Strategies Used for the Gifted and for Those Who Are Developmentally Delayed Essay Example for Free

Strategies Used for the Gifted and for Those Who Are Developmentally Delayed Essay Generally when we talk of individuals with disabilities, the very core or center of concern always falls on individuals with developmentally disorders, physically handicapped, emotionally disorders. We tend to miss out the individuals who are born as â€Å"gifted†. Well for us, as the title says (gifted), being born gifted is more of a blessing than the other way around. But the truth of the matter is, it is not as easy as it may seem to be. If individuals with different kinds of disorders have special needs, so do gifted individuals. It may just be in a different manner, in a dissimilar kind and in a more diverse situation but there still is a special need and this is also need to be properly addressed in the same manner as with the other disabilities. Since both gifted and with disabilities individuals need special needs, corresponding modifications, strategies and adjustments should be done accordingly to be able to suit to their needs thus learning process can occur. Both classroom set up should be designed in accordance to provide optimum conduciveness in learning. Both have its own sets of teaching strategies that would be best effective in each set of exceptionalities. Initially, both gifted and developmentally delayed individuals should be properly assessed based on either a preliminary checklist or assessment obtained from the professionals such as developmental pediatrician or psychiatrist. Obtaining the assessment would help us discriminate or distinguish individuals that are mild moderate and severe. It also goes the same with gifted children, we need to know which are mildly gifted, moderately and highly gifted in order to be able to address their needs more appropriately. Another psychological truth that we need to learn is that most learning occurs when an optimal match between the learner’s current understanding and the challenge of new learning material has been carefully engineered. Choosing an appropriate program for both gifted and developmentally delayed individuals has always been indeed a challenge to anyone. Sets of programs are always done individualistic may it be for gifted individual or individual with developmental delay because both have unique characteristics that make them so personal and different from one another. Moreover, most often than not, the progress programs given to these two exceptionalities are based on their pace. Generally, for the developmentally delayed students the initial step for learning process to occur is behavior modification. Once the behavior is properly addressed, meaning the teacher is able to get the attention and behavior of the student, will the learning take effect. In gifted children, however, the initial step is to discover the child’s area of giftedness and create a program that will attend and enhance farther his special needs. Behavioral modification is not the basic concern at this point except for some social aspect such as coping up with peers older of his/her age. If that case happens, that is the only time that behavior intervention is needed. If teaching methods use for developmentally delayed students are direct instructions and task analysis, thus making tasks as simple and as directly instructed as possible for easier mastery, for gifted students, it is making it more complex and abstract to maintain the student’s interest and be challenged with it. If the gifted students master a particular unit, they need to be provided with more advanced learning activities, not more of the same activity as before. With developmentally delayed students, repetitions of activities and tasks are advisable to be able to incur mastery. Moreover, gifted students’ learning characteristics are best served with thematic, broad based and integrative content rather than just single-subject areas in which are being used in developmentally delayed students. Compacting are used with gifted student to streamline curriculum in order to allow them to move at a quicker pace and have time to pursue in alternate topic while in developmentally delayed students, the (general) task or activity is broken down into pieces of smaller tasks to be able to effectively master the (general) task.

