Cybernetic model

Introduction The term cybernetic describes the recent advancements in information science and the consideration of how the systems work. Cybernetic describes a complex type of information broadcast and the operations associated with the modern computers. The cybernetic models have advanced beyond the simpler models in a variety of ways. They are somewhat more complex and they identify a larger number of variables as compared to the simpler models (Mullen Johnson, 1990).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Cybernetic model specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More How leaders could function in a more cybernetic fashion According to Morrill (2010), a cybernetic leadership is compared to a self regulatory system that routinely regulates the activities it manages (p. 33). Burnbaum uses a thermostat to demonstrate the working of a cybernetic system. Burnbaum explains that the thermostat maintains room temperature by auto matically adjusting its heating system. When this idea translates to organizational leadership, it can be noted that each area of the administration employs a set of what might be termed as regulators in order to control its operations. For example in a case where one of the departments overspends, purchase of more products may be limited until necessary adjustments are done to correct the imbalance. If an admissions office fails to hit its annual enrollment target for students, there might be automatic adjustments to allow more transfers. The cybernetic model promotes independence of the various units within an organization. Adopting the cybernetic fashion would mean that leaders would be able to operate more independently and this would be advantageous in the sense that the imperfect operation of one unit would have minimal impact con the organization has whole (Morrill, 2010). How would the various players in shared governance act differently, if they were behaving in a cyberneti c fashion? Cybernetic design would create an environment in which the discrete organizational units have a proportionate amount of influence. The leaders manage the units as separate cognitive frames elicited by control mechanisms that balance their operations. The integration of a cybernetic fashion would create a form of leadership that only responds to indicators of operational difficulties but with limited capacity to implement new possibilities that could inspire other leaders to take a new direction in response to change. The leaders develop a cognitive insight and wise counsel regarding administrative techniques rather than the leadership process (Morrill, 2010). What are the benefits of moving toward a more cybernetic model? The cybernetic model tends to build on the collective behavior of a set of organizational units and the interaction between the unsophisticated entities. It recognizes that intricate group behavior does not need a function of complex individual behavior. Smith (2004) explains that the cybernetic fashion functions most efficiently with an open systems methodology.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It promotes two-way communication between the organization and its internal as well as external environment, hence facilitates the organizational efforts toward attaining its objectives (p. 243). The approaches adopted by the units are constantly adjusted according to the feedbacks obtained from the public. Another significant benefit of moving towards a more cybernetic model is that it has simpler techniques of controlling and harmonizing internal organizational processes in a more systemic design with respect to delivering particular systemic goals. The cybernetic fashion also simplifies the assessment and examination of the components of a given system or organizational units and makes it easier for individuals and leader s to understand how the entire system operates (Smith, 2004). What are the positive and negative aspects of working more cybernetically? Cybernetic systems make use of computers and sophisticated technological approaches that constantly provide new techniques of computation and information processing. The systems contain a vibrant proportion of intelligence. For example telephone networks, radar systems, programmable disks and communication systems, all reveal the potential to process information and execute particular commands. They utilize self regulating methods that work within predefined limits to perform predefined tasks (Smith, 2004). Another positive aspect is that the cybernetic operation enables establishment of various profitable relationships between units. The various components are able to work as a single unit. The collectivity provides a good platform for creativity and supportive explorations which facilitate developments and enhance organizational capabilities. It also provides a secure base for the emergence and development of constructive ideas that help in handling circumstances from different angles. On the other hand, a typical cybernetic system has three essential elements which include the sensor, comparator and an activator. The sensor is charged with the task of sensing the factors about the environment such as the internal state of the components. The comparator uses the feedback from the sensor determines whether there is a need for change. The activator then responds by activating the change if there is a need. The operation of these three elements may sometimes take longer than expected to realize certain objectives. Negative feedbacks may lead to adaptive behavior and there may be an attempt to sustain the same conditions. Another negative aspect is that the technological progress that accompanies the cybernetic system may be so demanding on the individuals and workers within an organization. It may create an increased demand fo r the managers. For example, apart from the normal managerial activities of the manager, the manager may be expected to type, receive and send emails which may lead to considerable deterioration of the services offered (Morril, 2010).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Cybernetic model specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Morrill, R.L. (2010). Strategic leadership: Integrating strategy and leadership in colleges and universities. Maryland: Rowman Littlefield. pp.32-48. Mullen, B., Johnson, C. (1990). The psychology of consumer behavior. London: Routledge. pp.6-20. Smith, R.D. (2004). Strategic planning for public relations applied psychology series (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. pp.241-310. This research paper on Cybernetic model was written and submitted by user Kiara Prince to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Under Age Drinking

