Essay on How I Changed in High School - 785 Words

Everyone has heard or been told, â€Å"high school is what you make of it.† High school is in fact what you make of it, but it is also the time of great change in everybody. Entering grade nine you still feel like a kid, your post-secondary and career choices are far from top priority. However, by grade twelve we become more mature and grow into young adults. Personally looking back to my grade nine self and comparing her to my grade twelve self of today, I am able to see changes in my character, my athletics and my goals. There are many aspects within my personal character in which have changed since entering grade nine. One of these aspects is my time management skills. When I first started out in grade nine, I used to rush home and rush†¦show more content†¦Over four years, I have made, as well as, lost friends. We all need to grow and mature and sometimes others just do not want to follow that path with you and you end up growing apart. Further changes can be seen in my athletics. Although this may seem a mute point to mention, my sports are part of my life and today are part of my career choice. Therefore, my sports have obviously impacted me. In grade nine, I was curling seven days a week on multiple teams and different leagues. I joined the school team and ended the season winning Female MVP. In grade nine I was aiming towards going to Provincials for curling while in grade twelve I now aim towards placing higher than bronze in the 2010 Summer Games for archery. I do not have much time for school sports with my archery outside of school taking off and I rarely get time to go shoot some rocks. Archery is my main focus in sports right now. Along with my goals in sports changing, my goals in post-secondary matters as well as career choices have changed. Today I am looking at applying to either Canadore College or Brock University, where four years ago all I knew was that I wanted to attend college and move out. Now I realize staying home wou ld save me a lot of money. As well, I am more open to looking at both university and college courses, like Brock, as their program I wish to take is said to be excellent. In grade nine I was jobless and did not trulyShow MoreRelatedHow I Changed My High School Environment1209 Words   |  5 PagesI was not very excited to take the UNV 100 class when I had to register for classes last Fall semester, and I thought it is a waste of credits. However, since the first day of class and overtime I changed my mind completely. I changed my mind due to several reasons I will be discussing in this paper. The main reason is that I found the environment of this class very similar to my high school environment, which was a STEM high school. In other words, I have always been challenged in this class toRead MoreGrowing Up Is A Hard Thing For Me1554 Words   |  7 Pageswrong, what I mean by that is not that it was hard for me to grow or develop literally, but that it was very hard to grow up mentally. When I was in high school an event happen to me that completely changed my life from being a typical average high school kid who didn’t care about school, to a hard working dedicated student. Life can change in an instant, and change everything in an instant too. it happened to me once, and I am truly happy that it did because now I now that everything I have is a blessingRead MoreMy First Year As A College Student846 Words   |  4 Pagesthemselves on how to live on their own efficiently. College also develops a student’s way of life that they will carry on throughout their adult life’s. I am currently a sophomore and in the two years that I have attended here I have lived with a roommate as well as by myself. Living in these two different environments has affected my territoriality in many different ways. For me personally, college has changed my view on personal space, living space, personal property, privacy, hygiene and how to talkRead MoreSocial Relationships in Childhood1360 Words   |  6 Pageswere your friendships like while growing? Did this change from elementary school to middle and then to high school? If so, how? I am in high school now (9th grade) and a lot has changed over the years. I had friends that I was forced to hang out with and some that just grew with me and now we are in same school or classes. 2. Tell about a time when your friends’ opinions were different than your parents’ and how you felt about it. There have been a lot of times where my friends made funRead MoreDesigning A Multimodal Composition About My Writing Essay1471 Words   |  6 Pageswriting process. Throughout the poster, I talked about how my writing has changed as well as how it has stayed the same since I began English 101. I also spoke on the struggles I went through with writing in high school. Through my poster, I was able to convey how a deeper understanding of the writing process in high school can help mediate these struggles and better prepare one for their intro Writing class in college. Many of my writing traits have changed since I have been in English 101. While beingRead MoreI Am Studying For New Degree856 Words   |  4 PagesTen years passed, now I m studying for new degree in U.S. While I m living in another city with my family, but I have never forgotten my high school. This summer, I went back to my country to visit my grandparent and travel. I promised with myself go back to visit my high school, that I could find on my childhood that my childhood associated with high school, where I considered my second home. In the afternoon, I rode on the bike around these streets, and my city changed a lots. The coffee shopRead MoreEducation Is Suffering From Narration Sickness1638 Words   |  7 Pages changed and this particular journal also helped emphasis this change. I’ve learned through my own personal experiences that some students don’t learn the same way. Many of the teachers that I have had, have always presented the information through powerpoint or just lecturing, kind of like college, but not all students learn the best through this way. One of Freire s quotes from the article is, â€Å"Education is suffering from narration sickness.† This is an important quote to me from this articleRead MoreThe Transition Through Middle School And High School890 Words   |  4 Pagesresponsibilities. I realized how things change so often happens as quickly and as unexpectedly as it does. The transition through middle school and high school has changed me thoroughly. I’ve learned that high school has made me smarter for who to trust and judge people more than I usually do. High school gave me more options, viewpoints, and ideas. I mature in almost every way , and learn more about myself for what I’m good at. There will be hard times but eventually get through them. It started when I was aRead MoreGraduation Speech : Senior Year767 Words   |  4 Pagesyear was amazing. I could go on and on with all kinds of new adventures, friends, and experiences I made, but let s just take you back to the start of things. It was a new year, a fresh start back to school. We were in our final year. At first I didn’t know how to feel, I just felt was happy to be back at school because that meant seeing all of my friends I hadn’t seen over the summer. The year started off good. I loved all my new classes, football season was coming up, and I met the most wonderfulRead MoreBecoming A Writer By Russell Baker Essay1024 Words   |  5 Pagespast that later changed his perception of writing. After reading his piece, I reviewed the response questions listed below the essay to further my understanding of the piece. Almost like looking through a list of prompts as Russell did. The idea of a change in perception had me reflecting on memories from my childhood. I thought of the times spent with my family together and it wasn’t long before I realized just how much my perception of a nuclear family and marriage had changed based on the revelation

The Double Life in the Importa - 1372 Words

The Double Life in The Importance of Being Earnest The Importance of Being Earnest appears to be a conventional 19th century farce. False identities, prohibited engagements, domineering mothers, lost children are typical of almost every farce. However, this is only on the surface in Wilde#8217;s play. His parody works at two levels- on the one hand he ridicules the manners of the high society and on the other he satirises the human condition in general. The characters in The Importance of Being Earnest assume false identities in order to achieve their goals but do not interfere with the others#8217; lives. The double life led by Algernon, Jack, and Cecily (through her diary) is simply another means by which they†¦show more content†¦Yet at the end of the play, Gwendolen#8217;s conviction that she will marry an Earnest and her faith in the name are justified- we understand that Jack#8217;s true name is Earnest. The effect which Oscar Wilde achieves is to satirise faith in ide als with the help of absurdity. The relationship between Algernon and Cecily undergoes an irony too. At the first meeting between them Algernon begs her not to think him wicked, and she replies: If you are not, then you have certainly been deceiving us all in a very inexcusable manner. I hope you have not be leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.(31) This speech upsets even Algernon. It epitomises the central irony of the play because Algernon in his ambition to escape the hypocrisy of convention becomes a hypocrite himself by pretending to be somebody he is not in fact. In Wilde#8217;s world truth itself is of little importance. When Jack is charged with being named John, he declares:I could deny it if I liked. I could deny anything if I liked.(49) And heShow MoreRelatedInternship Report on Unilever14872 Words   |  60 Pageshave concentrated my best effort to achieve the objectives of the report and hope that my endeavor will serve the purpose. The practical knowledge and experience gathered during my report preparation will immeasurably help in my future professional life. I would really be grateful you enlighten me with your thoughts and views regarding the report. Also, if you wish to enquire about an aspect of my report, I would gladly answer your queries. Thank you again for your support and patience. Yours SincerelyRead MoreMedicare Policy Analysis447966 Words   |  1792 Pagesoffering entity — 4 (1) shall provide for the dissemination of infor- 5 mation related to end-of-life planning to individuals 6 seeking enrollment in Exchange-participating health 7 benefits plans offered through the Exchange; 8 (2) shall present such individuals with— 9 (A) the option to establish advanced direc- 10 tives and physician’s orders for life sustaining 11 treatment according to the laws of the State in 12 which the individual resides;

