Employment law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Employment law - Essay Example Case study 1 shows a common instance of what could be termed to as a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of a situation within the business premises. In this situation, a seemingly stolen item that is a hard disk is found in the locker belonging to two employees of the same firm, namely Janice and Kelsey. Both are employees with a good reputation in the firm; however the case of a hard disk found in their locker tends to jeopardize their good resume. Following a different approach to confront the issue should show that neither Janice nor Kelsey could be held reliable; however this is not the case. Upon realization by the manager that the piece of hard disk has no entry in the stock records, both Janice and Kelsey are summoned by the manager in an attempt to discover the truth behind the recovery of such an item in their locker. Following basic human instinct, both culprits result to justification of their own cases against the allegations of theft. In a more detailed view of either employee, Janice has been an employee to the firm for a period not less than two years, within when, she has been able to maintain a clean resume without any implications proving otherwise. On the other hand, Kelsey has been working in the firm for a period just over a year, but similar to her co-worker Janice, has kept a clear record, throughout this time. Despite all this, both are considered guilty of the allegations of concealing the hard drive and face disciplinary measures that involve their immediate dismissal from their positions in the firm. Further information shows that the prior owner of the locker made claims of miss-placing his key to the locker some time back, this only making the decision to dismiss the two Janice and Kelsey somewhat inappropriate. Such cases are very common in the business world, and with their increase, the managerial departments of firms such as the one in question should come up with the appropriate procedures to solve such cases. With the incre ased lack of jobs, coming to a conclusion of dismissal like in this case should be the last option, and viable only, when the culprit is proven beyond any reasonable doubt to be guilty of the allegations. Janice to her defense had stated that she had used the locker as usual and upon noticing the bag that was later revealed to be containing the hard drive, had thought to hers self that it was Kelsey’s’ and had no business with it so just ignored it. Kelsey on the other hand had earlier on come to her defense stating that she had not used the locker lately, and thus had little information regarding the hard drive. It is evident that the procedure followed that resulted to the dismissal of the two was neither very clear nor convincing that either would have actually been considered guilty of the offence. Employment law governs that every employee in any organization of firm is subject to fair trial upon occurrence of such incidences. In this case, their cases of appeal a gainst the dismissal came to a sudden crash, as the appeals were refused and both were dismissed. A working environment that has such personal property as lockers should have 24 hour surveillance, even making use of the latest technology in terms of CCTV cameras, which would have saved the situation

Unit IV Assessment#1 Biomass Exposure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit IV Assessment#1 Biomass Exposure - Essay Example as also a pertinent comparison of the adverse effects of biomass as compared to LPG, expertly intended to discourage people and governments to avert using biomass. Exposure to biomass affects the length of the menstrual cycle. In most cases, oligomenorrhea (extended cycles) is common (22.2%) while 7.5% of women exposed to biomass experienced short cycles. The prolonged cycle is disadvantageous since it increases the risk of preterm delivery, stillbirth, and abortions (Gurjar et al., 2010; pg.150). Biomass significantly changes the levels reproductive hormones in females. However, biomass combines with physical fatigue and stress related to poverty and affects the endocrine system thus leading to oligomenorrhea. Gurjar,  B.  R., Molina,  L.  T., & Ojha,  C.  S. (2010).  Air pollution: Health and environmental impacts. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Retrieved from

Biographical Information Essay Example for Free

Biographical Information Essay Regarded by contemporary and recent critics as one of the most notable female poets in Western literature, Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote Aurora Leigh at the height of her literary career, and the poem is deemed her masterwork in terms of poetics and narrative. Part autobiography and part social criticism, the poem traces the life of an Englishwoman and poet, Aurora Leigh, and is frequently cited as a proto-feminist treatise for its portrayal of difficulties arising for female characters from traditional values and practices of English society. Brownings innovative use of genre, self-reference, and feminine perspective make Aurora Leigh a landmark of nineteenth-century literature. Biographical Information Browning had planned to write a novel in blank verse as early as 1845, and had proposed that the subject would be a critical narrative of ordinary English life. At the time of Aurora Leighs publication in 1857, Browning, supported by her friendship and eventual marriage to Robert Browning in September of 1846, had recovered from a long period of poor health, family catastrophes, and isolation. In 1850, Sonnets from the Portuguese, written during her courtship with Browning, had been published