Develop an Export Strategy for an Organisation Essay - 1

Develop an Export Strategy for an Organisation - Essay Example India will therefore be expected to be familiar with the operations of the international trade which will help it to export its products effectively. The export strategy therefore proposed for the board of directors is dependent on the factors that will be brought out from the knowledge of the international trade (In Nafziger & In Paterson, 2014). International trade involves the exchange of products and services across the country boundaries. International trade consists of imports, which are the products that come into the country, and exports which are the products that the country sells to other countries. International trade is regulated by customs that regulate the oversight and taxation of the countries involved. International trade is laid on a theoretical foundation that includes mercantilism which tried to impose more exports than imports, referring this as a positive trade balance, neomercantilism which like the former, tries to meet a positive trade balance, absolute advantage over competitors which is based on the ability of a nation to produce effectively by using less resources. Another foundation is comparative advantage where a nation is encouraged to take part in exportation of a product which it is best suited to produce compared to its competitors, and endowment of factors which increases the comparative a dvantage thus enabling a nation to export products that it has a high factor endowment, therefore attaining higher sales level of the product and at the same time spreading its production cost, and importing the products which it has a low factor endowment in order to acquire them from countries that are suited to produce them. The complexity of the international market is based on the need for international transportation from one country to another. It involves the physical transportation