Gambling, alcoholism, and racial discrimination free essay sample

Gambling, alcoholism, and racial discrimination in our urban community dates back to before the Great Depression. A major part of the United States of Americas history, gambling and alcohol abuse took on a major role during the Great Depression. When African-Americans moved north, they struggled with the need to make money because the formal economy was weak and unwelcoming for those looking to get their first real job. There was a major allure to the informal economic sector of gambling for migrants who were looking for success and a better life in the North then they had in the southern states. Even for those who were barely scraping through the Depression, â€Å"numbers gambling [was] part of a burgeoning urban economy that helped many African-American entrepreneurs survive the ravages of the Great Depression† (Wolcott, 1997, p. 49). However, promoting a promise of a better life in the northern cities, already established black community leaders in the north had other hopeful plans for the newly arrived migrants. Many city and church leaders tried to teach those migrating from the south how to find respectable jobs and work hard for their money. Nevertheless the appeal of being given â€Å"the opportunity to gamble small amounts of money for a relatively high rate of return† (Wolcott, 1997, p. 47) was a constant temptation for new arrivals. At the height of its popularity in Detroit, â€Å"bank[s] employed between three hundred and five hundred writers or runners who solicited bets on street comers, barbershops, pool rooms, and even door to door† (Wolcott, 1997, 53). It has been shown in previous studies of African American studies that â€Å"the family structure, criminal behavior, and welfare dependency of urban African Americans†(Wolcott, 1997, p. 48) are sought out to be the causes of urban disparity rather than looking at the economic bigger picture. Wolcott (1997) makes reference to how African-American community leaders hoped to change their role in the urban workforce: â€Å"The informal economy is often an imagined category, a legalistic distinction not always made in the reality of everyday life. This is perhaps most true during the inter-war period in urban America when Prohibition led to the spectacular rise of organized crime, and most Americans broke the law on a regular basis by taking an occasional drink (p. 49). Many African-American community leaders, however, saw the distinction as an important one as they sought to guide the behavior of new migrants in the 1910s and 1920s. Alcohol has long been a part of culture in the United States and abroad, as it has been used in medicine, socially, as illegal substance during the Prohibition and has been overly abused. â€Å"Drinking has been identified as an important component of the night-time economy, club cultures, youth cultures, pub life, postindustrial identities and lifestyles. † (Jayne, Holloway, Valentine, 2006, p. 452) Workers often came home from long days in factories, hitting the pub for a few drinks on their way. Some could not handle the pressures of urban living and when factories needed to increase production the â€Å"long-held practices such as the infamous ‘Saint Monday’, an unofficial holiday where no work was done for the first two days of the week due to excessive drinking, were hard to eradicate† (p. 453). There was a lot to be said for the rough changes throughout urban life that occurred between the Industrial period and through the Great Depression. There is a hypothesis by Valdez, Kaplan, Curtis (2007) that theorizes â€Å"that alcohol and drug use will be significantly related to aggressive crime, but that specific individual-level social characteristics and community level concentrated poverty variables will mediate this relationship† (p. 596). In Valdezs study of alcohol and drug use in urban communities he found that â€Å"a positive response on alcohol use increased the likelihood of being charged with an aggressive crime† (p. 600). They were able to show that in urban communities there is a strong correlation between those who abuse alcohol and aggressive crime. Between the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries there was much change going on in the United States. Major cities within the U. S. â€Å" [were] central to bourgeois attempts to corral working-class people into particular residential and industrial areas, and in particular to banish working-class consumption cultures from central urban spaces and places. † (p. 453). Urban cities were supposed to be a promised land. However they were crowded, creating poor living conditions, unsanitary, unstructured living spaces, and an empty promise for those who migrated north during the Great Migration. According to Wolcott, city leaders tried to encourage migrates to engage â€Å"in the formal economy as responsible workers and citizens, they argued, southern migrants could convince white city leaders and employers that the African-American community was worthy of expanded services and job opportunities. † (p. 51). Many people who started off in the â€Å"formal economy† often found that working for low wages was not as productive. For example: Millie â€Å"made the decision to leave domestic service to become a prostitute because she found it difficult to live on the low wages offered by her white employers. † (p. 51). For many southern migrants it was easier to get into the numbers bank- mostly as runner or clerks; â€Å"many African-American residents credited the numbers game with helping Detroit blacks survive the ravages of the Depression† (p. 55). We can see how many of the themes of black culture in the early nineteenth century have carried over to the modern era. It seems though that in todays economy and urban community, we are seeing African American adolescents picking up the habits of their surroundings. For example, â€Å"perceiving parent gambling and friend models for problem behavior were positively correlated with gambling problems. † (Wickwire, Whelan, Meyers, Murray, 2007, p. 179) They are more likely to start experimenting with drugs, alcohol, and gambling when they have some type of exposure to it. Along with the risk due to exposure, adolecentsadolescents who partake in one type of illegal activity are more prone to partake in others. According to a study by Wickwire (2007) â€Å"adolescents who gamble problematically appear at least twice as likely to use alcohol, or marijuana and other illicit substances as are their â€Å"no problem gambling† classmates† (p. 180). They, much like their ancestors, want an easy way to make money but are either not able to get a job or their parents cannot or will not provide them with an allowance. There are high risks for these adolescents they â€Å"risk financial difficulties, and as gambling is illegal for minors, they also risk legal trouble. † (p. 180). This information is only a foreshadow of what our future generation is bringing to the table for the urban community. Although many adolescents acknowledge their problem openly, they know little about how to get help or do not perceive it to be a problem because they are young. Those who are likely to have a gambling problem are exposed to it early, and it does not seem to matter if they are male or female. We can see a high correlation of this in Wickwires (2007) study: â€Å"Within a sample of urban, predominantly African- American youth, rates of problematic gambling were found to be high for both genders, and perceived environment variables accounted for significant variance in gambling problems and gambling frequency† (p. 186) Those who are grow up in the environment of obsessive gambling often see it as normal or that it does not affect them, their family, or the people around them. The â€Å"adolescents who reported that at least one parent gambles were more likely to self-identify as having gambling problems compared to adolescents who reported no parent gambling† (p. 188). Wickwire and his team â€Å"found notably high rates of regular, at-risk, and problem gambling, and these findings indicate that gambling behavior in this population demands further research attention† (p. 188). Casinos and the environment that they are formed in can have an important role in an urban community’s economy. It seems to show that when a casino first opens in an urban environment, it has a positive effect on the community and the people who live within it. It seems that â€Å"regardless of the casino’s theme, the swashbuckler economy of Las Vegas perennially played on codes of opportunity, adventure, hospitality and liberal morality associated with the frontier myth† (Jones, 2010, 106). Vegas is a success story for those who lived on the western frontier, however in Tunica, Mississippi (another casino town) there is a much different story- many of the black residents of the county are still in poverty. Derrick Crawford â€Å"points out that one kind of employer cannot possibly suit every potential employee and that for religious reasons alone many of Tunicas blacks would rather be unemployed than work in a casino† (Schwarz Schwarz, 1996, p. 74). Tunica is a city whos â€Å"promoters are pushing for the kind of development that will make the county what they call a destination. †(† (p. 74). If a region is creating change that is unwanted by its current residents it may still fail, especially if the statistics of the region do not improve or worsen. Tunica is far from becoming a mainstream tourist attraction, with the heart of all of the regions problems being race. â€Å"Race relations influence Tunicas response to its new wealth, and in this way the countys plans for its future are the inevitable flowering of its history† (p. 76). While white residents want to improve the economy of the southern county, â€Å"the black population, for its part, seems pretty well convinced that its fortunes in Tunica will never change† (p. 80). According to Schwarz the black population believes that: â€Å"historically such efforts have been designed to retain and increase the minority white population rather than to create employment for blacks. Many of Tunicas whites, it seems, see casino gambling as a means to transform Tunica into a white middle-class exurb of Memphis† (p. 80). For the black community, it seems they fear that their county will become more about industry and gambling and that their presence will diminish and their misfortunes will only continue. â€Å"Tunica can disassociate itself from the countys problems by equating them with the black population-much the way whites in Los Angeles, say, view their citys impoverished minorities as a foreign presence imposed on the place, depressing the economy and culture†(p. 82). The only way it economy can and will become closer to an urban environment is if race ceases to be a major issue in the county. In the modernized urban era there is no longer a major separation of blacks and white residents, there is no strict line through the city or in schools. Since the mid- nineteenth century the â€Å"percentage who would continue to feel comfortable if the neighbourhood became majority black rose from 28 to 35 percent†(Ihlanfeldt Scafidi, 2004, 326). There is a clear change between the generations as shown by the Gallup Poll Social Audit: â€Å"44 per cent of white respondents interviewed in 1958 said they would move if a black household moved next door, but only 1 per cent of the white respondents interviewed in 1997 said they would move† (p. 326). This is significant to urban life because it shows tolerance and decreased hostility towards other human beings. Rather than feeling objectified or on the defense, urban community can become more comfortable and productive without discrimination. While the census has improved for preferences of neighbors and thought on segregation in the community, there is still the looming presence of black people preferring to live in black neighborhoods and white people preferring to live in predominantly white neighborhoods. Ihlanfeldt suggests in his research that its not the people but rather that â€Å"black neighbourhoods are seen as having poor schools and high crime, resulting in lower property values† (p. 327). This fear of having low property values and the decline of urban communities stems from the past; when â€Å"there were too few middle income blacks to sustain property values. Obviously, this is much less likely to be true today, given the tremendous growth that has occurred in the black middle class† (p. 334). However it has been shown that interaction between blacks and whites may increase and educate one another on the similarities and interests that they each might share. This can create a better relationship and encourage interracial neighborhoods. Farley and Frey (1993) present evidence as to why different regions have â€Å"greater contact between blacks and whites. † They say that the reason interracial communities â€Å"may be expected in the South and West is because these regions have long been less segregated than the Midwest and Northeast.. † Ihlanfeldt (2004) determined through his study that â€Å"whites who have more neighbourhood and workplace contact with blacks reveal a greater willingness for living with blacks. †(p. 348) Therefore contact and population of blacks are a major factor that can influence whether or not a white person would consider living in predominant black neighborhoods. There is a need for this interaction and interracial mix to help improve the economy and the overall look of the community. It shows community effort to improve and break down barriers that have been longstanding in the south and in the little population of black people in the West. With the hope of a better life nearly a decade following the end of the Civil War, African Americans migrated north to urbanized cities in hope for a better life. However they would find cities that were ready to swallow them up in the dangers of the Great Depression, the Prohibition, and citizens who were not ready to move forward from racial segregation. Urban cities in America have long been known for the dangers of crime, alcohol and gambling. As time has gone on, we have seen the poor effects that they can have on a city. Gambling and casinos can be great for an economy that needs it, but if it falls into the wrong hands it can make the economy worse and threaten its citizens. The government, as of late, has begun to fund programs to help failing economies and help those who are struggling in it improve their lives. These programs can help community members find jobs, recover from their substance abuse and become part of the economy recovery.