to popular acclaim, and her reputation as a poet, especially of sentimental works, had grown. A son, Robert Wiedemann Barrett Browning, had been born to the couple in 1849, and this seems to have rejuvenated Brownings artistic endeavors. The Brownings began to travel extensively and became involved in politics on the Continent; Barrett Browning subsequently expressed in Aurora Leigh a concern with social issues, particularly the rights of women and the poor, and revealed her familiarity with European and classical literature as well. Aurora Leigh, published in 1857, was the most successful of Brownings works from a commercial standpoint: the book had gone through nineteen editions by 1885. Plot and Major Characters A novel in verse, as Coventry Patmore called it, Aurora Leigh follows the life of its heroine through her birth and childhood in Italy, intellectual development, literary career, and personal relationships. At a young age, Aurora Leigh resists the conventional and complacent English values imposed on her by a maiden aunt who cares for her after the death of her parents, and she discovers the pleasures of literature. Her early creative compositions stir her ambitions to support herself through a poetic career, and in time she becomes moderately successful in London literary circles. In the process of accomplishing this, Aurora rejects a marriage proposal from her cousin Romney Leigh, a wealthy philanthropist and owner of the family estate, who soon rescues a young woman named Marian Erle from poverty. The growing attachment between Romney and Marian is severed, however, by the unscrupulous Lady Waldemar, who is herself in love with Romney. Lady Waldemar contributes to Marians disappearance from London and her reappearance in a Paris brothel, where Marian is sexually assaulted and bears a child. Aurora, on her way to Italy, recognizes Marian in Paris and takes her and her child to Florence. When Romneys socialist Utopian community disastrously fails, he acknowledges the emptiness and hypocrisy of conventional methods of philanthropy, and travels to Florence. After a series of misunderstandings in which Aurora believes Romney has already wed Lady Waldemar, Romney once again asks Aurora to marry him. This she does, recognizing that art needs to be aided by love and partnership in the process of self-realization. Major Themes Browning addressed several major social issues in the narrative of Aurora Leigh—the relationship between art and individual self-fulfillment, the issue of class politics, and the issue of gender roles. The work suggests that individual freedom, regardless of class or gender, allows for inner development and the cultivation of creativity and inspiration. However, the novel-poem shows sensitivity to other aspects of the creative process, such as the background to the production of any artistic work and the source of creativity in turmoil and conflict. Furthermore, Aurora Leigh intricately weaves the political implications of Brownings own strong individualism and her emphasis on the actualization of ones lifes work into Aurora Leighs struggle to find her place, as a woman poet, in the traditional social order found in the poem. In addition, the work focuses on the institutionalized sexism and classicism of the Victorian age, and directs its severest criticism at conventional philanthropy as hypocritical and paternalistic. Also, Aurora Leigh depicts, through the character of Marian Erle, the horrific consequences of the abuse and neglect suffered by the poor—particularly poor women. The subplot of Marian and her child also censures the Victorian tendency to reject those who have been sexually attacked, and argues for greater concern for and treatment of the innocent victims. Critical Reception Despite its tremendous popular success, Aurora Leigh received mixed reactions from contemporary critics. Many, in addition to calling it immoral, found fault with its characterization, plot, and language; others, however, found the work proof of Brownings poetic genius. The poem was largely neglected by subsequent critics until the early 1930s, when Virginia Woolf s enthusiastic article on the poem was published. The emergence of feminist criticism helped spark renewed interest in the work, although Aurora Leigh is not unanimously accepted as a precursor to modern feminism. Commenting on the poems conclusion in particular, many feminist critics have regarded Auroras acceptance of marriage as the beginning of her loss of independence. Others have found in the ending a radical deviation from traditional nineteenth-century thought—instead of losing her independence through marriage, Aurora gains a rewarding and satisfying life through the blending of her artistic achievement with the love and partnership of another. According to several twentieth-century critics, this innovation is echoed in Brownings style: although contemporary reviewers criticized her unconventional poetic tendencies, more recent scholars consider her style to be innovative. Altogether, Aurora Leigh illuminates both Brownings artistic strengths and her weaknesses: she is praised for her ability to express passionate emotion, yet she is criticized for choosing such an abstract topic for Aurora Leigh as her highest convictions upon Life and Art. She is commended for her lyrical tone and innovative use of imagery, yet she is criticized for her verbose style, improbable plot, and unrealistic characters. In light of fervent endorsements of the poem by such literary figures as Emily Dickinson and Virginia Woolf, Aurora Leigh is generally judged to be a masterwork with noticeable flaws and remains highly significant to contemporary literary historians and critics.

