Critically examine the distinctions between explanatory and Essay

Critically examine the distinctions between explanatory and constitutive theories of International Relations, illustrating your argument with insights from a variety of theoretical perspectives - Essay Example Papp (2002) expresses that the profound insight into this discipline, different theories have been advanced by the scholars of this discipline. These theories not only help understand relations among the nations but also provide a complete framework of body for effective governance of the states and deal world politics at large. These theories include Realism, Neo-realism, Liberalism, Neo-liberalism, Constructivism, Idealism, Liberal Internationalism, Marxism, Functionalism and Post-structuralism etc which mark their existence as dominating thought of international system ever since emphasis on this discipline’s has been laid upon. According to Donnelly (2000), these theories endeavour to provide a conceptual framework to comprehend the basis of relations among the nations. In connection with asserting their actuality and validity, these theories take into account various assumptions for establishment of conceptualisation which have become mandatory under all circumstances for a profound insight into international relations. Before going further, a look at these concepts which seek their origin from these theories is all the most necessary. They are Nation-state, Balance of Power, National Interests, Elements of Power etc. they draw their birth from this theoretical system of body. Importance of these theories can be understood from the fact that without a conceptual framework of these theories, understanding world politics through international relations’ concepts was not possible. Keeping aside all other theories, for instance Waltz (1979), current debate on distinction between explanatory approach and constitutive approach in international relations will be deal by this paper. These approaches were taken into consideration for the classification of the international relations’ theories. In a practical perspective the realism is major participant in

Contextualising Disability and Immigration in Britain

Contextualising Disability and Immigration in Britain 1. Contextualising disability in modern Britain is a problematic task. The principal challenge of any contextualisation is perhaps the question of whose contextualization is the most apt one. Answering this question and the position taken as a result is also arguably a critical tension within the issue of disability. This then hinges upon whether we contextualize disability from a point of view centred on society generally in modern Britain or whether we contextualize it from the viewpoint of those living with disabilities in modern Britain, (Barnes, 2006). This then highlights the issue as to whether disability is problematic for British society itself or whether it is in actuality British society is disabling itself for those it counts as living within disabilities. We can also contextualize disability in modern Britain in the very sense of its modernity by reflecting on the development of care, policy and legislation for disability, seeing it in a progressive light as a gradual deepe ning of respect and civil society values towards the disabled in Britain. Yet has the success of increased legislation towards the disabled in society gone any way towards combating the problems raised and highlighted by the disability rights movement for example. Perhaps in some ways this question can be answered positively in that legally many forms of discrimination against those living with disabilities has been placed on an equal footing with other kinds of discrimination such as that to do with race and racism. But has a legal countering of discrimination been enough to counter what many might count as socially embedded negative values and attitudes towards the disabled in modern Britain. In many instances activists within the disabled rights movement have argued that this has not occurred. This contextualisation returns us then to the issue noted above in that while legal and political measures have been taken to protect and enable disabled persons to live more active and fuller lives in particular settings socially in terms of British society questions can be asked as to how successful these attitudes have been diffused. As an illustration of this in examining the statistics of those who are disabled and working as opposed to those who are disabled and living on benefits highlights in many ways the inability of disabled persons to secure employment even where they are legally entitled to be considered on the same basis as those who are not disabled, (Kemp, 2006). Contextualising disability then is an interesting task as it centres as such on definitions, attitudes and reactions to the incidence of disability and how those with disability are treated by and perceived by British society in a wider and more general sense. Disability then when we contextualize it in this manner becomes a matter of respective perspectives on the issues that are play within the area of disability. For those then within the disability rights movement for example it is British society itself which is disabling in terms of restricting those living with disability from leading full and active lives. In terms of societal responses then the legal and political measures which have been pursued can be seen as responses to these criticisms. Yet the effectiveness of these can continually be questioned in terms of their impact. Similarly an often occluded aspect of disability in modern British society is the emphasis legally on physical as opposed to mental disabilities. A cl aim that can also be levelled at the disability rights movement itself at times. This can be seen in the fact that much of the legislation has focused on the concerns of those living with physical disabilities to the detriment of those living with mental disabilities, (Borsay, 2005). What this points towards in terms of a contextualization of disability in modern Britain is a failure of particular perspectives to be heard at all in the face of certain perspectives seeing a sustained debate on which version is the more correct one to be used in examining the issue of disability. 2. A contextualization of immigration in modern Britain is in many critical ways a contextualization of modern Britain itself. This can be seen in a number of key ways, such as for example the historical impacts of immigration on the makeup and composition of modern Britain. It can also be located in some of the more current socially problematic issues such as the role of Britain in the European Union, terrorism and the decline of the primacy of the welfare state. These are however broad claims and as such then how does a contextualization of immigration become relevant to the themes outlined above? Perhaps the clearest way a contextualisation of immigration points to these themes is by the manner in which immigration is discursively as an issue by society. As such then it can be argued that the discourse of immigration in Foucauldian terms points towards a complexity of issues that reflects, intersects and interacts with a set of much broader discourses within British society. Not only this but importantly but in terms of this wider social discourse on immigration what is not perceived or what is not discussed has immediate relevance also for the themes mentioned above, (Block, 2006). As such immigration can be seen as a contested issue and its contextualization as such offers insights into critical debates within modern Britain. An example of this can be seen in the recent debates over the economic benefits of immigration which are made against the backdrop of the expansion of the EU. Here there has been a shift from the unrestricted access of inhabitants of the first accession countries such as Poland to living and working in Britain to one of restrictions for newer accession countries such as Romania. Similarly debates over multiculturalism in the wake of recent terrorist acts have seen immigration being contested in the sense of how well do newer immigrants, and in particular Muslim immigrants integrate into British society. Likewise a final aspect of the contested nature of immigration is their partaking of the use of various public services in Britain. Arguments are made that immigration causes strains on public services such as the NHS, housing, education a nd other aspects of the welfare state, (Dustmann, 2005). Each of these issues are importantly social and political discourses themselves also. A contextualisation of immigration then needs to consider whether immigration is a feature of these discourses or whether they are a feature of immigration itself. Arguably the most suitable approach is to see a contextualisation of immigration as a mix between both of the extremes outlined above to see it as a contested discourse. Dissecting these contestations of immigration then is arguably the principal method to contextualizing immigration in modern Britain. It is an issue as such that is a mirror and a lens reflecting and providing insights into what are major transformational debates in modern Britain. Indeed the greater immigration is perceived or is in actuality occurring then the greater these debates are played out in the media, political circles and within national and local settings, (Cohen, 2001). There is a need then to situate immigration discursively within a framework which recognizes the multiplicity of discourses which are at play or are extolled in relation to the issue of immigration. It is a discourse containing many images and symbols about particular aspects of modern British society which are seen as problematic. Conte xtualising immigration then as a result necessitates a contextualisation of many disparate aspects of British society. References Barnes, C. (2006) Independent Futures: Creating User-Led Disability Services in a Disabling Society, Bristol, Policy Block, D. (2006) Multilingual Identities in a Global City: London Stories, Basingstoke, Macmillan Borsay, A. (2005) Disability and Social Policy in Britain since 1750: A History of Exclusion, Basingstoke, Macmillan Cohen, S. (2001) Immigration Controls, The Family and the Welfare State, London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers Dustmann, C. (2005) Immigration, Jobs and Wages: Theory, Evidence and Opinion, London, Center for Economic Policy Research Kemp, P. A. (2006) Sick Societies? , Geneva, International Social Security Association

Protecting Our Children from the Internet Essay examples -- Computers

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Generational Wealth and Economics: Analysis