Behavioral Disorders Case Study Analysis and Synthesis

Question: Describe about the Case Study of Behavioral Disorders? Answers: Introduction: The report throws light upon a case study that has been developed in context to educational abilities and related behavioral approaches. The case study revolves around a young boy named Steve Cruise, who has been suffering from some kind of educational and behavioral inabilities. The case scenario highlights on some important aspects like learning styles, family background, peers and friends, academic interests, and others issues. It also states the method of data collection about Steve and those were used in assessing, addressing, and solving his problems. Case Study: Analysis and Synthesis To develop the required case study, the student I have chosen here is one from second grade at an elementary institution. His name is Steve Cruise. Steve is usually a Hispanic student, having two other siblings, a younger sister and a newborn brother. Here, I have chosen Steve after thoroughly observing him during the class hours and also having a talk with his teachers of first and second grade (Fiske, n.d.). Amidst all other students in the second grade, Steve is the only child who sucks his thumb as well as faces problem in communicating with others. He often behaves in an argumentative manner and exhibits short-temperedness towards other students. When I spoke with his teacher who taught him during first grade, she spoke about the hard time she faced with Steve. On several mornings, Steve screamed as well as cried in class. He hardly could complete his class works or home-works (Floyd and Bodur, 2006). His parents were often called upon for conferencing but of no result of improv ed performances. The present second grade teacher of Steve is of the opinion that he does not cry or scream anymore now; rather he is least bothered about completing his work. Even if he completed his work, it was too sloppy (Bitler et al., 2014). Miss Jones, his second grade teacher, is of opinion that Steve has the potential to do much better as he understands the regular lessons while giving oral responses, but fails to deliver written work. I gathered all relevant information about Steve by going through his personal and academic folders. There was a paper for a Student Intervention Team (SIT). It is said to involve the counselor of school, teachers, and parents of those students who suffer due to various causes in school. The main aim of this team is to permit a counselor as well as a teacher to develop innovative approaches to support a child. This was conducted on Steve during February 2015. Miss Jones expressed during SIT that the key issue with Steve is that of his classroom behavior. To be specific, some of his behaviors are not to stay at own seat, no responsibility of completing task, and lack of organizational skills (Depukat, 2012). The second aspect of concern is his ability to interact with other students and that of his temper. Steve remains at a constant negative mood right from the early morning. According to Steves mother, she is utterly concerned with his behavior and pursuits. She adds that Steve hardl y brings his books and copies at home and this makes it difficult for his mother to go through all the work undertaken at school. For addressing the issue, it was a suggestion from the counselor to keep the length of the assignments quite short to keep Steve motivated in his work, and also getting Steve engaged in an agency who conducts such counseling with students every week to pursue anger management. The counselor would interact with Steve on a weekly basis (Gerdes, 2010). As per the report card of Steve, it was observed that he has been receiving poor grades in reading as well as language on a continuous basis. The grades in math are worst. He has been earning grades below average. For Steve, after-schooling tutoring was recommended by his teachers. Method to Collect Data: Questionnaires In order to gather information and data, Steve was interviewed and so were his parents and teachers of both first and second grade. I had prepared a questionnaire for Steve that would allow him to answer some basic questions about himself. These are: I finish as well as turn in my home-work; I try with my best effort when teachers give me work; I listen carefully to my teachers; I always keep by things like pencils, books, crayons ready during the class; As soon I finish my work I like to read it; My class work and home work are always neat; For each of the question, Steve had to put an emoticon of different faces The questionnaire prepared for Steves parents is: How often Steve interacts with his parents or siblings? What all reasons make Steve angry most of the time? What does he prefers doing when he stays at home? How often he speaks about his class mates at his school? When does he usually exhibit improper behavior? What makes Steve happy the most? The above questions when answered by Steves parents would provide me with ample information about the way Steve feels when he is at home. This could make my task easier to manage Steve. Two of the teachers of Steve who taught him in first and second grade were also interviewed in order to get more information about Steve and his behavior in school. The questions for the teachers are: How regular is Steve to school? How regular is Steve with his class work and home work? How frequent does he interacts with teachers? How frequent does Steve interact with his peers? How does he react when scolded? How is Steves normal attitude in classroom? When Steves teachers answer these questions, a lot of information can be collected about behavioral aspects of Steve. This would enable me to formulate strategies and identify the most effective ways to manage his conditions and sentiments. There are several emoticons to describe the answers to each question. The happy face is to mean the response always; neutral face means response for sometimes; sad face meant never; and the last question is a self-explanatory question which Steve needs to complete on his own (Mari , Pavlin and Ferjan, 2010). While administering the test upon Steve, I had to explain what each question meant as he cried often in the midst of the test. Often I had to pacify him not to get worried about it and it was meant for complete fun. After much consolation, he understood the purpose of the pre-test and stopped crying. It is clearly reflected that Steve is well aware of his deficiency areas like inactive listening, not putting his best, and sloppy work every time. He thinks that he sometimes turns in home work and gets his things ready for class (Roland, 2006). However, I do not think he is quite aware of his strengths but at the last question he writes about himself as to be good and effective listener. Diagnosis: Steve is believed on a consistent basis to be someone who possesses greater potential to succeed academically. The only issue with him is his behavioral problem specifically self-discipline. Also, it is observed that instead of writing at the pre-test, Steve is often busy sucking his thumb or trying to copy from others sheet. At a situation when he should have been attentive to his teacher, he was busy flicking sheet off his desk. Another thing is that he even faced difficulty at the playground. Other students complaint that Steve often called them by names that do not sound good. He was given two referrals by two teachers. Miss Jones mentioned about his behavior at the classroom and another teacher mentioned about his behavior at the playground(Rutherford, Quinn and Mathur, 2004). I am really concerned about his negative attitude that persists throughout the day. I am keen to know about his family background and how is condition at his home that leads to such an attitude. It is because family environment plays the key role in developing attitudes and behaviors of an individual. If his parents yell at him on a regular basis, then it may affect him negatively. Learning styles: The learning style of Steve may be regarded as faulty as he could hardly concentrate at classroom. He hardly listened to what his teachers or follows their instructions. So his learning style has never developed. Moreover, his parents had always ignored him due to various reasons. This even led to no development of learning styles. Family Background: When enquired about his family conditions, it has been observed that initially Steves parents were not much concerned or bothered about Steve. Since he is the second child and a middle one too, he was often being neglected as confessed by his parents. However, when Steves parents started realizing the fact that Steve was undergoing some kinds of behavioral issues within himself, and that his teachers complaint about him almost on a regular basis (Steinberg, 2011). His father hardly had any time to spare for Steve, and his mother has always been busy managing household and young kids. It was not really possible to keep an eye on every act of a child where the entire responsibility of all the family members was on her shoulder. Peers and friends: Steve had no friends in his school or at his neighbors. He could hardly be friend to anyone. He often ended up arguing and fighting with his peers and other associates. Although he had his own brother and sister at home, yet he was not even in good terms with them. My personal interventions surrounded three areas Social skills, academic performances, and home work. For a student of second grade, a set of five questions would be appropriate. Homework Initially, I contacted Steves mother to seek her permission and that Steve would be bringing her a slip of permission making her well aware of my personal interventions to get Steve encouraged to accomplish his tasks and turn in home work. I collected paperwork for a plan for home work as well as contract (Taylor and Henry, 2000). If Steve could be made aware that someone was checking upon his daily work and progress, he would be more interested in turning it in. On a particular day every week if Steve finishes all work then he would be allowed to select a gift for himself from the institutions treasure box. On a particular day in a week, I make it a point to discuss the plan for home work with Steve and the reason of completing those assignments. I read the entire assignment requirements along with Steve to ensure that he clearly understands each of it and what is expected of him. Together we planned about how to get all the work done. It was decided that Steve would return home eve ry day, take some snacks, and then dedicate some time to home work. Once those are completed, his mother would sign the papers and the next day Steve must come to me with all his doubts and difficulties. Academic Performances My personal objective about Steves academic performance is to support him feel capable and confident because referring to his family background I feel these are not received by him at home front. My personal approach is to determine Steves capabilities and also provide him thorough encouragement and affirmations regarding his abilities (Bakken, Obiakor and Rotatori, 2012). Since the intervention period was too less, we could meet only restricted number of times. I conducted an activity like Toilet Paper Brainstorm. Here, Steve unrolled some of it from a roll. He tore off individual sections of paper from the roll. Every time he did this, Steve told about his abilities. I helped him in realizing how these capabilities of Steve may help him accomplish every task of him and be successful. Besides, I showed Steve how a student behaves when he is eager to listen to a teacher. Even we role played the strategies. Social skills Steve needed support and help in dealing with his mood and behavior and how to get along with his peers and associates. I aimed at making Steve realize the times when he got angry and brainstorm manners to express his anger (Vanness, 2009). I conducted an activity called Bears Turtles where whenever he got angry he either behaved like a bear or a turtle. Evaluation: Steve made greatest improvements in his home work and deliverances. Previously he used to miss often major assignments in the class but now it has reduced to a great level. It has been reported from his teachers recently that Steve has been completing his work more often than he actually used to. The procedure of selecting gift whenever Steve finished his home work often led to his excitement. His academic performances also improved. Some of his abilities were discovered by joint effort and I also imparted him education about expected behaviors in the classroom. For instance, Steve realized that he is a good reader(Becker, 2014). I even advised him to show this talent of his to his teachers as well. As per Miss Jones, Steve is concentrating more on his work and completes 70% of his task regularly. However, Steve still needs to dedicate more efforts on working upon his anger and interaction with others. Every time he results in a fight, I make him remember and realize about the strate gies to follow before such instigations. On an overall basis, it can be said that I laid my greatest possible effort to achieve desired goals of Steve and to make his life a better thing for him. Steve could work upon his anger only with the help and support of his parents which is still lacking at the side of his family front (Widener, 2014). Conclusion: Thus, the case scenario is reflective about a key aspect of educational inability of Steve. There are multiple causes behind such abnormalities like family background, social environment, learning styles, etc. The case study has been represented and analyzed to identify various crucial aspects of such an inability. Steve needed support and help in dealing with his mood and behavior and how to get along with his peers and associates. I aimed at making Steve realize the times when he got angry and brainstorm manners to express his anger. References: Bakken, J., Obiakor, F. and Rotatori, A. (2012).Behavioral disorders. Bingley: Emerald. Becker, R. (2014). Reversal of gender differences in educational attainment: an historical analysis of the West German case.Educational Research, 56(2), pp.184-201. Bitler, M., Domina, T., Penner, E. and Hoynes, H. (2014). Distributional Analysis in Educational Evaluation: A Case Study from the New York City Voucher Program.Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, pp.00-00. Depukat, D. (2012).Nursing students' attitudes toward those who self-injure. Fiske, A. (n.d.).A case study of literacy development in a young child with dyslexia designed to answer the research question---How can a child with dyslexia develop literacy skills that allow her/him to succeed in school when many individuals with dyslexia do not succeed in school?. Floyd, D. and Bodur, Y. (2006). Using Case Study Analysis and Case Writing to Structure Clinical Experiences in a Teacher Education Program.The Educational Forum, 70(1), pp.48-60. Gerdes, L. (2010).Behavioral disorders. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Mari , M., Pavlin, J. and Ferjan, M. (2010). Educational Institution's Image: A Case Study.Organizacija, 43(2). Roland, J. (2006).An analysis of the legal contexts of Public Education Law. [Tampa, Fla]: University of South Florida. Rutherford, R., Quinn, M. and Mathur, S. (2004).Handbook of research in emotional and behavioral disorders. New York: Guilford Press. Steinberg, M. (2011). Educational Choice and Student Participation: The Case of the Supplemental Educational Services Provision in Chicago Public Schools.Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 33(2), pp.159-182. Taylor, S. and Henry, M. (2000). GLOBALIZATION AND EDUCATIONAL POLICYMAKING: A CASE STUDY.Educational Theory, 50(4), pp.487-503. Vanness, P. (2009).Life chances and life choices. Oxford, Ohio: Miami University. Widener, M. (2014).The impact of instructional rounds professional development on teacher self-efficacy. [Boiling Springs, North Carolina]: Gardner-Webb University.

