Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al

Introduction First published in Arabic, Alaa Al-Aswany’s 2002 novel â€Å"The Yacoubian Building† revolves around the lives of people in a modern society at Cairo, where greed for wealth, social and political power is presented as the main problem facing the people of Egypt, several years after independence and revolution.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al-Aswany specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although the book was published in English two years after its first publication in Arabic, it has become one of the best selling novels in its English series. Alaa Al-Aswany, a physician who once occupied the Yaocubian Building in Cairo, sets his story in â€Å"The Yaucoubian Building†, an actual architectural landmark in Cairo. Though built for Armenian tycoon Hagop Yacoubian in 1934 to accommodate government ministers, rich businesspersons, European technocrats and visit ors, Al-Aswany describes how a community of corrupt, immoral and power-liking individuals has replaced this former class of dignified people (Al-Aswany 23). Using these people occupying and visiting the building as an example, the author attempts to describe how immorality, corruption and poor political and socioeconomic leadership have affected the entire society of Cairenes and Egypt after the 1952 revolution. The author shows how Hosni Humabarak’s regime has instilled corruption and immorality in Cairo to an extent that it is difficult to find a morally straight individual. Clearly, the author’s perception of his society is largely negative, as displayed by his description of necessity as the mother of corruption, sexual immorality and greed for power displayed by the characters. The Plot: A Brief Summary Al-Aswany’s novel first describes the Yacoubian Building as one of the most magnificent and luxurious building in the city, having survived in its status si nce 1934. After the 1952 revolution, in which Abdel Nasser replaced King Farouk, most of the occupants in the building flee the country. Military officers, their families and relatives as well as other officials of the new regime occupied the vacant rooms. On the roof of the Yacoubian, fifty small rooms make each floor. Originally, they were used as storage areas by rich foreigners, but are now occupied by poor people as residential areas or business rooms (Al-Aswany 36).Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This makes the roof of the building into a slum, a representation of the entire city. In the lower sections, a number of businesses occupy some larger rooms. Among them is a club, where much of the characters visit for their drinks and immoral sexual acts. Necessity as the mother of sexual immorality, political evils and corruption Moral corruption, sexuality and the greed for money and wealth are intertwined. Characters, due to necessity for wealth, are ready to destroy their dignity. Women, for instance, are ready, though unwillingly, to sexually satisfy rich men for money. Homosexual men, mostly the poor and the young, readily but unwillingly involve themselves in indecent anal sex with older and rich men (Al-Aswany 73). On the other hand, rich men willingly dish out money when pursuing sexual partners. The author’s idea of a corrupt society and regime is based on his analysis and description of the persons occupying the building. In fact, the author uses the house to describe how the regime has moved from a government of technocrats, noble and morally straight people to a government led and supported by immoral, non-visionary and corrupt persons whose main purpose is to gain political and economic power. The ethically questionable characters and their actions illustrate the moral decline arising from a corrupt political regime in Egypt (Al- Aswany 67). The author introduces the characters do define his themes. First, the reader is introduced to Hatim as he is walking into Chez Nous, a famous club occupying one of the larger rooms in the lower floor of the Yacoubian building. The reader is surprised to learn that the club is famous for a large number of homosexuals who frequent there. His male lover, Abd Rabbuh, accompanies Hatim. A well-known editor, Hatim is highly respected in the city, as shown by the silence that is suddenly observed and maintained by the drunken customers (Al- Aswany 37).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al-Aswany specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The author describes Hatim as a professional and respectable character, although everyone in the building seems to know of his sexual orientation. Hatim is not dating Abd Rabuh alone, but the reader comes to learn that he is actually pursuing rough young men for sex, dishing money to ensure he gets the best man he comes across. Apart from gay behavior exhibited as a form of immorality in Cairo, Al-Asawny also introduces the reader to the immoral act of men like Zaki Bey, an elderly person who operates an office at the Yacoubian Building, but spends much of his time pursuing women and dope. He is portrayed as a man with all manners of pre-revolutionary Cairo. Hagg Azzam, a self-made billionaire and a suspected drug dealer, signifies the corrupt class of Egypt that is doing anything possible to corrupt their way to power. In addition, the reader is introduced to Malak, a shirt maker who occupies a small room in the upper section of Yacoubian Building. However, despite having a humble business, we learn that he has a hidden agenda- he has a secret plan to capture all the apartments downstairs. Taha, the young son of the building’s door attendant, is presented as a young and ‘too honest’ person. Taha is too honest to an extent that he cannot fit the police force. He is also a bright and ambitious person. However, the reader learns that apart from being Buhayna’s boyfriend, he is actually heterosexual. In addition, he joins Muslim militancy, leaving his girlfriend (Al-Aswany 123). Women are also not spared when considering the immoral acts of people in Cairo. Buhayna, once Taha leaves the building, is left coning men but ‘smartly’ without losing her virginity. However, she cannot escape practicing immorality because she needs some money to support her mother and siblings (Al-Aswany 143). In fact, the plight of women in the city is well presented in the novel. For instance, Souad Gaber is literally ‘sold’ for marriage to Hagg Azam by her elder brother. The older brother briefly meets Azzam the tycoon, and, without even knowing his intentions, willingly gives away his sister in exchange for a large sum of money. In fact, the author compares the meeting between her brot her and Azzam with a â€Å"business transition† in which Souad, the commodity, is offered for sale (Al-Aswany 126).Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion Al Aswany’s characters are clearly used to display how people are in need of money, wealth and better lives. While rich men are chasing the poor people for sexual satisfaction, the poor are ready to destroy their dignity in exchange of money. Works Cited Al-Aswany, Alaa. The Yacoubian Building. Cairo: The American University in Cairo, 2002. Print This essay on Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al-Aswany was written and submitted by user GitHoskins to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