Costs and benefits of Globalisation on Indias Economy

Costs and benefits of Globalisation on Indias Economy Introduction In this essay we are about to go Global. Recent events on the financial market show how interdependent the world is. Common value should not be forbid but what about common losses. Who should be responsible for them? Many blame globalisation. What is it and does the world has other options to develop. Should we return to the strategies of the past? Or should we continue to live through an age of essential economic revolution? The term globalisation generates constant debates and controversies. But most of those who talk about globalisation are not even aware of its fundamentals. The term globalisation is used rather vaguely. Globalisation is the one specific modality of international integration. Technology has definitely changed the means of way we live and also the ways in which the business is done in world today. The country by means of internet connection and enthusiastic workers can have access to unlimited jobs and industries. Lets imagine a picture of a world where all limitations are disappearing. A world where there are no boundaries and where competition can come from anywhere. Thats the world where our future lies. To make this world a healthier place globalisation is going to play a very important role. There are some who believe that we must try to turn our back on this novel world. They also think that the chance to preserve our living standard is to make a fortress around the country and stop trading and depend only on our own industries. But at present it is impossible to turn back the waves of globalisation but in doing so we can actually make ourselves worst off. So instead of fearing the future we should embrace it. Globalisation and Structure of Indian Economy The best definition of globalisation has been expressed through a poem by Canadian economist Gerald Helleiner- The poor complain, they always do, but that is just idle chatter. Our system (globalisation) brings reward to all, at least to all who matter. Broadly speaking the term globalisation is most definitely an economic process. Even though it is modeled as a way of bringing the world together, globalisation is all about the business community breaking down the remaining barriers to the free flow of its capital around the world. It fundamentally means opening up of any country economy system and its integration among the other economies of the world. It involves liberalism and implementation of economic liberalization policies and reforms to promote the progression of private sector. The word globalisation itself means something new is happening to the world. The world is becoming a single place and experiencing global practices, values and technologies that are shaping people lives to the point that we are entering a global age. For India, there are ample confusions about the costs and benefits of globalisation. Generally Indians think that as the nation state has laid down their arms to globalisation all the perils are hurting and hunting. Data Source Projection: VMW Analytic ServicesIndias population is fast approaching a billion; this fact is easy to read but much more difficult to absorb one thousand million people, each of whom sees the world in a slightly or radically different way from the others. Since Indian independence in 1947, the economy of India has increased almost exponentially (Refer Fig. 1). From early 1990s, different governments have adopted inward oriented development strategies i.e. the state encouraging an economy through self sufficiency and a dominant role in the economy via state planning. Forces of demand and supply were not allowed to play any key role in resource allocation. ImportsAfter 1991 balance-of-payments crisis, where foreign currency reserves fell to $1 billion inflation went high to 17%, India laid numbers of stabilization-cum-structural adjustment measures with widespread effects. The main aim was to remerge the Indian economy with the world economy by reducing barriers to trade and investment, and deregulation of a highly bureaucratized economy. The Foreign Direct Investment was also encouraged to reduce the countrys reliance on debt-creating capital inflows, simultaneously renovating Indias ancient technologies and advancing easily into global markets. Exports India GDP growth from 1991 2007. Since then the real export growth rates of goods and services in 2006 and 2007 record high levels: 8.6% and 9.7% (Refer Fig. 2). The propellant growth of exports doubled Indias share in world exports of goods and services from 0.5% in 1991 to almost 1.7% in 2007. Even India imported 11.4% more goods in 2006 and 13% in 2007 as compared to the average growth rate from 1995 to 2005 (11.3%). As a result, Indias trade ratio of imports plus exports to GDP has twofold since 1991, from 16.5% to 45% in 2007. Regardless the unfinished reform agenda, Indias GDP growth (Refer Fig. 3) has increased >9% over the past 3 years, by an average of 5.8% annually during the period 1991-2004. It contributes nearly 2% to world GDP and around 1% to world exports of goods and services (Source: World Development Indicators). Consistent with excellent growth, per capita incomes were doubled from 1990 to 2007 and poverty dropped from 46% in 1986 to 36% in 2000. However, poverty remains a grave problem. Recently several economists and lobbyists have compared Indian economy with that of China but its progress path has been significantly different from Chinas. Indeed, it has been also very different from that followed earlier by Japan, Korea and the other Asian giants. Firstly, the recent economic rise in India is largely thanks to services rather than manufacturing sector. India has became a global player in several services sectors such as IT and business process outsourcing, while its manufacturing sector keep suffering from low productivity. Secondly, the 2/3rd of Indias population still rely on agriculture for a living as compared other Asian countries and thirdly, India try to remains closed to trade in comparison to