Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Sociological explanation of the rise of cohabitation, divorce and remarriage Essay Example

Sociological explanation of the rise of cohabitation, divorce and remarriage Essay Example Sociological explanation of the rise of cohabitation, divorce and remarriage Essay Sociological explanation of the rise of cohabitation, divorce and remarriage Essay Today, almost 25% of 18-49 year olds are cohabiting, it has been suggested that this is now an alternative to marriage. However, only a small percentage of women are cohabiting on a permanent basis and the majority of cohabitees are in a stage which proceeds marriage or going through the process of a breakup. For example, more than half of cohabitations last for less than two years and the reason the main reason for breakup is their decision to get married. This is linked to the decision to have children or the fact that the woman is already pregnant. There are three types of marital breakdown, divorce, which is a legal dissolution of marriage, separation, this is where partners live apart and empty-shell marriages, where the couples remain married but have separate emotional and social lives. Since 1971, marriages have fallen by one-fifth and divorce have doubled, this suggests a collapse in the institution of the family but it could be argued that all of this happened due to unhappy marriages which are likely to end in divorce and the number of empty-shell marriages has declined. The divorce rate partially reflects legal changes. When the law was liberalised to make divorce easier to obtain, there became an increase in the numbers applying for divorce. This is not a course of divorce but a reflection of unhappy marriages. Goode has argued that this process of liberalisation is part of a wider process of secularisation in western societies, by which he means that it reflects the decline in the institution of religion. There is now less stigma attached to it as society as accepted it. Examples of the sudden increase in divorce include the Divorce Reform Act which came into force in 1971 and in 1984 the shortening of the period that a couple had to be married before they could petition for divorce. The divorce rate is an almost exact reflection of the gradual liberalisation of divorce in the twentieth century. In 1969 the law was changed so that irretrievable breakdown of marriage became the only reason for divorce. This meant separation for two years if both partners wanted divorce or separation for five years for five years if only one partner wanted divorce. It has to be remembered that changes in the law reflects changes in public opinion, so we cannot say that the changes in divorce laws caused a rise in divorce, rather they allowed a rise in divorce. Goode has suggested that historically marriage in most societies was not based upon love, but was supposed to be an economic relationship with limited expectations regarding companionship. Partners did not expect marriage to provide partnership and sexual fulfilments as we do today. This links to another sociologist, Parsons who claims that the family has lost its wider functions and instead today is relegated to providing the emotional needs that are not available in the broader society. Furthermore, the decline in the extended family and the move to the nuclear family places greater emotional pressures on the fewer family members. The result of all this emotional loading is that the family becomes an emotional pressure cooker, with the head of emotions leading to chances of an explosion. If the family fails to provide all the emotional and social needs then the marriage breaks down. Changing attitudes of women, three-quarters of divorces are started by wives. This suggests that: the increasing economic independence of women, the increasing beliefs in their own rights and the availability of legal aid for divorce have allowed them the opportunity and desire to divorce if they feel restricted in their marriage. Traditionally, the dominant economic role and the values of patriarchy meant that it was difficult for wives to initiate proceedings. The informal social control and community pressure which helped marriages to remain in place have weakened as a result of increasing urbanisation and the related decline in community. Marital breakdown occurs with greater frequency amongst certain social groups than others. There are higher divorce rates amongst the working and lower classes. The younger the partners at marriage, the higher the chances of divorce. This reflects possible emotional immaturity, the fact that the woman is more likely to be pregnant at marriage or their personal development may take place at different speeds and in different directions. However, the increase in cohabitation and the availability of terminations and contraceptions have decreased the numbers of people marrying young or when the partner is pregnant with an un-planned pregnancy. More than 90% of people still marry today. Although divorce rates are high, remarriages are high too, suggesting that people may reject their partners but they are not rejecting the institution of marriage. However, cohabitation is increasing rapidly and it is now normal to cohabit before marriage. Divorce has increased rapidly since the 1960s and the first marriages have declined. The continuing popularity of marriage is reflected in the fact that those who divorce are still likely to remarry. The increase in divorce reflects changing attitudes and expectations from marriage and the fact that divorce is now easier to obtain.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Top English Food Service Vocabulary Words

Top English Food Service Vocabulary Words Every worker in the foodservice industry is expected to have a base-level understanding of food service vocabulary to help them identify tools, responsibilities, rights, benefits, and elements of their jobs. Fortunately, the United States Department of Labor lays out 170 of these vocabulary  terms in the Occupational Handbook. Terms included in this list are important for service industry workers because they help clarify a common understanding of each element necessary to delivering excellent food service and also lets employees know the legal means in which to discuss issues with particular elements of the workplace or management staff.   The full list of essential vocabulary words for food service workers is as follows: Addition Customers Maintain Retail Alcoholic Demand Manage Room Area Department Manager Run Assist Diners Marketing Safety Assistant Dining Meals Salads Attendants Dishes Meat Sales Baggers Dishwashers Menu Sandwiches Bakers Drinking Merchandise Schedules Bars Eating Move Section Bartenders Employees Moving Select Benefits Entry Nonfood Selection Beverage Equipment Nonsupervisory Selections Beverages Establishment Numerous Sell Butchers Establishments Offer Selling Cafeteria Fill Office Serve Cafeterias Fillers Operation Service Cash Fish Order Services Cashiers Floor Orders Serving Chains Food Oversee Shifts Change Foods Package Shop Checkout Fresh Patrons Smaller Chef Groceries Perform Snack Chefs Grocery Performance Specialize Clean Group Place Specialty Cleaning Growth Poultry Staff Clerks Handling Premises Stock Coffee Health Preparation Store Company Hospitality Prepare Stores Compared Hostesses Prepared Supermarket Computer Hosts Preparing Supermarkets Consumer Hourly Prices Supervisors Consumption Hours Processing Supplies Contact Increase Produce Systems Convenience Ingredients Product Tables Cook Inventory Products Tasks Cooking Items Proportion Tips Cooks Kitchen Provide Trade Counter Kitchens Purchase Train Counters Level Recipes Training Courtesy Line Register Variety Culinary Local Replacement Waiters Customer Longer Required Waitresses Restaurant Workers The Importance of Knowing Proper Vocabulary Working in the food service industry often offers young workers their first exposure to the idea of corporate speak and jargon used in the workplace to simply and make communication uniform across the full market, from larger companies like McDonalds to locally owned diners in rural America. For this reason, its important that employees understand the basic difference between common phrases in the industry as well as how to properly refer to stages of preparation, tools for handling food, economic concerns of the business, and day to day operational tasks like training and hours. What may be more important to note is that when it comes to legality and contracts, these terms have very strict definitions according to the government, so if, for instance, a contract says that Training is unpaid, and a person winds up training for three weeks, theyre essentially providing free labor, but have agreed to such in their contract - knowing these types of words, especially in a legal context, can help protect new employees. Jargon and Colloquialisms That said, another key element to a successful career (even if short-lived) in the food service industry hinges upon teambuilding and understanding the language of the workplace, even in a less professional and technical way.   Because food service relies on a team of individuals, from the line cook to the waiter, the hostess to the busboy, employees of dining and food service establishments often form familial bonds with one another and develop their own jargon and colloquialisms to communicate with one another secretly, even in front of patrons of the establishment. Understanding the legal, technical, and colloquial vocabularies of food service are essential to being successful in the field because most of this industry relies entirely upon interaction not only with the customers but with coworkers as well.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) Term Paper

Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) - Term Paper Example Furthermore, it supposes that the chromatographic column contains an infinite number of separate layers (theoretical plates). Separate equilibrations of the sample between the stationary and mobile phase occur in these layers. The analyte moves down the column by transfer of equilibrated mobile phase from one ‘plate’ to the next. There is a more convincing theory, ‘the rate theory.’ This theory depends on the speed of elution and thus speeds of diffusion of the dissolved particles. The analysis and application of this theory leads to the Van Deemter equation. This equation relates the variance per unit length of a separation column to the linear mobile phase velocity by considering several factors. They are physical, kinetic, and thermodynamic properties of a separation. The physical factors are such as; A) Eddy diffusion. B) Longitudinal diffusion C) Resistance to mass transfer It (chromatography) is thus seen to exploit the differences in partitioning beha vior between a mobile phase and a stationary phase to separate the components in a mixture. These components contained within a mixture may interact with the stationary phase based on charge, differing solubility or adsorption capability. Several terminologies are associated with the process of chromatography; a) The analyte- this is the substance to be separated during chromatography. b) Bonded phase- this is a stationary phase that is covalently bonded to the support particles or to the inside wall of the tube being utilized.. c) A chromatogram is the visual output of the chromatograph. d) The eluate is the mobile phase that is leaving the separation column. e) The eluent is the solvent that carries/dissolves the analyte. f) The immobilized phase is a stationary phase that is immobilized on the support particles, or on the inner wall of the column tubing. It is similar to the bonded phase g) The mobile phase is the phase that moves in a definite direction. h) The  solute  refe rs to the sample components in a solvent. i) The  solvent  refers to any substance capable of solubilizing another substance. This is important especially in the liquid mobile phase in liquid chromatography. Several methods of chromatography exist as well (singh). They include; 1) Chiral chromatography 2) Countercurrent chromatography 3) Pyrolysis gas chromatography 4) Simulated moving bed chromatography 5) Reversed phase chromatography 6) Two dimensional chromatography 7) Expanded bed adsorption chromatography 8) Size exclusion chromatography 9) Ion exchange chromatography 10) Supercritical fluid chromatography 11) FPLC The FPLC is the method of interest in this case. The FPLC method was developed and marketed in Sweden by the Pharmacia Company in 1982. It was originally called fast performance liquid chromatography. Principle of functioning The purpose of purifying proteins with FPLC is to deliver quantities of the target protein at sufficient purity. This is done in a way tha t ensures the protein is in a biologically active state to suit its further use. Furthermore this can mean pure enough that the biological activity of the target is retained. This high level of purity requires preliminary preparation of the sample. This is mostly by IEC. In most FPLC systems, there are two solvents/ buffers (A, B). There is also a resin that is chosen so that the protein of interest will bind to it by a charge interaction. When the sample and mix of buffer (100% A) and protein is introduced, the protein will bind to

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Employment and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 4

Employment and Society - Essay Example Unhappy employees can never leave the management on with a positive edge for a burned out workforce usually results to reduce quality in productivity. It is a common scenario occurring to companies of any size both in developed and under-developed countries as one of many dreadful consequences of the 2007-2009 economic recession (Rooney, 2011, par.7-12). Economic experts explain that this issue at hand is a turnout of not only the macroeconomic events of the earlier years posting threat to termination of employment contract but also of the eradicating system of psychological contract in the workplace (Furness, 2008, par.4). Dr. Judith Barwick supported this notion by stating that the problem is not primarily economic recession but rather psychological recession which is an â€Å"emotional state in which people feel extremely vulnerable and afraid for their futures† (cited in Furness, 2008, par.8). Gone were the days when employees jump ships in their venture of their career development for the security of tenure gains higher relevance in this tough time of the economy. Innovation has been the key for companies to remain competitive in the ever evolving trends in the market to meet the demands of the consumers. Through years global competitiveness raised its bar challenging the companies to do better through increased productivity and specializing the skills of their employees. Yet the recent recession confined them to minimized production cost thus creating imbalance and difficulty on the part of the employee’s benefits and compensation. As quoted by Morrison (2012, p.1), leaders need to understand people to effect the needed changes but unfortunately, not all managers are capable of understanding their people. The traditional training for managers has been technical and non-personal in belief that it is necessary in order to

