The Downfall of Enron - 1573 Words

Enron: The fallout from the accounting scandal Determine the primary factors that contributed to the downfall of Enrons financial practices Corporate managers are expected to maximize investor returns while complying with regulatory standards, avoiding principal-agent conflicts of interest, and enhancing the reputational capital of their firms (Patrick Shearer 2002). Before its demise, the energy company Enron was envied for its burgeoning balance sheets. However, gradually it emerged that its profits were based in sand. Through the use of creative accounting, Enron mislead shareholders, employees, regulators, and the media about its financial solvency. A combination of aggressive accounting, off-balance-sheet deals and brow-beating of employees and advisers, allowed Enron management to create a virtual company with virtual profits (Hill, Chaffin, Fidler 2002). For example, Enron bolstered profits by booking income immediately on contracts that would take up to 10 years to complete, quite literally counting its chickens before they hatched (Hill, Chaffin, Fidler 2002). In fact, many of these contracts were highly spec ulative, given that they were dependent upon the assumption that the energy market in the state would be deregulated something for which Enron had no assurance. In those cases, Enron forecast when the states would deregulate those markets and then projected what prices would be under the currently nonexistent deregulated market (Norris Show MoreRelatedThe Downfalls Of Enron, By Han, Henry959 Words   |  4 PagesThe key factors or critical issues presented in the case are the downfalls of Enron, which originated out of Houston Texas by Han, Henry(n.d.). He was one of the highest paid Chief Executive Officers in 1999. This organization was aware of the first gas pipeline company that implied known worldwide. The company covers the world’s leading electricity innovations, personnel management, and risk management processes. Also, further studies the company s dramatic failed complex issues that the forcedRead MoreEssay about The Downfall of Enron1734 Words   |  7 Pagesprop er ethics, it is representing not only itself in a positive manner, but its partners, shareholders, and clients as well. On the other hand, when an organization partakes in unethical activities, all parties are negatively affected. The collapse of Enron is a major case of unethical conduct in the corporate world, because the circumstances surrounding the firm’s chaotic plunge where so scandalous that it left â€Å"creditors wrangling over Enrons skeletal remains† (Helyar) long after the company had seenRead MoreEnron And Its Impact On Enron s Downfall Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract recent collapses of high profile business failures like Enron,Worldcom,Parmlat,and Tycohasbeen a subject of great debate among regulators, investors, government and academics in the recent past. Enron’s case was the greatest failure in the history of American capitalism and had a major impact on financial markets by causing significant losses to investors. Enron was a company ranked by Fortune as the most innovative company in the United States; it exemplified the transition from the productionRead MoreOrganizational Culture : The Smartest Guys Of The Room1649 Words   |  7 Pagesorganization’s core values are both intensely held and widely shared. After viewing Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, it is obvious that Enron had not only an organizational culture that was strong, but one that was extreme and aggressive. This aggressive and strong organizational culture discouraged both teamwork and ethical behavior and in the end it only plagued Enron until it eventual ly collapsed under its downfall. The aggressive organizational culture started with Enron’s founder, Ken Lay, andRead MoreThe Rise and Fall of Energy Giant, Enron Essay1540 Words   |  7 PagesThe Rise and fall of energy giant ‘ENRON’ Introduction: The main aim of this essay is to analyse business ethics in the context of the Enron scandal. Enron scandal became notorious for violating ethical standards. There are several business motives involved in the rise and fall of Enron. In today’s world, adopting ethical standards is a must for a company to protect shareholder’s interest. Even though the rules of playing business are obvious, still several companies adopt short cut mechanismsRead MoreEnron Case : An American Energy Company1604 Words   |  7 PagesENRON CASE Introduction â€Å"Organizational behaviour is a field which deal with the study of human behaviour with respect to individuals, structure and group of organization† (kinicki 2012). The study of organizational behaviour came in to importance to have an positive effect to the organization. The reflective essay focuses on the organizational behaviour concepts which lead to the downfall of Enron Company on 2001. Enron is an American energy company which is based on Texas. The company was run byRead MoreThe Collapse Of Enron And Enron1365 Words   |  6 PagesTwo organizations that will live on in infamy in the business world are World Com and Enron. These names are synonymous with the largest corporate scandals in US history. Their failure to live by ethical and moral codes resulted in bankruptcy, large financial losses to employees and shareholders as well criminal penalties. Additionally, these deviations from ethical behavior from several related parties shined a light on the account ing profession and resulted in several changes in the industryRead MoreJaclyn Givens. Kathy Osburn. Management 101. 5/8/17. The1400 Words   |  6 PagesJaclyn Givens Kathy Osburn Management 101 5/8/17 The Enron Era â€Å"Just as character matters in people, it matters in organizations,† says Justin Schultz, a corporate psychologist in Denver. The Enron scandal had a big exposure in 2001 confirming the big secret to the increase in billions. In July 1985, Enron formed the merger of Houston Natural Gas and Omaha-based Inter North. The Enron corporation was an American energy company based in Houston Texas. The corporation’s catastrophe in 2001 signifiesRead MoreEnron : The Leading Factor That Had Enron Into Its Demise Essay1608 Words   |  7 PagesThe leading factor that had Enron into its demise revolves around the notion that, â€Å"companies are often so concerned with appearance and damage control that they are unwilling to engage in the degree of examination required to root out the entrenched causes of trust violations† (Hurley, Gillespie, Ferrin Dietz, 2013). The historical performance of Enron’s rising share prices, coupled to the constant positive media at tentions, only added fuel to the fire in terms of Enron’s competitive culture.Read More Deception, Fraud, and the Collapse of Enron Essay1394 Words   |  6 Pagesand the Collapse of Enron Introduction From America’s 7th most valuable company in December 2000, to a company in ruins by early 2002, Enron has been involved in one of the most incredible reverses of fortune ever. With shares riding high on Wall Street at $84.87 on the 28th December 2000, and awards such as â€Å"America’s most innovative company† from Fortune Magazine 6 years running, and â€Å"Energy Company of the Year† from the Financial Times also in 2000, it looked as though Enron were promising to

Summary and critique of Stanley Milgram Free Essays

The experiment on â€Å"Behavioral Study of Obedience† was conducted by Stanley Milgram in July 1961. It was barely three months after Adolf Eichmann had been tried over the criminal activities committed during the Nazi war. The research was designed to address the questions about the peoples who were the masterminds of the infamous Nazi torturing ordeal that were responsible for the deaths of millions of the innocent people. We will write a custom essay sample on Summary and critique of Stanley Milgram or any similar topic only for you Order Now It was intended to find out the people who would prefer to be submissive to the authority at the expense of human life. The experiment also sought to measure the willingness of individuals to obey an authority figure who instructs them to do certain things that are against their personal conscience. The question that the researchers were asking was, â€Å"Could it be that Eichmann and his million accomplices in the Holocaust were just following orders? Could we call them all accomplices?† The hypothesis was that there was likelihood that that during the Nazi war it might have been that Adolf Eichmann and his accomplices were just being submissive to the orders from higher authority (against their will) to murder the innocent people. The research question was very instrumental in helping to unveil how one can alter another person’s behavior, beliefs and mind-set. Before giving the results of the experiment the researcher predicted that only a negligible number of the participants would obey the orders and persist on to administer maximum shock. The range was 0 – 3%. That meant that out of 100 participants only 3 would administer the 450 volt shock. Method The people who participate in the experiment (subjects) were drawn from different social status background within New Haven area. They comprised people from a wide range occupation with characteristic characters include clerical officers, teachers, salespersons, engineers and drudges. The group was a representative of all educational levels; from elementary school to doctorate and other professional degrees and aged between 20 – 50 years in their right state of mind (Milgram, S., 1963). The dependable variable in this experiment was the maximum shock that the subject, S, was willing to administer to the victim L up to that point when he resist to follow the instructions given to him by the experimenter. The independent variables were the learner (an experimental confederate) and the experimenter’s orders. There were two participants in each case. They were; a naà ¯ve subject who played the role of a â€Å"teacher† and was provided with a 450 volt electric shock generator and the second one a confederate who played the role of a â€Å"learner.† The task of the â€Å"teacher† was to read to the â€Å"learner† a list of word pairs. The â€Å"learner† on the other hand was to respond correctly to these pairs of words by pressing the button as an indicator of his response. In case of a wrong answer the â€Å"teacher† was to administer an electric shock to the â€Å"learner†. For each subsequent wrong answer, the â€Å"teacher† would increase the voltage. Even though the subject believed that the learner was receiving the actual shock, the learner, being in a separate room, sets up a tape recorder which had been incorporated to the electric shock generator. This tape played sounds which had been pre-recorded to march each shock level. The presupposed victim (â€Å"learner†) would start to bang the wall separating him from the subject at given numbers of voltage increase. He would continue banging on the wall and complaining of heart condition until all the responses from him ceased. The data collected was based on how much electric shock the subjects were willing to inflict on the victim. This was to indicate their level of obedience and to see their willingness to obey the orders; if it they were doing it deliberately or did it against their will. Results Eventually it was discovered that out of the 40 participants 14 subjects showed explicit signs of nervous laughter and smiling which were inapt and weird. Three of the subjects developed irrepressible convulsions. According to the results obtained, it is evident that while responding to the demands prompted by the appraisals, 40 themes exceed the projected break-off point. None of them administered the electric shock below 300 volts, a point when the victim starts to kick the wall and provided no answers to the teacher’s questions. 5 of them stops at the 300 volt level; 4 of them proceeds to 315 volt level; 2 breaks of at 330 volt level; 3 others drop off at 345, 360 and 375 volts respectively. These 14 subjects were defiant to the experimenter’s instructions. They were recurrently in a frantic and enraged condition. However 26 of the 40 subjects were obedient enough to proceed on to punish the victim till they attain the shock of 450 volts. But they do this against their will. They could be observed to be in consternation once the experiment was brought to a halt. Discussion The results obtained imply that there are people who, despite receiving orders from authority, would choose to defy and stick to what they believe is morally acceptable. In this case the 14 subjects held this belief and would not inflict pain on another person against his/her will. It was however observed that some people would choose to act against their conscience and submit to authority even if what they are ordered to do is against moral principles. This what the 26 subjects did; despite expressing some signs of displeasure in shocking an innocent person, they still go on to obey the commands to the end. This implies that obedience to authority can cause harmless and non-hostile individuals to turn inhuman. The results seems to be in contrast to those predicted in the questionnaire where only 3 out of 100 respondents said they would proceed to administer electric shock to their victim up to the most maximum and risky shock of 450 volts. In this case however, the figure was surprisingly high; 26 out of 40. It had also been expected that a subjected would basically terminate or proceed as dictated by his conscience. However the subjects exhibited tension and emotional strain in their response to the commands. Critique The experiment was well conducted and its objective was attained. The volunteers were got through a New Have (Connecticut) daily newspaper advert and direct mail to some informing them take part in the study of reminiscence as well as the learning designate conducted in a laboratory at Yale University. The real purpose of the experiment was hidden from the subjects until the experiment was over; they knew that the experiment was a study of memory and learning yet it was about study of obedience to authority. Another thing was that the entire volunteers were to play the role of the teacher while that of the student was played by an experimental confederate. In addition, the generator that the teacher used was just but of 45 volts sample shock with the generator not wired to shock the learner. Lastly, the kicking of the wall by the learner, screams and his rejection to proceed and the commands/orders of the experimenter to the teacher were all skillfully fabricated. These indicate the researchers’ thoroughness in the design of the experiment to answer their specific research question. Most importantly, at the end of the experiment subjects underwent some procedures to assist them go back to normal well being. The researchers did not however deal with any feasible alternative explanation for their results. This might be attributes to the fact that they expected the subjects to show some level of obedience. Also, the subjects might have been expected to act accordingly and participate fully to make the research successfully bearing in mind that the real objective of the experiment was hidden from them. It should be stated here that there are some people who will not, at any cost, accept to administer any level of electric shock to another person. The research was also not well represented in terms of gender or the researchers did not specify the sex of the participants. This raises the question about the criteria that was used in selecting the subjects. But all in all the experiment was quite essential as it the positive and the negative nature of human beings. Reference: Milgram. S. (1969); Study on behavioral obedience, Journal of Abnormal and social psychology; 371-378. http://www.wadsworth.com/psychology_d/templates/student_resources/0155060678_rathus/ps/index.html How to cite Summary and critique of Stanley Milgram, Essay examples

