Examining Collaborative and Individual Writing Processes

Examining Collaborative and Individual Writing Processes Stephen McLeod University of Phoenix Collaborative writing is a tool that is being utilized more often in the professional world as well as the educational world. The collaborative writing process is similar to the individual writing process as many of the same rules apply. In this paper we, as a learning team, will illustrate some examples of how to use the tools of individual writing in the collaborative process. Writing as a group facilitates a more thorough and accurate end result because the work is shared between all members rather than resting on the shoulders of only one individual. It also enables more opinions and facts to be presented by the team as productive writers making the reader able to easily understand what is being expressed. The most logical place to begin this process is by brainstorming. According to www. dictionary. reference. com, brainstorming is defined as: â€Å"a conference technique of solving specific problems, amassing information, stimulating creative thinking, developing new ideas, etc. by unrestrained and spontaneous participation in discussion. † In order to write an excellent paper, for any topic, requires much brainstorming to have the paper written well. There are many ways for teams to brainstorm, some of which include all members of the team writing their own ideas down and then sharing them with the group, or the facilitator of the brainstorming group writing down ideas on a big, whiteboard while the team members shout their ideas like a game of charades. Both are excellent ways to come up with ideas and have fun in the process which, in turn, keeps all parties involved, relaxed and more focused. However, ending up with too many vague or off-topic ideas will cause the team to lose focus resulting in the first problem arising. A great way to succeed is matching up the ideas and topics from brainstorming and putting it together in writing. When working with a group versus individually, more ideas and topics will be brought up that otherwise might have been over-looked. Brainstorming is more effective with a group than with an individual because everyone is giving their ideas to the paper. It is more difficult to put the paper together when everyone is not in greement on the topic. Resolving conflicts is necessary for effective brainstorming. One way to resolve conflicts in the group is to have two ideas for each specific topic, allowing everyone in the group to give his or her feedback. Another solution to resolve conflicts would be to take a vote based upon the most thorough information presented to the group. The issue of plagiarism should also be resolved during the brainsto rming process. The group should agree upon the level of plagiarism that will or will not be tolerated for admission into the paper. After a while, a team would determine if the paper is perfect for that particular topic. As for an individual, he or she would know if the paper has met the requirements however, without the advantage of brainstorming with another person, one would have no feedback upon which to base the decision. Once the topic has been agreed upon, the next step is to begin the research. The first action that is necessary when doing research as a team is to identify the topic that is going to be written about and develop that topic into a specific subject matter. Making a list of possible places one can look for information, whether it is on the Internet or in a library, is a smart place to begin. Having multiple people who can offer their ideas and opinions is much better than doing the research on one’s own. Being organized is important because it assists the writers in keeping track of citation information, keeping the irrelevant information out of the way and preventing confusion by placement of paragraphs and sub-topics throughout the editing process. Doing this will enable the reader to easily comprehend the paper. The next step is to find background or other information the team could use to analyze and observe the main subject matter. Referencing an encyclopedia, a news article, or bibliographies will help set the context of the research. Having multiple people involved makes the search quick and easy. Knowledge of a specific subject by someone in the team is not always necessary which, in my opinion, is what makes the research the most important part of any writing. Research is needed in order to delve deeper into whatever subject being written about, thus creating more information to analyze to determine what is useful and what is irrelevant. This is where a big difference between collaborative and individual writing processes occurs. Individually, only one opinion and set of facts are considered; whereas, for a group multiple sets of research are examined during the writing process. The individual writer, assumingly, doesn’t want to bore the reader with information that is not pertinent to the outcome. The writer will usually discuss the information obtained with another individual to gain another perspective. When a team is researching and encounters a problem or an obstacle, it is a good choice having the writer’s solution will assist the reader in understanding how the information was obtained and provide some explanation as to why the information provided was arranged in that particular order. Continuity and cohesion make an essay easier to comprehend and more pleasurable for the reader. A writer may arrange his facts in several different manners that may include chronological order, alphabetical order or by subject matter, for example. After the team is comfortable with all of the researched facts, the team as a whole decides what information is most pertinent to the subject matter and what will provide the most enjoyable read. Editing plays a major role in writing any type of document. In particular, when writing an essay one will have to pay close attention during the proofreading step to ensure that proper editing takes place. A group that collaborates and goes through the editing process as a team has a better chance of catching a mistake than if it was edited only by the individual who wrote the paper as a singular source. and intelligently when being read. When these steps are practiced the writing process is easier to accomplish. This will help detect many mistakes that were made that the editors eyes may have overlooked. By following this rule, you become very familiar with the information that you have researched to compose your essay. Obviously, when working in a group this step is automatically performed. If some part of the work does not sound correct to a member of the group, they should then go back and try to detect their problems. If the team overlooks these problems, they will only compound them and create more problems later on in the essay which gives more reinforcement for working on a paper as a team rather than individually. One example of this may be found in the inclusion of unnecessary information. A way to resolve this would be to include information in a precise manner. Sending a good message to the readers of your essay will allow them to comprehend the subject more easily. Another pitfall that one may encounter would be to repeat sentences over and over. One should stay focused on the most important sentences without adding any unnecessary filler for emphasis. The structure and length of the sentences makes an enormous difference to the readers. If the essay is not structured properly, readers will most likely become unfocused on the message, resulting in distraction. Team identity is very important when the writing process starts. Team meetings and frequent consultations among members of the group will assist in developing a viable team identity. A good suggestion for finding a specific member’s identity would be to find out what each person does best and what he or she isn’tgood at and build from that. Each person on the writing group should be assigned a different function toward the completion of the paper. Throughout life, school has taught children how to work as a team. Sports are a good example on how teamwork is practiced and writing a paper is only different in the aspect of it isn’t physical. The team charter helps the team understand one another. It also states the strengths of the individuals in the group. By using this information, each team member can be put in a position to succeed. This allows the identity to show through the work that is done. Success follows when teams learn their identity in classrooms and in the workplace. References Meyer, R. G. Meyer. (2003). The Writing Process Steps. Writing Prompts. Retrieved from http://www. ettc. net/writing/PDFfiles/Writing%20Process%20Steps. pdf (The Writing Process Steps, para. 1) Renard, J. Retrieved October 25, 2009 from. http://www. goodreads. com/quotes/show_tag? name=writing&page=2

Supply Chain Management Metrics

Selecting the key metrics to measure performance a long the supply chain can be crucial, as clear connections have to be made between the metrics and the business goals in order for the business to achieve the results they are looking for and also to achieve growth within the market place. Management should identify the key performance indicators they need to focus on, measuring these indicators can help them in reaching the company's goals. We have identified Total Throughput Time, Right First Time and On-Time Shipment Delivery as key supply chain metrics to measure across the supply chain. Total Throughput Time The total throughput time of an organisation captures the time the customer sales order is received to the time the product is ready to ship. This time is an accumulative of all the time spent from procuring the raw material to manufacturing and releasing the finished product to ship. This KPI is key to analysing the direct impact each internal and external process has on the customer receiving the order on time. It provides management with an overall view of the critical steps and the relationship each step has on getting the finished product to the customer. This time is usually measured in minutes or in working days. Management can work with the relevant department managers to set the target needed for each of the critical processes that have a direct impact on the customer order. Each department can then manage internally their individual KPI and work to the pre-determined target. Management can then monitor the KPI's weekly or monthly. This will provide management with a clear view on how each process is performing and can highlight any issues that could have a direct impact on the customer not receiving the order on time. Monitoring the KPI's will quicken response times to resolving issues if and when they arise. The customer will also be informed of this time so they can build this into their own forecast, the customer can then use this measure as the time it will take to receive their order on time from the supplier. The customer then knowing the capacity constraints of the supplier can eliminate the risk of over ordering and not receiving the product on time. Right First Time Measuring right first time internally on the product manufactured is an important factor for the organisation, it can identify the quality of the supply chain from start to finish, and how many deviations are occurring on the product right through the supply chain process. Right first time is usually measured in percentage, this percentage is based on the number of good product manufactured against the customer demand or manufacturing plan, any deviations along the supply chain process would have a negative effect on this percentage. Management will set out a target percentage for the organisation to achieve, and this has to be met by the organisation if the customer is to receive the order on time. This can then be monitored weekly or monthly by management. Right first time can be viewed either positively or negatively by the customer. If the supplier has a high right first time percentage, this can be viewed as a positive by the customer that the suppliers supply chain is strong with little deviations to the process. If on the other hand the supplier had a low right first time percentage, the customer could be worried that the suppliers supply chain is weak, which could have negative implications on the demand in the future, or that there is an issue with the quality of the product, this could lead to product re-calls and jeopardise the suppliers long term future with the customer. On-time shipment delivery The key performance metric I have chosen to discuss is On-time shipment delivery. This is the measurement within McAfee from the time the product ships from one of our fulfilment sites to successful delivery at a customer's site. The incoterm we use is FOB Origin which means the customer is invoiced for the product upon shipment and is responsible for the products in transit. We offer a pre pay and add solution that requires Mfe to manage the delivery to agreed service levels throughout the EMEA region. Each countries service level is unique depending on the physical location in EMEA , our broad rule is we will deliver within 2 – 4 business days to all EU major cities, our contracted forwarder (TNT) are responsible to achieve these targets and report daily on exceptions, weekly on performance & quarterly on the previous 12 weeks performance during our strategic business review. This service level agreement & reported performance is more importantly the Mfe logistics promise to our customer. We manage this KPI on a weekly performance report to Mfe corporate in North America, exceptions are clearly identified & clear corrective actions implemented when non performance trends are visible. This allows Mfe to clearly identify inherent weaknesses in a partner's delivery chain & assign important resources to provide resolution. This simple key performance indicator allows me to identify where issues rest in our regional supply chain, when we include additional regions & consolidate this report it allows clear visibility in a simple to read format of where we need to assign technical expertise. This simple KPI provides enormous value to our global supply chain and is an integral part of our relationship with McAfee customers & McAfee contracted suppliers. Conclusion When an organisation sets out to select metrics to measure their supply chain the critical goal that is common across all industries is that the metrics have to be aligned with the overall business strategy, doing this will help the organisation to become profitable and competitive, if this is not the case such heights will be harder to achieve as the focus will be on the wrong areas. Achieving the pre-determined metrics across the supply chain will have an end result of satisfying the customer.

