Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Reflection paper - Characteristics & Support of Effective Coaching & Essay

Reflection paper - Characteristics & Support of Effective Coaching & Mentoring - Essay Example First, the team members expect that the coach should be objective and have positive criticism. This expectation requires that their coach is able to give constructive criticism to the members regarding their performance during the training, as well as being able to point out and acknowledge the positive aspects of the trainees (Knight, 2008). This is vital, since it enables the team members to know the truth regarding their performance, in terms of where they are doing well, and where they need changes and improvements, without frustrating or even killing their morale. The other expectation that the participants have regarding their coach’s characteristic is that; the coach should be readily available. This means that the coaches should avail themselves whenever the team members need them, or be available to the team members, whenever they make appointments with them. For the coaching to be effective, the relationship between the coaches and their team members who they are tra ining should be that of partners (Knight, 2002). This is because, individuals feel valued and appreciated, whenever they treated as equals, as opposed to being treated as subordinates, or even being dominated over by others, regardless of their position in the chain of command. Thus, to make the coaching more effective, the trainees require to have the freedom to make choices regarding certain aspects of the coaching, and requires the coach to honor their choices, being a partner to the coaching exercise (Knight, 2008). This way, the members of the team being coached requires the coach to be available when they need him, or whenever they make an appointment with the coach. This is also aligned with the principle of punctuality as one of the expectations that the participants would expect their coach to have. The participants in the coaching sessions expect that the coach will be available in good time, when they set such time. The availability and the punctuality of the coach are th e two characteristics that are fundamental for effective coaching, since they go a long way in enhancing the trust that the team members will have on their coach (Knight, 2008). The other important expectation that the participants have regarding the characteristics of the coach is that; the coach should be knowledgeable in the subject matter. There is nothing that commands respect and trust more, than an individuals’ competency and demonstrated knowledge and ability in the field of specialization of the individuals. Thus it is through being highly knowledgeable in the subject matter, that a coach is able to win the trust of the participants, since they have the comfort that they are gaining the best (Lipton & Wellman, n.d.). This motivates the individuals to be even more enthusiastic and committed to learning, considering that they have the belief that they are achieving the best. However, the most significant expectation of the participants regarding the characteristics of the coach is that the coach will have good listening skills, and thus be able to give them positive emotional support. Listening skills are vital for coaching, considering that they enable the coach to learn the team members, including their strengths and weaknesses, and thus enable the coach