The Power of One: Analysis of Peekay

The Power of One: Analysis of Peekay In Pursuit of a Dog Pile Introduction: The Power of One is about the life of a boy named Peekay who overcame his rough and humble beginnings and later achieved his dreams of becoming a professional boxer. Peekay is a simple white English South African who grew up in South Africa during World War II and the beginning of the Apartheid era. He is an extremely likeable and competent young man who represents many qualities of generosity and unselfishness. Moreover, Peekays generosity and care for others leads him to find ways of helping black prisoners write and receive letters as well as teaching them to box. Because of Peekays sense of humor and his ability to criticize himself, we, the reader, are able to identify ourselves closely with him on extraordinary levels. Although we see his generous and unique background throughout this early childhood and later adulthood, he did not grow up with much of a family. His mother was often unnoticeable in his life as she constantly had nervous breakdowns which resulted in her absence when he was just five years old. His Nanny Zulu, on the other hand, was the woman to whom Peekay prayed and sought to obtain advice. His grandpa, although being a grumpy racist, helps Peekay convince his mother to allow the teaching of black inmates to box. In the end, Peekays childhood and acquaintances had an extensive impact on Peekay that not only transformed him into the man he dreamed of becoming, but also into the man he became.Through Peekays life struggles and honorable victories, the reader understands that it is not what we accomplish that makes us great; it is the journey and the limits we strive to overcome to achieve our goals that defines us as true champions. Bullying: As a child, Peekay was sent away to Afrikaans boarding school where he was constantly bullied and hazed for being a young white Englishman. The Judge, an Afrikaans boy who solely diminishes Peekay throughout the novel, along with the jury, tease him for wetting his bed: The pissing upon me by the Judge and the jury had them rocking and moaning and holding their hands to their ears. Such an indignity was surely beyond even the white manà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦In the sudden way of Africa it was dark now (12). On a more personal level, the Judge convinces him that Hitler is on a mission to kill all Englishmen, take over England, and throw them into the sea: Adolf Hitler is the king of Germany and God has sent him to take South Africa back from the English and give it to us. He jabbed at the swastika on his arm. This is his sign . . . the swastika! (31). The hazing continues as the Judge and his jury interrogate Peekay about the origin of his name and pull down his pants in the process: I stepped forward to stand directly in front of where he sat cross-legged on his bed. The Judges arm came up and my hand flew up to protect my face, but instead of hitting me he pulled at the cord of my pajama pants, which collapsed around my ankles (37). Furthermore, during his last days of his first year at boarding school, Peekay is forced to eat human feces and although as a young boy this traumatizes him, this unthinkable act embeds drive and determination into his fragile heart. The torture continues when Peekay discovers that diseases are present on a nearby chicken farm where his grandpa and mother are living. After being categorized as a prisoner of war, Peekay was afflicted Chinese torture: I was required to hold the bar out in front of me while he timed each session, so that I would have to hold the bar up longer than the previous time before dropping it (43). After Chinese torture, Peekay was used as shooting practice for troopers, Nazis, and any other personnel who wanted to enhance their skills: For shooting practice I was required to stretch my arms out on either side of me with my palms open and turned upward. An empty jam tin was placed on either hand, and each of the storm troopers was allowed two shots to try to knock the tins down (43). However, he is able to overcome his problems and gain a spirit called, The Power of One, and is eventually given boxing lessons at a prison as he gets one step closer to this childhood dreams. Bullying has many effects on people that often go unrecognized and more literally, unnoticed. For Peekay, the fact he was bullied was a gift for three simple reasons. First, because of the Judges harsh humor toward his bed wetting issue, Peekay was cured of this problem by his Nanny Zulu. More importantly, he received a unique spirit and unrivaled determination that led him on a path to success throughout his life. Second, he was given the drive and heart he needed to become a boxer as he learned that it is our differences that make us strong and talents that define who we are. Third, not only was his personality changed for the better, but also his mindset was astonishingly altered as he began to believe in himself which allowed him to chase and accomplish his dreams. Role of Apartheid and Camouflage in Peekays Life: Throughout the novel, a theme that takes shape is the power of Apartheid and what affect it ultimately has on Peekay. Apartheid, in South Africa, is the system of segregation and discrimination of specific races. The birth of Apartheid began with the 1913 Land Act which marked the beginning of territorial segregation by forcing black Africans to live in new places and made it illegal for them to perform any kind of work around their homes. Later, the Great Depression and World War II brought a surplus of economic difficulties to South Africa which not only put them in debt, but also convinced the government to increase their policies of racial segregation. A few decades passed and after the election of the Afrikaner National Party, whites were separated from whites and non-whites were separated from non-whites. However, cross-racial marriages and sexual relations were banned. Following a series of new land acts, more than eighty percent of land was marked to white control and private facilities were built for each race. There were many oppositions to Apartheid which took form immediately