Economic inequality Essay

Application and evaluation question  Candidates are required to demonstrate understanding of SOL by applying the data given to assess the change in level of SOL in Singapore. They are also required to identify limitations of data given in assessing non-material aspect of SOL and suggest possible indicators to provide a more comprehensive measurement of SOL in Singapore. Schematic Plan (to be done in 2-3 minutes) Thinking Process Introduction (GIST) Define SOL, provide an overview of the essay Provide the thesis – Show how the data given support a rising SOL Analyse how economic growth can translate to rising SOL Analyse how a low inflation rate is necessary for increasing SOL Analyse how the creation of more jobs can lead to a rising SOL Provide the anti-thesis – why the non-material SOL should be examined and analyse how stress level can affect non-material SOL Analyse how income disparity can affect the SOL of Singaporean despite evidence of economic growth Analyse how negative externalities can affect the non-material SOL Reiterate your stand and conclude General Statement (Key idea) Interpretation (Definitions, clarify concepts / question) Scope (Set up directions for the answer) sTand (State the stand) Standard of living (SOL) is a measure of the welfare of a populace. It is comprised of material aspects such as quantity of goods and services consumed and non-material aspects such as amount of leisure time and access to necessities of life. To determine whether the standard of living in Singapore has been rising over the years, it is necessary to examine changes in both the material and non-material aspects. While the information given in the preamble seems to suggest an improvement in the material aspect, there is a lack of information to prove that there is a corresponding improvement in the non-material aspect. Nonetheless, given the positive data in the preamble and taking into account the government’s constant effort to improve the non-material aspect, such as pollution level, we can reasonably conclude that the standard of living in Singapore has been increasing to a large extent. Body (PEEL) PEEL – 1 State the Point (P) As mentioned in the preamble, the Singapore economy grew by 9.2% in the third quarter, this is likely to lead to an improvement in the material well being of Singaporean in general. Explain the point with clear causal links (E) Elaborate the point with examples (E) The 9.2% economic growth in the third quarter of 1993 means that real Gross Domestic Product in third quarter of 1993 increased by 9.2% over the previous year. Since GDP is the total value of the final output produced within a country, this would meant that national output and hence national income increased by 9.2%. This increase means people are enjoying more income which allows them to purchase more goods and services to satisfy their wants. For example, now more people can afford to buy luxury goods such as cars. Link back to Question (L) This increases their welfare and hence the SOL increases. PEEL – 2 State the Point (P) As mentioned in the preamble, the inflation is low at the rate of 2.4% per annum, this is likely to translate to an increase in material standard of living. Explain the point with clear causal links (E) Elaborate the point with examples (E) As discussed above, the economy grew at 9.2% and that would translate to higher income for the average consumer. A low inflation rate of 2.4% ensures that the increase in the income of the average consumer is higher than the increase in the prices of the goods and services he consumes. As such, for the average consumer, his real purchasing power increases and he is able to consume more goods and services as compared to before. Link back to Question (L) This means that his welfare and SOL is improved. PEEL – 3 State the Point (P) As mentioned in the preamble, 19000 jobs were created, this is likely to lead to an improvement in SOL for Singaporeans. Explain the point with clear causal links (E) Elaborate the point with examples (E) With the creation of these 19000 job opportunities, many previously unemployed workers would be able to find jobs and start to earn an income. These people who were previously unemployed would now be able to afford more goods and services, such as more meals or entertainment in clubs, with the income they now earn and hence enjoy a higher material standard of living. At the same time, as unemployment rate goes down, the labour market becomes increasingly saturated and companies may be willing to pay a higher wage to attract workers. With a higher wage, workers are now able to consume more goods and services than before. Link back to Question (L) As such, the welfare and SOL of the average Singaporean is likely to improve. PEEL – 4 State the Point (P) However, it is insufficient to only look at the material aspect to determine if the SOL in Singapore has been rising over the years. It is also necessary to examine changes in the non-material SOL for a comprehensive analysis of the level of SOL in Singapore. One possible indicator would be the stress level of the average Singapore worker. Explain the point with clear causal links (E) Elaborate the point with examples (E) The high economic growth of 9.2% reported in the preamble could have come about as a result of longer working hours. For instance, there is an increasing number of 24 hour coffeeshop in Singapore and existing employees are paid to work longer hours. As workers work longer hours to produce more goods and services, they experience a higher level of stress. At the same time, majority of the 19000 jobs created might be in the sales and retail sector where the stress to perform is extremely high. As such, the stress level of Singaporean may have gone up. Link back to Question (L) / Evaluation If the stress level of the average Singaporean worker has increased over the years, then the non-material SOL, and hence the overall SOL, of the average Singaporean may have worsened. However, to address that, the government has been encouraging companies to have a healthy work-life balance to promote families togetherness. Work days for most companies have been limited to 5 days week. As such, it is likely that the increase in stress level is limited and the average Singaporean still enjoy a rising overall SOL. PEEL – 5 State the Point (P) Another possible way to examine whether the average Singaporean’s SOL has risen is to examine whether the gains from the economic growth is distributed equitably. Explain the point with clear causal links (E) Elaborate the point with examples (E) If the income disparity has widened, it would mean most people gained less  benefits from the economic growth while the rich gained the most. This would mean the income of the majority has changed little and hence their welfare increase is limited or negligible. Hence on the whole, the SOL may be unchanged or has even decreased in an extreme case. Link back to Question (L) / Evaluation On further analysis, this may be an unlikely scenario for Singapore. The government has had attempt to close the income gap through financial benefits such as GST credits and fundings for Comcare, the Edusave merit bursary and the likes to ensure the poor’ s finances are enhanced. In fact, recently the income disparity in Singapore has eased according to the Gini coefficient which assigns a value of 1 to the most unequal income distribution and 0 to the most equal. Singapore currently hovers around 0.430. As such, it is likely that most Singaporean would be able to enjoy the fruits of the economic growth and experience an increase in SOL. PEEL – 6 State the Point (P) Finally, it is also important to examine the impact of negative externalities in assessing the change in the non-material SOL of Singaporeans over this period. Explain the point with clear causal links (E) Elaborate the point with examples (E) It is possible that more pollution and traffic congestion may have arrived due to the increase in national production (hence output). These increase in negative externalities worsens the living environment and exacts a cost (in the form of healthcare cost) for example on the people. Hence the net benefits from the economic growth may be eroded. Link back to Question (L) / Evaluation However, the government of Singapore has had a track record of developing a clean and conducive living environment for all. It has strict laws on pollution and efficient policies on tracking traffic congestion like ERP and promoting public transport. Hence a rise in social costs is unlikely to be significant compared to countries such as China and Thailand. As such, the impact of negative externalities is likely to be limited and the overall SOL of Singaporean is likely to have increased. Conclusion Summarise and Reiterate (SR) All in all, it can be safely concluded that there is a rise in living standards in Singapore to a large extent in spite of a lack of data on the non-material aspect of SOL. This is because of the track record of the government which has worked to increase the SOL of Singapore since 1965 effectively and dramatically. However, it is still best to include other indicators such as the PSI (to see the level of pollution), the Gini coefficient and MEW. These will help to give a better estimate of the change in the SOL. Ultimately, SOL is too broad a concept to be measured by any single indicator.

