A Brief History of the Tower of London

A Brief History of the Tower of London If you watch a British entertainer on their home soil make a joke about the Royal Family, youll probably see them follow it up with a quip like oh, they’ll take me to the Tower! They dont need to say which tower. Everyone growing up in the mainstreams of British culture hears about The Tower, a building as famous and central to the national myths of England as the White House is to the myths of the United States. Built on the north bank of the River Thames in London and once a home of royalty, a jail for prisoners, a site for executions and a storehouse for an army, the Tower of London now contains the Crown Jewels, guardians nicknamed Beefeaters (they arent keen on the name) and legend securing ravens. Dont be confused by the name: the Tower of London is actually a huge castle-complex formed by centuries of addition and alteration. Described simply, the nine hundred-year-old White Tower forms a core surrounded, in concentric squares, by two sets of powerful walls. Studded with towers and bastions, these walls enclose two inner areas called wards that are full of smaller buildings. This is the story of its origins, creation and the near continual development which has kept it at the center of an, albeit changing, national focus for nearly a millenia, a rich and bloody history that easily attracts over two million visitors every year. Origins of the Tower of London While the Tower of London as we know it was built in the eleventh century, the history of fortification on the site stretches back into Roman times, when stone and wooden structures were built and marshland reclaimed from the Thames. A massive wall was created for defence, and this anchored the later Tower. However, the Roman fortifications declined after the Romans left England. Many Roman structures had their stones robbed away for use in later buildings (finding these Roman remains in other structures is a good source of evidence and very rewarding), and what remained in London was likely foundations. Williams Stronghold When William I successfully conquered England in 1066 he ordered the construction of a castle in London, using the site of the old Roman fortifications as a base. In 1077 he added to this stronghold by ordering the construction of a huge tower, the Tower of London itself. William died before it was completed in 1100. William needed a large tower partly for protection: he was an invader attempting to take over a whole kingdom, one which needed pacification before it would accept him and his children. While London seems to have been made safe quite quickly, William had to engage in a campaign of destruction in the north, the Harrying, to secure that. However, the Tower was useful in a second way: the projection of royal power wasnt just about walls to hide in, it was about showing status, wealth and strength, and a large stone structure that dominated its surroundings did just that. The Tower of London as Royal Castle Over the next few centuries monarchs added ever more fortifications, including walls, halls and other towers, to an increasingly complex structure which became referred to as The Tower of London. The central tower became known as the ‘White Tower’ after it was whitewashed. On the one hand, every successive monarch needed to build here to demonstrate their own wealth and ambition. On the other hand, several monarchs had need to shelter behind these imposing walls due to conflicts with their rivals (sometimes their own siblings), so the castle remained nationally important and a military keystone in controlling England. From Royalty to Artillery During the Tudor period the use of the Tower began to change, with visits from the monarch declining, but with many important prisoners held there and an increase in the use of the complex as a storehouse for the nation’s artillery. The number of major modifications began to decline, although some were spurred on by fire and naval threats, until changes in warfare meant the Tower became less important as an artillery base. It wasnt that the Tower was any less formidable to the type of people it had been built to defend, but that gunpowder and artillery meant its walls were now vulnerable to new technology, and defences had to take markedly different forms. Most castles suffered a decline in military importance, and instead transformed into new uses. But monarchs were looking for different sorts of accommodation now, palaces, not cold, draughty castles, so visits fell. Prisoners, however, did not require luxury. The Tower of London as National Treasure As the military and government use of the Tower declined, parts were opened up to the general public, until the Tower evolved into the landmark it is today, welcoming over two million visitors annually. Ive been myself, and its a striking place to spend time and muse on the history its seen. It can get crowded though! More on the Tower of London The Tower of London Ravens: Ravens are kept at the Tower of London, in part to fulfill the demands of an old superstition†¦ this article explains why.The Beefeaters / Yeoman Warders: The Tower of London is guarded by people called Yeoman Warders, but they’re better known by a nickname: the Beefeaters. Visitors to the Tower should keep an eye out for, what by modern standards, are their unusual uniforms.

