C. Wright Mills and His Understanding of the Cold War/Wwiii

Yunlong Li November 11, 2012 C. Wright Mills and His Understanding of the Cold War/WWIII Authors and historians have attempted to understand what caused and perpetuated the Cold War for decades. Although it is not a simple answer with simple component reasons, this brief essay will seek to explain to the reader a few of the main reasons why the Cold War transpired as it did and what mechanisms kept it going. As a means of understanding the Cold War, the author of the essay has reviewed the writings of C.Wright Mill with relation to this topic as well as various other authors who have been cited and referenced in the below analysis. Before delving into the subject matter and trying to understand what caused and perpetuated the Cold War, it is worth first pointing out some of the factually incorrect information that surrounds many common approaches to the Cold War. The first, and perhaps most prominent of these faulty points of view, is that the Cold War was thrust upon the United Stat es by a dangerous and overly aggressive Soviet Union after the conclusion of World War II.This view is faulty due to the fact that both superpowers that emerged after the Second World War were inherently distrustful of the other. Furthermore, it can be seen that the power structure that emerged put both actors on a collision course with respect to the fact that the economic systems championed by both the United States and the Soviet Union were inherently against one another.As such, it can be understood as a self-fulfilling prophecy that both sides would come into conflict with each other (Goertzel 243). In this way, it can be understood that it was not either necessarily the fact that the United States or the Soviet Union was actively aggressive that ensured that the two powers would come at odds with one another; rather it was their inherent differences in political systems, ideology, economics, and the fact that they were both superpowers intent on dominating the world system.Per haps the most interesting idea that Mills put forward was the idea of what ultimately kept the peace between the United States and the Soviet Union during periods of extreme pressure and stress that occurred during the Cold War. Mills claimed that a hierarchy of power elite were the true actors behind the scenes that worked to ensure a full confrontation between the two superpowers would never translate into an actuality (Marino 29). These power elite†, as Mills called them, were the executive branch (president of the United States), top Pentagon military leaders, and the corporate rich. Although this view definitely bears some truth, the fact of the matter is that such an oversimplification does not factor in to account the key players in the Soviet Union that also sought to keep the conflict from coming to a head to head confrontation. Mills goes on to state that one of the largest reasons that would precipitate World War III would be the fact that both sides were in such a dire state of preparedness for such a conflict.This particular view is interesting due to the fact that many authors have listed this preparation as one of the reasons that the two sides did not actually come to blows (Warner 174). Although hindsight is of course perfect, Mills seemed to believe that the process of preparing for such a conflict would mean that the two sides would be left with a type of self-fulfilling prophecy as well as a broad range of advanced weaponry which would guarantee that the two would come to blows in the form of a Third World War.More specifically, Mills saw the advent of new weapons systems and the way in which the military industrial complex continued to push for an escalation in the conflict as proof positive that the momentum for all out war was definitely evident. Many authors claim that Mills particular view of the way in which the Soviet Union and the United States would come into conflict as a result of the tensions created by the factors that ha ve been listed was not the result of the fact that he truly believed this to be true but due to the fact that he was attempting to agitate political change within the United States.Mills, although a prolific writer and well known intellectual, was also a member of the movement known as the â€Å"New Left†. This particular movement subscribed to the view that the military and key elements of the power elite had entirely too much power over the way in which policy decisions were being made and the common man/electorate was less and less important in determining the future of the nation.Accordingly, authors have attempted to show that rather than showing his true position on the Cold War and what might occur as a result of the political actions that were taking place at the time, Mills instead sought to create a movement for change within the current political structure by engaging academics and intellectuals in realizing that the current course could only lead to conflict and d estruction of all systems equally.Yet another alternate view states that the true allure and appeal of the Cold War was a solidifying effect for American and Soviet leaders. As they were able to present to their people and electorates that an existential threat existed outside of their own system, they were able to elicit levels of patriotism, belief, and economic efficiency/utility that would not have otherwise been able to be realized (Saull 1124).As a result of the fact that the leadership of both systems recognized and valued the importance that such a bi-polar view of the world effected on their populations, both sides were no doubt at least partially interested in keeping up the appearance of sudden confrontation as a means to manage their people and direct the overall efficiency of their economies. All of the guess work and alternate theories deserve their place; however, just because the theories of MAD and the deterrence that other strategic decisions that were made by both sides encouraged more level heads to prevail during this chilled conflict.Merely due to the fact that a theory is old and has been tested and measured thousands of times does not require that a new theory should be put in its place (Roberts 1476). Accordingly, although many of Mills points bear analysis, it would be premature and reckless to put these theories in place of the time-tested and proven theories that have for so long helped to define the logic of why the United States and Soviet Union were able to keep the peace between themselves during the turbulent years surrounding the Cold War.What is important to understand from the preceding analysis is not whether C Wright Mills or any other theorists were correct; rather, understanding the different ways that these theorists and philosophers/political intellectuals saw the interplay between these superpowers and the subsequent conflict or lack of conflict it predicted helps the researcher to both understand and appreciate the d iffering levels of thought that helped to nuance and develop our current understanding of the conflict surrounding the Cold War.In this way, trying to prove or disprove C Wright Mill’s views with relation to whether or not he was ultimately correct in the way he categorized and defined unique developments between these two superpowers becomes of secondary importance to attempting to understanding the causal historical factors that helped to develop the world view he works to give to the reader. Works Cited Goertzel, Ted G. â€Å"The Causes Of World War III: Thirty Years Later. † Sociological Forum 4. 2 (1989): 241. Academic Search Complete.Web. 7 Nov. 2012. Marino, Noel. The arms trade. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Roberts, Geoffrey. â€Å"The Cold War As History. † International Affairs 87. 6 (2011): 1475-1484. Academic Search Complete. Web. 7 Nov. 2012. Saull, Richard. â€Å"Social Conflict And The Global Cold War. † International Affairs 87. 5 (201 1): 1123-1140. Academic Search Complete. Web. 7 Nov. 2012. Warner, Geoffrey. â€Å"The Cold War In Retrospect. † International Affairs 87. 1 (2011): 173-184. Academic Search Complete. Web. 7 Nov. 2012.

