Equal Education for Special Needs Children - 931 Words

All students deserve to receive the proper help to get the education they desire. There shouldn’t be any separation between some students that have physical, mental, emotional, or no problem at all. There are children with variations of disabilities. The children with severe disabilities may not be able to get the equal education because it takes more effort than the ones with low levels of disability. As for the low-mild disabled children, they could be included in the classrooms with children that do not have a disability. Mainstreaming some special needs children will expand their intellect and possibilities of growth. Although some are smarter than an average child, including them with non-disabled students will also give them a wide social connection. For the past few years, there has been research going on to find a solution for children with disabilities to be apart of a class along with non-disabled or other disabled children. There have been laws passed for disabled c hildren requiring them to have an education like the non-disabled. Kathy Koch states, â€Å"In 1975, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed† (905) and Margaret McLaughlin states, â€Å"The education of students with disabilities in todays schools is being shaped by 2 very powerful laws: the 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004) and the 2001 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (Title I, No Child Left Behind Act)† (265). Before there was an Act put intoShow MoreRelatedThe Education For All Handicapped Children Act (Eha) Had957 Words   |  4 PagesThe Education for all Handicapped Children Act (EHA) had an overall goal of desegregating disabled children in schools, as well as work on integrating them in classrooms with their non-disabled peers. Until the Civil Rights Movement, not much attention was brought to the fact that children with disabilities had very little rights and were kept isolated and not given a proper education, if any at all. Because of the attention brought to the poor and unjust treatment of children with disabilities andRead MoreLegal Framework Supporting Inclusive Education1632 Words   |  7 PagesINCLUSIVE EDUCATION. The International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981 and the United Nations Decade of Disabled People 1983-1992 led to major breakthroughs globally in the recognition of the rights of PWDs and in realization of international policies/framework to protect those rights. One of these rights is the right to education. This right is enshrined and reasserted in various international documents . The Statement and Framework for Action from the World Conference on Special Needs Education (UNESCORead MoreChildren With Disabilities And Special Needs1426 Words   |  6 PagesOne hopes that all schools in the U.S. that have disabled and special needs students do everything they can to ensure that such students are treated in a fair way and granted their right to equal access to education. For years, students with disabilities and special needs were not given the right to education. Many were labeled as incapable or the term â€Å"special† someone who needs particular requirements which is now known as special needs. They were not valued because of their failures and many sawRead MoreEffective Methods For Accommodating Students With Disabilities Essay1479 Words   |  6 Pagesschools? Preface The right to equal education should be in reach of all students’ regardless of their educational needs and backgrounds. The barriers that students’ with disabilities face are evident in today’s public school education. We as educators sometimes ignore the capabilities of some of our disabled students’ and impede them from achieving their fullest potential. Inclusive education implementation has helped improve the quality of education offered to all children who attend school. To ensureRead MorePublic School Vs. Public Schools929 Words   |  4 PagesWhen most people talk about â€Å"public school† they are actually thinking of average students in a general education classroom, who learn and work at a typical academic pace, introducing the common core and state standards within twelve years. The fact of the matter is that the previous reference to â€Å"school† leaves out 13% of children who attend public school in the United States. If ther e are 15.1 million students who attend public schools then that is leaving out approximately 1,063,000 studentsRead MoreEducation For Children With Disabilities954 Words   |  4 PagesIn American Education we explore the evolution of legislation that was passed to protect students with disability rights and their families. Educators who believed in special education or exceptional students went through trials and tribulations to pass several acts such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, and including others that will be defined in this essay. As a future educator, I believe many people are not accepting of students with disabilitiesRead MoreHistory of Special Needs Ireland1142 Words   |  5 PagesHistory of Special Needs Provision In Ireland Special needs provision in Ireland has evolved since the founding of the state in 1919. Until the early 1990s practically all education and care of children were carried out by the religious orders in Ireland. The government therefore had little need for policies or legislation surrounding education and care. Ireland established its education system in 1831 while under English rule. This made it mandatory for children between the ages of six and fourteenRead MoreInclusive Education for Children with Disabilities Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesThe right to have access to education is a concern for people with disabilities. They were treated poorly and often desegregated from society. The response to the concerns of parents and educators over the exclusion of children with disabilities created the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The public law â€Å"guaranteed a free, appropriate public education to each child with a disability in every state and locality across the country†. In the 1970s children with disabilities entered schoolsRead More Special Education Implementation For Native American Girls Essay1712 Words   |  7 PagesSpecial Education Implementation For Native American Girls Quality education for children has been an ongoing issue for todays society. There has also been an increasing concern for the education of students with special needs. The effect of these concerns has been noted in many communities, such as the Native American community. The population of special education students in the Native American communities is not necessarily higher than others, however, their community is effectedRead MoreSOcial and Economic Development: Inclusion and Inclusive Education1133 Words   |  5 Pages INCLUSION: A BIRTHRIGHT Education is the most important factor in any country’s social and economic development. It builds human capital by producing informed and productive citizens. Education creates opportunities for marginalized and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities to become better adjusted and productive citizens. People with disabilities are still at a severe disadvantage in terms of accessing education in many parts of the world, especially in Pakistan. World Health Organization

Emerging Adulthood and Sexuality in Latin American...

The main idea of this paper is to discuss the sexual and reproductive health of Latin American immigrants in Madrid, briefly approaching three different questions: do they believe that there are differences about sexual and reproductive health issues between what they lived in their countries and Spain?; are they having different behaviors in Spain than in their origin countries and, if so, which ones?; and finally, what do they perceived about sexual health services and access in Spain? Regular Latin American immigrants sexuality in Europe has been rarely addressed by researchers. Even the known importance of irregular migration sexuality studies, because of the risks and vulnerability to which migrants are exposed, we should ask†¦show more content†¦The Ecological Theory is not being probed in this research; it is limited to be an organizing tool. The interview guide that we use tried to include all the systems in the theory (macro, micro, meso, exo, and crhono5), and their probable relations through different issues, which will correspond to one or more systems. However, even the theory would not define the study, it contributes to the design. Grounded theory interprets data from the reality of the individual, and it can be understand under the social construction of reality, according to Berger and Luckman6. Also, it is directly related with the concept of sexuality as a social construction. Weeks3 emphasis, when talking about the social construction of sexuality, that sexuality is not a given fact, it is a product of negotiation, struggle, and human actions(pp 30). Emerging adulthood was proposed in 2000 by Jeffrey Arnett,2 to described the group of people aged 18 -29 years old. The theory basically includes 5 principles that can change between countries due to cultural backgrounds: instability (work, love, education); exploration of identity; Self-focus on personal goals; feeling in between (adult-adolescent); high hopes for the future, positives ideas. It has been argued that not all young people can live this stage because not everyone in the world has the chance to decide about their

Xacc 280 - Week8 - Checkpoint free essay sample

The company I chose to analyze is WorldCom. This company based in Mississippi had recognized that for several years it has been bloating or increasing their earnings through booking about $3. 8 billion expenses as long-term investments rather than operating costs. They did that by posting operating expenses such as salaries and wages as long-term investments on the balance sheet while those costs should have been expensed and posted to the income statement. When they did that, they overstated assets while extremely understating expenses. This led to an overstatement of net income; the company then devalued such costs which led cash flows, profit margins and net income to be affectedly inflated. Given the fact that those are the key measures used to value the company’s stock, the company’s stock was highly overpriced. If I had been an accountant for WorldCom, I would have treated such disbursements as normal operating costs. If I had been forced by management to indulge in such an unethical behavior, I would see myself enforced to have reported the company to the authorities as this is a serious violation of accounting ethics, and I would not want to be part of such violations. We will write a custom essay sample on Xacc 280 Week8 Checkpoint or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page WorldCom’s reaffirmation of earnings had put the company in default of bank agreements. Such default resulted in loans being called in for immediate payment. WorldCom’s financial problems made it impossible for it to make enough profit to cover such loans as they were called in. Dreading bankruptcy and the possibility of interruption of service, WorldCom’s customers started looking for other, more stable telecom providers which led to even less profit coming in each month to pay their obligations.

