Philosophy Research Paper Topics and Ideas

Philosophy Research Paper Topics and Ideas The philosophy research paper is aimed at an investigation of a specific philosophical issue or idea. Philosophy is quite an ancient branch of science that was trying to explain natural and behavioral aspects that were difficult for people to realize. Famous philosophers were representing their ideas about the human, being, nature, soul, fear, and many other concepts. As a result, the student in a philosophy research paper should analyze the specific idea, compare it with other concepts, and make suggestions regarding its implementation in daily human life. Choosing a topic for the philosophy research paper can become a challenge for a student due to the variety of themes and complexity of the science. As a result, it is important to choose the topic that will be connected with the task of a professor and will be of the sphere of student’s interests. The variety of topics is quite wide and to choose the most interesting and specific, try to make it clear, narrow, and accurate. Topics and Ideas for Philosophy Research Papers: 1. A Balance between Peace and War The problem of peace and war is important to explore due to its determining character for the modern international community. This topic should explore the main works on the issue of peace and war including theories of philosophers and official positions of modern countries and international organizations. The research paper can include an accurate explanation of the topic and definition of its practical implication in modern theories. 2. Modern Moral Theory Morality is considered one of the central topics of various philosophies. Modern approaches to the idea of moral and morality differ from traditional theories due to various social conditions. The philosophy research paper should include an explanation of morality, definition of past ideas about this issue, and comparison with modern ideas of morality. 3. Can Wars Be Justified? Various philosophers explored the problem of wars justification because it can have a significant impact on conflicts between countries. A research paper should include an explanation of wars justification idea, and how different philosophers interpreted it. Besides, it is possible to develop the imaginary situation of complete war justification and a way in which it would change the current situation. 4. Philosophy and Postmodernism Postmodernism is a period that brought many new concepts to various theories and ideas. Philosophy also was under the influence of this period that caused the emergence of new ideas about life, human, nature, feelings, and emotions. The research paper should include a description of postmodernism as a philosophical era, an explanation of how a philosophical thought was changed, and its comparison with previous theories. 5. Life after Death Idea This concept was considered by various philosophers of specific periods. People were trying to find out what is waiting for them after death and developed several philosophical concepts about it. The research paper should explore all these concepts comparing it with modern ideas of the issue. Besides, it is possible to analyze all theories trying to find specific similarities and differences. 6. The Nature of Being This topic is interesting because it is the core element of the main philosophical theories of ancient times. Various philosophers were trying to explain the sense of human existence, their aim, and the role on the planet. The philosophical research paper should consist of an accurate explanation of various theories and views, and comparing these ideas with each other. 7. The Concept of Religion The question of religion is being considered specifically by different philosophers and theories. The paper should be based on the main ideas about the role of religion in human lives, and it can be considered the central set of beliefs for people. Besides, it is possible to include a comparison of these theories, and an explanation of how these ideas influenced modern attitude to religion. 8. The Problem of Beauty Standards This topic is interesting to explore because people often discuss the problem of beauty standards, and this issue often changes. The crucial element of such an essay is proving the idea that beauty standards are an extremely relative concept that cannot be considered the basis for modern social interrelations. The research paper should include various ideas about beauty standard, and how it was depicted in the main theories. 9. The Idea of People’s Duties Philosophers consider that people have specific obligations and duties regarding their families, communities, and regarding society as a whole. The philosophical research paper should be based on an explanation of what is a duty, and how various philosophers understand it. Besides, the duty can also be considered a commitment of the state on the international arena. 10. The Theory of Deconstruction This idea was developed by Jacques Derrida and is connected with the understanding of language and text. The matter is that people can perceive various messages differently and differently interpret the text on the basis of the context. The philosophy research paper should include an explanation of the theory, its critique, and a description of its influence on further theories. 11. The Best Political Organization of the State Various philosophers, who were trying to develop a system that would be the most effective, explored the issue of ideal government. The topic is important to explore due to the significance of political organization for a country and a population. The research paper should include a description of the concept, comparison between different theories, and interpretation of these approaches to modern states and governments. 12. The Idea of Happiness in Visions of Different Philosophers Happiness is the feeling that is quite familiar for every person, and as a result, different philosophers investigate it. The philosophy research paper should be based on different ideas of happiness, how people should perceive it, understand the feeling, and influence of happiness on human lives. The student can also compare ideas of happiness of ancient philosophers and modern attitude to the concept. 13. Philosophy in Literature Famous authors often include specific philosophical ideas in their literary works. Exploration of the issue is quite complicated work because the topic is wide and includes many literature spheres. The philosophy research paper can study works of Voltaire, Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and Proust. Besides, the research can be done based on the works of one author with an emphasis in his separate writing style. 14. The Idea of Political Philosophy The topic is interesting to study because the concept of political philosophy is an extremely complex and wide sphere. The study can be based on the books â€Å"Political Philosophy† by Jean Hampton and â€Å"History of Political Philosophy from Plato to Burke† by Thomas I. Cook. The research paper should include a general overview of the political philosophy and approaches of various philosophers to definition and understanding of the issue. 15. The Concept of Truth The truth is one of the most popular issues explored by various authors and philosophers. The truth is considered the basis for people’s lives, and as a result, it is interesting to explore. The philosophy research paper should be based on ideas of truth represented by different philosophers. Besides, the text can also include a comparison of ancient approaches to the issue with a modern attitude to the concept. 16. The Idea of Free Will The concept of personal freedom is the core of different philosophical ideas and theories. Famous philosophers determine personal freedom as the most significant aspect of people’s comfortable and full life. The philosophy research paper should include an explanation of the free will concept, understanding of this idea by different philosophers, and interrelation between the free will idea and modern attitude to freedom. 17. Feminist Philosophy Modern society is based on different theories and ideas that explain various aspects of people’s lives. Generally speaking, the feminist theory is mainly connected with equality in rights and is often considered as a theory of international relations. Issues that should be included in the philosophy research paper are feminism as a philosophical theory, postmodern feminism, radical feminism, and its influence on the development of modern society. 18. The Idea of Responsibility The concept of responsibility lays in the activity of the person in different spheres. Responsibility is approached as a feeling, as a duty, or as a theory. The exploration of the concept is important because it can explain the behavior of human and shape the attitude of people to work and various interactions. The research paper should include an explanation of the concept, various approaches to its definition, and theories of responsibility developed by philosophers. 19. Hedonism as a Philosophical Theory Hedonism is a theory of pleasure from physical satisfaction that defines this aspect as the core condition of a happy life. The topic investigation can be based on a book â€Å"Pleasure and the Good Life: Concerning the Nature, Varieties, and Plausibility of Hedonism† by Fred Feldman. The research paper should include the idea of hedonism and approaches of various philosophers to the issue. 20. Naturalism in Philosophy Followers of the naturalism theory consider that everything in our life is connected with natural regularities and main laws of nature. The research paper should be based on philosophical approaches of naturalism and the implementation of these ideas into ordinary human life. Conclusion The philosophy research paper is a task that can be viewed as a challenge for the student due to the variety of topics and issues to study. Although this list of topics is not full, these ideas can be taken as a guide for writing the research piece. Generally speaking, it is important to remember that the philosophy research paper is an interesting task because it provides an opportunity for creativity and representation of personal opinion.