Free Essays on Literature

There are many pieces of literature that are different from one another yet, each contains some of the same language and qualities. This is the case with Richard Connell’s â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game,† Ernest Hemingway’s â€Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,† and Thomas Wolfe’s â€Å"The Child by Tiger.† Each piece is different from the next but, each share a few common themes such as irony and a personality change for the characters. In â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game,† a worldly, experienced hunter (Mr. Rainsford) winds up on another hunter’s island and becomes the hunted. This is ironic because he is usually the hunter. Being as the other hunter, General Zaroff is as experienced as he is; all of his tricks are easily discovered and leave Mr. Rainsford fighting for his life. He was previously cynical and brushed off any comments other people made about the animals feelings or thoughts. However, the personality change comes when he is being hunted and starts to realize true fear for his life like his previously hunted had felt. He then knew what it felt like to run and hide for his life. â€Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber† follows a hunter, and a husband and wife on a hunting excursion. While attempting to hunt a Lion, Mr. Macomber cowers and runs from the Lion, fearing for his life and living the hunter to kill his prey. On the next day’s outing, after successfully hunting some buffalo, Mr. Macomber has a complete personality change when he feels a sudden rush of not fearing anything anymore. This is the first time in his life that he feels no fear. Ironically, however, while being braver then the others and attempting to get a second shot at one of the buffalo, he is shot by his wife. The Ironic part about this is the fact that his wife was the one person he never feared. Wolfe’s â€Å"The Child by Tiger,† however, was slightly different from both of the previous works. While it hold... Free Essays on Literature Free Essays on Literature There are many pieces of literature that are different from one another yet, each contains some of the same language and qualities. This is the case with Richard Connell’s â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game,† Ernest Hemingway’s â€Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,† and Thomas Wolfe’s â€Å"The Child by Tiger.† Each piece is different from the next but, each share a few common themes such as irony and a personality change for the characters. In â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game,† a worldly, experienced hunter (Mr. Rainsford) winds up on another hunter’s island and becomes the hunted. This is ironic because he is usually the hunter. Being as the other hunter, General Zaroff is as experienced as he is; all of his tricks are easily discovered and leave Mr. Rainsford fighting for his life. He was previously cynical and brushed off any comments other people made about the animals feelings or thoughts. However, the personality change comes when he is being hunted and starts to realize true fear for his life like his previously hunted had felt. He then knew what it felt like to run and hide for his life. â€Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber† follows a hunter, and a husband and wife on a hunting excursion. While attempting to hunt a Lion, Mr. Macomber cowers and runs from the Lion, fearing for his life and living the hunter to kill his prey. On the next day’s outing, after successfully hunting some buffalo, Mr. Macomber has a complete personality change when he feels a sudden rush of not fearing anything anymore. This is the first time in his life that he feels no fear. Ironically, however, while being braver then the others and attempting to get a second shot at one of the buffalo, he is shot by his wife. The Ironic part about this is the fact that his wife was the one person he never feared. Wolfe’s â€Å"The Child by Tiger,† however, was slightly different from both of the previous works. While it hold... Free Essays on Literature American Literature: Prose, fiction and nonfiction of the American colonies and the United States, written in the English language from about 1600 to the present. This literature captures America’s quest to understand and define itself. For its first 200 years American prose reflected the settlement and growth of the American colonies, largely through histories, religious writings, and expedition and travel narratives. Fiction appeared only after the colonies gained independence, when the clamor for a uniquely American literature brought forth novels based on events in America’s past. With a flowering of prose in the mid-1800s, the young nation found its own voice. By then fiction had become the dominant literary genre in America. In the early 1800s America faced a difficult challenge: how to create its own culture. Calls for an American literature began during the Revolution and became more frequent and urgent as independence was assured. Over the course of the 19th century the country progressed from an agricultural economy concentrated on the Eastern seaboard to an industrialized nation that spanned the continent. With the dramatic changes in the nation came dramatic changes in its literature. When the century opened, only a handful of novels had been written, but by mid-century American fiction rivaled the best in the world. Biography and history remained strong; religious writing, on the other hand, had substantially declined in importance. B American Romanticism During the late 1700s and early 1800s, romanticism was the dominant literary mode in Europe. In reaction to the Enlightenment and its emphasis on reason, romanticism stressed emotion, the imagination, and subjectivity of approach. Until about 1870 romanticism influenced the major forms of American prose: transcendentalist writings, historical fiction, and sentimental fiction. B1 Transcendentalism Like romanticism, transcendentalism rejected both 18t...

How to do good in school Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to do good in school - Essay Example First and foremost, a student needs discipline. This may seem difficult but what is really needed is for a person to decide to take all possible actions to plan and stick to his plans of action. It is then important to list activities and arrange them according to how they impact school performances. Allotting desired period of time is another important matter to consider in scheduling activities and sticking to the schedule regardless if the task is completed or not. This allows the student to adjust his pace in performing an activity rather than sacrificing other important tasks, allowing him to complete all that has been set for a day’s work. This could sometimes be discouraging during the first days however, once one has gotten into the habit of working in a timed manner, the body adjusts to the demands of discipline. Lectures are very helpful in improving a person’s school performances so it is also important to listen well and take notes. When a student takes notes while lectures are going on, he is strengthening his understanding of the topic and his retention of the information being discussed. In addition, during reviews, a person can always verify discussions with other resources based from what has been noted during lectures. Therefore, one has to learn how to take notes, study shorthand writing or make personal codes for an understandable outline, which will then be re-written if needed. Before every lecture, it is also most helpful for students to read in advance to have some idea what is to be discussed in class. This will enable an individual to grasp more details as compared to having no foreknowledge of the topic. Taking notes about important information that could possibly be discussed in class is also helpful, making note-taking during lectures easier and more complete. In taking personal notes during advance readings, a student should make an outline with special marks like asterisks, boxes,

Biology - Plant Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Biology - Plant Diversity - Essay Example The most important of all radiations for land plants occurred in the early Devonian period. This was when the first rhyniophytes appeared in the fossil record and made this fossil discovery very important for paleobotany. They had some distinguishing features such as their reproductive structures which contributed to their success. Some important species that dominated their eco-system included anthropods and sporopytes and gametophytes. 2. Describe and discuss the third land flora (the â€Å"Gymnosperm Flora†) that evolved on Earth. Your answer should include the following: †¢ references to geologic time of origin and/or decline, †¢ factors that may have influenced its distribution, success and/or decline, †¢ names and brief descriptions of the most important plants that dominated this flora. Gymnosperm flora Gymnosperms are known as primitive seed plants. Their evolutionary history is long. Gymnosperms appeared in the Paleozoic and then soon became the most do minant plants world over in the Mesozoic and Caenozoic periods. They were also seen in the Tertiary Period, survived the Glacial period and have multiplied till date. While gymnosperms are only 0.36% of angiosperms, they are seen in vast areas in coniferous forests and are widely distributed world over. They are found in great abundance in China in particular. Their leaves are needlelike and evergreen. They can produce cones. A very important feature of gymnosperms is that their female sex germs reside in the ovules as in regular flowers. However the ovules are not enclosed inside the flower’s ovaries as is found in most flowering plants. It should be noted though that gymnosperms don’t produce fruits. In the biological terms, fruits are produced from maturing flower ovaries where the seeds develop in the ovules inside the ovaries. They are found in vast quantities in coniferous forests which have straight tree trunks and high timber yield of gymnosperm plants. Thuja s utchuenensis, an important specie of gymnosperm is extinct. Cycas revoluta, C. taiwaniana and C. szechuanensis, three other species of the plant are now the only cultivated plants. Some other species are as following: Cycas multipinnata, Keteleeria pubescens, K. oblonga, K. hainanensis, Abies beshanzuensis, A. yuanbaoshanensis, Picea likiangensis var. montigena, P. neoveitchii, Larix chinensis, Pseudotsuga brevifolia, Pinus squamata, Cephalotaxus lanceolata, Amentotaxus formosana and A. yunnanensis. (Cummings) Most of the aforementioned species are critically endangered and nowhere to be found today. 3. Describe and discuss the fourth land flora (the â€Å"Angiosperm Flora†) that evolved on Earth. Your answer should include the following: †¢ references to geologic time of origin, †¢ factors that may have influenced its distribution and success, (Hint: pollination and seed dispersal mechanisms, including convolution of the animal groups often involved in these mechan isms, should be a prominent feature of your answer.) †¢ Names and brief descriptions of some of the most important types of plants that dominate this flora. The evolution of angiosperms is a matter of great mystery to date. There are a lot of issues concerning their evolution today. There are speculations regarding their time of origin, the