other developing and emerging countries. Even FDI inflows have also ten folded in last two decades. It has been tripled since 2005 and in 2007 it was around $23 billion (Data Source: Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Economic survey). But India is not yet as present in the Central and Eastern Europe markets as China is. Its share in the European market was 0.7% (2006), almost unchanged from 1990s. However, Chinas share in these markets has increased sharply from 1.3% in 1992 to 5.7% in 2006 (Data Source: OECD). Indian has the potential and should make the efforts to move from good growth to rapid constant growth. The problem in India lies in the spurring productivity which is badly affected by the low education and health reforms and also by the petite openness of the Indian economy. Indias weak infrastructure has hurt the booming potential of Indian production. From undependable energy, lacking water supply to bad road and train conditions, infrastructure shortages have created high business costs across the sectors (Source : OECD, 2007c). Benefits and Costs of Globalisation on Indian Economy Globalisation has been a classical process with ups and downs. Its growth has been largely led by the technological forces in the fields of transport and communication. The flow of trade has been frequent and there are lesser barriers for the people across the geographical boundaries. There are less tax barriers and fewer limitations on fund flows. India is no exception to globalisation. In year 1991, when we were neck-deep in financial deficit, very high inflation (around 17%), balance of payments crisis and low industrial production, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailed us out with significant loans with assistant Structural Adjustment Program (SAP). This guided in Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation. Indian Economy has undergone many important reforms in the 1990s. The LPG model has helped the Indian economy to grow rapidly and become internationally competitive. From early 1991, a new epoch has dawned for India and its huge population. This formidable phase of economic evolution has had a wonderful impact on the overall Indias economic development. All major sectors of the economy have improved dramatically and its effects over the last decade can hardly be ignored. Moreover, it has marked the dawn of the real integration of Indians economy into Worlds economy. Globalisation has created many employments bought large investments to India. Our economy has been on the rise at good rates for the past few years many new prospects have opened up for India. We have highly benefited from economies of scale. The change in global barriers has permitted the companies to profit from the largest cheapest labor market, raw material and technology. Foreign businesses have significantly augmented their investments in Indian industries. The salaries of industrial labor have improved largely; therefore, the lock outs and strikes have declined sharply as labor is happy. Now days business market has no boundaries and companies can promote their products globally. This has helped the Indian companies to lay hand on global technologies which has certainly increased our qualities of living standards. Indian Entrepreneurs has been more aware about the competitors, recent trends and quality of products. The competition between the global companies can be seen in the improve qualities of the brands and services to the customer. Presently, we can talk about the story of two Indias: We have the best of times; we have the worst of times. There is bright prosperity, there is high poverty. We have stunning 5 star hotels with dark ill-starred homes. Globalisation gave us everything, globalisation gave us nothing. Although Rajiv Gandhi government, the sixth prime minister of India, introduced some economic reforms between 1985 -1989 but it was the Narasimha Rao government, ninth prime minister of India from 1991-1996, that gave a exact shape and started the novel economic reforms in India. Below are the highlights of some extreme benefits of globalisation on Indian Economy: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate: The rate of increase of Indias real GDP was low during 1980-90 (5.6%) to 1993-2001 (7%). But in the last few years, the GDP annual growth rate in India has been remarkable i.e. 7.5% (2003-2004), 8.5% (2004-2005), 9% (2005-2006) and 9.2% (2006-2007) (Ref Fig. 3). Present P.M. Dr. Manmohan Singh is certain to have a 10% increase in the GDP for 11th five year plan (2007 2012). In 2006-2007, the sectors contributing highest in GDP growth are Industry sector (26%), Service sector (55%) and Agriculture sector (19%) (Ref Fig. 4). The increase in GDP has in fact helped to increase the foreign exchange reserves from $39 billion (2000-01), $107 billion (2003-04), $145 billion (2005-06), $200 billion (2007-2008) to around $268 billion on 1st February 2011 (Source: IMF). Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Since early 2003, Indias FDI promotion board is officially run by government i.e. Ministries of Economic and Finance. Since then there has been drastic reforms in the rules and regulations of FDI in India. The FDI is now acknowledged as a key driver of development in the country. India is ranked 2nd in international FDI in year 2010 behind 1st ranked China and ahead of Brazil Russia and it will continue to be in the top 5 destinations to draw global investors during 2010-12 (Source: World Investment Prospects Survey 2009-2012 by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development)). India attracted cumulative FDI equity inflows of $122.68 billion from mid 2000 to end 2010, according to the data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). In October 2010, the FDI inflows were $1,392 million. The figure 5 on next page shows the Indias top cities and sectors which attracted highest FDI inflows in Jan 2008 (Source: DIPP I ndia). The main attractive sectors have been information technology, telecom, services, healthcare and telecommunications. India controls