Behavioral Contract

I have always loved to watch movies and television shows but I guess it was an addiction already for the past couple of months. I can say that I am very much hooked in watching the television for the past seven months. I love the thrill, happiness, suspense I feel whenever I watch something on television. Whenever I am at home, my whole day would be spent in front of the television. I sometimes skip meals just to watch my favourite movie or a certain talk show.Sometimes I even do not take a bath just to keep track of what I am watching. I love watching those shows that exposes the current fashion, recent social issues, and television magazines, shows that tells Hollywood celebrities’ lives and most of all, movies like suspense thriller, horror, love stories and fairy tales. For me it is the source of my enjoyment, I sometimes forget to study and read books.I think too much watching the television causes great effects in my being. We cannot deny the fact that the youth are grea t imitators and that is one of our natures. We really follow and imitate what we see and observed from other people especially when we realize that these people involved manifests excitement in doing such acts and we see these people as beautiful and attractive as they could be; we tend to idolize and mimic it.Present television’s advertisements, commercials, shows and movies already content acts and scenes that indicates discrimination if one has an unacceptable look physically and intellectually as perceived by the society, as what is being showcased in the standards of the society; that to be beautiful is to have a white complexion, tall, slender, witty and sexually appealing which have great impact to the minds of the younger generations.These kinds of entertainments will create curiosity and puzzlements to our young minds that will push us to try it by ourselves. This does not concern only the advertisements but also talk shows and movies. They tackle and expose about se x and relationship, love affairs that sometimes we are so caught up with these ideas, which we tend to forget our other responsibilities. I think being bored triggers my addiction to television.I want something to entertain me so that I do not get too alone. Sometimes I get bored just studying and doing other things, but when it comes to television, I really can’t feel ennui at all. I really feel entertain by the television. I should control my being hooked on television and might as well eliminate it. I should discipline myself and have self control. Within 2 weeks I should minimize my television viewing and by the end of month I must have eliminated this behaviour already.If I spend too much of my time in front of the television then I will ask my mother to deduct my allowance by 50%, I will not be able to go on a night out during Fridays, I will not be allowed to wake up late during weekends, lastly I will not be able to go out with my friends during week ends. If I will n ot comply with the contract then my punishment for myself will be destroy all my shoes and sandals and I will come to school on slippers for one day. While if I will be able to follow all the terms in the contract and comply with it then I my reward will be, spending the whole weekend in my favourite beach resort and hotel. Behavioral Contract I have always loved to watch movies and television shows but I guess it was an addiction already for the past couple of months. I can say that I am very much hooked in watching the television for the past seven months. I love the thrill, happiness, suspense I feel whenever I watch something on television. Whenever I am at home, my whole day would be spent in front of the television. I sometimes skip meals just to watch my favourite movie or a certain talk show.Sometimes I even do not take a bath just to keep track of what I am watching. I love watching those shows that exposes the current fashion, recent social issues, and television magazines, shows that tells Hollywood celebrities’ lives and most of all, movies like suspense thriller, horror, love stories and fairy tales. For me it is the source of my enjoyment, I sometimes forget to study and read books.I think too much watching the television causes great effects in my being. We cannot deny the fact that the youth are grea t imitators and that is one of our natures. We really follow and imitate what we see and observed from other people especially when we realize that these people involved manifests excitement in doing such acts and we see these people as beautiful and attractive as they could be; we tend to idolize and mimic it.Present television’s advertisements, commercials, shows and movies already content acts and scenes that indicates discrimination if one has an unacceptable look physically and intellectually as perceived by the society, as what is being showcased in the standards of the society; that to be beautiful is to have a white complexion, tall, slender, witty and sexually appealing which have great impact to the minds of the younger generations.These kinds of entertainments will create curiosity and puzzlements to our young minds that will push us to try it by ourselves. This does not concern only the advertisements but also talk shows and movies. They tackle and expose about se x and relationship, love affairs that sometimes we are so caught up with these ideas, which we tend to forget our other responsibilities. I think being bored triggers my addiction to television.I want something to entertain me so that I do not get too alone. Sometimes I get bored just studying and doing other things, but when it comes to television, I really can’t feel ennui at all. I really feel entertain by the television. I should control my being hooked on television and might as well eliminate it. I should discipline myself and have self control. Within 2 weeks I should minimize my television viewing and by the end of month I must have eliminated this behaviour already.If I spend too much of my time in front of the television then I will ask my mother to deduct my allowance by 50%, I will not be able to go on a night out during Fridays, I will not be allowed to wake up late during weekends, lastly I will not be able to go out with my friends during week ends. If I will n ot comply with the contract then my punishment for myself will be destroy all my shoes and sandals and I will come to school on slippers for one day. While if I will be able to follow all the terms in the contract and comply with it then I my reward will be, spending the whole weekend in my favourite beach resort and hotel.

Savoy hotel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Savoy hotel - Essay Example This is one of the lowest global corporate tax rates giving the business additional capital to recapture the costs of renovation and expand service offerings. The UK Value Added Tax (VAT) increased from 17.5 percent to 20 percent since the Savoy closed and completed its reconstruction, this increased taxation rate is reflected in the pricing structure at the Savoy (Fairmont Hotel & Resorts 2013). Savoy must now retain 20% to comply with this legislation. Economic Forces The UK Consumer Price Index indicates rising prices for consumers at an inflating rate of 2.7 percent. Impacted products experiencing the highest inflation include fruits, bread, cereals and utilities (Peston 2012). This has implications for rising costs in the Savoy supply chain. The government is actively establishing a variety of austerity packages and making cuts in order to prevent a return to recession. Driving down the national interest rate impacts the wealth management portfolios of important target consumers . The Euro continues to gain against the British Pound, creating a favourable exchange opportunity for Savoy’s European clients. Social Forces Schiffman and Kanuk (2010) identifies that consumers often rely on first impressions and stereotypes when determining future repurchase intentions. This has implications for Savoy in terms of providing a positive servicescape and ensuring helpful and constructive initial impressions when working with guests. Growth in utilisation of the Internet continues in the UK, with many consumers using mobile technologies to access the Internet and social media (Arthur 2012). Mobile internet technologies becoming a significant part of lifestyle and social behaviour. Technological New consolidated technologies that facilitate more effective guest messaging and booking systems are now available for Savoy. Known as Adaptive Messaging, this technology has the ability to properly queue guest messages and retrieve all guest messages effectively in an e nvironment that fields approximately 1,000 telephone calls daily (NMS Adaptive 2005). Technologies are also available that support the ability to sustain self-owned internal power systems that reduce reliance on the national grid and save financial resources. This provides opportunities for gaining a better reputation in areas of corporate social responsibility. Legal Booking systems online that require electronic signatures from customers serve as binding, legal contracts. New 2012 legislation now forces companies that use cookies when consumers are utilising a business’ website to gain permission before placing cookies (BBC News 2012). This has significant implications for data mining and tracking consumer behaviour. Environmental Hybrid vehicles are gaining prominence with many consumer markets that care about environmental sustainability. Savoy offers transport for many guests to airports or local commercial centres. Technologies are now available for businesses to recycl e paper products and even food waste for transformation into biofuels. This, too, has implications for Savoy in maintaining a positive CSR reputation. 1.2 SWOT Analysis Strengths A very strong brand identity/reputation stemming from respected operations in the UK since 1889 Diversity of food and beverage services providing unique themes and performances to enhance guest stay The Savoy Cocktail Book illustrates the brand