SWOT Anaysis of Procter & Gamble-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp

Questions: 1.InContext to Strategic Management, Search the Fortune Most Admired Companies 2010 and Compare that list to the latest one of 2017. 2.Create a Hypothetical Organization offering product /service of your choice. Identify a realPotential Competitor in the Market. Answers: 1.Strategic management is concern about the planning and construction of strategies that are implemented to ensure the development of the organization. As per the Fortune Most Admired Companies 2010 the top 10 companies were: Apple, Google, Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson Johnson, Amazon.com, Procter Gamble, Toyota Motor, Goldman Sachs Group, Wal-Mart Coca-Cola (Fortune, 2010). In the list of most admired companies of 2017 following companies are included: Apple Computers, Amazon.com internet services and retailing, Starbucks food services, Berkshire Hathaway, Disney Entertainment, Alphabet Internet services and retailing, General Electric Industrial Machinery, Southwest Airlines, Facebook Internet Services and Retailing Microsoft Computer Software (Fortune, 2017). Procter Gamble The Procter Gamble was the company that was listed in most admirable companies in 2010 but was not added in the list of 2017, one of the reasons that could be cited is that there were many products launched by PG but the thing that could be noted is that those were not innovated by Procter Gamble and this might be the reason of the downfall that the company faced. The core competencies of PG are that it sets the challenging goals but yet they are the acceptable one. They believe in grabbing the opportunity and setting up the trend in the market. The strategies of PG are unique as well; they adopted the formulation, implementation, and controlling strategies so that corrective actions are immediately taken. The HR policy is divergent in PG they appoint the competent force of human resources and render appropriate training and development to these competent humans and ensures the development of the company (Reingold, 2016). The competency that diversifies the company from the competi tors is the on-time decision making by the company. The company favors the competitive advantages and accordingly take the decisions. They take right decisions at the crucial times and keep a viewpoint to consider every small thing so that they do not grow up to shape a big problem. The business model that the business adopted is innovation. The company CEO quotes that innovation is considered to be the heart of their business model. SWOT Analysis of PG Strength The company has a good focus on research and development criteria. The focus on quality is high. Established the first position in mouthwash products. Weakness The distribution channel of the company is not adequate enough. Lack of packaging skills. Opportunity They step in the market where profit maximisation takes place. The promotional activities take place with the advancement in HR. Threats There are many competitors in the marketplace. The global economic conditions are not good impacting the financial position of the company (Thompson, 2017). Apple Company Apple appeared both the times in the list of Most Admired Companies of 2010 and 2017. Even it leads the list and maintained the top position. The reason being that Apple always uses the unique strategy; it comes up with something new and better in every launch. Also, the launch of Apple is as unique as its products. The core competencies of Apple is primarily it is very innovative and in every product, it introduces new features to attract consumers and make them raise their desires and enhancing the tension to get the product (Noren, 2012). The competency that is different from the competitors is that they plan and predict those things that even do not strike the consumer mind and create the needs. Another distinct point of Apple is that they never compromise on the price and maintain the luxury of the product by keeping the prime price that depicts the status and standard of buyers. Also, the skills and capabilities of the company are proving to be the competitive advantage over th e competitors. The business model that Apple had adopted is innovation. The aim to choose this business model is to create a new synergy, deliver it in a standardized format and capture the value of the product and the luxury attached to it. Also, the company focuses on the environment-friendly innovative ecosystem so that social obligation gets fulfilled as well (1000 ventures, 2017). SWOT Analysis of Apple Company Strength The innovativeness is created in the technology thereby changing the era of technology. The Apple carries an innovative spirit within and bounces up with the latest technology. It focuses on brand awareness and creation of positioning using effective methods. Weakness The high prices at times become the cause of concern. The losing of legal action resulted in dropping down the reputation of the company. Opportunity Introduction of new technology increase the competitiveness and competitive advantage is enjoyed. The market share gets improvised. Threat With the changing technology the competition is increasing influencing Apple to launch something better, thus tough competition has been raised. Customer shift towards the competitors rendering similar technology at the price-sensitive position (Smithson, 2017). Starbucks There is a company that was not earlier listed in the most admired company in 2010 but gained the position in the list of top 10 in 2017. This company is Starbucks that attained the heights in no time because of its rich flavor and the ambiance that it provides to the customer. The best thing that made Starbucks reach this peak is that it is environment-friendly and follows the social obligations. It provides the luxury and richness that benefits the environment as well. They consider it as the responsibility to pay gratitude to the environment. The cores competencies of Starbucks are that it provides the focused quality product, the services rendered to the customer are optimum and they believe in the care towards their customers (Connors, 2015). The competitive advantage of Starbucks is that it provides the rich flavors and quality service along with customer satisfaction at the rate lower than the competitors to attract a maximum crowd. The competency that distinguishes the compan y from the competitors is the supply chain management and the ability to adapt the dynamic environment. The business model that Starbucks carries is to treat their employees equivalent to the customers (Henricks, 2017). They think of employee satisfaction first than to customer satisfaction which diversifies the company from other and increases employee engagement. SWOT Analysis of Starbucks Strength Starbucks carries good track record. It is one of the largest coffee houses that run in the world. Weakness The coffee is not cost-effective. Prices of coffee beans fluctuate a lot. Opportunity The demand for coffee has been rising in the South Asian market. The range of supply is high that helps in business expansion. Threat The prices of coffee beans are rising at the great pace. Infringement of trademark (Lombardo, 2017). 2.The hypothetical business selected is Caf Chit-Chat that provides food and beverage services specifically it deals in coffee, the specialty it carries is that it has been set up in a very creative and innovative manner. Everything from the infrastructure to the coffee each and every tiny object comprises with the touch of creativity. The competitor of this caf is Costa coffee, Costa was invented by Bruno and Sergio that started its business in the UK and it has become the largest chain in the UK (Costa coffee, 2017). The mission of Caf Chit-Chat is to gather people over a creamy cup of coffee and discuss their success with the rich sip enjoying the positive ambiance and making the day worth countable. The objective of caf is to collect people and build up relations, it aims at satisfying the customer through the luxury they provide within the relations as well as through the richness in the flavor of coffee adding the pinch of creativity and coffee art to enhance the customers interest (Ccs coffee, 2017). SWOT Analysis of Caf Chit-Chat Strength The caf focuses on the niche market and serve the varieties of coffee that are famous in different corners of the world and combining them in the single caf. They serve homemade snacks with the coffee complementing and enhancing the taste along with elongating the meeting with gathering. Location of caf is such that attract the youth as well as business and service-oriented Friends could plan their hangouts and even the business meets could be handled over there. Weaknesses Due to the lack of budget, the location selected is small and a lot of people cannot gather at the similar moment. The cost of the product is high as it is competing with Costa coffee and trying to maintain the balance of luxury and richness in the taste as well as the environment. Opportunity The caf could adopt the promotional activities and launch certain attractive offers or combos to grab the customers attention and increase the consumer base. The consumer loyalty discount could be added to retain the customers and increase the referrals as well. Caf could launch the best coffee-desert combination every week so that people try the innovative recipes. Threats The competitors are the major threat to the company, as per this caf the Costa coffee is the major competitor. To maintain the customer base and establishing the loyalty program for the customer. Managing the budget according to the plan and expanding the business accordingly to gain popularity (Belcher, 2017). On analyzing the internal and external environment through the swot analysis the problems that have been pointed out is that the caf needs to be expanded and for that huge budget and a good amount of investment is necessary. Therefore in order to collect the revenue for expansion the rates of coffee and snacks were raised that might affect the consumer base. The mission and objective should remain intact but the focus on quality has to be paid so that the consumers are ready to pay the high price for the luxury they are gaining in return. The special discount could be provided to students who are not able to pay such a high costs. After evaluating the alternate strategies the alternative that has been selected is that to maintain the budget and create the positioning the rebates could be provided as per the crowd (Hand ground, 2017). To retain the student group the student concession could be provided to them also gaming area could be installed so that they stay in caf for long and r efer to other people as well. This strategy could be implemented by drafting the blueprint and adding on the new items in the menu along with the combos and rendering gifts with certain combos. The budget of the quality product should not be compromised. These amounts could be adjusted and covered by opening up the home delivery scheme as well so that maximum people could avail the services. After implementing the above-mentioned strategies there is a need to collect the feedback from the consumers so that the position of business could be analyzed and the necessary corrective actions are taken to improve the working and focus on the vision. References 1000 ventures. (2017). Apples innovative business models. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/cs_biz_model_apple.html. Belcher. L.M.(2017). SWOT Analysis for a coffee cafe. viewed on 9th November 2017. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/swot-analysis-coffee-cafe-15644.html. Ccs coffee. (2017). Our vision, mission, values. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://www.ccscoffee.com/vision-mission-values/#vision. Connors. P. (2015). Core competency competitive advantage. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/core-competency-competitive-advantage-patrick-connors. Costa coffee. (2017). A drop of history in every cup. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://www.costacoffee.ae/costa-coffee/the-costa-way/history/. Fortune. (2010). Worlds most admired companies. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/2010/. Fortune. (2017). The worlds most admired companies. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://fortune.com/worlds-most-admired-companies/list/. Hand ground. (2017). 6 coffee shop marketing strategies that cost less than $100 a month. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://handground.com/grind/6-coffee-shop-marketing-strategies-that-cost-less-than-100-a-month. Henricks. M. (2017). The Starbucks business model. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/173256. Lombardo. J. (2017). Starbucks coffee SWOT Analysis. https://panmore.com/starbucks-coffee-swot-analysis. Noren. E. (2012). The Subscription business model. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://www.digitalbusinessmodelguru.com/. Reingold. J. (2016). Can PG find its aim again? Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://fortune.com/procter-and-gamble-david-taylor-fortune-500/. Smithson. N. (2017). Apple Inc. SWOT Analysis Recommendations. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://panmore.com/apple-inc-swot-analysis-recommendations. Thompson. A. (2017). Procter Gamble SWOT Analysis Recommendations. Viewed on 9th November 2017. https://panmore.com/procter-gamble-swot-analysis-recommendations

