Odyssey Essays (1148 words) - Greek Mythology, Odyssey, Odysseus

Odyssey The Odyssey, by Homer, is a classical piece of Greek literature. Throughout The Odyssey, Homer makes use of many literary techniques in order to give meaning to the poem beyond its significance as a work of historic fiction and help his readers in the comprehension of the story. One of these techniques is the use of motifs. In The Odyssey, perhaps the most important of Homer's motifs is the symbolic death and rebirth theme. This motif is used throughout The Odyssey to emphasize the growth and maturation of the characters. The first example of this motif occurs with Telemachus early in the book. Telemachus, in book I, is visited by the goddess Athena in disguise. In their conversation, Telemachus reveals the pain and suffering that he is experiencing as a result of living without knowing the status of his father, fearing that he is dead. ". .. and he left pain and lamentation to me. Nor is it for him alone that I grieve in my pain now (The Odyssey, Latimore, I. 242-3)." Symbolically, at this point in the text, Telemachus is dead. He is willing to take no action to save his home from the suitors or take any initiative to determine the status of his missing father. However, his symbolic death is not without a rebirth. Athena, disguised as Mentes, brings Telemachus back to life. She convinces him that he must take action to preserve the household and determine the fate of his father. This prompts Telemachus to take over his father's role in the household and journey forward to gather information about his missing father. His rebirth is further carried out in the story when he is reunited with his father; together, the two act to regain control of their household from the suitors. The next example of the death and rebirth motif occurs with our introduction to the story's main character and hero, Odysseus. Homer introduces Odysseus on the Kalypso's island. Odysseus's stay with Kalypso would cause his demise as that was the fate of mortals who lived with goddesses. On a more symbolic level, Odysseus was dead to the world as Kalypso forbids him from leaving the island and forces him to do her bidding. Odysseus was reborn, however, at the hands of Hermes, who was a messenger for Zeus. Hermes tells Kalypso that Odysseus is to be freed so Odysseus builds a raft and sets out for home. This symbolic rebirth is emphasized by Odysseus's emergence from the ocean on the island of the Phaiakians. He is washed ashore with nothing--his raft is destroyed and he is completely naked. This naked emergence can also be seen as symbolic of birth. Another reference to this rebirth is found at the end of book V. "As when a man buries a burning log in a black ash heap in a remote place in the country, where none live near as neighbors, and saves the seed of fire, having no other place to get a light from . . . (V. 488-91)." The phrase "seed of the fire" is used by Homer specifically to make reference to the rebirth of Odysseus; the term "seed" clearly brings to mind reproductive and birth images that would not be associated with a less metaphorical reference. Another instance in which Homer makes use of the death and rebirth motif occurs with Odysseus's adventure with the cyclops Polyphemus. Odysseus and his men are trapped in the cave of Polyphemus, which symbolizes their death. This death is further emphasized when Odysseus refers to himself as "Nobody". As Homer later recounts, those in the underworld are truly nobodies--they have no interaction with the living world and cannot even communicate. Odysseus is reborn through his own ingenuity and cleverness as he escaped Polyphemus's cave and announced to the cyclops his true identity, once again making himself born into the realm of mortals. The symbolic rebirth of Odysseus can be emphasized by the cave, which can be seen as a symbol of the womb, therefore making Odysseus' emergence from the cyclops's cave a true rebirth. The next example of the death and rebirth motif is a rather obvious one that has little symbolic inference: Odysseus' descent into the underworld in book XI. Homer uses many light and dark references to emphasize the death and rebirth theme in this book-- darkness symbolizing death and light symbolizing life and therefore rebirth. While in the underworld, Odysseus gains insights about his eventual return home. With this knowledge, Odysseus and his crew return to the world of

How to Write a Compare #038; Contrast Essay in Shakespeare Studies A Full Guide for Students

