Meditation, attention and well-being of college students

Ask any college student today and they would probably say that being in college is one of the most difficult and consuming endeavor that they have had in their lifetime. College life is not only about going to classes, meeting deadlines, writing papers and completing courses. College life is also about developing analytical and critical minds, learning life-skills, building knowledge and applying it to real-life situations.College students need all the help they could get to make their academic lives a little lighter or more manageable. Many self-help books have advocated changing one’s attitude, thinking positively, time-management, building relationships and other methods that one gets a feeling that they do not really provide solutions but just state the obvious. One that has received less attention is in the area of meditation.Literature has found that meditation has positive effects in reducing stress as a relaxation technique. However, meditation has been associated with new age thinking and referred to as spooky stuff that the present generation of college students may not be aware of. Meditation have existed since man first begun creative thinking, it is often referred in religious and spiritual practices. In the early years of psychological investigation, meditation became a popular subject in terms of the experiences that people have when they meditated as well as how it can be an effective relaxation technique.Meditation is being able to become more attuned with one’s inner self and this takes a great deal of directed attention. Attention refers to the ability of the mind or consciousness to attend to a specific area, event, information or thing. Studies on attention have highlighted the detrimental effects of not being able to hold one’s attention, and of how fleeting and short a person’s attention span can be especially in a very complex and stimulus overloaded  environment we have. Directing attention to a single obje ct or thought can be relaxing since it allows the person to be present in the here and now, it was also espoused that training oneself to become more attentive can develop cognitive functioning and thus help in academic performance.College students can benefit in learning and being able to use meditation techniques to cope with the many stresses and anxiety of college life and developing attention skills to further enhance academic performance. It is therefore hypothesized that college students who practice meditation will have a longer attention span and will have higher grades and a more positive mental health and hence increased feelings of well-being.This study will determine if college students who practice meditation techniques on a regular basis have higher attention skills as measured by a behavioral experiment and whether they have more positive feelings of well-being as determined by a well-being inventory.A discussion of meditation and its application into the enhancement of attention, creativity and consciousness is presented to demonstrate the far reaching effects of meditation as a means of aiding college student’s performance in school and their mental health.MeditationMeditation has been defined as process wherein the person achieves an altered sate of consciousness by performing certain rituals and exercises. These exercises include controlling and regulating breathing, sharply restricting one’s field of attention, eliminating external stimuli,  assuming yogic body positions and forming mental images of an event or symbol. The result is a pleasant, mildly altered subjective state in which the individual feels mentally and physically relaxed.Some individuals after extensive meditation practice may have mystical experiences in which they lose self-awareness and gain a sense of being involved in a wider consciousness, however defined. That such meditative techniques may cause a change in consciousness goes back to the ancient time s and is represented in every major world religion. Buddhists, Hindus, Sufis, Jews and Christians all have literature describing rituals that induce meditative states (Arambula, Kawakami, Gibney, 2001).Traditional forms of meditation follow the practices of yoga, a system of thought based on the Hindu religion, or Zen which is derived from Chinese and Japanese Buddhism. The two common techniques of meditation are an opening up meditation and concentrative meditation.  Ã‚   In opening-up meditation the subject clears his/her mind for receiving new experiences while in concentrative meditation the benefits are obtained through actively attending to some object, word, or idea.Experimental studies of meditation provide only limited insight into the alterations of consciousness that a person can achieve when meditative practice and training extend over many years. In his study of the Matramudra, a centuries old Tibetan Buddhist text, Brown (1977) has described the complex training requ ired to master the technique. He has shown that cognitive changes can be expected at different meditative levels. A somewhat commercialized and popular form of meditation has been promoted as transcendental meditation or TM ( Hanley & Spates, 1978) ).The technique is easily learned from a qualified teacher who gives the novice mediator a mantra and instructions on how to repeat it over and over to produce the deep rest and awareness  characteristic of TM. In TM a person develops a reduced state of physiological arousal; feelings such as peace of mind, a feeling of being at peace with the world and a sense of well-being are reported after engaging in TM. In a now classic study on the effect of TM to college students by Hanley & Spates (1978), it was reported that those who were practicing meditation had more positive personalities.In this study, meditation in the form of transcendental meditation (TM) will be used as the meditative process which will be given to college students wh o will participate in this study. The TM is much easier to learn and practice than the traditional forms of mediation and since it produces feelings of peace and well-being that it suits the purpose of this study. Meditation is categorized under altered states of consciousness and since consciousness is the most basic cognitive function that is closely related to attention, the second part of this study is to determine if meditation enhances attention span and accuracy and in effect would lead to greater academic performance.Meditation and AttentionMeditation and attention is unquestionably linked together, meditation is the process by which attention is narrowed and focused on one object or event, and without engaging one’s attention fully to the immediate task, and then nothing will come out of it. Attention must be acutely directed towards the mantra, the breathing of the individual and the experiences one will have during the meditative state. Meditation in effect enhance s the ability of the person to direct attention and when attention is more keen and developed, a person can have better concentration  and can better attend to the critical thinking skills needed in college education (Shear & Jevning, 1999).Attention has been the earliest subject of the study of psychology, cognitive science have provided evidence that attention is physiological, that it is limited but can be expanded to become more acute and enable the person to become more aware of his/her environment, more appreciative of nature and life and it causes a general feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction.Several studies have tried to find evidence that meditation and attention has a relationship. In a study of the effects of opening-up and concentrative mediation to attention in terms of ignoring distractions and focusing attention (Chan, 2003) found that meditation was positively correlated with the ability to direct attention but it was shown that meditation minutes per day was p ositively correlated with decreased distractions and mistakes, the form of mediation used or how may years a person has been meditating did not have any significant relationship with the owner. In a similar study, concentrative and mindfulness motivation was measured in terms of how effective it contributed to the task of sustained attention.The study compared the sustained attention of students who had meditation training to those who did not (Valentine & Sweet, 1999). The study found that those who had meditation techniques scored better in the sustained attention task wherein those who practiced mindfulness meditation had better scores than the concentrative mediators. The practical applications of an enhanced attention that is not affected by distractions and sustained attention can be directed towards improved academic performance of students.Meditation, Attention and Well-being 7Meditation and CreativityA new concept put forward by Sarath (2006) advocated the use of meditation techniques to mainstream classroom instruction as it enriches the learning process and enhances the creative process and consciousness of students. Creativity is highly related to the issue of meditation because the experience associated with meditation is similar to the second person approach wherein the student actually creates and produces an output that would enable him/her to have a deeper understanding of the concepts raised in class (Sarath, 2006).The author had argued that education and learning should be focused on providing actual experience of the lesson, not just learning something in books and not being able to work with it. Creative expression of one’s talent and interests should be the main thrust of the school. At the same time, a more sustained attention and inability to be distracted by external stimuli are necessary steps in the practice of creative thinking.ConclusionMeditation is not just for the spiritual and magical but it is also a positive process to develop attention and induce students to relax and communicate with their bodies and their surroundings. College students have to deal with pressures and expectations that they sometimes feel cranky, anxious and fed up. Meditation as evidenced by the studies conducted showed that it could positively affect attitudes, attention span and resistance to distractions. Meditation also has been found to be a medium that could enhance the learning process and encourage creativity. As such, this study has found evidence to support the hypothesis mentioned in the first part.Meditation, Attention and Well-being 8ReferencesArambula, P., Kawakami, M., & Gibney, K.   (2001). The physiological correlates of KundaliniYoga meditation: A study of a yoga master. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 26; 2, pp. 47-53.Brown, D.P. (1977). A model for the levels of concentrative meditation. InternationalJournal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 25; 4: 236-273.Chan, D.P. (2003). Effects of medi tation to attention, Unpublished dissertation. University ofCalifornia.Hanley, C. & Spates, J. (1978). Transcendental meditation and social psychological   attitudes.The Journal of Psychology, 99, p121-1127.Sarath, Ed. (2006). Meditation, Creativity and Consciousness: Charting Future Terrain withHigher Education. Teachers College Record, 108; 9, pp 1816-1841.Valentine, E. & Sweet, P. (1989). Meditation and Attention: A comparison of the effects ofconcentrative and mindfulness meditation on sustained attention. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 2; 1, pp 59 to 70.Shear, J. & Jevning, R. (1999). Pure consciousness: Scientific exploration of meditationtechniques. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 6; 2, p. 3)