asasas essays

asasas essays The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, better known as aids is the most deadly disease known to man today. There are approximately 20 million people living with aids in the world and the number is growing. The epidemic is sweeping through the continents of Africa and Southeast Asia. There is currently no vaccine or cure for aids. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the virus that causes aids. HIV is a virus that attacks the cells in your body that are supposed to prevent you from illnesses. CD4 or T-helper is white blood cells in the body that fight off bacteria, viruses, and certain types of cancer. Since CD4 cells fight off viruses and infections from your body, when your CD4 count becomes low you are prone to infections and cancers of the body. Diseases like Dysplasia can lead to cervical cancer in HIV+ females which is life threatening. Other illnesses include PCP, pneumonia. You are diagnosed with aids once you CD4 count are 200 or less. Basketball Legend, Magic Johnson has kept his CD4 count above 200. This is why he has not developed aids since being diagnosed with HIV twelve years ago. HIV can be transmitted through various forms of bodily fluid contact. The most common way HIV is transmitted is unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse. Oral Sex on the genitals with no barrier is way to transmit the virus. Sharing drug injection needles is way to transmit the virus. You can contract the virus by being injected with a needle with contaminated blood or unscreened blood transfusions. It can be passed from a mother to her baby is she is HIV+. Aids can not be transmitted through casual contact. There are actually two types of HIV known in the world. HIV-1 and HIV-2 both transmit through sexual contact but HIV- 2 is less easily transmitted. People often refer to HIV-1 when talking about HIV. The subtypes in HIV are separated into two groups. Group M and O contain different HIV strains. Ten subtypes belong to group M, cla...

Locate an article on a controversial subject where the author makes an Essay

Locate an article on a controversial subject where the author makes an argument you do not agree with - Essay Example The data they used to defend their position was that of crime rates in the US in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Truly, the crime rates for 1970s and 1980s were high compared to 1990s. The two authors claim that the reduced crime rates in 1990s was due to the legalization of abortion in the US in 1973. To them, legalization of abortion led to reduction of unwanted babies. They based their claims on the ground that males of ages 18-24 are most likely to commit crimes. By 1990s, babies born from 1973 were 17 years and above. A reduction of crime rates in 1990s therefore meant that most of those who commit crimes are people originating from unwanted/unplanned pregnancies. I dispute the above claims. First, the rate of murder of 14-17 year in 1993 was 3.6 times that of 14-17 year olds in 1984. The first lot was born during the high-abortion period of 1975-1979 while the second lot was born during the pre-legalization period of 1966-1970. This means legalization of abortion had little impact on crime rates among those born post-legalization period. Secondly, if legalization reduces crime rates, a decline in crime should therefore have started from the youth. Contrasting to the above fact, reduction in crime was first recorded among the older people, those born pre-legalization period.

Application of Polynomials in real life situation Scholarship Essay

Application of Polynomials in real life situation - Scholarship Essay Example The article chosen here does exactly that. Through full examination of the article several factors will be identified which include but are not limited to the significance of the article in relation to polynomials; has the understanding of polynomials increased or decreased in regards to the article. Polynomials are variables that are used to calculate or solve answers to a question. Polynomials are used in our everyday life. Polynomials can be used to represent various real life phenomena. For example, the distance travelled by a ball thrown up can be represented by a polynomial in time variable. Revenue earned by company can be represented by a polynomial in quantity of product sold. Current flowing through the wire as soon as the switch is turned on can be represented by a polynomial in time. A polynomial is just an entity of representation solving an equation. In fact, if we can relate any two variables, then a polynomial can be used to approximate the relation between these two variables. Throughout time there have been ways used to solve problems. Polynomials are one of those ways. Human nature is never satisfied with just the plain undecorated solution. Human nature is one that seeks to improve constantly. The improvement is mainly to benefit the understanding of a process already in existence. The improvement may also be for the benefit of making the solution to a problem easier and more identifiable. So here polynomials have been described but what is the actual meaning of a polynomial? According to the mirriam-webster dictionary a polynomial is defined as a mathematical expression of one or more algebraic terms each of which consists of a constant multiplied by one or more variables raised to a nonnegative integral power. The definition of polynomials is a beginning step to understanding the use of polynomials. So here are some examples that will better help the understanding of polynomials; examples that were mentioned earlier

