Monday, September 30, 2019

Infection Control Essay

This is a reflective assignment that will reflect upon a scenario that took place during the clinical placement of a student nurse in theatres. The assignment will focus on MRSA protocols in theatres, why it is important and how the use of reflection assists in the continuous professional development of a student nurse. Throughout the assignment the author will use the Rolfe reflective framework (2001, cited in Jasper, 2003) to explore what happened through out the scenario using the three stages of what, so what and now what. Reflection is a useful tool which health care professionals use to improve their skills and advance their future practice by revisiting scenarios that occurred and exploring why something happened, whether it could be improved in any way or to recognize good practice (Jasper & Rosser, 2013); In accordance to The Code (NMC, 2008) which dictates that all patient information should be kept confidential, and the Data protection Act (1998) which also governs that patient information should be kept secure and released to only those necessary or to who the patient shares it with; All patient details will be kept private and the patient is referred to only as the patient. During a surgical procedure in theatre the MRSA protocol was being followed. However during the procedure a Doctor left the theatre and then tried to re enter the preparation room, the â€Å"clean† circulating nurse did not allow this and informed the doctor to change scrubs and wash their shoes straight away. A full description of the scenario is attached as Appendix 1. The nurse was trying to minimize risk of cross infection as clothing and footwear could be contaminated by surfaces (Kumar, Saunders & Watson, 2000). The student nurse needs to have a good understanding of MRSA, protocols and research and evidence based approaches to deliver safe and appropriate care whilst minimizing risk of cross infection. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that is resistant to a number of antibiotics that treat infection including methicillin. There are different strains of Staphylococcus aureus making it harder or easier to treat. MRSA can live in the nostrils or on skin and is  easily transferred from person to person or surface by contact, it can also be dispersed by skin particles through the air (McNeil, Mody & Bradley, 2002), contaminating beds and surfaces (Kumar, Saunders & Watson, 2000 ) and can remain active for longer than 6 months (Wagenvoort, Sluijsmans & Penders, 2000).This is why hand hygiene and environmental cleanliness is so important (Crowcroft, 1996). The bacterium can enter the bloodstream through small cuts or a wound; Depending on individuals’ immune system people can fight off lower strains of MRSA with minimal infection symptoms such as pain, temperature, dizziness etc. However people with lowered immune systems i.e. people in hospital w ith existing health complaints or infections can be harder to treat (Dougherty &Lister, 2004). MRSA is a virulent pathogen and when it doesn’t respond to treatment can cause sepsis, urinary tract infections, endocarditis, pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis and can even result in death (Weigeit, 2007). During theatre procedures the same source isolation nursing that is used on the wards is used in theatres nursing that is used on the wards (NHS, 2012). St George’s Hospital (NHS St Georges Trust, 2012) theatre policy outlines during theatre and recovery staff numbers should be kept to a minimum, all unnecessary equipment should be removed from theatre, staff should wear protective clothing and a plastic gown, after the procedure all equipment and surfaces should be cleaned and patients should be nursed using source isolation practices. (Dougherty & Lister, 2004) Source isolation aims to keep the source of infection from spreading anywhere by means of hand washing, washing, protective clothing and incineration of all disposable waste in a controlled manor. The National Institute for clinical excellence also highlighted the importance of source isolation regarding MRSA discussing its negative impacts on health ranging from discomfort to serious disability or death. (NICE, 2011) in 2009/10 the NHS dealt with almost 1900 bloodstream infections, each infection cost the NHS around  £7000. The aim in following guidelines is to protect patients, protect staff and to protect the environment for the next patient who will enter the theatre having an operation (Dougherty & Lister, 2004). Thanks to evidence based clinical practice and improved hand hygiene MRSA bloodstream infection rates have dropped by 41% in the NHS across England  since 2009 and a further 29% in 2012/2013 (Department of Health, 2012) From this event the student was able to reflect on research and evidence based approaches specifically in regards to MRSA and gain a more in-depth understanding of MRSA. Reading about bacterium and paths of transmission helped the student nurse have a better understanding of infection control measures and their importance.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Education for Secondary Students With Mental Retardation Essay

Education is important for any young person. All secondary school students are looking forward to their futures and independence. This is the goal that mentally challenged students also look forward to. It is the challenge of the school system to give each young person the best possible chance at achieving the goal of independence or at the very least performing daily functions to the best of his or her ability. In order for a school or teacher to accomplish this, the teacher must determine the student’s level of academic and adaptive skills then find ways to help him successfully transition into an area of employment that matches his skills. Education for Secondary Students with Mental Retardation Teachers who work with students with disabilities face greater challenges in preparing their students for the world outside of school. Many mentally retarded students, however can be very functional and hold jobs, if they are properly prepared for the world and helped to find their strengths. One of the first things the special education teacher needs to know is that each disability is different and each disabled student has individual needs. Once the teacher has established that each student needs to be treated differently, then a plan can be developed for the student’s future. The first step in helping a student reach his full potential is to determine the skills he already has, such as his academic and adaptive skills. By using these skills, the teacher can help the student make a successful transition from the academic world into the adult world of employment. A final step in successfully educating special needs students involves matching the student’s strongest skills with potential employment opportunities and training the student for the job he would be most likely to succeed in. When a teacher gets a special needs student in her class, her first challenge is to find out what his natural skills are. The first set of skills that need to be evaluated are the student’s academic skills. Academic skills consist what is usually considered school knowledge or what the student learned in school. Academic skills include skills such as critical thinking, reading, writing and mathematical skills (Young, 2007). They are often considered the skills that can be taught. A teacher who wants to see a student succeed needs to determine how well developed the student’s academic skills are developed and what areas of strength the student has in the area of academics. Although it is important for a teacher to provide a well rounded education to students, it is equally important to focus on the student’s specific areas of strength. Once the teacher has determined where the student’s strengths lie, a specific curriculum can be designed for that student. A curriculum is a specific course of study either for an entire class or, with special education, a specific student. It provides a sort of blue print for the educational goals (Browder, 2001). A good reason for developing a curriculum for students with disabilities is to help ensure positive out comes from the information being taught (Browder, 2001). This essentially means that by designing a curriculum specifically for an individual student, it will help that student maximize his academic strengths. Adaptive skills are equally important to helping determine the best way to help students reach their full potential. Adaptive skills can be defined as â€Å"how well a person can deal with the tasks of everyday life. These tasks include the ability to speak and understand; home-living skills; use of community resources; leisure, self-care, and social skills; self-direction. † (Free Health, 2007). Adaptive skills are the kind of skills that allow the student to adapt the information he knows into actions that can help them in daily living. These skills are vitally important in combination with the academic skills in order for a person to effectively adapt to the world and be independent. It is very important for teachers of mentally disabled students to help them develop their adaptive skills to increase the student’s independence. Part of this includes helping the student gain access to community services that can assist in various areas in the community (such as rent assistance, adaptive equipment, or financial assistance). This is another area in which individual attention is needed in order to insure that each student reaches his maximum potential. A teacher needs to assess the social and daily survival skills that the student possess and then help the student develop the areas of strength. In order to develop the skills, the student must practice the skills repeatedly and build on them. The students, like people without disabilities desire to develop socially acceptable behavior and in order to develop this, they must try to maintain it (Wacker, 1984). Once the level of skills and the student’s ability to adapt have been determined, the teacher needs to find the best way to prepare the student for life outside of the school setting. Most mentally challenged people will require some outside assistance in order to be successful. Many students leaving high school go to group homes or spend time in adult day care (Thompson, 1987). In order to successfully transition a mentally disabled young person from the very structured school setting to the adult world, it will take the involvement of more than just the teacher. Family members and community assistance needs to be involved, when looking into helping a mentally challenged young person adapt to life outside of high school. For at least the last year of the student’s school career, the teacher, parents, and the community social service workers involved should meet to discover the most likely success plan for the student. The young person should be included in the process of planning, in order to make the plan more likely to succeed. The plan needs to be within the abilities and skills of the student, and include the student’s interest. The majority of the people classified as mentally retarded are considered to be high functioning enough to live alone and be employed if they are provided with some community assistance. If the student has successfully developed his strongest skills, then he is likely to become fairly well adjusted to functioning in the community. The teacher by the time of graduation needs to have taught the student such basic skills as money management, meal preparation, grooming and safety. In addition to the basic skills, the student needs to have developed some job skills, in order to obtain and maintain employment. The job skills are where the student’s individual areas of strength become important, as those strengths often correlate with the student’s interests. If the teacher and family members effectively helped the student develop the skills, the student is more likely to make a successful transition into the adult world. Those who choose to live on their own instead of with parents or family, often move into group home settings at least initially. Group homes are homes in which several mentally retarded people live together either with some full time supervision or occasional monitoring to provide assistance. Living in one of these homes can often help with the transition from school to independence. Employment opportunities for the mentally challenged vary widely based upon their skills and abilities. Many restaurants and grocery stores employ mentally challenged individuals for stocking shelves or greeting customers. In some cases they help in group environments specifically designed to employ mentally retarded people. Most of these places are set up to provide added support and structure for the disabled people. â€Å"Currently, only one-third of all disabled Americans with disabilities work, although the remaining two-thirds who are not working would like to have a job, but may or may not be looking for one† (Brodsky, 1990). Those who would like to have jobs, but are not actively seeking them may not have been properly prepared by their school systems, their communities or their families. These people need to be informed on the opportunities available to them and provided with assistance on finding suitable employment for their skill level and abilities. Most businesses now claim they are equal opportunity employers, which means that anyone can apply for positions in the company. Some jobs do have basic requirements either for specific position knowledge or for safety purposes, but the company can not turn down a qualified applicant simply because they have a diagnosis of mental retardation. This law has helped many disabled people have opportunities they might not have had available to them a number of years ago. In addition to this many businesses are providing special accommodations for wheelchairs and hearing impaired employees to make jobs more accessible. Everyone has some talent and skills that other people do not possess and everyone despite his or her disabilities has the right to reach his or her maximum potential. It is the job of society to see that every child is raised to reach that potential. No child should be left behind or written off as incapable of accomplishing anything. No one knows what a person is capable of until someone has helped the person achieve success. Everyone even the most intelligent people need some assistance to achieve his maximum potential. The new laws that have been passed in recent years have helped to ensure that the school systems provide the necessary assistance to help disabled children reach their maximum potential rather than just passing them on and counting them for the sake of the school census, until they reach the age of eighteen.Many schools today are legally obligated to provide a satisfactory education to every student. Resources: Beker, Jerome. (1988) Transitioning Exceptional Children and Youth Into the Community. Hawthorn Press/New York. Booth, Tony. (1983). Policies Towards the Integration of Mentally Handicapped Children in Education Oxford Review of Education. Vol. 9, No. 3, 1983. Brodsky, Melvin. (1990) Employment Programs for Disabled Youth: An International View. Monthly Labor Review, Vol. 113, 1990 Browder, Diane. (2001) Curriculum and Assessment for Students with Moderate And Severe Disabilities. Guilford Press/New York. Cambridge, Paul. (2005) Person Centered Planning and Care Management With People With Learning Disabilities. Jessica Kingsly Publishers/ London Connis, Richard T. (1981). Training the Mentally Handicapped for Employment: A Comprehensive Manual. Kluwer Academic Pub Free Health Encyclopedia. (2007). Advameg. Retrieved October 3, 2008 from: Mental Retardation – Definition, Description, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis, Prevention President’s Committee on Mental Retardation- The President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped (1969). Rao, H. P. (1994). Employment opportunities for mentally handicapped individuals in rural area : a proposed model. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology. 1994 Jul; 20(2): 131-7 Thompson, Angela. (1987). Mentally Handicapped School Leavers: Where do they Go? Child care: Health and Development. Wacker, David. (1984). Training Moderately and Severely Mentally Handicapped Children to Use Adaptive Social Skills. School Psychology Review, v13 n3 p324-30 Sum 1984 Young, John W. (2007). Validity of the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress. Educational Testing Service.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