Writing a Thank You Note

Writing a Thank You Note Writing a Thank You Note Writing a Thank You Note By Ali Hale Sending a thank you note is always a lovely gesture – and often an expected one. I’m sure that when you were a child, your parents encouraged (or forced) you to write thank you notes for birthday and Christmas presents. As an adult, you should still make a point of writing a thank you note to express gratitude in a number of situations. These come in both personal and business contexts: Personal It’s appropriate to send a thank you note: When you receive a gift (especially important for wedding gifts). When you’ve been a houseguest in someone’s home (this is sometimes called a â€Å"bread-and-butter letter†). When someone has done a particular favor for you. Business It’s appropriate to send a thank you note: After attending a job interview. After receiving a promotion or payrise. After a business lunch, dinner or party. When an acquaintance has given you their time and advice. When a manager or professor has supplied you with a reference letter. To co-workers who’ve given you a gift (this last one may fall into the â€Å"personal† category, depending on how well you know your colleagues). Obviously, the types of thank you notes you write in a personal context (to your grandma, for instance) will differ considerably from the types you write in a business context (to an interviewer whom you barely know). I’ll cover the â€Å"personal† and â€Å"business† notes separately, outlining the general structure and giving you some examples. Writing a Personal Thank You Note If merely expressing your gratitude doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to write a thank you note, you might like to read these words of advice from Leslie Harpold. I will also grudgingly tell you the hidden secret of thank you notes: They improve the frequency and quality of the gifts you receive. People like being appreciated, and if they feel you actually notice the nice things they do for you, they’re more likely to give an encore performance. How to Write a Thank you Note Ideally, your letter should be on paper rather than emailed. If you are emailing, you must send individual thank you notes rather than mass-emailing everyone who gave you a gift. In most cases for a personal note, it’s not appropriate to set it out as a formal business letter. Instead, use good-quality notepaper or a nice greetings card. Structuring a Personal Thank You Note You should put your address at the top (or, if you know the recipient will already have your address, simply put the name of your town and state). Add the date. Address the recipient as â€Å"Dear [[name]]†, then open the letter by thanking them for the gift, hospitality or kindness offered. Your second sentence or paragraph should give some indication of your enjoyment or use of the gift. Some people like to go on to share a little news, especially if they have been out of touch with the recipient for a while. Some etiquette experts, though, suggest that the thank you note should purely be about the recipient’s kindness, not about your own life. I believe that in a personal context, it’s fine to share your news. A good closing sentence or paragraph is one which looks forward to seeing or speaking to the recipient – especially if a reunion or holiday is coming up. Mentioning â€Å"thank you † again is a good idea, to emphasise the point of the letter. You should not end with â€Å"yours sincerely† but with a less formal phrase; â€Å"love† or â€Å"love from† is often appropriate for relatives, or â€Å"best wishes†, â€Å"warmest wishes† or even â€Å"thanks again†. Example of a Personal Thank You Note Here’s an example, from the Etiquette Grrls’ book More Things You Need to Be Told (p56): September 1, 2005 Dear Katherine, Thank you so much for the wonderful book about nineteenth-century architecture of Long Island that you sent me. Not only was it the perfect present (I haven’t been able to put it down!) but it will certainly come in handy for my studies. You always pick the perfect thing! Again, thanks so much, and I’ll talk to you soon. Love, Bitsy As you can see, a thank you note needn’t be long to be friendly, polite and effective. Writing a Business Thank you Note Thank you notes are mandatory and expected in some situations. A recent survey by CareerBuilder.com found that: Nearly 15 percent of hiring managers would reject a job candidate who neglected to send a thank you letter after the interview 32 percent said they would still consider the thankless prospect but that their opinion of him or her would diminish advice from Write Express As you can see, after a job interview, a thank you note may be a must. (This will depend on your career area and the business etiquette in your country.) And in any business situation, it never hurts to send a polite letter, whether or not you think it’s absolutely required. A business thank you letter is somewhat different to the sort you send to your Grandma in gratitude for your Christmas slippers. Your business letter should: Be typed, ideally on letter-headed paper. (Handwritten or emailed letters are okay if you know the recipient will prefer this.) Be sent promptly (within 24 hours of an interview, for instance). Be friendly but also professional. It would be very inappropriate to end a business thank you with â€Å"love from†. Structuring a Business Thank You Note As with the personal thank you note, there’s an easy formula to follow. Set your letter out as a proper business letter, using letter headed paper and including your address, the recipient’s address, and the date. (You can find instructions on US business letter format and UK business letter format here on Daily Writing Tips.) Address the recipient as â€Å"Dear [name],† erring on the side of caution regarding formality. (â€Å"Mr Jones† or â€Å"Dr Smith† rather than â€Å"Bob†). Start by thanking them for the interview, pay rise, promotion, event, or other occasion that you’re writing about. Go on to mention something specific about how it has helped you, or how you enjoyed the event. Be sincere, and make it clear how much you appreciate their time and effort. You may want to mention the next occasion on which you hope to see them – though try not to be presumptuous. If you’re writing a thank you note for an initial interview, don’t act as though you’ve already been given the job! End with â€Å"Yours sincerely† when writing to someone you don’t know well (an interviewer or acquaintance from another company). If you’re writing to your boss or manager, â€Å"Best wishes† or â€Å"Many thanks† might be an appropriate way to close your letter. Example of a Business Thank You Note There are some good examples at Business Thank You Note Samples, including this one: Dear [City officials names], Wed like to express our gratitude for the school administrators luncheon last week. The luncheon itself was very well done and enjoyed by all, but of course its the sentiment behind the gathering that means the most. The citys renewed united commitment is a boost to the administrations morale and a vote of confidence in the schools future. For that, we thank you . Best wishes, As with a personal note, a business thank you letter needn’t be long. Indeed, since the recipient is likely to be busy, you should try to be concise and stick to the point. And make sure you double and triple proofread your letter – especially if it’s one you’ve sent after an interview, in the hopes of being hired. Early impressions really do count for a lot. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Does [sic] Mean?8 Writing Tips for BeginnersI wish I were...