Contemporary Politics and Economics in Mexico Essay

Over the course of Mexican history, the governmental and economic state of Mexico has been largely unstable. The nation was marked by dictatorial shifts in party-list (and their candidates) and their constant bickering with each other; the deformed presidency, the elite and the political group controlled the economic fervor with constant insurgencies from the lower classes; the shift of the informal traditional ‘relatively’ closed market system to an international open trading system as a form of ‘globalization’; and finally, the drastic environmental events, like the 1985 earthquake which had shaken up the nation. In the following paper, there is an attempt to elucidate the static forces that govern the Mexican politics and economics from 1980s to the contemporary times. Mexican politics was largely determined by the ‘evolution’ of the ruling party Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), their gradual shifts or hold in power from a hegemonic- (1929 to 1979), bipartisan- (1979 to 1985) and finally, the pluripartisan stage (1988-2000). The bipartisan stage marked the initial infiltration of the opposing party Partido Accion Nacional (PAN) and the strong comptetion between the PRI, PAN and the PRD (Partido de la Revolucion Democratica during the pluripartic years. PRI had a hold on presidential seat for 71 years until it was put to a stop in the 2000 elections. The presidential monarchy from 1970 to 1982 coincided with a period of shared development in political organization with the emergence of the bourgeoisie in governmental positions and puts an end to the ‘sustained’ economy that Mexico originally enjoyed under the Echeverria . To combat the economic crisis and peso devaluation, the State attempted to intervene with the entrepreneurial activities, thus sparking State-Entrepeneur dissent; the private businesses erected Entrepreneurial Coordinating Council (ECC) institutions as a protective mechanism. Portillo delivered his counterattack by nationalizing bank systems and increasing the interest rates. Mexico experienced general economic quagmire — inflation, external inequity, currency devaluation, peso flight, mounting unemployment and low purchasing power — in 1976, 1982, 1987 [ e. g. 59 % inflation] and 1994-95 with middle periods of mild economic recuperation. The September 19 1985 earthquake, which killed approximately 6,500 to 30,000 individuals, aggravated the economic crisis. The 80s were dominated by neoliberal (semi-democratized state implementing free election rule) over the freemarket system, as a result of mounting external debts and the ‘Washington Consensus’. The freemarket system/informal market system originally dominated by local ‘street market vendor’ types, became an open humdrum to international financial organizations like the World Bank to ‘negotiate’ for the debts. The State Restructuring generally involved administration modernization, openness of the national market/participation with free trade with the State neighbors (e. g. 1986 General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs), privatization of public enterprises, and introduction of radical social and political reforms to the relatively ‘traditional’ State. The ‘Restructuring’ debilitated the State with most of the reforms resulting to dispersed control in politics, loss of ethics in politicians and political institutions, and mounting economic problems. The Neoliberal State, 1982-2000, demonstrated a stunningly low GIP per head of 0. 3 %. With income distribution becoming more unequal. The year 1994 marked the participation of State to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Inequality in income and devaluation of the market price coupled with the global inflation of prices created insurgencies from the lower classes and the emergence of anti-political groups like the Zapatista Army of National Liberation from the State of Chiapaz. The peso devaluation, increased exchange rate volatility and meltdown of stocks will persist up to the current state of economic affairs. This was naturally fueled by distrust of external investors to the weak form of governance. Federal Electoral Institute, mediated by ordinary citizens was erected in the early 90s to ensure that elections are ‘clean’ compared to PRI unfair appointing of offices in the past. Quesada won the 2000 election due to the insurgency and popular voting but have few votes from the Congress. It was the former President Zedillo who officiated the electoral results thus stunting the chance of PRI to question the results. The administration of Fox signed up with the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America with the hope of modernizing the reforms and the pre-existing labor laws, opening investments in the energy sector, and improving the infrastructure. The 1994 NAFTA agreement’ beneficial effects were apparently not agreed upon by participants. Whereas the US reiterates that there is ‘speeding up’ of the economic activity of the free market system of Mexico as indicated by the thrillion dollar class, the quick economic growth did not improved the standards of living of the lower and middle class. Calderon, the current president of the Mexico and also a PAN member, experienced many oppositions from the PRD; the attacks were on post-electoral and on ‘Banobras-borrowing’. Calderon attempted to reduce the economic crisis of the country by producing reforms like Tortilla Price Stabilization Pact, salary caps, security policy and first employment program. The current presidents waged an active advocacy against drugs. The contemporary politics and economic changes in Mexico are centered on neo-liberalism with opening of the State to globalized free trade. The drastic results of the State restructuring persisted up to now and the reforms enacted by the current government will hopefully resolved the problems.

The Great Doubling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The Great Doubling - Essay Example During this time, innovations in communication and innovation made it easier for offshoring and the global migration of workers (Grossman & Rossi, 2008, p.1987).   The new wave of globalization that has swept the world has brought about both actual and perceived labor market insecurities in industrialized countries. Over the past 15 to 20 years, the number of workers who have been displaced by foreign trade and investment as well as labor inflows from India and China has increased considerably. â€Å"The Great Doubling† was a term coined by Richard Freeman to describe the increase of the global labor pool from about 1.46 billion in the 1990s to about 2.93 billion currently (doubling). Freeman (2006, p.11) argues that if the US and generally other industrialized countries are able to adjust well to this great doubling, people from these countries can be able to benefit from having all people on the same economic status.   The â€Å"great doubling† compliments well with Baldwin’s (2006, p.45) great unbundling where he argues that globalization means the great unbundling and is set to be a dominant factor in the economic field. Globalization applies pressures to an organization to relocate their resources. Before globalization reached its apex, economic interactions were bundled together such that transport costs were minimized or in some situations eliminated completely. Due to this, the number of wages to be paid plus the cost of goods was determined by the local market and not the global market. Globalization is set to bring major changes to this and thus will affect the wages of skilled and unskilled workers in both low wage countries and advanced countries.

Project management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Project management - Research Paper Example Project management is also governed by time allocated to achieve a specific goal or objective. A proper management activity involves attaining of a goal within a specific time allocated for the completion of the activities. In management of projects, creation, implementation and measurement of results determine the effectiveness of a project management strategy (Lock, 2007). Additionally, project management involves the creation of outstanding technical skills and distinct management strategies. Each project management objective has a concept phase that has general guidelines regardless of the set goals and objectives. The concept phase in project management involves; Development of the concept statement Completion of the business analysis Review of the project concept Project concepts are principles on which a project is based. In any project management activity concepts refer to the guidelines which are set aside for mangers to follow. For instance, there is a concept which require s originality or reliable sources to be used in the creation of assumptions and results. According to Cooke-Davies (2002) project management concepts create the guidelines which govern the direction of decision making by project managers. The author further argues that project management concepts change depending on the scope of the project portfolio. For instance, the concepts used in project management portfolio in psychology and business may not be similar (Lock, 2007). History The implementation of project management strategies in organizations dates back to the 1950s. Prior to this development, engineering projects in the 1900 were controlled by engineers, master builders and architects. In the 1950, organizations started practicing complex project management project in civil engineering. In words by Loch (2000) these complex civil engineering projects required more than just supervising from experienced architects. The author further argues that the activities involved in the projects required single project management capabilities that had to be monitored in each phase. This created the concepts that initialized the activities involved in project management. Project management then grew as a discipline to other fields like heavy defense activity, construction and engineering. In the growth of project management two figures played a major role in this particular growth. They are Henri Fayol and Henry Gantt. At the same time there were also developments in project scheduling models, cost management strategies, technology of cost estimating and engineering economics. The growth of project management was further boosted by the creation of the American Association of Cost Engineers. This body aided in cost estimation strategies, cost estimating, planning and scheduling portfolios (Stevens, 2002). In 1969, there was the creation of project management institute in the USA. The body publishes A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge which is describe s the practices used in most projects and often (Dinsmore et.al, 2005). Project management basics There are five basic of project management. These five basics are connected together strategically to bring out the whole process of project management. These five basics are represented in the diagram below. The process commences at initializing which involves project feasibility and project initiating. Then the process advances to planning which includes formulating of schedule task lists,

Employment law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Employment law - Assignment Example Sam was hired as an employee and Arnie was hired as an independent contractor. They both work in the same BRC office under the same supervisor. They both work Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Both are required to report weekly staff meetings. Sam is paid a salary and proper federal and state tax withholdings are made. Arnie does not receive benefits like retirement and health insurance and he is paid by the project with no federal and state withholdings. Arnie signed a contract that clearly stated that he was an independent contractor and not an employee. Answer: the employer has acted to fill a particular position, when the individual has followed the employer’s standard procedures for submitting applications, and when the individual has indicated an interest in the particular position. 8. Under the inevitable disclosure theory, a court may prohibit an employee from working for a former employer’s competitor, if the employer can show that there is imminent threat that a trade secret will be shared and the employee has intent to disclose the secret, and the trade secret would give the former employer’s competitor a significant advantage in the market. 1. Colton Manufacturing shuts down 3 manufacturing facilities without prior notice to its 3000 employees. Colton has graciously offered to provide outsourcing assistance to its displaced employees and informed them of their rights to continue to receive health insurance coverage through COBRA for eighteen months. Colton has to further liability to its former employees. 3. An employer can successfully defend a charge of disparate treatment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act offering a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the action taken regarding the charging party. 5. Davis Hosiery Mills has each new employee sign a form acknowledging receipt of the company’s handbook. The handbook states that employees will be terminated for good cause

Analysis of the Position of Female Entrepreneurs in the Middle East Essay

Analysis of the Position of Female Entrepreneurs in the Middle East - Essay Example In the West, most women compete on equal footing with men. This is because there are laws that are enshrined in the legal codes of most nations in North America and Europe that guarantee the rights of women. It must however, be pointed out that women were also oppressed in the West until the process of emancipation was initiated gradually in the early 21st Century (Stevenson, 2010). Also, the world order has sought to initiate changes and equalities in gender matters since the formation of the United Nations in 1945. However, this appears to be moving at a gradualist pace rather than in a revolutionary patter. In the Middle East though, Nazir and Tomppert identify that there is systematic discrimination that is entrenched and inherent in law, criminal justice, economy, heath care and education that keep women oppressed and limited in what they do (2005). It is identified that the communities in the MENA region maintain a strict patriarchal status (Moghadam, 2007). This is a system wh ereby a woman is seen as weak and as such, the society deems it a necessity for men to protect women from what they perceive to be against the honor of women. Typically, a girl is under the protection of her father. When she becomes a woman, she evolves to the care and protection of her husband. When she raises her children and they grow old, the male children have the duty of protecting their elderly mothers. As such, the progression of women is overshadowed by the fact that they have a unique and different role from men. Although this is often seen by most people in the Middle East and North Africa to be in the best interest of women, it stands in the way of gender equality and promotion of the interests of women and their ability to exercise their free will. Currently, globalization is forcing people in all parts of the world to make changes and harness equality and similar patterns in all aspects of life (Moghadam, 2007). This means that there is the need for women to be given e qual rights and fairness. The king of Saudi Arabia, who by default requires to exercise the highest levels of Islamic purity [his title is the Custodian of the Two Holiest Sites of Islam: Mecca and Medina] has acknowledged that the kingdom's approach to issues like women's right need to change since the world around them is changing gradually (Ramady, 2010). However, for changes to occur meaningfully, there is the need for the financial emancipation of women in the Middle East (Keddie, 2007). This will require a degree of guaranteeing the rights of women to get an earning capacity (Keddie, 2007). Female entrepreneurship is therefore an important and crucial element that needs to be attained through the financial emancipation of women. This is one of the most important ways through which the women of the Middle East and North Africa can catch up with their male counterparts and hasten the move towards the emancipation and equality of women that has been proposed through the current r eforms in Arab and Islamic nations. Based on this background, this research will examine important elements and aspects of female entrepreneurship in the Middle East. This will attempt to diagnose the status quo of female entrepreneurship in the Middle East and figure out the important aspects and elements that has led to these trends. The paper will also examine critical solutions to the issues that would be raised in the study. In attaining these