About horror movies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

About horror movies - Essay Example m the Japanese filmmaker called Miike, whose films provide prototypical examples of â€Å"Asia Extreme† other directors such as Kim Ki-duk and Park Chan-wook have expanded the category by rendering ultra-violet narratives set against serene portrayals of the troubled psyches of doomed protagonists. Following the success of magic lantern shows in the late 1890s, the first cinematograph was introduced into Japan in 1897. In 1899, the first Japanese film was shown at the Kabuki-za, Tokyo. Kabuki, one of the foremost traditional Japanese theatrical forms, would provide rich material for the burgeoning art of the visual image and would become the template for many Japanese horror films since. Tales of horror and monstrosity have long concerned themselves with notion of hybridity in their exploration of those regions where categories fail to maintain their integrity. Ghosts, for instance, are their very liminal entities negotiating the supposedly unbridgeable gap between the world of the dead and the realm of the dead. In addition, monsters are perpetual scramblers of social codes, often troubling the nebulous (Gladwin). There is always something nasty about horror movies that speaks instinctively and directly to humans. Evolutionary psychology that has undergone evolution for millions of years has caused the human mind to be ingrained to certain triggers of fears. For example, there has been fear of dark places where predatory animals might be laying waiting for the prey. There is also fear of animals that tend to have sharp teeth since they might easily make a meal out of us. Such fears have been engrained into the human developmental psychology to an extent that research shows that children can easily spot a snake on a computer’s screen compared to how they can spot a flower (Gladwin). This idea explains the shape of monsters commonly used in horror movies; that is, creatures that have sharp teeth or appear like snakes. The fear of being eaten alive has always

Friday, September 27, 2019

How can leaders lead when they don't know what to expect Essay

How can leaders lead when they don't know what to expect - Essay Example Similarly setting a firm goal for the organization is one of the few essentials that must be adhered in practicing successful leadership. It is in this context that leaders, to be effective in implementing successful strategies, must obtain a succinct understanding of what to expect from their followers and benefactors of their leadership practices (Kerr & Jermier, 1978). Focusing on this argumentive statement, the aim of the essay is to evaluate the significance leader’s ability to make accurate expectations when defining goals and implementing strategies likewise. In order to accomplish this particular aim, the essay emphasizes conducting a literature review to gain an in-depth knowledge about the factors that determine leadership success in the 21st century context, followed by a case example analysis in respect to the Affordable Care Act policy enforced by the US President Mr. Barack Obama. Based on the information obtained through these sections, a critical discussion has been conducted in this essay to derive a brief conclusion directly implying on the argument statement; i.e. â€Å"How can leaders lead when they don’t know what to expect?† The Concept and Role of Leadership in the 21st Century According to Kaiser & Hogan (2005), although leadership has remained a topic of interest for many years, and many researchers have contributed in the study of leadership, it still lacks a firm definition that can replicate its multidimensional features in an all-inclusive manner. According to Judge & et. al., (2002), it is because of the fact that leadership practices depend on situational contexts, where the qualities of the followers and the availability of resources play a vital role in determining overall leadership effectiveness also involving value-based philosophical attributes as major influences, defining the concept in a scientific way as similar to other societal concepts, becomes a major challenge. Nevertheless, almost all the expla nations derived in the current phenomenon focus on one common feature of successful leadership that the effectiveness of these practices depend on the leader’s ability to understand or decode the change needs and define their expectations accordingly (Judge & et. al., 2002). It is in this context that Fry (2003) argued leaders to be attending both the task oriented and social or emotional issues through the directive and supportive behaviors, which further raises complexities in understanding the ability of the resources available and decide upon their expectations thereon. According to the House (1996), the contingency theory emphasizes that an effective leadership approach must have a link between the leader’s behavior and the situational conditions that further determines their accuracy of expectations. Expanding the contingency theory, House (1996) further argued that the path-goal theory of leadership joins the participative and achievement oriented leader’ s behaviors with their directive and supportive behavioral needs to focus on the association amid performance-reward and explain the follower about the importance of such associations in order to perform

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Guidelines for Country Case Report ( Viet Nam) Essay

Guidelines for Country Case Report ( Viet Nam) - Essay Example on (ASEAN) in 1995, and thereby of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and signed memorandum of understanding for commercial cooperation with the European Union (USA International Business Publications 121). Moreover, Vietnam consents to all efforts in support of its economic development and foreign investment (122). Despite moderation of trade barriers and enhanced diplomatic relations with more than a hundred territories worldwide, Vietnam remains true to the communist ideals. The Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) still has control of election of government officials, from the highest to the most minor positions; and prohibits establishment of independent political, religious and labor organizations (USA International Business Publications 122). This is one practice that does not correspond with the concepts of globalization; yet seems to have worked well in Vietnam, perhaps because the greater part of its population trusts that it serves the common good. In this case, it is safe to assume that Vietnam recognizes the advantages of international trade but views all states as autonomous (Harrison)—meaning, interdependence may exist but it does not force all states to follow a resolute pattern of governance as was intended for the Washington Consensus. From the surface, this realistic philosophy of Vietnam towards foreign affairs, that is, making certain actions to open itself to globalization yet is not willing to share sovereign powers with other actors (Brawley 47), appears to provoke conflict among those that consider themselves dominant. Following the game theory perspective, however, this can be associated to a game of stag hunt—wherein cooperation among actors is the key to seizing the best price, although delegation of a leader or each actor deciding on its own strategy does not significantly affect the aftermath of the event. As mentioned earlier, Vietnam puts diplomacy at the forefront of all its ventures; and should there be a risk of tension due to