THE N.W.A free essay sample

N. W. A (an abbreviation of Niggaz Wit Attitudes)[1][2][3] was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap and west coast hip hop sub-genres, sometimes credited as the most important group in the history of rap music. [4] Active from 1986 to 1991, the rap group endured controversy due to the explicit lyrics that many considered to be disrespectful to women, and glorifying drugs and crime. The group was subsequently banned from many mainstream American radio stations. In spite of this, the group has sold over 10 million units in the United States alone. The original lineup consisted of Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube. MC Ren joined in 1988, with Arabian Prince leaving the group later that same year. Ice Cube left in December of 1989 over royalty disputes. Several members would later become platinum-selling solo artists in the 1990s. Their debut album Straight Outta Compton marked the beginning of the new gangsta rap era as the production and social commentary in their lyrics were revolutionary within the genre. We will write a custom essay sample on THE N.W.A or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page [3] Rolling Stone ranked N. W. A number 83 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. [5] In October 2012, N. W. A were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. [6] In October 2013 the group was nominated for a second time. [7] Formation and Panic Zone (1987–1988)[edit] The group was assembled by Compton-based Eazy-E, who co-founded Ruthless Records with Jerry Heller. Initially, N. W. A consisted of Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, who in turn brought DJ Yella on board. [8] Dre and Yella were both formerly members of the World Class Wreckin Cru, as DJs and producers. Together with fellow producer Arabian Prince, Ice Cube was added to the roster after he had started out as a rapper for the group C. I. A. [9] Ruthless released the single Panic Zone in 1987 with Macola Records, which was later included on the compilation album N. W. A. and the Posse. N. W. A was still in its developing stages, and is only credited on three of the eleven tracks, notably the uncharacteristic record Panic Zone, 8-Ball, Dopeman, which marked the first collaboration of Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. Mexican rapper Krazy-Dee co-wrote Panic Zone, which was originally called Hispanic Zone, but the title was later changed when Dr. Dre advised Krazy-Dee that the word hispanic would hinder sales. [10] Also included was Eazy-Es solo track Boyz-n-the-Hood. [11] In 1988, rapper MC Ren joined the group. [citation needed] Straight Outta Compton (1988–1989)[edit] N. W. A released their debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, in 1988. With its famous opening salvo of three tracks, the group reflected the rising anger of the urban youth. The opening song Straight Outta Compton introduced the group, Fuck tha Police protested police brutality and racial profiling, and Gangsta Gangsta painted the worldview of the inner-city youth. While the group was later credited with pioneering the burgeoning sub genre of gangsta rap, N. W. A referred to their music as reality rap. [12] Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, as HighPowered Productions, composed the beats for each song, with Dre making occasional rapping appearances. [13] Ice Cube and MC Ren wrote most of the groups lyrics, including Fuck tha Police, perhaps the groups most notorious song, which brought them into conflict with various law enforcement agencies. Under pressure from Focus on the Family,[14] Milt Ahlerich, an assistant director of the FBI, sent a letter to Ruthless and its distributing company Priority Records, advising the rappers that advocating violence and assault is wrong and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such action. This letter can still be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. [15] Policemen refused to provide security for the groups concerts, hurting their plans to tour. Nonetheless, the FBIs letter only served to draw more publicity to the group. Straight Outta Compton was also one of the first albums to adhere to the new Parental Advisory label scheme, then still in its early stages: the label at the time consisted of WARNING: Moderate impact coarse language and/or themes only. However, the taboo nature of N. W. As music was the most important factor of its mass appeal. Media coverage compensated for N. W. As lack of airplay and their album eventually went double platinum. [16] One month after Straight Outta Compton, Eazy-Es solo debut Eazy-Duz-It was released. The album was dominated by Eazys persona—MC Ren was the only guest rapper—but behind the scenes it was a group effort. Music was handled by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella; the lyrics were largely written by MC Ren, with contributions from Ice Cube and The D. O. C. The album was another double platinum success for Ruthless[17] (in addition to girl group J. J. Fad in 1988 and singer Michelle in 1989). 1989 saw the re-issue of N. W. A and the Posse and Straight Outta Compton on CD, and the release of The D. O. C. s No One Can Do It Better. His album was essentially a collaboration with Dr. Dre and notably free of gangsta rap content, however including the N. W. A posse cut The Grand Finale. It would become another #1 album for the record label. 100 Miles And Runnin' and Niggaz4Life (1989–1991)[edit] Ice Cube left in December 1989 over royalty disputes;[3] having written almost half of the lyrics on Straight Outta Compton himself, he felt he was not getting a fair share of the money and profits. [18] He wasted little time putting together his solo debut, 1990s AmeriKKKas Most Wanted, but he avoided mentioning his former label mates. N. W. As title track from their 1990 EP 100 Miles and Runnin', however, included a diss of Ice Cube: We started with five, but yo / One couldnt take it—So now its four / Cuz the fifth couldnt make it. The video for the song depicted the remaining members of N. W. A together in a jail cell, while an Ice Cube look-alike is released. Also heard on the EP (which found its way on the Efil4zaggin CD re-issue) was Real Niggaz, a full-blown diss on Ice Cube where the remaining members accuse him of cowardice, and question his authenticity, longevity and originality: How the fuck you think a rapper lasts / With your ass sayin shit that was said in the past / Yo, be original, your shit is sloppy / Get off the dick, you motherfuckin carbon-copy, and We started out with too much cargo / So Im glad we got rid of Benedict Arnold, yo. The song 100 Miles and Runnin' was Dr. Dres final uptempo recording, which had been a common feature of late 1980s hip hop. After this, he focused on a midtempo, synthesizer based sound which would become known as G-funk, starting with Alwayz Into Somethin' from Efil4zaggin in 1991. The G-funk style dominated both the West and East Coast hip hop music scene for several years to come. N. W. A is referenced on Ice Cubes 1990 EP, Kill at Will, where he name-checks his former group (likely in a mocking manner) on the song Jackin For Beats. On I Gotta Say What Up!!! , Ice Cube gives shout-outs to his rap peers at the time, among them Public Enemy, the Geto Boys, and Sir Jinx. At the end of the track, in what appears to be an on-the-phone interview, Ice Cube is asked, Since you went solo, whatever happened to the rest of your crew? and the phone is abruptly hung up on the interviewer. The groups second full-length release, 1991s Efil4zaggin (Niggaz4Life spelled backwards), re-established the band in the face of Ice Cubes continued solo success. The album is considered by many Dr. Dres finest production work, and it heralded the beginning of the G-Funk era. It also showed a clear animosity towards their former member, and derogatory references to Ice Cube are found in several songs. The interlude A Message to B. A. echoes the beginning of his song Turn Off the Radio from AmeriKKKas Most Wanted: Ice Cube is first addressed by the name Benedict Arnold (after the infamous traitor of the American Revolution) but then named outright in a torrent of abuse from both the group and its fans: When we see yo ass, we gon cut yo hair off and fuck you with a broomstick. Think about it, punk muthafucka, spoken by MC Ren. The N. W. A–Ice Cube feud eventually escalated, both on record and in real life. AmeriKKKas Most Wanted had avoided direct attacks on N. W. A, but on Death Certificate, Ice Cubes second full-length release, he retaliated. He sampled and mocked the Message to B. A. skit before embarking on a full-blown tirade, the infamous No Vaseline. In a series of verses, Ice Cube verbally assaulted the group: You lookin like straight bozos / I saw it comin thats why I went solo / Kept on stompin / When yall Muthafuckas moved Straight outta Compton / You got jealous when I got my own company / But Im a man, and aint nobody humpin me. He also responded to members MC Ren, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E individually to 100 Miles and Runnin', claiming I started off with too much cargo, dropped four niggaz / And now Im makin all the dough, using homophobic metaphors to describe their unequal business relationship with Jerry Heller, who became the target of harsh insults: Get rid of that devil real simple / Put a bullet to his temple / Cuz you cant be the Niggaz 4 Life crew / With a white Jew tellin you what to do. The song attracted controversy for its antisemitism (the beginning of such accusations against Ice Cube during his affiliation with the Nation of Islam), based on the bashing of Hellers religion;[19] The track was omitted from the UK release, and later pressings included a censored version of the song. In September 1990, members of hip hop act Above the Law clashed with Ice Cube and his posse Da Lench Mob during the annual New Music Seminar conference, forcing the latter to flee the premises of Times Squares Marriott Marquis, the venue of the event. [20] On January 27, 1991, Dr. Dre assaulted Dee Barnes, host of the hip hop show Pump It Up, after its coverage[21] of the N. W. A/Ice Cube beef. According to Rolling Stone reporter Alan Light: He picked her up and began slamming her face and the right side of her body repeatedly against a wall near the stairway as his bodyguard held off the crowd. After Dre tried to throw her down the stairs and failed, he began kicking her in the ribs and hands. She escaped and ran into the womens rest room. Dre followed her and grabbed her from behind by the hair and proceeded to punch her in the back of the head. [22] In response, Dre commented: People talk all this shit, but you know, if somebody fucks with me, Im gonna fuck with them. I just did it, you know. Aint nothing you can do now by talking about it. Besides, it aint no big thing—I just threw her through a door. [22]

Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu, Anti-Apartheid Activist

Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu, Anti-Apartheid Activist Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu (May 18, 1912–May 5, 2003) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and co-founder of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League. He served in prison for 25 years on Robben Island, alongside Nelson Mandela, and he was the second post-apartheid deputy president of the ANC, after Mandela. Fast Facts: Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu Known For:  South African anti-apartheid activist, co-founder of the ANC Youth League, served 25 years alongside Nelson Mandela, post-apartheid deputy president of the ANCAlso Known As:  Walter SisuluBorn:  May 18, 1912 in the eNgcobo area of Transkei, South AfricaParents: Alice Sisulu and Victor DickensonDied:  May 5, 2003 in Johannesburg, South AfricaEducation: Local Anglican Missionary Institute, earned a Bachelors degree while imprisoned on Robben IslandPublished Works: I Will Go Singing:  Walter Sisulu Speaks of His Life and the Struggle for Freedom in South AfricaAwards and Honors: Isitwalandwe SeaparankoeSpouse: Albertina Nontsikelelo TotiweChildren: Max, Anthony Mlungisi, Zwelakhe, Lindiwe, Nonkululeko; adopted children: Jongumzi, Gerald, Beryl, and Samuel  Notable Quote: The people are our strength. In their service we shall face and conquer those who live on the backs of our people. In the history of mankind it is a law of life that problems arise when the condi tions are there for their solution. Early Life Walter Sisulu was born in the eNgcobo area of Transkei on May 18, 1912 (the same year the forerunner of the ANC was formed). Sisulus father was a visiting white foreman supervising a black road-gang and his mother was a local Xhosa woman. Sisulu was raised by his mother and uncle, the local headman. Walter Sisulus mixed heritage and lighter skin were influential in his early social development. He felt distanced from his peers and rejected the deferential attitude his family showed toward South Africas white administration. Sisulu attended the local Anglican Missionary Institute but dropped out in 1927 at age 15 while in fourth grade to find work at a Johannesburg dairy- to help support his family. He returned to the Transkei later that year to attend the Xhosa initiation ceremony and achieve adult status. Working Life and Early Activism During the 1930s, Walter Sisulu had several different jobs: gold miner, domestic worker, factory hand, kitchen worker, and bakers assistant. Through the Orlando Brotherly Society, Sisulu investigated his Xhosa tribal history and debated black economic independence in South Africa. Walter Sisulu was an active trade unionist- he was fired from his bakery job in 1940 for organizing a strike for higher wages. He spent the next two years trying to develop his own real estate agency. In 1940, Sisulu joined the African National Congress (ANC) and allied with those pressing for black African nationalism and actively opposing black involvement in World War II. He gained a reputation as a street vigilante, patrolling his townships streets with a knife. He also obtained his first jail sentence- for punching a train conductor when he confiscated a black mans rail pass. Leadership in the ANC and Founding of the Youth League In the early 1940s, Walter Sisulu developed a talent for leadership and organization and was awarded an executive post in the Transvaal division of the ANC. It was also at this time that he met Albertina Nontsikelelo Totiwe, whom he married in 1944. In the same year, Sisulu, along with his wife and friends Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela, formed the ANC Youth League; Sisulu was elected as treasurer. Through the Youth League, Sisulu, Tambo, and Mandela greatly influenced the ANC. When DF Malans  Herenigde Nationale Party  (HNP, Re-united National Party) won the 1948 election, the ANC reacted. By the end of 1949, Sisulus programme of action was adopted and he was elected as secretary-general (a position he retained until 1954). Arrest and Rise to Prominence As one of the organizers of the 1952 Defiance campaign (in collaboration with the South African Indian Congress and the South African Communist Party) Sisulu was arrested under the Suppression of Communism Act. With his 19 co-accused, he was sentenced to nine months hard labor suspended for two years. The political power of the Youth League within the ANC had increased to the stage that they could push for their candidate for president, Chief Albert Luthuli, to be elected. In December 1952, Sisulu was also re-elected as secretary-general. Adoption of Multi-Racial Government Advocacy In 1953, Walter Sisulu spent five months touring Eastern Bloc countries (the Soviet Union and Romania), Israel, China, and Great Britain. His experiences abroad led to a reversal of his black nationalist stance. Sisulu had especially noted the Communist commitment to social development in the USSR but disliked Stalinist rule. Sisulu became an advocate for multi-racial government in South Africa rather than an African nationalistic, blacks-only policy. Banned and Arrested Sisulus increasingly active role in the anti-apartheid struggle led to his repeated banning under the Suppression of Communism Act. In 1954, no longer able to attend public meetings, he resigned as secretary-general and was forced to work in secret. As a moderate, Sisulu was instrumental in organizing the 1955 Congress of People but was unable to participate in the actual event. The Apartheid government reacted by arresting 156 anti-Apartheid leaders in what became known as the  Treason Trial. Sisulu was one of 30 accused who remained under trial until March 1961. In the end, all 156 accused were acquitted. Forming Military Wing and Going Underground Following the  Sharpeville Massacre  in 1960, Sisulu, Mandela and several others formed  Umkonto we Sizwe  (MK, the Spear of the Nation)- the military wing of the ANC. During 1962 and 1963 Sisulu was arrested six times. Only the last arrest- in March 1963, for furthering the aims of the ANC and organizing the May 1961 stay-at-home protest- led to a conviction. Released on bail in April 1963, Sisulu went underground and joined up with the MK. While underground, he delivered weekly broadcasts via a secret ANC radio transmitter. Prison On July 11, 1963, Sisulu was among those arrested at Lilieslief Farm, the secret headquarters of the ANC, and placed in solitary confinement for 88 days. The lengthy Rivonia trial, which started in October 1963, lead to a sentence of life imprisonment (for planning acts of sabotage), handed down on June 12, 1964. Sisulu, Mandela, Govan Mbeki, and four others were sent to Robben Island. During his 25 years behind bars, Sisulu earned a Bachelors degree in art history and anthropology and read more than 100 biographies. In 1982, Sisulu was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town, after a medical examination at Groote Schuur Hospital. He was finally released in October 1989. Post-Apartheid Roles When the ANC was un-banned on February 2, 1990, Sisulu took a prominent role. He was elected deputy president in 1991 and was given the task of restructuring the ANC in South Africa. His biggest immediate challenge was to try to end the violence that erupted between the ANC and the Inkhata Freedom Party. Walter Sisulu finally retired on the eve of South Africas first multi-racial elections in 1994. Death Sisulu lived his last years in the same Soweto house that his family had taken in the 1940s. On May 5, 2003, only 13 days before his 91st birthday, Walter Sisulu died following a long period of ill health with Parkinsons Disease. He received a state funeral in Soweto on May 17, 2003. Legacy As a prominent anti-apartheid leader, Walter Sisulu changed the course of South African history. His advocacy for a multi-racial future for South Africa was one of his most enduring marks. Sources â€Å"Nelson Mandelas Tribute to Walter Sisulu.†Ã‚  BBC News, BBC, 6 May 2003.Beresford, David. â€Å"Obituary: Walter Sisulu.†Ã‚  The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 7 May 2003.Sisulu, Walter Max, George M. Houser,  Herb Shore. I Will Go Singing:  Walter Sisulu Speaks of His Life and the Struggle for Freedom in South Africa. Robben Island Museum in association with the Africa Fund, 2001.

