Obama by David Sedaris Essays

Obama by David Sedaris Essays Obama by David Sedaris Paper Obama by David Sedaris Paper The essay is a flashback from David Seeders time in France during the election in 2008 in the United States. Skin color. Our skin color is part of our appearance, but is it also a part of our personality? In America this question were discussed when Barack Obama was running for his presidential election in the year of 2008 2009. Many Europeans believed it was impossible to see a half-black candidate win the election in 2009, because they thought that any Americans would never vote for a black candidate. In David Seeders essay: Obama!!! , he explains, in a rather humorist way how prejudices can lead to huge misconceptions between different countries. The reader mostly hears about Seeders life in France. The essay focuses on the differences between European and American politics, when it comes to racism, race discrimination and sexual discrimination. One of the things David Seeders mentions is how much an American election all of a sudden becomes a world election. In the start of his essay, David Seeders describes how people he ivied among in Normandy did not take part of their national politics and local government affairs. However, when a black candidate is running for president in America, thousands of miles overseas, they wake up and are willing to be a part of the election even though they are not inhabitants. This can be interpreted as the importance American politics has in Europe. In this context the topping of the cake is when a black is leading the campaign for president in the ASSAI, which is host the famous Sucks Klan and also the Tea Party movement. This irony and sarcasm constitute the tone and style throughout he essay: Its not that I dont have opinions about these things; I just dont feel theyre in any way special. David Seeders uses a lot of humor, so that his message becomes more eatable for the reader. I does this to raise concerns about the topic in a humorist way, without it becoming frivolous. What allows him to talk about prejudices and racism is that he is a gay comedian, which is the ironic and humorist fact about David Seeders. This allows him to talk about these sensible subjects, because many in Europe and USA have prejudices towards gays and comedians. Seeders explains, which headlines here published in the French newspapers during the years before the election. Seeders writes: The farmer across the road from us, Robert Bob Greener was profiled in the late 1 sass. The Man who Truly Whispers to Horses, read the headline. The picture was Of him seeming to gossip into the ear of his Peppercorn, a dappled mare as solid as a dump truck. Then it takes a turn when people finds out that a black man is running for president. The story above is completely different from the stories during the American election in 2008-2009 it turns 180 degrees to a more global perspective. Seeders believes it is the skin color of Barack Obama which draws the attention and not his politic which makes the people of France interested in his campaign. During his time in Normandy Seeders describes how people approached him and told him that: Americans never would vote for a black candidate, because many in America are racists. This key point is, elaborated later in the essay. In this context, he also describes how his dad thought that people in France were hostile towards Americans and it was a dangerous place to for an American to be. By this, Seeders plants the thought in the adders mind that when a French individual thinks of a typical American, the individual bases his thoughts on a fictive stereotype. This also applies when an American thinks of a French or other Europeans. Seeders writes: I remember my dad calling after the Iraq war started and asking if I felt safe on the streets of Paris. He had the idea that Europeans, and specifically the French, had become openly hostile and were targeting Americans even throwing bottles at them. If that Was happening, I neither saw it nor read about it. In this passage, David Seeders tries to tell the reader that to judge n American or a European based on prejudices and stereotypes is wrong. This is seen clearly in the last sentence in the passage above, where he tells the reader that none of his dads prejudices is correct -and he is not experiencing any hostile behavior from the French people in the period during the Iraq war. Therefore, David Steadiers main allegation is that it is impossible to judge people without knowing them properly. In this context David Seeders is being rather objective because he criticizes both countries for having prejudices towards each other. This makes him very reliable because e has lived in both countries and experienced both cultures therefore it makes his allegations and conclusions reliable. Seeders moves on and tells the reader about his experiences with the European reporters during his travel through Europe in 2008-2009. David Seeders was surprised by the European attitude and he describes them as a people with many prejudices towards the American people. David Seeders says: The reporters in Greece, the ones in Australia and Amsterdam and Dublin, all of them assured me that the American people never would elect a black president. To this Seeders replies: Maybe, he said, but Ill bet you that half of America could elect a half-black president. By this Seeders means that around half of the American inhabitants are colored and therefore would be able to elect Obama. This consequently leads to David Seeders main point in the essay; David Seeders is surprised that many Europeans believe that inhabitants Americans would not vote for Barack Obama because of his skin color and not because of his politic program. The Americans are therefore accused of being more racists than the European countries. In this context, David Seeders wonders why France has a far-right political party, where the leader glorifies the Nazi-occupation of France during World War 2. This is an interesting point, because we often tends to forget how our own political system works when we compare it with other countries. In this case, the people that David Seeders talks with forgets all about how their own country works and looks in the eyes of none- inhabitants. They wanted Obama because he was black and because his politic was more like the European politic. The conclusion to the essay is that David Seeders explains how prejudices between different countries can lead to huge misconceptions between nations and how different political systems affect the minds of people in terms of judging other countries political system. Seeders also concludes that racism is still a part of our normal life; it has changed from the known Nazi-racism to a new form of racism. Throughout the essay David Seeders is being rather objective because he criticizes both countries for having prejudices towards each other. He does this in a humorist way, so that no one feels offended.

Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction

Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction Scientists across several disciplines, including geology, biology, and evolutionary biology, have determined that there have been five major mass extinction events throughout the history of life on Earth. For an event to be considered a major mass extinction, more than half of all known life forms in that time period must have been wiped out. Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction Probably the best-known mass extinction event took out all the dinosaurs on Earth. This was the fifth mass extinction event, called the Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction, or K-T Extinction for short. Although the Permian Mass Extinction, also known as the Great Dying, was much larger in the number of species that went extinct, the K-T Extinction is the one most people remember because of public fascination with dinosaurs. The K-T Extinction divides the Cretaceous Period, which ended the Mesozoic Era, and the Tertiary Period at the start of the Cenozoic Era, which we currently live in. The K-T Extinction happened around 65 million years ago, taking out an estimated 75% of all living species on Earth at the time. Many people know that land dinosaurs were casualties of this major mass extinction event, but numerous other species of birds, mammals, fish, mollusks, pterosaurs, and plesiosaurs, among other groups of animals, also went extinct. Asteroid Impacts The main cause of the K-T Extinction is well documented: an unusually high number of extremely large asteroid impacts. Evidence can be seen in various parts of the world in layers of rock that can be dated to this time period. These rock layers have unusually high levels of iridium, an element not found in large amounts in the Earths crust but is very common in space debris such as asteroids, comets, and meteors. This universal layer of rock has come to be known as the K-T boundary. By the Cretaceous Period, the continents had drifted apart from when they were one supercontinent called Pangaea in the early Mesozoic Era. The fact that the K-T boundary can be found on different continents indicates the K-T Mass Extinction was global and happened quickly. Impact Winter The impacts werent directly responsible for the extinction of three-quarters of the Earths species, but their residual effects were devastating. Perhaps the biggest issue caused by the asteroids hitting Earth is termed impact winter. The extreme size of the space debris vaulted ash, dust, and other matter into the atmosphere, essentially blocking out the Sun for long periods of time. Plants, no longer able to undergo photosynthesis, began to die off, leaving animals with no food, so they starved to death. Its also thought that oxygen levels declined due to the lack of photosynthesis. The disappearance of food and oxygen affected the largest animals, including land dinosaurs, the most. Smaller animals could store food and needed less oxygen; they survived and thrived once the danger passed. Other major catastrophes caused by the impacts included tsunamis, earthquakes, and possibly increased volcanic activity, yielding the devastating results of the Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction event. Silver Lining?   As horrific as they must have been, mass extinction events were not all bad news for those that survived. The extinction of the large, dominant land dinosaurs allowed smaller animals to survive and thrive. New species emerged and took on new niches, driving the evolution of life on Earth and shaping the future of natural selection on various populations. The end of the dinosaurs particularly benefited mammals, whose ascendance led to the rise of humans and other species on Earth today. Some scientists believe that in the early 21st century, we are in the middle of the sixth major mass extinction event. Because these events often span millions of years, its possible that the climate changes and Earth changes- physical changes to the planet- that we are experiencing will trigger the extinction of several species and in the future will be seen as a mass extinction event. Sources K-T Extinction: Mass Extinction. Encyclopaedia Britannica.Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction Event. ScienceDaily.com.Why Did the Dinosaurs Go Extinct? National Geographic.

Introduction to the Practicum Experience Article

Introduction to the Practicum Experience - Article Example The following objectives will provide guidance for my professional development: In this regard, through the teaching programs I will work closely with my mentors and not only receive the hands-on clinical experience but also integrate vital skills in screening and assessing treatment of the various diseases. During practicum, students directly engage the clients hence guide themselves (Armstrong, 2013). Following the direct engagement with real clients and in this case I will stand a position to acquire skills and techniques. This way, I will be able to better understand my strengths and limitations and further influence my attitude, values and life experiences. An experienced health physician works diligently and always acts in good faith (Cipriano and Murphy, 2011). Through the practicum, I will strictly adhere to the advice and guidelines issued by the mentors. Further, I will seek guidance on how to address certain situations. This way, I will stand a position to develop problem-solving skills. Problem-solving skills are perceived very crucial in leadership (Clark, 2013). Leadership is core in nursing process and adequately influences the decision making process (Wilkinson et.al,