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Opinion Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Opinion - Article Example Genetic analysis using the most modern methodologies alone can help recreate the ancestral relation of modern man to each of its ancestors and help track down the origin of man. Introduction Based on the study of fossils by paleoanthropologists, it was established that Homo Erectus was present in East Africa nearly 2 million years ago (Pic1). Homo Erectus is known to have large cranial capacity and was conversant with hunting however was still unfamiliar with methods of building or agriculture. Most scientists believe that Homo Erectus moved out of Africa where they slowly developed into Neanderthals and other homo erectus groups. Out of the two proposed hypotheses for the origin of man, the out-of-Africa hypothesis, though debated upon, is largely supported with fossil evidences and genetic analysis. According to the article selected, genetic analysis of homo sapiens or the modern man shows that Homo sapiens descended from Homo erectus in Africa nearly 200,00 years ago. Post this, H omo sapiens moved out of Africa to different places such as Asia, Europe and later to Australia and America. Thus, gradually Homo Sapiens are said to have replaced all the Homo Erectus according to the out-of-Africa theory. One of the most important evidences to support this is mt DNA analysis of African and non-African populations. Mitochondrial analysis clearly reveals that the mt DNA (mitochondrial Dna), which is the DNA extracted from mitochondria, sequence diversity is greater among Africans than that of non-Africans thereby establishing the point that the ancestors of Homo Sapience must have had diverged in the African region. DNA sequences obtained from Y-chromosome or mitochondria support the fact that the roots of the modern man are based in east Africa. DNA analysis also establishes that large scale migration of Homo sapiens occurred out of the East African region to Ethiopia, Eurasia, Asia etc More advanced genetic analytic studies like that of single nucleotide polymorph ism (SNP) or microsatellite study also supports the fact that the modern man originated in Africa and then spread to other parts of the world.However, there are several unanswered questions regarding this migration and the out-of-Africa hypothesis. BODY 1. Mark Stoneking and Johannes Kruase compared the DNA sequence of Neanderthal to that of modern day mani. The mt DNA of the Neanderthals differed vastly from that of Homo sapiens. Newer studies suggest admixture i.e. interbreeding of species where genetic material exchanges are seen. The out-of-Africa theory was tested according to which â€Å"a single dispersal from Africa followed by separate migrations from this ancestral non-African source population, and this scenario receives the strongest support from the data (P = 0.74)† (Stoneking & Kruase). I feel that the previous out-of-Africa theory needs to be modified since genome analysis provides a direct relationship according to which it is seen that Neanderthals and Deniso van genomes diverged from hominin genome. After this the sister groups i.e. Neanderthal and Denisovan diverged and migrated as admixtures while the rest of the hominins in Africa gradually became the modern man. Therefore, the prior belief that Homo sapiens evolved entirely in Africa before migrating to other places is modified into the fact that hominins diverged into groups which interbred and this admixture migrated to other places

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Leadership Styles and TQM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leadership Styles and TQM - Essay Example To begin with, it is important to understand these concepts. Chew (2010) defines leadership styles as the approach and way in which direction are provided, people are motivated, and plans are implemented within a given organization or setting. Also, leadership styles can refer to how a person (a leader) plays his or her leadership role; that is how he or she treats others, make decisions, and interacts with others (Northouse, 2011). In other words, leadership styles are about how a leader behaves, his/her experience, decisions, personality, actions, and philosophy. On the other hand, TQM is defined as an approach that aims at improving performance and quality that exceed and meet the expectations of customers of the organization Rawlins (2010). According to Evans and Lindsay (2010), TQM refers to a management philosophy or approach that is integrated for constant improvement of the quality of processes and products of an organization. In regard to leadership styles, there are several styles. However, most of these styles can be grouped into three major categories namely; authoritarian or autocratic style, democratic or participative style, and delegative or free reign (Schein, 2010). In authoritarian style, all or nearly all the decision making processes and powers are centralized to the organizational leader; there is very little or no contribution at all from the subordinates. Participative leadership involves participation of both the leader and subordinates in decision making; the decisions are not unilateral but rather collaborative (Schein, 2010). Lastly, a delegative or free rein style of leadership where the leader transfers responsibilities and authority to others who may often be the subordinates. It is based on the belief that a single person cannot do everything and has to set priorities and delegate certain tasks and subordinates are sometime free to decide their own methods and policies (Northouse, 2011). It is also crucial to understand TQM in de tails. Evans and Lindsay (2010) explain that TQM achieves its objective through integration of processes and all quality- related functions throughout the organization. According to Rawlins (2010), TQM is guided by a number of principles. These principles include; customer focus, employee involvement, continuous improvement, executive management, decision making, organizational culture, methodology, and training. Rawlins also argues that TQM involves costs that are essential in yielding better results for the organization. They include; failure costs, appraisal costs, and prevention costs. It is in the light of the above that the relationship between leadership styles and TQM can be understood and be explained. Pauleen and Gorman (2011) observe that the two concepts are fundamentally different but related especially in regard to operations and management of an organization towards achieving the set goals and objectives. As noted from the above explanations of the two concepts, they differ in meaning and functions. However, they relate in a number of aspects. First, application of these aspects in the organization is aimed at achieving organizational goals and objectives (Ivancevich, 2011). Secondly, they are both functions of the organizations that are necessary for the proper

Monday, September 23, 2019

Introduction to the History of western art Essay - 1

Introduction to the History of western art - Essay Example In trying to keep with the spirit of humanism, artist of the early renaissance tried as much to show a lifelike human forms with accurate proportion and realistic expressions and clothing (Johnson, 2005). For example a woman of the Renaissance, like a woman of the middle ages, were never given any political rights and were treated to be legally subject to their husbands. Women of all classes were required to perform, first and foremost, the tasks assigned to a housewife. For thousands of years women had very few economic, legal, or political rights and, in theory were expected to be submissive to their fathers or husbands (Hartt et al, 2011). Women were restricted to traditional gender roles, which forced them to remain in the domestic or private restriction of a community. Women’s roles as daughters, wives, or mothers were therefore considered their most important function in a community (Johnson, 2005). For the high class members of society, the reproductive ability of a wom an was an extremely significant determinant of inheritance and maintenance the family line (Hartt et al 2011). Through all classes of society, the social system of patriarchy evolved as the primary way to regulate women’s behavior and maintain social control (Slovely et al, 2001). Although women were often depicted in Renaissance art or literature, the cultural advancements and political developments that emerged from the Renaissance overwhelmingly neglected women (Johnson, 2005). The Renaissance brought a renewal and rebirth of intellect, culture, art, and social advancement that was seemingly only advantageous to men. Women continued to be deployed in communities only for the advantage of men, as daughters who could potentially help the family through an advantageous marriage, or as wives who took care of the home and produced children to help work on the farm or to carry on a family name (Hartt et al, 2011). The behavior of women were also an important indication of the social

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Gerontological Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gerontological Project - Research Paper Example Tertiary prevention goal involves creating realistic short and long-term goals for healthy weight loss with the active participation from the patient. For this patient, pain is an issue that will prevent her from engaging in any exercise regimen and thus it has to be dealt with first. Chronic pain occurs in 25 to 86% of the elderly population and leads to â€Å"falls, deconditioning, malnutrition, gait disturbances, and overall slow rehabilitation† (Herr, 2002). Managing pain is a multi-dimensional process that involves pharmacological and non-pharmacological management (Herr, 2002). According to Messier et. al (2004), a combination of exercise and weight loss resulted in improved physical activity and reduced pain in overweight elderly with knee osteoarthritis. The exercise program that this patient can safely participate in could involve exercise three days per week, which consists of â€Å"an aerobic phase (15 minutes), a resistance-training phase (15 minutes), a second ae robic phase (15 minutes), and a cool-down phase (15 minutes)† (Messier et. al, 2004). Motivation and a desire to change are key components in the initiation of and continuity in an exercise program.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The audience in Act 1 Scene 1 of A Taste of Honey Essay Example for Free

The audience in Act 1 Scene 1 of A Taste of Honey Essay How does Shelagh Delaney establish the relationship of the main characters for the audience in Act 1 Scene 1 of A Taste of Honey? The first scene is probably the most important scene of all, as it tells us about the nature of the characters and their attitudes. The first words of the play that are stage directions play a big part. The quote the stage represents a comfortless flat . . . . . the street outside. Jazz music this tell us about the time in which they lived which was post war Britain from the jazz music. Jazz music is associated with the blues that was music about being down on your luck which was popular at these times. Mentioning that they lived in Manchester also gave a feeling of their surroundings. In Manchester at this time of the play there would have been few people of other ethnic origins as opposed to 1 in 20 British citizens being African, Asian or Caribbean origin in the 1990s. Also in that day and age it was only a tiny minority of the population on which were single parents. This would be the most important scene because it gave us an idea of what Helen and Jo are like. It tells us what there attitudes are and what sort of relationship they have. Helen reacts differently to Helen at the first impressions of the flat. While Helen is making the flat sounding a lot better than it actually is to make her feel a little bit better so she doesnt feel like a failure, Deep down inside she knows she is. Helen about the flat when she says Whats wrong with this place? . . . . . Anyway it will do for us. Jo hates the flat and expresss her feelings when she expresss to her mother I dont like it which are also the first words Jo, says in the play. Also Jo keeps pointing out faults to the flat like the roofs leaking and I bet itll smell trying to persuade Helen that the flat she had taken was a dump. You could say that Jo is pessimist and Helen is an optimist when it comes to attitudes to the flat. The setting of the flat is very depressing and greatly affects the characters of the play and brings them down. From the descriptions of the characters there are all the things people dont want to live near such as the gasworks, the slaughterhouse, tenements and a cemetery. Also when they arrive in the flat its raining which I think reflects how the characters are feeling and how low they are at the time. In the time Jo and Helen moved into the flat it was post war Britain and everything was being spent on buildings that needed restoring from the bombing during the wars. This meant that very little money was being spent to improve the condition of housing. The state of the flat affects Jo and Helen causing tension and most arguments nearly always start from living conditions of their flat. The flat also represents the chain of their life. They move from one run old flat to another that we find out when Jo says, Every place we find is the same which shows they are in a cycle they cannot break. Jo and Helen are mother and daughter, but as a reader its more of a sister relationship. Helen isnt a supportive mother and puts Jo down when she can which we find out when she says The way she bangs about! I tell you, my heads coming off. In the play there is one part where Helen offers to pay for Jo to go to Art School. Even though she says Have you ever . . . youll soon learn I dont think she means it and follow through with promises. They talk to one and other like they have no respect for each other. Jo doesnt show respect to her mother because she sees no reason to, after all, what has Helen ever done for Jo? Helen also doesnt care for Jo, as she never shows any affection to Jo at all when Jo says, Youve certainly never been affectionate with me. If Jo and Helen werent mother and daughter I think they wouldnt want to know each other if they had the choice. Its almost as if they had been forced together. The most likely subject to cause arguments is the state of the flat and how they actually treat each other. Also Shelagh Delaney uses humour, as in the form of sarcasm which relieves the tension of the atmosphere of the play and gives a little bit of light relief which Helen expresses when she says Why, have we run out of cemetery space? . . . When were gone. There is also a lot of jealousy between Jo and Helen. Jo is jealous of Helens men because she always shows affection to them rather than her. Also Jo once said I used to like one of them fancy men which also shows jealousy because Helen was hanging round him and never noticed Jo. Helen is jealous of Jo because she is young. When they first enter the flat Jo is a lot more organised than Helen and takes over the mother role because straight away she looks for sufficient heating God! Its freezing! Isnt their ant sort of fire anywhere, Helen? Also she puts a scarf round the light as a lampshade to make the room feel better with a softer light. To these characters the audience would feel tension as soon as they had walked through the door. But Shelagh Delaney tries to relax the mood with added sarcasm. When Peter enters he is presented as a brash car salesman, cigar in mouth, and from his dialogue we find he is a very selfish self-centred man. He doesnt care about anyones feelings when he says, Why dont you go home to your father? . . . Too bad to Jo that is a very sensitive issue to her, because of the fact she doesnt even know who her father is. He also tries to drag her to the pub knowing full well she that wasnt feeling well. When Peter is present she always she always wants to be there to get her mothers attention as a way of being spiteful to her. Helen acts as if Peter is an unwanted presence and tries to push him away at every advance he makes on her. But in the end she quite likes him as we find out when she says, Well, you certainly liberate something in me. And I dont think its maternal instincts either. The relationships in the first scene are very clear between Jo and Helen as we find out from the first time there is introduced. They fight as soon as they walk through the door of the flat. They both hate each other but in the end they care for each other. The relationship between Helen and Peter isnt that clear as it mentions little history, but from what Helen says hes not very nice person. We do find out that Helen had tried to escape from Peter when she says, How did you find my address. Its also clear that Jo doesnt like Peter as she tries to ruin Helens relationship with Peter. Also we know that Peter isnt interested in Jo and we find this out as Peter doesnt show any consideration to Jos feelings.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Good parenting advice for first time parents