almost 45% of the global outsourcing market with income more than $50 billion. Imports and Exports: The general idea of the independence movement in India (year 1940s), led by great M. Gandhi, was based on the hatred for anything foreign, especially the one originating from Britain. The imported goods were burnt on regular basis and everyone believed that everything can be produced home. The belief was that we can be self reliant and self dependent and import of goods can bring the foreign dominance. In 2009, 7 decades later India ranked 15th in world in terms of import volume and 22nd in the terms of export volume. In 2004 2005 our imports were $107 billion (Ref Table 1), a record increase of around 36% as compared to $79 billion in 2003 2004. The exports also jumped by 24% recording $79 billion as compared to $63 billion the previous fiscal. The oil imports increased by 19% and the import bill zoomed from $21 billion to $29 billion in two fiscal years. Other imports excluding oil were $77 billion in 2004 2005 that is 34% higher than $58 billion in 2003 20 04. Other Benefits: Information Technology (IT) and outsourcing has been given a special status in the growth of Indian economy. The reason may be that the government desires to present our country as a technological advanced nation and to achieve this they must encourage the IT sector. The term special status means that the sector and global / local investors will get many special advantages from the government. Furthermore, the impact of the global economies has influenced the Indian education system over the last few years. Improved educational institutions, hi- tech colleges, advanced schools are the fruits of globalisation. The colleges have implemented the developed teaching technologies, to make the students aware of the latest developments. India is in the 4th position in respect to market capitalization with $894 billion after the US ($17,000 billion), Japan ($4800 billion) and China ($1000billion). India should soon cross the trillion $ mark. Even though we have not so far reached the end of history but globalisation has sure took us closer to the end of geography. The globalisation has not always been fair. The cash flow over the last two decades has been very unsymmetrical. Every $1 of aid money to poor countries, the rich countries get $10. It has deepened the poverty and inequality. It has affected both the social and political stability among and within states. Capital rights are given more advantages over the labor rights. The trade and finance rule are unfair and this has had mixed effects on rich and poor countries. In India, the main casualties of globalisation are the poverty and the agriculture sector. Here are some costs which India paid because of globalisation: Agriculture Sector: Agriculture has always been the strength of the Indian economy. It plays crucial part not only in providing food to people, as well as the supply of raw material to industries and to export trade. 60% of the Indian population works in agriculture sector and however its contribution in GDP is only 20.6%. India agricultural growth continued to drop down from 13% in 2003 to 1% in 2002-2003 (Source: agricoop.nic.in/Agristatistics). This set back in agriculture is in contrary to 6% expansion in Indian economy in last decade. The reasons of this decrease, according to Economic Survey 2006-07, are: less investments, disproportions in fertilizer use, low seeds replacement rate, a distorted incentive system and low post-harvest value addition. Indian farmers are offered almost no subsidiaries and very less help from government. The Indian government has taken no significant measures to negotiate with foreign companies to set up technologies for the farmers assistance. All these factors have led to decrease in the income of the farmers and have increased the rural debts. In 2000, the farmer suicides were registered to 12% of total suicides in the country. Poverty: Though globalisation has drastically improved our living standards but still it doesnt have the significant effect in improving the poverty. According to 2007 Forbes list, the number of billionaires in India has risen to 40 and yet there is 80% of Indias population which lives on less than $2 a day. Nevertheless, Indian government is making lots of efforts to improve poverty in rural areas. They are trying to provide more facilities to the poorer. The 2005 World Bank estimation was that 41% of Indian population live below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day. So India government has still a long way to go to improve the poverty situation of India. Industry: The globalisation has raised a high competition between the foreign companies and domestic companies. As the foreign products being better, the people prefer to buy them instead of Indian ones. This has reduced significantly the amount of profit of India companies. The new technology has reduced the requirement of labor and thus resulted in the cost of their jobs. No doubts that the effects have been positive as well as negative but the Indian government should make such economic policies related to industry that are beneficial and not harmful. Human trafficking and increase in diseases like HIV are also the very high cost paid for globalisation. And the pity is that womens and childrens are among the most exposed to it. Conclusions Globalisation has provided India the opportunity to grow substantially. Though we have to be more careful on the whole as all the economies are linked together and crisis in one economy have drastic effect on others and recent events has confirmed that. But still globalisation has definitely helped India to become a better economy. We have the abilities and skills to adapt and change according to the flow of global market. In the end my keen hope for the betterment and the bright future of our country is to go out and face this globalising world. I am certain that India of 2025 will be a different place. It will be much more leading force in the world economy, than 25 years ago or even at the start of the 21st century.