Credit cards from the legal perspective (special reference to UAE) Research Paper

Credit cards from the legal perspective (special reference to UAE) - Research Paper Example . Now, UAE has become a developed market for the usage of credit card due to consumer awareness and due to introduction of innovative creditcard products. There is an allegation about the UAE card issuers that they are charging exorbitant service charges from cardholders in UAE. Further, issuing of creditcards to all the migrant workers without verifying their credit status has brought many legal issues. This research essay will look into in general about creditcards with particular emphasis to the legal issues arising out of credit card business in UAE. CREDITCARDS FROM THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE (SPECIAL REFERENCE TO UAE) Introduction In UAE, the creditcards are regarded as an essential part of life of UAE citizens as it is being regarded in other parts of the world. Creditcards convenient have come to limelight as it is being recognised everywhere today and because of its acceptable and convenient form of payment. The right usage of credit card offers the cardholder a flexible form of credit payment and may enhance the user’s credit standing, and one may even accrue rewards awarded by creditcard issuers. Nowadays, creditcards have become a common medium of payment. Creditcards are easy to carry, and it is safer than carrying cash. ... However, if a customer uses a credit card without any rationale, it could be devastating as quick sand. It is alleged that lenders can exploit gullible credit cardholders with the exorbitant interest rates and other penalties like delay for making payment or adding penal interest for late payment. As of today, about 68% of creditcards are being used as a transactional medium by consumers for their convenience who are likely to repay their balances on a monthly basis without any default. As per recent research study made by VISA , as compared to six years ago, there was about 50% of creditcards generated no interest at all to the issuers and whereas now, it is estimated at 60% of cards are being reported to have generated no interest. The popularity of creditcards can be attributed to the convenience in nature and also the credit facility it offers to card holders. Credit card offers not only convenience but also has substituted checks which is the traditional mode of payment for any purchases earlier. Credit card does not require to maintain adequate cash reserves to meet contemporary expenses. It is estimated that about 23% of consumer transactions are being carried over creditcards. Cardholders are permitted to carry interest-free balances for about sixty days as the cardholder is allowed to enjoy the credit not only throughout the credit cycle but also offers a grace period of 20 days after the lapse of the credit period. If a cardholder pays the balances within the credit period, he can avoid the payment of any interest on his credit purchases through his card. It is to be noted that consumers are chiefly employing credit card as an alternative for checks instead of considering it as a source of

