Interview Report And Self Assessment - 1032 Words

Interview Report and Self-Assessment I interviewed Shawn Grimes (Mr. Shawn), the Executive Director of Digital Harbor Foundation. DHF offers after school programs that let students all the way from elementary to high school explore and develop technologies. The interview went well. I was calm and confidant, partly because I have known the interviewee for a couple of years, but also because I practiced asking questions beforehand. Looking back at the interview, one of my weaknesses was that I sometime spoke little fast. It seems like when I get too excited I speak little faster than my normal pace. Usually in interviews, especially if I am the one that is being interviewed, I take few seconds to think and respond. However, when I†¦show more content†¦My other strengths in the interview were recognizing timeliness of the questions and transitioning to different topics when it was needed. I was also able to ask questions that unfolded wide rage of experiences Mr. Shawn faces as an Executive Director. For example, in a â€Å"professional world†, people, especially investors expect their clients/partners to dress up in a suit and tie and have short hair that fits the â€Å"professional look†. However, Mr. Shawn prefers dressing little differently, and his choice of hairstyle is not something a typical professional would wear. He explained, because of his spiky hair and a t-shirt with jean cl othing, sometime people expects him to act â€Å"dumber† and â€Å"uneducated†, he added, once a investor asked him if he was a pirate. It shows that even when people do not know others, they tend to have perceived ideas just by looking at them. While Mr. Shawn did not say anything, his choice of clothing and a hairstyle gave certain ideas to people around him. By conducting this interview, I learned a lot about the work people at Digital Harbor Foundation do. Although I participated in the program for two years, before the interview, I only knew what the students do in the program. However, after the interview, I also learned about the work staffs do, as well as the (communication) problems they face. Mr. Shawn emphasized that most of

Barriers of Effective Communication Free Essays

Describe the barriers of effective communication. Introduction: If an individual (Sender) sends a message and the receiver interprets it in the same way as the sender had intended to express,the process of communication is said to be complete. But it is not always so. We will write a custom essay sample on Barriers of Effective Communication or any similar topic only for you Order Now Certain barriers in communication affect the clarity, accuracy and effectiveness of the message. The barriers could be related to the communication system, mechanical devices being used, language or symbols being used for encoding, the sender and the receiver himself. There exist many barriers to communication and these may occur at any stage in the communication process. Barriers may lead to your message becoming distorted and you therefore risk wasting both time and money by causing confusion and misunderstanding. Effective communication involves overcoming these barriers and conveying a clear and concise message. Below are some common barriers to effective communication include: †¢ Physical Barriers: this has to do with poor or outdated equipment used during communications. Physical barriers are often due to the nature of the environment like background noise, poor lighting, temperatures that are too hot or too cold which in turn interfere with effective communication. Organizational Barriers: System design faults refer to problems with the structures or systems in place in an organization. This happens due to the physical distance between the sender and the receiver due to their task, power, and authority and status relationship. examples could be inefficient or inappropriate information systems, a lack of supervision or training, and a lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities which can lead to staff being uncertain about what is expected of them. †¢ Ambiguity of words/phrases or Semantic Barriers: Different people assign different meanings to one specific message. Hence the communicator must ensure that the receiver receives the same meaning. It is better if such words are avoided by using alternatives whenever possible. †¢ Attitudes or Interpersonal Barriers: Another main barrier is the fear and mistrust that form the roots of our emotional barrier which stop us from communicating effectively with our co-workers. These are based upon relationships, values held and attitudes of the members involved. Shortage of time for subordinates, lack of trust, can be a major hurdle in effective communication. emotions like anger or sadness can taint objectivity. Also being extremely nervous,having a personal agenda can make communications less than effective. †¢ Cross cultural/ Geographical Barriers: This barrier arises due to time, geographic locations and the effect of time upon reception of the message. Social relationships, words, colors, symbols concepts of time and space and perception are barriers peculiar to different cultures. Language Barriers: this can seem like an easy one, but even people speaking the same language can have difficulty understanding each other if they are from different generations or from different regions of the same country. Slang, professional jargon and regional colloquialisms can even hurt communicators with the best intentions. †¢ Information Overload: it takes time to process a lot of information and too many details can overwhelm and distract the audience from the important topics. Keep it Simple and short. Insufficient Knowledge of the Subject: If the sender lacks specific information about something, the receiver will likely receive an unclear or mixed message. For example: Have you shopped for an item such as a computer, and experienced how some salespeople can explain complicated terms and ideas in a simple way ? Others cannot. †¢ Lack of Basic Communication Skills: The receiver is less likely to understand the message if the sender has trouble choosing the precise words needed and arranging those words in a grammatically-correct sentence. Lack of Sensitivity to Receiver: A breakdown in communication may result when a message is not adapted to its receiver. Recognizing the receiver’s needs, status, knowledge of the subject, and language skills assists the sender in preparing a successful message. one can improve effective organizational communication is by changing one’s thoughts and feelings with one’s colleague. In this way, we don’t just break down communication barriers, but also build relationships that work successfully for long. How to cite Barriers of Effective Communication, Essay examples