Monday, October 28, 2019

Recruitment and Selection in Effective Human Resources

Recruitment and Selection in Effective Human Resources The human resources are the most important assets of an organization. The success or failure of an organization is largely dependent on the caliber of the people working therein. Without positive and creative contributions from people, organizations cannot progress and prosper. In order to achieve the goals or the activities of an organization, therefore, they need to recruit people with requisite skills, qualifications and experience. While doing so, they have to keep the present as well as the future requirements of the organization in mind. Recruitment and selection, as a part of effective Human Resource Management is the key to achieving a competitive advantage for an organization. Nowadays, one of the most important concerns for all the business is that of people. The emphasis is on having the right people in the right place at the right time (Lanz, 1988). Seeking new employees is an essential element for each employer, not only in organisations where particular emphasis is placed on the companys human resources policy. Each employer wants to hire the most appropriate candidate for the job who not only has the right qualifications but whose personality will blend in well with the companys structure. The choice of the right people to form a team in organization is one of the most important factors leading to its success. Hence, to achieve this, a company has to pay a huge attention on the recruitment and selection process. Effective recruitment and selection procedures are vital in attracting and retaining high quality staff so every company should take them deeply into consideration. Moreover, human errors are much more expensive in comparison to such assets as land and capital, and often result in serious irreversible consequences. Here I need to add what are the goals of this dissertation I thinkà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.and what Ive included in a first chapter, secondà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION Definitions of recruitment and selection Conducting business activities and competition between companies in developing international markets show, that Human Resource Management is the source of permanent competitiveness in contemporary business. This domain is not a single, simplified function, but a group of plans, systems, tools, processes and services. Each of these elements provides huge possibilities for profit, provided that one can use effective solutions in exploiting them. As the field of Human Resource Management has strongly changed in recent years, organizations were obligated to become more dynamics and complex. John Storey (2001, p.6) says that It is human capability and commitment, which in the find analysis distinguish successful organization from the rest. This sentence is essential to understand the fundamental tensions and ambiguities associated with Human Resource Management. People are non-material assets of a company and due to their importance have a strategic function. For that reason, recruitment and selection process should be permanent implicated and developed in company structures. According to Pilbeam Corbridge (2006) recruitment and selection process is based on action between applicant and job, which is dependent on stating a need by an organization, using the most appropriate recruitment and selection techniques and on reviewing, evaluating and modifying the recruitment and selection system in the light of experience. Bratton Gold (2003) defined recruitment like a process of generating a pool of capable people to apply for employment to an organization. Furthermore recruitment is a process of attracting individuals on a timely basis, in sufficient numbers and with appropriate qualifications, developing their interest in an organization and encouraging them to apply for jobs within it (Mondy Noe, 1993; Crawford, 2004). During this process, efforts are made to inform the applicants fully about the selection criteria of the required competencies that will lead to effective performance, as well as career opportunities the organization can provide the employee. Whether or not a particular job vacancy will be filled by someone from within, or outside, the organization depends on the organizations human resource policies, the requirements of the job to be filled, the talent to be found and, often, the organizational politics surrounding the decision (Nankervis et al., 2002). Beardwell (1994, p.192) als o indicates that the process of recruitment has two important purposes. Firstly, recruitment should focus on both attraction and retention of the interest of applicants suitable for a given job. Secondly, it should create a positive image of the organization in the eyes of people who come in contact with it. Newell and Shackleton (2000, p.113) define recruitment as the process of attracting people who might make a contribution to the particular organization. The importance of the recruitment function is clear when one realizes that by hiring the most competent applicants the firms performance can be significantly enhanced. In the course of this stage, it is the employer who must encourage the best candidates to apply for a position in the company. Selection is the process of selecting candidates who have relevant qualifications to fill jobs in a company (Mathis, R., 1991, p. 209). For the employer it is a stage during which decisions are made on who is the most appropriate of all the job applicants. The key point of selection is how to make fair and relevant assessment, which indicates strengths and weaknesses of applicant (Boxall P., Purcell J., 2003, p.141). Conversely, the quotation by Townley (1999, p.97) defines the notion of selection in that (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) by definition, it involves a process of discrimination, and the opportunity for managers to emphasize employee acceptability or the good bloke syndrome, rather than suitability residing in task-based criteria. It is a much diversified process: it may be short and simply boil down to reviewing and closely reading job application documents, and hiring a person. Or it may be a longer process also including a job interview and other techniques aimed at finding the best people. Pilbeam Cordbridge (2006) assert that good recruitment and selection is important element of the HR strategy, its forecasting requirements and a key to getting the appropriate people to attain a business goals. Moreover, recruitment and selection is a necessary element of people resourcing strategy, due to communicated policies, procedures and practices can considerably play a part in effective organizational performance, (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) to good employee relations and to a positive public image (Pilbeam Corbridge, 2002). Both the activities are directed towards obtaining suitably qualified employees. Recruitment activities lay the groundwork for the selection process by providing the pool of applicants from whom the selectors may choose. Although, the two activities are closely connected, each requires a separate range of skills and expertise, and may in practice be fulfilled by different staff members. Recruitment and selection are the most important activities in an ongoing cir cle (shown in Fig.1.1) of an organisation as a whole. Figure 1. Recruitment and selection in an organization (Pilbeam Corbridge 2006, p.143) Inappropriate selection and recruitment decisions can have a range of undesirable consequences for the organization and the recruit, including: reduced organizational effectiveness, invalidate reward and development strategies, unfair for the person applying for job and higher rates of turnover. Recruitment and selection are one of the most fundamental elements of the strategy of human resources managing. A wise choice of employees plays a key role in the functioning of an organization. Framework: Recruitment Selection Recruitment and selection are works of the same system and they are so closely connected, although as Foot Hook (cited in Rayner Smith, 2005 p.121) suggest that each requires a separate range of skills and expertise, and each function may in practice be fulfilled by different staff members, or indeed the recruitment function, but not normally the selection decision, may be outsourced to an agency, so it makes sense to treat each function separately, but Pilbeam Corbridge (2006) note that they are not mutually exclusive functions. Hence is many approaches to recruitment and selection tend, however they distinguish that a system has inputs, which are the candidates, a processing unit, which consists of various methods and techniques and outputs, which are also effective employees or candidates, who go back to the labour market and are or eliminate by the recruiters or choose to exit from the process. As Figure 1.2 shows, the recruitment and selection process and techniques are influ enced by the external factors like legal framework, economic situation, social and demographic changes, competitor activity, labour market characteristics and has some sub-systems to it which are interdependent to each other, changes in one will effects the others and also the quality of output. According to Pilbeam Corbridge (2006) theory the systems approach gives an analytical skeleton and allow diffusion through the selection and recruitment sub systems, which are: attraction, reduction, selection and transition. Whereas Kochan Barocci model (cited in Beardwell, Holden Claydon, 2004) point out that organizations have life cycles, and that recruitment, selection and staffing policies vary according to an organizations perceived stage in the cycle. While Goold and Campbell conclude that human resource strategies depend on management profile, whether is it strategic planning, financial control or strategic control (ibid.). Furthermore Anderson and Shackleton (1998, p.15) notice that recruitment and selection as a system is (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) comprised of a series of inter-related components. Important observation about the maxim of chronological dependency, says that it can only be as accurate as decision made in early stage to pre-screen down number of applicants. They emphasize that assessment techniques should predict and also affect on the future performance of employee. It is important here, to say that Human Resource Planning (HRP) is connection between strategic business planning and strategic Human Resource Management. This connection is the most visible in the recruitment and selection of specific numbers of employees with particular abilities, which match to companys requirements. This view made by Paul Iles (2001, p.139) shows why employees, as the most valuable assets in company, should be align to strategic business plan. Nowadays is a lot of variations in recruitment and selection practices, reflecting an organizations strategy and philosophy towards the management of people. That is why many organizations developed frameworks, which allowed them approve a variety of selection and recruitment techniques in order to identify and confess the right people (Bratton, J. Gold, J., 2003, p. 223). Figure 2. The System Approach to recruitment and selection (Pilbeam Corbridge, 2002), p. 115. Process of recruitment and selection Recruiting is an extremely complicated process consisting of many phases. Before recruiting, the company needs to proceed with planning phase. Each organization thus must consider a number of important steps in the planning phase. Firstly it should forecast human resource needs, than specifies job requirements as well as identifies and uses appropriate recruitment channels (Beaumont, P., 1994, p. 57). When planning to recruit one should also include: discussions with clients to predict future hiring needs; maintenance of a contacts network (candidates, employees, competitors); development and maintenance of a strong employee referral program; investment in recruiter training and development; cooperation with management to ensure adequate budget (American Management Association International, Aug 2006, p.10). The command to start the recruitment process comes from senior managers and should be based on a review of the situation to determine that recruitment actually exists. It means, that it should be made recognition of the needs for new human resource. To minimize the risk of wasted money, job analysis should be well done. For the first, job description should be written very carefully. A job description makes it possible for the recruiter to outline what duties, responsibilities and the reason behind the vacancy i.e. expansion, member of staff retires, and the position within th e structure of the organization (Beardwell, I., 1994, p. 195). The first step in the development of a job description is to establish the purpose and general objectives of the post, and then to analyse the requirements of the job. This process is called job analysis, and is particularly important in circumstances where you are preparing a job description for a new or significantly changed post. Job analysis helps to clarify the duties, responsibilities and other job demands. It also helps to identify the skills, abilities and experiences that someone would need to possess to be able to perform satisfactorily in the role (UCD Staff Manual, August 2005, p. II). The process of writing a job description can be very time consuming, especially if company dont provide any system for job analysis. This involves other co-worker from department in context to collect essential information about business nature and actual duties. To accurately recruit candidates, the second part of job analysis personnel specification is required (Beardwell J., 1994, p.195). Person specification is amongst one of the important factor of recruitment and selection that comes after the job analysis and job description as it relates to the person doing the job. Job analysis is the first stage of the whole recruitment and selection process and everything else is built upon it. It aims at finding out what is involved in the job that is now vacant. The effects of a mistake at this point are likely ricochet throughout all subsequent stages whereas job description involves the task and the scope of the job. The person specification profile is the people characteristics required to do the job effectively. The fact that an employer draws up a person specification demonstrates an attempt to introduce some objectivity into what can otherwise be very subjective process. Rather than relying on personal judgements about the knowledge, skills and qualities the successful candidate should possess, the emp loyer with a person specification is following much more methodical and reasoned process. The person specification can be included with the information sent to the candidates to give them more detail about the requirements. It is a good practice to design and send to candidates a form showing each requirement and how it will get assessed (Foot Hook, 2005). Two well-established systems of person specification frameworks discussed by Beardwell and Claydon (2004, p. 205) are (Roger, 1952) seven-point plan and (Munro Fraser, 1954) similar five point plan, illustrated in Table.1.1 and 1.2. It is important to be as precise as possible about the skills, knowledge, qualifications and attributes that are required for the job and about the experience and personal characteristics that are needed. It is good practice to specify what is essential or the minimum required to perform the job, as well as what is desirable. It is also necessary to think about the context of the job and the wider org anisational requirements to specify any elements of person-organisation fit that are important. Munro Fraser (1954) Impact on others: physical make up, appearance, speech, and manner Acquired qualifications: education, vocational training, work experience Innate abilities: quickness of comprehension and aptitude for learning Motivation: individual goals, consistency and determination in following them up, success rate Adjustment: emotional stability, ability to stand up to stress and ability to get on with people Table 1. Person specification framework (ACAS cited in Beardwell Claydon, 2004). Rodger (1952) Physical make-up: health, appearance, bearing and speech Attainments: education, qualification, experience General Intelligence: Intellectual capacity Special Aptitudes mechanical, manual dexterity, facility in use of words and figures Disposition: acceptability, influence over others, steadiness, dependability, self-reliance Circumstances: any special demand of the job, such as ability to work unsocial hours, travel abroad Table 2. Person specification framework (ACAS cited in Beardwell Claydon, 2004). When the process of job analysis has been completed and clearly identified, the next step in recruitment process is to attract quantity of suitable applicants with desired features. Company should consider some factors, like companys budget, level of vacancy, time and selection technique in order to choose the right way in recruitment process. Larger companies generally have a larger budget and are more able to find the best candidates for the job. Effective use of recruitment tools depends on the available budget. This due to the fact that recruiting is expensive and the more selection techniques used the higher the cost to the company, but in doing this the company has a better chance of finding the best candidate. The cost of recruitment and selection is not the only cost the company has to include in its calculation searching new candidates. The other costs the organization should take into consideration are costs of training selected candidates to undertake contributing role to the organization as well as the costs of recruiting and selecting the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾wrong person (Cornelius, N., 1999, p. 29). Every company should adapt recruitment and selection costs to its policy, capabilities and vacancy and on this basis consider if to recruit internally or externally. Furthermore the level of vacancy is another one of the factors a company should consider before choosing a specific method of recruitment and selection. The decision making process is stipulated by individual needs of a company. In order to start the process of recruitment a company should have free vacancies. In fact, managers should decide if a free capacity either proves to be a job opportunity for a potential employee or whether there is an alternative option to resolve the situation. Hence, recruitment and selection processes should not be taken, when there is another opportunity, like reassigning the task to other employees or automated task, so than human resource are no longer required. We need to notice, that the higher level of vacancy provides more sophisticated methods of recruitment (Newell, S., Shackleton V. 2001, p. 25). Another concerning question a company should frankly answer is what kind of selection technique they need to apply, i.e. the one which may facilitate effective employment. A company should frankly answer the question concerning the kind of selection technique they may need to apply, i.e. the one which may facilitate effective employment. Bratton (2003, p.227) notes that appropriate selection technique should recognize the way in which people differ and must be extended to a prediction of performance in the workplace. The twenty-first century organization of work has lost a variety of available methods which give credibility to techniques that attempt to measure peoples attitudes and overall personality. The literature on the subject of organization differentiates between many selection techniques. The basic methods like application form or curriculum vitae are rudimentary to employment interviews. This phase of recruitment process is called pre-screening candidates, which will help t o reduce the numbers of unsuitable candidates and to apply more detailed methods of assessment. After pre-screening is time for candidate assessment. An extensive range of assessment methods is currently available to the recruiter like : biodata, assessment centre, work sample, references are very useful and reliable. Nevertheless the use of interviews is still the most popular selection method in the world. Branine (2008) founds interviews to be the main part of the selection process and that there had been awareness of the danger of subjectivity in the conduct of interviews. To avoid such danger, Gabb (1997, p. 64) argued that companies often prefer an interview panel of two or sequential interviews with different people. A recent comparative study of six countries found that the interview was one of the most popular selection methods. Despite, interviews being reported very often to be subjective and unreliable. It seems that the face-to-face contact with the applicant and the po ssibility of assessing the candidates social and communication skills are the main advantages of the interview, and hence the main reason for using it. While the trio of application form, interview and references is still popular, there have been further developments in incorporating those with the use of assessment centers which has been reported to be in the increase (Branine, M., 2008). Assessment centers are described by Pilbeam Corbridge (2006, p. 157) as useful in penetrating behaviors relating to interpersonal relationships, leadership, influencing ability, sociability, competitiveness, self-motivation, tolerance, persuasiveness, and decisiveness. Assessment centers have become popular venues for the selection of candidates, the identification of their potentials and the assessment of their training and development needs. The number of multinational companies from the USA has increased, more and more large companies are using a variety of tests ranging from ability to aptitude, personality and intelligence, especially those companies who receive a large number of applications and those needing more skilled employees. But as Marchington Wilkinson (cited in Beardwell, I., Holden, L. Claydon, T., 2004) quote none of the techniques, irrespective of how well they are designed and administered, is capable of producing perfect selection decisions that predict with c ertainty who is or who is not bound to be a good performer in a particular role. Figure 1.3 shows the accuracy of selection methods. According to Beardwell et al. (2004) the enlargement in using assessment centers and selection testing like a more accurate methods, can help to improve the effectiveness of the selection process. Though, assessment centers are believed to be the most influential selection method in organizations, but still the higher percentage of the firms considering interviews to be the most important selection method. However, doubts about accuracy push employers to approve the interview formats or supplement the interview with the other selection methods such as tests or work simulation (Beardwell et al., 2004). Data about accuracy of various types of selection techniques covers large differences within each technique. It needs to be considered in that point reliability and validity, but the detailed aspects of these two key criteria, which are already mentioned, are going to be explained in the following part of this dissertation. Table1.3 The predictive accuracy of selection methods Source: Anderson and Shackleton cited in Beardwell et al. (2004, p. 216)) Selection methods concept of validity reliability Reliability and validity, as statistical concepts, are very important for selection methods. Reliability is a link to the extent to which a selection technique achieves consistency in measuring. The statistical analysis normally provides a coefficient reliability. In summary of results, the higher will be coefficient (that is, the closer it is to 1.0) the more dependable the technique (Bratton J., 2003, p.235). Figure 3 shows the validity, estimated by meta analyses, of many selection methods. Good selection methods must meet four basic requirements: practicality, sensitivity, reliability and validity (Price, A., 2000, pp. 148-149). Practicality of the selection method means that it should meet the constraints of cost and time, whereas sensitivity focuses on distinguishing one candidate from another. Reliability of the method can be considered in three aspects: test-retest reliability the duration should not have an impact on the score when doing the same tests; inter-rater reliability the same scores should be given by different interviewers; internal consistency different questions measuring the same competence should give comparable results. Equally, validity has also three aspects: face validity tests are more acceptable when candidates find relevant questions; construct validity and predictive validity how well the suitability of candidates for the position is predicted (Price A., 2000, p. 149). It is possible to make a credible selection decision when the requir ed criteria are clearly marked out. If the criteria are not made clear it will be difficult to make an appropriate decision and will also be difficult to validate the selection process (Torrington, D., 2005, p.142). According to the study of Levy-Leboyer mentioned in the Cornelius book (1999, p. 39), the validity of many selection methods is debatable and that is why they should be used with care. As the high validity the following selection methods are thought: work sample, aptitude test, assessment centre and cognitive test. Medium validity has bio data, and the low validity: references, interviews, personality tests, whereas graphology and astrology do not have any validity (Cornelius N., 1999, pp. 39-40). Moreover validity studies carried out by Taylor (1998) and referred to by Armstrong (2006) found conventional interview methods to be questionable and suggested that alternative selection methods such as biographical data, assessment centres and work tests are more accurate methods of selection. While many studies in recent years have raised concern about selection and validity, the most widely used methods remain the classic trio application form, interview, and references (Taylor 2001). Early research showed that unstructured interview did not have high validity, so as to improve its validity interview should be more structured. It means that all applicants are asked the same questions and the same dimensions are used to assess applicants. Structured interviews should potentially increase the quality of decisions made (Newell, S., 2001, p. 33). However, according to Heffcutt Arthur (1994, pp. 184-190) improving the structure of interview does not increase validity. The question remains therefore, that if these methods are among the least valid, why are they still so popular? Armstrong (2006) suggests it is the comfort factor and that recognition needs to be given to the fact that both interviewers and interviewees like them and have grown to expect them. This is also known as mentioned before face validity. He also suggests that most interviewers / organisations may not be aware of what the research suggests. When compared with other selection methods, the classic trio is relatively low-cost and provides the opportunity to have a face to face meeting. In examining selection methods, Armstrong (2006) further suggests that too much innovation in selection methods may turn prospective candidates off. While some organisations may see this as a form of de-selection, the danger is that potentially high calibre and not just the less suitable candidates may be turned off by lengthier and more drawn out selection processes; even if they are more valid. However, Cornelius argues that using different methods of selection can increase the certainty of selecting the right applicant in a fair way (1999, p. 40) Figure 3 is based on Schmidt and Hunters (1998) review and shows the validity, estimated by meta analyses, of many selection methods. Source: Schmidt, F. L., Hunter, J. E. (1998). The validity and utility of selection methods in personnel psychology: practical and theoretical implications of 85 years of research .Findings. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 262-274.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Shakespeares Hamlet: Who is Gertrude? Essay -- GCSE English Literatu

