Music Term Paper Topics

Music Term Paper Topics Understudies are regularly stood up to with a task of composing a research project on music, or basically music research paper subject. It might appear, this is a somewhat simple task, however when you begin composing the music research project points have all the earmarks of being harder than you suspected. Music can be contrasted with craftsmanship, and when you compose a research paper subject on music †you need to communicate, your sentiments towards a melodic sythesis, and your contemplations on the feeling of the tune just as contrast the music track with the artist’s memoir, his vision on life and on the point itself. The Music expression paper subject you will compose must be isolated into 2 sections. The initial segment in the music research paper point is the exploration part. Here you must have the option to pick a proper music research project point, and do a little exploration on it. You should gather as much data as possible. The point you pick should me intriguing and additional standard. In the event that you are experiencing issues with picking a decent music research project subject †take a stab at approaching CustomWritings.com for help or contact your music educator or music research project theme guide. Attempt to delineate the melodic theme as point by point as could be expected under the circumstances, always remember even one easily overlooked detail. The more you have composed †the simpler it will be for you to compose the second piece of your music research paper subject. On the off chance that in the initial segment you were talking about different people groups conclusion and vision of the music test you have picked †in the second part you should plate your own thoughts, considerations and vision. You have to compose your own perceptions, and ensure that the second piece of the music research paper is as itemized as the initial segment, and even is all the more fascinating, nitty gritty, quick, and so on. Subsequent to picking your research project point †you have to set up your music research paper speculation. Your music research project subject theory ought to ve demonstrated, tended to and examined thereafter. You can likewise utilize references, citations and instances of your perspective on the music research paper. So as to do that, and not get in a tough situation for literary theft †always remember to record each and every source you have utilized and refer to and reference it appropriately toward the finish of your music research project subject. The examination part of your music research paper, ought to be written in a conventional language. You should be as explicit as could reasonably be expected, promotion be certain not to summarize somebody elses thoughts and put it out as your own. Evey articulation that you have thought of ought to be demonstrated with splendid models and proof by and large. Abstain from utilizing detached voice, as you won't have the option to be explicit with inactive voice. Your examination part of the music research project theme is a logical work, where straightforwardness is a vital aspect for everything. SO make certain to utilize straightforward words and sentences just as current state ideally. Then again †the subsequent part is without open to your own inventiveness. Here †attempt to sound as savvy as could reasonably be expected, yet at the same time, your knowledge ought to be demonstrated with your thoughts, and not large words. Likewise attempt to demonstrate your perspective by utilizing research project models and test research projects. Ensure the peruser doesn't concoct any protests. In the event that you feel that there may be a few issues with the things you write in your research project point †make certain to address them in your paper. Another great apparatus for composing a music research project is looking into. You will have the option to demonstrate anything, in the event that you thoroughly analyze the models you think of. On the off chance that you don't know that you will have the option to compose a sound music research paper point †you should look for music research project composing help from CustomWritings.com. We will gladly help you with any task. Here is a rundown of the most well known music article themes: 1. The History Of Music 2. Advancement of Rap music 3. The Bad Effects of Rock Music 4. Music Cencorship 5. Jazz Popular Music 6. Music and Its Effect On Teenage Society 7. Music Social Groups 8. How music works in ad? 9. Music Trading 10. Music and Adolescents 11. Current Music 12. Indian music 13. Which means of music 14. Elaborate Music 15. What is music? 16. Music and Language Skills advancement 17. The Validity of Music in My Life 18. Music: Distraction or Unnecessary for Amusement 19. How music influences mind action? 20. Developments in music innovation 21. Renaissance music 22. Has the music business lost its innovativeness? 23. Music Piracy on the Internet 24. Is Dance Music a Subculture or Has it Now Become a Culture in its Own Right? 25. In the mid 1960’s society music in America turned into an inexorably significant focal point of political dissent 26. Music downloading 27. Music of Pre-Modern Japan 28. The Evolution of Hip-Hop Music 29. Music in the medieval times 30. Self Expression in Music

Criminal Conspiracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Criminal Conspiracy - Essay Example and Scheb, (2011), the primary focus on the renewal of this framework was that it was to incidentally check the pending survey and change the law identifying with extortion, repulsiveness and obscenity just as forming the perspective on society in general. The law has now been improved by the Fraud Acts in which the administration holds on to perceive how the law works to think of relative changes or annul customary law connivance to dupe. Worldwide exchange has likewise observed different instances of extortion and the United Stated has moved in to battle, for example, well as dispose of a portion of the practices, for example, washing filthy cash that accompanies numerous connivance cases. Serious issues were knowledgeable about the early years after Acts over how the protected precedent-based law connivance to swindle dovetailed with the new legal trick to perpetrate a wrongdoing as regularly, a consent to dupe will essentially include a consent to submit a meaningful offense involving deceitfulness, for example, burglary or the new offense of misrepresentation under the Fraud Act. A normal model would be the point at which An and B concur a plan to trick individuals into putting cash in a non-existent organization expecting to vanish with the cash bought in. To do this is absolutely consent to swindle the speculators, yet it will likewise be a consent to perpetrate the wrongdoing of misrepresentation by bogus portrayal in advantage of an individual, (Levy, Karst and Winkler, 2000). As per the Missouri overhauled rules, an individual is blameworthy of trick with someone else to submit an offense it he concurs with someone else that one of them or both take part in a direct that establishes scheme. Plotting additionally with an outsider intentionally will likewise make the other two gatherings liable of connivance whether the personalities are known or not. Further connivance might be submitted by an individual scheming to submit various offenses that have indistinguishable outcomes from trick then again nobody will be indicted in the event that he forestalled the achievement of the goals of

15 New Releases Coming in 2016 Non-fiction Edition

15 New Releases Coming in 2016 Non-fiction Edition I do not think I am alone when I say, HOLY CATS! 2015 has been the best year ever for books! Seriously, there were SO many incredible releases. And ready for more good news? 2016 is shaping up to be just as awesome! Here are 15 nonfiction books coming out in 2016 that you should know about. And check out the fiction and young peoples (coming tomorrow!) selections, too. (I had such a hard time narrowing it down to 15, so I made more posts!) These are but a few of the amazing titles being released. Tell us what other 2016 books youre looking forward to next year! Shame and Wonder: Essays by David Searcy (Jan. 5) I read a weird novel by Searcy many years ago that still pops up in my brain now and again, and this book of essays on a wide range of subjects is just as interesting and compelling. Poor Your Soul by Mira Ptacin (Jan. 12) Ptacins heartbreaking memoir about finding hope and strength after the loss of her baby, coupled with the story of her mothers own loss of a child. Ptacin writes beautifully about both. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (Jan. 12) This amazing, heart-wrenching story of neurosurgeon Kalanthis struggle with stage IV lung cancer is an absorbing look at what it is like to be a doctor on the other side of a diagnosis. The Narrow Door: A Memoir of Friendship by Paul Lisicky (Jan. 19) Lisicky ruminates on  two long-term relationships, one with a woman novelist, the other with his ex-husband, and how they affected him as the world seemed to offer up one disaster after another. The Good Death: An Exploration of Dying in America by Ann Neumann (Feb. 16) After caring for her father in his last days, Neumann was haunted by the question: Did her father die a good death? She sought answers to what constitutes a good death, and if such a thing even exists. Fascinating. Apostle: Travels Among the Tombs of the Twelve by Tom Bissell (March 1) The widely acclaimed author of The Magic Hours and Extra Lives, Bissell traveled to holy sites all over the world to learn more about who the apostles really were, their relationship to Jesus, and their contemporary portrayals. Until We Are Free: My Fight for Human Rights in Iran by Shirin Ebadi (March 8) The first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Ebadis powerful book details  her work as a human rights lawyer defending women and children against a brutal regime in Iran. The Abundance: Narrative Essays Old and New by Annie Dillard (March 15) Make way for the queen: Dillard herself has curated this collection of essays old and new, some rarely seen. If youve never read her, go  get An American Childhood immediately. Ill wait here. Lust Wonder by Augusten Burroughs (March 29) The hilarious Running with Scissors author is back with his possibly most personal memoir yet (and thats saying something.) Lust Wonder tackles love and lust, the difference between them, and what it means to experience them. Kill ‘Em and Leave: Searching for the Real James Brown by James McBride (April 5) McBride returns to nonfiction with this insightful look into musician James Brown, and the influences he had over American music, using Browns fame as a way to examine racial tensions in America. True Crimes: A Family Album by Kathryn Harrison (April 5) Harrison, possibly best know for her memoir The Kiss, has collected ten years of essays on family, from marriage and love to illness and loss. She makes sharp observations, and all of the essays are superb. Everything is Teeth by Evie Wyld (May 10) Wyld, author of the amazing novel All the Birds, Singing, returns with a graphic memoir about her childhood in New South Wales, told through her love and fascination with sharks. The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of Americas National Parks by Terry Tempest Williams (June 7) The wonderful, wonderful Tempest Williams has written twelve beautiful essays about national parks and how we our personal stories are shaped by a sense of place, and what the parks mean to us. Patient H.M.: A Familys Secrets, the Ruthless Pursuit of Knowledge, and the Brain That Changed Everything  by Luke Dittrich (August 9) In the tradition of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Patient H.M. is the true story of a 27-year-old man whose short-term memory lasted only thirty seconds, and how he became one of the most important research subjects in history. Ghostland by Colin Dickey (Fall) Okay, this one doesnt have a release date yet, but Im so excited for it! Im a huge fan of his previous books, and of books about ghosts, so I am SO  here for this. Dickey describes the book as a cultural history of America through its haunted houses, hotels, graveyards and other places. YES PLEASE.