How to Write a Compare #038; Contrast Essay in Shakespeare Studies A Full Guide for Students At a glance, a compare and contrast essay seems to be a simple task – after all, you just have to analyze two entities and point out their similarities and differences. However, even this seemingly unassuming type of academic work has its peculiarities and specifics that may cause difficulties for inexperienced students. For example, you cannot just randomly take two things and start comparing them. The entities you analyze should have enough in common to be compared meaningfully – i.e., you cannot compare things that belong to completely different categories. Within the boundaries of Shakespeare studies, you can choose two of the poet’s plays from the same period, or compare his comedies and tragedies in general, or analyze two sonnets written at different periods of his life and compare in what ways their language, themes and imagery is different. In other words, when it comes to compare and contrast essays, the choice of subject matter defines to a large degree the future success of your writing. How to Choose a Suitable Topic for a Compare and Contrast Essay in Shakespeare Studies The main problem with writing on Shakespeare studies in general and writing compare and contrast essays in particular is that it is extremely hard to find anything remotely original to work with. Shakespeare’s works have been a subject of the most meticulous and organized research over the last few centuries. Although Shakespeare was a relatively prolific writer, the body of his work is still limited, and all possible comparative analyses have already been carried out multiple times. Of course, an essay does not require the same degree of originality as a thesis or a dissertation, but you still should avoid trite and commonplace topics like ‘Comparison between the characters of Juliet from Romeo and Juliet and Ophelia from Hamlet’. Here are some suggestions on how you can come up with topics that are a little more creative. 1. Go Beyond Shakespeare It is very easy to get locked in writing about Shakespeare and his works per se, but it does not have to be so. There are plenty of ways to run comparisons between Shakespeare-related subjects and other things. For example, you can compare Shakespeare (his literary works, role in the development of Elizabethan theatre, language, etc.) with other writers of the time. Or you can compare classic and contemporary productions of his plays, etc. The fact that the authorship of many Shakespeare’s plays is still contested makes this type of topic even more interesting. 2. Compare Shakespeare’s Works with the Sources of His Plots Shakespeare lived in the age when retelling existing stories has been a normal practice that did not raise any eyebrows. In fact, most if not all of his plays are dramatizations of the plots from well-known sources, such as Plutarch and Holinshed. For example, Romeo and Juliet originates from and closely follows Arthur Brooke’s poem Romeus and Juliet, which in turn is based on a sequence of very similar stories whose earliest iteration can be found in the Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Comparison of various versions of stories told by Shakespeare opens up a broad venue for potential research. 3. Compare Shakespeare’s Works with Later Interpretations Alternatively, you can turn to the ever-growing number of reinterpretations of Shakespeare’s plots created after his death. Unlike his predecessors, these works usually clearly refer to Shakespeare as their inspiration, but the alterations introduced in them are often quite dramatic. 4. Compare Unrelated Characters from Different Shakespeare’s Plays Characters originating from the same play are a natural choice for a compare and contrast essay, which is exactly why you should avoid such topics – you can be sure that the majority of your peers will choose something along these lines. It is much better to compare characters that are rarely mentioned together. Ideally, they should come from different plays and have few characteristics that would make them obviously relatable to each other (e.g., Shylock from The Merchant of Venice and Caliban from The Tempest). Be inventive, find ways to draw parallels between them, and you will be able to write an interesting paper. 5. Pay Attention to the Language Shakespeare was a master of reflecting the nature of his characters through the language they used. Focus on the way characters talk, pick several of them that are notably similar or different in both their identity and the way they express themselves, and analyze the connections between these two factors. As you can see, there are many more promising approaches to writing a compare and contrast essay on Shakespeare studies than to simply compare characters from his plays. Here are just some examples of what you can come up with if you think a little: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Brooke’s Romeus and Juliet: Parallels and Differences; King Henry V from the Eponymous Shakespeare’s Play: What Makes Him an Outstanding Leader and How He Compares with Famous Real-Life Leaders; A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Contrasting Views on Love among Humans and Fairies; Similarities and Differences between Caesar’s assassination from Julius Caesar and other famous political assassinations; Macbeth and Malcolm: What Makes These Men Different and Similar to Each Other? Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay on Shakespeare: Pre-Writing Tips Preparation is a huge part of work on a compare and contrast essay. Do it right, and the actual writing will boil down to putting on paper the arguments you have already formulated. 1. Define Similarities and Differences Do a bit of brainstorming and jot down all traits that make the subjects under analysis different and similar to each other. You can simply write down all these traits in two columns or, if you are more visually-oriented, draw a Venn diagram – these can be very useful for organizing your thoughts. Make the characteristics opposing each other in different lists similar so that their opposition makes sense (e.g., Iago is cowardly and treacherous while Othello is brave and naà ¯ve). 2. Define Your Main Argument A proper compare and contrast essay is much more than a simple enumeration of similarities and differences. It should use them as nothing more than building blocks for an overarching argument, showing the parallels and contrasts as parts of a bigger picture. Look through the lists you have made and ask yourself: Which points are significant and relevant? Are there any patterns? How are the points you have listed relevant for your course? Which similarities and differences run deep and which are superficial and can be dismissed? In general, what is more significant: the similarities or the differences? Differentiate between what is relevant and what is important. For example, if you analyze parallels between A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth, you can notice that the theme of nature plays a role in both of them. However, the same can be said about any number of other Shakespeare’s plays, so this fact, being relevant, is not important. 3. Formulate Your Thesis A thesis is an extremely important element of a compare and contrast essay because the rest of your paper is going to revolve around it. It will show the reader that you have a focused argument from the outset, preventing them from getting lost in different lines of argumentations. By pointing out your main idea from the very beginning, you indicate what the reader should pay attention to in your writing. A thesis statement should be: Short (no longer than a single complex sentence); To the point (it should express your point without extra preliminaries); Unambiguous (it should make clear what you want to say, without any vagueness). You can use this as an example: â€Å"Although Shylock is obviously the villain of The Merchant of Venice, when compared to Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta it becomes obvious that Shakespeare made his character much more human, sympathetic and realistic†. Compare and Contrast Essay on Shakespeare Studies: The Writing Phase Step 1. Choose the Type of Structure There are two common ways of structuring a compare and contrast essay: Point by Point With this approach, you pick a single important point of comparison at a time and compare the subjects you discuss in relation to it. For example, if you compare Julius Caesar and Henry V, you can focus on their personal courage, ability to inspire other people, speechcraft abilities etc., and discuss each of these characteristics separately. Either dedicate a single paragraph to cover both characters or, if you want a more in-depth approach, spend an entire paragraph to analyze a character from the perspective of a chosen characteristic. Pay attention to the placement of your points and remember that the point you mention the last will make the greatest impression on the reader. Thus, if you want the reader to draw a specific conclusion from your paper, make a point supporting it the last one. Subject by Subject With this approach, you take one subject and tell everything there is to tell about it, then move on to the next one and do the same. E.g., you describe the character of Julius Caesar in its entirety, then do the same for Henry V. Usually, this approach is better for shorter essays – sometimes you can fit your entire description of a subject into a single paragraph. If you need multiple paragraphs to do so, try keeping their structure parallel: e.g., use a paragraph apiece to describe Julius Caesar’s character, relations with other people and qualities as a ruler, than use three similar paragraphs for Henry V. The problem with this approach is that it is very easy to turn your essay into a mere list of points, while your instructors are likely to expect something more in-depth. Therefore, if you use this approach you need a very definite analytical thesis as a basis, plus at least a paragraph or two to bring all your conclusions together. Step 2. Write an Outline An outline is akin to a short plan of your essay: you jot down what you want to write in each paragraph, what quotations you intend to use, how you connect your arguments and so on. If you prepare a detailed enough outline, you will be able to use it as a frame and simply flesh it out, adding more arguments and making sure it all looks well together. 1. Add Supporting Evidence Your opinion is not enough to prove a point – you have to back up your statements with additional evidence: quotes from Shakespeare’s plays, other authors and scholars who studied Shakespeare before you, historical data, linguistic analysis of the poet’s works, etc. Don’t forget to point out why the information you introduce is relevant and important. 2. Use Cue Words This will make your essay easier to read and comprehend. You can make parallels and differences clearer with the help of words like these: Unlike, like, similarly, compared to, despite, contrasted with, however, likewise. Proofreading and Editing Your Compare and Contrast Essay on Shakespeare After you have finished writing, your still have work to do. How much time and effort you put into proofreading and editing can be just as important for the overall result as the writing per se. 1. Set Your Essay Aside If you organized yourself properly, you should have enough time to leave your essay alone for a couple of days. Do this and don’t look at it – this will help you forget it a little bit, and when you see it next time, your perception will be fresh. 2. Reread the Essay Multiple Times Many things can go wrong: spelling, punctuation, formatting, grammar, etc. Take your time to reread your essay multiple times, focusing on one aspect at a time. An essay is not a very large paper, so you can afford it even if the deadline is close. 3. Make a List of Your Common Mistakes Every person has drawbacks that are characteristic of him or her: a specific spelling error, two similar words that one constantly mixes up, etc. Make a list of the mistakes you know you should look out for, and keep it nearby every time you proofread a paper. 4. Use a Proofreading Tool There are plenty of online proofreading tools like Grammarly. They can be a lot of help, especially if your own grasp of grammar and syntax is a bit shaky. However, do not rely on them too much – they miss many mistakes and often flag correct structures as incorrect. As you can see, there is a lot more to writing compare and contrast essays on Shakespeare studies than meets the eye. We hope that with the help of this guide you will be able to write assignments of this type without any problems in future.