Imobilization of enzymes in clinical diagnosis using nanotechnology Research Proposal

Imobilization of enzymes in clinical diagnosis using nanotechnology - Research Proposal Example Immobilization can be done either physically or chemically. Physical immobilization involves weak interactions between the existing enzyme and the support whereas chemical immobilization includes formation of covalent bonds with the enzyme. Examples of physical methods of immobilization include adsorbing the enzyme in a water-soluble matrix, microencapsulating the enzyme with a solid membrane. This article looks into an overview of how immobilization was applied in the clinical diagnosis of the above mentioned diseases and new techniques that can be applied in the diagnosis process that reflect on advancements in the preceding methods. Nanotechnology has been applied in immobilization of enzymes via peptide mapping which is achieved through proteolytic digestion with enzymes such as trypsin. This process has been a possibility due to the quick and efficiency in the identification and digestion of unknown protein. Peptide mapping is done with the aid of enzymatic cleavage of the protein. Identification of the peptide fragments is done using either matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry or electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and in each case of identification separation of the mixture improves the coverage of the sequence. Peptide mapping is disadvantageous from the manual way of manipulation of samples besides lengthened enzymatic activities during proteolytic digestion. An antibody having a high affinity for a the substance under test is attached to a solid surface for example the human chorionic gonadotropin and a mixture of the purified human chorionic gonadotropin and a fluid test sample are passed through a test system and observations made on the results. Absence of human chorionic gonadotropin in the sample tested in deduced from the binding of the linked enzyme and the less the human

The Princess Bride Film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

The Princess Bride Film - Essay Example ployed in the film; it is expected that the selected scenes from the movie will provide useful insights to learners regarding the various camera shots, movements, sound effects, music and dialogues as shown in the movie. The students need to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding of film through an analysis of selected scenes from the movie and the assessment tasks are carefully planned to meet the language needs of the learners too. 1. Students are asked to submit a portfolio at the end of the unit for teacher feedback and the portfolio should comprise of their understanding of the various themes of the movie and how the character sketch of each of the major characters are revealed in the movie from the scenes shown to them. 2. The class task asks the students to make a write up of the importance of dialogues and sound effects in the movie. For this, students are shown certain scenes in the movie without any sounds. Students need to construct appropriate dialogues based on the actions and later they can be shown the same scenes with all the dialogues and sound effects. a) Pre-viewing Activities that will provide the students with an understanding of the basic factors associated with the genre of film, the various categories of films and the major actors/actresses of the movie. 1. Discussion: The teacher organizes an open discussion in the class. Initially, the teacher asks each one what they know about films in general. Each one contributes to the discussion by adding a different point. The students are asked to take notes whenever a new idea is being discussed. Students can also ask for clarifications, examples and substantiation on what others have pointed out. The activity goes on until the students have shared all their previous understanding of the genre of films. The teacher can then intervene to divert their attention to new information on films and can carefully elicit their responses. This would pave way for another creative discussion

Organizational Buyer Behavior and Buyer-Seller Relationships Essay Example for Free