The Popularity of Teachers Essay Example for Free

The Popularity of Teachers Essay Teacher education is a commonly studied predictor of quality in early childhood classrooms and it has been consistently associated with teacher effectiveness in early childhood classrooms (Bowman et al., 2001; de Kruif et al., 2000; Helburn et al., 1995). Teachers can be popular just because they are friendly and helpful, but to be truly professional and effective they need other qualities. Students may not be able to put their finger on just why one teacher is more effective than another but we need to be able to identify the skills and behavior we require in a true professional. Teachers can be popular just because they are friendly and helpful, but to be truly professional and effective they need other qualities. Students may not be able to put their finger on just why one teacher is more effective than another but we need to be able to identify the skills and behavior we require in a true professional. Proper preparation is another crucial requirement of professionalism. When the teacher enters the classroom s/he should have all the required materials and the lesson plan ready. Nothing is sloppier than poor preparation. Interaction with the group needs professional standards of behavior: polite, firm and fair just about sum it up. And in orchestrating the class the teacher must give everyone their chance to contribute and should be flexible enough to modify lessons if they are obviously not going to plan. Indeed a fall-back position is part of good planning. It stands to reason also that teacher must observe punctuality and appropriate tidiness and dress: it is not possible to demand such behavior from students if the teacher doesn’t set the standards. Indeed I can remember occasions on which students have complained to me about â€Å"scruffy† teachers. Since the 1920s, the issue of teachers’ qualifications, which can guarantee their effectiveness, has been of concern for not only the science of Pedagogy, but also for those in charge of staffing schools with qualified professionals. As regards this issue, modern studies have revealed that the way in which a teacher carries out his work is determined by the union of  his personality traits and acquired knowledge. A â€Å"good teacher† should possess a wide range of qualifications, which could, schematically, be classified as follows: ÃŽâ„¢. Personality traits, attitudes and beliefs These include personality traits related to the professional role of a teacher, which can be nurtured and developed through initial education and continuous training (Whitty 1996: 89-90). Specifically, studies have shown that traits such as flexibility in terms of the appearance of students, a sense of humour, a sense of fairness, patience, enthusiasm, creativity, care and interest in the students, all contribute to the effectiveness of teachers (Malikow 2005, Harslett et al. 2000). These also include a teacher’s attitudes and beliefs on teaching, learning, his role, all of which affect the way he chooses, evaluates and comprehends the knowledge acquired, as well as the way he benefits from this knowledge in practice, as this very practice is shaped by that knowledge (Feiman-Nemser 1990, Schà ¶n 1983, Zeichner Liston 1996). The attitudes of teachers affect their degree of commitment to their duties, the way they teach and treat their students, as well as how they perceive their professional growth (Chen Rovegno 2000, DarlingHammond 2000). Specifically, teachers that have high expectations for their students and insist on promoting learning for all students tend to be more effective ( Malikow 2005, McBer 2000). Another factor which contributes to the effectiveness of teachers is a feeling of commitment to the job at hand (Coladarsi 2002) and interest in the personal life of students and their families (Harslett et al. 2000). Lastly, â€Å"knowledge of self† and contemplation are worth mentioning, in that they presuppose critical and careful reflection, on the part of the teacher, on his actions and self (Turner-Bisset 2001: 110-112). McBer (2000), from a series of interviews with teachers, identified 16 â€Å"professional characteristics†, including personality traits and individual attitudes, which she then classified into five groups: a) Professionalism: commitment, confidence, trustworthiness, respect;. b) Thinking: analytic and conceptual thinking; c) Expectations: disposal of achievement of high objectives, disposal for permanent comprehension of reality (e.g. the students, the order), and undertaking of initiatives; d) Leadership: flexibility, accountability, passion for learning; e) Relations with other:  fertile interaction with involved in the educational process, skills of common work, comprehension. ΙΙ. Pedagogical Skills and Knowledge Didactic and pedagogical skills are not only understood as familiarization with techniques that are then used mechanically, but also as the acquisition of routines which, without a doubt, every teacher needs in order to save time and energy for the more significant aspects of his work; at the same time, they refer to a set of theoretical principles and research data that lead to a variety of techniques and strategies which a teacher chooses and shapes, depending on the circumstances (for the discussion on teacher skills as an element of professional competency, see Beyer 2002: 311, Conczi et al. 1990, Oser et al. 2006: 1-7). A plethora of related studies shows specific actions by teachers which can be considered factors for their effectiveness. With regard to the teaching approach, it seems that the more effective teachers (McBer 2000, Jasman 2002, Anderson 2004): set realistic objectives, try and give incentives to students for learning, apply various teaching methods, select participative forms of teaching, test and create didactic material, present information in a clear manner, combine words with pictures, use various teaching aids, maximize teaching time through systematic measures (e.g. planning, reduced disturbances in the classroom), assign work that will stir the interests of the students, monitor and evaluate the progress of students, set evaluation criteria for students and inform the students about them, and provide feedback to the students. Another decisive factor in effectiveness is a teacher’s ability to recognize the diversity of students, to choose the best method possible for each student, and to create incentives for students (Harslett et al.2000). Yet another important factor is teachers’ cooperation not only with the students, but also with the parents of the students, their colleagues and the community at large (Jasman 2002). Lastly, effectiveness, to a great extent, depends on the way problems in the classroom are managed. Research shows that more effective teachers keep all happenings in the classroom in check, that they are constantly on alert, that they swiftly deal with any problem that may arise and that they adopt various ways of working with students (Everston and Randolph 1999, Wang et al. 1999). A basic qualification, whatever the case, is the acquisition of an extended body of  knowledge which contributes to the way the teacher performs in practice (Birman et al. 2000, Hawley Valli 1999). Generally, a teacher’s training is classified into three fields: subject knowledge, pedagogical and didactic studies, and teaching practice. However, what still needs to be defined is what should be taught in these educational fields, especially in pedagogical studies. A way to define the contents of â€Å"professional knowledge† is to provide answers to the following questions: â€Å"What makes up the pedagogical and didactic work of a teacher?† and â€Å"What knowledge type and qualifications are needed for a teacher to cope?†According to Shulman, pedagogical thought and action go through the following stages: a) understanding / perception; b) modification / transformation; c) teaching; d) evaluation; e) feedback; f) reflection. For a teacher to cope with the above, â€Å"professional studies† are required, that is: a) pedagogical content knowledge and b) curriculum studies (Shulman 1986, Shulman 1987: 14-19). Turner-Bisset suggests a course that would instil the necessary qualifications and focus on the following fields (Turner-Bisset 1999: 43-48, Turner-Bisset 2001): â€Å"substantive knowledge†, â€Å"syntactic knowledge†, beliefs about the subject, knowledge of curriculum, knowledge of contexts, knowledge of self, didactic training, knowledge of learners, knowledge of objectives and learning outcomes, general pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical-didactic amalgam and learning subject. This body of knowledge, that can guarantee a teacher’s expertise, is determined by existing conditions and contexts, as well as the personal experiences, beliefs and needs of each teacher, a fact that renders an a prior definition of this knowledge extremely difficult. Nevertheless, there are knowledge fields that constitute a necessary prerequisite for every teacher, or at least for a large part of them, (Meijer et al. 1999, Meijer et al. 2001), and which form the basic part of â€Å"professional knowledge†. These include: a) Subject knowledge: the teaching subject does not coincide with the corresponding science; however, teaching a particular subject requires familiarization with scientific knowledge. The way each scientific field is approached and studied is strongly defined by the job and duties defined in the job description. For such a specific comprehension of scientific knowledge as a way of teaching, familiarization with the science and its dimensions is necessary. A classification of the dimensions of scientific knowledge is the following (Kennedy 1990): i)  science content (opinions, axioms, facts, etc.). It relates to the â€Å"facts† and â€Å"principles† of the science being taught, from which the teacher derives appropriate examples, pictures, etc. for instruction; ii) relations, organization and structure of the contents of a scientific subject. This knowledge on the subject defines the way it is presented to the students, the questions that would pass on the knowledge in a better way, etc.; iii) the research methodology on the scientific field. This knowledge of the methodology contributes to a better choice by a teacher of the methods through which he will approach the subject, the exercises, the questions, etc.; iv) the procedures and ways that contribute to the generalization of the â€Å"truth†, explored in every scientific field and now being acknowledged (syntactic knowledge). Moreover, a teacher should be in a position to approach the subject being taught with specific questions, such as which social norms are connected to the subject, what is its relation to social issues and its value in everyday life (Kennedy 1990). He should also be in a position to diagnose misinterpretations of the knowledge offered by the students and fully comprehend the procedures required for the acquisition of the knowledge and skills connected to the subject being taught (Shulman 1987: 9, Perrone Traver 1996: 395-397, Darling–Hammond BaratzSnowden 2005: 14-16). An extra requirement for a teacher would be knowledge on every subject in the curriculum of the grade he teaches, as this allows him to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to the material, i.e. using pictures, analogies and knowledge acquired by students through other subjects (Ernest 1989). Finally, knowledge of the subject taught is related to a teacher’s beliefs. Research has shown that teachers’ effectiveness is strongly influenced by the opinion teachers have of the subject they teach (Askew et al. 1997, Medwell et al. 1998, Newton Newton 1998). Moreover, teachers with a more â€Å"holistic† outlook on the subjects they teach tend to be more effective (Turner-Bisset 2001: 28-29). b) Knowledge of learners: this comprises knowledge on the biological, social, psychological and cognitive development of students, on issues related to group dynamics and interaction between students as well as teachers and students, students’ behavioral problems, learning motivation, adjustment issues, learning difficulties, etc. c) Teaching methodology: a way to define the necessary qualifications of a teacher is to give a detailed description of the  teaching methodology. A schematic presentation of the specific structural elements of instruction follows: i) lesson planning, i.e. a teacher’s pre-lesson activities and actions (for example, organization of content into thematic units, transformation of teaching material into teachable knowledge, definition of teaching goals, methodological organization of teaching, time planning, selection of evaluation process). Planning can vary, depending on whether it is short-term (weekly lesson planning or unit planning) or long-term (for the entire semester or academic year); ii) teaching performance, i.e. enforcing the choices made during planning (didactic organization, teaching path, application of teaching forms, direct actions of the teacher, use of teaching methods and aids; iii) Evaluation of teaching, i.e. evaluating the results mainly by assessing student performance (e.g. goals, forms, basic principles, assessment techniques). d) Curriculum knowledge: the school curriculum is a tool, which, in a way, determines the didactic choices of a teacher. Teachers should, therefore, know the curriculum, textbooks, the rules and laws of the education system and, as a whole, the state’s role in education (Shulman 1986: 10, Shulman 1987: 9-10). At the same time, however, the demands of society today call for a critical approach to the curriculum and its adaptation to the needs deriving from context. e) General pedagogical knowledge: this field relates to the organisation of the classroom, to motivating and retaining students’ attention, pooling resources, learning theories and pedagogical theories. Shulman refers to â€Å"principles and strategic classroom management and organization, which exceed the knowledge of specific subjects† (Shulman 1986). This type of knowledge is nonetheless acknowledged, as it secures a framework of mental representations necessary for the comprehension and interpretation of the school classroom. Moreover, this knowledge is absolutely essential for lesson planning, as it guides the teacher’s didactic choices (Ernest 1989: 19-20). f) Knowledge of contexts: a teacher is called upon to evaluate the contexts in which he teaches and act accordingly, as his actions are defined by surrounding circumstances; in other words, there are no predetermined attitudes that would suit every occasion. Still, there are certain outlooks on reality, certain principles, research findings, that a teacher can use to interpret the context, as well as a host of techniques and strategies which can be used, depending on the  situation. Hence, knowledge of contexts refers to knowledge of the environment and the circumstances where a teacher is required to work: the school, the region, the state. Specifically, it comprises knowledge of the students and their family background, as well as the entire local community, education system, the organization and management of the school unit, the history and philosophy of education in every state, the institutional framework and administrative structure of education. g) Knowledge of â€Å"self†: a basic qualification of teachers, related to their views on their role, responsibilities, training and qualifications, rights and professional development, working conditions, values, and philosophy, etc. and is mainly connected to their professional development through reflection, to learning through their teaching experience, in relation to their working environment (Lambert 1984, Kagan 1992). The way teachers perceive their role defines not only their options, but also the way they comprehend, interpret and use this knowledge (Clandinin Connely 1987). In conclusion, the qualities that can ensure a teacher’s effectiveness are not the sum of his knowledge, but rather the link between the different types of knowledge he possesses. These types of knowledge do not simply coexist: they should form a complete, inseparable unit of knowledge (Kennedy 1990). The degree of connectivity between these separate types of knowledge sets apart a â€Å"competent† teacher from an â€Å"excellent† one, as a â€Å"competent† teacher manages to combine these knowledge forms in part, whereas an â€Å"excellent† teacher uses the knowledge deriving from each separate field most effectively (Turner-Bisset 2001: 131-141). FOREIGN STUDY A wide range of empirical studies examine the impact of teacher characteristics on teacher effectiveness in order to draw conclusions about the extent to which these characteristics are, in fact, linked with teacher performance. Greater clarity on the empirical evidence can inform the wisdom of current practice, guide state efforts as they struggle with No Child Left Behind compliance regarding teacher quality. The framework for this study includes five broad categories of measurable and policy-relevant indicators to organize the teacher characteristics assumed to reflect teacher quality. It is notable that findings for these characteristics frequently differ for  teachers at the elementary school level and teachers at the high school level and that the body of research on the subject of teacher quality suggests that the context of teaching matters (e.g., differences in grade levels, subject areas, and student populations). A refined understanding of how teacher attributes affect their performance across these different teaching contexts can be helpful in determining the range of potentially effective policy options. The highlights of the empirical evidence include: Teacher experience †¢ several studies have found a positive effect of experience on teacher effectiveness; specifically, the â€Å"learning by doing† effect is most obvious in the early years of teaching. Teacher preparation programs and degrees †¢ Research suggests that the selectivity/prestige of the institution a teacher attended has a positive effect on student achievement, particularly at the secondary level. This may partially be a reflection of the cognitive ability of the teacher. †¢ Evidence suggests that teachers who have earned advanced degrees have a positive impact on high school mathematics and science achievement when the degrees earned were in these subjects. †¢ Evidence regarding the impact of advanced degrees at the elementary level is mixed. Teacher certification †¢ Research has demonstrated a positive effect of certified teachers on high school mathematics achievement when the certification is in mathematics. †¢ Studies show little clear impact of emergency or alternative-route certification on student performance in either mathematics or science, as compared to teachers who acquire standard certification. Teacher coursework †¢ Teacher coursework in both the subject area taught and pedagogy contributes to positive education outcomes. †¢ Pedagogical coursework seems to contribute to teacher effectiveness at all grade levels, particularly when coupled with content knowledge. †¢ The importance of content coursework is most pronounced at the high school level. †¢ While the studies on the field experience component of teacher education are not designed to reveal causal relationships, they suggest positive effects in terms of opportunity to learn the profession and reduced anxiety among new teachers. Teachers’ own test scores †¢ Tests that assess the literacy levels or verbal abilities of teachers have been shown to be associated with higher levels of student achievement. †¢ Studies show the National Teachers Examination and other state-mandated tests of basic skills and/or teaching abilities are less consistent predictors of teacher performance. Given that many dimensions of teacher characteristics matter—preparation in both pedagogic and subject content, credentials, experience, and test scores—the findings from the literature imply that there is no merit in large-scale elimination of all credentialing requirements. Nor are improvements in teacher quality likely to be realized through the status quo. Most of the research does not seek to capture interactions among the multiple dimensions of teacher quality, and as a result, there are major gaps in the research that still need to be explored. Nor does the research fully address evidence about teacher quality at the elementary and middle school levels, in subjects other than mathematics, or among different populations of students (such as high poverty, English language learners, or special education). In opposition to those who propose to eliminate all requirements for entering the teaching profession, this analysis supports a judicious use of the research evidence on teacher characteristics and teacher effectiveness. The evidence indicates that neither an extreme centralized bureaucratization nor a complete deregulation of teacher requirements is a wise approach for improving teacher quality. What holds a great deal more promise is refining the policies and practices employed to build a qualified body of teachers in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools; for disadvantaged, special needs, and advantaged students; and for math, science, languages, English, social studies, and the arts. Education policy makers and administrators would be well served by recognizing the complexity of the issue and adopting multiple measures along many dimensions to support existing teachers and to attract and hire new, highly qualified teachers. The research suggests that investing in teachers can make a difference in student achievement. In order to implement needed  policies associated with staffing every classroom—even the most challenging ones—with high-quality teachers, substantial and targeted investments must first be made in both teacher quality and education research.