How to Use the Preposition To

How to Use the Preposition To To is one of the most common prepositions in English. The preposition to also a part of the infinitive form of the verb. For example, these are all infinitives: To doTo playTo sing Infinitives can be combined with other verbs such as hope, arrange, want, etc. I hope to see you next week.Tom arranged to have his sister picked up at the airport.Your sister wants to help you understand mathematics. The preposition to is also used as a preposition of movement or direction. To is sometimes confused with at or in. Both at and in show the place, but to shows movement to this place. For example: I live in Boston. Lets meet Tim at the town center for lunch. BUT I drove to Boston. We walked to the town center for lunch. Here is a summary of the uses of the preposition to. Important prepositional phrases with to are also used as discourse markers beginning sentences to link one sentence to the next. The Preposition To for Movement Use the preposition to when indicating that there is movement from one place to another. In other words, the preposition to with verbs such as drive, walk, go, hike, fly, sail, etc. Were flying to San Francisco on Thursday for a meeting.We thought we should walk to the bakery for breakfast because it is such a beautiful day.The captain sailed to the closest port. It should be noted that the preposition to is never used with the verb arrive even though it indicates movement. Use the preposition at with the verb arrive I arrived at work early in the morning.The children arrived at the park to meet their friends. To as Time Expression The preposition to can also be used to refer to time in the same sense as the time expressions till or until. Meridith worked to (OR until, till) five and then left.Were going to wait another three weeks to the end of the month. From/To Time Expressions When a starting time and a finishing time is mentioned, use the preposition from to express the beginning and to for the end. We usually work from eight in the morning to five oclock.She played the piano from ten to twelve. To in  Phrasal Verbs The preposition to is also used in many phrasal verbs. Here is a short list of some of the most common: look forward to somethingobject to somethingappeal to someoneboil down to somethingget to something I look forward to seeing you soon.Peter objected to the way he acted.That car really appeals to Susan.It boils down to this: You need to work hard.Just a moment, Ill get to that subject soon. To as Infinitive of Purpose   The preposition to is used as an infinitive of purpose to mean in order to. For example: I spent some money (in order) to get some help.Susan hasnt worked so hard (in order) to give up! Linking Phrases With To The preposition to is also used in a number of common phrases to link ideas, often at the beginning of a sentence. To a great extent To a great extent begins or ends sentences expressing that something is mostly true. To a great extent, the students work hard in this schoolI agree with Toms ideas to a great extent. To some extent To some extent is used to express that something is partially true. To some extent, I agree with the ideas introduced in this discussion.The parents are at fault to some extent. To begin/start with To begin/start with is used to introduce the first element in a discussion with many points. To begin with, lets discuss the problems weve been having in the classroom.To start with, Id like to thank you for coming tonight. To sum up To sum up introduces a final review of the key ideas in a discussion. To sum up, we need to invest more money in research and sales.To sum up, you think that its all my fault!. To tell the truth To tell the truth is used to express an honest opinion. To tell you the truth, I think Doug is not doing a very good job.To tell you the truth, Im tired of listening to politicians tell us lies.