Good parenting advice for first time parents Being or becoming a parent is one of the most challenging, yet most natural things people may face during their life. A first-time parent may feel overwhelmed by the situation, therefore it is important to learn from other parents and research carried out in this area. This essay will look at some of the most important pieces of advice that a good parent can have, which will hopefully lead to a good parenting. First it will outline more about what it means to be a parent. Secondly it will specify different theories of child development. Then it will look at attachment and the Internal working Model and why secure attachment is important in early childhood. And finally it will look at first relationships and how infants experience distress. A parent is someone who has a responsibility to raise and guide a person from child, to adolescent, all their way up until their offspring is an adult. Parents are important, because they are the main example for their child on how to interact with the world and how they should lead their life. A parent is a bit like a rules book or instruction manual, on how to live life, for a child. Good parenting is difficult to define, as one definition does not fit all, however it refers to finding a good balance within all aspects of how to be a good parent. Many successful people are often heard praising their parents and upbringing for their success; this could be due to a result of good parenting. If there is good, there must be bad parenting. Many criminals state that abusive or poor parenting is a cause for their behaviour. It is also important to realize that parenting has changed over the last 50 years, and that the term and expectations of a parent differs not only over time, but also culturally and socially, therefore what one can see as good parenting, can other dissaproof. (Oates, Lewis and Lamb, 2005) There are different theories of child development, and each of them focuses on different aspects of development. Psychoanalytic theorys central stage is to put importance to early period of childhood, as that influence the development of adult personality. Freud stressed the importance of childhood events and experience. He saw child development as series of psychosexual stages, where each stage played a role in adult personality. (Oates, 2005) Another theory is cognitive theory, which argues that development of interactions from birth leads to the emergence of language. Piaget saw children think differently from adults, and as a first person, he saw children play an active role in gaining knowledge of the world. Behavioural theory looks at how environmental interaction influences behaviour; development is shaped by reaction to rewards, punishments, stimuli or reinforcement. Theory which looks at early relationships is Social theory, where Bowlby (1988) argues that early relationship s with caregivers play a major role in child development and continue to influence social relationships throughout life. The way in which newborns create new attachments and form their first relationships is very important. This is because these attachments and relationships could potentially provide the blue print for that person for the rest of their lives. Therefore an important bit of advice would be to provide lots of healthy attachments for babies early on in their lives. An attachment is something that we have a close bond to or a special relationship with. This can be with an object or a person. Bowbly (1988) believed that attachment is vital to make healthy attachments, not only one, but a variety, as this could lead to a more developed Internal working model (IWM). An IWM is made up of three parts; the model of self, model of the other and the relationship between these. The first experiences which babies have build their IWM, and this is what they use to approach new ideas and situations with. Therefore this model helps them to use this prior knowledge of attachments when they are in new sit uations with a different objects or people. A healthy attachment is a long-term, stable relationship between a child and an object or person, in this situation a parent. It is important for the child to make strong healthy attachments with not only parents, but also with other people, such as their grandparents or caregivers. The more relationships the baby has, the better outcome for the childs IWM, it also leads to healthy emotional development. Ainsworths Strange Situation (1978) experiment created four types of attachment, that a childs IWM can take. The four types are insecure-avoidant (Type A), securely attached (Type B), insecure-resistant/ambivalent (Type C) or disorientated/disorganized (Type D). The Strange Situation experiment examines attachments and its developmental consequences. The experiment looks at the behaviours and actions of a child, when they have been separated from their parent and then when reunited. Ainsworth noticed that it was when the child and the parent were reunited, that a childs type was most evident. Mothers of secure infants respond to all of their childs emotions, therefore the infants learn that all emotions are valid in relationship. When reunited the child found easy to be comforted by its mother. The avoidant infants show only few emotions, which are mostly negative. The mothers are unresponsive to most of the emotions, especially the negative ones. Therefore these infants learn to hid e their emotions. At the reunion, these children avoid interaction with their parents. Mothers, who respond only to distress responds of their infants, tend to have ambivalent infants. These infants learn that negative emotions get the attention of their mother and that these emotions are the valid ones in the relationship. These child children will seek contact and interaction at the reunion, but when it is offered, they reject it. These results showed that important factor of developing infants different types of IWM can be influenced by their mothers sensitivity to their infants emotional communications and emotions. (Ainsworth, 1969) Child with secure attachment feels worthy of his parents attention and love, and can gain comfort from this feeling when they are separated, and has confidence that his parent will return. According to Meins et al. (2001), parents, who treat their infants as persons with their own feelings and thoughts, contribute to their secure attachment. Bowlby (1988) argues that is important to have secure attachment, because these children might approach a relationship with more confidence than someone who has insecure attachment. The attachment theory puts forward that an infant who has a secure attachment with one or both parents will be able to use them as a secure base in which to explore their environment. This is because their IWM represent that of their parent figures. An example of importance of secure attachment and how IWM works can be seen in the programme by Dr Acquarone (2006). Marni had problem with her sleeping habits, she woke up through the night and needed her mother to comfort her. She had formed an attachment to her mother, as she feels secure with her, but as Dr Acquarone suggested, Marni has not formed a sufficiently stable internal working model for her to use as a source of comfort when her mother is not available. Therefore Marni needs to find and develop an attachment to a substitute transactional object, which will help her in this situation. It is important to remember that the baby is also a person, how a parent relates to the child in the early life will have a direct influence on its future. Throughout our lives we have many relationships. As people are predominately social, it is important that they learn how to make good strong relationships. It is important to make relationships not only for our physical needs, but also for our psychological development. Humans first relationship is very important. Winnicott (1964) stated that there is no such thing as a baby if you set out to describe a baby; you will find that you are describing a baby and someone. A baby cannot exist alone, but is essentially part of a relationship. (Winnicott, 1964, p.88) The caregivers are providing the physical needs for the baby; such as food, warmth and support, furthermore they are providing the opportunity for the baby to form a relationship with them. As part of a good relationship, it is important that an infants and an adults social in teractions fit well together, this is known as meshing. Oates (2005) assumed that meshed interactions between mother and infant can give the infant the unique experience of taking part in a dialogue, which also provides the experience of relatedness. Therefore mashing is very important, because interacting with infants provides an opportunity for the infant to recognize what his/her behaviour means, and how others respond to it. However, infants are very sensitive to their mothers responsiveness, as can be seen from Murray and Trevarthen (1985) study. Infants who were interacting with their mothers through a video link, where the live link was replaced by a delay or replay of the recording, made the infants distressed, as the mother was not corresponding to the infants needs properly. Shuttleworth (1989) assumed that distress is a crucial experience in infancy, which should not be avoided as it creates intimate contact between mother and baby. Each parent deals differently with distressed baby. Winnicott (1965) stated that it is very important for mother to be emotionally available to her infant to build up a system of two-way communication. He also believed that infant should be allowed to experience tolerable frustration as this leads to a healthy development of independence and sense of self. Therefore he challenged the term good mother, as he sees good mother as someone who allows just the right amount of delay in meeting the infants needs. Studies were done on what is the best to do with distressed babies. For example Ainsworth and Bell (1970) found that babies, whose crying was ignored early, were later crying more frequently than babies whose mothers responded quickly to their babies needs. These findings agree with attachment theory, where the idea is that mother respond immediately to her babys needs. However not all studies have same results. Some suggests that baby cries more frequently if the mother responds too often, this agrees with Social learning theory. In the study of Clarke-Steward (1973) on 11, 14 and 17 months old babies was found that mothers who respond promptly to distress infants were among the least fretful. However, when the results were examined separately in gender, the girls were the most and the least fretful even their mothers were very responsive to their signals of distress. This results support the predictions of both social-learning theorists and attachment theorists, which examples were mentioned above. Being a first-time parent can be a very challenging and difficult period in a persons life. Therefore it is vital that help is at hand. This has lead too many theories on child development. Parenting style is an important factor, and each parent must do what they feel is best for their child. This essay has identified some theories and examined research that explores attachments and relationships. It suggested that communication is very important between the mother and her infant, and that communication and attachment has an influence of the emotional development of the child. These would be important bits of information to pass on, because looking at these theories puts being a first-time parent into perspective. They demonstrate how the actions of the parent will have an effect on the baby possibly for the rest of his life. Primary relationships and attachments create the life blue-print for that baby. Obviously mistakes happen and parent cannot be a perfect all the time. So along with the advice in any parent help book or any research carried out, it is important for the parent to just do their best no matter what happens. Word count: 1981