Politics and music Essay Example For Students

Politics and music Essay Music is around people every day. Whether its coming through an pod, or on a television commercial, or even a musician in the subway, it is a relevant part of our lives. As artists gain a fan base, and develop their craft, more meaning comes through their product, influencing their culture. Once artists have a following, they can certainly relay any message to their audience. Through artists lyrics, power and their personal believes, popular music can express political messages, whether its belling politics, protesting war, or helping a worldly cause. Artists with a large following can express their politics through their lyrics and the message is heard loud and clear. It wasnt, and still isnt, uncommon for artists to oppose the government in their music. Once The Beetles rose to the top, their fans worshiped each song they produced. In their 1966 song Taxman, George Harrison wrote, Theres one for you, nineteen for me. Cause Im the taxman, (The Beetles) negatively speaking of the way British government gets money. This is a song that was not only elevate in 1966, but still today, taxes are too high, and theres not much to show where common peoples money are going. As an upbeat and catchy song, people could sing and relate to it, and also be angry at the tax system. Billy Braggers, in his song It Says Here, expresses his idea of the British government bein g unfair, and failing to be the democracy it promised to be. He points out the issue of how the press at that time wasnt as informative as he wished; only printing articles of the prince and other unimportant information concerning the common peoples lives. People got his message, because of his lyrics. Artists all over gained inspiration from their dislike of the government, and their fans would sing along agreeing with them. Another common message songs sent were against war and wanting peace. Songs can disguise (artists) politics (as) a defining part of their art and their careers, (Street 247). Very famously, John Lemons Imagine speaks of a world full of peace, unity and communism. He wrote this after living a life in which war happened, an idea that did not interest him in the least bit. The soft sound, mostly piano, of the song tied tit Lemons pure voice gives a dreamy feel to the song. People praised him immensely, singing along, dreaming of a world that spoke only of peace. Although Lennox would never be able to single handily make a dream world like that be real, but it stirred up peoples minds, hopefully making them think about their dream world. Not as calmly, Black Sabbath War Pigs reflects their feelings on war. Written politics and music By geographers started war. Why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor, yeah, (Black Sabbath), gives audiences an idea of the bands stance on war. The band, with their heavy metal sound, rages and fights the idea of war, disagreeing with those who started it and the fact that the common man is sent to fight an unending, no purpose war. Still today, the song is loved by people, both the message and the tune. Again protesting the Vietnam War, Country Joe and the Fish sang a song at Woodstock in a satirical manner. The songs chorus included the lines What are we fighting for? I dont give a damn, (Country Joe), emphasizing their confusion on the war. Many musicians protested through song, rallying up their fans to all protest soother. Artists use their lyrics to infuse their political ideas on war to their audiences. Popular music can also be used to help bring attention to a world issue. On July 13, 1985, the duel-concert Live Aid was held to raise money for the Ethiopians famine. Simultaneously concerts were help in London and Philadelphia with popular artists including Elvis Costello, Paul McCarty, and Black Sabbath. Between the prices of concert tickets and phoned in donations, over 50 million pound was raised. There is no disguising the fact that pop can make a political difference, (Street 249). Music was a catalyst to unite the world and do what they could to help end the famine in Africa. Similar, on July 2, 2005, Live 8, a series of concerts, was held to raise the amount of aid towards African poverty. Madonna, Pink Floyd, and 1. 12 were among some of the well-known performers that day. Through counting the cash, we can measure the amount of lives that have saved by song (Street 249). Audiences around the world tune in to these huge concerts, listening at the dinner table, or at work, and hopefully calling in to do what they can. .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb , .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb .postImageUrl , .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb , .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb:hover , .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb:visited , .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb:active { border:0!important; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb:active , .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue878fc8687ce884b41ce56d8034eb7fb:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: MUsic and its violence EssayMusic has proved its ability to make a preference in helping the world become a better place. From National Anthems, to the Sex Pistols God Save the Queen music is highly influenced by music. Artists develop their political ideas into songs; their catchy lyrics and beats infesting the minds of their fans, which spread the messages along. Popular music can also go the other way and raise awareness about world issues, asking for support to those more fortunate. Music is an amazing art, and when put in the right hands can make positive changes. Street, John. Rock, Pop and Politics. Cambridge Companion.