Today African American communities are falling apart tremendously. Crime is rising; children are killing more than they are working. Economics are lowering; people tend to spend their money in other communities where businesses look more professional than that of their own, and families are fighting over material things that do not have value or meaning. There is also a rise in welfare, section eight housing, abortion, credit card and calling card charges, and layaway spending that keeps an individual in bondage; bondage of his mind. I would like to suggest that there is a lack of generational wealth in the African-American community. The lack of generational wealth is a direct result of our knowledge of economics and understanding economics. In order to understand the two, generational wealth and economics, you first have to go back to the beginning of time when God created the man and woman (Adam and Eve) and gave them their job description. In the book of Genesis the first chapter and the 28th verse, God said, â€Å"Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. And God also said, â€Å"See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food† (Question about Quoting Bible). At this time God gave a charge to Adam and Eve giving them dominion. They were producers of the world. But when they decided to mess up in the garden by eating the forbidden fruit, they went from being producers into being consumers. This is one of the problems today in the black community. Out of a lack of understanding of who we are and what our purpose is, we consume all things of others but rarely move into the understanding of producing our own. In this light, increasing the number of blacks in ownership positions appears to be an important prerequisite for ending black community unrest (McKersie pg 84). If blacks are upset because they lack control over the institutions of their community, because they are charged high prices for inferior merchandise, victimized by credit racketeers, and exploited by employers, then perhaps some would argue, greater black ownership will help end this condition. If the black community lacks leadership and a stable middle class, then enlarging the number of black entrepreneurs may provide such leadership and foster stability. If the problem is lack of racial confidence, the success of black capitalists would build pride. Today in the black community, crime is rising; children are killing children and spending more money in the communities than their parents. There is an increasing number of males killing for what they think are respect. There is also a mindset on children that, it is better to kill, steal, and destroy, to get what is gratifying to self. Children have become lazy. They have depended on the former generations to get things done rather than them. Today also, there is an increased number of welfare, section 8 housing, and abortion participants, which are considered to be popular in the community. This is nothing but bondage. Society has a way of keeping people focused on minor issues and making them think that they are major. Welfare is not a major problem but rather one that is minor. The major problem today, which has always been a problem, is economics. Economics is a problem because many African Americans don†t know what economics are and how to manage it. Out of one†s lack of understanding the economical breakdown of society, he cannot teach his child about generational wealth. Generational wealth is what a family has accumulated over its lifetime along with those resources that have been inherited across generations. Generational wealth is not riches. When one is rich, they are materially content for the moment but not necessarily content in their private lives. One who is just rich, will become a private failure but public success. In essence, riches are the successes of the world. On the other hand, wealth is generated through the family unit and is passed down generationally. In Proverbs 13:22, it reads, a good man leaves an inheritance to his children†s children. In order for one to truly understand generational wealth, he must first understand economics and vice versa. Economics is the study of heart and wallet. Meaning, if you want to touch people, you have to reach them in their pockets. Matthew 6:21 states, â€Å"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let†s break down economics. The Greek meaning of the word echo means family. Therefore, economics is the study of the family management. This is so awesome that God decided to give us an assignment in His daily word. In Luke 19:13, God says, â€Å"do business until I return. † He didn†t just throw business in there for anything. To do business until God return means, to occupy; take dominion; handle things in decency and in order to the word of God. Sad to say, but some people only understand economics when it comes to selling drugs. Young men and even some young women understand that you can buy large quantities of drugs at wholesale and make profit by way of retail. On the other hand, if you ask them to turn the television to the stock market channel and decipher the information run on the station, they can†t even relate. So when do we come to an understanding that there is a world wide problem of the family unit that is affecting our economics? One of the major problems in the black community is that everyone is out for self. We have gained a mindset that everyone is supposed to work for his or her own stuff and keep their stuff to themselves. Out of understanding who you are, you understand that the father is the one who formulate the vision, the son is the one who demonstrates the vision, while the grandson authenticates the vision. It takes the fortitude of a father to persevere through the storm of formulation. It takes the zeal of a son to pay the cost of demonstration. It takes the integrity of a grandson to handle the glory of authentication. There are a lot of individuals who don†t understand this so, therefore they operate trying to be the father, son, and grandson. This brings about the mindset of selfish thinking and single generational. Thinking selfishly and single families operate in false wisdom. For example, when most children turn 18, they are kicked out of the house and told by their parents that they are grown enough to make it on their own, but was never equipped to pay their bills and even maintain their payments. Therefore we have a generation that had already achieved their successes, forcing our children to grow up in a fast paced society that prefers self-gratification, without restraint. The family exists at the heart of every society†¦ No society has succeeded without it. But today we see a fraying of all connections that have defined our families. We are neglecting our children emotionally and educationally, marriage is increasingly unstable, we are slipping deeper and deeper into acceptance of violence, and we are absorbed into materialism and competitiveness. If we allow these trends to continue, there lie ahead, families that slip further into chaos. As you can see, we are living in a time where there is much help needed. It is time for African-Americans to wake up and take the dominion that God has given them. It is also, time out for just talking about the decay of the community but rather offer solutions to the problems of the community. Having been empowered to understand that true wealth and economics is generated through the family unit and is passed down generationally, one has the ability to empower another so that we can move forward to begin building our communities economically, emotionally, and physically. I pray that this empowerment will not inspire one but rather, transform one to make a change for the generations to come. It†s just like Bishop says, â€Å"Lack of information is ignorance but the inability to use information is stupidity. † Therefore, those who are not prepared will not survive.