Profits and Supply and Demand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Profits and Supply and Demand - Essay Example The products consist of casual clothing of the 21st Century. It entails stylish watches, T-shirts, Leather bracelets, stylish shirts, rings, body con dresses for women and necklaces all in varieties and with the latest fashion. The products we offer are luxury fashions for both genders. The luxury items are mainly reliant on the need for the customer gain what they see and feel from the use of luxurious items. The idea is to make the consumer feel expensive and look great as well as bearing the consumers emotional speculations ‘I want people to notice me’, ‘this is a fifty dollar item’. The products supply depends on the consumer’s preferences and order basis for items above fifty dollars. The items distribution is through an online platform to allow placing orders, expressing interests and even a blog on fashion style. The product features include leather items and precious metals such as gold, silver and diamonds. Other resources needed include an online platform worth $1000, five retail outlets spread across the region targeting people in love with fashion and value. These outlets will stock of $2000 valued items each with varying stocks depending on the market flow and location. The other resources include annual marketing costs approximated to be 30% of the initial financing. These will cater for social media, print media such as magazines and other affiliate marketing options. The products supply is from wholesale outlets as well as imported, depending on the item location and perceived value of the products. The other sources of the items include buying used items from events that use them for a one-time event as well as from individuals with higher preferences. The initial financing is $14,300 to cater for startup costs. During the first year of operation, sales are targeted at $10,000, with an explicit cost of $6,000 that gives revenue of $4,000 (Boundless, 2015). The profits of the company are expected to grow with

Business related Essay Example for Free

Business related Essay 1. Define Marketing. What is marketing process as set out in your text book. Explain the various elements of marketing process. ( LO1; Assessment Criteria 1.1) 2. Select an organization of your choice, identify the marketing orientation it focuses on and evaluate the benefits and costs of the marketing orientation for the selected organization ( LO1; Assessment Criteria 1.2) 3. The Dunkin’ Donut Case: ( LO1; Assessment Criteria 1.2) For more than 50 years, Dunkin’ Donuts has offered customers throughout the United States, and around the world, a consistent experience – the same donuts, the same coffee, the same store dà ©cor – each time a customer drops in. Although the chain now offers iced coffee, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, gourmet cookies, and Dunkin’ Dawgs in addition to the old standbys, devoted customers argue that it’s the coffee that sets Dunkin’ Donut apart. To keepcustomers coming back, the chain still relies on the recipe that founder Bill Rosenberg crafted more than 50 years ago. The company is so concerned about offering a consistent, high-quality cup of coffee that managers in Dunkin’ Donut’s â€Å"Tree-to-Cup† program monitor the progress of its coffee beans from the farm to the restaurant. The result? Dunkin Donuts sells more cups of coffee than any other retailer in the United States – 30 cups a second, nearly one billion cups each year. Building on that success, the company plans to more than triple its current number of stores, amassing 15,000 franchises by the year 2015. What marketing orientation does Dunkin Donut follow here and why? Give reasons and justification Learning Outcome/s achieved in the assignment: By completing this assignment successfully, the student will achieve the following learning outcome:Learning Outcome LO1 Understand the concept and process of marketing Assessment Criteria 1.1 explain the various elements of the marketing process 1.2 evaluate the benefits and costs of a marketing orientation for a selected organisation Grading Criteria PASS The student will be awarded a PASS grade if he/she achieves all assessment criteria MERIT: The student will be awarded a Merit grade if he/she The learners evidence shows for : M1 Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions †¢ effective judgements have been made †¢ complex problems with more than one variable have been explored †¢ an effective approach to study and research has been applied DISTINCTION: The student will be awarded a Distinction grade if he/she The learners evidence shows for: †¢ conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate own work †¢ the validity of results has been evaluated using and justify valid conclusions defined criteria †¢ self-criticism of approach has taken place †¢ realistic improvements have been proposed against defined characteristics for success