Contemporary Issues in Western Religions Research Paper

Contemporary Issues in Western Religions - Research Paper Example The followers of Islam are called Muslims. Islam is based on monotheism, like Christianity and Judaism, and Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him) is believed to be the last prophet. The concept of worship in Islam is that every act can be considered an act of worshipping if it does done the way Allah has commanded His believers to. Apart from that, there are also five pillars of Islam, which are compulsory for every Muslim. These are ‘Kalima Tayyaba’ the authentication of faith, five prayers a day, fasting, Almsgiving or Zakaat, and pilgrimage called Hajj (once in a lifetime). As contrary to what is portrayed, Islam is not an extremist religion. It does not teach the followers to submit themselves completely either to the religion or to the worldly affairs, but to take a middle road between them and take care of their worldly matters in accordance to the religion. Islam, Judaism and Christianity are called Abrahamic religions. Islam is theologically and historically conne cted to other Monotheist religions Judaism and Christianity. To Muslims, Jews and Christians are ‘People of The Book’ and are respected for it. Belief in Injil (The Gospel of Jesus) is very important to Muslims, and Jewish history is taught in Islam as its own (ReligionFacts, 2012). But still Muslims believe that Jews and Christians have incorrect beliefs based on incomplete revelations. Jews believe that Islam and Christianity are wrongly interpreted extended forms of Judaism. Christians consider Judaism as a religion with partial revelation but consider Islam to be a false religion. Islam and Christianity were originated in the same geographical location, in the Middle East. Islam was founded in 622 CE in Arabia and Christianity in 33 CE in Palestine. Even though both Islam and Christianity believe in monotheism, Christian’s belief is slightly different. They believe in Trinity Monotheism which divides God into three sanctified persons and Jesus as the son of G od. Muslims however believe that Jesus’ birth was a miracle and Mary was a Virgin yet they do not believe that Jesus is the son of God and that is considered as a Shirk in Islam. In spite of this both believe in one God. The other spiritual entities in Islam and Christianity are angels and demons (and Jinns in Muslims). The humans who preach their respective religions are called prophets in Islam and Saints in Christianity. Regarding Jesus Muslims believe that he is a true prophet of God and his teachings were misinterpret, Jesus did not die but his spirit got lifted to the heavens and that he will be come again but can not be resurrected as he did not die In the first place. Christians believe that Jesus died when he was being crucified and then rose from the dead after three days and after resurrection and is believed to come back on the Day of Judgment. Holy revelations were through prophets and compiled into the Holy Quran in Islam and into the Holy Bible in Christianity. According to Islam, humans have the ability to do bad as well as good whereas in Christianity it is believed that man tends to be attracted by evil by nature. In Islam escape from hell is achieved by doing good actions and having true beliefs as well as by maintaining and upholding the Five Pillars of Islam. In Christianity salvation can be achieved by having true beliefs, and through performing sacraments. Wrongdoers will go to eternal hell and good people will go an eternal heaven in both Islam and Christianity. Islam and Judaism are also similar in theology and history. Like Islam, Judaism follows strict monotheism and believes in one God and believes in angels and demons

Fords marketing strategy The Way Forward Case Study - 1

Fords marketing strategy The Way Forward - Case Study Example This research will begin with the statement that Ford is one of the top ten leading global brands in terms of revenue.   In 2008 to 2009 however, Ford and the automotive industry, in general, experienced difficulty. Its competitors Chrysler and General Motors declared bankruptcy and the company itself is in danger experiencing a substantial decline in sales of 23.4 percent in 2008 to 2009. In an attempt to jump-start sales and save the company, Ford’s new CEO, Man Mulally the former EVP of Boeing (who incidentally helped saved the company’s declining sales after 9/11 attack) implemented a marketing strategy dubbed â€Å"The Way Forward† which served as the company’s blueprint to overcome the 2008-2009 crisis. There are several marketing issues in Ford’s marketing strategy â€Å"The Way Forward†. These are market segmentation, refocused marketing effort and pricing in addition to cutting costs. Perhaps what saved Ford from bankruptcy during the very difficult time of 2008-2009 crisis was its decision to refocus its marketing efforts towards emerging markets. Not only did the company experienced an increase in sales during this difficult time but it also saved on cost when it sold its Volvo subsidiary to leave its maturing market in Europe. As it turned out, it had to keep up with the challenge of the increasing demand rather than get anxious about declining sales.  

CDBM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

CDBM - Essay Example influenced by: the country’s accession to the WTO; economic development; creation of a middle class; Westernized culture; and technological advancements like the internet. The industry players have been prompt in taking into account the social and cultural diversity issues in the country through their efforts in creating an efficient marketing mix and adding value added features to suit the need of every possible market segment. However, this can be further enhanced by the employment of strategies which recognizes the different profiles of customers in each key cities and emphasizing on the promotion of health benefits from coffee products. The existence and mere survival of an industry lies in its ability to efficiently respond to the internal and external influences. It is irrefutable that business organizations’ strategies mirror their unique responses to the external challenges and opportunities in the environment which, in turn, is facilitated by their internal resources and competences. This paper will concentrate on the responses of the China specialty coffee industry to the various internal and external influences that it currently faces. Recognizing that this sector can be properly examined through the use of different strategic management tools, this report will be utilizing famous technique PEST Analysis for the external environment scanning. Meanwhile, the internal environment will be assessed through the identification of its various stakeholders through the Porter’s Five Forces Model. The next section will focus on the Chinese specialty coffee market responses in the face of social and cultural diversity. This report will thoroughly examine the impact of the social and cultural trends in the industry’s strategies while assessing the efficacy if their responses. Lastly, recommendations for improvement will be identified. Gaining the traditional recognition of being a tea country, marketers are aggressively and strategically transforming

Discuss the relationships of the daughters to their fathers in Slyvia Essay

Discuss the relationships of the daughters to their fathers in Slyvia Plath's Daddy and Sharon Olds' The Chute - Essay Example ted by Sylvia Plath as expressed in her poem â€Å"Daddy† and Sharon Olds as seen in her poem â€Å"The Chute† struggle instead to communicate the complicated love/hate emotions they had for their fathers to very different effect. Plath’s â€Å"Daddy† is written in first person as a letter to her father, who has been dead for 20 years. Although it is not clear who the dominating figure of verse 1 has been, his identity and the concept that this is a letter emerges in the second verse, â€Å"Daddy, I have had to kill you, / You died before I had time† (6-7). The story that emerges in the subsequent lines is of a woman who has lived in fear and awe of her father for as long as she can remember. The fear is evident in her metaphor of him as â€Å"Marble-heavy, a bag full of God, / Ghastly statue with one gray toe / Big as a Frisco seal† (8-10). Later, she compares her fear of her father to the fear the Jews felt for the Nazis, seeing herself as being shipped off to the concentration camps and describing her father’s appearance in terms of the perfect Aryan. â€Å"But no less a devil for that, no not / Any less the black man who / Bit my pretty red heart in two† (54-56). Finally, her description of the man she married as the model of her father indicates his deep cruelty because he has a â€Å"love of the rack and the screw† (66). She ends the poem by indicating her father has been an evil vampire, sucking her life dry and finally buried with a stake in his heart to the delight of the villagers. Her beginning and end of the poem, each expressed in terms of anger and fear, leave no doubt that her fear outweighed any other emotions she had of her father. However, Plath also provides plenty of clues that her love for her father was almost as strong as her fear of him. Although she is writing against him, defying her fear of him, she seems almost breathless as she allows the thoughts of the poem to be interrupted by line breaks and allows one thought to blend almost

Business Law Case Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Business Law Case Analysis - Essay Example She refuses to take the check since she is against bribes. In this episode, Alicia is given several interesting options. One of the options is to run for State’s attorney. Secondly, she is supposed to lure Diane to her firm to fight cases in ruthless world of Chicago law. The main legal law on this case is drug trafficking. Carry is arrested and jailed for her attempts to help in the trafficking of heroin worth $1.3 million. The drug trafficking case against Cary makes Alicia to be compelled to run for the State’s Attorney post. Being compelled to take the post helps in bringing out her denial for the $1.3 million bribe. Throughout the episode, there are complicated moral issues. For instance, it is interesting to see Alicia use her husband’s status in a bid to compromise her moral code. She scoffs when others refer to her as St. Alicia, but she thinks of herself that way. She thinks of being a Saint when her biggest client is a drug

Instrument Improvements of the Nineteenth Century and the Effects on Essay

Instrument Improvements of the Nineteenth Century and the Effects on the Wind Band - Essay Example There have been many different versions of wind instruments as they too have slowly evolved and improved with the passage of time. It is the intention of this paper to demonstrate how the invention of modern day wind instruments helped to bring the wind band out of the realm of pure functionality, and into the realm of artistic expression. Through the additions and improvement of modern wind instruments, the wind band is becoming another respected art medium. It was through the work of European wind instrument makers that all of the wind instruments gained the ability to play chromatic notes, allowing them to play melodies, and gradually changing the role of the wind band from one of functionality to artistic expression. In this paper, it is argued, wind band while attaining this status by way of instrument improvements, facilitated better scope for individual performance within the band without sacrificing the element of harmony and this was what contributed to the growth of wind ba nds as an artistic medium. Background The proposition that â€Å"invention and development† led to wind bands entering â€Å"musical life† in a big way, is an acknowledged fact.2 The major developments in this realm have been, the invention of saxophone, use of pistons in brass instruments, use of pistons in wood wind instruments, improvements made to the clarionet â€Å"by bass and contrabass†, development of a new form of oboe by incorporating â€Å"contrafaggotto†, and the emergence of the new brass instruments â€Å"in the lower bass section.†3 These changes and improvements were either effected simply by enthusiastic innovators or were made on demand from the master composers in order to meet their creative requirements.4 Above four thousand patents for innovations were allocated in France alone in the nineteenth century and among them, piano and wind instruments were the majority.5 In general, it was to â€Å"bridge over the long gaps and in tervals between [†¦] [the] open notes that all systems of valves, slides and keys are intended.6 This enhanced the quality of the music being produced and provided wind band music with an added dimension of individualism. Theobald Boehm The earlier existing forms of wind instruments were so under-developed that the creation of harmony using them was a near impossibility.7 In the early nineteenth century, European instrument makers were hard at work trying to devise a way to improve the tuning of wind instruments. The keyed bugle was the invention in the series of improvements to wind instruments and the inventor was Joseph Halliday to whom the product was patented.8 Theobald Boehm (1794-1881) was born in Germany and was â€Å"a professional flautist who became dissatisfied with the tone quality and imperfect mechanism of the old-style conical bore flute.†9 He decided to redesign his own flute after hearing a concert given by Charles Nicholson in London.10 Boehm was impre ssed by Nicholson's powerful tone drawn from his large-holed flute. In 1832, Boehm emerged from his shop in Munich with a new large-holed conical bore flute that incorporated interlocking rings with which to cover the 14 newly placed tone holes.11 Boehm did not start making cylindrical flutes until 1847 after studying and applying the science of acoustics to his instrument making.12 It would be another

