Prior Knowledge Deficit Essay Example for Free

Prior Knowledge Deficit Essay Prior knowledge comes from visual experiences, seeing those mental pictures of a subject. Prior knowledge comes before understanding what readers read, or understanding the subject. A deficit in prior knowledge inhibits student learning by taking away their educational experiences and replacing them with standardized testing. To begin with, prior knowledge plays an important role in enabling students to learn to read, and to read to learn. First, learning to read starts in kindergarten and continues through third grade, where teachers use books called primers. Primers teach students how to read because they tell stories about subjects that students already have visual experience with, such as family, friends, food, pets, or games. Since students know the basic information about such subjects, when they are being taught how to read, they understand the primers. Finally, when students enter fourth grade, they begin reading textbooks to learn about science and social studies. These students developed prior knowledge of science and social studies from kindergarten through third grade, when they attended field trips to zoos and museums, watched educational films, and completed science projects. If they learned this basic information about the natural world of science, and about the human world of social studies, students are able to understand their textbooks. As a result, they can add new knowledge to further their education. Additionally, many students struggle with the prior knowledge deficit because of standardized testing. First of all, standardized testing takes time away from educational experience by using all the time and money on the tests. Teachers use the time on teaching students how to become test takers, instead of educating them in different experiences of the world. In the past, schools would take students on field trips to teach them mostly about science, and social studies. However, such field trips cost a lot of money; money that is currently being used on standardized tests. On one hand, traditional education consisted of students reading and writing to understand and explain the knowledge of the world. On the other hand, now day’s students are test takers, and they use their reading and writing skills for the test, just like knowledge is used to memorize all the information without understanding it. Teachers need to focus on this method because they are evaluated by the student s test scores. To summarize, prior knowledge deficit hinders students learning by taking away their educational experiences and focusing their time on standardized testing. A solution to the prior knowledge deficit is for teachers to dedicate more time on teaching students about subjects that will be used later on in further education, rather than teaching students how to become test takers.

An Improvement Over Classical Realism Politics Essay

An Improvement Over Classical Realism Politics Essay The neorealist theory of international relations has dominated world politics in the past century. It depicts an anarchic world where states are compelled to act in a certain manner because they are part of an anarchic international system. Although neorealism provides an appealing exposà © for the study of international relations and perceives itself to be an improvement over classical realism, it raises more questions than the answers it provides as I will show throughout this essay. Classical Realists believe that states are the main actors in international relations and they are power maximizers. As Hans Morgenthau, explains in Politics Among Nations, in a world where anarchy is the abiding principle, states will struggle for power because they are managed by policy makers and such is the nature of men. Other institutions and organizations are considered to play a small role but only within a state centric framework. States define international order as anarchic because there is no central government to quell mens search for power and their thirst to dominate others. In this eternal struggle peace is achieved through the balance of power, where states try to prevent one state from dominating all the others.  [1]   During the Cold War a new variant of Morgenthaus theory appeared under the name of neorealism. The theoretical approach to international politics proposed by Waltz stresses the importance of structure and draws its arguments by applying an economic perspective to international relations. An approach Waltz claims to be more scientific than the one of Morgenthau and classical realism,which he considers to be reductionist. He argues so because it focuses on the subjective decisions of policy makers, and their search for power, as key in shaping the international system. A perspective that excludes the possibility of a structural analysis where the system is perceived to be independent and therefore plays an active role in determining state behaviour.  [2]   In a world still perceived to be anarchic, Waltz separates the internal circumstances of states from the external ones and claims that the international system is autonomous and acts as a whole. International order is shaped by a global structure, which is created by the interaction of states and then forces them into a certain modus operandi.  [3]  Whereas in Morgenthau the analysis of world politics focused on his negative view of human nature that compelled statesmen in an eternal search for power  [4]  , Waltz emphasizes the importance of the system in directing their actions. The introduction of the third image systemic analysis as the most important perspective to look at international politics is defined by three ordering principles: anarchy, the function of units and the distribution of capabilities.  [5]  Anarchy for neorealists is slightly different than for classical realists. As Shimko notes it, if for Morgenthau anarchy was important but merely circumstantial, for Waltz it is one of the defining elements of the system and acts as a causal force.  [6]  The concept of anarchy also differs in the sense that classical realists believe states search for power and most neorealists tend to advocate that states fight to survive. The outcome in both cases is an anarchic world but their origin is fundamentally different. The units that compose this anarchic system are deemed to be similar a perform similar actions in the international sphere and internal politics have no place in differentiating states. Although states perform the same functions they are distinguished from each other by their capabilities. The distribution of capabilities, seen mainly as military power, has the capacity to change the systemic order. As states military power changes so does the international system.  [7]   The ideas put forward by neorealists seem to provide an edge over classical realism, not only in the sense that they accommodate a more full fledged theory that, as Waltz points out, was not possible for classical realism;  [8]  but also because there is an evolution from the apparent subjective, intuitive and traditional views of Morgenthau to a more objective and scientific theorisation put forward by Waltz  [9]   Thus far it seems that neorealism was able to provide an answer to the flawed reasoning of classical realists but, a more thorough analysis shows something different. One of the key points where this stands out is in the concept of power. For Morgenthau statesmen act in terms of interest defined as power  [10]  . This idea of politics should not be seen as a limited short-term objective for states and policy makers but, as Rosenberg explains, that the actions and interactions of states need to be perceived as a response to a certain balance in the distribution of power.  [11]  As we have also seen, under Morgenthaus perspective, states strive for power a condition which, inevitably, generates a competition environment between the multiple actors. The only way to maintain international order in such an environment is through a balance of power where no one state or coalition is in position to dominate all the others.  [12]  However, this assumption implies, as Rosenberg ar gues, that we look at the international scene as nothing more than a collectivity of states and that the internal political sphere produces no effects in how states interact with each other. It is at this point that Morgenthaus argument becomes circular and loses some of its strength. If world politics deals only with security issues and power is seen only in terms of military capacity, the idea of politics as interest defined as power becomes undeniable.  [13]   Neorealism tries to answer this problematic with the introduction of the international system as the prime director of state behaviour. However, the mechanical structure introduced by Waltz only sees power as military capacity and fails to account for transnational power: the system continues to be a mere group of interacting states. Since for neorealists international politics only has to deal security issues, the argument becomes circular again in a sense that Waltzs structure is only applicable to a system that only regards power as military.  [14]   Despite the many proposed advances on classical realism, Neorealism also provides few changes as far as the concept of anarchy is concerned. It is true that it assumes a conducive role, in the international system, instead of a permissive one but no greater development is introduced in this area. Waltz sees the concept of anarchy in the international realm as the lack of a central power that can exercise force, the same way states exercise it inside their own internal sphere, which leads to a competitive environment among equal sovereign actors.  [15]  The problem with Waltzs concept of anarchy, as Milner argues, is that it collides with one of the ordering principles of his theory for the international system: the idea that a states capabilities are a differentiating factor.  [16]  If states have different capacities they do not compete on equal grounds and do not assume the same posture towards each other. Waltzs third ordering principle leads us to conclude that states per form different functions and that there is a separation between small powers and great powers, with the latter assuming a more important role. These differences suggest that the world cannot be seen as a perfect market where there is a competition between similar players but more like a monopolistic or oligopolistic one, where one or more units have risen above the rest.  [17]  As Milner concludes, these types of markets are characterized by instability, balance between the dominant actors and strategic interdependence, which seem to function more like the international system than perfect markets.  [18]  This different perspective provides a less narrow view of the international system and one that can provide additional areas of investigation. The idea of strategic interdependence suggests a more intricate network of communication between actors and is invariably dependent on norms and practices that need to be established not only in the international sphere but also at a national level. The excessive importance given to the ambiguous concept of anarchy leads neorealists to the radical separation between domestic and international politics  [19]  , which can be dangerous in such a state-centric theoretical approach to international relations. The idea of the state as an uncontested actor in international politics is one other that stands out in neorealist thought. Theory is centred on the state and it offers no reasoning for its formation. As Ashley puts it, for neorealists: The state must be treated as an unproblematic unity: an entity whose existence, boundaries, identifying structures, constituencies, legitimations, interests, and capacities to make self-regarding decisions can be treated as given, independent of transnational class and human interests, and undisputed (except perhaps by other states).  [20]   In this paradigm, states simply exist in the world of international relations, with no theoretical explanation for how or why they are formed; or why they are the sole actors of the international system. An assumption that for neorealists requires no defence but that is problematic because it draws away from their proposed objectivity. Despite criticising classical realisms traditional and conservative approach, neorealists seem not to mind the metaphysical commitment they make to the state-as-actor assumption that exempts it from scientific criticism  [21]   If in classical realism the notion of the state as the main actor in world politics was already problematic because it excludes the possibility of domestic and transnational institutions taking on a role in international relations (one need only to look at the September 11 attacks in the USA and the Arab Spring in the Middle East to recognize their importance) seen through the scope of neorealism the problematic extends even further. According to classical realism, raison detat is the guiding principle for state behaviour and the interests of statesmen, in international relations, are those that maximize the states power and influence, in order to preserve its health and strength  [22]  . Statesmen are encouraged to pursue their interest with respect towards the international order and with ethics and morals always under consideration. The reasoning of Meneicke suggests that the preservation of the state and its political structure ergo its identity play a role in defining it s behaviour, even if it is a slight one. In neorealism, the identity of the state is not taken into account in the proposed structuralist analysis. As Ruggie mentions, change at a unit level is unaccounted for.  [23]  Differentiation between states is only understood in relative terms states capabilities are only seen in relation to those of other states and, as we have seen before, power is measured in military capacity. Ashley picks up on Ruggies work and explains that his argument is not recognized by neorealists because the identity of the state is taken for granted and seen as unproblematic.  [24]  As Ruggie concludes: only structural change can produce systemic change  [25]  . In sum, even though units define the system, only an alteration in their relative capabilities can generate a change in the reigning structure. Internal change continues to play no role in this analysis. The state-as-actor problematic was one that was most emphasized with the failure of neorealism to predict and explain the end of the Cold War, one of the most important events in world politics of the last century. The work of Friedrich Kratochwil is very helpful in understanding this failure as he points to three different areas where neorealism was embarrassed, mainly due to its incapacity to account for changes within the state, other than those that concern military capabilities.  [26]  If we look at the Soviet Unions military capacity before, during and one year after the events of the perestroika and the glasnost, we find that there was no decrease in the USSRs capabilities that could account for such a systemic change in the international realm as advocated by the structural analysis of neorealism. Defence spending did not increase in the 1980s and even if we accept the argument of economic pressure on the Soviet Union, there is no explanation in Waltzs theory for why and when such transformation occurred.  [27]  The dissolution of the Soviet Union, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany had all derived from a turning point in the Kremlins domestic politics, with change coming from inside the USSR rather than as the outcome of structural pressures on the country, as neorealists would suggest.  [28]  The third and last argument made by Kratochwil is that realist US foreign policy makers had already predicted that a change in the international system, that was in place during the Cold War, would only occur through domestic change.  [29]  Although neorealism portrayed itself as as more scientific perspective of international relations it failed where practice and experience were successful. The issue is also referred to by Ashley when he argues that neorealism denies the importance of practice, adding that people are reduced to some idealized homo oeconomicus, able only to carry out, but never to reflect critically on, the limited rational logic that the system demands of them.  [30]  Kratochwil argues that the events that took place in 1989/1990 are better explained by a legitimization crisis communism that made the Soviet Union look at Western Europe success in maintaining peace. The fall of the Berlin Wall and consequent reunification of Germany can, therefore, be perceived as a move that the USSR saw would serve its own security interests better than a Germany wandering between East and West.  [31]  Although these events cannot be comprehended through the systemic scope of neorealism, the interest approach of classical realists could have been able to predict such a move. I conclude that the neorealist systemic approach to international relations does indeed provide an additional analytical edge over classical realism in the sense that it introduces the systemic influence on state actors. However it focuses too much of its attention on the third image and disregards the actions of states and statesmen. Although classical realism cannot be seen as a credible theoretical alternative to neorealism because of the many flaws it contains, it does provide some insight in the first and second image analysis. As I have also demonstrated, neorealism chose not answer some of the more problematic issues in realist thought, such as the concepts of power and anarchy, and is still unable to provide a theoretical explanation for the state as the main actor approach. It is a small improvement over classical realism but one that needs further development in order not to repeat failures such as the incapacity to predict or explain the end of the Cold War.