Hamlet –Who is Gertrude?      Ã‚  Ã‚   Back in 1883 Samuel Taylor Coleridge in Lectures and Notes on Shakspere and Other English Poets comments on what he interprets as a problem or inconsistency in the presentation of the character Gertrude in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet:      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ham. A bloody deed;- almost as bad, good mother,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As kill a king, and marry with his brother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Queen. As kill a king?    I confess that Shakspere has left the character of the Queen in an unpleasant perplexity. Was she, or was she not, conscious of the fratricide? (364-365)    As literary critic, Coleridge’s interpretation is in conflict with others’. After all, the ghost does tell Hamlet not to prosecute the queen, but only Claudius. This essay intends to explore this situation and many others in an attempt to answer many questions about Gertrude, the queen, wife of Claudius and former wife of his deceased brother, King Hamlet.    Prince Hamlet initially appears in the play dressed in solemn black. His mother, Gertrude, is apparently disturbed by this and requests of him:      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Do not for ever with thy vailed lids   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Seek for thy noble father in the dust:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Passing through nature to eternity. (1.2)    The queen obviously considers her son’s dejection to result from his father’s demise. Angela Pitt considers Gertrude â€Å"a kindly, slow-witted, rather self-indulgent woman. . . .† (47). She joins in with the king in requesting Hamlet’s stay in Elsinore rather than returning to Wittenberg to study. Respectfully the son re... ...analysis Into' Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet." Early Modern Literary Studies 6.1 (May, 2000): 2.1-24   http://purl.oclc.org/emls/06-1/lehmhaml.htm    Pitt, Angela. â€Å"Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Rpt. of Shakespeare’s Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html    Smith, Rebecca. â€Å"Gertrude: Scheming Adulteress or Loving Mother?† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. of â€Å"Hamlet†: A User’s Guide. New York: Limelight Editions, 1996.    Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. â€Å"Shakespeare.† Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publish      

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Rubber Manufacturing Industries Need A Large Amount Of Hot Air Environmental Sciences Essay