Public image and social status Essay Example for Free

Public image and social status Essay As we can see, the two generations react differently to questioning by the Inspector. Mr. and Mrs. Birling are at first indignant and resistant to the Inspectors queries, and when they learn what is going on fully they rack their brains for a solution to the problem that has arisen, namely that the family name will be publicly disgraced and that they may lose custom at the office, resulting in a degradation of their lifestyle, public image and social status. However, Eric and Sheila show totally different reactions to Mr. and Mrs. Birling, when the Inspector questions them. Both members of the younger tell the truth to the Inspector, and both are, at one time or another, strong advocates of the truth, believing that repentance for their collective crimes is by far more important than saving face in public. Throughout the whole play, Sheila encourages the entire family to tell the truth and admit their crimes. Eric, in turn, tells the truth and advocates acceptance of the truth and repentance once the Inspector has left. The two different generation groups show different reactions to the incident, and neither can understand the mentality of the other when it comes to the way they deal with the situation after the Inspector leaves. After the Inspector leaves, the Birlings and Gerald discover that Inspector Goole was not a real Inspector at all, but a fake. Mr. and Mrs. Birling and Gerald are overjoyed when they discover that they are not in jeopardy of being linked to the untimely death of a young girl, but Eric and Sheila maintain that this turn of events changes nothing, they should be sorry for the actions they have taken and learn from the events that transpired that evening. Then, on the last page of the text and in the last few seconds of the play, there is a telephone call to tell the Birlings that a girl has just died in the infirmary and an inspector is on his way to visit them. This could lead the audience to think that perhaps the Inspector was an anthropomorphic personification of the collective consciences of the Birlings and Gerald, who was sent to the Birlings to teach them their lesson before it was too late. During this saving of the Birlings we learn that it is the younger generation who, contrary to popular belief, are accepting of their wrongdoing and prepared to change and learn from this event, whether its repercussions reached as far as degrading their lives or not. However, the older generation, who may normally be expected to act as the younger generation have, refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions and are only concerned with maintaining the lifestyle they have carved out for themselves, whether it remains spiritually and conscientiously empty or not. For a full and true understanding of An Inspector Calls, one must first have a knowledge and understanding of how the dates of the play (the date it was set, the date it was first shown, and the dates of major world events that occurred between the time of its setting and the time of its first showing) are all inextricably linked, and combine to magnify the impact of the message Priestley is trying to convey to his audience. It would be sensible to assume that the Inspector in the play represents Priestley himself, as the morals and values exhibited by the Inspector reflect Priestleys own; they both believe that all people should be treated as equals, for example. The representation of Priestleys political and philosophical opinions in the play is reinforced in the younger generation (Gerald and Sheila Birling) as they both exhibit a preference for social responsibility and care towards fellow humans. Conversely, Mr. Birling brings together all of the personality traits and attitudes that Priestley so hated and fervently campaigned against, the arrogance of those left over from the Old Edwardian era, the perception of we, the rich and they, the poor, and the unwavering confidence that this state of affairs could never change, coupled with an inability to see any possible breakdown of this system. This character profile and viewpoint is backed up by Mrs. Birling who shares Mr. Birlings views, and provides a supporting role to reinforce the contrast between the Inspector/Priestleys Socialist views and the Edwardian upper-class views of Mr. and Mrs. Birling. The diametrically opposed views and personalities of these two characters in itself would be enough to highlight just how strong Priestleys views are, but this is coupled with a superb manipulation of the timing of the plays setting and first showing. The play was written in 1944-45, first shown in Moscow in 1945 and in London in 1946, and was set in 1912. In the first act of the play, Mr. Birling makes an impassioned speech that details his political views and makes several statements in the aforementioned arrogance of his peer group; namely, that there will be no war Just because the Kaiser makes a speech or two; the Titanic is unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable; that all the fuss about the Labour party will have blown over; and that Russia . . . will always be behindhand. These statements, in the intervening years between the date of the plays setting and the date of the plays showing, prove to be wholly inaccurate. Two World Wars have broken out, both heavily involving the Germans, the Titanic has sunk after a collision with an iceberg, the Labour party has been voted in several times and will have continued success even though the war is won under a Conservative Churchill, and Russia will become a great 20th Century world power and birthplace of fabulous wealth due to its abundance of natural resources. As well as Mr. Birlings predictions for the future being dashed to pieces by world events of the next 20 years, his very philosophies on how society should operate were proven to be outdated and incompatible with modern life by the new Socialist movement. The twelve years between 1906 and 1918 proved to be the turning point that defined our current political system in this country and the advent of the nanny state. In this period the vote for parliamentary elections was rolled out to all persons aged 18 and over, education became compulsory up to the age of 12, and the Social Security system was founded, providing pensions and unemployment for people who needed them. Granted, these systems were not perfect, but this interlinked lattice of world events, the socialist movement, and the timing of the play serves to make Priestleys point just as eloquently and effectively as the play itself does.