Plagiarism, Cheating and the Internet Essay -- Plagiarism Online

Plagiarism, Cheating and the Internet Cyber cheating is defined as â€Å"the use of technology tools in inappropriate ways for academic work.†(Conradson & Hernandez- Ramos, 2004, p1) Although technology has dramatically advanced our society in many positive ways, one negative aspect of technology is its effects on student cheating. Many believe that the internet is the â€Å"number one sociable force which leads students to plagiarize.† (Mayfield, 2001, p1) There is an increasing number of online cheating websites which students use. Along with these sites come programs which help teachers and professors detect student plagiarism. Besides the internet students have found ways to use watches, cell phones, calculators, and PDA’s to help them cheat on tests or other assignments. Of the students who do cheat the majority of them believe that what they are doing is not wrong and they feel that copying answers is not even considered cheating. In many ways the internet is one of the easiest ways for children to cheat through school. With the click of a mouse students can access websites where they can easily purchase term papers and essays on hundreds of topics. â€Å"Search engines such as Google can find over a million resources for students trying to buy term papers, some of which sell for more than ten dollars a page.† (Toosi, 2004, p1) There are three main types of websites students use to cheat; lecture note sites, term paper and essay sites and editorial services sites. The first two types of websites offer some free services and others can charge anywhere from five to five hundred dollars. Websites such as Academictermpapers.com and Cheaters.com offer a variety of papers including book reports, file p... ... Plagiarism in the Internet Era: a wake up call. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited. Mayfield, K. (2001, Sep 4) Cheating’s Never Been Easier. Retrieved October 12, 2004 from http://www.jr.co.il/articles/cheating.txt McMuntry, K. (2001). E Teaching: Combating a 21st Century Challenge. T.H.E. Journal, 29, 36-38, 40-41. Newman, A.M. (n.d.) 21st Century Cheating. Retrieved October 12, 2004 from http://www.scholastic.com/schoolage/grade5/h0omework/cheating.htm Toosi, N. (2003, Jan 18) Internet gives rise to a bold new era in college-student cheating. Retrieved November 9, 2004 from http://www,jsonline.com/news/metro/jan04/201001.asp Sotaridona, L. & Van der Linden, Wim. A Statistical Test for Detecting Answer Copying on Multiple-Choice Tests. Research Report. Twente Univ., Enschede (Netherlands). Faculty of Educational Science and Technology, 1-27.