Everyone knows that it is illegal to consume alcohol until the age of 21. Many people are In agreement with this legal restriction. Some would even say that it needs to be raised. Why is 21 the "magical" age that makes one intelligent and mature enough to consume alcohol? Surely, some adults abuse alcohol and some teenagers would be perfectly able to drink responsibly. Many have asked the question, should the drinking age be lowered from age twenty-one to age eighteen. The national drinking age for men and woman should remain at age twenty-one. Before 1982 there was no national conformity in the laws dealing with alcohol consumption legal age. Each state had different laws and regulations set on the drinking age. In the mid-1980's this changed. "The drinking age was set by federal law in the mid-1980's mostly because of pressure from Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD)" (Dogan 1). This gave conformity throughout the nation with a national drinking law.! Today there are many arguments put forth to justify attempts to lower the drinking age. One of the most prevalent arguments for the drinking age heard is, "if were old enough to be sent to war and die we are old enough to drink alcohol" (Heffernan 1). This argument has an underlined fallacy. When an eighteen-year-old youth is drafted into the military he is subjected to many months of rigorous training and preparation for his duties as a solider. Not only is he intensively trained, he is provided constant leadership. This is exactly the opposite of what happens when a youth reaches the legal age to drink. The youth is not trained or prepared to take on the burden of responsible drinking. Rather than provided leadership he is subjected to peer pressure encouraging him to act irresponsibly. The draft age and drinking age argument does not provide a convincing basis for a change in the law. A second argument often heard supporting a reduction in lowerin... Free Essays on Under Age Drinking Free Essays on Under Age Drinking Everyone knows that it is illegal to consume alcohol until the age of 21. Many people are In agreement with this legal restriction. Some would even say that it needs to be raised. Why is 21 the "magical" age that makes one intelligent and mature enough to consume alcohol? Surely, some adults abuse alcohol and some teenagers would be perfectly able to drink responsibly. Many have asked the question, should the drinking age be lowered from age twenty-one to age eighteen. The national drinking age for men and woman should remain at age twenty-one. Before 1982 there was no national conformity in the laws dealing with alcohol consumption legal age. Each state had different laws and regulations set on the drinking age. In the mid-1980's this changed. "The drinking age was set by federal law in the mid-1980's mostly because of pressure from Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD)" (Dogan 1). This gave conformity throughout the nation with a national drinking law.! Today there are many arguments put forth to justify attempts to lower the drinking age. One of the most prevalent arguments for the drinking age heard is, "if were old enough to be sent to war and die we are old enough to drink alcohol" (Heffernan 1). This argument has an underlined fallacy. When an eighteen-year-old youth is drafted into the military he is subjected to many months of rigorous training and preparation for his duties as a solider. Not only is he intensively trained, he is provided constant leadership. This is exactly the opposite of what happens when a youth reaches the legal age to drink. The youth is not trained or prepared to take on the burden of responsible drinking. Rather than provided leadership he is subjected to peer pressure encouraging him to act irresponsibly. The draft age and drinking age argument does not provide a convincing basis for a change in the law. A second argument often heard supporting a reduction in lowerin...

Information Systems Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Information Systems Management - Essay Example Originally BS 7799 had the status of a Code of Practice. However, in April 1999, it became a formal two part standard. Part 1 (the original Code of Practice)  of the revised BS7799 standard was re-titled "Code of Practice for Information Security Management" and provides guidance on best practices in information security management.   Part 2, titled "Specification for Information Security Management Systems", forms the standard against which an organisations own security management systems were to be assessed and certified. In 1993 UK-DTI in collaboration of a number of UK based companies introduced the ISM Code of Practice incorporating the best information security practices in use like the computer data, written spoken or microfiche. The primary goal of the Code of Practice was to provide a common basis for organisations to develop, implement and measure effective information security management practice. Also the aim was to provide confidence in inter-organisational dealings i.e registry/ registrar interactions. In 1999, when the COP was fragmented in two parts BS7799 Part 1 which is now ISO/IEC 17799: 2000 incorporates good security practice with 127 security guidelines which can be drilled over to provide 600 other controls. While the BS 7799 Part 2 is a framework for the ISMS, a means by which senior management monitor can control their security, minimize the risks and ensure compliance. Then the third part BS 7799 Part 3 was published in the year 2005 covering risk analysis and management. 5) Physical and Environmental Security physical aspects of security including protection of equipment and information from physical harm, as well as physical control of access to information and equipment To be effective it should be clearly supported by senior management. Specific policies and procedures within the Information Security Management System (ISMS) must be consistent

Personal Statement of Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Statement of Ethics - Essay Example When I was a child, my concept of ethics has been confined in being good and right to the people within my small circle. However, as I grew older and exposed to the realities of this world, I begin to learn that ethics is more than just pleasing the people which are around me. I realize that in order to maintain my integrity and credibility as an individual, I should be able to establish my own ethical standards backed by what I believe to be morally excellent. As I go about making my own stand, I learn that upholding my ethical beliefs is a struggle where I need to battle with the conflicting ideologies of the people around me. I begin to understand that what my parents taught me are quite shallow compared to what I learn with my various experiences yet they provide a good foundation of how to decide whether something is acceptable or not. My definition of ethics goes beyond what is socially acceptable as right. Looking at the current world situation, it now appears that our society have tolerated and absorbed previously unethical behaviors and added them into our value system. For instance, I strongly assert that gay marriage is not ethically because it destroys the original purpose of a woman's creation that is, to be the completeness of a man.

Marketing Plan Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing Plan - Coursework Example The country is however besieged by rising unemployment. UK witnessed five days of social unrest and riots in August of 2011which resulted in loss of reputation and goodwill for the country (Internet Business News 2011). The rate of change of technology impacts the UK automobile sector considerably. All players in the industry have to keep abreast of the latest technologies and incorporate them in the subsequent models of automobiles. The growth of internet has provided the automobile industry a new sales and communication channel. At the same time, it has provided the consumer an extremely powerful tool to compare and contrast not only the prices of automobiles, but also their specifications and features. The UK government initiated a ‘scrappage incentive scheme’, wherein a car buyer was given  £1,000 trade-in incentive for replacing a 10 year old vehicle with a new, more efficient car. This scheme helped boost sales, but of smaller vehicles and not the likes of BMW (Reed 2009). The government is also giving incentives to buyers to opt for alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs). Under enormous pressure to go ‘green’, the automobile manufacturers have not only rolled out AFVs but have also invested heavily in enhancing productivity through modular design, flexible manufacturing technology and highly skilled shop floor workforces. The UK automobile industry is extremely competitive with automobile manufacturers from Europe, Japan, China, India and the United States operating in the country. Being a mature market, the rate of growth of UK automobile sector is very low. All major automobile brands are available in the UK market. The car industry thrives on brand loyalty which is to the advantage of existing players. Other potential entry barriers include high investments and long gestation period. The automobile industry requires raw materials and parts of varied kinds. Over the last few years, the