Compare Candide and Tartuffe

In  Tartuffe, Moliere's use's plot to defend and oppose characters that symbolize and ridicule habitual behavior's that was imposed during the neo-classical time period. His work, known as a comedy of manners, consists of flat characters, with few and similar traits and that always restore some kind of peace in the end. He down plays society as a whole by creating a microseism, where everyone in the family has to be obedient, respectful, and mindful of the head of the home, which is played by the father Orgon. Mariane shows her obedience when she replies â€Å"To please you, sir, is what delights me best. (Moliere 324,11) Shortly afterwards, Orgon commands Mariane to take Tartuffe as her husband even though she is not interested in him at all. Orgon's command shows how men are dominate and have control over social order. Mariane's strong obedience to her father (Orgon) supports the Neo-Classical element that the individual is not as important as society. Moliere discusses logic an d reasoning by blindfolding Orgon to the reality of Tartuffe's intentions that causes him to make dumb decisions. In the process, Orgon disregard's his family when told of Tartuffe's intentions.After Tartuffe cons Orgon into believing that Damis's accusation is false Orgon replies, â€Å"I know your motives, I now you wish him ill:/Yes, all of you – wife, children, servants, all – /Conspire against him and desire his fall. † (Moliere 341-342,46-48) Orgon then excommunicates his own son, indicating that his reasoning is deferred due to his ignorance. This in due course challenges the Neo-Classical belief that logic and reasoning is more important than emotion because Orgon acts solely on his emotions. He feels as if his family has turned against his friend so he operates upon his feelings.When Damis returns home and Tartuffe (instead of Orgon) gets locked up, order is restored. At the end, the family commends the officer for apprehending the true criminal by sayi ng, â€Å"Heaven be praised! / We're safe. / I can't believe the danger's past. † (Moliere 361, 84-87) This is when Moliere demonstrated the common saying that â€Å"what happens in the dark will eventually come to the light, therefore allowing confusion to re-establish its order. Moliere developed a series of flat characters, which satirized the Neo-Classic belief system.In  Candide, Voltaire's approach is called black comedy. Many devastating factor's play into the character's lives that causes the reader to be amused in a cynical way in order to guard their inner feelings. He challenges society as a whole by the way he implements real life occurrences into his writing and makes them come alive. This becomes evident when Dr. Pangloss told Candide what came of Cunegonde at the castle of Westphalia after he left. Pangloss described her as being â€Å"disemboweled by the Bulgar soldiers, after having been raped to the absolute limit of human endurance. (Voltaire 524) This causes the imagination to display a vivid picture of the severity of the situation. Furthermore he challenges order by illustrating the human condition. Candide's confusion causes him to ask, â€Å"have they always been liars, traitors, ingrates, thieves, weaklings, sneaks, cowards, backbiters, gluttons, drunkards, misers, climbers, killer's, calumniators, sensualists, fanatics, hypocrites, and fools? † (Voltaire 557) There is an ongoing war between people, and all the while Candide and the others are attempting to maintain. Dr. Pangloss represents the optimism that Voltaire challenges.Pangloss show this by saying, â€Å"it was love; love, the consolation of the human race, the preservative of the universe, the soul of all sensitive beings, love, gentle love. † (Voltaire 525) He challenges, † optimism by his representation of Dr. Pangloss. Dr. Pangloss's blind optimistic approach allows him to forget about the fighting that is occurring amongst people and he only sees love. Satirical approaches to writing were used to change the captivated way of thinking during the late 17th and 18th centuries. The Neo-Classic time period contributed in the expansion of people's view of life.The Enlightenment period writers focused on reason, knowledge, and rationality as major themes. In this era the  Catholic Church  was still an extremely powerful institution operating throughout much of Europe; however reason was beginning to emerge as an alternative to faith and religion. As a result, Enlightenment writers began to look at the world critically and rationally. Much of the important literature of the period was satirical in nature, using humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other significant issues.Two great Enlightenment writers, Moliere and Voltaire, use satirical approaches in their works that have various similarities and differences. The simi larities between Moliere's Tartuffe and Voltaire's Candide are primarily rooted in common Enlightenment themes. For example, in both stories the writers focus on questioning and criticizing the nature of hierarchies in our society, particularly the members of the aristocratic or upper classes rather than â€Å"common† people. In Tartuffe, Orgon and his family are members of the aristocracy.Orgon owns his estate and clearly has enough  money  to provide for his entire family in addition to Tartuffe and his friend. Similarly, Voltaire's story focuses on Candide, who may be missing a fraction of his aristocratic  family tree, but is still considered upper class. As the story progresses, the reader sees Candide's accruement of money and wealth despite his initial expulsion from his uncle's estate in the first pages of the story. Although both Voltaire and Moliere write about upper class individuals, neither writer focuses on serious psychological characters in their works.I n fact, quite the opposite is true: the characters in both Tartuffe and Candide are relatively one-dimensional. Enlightenment writers commonly used characters that could serve as â€Å"types† that would be easily recognizable and identifiable to their audiences. Enlightenment writers like Moliere and Voltaire also do not look deeply into characters. Because the characters are so one-dimensional and because the focus during the time period was on the social aspect rather than psychological characteristics, audiences don't often see characters alone.Candide is rarely alone throughout his travels, doing whatever he can do acquire a â€Å"side kick† when he lacks company. Describing a character's individual thoughts in moments of isolation would be more geared toward illuminating the differences between characters. For Enlightenment writers, however, the focus was on the similarities between people rather than these differences. Another similarity between the pieces is a v ery little  sense  of nature or the natural world. Tartuffe. In Candide, the main characters trek across the globe, yet the reader is offered very little description of the locations hey visit. For Enlightenment writers, settings are simply background. Instead, the focus is on the conversation between the characters and the social aspect of events or situations. There was simply little interest in things considered to be outside of society. Although there are many similarities between the two writers, there is about a century's difference in the satire between them. Satire changed during this period of time and gained a lot more edge in Voltaire's time than in Moliere's, partially because of the new scrutiny and criticism of people.Voltaire's satire, for example, is a lot more focused and daring. On the other hand, the threshold for social criticism in Moliere's time was relatively low. Moliere's play would have offended the Church so much so that the writer went out of his way to hyperbolize Tartuffe's hypocrisy. The idea that Tartuffe could have been taken as a â€Å"serious† religious figure was problematic for Moliere despite the fact that Tartuffe was not written as a clergyman. Tartuffe's hypocrisy was as obvious as possible so as not to impugn pious members of the church or clergy.While both Moliere and Voltaire are masterful writers, their satirical approaches have various similarities and differences. Both writers utilize humor, irony, and exaggeration to make their social commentaries that were primarily directed towards the aristocracy. Despite all of their similarities, however, a major difference between the two writers is the time period during which they wrote. Moliere was forced to use much more subtle satire as a result of the oppressive Catholic Church. Voltaire, on the other hand, wrote nearly one hundred years later and was far less constrained and therefore able to use a much more brutal form of satire.Nevertheless, both Tartuff e and Candide are excellent representations of Enlightenment thinking and social criticism at the time. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Tartuffe and Candide are two novels that greatly show a general exaltation of emotion over reason and the senses over intellect. These stories are perfect examples of how life in the neoclassical era also dealt with certain situations that we humans face in today’s world as well. Disputing emotion over reason and the senses over intellect can be explained through both worlds; then and today. Tartuffe on page 19, was written by Moliere. Tartuffe’s them was excess vs. moderation.This goes to show that any excess is an off route to a disciplined life of reason and therefore, it is an example of disorder and a potential disruption of society. Tartuffe show’s several aspects of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy means pretending to be virtuous when one is not and it is a violation of order because it poses tw o realities, reality and its pretense, when we know there is really only one. The reason for hypocrisy is their reaction, not their emotion. Several people in this story were guilty of wrongful reasoning, to provoke hypocrisy. Their sense of intellect was misled by their emotions over wrongful reasoning.Tartuffe and Orgon were major victims of hypocrisy. Tartuffe led Orgon to believe he’s a pure and a loyal friend when in fact he was not that. Tartuffe also tried to take of advantage of Orgon’s wife, Elmire. He also used Mariane to get closer to Orgon’s name and possessions, by convincing Orgon to force his daughter Mariane to marry him. Tartuffe is supposedly supposed to be a â€Å"good Christian† by; being out in the open with worship at church services, yet a true Christian wouldn’t do that. But one way Tartuffe is showing good intellect, even if it is used in an unmoral way, is him kneeling to Orgon.When someone kneels before you, Tartuffe was giving all responsibility, reason, power, judgment to Orgon. Tartuffe is giving power to get power, unlike Orgon who frustrates everyone for power. Orgon is somewhat the villain for giving Tartuffe the power. Orgon is also overly in passion in regards to Tartuffe. He is even worse than Madam Pernelle. He no longer cared about what he was supposed to be responsible for. And he replaced genuine responsibility for his family with unneeded concern for Tartuffe. An example of this act is on page 24 scene 4.Orgon showed wrongful reasoning by giving his word to Mariane’s true love Valere. And then took his word back by forcing her to marry Tartuffe. And in doing so he let himself fall for Tartuffe’s trap of ruining his family. In this story Orgon is trying to trade responsibility for control. He is also trying to control his family, which is sad. Orgon thinks he is getting older, losing control and is going through what some would call a mid-life crisis. Mariane also shows aw ful reasoning by letting her dad push her around and agree to her father that she would follow his word to marry Tartuffe when she really didn’t want †¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Moliere’s Tartuffe, Racine’s Phaedra and Voltaire’s Candide are each exemplary literary works of the 18th  century in their own rights. Tartuffe is a satirical comedy, Phaedra an intense tragedy and Candide a thought-provoking travelogue. While each adheres austerely to its genre, various similarities as well as contrasting differences can be traced among the aforementioned works. Written during the Age of Enlightenment, each of these works reflects the ideology of the period and hence, has various similarities. Firstly, each of these works glorifies reason over religion and the theory that man is responsible for his own actions.These timeless masterpieces were revolutionary among contemporaries. Moliere uses comedy to ridicule hypocrites, impostors and fools who ignore moderate commo n sense. He mocked certain religious sects and tried to point attention to the corrupt among them. At the time, such ridicule of those associated with the Church was highly unacceptable and was considered radical. Voltaire too tried to poke fun at members of the upper class and institutionalized religion through the character of Cunegonde’s brother – the young baron. He portrayed him as a homosexual and a man of stringent narrow-minded beliefs.Other ideas and that make this piece revolutionary are the deliberate ridicule of popular beliefs and a scene implying bestiality. Phaedra too was revolutionary because it was the one of the first works that portrayed a story from a feminine point of view. Phaedra is the mythological classic Hippolytus re-written from the perspective of a female protagonist. The first of its sort, Phaedra broke new grounds. Thus each of these works can be considered revolutionary. Another aspect worth comparing is the portrayal of female characte rs in these plays.Each of these classics describes their female characters as attractive, smart, opportunistic and deceptive. In Tartuffe, the lady of the house Elmire seduces Tartuffe in order to bring to light his true nature and save her family’s fortune. Racine describes Phaedra as a woman tempted by incest and possessed by jealousy. In Candide, the female characters – Cunegonde, the maid, Paquette and the Marquise of Parolignac are described as opportunistic, astute and conniving. Thus, the three works have a similar discernment of women. These works also portray a similar complexity of relationships.In Tartuffe, the man of the house – Oregon is portrayed as narrow-minded and gullible. Oregon sticks to his beliefs and there is spell of tension among the family members. He shields himself from common logic and refuses to hear the voice of reason. In Phaedra, Theseus blindly believes the words of another and summons death on to his own son. Candide too has a similar portrayal of family relationships. Cunegonde’s brother refuses permission to allow Candide to marry her because he values the caste system over his sister’s love.Also, Candide who has sworn immortal love for his beloved Cunegonde tries to revoke his steps when he finds she is no more the attractive young girl he fell in love with and she too willingly gives him up to marry a wealthy governor. These works also lack a hero or a model of perfection. In Tartuffe, the central character is a crook, while Oregon is gullible and Elmire crafty and opportunistic. In Phaedra, the central character is seen as weak and immoral, Theseus as disloyal and Hippolytus as proud and vain. In Candide, the protagonist is easily fooled and commits various sins including adultery and murder during his adventures.Thus, each of this pieces lack the traditional hero or a paradigm of virtue to look up to. While these works are similar in many ways, they also have wide range of differences. The most notable difference among the genres is the emotional ambience set throughout the individual works. Tartuffe maintains comical situations through every scene, mostly satirical with a touch of slapstick for relief. While, in polar contrast Phaedra maintains a very serious tone throughout the story with a wave of intense scenes troughed with moderation.Candide however, transcends genres as it moves from tragedy to comedy. Defined as a black comedy, it combines tragedy and comedy to form a new genre. A noteworthy dissimilarity between the three plays is that Moliere and Voltaire use Tartuffe and Phaedra respectively to give vent to their views and opinions on society at the time and its defects. Phaedra however is a take of the Roman classic, Hippolytus from a different perspective. Further, Tartuffe and Candide have a male central character while the story of Phaedra revolves around a female.As mentioned earlier, Phaedra is far more revolutionary in this context compared to t he other two as it tackles a story from a woman’s perspective. Another major point of difference between the genres is the result they achieve. The tragedy of Phaedra evokes the sublime and results in an emotional catharsis for the reader – a purge of feelings. On the other hand, Candide and Tartuffe use the genre of comedy to bring to light the various evils of society. The happy ending gives a reassuring feeling and the scenes of humor are entertainingly amusing.Hence, the different genres bring out different emotions from