An Analysis of the Importance of Setting In James Baldwins Giovannis Essay

An Analysis of the Importance of Setting In James Baldwins Giovannis Room - Essay Example The story itself is well written and intriguing, but many of the elements involved are only able to arise in the unique atmosphere of Paris. This paper will attempt to examine some of the reasons for Baldwin's choice of setting. The two American characters in the novel have both left the United States for different reasons. David, the narrator, claims that "I wanted to find myself" (p. 31) when leaving towards France, reflecting in hindsight that he would only find the self that he kept trying to escape. His past hinges on a dysfunctional relationship with his father, who spent most of David's youth drunk, to the point that by the time David grows older and the father attempts to get closer, then David no longer wishes it. David's rejection of his father stems from two root causes: firstly, David has begun to judge his father and, while not disapproving of the alcohol exactly, David resents his father's emotional absence through the years. Secondly, David has had at least one homosexual experience by this time - with a boy named Joey - whom he then promptly rejects. David's actions show a subconscious shame about his own homosexual tendencies, as well as a concern that his father might discover this aspect of his son. David's departure from the United States is an attempt to put physical distance between himself and his father, as well as psychological distance between himself, the experience with Joey, and the possibility of his father's discovery. Hella is on a similar journey of self-discovery with similar parallels of trying to escape. She is from Minneapolis and not much is said about her hometown. Instead, she is absent the first half of the novel because she is in Spain, contemplating David's marriage proposal. Hella's quest is to find a nobler purpose in her life than to become an average mother and housewife, yet when she returns to Paris, she grudgingly says that "it's really all I'm good for." (p.163). Her spirit is broken. Her old stance had been that a woman's attachment to a man was degrading, yet she now feels that even though a man will always be a stranger to a woman, she will only be free once she is committed to a relationship. She claims that "women get attached to something by default." (p.167), and that, essentially her purpose is therefore defined by David's need for her. Both of these characters go through an evolution in the course of the novel: they seek to escape their own nature, then accept it for a time and are happy, only to become miserable in the end by denying it once more. David only acknowledges his love for Giovanni when Giovanni is slated for execution; Hella leaves David when he needs the most support, primarily because of the revelation of David's love for Giovanni. Because of the very nature of the Americans, they are portrayed in sharp contrast to the Parisians. Hella declares that "coming back to Paris is always so lovely" (p. 160), implying the American romanticism attached to the city, but her true confusion of the Europe experience is hidden in her description of Spain "it's very beautiful. I just didn't know what I was doing there." David, while he enjoy Parisian life, identifies closely with the his fellow customers at the American Express Office, whom he perceives as having a quality "unedited, unrealized the sorrow of the disconnected." (p. 119). These aspects have become

Two Important Virtues Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Two Important Virtues - Coursework Example However, he recommended that a virtuous trait is the one that is between deficiency and the excess of that trait. Braveness as a virtue will make an individual pursue all his or her dreams no matter the evident obstacles on the way (Macaro & NetLibrary, 2006). Industriousness is another virtue that Aristotle highlighted as important for the success of an individual. It entails working tirelessly so as to improve an individual’s life. If this virtue is put into practice, an individual’s life is liable to flourish or succeed remarkably (OToole, 2005). These two virtues are essential because they will keep the individuals in the right truck that is likely to lead his or her to success. Braveness will enable an individual to keep going no matter how hard the journey may be while industriousness will help people to keep working until he, or she meets his targets. Cowardliness and slothfulness are the contrast of these virtues. Any individual who would choose to pursue them will end up staying a life without trying anything, and hence he or she will never achieve anything and hence cannot flourish or succeed at all (Hibbs, 2001). Similarly, the excess of these virtues is disadvantageous. Rashness may make an individual find him or herself in the nasty ending when he or she will have overindulged, and he can easily lose everything. While over industriousness may make an individual to overindulge an aspect that may make a person face adverse effects in such aspects like health. This complies with Aristotle’s recommendation that the virtuous trait should be between deficiencies and excess (OToole,

Experimental economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Experimental economics - Essay Example Loss aversion states that the disadvantage in losing an object is considered greater than the advantage of acquiring an object. The research paper explores the relation between endowment affect and status quo bias with loss aversion. Findings of the Article The researchers conducted various studies to establish the endowment act. An experiment on a certain group of people involved endowment of either lottery tickets or money. It was found in the study that nobody would willingly part with the lottery ticket for money. It was believed that in a market setting, the discrepancies between the Willingness to Pay (WTP) and Willingness to Acquire (WTA) would reduce. A series of experiments were conducted to understand the endowment affect. The first experiment revealed that the market clearing price coincided with the point of intersection of induced demand and supply curves and transaction costs were low. Since the income effects are insignificant and transaction cost is low thus when mark et clearing occurs objects are owned by people who value it the most. The volume of trade was low due to the price reservation of the buyers and sellers and was attributed to the lack of willingness on the part of the owner to part with his belonging. Indifference curves are reversible and they do not intersect. In the presence of loss aversion, the reversibility concept is not applicable. The primary affect of endowment does not lie in increasing the attraction towards the goods one owns. Rather, it enhances the pain in giving up the good.

Reading Strategies Essay Example for Free

Reading Strategies Essay Identify two reading goals, one short-term and one long-term. †¢Long-term reading goal: Read on a college level. †¢Short-term reading goal: Complete two reading workshops. Write a 100- to 150-word response to each of the following questions: †¢How do you currently approach the weekly readings in the course? I currently approach the reading in the course very cautiously. When reading any of the material in or out of class, I take my time. It is important to do so because by going to quick, there is a chance of missing some of the material. By reading slowly I can assure myself that I have better chance of taking in more information. Also by removing myself from any distractions, I can concentrate harder on the things that I am reading. Preparing for my reading sessions in advance helps to optimize my chance of greater concentration on my reading materials. †¢How might you incorporate three of the suggestions covered this week into your study time? By using the four steps in active reading, I can optimize how well I concentrate during my study time. By previewing my material, I can get a visual guide to anything I may not understand before reading the material. Marking my work as I go along will help with keeping me focused and concentrating. By using correct time management and can make sure nothing interferes with my study time as well. Also by choosing the correct study location will help to block out any distractions that may affect my study time. Using all of these helpful ways well help me in enhancing all of my study time. †¢How might this plan help you accomplish your reading goals? By using what I have learned so far, I have a much greater chance on accomplishing both of my reading goals. Using the four steps of active reading, and concentrating on all of my materials; it will help with my long term goal of reading on a college level. My short term goal was to complete two reading workshops. By choosing a quite study location, I will be able to concentrate harder on my work. Turning of cell phones and not using social media web sites will help as well. If I can optimize my study time and location, I will have a much greater chance of completing my short term goal of completing two workshops.

