Discuss Quasi-Experimental Designs Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Talk about Quasi-Experimental Designs - Coursework Example Numerous gauge configuration contrasts from an inversion plan in that the various standard structure quantifies different factors preceding and after a treatment while an inversion configuration (otherwise called ABAB configuration) is a sort of single-case test plan which can just quantify a solitary case. Also, in Multiple-standard structure, treatment is frequently acquainted with a various number of individuals at various stretches. Semi tests have various points of interest just as possible shortcomings. A portion of the significant focal points of semi tests incorporate more noteworthy legitimacy (as it includes all the more certifiable conditions) and fundamentally substantially more achievability given strategic and time limitations (Trochim and Donnelly, 2008). Then again, the shortcomings of semi tests incorporate less controlled factors, and absence of haphazardness. The nonappearance of randomization is a key shortcoming as it can prompt more fragile proof by making. This shortcoming doesn't generally make a difference as long as it is perceived as semi try offers an incredible research apparatus particularly in regions where genuine investigations may not be possible. Indeed, when members are haphazardly alloted to gatherings, it is expected that the gatherings are proportional toward the start of the examination. This is especially credited to the irregularity of the choice. Be that as it may, the members in the long run got nonequivalent toward the end due to the researcher’s absence of power over the chose members for ach gathering. This might be unraveled by utilizing pretests and covariance test structures. The specific results of a given report can be utilized to adequately propose that a danger is probably going to have been available incorporate covariation, worldly priority just as the nearness of other conceivable elective clarification for the examination results may uncover a danger to the legitimacy of the exploration. a. Non-proportionate benchmark group pretest just: Involves looking at the treatment and examination

Karl Marx - The Victory of the Proletariat and the Fall of the Bourgeoi

Karl Marx - The Victory of the Proletariat and the Fall of the Bourgeoisie In the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx composes of the low class common laborers very nearly unrest because of the mind-boggling mistreatment executed by the bourgeoisie. Marx spreads out an arrangement of steps, which show the happening to the upheaval, a transformation caused significantly by the activities of the bourgeoisie. As the bourgeoisie continually structure better approaches to upset creation, they constantly push toward a result wherein the average workers finds its mistreatment and goes to the main methods for change conceivable, a total transformation. Marx initially talks about the need for the bourgeoisie to upset instruments of creation, an activity important to help their own benefit. The proprietors, who ceaselessly â€Å"resolve individual worth into trade value,† (p. 828) endeavor to determine new types of creation to limit the â€Å"callous ‘cash payment’† owed to their laborers so as to boost the overflow of creation. This at last prompts an incredible disassociation between the workers and their item. In Alienated Labor, Marx portrays the specialist as â€Å"poorer the more riches he creates, the more his creation increments in influence and extent,† (p. 791). Since the bourgeoisie without a doubt wish to amplify the riches created by the worker, their activities unavoidably lead to the underestimation of the regular workers. Scanning for less expensive, increasingly viable methods for creation, the non-laborers track down crude material from remote zones, develop new advances for creatio n, and for the most part separate specialists from their own manifestations. In these manners, the bourgeoisie obviously change the relations of creation. As Marx said in Alien... .... They have uncovered the universe of treachery to the low class, who will blast in half the states of the occasions in another upset that will stop the average. In the cutting edge mechanical time of Karl Marx, the bourgeoisie ceaselessly reform the instruments of creation, changing relations of creation, and in particular, the relationship of people to the remainder of society. In this changing, the bourgeoisie produce more prominent surpluses, yet in addition their own undertakers, distancing the class that will revolt to recover their individual ways of life as people. For Marx, this change requires just time, and as the low class understand the shameful acts of their situations in the public arena, they will start to perceive the need for insurgency. The triumph of the low class and the fall of the bourgeoisie are similarly unavoidable.

Resume Tips Part 1 Words and Phrases to Delete from Your Resume

Resume Tips Part 1 Words and Phrases to Delete from Your Resume When I review resumes I find many commonly used words and phrases that are either outright erroneous or simply useless on a resume. I hope this short series of resume tips will decrease the appearance of these words on resumes throughout the job-hunting market. Words to delete from your resume: Various, variety, etc. 1. Various (or “a variety of”). Compare: a. Performed legal research and wrote memoranda and briefs on various civil procedural and substantive issues. b. Performed legal research and wrote memoranda and briefs on civil procedural and substantive issues, including unconscionability, issue preclusion and equitable estoppel. Version a. leaves us with nothing to grab on to. The candidate in version b. sounds a lot more interesting doesn’t she? The trick is to list the actual things that constitute the variety. Variety on its own doesnt tell us much. I acknowledge that there might be exceptions to this rule. Sometimes it does work to use the word “various” or “variety.” My recommendation is to take it out and see if the bullet works better. It probably will. Please report back what you discover. 2. Etc. “Etc.” is just a variation on various. Example: a. Managed, developed, and supervised programmatic activities that reduce recidivism through individual counseling, mentoring, family supportive counseling, girls empowerment groups, life skills classes, leadership workshops, etc. This list is long enough. What could possibly be added by adding “etc.” to the end of it? It just leaves the reader hanging. Make your list, put an “and’ before the last item, and add to it in your interview if necessary. You are welcome to precede your list with “including” or “such as.” OK now go look at your resume. Did you find various or etc.? Did you delete them? What was the impact? Share the results in the comments below. Hope you found these resume tips useful. For more resume writing assistance, check out  The Essay Experts Resume Writing Services.

The Elements Of Moral Philosophy - 919 Words

Friendship, as defined here, is a general term that means a mutual fondness for the sake of both parties. The moral attributes of both individuals are significant in a friendship. According to Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics, â€Å"it is of these attributes that we were the friends†. What happens when these attributes change morally, though? Moral changes are when people alter the way they reason through decisions and how much they consider others while doing so. Is it ethical to abandon a genuine friendship due to a change in moral status, for better or worse, by either party? Aristotle reasonably argues that abandonment is, in necessary situations, a moral end to a friendship. If the members of a genuine friendship change morally, it is acceptable for them to depart from each other. Of course, this conclusion assumes that people can change themselves ethically and that people who are a part of a genuine friendship can end their relationship. In The Elements of Moral Philosophy, James Rachels provides a good definition of morality. Rachels was an American philosopher and wrote a number of respected books, making him an authority on this issue. He says that morality is, â€Å"the effort to guide one’s conduct by reason-that is, to do what there are the best reasons for doing-while giving equal weight to the interests of each individual who will be affected by what one does.† It is possible to change morally because one’s ability to reason through decisions and one’s consideration ofShow MoreRelatedThe Elements Of Moral Philosophy1407 Words   |  6 PagesIn â€Å"The Elements of Moral Philosophy† James Rachels discusses the positives and negatives regarding the concept of cultural relativism, but his overall position is that cultural relativism is not a strong philosophy. On the flip side of that Immanuel Kant has a completely different ethical theory that is based around deontology. De spite its positives, cultural relativism cannot be defended against Rachels’ criticism, but Kant’s ethical theory cannot necessarily defeat cultural relativism eitherRead MoreThe Element Of Moral Philosophy By James Rachels1161 Words   |  5 Pages In the book, â€Å"The Element of Moral Philosophy†, James Rachels explores the several criticisms of Utilitarianism. In this essay, I will touch on these criticisms, outlining the major implications they propose to Utilitarianism. I will also explain why many of the notions proposed against Utilitarianism are self-serving, and instead serve to improve the general good of a minority population, which contradicts the Utilitarian theory of equating moral aptitude to the general good of a majority populationRead MoreIn James Rachels’ Book, The Elements Of Moral Philosophy,780 Words   |  4 PagesIn James Rachels’ book, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, he explains many things in the ninth chapter. He ma de statement about philosopher who decided the absolute moral rules. It explains in the beginning, there’s no definite answer for moral rules. Again, it’s about belief, cultural, tradition etc. Truman decision of dropping the bomb created conflict, some disagree and others agree. Categorical imperative and hypothetical imperative are explained with Kant’s conceptive on lying. His argumentRead MoreIn James Rachels’ Book, The Element Of Moral Philosophy,858 Words   |  4 PagesIn James Rachels’ book, the Element of Moral Philosophy, he made interesting point in the fourth chapter. He points out the similarities and differences between morality and religion. Mostly, when thought about morals, religion is mention. Religion is almost all about morals. Directing what is wrong and right. Divine Command Theory is morality relationship between God (gods) and the people. God (gods) orders the meaning of good and the bad. People need to follow the rules to receive blessings fromRead MoreLogic, Metaphysics, Epistemology, And The Value Theory1244 Words   |  5 PagesA1.) The four main divisions in Philosophy are: logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and the value theory. †¢ The division of logic is essentially the division in which all reasoning of our knowledges is deemed correct. Logic focuses on arguments within reasoning and accounts for which arguments will be successful and which arguments will fail. The special subject of logic is the breakdown of the the three Laws of Thought: the law of identity, the law of contradiction, and the law of the excludedRead MorePhilosophy : The Fundamental Nature Of Knowledge1461 Words   |  6 Pages Philosophy in my perspective is a study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, existence and the theory or attitude acting as a guiding principle for behaviour. The understanding that, philosophy is not just about a deep expression of our wonders and the search for knowledge is false from my views. Philosophy broadens our imagination and allows individuals to engage, analyse and criticize the wider world. Individuals have different thoughts, values reasons and method of communication suchRead MoreComparing David Hume and Immanuel Kant Essay1356 Words   |  6 Pagesfor a man to recognize his moral duty. Although Hume and Kant shared some basic principals they differed on their view of morality. In comparing the different views on human will and the maxims established to determine moral worth by David Hume and Immanuel Kant, I find their theories on morality have some merit although limited in view. Hume and Kant shared some basic principle of empiricism, but each took different directions on the theory of morality. The moral theory of Hume was based onRead MorePlato and Platipus1186 Words   |  5 PagesIt is normal to underestimate the power of philosophy. It is a social science that has lost influence in the 21st Century because many do not understand how this science can help humans achieve true happiness. Though philosophy is a heavy subject, it is the science with the most results regarding human nature and knowledge. Philosophy offers guidance to understand human behavior as well as to question our presence and our real role in society. It is one of the leading social sciences because manyRead MoreHistorical Developments in Philosophy Essay1189 Words   |  5 PagesUniversity of Phoenix Material Philosophy Matrix | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Read MoreCompare And Contrast Philo And Plato1615 Words   |  7 PagesOpposite Philosophies The Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, â€Å"Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth.† Plato, who was also a philosopher, was Aristotle’s teacher. Aristotle thought highly of Plato and respected him. However, as Aristotle’s wisdom grew, he started to question and even disagree with the concepts Plato taught him. This is why Aristotle wrote that he admires and respects Plato, but admires and respects the truth more. Aristotle started to develop his own philosophies, views

