The Effect of Health and Wellbeing on Australian Youth

The Effect of Health and Wellbeing on Australian Youth Introduction Health and wellbeing among youth are important not only for individual happiness but the growth and development of the society and the nation as well (AIHW, 2011). Research and studies note that health and wellbeing of young people results in them becoming responsible citizens of society due to better educational outcomes, healthy lifestyles in adulthood and good parenting styles (Muir et al. 2009).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Effect of Health and Wellbeing on Australian Youth specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Health is a very broad term which includes all aspects of an individual’s well being and not just an absence of disease. Eckersley (2008) uses health and wellbeing as exchangeable terms and defines health as the â€Å"degree to which people enjoy the living conditions (social, economic, cultural and environmental) that are conducive to total health and wellbeing (physical, mental, s ocial and spiritual)†. The health and wellbeing of the Australian youth is important to the Australian government not only because the youth of a nation are its future, but also because the Australian population is an ageing one (Ragg, 2007). In a report by the Australian state and territory ministers, Ragg (2007) found that the the percentage of newborn babies in Australia is reducing each year. With the percentage of older adults on the rise, Australia is no more a country of the young, but a land where the majority of the people belong to the middle age group. As such, it has become doubly important to ensure that the Australian youth are healthy and happy, socially, psychologically and economically. Researchers have been concerned about the health and wellbeing of young Australian and have conducted several studies to explore the dimensions of health and wellbeing among the young people of Australia (Eckersley 2008; Eckersley et al., 2006; Glover et al., 1998). In order to bring about positive health changes in the Australian youth community, it is imperative to understand the causes and effects of health and wellbeing from their perspective. This paper contributes to this goal by identifying these perspectives of health and wellbeing among young Australians. The research explores the way in which the youth of Australia defines the notion of good health and consequent wellbeing, and the effects of this wellbeing on the young people of Australian society. The paper focuses on some important factors which have a negative impact on health and wellbeing of the youth, such as mental health and social networking.Advertising Looking for report on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Literature Review Youth researchers describe wellbeing holistically rather than individually, in terms of their needs, requirements, lifestyle and overall quality of life (White and Wyn, 2007). Youth researchers evaluate youth wellbeing in terms of their physical and mental health, financial prosperity, social inclusion, networking and support, individuality and spirituality (White and Wyn, 2007). Researchers have pointed out the importance of social processes (for instance homelessness which fails to provide a safe home environment) as influential factors determining the wellbeing of youth (Bourke Geldens, 2007). In their study, Bourke Geldens (2007) surveyed the dimensions of wellbeing in young adults. Data from their research revealed that the youth laid emphasis on factors such as the self, personal goals, living and working environments, physical and mental health and emotions as crucial indicators of wellbeing. As indicated in the table below the participants have given high rankings to social relationships and friendships. They gave high ratings to relationships with friends, family, community members, and peers as all of these provide them with a secure sense of belon ging. The study reaffirms the importance of the social dimension in young people who lay great emphasis on social acceptance and relationships as being crucial to their sense of wellbeing (Bourke Geldens, 2007). A detailed study by Easthope White (2006) analyzed the impact of social relationships on the health and wellbeing of young people. The researchers interviewed adolescents between the ages of 11 years and 18 years, in rural and urban settings. The results of the qualitative interview of these young individuals revealed that their concepts of health relative to a good diet were clear.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Effect of Health and Wellbeing on Australian Youth specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, behaviors such as sports and health activities were heavily linked with friendships and social relationships. Even bad health behaviors such as smoking and drug abuse were impacted by social relatio nships with friends. The research provides a comprehensive outlook on the perceptions of health and wellbeing from the adolescent perspective. Eckersley (2008) states that mental health disorders are the third largest most important contributors to disease. Nearly 50% of the Australian youth are affected by mental health disorders, mainly anxiety and depression (Begg et al., 2007). There has been a steady rise in the Australian populace reported with mental health issues. Mental disorders have a critical impact on the wellbeing and functioning of individuals due to their disabling effect and have become a serious cause of concern for the Australian youth (Slade et al., 2007). Nearly 45% of the entire Australian population have been diagnosed with some or other mental health problem once in a lifetime; the percentage of the youth with disorders is particularly high. Research findings of a National Australian Survey to find the state of mental health and wellbeing of Australian reside nts highlighted some astounding results related to the youth (Slade et al., 2009). The study noted that 22.8% of young men between the ages of 16 and 24 had a mental health issue. However, only 13.2% took professional help. Results from the study affirmed the high prevalence of mental health problems in Australians, with nearly half of the population meeting the criteria for some or other mental disorder. Social media plays an important aspect in the lives of the youth today. It is now clear that the young people lay great emphasis on social inclusion as an important factor in health and wellbeing (Bourke Geldens, 2007; Eckersley 2008; White and Wyn, 2007). Research and studies confirm the harmful effects of media on the youth due to health issues such as obesity, depression and aggression (Strasburger 2010). Since social relationships and friends play such an important role in the lives of young people, a study which does not take into account the impact of social networking media such as Facebook would be incomplete. In a country where the percentage of the youth is shrinking and mental health disease rates are high, it is important to consider the impact of popular social networking sites like Facebook on the Australian youth.Advertising Looking for report on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In an article about the role of social media on health and wellbeing, Charmaine Yabsley (n.d.) points to the negative impact of social media and networking sites such as Facebook. She states that Australia is one of the highest ranking nations with nearly 80% of the population online. She points to the negative impact of sites like Facebook which are believed to be causing new mental disorders like ‘Facebook depression’ in troubled adolescents. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011) confirms the negative effects of social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube which could be misused for online fraud, bullying and pornography. Yabsley (n.d.) asserts that not only does social media negatively affect mental health but also causes serious physical health problems. With reduced physical activity, social media can cause diseases like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and depression due to an inactive life lacking physical activity. Discussion Ecker sley (2008) candidly declares that â€Å"fundamental social, cultural, economic and environmental changes in Australia and other Western societies are impacting adversely on young people’s health and wellbeing.† Evidence suggests that social and psychological factors play a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of young adults (Bourke Geldens, 2007; Eckersley, 2008; Slade et al., 2009). Other studies also indicate that young individuals who face problems in transitioning from adolescence to adulthood could face difficulties in later life as well. Muir et al. (2009), affirm the strong relationship between behaviors during youth and those in later life. Moreover, the Australian population is an ageing one (Ragg, 2007). With a serious decline in new births, the ration of youth to middle aged adults has drastically reduced. The image below indicates the rates of declining young people in Australia (Ragg, 2007). Considering that the youth of any country is central to i ts development and progress, the health and wellbeing of the Australian youth are of prime importance to the Australian government (AIHW, 2011). It is the government’s job to ensure that the Australian youth gets the best possible conditions for a good start in life through policy initiatives and early intervention methods which will enhance their health and wellbeing and help them become promising future citizens. Conclusion The youth of a country plays an important role in determining its future. Health and wellbeing increase the prospects of young people becoming good and responsible citizens of a country. With the ageing Australian populace, the Australian government bears a huge responsibility of developing programs and policies to ensure its health and wellbeing on all levels, physical, social and psychological. A clear understanding of the causes and effects of health and wellbeing will help in achieving the goal of creating a better society with responsible mature and happy adults. Reference List Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2011, Young Australians: their health and wellbeing 2011, Cat. No. PHE 140. AIHW, Canberra. Begg S, Vos T, Barker B, Stevenson C, Stanley L Lopez A 2007. The burden of disease and injury in Australia, 2003. AIHW, Canberra. Bourke, L Geldens, P 2007, ‘What does wellbeing mean? Perspectives of wellbeing among young people and youth workers in rural Victoria , Youth Studies Australia, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 41-49. Yabsley, C n.d., Social media and its impact on health and wellbeing. Web. Eckersley, R 2008, Never better – or getting worse? The health and wellbeing of young Australians. Australia 21 Ltd, Canberra. Eckersley, R, Wierenga, A, Wyn, J 2006, ‘Success and wellbeing: A preview of the Australia 21 report on young people’s wellbeing’, Youth Studies Australia, vol. 25, no.1, pp.10-18. Easthope, G White, R 2006, ‘Health Wellbeing: How Do Young People See These Co ncepts?’, Youth Studies Australia, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 42-49. Glover, S, Burns, J, Butler, H Patton, G 1998, ‘Social environments and the emotional wellbeing of young people’, Family Matters, vol. 49, pp. 11-16. Muir, K, Mullan, K, Powell, A, Flaxman, S, Thompson, D Griffiths, M. 2009. State of Australia’s young people: a report on the social, economic, health and family lives of young people. Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Canberra. Ragg M, editor 2007, ‘Caring for our health? A report card on the Australian Government’s performance on health care’. Web. Slade, T, Johnston, A, Oakley, Browne, M A, Andrews, G, Whiteford, H 2009, ‘2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: methods and key findings’, Aust N Z J Psychiatry, vol. 43 no. 7, pp. 594-605. Strasburger, V 2010, ‘Children, adolescents, and the media: s even key issues’, Pediatric Annals vol. 39, no. 9, pp. 556–65. White, R Wyn, J. 2004, Youth and society: Exploring the social dynamics of youth experience, Oxford University Press, Melbourne