Do Bugs Crawl in Peoples Ears

Ever have a persistent itch in your ear and wonder if something is in there? Is it possible theres a bug in your ear? This is a topic of considerable concern for some people (just slightly less concerning than whether we swallow spiders in our sleep).   Yes, bugs do crawl in peoples ears, but before you launch into a full-scale panic attack, you should know that it doesnt occur very often. Although a bug crawling around inside your ear canal can be very uncomfortable, it isnt usually life-threatening. Cockroaches Crawl into Peoples Ears Most Often If you have cockroaches in your home, you might want to sleep with earplugs in, just to be on the safe side. Cockroaches crawl into peoples ears more often than any other bug. They arent crawling in ears with ill intent, though; theyre simply looking for a cozy place to retreat. Cockroaches exhibit positive thigmotaxis, meaning they like to squeeze into small spaces. Since they also prefer to explore in the dark of night, they can and do find their way into the ears of sleeping humans from time to time. Flies and Maggots in Peoples Ears Coming in a close second to cockroaches were flies. Almost everyone has swatted away an annoying, buzzing fly at some point in their lives, and thought nothing of it. While gross and annoying, most flies arent going to cause any harm if they get in your ear. However, there are some that can cause health problems, most notably the screwworm maggot. These parasitic larvae feed on the flesh of their animal (or human) hosts. Oddly, one bug that tends not to crawl into peoples ears is the earwig, which was so nicknamed because people thought it did. What to Do If You Think Theres a Bug in Your Ear Any arthropod in your ear is a potential medical concern because it can scratch or puncture your eardrum or in extreme cases, may cause an infection. Even if you succeed in removing the critter, its wise to follow-up with a visit to the doctor to be sure your ear canal is free from any bug bits or damage that might cause problems later. The National Institutes of Health offers the following advice for treating insects in the ear: Do not put a finger in the ear, since this may make the insect sting.Turn your head so that the affected side is up, and wait to see if the insect flies or crawls out.If this doesnt work, try pouring mineral oil, olive oil, or baby oil into the ear. As you pour the oil, pull the ear lobe gently backward and upward for an adult, or backward and downward for a child. The insect should suffocate and may float out in the oil. AVOID using oil to remove any object other than an insect, since oil can cause other kinds of objects to swell.Even if an insect appears to come out, get medical attention. Small insect parts can irritate the sensitive skin of the ear canal.

The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde By Robert...

A Literature Review: Analysis of conflicts between temptation and conscience in human nature The well-known story titled The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Stevenson (2003), can be interpreted in many different ways as evidenced by several critics contrasting themes. Garrett provides a strong focus on the conflicting identities of good and evil living within a man whereas Brantlinger’s focus is to reveal the inspiration behind Stevenson’s ‘Allegory’ and connect it to similar works of its time period. Linehan takes a different approach by comparing sexuality of man to the underlying evil of human nature. In comparison, Wright uses the popular theme of conflicting identities and brings light to the relationship with the theory of addiction. While all authors connect the overall meaning of the story back to the dual nature of man, Wright provides a unique perspective in which focuses on conflicting forces of temptation and control in human nature. The essay â€Å"Instabilities of Meaning, Morality, and Narration† written by Garrett (1988) argues that the story of Jekyll and Hyde consists of a battle between good and evil and the strain of dual personality of man. He also suggests that Stevenson’s use of pronouns such as ‘I’ and ‘he’ allow for the characters to drift into an omniscient voice in which the characters of Jekyll and Hyde can be merged together. Garrett uses the example of Hyde’s letter to Dr. Lanyon in which Hyde is able to emulate Jekyll’sShow MoreRelatedThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde By Robert Stevenson952 Words   |  4 Pagescreated before. Without a guaranteed safe outcome, how can an inventor be sure what they have produced is without a flaw? The answer is simple; they cannot. This is why the monster in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and Mr. Hyde in The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde by Robert Stevenson, is so unstable and causes so muc h trauma. These novels stem off the idea of a creator and creature relationship gone awry. Both creators were too entertained in creating things without a regards to the consequencesRead More The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson2416 Words   |  10 PagesThe Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Good and bad. Pure and evil. Right and wrong. Joy and despair. These are all themes Robert Louis Stevenson addresses in his novel, â€Å"The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde† Robert Louis Stevenson presents the view that no human has the capacity to be completely good or completely bad. Instead human nature is shown to exhibit both good and bad with dynamic results. Human nature encourages us to feel and experienceRead MoreThe Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson2251 Words   |  10 PagesThe Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson When asked this question, the immediate answer is, yes. Robert Louis Stevenson uses the features of a conventional horror story, which were very popular at the time, but also uses the story to raise social issues and make criticisms about the hypocrisy and double standards of Victorian society, in general, and Victorian London in particular. The first aspect of horror to be noticed is that the mainRead MoreAnalysis Of The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, By Robert Louis Stevenson1323 Words   |  6 Pagesdirectly represented in the literature of the time. An excellent example is, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, which gives a direct image of what Victorian era was like with his writing style as well as the story itself. Specifically, Stevenson portrays exactly how Victorian social life commenced as well as displays the main points of social standards of the time. Robert Louis Stevenson uses individual characters in the novella to accurately depict how people protectedRead More Analysis of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson2888 Words   |  12 PagesAnalysis of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson In an attempt to consider the duality tale, one narrative inevitably finds its way to the top of the heap as the supreme archetype: Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Immense disagreement permeates the pages of literary criticism relevant to the meaning of the story. Yet, for all of the wrangling focused on the psychology, morality, spirituality, and sociality of the story, itRead MoreLiterary Analysis of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde† by Robert Louis Stevenson1530 Words   |  7 Pageslocation in the 1800’s during the Victorian era in this novel. As the story unfolds in the classic literature novel, â€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde† written by Robert Louis Stevenson, the magnificent city of London becomes a darker and mysterious location. The powerful city of London embodied the freedom and solitude required for the antagonist of the story, Mr. Hyde to hide his wicked behavior from the s ociety as a whole. According to the history of the Victorian age, â€Å"Traditional waysRead More Good and Evil in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson4276 Words   |  18 PagesGood and Evil in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Throughout the story of â€Å"The Strange Case Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde†, the author, Robert Louis Stevenson, presents his idea of the duality of man- where we all have a dark, wicked side within us, where evil is held in waiting to surface, but we hide it away, we pretend it does not exist, and we keep it tame. He presents this idea by using two protagonists, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, who are actually the sameRead MoreTransformations in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson704 Words   |  3 PagesDr. Jekyll being an eminent doctor, with a powerful social and educational background, has an extremely sophisticated and refined appearance â€Å"a large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty† (44). As the quote suggests Dr. Jekyll has a majestic and renowned persona. The charity he does for the society, and his living Standards are all visible through the appearance he manifests. On the other hand, Hyde being Dr. Jekyll’s contrivance, to carry out evil purposes has an unattractive appearance and a repellentRead More Londons Social Class in Robert Louis Stevenson Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde747 Words   |  3 PagesLondons Social Class in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde One Victorian sentiment was that a civilized individual could be determined by her/his appearance. This notion was readily adopted by the upper classes and, among other things, helped shape their views of the lower classes, who certainly appeared inferior to them. In regards to social mobility, members of the upper classes may have (through personal tragedy or loss) often moved to a lower-class status, but rarely did one see an individual moveRead MoreA feminist reading of Doris Lessing’s ‘To Room Nineteen’ and ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ by Robert Louis Stevenson using ideas discussed in ‘The Second Sex’ by Simone de Beauvoir2446 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿A feminist reading of Doris Lessing’s ‘To Room Nineteen’ and ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ by Robert Louis Stevenson using ideas discussed in ‘The Second Sex’ by Simone de Beauvoir. The concept of Simone de Beauvoir’s myth of women discussed in ‘The Second Sex’ was still very much prevalent in the 1960s when ‘To Room nineteen’ was set and certainly at the time of ‘Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’. In the 1960s, in accordance with the second wave of feminism, women were thought

1950s vs Today Free Essays

Throughout history the roles of women have changed dramatically. Since the 1950’s, women have slowly but surely evolved into the individuals one sees today in public offices, law firms or even the five o’ clock news. However, this evolution did not occur over night. We will write a custom essay sample on 1950s vs Today or any similar topic only for you Order Now Although women in the 1950’s and today have dealt with similar stereotypes, today life has greatly improved because women aren’t as pressured to get married, are taken more seriously in the business world, and are even making as much or more money as men.One reason daily life has greatly improved for women today is because women aren’t as pressured to get married now. In the 1950’s most women married after high school and fell into their traditional roles right away. The U. S. marriage rate was at an all-time high and couples were tying the knot, on average, younger than ever before. Getting married right out of high school or while in college was considered the norm. Now, studies show American women are waiting longer than ever to get married. The average age at first marriage hit a record high of 24. years old in 1994, up from 20 years old in the mid 1950’s. That’s the oldest age since the Census Bureau started asking about the age at marriage in 1890. There are also many changes in today’s families; fewer women staying at home, fewer children born to families, and more women in college. Now men are able to stay home with the kids and become a â€Å"stay-at-home dad† while the woman â€Å"brings home the bacon†. Secondly, life has improved for women today because now women are taken more seriously in the business world.In the 1950’s, the fact that a woman was even attending college was uncanny and paranormal, and the few brave women that chose to learn further were not taught mathematics and science (fields they were later going to succeed in) but home economics and cooking. Additionally, during the 1950’s, because housekeeping and raising a family were considered ideal female roles, only two out of five women with husbands and school-age children worked outside the home. In today’s world women account for 55% of all college students and 60% of women work outside the home as opposed to 34% in 1950. There are even 1. 6 million women as military veterans; another 164,000 currently serve in the military (accomplishments that would otherwise have been considered bizarre). Lastly, daily life has improved for women today because today women are making as much or more money as men. In the 1950’s some women worked the same jobs that men did, however, they got less pay and fewer opportunities. At that time, young women typically made about 58 cents to every dollar a young man made, today its 82 cents and rising.Nowadays, there are also many changes in job compensation including some women executives making almost 15% more than their male counterparts. Furthermore, a dual income is a necessity due to a collapsing economy and now families need a woman’s income for financial support. It’s apparent that women’s roles have drastically changed in the last sixty years. Women have gone from being Suzie Homemaker or June Cleaver to strong feminists like Hillary Clinton or Gloria Stinen. Women have been able to make a difference in the world.They’ve been able to do more than just make an imprint in their children’s lives. They’ve become hard workers, strong leaders, achievers, and providers. Women have come a long way since the 50’s but there is still so much more to go. Thanks to the advancement of women, America is now beginning to have a better way of life where competence is not measured by our sex but by the skills we possess. Women of the 1950’s and Today By Kimberly Real Compare and Contrast Essay English 096-CW7 October 22, 2010 Instructor: Professor Finnell How to cite 1950s vs Today, Papers