Forum Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Forum - Article Example The stock markets became unstable leading to the crash. Consumers reacted by exercising austerity measures due to the uncertainties. The end result was the collapse of major financial institutions like Lehmann brothers and the need for bail outs by the government (Scott 85). The European debt crisis is the inability of governments within the Euro zone to finance their national debt without aid from the outside. This problem developed when investors got alarmed by the soaring debts of governments around the world coupled with the devaluation of government debts within European Union member states (Scott 26). Some of the countries that were severely affected are Greece, Ireland and Portugal, and most recently Italy and Spain are showing signs of joining them. The first measure to control this crisis was issuing of a rescue package in2010 to restore stability in the region. According to an article titled â€Å"The fiscal solution† that appeared in the Economist on 29thNov 2011 by Buttonwood, the long term solutions to this problem require the assumption of debts of states facing problems by the bloc. The federalism that is required to achieve this is faced with the challenge of individual states convincing their citizens to support economic federalism in a referendum. The other two solutions offered by the author are submitting national budgets to the European Court of Justice for approval to determine if they comply with federal laws. The final solution is by issuance of Euro bonds that will facilitate borrowing by national governments, but under

Assault weapons gun ban Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assault weapons gun ban - Essay Example The reason for which Jimmy Carter, along with George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, supported this law has to be analyzed. This law got passed in 1994 and expired in ten years. When the law was approaching expiration date various police organizations, including police chiefs and sheriffs, have demanded for its renewal. They called on the President of that time to renew and strengthen the law. But with a sparkle from the White House, protestors demand prevailed and the ban was terminated. Carter personally owned a lot of different types of gun which includes â€Å"two handguns, four shotguns and three rifles, two with scopes† (Carter, n.p.). He and his other friends cherished the ownership of the guns. He used these guns for the purpose of hunting in his family woods and field and occasionally he also took his family along with his friends for hunting. He and his friend used to cultivate innovate ideas to do various things on the gun. He even used to display many of them in the whit e house. According to Carter, in case of hunting if one maintains safety there should not be any problem. But neither Carter nor his friends wanted to posses such an assault gun. Since they believed that the assault guns were used to either kill policemen or any other civilian. He believed that White House should not have given up trying to reinforce the law, even if there were lots of political difficulties. A lot of emotions were also attached with the ban of the Assault Weapons. The N.R.A. leaders were highly influenced by the firearm industry and they started believing that the firearms were being snatched away from them and the house owners were deprived of ways to protect themselves. He argues that the fire industry and other governing authorities should reassess the safety and accountability and should enact the ban again. And if the politicians fear the disapproval of N.R.A during election then it was not at all a solid reason (Carter, n.p.). The view of Wheeler should also be assessed in order to have clear understanding of the law. Wheeler has pointed some predictions by studying the psychology of the criminals. He argues that assault guns were not used by the criminals because they were difficult to hide. The data of National Institute of Justice says that â€Å"Assault Weapons were used in fewer than eight percent of gun crimes even before the ban† (Wheeler, n.p.). Moreover the criminals were more inclined to use high quality hand gun. â€Å"Handgun Epidemic Lowering Plan (HELP Network)† (Wheeler, n.p.) says that the end of the ban over the assault gun would lead to a wave of increase crime. And that the root of all evils was the gun. But this belief had no basis. As the panic of the assault gun faded, the activists try to discover a new type of gun. â€Å"California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk lies a bill to ban .50 caliber rifles† (Wheeler, n.p.). That has resulted into the myth that the terrorists used .50-calib er rifles and assault rifles were used by the criminals. But the reports actually suggested that .50 caliber was used by the criminals also. Wheeler also argues that Assault Weapon was deliberately misrepresented by the anti gunners as machine guns. In the year 2003 CNN showed a video of machine gun and

