with the adolescent is an important factor known to have an influence on the adolescent’s aggressive behaviours. Hence, controlling the number of hours the father spends with his adolescent could help avoid this factor to have an influence on the variable – aggression.

A Doll’s House - Nora Essay example -- English Literature

Nora is the central character in the book A Doll’s House and it is through her that Ibsen develops many of his themes To what extent is loyalty shown by the lead female characters characters? What are the consequences of this? Within these two books loyalty is a minor theme and one that is easily missed, indeed it is narrow. However, it is still one which weaves a thread through both of the books encompassing major and minor characters, the material and the abstract. In commencing this discussion one must first refer to the definition of the word â€Å"loyalty†; the quality of being loyal. As defined in the Cambridge dictionary, loyal: firm and not changing in your friendship with or support for a person or an organization, or in your belief in your principles. And in the Collins dictionary, loyalty: faithful; a feeling of friendship or duty towards someone or something. Nora is the central character in the book â€Å"A Doll’s House† and it is through her that Ibsen develops many of his themes, one of these being the difficulty of maintaining an individual personality within the confines of a social role/stereotype. Initially Nora seems devoted to her marriage and her husband, â€Å"I would never dream of doing anything you didn’t want me to†. We see the sacrifices she’s made to keep what she has intact and her beloved alive. To all intents and purposes she is the model of loyalty. She appears to be utterly in love with Torvald, she â€Å"looks incredulously† at Mrs.Linde, â€Å"But, Kristine, is that possible?†, when faced with the prospect that someone could be or ever have been in a loveless marriage. She’s proud of her husband, â€Å"My husband has just been made Bank Manager!†, and queen to please him, â€Å"Oh, thank you, than... ...for some miracle. In this she loses her greatest financial asset and her home. These two characters both show signs of strong loyalty but both in different ways and to different things. Subsequently, the consequences for both are extremely different. Nora, in â€Å"A Doll’s House†, through her questioning of her marital relationship and the resulting recognition of false values, manages to achieve the prospect of self awareness and development; this is a direct consequence of her eventual loyalty to herself. Ranyevskaya’s loyalties, on the other hand, lead to her downfall. The combination of her personal loyalties, her enslavement to emotions of which extravagance is the consequence, and her loyalty to the past which results in the denial of the present, can be seen as the two greatest personal factors that are responsible for her loss of the Cherry Orchard.

Foundations of Mythology Short Answers Essay

How is the word myth used popularly? For example, what does the statement, â€Å"It’s a myth† mean? In contrast, how is the word myth used in the academic context? After considering the things in the definition in your textbooks and course materials, write a definition in your own words. The word myth is used in stories told people don’t know if the stories told are true or not. My personal belief is that a myths can be both true and not true tales. My reason for this because things in the area that happened more than fifty years ago or longer could be turned into false information after the years and years of being restated, no one knows because this area has happened so long ago in time. Myths are stories that were passed on from one generation to the next one its fiction and non -fiction. Myth is used in academic context as being an explanatory narrative, & illustrates how people should act and the existing social order. They are collectively authored and are created by people traditions and oral traditions are told and retold over time. My definition of myth is something that has reason for it could be true or untrue depending on the topic; you just have to use logic to determine the truth of the quote or statement. Why do myths from different cultures around the world address such similar or universal themes? Think about how myths explain the unknown and the tribulations of mankind. The reasoning why myths from other cultures are similar is because of their story lines, they are different because every couture has their own behalf’s and way of doing things accordantly and the ways in which it has been done for generation after generation most people believe that this way is best. They share a way that is perspective, and has value and interest and could  be their own stories. In many myths your able to format we connect to each other no matter the religion choice or aspect on the different types of myths. Myths are great in explaining the unknown and the tribulations of mankind. Myths give meaning into our lives, they explain things that are unexplaning they encourage or give us great ideas about different events and in schools helping students learn the different myth types. By doing this it enables us to learn different myths that are out there and the background of them. Myths give you laughter or tears and a clearer understanding of different things going on in our current life and events that happened before our time. What is the relationship between belief, knowledge, mythology, and religion? Where do mythology and religion intersect? Where do they diverge? Think about the function of myth and religion in helping human beings cope with change, suffering, loss, and death. There are many huge differences between religion and myth they can be overlapping mythology is one component or aspect of religion knowledge is very eternal and ever changing axiom. Mythology and religion intersect at they start as explanation accepted by people are two different things, mythology isn’t a religion but a myth of stories and the studies it can explain the unexplainable religions are surely traditional stories. They diverge easily but are both the same type of things with just different labels in difference between the two is that mythology is about anything a belief which has existed with not any proof. Religion is that of what you worship or reveres the persons or objects. In cases religion and myth always help us cope with change, suffering, with loss and deaths no matter what we will all deal with these things in our own personal ways, no one will ever grieve with lose the same as another person.  How would you defend mythology’s relevance in contemporary culture? Think about familial and cultural traditions. Also, consider how mythology is used in the arts and in advertising to typify human experience. I would defend mythology’s relevance in contempary culture as being very relevant and great need in society it gives us insight on all cultures from around the entire world. I would defend the mythology perspective my family  has a tradition of having yearly trail rides in the town I am from and getting together at least once a year either thanksgiving or Christmas time this helps our family find out how we all are doing in our lives because we all become very busy Mythology is used in the arts and advertising to typify the human experiences. References www. Askville.amazon.com www.eridu.co.uk/Author/myth_religion/myth_religion. Html mythsdreamssymbols.com/Importance of myth. Html EBOOK COLLECTION: Leonard, S., & McClure, M. (2004). Myth & knowing: An introduction to world mythology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Letter to Octavian essays