Latex is the basic natural stuff required to bring forth baseball mitts. The latex is collected from the gum elastic trees and the fresh latex is centrifuged and pre treated at the gum elastic aggregation centres. The quality of the concluding merchandise depends on the quality of latex and the composing of the chemical mixtures used in the fabrication procedure. At the following phase the porcelain formers are immersed in acid and basic solutions, so brushed and rinsed with hot H2O and prohibitionist. The Calorific value of a fuel is a step of heating power which depends on the composing of the fuel. The Calorific value is the sum of energy given out when a known volume of a fuel is wholly combusted under specified conditions. When taking a fuel for the industry the undermentioned factors should be considered. Calorific Value It is better to take a fuel which can give more Calories per unit weight. The fuels which contain O have a lesser calorific value. Ignition Temperature The minimal temperature for which the fuel oxidant mixture should be heated so that the burning reaction would happen is called the ignition temperature. High ignition temperature makes the fuel tougher to light and low ignition temperature makes the fuel easier to light and this makes the fuel potentially risky. When the activation energy is high, the ignition temperature besides will be high. Volatility Volatility is the fuel let go ofing combustible gases ( bluess ) . When the boiling point of the fuel is high the fuel is less volatile. And besides when the vapor force per unit area is high the fuel is more volatile. The volatility of any fuel could be increased by increasing the temperature since the vapor force per unit area besides increases with the temperature. A fuel with high volatility can easy organize a flammable or explosive mixture with air. Liquid fuels are volatile plenty to bring forth combustible bluess such as ethyl alcohol and gasoline or bring forth adequate combustible bluess such as kerosine when heated at room temperature. Solid fuels have a high ignition temperature compared to liquid and gaseous fuels. Flash point The minimal temperature at which a pure liquid fuel should be heated so the vapor force per unit area is high plenty for an explosive mixture to be formed with air when the liquid is so allow to evapourate and is brought to reach with a fire, flicker or hot fiament is called the flash point. The brassy point is lesser than the ignition temperature. A fuel which has a brassy point much above room temperature such as kerosine, can be handled safely at room temperature because it will non detonate when exposed to fires, flickers and hot fibrils. A fuel which has a brassy point below the room temperature such as gasoline and intoxicant, will detonate when exposed to fires, flickers and hot fibrils. Therefore these fuels should be stored in a ice chest topographic point in order to impede the rise of the vapour force per unit area of the fuel due to increase in temperature. The topographic point should besides be good ventilated so that there would be no accretion of any at large vapor. And they must be stored in metal robust metal containers with oral cavities narrow and palpebras sealed tightly to forestall the vapor from get awaying. Ease of Liquefaction Gass take a big volume, but liquids of the same mass take a lesser volume which makes them easier to transport. The temperature at which a gas can be liquefied or condensed by increasing the force per unit area is called the critical temperature. The fuel should incorporate low content of non combustible stuffs, drosss when heated could do pollution and give out risky gases. An ideal fuel must non foul the environment by bring forthing harmful substances. The handiness of fuel The cost of fuels Different fuels used in Boilers Different types of fuels, solids liquid and gases are used in boilers. Combination of certain fuels are used sometimes in order to better the public presentation of the boiler. The fuels normally used in boilers are fossil fuels, RDFs and biomass. Petroleum, coal and natural gases are usually used in ICI boilers. Some common fuels used in boilers are listed below. Coal Coal is a sedimentary stone like substance composed fundamentally of chemically altered works stuffs which grew in prehistoric woods. It is a blackish brown combustible substance. From one topographic point to another the chemical composing of the coal differs depending on the environmental conditions like the force per unit area and temperature. Its major chemical components are C, H, N and O. It besides constitutes of a small sum of H2O and drosss like ash, quicksilver and S chiefly. Coal is one of the cheapest fuels available and quite wantonness. But the disadvantages of utilizing coal are that it is less overall boiler efficient. And the handling and storing of coal should be considered carefully. The storing and disposing of ash besides should be considered. Coal needs a greater intervention of flue gases before dispatching in order to do certain that they do non harm the environment. By merchandise waste Any sort of gaseous or liquid produced at chemical workss or in crude oil refineries except natural gases, residuary oil or distillate oil and are combusted in a steam bring forthing unit to retrieve heat or dispose. Biomass Biomass are organic affair and are non fossil fuels. Wood, rice hulls, bagasse, java evidences, and baccy roots are some biomass stuffs. Coal garbage This is the waste merchandises when coal is mined, cleaned and fixing operations incorporating coal, matrix stuff, clay and other organic or inorganic substances. Distillate oil fuels These are oils which contain 0.05 wt % N or less and comply with the specification for fuel oil. Municipal type solid waste and RDF These are the garbage of which more than 50 % waste incorporating a mixture of paper, wood, yard waste, nutrient wastes, plastics, leather, gum elastic, and other incombustible stuffs such as metal, glass, and stone, that are usually removed before burning. Natural gas It is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases found in geologic formations under the surface of the Earth happening of course with the chief content methane, or LP gas. Oils Crude oil, crude oil or liquid fuel obtained from either rough oil or crude oil, besides including distillation and residuary oil. Propane Propane is a fossil fuel prepared from petroleum crude oil and natural gas and is heavy gaseous. Residual oil Crude oil and fuel oil These are oils which have 0.05 wt % or greater N content. Solvent-derived fuel Any solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel derived from solid fuel to make utile heat. This include solvent-refined coal, liquified coal, and angasified coal. Very low S oil These are Oils which contain no more than 0.5 wt % S and which when has a SO emissions rate that is equal to or less than 215 ng/J ( 0.5 lb/MBtu ) heat end product when burning takes topographic point without SO emanation control. Wood Wood, wood residue, bark, or any derivative fuel or residue. And including, sawdust, sanderdust, wood french friess, garbages, slabs, milling shaves, and processed pellets made from wood or other forest merchandises. Wood residue Bark, sawdust, slabs, french friess, shaves, factory trim, and other wood merchandises derived from wood processing and forest direction operations.1.4Energy has become a really of import standard of advancement today because it facilitates the human life. It is one of the Primary demands of people today. But Energy has become a terrible challenge to adult male today. Energy engineerings have become one of the chief causes for many chief environmental jobs which is a world-wide subject of treatment. The speedy exhaustion of the energy beginnings of the universe has besides become a major job. There are many issues in the universe refering the energy supply. Therefore dendro power could be used as an alternate beginning of energy in order to carry through the energy demands for industrial intents in States like Srilanka. The coevals of electricity utilizing sustainable adult biomass such as fuel wood is known as dendro power. Biomass accounts about more than 55 % of entire energy ingestion of Sri Lanka. Chiefly fuel wood is used for cookery and warming intents in industries. Biomass energy could besides be described as electricity and liquid fuels produced with works affair. The works affair could be harvest residues, particularly from adult harvests, and in some instances from refuse. Electricity could be produced utilizing all these stuffs via advanced methods which are cleaner and more efficient than firing. By chemical processing they besides can be turned into transit fuels like ethyl alcohol. Wood is being used as an industrial fuel to bring forth dendro power for electricity coevals and warming applications in many topographic points of the universe. Industrialized states such as Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Austria, the USA and the UK in the western universe have been utilizing wood as a fuel to bring forth electricity since many old ages. The distribution of electricity can be done in two ways, as grid connected and off-grid power supply. Dendro power has wider possibility to bring forth power for long term, for grid connexions and off-grid communities. Merely about 15 % to 20 % of the off-grid population in Srilanka can fulfill their energy demands by solar power and small town hydro power. Dendro power can be established to function off-grid communities who can non afford solar power and do non hold the hydro power. Dendro power is a community-based electricity bring forthing engineering which comprises all families in a small town regardless of their income degree. One of the the chief manner to bring forth electricity in Sri Lanka is by utilizing Petroleum in order to get the better of the energy deficit. But this is non an appropriate manner for a underdeveloped state like Srilanka since the cost is really high due to the increasing monetary value of non renewable resources as crude oil will exaust in another 30 to 40 old ages and coal in around 200 old ages. The coevals of Dendro Power in Srilanka has high potency due to the undermentioned grounds, Srilanka already has practical experience in bring forthing dendro power which was started by persons and the private sector for their ain usage. Biomass feedstock can be obtained as a natural stuff for bring forthing electricity. The underutilized, non used and degraded province land could be converted into dendro plantations. The possibility of actuating private landholders to put in dendro plantations is besides considered promising. The generation-long pattern of tree agriculture as a constituent of land-based supports in Sri Lanka is a capital plus when advancing dendro energy. There are potencies to utilize fast turning species, aiming woodfuel production, as good as utilizing coppicing techniques to supply feedstock. The Energy in any state is a major factor that gives a complete thought about the industries of the state. As the energy taken from the Hydro-Power workss is limited, there must be good options for making the of all time increasing power demandQuestion 33.1Sanitation means the hygienic method of insulating the jeopardies that could be caused due to reach of waste with human to advance wellness. Human Beings generate a batch of waste such as body waste, piss, effluent, solid wastes, industrial and agricultural wastes. These wastes could incorporate risky substances like microbic pathogens and risky chemicals, which could be harmful to human wellness. Improper sanitation installations and solid and H2O disposal systems in edifices could make a batch of jobs. Some of them are, There is a high opportunity of distributing infective diseases such as cholera, enteric fever, infective hepatitis, infantile paralysis, cryptosporidiosis, and ascariasis. Peoples are exposed daily to an unpleasant environment. When rivers and other H2O organic structures are contaminated with these wastes, they could impact the other life species excessively which is a menace to the ecological balance of the environment. Discharge of untreated waste pollutes the imbibing H2O. Enters into the nutrient concatenation ( eg: through fruits, veggies, fish etc ) Provides an environment for insects that spread diseases to engender. When industrial waste is sent into the environment heavy metals, toxic organic and inorganic substances can do serious menace to people and the environment. For an illustration, in some parts of China, due to irrigation done with waste H2O contaminated to a great extent with industrial waste for many old ages is reported to hold produced tonss of wellness jobs which includes expansion of the liver, malignant neoplastic diseases and raised rates of inborn deformity rates, compared to countries where effluent was non used for irrigation. When there is a high concentration of Nitrates in waste H2O in belowground beginnings, it associates with methaemoglobinaemia ( bluish babe syndrome ) when this contaminated H2O is used in preparing of infant provender. There could be extra foods in H2O beginnings which will ensue in giantism of algae and harmful cyan bacteriums which produce toxins that cause skin annoyance and liver harm.3.2While planing healthful systems for edifices one should guarantee that safe and adequate drainage from a edifice and suited and equal commissariats of healthful installations are provided. The effluent and surface H2O from the edifice should be carried to an appropriate disposal country. Some constituents in effluent systems are, Septic armored combat vehicles Pipes Manholes Gulley The followers are some factors to be considered when planing a healthful system. Measures should be taken in order to forestall the flight of disgusting air into the environment and command the force per unit area. This could be done by sealing and venting the drainage system in a proper manner. A drainage system should be decently designed and constructed in order to minimise the hazards of obstruction and implosion therapy. A drainage system should be suitably tested in order to guarantee acceptable installing, If any discharge sent into a drainage system functioning a brooding containing silt or grit, equal installations to divide and take those substances must be made. If any discharge sent into a drainage system functioning a edifice, except a home, contains oil, fat, lubricating oil, volatile substances, silt or grit, appropriate installations to adequately separate and take such substances must be made. A drainage system must dispatch the surface H2O by suited techniques by directing it to a soak off, to a public cloaca or to a suited topographic point where there will be minimal hazards of fouling the environment. In Sri Lanka, in general, waste H2O and disgusting H2O articulation together and are disposed to infected armored combat vehicles in rural countries or to foul H2O cloaca in urban countries. The sewage in the disgusting H2O cloaca is discharged to a intervention works where it is settled, filtered and chemically treated. Surface H2O can be discharged into soak off to a river or a lake in rural countries or to the surface H2O drain in urban countries. The surface H2O drain discharges H2O safely to a river or a lake. A separate system of drainage is used where the disgusting H2O and surface H2O are separated at beginning and piped separately to a surface H2O drain or disgusting H2O drain. Private effluent intervention works or infected armored combat vehicles Must be suited for its intent. Must incorporate a suited screen which is sealed and secure. Must have installations to supply entree for inspecting and sampling of the waste H2O discharge. Must be located at a minimal distance from the edifice in order to forestall amendss t the foundation. Should minimise environmental hazards. Must have entree for the procedure of de-sludging. Any commercial or industrial edifices must supply a sufficient figure of healthful installations for their staff and people other than the staff depending on their figure. Sufficient figure of H2O cupboard cells must be provided in edifices to ease the motion within the cells. Suitable healthful installations for the handicapped people must be provided. Every lavatory must be provided with a wash basin within the lavatory or in an next infinite near the lavatory. Blushing cistern and trough, automatic flushing cistern, blushing valve, H2O cupboards, bidets, urinals, are some common healthful contraptions t be fitted. The pipe work and adjustments which carry effluent and surface H2O should be of right size and installed to minimise the opportunities of escape or obstruction. Some of the drainage systems that could be designed are, Separate drainage systems In this system ever the surface and disgusting H2O are separated. In this instance the sewage intervention works would ne'er acquire overloaded during wet conditions. Combined Drain system In this system some or all surface H2O joins the disgusting H2O drainage system. A combined system is non recommended to be used. It joins all or some of the waste H2O with the disgusting H2O system. By and large the cost of installing and running of sewage intervention works could be minimized by put ining a separate system. Because of this ground a separate system is recommended by local governments. Many jobs could happen due to improper installing of drainage systems. They are, Back force per unit area Back force per unit area is the force per unit area which opposes the coveted flow of any fluid in a confined topographic point like a pipe and is caused frequently due to tight decompression sicknesss or hinderance in the confinement vas along which it moves ( pipes or air blowholes ) . Due to bad designing, the H2O fluxing could acquire compressed in the air pipes and force out the trap H2O seal. This could be prevented by non linking waste pipes to the lower 450 millimeter of perpendicular tonss ( when measurings are taken from the underside of the horizontal drain ) . The waste discharged from the lower floors should be connected to the drain individually. mebs6000_1011_05_Drainage_page28_image1.jpg Self-Siphonage Self siponage may happen if a wash basin is excessively steep a gradient. In such state of affairss the contents of in the trap are sucked out into the waste pipe due to fast flow of H2O which empties the trap. This could be avoided by puting limitations on lengths and gradients and besides by venting long or steep gradients. mebs6000_1011_05_Drainage_page26_image1.jpg Two pipe foul H2O system Foul H2O means the waste H2O from baths, basins, showers and etc and dirt H2O discharged from lavatories. The one pipe system contains fewer pipes and is more hygienic. Therefore this system is recommended over the two pipe systems. In the two pipe system there are separate blowholes from each healthful equipments and they are joined into a combined blowhole stack.605.gif3.4Surface H2O means the H2O that is collected on the land, watercourses, lakes, rivers, oceans or any other H2O organic structures which is related to H2O degree Celsius Surface H2O is H2O roll uping on the land or in a watercourse, river, lake, wetland, or ocean ; it is related to H2O roll uping as groundwater or atmospheric H2O. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bsenotes.com/ hypertext transfer protocol: //phcjam.blogspot.com/ figures hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cibse.org/pdfs/Shouler.pdf hypertext transfer protocol: //www.mech.hku.hk/bse/MEBS6000/mebs6000_1011_05_Drainage.pdf hypertext transfer protocol: //efsl.lk/details.aspx? catid=3