Organizational Buyer Behavior and Buyer-Seller Relationships Essay Business to business marketing also known as Industrial marketing is the marketing of goods services to organizations including commercial enterprises, government and other profit non-profit institutions for use in the goods services they in turn produce for resale to other customers or to facilitate the operation of their enterprise (Reeder, Brierty, 2002). Business to business market is characterized by few customers who buy in very large quantities and are geographically concentrated. The customers are professional and rational in their purchase approach. The nature of demand is derived demand, which is usually customized. The channels of distribution are shorter and there is more emphasis on personal face-to-face communication. In this era of globalization the business environment is characterized by intense competition. To sustain and grow in such a competitive economic environment, business organizations are under tremendous pressure to manufacture a product or provide a service that is of optimum quality, is customized to individual customer requirements and is delivered on time at minimum possible price. The role of the suppliers is crucial in helping the business organizations to achieve this objective. To succeed and grow in such business to business markets business marketers need to understand the Business Buyer Behavior and evolve close, enduring and long-term relationships. Business Buyer Behavior Understanding the dynamics of business buying behavior including the organizational buying process, the types of buying situations, forces influencing the organization buyer behavior, the composition of the buying center and the motives and the roles played by each member of the buying center is crucial for business marketers to identify profitable market segments, locate the various buying influences within these segments and reaching these buyers efficiently and effectively with product or service offerings that satisfy their needs. The Organizational Buying Process The organizational buying behavior is a process rather than an isolated program. It involves comprehensive phases or stages. The process begins with the recognition of a need for a product or service by someone in the company. Broad parameters for the desired product/service are then worked out. Detailed specifications and description for the desired product or service are developed. Once the company has defined the product /service it needs then the search for potential suppliers who can meet the needs begins, alternative suppliers are identified, asked to submit their proposals and the proposals analyzed. The short-listed suppliers are invited for negotiations and the final suppliers are selected. The order is then placed with the selected suppliers on the agreed terms. Finally the performance of the firms supplying the required products/ services is reviewed periodically. The buying process stage of the potential buyer for the seller’s product or service will have a major implication on the marketing approach to be adopted by the seller. Types of Buying Situations There are basically three major types of buying situations, namely the straight rebuy, modified rebuy and new-task buy. In a straight rebuy situation the buyer reorders a product or service without any modifications on a routine basis through the purchase department. In a modified rebuy situation the buyer may wish a modification in product/service specifications, prices, terms of supply etc. This situation usually involves more number of participants in the buying decision process. In a new task buying situation the company is buying a product or service for the first time. In such a situation the organization buying process is more complex and involves many more number of participants from different departments in the organization. The buying company also needs to decide on the product/service specifications, prices, delivery terms, order quantities, service terms etc. Forces Influencing Business Buying Behavior The organization buying behavior is influenced by environmental forces like changes in the domestic and global economy and changes in the technologies. The rapid strides made in information technology especially Internet technology has had a major influence in the way businesses buy. For example most of the small and large business organizations buy computer systems from Dell through its well developed website www. ell. com. Organization buying behavior is also influenced by the organizational forces like centralization and decentralization of purchase and strategic role and priorities of purchase prevalent in the given organization. The group forces influencing behavior include the composition, motives and the roles played by each member of the buying center. Buying Center It is the decision-making uni t of a buying organization and comprises of all members of the organization who are involved in the buying decision process. The members of the buying center will change depending on the product/service being purchased and the buying situation in which it is being purchased. The buying center members may play any one or a combination of the five roles namely, users, influencers, buyers, deciders and gatekeepers. Users are the members who will actually use the product being offered. Influencers are members who influence the purchase. Buyers are members who have the formal authority to make the purchase. Deciders are members who have formal or informal power to select/approve the final suppliers. Gatekeepers are members who control the flow of information from the seller to other members of the buying center. The buying motives/objectives of each member of the buying center through which the members evaluate potential suppliers may differ. The motives may include task oriented objectives such as price, quality, service and Return on Investment and non-task oriented objectives such as recognition, promotion, increments and job security. Companies involved in business to business marketing need to clearly identify the buying situation, the stage or the phase in the buying decision making process for the product being offered, the various forces influencing the buying organizations behavior, the composition of the buying center, the role played by each member of the buying center and the criteria on which they evaluate the suppliers for each individual customer. Based on such an understanding they should evolve suitable marketing strategies for success. For example Unilever the British FMCG major may need new high-speed packaging equipment for its innovation in detergent ‘small mighty’. Companies in the business of packaging equipment need to understand that it is a new task buy situation for Unilever. And the company may be in the need identification stage of the buying process. They need to have closer relationship with the members from different functional areas like operations, engineering, design, finance and purchase who may comprise the buying center, understand the motives of purchase and the role played by each member. This is crucial because each of this buyer behavior characteristic will have an implication on the buying decision process at Unilever. This will help the supplier to evolve suitable marketing strategies to be the favoured supplier of Unilever. Relationship emphasis in Business to Business Marketing In the highly competitive environment that is prevalent today, suppliers have evolved into business partners. There is a major emphasis on close and long-term relationships in the business to business markets. To maintain the relationships, business markets must develop an intimate knowledge of the customers and add value to it. Relationship marketing centers on all marketing activities directed towards establishing, developing and maintaining successful exchanges with customers (Morgan, Hunt, 1994). A strong relationship between the buyer and the seller is a win-win situation for both. The seller will have a competitive advantage over his competition and the buyer will have effective business solutions to his problem. The relationships between the buyer and the seller in the business to business setup are positioned on a spectrum with transactional exchanges on one end and collaborative exchanges at the other extreme with value-added exchanges in the middle. Transactional Exchanges focus on timely exchange of a product/service for a competitive price. Economy and necessity are the main motivational factors of such exchanges with little interest on the part of the buyer or the seller to extend the relationship. Such types of exchanges may be preferred by the buying organization when the purchase decision is not complex, the purchase is considered to be less significant to the achievement of its objectives, many suppliers are available and the supply market is stable. Here the business marketer need not make any specialized investment in building relationships. For example the supply of office stationery and cleaning services may call for a transactional relationship. Value added exchanges focus on complete understanding of the present and future needs of the customer and meeting those needs better than the competitor by customizing the firm’s offerings to the needs of individual customers. For example Intel Corporation, a leading player in the semiconductor industry has understood the changing computer server needs of it corporate clients and has developed and introduced a new chip that lowers electricity consumption to a very great extent. This has drastically reduced the huge electricity bills of its customers like Google Corporation that maintain thousands of servers world wide (Edwards, 2006) Collaborative Exchanges focus on building a strong social, economic, service and technical ties over a long period of time for mutual benefit through reduced costs and increased value. Such exchanges are very crucial when the market is very dynamic, the complexity of purchase is very high and the product/service being purchased is very crucial for the performance of the end product of the buying organization. In such situations the switching costs involved in changing a supplier are also very high for the buying organization. For example Asin is the sole supplier to the Japanese car manufacturing major Toyota Motors for â€Å"p-valve†, a critical brake part used in all Toyota vehicles worldwide. Aisin works in very close collaboration with Toyota Motors and is highly involved in the product development process at Toyota Motors to keep pace with the innovations being made in the Toyota vehicles and meet the JIT production requirements of Toyota (Liker, 2004). Business Marketers have some flexibility in deciding where to participate along the relationship continuum. It basically depends on the characteristics of the market, the type and price of product/service being offered and the significance of product/service being offered to the buying organization. However rival companies are continuously working towards taking away the best accounts and so also the requirements, expectations and the preferences of the individual customers keeps changing continuously. To meet these challenges business marketers must develop mutually beneficial relationships with individual customers by developing a deep understanding of their needs. Information should be openly shared to benefit both the buyer and the seller. The systems, procedures, and routines of the buyer and seller should be connected to facilitate operations. There should be very good cooperation between the buyer and seller and both should treat the buying situations as joint responsibilities. Both the buyer and seller should invest in processes and procedures that are necessary to meet the specific needs of the exchange partners. Such mutually beneficial relationships between the buyer and the seller will result in better service to the business customer as the seller will be able to provide customized product/service solutions that precisely meet the individual customer needs. Conclusion Business to business markets are growing in volume as compared to consumer markets. The characteristics of the Business to business markets call for closer buyer seller relationships. Companies operating in the Business to business markets should clearly study the organizational buyer behavior with respect to the product or service they offer. They should decide on the type of relationship, ranging from transactional exchange to collaborative exchange, which they should adopt with each customer to gain competitive advantage in the intensively competitive business environment.