Links Ideas Together in French With Conjunctions

Links Ideas Together in French With Conjunctions Introduction to French Conjunctions Conjunctions provide a link between similar words or groups of words, such as nouns, verbs, people and things. There are two types of French conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating.   1. Coordinating conjunctions join words and groups of words with an equal value.   Ã‚  Jaime les pommes et les oranges.I like apples and oranges.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je veux le faire, mais je nai pas dargent.I want to do it, but I dont have any money. 2. Subordinating conjunctions join dependent clauses to main clauses.   Ã‚  Jai dit que jaime les pommes.I said that I like apples.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il travaille pour que vous puissiez manger.He works so that you can eat. French Coordinating Conjunctions Coordinating conjunctions join words and groups of words of equal value that  have the same nature or the same function in the sentence. In the case of individual words, this means that they must be the same part of speech. If theyre clauses, they must be similar or complementary tenses/moods. These are frequently used French coordinating conjunctions: car  Ã‚  for, becausedonc  Ã‚  soensuite  Ã‚  nextet  Ã‚  andmais  Ã‚  butor  Ã‚  now, yetou  Ã‚  orou  bien  Ã‚  or elsepuis  Ã‚  then ExamplesJaime les pommes, les bananes  et  les oranges.I like apples, bananas,  and  oranges.- Pommes,  bananes, and  oranges  are all fruits (nouns).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Veux-tu  aller  en France  ou  en  Italie  ?Do you want to go to France  or  Italy?- France  and  Italy  are both places (nouns).   Ã‚  Ce  nest  pas carrà ©Ã‚  mais  rectangulaire.Its not square  but  rectangular.- Carrà ©Ã‚  and  rectangulaire  are both adjectives.   Ã‚  Je veux le faire,  mais  je nai pas dargent.I want to do it,  but  I dont have any money.- Je  veux  le  faire  and  je  nai  pas  dargent  are present  tense.   Ã‚  Fais tes devoirs,  puis  lave la vaisselle.Do your homework,  then  wash the dishes.- Fais  tes  devoirs  and  lave la  vaisselle  are both commands. Note:  French children learn the mnemonic Mais oà ¹ est  donc  Ornicar  ?  to help them remember the most common French coordinating conjunctions- mais,  ou,  et,  donc,  or,  ni  and  car. Repeated Coordinating Conjunctions Certain French coordinating conjunctions can be repeated in front of each of the joined items for emphasis: et...et   both...andne...ni... ni   neither...norou...ou  Ã‚  either...orsoit...soit  Ã‚  either...or   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je  connais  et  Jean-Paul  et  son frà ¨re.I know  both  Jean-Paul  and  his brother.- Jean-Paul  and  son frà ¨re  are both people (nouns). Note that for the negative coordinating conjunction  ne...ni...ni, the word  ne  goes in front of the verb, just like the  ne  in other  negative structures. French Subordinating Conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions join dependent (subordinate) clauses to main clauses. A dependent clause cannot stand alone because its meaning is incomplete without the main clause. In addition, sometimes the dependent clause has a verb form that cannot stand alone. There are some frequently used French subordinate conjunctions: comme  Ã‚  as, sincelorsque  Ã‚  whenpuisque  Ã‚  since, asquand  Ã‚  whenque  Ã‚  thatquoique*  Ã‚  even thoughsi  Ã‚  if *Note that  quoique  must be followed by the  subjunctive.*For subordinating conjunctions like  afin  que  and  parce  que, see  conjunctive phrases. ExamplesJai dit  que  jaime  les  pommes.I said  that  I like apples.The main clause is  jai  dit. What did I say? Jaime  les  pommes.  Jaime  les  pommes  is incomplete without  jai  dit. I might not in fact like apples, but I said that I did.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Comme  tu  nes  pas prà ªt,  jy  irai  seul.Since  youre not ready, Ill go alone.The main clause is  jy  irai  seul. Why will I go alone?  Because  tu  nes  pas prà ªt. The idea here is not that I want to go alone, but the fact that I will go alone  since  youre not ready.   Ã‚  Si  je suis libre, je tamà ¨nerai laà ©roport.If  Im free, Ill take you to the airport.The main clause is  je tamà ¨nerai laà ©roport. Is this guaranteed? No, only  si  je  suis  libre. If something else comes up, I cant take you.   Ã‚  Jai  peur  quand  il voyage.I am scared  when  he travels.The main clause is  jai  peur. When am I scared? Not all the time, only  quand  il voyage. So  jai  peur  is incomplete without the juxtaposition  quand  il voyage. French Conjunctive Phrases A conjunctive phrase is a group of two or more words that function as a conjunction. French conjunctive phrases usually end in  que,  and most are subordinating conjunctions. condition  que*  Ã‚  provided thatafin  que*  Ã‚  so thatainsi  que  Ã‚  just as, so asalors  que  Ã‚  while, whereas  mesure  que  Ã‚  as (progressively)  moins  que**  Ã‚  unlessaprà ¨s  que  Ã‚  after, when supposer  que*  Ã‚  assuming thatau  cas  oà ¹Ã‚  Ã‚  in caseaussità ´t  que  Ã‚  as soon asavant  que**  Ã‚  beforebien  que*  Ã‚  althoughdans  lhypothà ¨se oà ¹Ã‚  Ã‚  in the event thatde  crainte  que**  Ã‚  for fear thatde faà §on  que*  Ã‚  in such a way thatde manià ¨re  que*  Ã‚  so thatde mà ªme  que  Ã‚  just asde  peur  que**  for fear thatdepuis  que  Ã‚  sincede  sorte  que*  Ã‚  so that, in such a way thatdà ¨s  que  Ã‚  as soon asen  admettant  que*  Ã‚  assuming thaten attendant  que*  Ã‚  while, untilencore  que*  Ã‚  even thoughjusqu  ce  que*  Ã‚  untilparce  que  Ã‚  becausependant  que  Ã‚  whilepour  que*  Ã‚  so thatpourvuà ‚  que*  Ã‚  provided thatquand  bien  mà ªme  Ã‚  even though/ifquoi  que*  Ã‚  whatever, no matter whatsans  que**  Ã‚  withoutsità ´t  que  Ã‚  as soon assupposà ©Ã‚  que*  Ã‚  supposingtant  que   as or so much as / as long astandis  que  Ã‚  while, whereasvu  que  Ã‚  seeing as/that *These conjunctions must be followed by the  subjunctive.**These conjunctions require the  subjunctive  and  ne  explà ©tif. ExamplesIl travaille  pour que  vous puissiez manger.He works  so that  you can eat.The main clause is  il  travaille. Why does he work?  Pour  que  vous  puissiez  manger. The idea here is not that you can eat, but the fact that you can eat  because  he works. Another clue is that  vous  puissiez  manger  cannot stand alone; the  subjunctive  is only found in subordinate clauses.   Ã‚  Jai rà ©ussi lexamen  bien que  je naie pas à ©tudià ©.I passed the test  even though  I didnt study.The main clause is  jai  rà ©ussi   lexamen. How did I pass the test? Certainly not by studying, since  je  nai  pas à ©tudià ©. So  jai  rà ©ussi   lexamen  is incomplete without the juxtaposition  bien  que  je  naie  pas à ©tudià ©.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Il est  parti  parce  quil  avait  peur.He left  because  he was afraid.The main clause is  il est  parti. Why did he leave?  Because  il  avait  peur. The idea  il  avait  peur  is incomplete without the main clause  il est  parti.