To Justify War or Not to Justify War That Is the Question free essay sample

Polk, as well as most of the rest of Americans at this time, saw the declaration of war as a legitimate and natural expression of America’s Manifest Destiny, which will be later explained. The question remains, however, was Polk’s declaration of war on Mexico really necessary, let alone justified? Was peace what he really wanted, or was his true intention just to acquire more land and expand the U. S. westward as fast as he could? President Polk did appear to have taken several steps to try to avoid an armed conflict with Mexico. First, Polk tried to reopen diplomatic relations between the U. We will write a custom essay sample on To Justify War or Not to Justify War? That Is the Question or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page S. and Mexico by sending an envoy, Mr. John Slidell of Louisiana, invested with full powers to make adjustments to the current state of affairs between the two countries. He sent this envoy, seemingly, as evidence that he did not want war, but peace and harmonious engagements between the U. S. and Mexico from there on forth. At first, Mexico’s minister stated that they would be willing to receive an envoy form the U. S. under the condition that the U. S. would withdraw its naval forces from Vera Cruz. The minister said that its presence there seemed to be or could be interpreted as an â€Å"act of menace or coercion† while the results of their negotiations were still pending. In light of this arrangement, Polk had the naval forces fall back. However, upon Slidell’s arrival to Mexico, they refused to receive the envoy and no agreement was met at that time. This set the pace for the tensions and events that followed. Throughout his address, Polk held strong to his claims that the U. S. was trying tirelessly to avoid war with Mexico and settle matters between them. Polk stated several times that because of Mexico’s refusal to address the issues that were presented, chiefly by not accepting the envoy, that Mexico was the aggressor in this matter. He supports this claim by reiterating that Mexico initiated the first act of aggression by going back on its statement of accepting an envoy to negotiate terms between the two countries. Also, Polk added the incident of how the Mexican forces at Matamoras, led by General Ampudia, started to get hostile. General Ampudia informed U. S. General, General Zachary Taylor that he needed to break up his camp within twenty four hours or face hostile actions. In this, Polk felt the U. S. was obligated to defend its people. The United States was, and still is, obligated to its land and people’s defense. Most of the tensions between the two countries began or got worse after Texas annexed itself into the union, which was a territory that Mexico still felt it held claim to. Polk ordered troops into the surrounding boundaries of this newly acquired territory because Mexican forces had begun to act belligerent and he wanted to make sure the citizens were protected should things go badly. From all of the negative events that were taking place, Polk stated that the attempts at diplomatic negotiations and the fighting troops weren’t the only things to suffer from the tensions between the U. S. and Mexico. Polk suggests in his declaration that commerce between the two countries had been practically eradicated. He claims that the U. S. merchants were not willing to prosecute these injustices of being harassed because the Mexicans had implemented a system of extortion. Despite it appearing, from the events and aggressive acts from Mexico, that Polk was totally within his rights to want to declare war on Mexico, not everyone agreed with his stand. On December 22, 1847, a freshman member of the House of Representatives introduced what has become known as the â€Å"Spot Resolutions Speech† suggesting he did not whole heartedly agree with Polk wanting to go to war with Mexico. This lawmaker was Abraham Lincoln. He had analyzed three messages by President Polk (May 11, 1846, December 8, 1846, and December 7, 1847) that claimed America blood had been shed on American soil. Lincoln stated that the House was â€Å"desirous to obtain a full knowledge of the facts which go to establish whether a particular spot on which the blood of our citizens was so shed was or was not at that time our own soil. † From the analysis of the three messages, he composed resolutions that sought specific information. The first of which was, â€Å"Whether the spot on which the blood of our citizens was shed, as in his messages declared, was or was not within the territory of Spain, at least after the treaty of 1819, until the Mexican revolution. The second was, â€Å"Whether that spot is or is not within the territory which was wrested from Spain by the revolutionary Government of Mexico. † The other six resolutions basically extended the analysis to determine whether the territory on which the casualties occurred was ever under the government or laws of Texas or of the United States. Though we have the opinions of opposing American parties, reading those articl es still bears no insight on Mexico’s account of the events that took place. It again poses the question was President Polk really justified in wanting to declare war on Mexico? Who was really the aggressor in this situation? After doing further investigating, I feel as though President James K. Polk may have been the aggressor in 1846. From his declaration, one can sympathize with Polk. It seemed as though Polk indeed only wanted peace and that he really tried to take as many non-confrontational steps as possible. However, if one looks at what was really going on during this time period, it can be assessed that Polk wanted to push Mexico into negotiating with the United States, and he was willing to create the threat of war to do so. These peaceful negotiations Polk claims he sought may have been achieved had he simply taken a different approach. Mexico refused to acknowledge Texas as independent or that it was a part of the U. S. once it had annexed itself into the union. After the annexation of Texas, Mexico withdrew its minister from Washington. This event is what prompted Polk to send John Slidell as an envoy. Mexico, expecting Slidell to be coming to negotiate the issue of Texas, was blindsided when Slidell had been sent to discuss opening negotiations for buying California and that the Texas issue was being completely ignored. They knew that accepting this envoy would mean they wouldn’t get any headway on the issue of Texas. This was the reason Mexico refused to have Slidell come as an envoy to commence negotiations. Once Slidell left Mexico, newly in office Mexican President, Jose Herrera, sent troops to the Rio Grande, a territory Texas claimed to be its proper boundary, to meet the Americans. In this matter, both sides had reached impasse and Polk had the excuse he need to declare war. Even though Polk had what he felt like was a â€Å"reason† to declare war, that doesn’t mean he was really justified in declaring war on Mexico. But, is war itself really justifiable? In theory, yes, war can be justified or considered justifiable under certain circumstances. I think that you can call a war justified if the reasons behind a government or country wanting to wage the war are for a just cause. For example, a war against a people to end its existence, basically genocide, is never a reason to start a war. There should also be a reasonable margin of success in winning the war so that the outcome sought will come to pass. Most importantly, the innocents should never be harmed. In my opinion, these are some things that can constitute a â€Å" justifiable war†. An example of a â€Å"justified war†, considering, was the American Civil War. This war happened as a result of a social and economic divide between the Northern and Southern U. S. The South relied primarily on agriculture, while the Northern states used manufacturing to sustain their economy. The South used slavery because they saw blacks as subhuman, inferior beings and because they didn’t want to have to pay them for their labor. The Southern states believed in the states having individual rights, where as the Northern states believed in a strong federal government. All of that was just to say that the cause for the war was justifiable and important, but the result more so which was permanently abolishing slavery in America and the United States was once again united. In terms of justification of Polk’s war against Mexico, this war wasn’t totally justifiable. The U. S, responded with violence against the Mexican government, which wasn’t necessary. Polk’s over ambition to seize new territory from Mexico and his disappointment at their refusal to sell him California, more than likely, played a major role in his wanting to go to war with Mexico. There was also another factor that made it easier for Polk to want to wage war with Mexico. It’s something called Manifest Destiny, which was the idea or theory that the U. S. had a â€Å"divine right† to rapid expansion westward toward the Pacific Ocean through the annexation of the western half of the continent; hence â€Å"from sea to shining sea†. Polk’s premature actions against Mexico, in my opinion, were unnecessary, but are all actions to initiate war unnecessary? Even more, if we use certain tactics to initiate war, are we being effective? For example, is our current â€Å"war on terror† necessary, let alone justifiable? Our so called â€Å"War on Terror† isn’t simply black and white because there are so many things one can argue in terms of being for or against this war. For example, some would say the war is justifiable because it appeared to be the only effective solution to the threat posed by the militant Islamic fundamentalism. Also, one could argue that we can’t sit around and do nothing after the Taliban had made such an obvious declaration of war against America by attacking us on our own soil! Then, on the other hand, some can argue that the war isn’t justifiable because unless in extreme circumstances, like being under arbitrary provocation or attack from a hostile power with no reasonable alternative, war is never justifiable. Our war on terror involves the military, political, legal, and ideological conflict against Islamic terrorism in response to the tragic 9/11 attacks. So in this aspect is out war justified? In my opinion, not so much. I feel that there may have been ways to avoid war prior to the conditions escalading the way they did. My view is that the war’s sole justification was retribution, which is not sufficient justification. The seemingly most powerful western democracy in the world should hold itself to a higher standard than those who only seek to thwart them. I can say that 9/11 was indeed the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. To highjack an aircraft(s) and plummet them into the Twin Towers, killing over 200 innocent civilians, is universally an inexcusable act and no amount of rhetoric will ever be able to even slightly shift that affirmation. However, in regards to a comparison between the two wars, I don’t feel President Roosevelt entered or declared war on Japan as an act of vengeance. The U. S. ’s declaration of war on Japan was against a sovereign power, with its own controlled army, with a fixed structure, and broadly connected to a worldwide fascist movement that, at the time, posed an incredibly serious threat to the stability of the free world. I do agree that we must defend or nation against the hostilities of rouge nations and terrorists, however, war is never made to â€Å"keep peace†. It only maintains peace for a very short period of time and after such period has passed, one side must inevitably wage war again to claim the debts for the original war. Again and again, an eye is claimed for an eye, and the Shakespearian drama continues to unfold, where everybody lies dead on the floor. A far better solution is the Chekhovian drama; everyone is upset and disillusioned, but still remains alive at the end. We need to try to find a Chekhovian solution to our threat of terrorism, maybe then having to justify a war wouldn’t be necessary at all.