in South Africa as riots, protests, and non-violent actions constantly broke out. Police open fired on a group of Africans where about eighty seven were killed and nearly two hundred wounded. When Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, international attention was brought to the controversy and as a result, in 1973, Apartheid was abolished. However, the United States and United Kingdom provided economic sanctions on South Africa. In The Power of One, Apartheid is a symbol of both fear and confusion. Peekay is confused as a young boy when he sees local signs that say, Blacks only, as he is unable to understand the difference his elders see: Half a dozen Africans were asleep at the far end of the verandah, where there was a second entrance to the shop. Above this entrance was written BLACKS ONLY. I wondered briefly why whites were not allowed to enter (55). Furthermore, as Peekay grows up, he fears that Apartheid is becoming r outine and ordinary for his country and people thus he seeks to find change. As a feeble young five year old, in order to endure boarding school, Peekay developed the classic technique of camouflage where he would blend in. Not only was camouflage important for his survival at school, but also it was a necessity to ensure his survival of life. He learns that it is extremely dangerous to stand out and that hiding in the shadows is the best form of camouflage. This is how he survives prison, boarding school, and the Apartheid era. At one point, Peekay loses himself and forgets his camouflage: I tried to cover my face but my arms refused to life from my lap. Look what happens when you forget your camouflage, (33). Moreover, it was extremely important for Peekay to always be aware of the situation and who was around him because he never knew what the next few minutes could hold. Snake Symbol: Throughout segregation and discrimination, the symbol of a snake beings to take place in the novel. At boarding school, Peekay was hazed for having a circumcised penis and often brought to shame because of it. Later in the novel, however, the symbol of the snake shedding its skin is used to show when Peekay goes home after each term of school, he is coming into his true self and accepting who he is as a person: Going home at the end of each term was like sloughing a skin. The joy of a small town lies in its unchanging natureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I liked the idea of nothing ever changing in Barberton, it gave me a sense of belonging (379). Following, when Peekay goes to visit Doc, a hometown best friend, he sees a black mamba which is suggesting danger and forewarns his future: Then the head of the black mamba rose above the edge of the shelf two feet from where I sat. Its flat anthracite head froze inches above the shelfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The snake could only have come out of the cave. Doc has sent me a sign. I knew what I was required to do (473). Peekay describes the nature of a black mamba snake as it is the most deadly snake in the world. If its partner is killed, the second snake will often wait for the killer to return in order to take revenge. Revenge: An important question that comes up in the novel is, Is revenge everything? Toward the end of the novel, Peekay fights his childhood nemesis, the Judge, and after beating him gruesomely, he carves his initials over the Judges swastika tattoo: The blood, before it started to run down Bothas arm, made a perfect Union Jack. Across the jagged blue lines of the swastika the mamba-driven blade cut PK. Then followed the injection of poison (512). The poison traveled throughout the Judges body and ultimately killed him. Thus, we are left with the idea of revenge and the question, Is violent revenge of past experiences ultimately the answer to a rough and bitter childhood? In Peekays mind, the answer was simply yes: I felt clean, all of the bone-beaked loneliness birds banished, their rocky nests turned to river stones. Cool, clear water bubbled over them, streams in the desert (513). Peekay felt cleansed as he diminished a once childhood fear. But, do we see a different side of Peekay? Is th ere a violent and uncharacteristically violent Peekay we have not been introduced to? Or, is this type of act moral and righteous? There are many instances of revenge that have occurred throughout my life as a young adult. It was the start of my annual travel soccer season and the team had one goal in mind-beat Marlboro Gold. Last season, we lost in the championship to Marlboro Gold who had won the title for the last five years. Everybody despised them not only because they were practically impossible to beat, but also because they lacked sportsmanship and respectful fans as the parents were constantly rude and ejected to the nearby parking lots. In preparation for our challenge, we trained hard and long every day starting two months before the season. However, first we had to win our group title in order to advance and play Marlboro in the playoffs. With little doubt, we demolished every team in the surrounding area and we were playoff bound. After cruising by the quarter-finals and the semi-finals with ease, it was time for the ultimate test. The whistle sounded and the championship game began. Five minutes into the game, breakaway, goal!! Marlboro scored quite easily and took a strong 1-0 lead. Another ten minutes and another goal was scored my Marlboro and my teammates began losing hope. They bowed their heads, lowered their shoulders and became limp and life-less. For a second, I thought it was over and our dream of winning a championship was destroyed. It seemed like an eternity, but finally it was half-time. After dousing ourselves with water and an intriguing half-time speech by our coach, the second half began. Five minutes went by, then ten minutes, then fifteen, and all of a sudden, there were only a few minutes left in the game. Our captain stole the ball, dribbled down the field, took a long shot and scored!! Suddenly we had life! The game began again, we regained possession and with quick combination play I was on a breakaway and another goal! We had scored two goals in only three minutes