Critically Assess Marx’s Theory of Class and Stratification

Marx class theory derived from his belief that class divisions are not found in all forms of society; classes are a creation of history. For Marx, classes are defined and structured by firstly, who owns or has property and means of production and who does the work in the production process, secondly the social relationships included in work and labour, and thirdly who produces and who rules the surplus human social labour can produce. All of these aspects of Marx class theory will be further explored in this essay. Marx believed that class divisions are not found in all societies, classes are a creation of history. The earliest and smallest societies (tribal and primitive) were classless. It is universally true that all human beings depend on the quest of meeting their basic needs – food, water, shelter and clothing. In these primitive societies, the working day was taken up with required labour in order to meet society’s basic needs and forces of production were distributed equally amongst the community. But when basic needs are met, this leads to man’s creation of new needs, as humans are forever dissatisfied animals. Marx defines human beings as producers (Callinicos, A, p. 98, 1996). Humans seek to transform nature to enable them to meet their needs and do this through two different mode of production. The first ‘forces of production’ which depends on what Marx calls the ‘labour process’. ‘‘Labour is first of all a process between man and nature, a process by which man, though his own actions, mediates, regulates and controls the metabolism between himself and nature’’ (C I 283). The relations of production is the social aspect, which involves the property rights of the productive forces, it is what distinguishes the modes of production for one another. Improvements in the labour force are determined by if man is able to produce the same amount of things but with less human labour. By been able to produce more effectively, therefore meant man gains more control over nature. Thus the developments of the labour process are a reflection of human technology (Callinicos, A, p. 8, 1996) and Marx believed that the developments of science and technology in society provide a basis on which future societies can build upon. Although Marx never said in so many words what he meant by class, his theory lies on the statement that â€Å"the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. ’’ That once beyond primitive socities no labour can exist without means of production, which is who controls the direct producers. The central classes in capitalism are the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Class divisions arise in society when the direct producers are separated from the means of production. The means of production, the bourgeoisie, become the monopoly of a minority and use exploitation and domination in relation to the producers, the proletariat. Marx looks at the working day in a class society and identies how capital exploits labour wage. During the first half of the day the worker produces goods in which he is paid to but during the second part of the day the worker performs surplus labour. Surplus labour is generated by how much labour time is left over after the employer has made back the equivalent of the cost of the wages of the labourer. The profit of this surplus labour is too small though to improve everyone’s standard of living, so it is taken by the minority who control the means of production. Marx decscribes four main types of class societies: Asiatic, ancient, feudal, and modern bourgeois, ‘‘the distinction between for example a society based on slave labour and a society based on wage labour – is the form in which this surplus labour is in each case exploited from the immediate producer, the worker’’ (C I 325). The practice of exploitation depends on the distribution of the means of production. In the case of slavery , it seems all the slaves labour is surplus labour , he is not permitted to any of his product. But the slave has to be kept alive in order to gain surplus power, therefore a proportion of the slaves wages is set aside to provide him his basic needs. In feudalism society, the peasant may have owned his animals and tools, but did not own the land he works on, therefore must divide his labour time between the work that needed to be done in order to provide for himself and his family and surplus labour for his lord. In both these mode of production, slavery and feudalism, exploitation is clearly visible and physical consequences are evident without question. However in capitalism exploitation is concealed. The worker is legally free, as he has volunteered to partake in the labour process. Marx wrote that workers are ‘‘ free in a double sense , free from the old relations of clientship, bondage and servitude, and secondly free of all belongings and possessions, and of every objective, material form of being, free of all property’’ (G 507). By not selling his labour power to the capitalist, the workers only other option is starvation. The means of production use economic pressures as a means of control over workers, not physical actions. Thus once the employer has employed the workers, he makes them work longer hours than necessary, creating surplus labour. In the case of feudalism, after centuries new methods of producing began to develop. But releasing these new methods worked against the ruling class–in the framework of the prior form of exploitation and the â€Å"legal and political superstructure† that had arisen out of it. This clash between the new opportunities and the structure of the previous order, was in severe crisis. Without new developments, the existing means of producing was not able to sustain any more development in the population, the Black Death followed, causing horrific events such as famines and disease and violence. The previous ways of shaping society and furthering the mode of production were brought to a halt. Marx foresaw that there could be revolution in society abolishing classes altogether. Then begins an epoch of social revolution,† , Marx wrote. Yet the ruling class were still dominating the workers, even though the mode of production had self-destructed. The ruling class dominates not only the way production is carried on, but all the other organizations and relations in society, whose structure aids the exploiters, control their power. As Marx explained, all class societies create a legal, political and ideological â€Å"superstructure† which functions to control the existing relations of production and guard the rulers from the ruled. But an important tool for the ruling class to persuade the working class is ideology– schemes of ideas that depict the recognized order as natural and positive to everyone, whatever its undeniable faults. Marx believed that the workers did not realise they were been exploited, had a false consciousness, mistaken sense that they could count on their employer. He believed that ideologies help sustain the ruling class, by giving misleading views to people about the world in order to exploit others about their position in society. It caused people to form mistaken views about the nature of society in order to keep the existing mode of production in action. Because the dominant or ruling class rules the social relations of production, the central ideology in capitalist society is that of the ruling class. Marx theory of class consciousness was an idea how to make members of a class aware that they have a common situation and interests and, moreover, are able to organize a collective defence of those interests (Elster, J, p128, Intro to Karl Marx). Marx saw that there were many logics why the proletariat would develop into a class that is conscious of its own status, power, obligations, and prospects. The objective condition of a class subsists because of its position in the productive process. Possession or non-possession of the means of production, place in the labour process, and the control over surplus regulate this. However a class such as the bourgeoisie or proletariat, may be unaware of this position, or in any case the effects of this position. Marx believed there would be a revolution, the workers would come together and rise up and fight to abolish the class system. Once everything had calmed down after the revolution, the proletariat would then own the means of production. He believed that no dominating class would exist and everything would be owned equally amongst society. He thought that if the working class were to take control of the means of production, they would inspire social relations that would help everyone proportionately, and an organization of production less at risk to repeated crises. Overall, Marx believed that nonviolent compromise of this issue was unrealistic, and prearranged and violent revolution would be necessary, because the dominating class would not surrender control without a fight. He speculated that in order to secure the socialist system, a dictatorship of the proletariat must be generated on a provisional foundation. Marx’s forethought of a revolution did not come true. As societies developed and expanded, the working classes grew to be more educated, obtaining detailed job skills and accomplishing the type of financial welfare that Marx never thought achievable.

Gay marriage Essay

The sanctioning of gay marriage is a moral way forward and has positive outcomes in all aspects of life. Homosexuality it seems is a modern concept in terms of today’s news, especially as the legalization of gay marriages are now at the forefront of today’s current issues. The facts are, homosexuality is not a modern concept or a modern way of life, from as far back as history will allow us to delve it is believed that homosexuality in men has always existed. Many ancient writers, such as Strabo and Athenaeus, wrote that the Gauls or Celts commonly practiced homosexuality. Aristotle wrote that the Celts â€Å"openly held in honor passionate friendship (synousia) between males†. Diodorus Siculus wrote that â€Å"Although the Gauls have lovely women, they scarcely pay attention to them, but strangely crave male embraces (arrenon epiplokas). (Norton) As we have moved through the centuries and certainly more towards the end of the last century and into this one, it has become a lesser taboo subject than it once was. The media has brought to our attention, positive and sometimes negative reactions to people who practice same sex relationships. Even celebrities have, in some ways, brought about a wider recognition of homosexual behaviour and thankfully this has allowed a certain extent of acceptance. The familiarity of reading and viewing such issues has enabled a greater reception and a recognized tolerance for the gay community. From a libertarian point of view, we are discouraged and prohibited from causing any racial or discriminatory behaviour towards others; be more open minded towards differing lifestyles and opinions, and this should not be any different towards homosexuals, or those seeking to enter into a gay marriage. Ostracizing homosexuals only leads to and breeds a misunderstanding and a promotion of discrimination. Homosexuals do not choose to live this way out of defiance or rebellion; they are born this way and should not be made to feel victimized. A further hindrance in the fight for legalization is the concept that allowing such justification would give confidence to those individuals having the need to marry their pets or walk down the aisle with their blow up dolls. This argument is preposterous as in the first instance there can never be an entry into marriage between any beast and a human. The beast has no ability to speak and cannot therefore agree to marriage, the same goes for a doll or any animate object. It is difficult enough in this day and age to maintain any kind of relationship and being involved in a gay relationship is no different, perhaps in some cases it is harder, however as society has struggled to come to terms with this behaviour, it should be reminded that any relationship, if it is a healthy relationship, is a good relationship regardless of who is involved and their chosen sexuality. The legalization of gay marriages will support and promote homosexuality and this should be regarded in a positive way for all those concerned. Studies repeatedly demonstrate that people who marry tend to be better off financially, emotionally, psychologically, and even medically. (Cline) A communatarian standpoint would be that though the above concentrates solely on the personal benefits, the same can be realised when considering the families of gay couples and the communities they live in. The acceptance and legalization of their unity promotes a healthy attitude and has a constructive influence on others, consequently this influence creates routine, stability, positive role models and a preferred society to live in. Homosexuals are not harming anyone with their intentions of marriage, it is simply the next level of their relationship and they should not be denied this as their right. â€Å"When your government puts into place laws that prevent people from being equal they set the stage for those who discriminate to feel justified. † (Hosty) Legal classification has and can be changed; society and tradition have changed without the need for a legal approval therefore there seems no reason to uphold the argument. It has been said that homosexuality weakens the definition of marriage and that the belief and crusade for legalization will encourage and increase ‘fake’ marriages. Yet who is to say that this does not occur in heterosexual marriages. Attempting to pocket homosexuals into this category of behaviour is a poor attempt of a weak argument and should be disregarded when looking for blame in this area. The procreation debate is another common case of contention, many believing that marriage should then result in reproduction and in endorsing homosexual behaviour the human race will suffer. Homosexuals do not influence heterosexual people; there will not come a time when there are no heterosexuals left due to homosexuals. Homosexuality is not a recruitment agency. It is not clear why straight people would stop procreating if gays could marry. The factors driving people to reproduce — the needs for love and to love another, the purported instinct to propagate one’s genes, religious obligations — would still exist if Adam and Steve could marry. No couple has ever been required to procreate in order to marry. No couple has ever even been required to be able to procreate in order to marry. Sterile couples and old couples can marry. Couples physically able to procreate but who do not want to procreate can get married. (Carpenter) Tradition and family values have also featured in the arguments against gay marriage, yet the world seems to be content to develop in technological and other social customs. No laws have been introduced to prevent heterosexual couples from living together outside of marriage, nor have there been any actions taken against single, heterosexual women adopting children, yet when it comes to homosexuals and the idea of them legally binding their love, this is unacceptable. According to The Bible it clearly condemns all sexual behaviors outside of marriage between one man and one woman. Homosexual behavior is explicitly condemned in both the Old and New Testaments as an abomination and a violation of God’s standards for sexuality. (Coalition) Yet this is not a law, it is a book of beliefs, a book that many people claim to believe in, yet fail to live by its words. Only choosing what is to suit personal purpose is this referred to. Many people, who claim to believe in The Bible, and its beliefs in respect of homosexuals, do not take into account their own lives and that perhaps they flout the Books scriptures. None of us live perfect lives, yet there are numerous bigoted people who drive for the argument against something as inoffensive as a homosexual couple showing their love. Statistically speaking it is known that homosexuals live 20 years less than heterosexuals therefore the argument continues that legalization would be encouraging an unhealthy lifestyle. Numerous conflicts make homosexual behaviors abnormal, including rampant promiscuity, inability to maintain commitment, psychiatric disorders and medical illnesses with a shortened life span. The sexual practices of homosexuals involve serious health risks and illness. Specifically, sodomy as a sexual behavior is associated with significant and life-threatening health problems. Unhealthy sexual behaviors occur among both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Yet the medical and social science evidence indicate that homosexual behavior is uniformly unhealthy. Men having sex with other men leads to greater health risks than men having sex with women, not only because of promiscuity but also because of the nature of sex among men. (Fitzgibbons) Heterosexuals also live unsavory lifestyles; drug users, criminals and sexual predators all come in different shapes, sizes, gender and color, being homosexual is not primarily unhealthy and if society were to accept this lifestyle more readily, perhaps the gay community may adapt their lifestyles and take less risks. A loving and stable relationship, albeit a homosexual one, generates maturity and respective values towards one another. Throughout history there have been many definitions of marriage. Usually; A legally recognized union of a man and a woman by ceremony or common law. (Services) but more recently this has been generalized to identify marriage as two people who are married to each other. The emphasis being on the word ‘people’ implies that there has been an easing of attitude, therefore why would this definition change? If marriage is indeed meant only for procreation purposes, why are infertile couples allowed to enter into marriage when there will be no child borne from the relationship? There are heterosexual couples who have married in later life, with no desire for children and they do not come across such obstacles when making their decision. From a utilarian aspect, a child will only develop positively in a loving and stable relationship; this can take place in a homosexual relationship just as well as in a ‘conventional’ relationship. There will always be a form of resistance where change is involved. Fear of the unknown, lack of knowledge and more importantly, ignorance will all factor in this struggle to change people’s opinions. The legalization of a gay marriage should not be about the sexuality of the couple; it should be about recognizing and celebrating a couple’s love for one another. Marriages have changed erratically over the years, respectively considered to be ‘uncool’ or ‘unnecessary. In the past it was thought to be sinful to live with a partner and not enter into marriage, yet our views of this have changed. It is perfectly acceptable to have multiple partners and to cohabit with your chosen partner yet when it comes to those individuals who chose to live together and get married from the same sex, this is not acceptable. There are innumerable ‘slippery slope’ theories that have no ultimate backbone to their arguments. Anyone it seems, no matter what they engage in, be it any kind of sexual deviance, religious beliefs, personal lifestyle choice, they are given permission to say â€Å"I do†, however, if those same people were to be homosexual, their permission would not only be denied but they would suffer judgment and prejudice from those standing court. A persons future happiness should not be determined by small minded and judgemental bureaucrats. It may be a more practical method to way up the statistics of the general public as they are, after all, the majority of the society we have to live in. The statistics overleaf highlight the conclusion that there seems to be an opposition from the middle aged generation, unable to move on from tradition and their political persuasions. (Times) Carpenter, Dale. Independent Gay Forum – Gay Marriage and Procreation. 18 March 2004. 20 March 2008 . Cline, August. Gay Rights, Marriage & Homophobia: Ethical & Political Issues: Arguments for Gay Marriage: Moral and Social Arguments for Gay Marriage. 20 March 2008 . Coalition, The Traditional Values. Traditional Values Defined – What Are Traditional Values? 20 March 2008 . Fitzgibbons, Rick. Medical Downside of Homosexual Behavior. 18 September 2003. 20 March 2008 . Hosty, John. Live, Love, and Learn. 12 December 2005. 20 March 2008 . Norton, Rictor. â€Å"Taking a Husband†: â€Å"A History of Gay Marriage† Queer Culture. 21 February 2004 (amended 2006). 20 March 2008 . Services, Department of Human. Department of Human Services. 20 March 2008 . Times, The Seattle. Rogue Pundit: Statistics, Gay Marriage and Equal Rights. 28 March 2004. 20 March 2008 . hhhh