Hawthorne Effects On Factory W :: essays research papers

Hawthorne experiments were conducted at the Hawthorne (Illinois) plant of the Western Electric Company to determined the psychological factors, components of the job and work satisfaction on the employees. The experiments identified the factors that will help me to manage the operating employee of the factory. The Hawthorne experiments were divided into three phrases and there were 4 experiments conducted within this purpose.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first phrase was the test room studies where there were two experiments conducted for this purpose. The first experiment was the illumination experiments (1924-1927) which studied the effects of lighting on output. Two groups of workers were selected in the company and one group had no variations in its level of lighting while the other group were placed under the envoirement that had several variations from better to worse. The result was surprising, as output of both groups were increased. The second experiment named Relay Assembly Test Room ((1927-1929) were conducted to further the investigation. In this experiment, a group of women were made to subject of various conditions that include the effects of changes in working conditions such as rest periods and meal breaks. Again, the result of the experiment shown that regardless of whether the conditions were improved or worsened, the productivity always increased. Elton Mayo identified this situation is due to the fact that the women responded to the researchers’ attention. And saw themselves as a special group. This form of behavior is known as â€Å"Hawthorne effect†. From the first phrase of studies, I learnt that an important factor were not the incentives or working conditions, but is the esprit de corps that lies within the workers. In this case, I need to develop the esprit de corps among the operating workers by showing more personal interest to them. In short, I need to pay a lot of attention to the operating workers in my factory. The second phrase of the Hawthorne experiment was the interviewing studies. Interviewing programs were established to determine the attitudes of people at the plant towards their jobs, working conditions and supervision. It was also aimed to establish the importance of social relationships in the work situation to increment the interest in human relations at work. 21000 people were interviewed for a morale survey. The survey, however, cannot identify the dissatisfactions of the workers. The result of the survey identified that the wealth of material gained was used to improve several aspects of working conditions and supervision.

College is worth it Essay

Having a higher education has various benefits. A person’s chances of being employed are higher, they will earn more money than if they had a blue collar job, and most importantly it will teach them how to live. They will learn â€Å"how to be an informed and involved citizen, how to communicate effectively, how to understand other cultures and peoples, and how to think and reflect. For many students, college is a time of personal growth and social development-a chance to make friends, get to know people from different backgrounds, and explore new ideas and activities† (Graff, Birkenstein, Durst 177). Paying for college can be really stressing, both physically and emotionally. People will have to struggle with loans, financial aid, and possibly having multiple jobs. Despite the difficulties of attending college, it will be worth it and benefit you greatly in the end. In elementary school, most of you must have been asked what your dream job was. Your answer was most likely a fireman, a teacher, a superhero, or a singer, right? But as the years went by, you probably changed your mind, because you began to realize that people cannot fly, your voice was not the greatest or there was no way you can deal with annoying kids and not even get paid enough for it. By your senior year in high school you should have already had an idea of what you wanted to be, or what major you wanted to study at least. The majority of high school graduates will attend college, and if they don’t they will go straight into the workforce, either because their parents cannot afford college, or they simply do not like school, or join the Navy or the Army for that same reason of disliking school and they find it easy because recruiters make it sound that way. Some high school students start working and when they see the amount of money they are getting, they start to believe that maybe they don’t even have to go to college. They might just live well off of their blue-collar job earnings. What they do not realize is that their parents are most likely not going to want them living at home forever and if they move out to have their own place, all the money they earn will no longer go to just gas and food. They will now have bills to pay. They might be capable to cope with everything if they have a full-time good paying job or if they have two or more jobs. They might think that their friends going to college have a part-time job and are struggling trying to pay for tuition, books, and rent. What they don’t think of though, is the future. They do not realize that a few years from now, their friends will be college graduates, either with an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree. Even though it might take them a while to find a job, when they do, they will be earning twice as much money than the person who chose not to go to school. Many high school graduates are naive enough to believe that the military or whatever they get into is going to help them out with college when they get back home. It is disturbing to know that many young people go out to fight for their country and when they come back they are disappointed to find out that everything they did was not even worth it. They come back as changed people, and not always for the better. Some who actually get to see combat, come back mentally ill or even missing body parts. Their lives might never be the same after everything they have seen and been through. On top of that, they try coming back to college, and ask about the â€Å"help† they were going to receive, and they end up getting no aid. Afterwards there they are struggling to get their veteran benefits, trying to be someone bigger and better in life. In today’s economy, lack of a college education greatly limits opportunities. Basically the longer people stay in school, the more likely they are to have a job. College graduates are not only more likely to have a job but have a much better paying job. The unemployment rate for individuals who hold a Bachelor’s degree has always been about half the unemployment rate of individuals who hold a simple high-school diploma. â€Å"During a fourty-year full-time working life, the median earnings of bachelor’s degree recipients without an advanced degree are 65% higher than the median earnings of high school graduates† (Baum, Ma, Payea). Wilson claims that â€Å"a student who graduates with $20,000 in debt should be able to make at least that amount in extra earnings in one to two years’ time, she calculates, simply by having earned a college diploma† (260). People with a higher education also seem to be more satisfied in their jobs than people who only have a high school diploma. â€Å"The percentage of workers ages thirty to forty-five who report being very satisfied with their work ranges from 42% of those with less than a high-school diploma and 51% of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher† (Baum, Ma, Payea). You can gain self-confidence after having obtained a higher education. You will realize that you really are capable of learning at a high level. â€Å"Having the higher education will have prepared you to contribute to the industry you have chosen to get into. If you have higher education in a field that you are interested in, you will have a better chance of getting a job that best suits you and your abilities. This can be a very rewarding thing because you will be able to more easily find work which involves you doing something that is interesting for you, and something that you enjoy doing† (Benefits of Getting a Higher Education). Without the higher education, you will have to limit yourself to what you are qualified for. Not only does having a higher education improve your self-confidence, but your health as well. College graduates tend to have better health. â€Å"A 2006 study published by the Carnegie Mellon University Psychology department found that college degree holders have lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, compared to people with less education† (Hardy). They are also less likely to be out of shape, end up living on the streets, in jail, be smokers, or rely on government programs. â€Å"In 2012, only 8% of individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree smoked, compared to 25% of high school graduates and of those without a high school diploma† (Baum, Ma, Payea). The poverty rate for an individual with a bachelor’s degree is about one-third of the poverty rate for an individual with a high school diploma. â€Å"Nearly 70% of college grads had employer-provided health insurance, while only 50% of high school graduates had that benefit according to a 2008 report by the College Board†(Hardy). Works Cited â€Å"Benefits of Getting a Higher Education† . N. p.. Web. 23 Oct 2013. . Hardy, M.. N. p.. Web. 23 Oct 2013. . Graff, Gerald, Birkenstein, Cathy, Durst, Russel. They Say, I Say (with readings). New York. London. W. W. Norton & Company Inc. 2006. Print Baum, Sandy, Ma, Jennifer, Payea, Kathleen. Education Pays 2013. 2013. The College Board. Wilson, Robin. â€Å"A Lifetime of Student Debt? Not likely. † They Say, I Say (with readings). Graff, Gerald, Birkenstein, Cathy, Durst, Russel. New York. London. W. W. Norton & Company Inc. 2006. Pages 256-273.