Free Essays on Reform In The Khrushchev Era

Soon after the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 Nikita Khrushchev positioned himself as the new leader of the communist party in the Soviet Union. Khrushchev’s rise to power was well executed and had strikingly similar characteristics to that of Stalin’s rise to power. â€Å"Like Stalin he climbed to power on the back of a party and proved himself a master of political infighting† (McCauley 216). Khrushchev saw a nation suppressed by the years of fear and terror inflicted through the dictatorship of Stalin. He wanted to improve all aspects of the Soviet Union and would attempt to accomplish this through a series of reforms. Although he showed great political power in his rise to power his political insecurities were exploited once he was at the top. â€Å"His personal style of leadership was acceptable in an underdeveloped country but the Soviet Union of his day had outgrown him† (McCauley 220). His inability to thoroughly evaluate and foresee consequences led to the ineffectiveness of his reforms. He simply tried to do too much too fast with little knowledge of the fundamental problems. Martin McCauley states in his book Khrushchev and Khrushchevism, â€Å"Khrushchev could not grasp the root causes of the deficiencies he was attempting to eliminate. Since his conceptual grasp was faulty his solutions were also flawed† (28). As a result, his lack of political savvy when dealing with reform led to great opposition within the system. In order to fully understand the limitations of Khrushchev’s efforts it is beneficial to look at his major reforms in agriculture, industry and his administrative reorganizations. When Khrushchev took power it was clear that his major concern was geared towards the improvement of the agriculture sector. Khrushchev viewed the best way to improve living standards was to focus on food production. He believed the best way to increase output was to expand the area to be cultivated. The Virgin Lands campaign wa... Free Essays on Reform In The Khrushchev Era Free Essays on Reform In The Khrushchev Era Soon after the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 Nikita Khrushchev positioned himself as the new leader of the communist party in the Soviet Union. Khrushchev’s rise to power was well executed and had strikingly similar characteristics to that of Stalin’s rise to power. â€Å"Like Stalin he climbed to power on the back of a party and proved himself a master of political infighting† (McCauley 216). Khrushchev saw a nation suppressed by the years of fear and terror inflicted through the dictatorship of Stalin. He wanted to improve all aspects of the Soviet Union and would attempt to accomplish this through a series of reforms. Although he showed great political power in his rise to power his political insecurities were exploited once he was at the top. â€Å"His personal style of leadership was acceptable in an underdeveloped country but the Soviet Union of his day had outgrown him† (McCauley 220). His inability to thoroughly evaluate and foresee consequences led to the ineffectiveness of his reforms. He simply tried to do too much too fast with little knowledge of the fundamental problems. Martin McCauley states in his book Khrushchev and Khrushchevism, â€Å"Khrushchev could not grasp the root causes of the deficiencies he was attempting to eliminate. Since his conceptual grasp was faulty his solutions were also flawed† (28). As a result, his lack of political savvy when dealing with reform led to great opposition within the system. In order to fully understand the limitations of Khrushchev’s efforts it is beneficial to look at his major reforms in agriculture, industry and his administrative reorganizations. When Khrushchev took power it was clear that his major concern was geared towards the improvement of the agriculture sector. Khrushchev viewed the best way to improve living standards was to focus on food production. He believed the best way to increase output was to expand the area to be cultivated. The Virgin Lands campaign wa...

20 Obscure Rhetorical Terms and Figures of Speech

20 Obscure Rhetorical Terms and Figures of Speech You probably know many figures of speech, such terms as metaphor and metonymy, irony and understatement- all the rhetorical terms that you probably learned in school. But what about some of the less familiar figures and tropes? There are hundreds of them, after all.  And while we may not recognize their names, we use and hear a good number of these devices every day. So lets take a look at 20 uncommon words (most of them Latin or Greek) for some fairly common rhetorical strategies. Accismus  - Coyness; a form of irony in which a person feigns a lack of interest in something that he or she actually desires.Anadiplosis  - Repetition of the last word of one line or clause to begin the next.Apophasis  - Emphasizing a point by seeming to pass over it- that is, mentioning something while disclaiming any intention of mentioning it.Aposiopesis  - An unfinished thought or broken sentence.Bdelygmia  - A litany of abuse- a series of critical epithets, descriptions, or attributes.Boosting  - An adverbial construction used to support a claim or express a viewpoint more assertively and convincingly.Chleuasmos - A sarcastic reply that mocks an opponent, leaving him or her without an answer.Dehortatio  -  Dissuasive advice given with authority.Diatyposis  - Recommending useful precepts or advice to someone else.Epexegesis  - Adding words or phrases to further clarify or specify a statement already made.Epimone  - Frequent repetition of a phrase or questio n; dwelling on a point.Epizeuxis  - Repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis (usually with no words in between). Hypocrisis  - Exaggerating the gestures or speech habits of another in order to mock him.Paronomasia  -  Punning, playing with words.Prolepsis  - ​A figurative device by which a future event is presumed to have already occurred.Skotison  - Intentionally obscure speech or writing, designed to confuse an audience rather than clarify an issue.Synathroesmus  - The piling up of adjectives, often in the spirit of invective.Tapinosis  - Name calling; undignified language that debases a person or thing.Tetracolon Climax  - A series of four members, usually in parallel form.Zeugma  - Use of a word to modify or govern two or more words although its use may be grammatically or logically correct with only one.

Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward novel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward novel - Essay Example In a careful analysis of the novel, it becomes lucid that Bellamy's bipolar society is partially organized by scientific-technical reason and partially devoted to the pensively rational pursuit of freedom and individuality. Therefore, the author makes use of scientific-technical means to solve the social problem of scarcity through high levels of political centralization and a willingness to assimilate the machine culture. Thus, Looking Backward is one of the best known films of this sub-genre and arguably the best in terms of literary merit and wholeness of conception and vision. In the novel, Bellamy's society is bipolar in nature as it incorporates scientific-technical reason although it is devoted to the pensively rational pursuit of freedom and individuality. However, this scientific-technological advance has not come to pass by 2009, even in modified form, as either socialism or capitalism does not give room for this bipolarity in the 20th Century. Bellamy's concept that such a society would result with high levels of political centralization and a willingness to 'fit in' with the machine culture proved to be wrong. The main reason for the lack of this scientific-technological solution is that Bellamy's society is bipola