Mel Levines A Mind at a Time Essay example -- Cognitive Psychology Ch

Mel Levine's A Mind at a Time Mel Levine’s book, A Mind at a Time, describes many aspects of cognitive psychology and attempts to apply them to the educational system for young children. This book also makes suggestions for parents that have children with cognitive difficulties. The chapters in this book are designated to various aspects of cognitive psychology as they pertain to children. This paper focuses on chapter six in A Mind at a Time, which is titled â€Å"Making Arrangements: Our Spatial and Sequential Ordering Systems.† This is a very interesting chapter because it incorporates many aspects of cognitive psychology. In this chapter, Levine focuses on how children organize their world in terms of learning, thinking, and remembering. Levine states that children have two ways in which they organize the information they receive from the world around them. He refers to these methods as sequential ordering and spatial ordering. He defines spatial patterns as, â€Å"assembled parts that occupy space and settle on the doorsteps of our minds all at once† (Levine, p.151). Many examples are given of when spatial ordering is prevalent, for instance, when a student draws a map or recognizes the features of a person’s face. Levine defines sequential patterns as information gaining â€Å"admission to the minds one bit at a time and in an order that’s meant not to be missed† (Levine, p.151). He says that sequential ordering is used when students try to master a science project or learn a telephone number. Neurologically, Levine states that sequential ordering is carried out on the left side of the brain and spatial ordering is carried out on the right side of the brain. He also makes referen ces to the possibility of childr... ...e abnormalities in their ability to learn efficiently. Throughout the book he is very supportive. He offers parents many great strategies for dealing with the problems of their children. The book A Mind at a Time gives parents a way to learn about their child’s mind without a lot of technical terms. The main problem I see with this book is that it may lead parents to discover potential problems with their children at much too young an age. Levine’s most important error is that he does not mention the age at which the minds of children develop. I feel that this book could be helpful to many parents and harmful to others. Parents, as well as other readers, need to be cautious when reading this book. Works Cited: Levine, M. (2002), A Mind at a Time. New York: Simon & Schuster. Matlin, M.W. (2002). Cognition. (5th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Bad debt

Bad debt is a serious financial problem affecting the United States. When people do not pay their debts, the economy suffers because the banks, credit card companies, doctors, utility companies, and other businesses lose money. The same applies to when businesses fail to pay their financial obligations to other businesses. However, personal bad debt and corporate bad debt is viewed differently by the government (Bankruptcy FAQ for small business. ) Corporate bad debt is easier to file bankruptcy upon than when a private person loses money.This seems to be simply because allowing corporations to do business honestly without threat of losing their personal financial security is an important ideal to keep the economy going. A company getting rid of their bad debt through bankruptcy all but destroys their ability to stay in business. Personal bad debt, however, is treated stricter because there are by appearance more controllable factors. People are expected to feed their families and st ay in a home without using credit and to not borrow more than they can afford.In addition, the companies and government likely fear that if people who don’t pay their bills can repeatedly file bankruptcy and keep everything they bought, there will be no incentive for them to do the right thing and live within their means. Those who honestly cannot pay their bills will not go to jail, but in the case of a business will likely lose their company and in a person’s case lose any homes or other property owned (Bankruptcy Courts. ) Otherwise, the economy would be in even worse shape if people and businesses could just run up bills, decide not to pay them, and not have any additional financial consequences.The government’s position seems to remain that businesses have a better right and need for credit to help the economy than individual households, and this is unlikely to change anytime soon. References: Bankruptcy Basics. (2006). Retrieved March 25, 2009 from U. S. C ourts: http://www. uscourts. gov/bankruptcycourts. html. Bankruptcy FAQ for small business. (2009). Retrieved March 25, 2009 from Bankruptcy in Brief: http://www. moranlaw. net/business-bankruptcy-faqs. htm.

Analysis of the Voice by Thomas Hardy

POEM: THE VOICE BY THOMAS HARDY What is the genre of this poem? To me this poem speaks about â€Å"Woman Much Missed† Meaning there is someone very dear to the poet that is much missed & is no longer seen. The poem has a sense of Reminiscence, Depression, Sorrow & Death. What is the tone of voice? The tone of voice is rather Nostalgic, Emotive and Anxious. Because he says â€Å"Let me view you, then, Standing as when I drew near to the town Where you would wait for me: yes as I knew you then,†What is the theme? The theme is rather about love and a great loss. Because it says â€Å"Saying that now you are not as you were, When you had changed from the one who was all to me† What is the structure? The structure is rather Emphatic, because he emphasizes when he says â€Å"How you call to me, call to me† twice. What is the setting? The setting is in a rather sad & depressed/scared mood. He says â€Å"Thus I; faltering forward† shows he’s fear to move on without this woman. What is the Image being Portrayed?The poet is setting a rather mysterious/miserable image. Mysterious because as he says â€Å"Can it be you that I hear? † It makes you wonder if the poet is going mad. Miserable because he shows how much he misses this woman by saying â€Å"Woman much missed† What is the Key Statement? The key statement to me is in the title because the title in itself makes you reason out what the poem is about. The title is THE VOICE, this title would make me ask, Why the voice? , Who is the voice? What about the voice? So in short it’s all about the voice. What is the sound being portrayed? The impression being portrayed to me is that life is all about love and that life cannot continue without it, for others. What is the Language use? The poet is using the language rather narratively because rather than describing his emotions he’s narrating the events that are happening e. g. â€Å"Traveling across the we t mead to me here† What are the qualities that resonate/evoke with the reader?The poem is rather much private because he says â€Å"Woman much missed, how you call to me call to me† which confirms the poets love for someone missing. He indirectly channels the reader to his feelings through someone else. In the third stanza he starts to question the authenticity of the voice. â€Å"Can it be you that I hear? † The poet uses a mixture of alliteration and assonance to guideaid the reader with these lines. What is the value of this poem? Value the people you love for you never know what the future holds for you or your spouse/partner in life. Related essay: In Exile Poem Line by Line Analysis