Mystic Monk Coffee free essay sample

The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming are a religious order of the Catholic Church, founded by Father Daniel. Father Daniel Mary has a vision of moving the monastery from the current small makeshift home to a 500-acre Irma Lake Ranch capable of housing up to 30 monks, a Covent, a retreat center, and a hermitage. The current price of the Irma Lake Ranch is listed as $8. 9 million, which presents a considerable financial obstacle in this pursuit. The Carmelites Monks of Wyoming currently run a coffee business called Mystic Monk Coffee (MMC). Father Daniel Mary, while looking at the financial capabilities of the monastery, is evaluating the possibility of achieving the Monastery’s strategic goal with current resources. This is a relatively large leap – compared to the current 4-bedroom range style home, which currently houses only 13 monks. Father Daniel Mary, who lacks the business experience, is considering to what extent the Carmelites can rely on the Mystic Monk Coffee operations to fund the remaining balance of the Irma Lake Ranch purchase. We will write a custom essay sample on Mystic Monk Coffee or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Our recommendations take into account the following considerations: †¢ The received donation of $250,000 and current plea for additional funds. †¢ The capacity and profit potential of the current roaster. †¢ The capacity and profit potential along with ROI of upgrading to the larger roaster. †¢ The market potential for sales and growth. †¢ The time constraints resulting from the strict Carmelite schedule and routine. †¢ The needed $445,000 down payment (assuming 5%) on a negotiated $8. 5 million purchase price and the $40,365 monthly mortgage payment on a 30yr loan at 4% rate. Our research provided some possible scenarios that will guide our recommendation: †¢ Invest in the new roaster which will increase ability to double capacity of production. †¢ Reduce the sales price to $8. 00 per bag to entice additional sales and increase market share. †¢ Relax the cloistered monastic restraints to boost daily production hours from 6 to 8 day. †¢ Review packaging process and materials to reduce cost of goods sold. †¢ Continue fundraising activities to secure additional revenue. The Group A recommendation for Father Daniel Mary is to pursue with the purchase of the Irma Lake Ranch. The following synopsis and strategic analysis will portray the key activities and positioning required to sustain the purchase of the property and Mystic Monk Coffee operation. SYNOPSIS The Carmelite order of catholic monks under the direction of father Daniel Marry are looking to purchase a larger facility in the form of a ranch near the Rocky Mountains. This ranch would cost $8. 9 million. Current operations at Mystic Monk’s coffee generate revenues averaging $56,500 per month. At the current 11% net profit margin, this interprets to $74,580 in annual profits. At this rate, it would take at least two and a half years to raise the funds needed to make the down payment – taking into consideration the $250,000 in donations. Thereafter, the monastery would require at least $34,150 in monthly donations from the fund set up by the local business owners in addition to the $6,215 in monthly income to make their $40,365 monthly note. In essences without improved sales from MMC, the New Mount Carmel project would not be possible to achieve. One strategic issue that is apparent is the daily schedule that the Carmelite monks follow is not business friendly as it restricts the number of working hours to six. The monks must find a way to possibly increase production while still adhering to the restrictive schedule of living in the monastery or relax the schedule to allow for more time for coffee operations. Another issue is the profit margin. Doing some costs analysis, it is obvious to us that the profitability of the business is being affected by costs, which make up 89% of sales leaving a margin of 11%. Costs will need to be properly managed in order to improve the net profit margin. Finally, the current pricing and distribution of the coffee bags needs to be re-evaluated. Currently operations are at 39% of capacity, which is not deliberate but due to the fact that this is the level of operation, that satisfies the current demand for MMC coffee. The target market and marketing strategy needs to be expanded. Currently the focus is on Catholic American’s who drink coffee, wholesale to churches and local coffee shops. This a very limited market population compared to the 30 million Americans who drink premium coffee – the coffee grade produced by MMC. Being a Monastery tax stipulations do not require the profits of MMC to be taxed as all of its employees are volunteers and they are not being paid wages (IRS). This provides more cost savings to allow for a more aggressive pricing strategy. STRATEGIC ANALYSIS Costs Analysis Figure 1 below shows the breakdown of costs in the manufacturing of MMC. The current wholesale market price for fair trade Arabica is $1. 55 per pound, which translates to $1. 16 per 12-ounce bag. Assuming the cost of the bag to be $0. 55[1], this put the total cost of sales at $1. 71 leaving $1. 28 in costs unaccounted for. MMC does not pay for labor, hence their labor costs for roasting, and bagging is zero. This calls for action. By eliminating, this additional cost MMC could reduce their current cost of sales by close to 43%. From figure 2, we can see that this will directly increase net profit margin by 17% to 28%, which more than doubles the net profit. [pic] [pic] Figure 1. Current Costs break down. Figure 2. Adjusted Cost break down Revenue Currently monthly revenue from sales totals $56,500. At $9. 95 per bag this would mean that the total number of bags being sold per day is 284 which is 39% of the capacity of the current 540 pound/day roaster (see Figure 3 below). Various factors are at play here. Obviously, the current production is determined by the demand. One of the factors affecting the demand for MMC coffee is their marketing strategy. There is a need to expand their market focus. With a 32% growth in demand for organic coffee annually for the last 7 years, there is no reason why demand for MMC should not be exceeding current capacity, but for the fact that their market focus is too narrow. Apart from expanding market-reach, lowering the current price to $8. 00 assuming this price utilizes full capacity; revenue will jump by over 103% to $115,200 per month (See figure 4). [pic] [pic] Figure 3. Current daily sales. Figure 4. Adjusted daily sales Production and Capacity Analysis Assuming MMC is able to boost sales above the current capacity to warrant additional capacity, funds are available to purchase a 130 pound-per-hour roaster at $35,000. Figures 5 and 6 show the impact that the upgrade has on revenue. Compared to the current capacity at 6 hour of production this would produce 1040 bags per day. However, increasing labor hours to 8 hours, production would be at 1347 bags per day 33% more. This shows increasing returns on the investment by adding more labor hours. [pic] [pic] Figure 5. 6-hour operation. Figure 6. -hour operation Comparing this to the production from the old roaster, figure 7 shows that by purchasing the upgrade, the new roaster will pay for itself within a year. [pic] Figure 7. RECCOMENDATIONS In order to achieve their strategic goal, our first recommendation is that MMC put together a marketing strategy that would expand the current focus outside of the ir current target market of Catholics. They need to take advantage of the growth within the organic coffee market. With increased demand, they can look to boost production to the levels by purchasing the larger roaster as this would also increase the total capacity available. Pricing is another issue that must be looked into. Our analysis shows that the benefit from lower price to boost demand is exponentially significant. In order to price competitively MMC has to take a closer look at reducing the waste and cutting costs of sales by at least 43%. This alone is capable of doubling profits. We also recommend that after stimulating demand for MMC coffee, MMC can look to double their capacity by purchasing a second roaster. Additional staffing will be needed and this can come from engaging one of the other brothers who is not currently engaged in a specific task at the Monastery. In addition to these, we recommend relaxing some of the conventions that limit available production time to a six- hour workday and make it an eight hours. Our analysis shows that this alone is capable of boosting current output by 33%. On a final note, we advise that the purchase of the ranch be financed. The donations that were made in addition to revenue from the increased over the next two months (at $190,000/ month) – assuming that the roaster was upgraded and schedules relaxed should be used as a down payment for the property. We advised that Father Prior consult with business experts to come up with a detailed business plan that would show how the operations of MMC would raise the funds needed to meet the estimated $40,365 monthly mortgage payment.

Famous Quotations from Medea by Euripides

Famous Quotations from Medea by Euripides Medea is the famous play by the Greek, Euripides. To what extent would a mother go? Here are a few quotes from the Greek drama. Flow backward to your sources, sacred rivers,And let the worlds great order be reversed.It is the thoughts of men that are deceitful,Their pledges that are loose.- Euripides, Medea I am afraid of you...You are a clever woman, versed in evil artsAnd are angry at having lost your husbands love.I hear that you are threatening, so they tell me,To do something against my daughter and JasonAnd me too.- Euripides, Medea I have often been the loser.Even now I know that I am making a mistake.- Euripides, Medea Do you think that I would ever have fawned on that manUnless I had some end to gain or profit in it?- Euripides, Medea And when I have ruined the whole of Jasons house,I shall leave the land and flee from the murder of myDear children, and I shall have done a dreadful deed.For it is not bearable to be mocked by enemies.So it must happen. What profit have I in life?I have no land, no home, no refuge from my pain.- Euripides, Medea

Heres Why Your College GPA Matters

Here's Why Your College GPA Matters In high school, you likely focused on getting good grades- and, consequently, having a high grade point average (GPA)- because you wanted to get into to college. But now that youve done that, you may be wondering, Does GPA matter in college? While this may seem like a simple question, it doesnt have a straightforward answer. In some situations, your college GPA can matter quite a bit; on the other hand, a GPA can mean nothing beyond whether or not you can graduate. Why Your GPA Matters in College There are many reasons you will want to maintain a good GPA in college. Ultimately, you will need to pass your classes in order to get your degree, which is the point of going to college in the first place. From that perspective, the answer is clear: Your GPA matters. If your GPA drops below a certain threshold, your school will send you a notice youve been  placed on academic probation  and tell you what steps to take in order to recover from it. Along the same lines, you may need to keep it at or above a certain level to keep your scholarships, other financial awards or loan eligibility. Additionally, things like academic honors, research opportunities, internships, and some classes have GPA requirements. Its always a good idea to ask your academic adviser about any GPA requirements you should be aware of, so you dont find out youre in trouble after its too late to fix it.   Do College Grades Matter for Jobs? Your GPA may or may not play an important role in your life after college- it depends on your post-graduate plans. For example, Graduate school admissions are very competitive, and youre required to put your GPA on an application. If youre interested in furthering your education but the damage to your GPA is already done, dont fret: Good scores on the GRE, GMAT, MCAT or LSAT could make up for a sub-par GPA. (Of course, getting into grad school will be a lot easier if you focus on maintaining a good GPA from the start of college.) Even if youre not thinking about more school, you should know some employers will ask you for your GPA when you apply for a job. In fact, there are companies- generally, large companies- who require applicants to meet the basic GPA requirement.   Beyond the aforementioned situations, theres a good chance your GPA may never again come up after graduation. In general, employers focus more on your level of education, not the grades that got you there, and theres no rule that says you  need  to put your GPA on your resume. The bottom line: Your college GPA is only as important as it is for your future plans. While you may not feel pressure to focus on maintaining a high GPA as you did in high school, theres no reason why you shouldnt work hard in your classes and succeed as best you can academically. You never know, after all, what jobs or graduate school programs you might end up applying for years after you graduate.

International trade theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International trade theory - Essay Example Therefore, a country should only specialize in the production of its efficient commodity. Interpreting this account to the illustration on chart 4-10, Ghana specializes in the production of cocoa for commercial purposes than Korea who takes its advantage based on rice. Ghana being 4 times more efficient in cocoa productivity than Korea who specializes in rice gives absolute advantage of each other in trade negotiations. Besides, the theory of comparative advantage illustrates that country’s exports should not be measured by quantity but efficiency to avoid market dominancy. For instance, if 4tones of cocoa were exchanged by 4tones of, rice from Korea then Ghana would be susceptible compared to Korea (Pomfret 107). Clusters or networks of similar companies in the same industry are always encouraged as this harmonizes competitive advantage of the countries involved by creating room for innovations otherwise improving productivity. Cluster is also very essential for the promotion f a particular good or service believed to be efficiently located (Pomfret

Blog proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Blog proposal - Essay Example In addition, media has allowed increased educational gains for the audiences. Increased research has allowed mediums of communications to serve better than ever (Ward). However, in the recent times, the impact of media has been adverse on the political economy. It is being proposed here that the story that will be written within the field of journalism will be about media terrorism. The concept of media terrorism will be introduced in the blog post as an English expression where it will be studied in the context of news mediums being used for terrorists’ information. The best example that can be taken in order to study the aspect of news terrorism can be Al-Jazeera channel through which the information regarding terrorists’ activities and protocols are broadcasted. Some of the news agencies believe that giving out such information to the general public is extremely dangerous because it is more likely to increase panic within the civic life. Also, it is more likely to ma ke the defensive operations halting or prone to have loopholes. However, at the same time, there are arguments which are posed against keeping secrecy from general audiences. It is stated that nation needs to understand and get informed about problems that may occur in the longer run. It is mainly because anything terrorist activity that is more likely to happen within a country would directly impact the lives of people. Therefore, they must be educated about such issues and aspects (Ward). It should be noted that there are different dimensions to this subject matter. As mentioned above, there are two schools of thought when it comes to the subject of news terrorism. At one point, there can be people who are against the aspect of informing about terrorists threats while on the other hand, there are people who claim that one must be aware of such threats because it can allow respective authorities to take relevant actions to stay alert

Nine Planets Essay Example for Free

Nine Planets Essay A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System: one star, eight planets, and more| | This website is an overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of the planets, moons and other objects in our solar system. Each page has our text and NASAs images, some have sounds and movies, most provide references to additional related information. In association with our friends at Solar System Scope we now have an interactive tour of the solar system (takes a while to load and opens in a new window)All eight planets can be seen with a small telescope; or binoculars. And large observatories continue to provide much useful information. But the possibility of getting up close with interplanetary spacecraft has revolutionized planetary science. Very little of this site would have been possible without the space program. Nevertheless, theres a lot that you can see with very modest equipment or even with just your own eyes. Past generations of people found beauty and a sense of wonder contemplating the night sky. Todays scientific knowledge further enhances and deepens that experience. And you can share in it by simply going out in the evening and looking up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The IAU has changed the definition of planet so that Pluto no longer qualifies. There are now officially only eight planets in our solar system. Of course this change in terminology does not affect whats actually out there. In the end, its not very important how we classify the various objects in our solar system. What is important is to learn about their physical nature and their histories.