Analysis of Starbucks and the coffee industry

Analysis of Starbucks and the coffee industry Starbucks is the worlds largest and most popular coffee company. Since the beginning, this premier cafà © aimed to deliver the worlds finest fresh-roasted coffee (Starbucks Heritage, 2010). Today the company dominates the industry and has created a brand that is tantamount with loyalty, integrity and proven longevity. Starbucks is not just a name, but a culture. Extensive research has provided keen insight as to why the entity has become the multibillion dollar empire that it is. The company has received many high accolades also, for their quality products as well as their commitment to the community, their partners, and the environment. BACKGROUND Starbucks was founded in 1971 by teachers Jerry Baldwin and Zev Siegl, along with writer Gordon Bowker. Coffee first originated in the Moslem population before making its way to Europe in the 1600s. It eventually became the beverage of choice at meeting places where intellectuals would converge, and was recognized for both its sociability and taste then, just as it is now. (Starbucks and the lifecycle of specialty coffee: An industry evolving, 2010). The foundation of this commerce is one Starbucks strives to keep although the business has come a long way from the modest storefront it began as. For over 15 years the company was based solely in Seattle, Washington but has since evolved into an international giant with over 16,000 locations in more than 50 countries. The growth of the company has been simply phenomenal, with approximately 1,000 stores being added to its chain each year for the last decade. Howard Schultz, who is now the current chairman, president and CEO of the compan y, was indispensible to this expansion and has been instrumental in establishing the development of the coffeehouse as we know it today (Starbucks Timeline and Heritage, 2010). One of the most critical components a business should have is a vision and mission statement. According to an online article, these pieces of information are defined as the inspiring words chosen by successful leaders to clearly and concisely convey the direction of the organization (Unleashing the Power of Purpose, 2010). Starbucks has adopted a mission statement that aims to inspire and nurture the human spirit one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time (Starbucks Mission Statement, 2010). Further, there are six governing principles the company adheres to in an effort to fulfill their purpose and intentions. They are: To provide quality coffee. To treat partners with respect and dignity and to embrace diversity. To create a relationship that is satisfying and uplifting for customers. To produce a store ambiance that is comfortable and enjoyable. To nurture, protect and invest in the community. To provide accountability and favorable rewards to shareholders. The application of these values has helped Starbucks launch to its current status as being one of the best 100 places to work, according to Forbes magazine, with an astonishing 140,000 employees. Outside of the local neighborhood, Starbucks can be found in airports, malls, supermarkets, and even bookstores all around the globe. Like most other companies, Starbucks relies heavily on its investors to help fund business operations, generally through the stock market, and can be found on NASDAQ under the symbol SBUX. Until 2008, profitability was on the rise but has since decreased due to downfalls in the economy and impeding competitors such as Dunkin Donuts, BIGGBY, and Caribou Coffee. Cost reductions and improved operating efficiencies alone would not be enough to boost sales in this economy. Improved customer service and the ability to aggressively differentiate and innovate have kept Starbucks ahead of their competition. Starbucks saw customer satisfaction scores increase by 10 percent as a result of their efforts to improve customer service. Some changes include more focus toward in-store offerings, simplifying the demands on the partners, raising the already-high standards for beverage and food offerings, and an overall in-store experience (Starbucks Investor Relations, 2010). Despite tough economic times, the company had an impressive finish in 2009 with approximately 21,600 shareholders, $562 billion in operating income, and net revenues totaling $9.8 billion. As of October 8, 2010, the current stock price was $26.07 a share with a 52 week high of $28.50 and a low of $18.69 (Market Watch). Starbucks is expected to continually recover from their losses and is estimated to grow even more over the next few years as illustrated below (Bloomberg Business Week, 2010). Quarterly Earnings Estimates STARBUCKS CORP (SBUX) EPS Earnings Per Share Pre Exceptional Q1 2011 Starbucks Corp. reported 3rd quarter 2010 earnings of $0.29 per share on 07/21/2010. Quarterly Revenues STARBUCKS CORP (SBUX) Q1 2011 Starbucks Corp. had 3rd quarter 2010 revenues of $2.6B. This bettered the $2.5B consensus of the 16 analysts covering the company. This was 3.0% above the prior years 3rd quarter results. Reproduced from Bloomberg Business Week. One of the reasons Starbucks is dominating the coffee industry is due to their willingness to take risks and try out new ideas. An example of just how popular Starbucks has become is evident after a quick Google search produced well over 5 million hits, with products ranging from the handcrafted beverages many have grown to love, to merchandise and gift cards. The company continues to offer new products, such as whole grains and the use of other wholesome ingredients in their brands. They have also changed portions of their food offerings to simplify recipes and remove artificial trans-fat, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and dyes (Starbucks Nutrition, 2010). In-store products include fresh food, music, and the very popular Tazo Tea which is a label purchased by Starbucks in 1998. Starbucks has also increased its trademark and now promotes ice cream, ready-made mixed drinks, and VIA, an instant coffee that is manufactured through the companys own roasting facility (Starb ucks Profile, 2010). ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE After conducting eight interviews, there was a general consensus that the Starbucks hierarchy ranged from immediate supervisors to higher management officials. Some employees interpreted organizational structure to be a form of the way management divides duties and responsibilities amongst employees, while others considered it to be teamwork, meaning, when everyone comes together to meet the same goals; the unique way business is conducted; and the flow/channels of the company and management impact. These definitions go hand-in-hand with organizational culture. In the book Organizational Behavior, authors describe such a climate as the shared knowledge within an organization regarding the rules, norms, and values that shape the attitudes and behaviors of its employees (Colquitt, Lepine, Wesson, p. 557). Some of the components involved in the culture of an organization are observable artifacts, espoused values, and basic underlying assumptions (Colquitt, et al., p. 558). Together these three elements makeup what can be related to as being the body of an organization. For example, what a person sees through images and logos helps to distinguish one brand from another. Further, the physical setup of an establishment often sets the atmosphere or tone which tends to decipher a company from being an office, department store, mechanics shop, or in the case of this study, a coffeehouse. Some Starbucks are more casual such as in medical establishment or movie theater, whereas other places require a little more sophistication such as in a courthouse. Additionally there are usually bulletins, replicas or other signs on the walls of the business that speaks the unique language of the respective location. There might also be organizational charts displayed, which is a drawing that represents eve ry job in the organization and the formal reporting relationships between those jobs (Colquitt, et al., p. 527). When a person walks into a Starbucks it is clear that you have just entered into a cafà © that is designed to be a tranquil meeting place for family, friends, students or even business partners. LEADERSHIP ROLES RESPONSIBILITIES At Starbucks, employees feel the atmosphere is relaxed, upbeat and/or energetic and most thought working together as a group was encouraged. They also appear to have a clear understanding of leadership and what it entails, although not everyone agreed management styles were the best. Several interviewees thought management appeared arrogant and demanding at times, while others thought the complete opposite of their managers defining them as being friendly, caring and considerate. While most interviews had distinct and varying responses, it can be said that every person believed they were valued and appreciated. Many also felt they were a part of the decision-making process at times, where their thoughts and opinions on a particular issue were gathered, although the final decision still lay with management. One type of occurrence that displays this level of commitment to employees was the implementation of Optimal Scheduling which is the result of an employee request. The initiative of the program was to enhance the existing flexible work schedules to allow opportunities for a more regular arrangement, complete with a consistent timetable and increased hours to those who were available. It also allowed customers the opportunity to develop relationships with staff which is a part of the Starbucks vision, to connect with its customers beyond making a perfectly blended drink (Starbucks Newsroom). STRESS FACTORS COPING MECHANISMS An overall satisfaction with ones current position was the general consensus obtained from the dialogue as well. Most considered their rate of pay to be less than desired and unable to meet long term goals. A lot of the discussions were with college students who favored upward mobility whether through Starbucks or elsewhere. Aside from pay, stress seemed to be high on the list of reasons for being dissatisfied also. Stress is defined as a psychological response to demands that possess certain stakes and that tax or exceed a persons capacity or resource. Such demands are referred to as stressors while the negative consequences are considered the strains (Colquitt, et al., p. 144). Most of the stressors at Starbucks was caused by issues with partners, budgets, or performance. Role overload was another factor that seemed to affect many of the managers interviewed due to pressure to get daily tasks done in a timely manner, such as paperwork and conference calls. There were also a lot of unforeseen assignments like equipment malfunctions and call-ins. While some stress is an everyday part of life, excessive stress interferes with ones productivity and reduces a persons physical and emotional health; therefore, it is vitally important to find ways to help keep it under control. Some steps to help reduce stress and avoid pitfalls while at work include taking responsibility for improving your physiological and psychological well-being, identifying negative attitudes that add to the stress at work, and learning better communication skills to ease and improve the relationships with management and coworkers (Stress at Work, n.a.). ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHS Customer Loyalty Service Customer service at Starbucks is actually a culture type focused on service and quality (Colquitt, et al., p. 562). In addition to the vast presence in the United States, the company has 9,000 international coffeehouses in almost 40 countries. It seems that no matter where they serve, their reputation for fine products and services remains intact, as well as their brand preference and strong customer base. By extensively training employees for at least twenty hours prior to full employment, Starbucks maximizes employee responsibility and attentiveness in an effort to decrease wait time for its customers. Furthermore, by closely tracking consumer needs and wants, Starbucks is able to introduce more popular products with less time between presenting new items. By decreasing wait time and increasing choices for customers, Starbucks increases loyalty among current regulars while simultaneously attracting more consumers. Another cornerstone for Starbucks success is the opening of additional stores in various communities. By adding more locations, the frequency of visits by supporters is usually also maximized, especially since the Starbucks label is already so popular. In addition, many of these new stores are being developed with a drive-thru for double the convenience. With this, Starbucks is targeting a particular segment of its customer base that is comprised of professionals and on-the-go parents. To measure the effectiveness of these strategies, Starbucks continuously compares data between newly opened stores and existing stores, trying to increase the profitability of both units while maintaining a steady growth rate. This pattern can be outlined by the Service Culture Process which starts out with service-oriented leadership behavior that impacts both customer and employee attitudes. If favorable, sales would likely increase as a result of high performance (Colquitt, et al., pp. 562-564). Employee Retention Job Satisfaction As the old saying goes, you are as strong as your weakest link. This belief seems to be highly recognized by Starbucks as they remain adamant about investing in their staff providing them with training, benefit packages, and other opportunities to advance. Since most of the