Letter to Octavian essays When Lepidus retired, why did you choose to take the west and not the east? What strategies did you use to defeat Marc Antony and win the Battle of Actium to become the sole Dictator? Did it feel invigorating to know that you had earned even more power than Julius Caesar? You then were made the one who made all of the final decisions including laws and foreign policy. Was it hard to live up to all of your peoples expectations? Did you return Rome to power and glory like you promised? How did you act to end all civil wars, expand territories, and create more jobs, which you also promised the people of Rome? I think that you were a very positive Emperor and probably the best one Rome has had in all of history. Your popularity with the people must have influenced them in many ways. I am sure that you improving the Roman military helped get you tasks such as expanding territories done. Being the commander of the army and navy must have meant that you were a great strategist. It was extremely smart of you to offer citizenship to anyone who joined the army or navy and doubling the size of the military. How did you think of that? Extending trade routes to Europe, Asia, and Africa must have increased the trade significantly. Did your Empire make a lot of profits from trade? How exactly did you better the living conditions inside the Empire? Who were allowed inside the schools that you founded? Were people excluded because of their gender or race? Did encouraging the arts and literature have a large affect on your people because they adored you? When architecture increased did the cities become more compact? Thank you for all of the great tasks you have succeeded in doing that have effected life everyday up un till this year (2002). I hope that you can and will write back when you get a chance. ...

How to Get a GRE Voucher and Discounts on the Test

How to Get a GRE Voucher and Discounts on the Test The GRE testing fee can be a significant barrier for applicants on a limited budget. However, financial assistance is available through several vouchers and fee reduction programs. In fact, you may be able to save as much as 100% on your GRE testing fee. GRE Vouchers The GRE Fee Reduction Program provides 50%-off vouchers for test-takers with demonstrated financial need.The GREÂ  Prepaid Voucher Service sells vouchers to organizations and institutions, which in turn offer savings to test-takers with demonstrated need. These vouchers can cover part or all of the testing fee.GRE promo codes, which can be found online through a simple Google search, can help you save money on test prep materials. There are three basic ways to save on the GRE: the GRE Fee Reduction Program, GRE Prepaid Vouchers and GRE promo codes. The first two options will reduce your testing fee, while the last option will help you save on test prep materials. GREFee Reduction Program The first place to look for savings is the GRE Fee Reduction Program. This program is offered directly through ETS, the makers of the GRE. The GRE Fee Reduction Program provides saving vouchers to test takers who will be taking the GRE in the United States, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico. The GRE Fee Reduction Program voucher can be used to cover 50% of the cost of the GRE General Test and/or the cost of one GRE Subject Test. There is a limited supply of vouchers, and they are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so vouchers are not guaranteed. The program is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, 18 years or older, with demonstrated financial need. To apply, you must be either an unenrolled college graduate who has applied for financial aid, a college senior currently receiving financial aid, or unemployed/receiving unemployment compensation. Additional requirements are as follows: Dependent college seniors must submit an FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) with a parental contribution of no more than $2,500.Self-supporting college seniors must submit an FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) with a contribution of no more than $3,000; they must also have self-supporting status on the report.Unenrolled college graduates must submit an FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) with a contribution of no more than $3,000.Unemployed individuals must prove that they are unemployed by signing a declaration of unemployment and submitting an Unemployment Benefits Statement from the past 90 days.Permanent residents must submit a copy of their green card. To increase your chances of getting a voucher from the GRE Fee Reduction Program, you should fill out the program application as soon as possible. Remember, vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The longer you wait, the lower your chances are of getting a voucher. You also need to allow at least three week for application processing. When your application is approved, you can pay the other half of the fee not covered by the voucher and resister to take the test. GRE Fee Reduction Vouchers from National Programs There are some national programs within the U.S. that provide their members with GRE Fee Reduction vouchers. These programs typically work with underrepresented communities. If you are a member of a participating program, you may be able to get a voucher or a certificate without being unemployed or meeting the stringent aid-based requirements that come with the GRE Fee Reduction Program. Since voucher availability and qualification requirements can vary from program to program, youll need to talk directly to the program director or another representative to determine whether or not you are able to get a GRE Fee Reduction voucher. According to ETS, the following programs offer GRE Fee Reduction vouchers to their members: Gates Millennium Scholars ProgramNational Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science Program (GEM)Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) ProgramPostbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) ProgramTRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement ProgramTRIO Student Support Services (SSS) ProgramGREÂ  Prepaid Voucher Service GRE Prepaid Voucher Service ETS also offers a GREÂ  Prepaid Voucher Service. The vouchers that are available through this service can be used by GRE test takers. However, the vouchers are not sold directly to individuals who are taking the GRE test. Instead, they are sold to institutions or organizations who want to pay some or all of the cost of the GRE for the test taker. ETS offers several prepaid voucher options to institutions or organizations. Some of them cover part of the test fees, while others cover the entire test fee. All of these voucher options must be used by the test taker within one year of the purchase date. Vouchers, including those that cover 100% of the test fee, do not cover additional fees such as scoring fees, test center fees, or other associated fees. The voucher cannot be turned in by the test taker for a refund. GRE Prep Book Promo Codes ETS does not typically offer GRE promo codes that can be used to cover the cost of the GRE. However, there are many different test prep companies that offer GRE promo codes that can be used on prep books, courses, and other materials. Before purchasing a test prep book, do a general Google search for GRE promo codes. While you most likely will not be able to get a discount on the test fee, you can help to offset the cost of the test overall by saving money on test prep tools.