the reader. The three pieces are also different by means of the message they pose to deliver to the reader. Tartuffe tries to prove right the statement ‘the end justifies the means,’ with Elmire using Tartuffe’s method against him. Phaedra, an intense and dramatic tragedy, depicts how pride destroys the mighty and Candide debunks the theory ‘Everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds. ’ The most i mportant factor that unifies each of the three genres is that they all aim to entertain. However their method of reaching this common goal varies.Tartuffe uses comedy, Phaedra tragedy and Candide transcends genres and uses a combination of both. Hence, they can be seen as different roads that lead to the same destination. Candide Voltaire's Candide has many themes, though one central, philosophical theme traverses the entire work. This theme is a direct assault on the philosophy of Leibniz, Pope and others. Leibniz held that the world created by God was the best possible world with perfect order and reason. Alexander Pope, similarly, in his Essay on Man, argues that every human being is a part of a greater, rational, grand design of God.Pangloss stresses this viewpoint-that what appears to be evil is actually part of a greater good-when he asserts to Jacques that â€Å"private misfortunes make for public welfare.? /font> Voltaire, on the other hand, found that his own experiences c ontradicted this optimistic determinism. Much like his protagonist, Candide, Voltaire must abandon this belief after realizing the needless suffering that surrounds him. Thus the major theme of the book revolves around this idea that the world is not the best of all possible ones, that it isn't determined by reason and order, and that accident and chance play a major role.Though as a deist, Voltaire believed that God did create the world, he also believed that human injustice and brutality made the world anything but perfect. Furthermore, he believed that the fatalistic philosophy of Pope and others stripped man of his God-given free will. In addition to his anti-philosophy current which runs throughout the work, Voltaire also satirically indicts religion and war. Almost from the first chapter to the last, Voltaire depicts religious men (priests, monks, etc) as hypocrites who don't live up to the religion they profess to believe.Most importantly, Voltaire makes the Church out to be one of the most corrupt, violence-ridden institutions on the planet. This is seen both during the Inquisition scene towards the middle of the book as well as the Jesuit satire seen while Candide and Cacambo are in Paraguay. Based largely on Voltaire's experiences of the Seven Years? War (1756-63), an anti-war message is found throughout the fast-paced narrative of Candide. Voltaire bitingly criticizes both the French (Abares) and the Prussians (Bulgars). Casually describing the thousands of dead soldiers on both sides, Voltaire underscores how wasteful these â€Å"heroes? re of human life, clearly showing his anti-war sentiments. During one such battle, Candide, his protagonist, hides, doing his best to keep away from the needless bloodshed and â€Å"heroic butchery.? After the battle subsides, he escapes through the battlefield, seeing the â€Å"scattered brains and severed limbs? that â€Å"littered the ground.? /font> Thus, Voltaire bashes a multitude of people and institutio ns throughout Candide. Despite his many sources of criticism, however, Voltaire merges all of his satires into one, larger message-that the human world is utterly disutopian.All of the versions of utopia which Voltaire raises up and then slams down in his work demonstrate such a loss of optimism. Pangloss? utopia, for one, which simply changes the conditions of the word to fit it to the world he knows is proven false, since even Pangloss himself eventually stops believing it. Eldorado, a second kind of utopia, also fails to satisfy Candide, who soon becomes bored, yearning for adventure, and, of course, Cunegonde. Only the decision to simply till the land at the conclusion of the book satisfies a quasi-utopian hope of the reader.Yet when Pangloss tries to resurrect the idea that this world is a utopia in the second to last paragraph, Candide himself dismisses the notion. The eighteenth century in Europe,  more famously known as the â€Å"Age of Enlightenment,† was a time of profound literary advances. It was an era that saw the expansion and perfection of the novel and an unprecedented proliferation of socially conscious works. The period produced a veritable slew of classics, two among them clearly being Moliere's  Tartuffe  and Voltaire's  Candide. Although written in different times and in different ormats, both works present humorous stories as vehicles for social commentary. Both tales would be classics for their satire alone, but it is their portrayal of women that is perhaps most interesting. European women in the eighteenth century occupied a precarious position between the ponderous advance of liberalism and the lingering influence of traditional gender roles, and the two works offer broad insights into the lives of such women. Moliere's  Tartuffe  and Voltaire's  Candide  both feature sympathetic and dignified portrayals of strong female characters subordinated or oppressed by eighteenth century society.One such character in Mo liere's  Tartuffe  is Dorine, the lady-maid to Orgon's wife Elmire. In  Tartuffe, Moliere presents Dorine as an intelligent woman with a good understanding of human behavior. Moliere attests to her intelligence early in the story by showing her to be the most perceptive member of the household. Unlike Orgon, who is so dimwitted and foolish that he is completely blind to Tartuffe's chicanery, Dorine is able to â€Å"see right through him,† bluntly declaring him a â€Å"fraud† (Moliere 25).Dorine is also consistently presented as outspoken and opinionated, frequently chastising Orgon's actions, particularly concerning the marriage of Mariane and Tartuffe (Moliere 40-42). Furthermore, although Moliere places Dorine in the relatively low position of a lady-maid, he is always quick to display her innate intelligence, dignity, and perceptiveness. In doing so, Moliere actually depicts Dorine as a walking contradiction; Dorine clearly possesses mental acuity beyond her s tation, but she is still a maid.Her situation illustrates the position of countless proletarian women of the age: competent and intelligent, but mired in inequality and menial labor. As Dorine states in the play, ironically speaking of Madame Pernelle rather than herself, â€Å"She's thus because she can't be otherwise† (Moliere 27). Moliere's commentary on society is exceptionally penetrating here. In making Dorine, a servant (and a female at that), perceptive and intelligent, and the higher class men of the household either hopelessly foolish or ineffectual, he is demonstrating that class and gender mean little in determining one's worth or intellect.Elmire, the dutiful wife of the dullard Orgon, is portrayed in a similar manner despite her different position. In Tartuffe, Moliere depicts the character as a resourceful and intelligent woman much like Dorine. Elmire is clearly shown to be mentally superior to her husband, to the point that she becomes frustrated with her hus band's gullibility concerning Tartuffe, saying bluntly that â€Å"[Orgon's] blindness takes [her] breath away† (Moliere 67). Elmire is also a key figure in Moliere's work.When Orgon refuses to admit that Tartuffe could possibly harbor adulterous intentions, Elmire takes the initiative and persuades her stubborn husband to hide under a table while she manipulates Tartuffe into admitting his nefarious intent (Moliere 68-69). The fact that Elmire is forced to manipulate her husband's decisions rather than make her own, however, is a clear illustration of the subordinate status of women in eighteenth century marriage. For all her cunning, Elmire is still presented as the subordinate figure in the marriage; it is Orgon who controls the finances, home, and daughters of the family.Indeed, Moliere depicts Elmire as a character much like Dorine: strong, sympathetic, yet ultimately subject to the patriarchal society of the eighteenth century. Elmire is restrained by her status as a wif e, Dorine is restrained by her position as a maid, and both are ultimately subordinated by virtue of being female. A similar portrayal of women comes in Voltaire's  Candide, particularly in the character Cunegonde, Candide's love interest and ultimate wife. Voltaire presents Cunegonde as a simple but honest woman with the potent advantages of being â€Å"of noble lineage† and â€Å"rosy-cheeked, fresh, plump, and appetizing† (276).Unlike Moliere, Voltaire does not imbue his female characters with outstanding intelligence; instead, his female characters exhibit a keen understanding of human behavior born from life experience and intuition. Arthur Scherr comments on this in his article â€Å"Voltaire's ‘Candide': a tale of women's equality,† stating that Cunegonde: Unfortunately, Cunegonde eventually undergoes horrific experiences at the hands of several men in  Candide. In her terrible journey, Cunegonde becomes a symbol of the more terrible and overt c rimes perpetrated towards women in the eighteenth century and throughout time.Throughout the course of the novel, Cunegonde suffers rape, mutilation, and multiple kidnappings (Voltaire 286-287). Although she is able to recover from the experiences, and actually becomes somewhat stronger in doing so, she is nevertheless victimized and traumatized by eighteenth century warfare and society. Much like Moliere's Dorine and Elmire, Cunegonde is limited by her status as a female, and suffers atrocities as a result. Voltaire is perhaps somewhat hyperbolic in creating her story for effect, but the spirit of her experiences is not unlike those of many European women caught in the many wars of the eighteenth century.Ultimately, Voltaire portrays Cunegonde as a sympathetic woman who retains her dignity despite experiencing the worst of social realities in eighteenth century Europe. Indeed, Moliere's  Tartuffe  and Voltaire's  Candide  both present strong portrayals of sympathetic, digni fied women restrained or aggressed against by eighteenth century society. Though the works differ greatly in style, one can see social commentary on the status of women in Moliere's mild, amusing comedy and Voltaire's sensational, abrasive satire.The authors' female characters are strong, complex figures that, much like many women of the eighteenth century, were forced to exist in a position of relative weakness. Ironically, it is the very ability of those authors to see such injustices that is probably most influenced by the Enlightenment ideas and slowly expanding liberalism of the era itself. Whatever the case may be, both works stand even today as classics, not just for their brilliant satire, but also for their potent insight into the experiences of eighteenth century women.Considering  Tartuffe  was written in the 17th century, you might expect the female characters to be soft-spoken, demure, and generally pretty dull. But that couldn't be further from the truth – w ell, except in the case of Mariane; she's soft-spoken, demure, and generally pretty dull. But Elmire and Dorine – that's a whole different story. Each one defies convention with gusto: they do some things that would still be audacious even today. They're quick-witted, strong-willed, and a bit saucy. They're a match for their male counterparts anytime, any day. http://www. shmoop. om/tartuffe/women-femininity-quotes. html Voltaire’s Candide is a very funny satire that skewers the Optimistic attitude that â€Å"this is the best of all possible worlds. † Obviously, considering the horrific events Candide goes through, this isn’t the best of anything. Candide has several companions in his misadventures, notably Dr. Pangloss, his mentor and tutor; and Cacambo, his servant. Of the women in the tale, two are most important: Cunegonde, the woman Candide loves, and the old woman, whom he meets on his travels. This paper will compare and contrast the way the two wo men are presented in the novel.II Cunegonde Cunegonde is Candide’s true love. She is the daughter of the Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh, who raised Candide in his castle. She is beautiful, desirable, and despite all the horrible things that happen to her, she is fearfully dull. She is raped and cut open by Bulgarian soldiers (she notes it isn’t always necessary to die from such treatment); sold to numerous men as a sexual plaything; reunited with Candide; parted from him; and reunited again at the end of the book. She isn’t very bright, and she’s essentially passive as a doormat.She fights her Bulgarian rapist, but as soon as she’s rescued (by a Bulgarian captain, not Candide) she becomes his willing servant and his lover. When he grows tired of her, he sells her to a Jew named Don Issachar, who adores women. But soon after that she catches the eye of the Grand Inquisitor, who also wants her. The two men work out an arrangement whereby Don Issachar visi ts her Monday, Wednesday and the Sabbath; the Grand Inquisitor has the other four days of the week, though there have been some arguments, apparently, about when the Sabbath begins and ends.Soon after Cunegonde tells Candide her tale, Don Issachar shows up. He immediately attacks Candide, and Candide kills him. A few moments later, the Grand Inquisitor arrives, and Candide figures that he’ll turn them in, so he kills him, too. Then he, Cunegonde and the old woman escape from the scene. When they arrive at an inn, Cunegonde comment is â€Å"Where will I find another Jew and another inquisitor to give me more jewels? She is for sale to the highest bidder; she also has the brains of a flea, and because Candide is a bright young man, his devotion to her is ridiculous; a satirical example of men’s weakness for women. III The Old Woman The old woman is a much livelier character, despite the fact that she’s so much older, and despite the fact that she has been through many of the same ordeals as the younger woman: she has been raped numerous times, sold far more often than Cunegonde, and even had one buttock cut off to feed the janissaries that were defending her and other women of a harem.The daughter of Pope Urban X, she has been raised in luxury only to fall prey to pirates and sold into slavery. But she meets his misfortunes with an energy and drive that Cunegonde lacks. She even says at one point: â€Å"I have been a hundred times upon the point of killing myself, but still I was fond of life. † (Voltaire, PG). The greatest difference between the two lies in the old woman’s active stance, as contrasted with Cunegonde’s passivity. We learn that the old woman was sold at last to a Boyard, who put her to work in the fields and lashed her every day.But instead of simply assuming this was her lot in life, she did something about it: â€Å"But this nobleman having about two years afterwards been broken alive upon the wheel, with about thirty others, for some court intrigues, I took advantage of the event, and made my escape. † (Voltaire, PG). After escaping, she tells us, she traveled through many different countries, making her living as a servant at various inns and hostels. In this too she is different from Cunegonde, who has been satisfied to allow men to keep her.She has lived a live that is actually much harder than Cunegonde’s, because the latter has been sheltered and cared for by men who wanted her for her beauty and sexual charms, which meant that she was well-treated (if any woman being sold against her will can be said to be well-treated). Still, both Don Issachar and the Grand Inquisitor gave her rich gifts, good food and fine wine; no one did such things for the older woman. True, they were both little better than slaves, but Cunegonde accepted her chains while the old woman fought hers.Finally, as she finishes relating her tale, the old woman says â€Å"I have a great deal of knowledge and experience in the world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Voltaire, PG). And that may be the biggest difference of all. Cunegonde, as I say, is not very bright, and so the things that she’s been through mean little to her, and she hasn’t learned much from them. But the old woman has gained a great deal of experience, and furthermore, put it to use. She has escaped from the Boyard and made a living for herself in many different countries, surely not an easy thing to do. IV ConclusionThe women in Candide, in general, suffer a great deal of physical hardship. Rape abounds, as does torture, mutilation and other types of general mayhem. But they react to their misfortunes very differently. Cunegonde accepts whatever happens to her passively; indeed, one gets the impression that she simply lets events roll over her, neither noticing nor caring much what happens. The old woman, however, is very much aware of what’s going on, and she actively involves herself with events. In so doing, she becomes the more attractive character.