Boxing should be outlawed

We know that every individual is really inclined in sports. Some people are into sports because they want to see themselves being physically fit and it is a form of their hobby, too. But how about if the sport an individual engages involves intense physical contact that can cause him injury or disability instead of being physically fit? This kind of sport may pertain to boxing because it instigates a lot of physical pain and injury after the fight. Boxing is one of the phenomenal sports nowadays.Most individuals, young and old, really like to watch boxing especially if one of the opponents are their favorite boxer. Several individuals world widely are even encouraged to join boxing because it motivates them to become physically fit. Boxing also gives them an opportunity to experience quality life through the big prizes they receive from the fight and it maybe the chance that they will be recognized world widely; thus, for those individuals who like boxing very much consider it as an art and a sport where you try to predict the next move of your opponent.Moreover, boxing is sometimes called as â€Å"the manly art of self-defense† and it is a kind of sport in which the two opponents try to punch each other with the use of gloves at the same time try to avoid the opponents’ punches. But in spite of its popularity and advantages, many claimed that boxing is not a sport but a â€Å"barbaric† act because it inflicts too much physical pain and it is compared into cockfighting or dueling. Boxing is almost the same with dueling because the participants make an agreement to commit acts upon themselves that can also be considered crimes in different venues.Several advocates believed and debated that boxing must be banned. What are the grounds then of these advocates that they want boxing to be banned or outlawed? For sure, these advocates have reasonable and valid reasons why they want boxing to be outlawed. One article written by Oscar Avelar Bernste in refuted that boxing is not a sport. He said that boxing is come from the Roman Empire which society is full of violence and where gladiator fights are practiced.And there is no doubt why boxing involves barbaric and violent acts because it speaks of where it comes from. To witness a weaker opponent who is being crushed by a stronger opponent and will definitely lead to a bloody fight may be a good ground to banned boxing (see Oscar Avelar Bernstein. â€Å"Boxing is Not a Sport! †). Boxing motivates the audiences, especially the young audiences, to become violent. What the children observed during the fight surely registers on their minds and have the tendency to imitate those punches and become violent.Boxing should be outlawed because it can cause severe injuries, disability or sometimes death if the weaker opponent cannot longer bear the pain caused by the blows that are released by the stronger opponent. Though boxing instigates discipline and a lot of advantages yet it cannot compensate the pain and physical damages which your body receives from the fight. Reference 1. Oscar Avelar Bernstein. â€Å"Boxing is Not a Sport! † http://class. csueastbay. edu/english/real/REAL96/Solos/boxing. html