Power of Knowledge Essays -- Education

The Power of Knowledge "Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of every progress." This quote from Kofi Annan, a diplomat of Ghana involved with the United Nations, directly correlates with an overall theme found in Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington. This autobiography clearly depicts trials and tribulations that confronted Washington, but not one of them is ever noted as anything less than a learning experience. Washington's passion for learning enabled him to surpass boundaries perceived by those who allowed themselves to merely become victims of their circumstances. He looked at the struggles that faced him as opportunities to become a stronger and more confident person. Success did not come easily for this man, but through a series of events and obstacles he was able to create a success all his own. Having an education that is furthered by schooling is important, but Washington's life is proof that the power of knowledge can also be notably attained through makin g the most out of life and all that it has to offer, good or bad. Booker T. Washington's views on education enlighten viewpoints surrounding the controversial topic of placing a higher value on education or experience. As today's society heavily focuses on schooling, it is important to remember that lives are not solely based upon that aspect. A combination of both education and experience are necessary to achieve the highest level of success. Education is a good foundation, but without experience limits are placed on how much a person can achieve. Likewise, without the foundation of education a life full of experiences can be unstable. A common consensus has yet to be agreed upon for this ongoing debate over whether educa... ...s as a testament to how pivotal both schooling and experience are. With a balance of the two, he could best shape all that he knew and all that he had into usable material that would best benefit his life. Works Cited Baym, Nina, Wayne Franklin, Philip F. Gura, and Arnold Krupat. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 7th ed. Vol. C. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2007. Print. Boud, David, and Ruth Cohen. "Experience-based Learning." Understanding Adult Education and Training. By Lee Andresen. 2nd ed. Sydney: Allen and Unwin. 225-239. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. Savery, John R., and Thomas M. Duffy. RLT. Tech. no. 16-01. Indiana University, June 2001. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. . "What Is Experience-based Learning?" Starting Point. Carleton College, 11 Apr. 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. .