The Fallof the Wiemer Republic essays

The Fallof the Wiemer Republic essays The Weimar Republic was created in the aftermath of World War I to govern a defeated Germany. Although its constitution was designed to make the state a liberal parliamentary democracy, certain inherent political and economic factors combined to make Germany a dictatorship within fifteen years. Several factors undermined popular support for the new republic, while within the constitution itself lay avenues for the seizure of absolute power. This essay was written 4/23/96 in my tenth grade AP European History class. It describes the years between the two World Wars, when a suffering Germany turned to Hitler to alleviate its economic pain. The events that led up to this event are presented here. Germany was the losing state at the end of the First World War, and although the Weimar Republic was born in 1919, the government carried substantial negative baggage from the previous era. Chief of these were the reparations paid by Germany to the victors, initially set at five billion dollars annually until 1921. The economic hardship caused by these reparations payments spread themselves throughout German society. Even more devastating and sudden was the invasion of the Ruhr by France in 1923, and the government policy of passive resistance set off runaway inflation that made money worthless. Middle-class savings were wiped out, and contributed to the strong desire for stability that brought the Nazi party into power. There had never been very much popular support for the Weimar government. Germans accused the Social Democrats, reviled before the war, for the onerous postwar reparations; although the government itself was modeled after liberal institutions, the stigma of having signed the Treaty of Paris continued to count against it. This was reinforced by the propaganda of the German military, which continued to suggest that the German military defeat was caused by treason at home. The constitution of the Weimar Repu...

Screenwriting Process Essay Essays

Screenwriting Process Essay Essays Screenwriting Process Essay Essay Screenwriting Process Essay Essay Art is a fun hobby or career that many have decided to enter. Many have chosen the art of screenplay writing, known as screenwriting, to make a living on. This is a relatively understood process that most writers feel as if they have the upper hand on, but most still need help in writing one themselves. Screenwriting can be tricky, strict, demanding and above all creative; however it still has many positives about it. The benefits of the difficult, creative venture of writing a screenplay become obvious through the enjoyment of the process, personal fulfillment and the financial rewards. At the beginning of writing this project, you must choose which style you would like to write. The main two styles are free-hand or with computer software. The software is the best choice, since the screenplay will have to be eventually converted to a computer at some point. Once you have found and installed screenwriting software, such as Final Draft, you then will open the program and create a new file. This file will be your story. Title it whatever you desire. Then you will get starting writing. The writing ideas that are thought up are very important. It is the whole premise for the story. First you must first think up the plot, which is namely the thesis of the story. All of the writing is connected around it. Many people have a tough time with this, but there are many areas where you can get help. You can go to the bookstore or a library and find a book that helps you creatively, by showing you ways of brainstorming up ideas about your story. This way is a good way, but not as efficient as flat out raw creativity. Next step is coming up with the characters. They are the people that act out in events in the story. Without characters in a story, the story would not work at all, it would only bore the audience so much that you would become unpopular fast. They must also progress throughout the story. To come up with characters, you can just pick out random names and put them together making names. You can just creatively come up with them. Also, you can feed off your plot and feel out what good characters names would mesh well with the plot. Deciding the setting is the next step in writing a screenplay. The main setting gives us a good locational vibe about the story, but the story can normally turn into many different settings. This can only enhance the screenplay, making it more entertaining. Your decision in the setting has to be a smart one that makes believable sense, because otherwise the story would give off an uncanny feeling that no one would understand. This would only hurt you and your story. The more realistic, the better it is. The next step is the most creative part of the process. It is the writing itself. This is where you must brainstorm ideas that are relative to your plot, characters and setting. You must write them all coming together to start off in a good light and you have to come up with ideas that help the story’s progression. Once you have established that, you have a good part of the art of writing complete After all of those steps are completed, you next start the big event of editing. You now go through the whole story and find any errors, erroneous details, punctuation or grammar mistakes and many other possible flaws in your story. Editing takes a long time and can sometimes even take longer than the writing itself. It is very important however, because being human we make mistakes.