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight :: Essays Papers

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Text Analysis: Passages 203-278 Summary Sir Gawain and the Green Knight takes place early in the career of King Arthur. Young and naive, Arthur presides over a court that has great wealth and few problems. The Green Knight is a mysterious and magical character who presents a challenge to the pride and wealth of Arthur's kingdom. However, this challenge is not to the battle-strength of Arthur's court, but to its values. The Green Knight disrupts a Christmas celebration taking place in Camelot, and offers a contest: an exhange of ax-strokes. Gawain takes up the contest and chops off the head of the Green Knight who survives through magical means. Gawain sets forth to accept the return blow which is to take place a year and one day from the first. While Gawain is searching for the Green Knight's chapel, he is taken in by a great lord named Bercilak who puts Gawain's honesty and integrity to the test. In parrying Bercilak's wife's attempts at seduction with gentlemanly skill, Gawain passes this moral test. Finally, we discover that the lord is in fact the Green Knight himself. Instead of being killed at the Green Knight's hands, Gawain returns to Arthur's court with a green girdle: representative of Gawain's only failure. By accepting the girdle from Bercilak's wife and not surrendering it as the wager demanded, Gawain fails in his promise. With love for his own life as his only failure, Bercilak and A rthur find little fault with Gawain, and Gawain's reputation as the most virtuous of the Knights of the Round Table remains unblemished. The following analysis is of a passage early in the story. The Green Knight has just made an impressive entrance into Arthur's court, and is ready to issue his challenge. Passage Synopsis: Passages 203-207: The Green Knight is on his horse in Arthur’s court, and his appearance is being described. He is not wearing battle-gear, and has no armor or shield for defense. He is holding a holly bob which is a symbol of peace. Passages 208-220: He is carrying one weapon: a huge green ax. Many lines are used to describe this awesome looking ax. It’s wound with iron and lace, and tassels and buttons of bright green hang from it. Passage 221-232: The Green Knight rather rudely ignores all the guests and goes directly to look for Arthur, referring to him as "The captain of this crowd. Sir Gawain and The Green Knight :: Essays Papers Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Text Analysis: Passages 203-278 Summary Sir Gawain and the Green Knight takes place early in the career of King Arthur. Young and naive, Arthur presides over a court that has great wealth and few problems. The Green Knight is a mysterious and magical character who presents a challenge to the pride and wealth of Arthur's kingdom. However, this challenge is not to the battle-strength of Arthur's court, but to its values. The Green Knight disrupts a Christmas celebration taking place in Camelot, and offers a contest: an exhange of ax-strokes. Gawain takes up the contest and chops off the head of the Green Knight who survives through magical means. Gawain sets forth to accept the return blow which is to take place a year and one day from the first. While Gawain is searching for the Green Knight's chapel, he is taken in by a great lord named Bercilak who puts Gawain's honesty and integrity to the test. In parrying Bercilak's wife's attempts at seduction with gentlemanly skill, Gawain passes this moral test. Finally, we discover that the lord is in fact the Green Knight himself. Instead of being killed at the Green Knight's hands, Gawain returns to Arthur's court with a green girdle: representative of Gawain's only failure. By accepting the girdle from Bercilak's wife and not surrendering it as the wager demanded, Gawain fails in his promise. With love for his own life as his only failure, Bercilak and A rthur find little fault with Gawain, and Gawain's reputation as the most virtuous of the Knights of the Round Table remains unblemished. The following analysis is of a passage early in the story. The Green Knight has just made an impressive entrance into Arthur's court, and is ready to issue his challenge. Passage Synopsis: Passages 203-207: The Green Knight is on his horse in Arthur’s court, and his appearance is being described. He is not wearing battle-gear, and has no armor or shield for defense. He is holding a holly bob which is a symbol of peace. Passages 208-220: He is carrying one weapon: a huge green ax. Many lines are used to describe this awesome looking ax. It’s wound with iron and lace, and tassels and buttons of bright green hang from it. Passage 221-232: The Green Knight rather rudely ignores all the guests and goes directly to look for Arthur, referring to him as "The captain of this crowd.

Coach cater

l came to coach basketball players, and you became students. I came to teach boys, and you became men†. This quote shows how successful Coach Ken Carter's managing techniques are, however Coach Carter uses many managing styles through out the film. A good manager uses multiple managing techniques these techniques are autocratic, persuasive, consultative, participative and laissez fairer. Coach Carter's managing methods vary between the different situations he comes across. As shown wrought out the film Coach Carter's managing styles and approaches are very successful.One of Coach Carter's managing styles was autocratic. Autocratic managing Is mainly based only the managers decision also known as centralized decision making. This managing style is mainly focused on tasks and does not accept much feedback and gives very tight timeliness. An example of an autocratic managing style is when coach carter says, â€Å"let's see how many suicides you can do in†¦ One hour and seven minutes†. This quote shows how he is trying to discipline his team and the tight implies an autocratic manager Like coach carter would give In a situation Like that.A second managing style that is used by coach carter is a persuasive technique. Persuasive managing is very similar to the autocratic managing techniques. It uses centralized decision making, only interested in results and outcomes, however a manager of this technique would accept very little feedback. Instead of tight timeliness he or she often sells you decisions. An example of a persuasive managing style Is when coach carter says. Most importantly we control the tempo of the game†. This quote shows that he is giving orders that persuade the team to perform better.The third managing style coach carter approached his team with was a consultative approach. The consultative managing style consists of the manager willing to accept most of his or hers staff opinions. Consultative managers are more employee orie ntated and the staff has more Input with tasks. Coach carter uses this method of managing when he realizes his team is getting better at playing basketball, an example of this managing style is when coach carter is not satisfied with their grades however he is willing to help them improve their grades.This quote shows that coach carter believes in his team and is willing to hell them as he can see they have potential. The fourth managing style that was used by coach carter most commonly was a participative style. This managing style consists of many factors which are that decisions are made together, responsibility is often delegated to his or hers staff. This managing style also accepts a lot of feedback and is more of a flexible managing Tyler. N example of this managing style is shown when team member Jason Lyle says, â€Å"You said we're a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One person triumphs, we all triumph†. This quote shows that he allows his team to make de cisions and to The final managing technique that was used by coach carter was laissez fairer in English translation leave alone. This technique is very laid back and is commonly used by a manager who has a staff that is very talented, however with a talented staff you can give a lot of responsibility to your staff.High delegation must come with a talented and trusted team and this is shown when coach carter sees his team doing paperwork in the gym and Jason Lyle says, â€Å"they can cut the chains off the door, but they can't make us play,(Dampen carter) we have decided to finish what you've started, sir†. Another scene is when Dampen carter offers his father a contract to allow him to play for Richmond oilier. These quotes and this scene shows the teams dedication, talent and how they are capable enough to make decisions.