Sarah Norcliffe Cleghorn

Sarah Norcliffe Cleghorn Known  for:  radical sentiments. She was a Christian socialist, a pacifist, an anti-vivisectionist, a vegetarian, and worked for womens suffrage, for prison reform, against lynching, against the death penalty, and against child labor. Occupation: poet, writerDates: 1876 - April 4, 1959Also known as: Sarah N. Cleghorn, Sarah Cleghorn Biography Robert Frost famously pointed out that the people of Vermont were taken care of by three great ladies. And one of these is wise and a novelist, one is mystic and an essayist and the third is saintly and a poet. Frost referred to Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Zephine Humphrey, and Sarah Norcliffe Cleghorn. He also said of Cleghorn, To a saint and a reformer like Sarah Cleghorn the great importance is not to get hold of both ends, but of the right end. She has to be partisan. Born in Virginia in a hotel where her New England parents were visiting, Sarah Norcliffe Cleghorn grew up in Wisconsin and Minnesota until she was nine. When her mother died, she and her sister moved to Vermont, where  aunts raised them. She lived most of her years in Manchester, Vermont. Cleghorn was educated at a seminary in Manchester, Vermont, and studied at Radcliffe College, but she could not afford to continue. Her circle of poet and writer friends included Dorothy Canfield Fisher and Robert Frost. She is considered part of the American Naturalists. She called her earlier poems sunbonnets poems which characterized country life and her later poems burning poems poems that pointed to social injustices. She was profoundly influenced by reading of an incident in the South, the burning alive of a Negro by his white neighbors. She was also disturbed by how little attention this incident drew. At 35, she joined the Socialist Party, though she later said that she had begun to do some cogitating on labor issues at age 16. She worked briefly in the Brookwood Labor School. On a visit to South Carolina, she was inspired by seeing a factory mill, with child laborers, next to a golf course, to write her best-remembered verse.   She oritinally submitted it as just this quatrain; it is part of a larger work,  Through the Needles Eye, 1916: The golf links lie so near the millThat almost every dayThe laboring children can look outAnd see the men at play. In middle age, she moved to New York to find work not too successfully. Over the years, forty of her poems were published in Atlantic Monthly. In 1937, she served briefly on the faculty of Wellesley College, as a substitute for Edith Hamilton, and she also substituted for a year at Vassar, both times in the English departments. She moved to Philadelphia in 1943, where she continued her activism, defending peace during the Cold War as an old Quaker. Sarah Cleghorn died in Philadelphia in 1959. Family Mother: Sarah Chestnut HawleyFather: John Dalton Cleghorn Education educated at homeBurr and Burton Seminary, of ManchesterRadcliffe, 1895-1906 Books A Turnpike Lady (novel), 1907.Hillsboro People (poems), 1915.Fellow Captains with Dorothy Canfield Fisher, 1916.The Spinsters (novel), 1916.Portraits and Protests (poems), 1917.Ballad of Eugene Debs, 1928.Miss Ross Girls , 1931.Ballad of Tuzulutlan, 1932.Ballad of Joseph and Damien, 1934.Threescore (autobiography), 1936. Robert Frost wrote the introduction.Peace and Freedom (poems), 1945

Marxism Leninism and National Democratic Revolution in South Africa Article

Marxism Leninism and National Democratic Revolution in South Africa - Article Example But such examples are few and far in between. On the other hand, most of the democratic nations have been known to follow the rule of law, and if at any point of time, variations are noticed, the system provides enough rights to the citizens to take up the matter and bring the matter into the notice of appropriate authority. Youth is supposed to play a crucial role in the nation building. There are plenty of opportunities for the youth to grow in a democracy. While taking up professional positions in companies and organization, the young worker prepares a ground for the economic development. Similarly, when the youth takes up leadership skills in right perspective, the society is bound to benefit. The ideology propagated by Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) is known as Marxism or Scientific Socialism. Marxism calls for the equal opportunity to all young hands and the ideology firmly believes that the working class should never be oppressed for the well being of the state. Leninism, developed by the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, is a dominant branch of Marxism. Lenin made the fullest use of the Marxism/ Leninism policies during the Bolshevik revolution. Handing over power back to the people, remained the mainstay of this Russian revolution. In South Africa the trail of struggle for democracy can be traced back to May 1910, when the two republics and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal formed the Union of South Africa, a self-governing dominion of the British Empire. But the country saw a long-troubled period. During these troubled times, the non-white majority of South Africans were denied basic rights of citizenship (Funke 2007). It was in 1997 when President Mandela signed the newly negotiated constitution that South Africa began to experience the real democracy.  

Mental Process Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mental Process Paper - Essay Example In this paper, we shall discuss the influence of five forces on the basic development of mental models and mindsets, and a comparative analysis will be conducted to highlight the four styles of creative intelligence. Mental Process: In an organization concern authoritative bodies are responsible to carry out decision making process effectively, for which it is vital that ones thoughts must go through the process of verbalizing and then implementation of designed plan. Such a process is known as a mental process, which does also include five forces such as environmental, hereditary, education, genetic and past experiences (Young, 2011). These are important elements reflect upon the actions, reactions and thinking patterns of an individual. These five elements considerably influence the basic development of mental models and mindsets. Influences of Five Forces: We shall now briefly discuss each element to highlight their effects on the cognitive patterns of individuals working in an or ganization and responsible to contribute in the decision making processes of the company. Environment: Environment plays a key role in altering cognition and perceptions of employees towards particular format or decision. Scholars have noticed that environment has much intense impact on mindsets than any other force of mental process. It is mainly because the environment in which a child is brought greatly reflects his/her personality. Similarly the work environment highly contributes to encourage or de-motivate employees for their dedication towards the assigned task in the office (Wadsworth Media, 2009). Hereditary: Heredity is considered to set limitations for enhancement of characteristics. It is believed that individuals get personality traits from their parents, which influence each aspect of their life. Sometimes, intelligence and other extraordinary qualities are inherited to the individuals that help them in understanding situations and requirements in more efficient manner and as a result, such workers contribute proficiently at the work place and help generate innovative thoughts for work processes (Wadsworth Media, 2009). Education: Education is another very important element of model process as some researchers believe that education dominates all other factors. Education provides a sense of development and understanding things from wider-spectrum (Wadsworth Media, 2009). It strengthens and widens the vision of individuals, and helps them make decisions efficiently with a complete understanding of the complex situation and proficient plan required for company's sustainability. Genetics: Personalities of the individuals are genetically determined, which include mental and physical characteristics that make mindset of people different from each other. The genetic uniqueness of different employees in an organization sometime creates perplexing conditions to cooperate with each other during chaotic time (Wadsworth Media, 2009). Past Experience: As eve ry individual is brought up in different environment with diverse experiences and events so, when these individuals work for an organization. They tend to understand the situation and solve issues with their own experiences, which are definitely different from others'. Past experiences also reshape personalities of individuals and their cognitive development that directly reflect upon their organizational