Procurement Management

Added value that effective Procurement activities can have to a company or organisation An organisation requires human and physical resources for an effective business operation. Supply chain management is a strategic planning, control and monitoring of processes involved in the material delivery in a company for production of goods and services. Its main aim is to ensure that the end customer gets constant supply of final goods as per their expectations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Procurement Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Procurement is part of supply chain management with the role of ensuring that a company gets materials from the most efficient supplier at an appropriate cost. It also ensures that materials and machinery for production are available in the right time at an appropriate quality and quantity. With an effective procurement strategy, a company is bound to benefit. The role of pro curement department extends from procuring for raw materials, machineries, office suppliers to developing an effective procurement process (Karp, 2005). This paper analyzes the benefits that effective Procurement activities can have on an organisation. Procurement Since the late 1990’s procurement has become an important concerns of different business both in service and product industries. Companies are deploying experts in supplies and purchasing in their efforts to ensure they benefit from an effective procurement logistics. In modern globalized economies, international trade has taken preference giving companies the freedom to procure from different parts of the world. This calls for an extension of procurement department roles as it has to consider international logistic matters. It would be misleading to state that there is an effective procurement method that can be applied to all business set up and yield good results. Each business is superior in its own ways and so do the procurement strategies and mechanisms. However, there are common procedures that must be taken for an effective procurement (Ketchen and Hult, 2006). The diagram below shows a standards procurement system:Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Chart 1 The above diagram shows basic steps involved in a procurement process, each process has its role in the entire process. In case of a failure in one area, then the entire system is likely not to be effective. It involves three major department or sections which are stakeholders they are technical division which is mostly involved in researching the market and prices of various materials. The procurement and contracting department consumes information from the technical team and makes the final decision. The supplier is the heart of the process as he conclude the entire procedure. After a successful procurement, data is collect ed for future procurement decisions. With the growth of the procurement sector, a number of procurement companies offering outsourcing services have emerged, the major decision that a company should make is whether it will manage the systems centrally or locally or it should outsource these services (Khoo, Bainbridge, Spedding and Taplin, 2001). Whichever the option, a well managed procurement department and processes are beneficial to accompany in the following areas: Quality maintenance and value management The quality of a company’s products and services is subject to materials used in the production. If procured goods are of high quality, then the final products are likely to be of high quality. According to 4ps of marketing mix as developed in 1960 by a marketing expert called E J McCarthy, the quality of a company’s product determine the successes and competitiveness of a company’s product in local and international markets.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Procurement Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Maintaining an effective procurement department ensures that there are materials and other inputs required in production at the right time in an appropriate cost. When appealing for customers to buy ones brands, the quality of the products is of importance, quality is measured by the level of utility that a product gives to the buyer. At any one time, the quality of product should be high enough that it can satisfy the expectation of customers. Centralisation and having a full department that thinks and gets to the market to collect purchasing data will go a long way in ensuring that a company gets goods at an appropriate cost. Market forces keep adjusting the prices of commodities due to demand and supply forces. A robust procurement department will be in touch with changes in the market for better decisions. The success of Nokia phone can be attributed t o its high quality products that keeps changing with the needs of the environment (Kouvelis, Chambers and Wang, 2006). Green supplies and company success Industrialisation, town development and increased population have brought about environmental damage; consumers are getting more interested in environmental conservation. They are increasingly becoming aware and concerned about conservation of the environment; they are more willing to trade with those companies that produce environmentally friendly products through environmentally friendly processes. With an effective procurement department, is going to analyze the prevailing condition in the market and make decisions that are responsive to the needs of customers. Procurement department is responsible for developing a green supply chain management; it undertakes internal and external audits to ensure that products and processes are environmentally friendly. It also ensures that goods are produced at minimal or no pollution and the final products do not pollute the environment. When well procured, a company can procure products that can be recycled for environmental conservation. Numerous advantages accrue to a company when it produces via environmentally friendly processes and products. To have an environmentally friendly production, the process starts with procurement of machineries used in production and the materials to be used in production. A company that produces such goods enjoys an increased customer base and favour from environmental policies activities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For example, the success of Starbucks have been attributed to its strong environmental conservation has lead to its success in its hospitality industry. The process adopted by the company emanates from procurement department where it ensures that a company gets good from farmers that using an appropriate technology (Larson and Halldorsson, 2004). Procurement and building a strong brand name It is the dream of every company to develop and retain a strong brand name. A company with a strong brand name benefit from customer loyalty, minimization of marketing risks, positive responses to changes in prices, and brand-extension. It is also a strong marketing and self-advertising tool. To fight competition, a company needs to create a close attachment between customers and the company’s products. Products are the results of a manufacturing process that initially starts with procurement. Consumers are willing to be loyal to those companies whose processes and products meet their need . When procuring, procuring team ensures that, they have the expectation of the customer in mind. This will ensure that the company has a continued supply of customers for an increased profitability. Toyota Company has maintained the leadership in the automobile industry because of a strong brand name (Manul and Mentzer, 2008) Procurement leads to good Supplier relation For an effective production, a company needs to maintain good relation will all its stakeholders. To develop good business relationship with suppliers, procurement department plays an important role. It ensures that orders are procured in the right time and payments to suppliers effected as per the contract of supply. When a company has good customer-supplier relation, it is likely to get goods at a better price and adequate and reliable market data from suppliers for strategic decision-making. For example when prices of goods are likely to fall, suppliers may have the information, thus when there are good relations, they will pass the information to the company to control its purchase of raw material. Information is power thus when there are adequate supplies information, a company is able to make decisions which are responsive to changes in the market. Starbucks has maintained a good relation with its suppliers has ensured the company has constant supply of goods and services. Procurement assists in maintaining adequate working capital Working capital is the operating finances at the disposal of a company at one particular point to be use finance different expenses. It is the through operating capital that a business can take advantage of opportunities. It is the difference between current assets and current liabilities; it assists in smooth operation of business. To have a positive working capital calls for management of debtors and creditors (Peltz, 2010). Procurement department assists a company to maintain its creditors at a minimum rate; credit policy adopted in a company is crucial in m aintaining a positive working capital. It is the role of the procurement department to ensure that it has a well-managed credit balance to meet the double goals of paying suppliers in time and maintaining a positive working capital (Hokkaido Electric Power Co., 2010) With the assistance of procurement department, the company will be able to take advantage of opportunities in created by the market and mitigate against negative effects of suppliers power. The success of Apple Electronic Company is vested in it adequate working capital; it is able to take advantage of changing technological needs (Fugate, Mentzer and Stank, 2010). Just in time supply mechanism A procurement system assists a company to save on costs of warehousing; a system of efficiency and effectiveness in the procurement system leads to just in time supply mechanism. A just in time supply system ensure that a company gets materials at the right time for an effective production without necessarily holding stock of mat erials (Fugate, Mentzer and Stank, 2010). To have an effective just in time supply system, the procurement department ensure that only goods required in production are procured for and they will be supplied in an effective time. It considers the lead-time of supplies; in times of boom, a company requires more materials that time of low production. Despite having a just in time policy, the company will adjust effectively to changes in demand of materials. A just in time supply means that at any one point in time, the company is has adequate supply at a minimal costs. The costs saved by a just in time system include, saving on warehousing costs, stock maintenance costs and handling costs. The reduced cost reduces the cost of production for a company thus, it can sell its products relatively cheaper than companies can in the same industry (Fred, 2008). Formation of an integrated supply chain management Procurement is a major department in the formation of a supply chain system. Supply chain system is a multi objective decision involving internal and external players procurement is the heart of the system. With invention of computers, integrated supply chain and logistic systems has been developed; for an effective integrated system, the inputs of the procurement department. It provides the developers with information necessary to create lead-times, reorder level and quantity ordering levels. (Darnall, Jolley and Handfield, 2008). An following diagram interpolates an integrated supply chain system; Chart 2 It involves integrating all systems in an organisation for an effective collaboration among different departments. Certain lead-time and reorder levels are maintained to assist in making decision on the amount and timing of an order. Procurement department maintains a pool of data and information regarding suppliers and the product they offer. They also have various credit policies operated by different suppliers thus making a decision on the right supplier at a particular point considering the internal liquidity and needs of good is facilitated. In modern free market, more than one supplier offers different packages for the same goods can supply goods, an effective procuring department will scrutinize and place an order to the customer who supplies goods at an appropriate cost, quality and can be reliable. All this information is with the procurement department thus it assists in making the right decision on whom to procure (Creswell, 1998). Procurement assists in international procurement contracts International trade and globalisation has facilitated the purchase of materials from international market. Although the underlying principle is the same like that implemented in local purchasing, there are special factors that need to be put into considerations. When buying internationally, customs logistic of importing and exporting country should be well understood to ensure that the company operates within the law and understands all costs involved in international procurement. It is the role of procuring department to ensure that it advices the company on such issues appropriately to facilitate the logistics (Cooper, Lambert and Pagh, 1997). Some areas that it needs to advise as far as international procurement is concerned include custom laws, duties, rules of origin, trading blocs and any incentives offered by the government to facilitate such trade. A company without an effective procurement system might make international procurements ignoring monitoring and control policies put in place by a country; alternatively, it may fail to benefit from trade facilitation policies set by national or international bodies. Mearsk limited is successful in international logistic company by understanding international customs laws (Burns, 2000). Procurement and continuous flow of goods For production to occur there is need for raw materials and machinery. To have a continuous supply of goods a company needs to have an effectiv e procurement system. It will guarantee the company and ample supply of raw materials when they are needed in the production plants. When a company has a smooth flow of goods to the market, customers gets confidence with the brand of products, this increases consumer loyalty and preferences. When developing a strong brand, products should be available to customers when they need them, this can only be effected if procumbent department ensures that production plants are well fed with materials they require to meet the expectation of the customers (Balnaves and Caputi, 2002) Procurement and waste management Waste management has been a problem in industries; it can be controlled by using appropriate technology and materials in production. Procurement department undertakes the role of procuring for machinery of the right technology and materials that are likely to produce minimal wastes. Sometimes a company has the option of using materials that can be recycled; procurement department h as the role of ensuring the materials and machinery used emit minimal waste as a process of waste management (Hsu, Tan, Kannan, and Keong, 2009) In rather an indirect way, procurement can order for goods form companies whose system of production are environmentally friendly. When this is done, then the company will be assisting in preserving and managing the environment. Although the benefits from such an angle may not be immediate, they will be felt in the future. Honda Motor Company has benefited in the market because of its effective waste management system; this has assisted the company produce its products at a lower cost. Conclusion For an effective and continuous production, a company needs to maintain a reliable procurement department. It ensures that there is continuous supply of materials and machineries required for production, at an appropriate cost and of the right quality and quantity. When an effective procurement management is maintained, a company gains competitive advantage. The effects of an effective procurement department is felt in the following areas waste management, green supplies, just in time supply, cost management , management of working capital and developing good suppliers-company relationship. It adds value to a company in form of financial gain, reputation and smooth flow of functions. References Balnaves, M. and Caputi, P., 2002. Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods: An Investigative Approach. London: Sage. Burns, R.B., 2000. Introduction to Research Methods. London: Sage. Cooper, M.C., Lambert, D.M. and Pagh, J., 1997. Supply Chain Management: More Than a New Name for Logistics. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 8(1), pp. 1–14. Creswell, J., 1998. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications. Darnall, N., Jolley, G. and Handfield, R., 2008. Environmental management systems and green supply chain management: complements fo r sustainability?. Business Strategy the Environment, 17(1), pp. 30-45. Fred, D., 2008. Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. New Jersey: Pearson Education. Fugate, B., Mentzer, J. and Stank, T.,2010. LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE: EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND DIFFERENTIATION. Journal of Business Logistics, 31(1), pp. 43-62. Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc., 2010. FLOW CHART OF STANDARD PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES. Web. Hsu, C., Tan, K., Kannan, V. and Keong, G., 2009. Supply chain management practices as a mediator of the relationship between operations capability and firm performance. International Journal of Production Research, 47(3), pp. 835-855. Karp, H. R.,2005. Green suppliers network: Strengthening and Greening the manufacturing supply base. Environmental Quality Management, 15(2),pp. 37-46. Ketchen, G. and Hult, T.M., 2006. Bridging organization theory and supply chain management: The case of best value supply chains. Journal of Operations Management, 25(2),pp. 573-580. Khoo, H . H., Bainbridge, I., Spedding, T. A. and Taplin, D. R.,2001. Creating a Green Supply Chain. Greener Management International, 2(35), pp.. 71-78. Kouvelis, P., Chambers, C. and Wang, H., 2006. Supply Chain Management Research and Production and Operations Management: Review, Trends, and Opportunities. Production Operations Management, 15(3), pp 449-469. Larson, P.D. and Halldorsson, A., 2004. Logistics versus supply chain management: an international survey. International Journal of Logistics: Research Application, 7(1), pp 17-31. Manuj, I. and Mentzer, J., 2008. GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN RISK MANAGEMENT. Journal of Business Logistics, 29(1), pp 133-155. Peltz, E., 2010. Logistics: Supply Based or Distribution Based? Web. This essay on Procurement Management was written and submitted by user Konnor Mclaughlin to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Integrated Patrol v. Traditional Policing Essay Essays