Environmental Experiences Essay Example for Free

Environmental Experiences Essay The capability of a location to enhance environmental experience depends on the landscape and its potential to foster and create subjective interpretations among individuals. These places also are significant to visitors since it promotes education and other indirect effects. Recognizing the need for architecture is important for people to fully understand and feel the landscape experience. The Tree Top Walk at the Valley of Giants in Australia â€Å"is a walkway that rises up to 38m above the forest. † Visitors can be able to create the feeling of environment. Visitors get a different perspective on the shapes, sounds and movement of the forest. The Oregon Paleo Lands Institute will help you discover Oregons past and explore its present landscapes. The place helps educate individuals and visitors of the wonders the place has to offer. Our mission is to help northwest residents and visitors of all ages to explore, understand, and enjoy the world-renowned natural history of north central Oregon, the ancient and living landscapes of Oregon’s last 400 million years, and the full fossil record of earth’s last 50 million years. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Texas seeks to inform individuals of the diverse native plants in the region. First as the National Wildflower Research Center and later as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, this special place exists to introduce people to the beauty and diversity of wildflowers and other native plants. This is in response to the threats and the call for preservation of these plants. These places help enhance their experience of understanding landscape by how each one creates the feeling of satisfaction and cultivate the feeling of appreciation that contributes to the landscape experience. It must be a mixture of both understanding and at the same time appreciation of his/her perceptive abilities. However, an individual must not only settle for what is observable. The visitor must create and conceptualize his/her own interpretation of the landscape. This image will bear some relationship to the way in which the individual responds to and structures his world as a result of his physical perceptual capacities, socio-economic, cultural, personality, experiential and other characteristics. The three types of places mentioned give both direct and indirect experiences to the visitor. Looking at it, the area of indirect experiences is classified to be relative. An experience of an individual may vary depending on how each one perceives a landscape and associates it to personal experience. A person feeling can range from curiosity over the landscape to happiness and awe. There are varied reactions among people and this creates different reactions that cultivate experience. On the other hand, there are also direct experiences that the landscape contributes to a visitor. These are (1) education, (2) environmental education and (3) interpretative centers. Education can be considered as one important contributions of landscape experience. It creates awareness that has been stimulated by the actuality of perceiving, analyzing and understanding the landscape. A visitor creates its connection with the landscape by the way it manifests itself to the viewer and in return how the person responds to it given the factors that revolve around the environment and the individual. Thus, this creates the process of education for each visitor. Environmental education can also be seen as an outcome of landscape experience since the three examples that were given are primarily natural or ecological sites. Landscape experiences gives idea to visitors of the current situation of these sites. This experience creates awareness especially during this time that the call for environmental concern has been constantly increasing. Effective and meaningful environmental education is a challenge we must take seriously if we and future generations are to enjoy the benefits of our natural heritage. Thus, landscape experiences creates an avenue for environmental education by showcasing visitors the beauty and wonder of these sites and how each one is responsible for its protection and continued sustenance. The last mentioned is landscape experience creates interpretative centers. Landscape experience gives opportunities for interpretative centers to provide adequate information regarding the site. Also, interpretative centers provide cultivate interests of volunteers and organizations to further promote the site. Architecture plays an important role in landscape experience. People who have background in the topic understand that its facets are diversified. To fully appreciate architecture, students need to deconstruct its meaning from a variety of perspectives: artistic, social, and scientific. Architecture serves as a guide for visitors to engage in their local landscape. The idea is that each individual seeks find meaning and experience in the landscape however this cannot be done without an understanding architecture. Another is that architecture’ diversity and varied perspectives paves the way for an increased landscape experience among visitors. Different meanings and interpretations are derived from these sites that foster deeper learning experiences. There are many variants and factors that determine the landscape experience of an individual. The capability of an individual to associate the landscape with an understanding of architecture and different subjective interests’ can create a meaningful and worthwhile experience. The full appreciation of the environment experience again is achieved if a learning process is obtained by the individual upon exposure to the landscape.

Drug Addiction - Essay Essay Example for Free

Drug Addiction Essay Essay Drug addiction is a pathological or abnormal condition which arises due to frequent drug use. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute drug use to the development of drug-seeking behavior, the vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed ability to respond to naturally rewarding stimuli. Causes Drugs known to cause addiction include illegal drugs as well as prescription or over-the-counter drugs, according to the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. †¢ Stimulants: o Amphetamine and methamphetamine o Cocaine o Nicotine †¢ Sedatives and hypnotics: o Alcohol o Barbiturates o Benzodiazepines, particularly flunitrazepam, triazolam, temazepam, and nimetazepam o Methaqualone and the related quinazolinone sedative-hypnotics †¢ Opiate and opioid analgesics o Morphine and codeine, the two naturally occurring opiate analgesics o Semi-synthetic opiates, such as heroin (diacetylmorphine), oxycodone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone o Fully synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, meperidine/pethidine, and methadone HEROIN- The German drug company Bayer named its new over the counter drug Heroin in 1895. [7] The name was derived from the German word heroisch (heroic) due to its perceived heroic effects upon a user.[7] It was chiefly developed as a morphine substitute for cough suppressants that did not have morphines addictive side-effects. Morphine at the time was a popular recreational drug, and Bayer wished to find a similar but non-addictive substitute to market.[8] However, contrary to Bayers advertising as a non-addictive morphine substitute, heroin would soon have one of the highest rates of  dependence amongst its users.[9] Diacetylmorphine is used as a recreational drug for the transcendent relaxation and intense euphoria it induces. Anthropologist Michael Agar once described heroin as the perfect whatever drug.[23] Tolerance quickly develops, and users need more of the drug to achieve the same effects. Its popularity with recreational drug users, compared to morphine, reportedly stems from its perceived different effects.[24] In particular, users report an intense rush that occurs while the diacetylmorphine is being metabolized into 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and morphine in the brain. Diacetylmorphine produces more euphoria than other opioids upon injection. One of the most common methods of illicit heroin use is via intravenous injection (colloquially termed slamming or shooting up). effects- Large doses of heroin can cause fatal respiratory depression, and the drug has been used for suicide or as a murder weapon. cost- Price The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports that the retail price of brown heroin varies from â‚ ¬14.5 per gram in Turkey to â‚ ¬110 per gram in Sweden, with most European countries reporting typical prices of â‚ ¬35-40 per gram. The price of white heroin is reported only by a few European countries and ranged between â‚ ¬27 and â‚ ¬110 per gram †¢ RISK- For intravenous users of heroin (and any other substance), the use of non-sterile needles and syringes and other related equipment leads to several serious risks: o the risk of contracting blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis o the risk of contracting bacterial or fungal endocarditis and possibly venous sclerosis o abscesses †¢ Poisoning from contaminants added to cut or dilute heroin †¢ Chronic constipation †¢ Addiction and increasing tolerance †¢ Physical dependence can result from prolonged use of all opioids,  resulting in withdrawal symptoms on cessation of use †¢ Decreased kidney function (although it is not currently known if this is due to adulterants or infectious diseases)[47] CRACKHEADS GONE WILD Tony had a promising future as a professional athlete. Now he stands in front of a rundown house in Atlanta. My momma always told me, you can be anything you want, he says. This is what I brought my being down to. He holds up a pebble of crack between thumb and forefinger. This is the most important thing in my life. If I had to choose between you and the blow, Id forget you. Miami Slim, a greying black woman who has been addicted to cocaine since 1981, recalls her shame at sitting in a room with $7,000 of crack on the table and being unable to give her five-year-old son 50 cents to buy an ice cream. These are just two of the characters from Crackheads Gone Wild, an American DVD that takes the gonzo documentary genre made notorious by the 2002 video Bumfights (a series of tramp-fighting vignettes) to distressing new extremes. It presents uncensored real stories of crack addicts in Atlanta while drawing on the voyeuristic appeal and entertainment value of reality TV. Like Hollywoods upcoming action-romp Snakes on a Plane, the title alone plays on a brazen marketing nous. And it even has its own snappy logo an illustration of a zombie-like bug-eyed crackhead. The DVD has sold 60,000 copies since release in December, primarily from sales through its website, crackheadsgonewild.com. Its creator, Daryl Master Mind Smith, a 30-year-old graduate from North Carolina Central University with a degree in marketing, maintains his film is intended to raise awareness of the crack problem in American cities. But we also tried to make it entertaining, he says, otherwise no one would want to watch it and the message wouldnt get across. To this end, there is footage of a couple having sex in a park while simultaneously taking hits off their crack pipes. Smith claims he didnt solicit the footage. We just walked up on them. They didnt care. I never gave anyone more than $5 or something to eat to film them. They wanted to do it because they wanted people to know their stories. One white female addict, clearly ravaged beyond her years, makes an impassioned plea for understanding on a street corner but is undermined by a man performing a  jerky dance behind her as he takes a hit off his pipe. A woman, posting a message on the films website under the name punkin1980, says she recognised the man as the father she hadnt seen in five years. It saddend (sic) me to look at him like that. Wherever he is now, I just want him to know that punkin still and always will love him. Smith defends himself: In my mind, the exploitation was done for a good reason. What I was doing was exploiting the part of life that people choose to ignore. I just put it out there for people to see. Fuelled by mainstream rap culture and shows like MTVs Jackass, there is a burgeoning market for such films. One series of DVDs consisting of nothing more than amateur footage of street fighting is sold under the title Ghetto Brawls. Bumfights which racked up $5 million in sales worldwide, featured alcoholic vagrants who were plied with booze and encouraged to perform stunts that included having their teeth extracted with pliers. Its makers were taken to court in a civil trial in 2003 for soliciting battery and promoting illegal fights. They received small fines and probationary sentences. There seems little chance that those behind Crackheads Gone Wild will end up in the courts. Smith says he obtained release forms from everyone who appears in the video and wont use footage from those that refused. He says he knew some of the people he filmed over a period of years and watched them slowly deteriorate. Many of these people are highly intelligent. I have footage of a lady who has a masters degree in education and used to work on Capitol Hill. She got hooked on drugs and now shes homeless. The point of the movie is: do not even try crack or this is what it will reduce you to. You will not have any control over your life and you will live and die for the drug.