Reactivity of Metals with Water and Acid Essay

Introduction This report discusses an experiment to study the relationship of the physical and chemical properties of elements in groups and periods to the atomic structure of the elements. The objective of the experiment is to observe what happens when seven metals (magnesium, calcium, iron, lead, copper, aluminum, and zinc) are placed in water and/or hydrochloric acid. The hypothesis is that not all metals will react with the water and/or hydrochloric acid. This report presents the experiment’s procedures, results, analysis and questions. Purpose To observe relationships between the reactivity of elements and their location on the periodic table. Materials Part A: Reactivity of Metals in Water 1. 2. chemical safety goggles 3. 250 mL beaker 4. test tube (18 mm x 150 mm) 5. test-tube rack 6. scoopula 7. spark lighter 8. Bunsen burner clamped to a retort stand 9. test-tube clamp 10. pH paper 11. paper towel 12. small samples of 1. calcium, Ca(s) 2. magnesium, Mg(s) 3. copper, Cu(s) 1. wooden splint Part B: Reactivity of Metals in Hydrochloric Acid 1. 2. chemical safety goggles 3. 20 mL graduated cylinder 4. 4 test tubes (18 mm x 150 mm) 5. test-tube rack 6. scoopula 7. small samples of 1. magnesium, Mg(s) 2. iron, Fe(s) 3. zinc, Zn(s) 4. aluminum, AI(s) 1. dilute hydrochloric acid (0.5 mol/L) 2. spark lighter 3. Bunsen burner clamped to a retort stand 4. paper towel 5. wooden splint 6. masking tape or test-tube stopper Procedure Part A: Reactivity of Metals in Water The materials were selected and brought to the station. Safety protocol was followed and safety glasses were worn throughout the experiment. The appropriate data tables were drawn in which to record the data observations. The beaker was filled with approximately 250 mL of tap water. The water was tested with pH paper and the results were recorded. On a folded piece of paper towel, the professor placed a small piece of calcium (Ca). Observations of physical properties were recorded. A test tube filled with tap water was placed, mouth down, into the beaker (figure 1) and the calcium was placed in the beaker(amendment: the original procedure asked to select a metal that produced a gas to collect the gas after first attempting the procedure. To avoid wasting time, the gas [if there was] was collected on the first and only attempt). The reaction was observed and recorded. After the reaction was complete, the water was tested with pH paper. This procedure was repeated using samples of magnesium and copper. All results were recorded. The test tube was extracted from the beaker and without flipping it, was placed mouth down in the test tube rack. Using a spark lighter, the Bunsen burner was lit and a wooden splint was lit from the flame. The burner was turned off. Using a test tube clamp, the test tube was lifted and with it’s opening at the bottom; the burning splint was inserted into the mouth. Observations were recorded. The splint was extinguished with water from the tap and all waste was disposed of. Part B: Reactivity of Metals in Hydrochloric Acid The materials were selected and brought to the station. Safety protocol was followed and safety glasses were worn throughout the experiment. The appropriate data tables were drawn in which to record the data observations. A graduated cylinder was filled with approximately 20.0 mL of dilute hydrochloric acid. 5.0 mL were poured into four clean test tubes, which were then placed on the test tube rack. On a folded piece of paper towel, the professor placed small quantities of magnesium, iron, zinc, and aluminum. The physical properties of each of the metals were recorded. One at a time, each of the metals was carefully dropped into a different test tube of hydrochloric acid. Reactions were observed for a 20 minute period (amendment: because of the lack of time, reactions were only observed for five minutes) and observations were recorded. Masking tape was used to lightly cover the test tube in order to collect gas from the elements that bubbled in the acid. After the reactions were complete, a wooden splint was lit using a Bunsen burner and the masking tape was removed. The glowing splint was held just inside the mouth of the test tube. Observations were recorded and the waste was disposed of. Observations Part A: Reactivity of Metals in Water Element Calcium Magnesium Copper Physical properties Solid, silver, metallic, soft Long, thin, solid, smooth, malleable, silver, shiny Thin, solid, malleable, bronze in colour, shiny Reaction Upon putting the calcium in water, it bubbled and released gas. The water in the test tube was displaced when it was held above the calcium while it was reacting pH before reaction: 7 pH after reaction: 8/9 There was no reaction when the magnesium was placed in the water, therefore no gas. There was no reaction when the copper was placed in the water, therefore no gas. Part B: Reactivity of Metals in Hydrochloric Acid Element Zinc Iron Aluminum Magnesium Physical properties Solid, shiny, silver in colour Rusty, small individual solid flakes, dull Powder, grey/silver Long, thin, solid, smooth, malleable, silver, shiny Reaction Slow reaction, but it eventually started to bubble. Very slow reaction. Few bubbles were produced. Though there was no observed reaction from the aluminum and the hydrochloric acid, further research shows that it does react. It releases heat and the water evaporates. Upon putting the magnesium in the hydrochloric acid, it quickly started to bubble and fizz. Throughout the observation, it also releasedlots of heat. Analysis The objective of the experiment was to observe what happens when seven metals are placed in water and/or hydrochloric acid. Calcium, magnesium, and copper were all placed in water and of the three, only the calcium reacted. Zinc, iron, aluminum, and magnesium were placed in the hydrochloric acid. There was a reaction in every test tube, but the magnesium showed the greatest reaction with iron being the least reactive to the acid. Even though the metals may be in the same period, how it reacts to the water or hydrochloric acid depends on the type of metal. Error(s) When the lit splint was held just above the mouth of the test tube with the magnesium, there was no reaction, unlike the high-pitched popping sounds emitted by other groups’ experiments. Perhaps this is because the masking tape was removed from the mouth of the test tube minutes before the wooden splint was lit, giving the collected gas enough time to diffuse. A reason for the zinc and aluminum not reacting with the hydrochloric acid could have involved dirty glassware or the lack of time allowed for observation. Conclusion The purpose of this lab was to explore the patterns in reactivity in the periodic table. Through careful observation and planning during this experiment, the hypothesiswas deemed successful. Not all metals react with water and hydrochloric acid. Questions 1. Rank the elements tested in Part A from least reactive to most reactive. 1. From the elements tested in Part A, calcium reacted the most with water (it produced hydrogen), while both copper and magnesium did not have a reaction. 1. Sort the elements that you tested into groups. State the apparent order of reactivity as one proceeds down a group. Does reactivity increase or decrease? 1. Group 2 (alkaline earth metal): magnesium, calcium Group 8: iron Group 11 (coinage metal?): copper Group 12: zinc Group 13: aluminum For the metals, the reactivity increases as one proceeds down the group. This is because it is easier for electrons to be given farther down the periodic table. 1. Sort the elements that you tested into periods. State the apparent order of reactivity as one proceeds across a period. Does reactivity increase or decrease? 1. Period 3: magnesium, aluminum Period 4: calcium, iron, copper, zinc For the metals, the reactivity decreased as one moves from left to right across periods, because it is easier for electrons to be taken away farther to the left of the periodic table. 1. Is the solution that is produced when a metal reacts with water acidic or basic? 1. The solution that is produced when a metal reacts with water is basic, because the pH increased. 1. Based on your gas test observation in Step 16, what gas is produced? 1. Based on the gas test observation in Step 16, hydrogen gas is produced. This can be determined by the ‘squeaky pop’ sound that is heard when the lit wooden splint is placed at the mouth of the test tube. 1. Rank the elements tested in Part B from least reactive to most reactive. 1. In part B, copper would be the least reactive, because there was little-to-no reaction with it and the hydrochloric acid. Iron is the second least reactive, as its reaction was slow but there were a few observed bubbles. Zinc would be the second most reactive and magnesium the most reactive, with a quick reaction and the plenty of heat that was released. 1. Does the reactivity increase or decrease as one moves across a period of elements? 1. As one moves across the periodic table from left to right, for the metals, the reactivity decreases, this is because the farther to the left, the easier it is for electrons to be given or taken away. But for the non-metals, the reactivity increases(excluding the nobles gases), because the farther right, the higher the electronegativity, resulting in a greater exchange of electron. 1. Based on your gas test results, what is the gas produced in these reactions (Steps 16 and 25)? 1. Based on the gas test results and the similar ‘squeaky pop’ sound the elements emitted, the gas produced from the magnesium and hydrochloric acid reaction and also the calcium and water reaction is hydrogen gas. 1. Does the reactivity increase or decrease as one moves down a group of elements? 1. As one moves down a group of elements on the periodic table, for the metals, the reactivity increases, this is because the farther down, the easier it is for electrons to be given or taken away. But for the non-metals the reactivity decreases as one goes down because the farther up, the higher the electronegativity, resulting in a greater exchange of electron. 1. Evaluate this investigation. Did the design enable you to collect enough evidence to answer the questions? How could it have been improved? Would your suggested improvements raise any safety concerns? 1. The design was decent, but it did provide all the evidence needed to answer all the questions; a few of the questions required further research. I think the investigation could have been improved by writing clearer instructions and being more descriptive to avoid confusion. Also, students should be able to experiment with different metals to help them expand their understanding of the reactivity of metals in water and hydrochloric acid (this may raise a few safety concerns). 1. Predict what might happen if you were to drop a piece of potassium (or lithium) into a beaker of water. 1. Because potassium is an alkaline metal (lithium as well), it is extremely reactive. I predict that dropping it in water would cause it to react quickly and intensely, and produce hydrogen gas. 1. Connect the trends observed in Parts A and B to atomic radius, ionization energy, and electron affinity. Write a paragraph to explain the trends. 1. The elements moving from left to right across a period, the atomic radius decreases, as does the ionization energy(the nucleus of the atom gains protons).The atomic radius increases moving down a group, but the ionization energy decreases moving down a group (gains protons and new energy shells of electrons).And opposite to the ionization energy, electron affinities increase from left to right across a period. Electron affinities change little moving down a group, becoming slightly more positive.

