Friday, December 27, 2019
The Expansion Of The West Essay - 1520 Words
In the early 19th century, while the rapidly-growing United States expanded into the lower South, white settlers faced what they considered an obstacle. This area was home to the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chicasaw and Seminole nations. These Indian nations, in the view of the settlers and many other white Americans, were standing in the way of progress. Eager for land to raise cotton, the settlers pressured the federal government to acquire Indian territory. Andrew Jackson fervently believed that the key to American greatness was the small self-employed farmers and in order to continue this greatness, the expansion to the west was imperative so that each new generation could have farms of their own which made him a forceful proponent of Indian removal. In 1814 he commanded the U.S. military forces that defeated a faction of the Creek nation. In their defeat, the Creeks lost 22 million acres of land in southern Georgia and central Alabama. From 1814 to 1824, Jackson was instrumental in negotiating nine out of eleven treaties which divested the southern tribes of their eastern lands in exchange for lands in the west. The tribes agreed to the treaties for strategic reasons. They wanted to appease the government in the hopes of retaining some of their land, and they wanted to protect themselves from white harassment. As a result of the treaties, the United States gained control over three-quarters of Alabama and Florida, as well as parts of Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi,Show MoreRelatedThe Expansion Of The West1391 Words à |à 6 Pages The expansion to the west was considered to be a dead topic in the world of history. However one historian published a novel bringing forward new thoughts and opinions on the subject. Since Turners thesis, published in 1893 not many historians tried to reevaluate the topic of the frontier until Gregory H. Noble. Noble currently a history professor at Georgia Tech University is a very accomplished historian in early American and environmental history. In his novel, American Frontiers: Cultural EncountersRead MoreThe Expansion of America to the West1314 Words à |à 5 PagesAmerica expanded away from the east coast, across the Mississippi westward. After many western states joined the Union, hundreds of thousands of pioneers migrated to the new territories, which shifted the majority of the countryââ¬â¢s population to the West. With so much uninhabited and unorganized land availa ble, the desire for more land brought aspiring pioneers to the frontier. As enticing as the idea was, something else was persuading many people to migrate westward. Manifest Destiny became a widelyRead MoreThe Expansion Of The Old West Impacted And Changed2326 Words à |à 10 Pages The westward expansion of the Old West impacted and changed, for better or for worse, the lives of many Native American tribes and individuals along with the settlers and those who remained back east. The settlement of the Anglo-Americans in the West influenced the lives of the Native Americans living there throughout the spread of foreign food and crops, disease, culture, animals, and ways to live. The settlers and Native Americans both influenced each other greatly, positively as well as negativelyRead MoreThe Economics Behind Drug Trafficking and Cartels in Mexico: A Study of the Cartelââ¬â¢s Influence on Mexico and the Expansion to West Africa 3042 Words à |à 13 Pagesto expand their busine ss further, as any well-ran and successful organization will do. One area of expansion is in western Africa, where they have found a new location to bring their drug business closer to the wealth and abundant drug users of Europe. A report from 2009 states that ââ¬Å"at least nine top-tier Latin American drug cartels have established bases in 11 West African nations.â⬠(Brice) West Africa however has found the recent increase in attention and importance from drug trafficking beneficialRead MoreManifest Destiny Essay1433 Words à |à 6 PagesManifest Destiny Westward expansion was a key component that shaped the United States not only geographically, but economically as well. The first sign of any expansion West from the original states was when Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803. The country was in need of new land in order to accommodate for the expanding population. Once the country started to expand, its power soon followed. The nation had a struggle with expanding because of the Native AmericansRead MoreManifest Destiny And Westward Expansion Essay1447 Words à |à 6 Pages1) OUTLINE: I. Topic sentence. Manifest destiny and westward expansion was a tremendous key component to the growth of the nation economically because of the impact it had on native americans, women empowerment, and expanding the population of the country. II. Significance of topic. Americans looked towards the western lands as an opportunity for large amounts of free land, for growth of industry, and pursue the manifest destiny. III. List of evidence related to topic. The railwaysRead MoreExplain The Panama Canal Modernization1622 Words à |à 7 Pagesexperts/forecasters prediction about its impact on east and west coast of U.S. followed by the detailed analysis to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction. Furthermore, based on the analysis, I will present my opinion for rejecting or agreeing with the forecasterââ¬â¢s prediction of the panama canalââ¬â¢s positive impact on intermodal traffic market share of east coast ports and west coast ports, western railroad of U.S. Overview: The Panama Canal expansion is one of the biggest developments in maritime tradeRead MoreThe Expansion of America and The Homestead Act of 18621180 Words à |à 5 Pagesmore powerful, the US expanded westward. After the War of 1812 a lot of Americas attention went into exploration and settlement of all of the territory to the West, which had been expanded by the Louisiana Purchase. Families of pioneers traveled westward and found new communities through what is now called the Midwest. Westward expansion occurred for multiple reasons such as Manifest Destiny which was idea that the United States and its accompanying culture should spread across the entire continentRead MoreTurner and the Glorification of Westward Expansion Essay1634 Words à |à 7 Pagesfulfilled the goal of Manifest Destiny by finishing its conquest of the West. Westward expansion had been an integral aspect of the American identity and its citizens were left wondering what would continue to propel the United State s into the future. At the same time, people were also looking back and trying to decide how exactly the frontier had shaped American life. The common belief was that the United Statesââ¬â¢ conquest of the West was glorious and peaceful and Turnerââ¬â¢s essay serves as a perfect exampleRead MoreDevelopment and Expansion of United States759 Words à |à 3 PagesDevelopment or expansion of the United States The development and expansion of the USA in the nineteenth century was quite dramatic with a great shift of the demographic, cultural as well as the ecology of the West under the invasion of the Euro-American population that was initially settled on the Eastern side of the country. This drive to invade the West was driven by the need to commercialize almost everything that was natural in the West. To that end, the geography or the environment of the West significantly
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Case Study on Alcoholism Essay - 4147 Words
Introduction: The ingestion of alcoholic beverages for their enjoyable effects is a custom which has been around for thousands of years, and alcohol continues to be a popular drug because of its short-term effects (Coleman, Butcher Carson, 1984). An enormous amount of damage can be attributed directly to alcohol abuse as a result of lost jobs, accidents caused by drunk drivers, and so forth (Maltzman, 2000). Alcohol also compounds other problems--an estimated 25% to 40% of hospital patients have problems caused by, or recovery delayed by alcohol abuse (Maltzman, 2000). Clinical psychologists spend about one-fourth of their time dealing with people who are suffering in part from alcohol or other substance problems (Vaillant,â⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The American Medical Association in 1977 reported that alcoholism is an ?illness characterized by significant impairment that is directly associated with persistent and excessive use of alcohol. Impairment may involve physiologic al, psychological or social dysfunction? (Maltzman, 2000, p.43). A final quote by Stanley E. Gitlow of Mount Sinai School of medicine suggests that ?alcoholism is a disease characterized by the repetitive and compulsive indigestion of any sedative drug...in such a way as to cause interference in some aspects of the subjects life, be it in the area of interpersonal relationships, job, marriage, or physical health. It is absolutely critical to appreciate that this definition does not in any way specify which sedative agent is used, the frequency of its use, or the amount ingested? (O?Brien Chafetz, 1982, p.26). Based on the above various quotations, it can be said that there is a wide opinion on the classification and the definition of alcoholism. The Patient: WG is an alcoholic or substance abuser according to the outlines set forth in the DSM-IV. WG is a 24 year old male and currently resides at his father?s dwellings in Red Deer, Alberta. As the result of numerous years of drinking to excess have forced this man into the situation that he now finds himself. WG does not currently have his driver?s license because he received an impaired ticket from the police late last year and lost his license for a year. WG has a casualShow MoreRelatedWhat Factors Contribute to Alcoholism?663 Words à |à 3 PagesA variety of alcoholism cases develop from factors that cause an individual to develop alcoholism. These two factors are genetic factors as well as environmental and risk factors. About 50 percent cases of alcoholism are related to genetic factors and the remaining 40 percent is related to risk and environmental factors. In the article Mary - Anne Enoch acknowledges that ââ¬Å"there are gene to gene as well as gene and envi ronmental interactions underlying a disorder such as alcoholism.â⬠(Enoch, 2006)Read MoreAlcoholism : Alcoholism And Drug Dependence1054 Words à |à 5 PagesAlcoholism is a problem affecting millions of families around the world. Based on the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc., Alcoholism is considered a family disease due to the amount of stress that family members go through (NCADD, 2016). Alcoholism is an addiction that requires treatment and support from family members and friends. It is important, to understand the effects that alcoholism can bring to the alcoholic and to the family members. Some of these effects cause healthRead MoreAlcoholism Research Paper725 Words à |à 3 PagesThere has been numerous studies conducted on the productiveness of treatments for alcoholics. The first effective anti-alcoholism medication was found in 1994 and has become more known today. Currently the diseases of alcoholism are more treatable and in some cases cura ble thanks to the creation and efficacy of specific medications geared for recovering alcoholics. à à à Anti-alcoholism medications such as naltrexone work exquisitely well. A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania SchoolRead MoreThe Disease of Alcoholism Essay1084 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Disease of Alcoholism Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. Alcoholism is a complex disease with physical, social and psychological consequences, but it can be treated through detoxification and anti-anxiety drugs. What will be explained in this essay is basically the history of alcohol, signs of one possibly being an alcoholic, possibilitiesRead MoreWhat Is The Collaborative Study On The Genetics Of Alcoholism?1097 Words à |à 5 Pagesindividuals developing alcoholism. Through a genome-wide association study, these articles were able to identify and interpret some variants that relate to this disease. The article by Bierut et al. (2010) is a discovery science article, in which there are no hypotheses tested. This article focuses on alcohol dependence and the genetic