The Handmaids Tale And The Clockwork Orange

The Handmaids Tale And The Clockwork Orange The manipulation of language in the The Handmaids Tale is seen as chilling, satirical and suspenseful. This dystopian fiction portrays both the cultural construction of female identity and with different historical interpretations in which is in relation to. The theme of objectification of women seems prominent in the society of Gilead. With the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and deaths becoming more prominent, the government took action. They objectified women by exploiting them and using them to create more children in the world by using them for sexual breeding. Ruth Cosstick reviews the book The Handmaids Tale and quoted the misuse of the environmental and human resources at the disposal of todays culture. This shows that Ruth Cosstick thought the novel was the misuse of women in society and should be a direct warning to the future of women. The use of language and the perception of this let the audience see how Offred lost her birth name and everything in life and how s he succumbs, as she is considered as property. The strengths of these interpretations are that we are able to see the severity of what is happening to Offred and we can clearly see the effect that they have on her and as the reader we can relate or feel the emotions of her character. The weaknesses of these interpretations are that not all of them are clear in perceiving the message, as Atwood would have preferred. These are effective in making more awareness. The manipulative language has been carefully selected to represent women and who they are. It has been cultivated around symbolism such as the colours. The most prominent of colours is red in which are the gowns used by the Handmaids to define that they are part of that culture and is worn daily. The use of red is to portray the blood of birth, which in contrast for Atwood, is a positive correlation with the women of the society in the futuristic totalitarian theocracy. The colour can also be seen as a negative correlation to the women and show more emotion of how they are feeling, this could portray sadness, unhappiness, depression and anger for women who are seen as the victim. This could be seen as a ploy for wanting some normality in her life, Im ravenous for news, any kind of news; even if its false news †¦ this quotation conveys her desperation for something new to happen and to know more. She is ravenous, in this quote, because she has got to hear news and due to her bein g so isolated, she is unable to hear much or have much of a life outside of being a handmaid. This also portrays a sense of desperation and entrapment in this life that she has and theyre maybe no going back. Many of the accounts through the novel are verbalized from the past and present. It is told as if you are inside her head and see everything from a first person point of view. Its a reconstruction, in my head †¦ although we see the reconstruction of her memories, we see to what extend it has caused. Although she is the narrator of the novel, she has no sense of individuality as she was stripped of her identity. This is done through the objectification of women in the 1960s in which the inspiration came from. Also the fact that women were the inferior ones and men took advantage of women as they had the social and political power of women. This is effective because we are then able to see the different views that Atwood was trying to portray and give meanings which are shaped around the language in which Atwood chose. The manipulation of language portrays this with her name Offred meaning un-women showing how she, herself, lost all sense of personality as if it was taken away fro m her. Due to the social order of women being undermined by males, she is seen as property but has one purpose. We see that she The accepted response is given but we can see that Atwood as given a short sentence showing dominance over her and being accepted as being a victim. The use of the game scrabble and her vocabulary becomes prominent in her using this to try and cover up her pain and anger towards what she has been subjected to. We see the attempt of her trying to change the tone by adding in little hints such as Flowers which can be seen as an attempt by Plath to see that she maybe struggling but is trying to get through it as best as she can. Scrabble can also be seen as a very intellectual game with a lot of use of the brain, and the fact that Offred is holding all these feelings back and using Scrabble to distract her from the horror of what is going on around her. The use of weaving in and out of the story and telling it through Offreds tale is the most powerful use language in the novel. The effect of this narrative in the novel is that not all that is told is truth. The scarce information and knowledge of the tale put with Offreds story shows a more depicted story line with gaps but a more enticing story. But with this we see a very dissimilar narrative rather than a straightforward narrative. This is due to her straying of topic from time to time such as talking about flowers and asking rhetorical questions which may not be even remotely related to one another and the use of a certain manner shows this with her being more intellectual and careful of how she portrays herself in the novel. This is an effective use of manipulating language because we are able to see how she is reacting to what the government and have subjected to her and we are able to sympathize with the character Offred as though she is living through a rare life experience. In contrast to the Clockwork Orange, the language is presented also as very dominating and powerful as Burgess is introducing a whole new language to the reader. The manipulation to the reader of this new language is very enticing but it gives us more in depth understanding of the violence and feelings towards the protagonist and as to why he commits the crimes and to the extent of why he does. This is very effective of Burgess to use in manipulating language through a new language (Nadsat) is because we see in the novel a delinquent protagonist with moral views that cause the crimes that he commits, but with him being fluent in the language, we are able to see a different intelligent side to Alex which portrays to the reader as very