and now we awaited ov ertime, a first goal wins format. I had never been more nervous in my life when overtime began. After constant chances for both teams, we had our opportunity. We had a fast break down the sideline and a cross in on goal. As the ball floated, for what seemed like forever, I adjusted my body and put myself in position to head the ball into the net. And after a blink, the ball landed in the net and we won the championship. Upon the crying of sore-losing nine year olds, I was immediately dog piled in the middle of the field. I share this story not to exemplify one of my favorite childhood soccer memories, but to prove that with hard work and effort, dreams can be accomplished just as Peekay fulfilled his ambition of becoming a boxer and obtaining revenge on a childhood bully. Creed Relation: Similar to Peekays story as well as mine, there exists extreme synergy between the fight and determination of Peekay and that of Adonis Johnson in the compelling movie, Creed. Creed is the story of a man named Adonis who is the son of an accomplished former heavy weight boxer, Apollo Creed, who is serving time in Los Angeles youth prison. Not knowing his mother, she bails him out and takes Adonis in for herself. As an adult, Adonis obtains a steady job at a security firm, but he walks away in order to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional boxer. His mother quickly opposes his idea as Apollo was killed in the ring and fears the same will happen to her son. Ultimately, the decision is Adoniss and after being rejected from many different boxing academies, he travels to Philadelphia to connect with his fathers old friend and rival, Rocky Balboa. Adoniss journey to become a boxer is rough and unsettling and similar to Peekay, Adonis learns the hard life and uneasy task of becoming a professional boxer. Adonis travels to a local gym where the trainer is a family member who has shut him out of his life since early childhood. Adonis enters the ring, puts his Mustang up for wager, and challenges the number six ranked light heavyweight boxer in the world. After a few seconds, Adonis knocks him out proving his worth. Next up is Danny Wheeler, the number two ranked light heavyweight boxer in the world, with a record of thirty-one wins and zero losses. Adonis is knocked out after laying a few hits. We see how an ego can get the best of someone and how important it is to be humble. Here is the signifying difference between Peekay and Adonis. However, at the end of the film, Adonis has to start his legacy as he challenges Ricky Conlan, the number one ranked light heavyweight boxer in the world. It is an extremely rough fight, and halfw ay through, Adoniss left eye is completely shut from taking a beating. His coach wants him to give up, but Adonis thinks otherwise: I gotta prove it. Prove what? That Im not a mistake. The final round begins with Adonis landing some shots of his own on Conlan. With ten seconds left, Adonis lands a hit so powerful, it sends the Conlan to the mat, but he rises to his feet after nine seconds of the ten second count. In the end, the decisions comes down to the judges where they declare Ricky Conlan the victor. Relating back to The Power of One, Peekay is clearly Adonis in the situation and uniquely, Ricky Conlan is the Judge. Conlan gave Adonis little respect throughout the film calling him a failure and incapable of becoming a boxer. The main difference between the two examples is Peekay ends victorious, while Adonis comes up short. However, both stories teach us that it is not the end result that is important; it is the drive, determination, and heart you hold within yourself that makes you a true champion. Conclusion: I learned much about who I am from reading The Power of One and furthermore, found ways in which I relate to Peekay I never thought possible. Although this may sound completely conceded, I found that like Peekay, I am also extremely talented and always find ways to achieve my goals. Also, my talents and accomplishments represent the kind of person I am and the kind of person I want to be. This led me to discover that it is our personalities that distinguish us, but our talents that define us. Furthermore, this reminds me of a time during my sophomore year that shaped me into the person I am today and the person I am proud to be: It happened on a frigid ten-degree day in Mercersburg. I was the backup lacrosse goalie and looked forward for my chance to play in a varsity game. When there were thirty seconds left in the game and our starting goalie received a penalty, without hesitation, I threw down my over-sized football coat and jogged out to the net, my legs frozen from standing on the sideline. There was a shot after ten seconds that hit the post and rolled to the back corner of the field. Mercersburg retrieved the ball and maintained possession. With fifteen seconds remaining in the game, a shot was taken that bounced and hit me in the chest and landed in front of me. I immediately pounced on the ball to make sure Mercersburg could not scramble the cage, and after a few seconds, the whistle sounded, the game was over, and our team won. My teammates dog piled me for having stopped the goal that would have tied the game and forced overtime. In conclusion, Peekay taught me to always believe in yourself. It is important to always strive for your dreams, no matter the difficulty, and to never sell yourself short. Peekay learned in his life-from the rough bullying, Apartheid, and other struggles he experienced-that after hard work, he achieved his dreams and obtained his revenge. In Creed, Adonis trained his whole life to follow in his fathers footsteps and, although he fell short in the end, his heart was greater than other light heavyweight champions in the world and that is what truly made him unique. In my life, I sought revenge in the championship game against a rival soccer team. Also, I made two incredible saves in lacrosse that won the team the game. Most importantly, it is not what we accomplish that makes us great, it is the journey and the limits we strive to overcome to achieve our goals that defines us as champions-the pursuit of a dog pile, the power of one.