Biography of Queen Elizabeth I, Virgin Queen of England

Biography of Queen Elizabeth I, Virgin Queen of England Elizabeth I (Born Princess Elizabeth; September 7, 1533–March 24, 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603, the last of the Tudor monarchs. She never married and consciously styled herself as the Virgin Queen, wedded to the nation. Her reign was marked by immense growth for England, especially in world power and cultural influence. Fast Facts: Queen Elizabeth I Known For:  Queen of England from 1558–1603, known for defeating the Spanish Armada and encouraging cultural growthAlso Known As:  Princess Elizabeth, the Virgin QueenBorn:  September 7, 1533 in Greenwich, EnglandParents: King Henry VIII and Anne BoleynDied:  March 24, 1603 in Richmond, EnglandEducation: Educated by William Grindal and Roger Ascham, among othersPublished Works:  Letters, speeches, and poems (collected in modern times in the volume, Elizabeth I: Collected WorksNotable Quote: I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king and of a king of England too.† Early Life On September 7, 1533,  Anne Boleyn, then Queen of England, gave birth to the Princess Elizabeth. She was baptized three days later and was named after her paternal grandmother,  Elizabeth of York. The princesss arrival was a bitter disappointment, as her parents had been certain that she would be a boy, the son  Henry VIII  so desperately wanted and had married Anne to have. Elizabeth rarely saw her mother and before she was 3, Anne Boleyn was executed on trumped-up charges of adultery and treason. The marriage was declared invalid and Elizabeth was then declared illegitimate, as her half-sister,  Mary, had been, and reduced to the title of Lady instead of Princess. Despite this, Elizabeth was educated under some of the most highly regarded educators of the time, including William Grindal and Roger Ascham. By the time she had reached her teens, Elizabeth knew Latin, Greek, French, and Italian. She was also a talented musician, able to play the spinet and lute. She even composed a little. Restored to the Line of Succession After Henry fathered a son, an act of Parliament in 1543 restored  Mary  and Elizabeth to the line of succession, though it did not restore their legitimacy. When Henry died in 1547, Edward, his only son, succeeded to the throne. Elizabeth went to live with Henry’s widow,  Catherine Parr. When Parr became pregnant in 1548, she sent Elizabeth away to set up her own household, following incidents of her husband, Thomas Seymour, apparently attempting to groom or seduce Elizabeth. After Parr’s death in 1548, Seymour began scheming to achieve more power and secretly plotted to marry Elizabeth. After he was executed for treason, Elizabeth experienced her first brush with scandal and had to endure rigorous investigation. After the scandal passed, Elizabeth spent the rest of her brother’s reign living quietly and respectably,   A Focal Point for Discontent Edward VI attempted to disinherit both his sisters, favoring his cousin  Lady Jane Grey for the throne. However, he did so without the backing of Parliament and his will was patently illegal, as well as unpopular. After his death in 1533, Mary succeeded to the throne and Elizabeth joined her triumphant procession.  Unfortunately, Elizabeth soon lost favor with her Catholic sister, likely due to English Protestants seeing her as an alternative to Mary. Because Mary wed her Catholic cousin,  Philip II of Spain, Thomas Wyatt (the son of one of Anne Boleyns friends) led a rebellion, which Mary blamed on Elizabeth. She sent Elizabeth to the Tower of London, where criminals including Elizabeths mother had awaited execution. With no evidence found against her, and Queen Mary’s husband viewing her as an asset for a political marriage, Elizabeth avoided execution and was released. Mary suffered a false pregnancy in 1555, leaving Elizabeth all but certain to inherit. Elizabeth I Becomes Queen Mary died on November 17, 1558, and Elizabeth inherited the throne, the third and final of Henry VIII’s children to do so. Her procession into London and coronation were masterpieces of political statement and planning, and her accession was treated warmly by many in England who hoped for greater religious toleration. Elizabeth quickly assembled a Privy Council and promoted a number of key advisors: One, William Cecil (later Lord Burghley), was appointed principal secretary. Their partnership would prove to be fruitful and he remained in her service for 40 years. The Marriage Question One question that dogged Elizabeth, particularly in the early part of her reign, was the question of succession. Numerous times, the parliament presented her with official requests that she marry. Most of the English population hoped that marriage would solve the problem of a woman ruling. Women were not believed to be capable of leading forces into battle. Their mental powers were considered to be inferior to men.  Men often gave Elizabeth unsolicited advice, particularly in regards to the will of God, which only men were believed to be able to interpret. Elizabeth I’s Image Despite the frustration, Elizabeth governed with her head. She knew how to use courtship as a useful political tool, and she wielded it masterfully. Throughout her life, Elizabeth had a variety of suitors. The closest she came to marriage was likely with longtime friend Robert Dudley, but that hope ended when his first wife died mysteriously and Elizabeth had to distance herself from scandal. In the end, she refused to marry and also refused to name a political successor. Elizabeth cultivated the image of herself as the Virgin Queen wedded to her kingdom, and her speeches made great use of romantic languages, such as love, in defining her role. The campaign was entirely successful, maintaining Elizabeth as one of England’s best-loved monarchs. Religion Elizabeth’s reign marked a change from Mary’s Catholicism and a return to the policies of Henry VIII, whereby the English monarch was head of an English church. The Act of Supremacy in 1559 began a process of gradual reform, effectively creating the Church of England. As part of her path of reform in the church, Elizabeth famously declared that she would tolerate all but the  most radical sects.  