different from first impressions when beginning the novel. This is effective because we are able to see what his emotions are and the stages he goes through to commit the crimes. With the use of archaic Russian, English, American slang, parts of the Jacobean prose, and gypsy language, Burgess is able to cleverly construct a fluent language (Nadsat meaning teen) in which the protagonist, Alex, communicates well in The Clockwork Orange. Burgess has a profound ability to interpret the political and economical strains as groundwork for the novel. The use of youth culture is effective in Clockwork Orange as you can clearly the see what Burgess had witnessed and the effect of the panic of this era had caused in the 1960s. Burgess has also been able to disclose the idea of the changes and society with people becoming more rebellious with causing rifts through out. This became apparent after the novel was published and reflects on the culture through out the 1960s. This shows the mindset and mentality of Alex and in which the horrors of a world he lives in. Eggiweg is a prime example of the language and shows the childish nature of Alex but a depressive tone is showe d through the translation of drugs Moloko. The approach to the manipulation of the language in this dystopian novel is yet innovative but an unusual approach to terror. Rather than the typical making you jump out of your seat terror, it is more mind consuming with the random acts of violence and the approach in which it has been taken. It is more shocking because we see a level to violence in which the reader will be shocked and will ask why did he do that? And what caused him to do such controversial crimes? This being effective in the novel as it gives a different emotion to the novel, more of attention seeking than anything else. This manipulation of language into the level of violence causes the reader to re-think the novel more and analyse the character of Alex more in depth. The manipulation of language has created a depressive, yet intriguing setting to the novel. The violence and corruption of Alex contributes to this making it more shocking than the typical elements of the gothic terror. The use of the Ludovico technique is to some what has a high level of extremity as we see the level that the prisons and government go through in order to make Alex a better person. When then from this point see a different person in Alex and the changes that are made to him. This is effective in the manipulation of language because it intrigues the reader into reading more into the story, and we feel more sympathy for Alex as we see that he is a good person and wants to change. The use of manipulating language by Burgess can be seen as an attempt to create a more moral and psychological journey in coherence to Alexs growth into becoming a better man. The growth and standardization of Alexs language is distancing from the reader. This is due to the fact that the language will be hard and confusing for the reader to understand and relies on the protagonist to portray the meaning of some of the words. This is a way in which Alex vents his feelings to society and a way of him seeing it as if he is rebelling against society. In contrast with Atwoods The Handmaids Tale, language is manipulated for the effect of the psychological power of men over women is in similar contrast with The Clockwork Orange. This is because Atwood uses the fact of in society men were always the more dominant in a relationship and in general politics. Atwood uses this effectively in portraying the different layers and how women just had to accept that they were the inferior ones to men. We see this in The Clockwork Orange where Alex goes on a crime spree and rapes an innocent woman and burgles the house. We see the dominant male figure here in wanting the woman to do as he says and comply with his demands. The use of extreme language manipulates us into thinking that the severity is even more intense than first anticipated and keeps the reader on edge as to what will happen. The figurative techniques used in The Clockwork Orange help manipulate language to create the dystopian feel but still to portray the extremism of the violence. This is done with dark humour and irony, for example the dotted repetition through the novel of the language and of the acts he commits. The most prominent of irony is the use of the word beautiful to describe the violent acts that he commits and to lifes adequate pleasures. For example, education and religion are seen as grotesque and unearthly and seems against the idea of a normal life with lifes everyday pleasures. Which we see here that in Alexs head, everything is vice versa and seems to have a different outlook on life than a normal human being would want. After his reformation, by the government, we see more of an ethical side to Alex, †¦ what, brother, had I escaped into a sleep †¦ I might have presented the other cheek †¦ Here, we see Alex becoming more involved in life and thinking about his actions more. Also we see him contemplating more his emotions towards different aspects in life and seeing a more moral and religious side to life. This is effective in manipulating language in the novel because we are able to see the transaction of Alex from childish behaviour and committing crimes, to a well grown up man looking for a new start in life. The use of metaphors and similes is very prominent in when reading the novel. These are mostly very unorthodox areas and in the most unusual placing sometimes in the more serious areas of the novel and some notably in first part of the novel. The more shocking of them being when they break into the Home, and Burgess cunningly uses an extended metaphor †¦ no more like ten †¦ This is portraying their laid back nature to life and rate the woman they raped lower and more inferior than they are. This was a common act committed in the 1960s where men objectified women and were highly amused by women being more inferior than they are and abused this fact. Rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy and enforced sterilization was recognised as a crime against humanity of women. Although it was enforced in the 1960s, sexual transmitted diseases were still on the on the rise and was spreading fast. Women were becoming more carriers throughout. Many women protested t o stop rape and