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Oscar “Zeta” Acosta Essay

Abstract The paper that I wrote talks about Oscar â€Å"Zeta† Acosta and his impact on the Chicano community. In the leaders contribution I talk about how Acosta was an attorney for the Chicano movement and generated controversy. In the leaders contribution section I talk how Acosta addressed political, social, and educational injustices against Chicanos. Acosta used his time and profession to help the Chicano movement. He contributed through two of his books that are a major part of the Chicano literacy renaissance. He also clashed with the Judicial system a lot of times for reasons that he thought were right. In the section others perspectives I talked about how he was scrutinized by many people but was still recognized through his significance in the Chicano movement. Leaders Context Oscar â€Å"Zeta† Acosta was born in El Paso, Texas on April 8, 1935. A little after he turned five he and his family moved to California’s San Joaquin Valley because his family couldn’t make a living during the Depression. His parents started working as migrant field workers. Acosta’s father was different from other people. He had a passion for competition he had to compete with people more then anything. When Acosta was little his father would always make him argue with him. As he said in his book Oscar â€Å"Zeta† Acosta: The Uncollected Works † I guess that is where I became as nasty as I am.† (5). When Acosta went to high school he wasn’t one of the average Chicanos going to school. He became involved in sports and music he was also president of his class. He got a scholarship for music at the University of Southern California. But he decided not to go. After finishing high school, Acosta joined the U.S. Air Force. Acosta then worked his way through college, becoming the first member of his family to graduate. Acosta attended night classes at San Francisco Law School and passed the California Bar exam in 1966 on his second try. (Oscar â€Å"Zeta† Acosta: The Uncollected works) In 1967, Acosta began working as an antipoverty attorney for the East Legal Aid Society in Oakland, California. Then he moved to East Los Angeles, where he joined the Chicano Movement and generated controversy as an activist attorney during the years 1968-1973. But his activities began in Oakland but it was in East Los Angeles where he gained notoriety. He defended various Chicano protest groups and activists such as the Saint Basil 21 and Rodolfo â€Å"Corky† Gonzalez. As an attorney, he figured prominently in legal cases which addressed political, social, and educational injustices against Chicanos. Acosta is also a well known author of two most important novels of the Chicano Protest Movement. An Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo (1972), and The Revolt of the Cockroach People (1973) . Acosta’s characteristics involve him being savage, nasty, not giving up nor letting anyone out him down as he said in his novel The Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo â€Å"I don’t give a shit what other people have to say about me†(130). I believe that all of these characteristics has made him, become who he was. Because he didn’t care what others thought about him, he kept on going when things got hard . Acosta’s father had to do a lot with him becoming like this, because Acosta’s father would push Acosta to become better then anyone else made him become the nasty interior person he was. He would never show his emotions and never really found his true identity because Acosta’s father would always push him to do extracurricular activities, and he didn’t have that extra time to spend it with the other Chicanos out on the block. It was until later on working as a Legal Aid and saw the Chicanos rioting and walking out for causes he didn’t know existed. Leaders Contribution Oscar â€Å"Zeta† Acosta contributed to the Chicano community through two novels that he wrote. Those two novels were a literary contribution to the Chicano community and movement. He used his profession as an attorney to defend Mexican/ Chicano walk outs for better education. Acosta demonstrated his contribution through joining the Chicano movement. He used his profession as an attorney to defend various Chicano protest groups and activists such as the Saint Basil 21 which was â€Å"The Catholics for la Raza† the coalition in an ill-fated protest at St. Basil’s on Christmas Eve, 1969 and also the Rodolfo â€Å"Corky† Gonzalez where he led a Chicano contingent to the Poor People’s March on Washington D.C and issued a â€Å"plan of the Barrio† which demanded better housing, education and restitution of pueblo lands. Acosta figured prominently in legal cases which addressed political, social, and educational injustices against Chicanos. He frequently clashed with the judicial system, winning ardent supporters as well as making political enemies. He also contributed two novels that he wrote called Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo (1972), and The Revolt of the Cockroach People (1973) . Those were two novels that were highly acclaimed as major contributions to the Chicano literary renaissance. Acosta was a catalyst for change because he contributed his time and profession to the Chicano Movement. Acosta defended his community and race and he also took cases that defended Chicano education, and Chicano rights. He contributed to the Chicano literary renaissance. He is someone that may not be well known to everyone because no one talks about him now but during the Chicano movement he was a catalyst for change because he helped the Chicano community be what it is today by not attaining the injustices they had in the education and in the living of the Chicano community. Other Perspectives Oscar â€Å"Zeta† Acosta is a controversial Chicano author, activist and attorney whose work focuses on ethnicity and ways that people of Mexican ancestry in the United States forge an awareness of themselves and how they get treated by other people. Even though Acosta sometime contradicts himself he is still considered by a few a very great person and activist. The website  ¡Para Justicia y Libertad! said that Acosta was † A gifted writer and storyteller, an activist, a civil rights attorney, and is considered the Malcolm X of the Chicano/a community†. Also in the article called Oscar Zeta Acosta: One of God’s own prototypes he said † Oscar was a legendary, compelling figure in Chicano history his remains in the shadows of the general American culture† ( p.1) . There is one thing was for sure that â€Å"most Chicana would say that he was a feminist and grouse! † (Bandido 115) . Some Chicanas even dislike the way he talks about women in his book. He talks about women as if they were objects and he also talks about them in a vulgar way in the books by calling them â€Å"bitches† of â€Å"hoers†. He also talks in a very feminist way, when you read his books you can notice how he mentions or try’s to lower the feminine perspective and the mentality of a women. Conclusion Based on the research I have conducted it is my view that Oscar â€Å"Zeta† Acosta was a key component in the Chicano movement because of the role he took by defending the Chicano community when no one would defend them, and especially because Acosta took his profession and his time to defend them. His work affected my life because it showed me that in life you have to pursue your goals to achieve them. Even though it might be tough there reachable. What surprised me about Acosta was his language in his books because I thought an attorney would not talk or especially write a book with vulgar and derogatory language. Another thing that also surprised me about Acosta was that he was a feminist I believed that someone that would defend people like the Chicano community because of the injustices they are facing in society would discriminate other people. Acosta’s importance during his lifetime was that he was an essential part in fixing the Chicano education and living in the Anglo world. Reflection Leader Selection.I am pleased with my catalyst for change choice Oscar â€Å"Zeta† Acosta. I learned more about the Chicano education injustices and also about the Chicano movement. Even tough there where parts that I wasn’t pleased about hearing like on how he was a feminist and how vulgar he talked about women in his books and how he just thought they were objects. I still found my catalyst for change interesting like on how he wasn’t like the rest of the Chicano’s while he was growing up, he was like an outsider to his own race. Methodology. At first it was difficult to find books that Acosta has written or books that talk about him, because every book store I went to said they did not have them but they could always order them but it would take about to two weeks and when I would say no thank you ill try some where else they would look at me if I was crazy. At the end I ended up going to the downtown public library and I was luck there was only one copy of the books. Maybe next time what I would do differently is choose a person that has sources that are available everywhere. I believe that I did pace my self with reading the books and writing the paper. My time management was effective at times, because there was times I go carried away doing other things but I would still do my paper even though at times I would have to sleep late. Critical Reading. Reading the sources was some what difficult because of the language and sometimes the metaphors he used. What I learned about the whole reading concept is that it is going to be very useful in college and that you have to learn how to pace yourself when you read also that you have to skim the book, also having a dictionary in hand would be very useful to. Note taking did become easier as I worked along. I found note taking very useful since the books I was reading were not mine so I couldn’t highlight the important information that I would be using for my research paper. I found the note taking system very useful, probably the other useful thing that would of helped me would have been if the books were mine because I wouldn’t have speed threw the books to get them in by their due date. Writing. In writing my research paper the difficulty I faced was not knowing how to get my point across I found that difficult to do because everyone that read my research paper did not know who Oscar â€Å"Zeta† Acosta was. Probably the one thing that would of been useful was choosing a person that people knew at least the name to. The paper we got with the prompt and the instructions on what we had to answer helped a lot because while I was writing my paper I was looking back to see if I answered the prompt and followed the instructions and criteria. The skills that I believe that I need to work on is on my writing and how I try to get my point across because I found that hard to do. The skill that I believe that I was getting better at was knowing how to paraphrase. Experience. I did enjoy working on this project alone because I worked on it at my own pace, but I do enjoy working with others. I believe this research paper would have been better in group because you don’t have top rush threw books because everyone can read a book, also because everyone has their own style of writing and looks at the prompts differently so it would have been easier because everyone could have contributed through their opinions and ideas and could have answered the prompt more efficiently. I believe that the most interesting part of this research paper was getting to know everything that your catalyst for change did, because I just knew a couple of thins that Acosta did like being a lawyer and defending the Chicano community, but I didn’t know or have a clue everything else he did and how he acted and how he was a feminist. I believe that the most difficult thing about the research paper was the paper itself, because everything was just new to me because I have ever used MLA format before.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