Organizational Development & Human Resources Term Paper

Organizational Development & Human Resources - Term Paper Example As such, the topics which will be analyzed relate to performance evaluations, successful management, treatment of difficult situations, and issues relating to recruiting and compensation. The first concept that this student would like to discuss relates to the issue of performance evaluations. Whereas the performance evaluation is an oft dreaded part of many jobs, the key concepts that were learned within the class helped this student to approach the issue with a new mindset. The fact of the matter is that performance reviews are not in and of themselves a negative; rather, employees have been conditioned to think so due to a number of factors. The first and most prescient of these, as has been demonstrated within class, is the fact that the performance review process is often ignored up until the very last minute. In this way, the employee oftentimes has positively no indication of how their performance has been gauged for the entirety of the period in question. Accordingly, what th is affects is a situation in which dread is the primary emotion with which the employee greets the process (Muller 2009). However, as the readings and course work have demonstrated, a far superior model whereby to engage employee and/or shareholder buy in within such a process is to make the entire performance review process something that is straightforward, clearly enumerated, and transparent. In this way, the element of the unknown is removed as the employee is able to engage with the employer (and vice versa) as a means of understanding the extent to which obligations, goals, and metrics were met during the period in question. Rather than seeking to fundamentally redefine the performance review process, the best model of improvement is contingent upon all parties involved keeping clear lines of communication open throughout the period so that when the review comes up, no clarifications will be necessitated. The role of management within a given firm or organization is a topic th at has encouraged a great many professionals and writers to expound upon better and more sophisticated models. Yet, as has been learned within this particular class, there is not a definitive definition of correct management; rather, there is a litany of examples of incorrect management. Such is the case due to the fact that the field of management and managerial practice is so broad and nuanced as a result of the host of different personalities that different managers bring to the process. Moreover, the fact that there are clearly discernible incorrect management practices is more helpful in guiding and directing the practitioner towards methods and applications that would minimize these incorrect practices and steer the process back towards a more appropriate direction. By means of understanding this, the reader/researcher and/or student can and should understand that although a litany of best practices are existent within the realm of management, the best method of directing the proper application thereof within the current workplace is to ensure that the smaller subset of negative management practices are avoided at all costs. These include but are not limited to: micromanagement, hands off approaches, the development of non-professional employee-boss relationships, unhealthy power dynamics, and many, many others. As a way of being mindful and understanding