Nature of the Mind Essay -- Poetry

William Blake, a poet that strongly believed in the power of mind, once wrote, "if we see with imagination, we see all things in the infinite." The Romantic poets use their imagination when gazing at nature, and therefore see and feel the infinite through their poetry. William Wordsworth expresses the serene beauty that nature possesses and its calming effects on the mind. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the poetic geniuses of the age, uses nature and his imagination to create surreal atmospheres. Another Romantic poet, by the name of Percy Bysshe Shelley, shows great longing for the freedom that nature possesses and the freeing effect it has on him. These poets of the Romantic period look at nature from a higher consciousness called the imagination. William Wordsworth, through many of his poems, expresses the serene beauty contained in nature and its tranquilizing effects on human thoughts. In "Lines Composed a Few Miles from Tintern Abbey", the speaker looks "on nature...to chasten and subdue...the mind" and bring peace to his thoughts. Looking deeply into nature brings the feelings of sublime contentment and new feelings of inspiration that one cannot find in any alternate surrounding. In Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," the speaker, when "in vacant or in pensive mood," recalls a memory of a past picturesque outdoor scene that "is the bliss of [his] solitude." His mind's pencil edges a lasting portrait of a scene in nature and the emotions of its beauty in the speaker's mind. The "dancing daffodils" will stay with the speaker even when the original drawing has faded. Another poem, "Composed upon Westminster Bridge," expresses the lulling atmosphere of the early morning and its encompassing calm a... ...s are "profuse strains of unpremeditated art," singing exactly what it feels, without restraint. Percy Shelley imagines these feelings of freedom and artless beauty in nature's creations that without imagination would never be conceived. Through poetry, the Romantics, Wordsworth, Coleridge and Shelley, make many connections between the human mind and its natural surroundings by way of imagination. William Wordsworth emphasizes nature's soothing powers on the mind and its short term and long term effects. Shelley, on the other hand, expresses the boundless life of nature and its ability of uninhibited expression. Samuel Coleridge, the true believer in the mind's versatility, focuses on the flexibility of one's imagination in the presence of nature. Because of these poets and their poetry, the rest of the world is tempted to take a step into the imagination. Nature of the Mind Essay -- Poetry William Blake, a poet that strongly believed in the power of mind, once wrote, "if we see with imagination, we see all things in the infinite." The Romantic poets use their imagination when gazing at nature, and therefore see and feel the infinite through their poetry. William Wordsworth expresses the serene beauty that nature possesses and its calming effects on the mind. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the poetic geniuses of the age, uses nature and his imagination to create surreal atmospheres. Another Romantic poet, by the name of Percy Bysshe Shelley, shows great longing for the freedom that nature possesses and the freeing effect it has on him. These poets of the Romantic period look at nature from a higher consciousness called the imagination. William Wordsworth, through many of his poems, expresses the serene beauty contained in nature and its tranquilizing effects on human thoughts. In "Lines Composed a Few Miles from Tintern Abbey", the speaker looks "on nature...to chasten and subdue...the mind" and bring peace to his thoughts. Looking deeply into nature brings the feelings of sublime contentment and new feelings of inspiration that one cannot find in any alternate surrounding. In Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," the speaker, when "in vacant or in pensive mood," recalls a memory of a past picturesque outdoor scene that "is the bliss of [his] solitude." His mind's pencil edges a lasting portrait of a scene in nature and the emotions of its beauty in the speaker's mind. The "dancing daffodils" will stay with the speaker even when the original drawing has faded. Another poem, "Composed upon Westminster Bridge," expresses the lulling atmosphere of the early morning and its encompassing calm a... ...s are "profuse strains of unpremeditated art," singing exactly what it feels, without restraint. Percy Shelley imagines these feelings of freedom and artless beauty in nature's creations that without imagination would never be conceived. Through poetry, the Romantics, Wordsworth, Coleridge and Shelley, make many connections between the human mind and its natural surroundings by way of imagination. William Wordsworth emphasizes nature's soothing powers on the mind and its short term and long term effects. Shelley, on the other hand, expresses the boundless life of nature and its ability of uninhibited expression. Samuel Coleridge, the true believer in the mind's versatility, focuses on the flexibility of one's imagination in the presence of nature. Because of these poets and their poetry, the rest of the world is tempted to take a step into the imagination.

Examining “Don’t Eat This Book” Essay

Morgan Spurlock’s book is an outstanding indictment on people’s eating habits and a marginally effective indictment of the big food industry. The reason for this â€Å"half and half† success is that while Spurlock does properly show that people are guilty of making poor decision that lead to obesity, he falters when he tries to place a large volume of the blame of the â€Å"Big Food† industry. While Big Food is definitely not the friend to people looking to lose weight as the Big Food industry places an amoral desire to boost profits at the risks of health, the bottom line is (and always will be) Big Food loses all its power when people cease to consume and people simply refuse to cease consuming. Spurlock does point out that there is only one method designed to lose weight: reduce calorie consumption either by reducing the amount that is eaten (a decent idea), increasing exercise (better idea), reducing food consumption and replace the bad food that is consumed with high quality food while