Peer Assisted Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Peer Assisted Strategies - Essay Example Role play is very effective in a situation where the teacher is confronted with students who are very shy and uncomfortable in using the target language. For instance, the teacher may suggest to two learners to imagine a situation where s/he is asking for direction from a stranger in a new place. The two learners while enacting a situation try to think of various forms of communication that help them seek the information. Thus, as the learners practice and get used to act in the classroom they will be able to communicate without inhibitions in real social life. Peer tutoring: Peer tutoring is defined as an approach where a good learner teaches or guides another learner who lacks knowledge in the area. Since, as peer tutoring involves the learner take the role of a teacher or imitate a teacher, the learner tends to learn the subject well so as to make sure that s/he is teaching correctly and performing effectively. The learners can inter-change their roles that encourage peer cooperation and improve peer relationships. Peer tutoring motivates the learner to acquire the language skills and inculcates reading habit because the learner attempts to fine tune her/his subject knowledge before taking the role of a teacher. Further, the learner who takes the role of a student feels less inhibited with a peer as a tutor in place of a real teacher. Peer tutoring is most appropriate in situations where a set or group of students who are weak in a particular skill. Therefore, the tutor is not merely acting as a teacher but trying to help his peer in un derstanding the subject. Reciprocal Teaching: This approach helps in improving the comprehension abilities. In this technique the teacher as well as the learner takes an active role. While reading a text this technique calls for four important stages: summarizing, questioning, clarifying and predicting. This technique is most suitable in a situation when the text is difficult to comprehend and the goal is to encourage peer collaboration. One way of doing this is allocating the four stages to four different students or four groups, while the teacher is reading the text, each student assigned to a specific group would accordingly take the initiative. Simultaneously, the teacher and the students discuss and have a dialogue over the topic. Thus, this technique facilitates group participation or equal participation amongst peers and the teacher as well. Cooperative learning: This technique encourages learners to work together for the benefit of the entire group. Since, the groups are heterogeneous it allows them to learn from each other and get along with those who are different from themselves. The teacher is helping the learners not only to acquire the language but also learn to collaborate, be responsible and accountable, which is very important in social circles

Nutrition and obesity in the united states versus nutrition in other Research Paper

Nutrition and obesity in the united states versus nutrition in other developed countries - Research Paper Example A person whose weight is at least 20 percent higher than the upper limit of the healthy range is considered to be obese. The effect of obesity is that it puts one at risk of many health problems and diseases. This is according to Medical News Today. Obesity makes one susceptible to diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, respiratory issues, and stroke. It is estimated that on average, an obese person will live 8 to 10 years less than a non-obese person. In addition, a high rate of obesity in a country’s population significantly increases its health care costs. Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity in the developed countries such as the United States has significantly increased. Statistics in the United States show one in every three people is medically obese. According to a book published in September 2010 by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and development (OECD), obesity rates in the U.S. rank among the highest in the world. Another research conducted byMedical News Today in the year 2010 shows that 28 percent of all U.S. residents are medically classified to be obese. European Union member countries with obesity rates between 20 percent and 27 percent include Australia at Irelandand Luxembourg (Kumar, 19).The same data also shows that the European Union membercountry with the lowest overall obesity rates was Sweden at 10 percent. The average obesityrate was recorded to be at 16 percent. Research done by the World health Organization shows that the worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly doubled between the year 1980 and 2008. The country estimates for the year 2008 showed that over 50% of both men and women in the European Region were overweight. The percentage of men and women who were overweight were 23% and 20% in both men and women respectively. Based on the latest estimates in European Union countries, overweight problems in adults affects 30-70% while the percentage of adult

DISCUSSION BOARD WEEK 6-1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

DISCUSSION BOARD WEEK 6-1 - Essay Example Qualitative Market Research, 14(4), 430-440. The main aspect of qualitative research method is the definition of research questions (Branthwaite, & Patterson, 2011). Qualitative methods are based on tested variables and hypothesis within the area of interest. Thus, qualitative research is based on a general research question, which can be narrowed down to the preferred research question. In addition, qualitative researchers are interested in exploring patterns that defines different research variables. Identifying patterns that define different research variables is the interesting element of qualitative research. This is because a qualitative researcher is capable of responding to research questions that cannot be addressed through the usual research techniques. This article provides basic guidelines for choosing appropriate design for my research topic. For instance, the article addresses design of research hypothesis and questions. Butler, A. C. (2010). Repeated testing produces s uperior transfer of learning relative to repeated studying. Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory & Cognition, 36(5), 1118-1133. According to Butler (2010), qualitative research question are created in neutral and exploratory language. This enables researchers to define several variables through a single research question. ... Qualitative research address question of ‘what’ and ‘how’. These questions explain or explore a certain pattern that is related to social behavior or trend. The article provide a concrete basis for development of research questions. Ring, N., Jepson, R., & Ritchie, K. (2011). Methods of synthesizing qualitative research studies for health technology assessment. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 27(4), 384-90. Ring, Jepson, & Ritchie (2011), explores the impacts of technology on research. The researchers explore ways in which information technology can be applied in social research. Although the study is based on health assessments, it provides a general overview of qualitative research and its application. According to the article, qualitative research has the ability to respond to research questions that cannot be answered using alternative research methods. The article examines the role of technology in cubing Medicare fraud. A ccording Ring, Jepson, & Ritchie (2011), application of information technology in healthcare centers and institutions will greatly reduce cases of Medicare fraud. Jacobson, P. D (2001). Regulating Health Care: From Self-Regulation to Self-Regulation?  Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law. 26 (5) 1165–78. Jacobson, P. D (2001) explore the role of the authority in regulating the health sector through appropriate ethical practices. According to the article medical fraud, signify unethical performance within health institutions. The article explores the role of healthcare professional in regulating the health sector. The article defines the different trends that characterize Medicare fraud. This provides a significant aspect