A Heart Of Darkness Essay Research Paper free essay sample

A Heart Of Darkness Essay, Research Paper A Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad tells the narrative of a adult male # 8217 ; s journey through parts of Africa while facing his frights of insanity, failure, decease, and cultural taint. The adult male, Marlow, being the supporter had to get the better of interior frights, the adversary. It begins with Marlow and a group of work forces with well-respected professions in a ship on the Thames River. He begins to talk about an experience he had in Africa. The narrative starts with his aunt helping him in acquiring a occupation with the Administration Department of a navigation, geographic expedition company that gathers tusk. Marlow was to replace a captain who was killed on a trip. Upon come ining the company office, he feels everyone looking at him with commiseration and the physician who administered his physical asked him if his household had a history of insanity. We will write a custom essay sample on A Heart Of Darkness Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This puzzles Marlow, but he does non believe much of it. The following twenty-four hours he embarks on a one-month journey to the primary company station. Along the trip Marlow notices that the African shores are dark, bare and anything but welcoming. He besides comes to happen out that one of the company members had late committed self-destruction. In the thick of the gloomy atmosphere, Marlow meets a well-groomed, well-thought-of adult male, who introduces himself as the Chief Accountant of the company. They become friends, until Marlow observes his pique. After a sum of 10 yearss with the adult male, Marlow departs for his 200-mile journey to the centre of the Congo, where he will work for a adult male named Kurtz. During the trip to run into Kurtz, Marlow tried to happen himself. The company finds their true egos through contact with the barbarian indigens. He finds that the deeper they travel into the jungle they go the more u nsettled wilderness he sees. Kurtz becomes a really of import character in the narrative, because of his similarities to Marlow. Both Marlow and Kurtz entered the Congo with good purposes, an English instruction, and a adult female waiting at place. However, at first it was rumored on the ship that Kurtz was sick, and so it was rumored that he had been killed in a battle with some indigens in the Congo. Marlow besides overhears his director and his director # 8217 ; s uncle say that they would wish to see Kurtz and his helper hanged so that their station could be eliminated as ivory competition. When Marlow eventually gets to run into Kurtz, he sees that Kurtz is really sick, and that because he had been separated from his civilization so long he had become corrupted by his power and purdah. Kurtz entrusts Marlow with all of his old files and documents including a image of his sweetie. The jungle had changed Kurtz greatly, because he had one time been considered an honest adult male. Kurtz had discovered his ev il side and gone insane. Marlow observed that Kurtz had human caputs displayed on stations that # 8220 ; showed that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the satisfaction of his assorted lusts. # 8221 ; ( Pg. 221 ) Kurtz dies onboard the steamboat a few yearss subsequently, with Marlow holding attended him until the terminal. Marlow struggles with the struggle that he may go what Kurtz had become. He realizes that merely really near the clip of decease, does a individual grasp the large image of their life. With that, he returns to England, but the memory of his friend haunts him. He managed to track down the adult female from Kurtz # 8217 ; s image and she spoke about his fantastic personality and how she felt guilty for non being at that place in the terminal. Marlow lies and tells her that the last words Kurtz spoke were her name.

Red Supergiants are the Largest Stars in the Universe

Red Supergiants are the Largest Stars in the Universe Red supergiants are among the largest stars in the sky. They dont start out that way, but as different kinds of stars age, they undergo changes that make them big...and red. Its all part of star life and star death.   Defining Red Supergiants   When astronomers look at the largest stars  (by volume) in the universe, they see a great many red supergiants. However, these behemoths are not necessarily- and almost never are- the largest stars by mass. It turns out theyre a late stage of a stars existence and they dont always fade away quietly.   Creating a Red Supergiant How do red supergiants form? To understand what they are, its important to know how stars change over time. Stars go through specific steps throughout their lives. The changes they experience are called stellar evolution. It starts with star formation and youthful star-hood. After they are born in a cloud of gas and dust, and then ignite hydrogen fusion in their cores, stars usually live on something astronomers call the main sequence.  During this period, they are in hydrostatic equilibrium. That means the nuclear fusion  in their cores (where they fuse hydrogen to create helium) provides enough energy and pressure to keep the weight of their outer layers from collapsing inwards. When Massive Stars Become Red Supergiants A high-mass star (many times more massive than the Sun) goes through a similar, but a slightly different process. It changes more drastically than its sun-like siblings and becomes a red supergiant.  Because of its higher mass, when the core collapses after the hydrogen burning phase the rapidly increased temperature leads to the fusion of helium very quickly. The rate of helium fusion goes into overdrive, and that destabilizes the star. A huge amount of energy pushes the outer layers of the star outwards and it turns into a red supergiant. At this stage, the gravitational force of the star is once again balanced by the immense outward radiation pressure caused by the intense helium fusion taking place in the core. The star that transforms into a red supergiant does so at a cost. It loses a large percentage of its mass out to space. As a result, while red supergiants are counted as the largest stars in the universe, they are not the most massive because they lose mass as they age, even as they expand outward. Properties of Red Supergiants Red supergiants look red because of their low surface temperatures. They range from about 3,500 - 4,500 Kelvin. According to Wiens law, the color at which a star radiates most strongly is directly related to its surface temperature. So,  while their cores are extremely hot, the energy spreads out over the interior and surface of the star and the more surface area there is, the faster it can cool. A good example of a red supergiant is the star Betelgeuse, in the constellation Orion. Most stars of this type are between 200 and 800 times the radius of our Sun. The very largest stars in our galaxy, all red supergiants, are about 1,500 times the size of our home star.  Because of their immense size and mass, these stars require an incredible amount of energy to sustain them and prevent gravitational collapse. As a result, they burn through their nuclear fuel very quickly and most live only a few tens of millions of years (their age depends on their actual mass). Other Types of Supergiants While red supergiants are the largest types of stars, there are other types of supergiant stars. In fact, it is common for high mass stars, once their fusion process passes beyond hydrogen, that they oscillate back and forth between different forms of supergiants. Specifically becoming yellow supergiants on their way to becoming blue supergiants and back again. Hypergiants The most massive of supergiant stars are known as hypergiants. However, these stars have a very loose definition, they are usually just red (or sometimes blue) supergiant stars that are the highest order: the most massive and the largest. The Death of a Red Supergiant Star A very high-mass star will oscillate between different supergiant stages as it fuses heavier and heavier elements in its core. Eventually, it will exhaust all its nuclear fuel that runs the star. When that happens, gravity wins.  At that point, the core is primarily iron (which takes more energy to fuse than the star has) and the core can no longer sustain outward radiation pressure, and it begins to collapse. The subsequent cascade of events leads, eventually to a Type II supernova event. Left behind will be the core of the star, having been compressed due to the immense gravitational pressure into a neutron star; or in the cases of the most massive of stars, a black hole  is created. How Solar-type Stars Evolve People always want to know if the Sun will become a red supergiant. For stars about the size of the Sun (or smaller), the answer is no. They do go through a red giant phase, though, and it looks pretty familiar. When they begin to run out of  hydrogen fuel their cores begin to collapse. That raises the core temperature quite a bit, which means theres more energy generated to escape the core. That process pushes the outer part of the star outward, forming a  red giant. At that point, a star is said to have moved off the main sequence.   The star chugs along with the core getting hotter and hotter, and eventually, it begins to fuse helium into carbon and oxygen. During all this time, the star loses mass. It puffs off layers of its outer atmosphere into clouds that surround the star. Eventually, whats left of the star shrinks to become a slowly cooling white dwarf. The cloud of material around it is a called a planetary nebula, and it gradually dissipates. This is a far more gentle death than massive stars discussed above experience when they explode as supernovae.   Edited by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Case Study 1, Priority Plastics Inc Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