advertising stems from inter-relation between staff and consumers, Starbucks is able to expend more of their budget on educating their staff which in turn influences both quality and quantity. Such a plan also strengthens the work environment, creating an atmosphere where workers are confident about their knowledge, skills and abilities regarding the products they serve. It is also a reason why their employees continue to feel valued and appreciated which is one of the two top reasons people work for the company. The other reason is that employees feel the teams at Starbucks are very enthusiastic (Hammers, 2003), and a happy employee typically makes a happy customer. Another explanation as to why Starbucks employees remain with the company is their great compensation and competitive benefits packages which are available to both full-time and part-time workers. In fact, the corporate staff is very forward thinking and believes offering healthcare benefits would attract a higher quality of employees which, consequently, would cause the turnover rate to decrease. Time has proven this strategy to be true. For example, at the time of inception, the turnover rate for retail or fast food ranged between 150% and up to as high as 400% a year but for Starbucks it was only 60% at the barista level and 25% at the managerial level which is the lowest in their industry (Schultz, p. 128). Starbucks employees also benefit from the Bean Stock incentive which is the offering of stock ownership to all workers. It is a really good way to get employees involved in the equity of the business, and even more reason for each individual to strive for success and treat cus tomers with exceptional service (Colquitt et al., p. 135). Strong Financial Foundation With its strong financial base, Starbucks is able to undertake new business ventures much more frequently than other companies. This is largely due to its investors who have been able to buy company shares since 1992. At the time, shares were $17 each, today the rate of exchange has increased by more than half which is a great benefit to shareholders. Stock can be purchased through a broker or via a direct buy. Additionally, over 20 analysts cover Starbucks earnings and an estimated 10,000 shareholders attended the companys annual meeting in 2008 (Investor Relations, 2010). Today, the company has well over 20,000 shareholders with little signs of slowing down. The company is also very committed to corporate social responsibility, to include their economic, legal, ethical, and citizenship expectations of society (Colquitt, et al., p.244, p. 524). They were the only restaurant and cafà © named as being one of the most ethical companies in the world (Ethisphere, n.a.), and has been on the list for many years. There are governing principles and charters specifically designed for these efforts which are to be strictly upheld by a team of 11 members that makeup the board of directors (Starbucks Corporate Governance, 2010). ORGANIZATIONAL WEAKNESSES Store Closures The mission to nurture one neighborhood at a time started to dwindle when over 600 Starbucks stores closed, causing the company to lose revenue and layoff thousands of workers. Undoubtedly, employee morale is not as high as it once was due to the fear of losing ones job. It has been said that The economic crisis is eating in to high-end coffee consumption, as Starbucks found out in its fiscal first quarter (Ahrens, 2009). At the time, reports revealed the coffeemaker would lay off up to 6,000 employees at its stores and let go another 700 non-store employees, half of which would come at the companys Seattle headquarters. First-quarter revenue at the coffee giant was also down 6 percent and earnings were down a venting-sized 69 percent. Additionally, the plan to open 140 new stores in the U.S. and 170 new stores internationally went down from its earlier goal of 200 and 270, respectively. Capital expenditures were expected to face at least a $100 million cut (Ahrens, 2009). Fierce Competition Since the economic downfall, customers are moving away from paying gourmet prices and are purchasing from other chains to include gas stations. Many consumers state they experience the same taste they crave without the steep prices. Starbucks competitors in the coffee beverage sales include Dunkin Donuts, BIGGBY Coffee and Caribou Coffee, as mentioned previously, as well as 7-Eleven, McDonalds, Panera Bread, and Einstein Bagels. Competitors such as McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts not only have extensive menus, but also the financial resources and position to leverage their strengths to threaten Starbucks profitability. In terms of perception, 7-Eleven and Dunkin Donuts provide coffee in a no-nonsense fashion, which attracts customers who are extremely price sensitive. Caribou Coffees environment is similar to that of Starbucks because of furniture, free internet, and cozy surroundings, but their lack of market expansion has prohibited them from gaining the notoriety Starbucks has achieve d. Finally, BIGGBY Coffee is in the middle ground where the likes of Dunkin Donuts and Caribou Coffee separate themselves (Bhaskar, 2009). Lack of Advertising In times past, Starbucks did very little advertising but relied on the infamous word-of-mouth approach to getting news out about their company. Most information came through the use of relation theory, mainly the relationship with staff. For example, no matter which market it entered, Starbucks did not advertise. Instead, broadcasts came via the reports of employees, and consumers quickly followed suit. Ads can now be seen on billboards and through social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, allegedly due to the drop in sales the coffeehouse experienced (Advertising Age, 2010). Financial Uncertainty As mentioned in the interviews, a lot of employees felt their salary was less than desired. At this time, there may not be much that can be done in this area, but the issue is still a factor nonetheless. The average barista salary is $8.64 per hour and shift supervisors earn about $10.68 per hour. The average salary for store managers is $42,698 per year (Starbucks Salaries, 2010). IMPLEMENTION PLAN RECOMMENDED CHANGES Starbucks is an organization that is on the move. However, no organization is exempt from implementing critical changes that can impact the growth of the organization. When organizations become as large as Starbucks, sometimes the focus and mission statement can be pushed to the side due to trying to keep up with the demand. Other times, there are situations beyond ones control, such as the financial woes the company experienced at the start of the recession a few years ago. One of the things Starbucks did to help revamp the business was create a website that encouraged public comments about changes they would like to see in the company. The page is located at www.MyStarbucksIdea.com and has been instrumental to developing innovative differences at the company. For the purposes of this assignment, other avenues the company may utilize are suggested below. More Programs In an effort to build upon an already exciting environment, Starbucks can liven the atmosphere even more with offering Band Performances and Poetry reading nights. This would be a bonus for the company since a lot of its competitors do not have such a setting available to them. They could utilize local musicians which would add to the companys desire to invest in the community. In addition, the implementation of Awareness Month is an option where a special drink is developed each month and every time someone orders the beverage, proceeds go to awareness charities such as a breast cancer, diabetes, or sickle cell foundation. In an effort to boost sales and promote the existing Going Green Goals of the company, daily discounts could be provided to customers who bring in their own coffee mug. The initiation of these options would give Starbucks an edge on their competitors without decreasing the product eminence Starbucks is known for. More Advertising Instead of relying on partners to do most of the advertising for the company, perhaps its time for Starbucks to spend more dollars in this arena to inform the public of their good will, as well as the great programs that are available to them. The business is very committed to the environment, and recognizes both the economic and societal need to invest in products that can bring about changes to the ecosystem. Starbucks strives to lead this effort and aims to produce cups that are purely ecological by 2015 in addition to conserving water and energy use, building greener stores, and making recycling a mandatory part of daily transactions. Other specialized efforts include RED which helps to fund medical supplies needed for HIV patients in Africa; Starbucks Foundation, a literacy program in the US and Canada; and Ethos Water created to fund clean water in countries that are less fortunate (Starbucks Shared Planet, 2010). Training Incentives An implementation plan should not be limited to the products that make up the coffee franchise conversely; the coffee franchise must ponder on innovate ways to keep up employee morale too. For example, there was an incident with an employee who felt lack of routine training created a very tense situation when a drink that should have only taken five minutes to make took 20 minutes. It was stated If you dont use it, you will lose it, and that is exactly what happened when the need to make a drink on a machine that hadnt been used in six months arose. Perhaps things would not have taken as long if other teammates were available, but several of them called in sick, leaving the interviewee to fend for himself. This is a classic example of role ambiguity and also the result of time pressure, a work challenge stressor that occurs when there is a sense that the moments available is not enough to perform the task at hand (Colquitt, et al., p. 146). Some of the ways Starbucks can alleviate this type of event from occurring again is by offering more training sessions at each store weekly, bi-weekly, or at least monthly, so that ones thoughts on how to make beverages are kept fresh. Additionally, the development of incentive programs where employees are rewarded for their ability to make drinks faster than their co-workers; their ability to master items found on the menu; and/or their ability to decrease customer wait time may prove to be beneficial. Rewards would include cash and gift-cards outside the Starbucks chain such as for the movie theater or gas station. More Management Accountability When the CEOs of Chrysler, Ford, and GM flew private jets to plead their case for more taxpayer dollars, the public was livid! Since then the executives have agreed to give up this luxury as well as take pay cuts to help balance the needs of their company (Big Three CEOs, 2008). In response to the financial distress of some of its employees, Starbucks can help fund some of the salaries of those at risk of losing their jobs by following such a plan, which may even keep more stores open. The company could even play around with the idea of offering lower stock prices to boost shareholder interests even more. It was also mentioned that managers get bonuses, so one thing Starbucks could is restructure the bonus program for top managers, at least until profits are steady, and to only award them based on how well the store is performing. Such a plan would work in reverse order too, if a store is not functioning properly, the bonus should be lowered or unavailable all together. By basing bon uses on this strategy, it might encourage the manager to devote their attention on increasing sales by being involved on the floor more, and assimilating with customers versus just doing office work. SUMMARY CONCLUSION Starbucks is known across the world as being a well-built global brand of coffee. As with any company, their main and goal is to increase profits. They achieve this by training their partners to provide coffee lovers with a great experience. Over the years, the company has been recognized for valuing their employees and consumers so profoundly, that it helped to shape them into one of the largest coffee entrepreneurs in the world. They are continuously chosen for being a great place to work. Competitors seem to only fuel Starbucks expansion, strengthening their ability to stand out from all the rest. Employees receive innovative training to ensure they are working at their full potential, and to be passionate people who take pleasure in serving great tasting coffee. In order for Starbucks to remain successful, they must focus on a variety of strategies to maintain their competitive edge, and constantly reinvent products to stay on top of the coffee business. One of the secret to Star bucks success is the opening of new stores in neighborhoods, malls, grocery stores, making it convenient to partake of the Starbucks experience. Management also takes pride in work specialization, and strives to create an atmosphere filled with individuals who are masters at brewing the perfect cup of coffee. Extensive training is provided for all managers in an effort to pursue and achieve the ultimate goal of being the premier brand of coffee that is respected all around the globe. Starbucks is adaptable and knowledgeable when it comes to furthering their profits and market share, and they have a number of capabilities which separates them from other specialty coffee retailers. Howard Schultz, the chairman, president and chief executive of Starbucks, says that a great leader knows how to demonstrate vulnerability, because that will bring people closer to you and show people the human side of you. (Bryant, 2010)