Approaches to reduce occupational stress Research Paper

Approaches to reduce occupational stress - Research Paper Example We will discuss the stress involved in their work. Moreover, we will analyze the situations in which stress arose among employees in Wal-Mart, the programs they initiated to increase productivity and recommendations will be provided to curb its adverse effects on the individual so that there is a minimum impact on productivity. Wal-Mart Wal-Mart is a multi-national retail corporation, which has numerous chains, departmental stores and warehouses in different parts of the world. This company is owned by Walton Family in the United States of America and is operating in 15 countries. The employees at Wal-Mart in retail sales have been subjected to various issues over a span of time due to which the stress among employees is rising and there is a need to initiate such progressive programs through which the working conditions can become conducive and there is a regulation that promotes and projects a fair treatment among employees. Issues at Wal-Mart Employees who deal with sales at Wal-M art are always required to submit a report at the end of the month regarding the percentage of sales, which have occurred during that time. It was seen that the company faced a weak performance and sales were a total disaster. The factors, which were highlighted, showed that the decrease in sales was due to the fact that the economic condition of the United States is affected. It was seen that there was an increase in the Social Security tax due to which the customers could be facing unemployment issues, rise in price of gas etc. Due to these crises the management in Wal-Mart initiated a plan to increase workload but cut hours of employees who were working as retailers which gave rise to a period of lost sales and lower morale of employees (Boyle). The Composition of Stress at the Workplace In organizations, there are certainly outer fields of risk, uncertainty, and challenges which create the inner field of stress for employees at the workplace. Every organization contains this int ernal influential factor of stress which is described as one state of transaction between individual and environment (Dewe & Cooper, 2012). According to the Lazarus model of stress, employees’ needs and wants make them accept the factor of stress in their working environment. They accept stress because of the formal agreement with their organization or workplace which induces the elements of obligation and responsibility on employees. When employees are to fulfill the obligation and responsibility they inevitably catch the element of stress which is associated to work responsibility and obligation altogether. These are some primary causes of how stress gets involved in employees’ lives (Dewe & Cooper, 2012). The Theory of Work Design by Theorell describes stress as an influencing state that originates from employees’ work designs and more specifically from work demands (Aldwin, 2012, p.73). If demands of work are complex and are of burdening nature, stress is mo re prominent on employees at the work time. Karasek proposes Job Demands-Control model to control the demands of work on employees at the workplace. The author describes two levels of work demands- physiological work demands and psychological demands. If these two levels of work demands are controlled by employees, they can control the affect of stress at the time of work. According to Karasek, moderate stress is optimum for

Compare and Contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Compare and Contrast - Essay Example This means that; it is a poet’s place in society to act as an overseer, and point out the things that may be out of place. In the past, poets brought out the political injustices through satire. This art has extended to different fields. Also, poets have the ability to bring out different messages through the themes present in their poems. The themes offer them a chance to express what they might be feeling. As one of the oldest forms of art, poetry has its place in society as it gives individuals a chance to reinvent themselves, hence; be worthy in the eyes of society (Bloom 91). This paper will examine the theme brought out by two poets in their prime, and the comparisons and dissimilarities that occur in this theme. Walt Whitman and Federico Garcia are well-renowned poets who dedicated their skill to the world. During their era, a lot was happening in their immediate surroundings. They used their skill to communicate with individuals about what was happening to protect them , or assist them comprehend their situations. In, When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d, Whitman was bringing the world’s attention to the death of a great leader (Bloom 91). It was after the assassination of Lincoln that Whitman decided to write the poem, and bring out the theme of death. It was a poem of mourning where he mourned the passing of an icon. These poems are often described as elegies. It was pastoral elegy dedicated to the fallen hero, and all that he had done. In, Lament for Ignacio Sanchez Mejjas, Federico wrote about his beloved friend whom he cherished and adored (Arana 159). Federico mourned the passing of his friend through a long process of grief. The theme of death in both the poems is brought out in a traditional fashion by both poets. This is one similarity that stands out in both the poems. In Federico’s poem, he brings out the traditional aspect of the elegy. He brings the long process of grief through the poem about his departed acq uaintance. This symbolism takes precedence over the life and cultural traditions that accustom an honourable person in society. In Whitman’s poem, the traditional aspect is seen through the symbolism the poet puts in the fallen president. He uses the Western star to symbolise the fallen president, and a number of other symbolic features to represent the life of the star (Bloom 91). Both these deaths were of exemplary individuals; Lincoln in Whitman’s case, and Ignacio, the bullfighter, in Federico’s case. Another similarity that is brought out in these poems is the nature that surrounds the burial of the two dignified members of society. In Whitman’s poem, nature is said to have worn a sombre mood, â€Å"nature sympathizes with America’s grief†¦as the coffin makes its long journey from Washington to Springfield.† In Federico’s poem, he also resonates with the mood that was present at the burial of the fallen bullfighter, â€Å"t he room was iridescent with agony, at five in the afternoon.† It all comes down to what the poet wants the audience to feel. The sombre mood can be felt even as the audience may not have been present at the time of the burials (Arana 169). The experience that both poets have is seen through their ability to honour the dead. Musical elements are another similarity that both poets exhibit through their elegies. In Federico’s poem, he produces the image of bones and flutes resounding in the air (Arana 189). All these are elements that bring out an eerie feeling to whoever was watching the proceedings of the death of Ignacio. In Whitman’s poem, he reflects on the virtues of the lilacs and their magnificent presence. In many of American people’s gardens, the lilacs are flowers that are well known for their delicate