Hearsay Evidence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Hearsay Evidence - Essay Example "Hearsay evidence can be thought of as:- any statement made otherwise than by a person while giving oral evidence in the proceedings, which is tendered as evidence of the matters stated." http://www.forensicmed.co.uk/hearsay.htm Hearsay evidence is the second hand information that is used as evidence and it does not have any proof of its existence. It cannot be proved beyond doubt, and the doubt always exists even after the judgement. It is impossible to say that this really happened, but even the most brilliant law expert can only say that it might have happened. This made it unpalatable for the use of courts in earlier days. But now the act, looking at the importance and possibilities it holds, has made it admissible. "It occurs when a witness testifies NOT about something they personally saw or heard, but testifies about something someone else told them or said they saw. Hearsay usually involves an attempt to get some crucial fact entered into evidence that cannot be entered into evidence by any other means," http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/405/405lect11.htm In entering this as real evidence, Court will be depriving the other side a chance to process the evidence, by cross examining the witness, or verifying the evidence. There is nothing to cross-examine, as it is a kind of story, compared to other hard evidences, which glorify under solid proof. But there is an exception in the confession statement, where hearsay evidence is upheld. "The most important exception to the hearsay rule is admission or confession evidence. It is generally assumed that a party in a case would not make a statement against his or her own interests unless the statement was true" http://oasis.gov.ie/justice/evidence/hearsay_evidence.html As the confessions are an exception to the rule of Hearsay Evidence, even before the Act, a person stating another person's confession of a crime in the court, had been admissible. Victims of domestic violence sometimes could find it difficult to testify in the Courts for a variety of reasons and the statements of prosecution on their behalf might take the form of hearsay statement, or a secondary statement. While admitting these statements, Court does adhere to a lot of conditions and circumstantial proof. Statements made by the patients to the Medical officers usually are not disclosed as it comes under the priviledged category. But if disclosed, keeping the context in view, they might be admissible, even though it comes under the hearsay evidence category. The relevant rules for the hearsay evidence, are the best evidence rule, the opinion evidence rule and the self-serving evidence rule. Before the Act in question came into being, the rule prevalent was: "A.2.1. The Rule: Written or oral statements, or communicative conduct made by persons otherwise than in testimony at the proceeding in which it is offered, are inadmissible, if such statements or conduct are tendered either as proof of their truth or as proof of assertions implicit therein." http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/about/publications/weighevid/evidence_app_e.htm Hearsay evidence was thought to be untrustworthy, for the following

Challenges of Functional Electrical Stimulation in Clinical Essay

Challenges of Functional Electrical Stimulation in Clinical Engineering Practice - Essay Example It is also evident that, scientific studies on FES have not extensively focused on navigating their research outside persons with stroke (Enderle and Bronzino 2012). There is some research gap that needs to be covered in order for FES to be used in other areas. The use of FES for the hemiplegic shoulder have been proved to be troublesome to some patients since some cutaneous pain receptors get stimulated, and this has been cited to affect tolerance and compliance (Fred, et al 2009). In this regard, it is crucial for the Bio-medical Engineering practitioners to broaden the spectrum of the application and use of FES to other medical practitioners such as psychiatrics in order to help in advising and counselling person with stroke before and after the use of FES devices (Bronzino 2000). Introduction Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is an area of modern rehabilitation engineering and method that is used to generate contractions in paralysed muscles through the application of small pulses of electrical stimulation to nerves present in the paralysed muscle (Peng, et al 2010). This process is controlled in regard to the proper functioning of the muscle. FES as an application revolves around orthotics, which aids walking in addition to practising functional movements that are related to therapeutic benefit. It is important to note that the application of FES is mostly used in clinical engineering in treating nerves and muscles. Besides, the stimulator used in this process must be substantially tiny to allow it to merge with the patient (Grill, et al 2001). Notably, efficiency of FES is best demonstrated when the nerves supplied by muscle appear not to be damaged. Hence, this application has been used in Clinical Engineering in conditions such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, head injury and stroke among other nerves and muscles relates conditions. Similarly, the application could be used in orthopaedic condition where there is weakness of the muscle as a result of disuse or inhibition. Conversely, Functional Electrical Stimulation is not recommended for lower motor neurone conditions such as polio, guillain-barre syndrome, as well as, other conditions that are related to low motor neurone (Sheffler and Chae 2007) Majority of the patients who are involved with this application are known to use to FES in their daily activities. With time, patients continuously become less acquainted to the device resulting to an ultimate control of their limb. According to a recent research conducted by a scientist in the medical field, therapeutic effect of FES is crucial in ensuring that there are means that brings back function to those patients who suffer from upper motor neuron lesions. In fact, over the past fifty years, FES has been widely used on individuals with leg muscle dysfunction and spinal injuries. This application is used to evoke movements in individuals who are experiencing dysfunction in their joints, and spinal injuries. The elec trical currents are mostly used through application on the skin surface into the individual’s paralysis (Dollar 2007). Apparently, FES is used for alternative functions such as generating hand grasps in patients who might be suffering from tetraplegia, as well as, causing an upright posture and locomotion especially in patients who are suffering from paraplegia.

To what extent is the U.S.A. still the Child of Europe Essay

To what extent is the U.S.A. still the Child of Europe - Essay Example Since the United States is a product of the ideas, values and ideologies of the European peninsula, to what extent is the United States still the â€Å"child† of Europe? Seeking to address these questions and many more with respect to historical changes which have resulted in American cultural hegemony and a lessening of the bonds between the United States and Europe, this essay will emphatically argue that the United States is no longer a child of Europe but stands alone on the world stage. According to Kelly and Prokhovnik, â€Å"although the globalization of culture seems in some ways obvious in our daily lives, it is not an entirely straightforward matter. Culture is a complicated and pervasive phenomenon, taking many forms.† (48) Addressing charges of cultural imperialism and the role of the United States in cultivating a mass market â€Å"world culture†, the following will begin with a concise overview the charges leveled against the United States as an economic, cultural and military hegemon. The globalization of American values began in the post-World War II period following the near universal physical, economic and social devastation of the European continent. A social revolution paved the way for the export of American values and ideas across the world. For the United States, the social revolution of the 1960s was also a cultural revolution. In fact, the â€Å"rise of a specific, and extraordinarily powerful youth culture indicated a profound change in the relation between generations† (Hobsbawm 192). Leading this Cultural Revolution were the young: teenagers started wearing jeans – prior to that only farmers wore them – and rock music became the voice of a generation. In fact, industries saw the potential of this young and increasingly powerful generation and catered to it through the â€Å"flourishing industries of cosmetics, hair-care and personal hygiene† (Hobsbawm 193-4). Renowned