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 36

â€Å"What?† shouted Damon over the music, while adding: Run – go! telepathically to Elena. If it had merely been Elena's life, she would have been glad enough to die here with the thunderous beauty of Firebird all around her, rathr than facing those steep, invisible steps alone. But it wasn't just her life. It was Stefan's life, too. Still, the flower maiden didn't look particularly menacing, and Elena couldn't summon up enough adrenaline to try making it down that hidous stairway. Damon, let's both go. We have to search the Great Ballroom outside. Only you're strong enough†¦. A hesitation. Damon would rather fight than face that enormous, impossible green field outside, Elena thought. But Bloddeuwedd, despite her words, was now spinning the room around them again, so that she, at the edge of some invisible walkway, could find the exact orb she wanted. Damon lifted Elena in his arms and said: Shut your eyes. Elena not only shut her eyes, but put her hands over them as well. If Damon was going to drop her, she wasn't going to help matters by shouting â€Å"Look out!† as he did it. The sensations themselves were sickening enough. Damon leaped from step to step like an ibex. He seemed barely to touch the steps in going down and Elena wondered – quite suddenly – if anything were after them. If so, it was information she needed to know. She began to lift her hands and heard Damon whisper-snarl â€Å"Keep them shut!† in a voice that few people liked to argue with. Elena peeked out between her hands, met Damon's exasperated eyes, and saw nothing following them. She clamped her hands back together and prayed. If you were really a slave, you wouldn't last a day here, you know, Damon informed her, taking a final leap into space and then setting her down on invisible – but at least level – ground. I wouldn't want to, Elena sent coldly. I swear, I'd rather die. Be careful what you promise, Damon flashed his splendid smile down at her suddenly. You may end up in other dimensions trying to fulfill your word. Elena didn't even try to one-up him. They were out, free, and racing through the glass house down to the stairs to the lower floor – a little tricky in her state of mind, but bearable – and finally out the door. On the grass of the Great Ballroom they found Meredith and Bonnie†¦and Sage. He was actually in white tie as well, although his jacket strained at his shoulders. In addition, Talon was sitting on one – so the problem might be taken care of fairly soon, as she was ripping the material and drawing blood. Sage didn't seem aware of it. Saber was at his master's side, looking at Elena with eyes too thoughtful to be mere animal eyes, but without malice. â€Å"Thank God you came back!† Bonnie cried, running to them. â€Å"Sage came and he has a marvelous idea.† Even Meredith was excited. â€Å"You remember how Damon said we should have brought a diviner? Well, we have two now.† She turned to Sage. â€Å"Please tell them.† â€Å"As a rule, I don't take these two to parties.† Sage reached down to scratch under Saber's throat. â€Å"But a little bird told me that you might be in trouble.† His hand moved up to stroke Talon, ruffling the falcon's feathers slightly. â€Å"So, dites-moi, please: Just how much have you two been handling the half-key you do possess?† â€Å"I touched it tonight and in the beginning, the night we found it,† said Elena. â€Å"But Lady Ulma handled it and Lucen made a chest for it and we've all handled that.† â€Å"But outside the box?† â€Å"I've held it and looked at it once or twice,† said Damon. â€Å"Eh bien! The kitsune smells should be much stronger on it. And kitsune have very distinctive smells.† â€Å"So you mean that Saber – † Elena's voice gave out for pure faintness. â€Å"Can sniff out anything with the smell of kitsune on it. Meanwhile, Talon has very good eyesight. She can fly overhead and look for the glint of gold in case it's in plain sight somewhere. Now show them what they will be searching for.† Elena obligingly held out the crescent shaped half-key for Saber to sniff. â€Å"Voil! And Talon, now you take a good look.† Sage backed away to what was, Elena supposed, Talon's optimal seeing distance. Then when he came back, he said, † Commen;ons!† and the black dog exploded away, nose to ground, while the falcon took off in grand, high, sweeping circles. â€Å"So you think the kitsune were on this grass?† Elena asked Sage, as Saber began racing back and forth, nose still just above the grass – and then suddenly veered out onto the middle of the marble steps. â€Å"But assuredly, they were here. You see how Saber runs, like a black panther, with his head low, and his tail straight? He has business in hand, him! He is hot on the scent.† I know someone else who gives off the same feeling, Elena thought as she glanced back at Damon, who stood with his arms folded, motionless, coiled like a spring, waiting for whatever news the animals would bring. She happened to glance at Sage at the same moment, and she saw an expression on his face that – well, it was probably the same expression she'd been wearing a minute ago. He glanced at her and she blushed. â€Å"Pardonnez-moi, Monsieur,† she said, looking away quickly. â€Å"Parlez-vous fran;ais, Madame?† â€Å"Un peu,† Elena said humbly – an unusual condition for her. â€Å"I can't really keep up a serious conversation. But I loved going to France.† She was about to say something else, when Saber barked once, sharply, to attract attention and then sat bolt upright at the curb. â€Å"They came or left in a carriage or litter,† Sage translated. â€Å"But what did they do in the house? I need a trail going the other way,† Damon said, looking up at Sage with something like raw desperation. â€Å"All right, all right. Saber! Contremarche!† The black dog instantly turned around, put its nose to the ground as if it afforded him the greatest delight, and began running back and forth across the stairs and the lawn that formed the â€Å"Great Ballroom† – now becoming pitted with holes as people took shovels, pickaxes, and even large spoons to it. â€Å"Kitsune are hard to catch,† Elena murmured into Damon's ear. He nodded, glancing at his watch. â€Å"I hope we are, too,† he murmured back. There was a sharp bark from Saber. Elena's heart leaped in her chest. â€Å"What?† she cried. â€Å"What is it?† Damon passed her, grabbed her hand, and dragged her in his wake. â€Å"What has he found?† Elena gasped as they all reached the same point simultaneously. â€Å"I don't know. It's not part of the Great Ballroom,† replied Meredith. Saber was sitting up proudly in front of a bed of tall, clustering pale lavender (deep violet) hydrangeas. â€Å"They don't look like they're doing too well,† said Bonnie. â€Å"And it's not below any of the upper ballrooms, either,† Meredith said, stooping to get at Saber's height and then look up. â€Å"There's just the library.† â€Å"Well, I know one thing without a question,† Damon said. â€Å"We're going to have to dig up this flower patch and I don't fancy asking Ms. Larkspur-eyes-Now-I-have-to-kill-you for her permission.† â€Å"Oh, did you think they were larkspur, her eyes? Because I thought of bluebells, rahthah,† said a guest behind Bonnie. â€Å"Did she really say she had to kill you? But why?† another guest, nearer to Elena asked nervously. Elena ignored them. â€Å"Well, let's put it this way, she's certainly not going to like it. But it's the only clue we've got.† Except, I suppose, if the kitsune meant to leave it here, but then took off in a coach, she added voicelessly to Damon. â€Å"So that means the show can commence,† cried one of the young vampire fans, stepping toward Elena. â€Å"But I don't have my amulet back,† Damon said flatly, moving in front of Elena like an impenetrable wall. â€Å"But you will in minutes, surely. Look, couldn't some fellows backtrack with the dog to wherever the bad guys came from – came to the estate from, if you get me? And meanwhile we can be getting on with the show?† â€Å"Can Saber do that?† Damon asked. â€Å"Follow a carriage?† â€Å"With a fox in it? But of course. Actually, I could go with them,† Sage said quietly. â€Å"I could make sure that these two enemies are caught if they are on the other end of the trail. Show them to me.† â€Å"These are the only shapes I know.† Damon reached out two fingers and touched Sage's temple. â€Å"But, of course, they'll have more forms, possibly infinite ones.† â€Å"Well, they are not our priority, I assume. The, ah, amulet is.† â€Å"Yes,† Damon said. â€Å"Even if you don't land a blow on them, get the key half and race back.† â€Å"So? Even more important than revenge,† Sage said softly, shaking his head in wonder. Then he added quickly. â€Å"Well, I will wish us good luck. Any adventurous types who want to go with me? Ah, good, four – very well, five, Madame – is enough.† And he was gone. Elena looked at Damon, who was looking back with blank, black eyes. â€Å"You really expect me to do – that – again?† â€Å"All you need to do is stand there. I'll make sure you lose as little blood as possible. And if you ever want to stop we can have a signal.† â€Å"Yes, but now I understand. And I can't handle it.† His face went cold suddenly. Shutting her out. â€Å"You're not required to handle anything. Besides, isn't it enough if I say it's a fair bargain for Stefan?† Stefan! Elena's entire body went through some sort of elemental change. â€Å"Let me share it,† she begged, and knew that she was begging and knew what Damon was going to say. â€Å"Stefan is going to need you when we get out. Just make sure you can handle that.† Stop. Think. Don't bash his head in, Elena's brain told her. He's pushing your buttons. He knows how to do it. Don't let him push your buttons. â€Å"I can handle both,† she said. â€Å"Please, Damon. Don't treat me as if I were – one of your one-nighters, or even your Princess of Darkness. Talk to me as if I were Sage.† â€Å"Sage? Sage is the most frustrating, cunning – â€Å" â€Å"I know. But you talk to him. And you used to talk to me, and now you're not. Listen to me. I can't bear to go through this scenario again. I'll scream.† â€Å"Now you're threatening – â€Å" â€Å"No! I'm telling you what will happen. Unless you gag me, I'll scream. And scream. As I would scream for Stefan. I can't help it. Maybe I'm breaking down†¦.† â€Å"But don't you see?† Suddenly he had whirled around and taken hold of her hands. â€Å"We're almost at the end. You, who've been the strongest all along – you can't break down now.† â€Å"The strongest†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena was shaking her head. â€Å"I thought we were right there, on the verge of understanding each other.† â€Å"All right.† His words came as hard chips of marble now. â€Å"What if we do five?† â€Å"Five?† â€Å"Five strokes instead of ten. We'll promise to do the other five when the ‘amulet' is found, but we'll run when we do find it.† â€Å"You would have to break your word.† â€Å"If it takes that – â€Å" â€Å"No,† she said flatly. â€Å"You say nothing. I'll tell them. I'm a liar and a cheat and I've always played with men. We'll see if I can't finally put my talents to good use. And there's no point in trying any of the other girls,† she added, glancing up. â€Å"Bonnie and Meredith are wearing gowns that would fall right off if you slashed them. Only I have a bare back.† She pirouetted in place to show off how her dress met only very high at the neck in a halter and very low in the back in a V. â€Å"Then we're agreed.† Damon had a slave refill his goblet and Elena thought: we're going to be the tipsiest act in history, if nothing else. She couldn't help but shiver. The last time she had felt an inner trembling was from Damon's warm hand on her bare back as they danced. Now, she felt something much icier, just a draft of cold air perhaps. But it drew her mind to the feeling of her own blood running down her sides. Suddenly Bonnie and Meredith were there beside her, forming a barricade between her and the increasingly curious and excited crowd. â€Å"Elena, what's happened? They said a barbarian human girl was to be whipped – † began Meredith. â€Å"And you just knew it had to be me,† completed Elena. â€Å"Well, it's true. I don't see how I can get out of it.† â€Å"But what have you done?† Bonnie asked frantically. â€Å"Been an idiot. Let some fraternity-type vampire boys think that it was a sort of magic act,† Damon put in. His face was still grim. â€Å"That's a little unfair, isn't it?† Meredith asked. â€Å"Elena told us about the first time. It sounded as if they jumped to the conclusion that it was an act all by themselves.† â€Å"We should have denied it then. Now, we're stuck with it,† Damon said flatly. Then, as if he were making an effort, â€Å"Oh, well, maybe we'll get what we came for, anyway.† â€Å"That was how we found out – some idiot came running down the steps yelling about an amulet with two green stones.† â€Å"It was all we could think of,† Elena explained wearily. â€Å"It's worth it for Damon and I to do this if only we can find the other half of the key.† â€Å"You don't have to do it,† Meredith said. â€Å"We can just leave.† Bonnie stared at her. â€Å"Without the fox key?† Elena shook her head. â€Å"We've already been through all that. The unanimous decision was to do it this way. She looked around. â€Å"Now where are the guys that wanted to see it so much?† â€Å"Looking in the field – that used to be a ballroom,† Bonnie replied. â€Å"Or getting shovels – lots of 'em – from Bloddeuwedd's gardening compound. Ow! Why'd you pinch me, Meredith?† â€Å"Oh, my, did that pinch? I meant to do this – â€Å" But Elena was already striding away, as eager now as Damon was to get it over with. Half over with. I just hope he remembers to change into his leather jacket and black jeans, she thought. In white tie – the blood – I won't let there be any blood. The thought was sudden and Elena didn't know where it came from. But in the deepest reaches of her being, she thought: he's been punished enough. He was trembling in the litter. He thought about another person's well-being from minute to minute. It's enough now. Stefan wouldn't want him to be hurt any more. She glanced up to see one of the Dark Dimension's small, misshapen moons moving visibly above her. This time the surrender she made to it was bright red, a feather shining in sullen crimson light. But she gave herself up to it unreservedly, body and soul, and it rested on the hallowed spring of eternal blood that was her womanhood. And then she knew what she had to do. â€Å"Bonnie, Meredith, look: we're a triumvirate. We have to try to share this with Damon.† No one looked enthusiastic. Elena, whose pride had been entirely broken from the moment she first saw Stefan in his cell, knelt down in front of them on the hard marble step. â€Å"I'm begging you – â€Å" â€Å"Elena! Stop that!† Meredith gasped. â€Å"Please get up! Oh, Elena – † Bonnie was a breath away from tears. And so, it was small, softhearted Bonnie who turned the tide. â€Å"I'll try to teach Meredith how. But anyway, we'll at least share it between the three of us.† Hug. Kiss. A murmur into strawberry hair, â€Å"I know what you see in the dark. You're the bravest person I know.† And then, leaving a stunned Bonnie behind, Elena went to collect spectators for her own whipping.