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Bach :: essays research papers

The Baroque Age Johann Sebastian Bach Born: Eisenach, March 21, 1685 Died: Leipzig, July 28, 1750 Regarded as perhaps the greatest composer of all time, Bach was known during his lifetime primarily as an outstanding organ player and technician. The youngest of eight children born to musical parents, Johann Sebastian was destined to become a musician. While still young, he had mastered the organ and violin, and was also an excellent singer. At the age of ten, both of his parents died within a year of each other. Young Sebastian was fortunate to be taken in by an older brother, Johann Christoph, who most likely continued his musical training. At the age of fifteen, Bach secured his first position in the choir of St. Michael's School in LÃ ¼neburg. He travelled little, never leaving Germany once in his life, but held various postitions during his career in churches and in the service of the courts throughout the country. In 1703 he went to Arnstadt to take the position of organist at the St. Boniface Church. It was during his tenure there that Bach took a month's leave of absence t o make the journey to LÃ ¼beck (some 200 miles away, a journey he made on foot) to hear the great organist Dietrich Buxtehude. One month turned into five, and Bach was obliged to find a new position at MÃ ¼lhausen in 1706. In that year he also married his cousin, Maria Barbara. Bach remained at MÃ ¼lhausen for only a year before taking up a post as organist and concertmaster at the court of the Duke of Weimar. In 1717, Bach moved on to another post, this time as Kapellmeister at the court of Prince Leopold in Cöthen. During the years Bach was in the service of the courts, he was obliged to compose a great deal of instrumental music: hundreds of pieces for solo keyboard, orchestral dance suites, trio sonatas for various instruments, and concertos for various instruments and orchestra. Of these, the most famous are the six concerti grossi composed for the Duke of Brandenburg in 1721, and the Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 exemplifies the style of the concerto grosso in which a small group of instruments (in this case a small ensemble of strings) is set in concert with an orchestra of strings and continuo. Of Bach's music for solo instruments, the six Suites for violoncello and the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin are among the greatest for those instruments.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Essay --

In the short story The Ones Who Walk Away from the Omelas, Ursula Le Guin illustrates a community that is joyous. However, the community is torn because the source of their happiness is due to the choosing of an unfortunate child that resides in a basement under of the beautiful public buildings of Omelas neglected and barely ever eating. Le Guin explanation that although the people of the community are very happy, they are also very well aware of what is providing them that happiness. He writes, â€Å"all know [the child] is there†¦ They all know that it has to be there. Some of them understand why, and some do not, but they all understand that their happiness, the beauty of their city, the tenderness of their friendships, the health of their children, the wisdom of their scholars, the skill of their makers, even the abundance of their harvest and the kindly weathers of their skies, depend wholly on this child’s abominable misery† (257). This unjust and cruel pun ishment this child must endure for the sake of the community causes an ethical dilemma that tears apart the community. The ethical dilemma forces the community to acknowledge their living situation and ask themselves: What is more important? Their happiness or this child? Thus, they must make a choice to either walk away from the life and community they have lived in for their whole life because their source of happiness is at the cost of a young boys life. Or, do they continue to live in Omelas and ignore the harsh conditions that this young boy is exposed to. In the story the boy is described as a six-year-old boy that is neglected, locked away in a dirty room, abused mentally and physically, and alone(Le Guin, 257). He barely has any fat on him because all he is fed is â€Å"hal... ...e law, it does not mean that it is right and that we should be so ignorant to reason. In this situation, I would not be able to live with myself knowing that this one little boy is not being fed, being kicked, and left alone to basically die for my happiness. That is completely unacceptable. I believe that while it is innate for us to settle for comfort, we should not live a life that needs abuses someone to accomplish something. According to the categorical imperative, one should abide what they ought to do because it manifests from the moral law. Thus, I would walk away from Omelas because all people are equal and I would not be able to view this boy as a means to my end, which is happiness. Also, if that is the only way for me to achieve happiness then it is not true happiness but superficial emotion that can easily be demolished if anything happens to the boy.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death Essay -- Emily Di

Emily Dickinson's "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" In Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death â€Å" (448), the speaker of the poem is a woman who relates about a situation after her death. The speaker personifies death as a polite and considerate gentleman who takes her in a carriage for a romantic journey; however, at the end of this poem, she finishes her expedition realizing that she has died many years ago. The poem contains six quatrains, and does not follow any consistent rhyme scheme. Every line starts with a strong beat and ends up with a weak beat. The first and third lines in each stanza have iambic tetrameter, but the second and fourth lines do not contain any consistent meter. The feet generate a rhythm the following way. Bevcause/ Iv | could/ notV | stop/ | forv Death/ Hev kind/lyv | stopped/ | forv me/ This rhythm mimics the sound of horses’ hooves on the ground. Emily Dickinson correlates the speaker’s expression of her journey â€Å"toward Eternity-â€Å"(l. 24) with horses’ hoofed feet in her allegory (Class note). In the first stanza, she begins her journey with a refined gentleman named Death who takes her in the carriage. Even though in the first line â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† (l. 1), the poet gives us a hint of the speaker's disappearance in the world, the speaker thinks that she is still alive. The poet chooses a special term â€Å"Immortality† (l. 4) to show that at the beginning of her journey the speaker is young and ...