1, Priority Plastics Inc - Case Study Example As a result, there was disagreement between the employees and the managers. In the previous trading years, the Company produced higher than industry average turnover which resulted in been granted an enormous contract from automobile manufacturers to provide several molded components that are supposed to be used in the interior of new cars. This three years contract requires several employees to replace outgoing ones and fill vacancies in several departments. Apparently, the HR manager is expected to come up with job descriptions that are accompanied by qualification to avoid the reoccurrence of employees leave as a result of being compelled to work on projects that they are outside their assumed job description and produce effectively on the contract. Of importance to note is that the HR department has the responsibility of ensuring that every employee has a job description since it is a professional duty and it further ensures that work is done effectively. The following should be practiced: Since Priority Plastics, Inc is a small company, it will be expected that only the major positions will be considered for advertisement on the Monster.com. Nevertheless, it is worth noting since this is Product Company there might be a requirement for minor positions as such casual workers who might be require to work occasionally on the emerging tasks in the Company’s plants. In most cases, these minor positions do not require any advertisement (Priority Plastics Inc, 2014). In this profession, the individual is expected to be at the company’s plant /plants and not at the main office. As such every activity in the plantation should be under his /her

The Abel Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Abel Corporation - Essay Example Our strong brand name and state of the art development capabilities are committed to providing our customers with the greatest value in power tool performance that is available. Our customers have come depend on our power tools to be there when it counts. They have come to know Able Corporation as the leading innovator in the power tool business. Whether it's home repair or an industrial application, if there's a job to be done, you will find Able doing it. Management Strategy I. Corporate A. One Year 1. Concentrate marketing efforts on most profitable lines a. Expand cordless lines 2. Generate greater communication between departments 3. Seek investors for plant upgrades 4. Concentrate on innovation a. Primarily battery design and hybrid B. Five Year 1. Develop brand recognition 2. Expand retail distribution a. Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes 3. Seek new technology a. Batteries and Hybrid design 4. Complete the renovation and overhaul of manufacturing facilities C. Ten Year 1. Reach global markets 2. Become the recognized leader in power tool innovation 3. Reinvest in expansion II. Operational and Business A. One Year 1. Generate greater control over metrics 2. Set departmental goals 3. Research establishing Strategic Business Units B. Five Year 1. Have all departments working with the same data 2. Reduce costs by improving efficiency 3. Have scheduling systems in place for high volume production 4, Establish SBUs to meet expansion C. Ten Year 1. Integrate global operations 2. Develop employee expertise to approach new markets III. Functional A. One Year 1. Initiate market research a. Find out who is buying our products b. Target their needs 2. Develop a plant renovation/replacement plan 3. Upgrade IT system to facilitate consistent data between departments 4. Legal department strategy for protecting new designs 5. Human Resources develop a plan to stabilize the workforce B. Five Year 1. Target our market a. Enhance branding b. Improve distribution c. Research international potential 2. Concentrate on new product development a. Improved tool design and functionality b. Battery hybrid design 3. Arrange financing for expansion 4. Legal staff to gain international expertise C. Ten Year 1. International marketing campaign 2. Human Resources provides a diverse global workforce a. International sales force Bibliography Clarke, S. (2001). Information systems strategic management : An integrated approach. London UK: Routledge. Lasserre, P. (2002). Global strategic management. Gordonsville, VA: Palgrave Macmillan. Lawrie, G. (Ed.). (2004). Strategic performance management. Bradford, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Scalet, S. (2005, July). Five steps to an effective strategic plan. CSO . Retrieved February 4, 2007, from

The Influence of Words During Times of War Essay

The Influence of Words During Times of War - Essay Example The Power of Words in Wartime by Robin Lakoff (2005) is an article describing just how powerful words can be a weapon. The article centers around the history of words used in wartime, focusing on the descriptive words that are typically used to describe 'the enemy'; barbarians, infidels, Japs, Yankees, Frogs. The article suggests that these words help to bring one side closer together by grouping the enemy as something negative, something outside of themselves. It gives a sense of supremacy to one side, often focusing on physical or cultural differences between the enemy and the home side. Killing another person is murder, but killing a 'target' or a 'Hun' in the event of war is something different, and just shows how powerful words can be in changing the normal morals of an individual. Churchill's Powerful Words. As previously mentioned, Churchill and his powerful speeches have been considered one of the most important elements in the Allied win of the Second World War (Brekle, 1989 ). "Give us the tools and we will finish the job† (Churchill, 2003) are the famous words of Churchill to Franklin D. Roosevelt, allowing the nation to see the confidence of Churchill, bringing faith, courage and hope to the nation. It suggests that Churchill himself had a great amount of faith in the Allied forces, and it is sometimes this type of faith that is needed to give confidence to an army, confidence being something that is perhaps more important than technology in winning a war (Oliver, 1987).... Churchill's Powerful Words As previously mentioned, Churchill and his powerful speeches have been considered one of the most important elements in the Allied win of the Second World War (Brekle, 1989). "Give us the tools and we will finish the job† (Churchill, 2003) are the famous words of Churchill to Franklin D. Roosevelt, allowing the nation to see the confidence of Churchill, bringing faith, courage and hope to the nation. It suggests that Churchill himself had a great amount of faith in the Allied forces, and it is sometimes this type of faith that is needed to give confidence to an army, confidence being something that is perhaps more important than technology in winning a war (Oliver, 1987). Churcill is also famous for saying "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning† (Churchill, 2003). This again was a powerful quote at the time, stirring the forces and the nation into believing that there is so me hope that the tragedies of war would begin to end. In this quote, Churchill acknowledges the past, present and future struggles of the war, but does so in such a confident manner. There are numerous more quotes that can be used to show Churchill's rhetoric and how instrumental it was in instilling hope, but these serve to give evidence of his skill and its power during wartime. The Rhetoric of Roosevelt Roosevelt was also known for his skill in rhetoric. Whilst Churchill seemed more focused on giving the forces confidence on the battlefield, Roosevelt is possibly more associated with letting the nation know that the cause they were fighting for was the right cause. This is an important tool in persuading soldiers to sign up to fight; no-one wants to fight for