Research on the aims and purposes of counselling

Research on the aims and purposes of counselling Counselling is an interactive learning process contracted between the counsellor and the client. The overall aim is to provide the client with the opportunity to work in self defined ways, towards living in more satisfying and resourceful ways as individuals and as members of the broader society [Hough 1998]. Clients need to feel safe and secure for them to explore and develop an insight to their issues and concerns. For the clients to explore and resolve their issues with the counsellor a strong therapeutic alliance based on trust, empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard needs to be established. The counselling environment needs to be comfortable and well suited to a range of client types so that the client can feel safe. Making a therapeutic contract, setting goals and targets, discussing confidentiality issues can help the client feel safe. This essay will discuss the aims purposes of counselling in some detail, followed by the importance and benefits of a safe counselling environment for the client in his or her exploration. Some limitations of the counsellor will be discussed and finally, referral issues will be considered. The European Association for counselling [in Hough 1998] defines counselling and its aims and purposes in the following way: Counselling is an interactive learning process contracted between the counsellor and the client, be they individuals, families, groups or institutions, which approach in a holistic way, social, cultural economic and / or emotional issues. Counselling may be concerned with addressing and resolving specific problems, making decisions, coping with crisis, improving relationships, developmental issues, promoting and developing personal awareness, working with feelings, thoughts, perceptions and internal or external conflict. The overall aim is to provide clients with the opportunities to work in self defined ways, towards living in more satisfying and resourceful ways as individuals and as members of the broader society Further detailed aims and purposes of counselling as defined by McLeod [2003] are: Insight, relating with others, self awareness, self acceptance, self actualization, enlightenment, problem solving, psychological education, acquisition of social skills, cognitive and systematic change, empowerment, restitution, Generativity and social action. Insight refers the acquisition of an understanding of the origins and development of emotional difficulties, leading to an increased capacity to take rational control over feelings and actions. Relating with others means becoming better able to form and maintain meaningful and satisfying relationships with other people: for example, within the family or workplace. Self-awareness allows a person to be more aware of thoughts and feelings that had been blocked off or denied, or developing a more accurate sense of how self is perceived by others. Self-acceptance is important for the development of a positive attitude towards self, marked by an ability to acknowledge areas of experience that had been the subject of self-criticism and rejection. Self-actualization or individuation, a core impetus of the person centred theory allows the client to move in the direction of fulfilling potential or achieving an integration of previously conflicting parts of self Enlightenment is helpful in assi sting the client to arrive at a higher state of spiritual awakening. Problem-solving implies finding a solution to a specific problem that the client had not been able to resolve alone. Psychological education will enable the client to acquire ideas and techniques with which to understand and control behaviour. Acquiring social skills is related to learning and mastering social and interpersonal skills such as maintenance of eye contact, turn-taking in conversations, assertiveness or anger control. Cognitive change is also one of the aims of counselling. Cognitive change refers to the modification or replacement of irrational beliefs or maladaptive thought patterns associated with self-destructive behaviour and Behaviour change which is the modification or replacement of maladaptive or self destructive patterns of behaviour [McLeod 2003]. Person centred counselling focuses on the client. In person centred counselling, the counsellor does not direct or in any way manipulate the couns elling it is all about empowering the client to find and choose the best way forward Creating a warm and safe physical environment is an essential stepping-stone to building a strong therapeutic alliance. Paying attention to meeting, greeting and seating are all helpful in helping the client to feel safe. For counselling to be effective, the counsellor needs to work at building a relationship. This is very important especially in the early stages when the client may be feeling vulnerable and insecure, and bearing in mind that it is usual for the client to meet the counsellor on unfamiliar territory for example the counsellors consulting room. Striving to keep the room neutral, in other words free from personal belongings such as books, ornaments and family photographs, is a positive step that counsellors can take to reduce the equality gap [Sutton Stewart 2002]. Sutton Stewart [2002] writes that barriers such as desks should also be avoided, and chairs should be uniform and placed approximately three to four feet apart and slightly at an angle. Being in direct eye contact with the counsellor can leave some clients feeling very uncomfortable or embarrassed. Sutton Stewart [2002] mentions other details of the room for example, a small clock needs to be positioned where the counsellor can glance at it, and attention should be paid to the lighting, and room temperature. A box of tissues placed where the client can easily reach them is a must, and a vase of fresh flowers or a potted plant can add a touch of warmth and colour to the setting, and reflect something of your personality. With the clients permission, the counsellor may tape the sessions and this should be set up ready to use. However, it should be pointed out that emotional barriers are far more potent that physical ones. Even if all the physical surroundings are perfect, the client still might not feel at ease if the counsellor and client are not in rapport. Sutton Stewart [2002] argue that addressing clients by their first name can go a long way towards helping them feel comfortable and accepted. Introducing yourself by your first name can help to break down the barriers of inequality. However, do not assume that because you are feel comfortable being on first name terms that all people are. Ask the client how they want you to address them. The counsellors opening sentence should be empathic and your posture should demonstrate to the client that you are ready to listen: Some clients who seek counselling have been badly let down, hurt or abused by other people, and trust may therefore be a major issue. Trust is something that has to be earned by the counsellor and it can be hard work. However, developing the skills of active listening; accurate, sensitive responding; reflecting feelings; empathy; genuineness; and demonstrating that you are fully present for the client can help to establish a solid foundation of trust. Indeed, the more t he counsellor invests in the relationship, the stronger the trust and bond grows between client and counsellor. Trusting the counsellor will help the client feel safe and will aid him or her in self exploration and insight. Establishing clear boundaries [the ground rules for counselling] is another important stepping stone to building the therapeutic alliance and helping the client feel safe. Boundaries may include agreement over such things such as the duration of counselling, length of counselling sessions, limits of confidentiality, appropriate touching, number and duration of phone calls, sending and responding to emails, or strategies for managing episodes of self-harm or suicidal thoughts. The terms on which counselling is being offered should be made clear to clients before counselling commences; These may be agreed verbally, or they may be set out in a formal written contract between counsellor and client, and signed by both parties. Subsequent revision of these terms should be agreed in advance of any change. Clear contracting enhances, and shows respect for, the clients autonomy [Sutton Stewart 2002]. A contract helps to ensure the professional nature of the relationship and may, in addition to the ground rules already mentioned, include: Venue, fees, frequency of sessions, how counselling will be evaluated, process of referral, if and when necessary, broad details of the counselling relationship, duties and responsibilities of each party, details of the counsellors supervision, goals of counselling, means by which the goals will be achieved, the provision and completion of homework, the setting of