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Essay Example for Free

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Essay Abstract The novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was a story of friends, family and culture includind history. The authors thought was fully placed in this novel thus, providing a vivid scenario of the story. It can also be felt by the heart as Amir tried to bury his past but found himself going back to that memore and not able to forgive himself because of his foolishness. The tragic end of Hassans life did not actually mean of sadness but it further insists the understanding of a new life and of a new beginning. The incorporation of both history and culture went along together forming a beautiful narrative and an admirable plot. The Kite Runner Chapter One   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The narrator, recalls his past he had until the winter of 1975. He mentioned that Rahim Khan, his friend called him   from Pakistan and asked him to go there and visit him. After he hung up, he went in a walk and watched a pair of kites dancing above the trees and floating in the air. Upon looking in the kites, he thought about Hassan, Baba, Ali and Kabul. Chapter Two   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The narrator recalls hi past with Hassan, a childhood friend with a cleft lip. He has been a loyal friend to Amir and kept of pleasing him. In this chapter, he also mentioned Hassans father whose name was Ali, a man whose lower facial muscles was paralyzed which prohibits him from showing emotion. Aside from being paralyzed, Ali also have a twisted right leg, a reason why he cant walk like the other people. Hassan and Ali lives in a mud shack on a property belonged to Amirs family. Hassans mother left left a week after he was born and choose to stay with the travelling dancers. Amir came from a well-off family. His father owns an estate in Northern Kabul and Amir calls his father Baba. Since Baba is a rich guy, he has many friends and Rahim Khan was his best friend. While Hassans mother left after his birth, Amirs mother died when he was born. Hassans family was a Hazara and a Shia Muslim while Amirs family were from Pashtun and belongs to the Sunni Muslime. The two children grew up togetehr thus, Amir believes was the start of the foundation of what had happened in the winter of 1975. Chapter Three In this chapter, Baba was further describe by the author. He was describe as an admirable man in business and stature. His child Amir, wants to be close with his father but then, deep inside him, he feels that his father was somehow distant to him because his wife, Amirs mother died of giving birth. Although they were not close, Baba was really a good man. He opened an orphanage which he designed himself and he have a restaurant and a carpet exporting business which makes him part of the richest merchants in Kabul. It was from Baba that he learned that theft is the only true sin and the rest, including murder was just a variant of theft. Baba believes that a murderer robs a wife or a child of a husband and a father. When Baba was young, his father was murdered. When Baba and his bestfriend Rahim Khan was having a conversation, Amir heared them and he found out that his father cant understand him why he cant stand up on his own and everytime he was being teased in the streets and being bullied too, he needs to be defended by Hassan and not by himself alone. He even said that if he wasnt able to see his birth, he would not believe that Amir was his son which Rahim Khan replied with some concer to Amir. Rahim said that the young boy simply lacks a mean streak but nevertheless, he understands him. The following day, because of jealousy, he wasnt able to be considerate with Hassan. Chapter Four   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Babas father adopted an orphan and was raised togetehr with him and this orphan was Ali. Like their fathers, Hassan and Amir were also raised together but Amir like his father does not refer to Hassan as his friend but rather as their servants. While Amir was studying, Hassan was not even given a chance to do the same thing and Amir reads to him until one time, he pretends to be reading but the truh was that he was making it up but Hassan liked his story and after he finished it, Hassan claps and said that it was the best story he was able to hear and said that he would love to hear something that goes like it again. That night, Air wrote his first story but Baba was not interested and it was Rahim Khan who read it and even encourage Amir to continue writing. He then wished that Rahim Khan could have been his father. He also shared his story with Hassan and the latter points out some problem in the introduction which angered Amir since Hassan was illiterate and how could he comment such things. Chapter Five   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   An explosion and a gun fire cuts the conversation between Amir and Hassan. There was an on going attack and Ali hid with the boys. On that same day, Assef, a neighbor who kept on bullying Hassan because he was a Hazara stopped them. He kept on saying that their new president should be like Hitler and get rid of the Hazara. He holds a slingshot but decided to get them later and soon left. On hassans 12th birthday, hes cleft lip was repaired in courtesy of Baba. Chapter Six   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The schools of Kabul are closed during winter and the popular activity to do during those times was to fly a kite. This one is the only interest that shares both Baba and Amir. There was kite fighting in Kabul and it was greatley anticipated by the people and Baba decided to bring the kids to a man named Saifo, a shoe repairman who was considered as the greatest kite maker. The greatest kite runner turned out to be Hassan. Chapter Seven   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It was Amir who won in the Annual kite as his Baba watches. He