Advantage And Disadvantages Of Fixed Wings Engineering Essay

Advantage And Disadvantages Of Fixed Wings Engineering Essay Law enforcement agencies have utilized fixed wing and rotor wing aircrafts to help enforce laws since the 1920s. This paper will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of fixed wing and rotor wing aircrafts. Take a brief look at some of the missions and technical equipments that are utilized by law enforcement agencies. Look in depth at two of their fix wing aircrafts utilized and how rotor wing aircrafts help save lives and enforce the law. Since 1920, law enforcement agencies have used fixed wing and rotor wing aircrafts to assist in enforcing the law. In 2007, data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics showed that large law enforcement departments provided aerial enforcement in the District of Columbia and 46 states. There were 295 airplanes and 604 helicopters being operated, which flew more than 330,000 missions. http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/aullea07.pdf The types of airplane that are in use by law enforcement are Cessna 182, Cessna 206, Pilatus PC-12 Spectres, P-3 Orions, Citations, Learjets, Gulfstream jets, King Air 350s and 200s and some larger airliner-type aircraft. Some of the helicopters are the American Euro-copter EC120/130/145, AStar AS350/355N/350 B2, Dolphin HH-65C, Blackhawk UH-60, Maverick, Raven II R44, Cayuse OH-6 and McDonnell Douglas MD 600. The types of missions these aircrafts conduct are surveillance, drug interdiction, fugitive searches, routine patrol or support, search and rescue , personnel transport, prisoner transport, SWAT operation, traffic enforcement, speed enforcement, homeland security, photographic, medical support and evacuation. Both types of aircrafts have their advantages and disadvantages in airborne law enforcement. http://www.kansas.com/2010/08/01/1427779/aviation-sees-growth-in-law-enforcement.html. The advantages that helicopters have over fixed wings are they can land and take off without the need for run ways. Their airfoil shape rotors are like the wings of an airplane, as the rotor spins, air flow faster over the tops of the blades than underneath, thus creating lift for flight. Their unique rotor design allows for them to takeoff vertically, fly in any direction and hover over an area. Their ability to hover provides coverage for ground units and are able to land in assisting in foot pursuits. Helicopters can be equipped with a winch for the purpose of lowering or picking up personnel or equipments on the ground. It is valuable asset in conducting rescues at sea or on mountains, where there is no place to land. Its size allows for maneuverability around tall structures at lower altitudes. manhttp://library.thinkquest.org/J0112389/helicopters.htm. The helicopters are force multipliers for ground units, because they can monitor the tactical environment, give alerts or observe things which the ground units are unable to detect. Additionally, they can respond and cover ground more quickly than ground units. The flight deck of a helicopter can be equipped with multiple electronic equipments. Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) also know as glass cockpit that provides flight and system information to the crew, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera allows the crew to see images created from infrared energy, moving map system show their location, satellite phones provide direct communication, digital video downlink gives real time images, night vision goggles can be used in low light situation, loudspeakers for communication or message deliver to the ground, tear gas dispensers help control crowds, police and aviation radios keep the crew in contact with other officers and air traffic controls . The equipments aboard the helicopters are vital in helping enforcing the law as the incident on the 14th of November 2008, when the San Diego Police Department helicopter used the FLIR camera video to help indict a man for beating another man with a crutch in the middle of the street at night. Without the FLIR system they would have not been able to see the incident happening. http://www.policeone.com/police-products/tactical/night-vision/videos/5954944-police-helicopter-catches-bizarre-street-fight-on-flir-camera On the night of 30th January 2013, a 60 year old captain of the Panamanian cargo ship Gray Shark was having a heart attack. The NYPD police responded to the emergency call and conducted a dramatic nighttime helicopter rescue in New York Harbor. The NYPD harbor medical team stabilized the captain before calling in the help of a police helicopter to airlift him off the ship. A basket was lowered from the helicopter to hoist him up and then flew him to Staten Island University Hospital North where he was listed in stable condition. This rescue shows one of the many advantages that a rotor wing aircraft posses. http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/176246/police-helicopter-rescues-ship-captain-who-was-having-a-heart-attack The disadvantages helicopters have are that they cost more to operate and maintain. A fully equipped helicopter can cost from $500,000 to $3 million to purchase and the flying costs ranges from $200 to $400 per hour. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-30- cophelicopters_N.htm Maintenance, fuel, leasing and financing cost are three times then the cost that of operating and maintaining airplanes. Its abilities to fly lower and hover creates noises that are easily detectable. The capacity of passengers that a helicopter can carry is limi ted and varies from type. The Robinson RA-44 can carry 2 to 4 personnel and others like the Blackhawk UH-60 can carry 11 personnel or the Bell UH-1 that can be configured to carry 15 personnel. The general commercial helicopters in the law enforcement agencies have a flight time of two to four hours, with top speed from 50 to 200 knots and an average range of about 200 miles. The operations of fixed wing aircraft have some advantages over rotor wing aircrafts in law enforcement. They can perform a wide range of missions which requires them to stay airborne longer then a rotor wing aircraft is able too. Fix wing aircraft can carry more payloads and engine performances are great then those of rotor wing aircrafts. Aero surveillance, homeland security, speed enforcement and transport of people or gear are mostly the missions perform. http://www.lawofficer.com/article/patrol/fixed-wing-aircraft-law-enforc They are equipped with a variety of high tech equipments just as their rotor wing counterparts. The cabins are pressurized and allow for higher altitude flights, which enables them to conduct surveillance 5,000 ft to 6,000 ft and not be undetected. The costs to maintain and operate a fixed wing aircraft are cheaper than rotor wing aircrafts. On average per flight it cost about $54 for maintenance and $45 for fuel compared to a rotor wing aircraft. http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/aullea07.pdf One example of a cost effective fixed wing aircraft is the light sport aircraft. The general cost of the aircraft is between $60,000 and $130,000 to purchase. The cost for fuel and maintenance is only $50 per hour. They can fly at speeds ranging from 35 to 125 knots which makes them an excellent platform for performing a broad range of law enforcement missions. It can carry up to 500 lbs and travel twice as far as a helicopter. http://nij.gov/nij/topics/law-enforcement/operations/aviation/types-of-aircraft.htm One of the best aircraft that the Custom Border Patrol ha s in their inventory is the P-3 AEW Orion airplane. This is a unique aircraft is integration with the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft electronics and radar system, which allows for it to see surface and air contacts 200 NM in all directions. The aircraft has a large fuel capacity of 60,000 lbs that allows for flight time up to 10 to 13 hours on station. It has a maximum range at low altitude is 2,500 NM and at high altitude 3,800 NM and a maximum average cruising speed of 300 to 330 knots. It can carry a crew of 12 to 21 personnel. The normal crew consists of four systems operators, three pilots, two flight engineers and three maintenance crew members. They work closely with the Navy and Coast Guard to coordinate the location of drug smuggling boats or planes. The primary missions are interdiction, over water operations, surveillance and homeland security. The use of this aircraft between the Jacksonville, Florida and the Texas office have contributed to the capture and seizure of 50 metric to ns of drugs worth a roughly about 2 Billion dollars since 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqCtrB_FZvE The DA42 MPP (Multi Purpose Platform) GUARDIAN is a specially designed aircraft to carrying multi-functional aerial surveillance equipments. The advantage of this aircraft is its extremely low operating costs and its abilities to conduct surveillance operations. The investment in this aircraft pays for itself through the saving in fuel cost. It can operate at a wide range from a minimum of 75 knots to a maximum of 152 knots fully equipped. When conducting surveillance the aircraft can fly for up to 12.5 hours with refueling. At 50% power setting its maximum range is more than 1,350NM. Currently there is no other small aircraft that can match the flexibility of the GUARDIAN. The GUARDIANà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s design incorporates hard points located under the fuselage for mounting belly pods and uses a modular attachment approach. The nose section of the aircraft is detachable which allows for mounting nose pods. This aircraft can carry a gyro-stabilized, daylight and thermal video camera, digital aerial cameras and laser scanner, a micro wave up and downlink system with a range of more than 100 NM that provides high quality transfers, satellite downlink beyond line of sight, UHF/VHFradios and a military radios is part of the standard equipment onboard. The GUARDIAN also can operate as an UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or OPV (Optionally Piloted Vehicle) that provide support abilities for longer operation times and if require to operations in regions that are generally too dangerous for manned aircraft to operate. http://www.diamond- sensing.com/fileadmin/uploads_airborne/files/DA42_MPP_web_v290108.pdf http://www.diamond-sensing.com/index.php?id=da42mppguardian Some of the disadvantages of fix winged aircrafts are that they require a runway to take off and land. It takes more time to assemble and brief the flight crew for the type of mission being flown. Conges tions and traffic on the run way may delay on taking off or landing. Depending on the size of the aircraft the pilot or co-pilot are unable to see the other side of the aircraft. They are unable provide ground assistance as their rotor wing counterparts are capable of doing, such as land and assist in a foot pursuit. Unable to hover or perform orbits like the rotor wing counterparts they cannot monitor the tactical environment very well, thus unable to observe or alert ground units of what they are unaware of. This limits their ability to land on ships or areas where there are no run ways. A major tool used for search and rescue that airplanes are unable to carry is a rescue winch. Both fixed wing and rotor wing aircrafts have their advantages and disadvantages, but they are both very valuable asset in the mission of state and federal law enforcement agencies in protecting homeland security, defending the Nationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s borders, fight against terrorist and enforcing the l aws of the United States.