English As A Second Language Program Essay

An ESL or English as a second Language program, as the name suggests is for students or people in general who do not speak English as their first language and have an interest in learning this language for certain reasons which may range from applying to a college or university in United states or elsewhere or they would want to get accustomed to this language for the purpose of conducting business overseas, for communication with peers at work or it can be for the simple reason of communicating with people at different situations. In this article we are going to focus on ESL programs for students at a school district, comparing and contrasting on the ways they are executed and the ways they should be executed. English as a Second Language programs for students are offered to students by either scheduling classes in between their regular course classes or they can be undertaken as a separate programs by certain individuals who are accommodated in the vicinity of the university. Today, since the ratio of international students is increasing at an alarming rate in United States or Canada, offering an ESL program is more of a legal requirement for most districts so that all students are taken forward together at university or when they enroll into one in future. It is also due to this very fact that a lot of emphasis is given to ESL programs at elementary and middle school levels to prepare students to use English as a channel of communication in future. The execution and the effectiveness of these programs however, vary with different school districts depending upon trained teacher, the program and the dedication of the students themselves. The duration and intensity of an ESL program varies with the individual or university requirement and can be full time or part time, ranging from a couple of weeks to even a year. These details as mentioned do differ, so for example the ESL program offered at the Greenwich public school which aims at providing students academic and communication skills In order for them to succeed in U.S universities as effectively as possible. The elementary school offers this program for an average 2- 4 years with one to eight hours of instruction every week depending upon the grade and language individual needs of students. The school also focuses on very small groups and emphasizes individual attention to students to better understand their weaknesses and fill I the gaps. The Greenwich Public School district has been offering ESL programs for the past 28 years and has seen an influx in the number of ESL students over the years. In the year 2004-05 approximately 731 students enrolled in the program altogether from 54 countries. The elementary school curriculum includes a variety of materials according to student needs such as work books, songs, CD’s, learning of poems, class presentations etc. this program is more content based   and strong emphasis is give on the reading aspect in this program.   The program is organized around themes and aims at teaching critical thinking along with language skills to enable success in mainstream class rooms. In more specific terms this ESL program for elementary students includes Theme based English series which includes work books, posters etc. Group activities (theme based) which tend to explore literature along with songs, activities, TPR games etc. Miami Linguistics, which are designed for ESL beginners in a sequential reading manner. In Greenwich Public School, after completing the elementary school program after reaching grade 2 or grade 3, ESL students are expected to formulate questions, read outside of class, compare materials in a text and also contrast them. They are also able to express a story in their own words with proper understanding and expressions, write small paragraphs and initiate conversations. After completing the basic ESL program for elementary school, students can decide to move out of the program or advance to higher level middle school ESL program, which has its own curriculum and particular hours to be covered aimed at developing proficiency in English language. Placement in this program is based on entry tests and educational history. After looking at the details of different ESL programs offered by various institutes, if one actually compares them with reality, one can say that ESL programs put students under a lot of stress as they try to achive excellence in a second language, therefore recreational facilities should be made affordable, also the students should be encouraged to mingle with American students in order to culturally adjust with them   and pur into practice all the theories they have learnt in   class. Also one of the most important things which teachers for this program need to understand is that students enrolled in an ESL program come from very different backgrounds and cultures, therefore the same methodoligies cannot be applied across the board for teachin purposes. Students must be carefully monitered and encouraged to use their strengths to achive succcess in the course.   (Currie, 2003) If one compares the ESL program offered by greemwich Public School with other ESL programs offered, we can say that most ESL programs are similar in conducting theme based activities, which can be selected by asking students what they want to say, moulding the curiculum in children’s interest. Also at this stage most ESL programs are content based, songs are also one of the important keys to success in most ESL progrms. One of the methods which can contribute towards the improvement of an ESL program at Greenwich is that revision of matrial is very important before every new leson taught, this can be best achived with the help of songs before proceeding forward. Each lesson should be broken down into three to four parts, starting with warm up and revision of previous material, then teaching new lesson, for example new vocabulary words etc, the third part should incorporate games or activities t practice the new lesson and the ending of a esson sholud be on a happy thankful note, referably a song. This approach has been teted at ther ESL program and has proved to be very succesful. Different approaches to learning can be adressed thorough ESL games, making learning lessions fun and more effective. Depending on the students theses ESl games can vary from auditorylearnig style in which games involve more listening through peoms or repitation etc. Visual ESL styles ca be used for students who are more comfortable with videos of games involving flash cards etc and finally tactile learnig styles can be used in which â€Å"touch† are used.   (Vernon) In conclusion, if the current ESL program in a School district is evaluated in terms of the comparisons and details mentioned above,   I would say that diverse approach towards the students is missing and teachers are adopting   a homogenous method towards all students. In my opinion more effort needs to be diverted in this angle where different games and teaching styles are used after analysing the capabilities of students and more emphasis should be place on practical learning.