Integrated Patrol v. Traditional Policing Essay Essays Integrated Patrol v. Traditional Policing Essay Essay Integrated Patrol v. Traditional Policing Essay Essay 1. The 14-month consequences are impressive. What are the major factors for this success The protocol that Chief G is seeking to implement with his constabulary force is called intergrated patrol. How does this attack comparison to the traditional theoretical account of jurisprudence enforcement? The integrated patrol scheme brings a community-oriented construct of patroling into drama. which offense bar and decrease attempts are applied in larger countries. instead than concentrating specifically on a group of people within a peculiar location. The incorporate patrol scheme. besides calls for more enhanced fact-finding processs. It besides stresses the importance of information sharing between bureaus. This is proven to help in effectual solutions to work outing offenses and path tendencies and forms. As a consequence these stratigiesto strengthen relationships between bureaus. . In comparision the traditional enforcement scheme responded to offense after the fact. and merely concentrated on a certain state of affairs or offense. The traditional scheme is missing when it comes to making more organized and strategic programs for the force excercising it. The strategic planning is critical in saying the overall constabulary mission. You might look at incorporate patrol as a one squad. one fight’ construct. While the traditional manner of making things. is every adult male for himself. point of position. Resistance in this state of affairs will most likely come from Sam. He has worked for the force for 26 old ages. He started as a round bull and has earned his manner to the place he presently holds. He believes in hionesty. equity. and seting in your clip toi earn your chevrons. Respect from Sam must be earned non given on first intrioduction automatically. Sing as how Sam has spent 26 old ages of his life working his manner to the place he holds now it is likely to presume that he wouldn’t appreciate person trade name new to the force being out into a place of any sort of his degree without first gaining it. So Sam will hold a natural opposition to allowing any other officers investigate becauser her believes once more that you have to gain the right to be an investigater. We can get the better of Sam’s personal struggles with the ideals we want to put Forth by reassuring him that he heads that section and the descision on who will be look intoing will still finally be his. Equally good as the fact he should be told this is a test and if it is non to work out so no injury no foul. The least resisitance in this scenario I believe will be coming from Peter. I believe he isn’t seeking to throw up any sort of opposition at all. His chief figure one end it seems to me is to hold an copacetic well organized and good runing force every bit good as. He is smart plenty to cognize that opposition against this thought from head would non alter the courser of action that the head would necessitate him to get down on but merely do struggle and possible demerrits for him. He welcomes this alteration and looks in front to get down the test with a positive and hopeful attitude that this new intergrated patrol will win with their force merely as it did with the experiment force they tested it with.

Blue Sky Software Consulting firm - Smart Custom Writing Samples

Blue Sky Software Consulting firm - Smart Custom Writing Importance of waterImportance of water in human body Water can be defined as a clear, odorless, tasteless, and colorless liquid that is very crucial for most animal and plant life and the most commonly used as compared to other solvents. It is well known that, water is the most abundant substance and very crucial in the human body. Human mass consists of about three quarters of water and this is the major constituent in all cells within the body. Water plays critical roles in the human body, for instance provision of a medium in which blood cells bath, regulation of body temperature, improving digestion, carrying the absorbed nutrients throughout the body, and it is used in the elimination of waste and toxic substances from the body (Claybourne, 2006). Blood in the human body consist of 95 percent water. Water provides a medium in which blood cells bath such that it allows for exchange of materials like nutrients in and out of the cells normally. The average normal body temperature for human body is 37 degrees Celsius. Water ensures that, during the normal conditions of the body, the temperature does not exceed this limit by more that 1 degree Celsius. Through sweating, human body can lose excess heat and this account for 22 percent of the ways the body loses excess heat. Water has a characteristic latent heat of vaporization such that when it gets at the surface of the skin as sweat, it will absorb the excess heat and evaporate as it attains about 100 degrees Celsius (Claybourne, 2006). Water is very vital during the process of digestion in human beings. The ingested food needs to be softened so that it can be acted on by enzymes. For example in the mouth, that saliva contains water, mucus and the ptyalin enzyme. This enzyme can work on the cooked starch arriving at the mouth after it has been moistened. Water provides for a medium in which nutrients are dissolved after digestion has taken place. Nutrients in solution form get absorbed into the blood circulatory system from where they are assimilated into various body cells and tissues for metabolism. After metabolism, waste products which result need to be eliminated. Waste products dissolved in water get their ways out of the body cells and tissues into blood. These waste products are carried to active excretion cites for example skin, lungs, and kidneys (Rosdahl Kowalski, 2008).   Dehydration can be defined as the process by which human body, body part or even an organ loses water due to fluid deprivation or illness. Dehydration is very common in children, infants, and seniors. Young children and infants lose more body water during vomiting or diarrhea. Seniors can also lose water due to vomiting and diarrhea but not as much as in the case of infants and young children. One can realize that he or she is undergoing dehydration when the mouth becomes dry and sticky; having sunken eyes which may not produce tears; feel lethargic, sleepy and tired; the urine out becomes low and its usually dark yellow in color; and experience muscle weakness, headache or dizziness. It is very important to drink a lot of water daily, for instance 8 glasses so that to ensure normal percentage of water in the body. Infants should also be given oral rehydration salts appropriately (Organization, 1976).   References Claybourne, A., (2006). The Human Body. London: Evans. Organization, W., (1976). Treatment and Prevention of Dehydration in Diarrhoeal Diseases.  Ã‚   Geneva: World Health Organization. Rosdahl, C., Kowalski, M. (2008). Textbook of Basic Nursing. Hagerstwon: Lippincott Williams Wilkins.