Critique of Public Administration Research Paper

Critique of Public Administration - Research Paper Example Rubin’s article narrows down on the effect that these bureaucrats have on the budgeting process. Overall, the three articles deal with how these unelected officials have more effect on public administration and policy than the elected officials do. Summary In his article, the Critical Role of Street-level Bureaucrats, Lipsky undertakes an examination of the functions and roles, which bureaucrats perform at what he refers to as â€Å"street level†, have in the process of policy formulation, as well as the process of its implementation. While the public policy theory model traditionally assumes that choices on policy are done by the political executives elected by the electorate, with the implementation of the policy choices left to bureaucrat jurisdiction, Lipsky challenges this model. He bases his argument on his belief that since the bureaucrats at the street level possess a wider room for discretion during the performance of their work, they are actually the ones who make these policy choices (Lipsky, 2010: p4). On top of implementing them, they also create them. JQ Wilson, in his article the Rise of the Bureaucratic State, raises pertinent issues concerning the power wielded by bureaucratic agencies, as well as their lack of accountability towards the legislature and the public that formed them. He also covers the discretion that these agencies possess in carrying out government affairs. The author goes further to talk about the agencies as self-perpetuating. These self-perpetuating agencies are created by the separated powers regime, which acts to protect them from the change that is unwelcome since the major change is new legislation, which, in effect, must maneuver similar hurdles to those faced by the original law (Wilson, 1975: p9). This time, however, one hurdle they must clear is the wish of the particular agency, as well as its clients, which is raised higher. The agency, therefore, once created, becomes almost impossible to disband. Th e author concludes that this process of public power delegation to private interests that go unchallenged, as well as various factional interests, is able to set a public agenda sans modification of competing interests or scrutiny. Irene Rubin, in her article the Politics of Public Budgeting, shows how political interests beset public budgeting. She argues that this allows short-term goals to trump long-term goals interests of the public, the erosion of public and institutional capacity to deal with collective issues, and erosion of the democratic process. When Rubin presents a local, state, and federal budgeting in a framework that is competitive, he gives attention to federal issues that are reactive to power struggles between various levels and branches of government (Rubin, 1997: p190). She addresses issues such as how much autonomy is present at each government level, as well as what influence elected officials have on priorities of the government. Through an analysis of each p rocess of decision-making, she shows the coordination that is involved when passing a budget and achieving some accountability. One of her conclusions is that the public budgeting process must be divorced from politics.  Ã‚  

Sustainability in Construction and the Integration of Building Essay

Sustainability in Construction and the Integration of Building Services - Essay Example It is in this context, two documents were determined to provide solutions to the built environment designs. The solutions proposed were different from one another because the first one was a proactive solution and the second one was a reactive solution to climate change. The CIBSE Briefing 8 (2003) was focused on providing new buildings and refurbishments design and operation solutions. The purpose of this proactive solution was to minimise or reduce the use of energy, which was identified as the major source of carbon emission that causes climate change. Meanwhile, the CIBSE Briefing 10 (2004) provided solution that focused on the reduction on the impact of climate change on the built environment. It is considered as a reactive solution because the design responded to the effects of climate trend to the built environment particularly to the thermal comfort. On the other hand, the former briefing was considered as proactive solution because it tried to prevent the causation of climat e change before it emerges. Further, both the information on the briefings was considered useful. However, the application of the building designs could be practicable to new buildings and refurbishments. It could also be used for existing buildings at the expense that it would need massive renovation. Likewise, the built environment design strategies that will be presented in the discussion could be considered in designing a social housing development in an inner city because they ensure economic and environment sustainability. Discussion Designing buildings to address the cause of climate change In the first document, the high consumption of electricity was the key issue. Therefore, it provided several recommendations which will serve as guidelines for the engineers and building designers in designing new built environmnet. The purpose was to provide the required internal environment and services with minimum energy use in a cost effective and environmentally sensitive manner (CIB SE, 2003, 1). The recommendations have included the following: energy- efficiency should be integrated in the client’s brief with all the necessary details support such as energy consumption targets, power density, and energy-efficient equipments to be installed, i.e. CHP or variable speed drives. The energy-efficient plan document should be compared to the standards set by the regulation policies. At the same time to be constantly reviewed while the design is in its installation process. The briefing also recommended that in designing building, design team should be considered and appointed before the building started in order to ensure good interaction between the disciplines. Project targets and life cycle costing should be utilized to promote teamwork. Third recommendation, design built form and services carefully in order to keep energy demand to a minimum. Further, using renewable energy sources, ambient energy and passive solution was also suggested in order to achieve this objective. Fourth, the use of ventilation hierarchy (see diagram below) as a guide was also recommended in order to minimize uncontrolled air infiltration. If possible find economical and environment friendly way to generate ventilation. Avoid the use of air conditioning since it could consume up to 50% of energy. Source: CIBSE, 2003 In addition, the building designers should incorporate in the design to optimize the use of heat gains, natural ventilation, and

What are the main problems in China that can derail its economic Essay - 1

What are the main problems in China that can derail its economic growth - Essay Example The exports of China have reduced significantly in the recent years. In March 2012, the Chinese government declared that the Chinese economy and its gross domestic product (GDP) are expected to grow at a slower rate of around 7.5% during the year 2012. The slowdown in the rate of economic growth in China had an adverse impact on the overall condition of the global economy. This is so because China is responsible for around 20 percent of the total economic output of the world. Besides, many Asian countries are also highly dependent on the Chinese economy and its market conditions (Hart, 2012). It would be a daunting task for most of the multinational corporations engaged in the manufacturing industrial sector to register significant profits if the Chinese economic growth rate slows down. The Central Bank of China has already started taking steps through reduction in the interest rates to help the economic recovery process of China and boost the lending process in the country. This ste p was taken up by the Chinese Central Bank to protect the country’s economy from the adverse effect of ongoing financial crisis situation in the European nations. The eminent economists worldwide suggest that capital infusion would not be able to solve these growth issues of the Chinese economy in an effective manner. It is so because with the increase in funds being pumped into the economy by the Chinese government would ultimately lead to increased consumer costs and inflation. Previously it was projected that China would experience a robust economic growth in the future but there are many barriers in the path of the economic development of the country. Some of those barriers include bureaucracy, shortage in energy, reducing levels of export because of decreasing demand of Chinese manufactured products in some of the major markets like UK and USA, social unrest in the country, increase in aging Chinese population, and so on. According to a report published by BBC News in th e month of July 2012, China experienced a slowdown in its economic growth rate to around 7.6 percent. This study entails about discussing and analysing the various negative effects that certain economic factors are having on the Chinese economic growth at present and in the foreseeable future. China contributes significantly towards the overall growth of the world economy. Hence, unstable and unsustainable Chinese economy is having a significant impact in deterring the global economic condition. This study would try to shed light on some of the major problems faced by China which can be responsible for slowing down the economic growth rate of the nation in the forthcoming years. Five such major factors have been discussed in details in this study. They are : a) International trade and exports by China, b) Problems related to Chinese currency and the foreign exchange regulations prevalent in the country, c) Problems associated with the increasing aging population of the country, d) T he rising levels of income inequality within the country, and e) The present bad conditions of the Chinese banking industry. All these five reasons can hinder the path of economic development of China in a significant manner. The central idea of this study is

Nursing Intervention for Renal Insufficiency Essay

Nursing Intervention for Renal Insufficiency - Essay Example Such interventions are designed to assess, diagnose, treat and evaluate the hormone’s insufficiency in ill patients (Lynda 85). The idea is to achieve a supportive treatment for all patients who experience this problem. For such interventions to be full operationalized and effective, nursing diagnoses are integrated into the process prior to the primary objectives of healthcare, which is to promote patient welfare in healthcare service delivery. Adrenal insufficiency interventions take a step by step approach to this healthcare issue. Specifically, fluid replacement and hormone replacement are the primary principles under which these interventions are undertaken (Lynda 329). The two principles form the basis of diverse and dynamic approach towards adrenal insufficiency by different and various healthcare practitioners. On the same note, and in pursuit of the said interventions, the cause of adrenal insufficiency is precipitated. Even with hormone replacements, as such interventions show, some other aspects like integrating the social welfare of patients in their healthcare welfare is essential. This can take the form of educating both the patient and his/her family (Lynda

Commercial from youtube Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Commercial from youtube - Essay Example This implies that the target is mostly teens or youths who are still in college or new in their respective jobs (Samsung Galaxy 1). Psychographics in commercial involves lifestyles, behaviors, and psychology of customers. The Samsung galaxy S4 commercial is a graduation pool party, which implies that the target market is a group of youths or elders who like having fun. On contrary to demographics that identifies the buyers, psychographics determines the reasons why customers purchase a product. Since the commercial is a graduation pool party, a number of demographics and psychographic aspects are absent. For instance, the commercial does not fully cover the customers in rural areas as well as the ageing population. Overt message found in commercials is a blatant form of advertisement commonly used in television, newspapers, leaflets and billboards. The Samsung commercial features numerous television channels such as TNT during NBA broadcast (Samsung Galaxy 1). Covert is opposite to overt in the Samsung galaxy s4 commercial. One dominant aspect of the covert message is product placement where many visual references to the product are evident in the video. The advantage of covert message is that it captures the attention of

University Change Me in 3 Ways Essay Example for Free

University Change Me in 3 Ways Essay If i could have repeated my life, would it be different when something occurring before is substituted for another event? Probably, many trivial things that did nothing to my values and weltanschauung, which would be forgotten at once or a few days later wouldn’t work. Studying in the university, however, deeply changed my life in 3 principal ways that cultivate me to be better man To start with, study in university conveyed to me the methods and value of learning. As most people perceive, the curriculum of university teach us more about the means of learning and the meanings of learning rather than the limited knowledge taught in the class. The methods of learning vary from different people and different major, but the basic method concerns self-studying, which provide me with more specialized knowledge than that supplied in class. When I got used to learn by myself, spontaneously, I comprehended the meaning of learning that a student can sense what he or she should learn more and at a deeper level. For another thing, numerous students leave home to live in a remote area where they have never been before for the first time. Therefore, enrolling in the university taught me to lead a much more independent life than ever before. Lots of â€Å"first-time† issues popped up since I embarked on my daily life of study in university including getting up without being called up by parents, studying in library with self-discipline while others were playing computer games, putting up with awful habits and behavior of roommates, falling asleep in clamorous circumstances and so forth, which add to better characters of me. What’s more, during my junior year, my university offered me a good chance to study abroad as an exchange student at Inha university of Korea. The trip is extraordinary indeed that expanded my outlook, trained my communicating skills, and moreover, improved my ability to handle precipitating incidents. Last, but certainly not the least concerns that university education made engaged me in the progressive pursuit of my future career. What distinct me from a technique-deep worker perhaps concerns how i value holistic education. I became sort of conceited for such a period of time in my major, but when I step higher, I see further. Becoming more competent is a gateway to survive in reality, which seems not enough. Conversely, it is the room for my constant professional growth and career advancement that gain me the sense of fulfillment. The deeper I dove into my major, the more ignorant I found myself to be. â€Å"Stay foolish, stay hungry† is what should be borne in mind life-long. To conclude, the university study unraveling the mystery of surviving the professional fields and achieving accomplishments made me all prepared for the further study and work hereafter, far from being an amateur, which absolutely changed my notion, values and life.