Essay --

The main questions addressed in this research were based on the Medicago Truncatula- Sinorhizobium symbiosis that form indeterminate (non-reproducing bacteria) nodules. a) to see whether M. truncatula displays partner choice in picking the most efficient rhizobia between nitrogen fixing and non fixing bacteria in both pre- infection and post- infection scenarios. b) the authors also wanted to see if legumes can alter their allocation of carbon photosyntates to each nodule depending on how efficient the rhizobia is in each nodule. Authors of this article did this research because this symbiotic relationship is widely studied, but all the research done so far have been on determinate (bacteria is able to reproduce) nodules1 rather than indeterminate nodules. In previous research it was found that determinate nodules show both partner choice and allocation differentiation between efficient and non- efficient rhizobia. Answer2: Authors hypothesized that in Medicago Truncatula- Sinorhizobium that form indeterminate nodules will show partner choice in both pre infection and post infection scenarios and select for the most efficient rhizobia partner. They also hypothesized that the legume will show differential allocation of carbon photosyntates in each nodule depending on the number of nitrogen fixing and non fixing rhizobia in each nodule. Answer3: Figure # What method(s) gave this data? What do these data show? Figure1a The authors performed a split- root experiment to obtain data based on three different parameters and then used MANOVA analyses to compare the three parameters used in the experiment. They used Post hoc on all the measurements to use it to graph the differences. ANOVA to compare the mean of the two strains used... ...thors hypothesis. However, they were not able to show difference in the resource allocation to each nodule depending on the efficiency of bacteria in each nodule. Therefore they concluded that sanctioning is not present is not present in all legume unlike the partner choice. Answer5: The authors think that the discrepancy in the results of the previous researches and theirs regarding allocations by the legume to nitrogen fixing and non- fixing bacteria is that the authors used M. truncatula- sinorhizobium indeterminate nodules whereas other researchers used either soybean or yellow bush lupin determinate nodules. Since this is the first time such model is presented I think that there should be more researches focusing only the sanctions by legumes to the bacteria to better understand the symbiosis between M. truncatula - Sinorhizobium and sanctions in general.