discriminating women in society but werent always noticed. We see this is The Clockwork Orange where Alex rapes a helpless woman and has to pay the price for what they did to her. This is an effective interpretation as Burgess effectively makes aware of what men were doing to woman and the consequences were bad for the women who had to experience it. Subverting the form in The Clockwork Orange is done effectively by Burgess in order to be more creative in the language chosen and the effectiveness that youth culture has on society. The use of the unmindful and biased is used for us to be able to see both sides of the view put across. The effect that this has on the form is that you are able to have more of a flowing story and are able to follow the story well. This way you are able to have more of an intimate connection with the protagonist, Alex, and we are able to ask ourselves are own questions and form an opinion on Alex and the story being told. Despite the pain and conflict that he caused, we still feel obliged to be sympathetic towards Alex for how naà ¯ve he is on life and his immature attitude towards it. So with this, we struggle to form an opinion in some ways as he doesnt understand the implications that he is causing and doesnt do much for his future. This is effective in subverting the form because we are able to cr eate to different opinions of Alex but we can see a metaphysical journey of him trying to change for the better. The strengths of these interpretations are that are that we are able to have a well thought out novel with a whole new language in which the reader can pick up. The reader is also intrigued by the use of language to portray the different meanings of the language such as extremism of violence, and the intimacy between him and the people who try and help him through his journey to adulthood. The weaknesses, however, are that we still have some parts of the novel in which you will want to be more involved and more aware of his feelings and your not so you have to ask the questions yourself or think what would it be like to be in his shoes? This is effective because the language is then manipulated well enough to help shape these for the reader to understand more and to stay intimate through it. In contrast to The Handmaids Tale, the forms of them both are similarly approached. With The Handmaids Tale it is formed through the use of cassette readings and sparse memories put together to create a vivid but intimate story of the metaphysical journey of Offred through her torment. But with The Clockwork Orange it is done through the use of a metaphysical journey of Alex, from committing crimes and objectifying women to becoming a well grown up business man living the life of a normal man. These are both effective because we see it shape the novels to create a story but are both very intimate as we see each stage and feel each emotion. Julian Mitchell reviews the book as A brilliant mixture of horror and farce, calling Burgess use language an extraordinary technical feat. This is showing that the use of language is the key aspect in the novel in forming the form and story around this but done in a professional that is both intriguing and exciting to read. To conclude, I believe that the language is best manipulated in Burgesss The Clockwork Orange because the creativity of the new language created Nadsat is both ingenious and intriguing for the reader and gives them a different perspective on society. However, in The Handmaids Tale the form is subverted much more appropriately and keeps more of an intimate relationship with the reader. We see that the use of cassette readings being told and made in to the novel is very innovative and a clever way for women to relate to, to see how they experienced it and to put an awareness out to other women. In contrast to one another, language is very well presented in the two different forms contrasting how differently they are written and the way they are presented to the reader.

The Terrorist :: essays research papers

This book â€Å"The Terrorist† was written by Caroline B. Cooney and published by Scolastic Inc. in Toronto Ontario Canada.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Laura is in high school and she had just moved from Boston. At the beginning of the book, her brother died when a terrorist’s package bomb exploded and killed Billy. Laura and her family were heart-broken when they found out the bad news. Laura becomes determined to do what ever she could to find out who killed Billy. One day, when Laura was questioning Mohammed, Jehran asked her if she would like to go to a sleep over. At first Laura did not want to but she finally agreed. While she was at the sleep over, Jehran told her about a marriage that she would be forced into by her brother. She asked for Laura’s help to run away to the airport and take a plane to New York. After a while, Laura agreed. A week later, they went to the airport as planned, but they did not know that Jimmy was following them. Jimmy warned Laura’s other friends that she was going to New York. While Laura was boarding the plane, she started getting suspicions about Jehran. L aura decided that Jehran should leave by herself on the plane and she should go home. Jehran didn’t want to go by herself, so Laura confronted her and Laura found out that Jehran was the one who told the terrorists to kill Billy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jehran was charged but was found innocent. Laura and her family moved back to Boston without Billy. Billy would be a part of them forever.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Billy used to live in Boston but he moved to London England. He owned a â€Å"Macaroni & Cheese† business and he was financially secure. When he was getting off the train, a man handed him a package that his friend had dropped. Billy examined the box and realized that it was a bomb. He wrapped himself around the bomb and it blew up (so he died). Laura’s (and Billy’s) parents were miserable and were very upset. They had cared a lot about Billy, and so had Laura. Laura was miserable and she wanted to find out who killed Billy. One day, while Laura was questioning Mohammed, Jehran invited her to a sleep over. Jehran is a thin elegant girl who had long black hair. She was the one who had chosen Billy to be killed by the terrorists.