She demanded only outward obedience, unwilling to force consciences. This wasn’t enough for more extreme Protestants, and Elizabeth faced criticism from them. Mary, Queen of Scots and Catholic Intrigue Elizabeth’s decision to adopt Protestantism earned her condemnation from the pope, who gave permission for her subjects to disobey and even kill her. This inflamed numerous plots against Elizabeth’s life, a situation exacerbated by Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary Stuart, Elizabeth’s Catholic cousin, was the granddaughter of Henry’s sister and was seen by many to be a Catholic heir to the throne. In 1568, Mary fled Scotland after her marriage to Lord Darnley ended in murder and a suspicious remarriage,  and she begged for Elizabeths help to be restored to power. Elizabeth didn’t want to return Mary to full power in Scotland, but she didn’t want the Scots to execute her, either. She kept Mary in confinement for 19 years, but her presence in England proved to be detrimental to the precarious religious balance within the country, as Catholics used her as a rallying point. Mary was the focus of plots to kill Elizabeth during the 1580s. Although Elizabeth resisted calls to accuse and execute Mary at first, ultimately, she was persuaded by evidence that Mary had been party to the plots, not just an unwilling figurehead. Still, Elizabeth fought against signing the execution warrant until the bitter end, going so far as to encourage private assassination. After the execution, Elizabeth claimed that the warrant was dispatched against her wishes; whether that was true or not is unknown. War and the Spanish Armada England’s Protestant religion put it at odds with neighboring Catholic Spain and, to a lesser extent, France. Spain was involved in military plots against England and Elizabeth came under pressure from home to become involved with defending other Protestants on the continent, which on occasion she did. The execution of Mary Stuart convinced Philip in Spain that it was time to conquer England and restore Catholicism within the country. Stuart’s execution also meant that he would not have to put an ally of France on the throne. In 1588, he launched the infamous  Armada. Elizabeth went to Tilbury Camp to encourage her troops, declaring: â€Å"I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare invade the borders of my realm†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚   In the end, England defeated the Armada and Elizabeth was victorious. This would prove to be the climax of her reign: Only a year later, the same Armada all but destroyed the English Navy. Ruler of the Golden Age The years of Elizabeth’s rule are often referred to simply using her name- The Elizabethan Age. Such was her profound effect on the nation. The period is also called the Golden Age, for these years saw England rise to the status of world power thanks to voyages of exploration and economic expansion. Toward the end of her reign, England experienced a blossoming literary culture.  Edward Spenser  and  William Shakespeare  were both supported by the queen and likely drew inspiration from their regal leader. Architecture, music, and painting also experienced a boom in popularity and innovation. The presence of her strong and balanced rule facilitated this. Elizabeth herself wrote and translated works. Problems and Decline The last 15 years of her reign were the hardest on Elizabeth, as  her most trusted advisers died and younger courtiers struggled for power. Most infamously, a former favorite, the Earl of Essex, led a poorly-plotted rebellion against the queen in 1601. It failed miserably and he was executed. Toward the very end of Elizabeth’s long reign, national problems began to grow. Consistently poor harvests and high inflation damaged both the economic situation and belief in the queen, as did anger at the alleged greed of court favorites. Death Elizabeth held her final Parliament in 1601. In 1602 and 1603, she lost several dear friends, including her cousin Lady Knollys (granddaughter of Elizabeths aunt  Mary Boleyn). Elizabeth experienced ever more depression, something she had experienced her entire life. She declined notably in health and died on March 24, 1603. She was buried in Westminster Abbey in the same tomb as her sister Mary. She had never named an heir, but her cousin James VI, the Protestant son of Mary Stuart, succeeded to the throne and was likely her preferred successor. Legacy Elizabeth has been remembered more for her successes than her failures and as a monarch that loved her people and was much loved in return. Elizabeth was always revered and seen as almost divine. Her unmarried status often led to comparisons of Elizabeth with the Roman goddess  Diana, the Virgin Mary, and even a  Vestal Virgin. Elizabeth went out of her way to cultivate a wider public. In the early years of her reign, she often went out to the country on annual visits to aristocratic houses, showing herself to most of the public along the road in the country and townsfolk of southern England. In poetry, she has been celebrated as an English embodiment of feminine strength associated with such mythic heroines as Judith,  Esther, Diana, Astraea, Gloriana, and Minerva. In her personal writings, she showed  wit and intelligence. Throughout her reign, she proved to be a capable politician and  she reigned for almost half a century. She consistently maintained her control on government, remaining cordial with parliament and ministers, but never allowing them to control her. Much of Elizabeth’s reign was a careful balancing act between both factions of her own court as well as with other nations. Keenly aware of the increased burdens due to her gender, Elizabeth managed to construct a complex persona that awed and charmed her subjects. She portrayed herself very much as her father’s daughter, fierce if need be. Elizabeth was lavish in her presentation, part of her brilliantly orchestrated campaign to mold her image and retain power. She impresses people even today and her name has become synonymous with strong women. Sources Collinson, Patrick. Elizabeth I.  Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004.  Dewald, Jonathan, and Wallace MacCaffrey. Elizabeth I (England).  Europe 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World. Charles Scribners Sons, 2004.  Kinney, Arthur F., David W. Swain, and Carol Levin. Elizabeth I.  Tudor England: an encyclopedia. Garland, 2001.  Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar. Queen Elizabeth I.  The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women: The Traditions in English. 3. ed. Norton, 2007.