So Much Water So At Home By Carver - 1332 Words

In â€Å"So Much Water So Close to Home†, Carver creates a story describing the disparity of power between genders, focusing especially on a female perspective to allow us to understand how the protagonist Claire is feeling throughout the situation with a rape victim, Susan Miller. Through her viewpoint, we witness events and feelings that even Claire’s own husband does not realize, and also some feelings that Claire herself does not fully comprehend. These characteristics help shape the text and establishes gendered modes of experiencing the world. As a whole, â€Å"So Much Water So Close to Home† exhibits how women during Claire’s time were more prone to gendered imbalances both in a relationship and society. As soon as Claire heard about†¦show more content†¦Perhaps all of these tragic incidents of girls dying activated an empathetic response in Claire, highlighting how helpless she feels in her community and maybe even home. As a result, Clair e reminds us to always respect and the remember the dead because if not, it means the deaths of the girls would have been a waste and we allow such monstrous behavior to proceed unfettered. Seeing everything through Claire’s perspective also highlights the high vulnerability and wariness that women feel almost everywhere during the time period. During the exchange between the truck driver and Claire, he says â€Å"You know it’s no good for a woman to be batting around the country by herself† insinuating that women are less capable of driving (Carver 189). Claire is also seen as just an object, with the truck driver blatantly looking â€Å"at my breasts and legs† with no respect whatsoever (Carver 189). Claire just freezes up with fear, explaining how gender inequality still remains a prevalent issue during that time period. Even with her husband Stuart, the object of hands comes up multiple times throughout the short story as Stuart repeatedly tries to à ¢â‚¬Å"come up behind and touches my arm. His fingers burn† (Carver 183). He almost expects Claire to agree with his sexual advances whenever he wants, becoming angry when she refused. The hands presumably reminded her of the victim Susan Miller because she thinks Stuart touched the bodyShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis Of Raymond Carver s So Much Water So At Home 1681 Words   |  7 PagesIntro: Raymond Carver’s short story So Much Water So Close to Home (2003) had the temporal setting within the American 1970’s, during the time when there was mass hysteria of serial killings. Carver’s plot took advantage of the hysteria of the 1970’s to set up the theme of serial killings within the hypotext. Juxtaposingly, Ray Lawrence adapted Carver’s short story (2006) and transformed it into the hyper Australian gothic film Jindabyne. Juxtaposed to the hypotext that [focused] on the serial killingsRead MoreSo Much Water so Close to Home1493 Words   |  6 PagesJordan Williams Sara Howe English 101 17 September 2010 â€Å"So Much Water So Close To Home† In So Much Water So Close To Home, Raymond Carver explores the hardships that society brings upon us by using dialogue and character development to reveal that men and women alike have difficulty reconciling the differences in ethical and moral values. Carver is able to do this by relating to topics that demonstrate the character’s difference in morality. These include such things as death, gender stereotypesRead MoreAn Analysis Of So Much Water So Close At Home 924 Words   |  4 PagesIn Carver’s short story, â€Å"So Much Water So Close to Home,† three men go to Naches River for a fishing trip and encounter a dead young woman in the river. Aware that the corpse is in the river, they continue on with their fishing trip, not reporting it until they travel back home. Carver illustrates the story through the eyes of Claire, the wife of the fisher. Carver depicts the differences in male and female roles of a marriage and their psychological similarities, associa ted with why there was aRead MoreIt’S Interesting How Everyone Has A Differing And Personal1659 Words   |  7 Pageshave as human beings. At some points in our life we will all experience love whether it’s for a human being or maybe just for your dog. Why is this question so hard to answer? I perceive love in a positive way but on the other hand Raymond perceives love differently. That’s okay because we all have different definitions. Throughout Raymond Carvers short stories he uses disconnection, distrust, and doubt to portray the idea that bad relationships and negative emotions can lead to misconceptions aboutRead MoreEssay about Raymond Carvers Cathedral1056 Words   |  5 PagesThe husband in Raymond Carvers â€Å"Cathedral† wasn’t enthusiastic about his wife’s old friend, whom was a blind man coming over to spend the night with them. His wife had kept in touch with the blind man since she worked for him in Seattle years ago. He did n’t know the blind man; he only heard tapes and stories about him. The man being blind bothered him, â€Å"My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed. Sometimes they were led by seeing-eye dogs. ARead More`` Popular Mechanics `` By Raymond Carver1617 Words   |  7 PagesJosaiah Thomas Professor Tittle ENGWR 303-104 6 July 2015 Essay #2 In the short story, â€Å"Popular Mechanics,† by Raymond Carver, starts with a short rise in action through the introduction of the characters, setting, and plot. The short story has a face paced touch, which moves quickly towards the climax and released the resolution right after. The short story was narrated in third person in order to reveal the actions and the dialogue between a man and a woman which expressed separation, struggleRead MoreGender and Identity in Raymond Carvers so Much Water, so Close to Home1088 Words   |  5 PagesMen are from Mars, women are from Venus. Weve all heard the saying, but what does it mean? We are different, that goes without saying. As evidenced in Raymond Carvers So Much Water, So Close to Home, men and women differ on many key issues of morality, perception, and judgment. The two do have something in common, believe it or not, and that is the expectation of the opposite gender to communicate, think, and react in the exact way they do. Hence, frustration. Not with themselves, God forbidRead MoreExistentialism, By Albert Camus, Raymond Carvers, Short Cuts And Woody Allen s Movie, Crimes And1440 Words   |  6 PagesAfter all, the Choice is Yours Existentialism is a humanism, sure, if one were so inclined, since after all it is ones’ choice to choose if they are a true existentialist. Any and all human philosophies can be used as a guide to ones’ path in life in their own morality, however, until it becomes inconvenient then it is tolerable to deviate off ones’ path to make it work for themselves. The basic foundation of existentialism is, existence precedes essence and there can be no human nature if thisRead MoreAnalysis Of Raymond Carver s Popular Mechanics 1194 Words   |  5 Pagesthereof. While the story was written a while ago I believe it still connects with our lack of communication with one another. Rather than communicating to fix our issues or at least attempt to we as people tend to take the effortless way out or maybe not so easy, but the quicker way out. The male character seemingly runs from whatever the issue is at hand. If neither of them wanted to lose their child they could have eas ily talked it out or at least devised a plan to avoid such a large fuss. However, theyRead MoreAlcohol Ruins Lives: as Shown by Raymond Carver’s Short Stories2226 Words   |  9 PagesAlcohol Ruins Lives: As Shown By Raymond Carver’s Short Stories What We Talk About When We Talk About Love is a collection of short stories by Raymond Carver. Named â€Å"One of the true contemporary masters,† by Robert Towers of The New York Times Review of Books, Carver creates fiction that opens the reader’s eyes to a seldom spoken of, but all too real, part of American life. Alcoholism, and its ability to destroy families and escalate domestic disputes into violence, was a common theme throughout