Arts Education Essay

The purpose of this bibliography is to attain information from credible sources on arts programs in schools. The goal is to provide enough information so that the reader is then able to form their own opinions on the benefits, problems, and policies on arts programs at varying levels of education. Those looking to find detailed information will find this bibliography to be a good starting point. Parsad, B. , and Spiegelman, M. 2012. Arts Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools: 1999–2000 and 2009–10 (NCES 2012–014). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U. S. Department of Education. Washington, DC. Web. 24 Jan. 2013 This source is a presentation of unbiased information about both the overall arts education programs and specific sections including: visual arts, music, dance, and theater/drama. The report utilizes a plethora of charts, graphs, and other visual aids to help organize and present the information. Parsad and Spiegelman first present their findings on overall arts education programs including the percentages of schools offering visual arts, music, dance and theater classes. They then dedicate ten to fifteen pages discussing the particulars of each section of the arts listed above. There is so much information in this article that it would be great for someone looking for a broad spectrum understanding of arts education programs. The visual aids complement the information presented and would be easy to incorporate into a variety of works. For someone who is looking to get very specific information about a specific program then this would be a good source to start with, the way the report is divided makes it very easy to find information on a specific sections of an arts program, i. e. music or drama. It would provide the reader with enough information that they could ask their own questions and be able to look further into a specific topic. Catterall, Dumais, and Hampden-Thompson. March 2012. The arts and achievement in at-risk youth : findings from four longitudinal studies. National Endowment for the Arts. Research Report #55). Web. 24 Jan. 2013. This research report is a presentation of years of studies conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts and similar organizations, most being government funded. The authors arrange the report in such a way that the bulk of the report is given through the use of visual graphs and charts, which are accompanied by conclusive statements like â€Å"Teenagers and young adult s of low socioeconomic status (SES) who have a history of in-depth arts involvement show better academic outcomes than do low-SES youth who have less arts involvement. They earn better grades and demonstrate higher rates of college enrollment and attainment. † (12) Most of the graphs simply relate percentages of students with low and high levels of art engagement to achieve certain things like high school graduation, entering a bachelors program, and attaining a steady professional level career. For every study and graph presented or reviewed there is clearly cited sources, if any confusion remains the appendix and cited pages are very clear about how to find more information. Being that this is a report of findings from a national organization it is not biased to or for support of arts programs. For anyone looking for specific statistics to use in a presentation or report of their own, this research report could be very helpful. As previously stated the bulk of the information is presented through graphs and charts that utilize percentages, and is therefore very easy to take and use in a presentation without having to do much work yourself. For someone looking for a more scholarly breakdown of the benefits of arts education on high-risk students this report will not be as helpful, as it would be time consuming to trace the information presented back to the original sources. Dwyer, M.Christine. 2011. Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America’s Future through Creative Schools. President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. The reports emphasizes the essential role that arts education programs play in improving student engagement and building creativity. Dwyer discusses, in a lengthy and wordy overview, the current Arts Education programs and policies shortcomings. â€Å"It is widely agreed that the U. S. public education system is not adequately serving a significant portion of our nation’s children and that public K-12 schools must change dramatically o achieve the Administration’s goal that the United States become a global leader in postsecondary attainment by 2020†¦ School leaders and teachers will need to step up to the challenge of finding new ways to engage many more students in meaningful learning†¦ † (27) More importantly, this report discusses possible solutions such as reinvesting in arts education, and argues for creating arts-rich schools that can engage students in ways that complement the study of the arts and other traditional subjects such as literature, history, science, and mathematics. Another key takeaway from this report is it shows readers the link between arts education and achievement in other subjects. Being that this source is a report by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, it attempts to present evidence to support the positions of the president and his corresponding political party. As political and wordy as this report is it would most likely benefit someone looking into the politics side of arts education, it would not be as helpful for someone looking for developmental and long term benefits of art involvement in schools. Rabkin, Hedberg. 2011. Arts Education in America: What the Declines Mean for Arts Participation. Based on the 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts. National Endowment for the Arts. (Research Report #52). Web. 24 Jan. 2013. This report presents its findings after researching important question related to arts education in America. Questions like: Has participation in arts programs declined? What does it mean for teachers and students? How has this affected participation in other extracurricular activities? How does this affect support for programs? The article presents the questions to the reader and then follows up with information that supports both positive and negative claims about the answer. Charts are used when needed to simplify information into an easily digestible visual aid. There are numerous sources used as evidence for the information presented, as well as suggestions for further investigation into the questions presented. This report has a very neutral stance towards the information presented. There is good information presented for varying arguments and the ultimate decision is left to the reader. This source would be a fair report to use in a work, especially if in an argumentative essay you need information for the view that opposes yours. However for someone looking for highly specific information this report will only be useful for an introduction into the questions being asked about the national education programs. Oxtoby, David W. 2012. The Place of Arts in Liberal Education. Liberal Education, v98 n2 p36-41 Spr 2012. Oxtoby uses a great deal of logic to explain his opinion on the place of arts in liberal education and he uses statistics to support his views. In his article, he states that diversity in the curriculum is a keystone to success in any liberal education program. He also claims that part of that diversity needs to include a program where students can express their creativity. Being able to express their creativity and the stimulation provided by arts programs lead to more successful students, both in academics, community involvement, and professional work environments. This article is a good source of simple and sound logic in support of arts programs being included in all liberal education. Oxtoby’s statements and presentation of the information is biased towards supports arts programs, but he always includes evidence to support his ideas. Also, while he does not approve of excluding arts in liberal education there is never any negativity in his statements, only more supporting evidence for his ideas. Some readers will find this article to be dry and uninteresting unless they already have some knowledge and opinions on the place of arts in education programs.