How the Role of Women in Haudenosaunee Culture Inspired the Early Feminist Movement :: Essays Papers

How the Role of Women in Haudenosaunee Culture Inspired the Early Feminist Movement The United States has had a long relationship with the Haudenosaunee people. When Europeans invaded North America, beginning in the end of the 15th century, they found a land already inhabited by a large group of people, who they called Indians. Although their subsequent relationship was plagued by disease, wars and fights for domination, there was, inevitably, some exchange of goods, like crops, and ideas between the two peoples. Most notably, even the â€Å"Founding Fathers† of the U.S. were influenced by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s ideas about democracy and government. One aspect of the relationship, however, is rarely mentioned: the impact that Haudenosaunee women had on early feminists in the U.S. The two groups of women interacted very closely during the 19th century, and prominent feminist voices in the U.S., like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Matilda Joslyn Gage, and Lucretia Mott, were heavily influenced by the native women’s many freedoms. The contrast between the two groups of women was tremendous. Haudenosaunee women held prominent, decision-making positions in their matriarchal political system. They had the power to choose their clan’s chief, and their authority as clan mothers was respected by Haudenosaunee law. Spiritually, these women were viewed as being connected to Mother Earth and were responsible for leading various religious ceremonies, alongside of men. Haudenosaunee women also shared agricultural work with men, dealing with the work load on a communal basis. Not only did they have control of their own property, but women also had authority over their own bodies, including the responsibility of childbearing. This authority was developed in the Haudenosaunee matriarchal system of family in which children were considered members of the mother’s clan and husbands were brought into the wife’s longhouse upon marriage. Women had final domestic control; violence against women and children wa s not tolerated because wives had the power to kick their husbands out, ordering them to â€Å"pick up [their] blanket and budge† (Wagner, p. 47). On the other hand, women in the U.S., the land of the free, experienced a severe limitation of rights in comparison. Unlike the Haudenosaunee, white women were considered completely subordinate to men, and had to rely completely on their husbands for economic support and political influence. Not only were these women not in positions of political power, but they could not vote, control their own property, make decisions about their own body, or claim their own children.

The Representation of Tone in The Turn of the Screw by Henery James Ess

The tone of a novel is defined as a way for the author to express his/her attitude toward such story elements as characters, setting, or situation. Tone is present in every novel any author’s writes, as it is this literary device that sets the mood of the story for the reader. Henry James uses tone very effectively in the novel, The Turn of the Screw. The story begins with a joyful and dreamy mood to frightening and furious in the middle and finishes with sorrow and mournful in the end. The shifts in tone are caused by the changes in attitude and actions by the governess. In the beginning of The Turn of The Screw, the tone is very joyful and dreamy. The story begins with Douglas and friends all telling each other scary stories. It is very peaceful and everyone is enjoying the stories being told. The tone is very joyful as represented by â€Å"Is n’t anybody going? It was almost the tone of hope. Everyone will stay!† (James, 6). This shows that everybody is having fun telling each other scary stories and are willing to stay and wait to here the story from Douglas. It was very hopeful as the stories being told were pleasant for the people around the campfire. The tone remains positive at the beginning of the governess’s story. The governess arrives at the house and sees this beautiful girl who is very polite and is too good for her own self. The governess is very happy that she was able to get the position for the job and to experience all of it that she believes that it is almost a dream. This is shown when she says such a place as would somehow, for diversion of the you idea, take all colour out of story-books and fairy-tales†(James, 16). This proves that the governess believes that everything such as Bly, the place in which they are s... ...clusion, the mood represents that the governess has truly given up on the children and is very sad that nothing else can be done to help them and get rid of the ghosts that are haunting them. In conclusion, the shifts in actions and attitudes of the governess cause the tone to shift throughout the novel. The tone begins with being joyful and dreamy to furious in the middle and mournful in the end. This all concludes, that the literary device tone is very effective in portraying the mood of the story through the characters actions to the reader. Tone is perhaps one of the most important literary devices author’s use to connect the mood of the story to a reader’s heart and really makes them feel for the characters and what they go through. Works Cited James, Henry. The turn of the screw and other short fiction. Bantam classic ed. Toronto: Bantam Books, 1983. Print.