Roland barthes and his semiotic theory

Roland barthes and his semiotic theory Abstract Roland Barthes (1915 – 1980) is one of the most recognised names in the field of Semiotics. His Semiotic Theory has been the inspiration behind many aspiring students and teachers alike. His rise to fame coincided with the release of his 1957 book Mythologies, which was a collection of essays he had authored. The public was so fascinated by his ideas that his opinion was often sort in the public arena. Signs range from speech, body language and symbols to paintings, music and Morse code. Barthes Semiotic Theory broke down the process of reading signs and focused on their interpretation by different cultures or societies. According to Barthes, signs had both a signifier, being the physical form of the sign as we perceive it through our senses and the signified, or meaning that is interpreted. Barthes also believed that every ideological sign is either a Denotative sign system or a Connotative sign system. A Denotative sign, which is a strictly descriptive system, is the result of the signifier image and the signified concept combining. A Connotative sign is one that has lost its historical meaning. This could be due to a number of things including: changes in culture or terminology, an event, or even just evolution. Semiotic Theory is an ‘Interpretive theory that can be applied to most aspects of everyday life although most people would not realise it. Introduction Purpose The purpose of this report is to gain insight into the world of Roland Barthes in terms of a brief timeline of his life. Also of particular focus will be to gain a basic outline and understanding of his Semiotic Theory. This will include the key issues involved in the theory, along with its application in everyday life and an evaluation of the theory. A few of my own views on this theory will also be included. Scope This report will focus on the basic concepts of Barthes Semiotic Theory. It will only look into the most basic concepts as going into great detail would involve a much more involved and lengthy research process given its complexity. An attempt to gain an understanding of the theory will be sort in order to assess it relevance in todays society. Limitations In the process of researching this topic it quickly became apparent that it would be difficult to gain a clear and concise understanding of it. The availability of ‘easy to read information sources seemed few and far between, with the majority of available material worded in a nature that was at times impossible to decipher. It was also found that many of Barthes work is not freely available, access to it was more than once accompanied with a monetary contribution of some sort. Research Methods A number of different research methods were used in the acquirement of information for this report, all with varying success. The primary source was the internet because of its easily accessible pool of information. Using this method it was possible to gain immediate information on most topics, although it did occasionally have its limitations. The use of books was also another primary information source. Finding books that were easy to read was difficult but a number of them were of great aid. Periodicals were also used to acquire information although the available articles were of little use due to the nature of the language and terminology used. Structure of the Report This report will first outline the life and times of Roland Barthes including his upbringing and education. It will then go on to outline his Semiotic Theory and describe some of its most basic concepts. This will flow on into how the theory can be applied to everyday life as well as an evaluation. Literature Review Book Reference One Hall, S. (2007). This Means This, This Means That. A Users Guide to Semiotics. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd. Summary Although this book uses fairly basic language to describe the concepts it is trying to portray, it does not ‘water down the text so much as to make you feel stupid. Given that semiotics can be quite a difficult subject to explain, this book does a decent job of explaining a number of different concepts with graphical examples. The graphical examples it supplies helps to give a greater understanding of the idea/s that is being put across, and gives readers the opportunity to first interpret what they are viewing from their own perspective, before reading the explanation describing the theory behind the graphic, or sign. This interaction gets the reader involved in a lot of creative thinking which is a great way to re-enforce the points and concepts being laid out by the text. Given its graphical nature, this book will also be extremely useful for presentation purposes. Accuracy and Validity The author of this book, Sean Hall, is the Leader in Contextual Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. Although not a ‘big name in semiotics, his previous studies, academic status, and proven track record in research goes a long way to proving the accuracy and validity of his work. The extensive bibliography provided in this book shows that he has sourced many areas for his research and consulted many different individuals. Semiotics is a subject that has no body of knowledge to fall back on. For this reason it is difficult to determine whether or not any information is accurate as everything about semiotics is subjective and open to scrutiny. Book Reference Two Cobley, P., Jansz, L. (2004). Introducing Semiotics. (2nd ed.). Singapore: Tien Wah Press Ltd. Summary I found this book to be rather difficult to follow due to the nature of the layout. It is set out in almost a comic style, or storyboard type approach, which can be a little difficult to follow at times. This is also not helped by the absence of a contents page, forcing the investigation of particular ‘ideas to be located through the index at the back of the book, or else recalling exactly where in the book that it was originally read. It is difficult to determine exactly what information will be useful from this book. Some information, such as that about particular theorists, will be somewhat helpful; however, many of the other concepts covered may not be of any use due to the difficulty of finding it again – and the comic book type nature. One topic, which is covered at the beginning of the book, is a pre-history of semiotics. This information is extremely helpful as information of this nature has been difficult to locate. As previously stated, this book opens up with a brief history and a little about the very first researchers in the area of semiotics. It then goes on to outline how some of the earlier historical figures contributed to the early understanding and significance of signs. This is followed by an attempt to give an understanding of the concepts involved with semiotics and also includes reference to some of the more recent researchers of this field, including Roland Barthes. Accuracy and Validity Dr Paul Cobley, the man responsible for the text in this book, is a Senior Lecturer in Communication at London Guildhall University. He has authored as number of books in the area of Semiotics as well as Communication Theory, and his record in these areas is exceptional. I have found that a lot of his work has been used as reference by many of the other information sources I have used. This shows that his work is highly regarded by many in the field, and that the accuracy and validity of his work is widely recognised. Library Database Reference One Petrilli,S.(2008). On Communication: Contributions to the Human Sciences and to Humanism from Semiotics Understood as Semioethics.The American Journal of Semiotics,24(4),193-236.Retrieved August 7, 2009 from Research Library. (Document ID:1608836621). Summary This article was extremely difficult to decipher and not very helpful. For this reason I find it particularly challenging to review it as it made little to no sense to me. This article was chosen more out of necessity than anything else as finding useful database articles proofed to be difficult. Accuracy and Validity Susan Petrilli teaches Semiotics and Philosophy of Language at the Department of Linguistic Practices and Text Analysis at Bari University, Italy. Her list of studies and publications is extensive, as is her work in the translation of research done by Charles Morris and Thomas A. Sebeok from English to Italian. There is little doubt that information sourced from Susan Petrilli is viable, it is just a shame that in this case it was of little use as it was not valid. Library Database Reference Two Petrilli,S.(2008). The Relation with Morris in Rossi-Landis and Sebeoks Approach to Signs1.The American Journal of Semiotics,24(4),89-121.Retrieved August 7, 2009 from Research Library. (Document ID:1608836581). Summary This article authored by Susan Petrilli and featured in The American Journal of Semiotics, outlines the work done by Ferruccio Rossi-Landi and Thomas Sebeok, which in turn was based on the work of Charles Morris. Charles Morris (1901 – 1979), is quite a controversial character in the world of Semiotics. Some credit him with the recognition of Semiotics as a science field, and others accuse him of copying the work of another theorist, Charles Peirce. Either way, the work he did or didnt do was influential in the works of other theorists. It gave new direction and recognition to semiotics and helped pave the way for future study and research. Both Ferruccio Rossi-Landi and Thomas Sebeok have helped to advance the science of semiotics but it is important to highlight that the work they have done was in most cases an extension of Morriss research. This article highlights that fact and expands on it in much greater detail. Whether or not this article will directly influence my studies is debatable, it does however, give a greater understanding about the evolution of semiotics and how it came to be recognised. Accuracy and Validity Susan Petrilli teaches Semiotics and Philosophy of Language at the Department of Linguistic Practices and Text Analysis at Bari University, Italy. Her list of studies and publications is extensive, as is her work in the translation of research done by Charles Morris and Thomas A. Sebeok from English to Italian. Web Article Reference One Barthes, R (1957). Mythologies: The World of Wrestling. Retrieved 1 September, 2009 from http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/irvinem/theory/Barthes-Mythologies-Wrestling-1957.pdf Summary Having access to an actual essay by Roland Barthes proved to be a great help in the research process. This essay picked apart a wrestling event by applying his theories to it. It was an excellent way to explain certain aspects of the theory. This ranged from the physical appearance of the competitors and their general mannerisms, to the cultural or public interpretation of what was unfolding before them. It explained the theatrical side of wrestling and how it is catered to the needs of its audience. Everybody at the event knows what is going on because of the different signs expresses by the ‘actors. Accuracy and Validity Given that this report is based on Roland Barthes theory, the accuracy and validity of the information needs little clarification. Everything in this report is based on his ideas and concepts so the accuracy needs not be questioned. Web Article Reference Two Wikipedia.(2009). Roland Barthes. Retrieved July 22, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Barthes Summary This article on Roland Barthes was a great starting point in the research process. Without being too technical it gave a nice brief outline about Roland Barthes including a little about his works and theory. Accuracy and Validity Not always an accurate source of information, I was initially reluctant to take any information from Wikipedia at face value. However, this did slowly change as my research went on and verification of the content was discovered. The great thing about Wikipedia is that it has its own references meaning that it paves the way for more in depth research. Findings Roland Barthes Roland Barthes is considered to be one of the biggest names in Semiotics and much of his work has been the primary inspiration and information source for many aspiring students, as well as teachers, in the field of Semiotics. Born in Cherbough, France, on the 12th of November 1915, Roland Barthes had what he called â€Å"Not an unhappy youth†. Less than a year after his birth his father was killed in a naval accident forcing his mother to move with him to Bayonne. Here he spent the early part of his childhood before moving again in 1924, this time to Paris. It was in Paris that he attended school at Lycà ©e Louis-le-Grand and Lycà ©e Montaigne, both being well renowned secondary schools in France. In 1934 he contracted Tuberculosis and spent a number of years in Sanatoriums. Although this often meant he was unable to undertake his doctorate studies, it did give him the time to pursue other interests, the most dominant being reading, â€Å"What else did you ha ve to do except read?