influences that contribute. Various case subjects were used to analyze the results from, the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). In this genome-wideRead MoreNative Americans and the Issue of Alcoholism Essay1673 Words à |à 7 PagesFollowing the European invasion in America, Native Americans came to endure many problems. While some have faded, others still linger on in their lives. The issue of alcohol and alcoholism is one of them. From settlers using it to deceive, to todayââ¬â¢s issues on the reservation, alcohol has played a devastating role in the lives of Native Americans. Knowing how the issue of alcohol became such a predominate part of Native Americans lives will allow us to spawn ideas on how to end the problem. BeforeRead MoreKatherine Moran. Health Psychology Research Review. May1197 Words à |à 5 PagesKatherine Moran Health Psychology Research Review May 7, 2017 HOW ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AFFECTS COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN CASES OF BOTH LONG- AND SHORT-TERM USAGE The social culture of college in America often has an underlying foundation of binge drinking. Out of the 60 percent of American college students who drink regularly, two-thirds of these students also report engaging in frequent binge-drinking (NIAAA, 2015). While students may be aware of some of the short-term consequences of engagingRead MoreEffects Of Alcoholism On The American Medical Association1016 Words à |à 5 PagesLiterature Review Definition of alcoholism: According to the American medical association alcoholism is a chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors influencing development and manifestations. Alcoholism has had a tremendous impact on the human condition and its relationship to society. The evolution of alcoholism, its behavior and quality of life impact will be addressed; as well as treatments and fiscal impact in the literature review. ââ¬Å"Alcoholism is a complex disorder withRead MoreAlcoholism: Symptoms, Causes, and Effects Essay981 Words à |à 4 PagesAlcoholism: Symptoms, Causes, and Effects Composition I April 1, 1997 Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, co- workers, and eventually total strangers. The symptoms are many, as are the causes and the effects. Alcoholism is defined as a pattern of drinking in which harmful consequences result for the drinker, yet, they continue to drink. There are two types of drinkers. The first typeRead MoreAlcoholism Essay910 Words à |à 4 PagesAlcholism There are several different ways to describe substance abuse. So many people think that substance abuse only pertains to alcoholism. There is several other substances that may cause someone to be diagnosed with substance abuse disorder. Some of those things include: marijuana, alcohol, stimulants(cocaine and amphetamines), Hallucinogens, Inhalants, sedatives, and even nicotine. Even though some people may not see some of these things as things that may become addicting they are. More
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Benetton Case Study Essay Example For Students
Benetton Case Study Essay CASE STUDY: Building The Benetton System, Werner Ketelhoehn. Benetton, having been around since 1965 has had some massive changes and events to respond to and so I feel that a timeline of the events since the company was founded to be of significant use. 1960s; Development of Lucianos competitive advantage (discussed later). 1965 -Benetton was founded and the first factory was opened in Ponzano. 1966 -Widening of the existing company-subcontractor relationship. 1968 -First Italian store opened in Belluno. 1969 -First foreign shop opened in Paris. 1970s; The Benetton Group expansion to represent a family of brands which include 012, Sisley and Jeans West. 1970 -Hasten expansion by building upon the partnership system developed in Italy. 1972 -Revolutionary production system concerning garment dyeing (discussed later). 1975 -Benetton logo becomes a well known retail symbol and their product range is expanded to include the 30+ age group. 1980s; The growth strategy of Benetton was based around the acquisition of subcontractors and raw material suppliers. 1983 -Advertising and sponsorship campaign in preparation for the global launch. 1985 -Marketing of childrens stationary with the Benetton logo on the product. 1986 -Marketing of Benetton watches. 1988 -Franchisees can now select from a choice of 12 shop layouts. Benetton now have 5000 shops around the world and there are plans being made to make Rocky Mount (NC) the distribution facility for the US market. 1989 -Benetton have a total of 80 agents (internally known as Centurioni). One thing became apparent whilst reading through the case which is the number of things that Benetton do which are seen to be unique to themselves. Take first and foremost, right from the outset when Guiliana began to use her knitting talents producing bold, bright coloured sweaters that were revolutionary at that time. The quote I should refer you to here is the one from page 2 of the case; what Luciano and Guiliana have invented was a pullover for a season or a year, not a traditional pullover for life. Even before officially forming the company, Benetton was going against the norm of the industry and this has carried right through until present days where the United Colors of Benetton slogan has landed them in some rather warm water with accusations of tastelessness to name but one category. Further major areas that Benetton have appeared to reap the rewards in that are unique to Benetton, are firstly technological uptake, and secondly the partnership systems in place with the Centurioni and the shop owners. I shall return to these areas later under a separate heading as I believe that these innovations were of paramount importance to the success of the Benetton Empire. In the early 1960s, Luciano developed a significant competitive advantage by undertaking a number of slightly different ideas; selling only through specialised knitwear stores and selling his products at a 10% discount if the retailers paid cash on delivery. Furthermore, he sort to keep his costs to a minimum (because of the difficulties associated with borrowing) by establishing subcontractor agreements (revisited later) and up-taking employee suggestions, note the example on page three concerning the buying and converting of obsolete machines. The next item unique to the Benetton system is the discovery that, if a second Benetton store opened across the street from another, sales for both expanded. This, it was believed, was due to the existence of intra-Benetton competition, which was created by the groupings of stores in one location. Agents, as reward for their commitment and motivation were earning a tidy sum but were greatly encouraged to reinvest the profits for the benefit of Benetton and for the agents. The agents note themselves that the rise to the top where you physically own shops is a quick rise. On page four of the case I refer you to the quote fourth from bottom which says that basically from September to July an agent had gone from not owning a shop to having five shops of his own. Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X EssayDirections of Development at Benetton. The Italian market is now saturated and the Benetton empire is not content, they have no choice if they want to develop, they must go further afield onto the rest of Europe, the Americas and indeed the world. Benetton in order that they developed, chose to diversify into new markets and explore new areas in existing ones. With this strategy in mind Benetton undertook both related and unrelated diversification. The distinction between the two types of diversification above is simply that related diversification refers to development within the confines of their existing markets and unrelated is the opposite. Examples of such diversifications can be seen with firstly, the introduction of Nordica or Killerloop which arguably can be viewed as an expansion of their existing market. Although these markets could be seen as more specialist and sports orientated, I still believe that there is a great deal of overlap in this and the fashion market. As Luciano says on page 3 of the case We wanted to compete with department stores in sportswear. Looking at the diversification into areas such as merchant banking, this is far beyond their existing markets and so is an example of unrelated diversificat ion. Synergy is a common reason for related and unrelated diversification and is said to occur when two or more complementary activities, do so to the extent that their combined effect is greater than the sum of the two parts. Benetton claimed that there were synergies to be exploited from their diversification following the saturation of the Italian market. Benetton wanted to find new frontiers in old markets and to diversify into completely new markets. Benettons acquisition of supermarkets and hypermarkets meant that their synergies came from the fact that there were consumers who would purchase from all three. Everything that has been covered in the analysis from technological uptake to the more theoretical notions of Synergy has all contributed to the success of the Benetton Empire across the globe. Coming back to the unique idea in the initial stages of my analysis, I think in summary the whole Benetton system is the key factor of its success. The unique entrepreneurial system that is so different from the type in place at The Body Shop, with Anita Rod*censored*, created the drive and commitment of the non royalty paying entrepreneurs. Not the stereotypical franchise, a great deal of time and effort went into the selection process for the entrepreneurs one of the Benetton success factors. Bibliography:
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Whatââ¬â¢s so Important About Those Kites free essay sample
However, the strongest and most universal symbol throughout the entire novel is the kite. Kites are the central symbol in the novel because everything in the story, from the differences in classes to the relationships between characters, can be related back to them both directly and indirectly. Just by simply analyzing the title alone, one can conclude that kites play a major role in the novel on many levels. Beyond the obvious, referring to the title and the plot, kites have a deeper symbolism. Many of the ideas and themes throughout the novel can be described, in one way or another, by kites. This is true because in the novel, kites are not only functional entities, but symbolic as well. Kites, as well as kite fighting and kite running, have multiple layers of symbolism and importance in the novel. In the novel, kites are the one thing that the main character, Amir, keeps going back to. We will write a custom essay sample on Whatââ¬â¢s so Important About Those Kites? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For Amir, kites stopped being a childââ¬â¢s toy during his childhood in Kabul. To Amir, kites represent so much more for him. They represent the relationship that he has, or tries to have, with his father Baba. They represent the chance to finally have his fatherââ¬â¢s love and attention, but more importantly his fatherââ¬â¢s acceptance. Kites represent the relationship with his Hazara servant and half brother, Hassan. Though the relationships are important to Amir, the kites in his life donââ¬â¢t stop there. They go on to represent his betrayal of Hassan, the guilt that comes with his betrayal, the happiness he feels while flying the kites, and the redemption he longs for. The kite represents the piece of his life that he tries to and wishes he could control. Itââ¬â¢s not until the ââ¬Å"kiteâ⬠spins out of control that he could really redeem himself for what he did. In regards to relationships in the novel, Amir and Hassanââ¬â¢s is complicated to say the least. To this affect, one can say that their relationship is very one-sided; hence the completely different views of their relationship. Hassanââ¬â¢s take on their relationship is ââ¬Å"Amir Agha and I are friends,â⬠(Hosseini 72). But, Amir doesnââ¬â¢t feel the same way about Hassan. ââ¬Å"But heââ¬â¢s not my friend! I almost blurted. Heââ¬â¢s my servant,â⬠(Hosseini 41). Even though their views on their relationship were different, they did have one very important thing in commonâ⬠¦kites. Flying kites was what brought the boys together and as well as what tore them apart. For that little bit of time while they fought and ran kites, they werenââ¬â¢t servant and master. They were a team and their love for kites was mutual. It allowed them momentary escape from their differences and be able to enjoy just a moment of freedom and excitement. This is just the positive symbolism of the kites to their realtionship. There is a much deeper as well as a much darker meaning of kites for these two boys. One of the negatives, as I mentioned before, is that kites represent their difference in classes. Amir is naturally above Hassan due to his heritage of being Pashtun as well as his wealth and standinf in society. This is translated through the kites in the act of the fighting of the kites. ââ¬Å"Every kite fighter had an assistantin my case, Hassanââ¬âwho held the spool and fed the line,â⬠(Hosseini 51). All Hassan is really good for is assisting Amir in anyway that he can because Hassan is afterall Amirââ¬â¢s loyal servant. Though Hassan may share the same love for kites and kite fighting that Amir does, he will never actually be in control of the kite. He will never share the same victories with Amir. All of his joy in winning is being experienced vicariously through Amir, along with his experiences of wealth and privilege. Another negative meaning of the kites for Amir and Hassan is seen after Hassan runs his last kite and saying the words that end up haunting Amir for years to come. ââ¬Å"For you a thousand times,â⬠(Hossieni 67). The kite takes on a much deeper significance to Amir after he watches Hassan get raped by Assef for his shiny blue kite. The kite now represent several more things for Amir. One of these things being his betrayal and cowardice. The other is guilt, but beyond that is his fatherââ¬â¢s acceptance because to him, Hassan running the kite for him successfully was a small price to pay for his fatherââ¬â¢s love and acceptance. â⬠¦Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba,â⬠(Hosseini 77). In the end, only thing he really got out from allowing that to happen to Hassan was guilt and a small period of acceptance from Baba because that ended up being short lived. Amirââ¬â¢s realtionship with Baba, much like his relationship with Hassan, wasnââ¬â¢t black and white. They too only really had kites in common because Amir was nothing like his father. Amir was a coward and ran from trouble and respinsiblility whereas Baba took on the world head on and chest out and with no fear. Strangely enough, Amir knew this about himself and his father. ââ¬Å"With me as the glaring exception, my father molded the world around him to his liking. The problem, of course, was that Baba saw the world in black and white. And he got to decide what was black and what was white. You cant love a person who lives that way without fearing him too. Maybe even hating him a little,â⬠(Hosseini 15). Amir felt as though Baba didnââ¬â¢t love or accept him. If I hadnt seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, Id never believe hes my son, (Hosseini 23). So when the kite fighting tournament came around to Kabul in 1975, Amir had to jump on the opportunity to indulge in the only thing that they had in common. ââ¬Å"â⬠¦the chill between Baba and me thawed a little. And the reason for that was the kites. Baba and I lived in the same huse, but in different spheres of existence. Kites were the one paper-thin slice of intersection between those spheresâ⬠(Hosseini 49). Amir truly believed that if he got the kite back from Hassan after he won the tournament that Baba would finally accept him. ââ¬Å"Then I saw Baba on our roof. He was standingf on the edge, pumping both his fists. Hollering and clapping. And that right there was the single greatest moment of my tweleve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud at last,â⬠(Hosseini 66). Beyond just kites in general, the other symbols in the novel, The Kite Runner are kite fighting and kite running. Both of these represent different factions of the novel in their own way. Kite fighting for example, represent the fights, both internal and external in the novel. Amir says that ââ¬Å" kite fighting was a little like going to warâ⬠¦As with any war, you had to ready yourself for battleâ⬠¦if the kite was the gun, then tar, the glass-coated cutting line, was the bullet in the chamber,â⬠(Hosseini 50). The kite fighting represents the violence that took place in the novel. Kite fighting is a violent game by nature. The children of Kabul gladly play this game, cutting their fingers deeply in the process, all for the satisfaction of cutting down another kidââ¬â¢s kite. This can be interpreted as kite fighting is really only about winning the fight. If Amir hadnââ¬â¢t won the kite fight, Hassan would have never have had to run the kite for him and he would have never gotten raped, and therefore Amir and Hassanââ¬â¢s friendship would have survived unscathed. Again it all goes back to the kites. Unlike kite fighting, kite running has a much more ââ¬Å"positiveâ⬠connotation that comes with it. Kite running represents loyalty and innocence. The title The Kite Runner refers to Hassan. Hassan is Amirââ¬â¢s loyal servant and would do anything that Amir asks him to do. ââ¬Å"Would I ever lie to you Amir agha? Iââ¬â¢d sooner eat dirt,â⬠(Hosseini 54). Hassan also sacrificed himself many times in the novel for Amirââ¬â¢s sake, from getting in trouble over mirror pranks to being raped for a kite that Amir had won in the tournament, Hassan loyalty never faltered. This was why Amir felt so guilty for allowing the rape to happen. Hassan was really a friend to him and not a servant. Running a kite is also symbolic of innocence. In the beginning of the novel, Hassan was a character of innocence. He gained this innocence from serving Amir. Him running the kites represents his state of servitude. Ironically, at the end of the novel, the tables have turned and it is Amir who must serve Sohrab, Hassanââ¬â¢s son, by running a kite for him. He even used Hassanââ¬â¢s loyal words ââ¬Å"For you a thousand times over,â⬠(Hosseini 371). By this point in the novel, Amir has finally reached that state of purity and innocence that had had spent all those years searching for after he allowed Hassan to be raped. He had finally been redeemed and cleansed of his guilt thanks to a kite. All the symbolism of the kite presented in ââ¬Å"The Kite Runnerâ⬠deals with the friendship of Amir and Hassan, the relationship between Amir and his father, as well as Amirââ¬â¢s journey to redemption.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
The Others-Movie Review Essay Example
The Others-Movie Review Paper Nurul Hazwani Bt Hatta M12L THE OTHERS Movie Review The Others is one of the psychological horror movies that impress me with its good story plot and suspense elements. It was written, directed and scored by Spanish director Alejandro Amenabar, starring Nicole Kidman and Christopher Eccleston. It is inspired partly by the 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw. Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman) is a Catholic mother who lives with her two small children in a remote country house in the British Crown Dependency of Jersey, in the immediate aftermath of World War II. The war was playing vital role in being contributing factor that cause depression in Grace. The stress is the triggering element that cause phychology disorder in her. The children, Anne and Nicholas have an uncommon disease, xeroderma pigmentosa, characterized by photosensitivity, so their lives are structured around a series of complex rules designed to protect them from inadvertent exposure to sunlight. The new arrival of three servants at the house ââ¬â an aging nanny and servant named Mrs. Bertha Mills ,an elderly gardener named Mr. Edmund Tuttle, and a young mute girl named Lydia ââ¬â coincides with a number of odd events, and Grace begins to fear that they are not alone. Anne draws pictures of four people: a man, a woman, a boy called Victor, and an old woman, all of whom she says she has seen in the house. A piano is heard from inside a locked room when no one is inside. Grace finds and examines a book of the dead, which shows mourning portraits taken in the 19th century of recently deceased corpses. We will write a custom essay sample on The Others-Movie Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Others-Movie Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Others-Movie Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer I was so shocked when the doors which Grace believes to have been closed are found mysteriously ajar. Grace tries hunting down the intruders with a shotgun but cannot find them. She scolds her daughter for believing in ghosts ââ¬â until she hears them herself. Eventually, convincing herself that something unholy is in the house, she runs out in the fog to get the local priest to bless the house. Meanwhile, the servants, led by Mrs. Mills, are clearly up to something of their own. The gardener buries a headstone under autumn leaves, and Mrs. Mills listens faithfully to Annes allegations against her mother. Outside, Grace loses herself in the heavy fog, but she miraculously discovers her husband Charles who she thought had been killed in the war, and brings him back to the house. Charles is distant during the one day he spends in the house, and Mrs. Mills is heard telling Mr. Tuttle, I do not think he knows where he is. Grace later sees an old woman dressed up like her daughter. Grace says, You are not my daughter! and attacks her. However, she finds that she has actually attacked her daughter instead. Anne refuses to be near her mother afterward, while Grace swears she saw the old woman. Mrs. Mills tells Anne that she too has seen the people, but they cannot yet tell the mother because Grace will not accept what she is not ready for. Charles is stunned when Anne tells him the things her mother did to her. He says he must leave for the front and disappears again. After Charles leaves, Anne continues to see things, including Victors whole family and the old woman. Grace breaks down to Mrs. Mills, who claims that sometimes the world of the dead gets mixed up with the world of the living. At last, I know that actually, it is Graceââ¬â¢s family who is dead, not the intruders. The intruders are the living people who bought the house after the death of Graceââ¬â¢s family. Grace and her children cannot accept the fact that they are dead. Grace may have some mental illness when she killed her children with pillow and then kill herself with a rifle. She was suffering from stress as she was feeling isolated and lonely as her husband didnââ¬â¢t come back from war. I love the suspense element and the twisting plot story. At first, I thought that the intruders are the bad guy, but actually Graceââ¬â¢s family is the one that possess the house and reluctant to leave their mansion even when they are dead. From this story,I learn that it is important to control our emotion and be patient in facing any difficulties in our life to lead a healthy and happy life.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
How to Write a Great Book Report