boundaries and expectations, the terms of the therapeutic relationship, provision for renegotiation of contract [Sutton Stewart 2002]. It is important to end sessions on time. This helps the client feel safe. When a session is nearing an end, it can be helpful to say something like: We have about 10 minutes left of this session. Perhaps it would be helpful to summarise what we have talked about today. It can often prove beneficial to let your client summarise what has been discussed during the session. Something like, What will you take away with you from today? helps the client to summarise. Your closing sentences need to be clear, and should indicate that its time to end the session [Sutton Stewart 2002]. Just as a safe environment is important for the client to explore and share his or her issues, a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust, empathy and unconditional positive regard is as important. The counsellor must unconditionally accept the clients as whom they are in order for a trusting relationship to establish. Empathy and understanding is shown through careful listening. Egan [1986] explains the importance of empathic listening and says that a helper cannot communicate an understanding of a clients world without getting in touch with that world through empathetic listening. Therefore empathy centres on the kind of attending, observing and listening. Rogers defines empathic listening in the following way: It means entering the private perceptual world of the other and becoming thoroughly at home in it. It involves being sensitive, moment by moment, to the changing felt meanings which flow in this other person, to the fear or rage or tenderness or confusion or whatever he or she is experiencing. It means temporarily living in the others life moving about in it delicately without making judgments [Rogers p142 in Egan 1986 p88]. Limitations to the counsellor Counsellors face limitations in their profession as well as during the therapeutic process. Sometimes, the practitioner may feel a strong urge to help the person, by listening to their story and perhaps trying to help them to come to terms with what has happened. This is a very caring response, but there are times when it may not represent the best course of action. If a person has been assaulted in childhood, the resulting sense of lack of trust, and perhaps self-hatred, may permeate many aspects of the persons life. Talking through all of that may take a long time, may involve strong emotions, and requires a great deal of persistence and consistency on the part of the counsellor. Any practitioner faced with such a situation needs to consider whether they are capable, in terms of the time they can give, and their confidence and competence as a counsellor, to accompany their client on such a journey. Starting on such a journey, and then pulling back, clearly has the potential for hur t. At the same time, ignoring what the client has said about their abuse, for fear of getting in over my head also has the potential for hurt or harm [McLeod 2007]. Another set of issues around counsellor competence arises from what might be described as temporary impairment. For example, a counsellor who has recently experienced the loss of a close family member is unlikely to be much help to someone with a bereavement issue. A counsellor who is burnt out, stressed or tired is unlikely to be in a good position to offer ongoing help to someone. Being aware of ones limits as a counsellor is very important in these regards [McLeod 2007]. Counsellor competence, ability and experience are clearly some main limitations. A counsellor will be trained and experienced in psychodynamic or couple counselling but may not be able to help with a client suffering from recurrent depression or any other psychological problem, which is why counsellors need to have a list of contact to refer the clien ts should they need to. Referral issues There are specialist agencies working in the areas of mental health, marital distress, eating disorders, sexual abuse, and many others. If the counsellor cannot help a particular individual, he may refer them on. There may be various reasons for referring on. It may emerge that someones problem would be better addressed through couple counselling or in group therapy. It may become very clear that the client wants a particular kind of therapy. The counsellor may think of a colleague whose experience and/or orientation closely matches the needs of the client. The counsellor may feel that a counsellor of the opposite sex, or someone older, or someone who can speak another language may be more appropriate for the client. For example, the client may have clear signs of an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the counsellor may realize that medication and behaviour therapy may be appropriate for the client than psychodynamic counselling. A woman client may tell the counsellor that she is being beaten by her husband and the counsellor may suggest that she seeks a refuge. Since some people perceive counselling as a kind of befriending; the counsellor may have to refer this kind of person on to a befriending scheme. Some people, on the other hand, may be afraid of doctors and believe that counselling is what they need. The counsellor may have to encourage t hem gently to see a doctor [perhaps helping them to explore their fears but without trying to substitute for medical attention]. A client may not be able to afford services for very long and the counsellor may not offer a free counselling service [Dryden 2006]. In all of the mentioned circumstances, the client may be referred to an appropriate agency Being willing and able to refer individuals to other sources of help is an essential competence for any practitioner who is offering counselling. McLeod [2007] mentions some reasons why referral would be important the client may be referred if he or she needs more time than the counsellor is able to give or more frequent meetings; is primarily looking for practical information and advice, rather than an opportunity to talk things through; describes problems in living that the counsellor believes are beyond his or her capacity to work with; might gain a lot from making use of a specialist agency where there are practitioners available who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in relation to the type of problem the person has described; is involved in a prior relationship with the counsellor that would be incompatible with the creation of a secure and confidential counselling space [McLeod 2007]. When the counsellor is aware of his or her own particular strong feelings in the counselling situation, this may indicate feelings that the client has difficulty recognizing or dealing with, or the feelings may belong to the counsellor. The counsellor may need to work through his or her own issues and may need to refer the client on. Another reason why the client may be referred is because of avoiding dual roles and relationships. Dual relationships occur when counsellors assume two [or more] relationships simultaneously or sequentially with a client. Dual relations can be exploitative and do serious harm both to the client and to the professional. For example, becoming emotionally or sexually involved with a current client is unethical, unprofessional, and illegal. Forming dual roles and relationship is harmful as there is a potential for misusing power, exploiting the client and impairing objectivity. Therefore if the practising counsellor is in another relationship with the client, the counsellor will refer the client to another counsellor [Corey G 2009] McLeod [2007] also mentions the important aspects of referral. The key steps in the referral process, for a counsellor, are: [1] knowing what alternative resources are available; [2] engaging the person in a discussion around the possibility of seeing someone else; and [3] making the referral and managing the passing over stage. This essay has attempted to discuss some important issues in counselling and psychotherapy. The aims and purposes of counselling have been discussed including empathetic listening and its importance. The counselling environment must be safe for the client to feel comfortable in exploring and reflecting on his or her personal issues. Not only physical safety is important, psychological and emotional safety is also very important. For example, the counsellor must strive to develop a therapeutic relationship with the client based on trust, empathy, warmth and support conveying the core conditions. Limitations to the counsellor or indeed to its process is related to counsellor competence, how much is the counsellor is experienced, emotionally and educationally, to help and assist the client is a major issue. If circumstances occur when the counsellor is not competent, or the type of psychotherapy the counsellor is offering is not suited for the client the counsellor needs to refer the cl ient to an appropriate agency.