Why a Pen is a Pen-According to Aristotle essays

Why a Pen is a Pen-According to Aristotle essays Why the Pen in Your Hand is a Pen Aristotle would agree that the pen in your hand is a pen. According to Aristotle everything is either a substance or an attribute, the pen in your hand is a substance. All substances consist of 2 Ontological moments, matter and form. An object must have matter and form to be accepted as a substance. A substances matter is what it is made of and the form is what makes the substance what it is, both of are needed to make the pen a pen. The matter of the pen is the ink, the plastic, and the ballpoint. The form of the pen is the penness. However, matter and form are not the only essentials Aristotle would use to support the fact that the pen in your hand is a pen. Aristotle Causes would also be used to verify the pens existence. These causes lead to the purpose of a substance. The first cause is known as the Material Cause, which deals with the matter of the substance. The Material Cause of the pen is ink, the plastic, and the ballpoint. The second cause is known as the Formal Cause, which deals with the form of the substance. The Formal Cause of the pen is penness. Both of these Causes make up the third Cause, which is known as the Efficient Cause. The Efficient Cause is the principle of motion or change. The person or machine that produced the pen Source: Looking at Philosophy (3rd Edition) by Donald Palmer (McGraw Hill, 2001) would be the Efficient Cause of the pen. The last Cause is called the Final Cause, this Cause deals with the purpose of a substance. The Final Cause of the pen is to be used for writing. These four causes along with the Ontological moments of a substance help lead to the conclusion that the pen in your hand is a pen. In conclusion the pen in your hand is a pen because it contains matter and form along with the essential causes that lead to its final purpose. ...

Desertification Climate Change or Human Influences Essays

Desertification Climate Change or Human Influences Essays Desertification Climate Change or Human Influences Essay Desertification Climate Change or Human Influences Essay The Sahara is the largest of the deserts on the planet and expands from the west to east coast of northern Africa. Inhabitants have evolved to survive the harsh climate of the desert, however they now have to cope with the sprawl of the Sahara into the Sahel Desertification. There are contrasting opinions on the overall cause of the land degradation; some believe it is due mostly to the influence of humans and others consider changes in the climate to be primarily responsible for the spread of the desert. There are four main human interactions that are said to lead to desertification: overcultivation, overgrazing, deforestation and poor irrigation. These are influenced by population change and changes in social and economic conditions. Alan Grainger, author of Desertification: How people make deserts, how people can stop, and why they dont , is a strong believer in the irresponsibility of mans actions in the spread of the desert. He states Drought triggers off a crisis, but does not itself cause desertification In northern Africa, there is a high population growth (Mali NI=3%). With an escalating population there will be more need to intensify demand on farmland for various crops to be cultivated such as rice and cassava. This leads to several problems that put increased strain on the land. Some of these difficulties include a decline in the fertility of the soil, therefore each time crops are grown they become less successful until they will no longer grow and the land becomes useless, a desert. Also, the topsoil will become crusty by the evaporation of the little rain, which will then increase surface run-off for when it does rain, eroding the soil by gullying. In the 1960s a large-scale development of groundnuts in the Sahel is said to be significantly responsible for the drought of the early 1970s, as thought by Richard Franke and Barbara Chasin (Montclair State College, New Jersey, USA). Constant harvesting of the large areas of groundnuts due to encouragement from developed countries, like France with whom they could exchange this product for staple foodstuffs greatly reduced the amount of fallow land. This meant that nomads who had previously used the land for grazing had to move north where the grazing is then intensified, further increasing the rate of desertification. This political tie exacerbated a fragile situation. Farmers in the Sahel also cause problems when they graze livestock, mainly goats and cattle. Short-term sedentarisation produces overgrazing, especially when concentrated along walkways and water holes. The walkways are required to transport cattle from each settlement since new grassy land has to be found for the livestock when the essential resources end. This nomadic way of life increases the rate of land degradation by placing pressure on the land and the water resources. Overgrazing leads to a number of problems such as a decline in palatable grass species, especially perennials, which are good at holding the soil together and prevents erosion by rain or wind. Overgrazing is indeed a major cause of desertification Irrigation schemes were set up to help stem the problem of desertification. However, these were not managed properly causing further problems. A chain reaction occurs if there is bad irrigation that is summarised in figure 2. Saline soils have good structure and are fairly easily leached but can be reclaimed. Alkaline soils are very compacted and are not good at leaching. This means that the surface becomes difficult for roots of shrubs and trees to penetrate and the land is hard to reclaim. Deforestation is another one of humans influences on environmental change. In the Sahel four million hectares of trees are harvested every year. With deforestation, water evaporates from the soil, is drawn up by capillary rise, leading to a fall in the water table, leaving the topsoil dry and susceptible to wind-erosion. Richard St Barbe Barker, founder of The Men of The Trees Organisation shows concern over the effect of deforestation on desertification and says that When trees go, deserts come. Figure 2. Many authors consider land degradation to be caused by global warming and regional climate change. Tereba Togola, a Malian resident is one of these authors and asserts that climate change has taken place for thousands of years and the recent drought in the Sahel is just another one of the many cycles. Togola describes the climate patterns of 4500 years ago, when there were growing oscillations of aridity where dry periods were becoming more frequent. This brought on a period of desertification throughout the Saharan and Sahelian area. Many of the lakes in the region Lake Bosumtwi became dry as a result of the higher temperatures and diminishing amount of rainfall. Large southward population movements to the wetter granite massifs of the Adrar Des Iforas occurred due to the worsening weather conditions. With them, they brought the desert conditions. The sever weather conditions forced them to overgraze and overcultivate the land until it turned to desert where subsequently they had had to move even further south, continuing to erode the land. Authors McIntosh and Tainter illustrate that droughts can be connected with various natural phenomena. An increase in sea level pressure around the Azores and northern Sahara consequently creates increased anticyclonic activity and augmented winter northeasterly trades, pushing the ITCZ south. If the ITCZ moves south to the warmer southern hemisphere, the subtropical high-pressure area of the Hadley cell dominates the Sahel for much of the year, leading to drier weather and consequently the land degrades. The climate in the Sahel fluctuates greatly from generation to generation causing implications for the people dwelling there. McIntosh and Tainter say the precipitation variance prevents cultivators from having a regular growing pattern and having to move around to find suitable land. Another natural method of desertification is Sahelian fires that smoulder each year around March and April. These use the parched grasslands as a means of transportation to the surrounding area, destroying all vegetation in its path. The fires can actually be used to control the land by clearing it to produce improved land for grazing potential. Scientists at NASA say Benefits outweighed by the negative impacts f fires on soil fertility, leading to long-term declines in productivity. It could be said that researchers have failed to determine the definite cause of the degradation. However, both causes physical and human can lead to desertification. It seems possible that Alan Graingers theory is most convincing and is worth taking into account; climate change does not actually cause desertification but accelerates the degrad ation process by human reaction to it. Changes in climate have occurred for millennia leading to increased aridity and the evaporation of lakes in the desert area. The Spearmans Rank Correlation Coefficient on the appendix sheet shows if there is a relationship between area of the desert and agricultural population, and area of the desert and rainfall anomaly. Table 1 shows that there is not a statistical relationship and human population has no effect on the size of the desert. Table 2 shows a statistical relationship between the amount of rainfall. Although the spearman rank (appendix 1) illustrates that there is a connection, it is doubtful that rainfall deficiency is the individual cause. The climate has a strong influence on human actions and in this case humans have had to react to the climate change to sustain a good standard of living, which subsequently leads desertification. Therefore, climate manipulates the way of life of the people but it is the inhabitants themselves that cause the degradation by their exploitation of the land due to their intense farming methods and constant rhythmical travels in the Sahara. If humans were not to use the land so intensively it may have a chance to replenish before the severe drought approaches.