increasing one’s activity level (the best plan of action). Spurlock confronts people with their decided lack of exercise and challenges people to get up and move! He also confronts people with their food choices. Where Spurlock succeeds magnificently is he enlightens people who may be somewhat confused as to why they cannot lose weight even though they follow fad diets and cut back on their consumption. By pointing out to people that most fad diets are designed to drop water weight and fool people into thinking they lost fat as well as pointing out that eating food high in sugar and fat means higher calories, Spurlock shifts people’s focus on where it belongs when it comes to diet. Their focus belongs on the basics: proper diet and exercise is the cure. Spurlock also successfully points out the reason why fast food is a surefire path to obesity because the processed nature of such food is a â€Å"recipe† for disaster. In a very interesting sidebar, Spurlock shows the sociological reasons why Big Food became as powerful as it is and how deceptive marketing leads to consumption. However, where Spurlock falters is in the silly belief that my regulating Big Food will yield results. To support his philosophy on this, he compares big tobacco to big food. On the surface, the comparison makes sense because emotionally we wish to see Big Food punished. When we think about the situation logically, we realize that the fault lies not in big food but in ourselves. The comparisons between Big Tobacco and Big Food are compelling on an emotional level, but there are some flaws in terms of the logic. Big tobacco was far more complicit in perpetrating a deadly fraud on the population as opposed to Big Food that merely cut corners that yield a higher fat and sugar content. That is, Big Tobacco knew full well that cigarettes were addictive and the tobacco companies also knew that cigarettes caused cancer, heart disease, etc. To make a bad situation worse, Big Tobacco companies increased and manipulated the levels of addictive nicotine in cigarettes in order to â€Å"hook† smokers. Eventually, the lie was exposed and the number of cigarette smokers in the United States has dropped from 54% of the population in 1964 to less than 25% today. When the truth about cigarettes was discovered, the sales of cigarettes declined dramatically. With Big Food, the truth was never hidden and when confronted with the truth, no one cared and the consumption continued. When it comes to Big Food, the problem of obesity not only lies in the fact that refined and artificial sugars, flavors and fats, all of which were designed to lower costs and increasing profits. The ancillary result of this is that calories will dramatically increase when natural products are replaced with refined products. This DOES NOT mean that the natural products are safe! Brown sugar and saturated fat are high in calories and will lead to obesity much in the same was as refined sugar and trans fat will. Furthermore, no one is so naive to believe that McDonald’s food will not make a person fat nor is anyone naive enough to believe it is healthy. Spurlock attempts to use the case of the two overweight girls in NYC as an example of how big food should be sued in the same way that big tobacco was sued due to complicity in the health problems of smokers. The case of the overweight girls was thrown out of court and for good reason: the girls were STILL overweight when the case was filed. They had never reeled in their food consumption habits and were looking to blame someone for their problems. Spurlock attempted to portray these girls as martyrs and it simply doesn’t work. As a sociological look at the over consumption of food and as a common sense approach to diet and weight loss, Spurlock’s tome is outstanding. As an indictment of the Big Food industry, it is only partially successful. Overall, it is a classic study of human nature that only comes along one in a generation. SPEECH There is an inherent problem that is part of human nature. That problem is the concept that if something brings pleasure, then it must be consumed. There is also another item that is part of human nature. That item is logic and reasoning. By logic and reasoning, we understand that something feels good because in our own minds, we make it feel good. We also understand that within our own minds, we define certain feelings as negative. The problem is that we accept things that feel good for the moment that lead to much misery and pain in the long run. Over consumption of food will make a person feel good for the 15 minutes that it takes to consume an abominable meal at a McDonald’s. When we over consume like this three times a day, seven days a week, we derive a combined amount of pleasure that equals less than four hours. The remaining hours in the weeks, months, years are left with the pain that comes from the obesity derived limitations on our social lives, our physical well being and our mental health. When a person stops to think about it, that isn’t pleasure at all. The consumed food is a mere diversion from a life that is ultimately limited and a limited life is a miserable one. What Mr. Spurlock points out is that if we stay away from the diet pills, stay away from the fad diets, refrain from feeding the Big Food machine with out dollars and cents, we can ultimately live a life that is free from the shackles of obesity. However, what we ask here is something that only a mature adult will understand and children are not mature adults. When a child grows up ingesting food that will ultimately make them sick, the adults who allow such things must be held accountable. Whether it is parents or school officials, there needs to be an external pressure designed to be sure that they place the welfare of the children taking the easy way out. As adults, as Mr. Spurlock shows, it is our responsibility to make the younger generation understand that the pleasure they receive from sugar rushes or the effect laboratory engineered trans fat has on the tastes buds is not real pleasure as it is a transitory gateway to a very limited and miserable life. We must educate and we must pressure and we must be successful at this or the negative cycle that has enveloped young children since the early 1970’s will be an unbroken cycle. Work Cited Morgan Spurlock, Don’t Eat This Book, New York: Putnam’s Sons, 2005.