Explain how Descartes represents a new philosophical beginning Essay

Explain how Descartes represents a new philosophical beginning - Essay Example In mathematics, we encounter absolute certainty, according to Descartes.† (Kitcher, 2006, p. 482) His search for this absolute certainty in the field of philosophy begins with a radical rejection of all beliefs, perceptions and assumptions and a completely blank page on which he attempts to build up a new logical train of thought. This paper considers the steps that Descartes takes to distance himself from traditional ways of thinking and the nature of his radical new approach. The starting point that Descartes chooses is in keeping with the religious conventions of the time, since he addresses his work to â€Å"those Most Wise and Distinguished men, the Deans and Doctors of the Faculty of Sacred Theology of Paris† (Descartes, p. 484) and he quotes the Bible and the Lateran Council of 1512-1517 to show that he is familiar with matters of the faith. His use of radical scepticism is presented as different approach to both physical and metaphysical problems and he implies t hat his intention is to follow a path of discovery which will be different from, but not contradictory to, articles of faith which are taught by the established Christian Church. Since the turn of the seventeenth century the Medieval mind-set of the Church had been badly shaken, first by the reformation and consequent debates and schisms across Europe, and secondly by a whole host of scientific discoveries that raised interesting questions about man’s place in the universe. Nowadays we call this major shift in world view â€Å"the Enlightenment.† In the first section of his treatise Descartes applies his radical scepticism to religion and science alike, suspending all that he has been taught, and coming down to the fundamental observation that the human being is made of two separate substances: the mind, which is immaterial and capable of thinking, and the body, which is corporal and capable of using the physical senses to apprehend and interact with the world. He cons iders how unreliable the senses are, and concludes that the only thing that he is absolutely certain of, is the fact that he is thinking with his mind. Body, senses and everything else are laid to one side and he concentrates on this thinking part of himself. In the second section he formulates his most famous saying â€Å"cogito ergo sum: I think, therefore I am† (Descartes, p. 492) which shows that existence is derived from thinking, and not from anything outside the self that is thinking. This is a big departure from the teachings of the Church, which had traditionally placed itself in the role of teacher and authority on all matters. Thanks to the reformation there was a much greater focus on the individual, and Descartes latches on to this to stress both the mental activity that human beings are capable of, but also the fact that we are self-aware when we are engaged in this activity. All that exists around that thinking self is an illusion, and the only absolutely certa in thing is the individual and his ability to understand and to reason. The third section elaborates this point: â€Å"I am a thing that thinks, that is to say a thing that doubts, affirms, denies, understands a few things, is ignorant of many things, refrains from willing, and also imagines and senses.†

Public Management and Administration Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Public Management and Administration - Case Study Example Government by proxy has grown into a more diverse, pervasive, and an all-encompassing phenomenon that is here to stay. It is imperative that public administration scholars and policy makers offer proposals to reduce or eliminate the problems created by third party government and in turn improve government performance. Government needs partners to do its job. These partners present themselves in the form of for profit and non-profit organizations as well as state and local agencies. From the case study ‘should private contractors be guarding public buildings?’, it is stated that the Federal Protective security- FPS employs 1225 persons who are responsible for 2360 federal facilities. This shows a clear gap that gets filled by the government through proxy. By contacting out to fill the security gap required for public buildings, the FPS turns from a direct service provider to a generator of public value. It is vital that all federal building become well-guarded to protect national interests and property which gets funded by taxpayers’ money. If the government is unable to employ and train the required number of security guards required to man this buildings, contracting out seems a viable option. Government by proxy offers innovation and the ability of the contracted firms to tailor their services to meet customer demands. Contracted security firms get to train their guards on the requirements and challenges posed by the job contracted. These private security firms dedicate their time and capital into offering the ultimate service for their customer as they are in competition with other firms too. From the given case study, the author states of a meeting with private security guard who told him that he was trained on twenty one different weapons. This indicates the training level to which private firms engage their guards in preparing them to meet with the rising threats of insecurity