George Orwells A Homage To Catanolia Essays

George Orwells A Homage To Catanolia Essays George Orwells A Homage To Catanolia Essay George Orwells A Homage To Catanolia Essay Essay Topic: George orwell Shane George Orwells A Homage to Catalonia is a very emotional piece. We find this from the beginning of the extract when Orwell starts off with it is very hard to describe what I Felt. From this we feel quite sympathetic towards him. It becomes clear he finds it awkward and hard to speak of such events without recollecting and recurs the negative emotions he went through. Orwell uses onomatopoeia in the second paragraph by describing his fatality by using bang and flash as if a rifle is going off. It shows the sudden and quickness of it. I feel this also shows how quick the life was snatched away from the soldiers in a flash. Orwell seems a loving type. He often mentions his wife and his family giving us a family man persona i. e. emotional and caring. It allows us to see that they are highly important to him. The most sentimental part lies in his last moments where he says first thought, conventionally enough was for my wife. Once again we pity him for the fear and pain he had to endure. The extract is from his autobiography. This means it is a very biased account. The things he says can not be backed up and things could be exaggerated and toned down especially for the reader but it doesnt seem too graphic to allow such exaggeration. : He speaks in first person They laid me down again while somebody fetched the stretcher. By talking in first person we once again feel a very personal account of events. Maybe with such a delicate subject such as war, he felt his personal accounts would give a deeper meaning to the reader rather than a biography written by someone else. This allows him to put his heart in to it more. Being an autobiography, we can justify irregular language that can be used. In this particular piece Orwell says The stupid mishane infuriated me. Using the word stupid it allows us to feel his aggravation and angst more, therefore this language can be used successfully in this example to enhance mood. Orwell oddly portrays the wars harsh realities, not in the stereotypical way but in a softer, more subtle approach. The Extract overall seems very negative indeed. In the line a feeling of being shrivelled up to nothing we truly understand the emptiness and coldness the war affected him. It may not be an extremely graphical adaption of war but it still creates strong, painful emotions. The extract is filled with imagery and descriptions. In the quote Only a violent shock, such as you get from an electric terminal gives us a very strong account of his injuries. It makes us pity Orwell because of what he goes through and the pain he endures. This autobiography was written in 1936, after the war. This is probably the main reason why this is less patriotic as after being affected by the war, Orwell would have his own experiences that may have changed his perspectives and may question why he was so eager to volunteer in the first place. Orwell may have been influenced by the world and how things had changed from the beginning so he could easily put this George Orwells A Homage to Catalonia Continued knowledge into his autobiography and could have easily been affected/inspired by the authors of the time period, articles and the events that followed. Wilfred Owens poetry showed a massive contrast between pre-war and pro-war. In the women and the slain the patriotic line To die in war for brothers reveals dreams of being a hero, feeling proud where as in the first sentence of Dulce Et Decorum Est Owen describes the soldiers as old beggars and like hags showing a more degrading and insignificance to there deaths. As if they mean nothing. If this extract was pre- war we would expect it to be more patriotic, nobler. At the end of the extract, after hearing Orwell has been shot in the neck and survived, Orwell says I would merely have congratulated him on his good shooting. This allows us to feel he is not bitter for what has happened to him and gives us relief that he does not hold a grudge over this.

Monday, October 21, 2019

A Review of the Major Plays of Chikamatsu essays

A Review of the Major Plays of Chikamatsu essays Chikamatsu Monzaemon was born in Echizen, Japan in 1653 with the name of "Sugimore Nobumori" and was to become perhaps the greatest dramatist in the history of the Japanese theater. Most of his early history is unknown. His father, a samurai, gave up his feudal responsibilities in the late 1660s and moved the family to Kyoto. As a teenager Chikamatsu may have been introduced to the theater while serving in a nobleman's house. He probably met an actor of joruri or Puppet Theater. Chikamatsu is often compared to Shakespeare. Although there are many differences in their writings, like Shakespeare, Chikamatsu has become known as a great playwright of the distant past. A major difference in their writings is that Shakespeares dramas revolve around nobles and important people in his society. Chikamatsu writes about the common people of his era and recent history. The author, Donald Keene, says that another big difference in their writing is that Chikamatsu mainly wrote for the puppet theater. The fantastic feats that his characters carry out are more believable when acted out by puppets rather than live actors like Shakespeares. The special demands of this theater obliged Chikamatsu to conceive his plays in a manner which sometimes weakens their literary value: spectacular scenes of mayhem or superhuman feats may be intensely exciting when seen in a puppet performance, but when read as one reads a Western play they often seem absurdly exaggerated. (1) Author of 110 joruri and 30 kabuki plays, he profoundly influenced the development of the modern Japanese theater. His works combine comedy and tragedy, poetry and prose, and scenes of combat, torture, and suicide. Most of Chikamatsu's domestic tragedies are based on actual events. In 1705, Chikamatsu moved to Osaka where he became a writer for Takemoto Gidayu's puppet theatre. He remained in Osaka until his death in 1725. Chikamatsu wrote most of hi...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Sociology of Religion