Comparing Chinese Culture in Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club and Kitchen Go

Chinese Culture Exposed in Joy Luck Club and Kitchen God's Wife  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Traditional Chinese customs are described in great detail in Amy Tan's books. This rich culture adds interesting and mesmerizing detail to the intricate stories of both The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God's Wife.    Traditions are apparent throughout all of the stories in The Joy Luck Club. One of the first instances is in the story from Ying-Ying St. Clair entitled "The Moon Lady." Ying-Ying is describing the Festival of the Moon Lady, a festival dedicated to the lady who lives on the moon and once a year comes down to earth to grant your secret wish--something you want but cannot ask. This excerpt describes proper traditional dress (ornate clothing saved for special occasions), delicious foods such as rabbits feet and mooncakes (saved for special occasions), fireworks, and family gathered all together. This is one of the most richly detailed and culturally authentic stories in the novel.    The other story that strikes the reader as containing vivid culture and tradition is Lindo Jong's "The Red Candle." This story, like Winnie Louie's, describes in great detail the customs of arranged marriages. Lindo Jong begins by talking about the village matchmaker coming to her housewhen she was two years old. The matchmaker, Huang Taitai, looked her over and said, "An earth horse for an earth sheep. This is the best marriage combination." Lindo says that Huang Taitai looked right through her and saw that she would be a perfect wife--a strong, hard, good worker, eager to please her elders in their old age. Lindo describes what happened next:    This is how I became betrothed to Huang Taitai's son, who I later discovered was just a baby, o... ...s not considered a sufficient departure for the deceased.    Traditional Chinese customs are described in great detail in Amy Tan's books. This rich culture adds interesting and mesmerizing detail to the intricate stories of both The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God's Wife.    Works Cited Conrad, Tammy S. "Creating an Asian-American Mythology: Storytelling in Amy Tan's Fiction". Tammy S. Conrad's Thesis. 1998. Available:   <http://english.ttu.edu/faculty/conrad/thesis.html. Huntley, E.D. Amy Tan: A Critical Companion. Westport, CT, Greenwood Press, 1998 Tan, Amy. The Kitchen God's Wife. New York, Ballantine Books, 1991. Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Vintage Contemporaries. New York: A Division of Random House, Inc. 1993. Wu, Shelley. "What is Chinese Astrology" Available: http://www.chineseastrology.com/wu/whatis.html

Should People in the Public Eye Expect Their Privacy to Be Respected by the Media?