How to Read Literature Study Questions Essay Example for Free

How to Read Literature Study Questions Essay How to Read Literature Like a Professor Summer Reading Questions 1. A Faustian bargain is more commonly known as a deal with the devil. In a Faustian bargain the protagonist is often offered something that he or she wants, but with a price: he or she must give up his or her soul. It appears constantly in literature in many different forms. Faustian bargains are present throughout One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest because of all the bets McMurphy makes. He goes into the ward knowing about the big Nurse’s power, and basically convinces the patients to follow him in her overthrow. Their price, however, is the risk of being sent to the Disturbed Ward and receiving electro shock treatment or even a lobotomy. In this way, McMurphy can be seen as a satanic figure, who convinces confused and scared patients to bargain what is left of their sanity to take over a Nurse who has ten times more control over their fate. 2. The grammar of literature is what Foster describes as the reader knowing the structure and rules of literature. He says they are a â€Å"set of conventions and patterns, codes and rules† that each reader learns and utilizes as they are reading. They recognize the structure of a paragraph and a sentence and know how to interpret what is on the page in front of them. The reader learns over time this grammar of literature, and he or she develops his or her own way to read and interpret a text. Readers learn the structure of an essay and thus can anticipate with each sentence what is coming next; it is so ingrained in their heads that it comes naturally. We know that a paragraph introduces a topic, gives examples, and then relates those examples back to the initial topic. In this way, the reader has developed a grammar of literature and reading. 3. Professors use symbols and patterns in a multitude of ways in order to interpret a text. Professors of literature, given their extensive memory and knowledge of literature itself, are bound to recognize the patterns and symbols in nearly every text and relate it to another. They read and think symbolically, meaning they recognize everything as a symbol or something of importance until they realize it’s not employed as a symbol. They constantly question everything in a text in order to find the deeper meaning. They see things as they actually exist, but then also look at the same thing to represent something more substantial. Professors are also more adapted to recognize patterns in literature, meaning they see within the detail the patterns it reveals. They are able to look beyond the actual story with the plot and the characters and see the patterns the author has implemented. They are able to recognize which elements are actually substantial enough to aid the work and the plot, and which ones are just detail. Their ability to distance themselves from the work is what makes them able to recognize the symbols and patterns that a regular reader may not recognize in a work. 4. There are five characteristics to a quest. First, there must be a quester. Next, that quester must have a place to go. Third, he or she must have a stated reason to go there. Fourth, there must be challenges and trials during the journey. Lastly, there must be a real reason to go to the place. Usually, the quester doesn’t know it is an actual â€Å"quest†. The real reason for the quest is the most important, and usually has nothing to do with the actual, stated reason. 5. The usual reason behind a quest is self-knowledge. Quests are often educational and provide the quester with a learning experience that aids their self-discovery. The reason for the quester’s youth and immaturity often has something to do with why they are on a quest, and what they end up learning. The only subject that truly matters on a quest is himself or herself. 6. Our questers: McMurphy, Doctor Spivey, and the twelve patients that join them. A place to go: The patients all leave the hospital for a lake to go on a fishing trip. A stated reason to go there: McMurphy wants to teach the boys how to fish and spend some time outdoors. Challenges and trials: The patients first face trouble when they don’t have a signed release form to be allowed to go on the boat, so the captain refuses to take them. McMurphy then takes the captain back to his office to make some phone calls to sort out the problem. While this happens, the other dock boys start heckling Candy, and the patients, not used to seeing others outside of the hospital, don’t stick up for her and defend themselves. They are not used to having enough confidence to stand up for themselves, since they have never had to, and McMurphy is the only one with enough confidence to yell at the dock boys. Next, the men struggle on the boat when trying to catch fish. None of them know how to reel in a line, and McMurphy is too busy with Candy to help them. So, they have to learn for themselves how to catch the fish and wrestle it on their own. The real reason to go: the fishing trip marks an important change in all of the patients. They come back even more bonded together than they were before, and full of confidence and personality. They come back and are confident enough to yell back at the dock boys, and even start sharing real, hearty laughs. It teaches all of them that if you try hard enough, you will get what you want. It also made them less afraid of the real world, and made them appreciate what was on the outside. 7. In the real world, breaking bread together is an act of sharing and peace, since if you’re breaking bread you’re not breaking heads†. 8. A meal scene is almost always symbolic because they are so difficult and boring to write. If a writer puts in a detailed meal scene, it must have some symbolic value since meals are almost never of real importance in a story. The writer must have a pretty good reason to include one in his or her story. The meal scene often has to deal with the relationships, good or bad, between characters, and often offer a turning point or pivotal change in the story during said meal. The typical meal scene is so mundane that for it to be included in a story and take up a lot of writing, it definitely has to have symbolic value. 9. According to Foster, eating in literature may represent a number of things. Firstly, it can represent communion, coming together, and getting along. A meal scene is written to show how characters are getting along or not getting along. It also can be used to form a bond, to find something in common between one character and another. It is a moment and a form of trust. Meal scenes that go wrong are also written for a purpose. Comradeship† at the table is important to convey in a meal scene, whether it is good or bad. The meal scene is vital in portraying the communion of life. 10. A positive communion scene occurs in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on the last night McMurphy is in the ward. They bring in some wine and open up the drug closet, and have a good time in the ward with no one on duty. It has symbolic meaning becau se it is one of the few times the patients have an actual fun time together, they bond and realize that life is too short to not have fun. They enjoy being free of stress and restraints and for once feel like real people again. 11. A negative communion happens in Beloved when Paul D comes to visit 124. He comes and visits Sethe and Denver, both of whom he hasn’t seen in many years and wishes to reconnect with them. However, Paul D’s presence makes Denver uncomfortable and left out. Sethe and Paul D sit down for a meal, and Denver feels alienated. No one comes to their house often, and when someone she doesn’t know comes in who takes her mother’s attention away from her, she is clearly angered. On top of that, Beloved decides to frighten them even more. She suddenly shakes the house to the point where everyone has to duck and cover, and frightens Paul D. She decides to make the communion negative and show symbolically her disgust and hatred for unwelcome men. 12. There are a couple essentials to a vampire story. First, there is an older figure (typically the â€Å"vampire†) that is alluring, dangerous, and representing corrupt values. This older figure then focuses on young, beautiful, innocent women, who are often virginal. This vampire then strips away her youth, her innocence, and corrupts her. When he gets her, he himself grows younger and even more alive than before. His energy is renewed and his life continues, while hers is sucked away as she becomes more like him. Since he has taken her virtue, her death and or destruction become inevitable. And most times, the motive often has to do with sex. 13. There are a lot of things other than literal vampirism that vampires and ghosts represent in literature. They can represent selfishness, exploitation, and refusal to respect autonomy. The ghost of Hamlet’s father is there to point out a problem, rather than just be a fright. Edward Hyde represents the dark side of every man. Vampires and ghosts don’t even have to be literal to represent something. They don’t have to appear in visible forms to be considered a vampire or ghost. They are put in a story to scare, haunt, and frighten people, but also to point out problems, teach a lesson, and protect a character. In Beloved, the ghost of Sethe’s murdered daughter embodies the spirit of Beloved as if she were alive. She haunts Sethe’s home and serves as a reminder of what she did. She can be seen as allegorical, as she represents the past haunting the present as a lesson and reminder of the crime Sethe committed. The relationship between Beloved and Sethe is complicated and often an unhappy one. Beloved’s presence is often destructive to Sethe, Denver, and their home. She creates instability in their household as well as within both women of the house. Though she is dead, she is ever-present, and helps develop the characters of Sethe, Denver, and Paul D. She represents pain and misfortune, but also guidance and hope. 14. Paul Berlin, the protagonist in Going After Cacciato, embodies an author’s â€Å"creative process† in many ways. His story is compiled from many other stories, meaning that all the stories ever written all stem from one story.

La Vida de un Imigrante :: essays research papers

La Vida de un Imigrante   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  La dificultad de la vida de un imigrante es inmensa. Las razones por la cual migren pueden ser por mejorar su situatcià ³n social, econà ³mica, 'o acadà ©mica. Nunca es fà ¡cil adaptarse a otro sistema cultural. El Lenguaje y la forma de vida son algunas transecciones que es necesario hacer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alberto es uno de los muchos Dominicanos que deciden migrar a los Estados Unidos. Su situacià ³n en la Repà ºblica Dominicana era muy desgradable, y la paciencia de esperar por sus papeles fueron disminuyendo. Con esto en mente el decide hacer en viaje a Puerto Rico por via del canal de la Mona. Para muchos Dominicanos esto significa la mitad del camino. Al estar en la isla de Puero Rico el esperava movimiento del mercado bajo para papeles 'o matrimonio para la misma razà ³n. Despuà ©s de sietà © mesà ©s Alberto llegà ³ ha los Estados Unidà ³s con papeles ilegales.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Su vida aquà ­ le a salido muy difà ­cil. Su mayor problema ha sido conseguir trabajo. La situacià ³n de empleo en este paà ­s esta en malos momentos, pero para un imigrante es el doble de peor. El no puede conseguir un trabsjo que no seà ¡ en una factoria 'o de limpeza. La razà ³n principal es porque no domina el Inglà ©s al nivel que hay que diminarlo.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Su dominià ³ del Inglà ©s es su segundo problema. No solà ³ lo impidà © en obtener empleo, pero tambien de conozer otras personas en genà ©ral. El me decà ­a que el se desesperaba, pero no se volvà ­a loco. La mayorà ­a del tiempo se la pasaba en the computadora, y viendo la televicià ³n. Con el tiempo encontro refugio en su familia, pero todavà ­a despuà ©s de tanto tiempo sin salir, el se sentà ­a aislado.