Democracy Essay Example for Free

Democracy Essay In its simplest term, democracy literally means the rule of the people. It came from the Greek word â€Å"demos† which means people and â€Å"kratos† which means rule. (â€Å"Democracy†) The term democracy was first coined in Ancient Greece. Democracy in Greece was understood to mean the selection of ordinary citizens to government office and courts and the assembly of all the citizens. Through the years, however, democracy as a form of government has evolved into a complex form of government. Despite the changes the concept has undergone, it still espouses the principles of popular sovereignty, political equality, popular consultation and the majority rule. (Austin Ranney, 1995) This essay is concerned with presidential democracy as a form of government. I aim to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the presidential system. In the concluding part, I will take a stand on this issue. The Advantages of Presidential System It is the essence of every presidential democracy that the three main powers of government are constitutionally divided into thee different departments. Read more: How does big states vs small states guard against tyranny essay The three departments are: a) the legislative branch; b) executive branch; and c) judicial branch. The legislative branch has the power to propose, enact, amend and repeal the law. The executive branch has the power to execute the law. The judiciary has the power to interpret the law. The doctrine of concentration of powers is intended to prevent a concentration of authority in one person or group of persons that might lead to an error or abuse to the prejudice of the whole state. It is believed that any concentration of powers in a single branch is tyrannical and only true separation of powers will protect the liberties of the people against the aggressions of government. (Austin Ranney, p. 240) Moreover, the essence of presidential democracy does not only lie in the constitutional separation of powers but it also lies in the system of checks and balances. The separation of powers in the three branches of government is not synonymous to isolation. In the words of Justice Frankfurter in the case of Connally v. Scudder (160 N.  E. 655), he states that while it is desirable that thee be a certain degree of independence among the several constitutional agencies, it is not in the public interest for them to deal with each other at arm’s length or with a hostile jealousy of their respective rights as this might result in frustration of the common objectives of the government. This means that in reality, these three departments actually share their powers for the purpose of establishing a system by which one department could resist encroachment made by another department. Although there is a separation of powers in a democracy, one department is given the prerogative to check whether another department is exceeding its power and prerogative. For example: the Executive department has the constitutional prerogative to check the power of the Legislative branch to make laws by exercising its veto power. This means that the president of a country has the power not to sign into law or veto a particular bill passed by the legislative branch if the president, thinks that the law is not proper e. g. f the law is not timely. The same is true for the legislative branch of government which has the constitutional prerogative to check on the powers of the president by means of the procedure known as impeachment. The same is true with the President who has the constitutional prerogative to check on the functions of the Judiciary. For example, the president has the power to grant amnesty and pardon to those already convicted and have undergone the process in the judiciary. Another essence of democracy lies in the Rule of Majority. This is best manifested in the process known as election by which the people, in accordance with the principle of popular sovereignty, have the power to choose which among the candidates will govern them for a limited period of time. Disadvantage of Presidential System Though the presidential system may have its advantages, one main objection to this system is the delays caused by too much political conflict and gridlock between the President, Senate and the House of Representatives. Several times in the past that needed legislations have been delayed and blocked because of the political bickering that is always inherent in a Presidential system. It must be stressed that laws are passed to address the concerns of the people. If the passage of laws will be delayed because of the disagreements between the executive and the legislative then the people are the ones who will suffer. Conclusion The democracy is adopted by many countries including the United States. I think presidential democracy is better than the other forms of government. Though it has also its weakness, it is only in a democracy where there is a better balance between the powers of the government and the right of the people. It is this balance that ensures that those in the government will not abuse their powers that the constitution has granted to them. It is also this balance that ensures that the people will not abuse their sovereignty. The fusion of the two essential powers of government such as the power to execute laws and to make and amend laws in the hands of a single person will expose the whole state and the citizenry to the possibility that those in power will abuse their position.

Education and socialisation

Education and socialisation It appears that educational success generally rises with family income, many sociologists see material deprivation as the major cause of inequality in educational success. Halsey, Heath and Ridge (1980) examined the education careers of males, and found that those from higher social backgrounds were much more likely to stay in education past the minimum leaving age than those from working class backgrounds. They pointed out that a major reason for this was the cost of staying in education, and this denied many working class people from gaining higher-level educational qualifications. Douglas (1967) also believed that poor living conditions in the home were major factors in educational failure. In a survey, he divided his sample into two groups: those who had sole use of household facilities, such as bathrooms, and those who did not. He found that the children living in unsatisfactory condition scored much more poorly on tests that those in satisfactory ´ conditions. Reason suggeste d for this include poor housing conditions and diet leading to ill health, leading to absence from school, and underperformance while there Of course, sociologists from different schools of thought have very different opinions on such divisions within schools. Functionalists would argue that the inequalities that exist within the education system do so for positive reasons. Talcott Parsons argued that schools take over from the family as the primary source of socialisation, transmitting societys norms and values and preparing children for their role in adult life. School provides the future workforce with the basic skills required to enable them to respond toà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦constantly changing occupational requirements (Bilton, Bonnet, Jones, Stanworth, Sheard Webster, Introductory Sociology, 1987, Pg.308). Parsons believed that school is a meritocracy and, regardless of class, those with the ability to do well will flourish, entering the workforce at a more specialised level and those without that ability will do less well, entering the workforce at a more menial level. Thus, both will be prepared for their future role in society and the appropriate places within the labour market will be filled. The functionalists view is a narrow one, and in this and other cases it has been accused of painting too rosy a picture of inequality functionalists may argue that it is necessity for the success of society, that not everyone can achieve in school, go on to University and consequently higher paid employment, but this offers little consolation to those who feel they are being or have been kept down by the education system. Parsons in particular has been criticised for failing to give consideration to the possibility that the values transmitted by the educational system may be those of a ruling minority rather than of society as whole (Haralambos and Holborn, Sociology Themes and Perspectives, 1995, Pg.729). The fact that teachers are generally middle class themselves could mean that the values being taught in school right away contradict those being taught at home, possibly leaving the child feel confused and unable to live up to conflicting standards. Marxist Pierre Bourdieu argued that the role of the education system is to reinforce class differences. This, he believed, is achieved by promoting the dominant culture ´ of the ruling classes in the classroom through the use of language, ensuring that working class students will be less likely to understand and be understood. This disadvantages working class pupils, and by creating educational success and failure, reinforces class. Basil Bernstein expounded this theory with the notion that the different speech codes used by the middle and working classes causes divisions in itself. The restricted code ´, which is context bound and requires previous common knowledge between users, and the elaborated code ´ which is not context-bound, and does not require previous common knowledge. He believed that middle class children are fluent in both codes, but that working class children are confined to the restricted code, and are therefore placed at a distinct disadvantage, because teachers use the elaborated code. Middle class children are therefore more likely to understand the teacher, and be understood themselves and consequently achieve more in school. Marxists would generally argue that equality is impossible in a class-based society. As with functionalists, there is a belief in the link between education and the economy however, unlike functionalists who see the link as a positive one, which serves to benefit industrial society for Marxists, the education system exists in order to mould children into their class-defined roles in order to benefit capitalist society, thus it serves the bourgeoisie well and keeps the proletariat down. Other factors inside the classroom can also determine educational success or failure. For example, concepts of labeling theory and self-fulfilling prophecy. These rely on the notion that if someone is labeled in a particular way, others will respond to their behavior in terms of that label, and the person will act in terms of that label, resulting in a self-fulfilling prophecy. This was illustrated in a study by Rosenthal Jacobson, who selected a random sample of 20 pupils to take an IQ test and told the pupils teachers that they could be expected to show a significant intellectual development. After a year, the same pupils were re-tested and generally gained higher IQ scores. Rosenthal and Jacobson said that this improvement had occurred not just due to intellectual development, but because the children had been labelled in such a way that the teachers would have higher expectations of them, which they believed influenced pupils performance a self-fulfilling prophecy took place pupils were expected to achieve more, so they did. Similarly, in a study by R.C. Rist of kindergarten children, it appeared that teachers are more likely to perceive middle class children as being of higher ability than working class children (their class being judged by their appearance, use of language and previous encounters the teachers may have had with the childs parents), and treats them as such. He was also able to show, in keeping with Rosenthal Jacobsons study, that the children classified as being of higher ability performed better throughout their time in education. This suggests that because of labeling by teachers, working class children may be placed at a distinct disadvantage. In separate studies, Lacey and Hargreves examined the effects of streaming in schools, as was used in the tri-partite system in Britain in the post war period, and found that children from working class backgrounds were more likely to be placed in lower ability streams. They also found that in these classes, the children were denied high-quality teaching and knowledge, and that the teachers spent more time controlling behavior than teaching the class. This works to disadvantage those in the lower ability streams, thus, disadvantaging those from working class backgrounds. It is worth pointing out, however, that none of these studies examined why teachers labeled working class students in this manner. As previously mentioned, the fact that most teachers are from middle class backgrounds themselves would seem to influence their impression of working class children such personal preconceptions are unavoidably brought to the classroom, instantly putting working class children at an unfavorable disadvantage to their middle class peers. However, it should also be mentioned that the methodology used in these studies has been brought into question. The afore mentioned study by Rosenthal Jacobson in particular was criticized. Neither researcher had been present in the period that they suggested the teacher would have reacted more encouragingly towards the pupils, said to culminate in the self fulfilling prophecy, meaning that the behavior of the teachers was mere speculation on the part of Rosenthal Jacobson. Also, the quality of the tests they used was doubted, suggestions being made that their tests were of dubious quality and were improperly administered. (Haralambos and Holborn, Sociology Themes and Perspectives, 1995, Pg.764). Unfortunately such accusations are often unavoidable in sociological research. Restrictions on funding, time etc. can often mean that lengthy research cannot be carried out in depth, resulting in, as in the case of the Rosenthal Jacobson experiment, the researchers perhaps returning after a period to do further examinations, often having to choice but to make inferences about certain behaviors or actions. Ethical problems also place restrictions on some sociological research again, in the case of Rosenthal Jacobson, it could be said to be unethical to tamper with such an important thing as a childs education. It may have had positive results for the children in this case, but what if researchers wanted to prove that self fulfilling prophesies are also applicable in reverse that if a child is though of badly, then they will behave badly? Such experiments undoubtedly have ethical implications yet the experiments themselves are important in sociology. How can society be studied without interaction with society? There are other ways in which research can be carried out participants can be made aware of all aspects and implications of the experiment. However, this can cause an altered reaction in participants they can become too aware of observations being carried out and modify their behavior accordingly. The sociological researcher must be aware of the possible difficulties and make a decision on whether or not the research should be carried out. Through the studies and perspectives we have considered, it is undoubtedly the case that class division exists within the education system and even functionalists would not disagree that schools serve to reinforce such inequalities. It is in what harm or good these damages do to society that sociologists must be concerned with. From what we have discussed here, it seems that there are many different explanations of class-based differences in educational success the factors attributed to causing inequality in other areas can also be applied here. The reasons for class-based differences in education are undoubtedly complex, as we have looked at here, and so it is difficult to determine a root cause.