Managing a Global Team Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managing a Global Team - Term Paper Example This induced resentment towards the manager as well as the whole company. UAE team also complained that they did not have much face-to-face time with their immediate boss, James. Direct contact is important with the team leader no matter how geographically apart the two ends are. Employees need to be appreciated and motivated by their leader rather than just designated their tasks. James was not able to manage the difference in time zones while conducting his weekly meeting. Although it was a good approach to get everyone together on one platform once a week but it was not handled in the most appropriate manner. The time of the meeting forced the Indian team to work till 22:00 at times. This proved to make their days excessively long when their day already started as early as 6:30 IST. The early morn presence was also important because they had to be briefed about the work before the US office closed down. James was not able to see everyone’s problems therefore he was not able to provide them effective solutions. ‘We against them’ attitude was generated among the team members as a result of their issues and resentment. Another mistake that was done by James in terms of discussing issues was that all the team members were not made a part of the discussion in the emails. The US team would be a part of the email threads that would discuss important matters. The other teams complained that they were the last ones to be included in the emails to simply notify them of the solutions and decisions that had taken place. This way they did not get a chance to become a part of the discussions and just had to accept the solution that would be decided by James and US team. This kind of an approach is not suitable in the management of global teams since email correspondence is one the most common modes of communication. The team members are not able to meet in their daily routines in the cafeterias etc to discuss

The Methods of Statutory Interpretation Available to the Judiciary Essay

The Methods of Statutory Interpretation Available to the Judiciary - Essay Example The primary rules are the mischief rule, the literary and the golden rule. The judiciary also uses what is referred to as the purposive approach and typically enter the statutory interpretation process based on a set of presumptions.4 This research study analyses how the judiciary uses these rules, presumptions and the purposive approach for maintain consistency in the application of statutes. Presumptions The judiciary applies presumptions to guide them in the construction of statutes. There are essentially six main presumptions used by the judiciary. The first well known presumption is the presumption that penal laws are interpreted â€Å"strictly in favour of the citizen†.5 In R v Cuthbertson the House of Lords construed the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in favour of the defendant. Under the 1971 Act, forfeiture was permitted in respect of any items the court felt were related to the offence. However, the House of Lords rules that since the provision did not state conspiracy to commit the offence, but rather specified the actual offence, forfeiture would not be permitted for a conspiracy offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.6 Other important presumptions include the presumption that statutes are not meant to alter the common law; statutory criminal offences are typically require the mental element of mens rea; Parliament does not intend to usurp the court’s jurisdiction; and statutes do not have â€Å"retrospective effect†.7 There are also a number of linguistic or language-based presumptions used by the judiciary in the interpretation of statutes. For example, the maxim noscitur a sociis dictates that words â€Å"take meaning from the context†.8 The maxim noscitur a sociis was applied in Muir v Keay in relation to the construction of the Refreshment Houses Act 1860. Under the 1860 Act houses to which the 1860 Act referred were house that provided refreshments, resort and entertainment to the public. It was held that entertainmen t in the context of the 1860 Act could not refer to theatre or music but rather applied to refreshment, reception and accommodations.9 Another instructive maxim related to the language of a statute used by the courts as a guide for the interpretation of statutes is expression unius exclusion alterius which means that: The express mention of one member of a class by implication excludes other members of the same class.10 For instance should a statute use the word â€Å"land† it can be assumed that land includes mines. However, if the word is grouped together with other words such as â€Å"lands, houses and coalmines† it can be assumed that the word land does not refer to any other mines aside from coalmines.11 The maxim ejusedem generis is also used by the judiciary as an aid in the interpretation and application of statutes by reference to the language used. The maxim ejusdem generis presumes that where a statute provides a list of specific words, any general term appe aring at the end of the list will be interpreted by reference to the list of particularized words.12 Maxims are methods of linguistic interpretation that help the

Asian American Women in Sports Essay Example for Free

Asian American Women in Sports Essay Asian American women in professional sports has always been a struggle in the media. Asian American males has somewhat made a slight appearance of success in sports media but not so much for women. There are some famous Asian athletes out there such as Yao Ming, Jeremy Lin, and Michael Chang who have made a name for themselves. It seems that it is hard already for Asian Americans to strive in professional sports, but it is even harder for Asian American women to strive because they are simply women. The media has portrayed mens sports to be more interesting to watch and has created most of the attention towards them. Few people are interest in watching women sports which makes it harder for Asian American women to be noticed in sports. Asian American women are also brought up with the mindset that they have a slim chance in making it in professional sports because of how the media portrays them which is why there are so little of them that wants to strive in sports. Before writing this essay, I searched online for articles, statistics, and facts about this topic. I realized that there were very limited information out there regarding this issue. I also got the idea that not only are Asian American woman not being in professional sports is a problem, but the bigger problem is that people just dont care about this issue. I noticed that Wikipedia has only 82 pages of 82 different API women who has competed in professional sports. This is not a staggering number for 82 women in all of US history is only a drop in the ocean. I figured out that the majority of these sports are not contact sports such as golf, tennis, skating, and gymnastics. I believe that if anyone puts their mind to something, they can achieve whatever they want. I feel like Asian American women just limit their minds to what sports they will play and are capable of playing. Its not that they arent physically capable to play the game, but they are mentally incapable. In the 2008 Olympics, China womens basketball team placed 4th overall. which is one shy from a medal as well as beating 7 other non Asian countries. So physically, Asian woman can compete in sports. Americans have just created the stereotype that Asian women have smaller builds that make them disadvantages in the more physical sports. This is why Asian American women automatically choose to focus on non physical but finesse sports. Needless to say, there are actually some very successful API women athletes that has made an appearance in the media. The was actually one Asian women from China who made it into the WNBA. She was the first and Before Yao Ming, or before any Asian that have appeared in professional basketball, there was Zheng Haixia. She was the first Chinese player to ever play pro basketball stateside. The only reason she was as popular as Yao Ming, or Jeremy Lin was simply because Haixia is a woman. The 6-8, 250lb center from China is arguably the undisputed best woman player to come out of China. Due to her tremendous size, Haixia was always slow of foot, but the great equalizer was her all around efficiency around the basket. Zheng always got her points with slow and steady efficiency as she was named the MVP of the 1994 Womens World Championships. She averaged 26.4 points, 13.1 rebounds on an astounding 83.5% from the field. In 1997, during the inaugural WNBA season, Zheng led the league in field goal% with 61.8% as Isabelle Fijalkowski was a distant second with 50.8%. During that same season, she scored a season-high, spark-high of 28 points on June 27 against Sacramento and also had 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. She set a Sparks individual scoring record later tied by Lisa Leslie in the same season and since surpassed several times over. She is probably one of the most successful and talented API women who ever played in a contact sport. Another very well known athlete is Kristi Yamaguchi who skated her way to a gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville. She also went on to be one of the most beloved ice skaters in America despite being an Asian American women. Yamaguchi was born with a foot condition and started skating to strengthen her feet and ankles. She followed with individual victories at the 1991 and 1992 World Figure Skating Championships and the 1992 U.S. Nationals. Winning the 1992 Olympic gold-medal performance made her the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in any sport. The thing about the skating world is that someone can win in a competition but still may not have as many endorsement because they are Asian. This just shows that no matter how talented you are, people are still going to judge their favorites based on what they are used to seeing and what kind of people they like. This puts API women in a bad spot because Most people in America are accustomed to only seeing Caucasians or African Americans as their surrounding athletes. This is a big reason why Asian American women are portrayed as a disadvantage in professional sports.