Death and Dying a Muslims Perspective Essays

Death and Dying a Muslims Perspective Essays Death and Dying a Muslims Perspective Essay Death and Dying a Muslims Perspective Essay Essay Topic: As I Lay Dying JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE Volume 91 March 1 998 Death and dying-a Muslim perspective Aziz Sheikh MRCP MRCGP J R Soc Med 1998;91:138-140 The care of dying patients and their relatives is one of the most difficult aspects of a doctors job. Enabling an individual to die with dignity can also be deeply rewarding. Britain today is a cosmopolitan society made up of people from numerous religious and cultural traditions. The care of patients with backgrounds different from ones own requires knowledge and skills. There are approximately 2 million Muslims in the UK1. Although most originate from he Indian subcontinent2 substantial numbers have arrived recently from Africa and to a lesser extent Central Europe. Islamic Law (Shariah) is based on the Quran and Hadith (the practices and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad)3. The Shariah defines certain expected behaviours at the time of death and these are generally adhered to by Muslims in Britain. In this pape r I offer some guidance on caring for Muslim patients in their final illness. MUSLIM BELIEF REGARDING DEATH, ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA For a Muslim, death marks the transition from one state of existence to the next. Islam teaches that life on earth is an examination-the life to come is the eternal abode where one will reap the fruit of ones endeavours on earth. Death is therefore not to be resisted or fought against, but rather something to be accepted as part of the overall divine plan4. Further, death is not a taboo subject in Muslim society and is a matter upon which one is encouraged to reflect frequently. In counselling of Muslims regarding a terminal illness, or relatives after a bereavement, these points should be borne in mind. Islam views life as sacred and a trust from God (Allah). Termination of pregnancy is therefore generally not permissible within the Islamic frameworks. If the subject needs to be broached this should be done with extreme sensitivity. To step outside the Islamic framework and have an abortion may engender much guilt. Similarly, deliberate euthanasia is prohibited6. Note, however, that undue suffering has no place in Islam and if death is hastened in the process of giving adequate analgesia then this is allowed. What is important is that the primary intent is not to hasten death. THE FINAL ILLNESS Certain death customs are almost universally practised by Muslims. Ideally Muslims would wish to die at home7. Making death clinical and remote in a hospital setting is not in keeping with the Islamic tradition. The dying person will expect to be visited by friends and relatives, who are encouraged to pray for his or her welfare in the life to come. This is a time when Muslims seek each others forgiveness for excesses that may have been inadvertently committed. Fifty people visiting in the space of a few days would not be exceptional; so strict adherence to 2 visitors per bed will cause difficulty for all concerned. Members of the immediate family will often stay by the bedside reciting from the Quran. Having a copy of the Quran on the ward, for those who have not remembered to bring their own, is a kindness. The daily prayers play a pivotal role in the day-to-day life of a Muslim, and prayer assumes an even greater role in times of suffering and distress. Family members will encourage the dying to continue with their prayers as long as they are able to do so. Before the prayer, ablution is performed; bed-bound patients will need help in this respect. Muslims pray towards Mecca, which is to the outh-east of Britain. Again for the bed-bound, positioning the bed in the direction of Mecca will simplify matters. Having a compass and prayer timetable available would be very useful; a prayer timetable is easily available from most local mosques. Many of the visitors and relatives will also need to perform their prayers and, unfortunately, hospitals seldom cater for this need8. DEATH, WASHING AND BURIA L When a Muslim dies, the eyes and mouth should be closed and the limbs should be straightened. The body should ideally face in the direction of Mecca. It is a religious equirement that the dead be buried as soon as possible and considerable family distress can be avoided by speedy production of the death certificate. The body will be washed and shrouded in simple unsewn pieces of white cloth. A funeral prayer is held in the local mosque, and family and community members follow the funeral procession to the graveyard where a final prayer is said as 138 the deceased is laid to rest. Events occur in rapid succession Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, Imperial College School of Medicine, Norfolk Place, London W2 1 PG, UK JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE Volume 91 March 1998 and often the dead will be buried within 24 hours. The Muslim is always buried rather than cremated9. POST-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS AND ORGAN TRANSPLANTS When new issues arise that are not explicitly dealt with in the Shariah, Muslim jurists are required to study the issue in question and using the principles enshrined within the Quran and Hadith give a legal opinion (fatwa). A fatwa is an opinion and therefore not binding; thus one can expect a broad range of views on a given question, and this is true of post-mortem examinations and organ transplantation. The majority opinion is that post-mortem examinations are not allowed. One reason is that the examination will inevitably delay the burial. Secondly, Islamic belief holds that it may be possible for the deceased to perceive pain. This is based on the statement of the Prophet Muhammad that to break the bone of a dead person is like breaking the bone of a living person10. A small but growing minority hold that post-mortem examinations are permissible11. Where the law of the land demands post-mortem examinations-i. e. at the coroners request-Muslims have no choice but to comply. In this case informing the coroners officer that the deceased is a Muslim may speed up the process since many coroners are aware of Muslim sensitivities. If for any other reason a post-mortem examination is considered desirable, family members must be told they have a free choice in the matter and their views must be respected. With regard to organ transplants opinion is more divided. For the reasons cited above many oppose the donating of organs. Further, it is argued that since life is a trust one has no right to donate any part of ones body to someone else. An increasing number of Muslims, however, are of the view that, in cases where it may save life, organ donation is permissible on the basis of the Islamic doctrine that necessity allows the prohibited12. CASE HISTORIES I close by offering two examples of poor practice and one of good. Case I A married genetics student attended the antenatal bookingin clinic in her first pregnancy. A routine dating ultrasound scan revealed that the fetus had increased nuchal thickness. Suspecting a diagnosis of Downs syndrome her consultant referred her to a tertiary centre for further investigations. Here she was followed up with serial ultrasound scans which revealed various congenital malformations that were considered incompatible with life. She was repeatedly a less than 1% chance of survival. This she consistently declined, stating that abortion was against her faith. Ultrasound monitoring continued until 34 weeks when she spontaneously went into labour. The baby, stillborn, was named and buried and is frequently visited by family members. Case 2 The parents of Zahra (not her real name), a 12-year-old girl with a progressive neurodegenerative disease, were invited o attend for a consultation to discuss their daughters prognosis. The consultant responsible for Zahras care informed them that she had deteriorated considerably over the past few months and that she was likely to deteriorate further in the near future. Throughout the discussion it was emphasized that Zahra had led a fruitful life, and that maximum effort would be made to ensure that she was kept pain-free. The ses sion was predominantly doctor-led, with the family being given little opportunity to discuss their hopes and fears. It ended with the clear message that Zahras end was imminent. She died shortly afterwards. Despite the best intentions of the clinician concerned, his lack of awareness of Muslim perspectives on the subject of death and dying led to a dysfunctional consultation. Though the issues raised by the consultant are frequently of great concern to those of a secular belief framework, they are of lesser concern to Muslims. Death is not seen as the end but rather as a passage into the eternal life. With regard to the impending or actual death of a child, it is customary to comfort the family by reminding them that children are ure and innocent, and hence have Paradise assured to them in the life to come. For a Muslim, there is no greater achievement. Case 3 A woman in her late 70s was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. It had been her third admission with the same condition in as many months. Tired and weak she had lost the will to continue and had stopped eating and drinking. After a few days of intensive treatment with little sign of improvement the consultant communed with family members regarding further management. A joint decision was made to suspend active treatment and to let nature take its course. She was kept comfortable with analgesia and regular mouthwashes. The family were given open visiting access and there remained someone with her at all times. When she died a few days later the necessary paperwork was completed immediately and she was buried within 12 hours. KEY MESSAGES *Muslims have beliefs and rituals surrounding death that advised to have a termination on the basis that the baby had are poorly understood by the medical profession. Greater 139 IJOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE Volume 91 March 1998 understanding and sensitivity in this respect would help ase suffering and distress both to patient and family. *Visiting the sick and dying is a religious duty. Muslims dying in hospital may therefore have many visitors. Relaxation of hospital visiting regulations would facilitate this. * Prompt issue of the death certificate will allow the burial to take place rapidly, in keeping with Islamic Law. * Post-mortem examinations are generally prohibited. In the event of a post-mortem being desirable or necessary, this should be discussed fully with the family, who should be informed of their rights. * On organ transplantation, mixed views are expressed by he Muslim community in Britain. REFERENCES 1 Qureshi B. Transcultural Medicine Dealing with Patients from Different Cultures. London: Kluwer, 1989:161 2 Badawi Z. Islam in Britain. London: Ta Ha Publishers, 1981:10 3 Doi AR. Shariah: The Islamic Law. London: Ta Ha Publishers, 1984:21- 58 4 Neuberger J. Caring for Dying Patients of DjJerent Faiths, 2nd edn. London: Mosby, 1994:36 5 Ebrahim AF. Abortion, Birth Control and Surrogate Parenting-An Islamic Perspective. Indianapolis: American Trust Publication, 1989:67-77 6 Darsh SM. Islamic Health Rules. London: Ta Ha Publishers, 1986:11-12 7 Gartrad AR. Muslim customs surrounding death, bereavement, postmortem examinations, and organ transplants. BMJ 1994;309:521-3 8 Sheikh A. Quiet room is needed in hospitals for prayer and reflection. BMJ 1997;315:1625 9 Black J. Broaden your mind about death and bereavement in certain ethnic groups in Britain. BMJ 1987;295:538 10 Al-Asqalani AIH. Bulugh Al-Maram. Riyadh: Dar-us-Salam Publications, 1996:199-200 11 Risper-Chaim V. The ethics of postmortem examinations in contemporary Islam. J Med Ethics 1993;19: 164-8 12 Anon. The Muslim Law (Shariah) Council and organ transplants. Accident Emerg Nursing 1996;4:73-5 140