kept on wondering if Baba would be pleased and be proud of him or Hassan. Hassan at that time runs after the last kite which Amir cuts and plans to present it to Baba as a trophy. When he was looking for Hassan, he saw that he was cornered by Assef and his friends, since he was afraid, he hid while watching and saw that Hassan was raped by Assef. Assef insisted that Hassan was never Amirs friend but his servant. Amir later meets Hassan and pretended not to know what happened. Hassan on the other hand gave him the kite which he later on gave to Baba who was really proud of him. Chapter Eight   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Later, Hassan avoids every people including Amir and Ali asked Amir if he has any idea on what had happened after the kite fight but instead of answering, he snaps and commanded Ali to continue doing his work. This time, Baba showed interest for Amir and he even brought Amir to movies and in an outing, Amir was hoping that Baba and him can have a time of their but Baba invited three vans loaded with friends. Amir was not able to enjoy because of his guilt and later on resulted to being an insomaniac. On the other hand, Hassan tried to befriend Amir but the latter kept pushing him away and asked Baba if they can get new servants which Angered his father. Soon, their relationship worsen. He then start to have a fight with Hassan but the other would not fight back and he was even the one who hurt himself for Amir which shows his loyalty for his friend. On his 13th birthday, Assef gave Amir a book of Hitlers life while Rahim Khan gave hima blank book and told him that he can talk to him anytime. Chapter Nine   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir realized that living with Hassan was impossible and he lied to Baba by telling him that Hassan stole his birthday money including the watch that was given to him. Baba talked to Hassanas father and later confronted Hassan in front of Amir. Hassan admitted the crime in order to protect Amir and right there and then, Amir realized that all along, Hassan knows that he hid and did not helped him. While Baba decided to forgive Hassan, Ali revealed that they will leave even if Baba beg then to stay and it was the first time that Baba cried.   Chapter Ten   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1981, Amir and Baba left from Kabul while taking few personal items and have this idea in secret so that the Russian spies will not be aware of their plan. They will leave for Pakistan but they were stopped by the soldiers in the border and was asked to have hald hour with the young woman who was travelling with them. Baba did not allow it to happen and the young sldier pointed a gun on him but he did not care and the older officer came and stopped the young one and allowed them to pass the boarder. They were supposed to be transferred in another vehicle but the next truck to be used was broken fo a number of weeks already. When Baba realized that the man was only making a fool out of them, he nearly killed him and they had to wait until the truck was repaired. During their stay in the basement as they wait for the truck to be repaired, they met Kamal including his father and their friend. Amir learned that Kamal like Hassan was also raped and did not speak anymore after what happened. They were trasported using fuel trucks wherein Kamal died due to gas fumes and his father commit suicide thinking that he lost the a very valuable aspect in his life. Chapter Ten   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Fremont, California, Baba together with Amir stayed and Baba was not happy in working in a gas station. While Amir was burying his memories in America, his Baba kept on mourning. He graduated in highschool at the age of 20 in 1983. Baba told him that he will go to college but was angered when he chose English to be his major. In this chapter, he met Soraya, daughter of General Taheri, his fathers friend. Chapter Twelve   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir decided to court Soraya and she was kind enough to ask Amir to allow her to read his stories but Amir stopped courting her when Sorayas father saw the two talking alone in the market and he threw in the grabage the story he gave to Soraya. Baba was diagnosed of a incurable lung cancer but he does not want treatment and one day, he collapsed in a flea market. When Sorayas family visited them, the two were engaged. Soraya had a secret but was soon revealed and Amir envies her for that. Chapter Thirteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir and Soraya got married and she moves in the house of the two gentlemen because Baba was sick. She was the one who took care of Baba and reads Amirs stories. After a month, he died in his sleep. Amir was able to finish his first novel in 1988 and was released the following year and he remembered Hassans opinion in his writing ability. They were never able to have a child and considered adoption but ended up in adopting no one since General Taheri did not approve the idea. Chapter Fourteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir told Soraya that he has to go to Pakistan because Rahim Khan was sick. Amir thought that there is an unspoken secret between the two of them and that Rahim knows what happened to Hassan and what he did to get rid of him. Chapter Fifteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The protagonist went back to Pakistan to see Rahim Khan who was very ill. He told Amir the miserable life of Afghans under the ruling of the Talibans. He mentioned that he was happy when the Talibans defeated the Russians but he was wrong. Many people thought that the fighting would stop but it did not. Rahim told Amir that Hassan lived in Babas house togetehr with him in Kabul and he wanted to tell Amir what happened to Hassan. Chapter Sixteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1986, Rahim found Hassan and he was married already and his family was expecting for a child. Ali on the hand