Human growth and developement summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Human growth and developement summary - Essay Example A lot of things are unsaid in this relationship between the parents and children, yet both parents and children are still sure that they love each other. I like authoritative parenting because it seems to be the most useful style of parenting in the present age. As the technology is advancing, children are gaining more expertise in its use as compared to their parents since the children are the latest generation. Children require a certain level of freedom in order to equip themselves with those skills that are required for success in academics and profession in the present age. Authoritative parenting allows the children this freedom to explore their world without breaking connection with the parents. In addition, authoritative parents are more like friends to the children. This is very important for good psychological development of the children as they can reach out for the parents to discuss any kind of issue, and get the required help in

Ethics Exam 2 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Ethics Exam 2 - Article Example Thus, first an individual needs to identify the harm a particular scenario may do to the majority population of the society. In order to identify the harm, one needs to identify what the majority of the society perceives regarding the issue and whether there is an agreement on the issue impacting the majority in a negative manner. Once it has been established that an issue may have consequences associated with it for the majority of the population, an individual needs to look at the various solutions that are available to solve the problem. Once solutions have been identified, a cost and benefit of all the solutions need to be conducted. This is a significant step in order to identify which solution will have lesser consequences and more benefits for the overall society. This step will help in ensuring that only that solution is implemented which benefits the major population of the society. 2. An ethical leader needs to have good communication skills in the area of communicating ethical values and guidelines of the organization. He/she needs to encourage his/her followers to focus on the interests of the organization. Ethical leaders even need to indulge in successes planning in order to ensure that there are other ethical leaders within his/her ranks and in future the organization will have ethical leaders to continue to promote and adopt the ethical values of the organization (Lewis 138). Ethical leaders need to be able to exhibit the connection of operating within ethical guidelines and how these guidelines help in the attainment of organization’s aims and objectives. Ethical leaders even need to ensure that they do as they preach. If they are preaching ethical values, then they need to abide by them and take strong and difficult decisions in times when the ethical values of the organization are being compromised. For example an organization may have a zero t olerance policy towards sexual