Holden Caulfield: Typical American Teenager Essay -- Catcher in the Ry

It is difficult to really define American teenagers, but they’re seen as confused and without any real identity age wise. Although not as prominent as in the 20th century, teenagers have to deal with a misleading phoniness in society today. The teenage years are when a person really decides (or has a decision forced on them) how their views will develop, such as living with optimism or pessimism. Because of pressure from media, peers and parents, teenagers either try to grow up too quickly or simply refuse and get left behind. All of these characteristics are related to Holden Caulfield in various ways. Even just on the surface, Holden is a typical teenager, with his low self esteem and bad language. Therefore, based on what it means to be an American teenager, The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger is supposed to be the picture of a typical teenage experience. Generally, the American teenager has enough to be confused with in his own life but society’s phoniness can greatly add to that uncertainty. Most of a person’s adult behaviors are learned in the teenage years, but with people such as politicians being â€Å"phony,† teenagers are getting more upset and confused by the appropriate way to act. If they see people in these kinds of powerful positions lying and embezzling, what would they assume to do other than imitate that behavior? That’s why there is a lot of teenage crime in this country- the crimes of â€Å"phonies† in prominent standing that, to some extent, are endorsing these bad and sometimes ilicit activities. In Holden Caulfield’s case, he lets phoniness run his entire life. The biggest insult he can give something is that of â€Å"phony,† and he stops doing things he would like to do, not wanting to be perceived as a ph... ...t from his own parents. They keep sending him to private schools away from home and that’s forcing him to grow up because there’s nobody else to rely on really. That is the case with most teenagers like Holden, they try to grow up too quickly and miss some potentially great childhood moments. In conclusion, The Catcher in the Rye is a picture of a typical teenage experience because Holden is confused and without any real identity. He has strong views, like most teenagers, on phoniness, view of life and growing up. Holden is a typical American teenager, maybe a little less fortunate than some others, having to fend for himself, really. Nonetheless, nearly all teenagers go through a time in their lives that is emotionally like that of Holden Caulfield. Work Cited Salinger, JD. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston, Mass: Little, Brown and Company, 1951

The Context and Contents of Priscianus of Lydias Solutionum ad Chosroem :: Philosophy Philosophical Essays

The Context and Contents of Priscianus of Lydia's Solutionum ad Chosroem ABSTRACT: Priscianus of Lydia’s Solutionum ad Chosroem is a series of answers to questions asked at a philosophical debate held at the Sasanian court c. 530 CE. Priscianus of Lydia was one of seven non-Christian philosophers from the Byzantine Empire who journeyed to the Sasanian Empire to take part in the debate. Long overlooked in the history of philosophy, Priscianus of Lydia’s text represents a branch of Neoplatonism that survived for centuries uninfluenced by the official Christianization of the Roman Empire. Priscianus of Lydia was one of the last remaining representatives of non-Christian Neoplatonism in Late Antiquity. Solutionum ad Chosroem provides a record of the world of Neoplatonism shortly before it disappeared under a tide of officially Christian philosophy and theology. I discusses the context of Priscianus’ work and its relation to activities in the Byzantine Empire, such as Emperor Justinian’s suppression of paganism and the closing of th e Academy in Athens in 529 CE. I also discuss the specific contents of the Solutionum ad Chosroem, including questions on first principles, generation, natural history, and the relationship between the soul and the body. The Neoplatonic philosopher Priscianus of Lydia would have had an unremarkable career had he not been mentioned by the early Byzantine historian Agathias as one of seven Hellenic (non-Christian) philosophers who journeyed to the Sasanian court at Seleucia-Ctesiphon early in the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian (527-565).(1) These philosophers felt compelled to leave the Byzantine Empire because "they did not share the view of God prevailing among the Romans and thought that the Persian state was far better."(2) Although the Hellenic philosophers decided to return to Byzantine territory after a relatively brief sojourn at the Sasanian court, the philosophers did participate in at least one debate on philosophical questions attended by the shah himself and some higher ranking members of the Zoroastrian clergy. Priscianus of Lydia's contribution to this debate, Solutionum ad Chosroem, has survived in an edition edited by Ingram Bywater in 1886 and now difficult of access.(3) Bef ore considering the specific contents of Priscianus' surviving work, an examination of the historical context in which the work was written is necessary. The Context of Priscianus of Lydia's Solutionum ad Chosroem Agathias states that Priscianus and the other Hellenic philosophers travelled to the Sasanian Empire partly for religious reasons. Being pagans in an increasingly officially Christian empire had rendered their teaching positions more and more vulnerable.

Internet Censorship :: essays research papers

Internet Censorship For centuries governments have tried to regular materials deemed inappropriate or offensive. The history of western censorship was said to have begun when Socrates was accused "firstly, of denying the gods recognized by the State and introducing new divinities, and secondly of corrupting the young." He was sentenced to death for these crimes. Many modern governments are attempting to control access to the Internet. They are passing regulations that restrict the freedom people once took for granted. The Internet is a world wide network that should not be regulated or censored by any on country. It is a complex and limitless network which allows boundless possibilities and would be effected negatively by the regulations and censorship that some countries are intent on establishing. Laws that are meant for other types of communication will not necessarily apply in this medium. There are no physical locations where communications take place, making it difficult to determine where violations of the law should be prosecuted. There is anonymity on the Internet and so ages and identities are not known this makes it hard to determine if illegal activities are taking place in regards to people under the legal age. As well, it is difficult to completely delete speech once it has been posted, Meaning that distributing materials that are obscene are banned becomes easy The American Library Association (ALA) has a definition that states censorship is â€Å"the change in the access status of material, made by a governing authority or its representatives. Such changes include: exclusion, restriction, remove, or age/grade level changes.† This definition, however, has a flaw in that it only recognizes one form of censorship-governmental censorship. Cyberspace, a common name for the Net, has been defined by one author as being "made up of millions of people who communicate with one another through computers. It is also "information stored on millions of computers worldwide, accessible to others through telephone lines and other communication channels "that" make up what is known as cyberspace." The same author went on to say " term itself is elusive, since it is not so much a physical entity as a description of an intangible." The complexity of the Internet is demonstrated through its many components. The most readily identifiable part is the World Wide Web (WWW). This consists of web pages that can be accessed through the use of a web browser. Web pages are created using a basic programming language. Another easily identified section of the Internet is e-mail. Once again it is a relatively user-friendly communication device. Some other less publicized sections of the Internet include: Internet Relay Chat (IRC), which allows real time chatting to