Media Framing And Construction Of Reality Media Essay

Media Framing And Construction Of Reality Media Essay Over the twentieth century, the dominant position among scholars was that media and journalism should be governed by the values of detachment and objectivity, and so they could be credible (Schudson, 1990 cited in Watkins, 2001: 83). Nevertheless, this notion has been challenged by the researchers of critical studies of news media who have developed the view that media are not passive mirrors of society (Gitlin, 2003: 49), but, on the contrary, they play active and significant role in the social construction of reality (Kruse, 2001: 68). In other words, media do not just report news, but they socially construct them, namely they give a specific meaning to these events (Kruse, 2001: 67-68). The theory of social constructionism, which supports that what we know about world and ourselves is the result of social processes (Cromby and Nightingale, 1999: 4 cited in Johnson-Cartee, 2005: 2), has affected media studies to a significant extent. In this context, plenty of scholars (Brodyn and Page, 1975; Kraus and Davis, 1976; McCombs, 1979 cited in Johnson-Cartee, 2005: 2) believe that media provide us with the mosaics from which we build our own perceptions and accordingly, they might have significant effects on public and society. According to McQuail (1994), the whole study of mass communication has been founded on the assertion that media have important effects. However, the concept of media effects was not always the same, as there were significant variations from period to period and among different scholars. Additionally, there are studies that did not identify any significant media effect at all (Kingdon, 1984; Pritchard and Berkowitz, 1993; Walker, 1977; Wanta and Foot e, 1994 cited in Walgrave et al. 2008: 817). The social construction of news is achieved through the development and employment of frames (Kruse, 2001: 68). Gamson and Modigliani (1987: 143) have defined the frame as a central theme, an organizing idea or a story line that provides meaning to an unfolding strip of events, weaving a connection between them. As for the employment of frames by media, Entman (1993: 52) has stated that adopting certain frames means that media select some aspects of perceived reality and make them more salient, in such a way as to promote a particular problem definition, causal interpretation, moral evaluation and treatment recommendation for the item described. As far as protest coverage is concerned, the literature shows that when media portray demonstrations and other protest events, they indeed employ certain frames (Brasted, 2005). The types of frames that are used and the factors that determine and influence the selection of these frames are described below. As far as the effects of protest coverage are concerned, there are studies that demonstrate that media portrayal of protests has significant effects on audience (McLeod, 1995; McLeod and Detenber, 1999). According to these studies, different frames of protest stories and different levels of intensity with which they are presented are likely to affect how audience perceives protest issues. However, according to Detenber et al (2007), these effects are weaker when media cover more familiar to the audience issues, because of pre-existing knowledge of public. Affecting the perceptions of audience, media coverage of protests may have an influence on the success of the movement itself, a s well. For instance, a positive coverage may encourage the involvement of people, while a negative coverage may lead to opposite results and may undermine a social movement (Entman and Rojecki, 1993). However, certain conditions may be required so that media mobilize people. According to Walgrave and Manssens (2000), media are more likely to mobilize public, if they are not polarized and have high rates of trust among the audience. In addition, in cases of simple and non-political causes and goals, media can achieve peoples mobilization (Walgrave and Manssens, 2000). 2.2 Relationship between media and social movements Over the last decades, significant studies have been conducted on the coverage of protest events by mass media. Based mainly on content or discourse analyses, scholars tried to describe how media portrayed various protest events and explain why specific patterns were used in the coverage. However, the relevant literature is mostly based on USA and UK studies and it is something that we have to take into account as in diverse settings the results may be different. It is important to consider the differences of Greek setting in terms of the media system and the political culture, as well as the particularities of the case that is under examination. Firstly, in order to approach the issue of protest coverage, it is basic to examine the literature about the relationship between media and social movements, in general. Although the case that is under examination, namely the December 2008 protest events in Greece, cannot be simply included in typical cases of social movements (protests were not organized by specific social movement organizations with clear and specific agenda, like in cases of anti-war or labour protests), the examination of the relevant literature is considered helpful. Baylor (1996) has supported that media and social movements have interdependent relationship. That is to say, on the one hand social movements need media and publicity to communicate their goals, to inform and motivate the public, as well as to gain supporters (Baylor, 1996). On the other hand, media search for copy and they are interested about stories that provide drama, conflict, action, colourful copy and photo opportunities, (Baylor, 1996). Soc ial movements and the actions that they choose to adopt, like demonstrations, provide that kind of stories. However, it has been supported that this and this relationship can be sometimes symbiotic and other times antagonistic, because media and movements need each other, but for different reasons (Gitlin, 2003). Gitlins study (2003) demonstrated that this relationship has undergone many changes. Sometimes, media might ignore a movement or might conflict with it, and other times, they might present it in a patterned way, or even cooperate with it (Gitlin, 2003). Many factors explain why media treat social movements and protest events in a specific way and they are analyzed below. The interaction between movements and media has also been considered asymmetric, which means that the relationship is not equal and generally, media are much more powerful than movements (Gamson and Wolfsfeld, 1993). For instance, the fact that a demonstration without media coverage is considered non-event, reveals the great power and supremacy of media nowadays (Gamson andWolfsfeld, 1993). Social movements do not have the power to control the media process, so even if they gain media coverage, they do not have much power over how media will represent their agendas (Brasted, 2005). In many cases, media coverage can result in distortion of movement agendas and goals (Baylor, 1996). Generally, critical media scholars share the view that media tend to marginalize or trivialize critical social movements and suppress critical voices, while social movement organizations do not have the power to ensure useful news access (Gitlin, 2003). This approach to movement-media relationship is highly connected with hegemonic thesis, introduced by Gramsci (1971 cited in Carragee, 1993: 330), according to which dominant classes struggle to preserve their ideological hegemony within the capitalist system and medias role in the maintenance of legitimacy of existing political, social and economic order is considered of high importance. This thesis has affected media scholars significantly, and until now, there are studies that show that media tend to delegitimize voices that challenge capitalist system and the leadership of dominant groups. Media hegemonic model has met a lot of criticism. Carragee (1993) tried to evaluate the debates around the media hegemony thesis and gave an overview of the main critiques around the issue. According to him , the basic challenging views of the model can be divided into two categories; according to liberal-pluralist perspective, media hegemony thesis is cancelled by the existence of diverse and opposing discourses in news content; according to neo-conservative approach, the model is questioned by the fact that there are oppositional and critical to political and market order, media. Hallin (1986 and 1984 cited in Carragee, 1993: 341), tried to refute the latter argument, demonstrating that for instance, media coverage of Vietnam War started to become critical, only when political elites in America stopped to indicate their consent. Finally, as for media-movement relationship, Barker-Plummer (1996) claimed that today this relationship has become much more complex and proposed the dialogic model instead of hegemonic. According to Barker-Plummer (1996), social movements are dynamic and not stable identities and they are characterized by contextual changes that hegemony model does not take into account. Movements and media interact each other and their discourses can affect each other as well (Barker-Plummer, 1996). Therefore, we cannot assure that media will always marginalize social movements. 2.3 Protest coverage As has already been mentioned, media adopt certain frames, when they report news stories. The selection of specific frames and patterns of coverage is influenced by numerous factors. As far as the protest reporting is concerned, it has been supported that media coverage is subject to selection and description bias (Smith et al., 2001). This means that media do not cover all protests that take place but they select to report some of them, besides they select to describe the selected events in a specific way. According to Smith et al. (2001), media cover only a small proportion of protests. Furthermore, their study demonstrates that even if a protest event receives media attention, media usually neutralize or distort its agenda and goals (Smith, et al. 2001). A plenty of researchers (Shoemaker, 1984; Beamish, Molotch, and Flacks, 1995; Husting, 1999; McLeod and Hertog, 1999) have showed that media commonly choose to cover protests in ways that marginalize the events, their participants and their causes. Particularly in cases in which protesters deviate from the norms and values of society and challenge the status quo, media try to delegitimize them (Shoemaker, 1984; McLeod and Hertog, 1992). There are various devices and techniques that are used for the marginalization of protest events (see below). In order to understand how media bias affects the selection and portrayal of news stories, and specifically protest stories, we should examine the basic factors that influence media framing. Smith et al. (2001) have emphasized the role of institutional logic of media organizations in adoption of frames. Analytically, the routine nature of newsgathering (namely, whether the events can be integrated into media organizational routines) and the reliance on official sources affect media selection and description of events (Baylor, 1996). The main reason why they use official sources extensively is the fact that these sources provide news stories with credibility and legitimacy, as well enhance the objectivity of news, or at least they create this illusion (McLeod and Hertog, 1999). Also, it has to do with issues of cost as well, because if media rely on sources that are considered credible, they do not need to invest much money for searching information (Herman and Chomsky, 1994). When of ficials, institutions, government, and other authorities like police are the dominant sources, then official definitions are highlighted (McLeod and Hertog, 1999). An idea that has influenced significantly the area of news production is the propaganda model, developed by Herman and Chomsky (1994), which has received hostile criticism, though. According to this model (Herman and Chomsky, 1994), the choice and the content of news are affected by a series of filters. Analytically, media ownership and their profit orientation, their close ties with political and economic elites, their dependence on advertising as a basic income source, as well as the heavy reliance of media on official sources influence what and how it will be reported (Herman and Chomsky, 1994). Herman and Chomsky (1994) paid particular attention to the role of money and power in the construction of news. In cases of protest coverage, these filters could play important role. Similarly, Smith et al (2001) have supported that media, as integral part of capitalist system, work in favour of powerful economic and political interests and they select and interpret the events in such a wa y as to reproduce ideas that support the broader power relationships of society. Accordingly, media are unlikely to cover sympathetically movements and protests that challenge the interests of the elites (Lee and Solomon, 1990). These ideas are highly connected with the hegemonic thesis that was described above. As far as the debates over Chomsky and Hermans ideas are concerned, Hallin (1994) has demonstrated that propaganda model contains failures. That is to say, according to him (Hallin, 1994), the model does not take into account other forces that could work in different direction from that of the described filters, for instance journalistic professionalism and objectivity. However, it is important to mention that according to Hallin and Mancini (2004), journalism in Greece is characterized by low levels of professionalization, besides it is common for Greek journalists to express their views and their comments along with the presentation of facts, and so it is difficult to discern their opinions from the facts. Additionally, propaganda model has been criticized for taking ruling class interests for granted and considering them