Reforms by the United Kingdom

The delivery of public services has always been directly connected with the stability of a country’s economy. The more stable the economy, the better the public services. In recent years, as the world slowly adjusted to the rise of global markets, many countries began transforming their public sector management (Hughes 2003).Today, management of public services is more flexible and market-based. It has moved from public administration to New Public Management (Hughes 2003). With this paradigm shift comes a shift in the role of government in society. It also redefines the relationship between government and its citizenry.Together with this new orientation of public service management is the need for reforms in the whole structure. These reforms are required to strengthen services in protection, education, recreation and care (Flynn 2002). The stronger economies of the world have taken steps towards these reforms. The United Kingdom is one of these stronger economies that have p rogressively taken the initiative for public service reforms.Major public service reforms began in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1980’s under the Thatcher government (Hughes 2003). The following pages will try to explain the different reforms in UK’s public service management. It will address the bigger issues that surround it. It will identify the unique qualities of the UK reform programme and present the advantages they may achieve. Through these inferences, a more objective and balanced view of UK’s reform programme will be achieved.Response to the UK Public Sector ReformsThe United Kingdom’s initiative to reform their public service programme is mainly due to fitting of the services with the changing demands of the times. The rise of living standards, coupled with the growing diversity of citizenry calls for the change in public services (Prime Minister’s Office 2002).In the 1980’s, under the leadership of then PM Margaret Thatcher, th e first major steps to public reforms were taken. At the center of these reforms is the wide-spread initiative to privatize services (Flynn 2002). Towards the end of the decade, management of basic services, gas, water and electricity, were transferred under private control (Flynn 2002). Apart from these, four other major government controlled corporations also were given up to private enterprises.Privatization was not the only way to reform public service management. Soon after the turn-over of basic services to private control the central government and the National Health Services began outsourcing many of their functions and services.In 1997 however, under the leadership of PM Tony Blair, a new campaign was launched to further reform the public service management. Public services were believed to have been suffering from under-funding (Prime Minister’s Office 2002).However a strong economy is essential for the reforms. The Blair administration then began working on buildi ng a stronger, more stable economy.The ultimate objective of the 1997 reforms is to provide everyone with real opportunity and security (Prime Minister’s Office 2002). In three years time, the UK finally experienced a sort of rebirth within the public services. In 2000, health services and education have never been better. Reform plans did not end here. Long-term goals to uplift standards in the areas of transport, education, criminal justice system and health were designed.The road to these reforms has been tough. The setbacks and controversies are inevitable. There needs to be a genuine partnership between the government and people in the front line. The desire for reforms has propelled public service in the forefront of many political and social debates (Darwall 2005).One of the biggest concerns with the current reform programme lies in policy and communication confusion (Wintour, 2007). The government is clear with its vision for reforms. However, it does not provide a co herent framework for action (Darwall 2005). While the reforms are meant to increase efficiency, the citizens do not feel this happening.Modernized civil service is actually the consistent delivery of better services and getting the best value for public funds (Darwall 2005). The question lies on accountability for the use of these public funds. The UK’s public service history shows that bad decisions made create obligations and consequences across generations.Debates arise because of this very reason. While one group sees the necessity of spending to provide better public services, the other fears that much spending may not necessarily increase the level of efficiency in delivering these services (Douglas, Richardson, and Dobson 2003).The reforms brought about the founding of different agencies (Armstrong and Ford, 2000) to handle such use of public funds. However there is growing concern about the qualifications of people managing these agencies. Public servants are not nece ssarily managers. Improvement of efficiency requires a great deal of management (Darwall 2005). Even the best policies can easily crumble in the hands of those who are not fit to handle them.The growing impression about these newly established agencies then is that they do not do not speed up delivery of services. On the contrary, these agencies, while under the supervision of less experienced managers, slow down the process of public service.In fact the popular notion about these agencies is that they rather make collaboration and cooperation more difficult. The formation of these agencies is one of the most debated issues concerning the reforms.Ethical issues are also being raised against the reforms. The shift of public service towards a market based orientation makes the definition of boundaries between what is public and what is private more difficult (Public Administration Select Committee 2002).Interface between public sector and private enterprise is becoming more evident. P rivate businesses are becoming more involved in providing public services. More and more then, ethical concerns are raised.There is growing clamor to cultivate and strengthen the ethical considerations in public service management. It is important to ensure that ethics are not lost or put aside, especially at a time when services are being delivered in new ways by new providers (Public Administration Select Committee 2002).In public service there should always be a way to check impartiality, accountability, trust, equity and probity. This is the key to keeping the ethical considerations in public service management whilst implementing its reforms.From the time of PM Thatcher in the 1980’s to the reform programme of PM Blair in 1997, the UK public sector has underwent alterations both in policy and implementation. However caution has been taken. Reforms have been worked on reforms slowly. Unrestrained expansion usually results in policy failure (Lane 1993). Both the government and its citizenry agree.There is no doubt that reforms are a welcome idea for everyone. The promise of better services being delivered more efficiently and consistently can be actualized (Public Administration Select Committee 2002). The government is confident about their plan. The have laid down the strategies to achieve them. Even then, the citizenry is skeptical. There are many issues surrounding these reforms.The government admits there are hurdles along the way of reforms. The journey towards better services is long and hard. But the government has a strategy. It addresses the questions of improving national standards, devolution of responsibility, increasing flexibility and providing better choices (Prime Minister’s Office 2002).The citizens are waiting patiently. So far, reforms have been implemented but the issues still remain. Somehow the general impression is that the strategies set by government are not being translated into actual action (Public Administration S elect Committee 2002).Some improvement in the areas of education and health has been achieved. The question is, is it enough to address the growing demands of society?The citizenry of UK sees very little results from the reforms. They seem to pale in comparison with the growing demands of an ever evolving society. Successful reforms are transformational. This only means that the impact of these reforms should be strong enough to affect all areas of life.Unique Qualities of UK Public Sector Reforms  While the UK’s reforms remains heavily debated and scrutinized, there is no doubt that it is one of the most dynamic. In public service history, the UK programme has been one of the most studied. Many parallelisms have been made on the reforms. Many other similar programmes have been initiated based on its working history.The reforms are based on the three important E’s in public service management. They are economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. This is one unique charac teristic of the UK programme.The wide-spread privatization instituted by the Thatcher administration applied this premise (Flynn 2002) in all the transactions. Before the Cable and Wireless turn-over in 1981, a comprehensive study on its advantages was conducted to prove its viability under these three considerations.Apart from this unique way of assessing possible changes in servicing, the programme has proven to be very resilient. It has withstood challenge in the past. And it continues to withstand challenges today. Even the strongest challenge against its agenda control and policy review (Parsons 1995) could not deter the progression of its reforms.In fact it is this very same resiliency that brought about a big improvement in health care. The persistence in the area of health reforms provided increase in health care workers by at least 40,000 in seven years.There are two working concepts of the UK Public Sector Reform Programme, the â€Å"best value review† and â€Å"co mprehensive performance assessment† (Harris, 2003). These two working concepts provide a basis for check and balance of the reforms.This is unique to the programme. It also sets the tone on how reforms should be made. The UK government works very closely with organizations like Reform to objectively assess the veracity of the reforms. It is through studies conducted by organizations like Reform that insures that equity and environmental impact are not overlooked in the formulation of reforms.

Free Essays on “The Reader“ By Wallace Stevens

Why Writing is Important To inform, share, present facts, persuade, record, and learn; these are all reasons that we write. These reasons lead us to the conclusion that we write out of a profound need to communicate. In fact the thesaurus states that â€Å"communicate† and â€Å"write† are synonymous. According to James Kinneavy, there are four basic purposes for writing: to express yourself, to inform a reader, to persuade a reader, and to create a literary work. Expressive writing allows you to express your thoughts and feelings. An example of expressive writing would be keeping a diary. Writing of this type is an outlet for expression of deep personal feelings. Expressive writing is meant only for the author to read. As soon as it is intended for public reading it evolves into more of a literary work. Informative writings’ purpose is to provide information. This type of writing is most commonly found in textbooks, encyclopedias, newspapers, ect. Expository writing is one of the more basic purposes for writing. The aim of informative writing is relay information to the reader with a minimum of bias. The goal is not to persuade but to teach. Persuasive writing seeks to change a person’s opinion on a subject. This is done through presenting a logical argument to combat that person’s known opinion through the use of examples and reasons that back up your point of view. Some examples of this type of writing are newspaper editorials, letters to the editor, reviews, and even sermons. Literary work, our final purpose, has many uses. It is meant to entertain, evoke feeling, and in some cases persuade. There are so many different genres in this type of writing that it would take years to explain all of them. This type of writing is the one most of us are most familiar with. All of these basic purposes for writing, although so overwhelmingly different are still used for one purpose, communication. Without communica... Free Essays on â€Å"The Readerâ€Å" By Wallace Stevens Free Essays on â€Å"The Readerâ€Å" By Wallace Stevens Why Writing is Important To inform, share, present facts, persuade, record, and learn; these are all reasons that we write. These reasons lead us to the conclusion that we write out of a profound need to communicate. In fact the thesaurus states that â€Å"communicate† and â€Å"write† are synonymous. According to James Kinneavy, there are four basic purposes for writing: to express yourself, to inform a reader, to persuade a reader, and to create a literary work. Expressive writing allows you to express your thoughts and feelings. An example of expressive writing would be keeping a diary. Writing of this type is an outlet for expression of deep personal feelings. Expressive writing is meant only for the author to read. As soon as it is intended for public reading it evolves into more of a literary work. Informative writings’ purpose is to provide information. This type of writing is most commonly found in textbooks, encyclopedias, newspapers, ect. Expository writing is one of the more basic purposes for writing. The aim of informative writing is relay information to the reader with a minimum of bias. The goal is not to persuade but to teach. Persuasive writing seeks to change a person’s opinion on a subject. This is done through presenting a logical argument to combat that person’s known opinion through the use of examples and reasons that back up your point of view. Some examples of this type of writing are newspaper editorials, letters to the editor, reviews, and even sermons. Literary work, our final purpose, has many uses. It is meant to entertain, evoke feeling, and in some cases persuade. There are so many different genres in this type of writing that it would take years to explain all of them. This type of writing is the one most of us are most familiar with. All of these basic purposes for writing, although so overwhelmingly different are still used for one purpose, communication. Without communica... Free Essays on â€Å"The Readerâ€Å" By Wallace Stevens Why Writing is Important To inform, share, present facts, persuade, record, and learn; these are all reasons that we write. These reasons lead us to the conclusion that we write out of a profound need to communicate. In fact the thesaurus states that â€Å"communicate† and â€Å"write† are synonymous. According to James Kinneavy, there are four basic purposes for writing: to express yourself, to inform a reader, to persuade a reader, and to create a literary work. Expressive writing allows you to express your thoughts and feelings. An example of expressive writing would be keeping a diary. Writing of this type is an outlet for expression of deep personal feelings. Expressive writing is meant only for the author to read. As soon as it is intended for public reading it evolves into more of a literary work. Informative writings’ purpose is to provide information. This type of writing is most commonly found in textbooks, encyclopedias, newspapers, ect. Expository writing is one of the more basic purposes for writing. The aim of informative writing is relay information to the reader with a minimum of bias. The goal is not to persuade but to teach. Persuasive writing seeks to change a person’s opinion on a subject. This is done through presenting a logical argument to combat that person’s known opinion through the use of examples and reasons that back up your point of view. Some examples of this type of writing are newspaper editorials, letters to the editor, reviews, and even sermons. Literary work, our final purpose, has many uses. It is meant to entertain, evoke feeling, and in some cases persuade. There are so many different genres in this type of writing that it would take years to explain all of them. This type of writing is the one most of us are most familiar with. All of these basic purposes for writing, although so overwhelmingly different are still used for one purpose, communication. Without communi...