Morrisons Bluest Eye Essay: The American Way -- Bluest Eye Essays

The Bluest Eye: The American Way  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Ownership, class structures, and consumerism go hand in hand. Morrison illustrates this throughout the novel and in the characters' identities. Many of the characters identify themselves based on material possessions: the simple ownership of a car, the use of consumer products, and property ownership. Although African Americans may take these things for granted now, in the early 1900's this would be considered a major accomplishment. There is an apparent contradiction of class status among the characters illustrating how beauty determines social stratification. Morrison places each person in the class hierarchy based on how close they are to the white standard of beauty. The Fishers, the white family Pauline is employed by, are at the top of the class stratification. The only upper middle class family is white and they are the ultimate model of the blonde and blue eyed standard. Rosemary, whom the girls also have a tinge of jealousy for, is on the same class level as Frieda and Claudia, except that her Italian features classify her as white. Rosemary's phenotype is white yet she is also a minority. In the opening scene of the novel she is "sitting in a 1939 Buick eating bread and butter." Claudia and Frieda are characterized as envious: We stare at her, wanting her bread, but more than that wanting to poke the arrogance out of her eyes and smash the pride of ownership that curls her chewing mouth. (12) Morrison opens the novel with a feeling of envy, because she is depicting how consumerism and ownership evoke competition. Each character wants to be superior to the others. Rosemary views herself as better than the African American girls because bla... ... Bluest Eye (New York: Washington Press, 1970). Susan Willis, "I Shop Therefore I Am: Is There a Place for Afro-American Culture in Commodity Culture?" in Changing Our Own Words: Essays on Criticsm, Theory and Writing by Black Women, ed. Charyl A. Wall (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1989): 173-95. Elizabeth House, "Artist and the Art of Living: Order and Disorder in Toni Morrison's Fiction," Modern Fiction Studies 34(1998):27-44. Bessie W. Jones, "An Interiew with Toni Morrison," in The World of Toni Morrision, ed. Bessie Jones and Audrey Vinson (Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall Hunt, 1985). Robert Stepto, " `Intimate Things in a Place': A Conversation with Toni Morrison," in Chant of Saints: A Gathering of Afro-American Literature, Art, and Scholarship, ed. Michael S. Harper and Robert B. Stepto (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1979).   

Whose Sentence is it Anyway?

The title of this lesson is â€Å"Whose Sentence is it Anyway?†Ã‚   It is based on the TV show â€Å"Whose Line is it Anyway?† and is a lesson designed to improve the language arts skills of the students.   Under this lesson plan, the subjects, in this case the students, must be able to complete the sentence that is given to them by the instructor.   The goal of these learning exercises is to be able to improve the emphasized language arts strand related to the presentation of English words and sentences. An integral part in the learning of language arts has always been the understanding of how certain words, when used in different order and context, have different meanings and are able to convey a totally different message from what was originally intended.   The key component of these exercises in learning the language arts lies in the entertainment value of such and also the group work that is involved, in an attempt to also encourage social interactions among the students. The main concept to be taught in these exercises involves the understanding of Basic English sentence structures and the use of punctuations in sentences.   Incidental to these learning exercises is the necessity for the students to possess a basic understanding of the many uses of certain words of the English language.   This lesson plan also helps students deal with different social situations and shows what the appropriate responses are to these situations by demonstrating the effects when a proper response is not given as opposed to how effective communication can be when the proper response is provided. The structure of the lesson plan will follow the basic outline as reproduced within this report. Language Arts Activity: Complete the Silly Sentence Emphasized Language Arts Strand: Presenting I. The Basic Concepts: Sentence structure and use of English vocabulary II. Behavioral Objectives The students are expected to learn how to form complete and correct sentences. The students are also expected to be able to relate and interpret how different subjects, verbs and adjectives relate to one another in completing sentences. III. Materials: A container marked â€Å"Feelings† or â€Å"Adjectives†, which contains ten laminated cards with different feelings or adjectives written on them A container marked â€Å"Action† with ten laminated cards with different actions written on them A container marked â€Å"Person† with ten laminated cards with different people or occupations written on them Laminated â€Å"Complete Sentence† cards Small dry erase board and dry erase markers. IV. Teaching/ Learning Procedures: A student is to be chosen as the â€Å"Pantomime Presenter† of the group while another student is chosen to be the recorder.   The â€Å"Pantomime Presenter† takes one of the laminated strips from each of the three labeled containers.   The three strips drawn should form a silly sentence that the â€Å"Pantomime Presenter† must attempt to express without the use of words.   The other students must guess what the words written on each card were and attempt to put these words together to form the silly sentence. Card subjects may be guessed one at a time such that when one card is guessed the recorder writes it on the board.   The first student to correctly guess all three card subjects together and thus forming a complete sentence receives a â€Å"Complete Sentence† card and becomes the next â€Å"Pantomime Presenter†.   The previous â€Å"Pantomime Presenter† now becomes the recorder.   The first student to collect five â€Å"Complete Sentence† cards is awarded with an activity pass which entitles student to five minutes extra center time. V. Evaluation: The teacher evaluates the student’s understanding by observing the game playing activity and by helping to clarify questions or problems when needed.