homogenous (Knight cited in Klaehn, 2003: 363). This means, that media do not take diverse interests and conflicts, which might exist among elites, into consideration. In response to that, Herman and Chomsky (1988) have stated that media present elite controversy and debates, but only when elites disagree on specific tactics and not on fundamental ideas. Based on these ideas, the indication of literature (Boyle et al. 2004) that media are more likely to marginalize deviant protest groups that criticize the foundations of capitalism than groups with less radical goals seems rational. Other scholars have challenged propaganda model, claiming that media are pluralistic (Doyle, Elliot, and Tindall, 1997), while Hacket (1991 cited in Klaehn, 2003: 366) have demonstrated that media, under certain conditions, can express oppositional and different views. For instance, if a v iew challenges individual state policies and does not suggest significant and wide alternatives, then it can be expressed by the media (Hackett, 1991: 281 cited in Klaehn, 2003: 366). So, Hackett seems to agree with Chomsky and Herman on that media do not express discourses that challenge the fundamental principles of capitalism. Although Chomsky and Hermans ideas were an area of great debate among scholars, literature shows that a great number of media scholars share the opinion that media play a central role in the maintenance of social order. McFarlane and Hay (2003) have claimed that media act as gatekeepers and supporter of the existing power structures. According to McLeod and Hertog (1999), media, are important agents of social control and thus, they convey social control messages, through which they reinforce the norms and mainstream values of society while they isolate and damn deviant actions and viewpoints. Various studies (Entman and Rojecki, 1993; Smith et al. 2001) have demonstrated that media tend to marginalize groups, actions, and viewpoints that challenge and criticize the existing power structures and political and social order. As a result, media will ignore or they will unfavourably cover protests with goals and agendas that challenge and criticize the economic system on which media rely heavily, as well as ideas that can destabilize market and capitalist order (Smith et al. 2001). However, it is important to mention that nowadays there is a significant trend toward rising of protests and generally of unconventional forms of political engagement (Milne, 2005). This trend can be attributed to the fact that more and more citizens are questioning government policies and elites, as well as to the decrease of participation in ordinary forms of politics, like elections (Dalton, 2004) and to the decline of political attachment (Whiteley, 2003). So, it has been supported that protests have partly become an accepted form of political involvement (Milne, 2005). That might have some effects on media coverage of these events. Milne (2005) has supported that sometimes media, and specifically print media (due to fact that they have been facing problems of reduced circulation numbers and facing a strong competition from internet), can have a positive attitude towards these unconventional forms of political involvement. Additionally, according to Milne (2005), newspapers can u se social movements and protest events as a tool to undermine some politicians or political parties, and therefore they may cover them positively. For instance, a newspaper, which is affiliated with a party that is in opposition, might support a demonstration that challenges the government and its policies. Consequently, in these cases media seem to be pluralistic and not hegemonic. Yet, it is important to examine whether media cover positively groups that challenge fundamental principles of the capitalist system, or they just question specific policies and tactics. Generally, literature has demonstrated that media have never supported radical protest groups that called into question the capitalism itself. Finally, it is important to take into account the particularities of Greek media system, because they might influence the way that media cover events like demonstrations. According to Hallin and Mancini (2004), media system in Greece belongs to the Mediterranean or Polarized model. That is to say, it is characterized by high political parallelism and low professionalization (Hallin and Mancini, 2004). Papathanasopoulos (2001) has claimed that despite the commercialization and market-orientation of Greek media, (the majority of media are private-owned, apart from the public broadcaster, ERT), their political instrumentalization is still dominant, that is to say there are outside political actors that control them. However, he has highlighted that nowadays media owners are much more powerful than politicians are, using media as a tool for political profits (Papathanassopoulos, 2001). So, Greek media cannot be considered neutral, but on the contrary, unabashedly partisan, sensational an d political (Zaharopoulos and Paraschos, 1993: 96). 2.4 Marginalization techniques As has already been mentioned, in many cases literature shows that media tend to cover negatively and marginalize protest events. The devices and techniques, which are usually employed for that purpose are described analytically below. Tone of headlines and articles Firstly, through the tone of headlines and the nature of articles, journalist can express their support or criticism against a protest group (Boyle at al. 2004). A protest story is covered negatively, when headlines pay particular attention to violent actions, to conflicts between protesters and police, as well as to arrests (McLeod and Hertog, 1999). Negative nature of a protest article can be indicated through many ways, for instance by focusing on cases of legal violations by the protest group and by emphasizing negative actions of protesters and more extreme aspects of them (McLeod and Hertog, 1992). According to Husting (1999), media commonly use the us versus them scenario in the coverage of radical protests. In other words, on the one side it is the society, the public opinion, all of us and on the other side the protesters, them. Furthermore, according to McLeod and Hertog (1999), journalists tend to use the episodic framing when they cover groups that deviate from the status quo, namely they focus on events and actions of protesters (e.g. violent acts, arrests, destructions) instead of presenting the issues raised by the group, like their agenda and their goals. The use of episodic frames contributes to the marginalization of protests because this way, protesters are performed just as acting and their acts are not linked with any cause, or any political context (Boyle et al. 2004: 49). It is important to mention that there are two important reasons that can explain why media choose that type of coverage. Firstly, because of pressure that deadlines and other limitations of media organization exert, there is not much time for reporters to investigate and analyze complicated issues that have to do with the goals of protesters and it is easier to focus on events (Boyle et al. 2004). Furthermore, protest events a nd actions are interesting and good news, for instance violent events and property destructions interest journalists significantly (Boyle et al. 2004). Story framing Mcleod and Hertog (1999) have identified several types of frames that tend to marginalize protest events and their participants. Firstly, the violent crime story is the most frequent frame and focuses on the violent acts of protesters. Journalists tend to highlight clashes between police and protesters and generally, they focus on the extreme aspects of the protest group; the ignorance of peaceful actions is also common phenomenon (McLeod, 1995). Secondly, the property crime story emphasizes the property destructions, for instances cases of vandalism (burning cars and buildings, breaking shop windows etc.). There is also the Riot frame that is quite similar to the above-mentioned frames and present protests as riots without any political context. An additional frame that marginalizes protests is the carnival frame, which represents protesters as performers within a spectacle who act without any political cause. Furthermore, the freak show frame focuses on appearance and other odd cha racteristics of protesters, like piercing, nudity etc. By making comments about the appearance, media manage to trivialize the goals and the political framework of protesters (Gitlin, 2003). There is also the Romper Room frame that presents protesters as engaging in immature and childish actions and the moral decay that presents protest events as an indication of the general decay of society. Lastly, the storm watch frame highlights the fact that protest groups may threaten the mainstream society significantly. What is interesting and at the same time contradictory is the fact that on the one hand, media seek to diminish the effectiveness of protest groups, but on the other hand, they exaggerate the threats that these groups may pose to society (McLeod, 1995). Reliance on official sources The reliance on official sources in the media coverage of protests contributes to the marginalization and delegitimization of the protest group, because official sources tend to support status quo and question the legitimacy of groups that challenge it (McLeod and Hertog, 1999). Furthermore, when media cover radical protests, they are unlikely to use members of the protest group as sources (Boyle et al, 2004). In this case, they are interested in dealing with actions, violence, and conflicts in order to delegitimate them, while they want to ignore issues raised by protesters (Boyle et al. 2004: 50). However, even if protesters are used as sources, then journalists usually paraphrase and distort their views, in order to delegitimize them (McLeod and Hertog, 1999: 319). Invocation of public opinion In cases of protests coverage, media invoke public opinion extensively in order to isolate and marginalize protest groups (McLeod Hertog, 1992). Media depiction of public opinion can take many forms. Journalists can make generalizations by providing general statements about public opinion, and showing that people are against protesters; phrases such as the national mood or most people feel, are common (McLeod and Hertog, 1992; McLeod and Hertog, 1999: 316). Another form of invocation of public opinion, but rarely used, is through opinion polls, (McLeod and Hertog, 1992; McLeod and Hertog, 1999). It has been claimed that if opinion polls demonstrate that the majority of people agree with the goals of protesters, then media may ignore or marginalize them (Entman and Rojecki, 1993). Whats more, media commonly invoke social norms, in order to show that protest groups and their actions deviate from these norms (McLeod and Hertog, 1992; McLeod and Hertog, 1999). The communication of norm violations is achieved by focusing on violent behaviour of protesters, on their non-conventional or strange appearance etc. (McLeod and Hertog, 1992; McLeod and Hertog, 1999). Media may also focus on legal violations (McLeod and Hertog, 1999). That is to say, legal issues and violations are highlighted, and protesters are represented as criminals. Media can also invoke public opinion by using bystanders who are either indifferent to protests or hostile (McLeod and Hertog, 1999). The application of the above-mentioned techniques depends mainly on the type and the goals of protests (Boyle et al, 2004). For instance, the extent to which a protest group challenges the status quo and the existing system determines whether and to what degree media will apply the marginalization devices in their coverage (McLeod and Hertog, 1999). It has been claimed that anti-war protests are more likely to receive negative and radical coverage than the labour or police protests, because anti-war protests call into question the social system (Boyle et al. 2004). Finally, it is important to note an important contradiction. As has been mentioned above, media are based on official sources largely because the credibility and the status of those sources help journalist to be objective. The use of episodic framing can satisfy the same goal. That is to say, media report events and actions that indeed took place, without expressing their views, so they can support that they are objective. But, on the other hand, it has been demonstrated that framing in terms of events as well as adoption of official definitions contribute to the marginalization of protests, which means that finally media are not so objective. Summary In general, the main arguments about media coverage of protest events are highly connected with the hegemonic thesis that supports that media play an important role in the maintenance of status quo. Although this idea has received a lot of criticism, it has affected media studies to a significant extent. Several studies have demonstrated that media have a tendency to delegitimize and trivialize groups that challenge capitalist system and the leadership of dominant groups. In cases of protest events, literature showed that media tend to ignore them and generally cover a limited number of them, while even if a demonstration gain attention, media choose to describe it in negative way, trying to marginalize it. This is more common in cases of radical protests, namely when they have radical goals and agenda and challenge the foundations of capitalism. The marginalization is achieved with the employment of various devices and specific frames. Nevertheless, the findings of the specific study demonstrated that, under certain circumstances, media can use a variety of frames and not only the negative ones and generally be more balanced, even if they cover some radical demonstrations. Particularities in terms of the nature of protest events, specific elements of media system, as well as some political circumstances can have significant influence on media portrayal of protests.