was killed by a land mine. Hassan being the loyal friend kept on asking about Amir and had always wanted to hear a letter from him. when he found out that Baba was already death, he wept. Hassan and his new family move with Rahim Khan to become servants s othat Amir will not be offended. Hassans child was born and later, his mother came and they nursed her from a knife attack. Just when Hassan was finally teaching his son of kite fighting, it was prohibited by the Talibans and many Hazaras were massacred. Chapter Seventeen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir asked were he can find Hassan but Rahim gave him a picture of Hassan with his son and with it was a letter stating the hard life under the Taliban rule. Hassan and his wife was shot dead when they refused to leave the house. Rahim ask Amir to get the 10 years old son of Hassan named Sohrab and revealed that Hassan was his brother. Chapter Eighteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir got mad upon realizing that his father was a thief ib the sense that he stole his brother and he at the same time dishonored Ali but in the long run, he did the same when he betrayed the person who would do anything for him and thought that Hassans life could have been better if he was with him in America. He tehn decided to go in Kabul. Chapter Nineteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In entering Afghanistan, a man named Farid helped him. The latter was at first dislikes the protagonist thinking that he will only sell property. They stayed in Wahids house and was served with dinner and Amir found the children looking at him. He revealed that his reason why he came back to Afghanistan was mainly to get his half brothers son. He overheard Wahid and his wife arguing because of the food but Wahid insisted that Amir should be given even if they dont have any because he is a guest. Amir and Farid left and gave the watch to the children but upon realizing that what they were looking at was the food, he placed money underneath the matress so that the kids can find it and they will be able to buy food. It was actually his second time to leave money but the first one was to set up Hassan. This actions only shows that he already grew up as a mature person. Chapter Twenty   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Amir entered Kabul, he was shocked to find several children begging. Together with Farid, they tried to find the orphanage where Sohrab was living. Amir convinced the director to help them and when he finally let him in, he broke the news that a Talib official already bought Sohrab. Farid got mad and accussed the director of making money out of the children and started to strangle the director. Amir stopped him and the director explained himself. He stated that he had no choise but to sell the kids of elese, the Taliban will take many children ad added that he had spent all his savings for the orphanage and ordered the two to go in Ghazi stadium and find an official will black sunglasses. Chapter Twenty-One   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Amir and Farid went to the formers childhood home, they found out that most rich Talibans are staying there and the following day, they went to the Ghazi stadium to find Sohrab or te person who bought him. They were watching a soccer game but during half time, a man and a woman were stoned to death because of adultery and finally, they saw a man with the black eyeglasses and immediately scheduled an appointment with him. Chapter Twenty-Two   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir went alone to see the official and this official was living in a very huge house. He was unkind and abused him verbally until he ordered to bring Sohrab in the room. Upon seeing Sohrab, he thought he looked like Hassan but he was dressed like a court jester with make up. The child was forced in dancing everytime a music was played. The official asked where Hassan was and when he finally took off his glass, he realized that it was Assef. In order to have Sohrab, Amir had to deal with Assef. If Amir wins, he can have Sohrab. When Assef was beating him, he lauged hard feeling that it was so comfortable and it angered Assef more. It was Sohrab who pointed the slingshot to Assef and helped Amir and Farid drove the car. Chapter Twenty-Three   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir collapsed and woke up after two days in the hospital with a broken jaw and several other injuries. At that time, Rahim already left and a letter was found saying that he should forgive himself and Baba. Amir needed to get out of Kabul soon because the Talibans were looking after him and he take Sohrab with him together with the money that Rahim left. Chapter Twenty-Four   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One night when Amir woke up, he noticed that Sohrab was gone and he found him in a mosque and the boy confessed that he does not fully remember what his parents look like and said that he was ashamed of what Assef did to him. Amir told him that they will go to America. He called his wife and told her that he wanted to adopt Sohrab but a man in the U.S. embassy said that it will be imposible to adopt Sohrab because theer is a need to present death certificates of the parents and a proof that Sohrab was his nephew. While Sohrab was staying in the orphanage, Soraya was busy arranging a humanitarian Visa. Sohrab became upset and when Amir found him in the bathroom, he was bleeding and his wrist was slit using a razor blade. Chapter Twenty-Five   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The boy tried committing suicide instead of staying in the orphanage. He was able to survive but wished of dying and it has been a year before the boy spoke again even when the two went back to America. In a party by the Afghan-American community, the two played kite fighting and it seems like Amir and Hassans early years. Amir was the kite runner and they won. For the first time, Sohrab smiled at him.