How to Write a Great Book Report One assignment has lasted the test of time, uniting generations of students in a common learning exercise:à book reports. While many students dread these assignments, book reports can help students learn how to interpret texts and gain a broader understanding of the world around them.à Well-written books can open your eyes to new experiences, people, places, and life situations that you may have never thought about before. In turn, a book report is a tool that allows you, the reader, to demonstrate that you have understood all the nuances of the text you just read. What'sa Book Report? In the broadest terms, a book reportà describes and summarizes a work of fiction or nonfiction. It sometimes- but not always- includes a personal evaluation of the text. In general, regardless of grade level, a book report will include an introductory paragraph that shares the title of the book and its author.à Students will often develop their own opinions about the underlying meaning of the texts through developing thesis statements, typically presented in the opening of a book report,à and then using examples from the text and interpretations to support those statements.à à Before You Start Writing A good book report will address a specific question or point of view and back up this topic with specific examples, in the form of symbols and themes. These steps will help you identify and incorporate those important elements. It shouldnt be too hard to do, provided youre prepared, and you can expect to spend, on average, 3-4 days working on the assignment. Check out these tips to ensure youre successful: Have an objective in mind.à Thisà is the main point you want to present or the question you plan to answer in your report.à à Keep supplies on hand when you read.à This isà veryà important. Keep sticky-note flags, pen, and paper nearby as you read. If youre reading an eBook, make sure you know how to use the annotation function of your app/program.à à Read the book.à Seems obvious, but too many students try to take a shortcut and simply read summaries or watch movies, but you often miss important details that can make or break your book report.Pay attention to detail.à Keep an eye out for clues that the author has provided in the form of symbolism. These will indicate some important point that supports the overall theme. For instance, a spot of blood on the floor, a quick glance, a nervous habit, an impulsive action, a repetitive action... These are worth noting.Use your sticky flags to mark pages.à When you run intoà clues or interesting passages, mark the page by placing the sticky note at the beginning of the relevant line.à à Look for themes.à As you read, you should begin to see an emerging theme. On a notepad, write down some notes on how you came to determine the theme.Develop a rough outline.à By the time you finishà reading the book,à you will have recorded several possible themes or approaches to your objective. Review your notes and find points thatà you can back up with good examples (symbols).à Your Book Report Introduction The startà of your book report provides an opportunity to make a solid introduction to the material and your own personal assessment of the work. You should try to write a strong introductory paragraphà that grabs your readers attention. Somewhere in your first paragraph, you should also state the books titleà and the authors name. High school-level papers should include publication information as well as brief statements about the books angle, the genre, the theme, and a hint about the writers feelings in the introduction. First Paragraph Example: Middle School Level: The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane, is a book about a young man growing up during the Civil War. Henry Fleming is the main character of the book. As Henry watches and experiences the tragic events of the war, he grows up and changes his attitudes about life. First Paragraph Example: High School Level: Can you identify one experience that changed your entire view of the world around you? Henry Fleming, the main character in The Red Badge of Courage, begins his life-changing adventure as a naive young man, eager to experience the glory of war. He soon faces the truth about life, war, and his own self-identity on the battlefield, however. The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane, is a coming of age novel published by D. Appleton and Company in 1895, about thirty years after the Civil War ended. In this book, the author reveals the ugliness of war and examines its relationship to the pain of growing up. The Body of the Book Report Before you get started on the body of the report, take a few minutes to jot down some helpful information by considering the following points. Did you enjoy the book?Was it well written?What was the genre?(fiction) Which characters play important roles that relate to the overall theme?Did you notice reoccurring symbols?Is this book a part of a series?(nonfiction) Can you identify the writers thesis?What is the writing style?Did you notice a tone?Was there an obvious slant or bias? In the body of your book report, you will use your notes to guide you through an extended summary of the book. You will weave your own thoughts and impressions into the plot summary. As you review the text, youll want to focus on key moments in the storyline and relate them to the perceived theme of the book, and how the characters and setting all bring the details together. Youll want to be sure that you discuss the plot, any examples of conflict that you encounter, and how the story resolves itself. It can be helpful to use strong quotes from the book to enhance your writing.à The Conclusion As you lead to your final paragraph, consider some additional impressions and opinions: Was the ending satisfactory (for fiction)?Was the thesis supported by strong evidence (for nonfiction)?What interesting or notable facts do you know about the author?Would you recommend this book? Conclude your report with a paragraph or two that covers these additional points. Some teachers prefer that you re-state the name and author of the book in the concluding paragraph. As always, consult your specific assignment guide or ask your teacher if you have questions about what is expected of you.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Piager's Cognitive Developmental Theory Research Paper
Piager's Cognitive Developmental Theory - Research Paper Example The sensorimotor stage is representative of the early-aged youth, from birth to age two. It is a period where the child begins to recognize basic mobility and hand-eye coordination as well as a variety of foundational mental representations accumulated through vision, touch, and motor conditioning. The preoperational stage is a period where more formal logic is developed, ranging between age two through seven, in which the child maintains rather egocentric behaviors and attitudes. It is in this stage where the youth maintains centric-style thinking, which is placing all of their focus and attention on a singular characteristic rather than thinking abstractly about various alternatives. Centration in this stage will often have a child stating that the volume of liquid in two similar beakers, when poured into a taller and more slender container, remains the same even though there was a transition. Thus, broader logic has not yet been developed. The next stage is the concrete operationa l stage, appropriate for youths between seven and 12 years of age, where conservation is now understood, comprehending concepts of reversibility, the ability to classify objects based on common shapes and sizes, and the youth begins to reject their previous egocentric thought. The final stage is formal operations, occurring between the ages of 12 to late adolescence. This stage involves maintaining an understanding of abstract moral and ethical principles, where the child is able to reasonably determine potential consequences to an action, and where some egocentric behaviors and attitudes re-emerge as a product of identify formation. Having provided a brief summation of the different stages, the one particular stage of development appropriate for more intensive examination is the concrete operational stage, the stage where egocentric behavior begins to diminish and where elementary logic begins to surface. In order to facilitate more effective learning, a child in the concrete opera tional stage of development requires a tactical approach to learning, using hands-on methodologies to gain attention and comprehension. Shaikh (2003) suggests that youths in this stage must have recurrent trial-and-error in experimentation where knowledge findings are repeated with instructor-generated feedback in order to retain learning from experiential lessons. Shaikh (2003) further emphasizes that lectures as a tool for imparting knowledge will be ineffective during this stage of development due to the rationalization processes within the child between seven and twelve. The child in the concrete operational stage gains more curiosity about the world around them as they are able to establish logical patterns and shape distinctions with the shedding of their self-motivated thought patterns. Their curiosity will demand hands-on applications to learn complex concepts such as mathematics, thus students being taught in the classroom will require dice, algebra blocks, spinners, or oth er appropriate experiential tools (Burns & Silbey, 2000). Why is this? Students have not yet developed the verbal capabilities to express their newfound logic and reasoning (e.g. classification and conservation), thus they require more fundamental learning tools to fill this void in self-expression (Santrock, 2008). Thus, to properly
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Power Distance in Saudi Arabia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Power Distance in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example Your residents have no strong political tone of voice, as well as the guidelines of the territory tends to be chose with the king and no one from the common people can interfere in the decision making or choosing the leader.. From the family members, the particular folks tend to be near the top of the particular picking order, while the youngsters as well as youth tend to be in the bottom. This is the system of Saudi Arabia where power is strictly with the king and family and is passed on to the children. There are different aspects of this power distance and very important one which is prominent in Saudi Arabia is gender difference. Being conservative country females are not given any major rights and power is restricted to men. Saudi Arabia is a very modern country if we talk about technology and resources but it scores really low when it comes to equality and power distribution so on the basis of social equality and justice Saudi Arabia is far
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Sir Richard Hawkins Essay Example for Free
Sir Richard Hawkins Essay Sir Richard Hawkins was an explorer, soldier and privateer. He followed in his father footsteps and became a well-respected mariner. He explored his whole live and never stopped looking for adventure out on the open see. We began with his live on land, then his maritime days and last end up at why he was such an important explorer and sea farer. Sir Richard Hawkins life began in Plymouth around 1562 to Katherine and John Hawkins. His dad was a famous Elizabethan explorer. Richard Hawkins never went to school. He grew up in the company of many mariners, including his father, William Hawkins, his uncle and Sir Walter Raleigh, learning about the sea and its trade. When he was 22 he went on his first voyages with his uncle, William, to Brazil. This was the start of Richards Hawkins expeditions and life on see. Richard Hawkins married Judith (Dame) Hele and had 6 children. The first, born in Deptford in 1592 was Judith, and then came Margret in 1603, John in1604, Richard, Johan 1607 and Mary. He bought the house and manor of Poole and Slapton located between Dartmouth and Start Point. This is where you spent the years of 1603 to 1605 writing a book called ââ¬Å"Observations on His Voyage into the South Seas, AD 1593â⬠. Richard at the age of 58 he continued his need for adventure by leading and expedition to the Mediterranean against the Barbary or North African pirates. Richard died on April 17, 1622 at the age of 60 in Slapton England. Richard Hawkins had many adventures at sea and continued to for as long as he lived. While on his trip to Brazil with his uncle, he captained one ship and was second command of another. They arrived back in Plymouth in November of 1582 with a bounty of around 8000.000 crowns. His next captaining job was of the Duck which carried of 240 guns of Spainââ¬â¢s and forced Spain to concentrate on strengthening their colonies defense. 2 years later he was captain his own ship called the Swallow, which he led against the Spanish Armada along with lending two more of his own ships. This was a battle lead by the Spanish against the British because of the protestant rule of Elizabeth I and piracies by British ships against the Spanish trade. It is said that Richardââ¬â¢s ship was the most damage. In 1590 Richard sailed with his father, who commanded a fleet of 6 ships to sail along the Spanish coast plundering goods. In 1593 he obtained a ship from his father, first named Repentance by his mother but changed to Dainty by the Queen. He departed Plymouth, crossed the Atlantic and raided Valparaiso, but was captured by several ships, 1300 Spaniard against his 75 men. He surrendered after the third day after being wounded on the condition his men be set free. He was imprisoned in Peru for 3 years and then in Madrid, where he attempted to escaped but was caught. He was ransomed for à £3,000 in 1602 which his step mother begrudgingly paid. When he return home he was knighted by King James the I, became mayor of Plymouth and its MP in the parliament. Sir Richard Hawkins was a very important man, a solider, navigator, shipbuilder, commander, father, son and employee. He is best known for his voyage to South Africa. Richard Hawkins also discovers the Falkland Islands which he mapped and named Hawkins Maidenland. Hawkins wrote the memories of his first sea trip under the title ââ¬Å"Voiage into the South Seaâ⬠, which became the most famous Elizabethan adventure, re-published by the Hakluyt Society and reworked in Charles Kingsleys Westward Ho! He also used three of his own ships in the Armada in which he fought and risked his life and property to help the British won. He also was in Englandââ¬â¢s politics as a parliament member. He bombarded the Spanish fleets by stealing gold and treasures, enabling England to compete with Spain and supporting his country. Also, when he was captured by Spain he sacrificed himself for his crew. Without Richard sacrifice his crew could have been killed. From the beginning with Richardsââ¬â¢s father also being an important mariner, it makes sense that Richard should become a mariner that surpasses his father. From the start of his first time to sea at 22 he never stopped seeking exploration and adventure. Without his contributes to exploration, parliament, the Armada, his novels, and his sacrifices to his men, country and family, the world would not be the same.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Development of the Understanding of Dyslexia