Effect of Substrate Concentration on Catalase :: Papers

Effect of Substrate Concentration on Catalase Aims This is an experiment to examine how the concentration of the substrate Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) affects the rate of reaction of the enzyme Catalase. Background Information Enzymes such as Catalase are protein molecules, which are found in living cells. They are used to speed up specific reaction within the cell. They are all very specific as each enzyme just performs one particular reaction. Catalase is an enzyme found in food such as potato and liver. It is used for removing Hydrogen Peroxide from cells. Hydrogen Peroxide is the poisonous by-product of metabolism. Catalase speeds up the decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide into water and oxygen as shown in the equations below. Formula It is able to speed up the decomposition of Hydrogen peroxide because the shape of its active site matches the shape of the Hydrogen peroxide molecule. This type of reaction where a molecule is broken down into smaller pieces is called an Anabolic Reaction. Apparatus Need For The Experiment. 1. 250 cm3 Glass Beakers 2. Glass Thistle Funnel 3. Graduated Measuring Cylinder 4. Cork Borer 5. 250 cm3 Glass Cylinders. 6. Digital Stop clock 7. Scalpel 8. Tap and Distilled Water 9. Plastic rule. 10. Safety Goggles. Method To test out how the concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide affects the rate of reaction first set up the apparatus and prepare the different concentrations of Hydrogen peroxide as below: Concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide Volume of Hydrogen Peroxide (cm3) Volume of Tap Water (cm3) 25 vol 250 0 20 vol 200 50 15 vol 150 100 10 vol 100 150 5 vol 50 200 1. Using the cork borer, take a sample of potato, cut this piece in cm intervals using the scalpel and plastic rule. Then cut these a further 2 sections, so there is now 5 sections per 1cm piece of potato.

Reconstruction 1965-77 a false dawn for African-American Civil Rights Essay

To what Degree was Reconstruction 1965-77 a false dawn for African-American civil Rights? After the end of the civil war, there were many issues which needed to be addressed. The civil rights of the African American’s were in need of change, and during this period there were hopes that new legislation would be implemented to aid African Americans and other minority groups. This legislation would be called the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the 14th Amendment of 1868 (which promised equality), and finally the 15th Amendment (which gave the right to vote). However, despite the positive legislation, reconstruction aggravated a lot of people and brought the southern states into conflict with the Government. The Freedmen’s Bureau was established in 1865, which aimed to provide food, clothing, and fuel to formal slaves and white refugees. The Freedmen’s Bureau bill was also passed by Abraham Lincoln; however Johnson vetoed it, however a supplementary act extended its existence until 1870. This was very good for black rights, as it gave blacks more protection and a safety net if they were too poor to buy food and support their families. However, it was only meant as a temporary act, and therefore there was always the looming feeling that it would soon come to an end, and also the promises of it were not fulfilled to the extent at which it was said to be. The Amendments which were introduced also gave black people a real hope in gaining independence and freedom. The 13th amendment was introduced in 1865, and this guaranteed the permanent abolishment of slavery. The emancipation proclamation which was introduced by Abraham Lincoln was seen as more of a temporary fix whilst the war was going on, however the 13th amendment solidified it and made it a more permanent and clear reality. â€Å"Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime where of the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.† However, although by law it states that there shall be no slavery, slavery continued on a more hidden basis. Sharecropping still existed, and freedmen who had come out of slavery with no qualifications or experience became unemployed, so the living conditions for most freedmen did not improve. Slave-owners were also reluctant to let their slaves leave, and often kept them illegally. The 14th Amendment however was introduced in 1870, and this aimed to further secure the rights of the freedmen. This turned out to be one of the most important Amendments ever made to the American constitution. It threatened to reduce the representation of the states which continued to discriminate. However, a loophole in this law was that the states which continued to discriminate would just accept the unequal representation, but carry on with their discrimination, yet just not so obvious. Therefore by some, this could be seen as a false dawn, as it did address the issue of freedmen not having rights, but it also created a loophole for the southern states to take advantage of. The 15th Amendment was introduced two years later, which aimed to cover the loophole which was created by the 14th amendment. This stated: â€Å"Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude† This was a huge step forward for black civil rights, as this means that the south was not able to carry on with their discrimination against many voters, and this nullified the loophole in the law which was created by the 14th Amendment. However, more loopholes were created with this, with unattainable requirements being implemented just to be able to vote. For example, voters in some states had to be taxpayers which was not possible for freedmen, as most were not earning enough to be able to pay tax, and also literacy tests were introduced which were severely biased against black people, with questions which were completely unanswerable. Another reason why this did not entirely work was because of the uprising of the KKK. They were a terrorist group which aimed to scare black people into not voting, and to basically cause terror because they were black. They at first were not an ultra-violent group, however as time progressed they quickly became increasingly violent, as lynchings were common, and they would often target the black people who were doing well for themselves, I.E lawyers who were doing a lot for civil rights, or those who went to vote. Because of this huge suppression and hatred, a lot of black people were scared to vote and in reality voting was not a freedom for black people. Some historians would say that reconstruction it itself did not really care for the black rights, and that it was a political move to try and remain Republican power in the south. Abraham Lincoln himself did not have a clear policy for freed slaves after the Civil War, so reconstruction was not seen as a solid plan from the start, it was looking like a false dawn. â€Å"False Dawn† – â€Å"something which seems to show that a successful period is beginning or that a situation is improving when it is not.† â€Å"Reconstruction† – â€Å"The act of constructing again, of rebuilding† Bibliography – * Wikipedia * Class Notes * Civil Rights In America – Ron Field * About.com