Monday, September 16, 2019

How to Be a Good Muslim

Garrett Waidelich October 8, 2012 Islamic Civilization Dr. McGrath How to be a Good Muslim In the Quran and the Hadith of Bukhari there are many descriptions of what it takes to be a good Muslim. God gives very specific details to Muhammad about what Muslims need to do and what they can’t do if they want to get to paradise. The five pillars of Islam created a base for Muslims to follow in order to be a good Muslim. The five pillars are that there is no god but God, to offer prayer, to give charity, perform the hajj and to fast during Ramadan (HB 1: 7).The Muslims that follow the five pillars and follow Muhammad’s teachings will reach paradise. The first pillar is to accept that God is the only god and that he is the only one worthy of being worshiped (HB 1: 7, 25, 50, 63, 2: 594, Q 2: 176). This first pillar is very important in Islam because Islam is based around the idea of submitting to God and being God’s slave. God is the most powerful being that there is an d he created the Earth and all its inhabitants (Q 2: 163). God also hears and knows everything, including people’s thoughts and intentions (Q 2: 180).This pillar is so important because God is all powerful, righteous, and merciful. Disobeying this pillar is a terrible deed and Muhammad also said that the worst sin is to worship another god (Q 2: 190, HB 3: 821). The second pillar is to offer prayer perfectly five times a day. There are a lot of rules about how to pray and things that must be done for prayer to count as a good deed. Because God knows and hears all, a Muslim must be completely focused on God while they are praying and not be distracted by other things (HB 2: 307, 4: 504).Muslims are supposed to pray five times a day at specified times (HB 3: 115). Prayer is also better when it is done consistently instead of praying for a long time and then not praying again until the next week (Quran 23: 5, HB 1: 41). Muslims should not get drunk and especially should not pray while drunk (HB 1: 50). Cleanliness is also important when praying. It is good to clean your teeth before prayer and when women menstruate it is considered unclean and they should not pray (HB 2: 12, 1: 247, 1: 817, 3: 172, Quran 2: 222).Men are also not supposed to pray or be around women when the woman is menstruating (Quran 2: 222). Women were also told not to watch men pray because the sheets they wore were short and showed their private areas (HB 2: 306). Prayer is also considered better, 27 times better, when done in congregation than alone (HB 1: 618). Prayer also can reduce the bad deeds that a Muslim might commit, for example a man came to Muhammad and said he had kissed a woman unlawfully and Muhammad told him to pray and the prayer would remove the bad deed (HB 1: 504).Praying to please God and not to impress other people also will lead to all of your past sins to be forgiven (HB 1: 34). Charity is also a very important part of Islam. There are many different references to charity from Zakat, to the alms levy, to giving to the poor. It is considered a god deed to help the poor and it is required to give Zakat. Muhammad says that giving Zakat is one of the best deeds that a Muslim can do (HB 1: 7, 25, 50, 54, 502).Not only is paying Zakat a good deed but also giving to charity and helping the poor is a good deed (HB 1: 11, 27). There is a charity that can be given every day, called Sadaqa, and this charity consists of doing good deeds (4: 232). These good deeds count as the charity. Muhammad told a woman that giving the alms levy is especially important for women because a majority of the people in hell were women (HB 1: 301). Helping orphans, beggars, travelers, and anyone in need is considered a good deed (Quran 2: 215, 2: 177).Giving to help people in need has many benefits for Muslims. When a woman gives charity from her husband’s belongings without hurting his belongings, both the woman and her husband will be rewarded (HB 2: 518, 520, 5 21). While giving to charity is a good deed it is bad for someone to hoard their wealth and money for their personal benefit and can lead to punishment from God (HB 2: 513, 514, 515). If a person does keep all of his money instead of spending it in God’s cause, God will withhold his blessings from that person (HB 2: 513, 514, 515).Another form of charity is buying the freedom of a slave, or setting your own slave free. Freeing a slave can remove the worst of bad deeds including killing someone or breaking your oath (Quran 4: 92, 5: 88). It is good to pay for the rest of the freedom of a slave if you own a part of the slave and partially free him (HB 3: 672). Performing the Hajj at least one time during a Muslims life is another pillar of Islam. Hajj is the pilgrimage from Medina to Mecca that occurs every year in the last month of the Islamic calendar.Hajj is to be made during the specified months, and while on the hajj a man should not have sexual intercourse, should not swe ar, or get into disputes while on the pilgrimage (2: 197). If someone is ill or too weak to perform hajj, someone else can make the pilgrimage on their behalf, with the ill person receiving the reward (HB 2: 589). Muhammad also tells women that instead of participating in Jihad, a women’s Jihad is performing the hajj (HB 4: 43, 127). The final pillar is fasting. Fasting is best when it is done three days a month and during the whole month of Ramadan (HB 2: 274).When someone is ill or on a journey, they can fast the same number of days later when they return or when they are healthy again (Quran 2: 183). It is also possible to substitute feeding a poor person instead of fasting if a person is unable to fast, but fasting is the better of the two (Quran 2: 183). During fasting, you are allowed to eat and have sexual relations at night when the sun is down (HB 3: 139). Women that are menstruating when they fast do not get the rewards because they are considered unclean (HB 3: 172 ).The five pillars are the basis for Muslim actions that will get them into paradise, but there are also a few other things that make a Muslim good. Jihad is another very important thing for a Muslim to participate in and there are many benefits to Jihad. The Quran states that everyone has an obligation to take part in Jihad, but they should never be the aggressor (Quran 2: 216, 2: 190). Fighting for God’s cause is basically fighting to defend Islam and to make it superior to all other beliefs (Quran 1: 125, 22: 78). Jihad has many rewards for Muslims that participate in it.Some of these rewards are booty that is taken if you survive and for the martyr a place in heaven right beneath God (HB 4: 48). If a Muslim did not want to fight, Muhammad said that to equal the good deeds of Jihad that person would have to fast and pray during the entire time the soldiers were on Jihad (HB 4: 44). This would be impossible and enforces the idea that Muslims that participate in Jihad are co nsidered better than those that don’t, unless someone is injured and unable to (HB 4: 84). Women were not supposed to participate in Jihad but instead their Jihad was the hajj (HB 4: 127).Although women’s Jihad was hajj there are numerous stories of Aisha and other women helping the wounded and watering the soldiers during battles (HB 4: 130, 131, 132, 133, 134). Muslims are given very specific directions and helpful tips to be good Muslims. If Muslims accept and admit that God is the only God, pray, offer charity, make the pilgrimage, fast, and do other good deeds they will be considered good Muslims and will get into paradise on Judgment day. Doing good deeds also wipes away or cancels out bad deeds and will also help Muslims be better people and increase their chances of getting into paradise.

English Original Writing – The Slime

I had detention because some of my so called friends told the teacher I did it when I never. I was on my way home when I heard something smash therefore I went nearer to the source of the sound. It was leading me to a dark deserted old alley. At any rate this way was quicker to my house so I strolled down. I never used to go home this way since my mum said not to for the reason that bad things happened to her when she went through the alley. The thought of the scream made me shiver and I felt a tingle down my spine. I heard the leaves crisp as I toddled along the footpath. The street was isolated I could even hear my self breathing. My stomach was churning so thus, I felt I was going to be sick. There it was I saw it, I was amazed of the features it had. He came closer and closer. It looked like he was horrified and his face was turning blue, pale blue. He made another impulsive move towards me and vomited. I felt the puke on my injured car bonnet. The bonnet got injured due to a hit and run ten minuets a go. The Schoolboy strolled towards the shimmering door and went inside me. He opened my shirt pocket gradually. He saw a creepy look in the mirror which gave a different image. I felt sick so I puked on the car. I hurried into the car and my eye was caught on this compartment, so therefore looked inside the box. I was shocked to see my self look like this. So I ran out of the motor vehicle, the engine was still running. I found out what made the crash it was this car so me and my conscience started to clean the vomit. I decided to restore it to its previous pristine condition as a mark of respect to the decease inhabitant of the car. He started to clean me additionally I started to undergo a feeling I have never felt before, cleanliness it felt so nice. He walked away from me but from my view I could see a silhouette following his every move. Something was saying to me go back the car or someone may need my help. I turned round ambled to the car. The car's engine went off I believed to think the battery ran out. The cars door opened, thus made my heart pound, erstwhile I was thinking the car was calling me in. I took the weight off my feet and the cars engine turned back on and the cars doors and front bonnet and rear bonnet were clanging and horning, it made me jump. I could not believe my eyes no one come out or looked to see what that noise was. I saw a house. I was very curious to see the house. He gathered the courage to go into the gloomy dark house. He walked through the front door and plodded up the stairs. He looked around; I went inside a mansion. I saw a bathroom door open. The bathroom was covered in slime. The sink was bubbling slime; the floor was flooding slimy slipper sludgy slime. I tried to run back out but the door slammed shut in my face so there fore I went for the window that too slammed shut. The house was flooding green slime. I was scared and could see my future passing through my eyes. Then suddenly I heard an engine start. There was slime coming out through the panes of the window and the door. I heard banging, I thought it was the boy, I was thinking should I go in. I was drowning in slime I did not know what to do. The gunk was going in my mouth and I had to breathe through my nose I had a few seconds left. I was thinking. Then it came to me ill ram the car into the house so I rammed it. I saw a bright light. I thought I was gone, but when I heard a bang I saw the car I owed my life to a realistic car.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Brain Injury Essay

Describe the possible signs, symptoms, indicators or behaviours that may cause concern in the context of safeguarding. A Person may abuse by either inflicting harm or failing to prevent the harm occurring. Some of the behaviours indicating possible concern with regards to safeguarding children are: Physical abuse: such as bruises to parts of the body, fingertip bruising (grasp mark), bruises of different ages in the same place. Outline bruises (hand prints, belts or shoes). It could be burns, bites and scars and fractures, poisoning or drowning. Physical harm could also be when a parent/carer makes up medical symptoms or deliberately causes illness in a child/young person Neglect: such as the child/young person being undernourished, having dirty skin and hair, dirty or soiled clothing, inappropriate clothing for the weather, hunger and stealing food, always being tired, being withdrawn, being left unsupervised inappropriately and not being given any medical care. Neglect may also occur in pregnancy, if the mother is taking illegal drugs or excessive alcohol. Sexual: abuse such as recurrent urinary infections, genital and rectal itching and soreness, inappropriate behaviour regarding age and ability, inappropriate level of sexual knowledge, and sexual abusive behaviour toward others, lack of trust, regression, become isolated and withdrawn. Emotional abuse such as low self-esteem, attention seeking behaviour, nervous behaviour, continual rocking, hair twisting, delayed development, and self harming. Describe the actions to take if a child or young person alleges harm or abuse in line with policies and procedures of own setting If a child or young person alleges they have been harmed or abused I would listen carefully to them and stay calm. I would not show repulsion or shock. I would show that I believed the child and would reassure them. I would give them time to talk and wouldn’t hurry them. I would take notes ‘in the moment’ and record facts correctly. I would not put words into their mouths or ask closed questions I.E: â€Å"What happened, rather than did they hit you?† I would let them talk as much as they wanted to and not interrupt them. I would not promise the child/young person that I would not tell anyone and explain that I may have to tell the appropriate people. The degree of confidentiality will be governed by the need to protect the child/young person. Depending on the situation I would either call my supervisor or manager to discuss there and then, or go straight back to the office and discuss face to face with my supervisor or manager. I would then type up the report whilst it was fresh in my mind. If the child was not safe or at risk of harm and had to be removed from the home I would wait until the appropriate people attended. Depending on the severity of the abuse, I may call the police, child protection and health professionals. We have a duty of care by law to report any safeguarding issues/concerns with the appropriate people. We should NOT confront an alleged abuser.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Quality Management for Organizational Excellence: Total Quality Pioneers Essay