Use of Social Media in Promoting Stakeholder Free Essays

string(69) " Community media constitute a hybrid of industrial and social media\." USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN PROMOTING STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR DEFINITION OF SOCIAL MEDIA Social media has rapidly integrated itself into our everyday lives, both personal and professional, and it’s perhaps had no greater impact than on the world of marketing, with consumers and brands seeing enormous benefits and changes. Social media literally means interactive platforms through which individuals and communities create and share user-generated contents. Social media are social software which mediates human communication. We will write a custom essay sample on Use of Social Media in Promoting Stakeholder or any similar topic only for you Order Now When the technologies are in place, social media is ubiquitously accessible and enabled by scalable communication techniques. In the year 2012, social media became one of the most powerful sources for news updates through platforms such as Twitter and Facebook (Kietzmann et al. 2011). Social media technologies take on different forms including magazines, Internet forums, weblogs, social blogs, microblogging, wikis, social networks, podcasts, photographs or pictures, video, rating and social bookmarking. Social media can be classified into six different types: collaborative projects (for example, Wikipedia), blogs and microblogs (for example, Twitter), content communities (for example, YouTube), social networking sites (for example, Facebook), virtual game worlds (e. g. , World of War craft), and virtual social worlds (e. g. Second Life). Technologies include: blogs, picture-sharing, vlogs, wall-postings, email, instant messaging, music-sharing, crowdsourcing and voice over IP, to name a few (Kaplan and Haenlein, 2010). Many of these social media services can be integrated via social network aggregation platforms. Social media network websites include sites like Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Bebo and MySpace. Social media applications used on mobile devices are called mobile social media. In comparison to traditional social media running on computers, mobile social media display a higher location- and time-sensitivity. One can differentiate between four types of mobile social media applications (Kaplan, 2012), depending on whether the message takes account of the specific location of the user (location-sensitivity) and whether it is received and processed by the user instantaneously or with a time delay (time-sensitivity). . Space-timers (location and time sensitive): Exchange of messages with relevance for one specific location at one specific point-in time (e. g. , Facebook Places; Foursquare). 2. Space-locators (only location sensitive): Exchange of messages, with relevance for one specific location, which are tagged to a certain place and read later by others (e. g. , Yelp; Qype). 3. Quick-timers (only time sensitive): Transfer of traditional social media applications to mobile devices to increase immediacy (e. g. posting Twitter messages or Facebook status updates). 4. Slow-timers (neither location, nor time sensitive): Transfer of traditional social media applications to mobile devices (for example, watching a YouTube video or reading a Wikipedia entry). Mobile social media can also be used on the go when one is not near a personal computer, lap-top†¦ etc. With all the new devices that are arriving at our finger tips, gadgets such as tablets, ipods, phones, and many other new products, there is no use for sitting at home using ones PC. Mobile social media has made other sources of internet browsing obsolete and allows users to write, respond, and browse in real-time. A new medium of social networking – Instagram allow the world to interconnect and makes space and time much smaller than anyone can imagine. Instagram allows individuals to snap a photo wherever they may be and share it with the rest of the world instantly, delivering a social media site full of foreign accomplishments and strange scenarios. This feature was introduced by facebook and other existing social media sites, but instagram is the latest addition to the social media scene, and has made picture sharing an absolute must. Mobile social media is a relatively new function because it was just recently that mobile devices have access to the internet and the cloud (Kaplan, 2012). PURPOSES OF SOCIAL MEDIA The purpose of Social media can be explained its use in the area of businesses. Here, social media may be referred to as consumer-generated media (CGM). A common thread running through all definitions of social media is a blending of technology and social interaction for the co-creation of value. Generally, people obtain information, education, news and other data from electronic and print media. However, unlike industrial or traditional media, such as newspapers, television and film, social media shows its distinction as they are comparatively inexpensive and accessible to enable anyone, even private individuals to publish or access information. Industrial media on the other hand generally require significant resources o publish information. One characteristic shared by both social and industrial media is the capability to reach small or large audiences; for example, either a blog post or a television show may reach n people or millions of people. Some of the properties that help describe the differences between social and industrial media are in the aspect of reach, accessibility, usability, immediacy and permanence. (a) Reach: Bot h industrial and social media technologies provide scale and are capable of reaching a global audience. Industrial media, however, typically use a centralized framework for organization, production, and dissemination, whereas social media are by their very nature more decentralized, less hierarchical, and distinguished by multiple points of production and utility. (b) Accessibility: The means of production for industrial media are typically government and/or corporate (privately-owned). Social media tools are generally available to the public at little or no cost. (c) Usability: Industrial media production typically requires specialized skills and training. Conversely, most social media production requires only modest reinterpretation of existing skills; in theory, anyone with access can operate the means of social media production. (d) Immediacy: The time lag between communications produced by industrial media can be long (days, weeks, or even months) compared to social media (which can be capable of virtually instantaneous responses). However, as industrial media begins adopting aspects of production normally associated with social media tools, this feature may not prove distinctive over time. e) Permanence: Industrial media, once created, cannot be altered (once a magazine article is printed and distributed changes cannot be made to that same article) whereas social media can be altered almost instantaneously by comments or editing (Kietzmann et al. , 2011). Community media constitute a hybrid of industrial and social media. You read "Use of Social Media in Promoting Stakeholder" in category "Papers" Though community-owned, some comm unity radio, TV and newspapers are run by professionals and some by amateurs. They use both social and industrial media frameworks. Social media has also been recognized for the way in which it has changed how public relations professionals conduct their jobs. It has provided an open arena where people are free to exchange ideas on companies, brands and products. Social media provides an environment where users and PR professionals can converse, where PR professionals can promote their brand and improve their company’s image, by listening and responding to what the public is saying about their product. STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR The word- stakeholders simply means a person, group or organization that has interest or concern in an organization. Stakeholders can affect or be affected by the organization’s actions, objectives and policies. Some examples of key stakeholders are creditors, directors, employees, government (and its agencies), owners (shareholders), suppliers, unions, and the community from which the business draws its resources (Clarkson, 1995). In the educational sector, the major stakeholders comprise of the students, the funding (and managerial) bodies, the industry employers, the academics and the general public. Universities and colleges increasingly are using new communication technologies to produce innovative teaching methods, thus improving relationships with staff and students. Much of this innovation is centered on social media spaces and concepts. Many of the most significant social media tools are still very young but the concepts of social networking, online video, and blogging go back to the earliest days of the Internet. Indeed, educators and library professionals were quick to see the value of blogs as they appeared, partly as a mechanism to bypass complex or slow institutional website-updating processes. They are also a way to reach out, to share news and reflections with colleagues and students both within and beyond institutional walls. As the first social networking sites emerged, combining the functionality of bulletin boards with personal profiles and instant messaging tools, students were early adopters using the sites like FriendsReunited to maintain existing friendships and to establish personal support networks. Friendster extended the idea of what these spaces could do, and by the time Facebook launched (for those with university email addresses), students were well prepared to experiment, socialize, and share their networks online. Some librarians and academics followed students into these spaces, sharing practical information and trying these new forms of engagement. Now with the widespread use of tools and technologies like YouTube, Twitter, blogs, wikis and Facebook, social media is used for teaching in higher education (Kent and Taylor, 1998). Students remain ahead of social media users in various higher education groups. While many attribute this to generational factors, it is also true that students are more highly motivated by the need to find and bond with new peers and potential social groups. Many find participating in a new online space a relatively low stakes issue of experimenting and exploring the spaces that work for them, or that their friends use. Academic staff have been slower to find their feet, but the success of pioneering colleagues in communicating and engaging students in their work, or gaining professional advantage through social media spaces, has helped drive change and, in some cases institutional leadership. Rolling out blogging tools and support across the university has led to a creative, thoughtful, and lively culture of blogging within the university including a rapid turnover of very high quality content. A key strength of social media is the distributed model of connection, posting, and activity feeds that enables building an ongoing relationship with stakeholders through low stakes participation (Christ, 2005). Indeed the most common use of social media in higher education is as a means of amplifying existing events, publications and websites. Social media resources are often provided for passive use as information sources or teaching resources—perhaps an alert to an upcoming event, a blog post that directs the reader to formal academic literature, or a video that demonstrates a key technique or concept. A single action, such as sharing a link or viewing a Facebook page or Twitter profile, allows an individual to casually participate in a relationship with a higher education institution. From there individuals can also take active steps of clicking the â€Å"like† or â€Å"follow† or â€Å"subscribe to feed† button to receive regular updates and alerts, showing their interest in further dialog. This simple sharing functionality is very valuable, but the real benefits for higher education often come from more integration of social media with teaching and student support. Social media also provides the opportunity for communication, professional development and collaboration among members of teaching and research staff, information services staff and administrators. This communication can work well in closed institutional spaces (such as an intranet) but collaborating publicly on the web (for example, through blogs or Twitter) enables both local colleagues and broader peers to read and participate in discussions. The most important relationship for most educators and academic organizations is with their students, and social media can be a very active and responsive hannel for supporting and engaging with students. While email remains the key means of communication for most professionals in the education sector, students arrive into higher education with established social media presences and a culture of using Facebook Messages/Chat, text messages, and related tools (for example, InstantMessanger, BlackBerry Messenger, and Skype). These social media a nd mobile tools may be used by colleges and universities, but it is important to manage expectations: students need to know which channels they are required to use (likely to include email) and which channels are optional (such as a course Facebook group). They must also understand which spaces to use for official correspondence, assignment submission, or urgent queries. Staff cannot monitor all social media channels at all times, but endorsing spaces that enable peer support can help meet student needs outside of working hours. For part time and online courses, scheduling virtual evening tutorials or â€Å"office hours† can also provide a manageable and valued space for student support and participation. Social media can also enhance traditional in-person learning to great effect. For instance, the collaborative nature of wikis offers particular opportunities for innovative teaching practice. This process empowers students to take ownership and responsibility for their own learning and to build a productive peer community. It also alters the relationship and expectations that exist between staff and students from one-way teaching to an ongoing two-way process in both challenging and highly rewarding ways. For those learning on a part-time, distance, or flexible basis, it can be difficult to feel part of the educational community, to connect with peers whom you may see rarely or not see at all, and to form the types of social groups that enable peer support and friendship. Social media can help create a sense of community, of being among real people and, in some spaces (including virtual worlds), a real sense of embodiment. Some students feel more able to express themselves fully and confidently in online contexts, and for these students, social media provides a way to tie their more confident online selves with their real world identities. For others, social media is simply a route to avoid isolation. The participation of teaching and support staff in these spaces provides the opportunity to build richer relationships with learners, and to notice concerns, issues, or misunderstandings. These issues may not be easily or comfortably articulated in other teaching spaces, such as a more formal classroom or e-learning space. The beneficial possibilities of social media also bring potential risk, partly because any increased visibility brings with it greater exposure to vulnerability and the possibility of embarrassment or failure in a very public space. From an organizational and management perspective, the most significant benefits and the most notable risks arise from the democratizing nature of social media: when anyone can potentially create content there will, of course, be risks associated with loss of control. This can be tricky to negotiate because much of the appeal of social media is its formality, often tied to a sense of fun, transgression, and enjoyable anarchy. Educational organizations have a moral and legal responsibility to look after both staff and students, and to consider their safety and privacy. There are risks associated with encouraging staff and students to register for and share personal information with social media sites, particularly when requiring student participation as a course requirement. You must create a process for dealing with potential bullying or abusive behavior. Because social media necessitates faster, less formalized processes than traditional print or online media, it can be beneficial to create appropriate organizational policies, procedures, and guidelines. These policies must acknowledge both the risks and benefits of social media. It is important that the organization accepts and understands those guidelines. Outright