Sunday, November 17, 2019

From the Original Sin to Buddha Nature Essay Example for Free

From the Original Sin to Buddha Nature Essay When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, they were sent to earth to work on themselves, with the promise that they would ultimately find deliverance, along with their children, provided that they obey God on earth. The very fact that they were disobedient to God is referred to as the ‘original sin’ of man (Harent). Although theologists have ascribed various meanings to ‘original sin’ through the ages, it is the original sin that is believed to have brought mankind from the Garden of Eden down to earth – a place where toil and suffering are realities of daily living. Believers in the original sin are made to agree that they are imperfect beings, unlike God, which is why they were sent down to earth by the almighty God (Harent). But, the Christ taught his followers to become perfect like God in order to save themselves from all suffering, especially in the hereafter. This teaching of the Christ is consonant with the concept of ‘Buddha nature’ in Buddhism. Both the Christ and the Buddha taught that every individual is capable of becoming perfect, like the Buddha or the Christ, if not God Himself (King). In order to become perfect, human beings have to rid themselves of all baseness, including negative emotions and thoughts, that is, the roots of all evil. Without a negative thought or emotion, evil deeds are not possible. Thus, clearing of the mind to make way for ultimate peace is the way of the Buddha. Buddhism is concerned with individuals ridding themselves of suffering here and now (King). To become Christ-like – here and now – is the aim of the Buddhist, although Buddhism does not refer to Jesus Christ by his name as the Christians do. The Bible teaches its followers that human beings were made in the image of God, and that, in fact, the Lord of the universe breathed His Spirit into man. The Christ is the Spirit of God. Hence, every human being has the Christ within. When human beings indulge in evil deeds, it is Satan that is urging them to do so. It was Satan that urged man to disobey God in the Garden of Eden. The concept of original sin carries with itself the belief that Satan would continue to urge human beings – the children of Adam and Eve – to disobey God. But, the prophets of God taught humanity to remember God and worship Him in all sincerity so as to save themselves from Hellfire or eternal suffering. Buddhists do not believe in the idea of eternal suffering. They believe in â€Å"samsara† instead, which is a cycle of birth and rebirth, so long as human beings have not attained the perfection of the Buddha (King 1). Christians do not believe in this cycle of birth and rebirth. It is only special people such as Jesus Christ, Elias and some of the best believers that may be reincarnated. For ordinary mortals, Christianity does not promise a second birth, except in paradise or hell, both of which are believed to be eternal, unlike temporary lives on earth. Buddhists believe that the Buddha nature cannot exist outside of the human mind, although the Buddha is like the Spirit of God – all-encompassing (King). To be a Buddha, an ordinary mortal is advised to work on his mind. According to a master of Zen Buddhism: To realize our Buddha-nature, two general conditions must be met. First, we must be sentient beings. Looking around, I think that we all qualify! The Buddha calls this the direct cause. It is analogous to milk from which cream can be derived. Next, it is important to know what a sentient being is. A sentient being is, roughly speaking, spirit. Dont be confused and just assume that a sentient being is an animal or a plant, or even the five aggregates. It isnt. Your thoughts, for example, are sentient beings— but not a common fence post. The second condition you must fulfill in order to realize Buddha-nature is the indirect cause. The indirect cause refers to the six paramitas according to the Maahaparinirvaana Sutra†¦ The first paramita is charity. By mastering it, we surpass the robber of the visual world and thereby become spiritually wealthy†¦ The second paramita is discipline. By mastering it, we surpass the robber of the auditory world and acquire good spiritual practices and concentration†¦ The third paramita is patience. By mastering it, we surpass the robber of the olfactory world and acquire inner peace, both for self and for others†¦ The fourth paramita is strength. By mastering it, we surpass the robber of the world of taste and acquire devotion†¦ The fifth paramita is meditation. By mastering it, we surpass the robber of tactile sensations†¦ The sixth paramita is wisdom. By mastering it, we surpass the robber of consciousness†¦ (â€Å"Buddha-Nature†). The fact that the Buddhist master writes about realizing the Buddha nature – just as the Christ taught about becoming perfect and holy like God – underlines the concept of the original sin. Because human beings are capable of turning the wrong way, people like the Buddha and the Christ are sent as guides, according to Biblical beliefs about the presence of such people. The Bible teaches its believers that Adam and his children are all capable of sinning or indulging in evil deeds. God desires for them to perform good deeds instead, with the use of His Spirit within. To realize the Buddha nature is to attain knowledge of the Christ within each human being. Because human beings perform evil deeds in order to feel like masters over their environment – and Adam disobeyed God because God’s Spirit was capable of using freewill – the Christ taught his followers to shun all evil in order to experience their own power in God. Satan had the power to tempt the Christ as well, but the latter did not give in. If evil is all about attaining mastery over things, perfect peace, according to the Buddha and the Christ, is to live in the purity of God – although Buddhists do not refer to God as the Christians do. To realize the Buddha nature, one must not only be aware of the Christ within, as a Christian would understand it; but also to comprehend the concept of the original sin. A realized human being, according to Buddhist understanding, is aware that negative thoughts and emotions may arrive through the senses. Coming across a criminal, for example, may fill an innocent human being with negative thoughts and emotions. These thoughts and emotions may give rise to further problems; the innocent human being may decide to kill the criminal. In order to be safe from all suffering and worries, the Buddha taught his followers to contain their thoughts, and trust in the absolute peace available to every soul. This peace is only attainable through control of the mind (King). Buddhists are also taught to empty their minds because thoughts may lead individuals to continue on the path of the original sin (King). According to the Christ, on the other hand, the mind must be infiltrated by thoughts of God. To live in God – a Christian concept – is also to discover ultimate peace here and now. Because of the original sin, however, it is important to worship God – according to Christian belief. Buddhists are clear about the fact that the mind may lead the individual to err. Of course, Adam had thought to err before he actually sinned. As its name implies, the concept of Buddha nature is to be like the Buddha, an individual referred to as the holy one or the perfect one. Once again, according to Buddhists, clearing of the mind is essential to being like the Buddha. In reality, however, it is not always possible to keep the mind clear of all thoughts. This is the reason why the Christ’s teachings are essential to discuss with reference to the Buddha nature. Living in God is to remember Him as much as possible. Some of the names of God are Love and Peace. The aim of the Buddhist is also to realize these attributes in order to be saved from the suffering of the original sin. Neither the Buddha nor the Christ taught that it is possible to save oneself from the perpetual possibility to err in this lifetime. Thus, believers in the Buddha and the Christ are required to make a constant effort to save themselves from eternal damnation. Buddhists must be practicing meditation to stay close to their essential nature, that is, the Buddha nature or the Christ within. Christians, on the other hand, must be worshipping God as the principle form of meditation to stay close to God. According to the Bible, the consequences of the original sin would follow all human beings during their stay on earth. In the hereafter, Satan would be in hellfire with those that refused to shun all evil. Those that remembered and worshipped God as He wanted them to would be saved. Of course, when Buddhists speak of compassion and charity, they are also remembering God’s attributes, albeit in a different way altogether. Followers of the Buddha and the Bible also believe in the perpetual negativity of the original sin, that, in fact, negative thoughts and emotions are always available to humanity on earth. The principle difference between the two beliefs systems is that the God mentioned in the Bible does not allow all human beings to be reincarnated. Buddhists belief in a perpetual cycle of life and death so long as an individual has not attained permanent liberation. According to the Biblical belief system, however, the present life is the only chance for most human beings to catch up with masters such as the Christ. Adam and Eve were sent to earth with the potential to err. At the same time, each of them carried the Spirit of God or the Christ within. By meditating on this reality, the Buddha nature can be realized. Then again, according to the Bible, even the prophets of God had to continue worshipping God to keep themselves from evil thoughts that lead to evil deeds. In reality, therefore, all human beings are perfect like the Buddha and the Christ; at the same time, nobody is saved from the possibility to err. Works Cited â€Å"Buddha-Nature. † Dark Zen. 26 Oct 2008. http://www. darkzen. com/teachings/buddha_nature. htm. Harent, Stephane. Original Sin. The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 26 Oct. 2008 http://www. newadvent. org/cathen/11312a. htm. King, Sallie B. Buddha Nature. New York: SUNY Press, 1991.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Nuclear Weapons Essay -- Threats To World Peace