10 Facts on Contemporary Issues in U.S. Education for an Informative Speech

10 Facts on Contemporary Issues in U.S. Education for an Informative Speech Statistically, United States spend more on education per student than any other country in the world. However, despite being ranked 14th by the Learning Curve Pearson Research, the US education system is not void of contemporary issues. If you have to cover this broad topic in an informative speech and cannot think of something yet, here are ten facts that will ignite your creativity. Here are some of the facts on contemporary issues in U.S. education that you can use for writing an Informative Speech on the matter: The Common Core State Standards have been subject to debate since their inception. The mixed response to this matter is due to political and public feedback taken into consideration during the creation of these standards. Regardless, 42 states have adopted this and many are deciding to let it be. The No Child Left Behind Act is another much-criticized initiative because the federal government, ironically, has actually left behind a lot of children due to their lack of funding. Student’s achievements are evaluated by an annual reading and mathematics test, which teachers prepare the students for in advance because that is how they are supposed to keep their jobs. As the focus of these evaluation tests is math and reading, other important subjects are neglected, such as art, social studies, and physical education. The US education system was not spared when the time of budget cuts came. Inflation has led to a great decline in education funding. Several educational programs have faced cuts such as Title I Grants by 6.8 percent, the Impact Aid that was diverted to help the districts on American Indian and Federal lands by 5.3 percent, the advanced placement program by 38.4 percent, and civic education by a 100 percent. These numbers look even worse when we look at the overall educational expense reduction. A total of 19.8 percent has been reduced in the educational budget between the years 2011 and 2015. Students are not able to concentrate enough because of the lack of concern when it comes to school violence. Violence in schools is due to various reasons, such as an uncomfortable environment at home, the overall crime rate in the neighborhood, and the negligent behavior of school administrators. School violence has become such a big problem that even the school staff’s safety has come under question. There is a substantial percentage of students who carry weapons of sorts to school. Physical fights have become a norm. Overall, a significant number of students do not attend school in some areas due to the fear of their safety. Foreign students whose native language is not English suffer enormously in the US education system. While it is mandatory for them to learn English as a secondary language, the system is not catching up to the huge amount of non-English speaking immigrants arriving to the US with kids below six years of age. Generally, these students are more likely to drop out of school. Furthermore, the administrators themselves sometimes encourage them to do so just so that they can improve their average score results. Teachers as well evaluate them with lower difficulty, creating a hurdle in their personal grooming. To this day, the US education system has not unanimously agreed upon the definition of a ‘Gifted Student’. Due to the lack of a universal system or attention to the gifted children’s education, these kids are more likely to develop academic, social and emotional problems. The budget allocated towards this issue has been declining ever since the cold war ended. Till this day, there is a debate about whether the term ‘Gifted’ is limited to medical reasons or potential. Even in times like today, gender bias exists, and it can affect kids at an early age too. Gender bias is the profiling of kids according to their gender. Certain teachers may subliminally incite the idea that a male or female student is supposed to be good at a particular subject just because that’s how members of their genders are. It has become a bigger problem in today’s world because of the fact that the professional environment in offices have evolved. Grooming the child from an early age is important so that they understand equality and behave in a way that would not isolate them in their older age. There is a standard test called â€Å"High Stakes Test† which is given to students as early as in kindergarten or 3rd grade. This test is done to see whether the teacher or the administration is up to the standard set by the state. This is a highly controversial way because this gives teachers and administrator cause to tweak their academic calendar and train students for the upcoming tests. There should be a more transparent and systematic way to perform this which does not strain the minds of little children with another test. Politics plays a huge role in the development of education system. Each time there is an election, the candidate presents his or her absolute discontent towards the education system and presents all the changes that they portray as if no one has ever imagined. An education strategy should not be altered way too many times and there should be a proper debate between respected and well-reputed teachers and economists to decide on a plan of action that all the newly elected government officials reinforce. The wage of a school teacher is not enough to attract qualified graduates to choose teaching as a profession. Those who are working already do not have enough incentives to perform better in class. The problem is this that the teachers are evaluated but they are not incentivized. If you want more straightforward topics, check out our list of 20 topics on contemporary issues in U.S. education for an informative speech. On the other hand, if you need help with writing this speech, refer to our guide on how to write an informative speech about education. References: High Stakes Testing Pros and Cons. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from education.com/magazine/article/high-stakes-testing-pros-cons/ Levine, M. D. (1994). Educational care: A system for understanding and helping children with learning problems at home and in school. Cambridge, MA: Educators Pub. Service. Weishaar, M. K. (2007). Case studies in special education law: No Child Left Behind Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall. Finley, L. L. (n.d.). School violence: A reference handbook. Sadker, D. M., Sadker, M., Zittleman, K. R., Sadker, M. (2009). Still failing at fairness: How gender bias cheats girls and boys in school and what we can do about it. New York: Scribner. Camacho, J. S. (2008). Higher education as ignorance: The contempt of Mexicans in the American educational system. Lanham, MD: Hamilton Books. Top 100 Universities in the World 2012. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/100TopUniversitiesintheWorld.aspx