bans on social media usage are rarely desirable or effective, and heavy restriction can push individuals – whether staff or student – to create more controversial or outspoken presences on a pseudonymous on anonymous basis. This reaction can both risk a negative impact on the organization, and mean that the organization misses officially recognized contributions from energized members of the community. The most successful social media guidelines and policies are encouraging and nurturing in tone, highlight good practice and clarify the appropriate use of these tools. They must also specify material that is not appropriate for sharing, and indicate some form of process for dealing with conflicts arising from social media interactions. Every higher education institution is different so it is important to both draw on others experience and tailor your guidelines or policies so that they are a good fit for your own organization’s needs and audience. Remember that the speed of social media development is such that no set of guidelines or policies will be definitive: they will need to be iterated over time and updated to reflect the changing social media and legal environment. Embedding social media into normal working practices can take time and effort, so it is important to consider the goals and desired outcome of that activity, whether that is easily measured (such as new admissions, achievement of funding goals) or something more amorphous (improved good will, better morale within an educational institution). It is also useful to consider collecting metrics (counts of tweets, comments received or more complex information) so that activity can be considered, reflected upon, and developed or discontinued as appropriate. Local hosting or restricted/private cloud hosting of social media tools can be an effective way to bring together social media functionality in a protected and trusted institutional space. Tools including IBM Connections, which act as a hosted suite of social media and business software tools, can be useful. Whether using a hosted or web-based social media tool, it is always useful to try any tool for a few weeks with colleagues or peers to identify problems or concerns before committing to a public (whether to your staff and/or students or the open web) social media presence. Planning suitable staff time and processes to create, maintain, monitor, and reflect upon social media presences helps to ensure that the presences are taken seriously and that involved staff feel a sense of ownership and responsibility in these new spaces. Blogs have become a central tool for academic research and for teaching and learning over the last five years. Many programs require students to blog reflectively on their progress throughout a course and submit this as graded work. These blogs provide a great space for reflection, for recording progress with academic readings and developing ideas, and for discussion with peers from the wider world. In schools, there are greater risks to address in terms of privacy and access to resources but there is also huge potential for innovation. The award winning â€Å"I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here! initiative (Pontin, 2010) used a talent show format to connect practicing scientists with school children. Over the course of two weeks, social media tools such as YouTube and real-time chat tools enabled school children to ask any science question, which was then answered by a research scientist within 24 hours. The students voted for their favorite scientist throughout the show and the winning scientist won a small grant to further their research. It can be inspiring to look at what comparable schools, colleges, universities, or other educational organizations currently do. Increasingly, early adopters engaged teaching staff, and university marketing and communications departments are realizing the huge potential for the use of social media in education. There are substantial risks to consider, ones that require thoughtful management of expectations, the ongoing review of practice, and the surrounding legal and social context. Social media guidelines and policies are useful tools in supporting the use of social media in schools and colleges but these should not stifle creativity. Social media provides real opportunities for innovative and engaging practice with authenticity and informality, both notable features of successful social media in academia. YABA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA Yaba College of Technology, founded in 1947, is Nigeria’s first higher educational institution. It is located in Yaba, Lagos state, Nigeria. The college is a center of culture and heritage. Currently it has a student enrollment of over 16,000. Today, Yaba College of Technology is made up of nine (9) academic units called Schools, headed by Deans, and thirty-four Departments headed by Heads of Departments. The main objective of the College, according to the decree that established it, is to provide full time and part-time courses of instruction and training in Technology, Commerce and Management. Also, the College provides training in other fields such as applied learning, relevant to the development of Nigeria especially in areas of Industry, Agricultural production and distribution, Research and adaptation of techniques. In pursuit of these objectives, the College has continued to develop structurally, humanly and materially. One of the ways in which the college has been able to establish this development is in its adoption of technological advancement by the use of the social media. Generally, Schools are on a short list of organizations that have been notoriously slow to adopt emerging technology but within the last few years, as social media becomes more integral to students’ lives, educational institutions are finally catching on, and catching up. On speaking with the Heads and representatives of information (communications) technology unit of he Yaba College of Technology, they all shared their views on the extent to which the Social media has promoted stakeholder relations in the college. Dr. Oyeyinka, Director of Centre for Information and Technology Management (CITM) explained that the Social media is being used and has made a great impact in the institution. For further information, Dr. Oyeyinka directed us to Mr. Popoola Olusegun Lawrence, a representative of the Information Processing De partment. This was because Mrs. Koyenikan, the Head of the Information processing Department, was currently on leave. According to Mr. Popoola Olusegun Lawrence, who is in charge of students’ result as well as communication amongst the students and management of the institution, there are three different departments or units under CITM and they are- Information Processing Department (IPD), Hardware Software development amp; Training (HST) and the Volumetrics unit, a unit in charge of managing the college networks. These three units work together to take care of both the staff and student information. Mr. Popoola further explained that the use of Facebook in the department is more frequent although in some cases, Yahoo Messenger is also made use of. This choice of Social media tool is made, depending on the target publics and even in those cases; communication must have reached a certain level before usage of the social media that is, some sort of agreement must have been reached first and you must have established some kind of relationship with the stakeholders. One cannot just wake up one day and start communicating with stakeholders in a project that requires millions of naira. Doing that would place one at a huge risk. Therefore, one’s level of awareness comes to the forefront. For example, when the College through the Information Processing Department (IPD) needed to contact an organization that supply equipments used for the marking of Post UTME results, the decisions made had to change at a particular time and further communication was made through Facebook and Yahoo messenger from time to time. Later, after the equipments had been supplied, the college realized they needed the organization’s support and the organization was contacted again. This communication process via the social media was very effective and successful. In communicating with students however, Mr. Popoola continued by saying, mobile phones was made use of because the department has access to the phone lines of all students in the college. Moreover, not all students are computer literates or have access to the internet and in order to make sure all students were brought into the picture when giving out information that pertains to them, mobile phones was used in sending out bulk SMS. Within the staff, official matters are communicated through Facebook and twitter. This started just about a year ago. When communicating with other departments and faculties like the School of management studies for instance, the IPD sends messages through the group on Facebook created by some of these faculties and departments. If the Director of CITM (Centre for Information and Technology Management) – Dr. Oyeyinka wants to pass information to the Deans of various departments, he doesn’t need to go through CITM except when every member of staff needed to be communicated with. This is because CITM has the means of communicating with every staff at once. In emergency situations however, the use of mobile phones are used within staff because according to Mr. Popoola, it gets the information across faster. For instance in November, 2011, there was emergency information that needed to be passed to every staff where some details of the staff absent on the department’s database were urgently needed. This information was requested by the Ministry of Education and every staff needed to be aware of the developments within 24 hours. The use of Facebook, yahoo messenger and mobile phones were employed in disseminating this information. At the end of the day, it was realized that mobile phones were more effective. As regards to the use of Social media in times of crisis, Mr. Popoola claimed they had never experienced crisis but if they did, they probably would make use of mobile phones in disseminating the necessary information. Mr. Popoola believes that in years to come, probably in two to three years, the social media would be more effective but presently it was not as Nigeria as a whole is just getting to know the benefits of the social media. He explained that a good number of people are unaware of the importance of social media and some think it’s just used to paste portrait pictures or pictures of fashionable items like shoes, bags, etc. One of the barriers in the effectiveness of social media is in language barrier and the abuse of social networks. If people can get to understand the proper use of the social media, its effectiveness would increase. In the Volumetrics unit, the Head of Department – Mrs. Oyeyinka was said to be unavailable and we were directed to her representatives- the Head of the Networking Unit- Mrs. Christiana Olayinka and a member of the Volumetrics unit- Mr. Tunde Oke. Mrs. Christiana Olayinka, explained that their stakeholders are made up of the management, students and prospective students of the college. Her unit is majorly responsible in ensuring that internet links and facilities are made available to the students of the college. She further stated that social media has been of great benefit to the college and asides having an advantage of saving cost, it also allows you get feedback from the students i. e. allows a two-way communication. In the Networking unit, Twitter and Facebook are frequently used in disseminating information to students. Where management of the college is concerned, LinkedIn is made use of especially during management meetings and conferences. Linked in also allows for teleconferencing where even management abroad can partake in meetings held in Nigeria by Network connection. One can also view participants live as you communicate and exchange information with them. Terms such as audio conferencing, telephone conferencing and phone conferencing are sometimes used in teleconferencing. According to Mrs. Olayinka, the only crisis they have experienced thus far was some years back when there was a shift in the date of resumption at the college and the news had to be relayed. This information was then passed through Facebook, twitter and bulk SMS. Though twitter was fairly effective, Facebook was found to be more effective because of the larger number of students subscribed to it. Bulk SMS on the other hand, was found to be most effective. Mr. Tunde Oke, a member of the Volumetrics department stated that dissemination of information to stakeholders which comprise majorly of the students and staff of the college is carried out using the social media tools- Facebook, twitter and most recently, YouTube. In mid 2012, a group on Facebook was created by the Volumetrics department called YabaTechng and at the time checked, the group had over 9,052 likes. Through this medium on Facebook, information of interest to the college is posted. Only a few weeks ago, the Volumetrics department created some sort of mini TV called YabaTechTV via YouTube, a video sharing site and through this medium, documentaries about the college are shared. Within the short space of time since they started, the department has been able to upload their first documentary which aims at showcasing talents and facilities within the EPE Campus of the college. The 12 minutes documentary is tagged- ‘Documentary on Yaba Tech (Epe Campus)’ and has over 50 views already. They are currently working on their second documentary which they also plan uploading via YouTube. In conclusion, it is safe to say that social media has come to stay. In less than five years of its existence, social media has made a great impact in promoting stakeholder relations in the educational sector. It has revolutionized the way people communicate today and has spawned a new generation of communication in higher institutions. Social media presents a huge opportunity for schools, universities and other educational organizations to reach out and connect with students and prospective students. Now, the internet is no longer a one-way broadcast delivery system where the individual user downloads data, information and other resources produced by a relatively small number of content providers. Instead, the internet is now driven by and to some extent determined through the activities of its ordinary users—what has been described as many-to-many rather than one-to-many connectivity. The social web is therefore seen to be arranged along substantially different lines than the cyberspace-era internet of the 1990s and 2000s. This sense of internet use now being a participatory and collective activity is reflected in the language used to describe social media applications. Therefore, it is clear that social media gives more people a voice and provides a powerful tool for value creation and competitive differentiation. REFERENCES Christ, P. (2005). Internet technologies and trends transforming public relations. Journal of Website Promotion. 1(4): 3–14. Clarkson, M. B. E. 1995. A stakeholder framework for analyzing and evaluating corporate social performance. Academy of Management Review. 20: 65-91. Hill, L. and White, C. (2000). Public relations practitioners’ perception of the World Wide Web as a communications tool. Public Relations Review. 26(1): 31–51. Kaplan, A. (2012) If you love something, let it go mobile: Mobile marketing and mobile social media 4Ãâ€"4, Business Horizons, 55(2): 129-139 Kaplan, A. and Haenlein, M. (2010). â€Å"Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media. † Business Horizons 53(1): 59–68. Kent, M. and Taylor, M. (1998). Building dialogic relationships through theWorldWideWeb. Public Relations Review. 24(3): 321–334. Kietzmann, J. , Hermkens, K. , McCarthy, I. , and Silvestre, B. (2011). â€Å"Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media† (PDF). Business Horizons 54 (3): 241–251. doi:10. 1016/j. bushor. 2011. 01. 005. Retrieved September 17, 2012. Pontin, K. (2010). I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here! Evaluation Interim Report. Gallomanor Communications Limited. Available from http://project. imascientist. org. uk/wp–? content/uploads/2010/11/Im–? a–? Scientist–? Interim–? Evaluation–? Report. pdf. YabaTechTV. (2012). Documentary on Yaba Tech (Epe Campus). Available from http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=g3keWhvSEIAamp;feature=youtu. beamp;a. GROUP 3 MEMBERS- YABA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY (YABATECH) BABALOLA, ADEBUKUNOLA OLUWAYEMISI – 050803014 RAHEEM ADEFOLAYIGA . S. AKINDIPUPO AKINDELE ODUAH BALQIS OKAFOR EMEKA EDEMI JOY SISANMI AGUH OCHEZE How to cite Use of Social Media in Promoting Stakeholder, Papers