Sociology of Religion Not all religions share the same set of beliefs, but in one form or another, religion is found in all known human societies. Even the earliest societies on record show clear traces of religious symbols and ceremonies. Throughout history, religion has continued to be a central part of societies and human experience, shaping how individuals react to the environments in which they live. Since religion is such an important part of societies around the world, sociologists are very interested in studying it. Sociologists study religion as both a belief system and a social institution. As a belief system, religion shapes what people think and how they see the world. As a social institution, religion is a pattern of social action organized around the beliefs and practices that people develop to answer questions about the meaning of existence. As an institution, religion persists over time and has an organizational structure into which members are socialized. Its Not About What You Believe In studying religion from a sociological perspective, it is not important what one believes about religion. What is important is the ability to examine religion objectively in its social and cultural context. Sociologists are interested in several questions about religion: How are religious beliefs and factors related to other social factors like race, age, gender, and education?How are religious institutions organized?How does religion affect social change?What influence does religion have on other social institutions, such as political or educational institutions? Sociologists also study the religiosity of individuals, groups, and societies. Religiosity is the intensity and consistency of practice of a person’s (or group’s) faith. Sociologists measure religiosity by asking people about their religious beliefs, their membership in religious organizations, and attendance at religious services. Modern academic sociology began with the study of religion in Emile Durkheim’s 1897 The Study of Suicide in which he explored the differing suicide rates among Protestants and Catholics. Following Durkheim, Karl Marx and Max Weber also looked at religion’s role and influence in other social institutions such as economics and politics. Sociological Theories of Religion Each major sociological framework has its perspective on religion. For instance, from the functionalist perspective of sociological theory, religion is an integrative force in society because it has the power to shape collective beliefs. It provides cohesion in the social order by promoting a sense of belonging and collective consciousness. This view was supported by Emile Durkheim. The second point of view, supported by Max Weber, views religion in terms of how it supports other social institutions. Weber thought that the religious belief systems provided a cultural framework that supported the development of other social institutions, such as the economy. While Durkheim and Weber concentrated on how religion contributes to the cohesion of society, Karl Marx focused on the conflict and oppression that religion provided to societies. Marx saw religion as a tool for class oppression in which it promotes stratification because it supports a hierarchy of people on Earth and the subordination of humankind to divine authority. Lastly, symbolic interaction theory focuses on the process by which people become religious. Different religious beliefs and practices emerge in different social and historical contexts because context frames the meaning of religious belief. Symbolic interaction theory helps explain how the same religion can be interpreted differently by different groups or at different times throughout history. From this perspective, religious texts are not truths but have been interpreted by people. Thus different people or groups may interpret the same Bible in different ways. References Giddens, A. (1991). Introduction to Sociology. New York: W.W. Norton Company.Anderson, M.L. and Taylor, H.F. (2009). Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

No Child Left Behind Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

No Child Left Behind - Essay Example According to the research findings Wang and Fahey do not propose any particular questions but write that their research project had to examine the â€Å"growth patterns of parent volunteerism by national region, metropolitan status, gender, ethnicity, and immigrant status†. Later in their article, Wang and Fahey specify that their main hypothesis is that parents living in regions with strong civic traditions are more likely to volunteer than those living in large metropolitan areas. Wang and Fahey hypothesized that, in metropolitan communities, the lack of the sense of closeness failed to encourage parents to participate in their children’s learning, whereas parents in nonmetropolitan communities would be guided by the sense of cohesion and display stronger intentions to participate. There is no explicit conceptual framework for parental volunteerism and its implications for education. However, Wang and Fahey build on previous studies and use the results of their litera ture review to create a complex conceptual image of parental volunteerism and the factors affecting it. As such, Wang and Fahey link the concept of parental volunteerism to region and metropolitan status, gender, ethnicity, and immigrant status. Since parental volunteerism is not a theoretical but practical construct, no connections between the authors’ empirical observations and real-world settings have been provided. The analysis of previous findings makes it easier for the reader to develop theoretical-empirical links based on the study results. That Wang and Fahey (2010) provide a detailed discussion of the dependent and independent variables is one of the strongest sides of their research. In this study, the dependent variable was Volunteer, whereas independent variables included the time trend (Year 2002, Year 2004, and Year 2006), the regional status trend, gender, race/ethnicity and citizenship (Wang & Fahey, 2010). The notion of trends is extremely vague, and it is r ather difficult for the reader to develop and understand strong connections between the dependent and independent variables. Unfortunately, the researchers do not explain the meaning of these dependent variables, nor do they provide any detailed explanation of the components that make up these trends. Consequentially, tracing the process and progress of the statistical analysis is rather problematic, although the research design and procedure fit in the purpose and conditions of the discussed study. Wang and Fahey (2010) used the benefits of cross-sectional study design and relied on quantitative methods of data analysis. Statistical analyses were performed with the help of SAS 9.2. The benefits of statistical analyses cannot be overstated, as they ensure greater precision and accuracy of study results. The choice of logistic regressions was justified by the need to find and explain correlations among independent and dependent variables. In this sense, the statistical procedure is c onsistent with the goal and expected outcomes of the discussed research. Nevertheless, the choice of statistical methods raises the question of the applicability and practicality of the study findings and their implications for understanding the major education processes under the influence of NCLB. Wang and Fahey (2010) claim, that they collected their data from the Current

Computer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Computer - Essay Example Key to a computer is an appropriate RAM, this is because it runs computer programs and store the relevant information and data. Dell Inspiron 15R laptop has a Pre-installed memory (RAM) of 6GB. In addition, it has a hard disk drive of 320-GB that can turn at 5,400 revolutions per minute. Nonetheless, operators have the option to upgrade it to the hard disk capacity to 500GB or to downgrade to 250GB. This is an efficient laptop, its other important features include; the optical drive of times 8-speed, DVD as well as CD burner that provides both minus or plus DVD recordable format support and dual-layer disc type. Dell Inspiron 15R laptop is powered with up to 4th Generation Intel Core processors system it’s operating system entail Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium. However, the windows version can be upgraded to the professional edition or be maintained depending on the preference of the users. Besides, the laptop has a LED Backlit display which measures 15.6 inch with special features like 1366 x 768 HD resolution and True-life. The Dell Inspiron 15R laptop processor system comprise of a proficient dual-core Intel Core i3-380M. Besides, it has a processing speed of up to 2.53GHz among other features. The laptop is considered more efficient because it is fitted because it is fitted with Ivy Bridge Core i5-3210M, processor which is paired with 6GB of system memory 3-MB. This enhances the performance since it provides high-speed access to computer data; and an Intel High Definition computer Graphics chipset for high graphics and quality video capabilities. The secondary storage system of The Dell Inspiron 15R laptop stores data for example, the Windows 7 operating system and other important user files. This system is determined by the existing volume of the hard disk. As mentioned in previous sections, Dell Inspiron 15R supports a hard disk volume of up to 500 Gigabyte (GB). This is

Computer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Computer - Essay Example Key to a computer is an appropriate RAM, this is because it runs computer programs and store the relevant information and data. Dell Inspiron 15R laptop has a Pre-installed memory (RAM) of 6GB. In addition, it has a hard disk drive of 320-GB that can turn at 5,400 revolutions per minute. Nonetheless, operators have the option to upgrade it to the hard disk capacity to 500GB or to downgrade to 250GB. This is an efficient laptop, its other important features include; the optical drive of times 8-speed, DVD as well as CD burner that provides both minus or plus DVD recordable format support and dual-layer disc type. Dell Inspiron 15R laptop is powered with up to 4th Generation Intel Core processors system it’s operating system entail Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium. However, the windows version can be upgraded to the professional edition or be maintained depending on the preference of the users. Besides, the laptop has a LED Backlit display which measures 15.6 inch with special features like 1366 x 768 HD resolution and True-life. The Dell Inspiron 15R laptop processor system comprise of a proficient dual-core Intel Core i3-380M. Besides, it has a processing speed of up to 2.53GHz among other features. The laptop is considered more efficient because it is fitted because it is fitted with Ivy Bridge Core i5-3210M, processor which is paired with 6GB of system memory 3-MB. This enhances the performance since it provides high-speed access to computer data; and an Intel High Definition computer Graphics chipset for high graphics and quality video capabilities. The secondary storage system of The Dell Inspiron 15R laptop stores data for example, the Windows 7 operating system and other important user files. This system is determined by the existing volume of the hard disk. As mentioned in previous sections, Dell Inspiron 15R supports a hard disk volume of up to 500 Gigabyte (GB). This is

Friday, October 18, 2019

Does the research evidence support using caesarean section for Essay

Does the research evidence support using caesarean section for reducing mother to baby transmission of hepatitis C during labour and birth - Essay Example y Armstrong and his colleagues, the incidence of Hepatitis C infection in the US escalated from zero to 44 cases for every 100,000 individuals before 1965. The prevalence of the disease reached its peak in the 1980’s when the incidence of HPV infection became 100-200 per 100,000 individuals (Armstrong et al., 2000, p. 779). Although HCV infection in most patients is asymptomatic, several cases demonstrate certain symptoms including jaundice, fatigue, myalgia, low-grade fever, right upper quadrant pain, nausea, or vomiting (Moore et al., 2001, p. 658; Maheshwari et al., 2008, p. 325; Webster et al., 2009, p. 110). If not given appropriate medical attention, hepatitis C often leads to liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, hepato-cellular carcinoma, and liver damage (Vogt et al., 1999, p. 868; Moore et al., 2001; 657; Geller and Herman, 2006, p. 88) The most efficient mode by which the virus is acquired occurs via repeated and direct percutaneous exposure to infected blood and organs from unscreened donors, exposure of blood through the use of contaminated medical instruments, injection drug use, and haemodialysis procedures (Lavanchy, 1999, p. 147; Bartolotti et al., 2007, p. 784). However, with the advent of better needle exchange programs, blood donor screening, hygiene care, and education among injecting drug users, a significant decline in the prevalence of Hepatitis C has been reported since the 1990s (Armstorng et al., 2000, p. 779; Geller and Herman, 2006, p 86). Another route by which HCV infection can be acquired is through vertical transmission ( e.i. passive acquisition of the virus by children from infected mothers) ( Kudo et al., 1997, p. 225). The actual mechanism of mother-to-child HCV transmission is not yet known, but exposure to infected mucous, fluids and blood from the mother significantly increases the ris k of transmission (Indolfi and Resti, 2009, p. 837) According to Plunkett et al. (2004, p. 998), the highest prevalence of Hepatitis C occurs