Journalism is a field of work that requires an individual to balance the ethical aspects of invading another person’s privacy with getting the information they need to cover a specific story. It is becoming increasingly common to find out what a certain celebrity has said or done yesterday in today’s newspaper and magazine tabloids. Our society has become so fixated in watching and reading about others, that sometimes we forget that celebrities should have some privacy of their own. Stories in the headlines can range from what a certain celebrity orders from a fast food restaurant to information concerning a divorce settlement between couples. Every solitary move a famous individual makes in his or her life is documented in a photograph, editorial, or headline on a TV show dedicated to exposing their life. If famous celebrities cannot receive any amount of privacy, why should individuals like ourselves be guaranteed that our personal lives are not exposed to the world? Should not all human beings be able to keep certain aspects of their life personal? Journalists and photographers should realize that celebrities are human beings that would like to keep certain parts of their lives to themselves, and not have their lives consumed with photographs and editorials devoted to exposing all details of their life good or bad. The definition of public eye is people in the one, which consist of politicians, athletes, celebrities and other individuals who are famous. For my presentation we will be concentrating on the public eye and whether they should expect their privacy to be respected by the media. Media comes in various forms, with the more common ones being newspapers, tabloids, radio, paparazzi, internet, social media and many more. With the amount of attention numerous celebrities receive from the media, invading their privacy is just another part of a journalist’s job description. Such actions as going through another individual’s trash can lead to the next big headline on tomorrow’s magazine. Some journalists will ultimately dedicate their life to exposing someone else’s in magazine editorials and articles. The media is certainly abusing the rights they are given by exposing details of famous individual’s lives. Anything from celebrity scandals and breakups to private matters like divorce are always shown on TV shows featured on E News, which show the latest and most up to date stories. These shows will provide viewers with hard evidence including paper documents and photographs that depict a certain story. Stories dealing with breakups, for instance, the popular divorce between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston after seven years of marriage, are sold to specific magazines for a large amount of money. Public eye privacy being invaded – a question that has been discussed over and over again in the media itself, the debate intensifying after the latest tragic break-ups by famous ex-actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger was caught having an internal affairs with his maid is to believed his privacy being invaded. Sought by celebrities, anonymous informers as well as ordinary citizens, privacy should be respected by members of the press – too often do journalists use techniques that show disregard for others' distress in order to â€Å"get the story†. However, in other cases, it is due to the publication of â€Å"private† details that hidden agendas and acts of corruption are brought to light. It is the amount of public interest involved that is more important in determining whether or not the press is justified in overriding privacy. The press – all members of the printed media, including newspapers, magazines, and tabloids – plays the important role of informing the public of what they need to know. This freedom of speech in the media is central to our democracy, as it means that the public's main source of information is independent of any of the authorities, and is thus more likely to present information in an unbiased manner. As stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, â€Å"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. â€Å"It is the right to know, the publics right to access information, which allows us to keep a critical eye on our society and ensure the fair running of our country. However, another basic human right is the right to privacy â€Å"freedom from intrusion and public attention† as defined in the Oxford Dictionary. This includes privacy for the person, conversation, seclusion and personal information. That is, one should be able to lead a life without others following one all the time, eavesdropping on what one says, having one's every move under surveillance, and making public one's personal details. Such two basic human rights come into conflict when matters are to be reported in the media. What the press sees as information that ought to be made public may be considered private by the individual. 997 figures showed the privacy complaints made by both public personalities and private citizens, having tripled since 1994, stood at 9% of the total number of complaints lodged to the Press Council. Often when confronted with such accusations of intruding upon one's privacy, the journalist's defense is that it was in the â€Å"public interest†. This term, however, is rather vague. Many tend to define it as what the public is interested in – the kind of sensational news that increases circulation and sells papers. Yet this sacrifice of the individual's privacy for the entertainment of the general public is not â€Å"public interest†. In fact, it is the necessity of the public, as citizens, to have access to essential information. A great proportion of those mentioned in the media are ordinary citizens who, because of their experience of extraordinary circumstances, become significant. These people are most likely to be victims of crime or tragedy. In such cases, names, addresses, photographs and other details that would lead to the identification of the victim should not be published without consent. It is not imperative for the public to know the name of the victim because, after all, stories reported in the media are often far removed from the readers' daily lives that the name is of no more interest to them than a piece of trivia. Yet to the victim and his or her family and friends, publication of the name could mean embarrassment, harassment or even death threats from the criminal. In conclusion, the most basic form to freedom of expression and encourages the journalists to have public responsibilities as an honest and efficient journalist that respects the rights of others. The 8th code of ethics in MEAA is to ‘use fair, responsible and honest means to obtain material and never exploit a person’s vulnerability or ignorance of media practice’, meanwhile the 11th code of to ‘respect private grief and personal privacy. But again, it does actually depend on what situation that the public eyes are going through. Is it bad or good thing that journalism should report a story regarding on their private life or its just counted as an entertainment values as in the public interest that will do the rating of a certain story to put in the tabloids.

The eNotes Blog If These Cave Walls CouldTalk

If These Cave Walls CouldTalk Linguists have unlocked the key to what our ancient ancestors may have sounded like, and it sounds pretty amazing.   Did you know that 6,500 years ago English and Farsi were the same language? Hows that for world unity. From there, the language morphed into the single descendant of all modern Indo-European languages: PIE (which stands for Proto-Indo-European). Since recording equipment was sparse 4,500 years ago and PIE left no written texts, nobody has ever known what the language might have sounded like. Until now, that is. Below is a recording of a fable, The Sheep and Horses, read in what linguists believe to be an accurate reconstruction of PIE. The journey to this recording began with German linguist August Schleicher in 1868. Schleicher used reconstructed Proto-Indo-European vocabulary to create a fable in order to hear some approximation of PIE. Called â€Å"The Sheep and the Horses,† and also known today as Schleicher’s Fable, the short parable tells the story of a shorn sheep who encounters a group of unpleasant horses (Archaeology magazine). The above recording is the most recently updated version of this fable, which has been slightly altered over the years to reflect linguists most informed ideas of how humans might have sounded more than six milennia before our time. The reading comes courtesy of Andrew Byrd, a linguist at the University of Kentucky. For your amusement, here are the English and PIE transcriptions of the now infamous Schleichers Fable: The Sheep and the Horses A sheep that had no wool saw horses, one of them pulling a heavy wagon, one carrying a big load, and one carrying a man quickly. The sheep said to the horses: My heart pains me, seeing a man driving horses. The horses said: Listen, sheep, our hearts pain us when we see this: a man, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm garment for himself. And the sheep has no wool. Having heard this, the sheep fled into the plain. H2à ³uÃŒ ¯is h1à ©Ã¡ ¸ ±uÃŒ ¯Ã… s-kwe h2uÃŒ ¯eiÃŒ ¯ h1iÃŒ ¯osmà ©iÃŒ ¯ h2uÃŒ ¯lÃŒ ¥h1nh2  nà © h1à ©st, sà ³ h1à ©Ã¡ ¸ ±uÃŒ ¯oms derá ¸ ±t. sà ³ gwrÃŒ ¥hxà ºm uÃŒ ¯Ãƒ ³Ã‡ µhom uÃŒ ¯eÇ µhed; sà ³ mà ©Ã‡ µh2mÃŒ ¥ bhà ³rom; sà ³ dhÇ µhà ©monmÃŒ ¥ h2á ¹â€œÃ¡ ¸ ±u bhered. h2à ³uÃŒ ¯is h1à ©kwoiÃŒ ¯bhiÃŒ ¯os uÃŒ ¯euÃŒ ¯ked: â€Å"dhÇ µhà ©monmÃŒ ¥ spà ©Ã¡ ¸ ±iÃŒ ¯oh2  h1à ©Ã¡ ¸ ±uÃŒ ¯oms-kwe h2Ç µeti, á ¸ ±Ã¡ ¸â€"r moiÃŒ ¯ aghnutor†. h1à ©Ã¡ ¸ ±uÃŒ ¯Ã… s tu uÃŒ ¯euÃŒ ¯kond: â€Å"á ¸ ±ludhà ­, h2ouÃŒ ¯eiÃŒ ¯! tà ³d spà ©Ã¡ ¸ ±iÃŒ ¯omes, nÃŒ ¥smà ©iÃŒ ¯ aghnutà ³r á ¸ ±Ã¡ ¸â€"r: dhÇ µhà ©mÃ… , pà ³tis, sÄ“ h2uÃŒ ¯iÃŒ ¯es h2uÃŒ ¯lÃŒ ¥h1nh2  gwhà ©rmom uÃŒ ¯Ãƒ ©strom uÃŒ ¯ept, h2uÃŒ ¯ibhiÃŒ ¯os tu h2uÃŒ ¯lÃŒ ¥h1nh2  nà © h1esti. tà ³d á ¸ ±eá ¸ ±luuÃŒ ¯Ã¡ ¹â€œs h2à ³uÃŒ ¯is h2aÇ µrà ³m bhuged. And you thought Spanish was hard For another cool recording of PIE check out this article from Archaeology magazine.