Use of Reversal Technique in Literature

Introduction The Nineteenth Century produced one of the greatest short story writers of all time. Key among these writers was Anton Pavlovich Chekhov and O’Henry whose mastery of the short story has continued to impress many even in the modern society. Although these writers hailed from different places, their stories followed almost the same style of writing.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Use of Reversal Technique in Literature specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On top of using simple and direct titles for their stories, these two writers had a way of changing the tone and expectation of both the readers and the characters while in the middle of their story. Chekhov’s Fat and Thin and O’Henry’s After Twenty Years are classic examples of short stories where the authors have expertly employed the use of the reversal technique. This essay compares and contrasts the use of this technique by the two writers and examines how it affects the ending of the story. Fat and Thin is a story of two old classmates who unexpectedly meet at a railway station. The two, one thin and the other fat used to be good friends while in high school. The writer tells us that the fat man smelt of sherry and fleur d’orange, which was a type of expensive perfume. On the other hand, the thin man smelt of ham and coffee grounds, which could have been termed as the common food for ordinary citizens. Upon meeting, the two friends kiss each other demonstrating how they had missed each other. Immediately after this, the thin man begins bragging of the numerous achievements that he has attained in the course of his life. He begins by telling the fat friend that he is still â€Å"as handsome as I used to be! Just as great a darling and a dandy!† (Chekhov) He then goes ahead to let his friend know that he married a member of the Lutheran Persuasion, which means he has married well accord ing to the Russian standards of that time. As if to assert his self-importance, the thin man reminds the fat one how they had nicknamed him Herostratus after the mad man who had burned the Temple of Artemis in 356 B.C. Without any prompting, the thin man lets the reader and the fat man know that he has now been promoted to the 8th grade, which is a big feat according to him. In his own assessment, he estimates the fat man to have reached the level of a civil councilor, which is a junior position. Upon learning that the fat man is now a privy councilor, the thin man â€Å"turns pale and rigid all at once.† This is to show that he had not expected the fat man to go that high. All at once, he looks at the fat man in reverence and even has to reintroduce his family. In a span of a few seconds, everything changes and even the thin man’s wife seems to have grown a â€Å"longer chin† in his eyes. (Chekhov) This technique is used in O’Henry’s story where t wo old friends are meeting after twenty years of being apart. In the story, the writer tells us that one of the friends, Bob, had gone West for search of a better life while Jimmy opted to remain in New York. As it is, Bob has traveled thousands of miles to ensure that he honors a date that was set twenty years before.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As he waits outside a hardware store, Bob notices a police officer walking down towards him. Without giving him a second glance, he tells the police officer that he is just waiting for an old friend. Unknown to him, the friend that he has been waiting for is the same police officer that he is talking to. Just like the thin man in Chekhov’s story, Bob begins to blab on how he had gone West in search of a better life and how Jimmy could not leave New York since â€Å"he thought it was the only place on earth.† As t he conversation between the two goes on, it emerges that the two could not maintain correspondence since the man from the West was busy hustling around and had no time to reply to his friend’s correspondence. When he is asked if he has done well in the West, the waiting man answers in the affirmative and quickly adds, â€Å"I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a kind of plodder.† (Porter)This is obvious bad mouthing and Jimmy does not take it lightly. By this time, the police officer has recognized the face of his old friend as that of the man being sought by the authorities and his disregard of their friendship makes him decide to turn him in. Unlike the fat man in Chekhov’s story who is untroubled by the thin man’s bragging, Jimmy does not like his friends egotism and this might be another reason why he decides to get him arrested. (Porter) In Chekhov’s story, the fat man is willing to take in the thin mans’ bragging but not his syco phancy. The writer tells us that the fat man was sickened by the â€Å"reverence, sugariness, and mawkish respectfulness† of the thin man. This makes the fat man to make an early exit to escape the drama. The same thing happens when Jimmy becomes tired of listening to his friend’s mockery of him. In both stories, there is a change of tone that gives a different direction to the story. This happens when the thin man notices that his friend has been successful more than him and when Bob comes to the realization that the Patrolman he had been talking to earlier was actually his old friend Jimmy. (Porter) In both stories, it is evident that the affected men were wishing that they had said less when they had the opportunity to speak. In Chekhov’s story, the thin man and his family are overwhelmed upon realizing that the man that they were belittling is actually a very senior man in the civil service. The same thing happens when Bob realizes that he had unknowingly sp oken to his old friend. When Bob is handed the letter from his friend, his hand is steady but â€Å"trembles a little by the time he has finished.† (Porter) This clearly shows that the concerned men wished they had kept quiet when they had the opportunity but now it is hard to do so and they have to live with the consequences. In both instances, the realization of the truth ends the story and leaves the audience guessing what the outcome could have been had the situation not have been reversed. (Chekhov)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Use of Reversal Technique in Literature specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion In the short stories, Fat and Thin and After Twenty Years, Chekhov and O’Brien use the reversal technique to change the tone of the characters and to give a new direction to their stories. In both stories, some characters are busy outlining their success stories but they are forced to abruptly cut down their speech upon learning that the other person is more powerful than they are or is in a place of more influence. This makes them wish that they had kept quiet when they had a chance to do so but by this time, they already have said too much to take it back or simply they are not given a chance to do so. Works Cited Chekhov, Anton. Fat and Thin, 1883. Web. http://lukianpovorotov.narod.ru/Folder_Chekhov/fat_and_thin.htm Porter, William. After Twenty Years, n.d. Web. This essay on Use of Reversal Technique in Literature was written and submitted by user Pamela Conner to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Importance of Government Explained

The Importance of Government Explained John Lennons  Imagine is a beautiful song, but when he tallies up the  things he can imagine us living without - possessions, religion and so on - he never asks us to imagine a world without government. The closest he comes is when he asks us to imagine that there are no countries, but thats not exactly the same thing. This is probably because Lennon was a student of human nature. He knew that government might be one thing we cant do without. Governments are important structures. Lets imagine a world with no government. A World Without Laws   Im typing this on my MacBook right now. Lets imagine that a very large man - well call him Biff - has decided that he doesnt  especially like my writing. He walks in, throws the MacBook to the floor, stomps it into little pieces, and leaves. But before leaving, Biff tells me that if I write anything else he doesnt like, hell do to me what he did to my MacBook.Biff just established something very much like his own government. It has become against Biffs law for me to write things that Biff doesnt like. The penalty is severe and enforcement is fairly certain. Whos going to stop him? Certainly not me. Im smaller and less violent than he is.But Biff isnt really the biggest problem in this no-government world. The real problem is a greedy, heavily armed guy - well call him Frank - who has learned that if he steals money then hires enough muscle with his ill-gotten gains, he can demand goods and services from every business in town. He can take anything he wants and make almost anybo dy do whatever he demands. Theres no authority higher than Frank that can make him stop what hes doing, so this jerk has literally created his own government - what political theorists refer to as a despotism, a government ruled by a despot, which is essentially another word for tyrant. A World of Despotic Governments   Some governments arent much different from the despotism I just described. Kim Jong-il technically inherited his army instead of hiring it in North Korea, but the principle is the same. What Kim Jong-il wants, Kim Jong-il gets. Its the same system Frank used, but on a larger scale. If we dont want Frank or Kim Jong-il in charge, we must all get together and agree to do something to prevent them from taking over. And that agreement itself is a government. We need governments to protect us from other, worse power structures that would otherwise form in our midst and deprive us of our rights. As Thomas Jefferson said  the Declaration of Independence:   We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That ​to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their safety and happiness.