The Role Of Principal Education Essay

The Role Of Principal Education Essay As the key intermediary between the classrooms, the individual school and the education system as a whole, effective school leadership are essential to improve the efficiency and equity of schooling. Within each individual school, leadership can contribute to improve student learning by shaping the conditions and climate in which teaching and learning occur. Beyond the school borders, school leaders can connect and adapt schools to changing external environments. And at the school-systems interface, school leadership provides a bridge between internal school improvements processes and externally initiated reform. But school leadership does not operate in static educational environments. As countries are seeking to adapt their education systems to the needs of contemporary society, the expectations for schools and school leaders have changed profoundly. Many countries have made schools more autonomous in their decision making while centralising standards and accountability requirements and demanding that schools adopt new research-based approaches to teaching and learning. In line with these changes, the roles and responsibilities of school leader have expanded and intensified. Given the increased autonomy and accountability of schools, leadership at the school level is more important than ever. The challenge facing education in the 21st century is to make changes to achieve higher levels of learning for all children (Ramsey, 2002). At the time of the present study, public schools are undergoing scrutiny and criticism of such magnitude; it is difficult to predict the future of public education. An increased emphasis on accountability and school improvement, including the utilization of ICT among teachers to enhance student achievement, is at the forefront of all education debates. Research has shown that appropriate use of ICTs to catalyze a paradigm shift in both content and pedagogy that is the heart of education reform in the 19th century. ICT-supported education to enhance the success of the ongoing knowledge and skills that will give the students continuous learning if properly designed and implimented. Leveraging ICT in an appropriate manner enables new methods of teaching and learning, especially for students in exploring exciting ways of problem solving in the context of education. New ways of teaching and learning is supported by constructivist learning theory and paradgm shift from prinbcipal and teacher-centered pedagogy of memorization and rote-learning to focus on student centered. (Thijs, A., et al. ,2010) Furthermore, the utilization ICT learning procedures and tools in the educational process, obviously leads to revolutionary changes in the roles of both teachers and learners as the emergence of new teaching and learning environment and finally for new virtual training that ultimately aims to facilitate the tools and resources to support communication and interaction as well as disseminate teaching materials via the web will in order to encourage promote enhance collaboration and cooperation among participants in the learning process. On the other hand, many author such as Salinas (2003) agree on the fact that the integration of ICT in education produce a set of transformations which transform all the elements that take part in the educational process such as organizations, students, curriculum, and notably, they affect teachers role, function and behavior . Nevertherless, investments in information and communication technology (ICT) for enhancing formal and non-formal education systems are essential for schools improvement (Tong Trinidad, 2005). According to Betz (2000), information technology will only be successfully implemented in schools if the principal actively supports it, learns as well, provides adequate professional development and supports for his/her staff in the process of change. In fact, school principals have a main responsibility for implementing and integrating ICT in schools (Schiller, 2003). Anderson and Dexter (2005) carried out a study on technology leadership behaviors of school principals and found that although technology infrastructure is important, technology leadership is even more necessary for effective utilization of technology in schools (p.49). Moreover, various other research studies support the literature that leadership is an important key factor in effective use of technology in education (Schiller, 2003; Anderson Dexter, 2005). Therefore, it can be said that technology leadership behaviors are important to successful implementation of educational technology plans (Chang, Chin Hsu, 2008). As such, the principal has consistently been recognized as a significant factor in school effectiveness of change process. The complexity of the job of a school administrator has demanded highly developed skills to carry out the many functions of the school operation. Exceptional leaders have always been rare, but many believe that they can be made as well as born (Abrashoff, 2002). At the same time, there is limited understanding about the ways that school leaders make a difference particularly in new technology integration. Principal leadership, along with the effectiveness of classroom teachers, has a great impact on student progress. The relationship of an administrators leadership style and its affect on teachers and student achievement has become critically important in continued research. Role of Principal Several definition of a principal, the first six do not mention their role as the leader of a school. Though, there are key phrases that most certainly apply to the position; highest in rank, authority, most considerable, and important. The definitions go on to mention that which pertains to a prince or being princely, along with a leader or one who takes the lead. What may be considered ironic is that acts independently is included as well. Because the role of a principal is extremely fluid, being shaped by a diverse set of concerns and values, conceptualizations are problematic (Brown, 2005). Evidence should be visible in a school of what a principal believes as a principal and what the school stands for (NAESP, 2001). The test of good leadership is the achievement of change in a system. Change can be difficult; however, it is necessary to abandon the past to pursue the future (Bell-Hobbs, 2008). Examining the ways in which principals lead their schools through change, and its effe ct on teachers attitude towards technology as well as student achievement and is critical to future educational research. Traditionally, the principal resembled the middle manager suggested in William Whytes 1950s classic The Organization Man as an overseer of buses, boilers and books. Today, in a rapidly changing era of standards-based reform and accountability, a different conception has emerged one closer to the model suggested by Jim Collins (2001) Good to Great, which draws lessons from contemporary corporate life to suggest leadership that focuses with great clarity on what is essential, what needs to be done and how to get it done. This shift brings with it dramatic changes in what public education needs from principals. They can no longer function simply as building managers, tasked with adhering to district rules, carrying out regulations and avoiding mistakes. They have to be (or become) leaders of learning who can develop a team delivering effective instruction. Wallaces work since 2000 suggests that this entails five key responsibilities: Shaping a vision of academic success for all students, one based on high standards Creating a climate hospitable to education in order that safety, a cooperative spirit and other foundations of fruitful interaction prevail. Cultivating leadership in others so that teachers and other adults assume their part in realizing the school vision. Improving instruction to enable teachers to teach at their best and students to learn at their utmost. Managing people, data and processes to foster school improvement. In addition, schools are no different. Principals who get high marks from teachers for creating a strong climate for instruction in their schools also receive higher marks than other principals for spurring leadership in the faculty, according to the research from the University of Minnesota and University of Toronto. (Bradley Portin, Paul Schneider, Michael DeArmond and Lauren Gundlach., 2003) In fact if test scores are any indication, the more willing principals are to spread leadership around, the better for the students. One of the most striking findings of the universities of Minnesota and Toronto report is that effective leadership from all sources such as principals, influential teachers, staff teams and others is associated with better student performance on math and reading tests. The relationship is strong albeit indirect: Good leadership, the study suggests, improves both teacher motivation and work settings. This, in turn, can fortify classroom instruction. Compared with lower-achieving schools, higher-achieving schools provided all stakeholders with greater influence on decisions, the researchers write.( Karen Seashore Louis, Kenneth Leithwood, Kyla L. Wahlstrom, Stephen E. Anderson et al. ,2010) The better results are due to collaboration between two parties. The higher performance of these schools might be explained as a consequence of the greater access they have to collective knowledge and wisdom embedded within their communities, the study concludes.( Karen Seashore Louis, Kenneth Leithwood, Kyla L. Wahlstrom, Stephen E. Anderson et al. ,2010) Principals may be relieved to find out, moreover, that their authority does not wane as others waxes. Clearly, school leadership is not a zero-sum game. Principals and district leaders have the most influence on decisions in all schools; however, they do not lose influence as others gain influence, Karen Seashore Louis, Kenneth Leithwood, Kyla L. Wahlstrom, Stephen E. Anderson et al., 2010). Indeed, although higher-performing schools awarded greater influence to most stakeholders. Little changed in these schools overall hierarchical structure. (Kenneth Leithwood, Karen Seashore Louis, Stephen Anderson, Kyla Wahlstrom,2004) .University of Washington research on leadership in urban school systems emphasizes the need for a leadership team role led by the principal and including assistant principals and teacher leaders and shared responsibility for student progress, a responsibility reflected in a set of agreements as well as unspoken norms among school staff.( Knapp et al., 2003) School leaders are in charge of connecting and adapting schools to their surrounding environments. According to Hargreaves et al. (2008), school leaders will increasingly need to lead out there beyond the school, as well as within it, in order to influence the environment that influences their own work with students. In small towns and rural areas, school leaders have traditionally stood among the most important leaders in their communities. While it may be argued that urbanisation, immigration and school size have weakened school-community ties, these and other pressures on family structures have at the same time contributed to make the community responsibilities of school leaders even more important today. Principal play an important role in strengthening the ties between school personnel and the communities that surround them (Fullan, 2001). Principals of the most successful schools in challenging circumstances are typically highly engaged with and trusted by the schools parents and wider community (Hargreaves et al., 2008). They also try to improve achievement and well-being for children by becoming more involved with other partners such as local businesses, sports clubs, faith-based groups and community organisations and by integrating the work of the school with welfare, law enforcement and other agencies (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2007). Moreover, in rapidly changing societies, the goals and objectives to be achieved by schools and the ways to get there are not always clear and static. In increasingly globalised and knowledge-based economies, schools must lay the foundations for lifelong learning while at the same time dealing with new challenges such as changing demographic patterns, increased immigration, changing labour markets, new technologies and rapidly developing fields of knowledge. Consequently of these devel opments, schools are under enormous pressure to change and it is the role of Principal to deal effectively with the processes of change. The roles and responsibilities of school leadership in each of these scenarios would vary widely. School leaders must master the new forms of pedagogy themselves and they must learn how to monitor and improve their teachers new practice. Moreover, instead of serving as head teacher primus inter pares, they have to become leaders of learning responsible for building communities of professional practice. Methods of evaluation and professional development take more sophisticated application and principals must embed them into the fabric of the work day. While practices vary across countries, it is clear that school leadership is generally expected to play a more active role in instructional leadership: monitoring and evaluating teacher performance, conducting and arranging for mentoring and coaching, planning teacher professional development and orchestrating teamwork and cooperative instruction. Countries also note a shift in emphasis from more administration- and management-type funct ions to leadership functions of providing academic vision, strategic planning, developing deeper layers of leadership and building a culture and community of learning. As a result of the increasing central mandates and programmes, changing student populations and growing knowledge about effective practice, schools are under enormous pressure to change and it is the school leaders role to manage the processes of change. The transformation of policy into results occurs most critically through the adaptation of practice in the school and classroom. This process is complex and must be led intentionally and skilfully. In some cases, resistance to change needs to be overcome with carefully structured support, relevant information, a clear sense of purpose and goals and opportunities to learn requisite skills (Hall and Hord, 2005). While some changes are purely technical and can be readily accomplished, more significant change calls for deeper adjustment of values and beliefs about the work (Heifetz, 1998). Sophisticated skills of adaptive (Heifetz and Linsky, 2002) and transformational leadership (Burns, 1978; Leithwood, 1992; Leithwood and Jantzi, 1990; Leithwood and Jantzi, 2000) are needed here. Brief Understanding of Leadership The term leader has been included in the English language since about 1300 A.D., while the term leadership was introduced about 1800 A .D . (Stogdill, 1974, p . 7) . Historically speaking, the leadership position in past years was occupied by the person exhibiting most prowess, strength or power. Today, the leadership position seems to be dependent on the group that person leads and exerts some authority over. The leader maintains his position as long as group needs and/or goals are met. Yura (1976) indicated that regardless of their purpose, needs or goals, all groups have a basic commonality: they rely on leadership. A review of the literature revealed that earlier studies were directed at defining the ingredients of leadership. Despite those efforts, it appears that much remains unknown. At this point in time, it has been recognized that there is no clear cut agreement on the definitions of leadership styles or behaviour. This lack of consensus has led to much confusion on the topic. Amid all this, most authorities agree leadership styles can be learned and there is no one best style of leadership. Stogdill and Coons concentrated on two aspects of leader behavior : (1) What does an individual do while he operates as a leader, and (2) How does he go about what he does? As a working definition they stated, Leadership, as tentatively defined, is the behavior of an individual when he is directing the activities of a group toward a shared goal (Stogdill and Coons, 1957, pp . 