English - Fast Food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

English - Fast Food - Essay Example In this case, fast food would be the best choice. Serving individual’s quick interest is essential in saving time and money. An individual’s age has a great influence on the eating habits of many people. Sometimes the type of duty that an individual does in the society would influence the amount of food that that individual would take. It is usually important to know nutritional content of any food. Studies indicate that promotion of fast food by many restaurants has led to growth in number of its consumers. It further alludes that many people do not care about the nutritional content of fast food. The nutritional content of fast food would influence health status of its consumer. Some people suffer from nutritional related disorders because of ignorance when it comes to make choices of what food to take. Various methods employed in preparing fast food would influence the content of nutrient it contains. Observation of human health requirement helps in making the right choice of food. This paper explores health impacts of fast food. Fast food attracts many people who have limited time to go for other meals. For instance, research indicates that many students take fast food because of limited time and nature of life they lead. Many students like buying ready-made food for their lunchtime meals. Many students prefer foods that are convenient, attractive, and cheap. Fast food is quite tempting because it has all the above attributes. The social space in school also promotes consumption of fast food in most institution. Attractive appearance often influences students to buy fast food. Other consumers of fast food include dating couples who would like to spend nice time together. Studies show that many fast foods contain high-energy nutrients (Watson 6). Other nutrient content of fast food include protein and vitamin among others. Knowledge of nutrient content in fast food is very essential since it would influence the quantity of fast food that an ind ividual would consume. For instance, research indicates that a bite of potato snack contain about 10 grams of Trans fat (Hales & Lauzon 258). This fat is unhealthy to the body. This means that when an individual consumes large amount of snacks, the level of unhealthy fat in the body would increase. Human body responds to fat content in the food by accumulating them. This is usually dangerous because fat accumulation leads to overweight. Health research indicates that individuals that individuals who consume food rich in fats should burn similar amount of calories in order to avoid dangers of any fat related disorder. Health problems associated to consumption of food rich in fat include brain disorders. Scientific research indicates that accumulation of fats in the body would impair blood circulatory system that supplies blood to the brain. This in turn retards the body function of an individual. Blood circulation is essential since it supports function of body organs. Failure of bod y organs may result to death. Studies reveal that too much accumulation of fat on the blood circulatory system may stop blood delivery to the heart. Heart is a very essential organ in the human body. Its failure results to instant death. Many children who suffer obesity have high level of fat content in the body. Health studies reveal that children who suffer obesity at younger age may suffer heart failures at old age (Watson 25). Some studies also indicate that the condition might proceed to

“I know why the caged bird sings” Essay Example for Free

â€Å"I know why the caged bird sings† Essay After a childhood full of cruelties, disappointments, and being raped at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend, Maya Angelou survived and became the most important civil, human, and Women’s Rights Activist. After her rape she was silent for 5 years, and only through the encouragement of her grandmother did she start to write and act. Her writings won her world acclaim and she was nominated for the National Book Award, a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize. She is indisputably one of the most influential women in history. Her poem â€Å"I know why the caged bird sings† shows her grace and skill as a poet, and a humanitarian. â€Å"I know why the caged bird sings† is a six stanza poem. The poem has a very traditional structure. The first two stanzas are triplets, followed by a quatrain, then another triplet, and ends with a quatrain. It has a very simple but effective rhyme scheme. The triplet stanza has a AAB rhyme, and the quatrain stanzas have a AAAB rhyme. This poem is lyrical and intense. The themes presented in this poem are of a freedom and triumph over adversity (Arensberg 273). In stanza one Angelou describes how birds in the wild have unbound freedom. She writes â€Å"leaps on the back of the wind†¦ dips his wings in the orange sunrays, (lines 1-3)† about the free birds activities. Her words affect the senses, and the reader feels the freedom the birds experience in flight. She brings nature and the outdoor elements to life and the audience is right there at play with the birds. Freedom abounds! In stark contrast, the next stanza snaps the reader back from their dreamlike state. There are a series of very strong words that create a feeling of depression, and claustrophobia. Angelou explains the life of a caged bird. â€Å"narrow cage, bars of rage, and wings clipped. (lines 3-6)† These phrases create a sense of dread and imprisonment. This evokes sympathy for the bird, and thoughts about if we were also imprisoned (Arensberg 280). The reader begins to think what is life unfair and, why that bird? and further, why me? â€Å"But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams, (line 14)† the poem continues and yet the bird still sings. Angelou comments â€Å" The caged bird still sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still (lines 17-18)† about the bird who displays the only freedom he has at present, his voice. Pierre Walker, in his 1995 article, comments â€Å"that the bird still dreams,â€Å" and he has the determination to overcome and make the best of his situation. There is a single focus for Angelou use of alliteration in this poem. She uses the â€Å"s† sound over and over again â€Å"his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream† (line 15). The â€Å"s† sound creates the feeling of wind, the whispering of tree leaves, the bird is scared but he sings because he can. He cannot fight his nature. He will find freedom anyway he can, and for that bird it is his singing. The use of the rhyme scheme in the quatrain portion of the poem is AAAB. The inflexibility of the first three lines in stanza 3 â€Å"thrill†¦hill†¦shrill† create the perfect path to the true theme of this poem. When the reader expects another word to rhyme it doesn’t, and the quatrain ends with â€Å"freedom. † The same is true for the last stanza, which is a repeat of the first. Liliane Arensberg explains that the rhyme reminds the reader that there is always hope, there is always the will to survive and the promise at the end of the tunnel of light (Arensberg 289) of freedom. â€Å"I know why the cage bird sings† by Maya Angelou is a very popular poem. Many people find inspiration in her words, and find solace in the hope and determination that bird has. If he can sing, so can the reader. If he can survive so can you. We cannot always choose our lot in life, but we can make the best of it. We can reflect, find out talents, and give those to the world. Maya Angelou presents a very important message to the reader in the form of a very lyrical almost song like poem by using strong imagery of a bird and it’s cage, the pursuit of freedom as a theme, a strong rhyme scheme, and alliteration. Angelou skill as an author cannot easily be missed and neither can her message that we must overcome misfortune and strife to become what we were always meant to be. Works Cited Angelou, Maya. The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou. 1st ed. New York: Random House, 1994. 101. Arensberg, Liliane K. Death as Metaphor of Self in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. College Language Association Journal 20 (1976): 273-91. Walker, Pierre A. Racial protest, identity, words and form in Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. . College Literature 1 Oct 1995. 23 Nov 2005 http://www. highbeam. com/.