One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich English Literature Essay

One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich English Literature Essay One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is a gripping, insightful description of a reality that may now seem inconceivable to us, so distant from our perception of human rights and individual freedom. It reveals the awful labor and concentration camps that emerged in Europe throughout the first half of the twentieth century. The novel displays a disgraceful period in Russian history and a psychological examination of the vital survival methods in such circumstances. The novel consists of a single day in January 1951 through the eyes of the protagonist, Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, who is in the eighth year of a total of ten-year sentence. The Russian culture raises the novel through the creation of a very insipid setting on which Ivan Denisovichs daily routine is realistically outlined. In this essay I will be explaining how the novel serves as a means to comprehend the Russian culture it was built upon. The characters, themes, and plot are all linked with the Russian cultural background. The central theme is the oppression the characters are confronted with on a daily basis. Consequently, the plot also incorporates oppression such as ill treatment from the superior. The tempo of the plot is monotonous and the Russian culture sets a raw and cold tone. The camp and dreadful labor hours imposed by the soviet government slows down the characters time, causing the plot, which is exclusively Ivans style and routine, to be tedious. The prison camps integrate traits of Russian sternness, controlling military workforce, poor facilities, and deprived living conditions all of which harm Ivan. The Soviet wardens abuse the prisoners for their own advantage and their power-driven ego. Ivans controlling surroundings both harm and agonize him as an individual. Principal examples of cultural influences are the mindsets of the protagonist. Culture has an impact on the relatively enervated behavior of the protagonist by establishing boundaries that cripple their inner desires. Ivans conduct during his sentence in the Siberian work camp reveals the culture from which he was raised. He is modest, cooperative, eager and skillful at all times. He is not violent or dishonest towards others, rather he recognizes his fate hoping to be liberated, surviving day by day. The Russian culture at the time, a state in which the masses were controlled and where life felt repetitive, shapes the foundation of Ivans way of being. The culture has a great impact on the conduct of the protagonist, causing him to fall in line and obey to the oppressors requests.   Russian culture in that era was awfully harsh and it was concerned with restraining and controlling its nation.  A quote expressing the essence of a strong mentality to get through the day; The ones that dont make it are those who lick other mens leftovers, those who count on the doctors to pull  them through, and those who squeal on their buddies.  [2]  An illustration of the harsh conditions the prisoners had to endure is when they were ordered to construct a power station, although it was exceptionally cold and the mortar used for bricklaying would freeze if not applied rapidly. Regulations stated that the men would only be excused if the temperature dropped below -41 °C. The suffering faced by the zeks were things such as the severity of the weather, their inadequate clothing and their food which consisted of black bread, porridge and water-based cabbage soup. They were also persecuted by the guards, who are fixated on enforcing insignificant regulations. However, Solzh enitsyn reminds us that the guards attitude stems primarily from their own bitterness at the firm conditions and at the callous discipline imposed upon them. If any of the prisoners succeeded in escaping, the guards accountable would be enforced to take their places in the camp.   The novel is a literary work in which food in association with culture is a major part of the setting. Observation of a cultures behavior towards food and during mealtimes supplies significant insight into the cultures nature. Eating is a fairly animalistic part of humanity as well as the center for social gathering. Due to its scarcity, food is the utmost motivator for the prisoners. A quote illustrating the importance of food to the prisoners; Apart from sleep, the only time a prisoner lives for himself is ten minutes in the morning at breakfast, five minutes over dinner, and five at supper.  [3]  Ã‚   In prison life there is vast evidence of social influence and customs on the manner the prisoners dine. Social influence can be identified in the manner in which higher-ranking and harder-working prisoners obtain more food. The quantity of food consumed is a good indicator of class within the prisoners. Those of higher status obtain portions with more calories, while the majority gets soup consisting mostly of water. A representation of social customs is when the protagonist is unable to eat with his hat still on. Although he is uncomfortably cold without it on, his Russian upbringing stops him from covering his head while eating. Another example is when the old veteran takes a portion of cloth and uses it as a place-mat while he eats his meals. Their habits were made before they became prisoners, when they still lived in their Soviet state of origin. The novel  is to some extent, Solzhenitsyn relating to his own experiences when as a captain in the Soviet army, he was arrested in 1945 for making offensive remarks about Stalin and spent the next eight years in different camps. The closing time of his captivity took place in a camp for political prisoners in Kazakhstan, which is generally considered to be the setting for