Censorship in Literature and Music Essay -- Censoring Laws Essays

Censorship in Literature and Music What is censorship? An encyclopedia defines censorship as "the control of what people may say or hear, write or read, or see or do1." There are many reasons why people censor entertainment such as literature and music. Many governments or groups try to preserve their standards of morality by preventing people from learning about or following other standards2, commonly found in the two previously mentioned mediums. There are different ways to censor things. It can be on a local level, such as libraries refusing to carry a controversial book. It can also be on an entirely larger scale. In the 1770’s, French author Beaumarchais had two of his plays, The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro, banned by King Louis XVI.2 Back then, these plays were considered outrageous and sometimes blasphemous. To fully understand how our system of censorship works today, we have to look into history to see how censorship got started. Johann Gutenberg invented the moveable type printing press and published his first bible sometime around 1450. By 1500, an estimated 20 million books were circulating throughout Europe. The Church's monopoly over the written word was destroyed. Responding to this new technology of freedom, the Church developed a number of control mechanisms. The most obvious, and perhaps famous of these was the Index librorum prohibitum (Index of Prohibited Books). The Index listed hundreds of banned authors and books.3 Less famous than the Index but absolutely central to the rise of censorship, was Church and government use of exclusive printing privileges, which granted favored printers a monopoly right to publish books so long as they were approved by official censors4. In Italy, censorship was primarily a response to the spread of printed Protestant propaganda.5 On October 31, 1517, the Day of all Saints, Martin Luther posted his 95 statements, of theses, to the doors of a church. This was revolutionary, because nobody ever successfully questioned the Church’s authority. Soon after that, others began to follow his example. Eventually, the Church lost power over people’s daily lives. Their local and national government took its place as the authority leader. As the government’s grew, it eventually started monitoring what the public could be exposed to. This included music and books. Eventually, in the 20th c... ... Bibliography Webpage Hunter, Christopher D.. "Copyright and Culture" 03 Dec. 2002 "An Interview with Alex Domokos" Dowse 03 Dec. 2002 http://www.dowse.com/interview-alex-domokos.html Nuzum, Eric. "A Brief History of Banned Music in the United States" 03 Dec. 2002 http://ericnuzum.com/banned/ "Controversial Music: The Beat Goes On" 03 Dec. 2002 http://teenmusic.about.com/library/weekly/aa022301a.htm "The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000" American Library Association. 03 Dec. 2002 http://www.ala.org/bbooks/top100bannedbooks.html Blume, Judy. "Judy Blume Talks about Censorship" 09 Dec. 2002 http://www.judyblume.com/censors.html "Censorship in the Renaissance" 13 Dec. 2002 http://130.238.50.3/ilmh/Ren/bokt-censor.htm "Constitutional Amendments 1-10: The Bill of Rights " 02 Jan. 2003 http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/bill_of_rights/amendments_1-10.html Anne, Rapin. "Beaumarchais" 31 Jan. 2003 Books Marsh, Dave. 50 Ways to Fight Censorship & Important Facts to Know About the Censors. New York, NY: Thunder's Mouth Press, 1991. Encyclopedia "Censorship." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1989 ed.

Poems: Poetry and Film Karate Kid Essay

Good morning teachers and students, our understanding of Hamlet takes many turns and the most important of these is in act 3 scene II. As a pivotal scene in William Shakespeare’s play, audiences gain an understanding of the characters and their actions leading up to this point. Many of the themes in the play come to light in this scene as the plot gathers pace and it is for all these reasons I chose this scene. Our understanding of a text is greatly affected by the context in which scenes take place. Act 3 Scene 2 transpires after a series of turbulent events and the increasing surveillance of Hamlet’s life. In the preceding scene Hamlet considers suicide in the â€Å"To be or not to be,† soliloquy after learning that his father’s sudden death was in fact a murder by his uncle Claudius’s hand. He plans to prove the ghost’s word by watching his uncle’s reaction to a play that follows the events of Hamlet’s father’s death. Hamlet also confronts Ophelia and denounces her and women in misogynous diatribe overheard by the spying Polonius and Claudius. After hearing this Claudius decide to export Hamlet to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as â€Å"madness in great ones must not unwatched go†. The latter gives audiences insight to later events in the play. Context is the basis of our understanding of certain lines, soliloquies and actions and overall affects our understanding of the entire play. The ‘Play within a play’ scene is a pivotal scene in Hamlet and its significance resounds throughout the rest of the play. It is a scene dripping in dramatic irony because Hamlet triumphs over the king in full public view while Claudius deals in secret to obtain information. The scene comes as the action following Hamlet’s musings of death, and the relative inaction of the first two acts. Knowing he was correct about his father’s murder Hamlet is emboldened and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern then sets out to confront his mother fracturing numerous relationships. Furthermore, Claudius’s sudden exit from the play raises the question whether he was reacting to the guilt of murdering his brother or to the act of Lucianus, the murdering nephew of king Gonzago in the Mouse Trap, possibly foreshadowing his own death. Either could be the trigger of Claudius’s decision too have Hamlet killed in England. The significance of this particular scene is undeniable because of its importance is upheld throughout the rest of Hamlet and this is why it affects audiences understanding of the entire play. As a pivotal scene, many themes in Hamlet are present including action versus inaction, espionage, revenge and deceit. These mix into a tangible cocktail to which audiences are more likely to pay attention to and gain better understanding. The scene provides the first ‘action’ in the play after driving uncertainty of the first two acts, the audiences reaction epitomised in a player’s line â€Å" so after Pyrrus’ pause, a roused vengeance sets him to work†. Revenge is the motive behind Hamlets writing of the play. Espionage makes another appearance in Hamlet’s urging Horatio to ‘observe my uncle. If this occulted guilt do not unkennel itself in one speech, it is a damned ghost we have seen† Rosencrantz and Guildenstern deceitfulness comes to an end when Hamlet turns the tables on them using the metaphor of how he was played like a pipe then later abandoning and sending them to their deaths. The presence of themes allows audiences to make connections with dialogue and leads to heightened understanding of the play and this is why act 3 scene 2 is crucial to the understanding of the entire play. A plethora of literary devices is used throughout the scene causing the meanings of numerous lines to be left up to the audience’s interpretation. Use of dramatic irony, alliteration, metaphor, pun, repetition and others highlights lines that are of greater importance for example, Hamlet’s mocking â€Å"what, frightened with false fire! † to his uncles reaction to the murder as well as the extended metaphor of hamlet being a pipe played upon by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The dramatic irony of the scene is important, as it is Hamlet’s action that snowballs into the different outcomes. Hamlet’s rhyming flattery to Horatio is full of literary techniques like alliteration (need example), possibly highlighting his desperation to keep one faithful friend by his side or adoration or want of Horatio’s balanced character. Hamlets jovial punning makes light of all that said to him by authority figures, this being an attempt at showing possible rebelliousness or more likely showing his enthusiasm for the outcome of the play’s impact on the king. We do not know which part of the play Hamlet scripted so it can be assumed that some of his own feelings are showing through the repetition of love and fear whether this be about his love of Ophelia or incestuous thoughts about Gertrude. Understanding of act 3 scene 2 is crucial to our understanding of Hamlet. This is assisted through the uses of literary techniques, the presence of many themes to capture audience’s attention, the significance of these and the context in which the scene takes place. These combine to make this scene of upmost importance to our interpretation of the entire play and that is why it was chosen. 5min14secs Matt: I’ve re-worked your speech below using as much as possible, cutting out the repetition, and suggesting where examples from the play are needed to illustrate your point. We can add these in tomorrow as I want you to go through this process of selecting appropriate egs with me. Apologies for typos – something is rotten in the state of our computer (ref to the play, sorry! ) â€Å"The play is the thing in which I’ll catch the conscience of the king† [Good morning teachers and students, our understanding of Hamlet takes many turns and the most important of these is in act 3 scene II. As a pivotal scene in William Shakespeare’s play, audiences gain an understanding of the characters and their actions leading up to this point. Many of the themes in the play come to light in this scene as the plot gathers pace and it is for all these reasons I chose this scene. Too vague: needs a more dramatic opening eg rhetorical question, or fabulous quote or natty and relevant anecdote or recent current happening that you can relate to this scene to catch the audience attention. The intro needs also not to waste words that could refer to specific context, themes, dramatic techniques, particular character development and plot development. Adding language aspects into this intro may be overdoing it but the word play on the idea of the â€Å"play† and â€Å"play within the play† might work. ] e. g. Can you think of a more delicious irony or more dramatic way of catching out a murderous hypocrite like Claudius than putting on a play in full public view that shows two audiences – the court of Denmark and us – how he killed the rightful king? Especially since we know that Claudius has set up all those who are closest to Hamlet, except for the faithful Horatio, to spy on him in secret! I chose this play within the play scene – Act 3 Scene II – for a number of reasons: firstly, for the lovely dramatic irony I just mentioned; secondly, it is pivotal in terms of resolving Hamlet’s doubts and advancing the plot towards the final bloody end; thirdly, it is very satisfying drama, with lots of action following on from the lengthy musings and relative inaction of Hamlet’s famous. â€Å"To be or not to be† soliloquy; in addition it reflects a number of key themes and preoccupations of the play, including that of surveillance; and finally it is incredibly dramatic and beautifully written, with lots of the fantastic and funny word play, vivid images and other literary and dramatic techniques we all love about Shakespeare. This scene, as I said in the introduction, is pivotal in terms of the action of the entire play, and also in terms of Hamlet’s evolution, from inactive to hyperactive. In the preceding scene Hamlet considers suicide after learning from the Ghost that his father’s sudden death was in fact a murder by his uncle Claudius. The Ghost is a mysterious character about whom there are considerable doubts – does he represent the troubled state of Denmark following the death of a beloved and heroic king and/or does he represent H’s traumatised mind following the sort of tragedy that would unhinge most of us. [ref to a critic here? ]. Whatever we say about Hamlet and his tendency to overdo the thinking aspect of life, he does approach problems with a fair and scientific mind: he does resolve to kill his father’s murderer, but, fair enough, as death is reasonably permanent, even for Shakespeare’s religious audiences, he set up the play within the play as a kind of controlled test for his uncle, whom the Ghost purporting to be King Hamlet has said killed him: He tells Horatio to observe his uncle during the  play as well and â€Å"after we will both our judgments join in censure of his seeming†: this does indicate that Hamlet, despite his understandable hatred of Claudius, is a fair man, who is also aware of the seriousness of killing the man who is now King of Denmark. Elizabethan audiences would have recognised Hamlet’s hesitation about killing the King as reasonable, just as they would have seen his vengeance once his suspicions had been confirmed, as justified. This scene also follows Hamlet’s misogynist confrontation of Ophelia which is overheard by the spying Polonius and Claudius, who decides at this point to export Hamlet to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, since â€Å"madness in great ones must not unwatched go†. Since Ophelia had also been encouraged to spy on Hamlet, we now have his dastardly uncle, his school friends, and his fiance, not to mention his mother, keeping a close watch on Hamlet: no wonder he needed a theatrical outlet! However, seriously, we see here a recurring and important theme in the entire play, that of spying and surveillance. The Michael Almereyda directed film version of Hamlet with its constant CCTV cameras and Hamlet’s speaking into the cameras provide the perfect representation of the sense of inescapable surveillance that Hamlet feels he is under throughout the play. : FIND QUOTES re SPYING IN THIS SCENE. Another key theme of this play within the play scene. amd to the entire play, that relates to the spying is that of deceit, and of illusion masking the reality. The play Hamlet devises to catch the King out is called â€Å"The Moustrap†, and its aim is to depict the exact way in which Claudius killed his brother, that is, by pouring poison into his ear, not the commonest way to kill someone! If King Claudius reacts is a guilty manner, presumably this demonstrates his guilt. So Hamlet’s goal is to unmask his uncle in front of the entire court, including the wife he has won so wrongfully. Plays are a theatrical form of illusion, masquerading as reality, just as Claudius in killing the rightful king, marrying his widow and acting as a legitimate King, is masquerading. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are similarly masquerading as Hamlet’s friends, while in reality they are deceitfully reporting on his actions and words to his treacherous uncle. The play within the play traps Claudius just as Hamlet himself must have felt trapped within this world without honesty and fidelity. The theme of honesty and reliability, those qualities that Hamlet craves and finds in no-one but his friend Horatio, provides a key to a deeper understanding of Hamlet’s apparently cruel behaviour towards his mother and also Ophelia, and also to Polonius and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. â€Å"Give me that man/That is not passions’s slave .. and I will wear him/ in my †¦ heart of hearts†: Hamlet, having suffered the worst tragedy one can imagine, finds no person in his circle whom he can trust except for Horatio. [ repetition Our understanding of a text is greatly affected by the context in which scenes take place. Act 3 Scene 2 transpires after a series of turbulent events too vague – what events? References like this read like padding and markers know it! ] and the increasing surveillance of Hamlet’s life. The play within the play leads us to a focus on another potent theme of this scene and of the entire play: revenge! â€Å" So after Pyrrus’ pause, a roused vengeance sets him to work†. Revenge is the motive behind Hamlet’s writing of the play, and once his suspicions have been confirmed, Hamlet is ready to turn his vengeful thoughts into action. This scene is brilliant drama! There is beautiful dramatic irony in Hamlet’s selection of a play to trap the guilty king. And there is lots of discussion of theatrics, and how the players should speak their lines, which reveals Shakespeare’s own deep understanding of the craft of acting, the more realistic version being more like his own preferred style: â€Å"Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand †¦ the purpose of playing,.. is to hold the mirror up to nature†, that is to act as one would speak and act out such lines in reality. Critics say that Shakespeare is having a go here at the plays of Chrsitopher Marlowe and the players such as Edward Alleyn at the Rose Theatre, who was known for a rather exaggerated approach to acting. Whatever the origins of these descriptions of how NOT to act, they are very funny, and must have made an Elizabethan audience as well as myself, a 21 century lad, laugh! â€Å"O it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters: etc. [we need egs of each of these Use of dramatic irony, alliteration, metaphor, pun, repetition and others] Shakespeare’s literary teachniques also work brilliantly in this scend. As well as the dramatic irony, we have superb play on words combining wioth the extended highlights lines that are of greater importance for example, Hamlet’s mocking â€Å"what, frightened with false fire! † to his uncles reaction to the murder as well as the extended metaphor of hamlet being a pipe played upon by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The dramatic irony of the scene is important, as it is Hamlet’s action that snowballs into the different outcomes. Hamlet’s rhyming flattery to Horatio is full of literary techniques like alliteration (need example), possibly highlighting his desperation to keep one faithful friend by his side or adoration or want of Horatio’s balanced character. Hamlets jovial punning makes light of all that said to him by authority figures, this being an attempt at showing possible rebelliousness or more likely showing his enthusiasm for the outcome of the play’s impact on the king. We do not know which part of the play Hamlet scripted so it can be assumed that some of his own feelings are showing through the repetition of love and fear whether this be about his love of Ophelia or incestuous thoughts about Gertrude. Understanding of act 3 scene 2 is crucial to our understanding of Hamlet. This is assisted through the uses of literary techniques, the presence of many themes to capture audience’s attention, the significance of these and the context in which the scene takes place. These combine to make this scene of upmost importance to our interpretation of the entire play and that is why it was chosen. 5min14secs Character development – in this question