Definition of the Preterite Tense in Spanish

Definition of the Preterite Tense in Spanish Definition of the Preterite Tense The preterite (often spelled preterit) verb tense is the tense that expresses an action that took  place at a definite time in the past. It is contrasted with the imperfect tense, which expresses an action that took place at an indefinite time or has not been completed. The preterite is the tense that would normally be thought of as the past tense in English. The preterite is also known as the simple past tense in English and as the pretà ©rito indefinido or pretà ©rito perfecto simple in Spanish. When To Use the Preterite In general, the preterite is used in referring to events that happened at a specific time or to repeated events that happened over a specific time. A simple example would be Ayer yo buscaba las llaves (I looked for the keys yesterday) because the event happened at a specific time. If youre talking about something that didnt occur at a particular time, you usually would use the imperfect tense. For example, you might say, Yo buscaba las llaves en todas partes (I looked for the keys everywhere), as its unspecified when you did the searching. Some Spanish words and phrases, sometimes known as indicators, always or nearly always are used with the preterite. Among the common ones: anoche (last night)anteayer (the day before yesterday)h3Miscellaneous Facts About the Preterite/h3el aà ±o pasado (last year)ayer (yesterday)hace _____ (_____ ago)el mes pasado (last month)el otro dà ­a (the other day)la semana pasada (last week) Conjugation of the Preterite Here are the regular  conjugations  for the preterite  -ar,  -er, and  -ir  verbs. The endings, added to the verb stems, are shown in boldface: Example  -ar  verb  cantar  (to sing): yo cantà ©Ã‚  (I sang)tà º cantaste  (you sang)usted/à ©l/ella cantà ³Ã‚  (you/he/she/it sang)nosotros/nosotras cantamos  (we sang)vosotros/vosotras cantasteis  (you sang)ustedes/ellos/ellas cantaron  (you/they sang) Example  -er  verb  temer  (to fear): yo temà ­Ã‚  (I feared)tà º temiste  (you feared)usted/à ©l/ella temià ³Ã‚  (you/he/she/it feared)nosotros/nosotras temimos  (we feared)vosotros/vosotras temisteis  (you feared)ustedes/ellos/ellas temieron  (you/they feared) Example  -ir  verb  partir  (to divide): yo partà ­Ã‚  (I divided)tà º partiste  (you divided)usted/à ©l/ella partià ³Ã‚  (you/he/she/it divided)nosotros/nosotras partimos  (we divided)vosotros/vosotras partisteis  (you divided)ustedes/ellos/ellas partieron  (you/they divided) Note that in the first-person plural or we forms, the forms are the same for both the  present  and imperfect tenses. In other words,  cantamos  can mean either we sing or we sang. Context will nearly always tell you which translation is appropriate. Sample Sentences Using the Preterite Pablo me hablà ³. (Pablo spoke to me.) Ana escribià ³ la carta. (Ana wrote the letter). Hace dos aà ±os fuimos a Nueva Zelanda. (Two years ago we went to New Zealand.) Se se cayà ³ tu celular al agua y no sabes que hacer, no desesperes. (If your cellphone fell into the water and you dont know what to do, dont worry.) Se puso el sol. (The sun set.) Compraron dos respiradores para el hospital. (They bought two respirators for the hospital.) El aà ± aà ±o pasado, esperamos las lluvias, pero nunca llegaron. (Last year we expected the rains, but they never came.) Anteayer estudiamos la epidemia de Barcelona de 1821. (The day before yesterday we studied the 1821 Barcelona epidemic. Note that without anteayear, the sentence would be ambiguous as to whether the studying occurred in the past or is currently taking place.) Ayear  fui el mejor dà ­a de mi vida. (Yesterday  was the best day of my life.) Mirà © a la derecha y ella mirà ³ a la izquierda. (I looked to the right and she looked to the left.)   Miscellaneous Facts About Using the Preterite The preterite is nearly always used in discussing events that happened only one time. El concierto fue un à ©xito. (The concert was a success.) One use of the preterite is to indicate that a process has become complete. La estudiante alcanzà ³ el tà ­tulo de campeà ³n. (The student took  the title of champion.) The preterite can also be used to indicate the beginning of a process: Guillermo conocà ­ a mi madre. (Guillermo met my mother. Note that conocer can mean to know or to meet. The translation of met is used because it refers to the moment that the two people began to know each other.)Tuve el coche perfecto. (I got the perfect car. If you used the imperfect form, tenà ­a, the verb would indicate ownership of the car rather than the obtaining of it.)

PSY 365 Psychology of Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PSY 365 Psychology of Diversity - Essay Example At the seminar students volunteered to participate and completed the first questionnaire. Some of these were subsequently located in the United States and completed mail surveys. Ultimately the sample of 155 completed all questionnaires. The participants pursued graduate education in thirty-one American states, with the highest concentration in California followed by New, and Michigan, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. The variables measured were: acculturative stressors, affiliation with Taiwanese and Americans, English competence and their effect on adjustment. There were two control variables mentioned; these were the need to improve one’s English ability and extroversion. There were several hypotheses related to the effect that ethnic density would have on the variables acculturative stressors, affiliation with Taiwanese and Americans and English competence, and the resulting effect of these on adjustment. The authors sum up the hypotheses thus, â€Å"In sum, we hypothesized that acculturative stressors, affiliation with Americans, and English competency would be greater while affiliation with Taiwanese would be less for students in lower ethnic density schools as compared to those in higher ethnic density schools by the second semester. Furthermore, adjustment in the third semester would be predicted by acculturative stressors, affiliation with Americans, and English competence on low er ethnic density campuses, but affiliation with Taiwanese on higher ethnic density campuses, controlling for extroversion and baseline English ability†. The results of the study showed that in fact when there were more Taiwanese students on the campus there was more affiliation with them. On schools with moderate numbers of Taiwanese students there was indeed greater affiliation with Americans and better English competence. However the presence of acculturative stressors, affiliation with Americans and English competence enhanced adjustment only

Why did the Cold War not escalate into full-scale war between the USA Essay

Why did the Cold War not escalate into full-scale war between the USA and the USSR - Essay Example Even though there was no face to face conflicts these two blocks engaged in secret and indirect conflicts between each other. This was known to be the cold war. It continued till 1990’s when the Soviet Union broke up under the influence of perestroika and glasnost. To be precise, the cold war started in 1917 immediately after the Bolshevik revolution and ended in 1989 after the break up of USSR. It was a conflict between Bolshevism and democracy. The cold war is regarded as the most important political and diplomatical issue of the twentieth century. It got its name because both parties were afraid of fighting each other directly. Instead they fought the war indirectly. They played havoc in different parts of the world as well as fought with words on issues. Threatening and denouncement were common. Moreover they raced to make each other look foolish. The term cold war was used first by Mr. Bernard Baruch who was a senior advisor for the 33rd president of the US, Mr. Harry Tru man. He used this term because of the frequently occurring crisis between the two sides even though they fought side by side against Nazi Germany. The actual cause of the cold war was the Bolshevik revolution in Russia in 1917. ... This prompted Russia to behave negatively against west. Russians though that the west was interested in toppling their communist regime and used all its strength to defend and shun them. Even though the US recognized USSR in 1933, suspicion between the two countries continued on a high note. This continued in the Second World War where both the countries were allies. The cold war is considered as decade’s long struggle for world supremacy. It began escalating during 1945 when relations between Washington and Moscow started deteriorating. The deterioration ignited the cold war as well as set a stage for the dynamic struggle between the east and the west. Even though political leaders changed in both sides, the cold war continued. In another sense, the cold war was more political rather than military (Cold war. 2011). One of the main reasons why the cold war did not escalate into a full fledged war was because both sides knew that if the war was started, it could easily be a nuc lear war causing destruction to the whole world (Why the cold war did never escalated. 2011). During the cold war, many times there was concern that this would escalate into a full war with nuclear arsenal used by both sides and killing millions. However both the sides developed a deterrence policy that further prevented problems from escalating beyond localities. Often periods of escalations and crisis appeared during the cold war days. That was in 1953, when Josef Stalin’s sudden death caused a leadership gap in Moscow. During this time in US there was American presidential election. This crisis continued till the most famous Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Other critical events during the cold war include the Hungarian