† He also started to do a little writing and cofounded the magazine Thà ©Ãƒ ¢tre populaire. There was one positive to come out of his ill health – it kept him out of military service during World War II. Barthes went on to study at the Historic University of Paris, or Sorbonne, where he received a degree in Classical literature, as well as in grammar and philology. This was followed by various teaching positions including appointments in France, Romania and Egypt. He had made an intentional avoidance of major degree awarding universities throughout his career which lead to these ‘unusual posts. In 1957, Barthes had a book called Mythologies released. In this publication Barthes used the concepts of semiotics to analyse myths and signs in contemporary culture. The release of this book coincided with the rapid rise of fame for Barthes. The ideas and concepts within the book seemed to strike a chord with scholars and the general public. This pop ularity lead to material from the book being referred to in newspapers, films, shows, and exhibitions. Auto manufacturer Renault found his work so compelling that they temporarily hired him as an advertising consultant. During the early 1960s, Barthes spent much of his time exploring the fields of semiology and structuralism. This was accompanied by various faculty positions around France and a continuation in the production of his more full length studies. During his career, Roland Barthes published more essays than substantial studies. He often presented his views in a concise, subjective way that differed from the theoretical approach used by the majority of scholars. It was this approach that not only made him a standout in various fields but also a somewhat controversial character. Many other academics and theorists had a love hate relationship with him. Roland Barthes died on the 25th of March 1980 from injuries succumbed from being hit by a van a month earlier. Outline Of Roland Barthes Semiotic Theory Among other fields studied by Roland Barthes, his Semiotic Theory is one of the most famous and well renowned. Although he changed his mind about the way signs work more than once over his career, most practitioners follow the concepts of his original theory. Semiotics, or Semiology as it is often referred to, is concerned with anything that can stand for something else. It is the study of sign processes, meaning what signs signify and how, what signs are communicating, as well as how meaning is constructed and understood. In short it is the study of everything to do with signs. Although arguably not a recognised field until the work of Charles Morris, Semiotics can be applied to almost every aspect of life because it is an interpretation of everything around us. Signs are not only the visual aspect that we all immediately think of but also extends to include areas such as gestures or body language, music, clothes, poetry, paintings, Morse code, food, and graffiti. These are all cons idered to be signs that fall into the category of Semiotics because they can all mean something other than the obvious. For example, an apple can mean healthy and a crown can mean king. These meaning are however, very dependent on the context in which they are referred too. Spots on your chest need to be deciphered in a medical context and road signs will be judged in a transport context. According to Barthes theory, every ideological sign is either a Denotative sign system or a Connotative sign system. A Denotative sign, which is a strictly descriptive system, is the result of the signifier image and the signified concept combining. In other words the apple is the signifier and healthy is the signified. A Connotative sign is one that has lost its historical meaning. This could be due to a number of things including: changes in culture or terminology, an event, or even just evolution. It is important to note that Barthes description of a sign as the correlation between the signifier and the signified came directly from the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure. The best way to describe the difference between the signifier and signified may be to refer to Barthes essay ‘The World of Wrestling which was published in his 1957 book Mythologies. In this essay he describes the image portrayed by the wrestlers and the resulting portrayal by the fans resulting from the wrestlers image. As Barthes (1957) states: As soon as the adversaries are in the ring, the public is overwhelmed with the obviousness of the roles. As in the theatre, each physical type expresses to excess the part which has been assigned to the contestant. Thauvin, a fifty-year-old with an obese and sagging body The nausea voluntarily provoked by Thauvin shows therefore a very extended use of signs: not only is ugliness used here in order to signify baseness, but in addition ugliness is wholly gathered into a particularly repulsive quality of matter I know from the start that all of Thauvins actions, his treacheries, cruelties and acts of cowardice, will not fail to measure up to the first image of ignobility he gave me; I can trust him to carry out intelligently and to the last detail all the gestures of a kind of amorphous baseness, and thus fill to the brim the image of the most repugnant bastard there is: the bastard-octopus (p.2). This description of the wrestler Thauvin contains a number of signifiers. His physical image: â€Å"fifty-year-old with an obese and sagging body† accompanied by his general mannerisms, are all signifiers. The immediate impression gained by these signifiers lead us to the signified â€Å" all of Thauvins actions, his treacheries, cruelties and acts of cowardice, will not fail to measure up to the first image of ignobility he gave me†. The impression we gain of ugliness and evil by way of the signifier and signified form an image of a villain – which is the sign. This example of a Denotative Sign System is easily dissected because of its theatrical nature. The ability to clearly define the signifier and signified, and therefore the sign, is not always so easily achieved. Application of Theory Semiotic Theory can be applied to many aspects of everyday life and includes activities carried out by most people. Signs have become a part of everyday living and are everywhere. In many societies they are essential, for without them there would be chaos. A simple task such as driving from A to B could become a real nightmare without knowing where you are going, what the road rules are, or how fast your car is travelling. The application of signs in society gives us rules and order. But signs are not always so clearly displayed, read, or interpreted. A married couple can tell each others sad state of mind whereas anyone else may not realise that anything is wrong or out of place. A farmer can tell a sick animal from a healthy one, others will see absolutely no difference. A systems analyst will interpret the clients needs better than a programmer (in most cases). More often than not experience in reading or interpreting a sign is essential in gaining meaning to it and a better understanding of what it is trying to get across. If signs were always clearly interpreted, the number of system projects failing wouldnt be so great; a clear thorough understanding of what is needed would be more easily obtained. Evaluation of Theory Semiotic Theory seems to be based on a mainly Interpretive Approach but does include a small number of Scientific or Objective Approach qualities. The process of deciphering a sign involves many interpretive aspects. While a particular symbol may mean something in one culture, it may mean something different in another. It is how that culture interprets that symbol which determines its meaning. An example can be taken from ‘The World of Wrestling essay by Barthes, â€Å"As soon as the adversaries are in the ring, the public is overwhelmed with the obviousness of the roles.† (p.2). That particular culture (public) has a clear interpretation of what they think the wrestlers are portraying. This is clarified further on in the essay: â€Å"It has already been noted that in America wrestling represents a sort of mythological fight between Good and Evil (of a quasi-political nature, the bad wrestler always being supposed to be a Red [Communist]).† ( Barthes, 1957, p.3). This tells us clearly that it is the American publics interpretation of events which gives the desired meaning or effect. The same ‘show being played out in another culture will likely have very different results. This clearly shows an example of ‘Clarification of Values. Over the course of his career, Barthes reviewed his theory and even changed his mind about certain aspects. This ‘evolution as it has been referred to, shows that it was very much under scrutiny and social reform. Given that it in no way could be ‘scientifically tested, many other scholars or likewise had their own opinion on Semiotic Theory – some for and other against. Either way, it was all very much how it was interpreted. Conclusion Summary of Points Roland Barthes (1915 – 1980) is one of the most recognised names in the field of Semiotics. His Semiotic Theory has been the inspiration behind many aspiring students and teachers alike. His rise to fame coincided with the release of his 1957 book Mythologies, which was a collection of essays he had authored. The public was so fascinated by his ideas that his opinion was often sort in the public arena. Signs range from speech, body language and symbols to paintings, music and Morse code. Barthes Semiotic Theory broke down the process of reading signs and focused on their interpretation by different cultures or societies. According to Barthes, signs had both a signifier, being the physical form of the sign as we perceive it through our senses and the signified, or meaning that is interpreted. Barthes also believed that every ideological sign is either a Denotative sign system or a Connotative sign system. A Denotative sign, which is a strictly descriptive system, is the result of the signifier image and the signified concept combining. A Connotative sign is one that has lost its historical meaning. This could be due to a number of things including: changes in culture or terminology, an event, or even just evolution. Semiotic Theory is an ‘Interpretive theory that can be applied to most aspects of everyday life although most people would not realise it. A Critique of the Theory Roland Barthes often caused controversy because of his often non-scholarly point of view, and the subjective nature of his essays. Barthes 1963 study ‘Sur Racine was one such series of works that caused such controversy. Another ‘Racine scholar name Raymond Picard, took particular exception to this work and criticised Barthes approach in some of his work. In turn, Barthes responded by writing an essay which implied that criticism should become a ‘science. Generally such criticism of Barthes work was rare, and his approach often had fellow scholars intrigued. It is my opinion that this theory is an over-analysis of what should be a simple act of reading a sign. Constantly analysing every aspect of life would easily become very painstaking and I can imagine some ‘enjoyment of life would be lost due to this. The concept of the signifier and signified forming the sign seems relatively simple in theory and if left at that would be. The constant in-depth analysis of even the simplest of tasks seems to be rather pedantic and unnecessary – hence the reason I am not a Semiotic Theorist. Glossary Of Terms Amorphous – Having no definite form. Baseness – Despicable, Untrustworthy, Treacherous. Connotative – In Semiotics connotation arises when the denotative relationship between a signifier and its signified is inadequate to serve the needs of the community. Connotative Sign System – A mythic sign that has lost its historical referent; form without substance. Denotative In semiotics, denotation is the surface or literal meaning encoded to a signifier. Denotative Sign System A descriptive sign without ideological content. Ideology – Knowledge presented as common sense or natural, especially when its social construction is ignored or suppressed. Ignobility – Not noble in quality, character or purpose. Myth – The connotative meaning that signs carry wherever they go; myth makes what is cultural seem natural. Philology the study of literature and of disciplines relevant to literature or to language as used in literature. Sanatorium – an institution for treating chronic diseases, typically tuberculosis. Sign – The inseparable combination of the signifier and the signified. Signified – The meaning we associate with the sign. The idea or thing that that the Signifier represents. Signifier – The physical form of the sign as we perceive it through our senses; an image, object or word being referred too. References / Bibliography Amazon.com. (2009). Universe of the Mind: A Semiotic Theory of Culture. Retrieved July 22, 2009 from http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Mind-Semiotic-Theory-Culture/dp/025321405X Australia Donna. (2009). Susan Petrilli. Retrieved August 7, 2009 from http://www.australiadonna.on.net/english/prof/petrilli.htm Barthes, R (1957). Mythologies: The World of Wrestling. Retrieved 1 September, 2009 from http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/irvinem/theory/Barthes-Mythologies-Wrestling-1957.pdf Chandler, D. (2002). Semiotics: The Basics. Great Britain: Routledge. Chandler, D. (2005). Semiotics for Beginners. Retrieved July 22, 2009 from http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/sem01.html Cobley, P., Jansz, L. (2004). Introducing Semiotics. (2nd ed.). Singapore: Tien Wah Press Ltd. Goldsmiths, University of London. (2008). Hall, Sean. Retrieved August 10, 2009 from http://www.gold.ac.uk/design/staff/hall/ Griffin, E. (2009). A First Look at Communication Theory. (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Hall, S. (2007). This Means This, This Means That. A Users Guide to Semiotics. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd. Halton, E. (1992). Charles Morris A Brief Outline of His Philosophy with relations to semiotics, pragmatics, and linguistics. Retrieved August 7, 2009 from http://www.nd.edu/~ehalton/Morrisbio.htm Liukkonen, P. (2008). Roland Barthes (1915 – 1980). Retrieved September 1, 2009 from http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/rbarthes.htm London Metropolitan University. (2009). Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design. Staff Research: Media and Communication. Retrieved August 10, 2009 from http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/jcamd/research/staff-research/mc/paul-cobley.cfm No Author. (1992). Websters Dictionary. (1992 ed.) United States of America: Leisure Entertainment Service Co Inc. Petrilli,S.(2008). On Communication: Contributions to the Human Sciences and to Humanism from Semiotics Understood as Semioethics.The American Journal of Semiotics,24(4),193-236.Retrieved August 7, 2009 from Research Library. (Document ID:1608836621). Petrilli,S.(2008). The Relation with Morris in Rossi-Landis and Sebeoks Approach to Signs1.The American Journal of Semiotics,24(4),89-121.Retrieved August 7, 2009 from Research Library. (Document ID:1608836581). The Stewardship. (n.d.). Semiotic Theory. Retrieved July 22, 2009 from http://the-stewardship.org/research/semiotics.htm Wikipedia.(2009). Roland Barthes. Retrieved July 22, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Barthes Wikipedia.(2009). Semiotics. Retrieved July 22, 2009 from (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics Wikipedia.(2009). Semiotic Information Theory. Retrieved July 22, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotic_information_theory