6-7) . In 1977, Hersey and Blanchard defined leadership as the process of influencing the activities of an individual or group in efforts. Toward goal achievement in a given situation (Hersey and Blanchard, 1977, p. 84). From these definitions it follows that the leadership process is a function of the leader, followers and other situational variables. Barnard (1969) agreed that leadership is an involvement of the three variables listed above. In his discussion on The Nature of Leadership, he stated that, Whatever leadership is, I shall now make the much over simplified statement that it depends on three things: (1) the individual, (2) the followers, and (3) the conditions. Behavioral leadership theory focuses on what the leader does. It is different from personal trait theory because behavior can be observed. The observable behavior is not dependent upon either individual characteristics or the situation (Moloney, 1979, p. 23). Barnard (1969) defined leadership .as the quality of the behavior of individuals whereby they guide people or their activities in organized effort(p. 83). Researchers and writers have amassed a large body of literature in defining leadership. The results of the leadership definitional process have been plagued with uncertainties. This phenomenon Halpin (1958) cited in his attempt to define leadership . In his review of the literature, he stated : Leadership has been defined in numerous ways . The definition proposed here derives its value primarily from the relation to the body of theory being developed . In some respects it is more comprehensive than other more usual definitions ; in others it is more restricted . To lead is to engage in an act that initiates a structure-in-interaction or part of the process of solving problems . Halpin (1958) Stogdill (1974) devoted a chapter in his book to the definition of leadership . He, like Halpin, recognized the complexities of defining leadership . He was explicit in stating that : There are almost as many different definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept. Nevertheless, there is sufficient similarity between definitions to permit a rough scheme of classification As a result of the research and theory about leadership behavior that was developed after 1945, Gerth and Mills (1953) stated : To understand leadership attention must be paid to : (1) the traits and motives of the leader as a man, (2) images that selected publics hold of him and their motives for following him, (3) the features of the role that he plays as a leader, (4) the institutional context in which he and his followers may be involved . (p . 405) Furthermore, leadership can be described by reference to two core functions. One function is providing direction; the other is exercising influence. Whatever else leaders do, they provide direction and exercise influence. This does not imply oversimplification. Each of these two leadership functions can be carried out in different ways, and the various modes of practice linked to the functions distinguish many models of leadership. In carrying out these two functions, leaders act in environments marked variously by stability and change. These conditions interact in complementary relationships. While stability is often associated with resistance and maintenance of the status quo, it is in fact difficult for leaders and other educators to leap forward from a wobbly foundation. To be more precise, it is stability and improvement that have this symbiotic relationship. Leaping forward from a wobbly foundation may well produce change, but not change of the sort that most of us value falling flat on your face is the image that comes to mind. Wobbly foundations and unwise leaping help to explain why the blizzard of changes adopted by our schools over the past half century have had little effect on the success of our students. School reform efforts have been most successful in those schools that have needed them least Elmore (1995). These have been schools with well-established processes and capacities in place, providing foundations on which to build in contrast to those schools, the ones most often of concern to reformers, short on essential infrastructure. In understanding these concept in a clarification of leadership means leadership is all about organizational improvement; more specifically, it is about establishing agreed-upon and worthwhile directions for the organization in question, and doing whatever it takes to prod and support people to move in those directions. Our general definition of leadership highlights these points: it is about direction and influence. Stability is the goal of what is often called management. Improvement is the goal of leadership. There are as many definitions of leadership as there are theorists. Theorists no longer explain leadership in terms of the individual or the group. They believe that the characteristics of the individual and the demands of the situation interact in such a manner as to permit one, or perhaps a few, persons to rise to leadership status. Principal Leadership Style Various researchers have tried to interpret school leadership in different manner. Peretomode (1991) stated the importance of Leadership in school for accomplishment of school programmes, objectives and attainment of educational goals. Cheng (1994) proposed that leadership in educational institutions compose of five major dimensions, namely: structural leadership, human leadership, political leadership, cultural leadership and educational leadership. These five dimensions describe the role and functions of school leader. However the functions of principal put a variety of demands and challenges for the principal Mestry and Grobler (2004). In an attempt to explain the requirements of a competent principal Cranston (2002) explained the skills and capacities which principals are expected to possess. Principals competencies can be measured from various dimensions; from the perceptions of students, teachers, parents, communities and their employers. For instance, Scotti Jr. and William (1997) agreed that teachers perceptions of their principals leadership is one of the many variables, which affect a schools productivity. Teachers perception of principals leadership style and behaviour is also positively related to teachers morale Hunter-Boykin and Evans (1995). Luo (2004) further contended that perceptions about principals as leaders by their teachers indicate an important dimension to evaluate the leaders capacities. According to him, understanding how teachers perceive their principals leadership capacities has a great significance and providing evidence for improvement of school leadership. Research has also demonstrated that teacher perceptions of their principals capabilities style and their working conditions will determine the organizational climate and culture of the schoo l. Such perceptions will also impact on the performance of the school. Research on leadership in non-school contexts is frequently driven by theory referred to by one of our colleagues as adjectival leadership models.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬- A recent review of such theory identified, for example, 21 leadership approaches that have been objects of considerable theoretical and empirical development. (Yammarino, Dionne, Chun, Dansereau, 2005). Seventeen have been especially attractive, and some of them have informed research in school contexts.( Leithwood Duke ,1999). Here are several best example of leadership style: Contingent leadership. Encompassing research on leadership styles, leader problem solving, and reflective leadership, this two-dimensional conception of leadership explains differences in leaderseffectiveness by reference to a task or relationship style and to the situations in which leaders find themselves. To be most effective, according to this model, leaders must match their styles to their settings. Participative leadership. Addressing attention to leadership in groups, shared leadership (Pearce Conger, 2003) and teacher leadership, (York-Barr Duke, 2004). This model is concerned with how leaders involve others in organizational decisions. Research informed by the model has investigated autocratic, consultative, and collaborative sharing styles. Transformational and charismatic leadership. This model focuses on ways in which leaders exercise influence over their colleagues and on the nature of leader-follower relations. Both forms of leadership emphasize communicating a compelling vision, conveying high performance expectations, projecting self confidence, modeling appropriate roles, expressing confidence in followersability to achieve goals, and emphasizing collective purpose. (Leithwood Jantzi, 2006). Nevertheless, leadership research also has been informed by models developed specifically for use in school- and district-level settings. Of these, the instructional leadership model is perhaps the most well known. It bears some resemblance to more general, task-oriented leadership theories. (Dorfman House, 2004). The instructional leadership concept implies a focus on classroom practice. Often, however, specific leadership practices required to establish and maintain that focus are poorly defined. The main underlying assumption is that instruction will improve if leaders provide detailed feedback to teachers, including suggestions for change. It follows that leaders must have the time, the knowledge, and the consultative skills needed to provide teachers in all the relevant grade levels and subject areas with valid, useful advice about their instructional practices. While these assumptions have an attractive ring to them, they rest on shaky ground, at best; the evidence to date suggests that few principals have made the time and demonstrated the ability to provide high quality instructional feedback to teachers. (Nelson Sassi ,2005). Importantly, the few well-developed models of instructional leadership posit a set of responsibilities for principals that go well beyond observing and intervening in classrooms responsibilities touching on vision, organizational culture, and the like. (Andrews Soder (1987), Duke (1987), and Hallinger ,2003). In addition, studies of school and principals leadership are replete with other adjectives purporting to capture something uniquely important about the object of inquiry such as learning leadership,( Reeves (2006). constructivist leadership, (Lambert et al. ,1995). and change leadership.( Wagner et al. 2006). Nonetheless, Boykin and Evans (1995) found that majority of the principals were rated as ineffective by their teachers. This reflects that there is a big discrepancy between what the principals are and how they are perceived by the teachers. And in Hong Kong, the images of the principal in the mind of pre-service primary teachers were found to be negative. Lee, Walker and Bodycott, (2000). A study by Luo and Najjar (2007), investigated Chinese principal leadership capacities as perceived by master teachers. Unlike in many developed countries where studies on principals competencies are available in multitude, such studies are still at its low in Malaysia. Keeping in mind the importance of role of the principal as a leader within the secondary school system, it is imperative to examine the leadership style in facilitaing change such as integrating ICT within school context. This is particularly so because of the fact that schools in this country serve for the large section of national students. Most studies in this country have focused on leadership qualities, rather than leadership style. The study therefore intends to fill this gap by investigating the perception of teachers on the leadership style of their principals in terms of facilitating change in implementing ICT utilization among teachers within school setting. Leadership Change Facilitator Style Previous research on leaders has explored traits, such as height, race, and gender. The work of Fiedler (1978) suggested that leaders style was dependent upon contingencies; meaning that different styles are needed for different styles. Blake and Mouton (1964) wrote that how a leader leads was in two dimensions; one in task and one in relationships. It was thought that the most effective leaders had high levels in both task and people skills. The level of maturity of the followers was thought to be reflective of the leaders success by Hersey and Blanchard (1988). Nearly all of the research on leaders and leadership models was built upon business and industry contexts. Educational organizations, namely schools, have much less to draw upon for research on leaders. What is lacking even more is the examination of leaders within the change processes. Research is rich in the areas of leadership and leaders. Debates are not difficult to find on the topics of effective leadership; what makes it, who has it, and how does one do it. An essential component to effective leadership in todays schools is the facilitation of change. How leaders implement changes can lead to either the success or the failure of any innovation. Change continues as a theme in all educational discussions. In 1992, Fullan and Miles wrote about getting reform right in schools. We can say flatly that reform will not be achieved until these seven orientations have been incorporated into the thinking and reflected in the actions of those involved in change efforts (p. 744). Those seven orientations are listed in Figure 2. One of the objectives of this research, like a few preceding it, is to identify the specific kinds of combinations of behaviors that principals can and should exhibit on a day-to-day basis to bring about increases in student achievement through implenting ICT utilization among teachers. Figure 1. Fullan and Miles orientations of change. If the role of the principal is critical, then it should be possible to identify principals actions that directly relate to increasing the academic performance of students on standardized testing. An understanding that has been developed through the work of Hall, Hord, and Griffin (1980) is the principle that not all principals are the same. Principals view their role and priorities differently and operationally define their roles differently in terms of what they actually do each day (Hall, Ruthoford, Hord, Huling, 1984) All leaders have a style. That has been established in research on industrial organizational leadership, change process, and educational administration. What has not been established is that there is not an operational definition of style. Furthermore, there is not a distinction drawn between leader behavior and leader style. The terms, and more troubling, the concepts have been used interchangeably. In most studies, followers were asked to identify individual behaviors of leaders, not the leaders behaviors in total. In 1978, Thomas conducted a study on 60 schools, looking at the role of school principals in managing diverse educational programs. As a result of this study, she identified three patterns of principal behavior, and identified them as: Director, Administrator, and Facilitator. Director principals maintained an active interest in all aspects of the school from curriculum and teacher to budgeting and scheduling. Administrator principals were said to make decisions in areas affecting the school as a whole, this, leaving teachers with a great deal of autonomy. Facilitator principals thought of themselves as colleagues of the faculty, and perceived th