Nuclear Weapons A Nuclear weapon is any weapon that gets its destructive power from the transformation of matter in atoms into energy. They include missiles, bombs, artillery shells, mines and torpedoes. Another name for nuclear weapons are Atomic bombs or Hydrogen bombs. The United States was the first country to ever use a Nuclear weapon in battle against Japan. The major arguments for a test ban was first proposed in the 1950Õs. Today, however, the stopping of radioactive fallout and the superpower arms race are still in negotiation. Nations have sought to limit the testing of nuclear weapons to protect people and the environment from nuclear radiation and to slow the development of nuclear weapons. In 1963, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States negotiated the first test limitation treaty, the Limited Test Ban Treaty. The TreatyÕs signers agreed not to test nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in outer space, or underwater. The only testing that was allowed was underground testing. Attempts to control the number of nuclear weapons in the world began about 1970. The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks(SALT) was a convention held by the United States and the Soviet Union to limit the numbers in nuclear weapons. In 1982, the United States and the Soviet Union began the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks(START). Unlike the SALT talks, these were aimed at the number of nuclear weapons each country could obtain. Then there was another treaty signed in 1987 which was called the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces(INF). This treaty called for the dismantling of ground-launched nuclear missiles. A major obstacle to controlling nuclear weapons has been a lack of trust between the two principal powers; the United States and the Soviet Union. The relationship has improved though in the late 1980Õs after President Gorbachev introduced the principles of glasnost and perestroika to the Soviet Political System. In 1989 and 1990, democratic reforms spread spread across Eastern Europe. These reforms have greatly reduced tensions. The country of China still wants to test their nuclear explosions for mining and for some construction. For two years China has successfully held up the 38-na... ...s are considered necessary. In conclusion, Nuclear Weapons arenÕt safe for any country no matter their stability amongst others. Testing Nuclear weapons destroys the well being of our Earth. So many treaties have been passed but it still seems that the likes of a Nuclear war is still stagable. The United States has the most known nuclear tests having a record of 1,030 tests. The closest country next to us is Russia with 715 tests. As you can clearly see it will take a lot more than treaties to negotiate. LetÕs just hope this will all end before that ozone layer breaks down on us!!!! BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Budanski, Stephen. "Ban the bomb? Not quite." U.S. News and World Report 17 June 1996: 30 2. Cohen, James. Nuclear arms. Pittsburgh 1979. 3. Mitchell, Alison. "Clinton and Yeltsin Accentuate the positive at Summit Meeting." Newsweek 22 May 1990 A7 Column 1 4. Von Hippel, Frank. "Bombs Away." Discover April 1992: 32-35 5. Zimmerman, Tim. "Nuclear Fiction." U.S. News and World Report 24 August 1996: 20

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Darko Suvin’s “Metamorphoses of Science Fiction” Essay