Medea Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Medea - Assignment Example With several instances of conflict the play moves ahead through a number of death, sorrow and finally lead to a tragic end with Jason losing everything (Tigane 7-15). The assignment examines how different characters of the play fail to meet the criteria mentioned in Aristotle’s Golden Mean. Moreover, the assignment even elaborates the character as per Aristotle’s ethics as well as the Golden Mean. The failure of the characters to meet the ethics as specified in Aristotle’s Golden Mean has been effectively discussed in the paper. Aristotle’s theory of Golden Mean elaborates on the basis of origin, measures and development of virtues important for the enhancement of happiness, which is considered to be the ultimate goal of human life. This happiness is desired solely for oneself and has nothing to do with the material pleasures and possessions. The golden mean even elaborates on the fact that many people are of the opinion that the material possessions can bring ultimate happiness. Observably, Aristotle’s ethics are based strongly on theological as well as practical approaches, which define the wellbeing of human as a whole. The continuous acting in accordance to the virtues could be observed as a source of happiness that lasts longer and not just provide short term happiness. The ethics is completely centered on the character of a person as it is the most important element that helps in developing the virtues. This development of the virtues leads to a long lived happiness. Accordingly, it can be justified that ethics helps in developing the human character such that the person will be able to enhance their style of living and draw pleasure and happiness from their life. Moreover, ethics helps to identify the different characteristics that are present in one individual and that helps in developing the happiness throughout the life (Cunningham 5-15). Medea. The character was so blind to take revenge on her husband that she was not

What Should the Media Do to Respect Right for Privacy Essay

What Should the Media Do to Respect Right for Privacy - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that according to â€Å"Things that are not in the U.S. Constitution†, (n.d.), is it reported that â€Å"The Constitution does not specifically mention a right to privacy. However, Supreme Court decisions over the years have established that the right to privacy is a basic human right, and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th Amendment. The right to privacy has come to the public's attention via several controversial Supreme Court rulings, including several dealing with contraception (the Griswold and Eisenstadt cases), interracial marriage (the Loving case), and abortion (the well-known Roe v Wade case). In addition, it is said that a right to privacy is inherent in many of the amendments in the Bill of Rights, such as the 3rd, the 4th's search and seizure limits, and the 5th's self-incrimination limit".  Although the right to privacy is not specifically stated in the text of the Constitution, the 14th, 1st, 4th, and 5th Ame ndments have provided some privacy protection. The right to privacy protects individuals from information that is gathered, collected, and how the information is used.  Individuals have the freedom to decide whether or not to participate in certain acts or to subject himself/herself to certain situations and experiences. This right of privacy is protected by the 14th Amendment.  Unauthorized use of an individual's name or likeness is protected by the Right of Publicity. For commercial reasons and purposes, this gives an individual the right to license the use of their identity. There are four invasion types of invasion of privacy, according to The Restatement Second of Torts. These include an appropriation of name or likeness, intrusion, unreasonable publicity, and false light.