What Is a High School Exit Exam How Do You Pass

What Is a High School Exit Exam How Do You Pass SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many states use high school exit exams as a means of maintaining graduation standards across public high schools. In these states, exitexams are required for all public school students, and you must pass them to earn your high school diploma. It may sound scary, but they're really not all that bad. In this article, I'll go into detail on what exit exams are, what they're like, and how to make sure you pass! What Is a High School Exit Exam? A high school exit exam is a test that you must pass to receive your high school diploma.These exams typically includea math section as well as an English language arts section that incorporates reading and writing skills.Some include science and social studies sections as well.Sometimes states have a series of standardized exams administered throughout high school rather than just one.These are often called â€Å"end-of-course exams† because students are required to take them upon completion of specific high school courses in various core subjects. There are some states that require students to pass a set of end-of-course exams in addition to a comprehensive exit exam. Exit exams are popular because they provide proof that a state's high school students are meeting basic educational standards. On a school-by-school basis, they are also sources of information about the quality of education at different high schools. Exit exam results can inform educational policy decisions at the state and national level. Of course, there are those who dispute the merits of exit exams, arguing that they impose unnecessary stress on students and are essentially meaningless assessments. These detractors might make some good points about the dangers of placing too much value on exit exams, but most students still have to come to terms with the realities of testing requirements. Twenty-four states administered exit exams for the Class of 2014, but policies change from year to year.Some of these states plan on eliminating their exit exam requirements (like California, which recently suspended its administration of exit exams), whileother states plan on adding exit exams to their educational policy in the next couple of years.With the recent implementation of new Common Core Standards, there are lots of changes happening with these tests.Many states are moving towards making exit examsmore challenging to align with new curriculum benchmarks. Alas, the sun has set on the California high school exit exam (or CAHSEE). How Do Most States Administer These Exams? Each state has its own assessment system, and tests may be administered earlier or later in high school depending on the state.As an example, Texas requires students to pass two types of exit exams. The first is the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), taken in 11th grade. There is alsothe State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), which is a set of end-of-course exams taken at various times depending on when a student finishes a course.The TAKS has sections testing language arts, math, science and social studies.The STAAR includes tests in the following subjects: English 1, 2, and 3; Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2; Biology, Chemistry, and Physics; World History, US History, and World Geography. Another example is Massachusetts, which has fewer requirements than Texas.Students are expected to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test in English language arts and math in 10th grade.Students are also required to take one end-of-course exam in biology, chemistry, introductory physics, or technology/engineering in either 9th or 10th grade.Most of these states have basic exit exams that cover math and language arts, but many of them also add end-of-course exams in other core subjects as requirements for students.I’ll discuss general exit exams in the next section (math, reading, and writing tests) that are common across all of these states. Lovely Boston, Massachusetts, proud home of the MCAS (and PrepScholar). Is It Hard to Pass an Exit Exam? Typically, high school exit exams are not very demanding tests.In most states, 80-90% of all students pass these exams.In one analysis of exit exams in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, and Texas, it was found that the tests mostly covered material in math and language arts that students should have learned in 7th through 9th grade.Passing cutoffs are also very forgiving. You shouldn’t worry too much about your state's testif you’ve been doing well in high school.Unless you’re in the lowest 5-10% of students in your class GPA-wise, it’s highly unlikely that you will fail your exit exam. I’ll give a quick overview of what the material is like and why an exit exam isrelatively easy to pass. For math, you’ll need to know basic algebra and geometry.Most of the questions on the math sections of these tests ask you to perform a certain operation rather than challenging you to develop your own mathematical model to solve a problem.This can vary slightly across states, but, in general, the math skills required to pass are not at the more advanced level that many students reach by the end of high school. For the reading components of these exams, the focus is on basic reading comprehension, including the understanding of main ideas, vocabulary, and details in a passage. Exit exams tend tohave very few questions that require deep analysis (which is troubling considering how important this skill is for college!).For the most part, questions test lower-level reading skills like making basic inferences and recalling information from the passages.Passages typically consist of both literary and informational texts that are written at an accessible level for the majority of high school students. In the study mentioned above, across the different states, the difficulty of reading material on exit exams was roughly equivalent to that of the material on the ACT’s assessment for 8th and 9th graders.Some of it was at the same level as the 10th grade ACT assessment, but none of the questions were on par with the material tested on the real ACT. Separate writing sections are also a component of exit exams in certain states.Some states choose to assess writing skills purely by giving students an essay prompt and grading them on their responses.Many also include multiple choice questions that test basic skills in grammar and sentence structure alongside the essay requirement. Exit exams can be a hassle, but they shouldn’t stress you out if you’re doing all right in your classes.They are far less challenging than standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, and the passing cutoffs are generous. Much more generous than these cutoffs, I'll tell ya that much. What Happens If I Don’t Pass My Exit Exam? Different states have different policies for students who fail these exams.Sometimes, students are allowed to submit high school â€Å"portfolios† of their work in place of a passing score on the exam.In the majority of states, remedial instruction is offered to students who fail the exams along with retesting opportunities.Remedial classes may be held during the school day or in the summer.In most cases, students will have up to four chances to retake the test. If you're curious about the options you have if you fail your exit exam, ask a guidance counselor or teacher how your school handles these situations. How Can I Make Sure That I Pass My Exit Exam? The best way to ensure a passing score on your exit exam is to stay on top of things in your core high school classes.If you’re performing at an average level or higher (B average or greater) you should have absolutely no problem passing the exam without any preparation. If you’re worried that you’ve forgotten some of the skills that will be tested, you can always go back and review material from previous classes. For example, you might want to revisit certain algebra and geometry concepts that you learned earlier in high school.You could look over common geometrical terms and formulassince questions about how to find angle measurements within triangles and how to calculate the distance between two points (the distance formula) are common.Topics in algebra such as the properties of exponents, factoring, and properties of functions also show up on these tests. You can take a high school exit exam practice test anddo practice questions online for most of the state assessments. Ask a teacher or academic advisor for information on practice materials for your state assessment.This will help you to get a better sense of what the tests are like and how worried you should be about them.If you’re concerned about the reading and writing sections, you could try writing a practice essay based on an old prompt and doing official practice reading questions.This will help you get more familiar with the types of passages that are on the test and know how tostructure your workflow for the essay. You can practice reading the passages more efficiently if you tend to run out of time, but keep in mind that you don’t need to earn a perfect score.Unless the questions make you feel completely lost, you will probably pass your state's exit exam! As long as you have a basic sense of direction, you won't get lost. What's Next? Already thinking about your college prospects? Find out which year of high school is most important to colleges in the application process. If you're concerned about your current GPA, read my strategy guide for some pointers on how to improve. If you're working on figuring out your schedule, read this article for some advice on which high school classes you should take. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Drilling oil in the usa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Drilling oil in the usa - Essay Example According to the plan, oil will be drilled in the Atlantic coast, Alaska’s northern coast and Mexico’s eastern Gulf. This can only be achieved as long as the coastlines remain protected. Initially, oil drilling had been banned because of the environmental concerns. Oil spills imposed severe threats to the health and safety of the natural environment. Oil drilling in Pacific Coast, New Jersey northward and Bristol Bay of Alaska is still prohibited (Shannon). Through this plan, President Barack Obama intends to make US self sufficient for fulfilling its energy needs. However, there is dire need to formulate and implement energy policies that would ensure environmental protection and safety. Although the plans of President Obama aim at strengthening the economy of US in the long run, yet they are a big source of threat to the ever worsening environmental conditions. Until 1970, US had been producing enough oil to suffice its own needs. However, ever since 1970, US’s oil needs grew manifolds, and hence, the oil had to be imported. Oil production in US faced a sharp downfall after the collapse of oil prices in 1986. In 2000, the production of oil declined by 24 per cent as compared to its production rate in 1985 (Churchill). In 2000, the proportion of oil produced in US out of the total world’s production was no more than 12 per cent. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) had recorded that till 1 January 2000, the number of oil reserves in US were 21 billion barrels (Churchill). Oil reserves have been decreasing in number in US ever since, and the current plan is likely to cause more harm to the environment than good to the society because the oil reserves will soon vanish any way, but the harms caused to the environment in the course of their exploration would sustain for a long period of time, perhaps till the end of the world. There has been considerable protest against this policy. President Barack Obama had been watchful of the possible emergence of protests against the plan by the environmental agencies. He said these words in a speech explaining his consent on the security of energy, But the bottom line is this: given our energy needs, in order to sustain economic growth, produce jobs, and keep our businesses competitive, we're going to need to harness traditional sources of fuel even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable, homegrown energy. (Obama cited in Shannon). This plan made by Presient Barack Obama has conventionally received a lot of criticism. There is no doubt in the fact that upon its implementation, the plan would impose serious environmental threats in US. In his speech, President Barack Obama does approve of the idea of looking for new and renewable sources of energy, but intends to change the oil attainment strategy meanwhile. Considering the extensively damaged environment, there is dire need to immediately discover and implement alternative sources of energy. As research is being done to find new ways, US should abstain from drilling oil and continue importing oil because the ultimate solution lies not in the use of oil, but in the use of alternative sources of energy. â€Å"The only real way to quit relying on foreign oil is to wean ourselves from oil" altogether† (David cited in The Week). Global warming is already a leading issue of the contemporary age. We can not afford to