the novel. It was one of the first novels of the post-Stalin age to express to an international distribution the knowledge of political imprisonment and oppression under the rà ©gime. Solzhenitsyn never criticizes the Communist system in the novel; if he would have done so, the novel would have certainly been banned. He purely offers a description of what life was like in the camps, but in the long run his prose was to prove as harmful to the system as any intensification of political expression. After reading, one is left in no doubt with the horror of the life in Siberias camps, and also with the authors perso nal judgment of the condition of the land of his birth during that period. It lets you partake in the struggle of men to survive the awful rigors of nature and the cruelty of the system that describes their conditions of life. Classic Russian  literature incorporates certain essential characteristics of the soviet culture. During a period when the  Soviet Union was under the leadership of  Joseph Stalin, it was intricate to write novels that expressed the social climate. The cultural climate in the  Soviet Union  at this time was rough; conveying your opinion was often not only tricky, but risky. Forced  labor camps  came about and innocent citizens were put in jail for political and social crimes that they usually did not commit. Another regular characteristic of classic Russian literature was that authors tended to make the reader experience as if they were within the thoughts of the protagonist. Although the novel  is written in third person, the readers feels as if they are seeing and experiencing the protagonists day through his eyes. In conclusion, our cultural environment influences both our personality and our development as a human being. The novel shows us that even in our most desperate moments, when our environment forces us to strip away our identity and individuality, our social customs and cultural influences still take place. An individual who is brought up in a culture with customs that would be considered extreme by others will have unlike values from a society who was never exposed to such things. In One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, their social customs is what allows them to keep stable and sane as an individual in such harsh circumstances influenced by the Russian culture. The novel presents a horrible yet significant period in Russian history where cultural influence plays a significant role in which the characters utilize day by day.

Mary Shelleys Frankenstein as a Critique of Masculinity Essay

Introduction The idea for the novel of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein came to her one night when she was staying in the company of what has been called ‘her male coterie’, including Lord Byron and her husband, Percy Shelley. Mary Shelley’s whole life seems to have been heavily influenced by men. She idolised her father, William Godwyn, and appears to have spent a good part of her life trying very hard to impress both him and her husband. There seems to have been a distinct lack of female influence, her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, having died weeks after her birth, being replaced by a neglectful step-mother. These aspects of her life are perhaps evident in her novel. The characters and plot of Frankenstein were perhaps influenced by Shelley’s conflicting feelings about the predominately masculine circle which surrounded her, and perhaps the many masculine traits that we see in novel were based upon those of the male figures in Shelley’s own life. In th is essay I will attempt to show some of these traits. Argument Perhaps the most obvious way we can read the novel as a critique of masculinity is the very obvious way in which Shelley develops the male characters more than she does the female. She portrays the male characters as the stronger sex with the female characters seemingly completely dependant on the male, and their whole lives seem to be taken up by the males every move. The female characters in the novel ar every much idealised figures of perfection and passiveness. She portrays women as weak, beautiful, subservient beings who live only for the men in their lives. This is evident from the opening sentence of the narrator of the novel, Walton, who is writing to his sister in England while he is on an expedit... ...e life that he is creating is undeniably male, as this is the sex he views as the stronger of the two, there is never a question for a moment that he may create a female. Conclusion The theme of masculinity is strong throughout the novel, and I will finish with what may be the strongest example of masculinity of all, although it is not a favourable one. Perhaps the character of the monster represents the flaw in masculinity in the society of that day, created without the use of a woman, and is an example of the dangers of a society without woman. And I feel that Shelley was perhaps manipulating the masculine identities in the novel to show the flaws that such attitudes towards women can create, and persuade her audience that a society without women would be disastrous. Bibliography Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, (Berkshire: Penguin Popular Classics, 1994)

Depiction and Development of the Knight Hero in Wolfram von Eschenbach’