Portuguese missionaries Essay

The success of the Portuguese missionaries in sixteenth century Japan was due to the relationship between actors in the Asian theater and that milieu itself. Economic and political pressures, not religious fervor, were the important determining factors. Among the said factors were the production of silver in Japan, the potential market for it in China, the prohibition against trade engendered by the activities of the Japanese pirates, the arrival of the Portuguese traders with the accompanying missionaries, the receptivity of the then-emperor to Portuguese proselytizing, and the policy of funneling a portion of trade revenue to the Jesuits for recruitment purposes. Tangentially we may take into consideration the character of the faith itself. However, the Jesuits presented the same faith as in other countries during the Crusades with much less of an effect. Therefore we must conclude that it was the economic and political power the Portuguese wielded that enabled the Jesuits to attract more followers to their belief system in Japan during the Crusades than in other countries to which they directed their efforts. Influence at this time, as always, was an admixture of the religious, the military, the economic, the political, and the social. We must first understand the milieu of sixteenth-century Asia. The Portuguese reached the shores of Japan in 1543 aboard a Chinese junk. They set up shop and shortly thereafter, more traders began to arrive along with Jesuit missionaries. The emperor at the time was open to their activities, as were the Kamakura who shared power at the time. This was the â€Å"Sengoku† period, a time of warring states in which the shoguns lost some power which was then assumed by the merchant classes then in ascendency. The plebian classes were eager to capitalize on this development in order to rise in Japanese society. The Jesuits were involved in more than religious activity. In 1549 the priest Francis Xavier arrived in Japan. â€Å"This marked the start of a vigorous effort by Jesuit missionaries to bring Christianity to Japan. (Hall, 1) As stated, there was substantial trade between Japan and China commanded by a Portuguese captain-major who possessed military, economic, and administrative powers in the name of the king of Portugal. As a result of this influence, the Jesuits gained control of both Nagasaki, trade headquarters, and the area of Mogi in 1580. â€Å"The Society of Jesus then held all rights pertaining to possession of land, administration, and judicial matters there and also received the anchorage fees levied on Portuguese ships. † (Hall, 62) They used the proceeds from this windfall to fund their missionary work. It must be noted, however, that the Jesuit dominion of Nagasaki and Mogi lasted only until 1588 when the emperor Hideyoshi confiscated the Church’s domain. Another point of influence was military. â€Å"The Portuguese traders’ contribution of a new, modern instrument of mayhem to Japan’s well-stocked but still medieval and, by European standards, obsolescent arsenal was one of those was one of those remarkable accidents of history that have a revolutionary effect. † (Hall, 302) The Portuguese, with whom the Jesuits were allied, thus contributed the technology which enabled Japanese military reunification. The missionaries were able to use not only the economic influence the Portuguese conferred upon them but technological influence as well. The Portuguese were of great practical benefit to the Japanese and enabled the Jesuits to use the goodwill the contribution generated to gain an audience for Christianity. This development was yet one more point of intersection between the religious and the secular. One association which enabled the Missionaries to pursue their work was that with the wako, the pirates and illicit traders. Not only did the wako transport the Portuguese and especially Francis Xavier to Japan but their depredations aroused the indignation of the Japanese emperor and caused them to be banned from Japanese shores. † The Portuguese found that what the Japanese really wanted from abroad were Chinese silk fabrics; as a result of Chinese reactions to (the wako), Japanese were not permitted to go to China themselves to buy them. † (Mason and Caiger, 154) The Chinese were highly interested in the silver of which Japan had a seemingly inexhaustible supply. The trade which then resulted was extremely profitable. The issues of Christianity and foreign trade were not central concerns of Japan but they were relevant to the success of the Jesuits in sixteenth-century Japan. The aid which the wako provided was not unalloyed. Francis Xavier used one of them, Yajiro, who badly led him astray. This native informant may indeed have ‘learned in eight months to read and write, and speak Portuguese’ and even have been ‘very well indoctrinated in the in the faith of Jesus Christ Our Lord,’ as Xavier maintained. Hall, 307) â€Å"For all that, he thoroughly misinformed his mentor. Yajiro’s outline of the essentials of Japanese religion was the sometime wako’s biggest disservice to the sometime saint. † (Hall, 308) This outline included the assertion that there is only one God which the Christian neophyte proceeded to amplify with theological analogues. He also proclaimed mistakenly that the Dainichi, the central Buddha of the Shingon sect, was similar to the Judeo-Christian God. â€Å"†¦the results of his altogether facile explanations are clear: Xavier began his mission in Japan by preaching Dainichi. Despite this setback, after the clarification of the issues, the missionaries eschewed anything resembling syncretism and preached Deus with marked success. An example of the mistake that was Yajiro’s enlistment was his assistance with religious texts. Yajiro had put a summary of Christian doctrine into Japanese and Xavier had painstakingly written it out in roman letters, yet the translation was such a failure that it elicited jeers and laughter from the men of letters who comprised its audience. For all that, Xavier and his helpmates were able to convert more than one hundred people, who were drawn to the foreign priest by the force of his personality if not the power of his message. † (Hall, 309) The exact nature of the new converts’ religion was indeterminate. The Christians in Japan endured a degree of persecution. The authorities, namely the emperors and the Buddhists, found the proselytizing disturbing and tolerated it for a time only for the sake of trade. Emperor Ieyasu â€Å"wanted to continue trading, but he was troubled by occasional political complications and wished to discourage Iberian missionary activity. In the end he settled for sporadic, half-hearted measures of repression. † (Totman, 222) The arrival of the Dutch and the English merchants, with their connections to Southeast Asia, weakened the position of the Portuguese and without the leverage trade provided, they found their existence in Japan to be tenuous. In the autumn of 1613, the Emperor Ieyasu resolved to end the Portuguese and Jesuit presence n Japan due to a sedition plot among Ieyasu’s key vassals. Rumors â€Å"linked the suspects to a recent and very messy scandal involving some Christian converts and members of his own household†¦. † (Totman, 222) This emperor, like Hideyoshi, wanted to limit his dealings to the Dutch and the English. To do so he outlawed Christianity, ordered missionaries expelled, and churches destroyed on the grounds that the Iberians had come to Japan not only to trade, â€Å"but also hoping to spread their evil doctrine without permission, to confound true religion, change the political order of the realm, and make it their own. (Totman, 140) However Ieyasu found himself distracted with other matters and unable to resolve the issue, allowing the Portuguese traders and missionaries to continue their work. The reprieve gradually came to an end however with the ascent of the emperor Hidetada, reputedly vicious, who tried to enforce his father’s policy. The result was that by 1630, most missionaries had left Japan in the face of the worst pogrom in Japanese history. Most churches were demolished, many converts were forced to recant, perhaps four to five thousand were executed and made martyrs. A minor tragedy by modern standards, but a horrific chapter nonetheless. The last stand of the Christians in Japan occurred in 1637. Crop failure, famine, and local political abuse brought on a major rebellion among the inhabitants of the Shimabara Peninsula in Kyushu. â€Å"25,000 commoners and ronin insurgents employed Christian religious banners and rhetoric to sustain themselves†¦and for a time they badly embarrassed the ineffectual government forces sent to crush them. (Totman, 223) In the end, however, they did not emerge victorious and the emperor Iemitsu severed all remaining Iberian connections, ordering all surviving Christian communities suppressed. Xavier needed both political and social acumen in order to make progress in his mission to Japan. At first he operated on the assumption that all he would need to gain entry to that country’s universities and palaces was his missionary zeal and conviction, courage and charisma. Although, by these means he did manage to obtain a letter of introduction from an â€Å"honored person† who took pity on him, without the necessary legitimization and presents he was turned away again and again. His goals were two: to convert the â€Å"king of Japan† and to spread the word of the Gospel at Japan’s leading institutes of higher learning. Unfortunately he found that ,†The petitioner who approached the gates of exalted personages barefooted and empty-handed would be turned away; aside from one’s convictions, one had to bear with him gifts and credentials. (Hall, 313) On Xavier’s second visit he had learned enough to appear in the capacity of an envoy of the authorities of Portuguese India, armed with letters from the governor and bishop of Goa, bearing presents, and dressed splendidly. The Japanese then received him as an ambassador and, duly impressed, the emperor granted him and his missionaries permission to preach and for the people to embrace the new religion in his domains, significant because those domains at the time comprised all or parts of ten provinces. The Jesuit missionaries were more successful in their efforts to spread the Gospel in Japan than in other countries. The Portuguese traders who served as intermediaries in the trade route between Japan and China facilitated this success. Directly, the traders and even the Jesuits themselves gained control of ports, ships, and revenue that the exchange of Japanese precious metals and Chinese silk provided which the missionaries then used to fund the proselytizing of the rising Japanese merchants. This class was especially susceptible to the persuasion of the Portuguese, economically and otherwise because they had long suffered under the rule of the shoguns. The warrior class was in disarray due to infighting and their disorganization along with the arrival of the Portuguese allowed the merchants the opportunity to prosper. As soon as the influence of the Portuguese traders waned, the Jesuits found preaching the Gospel in Japan to be impossible and they were expelled. However, as a result of their association with the Portuguese, many merchants became Christians. Due to the efforts, worldly and otherwise, of Xavier and his missionaries, the Japanese learned of the Gospel. The foregoing supports the theory that it was a combination of extra-religious forces which enabled the Jesuits to have more success in converting the natives of Japan to Christianity rather than the religion itself. Once the trade dominance of the Portuguese was limited by the incursions of the Dutch and English traders, the Japanese grew steadily more unwilling to tolerate the growing influence of the Jesuits. Indeed, that the Iberians were expelled as the power of the traders waned and the influence of the priests grew clearly demonstrates that the leverage of commerce was substantial and that it was used both in swaying people indirectly and directly for the benefit of the missionaries. More- over, the political savvy of the Jesuit leader, Francis Xavier, contributed greatly to the advancement of the fortunes of Christianity in sixteenth-century Japan, short-lived though those fortunes were.