American Civil War - Battle of Oak Grove

American Civil War - Battle of Oak Grove Battle of Oak Grove - Conflict Date: The Battle of Oak Grove was fought June 25, 1862, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Armies Commanders: Union Major General George B. McClellan3 brigades Confederate General Robert E. Lee1 division Battle of Oak Grove - Background: After constructing the Army of the Potomac in the summer and fall of 1861, Major General George B. McClellan commenced planning his offensive against Richmond for the following spring.   To take the Confederate capital, he intended to sail his men down the Chesapeake Bay to the Union base at Fortress Monroe.   Concentrating there, the army would advance up the Peninsula between the York and James Rivers to Richmond.   This shift south would permit him to bypass Confederate forces in northern Virginia and would allow US Navy warships move up both rivers to protect his flanks and help supply the army.   This part of the operation was shelved in early March 1862 when the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia struck Union naval forces at the Battle of Hampton Roads. Though the danger posed by Virginia was offset by the arrival of the ironclad USS Monitor, efforts to blockade the Confederate warship drew off Union naval strength.   Slowing marching up the Peninsula in April, McClellan was fooled by Confederate forces into laying siege to Yorktown for much of the month.   Finally continuing the advance in early May, Union forces clashed with the Confederates at Williamsburg before driving on Richmond.   As the army neared the city, McClellan was struck by General Joseph E. Johnston at Seven Pines on May 31. Though the fighting was inconclusive, it resulted in Johnston being severely wounded and command of the Confederate army ultimately passed to General Robert E. Lee. For the next few weeks, McClellan remained inactive in front of Richmond allowing Lee to improve the citys defenses and plan a counterattack. Battle of Oak Grove - Plans: Assessing the situation, Lee realized that McClellan was forced to divide his army north and south of Chickahominy River in order to protect his supply lines back to White House, VA on the Pamunkey River.   As a result, he devised an offensive that sought to defeat one wing of the Union army before the other could move to provide aid.   Shifting troops into place, Lee intended to attack on June 26.   Alerted that Major General Thomas Stonewall Jacksons command would soon reinforce Lee and that enemy offensive action was likely, McClellan sought to retain the initiative by striking west towards Old Tavern.   Taking the heights in the area would permit his siege guns to strike at Richmond.   To accomplish this mission, McClellan planned to attack along the Richmond York Railroad in the north and at Oak Grove in the south. Battle of Oak Grove - III Corps Advances: The execution of the assault at Oak Grove fell to the divisions of Brigadier Generals Joseph Hooker and Philip Kearny from Brigadier General Samuel P. Heintzelmans III Corps.   From these commands, the brigades of Brigadier Generals Daniel Sickles,  Cuvier Grover, and John C. Robinson were to leave their earthworks, pass through a small but dense wooded area, and then strike the Confederate lines held by the division of Brigadier General Benjamin Huger.   Direct command of the forces involved fell to Heintzelman as McClellan preferred to coordinate the action by telegraph from his headquarters in the rear.   At 8:30 AM, the three Union brigades commenced their advance.   While Grover and Robinsons brigades encountered few problems, Sickles men had trouble clearing the abatis in front of their lines and then were slowed by the difficult terrain at the headwaters of White Oak Swamp (Map). Battle of Oak Grove - A Stalemate Ensues:               Sickles issues led to the brigade falling out of alignment with those to the south.   Recognizing an opportunity, Huger directed Brigadier General Ambrose Wright to advance with his brigade and mount a counterattack against Grover.   Approaching the enemy, one of his Georgia regiments caused confusion among Grovers men as they wore red Zouave uniforms which were thought to only be used by some Union troops.   As Wrights men halted Grover, Sickles brigade was repulsed by Brigadier General Robert Ransoms men to the north.   With his attack stalling, Heintzelman requested reinforcements from McClellan and informed the army commander of the situation.    Unaware of the specifics of the fighting, McClellan ordered those engaged to withdraw back to their lines at 10:30 AM and departed his headquarters to inspect the battlefield personally.   Arriving around 1:00 PM, he found the situation better than anticipated and ordered Heintzelman to renew the attack.   Union troops moved forward and regained some ground but became entangled in an inconclusive fire fight that lasted until nightfall.   In the course of the battle, McClellans men only managed to advance about 600 yards. Battle of Oak Grove - Aftermath: McClellans final offensive effort against Richmond, the fighting at the Battle of Oak Grove saw Union forces suffer 68 killed, 503 wounded, and 55 missing while Huger incurred  66 killed, 362 wounded, and 13 missing.   Undeterred by the Union thrust, Lee moved forward with his planned offensive the next day.   Attacking at Beaver Dam Creek, his men were ultimately turned back.   A day later, they succeeded in dislodging Union troops at Gaines Mill.   Beginning with Oak Grove, a week of constant fighting, dubbed the Seven Days Battles, saw McClellan driven back to the James River at Malvern Hill and his campaign against Richmond defeated.       Selected Sources Civil War Trust: Seven Days BattlesCWSAC Battle Summaries: Oak GroveHistory of War: Battle of Oak Grove

Organisational behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Organisational behaviour - Assignment Example Planning is thus an ability to improve the condition, which could include increasing market share or enhancing profits. It thus suggests that planning is a primary management function aimed at achieving organizational goals and objectives. 2.0 The Planning Environment Every business, regardless of size, must develop a comprehensive plan which would force the management to think of the realties to be faced in the business world (French, Kelly and Harrison, 2004). This should have well-defined format and parts. This conforms to Valdehueza’s (2009) definition that goals are a desired future state that the organization focuses on while plans are the blueprint that specifies the resource allocation, schedules and actions necessary to achieve the intended goals. Organizational goals, mission and objectives symbolize legitimacy to the external stakeholders while plans motivate the employees to perform action, thereby reducing uncertainty. 3.0 Benefits of Planning The benefits of plan ning range from economic benefits to adaptive thinking and can also include integration and control (Appiah-Adu, Morgan and Katsikeas, 1996). Planning benefits could either be utilitarian or psychological in nature. The Utilitarian benefits are the planning capabilities that manifest in enhanced organizational processes, acquisition of knowledge-based skills and coordination of strategic activities (Appiah-Adu, Morgan and Katsikeas, 1996). Psychological benefits demonstrate the values and perceptions of management. The psychological benefits include enhanced morale, motivation and commitment by the employees to the strategic plans drawn up by the management. This is specially perceived in change management when the management the planned the change process before the actual change takes place. Mergers and acquisitions can have a demoralizing effect on employees but with the right planning the objectives of change can me met and resistance overcome. Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries p lc (W&DB) UK took over two breweries within twelve months which resulted in considerable downsizing and closing down of some units (Pollitt, 2006). This can lead to demoralizing of staff resulting in reduced productivity. However, W&DB had strategically planned the change process and could overcome the resistance within a short period of time. The goal of the organization was to avoid imbalance, which is generally expected in any change, with the right organizational strategy. Through transparency, effective communication, removal of management trappings and employee involvement they could achieve the desired goal. They could achieve this because the change process was planned much before the actual change took place. 4.0 Long-Term Planning As uncertainty manifest in the modern business enterprise formal strategic planning took shape in organizations. The purpose of strategic planning is to rationalize and articulate the process of integrated decision making among firms. Planning ca n be strategic or operational where strategic planning pertains to long-term planning and operational to short-term planning. A study of ninety-seven small firms in central Iowa, in the USA was conducted to evaluate the planning/performance relationship (Shrader et al cited in French, Kelly and Harrison, 2004). The study found that planning and performance are

Leading and Managing in Organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Leading and Managing in Organisations - Essay Example Moreover, they also point out that interpersonal relationships are formed and reinforced on the basis of trust, openness and support. Communication is regarded as effective when the intended information is delivered in the right manner to the right person/people and in the right time. This process involves various elements such as the people involved in communication, i.e., communicator and the recipient, context/situation, method, and skills. More often, these elements vary with the situation/context. Skills required for communication include speaking, listening, writing, reading, and expressing (Adair, 2011). Effective communication ensures that information being shared is accurate, which is a very important requirement in building strong interpersonal relationship. ... scribes interpersonal communication as everyday encounters, and that interpersonal communication has a significant role in creating, maintaining and/or affecting personal, social and professional relationships. Since communication is the medium of expressing oneself and to know others besides transferring information, its impact penetrates or intersects all activities concerned with human behaviour. Keeping in mind such a significant impact of communication, Whetten and Cameron’s (2011) assertion of supportive communication with honesty and accuracy stands true and also seems important in difficult situations. The need for supportive communication is felt greater when the information to be delivered might not be in favour of the recipients but the intention of communication would be to improve the relationship, status, and/or situation; this process of communication would require specific approach and skills in order to achieve the purpose of communication. Examples of situati ons that necessitate supportive communication include providing negative feedback, handle conflicting views and resistance, problem-solving etc. The ultimate goal of supportive communication is to reinforce interpersonal relationship among two or more people by building trust and understanding while solving the issue/challenge through approaches that would not offend any person involved in the communication process. 2. There are eight principles to supportive communication. Four of the eight principles are: Congruence not Incongruence, Descriptive not Evaluative, Problem not Person Oriented and Specific not Global. Explain the meaning of the concepts and using ideas from your own experience give examples of their meaning. Whetten and Cameron (2011, p.265) have identified eight attributes of