Methods Poets Essay

Poets often use their work to express their thoughts, this is what the writers of ‘hour’ and ‘to his coy mistress’ have done to express their thoughts on time and love. In hour the poem is about time and how it is short lived when you are in love, whereas ‘To His Coy Mistress’ is a poem where the man is trying to convince the woman to sleep with him and exploring the idea of living and enjoying your life whilst you’re young. Within both of these poems, the poets use different types of poetic techniques to show how time can affect the relationship of two lovers. The language used in the two poems is very different but they both show the same prospective of time. In ‘hour’ the language used is very blunt and in ‘to his coy mistress’ the language is more creative and imaginative. This is shown in hour when the poet says, â€Å"time hates love†, whereas in ‘to his coy mistress’ the poet says â€Å"we cannot make our sun stand still†. Both of the poets are trying to say that time is in control and it is very powerful. In ‘hour’ Duffy uses personification and simile; this is shown in, â€Å"love’s time’s beggar†. This suggests to us that time is love’s enemy and love is begging time. The word beggar almost makes you feel sorry for love. The poet personifies time as loves enemy. In ‘to his coy mistress’ Marvell uses metaphors. For example, â€Å"Time’s winged chariot hurrying near†, this suggest to us that death will be near. There are lots of imagery used in the two poems. For example, in ‘hour’ Duffy says, â€Å"but even a single hour bright as a dropped coin, makes love rich†. This suggests to the reader that even one hour with your loved is very precious and should cherish the moment. We also see love being powerful than time for the first time. In â€Å"to his coy mistress† imagery is used in the first section of the poem, when the speaker says â€Å"thou by the Indian Ganges side shouldst rubies find; I by the tide of Humber would complain†. Ganges is thought be to be a sacred place India whereas the Humberside in north of England tend to be boring to Marvell. So this suggests to the reader that He is complimenting her as she is unique to him in a desirable way. She is the only person who fulfils the qualification in his vicinity. The both poets use different form and structure to the poems. In ‘hour’, Duffy only has one type of view which is time is always stopping love. This is followed the whole way through the poem. The first opening says, â€Å"Loves times beggar† and in the last stanza it says â€Å"time hates love â€Å". Duffy uses at the start and at the end to show straight away that time is the enemy of love. By structuring the poem like this, the reader will have the same opinion throughout the poem. Duffy also uses short sentences, â€Å"time slows, for here†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Duffy has added a comma next to â€Å"slows† to show slowness. Some of the sentences in her poem run off, â€Å"summer sky and a grass ditch†, this suggest that she is excited. ‘Hour’ also follows the structure of a Shakespeare sonnet. In ‘to his coy mistress’, Marvell makes his point at the end this is because in the first stanza he talks about what if they had all the time in the world, in the second what would happen if she doesn’t sleep with him. Finally in the third stanza he tells her what she should do. By structuring his poem in that way Marvell shows the lover preparing his argument to his mistress to seize the day and not to hold back. In the first stanza Marvell doesn’t use violent words as he does to the second and third stanzas. Marvell has written the poem in rhyming couplets. Both of the poets show different feelings and attitude. In ‘hour’ the speaker wants a relationship which holds them together and wants nothing else but in ‘to his coy mistress’ the speaker wants a sexual relationship. In ‘hour’ the writer is frustrated with time and love being together. We see this when speaker says, â€Å"time hates love†. It also shows us that the speaker wants a simple kind of love meaning without material possessions, this is shown when the speaker says, â€Å"spend it not on flowers or wine†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In ‘to his coy mistress’ he is cynically flattering his mistress in order to get his own way. This is shows when he says, â€Å"two hundred to adore each breast†. The poem also suggests that the speaker wants a violent love this is shown when the poet says, â€Å"and now, like amorous birds of prey, rather at once our time devour†. Overall both poets have the same prospective of time but have different opinions on relationships. In ‘hour’ the speaker doesn’t want to waste time and wants to cherish every moment by being together. On the other hand ‘to his coy mistress’ wants a sexual relationship. So the speaker says that time is running out for them to have sex and that they do not have all the time in the world. Both of the writers say that time will go fast so don’t waste it. We will also feel time going fast when we are having fun or in love, so we should cherish every minute of our life as it will never come back once it is gone.

Trans Fats Essay

Trans Fats Essay Free Online Research Papers What are trans fats? The trans fatty acids are also known as trans fats which are a similar form of unsaturated fats. Trans fats are found mostly in fast food products meat and dairy products. It is something that the body can be hurt by if consuming large amounts on a daily basis but, if you consume very small portions once in a while your body cannot be harmed by the trans fats. The government has also stated that trans fats should be kept to a minimum within a persons diet. There is no guide to how much should be consumed but it should be kept to a small amount. A few years ago the Food and Administration (FDA) began making the fast food restaurants include a label on all products or making it available for the customer to view via Internet or the restaurants started to keep information pamphlets including all the products sold within the restaurant they had to include the percentage of the daily value per serving. With the FDA approving this issue, it also helps customers aware of all the artificial ingredients in the products. When a consumer is more knowledgeable consume, they see that the unsaturated fats and saturated do not add up to the total amount of fat that is listed in the information label. It is now known that there are some types of excess fat which are the trans fats but the fast food companies are not required to list either if they do not want to. If someone has no knowledge that they are consuming this type of fat it is considered to be a secret fat. For the most part, many consumers have not even heard of trans fats and do not even know what it is. It is an essential part of the diet that is not well known and can also very critical for those who are trying to lose or control their weight. The FDA requires labels on all food products and hey also limit the amount that manufacturers can label an item as low cholesterol but without labeling an item that has trans fats in it the product may not actually be â€Å"low cholesterol or cholesterol free. There are certain kids of oils that do not contain any trans fats such as canola oil. It is pressed straight from canola seeds and does not have any trans fats it in it also can fry foods just as good as any of the other oils that are out on the market canola oil and olive oils are some of the purest and healthy oils to bake and fry foods but, they are kind of pricey and by the fast food companys being so cheap and not caring about the consumers health. The process of trans fats began in the United States when vegetable oils were created. When Crisco dropped on the market as a replacement for lard an expanding growth of the fast food industry the snacking industry and baking goods began to depend on the ability to turn oils into solid fats. The FDA states that all saturated fats and unsaturated be kept at room temperature to keep the fats from increasing and causing more trans fats to increase. The process of trans fats being made is called hydrogenation. Hydrogenated oil is made by forcing hydrogen gas into oil at high pressure. Animal and vegetable fats can be and are hydrogenated. The more solid the oil is, the more hydrogenated it is. Two prime examples of hydrogenated oils are Crisco and margarine. It was realized that these products might have a serious health effect The purpose of hydrogenation is to increase the shelf life of the product and the flavor stability. It keeps the foods looking fresh and edible. This saves the producers lots of money by not having to make food so much because food the food is staying fresh longer and staying on the shelves of the stores a lot longer. Mainly this is why the fast food restaurants use this process because they can keep their food in the restaurants as long as they are looking fresh and to the customer satisfaction. Hydrogenation makes oils more stable and solid at room temperature. This improves the baking characteristics of the liquid oil as well as the taste and texture of the product. Hydrogenated oil provided a good alternative when it came to taste, texture, and stability, and producers started using these oils. The diet that consumers consume each day is filled with trans fats as mentioned earlier. Crisco and other cooking oils are considered trans fats. Other foods that are major contributors are baked goods such as cookies and other pastries, deep-fried foods such as fried chicken and french fries. Imitation cheeses potato chips and crackers also contain high amounts of trans fats. Most of these foods have trans fats because they are fried or contain vegetable oils. It should be mentioned that trans fat is not bad in moderation, it is excessive intake which will more than likely be the cause of problems. It has been suggested that vegetable oils are best consumed when in their natural forms like olive oil and sesame oils. The processed oil industry has argued that trans fats only replace solid, saturated fats, but that is not necessarily true. It has been shown that margarine and shortenings can be made without trans fatty acids. There appear to be many ways to avoid trans fatty acids, the healthiest would way have to require changes in eating, but in order to do that the consumers must have the help of the producers. Adults are not the only people that can be affected by trans fats. Research has shown that kids as young as eight, nine and ten already have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. These can be your children that do not even know the daily amount of trans fats that they are consuming. Instead of stopping at a fast food restaurant when you are out trying healthy snacks or if you can not avoid it try SubWay or a salad. The easiest way to try and stop trans fats is to start in the home. Tell family and friends about trans fats because some people are not even aware of it. Eating less fast food, fried food, and foods that have trans fats that can be located on some of the labels. It is really hard to completely cut trans fats out from your diet because manufacturers put them in many food items consumers consume on a daily basis. Another way to lower the intakes of trans fats is to try low fat and fat-free foods. Though not much research has been done regarding the effects of trans fats researches believe that trans fats are linked to heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes. All of these claims have have led to the request for more research to be completed. Research has not been able to tell the difference if it is saturated fats causing these health problems or trans fats. Overall, the problem is that the labeling of trans fats should be put on all food products. At least the consumer will be able to make a choice. If people keep consuming trans fats this can be very dangerous in the long run of ones health. Researches do not even know what the trans fats can cause it can be the leading death and links to a lot of diseases. Knowing the secrets of what trans fats contain will not stop some of the consumers from buying certain products. 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IQ imporatant than EQ essays

IQ imporatant than EQ essays For decades, a lot emphasis has been put on certain aspect of intelligence. This intelligence is called IQ ( Intelligence Quotient ). IQ includes aspects of Mathematics, spatial learning, Verbal, logical reasoning, and memory. This intelligence could predict to a significant degree of performances and some degree of personal and professional success. However, some people with fabulous IQ scores are doing poorly in their life. They somehow are wasting their potential by thinking, behaving and communication in a way that hinders their chances to succeed. There is something missing in the success equation. The missing part in the success equation is EQ or EIQ ( Emotional Intelligence Quotient ). Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, had a recipe for handling relationship smoothly. He said, " You must be able to angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way " - Aristotle, Greek philosopher - While psychologist, Daniel Goleman, called such self-control as Emotional Intelligence . This concept was made popular by his groundbreaking book Emotional Intelligence in 199 . EQ refers to a combination of skills such as empathy, self-control, self-awareness, sensitivity to feelings of others, persistence and self-motivation. People who excel in their life tend to be emotionally intelligent. IQ ( Intelligence Quotient ) EQ ( Emotional Intelligence ) Mathematics Spatial Learning Verbal Logical Reasoning Memory Empathy Self-control Self-awareness Sensitivity to feelings of others Persistence Self-Motivation Aspects of IQ As all of us know, EQ is more important than IQ nowadays. A person with high EQ shows signs of not afraid to express his feeling and express them with reaso...