In this paper, Philip Crosby will be discussed as one of the pioneers of total quality. Quality will be defined and also total quality will be discussed about how each contributed to Philip Crosby’s success. Additionally, it will be explained why quality is useful in today’s business environment. Quality and Total Quality Defined In today’s world the majority of consumers require their products and services have quality. Quality is performance to the standard expected by the customer, meeting customer needs the first time and every time, doing the right thing right the first time (Goetsch, 2010). Quality is defined as â€Å"a dynamic state associated with products, services, people, processes, and environments that meets or exceeds expectations and helps produce superior value† (Goetsch, 2010, p. 5). The dynamic state of quality will change in the future as time goes on. Total quality is the collective quality concepts pulled together as one comprehensive approach to conducting business (Goetsch, 2010). Total quality is achieved through strategy, obsession with quality, teamwork, education and training, employee involvement, and customer focus in addition to many other aspects of quality. If any element of total quality is not present, then total quality has not and cannot be achieved. Philip Crosby Philip Crosby was a director for ITT Corporation for 14 years until 1979 when he opened his own company called Philip Crosby Associates. Philip Crosby Associates was an international consulting firm on quality improvements for businesses. Crosby defined quality as conformance to requirements and was known for his theory of zero defects management and prevention. Crosby also introduced Quality Vaccine that consisted of three ingredients: 1) Determination, 2) Education, and 3) Implementation. Many companies and managers also use Crosby’s concept of â€Å"doing it right the first time† (Boti, 2011). With conformance to requirements, quality is considered customer satisfaction and compliance with certain standards is required. Crosby’s zero defect management sets the standard that errors are not tolerated, and there are no acceptable levels of non-quality; hence doing it right the first time (Boti, 2011). Prevention, as Crosby describes, is â€Å"quality should not be controlled, it must be done† (Boti, 2011, pg. 205). Last, quality measure is the cost of non-compliance with quality. Quality Today and the Future Organizations that apply Crosby’s quality management concepts to their business strategies have demonstrated they can remain successful in the business environment. Crosby’s values of understanding the importance of employee and customer education have helped to create consistency in quality, increase productivity, increase profitability, and customer satisfaction. Companies using outdated management approaches are missing opportunities for innovation and growth. Organizations that understand and embrace the dynamic element of quality management will be prepared for the ever changing environment and unknown circumstances that may arise. The future for businesses that have managed the trends in quality will have a better competitive advantage to those who do not. Conclusion Elements of quality may differ from person to person and is constantly changing. Organizational awareness of changes is essential to remain competitive and necessary to produce a better quality product. Long-term success of a business is driven by quality and an organizations ability to continuously improve the quality of its product or service.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Write-up Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Write-up - Essay Example According to Canner, she was making a documentary on a drug that was a cure to a female disease known as female sexual dysfunction (FSD). In any part of the world, health matters are vital and nobody ever wants to contract a disease if he or she is in a position to avoid it. It is because of this perception that the pharmaceutical company came up with an easy way to make quick profit. The company decided to invent a drug and advertised it in all forms of media in order to get the intended target market, women. Some of the advertisements on television sets claimed â€Å"...40 million women in the US may have FSD disease†¦ (Orgasm Inc., 2011)† According to the documentary, the advertisement worked because in no short time after receiving approval from FDA, people streamed in to pharmaceutical companies and shops in demand for the new drug. Many women went for medical checkups just to be sure of their health status concerning the new disease. During medical checkups, many women tested positive of the disease and encouraged to seek medication, which was costly. According to an interview, one of the women that had undergone medical checkup claimed that doctors told her that she risked death since she had lost a third of her blood volume (Orgasm Inc.,

Thursday, September 12, 2019

FOOD TAXES Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

FOOD TAXES - Research Paper Example In addition, those states which charge sales tax on food such as Arkansas and Utah subject food sales to local taxes. This leads to differences in the rates of taxes charged from one city to the other within the same state. Although some states do not charge tax on food, there are certain food items or products that are taxable. Each state has provided a list of these non-exempt products. For example, in Iowa, product such as chewing gum, dietary supplements and pet foods and supplies are subject to tax2. Currently, there is debate on whether or not states should start to charge ‘fat tax’. Many have argued that there is need to charge high tax on unhealthy products in order to reduce the occurrence of diseases like obesity and heart diseases. For example, in an article by Lara Salahi and Samantha Meaney (2012), the authors argue that adding tax on unhealthy foods and drinks will help reduce the cases of obesity and other diseases3. For instance, they argue that a tax rate of about 20 per cent in sugar-sweetened drinks could help reduce obesity cases by 3.5 per cent and also help to prevent close to 3000 heart-related

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

What are the political beliefs of the American people in the year 2012 Essay

What are the political beliefs of the American people in the year 2012 - Essay Example The definition of liberalism is the following: the importance of liberty and equal rights are high on the agenda for liberals. Moreover, they are much more concerned about liberal elections, human rights, capitalism and freedom of religion. The ideas of liberalism are the most attractive for me in the 21st century. Nowadays the world is too complex and it is necessary to find the best balancing policy, which will cover economic and social aspects. The power of liberalism is able to perform all these functions on the background of freedom and equality. We can also underline that the ideas of liberalism are deeply rooted in historical developments of the American Constitution. This country has been always been a template of excellence of liberalistic views and considerations. I claim that America is full of liberalist senses. Freedom is the central concern of the liberal party. The principles of political innocence are deeply rooted in the American liberalism. In such a way, even Locke claimed that the entire world initially was America. Of course, this statement is a kind of exaggeration, but America was free from feudalism. The absence of this oppressing power underlines the nature of free country, which is the main benefit of America above all other European country. There is a free basis for the development of the modern America and there is a chance to develop in accordance with the principles of freedom and equality, promoted by liberals. Moreover, liberalism in America is of a social nature and it differs from liberalist concerns promoted in Europe. Currently, liberals alter their principles in the name of the government. The state of a social welfare is the most attractive feature for the modern citizens in America. In order to reach this goal it is relevant to cooperate at economical, social and political levels. In spite of the fact that there are many opponents of liberalism in the country, we can claim that

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Global Strategy College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Global Strategy College - Essay Example Banai and Sama (2004) argue that empirical evidence indicates that MNCs who betray a preference for home country employees/managers, do not simply establish themselves as foreign entities within their host economies but, place themselves at the forefront of ethical questioning and suspicion. Rather than be regarded by host country citizens as potential employers and sources of foreign investment, they are regarded as conduits for the channeling of financial resources from the host economy to the parent one (Banai and Sama, 2004). Needless to say, this constrains the potential for constructive cooperation between the MNCs in question and the host economy. Insofar as Pfizer is concerned, it will further cast suspicion on the veracity of its publicized slogans. Judging by the stated, therefore, Pfizer should rely on host-country employees. In addition to the above stated the argument for reliance on host country employees is further fortified by the very nature of the industry within which Pfizer operates.

Monday, September 9, 2019

Influenza in Elderly Aged 65 years and above Essay

Influenza in Elderly Aged 65 years and above - Essay Example Therefore, the effective measure for preventing this communicable disease is to offer influenza vaccinations to ageing people. Influenza is a public health issue because it is an acute viral infection, which can spread from one individual to another, and it circulates across the globe and can affect many aging people at a higher rate. According to the WHO report, global influenza epidemics result to 3 to 5 million of severe cases yearly and this contributes to death rates of approximately 500, 000 deaths where the majority are the ageing people of 65 years and above (Ryu, Kim, Park and Park (2011 p. 4197). Influenza causes annual epidemics and the winter seasons or temperate areas are the peak seasons for influenza. This illness can take economic toll because of heavy expenditure on provision of healthcare services not only to the aging population but also to children who are dependent. The essay explores the determinants of influenza in aging people and analyzes the inequalities, as well as, policies that impact on the public health issue. Determinants Of Influenza In Adults Age 65 Years Old And Above Ageing people are at higher risks for many vaccine preventable illnesses because this illness contributes to high morbidity and mortality rates. Influenza and pneumonia in adults are among the 8th leading cause for increased death rates among the aging people across the globe (DH 2009, p. 5). Many aging people die while others get admitted in hospitals due to complications of influenza disease. The determinant of health covers all the risk factors that may pose an individual to influenza. Social issues are among influenza determinants among the elderly populations across the globe. The research carried out revealed that social determinants such as gender, ethnicity, social-economic status, cultural beliefs and values were among the determinants of influenza in adults (Nagata (2013, p. 88). The behavioral beliefs, affordability, education or attitudes about the va ccine are also significant determinants of flu vaccine. Vaccination gains influenza virus is vital because it is one of the best methods of preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and premature death rates to elderly people. Another influenza determinant is the health care provisions among the elderly population. Since the beginning of the 20th century, timely and efficient intervention methods have been significant contributing factors for the decline of morality rates from influenza disease and other associated diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease (Merrill 2010, p. 57). The health of aging population is influenced by varied factors including the past and present behaviors, as well as, health care provisions. There is an immense dissimilarity among the health inequalities and health determinants. The primary causes for health are frequently summed up in the slogan of dealing with the determinants for wellbeing and health inequalities. The health inequalities are tackl ed under the policy implementation whereby the government focuses on distribution of equal health care services to all population. Focusing on the determinant of healthcare inequalities is vital because this is one of the increased causes for widespread influenza disease. Education factor is among the social determinants of influenza and it is linked to learning disabilities for adults. The research study carried out revea

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Propose and Justify Research Method and Design Essay