Quantum Gravity Definition and Explanation

Quantum Gravity Definition and Explanation Quantum gravity is an overall term for theories that attempt to unify gravity with the other fundamental forces of physics (which are already unified together). It generally posits a theoretical entity, a graviton, which is a virtual particle that mediates the gravitational force. This is what distinguishes quantum gravity from certain other unified field theories   although, in fairness, some theories that are typically classified as quantum gravity dont necessarily require a graviton. Whats a Graviton? The standard model of quantum mechanics (developed between 1970 and  1973) postulates that the other three fundamental forces of physics are mediated by virtual bosons. Photons mediate the electromagnetic force, W and Z bosons mediate the weak nuclear force, and gluons (such as quarks) mediate the strong nuclear force. The graviton, therefore, would mediate the gravitational force. If found, the graviton is expected to be massless (because it acts instantaneously at long distances) and have spin 2 (because gravity is a second-rank tensor field). Is Quantum Gravity Proven? The major problem in experimentally testing any theory of quantum gravity is that the energy levels required to observe the conjectures are unattainable in current laboratory experiments. Even theoretically, quantum gravity runs into serious problems. Gravitation is currently explained through the theory of general relativity, which makes very different assumptions about the universe at the macroscopic scale than those made by quantum mechanics at the microscopic scale. Attempts to combine them generally run into the renormalization problem, in which the sum of all of the forces do not cancel out and result in an infinite value. In quantum electrodynamics, this happened occasionally, but one could renormalize the mathematics to remove these issues. Such renormalization does not work in a quantum interpretation of gravity. The assumptions of quantum gravity are generally that such a theory will prove to be both simple and elegant, so many physicists attempt to work backward, predicting a theory that they feel might account for the symmetries observed in current physics and then seeing if those theories work. Some unified field theories that are classified as quantum gravity theories include: String theory / Superstring theory / M-theorySupergravityLoop quantum gravityTwistor theoryNoncommutative geometryEuclidean quantum gravityWheeler-deWitt equation Of course, its fully possible that if quantum gravity does exist, it will be neither simple nor elegant, in which case these attempts are being approached with faulty assumptions and, likely, would be inaccurate. Only time and experimentation will tell for sure. It is also possible, as some of the above theories predict, that an understanding of quantum gravity will not merely consolidate the theories, but will rather introduce a fundamentally new understanding of space and time. Edited by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Human resources ( Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human resources ( - Essay Example In my opinion, more emphasis should be place on tax reforms and on the redistribution of funds between the rich and poor district schools. This will help improve the quality of education in public schools in different states. In general, states decide on the amount of funding received by schools and in some instances, there is inequality in the distribution of tax dollars between privileged and poor district schools (Hohenberg, 2010). Poor performing public schools lack the necessary resources and facilities to ensure high education performance thus effective distribution to poor schools will ensure that they have the appropriate funding to acquire the resources and put in place appropriate facilities. The K-12 system in the modern times dictates that funding is tied to performance and this system of tax distribution is unfair. Increasing competition in the K-12 system ensures an improvement in the quality of education (Hohenberg, 2010). This is because the schools in various states will work hard to beat each other. On the other hand, increasing competition is unfair, as it will benefit the schools that have the appropriate resources. Increasing equality in tax distribution among the poor public schools is beneficial, as it will help these institutions acquire the necessary resources needed to improve the quality and access of education. On the other hand, tax redistribution in the poor schools promotes laxity in these institutions. There is need to attain greater equalization in the education system in the US. In public schools, the distribution of funds between schools is clear leading to an inequality in access to benefits and funds. Benefits refer to the educational opportunities present in the system (Kozol, 2012). However, the benefits received argument does not refer to equalization in society, as too much tax burden would be placed on the poor without the ability to pay taxes

An American painting. Winslow Homer Research Paper

An American painting. Winslow Homer - Research Paper Example The artist had done this painting during the last 10 years of his life, when he was 63 years old. The painting of ‘The Gulf Stream’ was created in 1899 and it was a sort of synopsis of the artist’s own lifetime experiences which were steeped in adversity and combined with the memories and reflections of his life. This was not the only painting of ‘The Gulf Stream’ but he had created two other variants of the same with watercolors. In addition to this he also made a few sketches on the same subject. The artist drew inspiration for this painting from different sources. Since he frequently visited Nassau and Florida, his journey took him through the Gulf Stream and this could have been a source of inspiration to him. Studies show that the painting was based on the two winter trips made by the artist to the Bahamas3 in 1884 – 85 and 1898 – 99. Another source of the artist’s inspiration is believed to have come from ‘Mc Cabe†™s Curse’4 which is a Bahamian story that tells of how a British Captain had been robbed and had to survive a terrible storm. Homer also drew inspiration from his father’s death as he was left lonely and abandoned. Painting Description 4 The painting of ‘The Gulf Stream’ was an oil on canvas painting whose dimensions are 28.1 inches by 49.1 inches (71.5 cm x 124.8 cm) Presently, this painting is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.5 The background of the painting shows a rough and violent seascape and a partially lit sky. The center of the painting shows a small rudderless boat, devoid of mast and sails, bobbing up and down on its dark waters. The solitary figure of a man, battling the waves, with huge hungry sharks all around him stands out against the dark background of water. On the right of the boat in the distance a water spout can be seen rising up into the clouded sky. The actual painting of the rough sea is done with brush strokes of blue an d gray that occurs alternating with scant brush strokes of reddish brown. The entire scene is bathed in a creamy white light depicting either dawn or dusk. In the far away distance is the ghostly outline of a ship, very vague in its form and shape, but unfortunately the ship is not noticed by the man in the boat. There is a sort of aesthetic realism6 that is portrayed in this composition. In as much as the author consciously separates the good and evil elements he portrays them together, showing that both good and evil exists in our midst. The helpless man symbolizes vulnerability and abandonment on one hand, but on the other hand he is shown to be calm and at ease among the sharks in the water. Homer’s 5 underlying meaning could have been one of hope with nothing much to fear and suggests strength of character. There is another area of possible symbolism and that is the ebony cross located on the bow of the boat suggesting impending death and a funeral to follow. The open ha tch also could suggest a sort of tomb or a grave. The ethereal ship shown in the distance could symbolize redemption by making peace with ones self. The artist’s use of line and color is so mature showing his experience on oil and canvas. The lines are smooth and the colors such as the shades of grey, blues and creams blend well against each other giving the whole scene an ominous appearance. The color and contours of the figures gives it a dark mood filled with impending danger. From the exquisiteness of the painting it is clearly understood that Winslow Homer was a highly skilled artist of his time. I really liked the painting for its

Law7 ass1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Law7 ass1 - Essay Example The opinion basically cites the common law protection against unreasonable charge while at the same time encouraging the values of free trade. Hotels are public accommodations and can only exercise their right to admission to a certain level. The hotels may not refuse accommodation to guests for reasons that are deemed discriminatory. They however have the right to regulate the use of their facilities other than the basic by allowing a certain section of their clientele access to some of their facilities and withholding the privileges so long as the selection criteria does not amount to discrimination by reason of race, origin, nationality, color, religion or Condition. The mode of dressing does not make one a minority. The Unruh Civil Rights aims to protect minority customers from discrimination on the basis of factors such as religion, age, gender, color, ancestry, nationality, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. The hotels in California can therefore legally refuse accommodation to a person dressed in a peculiar manner for instance when the mode of dressing may be offensive to other guests. The same applies to other states and cannot be viewed as discrimination. However, hotels in California and other states may not refuse accommodation to a person on the basis of their dressing if the same boils down to discrimination. An example is when the clothes worn indicate adherence to a certain

Counterculture of Gypsies

Counterculture of Gypsies A counterculture is a subculture that rejects the major values of the larger society, and replaces them with a new set of cultural patterns (Thomas). The Gypsies are just one example of a counterculture. Gypsies generally rejected the bourgeois values; They rejected private property, materialism, and moral values. Gypsies had no long-lasting residency and survived on little material wealth. The Gypsies pursued detached lives that included use of drugs, alcohol, and they also believed in open sexual freedom. They lived merely for the arts and bliss (Mtholyoke.edu). In the nineteenth century the bohemian gypsies became recognized for representing a counterculture of artists, musicians, poets and writers (Turman). The history of the gypsies persisted to be unknown for years. A huge reason for the uncertainty of this culture was because of their lack of written linguistic, and their lack of understanding of their origin. The name Gypsy was derived from Egypt, which was where they commonl y claimed to originate from. It was finally revealed that the Romani language was closely correlated to dialects of the Indian language (Watkins). The Gypsies, or Romani people originated in Northern India and migrated into the Middle East and eventually spread across Europe (scottishgypsies.co.uk). The sociological perspective is the viewing of a groups behavior in a systemic way, rather than depending on common-sense explanations (Thomas 4). The three main sociological perspectives are the functionalist perspective, the interactionist perspective, and the conflict perspective. The functionalist perspective views society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system (Thomas 14). Using the functionalist perspective, it can be perceived that the gypsies detached, private lives and rebellion against the bourgeois values identifies the culture as a dysfunction. If the gypsies norms were labeled as dysfunctional, it would mean that they have a negative consequence on the stability of the social system (Thomas 14). The interactionist perspective focuses solely on how individuals interact with one another in society and how individuals attach meanings to their actions (Thomas 17). Using the interactionist perspective, sociologists look at certain aspects such as marriage rituals and child development. The gypsies after marriage are expected to live with the parents of the husband for at least a year and are expected to have three or four children; it is very unusual for a couple to have only two children. Once they move in, the bori or wife, takes on most of the household tasks. Once the children arrive, the women are in charge of child care, but it is not strange for them to turn to relatives for assistance. Men and women are both affectionate towards children and the children are brought up in loving environments. Children begin to help their parents at a young age. They begin to train in whatever the family chooses for their kids to pursue whether it be singing, dancing, or woodwork. Girls learn household tasks and they marry by the time they reach mid-teens (Christobel). The conflict perspective focuses on the forces in society that promote competition and change. Conflict sociologists research includes decision-making i n the family and relationships among racial groups (Thomas 16). Using the conflict perspective, sociologists will see that the Gypsies are observed by outsiders as coming from a low social status and they are categorized as different for their carefree lifestyle. Sociological imagination is the ability to see the connection between the larger world and our personal lives (Thomas 5). Due to the gypsies different lifestyle and their practices not being accepted, they focused a lot of their attention on the arts. The original collection of the theater was moralistic and was created by Gypsies (Christobel). The Gypsies also are well known for their fortune-telling, which was an important part of their belief. Gypsy women sold fortunes by reading palms and tarot cards (Christobel). The Roma gypsies have impacted American culture directly with their mysticism and creative abilities. The Gypsies are also most well-known for their musical contributions. The Gypsies have contributed to curre nt American music, and are also accredited for their creation of the Flamenco, in Spain. Possibly one of the best jazz guitarists, Django Rheinhardt, who is a renowned Gypsy, also contributed to American culture (Heimlich). The gypsies have also influenced fashion in this generation. Today there are bohemian trends or boho, which are rustic and carefree. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to see ones own culture and group as superior (Thomas 35). If you have ever heard the saying when someone is to con another person, they gyp them, this is derived from the stereotype created by non-Gypsies. This saying is not accurate because the Gypsies generally had a lower crime rate than other ethnicities (Heimlich). In 1939 through 1945 there was the genocide of the Roma gypsies, which was when the Nazis decided that the Gypsies were racially inferior. The Nazis were against those who lived the gypsy lifestyle. The Nazis established these people as culturally undesirable and as a result, they mistreated them. The Nazis had no way to categorize and determine gypsies from a desirable individual, so they turned to racial hygiene and began to try and figure who the gypsies were, based on physical appearance. It was estimated that approximately 90 percent of all of the Roma in Germany, had contaminated blood, meaning they were mixed and were carriers of degenerate blood and unlawful characteristics (Ushmm.org). The Germans in this time period believed any other culture or race other than pure Germans could possibly pose as a threat to society. As a result, the Nazi Germans exterminated nearly one million Gypsies. Discrimination is still an issue today for Gypsies, along with marginalization. The European Gypsies today are still without sufficient medical aid and they do not receive the same job opportunities. They are deprived from certain privileges due to their culture and ethnic background (Padden). Cultural Relativism is the belief that cultures should be judged on their own standard rather than applying the standards of another culture (Thomas 36). There are the Romungro, The Boyash, and the Roma Gypsies all of which have different locations in Hungary and their standards vary based on their settlement. The Romungro are Gypsies that have lost their language and associate with middle class in society. These Gypsies have higher education expectations, but are still proud of their gypsy origin. The Boyash Gypsies are despised by the Roma Gypsies, due to their integration. They are nonviolent and hard-working. Music, dancing, and language remain important elements in the Boyash Gypsies culture. The Romas are the real Gypsies. They have continued to save their traditional culture which include their language, clothing, music, and dancing (Katalin, Forray R.;Beck Zoltà ¡n). All of these subcultures of gypsies have continued to keep the certain values of their culture and not comple tely conform to the standards of the of a larger culture. Today you can still find Roma Gypsies who continue to practice their cultural beliefs and standards in a society with different expected norms. I feel as if in todays society, the original Roma Gypsies would still be considered a counterculture. Despite having lost most of their original Romani language, they still preserve cultural identity and selectiveness (Heimlich). Their culture differs too much from todays social norms and would still be considered different or odd. After lots of research, I have discovered that there are many Gypsy subcultures that have adapted to certain norms and that do not follow the Roma Gypsy standards completely. I feel as if some of the Gypsy subcultures would be accepted in todays society. References   Christobel, Maya. The-Gypsy-Life.com. 19 May 2015. Web. 10 March 2017. Heimlich, Evan. Everyculture.com. 26 February 2015. Web. 10 March 2017. Katalin, Forray R.;Beck Zoltà ¡n. Gypsy Studies. University of Pà ©cs, 2008. Book. 10 March 2017. Mtholyoke.edu. n.d. Web. 10 March 2017. Padden, Kathy. Todayifoundout.com. 4 June 2014. Web. 10 March 2017. scottishgypsies.co.uk. 2004. Web. 10 March 2017. Thomas, W. LaVerne. Sociology: The Study of Human Relationships. Austin: Holt, Rinehart Winston, 2003. 39. Textbook. Turman, Karen. BOHEMIAN ARTISTS AND REAL BOHEMIANS. . 2015. infona.pl. Journal. 10 March 2017. Ushmm.org. 2017. Web. 10 March 2017. Watkins, James A. Owlcation.com. 27 December 2016. Web. 10 March 2017.