The Drug Problem Essay Example for Free

The Drug Problem Essay Drugs have been a consistent problem of the society. For a long time, the drug problem has been regarded as a criminal problem. Treating it as a criminal problem has only resulted in criminalization and I believe that accepting the drug problem as a social problem could prove more beneficial to the society primarily because there is nothing wrong with merely using or possessing these drugs. The laws of man are based on ethical standards and there is nothing unethical with the possession and the use of the drug. Drugs have only gained its negative image because of negative propaganda. Also, legalizing drugs would come with a load of benefits. According to Benson Roe, professor emeritus and chair of the Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of California, illegal drugs have not been proven to have any long-term negative effects on the health of people. He narrated an incident when he was removing heart valves from some infected intravenous drug users and getting curious about the effects of the drugs on the users, he went to consult the San Francisco coroner only to discover that the only deaths caused by drugs is through infection contracted through unsafe intravenous injections and very rare cases of overdose (Roe). Roe indicated that no reliable and objective evidence points to drugs as more harmful than any of the substances that are not outlawed. It is often understood that society should keep its citizens away from drugs but the reason for this is unclear (Roe). If no evidence points to drugs being harmful, I strongly believe that there is no reason for drugs to be banned from the society. Also, drugs have never been proven to cause violent behavior. This aspect of the drugs may be blamed on the media since media entities often include the phrase â€Å"drug-related† to a crime even as no direct evidence points to the as the motivating factor for the crime. Merely the presence of drugs in a crime scenario is enough for irresponsible media practitioners to blame it (Jackson, 1998) since sensationalism sells. Often, the crime is motivated by another external factor. The media is unknowingly contributing to the negative drug propaganda (Jackson, 1998). Many politicians also play as advocates of the drug laws just for the sake of forwarding their political campaigns (Jackson, 1998). Anti-drug campaigns always make use of vague and emotive statements to get the support it needs from the public (Russel, 1999). One book entitled Hugs not Drugs: A Drug Abuse Prevention Manual published in the Philippines starts off with a story of how a bright and studious teenage girl got hooked with drugs. The girl later dropped out from school and had relationships with men that took advantage of her. Many anti-drug campaigners make use of such stories to say that drugs are bad. I however believe that these stories are not proof of drugs being bad. In the case of this girl, her actions might have been motivated by something else. She may have problems with her family or may have been sexually abused which is why she resorted to using drugs at a very young age. The book also indicates that crime experts have already established a link between drug use and juvenile and violent crimes. The source of the information was however not cited making it questionable. The book also does not have a clear reference page. This kind of practice is never accepted in the academic world and is evidence of a black propaganda. Drug laws have not been helpful to the society; rather, it is the best ally of the drug pushers (Jackson, 1998). Drugs prices would not be so high if drugs were legal. Legalizing drugs would come with price and quality regulations. The price of drugs would be cheaper when regulated and the already minimal cases of death caused by infected injections and rare cases of overdose would also more likely be eliminated if drugs are to be regulated since the purity of the drugs would be assured. Also, information on proper dosage levels would be made available to the public. Additionally, the government would get additional revenue from the taxed drug trade (Roe). One country has tried legalizing drugs to regulate it. This country is Holland. They treat drugs as a social problem rather than as a criminal problem. Great Britain which implements stricter drug laws have higher crime rates of robbery, burglary, shoplifting and theft from cars compared to Holland. Having drugs legalized in Holland has generally brought crime rate down (Rose, 2002). Drugs are not evil. There is nothing wrong with possessing or using drugs. It is also not a harmful substance unlike what many people and so-called intellectuals call it. Legalizing drugs would work wonders and Holland is a living proof of it. The already minimal number of deaths caused by drugs would be reduced even more. Crime will also decrease as drugs become more affordable. Clearly, there is nothing unethical about the use and possession of drugs. Even as some people under the influence of drugs show violent behaviour, it is not a direct result of the drug. Other factors affect the behavior of a person. Ethical concepts are not used as the basis of drug laws and a law which is not based on ethical principles is not a good law. References Roe, Benson MD. Why We Should Legalize Drugs. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from http://www. druglibrary.org/schaffer/Misc/roe1. htm Osorio, Susan. (1997). Hugs Not Drugs: A Drug Abuse Prevention Manual. Manila Mail Publication Philippines. Jackson, Ted. 3 December 1998. Why are drugs illegal. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from http://www. a1b2c3. com/drugs/law01. htm Rose, David. 24 February 2002. Two Countries Took the Drug Test. Who Passed?. The Guardian. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from http://www. guardian. co. uk/uk/2002/feb/24/drugsandalcohol. Davidrose Russel, Ken. 1999 July-August. Propaganda The War On Drugs. New Dawn Magazine. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from ttp://www. mapinc. org/drugnews/v99/n711/a10. html

The Atomic Bomb Human Beings and Nature Essay -- Essays Papers

The Atomic Bomb Human Beings and Nature With the surrender of Germany on May 1, 1945, the United States and its allies were well on their way to winning World War II and resuming peace in Europe. Japan was the only country still in their path. American forces soon began capturing islands off the coast of Japan including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Since the Japanese refused to surrender, the United States began planning a ground attack on Japan's mainland. Many casualties for both sides were predicted; therefore, the United States constructed an alternate plan to end the war. Enricho Fermi and Leo Szilard worked on creating an atomic bomb for the United States in the 1930s. This manipulation of nature changed the relationship between human beings and nature forever. Humans were now capable of ending the world if they so desired. Nature was quickly fading into the background of life. The creation and employment of the atomic bomb affected many aspects of human existence. On August 6, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced to the United States and to the world, sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima, Japan and destroyed its usefulness to the enemy.(1) After bombing Nagasaki on August 8, Japan surrendered to the United States, ending World War II. The debate about the morality of dropping the bomb is still an issue today. Although the employment of these bombs caused about 200,000 casualties and destroyed over 5.5 square acres of land, the atomic bomb was needed to terminate the war.(2) Despite the major loss of human lives in Japan, using the atomic bomb was the ethically correct decision for the United States. It ultimately saved many American lives through the swift endi... ... http://www.dannen.com/decision/scipanel.tml> (28 February 1999). 16. Rogers, 385. 17. Rogers, 385. 18. Rogers, 384. 19. Rogers, 440. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Source - John Connor, "The US Was Right," and Gar Alperovitz, "The US Was Wrong," in Current Issues and Endearing Questions, eds. Sylvan Barnett and Hugo Bedau (Boston: Bedford Books, 1993), 282-85. These two articles provide opposite opinions and arguments about the morality of dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima Japan. The authors argue the question "Hiroshima: Was the bombing immoral?" The articles discuss the physical damage in Japan not only to humans physically and mentally but also to nature. Both authors present reasonable and well supported evidence for either side of the issue.