Assessment for Learning Essay Example for Free

Assessment for Learning Essay The Assessment Reform Group (2002) identifies ten principles to guide classroom practice in assessment for learning . Choose five of particular relevance to your practice and evaluate them in relation to the pupil experience in your school. Assessment for learning (AFL) is the process of seeking and interpreting evidence for use by learners and their teachers to decide where the learners are in their learning, where they need to be and how to achieve their goal. Black and William (1998) in their research on the use of formative assessment in the classroom found ten principles of assessment which guide classroom practice in AFL. (Assessment Reform Group, 2003) The school I work in is a city based multi cultural school. UIS caters for children from all backgrounds and inclusion is of importance to our setting. I work in key stage 1 as a HLTA. I do PPA cover throughout the year 1 classes and I cover when a teacher is away wherever possible. The subjects I teach are the foundation subjects which are History, Geography, R. S and Music. I plan, implement and assess these subjects. In UIS, we believe that effective assessment provides information to improve teaching and learning. To do this in our school, we undertake two different but complementary types of assessment: assessment for learning and assessment of learning Assessment for learning (formative assessment) involves the use of assessment in the classroom to raise pupil achievements. It is based on the idea that pupils will improve most, if they understand the aim of their learning, where they are in relation to this aim, and how they can achieve this aim i.e. to close the gap in their knowledge. Assessment of learning (summative assessment) involves judging pupils’ performance against national standards. Teachers may make this judgement at the end of a unit of work, a term, a year, or if a key stage. We give our children regular feedback on their learning so they understand what it is that they need to do better. Research has shown that their involvement in the review process raises standards, and that it empowers pupils to take action towards improving their performance. The objectives of this assessment are: to enable our children to demonstrate what they know, understand and can do their work; to help our children recognise the standards to aim for, and to understand what they need to do next to improve their work; to allow teachers to plan work that accurately reflects the needs of each child; to provide regular information for the parents and carers that enables them to support their child’s learning; to provide the head teacher and governors with information that allows them to make a judgement about the effectiveness of the school. To support our teaching, we use the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance, the Primary Framework literacy and mathematics schemes of work based on National Curriculum objectives. We assess children at the end of each unit of work to help us identify each child’s level of attainment. The first principle that I will be discussing is that assessment for learning should be part of effective planning of teaching and learning. The teachers plan their lessons with clear learning objectives. We base these upon the teacher’s detailed knowledge of each child. UIS strive to ensure that all tasks set are appropriate to each child’s ability. Our lesson plans make clear the expected outcomes of each lesson. (Appendix 1) Teachers always share the lessons learning objectives with the children as the lesson begins. They also indicate the way in which the activity is linked to the learning objective, and the criteria against which the work will be judged which is the success criteria. Teachers ask well phrased questions and analyse pupils’ responses to find out what they know, understand and can do, and to reveal their misconceptions. We identify those individual children who do not achieve, or exceed, the expected level for the lesson, and we use this information when planning for the next lesson. Targets are set for end of Key Sage 1 and approved by Governors and the local Authority. UIS set year group targets in Mathematics, Reading and Writing for all our classes, during each academic year. These are expected levels of achievement reached by the end of the year for the majority of children and the more able in class. In Foundation1, staffs know that the next step children need to take is through systematic observation. These are shared with parents and talked through with children where appropriate. In Foundation 2 children have individual reading targets and group writing targets. In Key Stage 1 all children have individual and group targets in reading, writing and maths. Children’s targets are passed over to parents and carers, the progress of each child at the end of each term is reviewed, and revised targets are set. UIS recognise various methods of assessing a child’s learning. The type of assessment that our school make varies from subject to subject. We assess informally throughout the term, based on observations made by teachers or support staff. Every week I annotate assessment of the class I teach on my plan(appendix 2) and at the end of term fill out the assessment sheet. (Appendix 3) These observations are recorded in a variety of temporary formats, such as post-it notes, and are used to inform the Foundation Stage Profile or National Curriculum levels. We take the objectives for individual lessons from the board learning objectives within the school’s curriculum plan. These in turn reflect the demands of the National Curriculum / EYFS. The teachers record the progress of each child against these board objectives. This enables them to make a  judgement about the work each child in relation to national standards and allows them to monitor the progress of each child. Each teacher passes this information on to the next teacher at the end of each year. ` Teachers can review the rate of progress by looking at work in pupils’ folders or exercise books and by the marks in the record books. They can then use this to adjust day to day teaching and plan further work. One way to improve manageability would be to make a note only of those pupils who achieve significantly above or below the expected outcomes of a task’ (QCA, p. 3). The second principle that I will be discussing is how assessment for learning focuses on how students learn. ` If children don’t learn the way we teach perhaps we should teach the way they learn (Eppig, 1981). ’ The process of learning has to be in the minds of both the learner and the teacher. Assessment for learning helps those pupils, who do not always find learning easy, to make progress. ‘Planning for personalised learning focuses on what teachers need to do ,individually and collaboratively ,to develop assessment for learning and personalise learning by establishing supportive conditions for learning’(AFL,Primary Framework). When we do our assessment of a lesson we have to consider the different styles in which pupils learn. Day to day assessments is an on going and essential part of teaching and learning. Teachers and children continually reflect on how learning is progressing, see where improvements can be made and identify the next steps to take (national strategies standard) . When undertaking assessment of pupils, teachers use their knowledge of individual children in deciding on how to go about assessing the pupil. `Research on grading pupils, shows that children are less motivated and often demoralised when they are continually compared to each other. They need to know the criteria for the next level above ,but they do not need to know what that level is called. (Clarke,2001,p. 74)’ We have to consider the nature and level of support that the pupil receives as part of a normal