birthmark :: essays research papers

Arrogant, cruel, brutal, and we can use all the synonyms of those words to describe Aylmer’s character. It was his arrogance, what made him think, he is a scientist. It was his cruelty, what made him treat Georgiana like dirt. It was his brutality, what kills Georgiana. But after all this there is a question remain. Was it all his fault? Was he the only one to blame for? If we take a look at the story from a different angel can’t we say that, Georgiana is also to blame for her lack of self-esteem. Isn’t it her lack of self-confidence, provides the strength for his brutality. ``If there be the remotest possibility of it,'' continued Georgiana, ``let the attempt be made at whatever risk. Danger is nothing to me; for life, while this hateful mark makes me the object of your horror and disgust, -- life is a burden, which I would fling down with joy. Either remove this dreadful hand, or take my wretched life! You have deep science. The entire world bears witness of it. You have achieved great wonders. Cannot you remove this little, little mark, which I cover with the tips of two small fingers? Is this beyond your power, for the sake of your own peace, and to save your poor wife from madness?'' Those were her exact word towards Aylmer. It was she who gave him the permission to play with her life. Couldn’t she show a little self-confidence and tell him on his face not to be troubled with it. Instead of telling him that, she started hating her birthmark too. As it says in the story† Still, whenever she dared to look into the mirror, there she beheld herself pale as a white rose and with the crimson birthmark stamped upon her cheek. Not even Aylmer now hated it so much as she†. Evan after reading Aylmer’s science journal where there are more failure and hardly any success, she didn’t say any thing to him instead she said, it had made her worship him more than ever.