Building Brand Community Essay

1.HOG has been phenomenally successful at attracting members and chapters. From nothing in 1983 it has grown to half a million members in 1,160 chapters. This is the core of Harley-Davidson’s market and it is easily reachable through Hog Tales magazine. This is particularly important for Harley given that its customers are so varied making it hard to reach them through traditional marketing methods. HOG overcomes the wide differences in its membership by focusing on their common passion, motorcycle riding. While members get to meet fellow enthusiasts, Harley gets to keep their attention on Harley. As it cannot compete with Japanese imports on price, and perhaps quality, Harley has to focus on its brand. HOG builds brand community and dispels the old image of Harley owners as Hell’s Angels gangs. In fact, Harley has been so successful in building its brand that BusinessWeek ranks it as the 44th most valuable in the world. Retaining Harley owners is clearly lucrative; Harley estimates that active HOG members spend an extra $850 a year with the company. This translated into over $140 million, money that can easily be spent elsewhere by less loyal customers. 2.Given that HOG serves to retain and reach customers by building a brand community, the Posse Rides serve to create a brand within the brand. Lisa Laundry describes Harley as â€Å"a mystique, a lifestyle as opposed to a brand.†Ã‚  This kind of awe is mixed with a cultist sense of community, a dollop of patriotism and Americana, and commitment to riding to create your average Harley rally pilgrim. The Posse Rides focus on the latter part of that physiological make-up, on the hard-core riders. It allows these people to differentiate themselves from the larger group of Harley owners. The first Posse Ride was a big success, giving participants bragging rights that they promptly exercised on return to their HOG chapters. This word of mouth raised expectations for the sequel which, like many sequels, it failed to live up to. Participants expected their T-shirts stop after stop, and they expected to mingle with management to share their views. The results of the pre and post-ride surveys (see Exhibit 1) show high satisfaction with their bikes and the ride itself, but much lower satisfaction with HOG and Harley as a company, particularly afterwards. This is dangerous as it undermines brands loyalty. Barbara Hammet is right when she says â€Å"Harley certainly has enough money that if they have to eat a shirt or two, it shouldn’t matter.† Given the importance of T-shirts as souvenirs, or markers, to participants there is no excuse for not having enough on hand. If management had been paying attention on the 1st Posse they should know this. One has to ask why the mangers ride together at all? They can meet at the office, or have their own intra-office Posse. They should be seen to be part of the larger group. 400 people over ten days is not many people to ‘meet and greet’ for say, four managers. Mike Keefe defends management by saying â€Å"What they don’t see is the research that occurs unobtrusively†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The end of his sentence is unimportant because if they do not see it, or more importantly feel it, it is worthless. The old axiom, ‘If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right’, applies here. Harley should spend more time and resources doing so. 3.That the Posse Rides are worth doing should not be doubted. They are part of the brand image; a two-mile long rolling billboard for Harley. Seeing old and young, male and female Posse Riders traveling together projects an open, inclusive image for Harley. The Posses are advertising for Harley and its dealers and Harley should exploit this more. It should encourage, even subsidize, dealers to build on the Posse Rides in ways such as the dealer in  Duluth did on the 1st Posse. Coordination with local TV and radio should be used to raise awareness and crowds. The dealer network should also be used by the Posse Rides to solve logistical problems such as the T-shirts fiasco. Given that Posse Rides have different routes, most dealers will be able to participate over time. 4. While the visual promotional effect of the Posse Rides should be exploited as much as possible, commercializing them should be avoided. Participants are Harley’s best customers and it should take the opportunity to reward them, not exploit them. These people are not stupid and will soon notice if Harley tries to squeeze out every last cent from them. The indirect benefits, such as building brand awareness and loyalty, are much more important than short-term sales. If participants want to shop at every dealer, great, but their direct costs should be kept as low as possible. Given their wide differences in income, raising prices will simply drive off working class participants that blow their annual wad on one rally. This would change the nature of the Posse from an open, inclusive group to a rich, closed one. Over time, as Posse Rides become a feature of Harley’s brand, it would depreciate the brand. Posse Rides will also have to maintain their exclusivity if they are to be continually successful. If everyone can get a Posse T-shirt because of merchandizing they will not be worth having to real Posse Riders. Keeping the number of participants small also adds to the feeling of exclusivity, as does not running the Posse Rides more than biannually. This should also help to maintain a feeling of spontaneity that is missing from regularly scheduled, annual events. Exhibit 1 1.I will definitely sign up for another long distance HOG rally 2. If I were to replace my motorcycle I would buy another Harley 3. I would recommend this ride to a friend 4. I feel a sense of kinship with other Harley owners 5. I have made lifelong friends because of my Harley 6. My Harley says a lot about the kind of person I am 7. I really understand what Harley is all about 8. No one but Harley-Davidson could put on an event like this 9. Harley-Davidson really understands what riding a bike is all about 10. I am satisfied with HOG 11. Harley-Davidson really cares about me as a customer 12. Harley really understands my needs 13. My Harley is an integral part of my daily life