In Darko Suvin’s â€Å"Metamorphoses of Science Fiction,† Suvin argues that science fiction should be considered its own literary genre. The reason he believes science fiction is distinct from other literary genres is because of its transforming aspects. Suvin describes science fiction as the literature of â€Å"cognitive estrangement,† which includes a â€Å"novum†. It is his belief that both cognition and estrangement must be both present and interactive in science fiction. Although it can be argued that science fiction is not its own literary genre because of its similarities to myth, fantasy, and folktale, it is significantly different from these genres because of its ability to cause the reader to think in a new way about something that is familiar to him/her. Science fiction should be its own literary genre because of its unique ability to cause readers to re-think everyday assumptions. This is important, because if we were not open to change, we would not be able to advance as a culture. Suvin calls this idea estrangement, which he defines as â€Å"something that confronts a set normative system †¦ with a point of view or look implying a new set of norms† (4); meaning something that appears normal, is incorporated with something unknown. Estrangement, thus, would be the process of separating or distancing ourselves from the real world and allowing our minds to imagine or create something that doesn’t exist or might exist in the future. It is taking things that are familiar and making them unfamiliar or taking two things that are meant to be together and separating them from each other. So cognitive estrangement would be the separation or escape from our cognitive thinking or what the reader sees as the real world and allowing his/her mind to imagine and create something that is not of the real world. Suvin uses the example of the transforming mirror, which causes â€Å"a reflection of but also on reality† (10), which means a reflection of what is real and also how the viewer thinks about reality from a strange or new perspective (through the introduction of the novum). This causes his/her view of reality to be transformed. In â€Å"Metamorphoses of Science Fiction,† Darko Suvin defends his cited definition of Science Fiction as its own literary genre, by providing examples and pointing out the similarities and differences arising from the comparison of science fiction to myth,folktale, and fantasy. Suvin says that myths are similar to science fiction in the aspect that they both incorporate the usage of estrangement. However, he points out that there are also many differences between them as well. Science fiction sees the norms of reality as transformable and changeable, whereas myths are the complete opposites. They â€Å"conceive human relations as fixed and supernaturally determined†(8). This mean that the lives of characters are already made for them and that they do not have the ability to change what will happen to them. Folktale is also similar to science fiction where it defies the rules and laws of the empirical environment. However, folktales go above and beyond transforming the empirical environment, it creates a â€Å"closed collateral world indifferent to cognitive possibilities†(8). This means that in the world created in a folktale, anything is possible. He uses the example of a flying carpet, stating, â€Å"The flying carpet evades the empirical law of physical gravity†(8). This quote shows the difference between folktale and science fiction because a folktale creates something that is completely unfamiliar whereas science fiction takes something familiar and makes it unfamiliar. Similar to folktale, fantasy causes tension between the â€Å"arbitrary supernatural phenomena and the empirical norms they infiltrate. †(8) This means things that are completely unfamiliar to the reader intrude into what they see as real. For example in Harry Potter, wizards and witches â€Å"infiltrate† the real world without non-magical people knowing. This can cause confusion, because it does not completely create its own world, and it does not go by the rules and laws of our world, so it is in between the two worlds. Overall, in â€Å"Metamorphoses of Science Fiction†, Suvin creates a clear systematic approach to the defense of his definition of Science Fiction as â€Å"the literature of cognitive estrangement† and why it should be its own literary genre. He provides sufficient and convincing evidence to reinforce his claim by using identifying principles of science fiction, making comparisons, and providing an insightful explanation of his views.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The Learning Process

According to constructivist theories of learning, an individual learns concepts by interpreting and developing meanings of things, such as their experiences or information encountered, based on their existing knowledge. (Newhouse, Trinidad, & Clarkson, 2002, p.7; Richardson, 2003, p. 1625) Accordingly, individual learning occurs in two ways: first, by acquiring knowledge from his or her interaction with his or her immediate environment; and second, by gaining knowledge from formal settings and instruction. (Newhouse, Trinidad, & Clarkson, 2002, p. 7) Thus, an individual learns from his or her active participation in making sense of new information and experience obtained from either an informal or formal setting. Critical thinking is a form of a higher order thinking skill or metacognitive process that involves collecting, sorting, analyzing, and concluding from information to meet a goal or objective. (Wilson, 2000, p. 7) Critical thinking goes beyond mere knowledge and concept acquisition. (ibid) It involves being able to judge the relevance of the knowledge acquired and knowing how to apply knowledge to varying areas or domains of learning. Improving thinking skills necessitate approaches that stimulate the learner’s interest and provide opportunities for the individual to relate his or her existing knowledge to new realities and experiences. For instance, Newhouse, Trinidad, & Clarkson (2002) suggest the use of computer-based learning systems in the classroom as a strategy to teach higher order thinking skills and improve the learning of students. (p. 11) The authors argue that computer technologies have the potential to create learning environments that support the development of problem solving and critical thinking skills in students by exposing them to experiences that require â€Å"extending and challenging their ways of thinking and acting.† (p. 13) Hence, computers allow students to improve the way they think and use knowledge. Work Cited: Newhouse, P.C., Trinidad, S., & B. Clarkson (2002). Quality pedagogy and effective learning with Information and Communications Technologies (ICT): a review of the literature. Perth, Western Australia: Specialist Educational Services. Richardson, Virginia (2003). Constructivist pedagogy. Teachers College Record, 105(9): 1623-1640. Wilson, Valerie (2000). Can thinking skills be taught? In Education Forum for Thinking Skills (appendix 3). Scottish Council for Research in Education. Retrieved April 27, 2008 from http://www.scre.ac.uk/scot-research/thinking/index.html   