A Complete Fall Color and Autumn Leaf Viewing Guide

A Complete Fall Color and Autumn Leaf Viewing Guide One of natures grandest color displays - the autumn tree leaf color change - will develop as early as mid-September in the northern latitudes of North America. This annual autumn tree leaf change will manifest itself in living fall color through most of October, then wane toward the end of November in the southern part of the United States. You will have at least two months of quality autumn leaf viewing somewhere in North America. The best part about viewing the fall color is, it wont cost one red cent to enjoy - that is if you are lucky enough to live in or near a deciduous forest or have trees in your yard that express fall color. All others better get ready to pay for the experience. City escapees spend over one billion dollars each season taking in what many consider the splashiest show in nature. Autumn leaf viewing is a major vacation attraction - especially throughout New England, the central Northwoods and the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States.  No forestry site would be complete without some mention of the October tree viewing pilgrimage - and how people can better enjoy viewing the autumn foliage. This quick leaf-viewing reference includes some basic tree leaf science and leaf viewing tips, along with enough information to enhance your next autumn leaf viewing trip. Use this guide as a starting point for your next leaf-viewing vacation. Starting Tips for Viewing Leaves Review the most beautiful trees naturally on display during fall leaf viewing season.Review these leaf silhouettes of common tree species.Get a recommended field guide to enhance the trip.Learn how to organize, build and display an autumn leaf collection.Use this field guide and key  to identify an autumn leaf by tree species. The Science of Leaf Change Fall leaf color change starts very subtly late in September and early October in temperate North America. Trees respond to such factors as autumn drying conditions, temperature change, altered sun position, and light. It takes approximately two weeks to begin and complete the fall color change so timing and a little luck are essential for the perfect view. Fall color change and flow take place as three primary waves in mixed hardwood forests. A simple flow and wave model was designed at the University of Georgia to illustrate what leaf experts call the fall color wave.   Autumn Leaf Color Change, The Anatomy of a Fall Leaf The major factor influencing autumn leaf color change is the lack of water. Not a lack of water to the entire tree, but a purposeful weaning of water from each leaf. Every leaf is affected by colder, drier, and breezy conditions and begins a process which results in its own demise and removal from the tree. The ultimate sacrifice of a leaf-bearing tree is the ultimate in visual pleasure for us. The broadleaf tree goes through a process of sealing off the leaves from the stem (called abscission). This halts the flow of all internal water to the leaf and causes a color change. It also seals the spot of leaf attachment and prevents precious moisture from escaping during winter dormancy. Fall Leaf Color Change Follows a Predictable Process of Chemical Leaf Change This lack of water to each leaf causes a very important chemical reaction to stop.  Photosynthesis, or the food-producing combination of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, is eliminated. Chlorophyll must be renewed (by photosynthesis) or be taken in by the tree along with photosynthetic sugar. Thus chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. Chlorophyll is the green you see in the leaf. Once the overwhelming chlorophyll color is removed, true leaf colors will dominate over the receding green pigment. True leaf pigments vary with the species of tree and thus the different characteristic leaf colors. And because true leaf colors are water-soluble, that makes the color disappear very quickly after drying out. Carotene (the pigment found in carrots and corn) causes maples, birches, and poplars to turn yellow. The brilliant reds and oranges in this fall landscape are due to  anthocyanins. Tannins give the oak a distinctively brown color and are the final persistent color most leaves turn before becoming part of the forest floor.   The  Virginia Tech Dendrology  department has two fascinating time-lapse films, one on a leaf turning color and one on a forest turning into autumn gold.   Viewing the Autumn Leaves University of Georgia silvics professor, Dr. Kim Coder, suggests there are ways you can predict how  beautiful a fall leaf color display will be. These simple predictors use known information and apply some common sense to forecast a season with surprising accuracy. By reviewing Dr. Coders key predictors, you will increase your chances of seeing the best leaves at just the right time.   TheFall Color Hotline Probably one of the best resources available online for leaf viewing information is the National Forest Fall Foliage Hotline, though you shouldnt expect to find up to date information until late September of the current leaf season. This federal phone hotline offers you information on viewing leaves in and around the U.S. National Forests and Parks. It is brought to you by the USDA Forest Service and is updated every year to reflect changing conditions and new sites.

How to engage all parents into my classroom Research Paper

How to engage all parents into my classroom - Research Paper Example In a child's education, it is beneficial for all parents to be actively involved. Communicating with Parents Communication is a fundamental aspect when it comes to engaging parents in the classroom. This is because parents need the information concerning their children for suitable advice or action. Therefore, the school should set up appropriate ways that will ensure communication flows from the school staffs to the parents. Establishing various communication channels will ensure clear communication between the teachers and the parents. These channels include; formal and informal conversations through individual meetings, parents-teacher meetings, seminars and school events, agenda books that allow the teachers to write comments about the student’s behavior and academic performance and flyers bearing the teacher’s contact information. Phone calls can be made directly to the parents to inform them of their children’s academic performance and behavior. ... The school should organize these educational opportunities but let the parents manage them. Parents can alternate roles and duties thus attracting more parents to contribute in the classes. This will provide an opportunity for the parents to interact with their children and the school staffs thus helping them engage in constructive activities. The classes can be organized in collaboration with relevant community organizations for example, if the topic is on health, community health organizations can be mobilized to offer insight (CDC, 2012). Parents can be involved in workshops and seminars on similar topics. Decision-making is a crucial role in a school, therefore, involving parents in it shows that the school’s leadership wants to invest in the parents. The parents see it as a partnership urging them to encourage their children and participate more in their schoolwork. Therefore, parents will be actively involved in the school’s activities after finding out that they are the decision makers (School Learning Support Program, 2010). Offering Volunteer Opportunities The school should organize volunteer activities and invite parents to participate in them by providing suitable positions. These activities assist in fostering free communication and interaction between the parents, the children and the school staff. Through these fun activities, parents can casually engage the teachers in conversations that would seem inappropriate for formal events. Some of the activities include; weekend games, environmental walks or tree planting events, feeding programs for the disabled or the homeless, after-school activities like aerobics, karate and cheerleading. Activities that can help enhance the skills of the students can also be incorporated for

Comparative investigation of seismic hazards and approaches to Essay

Comparative investigation of seismic hazards and approaches to mitigation - Essay Example Comparative investigation of seismic hazards and approaches to mitigation The occurrence of earthquake in future is expected. The Asian countries are one of the most earthquake-prone nations in the world. To make sure that the infrastructure of the country and other losses caused by the natural catastrophe is minimized certain mitigation approaches are taken up by the countries. The devastating nature of the earthquake has made many countries carry on extensive research and development programs like hazard assessment and disaster response program. Japan- the seismic hazards and its mitigation approach The Seismologists in Japan are of the opinion that Japan is yet to face a large-scale devastating earthquake, which might strike the region of Kanto, Tokai and Nankai. Intensive efforts are being taken by the country to mitigate the disasters and minimize the economic impact of the earthquakes (Office of technology Assessment Washington Dc, 149). This has resulted into extensive research and development of disaster related programs to combat the earthquake. J apan is an â€Å"archipelago† in the Pacific, which is separated by the Sea of Japan from the east coast of Asia. The four main island of the nation are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. The nation is one of the most crowded and densely populated regions in the world. About 125 million people live in the cities along the coast. The closest neighbors of the nation are Korea, Russia and China. Japan is situated at a region where several continental plates like the Eurasian, the Philippine Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the North American plates converge- an important reason that the country faces frequent earthquakes and volcanoes. The largest earthquakes have occurred in the Philippine Sea and Pacific plates. Japan experienced the most devastating earthquake in the year 1923 on September 1st – the Great Kanto Earthquake. In the span of a minute 1 lakh people were dead and over 3 lakhs buildings were destroyed. The forces were so great that it lifted the southern bay as high as upto 2 m (6.6 ft) and also raised the distant land of Tokyo to 10 cm (4 in) and experienced a horizontal movement of 20cm (8in). The giant waves- tsunami that was generated by the tremor of the earthquake washed away ships inland and it swept people and houses out of the sea. The geographical situation of the country makes it earthquake prone- in one year it witnessed as many as 5000 earthquakes. After the devastating earthquake of 1923, the Japanese government imposed seismic codes based on the performance of certain buildings in Tokyo during that time. And it was after that there came in many advances in the earthquake engineering research, seismic codes and the construction practices of the city. The Japanese designing codes were a two-stage design process that was taken up. The first phase includes an analysis approach and the second phase involved an explicit assessment of the buildings, whether they will be able to withstand the severe ground motions. The construction companies in Japan spend a considerable amount on the research and development work annually including â€Å"testing of scaled building models in large in- house laboratories and research into passive and active control technologies† (Office of Technology Assessment Washington Dc, 149). The countermeasures taken up by the country included three important aspects- the making of the city more disaster resistant, strengthening the disaster prevention system of the city like tsunami warning system and raising awareness and