Computer †Aided Instruction Essay

A self-learning technique, usually offline/online, involving interaction of the student with programmed instructional materials. Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is an interactive instructional technique whereby a computer is used to present the instructional material and monitor the learning that takes place. CAI uses a combination of text, graphics, sound and video in enhancing the learning process. The computer has many purposes in the classroom, and it can be utilized to help a student in all areas of the curriculum. CAI refers to the use of the computer as a tool to facilitate and improve instruction. CAI programs use tutorials, drill and practice, simulation, and problem solving approaches to present topics, and they test the student’s understanding. Typical CAI provides 1. text or multimedia content 2. multiple-choice questions 3. problems 4. immediate feedback 5. notes on incorrect responses 6. summarizes students’ performance 7. exercises for practice 8. Worksheets and tests. Types of Computer Assisted Instruction 1. Drill-and-practice Drill and practice provide opportunities or students to repeatedly practice the skills that have previously been presented and that further practice is necessary for mastery. 2. Tutorial Tutorial activity includes both the presentation of information and its extension into different forms of work, including drill and practice, games and simulation. 3. Games Game software often creates a contest to achieve the highest score and either beat others or beat the computer. 4. Simulation Simulation software can provide an approximation of reality that does not require the expense of real life or its risks. 5. Discovery Discovery approach provides a large database of information specific to a course or content area and challenges the learner to analyze, compare, infer and evaluate based on their explorations of the data. 6. Problem Solving This approach helps children develop specific problem solving skills and strategies. Advantages of CAI †¢ one-to-one interaction †¢ great motivator †¢ freedom to experiment with different options †¢ instantaneous response/immediate feedback to the answers elicited †¢ Self pacing – allow students to proceed at their own pace †¢ Helps teacher can devote more time to individual students †¢ Privacy helps the shy and slow learner to learns †¢ Individual attention †¢ learn more and more rapidly †¢ multimedia helps to understand difficult concepts through multi sensory approach †¢ self directed learning – students can decide when, where, and what to learn

Free Essays on Conflict Resolution In Work Teams

Throughout our lives we are all exposed to work in teams such as participating in team sports like basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. Each and every one of these athletic activities or sports requires the interaction of all members of the team in order to achieve a common goal, in this case victory. The interaction that results in the efforts of a group of people working together towards a common goal provides each member with the sense that they belong to the group and the results produced by their group must be considered as good or positive. Working in teams offers the business the same opportunities that the team sports bring to the members of the team as well as the team itself. This provides businesses to obtain more and better results from employees while maintaining a good level of job satisfaction from the employees. Based on the What is Teamwork? (Biech, E. 2002), working in teams presents the following 12 benefits: More input leads to better ideas and decisions, Higher quality output, Involvement of everyone in the process, Increased ownership and buy-in by members, Higher likelihood of implementation of new ideas, Widens the circle of communication, Shared information means increased learning, Increased understanding of other people’s perspectives, Increased opportunity to draw on individual strengths, Ability to compensate for individual weaknesses, and Provides a sense of security and Develops personal relationships. Each and every one of these benefits provides opportunities for greater effectiveness at work thus directly benefiting the business. In the other hand, there are 12 disadvantages that working in teams bring. These are: Requires more time, Can lead to many meetings, Often difficult to schedule mutual time, requires individual to give more of themselves, May take longer to make a decision, May be used as an excuse for a lack of individual performance, Personality conflicts are magnified, Disagreements ca... Free Essays on Conflict Resolution In Work Teams Free Essays on Conflict Resolution In Work Teams Throughout our lives we are all exposed to work in teams such as participating in team sports like basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. Each and every one of these athletic activities or sports requires the interaction of all members of the team in order to achieve a common goal, in this case victory. The interaction that results in the efforts of a group of people working together towards a common goal provides each member with the sense that they belong to the group and the results produced by their group must be considered as good or positive. Working in teams offers the business the same opportunities that the team sports bring to the members of the team as well as the team itself. This provides businesses to obtain more and better results from employees while maintaining a good level of job satisfaction from the employees. Based on the What is Teamwork? (Biech, E. 2002), working in teams presents the following 12 benefits: More input leads to better ideas and decisions, Higher quality output, Involvement of everyone in the process, Increased ownership and buy-in by members, Higher likelihood of implementation of new ideas, Widens the circle of communication, Shared information means increased learning, Increased understanding of other people’s perspectives, Increased opportunity to draw on individual strengths, Ability to compensate for individual weaknesses, and Provides a sense of security and Develops personal relationships. Each and every one of these benefits provides opportunities for greater effectiveness at work thus directly benefiting the business. In the other hand, there are 12 disadvantages that working in teams bring. These are: Requires more time, Can lead to many meetings, Often difficult to schedule mutual time, requires individual to give more of themselves, May take longer to make a decision, May be used as an excuse for a lack of individual performance, Personality conflicts are magnified, Disagreements ca...