General Motors Essay Example for Free

General Motors Essay General Motors Company, known as GM, was founded in 1908 in Flint, Michigan by William C. Durant and Charles Stewart Mott. The present chairman and CEO is Daniel Akerson. Akerson joined GMs board in 2009 as the company went through a bankruptcy reorganization. He became CEO Sept. 1, 2010, and led GMs 2010 return to the stock market — at the time the largest initial public offering in U.S. history (Detroit Free Press, 2013). The headquarters for GM is presently located in Detroit, Michigan. GM specializes in designing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing cars, trucks and vehicle parts. The brands under GM include Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun, Holden, Isuzu, Jie Fang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM employs over 200,000 people and has 396 facilities on six continents. GM is divided into five business segments: GM North America, GM Europe, GM International Operations, GM South America and GM Financial. The two biggest markets for GM are the U.S. and China. According to Dan Akerson they continually do well in both markets and are making further progress in their European business (General Motors, 2013). In July, 2009, GM filed for bankruptcy. Later that year, GM emerged from a government backed Chapter 11 reorganization. Then in 2010 GM made an initial public offering (IPO) that was one of the world’s largest and helped them to return to making a profit later that year. An IPO is a type of public offering where shares of stock in a company are sold to the general public. Through this process GM, a private company, became a public company. Because of t he bankruptcy GM had to start from the beginning and figure out what caused them to go under previously and what they needed to do to become a top organization again. With the start of the â€Å"new† General Motors they were starting over so they created a new clearer vision and a new business model. As of 2012, GM was ranked among one of the world’s largest automakers. The company’s total worldwide vehicle sales were 9.3 million (The New York Times, 2013). GMs net revenue in the second quarter of 2013 was $39.1 billion up from $37.6 billion in the second quarter of 2012 (General Motors, 2013). Since their bankruptcy GM has been reporting record profits and has steadily climbed back up the ladder with customer satisfaction and productivity. Akerson said, So, here we are four years out of bankruptcy and weve made $25 billion (before taxes and interest). I think thats more than the companys ever made in a four-year period (Detroit Free Press, 2013). The company’s progress is indicative of a new business model that begins and ends with great vehicles. GM leveraged their resources to maintain stringent cost management while taking advantage of growth and revenue opportunities around the world, to ultimately deliver sustainable results for all of their stakeholders (General Motors 2010). Being one of the biggest markets for GM, General Motors North America (GMNA) has been a key contributor in bringing in a profit for the whole organization. They currently have 5,000 dealerships, 34 plants and employs over 68,000 people. The profits reported for GMNA for the second quarter was an adjusted EBIT of $1,976 million compared to $1,891 million for the same period a year ago. Total net sales and revenue was $23,495 million compared to $21,552 million for the same period a year ago. For the six months, the company reported adjusted EBIT of $3,390 million compared to $3,533 million for the same period year ago. Total net sales and revenue was $46,474 million compared to $44,727 million for the same period year ago (Bloomsburg Businessweek, 2013). The current president, Mark Reuss, of GMNA has recently revamped the organization. Attached is a copy of the previous organizational structure and the new structure. The old GMNA consisted of a vertical structure which is a hierarchical structure with many levels of authority and the jobs were grouped by function into departments. They were divided into different in dependent automakers. Each independent automaker was operated differently and competing with each other. The competition among its own independent automakers and lack of centralization was costly. When they restructured after the bankruptcy, GMNA adopted a flatter structure where accountability is key. The new structure is centralized and unified; a team versus several individuals working towards common goals. With this structure GMNA is running in a more streamlined manner and it’s a more cost effective way of running there organization. GM has a diverse listing of employment opportunities. The positions range from engineering and manufacturing positions to Human Resources and Research positions. According to several employees, past and present, GM provides great pay and hours. GM promotes employees to further their education and training. The work environment was fun, friendly and like working with family. Working in the plants many of the employees had to do shift work and heavy manual labor this didn’t seem like a deterrent they still enjoyed the job and the coworkers. The environment appears to be open when it comes to management and employee interaction. The CEO Akerson is a strong believer in management by walking around. Everywhere hes been you see pictures of him with employees. Hes a reminder that management is a contact sport, Merten says (Detroit Free Press, 2013). The reviews were mostly all positive. The only negative things that seemed to keep popping up were the long hours and the stress to meet deadlines. GM has enlisted their customers and employ ees to send them ideas to help improve vehicles, sales, marketing, etc. and they act on the ones that will improve their ability to serve the customers better. GM has come a long way since 2009. With the reorganization changes they have become quicker and more decisive so the customers’ needs are met and they are producing reliable vehicles. It seems like GM really is getting back into what they are best at; building vehicles and serving their customer’s needs. References Detroit Free Press. (August 5, 2013). General Motors CEO Dan Akerson Shares Top 9 Leadership Lessons. Retrieved August 21, 2013. http://www.freep.com/article/20130805/BUSINESS0101/308050088/dan-akerson-GM-CEO-leadership-lessons Jones, Gareth R. George, Jennifer M. (2013). Essentials of Contemporary Management. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. General Motors. (July 25, 2013). Investors: Earnings Releases. GM Reports Second Quarter Net Income of $1.2 Billion. Retrieved August 21, 2013. http://www.gm.com/content/gmcom/home/company/investors/earning-releases.conte nt_pages_news_emergency_news_072513-q2-earnings.~content~gmcom~home~company~investors~earning-releases.html General Motors. (2010). General Motors Company 2010 Annual Report. Retrieved August 21, 2013. http://www.gm.com/content/dam/gmcom/COMPANY/Investors/Corporate_Governance/PDFs/StockholderInformationPDFs/Annual-Report.pdf Indeed. (2013). GM Employer Reviews. Retrieved August 21, 2013. http://www.indeed.com/cmp/GM/reviews Bloomsburg Businessweek. (July 25, 2013). General Motors North America, Inc. Announces Earnings Results for the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2013. Retrieved on August 22, 2013. http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=24368349 The New York Times. (August 21, 2013). General Motors. Retrieved August 21, 2013. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/general_motors_corporation/index.html?offset=20s=newest

The Enthusiastic :: essays research papers

Essay The enthusiastic embrace of the Internet by the world’s people is changing the way they handle personal and business relationships, define their lifestyle and learn about the rest of the world. With the Internet and modern technology today there is no limit as to what people are able to do. A majority of today’s people (especially youth) would have to live very differently without the Internet as they use it in almost every aspect of their lives. It is now the basis of people’s lives and without it; the world would be a different place. There is a down side to the Internet. People do not get out as much, instead of doing things like exercising, getting out doors and being with friends and family, they stay inside and surf the Internet. However with all the upsides of the Internet and technology these can be ruled out, but should not be forgotten altogether. Using the Internet, we now can communicate differently, that is through the use of e-mail and online chat. No longer do we have to wait for days for a letter to reach its destination, but via e-mail it can take a number of seconds only. Information can be conveyed from one place to another much quicker. Online chat is a way people meet others, and catch up with friends without leaving the house. They can enter chat rooms from various sites over the net and talk/chat to people. Business relation ships are different as well. Deals can be made quicker online and do not have to be in person. Arranging meetings can be done online. Often a large part of a businesses work is done via or over the Internet especially if the company has its own web site set up. There is a huge amount of advertising also on-line. Because so many people use the net, advertisements are put in the Internet. There is a wide scope of users, so all of these adverts would be seen. Most advertisements are not plain pictures and text, but with a link to the businesses web site, (people only have to click on the icon.) Online advertising, in some ways, would be more effective that television, in that they can go directly to a company’s site when they see the advertisement, if there is an online store people can buy right away. A business can display its products or services on the Internet, and sell it this way.