Sociology Essays Researcher Power Relations

Sociology Essays Researcher Power Relations How do power relations challenge us to re-think the issue of dialogue in research, ethicsand critical urban ethnography? Sociological research is not theclearly defined process that the textbooks would have us believe. It can be amessy business and is fraught with pitfalls so the researcher needs to beflexible in his/her approach to the project. Power relationships emerge as anissue right from the beginning. There are the power relations contained within social institutions and in personal relationships. The relationship between theresearcher and the researched is generally thought of as one of unequal powerrelations where the researcher is the custodian of expertise concerning themeaning of a research subjects experiences. The balance of power may not,however, be in the researchers hands at the beginning of a project, if theresearcher needs to gain access to a setting then he/she may be subject to thewhims of gatekeepers. Gatekeepers have the power to say no the researchersrequest and if you do manage to gain entry it is often at the end of a longslow process. Lofland and Lofland (1984) say that feelings of anxiety when aresearcher first encounters gate keepers, is not unusual because they hold thereins of power. Bogdan and Taylor (1984) write about problems with gatekeepers.They argue that there are those professionals in charge of establishments suchas retirement homes or womens refuges, who exercise their power by monitoringwho should and should not visit. In this way they retain control of the spaceoccupied by the people they care for and in controlling their space alsocontrol the influences of and within that space. Giddens 2001 has argued that thechanges in modern society have, in their turn, brought vast changes to the waywe live our lives: The development ofmodern cities has had an enormous impact, not only on habits and modes ofbehaviour, but on patterns of thought and feeling. >From the time whenlarge urban agglomerations first formed, in the eighteenth century, views aboutthe effects of cities on social life have been polarized (Giddens,2001:573). Hammersley (2000) has argued that social research cannot be understood outside of the social world that itstudies. It does not exist in some autonomous realm, but affects, and isaffected by other factors in society. Beginning with a brief explanation of keyterms this paper will give a brief description of the long and hotly contesteddebate that frames the quantitative/qualitative divide within researchdiscourse. This should demonstrate that even before a researcher frames aresearch question they have to contend with the powerful discourse that says social research should be undertaken in a scientific manner if it is to producemeaningful data. The paper will examine the question of how power relationschallenge us to re-think the issue of dialogue in research, ethics and criticalurban ethnography. The main focus with regard to how knowledge is acquired, andhow, like research, it is intimately connected with relations of power, will beon feminist work. The final part of the paper will d eal with power relations,dialogue and ethics in the context of critical urban ethnography. Epistemology An epistemological concern is onethat raises the question of what might be regarded as acceptable knowledge in adiscipline. Central to this point is whether it is feasible to study the socialworld in the same way and using the same principles as science (Bryman, 2004).Research undertaken in this way is generally associated with a positivistparadigm of research. Positivism Positivism is most closelyassociated with the work of Auguste Comte and Emile Durkheim. Positivism is anepistemological standpoint that argues for the application of the scientificmethod to the social world. It is usually (though not always) associated withquantitative research and the collection of statistics. Positivism is,therefore, very closely associated with the scientific method which, looselyput, is based around the laws of cause and effect. Bryman (2004) identifies theaspects of positivism in the following ways, only those things that we canobserve through our senses can really be known. Theory (speculations about whatmight be the case) is used to generate hypotheses (general statements) that canbe tested and from which laws can be derived. The hypothesis is subjected toquestions e.g. who, what, when, where and data gathered either throughinterviews, observation, or using existing data such as crime statistics. Ifthe findings confirm the hypothesis then laws are derived, if not then the hypothesishas to be modified. This process continues until a suitable conclusion isreached that confirms the modified hypothesis. Positivists state that sciencemust be objective and value free (Bryman, A. 2004).Durkheim argued that in order to be scientific and to obtain objectiveknowledge, social facts should be counted as things, and that allpreconceptions must be eradicated (Durkheim, E, 1938:31).Scientific statements should be the interest of the scientist because they arethe only statements that can be confirmed by the senses i.e. science proceedsthrough observable, repeatable experiments.. It is this form of research in particularthat feminists have dubbed malestream research (Abbott and Wallace,1997) they argue that: Many malestream sociologistsare resistant to the view that there is a need for a reconceptualisation.Nevertheless, this is the position that w accept and while we recognise thatthis is an uphill struggle we think that it is a necessary one if we are toachieve an adequate sociology (Abbott and Wallace, 1997:13). Interpretivism This is the opposite view topositivism where a research strategy is needed that respects the fact thatthere is a difference between the physical world and people. The scientificmethods that are used to study the physical world may not be appropriate tostudying the social world where the sociologist is trying to understand the meaningsthat people give to their actions. Interpretivists most often use qualitativeresearch methods consisting of unstructured interviews and participantobservation. Positivists criticise research data gained in this way asunscientific and subjective. They argue that the findings from such research donot have the same validity or reliability as data collected in a scientificmanner (Bryman, 2004). Researchers who use qualitative methods tend to maketheir research process as transparent as possible and will often ask theirresearch subjects to check the findings to see whether they are an accuraterepresentation of the persons life. Both types of researchers want toknow what is happening in society but interpretivists also attempt tounderstand. Weber (1947) maintained that sociology is a Science which attempts theinterpretive understanding of social action in order to arrive at a causalexplanation of its cause and effects (Weber, 1947:88). Qualitative researchers tend tomake use of unstructured interviews, case study research and participantobservation. Ethnographic methods such as in-depth interviews and prolongedparticipant observation are also favoured methods. These last tend to be usedmore often by those who are engaged in critical research. Hammersley (1992)criticises the use of ethnographic methods because he believes that this typeof research is less able to produce data that will result in useful theoreticalinsights. Participant observation is regarded by positivists as unscientificand not rigorous enough they regard it as subjective. Hammersley (1992) hasargued that because ethnographers can produce different accounts of the samesetting then the results of such research might be said to reflect a purelypersonal perspective rather than a scientific and reliable account.Yet anothercriticism of this type of method is that the ensuing account is the result ofhighly selective methods of data collection (Hammersley , 1992). This isarguably a nonsensical criticism as all research is the result of a set ofselection processes. The researcher constantly has to decide what is the bestway of collecting the information that will answer the research question. Thishappens in what is regarded as scientific and value free social research justas much as it does in social research that does not claim to be objective andvalue free. All researchers, as Gouldner (1971) points out have to make choicesabout their domain of enquiry i.e. when, where, how, and from whom they aregoing to obtain their data. There is a clear difference betweenscience and the scientific method and the methods that are needed toinvestigate the social world. For human beings, human action is meaningful andthey act on the basis of that meaning. The sociologists job is to interpretthe social world from the research subjects point of view. What this means isthat far from research being objective and knowledge being objective and valuefree, they are in fact marked by the stamp of their producers. Marx recognisedthis in his analysis of capitalism and feminists have recognised this in theiranalysis of patriarchy and of an epistemological stance that bears the stampand is endowed with the power of the white western male. Thus power relationsare evident even before we begin on the actual research process. Knowledge and Power The rationalistattitudes towards knowledge that developed during the Enlightenment remaineddominant until well into the nineteenth century. They were, as many feministshave argued (Abbott and Wallace, 1997), a powerful force in determining whatconstituted knowledge and have had considerable effect on the structures ofmodern society. A similar critique of knowledge has also been mounted by theFrench philosopher Michel Foucault (1966). The work ofthinkers such as Nietzsche (1886) and Foucault (1966) has emphasised the factthat knowledge is intimately tied to structures of power and domination.Foucault argues that it is power which produces and sustains knowledge.Anything that contradicts the authorised view of what counts as knowledge isseen as deviant and transgressional. Thus, he argues, Power isthat which says no. Any confrontation with power thus conceived appears only astransgression (1966: 53). Feministcriticisms of knowledge and the way that knowledge is produced are aconfrontation with power and authority. The tendency of many thinkers toneglect class, race, gender, and economic factors contributes to the exclusionof oppressed and marginal viewpoints thus further reinforcing bothuniversalistic and objective models of knowledge and the power structures associatedwith this view. Foucault has argued that the enlightenment model of scientificreason only existed through the will to objectify and dominate. For Foucault,this kind of knowledge is inseparable from the desire for power. He argues thatresearch into criminality or mental illness is often undertaken for the expresspurposes of legislation, and not for a desire for improvement in these areas(1966). These critiques of the structures of power have meant thatepistemological questions are now a central issue within contemporary culture(Lennon and Whitford, 1994). The writings of Marx (1970), Foucault (1966), andmembers of t he Frankfurt school (and in a different context liberationtheologians) emphasise the fact knowledge claims are a reflection of theinterests of those with economic power. More recently, black scholars andscholars from the third world have also indicated the Eurocentric and racistnature of most knowledge production (Lennon and Whitford, 1994). The separationof fact from value in knowledge production is not appropriate, that is to sayknowledge is not objective and neutral. Rather, knowledge bears the stamp ofits producers and is affected by their value systems. It is through thisunderstanding that feminist and other forms of critical research developed. Critical Research Carspecken(1996) maintains that critical research is aimed at exposing the powerrelationships at work in society particularly as they relate to social inequalities. The researcher studies this from the viewpoint of the oppressedin the hope of achieving social change. Critical research is informed by thecritical theory of the Frankfurt School. Critical social research does not fitwell into either the positivist camp or the interpretive one but embraces allthose approaches which tend to criticise society (in terms of its powerrelationships for example) in order to transform it. Hammersley (1995) hasargued that the growing influence of qualitative research and most particularlyof the type of research that is critical of power structures and of theinequalities that exist within society has meant that increasingly the basisfor seeing social research as scientific has been undermined. Harvey (1990) hassaid of critical research that: critiqueis an integral part of the processA critical research process involves morethan appending critique to an accumulation of fact or theory gathered throughsome mechanical process, rather it denies the objective status of knowledge (Harvey,1990 quoted in Haralambos et al, 2000:982). Knowledge inthese terms is a process that is never finished because the social world isconstantly changing. Knowledge is inseparable from the values of the socialcontext in which it emerged, the research participants, and most importantly,the researcher. The knowers always affect what is known as Ely et al (1996)argue: Researchlike all other knowing, is a transactional process the knower and the knownboth act upon each other (Ely, et al, 1996:196 ibid.). Criticalresearch is primarily concerned with uncovering oppression and oppressivestructures and by that action transforming them. By uncovering these structureswithin social accounts the critical researcher can then link these with widersocial processes and structures. Thus Oakleys analysis of housework and howwomen bear the brunt of it links back to industrialisation and the rise ofcapitalism and womens removal from the public world of work to the privatesphere of the home, this also links with the growth of patriarchal oppressionof women (Harvey, 1990). Thus a critical analysis such as this can uncover thebasis of some of the power relationships that exist within society andeventually to change them. Harvey (1990) says of this process that it: ..involvesa constant questioning of the perspective and analysis the researcher isbuilding up. It is a process of gradually, and critically, coming to knowthrough constant reconceptualisation. This means that the selection of a coreconcept for analysis is not a once and for all affair (Harvey, 1990:30). Harvey (1990)maintains that critical research does not depend on any one method becauseresearchers may often use a variety of methods in ensuring that they have madethe connections with wider social processes such as the structures of power,and also to increase the reliability of their findings. Feminist research alsooperates by the use of a number of different research methods, feminists are moreconcerned with improving womens lives and with the non-exploitation of thosewho are researched, than they are with the commitment to any one set of methods.Some (primarily male) researchers argue against feminist research because theysay that it is subjective and partisan. They argue that research should neverbe partisan and that it is impossible for everyone to be equally free, theremust always be some hierarchy. Thus Geuss (1981) contends that: It seems unrealistic underpresent conditions of human life to assume that any and every preference humanagents might have can be satisfied, or to assume that all conflict between thepreferences of different agents will be peacefully and rationally