Financial Institutions in Financial Markets

A financial institution is an institution that issues deposits and other financial liabilities and invests predominantly in loans and other financial assets (Kidwell, Blackwell, & Whidbee, p. 636, 2008). Financial institutions include organizations such as banks, trust companies, insurance organization, pension, and mutual funds, and investment dealers or banks. In some shape or form individuals and corporations deal with a financial institution on a daily. Depositing money, taking out loans, currency exchange, or investing one has to go through a financial institution. There are several financial institutions three of the major financial institutions and the role they play in the financial market will be discussed in detail. Commercial Banks This is a bank that accepts deposits and makes consumers, commercial, and real estate loans (Saunders, & Cornett, p. 29, 2008). The largest groups of depository institutions that are measured by asset size are commercial banks. Commercial banks have similar functions as savings institutions and credit unions. The three accept deposits (Liabilities) and make loans (assets). The difference is in the arrangement of assets and liabilities, which are much more diverse. To meet the interest obligations to deposit, commercial banks carefully invest the assets in addition to extending loans to business and individuals. Enterprises of small and medium sized businesses are the greatest potential customers of the commercial banking area. Commercial banking has less influence over larger corporations there is a possibility for corporations to influence consumer behavior through the financial products offered. The role of commercial banks in the financial institution is essential because it offers a wide assortment of deposit accounts and serves both the public and private sector. Commercial banks are dominant depository institutions. Insurance Organization The primary function of insurance companies is to protect individuals and corporations from adverse events. In the financial institution, the insurance companies invest in financial securities, such as corporate bonds and stocks with the premiums collected. By accepting these premiums, insurance companies promise policyholders reimbursement if certain specified events occur. The importance of the insurance company in the role of financial institution is one that cannot be overlooked. It protects people and companies from the financial consequences of events whose risks are actuarially determinable. The financial health of the insurance company is the single most important purchase criterion; because an insurance contract is a promise by the insurance company to pay the insured if an event occurs. Investment Banks The possibility of the investment bank depends on the influence the investment bank has over the business. This type of financial institution specializes in the sale of new securities to the public or otherwise known as underwriter. Investment banking has the appeal of allowing one to make a large amount of money. The specialty is helping businesses and governments sell debt or equity in the primary markets to finance capital expenses. Restrictions are few on the range of activities in which investment banks can engage in. The one concern is the role of the financial institution between environmental performance and investment performance. Investment bankers study the market of the securities as well as maintaining relationship that provides a full range of the firm’s services to government agencies or corporate clients looking to raise capital. This requires creative thinking and the ability to leverage other product areas in the organization. The three financial institutions act as intermediaries between the net providers and borrowers of funds. The financial institutions specialize in varying types of financial assets and services and most of them are acquired through the market and organize them into a different and more widely preferable type of asset. Commercial banks, investment banks, and insurance companies facilitate the efficiency and growth of the economy as well as trading of existing securities. The major players in the financial market are very important to the financial market. In conclusion financial institutions create financial assets for customers and sell the assets to other markets for a profit. The functioning of these institutions is very important for an effective financial market and for the conduct of monetary policies. Commercial banks, insurance organizations, and investment banks have been explained separately and how each interacts with each other.