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Online Guide for Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Online Guide for Compare and Contrast Essay Topics 100 Ideas for Writing Your Best Compare and Contrast Essay Not always a topic of an essay is given by a teacher or academic program. Sometimes, you have to decide on it independently. That may sound a bit confusing! However, we offer to think about it as about a great opportunity to express your creativity and to improve your writing and thinking skills! Sometimes, choosing a topic may look easy. However, it’s almost as important as the rest of the work. Banal or boring topic can’t let you write an excellent essay. Imagine that the topic is a base of the whole essay and the rest of your work will depend on how good, easy and exciting the theme is. No need to be worried, we have some good news for you! Just like anything else in your academic life, choosing a topic can be a great skill and valuable experience that you can train and develop. For this purpose, we’ve created a short, easy but a very helpful guide that includes some general recommendations and ideas for inspiration! Main Principles of Writing Your Essay Are you confused about your new assignment? Don’t worry, most students feel embarrassed when they have to deal with a new type of work! Little knowledge is exactly what can help in your situation! So, what is a compare and contrast essay? This type of writing work is aimed at comparing two different subjects, people or phenomena. You have to analyze both of them and point on the most logical differences and similarities between them. Sometimes, you speak more about common features, other times about the difference between the two discussed objects. You can also write about both common things and differences and then balance these features. Just like any other essay, compare and contrast essay consists of three major parts: Introduction (including thesis); Body paragraph (with subparagraphs); Final Conclusion. Sources to Choose a Topic for Your Essay Choosing a topic starts with careful thinking and searching for some great sources of information. Remember, for a great topic it’s not enough to coincide with the main point of your studied discipline only, it also shall be: Interesting for you This is never the main rule, however, experience shows that students feel more motivated to work with the topics that appear interesting to them. More motivation and interest mean faster and better result and more fun while writing. Isn’t it a perfect formula? Popular and understandable for others Choosing a topic, you shall be sure that your target auditory is able to understand what you talk about. Moreover, it’s better to choose a topic that is interesting to others, not only to yourself. Studied enough If you choose a very innovative or very controversial topic, you may face a lack of information that is needed for your essay. Be sure you are about to work on a theme that is well studied, and there are a lot of free and accessible information sources that can be useful. Now, when you know ‘what’ to look for, it’s time to think ‘where’ to look for it. Don’t concentrate on academic books only, think about different sources to get inspired: Newspapers Many progressive students may think that the paper press is an old fashioned and even outdated way to get information. However, this time you may have an extra reason for buying a fresh newspaper: it’s a great source of getting some ideas for your compare and contrast essay. Moreover, many journalists like writing articles where they compare different realities, cultures, presidents, celebrities, etc. News Channel Who told you that watching TV is a bad idea when you have to write your essay? Put your pen aside and switch your TV on. News channels are great sources of ideas for your future essay! Magazines Not always there’s a mood for reading a newspaper or watching a news channel! Have you got your favorite magazine with you? Entertaining articles and bright pictures can also bring some great ideas. Maybe your topic will be less serious and funnier than those that are often chosen for the political newspaper. Why not? Internet The Internet is the biggest source of ideas for any type of essay. Moreover, it can bring you some alternative solutions: forums with millions of tips and advice from the students, lists of samples of the topics, professional writing teams that are ready to write your essay for you. The only disadvantage is the amount of junk information you can probably find. It can take some extra time and make your choice more difficult. Things Outside Can’t find a topic for your essay? Get out of your house! Nowadays there are so many scientific exhibitions, galleries, art-cafes and open seminars that can give you some joy, knowledge, and interesting ideas for writing an essay. Moreover, some fresh air and little activity will stimulate your brain for more effective work! Some Professional Wisdom The feeling when you choose a topic, start to work with it, and then get disappointed about your choice is familiar to many students. But you can easily avoid it, thinking in a more organized way about a topic you are about to choose: Don’t be in a hurry to start writing as soon as you find a topic. It’s better to give your brain some time to relax and then to think about your assignment again. Perhaps, in an hour or in a day your topic won’t appear same interesting to you. Choose several topics, before picking one up. It’s good if you decided on a topic easily. Now, try to think about two or three topics more. Your topics can have lots in common, there’s no problem with it. Write your topics down and analyze each one. Make a short plan of your future essay. Making a short plan is a great test for your chosen topic. If you can see the structure and the main concept of your future essay easily your topic is chosen correctly. List of Topics for Your Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Famous People There are interesting characters in every field and each profession. You can easily choose two famous people to compare and to speak about. Moreover, celebrities and outstanding people always cause great interest of society. Choosing a topic about two famous characters you have a great chance to attract the attention of your target audience. Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla. Compare the two great scientists and their investigation in the development of sciences. Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Find out the similarities and differences between the two artists. Celine Dion and Madonna. Speak how different the popular pop singers are and how important both of them are for the development of the modern pop culture. Batman and Spiderman. Compare two popular characters of comic books and how successful creation of their images was. Obama and Tramp. Compare the ruling strategies of two leaders of the country, their images, and positions. Mister Bin and Charlie Chaplin. Compare the characters and their personalities. Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin. Show the similarities of the two leaders who represent opposite camps. Plato and Socrates. Check how important these two philosophers are and what is their place in modern science. Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin. The two popular characters of the American TV shows have a lot of common features, try to find out how similar the characters are. Othello and Hamlet. Compare two of the most popular characters created by Shakespeare. Topics on Religion, History and Culture Topics that are connected with religion, culture, and history can be very interesting and controversial. However, choosing a topic, you shall be sure it’s not banned for discussion. Often it’s not tolerant to discuss some religious issues or cultural differences. First World War Vs Second World War. This is quite a common topic for essays and discussion, however, if you are creative you can make it very interesting and informative. There are many aspects to speak about. Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. These two countries and civilizations are often compared or even mixed. However, if you study the theme deeper, you can easily prove that the countries and cultures were very different and unique. Catholics and Orthodox. Christianity has several branches that differ from each other. Find out how the two main branches of the religion differ, while still having the same basis. American Revolution and French Revolution. These two great revolutions took place almost at the same time, they have resembling causes, however, still stay very different. President Kennedy and President Tramp. How the two presidents of the same country can be compared. Greek and Roman Mythology. The mythologies are so similar that they have even been mixed and combined. However, if you investigate the topic, you may see and prove that they are different in many aspects. Communism and Capitalism. Many people believe that there is nothing common about communism and capitalism. However, you can find out a lot of similarities between the two aspects. Fascism and Nazism. Find out the difference between these two concepts and discover why they are so often used to express the same things. Life in the 18th century and modern life. What are the main cultural differences between the modern life and life of society in the 18th century? Role of the religion in modern life and in the life of people 200 years ago. Some of the aspects of religion stay unchanged for many centuries, however, the sphere and level of its influence often change. Compare which role the religion played in the life of people who lived before and those who live in modern times. Topics on Policy The policy is an endless source of inspiration when it is about writing an essay and looking for a topic. There are many aspects that can be discussed. Political regime in China Vs political regime in Korea. Oriental countries often have a lot of common features in their culture, cuisine, mentality of people, and their way of life. However, it’s not necessary that their political regimes are similar too. Compare the policy of China with a political regime in Korea. Syrian revolution Vs Libyan revolution. A number of great revolutions started in Arabic word approximately at the same time. However, each country had very different consequences of the revolution. Official reasons of the revolutions that happened in Libya and in Syria are quite similar, however, their results are absolutely different. Compare these two revolutions. The immigrant policy of the USA Vs the immigration policy in the UK. These two countries are often compared. They are also called two of the most popular countries for immigration. However, the immigrant policies of the countries differ greatly. Speak about these differences and their effectiveness. Al Qaeda Vs ISIS. There are two terroristic organizations that have many common features. Compare them in order to find out which group of terrorists is more dangerous to global peace. Modern political regime in your country Vs policy of the 50’s. Compare how different the policy was a decade ago. Civil unions Vs registered marriages. Compare the two possible ways of partnership and its possible influence on the political image of a country. Credit Cards Vs debit cards. Bank cards often have similar functions and can be used for the same purposes. However, the popularity of credit or debit cards among citizens can influence the banking system and economy of the country greatly. President of the USA Vs Prime Minister of the UK. Many people tend to think that the meaning of the president in the USA is almost equal to the role of Prime Minister in Britain. Show the difference that only a few people realize. Canadian Legal System Vs Legal System in The USA. Canada and the USA are often compared in different articles and reports. While having a lot in common, their legal systems have some different core moments that are interesting to discuss. Life Sentence Vs death penalty. Legal punishment is aimed not only at punishing a criminal but also at preventing other potential criminals from committing crimes. A risk of being punished stops some people from hurting others. What can work better for that? Topics for Students of the 6th Grade Students of the 6th grade are often advised to choose simpler topics. In this case, teachers give the task to practice some critical thinking, writing skills and to prepare for more complicated themes in the future. Being an only child or having siblings: what is better. Cats Vs dogs: which animal makes a better pet. Pure water Vs juice: which drinks are healthier. Christmas Vs birthday: which holiday is better. Traveling by plane Vs traveling by car: which way of traveling is eco-friendlier. Living in the city Vs living in a village: what gives more chances to feel happy. Tennis Vs ping-pong: how the types of sport differ. Watching a movie or reading a book: what brings more fun. Cats and lions: similarities and differences. Summer Vs winter: which season is better and brings more fun. Topics for Middle School Students Watching films at cinema Vs watching films at home: what is the best way to realize the message of a movie. Role models of 90’s Vs modern role models: are there significant changes? Parents Vs teachers: whose influence on teenagers is more important. Hurricanes Vs tsunami: what is more dangerous. Bicycle Vs car: what is more difficult to deal with? British cuisine Vs American cuisine: which food is healthier. Office work Vs freelance: what is the best way to earn money. Having rest in mountains or near to the sea. Shopping online Vs shopping in malls: what is more comfortable. Traveling inside your country Vs traveling around the world: what gives more valuable experience. Topics for High School Students Novels Vs poetry: what is a better way of sending a message to other people. Exams at high schools Vs exams in college: what is more difficult and more important. Traditional education Vs online education: what can be more effective. Modern beauty standards Vs beauty standards of the previous century. Educational system in the USA Vs educational system in China: what is better and more effective. Modern home design Vs home design of 50’s. Working Vs unemployed students: who chose the correct strategy. American English and British English: how the two languages differ. SAT or TOEFL: which test is better for evaluating knowledge of the language. Human Vs animal: how different we are. Topics for College Students Living with parents or living alone. Think about the most comfortable way of living for a young student. High school Vs college: which educational stage plays the greatest role for young people. Conventional classes Vs remote study: what is better and more comfortable. Beginning Vs end of an academic year: what is more stressful for students. Part-time job Vs a job for a season: what is better to choose for a student. Learning with books or audio lessons: what is better and more practical. Living alone Vs living with friends: what is better for a student. School friendship Vs college friendship: which types of friends are more loyal. Eating habits of college students Vs eating habits of high school pupils: whose food is healthier. Choosing the most popular profession Vs choosing a profession that you enjoy: what is the right path to success. Easy and Popular Topics Complex topics can give you some extra points and chances to intrigue your readers. However, sometimes there’s simply no mood or no serious reason to spend too much time on working with a difficult theme. Some simple topics can become a universal solution in a case you are in search of a topic for your essay. Daytime Vs nighttime: what is the best time for traveling. Fruit Vs vegetables: what brings more benefit to one’s health. Madrid or Barcelona: which Spanish city is better to choose. Taxi Vs bus: what is the best transport mean for travelers. Healthy sleep vs healthy food: what is more critical for staying healthy. Female policeman Vs male policeman: is there a difference who works in the police? Yoga or swimming: what is a better way of staying fit. Building a career or making a family: what is more important in life. iPhone or Android: which OS is better. Textbook Vs electronic devices: what is better for study. Objects to Compare Before choosing a topic for your essay, think about simple objects that you’d like to compare. This can inspire you and help you to come up with some additional ideas about your writing work. Mythology Vs religion. Business Vs freelance. Sports Vs dancing. Classic music Vs pop music. Europe Vs America. Communism Vs capitalism. Books Vs films. Canada Vs the USA. Schools Vs colleges. Poetry Vs prose. Why Seeing Some Examples of Essays Is a Good Idea Some students think that seeing some essay samples and borrowing interesting ideas from them is equal to plagiarism. In fact, looking through some samples is a great way to improve your writing skills and to learn how to evaluate your own essay, comparing it to others. It has no relation to copying or plagiarism. You can easily find some essay samples on the internet or ask your teacher to show you some essays that can inspire you. When Academic Assistance Is Needed Sometimes little knowledge helps you to cope with your writing assignment easily. However, there are also cases when you feel that you can’t cope with a task on your own. If you feel difficulties, choosing a topic for your essay or writing the essay itself, no need to panic. You still have a great chance to get an excellent mark for your writing paper. Our essay writing service can help you to deal with a difficult writing assignment anytime you need!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Funny St. Patricks Day Sayings and Quotes