Is independence consistent with Scotland keeping the pound Essay

Is independence consistent with Scotland keeping the pound - Essay Example de â€Å"The Euro†, â€Å"A new Scottish currency† and â€Å"keeping Pound as a part of a formal sterling currency union.† The UK government argued in this regard that after independence, the economies of Scotland and rest of the UK might start to vary due to certain imperative factors encompassing the formulation along with the execution of the above-discussed policies, fluctuating interest rates and incessantly transforming financial conditions among others (Webb 2-15). It would be vital to mention that the aforementioned factors eventually erupts the question concerning whether independence is consistent with Scotland keeping the Pound. Scottish independence is not simply a subject matter of constitutional sovereignty. It can be apparently observed in this similar concern that there are certain states, particularly in Europe, which are legally sovereign but possess minimal scope towards administering themselves. In this regard, the social arrangement of Scotland represents that the political behaviour of the state has become quite converged in recent days, as compared to the earlier years. Notably, Scotland, among other European states, experienced massive deindustrialisation, owing to which the economy of the state became excessively reliant on consumer spending and on an exaggerated housing market as well. Thus, the sovereignty of Scotland emphasised augmenting public finances and endeavouring towards enhancing the ability of affording a liberal welfare state and most vitally, enriching the public services. It has been argued by the nationalists in this similar concern that Scotland, with its sovereign power, wou ld be able to manage as well as utilise the accessible resources efficiently with the incorporation of various activities that may comprise balancing revenues with international trade, coping with the fluctuations concerning interest rates and contributing extensively towards raising wealth funds (Keating 1-16). It has often been argued that Scotland is