Bricolage: A Womans Use of Canonical Ideology :: Canonical Ideology Literature

Bricolage: A Woman's Use of Canonical Ideology le bricolage: travail dont la technique est improvisà ©e, adaptà ©e aux materiaux, aux circonstances.[1] In chapter one of The Savage Mind, Claude Levà ­-Strauss explains bricolage as a way of understanding the structure of mythical thought in "savage" societies. The term bricoleur can be used practically, to represent a kind of craftsman though Levà ­-Strauss brings the word to an analytical level, and it is with this level that we are concerned. The bricoleur's "universe of instruments is closed and the rules of his game are always to do with `whatever is at hand'"[2] so, as a craftsman, he is conservative and ecological. He works from within a structure in order to build out of it: "the materials of the bricoleur are elements which can be defined by two criteria: they have had a use.... and they can be used again either for the same purpose or for a different one if they are at all diverted from their previous function."[3] For more information on this chapter, "The Science of the Concrete", click here. In this paper, I will examine this concept as it applies to certain patterns an d ideas that exist in canonical American ideology and literature in the nineteenth century and how its double nature presents an opportunity for those "marginal" or "other" Americans. In examining this, the American writer will be considered a sort of craftsman. The concept of bricolage resonates strongly in the American literary tradition that is constructed alongside the nation itself. T.S. Eliot and Octavio Paz both support its prevalence in the tradition. They conceive of the literary canon as an ivory tower, "a closed edifice... that cracks open to allow entrance only to the work of genius - by implication, to a gifted man."[4] As Eliot perceives this monument as necessarily alterable, one which allows a new work to enter upon it if "the relations, proportions, values of each work of art toward the whole are readjusted,"[5] Paz presents a similar, though significantly radicalized view of the "constant revolt" of tradition" rather than its "continuity."[6] Paz's "tradition against itself" extends Eliot's with the notion that "what constitutes the modern tradition is the constant renewal of literary forms, as contemporary textual practices."[7] However divergent, both of these theories rely on a similar concept which shapes an American li terary tradition according to Levà ­-Strauss' bricolage: "in order to belong to tradition...

Write about some of the ways Fitzgerald tells the story in chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald’s autobiographical first person means of telling the story in a way that takes the reader into his confidence by retelling a recollection of significant events. It is immdeiatly noticeable that Fitzgerald’s sentence structure is complex and his vocabulary sometimes obscure â€Å"only Gatsby, the man who gives this book its name was exempt from my reaction – Gatsby, who represented everything I was scornful of. If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him† Fitzgerald asserts the idea that although Nick Caraway is the should narrator of this book, the story is about a much greater man – one whom the narrator is set to admire so much that the use of language to describe him gives Nick a new view on a set of people he once hated, so much so, he decides to write a book about him. Fitzgerald introduces Nick just returning to the Midwest after the civil war, he settles in the â€Å"west egg† but finds himself starting the story by visiting his cousin Daisy and Tom â€Å"the consoling proximity of millionaires† in the much more glamorous east egg, Fitzgerald is perhaps emphasising this was the norm for Nick having grown up with such people as a child. Fitzgerald begins the story with a generalisation of himself â€Å"I’ m inclined to reserve all judgements† separating himself from the likes of other judgemental upper class characters, which whom are given the most attention to. The likes of characters such as Daisy, Tom and Jordan are given almost choric voices â€Å"well you ought to see her she’s-â€Å" the characters constantly cutting each other off with ongoing information to the story such as rumours â€Å"he’s got some woman in new York† the idea of scandal and covered up rumours seems to dominate this chapter, although Jordan has only just met Nick, Fitzgerald does not hold back on writing Jordan so she already reveals a huge scandalous piece of gossip emphasising how these characters. Fitzgerald presents women in this chapter in a very unusual way â€Å"splendidly, luagiduly, their hands set lightly on their hips, the two young women proceeded us out on to a rosy coloured porch† the imagery of two young women leading them into this heavenly place emphasises them as delicate and beautiful â€Å"for a moment the last sunshine fell romantically upon her glowing face† the sensual imagery Tom uses to describe Jordan presents some type of respect Fitzgerald is able to see for women, however it is contrasted to a much lower view of women when Daisy states â€Å"that’s the best thing a woman can be in this world – a beautiful fool† where she expresses her opinion that a woman can only get by on looks and total ignorance to how a man should treat her. Some readers are irritated by nick caraway as a narrator, what is your view of Nick as a narrator? Fitzgerald’s interesting and intelligent use of such a character is in no way a mist ake, he would have been aware of the dangers from such an unusual means of narrating, however it works very well and makes this book the success it is. The use of Nick as more of a spector than an actual narrator involves us as readers and allows us to make up our own minds about the characters rather than having a central character as a narrator who may be in love with Daisy or hate Tom, whose language would then shape our own opinion of them. Nick is able to re-call past events in a very serious tone but yet at the same time his sensual and light-headedness description on small matters reflect pleasure onto the reader â€Å"I had two – finger bowels of champagne, and the scene had changed before my eyes into something significant, elemental and profound† commenting on small humorous parts of the story make the reader more able to relate as in our own lives we would notice such changes after a drink, Fitzgerald gives nick very realistic qualities here which means the story is more lifelike for the reader to enjoy. However, there are some aspects of the story in sensual description where Nick elevates his dramatic and in depth description that may not be so down to earth, but neither the less engage the reader in the very beautifully worded lines. â€Å"for a moment the last sunshine fell romantically upon her glowing face† the way in which women are presented through Nick’s eyes gain him a certain amount of respect for him as a narrator which will gain to the reader’s interest in his own characteristics, he is clearly a very passionate and respectable man in his romantic interests which in many ways erase from the reader’s mind any doubts they may of had at the start of his attitude to women when it is told he left a woman behind to move to the east egg. It is easy to suggest that without Nick’s descriptive detail and constant symbolism, the novel would have been a better less obscure portrayal of events, however without Nick’s ignorance and unfamiliarity to Gatsby at the start, Fitzgerald would have never been able to create this sense of enigma around him that engages the reader about this unknown mysterious character. â€Å"He stretched out his arms in a curious way towards the water, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling†. Fitzgerald also uses such a character as he is able to connect more with Gatsby upon living in the same less glamorous egg; they are in many ways similar through their views on life, money and love – a realistic friendship. Scott Fitzgerald was interested in many ways to present Gatsby through Nick; he stated once how â€Å"symbolism can produce a kind of magical transformation in which the physical world might, through an act of imagination, come to assume the quality of ideal†. So at the end of the novel Nick no longer looks at the world through symbolism as he remarks â€Å"he must have looked up at a familiar sky through frightening lease and shivered as he found was grotesque thing a rose is and how raw the sunlight was upon the secrecy grass† Fitzgerald here uses this technique to cut Nick’s symbolic language on beautiful things, to mirror the down turn of events and keep in with the language to reflect the mood of gloom the reader may be feeling, again heightening the reader’s opinion of Nick, as he is many ways realistic when it comes to the language he uses to express events that aren’t so glamorous. The use of Nick as a narrator is without a doubt a genius idea from Fitzgerald. He was able to contrast the norm and expected narrator but yet at the same time engage the reader with it. The writer is kept realistic, with real romances such as his relationship with Jordan giving him his own story but yet still present Gatsby i n the intelligent and beautiful way Fitzgerald intended.