Bad Boss Good Boss Essay

â€Å"Servants don’t know a good master until they have served a worse,† (Aesop). By the tender age of eighteen, most people have had a job. Whatever that job was, the kind of master –boss encountered most likely made a big difference in how work performance is perceived and what constitutes a good or a bad boss. The collaborative relationship or lack there of, between an employee and employer is a contributing factor when measuring whether or not one has been successful. In these encounters one invariably learns the difference between a good or a bad boss. When comparing leadership capability of bosses, it is important to consider communication, collaboration, and people skills to determine their ability to succeed. Good bosses communicate with their employees effectively, while bad bosses are poor communicators. All bosses differ in their communication style. Some bosses like e-mail while others like face-to-face contact. Employees need communication from their bosses to make good decisions and to make sure a job is being done to specification. For example, a project is due in a week’s time; there are three different ways to complete this project, but there is only one way from management’s point of view. A good boss will take the time to explain clearly how he or she wants this job to be done; he or she will show the employee the correct way to do the job so the employee does not second guess himself. How a boss communicates with the employee has a major impact on their performance. Good bosses inspire and motivate the people they lead, encourage them to give feedback, and avoid launching into arguments or becoming angry when they think an employee is wrong. A bad boss on the other hand is withdrawn; he or she does not seem to care if their employees perform to their highest standard, and give neither time nor priority to listening as long as they get the job done. For example, an employee is doing a job that he or she could do much more effectively with a little  guidance; instead of the boss communicating with the employee, he allows the employee to complete the job and does not show the employee anything. Bad bosses do not feel it necessary to tell the employees anything about the bottom line or how the company is doing, he or she does not care about the well being of the employee or how they are performing in their jobs. They just do not communicate, and rarely show any emotion-good or bad. A good boss collaborates with employees, bad bosses are selfish. During one’s working career, one will have many bosses with varying leadership styles and interpersonal skills. Despite the disparity of personalities, the collaborative relationship the boss has with the employees is significant and the effects long lasting. Working well with the employees requires a concerted effort to obtain the knowledge and skills forming the foundation of a mutually beneficial relationship. A good boss knows that improving collaboration with the employees is essential to the advancement and completion of doing a good job. He or she will work with employees to achieve goals and complete projects. If working on an assembly line, a good boss will take the place of an absent employee and do the exact job that employee was doing. Conversely, a bad boss does not know the meaning of team. He will show a lack of interest in the well–being of the people he leads, and he will be prone to be demeaning and disrespectful. He or she will take the credit for a job done well without any acknowledgement to the employees that actually completed the work. When things do not go as planned, bad bosses will place the blame on anyone but themselves, they tend to find it easy to blame wasteful work systems, processes, and staff members for their inability to meet company wide goals and performance standards. Good bosses exhibit good people skills; however, with bad bosses it’s all about them. A good boss will go out of his way to accommodate an employee. Even when reprimanding an employee they will always give them a chance to explain and tell their side of the story. A good boss will tell an employee not to take it personally and take the time to explain that everyone has a bad day. As opposed to a bad boss who does not care about what the employee is feeling, he or she just wants the job done-no questions asked. Bad bosses tend to flaunt their rank and make sure the employees have no doubt about who the boss is. He or she will never get in the trenches with the employees as this is beneath him. When employees do a good job and  are recognized by others, the bad boss wants all of the glory. On the other hand, if he or she is being recognized they do not share the spotlight with the employees. Bad bosses have a false sense of security, they feel that what they are doing is fine as long as upper management does not hold them responsible or accountable for actions or positive change, and things remain in a constant state of confusion for the employees. In the business world, good bosses are an asset to any company. They appreciate what their employees do and do not mind getting in the trenches with them. The turnover rate in the workplace would be much lower if all companies had bosses that were competent, compassionate and fair. Although there may be as many good bosses as there are bad, it is likely that most bosses are a bit of both, ‘swinging both ways’ so to speak. To have a boss that makes employees realize that they have more ability than they thought they had so they do better work than they thought they could, versus a boss that negatively impacts the work environment by fostering high levels of employee frustration, stress, resentment, and unnecessary labor turnover makes all the difference between a successful and unsuccessful company. When given a choice, most people if not all would choose a good boss over a bad boss every time. During the working career, one will have many bosses with varying leadership skills and interpersonal styles. Despite the difference in personalities, the collaborative relationship you have with your boss can be significant and the effects long-lasting. Whether the boss is good or bad, some boss-employee relationships can withstand the test of time. Forming a harmonious and productive relationship with the boss can be good but is not always possible. Every boss brings with them different personalities, backgrounds and challenges. The bottom line is in all successful companies the leaders possess a certain degree of collaboration, communication and good people skills. At the end of the day in a successful company the bottom line is really what matters. References Day, J. A. (n. d.). Good boss, bad boss? Ezine articles, 1-3. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Good-Boss,-Bad-Boss?&id=7250782 Jamison, T. G. (2012, 3/27). 7 Signs of a bad boss. BioSpace. Retrieved from http://www.biospace.com/news_print.aspx?NewsEntityId=254513 Post, P. (2013, 11/17). What does a good boss do to be a good boss. The Boston Globe, pp. 2. Retrieved from http://www.bostonglobe.com Scott, D. E. (2007, 2/1). personal & Financial Health. Collaboration with your boss: strategic skills for professional nurses., 1-3. Retrieved from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/print/PrintArticle.aspx?id=159079514

“Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn Essay

In the book Ishmael, Daniel Quinn argues claims about our culture and beliefs through Ishmael, the gorilla. He somewhat effectively argues his claim, I say somewhat because he doesn’t adequately use all three parts of an argument: ethos, pathos and logos. Quinn’s intended audience is very clearly every Taker/human that is living everyday without really realizing the destruction of the environment and society around them. His rhetorical purpose is to show these people what they’re doing wrong and not necessarily tell them how to fix it, but telling them how they should inform everyone and essentially start a revolution. He does this because the world is very quickly being destroyed by humans because of our lack of energy to do something about it. Quinn puts into perspective how the world is slowly being ruined through the character of Ishmael. The reason I don’t think Quinn’s argument was extremely effective is because he didn’t use very much ethos. In the beginning he used Ishmael’s captivity in the zoo then the menagerie to give Ishmael some credibility with being able to observe humans from the outside of our world. Ishmael also taught himself how to understand humans which gives him some credibility as being very smart. Quinn does mention a few books Ishmael read to further his knowledge about humans, one being the Bible, but that is about all the ethos he uses. He doesn’t use any ethos while arguing throughout the book to back up his claims which is where I see most of his faults. Daniel Quinn mostly uses logos to support his claims throughout the book. On almost every page there was logical evidence to back up his claim he was currently making. He did this a lot through stories he told that put many things we see every day in a different perspective hence making us think about it in a very different way. For example, my favorite story was the one about the creation of man and he ends with â€Å"then man appeared† (Quinn 53). Ishmael says the same thing with â€Å"finally jellyfish appeared† (Quinn 56). He did this to show that creation did not end with man like we previously thought. Throughout the book Quinn uses very few examples of pathos. He mostly tells stories that made me feel guilty, for example on page 80 he discusses how we’ve â€Å"poured our poisons into the world† (Quinn 80) and he goes on to say there is almost no way for the world to recover because we’ve damaged it so much. This makes me feel very guilty and angry to the CEO’s and people that have come before me because they haven’t done anything to stop it. There have been people to try but no one has ever stopped drilling for oil and driving giant semi-trucks that are destroying the earth. Quinn doesn’t use pathos often, but the few times he did it was very effectively used. Daniel Quinn presents Ishmaels arguments in a very philosophical style and it feels as though the student, who is never named in the story is the reader. I could really see myself as the student, when he was confused I was often confused as well and I think that is why Quinn never gave him a name because it made it easier to put yourself in that position since we are essentially learning as the student is. I think Quinn’s argument needed more pathos and ethos to be truly effective. He uses mostly logos which is very effective for this type of argument, but there is not much emotion or credibility to back up the logical statements he is making. At times I was angry at society and humans in general because of the destruction and I think if there was more of that pathos it would have been much more effective of an argument for me.