Timeline of Greek and Roman Philosophers

Timeline of Greek and Roman Philosophers What was the first cause of our existence? What is real? What is the purpose of our lives? Questions like these have become the basis of the study known as philosophy. While these questions were addressed in ancient times through religion, the process of logically and methodically thinking through lifes big questions did not begin until about the 7th century BCE. As different groups of philosophers worked together, they developed schools or approaches to philosophy. These schools described the origins and purpose of existence in very different ways. Individual philosophers within each school had their own particular ideas. The Pre-Socratic philosophers are the earliest of the philosophers. Their concern was not so much with the topics of ethics and knowledge that modern people associate with philosophy, but concepts we might associate with physics.  Empedocles and Anaxagoras are counted as Pluralists, who believed there is more than one basic element from which everything is composed. Leucippus and Democritus are Atomists. More or less following the Pre-Socratics came the trio of Socrates-Plato-Aristotle, the schools of the Cynics, Skeptics, Stoics, and Epicureans. The Milesian School: 7th-6th Centuries BCE Miletus was an ancient Greek Ionian city-state on the western coast of Asia Minor in today’s Turkey. The Milesian School consisted of Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes (all from Miletus). The three are sometimes described as materialists, because they believed that all things derived from a single material. Thales (636-546 BCE): Thales was certainly a real historical individual, but very little evidence remains of his work or writing. He believed that the first cause of all things was water, and may have written two treatises entitled On the Solstice and On the Equinox, focusing on his astronomical observation. He may also have developed several significant mathematical theorems. It is likely that his work strongly influenced Aristotle and Plato.Anaximander (c.611-c.547 BCE): Unlike Thales, his mentor, Anaximander actually wrote materials can be credited to his name. Like Thales, he believed that just one material was the source of all thingsbut Anaximander called that one thing the boundless or infinite. His ideas may well have strongly influenced Plato.Anaximenes (d. c. 502 BCE): Anaximenes may well have been a student of Anaximander. Like the other two Milesians, Anaximenes believed that a single substance was the source of all things. His choice for that substance was the air. Accor ding to Anaximenes, when the air becomes finer, it becomes fire, when it is condensed, it becomes first wind, then cloud, then water, then earth, then stone. The Eleatic School: 6th and 5th centuries BCE Xenophanes, Parmenides, and Zeno of Elea were members of the Eleatic School (named for its location in Elea, a Greek colony in southern Italy). They rejected the idea of many gods and questioned the idea that there is one reality. Xenophanes of Colophon (c. 570-480 BCE): Xenophanes rejected the anthropomorphic deities and considered there to be one incorporeal god. Xenophanes may have asserted that men may have beliefs, but they dont have certain knowledge.Parmenides of Elea (c. 515-c. 445 BCE): Parmenides believed that nothing comes into being because everything must derive from something that already exists.Zeno of Elea, (c. 490-c. 430 BCE): Zeno of Elea (in southern Italy) was known for his intriguing puzzles and paradoxes. Pre-Socratic and Socratic Philosophers of the 6th and 5th Centuries BCE Anaxagoras of Clazomenae(c. 499-c. 428)Greek philosopherProtagoras(480-411)Greek philosopher SophistSocrates(c. 469-399)Greek philosopherPlato(c. 427-347)Greek philosopherDiogenes of Sinope(412-323)Greek philosopher Philosophers of the 4th Century BCE Aristotle(384-322)Greek philosopherEpicurus(341-271)Greek philosopherEuclid(c. 325-265)Greek mathematicianAristarchos(c. 310-250)Greek astronomer Philosophers of the 3rd Century BCE Chrysippus(c. 280-207)Hellenistic philosopherEratosthenes(276-194)Hellenistic astronomer Philosophers of the 2nd Century BCE Panaetius(c. 185-110)Stoic and Neo-Platonic PhilosopherLucretius(c. 98-55)Roman poet and Epicurean philosopher Philosophers of the 1st Century CE Epictetus(50 - 138)Roman philosopherMarcus Aurelius(121-180)Roman emperor and philosopher Philosophers of the 3rd Century CE Plotinus(c. 204-270)Greco-roman philosopher Philosophers of the 4th Century CE Hypatia of Alexandria(c. 370-415)Alexandrian philosopher Philosophers of the 4th Century CE Boethius(480-525)Philosopher and Christian martyr who was called the last of the Romans.