classroom routine. The tasks and assessments are intended to assess a child’s ability in fair and a comparable way. If a child is a visual learner and for the assessment to be fair to him we adapt the test by having pictures inserted as well as questions. For those children that are auditory learners we read out the questions to the whole class and this enables them to fulfil their learning style. In our setting we have a working wall where the children are able to see what the objective and the success criteria of the lesson are. Appendix 4 On the working wall for the visual learner, we have two eyes to show what the teacher is looking for and ears to show the children to listen. For those children where English is an additional language we have support staff that are available while the test is taking place, so the staff can help where appropriate. Our school aims to be an inclusive school. We actively seek to remove the barriers to learning and participation that can hinder or exclude individual pupils, or groups of pupils. We achieve educational inclusion by continually reviewing what we do, by monitoring data, and through asking ourselves questions about the performance of these individuals and groups of pupils. In our setting there is a boy that is very able but his writing skills are very poor. His fine and gross motor skill are underdeveloped so to get the best out of him, he does all his work on the computer which is then assessed. Children that are on the S. E. N . register have their own I. E. P. ’s to work from with their allocated support staff, once their target is achieved they move on to the next target from their P-scales. The third principle that I would like to discuss is that assessment for learning should be recognised as central to classroom practice. Tasks and questions should prompt learners to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and skills. In our setting assessment for learning is recognised as central to classroom practice. In the Foundation unit the teachers usually plan the lesson with the ideas given by children. On a Friday afternoon the teacher has circle time with her class where she starts off with a basic topic and the children then give ideas on what they would like to do around the topic. In considering the ideas of the children it prompts the learners to learn and helps with the ongoing of assessments. I did a lesson on electricity in a year2 class which I was covering . In order for me to assess the children I asked a lot of open questions which prompted them to answer. The open questions gave the children the opportunity and encouraged them to think beyond the literal. ‘Research on wait-time showed that teachers need to leave five seconds after asking children a question, to allow them to respond. This is the optimum time it takes to process the question to formulate the answer (Clarke, 2001. p. 87). After having watched the classroom experiment I was able to take on board the idea of waiting time which I now religiously apply. ` Increasing waiting time after asking questions proved difficult to start with due to my habitual desire to â€Å"add† something almost immediately after asking the original question. The pause after asking the question was sometimes â€Å"painful. † It felt unnatural to have such a seemingly â€Å"dead† period, but I persevered. Given more thinking time, students seemed to realize that a more thoughtful answer was required ‘(D e r e k, Century Island School). The negative side to the waiting time is that some teachers wait for two seconds before they either ask another child or answer the question themselves . Children often then do not try to think of a response, because they know that the answer would be given or another child would be asked to answer. The lesson was very inter-active I was able to assess whether my success criteria was achieved. When I handed the worksheets to the children I had asked them to write the learning objective below the date and to refer to it when they were doing there work. The fourth principle that I would be discussing is that learners should receive constructive guidance about how to improve their learning. `An assessment activity can help learning if it provides information that teachers and their students can use as feedback in assessing themselves and one another and in modifying the teaching and learning activities in which they are engaged. Such assessment becomes â€Å"formative assessment† when the evidence is actually used to adapt the teaching work to meet learning needs (Black and William, 1989). Most learners are curious to know how they have done in a task . `Feedback is sometimes seen as part of a behaviourist approach to learning ,where it is part of the sequence stimulus-response –reinforcement (Wragg,2001,p. 27). The aim of marking in our setting is to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom. Whilst doing my researchÃ'Ž I found out that Nancy from Riverside school says that her marking has developed from comments with targets and grades, which is the school policy, to comments and targets only. Pupils do work on targets and corrections more productively if no grades are given. Marking is an integral part of assessment and target setting and the outcomes inform short, medium and long term planning. Its rationale is to enable every child to achieve their full potential. It is recognised that one to one oral feedback is most valuable for young children. It should remind the child of the learning intention and emphasise the positive aspects of the child’s practical or recorded work. ` Various research studies have concluded that feedback is most useful when it focuses on the learning intention of the task rather than other features of the work’(Clarke,2001,p. 50). In our setting the minimal response for all written work is that it should be initialled and dated to acknowledge that it has been seen. Maths work is usually ticked if correct and marked with a bullet point to signify that the answer needs to be checked. In UIS traffic lights are used to indicate whether the child has achieved the success criteria for the task. Green-learning objective met, orange-a few examples of learning objective having been met, red-learning objective not met, need to see the teacher. (Appendix 5). When a child meets the learning objective the work may be underlined or highlighted in some way to acknowledge the child’s success. Smiley faces are used to indicate good effort. Whilst doing my research and talking to other teachers in school I found out that each child gets a detailed feedback of their work at regular intervals. This detailed feedback could be oral or written and should be specific and related to the learning intention set for the particular piece of work. Feedback needs to indicate areas where improvements or next step targets are to focus. It is important to allow children the time to reflect on the feedback and make improvements to a specific piece of work. The fifth principle that I would like to discuss is assessment for learning develop learners’ capacity for self-assessment so that they can become reflective and self managing. `In practice, peer assessment turns out to be an important complement to self-assessment. Peer assessment is uniquely valuable because students may accept criticisms of their work from one another that they would not take seriously if the remarks were offered by a teacher’(Black and William. p. 6). Peer assessment and self-assessment is much more than children marking their own or each other’s work. To improve learning, it must be an activity that engages children with the quality of their work and helps them reflect on how to improve it. Peer assessment enables children to give each other valuable feedback so they learn from and support each other. It adds a valuable dimension to learning: the opportunity to talk, discuss, explain