Is There Nowhere Else Where We Can Meet

?This short story, by Nadine Gordimer, overall, speaks on the deep-seethed racial tension that influenced the individuals in this story. In essence it is about a presumably white woman being mugged by an equally presumable black male (Gordimer is from South Africa and frequently wrote about racial tension). The tension in this story is so saturating that it even manages to conquer the language, imagery, and actions of the two people involved. The first paragraph reads, â€Å"It was a cool grey morning and the air was like smoke.In that reversal of the elements that sometimes takes place, the grey, soft, muffled sky moved like the sea on a silent day. † In the very first sentence it is established that there is a smoggy, perhaps suffocating quality in the air. Smoke is a hazardous, cancer causing gas that is also an agent of concealment; these attributes can also apply to the effects of apartheid. Like cancer, racial tension spread rampantly through South Africa and concealed a person’s character by his skin color. Even in the morning the â€Å"air was like smoke† as if to almost say, no matter how early you wake up racial tension is prevalent.In the very next sentence, it is stated that a reversal of elements has taken place which foreshadows a reversal of sorts in the later part of the story in which the woman becomes a victim. As she walks by the man her concentration is directed towards the scent of pine needles that were formerly held in her hand. A thudding is heard and the man appears unexpectedly panting in her face. This sequence of events inspires another theme in the story—fear. A fear of the unknown is evident early in the story, if only subtly, and evolves into an overwhelming sense of dread.As the woman first notices the red-capped figure in the distance, she inexplicably switches her â€Å"bag and parcel from one arm to the other†. This is a common defense mechanism for women fearing a mugging from a perceived so urce or to simply add a sense of security. Later, as she nears the figure on the path, she grabs â€Å"a little sheath of pine needles†¦and as she walked she ran them against her thumb. † An innocuous action that seems to hold her attention until the visage of the man steals it away.After passing the now weary, raggedy man, she realizes that the pine needles were no longer in her hand (she doesn’t know when this happened which would lead to the conclusion that she was transfixed on the man when the needles were dropped). The woman then decides to sniff her hand in order to remember what the needles smelled like in order to compare them to a similar scent from her childhood. The pine needles, which leave a residue on her fingers, leaves the woman with a need to wash them for, â€Å"Unless her hands were quite clean, she could not lose consciousness of them, they obtruded upon her.†By being keen on washing her hands, she would no longer be wary of the figure in which she passed and therefore relinquish her caution. This sets up the next scene as just when the woman decides to let her mind linger on her hands, the man makes his move. â€Å"†¦and then he was there in front of her, so startling, so utterly unexpected, panting right into her face. He stood dead still and she stood dead still. Every vestige of control, of sense, of thought, went out of her as a room plunges into dark at the failure of power and she found herself whimpering like an idiot or a child. Animal sounds came out of her throat.She gibbered. For a moment it was Fear itself that had her by the arms, the legs, the throat; not fear of the man, of any single menace he might present, but Fear, absolute, abstract. If the earth had opened up in fire at her feet, if a wild beast had opened its terrible mouth to receive her, she could not have been reduced to less than she was now. † It is expressly stated that she did not fear the man, so why does Fear present its elf only when he bounds to her? Such terror is realized when preconceived notions of class barriers are shattered unexpectedly and what’s to come next remains a mystery.The language changes to reflect the horror that the woman experiences in this moment. She does not simply stand still but dead still, a simile is used to express the fleeting feelings of control, and animal (inhuman) sounds are produced from her throat. Fear also becomes personified by being made a proper noun and entangling her in its grip. Throughout the story the man is made to seem opposite of the woman. As the woman in the story is traveling along a path, she spots a figure (a â€Å"native†) with a red cap.Upon reaching the man, by following the path, it is expressed that his trouser leg is torn off, revealing â€Å"the peculiarly dead, powdery black of cold† (the effects of the weather on his cracked skin); his eyes are also red and he smells of sweat. When the confrontation occurs, his dep iction of something different from her becomes more pronounced. His foot is stated to be â€Å"†¦cracked from exposure until it looked like broken wood†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , his face is sullen, voice is deep and hoarse, and he has a pink injury on his skin. Such a distinct contrast with the woman is made to emphasize the cause of the tension.After the woman escapes, she desperately runs from the scene in order to get back on the road. The language that follows gives a sense of one escaping a foreign world, â€Å"And she was out. She was on the road†¦. She could hear a faint hum, as of life†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her once encompassing fear has now eased slightly and the cause seems to be her flight from the velds and brush. The setting of where the â€Å"native† resided and where the woman wants to go are also contrasts that make-up the difference between the two and only add to the foreignness of the encounter.The last two paragraphs of the story are most interesting in that afte r the tussle, the woman decides, after some deliberation, that she would not tell anyone of what just happened. â€Å"Why did I fight, she thought suddenly. What did I fight for? Why didn't I give him the money and let him go? † Perhaps she felt pity for the man? He was obviously poor and tired with severe exposure to the elements â€Å"His red eyes, and the smell and those cracks in his feet, fissures, erosion.†Perhaps her story would appear shady to the people she told, â€Å"She thought of the woman coming to the door, of the explanations, of the woman’s face, and the police. † It is evident from her previous behavior that a mugging was in the realm of possibility, and from the man’s appearance it was also evident that such an action was not beneath him. The woman doesn't tell anyone of her encounter because of the social difference between the two. At the end of the day, the woman can most likely replenish her lost items but, from the descripti on of the man, his survival could have been at stake if he didn't acquire assets or funds.The is described walking down the road, â€Å"like an invalid†, because she was robbed and such an occurrence leaves a hollow feeling but she realizes that she must move on, signified by her picking the â€Å"blackjacks from her stockings. † â€Å"Is There Nowhere Else Where We Can Meet? † is a unique title, firstly in its use of ‘nowhere’ instead of ‘anywhere’ and secondly, that the meeting between the two characters in the story is an undesirable one because of the racial tension in South Africa. Had these two people met in a different country things might have been different.