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels Free Online Research Papers The Communist Manifesto, is one of the most influential pieces of literature in modern history, yet the least read. In the Communist Manifesto Marx and Engels argue that class struggles are what is responsible for all of the developments in history. They both argue that sooner or later these class struggles fail to work together and actually start causing problems. When the classes start to fail at working together that is when a revolution starts and then we see a different class become the dominant one. Marx calls this the â€Å"march of history†. They believe in two classes, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Marx concludes with the idea that the Proletariat will someday lead the revolution against the bourgeoisie and destroy all concepts of private property and classes. In the Communist Manifesto they argue that all of this is inevitable and that someday the proletariat will take over because capitalism is far too unstable. As communists it is their belief that they need to speed up this process that leads to revolution. Now that I have provided the basic ideas behind the Communist Manifesto I will elaborate with each of the various sections. The first section of the Manifesto is titled The Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. The first thing that it brings up is the idea of class struggle. Marx states that throughout history there are two main classes the class that oppresses and the class that is oppressed. Marx states that the fight either ends in a revolution or the complete destruction of the classes. He goes on to state that currently there are two classes, the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. These classes are, as Marx states, are just a simplified version of the feudal system that came before it. He explains how the bourgeoisie came out of the industrial revolution and are basically the â€Å"industrial millionaires†. He says that the bourgeoisie completely replaced the middle class. From there the bourgeoisie basically forced the lower classes into oppression and slavery. He states that the state is made up for the bourgeoisie’s interests. He claims that the bourgeoisie are responsible for making so tha t men only care about their own self-interest. He believes that the bourgeoisie have made it so that everything in society is about money including family. Marx writes that the bourgeoisie are responsible for the materialism that takes part in society. They create materialism as to make the proletariat dependent upon the bourgeoisie. Marx argues that free competition is what led the bourgeoisie to power. He now begins to talk about the proletariat. Marx states that it is the proletariat that will rise and defeat the bourgeoisie. The proletariat is both a slave and a soldier. The proletariat have been in constant struggle with the bourgeoisie ever since their existence. He states that they tried to establish unions to help fight against the bourgeoisie but in actuality they were working for the bourgeoisie. He goes on to argue that the creation of industry has given the proletariat more power because it increased their numbers. Soon the differences disappear and they all become low wage workers. Basically what happens is that the proletariat continue to become stronger and stronger. He goes on to claim that the bourgeoisie will fall and that the proletariat will win. The proletariat will destroy all property rights and make everyone equal. Marx goes on to speak of what the Communists do. He says that the Communists basically speed up this process. They help the proletariat defeat the bourgeoisie. They help in destroying private property. He makes the point that property actually ends up exploiting a person. This is because it is controlled by the bourgeoisie. He makes arguments that even if there is no private property that people will still work because the bourgeoisie have not worked and have still attained private property. He goes on to argue against the family saying that the family because it leads to exploiting children. He basically goes on to defend all of communisms most ridiculous ideas. For example his ideas on abolishing nationality and his idea that there are no universal truths. Soon the proletariat will take over and be the ruling class. Marx goes on to talk about the different kinds of socialism and communism that there are. The first one is Reactionary Socialism, which is basically the ones who fight against the bourgeoisie without knowing the history behind them. They dislike the bourgeoisie because they believe that they are a threat to their own way of life. The next for is that of Conservative Socialism. Basically the whole idea behind them is that they do not want the class struggles that capitalism brings but they do want all of the benefits from modern industry. The last type is that of Critical-Utopian Socialism or Communism. This is the most extreme version and is basically the idea behind the manifesto. That the proletariat rise up and defeat the bourgeoisie for their own end. Finally Marx ends with explaining the role of the what a Communist is actually supposed to do. They are supposed to fight for the workers. They work through political parties. Sometimes it seems as if they have infiltrated both of them. They help the proletariat gain power to defeat the bourgeoisie. Lastly they remark that the only way that they will be able to attain their goals is by destroying all current social and political conditions. To give a brief opinion on the Manifesto, I believe that it is strictly founded upon fear. Marx actually has the influence to make people hate because of their fear. This is probably one of the scariest political philosophies that I have read. Research Papers on The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich EngelsAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeQuebec and CanadaStandardized TestingThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoPETSTEL analysis of India19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfCapital Punishment