Comparison between Sultan Saladin and Baibars Essay

Comparison between Sultan Saladin and Baibars - Essay Example Sultan Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) was the significant leader of the Ayyubid Rule from 1171-1250, and also the first Egyptian leader after the demise of the last Fatimid caliph. The successive period known as the Mamluk Period (1250-1517) was marked by the leadership of Al-Malik Baybars I. Saladin and Baybars are important historic leaders of their time periods and represented intelligently formed armies, great achievements and territorial progressions. Saladin, a Kurd and Baybars, a Turk, were both the famous Muslim leaders of middle Ages who fought valiantly against the crusaders and established glorious Muslim victories in the Middle East. Abu al-Muzaffar Yusuf b. Ayyub known as Salah al-Din which means the Reformer of the Religion was the fundamental founder of the Ayyubid Dynasty. The glorious dynasty ruled over Egypt, upper Iraq, Syria and Yemen for a long period of time. His claim to fame is considered as the capture of Jerusalem from the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1187. He also played a crucial role in opposing the crusaders. In his initial years, Saladin was a part of the Syrian military expeditions in Egypt and fought to defend the Fatimid caliphate against the forces of Jerusalem. Saladin came into power and gained prominence when he was appointed as the commander of the Syrian forces. He proclaimed the return of Sunni Islam in 1171. Till 1186, he expanded the Muslim land and combined the lands of Egypt, Syria and Mesopotomia. With unifying major Muslim lands and gaining immense power, Saladin strengthened his grounds for facing the Christian crusaders and their threats (Bowering et al 2013). Saladin was very enthusiastic and religiously motivated while fighting the crusaders to protect the Holy Islamic lands and landmarks. Baha al-Din wrote about Saladin, â€Å"In his love for the Jihad on the path of God he shunned his womenfolk, his children, his homeland, his home and all his pleasures, and for this world he was content to dwell in the shade o f his tent with winds blowing through left and right† Thus, the writer has narrated that Saladin’s goals and desire for success were of utmost importance to him (Nicolle & Dennis 2011). Saladin ruled for twenty four years out of which he spent eight years in Cairo. He established schools, hospitals and improved infrastructure (Asante, 2002). Saladin was remembered even by his enemies because of his honesty, chivalry and generosity. Unlike other Muslim emperors he was not cruel to his subordinates. He altered tax structure in Egypt supported higher education (Frank N Magill, 1998). It was in his reign that he brought the Mamluk Circassians and Turks from the Black Sea region and they were also allowed to own land, raise families and even gain social prominence (Asante, 2002). The main achievement of Saladin was that he won the Battle of Hattin in 1187 and conquered not only Jerusalem but also much of the Crusader kingdom. In 1187, Saladin announced jihad against the Chri stians who had invaded the Middle East. The invasion included attempts to conquer the Holy Land. As commander of the Muslim forces, he gathered the Muslim allies, soundly defeated the Christians and regained rule in the city of Jerusalem. His army expressed acts of chivalry and nobility that were highly appreciated and admired by the enemies themselves and was contrasted with the crusaders; brutality. Saladin signed a peace agreement with the King of

PSY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PSY - Essay Example This article classifies consciousness variation into two states, in which sleep plays a major role. These states are Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep and the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. The author regards the aspect of consciousness as a slippery concept, which cannot be touched or seen. That this nature of consciousness limited past psychologists from studying it, and so most were compelled to study behaviorism. At least behaviorism is observable, hence to study, unlike the unobservable consciousness, which is quite hard to study. On the concept of sleep, the article emphasizes the importance of sleep. The author argues that the physical and psychological impact of sleeplessness is evidence that sleep is vital. The problems associated with sleeplessness are mentioned to include increased irritability, reduced alertness, and reduced attention. An important effect of loss of sleep is mentioned as sleep-deprivation psychosis, which is characterized by disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, and delusions. Nonetheless, the importance of both REM sleep and slow-wave sleep are emphasized. These have different roles they play in human body. Slow-wave sleep is vital in refreshing the body after physical fatigue. The author recommends that developing children must be offered ample time to sleep. He explains that it is during sleep that a growth hormone is produced. Therefore, the longer they sleep, the faster they will grow. In the article, sleep is considered a biological rhythm, which cannot be sidestepped. It is like an internal clock, which is set to a 24-hour cycle. According to the author, this â€Å"clock† experiences grogginess and sometimes peaks at different times of the day, depending on temperature and neutral firings of human bodies. The hypothalamus and the pineal gland are responsible for the control of this rhythm. However, the optic nerve and melatonin hormone play