Social Psychology and Health (Stress) Term Paper

Social Psychology and Health (Stress) - Term Paper Example It is analyzed that he has low measure of self efficacy and hardiness which should be treated with right clinical therapy , social support , yoga and meditation. Social psychology and Health (Stress) Here a situation is presented, where stress has played a main role in destabilizing the life of a close friend of mine. Andrew was naturally a cheerful person with high energy and spirits and was much friendly with me. Suddenly, one day Andrew’s wife informed me that he started displaying a very negative attitude towards her and his kid by shouting and yelling at them for no reason. She said that he frequently remaining silent and was not communicating with her in a peaceful manner and was displaying a sign of restlessness and loss of appetite. Due to concern, I called one of our common friends to enquire about the matter and found out that he was given ultimatum from his office and was in fear of losing his job. Moreover, Andrew himself confessed to me that, he experienced less s leep and used to leave for office often earlier than normal. Gradually, I realized that Andrew showed sign of negativism in the way he communicated, and also was smoking more than before. When I probed more in to Andrew’s problem, I found out that Andrew faced high level of pressure from his senior authorities towards the accomplishment of his sales targets and was encountering terrible stress. Here it can be observed that Andrew is not a Type A personality and considerably lacks competitive mentality and passion for work. Only if a person is highly ambitious, competitive, and has obsession for work he can work challengingly and attain success in life. Moreover, the self awareness of Andrew is not intense and he is unable to measure his performance and values to perform a particular task. He lacked perceived control and is unable to control his boss, and fell victim to desperation and frustration. Moreover, the self efficacy measure of Andrew can also be partially blamed for the stress he is experiencing. His self –efficacy measure also seems to be average and hence, he has less confidence on his abilities and is unable to visualize or picture success in risky situations. People with low self –efficacy tend to give up easily whereas, those with high self – efficacy try harder and persist more in case of failure and thereby are more likely to succeed in the long run. In addition to this, self efficacy operates like a self prophesy, the more you believe that you can accomplish a task, more are the chances of your success. Here we can also observe an element of internal attributions in Andrew’s case, as he concluded that he is unable to perform up to the expectation of his boss, due to lacking in his personal abilities and skills. He is also depicting stable attribution as he acts as if his situation is unchangeable or stable. Andrew is considerably stressed for the fear of losing job, and being a family man he possess a high fi nancial and social responsibility. Here, we can evaluate that he has less ability to cope up with an adverse situations and his learned helplessness is making things even more worse. He being pessimistic, is unable to finds a better way to solve the dilemma he is in. Unlike Andrew, some people have strong sense of coherence and have high resistance to internal and external pressures from social atmosphere, hence

Impact of Technology on Customers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Impact of Technology on Customers - Essay Example that investing a significant amount of money on new technology could cause severe losses for the organization if the relevant investment is not paid back within a particular period of time. Current paper focuses on the new technology that Macy’s introduced to its customers. This technology incorporates a wide range of advanced technological features, such as digital receipts and free Wi-Fi. The initial responses of the firm’s customers to this technology seem to be positive, at least as revealed through the reports developed in regard to this issue. In the near future, a more accurate view of the effectiveness of new technology introduced in Macy’s would be available. Taking into consideration the existing findings in regard to this project, as presented below, it could be noted that the particular initiatives have significantly supported the performance of the organization helping towards the improvement of its relationship with its customers. In Macy’s the introduction of new technology was considered as the most effective method for improving the relationship between the firm and its customers. The term ‘new technology’, as used in the case of Macy’s refers to a wide range of features of advanced technology and not to just one technology. In this way, it is expected that the firm will acquire an advantage towards its rivals, a target that has been achieved, as proved by the performance of the firm up to now. Currently, the firm’s stores have been estimated to 850, operating under the name of Macy’s and Bloomingdales (Business Wire 2011). The successful implementation of new technology in all the firm’s stores can be characterized as a challenging task, even if the capital availability of the organization is significant, taking into consideration the fact that in 2010 the sales of the firm reached the $25 billion (Business Wire 2011). ‘free Wi-Fi, digital receipts, cosmetics kiosks and computer tablets for product demonstrations and

The new york times, the best laws money can buy july 12, 2010 Essay

The new york times, the best laws money can buy july 12, 2010 - Essay Example Lobbyists have been around for decades. There is really not much that the common people know about them, except that they lobby. But what does that really mean and why do they have to flock over in the halls of the very foundations of the nation’s sovereignty, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The most common question deduced is what do they actually do and how do they affect us. It seems at first glance that there are really so little of what they do that directly affects the people or the government. They guise in the fact that their main job is to point out to legislators one or two small details in pending legislations for them to take a second look and reconsider the proposal. The congressman or senator then acts as a mercenary for these interests. Now the succeeding question is what is so important with these minute details that people, groups or corporations have to hire lobbyists to do their bidding. A 1986 article written in Time magazine appropriately titl ed â€Å"Peddling Influence† was an in-depth depiction of the growth of lobbying as a profession. From being a very reticent profession, as specifically pointed out even congressmen back then do not want to be seen talking with a lobbyist, it has blossomed into a very public and media frenzied occupation. As pointed out, â€Å"One man’s loophole is another man’s socially useful allowance, and one man’s lobbyist is another man’s righteous advocate. Nonetheless, the voices most likely to be heard are often the ones that can afford the best-connected access brokers† (par. 4). Steven Brill has painted a clearer picture in how lobbying has affected our nation. As an explicit example he has cited Private Equity Council, a trade group that wants to augment taxes on carried interest. It keeps on its payroll Capitol Tax with a $30, 000 retainer each month ensuring the taxes on its members are kept low. This type of payment is not limited to only Capi tol Tax as there are other firms they employ. It has been reported that they have spent $4.2 million from 2009. Keeping in mind that there are other groups lobbying for the same cause, all in all, according to Brill, this amounts to about $15 million. This already seems like a lot of money but this is small change as it equates to an investment for about $100 billion in taxes in the next 10 years. This will actually save them around $10 billion in taxes. Furthermore, their lobbyists have afforded them the added bonus that it becomes effective this year instead of 2010. Saving them another $2 billion (Brill, par.4-5). In comparison, the $15 million does not sound that much. It is but a mere insignificant percentage compared to what they will be able to save. But what does this really mean to us because so what if they are able to save as much. It is uncomforting to think that this â€Å"payoff is all the more remarkable when you realize that this tax break is going to some of the we althiest Americans and that all the reformers wanted originally was for those folks to pay the same graduated income-tax rate that normal wage earners do† (Brill, par.6). It is but the virtue of equity that this tax policy should have been implemented. As the saying so aptly puts it, ‘absolute power corrupts, absolutely.’ There seems to be no satiation to the hunger that what the rich wants is to be richer while others are

Father Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit priest Research Paper

Father Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit priest - Research Paper Example Religion too opposes science, for example, by offering opposing explanations for occurrence. Despite this widely held view that science and religion oppose each other, there are scholars who believe that overall, science and religion have had a positive relationship between them(Sweet and Feist 2). According to this school of thought, the two complement each other. Promoters of this viewpoint claim that religion has made several contributions to science. They also point to the fact that, throughout history, several religious people have been involved in scientific research. One such person is Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit priest. Many scholars regard Teilhard as a pioneer of integrating science and faith within the Catholic Church. This paper examines Teilhard’s thoughts and contribution toward getting the Catholic Church to embrace science. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a French Jesuit priest who also doubled up as a scientist(Delio 155). As a paleontologist, T eilhard took part in the discovery of the â€Å"Peking Man†. They also had the concept of the â€Å"Omega Point†, the highest degree of complexity and awareness they believed the universes was evolving toward. The Catholic Church censored many of Teilhard’s writing primarily because of their views on the original sin. Today, Teilhard’s paleontological work is widely accepted among scientists. However, their theorizing on evolution is disparaged. Fr. Teilhard died in 1955 at the age of seventy-four years. Teilhard was among the very few leaders of thought to successfully marry pure scientific research with a religious calling. Teilhard believed that there was a need to reconstruct the doctrines of the Catholic Church from the viewpoints of science while at the same time, rebuilding science from the perspectives of science(Delio 157). In other words, they believed that the two spheres complemented each other.

The new york times, the best laws money can buy july 12, 2010 Essay

The new york times, the best laws money can buy july 12, 2010 - Essay Example Lobbyists have been around for decades. There is really not much that the common people know about them, except that they lobby. But what does that really mean and why do they have to flock over in the halls of the very foundations of the nation’s sovereignty, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The most common question deduced is what do they actually do and how do they affect us. It seems at first glance that there are really so little of what they do that directly affects the people or the government. They guise in the fact that their main job is to point out to legislators one or two small details in pending legislations for them to take a second look and reconsider the proposal. The congressman or senator then acts as a mercenary for these interests. Now the succeeding question is what is so important with these minute details that people, groups or corporations have to hire lobbyists to do their bidding. A 1986 article written in Time magazine appropriately titl ed â€Å"Peddling Influence† was an in-depth depiction of the growth of lobbying as a profession. From being a very reticent profession, as specifically pointed out even congressmen back then do not want to be seen talking with a lobbyist, it has blossomed into a very public and media frenzied occupation. As pointed out, â€Å"One man’s loophole is another man’s socially useful allowance, and one man’s lobbyist is another man’s righteous advocate. Nonetheless, the voices most likely to be heard are often the ones that can afford the best-connected access brokers† (par. 4). Steven Brill has painted a clearer picture in how lobbying has affected our nation. As an explicit example he has cited Private Equity Council, a trade group that wants to augment taxes on carried interest. It keeps on its payroll Capitol Tax with a $30, 000 retainer each month ensuring the taxes on its members are kept low. This type of payment is not limited to only Capi tol Tax as there are other firms they employ. It has been reported that they have spent $4.2 million from 2009. Keeping in mind that there are other groups lobbying for the same cause, all in all, according to Brill, this amounts to about $15 million. This already seems like a lot of money but this is small change as it equates to an investment for about $100 billion in taxes in the next 10 years. This will actually save them around $10 billion in taxes. Furthermore, their lobbyists have afforded them the added bonus that it becomes effective this year instead of 2010. Saving them another $2 billion (Brill, par.4-5). In comparison, the $15 million does not sound that much. It is but a mere insignificant percentage compared to what they will be able to save. But what does this really mean to us because so what if they are able to save as much. It is uncomforting to think that this â€Å"payoff is all the more remarkable when you realize that this tax break is going to some of the we althiest Americans and that all the reformers wanted originally was for those folks to pay the same graduated income-tax rate that normal wage earners do† (Brill, par.6). It is but the virtue of equity that this tax policy should have been implemented. As the saying so aptly puts it, ‘absolute power corrupts, absolutely.’ There seems to be no satiation to the hunger that what the rich wants is to be richer while others are