Funny St. Patricks Day Sayings and Quotes The Irish are famous for two things. One, they can drink like a fish and keep the spirit flowing. Two, they know how to take a joke. The Irish also love to joke, especially about themselves. They dont care about political correctness and other such mumbo-jumbo. For them, a below-the-belt barb is an expression of endearment. The Irish are also noted for their tremendous sense of humor. Their quick-wittedness is evident in these Irish sayings and quotes. Some famous witty Irishmen like Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Conan OBrien and F. Scott Fitzgerald have achieved global fame for their extraordinary wit and wisdom. Their words reveal their brilliant imagination. Embrace Irish humor on St. Patricks Day. The Irish love their culture, history, and traditions. They love cracking jokes and drinking beer (like Guinness) and Irish whiskey (like Jamesons or Bushmills).  However, if you dont have an appetite for insults, watch out for their sharp tongue the Irish spare no one in their quick comebacks. If you are celebrating St. Patricks Day, arm yourself with witticisms to level the playing field. Quotes About The Irish Sidney LittlewoodThe Irish dont know what they want and are prepared to fight to the death to get it. Oliver HerfordThe Irish gave the bagpipes to the Scots as a joke, but the Scots havent seen the joke yet. Winston ChurchillWe have always found the Irish a bit odd. They refuse to be English. John Pentland MahaffyIn Ireland, the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs. Irish BlessingMay God bless and keep in good health your enemies enemies. Brendan BehanIf it was raining soup, the Irish would go out with forks. Ann KennedyThe one thing us Irish have is the ability to laugh at ourselves. God bless us all. Stephen ColbertThe shamrock is a religious symbol. St. Patrick said the leaves represented the trinity: the Father, the son and the holy spirit. Thats why four-leaf clovers are so lucky; you get a bonus Jesus. Ralph Wiggum, The SimpsonsAnd thats where I saw the leprechaun. He told me to burn things! Margot Leitman, Lewis Blacks Root of All EvilSt. Patricks Day is a holy day for Roman Catholics in Ireland to pray and a day for drunk people to vomit with their pants down in New Jersey. Jon StewartMaking it [St. Patricks Day] a great day for the Irish, but just an OK day if youre looking for a quiet tavern to talk, read or have a white wine spritzer. Jimmy FallonAnd on me final night, I got as lucky as a clover, I met a purdy lassie, drunk enough to come on over. Steven, BraveheartIn order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to converse with the Almighty. Laura KightlingerIts a big deal about whether or not gays can march in the St. Patricks Day parade, and I have to say that on some level I kind of see their point. Because when you think about it, it is a real macho heterosexual event. Bunch of guys in short skirts on a cart made of rose pedals sharing a bagpipe. Thats not for sissies. Jay LenoThis is St. Patricks Day in Los Angeles, Luck O The Irish Recipes. Delicious Irish guacamole. Corned beef and guacamole. Irish SayingIf youre enough lucky to be Irish, youre lucky enough! Ellen DeGeneresThe legend goes that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. I was thinking ... that must be hard to put all the tiny seatbelts on all the snakes. Conan OBrienSt.Patricks Day is named for St. Patrick, the first guy to feed Guinness to a snake. Lewis BlackWhos this Patrick anyway? The patron saint of liquor distributors? Heres the real truth, he didnt get rid of snakes in Ireland. He just got rid of the ones he was seeing. Sean MoreyI come from an Irish family. St. Patricks Day was our big holiday. The night before wed hang up our stockings and in the morning theyd be full of beer.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The Christian Building and the Jewish Synagogue Essay

The Christian Building and the Jewish Synagogue - Essay Example The Dura-Europos synagogue is referred to by some as "Pompeii of the Syrian Desert†, due to the remarkable preservation it underwent. The Dura exhibited a rectangular shape of the grid, and was located in close proximity with the central agora streets.The location of the Dora on the main crossroads made it a cosmopolitan city, according to inscriptions with multiple languages, together with numerous religious buildings for Jews, Pagans, and Christians that lay side by side (Davies and Whitehead 175). Dura Europos was abandoned after the Sassanian siege that took place between 254 and late 256. During the last gasp of saving the city, the synagogue got filled in in-order to make a fortress, thus facilitating its preservation. This was followed by eventual covering of the city with shifting sands that caused its disappearance. Architectural PortraitThe Dura Europos was largely made of the mud-brick architecture, but its siege works and walls had the dramatic remains that combined with the precipitous views on the Euphrates green valley that made for the striking sight (Olin 10). Being a cosmopolitan society, the Dura-Europos exhibited many inscriptions of different origins, including Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Safaic and the Palmyrenean. Among the Dura Euporos homes, there were three that were converted for religious purposes. For instance, the Mithraem was dedicated to Mithras god worship, and another one had its structure modified to create a synagogue for the Jews (Feugere 723).