Ebola Study Essay

DALLAS — The Texas nurse who contracted Ebola while caring for the first person to die of the virus in the U.S. has been identified as 26-year-old Nina Pham. Health officials have not released the nurse’s name, but Yahoo News identified Pham through public records and a state nursing database. Then on Monday, Pham’s family confirmed her identity to local Dallas ABC News affiliate WFAA. Pham, a critical care nurse at Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas, is one of at least 50 people who cared for Thomas Eric Duncan before he passed away last Wednesday. Pham has been in isolation since late Friday. The CDC confirmed her Ebola diagnosis on Sunday. It is the first time the deadly virus has ever been transmitted in the United States. The Dallas resident is a 2010 graduate of Texas Christian University and has been a nurse since June 2010, according to state records. CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden said Pham is in stable condition at Texas Health Presbyterian. An unidentified person Pham had close contact with last week is also in isolation at the hospital, but Frieden said that individual has not become ill. Investigators have not determined how Pham specifically contracted the disease from Duncan, who died on his 10th day of intensive care at Texas Health Presbyterian. â€Å"If this one individual was infected and we don’t know how — within the isolation unit — then it is possible that other individuals could have been infected as well,† Frieden said during a press conference. â€Å"We consider them to be at risk and we are doing an in-depth review and investigation.† A day earlier, Frieden characterized the transmission from Duncan to Pham as a possible breach in safety protocols. On Monday he apologized for those remarks. â€Å"Some interpreted that as finding fault with the hospital or the health care worker, and I’m sorry if that was the impression given, that was certainly not my intention,† Frieden said. â€Å"What we need to do, is all take responsibility for improving the safety of those on the front lines. I feel awful that a health care worker became infected in the care of an Ebola patient. She was there trying to help the first patient survive.† Tom Ha, a longtime friend of Pham’s family, told the Dallas Morning News that it is in the nurse’s genes to go out of her way to assist others. â€Å"I expect, with the big heart that she has, she went beyond what she was supposed to do to help anyone in need,† Ha told the newspaper

Complex Question Fallacyâ€Definition and Examples

Complex Question Fallacys A complex question is a  fallacy in which the answer to a given question presupposes a prior answer to a prior question. Also known as (or closely related to) a  loaded question, a trick question, a leading question, the fallacy of the false question, and the fallacy of many questions. Have you stopped beating your wife? is the classic example of the complex question. Ralph Keyes has traced this example back to a 1914 book of legal humor. Since then, he says, it has . . . become the standard allusion to any question that cant be answered without self-incrimination (I Love It When You Talk Retro, 2009). Examples and Observations Lets talk about Glaucon.  Where did you get the poison  you used on him?I never!His whole family died- wife, children, mother, the lot. Surely you feel badly about that?Didymus passed his hand over his eyes. I didnt poison anyone.†(Bruce Macbain,  The Bull Slayer: A Plinius Secundus Mystery. Poisoned Pen Press, 2013)  He was woken two hours later and presently a doctor examined him.What drugs were you on? he asked.Wilt stared at him blankly. Ive never taken any drugs in my life, he muttered.(Tom Sharpe,  Wilt in Nowhere. Hutchinson, 2004)   The Unjustified Presumption Plurium interrogationum, which translates as of many questions, is otherwise known as the fallacy of the complex question. When several questions are combined into one, in such a way that a yes-or-no answer is required, the person they are asked of has no chance to give separate replies to each, and the fallacy of the complex question is committed... Did the pollution you caused increase or decrease your profits?Did your misleading claims result in you getting promoted?Is your stupidity inborn? All of them contain an assumption that the concealed question has already been answered affirmatively. It is this unjustified presumption which constitutes the fallacy... The complex question has to be broken into simpler ones; and often the denial of the fact presumed invalidates the larger question altogether.(Madsen Pirie,  How to Win Every Argument: The Use and Abuse of Logic, 2nd ed. Bloomsbury, 2015)   Trick Questions The fallacy of complex question is the interrogative form of the fallacy of begging the question. Like the latter, it begs the question by assuming the conclusion at issue:Before rushing to answer a complex question, it is best to question the question: a) Have you stopped beating your wife?b) Did John ever give up his bad habits?c) Are you still a heavy drinker? In each of these questions there lies an assumed answer to a previous question. Did John have bad habits? is the unasked question whose answer is assumed in question b. We need to withhold any answer to question b until this prior question has been resolved. In some instances of this fallacy, considerable struggle may be necessary in order to liberate ourselves from the misleading influence of a complex question. The serious consequences of complex questions can be appreciated by considering these trick questions, which would be out of order in a court of law: d) What did you use to wipe your fingerprints from the gun?e) How long had you contemplated this robbery before you carried it out? (S. Morris Engel, With Good Reason: An Introduction to Informal Fallacies, 3rd ed. St. Martins, 1986) An Implicit Argument Although not an argument as such, a complex question involves an implicit argument. This argument is usually intended to trap the respondent into acknowledging something that he or she might otherwise not want to acknowledge. Examples:Obviously, each of the questions is really two questions.(Patrick J. Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic. Thomson Wadsworth, 2005) Have you stopped cheating on exams?Where did you hide the marijuana you were smoking?