Introduction Wolfram von Eschenbach’s epic poem Parzival stands as one of the richest and most profound literary works to have survived from the middle ages. Lost in obscurity for centuries until rediscovered and republished by Karl Lachmann in 1833, the poem enjoyed at least as great a popularity when it was first composed as it does among today’s readers: Some eighty manuscripts have been preserved, in whole or in part, from Wolfram’s era (Poag 40). Among the more intriguing aspects of the work is Wolfram’s handling of the depiction and development of two of the story’s primary characters, the knights Gahmuret and Parzival, father and son. Central to the action of the text from its inception, yet never sharing a scene, these men function as the poem’s heroes—larger-than-life figures of extraordinary strength, skill and courage whose remarkable achievements and bravery carry the momentum of the story. These men represent the classic knightly warriors of old who (at least ideally) dedicated their energies and passions above all else to the noble pursuit of fame, honor and valor. Indeed, in the course of discussing heroic development in Parzival, one must also note the main characters’ chivalric development, as their natural proclivity and tendencies as knights are clearly reflected and reinforced in their heroic manner and mien. In the course of this investigation I wish to analyze the ways in which Wolfram depicts these knighly heroes and their development. In this way I shall attempt to achieve a better understanding of how Wolfram—and, by extension, the men of his time—themselves understood the themes and events he describes. I shall also include the critical perspectives of scholars whose have previously c... ...its, though not always attained thorough strict maintenance of precepts such as Campbell’s, is— and perhaps for that very reason—the stuff of great literature. Works Cited Campbell, Joseph. Myths to Live By. New York: Viking, 1972. Cousineau, Phil, Ed. The Hero’s Journey: The World of Joseph Campbell. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990. Eschenbach, Wolfram von. Parzival. English Trans., Ed. Andrà © Lefevere. New York: Continuum, 1991. —-. Parzival. German Trans. Wolfgang Mohr. Gà ¶ppingen: Alfred Kà ¼mmerle, 1977. Hasty, Will. †Introduction.† A Companion to Wolfram’s Parzival. Columbia: Camden House, 1999. Poag, James F. Wolfram von Eschenbach. New York: Twayne, 1972. Sacker, Hugh. An Introduction to Wolfram’s ‘Parzival.’ Cambridge: Cambridge U P, 1963 Weigand, Hermann. Wolfram’s Parzival: Five Essays with an Introduction. Ithaca: Cornell U P, 1969.

Positive and negative effects of legalizing drugs on the United States economy

The perennial problem of drug abuse has always been a controversial one since questions arise whether a sovereign entity is justified in attempting to curtail personal choice in the question of whether to engage in drugs or not.Opponents of drug use argue that a state has an obligation to protect its people against destruction even though the means to such an end is voluntary since it is generally accepted in accordance to the natural laws that all people have a right to life.Proponents of drug legalization have been quick to point out that human will, cannot be suppressed and it is economically futile to attempt to do so and hence it would be in the states interest to allow those in favor of such a course to indulge without interference. However, there are several moral, health and religious factors that have hindered those in power to actually consider legalizing illegal drug use since such recourse would raise fundamental ethical issues regarding their leadership as directed by th e constitution.Reasons for legalizing drug useThere are several reasons that have led some to clamor for the legalization of drug use. Firstly there are those who feel that the question of drug use is essentially related to personal freedom and that essentially competent adults should be left to decide for themselves if they wanted to engage in self destruction or not. It is not surprising then that some have argued that by the very nature of the state restricting drug use and in addition prosecuting users, the state is contravening the very constitution created to be its guide.Secondly, the United Sates uses a lot of tax payer’s money in their fight against drug use. Enforcement agencies are forced to recruit more personnel in their mandate to find drug traffickers and drug users. These law enforcers need to be remunerated when in active service and in addition are entitled to several benefits during their active service and in their retirement.This tends to make the federal and state government to divert huge funds towards operations of these enforcers and in the wages of their personnel. This in turn leads to shortages in funds which could have been channeled to other development agendas.The economical cost of combating   drug abuse does not end with the police but goes on to necessitate more expenses to be provided for the prosecution of these individuals and also to cater for those charged with the duty of deciding the fate of these supposedly law breakers.As drug consumption increases it leads to a need to hire more prosecution personnel and to avoid a backlog of cases more magistrates are hired to listen and pass sentences. This increases a burden to the tax payers and questions arise as to whether people should essentially pay for the negative choices of competent individuals. Furthermore, most people in American correctional facilities have been put there for drug related offences.The cost of maintaining a prisoner is quite high and it is the refore economically realistic to legalize drugs as a way of reducing expenses and therefore use it as a tool of lessening the budget deficits and to provide more funds to important sectors in the economy (Goode, 97-150).The fight against drug abuse has put America at a collision course with several countries perceived to be supplying drugs to the United Sates. Legalizing drugs would end this hostility improving bilateral relations with those countries and expanding markets for American products and allow investors to work easily in those countries (Friedman, 2009).In addition legalizing drugs would allow for the investment of several billions of drug money in other businesses to help expand the economy, provide employment and reduce other crimes.