How Supreme Court Decisoins have affected American Society Essay

The Supreme Court has been given credit and blame for having a wide range of effects on society. The decisions that they have made on current and past issues have initiated change in American society. These changes have had both positive and negative results. The effects of their decisions have ranged from improving the status of certain ethnic groups to limiting the procedures of law enforcers and clearly defining the rights of lawbreakers. In essence, Supreme Court decisions have had a profound influence on the behaviors of citizens as well as the political structure of this nation. The decisions of justices have â€Å"altered behavior of political and governmental officials as well as a man walking down the street†(Miller 4). To understand the role of the Supreme Court in the American system then one must pay attention to the social impact of court decisions. â€Å"The supreme court has assumed the task (of)†¦enforcing a law known to all, of deciding what law ought to be and making any changes called for† (Knight 1). Decisions are made by the Justices from conflicting principles not because of the law, but because of an evaluation of what impact the decision will have on American society. The Supreme Court has had a greater important impact then any other government institution on society as a whole. The decisions have affected people’s behavior as individuals and social institutions such as the family and economy (Baum 318). The decisions of the Supreme Court justices have â€Å"affected the social behavior of people by influencing†¦(their) thinking and the structures in which they operate†(Baum 319). â€Å"Change is the primary characteristic of American Society† (Miller 4). Change must also exist in American law. As society progresses and changes, the Court must address injustices as a result of change and determine criteria for a particular decision (Miller 5). As stated earlier, the Supreme Court decisions have initiated both political and social change (Baum 319). The constitution was established for certain and definite purposes. However what the Founding Fathers did not account for was change (Miller 4). As a result the Supreme Court has adapted the concept of an evolving Constitution (Miller 5). It was necessary to redefine laws that were passed earlier to adjust to the changing society. Also, it was necessary as time progressed and the movement for equality grew, the Supreme Court need to reexamine the â€Å"narrow mindedness† of our Founding Fathers (Miller 5). Decisions were made that ensured persons regardless of gender, race or religion were all granted the rights and privileges entitled to them as United States citizens. The Supreme Court has been involved in making dramatic decisions concerning social issues. Several areas that have been affected by their opinions include: 1) civil rights, 2) religious activities, and 3) police policy and procedure (Kessel 194). Although the actual decisions had little impact on society, they would stimulate other actions for change and in turn make a difference in society (Baum 319). For example, the decision to desegregate schools would be the catalyst for the civil rights movement. The â€Å"Schemmp† decision as well as the â€Å"Roe vs. Wade† decision will fuel the use of religion as a political stance (Baum 319). To understand how influential Supreme Court decisions are it is necessary to examine what effect they have had on American society. One of the most monument decisions was the effects of Brown Vs. the Board of Education. This decision ordered the desegregation of school throughout the nation. Previous to this decision, Plessy vs. Ferguson set precedent that institutions such as schools or public facilities could be segregated based on race. The condition of this decision was that both facilities whether for Caucasians or African Americans must be equal in quality. When this condition failed to exist to be met it became necessary for these institutions become desegregated. Brown vs. The board of Education required that â€Å"school districts with separate school for Blacks and White students be desegregated† (Baum 305). Most of the states in the northern and western states conformed to this decision. However in the Deep South, were slavery had been an institution, the call for desegragation was not widely accepted. In addition, the Supreme Court had allowed an â€Å"open-ended delay† to desegregation. This allowed  school districts to â€Å"take their time in desegregating schools†(Baum 318). In the South â€Å"†¦desegregation†¦(did not occur)†¦ for a decade because school administrators resisted Supreme Court ruling† (Baum 318). Some districts took several more years and the use of congressional force to obey the ruling. The Courts helped to make desegregation possible. It also had an impact on the government’s feelings toward racial discrimination. These rulings demonstrated that government support of discrimination was unconstitutional. It also declared that there â€Å"needed to be efforts to achieve racial equality†(Baum 307). As stated earlier, the Supreme Court had been a contributor to social change. It would help to initiate the civil rights movement. â€Å"Once the civil rights movement became active, the Supreme Court took †¦ steps to protect it†(Baum 318). Their decisions, although they did not directly protect the movement’s participants, helped to strengthen the cause. In fact Supreme Court decisions in support of racial equality have been viewed as a motivating factor of civil rights revolution of 1950’s and 1960’s and also the improvement of the status of African Americans (Baum 318). Another influential decision of the Supreme Court judges concerned police procedures and policies. In Miranda vs. Arizona, the Supreme Court established new restrictions on search and seizure as well as required certain warnings must be read to a suspect prior to questioning by police officers or detectives (Wald 149). Under the Miranda ruling, police have to give â€Å"adequate and effective warning of legal rights and honor the suspects use of the rights†(Wald 155). This is to ensure that the suspect will understand the meaning of these rights and how they apply to him. It is also to ensure that the suspect does â€Å"what is in his best interest†(Wald 155). In addition the presence of a lawyer during questioning ensured that the suspect’s 5th Amendment right under the constitution is not violated. Prior knowledge of one’ s self interest would allow them t act in their best interest. Once the defendant is properly warned of his rights, he will be in a position to act in accordance to his interests in remaining silent and  requesting a lawyer. The suspect also needed to understand that he is in an adversary system that is not working in his interest (Wald 156). It was believed that the decision from Miranda vs. Arizona would foster successful law enforcement. The Miranda rights were required to decrease the rate of coerced confessions due to police brutality. It has had limited effects. The Supreme Court decision has fueled debates over the rights of suspects (Baum 306). It is believed by some that once a person commits a crime by breaking the law they are not entitled to additional rights. In addition, Convictions have been lost because of the expansion of defendant’s rights. â€Å"They were failed to be read their Miranda rights so they were released† (Wald 156). However the Miranda decision has helped to impose restrictions on how much force and intimidation tactics police officials can use on suspects. In an attempt to end mistreatment of suspects by the police, the Miranda decision makes sure that the suspect has a â€Å"real understanding† of their rights and that they are clearly stated (Wald 163). In an attempt to end injustices toward crime suspects, several states have also gone to further limiting and restricting police practices. Police officers have somewhat abided by these court-imposed restrictions. Those who have not have subsequently been faced with charges of violating a person’s civil rights and risk becoming a suspect themselves (Baum 306). The final Supreme Court decision that has had an impact on American society was the decisions concerning seperation of church and state. The Supreme Court of the United States has been a vigilant watchdog in preserving the separation between church and state called for by the Constitution. In 1962 the Court ruled in Engel v. Vitale on the constitutionality of public?school prayers (Gawrisch). Enthusiasim arose in 1963 following the Court’s decision in two historic cases, Abington v. Schemmp and Murray v. Curlett. The devotional use of the Bible and all forms of prayer were banned from public schools as a contravention of the Establishment Clause. Objective study about religion and reading of the Bible for its literary and historic qualities were not prohibited (Gawrisch). These decisions had an impact on policies adopted and enforced on a school district level (Birkby 109). While some schools initially ignored the ruling, most adhered to it. Over time federal government limited religious observances in public schools (Baum 306). Ironically, this was an attempt to ensure religious freedom (Birkby 110). As time progressed the Court reiterate their rulings in different cases. As recent as 1992 & 2000, decisions have been made restricting prayer at school ceremonies and sporting events (Baum306). Some may argue that eliminating prayer in school has only further damaged the educational process of students. Other believe it has had adverse effects on the students (Baum 318). Students have lost their ideas of morals, and virtues. They are unable to realize that there are consequences for their actions whether negative or positive in nature. However as a nation of diversity it is unfair for educational institutions to allow the practice of certain religious practices and not others. Again one must look at the constitution right of freedom of religion and that one must not be forced to exposure to religious practices they do not participate in. In fact court decisions on school prayer have been cited as an important stimulus for the emergence of religious rights as a political movement (Baum 318). It is an issue that has yet to be resolved and will continue as long as America remains a nation of diverse people with distinctive views on religion. In conclusion, the Supreme Court has been a contributor to social change. It decisions have influenced the behaviors and attitudes of Americans since its creation. Although some may not agree with their opinion, they are forced to abide. It fulfills its duty as the interpreter of the law. It is in deciding body on political as well as social issues. It opinions and decisions have had rippling effects through America’s history. It as helped to reshape and redefine America’s perspective on important social issues. It is the final say in disputes that exist in this ever-changing society. Baum, Lawrence. American Court: Process and Policy. 5th ed. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston 2001. Birkby, Robert H., â€Å"The Supreme Court and the Bible belt: Tennessee Reaction to the â€Å"Schempp† Decision.† The Impact of Supreme Court Decisions. Ed. Theodore L. Becker. New York: Oxford University Press.1969 106-114. Gawrisch, Wilbert. â€Å"The separation of Church and State as it relates to Our Christian Schools†. Kessel, John H., â€Å"Public Perceptions of the Supreme Court†. The Impact of Supreme Court Decisions. Ed. Theodore L. Becker. New York: Oxford University Press.1969 193-205. Knight, G. â€Å"On the Meaning of Justice† NOMOS VI Justice 1,2 Eds. Friedman & Chapman.1963. Miller, Arthur S., â€Å"On the Need for â€Å"Impact Analysis† of Supreme Court Decisions†. The Impact of Supreme Court Decisions. Ed. Theodore L. Becker. New York: Oxford University Press.1969 3-6. Wald, Michael S., â€Å"Interrogations in New Haven: The Impact of Miranda† The Impact of Supreme Court Decisions. Ed. Theodore L. Becker. New York: Oxford University Press. 1969 149-164.