Development of the Understanding of Dyslexia Introduction The following three chapters offer not only an introduction, but an in depth analysis of the current state of the study of Dyslexia today. Much of the information evaluated for this study was based on the preeminent minds in the study of learning disabilities today. It is the responsibility of a curious society to determine the causal and symptomological relationships for a particular disorder prior to its diagnosis. Dyslexia presents a unique challenge to this social responsibility because of a uniquely manifested heterogeneity which is pervasive in many forms. Further research is decidedly required in order to isolate the underlying cause of such an affliction, yet with current medical data and a limited number of scientific studies, this feat remains next to impossible, even one hundred years after its initial recognition. Chapter One When his trembling hand gripped tightly to the pencil and the words began to flow freely, their meaning rushed through his mind; minute synaptic reactions converted thought into impulse and further into written word. When read, however, by a stupefied instructor, it was the letter reversal, in addition to poor, untrained handwriting which brought cause for alarm. Visits with a Neurologist, discussions with a Psychiatrist, all led towards an unfortunate diagnosis: Dyslexia. Introduction The following chapter is designed to offer an in depth history and background for one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed affectations in history: Dyslexia. It is only through thorough comprehension of this disorder and the potential affects on youth and adults alike that proper diagnosis and treatment will be initiated. Defining a Theory When theory becomes practice and eventually is predominately a diagnosis, it stands to reason that a clear and effective definition of that theory would aid in discussion with patients and training for educators. However, when a disability necessitates the scientific consensus of hundreds of doctors dealing with similar, yet uniquely defined cases, the theory will flounder, pinned in a net of conflicting case studies and rhetoric. Websterââ¬â¢s Dictionary defines Dyslexia as ââ¬Å"a variable often familial learning disability involving difficulties in acquiring and processing language that is typically manifested by a lack of proficiency in reading, spelling, and writing.â⬠[1] This definition is not particularly enlightening, nor does it further our comprehension of what symptoms or solutions may be present for such a disorder. Pop culture would have us believe that all dyslexics read words backwards, are inwardly frustrated individuals, and are oftentimes lazy in study while uniquely talented in another aspect of life. Yet, with the ambiguous definitions which have punctuated the study of this disorder, it can easily be seen how education in this area is lacking, particularly in terms of diagnosis. ââ¬Å"The term dyslexia comes from the Greek root ââ¬Å"dysâ⬠(trouble) and ââ¬Å"lexiaâ⬠(word).[2] It is easily seen how such a generic definition can lead to great scientific debate, not only in study, but in treatment as well. There is no singular treatment for dyslexia, in fact, this is a lifetime disability where teaching awareness in addition to atypical forms of learning becomes paramount in the normal functionability of the patient. Most common in modern definitions of Dyslexia is that it is a phonological disorder predicated by neurological dysfunction contributing to poor reading, writing, and oftentimes learning abilities. This theory, however, becomes problematic as a variety of scientific studies seek to minimize the extent that cerebral malfunction influences phonological impairment. Through simplification of the diagnosis procedure, tests such as IQ testing become the benchmark for identification dyslexics as opposed to poor readers. It is important to note that dyslexics do not have an intelligence deficiency. Their disorder is directly linked to improper phonological interpretation, and oftentimes, unique strengths arise from within this impairment. The following sections will further explore the preeminent theories behind dyslexia, in addition to extrapolating linked generic theories into cohesive formats by which further understanding of dyslexia will be simplified. Dyslexia: Historical perspective The first case study which endeavored to define dyslexia was recorded in 1872 by a physician, R. Berlin of Stuttgart, Germany. The initial cases of dyslexia were predominately adults who had lost the ability to read, write, or comprehend language in some cases due to severe trauma or head wounds. Early definitions of this disorder invoked use of a more common term aphasic, or a loss of the ability to use or comprehend words. In 1877, A. Kussmaul suggested the theory of ââ¬Å"word blindnessâ⬠to describe a patient who similar to earlier cases, had lost his ability to read. In 1887, the term alexia was first defined as an inability to comprehend written words by Charcot. All of these predecessors led to the modern term, dyslexia which we use fluidly today. This term was first defined by Bateman in 1890 who had determined a form of verbal amnesia in which a patient had lost his memory of the conventional meaning of language. In 1896, Morgan formulated a revised definition called congenital word blindness, citing a 14-year-old boy who although he functioned on a similar intellectual level with his peers, had a specific difficulty in learning to read. Further comprehension of this disorder surfaced with James Hinshelwood, a surgeon at the Glasgow Eye Infirmary who published a series of articles in the journal ââ¬Å"The Lancet.â⬠These articles dealt more specifically with acquired word blindness than Morganââ¬â¢s congenital word blindness and after his first experiences with congenital cases in early 1900, Hinshelwood eventually published a book on both forms of word blindness which further defined theories behind the disorders. ââ¬Å"This taxonomic classification system was based upon the performance of the patients when attempting to read. In this regard, Hinshelwoodââ¬â¢s formulations and methodology resemble those of contemporary neuropsychology.[3] Hinshelwoodââ¬â¢s research led him to create reading guidelines, including a three stage model of learning in which educators could focus their efforts on training students to read proficiently. Part of Hinshelwoodââ¬â¢s congenital word blindness related to what he had previously witnessed in adults which were a major trauma or head injury which led to the apparent disorder. His believe was that during the birthing process or at some point during infancy, extreme head trauma or a birth defect had caused the lapse in language abilities, creating the word blindness. Study in the area of reading difficulty continued. In 1925, an American Neurologist named Samuel Orton proposed a theory regarding the specific formation of these disorders. ââ¬Å"According to Orton, reading reversals (e.g. b for d and saw for was) were caused by problems with cerebral dominance in the early stages of reading.â⬠[4] This mirror-image theory was one of the most misconstrued and misunderstood theories of the early twentieth century. By the early seventies, however, the mirror-image theory had been discredited on the basis that while dyslexia affects language functions, it does not seem to affect other visual tasks such as forms of recognition. During the 60ââ¬â¢s and 70ââ¬â¢s, visual perception and correction of this problem in relation to dyslexia became a debatable theory. ââ¬Å"Marianne Frostig developed a test for visual perception and a remedial training program involving tracing, and copying shapes and patterns.[5]â⬠This test was unsuccessful when paired with dyslexic students and was inappropriately utilized without positive result for some time. In 1962, Herbert Birch proposed the intersensory deficit hypothesis which proposes that because reading utilizes both auditory and visual senses, that there is an innate inability to perform the dual tasks. His theory was also discredited as testing lacked in control mechanisms and an inability to replicate results with consistent reliability plagued Birch and his associates.[6] From these bases of research on dyslexia came a flurry of tests, examinations, theories, discredited scientists, and the debate still continues. Current theories tend to focus on areas of the brain which are abnormally affected by the disorder, but more importantly, research into the techniques required in order to appropriately educate affected individuals has increased. This research, in addition to testing, continues to allow for uniquely afflicted individuals to lead remarkable yet uncured lives. Phonologyââ¬âFrom Record to record When dyslexia moves from theory to diagnosis, phonological deficits become measurable symptoms of the disorder. Phonology, or the study and description of the sound changes in a language, can help educators pinpoint and explore specific regions of sound including word pairings and splits. Additionally, it is one of the most affected areas of comprehension relative to dyslexia. ââ¬Å"The amazing discovery is that people systematically ignore certain properties of sounds. They perceive two different sounds as the same sound. We call the stored versions of speech sounds phonemes. Thus phonemes are the phonetic alphabet of the mind. That is, phonemes are how we mentally represent speech; how we store the sounds of words in our memory.â⬠Dyslexia, however, as previously defined, is a disorder in accessing the proper linguistic characteristics as related to reading and writing. Therefore, in extrapolating disability from inability, it is essential to determine whether the child is ph onetically challenged, they have an inability to attach proper synaptic responses to linguistic characteristic, or in a non-dyslexic case, that the problem could be directly related to visual acumen. If there is a possibility that the child has a visual impairment which while serious and requiring further diagnosis and study, it does not decidedly group them into a dyslexic category. ââ¬Å"Overall, studies have shown perceptual deficits: in vision related to impaired motion detection and in phonology related to impaired coding. This impairment is related to symmetry, reversed asymmetry, and lower numbers of neurons in, predominantly, the temporal lobes and visual motion areas of the occipital lobe. Also, the auditory deficits may be closely related to temporal abnormalities that impede speed and accuracy for speech-sound relationships in reading of the planum temporale region, as well as the thalamus near the corpus callosum.