Propose and Justify Research Method and Design - Essay Example Research design ensures that different parts of the research process do not conflict with each other. Research design usually comes after we have identified problem situations and developed a Hypothesis or problem statement. It’s usually is a rational decision making process, which is very methodological. To understand the role of ethical leadership in the educational environment, opinions, literature and hardcore statistics will be equally important. The nature of the study is such that a single dimensional study with only statistics or only opinions will not be able to answer the question at hand. In such a study taking only quantitative or only a qualitative analysis will complicate the problem statement. Thus there is a need to take a mixed method design approach for the study mentioned. A study using a mixed method design aims to establish facts using both quantitative and qualitative data; therefore it is called a mixed method design. Mixed method design is usually used in studies which are on the initial stages of research, and the research questions require the research to both come up with the proper definitions and solve the problem statement at the same time. If we use mixed method design for ‘How can ethical leadership in educational institution, influence a positive learning environment?’ a design with the following elements can be used. Below are details of why a mixed method design is important, for each element of research design. The purpose of the study will be to both explore and describe certain elements to enhance and increase understanding. An exploratory study is undertaken when not much is known about the situation, or there are no valid examples of how similar problems have been handled in the past. This type of study enables to better comprehend the nature of the problem. In essence an exploratory study enables the researcher to get much needed familiarity with a research topic

Saturday, September 7, 2019

The effects of mobile devices on cybersecurity Essay

The effects of mobile devices on cybersecurity - Essay Example The development of the mobile technology has significantly changed the way people live. It played a notable role in making modern life convenient and flexible. The mobile technology grew rapidly that it took hardly ten years to enter the mainstream use, and, when compared to the growth of telephones this growth was unusually fast. According to Cisco’s 2013 global mobile data forecast (2014), today the number of mobile devices equals the number of humans on the planet. The mobile technology fact sheet published by the Pew Research Center (2014) indicates that 90% of American adults own a cell phone, 58% of them own a smartphone, 32% own an e-reader, and 42% own a tablet computer. It is interesting to note that 67% of cell phone users check their phones frequently for calls, messages, or other alerts when while their phones do not ring or vibrate. There are another 44% of cell users sleeping with their phones next to the bed so as to make sure that they do not miss any call, mes sage, or update. The fact sheet also reflects that 29% of cell users consider their cell phone as â€Å"something they cannot imagine living without† (The mobile technology fact sheet, Pew Research Center, 2014). The term cybersecurity refers to the process of providing security to devices such as computers, cell phones, smartphones, and tablets, as well as the whole internet. In the current world, promoting cybersecurity is of great importance because modern people increasingly depend on computer networks to store and transfer their confidential data/information. Magid (2014) says that since such sensitive personal data is exposed to computer networks, hackers or other cyber criminals may intrude into the privacy of network users and empty their bank account if proper cybersecurity measures are not in place. Business enterprises are no exception to such cyber challenges. Hence,

Planned Organizational Change Essay Example for Free

Planned Organizational Change Essay Abstract Planned organizational change can be defined in many different ways, and characterized on many different levels. The common denominator listed after reviewing two related Internet articles, indicates that change cannot take place for changes sake, but must be implemented to accomplish a specific goal or task. Another common statement states that change must also be accepted and embraced before the desired outcome is achieved. Planned Organizational Change Planned organizational change can be defined in many different ways, and characterized on many different levels. The common denominator listed after reviewing two related Internet articles, indicates that change cannot take place for changes sake, but must be implemented to accomplish a specific goal or task. Another common statement states that change must also be accepted and embraced before the desired outcome is achieved. The first Internet article reviewed was titled Planned Organizational Change as Cultural Revolution (Izumi and Taylor. n.d.). This article was particularly interesting because of the broad statement provided indicating that organizational schemes often fail because of poor reception by those involved. The article states: Organizational schemes gang aft a-gley during the implementation stage because the corporate culture does not change enough to allow the new ideas, procedures, and structures to take hold. There may not be the cultural buy-in necessary to sustain the current change effort. If planned change is to be successful, it must include, as an integral and critical part of the change process, the seeds of the new values, beliefs, and attitudes the organization is trying to grow. Unfortunately, change programs are often set up to fail because the change methods only perpetuate the old way of doing things. This statement rings particularly true for this author. Over the past 20  years in business I have witnessed many organizational changes that have failed miserably. Businesses seem to want a change, for different reasons, but do not know how to properly implement these changes. Improper implementation of a sound plan, not enough organizational commitment, and organizational politics, as indicated in the article, seem to provide some of the most common reasons for failure related to organizational change. Businesses will sometimes have a valid plan to change an organization, but neglect the final stages of implementation. This lack of follow-up invalidates the entire effort. Politics also play a significant role in most organizational change failures. Many businesses have allowed small unofficial organizations to form within organizations; this creates internal kingdoms which prove fatal to organizational change. A strong belief in the importance of a proper structure, as told by the article, often causes change factors to focus on the organization instead or processes. The effects of this type of change produce a structural change instead of a process change that allows the same processes to function under new management. The article goes as far as mentioning on model, used specifically in the case of large mergers, how many resources can be combined with little analysis of the operating environment. The thinking is, the combination of skills, thoughts and ideas will combine to form an organization that operates in a drastically different manner that initially imagined. This idea sounds valid, but a combination of organizational direction from management combined with the evolution of processes and organization would seem to provide the most effective solution. Business Process Reengineering (BPR) is one of the most interesting ideas retrieved from the first Internet article. The BPR is described as a natural outgrowth of the Internal Process approach to organizational effectiveness. This model concentrates on targeting internal processes for change. When these processes are analyzed for inefficiencies there is little consideration given to strategy or organizational structure. When internal processes are changed to increase efficiency, the old systems should be replaced with new systems rather than using the old systems to create new  processes. As old systems are purged, the effects on the organization increase exponentially. The domino effect seen by replacing old processes often surprises businesses as to the effectiveness of this model. The second article reviewed was titled: Basic Context for Organizational Change, this article parallels the previous article reviewed by this author. This article written by Carter McNamara, PhD provides two interesting points: (1) Change should not be done for the sake of change, and (2) There is typically strong resistance to change; people are afraid of the unknown. This author has witnessed several organization changes that could easily been implemented simply for change sake. The Internet article helps in the realization of the necessity for organizational-wide changes to truly create situations that effect positive change. Many times businesses will implement organizational changes in only one or two departments, when the change truly effects the every department or division in a small way. Organizational-wide change, along with change acceptance will go a long way toward creating a favorable atmosphere to change. Typically there are strong resistances to organizational change. People are afraid of the unknown. Many people like the way things are, are comfortable, and dont understand the need for change. Many people view any organizational change as bad, and neglect to give proposed changes an opportunity to succeed. This type of behavior is difficult to remedy, but a well-structured, properly organized change can implement change much easier that an ill conceived plan. In conclusion, this author has realized the importance of implementing and following through with planned changes as an integral part of successful organizational change. This author has also realized that change for change sake is a dangerous proposition and organizational changes should always consider the entire company before attempting local changes. A final lesson teaches the importance of recognizing peoples inherent resistance to change and the need to address human resistance as an important step in any organizational change effort. The items reviewed in both internet articles discussed effective ways to implement and recognized planned change, and  should be invaluable in future business endeavors. Reference Izumi, H., Taylor, D., (n.d.). Planned organizational change as cultural evolution. Empire State College Resource List. Para. 2. Retrieved April 15, 2003 from the World Wide Web:http://www.esc.edu/ESConline/across_esc/forumjournal.nsf/ 3cc42a422514347a8525671d0049f395/1f36661906ca98d9852567b00

Friday, September 6, 2019

A Memorable Term Essay Example for Free

A Memorable Term Essay In Mr. Rodriguezs Spanish 1-2 class, we have learned so many new things and have had the amazing opportunity to gain more fluency in another language. Some of the goals we had in the beginning of the term were to learn the appropriate level of Spanish, for example more knowledge of verbs, and how to say basic conversations and greetings. We were expected to have learned everything we were taught, and the basic part of the Spanish language. Mr. Macfarland was our Spanish teacher, and his techniques were that we did our homework in homework packets, and we would sing our vocabulary, which benefited us and helped us memorize it in an easier way. When we took test, quizzes and answered questions aloud, he could judge if we were learning or not by the answers we would give, or the grades we would receive. The family project we did in Mr. Macfarlands class was definitely the most memorable and enjoyable assignment we did. Throughout my freshman year, I didn’t do any other project that was like the family project we did in his class, and that is what made it so enjoyable. It was fun to go through old pictures, and be able to sort of introduce you’re family to your class. I did well in my Spanish class, receiving high grades on most assignments. Some of the difficulties I experienced were doing homework, because that was the only class I had homework in everyday and also book work, because it was hard to understand sometimes. I learned many new interesting things; I learned how to have a conversation in Spanish, also verbs in Spanish. Throughout this term I have improved greatly. I have gained a lot more knowledge, because in the beginning of the term the only thing I could say was hello. As for my achievements, I am so proud that I received an A in my class, because that was highly beyond my expectations. I would grade my effort about a B-, because there were a lot of times I would slack off and not do homework and my performance about a B because I sometimes talked during that class but paid attention and got serious when it was necessary. Learning Spanish can benefit me in my future because I will be able to slightly comprehend others when they are speaking Spanish, which is very important because many people speak Spanish in San Diego. Also, I will continue learning Spanish for my sophomore year. I did not have issues out of school that affect my classroom experience. Next year I would like to improve my effort, and if I continue taking Spanish in college it could help my transcript from having learned a second language. To reach my goals in the near future, I will continue taking languages because I feel it is something I need to succeed and something I enjoy doing. During this Spanish class, I have had so many amazing experiences it is beyond belief. I will never forget how comical and odd Mr. Mac was. I will also never forget how he made us sing our vocabulary because I have never been able to have fun while learning the meaning of words. Overall, I have made many memories in this Spanish 1-2 class that I will never forget.