Northeast Skiing Cant Keep Up WIth the West :: Journalism Journalistic Essays

Northeast Skiing Can't Keep Up With the West Skiers are very loyal athletes. They grow up learning on certain mountains and usually spend most of their lives skiing at those same ones. They remember every bump and turn on the way down. They know which lift to take because it is the fastest and has the shortest line. It takes a lot for a skier to stray from their normal habitat and adventure to slopes unknown. Actually, it takes two seasons of horrible skiing conditions, which is what the Northeast ski industry has recently suffered. Two long years of rain, ice, sleet, and bitter temperatures. The biggest and best mountains in the Northeast have had their finest trails closed almost all of the 2003-04 season. The less open trails, the more crowded the ones that are open are. The less lifts that are open, the more crowded the open ones are. The more crowded the mountain is, the more angry skiers are. So what do these angry skiers do? They do the unthinkable and look elsewhere. They look west. â€Å"The skiing out West is much better,† said Doug Sabanosh, managing editor of SKI Magazine. â€Å"The East is cold, cloudy, and gray while out West we have 300 days of sun.† Sabanosh grew up skiing in the Northeast, but he has been living in Colorado for the past 15 years. He says that the mountains out there are bigger, which eliminates the problem of crowdedness on the mountain. Trails are wide open, lift lines are short, and the weather is unbelievable. More people are following Sabanosh’s lead and heading out West to look for better skiing. The Northeast is slumping. The past two years have been slow. Resorts here in the East have been doing everything they can to keep their numbers up and stay competitive with the West. Recently, SKI Magazine came out with its top ten ski areas in North America. The list is voted on by the magazine’s readers. It is based on things such as region, snow, grooming, terrain, challenge, value, lifts, weather, service, and off-hill activities. Not one resort from the Northeast was in that top ten. Six resorts from Colorado made the poll including Vail and Steamboat. Mountains from Utah and Idaho filled in the rest of the list as well as Whistler Mountain in British Columbia. The West dominates this poll. Not even Killington in Vermont, which is one of the biggest mountains in the country, was in the top ten.

The Magic of The Coral :: Music Band Musical Essays

The Magic of The Coral The Coral fly under the radar of popular mainstream music in America: less marketed than Australian rock band and Strokes-sound-a-likes Jet, The Coral are probably slightly less-known than The Shins, perhaps on the same level as British Sea Power. But The Coral needn’t worry. Those who know them like them, and want to spread the word (despite the good feeling of discovering a band that is a gem of a secret). I first discovered The Coral about a year ago—I saw they had been on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and their CD was $10. It turned out to be a great CD—and I then knew of a great British band that my father (in England) didn’t become familiar with until about ten months later. The Coral are six young men from Liverpool, England: brothers James (vocal and guitar) and Ian (drums) Skelly, Nick Power (piano, organ and vocals), Lee Southall (guitar and vocals), Paul Duffy (bass and vocals), and Bill Ryder-Jones (guitar and trumpet). Ian Skelly, Southall, Duffy and Ryder-Jones are all the tender age of 19, Power is 20, and older sibling James Skelly is the oldest at 22. For a band of younguns their sound is so well-developed and unique—psychedelic folk-rock with a little Britpop—and comes from the distinctive twang of Southall’s guitar and singer Skelly’s distinguishing, strong vocals and lyrics that unfold like a story. With the release of their self-titled debut album, The Coral established themselves as a talented young band that would only get better with time. Their second CD, Magic and Medicine, confirms that. While their sound has matured, they haven’t lost any of the whimsy or frivolity that works so well for them . The first song, â€Å"In The Forest,† isn’t as striking as the first CD’s opener, â€Å"Spanish Main.† However, it picks up with more standard Coral-type numbers like â€Å"Don’t Think You’re The First,† â€Å"Talkin’ Gypsy Market Blues,† and especially â€Å"Bill McCai.† I’ve found The Coral are great storytellers: some of their songs are about fictional events that develop over years, and—in the case of â€Å"Bill McCai†Ã¢â‚¬â€the undoing of a man unhappy in his life. â€Å"Bill McCai† mirrors exactly the first CD’s â€Å"Simon Diamond,† about a man who was so fed up with his life that he turned himself into a tree.

A LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO PHYSICAL FITNESS :: Essays Papers

A LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO PHYSICAL FITNESS A lifetime commitment to physical fitness can no longer be considered a luxury. It is indeed a necessity. What could be worse than the sight of a physically bankrupt forty-year-old executive recovering from his first major heart attack? With the aid of modern technology and a little hard work, a motivated person can become physically fit and avoid this catastrophe. I firmly believe in the lifetime commitment to physical fitness, and practice it as well. Fitness will not only help you physically, but mentally and financially as well. Most Americans abide by what can be referred to as the law of beauty. If it looks good, it must be good. We need to erase this from our minds when dealing with physical fitness. More often than not, the people who get quick results for beauty are the ones who cut corners. Cutting corners can be very dangerous from a physical standpoint, and is not what the commitment to physical fitness is about. To name a few guilty parties, steroid abusers, anorexics, and bulemics are tops on the list. Although steroids provide big muscles quickly, and anorexia and bulimia provide a thin waist promptly, usually the party involved doesn't realize what's at stake. The long-term effects of theses habits are more severe than a body abuser may have ever imagined. Steroids may cause cancer, elephantitis, and internal organ damage. Side effects of anorexia and bulimia include loss of skin and tooth color, and internal organ damage as well. These paths are taken by those who cut corners and are surely not concerned with a lifetime commitment to anything. The commitment involves a combination of things, that done properly can greatly increase your health. Most importantly, you need to establish a proper diet for yourself. Sadly, most people do everything right but neglect their body nutritionally. The proper diet establishes a strong base for training. Next, you need to set up a workout routine that will combine cardiovascular training with strength and conditioning exercises. Most people avoid this because they feel they will have to put in three hours every day in a hot gym for the rest of their lives. In actuality, a program that provides these types of exercises will only take about 45 minutes every other day. Lastly, you need to motivate yourself to do this. If the sight of you recovering from a heart attack at 40 (because you were lazy) doesn't motivate you, then you're obviously content with where you are and needn't bother reading further.

Differences between Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt Essay

In reflection there are many differences between the United States’ 31st president Herbert C. Hoover and it’s 32nd president Franklin D. Roosevelt, so much so that their administrations and thoughts on how to run the country existed on two completely different paradigms in relation to their views on the governments role in society. To begin with, the Grand old man and the New dealer start out with a difference in the very foundation of their political standpoints. Herbert Hoover was affiliated with the Republican Party while Franklin D. Roosevelt was a member of the democrat party and their administrations are but a reflection of their affiliations. Herbert Hoover was appointed to office on March 4th of 1933 and Franklin Roosevelt was appointed April 12th of 1945. Hoover ended up serving four years in office as he lost his reelection to Roosevelt himself who later came to serve a total of three terms in office resulting in twelve years of presidency before his death in office. In the administrations of Hoover and Roosevelt it is clear that Roosevelt was more for government involvement than was Hoover however, Hoover had served as the secretary of commerce under the administrations of president Harding and president Coolidge and even in those administrations he believed that the government did not have to be passive and he backed the concept of â€Å"associationalism† that envisioned the creation of national organizations of businessmen in particular industries. This was meant to stabilize industries and promote efficiency in production and marketing but he never truly had an opportunity to implement his plans because less than a year after his inauguration the United States plunged into the Great Depression, sidelining previous ambitions and goals. In new light of his presidency Herbert Hoover implements government economic recovery that granted limited success such as the Smoot-Hawley tariff which hurt his administration and the economy rather than help it. And much of his doctrine for governing the American people was to have the least amount of direct government involvement in the people’s everyday lives. On the other hand Roosevelt was elected into the Great Depression and in his first 100 days in office he implemented a flurry of economic legislation that was part of his â€Å"New Deal† domestic program in attempt to alleviate (immediately yet not completely) the crisis looming over the United States. During his presidency Roosevelt implemented many acts that dealt with the Economy/Jobs, Financing/Banking, Defense/Foreign  Affairs, Social issues, Housing and even Environment and even got the nation’s unemployment rate down from 25% to 2%( The Agricultural Adjustment Acts, Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Farm Credit Act, Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA), Gold Reserve Act, National Industry Recovery Act (NIRA), National Labor Relations Act, Tennessee Valley Act, The Federal Farm Bankruptcy Act, Glass-Steagall Act, Corporate Bankruptcy Act, Emergency Banking Act, Federal Securities Act, Securities Exchange Act, Veterans Administration Act, Lend-Lease Act, Neutrality Acts, Selective Training and Service Act, Revenue Act of 1932, Revenue Act of 1941, Social Security Act, Farm Mortgage Refinancing Act, Home Owners Loan Act, National Housing Act, and the Reforestation Relief Act). Roosevelt’s new economic programs brought jobs to hundreds of thousands of men during the Great Depression through rural and agricultural projects that allowed them to once again get a paycheck, which also alleviated the congestion of large urban areas, a feat which overshadows president Hoover’s rural projects such as the Hoover dam. Roosevelt may have implemented many acts such as the Conservation Corps (CCC), Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Tennessee Valley Authority but it wasn’t just his economic reform that allowed for alleviation of the crisis, it was also his cheerful personality. Franklin D. Roosevelt used his optimism to bring trust and public confidence to his administration. And some of the ways he did this was through the â€Å"Fireside Chats† which were radio chats which he would use to communicate his programs and plans with the people. Roosevelt’s personality was even shown in his inaugural address where he stated â€Å"we h ave nothing to fear but fear itself† and it was often unknown that he was paralyzed in both of his legs. Herbert Hoover in contrast was not as outspoken and forth going and he lost the trust of the American people. More radical programs of relief were presented to him but he insisted that his policies were working. Hoover’s popularity began to decline due to his perceived political failures and many Americans thought him personally responsible for the conditions that they were in which led them to begin calling the shantytowns (housing for the unemployed) that they lived in on the outskirts of town, â€Å"Hoovervilles† But not only are Hoover and Roosevelt different in their domestic services but they were also different in their foreign affairs as Hoover didn’t have much direct involvement in foreign affairs but he did  pass the Hoover-Stimson doctrine which refused to recognize Japan’s conquer of Manchuria and even mediated on behalf of Peru and chile to settle a land dispute as well as sending ships to shanghai in order to protect U.S citizens. Hoover simply did not have the same pressing issues in foreign affairs as Roosevelt did because WWII occupied a lot of the time that Roosevelt was in office. Initially Roosevelt attempted to keep America out of the war and simply implemented ways to aid in the war effort while still on the home front such as the cash and carry act where munitions had to be bought and picked up from the United States instead of being shipped to the buyer and this improved the economy as European demand for war goods increased. And even though Roosevelt attempted to keep America out of the war, entry was inevitable after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor that Americans themselves wanted revenge for. This led to more foreign intervention and direct involvement that president Hoover didn’t have to endure as president although he did assist in the war effort under president Wilson by supplying the troops with food as well as organizing a large return of Americans from Europe. In conclusion, President Herbert C. Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt are two president who lived on different sides of the political spectrum. President Hoover was a hands off type of president and was not big on large reform and radical change but rather little government involvement in the affairs of the American people whereas president Roosevelt had more of a direct approach. President Roosevelt believed that the government should have direct involvement in the affairs of the people and it was evident in his administration due to all of the economic legislation that was passed during his terms. In the end they were both presidents who stuck to their respective presidential strategies.

What Causes Racism

What causes Racism? Racism is one of the most revolting things within the vicinity of humanity. It haunts our past, many times degrading the future. The causes of racism aren't known to the majority of humans living on earth, however, a good fraction of them express it. In order to cure racism, or at least minimize its affects on humanity, we have to examine the root causes. Some of the causes of racism are: Stereotypes Unfamiliarity selfishness and environmental factors. | |One of the most common causes of racism is stereotypes. Through television, through radio, through the internet, through music, through books, and the like, the potential for stereo types to build are a definite possibility. When a person, especially one that is very young, is exposed to stereotypes of a specific group for the first time, then that person will assume all are that way. Likewise, when a source is constantly displaying negative things about a particular race, then that will affect the overall opinio ns as well.Another very common, and probably the most common cause of racism is unfamiliarity. People fear what they do not know or understand. If someone hasn't grown up around a particular race before, then there is more of a chance the person can be racist toward that particular group. Not all the time, but when the person has already been fed negative stereotypes, and does not have the actual real life experiences with at least one within the particular group, then the chances of racism are increased.This is why it is important for children to be around other races at a young age: to ensure they get their minds used and adapted to being around them, and also to help counterbalance any false stereotypes they may encounter in the future. Selfishness is another obvious cause of racism. Humans are sometimes very selfish creatures caring only about their own at the expense of others. If individuals aren't taught how to respect others, then the potential for the person to become racis t is increased as well. This is why you will find that most caring individuals aren't racist. Neither are they sexist or anything else.The lastly and probably the most surprising cause of racism is environmental causes. We are all made different biologically and genetically. Our physical environment can affect our biology and therefore, in many cases, affect our minds. This does not mean freewill and choice are not options, but that an individual's potential for racism could possibly be increased through certain environmental factors unknown to man. By default, racism is nonexistent. However, things such as improper health maintenance, excess chemicals, head injuries, or other factors may help contribute to it.This should not be used as an excuse that racism has to persist, but more of a better chance to cure racism by enhancing biological health and medical technology, rather than thinking it can only be done by other means. Those are the 4 main causes of racism. As previously stat ed, racism is one of the most revolting things that paralyzes humanity. To cure racism permanently, we must first address the root problems, which are: stereotypes, unfamiliarity, selfishness, and environmental aspects. When we cure and address those things, we will cure racism as well.