resolved.Some frustration-even some imposed frustration-of some human preferences mustbe legitimate and unexceptionable (Guess, 1981:16). Presumably thelegitimate and unexceptionable preferences are the prerogative of the male, whofor centuries has had some much power over womens lives. It is this kind ofpower that feminists are keen to expose, they are also concerned about thepower relationships which exist between the researcher and the researched, andwhich have sometimes been exploited by (male) researchers. In view of this somefeminists argue that participatory research, where the researcher and theresearched work together on a project, should be a defining feature of feministresearch. Abbott and Wallace (1997) argue however, that this is not often donebecause, it is notpossible for the researcher to share her knowledge and expertise, and to implythat she is sharing them conceals a power relationship rather than overcomingit (Abbott and Wallace, 1997:288). Feminists who douse these methods argue that participatory research not only gives women a moreactive role in knowledge production but further increases the validity of theresearch findings. McGuire (1987), has this to say Participatoryresearch proposes returning to ordinary people the power to participate inknowledge creation, the power that results from such creation, and the power toutilize knowledge (Maguire, 1987:39). Even this statement isproblematic because the researcher has at least some training in how researchmight be said to proceed and this is not easily passed on to those who are nottrained (Abbott and Wallace, 1997). Mies, 1983 has this to say: the study of an oppressivereality is not carried out by experts but by the objects of the oppression.People who were before objects of research become subjects of their ownresearch and action. This implies that scientists who participate in this studyof the conditions of oppression must give their research tools to the people (Mies,1983:16). Shared experiences, it might beargued, help to balance out the power relationships that feminists such asAbbott and Wallace (1997) contend, inevitably exist between a researcher andthose who are researched. One way in which the researcher may try to lessen thepower differential is through self-disclosure. Thus recovering alcoholics whoare researching alcohol misuse or women who have survived domestic violenceinterviewing women who are being abused would make the interviewee aware of thefact. While it maybe impossible to do away with the power differentialaltogether, it does make it less problematic. Ann Oakley (1982) has writtenthat, the goal of finding outabout people through interviewing is best achieved when the relationship ofinterviewer and interviewee is non- hierarchical and when the interviewer isprepared to invest his or her own personal identity in the relationship (Oakley,1982:41). This power differential thatexists in the research relationship may also colour what is found because datais never free of the influence of the person who gathered it. Carspecken (1996)believes that although critical researchers may have a value commitment that isnot to say that the research needs to be biased providing it is systematic andcareful. Stanley and Wise have this to say, .the recognition that whoa researcher is, in terms of their sex, race, class, and sexuality, affectswhat they find in research and is as true of feminists as of any other researchers(Stanley and Wise, 1993:228). This power differential willalso affect, and may distort the dialogue between the researcher and theresearched. Abbott and Wallace (1997) argue that because the researcher willnecessarily involve herself with the women she is studying then she needs to beaware of this. Constant reflexivity is required if the research is to beconsidered valid. The researcher must be aware that because she is a part ofwhat is going on this inevitably affects what is going on and there needs to bea continual taking stock of how personal values, attitudes and perceptions areinfluencing the research process. A feministinterviewing women is by definition both inside the culture andparticipating in that which she is observingpersonal involvement is morethan dangerous bias it is the condition under which people come to know eachother and to admit others into their lives (Oakley,1982:58). Aronson (1992) has pointedout that the ethnographic interview is a common method of gathering data inqualitative research. Interviewing is also a method which is favoured byfeminist researchers (Oakley, 1982; Stanley and Wise, 1993). The interviewprocess should be such that women feel at ease and can relate their experiencesas they see them. The interviewer should encourage the participation of theinterviewee, the aim of which is to conduct research with women rather than onwomen. In this way it is thought that a fuller picture of womens experiencesemerges (Oakley, 1981 et al). Carspecken (1996) argues that one way ofminimising any distortions that may arise due to the power differential betweenresearcher and researched is to check out your findings with the researchparticipants. Differences may also arise here if the dialogue between theresearcher and the research participants has been awkward or untruthful in anyway there may be objections when the participant sees what has been wr itten.Seeing this distorted dialogue in print may increase any feelings ofpowerlessness that the participant might have and thus renegotiating thedialogue may prove difficult. Ethics At the very least ethics areconcerned with protecting the anonymity of those who are participating in theresearch. This is vital if for example the participants are women who haveexperienced rape or domestic abuse as any such exposure of their true identitycould put them at further risk. Many researchers, not just feministresearchers, also regard the use of non-sexist language as an ethicalprinciple. Sexist language is exclusionary and denotes the power relationshipsthat have for centuries existed in patriarchal society. Relationships that arein some way based on power are prone distortions in communication and it is upto the critical researcher to be aware of these sources of distortion as amatter of ethical principle. Carpecken (1996) thus believes that researchersshould: Establish supportive,non-authoritarian relationships with the participants in your study. Activelyencourage them to question your own perceptions. Be sure that participants areprotected from any harm that your study could produce, and be sure that theyknow they are protected (Carpecken, 1996:90). There isconsiderable contemporary debate about what constitutes ethical research. Thisis particularly the case with sensitive areas and with feminist methodologies(Abbott and Wallace, 1997). Feminist researchers are concerned with the ideathat the people who are the major part of many research undertakings should notbe exploited. As I have stated previously, feminist researchers are concernedwith the researched. Relationships between researchers and their human subjectsare often continued long after work in the field has finished (Ely et al,1996). The majority of feminists are conscious that the research relationshipis a two-way process. Researchlike all other knowing, is a transactional process the knower and the knownboth act upon each other (Ely, et al, 1996:196 ibid.). Many feministsregard it as crucially important that women who are more oppressed andmarginalised than they themselves are given a voice for their experiences. Theyargue that some, (predominantly male) researchers have used respondents asobjects to be worked on (Reinharz, 1983; Abbott and Wallace, 1997). In manycases there is no further contact with the people they have worked with oncethe research process is finished. Feminists have said that this kind of researchis conducted on a rape model. The researcherstake, hit, and run, with a total disregard for the needs of the researched.They intrude into their subjects privacy, disrupt their perceptions, utilisefalse pretences, manipulate the relationships, and give little or nothing inreturn. When the needs of the researchers are satisfied, they break off contactwith the subjects (Reinharz, 1983:80). The issue of giving oppressed andmarginalised women a voice has been identified by black feminists, as anethical matter. This is because black womens voices are the most marginal ofall womens voices in the academy, and the current educational systemreinforces the values and culture of the dominant classes, thereby ensuringtheir continued domination and the covert exercise of power (Hill-Collins, P,1990). In view of these ethical questions, many feminists are conscious of theneed to put something back in, whether by the payment of a fee, or ofcontributing to work in the community. More recently however ethical questionshave also concerned researcher safety. Is it ethical to allow a lone (possiblyfemale) researcher to venture into settings where the power relationships thatpertain in such a setting may put that researcher at risk. Power and ethics areclosely entertwined. Covert participant observation (whereby the researcherdoes not disclose their true role and reasons for being in the setting) isoften regarded as unethical and a misuse of researcher power becauseparticipants are not given the chance to give their informed consent to the research.It is also regarded as privacy violation (Bryman, 2004). Thus the powerrelationships that are, or might be at work in the research relationship needto be acknowledged at all stages of the research process and before decisionsabout how the research is undertaken are formalised. Research, particularly qualitative research is not just composed of a setof facts drawn from a number of suitably phrased questions. It is madeup of all the seemingly unrelated bits and pieces that are part of humanrelationships (Ely et al, 1996). Critical Urban Research The most famous urban research is that of the Chicago school in the 1920sand 30s. Robert Park was the central figure here and his main concerns werewith the effects of social and cultural forces on human nature. Park and hiscolleagues recognised two levels of behaviour the biotic and the cultural. Thebiotic level concerned mechanisms of survival and competition and the culturalwas concerned with how the human subject was constituted (Dickens, 1990). Urbanresearch is concerned with how the city influences those who inhabit it and howit shapes their lives. Giddens has argued that the space people occupy has tobe taken into account when studying social life because social interaction isnot aspatial, it has to take place somewhere. This somewhere Giddens designatesa locale. Localesrange from a room in a house, or street corner, the shopfloor of a factory,towns and cities to the territorially demarcated areas occupied by regionstates. But they are typically internally regionalised (Giddens, 1984). The Chicago school was highly influential on the way in which streetsociety was studied. Jacobs (1961) undertook what became a classical study ofGreenwich Village when she studied the everyday behaviour and relationships ofpeople on the sidewalk. In the nineteen-ninetees Duneier (1999) wanted todiscover how sidewalk life had changed in the intervening years. He studied thelife of pan handlers and street vendors to see whether and in what ways itscharacter might have changed. Duneier started out as a voyeur and customer at abookstall in Greenwich Village and it was there that he noticed the tenor ofsidewalk life. His primary informant was the bookseller who at first wasreluctant to take part in the research. When he eventually wrote up hisfindings and submitted the manuscript for publication he was not comfortableeven though he had invited his informant to read the manuscript and comment onit. He eventually co-opted the informant to co-teach with him about life on thestreet for a Blac k American. Duneier believed that not only would this adjustthe imbalance in power relationships in research more adequately but thatstudent feedback and comments on the course might allow him to remedy anyshortcomings of the original research. Duneier had faced a number of challenges during the course of researchsuch as gaining access to the culture and the confidence of those who lived andworked on the streets. He had trouble fitting in because of the obvious powerdifferentials of class and race as well as the inequality of the researchrelationship (adapted from Giddens, 2001 pps 652-655). Duneiers researchparticipants were among the least powerful of society. The way in which modernsocieties operate what Giddens (2001) has called a geography of centrality andmarginality where affluence and abject poverty co-exist made the lives ofDuneiers research participants unliveable. He was worried whether he wasimposing an agenda on his research participants that would make their liveseven more problematic. What Duneiers research revealed was that the socialresearcher has to take account of the wider social context and processes ofwhich he/she is a themselves a part. Mac an Ghaills critical ethnography ofheterosexual and homosexual young men also tries to reduce the powerdifferential between researcher and research participants and to be as open andethically aware as possible though collaboration, reciprocity and reflexivity(Haralambos et al, 2000). Conclusion This paper has examined how power relationships in research impact at alllevels of the research process and affect the dialogue between the researcherand the research participants and the ethical considerations that are part ofsocial research. It has also attempted to show how these processes can severelyaffect the undertaking of critical urban ethnography. Duneiers work inparticular demonstrates how power relationships operate at all levels inresearch and how decisions that have been made (for example the changinggeography of the urban environment) which neither the researcher nor researchparticipants have any control over can affect the outcomes of the research anda researchers own sense of his personal ethical commitment to the people whomay have participated in the research. There are a number of reasons why thisis important. Those scholars who are critical of this type of research oftenfail to acknowledge that the scientific paradigm is also beset with these kindsof issues and p roblems but fails to take them into account. This is what Popper(1992) called the theory of demarcation whereby any variables that do not fitwith the theory are ruled out of the equation. Duneier and others explicitrecounting of the problematic nature of undertaking social research thatcontributes to knowledge, is committed to social transformation, and at thesame time is aware the pitfalls that can occur when researching the lives ofthose who are already disenfranchised by society. There may never be a completeanswer to addressing the issue of power relationships in social research but Iwould wish to argue that the researcher who neglects the fact that such thingsexist and influence all research is failing to give an accurate account of thesocial reality that he/she is investigating. 5000 words Bibliography Abbott, P andWallace, C (1997) An Introduction to Sociology, Feminist Perspectives Routledge,London. Aronson, J. (1992). Theinterface of family therapy and a juvenile arbitration and mediation program,.Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, FortLauderdale, FL . Bilton, T. etal, 1996. Introductory Sociology, London, Macmillan (Ch. 13). Bogdan, R andBilklen, S (1982) Qualitative Research for Education: An Introduction toTheory and Methods, Allyn and Bacon, Boston Bogdan, R andTaylor, S (1984) Introduction to Qualita