â⬠[7] It is this potential brain abnormality which makes this disorder so difficult to define and identifying specifically which deficits contribute directly to the dyslexic tendencies of a child is a most difficult and sometimes impossible process. Additionally, the multitude of theories and definitions of learning disabilities makes the educatorââ¬â¢s task of proper identification much more difficult. ââ¬Å"It has been shown that explicit training in phonological awareness can lead to improved word reading; evidence of a reciprocal causal relationship between phonological awareness and reading has also been found.â⬠[8] In assessing potential dyslexics, it is widely held that phonological deficit is one of the most reliable assessors when comparing results from a controlled variety of children. Evaluations of this deficit oftentimes take the place of speed tests, word recognition studies, and testing of verbal fluency. As debate continues about the underlying causal factors of phonological deficit, one powerful theory is that ââ¬Å"cerebellar deficit is the only single explanation of problems in balance, phonology, and speed, and is also one explanation of ââ¬Ëpureââ¬â¢ phonology/speed problems.â⬠[9] This l ocalized brain failure directly relates many of the predominant symptoms of dyslexia, including combining many different areas of testing and relating them to one overall failure, as opposed to a variety of causes for a multitude of symptoms. Symptoms In order to diagnose and treat such a heterogeneous disorder such as dyslexia, symptomology, or breaking down specific traits and behaviors into repeatable offenses, must be at the forefront of the educatorââ¬â¢s investigation. But, when every childââ¬â¢s individual response to the disorder is different, where does one begin to define those unique traits which enable grouping, and therefore, repeatable treatment and disability management? As will be defined in future sections, it is essential to the educator that they are able to differentiate between the textbook dyslexic and the garden variety poor reader. Oftentimes, IQ testing is performed on children to initiate a benchmark for further evaluation of variance from this basis point. Children who exhibit reading variances below the average IQ of the test group cannot be immediately defined as dyslexic. Further investigation involving a variety of controlled examinations must be performed in order to discover the unique sympto ms associated with the particular childââ¬â¢s disability. It must be noted that oftentimes dyslexia is a hidden disorder, primarily because of social pressures placed on children to perform in school. Fear of labeling, coupled with parental disappointment can be a powerful motivator in masking or hiding of dyslexic symptoms. Initial determination of this disorder must be made through observation and recognition of potential warning signs. ââ¬Å"Parents are often aware that their children have some problems with language before they start school. Youngsters with language processing disabilities may be slow in learning to speak, and may use shorter sentences, smaller vocabularies, and poorer grammar than their brothers and sisters did at similar ages.â⬠[10] As symptoms are not easily identified due to lack of visual corroboration, there are a variety of discrepancy principles which are most often utilized for more accurate prognosis. IQ testing will be discussed in detail in further sections, yet, the ability to establish a connection between variances in observed and expected achievement make this form of testing one of the most consistent, yet debated, techniques for initial identification of dyslexic symptoms. Similarly, reading and listening comprehension are often studied in an attempt to determine obvious strengths in one category over the other.[11] Determining that a patientââ¬â¢s reading comprehension is far inferior to his listening does not, however, decidedly diagnose them as dyslexic. This approach must identify the innate deficiency in word identification and contrast those results with alternate discrepancy evaluations. Additionally, the definition of phonological deficiency pervades this model, as dyslexic children can have problems with written and spoken words alike. As dyslexia is clearly a heterogeneous disorder, a variety of symptoms requires varying evaluations, and in both of these discrepancy tests, the symptomology alone does not dictate dyslexia. A third area of discrepancy evaluation relates chronological age to reading age. Yet, historic evaluations of schooling and environmental factors (home environment, access to reading materials, etc) become paramount in determination whether or not the reading proficiency directly correlates to the social environment of the child. Again, it is the predicated evaluation of all apparent and collaborative symptoms which enables accurate diagnosis and appropriate educational tactics. Causality Often confused with symptomology, causality is the identification of the underlying failures contributing directly to the disorder. For dyslexic evaluations, an simplified approach to causality is to determine that a phonological impairment has contributed to an inability to read and write at the same level as their peers. Therefore, treatment tactics will include direct reading training, word recognition instruction, symbolic representation, and intensified reading emphasis. In the next chapter, RTI (responsiveness to intervention) will be discussed as a replacement for the ââ¬Å"wait to failâ⬠approach, which when utilized properly, determines their responsiveness to the training and potentially prevent misdiagnosis. Could the child respond to the phonological training? If there were dramatic improvement through basic teaching tactics which were more localized to poor readers, then perhaps the entire diagnosis of dyslexia could be removed, and focus on reading abilities and f urther instruction would become a priority. However, dyslexia, as previously stated, is a lifetime disability which mandates many changes in lifestyle and learning approach. The underlying causes are irreversible, and proper diagnosis is paramount in determining the best tactics toward normalization. ââ¬Å"The World Federation of Neurology defines dyslexia as a disorder manifested by difficulty in learning to read despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and sociocultural opportunity. It is dependent upon fundamental cognitive disabilities which are frequently of constitutional origin.â⬠[12] Directly related to the phonological impairment is a cerebral malfunction or failure in which not only reading and writing abilities are impaired, motor skills including balance can also be affected. In addition to cerebral malfunctions, it is a well known fact that both sides of the brain process and perform different functions as related to thinking: the left side predominantly controls speech, reading, writing, and numeric processing ability; the ride side controls creativity, musical ability, and imagination. ââ¬Å"Mixed hemispheric dominanceâ⬠is attributed to the cause of improper phoneme reproduction is due to the brainââ¬â¢s hemispheric responses to stim uli.[13] Therefore, the functions normally controlled by the left half of the brain are delegated in part to the right side, an area not typically charged with these particular functions. Dyslexics are often characterized as picture thinkers, or students who tend to think and speak in very imaginative capacities, often formulating speech as though they were painting a picture. In this scenario, the causality of photo-dictation is directly related to a confused hemispheric dominance. It is important, however, to note that assumption of causal relation to dyslexic symptoms can only be validated through intense scientific research and neurological study. Causes of this impairment are readily defined, but oftentimes troublesome in clinical corroboration. Mythological Muddle or Modern Mystery It is the duty and underlying objective of the scientist to investigate all causes and symptoms of a particular disorder in order to determine without a doubt the symbiotic relationship between the two and repeatability of testing procedures with future patients. Therefore, it would stand to reason that as time passes and frequency of variance within investigation techniques subsides, that scientific data would affirm one theory of dyslexia above all others. Unfortunately, the heterogeneity of this disorder has left a lifetime of neurologists without a solid foothold from which to hoist concrete scientific evidence as to the causes and treatments for dyslexia. The most problematic area of the body has proven to be the brain, and for obvious reasons, interpreting its responses to educational stimuli is a difficult and painstaking task. Study aside, cultural mores supply myths which often muddle educated theories regarding dyslexia. One myth as qualified by an ignorant teacher of a dyslexic student was ââ¬Å"well, I mean, itââ¬â¢s one of those things that has been conjured up by pushy parents for their thick or lazy children, quite often both.â⬠[14] These myths affect cultural perception as well as tactics educators explore in relation to future education of clinically diagnosed dyslexics. It is essential to the support and appropriate treatment of dyslexia that the dispelling of common myths becomes a priority. The following represents some of the most prevalent, but certainly not all myths associated with this disorder. Myths: All dyslexics read backwards As previously stated, dyslexia is not simply a ââ¬Å"backwards reading disorder.â⬠While letter and word manipulation is a result of the disorder, not all dyslexics view words backwards. Oftentimes mirrored writing is an effect, yet proper teaching and techniques enable dyslexics to read and write over time as well as non-impaired individuals. Dyslexia only affects reading Discussion of symptomology of this disorder clearly shows that writing, listening, even motor skills are often affected by dyslexia. Phonological impairment does not limit dyslexic symptoms to poor reading alone. The inability to appropriately process and utilize language, words, and letters affects all areas related to these categories. Dyslexics have a poor sense of direction Dyslexics are often grouped into a category of individuals with poor sense of direction, and ones who are often clumsy or inept. While dyslexia can oftentimes cause a directional confusion, it is a trait which is dictated by the unique affectation of a heterogeneous affliction. Dyslexia can be cured Scientific advancements have challenged the confines of the human mind, yet manipulation of the brain, moreover, repair of major cerebral impairments, is as of date an impossibility with relation to dyslexia. Many dyslexics will learn to live normally with their impairment; many have already gone on to become great historical figures, yet curing this disorder is simply a task charged to the neurologists of the future. My parents can read so I am not dyslexic The genetic link between relatives and dyslexia is apparent and proven. The misconception however lies within the idea that genetic correlation is linked directly to the parents. Heredity and dyslexia form a bond within a familyââ¬â¢s genetic makeup, enabling the link to come from oftentimes removed relatives, Uncle, Aunt, Grandfather. Dyslexia is a hereditary disorder and further research into a family tree reveals the path of its emergence.