Deception Point Page 63

â€Å"Obviously, this is devastating for the senator,† the analyst was saying. â€Å"The President and NASA have claimed an incalculable triumph with this discovery. News like this would revitalize the President's campaign regardless of Sexton's position on NASA, but with Sexton's admission today that he would go so far as to abolish NASA funding outright if need be†¦ well, this presidential announcement is a one-two punch from which the senator will not recover.† I was tricked, Sexton said. The White House fucking set me up. The analyst was smiling now. â€Å"All of the credibility NASA has lost with Americans recently has just been restored in spades. There's a real feeling of national pride out there on the streets right now.† â€Å"As there should be. They love Zach Herney, and they were losing faith. You've got to admit, the President was lying down and took some pretty big hits recently, but he's come out of it smelling like a rose.† Sexton thought of the CNN debate that afternoon and hung his head, thinking he might be sick to his stomach. All of the NASA inertia he had so carefully built up over the last months had not only come to a screeching halt, but it had become an anchor around his neck. He looked like a fool. He'd been brazenly played by the White House. He was already dreading all the cartoons in tomorrow's paper. His name would be the punch line to every joke in the country. Obviously, there would be no more quiet SFF campaign funding. Everything had changed. All of the men who had been in his apartment had just seen their dreams go down the toilet. The privatization of space had just struck a brick wall. Taking another hit of cognac, the senator stood up and walked unevenly to his desk. He gazed down at the unhooked phone receiver. Knowing it was an act of masochistic self-flagellation, he slowly replaced the phone receiver in its cradle and began counting the seconds. One†¦ two†¦ The phone rang. He let the machine pick up. â€Å"Senator Sexton, Judy Oliver from CNN. I'd like to give you an opportunity to react to the NASA discovery this evening. Please call me.† She hung up. Sexton started counting again. One†¦ The phone started ringing. He ignored it, letting the machine get it. Another reporter. Holding his bottle of Courvoisier, Sexton wandered toward the sliding door of his balcony. He pulled it aside and stepped out into the cool air. Leaning against the railing, he gazed out across town to the illuminated facade of the White House in the distance. The lights seemed to twinkle gleefully in the wind. Bastards, he thought. For centuries we've been looking for proof of life in the heavens. Now we find it in the same fucking year as my election? This wasn't propitious, this was goddamned clairvoyant. Every apartment window for as far as Sexton could see had a television on. Sexton wondered where Gabrielle Ashe was tonight. This was all her fault. She'd fed him NASA failure after NASA failure. He raised the bottle to take another swig. Goddamned Gabrielle†¦ she's the reason I'm in this so deep. Across town, standing amid the chaos of the ABC production room, Gabrielle Ashe felt numb. The President's announcement had come out of left field, leaving her suspended in a semicatatonic haze. She stood, lock-kneed in the center of the production room floor, staring up at one of the television monitors while pandemonium raged around her. The initial seconds of the announcement had brought dead silence to the newsroom floor. It had lasted only moments before the place erupted into a deafening carnival of scrambling reporters. These people were professionals. They had no time for personal reflection. There would be time for that after the work was done. At the moment, the world wanted to know more, and ABC had to provide it. This story had everything-science, history, political drama-an emotional mother lode. Nobody in the media was sleeping tonight. â€Å"Gabs?† Yolanda's voice was sympathetic. â€Å"Let's get you back into my office before someone realizes who you are and starts grilling you on what this means for Sexton's campaign.† Gabrielle felt herself guided through a haze into Yolanda's glass-walled office. Yolanda sat her down and handed her a glass of water. She tried to force a smile. â€Å"Look on the bright side, Gabs. Your candidate's campaign is fucked, but at least you're not.† â€Å"Thanks. Terrific.† Yolanda's tone turned serious. â€Å"Gabrielle, I know you feel like shit. Your candidate just got hit by a Mack truck, and if you ask me, he's not getting up. At least not in time to turn this thing around. But at least nobody's splashing your picture all over the television. Seriously. This is good news. Herney won't need a sex scandal now. He's looking far too presidential right now to talk sex.† It seemed a small consolation to Gabrielle. â€Å"As for Tench's allegations of Sexton's illegal campaign finance†¦ † Yolanda shook her head. â€Å"I have my doubts. Granted, Herney is serious about no negative campaigning. And granted, a bribery investigation would be bad for the country. But is Herney really so patriotic that he would forgo a chance to crush his opposition, simply to protect national morale? My guess is Tench stretched the truth about Sexton's finances in an effort to scare. She gambled, hoping you'd jump ship and give the President a free sex scandal. And you've got to admit, Gabs, tonight would have been a hell of a night for Sexton's morals to come into question!† Gabrielle nodded vaguely. A sex scandal would have been a one-two punch from which Sexton's career never would have recovered†¦ ever. â€Å"You outlasted her, Gabs. Marjorie Tench went fishing, but you didn't bite. You're home free. There'll be other elections.† Gabrielle nodded vaguely, unsure what to believe anymore. â€Å"You've got to admit,† Yolanda said, â€Å"the White House played Sexton brilliantly-luring him down the NASA path, getting him to commit, coaxing him to put all his eggs in the NASA basket.† Totally my fault, Gabrielle thought. â€Å"And this announcement we just watched, my God, it was genius! The importance of the discovery entirely aside, the production values were brilliant. Live feeds from the Arctic? A Michael Tolland documentary? Good God, how can you compete? Zach Herney nailed it tonight. There's a reason the guy is President.† And will be for another four years†¦ â€Å"I've got to get back to work, Gabs,† Yolanda said. â€Å"You sit right there as long as you want. Get your feet under you.† Yolanda headed out the door. â€Å"Hon, I'll check back in a few minutes.† Alone now, Gabrielle sipped her water, but it tasted foul. Everything did. It's all my fault, she thought, trying to ease her conscience by reminding herself of all the glum NASA press conferences of the past year-the space station setbacks, the postponement of the X-33, all the failed Mars probes, continuous budget bailouts. Gabrielle wondered what she could have done differently. Nothing, she told herself. You did everything right. It had simply backfired. 74 The thundering navy SeaHawk chopper had been scrambled under a covert operation status out of Thule Air Force Base in northern Greenland. It stayed low, out of radar range, as it shot through the gale winds across seventy miles of open sea. Then, executing the bizarre orders they had been given, the pilots fought the wind and brought the craft to a hover above a pre-ordained set of coordinates on the empty ocean. â€Å"Where's the rendezvous?† the copilot yelled, confused. They had been told to bring a chopper with a rescue winch, so he anticipated a search-and-retrieve operation. â€Å"You sure these are the right coordinates?† He scanned the choppy seas with a searchlight, but there was nothing below them except-

Cis170 Ilab 5

Week 5 iLab Part A: using System; using System. Collections. Generic; using System. Linq; using System. Text; namespace Lab5A { class Program { static void Main(string[] args) { string[] playerName = new string[100]; int[] playerScore = new int[100]; int c = 0; c=InputData(ref playerName, ref playerScore); double avg= CalculateAverageScore(ref playerScore,c); Console. WriteLine(â€Å"Name Score†); DisplayPlayerData(ref playerName, ref playerScore, c); Console. WriteLine(); Console. WriteLine(â€Å"Average Score: † + avg + † â€Å"); Console. WriteLine(â€Å"Player's Who Scored Below Average†); Console.WriteLine(â€Å"Name Score†); DisplayBelowAverage(avg, ref playerName, ref playerScore,c); } static int InputData(ref string[] player, ref int[] score) { int addName = 0,counter=0; do { Console. Write(â€Å"Enter Player's Name (Q to quit): â€Å"); player[counter] = Console. ReadLine(); if (player[counter] == â€Å"q† || player[counter] == â⠂¬Å"Q†) { addName = 1; } else { Console. Write(â€Å"Enter score for {0}: â€Å", player[counter]); score[counter] = Convert. ToInt32(Console. ReadLine()); counter++; } } while (addName ! = 1); eturn counter; } static void DisplayPlayerData(ref string[] playerName, ref int[] playerScore,int counter) { for (int i = 0; i < counter; i++) { Console. WriteLine(â€Å"{0} {1}†, playerName[i], playerScore[i]); } } static double CalculateAverageScore(ref int[] playerScore,int counter) { int total = 0, avg = 0; for (int i = 0; i < counter; ++i) { total += Convert. ToInt32(playerScore[i]); } if (playerScore. Length > 0) avg = total / counter; return avg; } static void DisplayBelowAverage(double avg, ref string[] playerName, ref int[] playerScore,int counter) { or (int i = 0; i < counter; i++) { if (playerScore[i] < avg) { Console. WriteLine(â€Å"{0} {1}†, playerName[i], playerScore[i]); } } Console. ReadLine(); } } } Part B: using System; using System. Collections. Gen eric; using System. Linq; using System. Text; using System. Collections; namespace Week_5_iLab_Part_B { class Program { static void Main(string[] args) { string response = â€Å"y†; ArrayList LastNameAL = new ArrayList(); //Console. Write(â€Å"Enter a last name: â€Å"); //LastNameAL. Add(Console. ReadLine()); //Console. Write(â€Å"Keep Going? (Y/N) â€Å"); //response = Console.ReadLine(); while (response == â€Å"y†) { Console. Write(â€Å"Enter a last name: â€Å"); LastNameAL. Add(Console. ReadLine()); Console. Write(â€Å"Keep Going? (y/n) â€Å"); response = Console. ReadLine(); } Console. WriteLine(LastNameAL. Count + † last names entered. â€Å"); Console. WriteLine(â€Å"Last names in ascending order. â€Å"); LastNameAL. Sort(); foreach (string s in LastNameAL) { Console. WriteLine(s); } Console. WriteLine(â€Å"Last names in descending order. â€Å"); LastNameAL. Reverse(); foreach (string s in LastNameAL) { Console. WriteLine(s); } Cons ole. ReadLine(); } } }