Ccot Roman 100-600 Ad

Roman Empire experienced division and unity of the empire with the contribution of religion, and language. The government of the Roman Empire had more or less stayed the same through 100 CE and 600 CE. The system was called the Roman Republic where the male citizens of the Roman Empire elected their leaders. In this system, there were senates, consuls, tribunes, perfects, and an Assembly of all male who were free and were Roman citizenship. During the reign of Diocletian in the Roman Empire, the Roman Empire was greatly impacted by the action of Diocletian. When Diocletian entered his reign, he realized that the Roman Empire was becoming too big for one person to rule and decided that he will split the empire in half into the Eastern and Western Roman Empire in 284 AD, making it more manageable to rule. Although the Empire was divided, the two empires supported and help each other. However, in 376, 410, and 468 CE their northern adversaries had launched an attack on the Empire, which made the empires unable to support one another. As time passed, the division between the empires grew and led to more independence. Later on in 306 AD, a civil war called the Civil Wars of the Tetrarchy occurred between the Eastern and Western Roman Empire which lasted for 18 years. The leader of the Eastern half was Maxentius who was power-hungry had planned to kill leader of the western half, Constantine, by creating a rebellion. Because of Maxentius’ lust for wealth, it led to war. In the end of civil war, Constantine won and the empire was united again. However after Constantine’s death in 337, the empire was divided again by his sons. Christianity had a huge impact on the Roman Empire. In the beginning, Romans were polytheistic and believed that the gods were the reason for many things. However Christianity began to spread throughout the Roman Empire and many people began to convert. The emperor Diocletian in 303demanded that they will comply with the traditional Roman religious practices, if not they will be persecuted. Although most of the Christian in their community did deny their faith and worshipped the Roman gods, some Christians would not hesitate to announce their faith in front of a whole Assembly. Though many Christians were persecuted, Christianity rapidly grew because of the nfluence of many great Christians and the benefits of being one such as life after death in Heaven instead of the Underworld. In 313 AD, Constantine announced that Christianity is allowed in the empire in the Edict of Milan. The reason why he allowed Christianity was that before the Battle of Milvian Bridge he saw a cross of light in the sky with words that said, â€Å"By this, wi n! † He placed this sign on every shield and the end of the battle, he won. Not only Christianity was allowed in the empire, but made into the official religion of the Roman Empire by Theodosius in 380. Before the division of the Roman Empire, Latin was the main language of Rome for the Virgil emphasizes it as the source of Roman unity and tradition. Latin was used to write law and birth certificate. However when the empire was divided, the Eastern Roman Empire favored the language of the Greeks considering the fact that many Greeks immigrated to the Roman Empire. With the spread of Christianity, slow diffusion of the Greek language, and the divinity and unity of the empire during 100 AD through 600 AD, it had affected the Roman Empire greatly.

Explain the concept of majority rule with minority rights Essay

Explain the concept of majority rule with minority rights - Essay Example So majority rule is a means of organizing government and deciding public issues, it is not just another road to oppression. The main feature of democratic state is the absence of self-appointed group that has the right to oppress the others. That means that any majority, even in a democracy, should take away the basic rights and freedoms of a minority group or an individual. A democratic country is the country with the Constitution that commits the nation to secularism and equality for all its citizens without discrimination, and guarantees the rights of minorities. Minority rights, as applying to ethnic, religious, or linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples, are an integral part of international human rights law. Like children's rights, women's rights, and refugee rights, minority rights are "a legal framework designed to ensure that a specific group which is in a vulnerable, disadvantaged or marginalized position in society, is able to achieve equality and is protected from persecution"3. The point is that democracy is a system in which all citizens of the state have a guaranteed possibility to make free political decisions by majority rule. But it is very important to realize that a political decision made by the majority is not necessary lawful, as well as majority rule is not for sure democratic. Here we should refer to the Rule of Law, the concept of which has been laid down by Albert Venn Dicey. According to Dicey, there are three principles, which establish the rule of law: 1. The absolute supremacy or predominance of regular law as opposed to the influence of arbitrary power; 2. Equality before the law or the equal subjection of all classes to the ordinary law of the land administered by the ordinary courts; 3. The law of the constitution is a consequence of the rights of individuals as defined and enforced by the courts. So, it is necessary to provide the majority rule with individual human rights grantees, which will be able to protect the rights of minorities. The important issue here is that the minority rights by no means are dependable on majority will. They exist independently, and therefore they can not be eliminated by the majority vote. The ground basis of minority rights protection lays in the principle that democratic laws serve to protect the right of all the citizens of the country. The guarantees of such protection must be implemented in the supreme law of the state, i.e. Constitution. In order to demonstrate how these concepts are incorporated into the U.S. Constitution let us consider two examples, explaining each in reference to the intent of constitutional authors. The Bill of Rights in the US Constitution may be called the most important document serving to protect the rights of any minority of Americans. Since America is a heterogeneous society, almost all people hold at least one minority trait, opinion, belief, behavior, interest, or preference. At the micro-political level of interaction each person is a minority of one. According to Ayn Rand, the "smallest minority on earth is the