Men and women have equal pay. Discuss Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Men and women have equal pay. Discuss - Essay Example Recognising the biased nature of the wage situation, several attempts have been made on the part of the UK government and other equal-rights organisations to remove the inequality, but limited progress has been made until now. Rather, the situation persists despite the fact that laws have been passed to discourage this practice1. Theories for the existence and persistence of this problem are many. Some blame the lower level of education or other kind of training possessed by women; others to the willingness of women to accept initial wage offers. Still others attribute the wage gap to problems in the labour market or to the alternate responsibilities of women as mothers or child-carers. Whatever the reason: occupational segregation, sex discrimination, or other; it is evident that even today the labour market is constructed in a way that allows women to be poorly paid for a job that they do as well as the men who work alongside them. One study describes wage discrimination as stemming from the â€Å"crowding [of] women into a limited range of occupations† (Walby and Olsen, 2002, p. 41). This is also known as occupational segregation. Women have made great strides in the working world since their general entrance into the workforce, which occurred only recently. However, they still have much to do in order to be considered on the same level as men. In the British Virgin Islands, poverty â€Å"has been especially associated with female headed households because of the concentration of women in lower paying jobs† (Status of Women, 2005). This type of â€Å"crowding† is typical all over the United Kingdom. Women are forced into menial or low-skilled jobs, largely because many do not possess the education or skill to fill higher positions. This is especially true of older women, who lived in a generation where women were much less likely to attain higher levels of education. As a result, women fi nd themselves in general receiving less money than

How health care has changed Essay Example for Free

How health care has changed Essay With about 10 years of experience, as a secretary, in healthcare industry, I’ve noticed a multitude of changes within the medical field. On many levels, the medical system has changed, from paper charts to computerized patient files, the way prescriptions are handled and distributed, to file and/or medical documentation; even the paging method has found its place in a new technical era. Email, and employee intranet, has made communication between employers and employees, department to department, even employee to employee much easier and effective. The only thing that hasn’t made too much of a noticeable change is the employee time clock, and even that has managed to find itself an upgrade. Nonetheless, a host of inevitable changes, given the social status of technology, and the best service available by healthcare standards and expectations, it’s easy to see where the future of healthcare and technology lie. Given the past 10 years, technology has gained its own credit in the advancement of the medical industry. Robots have become the gateway to a better healthcare. I feel that within the next 10 years, we’ll begin to see a great deal of technical influence. In a field, where there are already advancements in technology, and its uses, it is fair to say that we could gradually become an almost ‘hands free’ industry. Medical advancements, in general, seem to have been primarily in the use of technology, and/or going green. Therefore the next 10 years, may still prove to be a breeze for the development of a relationship between medicine and technology. Even from my position, the change has been constant and obvious. Having been a secretary, since high school, I am currently in pursuit of my associates in medical administrations. My contribution to the industry has always come through my capabilities with a computer, and over the phone. Staying technically savvy, certainly is carrying its perks in weight with me. Within my experience, the secretary is the ‘go to’ person to get something to work proper y, or for better understanding of a technical meltdown, and if not the person to fix it, certainly the person to find the one who can. From nurses, doctors, patients, and parents, the secretary is the most knowledgeable resource, with a friendly face. As secretaries, we practically hold the key within the medical field. Always there to offer a helping hand, we operate behind the scene in some cases, having my own experience of pulling off many last minutes miracles. In medical terms, we’re essentially the central nervous systems of any and many departments operations. Though, now, being on my path to higher learning, in addition to, my contributions are becoming much greater, and giving my future the fuel to go much further. Like many jobs, the growth of change is inevitable, so to make sure this change is effective; insuring that employees are kept up to date with the latest in changes, adjustments, and updates is key. Having worked within the healthcare industry, I’m aware of the time and efforts invested into insuring that their employees are knowledgeable and capable of managing through company changes. I’ve had the opportunity to take a course or two, in order to insure I’m working at my fullest potent; cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) courses, to employee safety/self defense classes, system program changes, and new program usage. With my efforts, and the aid of my employers, my skills will remain polished and productive. Putting forth my best efforts and keeping the thirst for being successful in all my endeavors, along with the assistance provided through my employer; I will always be able and capable to perform all duties expected of me. With the growth of the medical industry, its employees have to be resourceful and reliable. Furthermore, within this growth, my perceptions haven’t changed, more they’ve evolved. The time within my courses have given me the opportunity to research and better understand the work and efforts that go into running a successful medical establishment. Watching the change over the past decade, leaves me no choice, and certainly gives me the advantage at being a highly adaptable candidate within my position. Growing with the industry, as a secretary I’ve learned so much, and watched a lot change for the better. In turn, my perceptions remain optimistic about the direction myself and healthcare or headed in. In a nutshell, any perception of an ever changing industry is certain to change. In any case, healthcare is changing for the better and the sake of providing the best, quickest, most effective ways to treatment and cure. In a sense, this change is creating a glimpse in the future of healthcare along with its and human longevity. With the healthcare industry taking on the demands of a modern day society, technology has a great deal to do with its future. Technology is set to play such a huge role in the development of healthcare. With the demands on the healthcare industry to offer the most effective methods of diagnosis, and treatments, along with healing time, the approach to technical advances are highly beneficial. Androids that perform, and aid in performing surgeries, the development in medical equipment and their advances/upgrades, the renewal of how patient charts are stored are all evolving, along with many more aspects of the medical industry. Leaving such a wide variety of development in just about every department, looking into the next 10 years of medicine vs. technology, the combinations are endless and sure to be exceptional. Though, with any development and need for change, there’s a cost to be paid. Given the state of a slowly stabilizing economy, the future of all the developments depends on the availability of funds, and people in need of care. Though, very beneficial, the cost of accurate medical attention can come at a higher cost, and at a time when finances are scarious and rising, some are unable to afford the best in healthcare. With the benefits of insurance, there is still only so much that can be covered.

Chang Yu-i’s Struggle With Identity Essay -- Chinese Culture China Ess

Chang Yu-i’s Struggle With Identity Are you are confused as to where you are going in life? Do you sometimes feel like you just do not know who you are, or who you want to be? Do not worry, this is not uncommon. In fact, according to psychoanalyst Erik Erickson (1902-1994), most young people ages fifteen to twenty years of age feel the same way. Erickson, a psychoanalytic theorist, took the human life cycle and categorized it into eight stages. One such stage would be identity versus role-confusion. During this stage, adolescents begin to truly form who they are in life. They form their present off of the good and bad experiences of their past. Erickson believes that the stages in the life cycle apply to nearly everyone. It does not matter where or what era you are from. Take, for example, a character from Bound Feet & Western Dress by Pang-Mei Natasha Chang. Chang writes a dual memoir of her and her great-aunt’s lives. In her novel, Chang tells the story of her great aunt, Chang Yu-i, growing up in a chang ing world. Even though Yu-i is born and raised in China during the early 1900s, she still faces the conflicts of trying to find herself. The psycho social crisis called ‘identity versus role-confusion’ occurs mainly during adolescence, although it is not restricted to this period in life. It is usually the fifth stage in the life cycle, although it may overlap with the stages before and after it. Major circumstances can also later change the outcome of this stage. Throughout this stage, a person finds himself bringing together parts of his life and combining them to form who he wants to be in life. Outside factors, such as the community or family, tend to play an indirect, but important role in forming an identity. This is true in any culture, although family plays an even more significant role in a collectivist culture, such as Yu-i’s. Chang Yu-i grows up in a family of twelve children in a small county outside Shanghai, China. Born into changing times, the struggle for finding herself is perhaps even harder and more confusing than it would be for people born today. Yu-i is born into a time when China is torn between holding on to the old traditions and adopting the ways of the western world. Throughout the early 1900s, China was in political turmoil. China had to deal with the Boxer Rebellion, the revolution against the Manchu dyna... ..., Yu-i’s family decides she will marry Hsu Chi-mo at age fifteen. Yu-i does not want to get married yet, but instead wants to continue her education at the Academy. However, she does not have a say in who or when she will marry. Because it is time for her to get married, her education is discontinued. She is pulled from her schooling before she is finished with it, neither her parents nor her in-laws feel that this is important. Although the fact that her education was cut short is not something she is pleased with, it is still something she has to accept, and it still a part of who she is. It is a difficult and long process to find yourself. Erickson tells us that is is a natural stage in life to question who you are. Everyone goes through it, regardless of age, sex, race, or time. Take Chang Yu-i for example. She pulled good experiences in her life, such as having unbound feet and getting some education, and used them to help form who she was becoming But she also took the experiences she did not like, such as discontinuing her education as such a young age to get married, and accepted them as part of who she was. She grew up strong, and eventually became her own person.