Obama being presidentelect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Obama being presidentelect - Essay Example The answer is twofold. Obama was elected because of a) changing times and attitudes and b) his position on Iraq war. We have to admit that our younger generation is not as biased as our older generations were when it comes to race. The youth especially in urban areas and big metropolitan cities have come in contact with people from so many countries that they do not even know if there could ever be just one skin color. They know very well that nationals of different countries have been contributing to the growth of the country and hence consider them as much an American citizen as any. This has had a major impact on Obama's campaign that was all about "change". Obama said from the very beginning that all he wanted was "change". And he as an African American was the very symbol of "Change". A white man in his place talking of change could never have been as effective as him. This is simply because to talk about change, it was important to also represent change and be a symbol of change. That is what people found in Barack Obama's racial background. Another very important thing was Obama's stand on war. ... We need to understand that most countries can fight their own wars and if they cannot, then USA must learn to choose its battles carefully. This is because over the last many years, we have lost hundreds of thousands of our men to senseless wars- to wars that were not even ours. Being a military person, I know how much our country means to us. But when a young person joins the army, he is doing that to protect the country and defend its interests. However over the past 20 years, we have fought wars that had little or nothing to do with United States directly. As the result of this, resentment has grown in people's minds and hearts. They may respect the military but they do not want to see their young boys die in battles that were not even their own. In other words, if a boy dies while fighting to defend his country, it is seen as an honor. But when the same person dies on foreign land, fighting a battle between two countries that he doesn't even belong to, people naturally resent it. This doesn't make them any less patriotic. They only want to see battles chosen carefully so their boys can fight for their own country and not lose their lives in a futile war. This is exactly what has happened during Iraq war. We have lost tens of hundreds of precious lives both in Afghanistan and Iraq. And these wars have been going for a long time now. People are tired of senseless killing and want to see their children come back home. Obama touched people's hearts and souls when he said he would end the war in Iraq and bring those young boys back. Imagine the relief so many mothers and families must have felt upon hearing this. Do you think that with such a claim, anyone else had even a remote chance of

Treatment plan for Paranoid- type Schizophrenia Case Study

Treatment plan for Paranoid- type Schizophrenia - Case Study Example The paper tells that the goals of treatment for paranoid- type schizophrenia emphasize the promotion of safety of the client and other involved people, ensuring proper nutrition, enhancing therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist, and prevention of complications associated with medications and inappropriate social behavior. Recent developments in mental health research stress out the importance of treating the client as an individual case rather than as part of the general afflicted population. In considering the treatment plan in this particular scenario, the psychiatric diagnosis may be complicated with the consideration of the client’s current substance abuse. Since substance abuse appears to be co- morbid for this client’s case, prescription of medications should consider all aspects that could hinder the client’s adherence to the regimen. When the climax of the appearance of signs and symptoms starts to stabilize, assistance may be neede d to facilitate the client’s reintegration to the society. In this phase of treatment, follow- up care should facilitate the participation of the client’s family to identify early signs and symptoms of relapse. Since the client is potentially harmful to herself and others, safety should be regarded as the highest priority. Based on the initial assessment performed in the clinic, the client looked paranoid and seemed to be threatened by her new environment. At this moment, it is important that the therapist approach the client in a non threatening manner. Furthermore, the therapist should also be careful not to sound authoritarian as it may increase the client’s stress level. Space is a vital component to be considered especially in the early phase of interventions (Videbect, 2007). With the status of the client, preemptive measures should include securing a physician’s order for administering medication to control potentially injurious behaviors. Moreover , the therapist should continue to observe signs of escalating aggression such as pacing, kicking, and yelling. A quiet and less stimulating environment may be helpful in calming the client. However, seclusion and other forms of restraints may also be needed in heightened situations. Evaluation of this intervention is concurrent and does not end until the client demonstrates full recovery. The therapist should be careful in deciding whether the client has fully achieved a mental status at a functional level. Research has suggested that the client’s report of feeling a sense of well- being is never an assurance that the risk for self- injury has subsided (Videbect, 2007). Management of medications and side effects Another important aspect regarding the establishment and maintenance of safety for the client is the careful monitoring of the adverse effects of medications (Valenstein et al., 2011). Potent psychotropic drugs may affect the organ function, especially the liver and kidneys, of clients on prolonged therapy. BUN and liver enzymes monitoring should be part of the treatment regimen to ensure that the client maintains a safe level of the medication. Other minor side effects like frequent urination, constipation, dry mouth, and photosensitivity may affect the client’s adherence to prescribed therapy. Most patients initiating antipsychotic medications tend to terminate the regimen within the first few months of treatment (Olfson et al., 2007). Studies have shown that failure to follow the prescribed medications for mental health conditions is the most common cause of relapse of psychotic symptoms and subsequent hospital readmission (Videbect, 2007). With proper adherence to the prescribed therapy, the client is expected to attain a functional recovery and lead a normal life. Actually, the client’s adherence to the prescribed regimen may be facilitated by the therapist in various ways.

Commpensation and Benefits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Commpensation and Benefits - Essay Example Employees should be allowed to join unions while a security of tenure should be provided to all full-time employees. Proposed compensation and benefits of Wal-Mart Introduction Wal-Mart is one of the organizations among the largest employers in North America. Wal-Mart business operations have increased rapidly compared with similar organizations. Although Wal-Mart offers its employees with various benefits and compensations like â€Å"health plan benefits†, â€Å"profit sharing plans† and â€Å" stock purchase plan†, there are certain challenges facing the organization since compensation procedures have not addressed the numerous employee complains (Wal-Mart Watch, 2007). A recent case happened in Oklahoma in 2007 when employees complained of compensation policies that included â€Å"cutting hours† and not hiring the employees in designations where they have proved competent and skilled (Wal-Mart Watch, 2007). The employees also complained that a number of them had been fired without any apparent reason. The above reasons are just some of the challenges which Wal-Mart employees. The employees are currently unsatisfied thus lowering their work productivity in the organization. The management should establish compensation and benefit policies that maximize employee productivity and motivation in the organization (Wall Mart, 2008). ... Wal-Mart contributes 2 percent of all eligible Associate’s annual salary or wages to the 401 (k) Plan after a one year waiting periods. Wal-Mart also contributes about 2 percent of each eligible Associate’s wages to the profit sharing plan provided they have worked in the company for at least 12 months. In the stock purchase plan, the company contributes only 15 cents for each dollar of the company stock purchased by the employees through deductions in the payroll up to $ 1,800 of stock purchases in each plan year (Wall Mart, 2008). Wal-Mart compensation and benefits policies are inadequate since the company has engaged in â€Å"cutting hours† and employees are not hired in designations where they are talented. The company has also fired numerous employees without any apparent reason and explanation. Employee work motivation and productivity has declined thus leading to poor job performance and total productivity of the organization. Wal-Mart Stores Inc which is the largest private employer in North America has been accused of scaling down the health benefits offered to part-time employees and increasing the premiums deducted from most of the full-time employees’ salaries. Wal-Mart has engaged in cost cutting measures to offset the slowdown in consumer spending which has affected the company revenues in the last few years (Wal-Mart Watch, 2007). The company has reversed the eligibility of part-time workers by requiring them to cover their children healthcare and reduced the co-payments for prescription drugs. Wal-Mart has denied most of its employees from working full-time thus reducing the health care benefits to the employees. The company has also been accused of discriminative working policies against women and employees from minority

Organizational analysis of the Nike Company Research Paper

Organizational analysis of the Nike Company - Research Paper Example Nike is no doubt a leading manufacturer and provider of sports goods and equipment throughout the world filled with hundreds of nations. The production facilities of the company are operating in distant parts of Bangladesh and India where employees are paid on an hourly basis (Leavy, 2004). The Nike as a company is the most suitable instance of an organization which has worked tremendously over the past few years to incorporate outsourcing within the very fabric of itself but recent problems with the company are originating within its strategic alignment with the outside world and external environment in a general way. The company is operating in order to provide state of the art gear for sportsmen and women all around the world. Nike is clearly feeling reluctant in terms of adopting change and therefore, lagging behind in the industry of footwear that is rapidly evolving in order to incorporate growing demands of the modern consumer. The company needs to design and market multipurpo se shoes so that public can use them in wide range of scenarios of life. Nike as an organization is serving a very specific and unique clientele in all regions of the world. Major KSIs are described as follows: -The international economic and fiscal pressures have caused people to drop their expenses on purchasing luxuries and as Nike’s products qualify as luxuries and therefore, they also took a notable hit as their global demand decreased. The reduction in demand for luxuries had been motivated.