[15] Dyslexia, a mystery to scientists and educators for over one hundred years, presents children with challenges unlike other afflictions. The inability to localize the gene or regional affectation which causes dyslexia presents an almost hopeless image of what, in other scenarios, might be considered a gift. It is the unique modifications made by the mind which enable dyslexics to processes other areas of learning more quickly than other students, and this compensation oftentimes more than outweighs the debilitation of a decrease in language comprehension. Personal Affectationââ¬âWhy Me? Scientific study aside, the human factor relative to living with dyslexia is prevalent and worthy of discussion. A child in an educationally pervasive society with expectations and standards thrust on him on a regular basis would find his inability to read common words not only frustrating but frightening. From a psychological standpoint, abnormality in a very standardized environment causes great confusion among children. Their inability to fully comprehend the situation will often lead to masking tactics in addition to rebellious behavior which carries the potential for misdiagnosis. The perspective of a potential dyslexic is that they will be ridiculed in school settings for their differences and perhaps even placed in remedial classes in order to help them have a full and prosperous education. It is the responsibility of the educator as well as the parents to address this particular affliction, not as an illness but as a gift. Reminding students that a very impressive list of famous and successful dyslexics exists today and that more are added to it yearly allows for a comfort factor which can offset some of the fear. Creating an educational blueprint which navigates the student through the symptoms and adaptations of dyslexia and assists them to define a life of normalcy is a priority. The upcoming chapter will discuss the specific processes which can assist a student in a prosperous and diverse lifestyle in addition to addressing and identifying the unique factors of their disorder which may eventually help neurologists pinpoint the cause of dyslexia. Chapter Two Sitting before his teacher, hands clenched tightly in front of him on the desk, the student waited with anticipation as the cards were raised one at a time. The pictures were familiar, the writing seemed like something he had seen once before but it didnââ¬â¢t make sense. The instructor slowly prompted the wary student, the sounds forming behind tight lips. His first steps towards living with dyslexia had begun. Introduction The following chapter will not only evaluate dyslexia based upon specific traits and the modern techniques utilized to explore and define the disorder, it will explore the potential benefits of choosing each uniquely suited tactic in the attempt to properly diagnose and treat with accuracy. Necessity or Misdiagnosis ââ¬Å"Congratulations, you have dyslexia.â⬠This is not exactly a reasonable statement for a neurologist to make to a grade school child who is afflicted with the malady. Nor can he treat the diagnosis as though he has spelled the end of a normal lifestyle for this frightened adolescent. It is important for educators to note that the process which is undertaken in order to get to this step, the ultimate diagnosis of the disorder, must be recognized, internalized, and practiced on a regular basis in order to avoid unfortunate misdiagnosis. The student who stands on his desk and yells mild obscenities at the top of his lungs will not only gain laughs from his classmates, but will most likely enjoy a trip to the school counselor. Should he appear restless and frustrated as his problems are probed, the counselor will suggest further examination. Eventually, ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder could become the prognosis, and Ritalin the drug of choice for overcoming this unfortunate scenario. And perhaps Ritalin does not work and the school performance continues to falter, then another trip to the physician and another diagnosis, yet a complete absence of alternate thinking regarding the disability is present at this time. The poor spelling and scribbled essays are completely forgotten in exchange for a reprise from destructive and irascible behavior. It is the failure of the teacher to note the extreme inability to read aloud in front of the class and realize that the reaction to his embarrassment is the disruptive nature for which they are medicating. An ability to recognize, diagnose with accuracy, and utilize trained teaching abilities to inspire change and growth are qualities that are lacking in many of todayââ¬â¢s teachers. Itââ¬â¢s not a failure of their intelligence by any means, nor is it the training they have received; it is that there are simply too many variables from which to accurately diagnose learning disabilities in children. Experience, coupled with comprehension of relevant learning categories is essential to proper dyslexic diagnosis. Family and heredity, as stated before, is essential to understanding the childââ¬â¢s genetic makeup. If there is a history of dyslexia within the family, closer attention can be paid to specific traits which are associated with the disorder than if there were not such congruence. Language skills are additionally a priority, as these abilities are essentially the area in question when formulating a diagnosis. Evaluation of comprehension, word identification, pronunciation and word retrieval are only a few of the basic categories from which to test a child. Reading, aloud and silently should also be tested. Listening to the child and analyzing particular word confusion, in addition to pronunciation issues will allow for important data to be drawn. Additionally, querying the child regarding reading comprehension can give insight into how the child processes the information they are taking in. Spelling and writing are essential as well. Looking for obviously inverted spelling in addition to word mirroring can be essential to the appropriate diagnosis. Handwriting as well becomes a necessary category from which to draw conclusions. Letter formation, balance of lines, spaces, paper alignment, all are paramount to proper evaluation. Memory becomes a category for study, as all time frames should be probed, from long to short term, in addition to visual memory. It is through the mastery of evaluation of these categories, as well as experience with the basic psychology relevant to children of this age and proclivity, that will enable the educator or evaluator to appropriately diagnose and if all else fails, point the student towards the correct diagnosis and treatment center. Phonological Instruction The previously discussed phonological failure contributing to dyslexia warrants a structured approach to therapy and instruction. Nearly unanimously, researchers agree that proper phonological instruction is a priority for all school children, and even more necessitated with children diagnosed with dyslexia. ââ¬Å"The general findings suggest that early and direct teaching of sound-symbol relationships produces better decoding skills than later and less explicit phonics instruction (Clark, 83).â⬠[16] Synthetic Phonics Instruction In this approach to phonological instruction, a specific phoneme is separated and taught to the child prior to blending or inclusion in syllables or entire words. ie. /ph/ is inscribed on cue cards where the student learns to recognize an image of a phone through sight in addition to phoneme. Once this process has been appropriately completed and the student exhibits repeatable comprehension of the relationship, the phoneme is synthesized within words with letters that are already known so that the child may read them. Synthetic relationships are in this way established between objects, letters, and phoneme. Intrinsic Phonics Instruction As suggested by its title, this form of phonetic instruction utilizes complete words, beginning with those that are most often already known to the children. The patients are then encouraged to draw relationships between the letters, practicing phoneme and letter relationship at one time rather than learning segments and then grouping them to create words. One program which has successfully adopted the Synthetic Phonetic approach to dyslexic instruction was initiated by the wife and co-scientist of Samuel Orton in collaboration with her partner Anna Gillingham in 1960. The approach was summarized through the following distinguishing features: It is a direct approach to the study of phonics, presenting
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Global Warming: Causes and Effects
Global Warming: Causes and Effects The term ââ¬Å"global warmingâ⬠is often used synonymously with the term climate change, but the two terms have distinct meanings. Global Warming is a gradual increase in the earth's temperature. Novdia explained that ââ¬Å"global warming refers to the documented historical warming of the Earth's surface, based upon worldwide temperature records that have been maintained by humans since the 1880sâ⬠(Global Warming). Global warming is a major crisis in the world today. Three causes of global warming are the greenhouse effect, increase of carbon dioxide emission, and the effects of temperature increase. The greenhouse effect is a primary cause of global warming. It is a gradual rise in temperature in the earth's atmosphere due to the heats absorption from the sun and entrapment of gases, water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, in the air around the earth. An example of this is a bright sunlight will effectively warm an individualââ¬â¢s car on a cold, clear day by the greenhouse effect. The longer infrared wavelengths radiated by sun-warmed objects do not pass readily through the glass. The trap of this energy warms the interior of the vehicle. The trapping of the hot air so that it cannot rise and lose the energy by convection also plays a major role. Stephen Novdia stated, ââ¬Å"The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824, first reliably experimented on by John Tyndall in 1858, and first reported quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896â⬠(Global Warming). Greenhouse effect then becomes a primary cause of global warming. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions cause global warming. It is gas in the earthââ¬â¢s atmosphere that came from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are formed by natural resources and are decomposed from buried dead organisms. A study on Carbon dioxide emissions in a magazine article on May 2009 found the following evidence: ââ¬Å"In the 19th century, scientists realized that gases in the atmosphere cause a ââ¬Å"greenhouse effectâ⬠which affects the planet's temperature. [The planetââ¬â¢s temperature will increase dramatically by the gases in the atmosphere absorbing the heat. ] These scientists were interested chiefly in the possibility that a lower level of carbon dioxide gas might explain the ice ages of the distant past. At the turn of the century, Svante Arrhenius calculated that emissions from human industry might someday bring a global warming. Other scientists dismissed his idea as faulty. In 1938, G. S. Callendar argued that the level of carbon dioxide was climbing and raising [the] global temperature, but most scientists found his arguments implausible. It was almost by chance that a few researchers in the 1950s discovered that global warming truly was possible. In the early 1960s, C. D. Keeling measured the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: it was rising fast. Researchers began to take an interest, struggling to understand how the level of carbon dioxide had changed in the past, and how the level was influenced by chemical and biological forces. They found that the gas plays a crucial role in climate change, so that the rising level could gravely affect our future. â⬠(Weart) This magazine article influence Americans to recycle because the article is geared to them. With the CO2 causing the increase in weather, it also causes the increase of the greenhouse effect. The CO2 can affect the climate change and the future of the world if the greenhouse effect increases. Causes of global warming exist and so do the effects. Revkin stated, ââ¬Å"Americans lead in moving to a world where ââ¬Ëfossil fuels have been largely modified for carbon recycling or replaced by carbon-neutral alternatives. â⬠(Challenges to Both Left and Right on Global Warming) A result of increase of weather are polar ice caps and temperature rising. When the temperature increases, the polar ice caps will melt, causing glaciers to melt as well. Glaciers are made up of fresh frozen water and when they melt into the ocean, which is composed of salt water, the ocean currents will be altered. The result of ocean currents altering will also affect the species that live in the ocean. Some species live in salt water and others live in fresh water, but cannot live in both. The increase of water in the ocean will cause evaporation to increase. The increase of probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves will increase as well. With all the water in the ocean and the weather increasing, it will cause warm water and more hurricanes. Global warming has both causes and effects. It is one of the most major crisis that will affect the world today, yet the most difficult to resolve. If I had a choice, I would make everybody recycle and you use resources. I would also have Americans reduce the Carbon emissions. Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, the Earth would still be warm by some kind of degree Fahrenheit.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Eyewitness Testimony Essay