Censorship of the Internet and Mass Media

Censorship of the Internet and Mass Media The conversation regarding censorship amongst states, meaning nations or countries in this context, has been a highly contested and conflicted debate for over a century.   According to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, â€Å"censorship is suppression of speech, public communication, or other information, on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive,  politically incorrect  or inconvenient as determined by government authorities or by community consensus† (Merriam-Webster). Nearly all states, even those that are considered to be extremely free states, practice numerous forms of both direct and indirect censorship. Censorship is usually rationalized to protect from dangerous, obscene, and/or negative information from being released and exposed to certain audiences or the general public. It is important to be noted that self-censorship, where one or more individuals censor their own personal discourses and environments, is not the type of ce nsorship that pertains to this essay as it will focus on official acts of censorship. In her book, Censorship In America, historian Mary E. Hull defines official acts of censorship as official actions by a government or governing body that restrict access to certain information to their audience (Hull, 1).   For the purposes of this essay, the United States of America will be the main focus when discussing censorship and its effects and implications. If given the absolute power and ability, the censorship of the internet and mass media in America could produce detrimental effects amongst nearly all aspects of society. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that free, open, public, and uncensored access to the internet and medias across the United States of America must remain and be protected. Technology and increased globalization have interconnected states and their citizens more than ever which has led to the creation of the â€Å"global citizen†. Because of this, some governments have highly censored media within their states as freedom of speech and access to different thoughts and ideologies poses high risks. Across the globe, numerous non-governmental organizations research and work to determine the amount and ways-in-which information is censored in different states. Reporters Without Borders (RWB), a United Nations consultant, studies the freedom of expression and information in states and publishes their findings in the annual World Press Freedom Index. The World Press Freedom Index consults and surveys expert lawyers, sociologists, media professionals, and journalists on pluralism, media independence, environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, infrastructure, and abuses within their country. The 2018 report that surveyed one hundred and eighty states concluded that Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands are the most free and/or least censored states while Syria, Eritrea, and North Korea are currently the most censored and least free states (RWB, 2018). For reference, Canada is the eighteenth most free state, the United Kingdom is the fortieth most free, and the United States falls as the forty-fifth most free state. The United States fell two places from 2017 to 2018 which can be attributed to the actions of President Donald J. Trump and his administration. Trump notoriously declared the press an â€Å"enemy of the American people†, which has triggered attacks against journalists and their credibility using the fallacious and often erroneous term â€Å"fake news† (RWB, 2018). Reports and research like this help truthfully determine the freedom of speech, press, and information across the globe from a nonbiased perspective.  ­ Censorship in The United States of America Censorship in the United State of America is a highly controversial topic given how prominent and institutional the liberty of freedom of speech and the press is engrained into legislature and society. The First Amendment to The Constitution states, â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.† (U.S. Const. amend. I). The freedom of speech in America is not absolute as it does not protect hate speech or obscenity, meaning that strongly offensive speech or speech that promotes hateful acts based on bias can legally be censored as they are not protected forms of speech (Hull, 3). The First Amendment can be attributed as the foundation for the popular American motto and saying, â€Å"land of the free†. This nationalistic saying has permeated American society as many Americans pride themselves on the thought of America being thee land of freedom and justice despite numerous ranking and studies pointing otherwise (RWB, 2018). Since the creation and implementation of the First Amendment, numerous laws and rulings have been instituted and repealed in order to restrict the freedom of speech and press. Notably, the Sedition and Espionage Acts, imposed under President Wilson in 1917, declared it illegal and treasonous for citizens to speak against the United States government, military, and flag. This act attempted to bend the First Amendment, however, it was repealed in 1919 as it clearly violated the freedom of speech and press clause. In 1971, The Pentagon Papers, officially titled  Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force, were classified United States of America military and government documents that were leaked. The Pentagon Papers detailed the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War from 1945-1967 (Hull, 27). These documents revealed that the United States had gone against legislation and made official decisions without the aid or input from Congress, which is legally required. They were leaked, according to Hull, because â€Å"critics charged that the government resorted to excessive classification of documents in order to conceal activity from the public, whereas the government maintained that it was acting in the interests of national security† (Hull, 29). This leak was taken to the Supreme Court of the United States and was ruled legal as the Supreme Court determined that the general public has the right to these documents despite the government’s attempt to censor the press. Although the First Amendment has been tested numerous times, it stands generally true that individuals in the United States of America are entitled to freedom of speech and press so long as it does not fuel the occurrence of legitimate crimes. Internet Censorship in the United States Within the past few decades, the rules and guidelines set by the First Amendment have made the waters murkier than ever when discussing censorship and the media.   The internet has made news and media more accessible than ever which enhances the effects, debatably both positive and negative, censorship can have. Given the capitalistic nature of the internet, major new sources occupy a massive section of the internet and tend to circulate only chosen specific media and news stories that fit their agenda, this is known as corporate censorship.  ­Project Censored, a news source that publishes important news and media that was not reported by the mainstream mass media, works to eliminate corporate censorship as they see it as a blockade towards democracy and free press. (Jensen, 2018). Although corporate censorship is highly problematic, it is protected by the First Amendment as companies and individuals have the right to broadcast what they see as fit. The Internet Must Remain Free from Censorship Internet Censors and Blockers In the United States, the First Amendment protects against and prohibits majority of internet censorship involvement from the federal, state, and local governments. However, private companies have more leeway in their actions to censor content, particularly in regards to public spaces. There tends to be a steep crossover between these private companies and the state as the government or government officials often support and fund companies whose interest align with theirs. This is a classic incident of corruption with the government finding a loophole to overstep their rightful bounds. Internet censorship is typically performed by content blockers and removers that are created, installed, and programmed to block all content deemed obscene or unfitting. The major problem of these programs is determining what content is and is not okay†¦a process that can be easily corrupted. In the words of Mary E. Hull, â€Å"What is indecent in one persons mind may be decent in anothers; thus, regardless of the censors motive, the result of censoring is the denial of anothers freedom to choose.† (Hull, 2). This exact problem was exacerbated in 1997 in a Virginia library that had installed a blocking program on its public computers. The intention of the program was to block and censor sexually explicit content from minors, which is perfectly legal and the decision was supported by the National Law Center for Children and Families (Hull, 35). However, this program, advertently or not, also blocked the American Association of University Women website and an AIDS website which is extremely problematic because this blocker is now restricting access and information from the public. The center of this controversy is not the use of a blocker, as individuals should have the right to knowingly censor content in private, but the fact that a publically funded device was censoring appropriate content. Given this incident occurred in 1997, it is unlikely that the censoring of those two specific websites was directly intentional, however, it remains unclear as numerous biases could lead a company to explicitly censor more than originally intended.   This incident, albeit small, shows how detrimental censorship of the internet can be and why the internet needs to remain publically uncensored.  Ã‚   It is extremely important that the First Amendment be rigorously upheld in the United States of America as it is the major piece of legislation that prohibits extreme censorship. For this reason, totalitarian control of the internet has not been observed in the United States but other countries can be used as examples of this. The People’s Republic of China is notorious for their strict censorship of the internet, especially social media, and suppression of news and information. According to the 2018 World Press Freedom Index, China is the one hundred and seventy-sixth (fourth worst) least free states as President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party implement extreme censorship and surveillance on the citizens (RWB, 2018). China has been very innovative to censor the internet by creating different apps and networking sites that resemble sites like Facebook and Twitter (Walker & Orttung, 77). China’s censored version of Twitter, called Sina Weibo, has a massive member base with over six hundred million users.   Key to their censorship is strict criminal punishments for publicizing thoughts, ideologies, and ideas that go against China and the Communist Party (Walker & Orttung, 78). China also restricts nearly all forms of media by requiring newspapers to register with the government and all television is broadcasted by government-run China Central Television. The extreme censorship in China has taken the voices away from the people and subjected them to only the thoughts and rhetoric provided by the government. This is extremely dangerous as nearly all forms of dissidence, personal expression, thought exploration, education, and legitimate news are deprived from the people so that they unintentionally surrender themselves to the country. In order for democracy and freedom to remain in the United States, it is absolutely essential that the internet and social media remain free from government interaction. The Importance of Social Media The growing accessibility and prevalence of the internet in daily lives has allowed for social medias to play pivotal roles in individuals’ personal lives, politics, and society as a whole. Both Facebook and Twitter have become major sources of news, information, and misinformation in America. Both of these sites have become hubs for people to share their personal opinions in reaction to the news, especially politics. Politics in America has become more polarized than ever which has increased greatly increased tensions and amplified party affiliations from the election of Barack H. Obama in 2008 to the election of Donald J. Trump in 2016. Misinformation, especially political misinformation, has become increasingly more prevalent and believed through platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Misinformation can be partially attributed to motivated reasoning, the illusion of objectivity, and partisan-driven motivated reasoning as they explain why voters cling to certain ideologies, misperceptions, and corrections (Thorson, 463; Berinsky, 7; Nyhan & Reifler). In short, motivated reasoning is a phenomenon where one will support a desired conclusion if they can rationalize it (Kunda, 482-483). A study researching the presence and diffusions on Twitter during the 2012 election showed that rumors were shared by polarized accounts that created â€Å"‘echo chambers’ defined by political homophily that were based on ideological attitudes not truth and merit† (Shin, Jian, Driscoll, & Bar, 1227). Social media sites harbor misinformation because they are highly polarized, therefore misinformation is more likely to become believed via motivated reasoning if it aligns with one’s belief system or party alliance. An extremely detrimental piece of misinformation began in 1988 when Andrew Wakefield published a report that incorrectly liked the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine to autism. This link has been extensively discredited yet still persists and has caused numerous recent outbreaks of measles. In a study conducted by Mark R. Joslyn and Steven M. Sylvester, they found the individuals’ belief in this myth became politicized and lead to faulty governance and policies that allowed outbreaks to occur (Joslyn & Sylvester, 17). Although this report was false, it is important for it to be noted that social media has enough power to influence politics and government. Social media also becomes an accessible intermediate that exposes its users to current news, political beliefs, and ideologies. Numerous studies show that social media becomes an environment where individuals can find like-minded individuals and share their thoughts, however, those same factors also nourish misinformation.   As previously mentioned, Donald J. Trump coined the term â€Å"fake news† when referring to news that is not favorable toward him or his administration, regardless if the news is actually true or false. This term is extremely problematic because it discounts journalists providing truthful information while diminishing that problem that legitimately false news poses. False news tends to spread faster and quicker, however, eventually, it tends to reach a much smaller audience. In 2016, a tenth of conservative Republicans accounted for consuming sixty-five percent of fake news (Carey, 2018). In order to tackle this problem, Facebook has embedded a fact-checking service into flagged articles so the consumer knows it is misinformation before they choose to share it (Hunt). Fake news and â€Å"fake news† are both very real problems as legitimate journalism is of value and should be protected. Censorship is a dangerous tool that should be used in a very selective manner as it can deprive individuals of necessary information. In the United States of America, it is incredibly important that the First Amendment is upheld as it provides all citizens with a voice and platform to both share and receive thoughts, information, news, and ideologies. Free speech and free press absolutely has its downsides as dangerous misinformation can easily be shared and believed but the benefits of freedom of speech and press are so much greater. Protection of freedom of the internet is essential in order for the United States to remain a democratic, liberated, and just nation. References Berinsky, A. J. (2015). Rumors and Health Care Reform: Experiments in Political Misinformation. British Journal of Political Science,47(02), 241-262. doi:10.1017/s0007123415000186 Censorship [Def. 1]. (2018, April 25). In The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved April 29, 2018, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censorship 2018 World Press Freedom Index(Rep.). (2018, April 25). Retrieved May 3, 2018, from Reporters Without Borders: For Freedom Information website: https://rsf.org/en/ranking/2018 Hull, M. (1999). Censorship in America : A Reference Handbook. Retrieved May 1, 2018, from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/[emailprotected]essionmgr120&vid=0&format=EB&lpid=lp_I&rid=0 Jensen, C. (n.d.). Censored News Stories. Retrieved May 3, 2018, from http://projectcensored.org/about-us/ Joslyn, M. R., & Sylvester, S. M. (2017). The Determinants and Consequences of Accurate Beliefs About Childhood Vaccinations. American Politics Research. doi:10.1177/153267317745342 Kunda, Z. (1990). The case for motivated reasoning. Psychological Bulletin,108(3), 480-498. doi:10.1037//0033-2909.108.3.480 Nyhan, B., & Reifler, J. (November 30, 2016). Do People Actually Learn From Fact-Checking?Evidence from a longitudinal study during the 2014 campaign. University of Exeter. Retrieved April 17, 2018. Shin, J., Jian, L., Driscoll, K., & Bar, F. (2016). Political rumoring on Twitter during the 2012 US presidential election: Rumor diffusion and correction. New Media & Society,19(8), 1214-1235. doi:10.1177/1461444816634054 Thorson, E. (2015). Belief Echoes: The Persistent Effects of Corrected Misinformation. Political Communication,33(3), 460-480. doi:10.1080/10584609.2015.1102187 United States Constitution,  § Amendment I (1787). Walker, C., & Orttung, R. W. (2014). Breaking the News: The Role of State-Run Media. Journal of Democracy,25(1), 71-85. doi:10.1353/jod.2014.0015