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

Blogs - Assignment Example The blog is using facts and opinion with the numbers and statistical data on bullying and other forms of antisocial behavior highlighted. The blog is reflecting with how the past was structured and the difference that is seen in comparison to the present attributes of anti-social behavior. There is a photo of a young lady with a computer that appears disgusted or broken by a picture or a post that she has seen on her computer. The photo is social how the computer may influence a person if only it’s written badly and in the process lead to bullying and other forms of anti-social behavior. This article looks at the influence of social media on teens. In the blog the writer asserts that there are detrimental effects not only on their social behavior but also on their academic performance. The article is examining the difference that may be witnessed in future with more students in the current generation using the same platform for all their academic work. The blog is based on opinions that have been generated from deductive reasoning by the writer. The blog does not quote other writers but has deduced its argument from a single analogy and is projecting the same to be the case into the future. The last blog looks at the influence of social networking in children and uses the opinion by other cites and also factual information to conclude that it being affected badly. There are less face to face conversations and the children are going to grow with depleted connections with the other members of the society. The blog looks at the past and future effects of social media and does not see any form of better social behavior coming from the social media

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Growing Crime Problem of Juvenile Delinquency Essay

Growing Crime Problem of Juvenile Delinquency - Essay Example We can then make a speculation on the future and offer recommendations to confront this unique challenge. In the last 200 years in the United States, children have held a special status within the framework of the law. However, the age at which they were considered juveniles has been subject to change over the years. In the early 1800s, most children that we consider to be juveniles today were treated as adults under the law. As late as 1827, a child at the age of 10 was considered to be of age to accept full adult criminal responsibility under the law in Illinois (Ferro 2003 p.3). In fact, the term 'delinquency' did not appear in US law until the turn of the twentieth century as social upheaval transformed our urban areas and juvenile crime became more prevalent and problematic. During this period, industrialization had brought people together in large urban areas from all over the country and the world seeking employment in the newly established factories in cities such as Chicago, New York, and Detroit. Social pressures and poverty fueled rising crime in the general population. This rise in crime among adults was mirrored in the juvenile population. States have often held great authority over the handling of juvenile crime. Delinquents would often be relegated to poorhouses, county farms, or reform schools. But by the 1920s, America was more cognizant of juvenile crime and its effect on the established social order. The move to the Sun Belt during the 1930s and 1940s magnified the problem in cities such as Los Angeles and Phoenix. Crime statistics from this period are largely fragmented and anecdotal. However, there was a concern among the population about the growing juvenile delinquency problem. President Herbert Hoover created the Wickersham Commission to investigate the rising crime rate. The report issued in 1931 found that, "...turf wars were being waged in America's large cities by rival criminal groups fighting for control of bootleg liquor distribution" (Ferro 2003 p.4). Gang crime and their influence on juveniles continues to dominate the juvenile delinquency issue. The post World War II era saw a beginning of the rise in adult crime that was echoed by juvenile delinquency. Access to media, technology, and mobility has contributed to the problem. Beginning in 1960, there was an increase in juvenile delinquency that peaked in the early 1990s (Ferro 2003 p.4). However, beginning in 1980 there was also a rapid escalation in the violence of juvenile crime and the reported incidents of gang activity and guns. Between 1978 and 1993 violent crime by juveniles rose 79% and the murders committed by juveniles soared by 177% (Levitt 1998 p.1156). Though the overall juvenile crime rate has gone down in recent years, the rates of more serious and violent crimes have not seen as dramatic of a decline. According to statistics complied by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, from 2001-2005 the total violent crime rate among juveniles has dropped, but forcible rape has not experienced the same decline (Sourcebook of criminal justice statistics 2006). Much of the pr evalence of violent juvenile crime has come as a result of, or can be attributed to, gang activity (Ferro 2003 p.5). Juveniles in contact with gang members, whether peers or family members, may emulate their activity even though they may not be a member of a gang. In

Code switching project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Code switching project - Essay Example 3). In this view, the determination of the social motivations for a language alternation becomes important. This paper looks at the social motivations for code switching I terms of the various applications in social, discourse and identity expression situations. This follows an interview analysis that seeks to determine the patterns for code switching, as well as the attitudes evident from such changes. According to Buchholtz and Hall (2005), socio-cultural linguistics arises as an important subject that looks at the broad interdisciplinary area involving the integration of culture, society and language (Nilep 2006, p. 3). The utilization of code switching arises as a key determinant of bilingual and multilingual speakers. The availability of language resources including the knowledge of two or more languages enables different individuals to depict instances of language alternations. Code switching refers to the application of two or more languages between various speakers during a given speech or conversation (Lowi 2005, p. 1). In this case, the concept stands to be essential in such practices involving bilingual or multilingual speakers. This translates to the utilization of code switching as a means for conversation, and as an approach towards the establishment, maintenance and description of existing boundaries due to ethnicity (Fong 2011, p. 23). Additionally, the idea arises as an important tool for symbolizing relevant features of background in speakers. This provides multilingual speakers with an opportunity of expressing their own identities, thus, becoming an effective social process (Lowi 2005, p. 1). In providing for a social context, code switching allows individuals to explore their identities and ethnic backgrounds. This arises due to the various communicative functions depicted with the utilization of code switching (Shin 2010, p.94). The use of code switching becomes essential in ensuring that communication between two or more

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Growing Crime Problem of Juvenile Delinquency Essay

Growing Crime Problem of Juvenile Delinquency - Essay Example We can then make a speculation on the future and offer recommendations to confront this unique challenge. In the last 200 years in the United States, children have held a special status within the framework of the law. However, the age at which they were considered juveniles has been subject to change over the years. In the early 1800s, most children that we consider to be juveniles today were treated as adults under the law. As late as 1827, a child at the age of 10 was considered to be of age to accept full adult criminal responsibility under the law in Illinois (Ferro 2003 p.3). In fact, the term 'delinquency' did not appear in US law until the turn of the twentieth century as social upheaval transformed our urban areas and juvenile crime became more prevalent and problematic. During this period, industrialization had brought people together in large urban areas from all over the country and the world seeking employment in the newly established factories in cities such as Chicago, New York, and Detroit. Social pressures and poverty fueled rising crime in the general population. This rise in crime among adults was mirrored in the juvenile population. States have often held great authority over the handling of juvenile crime. Delinquents would often be relegated to poorhouses, county farms, or reform schools. But by the 1920s, America was more cognizant of juvenile crime and its effect on the established social order. The move to the Sun Belt during the 1930s and 1940s magnified the problem in cities such as Los Angeles and Phoenix. Crime statistics from this period are largely fragmented and anecdotal. However, there was a concern among the population about the growing juvenile delinquency problem. President Herbert Hoover created the Wickersham Commission to investigate the rising crime rate. The report issued in 1931 found that, "...turf wars were being waged in America's large cities by rival criminal groups fighting for control of bootleg liquor distribution" (Ferro 2003 p.4). Gang crime and their influence on juveniles continues to dominate the juvenile delinquency issue. The post World War II era saw a beginning of the rise in adult crime that was echoed by juvenile delinquency. Access to media, technology, and mobility has contributed to the problem. Beginning in 1960, there was an increase in juvenile delinquency that peaked in the early 1990s (Ferro 2003 p.4). However, beginning in 1980 there was also a rapid escalation in the violence of juvenile crime and the reported incidents of gang activity and guns. Between 1978 and 1993 violent crime by juveniles rose 79% and the murders committed by juveniles soared by 177% (Levitt 1998 p.1156). Though the overall juvenile crime rate has gone down in recent years, the rates of more serious and violent crimes have not seen as dramatic of a decline. According to statistics complied by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, from 2001-2005 the total violent crime rate among juveniles has dropped, but forcible rape has not experienced the same decline (Sourcebook of criminal justice statistics 2006). Much of the pr evalence of violent juvenile crime has come as a result of, or can be attributed to, gang activity (Ferro 2003 p.5). Juveniles in contact with gang members, whether peers or family members, may emulate their activity even though they may not be a member of a gang. In

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Risk and uncertainty, the key public relations issues in the Essay

Risk and uncertainty, the key public relations issues in the contemporary era - Essay Example Notably, the public relations practice ensures that an organization can assess the potential impact of its policies on the public. After the implementation of the organizational policies, public relations practitioners seek feedback from the public concerning the policies. Public relations practitioners must understand the opinions held by different sectors of the public if they are to keep the organization well informed. In addition, public relations practitioners play critical cultural and social roles as they strive to serve as a link between the organization and the customers. In the contemporary era, risks and uncertainty are some of the defining aspects of business in the modern world. Risk and uncertainty prove to be highly ambivalent. Therefore, organizations have tasked public relations practitioners with handling risks and uncertainties in the organization. Evidently, the public relations practice is of critical importance to any organization in the modern day. This paper w ill focus on describing some of the cultural and social roles played by public relations, as well as the influence of public relations practice on the society. Finally, the paper will tackle risk and uncertainty as some of the leading issues in public relations in the modern day. Public relations practitioners play critical roles in an organization and in the community. It is the role of public relations practitioners to communicate the policies of an organization to the public. Notably, organizations need to determine the potential impacts of their policies on the community and the public. Therefore, public relations practitioners create the necessary intermediary between the organization and the public. In addition, public relations practitioners offer informed advice to the organization’s management. The daily activities of a public relations practitioner involve a continued interaction with different sectors of the public. Through the