American Diet

A proper diet should be sufficient, reasonable and include a person’s other aspects, such as age, his food habits and food preferences. A proper diet should meet a person’s overall need for nutrition’s to maintain his overall health. Like all other people in different parts of the world, Americans have also become more health cautious and choosy about what they eat. People have become more concerned about the quality and safety of the food they consume. Awareness of nutritious foods has led to many people opting for organic, vegetarian and other healthy foods in the present market. â€Å"Lite food is in, and indulgence is out. But are Americans practicing what they preach?†(Line no.3, Dietary Trends, American) .   But different surveys indicate that, the diet consumed by majority of the people in America is still lacking in the required nutrition quantities, despite the health consciousness in people. Common Diet Of An American On an average every other youngster in America follow the same diet pattern, more than half of the Americans consume snack items or fast foods on a regular basis, which are high in calories. Consumption of fried chicken form KFC like chicken nuggets is also very high among youngsters. These snack items though very tasty are very high in salt and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), which is very harmful.   The food that is easily available like potato chips, French fries and other canned and tinned foods also contain a high amount of salt to last for a long time, which is very risky to a persons health.   Consumption of cheese, meat, poultry and fish items have gone up compared to the past.   The reason for this can be that many youngsters either skip there breakfast or lunch, or tend to eat easy and fast food which is readily available in the market to overcome their hunger.All the fast foods are generally deep fried, high in sodium, fat and salt, low in minerals, vitamins and fiber, which are all the main cause for many diseases in Americans.   Some of the common diseases, which affect people who consume fast food are, asthma, autism, stress related problems, depression, cholesterol, diabetes, heart problems and obesity.   And adding to the woes, many KFC outlets offer discounts if a person purchases a larger quantity, which adds empty calories and results in eating more than the required amount, with lesser nutrients. Foods To Avoid The food available in most of the famous outlets for e.g. KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and other fast food outlets are some of the food that one should try to avoid.   Every person should try to avoid the following foods Sausages Scrambled Eggs, Grilled chicken, Hot and spicy chicken, pizza’s, hamburger’s, hotdog’s, French fries, other soups that contain soy sauce, noodles, pasta, white bread, tinned or canned food, instant soup and noodles mix, beef items, processed cheese, salad dressings, potato chips, canned tuna, yeast, dry mushrooms and other salty items. One should remember that, any food, which is high in salt, is also high in MSG.   Every person should carefully read the label to know what the tin contains, before purchasing any food item.   People should also avoid consuming sugar, sweets, aerated, soft drinks and sweetened dishes like pastries, cookies etc. which are high in calories. On an average, the percentage of people consuming soft drinks has been on an alarming rise compared to the past.   Every person who goes to work has a ready soft drink on his desk, to quench his thirst.   It has become impossible for the Government to estimate the soft drink consumption on an annual basis.Foods To Include Important changes in a person’s diet and lifestyle may go a long way in improving one’s health. People should be more inclined to consume raw food, food that has more fiber, fresh fruits and food that is not sprayed with any chemicals or contains any preservatives.   People should be encouraged to consume whole wheat bread, brown rice, legumes and more fresh leafy vegetables, which are high in fiber and more filling.   Foods that are rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids are very good for the health, e.g. sardines, mackerel, walnuts, olive oil, canned tuna in olive oil, flaxseeds are very good sources of these acids. An example of a proper vegetarian diet should include fresh fruits, vegetable, whole grains, nuts, eggs, skimmed milk, legumes and trimmed meat or other poultry. Care should be taken to include the necessary vitamins, which are not found in the above-mentioned food. To add more flavor to salad dressings lemon juice, pepper powder, ginger, rosemary and garlic can be used, instead of salt. Oils like, almond, canola, sunflower, flaxseed, olive and sesame oil can be used for cooking.   Taking homemade soups or salads before every meal, is more filling and helps us to eat less in the main course, which helps in not putting on empty calories. People should try to avoid skipping meals and eating at fast food centers and restaurants, and make it a habit to eat proper healthy and hygienically home-cooked meals, which are high in nutrients and fiber. One should avoid eating a meal in front of the television, as we may tend to eat more than the required quantity of food.   A combination of a healthy and nutritious diet, with proper exercise, good fitness, a positive attitude towards life and a healthy and happy lifestyle is the perfect remedy to every young American.Works CitedDietary Trends, American, 20 February 2007, http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Diab-Em/Dietary-Trends-American.html.What Foods to Avoid, 20 February 2007, http://www.msgtruth.org/avoid.htm.

African slavery and African Catholicism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

African slavery and African Catholicism - Essay Example Many historians and scholars hold that the domination of European rule in Africa caused African slavery and the development of African Catholicism. However, there is much evidence showing that the development of African slavery and African Catholicism occurred due to deep rooted African systems and an already established traditional form of religion. It will also provide evidence of the roots and development of African slavery. Roots and Development of African Catholicism and African Slavery Many scholars view Christianity in Kongo, especially Catholicism as a foreign religion introduced by the colonizers during the 15th and 16th centuries. In addition, these scholars often deem this form of religion as serving the interests of foreigners more than the indigenous Kongo people. The result of this assertion is that Christianity overlooked the independence of Kongo people. In addition, this caused most historians to view the deemed introduced Christianity as a form of colonization and d omination by the Portuguese in Kongo. Moreover, these historians also assert that the conversion of Kongo to Christianity and the development of African Catholicism was a direct effect of westernization of Kongo (Thornton, 147). The history of religion and African Catholicism was quite different from the assertions of these historians and scholars. The conversion of Kongo in to Christianity was under a free will. Consequently, it is evident that the Kongo people and leaders highly determined the structure of the church and its doctrines as well as practices. It is also evident that the Portuguese attempted to control the church under political terms. However, this was not possible since Kongo highly controlled the activities and practices of the church. Even though contemporary studies reveal that there was substantial syncretism in Christian doctrines in Kongo, the European clergy who visited Kongo, recognized it as conventional (Thornton, 148). In the case of African slavery, ther e are misconceptions by most scholars as to what prompted slave trade in the region. Most of these scholars considered the roots of African slavery as a product of economic underdevelopment in Africa, in which forced labor dominated the economy rather than free labor. However, this was not the case but there was the spirit of slavery rooted deep in the African institutional and legal structures of communities of Africa. In addition, this kind of slavery occurred very differently from the form of slavery in Europe. The main reason that slavery occurred widely in the Atlantic Africa was that in African law, slaves were the only recognized form of private ownership. It became very perverse in the African society because there lacked landed private property (Thornton, 74). The incorporation of Christianity as a part of indigenous religion is the main reason it survived and hence the documentation of the cult dates from the early sixteenth century to the present day. In the nineteenth ce ntury, Christianity briefly disappeared from Kongo. However, the disappearance was not due to a lack on the part of Kongo, a failure on the part of the clergy or a resurgence of suppressed local religion. Rather, it was because of the changing definition among European clergy including Rome as to what made up Christianity, together with more chauvinistic attitudes towards non-Western and particularly colonial peoples that happened after I850 (Thornton, 148). In African law, one could only establish a claim on a product through taxation and slavery rather than through the fiction of land ownership. However, this did not make the African legal system backward or egalitarian, but only legally divergent. Due to this