Biggest problem in america is the economy Essay

Unfortunately, this topic has now been â€Å"politicized,† which means that you can’t talk about it without being instantly cheered or jeered by fans of each respective political team. But the economy is much more important than this year’s election or either political team. There are several factors that have come together to produce a frustratingly weak economy that has persisted in the United States for more than a decade. One of those things are â€Å"Globalization†. It opened up a vast pool of billions of workers who for way less than Americans because they’re desperate. This messes up everything, it has resulted in companies shifting formerly middle wage paying jobs overseas. Another is Technology it has continued to increase productivity, allowing companies to do more with fewer employees. These and other factors have contributed to the most radical redistribution of wealth that the United States has ever seen. Since the late 1970s, the country’s assets and income have moved steadily from â€Å"average† Americans to the richest Americans. This has created a society with more extreme wealth inequality than we have seen at any time since the 1920s. Fairness aside, the problem with this state of affairs is that it leaves hundreds of millions of American consumers the real engines of the economy with little money to spend. With consumers having little money to spend, businesses suffer. As businesses suffer, they look for ways to cut costs. And this, in turn, hurts employees (consumers) even more. One thing to keep in mind as we think about how to fix this state of affairs is that this is not an era in which everyone is suffering. Everyone is not suffering. Big companies and their owners and senior managers are not suffering. They are doing great. Big companies and their owners and senior managers, in fact, are doing better that the have done at any time in  history, at least judging by the amount of profit they are producing. It’s everyone else who is getting hosed. Now, in the current political environment, you can’t make an observation like that without being pegged as an anti-business â€Å"socialist† or â€Å"communist.† So, it’s important to emphasize that there is nothing anti-business about this observation. I just don’t believe that great businesses exist solely to capture â€Å"profits† and steer cash into the pockets of their owners. When a free-market economy is functioning well, as the American economy did for most of the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s, the benefits of the system accrue to all participants, namely: Owners and senior managers Customers Employees Society at large When the system gets out of balance, however, the benefits begin to accrue disproportionately to one or two of of the constituencies at the expense of the others and that’s the situation we’re in now. The benefits of our free-market capitalist system which, by the way, is the best economic system on the planet, by a mile are accruing disproportionately to owners, managers, and customers, at the expense of everyone else. If we actually want to put some effort into fixing our economy, we have to fix that. Specifically, we have to persuade companies and their owners to hire more employees and share more of their immense wealth and profits with them. Most importantly, companies don’t need to do this just for altruistic reasons (though no one would object if they did). If enough companies do this, they will not just help their employees. They will help their future sales growth. Because their employees and customers, the American consumers, will then have more money to spend. Bibliography sources Internet†¨Online ads Encyclopedia

What Are the 4 Most Abundant Gases in Earths Atmosphere

The most abundant gases in Earths atmosphere  depend on the region of the atmosphere and other factors. Since the chemical composition of the atmosphere depends on temperature, altitude, and proximity to water. Usually, the 4 most abundant gases are: Nitrogen (N2) -  Ã‚  78.084%Oxygen (O2) -  20.9476%Argon (Ar) - 0.934%Carbon dioxide (CO2)  0.0314% However, water vapor can also be one of the most abundant gases! The maximum amount of water vapor air can hold is 4%, so water vapor could be number 3 or 4 on this list. On average, the amount of water vapor is 0.25% of the atmosphere, by mass (4th most abundant gas). Warm air holds more water than cool air. On a much smaller scale, near the surface forests, the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide can vary slightly from day to night. Gases in the Upper Atmosphere While the atmosphere near the surface has a fairly homogeneous chemical composition, the abundance of gases changes at higher altitudes. The lower level is called the homosphere. Above it is the heterosphere or exosphere. This region consists of layers or shells of gases. The lowest level consists mainly of  molecular nitrogen (N2). Above it, there is a layer of atomic oxygen (O). At an even higher altitude, helium atoms (He) are the most abundant element. Beyond this point,  helium bleeds off into space. The outermost layer consists of hydrogen atoms (H). Particles surround the Earth even further out (ionosphere), but the outer layers are charged particles, not gases. The thickness and composition of the layers of the exosphere change depending on solar radiation (day and night and solar activity).

Integrity And Courage In Culture - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1191 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/05/03 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Integrity Essay Did you like this example? Merriam Webster Dictionary defines courage as mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. If we apply these ideas to how Gilgamesh found courage and integrity through his friendship with Enkidu, or in the entire story of The Iliad, we can see growth happen. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Integrity And Courage In Culture" essay for you Create order And growth occurs even today, hundreds of years after Gilgamesh and the Iliad were written. Colin Kaepernick in his Nike ad showed his interpretation of courage and integrity, and I believe there will always be examples to pull from of what these two words mean. One could argue that Gilgamesh showed courage by building these fantastic temples, surrounding his city by giant walls, or just making his city as beautiful as he apparently was. But this was not courage. Gilgamesh was cruel, and I believe cruelty comes from being a coward. The gods agreed, at least to an extent, because that is when we see Enkidu come into play, who really shows Gilgamesh what it means to be courageous. Enkidu, who was a wild man, proved to Gilgamesh that friendship can show great bravery, integrity, and courage. Gilgamesh had been raping women, taking what he wanted from who he wanted, and in general, kind of being a bad guy. But through Enkidus friendship, integrity had new meaning to Gilgamesh, as he started to care for another being. Enkidu challenged Gilgamesh to change his ways and start a new adventure. Gilgamesh and Enkidu fight in the face of adversity when battling Humbaba, and Gilgamesh fights in the face of normalcy when he shoots down the love of Ishtar. The gods are then not too happy with the two, and try to enforce discipline on them, which is kind of like persisting in the face of adversity. They were two friends going on an adventure, and when they were courageous enough to defy the gods, they stood up to the backlash. Finally, when the gods do discipline the two friends in a way that hurts, Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh had to be courageous in this moment, too. He had to deal with the loss of a true friend, and showed his integrity by honoring Enkidu in now wearing animal skins, just like Enkidu would. On the other hand, the Iliad shows us a true spectacle of a lack of courage and integrity. Agamemnon and Achilles show a lack of integrity when they claimed two women as their own, even when one of the girls father tries to take his own daughter back into safe hands. The father then does the only thing he can pray. He then causes a plague on the Greek army, punishing their lack of integrity. Because of this plague, Agamemnon realizes he has to give this stolen girl back, and then shows even less integrity by demanding Achilles stolen girl. Then to top it all off, Achilles refuses to fight in battle because he is insulted Agamemnon wants to steal his girl. Everyone has no sense of what is right or what is courageous. This lack of integrity and courage results in the death of Patroclus, the only truly courageous person there. Patroclus chooses to fight in Achilles place, even if it gets him killed, which seems imminent. He does indeed die. But this spiked a sense of courage in Achilles, who vows to fight in honor of Patroclus. He kills every enemy he sees, and even fights a god. Eventually, a sense of courage and integrity shines through and Achilles kills the man, Hector, who killed his friend. But there is a newer sense of integrity and courage than hundreds of years ago in the Iliad or Gilgamesh there is Colin Kaepernicks Nike ad. It starts with a skater falling, then a child with no legs wrestling, then a black boy running, and even a girl playing football against all the boys. The message here is that you can do anything, even in the face of adversity. There is an argument to be made that if you took Colin Kaepernick out of the ad, it would not be controversial. There is nothing controversial about following your dreams. There is something courageous though about the line spoken by Kaepernick Stand for something, even if it means sacrificing everything. Colin Kaepernick was incredibly courageous to put himself into the spotlight once more. He was forced into the option to leave the National Football League (NFL) as a free agent to never be drafted into a team again, but he did not stop there. He wanted the message to be clear he stood for something. He stood for the black lives matter movement. And the kids shown in the beginning of the ad stand for something their own dreams. Colin Kaepernick is undrafted in the NFL as a free agent because of kneeling during the national anthem, even though he was such an incredible quarterback, he led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. The amount of dedication and hard work it took get to the NFL, let alone lead a team to the Super Bowl, is insane. However, due to conservative ideals, this was all thrown away and Kaepernick was blacklisted. Kaepernick showed and continues to show incredible courage and integrity for never sacrificing what he believed in for others, which was the black lives matter movement. The other side of this coin are those who are offended by Colin Kaepernick and question his motives. Conservative media sees Kaepernick as a threat to patriotism. He did not stand for the national anthem, so therefore he disrespected the flag of the United States, and the United States itself. How could someone kneel during the most important song this country has to offer? There is no doubt that those who were upset with his actions saw this as a violation of dignity of the United States. It felt like a personal attack. And it felt like an attack to all those that served the country. Integrity was shown, though. Integrity, defined once again as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. Kaepernick did was he believed was right, or morally just. He was courageous, if we define courage as standing in the face of adversity with good moral intentions. This ad was simply a representation of the moral uprightness that Kaepernick was already displaying in his everyday life. Again, Merriam Webster Dictionary defines courage as mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. As we applied these ideas to how Gilgamesh found courage and integrity through his friendship with Enkidu, or in the entire story of The Iliad, we saw growth happen. And we saw how growth occurs even today, hundreds of years after Gilgamesh and the Iliad were written. Colin Kaepernick in his Nike ad showed his interpretation of courage and integrity, and I believe there will always be examples of integrity and courage in culture.