Hamlet †Act 3 Scene 2 Essay

In this scene, staged in the Great Hall of Elsinore, Hamlet’s cunning plan to determine his uncle’s guilt comes together. Hiring players to act out a play based on his father’s death (as his father’s ghost described it), he awaits Claudius’ reaction. The whole point of this is Hamlet putting to rest his insecurity over the matter, once he discovers for certain Claudius did murder his father and was the snake in the orchard, only then can Hamlet feel at rest and kill him. This scene is one of the many examples throughout the play which demonstrates one of many weaknesses in Hamlet’s personality, in which he comes across as immensely pensive and unsure about nearly everything. The significance of the scene is evident in that both Hamlet and Claudius plotting each others death begins here. For Hamlet as he is now finally at ease with what his father’s ghost told him earlier in the play, thus he can now kill his uncle without any remorse and for Claudius as he is now alarmed to the fact Hamlet is aware of his crime. Although this scene shows a negative side to Hamlet, we also get a glimpse of Hamlet as an intellectual. He takes role as an authority on acting, advising that the actors should use moderation and not to excess (even though this is a contradiction in sense – as his relentless verbal assault to Ophelia earlier in the play suggests). There is reason to believe that it is in fact Shakespeare himself shining through Hamlet in this scene, commenting on acting flaws such as ‘overacting’, corpsing (dramatic term for inadvertently laughing whilst in character) and the unpredictability of an audience. Also worth mentioning here is the player’s speech. Throughout the play, the actors speak in rhyme depending on the character they take the role as. Giving an indication to the audience of their class, as prose is an indication of lower social status. A character such as a king or queen however, use blank verse in this sense. Hamlet’s antic disposition is evident throughout the play and it is used to full effect in this scene. After briefing the players on their task for the stage, Claudius, Gertrude, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius and his daughter Ophelia enter the Great Hall. What follows is what I’d interpret as an ‘amusing’ parody where Hamlet throws verbal daggers at everyone in range, the aim of this is to once again remind the group that he is insane, but also reveals some true feelings towards certain individuals. He begins by intentionally misunderstanding Claudius’ greeting and states that his earlier promise of Hamlet succeeding him is ’empty air’ or untrue. Gertrude’s invitation to Hamlet for him to sit with her is also answered with an insult (possibly a misleading hint to Hamlet’s Oedipus complex), this time remarking that his mother’s appearance is appalling or as he put it; â€Å"Here’s metal more attractive.†Polonius is next and branded â€Å"Brutus† and a fool, cleverly Hamlet achieves this using puns of â€Å"brute† and â€Å"calf†. Ophelia, however comes off worst for wear in my opinion. Hamlet’s verbal treatment of his love interest is cruel and filled with crude jokes with the main theme of sex. The references to Ophelia’s ‘nothing’ (her genitalia) and ‘country matters’ (sexual intercourse) is without a shadow of a doubt, arguably the funniest part of the play, although Shakespeare’s obsession with these jokes are evident throughout the whole play. Horatio on the other hand, is trusted by Hamlet, not only has he confided in Horatio about the ghost’s words and his plan to see if Claudius reveals his guilt, but the usually ‘insecure’ Prince has actually included his best friend in the scheme. This shows Hamlet’s respect and trust for his friend is deep, a point I picked up whilst reading the play. This scene with Hamlet’s antic disposition in full view is not only amusing as mentioned, but also dramatic. It’s this unstable and sometimes unpredictable nature of Hamlet which makes him such an interesting character and one that has been looked upon as one of Shakespeare’s greatest achievements, I agree. His antic disposition is clearly visible as he switches tones throughout the conversation with his uncle, mother and the ‘fair Ophelia’. One minute calm and collected towards Polonius showing interest in his acting past, the next at the throat of his uncle’s loyal terrier – branding him a fool. If I was in charge of staging this scene, I wouldn’t change many of the features used in the awesome film version of the play (‘Hamlet’ – Franco Zeffirelli 1991), with Mel Gibson spectacularly playing the part of Hamlet. In this version, Hamlet is portrayed in this scene as ‘on edge’ and manic, Claudius on the other hand plays laid back and immune to Hamlet’s tongue and Glenn Close as Gertrude comes across not only naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve, but confused by Hamlet’s behaviour. The significance of positioning the characters in this scene contributes a great deal to how it is interpreted, in my opinion putting Claudius at the forefront would be a good start and positioning Gertrude on the arm of her husband with directly Hamlet in front of them both would also make sense. Polonius and Ophelia would also be positioned together, although I’m unsure of having their arms linked. Hamlet’s ‘friends’ from university, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern could be placed behind these two pairings, still in view but not as much so as the King, Queen, their adviser and his ‘fair’ daughter. This would be relevant as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are not as directly involved in the scene as the others. A problem encountered here could be Rosencrantz’s part in the scene, the line; â€Å"Ay my lord, they stay upon your patience.† This could be approached by having Rosencrantz stepping forward in order to say his line. Although my suggestions have been made, I find Zeffirelli’s handling of the scene to be admirable and possibly flawless in the sense of interpreting the text into drama. In conclusion, this scene is extremely significant to the play as a whole. As mentioned, it begins the plotting of both Claudius and Hamlet to kill one another, but it also gives yet more depth and structure to Hamlet’s character. Emphasizing his antic disposition, feelings towards other characters in the play and exposes both Hamlet’s qualities and flaws in his personality. This scene is a favourite of mine, falling short only to Hamlet’s soliloquy (â€Å"To be or not to be†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) and his somewhat upsetting reunion with his childhood friend and royal jester, Yorick.