and challenge each other enables children to achieve beyond what they can learn unaided. Peer assessment helps develop self-assessment, which promotes independent learning, helping children to take increasing responsibility for their own progress. `Research shows that if self-evaluation is linked with the learning intention of a task, children’s progress, persistence and self-esteem is improved(Black and William,1998). The development of peer assessment and self-assessment takes planning, time, patience and commitment. When children don’t understand the intended learning outcomes they find it difficult to move beyond superficial criteria related to neatness and spelling. By using a range of strategies and by dedicating time to allow children to reflect on and discuss their learning teachers can develop children’s peer assessment and self-assessment skills. ` Independent learners have the ability to seek out and gain new skills, new knowledge and new understandings. They are able to engage in self-reflection and to identify the next steps in their learning. Teachers should equip learners with desire and the capacity to take charge of their learning through developing the skills of self-assessment (Assessment Reform Group, 2002)’. UIS trains children to use the traffic light system to indicate directly on their work to what extent they feel they have achieved the learning objective of their given task and how secure they feel they are in their learning. This helps the teacher to identify if a child is having any difficulty and this also give the children confidence in seeking help. The negative aspects of using the traffic light system at right at the end of the lesson is that some children who are over confident tend to rank their achievement very high and those children that have low confidence tend to under estimate themselves. Teachers in our setting also encourage children use the thumbs up that is when a child is confident they have achieved what was expected of them, thumbs sideways which indicates that they are half way there in understanding the objective ,but could achieve more and thumbs down which indicates that the child does not really understand and needs a bit more help. In order to develop pupil’s skills with self assessing their work we use prompt questions which the children can think about when reviewing their work. Pupils need to be able to assess their own progress to become more independent learners. ` One of the reasons peer assessment is so valuable is because children often give and receive criticisms of their work more freely than in the traditional teacher/child interchange. Another advantage is that the language used by children to each other is the language they would naturally use, rather than school language’ (Black et al, 2003). We regularly do peer marking which I find very helpful indeed. A lot of misconceptions come to the fore, and we then discuss these as we are going over the work. I then go over the peer marking and talk to pupils individually as I go round the room. Peer evaluation works really well because children learn from each other where they have gone wrong and how to put it right. The advantage of peer assessment is that children get to work with different children and they get a wide idea on how the pupil has achieved their success criteria. Some children assume that the more able children never find anything difficult, but this process makes them aware that all learners find some aspects difficult. After having done all my research I have found that the most important aspect of assessment is to have the learning intention and success criteria in focus. In UIS, with the self –evaluation strategies that we use it develops children’s awareness of their learning needs as well as open doors for teachers to get a better understanding of the pupil. Some teachers tend to give feedback to pupils on areas that are not of much relevance to the objective. It takes a while to get into the habit of giving appropriate and relevant feedback but the strategy is simple, make sure that the learning intention is mentioned first and then talk about the secondary features. If it is necessary to mention the secondary features, then say it in a very low tone to the pupil concerned. `As the research demonstrates, formative assessment makes a significant difference to children’s progress –in their ability to be confident, critical learners, to achieve more than ever before and in raising their self-esteem. In a world of continuing pressure, it is good to know that we are making a real difference to children’s lives. (Clarke, 2001, p139). ’Pupils enjoy finding that other children often have the same thoughts, share similar feelings on a particular subject, and have similar problems or successes whilst doing self-evaluation assessment. Ofsted had done a survey on 43 schools and found that 7 of these schools were inadequate in their assessment for learning. `Where assessment for learning had had less impact, the teachers had not understood how the approaches were supposed to improve pupils’ achievement. In particular, they used key aspects of assessment for learning, such as identifying and explaining objectives, questioning, reviewing pupils’ progress and providing feedback without enough precision and skill. As a result, pupils did not understand enough about what they needed to do to improve and how they would achieve their targets. Teachers did not review learning effectively during lessons; opportunities for pupils to assess their own work or that of their peers were infrequent and not always effective’(Ofsted). Michael Fullan also suggests that many educational innovations have been frustrated by the inherent but understandable ‘conservatism’ of teachers. He suggests that real change will only occur where teacher beliefs about teaching and learning have been significantly altered. Education is littered with examples of innovations that have either failed or only been partially implemented because teachers weren’t convinced the change was necessary and would result in real improvement. The result has been that they merely modify their practice at the edges and then abandon the change after a while because it ‘didn’t work for them’. More effective use of assessment, particularly formative assessment, will require many teachers to reconsider their approach to teaching and learning and to re-evaluate their working practices’(Weeden,2002,p. 127). Therefore if schools and teachers want to make changes they have to have the subject knowledge, be committed and dedicated to continually re-examine their teaching styles. Reference Assessment Reform Group (2002) Assessment for Learning: Ten Principles [online] Available from:www. assessment-reform-group. org. uk [Accessed 19th December 2010]Ã'Ž Black, P. ,and Wiliam,D. (1998). Inside the black box: Raising standards through classroom assessment. Phi Delta Kappan Vol 80, 139-149. [Accessed: 19th December 2010] Clarke,S. (2001). Unlocking formative Assessment . London: Hodder and Stoughton Clarke,S. (2005)Formative Assessment in Action London:Hodder and Stoughton Eppig, P. (1981) Education by design –used in the UK as Critical Skills program by [emailprotected] (Bristol Education Action Zone) Weeden,P. Winter,J. Broadfoot,P. (2002). Assessment-Whats in it for Schools. [online] London: Routledge Falmer. p. 127. Available from: http://northampton. np. eblib. com [Accessed:27th December 2010] Wragg,E. C (2001). Assessment and Learning in the Primary School [online]. London: Routledge Falmer. p. 27. Available from: http://northampton. np. eblib. com [Accessed:27th December 2010] QCA (1999) Keeping Track,Qualification and Curriculum Authority. http://nationalstrategies. standards. dcsf. gov. uk/primary/primaryframework Appendices 1. Lesson plan 2. Annotated Lesson Plan 3. Assessment sheets 4. working wall 5. Traffic lights.