Gay Marriage Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gay Marriage - Research Paper Example The reasons for my belief will be discuss thoroughly in the following pages. But before that discussion, I shall present the history of gay marriage in America and the controversial landmark ruling of the Supreme Court regarding the legalization of gay marriage in San Francisco back in 2004. I shall have discussions regarding how countries such as the Netherlands have already recognized that these unions are valid and carry specific economic benefits for all concerned. I will touch upon the fact that 19 states beginning with New York, San Francisco, and Massachusetts, including California have already passed state laws legally recognizing these unions. It is my belief that our national laws and policies must be revised to follow suit or else it will fall behind the times and become irrelevant in our future societies. I will prove that in the long run, gay marriage is exactly what we need in order to cure certain problems within the psyche of our nation. In America, the first document ed case of gay marriage license application dates back to 1967 when Michael McConnel and Richard John Baker applied for an Oklahoma marriage license. This was the time of the Stonewall Riots and a huge wave of change was taking over the gay and lesbian communities. (Eskridge & Spedale 5). The Stonewall riots were taken by the gay and lesbian community as a chance to have: ... marched out of their closets and challenged their outlaw status. Lesbian and gay activists insisted that the state should no longer treat them as presumptive criminals and should instead, treat them the same as it treated straight citizens. This was the first time that the once hidden in the shadows issue of gay marriage came to the forefront of a public debate that would run for over 30 years. The state was now in a precarious position. Do they allow the re-definition of marriage as also covering same sex couples or not? Marriage had always been defined as a union between a man and a woman for decades. Now tha t definition was being challenged and the state felt a need to protect the sanctity of marriage as defined by their understanding of the law. And that is exactly what the state legislators did. But true love will never be denied. To this day, in the states where gay marriage is not yet recognized, they continue to have life bonding commitment ceremonies and construct families by conceiving children through artificial means. They are in fact, leading the normal life of any traditional couple. However prude that the United States proved to be, other countries during the same time frame were already recognizing the rights of gay couples and treating them with the normalcy that they so deserved as citizens of their country. Denmark and Sweden were the first countries to allow and recognize same sex unions. In fact Denmark is noted as, in 1989, having been the first country to: ...enact a law enacting (almost) all the rights of marriage to same sex couples. These unions, were called regi stered partnerships. ((Eskridge & Spedale 5) Due to the approval of this law in Denmark, there was an influx of gay couples into the country coming from other countries like the United States, who took advantage of the law by registering and residing in Denmark as same sex couples. As an institution, marriage by definition has been challenged and revised by same sex couples across the globe over the past decades. Although not

Cancer Treatment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Cancer Treatment - Essay Example Sometimes this can be accomplished by surgery, but the tendency of cancers to invade adjacent tissue or to spread to distant sites by microscopic metastasis often limits its effectiveness. The success of chemotherapy is often limited by toxicity to other tissues in the body. Radiation can also cause damage to normal tissue. Identifying causes of cancer and developing strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure of it ,form the major objectives of cancer research. Cancer research ranges from epidemiology, molecular bioscience (bench research) to the performance of clinical trials to guage and correlate applications of the various cancer treatment. These applications include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy, and combined treatment modalities such as chemo-radiotherapy. The attention in clinical cancer research has shifted towards therapies derived from biotechnology research, such as immunotherapy and gene therapy, since the 1990s. The effectiveness of the various different cures and treatments for cancer can be analysed individually. According to the American Cancer Society, surgery is the oldest form of cancer treatment. It also has an important role in diagnosing and finding the extent of cancer. Advances in surgical techniques have allowed surgeons to successfully operate on a growing number of patients. Today, less invasive operations often can be done to remove tumors while saving as much normal tissue and function as possible.Surgery offers the greatest chance for cure for many types of cancer, especially those that have not spread to other parts of the body. Most people with cancer will have some type of surgery. While different types of surgeries are performed in relation to cancer, it is curative surgery that is done to treat cancer primarily. Curative surgery is done when a tumor appears to be confined to one area and it is likely that all of the tumor can be removed. It may be used alone or along w ith chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which can be given before or after the operation. Sometimes radiation therapy is actually used during an operation. This is called intraoperative radiation therapy. The medical use of ionizing radiation as part of cancer treatment to control cancer cells is called radiotherapy . Radiotherapy may be used for curative or adjuvant cancer treatment.Chemotherapy refers to the use of antineoplastic drugs to treat cancer. Tumors with high growth fractions (such as acute myelogenous leukemia and the aggressive lymphomas, including Hodgkin's disease) are more sensitive to chemotherapy as chemotherapy affects cell-division and also as a larger proportion of the targeted cells are undergoing cell division at any time. Malignancies with slower growth rates, such as indolent lymphomas do not respond as well to chemotherapy. According to Wikipedia,hormonal therapy is one of the major modalities of medical treatment for cancer. Hormonal therapy involves the engineering of the endocrine system

Organizational analysis of the Nike Company Research Paper

Organizational analysis of the Nike Company - Research Paper Example Nike is no doubt a leading manufacturer and provider of sports goods and equipment throughout the world filled with hundreds of nations. The production facilities of the company are operating in distant parts of Bangladesh and India where employees are paid on an hourly basis (Leavy, 2004). The Nike as a company is the most suitable instance of an organization which has worked tremendously over the past few years to incorporate outsourcing within the very fabric of itself but recent problems with the company are originating within its strategic alignment with the outside world and external environment in a general way. The company is operating in order to provide state of the art gear for sportsmen and women all around the world. Nike is clearly feeling reluctant in terms of adopting change and therefore, lagging behind in the industry of footwear that is rapidly evolving in order to incorporate growing demands of the modern consumer. The company needs to design and market multipurpo se shoes so that public can use them in wide range of scenarios of life. Nike as an organization is serving a very specific and unique clientele in all regions of the world. Major KSIs are described as follows: -The international economic and fiscal pressures have caused people to drop their expenses on purchasing luxuries and as Nike’s products qualify as luxuries and therefore, they also took a notable hit as their global demand decreased. The reduction in demand for luxuries had been motivated.

Cancer Treatment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Cancer Treatment - Essay Example Sometimes this can be accomplished by surgery, but the tendency of cancers to invade adjacent tissue or to spread to distant sites by microscopic metastasis often limits its effectiveness. The success of chemotherapy is often limited by toxicity to other tissues in the body. Radiation can also cause damage to normal tissue. Identifying causes of cancer and developing strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure of it ,form the major objectives of cancer research. Cancer research ranges from epidemiology, molecular bioscience (bench research) to the performance of clinical trials to guage and correlate applications of the various cancer treatment. These applications include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy, and combined treatment modalities such as chemo-radiotherapy. The attention in clinical cancer research has shifted towards therapies derived from biotechnology research, such as immunotherapy and gene therapy, since the 1990s. The effectiveness of the various different cures and treatments for cancer can be analysed individually. According to the American Cancer Society, surgery is the oldest form of cancer treatment. It also has an important role in diagnosing and finding the extent of cancer. Advances in surgical techniques have allowed surgeons to successfully operate on a growing number of patients. Today, less invasive operations often can be done to remove tumors while saving as much normal tissue and function as possible.Surgery offers the greatest chance for cure for many types of cancer, especially those that have not spread to other parts of the body. Most people with cancer will have some type of surgery. While different types of surgeries are performed in relation to cancer, it is curative surgery that is done to treat cancer primarily. Curative surgery is done when a tumor appears to be confined to one area and it is likely that all of the tumor can be removed. It may be used alone or along w ith chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which can be given before or after the operation. Sometimes radiation therapy is actually used during an operation. This is called intraoperative radiation therapy. The medical use of ionizing radiation as part of cancer treatment to control cancer cells is called radiotherapy . Radiotherapy may be used for curative or adjuvant cancer treatment.Chemotherapy refers to the use of antineoplastic drugs to treat cancer. Tumors with high growth fractions (such as acute myelogenous leukemia and the aggressive lymphomas, including Hodgkin's disease) are more sensitive to chemotherapy as chemotherapy affects cell-division and also as a larger proportion of the targeted cells are undergoing cell division at any time. Malignancies with slower growth rates, such as indolent lymphomas do not respond as well to chemotherapy. According to Wikipedia,hormonal therapy is one of the major modalities of medical treatment for cancer. Hormonal therapy involves the engineering of the endocrine system

The Beach Essay Example for Free

The Beach Essay The beaches of Panama City is very nice, but overly crowded. The sand inhabited beach, relaxation in the sun, and fun times. Ah, you’ve arrived to one of your favorite places on Earth, the beach, the magnificent place that God created for relaxation and fun. The beautiful ocean right in front of you. The sand in between your toes, and the blissful sounds of the waves splashing against the shore line. You look around to see the yellow beam of sun shining down on you creating a sense of warmth and happiness throughout your body. You look around to see the different types of people, adults, children, teenagers. The adults are thrilled to be away from their overwhelming everyday lives and are finally able to relax. The children are all exceptionally thrilled about their time at the beach, with their beach toys and friends. The teenagers are thrilled to get to chill, and hang out at the beach, and to get away from their scheduled lives of school and sports etc. The sand surrounding the clear aqua ocean is being occupied by many beach towels, umbrellas and chairs. Children are sprinting in the sand and screaming at the top of their lungs as they splash in the water playfully, teens are creating conversation with new friends they’ve just met. You can hear the different types of people squealing at one another in the midst of playing and what not. You look around trying to figure out which fine dining establishment is sending the amazing smells of fresh seafood your way, hoping that maybe tonight you’ll be able to go chow down on your favorite foods. Beach shops prepare for their day of excited travelers bustling in and out of their small seafront shops. Opening their doors, they bring out all of the beach merchandise hoping to sell to the ongoing tourists. As the day comes to a fault there are still activities to be had, crabbing and night walks on the beaches. Some like to watch the sunsets that turns the sea a burnt shade of orange, and the skies a faint color of orange and a mixture of blue which sometimes can result in a pretty cotton candy color. If there are clouds in the sky, it gives a stunning grayish cast that can be quite interesting to look at. The beach is a wonderful place for relaxation, fun in the sun and an overall good time!