The Concept Of Civil Society Politics Essay

The Concept Of Civil Society Politics Essay It is important to identify the role of civil society in governance because there is actually a controversy about its role in relationship with the state. For example, Tocqueville (1969) argues that civil society is the most credible alternative to the state for the delivery of public goods. On the other hand, Hegel considers its role as being complimentary to that of the state and he puts a premium on the role of the state. Political Scientists such as Stephan (1998), Stocpol (1992) and Keane (1998) agree that civil society organisations are pre-requisite for making good governance. The World Bank and the United Nations also share the view that there can be no good governance without civil society. The term civil society is itself a subject of many debates. In order to identify the role of civil society in governance, It will be necessary to clarify the context in which the term is been discussed in this paper. Even the notion of good governance is contestable and as such will also require some clarifications. Doornbos (2003:4) agrees that there has hardly been a consensus about its core meaning. In this essay therefore, attempts will be made, using available literature to define the terms civil society and good governance, explain the inter-face between the two concepts, identify the roles of civil society in governance, give a brief description of our case study, which in this instance is South Africa, analyse the impact of civil societies in relationship with good governance in South Africa and conclude on the basis of my findings. The Concept of Civil Society. Civil society is pluralistic in meaning. Perhaps the most profound and enduring definition of the term is that of Locke(1963), who describes civil society as a contract between equals founded on the basis of voluntarism. Tocqueville (op. cit.) builds on the definition provided by Locke and extends the concept further by introducing the idea of collective action as a way of curbing state tyranny for the purpose of producing the common good. Thus, the notion of civil society as a model of self-governance through voluntary effort for the delivery of common good was first introduced. Also, the ideas of voluntarism and collective action projected by these authors form the basis of democracy which is crucial for civil society. Friedman and Mckaiser argue that civil society and democracy are interdependent. According to them, democracy is the vehicle through which civil society can acquire a voice to speak for the people. More recently, Edwards(2005) while exploring the ideas of some modern philosophers who project the idea of civil society as the public sphere (Habermas 1989) and the good society( Kant 1970), concludes that the idea of civil society remains compelling because it brings out the best in us and establishes lasting solutions for issues of inequalities, social injustice and poverty. Cohen and Arato (1992) distinguish civil society from the state and market and argue that it could become the needed instrument for expanding civil rights and democracy. This interpretation of the concept emphasises the idea of democracy which is also considered a necessary condition for good governance. There are many other interpretations of this term by different theorists, but for the purpose of this discourse, civil society will encompass all collective actions by voluntary organisations within the public sphere for the purpose of delivering the common good. It will include activities of Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Social movements, informal and formal communal groups which collaborate with other institutional pillars to deliver goods of public value. The Concept of Good Governance. Governance as a word connotes control, regulations and order. Court, Hyden and Mease (2004: 16) describe governance as a system of regulations and rules within which social actors must take decisions for the purpose of creating social order. Swilling (1997) agrees that governance is the relationship between power structures to create a civic public realm However, the idea that good governance is dependent on civil society makes the concept complex and pluralistic in meaning too. According to Warren (1999), liberal democrats will define a government as good only if it has the following attributes; freedom of information and freedom of the press, citizens capacity building strategy, upholds the fundamental human rights of citizens, encourages collective action and decision making, provides avenue for public opinion and institutional checks and balances. Evans (2012) advances another idea of good governance premised on integrity in public administration. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Transparency International (TI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are some of the advocates of integrity as new public management strategy for the purpose of achieving accountable, transparent and responsible public institutions (ibid). In this model, the OECD identifies eight different criteria for good governance, which it calls ethics infrastructure. They are; political commitment to integrity, effective legal frame work, efficient accountability mechanisms, workable codes of conduct, professional socialisation of staff, supportive public service conditions, an ethics coordinating body; and an active society performing a watchdog role. In this arrangement therefore, civil societies are assumed to be integrity agents and they are expected to monitor the activities of public institutions to ensure accountability, transparency, competence and responsiveness in public administration (ibid). Grindle (2004), while criticizing modern day advocates of good governance agenda for not putting in place a priority list, advances the idea of good enough governance , which to him is more realistic. This model embodies important issues relating to culture, context and priority national developmental goals. It is evident from the discourse above that good governance means different things in different context, but it has certain common attributes such as poverty reduction (Stapenhurst Pelizzo, 2002),accountability, transparency, minimum level of corruption, competent and efficient public service (op. cit.). These attributes will inform the parameter for determining the roles of civil society in good governance in this research. The Inter-face between Civil Society and Good Governance. It is also obvious from the discourse above, that the notions of civil society and good governance are closely linked. The two concepts share many distinct positive attributes necessary for achieving poverty reduction, sustainable development and economic stability and they are perceived as proffering solutions to most of the worlds problems, irrespective of whether they are local, regional or global(Roy 2008). However, Pelizzo (2011) contends that civil societies can become catalysts for the entrenchment of good governance only and when they make a demand on the political class to check and improve on the quality of governance. Uphoff (1986) also argues that civil socities are able to achieve greater level of development when they are independent from bureaucratic controls. The Roles of Civil Society in Governance. Civil societies play very important roles in governance. In the first instance, as advocates of the good society, they help to promote democratic principles and defend democratically elected governments. Secondly, they act as watchdogs to ensure prudent and efficient use of national resources. Lastly, they help to create public awareness on issues relating to good governance and develop a well- informed society. Dewey (1916) argues that the symbol of a good democracy is its ability to develop a well- informed society. Civil societies must be financially, politically and legally independent from government in order for them to effectively fulfil these roles. To succeed, they will also require the support of the political class, other arms of government and institutional pillars such as; anti -corruption bodies, directors of public prosecution, human rights bodies (TI Sourcebook, 2000). South Africa A Brief Description. South Africa as nation was for several years traumatized because of the struggle to overthrow the apartheid regime. However, in 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first president of post -apartheid South Africa, a National Unity Government was established comprising of the countrys majority party; the African National Congress (ANC), the National Party and the Freedom Party. The governments major challenge was to rebuild the nation which had become politically, socially and economically devastated by so many years of conflict under the apartheid regime. The government immediately set up a Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), to address the issues of social inequalities, social injustice, infrastructural deficit, extreme poverty, massive unemployment deep seated insecurity and myriads of other socio- economic consequences of the years of the oppressive rule. Under the RDP, the government designed a well -coordinated and sustainable programme to be executed with the cooperation of the different arms of government, together with civil society organisations and the private sector. The objective was to rebuild the nation within a peaceful and stable environment, characterised by sustainable development and economic growth. The political climate in South Africa changed significantly; the country attempted to embrace some of the neo- liberal economic policies of the West to come up with its own unique system which Andreason (2006) refers to as predatory liberalism. In this model, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) adopted