The Mentally Ill in Jail Essay -- essays research papers

The Mentally Ill in Jail The articles inform that more mentally ill people are in jail than in hospitals. According to statistics 159,000 of mentally ill are presently incarcerated in jails and prisons, mostly of crimes committed because they were not being treated. Some of them become violent and may terrorize their families and neighborhoods. Tragically, most of those instances of incarceration are unnecessary. We know what to do, but for economic, legal and ideological reasons, we fail to do it. The deinstitutionalisation of the severely mentally ill in the 60ties qualifies a as one of the largest social experiments in American history. In 1995, there were 558,239 severely mentally ill patients in the nations public psychiatric hospitals. In 1995, the number has been reduced to...

Earth is my mother Essay

The author’s purpose in writing was to understand for herself and to be able to present Navajo sandpaintings as â€Å"dynamically sacred living entities whose meanings lie in the process of their creation and use† (page xix). Sandpaintings, created from different colored sands and sacred objects, are not art. They are representations of mythical beings and legends created for the purpose of reestablishing someone’s health and harmony. The study of sandpaintings and their various meanings permits the reader considerable insight into Navajo land-tied religious beliefs, world view, creation myths, society, history, and even concepts of time. The author, Trudy Griffin-Pierce, provides little autobiographical information in the book. She mentions her rootless Air Force upbringing and how her early readings were devoted to books about Native American culture, especially the Navajo. Although she is distantly related to the Catawba Indians of South Carolina, she always felt a kinship with the Navajo and lived for a time with a Navajo family, learning their traditions, history, and language. This bond drew her to Arizona after she completed her undergraduate degree in art at Florida State University. N. Scott Momaday, in his â€Å"Forward†, adds that Ms. Griffin-Pierce is a very creative artist, capable of understanding and discussing the artistic dimension of the Navajo world. She makes the inventive and imaginative Navajo system of belief without our understanding. Ms. Griffin-Pierce received her doctorate in anthropology from the University of Arizona in 1987, where she is currently Assistant Professor in the Anthropology Department and teaches three courses. The information on her website at the University of Arizona reveals that this was her first published book. She has written four newer books, The Encyclopedia of Native America (1995), Native Americans: Enduring Cultures and Traditions (1996), Native Peoples of the Southwest (2000), and Paridigms of Power: The Chiricahua Apache Prisoners of War and Naiche’s Hide Paintings (in press); and two articles, â€Å"When I am Lonely the Mountains Call Me: The Impact of Sacred Geography on Navajo Psychological Well Being†, and â€Å"Navajo Religion†. All of her writings center on the history of Indians in the United States’ Southwest. She is currently studying aging and dementia among Arizona’s Native Americans. In Earth is my Mother; Sky is my Father, Ms. Griffin-Pierce details Navajo religious beliefs, world views, historical myths, societal structure, and astronomical concepts before she discusses the use and structure of Navajo sandpaintings. Basic Navajo religious beliefs are still followed by many Navajos who chose not to assimilate the tenets of Christianity presented to them in the 1800’s. There is no word for â€Å"religion† in the Navajo language. Spirituality, health, harmony, and beauty are inseparable. The universe is an all-inclusive whole where everything has a unique place and beneficial relationship to all other living things. God is the â€Å"Unknown Power† worshipped through His Creation. The Navajo also have a close relationship with the Holy People, with whom they interact daily. (page 34) Navajo religious beliefs are closely tied to their intense longing for and their love of their homeland, which they consider the â€Å"point in space from which all conceptions of the cosmos proceed†. (page xv) The land and the earth is their foundation of all belief, wonder, and meaning in human existence, and the four sacred mountains are the center. There are no permanent religious centers. The Native American Church is a local peyote visionary religion.    The Navajo have a circular concept of time that permits their mythic, spiritual world to coexist with their physical world. The author suggests that the Navajo sacred sandpaintings cannot be understood unless we accept the Navajo’s â€Å"mythopoetic context of layered time, space, and meaning†. (page 7) Navajo spirituality affirms humanity’s place in nature as a whole. Their ceremonies restore the interconnectedness of all life. They believe sickness results from failure to maintain reciprocal responsibilities with the environment, infringement of ceremonial rules, and transgressions against one’s own mind and bodies. Her purpose in writing this book is to share a more humane, more connected view of the world and its contributions in reestablishing humanity’s alignment with the universe. (page 9) Navajos still worship gods and goddesses of specific purposes. Their deities include the Sun; Changing Woman, who brings the earthly seasons; and their children, Hero Twins, Monster Slayer, Born-for Water, First Man and First Woman, First Boy and First Girl, the trickster Coyote, and the Speechless Ones, who cannot utter words. (page 34) These are often depicted in the sandpaintings. Navajos have a concept of the â€Å"Holy Wind†, reminiscent of the Christian Holy Spirit, as a being that exists everywhere and is in all living beings. For them this means that all living beings are related and that humanity has a responsibility to care for other living beings. Curiously, in Navajo Creation stories, the Holy People spoke, sang, and prayed the world into existence with their sacred words. Since everyone has an inner form and is part of the Holy Wind, each has a Holy Person located within. Oneness with the universe creates a responsibility to treat one’s fellow creatures with the same respect one has towards oneself. (page 73). The Navajos were among the last American Indians to migrate from Asia to North America and were late in arriving in the Southwest. They settled in the geographical area bounded by the four Sacred Mountains in the Four Corners area of the Southwest. Their geographical isolation protected them from diseases brought by the Spaniards and provided them with access to stealing their horses, sheep, and goats. They learned weaving from the Pueblos. The Navajo societal structure was and is matriarchal, clan, and family based, and they dwell in isolated family groups structured by the nuclear family, the matrilocal extended family, close relatives, and other relatives. Many Navajo live in frame houses today, but some still choose well-constructed hogans. (page 21) Navajo ceremonial healings involving sandpaintings are conducted by highly trained practitioners called â€Å"chanters† who have learned to sing the elaborate Navajo rituals. The Navajo chanter can cure witchcraft, exorcise ghosts, and establish immunity to illness.   A chanter is a priest, not a shaman, and never enters the shaman’s characteristic trance state. Most chanters are men. Women become diagnosticians, or shamans who acquire knowledge in a trance state. (page 39) Navajo ceremonials are rites (rattle is not used) or chants (rattle accompanies singing. The major rites (Blessingway and Enemyway) use drypaintings with pigments made from plants, including corn, pollens, cornmeal, flower petals, and charcoal. The author explains that Enemyway is a form of exorcism against the ghosts of aliens, violence, and ugliness. The chanting ceremonies (Holyway, Evilway, or Lifeway) use sandpaintings of different colors of sand, ocher and charcoal. Other sacred objects, vegetation, and bowls of water are incorporated into both types of ceremonies. (pages 40-41) There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different sandpainting designs. A sandpainting is a place of entry where supernaturals enter and leave, attracted by their likenesses in the painting. The establishment of this pathway lets the evil or illness in the patient be replaced by the good, or healing power of the supernatural being. (page 43) The healing ceremonies last for several days. It takes four to six people three to five hours to complete a sandpainting six feed in diameter. The workers begin in the center and work outwards. (page 45. The Navajos’ basic concept is that the powers of the heavens and earth are drawn into the sandpainting for the purpose of healing. Time is compressed so that powerful mythic events of the past coexist with the present and restore harmony and well being to the person being healed. (page 58) The sandpainted image is intended to let the sick person project his or her mind through time and space, rising above present earthly limitations.   The Navajo layered worldview becomes meaningless during a ceremony as all layers of heavens and underground become one. The Navajos study the constellations and star arrangements primarily for determination of seasons, and they are not part of the ceremonial core of sandpaintings, even though depictions of mythical gods of creation in the form of constellations may be used. (page 103) One of the more interesting myths is how Younger Brother went to the sky country and met an inner circle of hostile beings whom he left to stay with the friendly Star People in the outer dwellings. These friendly Star People, whom the Navajo call â€Å"The People†, and the hostile beings are still incorporated into sandpaintings. The author concentrated on the â€Å"Mother Earth, Father Sky† sandpainting because it is the most familiar to outsiders and presents the most detailed depiction of the Navajo heavens of sandpaintings in use today. (page 175) She describes the intricate, careful, detailed process involved in making a sandpainting. Mother Earth and Father Sky must be identical in shape and size. The act of creating a sandpainting is healing because it focuses everyone’s thoughts on the principles of balance and order. (page 177) The painting becomes â€Å"alive† to serve its transcendent purpose when the chanter strews sacred pollen on it and blesses those attending. (page 183). The sacred and blessed sandpainting forces the patient to reconnect in time and space to past and present sacred forces and reminds the patient of her connectedness to humans present physically or spiritually. (page 194) This book accomplishes the author’s stated purposes and does discuss the themes in detail. However, the information is disorganized and scattered, making the book itself hard to read. The author’s purpose was to teach the reader how to understand and appreciate the making, content, and purpose of Navajo sandpainting, which she accomplishes. Some of the information presented about Navajo religious beliefs is curiously similar to Christianity, and the author does not sufficiently discuss whether or not these were original to the Navajo who migrated to the Americas or picked up and changed a bit from what Christian missionaries tried to teach them. The Navajo ties to the religious symbolism of their land is remarkably similar to early Hebrew thought, but no mention is made of that. The textual sources used by the author are all documented research papers or books that are fairly recent in date. One would wish earlier sources had been consulted on some issues, but their availability is not known. The author combines quite boring detailed information with her myths and more lively text, making the book itself a challenge to complete. BIBLIOGRAPHY Southwest Studies Program. Biography of Trudy Griffin-Pierce. University of Arizona. http://web. arizona. edu/~swst/faculty/tgpierce. htm. Griffin-Pierce, Trudy. Earth is my Mother; Sky is my Father. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1992.