A Condition Previously Known As Mental Retardation Education Essay

IntroductionIntellectual disablement ( ID ) , a status antecedently known as mental deceleration, is defined as a disablement characterized by important restrictions both in rational operation and in adaptative behaviour as expressed in conceptual, societal, and practical adaptive accomplishments and that the footing for the disablement has been present prior to age 18 ( AAIDD, 2002 ) . This status affects about 1 % of population ( Bello, Goharpey, Crewther & A ; Crewther, 2008 ) , and has historically been defined as an intelligence quotient ( IQ ) mark of less than 70 ( Schalock & A ; Luckasson, 2004 ) . In recent decennaries, the definition of ID has been revised, which now includes both a step of rational operation and an indicant of persons ‘ adaptative behaviour in their environment. Intelligence refers to individual ‘s overall mental ability or his/her capacity to ground, program, work out jobs, comprehend complex thoughts, and learn ( AAIDD, 2010 ) . The appraisal of rational operation is typically achieved through disposal of intelligence quotient ( IQ ) trial. Most IQ trials are structured in the manner that a mark of 100 is considered mean, with a standard divergence of 15 ( Hourcade, 2002 ) . In agreement to American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ( AAIDD ) guideline, an rational degree that is considered to be within the scope of rational disablement if it is two or more standard divergences ( SDs ) below the mean ( AAIDD, 2002 ) . In other word, a degree of 70 IQ points or lower will be the cut-off point for ID when utilizing an IQ trial with a mean of 100 and a standard divergence ( SD ) of 15, which account for the lowest hiting 2 % of the normal population ( Flynn, 2000 ) . Adaptive behaviour refers to the aggregations of conceptual, societal, and practical accomplishments that people learn and perform in their mundane lives ( AAIDD, 2002 ) . Similar to the appraisal of rational operation, adaptative behaviour are assessed with instruments which requires detecting the person in state of affairss where these accomplishments are required, or questioning those who know the single well ( Hourcade, 2002 ) . In AAIDD web site, important restrictions in adaptative behaviour are operationally defined as public presentation that is at least two standard divergences below the mean of either ( a ) one of the undermentioned three types of adaptative behaviour: conceptual, societal, or practical, or ( B ) an overall mark on a standardised step of conceptual, societal, and practical accomplishments. In general, persons with ID possess some common features. Typically, persons with ID will larn and develop more easy than a typical individual because of their cognitive restrictions. More frequently, they present with specific it cognitive shortages such as damage in memory, attending, or comprehension of linguistic communication, which frequently result in their lupus erythematosus efficient larning abilities ( Hourcade, 2002 ; Van der Molen, Van Luit, Jongmans, & A ; Van der Molen, 2007 ) . To certain extend, their slower processing, restricted memory or attending can besides associate to their lack in ego control and ordinance, ensuing in feelings that they are more inactive or disengaged from activity ( Linn, Goodman, & A ; Lender, 2000 ) or and more distractible or unprompted than others ( Goodman & A ; Linn, 2003 ) . Therefore, persons with ID frequently require different signifiers and grade of support in the procedure of larning and development.Identification/Diagnosis of ID The standards used for designation and diagnosing of ID have evolved from a long manner. Schalock and Luckasson ( 2004 ) sum up four attacks that have been used to place individuals with ID historically. In the early twenty-four hours, ID was ab initio identifies non establishing on rigorous standards, but on persons ‘ inability to accommodate to their societal environments. The rise of medical theoretical account nevertheless has changed the attack of placing ID. In term, the base of designation was shifted to the individual ‘s symptoms complex and clinical syndromes, with the focal point on the functions of physical causes and heredity. Later, with the rise of psychometric trials, the standard for designation and diagnosing of ID was once more shifted to individual ‘s rational operation. In term, steps obtained from IQ trials are used as ways to specify and sort persons with ID and their badness of ID. The concluding displacement in the standard was to an attack they named as ‘dual-criterion ‘ , where both cognitive operation and adaptative behaviours were included as standards of specifying ID. The dual-criterion attack was foremost introduced by AAIDD ( was so named as AAMR American Association on Mental Retardation ) in 1956 and has been adopted by other diagnostic systems such as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health ( ICF ; World Health Organization ( WHO ) , 2001 ) , the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th ed. , text rpm ( DSM-IV-TR ; American Psychiatric Association, 2000 ) , and the other clinical guidelines used for prevailing definitions of rational disablements such as the International Classification of Diseases, and Related Health Problems 10th alteration ( ICD-10 ; WHO, 1992 ) ( Schalock & A ; Luckasson, 2004 ) . The current dual-criterion attack of the categorization system besides present a paradigm displacement in the research and instruction pattern, where rational disablement is no longer be viewed as person-centered shortage, i.e. , feature of the persons. Rather, rational disablement is contextually determined and with appropriate supports, life operation of persons with rational disablement may better ( Schalock & A ; Luckasson, 2004 ) . With that, the current AAIDD categorization system emphasizes the importance of contextual support and intercession to turn toing restrictions in the countries of rational and adaptative operation. The AAIDD categorization system is one of the most widely used diagnostic systems in the field of research and instruction designation ( Schalock & A ; Luckasson, 2004 ) . The working definition of ID proposed by AAIDD composes of three key constituents which are besides normally acknowledged by DSM IV-TR and ICF ; 1 ) an IQ mark of less than 70 ; 2 ) an important shortage in adaptative map and 3 ) the oncoming of disablement prior to 18 old ages of age. Within this system, the three required steps for a diagnosing of ID include an IQ trials, adaptative behaviour graduated tables, and documented age of oncoming.Designation of ID in clinical scenesThe term designation here refers to the procedure of appraisal and diagnosing which a formal diagnosing of ID can be arrived if standards are met. As mentioned above, internationally, clinical definitions of ID are normally based on established psychiatric diagnostic systems such as ICD-10, ICF and DSM-IV-TR. As noted by Salvador-Carulla and Bertelli ( 2008 ) , there is small variableness in the standards of the different psychiatric diagnostic systems. Besides turn toing on the age oncoming of the disablement, all these systems portion a common attack, Internet Explorer, the appraisal of the individual should be taken as a whole within the context of the individual ‘s rational capacities and adaptative operation in his environment. Nevertheless, minor differences are still present within some standard among the different diagnostic systems ( Salvador-Carulla & A ; Bertelli, 2008 ) . For case, the cut-off point of the IQ degree ( AAMR: 70-75 ; DSM-IV-TR: 70 ; ICD-10: 69 ) that classify persons as holding marginal rational disablement varies among the three major diagnostic systems. Furthermore, the definition of adaptative accomplishments differs among these systems ( Colmar, Maxwell & A ; Miller, 2006 ) .Designation of ID in educational scenesThe designation of pupils with rational disablement within educational puting evolves parallelly with the alterations in the clinical diagnostic systems of this disablement ( Smith, 1997 ) . Internationally, this revised definition of ID by AAIDD has influenced the development of new categorization system in educational scene. In term, the categorization of ID has moved from a simplistic IQ-based categorization system to a more holistic attack, where a three-step attack is normally accepted as the criterion of categorization ID and explicating support. Ee, Tan and Lim ( 2004 ) sum up the stairss as follow ; 1 ) a formal appraisal of IQ and adaptative map ; 2 ) an analysis of persons in the four dimensions of rational operation and adaptative accomplishments, psychosocial and emotional consideration, physical wellness and etiology, and environmental consideration ; 3 ) depict the profile and strengths of support needed based on the profile. Although the above mentioned system has been acknowledged as a new subject for designation of ID in instruction system, there are still fluctuations in the accent and procedure of placing ID in educational scenes among states. Colmer, Maxwell and Miller ( 2006 ) remark that phenomena such as over-emphasis on IQ mark and concentrating on disablement are still prevailing in educational scenes where cognitive ability is frequently perceived as the base of person ‘s attainment. In Singapore, the guideline for designation of ID is mostly consistent with the diagnostic system of World Health Organization ( WHO ) ( NCSS, 2003 ) , where a formal appraisal of adaptative operation and IQ are necessary when finding the degree of restriction and support needed, with a prevailing inclination to adhere to the traditional categorization system, where the degree of disablement is associated with IQ tonss ( Ee, Tan & A ; Lim, 2004 ) .Educational Placement of pupils with IDThe arrangement of pup ils with ID can be classified into three chief scenes ; viz. mainstream school, particular schools and exterior of the instruction system, i.e. , drop-outs ( Snell, Luckasson, Borthwick-Duffy & A ; et Al, 2009 ) . Snell, Luckasson, Borthwick-Duffy and et Al, ( 2009 ) describe the national tendencies of arrangement for pupils with ID in the USA. Although inclusion pattern has been advocated in the last decennary of twentieth century in the USA, there are still about 50 % of pupils who are diagnosed with ID receive their instructions in separate scene such as particular schools. In add-on, a important proportion of pupils with ID leave school earlier. Cited in Snell, Luckasson, Borthwick-Duffy and et Al, ( 2009 ) , Polloway et Al. ( 2009 ) reported that in the USA, 28.6 % of pupils with rational disablements drop out form schools during the 2002-2003 school twelvemonth. Overall, the per centum of pupils with ID who are to the full included in mainstream schools is still comparatively low, accounted about 11 % in the USA ( Snell, Luckasson, Borthwick-Duffy & A ; et Al, 2009 ) . In Singapore, kids with ID are placed in both particular and mainstream schools, depending on their abilities and demands. Typically, Children with profound disablements and require extended support are enrolled in particular schools, and kids with milder disablements can be found in all degrees of educational systems ( Lim & A ; Nam, 2000 ) . The procedure of appraisal and designation of ID in educational scene is frequently motivated and guided by a primary end of enabling a sound educational arrangement. Traditionally, kids with rational disablements are normally enrolled in particular instruction schools ( MacMillan & A ; Forness, 1998 ) . With the rise of inclusion motion, the educational arrangement of kids with ID varies among states. In Singapore, kids with rational disablements, including those at mild degree are by and large enrolled in particular schools, in which most of them continue and complete their instructions within the particular instruction system ( Ee, Tan & A ; Lim, 2004 ) . Whilst in states such as the USA, where inclusion pattern has started for more than a decennary, more pupils with ID are analyzing in mainstream schools. Based on estimated prevalence rates, it is suspected a ample figure of kids with ID are enrolled in mainstream school ( Ee, Tan & A ; lim, 2004 )Screening of IDIt is recognized that planning and intercession for individualised support for persons with ID are indispensable in the current epoch. In order to program and measure the effectual and rightness of the support service, valid showing and preliminary designation are necessary to ease a formal referral and appraisal, therefore support and intercession. Nevertheless, in contrast to the considerable understanding among professional pedagogues and clinicians as to which guidelines and processs to follow in naming rational disablement, there is no consensus on the formal processs to test ID ( MacMillan & A ; Forness, 1998 ) . As cited in MacMillan and Forness ( 1998 ) , in the USA, most of the pupils with ID are foremost screened and referred by their instructors for formal designation of ID by mental wellness professionals. Similarl y, in Singapore, no formal processs are available when come into the showing of ID. The informal showings of pupils with possible rational disablements are normally done by school instructors. In fact, the procedure of referral for a formal appraisal and diagnosing frequently starts with instructor ‘s observation on pupils ‘ clear and consistent underachievement in their academic work ( Ee, Tan & A ; Lim, 2004 ) . In other word, due to missing of formal guidelines for testing procedure, instructors ‘ cognition and judgement on the pupils ‘ abilities play important functions in the referral and designation procedure. Teachers played a cardinal function in the designation of pupils with particular educational demands and in specifying the degree of support ( LOS ) they required for each pupil ( McKinnon & A ; Cordon, 1998 ) The grounds are described as follow ; foremost, since instructors normally refer pupils after they realize that pupils ‘ public presentations are significantly below the norm. The ‘norm ‘ , i.e. , mean public presentation of the pupil ‘s immediate equals becomes the benchmark for instructors to do determinations for referral. In term, a underachieving pupils will be more likely referred for formal appraisal if he is in a category or school with high-achieving equals, and otherwise less likely to be referred if all his schoolmates are low-achieving. Second, the instructors ‘ relevant cognition on ID and particular demands is besides important in the procedure of testing without a formal showing tool ( MacMillan & A ; Forness, 1998 ) . In such instance, who get referred varies from schoolroom to classroom as some instructors may hold higher tolerance working with academic-weak pupils, and others may hold small capableness in covering with those with troubl e to maintain up with school course of study. The ‘teachers factors ‘ in the procedure of testing for ID and particular demands are even evidenced in X school, where most of pupils are academic under-achievers, with co morbid behavioural and emotional troubles. A determination for referral is frequently less distinct when there are multiple jobs are naming for attending. Therefore, a standardised showing tool may supply a common metric for instructors to establish on when placing pupils necessitating formal appraisal and particular demands. In line with current diagnostic system, a testing tool with focal point on both cognitive ability and adaptative behaviours is necessary when come to a determination for support and arrangement.InclusionThe term inclusion here refers to a pattern that pupils with disablements are integrated into general instruction schoolrooms ( Quah, 2004 ) . In inclusive instruction, persons with disablements study full-time in general instruction schoolrooms. However, necessary supports may be given during their procedure of survey in general instruction schoolrooms ( Quah, 2004 ) . Since the late twentieth century, inclusive instruction has become an international tendency and docket ( Ainscow, Booth & A ; Dyson, 2006 ) . Policies and statute law have been passed in many parts of the universe to advance inclusion in instruction ( Booth, 1999 ; Bricker, 2000 ; Harris & A ; Stephenson, 2003 ; Ainscow, Booth & A ; Dyson, 2006 ) . In response to the displacement in statute law in particular instruction, ( grounds ofmore inclusion of ID in other states ) Inclusion of Down ‘s syndrome in mainstream school is widely accepted in England after more than 20 old ages of inclusion run ( Booth, 1996 ) . Snell, et Al ( 2009 ) more ID pupils are included in regular schools However, non in Singapore, As pointed out by Lim and Nam ( 2000 ) , in Singapore, a double instruction system providing to pupils with and without disablements is still runing. ( Due to miss of preparation for instructors ) Movement towards incorporating pupils with disablements, particularly those with moderate to terrible degree of disablements into regular schools remains slow. Teachers still refer their pupils with ID to particular schools Integrated instruction is an earlier version and refers to giving excess support to pupils with particular demands who are take parting in the mainstream course of study without major restructuring of content or bringing ( Booth, 1996 ) . . However, the tendency of inclusion has besides been accepted by society and school forces. Programs and services have been put frontward to ease the inclusion of pupils with physical disablements and autism ( Lim & A ; Nam, 2000 ) . ( Add more from LIM and NAM ) Although inclusive instruction is accepted as an international tendency for persons with disablements, surveies have revealed assorted consequences of benefits and jobs. Harmonizing to Wong ( 2002 ) , research surveies on inclusive instruction by and large suggest an betterment in societal accomplishments and community integrating after arrangement in mainstream school. Whilst, there are besides concerns that inclusion was damaging to run intoing the demands of some pupils if the adaptation of course of study is non tally with their cognitive abilities. In his survey on parents ‘ perceptual experience on inclusion pattern in Hong Kong, Wong ( 2002 ) studies that pupils with disablements face enormous trouble in run intoing academic demands in school, which impose obstructions for their effectual acquisition. ( ? Benefit related to Severity of ID or degree of support needed )Multi-cultural issues in showing and designationThere is ever concern that cultural minorities are falsel y identified as being rational disable. In order to turn to this concern, MacMillon et Al, ( 1996, as cited in MacMillon and Forness, ( 1998 ) ) investigate the presence of systemic differences among referred Caucasian, Hispanic and African American pupils in California. Their findings suggested that the Verbal and Performance IQ of Caucasic pupils are higher than African American pupils, taking to a plausible decision that schools are unwilling to mistake in mentioning minority pupils.History of instruction for kids with ID in SingaporeLack of preparation on particular instruction among instructors