Jet Blue Leadership

David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue airway, garnered support for his raw(a) airline in part exploitation fervencyal appeals directed at investors and politicians, as fountainhead as potential partners. He distributed to convince s unbrokenics that he could make his theme of a low cost airline work. Some say Neeleman was successful by sheer force of his personality (Kreitner, 2005, p. 378). Neelemans primary power base of credit entry as can be seen in the way airline employees view him. tom Krizek, JetBlue pilot, said, I would walk through a burning building for him (Salter, 2004 1).Surprisingly, this was said afterward meeting Neeleman only a fewer hours before. Neeleman has more than just the power of his personality, though. His amaze and knowledge of the airline industry was recyclable when it came to recruiting top employees to JetBlue, as an expert in the airline industry, his track record served him well (Kreitner, 2005, p. 379). Using Daniel Golemans concept of em otional intelligence (EQ), Neeleman has shown that he has the power to manage his emotions and behaviors, indicating a high EQ. Neeleman expects to succeed, handles setbacks with ease, and looks at issues with an pilot film perspective.His ability to relate to everyone from baggage handlers to primal investors and charm them all is a locution of his ability to manage familys and social interaction. Neeleman admits he has an attention deficit disorder, and uses this knowledge to his advantage. This self-awareness and ability to manage his weaknesses has been an important factor in Neelemans continued success. Neelemans leading style closest resembles the team anxiety style described by Robert Blake and Jane mutton (Kreitner, 2005). This emphasis on people is patent in the daily interactions he has with the employees of JetBlue.Neeleman says, I want them to know that I rate what they do (Salter, 2004, p. 3). This balance of high touch on for both profitability and the people deep down the organization has created an atmosphere of respect and self-assertion (Kreitner, 2005). James McGregor Burns says that a transformational attracter is a master of change (Kreitner, 2005). This comment certainly might be use to David Neeleman. Neeleman, who has successfully started three airlines, see opportunity that others miss. Another characteristic of a transformational attracter seen in Neeleman is charisma.Neal Moszkowski, board member of JetBlue, says, His presence, coupled with the strength of his team, was staggering (as cited by Kreitner, 2005, p. 380). Neeleman in addition has characteristics of a servant leader, as seen in his ability to communicate his vision, encourage trust, and his belief in his own insight and inspiration (Kreitner, 2005). He believes that the best bosses practice servant lead helping others do their jobs kick downstairs (Salter, 2004, p. 2). Neeleman has been successful in turning his ideas into a profitable airline.Althoug h he is no lasting with JetBlue, I believe Neelemans leadership ability and innovative thinking provide give him opportunity for success in anything he decides to do. Neeleman has strength of character that is patent in the way he conducts himself. His think on customer service and his relationship with his employees demonstrate his social and professional abilities. time at JetBlue, Neeleman would pitch in with the trajectory crew, working alongside them, creating the JetBlue experience bulky service that fosters loyal customers (Salter, 2004). His idea of loyal customers has helped the airline find success where others beget failed. JetBlues customers can be fanatical in their devotion to the airline (Brer, 2010), and this devotion has kept JetBlue flying high. References Brer, J. (2010, process 12). Airline Stocks Cruising up(a) After Two Turbulent Years. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from http//www. dailyfinance. com/story/investing/airline-stocks-cruising-upward-after-tw o-turbulent-years/19394820/ Kreitner, R. (2005). Foundations of management. Boston Houghton Mifflin Company. Salter, C. (2004, may 1). And now the hard part. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from http//www. fastcompany. com/ mag/82/jetblue. html? page=0,5