Essence of Effective Communication

Essence of Effective Communication Free Online Research Papers Communication is the key to a successful idea, and/or organization. Keeping in mind that communication entails outgoing and ingoing information that is both delivered and received in a lucrative manner. The two golden rules to communicating effectively are: Organize thoughts in your mind before sharing them with others. Communication is collaborative, not competitive. Leaders of today are the vehicles of a successful exchange of ideas, and are looked to for understanding as well as motivating, leading and keeping the vision alive. In this paper I will show comparison, while contrasting three different models of effective communication, illustrating five tools that leaders can use to improve their communication skills. Essence of Effective Communication No matter how brilliant and invaluable your idea, it is worthless unless you can share it with others. For this reason, effective communication is crucial at every level of an organization. However, the ability to communicate effectively does not come easily to many people, and it is a skill that requires practice. We begin practicing our communication skills even before we learn to walk. A newborn child communicates by crying, but it slowly learns to mimic its parents speech. Eventually, the child discovers that certain speech patterns elicit different responses; one of the joys of parenting is trying to decipher the meaning behind certain â€Å"words.† Slowly, through trial and error, the child learns to manipulate sounds to get what it wants, and as the child develops, this active oral practice leads to more nuanced and fluid conversations. In short, the child learns effective communication. (Sussil, 2002.) To effectively communicate a complex idea, however, requires skills beyond elementary conversation. There are two golden rules to follow. -Organize thoughts in your mind before sharing them with others. This rule involves decoding and encoding before and during a two-way conversation, as in the Interactional Model. One idea often prompts a torrent of others. In order to share your ideas, you must first shape them coherently. Organization is important, because it creates a pattern for your listener, allowing him or her to grasp the larger picture intuitively. This allows the listener to focus on the details of your message, without struggling to understand how you went from Point A to Point B. As a thought experiment, imagine that a colleague has asked you for directions to the airport. Write them down. Your directions will probably look something like: -Drive west half a mile on Aurora. -Take a left on Madison. -At the third light, turn right and follow Dexter for 2-3 miles. -Get on the interstate, heading south. Now, with a pair of scissors, cut each line of instructions into a small strip of paper. Jumble the strips up and arrange them in a completely random order, then give them to your colleague. Even with mixed-up directions, s/he should have no trouble reaching the airport, right? After all, your directions are complete and accurate. Not a single step is missing. The problem, of course, is that your directions are also completely unorganized, rendering them useless. Your colleague will find it impossible to focus on your message itself, because he or she will struggle to follow your messages structure (or lack thereof). (Wright, 2003.) For this reason, practicing the tool of listening for the content of the message to be reflected from the listener, would prove to be effective if the communication is rendered unorganized. -Communication is collaborative, not competitive. As noted in the Linear Model, where communication is only one-way, thrusting your idea on others mars the beauty and integrity of conversation. Communication is in some ways like a dance; each partner plays off the other, basing his or her steps on the other persons, while simultaneously maintaining a certain amount of individuality. Communication is a two-way process involving an exchange of ideas. If you try to make it one-way, you prevent this exchange and will eventually frustrate the other person. You may also frustrate yourself, if you read the other persons lack of verbosity as disinterest in the conversation, rather than an inability to get a word in. The hallmark of effective communication is the coherent verbal projection of your ideas, so that your listener receives the message that you intend to send. By observing these two rules, you will reduce miscommunication and misunderstandings. (Hall, 2000.) With this goal, the practice of noting the speaker’s cues, both verbal and nonverbal the communication will not only remain effective, but will continue following the Interactional and Transactional models of communication, where the conversation flows two-ways, in both listening and leading. In a world with so much information available, why do employees still complain that companies are under-communicating? Can leaders, who rose in the hierarchy due to their ability to talk, learn the value of listening? With the speed of information exchange growing exponentially, how can we slow down to have the deeper, more meaningful conversations that are so critical in the age of knowledge management and learning organizations? These are just a few examples of today‘s barriers to effective communications. Without impactful communications, companies will not be able to attract, retain and inspire the employee. Inspire because without inspiration, there is no commitment. Without commitment, there is no discretionary effort. And without that critical extra effort, a company cannot achieve or maintain its competitive edge. (Ashton, 2002.) Now, more than ever, leaders need to think of themselves as communication vehicles. In the past leaders were often promoted based on their ability to talk. Now there is a greater expectation for leaders to be great listeners to their employees, their customers, and other stakeholders. The job of leadership today is not just to make money. It‘s to make meaning. For this reason, leaders must become proficient in listening, as well as communicating in a transactional and Interactional form. Because practicing reflecting back to the speaker what one thought they heard, and listening for the feelings of the speaker, a leader is providing a continual transaction of communication to take place, while clarifying understanding. The importance of this new role, and the inadequacy many leaders may feel, is evident in the increase in executive coaching consultants and training programs that are designed to increase these skills. Today senior leadership must not only be able to clearly formulate their vision for the organization, but also to convincingly communicate it such that employees will want to commit to it. (Frost, 2004.) Under these conditions a leader has demonstrated to the listener a skill of responding to the feelings of the speaker. If I may repeat, reflecting back to the speaker what you think you are hearing is essential in ensuring that you have received the information the speaker is trying to convey, and that comprehension is clarified. One example that comes to mind is from PLATO’S REPUBLIC (1992) in Book I, where Socrates defends his account on what justice is by his definition. Questioned by Thrasymachus, Socrates states his position that justice is the advantage of the established rule. Thrasymachus restates to the speaker in his own words what he thought the speaker said, thus allowing the speaker to respond to further clarify the message being sent (Hersey, Blanchard, Johnson, 2001, p.251) â€Å"And a law is correct if it prescribes what is to the rulers’ own advantage and incorrect if it prescribes what is to their disadvantage? Is that what you mean?† (Reeve, 1992, p.15) Ashton, John. (2002.) Barriers to Communication. New York Publishing. Frost, Amanda. (2004.) The Importance of Communication. BB Press House. Hall, Martin. (2000.) Effective Communication. San Diego Journal, Vol. 18. Sussil, Michael. (2002.) Communication Matters. Ivy Print. Wright, Paul. (2003.) Beyond Words. Simon Schuster Publications. Research Papers on Essence of Effective CommunicationAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThree Concepts of PsychodynamicMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesMind TravelComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHip-Hop is Art