History of British Literature

Late Medieval Period 14th Century British Literature 14th and 15th were period of transition from feudalism to pre-industrial era. A time of political, social and ideological conflicts; England was in war with France (the hundred year war 1337-1453 Edward’s claim to the French throne and attempt to bring England, Gascony and Flanders under unified political control). The defeats in France lead to deepening the internal crisis. The decline in agriculture together with the rise in the population resulted in frequent famines and helped the spread during the 14th c. of the â€Å"Black Death†. 381 – The Peasants’ Revolt. Culture: by 15th century England had become a nation with the sense of separate identity and indigenous culture 1362- English became the official language in court and was also used in schools. 14thc. witnessed the first original literary works written in English. Middle English literature English literature of the medieval period, c. 1100 to c . 1500. Background The Norman conquest of England in 1066 traditionally signifies the beginning of 200 years of the domination of French in English letters. French cultural dominance, moreover, was general in Europe at this time.French language and culture replaced English in polite court society and had lasting effects on English culture. But the native tradition survived, although little 13th-century, and even less 12th-century, vernacular literature is extant, since most of it was transmitted orally. Anglo-Saxon fragmented into several dialects and gradually evolved into Middle English, which, despite an admixture of French, is unquestionably English. By the mid-14th cent. , Middle English had become the literary as well as the spoken language of England. The Early PeriodSeveral poems in early Middle English are extant. The  Orrmulum  (c. 1200), a verse translation of parts of the Gospels, is of linguistic and prosodic rather than literary interest. Of approximately the same date,  The  Owl and the Nightingale  (see separate article) is the first example in English of the  debat,  a popular continental form; in the poem, the owl, strictly monastic and didactic, and the nightingale, a free and amorous secular spirit, charmingly debate the virtues of their respective ways of life. The Thirteenth Century Middle English prose of the 13th cent. ontinued in the tradition of Anglo-Saxon prose? homiletic, didactic, and directed toward ordinary people rather than polite society. The â€Å"Katherine Group† (c. 1200), comprising three saints' lives, is typical. The  Ancren Riwle(c. 1200) is a manual for prospective anchoresses; it was very popular, and it greatly influenced the prose of the 13th and 14th cent. The fact that there was no French prose tradition was very important to the preservation of the English prose tradition. In the 13th cent. the  romance, an important continental narrative verse form, was introduced in England.It drew fro m three rich sources of character and adventure: the legends of Charlemagne, the legends of ancient Greece and Rome, and the British legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Layamon's  Brut, a late 13th-century metrical romance (a translation from the French), marks the first appearance of Arthurian matter in English (see  Arthurian legend). Original English romances based upon indigenous material include  King Horn  and  Havelok the Dane, both 13th-century works that retain elements of the Anglo-Saxon heroic tradition.However, French romances, notably the Arthurian romances of  Chretien de Troyes, were far more influential than their English counterparts. In England French romances popularized ideas of adventure and heroism quite contrary to those of Anglo-Saxon heroic literature and were representative of wholly different values and tastes. Ideals of  courtly love, together with its elaborate manners and rituals, replaced those of the heroic code; a dventure and feats of courage were pursued for the sake of the knight's lady rather than for the sake of the hero's honor or the glory of his tribal king.Continental verse forms based on metrics and rhyme replaced the Anglo-Saxon alliterative line in Middle English poetry (with the important exception of the 14th-century alliterative revival). Many French literary forms also became popular, among them the  fabliau; the exemplum, or moral tale; the animal fable; and the dream vision. The continental allegorical tradition, which derived from classical literature, is exemplified by the  Roman de la Rose, which had a strong impact on English literature. Medieval works of literature often center on a popular rhetorical figure, such as the  ubi sunt,  which remarks on the inevitability? nd sadness? of change, loss, and death; and the  cursor mundi,  which harps on the vanity of human grandeur. A 15,000-line 13th-century English poem, the  Cursor Mundi,  retells human histo ry (i. e. , the medieval version? biblical plus classical story) from the point of view its title implies. A number of 13th-century secular and religious Middle English lyrics are extant, including the exuberant  Sumer Is Icumen In, but like Middle English literature in general, the  lyric  reached its fullest flower during the second half of the 14th cent. Lyrics continued popular in the 15th cent. from which time the  ballad  also dates. The Fourteenth Century The poetry of the alliterative revival (see  alliteration), the unexplained reemergence of the Anglo-Saxon verse form in the 14th cent. , includes some of the best poetry in Middle English. The Christian allegory  The  Pearl  (see separate article) is a poem of great intricacy and sensibility that is meaningful on several symbolic levels. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,  by the same anonymous author, is also of high literary sophistication, and its intelligence, vividness, and symbolic interest render it possibly the finest Arthurian poem in English.Other important alliterative poems are the moral allegory  Piers Plowman,  attributed to William  Langland, and the alliterative  Morte Arthur,  which, like nearly all English poetry until the mid-14th cent. , was anonymous. The works of Geoffrey  Chaucer  mark the brilliant culmination of Middle English literature. Chaucer's  The Canterbury Tales  are stories told each other by pilgrims? who comprise a very colorful cross section of 14th-century English society? on their way to the shrine at Canterbury. The tales are cast into many different verse forms and genres and collectively explore virtually every significant medieval theme.Chaucer's wise and humane work also illuminates the full scope of medieval thought. Overshadowed by Chaucer but of some note are the works of John  Gower. The Fifteenth Century: The 15th cent. is not distinguished in English letters, due in part to the social dislocation caused by the prol onged Wars of the Roses. Of the many 15th-century imitators of Chaucer the best-known are John  Lydgate  and Thomas  Hoccleve. Other poets of the time include Stephen  Hawes  and Alexander  Barclay  and the Scots poets William  Dunbar, Robert  Henryson, and Gawin  Douglas.The poetry of John  Skelton, which is mostly satiric, combines medieval and Renaissance elements. William  Caxton  introduced printing to England in 1475 and in 1485 printed Sir Thomas  Malory's  Morte d'Arthur. This prose work, written in the twilight of  chivalry, casts the Arthurian tales into coherent form and views them with an awareness that they represent a vanishing way of life. The  miracle play, a long cycle of short plays based upon biblical episodes, was popular throughout the Middle Ages in England. The  morality play, an allegorical drama centering on the struggle for man's soul, originated in the 15th cent.The finest of the genre is  Everyman. English Society in the 14th Century Summary:    The Canterbury Tales is set in fourteenth-century London, one of the medieval period's great centers of commerce and culture. In England at this time, society was still very strictly ordered, with the King and nobles having all power in things political and the Catholic Church having all authority in spiritual matters. English Society in the 14th Century The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, is recognized as the first book of poetry written in the English language.This is because poetry was often written in Italian or Latin not English, even writers from England wrote in the other languages because English was considered low class and vulgar, but after Chaucer's writings were published they became a recognized and legitimate work. The Canterbury Tales gives modern readers a good judgment of language in the 14th century as it also gives a rich, elaborated tapestry of medieval social life, combining elements of all classes, from nobles to wo rkers, from priests and nuns to drunkards and thieves.The view of the Canterbury Tales being held up as a precise reflection of English society in the 14th century is significantly correct, because they were very attached to the church and beliefs and the way they all act in the Tales shows how they really were a society of the Church. â€Å"The Canterbury Tales is set in fourteenth-century London, one of the medieval period's great centers of commerce and culture. In England at this time, society was still very strictly ordered, with the King and nobles having all power in things political and the Catholic Church having all authority in spiritual matters.However, trade and commerce with other nations had expanded dramatically in this century, giving rise to a new and highly vocal middle class comprised of merchants, traders, shopkeepers, and skilled craftsmen. † The story starts with a general prologue that provides a panoramic view of society England begins the period with wars, unrest, and almost chaos; it concludes with a settled dynasty, a reformed religion, and a people united and progressive. England in 1300 was well on the way to rapid expansion. It was rapidly increasing in intellectual and mathematical sophistication.Technically, thanks to water power and the mechanical discoveries that flowed from it, England was in the midst of what many historians call the Medieval Industrial Revolution. One reason there seems to be such a break between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance was that there was in fact a break. The 14th Century was a time of turmoil, diminished expectations, loss of confidence in institutions, and feelings of helplessness at forces beyond human contro. lThe 14th century in Europe was a time of great unrest. This as primarily caused by the outbreak of bubonic plague better known as the Black Death. Another cause were the peasant revolts, and the schism within the Catholic Church. The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer , is recognized as the first book of poetry written in the English language. This is because poetry was often written in Italian or Latin not English, even writers from England wrote in the other languages because English was considered low class and vulgar, but after Chaucer's writings were published they became a recognized and legitimate work.The Canterbury Tales gives modern readers a good judgment of language in the 14th century as it also gives a rich, elaborated tapestry of medieval social life, combining elements of all classes,from nobles to workers, from priests and nuns to drunkards and thieves. The view of the Canterbury Tales being held up as a precise reflection of English society in the 14th century is significantly correct, because they were very attached to the church and beliefs and the way they all act in the Tales shows how they really were a society of the Church.Alliterative verse: 8th – 14th century AD The story of English literature begins with the Ger manic tradition of the Anglo-Saxon settlers. Beowulfstands at its head. This epic poem of the 8th century is in  Anglo-Saxon, now more usually described as Old English. It is incomprehensible to a reader familiar only with modern English. Even so, there is a continuous linguistic development between the two. The most significant turning point, from about 1100, is the development of Middle English – differing from Old English in the addition of a French vocabulary after the  Norman conquest.French and Germanic influences subsequently compete for the mainstream role in English literature. The French poetic tradition inclines to lines of a regular metrical length, usually linked by rhyme into couplets or stanzas. German poetry depends more on rhythm and stress, with repeated consonants (alliteration) to bind the phrases. Elegant or subtle rhymes have a courtly flavour. The hammer blows of alliteration are a type of verbal athleticism more likely to draw applause in a hall fu ll of warriors.Both traditions achieve a magnificent flowering in England in the late 14th century, towards the end of the Middle English period. Piers Plowmanand  Sir Gawainare masterpieces which look back to Old English. By contrastChaucer, a poet of the court, ushers in a new era of English literature. Piers Plowman and Sir Gawain: 14th century AD Of these two great English alliterative poems, the second is entirely anonymous and the first virtually so. The narrator of  Piers Plowmancalls himself Will; occasional references in the text suggest that his name may be Langland.Nothing else, apart from this poem, is known of him. Piers Plowman exists in three versions, the longest amounting to more than 7000 lines. It is considered probable that all three are by the same author. If so he spends some twenty years, from about 1367, adjusting and refining his epic creation. Piers the ploughman is one of a group of characters searching for Christian truth in the complex setting of a d ream. Though mainly a spiritual quest, the work also has a political element. It contains sharply observed details of a corrupt and materialistic age (Wycliffe  is among Langland's English contemporaries).Where  Piers Plowman  is tough and gritty,  Sir Gawain and the Green Knight(dating from the same period) is more polished in its manner and more courtly in its content. The characters derive partly fromArthurian legend. A mysterious green knight arrives one Christmas at the court of King Arthur. He invites any knight to strike him with an axe and to receive the blow back a year later. Gawain accepts the challenge. He cuts off the head of the green knight, who rides away with it. The rest of the poem concerns Gawain, a year later, at the green knight's castle. In a tale of love (for the green knight's wife) and subsequent eceit, Gawain emerges with little honour. The green knight spares his life but sends him home to Arthur's court wearing the wife's girdle as a badge of sha me. Geoffrey Chaucer at court: AD 1367-1400 In 1367 one of four new ‘yeomen of the chamber' in the household of Edward III is Geoffrey Chaucer, then aged about twenty-seven. The young man's wife, Philippa, is already a lady-in-waiting to the queen. A few years later Chaucer becomes one of the king's esquires, with duties which include entertaining the court with stories and music. There can rarely have been a more inspired appointment.Chaucer's poems are designed to be read aloud, in the first instance by himself. Their range, from high romance to bawdy comedy, is well calculated to hold the listeners spellbound. Courtly circles in England are his first audience. Chaucer's public career is one of almost unbroken success in two consecutive reigns. He undertakes diplomatic missions abroad on behalf of the king; he is given administrative posts, such as controlling the customs, which bring lodgings and handsome stipends. Even occasional disasters (such as being robbed twice in fo ur days in 1390 and losing ? 0 of Richard II's money) do him no lasting harm. A measure of Chaucer's skill as a courtier is that during the 1390s, when he is in the employment ofRichard II, he also receives gifts at Christmas from Richard's rival, Bolingbroke. When Bolingbroke unseats Richard II in 1399, taking his place on the throne as  Henry IV, Chaucer combines diplomacy and wit to secure his position. Having lost his royal appointments, he reminds the new king of his predicament in a poem entitled ‘The Complaint of Chaucer to his Empty Purse'. The last line of each verse begs the purse to ‘be heavy again, or else must I die'.Henry IV hears the message. The court poet is given a new annuity. Henry is certainly aware that he is keeping in his royal circle a poet of great distinction. Chaucer's reputation is such that, when he dies in the following year, he is granted the very unusual honour – for a commoner – of being buried in Westminster abbey. Troil us and Criseyde: AD 1385 Chaucer's first masterpiece is his subtle account of the wooing of Criseyde by Troilus, with the active encouragement of Criseyde's uncle Pandarus. The tender joys of their love affair are followed by Criseyde's betrayal and Troilus's death in battle.Chaucer adapts to his own purposes the more conventionally dramatic account of this legendary affair written some fifty years earlier byBoccaccio(probably read by Chaucer when on a mission to Florence in 1373). His own very long poem (8239 lines) is written in the early 1380s and is complete by 1385. Chaucer's tone is delicate, subtle, oblique – though this does not prevent him from introducing and gently satirising many vivid details of life at court, as he guides the reader through the long psychological intrigue by which Pandarus eventually delivers Troilus into Criseyde's bed.The charm and detail of the poem, giving an intimate glimpse of a courtly world, is akin to the delightful miniatures which ill ustrate books of hours of this period in the style known asInternational Gothic. Yet this delicacy is only one side of Chaucer's abundant talent – as he soon proves in  The Canterbury Tales. The Canterbury Tales: AD 1387-1400 Collections of tales are a favourite literary convention of the 14th century. Boccaccio'sDecameron  is the best-known example before Chaucer's time, but Chaucer inThe Canterbury Tales  outshines his predecessors.He does so in the range and vitality of the stories in his collection, from the courtly tone of ‘The Knight's Tale' to the rough and often obscene humour of those known technically as  fabliaux. He does so also in the detail and humour of the framework holding the stories together. His account of the pilgrims as they ride from London to Canterbury, with their constant bickering and rivalry, amounts to a comic masterpiece in its own right. The pilgrims, thirty of them including Chaucer himself, gather one spring day at the Tabard in Southwark.The host of the inn, Harry Bailly, is a real contemporary of Chaucer's (his name features in historical records). He will act as their guide on the route to Canterbury and he proposes that they pass the time on their journey by telling stories. Each pilgrim is to tell two on the way out and two on the way back. Whoever is judged to have told the best tale will have a free supper at the Tabard on their return. Of this ambitious total of 120 stories, Chaucer completes only 24 by the time of his death. Even so the collection amounts to some 17,000 lines – mainly of rhyming verse, but with some passages of prose.The pilgrims represent all sections of society from gentry to humble craftsmen (the only absentees are the labouring poor, unable to afford a pilgrimage of this kind). There are respectable people from the various classes – such as the knight, the parson and the yeoman – but the emphasis falls mainly on characters who are pretentious, scurrilous, m endacious, avaricious or lecherous. The pilgrims are vividly described, one by one, in Chaucer'sPrologue. The relationships between them evolve in the linking passages between the tales, as Harry Bailly arranges who shall speak next.The pilgrims for the most part tell tales closely related to their station in life or to their personal character. Sometimes the anecdotes even reflect mutual animosities. The miller gives a scurrilously comic account of a carpenter being cuckolded. Everyone laughs heartily except the reeve, who began his career as a carpenter. The reeve gets his own back with an equally outrageous tale of the seduction of a miller's wife and daughter. But the pilgrim who has most delighted six centuries of readers is the five-times-married Wife of Bath, taking a lusty pleasure in her own appetites and richly scorning the ideals of celibacy.