Management Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management Accounting - Essay Example Many individual country studies have been done on the national management accounting practices all over the world (Broomwitch and Wang, 1991; Amat et al, 1994 etc). However, the investor confidence has been deteriorating internationally in the accounting process because of the widespread occurrences of creative accounting and scandal. These two common events have created serious concerns among the investors globally. This has changed the image of management accounting as an objective discipline and showed the political nature of accounting. Many individual country case studies have been done to evaluate the existing management accounting practices globally (Broomwitch and Wang, 1991; Amat et al, 1994; Adlegan, 2000). Given this background, this essay critically evaluates the subjectivity of management accounting and the various images and practice that have shaped the subjectivity debate. The organization of the essay is given below. Section 2 discusses the debate regarding convergen ce to IFRS and true and fair value concept. Section 3 discusses the creative accounting in detail. Section 4 concludes the essay. 2. ... It is argued that the convergence of national accounting standards and IFRS has advantages like internationally comparable financial information with high quality. Moreover, it is supposed to obtain other benefits of globalization (Purvis et al, 1991). At the same time, this has created serious concerns in many nations also in spite of the above-mentioned benefits of financial reporting under IFRS. The main reason for this concern is that though it has many advantages, it may sometimes avoid country-specific interests (Barton, 1999). The internationalization can lead to the emergence of many account setting bodies which can have their own specific interests that can be in conflict with the interests of a particular nation. These groups can have the dominating power in such cases and the specific interests of a nation can be ignored. This has been a debatable issue in the recent years. IFRS has many major requirements, among which the main is the need for fair value reporting of their financial matters by the public companies in their financial statements. Based on this approach, the exchange price estimates need to be the basis for the asset and liability measurement in some cases. These prices need to be in a transaction at present and between parties who are not associated with each other and are known (Landsman, 2006; Ryan, 2008). However, this approach has raised many questions among the different scholars later. There have been many concerns regarding the fair value approach. In case of illiquid markets, the fair values can be obtained only by adjusting for illiquidity. Here, the market to market values or market to model values will be the adjustment done for estimation of fair values (Landsman, 2006).

Meaning of Socratess Claim Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Meaning of Socratess Claim - Essay Example The essay "Meaning of Socrates’s Claim" analyzes Socrates's statement, â€Å"the unexamined life is not worth living† which is a clear representation of the deeply principled arguments that are rooted in philosophical life. In order for one to fully comprehend one’s self, relative to the world, it is pertinent that self-examination and self-questioning of one’s life and its foundations. In the case that one chooses not to examine one’s life, they relinquish critical thinking and remain ignorant to their own though process, behaviors, and emotions (Rudebusch). This creates a situation where individuals become merely a passive receiver of experience as opposed to an engage and active exegetist of experience. At the individual level, one has to fundamentally question the very foundations' values that one has inherited from society so as to critically analyze the validity of the basis or foundations of these norms and cultures (Strauss). This requires the deconstructing all the values that one holds, stripping them down to the source, purpose, advantages and disadvantages of the given value. Depending on the conclusion of these results, the value, norm and/or culture can either be discarded, modified or upheld as it was initially. When one lives an unexamined life at the social level, they have no one to observe the individual’s evolutionary process. This is the isolation of man that is damaging to experience. This is because man is naturally tuned to socialize and interact with members of his/her own species.