Preschool Stage of Development Essays

Preschool Stage of Development Essays Preschool Stage of Development Essay Preschool Stage of Development Essay Essay Topic: A Dolls House The Preschool Stage of Development ECE 332: Child Development Marilyn Gomez May 30, 2011 Abstract â€Å"The years from 3 through 5 are often referred to as the preschool years† (Henniger, pg. 107). Preschool is a place where the setting is geared towards mimicking a regular school setting but exposes the young child for the first time to a school. Preschool takes away some of the stress of strictly learning academics and focuses on developing the childs skills in cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language developments. Preschool encourages children to personally and individually meet their milestones of development. The Preschool Stage of Development In looking at the stages of a preschool development, the characteristics/milestones must be defined. There are some activities that can be provided that will enhance a preschooler’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language developments. A detailed explanation of the activities will give the reasoning to how and why the activities will enhance a child’s development. â€Å"Every child grows and develops at his or her own pace. Still, child development tends to follow a fairly predictable path† (MFMER, 2010). In language skills, children in the age group of 3 through 5 years old learn from 250 to 500 or more words. Answer simple questions, and understand rhyming words. They can speak sentences of three to four words through compound and complex sentences. In social skills, children in preschool can become more imaginative, cooperate, make friends, share, express feelings, show affection, ask why questions, become more independent, begin to make impressionable markings, count numbers, recognize letters of the alphabet, and can problem solve with teacher guidance. In physical skills, children in this age group can kick, jump, run, and maneuver tricycles, walk up and down stairs without falling, keep balance, hop on one foot, manipulate hand toys like cube links or legos, can dress and undress dolls/or themselves, and can use scissors to cut paper. In Henniger’s text the characteristics described are meant as a guide to understanding the patterns of stages in the development of preschoolers (pg. 107). For the physical aspect of preschoolers, children begin to lose their baby fat and can ride tricycles at the age of 3. Hopping, skipping, and drawing stick figures are achieved at the age of 4. Tying a bow knot and riding a bicycle is achieved at that age of 5. For the cognitive aspect of preschoolers, children learn the basic names of color and ask â€Å"why? † questions at the age of 3. Understanding concepts of three and show curiosity to learning how things work are achieved at the age of 4. Understanding the meaning of calendar use and sorting objects by colors and shapes are achieved at the age of 5. For the social-emotional aspect of preschoolers, children begin to imitate an adult during play and learn about stereotypes of sex roles at the age of 3. Working in groups of two or more and having special friends are achieved at the age of 4. Recognizing hurt feelings, expressing their feelings and enjoying group games are achieved at the age of 5. For the language aspect of preschoolers, children learn three to four word sentences and use past tense correctly through their conversations at the age of 3. Playing with words/rhyming, and using talk to solve problems or conflicts are achieved at the age of 4. Knowing about 5,000 words or more and dictating a story from a book or imagination is achieved at the age of 5. One activity that will enhance a child’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language development is the process of making scrambled green eggs from the Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham story. Children will have an opportunity to learn about the process of making eggs to eat. The children will use their fine motor skills to crack an egg and scramble their eggs in a mixing bowl. They will have an opportunity to ask questions and answer questions like â€Å"what will happen when we crack the egg? † â€Å"What does the egg look like? Is it in a circle shape or an oval shape? What colors do you see on the outside of the egg and what color is the egg when the inside comes out? How does the egg feel before it is cracked? How does it feel when it is cracked open? † Children will have an opportunity to share their thoughts with their peers for social and language development. Their ideas can be charted onto a poster board. Children will feel confident in making their own scrambled eggs and sharing their findings with their peers and parents. Children will be able to predict what will happen when the green food coloring is added into the egg mix. Children will also be encouraged to think of what will happen when the egg mix is poured into a hot skillet. â€Å"Will the water soluble egg stay in its water context or will it become solid? † Language will be enhanced through learning different words by placing them with content of what is happening. An example of this would be solid, liquid, hard, slimy, and smooth, cracked, like, and dislike. Rhyming words would also increase the child’s vocabulary while reading the book of Green Eggs and Ham like in a house with a mouse, a goat on a boat, on a train while it rains, in a box with a fox, and here, there, anywhere. This activity will enhance the child’s development because the child will be a part of the making of the activity. They will show a curiosity to learning and will have hands on experience. The activity will encourage children to trust in themselves and will build self esteem in what they are doing. It will make them feel a part of the group. Their cognitive development will be challenged when they are encouraged to answer questions or ask questions. Their motor skills development in fine motor will be challenged when they are encouraged to whisk the egg to mix the yoke and the food coloring. Their social development will be encouraged when they display â€Å"energetic interactions with peers. Many preschoolers show social initiative when an interest in reaching out to others, making social contacts, and trying out social behaviors† (Trawick-Smith, pg, 298). The social development will be through the interactions with peers while making green eggs. Their emotional development will be encouraged as they become courageous in mixing the eggs with confidence and receiving acknowledgment of success when they are finished mixing the eggs. Their language development will be encouraged through literacy and rhyming songs. A second activity that will enhance a child’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language development can be through creating an activity with frogs. By a Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming can be the story that is used for creating the frog activity. The activity will be a multiple play area activity. Children will be encouraged to discuss about frogs. Questions like â€Å"where do frogs live? How do they feel? What do they look like? And what do they eat? Children will be encouraged to answer the questions as well as encouraged to ask questions. Children will be encouraged to look at a picture of the life cycle of frogs. They will learn the vocabulary words like amphibians, tadpoles, polliwog, young frog, adult frog, smooth, lumpy, leap, forward, croak, and snatch. They will be encouraged to participate in a frog relay race. They will use their gross motor skills to bend down like a fro g and leap up and forward using their legs. Children will be encouraged to socially interact with their peers while they play in the leap frog relay race. Those children who are standing by watching will encourage the two contestants and the two contestants will learn to feel emotionally confident to leap throughout the race. â€Å"Children who are nurtured, encouraged, and accepted by adults and peers will be emotionally well adjusted† (Trawick-Smith, pg. 298). This activity will enhance the child’s development because the children will be learning through play. They will learn how to bring a story to life and create games that are influenced by a story. Their cognitive development will be encouraged through the ongoing questions throughout the story and the game. Their motor development will be encouraged through the practicing and learning of leaping with their legs and jumps up and forward. Their social development will be encouraged throughout the day with their peers and acknowledgment from the teachers. Their emotional development will be encouraged as they successfully finish the race and getting recognition from their peers. â€Å"Children are elated when they feel liked by peers and emotionally crushed when they imagine that no other child in the whole world wants to play with them† (Miller, pg. 59). Children must feel that they are accepted by those around them. This will enhance their social and emotional development. Their language development will be encouraged and enhanced when they learn the many different words that are associated with the story about the frog. A third activity that will enhance a child’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language development is using their hands. This activity can be accompanied with the book My Hands Can Do So Many Things. Children will be encouraged to think of ways and things to do with their hands. Asking questions and encouraging children to ask questions like â€Å"how do you fold your hands? How do you wash your hands? Can you count with your hands? Can you tie a bow on your shoe? Can zip a zipper? Can you button a button? What are some things you can do with your hands? What things you should not do with your hands? Children will be encouraged to work on their fine motor skill developments with interacting with dressing boards. They will practice on zipping, buttoning, tying, and snapping buttons. They will be encouraged to develop their social skills by working with older peers for scaffolding or zone of proximal development. Cognitive scaffolding refers to temporary support provided by a more skilled person to assist learning in children. Children’s cognitive activities develop through interaction with older, more experienced individuals who teach and guide them† (Rathus, pg. 152). Children will be encouraged to develop their emotional skills by expressing their feelings and getting the opportunities towards successfully completing a task like zipping a z ipper or buttoning a button. Children will learn more language development with their peers as they communicate and interactively talk to their peers as they learn how to tie their shoe. This activity will enhance the child’s development because the children will learn that their hands can do many things and that their hands are used for manipulating objects to their desires and wants. They will learn to cognitively think of using their nice hands and keeping their hands to their own body. They will increase finger and hand strengths while practicing with the activities of the dress boards. They will socially interact with older peers and build trust with those peers and teachers. They will enhance their confidence and independence. They will learn to express their desires and feelings when they need to resolve a conflict that may arise when they are practicing their fine motor skills. In conclusion, teachers and caregivers must understand the milestones/characteristics of a preschooler in order to recognize if the child will need any further assistance or special recommendations. There should be developmentally appropriate activities set up to enhance a child’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language developments. This way, children will be provided an opportunity to achieve a goal and master a skill. Reference Henniger, M. (2009). Teaching young children: An introduction (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Miller, D. (2010). Positive child guidance (6th ed. ). Wadsworth, California. Rathus, R. (2011). Cdev: Student edition. Wadsworth, California. Trawick-Smith, J. (2006). Early childhood development: A multicultural Perspective (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Mayo Foundation Clinic Staff (2010). Child development chart: Preschool milestones. Retrieved on May 24, 2011 from mayoclinic. com/health/child-development/MY00136

Tips on How to Read Chinese

Tips on How to Read Chinese To the untrained eye, Chinese characters can seem like a confusing mess of lines. But characters have a logic of their own, revealing clues about definition and pronunciation. Once you learn more about the elements of characters, the logic behind them begins to emerge. Why Are Radicals Important? The building blocks of Chinese characters are radicals. Almost all Chinese characters are composed of at least one radical. Traditionally, Chinese dictionaries were classified by radicals, and many modern dictionaries still use this method for looking up characters. Other classification methods used in dictionaries include phonetics and the number of strokes used for drawing characters. Besides their usefulness for categorizing characters, radicals also provide clues for meaning and pronunciation. This is particularly useful when characters also have a related theme. For example, most characters having to do with water or moisture all share the radical æ ° ´ (shuÇ ). The radical æ ° ´ on its own is also a Chinese character, which translates to water. Some radicals have more than one form. The radical æ ° ´ (shuÇ ), for example, can also be written as æ ° µ when it is used as part of another character. This radical is called ä ¸â€°Ã§â€š ¹Ã¦ ° ´ (sÄ n diÇŽn shuÇ ), which means three drops of water as, indeed, the radical looks like three droplets.  These alternate forms are rarely used independently since they do not stand as Chinese characters on their own.  Therefore, radicals can be a useful tool for remembering the meaning of Chinese characters. Here are a few examples of characters based on the radical æ ° ´ (shuÇ ): æ ° ¾ – fn – overflow; flood æ ±  – zhÄ « – juice; fluid æ ±  – wn – weep; shed tears æ ±â€" – hn – perspiration æ ±Å¸ – jiÄ ng – river Characters can be composed of more than one radical. When multiple radicals are used, one radical is typically used to hint at the definition of the word while the other radical hints at the pronunciation. For example: æ ±â€" – hn – perspiration The radical æ ° ´ (shuÇ ) implies that  Ã¦ ±â€" has something to do with water, which makes sense because perspiration is wet. The sound of the character is provided by the other element. Ã¥ ¹ ² (gn) on its own is the Chinese character for dry. But gn and hn sound very similar. Types of Characters There are six different types of Chinese characters: pictographs, ideographs, composites, phonetic loans, radical phonetic compounds, and borrowings. Pictographs The earliest forms of Chinese writing originate from pictographs. Pictographs are simple diagrams meant to represent objects. Examples of pictographs include: æâ€" ¥ – rà ¬ – sun Ã¥ ± ± – shÄ n – mountain é› ¨ – yÇ” – rain ä º º – rà ©n – person These examples are modern forms of pictographs, which are quite stylized. But the early forms clearly show the objects they represent.   Ideographs Ideographs are characters which represent an idea or concept. Examples of ideographs include ä ¸â‚¬ (yÄ «), ä ºÅ' (à ¨r), ä ¸â€° (sÄ n), which means one, two, three. Other ideographs include ä ¸Å  ( shng) which means  up and ä ¸â€¹ (xi) which means  down. Composites Composites are formed by combining two or more pictographs or ideographs. Their meanings are often implied by the associations of these elements. Some examples of composites include: Ã¥ ¥ ½ – hÇŽo – good. This character combines woman (Ã¥ ¥ ³) with child (Ã¥ ­ ). æ £ ® – sÄ“n – forest. This character combines three trees (æÅ" ¨) to make a forest. Phonetic Loans As Chinese characters evolved over time, some of the original characters were used (or loaned) to represent words that had the same sound but different meanings. As these characters took on a new meaning, new characters representing the original meaning were devised. Here is an example: Ã¥Å'â€" - bÄ›i   This character originally meant â€Å"the back (of the body)† and was pronounced bà ¨i. Over time, this Chinese character has come to mean north. Today, the Chinese word for back (of the body) is now represented by the character èÆ'Å' (bà ¨i) . Radical Phonetic Compounds These are characters which combine phonetic components with semantic components. These represent approximately 80 percent of modern Chinese characters. You have already seen examples of radical phonetic compounds as discussed earlier.   Borrowings The final category – borrowings – is for characters that represent more than one word. These words have the same pronunciation as the borrowed character, but do not have a character of their own. An example of borrowing is è  ¬ (wn) which originally meant â€Å"scorpion†, but came to mean â€Å"ten thousand†, and is also a surname.