The criminal justice systems in Australia and throughout the world rely on evidence to prosecute persons suspected of a crime. Previously, criminal investigators relied upon eyewitness accounts for their investigations though psychological research shows that eyewitness testimony is not always accurate and should not be used in the criminal justice system as a sole piece of evidence (Sangero & Halpert, 2007). Numerous research papers and articles have cautioned the use of eyewitness testimony due to many cases solely basing their verdict from this evidence. In light of DNA evidence, many convicted of a criminal offence have been exonerated of their sentences. The use of identification tests found in numerous papers clarifies why witness testimony can be inaccurate and unreliable. Experiments made throughout the years testing eyewitness accounts delve into factors associating event characteristics, eyewitness characteristics and target characteristics and how they contribute to the re trieval of information from an eyewitness. These factors clarify as to why witness testimony should not be used solely as evidence in the criminal justice system but rather another constituent in identifying the person of interest in a criminal investigation. In 1992 a non for profit organisation was formed to help those convicted and sentenced to a crime they did not commit. The Innocence Project was formed by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld in affiliation with Cardozo school of law at Yeshiva University to help exonerate those found guilty via DNA testing (Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, 1997). According to The Innocence Project, 75% of eyewitness testimony which were used to convict suspected criminals in the United States of America was erroneous in light of DNA testing. In one such case in New Zealand, a man named David Dougherty was found guilty of rape and abduction of a little girl who pleaded against him in the court of law as being the man that raped her (Cleave & Gower, 2012). Mr Dougherty was acquitted of the 1992 rape in 1997 due to the fact that experts finally concluded that there was insufficient DNA evidence to prove beyond a doubtà that he was the perpetrator (Fairfax NZ News, 2009). Although DNA evidence exonerated Mr Dougherty of the crime, many believed he was the perpetrator due to the eyewitness testimony, and expert opinions were clouded due to the publicity of this case. It was only until an overseas expert testified in favour of Mr Dougherty that he was acquitted (Fairfax NZ News, 2009). This case shows the errors made by the victim/eyewitness and how certain she was of the suspect and The Innocence Project has proven that eyewitness testimony is often mistaken. It has been widely documented throughout the decades that mistaken identifications were involved in the majority of cases examined by psychological researchers (Penrod, 2005). Research has suggested that during a police investigation, eyewitnesses would sometimes be subject to view more than one line-up to help identify a suspect (Palmer, Brewer, & Weber, 2010). Early research has cited that more viewings of potential suspects should theoretically improve the accuracy of the eyewitness choosing the offender (Penrod, 2005). Most recent research has found that multiple line-ups can impair subsequent identification accuracy therefore concluding that the more line-ups an eyewitness goes through, the more room for error in choosing the subject in question (Palmer, Brewer, & Weber, 2010). This study focused on post-identification feedback and separated their study into two main areas: confirming feedback and disconfirming feedback to see whether these would affect how the eyewitness will proceed with subsequent line-ups. According to Palmer, Brewer and Weber, Only witnesses who received feedback after an initial correct rejection performed at a level comparable with a single-lineup control group, suggesting that an initial identification test can impair, but not enhance, performance on a second test involving the same culprit (Palmer, Brewer, & Weber, 2010). It is suggested within this research that criminal investigations avoid using multiple line-ups to ensure that more innocent persons of interest are not convicted due to erroneous eyewitness accuracy. In Addition to this research it has also been found that eyewitness errors increase when persons of interest are chosen out of a photo display rather than an actual lineupà (Lindsay & Wells, Improving Eyewitness Identifications From Lineups: Simultaneous Versus Sequential Lineup Presentation, 1985). These errors are believed to have something to do with the person administrating the lineups or photo arrays (Wells, Rydell, & Seelau, 1993) therefore manipulating the eyewitnessââ¬â¢ choices in identifying a suspect within a lineup and subsequent lineups (Phillips, McAuliff, Kovera, & Cutler, 1999) as previously found. This error is resolved easily by appointing someone to administer lineups or photo arrays that do not know who the suspect may be (Wells & Bradfeild, 1998). Furthermore, research has found that the longer the time interval between the event and eyewitness account, the likely it is that the eyewitness account will be erroneous (Loftus, Miller, & Burns, 1978). Another factor relating to event characteristics is that of distance. Many studies have shown that distance between the eyewitness and the target (suspect) will have an impact on memory recollection and facial recognition (Lindsay, Semmler, Weber, Brewer, & Lindsay, 2008). In one such experiment, it was concluded that eyewitness recognition deteriorated as the distance between them and the target increased (Wagenaar & van der Schrier, 1996). In most eyewitness testimony, it is up to the eyewitness to recall the distance between them and the target. Previously, the courts relied upon the 15 metre rule: the optimal viewing distance for an eyewitness (Wagenaar & van der Schrier, 1996). Lindsay et al. (2008) suggested to the courts that rather than relying on the 15 metre rule, in general, identifications will decrease with an increase in distance hence it is up to the courts to decide whether the eyewitness accounts are credible or not. Eyewitness characteristics also factor in to the discussion of how reliable eyewitness testimony is in the criminal justice system. According to a research study by Wells & Olsen (2003), gender has very little to do with how well females perform to males in terms of eyewitness identification, although both genders differ in how they view the event/scene. The age of a witness has a major impact on eyewitness identification as children and the elderly were found to perform poorly in relation to young adults when experiments were conducted (Wells & Olson, 2003). Another factor included into the eyewitness characteristics is that of race. It has been thoroughly investigated and concluded that people are better at identifying facial feat ures of their own race than those of other races (Meissner & Brigham, 2001). This data is useful for those areasà in which are culturally the same but for multicultural locations, namely Australia; it would have little significance the testimony could not be verified unless there was other incriminating evidence against the suspect. One suppressor of facial recognition is that of a weapon. A weapon is believed to reduce the ability of an eyewitness to correctly identify a suspect due to the attention been drawn from the perpetrators face towards the weapon/object (Steblay, 1992). In the court of law, this aspect of whether the eyewitness paid much attention to facial features to be able to correctly identify a suspect becomes somewhat of an issue. Eyewitness testimony is ââ¬Å"self-reportâ⬠and cannot be checked or cross referenced with other facts as it is purely psychological and based on how well the eyewitness believes they have retained sufficient facial recognition (Wells & Quinlivan, 2009). The confidence and certainty of an eyewitness has been frequently admissible in the criminal courts and the criminal justice system has previously relied upon the eyewitness assessing his/her own psychological capabilities. This has been thoroughly researches as being certainty verse accuracy (Wells & Quinlivan, 2009). In the majority of the research conducted testing this, it has been found that the eyewitness certainty has a moderate relationship with accuracy (Penrod, 2005) therefore the criminal justice system cannot prove whether the eyewitness testimony is mistaken or correct. Finally there is the factor of target characteristics. As previously stated, facial recognition is more accurate when of the same race. Another factor though is that of distinctiveness and whether the target (suspect) has a recognizable face. It has been research that very attractive or very unattractive targets are easier to recognize than average looking faces (Wells & Olson, 2003). Changes in facial characteristics also play a role in whether an eyewitness can recall what they saw. Changes in the face that are of natural occurrence, such as hairstyle, and disguises can dramatically affect recognition(Wells & Olson, 2003). In terms of whether these types of eyewitness accounts are to be used in the criminal justice system is simple as a suspect should not be convicted solely on eyewitness testimony but be used as a resource with other evidence which may incriminate the person of interest (Sangero & Halpert, 2007). Psychological research shows that eyewitness testimony is not always accurate; therefore it should not be used in the criminal justiceà system solely as a piece of evidence. To be able to convict and sentence a suspect, in the interest of the courts other evidence must substantiate such claims of guilt. Factors such as event characteristics, eyewitness characteristics and target characteristics explained in this paper show that eyewitness testimony cannot be used as reliable evidence. The studies in this paper clearly show that if there is a reasonable doubt in eyewitness testimony then it should not be used as a basis to convict a person of a crime but rather used as a constituent for furt her investigations of a suspect. List of References Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. (1997). The Innocence Project. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from http://www.innocenceproject.org/about/ Cleave, L., & Gower, P. (2012). 10 Years of Guilt over for rape victim. (N. Herald, Editor) Retrieved July 14, 2012, from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3504996 Fairfax NZ News. (2009, March 07). Falsely imprisoned: David Doughertyââ¬â¢s story. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/1387410/Falsely-imprisoned-David-Doughertys-story Lindsay, R., & Wells, G. L. (1985). Improving Eyewitness Identifications From Lineups: Simultaneous Versus Sequential Lineup Presentation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 70(3), 556-564. Lindsay, R., Semmler, C., Weber, N., Brewer, N., & Lindsay, M. R. (2008). How Variations in Distance Affect Eyewitness Reports and Identification Accuracy. Law and Human Behaviour, 32, 526-535. Loftus, E. F., Miller, D. C., & Burns, H. J. (1978). Semantic Integration of Verbal Information Into Visual Memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 4, 19-31. Meissner, C., & Brigham, J. C. (2001). Thirty years of investigating the own-race bias in memory for faces: meta-analytic review. Psychology, Public Policy and Law, 7(1), 3-35. Palmer, M. A., Brewer, N., & Weber, N. (2010). Postidentification Feedback Affects Subsequent Eyewitness Identification Performance. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 16(4), 387-398. Penrod, S. (2005). Eyewitness. In L. E. Sullivan, M. R.
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