a strategy that enabled it to consolidate economic power in itself and effectively ward off opposition. It is pertinent to state that there is a belief in some quarters that the anti apartheid struggle was inspired by civil society organisations. This notion cannot be correct in view of the earlier claim that democracy and civil society are intimate bedfellows. The struggle that brought about the fall of apartheid in South Africa can best be described as resistance against racial oligarchy. Civil Society Organisations and Their Impact on Good Governance in South Africa The post- apartheid government between 1994 and early 2000, attempted to run an open system which enabled civil society organizations to participate in decision making. Friedman and Kihato (2004) assert that the government created a formal avenue for all citizens to participate in policy making, their criticism however was that organizations were not given equal opportunities for participation. It appeared that government concern was to remain in control. Friedman and Kihato observe that the government seemingly acceptance of civil society was a faà §ade to silence them by integrating them into formal state structure like the National Economic Development Council. Fioramonti (2005) reports that though there were many civil society organizations covering a wide range of developmental objectives; their impact could not be felt because government had withdrawn much of its financial support and many of their leaders had taken up political appointments. This emphasises the importance of political and financial autonomy from the state if civil society organizations are to effectively play their roles. The post- apartheid government of the ANC failed to deliver on its national economic plan of 1996 and there was little or no demand by the civil society organizations on government to give an account of its stewardship. Habib and Kotze observe that the government adopted a centralist approach and other developmental partners were completely alienated from the policy decision making process. As the economic crises deepened in South Africa, the ruling party abdicated from providing goods of public value to the citizenry, some interest groups attempted to fill the vacuum left by government. They established crises committees in rural areas to challenge some of the state policies which they considered oppressive and designed to further pauperize the citizenry. The relationship between the government and the civil society organizations became more tensed. Fioramonti (op. cit.) reports that in 1997, Nelson Mandela criticized civil society organizations for not been democratically accountable and also accused them of being agents in the service of foreign donors Huxtable, Smith and Villalon (2005) further report that former President Mbeki in the bid to discredit foreign- based NGOs severally accused them of not being accountable and wanting to control home- based civil society organizations. Fioramonti (op. cit.) concludes that the division that developed within the civil soc iety organisations in South Africa coupled with fierce state opposition made it difficult for them to engage with government on issues of national development. Post- apartheid South Africa has undergone a period of progressive political stability between 1994 and 2007 which led to the establishment of structures for the consolidation of its fledgling democracy. The civil society organisations have also grown in number and influence. Thomas(2004) adduces that the increasing independence of these organisations from the apron of the state together with the influence of neo- liberal economies have helped to build a strong democratic structure for the state. Since the inception of the Jacob Zumas administration in 2009, civil society organisations have made a lot of impact at national, provincial and local government levels. For example, a coalition of civil society organisations namely; the AIDS Consortium, the AIDS Law Project, the National Association of People Living with Aids and Treatment Action Campaign influenced a change in governments policy on HIV and AIDS (Johnson 2006). Friedman and Mckaiser note that focussed civil society organisations with predominant black membership have not allowed racial sentiments prevent them from challenging government on any policy which is not deemed to be in the interest of the masses, in spite of the overwhelming black support for the current administration. This non- racial posture of some of these organisations have ensured a more responsive democracy and by implication good governance, in that the interest of the society takes precedence over every other consideration. However, civil society organisations in South Africa have been criticised for not representing the poor adequately. The vulnerable groups such as the unemployed, workers in the informal sector and casual workers have no avenue for informed representation in governance. The lack of adequate representation of this group in policy decision making has made it difficult for government to effectively address the issue of poverty reduction. There is glaring evidence that government has not been able to align itself with the aspiration of the poor. For example, Friedman and Mckaiser allege that the Centre for Policy Studies reported that in the early 1990s, government devoted a lot of energy to formulate policies that will extend housing mortgage to the poor in spite of clear evidence that the poor were not interested in mortgage facilities. The lack of identity with the grassroots has some negative implications for the civil society organisations. First, the gap has prevented them from building a relationship of trust amongst the ordinary people, to enable the civil society organisations garner support to challenge governments policies which are deemed to be anti people. Friedman and Mckaiser argue that there is a belief amongst South African grassroots that civil society organisations are elitists and many are sceptical about their motives for organizing pro- poor campaign. Secondly, the void in relationship has prevented them from building a well -informed society which can engage government on issues of national developments. For example, it is reported that many poor communities in South Africa erroneously belief that private companies and not government provide potable water and as such are responsible for their inability to access water. On the other hand, some evidence exists to show that civil society organisations actually identify with the plight of the poor. For example, between 1990 and 2009, civil society organisations like COSATU and its allies made some efforts to address the issue of poverty reduction through Basic Income Grant Campaign (Friedman and Mckaiser). The problem however appears to be that their inability to embed themselves amongst the grassroots, have prevented them from fully appreciating the struggles of the poor and from effectively representing the poor. Another handicap to some civil society organisations role in good governance in South Africa is in the area of political affiliation to the ruling party. For example, COSATU which is deemed to be the largest civil society organisation in South Africa is an ally of the ANC. COSATU is seen as been reluctant to form a coalition with other civil society organisations on issues which might appear to be critical of the ruling ANC government, even when they are in the best interest of the masses. It is alleged that COSATU tend to highlight the governments achievements, while keeping mute in the areas of its failures (Friedman and Mckaiser). Again this point underscores the importance of political autonomy by civil society organisations if they are to play their roles as watchdogs effectively. Civil society organisations in South Africa have recorded some degree of success in the area of influencing governments policy on women liberation. Tripp (2001) argues that political changes in the early 1990s coupled with campaigns by civil society organisation transformed the face of womens activism in Africa. According to her, the development opened the door for women to be engaged in civic education, leadership training and run for political office. The most outstanding example in South Africa is Winnie Mandela, former wife of ex- president Nelson Mandela who contested for office under the ANC in year 2009. Conclusion Flowing from the above, civil society organizations have had a positive impact in ensuring good governance in some aspects in South Africa, but in others, they have not done so well. Several reasons are responsible for their limited impact. First, their inabilities to disentangle themselves politically and financially from the ruling ANC party have led to some compromise. For example, COSATU has failed to engage the ANC government on issues that would project it as being disloyal to its close ally (the ANC), even when those issues might be in the interest of the society at large. Second, their inabilities to deepen their roots amongst the poor and effectively represent the grassroots in national debates constitute an obstacle. Third, their disposition to devote much of their energy / resources only to pursue individual concerns / interests, while neglecting to uphold civil liberties, democratic principles and structures poses a threat to their very survival. If civil society organisations are to effectively play their roles in securing good governance in South Africa, they need to severe close ties with the ruling party, source for foreign donor institutions for financial support and re -strategize domestically to have a strong home support to be able to uphold democratic principles, defend the rights of the people and make government accountable to the people.