Definition and Examples of Deep Reading

Definition and Examples of Deep Reading Deep reading is the active process of thoughtful and deliberate reading carried out to enhance ones comprehension and enjoyment of a text. Contrast with skimming or superficial reading. Also called slow reading. The term deep reading was coined by Sven Birkerts in The Gutenberg Elegies (1994): Reading, because we control it, is adaptable to our needs and rhythms. We are free to indulge our subjective associative impulse; the term I coin for this is deep reading: the slow and meditative possession of a book. We dont just read the words, we dream our lives in their vicinity. Deep Reading Skills By deep reading, we mean the array of sophisticated processes that propel comprehension and that include inferential and deductive reasoning, analogical skills, critical analysis, reflection, and insight. The expert reader needs milliseconds to execute these processes; the young brain needs years to develop them. Both of these pivotal dimensions of time are potentially endangered by the digital cultures pervasive emphases on immediacy, information loading, and a media-driven cognitive set that embraces speed and can discourage deliberation in both our reading and our thinking.(Maryanne Wolf and Mirit Barzillai, The Importance of Deep Reading. Challenging the Whole Child: Reflections on Best Practices in Learning, Teaching, and Leadership, ed. by Marge Scherer. ASCD, 2009) [D]eep reading requires human beings to call upon and develop attentional skills, to be thoughtful and fully aware. . . .Unlike watching television or engaging in the other illusions of entertainment and pseudo-events, deep reading is not an escape, but a discovery. Deep reading provides a way of discovering how we are all connected to the world and to our own evolving stories. Reading deeply, we find our own plots and stories unfolding through the language and voice of others.(Robert P. Waxler and Maureen P. Hall, Transforming Literacy: Changing Lives Through Reading and Writing. Emerald Group, 2011) Writing and Deep Reading Why is marking up a book indispensable to reading? First, it keeps you awake. (And I dont mean merely conscious; I mean  awake.) In the second place, reading, if it is active, is thinking, and thinking tends to express itself in words, spoken or written. The marked book is usually the thought-through book. Finally, writing helps you remember the thoughts you had, or the thoughts the author expressed.(Mortimer J. Adler and  Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book. Rpt. by Touchstone, 2014) Deep Reading Strategies [Judith] Roberts and [Keith] Roberts [2008] rightly identify students desire to avoid the deep reading process, which involves substantial time-on-task. When experts read difficult texts, they read slowly and reread often. They struggle with the text to make it comprehensible. They hold confusing passages in mental suspension, having faith that later parts of the text may clarify earlier parts. They nutshell passages as they proceed, often writing gist statements in the margins. They read a difficult text a second and a third time, considering first readings as approximations or rough drafts. They interact with the text by asking questions, expressing disagreements, linking the text with other readings or with personal experience.But resistance to deep reading may involve more than an unwillingness to spend the time. Students may actually misunderstand the reading process. They may believe that experts are speed readers who dont need to struggle. Therefore students assume that their own reading difficulties must stem from their lack of expertise, which makes the text too hard for them. Consequently, they dont allot the study time needed to read a text deeply.(John C. Bean, Engaging Ideas: The Professors Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom, 2nd ed. Jossey-Bass, 2011 Deep Reading and the Brain In one fascinating study, conducted at Washington Universitys Dynamic Cognition Laboratory and published in the journal Psychological Science in 2009, researchers used brain scans to examine what happens inside peoples heads as they read fiction. They found that readers mentally simulate each new situation encountered in a narrative. Details about actions and sensation are captured from the text and integrated with personal knowledge from past experiences. The brain regions that are activated often mirror those involved when people perform, imagine, or observe similar real-world activities. Deep reading, says the studys lead researcher, Nicole Speer, is by no means a passive exercise. The reader becomes the book.(Nicholas Carr, The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. W.W. Norton, 2010 [Nicholas] Carrs charge [in the article Is Google Making Us Stupid? The Atlantic, July 2008] that superficiality bleeds over into other activities such as deep reading and analysis is a serious one for scholarship, which is almost entirely constituted of such activity. In this view engagement with technology is not just a distraction, or another pressure on an overloaded academic, but is positively dangerous. It becomes something akin to a virus, infecting the key critical engagement skills required for scholarship to function. . . .What is . . . not clear is if people are engaging in new types of activity that replace the function of deep reading.(Martin Weller, The Digital Scholar: How Technology is Transforming Scholarly Practice. Bloomsbury Academic, 2011)

The Enlightenment by Immanuel Kant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Enlightenment by Immanuel Kant - Essay Example This implies that in deed it was the enlightenment age. He added that a prince ought to indicate clearly that his duty is not to dictate anything about religious subjects but he should leave them completely free. According to Immanuel, enlightenment’s main point is the emergence of men from self-imposed nonage. Primarily the nonage is in religious matters since rulers are not interested in playing the guardian in their subjects, the sciences and arts. He also added that nonage in religion is the most harmful and dishonorable. According to Immanuel only, enlightened man can give people freedom to argue as much as they like and about what they like but obey (Porter, 2001).Jerusalem: or on religious power and Judaism by Moses Mendelssohn One of the most political tasks, according to Moses, was balancing religion and state, civil and ecclesiastical constitution as well as churchly and secular authority. This is because they did not but they just became burdens on social life and weighed down its foundation rather than upholding it. Men had strived in solving it and enjoyed settling it practically instead of solving it theoretically (Jacob, 2001). Some of them thought of separating these different societal men’s relations into moral entities and assign every province specific duties, rights, properties and powers. The extent of various boundaries and provinces could not, however, be fixed accurately.According to Moses, disposition has an advantage of being consistent. He terms it to have answer to every question.